this is a pleasingly patient film that honestly tackles grief, death and rejuvenation without sentimentality. Given today's average wide-release children's films, that makes "The Secret Garden" a verdant oasis
this film is not the best representation of Burnett's works, which toed the line between the magical and the painfully -- but in the moments when it succeeds, "The Secret Garden" blossoms into something beautiful
heartwarming and entertaining; The Secret Garden looks and sounds great. It's got beautiful cinematography, a lush musical score, and inventive production design. The picture manages to be fun without sacrificing the meaning inherent in Burnett's book
a lavish update to the classic children's story; The film ably captures the magic and innocence of the book. It stumbles somewhat in the final act, but is rescued by a luminous performance from young Dixie Egerickx
a familiar, but still magical tale; Ultimately, however, "The Secret Garden" remains the story people are familiar with, and despite some pacing issues, there's still magic to be found
"The Secret Garden" is a cloying, off-the-mark adaptation of a great novel; this adaptation leans heavily on cliches the story doesn't need; Ironically, the result is to turn a genuinely moving tale into one that is profoundly dull