Visitors Review

(2012-05-26 00:55)

Come one, come all !

Water for Elephants is a pretty movie, with an air of enchantment and the unreal having been worked into the feel of the music, lighting, and scenery. It is primarily a flashback, and lit with the happy glow of nostalgia, even though the setting is the Great Depression, and there are some dark moments. Robert Pattinson may not be my favorite actor, but he was made for his role in this film, and he does as well with the happy scenes as his more usual angst. Reese Witherspoon glows, and not just because she is often back-lit. She is all kindness and beauty in a time and place of cruelty and ugliness. This is the circus as a glittering façade, and in Water for Elephants, more of the darkness behind the scenes is shown than glitter, mostly as expressed by certain characters.Ultimately, this is a romantic movie, without being a comedy, through and through. Love trumps duty, rises above hardship, and flies in the face of sensibility, and in the end, gets away with everything. Or at least, that is what one expects from this kind of story. The main character's survival is guaranteed, of course, by the nature of a flashback, at least, so I am not giving anything away. I really can't think of anyone I wouldn't recommend watch Water for Elephants, except children. Even if you don't agree with everything that happens, it will at least make for good conversation fodder and entertain you. Also, having read the book first, I can say that they did a good job of compressing it into this format, while retaining the overall plot and feeling. The changes made generally worked well, though I do rather wish they had dyed Robert Pattinson's hair red to go with the book description of his character, just for fun, though I don't think he'd look good as a redhead.I have the version of the Water for Elephants DVD that does not have any special features, so that is a bit of a disappointment. I do like watching special features, and was hoping to see some historical info on circuses, to go with the theme. Mostly, though, I was glad that it is finally out on DVD, as I really liked both the book and seeing the movie in the theater. Water for Elephants is one of those nice little pieces of enchanted film-making that I am glad to be able to have at home to watch whenever I want, which may be often. Honestly, it makes me want to go to the circus. This would be a great buy, as it loses none of its freshness when being re-watched.

(2012-05-25 15:56)

Water For Elephant

This a wonderful movie. A timeless love story. Robert Pattinson shows he's the next Hollywood superstar. Reese done an amazing job in this movie also. A must watch movie!!!!!

(2012-05-24 22:59)

Water for Elephants

This review is from: Water for Elephants (DVD) Good book, good movie (DVD). I am glad I read the Kindle Reader book first. It was more explicit of the circus life than the movie. The book also tells us more about Jacob and his change of relationships with various people with whom he meets in the circus community. I know it is fiction, but there were things at the end of the book and the movie that needed to be explained. I enjoy books with various characters employed as part of the story and this book does justice to that.

laurieO76 (2012-05-24 01:44)

Old Hollywood Movie

Water For Elephants takes us back in time, not just because it is setin the 30's but also because the movie is filmed with such quality andattention to detail, it is very much like movies used to be made. Noreliance on CGI or profanity to make up for lack of imagination either.The dialog is crisp and the film adheres very much to the spirit of thebook, even if things were consolidated or omitted for the film.The cinematography is lush and if the film doesn't win an award for it,it will be a travesty.And the performances are wonderful. Christoph Waltz is captivating as acomplex character and Reese Witherspoon walks a fine line (no punintended) between the role of a dutiful wife and that of a survivor.But it is Robert Pattinson who delivers a range of emotion not seenfrom him before. He is understated and again reminds me of actors ofold - Gary Cooper specifically. He plays a gentleman and a scholar butalso shows passion and intensity. Any doubt viewers might have had onhis abilities as an actor are wiped away, as he more than holds his ownin scenes with two Oscar winners.This is a must-see movie for anyone wanting to see more quality filmsand less action-packed/violence ridden/computer enhanced drivel at thetheaters. Bravo!

gregeichelberger (2012-05-23 20:43)

Not quite the 'greatest show on earth'

There was a time in this country's history when a visit from atraveling circus was about the most exciting event small towns couldwitness. Often times, practically the entire community would close downfrom the time the troupe rolled into the hamlet until it packed up andleft again.From the late 1800s through 1944 (when a fire at the Ringling BrosCircus in Hartford, Conn killed over 140 people, mostly children), thetraveling show was many times the only entertainment the populace wouldsee all year. Twentieth Century-Fox's newest release, "Water ForElephants," chronicles a small piece of this history.And, had this adaptation of the popular Sara Gruen novel, directed byFrancis Lawrence ("Constantine," "I Am Legend") stayed faithful to thisplot line, I could have given it a higher grade; instead, however, itdrifts off into a tepid love triangle between the three leads, Jacob(Robert Paterson of "Twilight" fame), Marlena (Reese Witherspoon, "Walkthe Line") and August (Christoph Waltz, fresh off his Oscar-winningperformance in "Inglorious Basterds").August and Marlena are married. He is the owner of the barelysuccessful Barzini Bros. Circus, while she is the star equestrianperformer. Jacob, whose parents die on his last day as a veterinarianstudent at Cornell, ends up hopping the circus freight train and soonbecomes the resident vet.Here, he meets a group of rough but lovable roustabouts, is ordered tobecome the trainer to the circus' newest attraction (Rosie theelephant) and falls in love with Marlena. He also witnesses the crueltyAugust exhibits to both animals and humans, especially his wife.Jacob and Marlena try to run away together, but August's goons arealways one step ahead. Then, after a weird conclusion, things arewrapped up in a flashback narrated by Hal Holbrook ("Into the Wild").Waltz and Holbrook are wonderful in this picture, the former seethingin delightful wickedness, yet holding on to some humanity; while thelatter revels sweetly in a very small role. As the unfaithful wife andcircus star, though, Witherspoon seems tentative and almost totallymiscast. Worse yet, although he gives it his best, Patterson is dark, broodingand as unemotional as the pasty, undead teenage vampire character hehas cut his acting teeth on. It's like watching a cigar store Indiantrying to impersonate James Dean."Water For Elephants" is a three-ring affair with one of the ringsremoved. Marketing this movie - "The Notebook" meets "Circus World" -as a love story is a mistake. The is no love story. There's no lovebetween Marlena and August and there's certainly no sparks (orchemistry) between Marlena and Jacob.That's sad, because I wanted to give this movie a higher mark. Thescenes with Waltz and Holbrook, as well as the wonderful cinematographyand nice period detail and sequences with Rosie were terrific. I justwish there was more elephants and less infidelity.That might have truly made this one of the "greatest shows on earth,"or at least one of the better films of the year.

jorge mejia (2012-05-23 06:13)

Another great film that i really enjoyed!

titanic and the Notebook stay short in love story themes after this film. Excelent, great acting, good story and a really big nice surprise. I love it. Everything about it, the villain was really a bad dude, the couple was somehow interesting and the elephant was the best actress of them all. 9.9/10

(2012-05-21 02:59)

Awesome movie

This review is from: Water for Elephants (DVD) Beautiful, timeless, romantic and heartbreaking at times. This movie is beautiful and very touching. Recommend this movie to every animal lover.

(2012-05-20 12:57)

very interesting and exciting movie

This review is from: Water for Elephants (DVD) very realistic and passionate as well as touching but it left me sad and longing for more. i still recommend it. Pattinson and witerspoon were an diferent pair but throught the movie you get their chemistry and lovelines.

Skiplittle (2012-05-19 11:55)

Water for Days

I was originally asked to watch this movie by my girlfriend atblockbuster. I said no. This movie had chick flick written all over it.So I watched it by myself on HBO about a month later. I thoroughlyenjoyed it.Jacob Jankowsky (Robert Pattinson) a finishing student at Cornell isstudying to become a veterinarian but after learning of his parentsuntimely death in a car accident Jacob is left with nothing. He hopsthe rails set in the 1930s only to join the Benzini Brothers circus.Acting as the ivy league vet Jacob quickly endears himself to thetyrannical ring leader August (Christophe Waltz) and the starattraction and ring leaders wife Marlena (Reese Witherspoon). The bondformed by Jacob and Marlena over the new elephant Rosie doesn't gounnoticed by the unpredictable August.Surprisingly Robert Pattinson isn't ridiculous at all and actuallydecent. Christophe Waltz is one of the best actors today and doesn'tlet up here. Reese Witherspoon is great in all endeavors and exudes awhite glow on that elephant. The scenes are vivid and fluid with epicsteam engine shots spilling across the screen. A well done picture.

(2012-05-19 04:51)

Robert Pattinson Does It Again, Damn It!

The story of a Depression-era orphan with an all but completed study from a prestigious university, this film centers around Jacob Jankowski. First seen as an elderly man (Hal Holbrook) Jankowski was studying to become a veterinarian when his parents died in debt after exhausting their savings to pay his tuition. With no home or money to complete his studies, Jankowski (as a younger man played by Robert Pattinson) simply abandons his home, studies, and life in search of employment. This search ended when he hopped a train utilized by the Benzini Bros. traveling circus.After a brief stint shoveling excrement, August Rosenbluth, the man in charge, hires him as Benzini Bros. own Cornell educated veterinarian. Rosenbluth is played by Christopher Waltz who soon proves to be just as evil as he was when he was playing an SS officer. His long-suffering wife is played by Reese Witherspoon who is the star of the big top with her equestrian act and with a similar elephant act. But when the act struggles to take shape in the beginning, Rosenbluth demonstrates the brutality lying beneath his charismatic show persona by viciously attacking the elephant. He later appears sickened by his actions, but Jacob is certain he'll repeat them and determined to prevent that from happening. In developing the act, Marlena (Witherspoon) and Jacob become attracted to each other. While trying to keep their relationship a secret, they're eventually found out. This and other tensions arising from the shows continuing financial struggles eventually boil over in the form of an employee insurrection, the result of which was alluded to in earlier scenes with the older Jankowski. Whether Titanic started it or simply solidified it, Leonardo DiCaprio became the dream of teenage girls everywhere thanks to the James Cameron opus. And, as a result of that and a genuine dislike for the story and the film, I have hated DiCaprio ever since. He's made, for the most part, quality films ever since and I'm convinced he's so not for his career but simply to annoy me. Others would argue he has no idea who I am, but I feel that's immaterial. Pattinson, thanks to the Twilight series, finds himself in a similar position. With this and Remember Me he seems intent on making quality films to annoy me. Witherspoon and Waltz, while not demonstrating great range with these roles, are more than adequate. The story is engrossing, the scenery spectacular, and the ending is satisfying (though I understand the book version was far more dramatic). All in all, I'd call this a superior film.

Yolanda Elliott (2012-05-18 10:21)

Water for Elephants (2011)

Outstanding Cinema! Water for Elephants engaged all my emotions. Ideeply enjoy a movie that I am unable to guess the outcome. With eachturn the plot continued to thicken and ensue my undivided attention.What was also refreshing is that Rob didn't bring any Twilight residueto the set. He was a totally different character. I actually forgotthat he was that guy; wonderful. This movie was beautiful and diversein casting of people and animals (circus). YES! I was so HAPPY to seethe director had used REAL animals. There was "big realism" in thisfilm; Reese, Rob, and Christopher (as well as others) made this movie aclassic. I would definitely watch the movie again with someone whohasn't seen it and I will be getting it for my collection.

collipal-1 (2012-05-17 20:35)

Mediocre, but better than I expected

Before watching Water for Elephants, I expected to find anotherpredictable and disposable adaptation of a book written by NicholasSparks, or something like that. However, the quality of the production,some good performances and the colorful circus environment made theexperience to be tolerable in my case. Nevertheless, I found the filmto be mediocre and occasionally a bit boring, and its main problem isthat the central romance never feels sincere nor passionate. However,the film kept me moderately entertained in general, and it ended upbeing better than I expected. Oh, and it is effectively based on abook, but not one from Sparks, but from Sara Gruen, which I did notread, so this review is exclusively based on the way in whichscreenwriter Richard LaGravanese and director Francis Lawrenceinterpreted the story.Among the solid performances which help Water for Elephants to betolerable, I have to mention Christoph Waltz's. His work in here isabsolutely credible and energetic. I also liked the performance fromthe great Hal Holbrook very much; maybe due to his advanced age he doesnot accept as many roles as he used to, but he has not lost even apinch of his talent and amazing presence. I just wish he had morescreen-time. And Ken Foree is very well in a brief but intense role inwhich he confirms his talent outside the horror genre.However, the main reason many people will go to see Water for Elephantsis due to the presence from Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson inthe leading roles. However, I could rarely feel the supposed love whichlinks their characters with each other and inspires them to fightagainst adversity. I generally like Witherspoon's work, but for somereason, I felt her a bit cold and distant in this movie. As forPattinson, I did not dislike his work in other movies (with theexception of Eclipse), but he does not seem to be very interested inhis character in Water for Elephants.Nevertheless, Water for Elephants did not bore me (with a fewexceptions), and despite being mediocre, I found it better than Iexpected, like I previously said. I could not totally swallow thecentral romance and the ending is a bit absurd, but I think it deservesa slight recommendation, at least because it avoided to fall into thelachrymose and bland routine from films like Remember Me or Dear John.

(2012-05-17 00:23)

Water for Elephants

This review is from: Water for Elephants (DVD) great movie, enjoyed very much and the family liked it along with the kids. I would recommend movie to all.

april (2012-05-16 10:09)

Incredible! Took My Breath Away!

As an individual who almost always reads the reviews prior to paying to see a movie (and believing the reviews as well) I stayed away from reading the reviews for Water For Elephants because I read the book when it was first published and fell in love with it and no one was going to thwart me from seeing this movie. I admit that I was a bit nervous before the movie started yesterday but I was pleasantly surprised instead. Not only was there romance but there was a great deal of history to it; prior to reading the book (and seeing the movie) I had little interest in the history of the circus but while reading (and watching the movie) I felt I was part of the circus and I was mesmerized.I thought it was refreshing to see a movie of this caliber again. Why does the general public believe they need constant nail biting moments throughout the movie for it to be considered phenomenal? No, this is not the Twilight series and no there are no nude scenes or actors flying through the air. This is a movie adapted from a well written book so grow up and watch a real movie for once.

(2012-05-13 23:40)

Glad I waited for the DVD

This review is from: Water For Elephants (Amazon Instant Video) The movie was good but not great. I thought the acting was good, but the story moved a little slow in parts. I also didn't care for the way the movie started...it felt a little like they ripped off some elements of Titanic (if you watch it, you'll understand).

botdog313 (2012-05-13 06:10)

Nothing Like Water for Elephants

This film has such great potential in the novel it is based on, thecast, and high production values, but it fails in most of these areas,and that's why the review is so low.In choosing to turn a novel intofilm some hard decisions have to be made, and I'm not a stickler formaking it "just like the book." In fact, it should be its own thing, afilm interpretation of the book. Well, what they chose was theconflict, therefore giving them a basic plot line to work with. What islost is the magic of the book and the circus and the themes. Perhaps itstarts with the casting, or is it the acting. Reese Witherspoon, whomI've always liked, is terrible in this and never comes alive as acharacter or an actress. She seemed to be walking through. Hal Holbrookis the only one with real magic, and I could repeatedly watch his 10minutes in the opening before the big flashback, and his final 5minutes at the end. He's the only one who believes in the story and thecircus, and it shows. So I would fault casting, acting, directing, andproduction in the end. It just tires out and fails to come tolife...and it lost a wonderful chance with a good period story.

bebop63-1 (2012-05-13 11:01)

Titanic In A Circus Tent

Couldn't help but compare this with Titanic movie, as the plots arealmost similar, involving a love "wreck"tangle between two people and athird party. Depending on your p.o.v., Robert Pattinson as would-be vetJacob Jankowski is that third party, having the misfortune of learninghe has lost both his parents and his home at one fell swoop, suffers anervous breakdown just before his final exams, and runs away, only tofortuitously end up in a travelling circus where he is employed to lookafter the menagerie after August, the circus proprietor, learns that hestudied veterinary medicine. Here he encounters the beautiful Marlena,the leading performer who is married to August, who can bealternatingly charming and brutal depending on the his moods. Jacobfalls in love with Marlena, and she reciprocates, and that's the basicpremise of this historical movie, set in the early years of the GreatDepression. Of course, what would a circus be without animals? Rosiethe elephant literally steals the show and the viewers' hearts at thesame time. The scenes of animal cruelty are predictably disturbing anddistressing to watch, but for those who protest and advocate boycottingthe movie for this reason,please remember that this is a period filmwhich protrays the reality of life at the time, and that it DOES NOT inany way promote nor condone animal abuse, it was simply the status quothen. That would be like saying "Gone With the Wind" endorses slaveryjust because it portrays such a situation. I have had the good fortuneof reading the Sara Gruen novel ages before the film adaptation waseven conceived, and while there are a few omissions and detractionsfrom the original (No Uncle Al or nurse Rosemary, and Marlena isdepicted as being an orphan raised in foster homes instead of comingfrom a prominent family), I do not find these deviations verydistracting. This movie is one of the very few that have managed tocapture the essence of the original book. Truly worth watching if youlike romance and animals.

(2012-05-12 23:52)

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, THE MOVIE

This review is from: Water for Elephants (DVD) MY COUSIN TURNED ME ON TO THIS BOOK. THE FACT THAT ROBERT PATTINSON WAS THE STAR OF THE MOVIE TURNED ME ON TO BUYING IT. THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE!!! FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, NO CUSS WORDS (THANK HEAVEN) AND NO NUDITY..BUT A WHOPPING GREAT LOVE STORY..A GREAT HUMAN STORY AND JUST PLAIN GOOD ENTERTAINMENT!! KUDOS TO THEM.

(2012-05-11 15:01)

Beautifully done! Can't wait to watch it again.

In My Personal Opinion:WELL where should I start. First, I would put Robert Pattinson's name before Reese but if you are a reader of my blog, you know I love my Pattinson!As someone who has never read Water for Elephants (and I know there are many who did), I loved it!We start with an older man standing in a parking lot. He is asked if he is with the nursing home and taken in until someone can find out where he comes from. He explains he was looking for the circus and starts telling his story....I loved the voice narration of the older Jacob actor and the younger Jacob blending until we are in flashback...Rob's character, Jacob has a loving mother and father who never let their son see how bad the depression was. When they are killed in a car accident, he learns that the bank owns his house. His loving parents mortgaged their home to finance Jacob's education at Cornell. He is so close to graduating and getting his veterinary license but never finishes. He has nothing, his parents are gone and so is his home! He heads out unsure where he is going. A train goes by and he jumps on. Close to being beaten and roughed up he is taken under the wing of a circus worker who promises him work if he can hack it.He is introduced to August the Ring Leader and owner of Benzini Brothers Circus. Christoph Waltz does a fantastic job as the damaged, egotistical, violent ring leader.Jacob passes himself off as a vet and tells August that Ringling Brothers has their own. August hates Ringling Brothers as a struggling circus. Jacob is told he will have a job if he can save the prized, top horse who is ridden by August's wife, Marlena (Reese). When the horse is put down, Rosie the elephant is purchased. This gentle giant and Rob steal the show for me.Jacob and Marlena fall in love, it would be hard for her not to, she is constantly thrown at him by her husband. Jacob is the opposite of August. August uses force and Jacob uses gentleness.The scenes are brilliantly lit to create a depressive sideshow feel. You are praying for August to suffer and for Marlena to get away from him. The scenes of two victims thrown from the train were hard not because of the graphic nature but because of the characters. There were also moments of violence toward Rosie that were hard to watch too! The movie made me want to read the book. It is something I will be picking up if I don't have it on my preloaded Kindle (thanks Susan, you are the bestest).You will love this movie even if you are not a Pattinson fan but if you are, you will savor every moment. I can't wait to watch it again!

(2012-05-11 09:06)

Like "Big Fish" if it were a romance

I liked this movie quite a bit, although if I had read the book I'm sure I would not have liked it as much. Basically, it narrates the story of a young man (Robert Pattison) whoose life has taken a bad turn. He ends up working at a travelling circus where he meets and falls in love with the young wife (Reese Witherspoon) of the charming but tyrannical and dangerous circus owner.