The Indian in the Cupboard

Kids will love it, adults will think it has good parts and has a lovely idea, but in the end is maybe not fully complete.

I watched the movie as a kid and always somewhat remembered it and recently watched it again to see what it actually was about and to get the whole plot. I definitely like the idea and it is similar to Toy Story, but in the end it felt like something was missing or it was just too much of a movie for kids.

1995 was certainly a great year for fantasy films and The Indian In The Cupboard was one of the many great movies of that year.

A little boy puts a toy Indian in the cupboard and it comes to life. They gradually become good friends throughout the film and the young boy also puts some of his other toys into the cupboard as well.

The acting is great throughout and it's a nice little story as well. The great thing about films like this is that they are pure fantasy and they feature the type of things that most young kids dream about. What young child wouldn't like to bring some of their toys to life? It may never happen but it's great to be able to watch a movie where it does happen.

All in all, a lovely movie for the kids.

Underrated and highly involving movie for kids. A young boy finds out that his cupboard has magical powers and can turn plastic into reality. He first turns a plastic Indian into a real human being. The movie teaches about responsibility but in an understandable way. It isn't patronizing nor childish, which means older audiences should relate to it also. It also mediates on life and death at certain points, and was the first film in a long time to be genuinely emotionally shocking. The relationship between the Indian and the cowboy was very well developed as they started to bond over their tragedies. The film does have a number of loose edges. Rishi Bhat was particularly annoying at times, but in a way he was necessary to play off Scardino. Even Scardino wasn't always a lovable protagonist. In one scene he kicks his brother's pet rat down the stairs, in an event where the rat clearly would have died. As the film hadn't relied on cartoon logic up until that point it was a bit out of place. Great effects, and seeing Darth Vader vs. a T-Rex kind of made up for those moments. A more innocent time when children's movies didn't have to be loud and crass.

Actually quite sweet and enjoyable. But, Patrick and Omri (Stupid name) are so damn irritating, and when Omri kicks the rat, what the hell. God, no offence to the actor, but Omri has such an annoying face, and these emotional scenes which are featured in the film are just ruined by close-ups of his stupid face. Apart from that, it is quite sweet, quite sad and decently fun. I genuinely recommend this if you fancy killing some time.

Forget reviews saying this is not as good as the book. No films are are a good as the book! Watch this movie with an 8 year old child and you will see how good the film is.

Thank you Frank Oz for a wonderful film. The acting from the young children is above average and the tearful ending just right for a young audience. Interesting to note Steve Coogan plays a miniature model come to life - something he repeats later in his career in A Night At The Museum. Typecasting?

The effects are also very good. Remember this is 1995 when CGI was in it's infancy - but the miniaturisation of the cast is flawless.