spradley-3 I read a few of the reviews before posting this because I wanted to validate some of my thoughts during this film. Here, I'm watching it 7 years after it came out, however that affects my perspective. I like films about human interaction/interesting characters placed in unusual situations - like in 'War of the Worlds' - the best of humanity comes out when we come together in a common cause/disaster. Not knowing anything about Kabbalism except when Madonna got into it - I didn't think this movie was going to center so much on the supernatural kind of 'one with God and nature' thing. It was too much. It sounds like this was based on a book - better read the book first because this movie does not explain most of what is going on. All the actors/actresses did a great job. The tragedy of the family situation was well done and I was curious as to what the heck was going on with the mother. I did not get the subtle reasons why she needed to get into the light or whatever. I was hoping it was something more than the mystical thing the daughter ended up being into. You can predict the ending with the spelling bee but what the heck is going on after is way beyond what I could figure out. While I don't need to be spoon fed plot, the movies that just 'stop' at the end - leaving you to have lively discussions afterwards no doubt - leave me not knowing how to feel about the movie. Was it a good ending? Were the lessons learned? Doesn't seem like the Dad would change the personality/demeanor he's had for 20 years in a moment. Anyway - don't see this movie if you're looking for a satisfying, feel good movie. If you need a movie to spur conversation after - there are probably better choices but this one is OK.

pete_olds I can't remember when I last feel asleep watching a movie. Until Bee Season.I have the distinct feeling that I should find the book and read that, but I found this movie disappointing and unable to generate emotion in the audience partially because of the prevalence of overly simplified characters. The basic premise of the movie sounded interesting, but the execution did not bring any emotional engagement in a movie which could have offered so much more.I came away with the distinct feeling that it was an attempt by shallow people to make a deep movie.

vietboi612 It's true.. the book is always better than the movie. I thought that this movie was very disappointing to watch after having reading the book.The movie moves too fast, though I can understand because of time limit, to actually give the viewers the concepts that the book gives. A lot of details and events are cut from the book that is important to the story as a whole. The script seems undeveloped, and the actors/actresses carried out their character with mediocre performances.Saul (Richard Gere) is somewhat true to his character. The only thing he is obsessed with is to enable Eliza to communicate with God. He does this in a way that is the most true to novel.Aaron's (Max Minghella) appearance is very different from that described in the book. He is described as a pale and scrawny young man, who is incapable of getting dates and is a social outcast. His search for a new religion seems unreasonable and spontaneous in the movie, and I thought it didn't really capture his true character.Miriam's (Julliete) kleptomania is weird in both the book and the movie. Her actions in the book seems more reasonable when I knew her purposes for doing it. In the movie I thought it was a very random thing for her to do.Eliza (Flora Cross) is a young actress, and is limited to what she can do. Her acting is very mediocre at best, and does not convince me of Eliza that is in the novel.Chali, which I am surprised to see, have been transformed from a middle-aged man into a young blond girl. I can understand why they did that, but that just adds to the falseness of Aaron's character.Overall I think the movie is an average depiction of Bee Season. I can't say that they did a nice job of sticking to the plot. It's almost impossible to transform a novel into a movie with everything in the book.

meow537 The first one was "Man on the Moon" which I had to stop as I couldn't take it any more. But I was really surprised how bad THIS movie was. I remember the "wonderful" reviews about Bee Season last year. Half way through the movie I thought to myself that who ever produced this movie, must have been on some good drugs or a young teenager making a movie for a class project. This movie was dragging so badly that I was able to make a cup of coffee without missing anything. The back and forth of different scenes with no explanation as to what it's about was absolutely ridiculous.The best thing that could happen to this movie is if someone remakes it - and it makes sense.