Rating: 
Summary: Jason Behr's best performance!
Review: I bought this movie originally because Jason Behr was the star, and also because of it's theme. The movie deals with the struggle Campbell (Behr) who is recovering from the loss of his lover Billy, and the neglect of his father.I identified with Campbell, as I too have a turbulent relationship with my father; and have also lost my partner, so by the end of this movie I was drowning in my own tears. Behr plays the character Campbell extremely well, pushing his fantastic acting ability to the limits. He has such a fabulous way of expressing his emotions, and making you the viewer; have compassion for his character. The DVD is excellent, deleted scenes, one a personal fave, when Campbell goes to see his mother. Audio comments by director and Jason Behr, please buy this one!!
Rating:
Summary: A movie deemed most entertaining and touching
Review: I decided to purchase this movie based on the reviews I read here on Amazon.com. I read a few reviews and right away I knew I was captured, I had to buy it. I must say that each actor is given the role that fit them most, no one appeares out of place or out of character in the part they portray. The film is quite vivid in its delivery of past occurances, it does not bore the viewer. Even though I felt satisfied with the history of the past, I felt so touched about the situation with Billy that I wanted to learn more about his relationship with Campbell. One has no choice but to be sympathetic to Campbell (Behr), he expresses just the right amount of emotions. This film was cleverly directed, the little bit of suspense keeps the viewer entertained. The gay issue, I feel is very well presented, many who watch the film can relate because the story is very realistic. I say realistic beacuase there are so many young, and even older gay individuals who experience similar situations with a parent's understanding of who they really are. I like the fact that this is not just a movie based on gay individuals or issues, there is actually a very good plot. Rites of Passage is a magnificent picture that allows the viewer to open up and feel the emotions of happiness, despair, fear and love as they flow. I was satisfied.
Rating: 
Summary: Not very good---just kind of there
Review: I dunno - call me a cynic, but does every film about gay people just automatically get considered "a great film"?? In the case of Rite of Passage, I tend to wonder if viewers are just soooo starved for gay subject matter that anything will pass. The movies isn't horrible - it's just not great. It moves rather slow, the product value is fair at best, and the plot is rather uninteresting. There is the requisit gay son/hard nosed father theme, the hopeless romantic theme, the accepting brother, etc. They all are there---but the problem is, most viewers will just say "who cares". I found that no matter how much I wanted to love htis movie, it was just something to watch on a Saturday night. Don't get your hopes up. If you are looking for your next meaning of life gay film--this one probably isn't it. If you collect every video or DVD where there is a gay plot--well, I guess here's another one for your collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Neither here nor there.
Review: I enjoyed this movie. Really, I did. But to say it's one of the best human dramas in years is a bit of a stretch. The acting is respectable enough, with all of the movies characters turning in solid performances. The production budget was low, given that the whole movie takes place in one location, but the director works with that limitation and creates a suspenseful movie. Unfortunately, as with other movies with storylines that occurred way before the film ever started, I spent most of the movie trying to relate to characters who seemed to have an "in" on what they were talking about that I was not privy to. Only so much can be accomplished by dialogue and flashbacks.. it seems as though most of what the characters struggled with happened years before the movie's storyline began. Nonetheless, there is some good dialogue and again, good performances by all around, but I must side with the other reviewer who said that anyone who felt this movie was "great" was probably just starved for a movie, ANY movie, with a gay theme. If that's the case, there are many better ones to choose from (Jeffrey, Lost Language of Cranes, etc).
Rating:
Summary: Jason Behr Proves His Acting Power
Review: I first got this movie because the hottest guy that I have ever seen was acting in it, Jason Behr, thinking if I don't like the movie I can just tune out the noise and watch him. But as it turns out this movie was great. The other actors really do a fantastic job, the plot is wonderful as well. It isn't a high budget movie, and i don't even remember it out in theatres. But I am glad I watched it, and payed attention to it. I highly recomend this movie to Jason Behr fans, people that like thrillers, and who just want a good movie to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Jason Behr Proves His Acting Power
Review: I first got this movie because the hottest guy that I have ever seen was acting in it, Jason Behr, thinking if I don't like the movie I can just tune out the noise and watch him. But as it turns out this movie was great. The other actors really do a fantastic job, the plot is wonderful as well. It isn't a high budget movie, and i don't even remember it out in theatres. But I am glad I watched it, and payed attention to it. I highly recomend this movie to Jason Behr fans, people that like thrillers, and who just want a good movie to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Very Suspense-Full
Review: I loved the tension of the film. The discovery and dissapoint of being used was incredible. Told all my friends to watch it.
Rating:
Summary: A story for pleasure and thrill.
Review: I ordered this video just because I wanted to have a film with Jason Behr, who I admire a lot. I didn't even know he plays a gay in that film then. It was a real surprise for me as I am gay myself. Yet this fact has not made me really love the film. When I sat down in the armchair and turned the VCR on, I could not stop watching the film. Although in the very beginning the plot did not seem to catch my interest too much, the later events appeared so fast and surprising that I hardly noticed the time passing by. The whole story of young gay love is so deeply moving one's heart that , I am sure, there must be a lot of similar examples in real life when gays are not accepted in their families. Coming out is not an easy thing to to, at least in Poland. Maybe such films like "Rites of Passage" will change people's attitudes somehow and turn them to a better understanding. Perhaps this film has helped somebody to become aware of how worth our family relationships are. The plot, however, is not the only good aspect of this film. I have enjoyed watching Jason Behr and Dean Stockwell act in this film. These two artists behaved like a real son and father. Jason Behr di not disappoint me at all. I must say he is a marvellous actor and "Rites of Passage" is the very proof of that. This film is worth its price for sure.
Rating:
Summary: A Taut Psychological Thriller
Review: I really, really liked this movie the first time I saw it. I still liked it a lot the second time, but I had to admit that the lead character, Campbell (Jason Behr), had to be exceptionally stupid for this plot to work. However, as I was able to justify that stupidity in the context of his character, I can pretty much forgive it. I don't want to give away too much about the plot in my review as the movie works best the less you know about it going in. The basic premise is a father and two sons for the first time in years are reunited at a remote cabin in the woods. As a lifetime of wrongs and hurts are confronted, two escaped convicts arrive at the door. Why are they there? What is their connection to the younger son? That's all I want to say about the plot. This is a truly suspenseful thriller. Writer/director Victor Salva uses the remote location to maximum advantage in order to keep the tension high. But what really makes this movie stand out are the family relationships that drive all the characters. Secrets upon secrets are revealed at an exciting pace, and just when you think you know it all, something else is revealed. This is one severely dysfunctional family, indeed. The performances are all solid, and standing out are Dean Stockwell as the father (he is also one of the producers of the movie) and Jason Behr as Campbell, the younger son. If I have one misgiving about the film, it's that Campbell does come across as incredibly naïve/stupid. However, if you look at his character as being in search of a father figure, you can almost forgive his stupidity. The DVD is in letterbox format and does have a commentary track by Behr & Salva. I haven't listened to that yet, so I will amend my review once I have done so. I do look forward to hearing what they have to say about the making of his truly exciting thriller. If you like this, you might also like John Greyson's intriguingly experimental "Lilies", the less appealing but still interesting French film "Criminal Lovers", and/or the flawed but entertaining "In the Flesh." (C)2001 Joe Edkin
Rating:
Summary: A Taut Psychological Thriller
Review: I really, really liked this movie the first time I saw it. I still liked it a lot the second time, but I had to admit that the lead character, Campbell (Jason Behr), had to be exceptionally stupid for this plot to work. However, as I was able to justify that stupidity in the context of his character, I can pretty much forgive it. I don't want to give away too much about the plot in my review as the movie works best the less you know about it going in. The basic premise is a father and two sons for the first time in years are reunited at a remote cabin in the woods. As a lifetime of wrongs and hurts are confronted, two escaped convicts arrive at the door. Why are they there? What is their connection to the younger son? That's all I want to say about the plot. This is a truly suspenseful thriller. Writer/director Victor Salva uses the remote location to maximum advantage in order to keep the tension high. But what really makes this movie stand out are the family relationships that drive all the characters. Secrets upon secrets are revealed at an exciting pace, and just when you think you know it all, something else is revealed. This is one severely dysfunctional family, indeed. The performances are all solid, and standing out are Dean Stockwell as the father (he is also one of the producers of the movie) and Jason Behr as Campbell, the younger son. If I have one misgiving about the film, it's that Campbell does come across as incredibly naïve/stupid. However, if you look at his character as being in search of a father figure, you can almost forgive his stupidity. The DVD is in letterbox format and does have a commentary track by Behr & Salva. I haven't listened to that yet, so I will amend my review once I have done so. I do look forward to hearing what they have to say about the making of his truly exciting thriller. If you like this, you might also like John Greyson's intriguingly experimental "Lilies", the less appealing but still interesting French film "Criminal Lovers", and/or the flawed but entertaining "In the Flesh." (C)2001 Joe Edkin
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