Rating: 
Summary: Briliant and chilling
Review: Like 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'Stand By Me,' this is an adaptation of a Stephen King story which actually works. It does so because writer Boyce and director Singer wisely ditch King's by-the-numbers gore in favor of a far more interesting focus on the characters. Brad Renfro strikes the perfect balance between innocence and menace, and Ian McKellen is at times legitimately terrifying as the aged Nazi. (See 'Richard III' for McKellen as a Nazi-like character at the height of his powers.) Overall, this is more tightly constructed than the novella, and replaces King's unnecessarily violent climax with a scene which is far more chilling. So why did this film do poorly at the US boxoffice? From the tone of most of the criticism, it's apparently because it deals with a difficult subject and argues an unpopular case: that the horrors inflicted in the name of Nazism were not necessarily a manifestation of a particular time and place. Rather, they may represent the activation of a potential for evil which exists in us all - yes, even in the heart of the all-American boy. That's not something most of us want to be told... at least, not on a Friday night at the movies.
Rating: 
Summary: fearful pupil & master
Review: This film is based on the novel by Stephen King, and made by Brian Singer who directed ¡°The Usual Suspects¡±. This film has no thrilling or suspense compare with his former work ¡°The Usual Suspects¡±, but it has well organized script and striking performance of Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro. At first, when a boy, Todd visits a house of former Nazi officer, Kurt, he just wants to hear what happened at the war with simple curiosity. However, the nightmare images of war appear to his dream and then he becomes to be changed. He feels pleasure when he threatens and manipulates Kurt. At last, he becomes to be like Kurt whom he felt a hatred. This film shows the inherent violence of human being. That is interesting and impressive.
Rating:
Summary: Grim thriller sheds fresh light on history's excesses
Review: Based on a Stephen King novella first published in the 'Different Seasons' anthology in 1982, Bryan Singer's masterful thriller "Apt Pupil" (1997) - his immediate follow-up to the cult favorite "The Usual Suspects" (1995) - is a virtual two-hander between venerable Brit actor Ian McKellen as a decrepit former Nazi living in seclusion in a small American town, and young Brad Renfro ("The Client") as a budding sadist whose unhealthy interest in the Holocaust sends him directly to McKellen's door, having recognized him from old photographs which betray his prior identity. Forced to recount the details of his murderous past to the boy, who threatens to expose him otherwise, these two deeply unpleasant characters begin to awaken long-dormant mutual impulses, with inevitably tragic consequences...Superbly acted, especially by the two leads, and directed by Singer with exquisite grace from Brandon Boyce's tightly-constructed screenplay, the film explores the ways in which history affects the present, and how the seeds of genocide can blossom unexpectedly from within the most ordinary - seemingly benign - circumstances. When Renfro asks McKellen how it felt to kill people, he's actually testing his own capacity for unimaginable evil, and one suddenly understands how the Holocaust was possible, and how a similar atrocity could easily happen again, even in the most 'civilized' society. Despite first-class performances and production values, the movie wasn't a box-office success, partly because we're invited to sympathize with an unrepentant monster and his all-too-willing disciple. David Schwimmer, Elias Koteas, Bruce Davison and Joshua Jackson are featured in brief supporting roles. Columbia's region 1 DVD runs 111m 1s and reproduces the Super 35 frame at 2.35:1, anamorphically enhanced. A 4:3 pan-scan version is also included, and both are supremely vivid and colorful. There's a choice of 5.1 or 2.0 surround sound options (both strong but unexceptional), and the disc contains English captions and subtitles. Extras include a letterboxed (1.85:1) trailer, and a short 'Making Of' documentary. NB. Similar territory is explored in Agustin Villaronga's extraordinary thriller "In a Glass Cage" (Tras el Cristal, 1986), a Spanish masterpiece in which a former Nazi doctor is visited at his isolated home by one of his victims, a young man whose experiences as a child in the concentration camps have unleashed all kinds of monsters from his broken mind. However, whereas the shocks in "Apt Pupil" are tethered by the commercial dictates of an R-rating, Villaronga's film is absolutely uncompromising and will horrify the uninitiated.
Rating:
Summary: An strong unique Thriller.
Review: A smart high-school student (Brad Renfro) obessesed with the Holocaust and he recognizes a former Nazi Officer (Ian McKellen) hiding from the law and living in America. The student blackmails into sharing ths details of his death camp atrocities. Directed by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-Men) brings a Deep story-telling, style and Strong Performances by McKellen and Renfro. One of the best adapations from a Stephen King (Dolores Claiborne, Misery) novel. Watch Quick for Novelist:Stephen King. DVD`s has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer (Pan & Scan also alivable) and an strong Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This is a well made underrated film. Super 35. Grade:A.
Rating: 
Summary: Failing grade.
Review: Utterly pedestrian examination of the Holocaust. But what else would you expect from that serious intellectual otherwise known as Stephen King? The screenwriter cannot help this material, the plot details of which are straight out of High School Creative Writing: it's one fantabulous coincidence after another, starting with the creepy high school kid (Brad Renfro) who JUST HAPPENS to be a Holocaust "buff" (uh, whatever) who JUST HAPPENS to be riding on the same city bus with an old man (Ian McKellen) who JUST HAPPENED to be a famous death camp kommandant . . . get the picture? My favorite coincidence is the one where McKellan's Nazi ends up in the same hospital room with another old man who JUST HAPPENED to have spent some quality time in the former's death camp as an inmate. Storytelling doesn't get much more juvenile than this, ladies and germs. As far as the performances go, Brad Renfro's role is way beyond his ability (as written, it's so vaguely comprehended that only a prodigy could make it work), and "Sir" Ian McKellan, with his perfect diction, helplessly and inevitably turns his poorly-written lines into camp. *Apt Pupil* is what you get when you overrate *The Usual Suspects*.
Rating:
Summary: Pupils Fixed and Dialated
Review: A promising young student encounters a wanted nazi war criminal. Immediately begins a chess match where the power keeps switching sides. The result is a disturbing tale adapted from Stephen King's novella. A great performance by Ian McKellen and a surpsingly good supporting role by David Schwimmer allow for the young lead (Brad Renfro) to appear more than 1 dimensional. Well directed by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) but sometimes self-absorbed. The DVD has great picture and sound and a brief, useless mini-documentary.
Rating:
Summary: "JUNG FREUDE KINDER KUNST"
Review: This little hidden cousin is perfectly mated to the all too real "Young Poisoner's Handbook" - another whiff of dangerous liasons for inquisitive youth. This one's quite rare, almost like little Red Riding Hood's potential offspring [Cain for sure] if she's gone of with Herr Wolf and suitably axed dear old Grandmama. Our golden child. Brad Renfro finds this little old Nazi [comfortably hidden as "another grumpy old"] in quiet suburbia. Ian McKellen counterpoints his "Gods and Monsters" [aka "Father of Frankenstein"] admirably. Another grand surprise along the way is David Schwimmer's performance as the nosy teacher who meets his uncomfortable match [a ploy so often pulled since Hellman's "Children's Hour"]. Contrary to Stephen King's ending - this one lingers on - possibility of another "American Psycho" sequel. Footnote: This is technically the second version - first was with Ricky Schroeder/Nicol Williamson, a brave independent, never completed.
Rating:
Summary: Great work on the psychological suspense
Review: Usually the movies based on King's books are much less interesting than the books since King really know how to explore the psychological side of the characters. But this movie is different: it's all about the psychological pressure of the nazi philosophy and the feelings from the World War II on a young American student. Do not expect a bloody terror movie, but a kind of suspense like "MISERY", about the evilness and insanity of men. If you enjoied "MISERY" by King you'll certainly enjoy this movie.
Rating:
Summary: When you dine with the devil, take a long spoon
Review: This movie quickly disappeared from the theaters, which is really too bad, because it's an excellent film. Those reviewers who disliked it because it didn't have enough "Stephen King" have missed the point. Good horror doesn't always depend on lots of supernatural gore. Sometimes the most frightening things are the terrible possibilities we find within ourselves -- if we dare to look. Much of this film consists of psychological games, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying. If you have ever wondered how ordinary good citizens (like yourself???) could have ended up serving the Nazi genocide machine, then this movie is a chillingly real answer. An excellent study in how seemingly moral people can be manipulated by fear and seduced by power. What starts out as an honor student's curiousity about a dark chapter in history soon degenerates into cruelty and manipulation on both sides. The student begins by blackmailing an old Nazi war criminal into telling him all about the concentration camps -- and that means EVERYTHING -- or else he will turn him over to the authorities. The old Nazi, fearing arrest, complies. But the boy soon goes beyond curiousity, as he begins to enjoy having absolute power over another human being. At this point, the student is the sadist, and I actually found myself feeling sorry for the old man. But wait -- the Nazi still has a few tricks up his sleeve, and the tables are soon turned... To tell you more would be a spoiler. Just remember: when you dine with the devil, the spoon is never long enough.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling look at Child Psychology...
Review: McKellern looks surprisingly good in a black Algemeine SS uniform, marching on the spot. Better anyway than in a silly purple helmet as Magneto in X-Men. Perhaps next year we'll get to see him in a tutu or something. One of the great Shakespearean actors of our time.
|
