DARYL HANNAH AND PAMELA REED STAR IN THIS RICHLY DETAILED, BEAUTIFULLY SHOT SAGA OF THE RISE OF A MORE ADVANCED CLAN OF CAVE PEOPLE. JOHN SAYLES WROTE THIS ADAPTATION OF JEAN M. AUEL'S WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER. BONUS: FIRST-EV... more »ER WIDESCREEN VIDEO RELEASE. SUBTITLES IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH.« less
Really good historic perspective of the cave man, woman and child. A must watch for Cave and Daryl Hannah fans!
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
William E. from ATKINSON, IL Reviewed on 6/30/2011...
I just noticed that no one is waiting for this film. I find it hard to believe.
This is a great film (even without reading the books). It was done well and kept the viewer interested the entire way.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Dale H. from CARTER LAKE, IA Reviewed on 5/25/2011...
This is a good movie but not one we wish to keep in our collection.
We have reposted this DVD to this site.
Thank you
1 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Andrea C. from EAST PALATKA, FL Reviewed on 12/6/2009...
since I'm a big fan of the "Earth's Children" books, I enjoyed this movie. It was interesting to see one interpretation of the people and their activities rather than just visualizing it in my mind while reading. Darryl Hannah plays the main character, Ayla, and I think she does a wonderful job. She's strong, smart yet vulnerable and emotional. Some of the Neanderthals, the "clan," are stereotypically brutush grunting cave people, but others are shown as advanced as the Cro-Magnons. I had this movie years ago but must have loaned it to someone; sorry, but I'm not going to post this DVD since I want to keep it!
4 of 6 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Save your money, buy the book
A. Burchfield | Conway, Missouri USA | 11/16/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"As so often happens with screen adaptations of books this one is a real loser. From start to finish the writers/producers seem to have taken the general plot outline and characters and dropped most of the actual story.
It will do all right as a way to spend an afternoon if you haven't read the book (at this writing the paperback is $2 cheaper)but too much is so unlike what Ms. Auel wrote. I know that lot's of detail had to be removed for times sake but at what cost to the story? Little Ayla's orphaning resembles the book as does her discovery by the Clan but the way the Neanderthals behave isn't like the book. I don't even remember all of the scenes but when Ayla gives birth to her son Durc, that's conpletely different, although good. Later in the story when Ayla's adoptive mother Iza (Pamela Reed unrocognizable in makeup)is too old and frail to go to the CLan Gathering Ayla is sent in her place, they made a real mess of that one.
Daryl Hannah is very well cast as the adult Ayla, she's the best reason to watch ths movie."
A Great Movie
Roy L. Morgan | Dugway, UT United States | 04/04/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have read all of the books based on Ayla and loved them all, have read them many many times. There is no possible way that you could take the book and make it into a movie without leaving out a lot of details. I feel they did a wonderful job with the movie and I have watched it many times. To be more true and accurate to the book you would have to make a Mini-series and I for one would love to see that!!! It would make for a much more interesting night of television than most of the junk that they have on now. Daryl Hannah was an excellent Ayla but the entire cast had their work cut out for them but I was also very impressed with James Remar as Creb, wow did he bring Creb to life. For those that nit picked this movie apart then I suggest that you don't watch it again, for myself I will watch it again and again. Would really like to see a sequel!!"
As an Auel Fan, and a very picky person, I love this movie.
Sharon Hawkins | Iowa, USA | 07/30/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I read the whole series long before I saw the movie, and as a person who frequently reads before she sees any movie editions, I can be disappointed at times, and not for nitpicking reasons.However, this time I was not only plesantly surprised, I was blessed with this movie. I happen to think that many film adaptations of books are not very well done because of how much has to be cut out, rewritten, etc, for the sake of a movie.This one, however, was wonderful. Yes, some things were changed, but the book managed to keep Auel's talents alive within the film. I loved the genuine-feeling prehistoric atmosphere the movie portrayed, and the sign language mixed with the type of verbal words that would be typical of the Clan as described by Auel--it's excellent. There was not even a large need for subtitles, the body language says it all. Unlike Splash, Daryl Hannah did a superb job with this movie. I would reccomend it to anyone unless they feel like doing the old nitpick. If you do, this movie's not for you."
One of the finest adaptations of a book to film
A. Burchfield | 07/21/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The film captures the essence of the book of the same title by Jean Auel. I liked the book very much, which is what prompted me to buy the movie. In agreement with another reviewer, if you are going to watch it to nit-pick about plot inconsistencies, the film is not for you. But all of the book's characterization and polemical elements are there in flying colors in the movie.What was most startling for me was the performance given by Daryl Hannah. I am not a frequent movie viewer, so her name immediately brought to mind "Splash" - which this definitely is NOT. Her portrayal of Ayla was one of the finest acting performances I have seen... especially given (or because of) the language / sign language handicap. Auel spent a lot of time in the book describing the modes of non-verbal communication of the Clan, and it is clear that Hannah was up to the challenge of communicating the character of Ayla through action, gesture, expression, and posture. Her subtly was amazing and is appreciated more upon a second or third viewing. The movie's feel is a little minimalist because of the lack of dialog, especially as compared with the lush descriptive passages of the book. However, the scenery and acting in this big-screen version more than compensate for the lack of the book's strong narrative. I would also mention that the "over eighteen" rating of this movie seemed a little inappropriate to me. For those familiar with the book, the rape scene is done in the spirit of supporting the story and characterization - emotionally / spiritually anguishing but not overtly violent or sexual."
For one who hasn't read the book, astonishing.
TerryT | WA United States | 12/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For the viewer who hasn't read the corresponding books, and I must speak from this perspective only because that is my condition, this movie is quite amazing. "Clan of the Cave Bear" is an excellent, touching movie that uniquely communicates through the establishment of a cast that is made up of neanderthals. It's beautiful and unusual and acted with extraordinary tenderness and perception; what a challenge it must have been to act out a story about cavepeople. After seeing this, it's reasonable to believe that this may just have been what life was like among prehistoric humans. I found this movie to be well, well worth watching."