Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Movie, April 4, 2001
I have read all of the books based on Ayla and loved them all, have read them many many times. There is no possible way that you could take the book and make it into a movie without leaving out a lot of details. I feel they did a wonderful job with the movie and I have watched it many times. To be more true and accurate to the book you would have to make a Mini-series and I for one would love to see that!!! It would make for a much more interesting night of television than most of the junk that they have on now. Daryl Hannah was an excellent Ayla but the entire cast had their work cut out for them but I was also very impressed with James Remar as Creb, wow did he bring Creb to life. For those that nit picked this movie apart then I suggest that you don't watch it again, for myself I will watch it again and again. Would really like to see a sequel!!
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23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the finest adaptations of a book to film, July 21, 2000
The film captures the essence of the book of the same title by Jean Auel. I liked the book very much, which is what prompted me to buy the movie. In agreement with another reviewer, if you are going to watch it to nit-pick about plot inconsistencies, the film is not for you. But all of the book's characterization and polemical elements are there in flying colors in the movie. What was most startling for me was the performance given by Daryl Hannah. I am not a frequent movie viewer, so her name immediately brought to mind "Splash" - which this definitely is NOT. Her portrayal of Ayla was one of the finest acting performances I have seen... especially given (or because of) the language / sign language handicap. Auel spent a lot of time in the book describing the modes of non-verbal communication of the Clan, and it is clear that Hannah was up to the challenge of communicating the character of Ayla through action, gesture, expression, and posture. Her subtly was amazing and is appreciated more upon a second or third viewing. The movie's feel is a little minimalist because of the lack of dialog, especially as compared with the lush descriptive passages of the book. However, the scenery and acting in this big-screen version more than compensate for the lack of the book's strong narrative. I would also mention that the "over eighteen" rating of this movie seemed a little inappropriate to me. For those familiar with the book, the rape scene is done in the spirit of supporting the story and characterization - emotionally / spiritually anguishing but not overtly violent or sexual.
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26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As an Auel Fan, and a very picky person, I love this movie., July 30, 2000
I read the whole series long before I saw the movie, and as a person who frequently reads before she sees any movie editions, I can be disappointed at times, and not for nitpicking reasons. However, this time I was not only plesantly surprised, I was blessed with this movie. I happen to think that many film adaptations of books are not very well done because of how much has to be cut out, rewritten, etc, for the sake of a movie. This one, however, was wonderful. Yes, some things were changed, but the book managed to keep Auel's talents alive within the film. I loved the genuine-feeling prehistoric atmosphere the movie portrayed, and the sign language mixed with the type of verbal words that would be typical of the Clan as described by Auel--it's excellent. There was not even a large need for subtitles, the body language says it all. Unlike Splash, Daryl Hannah did a superb job with this movie. I would reccomend it to anyone unless they feel like doing the old nitpick. If you do, this movie's not for you.
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