Nicole Kidman Movie:

				Salesrank: 155182
		Used Price: $49.43
		MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
Filmed in the widescreen splendor of "Panavision Super 70" and blessed with the finest production values that Hollywood clout can buy, this tale of spunky Irish immigrants forgot one crucial ingredient: a decent screenplay. The film is entertaining enough, and director Ron Howard brings his technical proficiency to the simple plot, culminating in a dynamic, breathtaking depiction of the Oklahoma land rush of 1893. But the movie is really just a vacuous vehicle for married stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as (respectively) the poor tenant farmer and rich landlord's daughter who flee Ireland to be American pioneers. The scenery and the stars are never less than stunning, but Howard falls short of the mark in his attempt to match the epic sweep of films by David Lean. On the other hand, this movie is certainly never boring even if it rarely makes sense, and Lean's own Irish epic, Ryan's Daughter, is a snoozer by comparison. --Jeff Shannon

Far and Away [Region 2] Reviews:
Do you like my hat?! Say you like my hat shannon!"
2008-09-08 - What an amazing movie! this is on my top ten list and will be there forever. My mom is the one who first introduced this movie to me many years ago, and now we watch it over and over again. I never seem to get tired of it. The love between Shannon and Joseph is a love everyone in the world wants. There are so many laugh-out-loud scenes that are hard to forget. I work at a video store and I'm constantly recommending this movie to cutomers. I absolutely love it =)

Love this movie
2008-09-01 - I've seen this movie several times. Each time I love it more. Tom Cruise isn't one of my favorite actors nor is Nicole Kidman. However, I love this movie. I'm hooked from the start. I think Nicole plays the part perfectly. The dream to go to America for land was very real a long time ago. The budding love in this movie is great. I felt for Joseph and Shannon when he lost the fight. I hung on the edge of my seat when they broke into the house. I laughed when they met in Okalahoma, I cheered when Joseph raced his greenbroke horse and I cried in the end. If you are looking for a good movie, I suggest this.

Sweet, Romantic Film
2008-06-25 - While certainly not a "great" film, "Far and Away" is sweet and very romantic.
The movie is entertaining, but don't expect to be intellectually stimulated. It's a somewhat interesting (although exaggerated and over-simplified) look at the American immigrant experience and a man's (or, in Nicole Kidman's case, a woman's) yearning for land to call one's own.
The scenery is beautiful, there are one or two very funny scenes, and the acting is not too bad.
The budding romance between the characters played by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman is well done. If you're looking for a romantic, memorable chick-flick, "Far and Away" is a good choice.


A man who does not have land of his own;has nothing.
2008-04-06 -
A movie classic is one that bears watching many times.This is such a movie.It reminds me of "The Quiet Man" in many ways.
At first,I could not fathom Tom Cruise as a fierce Irishman ,nor Nicole Kidman playing the part of Protestant Irish Gentry;but what marvelous performances they make in this epic.
The story begins on the west coast of Ireland in 1892,when Joseph Donnelly ,a poor downtrodden farmer, in his early 20's, has had about all he can take from the brutal domination of the British Landlord system,and sees as his only hope for the future is to emigrate to America. At the other end of the social structure,Shannon Christie ,sees her priviliged life just as suffocating ,and also looks to America to start a new life.
When I started to watch this movie,I had no idea whatsoever about it ,or its story. How I missed it several years back,I don't know.As it turned out,I an just as glad;because that is just the way to enjoy such a great epic,at least for me.Just sit back and let it all onfold.
The scenes in Ireland are beautifully done. In a few shot minutes you really see how terrible the system was for the tenent farmers and how cruel the system was ,that had been imposed on them from England.
Shortly, the story takes us to the slums of Boston where conditions were much as they were in New York; and we witnessed in the later movie of "Gangs of New York" or the novel "Five Points." The great actor ,Colm Meany, gives his usual magnificient perormance in the role of slum strongman,Kelly. Boy,I admire his work,even if I dislike the character he portrays in this movie.
Within the year ,the story moves to the Ozark Mountains and finally to Oklahoma and the great Land Rush where their hopes for free land would be realized.
What a great epic,all in about 2 years, and covering so much country.
There are great characters ,you will come to love and hate.I have read and studied a lot of Irish history and dispora,but never did I see the Landlord portrayed in such a revealing way.All the landlords were not alike and many ,like Christie ,were as much prisoners to the British system as were the tenents. You will come to like him as much as O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind".
With so much territory being covered,you would think that the story might drag;after all, the movie lasts for 2hours and 20 minutes. Such is not the case,it is so filled with action,emotions ans scenes,that are so good,that you will only wish that it could have lasted much longer.
The scenes of the Oklahoma Land Rush are almost unbelievable and as good as any scenes of such magnitude and chaos that you will ever witness. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman show riding skills that are breathtaking;and if they weren'tperformed by the personally;it sure fooled me.
I will be watching this wonderful epic over again;and will surely find many things I missed first time.

A True Classic
2008-03-02 - Far and Away is a real gem. Along with Apollo 13, it is Ron Howard's finest film. The epic story takes us from Ireland to Boston to Oklahoma, and for over two hours the film hasn't a single dull moment. Cruise and Kidman breathe life into their characters, and Howard's direction keeps everything moving in appropriate fashion. That's the key to Howard's excellence as a director: He always puts the story first. The clothing, sets, cinematography: all serve the story.

As with Apollo 13, everything builds to one heart-tugging moment at the climax of the film, and repeated viewings don't diminish the power of this moment one iota. In fact, seeing the film a second and third time only enhances the viewing experience, as the script is so well constructed. Everything from the characters' personal tics to ability to fight and ride horses is set up in the beginning of the film, and the growth and development of Joseph and Shannon flows logically from their life experiences.

This edition of the dvd doesn't provide much in terms of features, but the sound and picture are terrific. In fact, the sound in particular is noteworthy, as the score does not overpower the dialogue. On most dvds, it always seems like the score and sound effects are twice as loud as the dialogue, so I'm constantly adjusting the volume. Not so with this dvd. I was able to watch and listen comfortably throughout.

At the time, it seemed important that Cruise and Kidman were married. In the years to follow, of course, the real-life couple divorced, Kidman would make some pretty poor pictures, and Cruise seems to have gone totally nuts. But watching Far and Away, you forget all about that and get pulled completely into the film. This is a beautiful story, a wonderful film romance, and a great epic adventure. It's the absolute definition of a classic movie. I couldn't recommend it more highly.