DVD review : Moondial

*** Don't miss my Moondial dvd giveaway ! ***

What were your favourite kids' TV programmes when you were growing up? I remember watching things like Rentaghost, The Adventure Game,  Knightmare, John Craven's Newsround, Evacuation and loads of cracking dramas like Children's Ward,  Stig of the Dump, Grange Hill, Simon & The Witch ... The list is endless and maybe I'm getting old but children's TV doesn't seem to be anywhere near as good any more.

I was therefore rather excited to hear that the hugely popular classic BBC series Moondial, based on the best-selling book by Helen Cresswell (who actually helped with the TV adaptation), will make its long awaited arrival on DVD on 4th May 2015, in its original unedited version, courtesy of Second Sight Films. This haunting children’s fantasy adventure first aired in 1988, with a repeat in 1990, and has been in much demand but unavailable in any format for many years. We received a review copy and I was intrigued to see if it had stood the test of time and what a new generation of kids would think of it.

The story follows 13-year-old Araminta, known as Minty (played by Siri Neal), who goes to stay with her Aunt Mary and discovers a magical secret within the grounds of the local old mansion. When night time comes and the light of the moon falls on a sundial, Minty is transported back in time where she discovers two children, Tom (in the Victorian era) and Sarah (in "the century before"), who have been troubled by evil forces and severe cruelty. Minty must overcome the spirits in order to save the children.

As we settled down to watch the first episode, I had a few misgivings. It does seem very dated - just the whole vibe, I'm not really sure why (maybe the colours aren't as bright or the definition isn't as sharp or maybe it's just the whole absence of computer wizardry) - and there is some really bad acting in the first episode, but the Madhouse kids didn't seem to notice. There were a few raised eyebrows at the "hi-tech" Walkman and tape deck though, but they made me feel quite nostalgic ! The actors seem to grow into their roles as the episodes progress though and the Moondial worked its magic on another generation of viewers.

If you fancy a blast from the past, don't miss my giveaway where you can win Moondial DVDs coming up in just a moment.

star rating : 4/5

RRP : £15.99

• Number of discs: 1
• Classification: PG
• Studio: Second Sight
• DVD Release Date: 4 May 2015
• Run Time: 158 minutes

Disclosure : We received the DVD in order to write an honest review.