5 Children & It
by John Stephenson
List Price:
Our Price: $2.36
You Save: $3.62 (61%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.41 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Alex Jennings, Freddie Highmore, Jessica Claridge, Jonathan Bailey, Tara FitzgeraldDirector: John Stephenson
Brand: HIGHMORE,FREDDIE
Producer: Hannah Leader
Producer: James D. Stern
Producer: Jane Barclay
Producer: Kathy Sykes
Producer: Kristine Belson
Writer: David Solomons
Writer: E. Nesbit
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 89 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-07-05
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of 5 Children & It
DVD Review: Read the Book Once a Year, watch the movie and enjoy both
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this book for my children in the 1980s as they became old enough to read. I read it back then and found it pleasant. In April/May 2008 I re-read it after noticing E. Nesbit was honored in the pages of one of my favorite books, Half Magic. My youngest daughter, as an 8 year old, read Five Children and It and told me she pretty much loved it until she saw this movie a year later, May 2008. Then she said she loved the movie more. Good for her. She isn't wrapped up in "rules" as I am.
The movie was shockingly different from the book, and I found myself endlessly comparing it to the book and being frustrated. I could've enjoyed the movie a lot if I had relaxed.
Did the movie include as much as 2 percent from E. Nesbit's book? Does anyone know? There was nothing about a war in the book. There was no train, tramp with suitcases, mansion, relatives, forbidden room, beach, and no enormous shell containing the sand fairy who tried running away.
The sand fairy's appearance, character and words were all dramatically different. He was endearing in the book. I missed his wisdom and vulnerability. You know how important it was that Gollum in Tolkien's books be done well for the movies? I feel like that about E. Nesbit's sand fairy. The movie sand fairy was lively and sarcastic and funny but he wasn't the book sand fairy.
The book had no crazy chore list, no clones, no broken vase, no testdrive of a car, no Germans, no ice cream man.
Everything having to do with wings in the movie differed from the book. In the book, the children agreed on wings and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. It was supremely glorious day. No problems until they got hungry and fell asleep. The book had charming realistic, practical dilemnas for their wings adventure. I loved that part of E. Nesbit's story. Sigh. The movie invented some conflict and drama and danger with their flight, but I much preferred the book's simple realism and good heart during that day's wish.
Everything to do with the children's father and his compass, birthday picnic, the near dissection, and the dinosaur didn't exist in the book.
I was especially bothered by the movie character played by Freddie. The movie character was rebellious, angry, passionate, and clearly the lead character. Not so in the book. I don't blame Freddie. As Jessica Rabbit would say, "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." I don't see why the story wasn't "modernized" to win a new generation, retaining the best the book had to offer. Who made the decision to change 98%?
E. Nesbit deserves to have her books made into first class movies. This can be done without having her plot and characters butchered/annihilated. How far can movie makers go with their "adaptations" and still credit a source? What a dilemna. She deserves the recognition.
I recommend you enjoy the book and enjoy the movie. They both are worth owning and worth re-reading/watching over and over. Just let go of thinking the movie will do justice to the book.
Description of 5 Children & It
Set during World War I in England, five children are sent to live with their eccentric uncle where they discover a fairy named It who grants them a wish every day.Genre: Feature Film Family
Rating: NR
Release Date: 1-NOV-2005
Media Type: DVD
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Peter Pan (Widescreen Edition)Universal Studios; Release date: 2004-05-04; DVD
Best price: $4.18
Price in other shops:
Dragon HuntersPeace Arch Home Entertainment; Release date: 2009-06-23; DVD
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Finding Neverland (Widescreen Edition)Buena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2005-03-22; Published: 2005-03-01; DVD
Best price: $4.50
Price in other shops:
Nanny McPhee (Widescreen Edition)NBC Universal; Release date: 2006-05-09; DVD
Best price: $3.80
Price in other shops:
Nim's Island (Widescreen Edition)Fox Home Entertainment; Release date: 2008-08-05; DVD
Best price: $2.25
Price in other shops:
Arthur and the Invisibles (Widescreen Edition)Wellspring Media INC; Release date: 2007-05-15; Published: 2007-05-01; DVD
Best price: $4.07
Price in other shops:
Masterpiece Theatre: Railway ChildrenPBS; Release date: 2002-10-01; DVD
Best price: $9.87
Price in other shops:
Five Children and It (Puffin Classics)by E. Nesbit
Penguin Group USA; Puffin; Published: 2008-09-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.49
Price in other shops:
The Phoenix and the CarpetBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2005-09-27; DVD
Best price: $5.25
Price in other shops:
Five Children and It/ The Return of ItImage Entertainment; Release date: 2005-11-08; DVD
Best price: $99.98