Reviews

I saw this story when it was first presented on TV, and have never forgotten it. I remember that for weeks afterwords, I had trouble falling asleep....(Spoiler)....so sure was I that a malignant fungus was out to get me! I suppose one of the reasons this story terrified me so much is that I believed, (and still do, for the most part), that, (SPOILER) "love conquers all". I have recently read the original short story, (SO clearly written, even in 1907....an era of largely floridly-written works). There is no hint in the original story, (Spoiler) that the two principals are Run-Away lovers...he poor, she rich. No, in the original text story, they are just lovers. At the end of the story, (Spoiler), the principal male character is called "the thing". In the TV version, he is (Spoiler), called by the much more graphic description, "A sponge...a great gray sponge".

The tension builds up and Up and U p, in this drama. Every...Er, "thing" about it was SO well done! I wish it would be re-broadcast and/or put on DVD. Especially now.... Global warming is bound to bring a (Spoiler) lessening or cessation of winds. And this story takes place, (Spoiler), in "the Doldrum" area of the earth. Or so they said in the TV version. In the written version, it is just a "becalmed" area of the North Pacific. Either way, you may NOT "be calmed" for a while after watching this eerily well-played, totally possible drama!

This is a fun film for anyone, of any age, with imagination! (SPOILER____ALERT) Two teenagers, a brother and sister, time-travel My means of an enchanted painting of a medieval village. They soon find themselves INSIDE the village, and inside the painting! Getting home isn't easy, because a villain, named "Falco" insists on finding the "Jewel of Polaris". He already has the "Sceptor of Polaris", which originally held the jewel -- but the two parts were separated by wise men of the past, because although each part is powerful, when put together, they can help the owner of both parts to rule the world! Evil Falco already has many powers from the Sceptor of Polaris, alone...and the audience horrified by what he does. He just Cannot get the Jewel too! It's really hard, but the brother and sister from the future, together with friends from the village, finally manage a happy ending for all concerned.

The acting here is top-notch! Even evil Falco is played with a debonair, and devil-may-care attitude, which somehow brings his evil into clearer view, than if he just was played as cruel. The rest of the cast, including beautiful Brianna Brown, is well-cast, and very, very believable. This is a "children's" movie...but it can easily be enjoyed by anyone, of any age, with imagination. It does not talk down to children -- a refreshing, and very welcome trend I wish other makers of children's movies would emulate. Sets, costuming, writing, directing, music, and just about everything else, (including the acting!), are believable and just right. If there was a 4-letter word or two in this movie, I missed them....the plot was so exciting, that's all I concentrated on!

All through the movie, the brother and sister mainly were equal partners. But towards the end, the sister is shown to be captured, and it is up to the brother,, (alone), to seek out the Jewel of Polaris in the final stages of their quest. Allowing "the girl" to accompany her brother, and equally share in the danger and triumph of the final moment, would have been far more satisfying to those who, like me, feel "Girl Can Do Anthing"....(too!)

All things considered, however, this is a superior movie for family fun!