While my family enjoyed this hugely, we first watched it on VHS format...and discovered something interesting...the slightly shorter version is superior.
But this is absolute must see for anyone who hasn't taken a vacation in a while, as well as those who are not quite sure they believe in fairies anymore...if Randy and Whoppi can't convince you, you'[re a lost cause!
May 4, 2008 |  | Beautifully filmed, true to the legends, but too long |  |
This is basically the story of Romeo and Juliet, played out by mythical creatures against a backdrop of Irish legend. The locations and cinematography are quite good, the special effects pretty modern for 1999, and the cast was respectable, including Roger Daltry, Whoopie Goldberg, Colm Meaney, Zoe Wanamaker, that other Culkin kid and the other Quaid brother. Best as I can tell (from watching the special features), the production stayed pretty true to the legends of the Emerald Isle, so give it points for that. My biggest beef about the film is that it is just waaaaaaaaaay toooooooo loooooooong. Every thing about this movie is drawn out and dragged on. There is zero chemistry between the aging, goofy looking Randy Quaid and the gorgeous Orla Brady, and her brothers are just one-dimensional and annoying to no end. In fact, the entire "mortal" story just feels tacked on, and the faerie war as presented just isn't interesting enough to keep the film going for this LONG. I guess the best way I can put it is that, in spite of the well-known cast and decent effects, this whole film screams "MADE FOR TELEVISION" (which it was). And did I mention that it's just too bloody long?
April 28, 2008I bought this movie for my sister who loves this movie very much, and when I watched it with her I enjoyed it very much !!
Great actors and most of all GREAT MUSIC !!
July 17, 2007 | | Really good made for TV movie | |
This is one of my daughter's all time favorites, since she was about 9 yrs. old - she is now 14 and still likes it.
May 9, 2007 | | Great movie, questionable casting | |
I enjoy this movie a great deal. In fact if someone other than Whoopi Goldberg was the Banshee, I think it would have been great. Now let me state up front I love Whoopi Goldeberg. She was great in Star Trek series, and I love all her comedy movies. I own most of them. However, putting her in as the Banshee in this movie is like putting a Irishman in as a globetrotter in a movie about the Harlem Globetrotters. It doesn't fit, so please stop doing it whoever is responsible for this kind of off culture/race casting. It reminded me how they cast Will Smith as James West for "Wild, Wild, West". Next I suppose they will cast William Macy as "Shaft". I don't like racism, and I certainly don't like casting white or blacks in movies that aren't appropriate to the culture or the theme of the movie. It is like when they use to make up white men and women to be Indians, Chinese, or blacks. Very inappropriate. So had they cast someone other than Whoopi Goldberg as the Banshee I would have given it 4 stars.
April 9, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
Daily Birthdays
(88 reviews)