Enjoyable story of how Mary Poppins joined the Disney Family

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2013)

I just saw "Saving Mr. Banks" in the theater, and I was quite impressed with this film. The plot is simple: Walt Disney wants to turn the book, 'Mary Poppins', into a movie, but author P.L. Travers is too conditional and reluctant.
The cast was excellent: Tom Hanks was impressive as Walt Disney; Emma Thompson was believable as the annoyingly difficult Mrs. Travers; Colin Farrell did a great job portraying Travers' father during the flashback scenes to P.L. Travers' childhood in Australia.
This movie contained scenes that were amusing, such as when Mr. Disney's staff were creating and practicing the now-familiar songs for the film "Mary Poppins"; touching, such as when Walt Disney took Mrs. Travers for a tour of the Magic Kingdom in California; and even bittersweet, such as the tender moments between father and daughter during the flashback scenes to P.L. Travers' childhood in Australia.
I remember seeing "Mary Poppins" in the theater during my childhood in 1974, and it's always been my favorite live-action Disney movie. It was both interesting and entertaining to see the events that led up to the creation of this outstanding film. I highly recommend "Saving Mr. Banks".