Rating: 
Summary: one of ford's best - viggo is in this too!
Review: I love this movie, am deeply moved each time I see it. You can see the plot from other reviews, so I won't review it here. I've often wondered whatever happened to Lukas Haas' career - he was outstanding. This movie is a refreshing change for Harrison Ford, who previously was known only for Star Wars and Indiana Jones. He shows new depths and range in his acting abilities. My main gripe is that mentioned by others - the "out of character" scene where Kelly McGillis lets Ford gaze at her while bathing. No Amish woman would ever do that. That was simply a cheap way to sneak in some modern nudity, into a culture where it would not be tolerated. Other than that, it's a nearly perfect movie, suspenseful, funny, romantic and interesting. Has anyone noticed that Viggo Mortensen is in this? Look for him in the barn-raising scene. Little did I dream when I first saw this movie almost 20 years ago that while I was watching my heartthrob of the time (Ford) I was also watching my daughter's present heartthrob (Mortensen aka ARAGORN). Fun glimpse of his early career.
Rating:
Summary: good mix of thriller and romance
Review: i must have seen the first 10 minutes of this film about 4 times before actually going ahead and watching it properly.and im pleased i did.while the film doesnt tread any new ground its still an enjoyable and engaging film.possibly harrison fords best.the story is thus; a young amish boy witnesses a murder,cop uncovers drug and murder type stuff within the force,and has to hide with amish folks.although this film seems to be realistic,its the fact that it errs more to a kind of fantasy world that draws the viewer in.a kind of metaphor can be drawn from the fact he is in a safe place,yet it is so close to something not so safe,can be compared to people sitting in there own homes.or maybe that metaphor cant be drawn,i dont know...thats just something i felt from it.maybe i feel other things people dont (cue kenneth williams type ooohhh after the feeling bit).another plus point to the film is the ending,it ends the way it should,and gives the film an almost dream like feel.like what the cop felt was a safe homely environment felt as a youngster in our own homes.because of this excellent conclusion to the film it really does make it more rewarding,and doesnt pander to any pathetic all lived happily ever after type rubbish.after taking all of this into account,and realising the film does actually have some deeper issues,id give this a 3 1/2 out of 5,but since i cant do that ill give it 4.
Rating: 
Summary: Yowtch!
Review: Man, this was a grabber! An Amish kid witnesses the murder of a cop in a public bathroom. He and his mother come under the protection on the detective (Harrison Ford, expertly cast) who has been assigned to solve the crime. Samuel (the kid) IDs the murderer (after coming up blank on lineups and mug shots) when he recognizes him as a narc agent whose picture he sees on the wall of the police station.
When Ford realizes that it's an inside job involving other officers right up to the Chief of Police, his own life is in danger and he, too goes into hiding - within the Amish community. Then the movie becomes a cat and mouse game, juxtaposing the metropolitan police corruption with the purity of the Amish way of life. Of course, there's a love interest between the boy's widowed mother (Kelly McGillis) and Ford, and the personal question of how Ford will handle his 'situation' in both worlds.
Excellent and iconic film.
Rating:
Summary: A somewhat inaccurate but respectful portrayal of the Amish
Review: Being a Christian (my views are a combination of Baptist and Mennonite) I find this movie to have the most respectful portrayal of the Amish by Holywood. While this film has inaccuracies, it is an example of how Hollywood should view the Amish with respect. Other movies like Kingpin and For Richer or Poorer are examples of how it should not be done. Many Amish know about his film and some leaders have read the script. Most did not like this film as it inaccurately portrayed them. Each Amish community has its own standards and rules. Some were more offended than others about this film. My advice is not to ask any about this film if you visit their communities. Most know about this film and would probably take offense even though they may not let you know. The film does have accuracies about the core views of the Amish, pacifism and isolationism. Also a vast majority of the Amish in this film are actors. Most Amish object to being photographed as the consider it to be an affront the 2nd Commandment. This film has a beautiful score by Maurice Jarre. Best known for his soundtracks for Doctor Zhivago and Lawrence of Arabia. He is also the father of the famous electronic musician Jean-Michel Jarre.
Rating: 
Summary: Witnessing what?
Review: Witness is critically acclaimed and everyone likes it, but probably me. There's something lacking in this film that keeps it from my honor list (four stars or above). As usual, the acting is fine when Ford is included, but the story line bothers me a bit and I think I know what's missing. John Book is Ford's character and he takes up a case which includes an Amish boy and his sister, big sis, and the uncovering of crooked cops in his own precinct. The Amish boy witnesses a murder and Book finds out its a cop behind it, but as he investigates he gets shot and he escapes with the boy and his sis to Amish territory where he seeks assylum. This movie has some really good points, so let me point them out first. 1. Harrison Ford is outstanding, why he didn't win best actor for this the world will never know, but he did a great job with a city cop who has to change and learn of a new culture far from his own.
2. This film put the Amish and their culture for America to learn about. I admire their culture and beliefs and their moral duties, which you learn a great deal about. Again, I am all for movies that teach you things as well as entertain you at the same time. This film does that, sort of.
3. The plot is original, for its time, although many spins have made off it, films that now make fun or attempt to include the Amish in it have come about as a result to this film's success. Here's the problem with it. The film was intended to be a romance/thriller/drama and it failed. The thrillingness of it is very good, it is successful at keep us glued seeing if the bad cops will find Ford stashed with the Amish. But the romance and drama are pitiful and unrealistic. Ford's character, although believable, is kind of lost. He finds himself at the care of these Amish folks and yet he doesn't know what to do. He can't return to the city cops, so he just sits there and bides his time. I never could figure this out. Why doesn't he go to a different city? Seek out of state jurisdiction? Instead he just remains, willingly, among the Amish learning their customs as he checks in with his partner to see how things are. But this is so stupid and unbelievable. Damn, if I was him I'd be on the move. Who cares if your car doesn't work, walk or borrow a carriage of theirs. Sheesh! OK, the romance is dumb. I don't think it works and the reason why I think it doesn't works is because Kelly McGillis' character has to step out of character for it to even happen, which is a total no no. There is this one scene that makes me puke, it is when McGillis is bathing and she doesn't mind that Book is watching her in the nude. She even turns to stare at him, showing all like "Come and get me, big boy." This is not a born and bred Amish gal, this is stupid Hollywood being perverted. It's this incident that takes her out of character for good and it ruins the movie, making viewers uncomfortable like me. A real Amish girl would never do such a thing. I almost wonder if the director knew this but did it anyway to make a statement or demonstrate that "physical pleasure is more important than one's Faith." It wouldn't surprise me. This film would've been better if McGillis's character hadn't turned into a sex symbol, but been a woman who loved her Faith more than her own lust. That would've been character development and more realistic. I guess I'm so sick of these lady roles being these easy, bare all sex symbols that have no personality or originality in their character. The end is also unbelievable. Three bad cops show up to find Book and kill him, so they go right into the heart of the Amish community and start shooting up the place. This reminded me of a cheesy western that Clint Eastwood would sport. Give me a break. This film has some reality in it, but a whole lot of typical hollywood as well. I'm sorry, but the out of step character of McGillis and the ending was just unsatisfactory to give this movie more than three stars.
Rating:
Summary: Could be one of his most liked movies.
Review: Time will tell if Ford, known as heroic Han Solo and Indy Jones will return to his heroic status. It is hard for me to realize that when push came to shove and Ford was asked to support the pro-Sadam leftist in hollywood or our troups he blinked. He has been known for his financial support for Clinton, and thats fine. That is the way hollywood is. But support for proping up sadam?... and then he had his publicist try to explain away his apparent anti-american pro-french quotes... Anyway, my point is that Harrison Ford is arguably out best actor today. He plays the hero roles and the human interest roles very well. If the public stops accepting him as a hero, due to his politics then his excellent work in movies like WITNESS will come to dominate. I liked this movie, but it is not currently my favorite Ford movie. Maybe that will change over time.
Rating:
Summary: Harrison Ford's best film.
Review: "Witness" garnered Harrison Ford's only Oscar nomination to date, and he deserved it. The film itself is really intriguing, suspenseful, and engaging. It features yet another great child performance: Lukas Haas as the witness Samuel Lapp. It seems that child performances just keep getting better and better with each film I see, and Haas is no expection. My favorite scenes are the ones between Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. Their romance is truly believable and real. The thriller aspects of the film are merely secondary to the love story with Ford and McGillis.
Rating:
Summary: pretty good
Review: Harrison Ford is a great actor. This is not his best work but its one of his most touching and personal. I liked him better as Indiana Jones but not every movie can be the Temple of Doom.
Rating:
Summary: A very sympathetic movie!...
Review: Here we have Harrison Ford as the big city detective and he's on the road to protect a "witness" (a young Amish boy) who has witnessed a murder while visiting the city. The movie takes off from here, and Ford goes to Amish country and "joins up," as they say to keep the heat off of him. Then there are the subplots - his direct supervisor is in cahoots with the murderers, and try as he can, he is never really an Amish man. And in particular, not when he goes into town in the Amish buggy with his sponsors, and proceeds to "protect their dignity" by smashing the offender's face to a bloody pulp. That was a bit over the edge, but overall, the Amish were portrayed very believably and sympathetically, and we actually see Ford do some real work in a "barn raising." (He was a carpenter before he became a Hollywood star.) A terrific movie, but be careful of its violence, and the scene with the nudity was questionable, unless the film needed the necessary "R" rating to make it credible. I thought the violence was enough.
Rating:
Summary: Ford at his Best
Review: By the time Harrison Ford made WITNESS, he was midway through a career that most often emphasized dashing derring-do. As police officer John Book, Ford gets the chance to combine his frequent persona of heroism with the less obvious trait of intense inner turmoil. Ford slips into his role as detective Book with consummate ease as he interviews a smart Amish boy (Lukas Haas) who has just witnessed a murder. Book is all police professionalism, until he meets the boy's gorgeous widowed mother, Rachel, played by Kelly McGillis in her first featured role. The focus of interest is on the seemingly insurmountable gap that exists between Book's world of urban technology and Rachel's world of horse-drawn carriages. The plot outside of their romance is paper-thin. The boy has witnessed a rogue cop murder another officer in an act of witnessing that brings out a wide scale eruption of top level police corruption. Yet the palpable chemistry of Ford and McGillis is so potent that the viewer scarcely notices the holes in logic that would stand out if only that viewer were not so immersed in the rarest of all movie themes: the clashing of cultures that brings out the best of both. Director Peter Weir is careful not to show the Amish as country bumpkins. Rather he shows a people that despite some inevitable clannishness are truly noble and brave. Some of the most effective and moving scenes that I have ever watched on the big screen are here enormously memorable precisely because they underplay the tension of a moment that seems insignificant to gawky tourists but reveal to the audience that when an Amish man suffers the indignity of passive resistance against some redneck city boors, it is he, rather than the more daring John Book, who shows courage and forebearance. Yet, part of the movie's charm is that no one character labels his world or actions as any better than the other's. What emerges after the required shoot-em-up ending is a subtext that suggests that witnessing the way of a world that is not one's own does not mean that one must succeed in crossing the chasm to reach the other side in safety. John Book finds out that it is often enough to reach out his hand to another to find out that both worlds are less different than at first glance.
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