'Love In The Time Of Cholera' Movie

Here's the trailer: http://movies.aol.com/movie/love-in-the-time-of-cholera/25302/main

I haven't read Colombian author Marquez's novel, the source of this movie. From what I heard about the novel, it's another of his densely textured works that I've read.  The NY Times reviewer complained that the movie "sets itself the elusive task of translating Gabriel García Márquez’s masterpiece of magical realism into an upscale art film with popular appeal. Faithful to the outline of the novel but emotionally and spiritually anemic, it slides into the void between art and entertainment, where well-intended would-be screen epics often land with a thud. Stripped of multiple layers of philosophic and poetic implication, the metaphorically loaded story of a man’s lifelong passion for a beautiful woman who marries another man emerges as a weightless, picturesque gloss."  For more of his comments: http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/11/16/movies/16chol.html?ref=movies

I understand the reviewer's complaints but anytime a complex novel is adapted for the screen, there's always a lot of things that can't be shown due to time limitations and budget. And there's the added danger of making talky philosphical passages undramatic and boring. How much was left out here I don't know but there were enough snippets about the nature of love scattered into the story. The visuals (sets, scenery, costumes) looked ravishing on the big screen and the story and acting were more than satisfying. The characters were fleshed out enough to meet the restrictions of the adaptation and the aging makeup was about as good as it gets. Native Colombian Shakira's non-hipswinging songs helped enhance the contemplative mood.

I guess if you are unfamiliar with the novel, you will enjoy this movie as a grand soap-operish love story set in the cities and jungles of 19th & 20th century Colombia. The movie version of Doctor Zhivago had the same criticism of being stripped down to a travelogue romance with snippets of politics and still pleases audiences. You can always read both novels to see what you missed. Meanwhile treat yourself to a journey to another time and place.