IslandGuru Who payed the critics

Diagonaldi Very well executed

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Adeel Hail Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

cheesepuffaddict Having fallen in love with Clyde Edgerton's novel of the same title, I was apprehensive about watching Walking Across Egypt, keeping in mind the tendency of film adaptations to destroy their literary basis. If I had not read the novel I could possibly have viewed the movie and thought it 'cute', my typical verdict on films with passable acting and saccharine plot lines. As it was, I cannot confess to having enjoyed it much beyond chuckling at the horrific Southern accents of the lead actors.The screenwriter added plot devices, such as having an extra bonding scene between Mattie and Wesley and a vindictive boy at the YMRC that simply weren't necessary in the book.Also priceless is Jonathan Taylor Thomas's attempt at looking pensive in the boat scene by merely tilting his head to the side and having an unreadable expression.

handspeak I was sceptical when hiring this movie, it didn't seem like my thing. But it was very worth it. Ellen Burstyn plays the kind hearted, old women who decides to practice what she preaches on juevenile delinquent played by Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Sheading his good boy image of home improvement, he superbly plays Wesley Benfield. Wesley comes to live with Mattie who thinks he is on leave from the local prison. He takes advantage of her and eventually he steals a car to get away from the cops and she realises that he is not on leave and in fact a fugitive. There is a very moving scene involving Wesley and Mattie where Wesley is crying because he doesn't want to go back however he is arrested and taken back anyway. At the end of the movie we can see that Wesley has changed from the criminal he used to be and it is an all round happy ending for all. A wonderful performance especially from Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

TxMike CAUTION -- MAY CONTAIN A SPOILER OR TWO --This is a film about Mattie Rigsbee, an elderly and religious widow, and how she cares for others in her life. The title comes from a scene near the beginning, after a stray dog shows up and her son (Judge Reinhold) tries to get her to keep it, she says, "I need a dog about as much as I need to take a Walk Across Egypt." So it is fitting that the title of the film is about Mattie herself and her attitudes. The theme is well-worn -- a good person follows his/her beliefs against advice of others and helps save an "at-risk" individual.At church one Sunday, her minister preaches about helping the less fortunate. So, she starts visiting and bringing cake and iced tea to a 16-yr-old boy in the local correctional facility, referred to as "pre-pen" by the inmates. This young boy had a rough childhood and has become a grifter, with no real concern about anyone else.He escapes and shows up at her house, saying he is "on leave". She takes him in, and the rest of the film is about how he tries to avoid re-capture, how she has faith in him, how she begins to teach him manners and the subtlties of human interaction.A funny scene, they were fishing on a dock, she finds out he won't go in the boat because he is afraid of water, so she "teaches" him how to swim by pushing him in. After he trashes around for a minute, and finally realizes he can swim by following the motions she is making with her feet and arms, she says to him, "OK, now you can stop and stand up."He gets captured, his nemesis is about to get revenge for an earlier fight, when Mattie shows up with papers to take him out and become his guardian. Again, this story is about Mattie and how she acts on what she believes in to make a difference. Ellen Burnstyn is marvelous in this role and carries the film. I rate it a solid "7" of 10 and worth a re-watch both for the fine acting and the entertainment.

Bob-321 I'd never heard of this movie, but I like Ellen Burstyn very much and rented the disk because she was the star. A couple of hours later I had tears on my cheeks and the feeling that I'd seen a film made in earlier, simpler times. That's a compliment. It's the story of a sweet elderly lady (Burstyn) whose faith and trust reform a juvenile delinquent (the fine teenage actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas). OK, it's a corny plot and it's been done a thousand times. And maybe not every question is answered here. But there are many surprises -- small story twists that are clever, reasonable and satisfying. Countless details show expert writing and film-making. Besides the two stars, the cast includes some solid names: Harve Presnell, Gwen Verdon, Edward Herrmann, Judge Reinhold and Mark Hamill. The title comes from the old-fashioned expression, "I could no more do [something impossible] than I could walk across Egypt." Incredibly, the rural, moss-draped locations were all found "in and around the city of Orlando." Florida, that is. Don't look for the travel-agency Orlando. Just do yourself a favor. Relax, forget the frantic concepts that some recent movie s have made us think are essential, and give yourself to "Walking Across Egypt." A handsome film, a superb cast, a heart-warming story. We're not often handed so many pleasures in a single picture.