Rating: 
Summary: GIANT ... a Masterpiece on VHS
Review: "Giant" This film is a masterpiece. I have always been an admirer of James Dean. This film let's us see him come full circle from a youthful rascally critter to an old man stubborn to the end clutching to some unrealized and unshared dream of acceptance by his fellow man. As Jett Rink, Dean knew exactly his own feelings in regard to the social economic classes that society had conveniently categorized individuals, especially those germane to Texas. He feels no guilt toward his own prejudices and only strives to be accepted by the upper class (his fellow man) from which he literally rose up to from the ground and enters into its ranks. Rock Hudson's Bick Benedict, from his perspective, was born into the upper class and sees himself as a great benefactor to the lower classes that are employed by him. Unlike Dean's character, he is unaware of his own prejudices. The Elizabeth Taylor character, Leslie Benedict, stands away from the canvas and represents the unprejudiced point of view of the unflawed human spirit. She stands as a mirror to reflect back the personifications that both Dean and Hudson exhibit. She is direct and to the point with Hudson, her husband in the film. He is just too blinded by his own upbringing to even make some sense of what she is trying to point out in his flawed but self-noble character. With Dean she is subtle in her assessment of his human qualities, just as subtle as he is in the revelation of his prejudices. Hudson does finally confront his flawed character very nobly and very unaware of his own motivations. Dean does come full circle and ends up where he started - still a scoundrel, but old and used up. I think that the Hudson and Dean characters were a reflection of Texas society from both ends of the spectrum set in the mid-twentieth century. As noble as the Hudson character was in his attempt at redemption, Texas was not ready for change at that time in History, but the seeds were planted (also represented by Hudson and Taylor's offspring in the film) and it was just a matter of time. I was born and raised in New England, but visited Texas many times where half of my family resides. I have seen Texas first hand from the early 60's to the present. This film has a special meaning for me. The characters and the performances ring true. George Stevens' attention to detail is seen and heard in every frame of this film. The performances of its three stars are flawless, as are those of its many supporting players. The Dimitri Tiomkin score is a great asset to the feel of this film. He thematically represents the characters and their backgrounds to dramatically drive the narrative. One scene that made you want to stand up and cheer was the fight in the roadside diner. This scene was just as moving and exciting as the bar room brawl in George Stevens' "Shane" and it has his directorial fingerprint all over it. I highly recommend that people get a chance to see this film and place themselves in the not too distant past and view it from the perspective of when its characters lived and thrived. This VHS widescreen version is excellent within the constraints of the format. I was very pleased with it and it is the best version that Warner Brothers has put on VHS in my opinion. I was also very much pleased with the supplemental material included.
Rating:
Summary: Probably the best movie ever made
Review: I first HAD to see this movie because my dad MADE me. I'm not into old movies like this but, after i finished seeing it, WOW this was a great movie. The sceneries are great and if you see this movie your mind will just open up, I would give this movie 10 stars out of 1-5 with 1 being the worst and 5 the best. SEE THIS MOVIE AT LEAST ONCE.
Rating:
Summary: Giant makes me feel small
Review: While other reviewers have focused on the big name stars, cinematography etc....I will focus on the story about The Texan. Giant follows the life of The Benedict Family for 25 years, wealthy ranchers with oil in Texas. The story also chronicles, the treatment of Mexican-Americans in Texas during the 1950's and before. This is one aspect of the movie I find most important as not many movies shed light on the relationship between Anglos and Mexican Americans in Texas. See how Benedict fights in the name of his grandson who is half Mexican-American and watch him lose then hear him lovingly call his grandson a wetback. For those questioning any historical value in this film I will say, It depicts the Texan as he was and IS, if not bigoted then insensitive to the real indiginous Texan. This movie is more than Liz,Rock and James Dean, it's about a class system, new money, old money, Mexican-American and the Gringo-it's actually quite real despite the bad make-up.
Rating:
Summary: Worthy of the name
Review: This is the film which underlines the tragedy which is the early death of James Dean. His performance as an uneducated, insecure drunken ranch hand who strikes oil lingers in the memory - out of all proportion to the few lines he gets in the script. It left me with the indelible impression of another Orson Welles (in Citizen Kane, a similar portrayal of an old man by a young actor) cut off before his time.The long, rambling story is reminiscent of the Texas landscape in which it is set. It goes on and on, mostly featureless in terms of plot, but somehow keeps our attention through great writing and performances. A great allegory for the transformation of America through the twentieth century; and a fine epitaph for a superlative talent.
Rating:
Summary: Slow moving but worth the time
Review: I saw this movie for the first time yesterday and think that it is great. It is the story of two generations of a Texas family and the changing times. My favorite charactor was Jett(James Dean) who tried to win over Elizabeth Taylor by improving himself. He is looked down on by the Benedict family and grows bitter. When he strikes it rich he still dosen't get his girl and become a sleazy business man. He ultimatly fails due to a drinking problem. Mr. Benedict changes over the movie from a strong headed rancher to a soft hearted grandpa, and Taylor plays the woman who changes him. My favorite line in this movie is when a drunk Jett encounters Mr. Benedict after striking oil. "I'm gonna be richer then all you sons of Benedicts ever dreamed you could be." In this line he shows the bitterness that would lead to his fall.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Texas
Review: This movie was filmed in my hometown, Marfa. This is the movie that truly depicted life in Texas in the 1950's and beyond. James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson are outstanding. Growing up in Marfa and seeing where these talented actors stayed and worked is amazing. This is a definite movie for all to see whether you are a fan of westerns or not. Giant is one of the top movies of the 1900's.
Rating:
Summary: The eyes of Texas are upon you, you cannot turn away!
Review: A classic film epic of the fifties that blesses the Edna Ferber novel. Here's the way we want to see two late cinema greats, Rock Hudson and James Dean. George Stevens has all the right ingredients necessary here to make an entertaining and unforgettable picture.
Rating:
Summary: An Epic To End All Epics!
Review: This film just entranced me from the start. EVERYTHING is just right in this glorious epic. All the stars shine in perhaps their best roles yet. The scoring playing upon that magnificent Texas scenery is so striking, it just put me to sleep (not in a bad way of course!). For another excellent film with similar themes of time and family, check out Friendly Persuassion with Gary Cooper, which was also a 1956 film.
Rating:
Summary: A charming worldwind of action,romance and drama.
Review: "Giant" has it all: action, romance and drama. This combination is difficult to achieve, as it has often been attempted to make a picture to appeal to the ideal audience; a movie with "something for everyone." Director George Stevens took the best ingredients, including the most popular and talented actors of the day, and produced an astounding worldwind of family history, culture and conflict. I was intrigued, swept along through a quarter-century trip through the lives and loves of proud texas people whose devotion to their land and heritage was as vast and majestic as their great state. I truly wish that movie makers today took the time to produce films in which there are characters of such substance and actors that portray them with such grace as the three stars of "Giant." The unparalleled leading man, Rock Hudson, portrays the proud Texas rancher who grows into his own humanity with conviction, precisely balancing importance with vulnerablity. In the role of matriarch of the Benedict clan, Elizabeth Taylor gives her character the quiet fire of the independent woman who tempers her husband's pride like a cool, Eastern wind gently blowing across the rough Texas plain. Finally, James Dean, in his final role, was the perfect choice for Jett Rink, the perpetual outsider who was destroyed by happiness and over-indulgence that was a symptom of the changing times. His bitter self-destruction served as a vivid contrast to the Benedict family, who prevailed because they were not too proud to show love and compassion.
Rating: 
Summary: This is Texas?
Review: I recently decided to view this film. Let's see - a reference to Neiman-Marcus - some wide open spaces, some cattle and oil wells. O.K. - but this film does not really tell about Texas and Texans. Thankfully, Chill Wills (from Seagoville, TX) was in it. He was the most Texan thing about this film. I wish I had something more positive to say - but I don't.
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