Rating: 
Summary: The feel-good movie of the year.
Review: Jim Carrey plays a 1950's Hollywood screenwriter, who, upon being named as a potential communist, has a few too many drinks and gets into a horrific car accident. He smashes his head, and wakes up in an idyllic little town with that old Hollywood classic....(say it with me...) AMNESIA. He's mistaken for the son of the local theater-owner (The Majestic, of course...), believed to have died in World War II. The townspeople all welcome him back, he loves his new life, and all is well.....but The House Committee is looking for him (by now they think him a commie mastermind), and what'll happen when/if he remembers his old life? The Majestic reminded me of the type of films that Preston Sturges and Frank Capra used to make, It's a gentle fable about love, tolerance, human rights, and a reminder that sometimes we all need to stop and smell the roses. Jim Carrey is great as the Jimmy Stewart-esque lead, and Laurie Holden is luminous as his (supposed) ex-girlfriend. She is just beautiful! I couldn't take my eyes off her, and her quiet, dignified performance lends a lot to the movie. The film is a little too long, but I left with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart, so I suggest you give The Majestic a try. Plus, it has a cameo by Bruce (Evil Dead)Campbell!! What more could you want??
Rating: 
Summary: Blackout at the Majestic
Review: Writer/Director Frank Darabont chose as his follow-up to the wonderful SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and sturdy GREEN MILE, the uninspired flick, THE MAJESTIC. It follows an amnesia-stricken screenwriter mistaken for a long lost war hero. This role is filled by Jim Carrey but could've been played by anyone, (Serious actor or not, Jim Carrey's talents are not put to use in this yarn.) The storyline feels extremely derivative, turning to better films and borrowing concepts and characters. The antagonistic role of the communist witch-hunt only appears twice in the film, in a brief intro and then in the finale. This and other cheap, manipulative techniques don't seem worthy of Darabont. Frankly, I was surprised. And with all the borrowing there were plenty of missed opportunities. Watch for an appearance by the idol from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK in the black and white film. But even that scene, supposedly from a 1950s low budget film, resembles a high budget film with costly camera movement and scenery betraying even that low-budget concept. Not a very enjoyable film. The highlight of the film is Carl and Rob Reiner as two of the voices during the opening and closing segments.
Rating: 
Summary: You can smell it from a mile away...
Review: Dang.
This movie was so terrible that I literally took a nap during the last half hour. I realized I knew exactly what would happen,
knew it would not happen in a very interesting way, so I just closed my eyes and got some "Zzzz". Sometimes I like to know what's going to happen next. Sometimes. Not 120 minutes at a time. There was absolutely no possibility of surprise in this movie. It wasn't just that the plot was lacking. Although I could say it was so two-dimensional
it would've made a better coloring book than a movie. Any plot point you didnt see coming a mile away was announced by overrpoweringly schmaltzy music soaring in the background. "Oh, this must be a touching moment." "Hmm, he's going to say something noble, isn't he."
The dialogue also had some terrible moments Overall with this movie I could practically picture a roomful of monkeys scratching their heads as they sit at their typewriters writing that stuff.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Simplistic Understanding of the Hollywood Red Menace
Review: The people responsible for this almost certain box office failure prefer to think of themselves as brave defenders of the Constitution. They realize the high likelihood of "The Majestic" being ignored by the general public, but are consoled by the respect and adulation their efforts will receive from the Hollywood political Left. Such films may even have a better chance of garnering Academy Award nominations. After all, I will readily concede that Jim Carrey is brilliant as the screen writer Peter Appleton wrongly suspected of Communist sympathies. Martin Landau also deserves a supporting actor nomination for his portrayal as the theater owner Harry Thimble who believes Appleton to be his long lost World War II veteran son. Unfortunately, though, the overall movie is diminished by the long scenes allowing Landau to display his formidable acting talent. They sometimes seemed out of place and considerably slowed down the pace of the movie. Some people might recall Frank Capra while viewing "The Majestic," but I'm also reminded of Oliver Stone's questionable handling of American history. The story line revolves around the House Un-American Activities Committee legitimate attempt to eradicate the nefarious influences of the Communists in Hollywood. Legal strong arm tactics were employed, and sometimes the innocent suffered along with the guilty. Mistakes did indeed occur. Peter Appleton gets drunk one day, and has an automobile accident. This results in amnesia and Appleton ends up in a town that still mourns its young men lost in the war. Appleton is mistaken for their beloved Luke. The interactions between the town's citizens and the supposed Luke are both touching and awkward. We know the truth will be ultimately revealed, and can only hope that everyone finds the experience somehow redeeming. Kenneth Lloyd Billingsley's historical work "Hollywood Party: How Communism Seduced The American Film Industry In The 1930s and 1940s" is highly recommended. This superb book will far more accurately explain the threat of the the Hollywood Communist members during that era. These Communists didn't have the slightest interest in advancing anybody's American First Amendment rights, and destroyed the careers of many who refused to obey the party line. Nevertheless, "The Majestic' has just enough going for it to justify a three star recommendation. If nothing else, the film captures the feel of the early 1950s and is visually beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: Sappy and sentimental-give me more
Review: I realize in today's cynical world this movie seems out of place. If you compare it to a Frank Capra film (It's a Wonderful Life-1946) it fits right in. Why not? Why not remember the patriotic feelings of the day? Why not enjoy wholesome way we looked at things then? Why not remember the "red scare" and how it chanllenged the very American rights it was supposed to be defending. Why not watch Jim Carrey look like a normal guy? Kinda nice for a change. I loved it. I loved the way it looked, felt and sounded. If you are looking for action and adventure forget it. If you just want a sweet movie with not much blood, no guts, no teenage girls strutting their belly button rings, or pre-marital sex....then see this movie.. You might love it too.
Rating:
Summary: A Delight
Review: The emotions, cheesy moments, predictable moments, little surprises, and honesty in "The Majestic" combine wonderfully. The film certainly left me with a happy, deep-down good feeling. Yes, it is Christmas, and perhaps the Christmas mood is the what one most needs to enjoy this movie. God bless and Happy Holidays.
Rating:
Summary: Sentimental turn by Carrey in a Stewart-like role
Review: At the beginning of _The Majestic_ we hear some corporate movie bigshots discussing a screenplay, and verbally tweaking it to their liking. "Let's add a dog" they say, confident in their judgement; "Everyone likes dogs." This means the maximum possible drawing power, not necessarily good art. It's a scenario verging on the cliche', one that everyone is familiar with, and Carrey, whose character's screenplay it is being toyed with, doesn't even need to appear exasperated for us to know his discomfort. The question I have now is, how much of this own film's storyline was tweaked for maximum effect-- for a slew of tearjerking scenes that never quite work, and a hodgepodge of plot devices expertly inserted to sculpt a larger than life and almost pretentious viewing atmosphere. Indeed, the question is tantalizing. Is _The Majestic_ simply a big hypocrite of a film? It seems to me best to view it like I viewed last year's huge misfire, _Pearl Harbor_, and that is as homage. The bare fact of the matter is that _The Majestic_ is a reference point, a tribute to Hollywood's storied past. The film presents one of those stories-- in this case, the vilification of the industry by the government at the highest pitch of 1950's Red Scare-- from the inside, through the eyes of a screenwriter (Carrey) who through an accident loses his memory and is thereafter mistaken for another man. This is where the movie shines after all, as the vehicle it was intended to be-- a meta-movie if you will: a movie about making movies, yes, but also more importantly a movie about enjoying movies and going to movies. This is where the statement comes through shiningly. It is in the annexation of the protagonist's journey through small town America that the movie falters slightly, although it must be admitted that this duality of plot, as well as the duality of character, are part and parcel of the story of Hollywood, and I am sure the moviemakers in this case knew this. So does Carrey, when the film about-faces into the seriousness of a defense of art and personal freedom in a hearing before Congress. Carrey's dialogue at the climax recalls and invokes Stewart's from classic films like Capra's _Mr. Smith Goes To Washington_, and Carrey's love interest in the film directly quotes _The Life of Emile Zola_: once more attesting to the film's true success of showing us how powerful movies-- all movies-- can be. It has been pleasant for me to view a Carrey film on the past three Christmas eves-- a new tradition perhaps?-- and though indeed maudlin and partly contrived, the flaws in _The Majestic_ do not detract from a pleasant though stilted viewing experience. Recommended to fans of Carrey's post-_Truman Show_ repertoire and newfound acting range.
Rating: 
Summary: The Audience Applauded
Review: At the completion of the showing, the audience spontaneously applauded. My wife liked it so much she will be taking her mother to see the show next weekend. The story is well crafted, and very, very wise. This is not a comedy. This is not an action adventure film. It is a fable, set in early 1950 America. Although Carrey has the lead, the cast is ensemble. Any one of any age will enjoy this film if they come without preconceptions. And they will learn something.
Rating:
Summary: Jim Carrey is great in The Majestic
Review: In this movie Jim Carey did a superb job. I loved it, as did my 10 year old daughter and my 30 year old daughter. This movie gave a message of true freedom and patriotism. A tender movie with real emotion. The sensitivity and virtuosity of Carey's performance were astounding...A must see.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable but flawed tale of the McCarthy era
Review: In "The Majestic," directed by Frank Darabont, Jim Carrey plays a Hollywood screenwriter during the notorious McCarthy era. He finds out he's out of a job due to an allegation of Communist leanings on his part. With his life thus in crisis, things take a strange twist: after suffering a head injury and losing his memory, he falls into a new life and identity as a returned World War II veteran. Or was that his true identity all along? "The Majestic" features good performances from a fine ensemble cast; Carrey's fellow players include Martin Landau, David Ogden Stiers, and Ron Rifkin. The visual recreation of the era is impressive. And there are some clever and entertaining touches, most notably a spoofy film-within-the-film featuring a perfectly cast Bruce Campbell as a swashbuckling B-movie hero. Particularly striking is the "Majestic" of the title: it's an old-fashioned movie theater with flashy, multicolored lights on its facade. But overall, I found the film unsatisfying. It seems to be an uncomfortable mashing together of sentimental "feel good" film and serious "issue" film. There are too many corny and stereotypical elements: the token servile African-American, the embittered disabled war veteran, etc. The ending struck me as too "easy" and sugar-coated in light of the serious issues raised. "The Majestic" is certainly entertaining, but disappointing.
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