Customer Reviews

Jack and the Beanstalk - The Real Story

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is one of the best family DVD's I have ever seen. Not only is the story great for kids (but appropriately rated at PG because of a few scary scenes) , it is really wonderful for adults, too.

The story has been changed from the traditional Jack and the Beanstalk. The giant has been transformed into a good giant, and Jack has been transformed into a scoundrel. The story shows a modern-day good and ethical Jack, and what effects the life of his ancestor (the traditional Jack) have on his modern life. Modern Jack didn't know that the traditional story was real, and that the traditinal Jack was really his ancestor, until some events happen in his life, and he finds out. He also goes up to the giants' city in the clouds and ends up taking care of unresolved business.

It has been several weeks since I watched this 3½-hour DVD with my husband and my daughter, and I am still thinking about it. My husband, who normally enjoys action movies, reallly enjoyed it. My daughter has watched it numerous times. This is a great story which promotes good moral values for kids, and for society.

This film was rated PG....folks who complain about it not being apropriate for their small children are right. But it is their own fault for not paying attention.
Just because something is made by Hensen, and just becasue it is is based on an old fairy tale doesn't mean it is automatically for children.
Parents stop blaming the film makers and pay attention to the what the film says on its packaging!
Aside from that this film is wonderful, not at all boring as some think, but and interesting intelectual twist on a fairy tale. It was a delight to see this well acted, well filmed TV movie that truly had some heart and good storytelling to boot!
Mia Sara was excellent and the lovely twist at the end was well done and hard to see coming. I'm talking about the "True" story of Jack and his mother, not the actually ending of the film. Which was a little cliched but I belive that cliches, if done well are not always a bad thing. And the cliches in this story have more to do with the parallels to the original fable and so are not a bad thing at all.

I came across this DVD totally by chance on Amazon and I'm so glad I took a chance and bought it with out viewing it first! I'm very surprised that this movie has not gotten more attention, there is a great cast and a very good plot line. They took the old story of Jack and the beanstalk but warped it into the modern scene and made the audience begin to wonder, 'did it really happen?' I'm 20, and I wasn't sure what age range this movie is for, based on the reviews found here people say 'oh it's not for kids' or 'oh it's a great family movie with high morals' Well this is my own take on it, yeah there is violence and a lot of romance and kissing, maybe not something you want to show your very young children. I think that 10 year olds will enjoy and understand this movie as well as older people. I loved this movie and the main star is soooo hot! The story is complex enough for adults, yet simple morals can be learned for kids watching this movie. If you like Tenth Kingdom, Snow Queen, or any other Hallmark production buy this movie!

What a wonderful way to take a fairy tale that we all grew up with, turn it around and give it a whole new slant..while keeping the core story the same. Brian Henson, Son of Jim has brought the Magic of Henson to the TV screen in a "Giant" way :)

The visual effects are outstanding..some of the best I have seen ... and incredible for a shoot that was only 11 1/2 weeks long (source: special features-behind the scenes- on DVD) .

The actors did an outstanding job, with John Voigt pulling in a comedic performance that is a total surprise and very refreshing indeed!! Matthew Modine is, as always the best at his craft. He speaks with his eyes and face when he acts.... He is terrific. Darryl Hannah, Richard Attenborough, Mia Sara and Vanessa Redgrave round out the cast with equally well done characters. The role of Thunderdell is completely believeable in "both" roles..You will have to watch that to know what I mean... and is just outstanding.

Buy this movie with confidence!! It is a wonderful rainy night, sit down with a bowl of popcorn and escape movie!! Enjoy!!

This is the original Jack and the Beanstalk story, but with a twist -Jack has to make amends with the giant and the people from the giant's homelands.

Jack Robinson is a very very rich man. You know he has a good heart deep down, but right at the start of the movie we see him refuse to invest further in a project that will end world hunger because "poor people don't pay our bills". Indeed! He is troubled by nightmares, then strange things begin happening. At one of his castles, which is being converted into a casino (lots fo stereotypes in this movie but they work well), 2 workers have died, a giants bones have been dug up and the locals from the village are staging protests on a daily basis. Then the mysterious Ondine comes pretending to be a reporter and stirs things up in him, he starts trying to find answers.

He finds out that 390 years and 15 generations ago the very first Jack Robinson swapped his Mum's cow for some beans, went up the beanstalk and stole a golden harp and a goose that lays golden eggs. He rushed down the beanstalk and him and his Mum chopped it down while the giant was still up it, who then fell to his death. That's his version anyway...

This is a neat movie, lots of great animations from the Jim Henson workshop. My son loved it, but I had to stay with him because he did find the giant a little scary and wanted to ask 1000 questions while we watched the movie. I highly recommend it as a movie you will enjoy watching with your kids, with a nice moral thrown in too.

I found this to be a thourghly enjoyable movie of what could
possably have been. The scenery in giantland was excellent,
as was the creatures and all the special effects. The story
was well written and maintained throughout the film. A
visually satisfyimg film that deserved better ratings amd
writeups then it received at the time of it's release. I am
very pleased with this purchase, and I thought Mia Sara
was terrific as Ondine.

I've shown this movie for three years now in a creative writing class for kids. I continue to be amazed at how intricately it weaves its story -- I discover something new on each viewing. It's a complex story and the pacing is at times slower than what kids (12-13 years old) are used to, but I prepare my students for that up front and it never fails to catch their imaginations. I rejoice that here is a movie that doesn't spoon-feed the audience but requires that you become an active viewer, to search out clues, to allow yourself to sit with the mystery and not know exactly what the real truth is all the time as the story masterfully leads you through its unfolding. My only complaint -- the reference to genetically engineered food, I give an aside on that as to what the pros and cons of such a venture are.

I highly recommend this movie...especially for children.

We watched this movie as a family movie and my children, ages 4 - 11 loved it from beginning to end. Yes, it is a bit predictable for the older crowd but remember, this is "Jack and the Beanstalk"!

We all enjoyed the different twists that this "fairytale come to the 20th century" gave us. The effects were very enjoyable and the characters were played by well known actors/actresses.

No, you won't be 'shocked out of your seat' by this one but you are not supposed to be. Instead, grab a big bucket of popcorn and curl up with the family for a very enjoyable evening!

an unusual spin to an "old" fairy tale. I bought it for my young niece and enjoyed watching it with her. She is 4 so I fast forward the scary scenes now which doesn't make her happy (she likes scary). An appropiate film for older children

This was a fun miniseries. I missed the first hour of the first night, so picked the DVD up to get the rest of the story. Though the box is labeled as full-frame, you actually get a widescreen transfer. It seemed that black levels were off a bit from time to time, but a nice transfer overall. Enjoyable acting from Vanessa Redgrave and Mia Sara and the new twist on the classic tale was interesting. Don't want to spoil it though... Decent special effects for a TV budget as well. OK extras including a couple of short documentaries. Recommended for children and children-at-heart who still enjoy seeing the world through the eyes of their imagination!