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34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, smart sci-fi, September 29, 2003
This review is from: Harrison Bergeron [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Bruce Pittman's intelligent and modest TV adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's short story is a wonderful and much underappreciated piece of high sci-fi. Films of this kind are rarely made, simply because there's not much potential audience for low-budget science fiction - most people are in sci-fi mainly for special effects and impressive battles. Harrison Bergeron, though, is one of those few adaptations made of real philosophical sci-fi, the kind that creates an image of the future as a reflection of our own reality. And it succeeds quite well in delivering its message, and for what it is it could be enjoyed by almost everyone - though I doubt it could have done well in the theaters. The film revolves around two wonderful lead actors - one is Sean Astin, who recently gained success and fame as Sam Gamgee in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. The other is the wonderful British actor Christopher Plummer, remembered by sci-fi buffs as the Klingon General Chang from Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country. Brilliant comedian Eugene Levy gives an eerily funny performance as the President. The story is of a future America in which equality is achieved by discouraging exceptional talent or intelligence and creating forced mediocrity. Harrison (Sean Astin) is one of the exceptional few whose intelligence surfaces despite the government's best efforts and is therefore given the chance to work for the government. There he discovers the timeless Orwellian truth of Fascist regimes - all are equal, but some are more equal than others. Astin's interplay with Clummer (the classic `Big Brother') is wonderful, and the ending is beautiful. The script does an excellent job of expanding Vonnegut's very short story into a 100 minute film. Harrison Bergeron is well worth watching - if you can get your hands on it. As far as I know there isn't a DVD available, but the VHS can be ordered on Amazon and the movie plays occasionally on television. If you're interested in science fiction literature of authors like Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick, or Isaac Asimov, this wonderful little think-piece is a good purchase.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Movies do not usually affect me much...BUT..., October 8, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Harrison Bergeron [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I don't usually get really emotional about movies, but this is my exception. Nothing has ever inspired me so much to fearlessly be myself and stand up for what I believe in the way this movie has. I have also read the short story, and, true, to some people's dismay, there are not many similarites, but if you don't like it I suggest you take it up with Mr. Vonnegut himself, who had a hand in producing it. As I've said, movie's don't usually affect me, but as soon as this one was over I turned my television off and just sobbed. This is a very provocative look at how sad our culture really is and how much worse it could become if we simply sit on our couches and refuse to stop it. Watch this movie.
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19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SEE THIS FILM!, July 6, 2001
This review is from: Harrison Bergeron [VHS] (VHS Tape)
All apologies to Kurt Vonnegut fans, I never liked him. Read 4 or 5 of his books and found him only annoying. Never read the story this film was based on and probably never will. Could care less how faithful the film is to the short story. Having cleared the air on that. This is an AMAZING film. Set 50 years from now it is hysterical, dark and remarkably prescient of what has already come to pass since the original story was written. Even if Vonnegut's work only inspired the screenplay I must admit he really is the genius he's been touted as for the last 30 years. Can't believe the original story was written in 1961. For plot details see the editorial reviews. If you like Kubrick, Blade Runner, the Coen Brothers, you will love this film and be glad you saw it. If you don't know what I'm talking about go watch Titanic or the Matrix. Have a beer, have a six pack or two,.... My only regret is I wasted the money renting it when for a few bucks more I could have bought it. One thing, the president was a complete and utter moron. That could never happen now... could it?
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