Shadowlands - Movie Review | Amy’s Cut 

Shadowlands is part of what I consider the Anthony Hopkins trilogy. Check out the others, Howards End and Remains of the Day, if you haven't watched them already.

Thank you for doing this. One of my favourite films, along with - also Anthony Hopkins - Remains of the Day. Saw it first as a play (Nigel Hawthorne as Lewis) some years before the movie came out, which was also outstanding. I will watch the movie again now. :-)

Great review Amy. Loved all your observations. I found the movie available for free on RU-vid, so I watched it and I really enjoyed it. I have always been fascinated by British culture and history, so I love the setting and the acting. Including the comedic aspect, in contrasting the brash New York type personality with the more refined British personalities. I only knew a little about Lewis before hand, in the context of Narnia, but not a lot otherwise (I didn't know about Joy). I did know he was good friends with, along with being at Oxford at the same time as J. R. R. Tolkien, one of my favorite authors. And they were both devoted to their Christian faith, with one being Anglican and the other being Catholic, and both wrote fantasy novels. Being Oxford type friends, I'm sure they had many theological debates amongst themselves. I found the discussion between Jack and Joy on the role of literature interesting, when she was being critical of her own poem about Madrid, since she never personally experienced it. With Jack challenging her on why read literature at all, which is itself a substitute for actually experiencing something directly. I thought it dealt with some interesting philosophical or spiritual topics: the idea that happiness is not what we should be seeking, but rather to love and be loved; with questions over feeling content, contrasted with feeling that everything is a waste. There may have been a hint of his objection to modern technology projected on his brother Warnie, when when Warnie was criticizing the lack of civility with the use of the telephone. Imagine what he would have thought of the Internet. As a train buff, I loved seeing the old trains pulling into Oxford station. I have been in and out of this station many times before on similar trains. Granted, only in the virtual world of the "Train Simulator" computer game, but that's beside the point.😉 Just refer to my prior comment on literature (or movies for that matter) not being real either. Imagination is a great thing. Although I have been close to Oxford in real life, and other UK locations with a similar vibe, so that helps a bit with my imagination.

I think choosing the best scene in a movie is like choosing the best chord in a song😊

It`s a deeply human , deeply moving and beautifully acted film , what more could one wish for. I lived in Oxford for 16 years , a lovely place, I have many happy memories, but whatever dream place you can imagine, real life happens everywhere., with all its complications , pressures and stress. A really beautiful film with another beautiful ending is the 2023 Korean film `Past Lives`, me thinks you would enjoy it very much. For music you could do the film that taught me to love opera ` A Room with a View` it does have the best kiss in cinema history , just sayin .

And for another excellent movie, Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. Oh and one more recommendation-Truly, Madly, Deeply with Alan Rickman.

A wonderful and under appreciated film, thank you for choosing it. I recently saw a stage production of Shadowlands, and it was very good, but missed the power and emotion Tony Hopkins brings to the role.

Remains of the Day, classic lost love in life.

I love this film. I've seen it twice and I cried like I've never cried before. It's a beautiful film.