The Princess and the Goblin (1991)

Plot Summary: Princess Irene lives a peaceful life in her castle, but her kingdom is threatened by goblins living underground who plot to overthrow the realm. With the help of a brave young miner named Curdie and her magical great-great-grandmother, Irene must stop the goblins' plan and save her kingdom. Together, they embark on a whimsical adventure full of bravery, magic, and self-discovery.

Director: József Gémes
Producer: PannóniaFilm and Welsh Television
Screenplay: Based on the novel by George MacDonald

Starring:
Claire Bloom as Great-Great-Grandmother
Joss Ackland as King Papa
Sally Ann Marsh as Princess Irene
Peter Murray as Curdie
Roy Kinnear as Goblin King
Mollie Sugden as Goblin Queen

 

***SPOILER ALERT***

A Nostalgic Dive: Revisiting some 90s Kids' Cult Classic

Today was family movie night, and I decided to reach deep into the animation archives of the early '90s. I stumbled upon The Princess and the Goblin (1991), a co-production between Hungary, Wales, and Japan, directed by József Gémes, who had a brief but intriguing career in animation. With such an international team, one might expect something extraordinary, right? Well, let me be clear—this is not Disney. The animation is clunky, character proportions often feel off, and designs can shift from one scene to the next. There's a particular moment where tears cascade down the characters' faces in a way that’s, frankly, bizarre. My 6-year-old daughter, however, had no such complaints—she gave the animation a perfect 10/10, while I couldn’t help but feel today's standards are galaxies away from what this film offers.

Cheese, Music, and Laughs: The Quirks of a Bygone Era

The movie is full of undeniably cheesy moments. From the princess and her cat winking at each other to a hilariously corny group sing-along, the film brims with outdated charm. Even my daughter had her critiques, yelling at the screen, “Sing! Sing!” when one character failed to burst into song during a dramatic goblin encounter. Still, I found some elements enjoyable—particularly the music. The classical compositions by István Lerch evoke shades of Debussy, adding an unexpected layer of sophistication. The king, on the other hand, is comedy gold. He spends most of the movie looking utterly lost in his own castle, and the overly dramatic voice acting makes him unintentionally hilarious.

A Mixed Recommendation for Family Fun

The film’s connection to George MacDonald’s 1872 novel brings some depth, though I found one change from book to screen disappointing. In the book, the magical thread leads Curdie to his house, where the princess is hiding. In the movie, he doesn’t even use the thread, stripping it of its significance. That said, my daughter loved it. She wasn’t scared of the goblins and laughed every time they got their toes stomped. So, do I recommend it? Watching it with kids, exchanging funny looks with my wife as our daughter delighted in its quirks, was worth it. But watching it solo for the love of animation? Hell no!

By the way, you can watch the full movie right here at Freddy's Cine It! Enjoy.

🎥 Cinematography (3/10):

Basic and outdated visuals that don’t stand the test of time.

📖 Story (5/10):

A charming adaptation with a few frustrating deviations from the book.

🎬 Direction (4/10):

Inconsistent execution, but it has moments of unintentional humor.

👥 Characters (4/10):

The king as an unexpected source of laughs.

💥 Visual Effects (3/10):

Clunky animation that looks awkward.

🎭 Acting (4/10):

Over-the-top voice acting adds comedic value, though unintentionally.

💬 Dialogue (4/10):

Cheesy but endearing, with lines kids find engaging.

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (4/10):

A whimsical medieval world that keeps kids entertained.

🎵 Music (8/10):

Beautiful compositions reminiscent of classical masters.

😄 Entertainment Value (5/10):

A-ok family watch, especially for kids who overlook its flaws.

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