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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 318
Released: March 11, 2008 |
| Our Price: $7.64 |
| Used Price: $2.19 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
There’s music in the wind and sky. Can you hear it? And there’s hope. Can you feel it? The boy called August Rush can. The music mysteriously draws him, penniless and alone, to New York City in a quest to find – somehow, someway – the parents separated from him years earlier. And along the way he may also find the musical genius hidden within him. Experience the magic of this rhapsodic epic of the heart starring Freddie Highmore (as August), Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard and Robin Williams. "I believe in music the way some people believe in fairy tales," August says. Open your heart and listen. You’ll believe, too.
Description of August Rush:
Music has long been considered a universal language with the power to bring people together, but can the simple act of playing music possibly unite a child with a mother and father who live in two different cities and don't even know of the child's existence? Having shared one extraordinary night, classical cellist Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell) and Irish singer and songwriter Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) were a union meant to be that was torn apart by circumstances and a protective father (William Sadler). After eleven years, both Lyla and Louis have given up performing only to find that they are unhappy and searching for a sense of fulfillment that will ultimately lead both artists back to music and performing. Evan (Freddie Highmore) is an 11-year old orphan who's grown up hearing music in everything around him and is convinced that his real parents want him and will find him with the help of music. Driven by his innate musical genius and a powerful compulsion to perform before the world, Evan runs away from the orphanage and is initially taken in by a street man known as Wizard (Robin Williams) who encourages his musical talent and renames him August Rush and, later, by a local priest who arranges for August to receive a Julliard education. August is a child prodigy who excels beyond even the wildest expectations and earns the opportunity of a lifetime--a chance to perform in front of an enormous audience in New York's Central Park. The question is; can his performance possibly reach the audience August really craves? While elements of this film are completely unbelievable (take August's instant prowess on the guitar or his immediate and sophisticated grasp of musical notation and musical theory), the message of the universality of music and the notion that "the music is all around us, all you have to do is listen" is both compelling and powerful. --Tami Horiuchi
August Rush Reviews:
Instant Favorite 
2009-11-10 - Have seen this movie many times. It is a bit of a fairy tale imo, however, it is magical and truly inspiring as well. This movie has touched most everyone (that I've known) whom have watched it. Anyway, have upgraded to the Blu-ray version of this film. I've noticed a significant improvement in the picture quality. However, there seem to be audio issues with the Blu-ray version. Specifically, the volume has to be increased (significantly/almost extremely)higher in several areas throughout playback. Have done my checking: none of the cables are loose on either the BR player or HDtv, there are no surround sound components attached at this time, and this has not occurred with any other Blu-rays. Perhaps this copy only has issues?? Please let me know if you experience the same problem by replying to this review... Thanks.
Great Movie
2009-11-09 - One of the best movies I have seen in a while. I saw it on HBO and had to have a copy for my Library. Definitely one of those that you can watch over and over.
You Never Quit On Your Music 
2009-11-08 - Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell) attended Julia Music Performing Arts School in New York and played the cello. Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) was the member of a rock band. There was a connection between them the second they met and on that day a musical genius was conceived. The day she gave birth, Lyla's father made a choice that he claimed was for both of them, but it was really a selfish decision. Lyla no longer had her son and she was separated from Louis.
Evan Taylor (Freddie Highmore) listened to sounds of the wind, city streets, etc and he would hear music. He was in a home for boys where his gift was not appeciated because they saw him as freakishly different. He wanted to be with his birth parents, not placed in someone's home. He had no anger because they gave him up, but was consumed with thoughts of where they could possibly be and he kept believing he could follow the music that would lead him to them.
I enjoyed August Rush. Maxwell 'Wizard' Wallace (Robin Williams)bothered me a bit, though. He acted like he cared about Evan but he didn't really want this boy to be happy. He deceived him and tried to fill his mind with doubt. Wizard's thinking was all messed up because he was scarred by the foster care system. He lived in an abandoned theater with homeless children he was supposedly taking care of but he was really using them. It was a good thing Richard Jeffries (Terrance Howard) cared about what happened to Evan.
There's a scene where a choir is practicing a beautiful song and the ending touched my heart. This is a movie for the entire family.
Great movie
2009-11-04 - Great movie with a great ending. Not sure it is super special in Blu-ray vs standard DVD so if you own the DVD no need to upgrade, if not get the Blu-ray version.
great movie
2009-11-04 - this movie tells us to never give up on our dreams I know its just a story but what a lesson to learn. Great movie.
