Customer Reviews

Guyana Tragedy: Jim Jones Story

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The video on this disc looks like it was simply pulled from the master tapes made for VHS and syndication. The audio leaves much to be desired too.

The shame of it is that the program has some amazing performances in addition to Powers Boothe's Emmy-winning portrayal of Jim Jones.

Finally VCI Home Video has released Guyana Tragedy on DVD. Months ago we were promised a remastered copy with improved picture and sound. Even the above poster states that this has been fully restored and remastered. But, sadly it has not. For a film that was only made in 1980, I can't believe that a film would have picture quality that is this bad. Honestly the quality of the picture is that of a bootleg, and its even worse than Reel Enterprises version of the film. The video jumps from time to time, it's murky and the sound is like something from a 1930's film.

Shame on VCI for bringing out a title that is this bad. My goodness, how hard is it to clean up the picture a bit? They have really dropped the ball with this release, and because of the extremely poor quality, I will re-think purchasing any further VCI titles. Avoid at all costs!

...the DVD transfer is AWFUL! It is NOT digitally remastered or restored in any way. There are scenes in this movie that are so dark you can barely see anything (and when you do see it, it's blurry), scratches on the film, muffled sound and drop outs....it looks like someone was holding a camcorder and taped this movie from TV on an old worn VHS cassette! I've seen bootlegs that are better than this. They couldn't clean it up at all to get rid of the defects??

The film itself, originally a two-part TV miniseries that aired in 1980, is excellent, and the all-star casting is perfect - Powers Boothe certainly earned his Emmy (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special) for his compelling performance as the charismatic People's Temple cult leader Jim Jones. Talk about a real life Elmer Gantry? Jones was it. He actually had his followers believing he WAS God.

People's Temple attracted all types of folks: the poor, homeless, drug and alcohol addicted, ex-cons, disenchanted Vietnam veterans, young, old, of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who simply were left behind by society as a whole, had no genetic family ties and just didn't fit in anywhere else. In this, they found friendship, peace and perhaps a security that they weren't able to find in the outside world. The followers of Jones' People's Temple lived amongst each other in a sort of Utopian society, and in the beginning the formation of the church had the best of intentions. However, as the saying goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

The screenplay itself draws a great deal from the actual events and news accounts. But the DVD is terrible! I waited all this time to get this, and now I know I probably should have purchased it on VHS. You'd think that with this film finally being released in this format, the quality might have been better, but it isn't. This film version of the horrific and chilling true story of the MASSACRE that occurred in Jonestown, Guyana nearly 30 years ago on November 18, 1978 deserves more than this cheesy treatment. Shame on VCI Entertainment for peddling this junk on Amazon. I will never purchase anything from them again. Save your money and purchase Jonestown - The Life & Death of Peoples Temple instead. Hopefully in the future, "Guyana Tragedy: The Jim Jones Story" will be reissued in a proper fashion, instead of on this sorry excuse of a DVD.

Talk about no effort. This is really a terrible transfer. It really looks like someone had an old vhs tape of this 2 part tv movie and they just recorded it as is onto dvd. From the first minute to the last, you are treated to a dark, scratchy, hissing and popping movie. This is a terrific film, with an all star cast. Such an interesting story wasted with an awful dvd. This is one I truly hope someone would put out the right way.

I purchased this movie and couldn't wait to get to get it. As a kid, this movie used to come on a lot and I use to watch it all the time with my mother. At first, I was a little skeptical to get it, but I took the chance. I was a skeptical because most of the user reviews stated how bad the quality was. Now, I'll admit, the quality on this is not your typical DVD quality. It does look like it was transferred from VHS, but it's still watchable. It just looks like you were watching it on tape. If they ever re-release a better quality version, I'll buy that, also. For now, though, this version is perfect enough for anyone who wants to see it again or for the first time. As a kid, though, I didn't understand that this was really real, but now that I am older, I understand how sad this was. Anyway, this is and has always been a wonderful fim.

When I saw this was realeased on dvd, I didnt even bother to read the customer reviews because I was so excited to see it finally available. I must say when I started watching the first half of the film, I was shocked! It looked like it was printed in the late sixties! Scratches, jumps, cuts in mid sentences, crucial dialouge was missed because of cuts and pops! It is truly unbelievable that this company had the nerve to release this god awful copy of a some great performances. I remember seeing this on tv not too long ago, and it was perfect! I will NEVER buy another VCI release again.

The only reason this doesn't get five stars is because of the quality. I've been looking for this movie for years so bought it anyway despite the warnings about the lousy DVD quality. I had taped this from TV and the tape basically disintegrated. I'm glad I bought this CD but the quality is just as bad as on VHS. My recommendation is that if you have a decent VHS copy don't buy this. If you don't have it, buy this and wait for the release of a better quality DVD.

Guyana Tragedy: Jim Jones Storyi grew up on hearing my mother talking about jim jones and what happened there...
also grew up on the movie recorded off of tv.i thought it was really something.nothing grabbs at me like a true story.

the tape is now worn and would probably break the next time i watch it.i would love to add it to my collection and for a minute there i thought i had found it(on dvd)....but after reading the reviews i have decided not to purchace it.if a good dvd is made i will deffinatly buy it.

This movie is so good, I do hope that other people watch this movie... All the actors, and actresses were great....

The Film: What we have here is a star-studded, made-for-tv docudrama centered around the life & death of Jim Jones and his People's Temple. Powers Boothe, while he doesn't necessarily look or sound like the real deal, captures the darkness of Jim Jones' persona. The film begins in Jonestown with a mock "loyalty test" after which Jones, tormented, takes a trip down memory lane. We see his childhood, during which he frequented church services, conducted pet funeral services with childhood friends, witnessed the abusive nature of his parents' relationship(his murder and torture of small animals was left untouched). We witness his becoming a pastor, the first pastor to conduct integrated services in Indianapolis,IN,his marriage, and ultimately, after the success of the People's Temple as a congregation and humanitarian effort, we see his moral and mental decline:drug usage, bisexual affairs, pro-claiming himself divine, physical/verbal abuse of members, all culminating in Jonestown,Guyana with the murder/suicide of nearly 1,000 People's Temple members, Congressman Leo J. Ryan and others. As with many other docudramas, there are a few changes of identity & fact to protect the innocent(and to captivate the audience via dramitization. As a film, Guyana Tragedy is a masterpiece...as gripping as it is chilling. As a film I give it 5 stars.

DVD Quality: For the sake of those that are hyperventilating because I haven't shot the latest release of Guyana Tragedy to hell for the grainy pictures, the occasional skipping, the sometimes fuzzy sound, and the dreaded mid-sentence scene changes...please refer to the DVD-R version that was released a few months before this one by Reel Entertainment and if you happen to peep the DVD-R version of this same release(2 discs, no menus, darker and grainier pictures/sound, virtually a bootleg transfer from the VHS) I think you'll give the DVD release(VCI Entertainment) a 2nd chance with it's single disc,menu, bonus features, trailers,etc. Compared to the Reel Entertainment release of the same film, this one's good as gold. Not perfect, but the best version of the release to date.

Once again, peace & prayers to the families impacted by the Jonestown Massacre.