Clan of the Cave Bear

Amazon.com

Every statuesque, beautiful blonde woman has spent more time in the company of Neanderthals than she cares to remember. Seems it's always been that way: Clan of the Cave Bear, a 1986 feature scripted by John Sayles and based on Jean Auel's bestselling novel set in prehistoric times, stars former mermaid Daryl Hannah as an intelligent Cro-Magnon woman adopted and raised by lesser-evolved Neanderthals. Berated for her brains, sexually exploited, and generally treated as uppity chattel, Hannah's character sets out for the far country to see who else is there. Eventually, she finds more Baywatch-like gods and goddesses similar to herself, including an Aryan-looking stud with whom she discovers how good sex can feel with a warm, caring, proto-human. Sayles's writing on this project is forceful but cheeky. It's hard not to laugh at a number of scenes that shouldn't, in the strictest sense, be laughed at (the use of subtitles to decipher caveman grunts and clucks may or may not be an intentional running joke), but one gets the feeling Sayles looked upon this challenge as a pop exercise instead of (as many of the book's fans would have preferred) a religious experience. Michael Chapman, ace cinematographer of Mean Streets and The Wanderers, directed with an eye toward primitive exotica and made this a terrific-looking movie. Author Auel was reportedly unhappy with the final results on screen, but the film is well worth a fascinated look. With Pamela Reed and James Remar. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Worst film ever!!!.......2007-07-16

This was the worst movie based on a book I have ever seen! I love the Earth's children series and was very excited when i found out Clan of the cave bear had been made into a movie. I was very disapointed! The film makers involved took a great story and ripped it's soul out. They butchered very important story lines, and the Characters were badly directed. What was left was a poor excuse for a story. After wasting 90 minutes of my life on this film all i could do was BEG for it back!!!

Not worth what the book is worth........2007-06-09

When I first found out that one of my favorites books had a movie adaptation, I was thrilled. I went to Border's and bought the last copy, being a DVD. I was disappointed to find out that it was not worth what I paid for.

The movie is based from Jean M. Auel classic The Clan of the Cave Bear, the first in her Earth's Children series. The story is about a young Cro-magnon girl who is orphaned by and earthquake and how a Clan of Neanderthals take her in. The story also tells how she struggles to live with the Clan, with their customs and their physical differences.

The main role of Ayla is played by Darryl Hannah, who also starred in the Grumpy Old Men movies and Splash. Other actors include Pamela Reed at Ayla's adoptive mother Iza , and other actors as Iza's brother and Mo-gur Creb, the leader Brun, and the often disliked Broud.

Despite being a movie that was made in 1986, it did have decent special effects. The costumes and makeup that formed the Neanderthals that called themselves The Clan were very interesting in their authentic looking animal skinned clothing. What is also interesting to me is how the movie demonstrates how The Clan express their language. When a Clan member uses his or her 'sign language', subtitles appear at the bottom of the screen to translate what they're saying.

What makes this movie rated R is the fact that it does have inappropriate moments. The rape scene between Ayla and Broud could be a real turn off to some. Also at the Clan gathering there is a violent battle between a large Cave Bear and some young male Clan members. Because of this I wouldn't reccomend it to be viewed by young children.

There are a few scenes that are switched around or changed from the adaptation from the book. For example, the hyena that attacks Brac is a Wolf in the movie, and there is major changes during Ayla's first exile, Durc's birth and the Clan Gathering. This in a way is a slight annoyance, and disappointment.

The DVD doesn't have many special features. All it really contains is a chapter selection, and the DVD itself is double sided so you can choose between fullscreen and widescreen.

Overall the movie is not worth it's price. I payed $14.99 for the DVD and later found it at Fred Mayer and Shopko for $6.99. Unfortunately it doesn't have a very well rewatching value, either. Unless you're an obsessive fan of Jean M. Auel or Darryl Hannah's works, you may not enjoy this movie well. If I were you, stick to the book.

Too Short.......2007-05-13

I was initally exited to find that they had made a movie for the Clan of the Cave Bear books, but i was expecting it to follow into the next few books in this story. I was a little disappointed when it just dropped off when she left the Clan, it would have been a better movie if they had incorperated all the books.

Great Movie, Lame Disc.......2007-04-14

The Clan Of The Cave Bear, based on a novel by Jean M. Auel, is movie that became a product of its time. While following the plot of the book up to a point the film breaks away about halfway through. The movie became a story about social change and female vs. male values. Also, the movie had to drop most of the details and events that the book has, just to keep from becoming a six hour epic.
I saw the movie before reading the book, so while I have to say the book is better I do have a place in my heart for the movie. Watching it now, after learning so much about life, Neanderthals and early man, I can't help but find it sometimes funny and sometimes sad.
While the movie is one that really changed me and is a great piece of motion picture history the DVD has no extras. No photo gallery, no commentary, nothing to add to it. So while I say the movie is a great one (a view many would debate) I can't hide how unhappy I am with the disc as a whole.

Clan of the Cave Bear.......2007-01-24

I loved it ans was happy to be able to buy it.

Average customer rating:

Worst film ever!!!
Not worth what the book is worth.
Too Short
Great Movie, Lame Disc
Clan of the Cave Bear

The Clan of the Cave Bear [Region 2]
Starring: Daryl Hannah , Pamela Reed , James Remar , Thomas G. Waites , and John Doolittle
Director: Michael Chapman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00005QXNT

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Worst film ever!!!.......2007-07-16

Not worth what the book is worth........2007-06-09

Too Short.......2007-05-13

Great Movie, Lame Disc.......2007-04-14

Clan of the Cave Bear.......2007-01-24

I loved it ans was happy to be able to buy it.

The Clan Of The Cave Bear (El Clan Del Oso Cavernario) [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]

Average customer rating:

The Clan Of The Cave Bear (El Clan Del Oso Cavernario) [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]
Director: Michael Chapman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Sinopsis Basada en la novela de Jean M. Auel, narra la historia de una etapa crucial de la evolucion del Homo Sapiens, y es la historia entrañable de una mujer fuerte que personifica el proceso del cambio que caracteriza esa etapa, hace unos 35000 años. El autor ha sabido evocar magistralmente ese momento reconstruyendo con rigor cientifico lo que pudo ser la forma de vivir de nuestros padres.

DVD:

DVD

DVD