Wide Awake

Rating:
Summary: The most sensitive, thought-provoking, in my library!
Review: What a perfectly beautiful movie for all ages! I have many VHS & DVD movies, but NOTHING has touched me as much as "Wide Awake". I constantly recommend it to others & have never heard anyone disappointed from having watched it.

Rating:
Summary: Great little known film!
Review: When I first saw this in the video store I worked in, I decided that I'd watch it because I like whatever Rosie O'Donnell is in. I'm certainly happy that I did! Rosie really didn't impress me on her own, it was Joseph Cross, the little boy who is searching for God to make sure that his grandfather is OK in heaven. He did a great job for such a young actor.
This immediately went on my recommendation list for customers and I still recommend it for everyone 10 and over.

Rating:
Summary: "Boys in uniforms don't smile alot."
Review: WIDE AWAKE is a family film with its thrust located in a young boy's Catholic faith. It doesn't sound like typical family faire but than again, M Night Shyamalan is not your average filmmaker as he would later show in THE SIXTH SENSE and UNBREAKABLE. And like both of those films, WIDE AWAKE ends with a well hidden twist.

Joshua Beal is a 5th grader at a Catholic Boys School in Philadelphia. He has recently lost his best friend/Grandfather and is thus forced to grow up rather quickly. He goes on a spiritual quest to find God as only a child could do. Along the way he discovers girls, friendship, and he learns the value of self and thus gives self-respect to others.

The story is at times episodic, even to the point of feeling auto-biographical. Dennis Leary and Kim Delaney portray the over-protective parents and Rosie O'Donnell is a nun who uses baseball to teach the Bible.

The DVD has a standard widescreen video master and a subtle audio transfer along with a couple trailers. Enjoy the light humor and deep payoff of WIDE AWAKE.

Rating:
Summary: I Love This Movie!
Review: Wide awake is my all time favorite movie ever! It Rocks I garentie you will like this movie. All thoe Joshua is looking for god to see if his grandpa is ok up in Heaven, The movie easnt souly (thats not a pun) bassed on the fact that hes looking for god. Its also about Joshua growing up and leaving his childhood behind. And discuvering that theres more to life then just waching cartoons and playing with cars. He also discovers a slytlie scary thing best friend and discovers girls. The movie has something in it that once it ends you will be surprised. Its funny seryus and Loving all at the same time. I urg every one to see this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely awesome funny and poignant story...we loved it!!!
Review: Wide Awake is one of the best family movies we have every seen! My husband does not generally enjoy stories focused upon juvenile plots, but we have watched this moved several times on cable...have laughed and cried and continue to watch it every chance we get. We rented it and shared it with our 30-some married children...they also loved it and thought it to be one of the very best they have seen.... In fact, they have asked for a copy of it for Christmas!!! Please..wherever the decision-makers are...make this movie available at affordable prices!!???

Rating:
Summary: DIFFICULT QUESTIONS, SIMPLE ANSWERS: ENCHANTING FILM
Review: You know when you catch a late night movie on a film channel and it hooks you on, then you keep watching it, laugh, cry and just purely enjoy it and feel good that you flicked on the channel at the right time? This is one of those movies.

I am not sure why some reviewers lament that it's a pretentious theme. Sure, it's not anything that'd be seen rocking boxoffice records or winning grand prizes, it even has some necessary contrivances. But it moved me, impelled me to think, and impressed me with a number of brilliant moments that are sensitive and engaging without becoming cloying.

Shyamalan is now a familiar name, so I approached his debut effort with high expectations, and while it could be sappy in bits for some people, I'm guilty of having clung on until the very last shot. The writing is taut and the production values are all-round immaculate. I was not disappointed one bit!

If you have kids, this is a fantastic movie to watch because of the sweet yet universal messages it couches. Plus, the kids in the movie are not freckled 10-year old brats, they have thoughts deeper than what you and I give them credit for.

The script is by no stretch of imagination an overly ambitious one, but I highly recommend this underrated gem for its thoughtful dialogue and crisp direction.

Rating:
Summary: One to look for!
Review: You won't find this movie in a prominant place at your local video store. you will have to really LOOK for it. But when you find it,rent it. This movie is enchanting, funny, moving and somehow profound. This is from the guy who wrote and directed THE SIXTH SENSE and WIDE AWAKE has a few things in common with SENSE: it deals with grief in real emotional terms, it has an INCREDIBLE performance by a young actor (Joseph Cross)and a neat little "surpirse" at the end.
Seek this one out and share it with the kids. It is funny and moving!