This week we finally got to go see "Water for Elephants" I always like seeing movies of books I have read, but usually choose to see them some time after I have finished the book because movies miss so many details and I hate feeling like I have been cheated. I waited just long enough this time, I remembered most of the book, but not too well.
The story line behind this movie is about a man who joins the circus, after his mother and father pass away and he has nothing left. He becomes the circus Vet. Robert Pattison plays this main character, Jacob. Jacob starts to fall in love with the horse performer, Marlena, played by Reese Witherspoon. The problem is in the fact that Marlena is the wife of August,(Christoph Waltz) the circus' manager. The elephant comes in as the circus aquires an elephant that Marlena and Jacob must train to keep the show bringing in money. The book is awesome by the way.
I think Reese Witherspoon did a good job with her character. She seemed to capture Marlena's personality from the book. I always feel like a movie doesn't completely allow the viewers to see the characters like a book will, but in her case, it wasn't bad. I was diappointed in August's character. He wasn't quite crazy enough. In the book he showed the battle of a bipolar type personality, but in the movie he just seemed moody. Robert Pattison did well as Jacob, although I do feel like he was slightly too "happy" in the movie, the book led me to believe he was more depressed and somber.
The supporting characters were lacking, there were some good storylines that the movie didn't have time to capture. I wished somehow the development of characters could have been better. Although, the book was slightly lacking in the development of Marlena and Jacob's relationship so I guess I can't expect the movie to do any better.
I think I liked this movie because the book came to life a little bit for me, not so much because I thought the movie was exceptional. I think if I hadn't read the book I would have thought the movie was lacking and rushed, with pieces missing.
All in all I think the movie was ok, it was nice to see how someone put it in picture form. I would recommend reading the book more though!
See you next week.
That is one book I have not read,I guess I will have to read it before I see the movie. I too like to read the book before I see a movie based on a good book. I can't wait to see Lincoln Lawyer, I loved the book!
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