Heidi (1993)

I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The book was one of my childhood favourite books and still is a personal favourite. Adaptations always deserve to stand on their own two feet and this version of Heidi is not an exception. The beginning did seem over-dramatic; some of the characters could have been more sympathetically written(especially the grandfather who's often too hostile, Clara too on some occasions); Clara's healing could have been more gradual; and keeping the grandmother alive longer, to hear that Heidi can now read(one of the book's most heart-warming parts), would have given the adaptation more heart than it already had. These all aside, this Heidi is still good and engaging. It is skilfully filmed, the Alps scenery is just gorgeous and the costume design and the settings in general are handsomely done. It's not big-budget or lavish, nor did it need to be. The music score is always involving and whimsical, always fitting with what's going on. While the dialogue is thoughtfully adapted and warm-hearted and while over-dramatic at times the story is never dull or abrupt, instead it's heart-warming, charming and engaging. The ending did bring a lump to my throat, then again the ending in Heidi is always emotional. The direction keeps things moving at a steady pace while also giving the story life. The acting is not a problem either, Noley Thornton is outstanding as Heidi being both adorable and strong-willed and Jason Robards supports her firmly in a charismatic and very emotionally committed way, though in the more redemptive scenes he could have been more gentle but he did a wonderful job considering how the Grandfather was written here. Lexi Randall's Clara is passionate and touching while Jane Seymour is temperamental and formidable without hamming things up and Patricia Neal's Grandmother is noble and affecting. So overall, not the best adaptation for die-hard fans of the book but as a standalone film, even with the not-so-great things, this version of Heidi is well worth the watch. 7/10 Bethany Cox

each adaptation is a provocation for viewer. because the shadow of reading is large and high. because the expectations are not little. in this case, all is at perfect place. Noley Thornton shines and Jason Robards is the best grandfather. and, like a good film, it is not exactly an adaptation but a translation not for the book but for its spirit. touching and immersive, fresh and lovely, it gives all gifts who was expected. and this is the key of this Heidy, more realistic than other versions, more close than a family film definition. because it is only a movie for children but , in same measure, for refreshing memories of parents. and the cast, especially ,the great Jason Robards, the smart screenplay writer and , sure, Michael Ray Rhodes makes a good and almost admirable work.

Disney is known for some pretty cheesy rock-to-the-head morals but usually the high budget production at least makes it tolerable. This, on the other hand, is low budget Disney cheese - the stuff you find at the back of your fridge and shove way back in, in the hopes that maybe if you ignore it long enough it'll go away. It begins by shoehorning in an overdramatic scene with Heidi's parents. They are on screen for a handful of minutes so who even cares about them? Nobody, at the point where they stand frozen in stupidity watching a tree really really really slowly topple over after being struck by lightening. Seriously. I was glad they were dead. They deserved it. And it all went downhill from there. Whoever cast the Heidi kid... I'm not sure what they were going for. It was like they said "we're looking for another Annie, only with no personality." Honestly, I don't even particularly like Shirley Temple, and the Shirley Temple version was a thousand times beyond this one in terms of quality. Shirley brought personality and precociousness to the role that this kid entirely lacks. As the movie rests on this kid's shoulders, it fails dismally, especially as the rest of the cast perform equally poorly, making the whole movie an exercise in wondering "good god, how much of this can possibly be left to watch?"

Excellent movie!! This is one of my all-time favorite movies. It is beautifully acted and I never get sick of watching it over and over!! Noley Thorton is cute as a button and perfect as little Heidi and Lexi Randall's performance as Clara is amazing! Jason Robards is wonderful as grandfather and Jane Seymour is great as Freuline Rottenmier, the character you love to hate! I think this is one of the best if not the best family movies of all time! I reccomend it to anyone of any age!