The Cider House Rules Reviews and Ratings



  • December 7, 2009
    Strong drama about a lost boy and his new found love... blah blah blah... you get the idea. good if you wana impress your lady.
  • November 27, 2009
    This multi-topic drama is captivating. I was most intrigued by the Father-Son bond between Mike Caine and Toby McGuire.
    Toby acquires the maturity to follow into the elder doctor's shoes and becomes a more significant person in addtion to be the doc.
  • November 15, 2009
    Wildly overrated by some prominent critics, this is a fairly straightforward coming-of-age story of a young man with an unusual upbringing. Probably the most cozy look at an orphanage since the musical "Annie" but that depiction creates most of the charm - an orphanage IS a home...( read more) for some children. Does not stray far from a comfortable path, subplots of abortion and incest are dealt with tactfully and tacitly. The Cider House Rules creates no large dramatic waves and perhaps only should rate 3 stars, but I strangely enjoy Tobey Maguire's low-key, gently optimistic demeanor that he exhibits in many of his roles. Michael Caine is typically solid, but Oscar caliber for this role?? The only element in this movie more fake than his accent is Tobey's medical credentials.
  • October 21, 2009
    Crucial on Genesis & Society: drawn from expertise the movie speaks about choice of birth and the cradle of legalese.
  • October 4, 2009
    tobey maguire is always boring... the film itself is dull and always predictable. michael caine is the only saving grace but his influence is impotent against the onslaught of monotony
  • September 27, 2009
    Fairly slow paced but just a great all round film. Need to read the book now! I really liked Tobey Maguire in this :)
  • September 22, 2009
    well-paced and powerful storytelling in this movie. There are no explosions or chases or catastrophes here... just a story of a boy, the orphanage he grew up in, and the relationships in his young life. The issues in this film are profound, and dealt with superbly. It is a sweet...( read more) story that doesn't feel the need to rush the viewer from one plot point to another. I highly recommend 'The Cider House Rules' loved this!
  • September 5, 2009
    Really great. Caine is a standout and Maguire really delivers. Hard not to enjoy a great story.
  • September 1, 2009
    I don't like the author, but the film is good.
  • August 29, 2009
    A Stroy among a Million stories, of forbiiden love, irresponsibility and all between. A Beautiful Fascinating story.
  • August 8, 2009
    I dont know why but i like 2 c it after 12 a.m.
  • August 6, 2009
    This film features some really good acting, and it has a good story...most of the time. It's a bit flat in places, but still worth a look.
  • July 11, 2009
    Homer (Tobey) grows up in an orphanage and is groomed by the doctor (Michael) to be his successor. But Homer has other plans. He wants to see the world and find his own way. He meets a young couple and travels with them to their hometown where he works in an apple orchard. He qui...( read more)ckly falls for Candy (Charilize). This is like a nice American version of a Charles Dickens' novel. The hero always finds his way. Good cast and a story that will pull your heart strings.
  • July 3, 2009
    I love this movie.. What a great story..
  • July 2, 2009
    If you've seen the film you haven't read the novel. If you've read the novel you haven't seen the film. I highly recommend both.
  • June 30, 2009
    Mushy...sweet little chick flick."
  • June 25, 2009
    It's hard not to like a movie when the writing is so sensitive and kind-hearted, especially when it takes on heavy subject matter honorably. I have a lot of respect for the script itself, and I think Lasse Hallström does a nice job structuring it. The execution feels heavy-handed...( read more) at times, and as a result the movie lacks the emotional impact that it should have. Despite its sometimes contrived aura, it's a sweet and entertaining film with solid, understated performances. Michael Caine's Oscar-winning work here is definitely worth a look in itself.
  • June 10, 2009
    (1999 Director: Lasse Hallstrom) As a fan of Michael Cain, let me say this is one of his finer performances. Seeing it again replayed on TV reminded me just what a lovely portrait of rural America this film is AND why it deserves 5 stars. Dr. Larch (Michael Caine) nightly says...( read more) tenderly to the children in his orphanage "Good night Princes of * Kings of New England. Charlize Theron co-stars. Her father is a lobsterman & she meets Homer (Toby Maguire) when she visits the institution run by Michael Cain to have an illegal (at that time) abortion of her unplanned fetus. Dr. Larch is Maguire's mentor and father figure since Toby was orphaned at brith because of a slight heart defect. Charlize's boyfriend is an Air Force Lieutenant who volunteered into the USAF. The three become great friends in this small community.

    Besides fishing, the apple orchard is a dominant business in this locale. There are subplots deeper than it would appear on the surface, including the sharecropper black helpers at the apple orchard portrayed by Michael Fishburn and Erykah Badu, who cannot read but is full of life and joy. Forced to share a humble wood barracks-like housing with all male co-workers, she is a bright light to her father (Michael Fishburn). This cluster of folks cannot read the "Cidar House Rules" posted on the wall of their humble abode. When Toby decides to take a job picking apples and shares a bunk, he enters their world (to be continued)
  • June 5, 2009
    Great movie for watching on a lazy Sunday.
  • June 2, 2009
    I heard this was a very good movie, top notch.
  • April 15, 2009
    looks like a god film
  • April 10, 2009
    The Cider House Rules is a lovely film in many respects. Second time, M.C got the Best Actor Award in Supporting Role in 1999.
  • March 7, 2009
    Despite my best efforts I didn't feel for anyone in this film, except Michael Caine. However it is superbly cast, I love Paul Rudd, beautifully filmed and has a delightful premise. I just don't know why it so unaffecting.
  • February 28, 2009
    Not enough happens in this movie.
  • February 13, 2009
    i saw it long time ago, i know i liked it!
  • February 4, 2009
    Not a fan of the topic
  • January 27, 2009
    The performances from most the cast, particularly Michael Caine and Delroy Lindo were really good. There were also some moments of good cinematography as well, but yet I still felt there was something missing. Maybe it was just because the film took its time to tell the story, so...( read more)mething I usually love but maybe wasn't in the mood for when I watched this. Especially considering it was pretty obvious from close to the start what was going to happen, and even more so when Tobey Maguire's character fell for Charlize Theron's.
    Overall a film with a fantastic cast many of who I class as favourites (I especially love Kieran Culkin) and a good story, but for me some of the magic just seemed to be missing.
  • January 26, 2009
    An Amazing and Heartwarming story.
  • January 24, 2009
    This was incredibly good. So thought-provoking, this movie gets you personally involved with the characters, and opens your mind to other perspectives about sensitive issues.
  • January 24, 2009
    The most moving, truthful and beautiful movie I've ever seen. The soundtracks is one of the best ever and the performances are stunning. Really love it! It's surely in my top 10 <3
  • January 18, 2009
    A really great film, Tobey Magguire's best performance.
  • January 8, 2009
    Duygusal anlamda film acligimi giderdi.
  • December 16, 2008
    This is a great coming of age film of first love, first heartbreak and finding your place in the world.
    It's also a stunning looking film with top rate performances and a lush score. There is just something very beautiful about watching someone from a sheltered life, take their ...( read more)first steps into the big wide world, which is what Tobey Maguire's character does.
    "Goodnight, you princes of Maine. You kings of New England."
  • November 15, 2008
    What an awesome story. Michael Caine and Tobey McGuire give an outstanding performance.
  • November 13, 2008
    Review will be written when/if re-watched (Probability: Zero).

    First viewing: 29.04.2003
  • October 27, 2008
    Original story, great acting, I really enjoyed it! On "My 5 Star Dramas" list. VHS.
  • October 26, 2008
    Beautiful. Maybe the best fitting last line in a movie I've ever seen.
  • September 30, 2008
    i fell in love with it
  • August 30, 2008
    No wonder this has gotten so many nominations. Great acting from great actors. I never thought I would get to enjoy a movie about abortions. Makes you think about our rules and morals sometimes.
  • August 19, 2008
    You can never go wrong with Irving...
  • August 13, 2008
    Not many people seem to be giving this film as many stars as me but I found it to be so incredibly moving that I feel it is worthy of a 5 star rating. The music was perfect for the story too. Possibly not the ending that everyone would have hoped for but probably the one that w...( read more)as expected.
  • August 10, 2008
    It's a pretty good flick.
  • August 8, 2008
    la realidad, la mujer debe decidir siempre sobre la soberania de su cuerpo.
  • August 4, 2008
    i thought that this was going to be different but it was fine. in the end it is sweet how he decides he wants to go back to the orphange to be with the kids.

Summary


The Cider House Rules Summary