Strong movie adaptation that follows the Broadway show closely while trading in its modern-art set concepts for realistic locales. Topol is smashing as Tevye.

There's a guy they call Lazer Wolf. That's a cool name, way cooler than it's character is. Also this film features epic beards.

Its circumference is wide enough to engulf the whole world, its values are problematic and grand enough to leave me long troubled after the viewing and the humanity, dear sweet humanity in it should be intelligible to all. Show it to your kids; show it to yourselves.

One of the few movies that will never get old

Too saccharine for easy digestibility, and too long. I don't find the songs particularly distinguished, and none of the characters are particularly well fleshed-out. Topol's "charm" is almost completely lost on me, especially when he is called upon to be the bull-headed patriarch upholding tradition while making his daughter miserable (not sure what actor, if anyone, could have remained remotely sympathetic). I need a movie musical to be more real are a hell of lot less real... not sure which.

"As a musical look at family, generational and cultural conflict, and faith, Fiddler on the Roof makes a virtue of its quaintness."

the story is good, the acting is reasonable and it's got a couple--no more--decent songs. considering it's one of the most famous musicals ever made it's a must watch, it would have been a better, way better watch had an hour been shaved off.

Overall an enjoyable film, if a bit too blindly happy about its ultimately tragic circumstances. Tevye's character really ties the film together, and gives the film the energy it needs to carry its three-hour run time. As with most musicals, there are a few too many songs. The early portion of the film works best, as the obvious structure works against any real surprise or engagement with the narrative later on.

I liked the aesthetics and at three hours it doesn't feel like a chore, but it's a pretty mediocre musical and to say it lacks subtly would by absurdly understated.