John Lithgow was brilliant most of the time although occasionally reverting to the typecast zany character he has so often played. The Don Quixote he portrays is, however, mostly spot on and that is refreshing if not unusual for a well established and well known novel character entering the screen. Bob Hoskins and Isabella Rossellini, on the other hand, disappointed. Bob Hoskins for humoring his master rather than simplemindedly conforming to the new world order, something which he did almost instantaneously by the end. Isabella Rossellini simply performed poorly thus disappointing simply for not living up to what could be expected.
The effects were generally poor. Not that they need to be extravagant and cutting edge but because they were either poorly made or simply failed to convey any real meaning. In fact, corny.
All in all an enjoyable Don Quixote in believable settings which, of course, Spain would have to be. Fairly true to the book. A lot is missing but that which is there is pretty precise and kudos for that. What astonished me the most was John Lithgow's likeness to the Wilhelm Marstrand (1810-1873: http://www.cwquijote.com/Mundo_Quijote/Pintura/Paginas%202/Pintura_Marstrand.html) highly praised illustrations of my copy of the book. Illustrations I have always found quite amusing.
The effects were generally poor. Not that they need to be extravagant and cutting edge but because they were either poorly made or simply failed to convey any real meaning. In fact, corny.
All in all an enjoyable Don Quixote in believable settings which, of course, Spain would have to be. Fairly true to the book. A lot is missing but that which is there is pretty precise and kudos for that. What astonished me the most was John Lithgow's likeness to the Wilhelm Marstrand (1810-1873: http://www.cwquijote.com/Mundo_Quijote/Pintura/Paginas%202/Pintura_Marstrand.html) highly praised illustrations of my copy of the book. Illustrations I have always found quite amusing.
- Thomas Nielsen