Water For Elephants

I didn't read the book, despite all the recommendations to read it.  I just never got around to it.  I know from past experiences that the book is, almost more times than not, better than the film.  This movie was pretty darn good, so the book must be an excellent read.  I should have read the book to prepare myself for some of the sad animal scenes in the movie (I am a big lover of all animals and there is a couple of scenes that had me crying).  Anyway, off to the plot of the movie.


The story is about a young vet student, Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson) who upon the heels of graduation from Veterinarian School, suffers an unbearable tragedy in the sudden loss of his parents, family home and business.  Devastated by this, he decides to relocate to a larger city in hopes of finding employment.  Walking along the railroad tracks to make his way, he encounters a train and hops aboard in hopes of stealing a ride to the big city.  He happens to hop on a circus train.  Jacob earns his keep and a spot with the circus family by cleaning up after the animals and other odd circus jobs.


He garners the attention of the Ringleader and boss, August (Christoph Waltz) who is tempted to throw him back off the train until he finds out that young Jacob is a recent vet school grad.  He is immediately put to work caring for the animals and simultaneously is drawn to August's beautiful wife Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) who is his number one act with her herd of horses.  When they obtain Rosie, an older circus elephant, Marlena's job is to make her the star attraction with the training given by Jacob.  The two are drawn to each other by their universal love for animals and despising of August's poor, inhumane treatment of them.  August's poor treatment extends beyond the animals, his staff is quite neglected as well.


Can Marlena and Jacob's love win? Can they escape the controlling ways of August?


I strongly recommend this beautiful movie, and all animals who perform in the movie also steal the show, in particular Rosie the elephant (really Tai the elephant) and also has the famous Uggie from the artist cast as Queenie. 

I give it an 8 out of 10.

Next up is "The Town."