The Boy Who Loved Trolls (1984 TV Movie) User Reviews

The Magical Land of Pittsburgh

[caspian1978 · 7/10 · 25 March 2022]

A movie like this will never be made ever again. An hour long tv special from the early 80's, The Boy Who Loved Trolls is as unique as its cast of characters, most importantly the actor who portrayed them. Sam Waterson, William H Macey, Josh Mostel and many familiar faces show up to tell this interesting story. Although this movie is about the search for trolls, it is a story about Paul, an older boy who is on the brink of becoming a man. Hence his journey in the film is one of adultescence. Starting to shave, or thinking that you are ready to shave is equal to the storyline of the love for trolls. Paul seeks to find magic in the land of Pittsburgh as he begins to notice girls. The movie perfectly captures the magical innocents of childhood and what comes next.

Wonderful movie for nostalgic adults and children

[notthe_momma · 7/10 · 18 April 2010]

I have this movie on a VHS tape that I recorded YEARS ago when my children were small. My 26 year old son just recently asked me if I still had it and could make him a copy on DVD, which I did. Funny how the shows watched as children are still in his mind. He has just started collecting movies and shows from his childhood. Being nostalgic myself I still have them all on tape. My daughter, age 20, has also recently asked for the movie "The Little Ghost" which she remembered fondly as a child, but thinks is silly now. I'm glad to see they are still enjoying these classic children's movies instead of some of the garbage shown nowadays.

I finally found it!

[kelli2582 · 8/10 · 11 July 2005]

I saw this movie as a little girl. I was 2 when it was made so it was on TV until I was about 7. It included everything from bad guys to mermaids and trolls. It's funny because its a movie basically about growing up, this kid is holding on to magic and being a kid but at the same time it is telling you to believe and keep yourself young at heart. I don't quiet remember everything only because I was so young but from what I do it was amazing. See it if you can, great film, great fun. I have spent years looking for this movie and finally bought it off ebay. Little cheesier than I remember lol but it still rocks. Finding this was like finding an old friend.

I AM the boy who loved trolls!

[toqbon · 10/10 · 25 February 2002]

I was 8 years old the first time I saw this movie, when it originally aired on tv. Even then, something about the storyline really struck a chord with me. As silly as it may seem, I believe this movie tells it like it really is--you don't have to change who you are or stop believing in magic just because you grow up. I love this movie. I am the boy who loved trolls. Do you believe in magic? :)

This movie was awesome!!!

[fistoffury · 10/10 · 8 February 2006]

I just got the movie off of e-bay and watched it again after all these years from when I saw it on television at the age of eight, and I can truly say it is every bit as awesome as it was when I first saw it! This movie shows you the magic of the child within and the magic of life in general! It rocks! The movie is about this twelve year old boy, Paul, your preteen whose growing up but in some ways doesn't really want to, you see him going through the various struggles, trying to get girls to notice him, trying to get into an R rated movie, and making a fool out of himself by goofing up while hes daydreaming, dropping ice cream on a record player and knocks all the merchandise off the shelf of a sporting goods store as he tries to shoot a basket. He still likes his old book about trolls but his mom thinks hes getting too old for that, but he refuses to stop believing in trolls and magic. He goes around looking for trolls, looking under bridges trying to find them, and finally meets a real troll named Ofoeti. At first though Paul doesn't believe that Ofoeti really is a troll because Ofoeti isn't what Paul imagined trolls to be. Soon however he does believe Ofoeti is a troll because he goes to this beautiful underground palace and his whole world changes. What happens next, well, I don't want to spoil it, but regardless, this is an awesome movie! I recommend everybody see it!

A remake of Ofoti, 1966

[nemo-28 · 24 September 1999]

This movie was a part of a series of children's films for PBS's Wonderworks, produced, in part by WQED Pittsburgh. It's actually a remake of another WQED production of the play "Ofoti" filmed in black and white, (1966), about the timeless magic of childhood, and a boy's understanding of imagination. NET Playhouse bought the film and aired it on public television from 1966-1970. Philosophically, its theme reminded me of another children's film "The Phantom Tollbooth."

I love this show

[sharon-straka · 10/10 · 6 March 2013]

I remember seeing it when I was 12, and I still love it. Years later, when I saw Sam Waterston in his later rolls in television shows and two movies that I have seen, I fondly remembered him as Ofoti. It's hard to believe that he was 44 when this movie came out, since he looks so much younger. Of course, considering his character is supposed to be like, what over 1,000 years old he looks pretty darn good. LOL This is based on the number of children that are in the palace. I'm going to go start an intelligent discussion about the movie on the message boards if anyone wants to join me.

Sharon

Great movie!

[jtwelch86 · 4 July 2002]

"The Boy Who Loved Trolls" used to frequently air on the Disney Channel when I was young. Paul's line "Excuse me, do you know where I could find a troll?" remains in my memory to this day. Even though the video is out of print, there's probably a way to find it and maybe someday I will look into it.

A silly, silly, silly movie

[Brigitte-5 · 5 August 1999]

This was a silly, silly, silly movie, but if you're a fan of Law and Order, boy, this will be a RIOT! Sam Waterson, stirring a boiling cauldron, wearing troll clothes, going by the name Ofoti (sp?) playing silly games with mermaids and turtles, hoo boy!