MovieChat Forums > The Secret Garden (1993) Discussion > 7.1?!

7.1?!

posted 17 years ago by godandnietzsche
20 replies | jump to latest

This is the first time I've seen a rating of a film and actually been sort of angry. How can this merit less than a 9? Maybe it's because I saw it when I was young but for me this film was so emotionally powerful- I mean, almost everyone on the boards agree that there is this beautiful melancholy surrounding the world this film creates that when the movie ends, leaves you sort of empty. The film speaks for itself, and I know I'm not convincing anybody this film deserves more than a 7.1. I really don't think this is a film that should be rated, because it oversimplifies things. I cannot measure the effect this film had on me as a child, all I know is I've never cried harder at a movie. I've never wanted to be someone else so bad. Still, considering A History of Violence got a 7.5, I demand a recount.

[–] macgeek2004 17 years ago

This film is one of my favorite films of all time. I've been on a quest for the past 2 years, to find a movie that matches this films magical haunting aura and atmosphere, and i've been unsuccessful.

This film is brilliantly acted, directed, and photographed.

I purposefully didn't list the music among the other brilliant aspects, because it is in a class unto itself. I think this film has the best film score ever written. Music definitely speaks for itself, and it's impossible to describe melodies with words, so I won't go into trying to explain why this music in on par with the great classical composers of the past.

I too watched this film dozens of times as a child, but now, as a film maker, I can assure you that it's not nostalgia speaking, when you say that this film shouldn't merit less than a 9.

This is one of the best films ever made.

[–] Martin_Stett 17 years ago

Look, I love this film too, but think about what a 9 means. There are only one or two films on this site that have that rating. It is almost impossible to get it. But I must agree that 7.1 is far too low. One of the greatest films ever made.

Last films seen:
What Dreams May Come (1998) 5/10
The Dirty Dozen (1967) 9/10

[–] macgeek2004 17 years ago

Martin_Stett, you're right. I think the original poster may just not be familiar with the ratings movies get on this site.

I still think this movie deserves a 10/10, but putting it in the perspective of this website, and what all the other films were rated, i'd say it deserves an 8.8. That seems to be the standard number for the masterpieces.

[–] cengelm 16 years ago

... directed, and photographed.

I was disappointed by the photography. There should be a prettier movie possible with the same story. It almost cries for a remake. Tim Burton or Guillermo del Toro are directors who can handle that.

For me: 6/10

[–] Iconoclast321 (375) 3 years ago

From The Future: It was remade. (2020). It was crap.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ii_otoko_99 17 years ago

This movie deserves a 9.5. It is an almost perfect movie, the only flaw I've seen is on the casting. The actor that took the role of Archibald Craven, i think could be improved, John Lynch look so morbid, I think a more handsome actor should be taken, and the toddler that has a short role in Mary's dream. She doesn't look like Kate Maberly. Overall the film is magnificent!

[–] KillMeSomebody 16 years ago

I think the toddler looks close enough and John Lynch was absolutely perfect in his role.
And looking at the title of this thread I thought the movie was getting re-released in HD format with 7.1 soundtrack.. How sad that it's actually about the rating.And yeah, I think this movie deserves a 10, my only problem with it was that the music was a bit repetitive (but great)..but it definetely deserves a 10 simply because it's definetely a lot better than any other movie

[–] SmallTownChina 16 years ago

If it makes you feel better, the mean is 7.6 and the median 8. I guess it's the way IMDB weights the votes that makes it a good deal lower.

[–] metatron42-1 16 years ago

I'm giving a 1/10 to it. Horrible film.

[–] KillMeSomebody 16 years ago

Are you joking? If not, explain.

[–] metatron42-1 16 years ago

It was a pedantic, horribly cloying story. Transcendentalist ideology on the perfection of nature permeated it. It was either terribly dull or ridiculous detailed and bright. It's like if an orchestra had a whammy bar. It's as though the director took the peak of a song and tried to carry it incessantly to the film's finish. Not something I'm interested in, certainly.

[–] KillMeSomebody 16 years ago

...
I'm not really getting your point as a whole. But I'm pretty sure it's better than any other movie I've seen, so I'd like to see some of what you're watching

[–] Don_Incognito 16 years ago

Compare this:

"It was a pedantic, horribly cloying story. Transcendentalist ideology on the perfection of nature permeated it. It was either terribly dull or ridiculous detailed and bright. It's like if an orchestra had a whammy bar. It's as though the director took the peak of a song and tried to carry it incessantly to the film's finish. Not something I'm interested in, certainly."

To this:

"I didn't like it."

Using big, clumsy words won't make your opinion any more respectable. As Orwell said, "Never use a long word where a short one will do." Oh, and in spite of your ponderous vocabulary, you don't seem to know the difference between the adjective "ridiculous" and the adverb "ridiculously."

[–] quembel 16 years ago

Don Incognito I totally agree, big words don't automatically make a person look educated or make their opinion more worthwhile.

Personally I love this film, loved it as a child and now as an adult I appreciate it for different reasons. It is such a sad yet sweet story and I think it is quite underrated.

[–] ingenue82 16 years ago

Yeahh....and those Harry Potter craps (not all craps, only the last 3 movies) got higher rating than this masterpiece.

[–] richtene 16 years ago

I completely agree. This was one of my favorite movies growing up, and when I watched it again recently I was amazed at the atmosphere it creates. It deseves at least an 8.5 for the cinematography and acting alone, but it's also a classic story. I also can't believe that all of the Harry Potter movies have a higher rating than this.

[–] ingenue82 16 years ago

@richtene

"It deseves at least an 8.5 for the cinematography and acting alone"

You forgot to mention the musical score. One of the most beautiful and haunting score. The music played when Mary entered the garden for the first time is really giving me a chill.

[–] fatherchristmas89 12 years ago

I can't believe everyone is slagging off Harry Potter. I have only seen the first 5 but the first one definitely deserves to be in the top 250. This does too. But the first Harry Potter was amazing. Great casting, true to the book, great score etc.

http://www.youtube.com/user/sweetiecandykim

[–] Wayne_is_better_than_Eastwood 10 years ago

I'd say it deserves a 7.7.