Hearts in Atlantis (2001)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Thomas J

  
  Another surprise story from Stephen King! So many things about the boy's Mom upsets me. Even though "bogiemen" are the obvious villains, I find the Mom the real villain.

• Summer W

  
  I'm always apprehensive when it comes to one of King's adaptations. King's books are rich and complex narratives, and much of that is lost in the transition to the screen. Hearts in Atlantis, however, was a decent adaptation. The book is a spin-off of the Dark Tower… More
  I'm always apprehensive when it comes to one of King's adaptations. King's books are rich and complex narratives, and much of that is lost in the transition to the screen. Hearts in Atlantis, however, was a decent adaptation. The book is a spin-off of the Dark Tower series, but is a decent stand-alone book (I read it before the Dark Tower series and really enjoyed it). The book tells three intertwined stories, and the movie really only focuses on one of them. The main thing I noticed that may detract from the film, is that it never really explains anything. Therefore, I think the film makes a good companion piece to the book, but people who haven't read the book may be left feeling confused and unfulfilled.

• Red L

  
  Most of Stephen King's books involve the supernatural somehow. After a while, that gets to me - our world is not a world where much is supernatural. But in some of Stephen King's stories, I don't mind the supernatural aspects - stories like The Green Mile, and this… More
  Most of Stephen King's books involve the supernatural somehow. After a while, that gets to me - our world is not a world where much is supernatural. But in some of Stephen King's stories, I don't mind the supernatural aspects - stories like The Green Mile, and this one. Ted (very well played by Anthony Hopkins) comes into Bobby's life and provides a needed father figure. He guides Bobby through the best summer of his youth.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  CAST: Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis, Anthony Hopkins, Mika Boorem, David Morse, Adam LeFevre, William Rothhaar, Alan Tudyk, Tom Bower, Celia Weston DIRECTED BY: Scott Hicks SUMMARY: An elderly man (Anthony Hopkins) with bad eyesight and a gift for second sight moves into a… More
  CAST: Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis, Anthony Hopkins, Mika Boorem, David Morse, Adam LeFevre, William Rothhaar, Alan Tudyk, Tom Bower, Celia Weston DIRECTED BY: Scott Hicks SUMMARY: An elderly man (Anthony Hopkins) with bad eyesight and a gift for second sight moves into a widower's home as a boarder and befriends the woman's young son (Anton Yelchin), who reads to the aging visionary and learns of his mysterious power -- and the danger he's trying to escape. Set in the 1960s, this coming-of-age drama based on a short story by Stephen King came on the heels of the successful adaptation of King's The Green Mile. MY THOUGHTS: "I enjoyed the movie but by the end it just felt incomplete. I haven't read the story, but I am thinking there must be quite a bit missing from the film, and so much more to know in the book. It just felt like the story wasn't completely told. But besides it feeling a bit empty, the movie was really interesting. I loved Anton Yelchin in this movie. He played such a sweet and honest role. The mother got on my last nerve. I felt bad for what happened to her, but she was such a selfish mother. All in all a good little film, and my only complaint is it feeling a bit unfinished. But well worth the watch for the story and the acting."

• Conner R

  
  A very good movie, although I can't exactly call it amazing. It's one of Stephen King's less fantastical stories, but just as well written. The characters are very well honored and have a lot of development. It's a very touching movie and reminds me a lot of the… More
  A very good movie, although I can't exactly call it amazing. It's one of Stephen King's less fantastical stories, but just as well written. The characters are very well honored and have a lot of development. It's a very touching movie and reminds me a lot of the way Frank Darabont adapts King's novels.

• Cassandra M

  
  Having read the short story by Stephen King , the film is fairly true to the book and like the book it leaves you with a feeling of "that was good but is that it?" I have a theory that when King wrote the story he hoped it would lead to a novel but for some reason or another… More
  Having read the short story by Stephen King , the film is fairly true to the book and like the book it leaves you with a feeling of "that was good but is that it?" I have a theory that when King wrote the story he hoped it would lead to a novel but for some reason or another it was cut short much like the film and book. In the film you are left with no doubt that the Lowmen are real but in the film you never know if it is part of the boy's imagination or if they are police and the old man is on the run from them. The book also focuses on the Supernatural side of the story the film does not and i would suspect makes it feel quite slow for some viewer's. Hopkins is great as usual , as is the boy , Anton Yelchin and the latter has a great career ahead of him. One thing that does come from this is that i usually always enjoy Castle Rock productions is this is no different

• Leigh R

  
  Nicely done.

• Dean !

  
  A pretty good film based on a Stephen King novel. It may be a bit slow for some, but overall it is an enjoyable film about a guy who reminisces about his best summer as a young boy. A good character story which in places has similarities with Stand by me and is quite a heartwarming… More
  A pretty good film based on a Stephen King novel. It may be a bit slow for some, but overall it is an enjoyable film about a guy who reminisces about his best summer as a young boy. A good character story which in places has similarities with Stand by me and is quite a heartwarming film.

• Chris W

  
  A very good film that looks great and is filled with nice music, great acting, and a very nice sentimental feeling to it. Worth a look.

• Ginny  

  
  A disappointment to the book. this was nowhere near shawshank or the green mile.

• Dean M

  
  Excellent film of aching beauty and raw emotional power. Anthony Hopkins is truly one of the great actors of our time.

• Matthew Y

  
  Although some could criticize that it is merely a clone of The Green Mile, Hearts in Atlantis is nevertheless a solid watch with fantastic art direction and costumes designs. Anthony Hopkins gives his most memorable performance since The Silence of the Lambs and the coming of age… More
  Although some could criticize that it is merely a clone of The Green Mile, Hearts in Atlantis is nevertheless a solid watch with fantastic art direction and costumes designs. Anthony Hopkins gives his most memorable performance since The Silence of the Lambs and the coming of age theme works nicely with the paranoid period setting. I really like films the showcase the budding sexual feelings in children too young to engage in the activity. Early sexual thoughts are something we all experienced but few films dare to have it in their subject matter, unfortunate because this confusing and frustrating time is often great character work. The film also gives a little old school American football history lesson as well with the fantastic real-life tale of Bronko Nagurski given through a mesmerizing monologue by Hopkins. Loved It.

• Andrew F

  
  I thought it was okay... kind of interesting and refreshingly original. But it did get a little boring and weird at times.

• Mike T

  
  Excellent film. Touching and original, this is definitely one of the better Stephen King adaptations I've seen.

• Ira Z

  
  Though the storyline was admittedly vague, the beautiful childhood love affair between the two main child actors out shone the unclear story of the whole movie which literally grabs at your heart strings.

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