Heidi

I wanted to take my two boys to see Madagascar but the seats all sold out, so we went to see Heidi despite a lot of grumbles! From the opening shots of the Alps we were all captured by the narrative and settings. The costumes by Mike O'Neill show great care and attention to detail, the interiors of the Alpine hut are rough and by no means fit for a chocolate box, and the acting was spot on. Max Von Sydow used his usual consummate acting skills to convey a man hurt by life and other human beings, an exile from love. Emma Bolger, with her Irish lilt was not at all cute, but was simple delight to watch. On only one occasion was I conscious she was reciting lines. Heidi brings the old man to life in a slow and quiet way that was gentle and subtle. When Heidi is taken to Frankfurt, the costumes and interiors are authentic once again. If there is anything to criticise in this film it is the slow pace, but this helps in some ways to give the atmosphere of 19th Century Alpine life. A great Christmas film, and a treat for mums and dads too!

I went to this movie on a whim, in a fit of nostalgia. I remembered reading the book 'Heidi' as a little kid. And I had fond memories of the old black and white movie, with Shirley Temple. This newest version, with the inimitable Max von Sydow, is earnest, and basically well-meaning. It is true to the book as well. I remembered from all those years ago the passage in the book where the grandfather serves his newly arrived granddaughter roasted goat cheese. Sure enough, in this movie, as soon as she shows up at his mountain place, he roasts up a batch of cheese for her.

The satisfaction of seeing a few little details like that aside, this is really kind of a lackluster production. Maybe I overestimated the appeal of a revisit back to my childhood? Maybe it is such a children's story that it could have, for me as an adult, no appeal any longer. Whatever the reason, this production felt more like a 'visual aid' to the book, as shown in a third-grade classroom, than a proper movie. Its production values and dramatic sweep felt more like a TV movie, and one from the 1980s or 1970s, at that.

Nothing is missing. The scenery, the costumes, and the actors are all fine. But dang--- nothing about it drew me in, and I was bored out of my mind. I had to slip out after 45 minutes of it. Maybe kids will like it?

I wasn't looking forward to going to this film with my two young daughters. The reviews hadn't all been good.

It starts slow and stays at a similar pace throughout but it is beautifully done. If you were watching it on DVD at home, it may not hold your attention but in the cinema its pure charm is irresistible. Good acting throughout and some amusing set pieces.

My seven-year-old rates it her favourite ever film or TV program and as it has dislodged 'The Incredibles' and 'Arthur' respectively, that is praise indeed. My four-year-old also enjoyed it tremendously.

I'm very glad I saw it and would recommend it to any family. Heidi doesn't get to fight off any aliens or learn ninja skills from her grandfather but stories as good as this have a place for every generation.

To keep this short & succinct: An awesome retelling of Spyri's novel, with minor deviations from the original story.

This (Paul Marcus' 2005) version of 'Heidi' starts with a gripping psychological intensity which it maintains throughout the duration of the film. To some degree this intensity is conveyed by the excellent shot composition evident during the entirety of the production, which masterfully captures both the geographic & emotional context of the narrative. The main credit however must go to Emma Bolger, whom I can only describe as a true prodigy of her craft.

One would expect fine performances from such practised professionals as Rigg, Chaplin & von Sydow, but it is only when the final credits roll that it becomes apparent how stunning Bolger's performance really is. This is a film where one does not need to suspend disbelief in order to be enveloped & caught up by the narrative, instead it is a truly superb synthesis of cast & crew working harmoniously to produce something truly valuable.

Do yourself a favour & see for yourself.

Of the versions I've seen (1937/1968/1982 animation) this is the only one that really gets the story right! For starters, instead of the typical blonde we now tend to typecast Heidi in, we get the little brown-haired girl that Spyri depicted in her book. She wears simple clothes, not the traditional Swedish outfit, because they recognize that she was poor, and those clothes are only worn on special occasions anyways. The movie doesn't try to stray away from the original story with overt dramatic subplots, it simply depicts the story as it was originally told, and as the book is a very simple story, that's very hard to pull off in a movie. I was so glad that they didn't write out more minor characters like Tinette, Grandmamma or the Doctor. They just enrich the story so much and were played beautifully.

Only real critiques: They changed Schwanli and Bearli's names, and changed the name of the Alm Uncle to Uncle Alp. Also the Irish Accent of Emma Bolger could get a little distracting, and Fraulien Rottenmeier and Aunte Dete were a little crueler towards Heidi than I remember... but considering all that was included I was very satisfied. Makes me want to read the book all over again!

Definitely not a story for those who crave a lot of action and drama. But if you absolutely loved the book as a child, this is a great companion piece.