 |  | A delightful film from a beloved book |  |
This is a delightful film. The book was written in the 1930's, but its expression of young girls' hopes and dreams is timeless. The film is true to the book, with a few bizarre exceptions--what on earth was going on with Nana's hair, and where did the romance and all that smoking come from, and why? However, these anomalies are easily overlooked because the rest of the film really captures the look and feel of the book--the way I always pictured it in my mind. I only wish it could have been longer, so that we could have seen more of the story. Much of the casting is perfect--particularly Pauline, Gum, and Winifred. Emma Watson is the perfect Pauline! I highly recommend this movie for anyone over age 8 or 9, and hope that it sparks a resurgence of interest in all of Noel Streatfeild's "Shoes" books. Her stories embodied the concept of "girl power" long before the phrase was coined. Another "Shoes" film would be nice too--maybe someone will make Movie Shoes into a film. It would appeal to both boys and girls. One can only hope!
December 27, 2008Oh my gosh, could this movie be any cuter? I don't mean that in a sickeningly sweet way. This movie is just a good story about women trying to make it on their own after the war in London. The Fossil sisters were all foundlings of a collector of all things paleontology. They grew up in a big old grand London house alongside trilobites and T Rex until those treasures had to go to make room for the growing girls.
Petrova wants to be like Amy Johnson when she grows up. I think Amy Johnson must've been the British Amelia Earhart. Posy was found with only a pair of pink toe shoes when she was a baby, her mother having been a young ballerina who had neither resources nor time to care for her child. And the oldest is a stage natural. These three girls live a life filled with love and possibility, if not one of materialism. Still, their needs are always met and the girls receive great educations and theatre training. IN fact, everything in this movie seems to be blessed and appointed by Providence. Every time they have a need, it's magically filled by strangers literally at the door. And in the end, everyone has a happy ending.
I highly recommend the Ballet Shoes.
November 21, 2008 | | Not for children, not much like the book | |
My daughter and I bought this DVD because we both loved the book by Noel Streatfeild. But the movie is missing all the aspects that made the book so interesting. The movie leaves out almost everything about the Academy of Dancing and Stage Training and the girls' daily lives. It adds unnecessary romances between adult characters. There is a lot of cigarette smoking and drinking in the movie, making it unsuitable for children. There is almost no dancing shown. The actors who play the three girls are *way* too old for the parts. Finally, (and this is a matter of taste but for me it was very distracting) the hairstyles are terrible.
November 4, 2008I was dissapointed in this movie. There is not anything terribly inappropriate, although several comments are made about the girls' bust sizes and one of the characters wears low cut blouses. There wasn't much of a plot somehow and many dead ends. The youngest girl, Posey, turns into a brat and winds up getting her way in the end. There isn't much ballet in it at all and the title itself has nothing to do with the movie. If you're a ballet fan, you will only be dissapointed. It's really not a children's movie.
The movie did keep my interest and the cast and acting is brilliant, but. . . . . Watch it if you want.
October 24, 2008 | | um, okay but not brilliant | |
It was a nice story, just a little slow to make its point. The girls were great actresses, and Emma Watson proved she can act as something besides Hermoine Granger, kudos for her. The redhead was also very good... especially in the scene when she's crying because her teacher died and won't be able to teach her anymore. The brunette was also superb... her character was my favorite. The only downside was the "father"... his character was hardly convincing. I mean... who disappears for 12 years and suddenly return just in time? Maybe I had to read the book to understand it. Either way, great movie.
October 22, 2008More reviews at Amazon.com ...
Daily Birthdays
(17 reviews)