Pleasantville (1998) First Time Watching Reaction & Review

[@ifeelpretty5790]

One of my favorite movies! There’s so few reactions to it, thank you for watching and sharing yours!

[@MeatSim9]

Even a year later there are still so few reactions to it. :(

[@alolkoydesigns]

This movie helped me through some very difficult times when I was going through divorce. It helped me to make the choice of running away from or embracing change. I embraced it

[@BigGator5]

"Honey! I'm home." Fun Fact: The Indian in the test pattern behind Don Knotts changes from having no expression to angry and then sad as the movie progresses. Black And White Fact: Since every scene from the middle of the movie on had to be in some way digitally changed to have black and white characters interact with characters who are in color, technically this film had the most digital effects shots until Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). Make-Up Effects Fact: For the sequence where Bud (Tobey Maguire) is applying the gray make-up to his mother (Joan Allen), the color of the make-up was actually green. When they had to "black-and-white" the scene, the green tones were utilized in the same way a green screen is, except it created a mask for applying desaturation rather than replacing the area with an image. Conversely, when Betty first visits the soda shop, she is in full gray make-up, which meant that Joan Allen was shot wearing full green make-up, that is subsequently removed by Bill Johnson (Jeff Daniels).

[@gmunden1]

In the 40's and 50's and early 60's it was forbidden for TV shows to show toilets or full beds for couples.

[@davidmarquardt9034]

Yep. No toilets, nobody goes 1 or 2 on TV.

[@musicismyfriend7919]

One of the most unique movies I've ever seen! An utterly ridiculous premise as the movie begins ends up morphing into an incredibly thought-provoking work of art!

[@JoePlett]

Thanks for watching this film. I thought the world had forgotten this little gem. Maybe through your video more people will discover this, it really deserves a wider audience.

[@ebashford5334]

I think the social commentary will always be relevant as long as there are people who are afraid of change and variety.

[@gluuuuue]

This's one of my favorite films. I've long had a preference for many older era stories, music, and media-old classic films and genres like noir and stuff from the '40s, likewise older music like jazz. And I've been looking forward to more youtubers reacting to this one, you in particular, because I think, like me, you seem both interested in older works as well as more familiar with many such works as well as the historical culture and events of the eras in which they were made. So I'd been waiting to see and hear your reactions to it. I think in addition to social commentary, Pleasantville is a meta-commentary on our relationship to.. film, television, literature, and music, especially ones we're nostalgic for, that for all their qualities we find appealing (or believed we did), they largely came with a lot of negatives. And one of the dangers of nostalgia is forgetting all those negatives.

[@asterix7842]

How refreshing and great it is to find a reactor who's familiar with Shakespeare, history, classic TV, AND the Prisoner! I also think Don Knotts was the perfect choice for the TV repair man. The Andy Griffith Show is my favorite of the classic TV shows. If I could live in one old show town, it would be Mayberry. Ironically, though, I think the best seasons are the early ones, before they started filming in color. I think the best scene in this film is when the kids are meeting in the soda shop, with Brubeck's Take Five playing in the background. I also love the bowling alley scene, and when the soda shop owner opens the art book for the first time. I haven't seen most of the TV shows you've reacted to, so I hope you'll do more movie. I've watched a couple of your movie reactions and I just subscribed! Be seeing you! 😁

[@alexachipman]

Thank you! Be seeing you!

[@jamesmoyner7499]

I'm glad you enjoyed one of my film recommendations. I would not have guessed you were thirty-nine though. The film almost had me cry when I saw it and it is interesting how it is still relevant especially with all of the book bans and other regressive actions going on in the country. Jeff Daniels was the soda shop man. Some film recommendations I have if you haven't seen them: No Time for Sergeants (1958), Now Voyager (1942), Oh God (1977), The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad (1949), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Sleeping Beauty (1959), 101 Dalmatians (1961), The Jungle Book (1967), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977), The Secret of NIMH (1982), Fantasia (1940), Twice Upon a Time (1983), The Prince of Egypt (1998), Mulan (1998),

[@alexachipman]

Thank you!

[@kathyastrom1315]

Wow-“The Prisoner”!! You might be the first reactor I’ve seen to have that referenced-nice!

[@edwardthompson4600]

"I am not a number. But maybe I was Number One. It was very unclear."

[@alexachipman]

It happens quite a lot on this channel! I am a bit of a fangirl for it.

[@elvwood]

Thank you for this - it's one of my favourite movies, and hardly ever done by reactors. You tuned into it really well (no pun intended!), and made some really insightful observations - I'll definitely be watching more from your channel.

[@alexachipman]

Thank you!

[@johnmavroudis2054]

One of my all-time favorite films... Since you loved that one, you'll LOVE these films, as well: "STRANGER THAN FICTION," "AMELIE"... both are, like Pleasantville, wonderful stories that have magic and meaning built-in... and are beautifully acted and directed. A darker film, but equally glorious: "CHILDREN OF MEN". Cheers!

[@alexachipman]

Yes, I reference Amelie quite often :) lovely film.

[@joshkresnik6402]

I must’ve gone through three or four different reactions looking for someone who recognized that cameo and I was tickled pink when I found out you recognized him as Barney from Andy Griffith, Don Knotts himself. Great cameo, one of my favorites

[@Drawkcabi]

"Very 1930's" And 2020's 😔 Seems progressing always takes going 2 steps forward and 1 step back... This is a very special movie for me. Growing up my grandmother lived with us and she took care of me while my parents were working constantly getting their business off the ground. It was nice though, growing up it was more like I had 2 moms instead of a mom and a grandmother. One thing we always did, almost every Saturday, my grandmother would take me to the movies. I have memories if her doing this going back to when I was 3 years old. My love for movies and the cinematic experience was born in me and nurtured thanks to her. In 1998 she passed away early on a Friday morning. After my mother and I had done as much as we could, notifying family, taking care of paperwork, all that, there was nothing left to do that night, we'd get started on planning the funeral and memorial the next day. So that night we just wanted to take our mind of things for a couple hours so we went to the movies. The movie we went to see was _Pleasantville._ Over the years as the area I grew up in became more and more developed, other movie theaters popped up, however, the 4 screen movie theater that as a kid was the theater my grandmother always took me to was still there. That's the movie theater where _Pleasantville_ was playing. But, in some sort of cosmic symmetry, it ended up being the last movie I ever saw at that theater as it closed its doors for good not long after. I'll always remember this movie for that.

[@alexachipman]

Beautiful, thank you for sharing that!

[@mikesilva3868]

@@alexachipman kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKDYnp-enL-jqMU

[@matte5705]

This movie has absolutely no subtlety at all, and honestly I think that's what makes it so perfect

[@jamielandis4308]

I haven’t seen this since its release. It’s very relevant today as it seems that our culture is trying to homogenize and sanitize everything. In our obsession with the outer differences, we are in the process of repression of the inner. We are all turning gray.

[@russellmassey9324]

This film was a perfect match for your reaction style. I think you might enjoy Wag the Dog, a 1997 political satire with Dustin Hoffman and Robert de Niro. It got several oscar nominations, but seems almost forgotten nowadays

[@alexachipman]

Thank you, but alas no spoilers please when suggesting movies.

[@mikesilva3868]

@@alexachipman ever seen hi honey I'm home tv series or the movie stay tuned 😎

[@wwk68tig]

Such an underappreciated gem!.........so glad you did reaction. Thanks for posting.

[@mcmurtryfan]

What went on in the 50's can very well happen again. That's the real message.

[@Murrlin27]

Blessings! I love seeing first time watching videos. It's like watching it myself again for the first time! Thank you for this!

[@lifelover515]

Great choice again. cultivated lady. I'd only seen this once, close to release, but remember it fondly, and you reminded me what a clever little satire it was. If I'm not mistaken, it was Don Knotts's last film appearance. Your look of recognition was precious. RIP Barney. I appreciated the modern art references a lot more this time round.

[@musicismyfriend7919]

I enjoyed your reaction (and your singing)!

[@d.-_-.b]

This movie is definitely the swellest!

[@TheNeonRabbit]

I love the fact that this starts off as a cute little gimmick movie then takes a turn into real social commentary. By introducing the reality of art, beauty and non-conformity they've brought about the things that oppose it. Also, the use of the word "coloreds" in this context.... wow. For the first time their world has "others". They've basically introduced free will and that triggered the classification of everything as "pleasant" or "unpleasant", or as the old testament called it "clean" and "unclean". You can't have free will without the possibility of some choosing evil.

[@empirejeff]

I have seen this film.

[@artman2oo3]

This is one of my favorite all-time movies. Tied for #2 for me. It is a beautiful, perfect movie. I cannot overstate how great this movie is. Roger Ebert said something very interesting in his review of the movie. He said it was like a “reverse pod people movie.” Like run body snatchers backward. What a great, great movie this is. There needs to be more reactions to it.

[@ZukoHalliwell]

If I had known that you'd never seen this movie, I would've recommended it a long time ago.

[@jukio02]

Brent Hershman a camera man on Pleasantville died in a car crash. He fell asleep while driving after working 19 hours.

[@shelbyvillerules9962]

Yeah, there’s an interesting documentary called “Who Needs Sleep?” that was made about it.

[@adaddinsane]

Absolutely one of my favourite films - perhaps it's not subtle in some places but I don't care. Another one nobody reacts to - until you did. Thank you.

[@adnap]

Such a great film. Excellent reaction. I thought I saw Danny Strong (Doyle from Gilmore Girls) So I went to look up the cast, and was surprised to see that even Jenny Lewis is in this! That was new information. Now I’ll have to try to find her. 😊

[@adnap]

By the way Jenny Lewis, for those who don’t know, was in Foxfire, The Wizard, Troop Beverly Hills and many others but most may know her from Rilo Kiley Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins Jenny Lewis (Solo artist) Jenny and Johnny The Postal Service

[@mikesilva3868]

​@@adnap agreed to reminded me of the classic movie stay tuned and the short lived tv series on nick at nite called honey I'm home 😎

[@kathyastrom1315]

Danny Strong will always be Jonathan from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to me. He was such a great secondary character that at one point in Season 5, I imagined the series finale ending with Jonathan as the sole survivor of Sunnydale.

[@adnap]

The reason that isn’t the case for me, I’m still a Buffy virgin.

[@RandomNonsense1985]

Jenny Lewis was one of Reese Witherspoon’s 90s friends. I think it was her last acting credit.

[@tempsitch5632]

I remember requesting this and Gosford Park about two years ago. So excited to have a reason to watch you again !

[@tempsitch5632]

Spiderman was good before Spiderman. Ride With The Devil with him, is good too.

[@christiandivine3807]

The Don Knotts cameo is greater than the film.

[@mikemartel3138]

you should watch the behind the scenes making of this movie and how they how some things were color in black and white they did it in reverse anyways just watch it it's really cool

[@alexachipman]

Very cool!

[@knight4iam]

Thank you for doing reactions which are different from all the other channels. THE INCREDIBLE HULK TV series from 1977-82 would be an excellent addition. The Pilot episode is amazing. If you enjoy that episode, you may want to react to the entire series or only the best of the series. Hope you have time for it.

[@tempsitch5632]

@8:14 He might be the only guy in town that knows where the little man in the boat is.

[@sundalangur3250]

Nice reaction. I wish more people would watch this film. It's so good.

[@bigneon_glitter]

_Pleasantville_ - my pick for Best Picture of 1998. Between this and 1993's _Dave_ - worth watching - Gary Ross is a guy who made great American classics in the '90s - which were uniformly ignored.

[@Murrlin27]

I saw this on dvd in 2000 or 2001 and it's such a provocative gem!

[@michaelrunnels7660]

I think this is the story of Adam & Eve (mankind) leaving the Garden of Eden. The biblical story says they were thrown out because they gained knowledge from eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. The video implies they escaped from Eden lead by the serpent, Bud.

[@thomastimlin1724]

Don Knotts, or "Barney Fife" from the andy Griffith Show. Jeff Daniels at the malt shop, lives doen the road 1/2 hour from me in Chelsea MI

[@THOMMGB]

Alexa, This is one of my favorite movies. I thought Joan Allen (the mom) was wonderful. If you haven’t already watched it, I’d really like it if you’d react to Seabiscuit. It’s a true story and that’s all I’m going to say. A little unsolicited advice, if you will. Have a pancake or two and live a little. When you hit the big four O, have three and don’t feel guilty. 😊

[@alexachipman]

Thank you, but I am trying to get down to size two from my current four - no pancakes!

[@peterdubois65]

First time subscriber, absolutely loved this reaction to one of my all time favorites. Would love to see you react to the 1997 Australian classic comedy The castle. In Australia it's probably the most quoted movie in history but nobody on KZbin has reacted to it. Need to share the joy 😀

[@alexmiller9461]

You are truly awesome. Your commentary is outstanding! Had to subscribe. ❤

[@alexachipman]

Thank you!

[@Brandon-tz5pn]

Finally somebody reacted to this

[@Big_Bag_of_Pus]

Thanks for giving this movie a shot -- few have watched it on YT, but it's a favorite of mine.

[@slartibartlast968]

I like that the bus that Reese Witherspoon gets on at the end is headed to Springfield.

[@tempsitch5632]

“I can’t believe you’re related to him” “Only on my parent’s side”

[@XRos28]

Funny, yet powerful, as you pointed out, movie. Great reaction, Alexa. 😀

[@jasondavidstapleton8337]

i love this movie spider man is in this movie i loved the movie even more

[@gloriathomas3245]

While I personally don't subscribe to Gary Ross's politics it wasn't hard to see the type of story he was trying to tell and that of one of social change. Overall it's a fantastic film and one that should've garnered more Oscar nominations.

[@ScribbleScrabbless]

I absolutely love this movie, it's been in my top ten for years.

[@ScribbleScrabbless]

I cry a every time

[@Liesmith424]

This movie is just beautiful.

[@HalfassDIY]

I love watching this with you. Thank you.

[@alexachipman]

Thank you so much, this means a lot, I've been getting non-stop negative comments for the past week! Yours was a breath of fresh air :)

[@geoffmason7215]

Love the format and the messages....and of course the reaction

[@TheCosmicGenius]

I'm gonnna suggest you watch the film, 'Peggy Sue Got Married', if you haven't seen it.

[@waynezimmerman1950]

As Betty(Joan Allen) and George(William H. Macy contemplate their future, the faint strains of Across The Universe(sung here by Fiona Apple)are heard behind them. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZ7Pn4Jnetx2ipY

[@dngillikin]

. . . and featuring Don Knotts as vengeful Old Testament God.

[@somthingbrutal]

this is such a good movie

[@cathyvickers9063]

The Ghost and Mrs Muir The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming! The Mouse that Roared. Excellent vintage films. The latter two are comedies.

[@sapjap172]

Ironic fact: When Don Knotts/Barney Fife left 'The Andy Griffith Show' after season 3, seasons 4 and 5 were in color.

[@chrissiegle1065]

Great reaction. Thank you. 😊 ❤️

[@mikesilva3868]

Great review and movie saw it on vhs I was 14 in 1999😎

[@bfdidc6604]

A good reaction as always. Since you mentioned "degenerate art" and the destruction the concept wrought at the hands of the Nazis, I'd like to suggest an interesting documentary on the subject. The title, The Architecture of Doom, may be a bit on the nose (probably a bad translation), but it is very well done. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYLZaZiKZtKCldE

[@promiscuous675]

Thank you. Please would you try watching "Something Wild" (1986).

[@amanmo862]

From What movie is the clip with the map?

[@alexachipman]

It is from a show called The Prisoner (1967)

[@samgreenbergart]

Love this film.

[@sasamichan]

movies I'll shout out with no context or spoilers It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World The Incredible Mr. Limpet The Ghost and Mr. Chicken The Reluctant Astronaut The Shakiest Gun in the West The Love God? How to Frame a Figg The Apple Dumpling Gang 1 and 2 No Deposit, No Return Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo Fat Albert The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Stay Tuned fahrenheit 451 Bewitched Leave It to Beaver The Brady Bunch Movie A Very Brady Sequel UHF

[@cathyvickers9063]

The original British Fahrenheit 451.

[@zvimur]

For all kinds of reasons you may want to look up Woody Allen's "Purple Rose of Cairo", featuring Jeff Daniels.

[@mikesilva3868]

Good movie ☢

[@alicequinn505]

I concur

[@alexachipman]

Thank you, but please no spoilers when suggesting movies. These are minor enough that I won’t disqualify the film, but I will not be adding a vote for it as a result. There unfortunately do need to be consequences for not following my clear instructions.

[@browniepoints5227]

Laughs in asexual

[@mattn6066]

7th comment

[@DisneyBatchman]

Someone seems to be on keto!

[@alexachipman]

Paleo - even more restrictive:)

[@DisneyBatchman]

@@alexachipman 😀

[@TheRedStateBlue]

the entire movie is an indictment of fascist conformity.