5/5 A Minor Masterpiece
  by Robert Regan (Brewster NY)
One of the most deeply-felt and moving films of our time. It is about being an alien and loving one's children. It is one of my all-time favorites, and I have sent copies to my daughters.

1/5 in america
  by Rosemarie Byrne
The audio was poor and the quality of the DVD not good. The story line was interesting but not enjoyable to watch because of the poor quality of the DVD.

5/5 Nice Kids, Nice Story
  by Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
This was simply a nice human-interest story.

Basically, it's about a likeable Irish family which immigrates to the United States and resides in New York City. These are poor people, but not the destitute situation of, let's say, the McCourt family from "Angela's Ashes."

What stood out to me were the nice, cute little girls in this family, played by real-life sisters, Emma and Sarah Bolger. They were the kind of sweet kids you wish you'd see more of in modern films. Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton played the parents, "Johnny and Sarah" nicely and Djimon Hounson played the nice neighbor with the strange powers.
Overall, it's a pleasant, positive feel-good film. I've watched it several times and enjoyed it more each time!

5/5 From despair to hope . . .
  by Miss Darcy (New England)
As someone who lost a sibling as a child, I can confirm that the sentiments in this movie are right on target. One reviewer criticizes these parents, but misses the point. The ET doll scene is not about ego but about how desperate one father is to heal the hole in his daughter's heart and find a sign that somehow things can turn around and be all right again. Is it a dumb thing to do? Sure. Is it believable under these circumstances? Yes.

The bottom line: This movie is about HEALING. It's amazing these parents could even get out of bed every day. What do they say to do on a plane when the oxygen goes out? Use the mask for yourself first; it's the only way to help your children. These parents are trying to find their way back to the living so they can all be well again. It is portrayed from the eyes of a child, and to me, it looks very very real. This is a movie not about bad parenting but about hope. I wish there were more out there like it.

5/5 Break my heart again
  by S. Kay Murphy (Mt. Baldy, CA USA)
Be strong. Grab a cup of tea and shut down the computer and phone. Take deep breaths. Be ready to fall in love, have your heart broken, and fall in love again before the film is over. I love this movie....

With my high school sophomores, I do a unit on the American Dream. I love to show them the scene from this film (would show them the movie in its entirety, if I could) where Johnny decides to buy the swamp cooler for their sweltering loft apartment. If you feel no compassion after what transpires, you are an android, not a human. I love this movie...

When my great-grandparents came from Ireland, they settled on a farm in a rural area. But their dream was the same... the same as it is for many, many Americans: We just want to live out our passions in peace and freedom. This film reminds us that we need each other to do so. I love this movie....