Rating: 
Summary: Harrison Ford's best work
Review: Peter Weir's under appreciated masterpiece draws a striking comparison between religious zealotry and the utopian fantasies of technological imperialism. The smarmy Reverend Spellgood heads south into Central America to spread the Christian faith. Paranoid inventor Allie Fox does likewise, but his mission is somewhat different though no less religious in its intensity - he wants to bring ice, and by his logic 'civilization', to the locals. Both men are 'missionaries', both equally blind to the personal and social costs of the 'salvation' they bring. The cast is universally excellent. Helen Mirren is flawless as the devoted but cautious mother, and River Phoenix really impresses as the coming-of-age son through whose eyes the story unfolds. But Ford is absolutely perfect as the father. This was truly inspired casting, as it uses our latent feelings for the actor to put us in precisely the same position as his on-screen family: we want to love him - this quintessentially paternal hero - despite his destructive obsession. But in the end we have to accept that he gets exactly what he deserves. I'm surprised Ford doesn't seek out more roles like this one, rather than settling for repetitive action fare or trying to reinvent himself as Bogart. Adapted with considerable skill by Paul Schrader from an exquisite novel by Paul Theroux, this film is a rare find: a powerful, gripping, moving story with something important to say.
Rating: 
Summary: No Buzz for the Mosquito Coast.
Review: After reading several reviews, the consensus is that the movie MOSQUITO COAST strays far from its original source..the book from which it is based upon. It seems those who are familiar with the book hate this movie and there is a hate it or love it attitude towards this film. With that aside,Harrison Ford gives one of his best performances as Allie Fox, a crackpot inventor disillusioned with society, particularly the American landscape. He moves his family to the rain forests of Central America to create a utopia so he can live in peace and build a ice-making machine (which he thinks would be the central core of his vision). Things are fine in the beginning, but Allie becomes obsessive and egotistical, and his family begins to become disillusioned by the whole concept. In this viewers opinion the movie is great for the first three quarters as Allie's ideas and dreams come to fruitition. He seems a little unstable, but his dreams are coming together. Then,the final phase of the film echoes the sentiments from an episode of the Twilight Zone called "Elegy" where in the final scene of this classic story, a character (an android named Mr. Wickwire) says "...because you are men, and you are here. And where there are men, there can be no peace!"; the results are almost identical in both stories. This is where the movie falls and where it will turn off most audiences. This is a tour de force acting vehicle for Ford, but the story, plot and somewhat downbeat ending will alienate audiences especially those who are used to seeing Ford playing strong and heroic characters. Good all around support cast with Hellen Mirren (CALIGULA),and the late great River Pheonix (STAND BY ME) who plays Charlie, Allie's(Ford) son. (Pheonix went on to play a young Indiana Jones in a flashback sequence in THE LAST CRUSADE; perhaps because of this role of playing the son of Ford's character.)
Rating: 
Summary: (Harrison) Ford Has a Better Idea
Review: Harrison Ford gives one of his most forceful and compelling performances as Allie Fox, an inventor who moves his family to the jungle of Central America to establish an isolationist utopia. As his dream builds, and then unravels, he moves along the scale from manic genius to meglomanic obsession, putting him at heightened odds with God, nature, man, and finally, his own family. Ford's dazzling performance is enhanced by Helen Mirren's quiet intensity as his loyal wife, and River Phoenix's thoughtful portrayal of his observant oldest son. Look quickly for cameos by Jason Alexander (TV's "Seinfeld") and Butterfly McQueen ("Gone With the Wind")! A beautifully photographed and handsomely mounted production, perceptively directed by Peter Weir.The DVD offers both widescreen and pan & scan tranfers; I preferred the widescreen which preserves the film's magnificent visual compositions. Video and sound are both clear and crisp, and the theatrical trailer makes a nice bonus supplement. Recommended for fans of Ford and Weir, and for viewers who like a strong mix of character study and action-adventure.
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding film!
Review: The first time I saw this movie (about 15 years ago) I really liked Ford's perfomance as Allie Fox, an excentric american inventor who is fed up about of a lot of things in America and decides to move along with his family to Honduras (to the Mosquito Coast)to improve his way of living. By then I really liked Helen Mirren and late River Phoenix as his wife and son.
A couple of months ago I got the chance to red Paul Theroux's novel and I was really surprised abouth Fox's character and I realised than Harrison Ford is Allie Fox Himself! An outsatnding direction by one of my favourite directors, great Peter Weir (Gallipolli, The year of Living Dangerously, Witness, Fearless)who is very attracted in developing conflicts between human beings and Mosqito Coast isn't an exception.I highly recommend this DVD (great quality, and really improved from the VHS)
Rating:
Summary: Where was Oscar?
Review: Say about this movie what you want, if you like Harrison Ford because of his acting ability, this is the movie to watch. Ford gives an enticing, complex, and multi-facetted performance as Allie Fox, a man with a vision of utopia, blind to the reality that binds him. With his vision and inventions, Fox takes his family into the rain forests of Central America, where he sets a chain of events in motion that soon eludes his control and --in the destructive devastation released on man and nature-- the scope of his imagination. Mr. Ford's portrayal of this driven, and in the end obsessed man is not that of a simple villain. Through Allie Fox, Mr. Ford brings to the screen a range of emotions no other character has ever allowed him to explore and does an amazing job with. This is the kind of performance that desrves an Academy Award. A great, albeit less popular follow up to 'Witness,' 'The Mosquito Coast' reunites Ford with Australian director Peter Weir. This is a great movie, visual and character driven. Finally, it is available in the grand widescreen format it deserves!
Rating:
Summary: Book Expertly Brought To Life
Review: Striking locations, solid acting, and fidelity to the original story make this an excellent film. In contrast to what has been written in certain other reviews, this is exactly the way in which a book should be brought to life on the silver screen. To wit- much of the dialogue used in the film has been lifted directly from the book. The storyline follows the novel with nearly exact precision. Sure, some of the detail gets left out, but it's impossible to make a feature-length film from a full-length novel without losing some of the subleties. If they're that important to you, skip the movie and stick to the book. Secondly, Harrison Ford's preformance as the self-destructive genius Allie Fox is beyond question. Author Paul Theroux was among Ford's biggest fans, once quoted as saying "He IS Allie Fox." Ford took the role after Jack Nicholson turned it down, and this is likely for the best - his performance, superlatives aside, is in fact Oscar-worthy. The rest of the cast offers standout performances - especially noteworthy are Helen Mirren and the late River Phoenix, as Mother and Charlie respectively. Perhaps this film's biggest detriment is the story itself - the psychologically dark plot can be as off-putting as it is fascinating. This film should be viewed for what it is - an excellent film version of the book and a fascinating, dark tale of self-destruction. Fans of Harrison Ford's lighter action films might not enjoy the movie because of the dark plot. This movie, however, was never intended to please all of the people all of the time; keeping that in mind, this is an excellent film.
Rating:
Summary: not bad
Review: A fairly interesting story that is sparked with drama and interesting character development thanks to superb acting and directing.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely not Han or Indy
Review: Don't sit down and watch The Mosquito Coast expecting another Six Days and Seven Nights. Harrison Ford plays serious as a misguided, stubborn father who drags his family through hell. Unlike many of Harrison's other characters, you will not necessarily identify positively with Allie Fox. Instead of the likable brashness of Han Solo, Ford presents us with an despicable genius, an Einstein who does not consider the effects of his choices on others. If the viewer doesn't expect Ford's feel-good characters from past performances, the movie will not be quite as disorienting as when I watched it. Being accustomed to cheering for Ford's characters in previous movies, it was confusing and frustrating to see him so thick-headed. While you may know people like Allie Fox, as I do, let's hope he's not you. The story of a father taking his family into the wild has been explored many times, often with a mid-life crisis element involved. Here, an incredibly intelligent inventor who lacks common sense shoves his family into amazingly difficult situations. He believes his thoughts are perfectly reasoned, that life will be perfect after carrying out his plan. I feel logic dictates that perfection is impossible. Certainly, some deep discussion can occur after the movie's credits. With half of marriages ending in divorce nowadays, many will watch this film and say, "Why doesn't she divorce this stooge?" However, even mismanaged families want to stick together, especially when kids are involved; this realization makes the spouse's questionable actions a touch more believable. The supporting cast is very solid, with every performance believable. Not a single weak link really exists here, and the cinematography drops you right in the middle of the jungle. I enjoyed the movie simply to see Harrison Ford truly acting. The Mosquito Coast shows his range as an actor. A good watch for true fans of Harrison Ford, plus a lot of food for thought.
Rating:
Summary: The Good ,The Bad, The Ugly... All In One Character
Review: Never read the book but saw this film when I was 16, and once again in my early 30's. At 16 I found Ford's portrayal and the storyline to be downright depressing and deplorable. Why? Well, for years as a kid I saw Ford play all the heroic roles that made him a super star. Then I realized Ford was entering his "let me play more mature multi-faceted in-depth characters" phase. So, from watching him play swashbuckler in the jungle to bushwhacker in the jungle I was disappointed but yet intrigued by the role of the eccentric (understatement)Allie Fox. Now, in my 30's and seeng it on dvd for the first time, I am older and able to understand this film with great admiration for Ford's portrayal in a very challenging role along with some of the finest work by the late River Phoenix ! The story is based (from what other fans or readers of the novel have said)loosely on the novel of an American inventor who is greatly at odds with and disillusioned by American society, government, etc., in every which way he can think of. He soon packs up his family and moves to Central America to a place called Mosquitia to build a new life. The motivation or drive is to build an incredible ice machine (for central home cooling and other multi purposes) the likes of which the primitive natives have never seen. Soon, all goes awry with a combination of Allie's sinking into madness and unwanted trespassers who wreak havoc. Allie's determination to stay in his new found world soon begins to take its toll on his family ! What is remarkable is the central character's descent from a quirky and highly eccentric grumpy inventor to a man falling into madness and taking his family with him. As the saying goes, there is a method to his madness or madness to his method.The end result is one of tragedy and great loss. Ford's portrayal of Fox is the first time we the viewers see him as a good/bad/nasty/grumpy/ugly guy...It is one of Ford's better riveting performances due to his multi-personality role and the character's painful decline in sanity... This is one of Ford's underrated roles and films to date. Do not miss this opportunity to see the Mosquito Coast based on a few disgruntled critics or viewers/readers who remain faithful to the novel...
Rating:
Summary: An Underappreciated Masterpiece
Review: I'm a huge fan of both the novel and the film. Yes, the novel goes into more depth and the lead character, played by Harrison Ford on his best performance, is even more of a lunatic in it. This is a gorgeous film that has no easy answers and no cookie cutter characters. I think most of us agree with most of Allie Fox's sentiments about American society, but he takes himslef and his family to the furthest extremes of his obsessions. The minimal score provides a wonderful atmosphere and the entire cast is excellent, especially the late River Phoenix. If you are looking for an easy film with little challenges for the viewer, watch Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. If you want to see him in an edgy, risky and brave role, try The Mosquito Coast.
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