Rating: 
Summary: ...Could've Been A Classic
Review: "Amish kids got the best parties. They got the wild parties." How can you go wrong with a documentary about Amish teenagers smoking, drinking, and dealing drugs, bowling, roller skating, and taking the none-too-occasional bong rip? Unfortunately, pretty wrong. An awesome subject matter is completely underwhelmed in this uninspired, rhythmically challenged, visually amateurish and all around clunky film. See it? Sure. Buy it? No way. You'll never watch it again.
Rating: 
Summary: The Scarlett Letter Meets Animal House
Review: A few years ago after my grandmother died an Amish family tried to buy her farm. They seemed like friendly God-fearing and simple people to me. I thought that they were naive. Then I saw newspaper stories of how most of the drug trade in her area was being run by Amish and how Amish youth - and Amish "biker gangs" had a reputation for being the roughest segment in the community. The newspaper stories didn't make sense to my preconceptions of what the Amish were like and the typical stereotypes about them.How do you learn about the Amish? Most books written about them or novels/movies with Amish characters are written by people who aren't Amish. This movie deals with Amish youth, but interviews actual Amish people. Now things make sense to me. When Amish turn 16 they begin Rumspringa - which translates into "running around." They have the next 5 years to decide whether or not they will "go to heaven or to hell" as some of the Amish in the movie put it. They leave their Amish way of life to enjoy the comfort and temptations of the outside world. By the time they turn 21 they have to decide whether they are going to return to the Amish church - and way of life - forever - or live in the outside world and be disowned by their family. 90% of the Amish return to the Amish church. In the movie you can see why. With little education or job skills they have a difficult finding away to have a good life in the outside world. It easier for them to go back to the stability and comfort of their families - get married and build a family for themselves. As one of the Amish adults in the movie put it - they have a more easy going and stress free life than those on the outside. That's the positive way to look at things. The negative is that they have to give up their independence and individuality to the greater community, which cannot be an easy thing. The Amish use of technology is an example. Cars are dangerous because they would provide mobility and bring Amish to the outside community. TV's provide temptations and would cause Amish to think about leaving. However, a battery pack is no problem. Everything is centered around the larger community. Movie gives a great glimpse into Amish life in their own words.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and intriguing.
Review: A short distance from Chicago in northern Indiana lays the Amish community that is the focus of this documentary. But although the Amish are in close proximity to a large modern city they have in fact nothing in common with the average Chicagoan. Unlike other Christian sects the Amish do not believe in baptism for infants, rather, individuals older than sixteen are able to pronounce their belief in God and life a proper Amish life until their death. At the age of sixteen before deciding to be baptized and join the Church they engage in teenage activities that are common in their "English" counterparts: drinking, driving, smoking, etc. This tradition is named Rumspringa and it enables the youth to get a taste of the outside world before committing their future in an effort to ride themselves of various temptations. Many of the scenes in this documentary are contrary to the common beliefs of the Amish. I admit that I was confronted by many of my own apparent misconceptions. In the short span of this film I was learned a great amount about the lifestyle and traditions of the Amish, especially the youth. If you're interesting in other cultures then don't hesitate to watch this documentary. It raises many relevant issues that are worthy of consideration about the Amish and the wider population in general. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Documentary
Review: After watching this award winning documentary on the amish teens you wont think of them as so much diffrent than yourself or your kids anymore- they are just regular people who have problems just like the rest of us- if not more problems. The documentary revolves around the life of amish teens when they go through the period of Rumspringa , a time in thier life where they must decide whether to leave the amish family and life and live in the ((english)) world or to commit to a lifetime within the amish community. Most after experiencing the outside world come back to stay and have life in amish community but some decide to leave and want to live in outside world- to some being amish just isnt what they want for themselves , they dont picture themselves living that kind of life. Its hard decision for some and it shows the story of a group of amish teens and the experiences they go through during rumspringa, ( some of which might suprise you) it isnt typical of what you think the amish kids would do but they have many experiences then decide whether to leave thier familys and make life for themselves outside the amish religion and family or to remain in the community at the end of this period of finding themselves and experiencing both sides. The amish are very fascinating and im glad they have this documentary to give a bit more insight into the amish life. Highly recomended. 4 stars
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating And Revelatory.
Review: Anyone still sharing the common stereotypical image of the Amish culture should watch this film. "Devil's Playground" is a fascinating, sometimes shocking and sometimes deep view into the clash of one form of life with another. The main theme is the practice of "Rumspringa," the period when Amish teens turn 16 and are allowed to venture into the outside world and taste exactly what the vices of secular culture are. In unrestrained detail we hear and watch as these teens, kept in such a closely structured community, experiment with drugs, alcohol and sometimes just simple freedom. Anyone who thinks Amish people are not in tune with the times should see the clip of the young Amish girl talking about how much she enjoyed Ozzfest '99 and watching Godsmack peform. Yet this isn't a documentary version of "Kids" with endless shots of sex and debauchery, it is a powerful exploration of themes as universal as the importance of personal faith in what you believe in and when it is confronted by something that deviates from that particular form of thinking. In a way "Devil's Playground" speaks to all of us with the idea of finding yourself, beginning to think for yourself and make your own decisions about what route your life will take. There are heartbreaking moments when some of the confused characters here almost lose their way in a haze of pot and sadness. In a way the film may even be a commentary on the results of a community so cut off from the outside world that when someone ventures out they have no idea as to how to deal with dangerous vices. Director Lucy Walker here has made a documentary that grips soley with it's material, without the aid of fancy editing or even a great score (the music is really just simple techno touches added for mood) she brings out the feelings and doubts in these people's lives. The fact that these are real people makes the film even more riveting, especially when we see the wheels turning in these 16 year olds' minds as they literally ponder whether they will indeed go to Hell or not. "Devil's Playground" is full of emotion and daring investigative work, giving us a glimpse of a world we seldom are allowed into. An important document and intriguing, highly engaging social commentary.
Rating:
Summary: Complete Info makes you feel the pain of amish adolescents
Review: At first I missed this Documentary in Germany on TV. But than I bought this DVD, because there was no rerun un TV.
In fact I am glad I missed the much shorter TV-Version. This one is comprehensive and well timed. But most I liked the audio-commentary. There you got all the additional facts that explains what makes Rumspringa a difficult experience and about the limited view of the world that the young amish really have. Their limited knowledge of everything gives them only very limited options in life at best. The fate of Faron shows why. Though the end of the Dokumentary gives you hope about Faron's life, but in the audio-commentary you get the infos why his life will always be doomed.
Great work.
Rating:
Summary: Amish Teenage Exploration: Rave, Drugs, and Cars...
Review: Devil's Playground is a documentary on the Amish tradition of rumspringa, which is the time after the age of 16 until embracement of the Amish religious beliefs. The Amish believe that the decision to believe in the Christian faith can only be made by adults. This decision can only be made after the age of 16, and during this time the Amish young adults are free to explore their faith. During this exploration the teenagers are given complete freedom; including having modern trinkets, partying, drinking, doing drugs and living a life of their choice. However, when they have made the decision to embrace the Amish faith they are embraced by the Amish community and if they join the church and later reject the Amish faith they are shunned. In the end this film becomes a testimony showing Amish teenagers are very much like other teenagers, which offers an interesting cinematic experience.
Rating:
Summary: Amish Teenage Exploration: Rave, Drugs, and Cars...
Review: Devil's Playground is a documentary on the Amish tradition of rumspringa, which is the time after the age of 16 until embracement of the Amish religious beliefs. The Amish believe that the decision to believe in the Christian faith can only be made by adults. This decision can only be made after the age of 16, and during this time the Amish young adults are free to explore their faith. During this exploration the teenagers are given complete freedom; including having modern trinkets, partying, drinking, doing drugs and living a life of their choice. However, when they have made the decision to embrace the Amish faith they are embraced by the Amish community and if they join the church and later reject the Amish faith they are shunned. In the end this film becomes a testimony showing Amish teenagers are very much like other teenagers, which offers an interesting cinematic experience.
Rating:
Summary: Stuff you've never seen before
Review: Do you think you know the basics of the Amish people? I thought I did until I saw this documentary. VERY interesting look at the age of decision for Amish kids. I was surprised to see what kinds of trouble the kids get into while trying out the "English" way of living. This video will really make you question the Amish way of life. I though that the Amish religion was a sect of Christianity that followed the regular tenants of the religion. Now, I think its more of a cult that makes up extra-biblical rules for no apparent reason than one of the higher ranking men think its a good thing to do. This movie really points out the need for a "middle of the road" lifestyle. It shows kids who rebel to the point where they have death threats, find that they like the sex, drugs, and alcohol better than the lifestyle they have been living their entire lives. This movie also points out the lures that the "world" can have on anyone. This movie also shows how the Amish have a good grasp on grace. They accept these kids back into their society after their decision making time regardless of what has happened to them in the past. This movie also shows how the Amish can reject their own when they decide that the Amish lifestyle is contrary to their own beliefs. Unfortunately, it gives credibility to the abuse that churches often inflict on people.
Rating:
Summary: very interesting, but how accaurate?
Review: Every other review summed up this movie pretty well, so I won't rehash it, but I feel I should point out the glaring falseness. A. Faron's girlfreind has dark hair and an olive complexion. In my understanding, the Amish are descended from Germany and Switzerland, where NO ONE looks like that! She doesn't even look European, but if European; Mediterranean, not German. B. Faron admits to narcing out drug dealers who want to kill him, then he is filmed in an international documentary w/ footage from his parents' home. Isn't he concerned for his family's safety? Hello, they have TV in prison, genius.
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