Review of Lolita (1962) by Jacob G — 27 Feb 2012

Overlong, and tamer than expected, Lolita still portrays the story it is supposed to with a certain amount of squeamish "Ooomph". Even though Lyons, who plays Lolita, is older than the beginning stages of the book (and who looks much older than that), the film still manages to communicate both the twisted mind of Humbert and the way he really views Lolita.

Humbert is smitten--and he remains smitten. But instead of turning to love, his feelings turn to fear--fear that he will lose Lolita--resulting in him attempting to posses her like a thing, making demands that no man should be making, but which he feels entitled to make--largely, I think, due to the age difference.

Over all Lolita is effective--though not as effective as it could have been--and worth seeing, though far from Kubrick's best.