This is a gentle film; as most know, it is based on a real-life story between a Marine stationed in the Middle East and a Muslim princess. It is currently showing occasionally on the Lifetime network. The couple divorced last year. However, it is a good love story, basic acting and situations appropriate to made-for-television films - this would never stand up to cinematic release, and the tension is rather muted (probably more realistic, but less dramatic). The actors are well-suited for their roles - Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Jason Johnson begins to shed the 'Saved by the Bell' image, and Marisol Nichols as Meriam Al-Khalifa does a serviceable job as the girl torn between two worlds. Worth watching, particularly for those who like a love story, but even that is a bit muted here, particularly in light of the real life events later. However, the love was obviously real at the time, and one hopes something that neither person would have traded, even knowing the eventual outcome.
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kurt_messick18 May 2005
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TheDuke-219 February 2001This was a very nice movie about two people so in love, that they risk everything in their respective lives to be together. Based on a true story, a Marine risks his career to get his love out of the country she's from. She risks everything to stay in the U.S. with him.
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Sara-4820 February 2001I totally agree with the comments already posted. This story, a modern day fairy tale, made an excellent movie, with good lines, great cast, and all the better for being a true story. I too would like to be able to see it again, if I'd known it was going to be this good, I would have taped it. It's good to see that Love can still triumph overall, even in the modern world.
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Macholic14 January 2004This is a good love story with a happy ending and it's a true story, Marisol Nichols shines as Princess Meriam. If you like romance this one is an unmissable treat. Bahrainies it appears are not happy with this story, as it shows how closed and restricted even the most liberal gulf state is.
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r_d_y_a_r25 November 2006You are obviously a Muslim man. Yes, she would still be married if she had married a Muslim, or she would be DEAD! She wouldn't be allowed to leave a bad relationship, even if she was being abused or degraded. Yeah, why would any woman want to live in a place where she had free will? It's a mystery! What woman wouldn't want to live in a country where they treated her worse than anything they could step in? Yeah, all the women I know are headed over to your place of oppression! Why don't you hold your breath for their arrival? Frankly, I'm sick of reading comments about the United States of America from Muslim men upset that their women would rather be here than with them. Grow up!
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WAHDANI129 July 2001The scene of passing camel and goats roaming in front of the marine HQ was the most laughing part in the movie. The area happened to be one of the most recent developed areas on the Island. So it was very funny and unnecessary at the same time. It is Hollywood stuff and adding spices to already poor-tasted recipe might make some difference!!
Since it is a true story, the least the marine could have done to convince the girl and the audience world-wide (besides accepting demotion at work and standing to the Immigration harassment on arrival at Chicago Airport) was to convert to Islam so the marriage could gain acceptance. Caused this is mandatory for a Muslim girl to do, as a Muslim woman is not allowed to marry non-muslim. There are thousands of all sorts of males nationalities ( be it Americans , Europeans etc..) who fell in love with Muslim girls - but have to convert to Islam to get married.
The movie is a fairy-tale like that it could have been extracted from the folklore "The Thousand-night-&-night" book. Mind you Bahrain is an Arab Country and used to be named the "Land of Eternity". All are welcome. -
Cynzmyname20 February 2001First of all the fairy-tale story is so compelling, especially because it's true. I thought that the acting by Mark-Paul Gosselaar was exceptional. He has really grown into a fine actor. I have never seen anything Marisol Nichols has been in, but I thought she brought a unique innocence combined with strong will to the role. They had great chemistry on-screen and their characters, from interviews I've seen, remarkably reflect the personalities of the real Jason and Meriam. This has become one of my favorite movies and I've only seen it once!
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schuggiz25 November 2006This is a horrible movie that shows that the director/producer/actors did not at all bother find out about a culture they are talking about.
This movie is full of flaws and displays a totally wrong picture of the Arabic/Muslim culture. Even the infrastructure of Bahrain is shown as old/poor with camels and stuff.
Any person who ever has seen any of the gulf countries (some of the richest countries in the world) will see that the infrastructure is in much better shape and way more modern that in the US or western Europe...
And no attention is given to the fact that the adult marine is actually having his love-affair with a minor, which is not romantic, but disgusting.
This movie really just makes me wanna puke my guts out!
Disgusting, simplistic and manipulative! -
maria_anna_s19 February 2001Generally a pretty good movie, well done... and the actors do a good job. The story is lovely but I am a sucker for love stories so thats my opinion...
Watch it if you have the chance... -
alexithegreat13 February 2006This is a horrible movie. They make the Muslim family look like they are bad people. This movie makes the American family look like they did not do anything wrong. First of all Jason should not even mess with this family to begin with. He disrespected her family. They are a royal family. This is a very bad movie because Muslims should stay with Muslims. Americans should stay with Americans. As you can see, they divorced in the end. The Muslim royal family are trying to protect their daughter from the American. He took her away and did not get penalized. He should of been sent to jail for life. He married her in a stupid chapel in Vegas (SIN CITY). The Muslims should have disciplined Mariam before she came to the country of America. Now she went from being a princess to an American divorced girl. If she would have married a Muslim, she would stay married. She did the wrong decision. It reminds me of the movie "Not without my daughter." Another bad movie, she was acting so stupid. She stole the kid and ran away. What a bad women. People make her a star. How ridiculous!!!!!!!
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WDJD_200121 February 2001After reading the comments about this movie I can't help but agree with each and everyone of them. I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! I think that it shows that love can conquer over anything, especially with the help of God. Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Marisol Nichols made such a terrific team together in this movie. I wish like crazy that I taped all of it instead of the hour and 30 to 40 min. that I got, but I am glad that I got that much.It should definitely be aired again for everyone who didn't get to see it can and for those that got to see it can see it again. I think what makes this such a wonderful movie, is because it is based on a true story. And everyone wants to know that love like that is still possible. I think that she should be allowed to live here with her new family and I pray that she will be able to stay. I pray that everything will work out for them both.
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madsaru7225 November 2005Having been to Bahrain, I enjoyed picking apart all the inaccuracies in the film. Like: The Manai plaza is in the middle of a sand lot and is much more militarized. The rooms in the movie were your standard sized Hollywood "barracks room" set. The rooms at the Manai are huge, and by hotel standards, rather top notch. The mall is in the middle of the city, not the suburbs. A house like the one the princess lived in wouldn't be on a tree lined boulevard, open to the common folk. Most nice homes over there are behind walls. The "Tree of Life", being the only thing worth seeing over there, would not be so isolated as to allow the princess to talk to, much less make out with, an unclean infidel. Tourists go there all the time. Whoever suggested shooting in suburban southern California should have been fired. They were in Vegas anyway,why not shoot there?
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4leener31 August 2005Would love to own this movie. Tried to find it on Bockbuster.com and it wasn't there. I will never forget that movie as long as I live. Romantic, action, intense, raw...The characters in this movie were very believable. I was sucked right in from the start and since it played over a few days, I couldn't wait for the next "episode". Gripping movie. With all the movies and shows out there with smut, swearing, and just plain garbage, this offered real substance. This was refreshing. It's too bad that Hollywood hasn't figured out what people really want to see. A gripping tale of an Arabian princess and a marine who fall in love and are forbidden to be together, only to find a way to do just that. Come on Hollywood! Give us more like this!
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Meh acting, I mean you have Zac from Saved by the Bell. He couldn't act then, and apparently didn't learn anything over those many years.
I like true stories, so I can ignore some of the acting. However, the story is a bit of a Hollywood sham. This true life story is portrayed as some sort of Cinderela story. The true life story is not. The real Meriam was granted asylum in 2001 due to the fact it was too dangerous for her to return to Bahrain. However, she visits her family, in Bahrain, later that year. Oh, and also, they get divorced. In real life, they considered divorce after about one year of marriage. They finally made it official after about five years. Sound like a fairytale to you? -
fazanjonok20 August 2005It was an excellent romantic movie. The characters are very vivid and captivating. The only thing is when I went on the Internet to find their story it turned out that they are not as beautiful as shown in the movie and they've divorced. After some time she started partying a lot with her friends at Arabic-themed and gay parties and clubs and she was ignoring her husband. They actually used to go to Arabic parties together and enjoyed the atmosphere, but then she started going without him. There was also a lot of pressure from her parents and government as well as very realistic threats to kill her. After five years of marriage she filed for divorce even though he didn't want that at all. Now he lives with his stepmother, who is also getting over a broken relationship. So there you go.
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m-ozfirat5 January 2014First of all I am going to be frank, honest but not judgemental. A naive, adolescent, spoilt brat of a princess falls in love with an American marine disrespectful of her decorum and prestige. The marine himself means well but should have known better that what he was doing was contemptuous and perhaps lustful. Other reviewers erroneously compare it to the classic Romeo & Juliet but in reality there's a big difference. This film is the challenges about someone's cultural identity, responsibilities and problems in a challenging external world rather then selfish individual feuds that are challenging to a relationship. She enters the USA illegally and Mr Johnson had to bail her out knowing he was breaking the law and to add insult to injury the ungrateful princess divorced him in 5 years to enjoy a decadent lifestyle and a casual life. To finish of there are outdated cultural customs but that was no excuse for the princess who could of made a difference and secondly every culture has it's problems. However this film with hindsight does highlight that Muslims have to be culturally flexible not just to progress but gain with confidence global prestige and responsibility to, which this film should highlight. For those who feel sorry for the superficial (nominal) princess Meriam remember the tragic accident of Princess Diana. Before you narrowly judge the Arabic reaction to Meriam which one is the real tragedy.
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saratakacs21 February 2001I haven't had a story touch me like this in a very long time. Usually, I don't even care for love stories, but this was exceptional. It has the right mix of suspense and romance to definitely make it worthwhile. My only regret is that it was a TV movie, and that I won't get to see it again. If anyone recorded it, PLEASE EMAIL ME! I would be happy to pay you for a copy.
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brandy07_9918 February 2001I think the movie was great. I've heard more about this true story on Oprah; My only comment from the information that i have received, is this woman should be given the right to stay in this country with her new family. I wish them the best and good luck.
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annieee20 February 2001After seeing this movie, I absolutely love it, and I am now a new fan of Marisol Nichols and always will be a fan of Mark-Paul Gosselaar. They both do excellent jobs portraying their characters. As Mariem Al-Khalifa, Marisol does a wonderful job capturing the pain and sorrow of going through such an event. Mark-Paul does a remarkable job as the wonderful boyfriend/marine Jason Johnson. I love this movie! If I could, I would definitely watch it again. Those of you that missed it, I'm sorry.
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johnny5_9918 February 2001I must say that I haven't seen a good TV movie in the longest time, until now. This true story about a Princess from the Middle East falls in love with a Mormon from Las Vegas, Nevada while he is on assignment for the U.S Marines. Mark-Paul Gosselaar has really broken away from his type casting as Zack Morris of his Saved By the Bell years. If you think that you have gone through some hardships for love, take a look at this story, and you will be one-upped! And in real life the story continues with death threats and denial of asylum. I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!
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angelkiss8423 February 2001I loved this movie. in fact i love it so much i want to have a copy of it. i heard that Meriam is close to her 5th hearing it's her final chance to stay in U.S. i really hope that she stays and become a permenet Resident. I can't imagine what's gonna happen to her if she goes back. anyways god bless meriam and jason johnson. by the way, does anyone know where can i get a copy of it and if so please email me. i'd really appreciated. Thanks!
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cj8258714 February 2006*Don't read if you haven't seen the movie. It tells the general overview of what occurred.*
I absolutely loved this movie. Their romance was a true "Romeo and Juliet" tale that Shakespeare himself would've probably applauded. The hardships, the trials, and the faith they had in each other was amazing. The fact that they overcame each issue placed against them shows that love does, indeed, conquer many things. Here's a young woman, willing to give up her family and her old life to begin writing a new one with the man she fell in love with. And here's a man who's willing to risk anything and everything to keep her with him, even if it meant defying the Marines. The only sad thing to this fairy tale romance, however, is the fact that not all fairy tales last an eternity. -
pinkparadiseangl12 February 2006I loved this movie! It was such a sweet love story. The actors are totally fabulous. Everything was great. Too bad the real-life story didn't end as well as the movie did. I was very upset to learn that the real Meriam and Jason ended up divorcing after 5 years of marriage. I suppose they just had too much going against them. But truly, their story made a wonderful movie. It was exciting and touching. I was so anxious for them. I think it also shared an important message about the status women hold in other countries around the world. I would recommend this movie to anyone. It was so sweet and heart-warming to see.
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GurlyMe861 March 2001I just wanna say that this the best movie that i've ever seen. I truly believe that it should be out in theatres everywhere so everybody can see just how strong Miriam and Jason's love for each other. I recorded this movie, but I accidentally recorded over it....
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matory5 September 2001This is one of those love stories that is so fantastic, that you really can't believe it's true -- but you're happy that it is. US Marine Jason Johnson falls for a beautiful Muslim princess, and they risk their honor, careers, and even their lives to be together.
And the best part? Meriam's final hearing passed, and she's here to stay. The real Jason and Meriam are still together, still married, and (I hope!) still in love.