Shadowlands

Rating:
Summary: Truly memorable, one that should not be missed!
Review: I finished 'Shadowlands' with puffy eyes and sniffles, but also with warm feelings in my heart.

The movie covered a period of C.S. Lewis' life when he met Joy Gresham, an American writer who visited him in Oxford and how he had to face grief and challenges to what he had believed in. It is truly a powerful movie with great performances by Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger. Somebody posted below that Sir Anthony Hopkins conveyed a lot through his eyes, and it is true just by watching this movie - just by looking at his portrayal of C.S. Lewis when he was with Joy Gresham, you can sense love and affection that is contained within the rigidity of his manner - and the anguish and hurt when the tragedy happened.

The movie also poses a lot of good questions about life, without being preachy and it has certainly provided me with a lot of food for thoughts.

A must-see movie. Don't let the 'tragic' flavour deter you from watching 'Shadowlands', though. It doesn't leave you in sadness, it leaves you feeling enriched.

Rating:
Summary: An Overlooked Gem
Review: What was I thinking when I went to see this movie? I thought it was some fatasy flick, about mystical stuff. How I breezed by all the posters in the lobby of the theater, I don't know. As you may have gathered, I'm a bit of an idiot. Boy was I surprised! But all this babble goes to what a lovely movie this really is.

I was able to make the dramatic gear switch, from being prepared for an afternoon of light-hearted fun (for some fictional movie I had conjured up in my brain) to enjoy a story about famous author C.S. Lewis.

Don't be unprepared, have tissue handy. This is a romance of grand and tragic proportions. The movie brings home how Life and Fate are unpredictable. Just as Lewis opens his heart to his love, that love takes a painful turn.

And as always, the English countryside is a lovely back-drop. Winger and Hopkins are brilliant. If you missed this movie, take the opportunity to see it.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and touching.
Review: Anthony Hopkins is powerfully moving in this film. I think it's the eyes, he says a lot with eyes. Debra Winger surprised me by her wonderful perfomance as I was not a fan before watching this film. It could have been Mr. Hopkins influence on her as her eyes spoke what her heart was feeling also. Excellent movie, touching that it was based on a true story.

Rating:
Summary: We are living in the shadowlands.
Review: SHADOWLANDS is a film that is based on the love story between C.S. Lewis and Joy Gresham. The movie is beautifully photographed, is acted superbly, and has some wonderful dialogue. The oral wit of Lewis is captured in almost every scene and Anothony Hopkins gives one of the most realistic and moving performances of his career. Richard Attenborough's direction is nearly flawless and SHADOWLANDS sinks any notion that Attenborough was a one-film wonder director (GHANDI).

I am a huge fan of C.S. Lewis and enjoyed the film immensely. Non-Christian friends of mine have been moved to tears while watching the film because not only does it capture the essence of true love, but because it is a true story. C.S. Lewis was set to be a lifelong bachelor until he met Joy Gresham. They were in many ways opposites (e.g. nationality, heritage, lifestyle, etc.) and it would seem inconceivable that the two should fall in love. But they did. It was as though God used Lewis and Joy to illustrate His love for us.

There were only two parts of the movie that I disliked. I found Debra Winger's performance to be irritating and annoying. There were scenes where she shined and captured the real Joy. However, for most of the film, Winger's Joy seemed fake and unnatural.

The other thing I didn't like about the movie is that they cut out one of the Gresham boys. Joy had two boys, not one and the movie acts as though one of the two brothers didn't even exist. It's simpler to tell a story that way, but not necessarily best.

Overall, a wonderful film about two very real people who had an amazing love story. It's a film sure to raise emotion, perhaps bring a tear to one's eye and it makes a great date movie.

Rating:
Summary: A Touching, Must-See, Romance!!!!
Review: Anthony Hopkins plays C.S. "Jack" Lewis, an Oxford Professor/Speaker/Author who has cocooned himself in a world of safety. Those in his circle are nothing more than intellectual acquaintances, those he can banter with and win against easily. Joy Gresham, a New York divorcee, enters his life and immediately startles the reserved Jack--she is forward and says exactly what is on her mind, with a keen insight into Jack that even his Oxford friends don't have. Along with Joy is her son Douglas, a big fan of the Narnia books. Jack maintains an emotional distance from Joy, missing what others around him have picked up on.

Can a confirmed lifelong bachelor fall in love?

This is a superb movie...one of my favorites! Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger have wonderful chemistry together and bring a remarkable romance to the screen. I LOVE IT!!!

Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Film
Review: Here we have a very different Anthony Hopkins who portrays, in part, the character of C.S. Lewis, and he does it admirably. He is joined by Debra Winger, who represents the love of his life, and the woman who dies suddenly after he is married to her. It is a touching and inspiring film, and can possibly bring tears to your eyes. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Deep, Devastating and True
Review: How Anthony Hopkins missed an Oscar for this film is a bewildering outrage: he wasn't even nominated! (Is it Hollywood's skittishness about Hopkins playing one of the greatest Christian writers of the 20th Century?).

This was an emotionally-shattering film to watch, a love story that reaches so much deeper than anything I'd seen before. I NEVER cry at films (came close with SCHINDLER'S LIST and THE ENGLISH PATIENT) but SHADOWLANDS pushed me over the edge. I remember watching the audience leave the theatre: they shuffled out with shell-shocked expressions, everyone looking deep into themselves. The parents of two sisters I took called me the next day to ask what we had seen (the girls went home and had been strangely quiet).

I'd read C.S. Lewis' theological books for years but had no idea of what his personal life was like, so SHADOWLANDS was a wonderful insight into his life.
(My only problem--and from what I've read of people who knew him--is one single line at the end of the film: "I have no answers--only the life that I've lived." "Jack" Lewis would've never said that: his faith became even stronger after his tragic marriage. If that line were taken out, it would be a flawless movie).

I unabashedly loved this movie and would recommend it to anyone who wants an intelligent, genuine love story.

Rating:
Summary: The Man Who Created Narnia
Review: C.S. Lewis was a remarkable man who created an exceptional body of written work. His writings are all the more special for their extraordinary range. To countless children of any age he is known as the man who wrote, "The Chronicles of Narnia", a series of books for children that remain in print 50 years after his death, and which will soon be made in to films. For an entirely different group of readers he is known for his Christian writings like, "Mere Christianity", "Surprised By Joy", and "The Screwtape Letters". He was an intellectual, a gentleman, and a scholar. He was a distinguished member of the Oxford College faculty, teacher, and public speaker. He was also a very private man until Joy Gresham, portrayed by Debra Winger, arrives in his life, and Lewis played by Sir Anthony Hopkins embarks on a greatly altered life as husband and parent.

This is a love story that documents that opposites can in fact attract, and in this specific case, when played by one of the finest actors and actresses, places on film what will become a classic love story. The story is also a tragedy for while their married life together was not as brief as the movie suggests, Joy was to become terminally ill. Her sickness and eventual death test all the beliefs that C.S. Lewis had built his adult life upon. As a child he was raised in an environment of faith, as a young man he became an atheist, and then still later he became one of the most widely read Christian writers of the 20th century.

The cinematography under the direction of Richard Attenborough is beautiful, and like any great film there are a number of other players that make the film so wonderful to watch, in this case Edward Hardwicke as Lewis's brother, and Joseph Mazzello as Douglas Grishem.

This DVD also offers great interviews with the primary cast members, and a man who happens on the site to chat with the young man who is portraying him as a child. You are not told when he first appears that he is Douglas Gresham, but once you know and you see him chatting with the young actor Joseph Mazzello, it is like seeing two periods of time intersect.

This type of film is that which I most enjoy the talents of Mr. Hopkins. His most recent film was so wretched; it is hard to reconcile the same man made both movies. If you enjoy a fine story and fine cinematography, you will greatly enjoy this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Misses on key points
Review: First and foremost let me say Sir Anthony Hopkins is the greatest actor in the history on cinema.

Good, now that that's out of the way let me say this movie misses on chemistry. I simply A. Do NOT like the Winger character nor do I really care when she dies. Sounds heartless I know, but when an unlikeable character occupies 1/2 of the screen time, it hurts the film. She simply overdoes "being American". And the New York accent is layed on thicker than the lipstick. B. I simply do not believe the Hopkins character would be overcome with love for Debra Wingers character as-is. I'm not as intelligent as the Hopkins character and even I can see she is unlikeable let alone unloveable. True story, indeed.

What I do like about the film is the little bits of wisdom gained along the way. The reason we experience pain, etc. Hopkins had a key line, "Wanting is more desired than having." Great bits. And Hopkins is of course near flawless, and also the little pup from Jurassic Park turns in a good show.

This movie I'm sure would be 5 stars had Emma Thompson from "Howards End" been the leading lady, which by the way that movie isn't much better because while the actors are all superb, the story is pretty much nonexistant... if only we could switch these characters around and insert them into movies more deserving. Such is life. A fair rental at best.

The extras are fair/good and the sound and picture transfer I would say are well above average, which makes the movie all the more disappointing. If you are looking for a better "obscure" Hopkins flick try "The Bounty". A much better film with a terrific score.

Rating:
Summary: This is what subtle performances are all about
Review: During my eighth grade year I was asked to write a very thoroughly researched biography on an author off of a list that my teacher had compiled. Being thinly read at that time as far as the classics go, I chose an author with whom I was familiar, C.S. Lewis. I did my research and wrote what I still consider to be a fairly informational and concise paper. While researching I discovered that a movie about his relationship with Joy had been made and it starred my favorite actor, Anthony Hopkins. I rented the movie and sat down with my younger sister and best friend to watch it. At age 14 it was a bit difficult to appreciate the quiet tension and shy emotions that prevade most British films but somehow it was captivating all the same. Hopkins was polite and shy but allowed for the vulnerability of the character to come out thus making Jack very human. Winger came into the picture like a whoosh of fresh air and brought with her charm, frankness, and passion. While both characters were rounded out and capable of holding the story the one element that brings the movie full circle is Joy's son. His character carries the emotional charge that Lewis would rather ignore. His shattering discovery in the attic of Jack's house when he finds that the wardrobe does not lead to Narnia is one of the most beautiful and one of the saddest cinematic moments I think I've witnessed. Don't allow yourself to be dissuaded by the fact that Lewis was a Christian writer or that the film is touted as a "thinking Christian's movie" it is a thinking human's movie that will make you cry but give you an ending that does so much more than remedy the tears the movie induces. Watch this film for a unique viewing experience you will treasure.