Don Quixote

Robert Halmi has made his living since the mid-1990s by making big-budget miniseries based on classic stories that focus on lavish, spectacular special effects. Most of the ones I have seen ("Merlin," "Alice in Wonderland," "A Christmas Carol") were good, though one ("Animal Farm") was pretty bad. Halmi's latest project, "Don Quixote," does not have especially great special effects, but that in no way detracts from the film's enjoyment. Both hilarious and even somewhat touching, this adaptation of Cervantes' famous tale of the madman who fancies himself a knight errant is highly entertaining and fun to watch. John Lithgow is fine as the Man of La Mancha himself, and most of his encounters with supposed giants and other enemies are very funny. Bob Hoskins, as his sidekick Sancho Panza, is hilarious. And plus, we have the beautiful Vanessa Williams to perk things up every now and then as Quixote's fantasy lady, Dulcinea. Yes, most of the Spanish characters speak in British or American accents, but does it really matter? Nothing, not even the lack of brilliant effects, make this film any less entertaning or enjoyable.

Don Quixote has notoriously defied attempts to film it. This is a solid little TV version. There's a decent script by John Mortimer - though he does make it a bit too much about old age - and good performances by Bob Hoskins as Sancho and, particularly, John Lithgow as Don Quixote. Lithgow is credited as producer; this was clearly a labour of love for him and he gives his all in portraying a complex and difficult character. But the film needs something else - either more of the book's broad comedy, or more magic. It's just a little too wistful and bland - it captures Don Quixote's sadness but not his force. Makes you regret that Terry Gilliam failed to complete his version, it should have been just his bag.

I wasnt surprised of John Lithgow's brilliant performance in this movie, because just as I heard that he's starring I understood right away that he'd be a perfect Don Quixote. There is a TINY little bit of Dick Solomon in him, if you pay close attention, you might notice it, and I think that's why the directors invited him for this role. Bob Hoskins is also a perfect Sancho, the whole character of his here (as well as Lithgow's) is as it was classically presented to us in books and pictures. Although he has a thick british accent, although he has no problems changing it, he speaks with it through the movie which is kind of unusual for a spanish man. :) Anyway, Mr. Lithgow, if youre reading this, I want you to know that youre the most perfect Don Quixote Ive ever seen on the movie screen!

This is a handsome retelling of the odd tale about a man who wishes to be a knight in a time that has no use for knights. It is a fable about the desire to dream and use the imagination -- the desire to go beyond the bounds set by society.

The cast is very good. Lithgow plays the sometimes-mad and sometimes-sane title character as a cross between a tragic figure and an over-the-top 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN zany. Hoskins, despite his accent which seems totally out of place, is very amusing as the faithful sidekick Sancho.

We all have giants, wizards, and windmills in our lives. Don Quixote is just able to see them better than most of us.

A touching story of a man and his dreams. Everyone else is trying to destroy the happiness he has... all his books (a library full) they say are causing him to have his "dreams", so they burn them all (all the books he has gathered over the years), and then seal the library off... a very touching movie... John Lithgow really breaks out of the character from 3rd Rock from the Sun... if you get the chance, record it... it's a great, CLASSIC film...