♥♥Gone to pastures new. Thanks to all of you. You are a lovely crowd, but time does not ...
♥♥Gone to pastures new. Thanks to all of you. You are a lovely crowd, but time does not permit me to do the site justice any more♥♥
Member since:01.08.2003
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A man in the wrong place at the wrong time. Classical opening to the movie. His car is crushed simply because of his timing, and a stranger gives him the key to a Jaguar. The atmosphere is one of mystery, one that makes you think you are about to be taken on a journey of imagination.
Take a small boy, give him an idea to work on, and the possibilities are endless. In this case, Trevor McKinney (the child played by Haley Joel Osment) is probably one of the better players in the film, and comes across with sincerity as a small boy wishing to make the world a better place to live in. In a project started by his teacher (played by Kevin Spacey), Trevor comes up with a simple notion that if he were to do good things for three people, and then those three people did good things for three, so the world would become a better place to live in.
I can see the simplicity of the idea, although throughout the film, an irritation set in, in that the child's mother, played by Helen Hunt, tries to portray her character as uneducated and only convinces me that the romantic side of the film is a little flawed.
The story rambles quite a bit, and you see different sections which all come together to make a whole, although here, I honestly believe that the writer of the original book, Catherine Ryan Hyde, would have been disappointed with the end result, spruced up by Lesley Dixon and directed by Mimi Leder.
The film is rated 13 and perhaps a child between the ages of 13 and adulthood would be convinced by the story line, although I was not. At times, it was difficult to see where the story was going, and the sentimentality that went into the ending of the film was typical of American films, and a little badly thought out and unbelieveable.
For those who like a good movie with a child who makes a difference, I think that films like Lorenzo's Oil would be a much better film to watch, as in this movie, there are too many questions left unanswered, and the storyline is worsened by trying to convince the audience that solutions as simple as this can overcome problems such as child abuse, alcoholism that has apparently passed from mother to daughter, and looks at these subjects through "rose tinted spectacles".
This, for me, was a "watch once" movie that cost me a small amount in money, though 123 minutes of expectations unfulfilled.
Also playing small bit parts in the movie are Angie Dickinson and Jon Bon Jovi, although their parts in the film are token gestures of an absent mother, and a wayward ex husband.
All in all a disappointing movie which, with the right direction and screen writer could have been a timeless classic.
Available from Ebay for as little as £3.99
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Production Year: 2007 - Drama - Director: Mike Binder - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows, Donald Sutherland, Mike Binder
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Despite your review I would like to see this movie. I think I would enjoy it. Kate xx
codebluebelle 20.01.2005 17:31
I agree with you that this film was pretty weak. Done properly it could have been much more effective - in a way I think taking out the romance would have been a good idea, it didn't really do anything for me. This is a great review though, very comprehensive and you covered a lot very concisely. <3
catherine82 19.01.2005 16:12
I loved the book but haven't got round to the film yet. From your review I'll wait until I can either rent it in a deal (5 for £5) or see it on TV.
Catherine xxx
Director Mimi Leder's third movie,Pay it Forward, finds her moving into softer, more ... more
intimate territory after making her name with a pair of high-budget action spectaculars,The PeacemakerandDeep Impact. This is a would-be heart-warming fable about the ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Director Mimi Leder's third movie,Pay it Forward, finds her moving into softer, more ... more
intimate territory after making her name with a pair of high-budget action spectaculars,The PeacemakerandDeep Impact. This is a would-be heart-warming fable about the ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Is it possible for one idea to change the world? Just imagine. You do a favor that really ... more
helps someone and tell him or her not to pay it back but to pay it forward to three other people who in turn each pay it forward to three more - and on and on ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Tormented by an abusive and absent father (Jon Bon Jovi), young Trevor McKinney (Haley ... more
Joel Osment - The Sixth Sense) takes his teacher's (Kevin Spacey) challenge to make the world a better place as part of a school assignment, seriously. He comes up w...
Advantages: Inspiring stuff that just might change the world but the scouts have been trying for years (credit to talltone) Disadvantages: A few but generally seamless
treeman 15.10.2001 (18.10.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Pay It Forward (DVD)
Advantages: Somewhat original story, original concept, great performances, touching, makes you think Disadvantages: A bit over sentimental for some (you'll need to be armed with tissues!)
IzzyS 30.12.2007 (30.12.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Pay It Forward (DVD)
![Pay It Forward [DVD] [2001]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78523606.jpg "Pay It Forward [DVD] [2001]")
Dec 16th, 2004
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