People are voting emotionally.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Delicate, subtle, as a spring wind. A trip in the childhood colors, with the map of a gorgeous music. Nothing new, nothing spectacular. Two boys and the victory of good. A sword and two worlds. And the music as Proust madlene. A film who must be tasted by everyone. Not only for remember the beauty of a far age but for be more than a shadow. A film for understand the essence of life. Like a hopscotch in the grandparents yard. Christian Bale as Yo-yo, Chistopher Lee as Kato are bones of a time when the life was not a chase, not fiction or frustrations. And,an important piece is the language. In Russian the entire atmosphere is soft and warm.

When I watched ''Mio min Mio'' for the first time, I was a kid with 7 years old. It was one of my childhood's favorite movies, and until the present days I found it magical in a certain way. Reading here in IMDb I discovered that it was based in a book, but sadly I never read it, and I also discovered that the famous music played in the movie that get stuck in your head ,is called "Mio, Min Mio". I didn't remembered that Christian Bale worked in this movie, so it was a real pleasure to see him in the screens.( I like him a lot). I was very afraid as a child about Kato and all that dark atmosphere near his castle, not to mention the kids who were kidnapped and transformed into a bird; the last scene where Kato dies was terrifying, and at the same time very satisfying.It's a pity that this movie isn't very well know. I guess many people would love to have watched this movie as a kid.Ps: Don't forget that this movie was made in a time where Harry Potter didn't exist. But it is funny, since you can see some references to HP's books. The invisible cap that Mio uses, Kato, that always remembers me Voldemort, magic, an orfan who is hated by the people who takes care of him...well..I guess you got the point! :)

I saw this movie first in the early 90's when I was a kid and watched it again yesterday, 10+ years later. It was more impressive back then, I must admit. :)The first part of the story reminded me of Harry Potter and the second of Lord of the Rings, however it solid on it's own and has enough unique features, so you wouldn't be bored. A great fairytale for kids. Not too complex and doesn't have that much emotional tension. I only wish the acting was better, and the events would happen faster, but for an 1987 kids movie it's fine. Otherwise an enjoyable adventure.

As a 40 year-old man, childrens fantasy films usually aren't my first (or even second) choice of movies. I ran across this film on Disney years ago, and videotaped it. It is a good escape to childhood fantasies (especially from someone who had a rough childhood and who often wished something like this would have happened for real!) I loved the music also. If you have kids and see this one, grab it. If you had a childhood you longed to escape from, see it, too. The production values were excellent, also.