Rating: 
Summary: The "restored" version of the Orson Welles 1942 script
Review: Since the point of this version of "The Magnificent Ambersons" is to "restore" the scenes that were lost when the study cut the Orson Welles version from 148 to 88 minutes, it becomes impossible to judge it by a different standard in which we pretend this was the first time Booth Tarkington's Pulitzer Prize winning book was brought to the screen. Ironically, if the point is to emphasize those lost scenes, then viewers need to watch the 1942 version to help you recognize the scenes when they crop up; they mostly have to do with the way modern things like the automobile change the face of the town in which the Ambersons rule. Of course, most films suffer in comparison to the original Mercury Production.This 2002 production is handsome enough, although it lacks the distinctive cinematography and art direction of the Welles' film. Bruce Greenwood cuts a suitably dashing figure as Eugene Morgan and Madeleine Stowe makes a tragic enough Isabel. My problem with this version is the same as it was in the original: I can never really accept the idea that Lucy Morgan, well-played by the fetching Gretchen Mol, would ever really want to have anything to do with George Amberson Minafer, played by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. I will admit there are scenes in the later part of the film where Rhys-Meyers manages to find something charming in the character, and we do get into Lucy's thoughts on the matter at one point, but for the most part Georgie is played with such bug-eyed intensity that I find it impossible to believe his mother does not know her spoiled little brat is on a level all his own as a world-class jerk. The film also goes a bit too far with suggesting some sort of Oedipus complex at work behind their relationship. Isabel almost died giving him birth and could not have any more children; that is a reasonable enough explanation for what is going on here. Yes, Jennifer Tilly goes over the top as Aunt Fanny, but then when your performance is going to be compared to that of Agnes Moorhead, who received Best Actress honors from the New York Film Critics Circle of playing Fanny in the original, you are pretty much doomed. James Cromwell has little of consequence to do as Major Amberson, but William Hootkins as Uncle George is a worthy successor to Ray Collins in the original. He might be the black sheep of the Ambersons, but that means he simply ends up being the most grounded member of the clan. However, it is from the performances of Greenwood and Mol that this version of "The Magnificent Ambersons" draws its strength. The ending of the film, when Greenwood looks into the camera as he speaks the words of his imaginary letter to Isabel, is certainly more effective than the rather awkward ending of the original. Anything that can end with such a note of grace deserves being watched. Furthermore, those who have never seen the Welles' version will be able to better enjoy this film since they will not be prejudiced by memories of performances past.
Rating: 
Summary: What was this?!
Review: TERRIBLE. Is J.R. Meyers the new Julian Sands? I think he and Jennifer Tilly actually ran out of scenery to chew by the end of the film. AND WHAT did Madeleine Stowe do to her face?! She looks like she's had some horrible botched-up plastic surgery which makes it painful to watch her. Save your money and watch Orson Welles' version, edited by the studio, but definitely more interesting.
Rating:
Summary: What a waste of time and money
Review: There's nothing more frustrating than spending your time watching a bad film, a teacher once said to us; and nothing sadder than seeing the downhill of a good artist. Alfonso Arau, the director, has had the reputation of being a good director, or at least one that cared about his projects enough to make them good looking, well acted, or, at least, interesting. However, in this pseudo version of the great 1941 masterpiece, we can't see anything remotely interesting or attractive. The casting is horrible, but that falls short when describing the awful and terrible acting of Rhys Myers as George (the brat): ...he actually makes Jim Carrey's "Ace Ventura" look underacted and cool; the rest of the movie is, basically, a stink bomb, really, but his acting is one of the most horrible things I have seen in more than thirty years of watching all kind of films. This Magnificent Ambersons is to the (mutilated) original Orson Welles' version like the graffiti version of the Mona Lisa. Save your time, brain cells and money. Watch the original.
Rating: 
Summary: Orson Welles is doing 360's in his grave as you read this.
Review: This "so-called" remake of Orson Welles' 1942 masterpiece is a major dissapointment. The makers claim to use the original Amberson script written by Orson Welles himself, and this version is supposed to bring to the world Welles' true, unspoiled vision of the story of the magnificent Amberson family. However, this A&E made-for-TV movie completely lacks the sprit, imagination, and cinematic creativty Welles put into his work. The script has been bastardized and watered down to form a bland teleplay that excludes important and memorable things such as the unforgettable narration and the opening flashback montage (to name only two). Watching the original film, one can see that Welles truly cared about his characters, and he also held a fondness for the time period in which this story takes place. Both aspects are GONE in this version. The characters are, at times, completely left out to dry, and when watching this, one gets the feeling they're watching just another "period" movie. Just about the only worthy thing in this entire movie is some (NOT all) of the acting; Madeline Stowe, Bruce Greenwood, Gretchen Mol, and William Hootkins being the standouts. My advice to anyone thinking of purchasing this is: Stick with the original. Despite the fact that it was taken out of Welles' hands and re-edited by his studio, it still stands head and shoulders above this.
Rating: 
Summary: Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Review: This movie stars the greatest actor in the world.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Performance
Review: This movie was extremely well acted. George Amberson was a rather strange main character in my opinion. Most of the time, a person feels inclined to take the main character's side, but in this case, I definitely felt like he was a rather disagreeable character up until the end. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was an excellent villian/hero. His poor mother, played by Madeleine Stowe, was constantly bullied by her overbearing, selfish, and extremely arrogant son. In fact, he bullied just about everyone who came into contact with him. His Uncle George puts it well towards the end of the film, "Georgie, I have always been fond of you, but I haven't always liked you." While this film is rather bittersweet, it's definitely something worth watching. It's interesting to see what happpens to a young man who has always had the best of everything and then when his grandfather dies, realizes that he has to live like the people he used to see and call "riffraff." It's about this time he seems to develop some sort of conscience about his past actions and how he treats others. It's a slow realization, but he does come to it. I think this film actually shows how many people of that rank felt at the time, that their wealth would last forever and they need never work for it. Many of them lost almost everything later on when the older family members, who had been the only ones dealing with the finances, finally died and are quick to find that there is nothing left except debts that can't be paid. So if you want to see an excellently played film with an equally excellent script, I recommend this film.
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