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Created Jun 18, 2011 05:55PM PST • Edited Jun 19, 2011 09:50AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   This “children’s” movie, a loose adaptation of the Charles Dickens book “Oliver Twist,” is a musical trip into antiquated London that received 6 Academy Awards, including “Best Picture.” I remember watching it years ago with my parents, but decided to re-watch it a few days ago since it had been more than 15 years. #1) Some of the songs are great (“Consider yourself at home/Consider yourself part of the family” is my favorite). #2) Even though it has a musical setting, there are many very adult themes that permeate the storyline — abusive relationships, possible pedophilia, theft and more serious crimes, death, etc etc. So, as a warning, if you’re going to watch this movie for family night some time soon, plan to either prepare your kids in advance or be ready to do a lot of explaining as the movie goes along.

   This film has taken a lot of its cues from the earlier (1948) movie (Oliver Twist).

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Ron Moody (Fagin), Oliver Reed (Bill Sikes), Mark Lester (Oliver Twist), and Jack Wild (The Artful Dodger) lead a pretty great cast. Although Lester’s portrayal of Twist is sometimes over the top, one must remember that he’s a child actor and not actually the somewhat socially-awkward character he’s portraying. Ron Moody is, by far, my favorite actor in the film.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.0

    The violence is shown, though much more off-screen and implied than actually shown. There is no blood, guts, or gore, but we do, for example, see a man hanging from a rope after being shot.

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Brutal 3.0

19. Rudeness Salty 1.9

21. Reality

    Glib 2.0

22. Circumstantial Glib 2.0

23. Biological Glib 2.0

24. Physical Glib 2.0