User Reviews

It's 1902 and Beatrix Potter is being stifled by her social-ladder-climbing parents. Always a teller and writer of stories, Beatrix breaks free from her suffocation and takes her tale of Peter Rabbit to the Warne publishers. Where she is pleasantly surprised to find a deal offered and young Norman Warne assigned personally to aid her in her first publishing venture. But as the pair start to fall in love, and the book takes off, the pressure from home threatens to derail her chance of happiness.

Before it was even released, Miss Potter was being tagged Oscar Bait by lazy and uninformed movie fans. It seems that any film that falls into this ilk, is considered to be folly and destined to be rubbish. Why that is I don't know, since film's like Miss Potter, Seabiscuit, Cinderella Man and Finding Neverland are technically great movies that tell amazingly impacting stories. Amazingly impacting stories backed up by fine acting I might add. Things further hindered Miss Potter by those decrying the casting of Renée Zellweger in the title role, it was Bridget Jones madness all over again. Once again Zellwegger took up the challenge and proved it to be an inspired choice to put her into the prim and proper corset of our dear Beatrix. Then there was the historical inaccuracies argument {like it has stopped so many millions of film's in the past doing it!}, none of which are really worth listing. So finally the last big negative put forward to kick Miss Potter is the age old chestnut of it not being a fully formed bio-picture. Please, do me a favour. It's got a running time of 90 minutes and primarily focuses on the most telling time in her life.

What Miss Potter is guilty of is not affording more time to her wonderful artistic achievements. Director Chris Noonan {Babe} and writer Richard Maltby, Jr. choose to enforce the whimsy and romanticism rather than showcase what a unique talent she was. In fact Miss Potter for the most part makes Beatrix comes off as a kooky dreamer. Something she most probably was when she dived into her work. Thankfully tho, in the last quarter of the piece, Beatrix is shown to be the strong, ahead of her time, woman that she was. Her conservationism and blow striking from the gorgeous Lake District she called home, is given weight and rounds the film out nicely. Prior to this we are treated to a magical world where Beatrix's creations come to life on the page, only to her you understand, but the impact as she converses with the likes of Peter Rabbit is uplifting and keeps us focused on what great work she achieved in the world of children's books. Conversely, when things do go bleak, as most Potter fans know as regards her real life story, the animation sequences are brilliant at portraying Beatrix's emotional state. Great work from Noonan and his animation team. While a special mention for Andrew Dunn is due because his cinematography around the Lake District is truly sumptuous.

In support of Zellwegger {who was nominated for Golden Globe} is Ewan McGregor {delightful and believable} as love interest Norman Warne, Emily Watson {terrific} as Norman's sister Millie, an early feminist and confidante of Beatrix. While Bill Paterson and Barbara Flynn as the Potter parents involve and infuriate to the right levels of story enhancement. Yes it's charming, yes it's sweet, but Miss Potter is far more than just a movie made to please a certain demographic, or Oscar, as the silly people say. Expect a film about a period in her life and accept that at 90 minutes long it's never going to be a fully formed Beatrix Potter film. And you may just be as beguiled as I was. Not as classy as Finding Neverland, but a most worthy accompaniment to that picture it be. 8/10

In 1902, in London, the spinster Beatrix Potter (Renée Zellweger) is a thirty-six year-old woman who lives with her bourgeois parents. Her snobbish mother Helen Potter (Barbara Flynn) had introduced several bachelors to Beatriz until she was twenty years old but she turned them all down.

Beatrix Potter has been drawing animals and making up stories about them since she was a child but her parents has never recognized her as an artist. One day, Miss Potter offers her stories to a print house and the rookie publisher Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor) is delighted with her tales and publishes her first children's book.

The successful selling leads Norman to publish two other books and Miss Potter becomes the best friend of his single sister Millie Warne (Emily Watson). Sooner they fall in love with each other but Helen does not accept that her daughter marries a "trader". However, Beatrix's father Rupert Potter (Bill Paterson) proposes that his daughter spends the summer with his wife and him in their country house in Lake District and if she is still interested in Norman after the summertime, he would bless their marriage. When Miss Potter stops receiving letters from Norman, she is disappointed. Until the day she receives a letter from Millie explaining what had happened to Norman.

"Miss Potter" is a beautiful film about the life of the British writer of children's books Helen Beatrix Potter. This writer is not popular in Brazil and "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" was only published in Portuguese in 2009.

I saw "Miss Potter" without knowing that it was biographical and I found very sad when she loses Norman. However, Renée Zellweger once again has a magnificent performance in the role of a woman ahead of her time. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Miss Potter"

I watched this movie sort of by accident. Of course I was very familiar with Beatrix Potter the writer and painter and had read many of her stories to my children in their childhood years.

I spent some time working on a project in Barrow-in-Furness and the company put me up in the quaintly named Drunken Duck Hotel in the Lake District. I had a couple of weekends to look around the district and the hotel people suggested that I have a look at Hilltop Farm, at Near Sawrey. Her farm is captivating. But while her writing etc is one thing she was a passionate environmentalist and lover of the countryside, and a great philanthropist.

I bought the DVD there and watched it in the hotel. It is beautifully crafted and Renee Zellweger does indeed do a very good job. She was an immensely talented and modern woman for her time and I think this comes through in the movie. She was far more than Peter Rabbit.

I have to say, I chuckled over Ewan McGregors casting. While he does a good job as Miss Potter's ill-fated fiancée, I can't but think it was a nod to 'Mr McGregor'.

If you are ever in the Lake District, I would recommend the Drunken Duck and Hill Top Farm, and the nearby Hardknott Pass Rd which leads to the Roman fort.

Every time I see a book or a character of Beatrix Potter, it brings a nostalgic feeling that takes me back to when I was 7-10 years old, the time when I discovered her books and fell in love with them. I still love all the characters. Her paintings always amuse me with the delicacy, detail and creativity behind it and the books remain a favourite children's book to me.

Noonan does a a meritorious job of his presentation of Miss Potter. Though it's not exactly an accurate portrayal, the storytelling is commendable. He already has shown what an excellent storyteller he is in 'Babe' and 'Miss Potter' is an equally story that isn't overly saccharine-filled. He has a talent of showing spirited characters and relationships. The animation is used wonderfully giving us a glimpse of Beatrix's fantasy world. I also liked how her works were effectively introduced (without looking like a booksale promotion). Furthermore, it is gratifying that he shows Beatrix's contribution to conservation. He beautifully captures the dazzling English countryside, particularly the Lake District. So spectacular is Lake District that I immediately wanted to be there.

I could not picture anyone else other than Renee Zellweger who could have fitted the title role so well. Her touching portrayal of a extraordinary woman ahead of her time who manages to stay strong and dignified through her ups and downs is admirable to say the least. She's already mastered the British accent as has been evident in 'Bridget Jones's Diary' but here she also manages to adjust her English accordingly with the time period, sounding very natural.

Ewan McGregor and Emily Watson shine in their roles. McGregor as the slightly naive publisher, who believes in Potter and eventually falls in love, is a fine match for Zellweger's Potter while Emily Watson, who hardly ever disappoints, is outstanding. The rest of the cast that include Bill Paterson, Barbara Flynn, Matyelok Gibbs and Lloyd Owens are great.

A very minor quibble is that some important aspects of Beatrix's life were left out of the film, such as, the ignorance by the of her work by the officials (due to her gender) in the field of botany. Yet, even though it's not an accurate depiction, like Marc Forster's magical 'Finding Neverland' it remains charming, lovely and entertaining. It works as a slice of life and a character study.

One would like to think that the most prolific children's author of all time was a fun-loving, happy, cheerful person, and yet this movie certainly shatters that image. Beatrix Potter (creator of Peter Rabbit among others) is depicted here as a shy, lonely, isolated and socially awkward woman who sometimes seems to live in an imagined world of her own and whose only friends are the animals she creates for her stories (her friendship with the animals being depicted by them becoming - to Beatrix only - animated creatures rather than still drawings.) All her relationships - save two - are problematic. Her original publishers don't take her work seriously, her father is loving but patronizing, her mother never appreciates her talent (at one point her father says to her mother "our daughter is famous, my dear, and you seem to be the only one who doesn't realize that!") The two exceptions are important though. Norman - who eventually is given responsibility for publishing her books (Potter is "fobbed off" onto him by his older brothers who actually run the firm) - believes in her and eventually falls madly in love with her and his sister Millie becomes her best friend. Still, though, the relationships turn tragic when Beatrix and Norman are engaged but can't tell anyone because her parents insist on keeping it a secret (they felt Beatrix was marrying beneath herself) and Norman then dies before the marriage takes place.

Renee Zellweger (my favourite actress who can take any role of any kind it seems and make it work brilliantly) was - well - brilliant as Beatrix Potter. The rest of the cast were quite solid - especially Barbara Flynn as Beatrix' mother, and Ewan McGregor as Norman. The strict moral standards of the early 20th century were portrayed well (it's shocking today to realize that a 32 year old unmarried woman would still have had to be chaperoned everywhere she went in that era) and the movie even manages some light humour now and then. Ultimately - one might say finally, because there's a point in the movie at which you desperately want Beatrix to break out of the stifling environment of her parents' home - the movie becomes uplifting, as Beatrix uses her newfound wealth to buy a farm where she can be on her own, becomes a bit of a social champion by buying surrounding properties to protect them from development and - finally - manages to fall in love and get married, although that's only told in the postscript.

This is, indeed, a movie both sad and touching. 7/10

Beatrix Potter (Renée Zellweger) was a literary phenomenon of the early 20th Century.

At a time when most young women of her class aimed only to make a good marriage, Beatrix became an iconic figure, swimming quietly, but with great fortitude against the tide.

She created a series of books and characters that are as beloved today as they were a hundred years ago; since their publication they have never been out of print. She was also a distinguished painter and--had she been a man--her botanical drawings would have been snapped up by the Royal Horticultural Society at Kew Gardens.

In addition, by the time she died in 1943, Beatrix Potter had purchased vast swathes of the Lake District that she left to the then fledgling British Conservation Trust. That so much of this glorious countryside that inspired her, remains as it was in Beatrix Potter's day for others to enjoy, is her bequest to the nation.

This is her story.... Miss Potter 7/10

If like me you are an old curmudgeon, who often makes Scrooge seem like Mother Theresa, then I strongly suggest you go watch this beautiful enchanting film on the life of Beatrix Potter.

It is extremely rare in these days of overblown special effects and "Written by Number Scripts" to come across a film that has intelligence, innocence, excellent acting, and beautiful music and cinematography.

I have seen other reviews that said Renee Zellwegger was wrong for the role of Potter, but I felt she had clearly understood the nature of the world in which Potter lived and the inner nature of a woman who had enormous talent, yet was determined to fight against the confinement's and mores of Victorian Society. There really was not one performance by any of the actors in the film that was out of place.

In these days when we educate our children with cynical reality shows, in which instant and short lived fame is more important that working hard to achieve your dreams, "Miss Potter" took me back to my childhood of innocence and imagination where simple but beautiful stories created so much warmth and good feeling.

This is a film for all age's, and all people. Absolutely beautiful from start to finish

It's 1902 London. Beatrix Potter (Renée Zellweger) is a spinster living with her parents. Harold Warne and Fruing Warne agree to publish her children's book. They expect nothing other than a project for their brother Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor). His sister Millie (Emily Watson) befriends her. The three of them become best of friends as Beatrix become a great success. Norman proposes to Beatrix but her mother rejects his lower class. Beatrix agrees with her father to holiday in the country and marry Norman afterwards if she still wishes.

Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor are a sweet duo and that's the sense of this movie for the most part. These two actors work well together and Emily Watson is a solid third wheel. The tension and drama is actually pretty low until the death. Beatrix needs more hurdles to overcome and more drama. I would definitely end this movie much quicker after the death. It's so sudden that it doesn't really register. Overall, it's a mostly light story that has well-matched actors.

I saw this film on December 17th, 2006 in Indianapolis. I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival's Truly Moving Picture Award. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." Heartland gave that award to this film.

This is the story of Beatrix Potter, the author of many classic illustrated children's stories such as "Peter Rabbit." She was raised in the latter part of the 19th Century in an upper middle class, stuffy family. And worked in the early part of the 20th Century.

It is a story of rebellion, and one woman's liberation from knowing one's place, settling on an arranged marriage, and quietly raising a family in the shadow of a man. Beatrix (Renee Zellweger) would have none of that. She had a dreamy artist's imagination and talent and temperament from an early age and simply rebelled and lived in her own created world. When the world recognized her talent, she slowly became a part of the commercial world via the book publishing industry and a mentor/love interest (Ewan McGregor) and the mentor's sister (Emily Watson).

The cast is brilliant. You go back in time with them a 100 years and live with and understand their stilted social mores. The art direction and cinematography are stunning and are worthy of Academy Award nominations.

There is one neat trick of animation that appears throughout this film. The drawn animal characters occasionally become animated, but only to Beatrix. It sounds hokey, but it is a clever way to demonstrate how real these characters were to their author. And, it's why they have rung true to children and to adults for many generations.

Beatrix is a model for determination and pluck and steadfastness. This is a beautiful story beautifully told. Undoubtedly, this film will be compared to "Finding Neverland." "Miss Potter" is of the same high quality.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.

Apart from Rene Zellweger and her unfortunately pursing and pouting mouth being absolutely the wrong actor for this role, the movie itself did Miss Potter no favours.

Beatrix Potter was a well-respected scientist(though not always by the scientific men who thought women should stay in the kitchen and not dabble in such things)who proved that lichens were a symbiotic link between fungus and algae. Her minute observations of nature were her major interest and she was famous throughout England for her scientific papers on these subjects.

Not one hint of this in the movie, or her remarkable personality which lifted her above her peers.

Potter and Millie Warne were intelligent "blustockings", women with innovative brains who felt there was a better life than being shackled to a man as his domestic slave and bringing up children (a very revolutionary idea at that time) and yet were portrayed in the film as a bored and boring old maids pretending they did not want to marry because no one suitable had asked them! What an insult to both women and women in general.

This is a nice film with all that such a word implies. Inspid and bland (not Pigling, who along with many of Potter's other famous characters is never mentioned) and lacking in the fire and verve which made up such an interesting and clever woman.

Lovely, brooding scenery of the north country and the animation is a nice touch, showing us how real the characters were to Beatrix.

But the filmmakers sold the incredible Miss Potter short.

And one last curmudgeonly comment: not since the invention of Panstick, which users often applied up to, but not beyond, the jawline, giving them a pink face and a white neck, have I seen such appalling makeup - what were they thinking of?

"Miss Potter" is a wonderful movie caused me to coo, "AwwWWwwWw..." rather often. My friend and I thought it was such a heart-warming movie, through every scene, we kept wondering, "Wait, when does the climatic bad part happen?" This movie shows the inspiring journey that the successful author of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter, undergoes.

Beatrix loved drawing woodland animals as a girl and telling stories about them to her maid and younger brother. Despite her mother's stolid opinion against her adroit hobby, Beatrix displays her fortitude as a young woman trying to get a publisher. She is introduced to the youngest son of a publishing company, who is played by the urbane and charming Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge). Miss Potter's only friends were her drawings of her forest creatures, until she met the young publisher and her comical sister. Her drawings come to life (you see them animated whenever Beatrix looks at them) and are reflections of characters in her own life and feelings.

Reoccuring themes such as friendship, anti-marriage in the early 1900s in the views of suffragettes, and attainment of one's dreams.

Highly recommended for anyone who's been wanting a poignant, feel-good film. :)

I'd been looking forward to this movie for some time, and saw it last night.

I was deeply disappointed. I've pretty much enjoyed Zelwegger in everything she's done (and feel SHE, rather then Zeta Jones, should have garnered an Oscar for "Chicago"), but I hate to admit that not only is she horribly miscast, but she mugs and overplays the part so horrifically, I was expecting the movie to end with her being carted off to some post-Victorian asylum and administered electroshock therapy until the walls of her cell open up and her "friends" take her off to Neverland. Definitely NOT an Oscar-worthy performance.

The movie really opens up once McGregor appears on the scene, and he subtly steals every scene he's in...to my shock, he's turning into a more and more versatile actor the older he gets. Once he leaves the picture, there's a gaping void that simply can't be filled. Indeed, the last 20 minutes or so of the film is a badly-conceived mess.

Noonan's direction is all over the place -- the movie felt rushed in places, and is accomplished in others. Yet, strangely, he doesn't seem to be able to place the camera to get effective use in what are the many static "talky" scenes. His direction of the actors as them all spouting the lines at a level of barely-suppressed hysteria. It's as if somebody had sent spiked Cool-Aid back in time and topped up their teacups with it.

The blame for the movie must largely be laid at Richard Maltby's screenplay. The characters just don't ring true.

The nicest thing I can say is that the movie rattles along quickly, and it's largely pretty to look at. (Oddly, it reminded me of several movies from the early 70s -- including the far superior "Agatha".)

After viewing this film I was reminded of such actors as Dorothy McGuire, Both Renee and Dorothy are actors that Hollywood needs more of (needed in the case of the late Dorothy McGuire) This movie is not a biography of Beatrix Potter's life, but is somewhere close and a worthy adaptation. Since it's release in 2006 it has become a Christmas favourite and airs on or around the 25th of December, when emotions and nostalgia often run high within many of us, and well worthy of the tear it may bring to ones eye. Every performance in this movie was of such quality that it was easy to find myself captivated and released from the everyday realm, as has Beatrix Potter with her works for countless of children and adults since she first self published in the first few years of the 20th century, remembering that her works are still the highest selling children's books of all time, that she personally saved with her own money a large part of the most beautiful English country side and donated that land to the National Trust upon her death, it is only worthy that her life be betrayed with such quality as this film affords.

The movie industry is getting much better at biopics; "Walk the Line" and "Ray" are just two quite recent examples of how the obvious limitations attached to the task of compressing a life into a two hour movie time-slot can be overcome with good writing, acting and directing. And so it is with the challenging subject of "Miss Potter", about the wonderful English children's book author, illustrator and naturalist Beatrix Potter. On the face of it Beatrix Potter is not a particularly obvious choice for a film. True she was a talented author, a wonderful illustrator and a pioneer of the need for conservation in her beloved Lake District. But over her long life not a lot really happened to her that would be the stuff of movies. "Miss Potter" overcomes this handicap quite wonderfully by concentrating on her relationship with, and engagement to, her publisher Norman Warne to illustrate her personal strength and character – especially her courage.

Beatrix Potter grew up in a prosperous London Victorian family and in a world where women of her genteel class were expected to know their place and obey their parents. Beatrix's gradual emergence as an independent character is well treated in "Miss Potter" with a good use of flashbacks to her early childhood showing her growing love of animals and the natural world. Her talent was treated with patronising contempt by her parents – especially her monstrous mother. But Frederick Warne, the publisher, saw something in Beatrix's work and took a risk in publishing Peter Rabbit. The youngest Warne brother, Norman, supervised the publication as his first real job and the diffident and kindly Norman gradually and subtly attracts Beatrix. The development of their mutual attraction is really well portrayed in the film – as are all of the obstacles put in their way. Not only must they always be accompanied by a chaperone but when, at last, they do manage to escape Miss Wiggin's attention for a moment and declare their love for each other this declaration, when revealed to Beatrix's parents, is vociferously opposed by them because Mr Warne is "in trade" and therefore not a suitable husband. One of the best moments in the film is when Beatrix reacts to this snobbery by informing her parents that they are themselves "parvenus" - that they come from a "trade" background as much as the Warne family does.

The snobbery of Beatrix Potter's parents is shown in the context of the ruling morality (and hypocrisy) of London society in the late Victorian age. Beatrix's escape from this claustrophobic world to the Lake District is well portrayed – as is her dogged commitment to the preservation of an area which was then being threatened by speculative builders. This is a good story – but not especially filmic, and the movie copes with this well with a brief scene at a property auction where Beatrix angers one of the speculators with her determination to put conservation ahead of profit. This is quite a modern and fashionable subject for our green conscious world but Beatrix Potter was an early adopter of the need for conservation and she had the substantial resources from her earnings to do something about it.

Beatrix Potter was a remarkable and admirable woman who overcame the prejudice and pretentiousness of the world she grew up in to exploit her talents and to follow her principles. She is well played in the movie by Renée Zellweger. I was a bit worried at the very beginning of the film that Ms Zellweger was going to give us a sort of Victorian Bridget Jones, but she soon morphed well into the character of Beatrix Potter and was convincing in the role. Ewan McGregor as Norman Warne is excellent as well – a restrained and believable performance. I also enjoyed Emily Watson's rather butch Millie Warne, Norman's sister and Beatrix's confidant. The cinematography is excellent – not just in the beautiful Lake District scenes but also in capturing Victorian/Edwardian London.

Overall Miss Potter is a splendid, moving, engaging and interesting film. There may have been some artistic licence in both the story telling and in the characters. But that matters little if at the end we believe that the film has been true to the nature of its subject and is broadly accurate, as well as being entertaining.

This potentially good film was blighted for me by two things. Firstly, Renee Zellweger's interpretation of Beatrix Potter as a simpering, mischievous and capricious person. Clearly the real Beatrix Potter was a spirited and determined person who had much to overcome in terms of parental opposition and societal expectations, but I would have found the character far more credible had she been played as a more restrained woman with a steely inner resolve, rather than this overly obvious and confrontational creature. Secondly, the unnecessary and intermittent use of animation. The subject matter shows that this is not a children's film and animation serves only to deter viewers from taking the narrative as seriously as it deserves. The section dealing with Beatrix Potter's relationship with her publisher is actually nevertheless quite moving, so why could the makers not trust their material and let the story speak for itself? Likewise, the unsuitable suitors are grossly exaggerated.

This is a fine movie. It has exquisite beauty, love, aspiration and dreams--- and meticulous historical vibes. It is very true to the real story of Beatrix Potter. It is also a solidly interesting and entertaining movie as well. Far from being only a mere confection and therefore meaningless, 'Miss Potter' is meaty and solid.

In addition to being a great dramatic movie and true to life, it also possesses charm and grace. The very selective animation of the watercolour characters she drew--- and animated only for Miss Potter's eyes, mind!--- are sweet, and totally in line with the original paintings she made 100 years ago. It is truly as if the characters come alive for her, and we get to share her passion, intimacy, and love for them, rather than the audience merely seeing a 'cartoon' of some kind. A welcome and pure delight!

The movie, in being faithful to the real Miss Potter's life, reflected her actual world. Note that she had a chaperon at all times, even when in her own garden, or shopping. Social mores and what was proper or not occupied her mother, who herself was only a generation away from being one of those odious and lowly creatures she so despised--- 'a tradesman'. Heavens!

Anyway--- given the life and times of Beatrix Potter, a movie about her will have certain degree of that as well--- a certain gentility. Note also that her children's books were also the very soul of discretion and refinement. She painted watercolor bunnies, for goodness' sake. I found the life she did lead, and which was amply depicted in this movie, to be as dramatic as any. Consider what she endured, and what she went through. As well as what she didn't go through. She was healthy, and rich, so we won't see a lot of struggling with survival. She was kind and refined, so we won't see a lot of violence and judgement and hatred, etc.---- those things were simply not in her.

She was, nonetheless, truly inspirational. She was bold, and a free thinker who displayed a lot of courage. She wasn't a prostitute or a criminal or a resistance fighter or a herion addict or any 'dramatic' thing like that. Maybe she didn't have to agonize over each piece of literature she produced, but the process of creativity and perseverance she did go through was inspiring to me.

Renee Zellweger did a remarkable job. And just think--- she comes from Texas! The fact that a Texan pulled off a spot-on portrayal of a great English artist seems to have bent the noses of a tiny few English folks--- maybe they are jealous, and stuck in some old and fetid dream of a long gone Empire? Dunno. But I loved Zellweger in this, and I think you will too. She masterfully and expertly did Beatrix Potter, and the English society of the turn of the last century, proud.

It was pleasure getting to know Beatrix Potter in the movie and through the movie. She is worth making a story because of her achievements and her fight against social prejudice. Unmarried, working woman who does not follow the norm, preserving the land and nature for the community and valuing her work over her relationship. She is a strong person who overcomes her personal hardship and finds her own moral, purpose, worth, and self. Zellweger makes her roles very adorable. She is the one who makes Beatrix a pleasant, jovial, and innocent woman.

I like the romance and friendship between Beatrix and Norman, and real-life-like animation of her drawings helps build fairytale ambiance. What's disappointing is the way it ends. The later part of Beatrix's life is summarized poorly and ends very abruptly.

Very much enjoyed this lovely film at the San Francisco screening this evening and so seemed the audience who clapped enthusiastically at the end and delayed to read the credits and listen to the closing music. How nice to be in a theater when your fellow attendees give heartfelt sighs of delight at seeing the desired outcome of a scene play out...or who wholeheartedly laugh at the witty script. Throw in stunning Lake Country, Cumbria, and Isle of Man scenery with surprises from the artist's sketch pad and you have a wonderful film. And, at last, a film for adults and young people that leaves out the unnecessary foul language and gratuitous sex scenes. How refreshing! A wholesome romance with beautiful stories of friendship and challenging family relationships in late 19th/early 20th Century England. Funny...I wish Hollywood and its screenwriters with high-school-peeping-Tom mentalities would understand that these are the kinds of movies we're craving! Very high recommendations for this movie and its talented actors.

I had missed viewing Miss Potter in Amsterdam – formerly, due to other better movie options available and later due to its odd show timings. Luckily I got to see the movie.

The story is based around early 1900, on the true life of Miss Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger) who is an upcoming artist with a gift to tell interesting tales of animals through her pencil and water color drawings. Miss Potter is also gifted to communicate with her animal characters. Miss Potter approaches the publishers and meets her love of life Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor). The relationship is apposed by the parents of Miss Potter, and the lovers are put to a trial of six months of courtship before marriage. During that period Norman dies and that leaves Miss Potter to step out of the society to be free and independent to live and work, what she loves to do. Miss Potter is morally supported by the sister (Emily Watson) of Norman through all her period of crisis.

The Director Chris Noonan after an interval of 10 years (Babe in 1995) made this movie. The movie is presented gracefully depicting the early 1900 era and customs very much as they were. Renee Zellweger has played her role brilliantly and Ewan McGregor is okay in his one dimensional (sweet) characterization. Emily Watson is good in her portrayal.

The drawings and images are the real scene stealers of the movie, but the director has not exploited in giving them an unique presentable characterization; but hats of the production, design and cinematography of the caricatures.

All in all a pleasurable and good feel movie to watch.

(Stars 6.5 out of 10)

This is genuinely one of the best films i have seen for a long time. It is superbly acted all round, and makes brilliant use of the locations really allowing the viewer to understand and appreciate the beauty of the Lake District. Ordinarily i would have been more sceptical of the casting of an American actress in a role such as Beatrix Potter. However, Renee Zellweger is such a good actress and embraces this role so well that i have no qualms in this area here, although i did read one comment which said Emily Watson (Millie) would have made a better Beatrix - and am in complete agreement that she too would have been wonderful ( i mean aren't there enough British actresses to go round?!), but as i say i couldn't fault Renee Zellweger either. One thing that was nice to see was a good British supporting cast, not one of whom put a foot wrong. The story was brilliantly scripted too, with a good blend of fact, fiction, innocence, romance and fantasy touches. The film just really left me smiling - its a great reminder of what we go to the cinema for.

A really beautiful biopic about an artist who fought for her art and personal freedom. An interesting story, a great cast (Renée Zellweger superb!) and beautiful settings and costumes make Miss Potter a very nice and family-friendly movie. What I would call the movie!? Lovely, enchanting, engaging comes to mind.

I saw this last night and although it past away a pleasant 90 mins I have to say that it really was a missed opportunity. Renee was woefully miss cast in the lead, she seems to think playing an English character means pulling stupid faces and speaking in that mannered fashion she used to such nauseating effect in the Bridget Jones movies. The whole film is neither fish nor fowl, it cannot decide if it wants to be a joyless "Bednobs and Broomsticks" or some kind of soft focus version of "Upstairs Downstairs". There are some solid performances though, Barbara Fyln, Ewan Mcgregor, Emily Watson and the rest of the UK cast are all excellent. As are the production values. Shame this never manages to really pull at your heartstrings. Bit of a missed opportunity all round.