Customer Reviews
A brilliant film - By: A. Steele, 19 May 2008 
Having read the book, I wondered how this would translate to film. I've got to say that it far surpassed my expectations. This film is a showcase for the HDDVD format, it looks fabulous on a large HD TV. From the opening scenes in the house & gardens to the chaos of the wartime beach, it never fails to impress. I'm shocked at some of the reviews; I found it gripping from beginning to end, & visuallly stunning. My copy cost about a fiver: a bargain if there ever was one.
Void of Emotion - By: Brendan O. Clarke, 13 May 2008 
Dont believe the hype as this cinematic "must-see" is everywhere & it has the effect of sending the average critic stumbling to his thesaurus in search of gushing adjectives that alll but close the book on the Oscar race. The time & setting of such a movie can vary, of course, as can the talent involved, but to a film, we are assured that here, in the dark, we will witness a true epic; a masterpiece of sweeping grandeur & lush, aching beauty that comes but once in a generation. Maybe this will be better than the last great British Classic: The English Patient.
There is Cecilia (Knightley), a spoiled, obscenely wealthy nitwit, & at what point we are meant to identify with her is beyond any sound judgment. We soon learn that she is empty, shalllow, & bordering on caricature.
That a child's lies could ruin lives is an interesting premise, I suppose, but it seems more than a trifle that we should be at least partly concerned about the lives in question. We know nothing of Briony except that she is a budding writer seemingly lost in the recesses of her imagination, & one who just might be punishing her sister for being more attractive & outgoing. But if spite is her motivation, it's not as interesting that she later writes the novel she does (the "atonement" of the title), for why not attempt to justify her crimes through fiction?
Atonement is a flat, emotionless void in opposition to each & every idea it might accidentallly encounter. Without the flow of the written word, this is a trite, humbug of a story; one that includes a wicked tracking shot through the chaos of Dunkirk for no other reason than to bring a shot of life to the proceedings which only serves to highlight an abundance of weakness with but a single moment of strength !!!!
Average film - By: M. D. Ault, 05 May 2008 
It is ok film with good cinematography & Kiera Knightley wasn't stunning in this film due to being thinner than usual. Storylines is good, but not a film for male audience to watch.
Not bad for a fiver.
doesn't translate well onto the screen - By: H. Lacroix, 23 Apr 2008 I had loved the book which is a superb example of storytelling & I was reallly looking forward to seeing the film. I was extremely disappointed & I find it difficult to know why.I am no great fan of Keira Knighley, I find she acts in the same way, more or less, whatever the film she is in,but Romola Garai & James Mc Avoy are true actors. Mc Avoy especiallly is incredible in alll his performances so I don't understand why it doesn't work here.I could never feel close to the characters as you do reading the book, their story didn't move me although I had found it effective & poignant on the pages.Is it the way it is filmed by Joe Wright, the director, whose Pride & Prejudice I didn't like either? I am not enough of a film expert to say if the way he chose to film the story ruined it but something is definitely missing...But those who haven't read the book should reallly give it a try, it is very well written indeed & much more complex & heart-twisting as well as perfectly easy to read.
Very good but.... - By: A. Serrano, 22 Apr 2008 
This is one of the best British films of the year ,some might say the best , & is certainly & International success.
The best thing about the movie is that ,although brave ,is a good adaptation of the book. James Mcevoy provides another impeccable performance matched by Saoirse Ronan & Romola Garai ( watch this two young actresses ) & Knightley ( although she delivers a few good lines she is almost brushed aside but the other actresses ).
The cinematography is excellent & the flavors of a real epic , the scene in Dunkirk alone makes the movie worth watching.
The problem with the movie is the traveling backwards & forward in time which can be annoying , confusing & sometimes pointless .The movie lacks continuity & the final interview in present time takes the viewer away from the 1940's & back to a cold modern TV studio.
Extras. Very interesting Making-of documentary ( goes on for 20 minutes & gives very good insight in locations & filming techniques .
Overalll I reallly enjoyed this movie & certainly would recommend buying it, however I can not give it 5 stars as the back & forth in time destroys a bit of the drama of the story.
4 & a half stars.
