You won't be disappointed!

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The movie is surprisingly subdued in its pacing, its characterizations, and its go-for-broke sensibilities.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I usually watch modern versions of classic tales with great trepidation, having discovered that the simplicity of great books and old movies is destroyed by a total lack of charm and too much phoniness through the overabundance of computer generated animation. The casting too is usually based upon whoever is hot at the time, regardless if they are right for the part or not. In the case of this modern version of two Mark Twain classics, it has a lot going for it, sharing the joy of classic literature from the moment that Tom Sawyer makes his first appearance, showing joy at the sight of the Mississippi river. So it's not perfect, but I wasn't expecting anything to improve on the 1930 version starring Jackie Cooper or the technicolor version starring Tommy Kelly.As Tom, Joel Courtney is an absolute charmer, completely in tune with the character, and totally perfect in the time period. Jake T. Austin tries too hard to be "the cool kid", often rapping his lines, which is out of place with the classic Americana feel. But he's perfect in comparison to Katherine McNamara as Becky Thatcher who seems like she should be in "High School Musical" (actually college musical) than the mid-late 1800's. The supporting cast isn't perfect as an ensemble, with the male school master extremely effeminate, a rather cool Aunt Polly, and famous characters not at all giving off a Midwest feel. But the music score is excellent, the photography breathtaking and the presentation of already familiar adventures really exciting. With modern sensibilities, this could be a great way to interest young audiences in classic literature. If only they had realized with all the recent Grimm Fairy Tale ripoffs and the two "Alice in Wonderland" tales that less is more. If this shows anything important, it's the value of friendship and the adventures one can find as a kid, no electricity or batteries needed.

It is tragically unfortunate that the casting director, director, producer, executive producers and quite possibly the actors themselves have not read the book! I wonder why anyone would think it would be okay to take an American Classic, create a screenplay for it and disregard the author's purpose? Mark Twain had a very specific message. Hmmm, creative license only works when you are being creative. The book was about the unlikely friendship between a white boy and a black boy during that era. Too bad because the action sequences and the way the narrative was portrayed could have worked, and been recognized by the industry and the public as fantastic. Kudos for placing a great character actor, Val Kilmer as the older Tom Sawyer.

maybe, it is not the most inspired adaptation. but it is nice, seductive, cool and funny. and after so many adaptation, front to high expectations, it has the great virtue to be good occasion to remind the atmosphere of a classic. only sin - Val Kilmer as Mark Twain. too much make-up and a too strange performance. but that is only a small detail. an easy film who has the flavor of classic novel. and that is enough for good entertainment. inspired option for the lead characters for the image level, decent performances, beautiful images. and a film not for high expectations but for fun. version for a new generation, it preserves the spirit of original work. and that fact is real important. the others - only few details.

Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK)Rating: 3/5 starsRetains the flavor of Twain's beloved characters while also providing a good origin story for subsequent endeavors. If only the plot had more coherence, the direction was more solid, and some scenes did not seem rushed, this one had the chutzpah to go down as a rip-roaring, swashbuckling, classic adventure film. As it is, this version of Sawyer and Finn does have enough steam to make us invest time in the characters and also introduce today's generation to two classic American heroes from two of the greatest American novels.The canvas harks back to a bygone era, and the set pieces are authentic along with successfully evoking a sense of nostalgia. The adventure unfolds as Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn – Tom's friend from the streets – witness a murder in the graveyard. Tom and Huck flee to Jackson Island and make a pact never to tell anyone about the incident. However, when the good-natured Muff Potter, who has been blamed for the murder is sentenced to death by hanging, Tom breaks his promise and returns to exonerate Muff Potter. In jun Joe, the actual murderer, makes a hasty exit from the courtroom during the trial. A short time later, Tom and Huck find references to a treasure and have to face In jun Joe again.The film is also quite a faithful adaptation of Twain's first great novel, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", and includes the whitewash episode, puppy love, the graveyard murder, the boys' running away to Jackson's Island, the salvation of Muff Potter, and the cave adventure. The ensemble cast, especially the two titular leads, does a fine job of reinterpreting Twain's classic characters, now part of global folklore. Val Kilmer surprisingly does quite a good Twain in his cameo and voice-over.Quintessentially Sawyer and Finn in spirit, though not in reach, the film heralds a hopeful dawn of a faithful, long overdue, rendition of two of the most sublime adventure novels ever penned.