Rating: 
Summary: A woman among the witchdoctors and the wizards.
Review: This film is not spectacular. But it is one of the first important films on the deep value of the Amazon's rain forest. A doctor discovers there a plant from which he extracts a miraculous element that cures nearly everything. Then he tries to start again and produce more of the drug, following his notes. And he fails. He never matches the first batch. He asks for an assistant, and the film makes it funny by sending a young woman. She re-does everything and she prepares new concoctions. And suddenly it works. Why ? Because, running out of sterile sugar she uses the one that is on the breakfast table. And in this sugar there are ants. The famous peak 37 that gives its potency to the drug comes from the secretions of the ants in the sugar. What cures man is an animal element. Then the suspense of the film comes from the coming of a road, of the road builders who are pushing the Indians, the forest and their secrets away. Today we are more advanced in the denunciation of this scandalous destruction of the rain forest, just as much as we are more advanced in the destruction of the rain forest itself. But the film is kind of quaint, « precious » as is the last word of the film itself. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris Universities II and IX.
Rating:
Summary: Often maligned film benefits from closer examination
Review: This is a film that seems to provoke a suprisingly wide range of different reactions, many of the negative ones directed toward aspects of the screenplay, a apparent lack of chemistry between Sean Connery and Lorraine Bracco, and the aggressiveness of Bracco's performance. Yet while this is essentially an entertainment film, to me it has many redeeming features, and the above criticisms also do not necessarily stand up to closer scrutiny.As other reviewers have pointed out, Medicine Man is also a relatively rare action/adventure film with a difference. After all, there aren't many films that feature a botanist as the central character, presumably because botanists are perceived as being simply too quiet to fit into the usual Hollywood mold. In fact, Connery does an admirable job of portraying a believable character, one who in many ways reminds me of my old university tutor when I was studying botany myself years ago. Bracco's potrayal of Rae Crane, too, is far more convincing than she has been given credit for. She is strong-willed and certainly most assertive, but I still find her both intelligent and appealing. I would have no problem getting along with her in the field. I somehow wonder whether those who dislike her in this film have difficulty with the fact that she is a powerful woman character; if this character were a man, I think it is more likely that he would be judged as having more positive personal attributes, such as determination and character, etc. The way the romance develops is also quite unsentimental and matter-of-fact, a most welcome development in a mainstream American film. Maybe some people would have preferred a typically feminine Hollywood female character along the lines of Pretty Woman, but I doubt very much whether that would have done much for the film's credibility. The film's ecological message is one that cannot be emphasized strongly enough in these times, and, moreover, it is well-integrated into the story. Medicine Man is often compared to The African Queen, with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. Although I enjoy The African Queen, the jungle surroundings in that film serve as little more than a picturesque backdrop for the romance. In Medicine Man, produced in more environmentally-conscious times, the rain forest itself and its plight are central to the story, much as in John Boorman's The Emerald Forest (a film that makes an interesting comparison). It should also be noted that the Medicine Man has excellent production values, with fine photography and a most appealing and fitting Jerry Goldsmith score. Additionally, the stereo soundtrack is used to great effect to present the rain forest sounds, in particular the rain itself. Admittedly there are some aspects in Medicine Man that could have been handled in more depth - for example, the cancer cure itself is presented rather simplistically, by realistic standards - but even though essentially an entertainment film, Medicine Man carries a much more serious and urgent message than, say, Jurassic Park. Perhaps for this reason, too, it has tended to be more highly rated here in Germany, where public environmental consciousness is especially high. I can personally recommend Medicine Man as an appealing and entertaining film; not a great film, admittedly, yet it surprises me just how often I can still watch it and still get something out of it.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic Wake-up Call
Review: This movie has an unmistakable message, one that everyone needs to hear. This world is full of great mysteries that God has created for us to discover, and how can we do that if we allow greed to take over? This movie reminds us that we (human race) don't know it all and God has given us everything we need, as long as we are not too stupid to realize it.The actors do a wonderful job, the scenery is braethtaking and I highly reccomend this movie as a social, scientific and spiritual experience.
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Summary: What a great Adventure!!!
Review: This movie is a favourite of the WISE Writers and Readers, beings that we are big Sean Connery fans!!... makes this movie work is the chemistry between the two leads. Lorraine Brocco absolutely is stunning!! She is a great comedic talent, a delight to watch as she matches wits with the ageless (only keeps getting better) Connery. The charm of their relationship, the incisive banter, the stunning location work, delivers one engaging movie. They work in the question of the destruction of the rain forrest, and the real cost to man kind; the loss of moisture for rainfal, the loss of special one of a kind plants that could hold the cure for many modern diseases. I know many critics tried to put it down for offering no real solutions to this problem. Get real. This is a movie, it is meant to entertain. If it makes us think and wonder, then it has done it job. Solutions are up to the real world, not some fictional work. If someone could offer solutions to the problem in two hours - they would be a very rich man. I detest easy 'potshots' such as that. The leads are charming, the natives in the film are wonderful, the scenery gorgeous ( Connery, Bracco AND the jungle!!), the writing is sheer perfection. What more could you want??? From the moment Bracco arrives to find Connery in a bird costume and she introduces herself as Crane and he drunkenly replies, "No, Tucan.", you know you are in for a delightful time. Also, notice the inside joke about the snake's name!! DVD only enhances the experience of this utterly charming movie.
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Summary: Medicine Man
Review: This movie is one of the best and down to earth movies i've ever seen The movie reminds us that if we keep destroying the earth we will destroy all hope of a cure to the things that ail us. Sean Connery was exalent.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite films
Review: Walking into the theatre not really having much of a clue as to what the movie was about, I walked out suprised and delighted. Sean Connery had an exceptional performance. The entire movie was a delight
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing storyline, engaging interaction of characters
Review: We saw this movie in the theatres, purchased the VHS video, and are now purchasing the DVD. Sean Connery is a favorite actor of mine and I enjoyed the jungle setting, interesting storyline, and interaction between the two main characters. Could it have been done better? Yes. Does that prevent me from liking this movie? Absolutely not.
Rating: 
Summary: Really terrible casting....
Review: When film historians look back at the early 90's, they will remember it as the decade that Hollywood started running out of ideas on how to do good movies. This film might have worked but the casting was just not there. The director should have seriously looked for the right actors to play the parts. The ones choosen here did not and could not pull it off, and it looks more like an infomerical.
Rating:
Summary: Really terrible casting....
Review: When film historians look back at the early 90's, they will remember it as the decade that Hollywood started running out of ideas on how to do good movies. This film might have worked but the casting was just not there. The director should have seriously looked for the right actors to play the parts. The ones choosen here did not and could not pull it off, and it looks more like an infomerical.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie to watch when bored to death~
Review: Wow who knew I was going to thank my science teacher for this?! Yes indeed, it was for extra credit and my science teacher told us to rent this, while getting permission from our parents since it was rated PG-13, and watch it and afterwards, write a quick summary. And so what the heck, why not try it out, he DID say it was Good, but can you take his word? I watched it on a Saturday when i was bored to heck, I can't believe what i'll be missing if i didn't watch it. Sean Connery's act was very awesome, very unbelieveable. It's the best movie for someone to watch when bored. It's not the most exciting but it's funny and I loved when these two are always playing around and jumping from tree to tree! Through all the hard times, it's hard to imagine how these two actor and actress can get along with each other to solve the cure of this cancer. If you like action and hilarious movies, this may be good for you. Of course, i'm pretty thrilled and shock to know I actually took my science teachers word and if i didn't...Whoa I would be missing all the fun!
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