Mandie and the Secret Tunnel (2009) User Reviews

Blond Cherokee?

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 24 November 2019]

This was a very nice story and good family entertainment. But try as hard as I may I could not wrap my mind around the concept of a blond blue eyed part Cherokee. In fact according to the script young Lexi Johnson is one quarter Cherokee and her looks, beautiful as she is don't compute.

Now that she's a teen and her father has recently passed away, the Cherokees who still live in Tennessee have sent her to live with her uncle who's got himself some really nice digs in a mansion. But he's away and his lawyer Dean Jones is running the place. Then the uncle is reported missing after a ship goes down at sea.

After that relations start pouring out of the woodwork but even Jones doesn't know where the will is. That starts a hunt with Johnson and some friends she's made looking for the will. The relatives want the whole pile and are looking to cut each other out as well as our young heroine.

The action takes place in the year of 1899 and the sets and cinematography certainly do reflect the era nicely. The ending is an interesting one and the very end does provide some explanation for our heroine's blond looks.

Still can't quite buy it though.

Very Peaceful and Happy, But a Little Too Strange and Confusing

[jre-5 · 6/10 · 14 July 2020]

This movie has a rather beautiful and peaceful feel to it, a lot more than most movies. But it's also rather strange and a bit awkward at times, particularly when it shows scenes from a story Mandie had been told. Some of the characters are also a bit strange, and could've used some more explanations.

The movie is very notable in that it was the final role of Dean Jones. He was a wonderful Godly man who will always be missed. I would dare say that his character's kind nature, combined with the movie's peaceful feel made it a relatively fitting final role for him.

Decent film worth watching

[wingodsaysso · 3 January 2020]

This is a movie based on the popular Christian book series Mandie. This film is about Mandy trying to discover whether or not she has an inheritance and along the way what her family heritage really is. Yes she finds out she is part Native American. But, it's not too difficult for me to see her as the quarter Native American she is even with the blonde hair since her father was half white and half Native American and her mother was full 100% German. I am half Dutch myself and the rest is a mix. I look full blown Dutch though. Overall, the acting is moderately good. Dean Jones, of course, is amazing and his performance is top notch. Every scene with Dean steps up a bit from the rest. The scriptwriting and/or editing did leave some key details out which made it somewhat difficult to follow at times but the stories predictability helps with that lol. I do wish that the casting of the Native American actors had been better. Overall, it is a fun story with beautiful scenery and some intrigue that young tween girls will especially love.

Mandie WHO?? Movies have Nothing to do with the book series??!!

[shelyna · 1/10 · 9 May 2024]

Spoilers kind of but not really??

The story lines are so much difference it would be too much to tell! But these Mandie books have been a childhood favorite of mine. Since my best friend turned me onto them when we were 9-11 years old. So it's frustrating to me because next to being a childhood favorite, I've always wanted to watch a movie version of Mandie Books but this isn't even the same author. It's like night and day and the "ghost writers" just completely ruined the experience for me.

Mandie and the secret tunnel, Mandie and the Cherokee legend, Mandie and the forgotten Christmas, movies so far, are unrecognizable compared to the books.

To name a few, Grandmother Taft, redeems herself in the books and was apologetic and in Mandie's life a lot and they had a good relationship. Etta Shaw remarried before Mandie left but they never visited John Shaw's house. Neither was there any Mr. & Mrs. Snow. There was a man and a woman and daughter totally unrelated to each other but coming to claim kinship to John to get entitled to his will. But must like most of the characters, details and names has been rewritten.

Details about how they search for the will was rewritten and how they found the will was rewritten. Mandie never called Elizabeth by her name it was always Mother once she found out who Elizabeth was. When Mandie went to the girls school and met Cecilia, Cecilia didn't hide in the attic hoping to attend the school, she was enrolled in by her parents. I forgot the exact details on Cecilia's Life. But she wasn't a smelly poor girl sneaking around in the attic. If I'm remembering correctly, her parents were quite rich. And all their adventures at the girls school have all been rewritten or twisted around.

A lot of things in the Cherokee legend had been rewritten. Mandie and her mom and friends never snuck on a train to follow her uncle John and Uncle Ned. There was no jumping off a train. No most wanted "man" with $1,000 reward on the loose. In the books Joe was in love with Mandie (as much as a 13 year old boy can be in love) and was much nicer to her than he seems to be in the movie. In the movie, he seems more interested in Polly but in the book there was no competition.

And I could go on because there was so much change it just bugs me! Who wrote this stuff? The book would have done so much better than the movie anyway.

I don't even recognize these stories anymore??

Best movie ever

[lpnarnialover09 · 10/10 · 13 September 2010]

Having grown up reading the Mandie mysteries,I was delighted when I heard they were going to be making a movie of the first book,only problem was it wasn't being shown in mainstream theatres and it went straight to DVD only to be carried by Christain bookstores,lucky for me I was able to buy a copy only yesterday,I was not disappointed,they stuck to the story and added more to Mandie background of how her grandfather saved and hid Cherokee Indians from the Trail of Tears. The scenic shots of North Carolina filmed at a national park are superb and the music is both haunting and beautiful. The story of Mandies background is told as if it were a fairy tale and unless you have read the books,there are times where you think it is just that,until it is revealed that it all true. Mandie is a spunky girl who does not let anything stop her from finding her Uncle John's will,I am looking forward to the second movie out this fall. This is a good family movie everyone will enjoy

The Story, Performers and Imagery were Magical

[FairReview · 10/10 · 28 February 2012]

More than a typical family film, this is one of the highest quality "small studio" films I have ever viewed. Providing an excellent blend of history, drama, mystery and a touch of humor. It is a G-rated movie that is highly entertaining for both children and adults.

The producers used rich Imagery and Lighting to heighten the viewer's interest and intrigue, whenever they focused on Mandie during the flashback scenes when the "Indian Story" was being told.

An absolutely outstanding performance was given by Lexi Johnson (who played Mandie, both in this movie and in the first sequel). Her prior experience as a child actor can be seen in both the attention to detail and nuanced expressions she brought to this role.

The entire cast and production deserve much credit for a great effort.