Movie #463 ........................."Water for Elephants"

Movie #463 "Water for Elephants" - saw this with the movie club and we all liked it --- in different degrees. After having read the book and really enjoyed it, I found it to be a bit lesser in entertainment in comparison to the book. I really do think there is a key scene or two missing from he movie that would show what kind of place the older Jacob lived in before he ran away to the circus for the second time (toward the end of his life). See, I thought the older man's journey was far more interesting to me than the younger one ---- the younger Jacob's love story was typical (throw in a very talented animal who is nicer than Reese's hubby) . That animal made Jacob's story more pleasurable to me, but it still wasn't the focal point that I enjoyed --- it was the old man, and so the ending is very important to me, and it was so much more powerful in the book than in the movie. Otherwise, well done. Surprisingly, I accept the Vampire guy as young Jacob, and Christopher Walz as the hubby was well done, too. I had trouble with Reese Witherspoon ---- it's hard not to see her as sweet Elle (Legally Blonde) or spunky June Carter (Walk the Line) --- I thought Marlena was more firey, had more depth. But after awhile, she wins us over as she usually does in her films. Hal Holbrook was wonderful in the small mments he had ---- academy award nomination for supporting actor maybe?





4.3 stars
Water for Elephants
(2011) PG-13
In this captivating Depression-era melodrama, impetuous veterinary student Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson) joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a wrenching dilemma when he's transfixed by angelic married performer Marlena (Reese Witherspoon). An affinity for elephants brings together the young pair, but the warmth between them sends Marlena's cruel husband, animal trainer August (Christoph Waltz), into a frightening fury.
Genre: Romantic Dramas, Dramas Based on Bestsellers, 20th Century Period Pieces
This movie is: Emotional, Suspenseful, Sentimental, Romantic
Availability: DVD and Blu-ray availability date unknown