Crystal Clear

I think I would have enjoyed this movie a lot more, had Christoph Waltz's role not felt like a caricature. He clearly had a mental illness of some sorts, but it's brushed under the rug to paint him as a cliche abusive husband so that people will more easily root for Marlena to be with Jacob.

Mi||iê Måë

It was almost like his character was treated as disposable, and they wanted people to hate him, he was the villain of course, but the reality was he was disturbed and that should have been dealt with.

Crystal Clear

Exactly They were so intent on making Jacob/Marlena happen that it came at the expense of showing any level of complexity for August.

It was so obvious that something seriously wasn't right in his mind. His temper tantrums were extremely aggressive and unpredictable.

Mi||iê Måë

But at least we can recognize it for what it was.

Crystal Clear

I think this is miles better than The Greatest Showman. Too many big musical numbers in that one. WFE works well as an intimate story and Jacob's unconditional love for Rosie is clear.

Mi||iê Måë

Well The Greatest Showman is a musical. That was the point. But story wise, I do love this more than TGS.

Crystal Clear

Yes I know, don't try to make me feel dumb but it also tried to be this powerful circus drama, and I didn't care for it.

Rosie the elephant had her own story arc, which makes WFE compelling beyond your average romance plot.

Mi||iê Måë

Yeah it was trying to be two things at once. And I know you're not dumb! It was sarcasm.

I did like seeing the songs performed but trying to make it a musical/drama didn't work for me it had to be one over the other, and it was neither one over the other more...if that makes sense...it does in my head, I swear!

Crystal Clear

Hee hee I was only kidding I have a really dry sense of humor

Sadly, I didn't like The Greatest Showman. It just felt overtly PC and lacking in originality.

Water For Elephants grew on me when I realized how much Reese had committed herself to the role of Marlena. Didn't care much for the romance, but her circus acrobatics were A*

I guess my tastes depend on what I think of the individual characters Marlena was smarter than I initially gave her credit for.

Mi||iê Måë

I know you were kidding!

I could just listen to the Soundtrack for TGS, but the story was based on true events so they wanted drama too and it wasn't blended well.

I did love Marlena and Jacob scenes and how she loved his appreciation for the animals lives and having to kill the horse.

Crystal Clear

Did you feel the passion between Jacob and Marlena, or do you think they would've been better off staying friends?

Mi||iê Måë

I felt it, but I had also read the book before seeing the movie and felt it there first. So for me it was just a transfer, if that makes sense.

Crystal Clear

Totally understand

For me, based on the movie alone, Marlena came off as quite a cliched damsel type figure. I wish I could describe it better, but outside of her scenes in the circus, the love triangle stuff seemed very... Yeah, cliche.

Mi||iê Måë

I just saw August as a controlling abusive jerk and Marlena conformed to please him, afraid of what he'd do otherwise. It was almost like she'd caved into Stockholm tendencies because of it. She did defend him a lot.

But thankfully, she sees the light by the end.

cherrypie12345

Robert