Masterful Adaption

Rating: 10/10 (20 February 2003)

This film is one of the few based-on-book movies that actually manages to bring forth an accurate and true picture of the original story (To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee). Too often, the adaption to film throws story elements far off track, loses touch with the author's deeper intimacy or skips key details. Not here. Because of the era this film was made in, there was no temptation to substitute story for technical wizardry.
The child actors do well to hold up the bulk of such a strong film, and Gregory Peck's "Atticus" is amazingly genuine. The complex emotions and responses of the children are brought forth very well, considering that they could not be "described" as they were in the novel. The court scenes are also very powerful.
If you enjoyed the book, don't be afraid that the film will not live up to your expectations - whilst this concept is usually true, here we have one of the exceptions.
The film deals a lot with old American racism and prejudice. It is interesting to compare the methods used in this film to those of Mel Brook's "Blazing Saddles". Watch TKAMB, and expect to be challenged.