mark-1987
This film is a compelling and emotional journey. After reading some of the exceptionally bad reviews I almost didn't watch it but I'm glad I did. The characters are very real, the story is touching, and there was never a moment of boredom. This is a classic movie, and although not a movie I would deem to be sensational, it is very much still worth watching. I have never read Catcher In The Rye but this movie has inspired me to do so. The only problems that I could perceive with this film were that it occasionally has disjointed editing (continuity is slightly below par) and in a few instances the dialogue was underdeveloped but anybody that has given this movie negative criticism overall is probably extremely unintelligent. This movie is certainly worth watching, and anybody that disagrees probably has no heart.
sleestaker
If I had a dime for every adolescent who thinks of his/her reading of The Catcher in the Rye as the cathartic experience that gave him/her a true sense of introspection, I could buy every existing copy of this movie and burn the batch in a nice bonfire. This movie smacks of the pseudo-intelligent ramblings of a third year English major who is convinced that the angst he feels is unique.Movies like this have been done to death. From the brilliant, misunderstood youth to the rich and powerful unfeeling parent to the smart and tough, yet sensitive and understanding authority figure, this movie is a mishmash of clichéd characters and tired plot lines. Even the northeastern prep school where the boys all wear blazers with crests and the girls all wear plaid skirts and kneesocks is hackneyed. It's all old news.The worst part about this film is the overwhelming superciliousness that permeates the production. It's as if the writer and director have discovered this obscure, brilliant manuscript that has so affected them, and they feel the need to enlighten the world. Even the title comes across with a kind of smug exclusivity, as if to say, "only the truly illuminated, those who know the name Holden Caulfield, will understand and appreciate what we are conveying here!"This film is neither intelligent nor edgy nor insightful. It's got a fanboy quality - a sycophantic tone - so much so that it almost seems the people behind it are trying to do something more than tell a story...like make a "serious" film about youthful angst that indie film geeks will coo over in the local alternative newspaper. Guys, you can have it.
gatello
this might actually be one of the worst films i have ever seen in my life....the plot was extremely petty and predictable...the author obviously sat there with a thesaurus to sound more intelligent than he is.....the acting was understandable, given the quality of the script....overall, a B movie that went nowhere for a reason.....
turtlewax182
Spoiler This movie might have been halfway decent if every single scene and character weren't so cliched. First off, how many times have we seen the, 'rebellious teen with animosity towards his rich - too busy for his son - father'? Too many if you ask me. As the story proceeds, Neil runs off in search of the author JD Salinger (he feels a 'connection' to his character, Holden Caulfield) with the girl he's sweet on, TJ. They both encounter disastrous situations and in the end he realizes he was really finding himself and now he knows he loves TJ, who is clinically ill and dies in the end.Whoa, sounds so entertaining and original right? How about... NO? NOTHING about this movie was something I hadn't seen before 101 million times. It seems more like a made for TV movie, and it SHOULD have been. They could have kept that money they wasted distributing this in their pockets. The acting wasn't THAT bad, and everyone seemed well cast - except the main character. It's difficult to believe that this scrawny little dude could be such a badass troublemaker. I kept thinking of Road Trip and wondered how anyone could cast him as a 'tough guy'... I mean, COME ON, he even LOOKS like a nerd. He tried though.Anyway, this isn't the worst film I've ever seen, but I felt I just wasted my time with it. Oh well, I suppose it was better than watching paid programs for salad shooter. 3/10
AD
