Unified Messaging Movie Reviews

I've watched this movie dozens of times, and was overjoyed to find it on DVD at last. This was (I believe) The Great One Jackie Gleason's final screen performance, and it showed the way of the future for Tom Hanks. Sela Ward also appears as a love interest, along with Hector Elizondo as his boss, and Eva Marie Saint as Hanks' mom.

The only thing that gets on my nerves just a little is the soundtrack. I think it's Christopher Cross, surely one of the most annoying alleged musicians ever to hit the big time.

The transfer to disk is good. The cast is excellent. The plot makes sense, and the script is near perfect. The story is about the relationship between Tom Hanks' character, David Basner, and his father, Max Basner. Its a wonder that anyone comes out right as an adult, and Hanks had no idea how screwed up his childhood had been until the night his father told him his mother had split. And soon thereafter his secretary gave him a message that his mother had called, and added "I had no idea you had parents."

Wonderful. Buy it, enjoy it.

I found Nothing in Common to have all the attributes of a wonderful film. From its soundtrack to its cast. The subject, a selfish advertising executive, thinks only of himself, but finally learns that family is important, and old friends are the best.

It is my most favourite Tom Hanks movie.

This is one of my most treasured films of all time and I can't understand why it receives so little attention. This is the story of an immature but successful bachelor whose world is disrupted when he gets an unexpected call from his estranged father, telling him his mother left him. Tom Hanks gives one of his BEST performances (comedically AND dramatically) as the carefree fellow who is forced to get to know his parents all over again while supporting them emotionally.
While many label this a comedy--and it IS pretty funny-- I find it one of the most heartfelt and touching films ever thanks to a brilliant director, soppy but appropriate music, and an extraordinary cast. There've been so many films made concerning father-son relationships but if you're looking for the most genuinely realistic one, this is it. The final line of dialogue spoken by father to son ("You're the last person on earth I would've ever expected to come through for me") never fails to choke me up.

While Keanu Reeves belongs to what I call the "Paper Bag" school of acting (namely, that is, what he couldn't act his way out of) this movie manages a sweet charm all of its own. I believe that many people have discounted this film mainly because of its star (who before recently was known more for playing Ted "Theodore" Logan than Mr. Neo "The One" Anderson). While the film may follow the traditional story of two people pretending to be in love and then actually falling in love, it is told in such a sweet manner that it's hard to find fault with it. Even I find myself getting caught up in the emotions of the film. This movie is filled with humor, drama and in the end makes a nice romantic film. However, if you're looking for hard hitting drama, or extremely though provoking dialogue and plot, this movie isn't for you.

"A Walk In the Clouds" is a beautiful film filled with love, hope, and overcoming adversity.

The film revolves around a candy salesman (Keanu Reeves) who has just returned from WWII only to realize that everything he thought was so important and true to him before he left were no longer. While on a sales assignment, he bumps into a beautiful woman who is on her way home from college. After speaking to her for a while, he discovers she is pregnant. The bad part is that this lady is unmarried and must face her very strict parents. Reeves' character agrees to pretend to be her husband just for show, but ends up falling madly in love with her.

The cinematography in this film is exquisite. Most of the movie takes place in one of the most beautiful vineyards ("Las Nubes" or "The Clouds" in the film) I have ever laid eyes on.

If you would like to watch a movie filled with a lovely romance and even lovier landscapes, watch this film!!!!!!

When I use the term Adult Fairytale, some might think of films like, "The Princess Bride" or "Ever After" but "A Walk in the Clouds" is a more suitable example. Director Alfonso Arau has created a magical story peopled by outsized characters and placed in a spiritual world called the Aragon Estate. The film permits we mere mortals to visit this world, a Spanish style winery nestled in California's Napper Valley. We arrive along with Paul Sutton, Keanu Reeves; a stranger in a strange land.

Paul's background is economically exposed at the start of the movie. A man returns from World War II, hoping to greet his wife whom he met and married just before shipping out. He dreams of a meaningful life, surrounded by a loving family. His small goals are those of an orphan who has had a lonely life and whose ordeals in battle have condensed his wishes to the simple, important things. Sadly his wife, Betty, is more interested in money and its trappings. She has a lot of spirit but little heart or interest for Paul's modest ambitions. He no sooner arrives than he is pushed out the door to earn some money selling chocolates; a job he wasn't enthusiastic about even before the war.

At this point we are still grounded in the real world, although Paul has an unearthly element to him that is hinted at. For example, any soldier that writes a letter to his wife every day, despite receiving virtually no replies, has more than the average dose of hope and optimism. The real world serves as a backdrop for the rest of the film, contrasting starkly with the soft images, haunting score and honest dialogue that characterises life at the Aragon Vineyard. On a train journey to one of his sales calls, Paul meets Victoria Aragon. She forms a bridge, between these two worlds, that Paul traverses in a series of jerks and lurches. A run of accidents result in Paul volunteering to help the beautiful but miserable young woman. I'm certain these accidents represent fate taking a hand in the lives of two who are destined for love.

Victoria is played by Aitana Sanchez-Gijon in her first English speaking role. Victoria's problem, being unmarried and pregnant, is magnified by having to face a traditionalist family and a strict and passionate father, Alberto. The solution seems obvious to the chivalrous Paul. He suggests playing the part of her husband, a man who fears responsibility and will soon leave her. In this way Paul hopes her honour will be maintained in the eyes of her family and any bitterness will, instead, fall on his absent shoulders. It is a good plan, only complicated in execution by the couple's growing love and Paul's desire for the rich family life that Victoria takes for granted. The turning point seems to come during a family ritual, performed after picking the harvest. All the married women are enticed into a large wooden vat to crush the grapes. This prosaic activity is actually a lusty and sensual attempt to harness the ancient powers of some fertility god. Not even Paul can stand against Victoria's almost unwitting seduction. This is truly one of the sexiest pieces of footage I can remember seeing; and all without resorting to nudity or the sharing of body fluids.

Another rope around Paul's neck is the family's patriarch, Don Pedro Aragón, played with amazing assurance and grace by Anthony Quinn. Don Pedro seems to see through all deceptions, going straight to the heart of the matter. He guides, prods and manipulates Paul to discover, and even pursue, his love of Victoria. In fact if I have any criticism of the film it is that next to Anthony Quinn, Keanu seems like a wooden doll, particularly during the preparations for the drunken serenade. But even this seems appropriate for Paul's character, so inexperienced in the ways of family.

Several Journeys take place in the film; Paul's path from orphanage to family, Victoria's reluctant steps from deception to honesty, her father Alberto's change from taskmaster to loving parent. Even the audience takes a journey. We start out wanting to escape our troubles with a little light entertainment and walk away looking inward, trying to decide if we are on a path as fulfilling as that of Paul and the Aragón family. "A Walk in the Clouds" clearly rejects mindless materialism, a philosophy mirrored by Paul's war-bride rejecting him. Instead we are asked to believe that family, honest labour and honour make up the soil our soul should take root in. We may not all have root stock as steeped in tradition as the Aragon's but like Paul, perhaps we will have the sense to recognise rich earth when we see it.

While Keanu Reeves belongs to what I call the "Paper Bag" school of acting (namely, that is, what he couldn't act his way out of) this movie manages a sweet charm all of its own. I believe that many people have discounted this film mainly because of its star (who before recently was known more for playing Ted "Theodore" Logan than Mr. Neo "The One" Anderson). While the film may follow the traditional story of two people pretending to be in love and then actually falling in love, it is told in such a sweet manner that it's hard to find fault with it. Even I find myself getting caught up in the emotions of the film. This movie is filled with humor, drama and in the end makes a nice romantic film. However, if you're looking for hard hitting drama, or extremely though provoking dialogue and plot, this movie isn't for you.

"A Walk In the Clouds" is a beautiful film filled with love, hope, and overcoming adversity.

The film revolves around a candy salesman (Keanu Reeves) who has just returned from WWII only to realize that everything he thought was so important and true to him before he left were no longer. While on a sales assignment, he bumps into a beautiful woman who is on her way home from college. After speaking to her for a while, he discovers she is pregnant. The bad part is that this lady is unmarried and must face her very strict parents. Reeves' character agrees to pretend to be her husband just for show, but ends up falling madly in love with her.

The cinematography in this film is exquisite. Most of the movie takes place in one of the most beautiful vineyards ("Las Nubes" or "The Clouds" in the film) I have ever laid eyes on.

If you would like to watch a movie filled with a lovely romance and even lovier landscapes, watch this film!!!!!!

When I use the term Adult Fairytale, some might think of films like, "The Princess Bride" or "Ever After" but "A Walk in the Clouds" is a more suitable example. Director Alfonso Arau has created a magical story peopled by outsized characters and placed in a spiritual world called the Aragon Estate. The film permits we mere mortals to visit this world, a Spanish style winery nestled in California's Napper Valley. We arrive along with Paul Sutton, Keanu Reeves; a stranger in a strange land.

Paul's background is economically exposed at the start of the movie. A man returns from World War II, hoping to greet his wife whom he met and married just before shipping out. He dreams of a meaningful life, surrounded by a loving family. His small goals are those of an orphan who has had a lonely life and whose ordeals in battle have condensed his wishes to the simple, important things. Sadly his wife, Betty, is more interested in money and its trappings. She has a lot of spirit but little heart or interest for Paul's modest ambitions. He no sooner arrives than he is pushed out the door to earn some money selling chocolates; a job he wasn't enthusiastic about even before the war.

At this point we are still grounded in the real world, although Paul has an unearthly element to him that is hinted at. For example, any soldier that writes a letter to his wife every day, despite receiving virtually no replies, has more than the average dose of hope and optimism. The real world serves as a backdrop for the rest of the film, contrasting starkly with the soft images, haunting score and honest dialogue that characterises life at the Aragon Vineyard. On a train journey to one of his sales calls, Paul meets Victoria Aragon. She forms a bridge, between these two worlds, that Paul traverses in a series of jerks and lurches. A run of accidents result in Paul volunteering to help the beautiful but miserable young woman. I'm certain these accidents represent fate taking a hand in the lives of two who are destined for love.

Victoria is played by Aitana Sanchez-Gijon in her first English speaking role. Victoria's problem, being unmarried and pregnant, is magnified by having to face a traditionalist family and a strict and passionate father, Alberto. The solution seems obvious to the chivalrous Paul. He suggests playing the part of her husband, a man who fears responsibility and will soon leave her. In this way Paul hopes her honour will be maintained in the eyes of her family and any bitterness will, instead, fall on his absent shoulders. It is a good plan, only complicated in execution by the couple's growing love and Paul's desire for the rich family life that Victoria takes for granted. The turning point seems to come during a family ritual, performed after picking the harvest. All the married women are enticed into a large wooden vat to crush the grapes. This prosaic activity is actually a lusty and sensual attempt to harness the ancient powers of some fertility god. Not even Paul can stand against Victoria's almost unwitting seduction. This is truly one of the sexiest pieces of footage I can remember seeing; and all without resorting to nudity or the sharing of body fluids.

Another rope around Paul's neck is the family's patriarch, Don Pedro Aragón, played with amazing assurance and grace by Anthony Quinn. Don Pedro seems to see through all deceptions, going straight to the heart of the matter. He guides, prods and manipulates Paul to discover, and even pursue, his love of Victoria. In fact if I have any criticism of the film it is that next to Anthony Quinn, Keanu seems like a wooden doll, particularly during the preparations for the drunken serenade. But even this seems appropriate for Paul's character, so inexperienced in the ways of family.

Several Journeys take place in the film; Paul's path from orphanage to family, Victoria's reluctant steps from deception to honesty, her father Alberto's change from taskmaster to loving parent. Even the audience takes a journey. We start out wanting to escape our troubles with a little light entertainment and walk away looking inward, trying to decide if we are on a path as fulfilling as that of Paul and the Aragón family. "A Walk in the Clouds" clearly rejects mindless materialism, a philosophy mirrored by Paul's war-bride rejecting him. Instead we are asked to believe that family, honest labour and honour make up the soil our soul should take root in. We may not all have root stock as steeped in tradition as the Aragon's but like Paul, perhaps we will have the sense to recognise rich earth when we see it.

While Keanu Reeves belongs to what I call the "Paper Bag" school of acting (namely, that is, what he couldn't act his way out of) this movie manages a sweet charm all of its own. I believe that many people have discounted this film mainly because of its star (who before recently was known more for playing Ted "Theodore" Logan than Mr. Neo "The One" Anderson). While the film may follow the traditional story of two people pretending to be in love and then actually falling in love, it is told in such a sweet manner that it's hard to find fault with it. Even I find myself getting caught up in the emotions of the film. This movie is filled with humor, drama and in the end makes a nice romantic film. However, if you're looking for hard hitting drama, or extremely though provoking dialogue and plot, this movie isn't for you.

"A Walk In the Clouds" is a beautiful film filled with love, hope, and overcoming adversity.

The film revolves around a candy salesman (Keanu Reeves) who has just returned from WWII only to realize that everything he thought was so important and true to him before he left were no longer. While on a sales assignment, he bumps into a beautiful woman who is on her way home from college. After speaking to her for a while, he discovers she is pregnant. The bad part is that this lady is unmarried and must face her very strict parents. Reeves' character agrees to pretend to be her husband just for show, but ends up falling madly in love with her.

The cinematography in this film is exquisite. Most of the movie takes place in one of the most beautiful vineyards ("Las Nubes" or "The Clouds" in the film) I have ever laid eyes on.

If you would like to watch a movie filled with a lovely romance and even lovier landscapes, watch this film!!!!!!

When I use the term Adult Fairytale, some might think of films like, "The Princess Bride" or "Ever After" but "A Walk in the Clouds" is a more suitable example. Director Alfonso Arau has created a magical story peopled by outsized characters and placed in a spiritual world called the Aragon Estate. The film permits we mere mortals to visit this world, a Spanish style winery nestled in California's Napper Valley. We arrive along with Paul Sutton, Keanu Reeves; a stranger in a strange land.

Paul's background is economically exposed at the start of the movie. A man returns from World War II, hoping to greet his wife whom he met and married just before shipping out. He dreams of a meaningful life, surrounded by a loving family. His small goals are those of an orphan who has had a lonely life and whose ordeals in battle have condensed his wishes to the simple, important things. Sadly his wife, Betty, is more interested in money and its trappings. She has a lot of spirit but little heart or interest for Paul's modest ambitions. He no sooner arrives than he is pushed out the door to earn some money selling chocolates; a job he wasn't enthusiastic about even before the war.

At this point we are still grounded in the real world, although Paul has an unearthly element to him that is hinted at. For example, any soldier that writes a letter to his wife every day, despite receiving virtually no replies, has more than the average dose of hope and optimism. The real world serves as a backdrop for the rest of the film, contrasting starkly with the soft images, haunting score and honest dialogue that characterises life at the Aragon Vineyard. On a train journey to one of his sales calls, Paul meets Victoria Aragon. She forms a bridge, between these two worlds, that Paul traverses in a series of jerks and lurches. A run of accidents result in Paul volunteering to help the beautiful but miserable young woman. I'm certain these accidents represent fate taking a hand in the lives of two who are destined for love.

Victoria is played by Aitana Sanchez-Gijon in her first English speaking role. Victoria's problem, being unmarried and pregnant, is magnified by having to face a traditionalist family and a strict and passionate father, Alberto. The solution seems obvious to the chivalrous Paul. He suggests playing the part of her husband, a man who fears responsibility and will soon leave her. In this way Paul hopes her honour will be maintained in the eyes of her family and any bitterness will, instead, fall on his absent shoulders. It is a good plan, only complicated in execution by the couple's growing love and Paul's desire for the rich family life that Victoria takes for granted. The turning point seems to come during a family ritual, performed after picking the harvest. All the married women are enticed into a large wooden vat to crush the grapes. This prosaic activity is actually a lusty and sensual attempt to harness the ancient powers of some fertility god. Not even Paul can stand against Victoria's almost unwitting seduction. This is truly one of the sexiest pieces of footage I can remember seeing; and all without resorting to nudity or the sharing of body fluids.

Another rope around Paul's neck is the family's patriarch, Don Pedro Aragón, played with amazing assurance and grace by Anthony Quinn. Don Pedro seems to see through all deceptions, going straight to the heart of the matter. He guides, prods and manipulates Paul to discover, and even pursue, his love of Victoria. In fact if I have any criticism of the film it is that next to Anthony Quinn, Keanu seems like a wooden doll, particularly during the preparations for the drunken serenade. But even this seems appropriate for Paul's character, so inexperienced in the ways of family.

Several Journeys take place in the film; Paul's path from orphanage to family, Victoria's reluctant steps from deception to honesty, her father Alberto's change from taskmaster to loving parent. Even the audience takes a journey. We start out wanting to escape our troubles with a little light entertainment and walk away looking inward, trying to decide if we are on a path as fulfilling as that of Paul and the Aragón family. "A Walk in the Clouds" clearly rejects mindless materialism, a philosophy mirrored by Paul's war-bride rejecting him. Instead we are asked to believe that family, honest labour and honour make up the soil our soul should take root in. We may not all have root stock as steeped in tradition as the Aragon's but like Paul, perhaps we will have the sense to recognise rich earth when we see it.

when i first heard of this anime, i thoiught it sounded really cool. i saw the first 2 eps a few summers ago. i rented it from a blockbuster store. the art and story line wasnt too bad, but i was a little dissapointed. there was no romantic plot taht was overly noticable. then a friend of mine bought this dvd collection, and brought it to a sleepover party. there was a noticable difference from the ealier eps and the newer ones. i greatly enjoyed the newer ones. the art was much better. my fave eps was the last one. the sex scene between the two male angels was short and very angsty, leaving me wanting more. but overall, it was a good anime.

The reason I first got this box set was because I heard from a friend that it had shonnen-ai (boy's love) in it. I was a bit dissapointed, for the romance didn't really come until the third episode, but it was still good. Earthian is only four episodes. It's about two angels; one has to record the bad side of humans, and the other the good. Then there's a main plot going through the four episodes, with side plots to make everything more spaced out (in my oppinion).

I would recommend this if you wanted it for the story, but if you were like me and only got it for the boy's love, then I'd say get something else.

Well this movie is in fact a shounen ai. But it hardly shows it. The main character tells his fellings to the other main character, and all he gets is a hug. There is a 2 sec kissing scene and well, thats about it for the shounen ai part. But the story line is really good, but it went too fast even thought each epasode seemes to go on forever b/c so much stuff happens.

Well the main character wants to know why his hair is black, and why he has black wings. So whenever he sees others black haired and winged angels, theyre not like him. They either have cancer that turned their hair and wings black, or they were creations. So people start to wonder if hes a Lucifer. He meets enimies that become friends that become enimies that become friends again. And then the friends die. There are 4 eps. each containing a diff story with the same characters. And of caorse the ending is all happy, but short. But over all, its a pretty good anime for being so old. ^.^;

The television series "McHale's Navy" aired between "Sgt. Bilko" and "Hogan's Heroes," and all three of these military situation comedies had in common the fact that the leader of each little group played outside the rules and an expert con artist. But there was also the idea that Bilko, McHale, and Hogan were also the smartest men around, which explained how they were able to get away with so much. With "McHale's Navy" you had the Oscar winning actor Ernest Borgnine in the role, with Tim Conway and Joe Flynn providing comic relief. This is a tried and true formula: if you look at the early years of "M*A*S*H" you will find the same situation, with Hawkeye and Trapper running rings around their commanding officer and a pair of troublesome majors. However, this formula is totally jettisoned in this 1997 theatrical film that is so bad it makes you wonder how the original series lasted four years.

Tom Arnold did a surprisingly good job as Arnold Swarzenegger's right hand man in "True Lies," but in this film he is taking a step backwards to the character he played on "Roseanne." Not that he was bad in that role, but that is not the character of McHale. With Arnold in the role you get the feeling he is ahead of the game, not because he is smarter than the others, but mainly because they are so stupid. Nor does casting Dean Stockwell as an even more moronic Captain Binghampton seem like a good move either. However, even this move looks pretty good compared to the decision to give McHale a pet pig...

The story is set in today rather than back in World War II, with McHale retired in the Carribean; which explains why anybody is still piloting a PT boat around. But this means that McHale and his crew are no longer part of the system that they were always bucking, which is another nail in the comic premise of this film when compared to the television show. We then have Tim Curry as Maj. Vladikov, a Russian terrorist, who is out to get McHale. I would not think comedies about terrorists were particularly funny back then, so this film fails on two scores in that regard. But I really cannot get beyond the fact that the names are kept the same, but pretty much everything else has changed beyond recognition.

Ironically several well-known television stars are running around in supporting parts. David Alan Grier plays Ensign Parker this time around, and his take on the character is at least different enough not to be totally insulting. Debra Messing is the film's female lead, Lt. Penelope Carpenter, and French Stewart has the old Gavin McLeod role of Happy. Borgnine makes the token appearance by a original cast member, so there is at least that one moment where you get to smile at something that happens in this sad little film. "McHale's Navy" is the film that proved that no film version of a television sit com could be so bad that Hollywood would stop making them.

I love this movie, Its really funny, but also has some cool action sequences. I think it's Tom Arnolds best movie since True Lies. I really would like to see this released on DVD though!

If you're in the mood for a comedy that requires no thought, this is it. The single lines are hilarious if you let them be. It has a "Billy Madison" type humor. Dont go into it expecting the 60's version. This is new and different. We'd like to have the DVD, but we're still waiting.

I only gave this movie 1 star because there wasn't an option for no stars. This is the absolute worst depiction of Jesus' life that I've ever seen. And to top it all off the special effects aren't very special. Don't even rent this movie, save your time and your money. The acting is horrible, and nothing here follows the Bible. They got some woosie boy to play Jesus, and this guy doesn't even know who he is and what he's been placed on earth to do. If you know what the trinity is, it's the belief that the father, the son, and the holy spirit are the same and this story shows that Jesus didn't know why he was on Earth. Bottom line, this movie SUCKS!!!

DON'T GET THIS MOVIE, IT'S HORRIBLE.

Not a bad movie of Jesus.
Certainly, it is not going to be a Oscar for actor Jeremy Sisto for playing Jesus, especially when it is obvious that he breathes noticeable 3 or 4 times when playing Jesus dead in the tomb.
I don't agree in a Jesus not knowing why he was here.

As I have read in the reviews made of this movie, there is people either who love this movie or hate it.

Just watch it and get your own conclusions.

It is a different movie of Jesus but it is worth watching.

This is a more upbeat, jolly Jesus than is usually portrayed in films. You can tell that they purposfully stayed away from a very serious type of Jesus portrayal in this production.
For the most part it is a nice, refreshing change. I mean think about it, how could the man who has conquered death and fear, who lives in the Light, walk around so serious all the time. I agree that he would be quite an upbeat fellow. Not to mention that he himself said that in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, one would have to be simple like a child again. So, it does make a lot of sense. Perhaps I would have liked to have seen more moments where he came across very centered while teaching and giving spiritual discources though. I find that to be very inspiring for people. There were not too many moments like that in this film, which might have been nice.
There were some interesting interpretive things like a modern day looking Satan trying to tempt him that I thought were great. I feel it is definately a worthwhile film to watch.

The case of the Mothman sightings in West Virginia have long been part of paranormal lore, especially due to John A. Keel's book on the events. "The Mothman Prophecies" alas, is a movie that wanders completely away from the original story and decides to update it in a puzzling, boring way. The original events, some consider them real others a hoax, took place in 1966, the movie updates the story to 2002 and adds it's own spin on things. This would be fine if the script had been crafted a little better, but instead it wanders around in circles. Plot points are never fully connected or even explained, and we never even get a good look at the Mothman which makes us wonder, why is it even called the MOTHMAN? The photography however, is really well-done and has a nice, mysterious look, like in the early X-Files episodes, but while the material is well-directed, it seems like a puzzle without solutions. At least the original book has it's own explanations, and no matter how out of this world they might seem, they are still explanations. In the film for example, Richard Gere's wife dies as a result from a car crash they were involved in soon after spotting the Mothman, and she begins to draw visions of the creature on paper, ok, interesting. But later in the film no connection is established between her death and the Mothman, in fact, nothing connects in this movie. What exactly are the Mothman Prophecies? The movie has been compared to The X-Files, but The X-Files has always had a continuing thread through-out it's plots and ideas, Mulder is always trying to prove that aliens exist and the government is trying to cover it up, but in "The Mothman Prophecies" all we get is a heartbroken widower who gets weird phone calls from a husky voice. Is it from the after-life? Is it an alien? For the rental or ticket price, we'd like to know. Read the book, skip the film.

First, I would like to say I was impressed that Richard Gere volunteered to do this film, as offbeat and cult as it must have sounded on paper.
I believe if you have some knowledge of the strange events known as The Mothman sightings, you may find this movie more entertaining. Particularly the events occurring in Point Pleasant. If you do not know the legend, you may be lost while viewing this film. Since I cannot possibly explain the entire "legend" in this review. I recommend doing an internet search for "The Mothman"... or... "Silver Bridge Disaster".
A quick summary as follows. In 1966, in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, a bridge spanning the Ohio River collapsed. Many people died when their cars plummeted into the Ohio River or the Ohio River banks. This is documented fact. The name of the bridge was Silver Bridge.
The events that happened PRIOR to the collapse of the bridge is where this event gets truly bizarre.
The story begins with journalist John Klein driving through the night to discover that he has blacked out and ended up hundreds of miles away from his intended destination. He ends up in Point Pleasant. The community of Point Pleasant is plagued with strange encounters from a giant winged humanoid, and the townspeople are have disturbing precognition of disasters. The people have nicknamed the creature THE MOTHMAN because of his wings and eyes.
Actual police reports were made concerning the strange sightings of The Mothman.
Most of the people who made the police reports met their doom on the Silver Bridge.
Was The Mothman some kind of messenger of death? Or was he trying to warn the people?
Draw your own conclusions.
There is a book titled "The Mothman Prophecies" which was written in the early seventies detailing the journalist's adventures in Point Pleasant. I recommend the book as well as an internet search to learn more about these bizarre events. There are also message boards on the internet where survivors of the bridge disaster and their relatives post messages to eachother. Happy Hunting!

I have a comment to add to a_very_disturbing_horse's post. They mentioned the part and Richard Gere and Debra Messing in the closet at the house they were viewing, saying it had no part in the story. It does, if you notice, Debra Messing sees a moth flying overhead and it scares her.

The case of the Mothman sightings in West Virginia have long been part of paranormal lore, especially due to John A. Keel's book on the events. "The Mothman Prophecies" alas, is a movie that wanders completely away from the original story and decides to update it in a puzzling, boring way. The original events, some consider them real others a hoax, took place in 1966, the movie updates the story to 2002 and adds it's own spin on things. This would be fine if the script had been crafted a little better, but instead it wanders around in circles. Plot points are never fully connected or even explained, and we never even get a good look at the Mothman which makes us wonder, why is it even called the MOTHMAN? The photography however, is really well-done and has a nice, mysterious look, like in the early X-Files episodes, but while the material is well-directed, it seems like a puzzle without solutions. At least the original book has it's own explanations, and no matter how out of this world they might seem, they are still explanations. In the film for example, Richard Gere's wife dies as a result from a car crash they were involved in soon after spotting the Mothman, and she begins to draw visions of the creature on paper, ok, interesting. But later in the film no connection is established between her death and the Mothman, in fact, nothing connects in this movie. What exactly are the Mothman Prophecies? The movie has been compared to The X-Files, but The X-Files has always had a continuing thread through-out it's plots and ideas, Mulder is always trying to prove that aliens exist and the government is trying to cover it up, but in "The Mothman Prophecies" all we get is a heartbroken widower who gets weird phone calls from a husky voice. Is it from the after-life? Is it an alien? For the rental or ticket price, we'd like to know. Read the book, skip the film.

First, I would like to say I was impressed that Richard Gere volunteered to do this film, as offbeat and cult as it must have sounded on paper.
I believe if you have some knowledge of the strange events known as The Mothman sightings, you may find this movie more entertaining. Particularly the events occurring in Point Pleasant. If you do not know the legend, you may be lost while viewing this film. Since I cannot possibly explain the entire "legend" in this review. I recommend doing an internet search for "The Mothman"... or... "Silver Bridge Disaster".
A quick summary as follows. In 1966, in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, a bridge spanning the Ohio River collapsed. Many people died when their cars plummeted into the Ohio River or the Ohio River banks. This is documented fact. The name of the bridge was Silver Bridge.
The events that happened PRIOR to the collapse of the bridge is where this event gets truly bizarre.
The story begins with journalist John Klein driving through the night to discover that he has blacked out and ended up hundreds of miles away from his intended destination. He ends up in Point Pleasant. The community of Point Pleasant is plagued with strange encounters from a giant winged humanoid, and the townspeople are have disturbing precognition of disasters. The people have nicknamed the creature THE MOTHMAN because of his wings and eyes.
Actual police reports were made concerning the strange sightings of The Mothman.
Most of the people who made the police reports met their doom on the Silver Bridge.
Was The Mothman some kind of messenger of death? Or was he trying to warn the people?
Draw your own conclusions.
There is a book titled "The Mothman Prophecies" which was written in the early seventies detailing the journalist's adventures in Point Pleasant. I recommend the book as well as an internet search to learn more about these bizarre events. There are also message boards on the internet where survivors of the bridge disaster and their relatives post messages to eachother. Happy Hunting!

I have a comment to add to a_very_disturbing_horse's post. They mentioned the part and Richard Gere and Debra Messing in the closet at the house they were viewing, saying it had no part in the story. It does, if you notice, Debra Messing sees a moth flying overhead and it scares her.

Moonlight Mile is a film that almost challenges cynical audiences to roll their eyes at a story that could easily become maudlin and entirely predictable. Good performances and a story that sometimes veers in unexpected directions prevents this from happening, if just barely. Ben and JoJo (Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon) are parents whose daughter has recently been murdered. Joe (Jake Gyllenhaal), who was about to marry the girl, moves in with the grieving parents. So far, this is a typical play-like scenario that promises a series of melodramatic and eventually tedious scenes. Movies that begin with the loss of a loved one are vehicles for stars to give performances that many critics will dutifully call "Oscar worthy." The actors in this case do quite well with this material and manage to make the characters real people. Susan Sarandon always brings a certain intelligence and sophistication to her roles and this is no exception. It is easy to sympathize withJoJo's exasperation with "well meaning" neighbors. Hoffman, too, is a veteran who can usually be counted upon to bring something original to a character. Ben is a fairly complicated, and in some ways weak personality. He leans on his would-be son-in-law for support, pressuring him to enter a career in commercial real estate that the boy is obviously only lukewarm about. I could have done without the ultimately pointless parallels to The Graduate (Hoffman's character in that classic was also named Benjamin and Gyllenhaal's shyness and uncertainty are reminiscent of the Ben from that film). The movie is set in the 70s in a small New England town. One reason for using an earlier period is probably that today it would seem less likely that a young man would feel as much obligation to his in-laws as Joe does here. There are also some very good supporting roles. Holly Hunter is the prosecuting attorney who counsels the family on how to ensure that the girl's killer gets appropriately punished. The scene where she asks them how they feel about the death penalty is a good example of a realistically done awkward conversation. Ellen Pompeo is a postal worker who Joe is attracted to; this new relationship complicates matters with his new adopted family. Moonlight Mile is not perfect, but it manages to sustain an authentic and interesting atmosphere for the duration.

Moonlight Mile is one of the best films of 2002. It's fantastic script teeters on the edge of humor and heartache through out. It's sentimental nature never goes soft but instead always maintains an indifferent feel and for that remains believable.
Joe (Gyllenhaal) loses his fiance' when she is killed in a disbute at a local diner. He stays with her parents Ben and Jo Jo (Hoffman and Sarandon) to work with Ben in Real Estate, to make up for his loss and to hide inner pain and secrets. When Joe meets and falls in love with a women, who works at a bar Ben is trying to close a deal on, the truth must be revealed. A touching, moving film about finding one's home and security gives a realistic look on dealing with loss and the road to recovery. Spectacular performances from Gyllenhaal, Hoffman, Sarandon, and newcomer Ellen Pompeo respectively.

I just finished watching this movie and loved it - was very moved. First off, to get the obvious out of the way, the soundtrack is fabulous and the dog is great.

That said, i really appreciated this view of the grieving process - sometimes quiet, sometimes stilted and wooden, sometimes angry, sometimes funny. I can't even repeat here some of the conversations a group of us had after a friend's suicide - too ribald and raunchy. It helped us ease the pain. The scene of the deceased daughter's "friends" going through her clothes to pick stuff out was also very painfully realistic. I've been there.

I thought Jake Gyllenhall was fantastic. I've seen him in other things but he really stood out to me. And Susan Sarandon, I think, always gives her best. Dustin Hoffman walked that line of holding it all together and giving you the feeling that any moment he was going to burst.

The only disappointing moment for me was the relationship that came about between Joe and Bertie. Not that that's not realistic - many people I know who lost their partners quickly married or got together with someone else again shortly thereafter. I can't really say what bugged me about it. I think maybe when they "got together" (read between those words) I expected more pent up grief to be released or something. And maybe that's my OWN personal stereotyping of how grief is experienced at a moment like that.

On the whole, I really liked this movie a lot. I laughed. I cried. I thought of friends who are no longer with me and their families and loved ones. I thought of Brad Silberberg (sp?) and Rebecca Shaeffer. I think she would have been proud.