Maia Appleby I loved this movie. It tugs at your heartstrings a la "Little House on the Prairie", but it also teaches young viewers a lot about the time in which Samantha lived -- and the social issues that the people of 1904 were confronting. My daughter and I have had several discussions prompted by this movie and it even amazes me how much things have changed in a century. Today's girls can hardly imagine children working in factories or women not being allowed to vote. Samantha, though privileged and isolated, admirably deals with her problems with courage and great sensitivity.The acting could be a little better and there is one factory scene that's a bit disturbing, but overall, it's definitely worth watching.

iCarlyFan2009 I got this movie on DVD last January 2004 & it is the most Wonderful movie for the whole family (even my mom like it).This movie is about a young girl name Samantha (AnnaSophia Robb) & she lives in NewYork 1904. Samantha help her friends to make a Christmas joy to everyone & try to love her grandmother name Grandmary (Mia Farrow) but first Samantha met a name name Nellie O'Malley (Kelsey Lewis) & help her to have a Christmas Wish that she want as well as helping herself too. This movie is the best film for the Holiday season & hope everyone like this movie too.I saw that they repeated on TV a few day before Christmas'2005 but it better that I watch it on DVD.I give this movie a 10/10 because it a great movie.If you like this movie, Than you will like "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure" & other American Girl movies.

Garbo1990 I saw this movie and it put such a wonderful feeling in me that I could not stop smiling--seriously, I was smiling like an idiot. I think the acting was superb, and I can be a very harsh judge, because I am serious about acting and I know a lot about it. The actors all did an excellent job. It was a very sweet movie, and I actually taped it on the telly after watching it the first time. The costumes were amazing, and the casting fit perfectly in my mind. Mia Farrow was great as Grandmary, Anna Sophia Robb did a great job as Samantha, and all the other actors were great. But my favorite was Rebecca Mader, who played the role of Aunt Cornelia. She was very lovely and did great. It was the best movie I've seen come out in months, and it really teaches you a lesson and gives you hope to go on and live your dreams. I absolutely loved it!

jwhale9382 I was surprised when I heard this was being made into a movie. My sister read the American Girls books when she was a kid, and I never expected them to make a movie out of them. But all things considered, I thought the WB did a good job.First of all, Annasophia Robb is a cute little kid, and at twelve years old, she has the potential to be a talented actress. She did a great job in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and looked as if she had fun while doing it. In the movie, Annasophia plays Samantha Parkington, a ten-year-old girl living in New York in 1904. The acts of the film are divided into the four seasons. In the spring, she makes friends with the servant girls living next door. In the summer, she meets her uncle's new wife. In the fall, she moves in with her aunt and uncle in the city, and then helps her three friends escape from an orphan home. In the winter, everyone lives happily ever after.The orphanage reminded me of a federal prison, and the warden, er, manager reminded me of Carol Burnett in Annie. I also liked the movie's message about helping the needy. That's what made it a family movie.So maybe it wasn't Emmy worthy, but if you have kids, or you just like cute movies, you'll like this movie.