An excellent film, that stands on its own, despite the power of the original. I found this film to be thoroughly entertaining. Some people say it was too long, I didn't want it to end. The visual effects alone were astounding. But throw in all the incredible actors, the set pieces, wardrobe, scenery,...this movie deserves serious praise. There are some complaints about the beginning dragging on. I actually liked the beginning. The whole depression era New York scenes with the period outfits and old model cars really solidified the era for me. For an epic movie like this, you need a long set up to establish everything in the beginning and like said, It wasn't boring at all. There's also a lot of opinions on Jack Black's performance. As far as I'm concerned, not only do I feel that they chose the right man for the part, but also that he did an Oscar worthy job. Its really mesmerizing. If you watch him with an objective eye, he plays this part with fantastic finesse. His facial expressions, body language and the delivery of his lines is spot on. I am so used to seeing Jack Black in comedies, that its fun for me to see him use his skills to perfection, in this dramatic role. I truly believe that he deserved a lot more credit for his performance. His character really stood out. This film should be on everyone's Blu-ray collection.