It's always risky to make a book into a movie, and usually the flick doesn't live up to the tome, primarily because great literature explores the internal whereas film concerns itself with the exterior. Riskier still when the book is category-killing classic such as Golf In The Kingdom.

This film, however, gets it--beyond faithful to the feel, the spirit, and the mystery of the novel. Impeccable direction, inspired acting, and brilliant cinematography. A must see for any aficionado of Murphy's eternal gift to golf literature, not to mention any golfer who has ever played or dreamed of playing on America's only true-to-Scottish links course. I shan't spoil it by naming the location. You'll you'll just have to stay through the credits.

To the Producer/Distributor: please, PLEASE get the DVD out soon, because I want to see it again and again, and I'm running out of airfare.

"Michael you have to remember your in the land where all these rules were invented. It's the only way you can play in the kingdom." Michael Murphy (Gamble) is a philosophy student that is searching for himself. His one real love is golf and before he decided to give it up forever he stops by Scotland to play in the famous "Links of Burningbush." I have said this before but I am a sucker for sports movies. Any kind and golf is no different. I really enjoyed "Greatest Game Ever Played" & "Bobby Jones". The recent "Seven Days In Utopia" was also fantastic so my expectations were high for this one. While the movie itself is not bad and the scenery is pretty I was very disappointed. This movie is more of watching the young boy Michael meeting a golf pro named Shivas Irons (O'Hara) who proceeds to teach him about the game. The movie then becomes watching Michael get an hour private lesson about golf. I understand the book is great, but I wasn't that entertained by this movie. It's not bad, I was just hoping for something different. Overall, not bad, but more of movie about the rules and philosophy of golf then the sport itself. I give it a B-.

After reading a good book, you want the movie to evoke the same emotions as the book. However, as with most books-made-into-movies, Golf in the Kingdom did not live up to the task completely. Regardless, I gave the movie a solid 7 because it did capture the main theme of the book....life imitates golf where the golfer navigates the golf course much the same as we attempt to navigate life by measuring every step, gaining perspective and swinging away!

David O'Hara was great as Shivas Irons, mystical, introspective and possessive of that great Scottish accent. Mason Gamble was less impressive in his role as Michael Murphy most probably because he was directed to act this way. He was jumpy, almost nervous in his role as Murphy who in the book was much more confident and polished. For supposedly being a seasoned golfer he did several things in the beginning of the movie that I felt were unreal such as talking in someone's back-swing and boasting about his abilities to the starter. It made the movie feel a bit cheesy right out of the gate. It did get better however as the movie moved on. I could have envisioned a character more equal to Davis Love III in this role.

References to the traditions of golf and the local lore are what drew me into the movie as did the book. The scenery, lighting, and quality acting of the rest of the cast are reasons why I gave it a high rating. I love the game and most movies about golf's impact on life aka The Greatest Game Ever Played (Shia LaBeouf) and The Legend of Bagger Vance (Will Smith, Matt Damon). It's worth the watch much like Harvey Penick's Little Red Book is worth the read.