i watched most of the movie tonight. from the opening scene, you get the feeling it's going to turn into a Titanic/Notebook/Big Fish reminiscing-type movie, but while i did at least like Big Fish for several reasons, i'm glad this one settled into the past rather than doing the repeated flashback motif that the aforementioned movies stuck to. i'm going to finish it tonight when i get home, but i think it seems well done overall, and my wife agreed, having also read the book about a year ago.
also, i would note that going to the Ringling Bros. Museum in Sarasota several times probably made the movie more accessible. i was able to fill in a lot of the practical details about circus life, which would have otherwise required reading the book or knowing about circuses some other way. i mean, seriously, for those that have seen it, isn't the Ringling Museum's miniature circus model OUT OF THIS WORLD?!? that guy dedicated his entire life to it....
