Best movie of this year hands down!

As Good As It Gets

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

My childhood was full of obscene movies that don't get recognition. My parents seemed to always bring home movies where if I were to mention them to someone, they'd have no clue what I was talking about. More often than not, the movies would be scary to children who were not used to that type. Thus, I had a varied and interesting movie collection as a child. And my childhood friends would never watch a movie I'd recommend. This has very few spoilers at the end (the first one is more like a warning to parents and the second one to people with germaphobia than spoilers). I put the word spoiler in front of it, so a reader doesn't accidentally read it and get mad at me. This movie is based off a book by the same title by George MacDonald, published in 1872. Many people who have read the book don't like the movie adaption because so much was left out, or barely mentioned, and characters personalities are changed immensely. I've read the book, and I still like this movie. I grew up watching it and read the book much later, so maybe that's why I can excuse the watered down adaption. I love both the book and the movie. Young Princess Irene (pronounced Eye-reen-ee for an unexplained reason; the director was from Hungarian, so maybe that's how it's pronounced there? Just a guess) wanders off from her lady in waiting one day outside the castle, and goes exploring in the nearby woods. Not knowing her way, she gets lost, and is found by a miner's son, Curdie, who warns her about the goblins that could be lurking around in the forest, and leads her back to the palace, becoming friends along the way. When Curdie goes to the mines to work the next day, he slips down a hole that leads him to where the goblins are, deep into the earth, who are concocting a plan against the royal palace.Magic was a majour theme in the novel, and didn't carry into the adaption. There is a bit about magic that isn't explained well by a character that doesn't have a solid place in the story. It can leave the viewer wondering why it was even added in the first place. I think if the movie was longer and added to the magical aspect and the character, the movie would have been a lot better. The story feels incomplete. Good, but incomplete. This is pretty dark for a children's movie (as so many of the old ones are). This movie is not rated, so I recommend that, if someone were to show it to children, to watch it beforehand to decide whether or not its appropriate for the children. This movie can haunt children for life.I'd recommend this movie to a teenager because a lot of teenagers like children movies and darker stories, and this movie infuses the two.This movie is on YOUTUBE. *WARNING/SPOILER* to PARENTS There is a very violent battle between the goblins and the humans in the end, which could frighten children. *END warning/spoiler*To anyone has GERMAPHOBIA or is disgusted easily about bodily functions: *WARNING: The Goblin Prince Froglip picks his nose while in the meeting with his goblin minions, and flicks it into a puddle. I used to be so revolted by that, and I still kinda am, and it grossed me out the first time I saw it. And many times after that. I still cringe at it. *END of warning*If you watched Princess and the Goblin, and liked it, here are a few other older children movies I'd recommend:The Troll in Central Park (1994), The Pagemaster (1994), Matilda (1996), Thumbelina (1994), Ferngully (1992, may also scare young chilren), A Little Princess (1995)

I remember constantly watching this movie as a kid. I even remember where I got it from. Avon, since my Grandma sells it and still does. Out of all the animated movies I don't know why I loved this one so much as a kid. Re-watching it now I still don't. What do I think of it now?Well, it's OK. I've definitely re-watched worse old animated films. This one actually even had some pretty decent songs. The story was simple but good overall. There are some things I noticed about it now that I know I would have never caught as a kid. But then that's why for the most part that I do re-watch things that I watched as a kid. That and to see how they hold up now. One things for sure, I can see why kids would like it. It will always have a lasting impression on my mind also, no matter how faint. :)

I love books,and I love animation, so considering how much I love the book by George MacDonald I wanted to give this movie a try. And you know what, I like this movie a lot. While the book is definitely better, this is quite a charming film. It is too short however, somehow I would've expected it to be 10 minutes longer, and the grandmother wasn't as well explained as she is in the book. Speaking of the grandmother though, I loved not only how beautiful and wise she was but also how Claire Bloom voiced her. I know how a lot of people have complained about the animation being crude and lazy, and I would like to say that I actually liked it. There are some lovely colourful backgrounds and I loved how King Papa, Irene and Grandmother were animated. Also, the goblins who do steal the show with their hatred of poetry and jealousy of humans, are MEANT to be ugly. I liked the music too, the score was beautiful and the song had a really upbeat and medieval feel to it and was sung surprisingly well. The story is easy to follow and is suitably simple, and the voice acting is excellent. Especially Rik Mayall as Froglip, who is quite sexy for a goblin, and Joss Ackland in a wonderfully dignified vocal performance as King Papa. Princess Irene is really cute too, and Sally Ann Marsh voiced her with real innocence and vulnerability and Peter Murray is appealing as Curdie. Also the little kitten Turnip is adorable. In conclusion, this is a good, charming movie. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I was struck by the amateurish animation, like the rough work in the CTW version of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" but with better backgrounds and with even worse sound. I can forgive weak visuals when the story is strong, but this feature falls short there too. It's a mishmash of poorly developed characters and poorly motivated action set pieces. The Great Great Grandmother character is tossed into the mix for some magical glamor, but only adds to the humor and confusion with her "I'll always be there for you, except when I'm not" speech. The violence is also a little rougher than I'm used to, including a bloodstain from a character's wound, a goblin dog shown in shadow being kicked in the head until senseless, and a strange moment where a nursemaid is licked, repeatedly and lasciviously, on her clothed belly and chest by an attacking goblin. The voice acting is good (not surprising considering the cast) but it's not enough to save this movie.