Rating: 
Summary: Commentary that remains relevant
Review: Author Harper Lee said she never thought of her Pultizer Prize novel to be more than a love story of a single father for his two children. It is that, but so much more. "To Kill A Mockingbird" is also a simple social commentary on racism, wonderfully and innocently seen through a child's eyes, and man's rejection of others he doesn't understand. The commentary, 40 years old now, remains as relevant as then. As southern lawyer Atticus Finch, Peck garnered a Best Actor Oscar for his powerfully moving performance that, as one scene elicits, also commands a deep respect of the screen character. As defense counsel for an African-American (a contemporary poltically correct term; then, they were "coloreds") man falsely accused of raping a white woman (not popular in the south), Peck evokes a sense of outrage at the injustice of his client's position. The genius of the film, though, is its perspective of Peck's screen daughter, Scout. And it is her innocent confusion in not understanding why her father becomes chastised by the white community that hopefully gets across the sublimial message that there is no understanding of any form of discrimination. Ranked the 34th best film ever by the American Film Institute, this one will remain always relevant as long as injustice based on discrimination exists. The closing scene is gut-wrenching, but the film as a whole it is truly a moving experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not as great as the book.
Review: This movie was ahead of its time. I really enjoyed the introductory sequence featuring Scout coloring and humming. Gregory Peck was amazing as Atticus Finch, bringing much, but not too much drama to his role. However, I do feel that this movie was overall too dramatic, very unlike the book. It lacked the book's subtle humor, and replaced it with exaggerated dramatic scenes. Perhaps I'm biased, but after the book, my expectations weren't quite met. But, I would recommend this movie for its symbolism, good acting, and pleasant feeling that you're left with at the end. (I give this movie 3 1/2 stars.)
Rating: 
Summary: Well. . .
Review: Personally, I think the novel was a heck of a lot better than the movie. Even the box was misleading;I was SO surprised when it turned out to be in black and white, and I HATE black and white movies. They could've done a better job with this film.
Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: I think this a true classic. The book was very good and the movie was very touching. I used to watch the movie all the time when I was little and I still watch when I can. I liked it so much I named my cats afer Jem and Scout
Rating:
Summary: A great American Classic
Review: This film is as powerful today as it was when it was first made in the sixties.A wonderful story of innocents and innocents lost. Story of strength, of race, of love, of exciting childhood times and all graced by an unforgettable movie sound track that in itself is a masterpiece.They don't make anything like this anymore and we don't have actors that can play these kinds of roles either. This is a true CLASSIC. A piece of "art" that you'll enjoy over and over again and i'm sure each one of us can relate to "Scout" in some way.
Rating:
Summary: The Top Movie of the 60s and now!
Review: A picture can say a thousand words so can a movie. This movie is wonderful! The plot is expressed beautiful. It tells a very powerful story. Saying that racism and hatred holds us back but love brings us together. Buy this movie to have your kids learn something! Tom's story is one that needs to be shared and learned from. Harper Lee is an amazing writer and her book will never be forgotten. Nor will this movie!
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best and truest adaptation to the screen
Review: I read two books the summer I turned fourteen, this was one of them. It moved me, for the first time, very deeply, and haunted me with it's quiet and unflinching look at racism, seen through the eyes of the purest of us all, children. I identified with Jem and Scout and Dill and wished I could go with them on the heart-stopping excursions to Boo's house; I felt the broad spectrum of emotion that this classic evokes in me to this day, and when it was brought to the screen, there was nothing missing; it is a complete, intact translation into cinema and is, in my opinion, the best performance of Gregory Peck's career. I hated Mayella Ewell for a long time, until I realized what her life was truly like and the real villain here is her father. I felt so bad for Brock Peters, and I felt his hopelessness so keenly, it was hard to watch, much harder than it was to read, and the pain and resignation on his face still conjures up all the hate crimes that continue to this day, and reminds me, uncomfortably, of the truck dragging death in Texas. The setting is wonderful, the gifts in the tree from Boo are touching, and the feeling of sorrow when Mr. Radley fills up the hole is profound. Dill, the character drawn directly from Truman Capote, is one of my favorite characters, the old-young wisdom and mature vocabulary are a joy to watch. Calpurnia is solid and comforting in the fast-changing world of the Finch household, and you are glad she is there. The court-room scene is riveting, as is the byplay in the balcony, where Jem, Dill and Scout sneak in and watch the proceedings. The Reverend, when the trial is over, cautions the children to "Stand up, your father is passing.." so thankful is he that Atticus, although losing the case, has nevertheless made a strong statement by virtue of the fact that he kept the jury out so long...and of course, the end, when the children are attacked on their way home from a Halloween party at the school by none other than Tom Ewell. Boo saves their lives, and when Atticus agrees with the Sheriff to let it be, and leave Boo alone, Scout says, "I understand...it would be like killing a mockingbird." And Atticus sits up all night in Jem's room, and as Scout says, "Atticus stayed there all night, and would be there when Jem waked up in the morning..."
Rating:
Summary: Hey, Boo
Review: I happily recommend this charming story of a lawyer and his children in the rural south coming to terms with bigotry. The two children are excellent and Gregory Peck is superb. This is one movie the whole family can enjoy and learn from.
Rating:
Summary: Eaqual Justice Under The Law?
Review: Legendary actor Gregory Peck, stars in director Robert Mulligan's 1962 masterpiece, TO KILL A MONKINGBIRD. Based on the book, by Harper Lee, the film is as relevant today as it was at the time of its theatical release. Peck plays Atticus Finch, a southern lawyer in a small towm, during the "Great Depression". When an African American man, Tom Robinson (Brock Peters), is accused of raping a white woman, no other lawyer (except Finch) comes forward to defend him at trial. The themes of justice, racial tollerance, and fear over fact are examined in the film.The film may be a "snapshot" in time but it also is one that is contemporary in nature. The "Collector's Edition" has a great feature length documentary that looks at the film and historical events of the period. The audio commentary is tops too with Mulligan and Producer Alan Pakula. The rest of the extras are pretty standard for any DVD. The film is a true classic and should be part of anyone's film library Highly recommended
Rating:
Summary: a great classic film
Review: This would be a wonderful film for parents to watch with children old enough to understand the depth of its message. Good and evil are clearly drawn, and the values of justice and humanity portrayed with rare and memorable strength.
Reading Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning novel had a huge impact on me as a teenager...I never forgot, as Atticus says to Scout, that you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Horton Foote won an Oscar for his screenplay, which is so faithful to the book. Set in depression era Alabama, it's seen through the eyes of 8 year old Scout, beautifully played by Mary Badham, and the sensitivity of director Mulligan's vision is remarkable. Prejudice is the theme that runs through the story, from the harrowing court case of Tom (an amazing performance by Brock Peters), falsely accused of rape, to the demonization of Boo (played by Robert Duvall, in his screen debut...he's intensely moving as this innocent and silent man).
Russell Harlan's superb cinematography should be seen in the widescreen version to be fully appreciated, and Elmer Bernstein's Americana style score adds so much to the film. Gregory Peck's Oscar winning performance is magnificent. His Atticus is a hero of immense proportions, with compassion, integrity, and humility...and it's one of the many reasons I think this powerful classic deserves to be in every video library.
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