Eat Pray Love
Elizabeth Gilbert was married but when she thought about it, she wasn’t really happy, so she asked for a divorce. After the divorce, she spent a year traveling to Italy, India and Bali, to find herself.
I went to see Eat Pray Love, the movie version of Elizabeth Gilbert‘s bestselling book. I haven’t read the book, so I can’t compare the two, but I found the movie to be long and rambling and to be honest, rather pointless. Once Gilbert, played by Julia Roberts, started on her journey, not much happened. She ate a lot in Italy, prayed a lot in India and fell in love in Bali, but it seemed to take forever to do it. Listening to the chatter as we exited the theater, it seemed most of the audience agreed with me. I don’t think the movie was all bad, though - the cinematography in this movie was just gorgeous and I did enjoy the scenery in the places Gilbert traveled on her journey.
As I thought about the movie after seeing it, I do think there was a message to it. At one point, Gilbert stated that since she was 15, she’d only been two weeks without a boyfriend or husband. It made me think she’d never learned to be herself – instead she was always trying to be whoever she thought the man in her life wanted her to be. The movie may be a gentle reminder to women to be true to themselves, especially when they’re in a relationship.
I recommend waiting for the DVD on this one.
This book has been sitting on my pile for ages! I need to read it soon now that the movie is released, but I know very well that my mood will have the final say, LOL.
I haven’t seen the movie, but liked the book a lot (especially parts 1 and 2 – 3 not so much).
I like Julia Roberts but haven’t really had a desire to see the book or the movie. Thanks for the review. I’ll wait on this one!
Thanks for reviewing this – I probably would have passed it up anyway, but it’s good to know my doubts were well-founded. I’ve never been able to get interested in the book, but the film doesn’t sound any more attractive.
The movie sounds very similar to the book. I liked the parts in Italy but found India pretty boring . I think that you are right in pointing out that the Gilbert continues to seek a man in her life but I’m not sure that Gilbert really found a way to be true to herself. I do want to see the movie as I like Julia Roberts and the cinematography sounds well worth it. I will probably wait for the DVD:)
I haven’t read the book and based on your review I’m guessing I probably wouldn’t care for the movie. Thanks for the honesty
I haven’t read the book or seen the movie and I think your review pinpoints my reluctance. From what little I have heard about the book/movie the author seems kind of self-absorbed and I think she glosses over a lot of the “rough” stuff. In fact, I think this was the book Susan Jane Gilman was referencing when she explained that she wrote Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven b/c there were a lot of books that glamorized travel & finding one’s self without showing the other side of traveling.
I don’t really have any desire to read the book or see the movie! Isn’t that awful?
Ooh thanks for recommending waiting on the dvd. Those are the kinds of things I heard about the book and I could see where in book form that would not be fun. I mainly want to see the movie because of Julia Roberts and the cinematography you mentioned!
I started reading the book and didn’t get far in. More because of life than lack of motivation or content. I do plan to finish it before I see the movie, and I’m looking forward to comparing the two. Sorry it didn’t stack up!
I’m also glad to know I can wait for the DVD–I wondered if the scenery would be worth a trip to the theater. On the other hand, I suspect this movie of being a kind of updated version of Under the Tuscan Sun.
I love Julia Roberts but had been waiting to see what someone else thought of the movie before going to see it. Now I’ll pass; I have better things to do with my time and I’m sure my husband would say, “Boy, you sure can pick ‘em!”
Most of the reviews of the movie I have read agree with you!
I did not read this book yet but I appreciate the honest movie review. Boring movies put me to sleep! We actually went to see The American about a week ago and I found myself snoozing a couple of times.
“long and rambling and to be honest, rather pointless.”
Once in a while Hollywood does a faithful adaption of a book and everyone complains
I didn’t care for the book
http://manoflabook.blogspot.com/2010/07/eat-pray-love-one-womans-search-for.html
http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
I read the book and thought it was worthy of 4/5, but am keen on seeing the film to make the comparison.
I’m now glad that I didn’t watch this in the theater. I’ll wait for the DVD.
I liked the movie better than the book (which I read, reluctantly). My advice is that if you didn’t love the movie, don’t waste your time on the book. It just rambles….the “Bali” section was the only one that I found interesting.
I am not really all that thrilled about seeing this movie, or even reading the book for that matter. Something about the story just doesn’t excite or entice me. I am sorry to hear that the movie was not what you were expecting, though. It’s always a bummer when that happens!
I got a little bitchy when it came to the book, and felt just the same with the movie. I could be all wrong, but I disliked (what I perceived without reading it) the attitude of telling us how to achieve our best selves after a divorce. I really didn’t want to hear it. Then the marketing blitz with the movie, Oprah, and Julia, acting all ethereal and spiritual. Bleh.
I haven’t read the book either but I did see the movie. My girlfriend and I enjoyed it for it’s locations and it made me want to travel! I agree with you on the message in there.
I enjoyed the movie, maybe in part because it was a book my mom and I both loved which is rare in and of itself and then we saw the movie together. Sorry you it was just okay for you.
I have to admit, I was a bit meh about the book. Sure, so you have a lot of money and are going to go spend a year ‘finding yourself’, lovely. Most of us can’t afford that, so stop talking about yourself. Heh. Then again, I don’t do well with self-help or spiritual books and this was a bit too much of that for me. Haven’t seen the movie yet though.
Sorry the movie didn’t work for you, but it is right that women need to be true to themselves.
I’ve always wanted to read this book but I’ve never gotten around to it. Now with the movie out
I may just have to. I hate seeing a movie before reading the book
I haven’t watched the movie but have read the book. Everyone I know who has seen the movies seems in sync with your comments above. I think I will wait for netflix (it is a beautiful movie, right?)….
I read the book and didn’t love it either. The book caused quite a conundrum in my book club when we were discussing it. Not many women can take off work for a year to “find” themselves so we were all a bit irritated with Ms. Gilbert at varying times throughout the novel.
I did not like this book, but I like Julia Roberts, so I’ll probably check the movie out on DVD.
I enjoyed the book and was pumped to see the movie … the previews make it look so good. But it seems like everyone says the same thing you do about the movie. I can imagine it might feel like this though .. so much of the book was her internal journey.
i know this book has been making waves in the blogging world, but there’s something about it that hasn’t really convinced me to read it or watch it. i think i may pass on this one unless i see a really great and convincing review of it.
I am glad to see a review of the movie. I won’t be seeing it–I wasn’t really a fan of the book at all.
Thanks, Kathy…I had a feeling the movie would be best watched at home on a comfy sofa with a book in your lap…
Good to know! Thank s for your review. I’ll probably watch it online for free. I’m looking forward to reading the book tho.
Natalie :0)
I seem to be a minority here. I loved both the book and the movie. I thought they were both good entertainment.
There’s so much buzz about this movie, but as you’ve recommended, I’ll wait for the DVD to see it, if I’m still inclined to view it. Thanks. =)
This is a movie I was thinking I might rent, but definitely not go see. A couple of other bloggers I like had similar criticisms to what you said.
This is one that I’ve figured wouldn’t stand up to the hype. If I see a copy at the library I might read it. Maybe this one would be good for a redbox night, just to see the scenery. I loved Italy and it’s always fun in films to see the sights I remember.
Kathy, having lived in France, I think you’d like the “Eat” part of the book. But you could stop there, especially having seen the movie.
I was somewhat interested in the book when it first came out, until I saw the author appear on Oprah. She seemed very full of herself and a bit ditzy to boot. Her personality totally turned me off to the book. I can’t see myself seeking the movie out, even though I love Julia Roberts.
I read the book a few years ago – found it to be very self-centered (your mileage may vary!). I did like the descriptions of the food in Italy, though.
Thanks for this. I’ll save my money and wait until it shows up on HBO or Netflix.
I’m not in a big hurry to see this one but I am looking forward to it because I read the book several years ago (before I started blogging) and really enjoyed it.
Well, I have to say I loved the book. And I knew going into the movie that it would never be the book. But I also happen to love Julia Roberts so I enjoyed watching the movie. I know it’s not gem among films, but it was fun to watch.
I definitely had no plans to read the book. I was considering the movie, but since I’m not much of a movie person, I don’t think I’d want to sit through something that’s basically pointless.
Oh! I love Julia Roberts! I am so disappointed the movie is not good. I did not read the book either, but Julia was in India for the shooting and there were so many pics of her around here!