Once Upon a Twilight!: Movie Review: Water for Elephants (DVD Special Screening)

Water for Elephants
Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz & Tai (Rosie the Elephant)
Run-time: 120 mins
Rating: PG-13
Released: April 22nd 2011
DVD Release: November 1st 2011
Review Source: Fox Entertainment

Summary: Summary: Take a journey back in time with the romantic tale based on Sara Gruen’sNew York Times #1 Best-Seller novel of the same name, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, coming to Blu-ray and DVD on November 1st from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Starring Academy Award®-winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk The Line), Robert Pattinson (Twilight series) and Oscar®-winner Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), the film presents an epic tale of forbidden love in a magical place filled with adventure, wonder and great danger. Showcasing the decadence of a bohemian circus and the majesty of its animals against the backdrop and beauty of a bygone era, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS makes the ideal holiday gift idea for your favorite film buff, fashionista or book-lover!

Devastated by the sudden death of his parents at the height of The Depression, a young dreamer from the wrong side of the tracks, Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson), abandons his veterinary studies at Cornell University. With no other family, no house, and no money, Jacob stows away on a train carrying the circus performers of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Hired as a veterinarian to care for the troupe’s animals, Jacob is temporarily filled with the promise of an exciting life that comes with a traveling circus troupe. However, as he builds a rapport and falls in love with the star of the show, Marlena (Witherspoon), they become prey to the circus’s owner, Marlena’s violent and abusive husband August (Waltz). As the circus begins to crumble from within and against all odds, Jacob and Marlena come together and fall in love through their compassion for a special elephant. With their love on the line, Jacob and Marlena come to a crossroads that will forever change their destiny.

Directed by critically-acclaimed filmmaker Francis Lawrence (Constantine), WATER FOR ELEPHANTS features fantastic supporting performances from Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl), Jim Norton (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), Mark Povinelli (The Polar Express), Richard Brake (Batman Begins), and Academy Award®-nominee Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild).

I was excited when I received a copy of Water for Elephants DVD in the mail from Fox Entertainment. They sent me a Special Screening copy to review of the upcoming DVD release this Tuesday November 1st. It was wonderful to be able to view the movie in the comforts of my home, since I did see it in the movie theater when it released. To be able to go back to the 1930's and jump back in the life of the circus again. Water for Elephants stars Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon as Jacob and Marlena. First off we all fell in love with Older Jacob, how sweet was he. When he began telling his story, it felt so sincere. You were drawn to listen to him. Then we change in to young Jacob and the flow continues to work. You are still memorized with the story. Its breaks your heart when he losses his parents and his whole life just comes to a halt. I don't think many of us would have the courage he had to just up and go and figure what next like he did in that time of The Depression. Lucky for him he find the Benzini Brother circus train and jumps on-board.

There Jacob begins his new life journey, even though he doesn't know it yet. He is able to pass off as a veterinary doctor, and then gets treated with more respect on the train then when he first arrived. This is when he begins to work closely with Marlena and Rosie comes into the picture. Rosie is the newest attraction to the circus, she is a amazing elephant. While they begin training Rosie and getting her ready for the shows, Jacob also begins to fall for Marlena, star of the show and worse wife of the circus owner August. August is a evil man, he treats his animals and employees all the same and let's not get into how he treats his own wife. Jacob begins to disapprove of the treatment be sees before his eyes. SO much begins to happen at once at the circus, business gets worse by the day, August and his attitude and so much more. Jacob finally decides to run away with Marlena and they try but August finds her and its one thing after another. Jacob sets off to find her again and rescue her from August. That final scene is just one that leaves you in awe for weeks. Rosie will win your hearts if she hasn't already with the ending of the movie.

Its incredible to see animals acted the way they do, that just shows you they have feeling just like we do. So will Jacob and Marlena finally make it and live a long life together? Will Jacob stay in the circus? On November 1st all this will be answered. Things that you will love about this film are the costumes from the 1930's. The women's up-do are exactly how you would picture that's how they wore their hair back them. The scenery and the whole circus get up to me was on point, I wouldn't have pictured it any other way. In overall every detail the movie required was done precise to me.

Now on the acting jobs of Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon, what a phenomenal duo they are together. They felt real and not rehearsed during the movie. The connection between them is incredible like if they have been doing movies all their life together. They really carried this movie for me and throw in the amazing acting job of Rosie the elephant, its created this powerhouse of a film.

When the DVD comes out this Tuesday you will be very pleased with all the extras its features. SO is it worth the purchase, absolutely if not just alone for the gorgeous cover it will feature.

Here is information on what each DVD type will bring as far as extras:

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Blu-ray + Digital Copy

Feature Film
Special Features
- Robert Pattinson Spotlight
- Feature Performer Reese Witherspoon
- The Traveling Show: From Page to Screen
- Working Without A Net – The Visual Effects of Water for Elephants
- The Star Attraction
- Raising the Tent
- Secrets of the Big Top
- Audio Commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Writer Richard LaGravenese
- Theatrical Trailer
Live Extras
- Exclusive: Stars of the Circus
- Blu-ray Highlight: The Traveling Show: From Page to Screen
- Theatrical Trailer
- Live Lookup
- Digital Copy