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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: 20th Century Fox
Salesrank: 86772
Released: February 15, 2000 |
| Our Price: $7.58 |
| Used Price: $5.50 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Alice (Claire Danes) and Darlene (Kate Beckinsale) are best friends on their post-high-school whirlwind vacation. Telling their parents they're off for Hawaii, they head instead to Thailand, where they stay at a $6-a-night dive and sneak drinks at a posh hotel. They both fall sway to the charms of a handsome Australian (Daniel Lapaine), who invites them to Hong Kong. Off they go, although unbeknownst to them (or is it? this question is never fully answered), one of them has heroin in her backpack. Sentenced to 33 years in a Thai jail, they find their friendship begins to deteriorate as their trust in each other fades. They enlist the help of Yankee Hank (Bill Pullman), a greedy but knowledgeable American lawyer living in Asia.
The main flaws of this film are the capital-L lessons: friendship is powerful, don't trust strangers, nice girls shouldn't drink and sleep around. The film's bleakest moments, in the jail, aren't all that bad, and in this respect Brokedown Palace has nothing on the intensity of films such as Midnight Express or even Return to Paradise. Yet Danes and Beckinsale prove they are strong actresses, and their characters' friendship is suitably complex and believable. --Jenny Brown
Brokedown Palace Reviews:
Never trust strangers 
2009-08-24 - I saw this film because of Kate Beckinsale. I love her character here playing the innocent and easily maninupulated character Alice compared to Darlene, the stronger and street-wise friend played by Claire Danes. Watching this film I can't help but remind myself of my own friedship with my best friend. No we didn't end up in jail but the things that they'll do for each other is in itself beautiful and heartfelt.
I look at this film as a lesson for anyone travelling to an unfamiliar country. How many times that we have to remind ourselves never to trust stangers, let alone spend a night with them. Yet at times, strange things do happen and Darlene and Alice are left to face the consequences of it.
Forget the critics. Watch it and judge it by yourself. It is always the little film like this that gets unnoticed all the time.
IF YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT SMUGGLING DRUGS..... 
2008-06-02 - IF YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT SMUGGLING DRUGS FOR A LIVING, THIS SHOULD CAUSE YOU TO REEXAMINE THAT DECISION. WELL ACTED AND PRESENTED. SORT OF A FEMALE VERSION OF 'MIDNIGHT RUN'.
Claire Danes' finest performance...
2008-05-20 - ...I've seen this movie many, many times now and I enjoy watching the movie every single time, even knowing how the movie will end. The reason why, in my opinion, is because of the great performance of Claire Danes. She plays the role so convincingly well that at the end of the movie you actually buy into the choice her character makes, and that makes it believable, understandable and plausible. In the absence of such a performance, I don't think the ending would have worked so well. I've seen other movies she's done, and I don't think she's ever been better. If she doesn't do another movie or reprise another role, she should be proud of the work she does here. The movie would not have worked without her. Period.
Big Bore-Rip-Off of a classic 
2008-05-12 - Let me start off by saying, This a Prison movie, rated pg-13, not to metion this takes place in a womens prison in Thailand!! umm hello, lets be realistic. What prison in th U.S. even is rated pg-13. Anyways, Total rip off of a great movie from the late 80's called "Purgatory" Identical plots, only this one is a Overly Dramatic, One sided, Lifetime movie!! These two girls mistakenly get charged for smuggling drugs, and end up in a prison resort. Nobody really messes with them, the hardess labor they do is cleaning dishes, and they get group naps with walkmen. Weak if you like lifetime junk, this is for you. If not, then Check out "Purgatory", two words Tanya Roberts!! "Purgatory" is what this movie didn't have the brass to pull off. It's the same plot, two beautiful girls end up with some guy they just met, get arrested for unknowingly smuggling drugs. But "Purgatory" is a realistic movie worth watching, it has everthing you'd expect from a female prison movie in a 3rd world country,: Corruption, Violence, Drugs, Rape, Murder, Suicide etc.. Do the right thing and spend you money on a true Classic "Purgatory" !!
Brokedown palace
2007-12-25 - Pretty good movie. Story line and plot flow well. Stronger language than anticipated. Parents should preview language before allowing kids to watch.
