- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 66,561
- Real Name
- Ronald Epstein
Hearts In Atlantis
You know, when you you're young you
have moments of such happiness you think
you're living someplace magical like Atlantis
must have been.
I could watch and listen to Anthony Hopkins
forever. He is one of the greatest actors
of our time. Sometimes he can play the part of
a hideous monster lying behind the eyes of a
charming well-mannered man. Other times, he can
play the most gentle, loving individual that
can move you to tears with his words.
Hearts of Atlantis is based upon a small
story written Stephen King, of a strange visitor
that enters the lives of a widowed Mother and
her son.
The year is 1960. Bobby Garfield (Anton Yelchin)
lives alone with his Mother (Hope Davis). Bobby's
father has been dead these past six years and left
the family with no money.
One day a mysterious elderly man agrees to rent
the room at the top of the house. His name is
Ted Brautigan (Anthony Hopkins), a quiet individual
who befriends Bobby with a secret about special
powers and the low men that are after it.
Director Scott Hicks has taken Stephen King's
story and turned it into an absolutely wonderful
film that intertwines a tale of the supernatural
with a story about growing up, losing someone
you love, and keeping that love in your heart
forever.
How is the transfer?
Two words: Warner Brothers. The studio has
been batting a thousand by releasing movies that
look absolutely incredible. This is another one
of those transfers that looks flawless. In fact,
where the quality of the transfer really counts is
in the many dimly lit scenes in Hopkin's bedroom.
Normally, scenes like this would show grain within the
darker colors. Not a hint is seen. In fact, there
are some beautiful scenes of a carnival lit with
all the colors of a rainbow against the darkened
blue sky that look breathtaking. This anamororphic
(1.85:1) transfer simply looks gorgeous.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack also sounds
very good. A great soundtrack of popular 50's
music enriches the entire front soundstage.
Overall separation is very distinct and the
speakers pick up even the tiniest of noises. The
rear speakers are used very sparingly for rear
music ambiance and some nice crowd effects during
a baseball story.
Special Features
In addition to a feature-length commentary with
Director Scott Hicks...
Dressed in a leather jacket, Anthony Hopkins
gives an interview to Director Scott Hicks in
Remembering Hearts of Atlantis. Hopkins
recalls the audition where he first met Anton
Yelchin (young Bobby), and immediately knew the
kid had a Tom Sawyer feel to him and was perfect
for the part. Hopkins admits how he never was
at ease with children, and how this affected the
dialogue with the young actor. Hopkins goes on
to talk about through his own difficult childhood,
how he got into acting classes through a local YMCA
and went on to receiving a scholarship. It's a
very candid 29-minute interview that shows you
a side of Hopkins that you never saw before.
A Stills Gallery takes us on the set
of the film with many beautiful color pictures
taken on the indoor and outdoor sets. Most of
the pictures include Director Scott Hicks who seems
to have a genuine love for the child actors that he
is working with in this film.
The original Theatrical Trailer is also included.
Final Thoughts
Perhaps the greatest reward of being a reviewer
is that I watch films that I may normally have
never considered watching. I can easily see why
Hearts of Atlantis may have been ignored.
The film was not heavily promoted, it wasn't the
normal box-office magnet, and perhaps the poster
didn't convey enough about the film for audiences
to want to see it.
I wonder how many members of this forum saw the
film theatrically.
What is so great about DVD, is that a film like
this will take on a second life now that people
have the opportunity to view it in the privacy of
their home. I think this movie is going to surprise
a lot of people. It's a really superb movie that
will make you reflect upon your own life, and
perhaps like myself, will have a few tears rolling
down your cheek by the time the end credits roll.
Don't miss a minute of it - not for all the world.
Release Date: February 12, 2002