Water for Elephants - A Movie Review

My husband dragged me kicking and screaming to a movie last night.  I really didn't want to go, I wanted to stay home and finish up Clash of Kings, but he wanted to get out of the house, so dinner and a movie it was.

The only movie playing that I would even consider seeing was Water for Elephants and it was not on my must see list.  I read the book and absolutely loved it, but I had no desire to see the movie - mainly because it starred Robert Pattinson.

A few years ago, I volunteered to take my then 14 year old niece to see the first Twilight movie.  She had been raving about the book for weeks and I thought - vampires, werewolves - that's my kind of movie, so I eagerly signed on. She loved it, I hated it.  One of the reasons I hated it was Robert Pattinson, I wanted to tear out my eyes every time he was on screen - yes, I thought he was that bad.  Heresy, I know.  I am sorry Twihards - I wanted to put a stake through Edward's heart and end his maudlin moping forever and put me out of my misery, but I digress.

I didn't think I could sit through two hours of Robert, but I did love the book and Reese Witherspoon is one of my favorite actresses, so I capitulated with the understanding that after the movie, I could retire with my book and a glass of wine - he agreed, so off we went.

In the words of my favorite NCIS character - I feel like a donkey's butt.  Why? Because Robert Pattinson OWNED this movie along with Christoph Waltz - when they were on screen it was magic.  And my favorite Reese? While she was beautiful to look at, her performance was flat and one dimensional and she had no chemistry on screen - she was just going through the motions and you could tell.

I won't give anything away, but I will say that while the book did an excellent job of portraying the darker side of human nature in the way we treat each other and our fellow creatures, seeing it in color and on the big screen will leave your heart in your throat.  Some of those images will haunt me for a long time. 

Would I recommend this movie? yes.  Would I see it again? probley not - only because of aforementioned hauntings

Kytivafan rating: 3/5 stars