Customer Reviews

Summer's End [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The tale of Summer's End is about a black man, Dr. William Blakely, who returns to live in the town where his father was killed by whites when he was a young boy. The other main character is Jaime, a young boy who strikes up a friendship with Dr. Blakely and is the central "coming of age" figure. Also key to the plot are Jaime's older brother Hunter, his mother, and his brother's friend Lad. Lad is a young man brought up to belive what much of the town 'believes' (although only a small handful of Lad's family displays)- blacks are bad and shouldn't be in the town. It turns into a story of relationships as Lad and his grandfather (mainly) try to run Dr. Blakely out of town. It keeps your attention the entire time.

The acting in the movie is pretty incredible for a TV movie. James Earl Jones was the perfect casting for Dr. Blakely. Wendy Crewson plays Jaime's mother very well. The only acting I wasn't all that fond of was Brenden Fletcher, who played Hunter. What really stands out though is the acting of Jake LeDoux, who plays Jaime- you have to see it for yourself, but I don't understand why he hasn't landed bigger roles. Similar to Haley Joel Osment- wonderful at displaying a wide range of emotions.

As an English teacher, I am always looking for companion films for novels I read in my classes. Summer's End is the perfect companion for Montana 1948 by Larry Watson. Both the film and the movie beautifully portray what happens when the youngest in a family discovers a "truth" about another member of the family. Both deal with several issues such as racism, family loyalty, and justice in a way that is both fair to the topic and engaging for my students. Both of these titles have been well received by students. I highly recommend both the film Summer's End and the novel Montana 1948.

A must see movie James Earl Jones was great. Jake Ledoux did a good job,But I didn't see the wide range of emotions the other viewer saw.A GREAT MOVIE!

A very touching story and a very well portrayall by Mr Jones. I 've enjoyed this movie so much that I'm in the process of purchasing it for future entertainment to be shared with my grandchildren.

Jake LeDoux is incredible in this film! When sweet, nice and intelligent Jamie spent most of his time with his new friend (old colour man), Dr. William his older brother wasn't happy about it because he spent time less with him. Jamie have a good time with Dr. William but not without some experiences involving racism. Emotional, loving and fun movie.

Summer's End is a very real movie as it tells how people can misjudge other people
and not even know them. Having a little concern for others can go a long ways.
I watch this movie over and over again, then it really isn't a problem when Wendy
Crewson is playing in the movie.

Good life movie and a learning tool also.

Bobby Hendricks

I wanted to purchase this movie because I saw it when I was fifteen and then again when I was seventeen. It still had that same magic when I had seen it again recently. I could relate easily to this film because I had a similar experience to befriending a person who was twice my age, and I didn't quite understand the concept of racial tones at the time.

Not a blockbuster smash, but if you want to watch a made-for-TV Lifetime movie, that has a big name in it, then this movie could be for you. I always love movies like these. Maybe it's the type of person I am, being highly sensitive, movies like these (always bring tears to my eyes).

Package arrived on a timely schedule, two weeks prior to its expiration time. Well wrapped, not a dent or crack in the packaging at all.

James Earl Jones is great as always. But the plot stumbles after the boat crashes into the dock. The story veers into contrived and, by the end, absurd plot developments (the final scene inexplicably has James Earl Jones walking on water). I think the makers of this movie tried too hard to jam too many liberal dogmas about race relations into one movie. James Earl Jones walked on water, I suppose, because black people are Jesus-like saviors of white people. Curiously, Jones is a light-skinned black, but the part seemed to call for a dark-skinned black -- the flashback scenes draw viewers' attention to this discrepancy.