Water for Elephants

While Burlesque only gingerly exploited a plot cut from the 1930s but set it in the present, Water for Elephants literally revels in the year 1931 in every frame. The circus setting, the ethereal Reese, the totally accurate Christoph, and the prejudicial Robert (I'm no longer afraid of his Bel Ami creation), are what I need on the big screen by far the most. A magnificent melodrama that is aware of its mission. (24/05/2011)

The circus finally got a good movie. Witherspoon has earned a spot in my top 10 favorite actresses with this one. The pairing of Reese and Pattinson was a really good choice. I was worried that the film would be "too heavy". In the end, I had no problem digesting it because it is made with a tremendously light touch. The costumes and hairstyles are also exceptionally well done. The script is also beautiful, so there you go. (16/07/2011)

An honest and sincere film with very talented actors. The setting is essentially unexplored, and the entire project benefits from it. It has a nostalgic atmosphere of that era, yet it is modern and skillfully filmed with a solid musical score. I am not a supporter of violence against animals (even in films), so some shots may not sit well with more sensitive individuals, but it is not gratuitously shocking; on the contrary, it highlights Christoph Waltz's excellent acting. It was more entertaining and captivating than I expected, even the predictable ending was satisfying. Perhaps the parallel in concept with Titanic didn't need to be there, but otherwise, it is fine. A lot of value for the money. (11/10/2012)

It was a real treat for me to watch Robert Pattinson express a whole range of emotions with a single facial expression. Zoolander must be one of his favorite films because this was textbook Magnum. The story was actually a standard American love story, only the creators placed it in a rather non-standard setting. The only actor whose performance was impressive was Christoph Waltz in another one of his manic roles, but that's about it. Plus, the film’s title is awfully misleading, there is only one elephant in it, and despite the prohibition, it isn't about water either. (26/07/2019)

Water for Elephants is in some ways a more modest take on the iconic Titanic, except now it's grandpa returning in his memories, but it's just as bittersweet and enjoyable as the the famous blockbuster. I'd take an elephant like Rosie home in a heartbeat, except in a much smaller version, because she shines the most as an “actor” next to Christoph Waltz. The pairing of Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon is a strange combination, and if someone had told me that these two would be starring in a movie in 2011 and as a couple in love, I probably wouldn't have been able to avoid laughing. They weren't bad, but the chemistry between them wasn't that good. All in all, an easygoing and likeable film whose final fifteen minutes are exemplary filmmaking (08/06/2011)