A fantastic adaptation that might surpass the book

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2013)

First of all let me say that I loved the book and read it several times over the years, so when I heard that there would be a movie adaptation I was excited. I was a bit skeptical however as the book is quite post-modern in its narrative, jumping between story lines and changing its style, so I wondered how it would translate. After finishing watching the movie I am impressed. Everything about the movie screams high production value. They've managed perfectly to capture the different lives and how they tie together. The impression is that of a quilt composed of many different fabrics all tied together into a unified piece. Parts of the movie gave me goosebumps for being so beautiful, both in visual style and overall message. The movie is close to 3 hours long, but on the contrary from some movies of similar length(*cough* Hobbit *cough*) where you look at your watch about two thirds in and wonder if it will end soon, this movie almost felt too short. I got so completely immersed in the story and the visuals and the almost universally great acting of the cast that when the credits rolled around I couldn't believe I had been sitting transfixed in front of the screen for such a long time. A tour de force that captures and enhances the mood of an already great story, and perhaps even makes it more accessible to a wider audience. Bravo!