Rating: 
Summary: Great film!
Review: Our family's book club read Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird in March. What a marvel! To complement our discussion, we rented this film, which led to a second discussion about filmmaking and the whole "the book was better than the movie" conundrum.One thing on which we all agreed was that the movie is a gem. My son also noted the following: After our book dissusion, we saw the movie To Kill a Mockingbird. Through it, I learned that moviemakers condense characters so they don't have to introduce a large cast. For example, in the novel, Dill's aunt is actually Mrs.Rachel, but in the movie, the characters of Mrs. Stephanie and Mrs. Rachel are combined. The Finch's large extended family is missing from the film, as are Scout's teachers and classmates. I also learned that a filmmaker may also have a different vision of a book's characters. My mental picture of the characters included Scout as a small girl with freckles and pigtails and Calpurnia as a pudgy old woman in glasses. The actors who portrayed them in the film differed greatly from what I imagined.
Rating:
Summary: Miss Jean Louise.....Mr. Arthur Radley...
Review: Harper Lee must have loved her Daddy and big brother. Her warm fictional remembrance of them as Atticus and Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird is filled with respect and love. She had a story to tell of race and hatred and tolerance and understanding, but underpinning all of it is her love of the two central males of her childhood, her kind and wise father, and her loving, protective brother. This is the heart of her book, and it is the heart of this faithfully adapted film of that book. In an age that usually draws males and females in broad caricatures, depicting brutishness and carnality as the norm, and crassness and "in-your-face" as the only form of honesty, the characters in Mockingbird are not only refreshing, they are a revelation. The book and the film is largely about decency. Simple human decency. The characters in this story of childhood adventures, awakenings and surprises, with the trial of an innocent black man in the South of the 30's at its center, are by and large decent people. From Scout's father, Atticus, sincerely defending the man, to the Judge wanting a fair trial and result, to the defendant Tom and his family, to Cal the housekeeper, to the lady next door, to the Reverend, to the simple and plain but honest Sheriff, and even the farmer momentarily caught up in the lynch mob mentality....all are essentially decent people struggling within their society's preconceived assumptions and intolerances to do what's right. And, of course, there is Boo. Yes, the world has its share of ignorant, cowardly, and hate-filled Bob Ewells. But, they do not define the world, so long as there are good men and women striving to do the right thing. This flawlessly cast movie is a masterpiece. It captures the innocense and wonder of childhood, and the sometimes tragedy & struggle of adulthood without preaching. The performances are first rate down to the smallest role. Robert Mulligan manages to capture the world from a child's perspective without belaboring it. The world has spun around a few times since I saw this movie on it's release when I was little more than a child myself. It captured and moved me then. It moves me now. It's simple truths and humanity are timeless.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional extra feature documentary...
Review: Like so many teachers, I've used the VHS version of "To Kill A Mockingbird" to teach the Elements of Literature to high school students. Today, the internet has a wealth of resources to assist teachers and students using this classic adaptation of Harper Lee's novel. The documentary, "Fearful Symmetry" produced in 1998 to be included on this DVD Collector's Edition, is great resource for teachers, students and all those who love and have been touched by "Mockingbird." The 130 minute documentary, written and directed Charles Kiselyak, both discusses how the film was made and it's general literary elements. The film is one of the most effectively edited documentaries I have seen, linking key scenes from "Mockingbird" with talking heads, still photos and black and white film taken in various localities across the south. The documentary narration, written by Charles Kiselyak and read with great emotion by Mary Williams, is literary and quite sophisticated. The talking heads include: screenwriter Horton Foote, director Robert Mulligan, producer Allan J. Pakula and composer Elmer Bernstein. Members of the cast appearing in the film: Gregory Peck (Atticus Finch), Phillip Alford (Jem), Mary Badham (Scout), Collin Wilcox (Maybella Ewell), Brock Peters (Tom Robinson) and Robert Duvall (Boo Radley). Director Charles Kiselyak with the help of Harper Lee was able to get three residents to discuss their lives in Monroeville, Alabama. A.B. Blass and Norman Barnett recall life in the small town during the depression, and Ida Gaillard, a retired high school teacher, brings an interesting perspective to what life was (may have been) like in the town Harper Lee used as the model for Maycomb. The literary and social significance of the "Mockingbird" are discussed by black attorney, Cleophis Thomas, Jr., and Claudia Durst Johnson, author of "Threatening Boundries." In the DVD's printed supplement, Charles Kiselyak indicates that while Harper Lee was not willing to appear in the documentary, she was very helpful in the production. She was thrilled with the director's plan to open the documentary with the first verse one of her favorite poems, William Blake's, "Tyger:" Tyger, Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immoral hand or eye, Could frame they fearful symmetry, Kiselyak's film discusses Lee's novel as both a way of life and a passage from innocence into experience and then back toward innocence -- "Fearful Symmetry." "Mockingbird" and it's DVD documentary will touch your soul.
Rating:
Summary: Fine Acting
Review: I watched this Movie after reading the book "To Kill A Mockingbird" I must say it is a fine piece of art. I loved Gregory Peck's portral of Atticus Finch. Also the actor and actress of Scout and Jem were really good despite the fact that they were older than the actual charater. This by far is my favorite movie.
Rating: 
Summary: An American Classic of an American Classic
Review: This wonderful adaptation of Harper Lee's classic novel is a film of great dignity, a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. It effectively conveys the leisurely Southern summers and Tom Sawyerish feel of Lee's youth. Drawing parallels between the fears of children and adults, the movie shows us that we don't necessarily grow up when we reach adulthood. In the end, those of us who do mature find that there is often beauty on the other side of that mysterious door; and "To Kill A Mockingbird" shows us some of the possibilities. Relying on the acting talents of several children doesn't hamper the picture's effectiveness one bit. On the contrary, it's one of the film's surprising strengths. Mary Badham as "Scout" and Phillip Alford as "Jem" are utterly convincing as the children that many of us got to know in school. Gregory Peck won a well-deserved Oscar for his depiction of "Atticus Finch"; his role is portrayed with profound character, and gives one the impression of the highest integrity. Peck's closing argument to the jury is riveting, and is a stellar example of on-screen presense. There is inspiration and hope to be found here, a transcendence of time that few films can match. The collector's edition DVD is excellent. Besides providing lovers of this work with a clean, sharp video transfer, we are treated to a beautiful "making of" documentary and given a decent director's commentary. Also included are several "standard" amenities: production notes, cast and filmmakers, language options, and a theatrical trailer. The sound quality is rather wanting, but it does the job. In all, this DVD is sure to please fans of this American treasure.
Rating:
Summary: An American Masterpiece
Review: This has got to be one of the most incredible pieces of moviemaking ever created. Of course movies cannot and almost never will match the books they are taken from but this movie is still one of the best ever. The acting was truly sensational and the story will lift your heart and leave a lump in your throat, as it should. I've owned this DVD for going on a year now and have watched it at least 15 times since then. And in that time, it still enthralls me just as it did the first time I saw it. There have been many attempts over the years to make movies such as priceless as this one (and quite a few have done very well) but I think this one stands alone as a testament to the wonderful talents of some very gifted actors, writers and moviemakers who will leave a powerful legacy for others to live up to.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing movie
Review: I just read "To kill a mockingbird" two months ago (I am in High School), it is a great book. It's one of my favoite books. The movie is great too, I watched it in my English class.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic Not To Be Forgotten
Review: There are many reasons to love this film. First, the performances turned in by the actors -- the casting in this film is perfect, and Gregory Peck has one of his all-time best performances in this film. The children (Jem and Scout) turn in amazing performances also, along with Robert Duvall and several of the other characters. Secondly, the message of this film will hopefully continue to influence people for years to come. It is a message our society still apparently needs judging from what you read in the newspaper. Another reason this film is wonderful is that it very closely approximates the mood and feel created by the book, which was superb. In my opinion, seldom is a film adapted from a book "up to snuff", but this one is. In her book, Harper Lee told this story in a very effective way by choosing to let us see the incidents from a child's point of view, without adult interpretation. We are left to draw our own conclusions. The film is true to that, and some of the incidents actually have more of an impact using this device. Black and white filming absolutely suits this film, and the filming and direction are simply excellent, and the viewer is completely drawn in to this small community and the events of this story. In short, it's just an excellent film.
Rating:
Summary: One of the all-time best
Review: After experiencing a rather weak year (Y2K) for movies, I decided to rent a classic movie that I had never seen before. And am I glad I did! "To Kill a Mockingbird" immediately catapulted itself onto my all-time Top Ten movie list. Having never read the book, I still say this is a near-perfect motion picture. The young actors playing Scout and Jem are flawless, and what more can you say about Gregory Peck's dignified performance as Atticus Finch? This film touches on the subjects of race relations, mental illness, and single parenthood from a child's point of view, with all the mystery, wonder, and even terror that is experienced. Scout's first face-to-face meeting with Boo Radley nearly brought tears to my eyes. That is a classic moment in this classic movie.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie Ever!
Review: "A wonderful movie for all ages of a small child growing up in a world of prejudice and courage. A must see for everyone!
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