Flyerplesys Perfectly adorable

Motompa Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

Yash Wade Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

kaledolfin Most of the misunderstandings about this mini-series seems to be the product of not having lived in the time period that this mini-series was aired, and also the result of our failing public school system.I think many go into this mini-series with the expectation that it's going to be more of an action film like Red Dawn. While there is a modicum of action in Amerika, it is primarily a drama that focuses on the lives of the privileged elite, and the small town folk, as fundamental transformations in Amerika take place, and how they cope with such change. But there is no overt communist revolution taking place in Amerika in this film. Rather, the Soviet takeover took place as a slow incremental progressive regulatory transformation, with the aid of the United Nations. There was no grand military invasion or battle. Also, the takeover took place 10 years previous to the events of this film, and is still progressing as this film begins. At the time this film takes place, the President and Congress is still present throughout most of it.One reviewer asked, "The Russians are in charge, but why does that mean there is no running water?" It's not that the Russians are in charge, but rather, that communists are in charge without regard to their nationality. You'll remember the scene in the back of a limousine when Sam Neil's character talks about his frustrations with the communist system appointing loyal party members rather than those with proved competency. Obviously incompetency would lead to issues with water supplies. That's the nature of communism. However, another explanation is that the Soviets had already taken the Milford's land. Evicting a prominent family from their home would cause undue attention. So to slowly push the Milfords out of their home and away from their land, it's likely that their water was deliberately turned off by petty local officials. Many criticize Kris Kristopherson's acting and his character arc. But I think many are expecting a kind of Braveheart hero. Kristopherson's character tried to be a Braveheart 10 years previously, but no one answered his call to fight back, and he was sent to prison where he was subjected to 6 years of re-education. This was a broken man who felt burned by those around him, and as a result was reluctant to engage. The story is about his rediscovery of what he lost before he went to prison, and his transformation into a larger symbol, around which a counter-revolution would undoubtedly rally. His reserved and nearly silent performance throughout the film conveys the oppressive and repressive harm that past events have had on him, and provides the stark contrast needed when his patriotism reemerges and erupts.Some may feel that the ending offers little closure. I think it was left open ended for two reasons. First, to offer the chance to have this go to regular series if it hit really big. Second, to make viewers question themselves as to what course of action they would pursue under these circumstances. Would they be Devin Milford and fight till the bitter end, or would they avoid making waves and choose Peter Bradford's route no matter how reprehensible going with the flow might be.Some criticize the length. But this was produced before the frantic MTV editing style became all the rage, and attention spans were much longer in the pre-Twitterverse world, so pacing will be decidedly slower than younger audiences are used to. It's unsurprising that the press would savage this mini-series, particularly given that it doesn't paint the press in a positive light, and represents a counter argument to the general ideology that the majority the mainstream press holds.It's possible that a remake could work, updated with today's primary geo-political enemy as the conqueror. But there's always a danger that it could turn out like the Red Dawn remake, at China's recommendation.What's most chilling about this mini-series though, is that while it depicts a Soviet takeover of the United States, the rhetoric that Soviet officials and indoctrinated school children use is eerily similar to that of modern Democratic Party rhetoric. That's what makes this mini-series unwittingly prescient. That's the element that seems to spark the most rage among Progressive critics.This mini-series is long overdue for an excellent DVD release.For those who feel this scenario is patently absurd, I recommend reading "New Lies for Old" (1984) and "The Perestroika Deception" (1985) by ex-KGB operative Anatoly Golitsyn. I would also suggest studying Antonio Gramsci, György Lukács, and the Frankfurt School. I would also recommend watching interviews with ex-KGB operative Yuri Bezmenov available on YouTube. I also leave you with a 1989 quote from Mikhail Gorbachev:"Gentlemen, comrades, do not be concerned about all you hear about Glasnost and Perestroika and democracy in the coming years. These are primarily for outward consumption. There will be no significant change in the Soviet Union, other than for cosmetic purposes. Our aim is to disarm the Americans and let them fall asleep."

preppy-3 I remember when this dreadful mini-series first played. There was tons of controversy over it which immediately disappeared after the series aired (people saw how boring and pointless it was). The premise is a good one (Russia taking over America) but this was basically boring! It moved at a snails pace. I watched the whole thing hoping it would get better but it never did. The script and characters were hopeless--nonstop clichés that I've seen hundreds of times before. They had some great actors in this (like Christine Lahti) giving their worst performances. It's not available in any format for a good reason--who would buy it? Maybe the 16 or so people here who are giving it a good rating would purchase it but nobody else. This mini deserves the obscurity it has. A 1 all the way.

james thompson Having spent some years on the dark side of the Iron Curtain, I was amazed to see how well Donald Wrye has constructed his "What If?" tale. This is the way Russians behave on their good days. AMERIKA presents a sanitized version of the way Russia has, under csar and commissar, ruthlessly crushed other cultures and civilizations. For two centuries Russia expanded its control by the land size of a Belgium per year. It has never produced anything anyone wanted beyond raw materials, these from stolen lands. It has prospered by the ability of its army to take goods from other countries. It is instructive for Americans to see what might have been their fate had Russia dealt with them as they had with Poles, Estonians, Hungarians, Lithuanians, Tartars, Chechens, Khazhaks, Azeris, Armenians, Georgians, Chechs, Slovaks, Lativaks, Yakuts. Just watching AMERIKA gives one a feeling of gratitude to Reagan, JP II, Solidarity, the American people, and the others who brought the Evil Empire down.What a pity that, following our victory over the Soviets, the neocons and neoMarxists have now rushed in to seize power in the United States according to Antonio Gramsci's "indirect approach" of taking over the universities, media, and lumpen intelligentsia. They have brought us to a needless war with Islam. Americans today have little more power than the citizens of Amerika. Our treasure and the lives of our young soldiers are being drawn off to fight a war in Mesopotamia to serve dark and sinister forces unconcerned about the future of the United States.

C. I. (cingramaol) With more of a whimper than a bang, the Soviet Union has conquered the former United States - and intends to dismantle it. Having recently revisited this miniseries, I believe it holds up better than expected, considering all of the changes in world politics since its original broadcast. Yes, it is too long, and yes, the ending is not as well-resolved as some would like, and Kris Kristofferson is a bit wooden at times (although he has tremendous screen presence); but he is quite credible as an idealistic resistance leader, the late Robert Urich is picture-perfect as a popular yet pragmatic politician, and Sam Neill exudes just the right amounts of charm, power, and menace as one of the primary Soviet military overseers. There are even a few moments of greatness: Urich's monologue at the Lincoln Memorial, the shocking incongruity of Lincoln and Lenin together on political posters, and Christine Lahti's emotionally devastating performance as Alethea (deservedly nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe). Look for a 17-year-old Lara Flynn Boyle in her first major role. Thoughtful screenplay by Donald Wrye tries to assess what it means to be an American, and succeeds much of the time. Exceptional musical score and soundtrack by Basil Poledouris (recently made available on CD) may bring you to tears if you're an American in a particularly patriotic or pensive mood. Underrated, unseen, and long overdue to be officially released on DVD, if only as an historical artifact: the most controversial television miniseries in U.S. history. The Cold War is over, but the emotions evoked by this production linger, and in the days after September 11, 2001, its issues of the American spirit take on a new significance. Watch it again, and rediscover the reasons for raising the American flag, proud and high, even in this day and age.