Rating: Summary: Better late on DVD than never! Review: A must for my DVD collection!This bitter-sweet film follows the life and times of T.S. Garp, a fatherless boy brought up by his nurse-mother Jenny Fields. This film adaptation of Irving's book follows Garp in every stage of his life. The performances by Williams, Lithgow and Close are sincere and memorable. The film is a bit different than the book. Garp's years in Europe (in the book) are encapsulated in a brief scene with Swoosie Kurtz and also unlike the book, there is no "Epilogue." But the film succeeds wonderfully in capturing the tone of the book. Personally, I'd recommend watching the film before reading the book. Watch for cameo appearances by Jessica Tandy and Hume Crownyn (Jenny's parents) as well as a cameo by the author himself (as the wrestling referee).
Rating: Summary: Excellent and Unusual Movie Review: This movie eventhough it is unusual is excellent. Robin Williams and John Lithgow both play an excellent part. This movie has some twists to it. Robin Williams is a wrestling coach in this movie. Robin Williams wrestled in High School in real life.
Rating: Summary: EXCELLENT ADAPTATION Review: Although John Irving's wacky universe is much more detailed in his wonderful novel, this movie captures the essence of his warm messages. The performances, particularly John Lithgow and Glenn Close (film premiere! ), are excellent. You may not be prepared for the topsy-turvy world according to Garp, but if you stay with it, it will stay with you for a long time after. Hits the right balance of humor and sorrow in every major scene.
Rating: Summary: Beautiful film -- it will stay with you. Review: There are some odd reviews by Amazon customers here. Especially the one that feels that it's okay to spoil the ending for people so they won't make a 90 minute "mistake". Watching this film is no mistake. Neither is watching it again and again and again. It is beautifully acted by all involved. (People forget that this is the film that resurrected Robin Williams after the "Popeye" fiasco; and that his controlled performance was a departure from his usual over-the-top comedy.) While exaggerating how bizarre this world can be (for example, Lithgow's transsexual former football player), it is somehow true to life . . . and it will stay with you. And for God's sake, Lincoln, NE reviewer -- does a film actually have to show a character keel over for the audience to realize that he's dead?
Rating: Summary: Read the book first Review: Read the book first. It's not absolutely necessary, but do it anyway. The book is much better. However, I have to say that Robin Williams is superb in this movie. He was perfect for the role; truly one of his best performances. To those complaining about the occaisonally nudity in the film, it pales in comparison with the book which is far more "filthy" from start to end, yet it is definitely no Jerry Springer show. It is simply an exceptional story about unusual characters with a shocking ending (or at least it was to me). The novel is clevely crafted. John Irving is one of the best authors of our time. Anyway, the movie is good. The book is much better. Both are worth investigating but I definitely recommend reading the novel before viewing the movie.
Rating: Summary: before jerry springer Review: this movie is one big jerry springer episode and then some.it has a very twisted story line but it is interesting non the less.
Rating: Summary: The 2 stars are for Robin Williams, the movie itself gets 0! Review: After watching the movie The World According to Garp and reading the book prior to watching the movie I have to say that, as usual, the book was better than the movie. Much better! Maybe I'm just not giving the movie a fair shot because I read the book first. After reading the book you discover what a great story it can be. You discover the potential of the plot to be an enticing, wonderful story. Then you see the movie and what you see is a totally different story. Some of the best parts of the book were cut out or edited and changed so much that it was difficult to interpret some parts of the movie as carried over from the book or added just for the movie. If there were three things about the book that I would say make it so popular and such a great read, it would be the crazy way it started, the hilarious, unusual, and unlikely events that occur, and the sad way the book comes to a close. By the time the movie starts the book has already been going since long before Jenny Fields ever saw Technical Sergeant Garp. We missed out on a lot of hilarious scenes and a very good basis on which to start the story. As for the hilarious, unusual, and unlikely events, there were a lot that were left out completely. As for those scenes that were not left out, they were altered a lot and poorly done. I felt when I watched certain scenes that the movie may have been done in a hurry. It lacked the carefully thought out writing that the book had. In the book everything had been well thought out and nothing was too unexpected because everything was so foreshadowed. There were hints of every disaster fifty or one hundred pages before they ever occurred. Then there was the way they decided to end the movie. In the book Garp is shot and killed with a good fifty or so pages left in the book. There is an entire chapter dedicated to what happened in the lives of the people who surrounded Garp after Garp's death. For one thing, we never learn what happened to all of the people who surrounded Garp in the movie. Most importantly, however, in the movie Garp is never killed. He is shot in a scene similar to that in the movie, and then he is taken in a helicopter with Helen en route to a hospital. He is able to talk, (and in the book there were no last words), and he never actually dies. He is still breathing and talking when the movie ends and there is really no clue as to whether or not Garp will live, or if Garp will die before he ever gets to the hospital. I apologize for ruining the ending for anyone who is reading this who hasn't watched the movie. This way it will save a few people from making the same ninety minute mistake that I made. Thanks, however, to Robin Williams for doing a great job with the character Garp, and making the movie feel a little less worthless than it would have if someone else had played Garp.
Rating: Summary: This movie does the book no justice Review: After watching the video for The World According to Garp I went and bought the novel by John Irving. After reading about twenty pages I wondered if I picked up the worng book because the movie is so much different. I then finished reading the book and realized what a beuatiful story it is about love, death, and change in which the movie truly did no justice. I think that all copies of the movie should be burned and everyone required to read the book. The only thing that saved this book from a one star review was the oustanding performance from Robin Williams, who truly made the movie watchable.
Rating: Summary: This is just one of the greatest...read the book too Review: Anyone have this on DVD? Any sone, NTCT or PA
Rating: Summary: A Great Adaptation of John Irving's Novel Review: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP is an unbelieveable piece of cinema. I will always think of it as Robin Williams' best film. All the acting is incredible. Glenn Close gives a great performance as Garp's protective and offbeat mother. A great adaptation of John Irving's novel. It should've been nominated for more Academy Awards.
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