I loved the Boxcar Children as a teenager, and this film is true to the story. It's an exciting adventure, as the four children have to find their own place to live in secret and provide all their needs for food, shelter, and fun, while staying hidden from people they fear mean to separate them. It's a great tale of responsibility, hard work, caring and family. The animation is not Disney level but the scenery is beautiful and the colors vivid. A great film for the whole family.

The Boxcar Children was first serialized in a book series for children. I picked up the DVD without reading the series first. It is not necessary to read it. The film is about four orphaned children in the Great Depression. They are avoiding a possible cruel grandfather that they never met. The children don't want to be separated. When they overhear the bakery lady and the baker decide to keep the older ones and send the youngest boy to the orphanage since he can't work so they runaway and make an old boxcar Into their home. J.K. Simmons provides the voice of Dr. Moore and Martin Sheen has also lend his voice. One criticism about the film occurs in the race where the lead runner is barefoot. I think it was an oversight.

I've seen many movies made from books in the past, and I will say this one does not let you down. I enjoyed this movie just as much if not more than I enjoyed the book, simply for the artistic depiction of nature that really set the mood. As far as accuracy, the movie hit all the points I would have wanted and expected to remain from the book. The movie as a whole was very well made to cater to the age group of those who would otherwise be reading the book series right now. But it does hold on well for those who read the books during their childhood as well. The only thing I could ask is that A) they could have given the kids more than just a single pair of clothes, and B) They make a sequel that is just as true to the second book as this movie is to the first book.

The movie is a low budget adaptation of the book. It is a very warm and gentle, even old fashioned kind of film. Very safe and you don't have to worry about your kids watching it over and over as it has a very positive message. Just like in the book, the kids are polite and supportive of each other. They discover that hard work leads to independence and that the most important thing is life is your family.There are one or two mildly scary moments but for the most part this is a movie even little kids can watch with any worries. I wish there were more movies like this being made for kids these days.Also I would recommend reading the book to your kids cause it makes watching the movie even more fun.