Customer Reviews

To Walk With Lions

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have just finished watching this video, and I feel that I have not wasted my time. This film is based on the true story of George Adamson. Adamson became famous as the man who set the lioness Elsa free in a film called 'Born Free'.

In 'To Walk with Lions' Adamson has become an old and eccentric man who lives to free lions from zoos and circuses. He takes in an English milkman, Tony Fitzroy, who needs a job. When the new aide realizes that he is going to replace a workman who was killed by a lion the week before, he wants to leave straight away: He thinks that Adamson is crazy, but after some time Tony decides to stay after all.

This is a beatiful film: The landscape is fantastic and the script is filled with good comments, laughter and exitement. After a short while you start to like George and Tony, even though neither of them can be called 'average guys'. This is a film that I want to recommend. It is great for animal lovers and everybody else who likes to enjoy a good story.

This movie was true and very entertaining, with romance, action, heart and soul. It had a message for everyone, no matter what country you live in. We found hope from the things they are doing today in Tanzania... No movie has touched my husband and I as much as this one. If you can only see one movie this year, make it To Walk with Lions.

I was checking out the new releases down at local Video shop when I saw a copy of "To Walk with Lions" 'Yes,This is the movie for me!' I was born in Kenya but left like many others in 1963, so movies centred around Kenya still draw my heart strings. I guess I thought I knew about George Adamson and the Lions he loved. I have got original copies of Born Free and Living Free. I truly only found out about his death last year in a travel magazine advertising a Kenyan Hotel out there somewhere, so I had some idea about what this movie would be about but no preconceived ideas. I just hoped this movie about Kenya was actually filmed in Kenya as many movies aren't. So I sat down on a Friday night with my 12 year old son David to watch it. This movie was great. I enjoyed it a lot. Not a box office smash but a well acted and well portrayed real life story with passion and sensitivity. It's a true story about people who committed their lives to what they believed in. Richard Harris was a very convincing George Adamson 'Baba wa simba' and the story from where I sat was an extremely convincing portrayal of his dedication and passion for firstly, the lost Lions of northan Kenya and secondly, wildlife conservation in East Africa in general. You felt like you got to know the man. He had grit and was prepared to die to protect animals. A long term commitment, way past the fame of Born Free days. Joy did make an appearance in the movie just to keep it true to character. A surprise for me was to learn about Tony Fitzjohn played very well by John Michie. Through this movie his character was moulded from disinterested drifter to caring conservationist aided by the other stars of the movie and the Lions. He managed to eventually see the true worth of protecting a priceless resource, Africa's wildlife and take up where George left off. The lions I must say were awesome as they can only ever be themselves. The film maker Carl Schultz also captures the shifting loyalty of nomadic Africans pastoralists and how senseless the slaughter of wild animals by poachers is when seen a face value. This movie for me was also a fine example of moviemakers and actors getting in behind real conservation efforts. Bringing the world attention to people dedicated to making a difference where it counts who would otherwise go unnoticed. Along the lines of 'I dreamed of Africa' with Kim Bassinger portrayal of Kuki Gallmans story of lifelong dedication and sacrifice to wildlife conservation in Kenya. The last bonus for me was a very clear statement that yes it was filmed in Kenya at Kora, which you can't beat for authenticity. Afterwards I found my copy of Born Free from the book shelf and spent time with my son David looking at pictures of a younger George Adamson and of course Elsa. We wondered what our cat would be like if he was bigger?

For those of you who loved and are fans of the movie BORN FREE, this is literally part 3 of that movie after LIVING FREE. I found this movie to be much better and more moving than Living Free.

To Walk with Lions, showcases the true story of George Adamson and his new successor in Africa-Gareth Patterson (who is named Tony Fitzjohn in the movie) on how they fate brought them together and where it took both of them. The various struggles that George and Tony have to put up with the poachers-bandits-Kenyan Govt-village men are shown here.

How Joy and George are murdered too are shown as well as how the real life Gareth Patterson became acquainted with Lions even though he was almost killed by one.

This movie is a must see for all animal lovers particularly those of lions and especially those fans of BORN FREE.

Other recommended animal related movies are Born Free, ROAR, Two brothers, The Ghost & The Darkness, Running Wild, Maneaters of India (Natl Geog docum), Living with Tigers (Discovery Channel documentary).

Before I put my Two Cents in (which is all these reviews are worth), it must be clear this is BASED on a True Story, not Word For Word or Incident By Incident. Richard Harris does an Excellent Portrayal of George Adamason and the work he did. This is not a Kiddie's Movie such as "Born Free", as it involves The Adamson's confrontations with The Low-Life Poacher/Criminals who still infest these areas, nor is it "The Lion King", although this title fits Mr. Adamson. I also recommend "Christian The Lion", which is another Great Story.

To Walk With Lions is a nice film in the better sense of the word. Focussing on George Adamson's later years trying to protect his lion reserve from poachers and government closure, it's a more honest and less Disneyfied take on the material than the whitewashed Born Free, as a surprisingly good cameo by Honor Blackman as a temperamental and manipulative Joy Adamson underlines. Richard Harris looks the spitting image of Adamson (he has the look of that type of white African) and surprisingly leonine, although his voice had gone by this point which does hurt some of his scenes, especially his laughably heroic death scene. It's not a classic by any means, but it's also not a lazy film even if the script isn't great. Not bad.

Absoulutly loved this film! The only complaint I had with it is that the previous owner, a library, had thier name written on the actual tape.

This tape was in good condition. I am not to friendly with DVD'S and can set up for tapes without any problems. Thanks!!!( To walk with Lions)

To Walk With Lions has a few questionable storyline segments dragging down the overall rating. They involve lengthy segments of boredom and uninteresting storytelling. That's the number one reason I'm not giving it 4 or 5 stars.

These lengthy scenes include when the main character gets caught up in a relationship, and a funeral scene immediately after. For some reason during this particular time, the storyline stops dealing with lions and focuses on trivial nonsense.

Remove those two scenes, and I'm almost positive I'd raise the rating up to 4 stars.

For some reason, any kind of attempt at building up character development is almost always pointless because you just don't care about anybody.

Anyway, this film really shows how dangerous lions can be. Whatever you do, do NOT take off running because they will run up from behind and attack. You will witness a couple violent and bloody segments as a result. Whoever says the male lions don't attack because the female ones are the hunters, well, guess again. That's all I can say.

The storyline mainly deals with trying to preserve lions in their natural habitat. You will experience a few segments involving poaching, and one of them in particular is memorable but I don't want to spoil what it is.

Shortern the time of this film by about 45 minutes, remove some of the pointless romantic scenes, and the quality would improve.

There have been many reviews written about this movie. Mine may be redundant but, by golly, I feel like writing it anyway.

Richard Harris always provides a 'genuine' character when appearing on screen...from his depiction of Cain in the John Huston film, "The Bible"; many, many years ago...to portrayal of George Adamson in this movie.

Those who've seen actual footage of George Adamson (and listened to him) would stretch imagination only a wee bit to believe Harris is Adamson himself.

The lions and the camp represent the actual site in Kora to such detail...one can almost smell the pungent, intense odor of "cat"! Anyone who's owned felines can imagine how powerful such would be with a half dozen 300 to 400 pound male lions wandering about.

From accounts written about Adamson, the man enjoyed the company of 'birds' as well and the movie delights the viewer with a constant array of little birds hopping about pestering the men for goodies. One irksome rascal even helps himself to supper...while still on the table on the plates!

Yes, as many have noted, the film could have been filmed more realistically at times and if one is judging a movie from that viewpoint, justifiable criticism can be leveled at this movie as well.

But, if one watches a movie for pure entertainment or for the momentary 'tang' of a transient substance, a condiment, a spice of life most of us will never taste otherwise...this movie will gratify the viewer and urge a second or third viewing...or even ownership as it did for me.