The Secret Garden 1993

Johanna Steinmetz, Chicago Tribune: The film is gorgeous to look at, from its period accouterments to its wanderings in explored space (the house is full of secret passageways) to its use of color. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Rather than a fresh breeze, it's the stale air of gilded calculation, the uncomfortable feeling that things are excessively "just so," that overhangs much that is genuinely appealing about this film. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: The movie's dark themes, unhurried pace and talkiness make it something of a gamble for many children. But older children -- especially those who have been asking specific questions about death -- may find some nourishment in this garden. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: This enchanted tale vividly shows how love heals and nurtures barren souls, makes them flourish like abundant Edens. Read more

Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times: While drawing superb performances from her young leads, Holland has masterfully contrasted the garden -- a place where melodic robins seem almost conversant -- with the dread of Misselthwaite. Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: Ms. Holland's film of The Secret Garden is elegantly expressive, a discreet and lovely rendering of the children's classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: Screenwriter Caroline Thompson and director Agnieszka Holland have turned Frances Hodgson Burnett's rather gothic 1911 children's book into an evocative, beautifully realized picture. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: The movie is earnest, heartfelt, and, for all its lavishness, rather plodding. Read more

David Ansen, Newsweek: It is, first and foremost, a visual delight, a Victorian picture book come to life, from its brief prologue in India through its darkly enchanted recreation of Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire moors. Read more

Michael Sragow, New Yorker: It's as if the moviemakers were trying to cook up a New Age Yorkshire pudding, without meat drippings -- what's missing is Burnett's robust optimism and animistic energy. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The Secret Garden has at least two things going for it: remarkable acting and mesmerizing cinematography (by Roger Deakins). Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It is a work of beauty, poetry and deep mystery, and watching it is like entering for a time into a closed world where one's destiny may be discovered. Read more

Trevor Johnston, Time Out: With well-judged performances played straight, and topical subtexts (Green consciousness, the dysfunctional family), this 'children's' film sets no age limit on its potential audience. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Executed to near perfection in all artistic departments, this superior adaptation of the perennial favorite novel will find its core public among girls , but should prove satisfying enough to a range of audiences. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: What a pleasure -- and what a challenge for the filmmakers -- to come up with a movie that exists primarily on ambience, character interplay, English accents and subtle class differences. Read more

Megan Rosenfeld, Washington Post: The young actors are quite proficient and un-sappy too -- it's not their fault if they too often seem like chessmen being moved around on the director's board, composed into picturesque tableaux. Read more