First i have to admit, that, even at my advanced age of 33, I still read the book sometimes. It is that good. Uplifting, intelligent and with a real funny tongue-in-cheek style humour. The movie is the same, It takes all the great things you love in the book and turns them into moving (literally and emotionally) pictures on the screen. I remember seeing it 1985 in the cinema, I was 11 years old. Since then I must have watched it every time it airs on German TV.
Now what is to like: First the production. Unlike many Fairy-tale movies where the looks are somewhat glamorous, the looks here are gritty. The bandits are dirty, ill-mannered but soft-hearted. The rooms in the castle are dimly lit and the forest is as much oppressing as it is open and free. The many fantasy creatures are great transformations from their descriptions in the book. Though nowadays you would smile at the FX.
Second, the acting. It is great in the meaning, that you believe every role to be real. It is not spectacular acting of the type that makes you a stage star. One exception: I really love the performance of Allan Edwall who clearly overshadows each other performance acting-wise. The two kids, always a tough casting, perform really well, even in the more mellow scenes.
All in all, this movie creates such a great atmosphere, that it is one of my all time favourites. I see it now as a father, so I can feel what my father must have felt, when watching it with me. And this movie is as enchanting to me now as to my daughter.
The only reasons I gave a 9/10 is that I do want to distinguish it from my only 10/10 vote for "tri oriosky pro popelku", another great family movie.
Now what is to like: First the production. Unlike many Fairy-tale movies where the looks are somewhat glamorous, the looks here are gritty. The bandits are dirty, ill-mannered but soft-hearted. The rooms in the castle are dimly lit and the forest is as much oppressing as it is open and free. The many fantasy creatures are great transformations from their descriptions in the book. Though nowadays you would smile at the FX.
Second, the acting. It is great in the meaning, that you believe every role to be real. It is not spectacular acting of the type that makes you a stage star. One exception: I really love the performance of Allan Edwall who clearly overshadows each other performance acting-wise. The two kids, always a tough casting, perform really well, even in the more mellow scenes.
All in all, this movie creates such a great atmosphere, that it is one of my all time favourites. I see it now as a father, so I can feel what my father must have felt, when watching it with me. And this movie is as enchanting to me now as to my daughter.
The only reasons I gave a 9/10 is that I do want to distinguish it from my only 10/10 vote for "tri oriosky pro popelku", another great family movie.