East of Eden

Rating:
Summary: Best movie of all time!!!
Review: OHMYGOD!! I just saw East of Eden and it was absolutely amazing! James Dean has stolen my heart! He is absolutely enchanting. If you were going to see one more movie in your life time, make this it! It made me laugh, cry, and feel things that only a wonderful movie like this could make you feel. It changes my whole view on life. John Steinbeck wrote a beautiful book, and Elia Kazan made it into an absolutely perfect movie. See it see it see it! It is breathtaking!

Rating:
Summary: I definately wasnt in the land of nod after this little gem
Review: Take one of the greatest actors ever presented to the world, place him in a film directed by one of the greatest directors concieved and make sure that film is based on one of the greatest books penned by one of the greatest writers of our times and what do you have...a lot of greatness with little punctuation or a film that tickles me pink. The film is East of Eden and the trio of Dean, Kazan and Steinbeck make it so special I could well be described as moist.
I love James Dean and his performance in Eden makes me cry so hard I am forced to compose myself using a bed-spread for a hankie, its so well performed it amazes me, how one man can drag so many emotions from himself to laden on one character is breathtaking, Dean captures Cal with a deep insight and it shows. The rest of the cast are ticklishly super also, Julie Harris gets Abra just right, the scene in the field with Cal ripples through me every time she does that little giggle, hoo im ripply now........ still ripply but i shall go on to tell you Jo van Fleet as Kate is nastier than that woman down my street that eats cats ( eats=keeps ). I read one review that stated her performance wasnt in-keeping with the books because she shows her good side, Im sure while reading i also discovered Kates humanity, so i hope the person who thought that gets eaten like a cat. Raymond Massey and his stiff acting could seem out of place but fits into the scenes with Cal perfectly, truly inspired casting...
Kazans direction is top-notch as usual, I especially like the scene with Cal on the swing and the one with Cal and Abra under the tree, they is mighty purtty scenes.
The screenplay is adapted really well consdiring the weight of the message present in the novel, the idea of personal choice is pressed throughout sucsessfulllyyy (cant remember how many l's or y's)
In summary this is a pretty little film that makes me lick the screen in excitment.

Rating:
Summary: A Long Overdue DVD Classic
Review: Taken from us so soon James Dean with only 3 great films is an icon of America Cinnema. Unfortunatelly, on this great clasic, directed by the great but controversial Elia Kazan. Still awaits it's "Full Restoration Great DVD Release."

Rating:
Summary: Is it an old movie?
Review: The movie was nearly half a century-- but every story has its own backbround, and a good one will never be old. Karzan did right this time. James Dean's performance was perfect, so were others'. By the way, why "Karl" always felt lonely? I feel people understood him more than understood his father--even the author would like to do so.

Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary Moments
Review: There are two extraordinary moments in this film. The first is Cal/Dean leaping among the rows of sprouting soybeans, then lying on his belly sizing them up with an exuberant inner ecstasy.
The second takes place on the ferris wheel ride. As Dean kisses Julie Harris, the fingers of his hand slowly stretch to a blossom born of stunned discovery.
Astonishing.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant filmization of Steinbeck novel - searing, remarkab
Review: This brilliant adaptation of the Steinbeck novel brought James Dean to the screen along with Julie Harris, Oscar-winner Jo Van Fleet, and Raymond Massey for a powerful and searing look at love between father and twin sons. Nominated for four Oscars, includng Best Actor, Director and Screenplay and winner of a Golden Globe for Best Film, this haunting work demands to get back into print on both VHS and DVD...END

Rating:
Summary: Where is the DVD?
Review: This film is a masterpiece. It also marks the acting debut ofJames Dean. Dean made three major starring roles in East of Eden,Rebel Without A Cause, and Giant. You would think that all threefilms would be among the top to be digitally remastered onto DVD butonly Rebel Without A Cause is available now. I want to encourage fansof James Dean and East of Eden to vote (on Amazon.com) for both it andGiant to be released on DVD. I still can't believe these films arenot available all ready and I hope when they do come to DVD it is donewith the care and respect they deserve.

Rating:
Summary: Authentic, enticing portrayal of family issues.
Review: This film was a first of its time to illustrate the issues from the perspective of the youth. Rivalry between siblings and competition for the father's love was as real as it is today. This was James Dean's first motion picture to star in and it took him to the top instantly.

Rating:
Summary: Legendary
Review: This has to be James Dean's best performance, you fall so deep into this character that you can't help but feel how painful his ordeal is with his father and brother. The birthday scene is a classic. See this movie, you will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: "Watching this film was like having a nervous breakdown"
Review: This is what one reviewer (I didn't note his name) at the time remarked after seeing this film, and was right on target because this solid film adaptation of one of Steinbeck's masterpieces is an emotionally draining, deeply disturbing film about a young man's desperate attempts to gain his father's love. James Dean's powerhouse performance as Cal made him a star and it is no wonder; he is at once desperate, driven, disillusioned, bitter, and yearning--all for the sake of feeling truly loved by his father, which he has never felt. Even in his final atrocious act which destroys his brother and devastates his father, Dean as Cal never comes across as appalling or evil but instead is vulnerable and utterly poignant. I disagree with the premise that the two brothers are in rivalry over their father's love--it seems all Aron, Cal's brother, has to do is be his natural good self and their father adores him, whereas Cal is constantly having to fight his true self to no avail in his painful, futile efforts only to be constantly frustrated. The rest of the cast is excellent with Jo Van Fleet as the boys' absentee mother, a mercenary and amoral woman who embraces her true nature in her profession as a madam; Raymond Massey proves what a talented and powerful actor he himself was by more than holding his own with the intense Dean as Adam Trask, the patriarch whom both boys vie for; and Julie Harris is luminous and touching as Aron's fiancee Abra, a conflicted good girl whom both boys are naturally in love with. Poor Richard Davalos gives a good, restrained performance as Aron, but unfortunately gets lost in the fireworks between Dean and Massey, Harris' poignancy, and Van Fleet's venality--as a result he is barely memorable. A must-see film that superbly showcases Dean's abilities and proves how a very turbulent and emotionally bleak story can be utterly appealing with superb acting and direction--even if you aren't particularly in the mood to be depressed.