Rating: 
Summary: WHO'S THE "COMMUNIST"?
Review: "Heaven and Earth" is a lesser known sibling of other Vietnam-centric epics from Oliver Stone -- "Platoon" and "Born on the 4th of July". It is as brilliant a testament of Vietnam's devastatation as any of the others from Stone, but there is a reason why this film remains no more than a blip on international radars. The movie begins with the same stunning cinematography that you expect from Richardson, and pulls you in immediately. We follow the simple lives of Vietnamese rural folk (surrounding by idyllic fields, mountains, and a deliciously ordinary every-day life between the "Heaven & Earth"). But this song and dance is jerked 20 minutes into the movie by the Viet Cong (VC) and other "bad bad" people on either side of the war -- the rebels on one side, and the US-aided forces on the other. Stone leaves no stone unturned, no gruesome detail uncaught on tape, no rape missed -- it's gruesome to watch, and more so for some viewers because it requires you to think. But that's where the good stuff ends. The movie is loooong. Nearly 2.5 hours of mindbending mayhem, with a whole barrage of twists and turns. Our simple village girl from Vietnam escapes with Tommy Lee Jones, but finds that US has communist contours of its own, where her overweight sister in law forces her to eat a lot of meat and food, where her husband's friend gratuitously talks about his "fetish" for "Oriental women" too, her husband is an arms dealer and a wife-beater, etc etc. The movie is full of platitudes. Sappy stuff like "Different skin, same suffering." The theme of war-time atrocities on the innocent, the futility of war, are all very well but nothing new. This was supposedly the Vietnamese perspective, the ordinary person's perspective etc...but an hour into the movie it becomes difficult to care without much happening. The movie has a whiny, annoying actress for a protagonist. She simply does not measure up to the rigor and depth of the role, and surely seems like a sour spouse for Lee Jones. But the worst possible thing about the movie is it ending -- it beats you over the head with the point. For the most part fans of thrillers aren't dumb, although it seems the director doesnt realize that. A worthy rental for sure, but not a movie I could watch more than once.
Rating:
Summary: Shows the OTHER SIDE
Review: "Heaven and Earth" is the third in Stone's Vietnam Trilogy -- the first being "Platoon," which was Nam from the American Infantryman's frontline point-of-view. The second is "Born on the Fourth of July," the point-of-view of an American Marine who leaves one war -- paralyzed -- and only gets home to find a completely different war going on - the war with ourselves. The third, "Heaven and Earth," is a view of the war from the other side -- that of a Vietnamese rice farmer family. The main character is Lyn Lee, an innocent Vietnamese girl, who respects her parents, her country and her religion. Her life as a simple rice-patty worker changes when THE Vietnam war begins. First, the cruel SVA Army, aided by the American Army, rapes the simple village, and all that the farmers have worked so hard for. Then, they are also bullied by the Viet Cong when the anti-communist forces aren't there...and her brothers join their ranks. From then on, her life changes forever. She becomes a cheap peddler in the streets of Saigon, and also a prostitute. Her life is in the pits, that is, until she meets a United States Marine Gunnery Seargent, played by Tommy Lee Jones. He treats her very well, almost making up for all the hardships she has dealt with her whole life. The two finally fall in love, and he brings her back to America. When she reaches the U.S., she is amazed at everything -- including the amount of food that is practically there for the taking -- if you have a nice big fridge, which she finds commonplace in America. Her problems aren't solved, however, because the Marine she fell in love with (played wonderfully by the great Jones), suffers horribly from post-traumatic stress syndrome. While this movie emotionally drains you, and gets a little boring at times, you sit back in your chair in awe; first at how great the story is, second, what this poor Vietnamese girl went through, and third, you are amazed at how much this film makes you thankful for everything you take for granted.....and when you are done watching this flick, you walk away feeling, of course, a little depressed, but you walk away feeling that you have gained something. An excellent -- yet depressing -- close to Stone's Vietnam trilogy. Reccomended.
Rating:
Summary: Vietnam in purgatory
Review: A wonderful movie about how the war affected the Vietnamese people and their ideals. The movie starts with a sweeping panorama of the idyllic and simple countryside where we see hard working people, tilling the land and surviving as they had for thousands of years. Suddenly, their lives are transformed into a nightmare by the occupation of US and French troops, and later by the vicious and murderous Viet Cong. The brutality is a little too graphic for my tastes, especially the torture scenes involving Lee Ly Hayslip (played by Hiep Thi Le), and her VC captors. She experiences rape and humiliation, and barely escapes death as her village is burned to the ground.
She escapes to Saigon, becomes pregnant by her employer, and is sent into the streets by his wife. She turns to prostitution, and finally marries GI Steve Butler (Tommy Lee Jones), who transports her to America, where she experiences a new kind of prejudice. She gets a job, and her husband slowly turns insane, carrying wartime nightmares into real life. Unable to stay with him, she leaves him, and he commits suicide. She returns to her native village, introduces her son to his real father. Then, she reunites with her family who tell her the horrors they endured during her absence. She is now a rich entrepeneur and her parents accept her change. She sees how heaven and earth moved for her as she experiences two worlds that merge simultaneously.
Great acting, wonderful scenery and camera angles. An inspring and thought provoking movie based on the book.
Rating:
Summary: A powerful story and beautiful film
Review: Heaven and Earth is the most emotionally stirring movie I have ever seen. This is the best movie that you will never want to watch again. It is hard not to be moved by the hardships that Le Ly went through. The contrast between the war and the land and the lovely Hiep Thi Le creates an image of hell in paradise.The cinematography is amazing, especially the parts of Le Ly in Vietnam. The sound track by Kitaro is also worth checking into.Listening to the soundtrack is a good way to relive the beauty of the movie without having to go through the pain.This is Oliver Stone's best film and Acadamy Award material.When I first viewed this movie I had no knowledge of Buddhism. Now that I have studied the subject,it adds an important dimension to the film and helps to understand Le Ly. After watching the film, I was inspired to pick up the books about the life of Le LY Hayslip.
Rating:
Summary: Heaven & Earth - the best drama of 1993
Review: Heaven and Earth, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Joan Chen, was one of the best dramas of 1993. Oliver Stone portrayed life in war-torn Vietnam with striking realism; so real, in fact, that it pulls the viewer into the movie and makes them forget that they are watching it on a screen and are not actually in the Vietnam War. It was the most realistic Vietnam War movie this movie buff has ever seen, and is not to be missed for anything. Make an appointment with your family shrink for 10:00 am on Monday because you're probably going to have Post-traumatic Stress Disorder after watching this one.
Rating:
Summary: Moving Drama
Review: I am totally perplexed as to why professional reviewers didn't rate this movie higher and why it didn't get any Oscar noms. Bob
Rating:
Summary: The reality of a "sad" movie
Review: I had always been one of those people who avoids what you call "sad" movies. I used to think, "life is sad enough without spending your free time to watch even more depressing things." So, because of this feeling, I almost didn't take the time to watch the fabulous, true story, Heaven and Earth. I've seen this movie several times now, and after every time I watch it, it is all I can think about for days. Oliver Stone is not exactly one of my favorite directors but because of this movie I am giving his other films a second try. So, if you're one of those people who doesn't like to "waste their time" on sad movies - Heaven and Earth will change your entire attitude.
Rating: 
Summary: A jumbled and unimpressive film
Review: I had thought that perhaps this movie, taking the original standpoint of a Vietnamese girl during the Vietnam war, could have had something very powerful to say. Instead I found it to be an incoherent film with very little organization. I found myself constantly questioning the motives of various groups, for example the Vietcong and their vicious attacks on the village even though they were trying to gain support among the farmers. I found the movie to be overly dramatic and poorly directed. All in all a less then average movie, which may have gained good reviews from its subject only.
Rating: 
Summary: The book is great, the movie is a waste
Review: I loved the book, so I thought I would enjoy the movie. Most movies are not as good as the book, but this one is just terrible. The movie is a confusing mess! The story line is very hard to follow. I was very disappointed. Do not waste your money like I did buying this one!
Rating: 
Summary: Complex, introspective film
Review: I saw this movie when I was twelve, and I was too young to understand its themes. I was like: This movie is all gore and no fun. But I saw it just now, at age eighteen, and as a more mature person, I understand the theme of this movie: KARMA. Le Ly speaks about her karma throughout the movie, she even gets advice from monks about it. I watched this film and just thought: This is what life is about, yes! The past couple of years of my life, I have learned, like Le Ly, that you pay for your sins from this life--and even past lives. I have had to deal with great pain like Le Ly, and have questioned God's intent. Le Ly's story is inspirational in that she teaches us not to question our fate, but simply to give it our all. She is not a flawless human being, she is a human being. She will pay for what she's done, and continue to learn about the laws of life. This movie is somewhat long, but it's difficult to pick parts to delete, cuz it all works for the whole movie. The two lead performances were amazing, as well as the supporting cast. The score and the cinematography was gorgeous--the views of the cascades of Vietnam and village life. I have learned a lot from this movie. I will treasure the story of Le Ly for years to come; it is one of strength, endurance, and resilience.
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