Mrs Peppercorn's Magical Reading Room

I have to disagree with the first 3 reviewers of this film about most what they have said about this film, I found this short film to be very charming with great cinematography by Stephen Murphy, with wonderful sets and locations for a film made for only £25,000, The script was quite good but I felt that it needed a stronger ending, The Director although not getting the best from the actors has made his film to have style and flow, with some scenes having a really nice fantasy feel to them, I also liked the fact that there was narration used throughout the film, some people have criticized this but those same people would not criticize narration when used in films like Harry Potter, I felt it was totally right for this film as we are talking about a story about books reading and storytelling, also the film is a short, so narration is also a great way to get in more story than there is time for, I also thought that the music was just right 90% of the time and for one reviewer to say it was silly is incredible to me as it was non-intrusive and complimentary to the action. Now on to the actors, The young girl had lots of charm but lacked a little in the emotional scenes, when she ran to her grandmother, this fell flat for me,also no reaction of wonder when she opened the book of butterflies. Mr and Mrs Libby could have been a lot more comical and eccentric for me, but I fear the acting talent would not allow for this, The old lady Mrs Pepercorn played by Margerat Jackman played her part with a lot of dignity and grace and overall it was a pleasant character. The narration by Penny Ryder I thought was very well done, a gentle motherly feel to it which was very enjoyable. As far as the girl being left on her own after dark has a slight awkwardness attached to it but please remember this is a fantasy and again we did not moan about the small children in the Harry Potters first film being left many times in the dark and in peril, so I say again this is a fantasy film, not reality. The effects were a mixed bag, The opening titles were done with great style with a nice magical quality to the font and way they were camera tracked to the street scene, the animations flying and twirling out of the book were I felt slightly detached from the library scene, The animations over the last Mrs Peppercorn shot of moving books and movement on the walls was delightful. Overall this short film of 25 mins is an incredible achievement for the budget that they had to work with and everyone involved should be proud of their film.

Can only agree with the other review. (from tracy lords)

I haven't met the director so can't comment on that, (although his name does appear in the credits about ten times, so obviously didn't want people to miss it), but this film is all production value and little else.

The story meanders, the performances are weak and the only thing that ties it together at all is the voice over - and why have voice over when you should be able to tell the story in the narrative?

It's long for a short film about twenty or twenty five minutes but even with all that time it still doesn't tell a complete story, it's just a collection of ideas that don't really tie together.

If you haven't seen it I wouldn't bother.

Omg! What a terrible short film.

I just saw this film online streamed on the internet, some films are so bad, they're good. meaning " good fun" or even slightly "entertaining" or at least "interesting" But few films can claim to be so terrible. Mrs.peppercorn is a dumbed down movie . Bad acting, poor script, over the top music... Anti-climax with endless credits. Shockingly rubbish even the English accents did not save this movie, or make it appealing.

It's poorness is so extreme with a rubbish story, tied up by a voice over. The script is non-existent, the acting makes Paris Hilton look like a Oscar winning actress. It was just terrible the acting and over the top performances. It was so boring, for me it just felt like a 25 minute trailer with a pointless plot. They should of cut it down to just 2 minutes then perhaps it would of been slightly entertaining.

There is no story and I just don't understand why someone would feel that they would waste so much money on production costs rather than story. The dialog is poor and the characters performances were wooden. It is also painfully slow It was rather silly amusing.

I felt so let down at the end, and my children we saying that it was boring. There were no real qualities about this movie at all. The music was silly the special effects were pointless. The film doesn't even educate or entertain and I was so bored after the first 10 minutes. Bad direction and it felt like a long trailer.

Poor short film not worth viewing at all.

I saw this film in Manchester a few months back at a special screening. I am so sorry it is a terrible short film. I am sorry to say the music was silly and over the top. It was so silly. Cringe worthy.

This story was terrible, the acting was poor. I also showed this film which has now been streamed online too my children and they were creeped out when one of the characters mentioned "Only special children are allowed in there" And another thing one of my children pointed out. Why would a mother let a small girl out at night? Not even miss her? There would be a search party out. It was pointless tripe.

The only thing I will say is that the production value was good. Pointless mind you because it does not show in the slightest that the director has any creative ability, or know how to work with the story. It was just pointless and terrible.

Badly written, badly acted and not suitable for children at all. Story wise no parent would let their child wonder around at night. In a nutshell this short film is a shiny Bentley with no engine 2 -10 that only because of the production value. The special effects were good and thats about it. Not worth viewing at all..