Grandparents Day Movie Reviews

There aren't many performances in film that translate with such intensity a man's ancestral obsequiousness, and cowardice in the face of duty, than Anthony Hopkins' in the above film. This came out the same year as Philadelphia, the movie that achieved Tom Hanks his first, and much deserved, academy award. As poignant as Tom's portrayal is of an AIDS-afflicted homosexual taking on corporate and social prejudice, however, I really believe Anthony was the superior heir to the accolade. The film received eight nominations in all, including Best Film, Best Actress (Emma Thompson), and Best Actor, and Anthony was coming off an Oscar-winning role for his work in Silence of the Lambs three years prior. Whereas Philadelphia's outstanding appeal is rooted in its obvious social matter, The Remains of the Day is a subtle, probing, and I think an even more tragic painting of a man immured by heritage and dutiful blindness.
Based on the book by Kazuo Ishiguro, the story is divested through flashbacks of a retired butler named Stevens (Hopkins) near the end of his life circa 1958. He is engaged in a trek across the English countryside toward a long awaited meeting that he hopes might reconcile his past mistakes. His reminiscences take us back to a period shortly preceding the Second World War, in the estate of the politically inclined Lord Darlington, under whom Stevens serves. He is possessed with a stringent, self-denying will to fulfill his duty, and his thoroughly unsentimental way of life is challenged with the arrival of the new housekeeper, the spirited, idealistic Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson). The film concentrates on the tortured and repressed romance between these two as Darlington Hall becomes embroiled in a political, underhanded affair with the Nazis.
It is a thoughtful, masterful film that unveils itself in the shadows and crevices of the manor; the only effect is human emotion. Pay attention to how Hopkins has unearthed the subtleties, in his unsated eyes and breathy hesitations, of a man buried in ignorance and loneliness due to obsessive, familial yeomanry. A man who will not leave the table to attend to his dying father upstairs, also a butler, until his master has been seated. And the final scene, where the dove becomes trapped in a room and is eventually released through the window -watch as Stevens stares curiously after the fleeting, liberated creature and the camera retreats from the window, revealing the breathtaking expanse of the English landscape. This is the world that he has failed to understand and explore. Beautiful. Hopkins proves he is a master: he has exhumed in this character something so personal, hopeful, with such dark realness, and with a quality of humanity, as to leave an audience pulverized.

Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson give superlative performances as the head butler and housekeeper at Darlington Hall in pre-WWII England, where personal and international dramas are enacted. Set in the present, the film uses flashbacks to tell the stories of servants and Lord Darlington, a misguided gentleman who believed appeasement with Germany was the solution in the years leading to the Second World War. Hopkins is his very officious butler, a man who places duty and propriety above all things, even his true feelings for housekeeper Thompson. She is more forthcoming with her emotions, but she cannot bring him to open himself up, including a painfully well-acted scene where Thompson tries to get Hopkins to reveal to her the book he is reading.

If you are looking for loads of action and music-video style editing, this film will not be for you. It is a character and class study, and it succeeds admirably well on both levels. Hopkins and Thompson are both able to communicate subtle emotions with a simple pause or a look. The supporting cast is also fine. The screenplay allows the characters and drama to unfold slowly, establishing a feeling for the time and for the differences in class that existed in the era.

Remains of the Day is directed with understated style, allowing the setting and characters to dominate. Although it may be more literary than most films, don't mistake it for something stuffy or inaccessible. It's great drama about all too real characters that reminds us of the impact of the unspoken word.

Set in the 1930's, Anthony Hopkins is perfectly cast as Stevens, a loyal and dedicated butler, who feels he could not truly be content "unless he has done all he can in the service of his employer," who is Lord Darlington, played beautifully by James Fox. Also part of the household is the Head Housekeeper, Miss Kenton, played by Emma Thompson, who upon her arrival at Darlington Hall finds herself at odds with Mr. Stevens. Slowly, we see how the consent battles Stevens and Kenton find themselves in are fueled by the desire both keep buried deep within themselves to tell each other how they feel. Though it is never said, you come to believe that these two love each other, but Kenton will not approach Stevens about it, and instead tries to get reactions out of Stevens in an attempt for him to admit to it. Stevens, however, will not partake in anything that is outside the service of his employer.

While this story unfolds, we also see how Lord Darlington, spurred on by honorable, but misguided intentions, uses his influence to encourage others to assist the Nazis with the rebuilding of Germany. One of those not convinced is Congressman Lewis of Pennsylvania, played by Christopher Reeves in his last performance before his tragic accident. Lewis' warnings go unheeded, and Lord Darlington pursues his plans to help the Nazis.

In the midst of these historic events, Stevens seems to be ignorant to their importance. Though Stevens knows that Lord Darlington is involved in important affairs of state, his duties as his butler require him to focus his attention on his responsibilities, and to trust his employer to make the correct decisions. Still, there seem to be moments in the movie where Stevens does seem to reveal that he was more aware of what was going on then he initially let on, and you may wonder if he is just keeping his opinions to himself.

One part of the movie I always found interesting is in the scene set about 20 years after Miss Kenton had left Darlington Hall to get married. Stevens, on his way to see Miss Kenton about returning to Darlington Hall as Head Housekeeper again, discusses with a man giving him a lift about mistakes he made and how he was on his way to make them right. I always wondered what Stevens considered the mistake; allowing Miss Kenton to leave Darlington Hall as Head Housekeeper, or not telling Miss Kenton how much he really loved her.

This is a classic and I never miss it when it's on television. A terrific tale of mistaken identity turned deception. Tony Randall is delightful as a cad who wants Doris! Terrific plot, excellent performances, pacing, and twists. Terrific movie!

Rock and Doris are magic together in this delightful 1959 romp. The film is too fun and Thelma Ritter's comments are the capper. I highly recommend this delightful pairing in this film. Although it may seem terribly sweet and dated, in contemporary film genres trashed with violence, sex and computer wizardry, this film relies upon acting.

I have to admit - I love this movie. It is very, very funny and so clever that even though it is a very dated product of it's era - it still always feels fresh and lively to me. Doris Day is adorable here and Rock Hudson is hysterical. (Shades of truths to come!) Tony Randall was a great comic foil and Thelma Ritter still makes me alugh out loud even after 100+ viewings. It is so 60's chic - the clothes, cars, apartments - it still seems cool! Enjoy! They can't make them like this anymore.

Al Pacino gave his strongest performance as Sonny,a crazy

bank robber who failed in his robbery operation along with

his dump partner Sal [played by the late great actor John

Cazale].Although the movie is great, but the DVD has some

problems with the sound and there is no extras.

This movie rocks! You should definitely buy it!

Plot: An inept bank robber and his dimwitted buddy hold up a Brooklyn bank and everything
goes down hill from there.

Review: Al (Sonny) pacino is in fine form in this movie as is the rest of the cast. Filled
with memorable quotes bad language and black humor. This fine paced film is a trip
to 70s attitudes before political correctness you won't soon forget.

It is a distinct characteristic of Australian new wave cinema that it can deliver this unusual melange of comedy and tragedy with an uplifting final inspirational message. Against a backdrop of family dysfunction featuring a philandering small town politican as a father, a chronically depressed mother, and emotionally incapacitated siblings, Muriel temporarily escapes the clutches of her suffocating existence in Porpoise Spit. It is only after she returns, when her mother is driven to a thinly veiled suicide, that Muriel musters the will to shake off both her father's grip and her marriage of convenience to a glamorous South African champion swimmer. The sense of irony and palpable closeness you feel to the characters coupled with several insertions of music from ABBA ensure that this movie lapses neither into slapstick nor dark comedy. A true Australian cinematic gem!

Our heroine Muriel, dumpy, suburban, open, guileless, trusting, who has a corrupt Dad, an oppressed Mum, two siblings who are variously lazy and stupid, falls in love with and marries her dream "man" - what else but a white, blue-eyed blonde South African born swimming champion who is the quintessence of selfishness, self aggrandisement, vanity, and shallowness - but finds "true" love in friendship with her crippled buddy played superbly by Rachel Griffith. Some stupendous and memorable moments, one being when Muriel's mother sets fire to her backyard with its Hills Hoist in its centre. Funny, touching, and great feel good movie. Peopled by some terrific characters. The ABBA scene is a gem! One to own and revisit.

Muriel Heslop lives in Porpoise Spit, Australia, with her parents, two brothers and two sisters. She has four friends, or so she believes, who are pretty and popular. Eventually, they tell her that she is not good enough for them. Muriel retreats to her room with her Abba cassettes, dreams of getting married, and eventually plots revenge!

She manages to finagle money from her parents and takes a trip to Hibiscus Island where her four former friends are vacationing. There, she runs into an old friend from high school, Rhonda.

It is here that her life changes. She tells Rhonda that she is engaged to Tim Simms, a fictional man, just so Rhonda will think she is a success.

Upon her return to Porpoise Spit, she finds that her family has found out that she stole money from them for the vacation, and she skips town and heads for Sydney to be with Rhonda. There, she changes her name to Mariel, to represent her new life.

But life in Sydney has its own ups and downs. And Mariel is now dreaming of her wedding day again, as she equates getting married with being happy.

This movie is a great light-hearted comedy with a few dark moments. One really begins to feel for the characters and hopes that they figure out their challenges.

I recommend this movie to anyone who would like to see a serious, yet funny movie about learning who you are and how to get there.

This epic 1962 film about the D-Day invasion has got a lot to it. First the all star cast. Henry Fonda portrays Teddy Roosevelt's son, John Wayne as a Lt. Colonel, Richard Burton as a paratrooper, Robert Mitchum as a Brigadier General, and lesser roles from George Segal, Eddie Albert, Sean Connery, Edmunt O'Brien, Rod Steiger, Roddy McDowell, Robert Ryan, Sal Mineo, and many more. We get D-Day from the German's point of view (In German with subtitles) as well as the French, British, American, and even Irish (Connery's line "yeah, it takes an Irishman to play the pipes).

There's some good humor here as well as realism, even if you don't see much blood and gore. But though Saving Pvt. Ryan had more gore, it had much less substance and aside from the 25 minute beginning was less realistic than this. This one really sets the whole day of June 6th, 1944 in a way that you really feel the importance of it. The license they took with some of the facts doesn't detract from it's realization of one of the most important days in history. And this of course was one of the few wars where the US fought on the right side (though pre-war US corporate-Nazis ties are a whole other discussion).

The 3 hour film has a few scenes with Rommel (Werner Hinz)as well as the beautiful Irina Demick as a French resistance fighter. Fabian is given a long scene which was a big mistake for this film as he's a poor actor, and when he has a scene with Richard Burton it's like Davy and Goliath in terms of acting. Watch for a bit part with Richard Dawson.

This film remains a great tribute to those who risked and gave their lives to save Europe.

This film not only has a great cast of American actors, including John Wayne and Robert Mitchum, but famous French stars (Jean Louis Barrault and Arletty), British actors (Richard Burton, Peter Lawford), and German stars.
The basic plot is of the D-Day invasion at Normandy beach in France by the Allied troops. Beautifully filmed and wonderfully cast, it follows the story of a wide array of characters and their roles in the invasion.

"The Longest Day" seemed aptly appropriate, as it has become a classic cornerstone of epic film-making about the war, having done something never before accomplished in its time, namely attempting to render, in one film, the grand scale of that first day of the D-Day landings, June 6, 1942. the film suitably shows the preparations made before the landings, effectively building the story just before that famous day in history, and follows a tremendous cast of formidable actors as they portray critical characters in that fateful day's events. The implication of the film is obviously not to tell the tale of the whole war, or even to develop any one character, which is discussed further later. Rather, the film-makers seem to have intended to portray both the sheer magnitude of human achievement as well as loss associated with the invasion of Fortress Europe by the Allies in their attempt to wrest control of the continent from Germany and its Axis allies.

"The Longest Day" is unquestionably an historically accurate film about the events leading up to and including D-day. It includes vignette depictions of the Allied soldiers waiting to be deployed, after having been put on standby several times. It illustrates the day-to-day lives of the occupying Germans who did not expect the invasion. In fact, the landing of such a large force was considered unlikely and even impossible considering the weather at the time. The stories of the Glider Troops, Paratroop drops, the beach landings, and the actual land invasion itself all come together to weave this immense tale.

Something of great value about this film, essentially a macro view of that fateful day in 1942, is the film-maker's decision to present the plot from multiple perspectives. Wisely, these points of view include the Allies (mostly Americans, British, and the Free French), the Germans, and even a bit of the French Resistance. It effectively portrays the attitudes of the soldiers, commanders, and large groups like divisions and armies through the dialog and actions. The audience even gets to see some of the personal moments of that day. The story deftly follows several individual's exploits whose historical significance may or may not be great, but who are nevertheless part of the fabric of that momentous date. There is little character development, and rightly so, because it focuses on The Day and its events, which are, in essence, the main characters more so than the actors. However, the characters are still very intriguing, and deep due to the magnificent performances by an ensemble cast including, to name a few, John Wayne, Sean Connery, and Richard Burton.

This remarkable movie has amazingly large, almost panoramic, scenes. Shot with an eye and fell for the enormity of the moment, the director of photography created several scenes where the camera pans back to show an immense battlefield filled with thousands of extras. Given an bird's eye view of the struggle, the audience cannot help but be awed by the size of the engagements depicted. The sets are also notable because of the high quality and sheer volume of period artifacts, vehicles, uniforms and equipment. In all fairness, where Steven Spielberg expertly used computer generated graphics (CGI) and matte painting to stage the enormity of D-Day, "The Longest Day" employs literally employs a cast of thousands, and what appear to be thousands of acres of movie set. Simply put, some scenes are awesome and worthy or rewinding.

It is interesting to explore a social context of this film, and place it in perspective with its release date. Unlike modern war films, "The Longest Day" lacks gore and death. Some modern day critics have denounced this, and it may be wholly unjustified. If one considers that the film was made in 1962, a time when the typical audience was filled with people who not only knew what World War II was like, but may have been personally involved in it (the war had been over for only 15 years), the significance of this takes on a different meaning. If average World War II veterans were, let us say, approximately fifty years of age, their memories were still clear and most likely still impinged somehow by those memories. "The Longest Day" did not, nor did it really need to include the horrors of war to help sell it. On the contrary, if "The Longest Day" had the sort of gore associated with "Saving Private Ryan," the movie might not have sold, because the public would have thought it to be unnecessarily graphic. It is notable to recall that many modern audiences believed "Saving Private Ryan" to be overly graphic. In fact, it became a selling point for that film. If today's public, desensitized by not only the passage of time since the war's end, as well as the accustomed violence of modern films thought "Ryan" was too violent, "The Longest Day" would have been considered utterly distasteful in 1962 had it been filmed with the same sort of graphic depictions of carnage. While "The Longest Day" was not intended for children, there is no content that would be deemed objectionable for them to see, minus perhaps the situation to which the movie pertains.

It is noticeable that the Allies' story is favored. More of it is portrayed that that of the German side. This could be because there was more information available about the Allied operation, and because the film was meant for an American audience. It was gratifying to see people from both sides of the story being depicted as human, even when it is discovered that Hitler had just taken an untimely sedative, was resting, and was not to be disturbed, even as the invasion began!

Overall, "The Longest Day" is an inspiring film, which should be watched with the understanding of someone who might have lived through the war, even if it is imagined. Likewise, it should not be compared to modern movies, because the point trying to be made would be missed.

This epic 1962 film about the D-Day invasion has got a lot to it. First the all star cast. Henry Fonda portrays Teddy Roosevelt's son, John Wayne as a Lt. Colonel, Richard Burton as a paratrooper, Robert Mitchum as a Brigadier General, and lesser roles from George Segal, Eddie Albert, Sean Connery, Edmunt O'Brien, Rod Steiger, Roddy McDowell, Robert Ryan, Sal Mineo, and many more. We get D-Day from the German's point of view (In German with subtitles) as well as the French, British, American, and even Irish (Connery's line "yeah, it takes an Irishman to play the pipes).

There's some good humor here as well as realism, even if you don't see much blood and gore. But though Saving Pvt. Ryan had more gore, it had much less substance and aside from the 25 minute beginning was less realistic than this. This one really sets the whole day of June 6th, 1944 in a way that you really feel the importance of it. The license they took with some of the facts doesn't detract from it's realization of one of the most important days in history. And this of course was one of the few wars where the US fought on the right side (though pre-war US corporate-Nazis ties are a whole other discussion).

The 3 hour film has a few scenes with Rommel (Werner Hinz)as well as the beautiful Irina Demick as a French resistance fighter. Fabian is given a long scene which was a big mistake for this film as he's a poor actor, and when he has a scene with Richard Burton it's like Davy and Goliath in terms of acting. Watch for a bit part with Richard Dawson.

This film remains a great tribute to those who risked and gave their lives to save Europe.

This film not only has a great cast of American actors, including John Wayne and Robert Mitchum, but famous French stars (Jean Louis Barrault and Arletty), British actors (Richard Burton, Peter Lawford), and German stars.
The basic plot is of the D-Day invasion at Normandy beach in France by the Allied troops. Beautifully filmed and wonderfully cast, it follows the story of a wide array of characters and their roles in the invasion.

"The Longest Day" seemed aptly appropriate, as it has become a classic cornerstone of epic film-making about the war, having done something never before accomplished in its time, namely attempting to render, in one film, the grand scale of that first day of the D-Day landings, June 6, 1942. the film suitably shows the preparations made before the landings, effectively building the story just before that famous day in history, and follows a tremendous cast of formidable actors as they portray critical characters in that fateful day's events. The implication of the film is obviously not to tell the tale of the whole war, or even to develop any one character, which is discussed further later. Rather, the film-makers seem to have intended to portray both the sheer magnitude of human achievement as well as loss associated with the invasion of Fortress Europe by the Allies in their attempt to wrest control of the continent from Germany and its Axis allies.

"The Longest Day" is unquestionably an historically accurate film about the events leading up to and including D-day. It includes vignette depictions of the Allied soldiers waiting to be deployed, after having been put on standby several times. It illustrates the day-to-day lives of the occupying Germans who did not expect the invasion. In fact, the landing of such a large force was considered unlikely and even impossible considering the weather at the time. The stories of the Glider Troops, Paratroop drops, the beach landings, and the actual land invasion itself all come together to weave this immense tale.

Something of great value about this film, essentially a macro view of that fateful day in 1942, is the film-maker's decision to present the plot from multiple perspectives. Wisely, these points of view include the Allies (mostly Americans, British, and the Free French), the Germans, and even a bit of the French Resistance. It effectively portrays the attitudes of the soldiers, commanders, and large groups like divisions and armies through the dialog and actions. The audience even gets to see some of the personal moments of that day. The story deftly follows several individual's exploits whose historical significance may or may not be great, but who are nevertheless part of the fabric of that momentous date. There is little character development, and rightly so, because it focuses on The Day and its events, which are, in essence, the main characters more so than the actors. However, the characters are still very intriguing, and deep due to the magnificent performances by an ensemble cast including, to name a few, John Wayne, Sean Connery, and Richard Burton.

This remarkable movie has amazingly large, almost panoramic, scenes. Shot with an eye and fell for the enormity of the moment, the director of photography created several scenes where the camera pans back to show an immense battlefield filled with thousands of extras. Given an bird's eye view of the struggle, the audience cannot help but be awed by the size of the engagements depicted. The sets are also notable because of the high quality and sheer volume of period artifacts, vehicles, uniforms and equipment. In all fairness, where Steven Spielberg expertly used computer generated graphics (CGI) and matte painting to stage the enormity of D-Day, "The Longest Day" employs literally employs a cast of thousands, and what appear to be thousands of acres of movie set. Simply put, some scenes are awesome and worthy or rewinding.

It is interesting to explore a social context of this film, and place it in perspective with its release date. Unlike modern war films, "The Longest Day" lacks gore and death. Some modern day critics have denounced this, and it may be wholly unjustified. If one considers that the film was made in 1962, a time when the typical audience was filled with people who not only knew what World War II was like, but may have been personally involved in it (the war had been over for only 15 years), the significance of this takes on a different meaning. If average World War II veterans were, let us say, approximately fifty years of age, their memories were still clear and most likely still impinged somehow by those memories. "The Longest Day" did not, nor did it really need to include the horrors of war to help sell it. On the contrary, if "The Longest Day" had the sort of gore associated with "Saving Private Ryan," the movie might not have sold, because the public would have thought it to be unnecessarily graphic. It is notable to recall that many modern audiences believed "Saving Private Ryan" to be overly graphic. In fact, it became a selling point for that film. If today's public, desensitized by not only the passage of time since the war's end, as well as the accustomed violence of modern films thought "Ryan" was too violent, "The Longest Day" would have been considered utterly distasteful in 1962 had it been filmed with the same sort of graphic depictions of carnage. While "The Longest Day" was not intended for children, there is no content that would be deemed objectionable for them to see, minus perhaps the situation to which the movie pertains.

It is noticeable that the Allies' story is favored. More of it is portrayed that that of the German side. This could be because there was more information available about the Allied operation, and because the film was meant for an American audience. It was gratifying to see people from both sides of the story being depicted as human, even when it is discovered that Hitler had just taken an untimely sedative, was resting, and was not to be disturbed, even as the invasion began!

Overall, "The Longest Day" is an inspiring film, which should be watched with the understanding of someone who might have lived through the war, even if it is imagined. Likewise, it should not be compared to modern movies, because the point trying to be made would be missed.

I remember watching this movie when it first came out on VHS and being a little disappointed with it. I was excited to find a film starring Clooney and Pfeiffer but was feeling a little let down when it was over. Having recently seen George in ER reruns, I saw this DVD on the shelf and decided to give it another shot. I'm sure glad that I did as I thoroughly enjoyed watching it today. This will make a great addition to my DVD collection as it will for yours. A nice, lighthearted romance movie that doesn't star either Hanks or Ryan. Who would have thought that could have happened?

My husband and I both watched "One Fine Day" and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of acting and plot. This movie had more depth than most people probably notice. There was the superficial romance, and comedy. Then the underlying story of the career chase at the expense of family.
I wasn't sure just how it would be resolved and was happy to see that in the end family won out. This is a must see in this day and age when parents of both sexes tend to put everything else before their home commitments. The consequences of power grabs was shown in a very realistic way. I know. I've seen it close up with people I know and maybe this movie would be a good gift, subtle hint, to someone you know who could use a little push to make wiser decisions of their own. Who knows, it might just be the impetus needed to save a family from the problems that happen when career trumps home life.
One of the best movies that I've seen George Clooney in, next to Perfect Storm. He can actually act. Michelle Pfeiffer brought more talent to this film than I've usually seen from her also. The best plots seem to bring out the best in actors. What a great vehicle for actors, and the improvement of family life in this day and age. It deserved a PG rating and will be part of my home collection.

Usually Amazon has the movies and the soundtracks seperate but for some reason they have combined the reviews for the DVD and video for One Fine Day with the movie's music soundtrack which has several reviewers confused and assuming that reviewers mistakenly reviewed the wrong thing. In my opinion Amazon should keep the soundtrack and movie reviews seperate. The movie is good, a charming romantic comedy starring George Clooney and Michelle Pheiffer who both do a great job and Mae Whitman and Alex Linz who play his daughter and her son are great too and adorable. I remember first seeing Alex Linz in a series of McDonalds commercials and thinking that he was quite good for a child actor. I recommend the movie and also the soundtrack, the music is very good!

I remember watching this movie when it first came out on VHS and being a little disappointed with it. I was excited to find a film starring Clooney and Pfeiffer but was feeling a little let down when it was over. Having recently seen George in ER reruns, I saw this DVD on the shelf and decided to give it another shot. I'm sure glad that I did as I thoroughly enjoyed watching it today. This will make a great addition to my DVD collection as it will for yours. A nice, lighthearted romance movie that doesn't star either Hanks or Ryan. Who would have thought that could have happened?

My husband and I both watched "One Fine Day" and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of acting and plot. This movie had more depth than most people probably notice. There was the superficial romance, and comedy. Then the underlying story of the career chase at the expense of family.
I wasn't sure just how it would be resolved and was happy to see that in the end family won out. This is a must see in this day and age when parents of both sexes tend to put everything else before their home commitments. The consequences of power grabs was shown in a very realistic way. I know. I've seen it close up with people I know and maybe this movie would be a good gift, subtle hint, to someone you know who could use a little push to make wiser decisions of their own. Who knows, it might just be the impetus needed to save a family from the problems that happen when career trumps home life.
One of the best movies that I've seen George Clooney in, next to Perfect Storm. He can actually act. Michelle Pfeiffer brought more talent to this film than I've usually seen from her also. The best plots seem to bring out the best in actors. What a great vehicle for actors, and the improvement of family life in this day and age. It deserved a PG rating and will be part of my home collection.

Usually Amazon has the movies and the soundtracks seperate but for some reason they have combined the reviews for the DVD and video for One Fine Day with the movie's music soundtrack which has several reviewers confused and assuming that reviewers mistakenly reviewed the wrong thing. In my opinion Amazon should keep the soundtrack and movie reviews seperate. The movie is good, a charming romantic comedy starring George Clooney and Michelle Pheiffer who both do a great job and Mae Whitman and Alex Linz who play his daughter and her son are great too and adorable. I remember first seeing Alex Linz in a series of McDonalds commercials and thinking that he was quite good for a child actor. I recommend the movie and also the soundtrack, the music is very good!

hi - this movie was good. Why was it pg-13 when there was a naked girl dancing in the woods. that was the best part though

The Crucible, Arthur Miller's masterpiece written in answer to the foolishness, hypocrisy and tragedy surrounding the dark days of McCarthyism, shows how those who refuse to learn their history are doomed to repeat it. Using the Salem Witch Trials as his palette, Miller paints a stunning picture of how deceit, ignorance and superstition--characteristics still in abundance in our society today--can be interwoven and supercharged to drive seemingly rational people into madness.

The Crucible continues to be a profound parable for our times and invites viewers who readily recognize the absolute folly of the darkest days of Colonial Salem to admit that such nonsense is possible today when politics, pettiness and pride run amok in modern society.

Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis stars as the hapless John Proctor, a man torn between a desire to save friends and family and the struggle to retain a good name. Winona Ryder is absolutely diabolical as the deceitful temptress and adulteress Abigail Williams, who plants the seeds that result in a community torn apart. The movie is crowned by great supporting performances by Paul Scofield as Judge Thomas Danforth, Joan Allen as Elizabeth Proctor, Bruce Davison as Reverend Parris, Rob Campbell as Reverend Hale and Jeffrey Jones as Thomas Putnam.

Can't wait for the DVD!

Douglas McAllister

Everybody played terrificlly especially Winona Ryder, because anybody who can get you to hate that person is a good actor, everyone look great and was perfect for their part, If they're ever going to make another Crucible they should get Jennifer Love Hewitt to play Winona Ryder's role and Johnny Depp to play as Daniel Day-Lewis's role and be directed by Tim Burton because this movie is all the way totally his style and because more people would see it and actually appreciate the true tragedy of the Salem witch trials.

This exquisite classic of Merchant-Ivory is sensually explores the struggle between the tight exterior of the British upper crust and the seething passion that lurks just beneath in the increasingly powerful middle class. You've seen a movie or two for sure that veer around such themes, but very few films have captured this combination of class struggle and personal liberation any more evocatively!

Our protagonist is a young, passionate and repressed Miss Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter in possibly her best role ever) who exemplifies this unspoken inner-outer conflict. As she struggles between what is expected of her, to marry the effete and obnoxious Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day Lewis in a richly textured performance), and what she really wants, to be with the yearning, romantic George Emerson (a soft and unfocused Julian Sands) Miss Honeychurch must juggle class concerns and personal desires.

As with any Merchant Ivory product, the all-round cast is vivid and intriguing. Maggie Smith never leaves a dull moment in any of her movies, a credo she maintains here as well as Lucy's nervous and confused escort -- for which she received a well deserved Oscar. As George's bewildered and sweet father, the marvellous Denholm Elliot steals every scene in which he appears. Lastly, Simon Callow as the ebullient, robust Reverend Beebe captures all that is good and true about humanity.

A word for the DVD. The cinematography in this movie sparkles, and the DVD does complete justice to Ivory's camera skills -- the shots are so pure you will want to taste the dew resting atop the grass in the sumptuous English gardens.

What a complete movie, full of life, love and hope! Highly recommended for your collections, you'll watch this more than once.

My sister-in-law said this was one of her favourite, if not her favourite movie. Upon my second viewing of this, I began to see why.

While on vacation in Florence, the issue of a woman liking a view comes up while Lucy Honeychurch and her chaperone and cousin Charlotte are dining at their hotel. The Reverend Emerson and his son George, offer to swap rooms, a transaction the ever cautious Charlotte shudders to consider, as she worries of Lucy making future obligations to strangers, but the Reverend Beebe, also on vacation, offers to act as intermediary, and Lucy gets her view.

The catalytic scene that sets the story rolling is when the usually brooding George, comes upon Lucy standing in the sea of tall waving glasses, and without preamble, kisses her. He feels that something tremendous has happened to them. This episode is observed by Charlotte, who guilt-ridden at her failure as a chaperone, immediately whisks Lucy away.

Months later, in England, we learn that Lucy has been engaged to Cecil Vyse, a haughty, self-involved man with oiled black hair and mustache too wrapped up in books and art, who thinks reading aloud to women makes him God's gift to them. The trouble with him, though, as George Emerson points out to Lucy, is that George will see Lucy as just a possession, something to look at, something to own and display, like a painting or ivory box." Lucy will be an extension of Cecil, without any regard to her own thoughts and feelings.

And an opening up of feelings contrary to the conventions of a repressed society is what Lucy needs, to be honest with and to logically come to term with her feelings, but she tells lie upon lie not only to others, but worst of all, to herself.

Overall, this details how one can use rational thought and emotional feelings in conjunction. The fact that George's surname is identical to Ralph Waldo Emerson is ironic, considering how transcendentalism stressed the use of intuition over reason. What's stressed here is the merging of both to make one whole. And there's also the importance of how lucky people to find what's right for them.

And how one's talents conceal the potential for passion. Reverend Beebe twice remarks on this, first on Lucy's musical skills. "She plays Beethoven with such passion and lives so quietly. One day, music and life will mingle and she will be wonderful in both." and also, "If she ever takes to live as she plays, it would be very exciting for both of us and for her." In other words, the view one seeks is the inner bliss within.

I see this as Helena Bonham-Carter's definitive film. And I've always been used to seeing Denholm Elliott as a mere supporting actor, but he does have a very potent part here as Mr. Emerson, a tried and true romantic. As he says when discussing the swap of rooms, "I don't care what I see outside. My vision is within." He then fervently places his fist over his heart. "Here is where the bird sings. Here is where the sky is blue." His placing cornflowers in Miss Catherine Alan's hair is ample evidence of that, describing flowers as "no jewels more becoming to a lady." Simon Callow (Reverend Beebe) is yet another character who sees potential in Lucy.

The scenes in Italy, the English countryside, and the costumes flesh out this cinematic adaptation of E.M. Forster's novel outlining the conflict between inner and outer halves of ourselves.

This is the film that made the Merchant-Ivory team a perennial favorite. A spectacular rendition of book-into-film that is essentially true to every luscious class tease and twist of Forster's original book. It's a not-so-subtle study of the British class system of rigidly circumscribed behaviors that conspire to keep Lucy Honeychurch from admitting even to herself her love for her free-spirited suitor, a young man deemed uncouth and unworthy, especially by her protective aunt/traveling companion, splendidly played by the inimitable Maggie Smith, who has every twitch and raised eyebrow and swish of the skirts down pat.
Marvelous scenes that will stay with me always, especially the women coming upon the naked men at the swimming hole, and Maggie Smith trying to figure out how to make change for the coachman.
Do NOT miss this one.