The Reader  (6/10)

Pros: decent story, good acting. 
Cons: ultra slow.

Did it really have substance for more than 2 hrs of movie? There are numerous questions and perspectives that are touched by the movie. Since I have not read the book, I'm not sure which aspect did the movie want to convey. For one, I am left confused about the initial scenes involving Kate's character. She hides her illiteracy but still behaves quite weird. I thought those scenes were before she became the guard. 
The other aspects of movie were subtle yet very thought provoking. But in the light of recent genocide or mass murders (like Sudan, Rwanda etc), I am not sure we've learnt any lessons from the events of WWII. Just today (19th Mar 09) there were testimonies by Israeli soliders of the atrocities and cold blooded murders conducted during the 3 week exercise in Palestine. 
Well any not a place for "political" discussion. Overall the movie was yet another world war movie; ofcourse you can ponder over various penetrating questions raised by the movie.

Cinematically, good strong performance by Kate Winslet.