The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
One of those films you simply must see before you die - Mairéad
Like the other reviewers below me, I too was rather concerned, having read the original novel by John Boyne, that this film would be a complete dissapointment as so many of those based on books have been in the past. But I need not have worried - The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas is one of the very few story adaptions on the big screen that I could honestly say remained true in so far as was possible to the novel, and infact, in its own right, was in many ways even more spectacular. The issues in question are dealt with sensitively while not diminishing their significance, and the camera work is magnificent, with many close up shots of Bruno's giant blue eyes capturing the innocent of the child. I know some people who did not enjoy the book, feeling the way it was written was far too simplistic. But in my view it is this simplicity that gives both the book and the film its elegance - it is different to any other account of the war you will ever read or see, and both are equally breathtaking and corageous at once. The ending of the film is brilliant and beautiful - when the credits came on nobody in the theatre dared stir - there was a moment of what could only be described as stunned and awed silence before one by one the entire audience broke into applause. One point to note is that this film may not be suitable for younger children, which is why it has appropriately been given the age rating of 12. It can, in parts, be disturbing. An absolute MUST SEE!
Review published on the 14 September 2008 13:29
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The boy in the striped pyjamas - Miloe Rosan
Mommy? Why do the farmers wear pyjamas? These few words describe the innocence of an eight-year old child during World War 2. The boy in the striped pyjamas is about the 8 year-old Bruno, who moves... MORE
10 April 2010 16:52
50/50 - suhashan s
I thought that this movie waste of time, effort and money because nothing really happen as it reffered to as the book because the film loked like this film was made on a one acre plot of land and... MORE
18 April 2009 20:04
A WORTH WATCHING FILM - Suhashan suththananthan
I thought this was worth watching as it a movie not that much of a real story and the was worth watching in general but not worth comparing the film to book.I enjoyed the book better because you... MORE
18 April 2009 10:41
james - james
The problem with this film is that it offers up a watered down portrayel of one of the single worst events in the history of mankind. The director fails to really show the true horror of the... MORE
06 April 2009 00:45
An absolute pleasure to watch! - sinead
I thought it was very upsetting at the end. But was an absolute pleasure to watch. I really enjoyed it ,an unmissable movie!!!Im actually half way through the book at the moment and am again enjoying... MORE
23 March 2009 21:03
Ever seen A Grown Man Cry? - HSP
Saw this a while back & I wasn't expecting this to be much more than a run of the mill drama where the poor old Jews once again suffer under the Nazi's inhumane exploits. I didn't know much about... MORE
25 February 2009 01:05
a hard watch, but worth it - mart1n
Set during the second World War, Mark Herman's film charts the friendship formed between two young boys on opposite sides of a Nazi concentration camp fence. Noting is overplayed in this... MORE
26 December 2008 18:29
A Must See - Emma
I actually went to Krakow last October and we did a day visit to Auschwitz. (I would recommend this trip to everyone as, even though it is so sad, we must never forget the past and what happened to... MORE
08 December 2008 18:12
Sends a Shiver Down Your spine - KillianD
I went to this movie and snorted at the sound of women sniffling and crying throughout but even I, the macho rugby player was almost in tears myself by the end. The last scenes are actually quite... MORE
01 December 2008 20:56
Horrors revisited through innocent eyes - Sab
While the horrors of the World Wars and the Holocaust have been frequently represented through art, the subject continues to be the inspiration for heartbreaking stories, of which "The Boy in... MORE
16 November 2008 22:21
crap - annoyed
oh my god i had heard soooo much about this film i even brought my tissues. talk about a crap film. oh jesus i thought it was the worst ever. it was so slow nothing happened. only good thing about it... MORE
29 October 2008 19:08
Beautifully Executed - Shari
I absolutely adored this film-- so much so, in fact, that I went to see it twice in one week! I had been apprehensive about a film adaptation of John Boyne's wonderful book, as much of the charm (and... MORE
23 October 2008 09:18
Best movie I've seen in years - Rosheen
It is a faboulous movie but I will never be able to watch it again because at the end i balled my eyes out. It makes you feel awful and discusted by what Adolf Hitler did and It makes you feel like... MORE
21 October 2008 18:46
Fantastic!!! - Tks_90
I have read the book and watched the film and for the first time the film was just as good, if not better than the book! The beginning is a bit slow but soon I found myself unable to look away.... MORE
20 October 2008 19:17
BRILLIANT!!!!! - gareth bollard
This film is brilliant. It has all the features of the book. The film has sensatonal characters and will be one thats not forgotten. MORE
11 October 2008 22:21
poignant but ... - paula galvin
Anyone who has read John Boyne's book of the same name will,I think be disappointed somewhat by the film.The characters are one-dimensional and the film is much less subtle than the... MORE
08 October 2008 22:33
Stunning-One to make you think. - Alan
Im not sure if the reviewer (Gavin) actually watched this film or perhaps he has a heart of stone, but this film is about world war II and the nazi concentration camps as seen through a childs eyes.... MORE
06 October 2008 14:57
Just Brill - I<3Movies
This is an amazing movie in my opinion, if you're going to see it (which I reccomend) don't forget your tissues! MORE
05 October 2008 11:20
Have not seen it - Mona
Nope its sad and depressing by the looks of it.... anyway who wouldwant to watch such a sad film oi dont care really im watching Get Smart today that looks good! MORE
04 October 2008 11:30
Only o.k. - brianmol
Good idea in theory and maybe the book works better. Few big problems - firstly, the Nazi's all speak with very prim English accents and secondly the story is extremely simplistic. It reminded me of... MORE
03 October 2008 11:42
heart wrenching - carol
I read the book a few months ago and found it very very good and I was looking forward to comparing to the movie. I was pleased, they didnt change much but its still worth a read. I brought my friend... MORE
01 October 2008 17:43
Poorly Conceived Trash - pandabat
It's not often that I'd agree wholeheartily with Mr. Gavin Burke of Entertainment.ie but on this occasion the man's review has certainly hit the nail on the head. The story has an interesting premise... MORE
29 September 2008 17:19
MOVING - LUCY
i watch alot of movies and thought this was riveting.a story of such tragic in what must have been the single most horrid atrosities of modern times.thumbs up for the writer and director. MORE
27 September 2008 19:18
Good film book is better though - jennith
As is the case with most of these films the book is better but having said that the film is very good it has some great acting especially from the child actors the boy who played the Jewish boy in... MORE
26 September 2008 12:31
Deeply emotional - trishastar
A deeply emotional film. The portrayal of the holocaust through a childs eyes makes this one of the most effective movies i have seen. Vera Farmiga is a brilliant actress and she played her part to... MORE
22 September 2008 16:54
When film/media studies graduates go wild... - Rachelo
Who exactly are Gavin Burke's reviews for? And what exactly is their purpose ? It seems they only ever wish to inform us of his shrewd grasp of media theory and cinematic devices as opposed to... MORE
21 September 2008 19:01
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - Steph
I have never read the book that this film was based on, but having watched the trailer nothing could of prepared me for what I felt after having watched this film. Going into the cinema I braced... MORE
20 September 2008 23:27
gavin burke have you no brain - candyfloss
i think that gavin burke is off his rocker. any film that everyone enjoyed he thought were rubbish and vice versa. except he very rarely seems to enjoy any movies at all.whatever. FANTASTIC MOVIE... MORE
19 September 2008 20:13
Fantastic - ef
Wonderful movie. The innocence of the two boys. beautifully told. Read the book and the movie stayed very true to it. MORE
16 September 2008 18:43
Excellent - Brigitta
Once again I question whether Gavin Burke sees the same films as the rest of us. I cant beleive he only rated it with 2 stars. I found this to be deeply moving film which was beautifully directed. A... MORE
15 September 2008 22:58
Genius - Horatio
"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" tells the story of two 8 year old boys who form a rather unlikely friendship for the times. A son of a German Army Commander and a Jew in Austwitz. However,... MORE
14 September 2008 19:59
Great - Excellent
Excellent film!the images were great and seeing it from the childs eyes all the time made this film a very enjoyable watch!!, Excellent film!the images were great and seeing it from the childs eyes... MORE
14 September 2008 14:40
The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas - emer breen
This film far exceeded my expectations. Like many avid readers, having thoroughly enjoyed the enchanting book, I was concerned that its translation onto the big screen would be a disaster but I was... MORE
10 September 2008 16:13
Unmissable - simonconnolly
This Film, based on a very popular Irish novel of the same name which stayed at number 1 in the book charts for 66 consecutive weeks is a marvellous story of what happens when the innocence of youth... MORE
06 September 2008 15:05
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