(2013-05-05 09:37:30)

Enjoying this book very much.

This review is from: A Far-Off Place (Paperback) This is a great sequel to the first book and am enjoying it very much. Excellent condition and came quickly. Very happy.

Rainbow2003

(2013-05-05 02:10:25)

You lied to me

Reese Witherspoon is classical in this hypnotizing adventure movie. Theremaining cast is praiseworthy. The costumes are conservative. One of thegood films in the genre, A Far Off Place will lure the viewer on anunforgettable journey. 8 out of 10.

(2013-05-03 20:17:55)

Great movie

This review is from: A Far Off Place (DVD) All three of my kids age 5,9,13 love this movie. We've watched rentals and tv runs for years and finally decided to purchase it. A great early Reese Witherspoon movie that shows how determination, humor and friends can help you do the near impossible. There is some violence but tastefully done.

(2013-05-03 19:23:40)

A shining star

After seeing the movie years ago I finally came across book. I loved the movie, but the book even more. It was articulate, passionate, and though provoking. Van der Post expresses the emotions and actions of the characters so vividly it is as if you are there witnessing them. I read this before "A Story of the Wind" and did not have a problem understanding (although the movie background did help). A must read for all ages.

(2013-05-01 09:28:25)

Warning! Spoiler: The irony of the Disney world view

Disney does it again! They manage to turn two beautiful, compelling books into a story of squabbling American adolescents. I find it supremely ironic that Disney felt it necessary to turn a murderous troop of Marxist guerrillas into a murderous, greedy mining agent - this from one of the most devouring, money-hungry corporations in the history of capitalism! Did they perhaps believe that depicting a troop of black soldiers ruthlessly slaughtering the boy's family wouldn't be as politically correct (or as comprehensible to a pre-teen or early teen audience) as showing a greedy white mining agent ruthlessly slaughtering the boy's family? Of course, Francois Joubert simply has to be transformed into the obnoxious Harry Winslow (to make the movie more appealing to an American audience). And must every story involving young people of opposite sexes be turned into a "Girls are stupid! - Boys are stupider! - I love you! - I love you too!" tale of teenage battle of the sexes turned to love? It's been many years since I read the novels, but I don't remember that particular twist to the story, perhaps because Van der Post wasn't necessarily writing for the 11-14-year-old American market. If you're at all disenchanted with the world as Mickey sees (and sanitizes) it, skip the movie and read the books ("A Story Like the Wind" and "A Far Off Place").

DayDreamBeliever87

(2013-05-01 03:54:30)

Great Surprise!

Apparently, when I was extremely young(pre-school age I believe), my mother took my brother and I to see this movie. I don't remember this, but she told me the movie was very violent and there was some swearing, and she actually couldn't believe it had been rated PG. She never said she liked the film, so I never really had the desire to see it. But last night it was on tv, so I thought I'd watch it anyway. It turned out to be amazing! I wish I'd seen it earlier! I could relate to the characters, and yet was in wonder at the journey they completed. The visuals were stunning, the desert, ect. The only flaw I would point out is it is hard to determine how long they are in the desert, when a character mentions it has been two months since they set out I was fairly surprised. But I realize they can't exactly make the movie in real time, so it didn't bother me at all. I would caution parents with extremely young parents, since their are fairly disturbing scenes where animals are killed by poachers and a few swear words. But for older children and adults, I would reccommend it highly! GREAT MOVIE! I can't wait to see it again. Oh and the ending is SOOOO touching....you'll know what I mean if you see it. Happy viewing!

huston huddleston

(2013-04-07 19:48:07)

UTTER Plageristic Garbage!!! Anyone hear of WALKABOUT 1971?

How could anyone with half a knowledge of film even warrant this trite,boring, horrible film with any review but an utter, and poorly made ripoff?! The 1971 film WALKABOUT's story is "Two children are stranded inthe Australian outback and are forced to cope on their own until theymeet an Aborigine who helps them across the desert".PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, ignore the horrible film "A Far Off Place"and see the original film made 20 years before called WALKABOUT by NickRoeg and starring the fabulous Jenny Agutter. It works on many levelswith social commentary, and is truly brilliant, unlike this disgustingDisney tripe.

(2013-04-07 14:13:56)

A great story for all ages

This review is from: A Far Off Place (DVD) I had seen this on TV about 10 years ago and was so excited when I found it to purchase. It is one of my family's favorites.

Musicfan3700

(2013-04-05 19:37:04)

Wow, touching story

This story has so much knowledge and truth behind it, it's amazing. Reeseisvery good in this movie, and it's one of her best films ever. She isamazing& she is smart in this movie. Staying strong and surviving is harder thanTVshows, and this movie teaches us so much. That friends and family is moreimportant than anything, and we can make it through difficult times if wejust stick together and stay strong. This film is great, and I respectReesealot more than what I already did now. She should be proud to haveportrayedsuch an emotional and well-rounded role. I'm sure she is proud. This filmisgreat, the acting is cool, and it's emotional. But it's good family fun,ormaybe just fun for the Reese fanatic like me.

(2013-04-05 06:22:11)

Everything you could want in a book, and more.

Breifly, A Far Off Place is probably one of the greatest works of modern adventure literature. It combines all of the classic elements of the Adventure. It is an exciting book, and it also contains many lessons that, if we as a society took the time to learn, would be much better off. Fantastic book. Highly reccomended.

(2013-03-30 10:35:43)

A wonderful film that has everything!

A Far Off Place is a real dazzler of a film. It succeeds in entertainting on every level. The acting is superb. A great debut for Reese Whitherspoon. It's the kind of movie you wish you saw more of because it entertains and makes you think their are still good people in the world who care for each other. the cimomentography is great. this is a must see.

(2013-03-29 20:27:09)

Action packed adventure and coming of age story!

This book, along with "A Story Like the Wind" are my two favoite books of all time. "A Far Off Place" is the sequel and you'll want to read them in order. The charactors are truly memorable. The action is almost non-stop, but in between this exciting flight across Africa, you'll learn much about the Bushmen, the wildlife, and the hearts of two young teenagers who are required to grow up amidst a terrifying backdrop of violence. This is so well-written, I don't know why it isn't better known. Do yourself a favor and buy both these books - actually, buy 2 sets because you'll be loaning these out frequently!

(2013-03-13 05:39:02)

White boy and girl, dog, and Bushman couple flee death.

I need to correct the quotation taken from page 307 From: thy love be fulfilled, and love will be made one. To: thy love be fulfilled, and love and will made one.Lawrence D. Walker

Shawn Watson

(2013-03-12 23:15:40)

No politically correct nonsense here

I've voiced my displeasure at the current state of Disney movies beforeand pointed out how vastly different they are in the 21st Century tomovies that were made as recently as the 90s.Reese Witherspoon plays Nonnie Parker and Ethan Embry her reluctantfriend Harry. Both kids are living with their parents in rural Africawhen their home is attacked by Ivory poachers. With their bushmanfriend Xhabbo as a guide the kids take off across the Kalahari desertto reach the safety of the coast and nearest town, while the poachersplan to kill off their only witnesses.A Far Off Place opens with the massacre of a herd of elephants. Thekillers themselves are then mercilessly gunned down by supporting heroCol. Theron. Would Disney DARE allow a scene like this in the 21stCentury? Look at the quality of Tim Allen's The Shaggy Dog and you'llfind your answer. For any family-orientated movie it takes some nerveto open with killing such as this but even 16-year-old Nonnie herselfis at ease yielding a rifle and doesn't hesitate to blow-up bad guys.The African desert scenery is gorgeous and director Mikael Salomon (whoalso made the underrated Hard Rain) fills the movie with lovelycinematography. The dunes, the blue sky, the night sky...it all makesyou wish for a sunny holiday.A Far Off Place (a combination of two novels "A Story Like the Wind"and "A Far Off Place" by Laurens Van der Post) is not a well knownmovie and is quite hard to find, but it's worth hunting down. A shamethat such a good movie has fallen off the radar.

(2013-03-11 08:39:51)

it was pretty good

I saw it a long time ago and stuff but it was pretty good kinda far fetched and also I don't know how long they were supposed to be crossing the desert for but it didn't really seem that long in the movie likes one minute they were fine and the next minute they were about to die. But other than that, I thought it was a pretty good movie

Lee Eisenberg

(2013-03-10 21:32:01)

Before I knew who Reese Witherspoon was...

I saw "A Far Off Place" in the theaters. At the time, I wasn't familiarwith Reese Witherspoon. When I was reading about her a few years later,I was a little surprised to find out that the girl in "A Far Off Place"was her. "AFOP" might teach you all that you need to know aboutpoaching. It portrays Nonnie Parker (Witherspoon) and Harry Winslow(Ethan Embry) having to flee into the Kalahari with guide Xhabbo (SarelBok) after their camp gets attacked by poachers. Throughout the tripacross the desert, the three of them not only get to know each other,but get a feel for the land. This is one movie that you're sure tolike.

(2013-03-05 23:54:31)

It's like magic

This book is like magic, the characters become more than characters they become freinds. Reading this book is like traveling through a lost time of Africa. It elequently expresses the magic of Africa.

SamS

(2013-03-05 12:34:53)

no words to explain my shock except.....great

we were watchin this movie in skool and the first 10 mins. got me hooked.reese witherspoon was so hot adn looked great with ethan. the story annd visuals were great along with the direction. TWO THUMBS WAY UP!!!!!!!i recommend this movie for kids over the age of nine adn all adults and if you are not to worried about disturbing images and some swear words younger kids should watch it too. nayways it is a GREAT MOVIE

cbjslp

(2013-03-01 23:07:54)

Very original; not a 'knock-off' of "Walk-About"!

This movie about the struggles of these young people in a hostileenvironment, not knowing who to trust, and learning to know and trustthemselves and each other, truly touched me. I have the tape and it isone that I enjoy watching again and again. Several observers haveindicated that "A Far Off Place" is a poor re-make of theAustralian-set "Walk-About". If they had paid attention to the writingcredits, they would have found that "Walk-About" was based on the novelof the same name by James Vance Marshall. "A Far Off Place" is based ontwo novels by Laurens van der Post: "A Story of the Wind" and "A FarOff Place". Van der Post was by far the more acclaimed author. Severalreviewers of both movies have commented on the animal death scenes. Inthis movie, in the Kalahari, the unanswered question I have wonderedabout is; what happened to Nonni's dog?

aimless-46

(2013-03-01 01:32:33)

Probably Not For Pre-Teens

It is unfair to judge a children's film by the same non-technicalstandards you would judge a film made for a more mature audience. Thatsaid, I had a difficult time figuring out the intended target audiencefor Disney"s "A Far Off Place", an odd mix of "Alaska", "Walkabout",and "Blue Lagoon". Since each of these films had a different targetaudience (children for "Alaska", adults for "Walkabout", and teens for"Blue Lagoon"), "A Far Off Place" suffers from a poorly matched andconfused mix of story elements, the attempt to appeal to multipletarget audiences ultimately makes it unappealing to all audiences.Despite some positive comments on this database, "A Far Off Place" didnot impress audiences at the time of its 1993 release and has generatedlittle interest since. Based on stories by South African writer Laurensvan der Post, "A Far Off Place" is the story of three teenagers: Nonnie(Reece Witherspoon as a girl raised on South African game preserve),Harry (Ethan Randall as a visiting American boy) and Sorel Bok (astheir young Bushman guide Xhabbo) who attempt to evade a gang of ivorypoachers by fleeing into the Kalahari Desert. Ethan Randall is actuallyEthan Embry from "Can't Hardy Wait".Although recommended for ages eight and up, younger viewers will bedisturbed by the early scenes, where the family's idyllic life is endedby a night attack on their home by the poachers. The house is burnedand the parents are murdered. And more mature viewers will be deeplydisturbed by the next scene where Nonnie turns into Rambo and killsmost of gang in a sequence credible only to a horrified eight-year old. At this point it begins to look like "Walkabout", a story of anAustralian girl, her little brother, and a young Aborigine on hisritual journey to manhood. In a significant deviation from the bookXhabbo's wife does not accompany the group into the desert. "Walkabout's" more adult theme of interracial sexual awakening isreplaced by a "Blue Lagoon" romance between the two white teenagers, areflection of the film's narrower values and more modest ambitions.The scenes shot in the desert are almost the equal of "Alaska" forscenic beauty but "Alaska"s" more realistic survival challenges aresuperior to the blend of survival skills and mystic powers that Xhabbodemonstrates to his two companions during their journey. There is anelement of "The Gods Must Be Crazy" in this clash of cultures but thefilm does not go very far (bad pun intended) with the concept. Both "Alaska" and "A Far Off Place" insert the element of poacherviolence into the journey, to the detriment of the basic story.'Walkabout" did not need this and found sufficient story material inthe enormity of the survival experience.Bok is excellent as the young Bushman and Randall/Embry's performanceis solid if unexceptional. Those interested in Witherspoon's early workwould be better served checking out her great debut performance in "TheMan In the Moon" and avoiding this career misstep. Those looking for achildren/family story should stick with "Alaska".Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.