Two hours you'll be grateful were stolen from you.

Rating: 9/10 (28 February 2014)

Led by a (hopefully) rising star in newcomer Sophie Nelisse, and carried by veterans Emily Watson and Geoffrey Rush, 'The Book Thief' is a solid adaptation of a book that is hardly conventional on paper or on screen.
While the responsibility for the narrative lies with the author, 'The Book Thief' is refreshing in the course of the events it depicts; many movies on the subject of World War Two and Nazi Germany are all too keen to explore beyond the gates of the death camps, but director Brian Percival's film honours the source material by celebrating its story about the importance of the written word with a proud approach, allowing it to sit at the film's core despite every possible distraction. It's a sometimes bleak, often fulfilling tale of the best and worst aspects of the human condition, and at its heart is the concept of sharing comfort in words and stories. Narrated by 'Death', the unique selling point of Marcus Zusak's novel might work consistently throughout an entire book, but seems like a very weak afterthought during 'his' sporadic 'appearances' in the film. It's the one example of Percival allowing anything to come close to detracting from the film's mission statement, and with its jarring, intermittent monologues, almost does.
Joining 'War Horse' and more so 'The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas' as recent war dramas to be lauded and then treasured for years to come, 'The Book Thief' should steal your heart completely. Or, as Liesel would say, merely borrow it.