Rating: 
Summary: It could've been a great movie...
Review: ...If only Patricia Arquette weren't in it. I never had anything against her before I saw this movie, but boy, does she know how to ruin a good movie. Liam Neeson was brilliant, and Joan Allen's performance was good, too, but Arquette's "acting" (I use the term loosely) was so overblown, so limp and clumsy and unbelievable, that it ruined the whole film for me; I've seen sixth-graders with better acting skills than I saw out of Arquette in this movie. It's a shame, because the scenes without her in them are brilliant, and the other actors turn in commendable performances. If only they'd hired a more competent actress or paid for some lessons for Arquette.
Rating:
Summary: It was a good book
Review: Ethan Fromme is a great romance book, however as books to movies go, this is one of the worst. Most of the facts were there, but there were added details, and a few missing things which just destroyed the message portrayed in the book.In the book, Ethan's crippled condition is only barely highlited, yet in the movie, it is dragged out to almost hillarious proportions. This reduces the novels intended effect on viewers of the movie, as the fact that it is supposed to seem almost a punishment on Ethan is lost almost completely. Zeena, the lifeless doll which we see with a certain sense of dread at her introduction in the novel, is a beautiful young woman when she appears in the movie, with only a little less charm later on, when, in the events of the novel, she is supposed to seem almost like death itself. Zeena in the movie is constantly portrayed as being not as bad as we are led to see in the book, therefore making us care for her and almost wonder why Ethan would want to have an affair when he has such a 'good' wife. Also, the character of Mattie, an innocent, vivacious character in the novel, is portrayed as a flirtatious... and almost instigates the affair more than Ethan. In the novel, Ethan is the one who truely begins everything, secretly longing for her, but never able to express his feelings to her until he fears she will be gone. All these changes destroy the tone with which the author of the book adressed Ethan, and ruined the message that we were supposed to get out of her work. Instead of feeling for the characters of Ethan and Mattie as the evil Zeena destroys Ethan, we feel a sense of disgust at Mattie and Ethan's affair. While the movie was true to the book in many ways, it was the ways in which it wasn't that make this movie sub-par, and almost disgraceful to the book.
Rating:
Summary: It was a good book
Review: Ethan Fromme is a great romance book, however as books to movies go, this is one of the worst. Most of the facts were there, but there were added details, and a few missing things which just destroyed the message portrayed in the book. In the book, Ethan's crippled condition is only barely highlited, yet in the movie, it is dragged out to almost hillarious proportions. This reduces the novels intended effect on viewers of the movie, as the fact that it is supposed to seem almost a punishment on Ethan is lost almost completely. Zeena, the lifeless doll which we see with a certain sense of dread at her introduction in the novel, is a beautiful young woman when she appears in the movie, with only a little less charm later on, when, in the events of the novel, she is supposed to seem almost like death itself. Zeena in the movie is constantly portrayed as being not as bad as we are led to see in the book, therefore making us care for her and almost wonder why Ethan would want to have an affair when he has such a 'good' wife. Also, the character of Mattie, an innocent, vivacious character in the novel, is portrayed as a flirtatious... and almost instigates the affair more than Ethan. In the novel, Ethan is the one who truely begins everything, secretly longing for her, but never able to express his feelings to her until he fears she will be gone. All these changes destroy the tone with which the author of the book adressed Ethan, and ruined the message that we were supposed to get out of her work. Instead of feeling for the characters of Ethan and Mattie as the evil Zeena destroys Ethan, we feel a sense of disgust at Mattie and Ethan's affair. While the movie was true to the book in many ways, it was the ways in which it wasn't that make this movie sub-par, and almost disgraceful to the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Neeson Outdoes the Book!
Review: For those of you who read my review on this book, you know that I gave the book 4 stars. Well, Neeson outdid the book! Neeson takes the book a BIG step farther. We see Ethan in his disfigured and isolated state, and then time goes backwards and we see how Ethan went from a somewhat normal state to this tragic and lamentable state. The priest adds a welcome touch of sympathy. The images are outstanding, and the background music flatters the images well. Comic relief moments are inserted in this lamentable tragedy well. One thing I must say about this movie is that even though it does not have lots of action or effects, IT IS NEVER BORING!! Ethan's quarrles with his wife are memorable, and his reluctant affair is unforgettable. There is even a wonderful scene in the middle that foreshadows Ethan's crippled state, the hostility between Ethan's wife and the housekeeper, and the tree that changes everyone's life for the worse. One brief, but vital scene is when Ethan and his wife argue bitterly, and the housekeeper along with one of Ethan's helpers overhear it. The final scene is likely to draw tears even from the most experienced person in drama and tragedy. Neeson deserves much credit for turning a 4 star book into an exquisite masterpiece. With all the movies I have seen, I can not boast of knowing more than 16 exquisite masterpieces, and this is one of them.
Rating:
Summary: Neeson Outdoes the Book!
Review: For those of you who read my review on this book, you know that I gave the book 4 stars. Well, Neeson outdid the book! Neeson takes the book a BIG step farther. We see Ethan in his disfigured and isolated state, and then time goes backwards and we see how Ethan went from a somewhat normal state to this tragic and lamentable state. The priest adds a welcome touch of sympathy. The images are outstanding, and the background music flatters the images well. Comic relief moments are inserted in this lamentable tragedy well. One thing I must say about this movie is that even though it does not have lots of action or effects, IT IS NEVER BORING!! Ethan's quarrles with his wife are memorable, and his reluctant affair is unforgettable. There is even a wonderful scene in the middle that foreshadows Ethan's crippled state, the hostility between Ethan's wife and the housekeeper, and the tree that changes everyone's life for the worse. One brief, but vital scene is when Ethan and his wife argue bitterly, and the housekeeper along with one of Ethan's helpers overhear it. The final scene is likely to draw tears even from the most experienced person in drama and tragedy. Neeson deserves much credit for turning a 4 star book into an exquisite masterpiece. With all the movies I have seen, I can not boast of knowing more than 16 exquisite masterpieces, and this is one of them.
Rating: 
Summary: Review of Ethan Frame
Review: Generally, the adaption from the book to screen was well done. I thought Zeena could have been played as more of an excentric character and more of a hypochondriac - which worked well in the novel. Ethan Frome was played well, and the cast worked well on screen. The chemistry between Ethan and Mattie was well picked up on,from the audience's perspective. Overall, this film was a good one. I probably wouldn't recommend you rent it for a Saturday night at home though - read the book, i found this more descriptive and visual.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Movie
Review: I really enjoyed the VHS version of this film and I'm looking forward to watching the DVD. I purchased the video a few years ago for a relative and I recently tried to buy one for myself. I was disappointed to find out that it was no longer for sale on VHS format. Fortunately, they are now going to offer it on DVD...I'm placing my order today!
Rating:
Summary: It could've been a great movie...
Review: If you love Romance, you simply must have this video! Yes, Ethan and Mattie are what we call "star crossed lovers" in a way, so all the more reason why their courtship escalates so far beyond the mundane. I promise you this: there are at least two love scenes in this film that are so amorous and seductive that you will most certainly rewind the tape just to reassure yourself that it was accomplished completely without nudity. Liam Neeson (Ethan) is at his expected best, portraying a character who is astonishingly sexy and lovable regardless of his physical deformity or intensely tragic circumstances. And Patricia Arquette (Mattie) exquisitely personifies a beautiful and kind young woman approaching her first peak of sexuality. All of the actors are wonderful and the film follows the book very closely. Buy the video, read the book, and then if you are a true Romantic you will watch the video again and again. Do read the previous reviews from other customers, I enjoyed reading all of them.
Rating:
Summary: Are you a Born Romantic ?
Review: If you love Romance, you simply must have this video! Yes, Ethan and Mattie are what we call "star crossed lovers" in a way, so all the more reason why their courtship escalates so far beyond the mundane. I promise you this: there are at least two love scenes in this film that are so amorous and seductive that you will most certainly rewind the tape just to reassure yourself that it was accomplished completely without nudity. Liam Neeson (Ethan) is at his expected best, portraying a character who is astonishingly sexy and lovable regardless of his physical deformity or intensely tragic circumstances. And Patricia Arquette (Mattie) exquisitely personifies a beautiful and kind young woman approaching her first peak of sexuality. All of the actors are wonderful and the film follows the book very closely. Buy the video, read the book, and then if you are a true Romantic you will watch the video again and again. Do read the previous reviews from other customers, I enjoyed reading all of them.
Rating:
Summary: Are you a Born Romantic ?
Review: If you love Romance, you simply must have this video! Yes, Ethan and Mattie are what we call "star crossed lovers" in a way, so all the more reason why their courtship escalates so far beyond the mundane. I promise you this: there are at least two love scenes in this film that are so amorous and seductive that you will most certainly rewind the tape just to reassure yourself that it was accomplished completely without nudity. Liam Neeson (Ethan) is at his expected best, portraying a character who is astonishingly sexy and lovable regardless of his physical deformity or intensely tragic circumstances. And Patricia Arquette (Mattie) exquisitely personifies a beautiful and kind young woman approaching her first peak of sexuality. All of the actors are wonderful and the film follows the book very closely. Buy the video, read the book, and then if you are a true Romantic you will watch the video again and again. Do read the previous reviews from other customers, I enjoyed reading all of them.
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