Reviews & Ratings for
Flowers for Algernon (TV) More at IMDbPro »

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6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Great, just as the book was!, 9 May 2002
Author: Melanie from Canada

I remember reading this book in school. I thought it was a sad, but very interesting and touching story. I didn't know they did another version of this book until I saw it at my videostore. I decided to rent it, hoping that it would be just as I remembered the book. It was. Matthew Modine didn't go overboard, which makes him very believable in this role. You'll feel sorry for him, maybe have a little tear at the corner of your eye, but you won't be dissapointed. A story about all humans and the way we perceive each other.

5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
This movie touches you emotionally incredibly deeply, 25 March 2002

Author: laugh4fun (laugh4fun@yahoo.com) from Palo Alto, CA

WOW. This is the best movie EVER. It was amazing. The directing, the acting, the script, the story line, the scenes, the music, the everything! It touched me so incredibly deeply, that even though this movie took place in a different time period, I felt like I was there, and I could relate even though in any other circumstance I wouldn't be able to. It really opens up your eyes, your heart, and your mind. It makes you look at the world in a new perspective. I cried from the beginning to the end. It touches you throughout the entire movie, and is on a real subject matter that is tangible to all. I strongly recommend you to watch this movie, even if you might not have enjoyed the book.

5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
An uncommonly good TV movie, 22 February 2000

Author: Michael-4 (mwl001@drake.edu) from Des Moines, IA

I must admit, the only reason I taped this movie was to see the spellbinding Kelli Williams, from "The Practice." I had no clue what the movie was about, but I figured she could carry the movie no matter what. Besides, I haven't read the book so I knew my view would not be "tainted" in that sense.

Anyway, I was floored by the performances of both Modine and Williams. Modine's performance was good -- at no point was I convinced he was really retarded, but his transition from retarded to gifted and back again was well done. Williams acts with such sincerity and purity, it's easy for me to forget she's acting. Her performance was so genuine, at the end it actually felt as though she had actually experienced the horrible loss that her character experienced. She faces her loneliness utterly alone; she realizes this, and portrays it to a T.

If you missed this film, I hope someday you will get a chance to see it again. If not, at least read the book. I know I will.

5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
A pretty good representation of the book, 21 February 2000

Author: jimmyplm from Chapel Hill, NC

I watched this made for television movie last night and found it to be quite an entertaining movie. I read the book in high school, so I was already familiar with the plot. While the book is better (that is inevitable with any film adaptation of a novel), this was a fairly good film. I think that Matthew Modine did a wonderful job playing Charlie Gordon. I have seen an older film adaptation of the novel (I think it was called "Charlie"), and it was nowhere near as good as this version. I recommend this movie to anyone who has read the classic novel.

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Decent Adaptation of the Book, 4 December 2008

Author: jts0405 from United States

I just recently finished reading the book Flowers for Algernon and then recently watched the movie to see the comparisons and contrasts. This movie really does follow the book in a pretty solid way, but as many say the book is always better. So anyway Charlie Gordon is mentally challenged, but wants to be smart just like everyone else. So he continuously goes to night school and falls for the teacher Ms. Kinian. Just at the moment two scientists are having a procedure on a human being to increase their intelligence and Charlie is chosen. It is good to see the man become just like everyone else, but in the end it all turns from happy to sad for him once again. Decent movie for those who read the book.

2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Fair, but maybe a little fast if you didn't already know the story, 26 February 2000

Author: HunterK (hunter_kahn@hotmail.com) from Pennsylvania, USA

I already knew the story behind FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON before I saw the TV movie. I've always thought the story was, although maybe a little sad, a pretty interesting story. And I really like the way it was written when I read it, through the eyes of Charlie and his journal. I had once seen a very old version of FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON movie based on the book. As I recall, the acting was horrible and the movie was badly presented, but it was ok because it was true to the book. This one is the opposite. It's still very good, but it has good acting and was presented well, but is a little less similar to the book.

Charlie Gordan (Matthew Modine) is a retarded gentleman who wants more than anything to learn and be a genius. He attends regular classes for special people taught by the beautiful Alice Kinian (Kelli Williams). When Dr. Strauss (Ron Rifkin) is testing an operation that can make mentally retarded people incredibly smart, Alice sets Charlie up for it as a test. Charlie becomes incredibly smart, with an IQ over 200, but is very unhappy when he realizes that this whole time his so-called "friends" were actually mocking him behind his back. Just as he starts to find happiness when he falls in love with Alice, and Alice falls in love with him, he learns that the effects of the operation are only temporary and has to try his hardest to learn how to stop from becoming retarded again.

This movie lacks a few things from the original. One is that it is not presented through the viewpoint of Charlie's journal, of course. This couldn't have been done, but it was a lot better from that viewpoint. Algernon, the mouse that was another test for this operation that Charlie makes friends with, is underplayed. It's strange to say a mouse was underplayed, but it's true. Considering that Algernon is in the title, this is strange. The beginning of this movie is also kind of rushed and can be confusing if you didn't already know the story.

But the solid acting and great dramatic scenes make up for all the faults. Matthew Modine does great as both the stupid and smart Charlie Gordan. Kelli Williams certainly stole the show. Whether she was crying or laughing, the emotions seemed so real. She did an excellent job.

One thing that I found very strange was that many places, even this database, listed this movie as a comedy. It's no comedy. What are we expected to laugh at? The ignorant retarded people? Do you find that funny? I sure didn't. This movie is way more of a drama with an interesting plot. It's certainly not a comedy.

I'd recommend reading the original story above seeing this movie. But if it came down to a choice between this one and the older movie based on the same story, I'd choose this one in a heartbeat. If it's ever on TV again, it's certainly worth watching.

great read and watch, 17 July 2011
Author: dbfan05 from United States

When I was in high school this was a mandatory read for English. The book it self was awesome... I could picture everything in my head.. Then when we watched the movie in class it was even better then i thought it would be. Although they did leave some parts out it was still a great movie with an awesome plot. I could read this book and watch the movie over and over again.I recommend this for any one who wants a good movie. But before you watch the movie read the book first. If you don't you might not get the plot of the movie. over all I give this movie 8 out of 10. They do leave some parts out so read it before you watch it.

Recommended, except for the music, 13 June 2008

Author: alan-467 from United Kingdom

Saw this on TV and was absorbed all the time, even though I'd read the short story. Sure, there are a few differences from the book, but I think that made it better as a movie - a movie that followed the book absolutely could have been more intellectually satisfying but would not have been as emotionally involving.

Definitely worth seeing, but why oh why did they have to make the 'background' music so loud that it was intrusive! It spoilt some scenes that would have been perfectly all right without any music at all. Because of this, I have given it an 8 instead of a 9, and I don't think that it would seem so good on a big screen.

The only film that made me cry, 12 March 2008

Author: davidc-64 from United Kingdom

I first saw the Matthew Modine version, and I have never cried before or since, there are levels to be drawn from this film that were possibly never devised and never intended. The chords it struck in me, may be completely missed in others, perhaps it was just a sensitive moment, whether it be music,paintings,photos,sculptures,films, and even adverts we see what we see, we feel what we feel, independent of others. Be happy we are different, be happy we see things differently, be happy we are the same. I have since seen the Cliff Robertson version, another good film, not read the book and don't intend to. I understand some of the other comments regarding the book and film differences, from reading the Celestine Prophecy and watching the DVD, I prefer the book. Another film from book is Conversations with God, I like the film, I may read the book, but I got the message anyway, that's what I think it's all about.If you like reading get a book,if you like watching get a DVD/video, but don't miss the message.

FLowers For Algernon, 9 February 2006

Author: mikerat186 from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I think that Flowers For Algernon is a great movie and is worth watching because it is a great family movie about a man who is mentally retarded and receives an operation to help him gain more knowledge but as he gets smarter he eventually learns that his intelligence is only temporary after seeing that Algernon (the mouse) was given the same operation. once he realizes whats happening he is angered and runs away where no one knew that he Was once smart so that he can gain new friendships whit out anybody knowing about his past. It is a great movie and i think is worth watching and if you saw it you might think the same thing. I loved this movie and i hope that if you haven't seen it that you will so you can also realize the greatness of this wonderful movie.

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