Customer Reviews

The Evening Star [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Belgium ]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

THE EVENING STAR is the sequel to the highly popular 1983 film TERMS OF ENDEARMENT. The kids are grown up. The eldest son in jail, the youngest son in a dead end job and fathering an illegitemate son with his girlfriend, and a hell bent daughter. Aurora has to deal with all of this, but her friends such as her maid Rosie, help her out. Rosie decides that Aurora is depressed, and tricks her into seeing a psychiatrist, who Aurora eventually falls for. Then there is Patsy, always integrating herself into Aurora's life, being jealous of her taking care of the kids when they were growing up. This feud is well played throughout the movie, with Patsy trying to upstage Aurora at every chance, and vice versa. They both fall for the same man, who is much younger than Aurora, which only causes more friction in their already tumultuous friendship. Life changes though when her grandson gets out of jail and decides to make a life for himself, and Aurora's granddaughter learns to chase her dreams after life's disapointments. The movie centers around these characters and their interpersonal relationships with each other, dealing with conflicts, death, and whatever card fate hands them. Shirley MacLaine shines once again as Aurora Greenway, and the cast is enriched by Juliette Lewis, Bill Paxton, Marion Ross, Miranda Richardson, and more. Overall, some reviewers don't like it as much as TERMS, but I think this improves on an already great story.

THE EVENING STAR is the long-awaited sequel to TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, continuing the story of Aurora Greenway and the children of her daughter Emma.

Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) has succeeded in raising Tommy (George Newbern), Teddy (Mackenzie Astin) and Melanie (Juliette Lewis), though she's not very happy with the outcome. Tommy is in jail, Teddy has had a family out of wedlock and Melanie is skipping college and sleeping with a boy that Aurora (to put it mildly) doesn't approve of.

Aurora's lovelife has also taken a nosedive. Garrett (Jack Nicholson) has moved away and the house seems too big and lonely. At the `suggestion' of maid Rosie (Marion Ross) she goes to see a counsellor (Bill Paxton). Trying desperately to keep Emma's family together, Aurora slowly mends the rift between the past and present.

This emotional sequel to TOE is fantastic. Miranda Richardson fills the role of bitchy Patsy (played by Lisa Hart Carroll in the original film) perfectly, and Marion Ross more than fills the shoes of Rosie (played previously by Betty King). Juliette Lewis is lovely as Melanie (and does resemble Debra Winger who played Emma). And no sequel to TERMS OF ENDEARMENT would be complete without Jack Nicholson dropping by!

So lets revisit Aurora as she takes us through the next chapter of the Greenway story...

Once again, the critics have no idea what they're talking about. This movie is so wonderful, it had me laughing, crying and everything in between. It is beautifully written and acted, and you will not be disappointed if you buy this movie!

In The Evening Star, the sequel to 1983's Oscar-winning predecessor Terms of Endearment, Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) picks up where she left off.

The saga now continues with her dead daughter's beleaguered offspring, and Granny Aurora just ain't doing so well. Her heart is, as always, in the rightest of places. Every week she's in the state pen visiting Tommy (George Newbern), but he's content to toss her homemade brownies in the trash. Teddy (Mackenzie Astin) drives a tow truck and has a little brat of his own. Most belligerent is Melanie (Juliette Lewis). Like the others, she's still angry over her mother's death and more often than not takes it out by doing whatever she feels like, much to the chagrin of Aurora.

All these problems drive Aurora into the arms of Jerry (Bill Paxton), a much-younger therapist who, like Albert Brooks in Mother, has some kind of unresolved Oedipal conflict to work out. Their scenes together are cute and sexy.

The film's sentimentality is overshadowed by the pure spunk of MacLaine's portrayal. And her perennial nemesis Patsy (Miranda Richardson) more than keeps Aurora's blood pumping.

It's fun to see MacLaine in this role again. She imbues Aurora with a warmth and trueness that reminded me how much I had missed her. Even the third act cameo by Jack Nicholson as astronaut Garrett went down easy.

Perhaps best of all is Marion Ross (Yo, Mrs. C.!), who gives a lovely performance as Rosie, Aurora's maid.

This movie was amazing. I laughed, I cried. I have watched this movie so many times, that I will need to buy a second copy of it. Even my 7 year old daughter loves this movie. It has a great story line, and is just written beautifully.

TERMS OF ENDEARMENT was a beautiful, touching movie, it was excellent. However I find THE EVENING STAR to be the better of the two. THE EVENING STAR focuses on the life of Aurora, after her daughter died. Having to deal with her daughter's children, and being mixed up in the lives of her enemy Patsy, as well as her maid and ex-lovers, it proves for interest plotline. The movie is just as compelling as TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, but it brings new elements which explore Aurora's life in a different light. The movie is full of smart comedy, as well as tearjerking scenes which will tug at your heartstrings. The story is written extremely well, and all the actors/actresses turned in an excellent performance. If you've seen TOE you must see this movie, its the perfect ending. If you haven't seen either, I suggest you purchase them. This is yet another excellent movie which you will love and want to watch all over again.

Everytime I watch this witty, funny, sad, tearful movie, I both laugh and cry. The acting is wonderful. Shirley Macclaine is a very lovable character along with the rest of the cast. Great movie! Never get tired of re-watching.

I bought this movie to collect and watch right after the first one and it is great how well it meshes. i recommend a rainy afternoon with a big afghan just like Aroura does and snuggle on the coach and watch them. Great movie to add to collection

As a big fan of the 1983 film "Terms Of Endearment", I was really looking forward to this sequel. I was happy and disappointed both. This film, set 13 years after the original, finds feisty Texan Aurora Greenway(Shirley MacLaine)raising her three grandkids. One is in jail, one has a bratty kid of his own and a rather unfriendly girlfriend, and the other is a wild, out of control sort played by Juliette Lewis. Once again, MacLaine showcases incredible talent and wit in her role that originally won her the Oscar. Jack Nicholson shows up briefly, reprising his classic role. Sadly, Nicholson only has a small cameo. His brief appearence was a reminder of the great original. He makes the most of his few minutes onscreen. Marion Ross(Mrs. Cunningham on "Happy Days"), is Rosie, Aurora's housekeeper. The filmmakers knew the original had this great emotional impact. They try way, way too hard on this one to create that same feeling. They overdo it to the point where it almost has no feeling. Only one of the emotional scenes, at the end, has real depth and sadness to it. The dialogue is intelligent, and, at times, quite funny. Miranda Richardson, Bill Paxton, Ben Johnson, Scott Wolfe, and Mackenzie Astin(From "Facts Of Life" fame)co-star. The movie was written and directed by Robert Harling. He wrote "Steel Magnolias". If you want a different interpretation, then read the novel by Larry McMurtry. It's very different from the movie. Solid follow up, but could've been so much better.

If you enjoy watching people's lives, you will probably enjoy this movie. There doesn't seem to be a plot, per se, but simply an unfolding of the years through various characters' lives. The acting and dialogue are superb.If you were a fan of "Terms of Endearment," then you may feel a sense of closeness to the characters - you WANT their lives to go well. It is touching to see the years pass and the "family" draw closer together (some friends in the film are as much a part of the family as if they were blood kin.) If you are really into the film, you will laugh and you will cry. Although it's not your typical story type with a definite beginning and ending, it is well worth watching. After it is over it leaves you with some things to think about - important things about life.