Product Details

• Actors: Alex Michaeletos, Campbell Scott, Mary Makhatho, Nthabiseng Kenoshi, Hope Davis
• Format: NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JN4E
• For more information about "Duma" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WOW STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND MOVING, May 8, 2006

By 

Robin Simmons (Palm Springs area, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duma (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

This exquisite little love story about a boy and a cheetah was poorly advertised when it was in theaters. It came and went and was overlooked by audiences. It deserves rediscovery on DVD. It is that rare thing, a true family film that is not insulting to kids or adults.

There is a fierce beauty to many of the scenes and close ups of the cheetah's face convey a kind of intelligence and dignity rarely seen on the screen or anywhere, for that matter.

The story is simple and remains true to the spirirt of the book. The screenplay adaptation is lean. But it is the extraordinary look of the movie that lingers in the mind. It casts a spell. As does the regal grace of the cheetah.

This simple story has no profound revelations, but it is not a waste of time and, without going into detail, I found the acting, locations, cinematography, music, and especially the directing to be of the highest order.

I highly recommend this wonderful little gem of a film.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No violence, no sex, yet plenty of drama, May 17, 2006

By 

Bob Drake "BobDrake" (Bronx, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Duma (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

Alex Michaeletos, a South African, was selected over many other boys as Xan, despite casting calls around the world, because he had a pet cheetah himself, and went up to the animal he would be co-starring with and introduced himself by ruffling the cheetah's fur. Most potential Xans were too scared of the beast to approach it. It is this comfort level between Alex/Xan and Duma that makes the film believable, and Alex's slight Afrikaans accent just heightens the realism.

The fictional plot is a bit contrived, but the film takes you in unexpectedly interesting directions through amazing landscapes. Carroll Ballard directed Never Cry Wolf as well as Fly Away Home and deserved better with Duma. Warner should have released the film in more places than Chicago and New York. Test marketing in the Southwest was not very successful. Why not the Midwest?

There is nothing in the film to date it. I expect Duma to be enjoyed by families for years to come.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another family-friendly, engaging film from the director of "Fly Away Home", October 1, 2005

By 

The Campbells "campbellkidz" (CA United States) - See all my reviews

My son "made" us see this movie, and we're so glad we did! Although there are some parallels to Fly Away Home (orphaned critters) and the Black Stallion (marooned far away from civilization), the story is completely different--somewhat predictable, but nevertheless pleasant to watch. Probably no Oscars for acting here, but definitely worth our time.