Rating: 
Summary: So real, it is like you are there!
Review: The acting and scenery is so real, it is like you were there to witness all that happened in 1692. You had to be taken in by what happened back then. Innocent people dieing by twisted laws. Every person gives an all out performance in The Crucible. This movie is worth owning and watching again and again.
Rating:
Summary: APPROACHING SHAKESPEARE IN QUOTABLE LINES!
Review: THE CRUCIBLE, Arthur Miller's masterful parable of hypocrisy and cynicism during the communist "witch hunts" of the McCarthy era, can stand on its own as a story about the Salem Witch trials from seventeenth century New England. Besides, Miller offers about as many wonderful quotes as you might find only in the works of the immortal Bard of Stratford on Avon. Consider just a few:
- Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!
- Oh God forbid that such an one is charged but she is mentioned somewhat.
- Are the accusers always holy now? Were they born this morning as pure as God's fingers? I'll tell you what's walking Salem: vengeance! The little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom and common vengeance writes the law!
- Now Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs and all our old pretenses ripped away! Aye! And God's icy wind will blow.
- The pure in heart need no lawyers, Mr. Proctor, proceed as you will.
- For a man of such terrible learning you are most bewildered, Mr. Hale.
AND
- Now, we will touch the bottom of this swamp.
Wonderful stuff.
The film adaptation is splendid and you just can't miss with Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder!
THE HORSEMAN
Rating:
Summary: AN HISTORIC PARABLE WITH MODERN APPLICATIONS
Review: The Crucible, Arthur Miller's masterpiece written in answer to the foolishness, hypocrisy and tragedy surrounding the dark days of McCarthyism, shows how those who refuse to learn their history are doomed to repeat it. Using the Salem Witch Trials as his palette, Miller paints a stunning picture of how deceit, ignorance and superstition--characteristics still in abundance in our society today--can be interwoven and supercharged to drive seemingly rational people into madness.The Crucible continues to be a profound parable for our times and invites viewers who readily recognize the absolute folly of the darkest days of Colonial Salem to admit that such nonsense is possible today when politics, pettiness and pride run amok in modern society. Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis stars as the hapless John Proctor, a man torn between a desire to save friends and family and the struggle to retain a good name. Winona Ryder is absolutely diabolical as the deceitful temptress and adulteress Abigail Williams, who plants the seeds that result in a community torn apart. The movie is crowned by great supporting performances by Paul Scofield as Judge Thomas Danforth, Joan Allen as Elizabeth Proctor, Bruce Davison as Reverend Parris, Rob Campbell as Reverend Hale and Jeffrey Jones as Thomas Putnam. Can't wait for the DVD! Douglas McAllister
Rating:
Summary: The Crucible: Prophetically Truthful
Review: This drama illustrates a sad chapter in American history. The remarkable thing is that the evil in this story knows no age boundries. From Abigail Williams and Mercy Lewis to Giles Corey were found assailants and victims alike. This also may show a prophetic omen of the present. We have neglected, even oulawed the practice of the corporal discipline of our children. The result can be seen in the news daily: children who murder. The difference is the way they do it. Instead of crying out false allegations in courts of law, they now stalk our streets with guns and knives, or practice murder openly in our schools, as in Columbine, CO and incidents like that.
The Crucible is a grim indicator of the capability of evil in our hearts, from childhood on up. The Crucible shines a potent light on the suffering of their victims.
"I have broken faith with that woman!!!" -- Giles Corey as he laments the execution of his beloved wife, Martha.
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
-- Proverbs 22:15
Rating: 
Summary: The Crucible
Review: This film took place in 1692 in Salem, MA. It is an adapted version of the play written by Arthur Miller and is based on a notable historical event involving the Salem Witchcraft Trials. The main theme of this film is the conflict between truth and deceit. This film even presents an excellent example of the modern day existence of peer pressure and the power it has on youth. It is a film the depicts the selfishness of a young woman and the means she will go through to try to get what she wants, even if it results in the loss of innocent lives. This is a drama that brilliantly illustrates the conflicts between characters by use of camera work in zooming in on character close ups. The dark mood of the picture is also illustrated in the coldness of the scenes and the characters by filming scenes at night or in the dark and by presenting the characters breath while speaking. I rank this film by giving it four out of five stars. It was a movie that I was apprehensive about upon viewing, however soon found myself glued to the screen awaiting the unfolding of the story.
Rating:
Summary: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT!
Review: This film, based upon the Arthur Miller play of the same name, is excellent. Miller himself wrote the screenplay for it, so it is no wonder that the story told by the film is relatively faithful to the play. Coupled with the capable direction of Nicholas Hynter, as well as a stellar cast, the play successfully makes the transition from stage to celluloid. The movie recounts a fictionalized version of the famous Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692, which saw quite a number of of the town's citizens executed for witchcraft. Winona Ryder is excellent as Abigail Williams, the poor relation of the town's craven minister, well played by Bruce Davison. Dancing with other young women around a camp fire in the woods one evening, she is surprised by the intrusion of the minister into their festivities. He is just as surprised as they are. The young women are in terror of having been caught doing something forbidden to them, and the games begin. "The devil made me do it!" becomes the rallying cry of the day, as the young women begin pointing the finger at those townsfolk, who in some measure have come under their unfavorable scrutiny. Beginning with Tituba, the slave, who is the first to fall, the circle of those accused widens under the careful leadership of Abigail. She ultimately sets her sights on Elizabeth Proctor, the prim wife of John Proctor, played with icy calm by Joan Allen, for whom she had previously worked and from whose employ she had been dismissed, as Mrs. Proctor had rightly suspected her of having an affair with her husband, John. Abigail still lusts mightily for John, who has spurned her subsequent overtures and advances. She, who has been nothing, has suddenly been empowered in such a way that what she desires may be only an accusation away from being hers, or so Abigail thinks. John Proctor, wonderfully portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis, is a taciturn everyman, who does not traffic too much with the townfolk. As witch mania grips the town, however, he becomes more vocal. When his wife is taken into custody on a charge of witchcraft, he can no longer keep silent. He comes to her defense in full fury at the injustice done to his wife and the other poor souls unjustly accused of witchcraft and trafficking with the devil, only to ultimately be done in by love and his own integrity. It is almost hard to believe that such an event as the Salem witch trials ever really took place, but truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. This film bring that notorious chapter in American history to life. It is well worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, spooky, maddening
Review: This should be a classic. Daniel Day Lewis as John Proctor is phenomenal. Arthur Miller's screen adaptation is mesmerizing.
In case you don't know, it's a story about the Salem Witch Trials and how the devil was really in the sidelines of the mind encouraging people to take advantage of the lunacy that was happening. Upright Christians lured by the possibility of greater wealth and revenge begin to see the devil possessing those they don't care for, or those who own the land that they would like to own for themselves. It's a common thought that the whole Witch Hunt was just a huge land grab.
There's great drama, little bits of humor, and a simplicity of setting that draws you in. Definitely a must see.
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