Water for Elephants

Pattinson will have a hard time shedding the painful stigma of the awkward vampire, but he can give a serious performance if the script allows it. Films from the circus environment are scarce, so extra points for that, but unlike others I wouldn't praise Christoph Waltz's performance so much – when he’s playing a choleric jealous husband or a slightly sadistic guy (stabbing an elephant), it's all right, but I didn't buy his crying (worrying about his livelihood) at all. (27/07/2011)

Fans of Robert Pattinson could enjoy their favorite actor in the film. Fans of Reese Witherspoon, on the other hand, could once again sigh in admiration of her modesty and beauty. In the end, however, it is Christoph Waltz who rightly attracts attention. The role of circus principal Augusta may at first glance seem too similar to Hans Landa from "Inglourious Basterds", but that doesn't change the fact that this Austrian is absolutely excellent. I am glad that Tarantino discovered him for Hollywood because he deserves attention. I am curious if he will receive any truly positive roles or if he will continue to be cast in negative or completely negative roles. August is exactly the type of negative role that one can despise. He is gradually pushed to a point where there is nothing positive or acceptable about him for the viewer. The foreground is then taken by the love of young veterinarian Jacob, who is also the narrator, and the acrobat Marlena. A bit of "Freaks", but mostly "Big Fish", because that's exactly what the film "Water for Elephants" tries to be. To impress with the beauty of the environment, visuals, and a strong story. However, it fails somewhere halfway and the story is not that strong. The final summary then feels unnecessarily rushed and the emotions simply do not come through. It's a shame, the actors were chosen more or less - I'm not a big fan of Reese - great. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/05/noc-patri-nam-voda-pro-slony-posledni.html (18/02/2013)

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)

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)

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)