Rating: 
Summary: Enjoy Dallas' Modern City Hall and surrounding sights/sites.
Review: I lived in Dallas for most of 1979 so this show and all of the "Dallas" TV shows made me a little homesick for that area. The "Lathe of Heaven" was filmed using the modern buildings in and around Dalla/Fort Worth and for that reason I'm glad it is available on DVD. I am a "sort of" science-fiction fan and enjoyed this far out story of a young man who changes the world with dreams. I'm a resident of Oregon now so it is fun to see how Portland, Oregon has a lack of rain and hot days in this story. This is a very entertaining movie if you just roll with the story and enjoy it as science-fiction with no underlying hidden meanings.
Rating: 
Summary: Dreams can come true
Review: This is a great sci-fi picture about an ordinary man (George Orr)
who is "cursed" with the ability to have his dreams become reality (whether he wants them to or not). As you may have guessed, he ends up getting psychoanalyzed by a shrink (Dr. William Haber). Eventually, the psychologist concludes that Orr is telling the truth.Upon this discovery, Haber begins to manipulate Orr's dreams so that he may make good things happen. It all starts out innocently enough; stuff like changing the weather, making Orr dream up bigger and better facilities / equipment for the good Dr. to practice his craft. However, when he attempts to take on the "big" problems of humanity (overpopulation, racism, war, etc), he begins to encounter what is called in science the "law of unintended consequences." Therein lies the real substance of this story. Based on the book by Ursala Le Guin, the movie asks the question of how capable we are of operating the tremendous tools of science that we have at our disposal. Are we competent enough to manipulate the scientific "dreams" which we bring into reality, without their turning into a nightmare? As a bonus, there is also a Bill Moyers interview with Le Guin that is included on the DVD. Le Guin describes Orr as a Taoist type of person, and upon reflection, this depiction does make sense. In particular, I was reminded of the following passage in Lao-Tzu's "Tao Te Ching": Therefore,
The Sage Rules
By emptying hearts and filling bellies,
By weakening ambitions and strengthening bones;
Leads people
Away from knowing and wanting;
Deters those who know too much
From going too far:
Practices non-action
And the natural order is not disrupted. -Tao Te Ching, 3, Trans: Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo This is a great film, esp for sci-fi enthusiasts. It is a low budget PBS production, so don't expect any dazzling special effects. However, if substance means more to you than spectacle, and you enjoy original sci-fi, this might just be a DVD worth buying. Also, for those who might be confused by the opening sequence, ask yourself this: which is the dream? And which is reality? For after all, as Edgar Allen Poe wrote, "All that we see or seem, is but a dream, within a dream."
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: A good example of 1970's filmed science fiction, with some compelling performances. Suffers from some minor faults from the master, but that is well-documented at the beginning of the disc. No commentary, sadly, but does have a informative interview with Ursula K. Le Guin by Bill Moyers. Good story does suffer from some overuse of typically crappy early-electronica music and special effects. Not the classic it's been rumored to be, but well worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: Finally Resurrected
Review: After two decades of waiting for this long lost feature, the PBS production is finally available for general distribution. I was a bit disappointed that the original master negatives and prints were all lost, so they had to master from the 2" video. There are some contrast and density issues as a result of coming from tape, but more importantly this wonderful story is back. I only saw it the one time when it was initially broadcast. I loved it then. I wrote and called many times over the years as I know many other people did. I guess it all finally paid off.
Rating:
Summary: Heaven Can Wait
Review: Gosh,all these years I thought I was alone in my fixation of the PBS TV-Movie production of "The Lathe of Heaven". See, I was one of those prescient geeks who taped it on a big, bulky, & then-seemingly exotic $1,000 "VHS" (whatever that was!) tape machine when it was originally broadcast (no cable!) in 1980. And I've watched that tape many times ever since, never realizing that (a) I was somehow "prescient" and (b) that there was some arcane "legal battle" underway that kept it from being seen again. If only I'd been paying attention: the bootleg money I could have made! But as for critical remarks: I have since come to understand that the plot is a screed for the reactionary Libertarian dogma that all Liberal actions have unanticipated negative consequences (and that therefore no Liberal actions should ever be undertaken). The tip-off is the Dept. of Health and Human Services Bureaucrat who cheerfully crows, "Not my department!" when poor George Orr says he needs some new red-tape credential or other. Looking back, I now see I should have spotted the right-wing politics in the novel when Ursula K. depicted an aged "pothead" who could hardly function when George knocks on his door (but this was before Reagan and I was probably stoned). Nevertheless, the PBS production of her story is right-on and is irresistable movie-making. I have always liked the proto-synthesizer soundtrack, which -alas- has never been commercially available. It was catchy, especially where it melded the Beatles'"A Little Help From My Friends" with the movie score - the cause(I assume) of the two-decades-long legal hassle that kept it from the public, knowing Yoko Ono for the litigious witch that she is. Oh My, I'm beginning to sound like a tort-reform-minded Libertarian! Anyway, it's awfully good to know that "LoH" is finally available for all to see, and on DVD. My 21-year-old VHS tape can now flake off its oxide coating, bit by bit, in peace.
Rating:
Summary: better lat(h)e than never !
Review: so many friends told me about this movie they seen a long time ago,and that i`ve missed something unique.so when i at last heard it was comming on dvd i bearly could wait.this is one movie that will be forever among a few other in their league of their own(metropolis,orwell 1984,space odussey 2001).this is the only movie that gives you answer to the mysterious quote :"life is nothing but a dream inside a dream"...- by poe .the special effects in this movie are quite modest,witch accidentaly gives the storie it self more space .and a quite simple storie in it self,but the genious twists and turns makes the movie a masterpiece !another evidence that with an splended story you do not need "billions"to go number one !allthough i must say the world has u.k le guin to thank for this movie in the first place.without her book this piece of history made in the movie business whould never have come true !i recommend this to any one from 10 to 100 years of age that like a intelligent science movies.they do not seem to grow one trees,at least not these ones that has that special some thing !and the picture quality is pretty much like on a 10 year old rental tape,but..-consider this : it was long considerd as lost forever and 6 feet under !so i give it a clear A" for its picture quality .you might not agree with me ,but read first about it on the net.there was a "little" bigger job with these tape remains they had to work with .the iterwiew on the dvd was about all extras.i whould of liked some more like : bio of bruce davidson and others,audio commentary during the film for example.and the cover is a little dull,but still it goes well with the enigmatic feeling in the movie.summary :what ever any one says,i say at last on dvd.buy this one you will not be desapointed !enjoy !
Rating:
Summary: 20 years later, it's just as powerful
Review: I remember seeing The Lathe of Heaven on PBS back in 1979, after hearing about it in the pages of Starlog magazine. Normally, a 13-year old would rather be outside on a sunny Saturday afternoon, but I found the film so compelling, I had to watch both hours (which was originally aired in two parts, shown back-to-back, but now cut together on this DVD). I had never heard of Ursula K. LeGuin nor this novel before I saw the film, but both the story and how it was visually interpreted so resonated with me, scenes from this film have been permanently etched in my memory. I can't think of any other film that's left me quite as haunted, or made me think as deeply. My concern, based partly on other reviews here, was that after 20 years, I would find the film disappointing or less than satisfying now that I'm older. But you know what? I'm so glad I purchased the DVD after all. The Lathe of Heaven is still just as compelling as it was the Saturday I first saw it, and the haunting feeling it gave me as a teenager came flooding back as I watched it again. Sure, the film has some flaws, but they're minor in the grand scheme of things. The fact that the transfer quality is less than stellar actually *helps* the film, ironically enough. The darkness of some scenes and the washed-out look of others actually adds to the dream-like feel of the viewing experience. The acting from Kevin Conway and a very young Bruce Davison is superb, which more than compensates for the presence of Margaret Avery, an otherwise excellent actress who seems confused here. (Thankfully, she doesn't figure into the film all that heavily.) And because the production, due to its low budget, found buildings with interesting modern architecture in which to shoot (requiring little set decoration), there is a "realness" to the film that overcomes the occasional cheap special effect. I was very, very pleased to discover that The Lathe of Heaven has held up so well. If that isn't reason enough to own this film, get it just for the lengthy interview with Ursula K. LeGuin. That alone is worth purchasing, and it serves as an excellent bonus to a superb SF film that was worth the wait to see again.
Rating:
Summary: THE LATHE OF HEAVEN IS POWERFUL AND PROVOCATIVE...
Review: This intriguing film is a cinematic adaptation of a popular science fiction book written by Ursula K. Le Guin. A made for TV PBS special, it first aired back in 1979 and has since developed a cult following. Considering that it was made on a shoestring budget of $250,000, I must say that I was impressed with what was done. Those involved in the production certainly made a little go a long way. The film, which definitely has a futuristic, Orwellian feel to it, revolves around a troubled young man, George Orr, played by a young Bruce Davison, who is haunted by dreams that become reality. He goes to a dream therapist in hopes of finding surcease. The therapist, a Dr. Haber, recognizes the potential power inherent in this ability and plays God, giving the hapless Orr a post hypnotic suggestion to help him dream of something which will help the human condition. All thought by Dr. Haber of the good of the patient is tossed aside in the quest for the common good. Alas, all does not go to plan. As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for, as you just might get it. Here, it becomes somewhat of the proverbial monkey's paw. Moreover, what starts out as a desire to help humanity is quickly jettisoned, as issues of power and control rise to the forefront, and a megalomaniacal Dr. Haber loses all sense of perspective, with the easygoing Orr being manipulated by the controlling Dr. Haber. What happens to both patient and doctor is certainly a catalyst for thought provoking discussions, as is the end result, given the complexity of the underlying issues. What makes this DVD particularly interesting is the inclusion of a conversation between Bill Moyers and author Ursula K. Le Guin, in which the novel and the film are discussed. This feature alone should make anyone who has read the book or seen the film include this DVD in their collection.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating story worth owning despite lousy video quality
Review: I saw this when it was first on back in '79 or so and I never forgot it. The story and performances are great and hold up very well. The special effects seem a little dated now but don't really take away from the overall impact. The one truly unfortunate thing about this re-release is that they didn't have the original master tapes to work with and had to use inferior source materials. They're very upfront about that but it would've been nice to have it look better. I also remember that, when the film originally aired, the version of "With a Little Help from My Friends" was The Beatles' version and not a cover version by some unknown artist. Not a big deal but The Beatles brought a little extra magic to an already-wonderful film. I'd definitely pick this up if you're a fan of intelligent science-fiction. Whatever this reissue's flaws might be, it's a real keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Blessed Return of Lathe of Heaven
Review: I had fond memories of the film having seen it when it was was first broadcast by PBS in 1980. It was a modestly produced ($250,000), ambitious (taking on a difficult to film science fiction novel), first ever P.B.S. produced movie. It was supposed to be one of several PBS produced films, but legal problems tied to music rights de-railed the project and kept the film un-available for 20 years. The way many people have seen it is on bootlegged black market videos. The movie very good, but it's poor special effects and flaws may make first-time viewers wonder what the big deal is all about. The movie is a mostly successful attempt at making a worthy film out of great novel by Ursulla K. Le Guin. I enjoyed the film a great deal, but there is some truly horrendously written dialogue, and some very unfortunate directorial choices. The acting by Bruce Davison and Kevin Conway remains quite good. Conway goes a bit over-the top and borders on campy melodramatics a few times, but not enough to de-rail the film. Indeed the budget restraints of the film requires the type of energetic Pavlovian performance he gives. Margaret Avery however never over-comes the fact the script has given her little to do and the directors aren't sure how to best utilize her. In one scene her character is passionate but in the next she is almost apathetic. The original story and its ideas are strong enough to withstand such flaws however. The film is Directed by Fred Barzyk and David R. Loxton and written by Roger E. Swaybill and Diane (creator of t.v.'s Murphy Brown !) English. You can see how this film might have incluenced films like Brazil, Bladerunner and The Matrix. The film's special effects are cheap and a few steps below the level of an old Star Trek episode. This might be distracting to viewers. The film however isn't relying on it's effect but it's ideas and I hope new viewers can get past the dated cheesiness of the effects and enjoy what the film is about. I hope so. The film ultimately overcomes its limitations and works very well as an above average example of an intelligent science fiction film. There haven't been many of those. The film is about a well-meaning Icarus who pushes too hard and flies too close to the sun with disastrous results. George Orr ( portrayed by Bruce Davison, who at the time was most famous for Willard and Fortune in Men's Eyes and recently played the Senator in the X MEN film) is an everyman in a Portland, Oregon of the 'near future'. The world is over-populated and on the brink of economic disaster. Weather patterns have been altered by the effects of nuclear war. George Orr believes that when he dreams, he changes reality. He tries to prevent himself from dreaming and has recently over-dosed on drugs. Under terms of his probation he must go and discuss his problems with Dr. Haber an Oneilogist (who specializes in dreams). At first, the doctor doesn't believe that George Orr can actually change reality with his dreams. Only George you see remembers how things were before he dreamed. He's lived with the guilt and horror of how his dreams change reality since he discovered his unique gift or curse when he was 17. As viewers, we quickly believe George is telling the truth. His dreams do change reality. Then Haber suggests to George that he change the weather patterns in his dream. The Doctor runs up to roof of the building while George dreams and watches with amazement as the always cloudy skies, suddenly become blue and sunny. Most of the population think it's been sunny for several years, but George and the Doctor know that it was George's dream that changed things. The doctor realizes that he can cure all of the world's problems by hypnotizing George and giving him suggestions about what he should dream. Like in the Monkey's Paw, however, one must be careful what is asked for or disaster could result. George is well aware of the dangers of what the Doctor is doing, but the Doctor won't listen to him. Will George be cured of his 'effective dreams'? Will the Doctor playing God destroy the world he is trying to save? Will ever changing reality make it impossible for George to re-connect with the woman he has fallen in love with? While I was disappointed the film did not age as well as I had hoped, it is still a worthwhile one which deserved to be saved from obscurity. It has taken the efforts of several big name stars (Tom Hanks and Jason Alexander for example) and thousands of fans over the last several years to convince P.B.S. management to resolve the legal issues over the music right which have prevented the film from being re-broadcast. They were and the film was re-broadcast on P.B.S. in June of 2000 and recently released on video and DVD. Included on the DVD is a wonderful interview of (Portland, Oregon based) author Ursula K. Le Guinn by Bill Moyer. While the rescue of Lathe of Heaven from obscurity is unfortunately not on the level of the restoration of a true masterpiece like Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc, it is a very welcome return of a thought provoking and ambitious film that deserves to be widely seen. " Those whom heaven helps we call the sons of heaven. They do not learn this by learning. They do not work it by working. They do not reason it by using reason. To let understanding stop at what cannot be understood is high attainment. Those who cannot do it will be destroyed on the lathe of heaven." As an amusing aside. Ursula K. Le Guinn based the title of her novel on the above translation of an ancient Chinese quote. However, it was a bad translation because at the time it was written there were no such things as lathes. Still a great quote and a great title though. Chris Jarmick Author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder - A steamy cyber thriller available January 2001. Please order it today. Thank You
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