Rating: 
Summary: Criticized for originality
Review: I read the very lengthy review that I saw first, and I must say I was appalled. I don't know if your from a different generation, thats fine, but no need to criticize the generations that follow. This has been one of my favorite movies for years. We find Winona Ryder, valevictorian of her university working as an assistant for a cocky talk show host. Finally she retaliates against her position working for the man when she is overqualified for the job. Janeane Garofalo, however, is the hippy of the movie. She enjoys 70's music, and 70's apparel, working at the Gap. Ethan Hawke is a genuis who feels that anything he does is almost a waste of his time until he gets a family wake up call. Steve Zahn is a man who is coming to terms with his sexuality. This is not a movie of losers, this is four people graduating from college, and dealing with the problems in life. Everything is scary once you graduate, and your parents give you the freedom to go without any more assistance. I think this was a great movie with a great soundtrack and an excellent cast getting their start.
Rating: 
Summary: Talkin' 'bout My Generation?
Review: As a member of the much maligned generation X, the 90's was a decade filled with movies that, supposedly spoke to me and mine. It's hard to believe that Reality Bites is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2004. While I wouldn't exactly say that the film defined a generation, I did recognize people I knew in the movie, and perhaps even a bit of myself at that time in my life.
Lelaina Pierce (Winona Ryder) faces life after college, using a video documentary about her confused and drifting friends to advance her ambitions in the entertainment industry. When her boss, video executive Michael Grates (Ben Stiller) becomes romantically interested in her, she is forced to choose between her slacker boyfriend Troy (Ethan Hawke) and the big cruel world of adulthood lurking ahead of her. Lelainia seeks the advice of her roommate Vickie (Janeane Garofalo), only to discover that, she is as confused as she is...if not moreso.
Making his directorial debut, co-star Ben Stiller, captured the uncertainity everyone feels at different turning points in life. In this case, the "now what" feeling after college, comes through loud and clear. Ryder is pitch perfect in her role here. Hawke is slacker defined and Stiller plays "stability" quite well--something his later career isn't known for all that much. The main problem that I have with the film, is the script by Helen Childress, which at times can be a tad predictible.
The anniversary edition boasts remastered picture and sound over the film only version DVD released some time ago. The extras include a pretty solid audio commentary with Stiller and Childress. As you might imagine though, it's Stiller that makes the track what it is. The deleted scenes, complete with an introduction from Stiller are OK, but were wisely cut from the film. By far the best part of the bonus material, had to be the retrospective feturette and interviews with cast/crew. Reality Bites has also has a decent soundtrack, represented on the disc by an interview with recording artist Lisa Loeb, as well as her music video for the song "Stay" heard in the film. The theatical trailer tops off the disc.
Reality Bites is an enjoyable look at life after college. Made that way, thanks to its cast and first time director
Rating:
Summary: Yes, Reality Bites Sometimes
Review: "Reality Bites" stars Oscar nominees Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, plus Ben Stiller, Jeneane Garofalo, and Steve Zahn. Ben Stiller makes his fine directorial debut in this film. This is a great coming-of-age comedy proving that being independant isn't as great as it looks. The plot of four college graduates moving into a house together is highly entertaining, especially considering all four people have opposite personalities. All of them combined as one adds lots of laughs: a college valedictorian, a sexually active person, a non-motivated rocker, and a mellow person hiding a secret. Comedy and drama combine in the perfect scenes, namely everyone's life struggles, the making of the documentary, and falling in love. Though certain life aspects could have been expressed more thoroughly, the film ideas are brilliant. The acting from all the performers are great, especially Winona Ryder. All offer their own movie theme perspectives, which are mastered greatly. "Reality Bites" is a great memory flashback from a great entertainment era, the mid-90's. This will surely entertain many audiences.
Rating:
Summary: This is the best movie
Review: This was probably the first movie I was ever tempted to walk out on. My daughter couldn't wait to see it, and I couldn't turn down a chance to see a Winona movie back then. As a senior member of Gen-X, I was insulted to find that the movie represented me. Blech. Let me assure you, it doesn't represent anyone but whining Hollywood socialites like Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Winona Rider, and Ethan Hawke.Are we actually supposed to believe that the valedictorian hadn't memorized the conclusion to her speech, or that she lost her notes? Are we supposed to sympathize with a character that does nothing but complain about her father, but then accepts the BMW he gives her and the gas card that she uses to pay off her astrology hotline bills? Now maybe the second inconsistency is a cute attempt at depth, but the first is just lame. We are told over and over that the Ethan Hawk character is smart, but at no point is he actually *shown* to be smart. He quotes TV commercials. He plays in a band that covers Violent Femmes songs (badly). He majored in philosophy. Big deal - if they didn't keep telling us, you would think that he was just a lazy, arrogant, no-talent slob. The "gay character" shows up in three 10 second appearances (or maybe it was just 2, and I was hoping for a third so the movie would explain what the others were all about?). I can't believe that anyone would include a gay character so gratuitously - maybe the rest of it ended up on the editing room floor. If not, then I want to know - where were the Native American, black, Puerto Rican, Haitian, transvestite, transexual, AB negative, and other minority characters? Buy this movie used (you don't want to encourage them to print more). Destroy it and incinerate the pieces. Then buy something worth watching and relax in the knowledge that you have done something positive for humanity. Then go get Singles or Romy and Michele's High School Reunion - they succeed in being just as deep as RB without the pretension, and they are a heck of a lot more entertaining (and the soundtrack to Singles is better).
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