Rating: 
Summary: The Beauty of Imperfection
Review: As we all bumble along our winding paths to happiness, as we all struggle to perfect our imperfections... how often do we take a moment to realize that it may just be the imperfections in life, in ourselves, that make those moments of happiness possible? As the brother and sister team of Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon in "Pleasantville" enter the seemingly perfect world of a 1950s television show, it becomes apparent that a life without suffering, a life without risk, a life without failure... is not a life worth living. It is indeed a life pleasantly led, comfortable with routine and with continually guaranteed success as risk has no place in it. But it is a life that spins endlessly upon itself, leading nowhere, without dimension, happiness, discovery, or knowledge. Although the characters in this black and white world seem to be happy, it is apparent their happiness is superficial and shallow. Without the necessary contrast of unhappiness, happiness is not appreciated or valued. It is but a smiling mask worn on one's face like theatre make-up. Without imperfection, there is no drive to perfect. Without risk, there is no growth. Without passion, there is no color. "Pleasantville" is a movie about black and white characters in a perfect world discovering their true colors. The message of "Pleasantville" is clear: we need to take risks to achieve, we need to understand the difference between wrong and right to make truly moral decisions, we must be able to fail, to make mistakes, to be humanly imperfect in order to be our very best. What makes us worthy of love is not how perfect we are, but how we strive to overcome our imperfections. What makes us beautiful is not that we are "10's" - but that we are feeling, faulty beings who are what we are because of the struggles we endure and the scars we carry. As for the character played by Jeff Daniels, my personal favorite... I was reminded of the "Beast" in a favorite novel called "January's Paradigm" by J. Conrad Guest. This "Beast" is sometimes vile, sometimes ugly, sometimes perverse. But the "beast" in us all can also be our source of creativity. Daniels plays a simple, black and white character with a good heart and an attachment to his routine that comes to life - to color - as he discovers color in the world around him. He makes mistakes... and so he learns. He takes his first risks... and finds achievement. He opens his heart to the pain and joy of love... and discovers the passion to paint extraordinarily beautiful images. Morality and goodness are, after all, meaningless, unless they are chosen with a conscious understanding of the choice being made. To live a life without choices is not a thing of beauty. It is the life of an automaton. To choose to put the right colors into one's life... that is the art of being human. "Pleasantville" is easily one of my most favorite movies... in spite of some of its imperfections... and often precisely because of its imperfections.
Rating: 
Summary: Underrated....and brilliant!
Review: I was reminded of how good this movie is after watching ABC's broadcast...commercial interruptions notwithstanding. I've also seen the other positive reviews, and wanted to add mine. "Pleasantville" stands as a work of art both technically and narratively.
It is a fantasy, of course, so it is unfair to judge it on any other level. Once past a fairly clumsy setup, the movie takes you along with it to a time that really was idyllic only in our memories...but what a beautiful way it is depicted! The fictional Mayberryesque town is gradually changed by the two characters brought into it. Tobey and Reese are flawless in approaching their roles with the right mix of seriousness and levity, blending their performances into a story with a powerful message. The metaphors can be heavy-handed, such as the town's "shaking hands" logo being eerily like a swatstika, and the courtroom balcony scene, (but who am I to critique moviemaking?) but it still packs a wallop when we first hear the word "colored". Most touching for me was the transformation of Reese Witherspoon's character, as well as the usual knockout performance by Joan Allen .If you haven't seen it, you won't be disappointed. It's a brilliant film overall, and truly a must-see.
Rating:
Summary: I Like Ike --- Not!!...
Review: Finally - a film that puts all those mawkish, nostalgic, selective-memoried baby boomers (e.g., Fonzie, Happy Days, sockhops, Dick Clark, Joe McCarthy, et al)and their conformist, socio-political, cultural "cheerleaders" (e.g., Bill Bennett, Pat Buchanan, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, G. Gordon Liddy, Fox News Network, et al) in their place - ... We thought your sickening, nauseating overindulgence with all things "fifties" was contrived,crypto-fascist, and one-sided AND NOW WE'VE GOT PROOF!... To all my dope smoking, free love, tattoo-adorned, Pearl Jam-listening "homies", I SALUTE YOU in FINALLY bringing to a DEFINITIVE END a sacharrine era that went on WAY the ever-loving God too long (Hey Fifties, according to my calendar, you ended FORTY-THREE ... YEARS AGO - EVEN BEFORE KENNEDY WAS SHOT!... EVER HEAR ABOUT THE IDEA OF MOVING ON IN LIFE, YOU COLLECTIVE MISS HAVISHAM'S OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE?...Good God people, let the Fifties die already, will ya? You are showing your age (if not your cultural baggage)!...
Rating:
Summary: Most surprising film of the decade
Review: ...I rented this movie expecting to see something like "Back to the Future". The movie does indeed start out that way, and then it switches, rather than rely on comedy and cliches to cope with 90's meets the 50's, they show us what could really happen, and it is a huge eye-opener.
...Yes there are minor flaws in this movie, you must accept the ridiuclous notion that Toby Maguire and Reese Witherspoon are whisked back to the 50's by a wacky TV remote left at their house by Don Knotts, for no apparent reason.
...the writers had more important things to do here than spend 45 minutes justifying something which had no importance to the real "meat" of the film. The same can be said of ANY movie - the point is, do these flaws damage the movie? in this case the answer is a resounding NO.
...
... This is a positively brilliant film, right up there with "American Beauty" The script, the acting, the special effects, everything ! My only complaint is the courtroom scene, it reached it's conclusion too simply, I would have liked to have seen more bite to it.
... For all of you out there who are capable of real thought, and real depth, and who enjoy surprise - DO NOT MISS THIS FILM.
For those of you are too childish to understand anything other than Disney, do us all of favor and pack up for Pleasentville and stay there, you are not ready to cope with the real world.
Rating:
Summary: Reality Check Please
Review: Before I start my review of this GREAT movie, I feel the need to address what the Reviewer: Jean-Francois Virey said. She says that this movie welcomes Satan into the perfect world of the fifties. Reality check sweetie, that is not how the REAL 1950's were. I too am a Christian, but come on. The people of the fifties had the same problems as we do now (just not in the public's eye as much.) Also, I hate when some "Christians" have to say something about everything (ex. Harry Potter.) Can't anyone just sit down and enjoy something. GET A LIFE WOMAN. Now that is over, I want to say that this movie is my #2 favorite movie of all time. The fifties is my favorite time of period. Rock and Roll is brand new, Teen rebellion, the cars, and the greatest of all--The Malt Shops. That said, This movie has everything. It has humor, emotion, fantasy, and of course--Tobey Maguire. He is the greatest actor of all time. Reese Witherspoon is Awesome as well. Please go rent or buy this. GREAT GREAT GREAT movie.
Rating:
Summary: life will find its way...or colour.
Review: well, so many things to say about this one...
so let's get the technical brilliance over with: yes, the use of black&white versus colour is nothing short of marvellous. i can't think of a more effective use of special effects. forget outer space romps with unheard of creatures, forget the boombastic rollercoaster rides through neverneverland and what not. the simple touch of a little bit of red here and some blue there affected me more than the creation of whole species.
the acting: flawless. i've never seen jeff daniels better than this, reese witherspoon is a hoot, and tobey maguire carries the movie along superbly. his scenes with joan allen are subtle yet immensely effective and touching. allen's performance is one of those rare moments of divine acting and nothing less.
the plot is very entertaining and funny. but there is more to it. this is not only the story of pleasantville coming alive with passion and ultimately colour. it is also the story of how conservative turning dictatorial so-called values will try to stop changes as potential threats. watch out for (unfortunately not only past) historical references, such as a little "no coloureds allowed" sign in a shopwindow, or the burning of books by a raging mob.
this movie is more than pleasant, it is a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: One of a kind
Review: A wonderful and unique movie. It successfully takes the very difficult stand that complexity is more desirable than simplicity and predictability and endless "pleasantness". It also has wonderful acting, and delightful images all the way through. Don't miss this one. Really.
Rating:
Summary: Tobey and Reese!!
Review: Well, this movie in whole is not really together. It went to different directions from the original point somewhere down the line. Maybe because Mr. Gary Ross, the first time director, had too much to say in his directorial debut (he was a screenwriter. But the strong production value, the great cast, and the attention to artwork and to details are so winning that I can't help but to like this movie. Heck, anything Toby and/or Reese stars, I will watch.
Rating: 
Summary: A Worthy but Flawed Effort
Review: Ultimately, I did not like this film, but it was unique and should receive many accolades for what it does accomplish. Written and directed by Gary Ross, Pleasantville tells the story of two modern day teenagers, a brother and sister pair played by Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon, who happen upon a journey into 1950's TV land. The people they meet are as naive, two dimensional, and black and white as the people in the "Leave it to Beaver" sitcom. It is up to the two teenagers to bring some "color" into their lives. The film is clearly an indictment of those who would place a mythological feel-good face on 1950's America, or on any all-white culture containing a male-dominated power structure. Ross attempts to show us that there is beauty in our imperfections, in our diversity, and in the day-to-day realities of our human condition. If in fact he did this, the film would be a success. Unfortunately, I couldn't much object to the world and the people of Pleasantville. Okay, sure, they're sappy and saccharine in flavor ; but they're sincere people, they're nice people. Although we're supposed to believe they would keep minorities and others who are different out of their little haven, the natural curiosity of the townspeople once the two teenagers arrive belies such a presumption. Heck, the citizens of this town seem like they'd be open to anyone arriving at their doorsteps! And even if there is a hierarchy, no one seems to benefit from or be hurt by the power structure. There's no violence here, there's no hatred. The high school boys don't treat the girls as objects, and the fire department only exists to pull cats out of trees. Is that really such a bad world?... ...Simply put, anyone who was satisfied with the presentation of Pleasantville as an artificial, ignorant, and oppressive community will buy the premise of the film and be inclined to enjoy it all the way through. Those (like me) who felt we need a greater explanation as to why the town needed changing are unlikely to find much plausibility or good reasoning for what happens as the film proceeds. Worst is that what initiates the changes is not the arrival of a blossoming artist or the introduction of diversity and tolerance into the community, but rather, a self-centered egotistical girl who wants to sleep with as many guys as she can (Reese Witherspoon's character). Granted, sexual freedom is a necessity in a free and liberated society, but I really don't think Witherspoon's character or her actions act as the right vehicles to bring about positive change. The film really struggles in the second hour, becoming very slow and dull at times. It often loses its focus, like when the people of Pleasantville suddenly become mean in order to keep the "coloreds" out, but then change back to being nice shortly thereafter. I suspect this lack of focus has to do with said structural flaws contained in the early part of the film. I am a strong believer that imperfection is beauty, but I just couldn't buy that argument within the context of this film. In other words, I see the point the director/writer is trying to make, but I just don't think he made it well. This contrasts with The Truman Show, which invokes similar criticisms of our TV world culture, but in this viewer's humble opinion, does so successfully. Having said all of that, I give this film a lot of credit. The movie raises many questions, and forces us to consider things that Hollywood itself would often like to hide. So many pieces of this film are well made, such as the growth of the color on the screen amidst the black and white, the attention to detail within the town, the tone, and especially the excellent acting. I would like to see more films like this - films that take risks and don't necessarily succeed. Who says that every movie has to perfect? The oxygen of art is experimentation, isn't it dangerous to discourage such creativity? If you're looking for a sure bet, a film that will clearly be good and satisfying for an evening, avoid Pleasantville. If you don't mind experimentation, and would like to encourage Hollywood to take more risks, then rent this movie. Pleasantville is a worthy journey
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies ever made!!!
Review: Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon get zapped into the sweet 1950s sitcom "Pleasantville." Everything is in black&white and everything is perfect--if you shoot a basketball in the air, it will ALWAYS land RIGHT in the hoop, guarenteed. Everything works like clockwork--the father comes home from work and the mother has the dinner on time. Everyone repects each other. But once Reese & Tobey start interacting with everyone, that's when everything slowly becomes inperfect--and everything slowly changes to color.
If you LOVE the 50s, you'll love this movie! The only thing I didn't like about it was when Reese Witherspoon kept dissing the styles of the 50s.
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