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List Price: $32.95 | | Label: Genius Products (TVN)
Salesrank: 12995
Released: May 13, 2008 |
| Our Price: $11.98 |
| Used Price: $6.99 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Denzel Washington directs and stars in this uplifting drama based on a true story about a small East Texas all-black college in 1935 that rises to the top of the nation's debate teams in a duel against Harvard. A poet and debating coach at Wiley College Professor Melvin Tolson (Washington) sees debating as "a blood sport" and recruits the meanest and brightest including troubled Henry (Nate Parker) driven Samantha (Jurnee Smollet) and the 14-year-old prodigy James Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker). Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (no relation) plays Farmer's father the initially unsupportive president of the school. There's tough training romantic heat over the attentions of fiery Samantha (the first girl on the team) and some no holds-barred racism (including a witnessed lynching) before the big match-up against the Ivy League school adding to the overall emotional force.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/CLASS DIFFERENCES Rating: PG-13 UPC: 796019811583 Manufacturer No: 81158
Description of The Great Debaters (2-Disc Special Collector's Edition):
Inspired by real events, the fascinating The Great Debaters reveals one of the seeds of the Civil Rights Movement in its story of Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington in a captivating performance) and his champion 1935 debate club from the all-African-American Wiley College in Texas. Tolson, a Wiley professor, labor organizer, modernist poet, and much else, runs a rigorous debate program at the school, selecting four students as his team in ’35, among them the future founder of the Congress of Racial Equality, James Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker). Washington, who directed The Great Debaters from a script by Robert Eisele (The Dale Earnhardt Story), anchors the story with the team’s measurable progress, but the film is also about the state of race relations in America at the height of the Great Depression. With lynchings of black men and women a common form of entertainment and black subjugation for many rural whites, the idea of talented and highly intelligent African-American young people learning to think on their feet during debates would seem almost a hopeless endeavor. But that’s not the way Tolson sees it, as his students serve themselves and the cause of racial equality in America with energetic arguments in favor of progressive government and non-violence as a viable social movement. There are some startling moments in this movie, particularly the sight of a man found lynched and burned to death, and an extraordinary moment in which we see black sharecroppers and white farmers engaged with Tolson in arguments about unionizing together. Forest Whitaker is outstanding as Farmer’s emotionally-reserved father, also a Wiley professor. This is the kind of film where one hopes two great actors such as the elder Whitaker and Washington will have a scene together, and when it comes it’s as powerful as one might hope. --Tom Keogh
The Great Debaters (2-Disc Special Collector's Edition) Reviews:
Brillant Movie by Denzil and Oprah 
2008-08-27 - This is a wonderful movie that you will love. very great and positive and teaches one to work hard and the shy is the limit and once you believes that God is the judge and the opponent doesn't exist you will win. Challenges will arise but with hard work you can reach for the skies. Excellent movie Denzil Washington.
A Great, Non-Confrontational Look At The Jim Crow South
2008-08-23 - In my opinion, Denzel Washington is the foremost actor (in terms of actual talent, not money making ability) of our generation. Yet, my one beef with him has often been his very sympathetic, almost revisionist-history take on certain race issues, such as Malcolm X or the story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. In those types of films, one race can do no wrong while the other is the root of all evil, which (in reality) is usually never the case. When viewing this film, then, I had myself steeled for that sort of thing once again...the "take with a grain of salt" mentality. Fortunately, this movie had zero problems in that area.
The film tells the story of the small Wily College debate team in 1930s Texas (deep in the Jim Crow South) under the tutelage of the famous Melvin Tolson that took on all-comers (big or small) and defeated nearly every one of them. Yet, despite the amazing feats accomplished by that debate team, the real message of this film centers on the actual issues that are being debated, mainly having to do with civil rights or civil disobedience. This is where the debate format comes in very handy, as it allows for both sides of those important issues to be aired in the film. Does some bias show? Yes. Yet, everyone has their own opinion, and the bias that is evident in the film does not go beyond that.
The acting in this movie is also terrific. Washington is at his cool-as-a-cucumber best, while the young acting talent (forming the debate team) is also very strong. The presence of Forest Whitaker is another plus.
Overall, this is a great film that will really get you thinking about the issues that plagued the Jim Crow South. Most importantly, though, you will be able to see both sides of the story before making your decision. While in the film the judges decide who wins each debate, you can decide for yourself what you believe to be the most convincing argument.
The Great Debater - DVD
2008-08-05 - This DVD was truly outstanding in every way. The storyline though not new was so well done. The acting was oscar quality. I can only highly recommend this DVD to those that enjoy a good movie where in the end everybody wins. Harvard wins for allowing the debate to happen and Wiley wins by invoking real life experience into a usually academic event.
Inspiring..... 
2008-08-04 - portrayal of how persons can rise above extremely adverse situations. Things may get difficult but not impossible especialy if there is team effort seems to be the message here. Superb performance from Washington, Whitaker and Jurnee Smollett.
the great debaters
2008-07-27 - Although a simple good feeling ending that seems a little too long, it is an excellent movie and a good history lesson.
