Book Girl and I went to this movie the other day. I thought it was a good rendition of translating the book to screen. I had wondered how so much introspection could be done as a movie.
Of course, it helps to have Julia Roberts playing the role of Elizabeth Gilbert. That was quite a coup! She fits the part well, because she is mature enough to play the role.
The Christian Science Monitor had a very funny review (funny to me, anyway) of this movie, well worth reading for a chuckle, if you've seen the movie.
Yes, the movie is long. And perhaps if you've read the book, you would like the movie more than if you haven't read the book. (I am currently re-reading the book which I have reviewed.) And maybe, if you haven't gone through an unhappy marriage or a divorce or seen others go through such things, it would have less meaning or seem too platitudinal.
Yes, the book is a little New Agey -- and the sequences in the movie at the Ashram are also New Agey. (Expect it!) (Or perhaps we should say, Gilbert learns about very old knowledge, possibly just new to the West.)
But, hey! it is the genuine (or partially) search for purpose, spirituality, self and God. Those are big issues to handle in a relatively small book which takes place over the course of a year, though the unhappiness started earlier.
The movie shows some of the key sequences in the book. It spares us the depths of Gilbert's sorrow (or her almost wallowing in sorrow, told with a deft hand) -- but you have to give her credit for taking the steps to move out of this, if possible. She was courageous to do the work. It landed her in a different place (no pun intended.) She would not live the life she is living if she had not moved out of the life she had been living.
My take:
I liked the movie. I loved the scenery. See it in wide screen. I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.
I've not been to Bali or India, but I've been to Italy more than once.
Whether you agree with the philosophies expounded or not, at least it is not the typical shoot-em-up or romantic movie. It actually deals with deep issues, spirituality and God. That, in my book, is worth thinking about.
Have you seen it?
If change is inevitable in life, then take charge of some of the change. Don't just let it happen to you. Be where it will happen.
Karin
www.savvythinker.com
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