Customer Reviews

Lassie [VHS]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Very enjoyable update of the classic Lassie film, even if the villain of the piece is so stereotypical it's laughable (he uses guns and chews tobacco, so he must be a bad guy, right?). Gorgeous scenery and the kids aren't goodie-goodies but reasonably real children. Richard Farnsworth is wonderfully warm as the grandfather.

It is somewhat dishonest to call this a 'Lassie' film. This film never excited in me the same feelings as many of the older Lassie films. However, there are some positive aspects to this film.

First, Lassie (1994) is considerably more contemporary than most 'Lassie' films yet has a collie as the hero. (This might interest children ages 8 through 13 who enjoy action and dogs.)

Second, the film has a theme I appreciate - a theme of reaching out to others when others treat you cruely or degradingly.

Third, the film kept my attention more than other Lassie films or films with canine stars.

[While I enjoyed Old Yeller and Air Bud (1998), many dog films such as The Shaggy Dog (both 1959 and 2006), Where the Red Fern Grows, Shiloh, Far From Home, etc. either were incredible unrealistic or failed to keep my attention for long.]

However, there is merit in the response, "This film is too violent and uses foul language." While this Lassie film is no Stand By Me or Jaws, it isn't Mr. Roger's Neighborhood either. Some words are included in this film that parents may not appreciate their five year olds hearing, and some scenes (while not very violent) have undertones that are more likely to 'scare' parents than children.

I do not desire to give away the plot to the reader. However, the film begins with Lassie's real owner being killed in a tractor-trailer accident on wet roads. Based on this description, it is possible for the reader to further realize this is not a "sugar-coated" motion picture.

Overall, I would recommend this film to parents who have allowed their children to view 101 Dalmatians (live action) and/or films such as To Kill a Mockingbird. However, for parents with young children, Lassie films such as Lassie Come Home (1943) and Lassie (2006) might be more children friendly.

this movie is very good ! i love watching all the t.v. shows with Lassie and i love watching Lassie save poples lives ! i think "Marge and Bob" should get a life.... Tom Guiry is a great actor. and he does a great job playing Matt in the movie. so if you have not seen this movie... I WOULD SEE IT !! its a great movie for all ages !

I thought it was a very lovey film which was filmed beautifully and contained beautiful music! Thomas Guiry did a wonderful job as Matt! A young boy who having lost his mother feels more alone and left out than anything! Even though his stepmother(Helen Slater in one of her best performances) tries to be there for him no matter what, he finds a true friendship and love with a dog named Lassie! With this very new version of Lassie, they treated the legend very fair, and showed us a clip from the old Lassie TV show! You will love this film!

I rented this video for my kids, ages 2 and 8, thinking it was the old-time Lassie flick. Was surprised to hear a comment about "Nintendo" early in the film, and references to skateboarding. But this modern remake is true to the story and my kids were thrilled with the movie, asking to see it again and again and also asking Santa for their own copy.

Beautiful scenery and a decent family movie except that we're returning it to the seller because we can't imagine showing our kids a movie with "go to hell" and "faggot" spoken by child characters!! Also several fistfights, a scary wolf scene and lots of guns and death. Beware all you parents of sensitive, empathetic children like ours. Who rated this movie PG?!!

Im usually an action comedy movie guy, but I saw this along time ago and I watched it a fews ago.This is a great film for the family and worth buying.

This movie is a refreshing updated version of good old Lassie family movies!! It is predictable in plot, but in a comfortable way. My 3 sons, aged 10 years old-3 1/2 years old, all enjoy this delightful show. It is hard to find a movie with traditional family values that entertains the whole family. A dog-lovers must have DVD!!

I enjoyed this movie. It's pure fluff and can't be taken as anything more. "Marge and Bob" seem to critisize every movie that young Tom Guiry was ever in. Perhaps, since they live in his town, they are a bit jealous of him for some reason and unwilling to giver him a fair shot. He is a talented actor as is shown in the film.

Matt is a journor high student who's family is moving from Baltimor to the country farm in Virginia where his late mother grew up. The bitterness and resentment, as well as the goodness, deep inside of Matt's heart, are realisically portayed as he relates to his Dad, his sister, and Laura, his step-mom. Lassie, a stray the family takes in, soon finds her way into the withdrawn boy's heart, and helps him change into the responsible, intelligent, and warmhearted young man he was meant to be. But their new-life in the country threatens to unravel when the construction job that Matt's Dad moved there for falls through. But Matt encourages his Dad to hold onto the farm, and try raising sheep on their pasture land (which is the best for miles around), with Lassie's help. A touching family movie, with convincing and crisp acting, emotion, and drama. Makes you laugh and cry. The slang has changed a lot since the 90's, however, giving this movie a slightly out-moded feel. Is it just me, or do teenagers really say "cool" anymore? I'm a teenager and I still do, but I think most teengers say "awesome" or "rad". But even if this isn't a classic, it's a show I'll always like.