Excellent acting, sad time for our country.
935634
A true story that takes it's literary license.  The double lives that had to be portrayed were hard to watch. I would recommend this movie to anyone over twelve who wants to know what life was like for black people in our country. It's an introduction. The quality of the video was excellent even on my Kindle with its hair line crack across the screen.
3879281
Very sad, but we done. The characters were real, but well acted. I would highly recommend, but it has a sad ending.
1458506
We visited Boston and watching this TV series added to a better understanding of how we should appreciate the difficult times our forefathers
encountered that with no doubt lead to all the liberties we enjoy today. Everyone should watch this movie and maybe you will vote more intelligently in the polling booth.
2301146
Fascinating movie about a part of our history. a shameful part. The acting was excellent. I learned a lot. Kudos to Bryan Cranston. Very topical now as it applied to our current election season.
4287281
While deeply depressing, it accurately portrays the shattered confidence and dreams of the generation that came of age in Germany during WWII.  The acting was excellent.  The lives of these five young people through the war illuminated multiple aspects of the devastation of the Nazi era.  Few war movies capture the futility of war as this one does.  I prefer listening to it in German and occasionally appreciated the English subtitles.
231784
I find it to be a sad time in American history. What was done to the first Americans was cruel and it still is today. Every member of each tribe, should receive a free education through a four year college, or certified training of their choice.
The scenery,the acting , and the Superb horseback riding in the movie; made me yearn to be back in America's youth.  One where I rode tall in my saddle, among the buffalo, wildflowers, the billowing clouds . The sweet smelling air blew through my hair,as I rode across the majestic plains in peace,with my friends of all origins.
3343644
This is an excellent story with great acting and cinematic effects. However, I am convinced it was not more popular because it is so heart wrenching to watch. True stories can often be this way.
2831128
You better be prepared to cry for this one. I really enjoyed it. It had some positive effects on my outlook on life. BUT it is a tearjerker. The acting was great. I watched it twice and will watch it again.
2726580
This movie entrances you to Maria's plight, from unbearable working conditions, from poverty, from unwanted pregnancy, to a dangerous adventure with the drug underworld, and later to her 'brave new world' in America.  It mesmerizes the viewer in a manner that does not shock but rather beckons us to empathize and discuss.  Its a masterpiece of a movie that plays with our emotions using a subject that is neither glamorous nor family-oriented.

Its amazing that this movie did not become a household event since it deals with the viciousness, the callousness of drugs in an unpatronizing manner, yet its message is powerful.  It forces us to rethink our priorities, and makes us appreciate what we have here in America much more.  If only the same 'kids in America' can appreciate such opportunities instead of falling prey to the same predatory nature of drugs. This movie is a must for parents who need to explain to their budding teenagers the dangers of drugs and fast money.  A must see.  Great acting and directing!  You almost forget that you are actually watching a foreign film, reading the subtitles because you are totally engross with the movie.  Very very good.
3457365
A well acted movie, also one of the most affecting films I've seen in quite a time.  It left me quite depressed for a while.  In a way it mirrors the times we are living in with our older generation's fatalistic view of the future.

You know the ending - the Americans win the battle with very, very high casualties, but that is overshadowed by the 90 - 95% death rate for the Japanese defenders.

Just as the Japanese leadership on Iwo Jima believed that the only thing they could do was give hell to the invaders and then die, it seems like many of the older generation now feel there is nothing that can be done to change anything and are just waiting for the apocalypse.

But there is hope in the younger generation who believe a united, prosperous and peaceful planet is possible and want to live in it, and are well represented in the film by the young Japanese recruit, Saigo.
738369
Great movie, riveting and will evoke emotions.  People should see more of this everyday on the news to really understand what our country is doing
4519756
Excellent movie but sad. Acting was superb. Will watch it again.
3068125
I appreciate the truth that comes out in this film concerning the injustices that were perpetrated on what I consider to be the TRUE, ORIGINAL AMERICAN peoples that populated this country before the opportunist (excluding the Pilgrims) came to this country. Makes my blood boil and I am not Native American. There is a right way to deal with others and coercion is not the way. The entire events of those times are truly sad. However, the actors did an excellent job of portraying their characters and imparting the social and emotional difficulties encountered during that time. This is a great film. THANK YOU, Sincerely, Diane O Gibson
980388
Excellent movie, Both my husband & I cried  watching this movie. It's so sad how with all the money our government takes from us,they can't seem to be there to protect our soldiers when they are doing the job they were sent to do.
4541187
The year is 2020 and the people of Great  Britain are blind. It's not entirely their fault--the government in the persona of High Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt) has put blinders on the British as much as they are too frightened to see what is happening for themselves.

Britons' everyday world is very much like George Orwell's "1984".  The heavily censored media controls what they see.  Language has morphed to the point where harmless words now carry a serious threat. The Party is all-powerful and can make people disappear without questions.  The countryside is mined with cameras and microphones to detect any protest and the police and military are empowered to eliminate enemies of the state. The Government may well be responsible for the deaths of over a 100,000 of its citizens due to St. Mary's virus.

Then one dark November 5th night, Evey Hammond (Portman), a young British woman is walking home and is accosted by men bent on doing her harm.  She's rescued by a black clad figure in a Guy Fawkes mask.

He calls himself "V."

V (Hugo Weaving) offers truth and hope to the British people.  Taking his cue from the Guy Fawkes of history who tried to overthrow the British Government almost 4 centuries prior, V promises that in a year's time, there will be a revolution--the Parliament building will be destroyed and the old government will be overthrown.

The film covers the next year's time.  First, the police are attempting to locate V through various means.  Evey parts from V and goes out on her own only to be captured.  And V continues to spread the word to the British people.

Every book writer aspires to at least one good line per page.  I cannot say how many that translates to in movies, but "V" is beautifully and thoughtfully written.  In addition, the acting on the part of the major characters is good as well.  How Weaving can translate so much character without a facial expression, eludes me.  Natalie Portman's performance as Evey in captivity is also stellar.

As I started off, I really regret not having seen this film in full screen.  I understand it's available in IMAX format and I'd love to catch it on that kind of venue.  In particular, the scenes from High Chancellor Sutler would probably be hair raising.

Though I have rented this film, it's now on my wish list to add to my collection.  There is enough content to make "V" worth watching again--and showing to my friends.
1939111
Great acting but I think it's bad timing to watch this right after we have endured months of political ads I'm just burned out on politics
3567730
This movie deepened my appreciation of the freedoms we take for granted in this country. The struggles of the Polish people under an atheistic government should be a warning to us to never be complacent about our freedom.
I miss Pope John Paul II and wish there were more truly great leaders in the world today.