Rating: 
Summary: Great movie that kids and adults both should watch
Review: "Paradise" reveals much about children of people who don't take the time to care/supervise their kids and have no father. While the film is basically a drama, its strength comes from dealing with the conflict of being forced into a lifestyle one would not voluntarily choose after a parent's remarriage. Nevertheless, the film portrays children as resilient, capable of not only facing such challenges, but mastering them.This is definitely a movie parents should view and discuss with their kids. So many topic are presented, some directly and others in a more subtle manner, including, authority, creativity, punishment, rebellion, justice, discipline, practice, seeking approval, friendship, becoming part of something larger than yourself, pride, and lessons one learns outside of the classroom. The camera work and direction is superb and worthy of larger budget films, the acting is outstanding in word and deed. And the sound track, including music and sound effects is one of Donoghue's best efforts. There is a certain "cuteness" to it, but the overall tone of the film is super and the presentation by the young people makes you proud of their efforts. Every 11-year-old must learn to make his or her way in the world by fitting in. However painful the experience of growing up is, we tend to forget it as the years pass. This movie makes adults ponder the uncertainty of youth and many will have had the revelation of Billie by the end of the film. If you are capable of serious thought, "Paradise" will make you think about life differently.Paradise is a great movie. is an up and rising movie sensation. The rest of the cast isn't bad either. If I could buy this movie I would. It is the story of a boy named Willard who is sent to his aunt and uncle's, who are trying to survive a tradgedy in the summer. The rest you'll have to see for yourself. Once again Thora Birch shows us that she is an awesome actress. She plays all her parts so well and I know she works hard for what shes earned. She's pretty and a talented actress. Elijah Wood is great in this movie and makes it enjoyable to watch. .I think that Paradise was awesome.Melanie Griffith did a great job. Elijah Wood was great. He worked hard and he looked great in the movie. You would love it. The chemistry between Elijah's character and Thora's character was the best I've seen.
Rating: 
Summary: This movie has it all
Review: Great acting, story, and scenery. This has to be one of the most overlooked movies in history. I owned it originally on Laserdisc and was hoping for an eventual release on DVD. I imagine the popularity of Elijah Wood has a lot to do with this.
As previously stated, the cinematography in this movie is outstanding. The acting by both, and very young, Thora Birch and Elija Wood is incredible. Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith also give high caliber performances and the chemistry between them is superb. I can't say enough about the acting as the supporting cast is also very good. Why there were no academy award nominations for this movie is a mystery to me. It most likely has to do with the lack of respect for Don Johnson's acting ability and the fact that he is not on the A list.
The story is also well written and quickly drags you in.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and on my 10 best list.
Rating: 
Summary: Great acting and nice scenery, but....
Review: Having recently become a Don Johnson fan after seeing his marvelous performances in the "Miami Vice" tv series, I was very much interested in seeing him in other roles besides the never-to-be-forgotten 'Sonny' Crockett. Unfortunately, "Paradise" was a disappointment after my excitement to see Johnson and his wife at the time, Melanie Griffith, star together in what was supposed to be a 'family' movie.
Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith play Lily and Ben Reed, a couple torn apart after a terrible tragedy. Their love and affection for each other has died out and they live day by day hardly speaking to each other, hardly acknowledging the other's existence. That is, until a good friend's son, Willard Young (Elijah Wood), arrives in town as their summer guest. Will the Reeds finally rekindle their lost love for each other, and will young Willard, with the help of a country girl, Billie Pike (Thora Birch), learn to not be afraid?
The acting was well done and I have no qualms with any of the actors. Johnson and Griffith, by then seasoned veterans of the trade, play their roles with lots of heart and it's easy to feel for each of their characters as they strive to grasp some sort balance in their tumultuous lives. As for the younger stars, Elijah Wood and Thora Birch are also quite good for their ages. There are some awkward moments where though they are trying very hard to capture some dramatic moments, their inexperienced youth comes in the way at times. On the overall, it might be said that Birch may have been the better actress (both youths receiving 'Young Artist Award Nominations', though Birch is the only one who takes home the award for 'Best Young Actress').
I think my main problem with "Paradise" is with how the plot is presented. The plot is fairly good except that it is stretched too thin so that you really can't put your finger on what the message is. And when a good plot is stretched thin, too often do directors put 'unnecessary' subplots throughout the movie. But instead of doing it to make the movie flow better, the subplots in "Paradise" seem to burden the film with tediousness.
Not only are some of scenes out of place, they are sometimes 'cringe-worthy'. To give an example, the director wished to show a sense of every day life of the people in town. Often at times, Willard and Billie are left to their own devices to find their own amusement. And their 'amusement' consists of stealing a boat, doing dangerous stunts, and being 'peeping Toms', spying on Billie's sister and her boyfriend. Their spying on Billie's sister and her boyfriend at an 'intimate' moment was the most disturbing and disgusting. I found it totally unnecessary and made me wonder what kind of a director could ask a young actor and actress to participate in that kind of scene?
As mentioned in the above, this is NOT a family movie contrary to what some reviewers have mentioned. Besides some disturbing scenes with Billie's sister, there is also some profanity. And on the whole, the story deals with mature themes.
If taken in the right direction, "Paradise" may have been a good movie. Parents would have enjoyed watching the Reeds fix their broken relationship while kids might have been able to relate to Willard's struggles with the different kinds of fears he must face. But unfortunately, "Paradise" doesn't put too much focus on fantastic Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith while Willard's part in the movie wasn't quite uplifting or interesting. The story also ends somewhat disappointingly. There is just a hint of the 'hope' of what's to come for the characters and then immediately cuts to the closing credits. In my opinion, I would rather have seen how that summer changed their lives for the better and witnessed that change.
All-in-all, "Paradise" was never a big hit for a reason so if you're looking for a good drama to watch with the family, I recommend these films instead:
"Mr. Holland"s Opus" - Starring Richard Dreyfuss, this is a great film about the life a music teacher and how he touched the lives of many.
"October Sky" -An extremely uplifting movie about how a group of boys strived to fulfill their dreams. (Some strong language so maybe to be watched with older kids.)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Family Entertainment!
Review: Heartwarming story, great Southern country scenery. Excellent pair of child actors -- Harry Potter meets Jezebel! Shrimp boats, huge ancient trees, apple pies. You'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: If you liked this wait 'till you see...
Review: I loved this movie when I saw it and then I watched Le Grand Chemin in French class. The movies are almost exactly the same. So if you like Paradise, or even if you don't, I reccomend the French version, Le Grand Chemin!!!
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite movies!
Review: I loved this movie... It was great! I thought that Elijah Wood played the charactor very well... the whole story was cool, A married cupple are having hard times because of there son that passed away, and they are not getting along, and then Willard ( Elijah Wood) comes along and helps mend there relationship... It is one of the best movies i've ever seen!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Family Entertainment!
Review: I submitted a review of this movie to IMDB three times. None was published, nor did I ever hear why. I suspect it was because not one of the several previous reviewers even mentioned or seemed aware of its source material, though it is prominent in the credits. It is gratifying to see at least one commentary here on Le Grand Chemin, a minor classic from 1987 that became a vehicle for Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, who had some large French shoes to fill, and somewhat surprisingly, did a good job. Changing the setting from the French countryside to our New England was both good news and bad, possibly because the story elements were so typically French. Only the cinematography is as good as the original. Elijah Wood and Thora Birch also more than hold their own in the crucial children's roles, particularly Birch, who seems to have studied the French version and her counterpart therein more closely than any of the other leads in Paradise, and steals the picture in possibly the best performance of her childhood years. As a saucy, irreverent 9-year-old country girl, she teaches city boy Wood a thing or two in charming fashion. The bonding of Don and Elijah is deftly portrayed, and Don and Melanie's separate forms of grieving over their dead infant son are well acted. The supporting roles are strongly realized, and the ending more or less happy and "feel-good." See it if you can--and also Le Grand Chemin.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not Le Grand Chemin, but it's good
Review: I submitted a review of this movie to IMDB three times. None was published, nor did I ever hear why. I suspect it was because not one of the several previous reviewers even mentioned or seemed aware of its source material, though it is prominent in the credits. It is gratifying to see at least one commentary here on Le Grand Chemin, a minor classic from 1987 that became a vehicle for Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, who had some large French shoes to fill, and somewhat surprisingly, did a good job. Changing the setting from the French countryside to our New England was both good news and bad, possibly because the story elements were so typically French. Only the cinematography is as good as the original. Elijah Wood and Thora Birch also more than hold their own in the crucial children's roles, particularly Birch, who seems to have studied the French version and her counterpart therein more closely than any of the other leads in Paradise, and steals the picture in possibly the best performance of her childhood years. As a saucy, irreverent 9-year-old country girl, she teaches city boy Wood a thing or two in charming fashion. The bonding of Don and Elijah is deftly portrayed, and Don and Melanie's separate forms of grieving over their dead infant son are well acted. The supporting roles are strongly realized, and the ending more or less happy and "feel-good." See it if you can--and also Le Grand Chemin.
Rating:
Summary: Thora Birch
Review: If you have never been introduced to Thora Birch-this is the one to see. I don't know if this was her first movie or not but she is really young in this film. If there were ever a star born "this is it". She is just unbelievable. Griffin and Johnson are really great too. This movie is actually worth watching for the scene location alone.
Rating:
Summary: Thora Birch
Review: If you have never been introduced to Thora Birch-this is the one to see. I don't know if this was her first movie or not but she is really young in this film. If there were ever a star born "this is it". She is just unbelievable. Griffin and Johnson are really great too. This movie is actually worth watching for the scene location alone.
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