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Far and Away

Far and Away

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Even Ron Howard has to flub once!
Review: The photography of the pretty Irish scenery is nice(2 stars for the scenery), but if I want to see rural Ireland, I'll watch "The Field". The land rush scene is epic, but if I want to see Oklahoma, I'll watch "Keys To Tulsa". Tom & Nicole are cute, but if I want to see them, I'll watch "Days Of Thunder". NO! Wait! I won't go that far. If I want to see them, I'll watch him in "Magnolia" & her in "Dead Calm". A friend owns a movie theatre in a small town. It was a Sunday bargain matinee, & "Far & Away" was still 1st run, & 2 bucks. I lasted 20 minutes, & for the 1st time in my life, walked out & demanded my money back. This is strictly a vehicle for People & US subscribers & those who snip pictures out of Tiger Beat(all you Leif Garrett fans, this means you!). So 2 weeks after walking out of this, I got stuck in the hospital, & it was this or talk shows. Then, I saw that neither the character development NOR the plot improved. I grabbed my walker & bedpan, & walked out on it then, too.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I really liked this one.
Review: I hadn't seen this one until the year 2000 and I really liked it. The witty lines that are like the ones I hear in my house, and the humor, and of course the just pure fun. Far and Away is probably the second best I've seen all year. The reason I say second best is because they talk a bit much. But other than that, I say it is a fun movie. So if you just want to see a fun movie get this one. I don't think you'd be dissapointed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best Movie!!!!
Review: I am 13 and from California. I fell in love with this movie!! I reccommend it to see! I don't know how anyone could rate it below 5 stars!! I think that this is the best movie that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman have ever stared in and ever will There is such good acting and potential in this film. I love the accents that Tom and Nicole had to do in this film. I own this film and I hope that you will have the oppurtunity to see it too!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: She's A "Corker," This One
Review: In 1892 Ireland, the son of a poor farmer forms an unlikely alliance with the daughter of a wealthy landowner, in "Far and Away," a romantic adventure directed by Ron Howard, and starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. When his father dies, and an agent of the landlord to whom back rent is owed burns their modest home to the ground, Joseph Donnelly (Cruise) vows revenge. Armed with an ancient, rusty rifle, he travels to the estate of the landowner, Daniel Christie (Robert Prosky), intending to shoot him. But his plans to settle the score quickly go awry; as he draws a bead on Christie and pulls the trigger, the rifle explodes in his face. Christie takes him into his home to treat his wounds, and there Joseph catches the eye of Christie's daughter, Shannon (Kidman). The lad, she notes, has pluck, and he's obviously a scrapper; and she immediately sees him as the means by which she can effect her dream of running away to America, where they are giving land away for free (or so says the ad she has ripped from a newspaper). She realizes that such an undertaking would be impossible for a woman traveling alone, but with a man such as Joseph along to tend to her needs and offer protection, it could be done. Circumstances prevail in her favor, and soon the two of them are off, covertly, with the plan being to land in Boston, then head west to the Oklahoma Territory, where Shannon will be able to claim her land. Of course, Joseph sees land in it for himself, as well. They hit a snag, however, upon landing in Boston; Shannon's silver spoons, stolen from her mother, and with which the trek west was to be financed, are stolen from her, leaving them without means. With some help, they manage to find affordable accommodations (a room at a local bordello), and Shannon finds work in a factory. Meanwhile, Joseph finds he can make some money by prizefighting at one of the local pubs, under sponsorship of a man named Kelly (Colm Meaney), the "connected" Irishman of the town. It's enough to keep them going, temporarily, but the question is, can they make it to Oklahoma in time for the "land rush" of 1893? Cruise gives a credible performance here as Joseph, complete with a passable Irish accent, and he has a natural, charismatic persona that comes across so well on film. Kidman, too, fares well with her portrayal of Shannon; her accent is good, and the camera likes her. And, of course, there's a real chemistry between them. Howard has crafted a visually handsome movie, with a good story told in a predominately straight forward manner. There's not a lot of surprises, and much of it is predictable, beyond mere foreshadowing, but the pace is brisk and the characters are alive, which keeps it all interesting. Also, there's a touch of humor thrown in at appropriate junctures, which helps to offset the dramatics, maintain a positive atmosphere, and keep it all from becoming too sullen. The cinematography is especially notable, particularly early on, when capturing some of the lush vistas of Ireland, and later during the "land rush" sequence. The performances are good all around, and the excellent supporting cast includes Thomas Gibson (Steven), Barbara Babcock (Nora Christie), Cyril Cusack (Danty Duff) and Michelle Johnson (Grace). "Far and Away" is well made and delivered, and, most importantly, it's an entertaining movie; perhaps not one of the most memorable Howard has made, but it's an enjoyable film, and well worth seeing. All in all, it makes for a pleasant night at the movies.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: A very moving film! It makes you feel like you are right there in the film. Tom gives one of a great performance! IF you like Tom Cruise movies you will like this one! Joseph (tom)a irish man comes to America with a rich women (nichoel). As they go through tough times with their new life in America, they began to realize their falling in love! A great movie for all ages and a great story. After you see this movie you will fall in love with Tom Cruise!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An overlooked gem.
Review: This is easily the most underrated film of the last decade. So ujust was its nasty reception, I sometimes wonder if everyone else saw the same film I did. I think the problem may be that it simply came at a time when no one wanted a film of this kind. A closer look at Far And Away reveals it has all the hallmarks of a glittering success. Here's the story: A century ago, a rich girl escapes from her suffocating fiancee, setting off to a new life across the Atlantic and falls for a poor boy who shows her a love she's never known. Sounds like a certain £1.8 billion grossing epic historical romance, right? Well, Ron Howard beat James Cameron to it but got the timing wrong. Charming, funny, exciting, and eventually awe-inspiring, Far And Away has everything you could hope for in a movie. As for the disc - picture and sound are dandy, but decent extras are sorely missing.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: An embarrassment for all concerned
Review: Ron Howard's Far and Away is a very funny film, which is not an advantage in a film about poor migrants in a foreign land. Infact this a completely inept film, what saves it from the fleapit misery of the 1 star rating is its absolute inability to offend.

Joseph Donelly (Tom Cruise) angry about the rich landlord confiscating his father's land goes to shoot him early on in the film, there he meets the landlord's free spirited daughter Shannon (Nicole Kidman) and togather they decide to emmigrate to America where they hear free land is being handed out. An early scene when Joseph's father dies demonstrates how ludicrous this film is. The father is brought in and assumed dead, Joseph kneels by his side in what looks like a dramatic scene, his father then comes to, and tells his son that he thinks him "odd". This would have been fine in a comedy, but then director Howard pulls the camera up, the music swells and we're expected to be moved. Please. Infact the whole film is just as confused, neither an epic drama, an action film or a comedy. It comes with the obligatory first hate/then love relationship between its two leads. By the time you get to the midsection where Joseph can't stop himself from punching everyone he meets, this film starts to feel like a sitcom with an ego blown completely out of proportion.

Ron Howard has always been one to plays it safe, but in doing so he has produced some decent films like Parenthood and Apollo 13, this time though he completely loses the reins. Any director who can get a straight faced Nicole Kidman to ask "Am I beautiful at all?" must be under the effect of controlled substances.

Film fans, and especially Amazon reviewers love to find fault with celebrated films, and find something of worth in established turkeys like Far and Away. In keeping with that tradition I watched this film with an open mind, and tried hard to find a saving grace to report on. I have failed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Far and Away
Review: This was the best movie I have ever seen. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman played very believable characters. They're acting skills were unbelievable, and the movie had bits of nearly every genre-action,romance,comedy,drama. I definitley recommend it!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Outstanding
Review: This is one of my favorite movies of all time. The cinematography is fabulous. The acting is great. John Williams score is, in my opinion, one of the best film scores ever. I have already worn out my CD of the soundtrack playing it so much. I highly recommend this movie to anyone and everyone.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dream ... for as you dream so shall you become.
Review: I saw this movie on vhs when it first came out. At that time I wasn't familiar with Cruise and Kidman. Watching it again on DVD recently I appreciated it even more. It is a great story which starts in western Ireland. The widescreen scenery is beautiful. Joseph (Tom Cruise)is a hard working Irishman with big dreams of owning his own land someday. When his home is burned and his father dies he sets out to kill the man responsible. At his landlords mansion he meets his daughter Shannon (Nicole Kidman)who feels she's too modern for her parents way of living. The two of them end up on a ship to America in search of free land. They encounter more trials than they expected. And there's plenty of fist fights and action for the men, romance and dreams come true for the women. I feel this is a movie worthy of owning and watching again. It's on my list. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman make a good team. Tom played the firey strong willed irishman very well. And Nicole was a beautiful strawberry blonde irishwoman with a bite. The big race for land at the end was my favorite part. Don't give up on your dreams...when you loose your dreams you die.


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