UnowPriceless hyped garbage

BoardChiri Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Forumrxes Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

Josephina Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Johan Louwet Having read the novel and than seeing first the 1970 version and than this one (twice) I must say the latter is the most faithful to the book and also the better movie. Not that the actors in the 1970 version didn't do a good job, but my main gripe was that the children (especially the girls) were too old to play the railway children. In the 2000 version we have 3 young talented actors playing the railway children. Clare Thomas was charming as Phyllis and Jack Blumenau fitting as Peter. But the best casting was Jemima Rooper as Bobbie. Even though technically not a minor anymore I think she portrayed the book version of Bobbie exactly as I imagined it. Jenny Agutter wasn't bad either as Bobbie in the 1970 version but I think the mother role fitted her better. But Jemima to me was the perfect Bobbie and as she is my favorite character in the story I was happy the focus was on her. A second favorite is Mr. Perks who was brilliantly portrayed by Gregor Fisher, serious but with a good sense of dry humour. The only thing I could fault the movie is that some parts were left out and that it went fast, a bit too fast sometimes. But still love it and it has an unlimited re-watch value for me.

kidboots "The Railway Children" is one of my most favourite books and this film does not disappoint in the slightest. The only complaint is that the children's pinafores always look starched and bright white, as of course they would if you were mucking about in fields and railway stations all day!!! Edith Nesbit was an Edwardian writer (who had a very interesting life) who wrote about children who really behaved like children and had interesting adventures, usually free from adult supervision. They were put into dramatic situations - in "The Railway Children" their father is wrongfully imprisoned, their possessions are auctioned off, they help a Russian who has escaped from Siberia locate his wife and children and help a young lad who has had an accident in the train tunnel.It tells of three children - Bobbie, Phyllis and Peter ( the 3 young performers, I thought were pretty perfect in their roles) - who, when their father is falsely imprisoned for treason, go with their mother to live in the country. After getting off on the wrong foot (Peter steals coal from the yard after his mother tells them that they are too poor to afford coal for fires) they make friends with the Station Master and Perks and proceed to have lots of adventures. Perk's birthday, one of my favourite parts of the book is included and it doesn't disappoint. Gregor Fisher, who plays Perks is marvelous. Apart from Jenny Agutter and Michael Kitchen none of the actors were familiar to me . David Bamber who played quirky Doctor Forrest, I had seen the other week in a Midsomer Murder episode but that was it.One adventure that wasn't in the film was the barge fire. In the film there was an incident on a bridge where rough bargemen had called the children "posh" and thrown rocks at them!!! In the book the bargeman and his wife went to the pub, their barge caught on fire and the children saved the baby and helped put out the fire. The book also had political views as well (Edith Nesbit was one of the founders of the Fabian Society). There was also in the book and film, the scene where the mother tells Bobbie to send special prayers for all prisoners and captives. Sir Richard Attenborough was a perfect "nice old gentleman" and I really think this film shows how lovely the world once was.Highly, Highly Recommended.

whistlestop I just loved this film - even though I thought the first 1970 film was wonderful, this is better. All the actors are super, and I thought Gregor Fisher was great as Perks, a lovely warmth to him. The really inspired touch was in getting Jenny Agutter to play the mother role this time, and she does it superbly. I always chuckle over the lines given to Bobbie and herself; she warns Bobbie not to go onto the railway line, and Bobbie asks innocently "Didn't you ever walk on the rail tracks when you were a girl?" Tongue in cheek, a nice touch... The trains are gorgeous, scenery beautiful, but we don't see enough of the lovely Michael Kitchen. I've bought this one to watch again and again.

mmiller1 Wonderful cast, excellent photography, and (wonder of wonders to an American TV watcher) a literate script! I heartily agree about Ms. Rooper - I will look forward to seeing her again. Jenny Agutter's beauty has deepened and grown since I first saw her in Walkabout 30+ years ago. Michael Kitchen, Clive Russell, Sir Richard Attenborough, and Gregor Fisher all are believable, and have that depth that British actors have (from doing more stage, I guess.) Note: unlike the previous commenters, I haven't seen Gregor Fisher often enough for him to be typecast yet. Judging from this film, I would like to.