Rating: 
Summary: Keep an Eye on Julianne Moore
Review: Nicole Kidman received the Oscar, but if Julianne Moore had won, no one could have argued. The acting in The Hours is hypnotizing. The cinematography is brilliant. The music is haunting. Any of these is a good reason to watch this movie.On the other hand, I had a little trouble with the story. Was it more than the sum of its parts, or was it a too-clever literary device? When I tried to read the book, I tossed it aside, not knowing or caring where it was going. The movie also got off to a slow start, but the visual stimulation kept my interest until the end. And then I still wondered, what did Virginia Woolf's life have to do with the other women's lives, really? But, philosophical questions aside, this is a fine film if only for the astounding acting performances. English majors and deep thinkers will enjoy the below-the-surface aspects of the story, and the rest of us can enjoy the more superficial qualities.
Rating: 
Summary: One of 2003's Best Movies: for all real movie watchers
Review: For all of you who know a real movie and aren't spoofed by all the so called greats of 2003, please see this movie if you missed it. Its about three different women: connected only by all three being Lesbian. They each live in different time periods but all seem to have the same problem. Dealing with life the way it is. Its something as a gay man, that I totally related to. I wont tell you more, other than you just HAVE to see it. And remember, this is not fiction. People really do feel this way. I know I do, and this is why I relate to the movie. The soundtrack is also spectacular. Philip Glass should have won an award for his music as hanting as it was. I also suggest these other fine movies of 200x: Winged Migration, Iris, Amelie', Far From Heaven, Six Feet Under, Sex and the City, Oz, Nowhere in Africa, Chocolat and if you missed the greatest musical ever, Xanadu. These are just a few on my list of favorites: Chau, Brian Kortmeyer Colton ,CA
Rating:
Summary: Do Not Mix With A Sedative
Review: If indeed there is a stream of super-consciousness that literally and figuratively transcends space and time, then such a force is manifested in THE HOURS, a powerful, gripping examination of three lives over the course of one eventful day. The story is rooted in the novel, "Mrs. Dalloway," and its author, Virgina Woolf (Nicole Kidman). Woolf, in part due to her own depression and self-deprecation, abandoned realist literature with her novel and concentrated instead on the thoughts of her characters. In the pages of her book human fragility is exposed, and this fragility permeates two other women in two different times: a lonely, restless housewife in 1950's Los Angeles (Julianne Moore); and a present-day career woman (Meryl Streep) who is busily planning a party for a dying friend. This film moves superbly from one place in time--from one character's growing angst and sense of misgiving--to another, until at last the three separate stories are tied together in astonishing and remarkable fashion. Kidman, Moore, and Streep are incomparable; the supporting cast (including Ed Harris in a brief, yet haunting role) is stellar. No, THE HOURS is not a film that will cheer you up, yet its somber, moody, even dark examination of the inner recesses of the human mind will stir your soul and inspire wonder.
--D. Mikels
Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Movie
Review: I would have given this movie the Oscar for best movie of 2002. Adapted from Michael Cunningham's fine novel and directed by Stephen Daldry, who, as I remember, directed BILLY ELLIOTT as well, this film has everything going for it: first rate acting by everyone involved, beautiful cinematography, music by Philip Glass-- a composer I'm usually not into, but his compositions work perfectly here-- and a thoughtful plot. The action covers one day in the lives of each of three women. We see Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) on the day she commits suicide in 1923. We visit Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) on a day in 1951, the day she decides not to commit suicide; and finally, Clarissa Vaughn played by Meryl Streep on a day in 2001 when she is planning a party for her writer friend Richard (Ed Harris)who is dying of AIDS. The action goes back and forth among these three dates. Laura Brown and Clarissa Vaughn are connected to Virginia Woolf because of her novel MRS. DALLOWAY. Laura Brown is reading MRS. DALLOWAY, Virginia Woolf is working on the novel and Richard calls Clarissa "Mrs. Dalloway." The photography is quite wonderful here and helps to hold the movie together. For example, the same images are repeated in each time sequence. Virginia arrives at the first line of her novel "Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers, herself"and proceeds to arrange flowers. Laura's husband buys her flowers for "his" birthday, which she arranges. Finally Clarissa goes shopping to buy tons of flowers for Richard's party. There are also images of eggs being broken as the characters prepare food, the different women in bed, the scenes of the three women washing their faces, the three women kissing other women, and finally, on each day someone arrives early. These visual images make the plot even smoother than in the novel, I think. Much has been made of Kidman's false nose. Nobody would recognize her as the stunning Australian actress here as she is quite frumpy as Woolf. Meryl Streep is as alway magnificent. There is a stunning scene when she meets the older Laura Brown who makes her apology for leaving her children-- "I chose life." Clarissa says nothing in words to condemn Laura. Her eyes tell it all. Acting doesn't get finer than this. As I recall Ed Harris got mixed reviews when the movie first opened. I am at a loss to understand why. He is totally believable as someone in the last stages of AIDS; indeed, some of his scenes are almost too painful to watch. There are great lines in this film, some of them straight out of the novel. Woolf: "Even crazy people want to be asked." She wanted to "look life in the face." Richard: "I have to face the hours." "I have stayed alive for you. Now you [Clarissa] have to let me go." Clarissa remembers a day years ago when she and Richard were young and in love and there was such a sense of possibility. "We thought it was the beginning of happiness, but it was happiness." The movie says so much about so many things that are important-- death, suicide, insanity, illness, friendship and, above all, love. I don't mean to make the movie sound trite. Is is far from that. People will be watching it years from now.
Rating: 
Summary: The movie that will make you snooze !
Review: I just try to figure out why they made this movie.The story is simple and it's possible to resume in few words : 3 lesbian and suicidal, bored in life women are living in different period time. That's it ! Nothing else. Isn't there a lack of something that makes a story interesting ? Yes ! This something is missing a lot. Believe me. It is boring and nothing happen except everlasting dialogues. This stuff should have been a book only. Showing the book and turn each page in front the camera could have been more exciting !
Run away before you fall asleep.
Rating: 
Summary: Dull
Review: I found this movie dull and two-dimensional. The plot is about three women in three different time periods (only separated by about 40 years each), who are depressed. The plot connects the people through a book by Virginia Woolf. I am not sure what the point of view of the writer was. There are several philosophical statements repeated. It seems that the movie is about people not living the way they want to live. It never seems to develop completely. However, the acting is superb. As a woman, I did not feel a connection to this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Good but Confusing
Review: The Hours is a great movie in fact I can only find one problem with it which is that it is confusing. It took me forever to understand it I mean really it revolves around three women who don't even know each other. The premise of the story (I guess) is that one woman is reading the book Mrs. Dalloway (Julianne Moore) one woman is writing the book Mrs. Dalloway (Nicole Kidman) and one woman is Mrs. Dalloway (Meryl Streep). Even though none of the women know each other all of their stories intertwine throughout the film. I loved this movie but my advice is to read the book Mrs. Dalloway by: Virgina Woolf first then read the book The Hours by: Michael Cunningham then watch the movie The Hours you will be a lot less confused. I would recommend this to mainly adults some teenagers may understand it but adults will be able to find the deeper meaning a lot easier. I hope that this review has helped you in making a decision about the motion picture The Hours.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie of 2002
Review: This is a tale of three interwoven stories, all of which revolve around-- and/or relate to-- Virginia Woolf's life and work. However, this is as much a movie about being a woman over time as it is a literary biography. We watch, fascinated, as each of these stories unfolds. While there are certainly parts of this film which are tragic, the film takes the viewer on a deeply moving journey of masterful storytelling. Every character is paired with an excellent performer, which is why the movie works so well. In my opinion, this is a must-see film for anyone who appreciates snuggling up with a good novel on a snowy day... and especially for women who have struggled with role-strain during the daily course of their lives.
Rating:
Summary: Too Much Fuss Over a Bad Movie
Review: The plot of this movie was basically about three suicidal, depressed, lesbians in different time periods who all had something to do with the book "Mrs. Dalloway". I spent the entire movie trying to figure out the point of it and when it ended I was confused and disgusted. I think this movie was a waste of The Hours I spent watching it.
Rating:
Summary: Unwatchable bathos
Review: We wanted to give this film a chance. The Hours got great reviews, and both of us had read a couple of Virginia Woolf's novels in past periods of our lives. My problems with this film are three: 1) The cast is far too overwhelming. It's like a jazz band with too many soloists and not enough rhythm backup. Many supporting roles amount to cameos for actors who are capable of carrying other films. It becomes an exercise for the viewer of "oh, hey, I remember them in...." which in the end is a distraction. Also, each supporting player works so hard to make an impact in their short screen time that everyone just winds up sounding hysterical. 2) Ed Harris as an AIDS victim? Uh huh. Nice try. A classic case of scenery chewing by an actor who should know better. Brutally obnoxious.
3) An incredibly self-regarding, pretentious screenplay. The relentlessness degeneration among all of these materially very well-off characters is just completely implausible. NO ONE ever laughs. No one ever seems to even appreciate being alive, or take any pleasure in anything whatsoever. There is never a thematic break that allows the audience to see something positive - to give the viewer a break. Tragedy is best illustrated by also illuminating what was good about the protagonist. Shakespeare saw this, particularly in Othello. This movie does not, and fatally hamstrings itself. The sadness of Virginia Woolf I can understand - but the Streep and Moore characters are beyond plausible. The movie continually grabs you by the lapels and DEMANDS that you appreciate the terrible psychological dilemmas facing these rich Yuppies. After somewhere around an hour of this bathetic lachrymatory, we pulled the disc out and said, "well, THAT was a waste of time...." This movie is highbrow soap opera. I'm sure it's great if you're of a certain mindset, but I suspect many intelligent moviegoers are disappointed with this one.
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