Rating: 
Summary: A terrible propaganda
Review: This is a terrible propaganda of the Armenian lobby in the USA against Turkey. The whole purpose of the movie is to create a bad reputation of Turkey and Turks. Apart from this, the movie is nothing. Not a single bit of thing, even a Turkish name for a chief character, has anything to do with reality. Yet, they shamelessly call it a "true story". Apart from the propaganda part, the story is a simple one, without any originality. So the Oscar goes to the Armenian lobby... For those who wonder: 1- The movie is shown several times on Turkish TV channels. 2- Alan Parker and Oliver Stone are not hated in Turkey. 3- After 20 years, American tourists still do not prefer Turkish coasts.
Rating: 
Summary: An unforgettable experience. Davis & Parker dezerved Oscars
Review: Although Turkey is one of the most modern muslim states around , it always had it's problems since the country tries to establish a democracy via military violence . The nation's jail situation though is not presented here as an impersonal documentary but through telling the true story of Billy Hayes who was sentenced to life imprisonment for carrying drugs . In fact , Midnight Express is more about this young man's tragedy than it is about Turkey . Parker has created a movie so schockingly realistic and brutal that leaves the viewer speachless . Brad Davis who died in the early 90's is excellent too , delivering an emotional perfomance which is the heart of the film . The atrocities taking place inside the prison are being displayed here with all the details and the result is sometimes too much for some of us ( the tongue-bitting is one of the best and most scary paranoia sequences ever made ) . A few seconds before the end titles , as Hayes disguised is watching a military viacle coming his way , i've experienced more agony and fear in my life than ever while watching a film .
Rating:
Summary: Midnight Express
Review: Excellent movie. I remember it quite well from when I first saw it in the late 70's. Purchased the 20 anniversary edition recently and enjoyed seeing it again.
Rating:
Summary: Movie tells it like it is
Review: Awsome movie, awsome acting, and intense story. To all the people that protest this movie: face the facts. This was based on a real story. Face up to what happened. You're not upset because this movie is a lie, you're upset because it exposed the sickening and notoriously corrupt prison system Turkey had (has?) at the time of this event. Anyway, it should be of no surpise: Turkey is not necessarily known for its human rights advocacy! At any rate, the movie was well made. You can't keep a good movie down!
Rating: 
Summary: Impressive
Review: This movie is as close as you can get, without actually being in a Turkish prison. Having lived and worked in Turkey for 6 years, My job has forced me to go to various Turkish prisons to retreive American citizens. The movies depictions of the living conditions in the prison are nearly 100% accurate.
Rating:
Summary: An important movie
Review: This is one of the most important movies ever made, in my opinion. There seem to be a few people who don't like this movie and/or think it's silly. You have to think of something: you don't know how much Hayes might have suffered. I can understand that the Turks don't like this movie, but I myself think it's a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: This is a very intense movie, worthy of its oscar nomination. I think it was the best picture of that year if Deer Hunter wasn't there. Definetly the second best movie of 1978.
Rating:
Summary: Boaahhh,such a buckshot movie!!!!
Review: All i want to say about this movie is:It's the most stupid and nonsencial film i've ever seen before.Don't attempt to purchase it otherwise you would be regret.More importantly don't struggle with my country by this way, nevermind we're so patient to endurance.NICE TRY Oliver Stone and Alan Parker.!!!But we haven't been impressed....
Rating: 
Summary: It's just a movie!
Review: I think some of the people here are forgetting that this is just a movie! A movie "BASED ON A TRUE STORY". That does not mean that this is exactly what happened to Billy Hayes or that this is exactly how the prisons are in Turkey. This is Oliver Stone's writing at it's best. I loved this movie.Brad Davis is phenomenal as Billy Hayes and it's a shame that he couldn't get his own real life together and become the star he should have become. Brad reminded me a lot of James Dean in this film. His acting, his looks, even the way he spoke. It was quite eerie actually. Brad deserved much better than one memorable film and a death, so cruel. This is supposed to be a 20th Anniversary Edition dvd, which would suggest commentaries, deleted scenes and a host of other extras, but there is none of this. ...It's a real drag that this film doesn't get the proper dvd treatment it deserves. The featurette is nothing more than a VERY SHORT documentary on the life of the real Billy Hayes that was made in the late 70's. If you're looking for new information, you've come to the wrong place. The only thing that's great about this dvd is the transfer. It looks great for the most part, crisp and clean with very few artifacts and very little edge enhancement, though some of the scenes were very dark, which is probably the way they were originally shot. I'm not sure if it's just my dvd or if everyone else's dvd has a problem, but when Billy is meeting his Turkish lawyer for the first time and they are shaking hands they're is a slight "roll" in the dvd. Kind of like if you were watching this movie in the theater and the projector got hung up for a frame or two. It's not that bad but I thought I would mention it. This is a great film and I highly recommend it to anyone who has never seen it. This movie holds up very well for being over 20 years old and it's still relevant today. I just wish it would have gotten much better treatment in this 20th Anniversary Edition. *sigh*
Rating:
Summary: A clear definition of how barbaric people can be.
Review: Midnight Express is without a doubt, an excellent masterpiece in the art and history of motion pictures. Not only for its fine acting (the roles played by the late Brad Davis, British actor John Hurt - who won the best supporting actor Oscar for the film, Randy Quaid, Norbert Weissler, and Paul L. Smith), its Academy Award winning soundtrack by Giorgio Moroder, and its screenplay by Oliver Stone. But for British director Alan Parker's directorial style, and the clear message of how a foreign country can be very barbaric. Especially when it comes to dealing with prisoners from other countries who violate their laws. I can understand how the 1978 film caused a bit of controversy. But, knowing Oliver Stone, he was making a very serious point about how Turkish society can be very brutal and how its government and people can be so inhumane. Granted Stone may have taken a few liberties on Billy Hayes' true story, but he ultimately got the point across about how the Turkish deal with prisoners and how inhumane their laws really are. Obviously, the film cut right to the bone and struck a lot of nerves in the Turkish people. The only reason they were offended and had the film banned was because the truth about Turkey came out into the open, and really hurt them. If they were not so barbaric against foreign prisoners, such secrets would not have been exposed. I'm not defending Billy Hayes's actions. What he did was wrong, and yes, he had to be punished. But not punished in such a barbaric way, and then used as a political scapegoat by a very barbaric and repressive Middle Eastern society. Stone's screenplay and Parker's direction in the film was trying to get that message across. And they both succeeded on all those levels. Everyone involved in the British production deserved an award for making such an excellent film. A film based on a true story that shocked many. You may not feel any sympathy toward Hayes' plight in the beginning, but near the end of the film, you will. And, for all the film's dark, gritty, violent, and depressing subject matter, it will make you think and remember. Trivia Note - Originally Mark Hamill wanted to audition for the role of Billy Hayes, but due to Hamill's popularity as Luke Skywalker in The Star Wars Trilogy, Alan Parker felt Hamill was not suited for the role and refused to meet him. Think of what it would have been like for Hamill to have appeared in the film?
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