Stefan Czapsky

It amazes me that I never got around to reading this book when I was younger. I watched the movie enough times, but somehow skipped the book.

It was hard to read the book with fresh eyes, even though it has been well over 15 years since I last watched the movie version, I can still picture the actors.

Roald Dahl has a unique writing style and I would recommend all young readers pick up Matilda.

The little girl in me will always remember (and still relate to) Matilda, the brilliant little girl show more who loves reading and learning. As a child I remember practising telekinesis (with no avail), and devouring every book I could get my hands on.

As a mother, I am horrified by the parents, I couldn't imagine having a child you 'just put up with'. Children are precious and innocent. Every child deserves the best possible life that their parents can afford/give them, but money aside, you can ALWAYS give your child your love and attention. show less

We thoroughly enjoyed this, despite not having any children with us. Mara Wilson is excellent as the unusually brilliant Matilda, and Pam Ferris makes an exaggeratedly terrible Miss Trunchbull. Other than being set in the United States rather than the UK, this adaptation sticks fairly well to the original story written by Roald Dahl. Inevitably there are some omissions and a few extra scenes which add visual interest and some tension, but which are in keeping with the Dahl style.

Rated PG, show more as there is a fair bit of tension and some exaggerated violence that's done for comedy, but which might worry a sensitive child.

With that proviso, I would definitely recommend this film to children, teens, parents and grandparents!

Longer review: https://suesdvdreviews.blogspot.com/2024/06/matilda-mara-wilson.html show less

An unappreciated little girl has a powerful mind.

Cartoonish fun. I'm not a fan of the story; the antagonist is too purely mean and cruel with no reason - universally detestable - which I always find to be a tedious and ineffective device. But it's still a good movie.

A man with scissors for hands is taken in by a suburban family.

The style and the sense of humor are fun (and of course Tim Burton has been trying and failing to recapture it for more than two decades). The attempt to force drama in the second half is tedious.

Concept: B
Story: C
Characters: C
Dialog: B
Pacing: B
Cinematography: B
Special effects/design: A
Acting: C
Music: B

Enjoyment: B

GPA: 2.8/4