The Boxcar Children

I've seen many movies made from books in the past, and I will say this one does not let you down. I enjoyed this movie just as much if not more than I enjoyed the book, simply for the artistic depiction of nature that really set the mood. As far as accuracy, the movie hit all the points I would have wanted and expected to remain from the book. The movie as a whole was very well made to cater to the age group of those who would otherwise be reading the book series right now. But it does hold on well for those who read the books during their childhood as well. The only thing I could ask is that A) they could have given the kids more than just a single pair of clothes, and B) They make a sequel that is just as true to the second book as this movie is to the first book.

I'm not going to harp on this movie much for its bad animation and choppy characters that look and move an awful lot like the characters in the Heidi series from a few years ago. I'm going to tell you you what is great about this movie.

Unlike most movies or shows for kids now a days boxcar children is not obnoxious. It's the calmest and most laid back program I've ever seen for children. It really mellowed out my 5 year old daughter. It was relaxing for she and I both. That's what i loved about this title the most.

I wish there were more of these movies to be made. There just aren't enough things for kids to watch that are safe and relaxing as well as watchable.

I loved the Boxcar Children as a teenager, and this film is true to the story. It's an exciting adventure, as the four children have to find their own place to live in secret and provide all their needs for food, shelter, and fun, while staying hidden from people they fear mean to separate them. It's a great tale of responsibility, hard work, caring and family. The animation is not Disney level but the scenery is beautiful and the colors vivid. A great film for the whole family.

I clicked on this thinking it was going to be another Foodfight! (after all, the animation is nothing to write home about). Boy, was I pleasantly surprised.

This film, of course, is based on the very first book of the classic Boxcar Children series. Here is the premise: Convinced that their grandfather hates them, four orphan siblings run away and find a boxcar sitting deep in the woods and make it into a home. Eventually, to ensure their survival, the eldest sibling goes into town to find work and begins helping an elderly couple with outdoor chores, and later enters a race for the chance to win a cash prize. The heart of the movie is the bond between the four siblings (Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny) and the things they experience together as a family.

This movie did a wonderful job of keeping the charm and likability of the novel intact. The main characters are all likable and have distinct, relatable personalities. As with 1973's Charlotte's Web, a couple of liberties were taken, but overall, the film remained faithful to the book. I remember smiling when Benny found his cracked pink cup. That's a little touch many would remember from the book, and it is a cute scene.

The voice work is quite good, especially the kids who played the Alden children. An added bonus is the great JK Simmons in the role of the doctor who employs Henry. Not to be outdone, Illeana Douglas as the doctor's wife and Martin Sheen as Grandfather Alden round out the voice cast quite nicely.

It's always a breath of fresh air to find movies like this that are timeless and don't try to modernize our childhood with adult jokes, trendy catchphrases or scatological humor; they just try to tell a great, simple story that's easy to invest in, with characters you find yourself caring about... just as you did when you read these books in your youth. If you did read the books, or at least the first one, and it's a thing of nostalgia for you, you'll definitely like this movie. If not, I'd still recommend giving it a watch anyway, especially if you have little ones. It's not an epic blockbuster; just a sweet little film that deserves more views.

When I first watched this animated film in 2014, it make me feel touched of helping others and truehearted warming support of the siblings and it make me want to work hard for a living and to enjoy a country feel of this film. A great adaptation from the first Boxcar Children book and it really became one of the best animated films of all time! I would highly recommend to every Boxcar Children fan out there!