Everybody's a critic - 'Tuck Everlasting'

Three-and-a-half stars

"Tuck Everlasting" is based on a secret. Winnie Foster (Alexis Bledel) has been stuck within the fence of her yard her entire life and is ready for change. After a disagreement with her parents, she decides to explore the world outside of that fence. Winnie accidentally stumbles upon Jesse Tuck (Jonathan Jackson) as he is drinking from a spring near an oak tree and is taken back to his family's house. A romance springs up between Jesse and Winnie and he eventually trusts her enough to share his family's secret with her. He explains that the spring by the oak has made his family immortal, but no one must ever know. Someone does know, though, and the mysterious man (Ben Kingsley) will do anything to get his hands on that water. Eventually, Winnie is forced to decide between a life of immortality or an inevitable death as a mortal.

-- Layne Strattman, college student

Two-and-a-half stars

"Do not fear death but a life unlived." This movie is an adaptation of a children's book dealing with time, death, and eternity. It depicts the dangers a family deals with when, inadvertently, they drink from a spring that gives them (and their horse) eternal life. It's also a romance between human Winnie Foster and immortal Jesse Tuck.

The immortals are misunderstood by outsiders and hunted down by the "man in the yellow suit," who knows their secret and lusts for eternal life with all its perks. When accused by a minister of speaking blasphemy, his reply was, "fluently."

The message of time/life being an ever-turning wheel and the importance of a well-lived life is worthy. I couldn't help but wonder if any cloning advocates have seen this film. Although it plods at times and the topic is deep, the cinematography of this Disney movie is beautiful, and overall I liked it.

-- Susan Sulser, registered nurse