I Capture the Castle (2003)
Bill Nighy, Henry Cavill, Henry Thomas
When her family moves into a glamorous castle in the English countryside, Cassandra (Romola Garai) imagines great things will happen. But the decaying castle loses its appeal as her novelist father (Bill Nighy, Love Actually) develops writer's block and her mother dies of cancer. From thi... (read more) When her family moves into a glamorous castle in the English countryside, Cassandra (Romola Garai) imagines great things will happen. But the decaying castle loses its appeal as her novelist father (Bill Nighy, Love Actually) develops writer's block and her mother dies of cancer. From this sad beginning, I Capture the Castle turns into an utterly engaging coming-of-age story as 17-year-old Cassandra and her older sister Rose (Rose Byrne) struggle to win the attentions of their new American landlord (Henry Thomas, E.T. The Extraterrestrial)--but when everything goes the way Cassandra hopes, her hopes fall apart. Garai's wonderful performance carries the audience through bittersweet discoveries about life and adulthood with hope and yearning. The entire cast---also featuring Tara Fitzgerald (Brassed Off) and Marc Blucas--is superb. I Capture the Castle is an absolutely lovely movie, delightful and surprisingly wise. --Bret Fetzer
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R, 113 min.
Directed by:
Tim Fywell
Release Date: Jul 11, 2003
DVD Release Date: Dec 23, 2003
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Flixster User Reviews
I can remember seeing the first half of this film on TV one Christmas and having to record the rest because I had to go out. It drew me in like a moth to a flame & it wasn't just Henry Cavill.
I enjoy a coming of age story and this is one of the be... (read more) I can remember seeing the first half of this film on TV one Christmas and having to record the rest because I had to go out. It drew me in like a moth to a flame & it wasn't just Henry Cavill.
I enjoy a coming of age story and this is one of the best. It's a story of first love, family duty, poverty and betrayal. I think I've watched it more times than is healthy, but it's a great film, with an amazing cast and an absorbing story.
Great adaptation of the book. I thought the casting was pretty good. Although, I was expecting something much different for Topaz (who was my favorite character in the book). Great and intelligent "coming-of-age" story. Worth seeing whether you've re... (read more) Great adaptation of the book. I thought the casting was pretty good. Although, I was expecting something much different for Topaz (who was my favorite character in the book). Great and intelligent "coming-of-age" story. Worth seeing whether you've read the book or not.
A poor story in a fine disguise! Wicked, full of vanity, selfishness and betrayal. You can't play with love! Can't understand how Cassandra could have fallen in love with Simon, who is a man without responsibility - a man engaged with her sister but ... (read more) A poor story in a fine disguise! Wicked, full of vanity, selfishness and betrayal. You can't play with love! Can't understand how Cassandra could have fallen in love with Simon, who is a man without responsibility - a man engaged with her sister but having an affair with her, while she thinks she knows love, she's a betrayer as well. How funny. Except the nice country views with an old castle and good performance of the castle family, nothing special.
I love this movie! So romantic and heart-breaking. Funny and cute as well. Romola Garai is cute and light as usual, but it was nice to see her in some type of conflict. I loved Nighy, Blucas, Thomas, and Byrne. I especially liked Henry Cavill, w... (read more) I love this movie! So romantic and heart-breaking. Funny and cute as well. Romola Garai is cute and light as usual, but it was nice to see her in some type of conflict. I loved Nighy, Blucas, Thomas, and Byrne. I especially liked Henry Cavill, who is a good little actor ;), as the love-struck stableboy. I recommend it to mostly girls, but I think that boys will appreciate the funny parts of the movie.
Very sweet and entertaining movie. I'm going to have to read the book now!
Titolo italiano: Il profumo delle campanule. Per una volta forse il titolo originale e' pietoso quanto quello dei nostri amati distributori. Ma veniamo al film, che consiglio vivamente a tutti. L'opera in se' e' ordinaria: una fiaba romantica, ben re... (read more) Titolo italiano: Il profumo delle campanule. Per una volta forse il titolo originale e' pietoso quanto quello dei nostri amati distributori. Ma veniamo al film, che consiglio vivamente a tutti. L'opera in se' e' ordinaria: una fiaba romantica, ben recitata. Trama semplice, a tratti un po' troppo glucotica. Colpisce il suo spirito naif, un po' pagano. Ma il motivo per cui lo consiglio e' perche' e' un film saggio: se l'Amore non puo' essere spiegato, beh questo film comunque ci si avvicina parecchio. Il tema e' delicato e complicato da mille fattori esterni. Ognuno di noi crede di saperne abbastanza eppure e' un sentimento che solitamente ci coglie poche volte nella vita. Molte persone hanno poca esperienza al riguardo, troppe credono di averlo vissuto senza che questo sia addirittura mai accaduto. Basta guardarsi intorno. Poi però guardatevi anche questo film, che secondo il mio umile parere, contiene molte domande, e molte risposte.
definitely NOT ur typical love story...with a VERY unexpected ending...i was taken aback by it...all in all, very sweet, and very, very british!
Could have been something from Merchant Ivory... gotta love a good period piece.
Critic Reviews
Romala Garai is utterly convincing as the smart, wistful girl with the notebook.full review
It would be fun to be a member of the Mortmain family -- maybe the younger brother, who shows every sign of growing up to be Harry Potter.full review
A quiet, charming picture (if not a dazzling one) that's true in spirit to its source material.full review
The evident affection that the filmmakers bear toward Smith's novel, and toward the odd, spirited people who inhabit it, gives the film a modest, hardworking appeal.full review
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