A production that lives up to the epic size of the story

Rating: 10/10 (19 December 2001)

Ok, would all movie producers please leave the room. We do not need you any more: you just got blown out of the water!
Can someone say "Oscar city"? The only reason they might not beat Ben Hur and Titanic in number of Oscars won is because there are very few feminine roles, lead or supporting. Everything else a movie can win... well, as I said, all other producers, actors, musicians, sound effects specialists, visual effects specialists and so on might as well leave the room, they've already lost.
If you've read the book, you will NOT be disappointed, not one little teeny tiny smidgen.
If you have not read the book, you will NOT be disappointed, not one little teeny tiny smidgen.
If you hate adventure stories, and prefer action movies, you will (probably) NOT be disappointed...
If you prefer drama, you will NOT be disappointed.
The only people who may really not want to see this are people who want a pure love story a la Casablanca. Oh wait, you will probably love this, too!
It's simply too well made, and the story itself is simply fascinating enough to captivate pretty much anyone. Frankly, unless you simply can't afford the extra expense of a movie, go ahead and see it. Don't let the length of the movie frighten you, either. I've seen other long movies in the theatre ("Dune", for one, which I thought was quite good, but not nearly as good as this), and I've never found myself quite so enthralled before. In fact, never once did I think "Oh man, I wish this would end, I want a cigarette!" The audience was probably the best behaved I have EVER seen. Not a word, not a peep, not a cellphone, NOTHING. I'm pretty sure anyone who goes see this in the first few days will find similarly captive audiences.
If you can, go to a theater that has Dolby-Surround sound, it's definitely worth it.
Run there. Don't walk.
I will await the continuation of this story with great trepidation.