Witness (DVD, 2005, Special Collector's Edition)

Now that "Witness" has stood the test of time since its 1985 release, it's surprising to learn that many in the industry originally shunned the project saying it was just "another cop movie". "Witness" is anything but. That Peter Weir eventually directed the movie is quite a blessing, as I can't imagine any other director having done so well.

Recently widowed, Rachel Lapp (Kelly McGillis) and young son Samuel (Lukas Haas) begin what starts out to be a serene Amtrak trip from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Baltimore. However at the impressive Philadelphia train station the plot becomes serious when Samuel, by chance, observes the brutal murder of an undercover police officer. Although a crime puts the story in motion, most of the film deals with Philly detective John Book (Harrison Ford) going into hiding in the Amish community in Lancaster County to protect Samuel as well as himself.

I like many things about Witness. Of course, there's scenic Lancaster County and the train trip. (That locale, incidentally, has many railroad attractions). Then there are many humourous moments to provide comic relief in a mostly tense movie. Many of these instances serve a secondary purpose of showing contrasts between the Amish and "English" communities. Differences explored include everything from the lack of modern technology in the Amish world to vanity to the tourists to belief regarding firearms.

An awe inspiring event is the great community feeling protrayed by the barn raising. Other highlights include a reference to golden oldies music as John and Rachel dance to Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World". Not to mention the romantic tension between John, Rachel, and neighbor Daniel (Alexander Godunov).

Tying everything together in seemingly effortless fashion is the music of Maurice Jarre (who also scored Dr. Zhivago). In perfect accompaniment to changing moods, the music transitions from haunting to amazement to suspense to danger to pain and healing to triumphant to sad to joyful with many steps in between. The classic passage "Building the Barn" could stand on its own and sometimes does.

This special collector's edition is chock full of features: enhanced widescreen, trailers, an extended deleted scene, and a 5 part documentary "Between Two Worlds: The Making of Witness" which runs almost as long as the film itself. The doc features brilliant and educational observations by Peter Weir, Photo Director John Seale, and the major stars. With all these extras, it's like getting to see "Witness" for the first time again. This is one of the greatest films of the modern era, and even greater on this DVD.

Features actors: Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis & Lukas Haas
Running time:112 min.
Rating:R

Harrison Ford stars as a disillusioned cop heading nowhere, when he becomes involved in a case that will radically change his perceptions. A young Amish boy (Lukas Haas) is witness to a murder in a train station where he and his mother (Kelly McGillis) have been travelling to visit her sister. It's a rare trip for them outside their puritanical Amish roots and only confirms their fear of a seemingly-violent outside world.

Ford's aggressive and coarse manner does not go down well with the sensitive McGillis who is trying to protect her son. He seems equally unpopular with his colleagues and the further he delves into the case, the clearer it becomes that he's in personal danger.

This development allows Weir to get Ford into the Amish countryside where he seeks refuge. Initially he's unwelcome but as he adapts to their ways they open up to him and this transformation occupies the body of the film. It's a fascinating and quiet world that Weir paints. But underneath the blossoming relationship between Ford and McGillis and the overall calm, lies the inevitable danger that they will be tracked down and violence will enter their world.

Hope this helps you decide.Thanks for reading.Please click YES at the bottom. :)

Witness is a pretty decent film. The story begins with a young Hamish boy witnessing a brutal murder on his first visit to a big city. John Book (Ford) then enters the story, a tough city cop who has to protect his witness.
The film examines the class of two cultures, the Amish and city folk. Book slowly begins to be influenced by the Amish way of life and begins to fall for an Amish girl. The idea of a cop going being influenced by foreign values has been done since (Black Rain, Red Heat) but never as well. At times you feel like you're watching two separate films, one about the Amish and a fairly conventional cop thriller.

Witness is very well written (Raymond Frensham refers to Witness as a template in his book Teach Yourself Screenwriting). Barely a scene is wasted and all of them work within the story. The soundtrack and the film in general is very eighties. Due to the stories simplicity and audience expectations I don't think Witness would get made today.

The DVD contains a short documentarily which is fine. Witness is not the kind of film you want to analyse but a film that tells a story well.

Harrison Ford did an excellent job in this movie!! One of his best performances!
There is a lot of action, love story and excitement!! You can learn a lot about
the Amish culture. I enjoyed the special features on this DVD! I would recommed
this movie as a Collector's Edition!!!!!

THE AMISH LIFE STYLE HAS ALWAYS FASINATED ME SOMEWHAT, THIS TAKES YOU INTO AN
AMISH FAMILIES LIFE. AN AMISH BOY WITNESSED A MURDER, AND NOW, SOMEONE WANTS
TO KILL HIM. BEFORE HE CAN TESTIFY. HARRISON FORD STAYS WITH THEM TO PREVENT
THIS FROM HAPPENING. (IT'S TERRIFIC.) HE FALLS IN LOVE IN THE MEANTIME WITH THEM.
THE ONLY THING I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE MOVIE IS, HE LEAVES AT THE END, AND I
WANTED HIM TO STAY WITH THEM SO BAD, THAT DISAPPOINTED ME, BEING I LIKE THE
ROMANCE THERE IS IN A MOVIE. SHAME ON HIM!!! IT'S A WONDERFUL MOVIE THOUGH.