Kate & Leopold
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Movie Reviews of Kate & Leopold
Movie Review: A warm-hearted treat
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is wonderful for a pick-me-up. You can't help but have a smile on your face after you've watch it. I disagree with other comments here that the movie is without conflict, and therefore, lacking. You don't need major conflict in a feel-good movie. Besides, trying to merge worlds 125 years apart should count as conflict. Not every movie needs to solve all the world's problems.
I enjoyed how this movie touched on the "What if" scenarios of removing people from their place in history without forcing an answer. It causes you to think. It also serves as a reminder of what dramatic changes this country has seen over the last 125 years. Is there another 125 year span in history that has seen as much change? Stop and think about what life was like before some of the simplest inventions were created. What if Leopold hadn't been there to invent the elevator? Eventually someone else would have, sure. But would it have been as timely, as well designed, as safe or reliable? What would be different if it had taken 5 more years for someone to come up with the idea?
Of course, this movie isn't setting out to change the world or give lessons in American Civilization and certainly not in science (of any kind). It's up to us to open ourselves to deeper thoughts. It's also up to us to allow ourselves to feel happy and to smile. This movie can be the conduit of both.
Back to basics: Of course, Kate and Leopold are the leads of the show, but Charlie is adorable! He symbolizes the simplicity of heart that is this movie - and he's hilarious. The movie WOULD be lacking without him.
As to Kate (Meg Ryan's character), I'm not sure she's supposed to be endearing or that we're supposed to want to be her as others have proposed. She is a harsh NY City Executive. And, yes, she is stiff and unapproachable even cold: not the type of character we want to love. (Especially with that hair!) But then we find out why - she herself is out of her ideal environment - she's meant to be in the 1800s. This is a basic fish-out-of-water story as was mentioned previously... for both Kate and Leopold.
I don't want to make this movie sound any deeper than it really is. It is a cheesy, extremely predictable, love story - and again, it's not trying solve all the world's problems. But use a little creativity of your own with it. Movies shouldn't have to spell it all out for us; and they shouldn't have to be deep, emotional dramas to make us think. Sometimes, they are light-hearted, predictable, moderately funny, sappy love stories.
Movie Review: I Couldn't be more pleased...
Summary: 5 Stars
With the string of mostly clean, viewer friendly movies I've been seeing lately! Movies I LOVE, without ANY scenes that I'm embarrassed to watch with my parents. Kate and Leopold is another old-fashioned, clean-cut new classic, joining the other new, family friendly films such as The Majestic, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars Episode 2, and Spider-Man! Kate and Leopold is the story of two lonely people from different times. Leopold (Hugh Jackman) is a young duke from the 19th century, who's family has moved to America and squandered away their fortune. As a result, Leopold is now being forced to choose a wife. The problem is, Leopold is not in love. Kate (Meg Ryan) on the other hand, is a New York City girl who has recently and bitterly broken up with her longtime boyfriend, Stuart, an inventor who has discovered a portal through time. Stuart leaps through his new discovery and unintentionally brings Leopold, his great, great, great (I forget how great exactly) grandfather, back with him to modern day New York City. From here we get a charming fish out of water love story reminiscent of Splash, but maybe a little less bizarre. Just a little. While Stuart is in the hospital recovering from an elevator accident, Leopold charms his way into various people's hearts, and becomes a bit of a role model for Kate's younger brother, Charlie. Eventually, Leopold even manages to charm his way into Kate's battered heart, and, being Meg Ryan, she manages to charm him right back. But while this odd romance is blossoming, Stuart is telling his time portal story to the hospital doctors and nurses, who take it all in with more than a grain of salt. He soon finds himself in a psychiatric ward, desperate to break out and find his way back to his ancestor and the time portal. He fears that if he doesn't send Leopold back to his own time soon, he, himself, will cease to exist!
Kate and Leopold reminds us that a film can be funny, heartwarming, sweet and charming, without a lot of foul language, gratuitous footage, and innuendo. This is simply a charming love story, with endearing characters and a touch of fantasy. There's nothing more to say about it, except that you should pick up a copy today!
Movie Review: Marvelous!
Summary: 5 Stars
"Kate and Leopold" is a marvelous and whimsical romantic comedy blessed with an ensemble of gifted actors who demonstrate a great flair for sophisticated, light comedy. The story concerns Leopold, Duke of Albany (winningly portrayed by Hugh Jackman) who is transported from the 19th century into the 21st century via a "portal in time" discovered by Kate's ex-boyfriend, Stuart (neatly played by Liev Schreiber).Kate McKay (played by Meg Ryan) is a smart, industrious advertising analyst whose career is on the upswing while her love life takes a dive since breaking up with Stuart. But her personal life gets a boost when Stuart introduces Leopold to Kate, although it is not love at first sight for Kate.
Kate initially believes that Leopold is a nutcase since he insists that he really is a 19th century Duke. But Leopold's gallantry and earnestness eventually soften the cynical Kate's heart. Love and complications ensue.
Hugh Jackman is pitch perfect as the Duke. Jackman wears nobility effortlessly. And Meg Ryan is appealing and convincing as a career woman who discovers that there is more to life than work alone.
I must comment on some of the negative remarks made about Meg Ryan by some reviewers here. While I respect those reviewers' opinions, I wholeheartedly disagree with their displeasure over Miss Ryan. Meg Ryan is a gifted actress who makes comedy look easy (and it isn't). And she has a pretty face which sometimes produces a goofy, endearing smile.
Meg Ryan cannot help the fact that she is cute, even adorable at times. It is also not her fault that she has a girlishly youthful demeanor. Because beneath her lightheartedness, Miss Ryan is able to convey through her expressive eyes a world-weariness and wisdom gained from life's sometimes harsh experiences. To me, she is totally convincing as an intelligent, ambitious modern woman trying to balance a burgeoning career with a decent social life.
"Kate and Leopold" is worthwhile because its characters are so likeable and identifiable. Their longing for love and acceptance is universal. This movie is a witty and insightful homage to longings fulfilled.
Movie Review: Hugh Jackman and Meg Ryan are perfect together!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have seen "Kate & Leopold" about a few days after the film came out, and I thought that it was a really sweet romantic comedy with a romantic twist! The stars of the film, Hugh Jackman ("Swordfish") and Meg Ryan ("Proof of Life") gave great and funny performances that make them the best on-screen couple since Ryan and Tom Hanks starred in "Joe Versus the Volcano", "Sleepless in Seattle", and "You've Got Mail"! I really liked Jackman the most in this film because I would like to think of "Kate & Leopold" as his follow-up film to 2001's "Someone Like You" with Ashley Judd. The direction of James Mangold ("Cop Land", "Girl, Interrupted") was brilliant in every way possible! The film starts off in the late 19th century version of New York. The year is 1876. It concerns Duke Leopold of Albany (Jackman) being accidentally swept away into the present-day New York one night. He takes one look at how the "new" New York is and he is quite shocked at what he is seeing. In other words, Leopold has to adjust ("blend in") with this new trend somehow. There he meets a hardworking Manhattan executive named Kate McKay (Ryan) who lives with her brother Charlie (Breckin Meyer, "Road Trip"). During the film, to me, it seems as though Leopold and Kate might not be the perfect couple, they might not see eye to eye, but when you get right down to it, they just might fall in love together! In closing, the performances by Jackman and Ryan were very sweet and very appealing as well. The other performances by Breckin Meyer, Natasha Lyonne ("American Pie 1 and 2"), and Liev Schreiber ("The Hurricane"), who plays Ryan's ex-boyfriend, were simply amazing and quite enjoyable! "Kate & Leopold" has got to be Hugh Jackman's best since "Someone Like You" and Meg Ryan's best since "Sleepless in Seattle"! It is so charming, so witty, and so downright funny that you would have to see "Kate & Leopold" again and again! A great DVD addition to any romantic comedy collection!Movie Review: A Tale of Two Movies
Summary: 5 Stars
First, let me echo the sentiments stated earlier: this is a very nice escapist film containing excellent performances. I had never really planned to watch it, fearing a tired re-tread of earlier movies with the too-familiar time traveller and his wacky antics in the modern world. Fortunately, the mood struck me today and I watched this DVD... ALL of this DVD (including commentaries and extras), which took several hours. Those who wrote earlier reviews touched on the story and the fine job done by both Jackman and Ryan, so I won't dwell on those points except to reiterate that the film is worth your time.What I would like to comment on is how different the two versions of the film contained on the DVD really are. The disk contains both the original theatrical release and the director's cut. If you are a real movie aficionado and plan to watch both versions, let me recommend that you watch the theatrical release first and then watch the longer, unedited director's cut second. It amazed me how much the deletion of just a few minor scenes and snippets of dialogue can alter a movie's basic story. There are some major plot differences between the two versions, the main one centering around a relationship between two of the characters that doesn't exist at all in the edited version (I won't spoil by going into further detail). My personal preference is for the edited version, but you can make up your own mind. You can listen to Mangold's feature-length commentary for either version, but let me offer additional advice: watch the commentary for the director's cut, even if you have only watched the theatrical version. That way you can still experience both versions even if you're too strapped for time to watch the movie three times (imagine that!) This DVD definitely is not at a loss for extra features! Anyway, you will enjoy Kate & Leopold, regardless of how you choose to experience it.