Rating: 
Summary: You must watch this movie.
Review: I don't think I ever saw a film where the acting was this good. Sure, the film has a good screenplay and music score, but it would have been incomplete if they had not cast Tobey Maguire and Michael Caine in the top roles and they both do a good job with exploreing the human condition in this film. Caine won an Oscar for his performance and it was well earned. After seeing this, I have no doubts that Tobey is the right choice to play Peter Parker in the up-coming Spider-Man film.
Rating:
Summary: Superbly Crafted Film
Review: The Cider House Rules superbly shows how strong character and love for one's fellow human being can make a difference. Some might say this film is about abortion, or orphanages. They would be wrong. That is the backdrop, the setting. What the film is really about is the ability of a strong and caring personality to make a difference and pass on the wellspring of good, both in the here and now, and into the future. Sleep well, you Princes of Maine, you Kings of New England! Great film. You don't want to miss it.
Rating: 
Summary: bland protagonist
Review: The setting of the movie is idyllic, and it helps the film come off as something of a modern fairy tale, though it has some serious issues it tries to tackle, with limited success. Michael Caine's character is lovable and he does a great job convincing the viewer that a man can be an excellent doctor, a caring man, and also something of a drug addict.
HOWEVER-- the main character is a total cipher. I don't think the expression on his face ever changed. He had the appeal (and personality) of a brick wall. I get the feeling that this may have been intentional. Whatever the case, he was totally unengaging and this put a real damper on the movie... I kept waiting for Michael Caine to reappear and do something interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, great score, great acting, great plot.
Review: This movie was a true masterpiece. The score is truly wonderful. It kind of reminded me of the classic "Pacibel's Canyon". In my opinion the score is as good as the score on "The Green Mile". The movie was well acted with a great plot. The orphinage is a heartwarming piece of the movie. That little kid (Dewey) from "Malcom in the Middle" stars. All in all a great movie, I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, original, and touching film.
Review: I just recently had the pleasure of renting THE CIDER HOUSE RULES on video yesterday. Well, I've been waiting a long time to see this film so as soon as I brought it home from the library, I put it right into the VCR. I have to say that I was not disappointed with this film at all. I have never read John Ivring's novel, but I can tell that if the film is this good, the book must be good, too. THE CIDER HOUSE RULES is about a young man, Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire, in his best performance yet), who lives and works as Dr. Wilbur Larch's (Michael Caine) assistant at a hospital-like orphanage where they deliver pregnanent womens' babies. Dr. Larch thinks of Homer as his son, even though they are not biologically a family. Then, Homer feels the need to leave the only home he's ever known to find the place where he thinks he truly belongs. While he's trying to "find himself", he meets the beautiful Candy (Charlize Theron), and they fall in love. Of course, Candy is already in love with someone else, who is away at war and said she hates to be "left alone". At the end, Homer learns where he really belongs. THE CIDER HOUSE RULES is a mix of romance, comedy, tragedy, and drama. It's a beautiful and inspiring story. The entire main cast and supporting cast are absolutely superb. I can now see why the Academy chose to nominate this film for Best Picture. I'll admit though: I first wanted to see this film because Tobey Maguire and Kieran Culkin were in it and they are two of my favorite actors, but it's a beautiful story even without them. I recommend this film for anyone who's ever needed inspiration in their lives.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning, shattering
Review: This film has affected me in ways I can't explain. It was beautiful and harrowing. It was heartwarming, it was painful, it was gentle, it was brutal, it was tragic, it was uplifting. Homer Wells is the touchstone for all of those feelings, and I just wish I could put it better than that. "An innocent abroad" is not all there is to it....Homer is a blank slate in all respects but one. At approximately 20, he's almost a child himself, except that he knows everything there is to know about birth, and more than we ordinarily know about its alternative. His mentor and loving father figure, Dr. Larch, has brought the boy up as a medical prodigy. This is the eager soul who sets out on the road one day from his lifelong shelter at St. Cloud's orphanage, at the sudden impulse driven by love at first sight. His heart's hope, Candy Kendall, is in a committed relationship to a young man (Wally Worthington) who quickly becomes Homer's best friend. Homer is an earnest, needy young man with good core values and a helpful disposition. This combination is a recipe for a complicated life. Situational ethics are at the core of this film. Homer has to confront his heart in every circumstance, even the literal sense...he is given by Dr. Larch to believe his heart itself is physically vulnerable. It surely is given spiritual tests of every kind. Dr. Larch, with completely moral intentions, is in the abortion business (the reason for Candy and Wally's visit to St. Cloud's) as much as in the adoption business. His fatherly love for Homer allows him to lie to the boy about Homer's own health with a clear conscience. His belief in giving choices to desperate women allows him to commit felonies (at the time) also with a clear conscience. Homer understands abortion as a practical need but, as an orphan, develops a personal philosophy against it. Homer accepts Dr. Larch's practices but won't practice abortion himself. Homer takes all of this and more with him into the world. It's the story of how people deal with the conflicting values that they believe in. Candy loves Wally, and she needs Homer. Homer is an orphan who cherishes life but must confront abortion as a realistic option. Dr. Larch is a father figure without children of his own, and his need for Homer to succeed him is the need not only of an orphanage director for a sympathetic colleague, but also the need of a doting parent. There is a lot going on here and it doesn't allow for simple resolution. So months later, I am still coming to terms with it. That makes this a great film in my estimation.
Rating:
Summary: a movie that takes a long time to digest
Review: a movie that takes a long time to digest, oscar winning performance, good taste, a struggle throughtout the movie in numerous levels. diff struggles the characters takes on ends up quite extraordinarily. great directing, casting, and good screen adaptation . 4.7 star overall. if you watch the movie closely, you will discover life, human triumph, love, in every corner.
Rating:
Summary: DO NOT BE FOOLED BY ITS BORING APPEARANCE... VERY SURPRISING
Review: I still remember seeing the movie poster for "The Cider House Rules" at my local movie theatre and thinking, 'Geez, that sounds and looks completely boring'! I passed it up at the movies... judging the book by its cover. Today, I saw it at the video store for rent on DVD and something made me pick it up. Now, after seeing the movie, I WANT TO OWN IT SO BAD. God, that was a good movie. That is saying A LOT because I'm not usually keen on these kinds of movies. The characters were just SO ENGAGING, I couldn't stop watching the screen. Take it from me, forget renting, BUY THIS MOVIE NOW. The DVD has great commentary and very meaningful Deleted Scenes. I recommend this one to all.
Rating:
Summary: All authors should help direct the film adaptation!
Review: One of my favorite books has been made into a movie that magically captures the heartfelt tone that makes the novel a wonderful read. Admittedly, I never imagined Homer's love as a beauty like Charlize Theron, but Caine and Maguire might as well have had their pictures on the cover of the first edition. The film has made me look forward to rereading the novel, yet another time. One caveat: if you lack empathy for folks who make mistakes in life or who are the victims of those mistakes; if you believe the First Amendment guarantees the freedom to choose YOUR religion or none at all; and, if you imagine that ignorance is a defensible point-of-view (and therefore that movie previews should spell out the details of the film, to protect the sensibilities of those who couldn't be bothered to read the book), then I suggest strongly that you skip this purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Two Stars for Actors' Performances......
Review: but don't be fooled. This movie is a two hour cleverly/not so cleverly disquised pro-abortion advertisement. If this bothers you avoid it. Had this film been set in current times instead of the 1930's it would be ever so obvious. I was not so much offended by it as I was troubled. This is not a family film. It explores three different excuses for abortion: woman's right to choose, if abortion is not legal women will harm themselves and a case of pregancy as a result of rape/incest also included are the plight of orphans and the pain of a woman giving her baby up for adoption. So be forwarned and unless you are very pro-abortion and want to pass that on to your kids stay away from this film.
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