Customer Reviews
Very Strange Story 
2008-10-05
Tell me what you think of this plot: A child comes back to life to confront the mother who cut her throat, only she is a grown woman, but still talks like a child. Meanwhile this so-called ghost manages to seduce her mother's "boyfriend" who has come back after 18 years. The ghost manages to get pregnant by him. Then the "ghost", totally naked and pregnant is brought out on the front porch by her mother and disappears in a couple of minutes when a group of church ladies start chanting and singing spiritual songs from the road in front of the house. Then the mother goes into depression for having lost the child that has come back to her and her other daughter goes to work for rich white folks to support herself and her mother. That's Beloved in a nutshell. And let's not forget another ghost that you don't see at all; just her poltergeist activity, except you do see that ghost in the flesh near the end of the movie (and in flashbacks to a prior time). And people think this is a great movie? It's a very strange movie and I couldn't tell what the message was supposed to be, if there even was one. The one redeeming thing about the movie is the period costumes and scenery, which is very beautifully done. It takes place in the 1800's and you certainly do feel that you have been taken back in time.
One of the most underrated films of the last 25 years 
2008-09-07
"Beloved" was never meant to be an easy story -- certainly not for its subject matter, nor for its narrative structure, but its power lies in both. Part ghost story, part history, part love story, it weaves a number of diverse elements together in a manner that echoes slave narratives.
One day this movie will get the credit it deserves. Demme and Winfrey took a very difficult book and made a film that works. Some moments are absolutely stunning.
I agree that Rachel Portman's score deserves special praise -- I only wish some musical moments that were in the film were actually included on the CD, like the scene where Sethe visits Beloved's grave after realizing the girl living in the house is her long-lost daughter.
I also wish the scene with Amy Denver had been extended. The Amy in the book is haunting -- the girl in the movie is just sad.
Nevertheless -- this remains one of my favorite movies.
The Perfect Movie 2008-07-03
I recieved the dvd in record time, I am very, very, very happy with my purchase.
Debra
Don't Understand The Negative 2008-06-14
I just rewatched this film after about 10 years, and I was blown away again. As someone who thinks the book is one of America's greatest novels of all time, I have to say Jonathan Demme and the cast of Beloved created some flawless work. I don't think I will ever understand the negative reviews of this film or the novel for that matter. When I read people say "disgusting" or "gross" about the film, I get very worried that people don't understand how disgusting and gross American slavery was. This film is about free slaves, people that had the worst cruelties known to man acted out on them. Over 60 million people were destroyed by slavery, and people can't handle this film? This is a film about American's being haunted by the past. It is about American's trying to survive after they were enslaved and then lived in a country that set up a system that would treat them like non citizens. This is a story about motherhood and fear. It is a beautiful film, with some intoxicating images, flawless acting and complex ideas. Maybe read the book, breath and then watch AND listen to this film. Please open your minds.
Despised 
2008-03-07
Im glad to see that Im not the only one who doesnt like this slop. People have a peculiar habit of embracing a movie because Oprah Lewinsky's name attached to it. The setting of the movie takes place after slavery. The whole thing is about Oprah(whose character name I forgot) murders two of her children during slavery so that the slavemaster wouldnt put her children in slavery. She kills one of them by bashing the baby's head against a wall and she slashes the throat of the other child. The child who neck got slashed returns later(played by Thandie Newton) to haunt her mother and makes her life a living hell. The movie has every sick element you can think of: bestiality, public urination(did we really need to see Bloprah pissing in public?), incest(Danny Glover's character literally banged "Beloved") etc. The acting is sloppy, and the movie is very dull plus Beloved's antics get annoying real quick. I'll admit that I got a cheap laugh at her drooling and talking like the little boy from The Shining(you know the one who says REDRUM every 5 seconds) but she is still a pain and Hoeprah's acting was pretty weak too. Even the talented Danny Glover part in this movie was sad. The whole movie makes little sense and you shouldnt even bother wasting time watching it. I was bored out of my skull when I viewed it in its entirety at my sister's house up in Boston. After watching it, I vowed to never get that bored again!
Two thumbs way down.
Baby Suggs Holy 2008-01-28
Oprah Winfrey (THE COLOR PURPLE) and Danny Glover (LETHAL WEAPON IV, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS) play the unforgettable lead roles in a powerful, widely acclaimed cinematic triumph from Jonathan Demme -- the Academy Award(R)-winning director of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. On a difficult journey to find freedom, Sethe (Winfrey) is constantly confronted by the secrets that have haunted her for years. Then, an old friend from out of her past (Glover) unexpectedly reenters her life. With his help, Sethe may finally be able to rediscover who she is and regain her lost sense of hope. Also featuring outstanding performances from Thandie Newton (GRIDLOCK'D) and Lisa Gay Hamilton (TV's THE PRACTICE) -- you'll agree with critics everywhere who've hailed this landmark adaptation of Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel as one of the year's finest films!
This COULD have been a truly great film! 
2007-06-12
The purpose of screenwriters who adapt a novel is to make the viewer NOT have to read the novel in order to understand the film! That said, I have watched BELOVED several times since it's theatrical release in 1998. At that time I thought that I would NEVER revisit this nearly three hour debacle. There is SO much to admire about this film; the acting is first-rate;the Rachel Portman soundtrack is positively one of if not her best;the cinematography of Fuj Sakimoto is outstanding.........but something still is lost somewhere in the translation of Toni Morrison's novel either in the screenplay or the editing that makes this an extremely difficult movie to follow. There are SO many stories going on in this film that it is hard to know just where to "hang your hat." It is a story of slavery, of women's strength, of supernatural/spirituality, of a daughter's needs/jealousy,there are ghosts, there is a certain weirdness that,...well......YIKES!!!....how much more needs to be crammed in to make this film make sense...or more senseless??? Believe me, I admire much about the scope of this film, but it has serious problems that should have been fixed. Perhaps the "labor of love" that Oprah and Demme felt for the book only clouded their judgment in the final product.The film is sprawling and loses all center focus. A film and a screenplay need to stand on their own WITHOUT forcing a viewer to read the book OR read other reviews in order to totally understand what they just saw!!! This is where BELOVED fails miserably.What you walk away with is ONLY what you can piece together (or think you can piece together!). I still watch this film for all of it's beauty and yet still come away with a certain emptiness that mourns the loss of what could have been a truly great film! I genuinely wish that I could have given it 5 stars!
get ready to rewind! 
2007-05-30
This was a good movie, but I found it hard to follow at points. I had to rewind a few times to be able to follow the story plot.
requires full attention 2007-03-16
I had it on my mind for many years to watch Beloved. It came on televison a few weeks back, but I purposefully avoided watching it on network TV, since I'm sure some parts would be edited out.
I'm quite confused by so many negative reviews here. So many people use The Color Purple as a reference point, which is entirely plausable. In fact, I myself draw parallels between Beloved and The Color Purple, even to Their Eyes Were Watching God. The overall impression I get from the mixed/negative reviews is that, while The Color Purple is heartwarming, Beloved is weird and cold. It seems that people forget that The Color Purple deals also with disturbing themes, like incest. It's just that they come to the forefront of Beloved a whole lot more. Honestly, what do people want, a reprise of The Color Purple?
If you read between the lines, many reviewers here have been dumbed down by a stream of Hollywood films. When Thandie Newton stands stark naked and pregnant on the porch in broad daylight, it is NOT a sexy scene. Shame on those who equate nudity with titillating sex scenes and nothing else. I could go on and on... peruse the reviews for yourself.
Overall, I was quite satisfied with the film. Yes, I had questions that weren't answered, such as why Paul D refers to Beloved as "red heart" during a pivotal scene. Still, most of the questions you have will be answered if you pay close attention, and rewind a couple of scenes.
If there is one thing I would have liked more, it would have been more of the backstory of the town of Sweet Home. You only get a small glimpse and understanding through flashback. While this makes for good cinema, it does leave your curiosity unsatisfied. I'm sure many, like myself, will want to read the book to fill in the blanks.
What Cost For Freedom 2007-03-10
The book came to life in this movie. This is one of the most heart wrenching films I have ever seen. I knew what to expect from the book but to see it happen was a totally different thing. How does an escaped slave learn to live free? As young Sethe (Lisa Gay Hamilton) is able to make her way to freedom in Ohio she is faced with a horrid choice when one day her ex-master shows up to claim her and her children as his property. Flashbacks of the past are throughout this film while Sethe (Oprah) is telling her story to Paul D. (Danny Glover). At the same time these things are happening Sethe and her daughter Denver (Kimberly Elise) are being constantly teased and tormented by a ghost. Then a mysterious young lady arrives and is known as Beloved. This homeless girl takes up residence with Sethe and her family and strange things continue to happen. You really need to read the book to fully understand the premise of the movie. Beloved is one of those hard to watch films because of the graphic violence put upon slaves and also a very disturbing scene involving children. So be warned...
