Shadowlands [DVD]

This very underrated movie, which is somewhat based on real events in C.S. Lewis' life (the noted theologian that also wrote the Narnia books), is a real gem. After reading my description below, you'll probably think "this is NOT a feel good movie" and in a way you'd be right - but it is a movie that you will likely not regret seeing one bit and will be glad for the experience. A tearjearker love story (I have found it is impossible for me not to cry in this movie even when I tell myself I won't) that is wonderfully acted by Anthony Hopkins (his best work IMHO), this movie is great because it forces us all to deal with the real issues of life that we all really need to deal with and come to grips with but we really don't want to. Things such as pain, hurt, death, afterlife, and what we really believe. It shows us that it's one thing to declare something as head-knowledge, but when that head-knowledge gets tested in our own personal real-life experiences (i.e. pain) - well, that's where the rubber meets the road. I did find it striking that in the movie they merely seemed to just "accept" the circumstances thrust upon them without even really trying to exercise faith for healing, etc. As someone who has personally witnessed a person (my mom) who was given a serious terminal diagnosis that chose to fight in faith and believe God for healing, defy the doctors and their "diagnosis", I really can't help but wonder what might have happened if they had taken a different approach. There is an interaction between faith and healing - you can see it in the vast majority of healings that Jesus performed in the Gospels. I'm a very very long way from being convinced that every bad thing that happens to us is God's will for us to just accept and submit to, which is an undercurrent to this movie. Nevertheless, this movie is still worthwhile for forcing us to consider the reality of our faith in a clear and straightforward way, especially since there will come a time when we all must leave this world. It does help when watching this movie (because of where they leave the viewer) if you know a bit of the backstory in that after the events depicted, Lewis went on to document his feelings in a unique work ("A Grief Observed") - his faith was strengthened at the end of the day, and that his stepson who is still alive is a fellow believer in Christ and as far as I know really now has the hope which he stated he wished for at the end of the movie. Anyone who has ever loved, and lost, will instantly be able to identify with this movie and the emotions involved. Yes, you can tell from my description that this is a "sad movie" - but it's sad in a good way. Though we frequently try to avoid, we all need to live in reality and address the hard questions of life head on. This movie forces that hand in a very poignant way with an excellent, moving story that is well-acted. I highly recommend it. If you walk away from this movie questioning your faith, that's okay as long as it leads you to look deeper and go deeper with Jesus - just as Lewis did. As believers, we NEED to not only know what we believe, but why we believe it on a deep level. A note about the DVD versions: I have both the U.S. and UK versions. The U.S. version (out of print) isn't very good because it is non-anamorphic and thus the picture looks extra small on modern HDTV's (it's much better on old-style sets). Widescreen + Non-anamorphic = bad news for modern HDTV's. The UK version is anamorphic and thus solves this problem but as a R2 DVD will only play on Region 2 or multi-region/region free players. Note that some R1 (U.S.) players can be made multi-region by entering a special code on your remote - search the net for your DVD model to see if one exists for yours. I really hope this film comes out on Blu-ray, though I suspect I may be waiting awhile. Reviewed by MoviesForChristians laughandlift dot com/moviesforchristians

Anthony Hopkins is superb in his role of C.S. Lewis! Plays him very well including giving extraordinary lectures and showing the true intellect and personality of Lewis. Having been filmed at Oxford University where Lewis was a professor and Oxford township, the setting is ensconced in beautiful scenery and architecture, where the events actually took place, and are great settings for an endearing, true, love story, as well as a look into one of the greatest lecturers and writers of all time. I have read many of Lewis' books, which are truly intellectual and insightful as well, and they have become my friends, much, as I understand, Lewis' library of books were also friends to him and at his request surrounded him in his hospital room during his last days of life. Movie is a great tribute to a great and forever renowned man, as well as to one of the greatest actors of our time, Anthony Hopkins.

A beautiful movie at a great price!

Very few movies have impacted me as this lovely film has. It is a work filled with beauty, honesty, nobility, and reality. Hopkins and Winger are perfectly cast and turn in flawless performances that you will never forget. I cannot overstate the wonderful and powerful chemistry that develops between their characters, nor can I overstate how delightful are the subtleties and nuances that abound in their discovery of each other. And the performances turned in by the rest of the cast are all solid and fit like a good glove. There just are no holes in this movie - it is excellent from the opening credits and never diminishes a whit. Even if your heart is as cold and hard as an Arctic ice floe, I doubt you will be able to watch this and not be moved. Build a fire, take the phone off the hook, dim the lights, and prepare to spend two fabulous hours sharing a magnificent story with those you most care for. If you fall in love with this elegant portrayal as much as I have, you will watch it again and again through the years and always come away feeling enriched and satisfied. What I wouldn't give to see Hollywood would turn out more movies of this caliber!

Wonderful movie with excellent portrayal of CS Lewis' life and marriage. Anthony Hopkins captured the essence of this intriguing author. Debra Winger's poignant portrayal of his friend and wife was strong and moving.

How can you miss with Anthony Hopkins (playing C.S. Lewis) and Debra Winger as the lead actors? Look for a strong supporting cast as well. This film is somber, and the power of its emotional punch really grabs you in the second half of the film. I hadn't seen the movie in years and a recent viewing confirmed that it still has the ability to bring on the tears. Recommended!

Over priced from the seller. Great movie. We didnt watch the dvd and returned. We ordered the Blu-ray for a better price.

I love this movie. It's one of my favorites. I had it on DVD but it was an old copy from the 1990s that didn't look all that great on the modern large flat screen led televisions. So I decided to see if I could find it on Blu-ray. Yay Amazon! There is such pretty scenery in some of this movie. It's nice to see it to it's advantage.

Not many movies deserve to be called Masterproductions, THIS however does. The best movie of modern times.

Hopkins porta sullo schermo un personaggio che non tutti conoscono, che molti hanno snobbato. C.S. Lewis è un uomo speciale, dalla profonda sensibilità, maestro anche nella sofferenza.

This is the biography of CS Lewis from a time after his most famous writting (Narnia stories), during his mature, sedate, academic life. It shows a fine mind stuck in comfortable, safe, routine, being shaken out of his complacency by an intelligent and startlingly frank american, Mrs Gresham. It has at its core an exploration of C S Lewis's life study of one of the great challenges to monotheists: Why does a compassionate God let us suffer? It does it delicately, thoroughly and in a very restrained manner. Of course being a true story, there is great poignancy. There is a great cast of minor characters, an all star cast, a host of insightful scenes and a steady slow narrative pace with very moment usefully filled (though not a hint of hollywood flavour). A great film that will be a classic long after action flics and romantic commedies fade into background nise. Highly recommended

NHKのBS Hi-Visionで本映画を見て「私の最も好きな映画」となりました。ただ、当時、S-VHSでも録画したのですが126minから長時間録画と設定したために画質的に満足できず、「DVDは・・」と思い出す度にamazonでチェックしていたのですが、その姿をみることはありませんでした。そして本映画を製作したRichard Attenborough氏が2014年8月に亡くなられ、本映画のことを思い出し、再び、amazonでチェックしたところ、本DVDが見つかりました。DVDプレーヤー DV-220V（Pioneer）で再生でき、またPC（OS : Windows 7 Ultimate）でも再生できました（私のDV-220Vはリージョンフリー化していますが、PCでも再生できることからリージョンコードは「制限なし」と考えられます）。 頑なに感情を抑え、論理の世界に生きてきた主人公が愛を知り、悲しみに向き合うことで感情を取り戻していく姿に心を動かされます。 なお、他のレビューで「フランス語」などと書かれているものがありますが、白地にANTHONY HOPKINS, DEBRA WINGERの名前が入り、その下に左側にANTHONY HOPKINSが斜め前を向いた顔、右側に横になっているDEBRA WINGERに寄り添うANTHONY HOPKINS、そしてその上に"He never truly found love, ... until he lost it."という言葉が配置された横長の画像が配置され、その下に大きい文字で"Shadowlands"と表記されたパッケージの本DVDは、Distributed by Pamount Home Entertainment (UK) とパッケージの後に記載され、言語は英語のみ、字幕も英語の製品です。

Un film prenant, reprenant l'histoire d'amour de C S.. Lewis (l'auteur du monde Narmia) avec une jeune Américaine qu'il finit par épouser. Très bonne peinture également de l'Angleterre de la fin des années 1950 et de la vie à Oxford. Les deux acteurs principaux sont magnifiques, les décors également (film tourné au Magdalen College d'Oxford, où Lewis a enseigné). Les quelques entorses minimes à la véritable histoire du couple (Joy avait en réalité deux enfants de son premier mariage et non un, le voyage du couple en 1960 se passe en Grèce et non en Angleterre) ne nuisent pas à l'histoire. Un grand film, que je recommande ! A condition de trouver le DVD, assez ancien (je le cherchais depuis plus de trois ans...).