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41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
True to Life, September 16, 2000
My husband is a college professor and teaches a class on Lewis which is very popular. He shows this movie. The students are very moved by the account of this man's life, love, and faith. Without a doubt, this BBC version captures the essence of Lewis the person far better than the Anthony Hopkins one, which unfortunately Hollywood reduced to a simple love story. As any follower of Lewis knows, he was a deeply intellectual man, and in fact he embraced the Christian faith while en route to disprove it. The movie accurately depicts this very analytical side while intriguingly showing how he came to deeply love Joy Gresham amidst great trial. The movie is a story of faith and love, not theology, but it will certainly inspire you to consider all of these issues. The last segment of the movie -- the resolution -- is a real bonus that the Hopkins version doesn't even attempt. Also, astute observers will notice veiled references to a number of Lewis books (e.g. the Narnia Chronicles) throughout the movie. Joss Ackland and Claire Bloom are excellent. The scripting is well done and provocative, and it is a joy to see Oxford so accurately portrayed. You will want to watch this movie again.
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37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Favorite Movie of All Time, January 6, 2000
I watched this movie when I had been ill a long time. It was very difficult to watch at places but was also extremely helpful to me during a painful time. I would recommend it to anyone, but most especially to anyone who is ill or cares about someone who is ill. I do think that it needs to be watched at least twice because, I find that each time I watch it, I pick up even more nuances. It beats the Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger version, hands down. I once bought the BBC 70 minutes version that was aired in the U. S., thinking that it was the same but, it was not. With 20 minutes edited out, it does not compare either. Too much of the man's faith is missing from both movies which leaves it with a watered down message and less significant punch. I don't know what possessed them to take away the essence of this man in the other versions but, after anxiously anticipating them, I found myself greatly disappointed in both. If you want more of the real man's story and less hollywood story telling, then I recommend the 90-95 minute version by the BBC, with Joss Ackland & Claire Bloom.
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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A gem of a movie, but don't be sold short, August 19, 2001
This BBC version starring Joss Ackland and Claire Bloom is many times better, and presents a far richer portrayal of CS Lewis the man, than the Anthony Hopkins version, but buyer beware: despite tech-info posting to the contrary, THIS IS ***NOT*** THE FULL-LENGTH 90+ MINUTE ORIGINAL, but the *ABRIDGED* 73 minute version! I purchased this item specifically looking to get those extra 18-20 minutes, and was greatly disappointed. Nevertheless, the full length is extremely hard to find, and if it's a choice between this and Anthony Hopkins- choose this one.
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