Blucher One of the worst movies I've ever seen

BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Majorthebys Charming and brutal

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Python Hyena Return to Paradise (1998): Dir: Joseph Ruben / Cast: Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Joaquin Phoenix, Jada Pinkett, David Conrad: Three friends travel to Malaysia and experiment with drugs. Two of them return to New York while the other remains. Two years later they are given word that their friend was caught with drugs and will be hanged in eight days unless they return and accept responsibility with a three year sentence. Directed by Joseph Ruben who brings conviction to the material as well as request viewers to think. This is a big step for a guy who made the laughable Money Train. Vince Vaughn brings soul seeking desperation. Anne Heche is persistent with a secret of her own. One issue that distracts is the romance that develops between Vaughn and Heche, which is standard and unnecessary. Joaquin Phoenix is convincing as a guy who has suffered too long. David Conrad plays the third guy who will be reluctant to make the return especially when family factors in. Jada Pinkett on the other hand displays the media's greed to the point where she is unlikeable. She plays a journalist out for herself and her action bare consequences to innocent people. This is hardly entertaining but its message is driving and final. Beautiful photography highlights a place of overwhelming beauty where three guys find a private paradise turn into their own private hell. Score: 7 ½ / 10

Wuchak "Return to Paradise" (1998) is about three Americans in Malaysia. Two of them are friends from New York City (Vincent Vaughn and David Conrad) and the other they meet there, an environmental-hippie type (Joaquin Phoenix). The three have a great time partying together and then the two from New York go back to the grind in the USA. Two years later they find out that their friend in Malaysia has been in prison for having too much hashish, which the three purchased together. Due to the country's severe drug laws, those considered traffickers are put to death and, unfortunately, the hippie possessed beyond the limit. He'll hang in eight days unless the other two go back and they'll all get 3 years in prison; if only one goes back it's 6 years each. Will they go back? That's the set-up of the film and it's not a spoiler since this all unfolds in the first 20 minutes, which means that most of the rest of the movie takes place in New York and focuses on whether or not the other two will go back and save their friend. Keep in mind that this was a dude they met in Malaysia so it's not like they were bosom buddies from their youth or anything.The trailer of "Return to Paradise" miss-advertised the film as a thriller largely taking place in exotic SE Asia, but that's not the case. This is a drama that involves a moral conundrum, a Christ figure and possible redemption. The story concentrates on Vaughn and Anne Heche, the latter as the lawyer of the hippie who tries to convince the other two to go back to save their friend. Complicating the situation even further is the fact that there are no legal documents involved since Malaysia is a third world country and, as such, there's no guarantee that the two will "only" get three years. And what about the other potential negative possibilities, like never making it out of the hellhole alive? This is a top of the line film and the producers went all-out to serve up a quality picture; for instance, the Malaysian prison scenes are very convincing. Also, the actors are great across the board and Vaughn proves that he can nail a dramatic role. Moreover the moral is to die for, no pun intended. Unfortunately the actors are strapped to the contrivances of the plot and I had a hard time seeing them as real people in a real situation. In other words, it seemed like the characters do this-or-that merely because the screenplay says he or she is supposed to do this-or-that at that moment. And so I was never really able to embrace them as real people, but rather as puppets manipulated by the script. Still, it's not bad and it's worth catching if you like the actors and the story trips your trigger.The film runs 111 minutes and was shot in New York City, Thailand, New Jersey, Philadelphia and China.GRADE: C+

Spikeopath Sheriff and Tony are taking a hedonistic holiday in Penang, Malaysia. Hooking up with friend of the Earth, Lewis McBride they have a wonderful time and bonds are well and truly formed. Come the time for Sheriff and Tony to return to America, they leave Lewis their respective blocks of Hasish as gifts. The name Lewis McBride is forgotten by both men until two years later a lawyer turns up in New York to tell them both some startling news. After the boys left Penang, the police searched their beach house and found the Hashish, the volume of which got him arrested for drug trafficking. A crime punishable by death by Malaysian law. In 8 days time, Lewis, who has been locked up in dreadful Penang prison for two years, will be hung unless both the guys go back to Penang and accept their responsibility for the Hashish. An acceptance that will get each of them 3 years prison themselves.Return To Paradise is a remake of a little known and seen French film from Pierre Jolivet called Force majeure. Throwing up a deep moral quandary and no small amount of surprises, it may just be one of the most undervalued films from the 90s. Starring Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Joaquin Phoenix and Jada Pinkett Smith, Jolivet's story gnaws away at the audience as it forces the issue at hand. Namely what would you do in the same situation? To save a friends life are you prepared to spend three years in a notoriously dank and desperate hell hole? Tho the piece is emotionally loaded in favour of doing what most would deem the right thing, the makers sucker us in, only to then steer us in other directions with a triple hander of a finale. There is also the impact of the press here, something that is crucial to the plot, and it's something that thankfully isn't glossed over. This really is a tightly constructed picture.Vaughn {Sheriff} shows some great dramatic chops, it's refreshing to see him away from frat pack comedy shenanigans. Heche {Beth} looks gorgeous and gives her character real depth, while Phoenix as the imprisoned Lewis is heartbreakingly real. Not faring so well is Pinkett Smith as pesky reporter M.J. Major. Tho only a small part, it's really hard to accept her as a tough reporter who can get things done. Worthy of a mention is the cinematography by Reynaldo Villalobos, the shift in tones he uses between Malaysia to America is very smart and forces the issue of two completely different cultures. This is after all not just about a dilemma, it's also about differing laws on different continents. I found this film to be an emotional roller-coaster that stayed with me for some time after. It's hoped that more people will seek it out and get as much emotion and cranial ponderings from it that I most assuredly did. 8/10

jessica_marsters_5 So I thought that the movie was good. It is incredibly emotional and moving but the reason it is so good is because of the strong performances of the cast. I thought Vince Vaughn was amazing, you usually associate him in comedy roles and I was really impressed with how good he was in this. Anne Heche was also terrific but what gets me is how wonderful Jaoquin Phoenix is! Every movie he has been in he has given a memorable performance and now only after Walk the Line is he getting the credit he deserves. He is by far way under rated and I am pleased that everyone is finally taking notice on what a phenomenal actor he truly is. I would recommend this movie if for nothing else the superb acting from everyone of the cast members, you won't regret seeing it!