1/5 A total RIP-OFF!!
  by J. Payne (New Castle, PA)
I was a kid when this movie came out on t.v. I can't count the # of times I've watched it and I can remember it like the back of my hand... I'm heartbroken at the way this movie was put together! Where are all of the important scenes in this movie!!? The DVD isn't even worth buying because of all the deleted scenes!! This movie is a classic and now has been completely butchered!! The editing in the film is crappy to say the least...black screens show up where the original scene should have been...this DVD version is not good at all!! Whoever was in charge of editing and releasing this film did this film a major injustice...I waited so long for this film to FINALLY be released on DVD and sadly, I am really disappointed...for those who are familiar w/ the film, don't waist your hard earned $$ on this movie...

1/5 Read Reviews Before Purchasing!
  by Alyssa Jamison (NC)
I am highly disappointed with Amazon; they usually sell such quality products, but this was a disaster. I grew up watching the original 2 VHS set; the movie was that long. So once i saw it was put on DVD, i was ecstatic and didn't even bother reading the reviews. If I had taken the extra 2 seconds to, i wouldn't have spent my money on it. There were critical scences deleted out, when i swore that movies put into DVD format were supposed to offer MORE, not TAKE AWAY. If you never seen the movie, then i guess it's no problem, but if you are like me who used to curl on the couch with my mother and laugh cry get angry along with the characters, then DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS CRAPPY DVD.

5/5 Have not seen the DvD version
  by C. Simon
This movie is great. Anytime it comes on TV I have to hit record or stop what I'm doing and watch. It doesn't come on Tv too often though. If I decide to purchase I will make sure not to purchase the DVD. I'll go on Ebay or something and get the VHS.

4/5 Excellent movie, but awful dvd
  by rmcrae (Houston, Texas)
I was too young to watch this tv movie when it originally aired, but had the pleasure of seeing it when I was older. Oprah plays Mattie, an older woman who is the matriarch of an inner city community called Brewster Place. I can't even pick which performance was the best out of all of them. They're all excellent. Jackee as Oprah's man hungry, love starved friend Etta, Lynn Whitfield as the young mother who loses it all but manages to find herself, Robin Givens as a young and naive girl who moves to Brewster Place to find her black roots, Lonette McKee as one half of a lesbian couple who feels unwelcomed by many in the community, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney as an almost neglectful mother of a brood of rowdy kids, and of course Olivia Cole as the mean and spiteful gossip Miss Sophie. Cicely Tyson has a short scene as Robin's dissaproving mother, but she uses her time to shine with an amazing monologue. A shocking act of violence brings everyone in the community together and gives them the power to fight back against racism, sexism, homophobia, drugs, and other struggles in inner city life. My only gripe and a very big one is how many key scenes are cut out. I won't rehash them since others have done it already, but it's annoying. Instead of buying the dvd, try to catch it on Lifetime or buy the double vhs on Ebay. It's much better when you get to see the movie in it's entirity.

3/5 Same here.. well, kinda.
  by BeEmSi
I actually bought this movie from a popular retail store about a year ago, and that version was missing some key points as well. So when I saw the DVD here on Amazon, I was almost tempted to purchase it again in hopes that it would have been the complete version. However, after reading the comments, I see differently.

Aside from the cuts and edits, I love this movie, its characters, and actors.