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The Killing Fields

The Killing Fields

List Price: $19.98
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great but incomplete
Review: A great movie - the other reviews here give all the details.

...When the Vietnamese invaded Kampuchea it was not particularly out of altruism but to prevent themselves being surrounded by hostile nations.... The good aspect of their invasion was that it drove the Khmer Rouge out and effectively saved the nation. When they arrived they were as shocked as anyone else to find what they did; they may have been communists with a bad human rights record...

In the film there were originally scenes shot showing the Vietnamese army arriving in Phnom Pen and distributing bread to the hungry population...

It should be remembered that the US funded the Khmer Rouge and recognised them as the legitimate governemnt of Cambodia for some years afterwards and it was only long after the rest of the world that the US changed its policy. Eventually there was pressure for the Vietnamese to withdraw and they did. Fortunately all nations concerned are on reasonable terms these days...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Killing Fields Review
Review: Nowhere will you find a more harrowing and gripping, true to its actual events.The soundtrack by Mike Oldfield has even gone to the lengths of using traditional Cambodian instruments.
To me its the best(true story)war movie in the 80's, wich won 7 Oscas.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very important viewing; to understand the nature of evil
Review: Many are aware of the evils that occurred in Cambodia, but few have a
chance to see how this developed.

The chilling genocide, which in my opinion is an example of the ultimate
manifestation and epitome of evil, is a horrifying potrayal of the
descent of a nation to the depths of human depravity.

The systematic and brutal desensitization of the killers and the
motivators, and the counterbalancing bravery and nobility of their
victims, is testimony to the continous struggles played out on this
earth.

The movie was cold, and sucked the life force out of me. I could not,
and still cannot, comprehend how such evil came to be. The saddest of
all was to see what became of the children of the Khmer Rouge; what
they turned into and what became of them.

It is necessary for any person living in the modern world to be aware
of such tragedies in human history. If only to pay respect to the
innocent masses, and to better understand the nature of good and evil.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best Film I have ever seen
Review: Leel Pathirana. From The Third world. Kegalle,Sri Lanka.

I first watch this film when I was at the school,I was at the grade 09th. In 1986. But I was not know what is happening in Cambodia. But I thought this film one day would play a major role in the world. Slowly since I was as a child I started to read about the world major issues and I became very informative. I 've been reading the political development of Cambodia until the Death of Pol Pot.

After 13 years I tried my best to find this movie in my country Sri Lanka and finally I got a chance to watch this movie. Both Mr.Sidney Schanberg and Mr.Dith Pran's role, struggle to bring the truth to the world, innocent people of Cambodia who are suffering from the terror, poverty, starvation is unbelievable.

Pol pot's atrocities to eradicate the educated people and transform the country in to a so-called agrarian reform, kill everyone in the Killing field who oppose them. Cambodian is a country with full of land mines more than it's population. Still the justice has not come to the families who lost their loved ones under the regime of Pol Pot.

This is one of the best movie I have ever seen in my life I can give not only five stars even hundred stars. I would like to know about Mr. Sam Waterston and where does he lives now? Also I want to know the story behind the assassination of Dr.Haing s.Ngor? ...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best film about the Vietnam War era.
Review: When you ask most people about the best film made about the Vietnam War era, most will probably say it's either Platoon, Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, or Full Metal Jacket. In my opinion, it's none of those, but rather a little known drama entitled The Killing Fields. I happened to watch this film in a course of mine, and was surprised by just how harrowing an experience the movie was. Suspenseful, intense, powerful, and ultimately uplifting are some of the words that can be used to describe this film. And yes, Haing S. Ngor's absolutely fantastic performance is worth all the praise it received, and maybe more. Not just the best film of its kind, but also one of the best ever.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: DR. HAING S. NGOR as DITH PRAN
Review: We knew Dr. Ngor - I went to Cambodia with him for a month....I saw with my own eyes the killing fields. This story is TRUE !
It is as much about Dr. Ngor as Dith Pran.
I believe it should be shown to students in High School...it is history - tradegy and a country literally thrown back to the Stone Ages and later start to rebuild.
A MUST SEE. And also, A MUST OWN. Also, one should read the
book about Dr. Ngor - A Cambodian Odyssey...his bio. It goes more into the horror that actually took place. We own the DVD plus 3 VHS - Have given away at least 4 VHS to people who watched ours. This is a great movie
and sorry the story had to be told. The commentary on the DVD
is Excellent.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mankind Destroying Itself
Review: The Killing Fields is absolutely one of the greatest films on war and genocide ever made. The story centers on a renowned reporter named Sidney Schanberg and his assistant and translator, Dith Pran. Sam Waterston and Haing Ngor, respectively, star in those roles, plus John Malkovich as Sidney's photographer. Ngor simply is Dith, and he won an Oscar. Waterston had been a nobody before this film, and he was so good as Sidney he received an Oscar Nomination. The story goes like this: during the Vietnam war, America had planned and executed bombing operations in Cambodia. This movie starts during those times, and we see the horrifying aftermath of one of those bombings. Yet the insanity inspired by this bombing leads to a revolution and the creation of a new regime, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot. Soon suspected subversives are being led into reeducation camps. Sidney tries to get Dith out, but Dith decides to stay and send his family to America. Soon, there is no escape, and Sidney must leave Dith behind. As soon as he gets back he looks for Dith and tries to find a way to bring him out. In Cambodia, Dith is not doing well. He has been put in a camp. Our first glimpse of him is that of a diseased, jaded, starving man. He sees his countrymen being killed, he sees hate and fear, he sees Hell on Earth. What is going to happen? Will Dith escape or succumb to the forces of evil? You will have to watch this film to find out.

The cover says that "Every so often, there is a film that is destined to be talked about and remembered for years to come". The Killing Fields is the definitive experience on the Khmer Rouge holocaust. The violence is harrowing but never in excess, the film is unforgettable.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: As compelling today as it was when released. A true classic
Review: The Killing Fields stands the test of time so very well. Those viewers who have read Jon Swain's "River of Time", David Chandler's "Voices from S-21: Terror and History in Pol Pot's Secret Prison" and recent memoirs by Cambodian Americans like Chantrithy Him's "When Broken Glass Floats" know that the events depicted in this film were not exaggerated, and in fact only touch the surface of the horror of Pol Pot's regime of terror. While many fascinating stories from Cambodia are still coming to the surface in new books like "The Last Battle" and "The Eagle Mutiny", none have yet been told on film. The murder of Haing S. Ngor in the United States haunts all those who watch "The Killing Fields". This is a film which changed many lives, inspiring many of those who volunteered for humanitarian field work in the refugee camps in Thailand and in what remains of Cambodia. With prominent surviving Khmer Rouge leaders still denying the events that ripped Cambodia apart and facing a possible international tribunal, viewers around the world may find this a good time to take another look at "The Killing Fields".

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Unforgettable movie !!
Review: There are many movies about Vietnam war but there is only one movie about the Cambodian Holocaust (at least The Killing fields is the only one I know of). It is a very important movie for everybody to see. This is not an entertainment though just dark pages of world history. The late Dr. Haing S Ngor gave superb performance (I wonder what happens to his murder investigation) and young Julian Sands and John Malkovich co stars. The DVD is OK. Too bad Warner's chose not to remastered the soundtrack o Dolby 5.1. The picture quality is OK not great. Overall this is a great movie that every generation should watch. I do hope Hollywood can make another movie about this from different angles.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Poor quality DVD version
Review: Obviously this is a very powerful movie. Unfortunately, the DVD mastering is one of the worst I have ever seen. The VHS version is the only way you will be able to enjoy this movie. The sound of the DVD slowly fades between different levels of what I would call "barely audible". If you insist on buying this DVD be prepared to sit very close to the television with the volume turned up completely. You will still miss subtle dialog.


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