Customer Reviews

The River Niger

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

 

 

I find it hard to believe those pitiful less that 5-star reviews of this move. Obviously it just went over their heads. This movie is absolutely awsome!! From the opening credits with the backdrop music by the legenday soul/rock/funk band WAR to the very end when Cicily Tyson urges the youths to not screw up what had been accomplished by Daddy Johnny (James Earl Jones) this movie screams to the heart. Either those reviewers have no clue as to what it is like to struggle and live in a ghetto or they could just simply care less. Ignorant. Speaking on things they have no clue about. Anyone who wants a slice of a dream; A beautiful, poetic dream, needs to see this movie. Is it a hollywood masterpiece, filled with explosions, nudity, special effects, and glamor people? No. It is a gut-bucket, poetry, and music-laced ride that will certainly warm the African-American soul and any others who can comprhend where we are coming from.

Not often will you find such Great actors as Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett, James Earl Jones, Glynn Turman ant Teddy Wilson in the same movie....A compelling story, set at the end of the Civil Rights Era, and the resulting transition of the leftover radicals..With the poetry of Langston Hughes, and a rocking soundtrack By War...This Is one of the best movies you can see...

Starring James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson and Louis Gossett., Jr.

James Earl Jones is riveting, and Cicely Tyson is fantastic in this wonderful adaptation of the Tony award-winning play about life in the ghetto. Realistic emotions and believable characters make for an incredible and moving experience for all.

The production of this movie leaves much to be desired, it almost has a home movie feel to it. But the movie itself is real deep right on down to it's liberation armies, informers, and agent infiltrating provocateurs. Glynn Turman gives a superb performance as the ex air force vet, finally come home to the hood for good. Glynn Turman is one of my all time favorite actors (Cooly High, J.D.'S Revenge). The rest of the allstar cast give excellent performances. From James Earl Jones to Cicely Tyson. When you really look at it, this movie, it covers so many themes relevant to the times then(70's)and now. VietNam (wars), Revolutionary Struggle,gangs, drug use, father son relationships,cancer, romantic relationships, honor etc. If not for the production I would have given this movie a 5 but inspite of that I think it's excellent, and I'm glad to add it among my formidable collection of so called "black" classic movies. My copy contained a classic "black" cartoon "John Henry" the steel driving man, as a youth, it was one of the only cartoons "representing" on T.V., a real treat.

bought this movie because i love cicley tyson. i watched this movie twice and i just didnt get it. the acting was okay maybe if i watch it a few more times i might understand what the whole movie was about.

I really enjoyed the acting and the plot of this film, especially the ending...Unfortunately the quality of
this DVD was quite poor. The music was so tinny it was annoying. With all the top notch actors in this cast I really
was disappointed in this production. I'm aware that the film was made decades ago but with all the modern technology available these days I expected a better product.

As an African-American I am interested in movies about Black history, Black culture, and life during slavery and historical black events.
As a result I purchased about a dozen DVDs on various subject matter which I am just now getting around to viewing.
This DVD gave me little educational insight into black life. Although it was an off Broadway play I didn't get much out of it. I give it 3 stars for the all star cast of James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson and Louis Goossett Jr.

This movie had great actors, but very poor movie,It had a poor story to it, I didn't care for it at all.

The dvd arrived on time and undamaged. Unlike the other half of this order, this dvd was fair.

this is one of my favortie films of the century and i have only seen it once and that was last week James Earl Jone is one of the best actors ever up there with deniro and al panico the same as Louis Jr. they brought clicked in this film there was a lot of scenes that reminded me of other black films this with cooly high is what took black films to a whole new level the lady from roots is an underrated actress she should have whole an oscar decades ago in her time she was an angelina baskett and a halle berry status actress the cool nerd from cooly high played in this movie he is other good to very good actor who should have acted in big roles i loved the african beat they played throughout the film it made me enjoyed the movie that much more