La chiave magica

1995 was certainly a great year for fantasy films and The Indian In The Cupboard was one of the many great movies of that year.

A little boy puts a toy Indian in the cupboard and it comes to life. They gradually become good friends throughout the film and the young boy also puts some of his other toys into the cupboard as well.

The acting is great throughout and it's a nice little story as well. The great thing about films like this is that they are pure fantasy and they feature the type of things that most young kids dream about. What young child wouldn't like to bring some of their toys to life? It may never happen but it's great to be able to watch a movie where it does happen.

All in all, a lovely movie for the kids.

To a kid with toys, having a cupboard that could make them real was such fascinating idea! Seeing Darth Vader ducking it out with a Dinosaur was just the cherry on top. So, I remember this movie from my childhood fondly.. Coming back to it as an "adult", I can see and appreciate the layers of lessons in maturity, the weight of a life, one's choices, trust in others and much more.

What is more impressive to me is how such a simple (but very imaginative) premise, was so brilliantly executed! Can't imagine it took me so many years to enjoy it again.

I would easily recommend this to anyone of any age.

Underrated and highly involving movie for kids. A young boy finds out that his cupboard has magical powers and can turn plastic into reality. He first turns a plastic Indian into a real human being. The movie teaches about responsibility but in an understandable way. It isn't patronizing nor childish, which means older audiences should relate to it also. It also mediates on life and death at certain points, and was the first film in a long time to be genuinely emotionally shocking. The relationship between the Indian and the cowboy was very well developed as they started to bond over their tragedies. The film does have a number of loose edges. Rishi Bhat was particularly annoying at times, but in a way he was necessary to play off Scardino. Even Scardino wasn't always a lovable protagonist. In one scene he kicks his brother's pet rat down the stairs, in an event where the rat clearly would have died. As the film hadn't relied on cartoon logic up until that point it was a bit out of place. Great effects, and seeing Darth Vader vs. a T-Rex kind of made up for those moments. A more innocent time when children's movies didn't have to be loud and crass.

This film was special. It's not to say it ranks high amongst the worlds films technically (which is not to say it fails in this regard – it simply does not depend upon special effects), but the underlying theme is gentle and beautifully presented. The child actors' performances are solid. Especially the lead 'Omri', and his friend (whom I really liked and really disliked respectively - (hence his acting ability)). It's an innocent story with great imagination, and doesn't take itself too seriously. The relationship and growth that the main character develops with Little Bear (the Indian in the cupboard) is special. It eventually takes on a father/son dynamic after a role reversal or sorts from the Creator/created dynamic the boy has with Little Bear at first. I was touched by this relationship and by Omri's innocence. Frank Oz imagination is conveyed well through this work. I can easily imagine being in Omri's shoes and enjoy this film each time I watch it. Whether you watch this with kids or not, odds are you'll enjoy it.

Forget reviews saying this is not as good as the book. No films are are a good as the book! Watch this movie with an 8 year old child and you will see how good the film is.

Thank you Frank Oz for a wonderful film. The acting from the young children is above average and the tearful ending just right for a young audience. Interesting to note Steve Coogan plays a miniature model come to life - something he repeats later in his career in A Night At The Museum. Typecasting?

The effects are also very good. Remember this is 1995 when CGI was in it's infancy - but the miniaturisation of the cast is flawless.