Flowers for Algernon (2000)
Charlie Gordon is mentally handicapped and all he wants in life is to be a genius. When he gets picked for experimental surgery it looks like his dream may finally come true. But the surgery has side effects that could could kill Charlie. Can Charlie survive being just plain old "Charlie Gordon" and will his newfound romance survive this test of character?
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I just recently finished reading the book Flowers for Algernon and then recently watched the movie to see the comparisons and contrasts. This movie really does follow the book in a pretty solid way, but as many say the book is always better. So anyway Charlie Gordon is mentally challenged, but wants to be smart just like everyone else. So he continuously goes to night school and falls for the teacher Ms. Kinian. Just at the moment two scientists are having a procedure on a human being to increase their intelligence and Charlie is chosen. It is good to see the man become just like everyone else, but in the end it all turns from happy to sad for him once again. Decent movie for those who read the book.
Saw this on TV and was absorbed all the time, even though I'd read the short story. Sure, there are a few differences from the book, but I think that made it better as a movie - a movie that followed the book absolutely could have been more intellectually satisfying but would not have been as emotionally involving.Definitely worth seeing, but why oh why did they have to make the 'background' music so loud that it was intrusive! It spoilt some scenes that would have been perfectly all right without any music at all. Because of this, I have given it an 8 instead of a 9, and I don't think that it would seem so good on a big screen.
Heart or Intelligence? It is a story about a man who was happy when he knew nothing but became unhappy when he started to know too many things. Which are you going to choose to be a happy fool or unhappy genius? If you are not a fool, then think about that 'Am I too proud to be a warm-hearted person?'
A very touching movie. Sad and funny. Very realistic cast. Very uplifting and powerful. I read the book a couple of weeks ago. I love the book and the movie as well. I cannot wait until the movie comes out on video/DVD. This was an enjoyable movie.