Reviews

I know most people don't give this movie a very good review and that's unfortunate. It is a very deep movie and the viewer is made to think. It's not the kind of movie where everything falls into place and everything ends up happily ever after. If that is the kind of movie you like then this one is not for you. If you like a movie that is deep and has a very serious story line then this is the one.

I will try to put this in as simple terms possible; the story is mostly based around Saul Naumann, the father (Richard Gere) and his daughter Eliza (Flora Cross) both superbly acted by the way. Saul is a professor on the Jewish Religion and he very much wants to get closer to God but is unable to. Saul is a very domineering husband and father, very self-centered, so is unable to see the problems that are dividing the family, or maybe he sees it and doesn't want to admit it.

When his daughter begins to win at spelling bees he thinks that somehow Eliza is linked with God and that is how she sees the word and can spell it correctly. He begins teaching her like she was one of his students by using the thesis he wrote to become a professor. In this thesis it lays out the plan to get closer to God, he tried it for himself but couldn't, so he decides to try it on his daughter.

Saul's wife Miriam (Juliette Binoche) has many problems stemming back from the time her parents were killed in an auto accident when she was a young girl. I'm not going to go into specifics here but if you pay close attention to the scene where he is talking to his class you will understand how this is linked to Miriam's problem and how she has decided to solve it. Also pay attention to the scenes where I'm assuming they were fist married (flash backs) and he is explaining to Miriam the same thing he has been talking about with his class in that scene I mentioned. Because Saul is so domineering and self-centered he doesn't realize that she even has a problem until it all explodes and he finally becomes aware of what she is doing. Miriam tries to explain to Saul why she did what she did and if you listen closely to what she says you will understand.

The son Aaron (Max Minghella) has a good relationship with his father and is shown a lot of attention by him until Saul begins to spend more and more time with Eliza. I think Aaron may be a little jealous of Eliza because she is now getting all the attention but I don't think that is his real problem. I think he also wants to get closer to God and is not sure how so begins exploring other avenues other religions. He becomes involved with another religion and feels this may be what he has been looking for. When Saul finds this out all hell breaks loose and he finally realizes that the whole family has many problems.

Meanwhile Eliza thinks she is the reason for all that is happened and tries to converse with God to correct it. By this time Saul is convinced that God is interacting with Eliza when they go to the final spelling bee, The Nationals.

This is just a very basic outline of the movie, of course I have left out a lot of the movie because I don't want to give too much away and you should see this for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Give this movie a chance and I think you will like it.

I was very disappointed in this version of Flight 93. It is jumbled and confusing at best. There is no comparison to this version and the A&E Version. Do yourself a favor and watch the A&E Version, it is 10 times better. The A&E version covers more of the personal lives of the passengers and the loved ones they called from the plane, the Universal version barely touches on it. Half the time I could not understand what people were saying on the plane, it was too mixed up and confusing. Maybe that was the way it was on the plane - who knows, but as a movie it stinks this way. I am sure that the family members of those on that flight are disappointed as well. If I were a family member of any of those on Flight 93, I would think the A&E version does more justice to those who sacrificed their lives.

I absolutely loved this movie and liked it better than the original. I enjoyed the fact that the movie showed that even though you may have a so called perfect life there could still be something missing which I think most of us feel at one time or another. I found this movie to be extremely funny and touching at the same time.

This movie is more of a telling of peoples lives and emotions than a story of dance. The dance helps them to bring out their inner selves. I liked the fact that John Clark (Richard Gere) reflected back on the people that had wills done in his office and that the happier ones were the ones who took that extra step to get as much out of life as they could possibly do before it was too late.

This is a story about a man who does take that extra step and follows his emotions. He sees a beautiful girl in a window three times from the train each night coming home from work and one night he gets off that train in hopes of meeting this girl who works in a dance studio. He ends up signing for dance lessons hoping to be able to dance with her and instead finds happiness in dance.

The movie does an excellent job showing how John Clark (Richard Gere) and the others who are inept and shy and a little ashamed at the beginning become confident in themselves. The scenes in the dance studio are extremely funny. The movie goes on to tell how his wife Beverely (Susan Sarandon) thinks he is having an affair and hires a private detective.

This movie shows how each of their lives have been affected by dance. The acting in this movie is superb. Richard Gere does an unbelievable job of dancing, he is terrific. His acting is second to none and this is the best romantic comedy I've ever seen him in. This is by far the best movie I've ever seen Jennifer Lopez in, she actually does a good job. Susan Sarandon was great and would love to see her and Richard Gere do more movies together. The rest of the supporting cast did an excellent job in their roles.

I went to the pre showing of this movie and the theatre was packed and some people had to turn away because there were no more seats available but they did say they would be back to see the movie when it opened up. There was a lot of clapping and laughter during this movie and everyone I spoke to said they loved it, some even said they would be coming back to see it again, as will I.

This was perfectly casted movie and you won't be sorry if you go and see it.

This is a feel good inside movie, A MUST SEE.

I think this was an excellent movie. It's hard to believe that this was not filmed in China the settings looked so authentic. The directing was very good. Richard Gere gave his usual superb performance and Bai Ling was brilliant. Some people seem to think that this movie was being too hard on China. I read some of the quotes that the Chinese actors made who were in this movie, they said the movie was being too lenient, I tend to believe them. Just because Richard Gere is a Buddhist doesn't make him biased as some have suggested, he is too gifted an actor and too much a gentlemen to let his spiritual beliefs affect a movie, his compassion sure, but not spiritual beliefs. Too many people think it's hate, but what it is, is his compassion. Just be glad we live in a democracy and have compassion for those who don't. I can't imagine what it would be like to find myself in a situation like the character Jack (Gere) in the movie - it would be terrifying.

I have seen this movie many times and enjoyed it thoroughly. Julia Roberts gives a compelling performance as a hooker and Richard Gere as always is superb.

What I enjoyed most about this movie was that here were two people that were not proud of what they had become but because of their need to be loved for the persons they really were deep inside, helped each other find themselves.

I looked deeper into this movie and saw that it was not just a comedy but a story that people can change for the better when treated with tenderness, love and understanding something these two characters had not been shown for a very long time, mostly from their own bad choices, but not totally. How this movie goes about showing that, using the comedy touch is what moved me so much about this film.

My favorite scene in this movie is when Edward (Gere) takes Vivian (Roberts) to an elegant restaurant for a business dinner. I think this scene is the funniest as well as the most touching scene in the movie.

This movie shows that you shouldn't take people at face value and to look deeper into their character to find the real person.

Sure this movie is a fairytale but it has deeper meaning as well, I rate this movie 9 out of 10. I have also seen Runaway Bride, which I think was actually a better romantic comedy because the characters were more believable and shows what I meant about not taking people at face value. I admit I prefer a deeper love story rather than a romantic comedy.

If you are like me and like a deep love story and like Richard Gere than you must watch Sommersby, one of the best and most moving love stories I have ever seen and one of Richard Gere's best performances ever, if not his best.

This is another one of my favorite Richard Gere movies, this guy is one gifted actor.

This movie is mainly about character study and the love between the two leads Jack Sommersby(Richard Gere)and his wife Laurel(Jodie Foster).

Jack Sommersby comes back from the Civil War seeming to be a changed man(for the better). All the neighbors and especially Laurel want the change to be real, so they just believe it whether it's true or not. Lets face it most people have probably at one time or another done the same thing, I know I have.

Later Jack is arrested for murder and the real question is asked. Is he or is he not Jack Sommersby?

The love that Jack(Richard)and Laurel(Jodie)have for each other is very important because it comes into play during the trial and at the ending of the movie. The ending of this movie was the only proper way to end it for the characters involved.

Richard Gere is a master when it comes to showing tenderness, sensitivity and compassion on screen. It was good to see these two actors Jodie Foster and Richard Gere playing the lead rolls, they complemented each other.

This is a beautifully written love story and a real tear jerker. I rate this movie a 10.

This is a beautifully written movie of a manic depressive. All the moods and feelings this man experiences is brought to life so expertly by Richard Gere.

This is perhaps Richard's best performance. I don't think many actors could have pulled this off and make it seem authentic. How Richard never won an Oscar or was not even nominated for his performance is beyond me.

Richard obviously spends a lot of time preparing for a roll, being that he is a perfectionist and it shows in everything he does.

I think Richard Gere is the most underrated actor in Hollywood. I have read a lot of the negative comments of his bad choices on the rolls and movies he picks to do (which I don't agree), but on this movie his choice was perfect.

If you want to see one of Richard's best performances then this is a MUST SEE.