Rating: 
Summary: Phenomenon is phenomenal
Review: A: 5/5 Stars John Travolta is phenomenal in the phenomenal movie "Phenomenon".
The movie is about George Malley, a simple guy of average intelligence who works in a garage in his small California town. During his birthday party, he walks outside and looks up at the sky. He sees a flash of light, and is knocked down to the ground.
Gradually, he discovers he can do supernatural things, like move objects without touching them, sensing ultrasonic waves to predict earthquakes, and learning a foriegn language in 20 minutes.
This movie provides solemn moments and funny moments. After a sneaky and totally unpredictable little twist in the story (regarding the mysterious flash of light and what causes Malley's powers), we find what the movie's message really is.
I'll shut up now so you can go watch it and be amazed. The title says it all.
J: 4/5 Stars phenomenon is a screen gem. it might not be perfect but it sure hits close to home in our hearts. it is about a man, played by john travolta, who on his birthday sees a flash of light in the sky and is knocked off his feet. when he arises he is different or feels different at least. what did he see in the night sky? a UFO? a hallucination? part of the magic of phenomenon is finding out at the end what the light really was.but phenomenon is much more than that.
it takes place in a quaint little town where everyone knows eachother and no secrets can be kept without your neighbor knowing. everyone meets in the conventional bar where they find out things from others. George Malley is a humble mechanic who is your average straight guy. he is is in love with the town recluse and is a close aquaintance with her kids. after the encounter on his birthday, everything changes. his intelligence seems to have been ameliorated. now, he reads five books a day, can remember nearly everything, and has the ability to move things with his mind. the townspeople first react in shock, then in awe, and then in fear of the ordinary man with now extraordinary abilities. they feel that george has been altered.in doesn't help when he gets in trouble with the government(the scene where he is interrogated is priceless).
Then after all this...i will leave you to see the rest. the end of the movie should come as a surprise to you as it was to the characters in the movie and me. john travolta is a good choice for george malley, and his performance carries an insight into his thoughts and feelings. this movie really inspires you to walk out on it, and it remains in your heart for a long time after.
Rating: 
Summary: It's All About Life!
Review: This movie moved me to tears - can I rate it more than 5 stars?
To this day I cannot hear Bryan Ferry's "Dance With Life" without being reminded that life is a gift and it's all about how you treat people and interact with them. John Travolta has been my favorite since Welcome Back, Kotter and so versatile an actor. When the town's mechanic changes to a genius overnight after seeing a brilliant light in the heavens on his 37th birthday, people don't know how to treat him. As he touches lives with his gift, some are grateful, others suspicious. If you have not seen this movie yet, DROP EVERYTHING and do so! It will move you to dance with life!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, poignant film to be enjoyed by all
Review: Normally I am the type that would ignore a film with John Travolta and Kyra Sedgewick; I would assume it was too mainstream, not original, etc. I'm not sure how then I did come to see this film, but I must say I am glad I did. This is a gem of a movie, about life, death, regret, etc. It is just so poignant. I've now seen the film a few times, and every time, I get a lump in my throat at the end. (I especially also liked the "apple scene"!) The music really works in this film as well.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenon: A Moving, Under-rated movie
Review: I took me awhile to catch on to the John Travolta "comeback." Always a good actor, he is trancendent in "Phenomenon." Taking his character of George, struck by a mysterious light, and turning him from an average man to a genius, could have been an actor's trap. Travolta makes it his triumph. He gives George such a humanity that even with the genius powers we are aware that George of old is still there, trying to desparately to just be his old self, and only the girl he longs for, played excellently by Kyra Segwick seems to understand his wanting to remain the same, no matter how many "miracles" he performs. So many films like this are too serious, use too many special effects, or are just plain ridiculous. Travolta great performance seems to lift the entire genre and wins us over like he does Segwick and her two children. The supporting cast is excellent, especially Robert Duvall, who does miraculous things with the town doctor. Forrest Whittiker is also good as George's best friend. The town accepts the miracles like no other movie town does. Yes, they are in awe, but they still doubt, as George doubts, that he was given a gift as a mistake, but when all is said and done, we know the "bright light" made the right choice, that he was able to even handle his own mortality. There is a scene near the end of the movie, when George is sharing his last moments and an apple with the two young children, that is as moving as any I've seen in recent memory. Some may see "Phenomenon" as too far-fetched or mauldlin, and if so they are as jaded as many movie goers are getting. What does an audience want? Here is a movie without much violence, blood, or spectacular special effects and does have a message but does not force it on you, how all of us have the possibility to be more than we think, that there is genius on a small scale, in the feelings for love, simple pleasures, sharing an apple with children, or facing one's own mortality without fear. A great Movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Good intentions, good follow through, bad ending
Review: This retelling of "Stranger in a Strange Land" explores the possibility that, in a crazy society such as our own, someone might discover sanity/genius and thus become completely alienated. It does a great job of that; unfortunately, the story is paced incorrectly and thus has a long introduction, a crammed development and a schmaltzy, lengthy, sickening ending. Like most tales in which a character is suddenly a genius, such as "Flowers For Algernon," there's a conflict between love for a woman and the alienation of someone feared by others for his ability. To his credit, John "I was in Disco movies" Travolta does a great job of portraying a man overwhelmed by his own intellect, looking every bit like someone who gets struck by revelation every few minutes. He's also every bit as childish and handsomely unintentionally aloof as a genius would be, and is enigmatic in that role; Kyra Sedgewick does a great job with her 1.5-dimensional character. This movie ultimately would do best if the rock/folk music interludes were cut and replaced with some silent scenes, and if the last 30 minutes were reduced from hanky-sopping drama to a few insights and then a slightly more ambiguous, less Christ-like ending. Overall however this is an exceptional movie for a broken society in a broken time.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenon: A Moving, Under-rated movie
Review: I took me awhile to catch on to the John Travolta "comeback." Always a good actor, he is trancendent in "Phenomenon." Taking his character of George, struck by a mysterious light, and turning him from an average man to a genius, could have been an actor's trap. Travolta makes it his triumph. He gives George such a humanity that even with the genius powers we are aware that George of old is still there, trying to desparately to just be his old self, and only the girl he longs for, played excellently by Kyra Segwick seems to understand his wanting to remain the same, no matter how many "miracles" he performs. So many films like this are too serious, use too many special effects, or are just plain ridiculous. Travolta great performance seems to lift the entire genre and wins us over like he does Segwick and her two children. The supporting cast is excellent, especially Robert Duvall, who does miraculous things with the town doctor. Forrest Whittiker is also good as George's best friend. The town accepts the miracles like no other movie town does. Yes, they are in awe, but they still doubt, as George doubts, that he was given a gift as a mistake, but when all is said and done, we know the "bright light" made the right choice, that he was able to even handle his own mortality. There is a scene near the end of the movie, when George is sharing his last moments and an apple with the two young children, that is as moving as any I've seen in recent memory. Some may see "Phenomenon" as too far-fetched or mauldlin, and if so they are as jaded as many movie goers are getting. What does an audience want? Here is a movie without much violence, blood, or spectacular special effects and does have a message but does not force it on you, how all of us have the possibility to be more than we think, that there is genius on a small scale, in the feelings for love, simple pleasures, sharing an apple with children, or facing one's own mortality without fear. A great Movie.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most POIGNANT movies I've ever seen!
Review: The phenomenon about Phenomenon is that it wasn't more of a hit at the box office! I found this movie to be extremely "watchable," and if you harbor any lingering doubts about Travolta's acting abilities, this movie will extinguish them for good! Travolta delivers a stirring performance as George, and ordinary guy who gains extraordinary powers after being struck on the eve of his thirty-seventh birthday by a mysterious blinding light, out of the blue. George then gains superior mental abilities, which, ironically, meet with many negative consequences in the small town where he lives. This movie is very haunting; it definitely stays with you. It is also DEFINITELY worth seeing, and makes a beautifully unique addition to any movie collection.
Rating:
Summary: Romantic Drama With Healthy Comedy
Review: I originally saw this movie in the theater and was pleasantly surprised. Not that I can see it at home the film's wonder has not disappeared. Phenomenon stars John Travolta (with an appearance by Brent Spiner of ST:NG). The premise of this film is that John sees a light in the sky that hits him and knocks him out. After that he has increased brain usage. This enables him to read quickly, comprehend, think clearly and even perform minor telekinesis. In the small town in which he lives this sort of thing can cause some problems and fear. Robert Duval gives an excellent portrayal of a small town doctor and the rest of the cast does a marvelous job. Phenomenon is partly a love story as John pursues the woman of his dreams, but it is also much more. It is a film about facing the unknown and the wonder of learning. While much of the film is funny it is definitely not a comedy and you should be prepared to have various emotional strings pulled throughout the film. An excellent choice for fans of romantic comedies and romantic dramas.
Rating:
Summary: Good intentions, good follow through, bad ending
Review: This retelling of "Stranger in a Strange Land" explores the possibility that, in a crazy society such as our own, someone might discover sanity/genius and thus become completely alienated. It does a great job of that; unfortunately, the story is paced incorrectly and thus has a long introduction, a crammed development and a schmaltzy, lengthy, sickening ending. Like most tales in which a character is suddenly a genius, such as "Flowers For Algernon," there's a conflict between love for a woman and the alienation of someone feared by others for his ability. To his credit, John "I was in Disco movies" Travolta does a great job of portraying a man overwhelmed by his own intellect, looking every bit like someone who gets struck by revelation every few minutes. He's also every bit as childish and handsomely unintentionally aloof as a genius would be, and is enigmatic in that role; Kyra Sedgewick does a great job with her 1.5-dimensional character. This movie ultimately would do best if the rock/folk music interludes were cut and replaced with some silent scenes, and if the last 30 minutes were reduced from hanky-sopping drama to a few insights and then a slightly more ambiguous, less Christ-like ending. Overall however this is an exceptional movie for a broken society in a broken time.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This is a fun film about a country "bumpkin" who appears to be zapped in the head by something from the sky. All of a sudden he becomes super smart and has telekenetic powers. The more he tries to help the townspeople with his new wisdom and powers, the more they fear him and are also jealous of him. Throughout the film the two people who stand by him are his best friend and the girl who makes wicker chairs (Kara Sedgewick) that he continually buys even though he doesn't need them. When the truth to his condition is learned the government wants to exploit him and Travolta has to decide to either be a part of what they want or do what he wants. Great film from beginning to end.
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