Rating: 
Summary: Soap opera . . .
Review: and not a very lucid one, at that. *Terms of Endearment*'s biggest problem, I think, is that it somehow misses the point: rather than delving into an intensive character-study of a mother-daughter relationship -- which is, presumably, what the movie's supposed to be about -- we're given a chronicle of the mother's and daughter's OTHER relationships, particularly with the men in their lives. It's not altogether clear if we're supposed to compare and contrast MacLaine's and Winger's separate stories (and that indeed is what this movie is: mother and daughter share surprisingly little screen-time), especially since those stories seem to have little to do with each other. In any event, it all comes across just a tad soap-opera-ish for my taste.I do agree with the reviewer below who observed that MacLaine's and Nicholson's romance seems to be played strictly for laughs. It's the equivalent of the old pie-in-the-face routine, and it starts to wear after the first hour. Finally, the look of the movie is extraordinarily ugly. It's as if director James L. Brooks and his cinematographer couldn't afford new film stock, or something. It reminds me of those ghastly-looking Altman pictures, particularly *McCabe & Mrs. Miller*. *Terms of Endearment*, made in 1983, looks much older than that, and the digital clean-up on the DVD didn't improve its appearance. I know people love this movie, and my opinion is just that: opinion. Well, here's another one: if you want to see a great film from this director, look no further than *Broadcast News*, a much more sophisticated film than this first -- and soapiest -- effort.
Rating: 
Summary: From five stars to four
Review: Well, if we have to reduce our complex responses to art in terms of numbers, I felt this was a five when I first saw it, and now I'd say it's a four. The more I watched it (maybe half a dozen times over the years), the more obvious it became that MacLaine's and Nicholson's storyline was broad and farcical in an attempt to make a middle-aged love story easier to swallow. It looks especially obvious as the Winger/Daniels/Lithgow storyline becomes more nuanced and realistic with each viewing. What hold up best for me today, besides the always dependable Nicholson, are the music and Winger's performance, two Oscar losers that deserved to win ("The Right Stuff's" score won because it was louder, and MacLaine won for "The Apartment" [1960]).
Rating: 
Summary: Any Movie that can make me cry gets 5 stars
Review: This movie is one of the saddest movies I've ever seen. Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine, and Jack Nicholson all give the performances of their careers in this film. It is a wonderful story that reaches into your heart. This movie will make you laugh, cry, pout, and most of all it will make you appreciate the great things that life offers us each day. I hardly ever cry at movies, but this one did me in. I totally recommend this movie to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: yes, one star, please hear me out.
Review: I really hate to do this to a movie that so many people love, but I just really thought that this movie was a stinker. The acting was very good but somehow the plot just wasn't there. It was supposed to be emotional but it just made me feel like I had been manipulated from the word go. And, yes, I am a guy, but that isn't why I disliked this movie. I didn't regret a minute I spent watching Gone With the Wind and if ever there was a girly movie, GWtW is it. By the way, my mother also disliked this movie. It just stunk. Jack Nicholson singlehandedly pulls this movie out of the muck and mire and makes it worth fast forwarding through just for the "date" and beach scene. I laughed until my stomach hurt. Nicholson is so funny. All in all, I didn't want to spend quite so much time on a sweeping epic of white trash. I couldn't align with anyone in this movie, although Danny DeVito gets off the funniest line. So if you watch this movie, which you will and should just for Jack Nicholson, and don't like it, you are not alone. The only tears I shed over this one was when I realized how much time I had wasted.
Rating:
Summary: Funny,sad,intense,just like real life.A classic.
Review: I first saw "Terms of Endearment" in the theatre when it first came out at Christmas 1983 and thought it was an excellent picture. Then,saw it several years later on home video and I still think so. I even gave a copy of the video to my sister for a birthday present(along with some other of her favorite movies). A lot of the credit should go to James L. Brooks who was the writer and director.Mr. Brooks was a writer on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in the '70's and wrote the enjoyable movie "Starting Over" in 1979. Shirley MacLaine stars as Aurora and Debra Winger is her daughter Emma and the story is about their relationship over many years.The two leads both gave fabulous performances. Ms.MacLaine won the Academy Award for Best Actress(her one and only win) and Ms. Winger was nominated.Jack Nicholson gave a very funny,likable performance as the former astronaut who lives next door to Aurora. Nicholson won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role(a role that Burt Reynolds turned down due to a prior commitment.Reynolds regretted it later because the movie he turned the role down for turned out to be a flop).Actors John Lithgow and a then unknown Jeff Daniels also give good performances in supporting roles. However, the real kudos go to James L.Brooks who won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay Adaptation(from the novel by Larry McMurtry)and for Best Director,very impressive since this was his directorial debut.And,it also won Best Picture of the year.The story has many funny moments,sad moments,and intense moments,just like in real life.Mr.Brooks went on to write and direct "Broadcast News" in 1987 and "As Good As It Gets" in 1997 which were both very good pictures also.There was a sequel to "Terms of Endearment" some 16 years later in 1996 called "The Evening Star" with Ms.MacLaine and Mr. Nicholson but with a different writer and director."The Evening Star" was no classic but "Terms of Endearment" truly is.
Rating:
Summary: HOW ENDEARING IT IS
Review: This is the perfect representaion of the emotions that run through a lifetime. Larry McMurtry is quite the creative wizard, without whom there would be no basis for such a touching piece of film. Emma has her moments in life...those moments would make any one of us lose control. With the strength she finds within and that which she has acquired from her mother, it is no wonder she can get through an adulterous hubby, a son hit with an "I hate my mom" phase, a telephone dependant mother, a life of constant uprooting, and cancer. I could not fathom going through all of that all at once. This movie gives me hope. This movie shows me how much I take for grnted...how much I need not do that anymore. Mrs. Greenway has her own problems with Emma, aging, and her astronaut neighbor. The chain of events helps her, in the end, to cope with her daughter's fate. Garret, the neighbor, is a refreshing perk among all else that goes on in this funny, sad, and just plain endearing tapestry. This is a classic and timeless story that is often used while referencing or explaining something else. If you haven't seen it, do so. If you have, see it again...for each time I watch it I learn something new...a feeling that I never knew I am capable of feeling.
Rating:
Summary: PREPARE TO CRY
Review: James Brooks, who of late gave us AS GOOD AS IT GETS, has an uncanny way of sketching characters that are believable, and completely winning, despite their many foibles. TERMS is filled with such people, and is so deft at winning your affections that it is virtually impossible not to feel that lump in your throat -- if not tears rolling down your cheek -- as it makes its way to its manipulative but moving nonetheless finale. Each performer works to his/her potential, and the supposed fireworks between Debra Winger (who inhabits her role so intensely she IS Emma) and Shirley MacLaine -- who won an Oscar -- works perfectly on screen. Jeff Daniels pulls off a neat trick, and manages to be both reprehensible as Emma's multi-flawed husband, but also engenders your sympathy vote as the movie wears on. Jack Nicholson (also Oscar winner) and MacLaine combatively explore one of the funniest romances ever; the screenplay's distinctive sense of humor adds much charm and much needed comic relief from the increasingly depressing proceedings. Michael Gore's already-classic theme music can still inspire tears and resound with humanity. This movie feels absolutely commercial, and twists your heart in way that few movies do -- we are talking majorly sad sad sad -- AS BAD AS IT GETS, so to speak. Yet, in the final moments, Brooks does give the movie a sweet and surprising lift, and nearly promises hope to these characters, most of whom we have grown to love.
Rating:
Summary: TRUE FAMILY VALUES
Review: Dear Readers, A genuine tear jerker, Debra Winger's husband is a genuine creep. When I say creep I mean the lowest form of life. This movie has a realness about it that most films today elude. If you are ready to cry and you still have a heart, this movie is for you.... TrulyRemarkable Rating: NO TOADS Review assisted by: TrulyCritical
Rating:
Summary: really good film
Review: this film is very well done.and well acted.the follow up wasn't as strong which is the usual case only the godfather is the exception.but this film maintains it's importance years after it's release.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT AN INCREDIBLE MOIVE !!
Review: This is truely one of the best movies of all times. Its a movie about love , hate, and the lost of a loved one, it will pull at your heart through the whole thing. I still cant watch it without crying. So if your looking for a movie with a little bit of everything this is diffenately it.
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