The Citizen Review " A man goes to the movies. A critic must be honest enough to admit that he is that man." -Robert Warshow

Jack says: B+

This movie was a hard one to rate. It is beautifully rendered and realized, with lush cinematography and well-coordinated sets and costumes. It may seem, to a discriminating film eye to be simplistic and shallow, but it could also be perceived as a clear storytelling. Some of the films parts are rather predictable, but it really doesn't make it any less powerful or heartbreaking.

Asa Butterfield, who plays the story's hero, is brilliant as the innocent counterpart of the family and is a symbol of the corruption of human kind during World War II. I can perceive him becoming Englands 'next big thing'. The rest of the actors do a fair job of portraying a Nazi family at a tough place, especially Vera Farmiga and David Thewlis.

As I said, the movie is heart-renching. One thing that is very unpredictable about this film is the last scene. You may want to watch this in the comfort of your own home for two reasons. 1) The final scene in the film may be too much to bear on a large screen. 2) You may find yourself screaming at the screen, at the evil of the Nazi's and the horrible irony of the last moment.

Matthew Says: A-

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, being a "Holocaust movie" is, actually, rather clever. I shows the Holocaust through the eyes of an eight year-old. But, not a Jewish boy, a German boy- a boy who's father is a Nazi soldier.

The boy, Bruno, and his family move from Berlin to Poland in a peculier house just a mile away from an Extermination Camp. The Boy thinks it is merely a farm, and wonders why the "farmers" wear pajamas all day. He soon meets one of the Jews inside the camp while exploring through the territory. They form a friendship between the fence and all seems well to Bruno. But he soon finds out the truth, well, some of it. He leads himself into a dangerous journey to stay with the boy.

The film is beautifuly shot, with laivsh scenery, costumes and cinematography. It is also, as you might expect, heart-wrenching, and for anyone who thinks that the movie should be sad but isn't needs to check and see if their heart is still beating properly.

Sincerely,

The Citizen Review