Return to Paradise (1998)

Very best movie i ever watch

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

A film about friendship, character, and inner peace. The title is a beautiful irony to the story it tells. Like a newspaper story given life, it delivers a believable portrayal of the struggles people cope with in the face of adversity and the conflict between self-preservation and humanity. The story goes straight to the point like a knife to the heart because it is true and real and depressing.Cliché as it is, traveling is not about the destination, but about the journey. Through this hour or so journey, I find that I cry, I pray that it isn't a true story, and am glad I am human.Good to watch. 8/ 10 stars

I found this movie while looking for movies with Joaquin Phoenix in them. At first I thought this could be another made-for-TV movies, but the mention of Malaysia made me look up.The actors are good, with them acting out their roles very well. I thought more exposure should be given to the circumstances of Lewis in prison, the initial trial, and some scenes of him being taken to prison. As the story unfold, I understood that the movie is not so much about Lewis, but more of the inter-play of emotions of Sheriff and Tony, as well as the effort of Beth to convince them to return to Malaysia, to save the life of Lewis.Very straight forward story line, with a little twist towards the end. Overall a good lesson for the young and reckless about the consequence of taking it easy with drugs, especially in a foreign country.No justice done about the conditions in Malaysia, however. The opening scenes are done in Thailand, with bits done with Malaysian actors. The prison looks real shabby, broken down and filthy. The prison guards and the Ministry of Interior would be up for prosecution here in Malaysia if they let the conditions to be that bad.First of all, the guards do speak English, most Malaysians do. The court scene were done in Malay because that's the standard procedure. If the person on trial does not understand Malay, an interpreter would be provided.Secondly, the legal system here would allow appeals and stay of execution if there are new evidence produced. If this is real, Lewis' case would probably be thrown on technical grounds, as there are doubt that the drugs are not entirely his, and not within his control.Treatment of prisoners in Malaysia is far better than that of the common citizen sometimes. A person facing death penalty would be in a special cell, given the best treatment to ensure their calm state of mind. Regular service by the prison priest would be done to help the prisoner come to terms with the inevitable, and to counsel the prisoner. Hanging would NEVER be done in the open, prisoners would be given time to pray, say their goodbyes, meet relatives or friends in a calm manner. Malaysian prison guards are trained to ensure the welfare of the prisoners, prisons well lighted, and clean.I'm sure that if the producers approached the Ministry officials with the proper storyline and intentions, the government would be glad to help get them. For all you know, they may even get some funding for promoting Malaysia from the government.

I watched this movie and it made me realize that Americans aren't looked up to with awe and wonder anymore like in past years. The "I'm an American" doesn't wash anymore, especially when drugs are concerned. Like the kid who was imprisoned in Turkey years ago and managed to escape. And the woman who got 33 years in Thailand back in 1980 who only had to deliver a package of some drug and get the next flight home and she would have gotten $50,000 if my memory serves me right. It doesn't pay to break the law in another country obviously, especially if you're American. Those judges aren't very sympathetic as shown in this movie. Their version of justice is far different than ours. I did not like the character of Jada Pinkett, the nosy reporter, who I think was outright responsible for the hanging. The movie should have included a scene where Anne Heche goes back to N.Y. and kills her or at the very least gives her the beating of her life, I mean a serious beating that would have left her brain damaged. She would have deserved it. Except for that missing part it was a pretty good movie.

I would recommend this film as more valuable than the Bible or Koran as a moral guide. It has no morale meaning, but nonetheless, the name genius would not be an exaggeration when talking about the director's film-making skills. The meat-head bloke was a great actor, as was the elf chick who should have been in Lord of the Rings. We feel delighted that the bloke who decided to help his friend got locked up, and got rewarded by seeing his friend die. Shouts out to the female journalist who broke the story, shouts out to all the news corporations of he world. It is up there with the classics, like Top Gun, and other moral dramas. A shame about the soundtrack, all it was lacking was a bit of Charles & Eddie.