 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
A Little Princess
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1995
Common Sense Media says
Wonderful movie of a lonely girl's triumph.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie includes images of war with dead men strewn about trenches and explosions in the background. Sara loses her father in one of the battles and mourns him for much of the movie. Her mother is also dead. One scary scene shows Sara almost fall to her death. Sara is a remarkable character, however. She sticks up for herself and others at all times and captivates all the school girls with her imaginative stories.
What's the story?
In A LITTLE PRINCESS, motherless Sara Crewe (Liesel Matthews) is brought to Miss Minchin's boarding school by her father, who's heading off to war. She is the brightest girl in the school, with exquisite manners, but her odd fancies and her father's lavish provisions for her make the other girls uncomfortable or jealous. Her only friend in the school is Ermengarde (Heather DeLoach), a pudgy girl who has trouble with her lessons and is very grateful for Sara's attentions. Sara also befriends Becky (Vanessa Lee Chester), a scullery maid. When Captain Crewe is thought dead and his assets seized, Miss Minchin goes from doting on her to giving her the servant's quarters in the attic next to Becky.
Is it any good?
Based on the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1905, Alfonso Cuaron's adaptation has that combination of magic, drama, boarding school bullies, and a resilient orphan that probably made him a shoe-in for the job of directing the third Harry Potter movie a few years later.
Unlike Cedric in Little Lord Fauntleroy, Sara Crewe can't be accused of being perfect, though she is not as deliciously unlikable as Mary in The Secret Garden. It takes her a long time to lose her temper and snap at Ermengarde, but she does, and she almost gives up hope. Although Sara is desperately hungry, she gives almost all her food to a beggar child who is even hungrier. Note the way that her compassion inspires others; the baker who watches her give the buns to the beggar child is so moved that she gives the child a home.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about Sara's empathy and compassion for others. And why are stories so important to her? How do they help her deal with her sadness? How do the stories she tells relate to what's going on in her life?
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AGE
one of my favorite movies
This movie was really sad but amazing at the same time.i cried about 8 or 9 times and i NEVER cry at movies.....until now!
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AGE
Princess movie for the princess within!
I think this is a fantastic movie, which really brings out the little princess within. I myself would watch it over and over and over. I think it is a coming of age for little girls. Sara is a particularly positive role model expressing that even though she has lost so much, she could still have it worse. I believe every girl should see this movie. 10/10
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AGE
A Little Princess
This was a really good movie. I've seen it a couple times, and I never get tired of it! There is some violence like battle scenes and shoving, but it's not that bad. Sara is a good role model because she makes friends with the nerdy girl and sticks up to the bully in the group. It's a really good movie and I think that you should see it, too!
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April 9, 2008
AGE
a great movie
this is a great movie that made me cry when i watched it.
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AGE
Fine I think
This film will touch everyones hearts. Few scary scenes, which are mentioned up top. Also, some scenes where I think she screams and is locked inside a tiny little room, which could be classed as 'scary'. I think a 10 year old could handle it. The most disturbing scene would be the scene of the dead bodies, but you don't see any faces of the dead.
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AGE
Amazing family movie!! I'm 24 and still "believing in the magic"!!
I saw this movie when it first came to video when I was about 7. I loved it!! So many positive messages in the movie: friendship, treating everyone as equals, sticking up for what you believe in, never giving up, staying strong during hardships, teamwork, caring for the less fortunate, and staying young at heart. I would even say this movie is mildly educational for the fact it encourages children to use their imagination. I think 6 and under would need parental guidance for the war scene and the 10 headed demon Ravana in Sara's story; neither personally scared me, but they might scare sensitive children. Perfect movie for ALL princesses, and even princes too!! ^_^
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AGE
Helped Shape Me Who I Am Today
I remember as a little girl watching this movie hundreds of times. This movie is pure magic. The scenes, the stories are so beautiful. I love the message of this movie. Every girl is a princess, no matter what :)
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AGE
Children (a.k.a Ages 2-7) (too immature, bad, uneterntaining for boys, made for girls)
It is a little immature and there are no "real world" situations. Well, there are but no one of the characters "stand up" or "protest".
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| Topics: | book characters, friendship, great girl role models |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Alfonso Cuaron |
| Cast: | Camilla Belle, Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 97 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 10, 1995 |
| DVD release date: | September 15, 1998 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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