Summer of the Monkeys

I was 11 when this movie 1st came out. I've been a movie person since I was 2 yrs old. Movies over toys! I got this movie for Christmas 1998. Yes it's a silly Disney movie but it is beautiful. The entire movie. If you haven't watched it yet, you should. Like I said above, 25 yrs later & this movie still brings tears to my eyes. & if your wondering why about my 5/10 rating since I like it so much, my rating system is different from other people's. I never ever rate anything 9 or 10/10 (no movies perfect.) I've rated over 1,600 movies & half of them are 4/10 which means I enjoyed the movie & will watch it again someday. Now a 5/10 means I really really liked it. Movies like Star Wars, Terminators, Indiana Jones, Top Guns, Mission Impossibles, etc, I rated those 1/10... Sorry not sorry, those horrible "box office" hits sucked!

At first I thought this would be a standard boy-meets-pet movie. Indeed, in the first part, you see many typical elements of that type of movie : it's the beginning of summer vacations, young Jay wants to work at his grandfather's general store to buy a pony for himself but he can't because he has to work on the family farm. And then there's his sister who has an handicapped leg, and an the old hermit who shoots everything he sees moving in the woods.

But as the story evolves, you discover many profound characters and relationships : the old hermit is not exactly what you thought, the grandfather has many interesting conversations with his grandson and with Jay's mother (his own daughter). The relationship between Jay and his sister also develops into something not predictable at first.

And of course, the chimps are there all along, which can only add comic as well as touching situations.

I rented that movie mainly for my children, but all in all, I found many edifying lessons for myself in it.

I am in a movie club at my school and I was forced to sit and watch this utterly dismal film. The film's story is not dismal, but the entire movie itself is exceedingly dismal. The acting was absolutely dreadful. The children were overly whiny. A metal pole could have done a better job. I wanted desperately to fall asleep, but because the television was so loud, I was kept from peace. The monkey's are neither cute, nor are they funny. The drama is laugh-worthy. I cannot remember when I saw a more dreadful film. The story is weak, thin, predictable, and completely fake. The adults try to be good actors, but they just can't seem to break through stereotypes. The girl even appears to want to leave the film via falling off a hill during the movie in order to leave it, I don't blame her. Micheal Anderson should publicly apologize for this film. Not just to me, but to everyone else who was forced to sit through this awful film. In fact, I apologize to you. Even if I had nothing to do with this project, I apologize for this film, because this means at least someone will. This film even surpasses the dismalness of films that of Rob Schneider and the Cheetah Girls. I would even go as far to say that it is even worse that Hilary Duff's collection of films, but that's pushing it. Just please don't see this film, or else you'll be pushed to write a review similar to this one on how awful this film is. I'm very sorry.

This is a well acted & directed adaptation of Wilson Rawls "Summer of the Monkeys". A truly great movie for kids and a book that ought to be read too, along with Rawls award winning, "Where the Red Fern Grows".

Good summer fare for kids out of school for the summer and entertaing for adults too.

I watched this with another adult and nine children. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The monkeys were very entertaining and there were plenty of laughs. However, the movie is mainly quite serious. It deals with many issues common to adolescents such as peer relationships, bullies, sibling relationships, conflict with parents, role in the family, accepting responsibility, sharing, caring,and maturing. It also deals with seeing things from another's point of view. it is pertinent to children and bittersweet nostalgic for adults.

The story line was original, the acting very good, the cinematography outstanding and the costuming was authentic. I would give this movie very high marks and recommend it to both adults and children. There should be more movies of this quality and thoughtfulness generated for the enjoyment of families and movie buffs.