You won't be disappointed!

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Brilliant and touching

A different way of telling a story

Return to Paradise (1998): Dir: Joseph Ruben / Cast: Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Joaquin Phoenix, Jada Pinkett, David Conrad: Three friends travel to Malaysia and experiment with drugs. Two of them return to New York while the other remains. Two years later they are given word that their friend was caught with drugs and will be hanged in eight days unless they return and accept responsibility with a three year sentence. Directed by Joseph Ruben who brings conviction to the material as well as request viewers to think. This is a big step for a guy who made the laughable Money Train. Vince Vaughn brings soul seeking desperation. Anne Heche is persistent with a secret of her own. One issue that distracts is the romance that develops between Vaughn and Heche, which is standard and unnecessary. Joaquin Phoenix is convincing as a guy who has suffered too long. David Conrad plays the third guy who will be reluctant to make the return especially when family factors in. Jada Pinkett on the other hand displays the media's greed to the point where she is unlikeable. She plays a journalist out for herself and her action bare consequences to innocent people. This is hardly entertaining but its message is driving and final. Beautiful photography highlights a place of overwhelming beauty where three guys find a private paradise turn into their own private hell. Score: 7 ½ / 10

"Return to Paradise" was a 1998 film that was sadly over-turned that it quickly became a forgotten gem, which was quite sad because it was different from the easy-going junk that's been tossed down from us over the recent years. The story was packed with punch and the acting was equally subliminal. The low box office sales for this movie should not come as quite a shocker because it's one of those sporadic movies that refrain from walking out of the theatre lightly and it is a far cry from influx of escapist movies that Hollywood is noted for.Film, much like art represents the way of life, therefore, films based on more serious content should be out more in the open, even more for those who could handle, heavy complex subject matters with dignity and consideration. Three friends (Vince Vaughn, David Conrad and Joaquin Phoenix)take a sabbatical to Malaysia (which contains boozing, drinking and philandering), two return home to New York, while one is left behind as he faces jail time for drug possession the triad used. Not only that, the incarcerated friend is being sentenced to death for his misdemeanor. Feeling that his life is on the line, there is one loophole that could overturn his death penalty. His other three friends must return to Malaysia and serve their prison time for the crime they are personally responsible for. An attorney (played by Anna Heche)persuades the two friends to get them to return and serve their time, even though that's no easy task as neither want to spend years in jail or let alone let his poor friend get hanged.Quite a very touchy subject! But what makes this movie very effective is the execution in how the film was handled. The direction, the performances, the script and the editing was nurtured in a careful and provocative fashion. But the real standout to this recommended film is the moral dilemma that each character is up against succeeds in keeping it real and yet the situation each one faces will not make you envious of them (and that is a good thing too. Who wants to go through what they are up against?)It succeeds in keeping it firm and concrete and never tries to take the easy way out. At the same time it doesn't overwhelm its viewers with becoming preachy or moralistic. The scruples are already there for you and though this movie is a heavy hitter, the viewers feel the metaphoric concrete weight as much as the characters depicted here.Another standout trait "Return to Paradise" offers is that it focuses on are the numerous culture clashing while avoiding any signs of showing and anachronistic traits (like in "Midnight Express" or "The Deer Hunter" among others). It actually succeeds in balancing the story by remaining judicious in every way possible. Sure we have faced many troubled situations where you are caught in an inescapable trap and you cannot get out of it, the film is not very plot oriented, but more leaning towards a debate faced solely on ethics.The acting is very provocative as each character yearns for our sympathy. Joaquin Phoenix shines very nicely as the misfortunate victim who has the most weight placed on him who is also fading out from the exhaustion that was inflicted on him. Anne Heche is wonderful as the attorney who knows her situation is dire and makes the most of time trying to cope with the complicated situation she's facing in this case. The real scene stealer is Vince Vaughn as "Sheriff" and his change from a careless person to a more responsible person is all very real. The characters are all very real people.By the end of the movie, the humanity materializes before our very eyes as Sheriff goes through great lengths by helping out his fallen buddy Lewis (Phoenix), which would expunge all of his other past mistakes and by his helping out his buddy, we see the moral strength Sheriff has deep inside of him."Return to Paradise" stands the test of time as a brilliant movie in all of its hardships and complexities. As a suggestion if you should see another movie, make it lighter movie so that you won't get sadder through every movie you see.

This film isn't about dope whilst it definitely is Thy ultimate action FILM. iSN'T action The Power of Love? The ending is what blew me away. Charterhouse of Parma... Stendahl. (spolier) Three guys go to Malaysia, party, smoke a lot of hashish. Two leave. One stays to save monkeys. The one who stays gets busted for dealing. After two years of imprisonment, the other two who left him behind are told by intense female (lawyer), their old buddy's getting the death penalty if they don't return in about a week--- the other two must serve three years each in prison to save his life. If only one dude returns,then the one who has a conscience & submits to authority, gets six years, whilst the dude who originally got busted still gets to live.. See this movie, then read Charterhouse of Parma, or better yet read The Charterhouse of Parma immediately, of which the first 3/4's (truly fantastic) have nothing to do with this movie.

So I thought that the movie was good. It is incredibly emotional and moving but the reason it is so good is because of the strong performances of the cast. I thought Vince Vaughn was amazing, you usually associate him in comedy roles and I was really impressed with how good he was in this. Anne Heche was also terrific but what gets me is how wonderful Jaoquin Phoenix is! Every movie he has been in he has given a memorable performance and now only after Walk the Line is he getting the credit he deserves. He is by far way under rated and I am pleased that everyone is finally taking notice on what a phenomenal actor he truly is. I would recommend this movie if for nothing else the superb acting from everyone of the cast members, you won't regret seeing it!