Reviews

This has always been one of my favourite books & films and I was keen to see what they did with this a second time around. But what I want to say after seeing it was 1/see the first film 2/read the book. One of the most essential points to film was left out altogether in that when Bathsheba sent her 'joke' valentine to Boldwood she wrote the words 'Marry Me' on it. It wasn't the roses-are-red etc that got Boldwood in a twist it was the two words she wrote on the card. We get no sense of the quandary and deliberating over this that went on within Boldwood for some time before he made his move (and his ultimate obsession) in this film as we do in the first.

I think the scene when Fanny got the wrong church was disappointing as well. There was no sense of the mad dash she had across town to find the right church and only to find Frank striding out full of indignation at being stood up and telling her "It's too late!" The beautiful words of Gabriel to Bathsheba "when I look up there ye will be and when you look up there I will be" just don't feature at all.

The "shooting at the end was tame to say the least & Martin Sheen was much less forceful in his insistence of marrying Bathsheba But I did like Carey Mulligan as Bathdheba. What was missing was the energy & drama the original film had and dare I say it some Wessex accents....

This was a terrible film to watch & not worth the price of the ticket. How is it 'entertainment' to sit for 2 hours and watch a vicious, bunch of foul mouthed family tear at each other? It's hard to even commend the acting (which was good) because the whole subject matter of the film was such crap. I don't know who wrote this script but it was a piece of junk & I suggest he or she take up another profession. A total waste of time.

I have to write 10 lines of text for this to be accepted but all I can say for the rest is zzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzz

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What surprised me with this is that this quite incredible story has never been made into a film before & this must be one of the last half way decent WW2 films to be made. Being both entertaining and at times amusing this was also educational. While stories have been told of the kind of theft we saw here, going on, the amount of it was staggering! If you start to think what would have happened if this rescue hadn't occurred then you would realise that most of it would have been destroyed by the fleeing Germans or ended up in the hands of the Russians. The scene (spoiler alert) where stacks of paintings are literally blow torched is hard to watch.

The film itself has the feel of 'war movies' of earlier years (including the music) but that's what was intended. I enjoyed it and thought the cast Clooney picked for his film was spot on. Someone suggested this would have made a good mini-series or TV series where the story could have been more in-depth and perhaps one day that might happen. But for a 2hour movie I didn't find anything wrong with it. I'm just glad the story was told...

I saw this film today which I have been waiting for since I saw it's web page on the Internet. This is just a brilliant film and well done to everyone in the making of this. Because there was nothing to fault! The 'star' of the film is the dog, of course, but the story is laugh-out-loud funny and the ending will have you groping for the tissues. The cast & acting spot on as was the photography. It's not often I go back for a 2nd viewing but I think this one is worth it. A nice cameo performance by Bill Hunter (who died recently) and New Zealand's Keisha Castle-Hughes. Who says Australia can't make good films!? There's nothing wrong with this one.

I first saw this film on holiday in London c1973 when it was first released. It was showing at the prestigious Odean Cinema in London & I recall at the time this film was such a 'big deal' that the we were given (or bought) a large glossy souvenir program that came with the film. It was treated like we were attending the opera or theater. Look at the line up of big names who were a part of this. Laurence Olivier, John Mills, Ralph Richardson, Margaret Leighton & 'super star' Richard Chamberlain after his 'Dr Kildare' fame.

Forty years on it all seems rather ordinary and we know that Bolt was rather loose with the historical facts. But I still enjoyed seeing it again remembering that first time I saw it all those years ago. In fact, some of the best work Richard Chamberlain would do was in the 5-6 years he lived in the UK and about the time he made this. And even now I give it an 8/10

As someone who lost a great job (at aged 60) as a direct result of the GFC on the world economy I was incensed when I watched this documentary showing the corporate greed & corruption that lead to this basic melt down in 2008. But equally infuriating is to see that nothing has changed, no one has been criminally prosecuted, no regulation brought in or any attempt to prevent (well in the USA at least) the same thing happening all over again..and no one thinks they were responsible. And most of the same "players" were back in the business. President Obama's words were hollow promises....

It is an interesting well presented explanation and follow on to Michael Moore's film 'Capatilism-a Love Story'. It should be compulsory viewing.

"Oh the tangled webs we weave..when we set out to deceive.." A first rate film that doesn't pull any punches. Excellent acting by all in this, the point made that the coloured GI's were "welcomed" by the English who were going to make a point of showing some good old British hospitality to these guys regardless of the way they were treated back home. And that welcome turns to love & an affair between a coloured soldier & and a 'white' married English woman.....

The Billy Holiday music underscores a moving & thought provoking film but like others I rate this down one notch because the sex scenes were a little over done for a 1944 time period. We got the point & the passion the first time. Well worth watching though.

I am writing this review hoping that the makers of this show might read it and carry on with another series of this very watchable show. I am not a fan of 'cop' shows but this one has got it right! Firstly it's an absolute pleasure to see Tom Selleck back on the small screen and he is a large part of why this works. But the acting by all (even the small kids) is first rate. The idea of a whole family of 3 generations being involved in law enforcement is a novel one and the scenes of the family together around the dinner table talking 'shop' which couldn't help but happen, brings a real human touch to the story. I love the friendly debate between siblings about the 'rights' of a person under the law (innocent until proved guilty & following the law to the letter) and putting the 'perp' (read scumbag) away by whatever means. And the Grandfather/Father who has been through it all before in the 50's and dispenses his insights & wisdom another great touch.

Another plus for this series is the lack of violent scenes & gore. It implies what is necessary but without being graphic & it's made with family viewing in mind.

I hope they keep this series coming. I think it's a winner!!!

This film is one of the most boring I have ever seen & I walked out before the end. Like some sort of bad 'reality TV' show, who wants to sit through 2 hours of fighting & sex. After 30mins I was looking at my watch and decided if this film wasn't going somewhere then I would! Too many hand held camera shots were annoying and it makes for difficult viewing. And why is some people think that getting drunk is the only way to have a good time....or that's what this film suggests was going to 'fix' their problem.

However good the 'acting' might have been it was all just a pain to watch.

Forget this one..save your money and your time!

Well, I was just waiting for Franco Nero (Lorenzo) to burst into song to Vanessa Redgrave (Claire) as he did in the 1967 film "Camelot" which they made together. When Lorenzo "arrived on a white horse" I'm sure it was a reference to that movie! (Franco Nero had played the part of Lancelot). And I wonder how many in the audience were old enough to have remembered that..! Vanessa & Franco are now husband & wife, in real life & have had quite a bit of "history" themselves in their younger days and so it was no surprise to see them together in this story... It would been a bit deja vu to them.

I would like to make mention of the great soundtrack & Verona the Tuscany scenery were as much a star of the film. While the ending was a bit 'corny' the film was well acted & I particularly liked Amanda Seyfried in this role. This is one of those films good enough to stand repeat viewings & one for any age group. 9/10

I want to say firstly that I hated 'Gladiator', so if I make any comparisons at all with this film it is against the other "RH" films & TV series that have gone before. Having read & seen some of the Plantagenet 12th/13th century history I found this story to be close enough to the historical mark to be very believable.

One reviewer asked why we didn't know what happened to King John's first wife? The answer was in the film! John's stated intention of having that marriage annulled so he could marry Isabella was in fact what happened. It actually paid to have a few clues about this part of English history. The English baron's did finally force John to sign the Great Charter in 1215, which he then went back on his word (with the Popes agreement). Could Maid Marion have worn armour- well Joan of Arc did 200 years later..

I found this to be a very entertaining, a well spun yarn, well cast & great acting by all, and at times some stunning locations/photography. Did this look like early 13th century England? Yes more so that in any other films I have seen in the past. I think it stands as the best Robin Hood film to date & Im ready for the next one. 10/10

I remember seeing this film when it first came out in 1982 & loved it then. About 4 years later I had the privilege of seeing Luciano Pavarotti sing at the Metropolitan Opera house in New York (in Tosca) so seeing the ending of this film reminds me very much of that great night. What's not to like about this film? The music is brilliant and Pavarotti (Fini) was at his best and still looked great. The story is actually very funny in parts & the 'food fight' scene is still one of the funniest I have ever seen. The hot air balloon flight over the Napa valley was beautiful & so was the song he sang "If we were in love" (one of the few times Pavarotti sang in English). And hearing the duet of Santa Lucia gorgeous. Get real folks, this was a film about an opera singer called Georgio Fini who just happened to be played by Pavarotti. Kathryn Harrold & Eddie Albert were excellent in their supporting roles.

I am VERY glad that I still have this almost worn out VHS tape of this movie but I would love this to be released on DVD especially now that Pavarotti is no longer with us because I think this includes the best performance of Nessun Dorma sung by him still on film today!

I have watched all of the first season and have started seeing the second season but so far I have not seen one episode of this show where the "f" word isn't used liberally. Is this the sort of manner everyone who goes to a psychologist speaks in, or would the writers of this show have us believe that? Is it somehow mandatory for a show to be 'popular' these days it must have this word in every episode? In particular one "patient" in the first series had a 16 year old girl speaking gutter language each time she came to see her shrink that made me want to shove a cake of soap in her mouth.

I can't fault the acting & I'm a big fan of Gabriel Byrne's films, but some of the script is just trash. I just wish somewhere like ITV or UKTV had got a hold of this before HBO. I think we may have had a better quality programme.

Well 333 other people have reviewed this film so I'll put my two cents worth in too. I have no Australian bias here (I'm a Kiwi) but I just found this to be a great movie. I have read the other reviews where everyone seems to fall into a 'love it' or 'hate it' category but for me this was 3 hours of great entertainment & that's what I paid to see!

I wont bore anyone with the story line, others here have done that ad nauseam but for me the real star of the film is the great Australian landscape and we are swept across it with this wonderful story of pre-WW2 Outback cattle ranching and an English dame who happens to land herself in this place & all the problems & romance that unfold.

I did have a bit of a problem with Nicole's 'english' accent and thought at the beginning it sounded a bit contrived and personally would love to have seen English actress Kate Winslet in this part but when we get into the droving part of the story Nicole on horseback wins hands down! The part of Drover was made for Hugh Jackman & I can't imagine anyone else in it. No contest there. He was just perfect & given that Jackman & Kidman are friends in real life they had no problems generating the 'chemistry' the story needed.

For those that criticised the the 'Wizard of Oz' music please have a look at the calendar! It was released in 1939 and was the BIG movie of the year in which this film was set. What did you expect? A Beatles song? Oh puhlease it fitted the time and the story.

I have seen this twice already and wont have any trouble watching it a third time. The largest movie screen possible is almost a must though. My favourite scene - when 1500 head of cattle are herded down the dusty main street of Darwin and onto the wharf leaving the the 'bad' guys choking in the dust & at the audacity of this English lady & her Aussie Drover ! Well done Baz for taking on such a large project & telling a great yarn filmed against some stunning country. For me it's a winner. They just don't make them like this anymore.

I had the pleasure of meeting James Michener (and have his autograph) when he came to New Zealand (where I lived then) in 1976. He was attending the American bi-centennial celebrations being held then & gave a fascinating speech that evening (much of it on the still recent Watergate saga). I have read a number of his books and Centennial was one of my favourites the first half of the story especially.

The TV mini series I have only just managed to get a copy of so it has taken my over 30 years for me to see this & some of the book's detail had become a bit hazy.

In every way this was an excellent production and great acting throughout but like others I thought the ending was really a fizzer. Back 30 years ago the heavy aging makeup might have looked okay but some of it looks pretty bad now by TV/movie standards.

I only found this when looking up information on Richard Chamberlain & found he had starred in this series but it's full of great name actors! This is a wonderful production of Michener's great book & a fascinating story of part of America's history. Very enjoyable & now Im going to try & find the book again!

I want to say right off that I think this is easily Tom Cruise's best performance. But this film also had a supporting cast of some of the best of British acting talent. Not being aware previously of this piece of WW2 history I was fascinated & entertained with the brilliant production that this film turned out to be. It's a good thing we don't take too much notice of the nay-sayers! This is a very, very good movie. If any of Stauffenburg's family are still alive today ie/ children or grandchildren I hope they are proud of what this man, and others that supported him, tried to do. And it's nice to know that in all the Nazi evil & insanity there were those who could see the wrong in it & the ruination of their country and tried to put an end to it.

I read John Grogan's book on Xmas Day 2007 & saw this film today in Australia on New Years Day '09. I have to say they have turned this heartwarming & funny story into a great movie. The casting was right & Owen Wilson & Jennifer Anniston perfect in the roles of John & Jenny Grogan. I grew up as a teenager with a Golden Labrador in the family we all adored & in my early married life with a badly behaved Lassie Collie dog which had to be put down 13 years later. I could really relate to this family's experiences with their pooch & the sometimes angst it caused them. Our Collie chewed everything in sight & also managed to run straight through a plate glass door, jumped out of the car window and broke a bone in his foot... so many experiences similar to this film/book. And at the end of our pooch's life my (by then ex-husband) cried like a baby when we had to have our dog put down.

This film shows the whole life of Marley & how he was loved and at times despaired of and at the end the most cherished part of this family. Yes I cried at the end & I thought it beautifully done but I also was crying for the dog I miss so much now. I would just like the film to have rounded off the story & shown that Marley got a book published about him & that they next got a docile dog who was never going to make it to the press as he was in fact the model dog they thought they were getting with Marley. Lovely film & such a nice change from some of the garbage that's in the theatres these days.