Rating: 
Summary: Magnificent (4 1/2 stars)
Review: Possibly the most surprising inclusion in my top 50 list of movies, Witness was also included in the AFI's 400 greatest films but is nowhere to be seen in the imdb's top 250 list while a lesser Peter Weir vehicle The Truman Show is. Most Weir purists will be annoyed at this exclusion as Witness is undoubtedly the director's greatest piece of work. It boosts Harrison's Ford most mature performace to date and has established itself as a classic of 80s cinema. It is the most sophisticated and successful example of Hollywood's fish-out-of-water genre and a perfect juxtatoposition of Amish environment and a corrupt big city cops and robbers scene. The haunting and memorable score perfectly complements the film's magically enthralling mood. It is winningly acted by a talented cast, Lukas Haas and Kelly McGillis delivering vivid oscar-deserving performances and a surprising transition by Ford from his gung-ho action heroes of past. Witness is almost a perfect movie on every level, a testament to Weir's handling of the material and the perfect striking balence of realism, suspense and emotion. It proves that there are still crafstmen in Hollywood able to compel the viewer to an entirely different world than the big screen has previously taken them. The other highlights include the sizzling cinematography and the believable romantic chemistry between Ford and McGillis. To be sure of its brilliance, the movie won oscars for Best Film Editing and Original Screenplay. It was also nominated for six other awards, including Best Picture.
Rating: 
Summary: A great cop story and love story. A great flick.
Review: This is a great movie. It is sensitive, moving, and hard-hitting, all in one flick. What's not to like? Police officer John Book (Harrison Ford) finds himself in the midst of a cop-killing. He learns that the perps are within the Philly PD, which has an inside, corrupt bunch mixed up with the drug trade. A young Amish boy is the witness, and the key to proving all of this. This is easier said than done, because the bad guys are after Book/Ford, who is reluctantly taken in by the Amish. The movie proceeds at Mach One from this point on. The rest would be telling. This movie is about the collision between two worlds: the 19th Century Amish, and a thoroughly 20th Century police officer trying to do the right thing. The culture clash is moving, beautifully done, and mostly avoids the cliche' of being judgmental. Both worlds are shown sympathetically and with dignity, in a manner that highlights their differences without the expected Hollywood triteness. This is an example of a movie's musical score acting to enhance and magnify the impact of the film. This movie has a great score, which many have enjoyed on CD in its own right. I consider this the best cop flick I've ever seen. I wish more films were like this. A truly great experience.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: If you love Harrison Ford and are a fan of police drama and suspense - this is one for you. A little different flavor which is a refreshing change of scene from the shot-em up variety (although it's got some of that too). Concentrates more on plot, and character development than most cop flicks.
Rating:
Summary: An engaging love story and thriller...
Review: Witness features one of Harrison Ford's best performances, and it proved once and for all that he was capable doing more than action movies. Overall, Witness is an entertaining movie and a well-done combination of a love story and a thriller. Additionally, it does an excellent job of making a contrast between the innocence and simplicity of Amish life and the grime and violence of the city. In fact, if anything, the movie's only fault is that it exaggerates the contrast and paints the city too darkly. In Witness, Samuel (Lukas Haas in a very impressive performance), a young Amish boy, witnesses a murder in the mens' room of a train station on his first trip to Philadelphia. When the boy and his beautiful mother, Rachel (Kelly McGillis), speak to the police about the matter, police chief John Book (Harrison Ford) explains that, because the boy was a material witness to a homicide, the law demands that he stay and help identify the killer. When he does, however, Book realizes they are in danger and, even after being shot badly, drives the boy and his mother all the way to their farm before collapsing. Consequently, he is forced to stay with the Amish, and, while recovering and hiding from the killers, he learns about the Amish lifestyle and falls in love with Rachel. Anyhow, Witness has a compelling story, is well directed, and also has some very nice shots of the Amish countryside and lifestyle. With a wonderful performance from Harrison Ford (and the rest of the cast, for that matter), this movie is very entertaining - see it soon!
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie!!
Review: I would highly recommend this movie. I loved the romance between Harrison and Kelly McGillis. The scenes are truly compelling and both Harrison and Kelly do a wonderful acting job.
Rating:
Summary: AFI's Great Love Stories: #82 Witness
Review: Harrison Ford received his only Oscar nomination for this 1985 film in which a young Amish boy (Lukas Haas) witnesses a murder in Philadelphia while traveling with his mother, Rachel (Kelly McGillis). When it becomes clear the bad guys are gunning for the boy, and that they include people in his own department, John Book (Ford) flees with them back to their home. There the big city cop has to come to terms with not only the new culture in which he is immersed, but also his feelings for the young widow. Director Peter Weir captures the beauty and dignity of Amish life. By the time violence intrudes into this world we are prepared to see it as being a blight upon a peaceful community. Of course, it intrudes upon the possibility of love between the two main characters, but we knew the odds were against this pair as soon as we saw their worlds collide. Ford's performance is clearly the best of his career and perhaps touches closest to the actor's dark side. McGillis is equally restrained as the woman who ends up symbolizing so much to John Book, and the film includes one of the few instances in modern cinema where nudity can truly be said to be romantic. Most Romantic Line: (1) "If we'd made love last night I'd have to stay. Or you'd have to leave." (2) "What you take into your hand, you take into your heart." If you like "Witness," then check out these other films on AFI's list: #90 "Bridges of Madison Country" and #31 "The King and I." Why? Because these are also films about star-crossed lovers from two totally different worlds. (No, I would not consider putting #24 "King Kong" on this list.)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I thought it was an intelligent movie with an excellent sound track. The story is believeable and moving.
Rating:
Summary: A decent story well told.
Review: Witness is a pretty decent film. The story begins with a young Hamish boy witnessing a brutal murder on his first visit to a big city. John Book (Ford) then enters the story, a tough city cop who has to protect his witness. The film examines the class of two cultures, the Amish and city folk. Book slowly begins to be influenced by the Amish way of life and begins to fall for an Amish girl. The idea of a cop going being influenced by foreign values has been done since (Black Rain, Red Heat) but never as well. At times you feel like you're watching two separate films, one about the Amish and a fairly conventional cop thriller. Witness is very well written (Raymond Frensham refers to Witness as a template in his book Teach Yourself Screenwriting). Barely a scene is wasted and all of them work within the story. The soundtrack and the film in general is very eighties. Due to the stories simplicity and audience expectations I don't think Witness would get made today. The DVD contains a short documentarily which is fine. Witness is not the kind of film you want to analyse but a film that tells a story well.
Rating: 
Summary: Sort of average
Review: Well, I don't particularly want to be a downer, but this movie was only average at best, IMHO. I enjoyed the parts involving the Amish. It was great getting a glimpse of their lifestyle, which obviously is so different from most of ours. The Amish characters were overall believable as well. However, the crime aspect of the movie was pretty lame, especially the end. It felt like they didn't quite know how to bring the movie to a close so they did the usual Hollywood ending - big gun battle!! The problem was it was so routine and the actions of the bad guys didn't make sense. The Kelly McGillis character didn't make sense either -[...]she shows him her all at one point, kisses him passionately at another point, and then in the end...well, I won't spoil it but it didn't quite jibe with her previous behaviour. On the DVD, the picture was pretty poor - lots of grain, poor resolution in most scenes (especially wide shots); [...]. Sound was OK - oddly, I thought that the music sounded good, but the dialogue was distorted at times. As for the music, I thought that the soundtrack was a real problem. Swelling synthesizers throughout most of the Amish scenes? Total disconnect for me. Anyway, it's always good to hear both sides of the story, and my side is that this was not such a good movie. I can't believe that it was nominated for Best Picture!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Movie!
Review: This was indeed another good starring role for Harrison Ford.
A young Amish bot witnesses a murder in a public restroom. He is unable to pick the killer from a lineup.Much to his horror he discovers that the killer is a narcotics officer.Ford has been
assigned the duty of protecting the child. He,the child,and the mother go into the Amish community to hide. Here Harrison Ford undergoes a change of life.During this time he is having to look over his shoulder for the forces of evil. The ways of the Amish people are shown very well on this film.There are some scary moments before justice is done. This is a very good movie. Be sure to watch it.
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