admit approached movie sense expectation dread louis de bernieres bestselling novel one favourites anyone read realise way hell screen adaptation  faithful br br all way found convincing movie unsuccessful stripped books plot back far render redundant ending however much better novel could stop thinking movie afterwards still plusses john tolls magnificent cinematography stephen warbecks great score etc felt outweigh initial negatives cages miscasting heavily diluted scriptbr br but two days later queuing see corelli although perfect admit movie best anyone could expected cage actually brilliant role even de berniere concerned fully rounded character carefree spirit gives way shattered remorse spot on complements superb double act penelope cruz john hurt perfectly david morrissey quietly effective weber nazi officer trying reconcile feelings newfound italian friends inbred superiority complex around him fine grecoitalian supporting cast bring de bernieres sundrenched world cepholonia dazzlingly alivebr br on leaving cinema second time around finally let go passion novel prevented fully appreciating story ww cepholonia cinematic terms hat goes john madden who despite almost expected critical drubbing receiving british critics any director major success like shakespeare love behind always target moaning ninnieshas managed transfer terrifically difficult book big screen heart verve humanity the core virtues novel fact created another classic love story probably fully appreciated dust settled years nowbr br if fan book like me hard try make mistake initial viewing try erase book mind two hours bathe glorious mediterranean atmosphere discover corelli pelagia mandras dr iannis first time pretend watching something made original screenplay guarantee disappointed br br in fact eagerly waiting copy delightful movie video dvdbr br 