roxanne_janson Excellent movie for kids and family. Perfect for ages 10 and up, but 7-year-old kids absolutely loved it, too. As my daughter said, "It was so good, I forgot to eat my candy!" I spoke to several of the children, teenagers and adults after the movie. They all thoroughly enjoyed it. I specifically asked the mothers of 7-year-old girls if they were glad they brought their young daughters to the movie even though it's PG, and they each enthusiastically said yes. "Good values" was a phrase I heard very often by the adults. "Every girl should see it", said another.The main character works through issues such as basic right and wrong, friendship, bigotry, and family communication, and gives parents in the audience a wonderful opportunity to begin discussions on these topics with their own children. Finally, a good movie I'm actually glad my daughter saw.

jdesando `Her Majesty' is a New Zealand story for the whole family set in the '50's about a young girl's idealism and white racism against the Maoris. Elizabeth Wakefield (Sally Andrews) is a 13-year old royalist hell bent on meeting Queen Elizabeth. But before that can happen she must first go through the coming-of-age challenges of racist whites, angry Maoris, out-of-it parents, over-the-top cruel brother, unfaithful friends, handsome teacher, and scores of unanswered letters to the queen.First-time film director Mark Jordan has caught the didactic spirit of `Whale Rider,' a New Zealand tale of 12–year-old Pai's struggle to become chief of her Maori people in the face of daunting sexism and tradition. As in that film, `Her Majesty' exposes the foolishness of the men and the wisdom of the women. None is wiser than the `town witch,' Hira Mata (`Whale Rider's' Vicky Haughton), who befriends Elizabeth and serves as the change agent for civility. The queen's imminent arrival serves as a metaphoric wakeup call for the town to sharpen up, not just for the gardens but for their own racist regimen.The performances are stiff and slow as might be expected for a film better suited to young audiences: The fight scenes between sister and brother are like awkward dance lessons; the reactions of almost everyone are too large for the screen, except for old Mata's, themselves not as subtle as they could be.Queen Elizabeth II visited the location, Cambridge, New Zealand, in 1953. Gordon catches the spirit, mood, and look of that age in vivid primary colors, almost cartoon or comic like. But the moral lessons learned by little Elizabeth transcend even the queen; she has learned, as Henry Potter said in 1889, `the one pre-eminent distinction, the royalty of virtue.' It's the New Zealand I remember and the Maori spirit I felt; for that, Gordon earns my respect.

byers9 It is a rare occasion for our whole family to enjoy the same film. Our kids (8 and 4) tend to have a lower expectation than do their parents. I know a movie is good that makes both me and my kids tear up with joy! I hope that this film can be an example to Hollywood that "family movies" can be thought provoking, beautifully shot, and interesting to the whole family, even without bodily function jokes. Remember, Hollywood, who pays for those eight-year old's movie tickets!! Please find a distributor for this movie. I know a lot of families who would love to see it!! Thanks to the Seattle International Film Festival for choosing this wonderful movie. REALLY. I am a fairly tough critic.

rco01 The writer and director have provided a wholesome and entertaining movie which should be appreciated by the whole family. It encompasses history involving the peoples of New Zealand and England. It is a lovely story concerning trips taken by English Royalty to New Zealand and shows how a gift of appreciation is misused and how this misuse is finally rectified. The cast does a fine job of portraying the characters involved and the movie leaves you with an overall pleasant feeling of enjoyment.