JLRMovieReviews Two children run away from home and stay at the New York museum. Sound unbelievable! Well, it happens in this film, "The Hideaways." Based on a children's book, the film centers its attention more on the older sister than the younger brother. I had never seen this before, but I feel like I would have loved it had I seen this when I was younger. But even as an adult now, I really like it a lot. The film may not seem like much, but we are completely immersed in their own little world as they discover art in the museum. The movie is so well written and made believable by the actors' credible acting. Then much of a to-do is made of a Madonna sculpture and who actually made it. They come to find out it was donated by a rich and eccentric lady. When the girl decides she has to know all about it, they find out where she lives and visit Mrs. Frankweiler, played by Ingrid Bergman. In one of her last films, Ms. Bergman is a delight as she toys with their curiosity and ultimately has a long talk with the girl about life and one's choices. I particularly enjoyed that; it was a very touching moment, maybe made even more poignant for those people who know of Ingrid Bergman's life and career. (She would live only another 7 years.) This is a very endearing, sweet film that children (and Ingrid Bergman fans) would love. I wish it were shown on television, so that today's younger generations could discover this great little film about growing up. Discover "The Hideaways," or "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" today.

Wizard-8 I never read "From The Mixed-Up Files..." either as a child or as an adult (there are a lot of classic children's books I never got around to reading.) Maybe if I had read the book as a child I would have fallen in love with it and readily accept a cinematic telling of it.As you might have guessed, I was disappointed with this movie. I couldn't warm up to it for the most part. The first problem I had was with the female child character. I didn't have any sympathy for her. She seems to run away just for the fact she has to take the garbage out. I had no feeling of pain and frustration from her.Speaking of feelings, for most of the running time, I felt no sense of awe, wonder, or feeling of mystery with the children on their runaway journey. Their staying at the museum was, frankly, boring. Though when Bergman's character turns up, things pick up considerably. Her character is interesting, she's mysterious, and she brings that needed feelings of awe, wonder, and mystery. If only the rest of the movie had been like that! What will kids think? Well, I think they will be squirming in their seats for the most part. Based on what I've heard of the book, I would suggest you give them the book instead of this movie.

Valerie Garber I loved E. L. Konigsberg's book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It is one of a few books that I remember fairly vividly from childhood, and I recently read it with my son, so we decided to watch this movie. I liked the movie, and thought that the children and Ingrid Bergman all gave fine performances. However, the movie differs from the book on minor details that I could see no rationale for changing (saying that Mrs. BEF lived in New Jersey, rather than Connecticut, for example). Mainly, though, I was very disappointed in the way the story ends in the movie in comparison to the book. In the book, Mrs. BEF gives the children a time limit and lets them figure out the answer to the mystery themselves. But in the movie, Mrs. BEF leaves Jamie playing cards with her butler, while she takes Claudia to another part of the house, where Mrs. BEF essentially solves the mystery for Claudia. I would still recommend the movie, but it's not nearly as good as the book.

Teddy-48 Loved the book and have watched the film every time I've noticed it on TV so, unlike many book-to-film adaptations, it didn't irritate me.Not a bad little adaptation of an enjoyable children's book, though not the film to go for if you're expecting complex plot or heart-stopping excitement.For those who don't mind spoilers, it is the story of a sister and brother who run away from home and end up living in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (yes, it's improbable, but none the less enchanting and enjoyable). They remain there until the girl discovers, or thinks she has discovered, proof that one of the pieces in the museum is by a great artist and sets out to meet and consult the woman who donated the piece, Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler (Ingrid Bergman).