SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Janae Milner Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

rondine This is such a great movie on many levels. I won't take the time to re-cap the story line which all of the reviews here have already done so well, but I didn't want to comment on something that no one else has up until this point.First of all, I don't really see this as sci-fi, because it is already happening today- we don't even need the "mind bands" to dumb us down because there is already an insidious growing movement to see diversity squashed and mediocrity rewarded. TV has become a banal wasteland of "reality" shows like Survivor, Lost, American Idol, etc. There is nothing but "empty calories" in these shows (btw, this is not to say that I do not recognize the need for some mindless entertainment at times.) And American Idol has as much to do with uniqueness and diversity as it does with real singing. There was a time when TV did have some thought provoking commentary that was presented in an entertaining way. Examples would be Star Trek or All in the Family. (These are just 2, I could put more here, but I'm on a time constraint to go to work.) Kids AND adults are rewarded everyday for getting 10th place... or last. That's not to say that that person in last place didn't work as hard as the person in first- it's to say that there are "winners" and "losers" in everything - even life, even in the "afterlife" there is heaven and hell. Watch a lame antelope getting tackled by a lion- it happens. In our cerebral (irony) society, we think that we have somehow conquered that idea- that it is benign and kind to want to remove the "sting" of being the last- but life isn't like that. That is an unreality. That "sting," helps to give us as human beings an impetus to strive for things and make things better. This is part of what this movie addresses so well. To be honest, my favorite scene is the one in which Plummer's character shows Astin's character Bergeron the DVD of the "cost" of intelligence and uniqueness. He makes a compelling argument that ALMOST convinces the viewer; that somehow, all this diversity is the cause of wars and hate. That if we were just all the same somehow, it would disappear. No more brilliance? No more great music, movies, or art? Maybe, but isn't it worth it if there are no more senseless deaths? But then, perhaps some things are worth dying for. This scene in the movie actually leaves it "open" so the viewer can make their own decision. (Personally, I *need* music and movies and art- I don't think I could live without them.)Strangely enough, I always think of the movie/play, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" when I think of this movie, because there's one scene in which George makes an off-handed comment about the biologists and how they are the ones that are going to make everyone the same, that there will be no music, poetry and not much learning, but we will have a sublime civilization of men that are all the same. (I'm paraphrasing from memory, so cut me some slack.) He also says, "You take the trouble to construct a civilization, to build a society based on the principles of... of principle. You make government and art and realize that they are, must be, both the same. You bring things to the saddest of all points, to the point where there is something to lose." Well, I think we are at that point already. There is something to lose, and it's our minds and souls.

itamarscomix Bruce Pittman's intelligent and modest TV adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's short story is a wonderful and much under-appreciated piece of high sci-fi. Films of this kind are rarely made, simply because there's not much potential audience for low-budget science fiction - most people are in sci-fi mainly for special effects and impressive battles. Harrison Bergeron, though, is one of those few adaptations made of real philosophical sci-fi, the kind that creates an image of the future as a reflection of our own reality. And it succeeds quite well in delivering its message, and for what it is it could be enjoyed by almost everyone - though I doubt it could have done well in the theaters.The film revolves around two wonderful lead actors - one is Sean Astin, who recently gained success and fame as Sam Gamgee in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. The other is the wonderful British actor Christopher Plummer, remembered by sci-fi buffs as the Klingon General Chang from Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country. Brilliant comedian Eugene Levy gives an eerily funny performance as the President. The story is of a future America in which equality is achieved by discouraging exceptional talent or intelligence and creating forced mediocrity. Harrison (Sean Astin) is one of the exceptional few whose intelligence surfaces despite the government's best efforts and is therefore given the chance to work for the government. There he discovers the timeless Orwellian truth of Fascist regimes - all are equal, but some are more equal than others. Astin's interplay with Clummer (the classic 'Big Brother') is wonderful, and the ending is beautiful. The script does an excellent job of expanding Vonnegut's very short story into a 100 minute film.Harrison Bergeron is well worth watching - if you can get your hands on it. As far as I know there isn't a DVD available, but the VHS can be ordered on Amazon and the movie plays occasionally on television. If you're interested in science fiction literature of authors like Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick, or Isaac Asimov, this wonderful little think-piece is a good purchase.

jennygirl34 Harrison B. is a delightfully witty commentary on the constraints placed on the common man by government and sociological ideals. This movie is for the thinking viewer as well as an enjoyable flick to veg out on. Appeals to everyone. The kind of movie that will have you thinking and talking about it days and weeks later. The excellent character development will leave you feeling very understood and perhaps somewhat paranoid. It is an excellent movie with an outstanding performance by Sean Astin. The turmoil Harrison endures as he realizes his life has been one of blind acceptance of the propaganda perpetrated by the 'controllers' is a very profound message. His agony over the truth of what mankind has inflicted upon each other is a lesson well learned by all.

patricw I just saw this last night on the local late night movie. I'm not much of a Sean Astin fan, but in this film, he fits. The basic plot (spoilers ahead) - it's the not too distant future. The United States has had a second revolutionary war due to a major recession and huge unemployment (starting to sound familiar?!). The powers-that-be determine that everyone will be happier if they are all of the same intelligence, own the same things, live the same lives, etc. So, they develop a kind of headset that monitors and controls everyones' brain waves - keeping everyone kind of dumb and happy, although they don't really know why. Astin plays the title character, who turns out to be smarter than everyone else, and no amount of tinkering with his headset will tamp down his intelligence. Through various plot developments, he hooks up with a kind of shadow government, composed of other smart people that determine what the people see, who governs them, etc. At first, Astin seems to enjoy being a part of this group. He develops a relationship with a woman, works in the television programming department, and begins to fit in. Soon, though, he understands the consequences of allowing the so-called "smart people" to govern the "average" (think political correctness, fascism, and other "isms" of today!). A couple of plot twists at the end that give you something to think about; and suddenly what seems like it might be a boring made-for-cable movie turns into a relevant film for the political events of today's America. After seeing this movie, you might actually believe Eugene Levy could play George Bush in a biography! 7.5 out of 10 stars.