Review of Lolita (1962) by Pete H — 27 Sep 2008

I expected so much more from this film--despite censorship and the expectation that Vladimir Nabokov's 1950s novel would be altered probably to great extent--but was disappointed from the opening sequence onward.

Although this wasn't the worst novel-to-film adaptation I've seen (not be a long shot), a novel that is as psychologically and satirically rich as Lolita ought to have held plenty of fun, if not avant-garde, fodder for a director like Kubrick.

Something seems to have gotten lost in translation. Peter Sellers is so amusing to watch, but he's almost an odd figure, feeling miscast in this film. Mason isn't as pretty-boy as Humbert Humbert ought to be; and Charlotte (Shelley Winters) comes across as more needy and psychologically disturbed as both Humbert and Dolores (Lolita).

..clearly, the main points of interest were displaced and misplaced in this film.