Not a 5 star movie, but this is actually acceptable, considering it's a TV movie. But the movie has a slightly involving story which is dramatic and sentimental.The scenario is very good and quite Scotland-like, with green places, forests, rivers... in one word, the wonders of nature.The adult actors do a reasonable job, but the young actors are definitely the best ones: Gennie James as Mary Lennox, Jadrien Steele as Colin Craven and mostly Barret Oliver as Dickon Sowerby. This is the first movie I ever saw Barret Oliver portraying a teenager. He was a popular actor in the 80's and he was a fine actor. It's a shame he didn't want to continue doing that, but I understand his reasons.Here, Barret Oliver was already a handsome teenager, the same way as he was a handsome child. I don't know his height now or then, but he sure looked tall here. Adding that to the clothes he wears here and he almost looks like a young adult instead of a boy in his early teen years. His voice was already different here as well.Dickon is an interesting character: he is sort of a witch doctor who can predict the future and fate and has a gift with animals. He is also charming and loving.Colin is, at first, an aggressive and explosive character, but he can't walk and is in a wheel chair - can you blame him? Plus, later in the film he softens his manners and becomes humble.The ending is both happy and sad. On one hand, Colin can walk again. On the other hand, Dickon is killed in the war.One last word about the cast: I only don't like the fact that adult Colin is portrayed by Colin Firth. *That* actor bugs me a little, so I'm glad he only appears at the very ending in a minor role (not longer than 1 minute).

I LOVE this version of the movie. I was probably 4 or 5 when I first saw it. I can only assume that I caught it on television and recorded it after that....and SURE, it isn't like the book in MANY ways, but it is still a very good movie with great acting. If you take is as it is and not as you expect it to be (like the book), then you see just how great this movie is. How many movies now a days is exactly like the original story, anyway? I really dislike when someone discounts a movie as good or great just because it is nothing like the original story. This is why the movie makes state that it is BASED on the novel, not a direct rendition of such.I will forever love this movie and have come to wonder why I haven't bought the DVD yet.

Out of all the different versions of the Secret Garden films, I would have to say this is my favorite.I feel that they brought the essence of the book to life in this film. Not only was the music enchanting, but the cast was well suited.It was if they stepped right out of the novel and came to life. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Frances Hodgson Burnett's the Secret Garden.It stays true to the book no matter what the critics say.

While this film version of the beloved children's classic The Secret Garden is the most faithful to the the original story and has some nice production values, it is otherwise not very good. The most obvious problem is the casting and characterizations. Mary and Dickon both have American accents, and while Dickon's is okay, Mary's is whiny, extremely childish and very annoying. I found it impossible to like her, and Gennie James's portrayal did not help any. She was so smug and bratty I couldn't stand it. It was unnecessary for the writer and director to portray Dickon as an all-knowing mystic who can sense the future and Colin as a very simple-minded little boy. And I just was not affected or uplifted by the story as it was presented. I really cannot recommend this film version for fans of the book.