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The Mighty

The Mighty

List Price: $14.99
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A film about special kids that doesn't patronize
Review: I enjoyed this film from start to finish, and was bowled over by the performances of the young actors. Based on a children's book, 'Freak the Mighty', the film manages to portray the challenges and friendship of two special young people without being patronizing.

Max, played brilliantly by Eldon Henson, is a slow boy, big for his age, whose mother was killed by his father, who is now serving a prison sentence. Max is being raised by his grandparents, the appropriately weary Gena Rowlands and Harry Dean Stanton. Max has failed 7th grade twice, and is the butt of teasing and jokes. His life is changed when Kevin, played by Kieran Culkin (Macauley's more-talented younger brother) moves next door with his single mother, well played by Sharon Stone. Kevin is physically disabled, with a degenerative bone disorder. He has compensated for his disability by being a genius. He is also stronger than Max, the only thing he lacks is Max's physical strength. The two work together, with Max being Kevin's legs, and Kevin being Max's brain.

The world can be an empty place for people who are "different", and Max learns and grows from his friendship with Kevin. The movie never resorts to cheap sentimentality, and this was one of the first films to make me cry in a long time. I don't agree with the criticism that Sharon Stone is too attractive to be Kevin's poor mom. All kinds of people have children with disabilities. There was no need to make Sharon Stone less beautiful, since this film is about the boys, and she is the mom, a supporting role, and her good looks are not really an issue.

I was disappointed in Gillian Anderson's performance as a white trash biker chick. She seems to be borrowing from the Sandy Dennis school of facial twitches, and feels a need to resort to a southern accent to emphasize that her character is from the wrong side of the tracks. Other than that, the movie is excellent, particularly the performance of Eldin Henson, who has a great future ahead of him.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: You've gotta love this movie.
Review: Oh wow. I fell in love with this movie from the moment the music started to play. The music is Celtic, and it's really outstanding. But it's Eldan Henson and Kieran Culkin who really steal the show.

The film starts off with Max Kane (Henson). Max is in 7th grade, but he is at least two feet taller than everyone else in his grade. He is always being teased by bullies for his size, his illiteracy, and his infamous father.

Then a kid named Kevin Dillan (Culkin) moves into the neighborhood. Kevin is also in 7th grade, but he is very small and has a birth defect that forces him to walk on crutches. He is also extremely smart. Bullies tease him, too.

Soon, Kevin and Max became inseparable friends. Max became Kevin's legs, and Kevin became Max's brain. By themselves, Max and Kevin were just freaks of nature who were always teased. But when they are together, they are called "Freak the Mighty"! And then what happens is.....what, did you really think I'd tell you what happens next?

The script in this movie is absolutely adorable. Here are some of the quotes:

--"So you're a pacifist.....yeah, a pacifist. You know, 'pass on the fist'?"

--"I said, you're a cretin!.....yeah, a cretin! C-R-E-T-I-N! Look it up in the dictionary and you'll find your mugshot!"

--"My father was a magician. He heard the words, 'birth defect', and disappeared."

--"Don't think of it as a friendship. Think of it as a partnership. You need a brain and I need legs. And the Wizard of Oz doesn't live in South Cincinnati."

--"Every word is part of a picture. Every sentence IS a picture. All you do is let your imagination connect them together.....if you HAVE an imagination, that is."

Plus many more. The above quotes were all said by Kevin Dillan. But my favorite quote is the last line of the movie. You won't forget it for a while.

The script is hilarious. The music is catchy. The acting is all top-notch. And the ending is so tragic.....it all adds up to a truly unforgettable film. If you have a psyche, you will love this film. Watch it ASAP.

P.S. Yes, I am only 14 years old, but parents shouldn't be too concerned about the PG-13 rating. There's no sex, no nudity, no drug content, no profanity, and almost no on-screen violence. Little kids may be frightened at times, but this movie is overall no more inappropriate than the PG-rated "Simon Birch". If your kids have seen "Simon Birch", then they can--and MUST--see "The Mighty"!

P.P.S. Does anyone know that Eldan Henson was actually 20 years old at the time he starred in this movie?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: MIGHTY Crazy for THE MIGHTY
Review: I am 12 years old. I watched The Mighty in school, after reading the book Freak the Mighty. The movie and the book were very different, but I'm not saying they were bad. The Mighty is a story about a boy named Max Kane who is not the smartest person in the world. He befriends a crippled boy named Kevin, and together they become Freak the Mighty! Slaying dragons, going on quests and "finding treasure." The movie was AMAZING!!! It shows how friendship never fails! Watch this movie!!! I'm telling you, you won't regret it!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Uplifting story about the value of friendship
Review: The Mighty is a fantastic and touching movie that all ages can enjoy. It deals with the friendship of two outcast boys who are quite the opposite of each other, Kevin (Kieran Culkin) is handicapped with a degenerative bone disorder, but clever and quick at inventing things while Max (Eldon Ratliff) is a slow learner and big for his age, who lives with his grandparents. Both learn from each other the importance of friendship and the values of honor, bravery, helping others, and accepting yourself. The cast works really well in all the roles, and all of the acting is very good (especially from the young actors). Sharon Stone surprised me in that she played the role of Kevin's mother well. The end of this movie was so sad despite being a bit predictable, but I thought it was beautifully done although I wished it ended differently, but then I realize how it completes the story. All in all, I found this movie really enjoyable in every way. The characters are endearing, the music is touching and the story is at times humorous yet very touching. The Mighty proves to be a heart-warming movie about friendship and life. Definitely a must-see!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: For those who've ever felt different, inferior or left out!
Review: Some folks like to "put down" movies that are obviously meant to make a person feel good. This movie really struck me deep down to the core. I was transported back to my own childhood to relive a little pain because I related so much to both of the main characters. With that little bit of pain, I also got to relive a whole bunch of joy, because I also related so much to their triumphs!!! Buy this movie and let yourself feel good.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simpley a beautiful gem of a film.
Review: I just loved THE MIGHTY. It's about a 14-year-old boy named Max Kane (Elden Ratliff) who is an outcast because of his unusual giant-like size. Max lives with his kind grandmother - his father had been put in jail several years ago. When Max starts doing poorly in school, he has to get a tutor. The tutor ends up being a 14-year-old disabled, but intelligent boy in Max's school named Kevin Dillon (Kieran Culkin). Kevin feels like an outcast because of his disabilities. At first they do not get along very well, but soon they become best friends, when they realize that they are just as strong as everybody else when they unit as one. Sharon Stone plays Kevin's kind mother, Gwen Dillon, who takes care of Kevin while Kevin's father is also in jail. Gillian Anderson ("The X-Files"), plays a woman named Loretta Lee, who helps Kevin and Max in the end.

The only reason why people may think Sharon Stone is the main star in THE MIGHTY is because she is the most famous out of the cast. But she is only in like, a few sceens. It's Kieran Culkin and Elden Ratliff who are the REAL main stars. Though the whole cast gives surpurb performances, Kieran Culkin and Elden Ratliff's performances really shine.

This film should really have been more commercially advertised, because it is a great film many people missed out on. Ignore those snobbish critics who snubbed this film, because THE MIGHTY is really a wonderful film. The script is fantastic, and so is the scenary. There was not a boring moment in THE MIGHTY. You must see this film.

Also, if you love THE MIGHTY, then I also suggest SIMON BIRCH and THE CURE.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Mighty(1998)
Review: This movie is about two boys who become really good friends (Culkin & Ratliff) both have really wild imaginations. Both boys are different from each other and everyone else, but much like one another in many ways. This film is the only drama that didn't make me cry, because everything that happened was expected. Sharon Stone who plays Gwen Dillon (kevin's mother) did a fine job with her part. Gillian Anderson (scully from the X-FILES) fit her part very well as an ex-cons girlfriend, who gives max a helping hand. My favorite quote from this movie was said by Stone "Congratulations, you must be proud. You've just given birth to a healthy seven pound dictionary." I think this movie is much like "Simon Birch". Both Simon & Kevin were born with birth defects, and both found one very special friend who was always there for them. I think this movie was very good and so was the book. You should read the book first before you see the movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Sweet Film
Review: As of this writing, there are 108 reviews for this film, detailing the plot, the cast, and the plot. I'm not going to repeat any of that.

I'm just going to say that this film was very enjoyable to watch, and certainly worth an evening. This is more than a message film, that the least of us have worth, that good can triumph over evil, that one person's shortcomings can be filled by another's strength.

The Mighty is all of that, but it is entertaining as well. There are life lessons to be learned here, for sure, but the inventiveness and imagination of Kevin, the disabled boy, brings a touch of whimsy and light humor to the film that might be unexpected.

It may not follow the book (which I have not read) closely, but it stands on its own as a sweet film that doesn't lay a message on too heavily, but, with the help of an excellent cast, strikes just the right balance between humor, drama, and pathos.

Recommended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: For those who've ever felt different, inferior or left out!
Review: Some folks like to "put down" movies that are obviously meant to make a person feel good. This movie really struck me deep down to the core. I was transported back to my own childhood to relive a little pain because I related so much to both of the main characters. With that little bit of pain, I also got to relive a whole bunch of joy, because I also related so much to their triumphs!!! Buy this movie and let yourself feel good.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pure joy to watch!
Review: This is a story about all souls, lives and beyond.
I bought this because I am Gillian Anderson's big fan from, of course, the X-Files, but it was far beyond my expectation.
Gillian Anderson is real surprise, and the rest of the cast are all fantastic.
Excellent film! I could watch it a million times. And, by the way, I would like to read the original book this film is based on as well.
This film makes you happy even after experiencing a trasic event. I surely believe that.


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