Customer Reviews

John John in the Sky [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In several ways this is a tolerably sad movie. It is tolerable because you keep hoping things will change for JohnJohn. I suppose it does for him when he shot his father, then leaves when his mother runs off to San Francisco. His father was very cruel to him, and to his mother, so they had good reason to leave. But, when the movie switches to present day, JohnJohn treats his son the way he was treated as a boy. Even worse, one of the women who knew JohnJohn as a little boy tells his son to cut him some slack because of the way his father had been treated. So, being abused as a child gives one the right to abuse his or her child? I don't think so.

I am giving this movie a 'B' rating because it is a compelling movie, and one does feel for little JohnJohn. His love-hate relationship with Zeola is interesting, as are all the very colorful characters. And, you keep hoping his father will change. I would suggest that parents who see this movie make it very clear to their children that JohnJohn's father's treatment of him is unacceptable, even if it is done in a clumsy manner in an effort to raise the child right. If they know a school mate like JohnJohn, it can help them be more understanding of the friend.

Another objection I have to the movie is that JohnJohn's father is made out to be a Christian. My father was a slumlord, and I guarantee you that there were far more abused children in one of his apartment buildings than in any genuinely Christian church. Another minor objection I have is that so many of the characters talk in a gruff, almost angry manner. If you find this movie, it would be worth watching, but, unless you are looking for depictions of child abuse, not worth too much effort to seek it out.

Completely enjoyable film and beautifully shot! My whole family just loved it. While this film is not for a very young audience, my 7 year old has watched it three times this week alone. I highly recommend this film.
Charles Wakeman

Do they still make movies without that "once scene" you have to fast forward through? Do they make movies where you see both the good and bad side in everyone, not just one dimensional? Yes, they do. My wife and I rented "John John" knowing nothing about it and were very pleasantly surprised. The little boy acts and talks like a little boy would under the situation. The black/white relationships are well done, being set in the South in 1968. The retarded woman's party was very touching. It left my wife and I talking for quite awhile about the characters, why they behaved the way they did. If you are looking for an action film, keep looking. But if you want to see a movie that looks at issues in human relationship, gives this one a look.

Not going to same much. Hated that Randy Travis played such a bad guy since I love him and his music. Not a positive video or chear you up movie. Bad language, violence and the hopelessness of poverty and the cycle of violent parents producing violent children. This movie was a real downer.

[...] Our mom decided to preview it first. She thought it was an odd role for Randy to play. First she was only going to let us older girls watch it, 15 and up. But as she started to get further into the film, she decided we were not going to watch it at all! She said that all Randy did was beat up the kid and his wife. They used bad language and four letter words. They kept on calling a girl retard. To make it worse,Randy Travis is a christian!

Where should I begin? Poor direction, an unintelligble script, and inconsistent acting doom this movie. The film has an amateurish feel and huge gaps in the narrative. Stay away from this one.