11/22/63 (DVD)

I wrote this review of the ‘11.22.63’ DVD on 11.22.20 – the 57th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Many of the reviews of this TV mini-series provide a comparison between the film and Stephen King’s novel of the same name. I have not read the novel. So, I will focus my review on who should want to purchase this DVD and what I like about it.I enjoyed the movie. As science fiction, it is average but as a crime or political thriller, it is above average. It had a grip on my attention from the first episode to the last.This is a no frills and no technology science fiction. Don’t expect to see a time travel machine of any kind or wormhole in space. Time travel is made possible by a portal. I don’t want to do a spoiler by describing how the leading man (James Franco as school teacher Jake Epping) travels back to 1963 using the portal at a place that is least expected. No CGI special effects.The producers took pains to recreate scenes of life in 1963. A lot of attention was given to the fashion and modes of transport. If you like women’s attire, facial make-up and hairdo of the early Sixties, this movie will be a nostalgic treat. Buy this DVD if you like to see vintage cars of that period – Ford Thunderbird and others. No need to go to Cuba to see old cars.The scenes at the site of the Dallas Book Depository and the road traveled by the President’s motorcade were staged using reference to actual footage of the assassination taken by persons who were at the site on that tragic day.The producers picked actors who looked the part. You will recognize Lee Harvey Oswald the moment he appears on screen. There is a scene at a night club where an overweight man in black suit appears for only a few seconds. I recognized him immediately as Jack Ruby because I had seen the real Ruby many times in TV documentaries on the JFK assassination.Those who believe that there was a conspiracy to kill JFK will probably like this movie but may be disappointed. Movie spoiler – Lee Harvey Oswald is the lone gunman. He shoots the President but Oswald doesn’t get shot by Jack Ruby in turn.A theme in the movie is that a force protects the Past and it will act to stop time travelers who want to change incidents that have already happened. Still, change may happen which is why Oswald doesn’t die at the hands of Jack Ruby. Change brings changes and there may be regrets. The Butterfly Effect is mentioned by one of the two time travelers in the story.Closing trivia - I have long enjoyed time travel tales and have a long-time interest in the assassination of President JFK. I grew up during the brief shining moment of the ‘Camelot’ years. I saw JFK’s funeral in a newsreel at a time when I didn’t even know how to spell the word ‘President’ or the name ‘Kennedy’. It was shown at the cinema before the start of a movie. As I watched the funeral procession, I asked Mom who was sitting beside me – “Who died?” Mom told me that it was a very important man who died without mentioning the name. I didn’t know JFK or that he was the President. Next question to Mom – “Why did he die?” Mom’s reply – “Someone killed him”. My next question – “Why did someone want to kill him?” If Mom had answered my question, I am unable to remember it. I don’t think she had an answer other than she did not know. If Mom knew the answer and that it was common knowledge, there would not have been a Warren Commission. Yes, Oswald pulled the trigger but I am still waiting to know the answer to that question I asked Mom more than five decades ago.

Great show!

outstanding story line. Coming from someone that didn't read the book I didn't know what to expect besides a few clips I've seen. Story was great! From episode 1 to the last episode. It got a great start and a sad ending. But overall i loved how it turned out. Something that Ive learned in life so far is sometimes the saddest endings make the greatest stories and with this its perfect. 10/10

This was a really great show about time travel

Pretty good movie but not as good as the first movie I saw with different actors playing the parts .

I had been aware of the book when it first came out but was not aware it was made into a movie until I saw a few clips on tik tok. It looked very interesting and then I found out what it was. I have been a Stephen King fan for years and partnered with JJ Abrahms, it had to be worth a watch. Done as a miniseries, the movie is in 8 parts. I am not sure what platform it was shown on, but I can't imagine it was shown on network TV. If you are extra sensitive to language, you may not like it, but the movie was very engaging, did a great job of transporting us to the 60s in order to prevent the assassination of JFK via time travel. There is also plenty of, "Oh damn!" moments as you try to figure it out. I highly recommend this movie.

These are not spoilers since they are written on the back of the cover. This Mini-series based on a book by the great master Stephen King explores what might happen if you could go back to a certain point in time and go through the preparations leading up to changing the past. In the movie the past fights back, because let's face it, the past does not want to be changed. Furthermore, what would happen if you fell in love with someone in the past while you are there? This is a well thought out story with a beginning and an end, unlike some of King's stories adapted to television looking for another season. At times, the story gets bogged down with semantics, but those times are few and far between. It is slow moving at times as well, but there are also suspenseful times when you think you know what might happen and BAMM something else happens. I have to admit I enjoyed most of it immensely, the parts I did not enjoy I will not go into as I don't want to give away any spoilers. Since we already know that the main character goes back in time to the 1960's I will also state that the makers of this film do an amazing job of recreating the look and feel of the 1960's. Because the 1960's were a very racist time period, you will see racism in this series. I overpaid for the series, because it is Stephen King, and I wanted it for my collection, I suggest you wait until it comes down in price before buying it. It's already $2 less than what I paid, I suggest it will be significantly less in a coming months. Should you buy it, definitely. This series is for everyone not just Stephen King fans.