Rating: 
Summary: Touched by City of Joy
Review: "Feel good movie" doesn't quite describe City of Joy. Many parts were difficult to watch because of the poverty and ocassional brutality. But it is in my opinion that this is a great movie, both for its story line and character development. The dialogue was exquisite at times, especially that little leper fellow, and the characters were always believeable. Though the ending for the doctor was predictible, nothing else in the story was.
A movie worth watching at least twice.
Rating:
Summary: Touched by City of Joy
Review: "Feel good movie" doesn't quite describe City of Joy. Many parts were difficult to watch because of the poverty and ocassional brutality. But it is in my opinion that this is a great movie, both for its story line and character development. The dialogue was exquisite at times, especially that little leper fellow, and the characters were always believeable. Though the ending for the doctor was predictible, nothing else in the story was.
A movie worth watching at least twice.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent movie, educational
Review: Being a missionary has its ups and downs, but this film manages to explore motiational factors such as poverty and love in foreign culture very well. It is a touching film, and I disagree with many of the previous reviewers who state that Swayze is outshined or unsuccessful, I find this to be his best film. The lack of dancing helps, too :-). He accurately portrays the feeling of culture shock many international travellers feel. I have never visited Calcutta or India, but this film has helped me understand poverty in its true form; poverty here in the US can't compare. I highgly reccomend this film for anyone interested in foreign culture and its effect on the 'visitor.'
Rating:
Summary: om puri deserves an oscar for this movie
Review: City of joy is a good movie, showing a honest view of the poorest side of India. But the real good thing in the movie is the brilliant acting by Om Pury. He steals the scene every time he appears on screen, outshining Swayze all the time. He definetely deserves an oscar for this acting.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the Best
Review: I am a movie fanatic and this is in my opinion the best film that I have watched ever. It is extremely moving and passionate. I cried three or four different times during this movie. I have been looking to acquire this movie in the past and it is the first time that I find it. It is a good way to see some aspects of India, at least through a window because nothing in life can prepare you to be in India. The drama ocurrs around an Indian family in Calcutta and an american doctor who volunteers to work in a poor neighbourhood. He becomes so involved with the family that...well, you should see the rest by yourself if your are not already a fanatic of this movie. I could say many more things but I will leave it brief and not boring.
Rating: 
Summary: East and West don't mix that easily...
Review: I lived in Calcutta for a touch over two years not too terribly long before this film was shot there. Yes, I too occasionally took rickshaws, once even pulled the rickshaw wallah myself, thereby averting a disastrous hang-over. I did some shopping in Barrah Bazaar right near Howrah Bridge, etc. etc. Yeah, there IS real poverty in Calcutta. And crowding beyond your wildest nightmares. First, I found it ironic that the film company tore down the set once the film was done. It would have provided better living quarters than those of many people I personally knew in Calcutta. Aside from that, yes Om Puri was great. And I think Art Malik, the nasty guy who's father was the "godfather," and who I first saw in "The Jewel in the Crown," superb series, was excellent too. And some of the other actors, lepers, etc., were outstanding, given their limited market. (Not a whole lot of lepers in other Patrick Swazey flims...errrrr, films....) OK, it was a cute story. I've seen it now three times--so far--to remind me of the bizarre place I lived and of which I still occasionally have nightmares. But Swazey's lectures to Puri's character, "stand up and fight," was far, far more "Western" than I ran across in Calcutta. I don't want to bust anyone's multi-cultural bubble but that's simply fact. So, for a Western audience it's credible. But in reality it's a fairy tale. "And they all lived happily ever after." Yeah, I wish life worked that way. But it doesn't very often. Kept in the fairy tale context, it's a cute story. But, again, if you get some time in Cal, say hi to some old friends of mine, but don't expect things to happen like they did in this film.
Rating: 
Summary: Many better options to this
Review: I read the book, have seen the movie and have visited Kolkata. I'm troubled by the book and the movie. I felt the book trivialized poverty and made a sentimental treatment of it. This is because it was viewed through the eyes of a Catholic priest and he was taking voluntary poverty. It is another matter when you have children, live in bone crushing poverty and have fewer choices available to you. (Yet Kolkata is a city of miracles in that the poorest can often find a place and a way to survive there.) I don't think the movie came close to showing the culture of Kolkata's poor. It was very much a westernized gloss and it definitely pulled punches. Consider just one important cultural element: Indian has many great musicians who have produced centuries of beautiful music. But this film sticks us with an entirely western score. I am in love with this region and had to read the book and see the film. But if you want to see a film about this part of the world, see anything by Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen or Shyam Benegal. In particular, Satyajit Ray - Apu Trilogy or Two Daughters. Although more modern and middle class, Aguntuk (The Stranger) is also a much better film.
Rating:
Summary: Many better options to this
Review: I read the book, have seen the movie and have visited Kolkata. I'm troubled by the book and the movie. I felt the book trivialized poverty and made a sentimental treatment of it. This is because it was viewed through the eyes of a Catholic priest and he was taking voluntary poverty. It is another matter when you have children, live in bone crushing poverty and have fewer choices available to you. (Yet Kolkata is a city of miracles in that the poorest can often find a place and a way to survive there.) I don't think the movie came close to showing the culture of Kolkata's poor. It was very much a westernized gloss and it definitely pulled punches. Consider just one important cultural element: Indian has many great musicians who have produced centuries of beautiful music. But this film sticks us with an entirely western score. I am in love with this region and had to read the book and see the film. But if you want to see a film about this part of the world, see anything by Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen or Shyam Benegal. In particular, Satyajit Ray - Apu Trilogy or Two Daughters. Although more modern and middle class, Aguntuk (The Stranger) is also a much better film.
Rating:
Summary: A TRUE LOOK AT INDIAS POVERTY AN CLASS SYSTEM.
Review: I RENTED THIS FILM WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND WATCHED IT WITH MY INDIAN FRIENDS . I REALLY LIKED THE BRUTAL HONESTY OF ROLAND JOFFE'S STORYTELLING,SHOWING THE ABSOLUTE POVERTY AN DIVIDED CASTE SYSTEM WICH IS SO OBVIOUS IN THE FILM. PATRICK SWAYZE WAS ALLRIGHT AS THE AMERICAN IDEALIST DOCTOR. BUT THR TRUE STAR HERE WAS THE RICKSHAW PULLER WHO'S NAME I WISH I KNEW BECAUSE HE BLEW PATRICK SWAYZE OUT OF THE WATER WITH HIS DEEP AND SOULFULL ACTING !! MY INDIAN FRIENDS DID NOT LIKE THE WAY JOFFE PORTRAYED THEYRE COUNTRY IN THE FILM THEY FELT IT WAS A NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL,BUT HEY MAN THE TRUTH HURTS SOMETIMES !! I KNOW THAT SAN ANTONIO,TX, IS NOT HEAVEN EITHER !! BUT AT LEAST I AM HONEST ABOUT MY CITIES SHORTCOMINGS FOLK'S ....~LOL~
Rating:
Summary: Very special!
Review: I think I may be the only one on the face of the planet that thinks this is a tremendous movie. I think there's an intimacy to Swayze's performance that is very special. I see several others mentioned "humanity" and I completely agree. I think he made a tremendous effort to reveal the essential humanity and dignity of people that most Americans would never allow themselves to get close to. Add to this the fact that Swayze is white, incredibly attractive, fabulously successful, and then to see his humility here just takes my breath away. (Go ahead and shake your heads and tell me I've got my head in the clouds all you jaded critics) :) And the credit is not just Swayze's--how often do you see an American-produced movie set in the slums of Calcutta and interested in the lives of the poor? Okay, so maybe the storyline wasn't the most enlighted ever conceived but I think the plot has little to do with the theme--it's the characters, but more importantly the way the characters relate to each other, white or brown, as equals, that is monumental. On the surface we have a racially and ethnically integrated society in the US. If we don't accept each other, we at least put up with each other most of the time. But how often do the barriers of race and ethnicity come down in a meaningful way, in the "everyday" events of life? Not too often, I think. This movie makes it real with a quiet demonstration that never preaches. I think this is a *great* film, even if I am the only one who ever appreciates it!! :)
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