Critic Breeki The highlight of Skellig was Tim Roth's acting. I feel that the film was just not really that great at all, just not as good as the Book by David Almond. Sure, It was close enough to the book in areas, but it just sort of failed for me.It almost seems sad that an actor like Tim Roth is in this, as he could do (and has done) so much better, and in better films. The other actors were 'meh' and just didn't seem to act very well. But what do you expect from a TV movie that everyone forgets about? But other people seemed to enjoy it, so I guess that most people liked it better than I did. Final Review: 5 / 10

sparklemotion88 This is a fantastic movie. The performances are so good that this has to be the most realistic family movie I've ever seen. Even if it features a prehistoric man with wings. 'Skellig' is a beautiful movie to watch. It's funny, very sad, and just amazing.The whole cast is brilliant. I can't say enough good things about John Simm, who gives an awesome performance once again as the father of Michael (the main character). Everything about this movie is beautiful. It's got fine family drama, and of course elements of fantasy. I loved it so much that I read the book after and I must say that the movie is extremely different. The book focuses primarily on 'the Owl Man' whereas the film tells the story not only of this but of Michael's family and his newborn sister, who is sick throughout the movie. However, the film does tell the story with the same wonderful poetry as the book and evokes perhaps even stronger feelings than the book does.I won't deny that I cried quite a few times in this movie. It's just beautiful - everyone should see it.

John Raymond Peterson Recipe for a good movie. First, as the base, you take an award winning novel, two awards in this case are better than one, then you add a generous portion of creativity, from Brignull and Jankell you could hardly expect anything less, and finally you throw in the right amount of great talent which the casting people (whoever was responsible) were not stingy about doing. Follow this process and you get a good movie. I did not specify what kind, genre or type of movie because the formula should work with just about all types. In this case it's about a fantasy/mystery/social drama kind of movie, not at all what attracts the general population of moviegoers. Some movie connaisseurs will find it hard to resist one of the elements of this recipe and if the critics favour the result, then more movie lovers will care to give it a look. Finally when you add the reviews of all those that have seen the movie and like it, you will get a good rating; (44.4% had rated it 8 or more, at the time I wrote this review), which in turn will hopefully attract more and more viewers. That's not at all why I watched it or why I liked it or even why I'm recommending it by giving it a really good rating. I am a fan of Tim Roth, have been for some time. I am a fan of Kelly Macdonald, just recently since I watched the HBO series 'Boardwalk Empire'; she caught my attention in that series, thus I've been looking for projects where she plays a role and so I stumbled on this fine movie. Roth and Macdonald play their characters as well as you'd expect, certainly as well as I expected. Bill Milner was the surprise for me as the main and most important part in the movie is played by this fourteen year old. His character is the thread that binds all the parts of this movie and he pulled it off like a pro. I don't care for fantasy movies and unless a similar set of circumstances occurs, I'll likely not see one for a long time. At the end of this movie I felt good about life just a little bit more and for a fleeting moment. Whatever your reasons are for watching it, the right recipe or the right set of circumstances, in either case, don't miss it. If on the other hand you don't believe the recipe has merit, don't agree with the talent I referred to or are not a fan of any of the key actors, you won't like this movie; also if you have little time to spare and only get to watch a few movies now and then and require a sure mass entertainment product, stick with the tried and true candy-ass movies you always watch and you won't go wrong.

Steve Skafte As far as children's fantasy films go, "Skellig" is excellent. One of the best ever, in fact. Unlike a lot of other such adaptations to come out in the past few years, this film is never overwhelmed by special effects or action sequences. Rather, it's quite grounded in reality as natural feeling. There's that certain combination of improbability and cinematic style that always keeps it from being an experience that transcends the genre, but that comes with the territory.Bill Milner (as Michael), who I'd seen previously in "Is Anybody There?" is what focuses the film. He offers up a performance that's at once easy to identify with and totally believable. Skye Bennett, who played his friend, was also very good. She has the kind of brilliance that makes you look forward to seeing more of her. Two actors I'd previously liked a lot (Kelly Macdonald and John Simm) play Michael's parents. Though less significant roles, it's their talent that makes the family aspect of the film so much more convincing.As for Tim Roth - he is what it all hinges on. The melancholy, fearfulness, emotional expression and power of his performance gives "Skellig" something beyond expectation. He takes the film to a higher level. The director, Annabel Jankel, who'd not previously made anything approaching decent quality, proves herself to be someone capable of telling a good story. I enjoyed this film, and I'd show it to my kids.If I had any.