- Language: English
- Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005JLXB
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#17,620 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
- #47 in DVD > Art House & International > By Country > Australia & New Zealand
- #48 in DVD > Drama > Love & Romance > Love Triangle
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Product Description
From Amazon.com
The Quiet American proves that elegant and intelligent filmmaking can be emotionally powerful. Michael Caine plays Thomas Fowler, a British journalist in 1950s Vietnam with a lovely Vietnamese mistress named Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen) and a jaded view of the political strife teeming around him. He befriends a seemingly innocuous American named Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), who falls in love with Phuong--and slowly, Pyle's real purpose in Vietnam becomes revealed. Fowler finds that, to hold on to the carefully balanced life he's created for himself, he must make choices he's long avoided. Caine and Fraser are both superb and give a human face to complicated politics; as a result, The Quiet American manages to be compelling as both history and a story about very specific people embroiled in a very personal conflict. An impressive film from director Philip Noyce (Rabbit-Proof Fence, Patriot Games). --Bret Fetzer
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Correcting History
Mar 23 2003
Format:DVD
The first movie version of "The Quiet American" was made in 1958. However the story was changed to suit American propaganda purposes - with input from the CIA via Edward Lansdale (read "The Unquiet American" by Curry.
Another example of American efforts to cover up their murderous and illegal activities in Vietnam.
Finally this re-make tells what Graham Greene wanted to say - that as far back as the 1950's, America was gearing up for war - and just looking for excuses to wage it - as it continues to do now. CIA operatives hide under the title of "Technicians" "Doctors" "Advisors" and so on. Really murderers and criminals who should be imprisoned, or hanged.
Greene would be happy to know that finally his book has been truthfully made into a movie. He tried to warn, and maybe prevent the American War in Vietnam. Yet American aggression was too strong, and an unnecessary war was waged on a poor and underdeveloped country, under the "Bright Shining Lie" of trying to "save" Vietnam from "falling". Yet all Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh wanted was independence from foreigners - unacceptable to the US - "wars of national liberation cannot be supported".
See this movie and reflect on what America has done to the world since the end of World War 2. It has taken the methods and madness of Nazi Germany and spread unrest, destruction, murder and war around the world. And it has failed to show any remorse for it's immoral and illegal actions.
With regard to the American War in Vietnam, the US should be forced to pay the reparations it promised Vietnam - $3.5 billion - in todays terms about $15bn - and it should be forced to admit it's guilt, and assist Vietnam in cleaning up the millions of unexploded bombs and mines still killing innocent people today. (I live in Vietnam)
The message of the Quiet American is to never trust the US, never believe it, and keep the evil virus out of your country, if you can! "The Quiet American" is a message that arrived too late for Vietnam, but perhaps not for other countries.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Fine performances, good story, well acted; questions.
July 12 2004
Format:VHS Tape
This adaption or adaptation of Graham Greene's novel, features fine performances, by Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, and the lovely actress who played Caine's mistress Do Thi Hai Yen. Set in Vietnam, when the French were involved, the movie surrounds the relationship of these three people. It concerns the involvement of an American (Fraser) and a journalist (Caine), and their love for the same woman (Yen). It also poses questions about the involvement of the Americans (especially as the headlines are shown at the end of the movie-about U.S. troops and others). All is not quite as it seems with Fraser's character turning out to be a CIA operative and dealings with the regime, who it turns out is as bad as the communists it's trying to replace; with help from the Americans. The brutality that is set against the backdrop of the "love story" is truly horrific and leaves one (at the end of the movie) questioning the United States' involvement, like that of the French before, in Southeast Asia. [Not unlike our involvement now in the Middle East.] A well acted movie with stellar performances, as usual by Mr. Caine, who is among the premiere actors Britain has ever produced, to my mind, and who always brings a certain class and passion to his roles. Mr. Fraser is also good. Worth seeing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
A Quiet But Powerful Movie
Jun 14 2004
Format:VHS Tape
Michael Caine, nominated for an Academy Award for best actor for this role, and Brendan Fraser (GODS AND MONSTERS)star in this riveting film about Vietnam in the early 50's. While we find out in the first few frames of the movie the fate of one character, the plot takes many surprising twists and turns; and the ending completely surprised me. I am not at all convinced that the movie ends like Graham Greene's novel by the same name. On the other hand, it doesn't have to since the movie is not the novel.
Caine plays a British journalist and Fraser is a young "quiet" American. The movie-- and I assume the novel which I haven't read-- is prophetic in an eerie way about what later is to come in Vietnam. Something tells me they aren't looking at this one in the White House private screening room.
These two actors, along with Do Thi Hai Yen, are outstanding in what had to be one of the best movies of 2002.
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Most recent customer reviews
Pretty good for Hollywood
Being a fan of Graham Greene makes it hard to not look forward to this film. Yet for all its splendid imagery and evocation of nostalgia, they could have done with more attention... Read more
Published on Jan 18 2004 by Dr. Laszlo
Oddly Current while Remaining Historical
I will let the other reviewers talk about Michael Caine's excellent work as well as the rest of the cast. Read more
Published on April 30 2003 by Glenn Brown
Michael Caine Stacks Up Another One
Well, Michael Caine's certainly not going to have to make any excuses about his career in the hereafter, because he always manages to do an excellent job of it, no matter what he's... Read more
Published on Mar 27 2003 by Linda McDonnell
Wow ...
Just saw this in the theater ... worth every minute of your time: well-paced, gorgeous ... and a thriller even though you're told the ending at the beginning, and the protagonist... Read more
Published on Mar 22 2003
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