Movie: Water for Elephants

A movie on a Monday
Husband and I watch a lot of movies - usually in the comfort of the lounge, feet up, and homemade popcorn in hand (the healthy kind!). But every now and then we head off to watch the movie on the big screen (and eat the unhealthy popcorn!). Last night was one of those nights, and I suddenly realised... I should be blogging about this!

So welcome to movies on a Monday!

Water for Elephants
Last night's movie was, Water for Elephants. I'd recently finished the book, and as nice a story as it was, I didn't feel the need to rave about it, nor did I quite understand the hype surrounding it. But then perhaps I'd just waited too long, and read too much about it first. To be fair though, it wasn't the kind of story that I'd read before, so it was unique in that sense. And it was also unique in that I thought, maybe - just maybe - the film would be better than the book... so was it?!

I'm a real fan of Reese Witherspoon as an actress, so Water for Elephants: the movie, got my vote with her casting. But despite being Team Edward, rather than Team Jacob, when it comes to those (hushed whisper) Twilight movies, I'm not really a fan of R-Patz so the casting was much of a muchness for me.

The movie began as the book ended - a slightly bizarre way to look at it I guess, but it did work, so Water for Elephants book lovers, don't be disappointed. In fact, I was quite impressed at the way the movie stuck so close to the book. Yes, I possibly got slightly more out of the movie having read the book, than husband did beside me who hadn't read the book, but I don't think he really missed out on anything.

Rosie the elephant was lovely, while head trainer August was just as awful on screen as he was in the book. You didn't really get a sense of the comradeship between Jacob and his fellow carriage bunkmates that you did in the book, but you certainly got a taste of the memories - both happy and sad - that elderly Jacob has of his time in the circus.

Overall, a 'nice' movie - much the same as the book really. And, as I suggested in my book review, to borrow it from a friend, I'd suggest in my little movie review, to get it out from the DVD store - unless of course you want the unhealthy popcorn!