Review of To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) by Jonathan B — 06 Feb 2012

AFI named Atticus Finch the greatest movie hero of the 20th century, and while he's not necessarily my personal pick, few characters have made as powerful a stand for morality and social justice. Certainly this stems from Gregory Peck's Oscar-winning performance and Harper Lee's groundwork, which is usually one of the contenders whenever the elusive Great American Novel debate comes up.

I, like most American youth, read the book growing up, but it's been so long ago I had forgotten almost everything and thus the story felt mostly fresh. The first half is a little bumpy, with the kids' character exploits and development surely playing better on the page, but once it hits the iconic courtroom scene things really pick up.

What we're left with is a timeless story about standing up for what's right amidst the toughest of circumstances, one in which surely isn't going away any time soon with its lovely Blu-ray release.