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TechnoTV - Simon Birch
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List Price: $9.99
Our Price: $4.69
Your Save: $ 5.30 ( 53% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
Starring: Ian Michael Smith, Joseph Mazzello, Ashley Judd, Oliver Platt, David Strathairn
Directed By: Mark Steven Johnson
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780788815461
Format: Closed-captioned
ISBN: 0788815466
Label: Walt Disney Video
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Letterbox
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 1999-05-18
Running Time: 114
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1998-09-11
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Simon Birch
Comment: this is one of the best movies that I have seen. I had the video but wanted to get the dvd and what a great price.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Take my advice - read the book
Comment: How anyone who read the masterpiece "A Prayer for Owen Meany" could possibly like this movie is beyond me. I am STUNNED at the number of positive reviews. Simon Birch is an abomination and I am so thankful that John Irving pulled his support from it and forced them to use the name Simon instead of Owen so as not to taint the book. The book is one of my all-time favorites; beautiful, funny and moving. This film is embarrassingly bad in comparison. Pass Simon Birch over and read Owen Meany - you won't be disappointed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Ugh...
Comment: I HATED this movie! The kid drove me absolutely crazy! I don't see why people like it so much. Terrible movie. I only liked the beginning and the end because it had Jim Carrey in it for a minute. The rest of the movie was blah. I wouldn't waste my time to see it again.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Order from chaos
Comment: Released in 1998, "Simon Birch" was directed and written by Mark Steven Johnson ("Daredevil," "Ghost Rider") loosely based on John Irving's novel "A Prayer for Owen Meany."
The story takes place in 1964 in coastal Maine and involves two misfit friends, both 12 years old, both outcasts, Simon a dwarf and Joe a bastard child.
Despite his challenging condition Simon strongly believes there's a reason he's a dwarf and that God has a purpose for him. He believes he's going to be a hero of some sort. It's also evident that he believes he's going to die young, perhaps die as a hero. Does he have any proof for this belief? No. It's just something he knows.
Joe, on the other hand, desperately wants to know who his father is. His mother (Ashley Judd) got pregnant during her senior year in high school but she's never told anyone the identity of the father. Much of the story involves Simon and Joe trying to figure out who Joe's father is.
The reality of Simon's condition is driven home when Joe tells him a local girl finds him cute. Simon responds, "She means cute like a baby turtle is cute. Girls don't kiss baby turtles." "How do you know," Joe asks. "I just know. If you were me you'd know too."
"Simon Birch" is very reminiscent of 1994's "Forrest Gump." Both are named after their protagonist, both take place in the 60s, both involve outcasts who are challenged mentally or physically, both have the same style, both are heavy and light at the same time -- serious drama balanced out by great humor and great tragedy. I have no doubt that director/writer Johnson was shooting for the next "Forrest Gump."
Although "Birch" isn't as good as "Gump" it comes close to greatness. Unlike "Gump" it failed at the box office, making only $18 million in the USA while costing $20 million, but I've been hearing good things about it for years and finally decided to check it out. I'm glad I did. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
For the first 10 minutes or so I wasn't sure if I was going to buy into the film's inevitable contrivances and melodramatics, but the next thing I knew I was sucked into the story and having a good time. When it was all over I had a lot of things to reflect on. In fact, I watched it again. This is a sign of a good film. Yes, there are some "Yeah, right" moments but watch a few old b&w flicks where contrivances and melodramatics are a way of life. A film can get away with being a tad unlikely or sentimental if it is sincere and finds the right tone.
One scene involves a baseball hitting someone in the head. This brought to memory something that happened to me when I was around 8 years old: My family and I were walking the trails of Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis when we came to the edge of a baseball field. As soon as we entered the outfield somehow I just knew that the current batter was going to hit the ball and it was going to hit me right in the face. I knew it but I didn't know how I knew. I just knew. Next thing you know the batter hits the ball high into the air -- it was like slow motion -- and it came and hit me right on the cheek! (The only good thing was I think it was a softball). How did I KNOW this was going to happen? I don't know, but it's pretty amazing. I bring this up not only because there's a similar scene in "Simon Birch" but also because I believe it relates to Simon knowing and believing he had a purpose and was going to die a hero.
The idea of Simon dying is no spoiler, by the way. It's revealed right at the opening that Simon and someone else would die before the film ends. This, of course, softens the shock when they do and allows the tale to play as bittersweet nostalgia. Some people call the story sad and tragic, but I don't get this. Again, we know right from the get-go who's going to die. We just don't know when and how. Besides, everyone dies sooner or later (but not every one grows up).
This is the first and only film I've ever seen Ashley Judd in and she's ANGELIC. Seriously, Ashley is the definition of spirituality, not to mention stunningly beautiful.
Another likable character is Ben Goodrich, played by Oliver Platt. He assumes the father-figure role to both Simon and Joe, but he's very natural about it, not pushy.
Some of the themes addressed are:
-- Order, purpose and love in a bloody realm of chaos.
-- It's possible to be religious but not spiritual.
-- If you KNOW something in your heart, never give up or stop believing.
-- Who is your real father -- the man from whose loins you came or the one who loves & mentors you?
-- The conflict of flesh and spirit, random chance and order, meaningless existence or purposeful life.
-- Sex/romance can cause you to make really stoo-pid mistakes.
-- Going through religious motions but no longer really believing.
-- Religion and truth are not necessarily one in the same. A person can get bogged down in the mire of religion and miss the whole point. Truth, by contrast, always sets FREE (including freedom FROM the carnal nature).
The characters are real and likable. There's some crudeness and cussing, but it reflects real life rather than crudeness for the sake of crudeness. Even the 'villains' are not totally unlikable or without sympathy. Rev. Russell comes across more as a man who's simply lost his way while continuing to go through the motions rather than a man out to abuse people. Same thing with the Sunday school teacher.
Watch out for the laugh-out-loud scene involving the manger, the baby Jesus and the girl who plays the virgin Mary.
Jim Carrey has a small role as Joe when he's an adult, bookending the film and narrating the story. Carrey insisted he not be credited in the advertising of the picture because he didn't want people to be mislead concerning what type of film it is.
The locations are gorgeous, filmed in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and on the French River in Ontario.
The runtime is 1 hour and 50 minutes before the end credits.
PERSONAL GRADE: B+ or A-
Customer Rating:
Summary: Worst movie ever, can i give one star?
Comment: This was the unofficial movie of Owen Meany, one of the best books i have ever read. This movie was a severe disappointment. If i had not paid good money to see it in the theater, i would have walked out. Just read the book, cause this movie is not worth the time.
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Editorial Reviews:
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A heartwarming and funny hit that's earned overwhelming critical acclaim, SIMON BIRCH features great performances from stars Ashley Judd (DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD, HIGH CRIMES, KISS THE GIRLS) and Oliver Platt (BICENTENNIAL MAN, DON'T SAY A WORD) in an outstanding cast! Even though Simon Birch is the smallest kid in town, deep down he knows that he was born to do something big! He's on a constant search to discover his destiny, but somehow manages to find nothing but trouble! Meanwhile, Simon's loyal best friend, Joe (Joseph Mazzello -- JURASSIC PARK, RADIO FLYER), is searching for the identity of his father, a secret his beautiful mother (Judd) has guarded Joe's entire life. Discover for yourself the undeniable charms of this uplifting and inspirational motion picture as these two share the hilarious, and sometimes tragic, ups and downs that will forever bind them together!
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