Excellent Traditional Family Entertainment!!!
Unfortunately, my copy of this title is a VHS Tape print, therefore, my opinion may not carry much influence (?). That being said, I found this to be a very good story produced by one of America's best corporate sponsors of family entertainment!

For those who have enjoyed the work of Irina Brook and Colin Firth for many years look for her and his brief appearance!

The beginning may be a little dark and frightening to very small children, those below the age of 6-8, the film does become much more bright and more up-lifting as the story unfolds.

I recommend this title to all families that worry and are concerned about what their children are learning from todays movie titles and the adult content they are introducing to our young.

Great version of the story
I also loved the movie when I was a kid, but back then it was more difficult to get copies of the movie unless you recorded it on your VCR at home when it came on TV.

I enjoy this one much more than the more recently made movie. More drama, more story shared, before, during and after. The characters have much more depth and really shows much more the variation of the changes to each person as Mary changes.

We just watched it yesterday and the music is excellent and the scenery and location was superb. Perhaps not a movies for very young children but any around 10-11 on up could handle the drama of it...

My niece had not seen this version and she liked it much more and was more scared around that big old castle when Mary walked around in it at night searching for the mysterious source of what she heard.

Watch the 1993 version instead...
These Hallmark films bore me to tears. They are far from exciting, let alone interesting. Nothing more than a long talk-a-thon with very little going on. The music is not so great either. Watch the 1993 version instead. It's the best one. You can find it here: The Secret Garden

book or film review?
Amazon's reviewing system isn't working for this BOOK - most of the reviews seem to be for a film version - and one that is not in keeping with the book at all, as well.

Anyway, MY review is for the BOOK. I wish I had discovered it as a child. Or at least in time to read it to my own children.

A message to all of those who worry about 'Pagan' content in children's books: forget Harry Potter and the Wizard of Oz - everybody recognizes those as fantasies. The Secret Garden is the Real Thing, rich with Earth Magic and wonder, with its own Puck in the gentler form of Dickon, and its own Wise Woman - Dickon's mother, who trusts in the healing power of nature.

No one hops on a broom here, or waves a wand; the magic is real.

A better release
Having read the slim story and seeing all film versions, I am inclined to think this the best.
It is not in the least important how the childhood characters did not look like the adult characters. In theater and film you are bound by constraints. Are you going to make the film or wait for some future incarnation of the child lead who would appear to be the same as an adult? Nope.
Gennie James came across as a spoiled and petulant child. Her performance made me look away at times and grind my teeth. Barret Oliver was magical. As a charming and sad child he gave the strong impression of being prescient. This sets things up for the inevitable longing and sorrow that follows.
We dismiss the emotions of childhood because we believe that they cannot compare to our own vast warehouse of sadness and dreams lost. This film perhaps can correct this misperception.