Karadago

I am a big fan of The ABC Movies of the Week genre. I am only 27, meaning I wasn't even born until after the series ended, but I am trying to collect as many of them on DVD as possible. I have about a dozen or so. I had read such wonderful things about this film, both on here and elsewhere, that I was really excited to see it. I just received my DVD in the mail today and watched it anxiously. I'll admit that the first one or two phone calls did give me the creeps - that boy's voice would give anyone the creeps! But it began to ware off fast and the entire divorce subplot was stupid. I also figured out that Michael Douglas was the antagonist about a half an hour before the movie ended. As soon as that story was told about how Elizabeth Ashley's character had locked up his mother, I knew something was fishy. Plus, didn't anyone ever think to ask him why he happened to suddenly appear that night when the fire occurred in the barn? I'll admit that I thought he was coaching a boy at the school to make the phone calls. I didn't guess the mute boy part or the pre-recorded tapes (did they ever say whose voice that actually was? I doubt Douglas could ever get his voice that high?).

I am only giving this movie a four out of ten because I actually liked most of the acting in it. Ashley especially is great.

It's a shame, because this movie has such a great premise, but oh well, thats what happens sometimes when one gets his or her hopes up for a movie too much.

What a horrible sin to waste the talents of this Oscar and Emmy-winning actress! In a storyline that is barely passable in itself (what 12 year old kid acts as perfect as little John does???) Duke is merely scenery as law clerk for Reuben. Her screen time is limited, as it was in her last Hallmark film, A Season for Miracles (1999) but at least in that one her character was an important aspect of the story. Here she is simply window dressing. What ever happened to the days when she was starring in gorgeous Hallmark productions such as Harvest of Fire (96) and A Christmas Memory (97) both of which she should have received Emmy nods for.

On the other hand, Ving Rhames does all he can in his role as the grandfather, but Gloria Reuben probably needs to have her acting phoned in for her, as it looks like she is reciting them from a teleprompter or something - no feeling, just words.

And the ending absolutely sucks. It plays it safe once again, when one of the few redeeming assets of the movie was how the mother-son reunion was not written from a Hallmark card, but much more real. In the end everything is a mess and the reader sits there wondering why he or she just wasted 2 hours of their time.

My score: 5/10

With such talents as Patty Duke Astin, Lee Remick, Colleen Dewhurst, Tyne Daly, Mare Winningham and more in one single film, how can one go wrong?

This is an excellent story of Mira (Remick) as she experiences being a wife and mother from the 1950s, through the 70s. Outstanding performances all around. Astin and Dewhurst were both up for supporting Emmys. Just watch as Astin has her final scene, where she is telling Remick what it was like to be locked up in a nut house. Powerful stuff and acting does not get any better than this.

Remick, who was unjustly overlooked for a nomination, hasn't been better since Days of Wine and Roses. She carries the picture very well.

A Pre-Cagney & Lacy Tyne Daly also does some of her best work in this film.

Please ignore the comments by the first reviewer. This is NOT a man-hating movie! I am a man and was not one bit offended by anything in the story.

This is not available on video, so try to catch it next time it is on Lifetime!

I just finished watching this movie on Lifetime. I must have seen it 15 or 20 times, but it is truly one of those movies that seems to get better each time. Patty Duke, and the program itself, were not only robbed of Emmys, but also of nominations. It is an ongoing injustice with the TV Academy. A miracle of some sorts was made with this movie. It was produced in the middle of the true crime tv-movie phase, where one movie looked like another, but this one stands apart on its own.

If you are a fan of Ms. Duke's or of real gutsy characters, check this one out!

This film is a lot better than the original and any of the others (which isn't saying much) mostly because of Patty Duke's strong performance. The writing it horrible (but better than the 1979 original) and makes little sense, most of the charactors are not believable but Duke pulls it off. Her and Jane Whyatt really have a great daughter/mother chemistry.

Watch this film for this reason only.

This film would not normally be considered a great film, but beacuse it stays true in reflecting the innocent times of the original 1963-66 tv seris, it works.

Patty Duke has not lost her touch and playing the genetically unexplainable identical cousins, Patty and Cathy and she looks great.

The rest of the original cast also reflect the magic they did on the original show and are still the same in personailty. The one who has probably changed the most is Jean Byron as "Mommo" and for the better. IN the original she would never have said anything salty like talking about Viagra. It's wonderful to see her so full of spunk.

Cindy Williams, who is new to the cast,is also excellent as the evil Sue Ellen. She goes way over the top with her role as you would need to.

As for the kids, Liam and Molly, both are wonderful, however, Liam's Scotch voice is kind of hard to understand.

This film achieved a lot more than any other reunion movie I have seen before. They take us into the 90s, yet, with the innocence of the early 60s.

This is a film that is beatifully done in every sense. Its direction, its acting (Patty Duke is marvelous), its music, its writing, just everything. It's as gorgeous as looking at one of the amish's quilts.

From Hallmark Hall of Fame, this was the year's second highest-rated tv movie.