Yet another film that I really didn't want to ever see was this one. Don't get me wrong I am a massive fan of Twilight and am Team Edward all the way (Robert Patterson) but this film, well it just didn't appeal to me at all maybe because of the title and also cos I'm yet to be impressed by any other film that Robert stars in. I can't say I've ever been all all that impressed by Reese Witherspoon all that much either in the the stuff I've seen her in, however my best mates dad dropped us a huge stack of dvds tto watch the other day and we made the pact we would watch evry single one even though neither of us particulary wanna sit down and watch a film about the smurfs....but there you go lol!

The Film:

We start the film by meeting Jacob (Robert Patteron) who is living with his Polish parents and living a rather good life in America and is studying to finish a Vetinary course he is taking. However when in his final exam he gets asked out by the examiners to be told his parents are dead and his world falls apart.

The tradgey becomes even worse when Jacob becomes homeless after their death and with no family to turn to he simply jumps on a train as a bit of a stow away and gets caught by ome rough men on it. He's on a travelling circus train and lands himself a job, not just any job but blags his way in as a vet so gets a bit of a result really.

This is where he meets the cirrus owners wife Marlena (reese Witherspoon) who is the star attraction, aloof at first and blissfully happy with her husband August (Christoph Waltz) it seems.

Howevever August isn't a nice man, he's a control freak and ambitious and like his drink a little too much.

Through a horse that needs putting down that Marlena loves and then August replacing it with a elephant called Rosie, Marlena and Jacob become rather friendly and this particulary happens when August tries to show Jacob how with a bull stick to get Rosie to perform and ends up beating her and injuring her rather badly.

Jacob soon gets a tight bond with Marlena and Rosie and in fact makes friends with all of the circus team and soons feels very much at home and part of the 'family'.

However everything is an illusion, things can get volatile at anytime with August and his heavymen at the helm and they are not above disposing of 'acts' they no longer want or need and what if Jacob annoys August in some way?

My Opinion:

I really thought I was going to absoloutely hate and detest this film but actually really I loved it. I liked the way Jacob's character showed him as an old man and starting off the story and we go though his life at the circus and then back to him. I thought Robert Patterson smouldered thoughout this film and that his acting was superb and the electricity at times between him Reece I could feel. Reece howecer I did feel was a little wooden at times and I have to say that although she's not a bad actress she isn't amazing either and got totally outshone by Rosie the elephant! There was scenes of animal violence in the film which did upset me alot as when it comes to animals I am a sensitive soul however the scenes were vital to understand the ending....they say an elephant never forgets....watch the film you'll totally understand that statement!

The musics good, the atmosphere is great and the set is stunning. I loved seeing all the amazing animals and felt in the crowd at times and although this is a rather slow paced film at times it really is a lovely watch!

Rated 12

Available fro Amazon for £6.99 (new including postage and packaging costs).

This review is also posted on Ciao under this same username.