Home :: DVD :: Kids & Family :: Drama  

Adapted from Books
Adventure
Animals
Animation
Classics
Comedy
Dinosaurs
Disney
Drama

Educational
Family Films
Fantasy
General
Holidays & Festivals
IMAX
Music & Arts
Numbers & Letters
Puppets
Scary Movies & Mysteries
Science Fiction
Television
Wide Awake

Wide Awake

List Price: $19.99
Your Price: $17.99
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 >>

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Real Eye Opener From Shyamalan
Review: "Wide Awake" is a pleasant surprise, indeed. This is a film that grapples with mature themes, predominantly crisises of faith, not often seen in a major film production. The main thread to this film involves a 10 year-old boy, Joshua Beal(Joseph Cross) who is grieving the loss of his grandfather(Robert Loggia) and is seeking answers from his peers and his adult associations. M. Night Shyamalan has proven in his subsequent work that he is an expert director of children and this film is no exception. Cross feels like a genuine child grappling with feelings unknown beforehand and not some Hollywood stereotype of what a 10 year-old boy is. The adults in the film are strong archetypes and not buffoons as a lot of them are in films centered around children. Shyamalan should go back to this film as a reference point in good filmmaking. I have contended for years that as great a film as "The Sixth Sense" was it was a blessing and a curse because since then he has been trying to catch lightning in a bottle. This film demonstrates that great movies start with great stories. On a note of trivia, the blue Phillies cap that Rosie O'Donnell wears in the film was used by the team in 1994 during day games. The cap was dropped by the team because the players thought it was bad luck because they lost all but one game in which they wore it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A superb, engrossing movie.
Review: "Wide Awake" has everything to make a movie experience worthwhile. It amazes me that it received so little publicity; the acting is superb, the story is engrossing. It is not a "feel good" movie, it is one which asks you to think, to use your mind as well as your heart. So few movies these days have any substance to them, and then one like this comes along to make you realize just how good a motion picture can be. If the major studios would make movies like this, what a joy it would be!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A great movie about God and the innonence of childhood...
Review: ...it was a wonder why Wide Awake was not more popular in the box office. This is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen! Joshua is a ten year old boy who has just lost his grandfather and is doubting the existence of God. In his mission to find God in order to ask about his grandfather, Joshua learns about the lessons of life and how to become a better human being. Finally, when all hope is lost, Joshua finds God in the last place he ever expected to look. Joseph Cross gives and excellent performance as Joshua and Rosie O' Donnell is as brilliant as always. If society were more intertested in movies like these, instead of action movies with special effects, we would all try to look for the good in people and maybe find ourselves as Joshua did. END

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: meaning of the life
Review: A story about a little kid who tries to understand the meaning of his life.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent little film
Review: An excellent little film to really get into. Simple but unique storyline and great acting from Joseph Cross makes it unusally "gripping" stuff.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: I was moved...
Review: Hi, I watched this movie with my friends and wrote some comments below. We thought... What did you think?

<Neve>
This movie is pretty touching. One of my favorites is the scene that Joshua gave a speech to his class at the end. From searching for God, he found not only God but also something precious for him. In his speech, his feelings or purity were expressed very nicely and I was moved quite.
I guess many people believe the existence of God like Joshua but I think the images or the way of thinking of God would be different from person to person. I believe God and I have my own God in my mind. When I got trouble I feel better by believing existence of God.
Do you believe God? If you do, What is your God like? or What is God for you?

<Noripy>
I like this movie. He found the answer. He has believed God. I don't believe God. I'd like to be a person like him. I think to keep believing is very important for everybody. He tried to search for God, and he did it! He could learn many things by overcoming his grandfather's death. I think his grandfather taught him an important thing.
I like the last scene of his speech. I was moved. He could understand the meaning of his grandfather's words. With this experience he will get on an adult.
What is your most favorite scene? I want to talk about it!!

<Fraulein Shneider>
It is interesting to know how children become adults. The movie "Wide Awake" is connected with the world after death. On the whole, children's view is totally different from adults' one about it, but Joshua's case is something different. I don't know what it is actually. If you know the answer, please let me know.

<Miwa>
We can see the growth of hero. He could came to treasure the thing of invisible. For example, he said that he treasure his family and girl. He could know the worm of death of grand father through he lost his grand father. So, I like the scene that he read his composition.
Why is sixth grade easier than fifth grade? Do you think it's just because he could find God?

<Snowy>
I think his grandpa's death was so sad for Joshua, but he overcame it and grew up. He will grow up more and more because he knew his grandpa was in good and God exist.
I believe Gods existence. I don7t think he always everyone has, but some people don't know miracles. Maybe they notice when someone who they love die, like Joshua.
Do you believe "God"?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Uplifting! EVERYONE did great!
Review: I first saw this movie advertised while watching the movie previews on another tape I own. I looked at it. Then, I looked at it again, and again, and again. Then I thought "Maybe I'm onto something here." So, I got out my debit card and went to Amazon.com. I purchased the movie brand new for the price of a used video tape.

The movie really struck a cord with me because I have one grandparent who I am very close to. The movie talks a lot about finding God, but I didn't feel that religion was forced down my throat. This movie made me cry during several scenes. But at the same time, it made me feel better as a person for having watched it. Joseph Cross (Joshua Beal) and Robert Loggia (Josh's grandfather) were my two favorite characters in the movie. The friendship displayed on screen between these two characters seems very genuine. Timothy Reifsnyder was fantastic as Josh's best friend. It's hard for me to believe that this was a film debut for either Joseph or Tim.. They both seemed like veteran actors. Especially Joseph. I will be looking to see what other movies these two show up in. I would like to publicly acknowledge the hard work put in by everyone involved with making this movie. And I would also like to thank Amazon.com for having the best movie prices I've ever seen. I look forward to buying many other items from Amazon.com as time passes. God Bless America, and the rest of the world as well.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An almost perfect performance by ten year old Joseph Cross
Review: I have seen many movies but none like this one. Wide Awake presents you with a slice of someones life so realistic and true. It tells of the innocence of a ten year old boy trying to come to terms with the death of his beloved grandfather. He even tries to find God to make sure his grandfather is alright. The show has the right combination of laughter and tears and the ability to warm your heart and remind you of your own childhood. Joseph Cross is very impressive and carries his character extremely well. Do yourself a favour, watch this movie and you will 'see' with your heart. The cast of this movie simply compliment each other by potraying a flawless picture of the life around Joshua A. Beal (Joseph Cross) A word of caution, watch this movie once and you'll watch it again and again!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THIS MOVIE SHOULD BE VIEWED BY ALL!
Review: I have seen this movie at least 6 times now since it's release on video September 15, 1998. I'm excited and frustrated and confused. Like many of you I think this movie has the potential to be a classic like "It's a Wonderful Life" and I want to buy it and share it with all that I know. But I'm confused why Miramax would make such a great movie with a great cast and not promote it and release it to theaters? And now that it has been out on video for over a year, why will they not make it affordable and widely available for purchase?

Back to the movie. There are many great messages for us to take with us from this movie. But one message that got me is this. If you earnestly seek to find God, your life WILL be changed!

If anyone has any ideas to WAKE UP Miramax to bring down the price and make it available at retail stores, let me know.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: so good!
Review: I LOVED this movie! Rent it if you can't buy it. Awww, it was so good!!


<< 1 2 3 4 5 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates