Don Quixote is a film adaptation of the classic novel by Miguel de Cervantes that has also yielded the musical stage production "Man of La Mancha."

An aging Alonzo Quixano (John Lithgow) lives inside his books about the days of knights and chivalry. He longs for adventure and excitement. One day he suddenly snaps and decides to experience his own adventures as a knight errant.

He digs out a rusted set of armor, an old sword and a makeshift lance, sands away some of the rust and prepares to journey into the world. He changes his name to Don Quixote de la Mancha and sets off as a knight errant to free the oppressed and topple the tyrants.

He changes his horse's name to Rocinante, a title befitting a noble steed. He convinces his neighbor and friend Sancho Panza (Bob Hoskins) to accompany him as his faithful squire. For payment, he promises to make Sancho the governor of the first island they conquer.

He stops to inform Alfonzo, a woman in the town (Vanessa Williams), that he is changing her name to Dulcinea and appointing her as his beloved mistress. He explains that she will not see him for four years while he travels around challenging all who do not agree that she is the most beautiful of all women. She doesn't care ... she has laundry to do.

He rides away, seeking his first adventure. He soon finds battle with giants -- which are, in fact, windmills and which do, in fact, win the battle -- although Don Quixote blames his loss on an evil necromancer.

Sancho and Alonzo's family just want him to give up his silliness and come home before he gets himself killed, but the only way to accomplish their goal is to outsmart and trick him. Their first act is to burn his books, seal his library and deny any knowledge that the books ever existed.

Everything about this movie is above average. The acting is exceptional. The photography is excellent. The costumes, makeup and special effects are outstanding. It is all of high quality.

Don Quixote is a charmer. It keeps you wondering what will happen next. Yet, it is also a heartbreaker, as you watch the lengths to which this man's family will go to protect him in his older age. You feel for him and them all at the same time. But most of it, it makes you thankful that your own elderly relatives have not ridden away on a noble steed to do battle with windmills. This is a must-see movie created from an endearing classic.