There is a wonderful depth and mystery to the movie...

Rating: 8/10 (12 January 2002)

I watched the movie for the first time yesterday, and it was very interesting to me. I'm 18 years old, and not from the south, but the kids' playing reminds me a bit of playing with my brothers and sisters when I was growing up. Everything was a mystery and adventure. The kids did an excellent job of acting, and the little girl who played Scout had never even acted or been trained in acting before! There was a great depth to the characters and a great mysterious aura to the Radley house. Gregory Peck, as usual, did a great job in his part, and the man who played Tom Robinson did, too. For me it was a riveting movie, though there were no explosions or shoot-outs or high-tech graphics. It was plain and simple but effective. There were some funny moments, some scary moments, some emotional moments. I saw it in the original B&W on DVD...At first I wished I could see it in color, but then I thought making it in B&W gave it more mystery and interest. The "Fearful Symmetry" (making of the movie) was very interesting, too, talking about what we have lost as a country, even while we have gained things. After watching the movie, I think I'll have to read the book, and I'm sure it won't be a waste of time!