America [VHS] - Classic Travel Documentary Film for Home Movie Nights & History Enthusiasts

I am baffled by some of the negative reviews of this movie and agree with those who have praised it. One negative review mentioned a line from one of the little girls near the end of the move as being a clunker. This line is delivered at a particularly tense moment as the family ponders a blood transfusion for their gravely ill newborn. The line is one of the most memorable film moments I have ever seen. It releases tension, reveals something the little girl has been holding inside for the whole movie and is one more example of the pitch-perfect nature of the film. Everything rings true emotionally. The script deals with powerful emotions, yet manages to be subtle in the details. I have seen this movie in the theater and on DVD. I watched the deleted scenes and I can see why they were deleted. Sheridan has always chosen the more subtle path.I have never seen a better performance by child actors. There is a scene where the younger girl is flouncing around with a styrofoam cup on a stick in Central Park. She is pretending to be the Statue of Liberty. She is spouting a stream words about America and freedom. It is a small moment in the film but perfect. This was not in the script, the cameras just happened to catch her waiting to shoot a scene...being a little girl. The rest of the movie seems to be just that way--catching people being themselves.One can't help believing them. I don't like manipulative tear-jerking movies that just press your buttons. I love movies where people triumph over the things that life can throw your way. Having said that, I couldn't talk for about 15 minutes after walking out of the theater. My wife asked if I liked it and I could only nod and mumble. If feeling something scares you don't see this movie. If being touched by someone's story matters to you, own this movie!I plan on watching this one regularly. I saw things in it the second time around that I didn't see the first.