Atonement [HD DVD] [2007]

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Customer reviews

review by: Tom Burke date: 2008-09-08 rating:
Solid 4 stars for me....
I think you have to look past the hype and see the film for itself. In that regard, James MacAvoy was as usual superb, and brought his character (Robbie) to life. Saoirse Ronan as the young(est) version of Briony, showed us all of the intensity of a 13-year-old on the cusp of adolescence. Her motivation is clear - she has strong feelings for Robbie, feelings which she cannot express, does not know how to express, but somehow must do; and then she catches her sister and Robbie together, intimately, and it is the resulting bottled-up rage that destroys all three of them.

And what of Keira Knightely? I thought she was convincing. In the first part of the film her dialog is mainly cliches, but that would have been the way her character would have lived: moneyed, privileged, and probably over-educated for the life she will lead. She, too, must express feelings, and she too does not have words, but her actions on that hot afternoon are clear enough. It is Robbie who finds words, shocking words, and it is their revelation that triggers the crisis.

Finally, what of the title? Has Briony 'atoned'? I don't think she did.... people's lives were destroyed and broken, people died because of her action. Writing a book about the events 60 years later, and giving it half-a-happy ending is not atoning; and in Vanessa Redgrave's performance as the eldest Briony giving her apologia, we can see the understanding that nothing can atone for what was done.

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review by: date: 2008-05-19 rating:
A brilliant film
Having read the book, I wondered how this would translate to film. I've got to say that it far surpassed my expectations. This film is a showcase for the HDDVD format, it looks fabulous on a large HD TV. From the opening scenes in the house and gardens to the chaos of the wartime beach, it never fails to impress. I'm shocked at some of the reviews; I found it gripping from beginning to end, and visually stunning. My copy cost about a fiver: a bargain if there ever was one.

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review by: brendoclarke date: 2008-05-13 rating:
Void of Emotion


Dont believe the hype as this cinematic "must-see" is everywhere and it has the effect of sending the average critic stumbling to his thesaurus in search of gushing adjectives that all but close the book on the Oscar race. The time and setting of such a movie can vary, of course, as can the talent involved, but to a film, we are assured that here, in the dark, we will witness a true epic; a masterpiece of sweeping grandeur and lush, aching beauty that comes but once in a generation. Maybe this will be better than the last great British Classic: The English Patient.

There is Cecilia (Knightley), a spoiled, obscenely wealthy nitwit, and at what point we are meant to identify with her is beyond any sound judgment. We soon learn that she is empty, shallow, and bordering on caricature.

That a child's lies could ruin lives is an interesting premise, I suppose, but it seems more than a trifle that we should be at least partly concerned about the lives in question. We know nothing of Briony except that she is a budding writer seemingly lost in the recesses of her imagination, and one who just might be punishing her sister for being more attractive and outgoing. But if spite is her motivation, it's not as interesting that she later writes the novel she does (the "atonement" of the title), for why not attempt to justify her crimes through fiction?

Atonement is a flat, emotionless void in opposition to each and every idea it might accidentally encounter. Without the flow of the written word, this is a trite, humbug of a story; one that includes a wicked tracking shot through the chaos of Dunkirk for no other reason than to bring a shot of life to the proceedings which only serves to highlight an abundance of weakness with but a single moment of strength !!!!

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review by: date: 2008-05-05 rating:
Average film
It is ok film with good cinematography and Kiera Knightley wasn't stunning in this film due to being thinner than usual. Storylines is good, but not a film for male audience to watch.

Not bad for a fiver.


review by: date: 2008-04-23 rating:
doesn't translate well onto the screen
I had loved the book which is a superb example of storytelling and I was really looking forward to seeing the film. I was extremely disappointed and I find it difficult to know why.I am no great fan of Keira Knighley, I find she acts in the same way, more or less, whatever the film she is in,but Romola Garai and James Mc Avoy are true actors. Mc Avoy especially is incredible in all his performances so I don't understand why it doesn't work here.I could never feel close to the characters as you do reading the book, their story didn't move me although I had found it effective and poignant on the pages.Is it the way it is filmed by Joe Wright, the director, whose Pride and Prejudice I didn't like either? I am not enough of a film expert to say if the way he chose to film the story ruined it but something is definitely missing...But those who haven't read the book should really give it a try, it is very well written indeed and much more complex and heart-twisting as well as perfectly easy to read.

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Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Drama
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . HD DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . 15
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 2
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 2000 and later
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English

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