Maybe people do not like this movie, but my 10-year old son really likes it and has already seen it a few times, each time commenting on it and telling me about it endlessly. Although the story might be slightly lame and predictable, it is a regular feel good movie with lots of slightly moralistic moments, it is better then many other movies in the same genre I've seen. The storyline is indeed thin but since it is a fairy tale, that is part of the fun. The children act well, there is enough suspense in the air to stay interested for the whole time and in the end things do not seem what they looked like. In short, a family movie, well fitted for dreamers like my children.

I read the first comments on this movie and thought they were too harsh. This is obviously a children's movie that sends a pretty powerful message. A town of frightened folks stays head-strong in their beliefs because they are afraid. It's a fairy-tale, so that means anything goes because it's all made up. The special effects were better than most for its time. Compared to the computer generated movies I've seen in 2001, this is every bit as good. The plot is about a father who is dieing, his kids, who believe in the fairy legend that could save him, and a wife who doesn't believe in anything. It's interesting to see the family come together in an effort to save dad and teach the town a lesson. I think you'll be entertained and some emotions will definitely get stirred about.

OK, I've seen much worse from Malcolm McDowell in recent times. This is no classic, it is in fact an "ok" kids movie. I think that's who it was aimed at... "kids". The story at the beginning was not "unintelligible, I understood it easily. The reason for the bamboos and palm trees in the English forest is because it was filmed in South Africa, but set on the Isle of Man, a small island in the Irish Sea between Ireland and Britain. The origin of the island is explained in the story at the beginning. Anyway, it will not strain your brain, but you also won't be enticed to run to your local video store to buy a copy. But the kids might like it.