Shadman Sadik The movie came to me as a surprise, I did not expect it to be that good. The movie is about a boy who managed to escape from a concentration camp and instructed to travel Denmark. On the way, he met different people and learn to trust.There are good and bad people in the world. Because of bad people, we should not be wasting our lives thinking about them. We should move on and let people in. I loved the kid's acting, it's simple and engaging.

wlee08 A young teen/boy is given one chance to escape from a prisoners camp in Bulgaria, with mysterious instructions to carry a sealed letter to Denmark. Good flashback developments gradually reveal who he is, where he came from, etc.This is a story about escape, survival, and redemption. The triumph of the human spirit. It is suspenseful and heartfelt. I loved the main character - you really sympathize with his attempts to hide but also to blend into a world he knows nothing about.Jim Caviezel is an example of perfect casting here. He doesn't have to say a word and you know exactly who he is and what he's all about. Actually, I can't remember if he did have any lines.This movie is similar to The Pianist but with less starvation and more kindness in the air. OK, I admit it, there may have been some humidity in the ocular areas...My only critique is that some events in the story seemed too fictional, too coincidental...the sorts if things that seem a little too lucky. But you roll with it because you really do want him to succeed, to get a chance at a real life.

Archibald Moss The movie definitely took some liberties. It is quite different. The similarities is basically the major thing. The striking the match plan is the same, as well where his bundle is and his trip to Denmark. Except that the bundle comes with soap, for which he asked for in the book, he starts in Bulgaria and travels to Salonica by hiding in a truck and he gets caught on a fence to add suspense. Also, he has to bring an envelope along with him. The sailor finds hims and gives him a life vest, but he has to trade his knife. He gets to land and discovers beauty, as in the book. He then goes into to town where he makes up the circus story for a baker. Then the baker tells him about St. Elizabeth and asks him to smile for bread. In the book, he was first asked to smile by the old British couple, who are not in the movie. Then, the baker calls in cop on him and he barely gets away. Something the screenwriter decided should happen. He also doesn't get his free bread. Then in a flashback, we find that Johannes is shot. Something else different. This is when David decides he should have a god. Not when he loses his compass though. Plus his choice is St. Elizabeth, no the god of still water ad green pastures. This completely eliminates the conversation with the priest which was an interesting part in the book. His first job he is given in the movie is by and old woman who wants him to deliver wine to a party. Which of course, never happened in the book. He then tries to buy stuff in a store but is shooed off, which never happened in the book either. It's here, I should mention that it keeps true to the book by showing him learning from Johannes. Then kind of ruins it by having him remember his mom and being brought here. That destroys David finding himself, as he already knows what happened. Finally, something in the book happens. He meets the American couple who need gas. He does not resent them though and deny their money, later finding it. He just takes it. Then the fight with Carlo happens and he then rescues Maria form the barn. Hear come more differences. He does not have a conversation right after and there is no Andrea. He does learn about the globe and silverware, as in the book. And when he's leaving, he contemplates taking soap, but that's it for similarities for now. He actually has a confrontation with the parents, instead of leaving a letter. He also leaves without knowledge of Maria. That is so crucial, because this is when David first voluntarily hugs somebody. Later on he never sees the newspaper ad or learns not to hate Carlo and writes the apology letter. Then another entirely made up scene comes. There's a riot in the street and David get locked up because an officer thought he threw a rock at him. He does manage to escape. He then does get a lift to his next destination. But, it's from the sailor he met, not the Italian lorre driver. He then meets the artist who paints him. They're driving to her house when they are stopped at the border where David is nearly found out. As you can see, the director obviously thought it needed more close calls. We also find out Sophie's last name is Anderson, not Bang. When they get her house, his strange eyes are mentioned. What seemed to be a major part of the book and David's character, they are mentioned once. Sophie has a dead son backstory and a cat, both not mentioned in the book. Unlike the book, he stays the night. He goes to a store with Sophie and finds out about his mom by a book, not by Sophie being good friends with her. Then, in a scene change, he is boarding an airplane to Denmark to see his mom. This COMPLETELY skips out his incident with the farmer. He also never meets his faithful companion King, who taught David dogs are smart, brave and trustworthy. It also skips his treacherous trip through Germany. He just flies straight to his mommy. The End. I liked the book "I Am David," but I like it even more now. Sometimes a lousy movie can enhance your reading experience. The book gives so much more insight from David's point of view and more meaningful storyline. The only big problem I had with the book was the ending, but the movie does even less for the ending. It's like they ran out of budget. The plot is just changed so much, it's barely and adaption. The book is far superior. Book rating: 7/10 Movie rating: 3.5 out of 10

Clayton This film, to start, destroys the book entirely. Instead of the philosophical things that David goes through in the book (finding God), instead he prays to St. Elizabeth. Once. (Don't worry, it's not important in the film) And also, every single place in the film looks exactly the same despite that little David goes to 5-7 countries. And somehow, (God knows why) David, despite obviously not being from Europe, has a snobby British accent. And he looks about five years old. Please, IMDb, PLEASE put this film in the Bottom 100. And if you haven't read the book, please do so. It'll make you think the film is much worse.