Rating: 
Summary: Educationally Apt
Review: Finding this movie anywhere was like searching for a needle in a haystack. I couldn't find it in any store and I really wanted to see it, so I took a drastic measure and ordered The Movie Channel from my cable company just because "Apt Pupil" was aired on it frequently. A gifted high school student studying the holocaust from decades ago discovers what seems to be a Nazi war criminal and turns out to be just that. Ian McKellan really does look like that type of person, and his German accent is pretty convincing. The holocaust has always been an interesting thing to me; it was very sick and was outspoken everywhere, but engrossing. The entire idea of this movie is introduced smoothly. There are a few scenes of "dreams" where Todd(Brad Renfro) imagines being in the middle of it all. They are somewhat violent and very graphic and believable. It is the best work of Stephen King because it is an educational movie. The movie digs deep to modify the former Nazi, and it shows in several scenes, his cruelness to others that lets someone believe that he was who he was accused of being. On the negative end, it doesn't really go that far into each subject when the holocaust is mentioned, but when it goes in-depth about a topic, it explains it very well. The only other complaint about this is that it seems difficult to believe that he could find the man that quick, although it shows him researching it. Overall, it is a very educational movie that isn't offensive much and the guy from "Friends" does all right and seemed serious.
Rating: 
Summary: An In-Between-Kinda- thriller...
Review: Wow, after reading the mixed reviews on this film and finally seeing it,I can see why viewers are split practically 50/50. The main fault does lie in the story with not knowing what the pupil's motivation or cause is for becoming evil.He goes from an intelligent,above average American high school kid to a sinister one with a large appetite and curiosity for human and animal atrocities.As for one reviewer who was not happy the way the film trivialized the Holocaust,no matter how horrendous that time period is for humanity,viewers need to keep in mind that the center of the film is the twisted relationship between the student and the ex-Nazi criminal; How the student declines into a cold blooded menacing individual.I never read the actual King novella from which this is based on.Therefore, I cannot be judgemental or compare and contrast.Almost anything by Stephen King is usually entertaining if not suspenseful ! Excellent casting for this film. The only questionable presence is that of David Schwimmer's guidance counselor role; It felt like he was still playing Ross from Friends with a wig and mustache. He seemed to be pretty inept... Apt Pupil is more of a "good" rent on vhs instead of shelling out the bucks for the dvd version to add to anyone's personal library. This film rates 3 stars for not providing any kind of insight to the Apt Pupil's drive or fascination with evil.He's definitely not insane and is highly intelligent.However, intelligence, sanity (or lack of) and what really lies in the human heart and soul are very different things altogether...
Rating:
Summary: McKellen and Renfro Are Superb!
Review: If one wants to see what real acting is about, then, one needs look no farther than "Apt Pupil." McKellen is stunning in his role as the former Nazi whose decades-hidden passions are aroused by the inquisitive delving of Renfro. The influences of the daily doses of "tales" from the War take their toil on both and the result is a descent by both with tragic consequences. As a fan of King, I find the best adaptations are those that feature the real horror of the world: how man is inhumane to his fellow man. This one brings it home!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best King's adaptations
Review: Even though it's one of the best Steven King's adaptations it can't be rated more than 3 out of 5. Steven King is a kind of writer that just can't be put to the screen without large damage done. But Apt Pupil's story is one of the simplest compared to others (or maybe is not, as usual, but I didn't see the second and the third layers because I read the book only one time) and Brian Singer is a very good director so he has done it in the best possible way. The ending is totally different from the one of the book, but is not worse (and not better either). After the movie you will get the book from the shelf to re-read it as I did yesterday.
Rating:
Summary: The Evil Within
Review: Apt Pupil: rated R, 1 hour and 40 minutes The malevolence hidden inside of one man is so powerful it can lash out at a young boy and possess him as well. In doing so, a chain reaction is formed, resulting in a whole town being capsized. In Apt Pupil, Todd Bowden, played by Brad Renfro, is the boy who becomes so obsessed with the Holocaust to a point that he needs to know more about it than the school will provide. He wants to know the details that no textbook would dare print. Todd Bowden wants to know how it feels to kill someone. He thirsts for all the hideous facts about the genocide that took place during the Second World War. Bowden is remarkably bright. He has kept tabs on his suspicious next door neighbor, Arthur Denker (Ian McKellen), and as it turns out, Arthur Denker is actually runaway Nazi general Kurt Dussander. Dussander is blackmailed by Bowden to tell him everything that he had ever wanted to know about the near extermination of an entire human race. All of the fear-inspiring information commences to get to Todd's head leaving him awake throughout each night. Soon, he becomes transformed into a loathing human being, ignoring his best friend, lying to his parents and teachers, and killing crippled pigeons. The plot builds up, and on several occasions, it seems like the movie is about to end, but instead, it goes on more dramatic than ever. The acting by Brad Renfro and Ian McKellen is astounding. The two of them take on their roles perfectly, and go deep into their characters, which is distinctly evident in the movie. They take histrionics to a new level. The one scene that is exceptionally captivating is where Bowden forces Dussander to dress up in a Nazi uniform he gets from some costume shop and orders him to march in place. The former Nazi general at first does not take the boy seriously as he playfully walks in place. Then as Todd yells at him more and more, and Dussander begins to lose himself in the continuous commands, he becomes increasingly involved in the act. Within a few minutes, he is dynamically marching. The steps grow more violent and more intense with each word that Todd exclaims. Todd becomes frightened by the man, and demands that he stop. Dussander continues as if Todd had not spoken. Repeating himself numerous times, Todd ends up yelling for him to halt. The general regains his consciousness, and from then on remains as abhorrent as he once was in his younger days in the war. Apt Pupil is a suspenseful psychological thriller that truly succeeds in winning over the audience. The movie in general is very well executed with a disturbing yet outstandingly canny plot created by the master of horror, Stephen King. Surprisingly mild in gore, Stephen King's Apt Pupil, directed by Bryan Singer, also starring David Schwimmer, is entitled to a very apt B+.
Rating:
Summary: Sinnger's A Quick Study
Review: Borrowing from other films and directors has become an artform of sorts and one that Bryan Singer (director of The Usual Suspects) has mastered. He takes after the the best kind of suspense filmmaker, drawing well-deserved comparisons to Alfred Hitchcock. And prior to his turn directing The X-Men he looked contented making good low-budget films that don't exactly rake in the money but are impressive just the same. This is his little scene follow-up to Suspects and is equally intense and impressive. Without the mesmerizing diolouge and all the plot twists, he relies this time on a couple of fine actors hitting their stride at far different times in their careers. Renfro's a teen heart-throb best known for his role in The Client though his range has expanded greatly since then and McKellen's an actor who I knew little of until he help me breathless for this film's entire two hour running time. He plays a German fugitive wanted for crimes committed against humanity during the days of WW2, living a peaceful, quiet life until he's confronted by a young boy who demands he confess his deeeds. Not to a judge, jury or even a priest, but to him. His curiosity gets the best of him and he holds the Nazi war criminal against his will - forcing him to regurgitate all the information he possible could about the war, about the gas chambers, you name it. It's a psychological thriller that builds from sceen to sceen, frame to frame until an uneventful but satisfying conclusion. The chest thumping score by John Ottman brings a dramatic presence to moments in the film when it starts to drag it's feet. Based on the Stephen King short story, it's one of his best adaptations and a must-see for any of his fans. The DVD preserves the scope of Singer's camera-hugging vision but offers little else (though it's always nice to see 5.1 Digital sound).
Rating:
Summary: Could of been a lot better
Review: Okay, i must admit that the only reason i saw this movie in the first place was because Brad Renfro was in it.(he played the boy)But this movie could of been a lot better. They should of stuck to the book more because they went of the beaten path a little too much. In the book there's a lot more killings which would of made the movie more interesting. And the old Nazi guy and the boy got to know each other better, they should of shown them developing their relationship more in the movie. In other words, they should of made the movie longer but not draw it out too much. You can't take a really long book and cram it all into a short little movie, you'll ruin it! But i really liked the ending better in the movie because in the book it's a little depressing. The only reason they gave this movie an R rating was probably because they talk about stuff in concentration camps. It's not scary, nobody cusses that much and there's only one part that has violence. But i must say they did an excellent job of giving Brad Renfro the part because he's a great actor and he's hot! (I especially liked the shower scene)I wouldn't recommend buying it but at least rent it!
Rating: 
Summary: BIZARRE OBSESSION
Review: Todd is a good student. Todd lives in an upper middle class home where he has all of the advantages that money can buy. Todd is also obsessed with the Holocaust. He is not Jewish but is a voyeur who is immersed in the cruelty of the Nazis to the point where it gives him a mad rush. Tom's obsession earns him an A in class and through his own detective work he comes across an ex-Nazi. He forces the man through black mail to tell him story after story about the killings. "How did it feel?" is his number one question. Enter into the sickened mind of a young boy who thinks he has everything under control. The ex-Nazi is old and scared but after awhile he turns the table on his young torturer. As the stories progress we see that there isn't much difference in the two as they deceive and hurt other people for the sake of their sickened minds. Adapted from Stephen King's novella, Apt Pupil, this presentation is a close up of evil and how it erodes the human spirit. Our pupil, Todd, is a willing adherent who doesn't know when to let go. As soon as he's mastered the lesson of power, Todd begins to impose his will on others. When things fall apart he absolves himself of all responsibility. The process of his transformation is fascinating and chilling. Evil is alive and well and poisons the young who are willing. Ian Mckellen and Brad Renfro give superb performances in this psychological thriller.
Rating: 
Summary: RENT DON'T BUY
Review: This movie is okay, but, its not worth what they're charging so just rent it. You'll most likely have no desire to see it again. The only good part is the naked locker room scene with the jocks.
Rating:
Summary: Missing alot
Review: This movie needed about 20-30 minutes more film, a better director, and a better actor to play the kid before it could be good. I read the stephen kind novella and i liked it alot, but naturally this movie only carries the very basic plot that the novella did. The first time i saw it i missed the first 20 minutes and i thought it was pretty good, but when i finally saw those first 20 minutes i then knew why all the critics hated this movie. The relationship between the boy and the old nazi is never really given time to grow. the movie basically has the kid come in, blackmail the nazi, and BANG they're inseperable all through the rest of the movie. No time is given for the relationship to develope by itself. Now dont get me wrong, there are alot of good scenes in this film, but then again theres alot more bad ones. I'm pretty dissapointed in it because it could have been a really great film if it wasnt blundered so much. Ian McKellen is spectacular of course, i dont think that theres anyway he can be bad in a movie. The actor who plays the kid should go back to doing after school specials or something because he just dosnt cut it. The director is never really sure exactly what he is trying to tell us. When i read the novella the only person i thought could direct this would have been stanley kubrick, now that would have made one heck of a movie. All in all there is some great material to work with in this film, maybe one day somebody will remake the movie into a better version.
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