Great watch for all even if it is old.

Rating: 8/10 (14 February 2016)

I can't help but wonder what Atticus Finch would be like in today's world and what sort of thing he would stand up against. He might be impressed with how far racism has come since the '30's, but I'm sure there is some other injustice that would similarly upset him. Certainly he would have a thing or two to say about this generation of parenting. I think he would probably not be into a lot of the group rallies and such that go on today, but rather would just try to change people's hearts doing what he does best just as he does in his own setting.
Showing the story through the mostly innocent view of Scout and Jem is great for us as an audience. It forces us to look at the injustices shown in innocent and mostly unprejudiced eyes. Jem and Scout are introduced to some of the evils of the world through Atticus' court case, but are still able to help him do his job in their own way. Much of the original story is cut, but I thought the screenwriters did a good job choosing what was most important to show. Tom Robinson's court case and the children's investigation of Boo Radley are the only two plot threads that are fully maintained. The subplots involving various town events and some affairs within the Finch's extended family are chopped. The court hearing is also moved to a later and more dramatic position than in the book, which I wouldn't dispute.
Jem and Scout do not take any major actions that move the story, but feel like active characters in their learning the ways of the world and the way people are prone to act. They seem to be good kids, though not always obedient or wise. Still, they seem to respect and understand the reasons behind Atticus discipline of them, which reflects well on both parties. Atticus is almost too good to be true as a person, but I could believe that someone in his position could be as upright a person as he is. I think his saying that he couldn't live with himself if he didn't defend Tom Robinson is proof of his moral fallibility. Most of the other characters, while prominent, are not worth talking about apart from the Ewell's. They are a prototype of white trash that cheat the system and don't contribute to society while taking from those who do. The unseen villains however are the socially pressured members of the jury that condemn Tom Robinson to his death.
The three kids did a much better job acting than is usual of child actors. They felt like actual kids and didn't give the impression that they were just being cute for the adult audience members. Gregory Peck also gives a great performance. The Ewell's actors are a little hard to judge since the characters are putting on appearances themselves. I suppose the actors found a sweet spot of believable deceptiveness. Heck Tate, Calpurnia, Maudie Atkinson, and Tom Robinson's actors all give decent showings. Robert Duvall doesn't exactly perform as Boo Radley, but he looked perfect for the character even though I had imagined Boo Radley much differently. The camera work seemed pretty good even though some of it felt a little bit cheesy. The script was adapted quite well and kept the pace up and never lets you feel bored.
I would recommend this to almost everyone, though it's not the pinnacle of entertainment. It does make you a more conscious person and calls you to consider what prejudices you might have clouding your judgment. If you don't like old movies or material that seems "boring", I can understand where you're coming from, but would still encourage you to see this through as a form of self-improvement. Overall Rating: 8.2/10.