One of the very best movies I have ever seen!

Rating: 10/10 (17 May 2006)

I was gob smacked by this movie. As many others have commented, I had no idea what I was going to see at the theater yesterday when Diane and I entered. After sitting through the usual slocky Disney trailers and assorted other forget-quickies, this unknown movie came on and within minutes both of us were totally hooked and remained that way for the entire length of the film. I am completely soft when it comes to emotions but even I was surprised by the emotions Doaldson wrung out of this film: elation, sadness, suspense-in short, the full gamut of things that nibble at the heart and bring tears to the eyes.
I am unfamiliar with Donaldson's work but this fabulous film has cemented his movie making skills firmly in my memory-I will anxiously anticipate any new film with which he is connected-I also loved his script! Last night I read all the comments for this movie and I thought the Kiwi ones were particularly good. The guy from Dunedan who was impressed by Anthony Hopkins ability to imitate the south island's unusual, vaguely Scotish accent and the other commentator who observed how Hopkins had avoided the all to frequently made mistake of using an Australian rather than New Zealand accent.
The commentators praise for Hopkins was more than justified-he embodied Burt Munro as much as a viewer unconnected with the actual people could judge. Again commentators have written that the Munro's family left the theater with tear filled eyes-a true comment about Hopkin's portrayal of Munro.
The movie was a story based on fact but nonetheless a story. People have criticised the scenes in American with the "cardboard" characters but I found them fascinating and having experience in the States I know that those characters play the exact roles that Donaldson gave them. I have encountered at different times virtually all those characters in nearly the same places as was depicted. To say they were cut-outs trivializes their existence and shows the superficiality of the observer.
To sum up, the movie is as great as so many people have said. It is a peon to the cinematic craft!