Rating: 
Summary: Good Story
Review: An Amish boy witnesses murder and soon indicates the culprit as...well, I won't be the one to tell. In order to protect the boy, Harrison Ford (cop) brings him back to his cloistered community. This mystery murder ranks high on meshing a thriller tale in a peaceful Amish environment. At times, a few cliche' tended to bog down the flow. Overall, this story is good, enjoyable, for everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Police Officer lives among Amish to protect crime witness
Review: Harrison Ford in another great role: A police officer who must live among the Amish to protect a young boy who witnessed a murder. Family members are reluctant to agree to the boy's testifying on the grounds that their religion forbids "revenge". Harrison Ford's affection for the boy's widowed mother (which is returned) complicates matters. The "Wonderful World" scene in the barn is beautiful! A "cop gone bad" is in hot persuit to silence both, the witness and his protector, ensuring fast paced action from beginning to end! This is a winner!
Rating: 
Summary: the least convincing love story ever told
Review: Witness is a terrible name for this movie, as most of the plot centers around a predictable and trite love story rather than a young boy who witnessed a murder. I found most of the writing and directing to be self indulgent and completely lacking in subtlety and taste. I assume I was supposed to be moved to tears by the over dramatized moment when Harrison Ford hugs the young boy and sends him to a nearby farm in order to protect him from the stereotypically clumsy and stupid "bad guy" cops who were trying to kill them. Yet the drama of this scene was completely undermined by the fact that so much focus had been placed on the rather silly "love" story that i had almost forgotten about the young lad's existence. There was a rather obvious attempt to portray mainstream American culture as evil in contrast to the virtues of the Amish, but with such points in movies and literature less is more; a bit of subtlety and understatement to allow the audience to draw its own conclusions would have been more powerful than having our opinions handed to us without any need for active thought from the viewer. The movie was filled with lots of other poorly executed cliches, including a rather jarring and awkward scene in which Harrison Ford's character is accepted by the Amish as one of their own while they build a house to the sound of a heroic and gradiose soundtrack. His experience of acceptance among the Amish ends as inexplicably as it began along with the closing of that scene; perhaps it was just added in later in a pathetic attempt to move us. There was also a rival for the love of his woman, and although he was undeveloped and contributed very little to the plot, he had to be in there for a few minutes to make us cheer for the hero. All of this only added to the contrived feeling of the plot, which was caused, at least partly, by fairly terrible acting all around. I find it amusing that the only points of criticism by the other reviewers was nudity and swearing; I find artless drama designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator much more offensive than breasts and obscenity.
Rating:
Summary: "Among them English!"
Review: An exceptional work of art! Rarely has the combination of pure unadulterated beauty and rough and rugged good looks combined in such a winning fashion. Kelly McGillis is absolutely radiant as the Amish widow and mother so attracted to Harrison Ford's rough-as-a-cob Philadelphia detective. This is one of Ford's best movies ever, and the subtle humor and constant frustration that he displays with the "lost world" into which he has plunged is amazing to watch. And as good as the principal actors/actresses are, Jan Rubes as grandfatherly Eli Lapp absolutely steals every scene that he is in--he's outstanding! His "gun of the hand" scene with young Lukas Haas where he tries in vain to explain to his young grandson just what is wrong with and about the world that exists outside of their own is a real education into Amish beliefs, and is beautifully done. And watch for one of the most incredible scenes ever filmed--Lukas Haas's discovery, in the most unlikely of all places, of the murderer. This segment was filmed only to music and the resulting facial reactions, and the accompanying horror felt by both Haas and Ford are masterfully done. Adoringly filmed and beautifully scored, this is one of those films that needs repeat viewings just to catch all of the little nuances that populate it from beginning to end. And talk about beautiful symbology---the final scenes showing Harrison Ford, the winding road back to his world curving off into the distance as he stands at the front door of Kelly McGillis's house and the hallway behind her that leads back to her world, are spellbinding. Excellent filmmaking!
Rating:
Summary: A thriller of cultural cross-fertilisation
Review: It is not only a cleverly constructed thriller, fuelled by relentless suspence, but it is also a film that explores an encounter of disparate cultures. Extremely watchable and intruiging.
Rating:
Summary: The thriller as a passionate love story
Review: As a connoisseur of the thriller genre I can tell you this is one of the best ever made. Harrison Ford is better than I have ever seen him; the scenes with eight-year-old Lukas Haas are magical, and Kelly McGillis projects the primeval power of a woman like few you'll ever see. Peter Weir's direction is practically flawless. The evil cops are as evil as evil can be, and the Amish are treated kindly, with respect and admiration. Quite simply though, the reason this is a great thriller is that it is a powerful love story.The passionate love that is felt and built upon, but not consummated, envelops the audience in anticipation. What makes this happen is some real-not contrived-obstacle to the expression of that love, such as the lovers being from different and warring families, as in "Romeo and Juliet," or from different cultures, as here in "Witness." She is Amish, and he is a big city cop who "whacks" people. For their love to work, a gulf as wide as the Pacific Ocean has to be bridged. I think the carefully constructed script by William Kelley gives us an ending we can live with. Watch it and see if you agree.
Rating:
Summary: ...and not a cellphone in sight...
Review: One of the more exemplary police thrillers to come out of hollywood in the mid 80's and with a twist too. Other reviewers have outlined the plot more clearly and cleverly than I could either add or detract. This was the film that brought the Menonite community of Lancaster county,Pennsylvania to the attention of the world it had tried so hard to turn its back on. The producers neglect to mention if permission was sought from the Amish to film within their environment. If so then it must have been to their everlasting regret. "Alas poor amish I knew them well". From what we hear Lancaster county has been beseiged with tourists and curiosity seekers even some 14 years after the films release. Enough said. I can only add more positive comments to what other reviewers have said to what is a very suspenseful and original thriller with some superb performances by Lukas Haas, Danny Glover and Kelly McGillis in particular. Probably the best scene for me was at the police precinct when the young boy is exploring his strange surroundings as children do and unexpectedly comes across the killers picture in the most unexpected place. In the hustle and bustle of a busy police station only detective Book notices the boys astonishment and comes across to see the cause. And then the truth suddenly dawns on both of them... This should have been a stepping stone to a more successful career but alas McGillis seems to have slipped from our screens of late. Also of note was the superb photography, especially during the barn raising scenes and the music by Maurice Jarre which seemed to capture just the right ambience of this quaint rural community. Also look out for a small cameo by Viggo Mortensen. No doubt many have viewed "Witness" time and time again with reruns and video releases but it is always a treat if you can to sit down and watch with a friend who has not yet "witnessed" it. Except theyre a bit hard to come by these days...In which case any in-law will do just as well.
Rating: 
Summary: GOod, but no as good as some people say...
Review: This, along, with "TOP GUNS", is one of only two movies by McGIllis that are famous. After that, she almost disappeared from screen (maybe in in theater..) Ford is good, but the village to where the boy belongs is made of boring people, full of prejudice. The suspense is very good.
Rating:
Summary: Nudity! Ugh! How could the rest of you not mention this!
Review: My title says most of it, though I did find the language (excessive swearing and use of the F-word) quite a bit questionable. It WAS a good movie, but I don't understand why none of the rest of the other people who reviewed this film mentioned it. But other than that, it was an outstanding movie and I found no other problems with it. Harrison Ford is my favorite actor, and I agree that this is one of his better films. His performance after being shot and recovering was excellent and I commend him.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Police Thriller! Succeeds on many levels at once!
Review: This movie is inmensely entertaining, with a great script and great acting (which earned Harrison Ford his only Oscar Nomination). The film succeeds as a romance, drama and police thriller. The action-packed ending is great and the forbidden-love relationship between Kelly McGuillis and Harrison Ford is provocative. Very realistic and entertaining. This is a real winner!
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