Witness | | Cast : | Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Lukas Haas | | Director : | Peter Weir | | Studio : | Paramount Home Video | | Format : | Color, Widescreen | | Released Date : | February 08, 1985 | | DVD Released Date : | August 23, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 28, 2005 | | Summary | BIG DISAPPOINTMENT IN PICTURE QUALITY | Content
 | One of my favorite Harrison Ford movies! I had the older version in my hands numerous times but I told myself there would be a better transfer someday so I waited. It finally happened BUT when I watched this version I was really disappointed- The transfer itself is a pretty good one but it looks like there was no restoration done! The picture has white spots all over the place. THE MOVIE SHOULD LOOK BETTER THAN THIS-It's only 20 years old and they have restoration software now for this exact problem!
THIS IS A CLASSIC MOVIE and deserves more attention than was given. I hope this is not the final version of this movie to be released! |
| Rating | | | Date | August 24, 2005 | | Summary | A DECENT SPECIAL EDITION FOR A FIRST-RATE THRILLER | Content
| A thriller set within the almost mythical world of the Amish? What more could you ask for. In maybe Ford's greatest role outside of IndianA Jones or Star Wars, he plays detective John Book who is investigating the death of a police office in a restroom of a Philadelphia train station. The only witness is young Amish boy named Samuel Lapp (lukas Haas) who was travelling with his mother Rachael (Kelly McGillis). Book is shocked when little Samuel identifies another detective as the man who committed the murder and who along with some other dirty cops is now out to eliminate the 'witness'.
When Book is wounded protecting Samuel and his mother, they return back to the Amish village to hideout and recover. The next portion of the film deals with Ford trying to fit into the strange new world of the Amish and learning their ways. Cultures clash often, particularly in regards to Rachael who has no husband and who has become attracted to Book, much to the horror of her father in law Eli (Jan Rubes). Eli is none to happy about this outsider being within their midst and influencing his daughter-in-law and grandson.
Book soon gains acceptance and in typical Amish fashion, helps them with a barn raising. In a memorable scene, several Amish travel into town in carriages only to be harassed by a group of young punks. When Book gets out to defend them he's told by Eli that "It's not our way" Book replies, "No, but it's MY way!" and proceeds to kick the tar out of the thugs. The bad cops eventually learn where Book is hiding out leading to a rather standard climactic shoot-out.
Alexander Gudonov co-stars as a suitor to Rachael who will only be too happy to see Book leave their community and Danny Glover rounds out the cast as one of the diry cops. Ford Received an Oscar nomination (his only one) for this role and deservedly so. I'm not a huge Ford fan but he shows a depth to his performance in this picture that is often missing from many of his one dimensional roles. The Amish community was very well depicted and made for an interesting change in setting for a movie of this type.
The Collectors edition includes one deleted scene and a 75 minute documetary which is nice, but it's too bad there was no commentary by Ford or the other stars.
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| Rating | | | Date | August 23, 2005 | | Summary | Witness | Content
| Taut action film is cleverly conceived and deftly executed. Ford is at his most appealing as a good cop, and the glimpse movie gives us into the simple lives of the Amish adds a fascinating layer. Beautifully shot on location by Weir, this is a cops and robbers tale with a difference. Young Haas is winning as the boy. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 23, 2005 | | Summary | Witness...for the movie... | Content
| I first saw this film on Premium Cable back in 1987. To this day, whenever I see the theatrical version vs. the Cable-TV version vs. the Premium Cable version, I get slightly bent-out-of-shape, since the versions are slightly different, but I digress! First and foremost, this film was an excellent crime/drama offering. The clashing/melding of cultures proved very interesting and insightful. The relationship between the newly widowed Ms. Lapp (McGillis) and Mr. Book (Ford)was at once simple and complicated, close, yet distant. But when the oppurtunity presented itself, they were just a man and a woman that found something in one another. They shared something that no one could take from them - a deep, true and abiding love. I wish someone could write a sequel (a good one). I'd pay money to see that!! Five stars!! |
| Rating | | | Date | August 19, 2005 | | Summary | Good crime drama | Content
| Here is an interesting twist. A crime drama that doesn't primarily focus on the crime. The murder of a detective is what opens this film. John Book ( why are all cops and detectives named John?) (Harrison Ford) is assigned to the case which takes him to Amish country to hide out from the killers. Here's where the story really begins. A modern 20th century cop amidst people who are living, somewhat, in the 19th century. The film's focus is on the cultural, social and moral differences between the two worlds. Harrison's character developes an attraction to the mother of the witness he's trying to protect. Samuel (Lucas Haas) is a wide eyed innocent little boy that witnesses the murder. His mother Rachel (Kelly McGillis) is none too pleased that her son is involved in the investigation and wants nothing to do with that part of the "outside" world.
Let's face it, it's a Harrison Ford film so we already know that he's going to get the bad guys. The excitement comes from how the killers track him down and what they try to do when they find him but more importantly, Ford's relationship with the mother, her father, son and the rest of the Amish community. Sort of a fish out of the water story so to speak.
This film contains some lovely cinematography. During the barn raising scene there is a shot of all the men climbing through the rafters of the barn which is set against the blue sky. The contrast is wonderful. The editing is a little less impressive. In one scene where one of the bad guys holds Rachel hostage, John tries to convince her captor to let her go. Both men have guns and the bad guy is telling John to put his gun down after John has already dropped the gun to the floor and said that the gun was down. (just one of those little things that make movies more interesting) ;)
Here's one interesting little factiod, watch for the scene in the beginning of the film where Harrison's character speaks to a janitor that he thinks is the witness. The janitor is James Earl Jones father. I'm not sure how that came about but it's cool.
You'll enjoy this film. |
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