Genres

Visitors Review

Gavin Cresswell 2012-05-24 01:05:20

The Indian in the Cupboard... a really good family-adventure movie adaptation

I remember watching this as a fourth grader in elementary school afterreading the book in which it was based on and after viewing this a fewtimes, it's kind of a very decent movie. Not great, but its really goodand here's the reason why.The premise about Omri realizing that a magical cupboard brings toys tolife (and no, it's not like that CGI animated film Toy Story) was veryinteresting. The performances were very good including the performancefrom Omri and Patrick.The special effects from the famous Industrial Light and Magic Companywere quite spectacular and the blue screen effects were very good. Eventhe music was good and very emotional.The movie, while being faithful to the book, does have some flaws thatdidn't leave an impact.In the book, Little Bear has a wife before saying goodbye to Omri whilein the movie, he doesn't.In the book, Little Bear becomes chief after the chief dies when he wasvery frightened of Omri, but in the movie, however, he doesn't become achief.In the book, Omri and Patrick get sent to the principal's office beforePatrick explains that they have a real live Boone and Little Bear inhis pocket, but in the movie, that didn't really happened.That's all I gotta say about the flaws because some of scenes werequite faithful to the book.To conclude this, The Indian in the Cupboard isn't great, but its avery good family-adventure movie and it's really worth checking out.6.7 out of 10

2012-05-23 15:04:41

It is great!!!

This review is from: The Indian In The Cupboard [VHS] (VHS Tape) This is a must see movie for any ages. It brings about the use of imaginations again parents!!!

anonymous 2012-05-23 09:49:18

Adorable and entertaining

Very sweet film. Hal Scardino has my vote as Most Adorable Child ActorEver.He has such a sweet, gentle, genuine way about himm, but not in anobnoxious, saccharine way. I don't know how PC the movie is, but it hassomevery nice subtle touches, humor, and a very little bit of a dark side. Alittle more poignant than the book, but I thought the movie made somechoices that the book should have.

2012-05-23 03:46:27

Litefoot does an exceptional job.

I felt that the film while geared to children , had alot of grown up issues, and was presented to the children in a way they understood. I was appreciative of that but I must confess that my favotrite thing about he film was the ever gorgeous Litefoot, I personally am a big fan of his music and acting and am proud that he is a young Native Man doing something to make life better for himself and for his people. He's a man of many talents and this is one of the many examples.

xtiant 2012-05-20 17:13:16

Who wants us to make sequels?

Long before Harry Potter and his magic wand came along, there was alittle kid called Omri with an ordinary cupboard and a magic key thatcould bring plastic toys to life -- The Indian in The Cupboard soldmillions the world-over and captured the imagination of an entiregeneration...Now, the chance has come to revisit the original material and makeanother movie that more closely follows the book. Followed by movies ofthe other inspirational books in the series.Perhaps even a television series that will continue on where the filmsleave off...that way Omri will be able to bring toys to life over andover again in some really amazing, sometimes hair- raising adventureswith Little Bear and Boon sometimes arguing, but always there tohelp...If any of fans of the book would like to see this happen, let us knowright here. Who knows, it might help us make the project a reality verysoon. Thanks!

2012-05-20 06:50:53

Excellent movie!

The Indian In The Cupboard is not just a great Kids movie but a great movie for all ages!

2012-05-20 10:00:28

Excellent adaptation

"The Indian In The Cupboard" is a delightful, moving adaptation of Lynne Reid Banks's 1980 award-winning novel. I won't reveal the plot, to avoid giving away the ending. All I can say about it is that it's moving without being too sentimental, funny without being satiric, and entertaining with losing any of its superb fun. Even though the book is based in England, the film never abandons the Lynne Reid Banks style by using American actors.Though some parts of the book were omitted from the script, it's still thoroughly entertaining without losing any of the characterizations delivered by Keith and Litefoot as Boone and Little Bear. It also delivers a strong moral message. Frank Oz deserves to direct gentle, moving fantasy movies like these, than just a wide-range of directing. What can I say? Perfect, in any way possible for child-oriented films.Rated PG for mild language and violence.

k-english 2012-05-19 21:04:11

Great Movie For Kids

Forget reviews saying this is not as good as the book. No films are area good as the book! Watch this movie with an 8 year old child and youwill see how good the film is.Thank you Frank Oz for a wonderful film. The acting from the youngchildren is above average and the tearful ending just right for a youngaudience. Interesting to note Steve Coogan plays a miniature model cometo life - something he repeats later in his career in A Night At TheMuseum. Typecasting?The effects are also very good. Remember this is 1995 when CGI was init's infancy - but the miniaturisation of the cast is flawless.

2012-05-17 20:12:57

Grandkids love it!

This review is from: The Indian in the Cupboard (DVD) I owned the vhs version of this when my kids were small, so when I saw a dvd, I knew I had to buy it for my grandkids. It's an exciting adventure for the little ones. What kids hasn't dreamed or wished for little people? No foul language or offensive scenes, just good entertainment for kids.

mbritt1216 2012-05-17 04:27:41

A warm, excellent family film

Why this movie doesn't have an average of around 9 eludes me. It is awondeful film. So well acted and with a very engaging story. This is a great film for the wholefamily. You'll love it. The lead actor - Hal Scardino - is such a natural. He's completelybelievable, as is his friend. The Indian is also wonderfully brought to life. How they made the specialeffects work so well back in 1995 (well... that was a while back for film special effectsanyway...) I don't know. I wish we could see more warm hearted films like thistoday.

Ephesians60 2012-05-16 11:47:13

Great Family Film

This is a film that will entertain the whole family, there is noquestionable subject matter in this film,your kids will enjoy this filmto the maximum and want to watch it again and again. in Fact it is oneyou will want to buy for the home collection. I have seen this filmManny Manny times and every time I find new meanging in it. This filmhas many great life lessons in it for your kids. Please use this filmto teach your kids about life and it,s wonderful nuance's. But at thesame time do not take it to seriously it is after all a fantasy a storymeant to entertain and amaze and that is what it dose for me.Enjoy Sean the Movie Guy

2012-05-16 01:13:09

My favorite movie

I was about 9 or 10 when this movie came out. I love everything about it. After I saw it I wanted a cupboard just like the one in the movie with a key and everything. I remember spending hours in the kicthen putting little figurines in the cupboards and seeing if they came alive or not. This is the best movie. I just wish it came in french.

2012-05-15 17:59:23

A timeless classic!

This review is from: The Indian in the Cupboard (DVD) In today's society, when video games and television time have replaced imagination and wonder,this classic still delivers. My 5 year old has found his imagination. His action figures have taken on new found interest and personalities, thanks to this movie! I never thought I'd have to explain what Cowboys & Indians are to a kid, but oh how we have changed!Anyway, do not hesitate to buy this for the next generation. The story, the characters and the message still holds strong.

rexdog9 2012-05-15 09:44:28

The kid is great...

Hal Scardino turns in a really good performance for a novice actor, andhis character is unusual in family films. Omri shows a depth ofcharacter that paid off for my six year old, who asked lots of goodquestions afterward. Apparently Scardino is, as of this writing,enrolled at Columbia University having chosen a normal adolescencerather than the child star route. He has made only 3 films to thispoint but still wants to return to acting after college. It seems thathis personal character showed even through the character he played inthe movie. Great music, imaginative story line, tender approach toadult responsibility, great side dialog.

2012-05-12 01:14:12

Sweet timeless movie

My daughter's third grade class was reading this book and so she asked to have the movie too. I'm so glad we agreed. It is a really sweet story that holds up to today's discussions about diversity. It's about friendship and fairness and loyalty and a dozen other ideas as well. Just a really nice all-around feel good family movie.

2012-05-11 10:41:00

Magical Delight

This review is from: The Indian In The Cupboard [VHS] (VHS Tape) The Indian in the Cupboard is a movie all kids should see. Based on the beloved children's book, the story is about a sweet boy named Omri who is given a small wooden cupboard for his birthday. He soon discovers that a magical key will bring any toy locked inside the cupboard to life. Omri selects an Indian brave from his large collection of figurines. This Indian brave is a REAL person named Little Bear. Little Bear at first believes that Omri is the Great Spirit. One of the best moments in the film is when Little Bear exclaims, "You are not the Great Spirit. You are a boy!" At that moment, the tiny warrior becomes a father figure to Omri.All would be well except for Omri's insensitive chum Patrick. Patrick does not share his friend's caring side, and wants to use the cupboard without reverence for the people it brings to modern times. Little Bear is soon joined by a miniature cowboy - and horse. Boo-Hoo Boone does not like "Injuns." This movie is so wonderful. Native American dancer Litefoot plays Little Bear with passion. I always cry at the end, at Omri's parting words to his friend.The only thing I don't like about this film is that Omri's boorish older brothers call each other "butthead," and Omri kicks a rat in a play ball down the stairs.

2012-05-09 06:10:34

Never received

This was ordered on 5/27/09 and never received/billed. Not sure why or what happened, but not impressed.

colinwhitefan 2012-05-08 18:08:14

entertaining fantasy

Omri (Hal Scardino), a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, receives an oddvariety of presents for his birthday, a wooden cabinet from his olderbrother, a set of antique keys from his mother Jane (Linsday Crouse), and atiny plastic model of an Indian from his best friend Patrick (Rishi Bhat).Putting them all together, Omri locks the Indian inside the cabinet, only tobe awoken by a strange sound in the middle of the night. Omri opens thecabinet to discover that the tiny Indian has come to life; it seems thathe's called Little Bear (Litefoot), and he claims to have learned Englishfrom settlers in 1761. Omri hides this remarkable discovery from his motherbut shares it with Patrick; as an experiment, Patrick locks a toy cowboyinto the cupboard, and soon Little Bear has a companion, Boone (DavidKeith), though predictably, the cowboy and the Indian don't get along wellat first. Omri comes to the realizations that his living and breathingplaythings are also people with lives of their own, and he begins to wonderhow much control he should really have over their lives. I liked this movieit was well done, good story, and good acting. Indian In The Cupboard shouldkeep the kids and adults entertained, overall a good film.

gridoon 2012-05-06 05:59:04

OK but plodding family fare.

"The Indian in the Cupboard" is a generally acceptable film, but it couldhave been MUCH better. Although it lacks originality, its story hadpotential, but somehow the result falls short. Arguably the most crucialweakness is that it stretches credibility to the limit; the basic premise oftoys coming to life is easy enough to accept, but the suggestion that thetoys have their own, secret, private lives even when they are seeminglysoulless pieces of plastic, is really hard to swallow. Moreover, the filmwould me more fun if it allowed its characters to explore the possibilitiesand activities of "the real world", but they seem to suffer from melancholiaand boredom and they just want to "go back". The special effects areexcellent, and the film does have a couple of inventive moments, but toomuch moralizing and plodding pacing make it seem longer than it is. 5/10would be a fair rating, I think.

2012-05-05 16:01:41

Indian In the Cupboard

Enchanting movie especially for kids. It kept the whole family engrossed the whole time. No bombings -- no killings -- just wonderful imaginative fun.