Shadowlands
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Movie Reviews of Shadowlands
Movie Review: Moving
Summary: 5 Stars
When C.S.Lewis, author of such books as "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" was only a small boy of 9, his mother died and he learned that his only way through the pain and loneliness was to encase himself in an impenetrable shell, so that pain could not touch him. He leads an ordered, safe life as an Oxford Don, singing in the cathedral choir and lecturing to audiences of adoring women readers. When he meets American writer, Joy Gresham, her brash, New York, Jewish forthrightness almost batters him but luckily he summons enough courage to begin a friendship. He agrees to marry her so as to allow her and her son to remain in England and gradually she softens his defences and becomes part of his life as a platonic friend. When they discover that Joy is dying from incurable cancer, Lewis realises the depth of his love for her which allows them to enjoy a brief few months together before she dies. Anthony Hopkins is brilliantly cast as Lewis and is such a fine actor that the viewer is able to see, in his eyes, everything that he is saying inwardly, while Debra Winger is equally as good as the loud American who is the foil for his timidity.Movie Review: Powerful, arresting, moving and quite beautiful...
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first experienced this magical film, I was a 23 year old male living in my own world of euphoria; I was alive and in love. Fitting, then, that Shadowlands is my favourite film. Here, we see a character portrayed by Hopkins that does not appear in any of his works both before and after - humble + honest + noble + downright decent; a combination of qualities rarely scrpited for actors in a jurrasic, special efffect, massive budget motion picture era. Further, while Sahdowlands doesn't dazzle you with hip, young actors and awesome scenes of people, buildings and the planet being decimated, it does what the majority cannot seem to deliver - it tells a story - nothing more, nothing less. Middle aged Hopkings falls for a younger woman (Debra Winger) and his life (which, hitherto, was one of routine and content)takes on a whole new meaning, unitl tragedy strikes. Yes, I can describe the intricate details of the setting, the chronology of events etc, but the bottom line is simple - regardless of time and location, this is a story of love.....Have your box of Kleenex at the ready and take it all in. Enjoy! P.M.Movie Review: We read to know we are not alone.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is only one of the lines used in this movie that will remain with you forever. The movie is about C.S. Lewis and is a true story. C.S. Lewis, a famous children's writer, is played by Anthony Hopkins, who is absolutely enthralling. He is a man who thinks he can love and be loved, and who can tell others how to love and be loved. In truth, C.S. Lewis would not know love if it smacked him on the head, until, that is, he meets a woman (played by Debra Winger) who changes all he thought he ever knew about life and love. Sounds like an old plot, I know, but this movie touches right to the core of your heart. For the first time in his life, this man's eyes are opened wide, and he is nearly frozen with disbelief and wonder. Debra Winger plays an outstanding role of a divorcee with a small child, who enters C.S. Lewis' life by writing him a letter, and who changes him completely and forever by just being who she is. There are very few twists in this movie, and this is what makes the movie so valuable. It is a simple, straightforward tale of a man, a woman, and true love. Don't miss it!Movie Review: An Excellent C.S. Lewis Film!
Summary: 5 Stars
I think this film did a very good job capturing what C.S. Lewis' "jolting" mid-life romance was all about. I think one of the interesting points in this film (and maybe a little humorous as well) is that a proper and respectable Professor at Oxford University is swayed by God's gift of love into a passion that he had never experienced before. He had shut himself out from the rest of the world, which including feelings of love, both happy and sad. Much to the dismay of his friends (I suppose The Inklings were still around then, although I saw no sign of J.R.R. Tolkien, or his son C. Tolkien throughout the whole film.)The philosophy of many Oxford Professors back then was that where males have intellect, women have soul, and thus very few of them ever opened up their hearts to a women. It looks like old Jack wasn't as strongly ground into his reasoning as he thought, eh?
Anyway, the film is very good, and while I don't profess to be an emotional person, some scenes got right down into the pit of my soul.
Movie Review: Truly memorable, one that should not be missed!
Summary: 5 Stars
I finished 'Shadowlands' with puffy eyes and sniffles, but also with warm feelings in my heart. The movie covered a period of C.S. Lewis' life when he met Joy Gresham, an American writer who visited him in Oxford and how he had to face grief and challenges to what he had believed in. It is truly a powerful movie with great performances by Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger. Somebody posted below that Sir Anthony Hopkins conveyed a lot through his eyes, and it is true just by watching this movie - just by looking at his portrayal of C.S. Lewis when he was with Joy Gresham, you can sense love and affection that is contained within the rigidity of his manner - and the anguish and hurt when the tragedy happened.
The movie also poses a lot of good questions about life, without being preachy and it has certainly provided me with a lot of food for thoughts.
A must-see movie. Don't let the 'tragic' flavour deter you from watching 'Shadowlands', though. It doesn't leave you in sadness, it leaves you feeling enriched.