Walking Across Egypt (1999) Reviews

• Talk about Sleepers

  Bob-3212000-10-09

  I'd never heard of this movie, but I like Ellen Burstyn very much and rented the disk because she was the star. A couple of hours later I had tears on my cheeks and the feeling that I'd seen a film made in earlier, simpler times. That's a compliment. It's the story of a sweet elderly lady (Burstyn) whose faith and trust reform a juvenile delinquent (the fine teenage actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas). OK, it's a corny plot and it's been done a thousand times. And maybe not every question is answered here. But there are many surprises -- small story twists that are clever, reasonable and satisfying. Countless details show expert writing and film-making. Besides the two stars, the cast includes some solid names: Harve Presnell, Gwen Verdon, Edward Herrmann, Judge Reinhold and Mark Hamill. The title comes from the old-fashioned expression, "I could no more do [something impossible] than I could walk across Egypt." Incredibly, the rural, moss-draped locations were all found "in and around the city of Orlando." Florida, that is. Don't look for the travel-agency Orlando. Just do yourself a favor. Relax, forget the frantic concepts that some recent movie s have made us think are essential, and give yourself to "Walking Across Egypt." A handsome film, a superb cast, a heart-warming story. We're not often handed so many pleasures in a single picture.

• simply beautiful

  madseason1062000-07-25

  This movie blew me away completely. I am a Jonathan Taylor Thomas fan, and had been waiting to see him in a new movie. Some of his others films were pretty corny, and I was afraid that he would not escape his "bubble gum, sugar-sweet" image, However, this film proves he can do drama as well as the next guy. Everyone in my family enjoyed the movie tremendously- especially me. Ellen Burnstyn is superb as Mattie, the elderly God-fearing woman practically looking forward her to funeral, until Wesley comes along. He brings youth and joy to her life, and she brings intelligence, truth, and God into his. Both sides benefit from this experience. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a heartfelt, meaningful drama that is also sweet and funny.

• A worthwhile adaptation of a fine novel

  cooprenner2000-04-02

  Clyde Edgerton's novel, on which this movie is based, is one of the funniest books I have ever read. Some of that comedy is situational, which can be translated to the screen, and some is a matter of Edgerton's writing-- his tone, his word choice, his timing-- which can't be carried over into a movie. That said, this adaptation catches the heart of the story-- about an elderly widow who decides to accept a juvenile delinquent as a sort of foster son-- and Burstyn portrays the widow as feistily as Edgerton describes her. If this summary make the movie sound like a "Touched by an Angel"-style wannabe, it should not. The characters behave like believable human beings worse!], and their idiosyncracies both charm and irritate. By all means, rent this video. And then do yourself a big favor and read the book.

• Great!

  kyushu20022000-07-24

  Walking Across Egypt is a GREAT movie! It is a classic but with modern manners. I don't know how else to explain. At first you may think it is a classic type movie, but then it changes to the real world. It has great acting and is one that everybody should watch sometime. It is a good, clean (except for the language, but it is a integral part of the movie) movie. It is great!

• struggling to obey Jesus' teaching

  depaulubf2000-07-10

  This film shows the beauty of a simple elderly woman's efforts to obey Jesus' teachings in Matthew 25. She has to struggle with her own misgivings about helping the boy, coming from her fears and common self-protection, as well as with the opposition of her adult children and even fellow church members. But her simple acts of love toward the boy prove to be a most powerful and effective way of reaching into his soul and reforming him. It is a profound critique of our tendency to institutionalize both the elderly and juvenile people in our society, and shows that basic humanity and love are still what life is really all about.