DON QUIXOTE

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: mild innuendo

Rated:

Somewhere in the world there is a noble deed to be done, a lance to be taken up in battle for a fair lady's honor. A world of magic and knighthood which one nobleman, who calls himself "Don Quixote," is determined to find. Taking up lance and noble steed, this Spanish don torments his family by assuming the role of a knight on a quest to defend his beautiful Dulcinea's honor, and rid the world of injustice. Unfortunately, things don't always go as he'd planned, and Quixote finds himself in trouble more than once. Teaming up with his amiable but simple-minded yardsman, Sancho, Quixote abandons his niece at home and sets out on a quest. Encountering giants (windmills), he challenges them to a duel, and they get the best of him. Battered and defeated, but not disheartened, Quixote blames his misadventure on the evil magician of whom he is a sworn enemy. In the meantime, his lovely niece, Antonia, is desperate to bring him home, certain that he will be taken advantage of as a crazy old man. 

Quixote's fantasies and good intentions go awry when he unknowingly releases a gang of roughens on the world, who promptly beat him over the head and try to steal Sancho's donkey. Quixote sees giants, magicians, and trolls behind every bush, and Sancho is blindly following along, believing that as a knight errant, he will eventually become the governor of an island yet to be conquered. However, tales of this man's silly nature have preceded him, and the Duchess and Duke intend to have a bit of entertainment with playing with the noble knight and his squire. Meanwhile, Antonia and the priest hatch a plan to bring Quixote home. Believing that his books are the cause of his insanity, they are all burned. Don Quixote may return home, but it will not be in triumph. This recent adaptation of the classic novel abounds with cleverness, comedy, and yet touching truth. Quixote, despite his visions of trolls and giants (and obvious insanity), has his priorities straight... to defend the weak, to uphold honor, and to rescue the oppressed; and he actually becomes a rather likable character during the course of events. 

I laughed my head off in the course of the film, and it's generally pretty family-friendly. There is some mild innuendo and violence, but altogether, it's a cute -- if a bit silly -- film. Not one that the more serious of viewers will like, as it does mix fantasy and reality with giants, magicians, and beautiful ladies (some of which are quite strange); but for kids especially it will be a treat. The dialogue is gorgeous -- well expressed and fraught with humor. The cast excellent in their roles, especially Amelia Warner in her pre-Lorna Doone adventure. All in all, a good family film with some wonderful heroics.