Customer Reviews

Indian Summer

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

"Indian Summer" is a wonderful film saluting "the Golden Era" of Camp Tamakwa (a real camp in the Canadian/New York wilderness), but it's also about reconnecting with youth, friends, love and nature. Uncle Lou (Alan Arkin), Camp Tamakwa's camp supervisor for many years, invites campers from "the Golden Era" (the early to mid 1970s) as a reunion of sorts, and a group of friends and ex-campers make the trek back to the woods and their youth. Matt (Vincent Spano) and Kelly (Julie Warner) are on vacation to "work on their marriage;" Matt's having a mid-life crisis, and Kelly just wants to know where she stands. Jennifer (Elizabeth Perkins) is Matt's ex-camp-girlfriend and Kelly's best friend, swept away by the nostalgia of camp. Brad (Kevin Pollack) is Matt's cousin, business partner, King of the Shreks (camp pranks), and a constant commentator of how small everything's gotten. Beth (Diane Lane) is a ex-camp tomboy, whose husband Rick recently died. Jack (Bill Paxton), Rick's best friend, was expelled from camp by Uncle Lou long ago, but still rated an invitation. Jamie (Matt Craven) never really grew up, and brought his young fiance Gwen (Kimberley Williams) up for a week of fun & games. Helping Uncle Lou out is the camp maintenence man, Stick (Sam Raimi, taking a hilarious step from behind the camera). Through the week, these friends reconnect, relive camp memories (first kiss), pulling camp gags (short-sheeting, hand-in-warm-water, etc.), participating in camp activities (the Tamakwa-thon), and working out their various problems. Over these precedings looms the prospect of Uncle Lou closing the camp for good. Everyone does an admirable job; you can actually feel their joy and pain. The photography is beautiful; the washed-out opening credits give way to the awesome colors of the woods in early autumn. The DVD edition says fullscreen, but is thankfully, and deservingly, in WIDESCREEN. This is a funny, touching film filled with the ongoing process of 'growing pains', and it's a special tribute for 'campers' and ex-campers alike. Pack your gear, it's definitely worth the trip.

"Indian Summer" isn't the sort of film I normally watch. A light comedy about the innocence of childhood contrasted with the problems of adulthood, the film engages in deep sentimentality on a regular basis. I am rarely suckered in by sappy, syrupy movies. "Indian Summer" is different; I first saw the film on cable back in the early 1990s and quickly learned to like its ensemble cast, wonderful scenery, and funny moments. Since I usually watch horror films, the irony of viewing a movie set at a summer camp where no one expires at the hands of a machete wielding madman still makes me chuckle. When I stumbled over a DVD version of "Indian Summer" recently, I knew I had to revisit the movie. I suspected I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I did ten years ago. I was wrong. The movie resonates even more deeply because I am ten years older than when I first saw it. I never went to summer camp as a child, except for a weekend stay as part of a sixth grade project, but I can completely identify with many of the movie's themes nonetheless. I think most of us tend to idealize memories of our childhood even if the recollections aren't as poignant as we would like to think. "Indian Summer" captures perfectly this tendency and throws it back at you with a few laughs.

The owner of Camp Tamakwa, "Uncle" Lou Handler (Alan Arkin), has finally decided to sell his summer camp and retire. He feels that the kids today don't identify with him like they once did, so he wants to move on. Before he sells, though, he decides to hold a reunion at the camp and invite as many of his former guests as he can. Only seven show up: Jamie Ross (Matt Craven), Beth Warden (Diane Lane), Jack Belston (Bill Paxton), Jennifer Morton (Elizabeth Perkins), Brad Berman (Kevin Pollack), Matthew Berman (Vincent Spano), and Kelly Berman (Jennifer Warner). Ross brings along his young girlfriend Gwen Daugherty (Kimberly Williams), which brings the total to eight. All seven of these people are now in their thirties, with busy lives in the city and a host of adult problems. For example, Brad and Matthew Berman run a clothing company, but Matt wants out so he can pursue his dream of becoming an artist. His wife Kelly, whom he met at the camp as a child, has issues with Matt that could very well lead to divorce. Beth Warden's husband recently passed away, so she has serious recovery issues with which to deal. Jamie Ross is an arrogant dolt that treats women as objects, perhaps due to some inferiority issues and a fear of growing older. Jennifer Morton is the chain-smoking cynic who has yet to find a husband. And Jack Belston was the one kid kicked out of camp for an unspecified incident, and whose life has since been one long downward spiral.

Camp Tamakwa might not heal all wounds, but it will fix many a problem. As Uncle Lou runs the adults through the daily routine of summer camp, such as sailing, swimming tests, hikes, boxing, and foot races, the old identities of childhood start to reassert themselves. The group complains about the lousy food, play practical jokes on one another (called "shrecks," for some reason), and generally reconnect with the important things in life. Gradually, problems that seemed insurmountable and best left unsaid in the city come out at Tamakwa. We discover why Lou kicked Belston out of camp, and see the issue resolved. Brad and Matt hash out their business problems, and Kelly learns to stand up to her husband in the boxing ring. Beth learns to face the death of her loved one head on with a little help from Jack Belston. Gwen Daugherty, although not a member of the Tamakwa clique, learns to stand up to her domineering boyfriend and make her issues heard. And the whole group gets a lot of laughs by poking fun at Lou's clumsy helper Stick Coder (Sam Raimi). By the time the campers leave, they have a better grasp on their personal issues.

Director and scriptwriter Mike Binder has fashioned an immensely enjoyable picture with "Indian Summer." It is tough to make an ensemble movie with characters and plot threads as well developed as they are here. By the end of the movie, you know these characters intimately. All the actors do a superb job, but special mention goes to Alan Arkin, Kevin Pollack, Bill Paxton, and Julie Warner. I cannot remember a film where Arkin failed to turn in a bravura performance, and he does so again as the benevolent father figure Lou Handler. Paxton has the troubled drifter role down pat, and Pollack charms with his usual humor (no William Shatner impressions here, unfortunately). The incredibly beautiful Julie Warner never fails to catch my eye in any film she is in. She was probably the reason I watched the picture in the first place. The best part of the film happens at the beginning when the adults arrive at the camp and the scenery's colors suddenly explode into bright brilliancy. What a great way to show the dreariness of adult life compared to the memories of childhood!

"Indian Summer" is definitely worth seeing. Unfortunately, the DVD doesn't have any extras, not even a commentary track from some of the actors, which would have been nice. I really ought to quit renting this one and just buy a copy. Of course, I would have to hide it behind a mountain of horror movies on the shelf just in case anyone I know happened to see it sitting there. I have a reputation to protect, after all. Give "Indian Summer" a look the next time you're in the video store. Chances are you will probably enjoy it.

My DVD copy (ISBN #0-7888-3699-4) plays Widescreen: a letterbox with black bars on the top and bottom. The DVD cover says in one place, "Fullscreen (1.33:1)" and in another, "This film has been modified from its original version. It has been formatted to fit your TV", but it's not true. Don't know the real aspect ratio, but it's certainly not Pan-N-Scan. How odd, and welcome in my case.
Gentle, warm and well made. A film that does not rely on grenades to advance the plot.

It's a favorite movie of ours, but I noticed that the quality wasn't the same as a typical DVD. The resolution wasn't good, and I could occasionally see white or black "flecks" like when you're watching a movie from a film projector. Also, it is not fullscreen as advertised, but letterbox (1:2.35), which is really wide. I'm actually happy about this.

I called Paramount and they were aware of the accidental mis-labeling. Also they researched and said it was originally filmed in 1993 on 35mm, and the original transfer was used to make the DVD. I don't think this means Digitally Mastered as advertised.

For the price I'm glad to have it on DVD, even though I already own it on VHS. I would have been happier if it were represented correctly.

Awesome...what drew me to this movie was Vincent Spano. His role as Matt Berman was played excellently. It made me think of my camp-days sweetheart. Other than that, I loved "Uncle Lou"--His character was so rounded and warm. The pranks were outrageously hillarious. I laughed through all of them, even though they were a bit dry and not that funny, but they brought back camp-days--when pranks were just boring but fun. This is a good movie...it starts out with kid-like fun and memories, but it ends with each character learning something new about themselves. And that's what camp's all about...even if you haven't been there for 20-30-40-? years!

This movie is a MUST for anyone who has ever been to summer camp or just dreamed of going. It also deals with many of the issues most young adults are dealing with at this point in their lives. The movie deals with adolescent dreams and the adult reality of those dreams. It also shows the passing of the torch from one generation to the next and how that entails responsibility but can be fun. It also answers all those questions you can about stuff that happened at camp but were afraid to ask. This movie is really for adults because youngsters have nothing to which they can relate in the movie. The acting is excellent; the scenery is spectacular; and this is a great movie for a curl up on the couch and watch movies weekend.

I first saw this movie on a field trip in 6th grade. I didn't really understand it then, but a few years ago, I watched again, and was touched by this wonderful movie. It makes me laugh and makes me cry. I especially enjoyed the performance of Elizabeth Perkins. This is a movie that I recommend to all.

This one is tricky for most of the dvds out there are full frame fitted format. But there are also some in the widescreen aspect ratio format. I was in best buy and had to study the packaging very carefully because you can barely tell the difference. on the back look for 2005 as the date in small print on the bottom and in tiny black letters widescreen. Both packages are totally alike except for the dates. It is true I have it in Widescreen.

I absolutely cherish this film. I own it on laserdisc in widescreen. Since it came out on DVD over a year ago, I must have passed it up over a dozen times in the stores because on the back of the package it says it is presented in butchered fullscreen. Well, it didn't say "butchered", but film lovers know that a pan-and-scan fullscreen presentation of a film shot in widescreen is butchered. So I read the recent review bemoaning the fact that the DVD is actually widescreen, and I thought I would buy it and take the chance. Sure enough, widescreen! Excellent! The daytime scenes in the film have an orange tint to them, but I believe that is true of the laserdisc as well, and may be the way they filmed it to give it the "warm" feeling of summer. Even the cover art has an orange tint. The sound could have been in 5.1, but as presented it is 2.0, which is actually quite fine given the predominantly dialogue nature of the film. If you ever went to summer camp as a kid, and now in your mid-life years wish you could capture some of it back, this charming drama/light comedy with an adult theme will have you hooked for life!

Update ...

To Bryan above and others ...

"I was disappointed that the DVD is listed as NTSC, which generally means the 4:3 pan-and-scan format...The DVD IS in 4:3 NTSC format, but shows the entire widescreen version of the film. (Is this what they mean by "letterbox" format?) Anyway, I can see what I had previously been missing, but yet the reproduction quality is low when compared to true widescreen format DVDs."

I understand what you are saying, but there is a misconception. First, NTSC has nothing to do with the aspect ratio of a film. Every single DVD playable in the US, whether widescreen or pan-and-scan, is NTSC. It is the video format for our region of the world. When you state the presentation is a "4:3 NTSC format" which lacks reproduction quality, what you are noting is actually the fact that the widescreen presentation is non-anamorphic. What this means is, as you pointed out, the black bars at the top and bottom actually consume resolution. An anamorphic, or "enhanced for widescreen televisions" DVD devotes it's entire image resolution capability to just the image, and not the bars. I wager you are using a 16:9 widescreen television, hence you notice the reduced resolution of this non-anamorphic DVD. However, it is still correct to term this presentation "widescreen," and those who still watch DVD's on a 4:3 television, all else being equal, will see no difference in resolution between an anamorphic and non-anamorphic DVD. There are quite a few widescreen non-anamorphic DVD's out there, but as the US catches up to the rest of the world and the 4:3 television becomes extinct, non-anamorphic DVD's will likely cease to be produced as well. Even no w there really is no excuse to produce non-anamorphic DVD's.

I saw this movie the first time back when I was in highschool and really liked it, and had actually nearly forgotten about it until I saw it, instantly remembered it, and bought it. What I didn't notice until I was home and had opened it was that it was Fullscreen. A minor setback, I thought. I figured I'd just return it for the widescreen version-- until I realized that there is no widescreen version. This is almost unheard of for the DVD medium. I can't think of a single movie I own that isn't widescreen (or any movie at all that isn't at least available in both formats).

If Fullscreen doesn't bother you, you won't have any problem with this DVD, as the movie is really good. If you're like me however, you'll be disappointed when you realize that there is no Widescreen translation of this DVD yet.

At least it was cheap.