Rating: 
Summary: Not the book, but still it IS pretty good
Review: John Irving himself wrote the screenplay for Cider House Rules, so we can't blame clueless scriptwriters for the lack of depth in this film adaptation of the wonderful saga-like book. The issues of incest and abortion, which are such powerful central themes in the book, are prettily glossed over in the movie.
In spite of these omissions, Cider House Rules still feels like an elegiac blessing of forgiveness for Man's sins and foibles. There's a sweetness and innocence behind most of the characters that makes them look at the world's evils with kindhearted compassion. The book made me think I'd actually like the author, if I ever met him, something none of his other books has achieved; I'm glad I read it before seeing the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: There's No Place Like Home
Review: This Review refers to the Miramax Collector's Series DVD edition of "The Cider House Rules"Sixty years before the release of "The Cider House Rules", we learned in a heartwarming story, from a girl named Dorothy, that if we are ever looking for our heart's content we shouldn't look past our own back yards. In 1999 in a more adult tale, one that is also heartwarming, but no fantasy, a young man named Homer, sets his cap to see the world and discovers also, that home is where he belongs. Naturally, this film is nothing like "The Wizard of Oz", and I am not, and would never presume to compare the two, only the idea of youth looking for something more out there. But "The Cider House Rules" is a fine film in it's own right. All that Homer Wells knows of life is the orphanage in Maine where he has grown up.The orphanage is run by Dr. Larch who has been like a father to Homer and has passed on all his medical knowledge to him, in hopes that someday Homer will take his place.The orphanage by the way also doubles as place where unwed mothers come to have their babies...or not...as abortion is also one of the choices. The time is the early fourties, and not only was abortion as controversial as it still is today, but also, illegal. Homer feels, it is his time now, and decides to strike out on his own. Not knowing where he will go or what he will do, doesn't really matter. What matters is that he experiences life.And so he does.Love, happiness, sadness and loss are all part of life's experiences that Homer gains on his journey. Lasse Hallstrom("Chocolat"/"What's Eating Gilbert Grape")has masterfully directed this wonderful film that captivates from start to finish.The cast is a brillant mix of seasoned veterans and outstanding young performers.Michael Caine took home a Best Supporting Oscar for his touching portrayal of the ether addicted, but caring Dr.Larch. Tobey Maguire, is perfect as the young and intuitive Homer. Charlize Theron, Delroy Lindo, Jane Alexander, and Kathy Baker all add their wonderful talents as well. The film also garnered an Oscar for Best Screenplay by John Irving and was nominated for several others including, Best Picture, Director,and Music. It's not only a beautiful story, but beautifully filmed as well, and the DVD is an excellent quality that shows off all the great cinematography. It's the reason we love our DVDs so much. The picture in widescreen(2.35:1) is crystal clear, with wonderful colors and the 5.0 surround sound is marvelous.Lots of extras are included too. Commentary, deleted scenes, a "making of" feature, and more. It may be viewed in French and has subtitles in Spanish. And although it doesn't say it on the tech info here or the back of the case, there ARE captions in English for hearing impaired viewers. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves touching tales of life....enjoy...Laurie
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Summary: McGuire delivers! He RULES
Review: Toby McGuire first got my attention here... as did Charlize Theron. Excellent performances. The cast is tremendous. The plot is terrific. The themes and issues don't shy away from the heavy and yet, they don't force anything down your throat, ask you to agree or disagree--or even to come to a conclusion. Just a fine fine film. See it if you haven't.
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Summary: A condensed version of the book, but every bit as good
Review: I wanted to see Michael Caine's performance in a John Irving story, but I hadn't read the book yet. And over the years, I found that generally, if you read the book first, you can tell how good the movie really is. I read the book and loved it! It contained such a complex collection of human issues so sensitively portrayed--well, you can read my Amazon book review for the whole story. A few days after finishing the book, I rented the movie on DVD, and found that it was just as good as the book, but with a simpler story line. The film's greatest feature is Michael Caine's Oscar-winning portrayal of Dr. Wilbur Larch, a role that hundreds of actors would die for the opportunity to play. Caine so perfectly captures the paradoxal duality of the kind and caring administrator of a state orphanage who either helps bring unwanted babies into the world or performs their abortions, all according to the mother's choice. Tobey Maguire is aptly cast as Larch's home-grown obstetrical assistant who doesn't share enough of Larch's vision to morally accept his plans for becoming his successor. The film's success is mainly due to it staying within the boundaries of only three of the book's many subplots. The issues of only three are more easily examined and digested within the span of a motion picture. The film scores on so many different levels-premise, plot, character development, dialog, and originality. If you see this film and find the story interesting, I highly recommend reading the book. The book and film stand apart from another, each as true works of art. Something you don't often see happen with film versions of quality novels. If you have even a passing interest in experiencing this candid and sensitive allegory of American Life and values, you will find your time and intellect richly rewarded.
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Summary: Tobey Maguire and Michael Caine
Review: The Cider House Rules stars Tobey Maguire as Homer Wells. Homer and his fellow orphans are raised by the kindly Dr. Larch (Michael Caine), who not only delivers unwanted babies, he also aborts them. The orphanage seems an idyllic and loving home for Homer, but one day he sets out to see the world, only to find his destiny is to one day return. Tobey Maguire is very convincing as the naive and sensitive Homer. Michael Caine won an Oscar for his supporting role as the passionate and ether-addicted doctor. He was also great. (It's just too bad that he was stuck with that line, "Goodnight you princes of Maine, you Kings of New England." It was corny in the book, and even more so in the film.)
The movie is beautifully photographed and has a lilting piano score. It has many affecting scenes, but no real depth. Each of the many subplots is left unresolved, leaving one with a feeling of indifference. The movie tries hard to be a tear-jerker, but falls short all along. I think I felt this way because it was so highly publicized as THE Most Heartwarming Drama. It's pleasantly entertaining, and the acting is good, but it's certainly not the "classic" it purports to be. Fans of the novel will be left wondering why so much of the plot was omitted, and why what was included was handled so passively.
Rating:
Summary: Strong Cinematography, Heartwarming Story
Review: Cider House Rules is a fine account of the journeys of Homer, an orphan boy. Tobey Maguire portrays the lead role very well displaying much innocence and curiosity of the wrold around him. Some may be offended by his stance on abortions, but to me I can look beyond politics. Michael Caine is fine in a supporting role as Dr. Lerch. There are certainly many elements to his multi-faceted character. Also, Delroy Lindo stands out quite notably as the lead migrant worker on the farm Homer goes to live. its interesting how Lindo's character both loves his daughter as a father and as a lover. You want to think of Lindo as evil but there is another side to him particularly in the final scene in which he appears. As evolving as the story is, there are many beautfiul scenery shots where the skyline is just stunning. The architecture of the orphanage just completes the aesthetic beauty. Overall, this earns my recommendation on all accounts.
Rating:
Summary: Not As Good As the Book, But...
Review: Let me just say that between the book and the movie, I still prefer the book for its depth, but the film is a worthy adaptation. It had better be since the book's author John Irving spent 15 years trying to adapt it for 6 different directors. In the end, I think they went with the right director (Hallstrom also did a good adaptation of The Shipping News) and the right cast (Caine and Maguire are perfect as Dr. Larch and Homer Wells). Some people I know don't like this movie because abortion is involved, but the movie is not ABOUT abortion. Whether to perform abortions or not figures in as part of the life Homer has to decide whether he wants or not. The issue is toned down a lot from the book, but the basic, pragmatic argument is still there. The best part of the movie, like any good movie adaptation of a sprawling novel is that the movie streamlines the action. One thing I never liked about the book is how it jumps ahead 15 years towards the end. The movie (for practical reasons) doesn't do this and I think it's a lot better for it. That Homer and Candy don't conceive a child also simplifies the plot and makes the main characters a little less sleazy. Most of the movie differs from the book, some of the changes seemed meaningless to me. Like what was the point of the Buster character? And was it necessary to have Larch and Nurse Angela getting frisky? Ah well, none of it compromises the spirit of the story. Cider House Rules is a great book and movie. You should own both.
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Summary: First-Class Screen Adaptation
Review: Much of the success of this movie is due to the direction of Lasse Hallstrom and the work of John Irving in adapting his novel to the screen. The acting is superior and the emphasis is on realism. The film deals with some of society's most controversial subjects with skill. THE CIDER HOUSE RULES is an excellent movie which is deserving of its two Academy Awards and several Oscar nominations.
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Summary: Whose rules?
Review: I suppose it is inevitable that, to fit a novel into a two-hour period, much of the detail and even significant parts of the story line must be left out. That is certain the case with The Cider House Rules. John Irving's novel had much more character development, naturally (as a book can always reveal the interior lives of characters much more fully than can any theatrical treatment), but I was a bit disappointed that significant plot developments (such as Homer's relationships away from St. Clouds) were left out. So, in this case, do read the book-you'll be glad you did. That disclaimer having been made, I thought that the movie was very good. Michael Caine gave his usual wonderful performance, but I was never quite clear what accent he was trying to effect (being someone with a muddled accent myself, I am not really one to criticise on this point). The stories of the orphans of St. Clouds and the women who came for help in one way or another were very poignant. I was moved at the interplay between compassion and concern-the right to life/abortion debate (perhaps the central ideological pivot point in the novel and the movie) is presented in an interesting way, with just a small tendency to get preachy on one side or the other. To a large extent, this is never really resolved; while Homer in the end realises that in the adult world there are rarely black-and-white issues, but rather shades of gray, one does not know in the movie if he is really persuaded to his mentor's view. The Cider House Rules (referring firstly to the notice tacked to the wall of one of the lodgings) serves as a metaphor for the entire film. Who made these rules? What do they really mean? What purpose do they serve? Can't we make our own rules? I found this metaphor personally meaningful, for, as a theology student, these are questions I ask and am asked on a routine basis. What authority do rules written by others have on me? on society? This story is also one of vocation, of finding one's life's calling, a pursuit near to my heart as I prepare to enter the ministry. I find that my resistance to being pigeon-holed is similar to Homer's. He resisted the automatic assumption that he was a doctor, only to find in the course of his life that he was in fact called to be a doctor. Often when one tries to run away from a vocation, one runs into its arms in any case. The different family situations (Rose and her father, the flyer and his, the orphanage) shows that family and community exist on many different levels. The interactions and easy acceptance of these situations is perhaps a bit of a stretch, but the interplay shows that the traditional nuclear family was more of an ideal than a realisation. I loved the scenery, and the cinematography was very well done, but I have a slight irritation at the depiction of New England as being covered in fall-coloured foliage all year round. New Hampshire is one of my favourite holiday spots, and many is the time that I've been there that, lovely as it is, there was not a red-coloured or gold-coloured tree to be seen. This story essentially is one about love for the unloved, the overall love for humanity, of one making one's way in a confusing world, and trying to protect the vulnerable while allowing them freedom to grow, and an infusing of a sense of worth in those whom the world would otherwise consider worthless, as exemplified in the good doctor's nightly bidding: 'Good night, you princes of Maine, you kings of New England.' P.S. Watch for John Irving's cameo in the movie, too.
Rating: 
Summary: this movie has a poorly illustrated theme
Review: First off, Tobey Maguire rocks and Charlize Theron has a laughable excuse for a southern accent. This movie tries to illustrate a theme that there are difficult decisions in life - that not all decisions are black-and-white. Disappointingly, the movie was not true to that theme: Homer grew up in a sheltered orphanage and took care of the other kids as the apprentice of the orphanage doctor. Of course he didn't see much of life outside of the orphanage - including women, real-world work and typical families. Thus, Homer went out into the wide world and worked at an orchard cider house where he encountered one problem that was shockingly ugly to him, the answer to the problem not being black-and-white. Meanwhile, Homer lost in love to Candy, who said she loved more her boyfriend, who returned from war. Homer didn't enjoy his experiences with "the world" outside of his own comfort-zone, the orphanage. Homer gave up on what the outside world could offer. After losing in love and dealing with a shocking situation, he conservatively retreated to a comfortable life of familiarity. The orphanage doctor completed the melodrama by giving Homer a doctor's license, and welcoming him back. No one needs to ask why Homer didn't afterwards go back out into the world, with unyielding hope that he will discover beautiful things. The movie portrays this as a simple decision - because of the pain it already brought him, Homer became afraid of the world outside the orphanage, and lost the hope of finding a better life than in the orphanage. If this movie had consisted of multiple trivial decisions for Homer to make, the theme may have been convincing - that there are difficult decisions in life. Unfortunately, this cider house problem seemed like the only decision Homer had trouble making. I suggest "Schindler's List" as a movie that actually succeeds in illustrating difficult decisions in life.
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