Not as good as the novel but it has some very good parts of the novel and a bit more

Rating: 7/10 (20 August 2001)

Since I read the novel and had a complete mental picture of the story already, it was hard to be fully unbiased at someone else's version of the "picture". Director John Madden gave it a good go but don't expect this to be the book.
There should be a Best Supporting for John Hurt as Dr. Iannis. Of all the characters he stands alone in performance. Nicolas Cage is better than he usually is as the title role, even though his accent is a bit trite. Ms. Cruz is perfectly cast as Pelagia and she could have been ....well she is not the same as in the book...enough said ok?
Now the scoop is the loyal side kick of Cage. I don't even know his name but he looks like a young Marlon Brando. My wife pointed the fact out to me and...well he needed more lines and ...naw not possible...got a male star and....everyone knows the drill. In a summer of crummy nothings this movie, while flawed to be sure, is very nice. Go see it.