Field of Dreams (1989) Full Movie Reaction

oh wow! that's nice! we really enjoyed that movie so bad! wish they can make more like this

That is actually a very very good point of insight that I had not considered! Sometimes we do know our own pain on a deeper level than we even realize, and can push ourselves in the direction we need to go even while outwardly questioning and resisting it....

Alyson Addington

This movie holds a special place in a lot of our hearts. Yes baseball is the backdrop of the story but the main plot is Ray's closure with his father that you don't see coming the first time. This film hits a lot of people when they think about the relationship they once had with their fathers and that's the central core of the story. By the way the real field is still there to this day, its been preserved for the last 30+ years, people still play games there and even Major League Baseball has had some actual games there.

Field of Dreams- Such a powerful and beautiful movie!! I cry every time I watch it because it's so moving and so emotional. Thank you both very much for your incredible and heartwarming reaction to Field of Dreams, Joy and Marian! I most definitely loved and enjoyed watching this movie again with you, and I am so happy you really came to love this movie so much too. I truly appreciate your commentary throughout your reaction, and listening to your afterthoughts as well. Kevin Costner as Ray Kinsella, James Earl Jones as Terrance Mann, Amy Madigan as Annie Kinsella, Gaby Hoffmann as their daughter, Karin, Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe Jackson, Burt Lancaster as Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, Frank Whaley as young Archie Graham, and of course Dwier Brown as John Kinsella... are all absolutely phenomenal throughout this movie. I love each of these characters very deeply. I feel that there is something very special about these characters and this movie, especially because Field of Dreams always makes me cry so hard throughout a number of scenes every time I watch it without fail. So beautiful and heartwarming. And I absolutely love how this movie is all about helping the eight players suspended during the 1919 Chicago White Sox game, and many other long dead players to play the game they love so much again back when baseball was the true American pastime, while Ray's own dream of finding redemption and closure with his father comes true, only for him to discover he already has everything else he could ever want. His own Heaven with his family. Baseball... back when all the greats like Shoeless Joe Jackson, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, etc... all played, was truly a magnificent game. I'm not an avid fan of baseball, nor do I watch too many games on TV or follow any of today's players. However, I have been to a few games, including a major league game for the Detroit Tigers, and I really enjoyed them. But I would have loved to see a game back when baseball was something special, when players such as these men, who truly loved baseball for the love of the game, played. Because today, baseball is all about the money that can be made from it, as well as the statistics. And it's so very sad. I often think back to certain events and the ways of life throughout history, and I sometimes feel like I have been born far too late, because I love history so much. I love learning about the real life people who lived before my time. People like these baseball legends. And I often wish that I could travel back in time to revisit these times I love learning so much about. I think this is one of the reasons why this movie is so special to me, because I can resonate with a number of these characters, who all seek to find their dreams and pieces of Heaven. A dream I suspect everyone has in their lifetimes. I certainly do. Also.... I love the true story behind the eight baseball players suspended, especially surrounding Shoeless Joe Jackson, who is one of my favorite characters throughout this movie. I love Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe, and I love how he's come to remind Ray why he's been given this gift to help everyone find Heaven, including himself. Joe acts as a spirit guide for Ray, and I love it. James Earl Jones and the magic of his voice. :) He is truly a special actor throughout all of film history. And one of the most iconic, as he is the voice of Darth Vader within the Star Wars movies. James Earl Jones is a man I really do admire as an actor very much. And I absolutely love his monologue in the ending of this magical movie, where he goes on to explain Karin's explanation about how people will come to watch a game like the games of old. To relive their childhoods without even thinking about why they're coming out to Iowa to watch a baseball game in the middle of nowhere. This ending is so, so beautiful. I think I've heard versions or renditions of this speech before in other movies or shows too. I'm not sure which ones, but I'm sure it's familiar and used simply because James Earl Jones is so iconic, and because this speech is so powerful. In regards to Terrance Mann being asked into the cornfield along with all of the ghosts... there are a few ways this ending can be interpreted. Some people who've watched and love this movie believe that upon us as the viewers seeing him disappear upon entering the corn like the rest of the ghosts, it means that his time to die has come and he has been chosen to join the players in Heaven, rather than to simply die elsewhere and alone. Others believe that he might have been a ghost all along like Archie, or Doc Graham, although I don't think this theory is possible, given that Annie's brother is able to see him and shakes hands with him upon being introduced to him before he sees and believes in the rest of the ghosts. And then... some people believe that Terrance Mann is simply asked to join the ghosts so he can see the truth and magic beyond the field so that he can return again and write about his experiences, all to be able to live his dream to find his voice through the written word again, and to help Ray and his family, the players, and everyone else by bringing people to Iowa to watch the games. To find their own dreams again too. For me personally... I'm not really sure if we're meant to believe Terrance dies in the ending, or not. But I like to believe that either way... he definitely helps to bring people from all over the world to help them live their dreams through his writings. Moonlight Graham is a wonderful character as well. Both as Doc Graham and as young Archie Graham. I love how Ray helps him to live his one dream of getting a chance to wink at the pitcher and to hit the ball among the greats of baseball, and that upon becoming Doc Graham again to save Karin's life, he is able to assure Ray that his life's purpose and true dream of becoming a doctor to help save lives is always what he truly wanted. Is as his life was always meant to be. In regards to the scenes between Ray and Doc Graham when they first meet, when Ray sees The Godfather playing, and the number 72 on the license plate... I believe this time together shows us that Ray dreamt, or rather had a vision of himself traveling back to 1972, the year Doc Graham died so they could talk together and so Ray could learn about his dream. And the magic throughout this movie helps to bring Doc and young Archie to Ray and Terrance. Now... I especially love the final moments between Ray and Shoeless Joe, when Joe shares with Ray that the voice he's been hearing has been himself all along. And how all of Ray's messages to himself are all to lead up to him having a second chance with his father, who returns as a younger man. A chance to fix his deepest regrets and to right the wrongs that have been haunting him his whole life. I love watching father and son play catch together at last, and the moment when John asks his son if this is Heaven, to which Ray at first answers that it's Iowa as he did back when Shoeless Joe asked the same question, until he turns to look at his wife and daughter while he comes to understand that just maybe he is truly in Heaven after all. So, so incredibly powerful. I love how the voice Ray finally comes to learn is his own, guides Ray on all his journeys, starting with him being asked to build a baseball field, to Ray being asked to travel to find Terrance Mann believing he must ease his pain, and to them both going the distance together to find Moonlight Graham, who in the end becomes a doctor again upon crossing the rocks outside of the field in order to save Ray's and Annie's daughter's life. I absolutely love the mystery behind the voice and its requests. And how this voice helps everyone to live their dreams they all lost out on. I love each of this movie's characters very much. This for me is Kevin Costner's best role out of all of his movies. And I love Kevin Costner as an actor in so many of his movies too. I love Ray, and I love both Annie and their daughter, Karin, who is absolutely adorable. I love Ray's longing to find redemption for himself and his father, and I love how supporting Annie is for her husband. Both Kevin Costner and Amy Madigan are marvelous throughout this movie. Shoeless Joe is a brilliant character based on a real life baseball legend. While I don't know whether or not he and the rest of the eight players truly threw the game such as they were accused of, I like to believe that the way Ray Liotta portrays Shoeless Joe within this movie is closest to the truth. Same goes for the rest of the players as well. I can't imagine that someone like Shoeless Joe and some of these other men who truly loved baseball for the pure love of the game, could ever throw a game to make extra money in such a way. I don't know about the rest of the eight players, but I don't believe Shoeless Joe was a criminal. I like to believe he felt about baseball just as Ray Liotta portrays of him within this movie. Shoeless Joe for me is also my favorite role for Ray Liotta as well. I love Terrance Mann, because James Earl Jones is an absolutely phenomenal actor in every movie I've ever seen with him. There's definitely something powerful in his voice. And Terrance Mann is a special role for him. He's just a good man who longs for peace and love in a world where peace and love are difficult to find. Especially today, and it's just so sad. Another reason why I love this movie so much. And then... I love Burt Lancaster as Doc Graham, and Frank Whaley as his younger self... Archie Graham. Both sides of this character are brilliant, especially in the ending when young Archie sacrifices playing baseball forever in order to become a doctor again to save Karin's life. Such a powerful and beautiful moment. And such great acting for both actors playing this one character. The looks they give Ray whenever he smiles at him are powerful. Oh... and the musical score throughout this movie is absolutely beautiful. James Horner is an incredible composer, whom I know has done the music for other phenomenal movies such as Apollo 13, Titanic, The Mask of Zorro, Willow, Troy, Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, Mighty Joe Young, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Devil's Own, etc... The music throughout Field of Dreams is magical, and emotional too. It most certainly helps to make this such a feel good movie. Thank you very much again for another fantastic movie reaction, my dear friends!!! I really enjoyed watching it again with you. As I have truly continued to enjoy watching all of your reactions for these movies I love. I love and appreciate the warmth you share with us in all of your reactions. :) Stay healthy, and be happy! Sincerely, Heidi

Heidi Elizabeth Marcum

oh yes... mainly the movie is based on a Catholic point of view, that uses purgatory for a place where lost souls stays until they go forever to the afterlife..

ohhhh yess!! man ur right! this movie deserves a re-watch!

been struggling the whole movie to understand who is talking to him.. in the end I made a decision and realized is ''HIMSELF'' or his spirit or something.. bcuz it was about his pain.. that's why the voice doesn't reply back, like he knows already what to do, but gets scared to do it... the whole movie is about the lost past, the lost chances and the one chance to bring back good memories, lost opportunities and his closure with his Dad. was a good movie if u look at it from a drama point of view

There are many questions about the Voice, about how the people come, about why Ray, why his father, why these players, but I think that fits how many people view faith and spirituality, that there are more questions than answers. What really depends is what you do with your faith and how you let it govern your life. Ray took many risks to follow the Voice and in the end he was rewarded for it in a way he never expected, and along the way he helped Shoeless Joe, he helped Terrence and he helped Graham, as well as all the other players. He brought good into the world without being selfish. That is why this is a religious movie where they do not mention religion.

JD Nevesytrof

Also many people thought Terrence was dead all along so you are not alone, I think he is alive and was chosen to go to the other side temporarily before his death, because if he is already dead he cannot write a book about the other side as he promised to do.

JD Nevesytrof

What is interesting is when Ray met the older Dr. Graham, he was not already dead, Ray had traveled back in time. That is why he saw the Richard Nixon poster, that the Godfather was playing and why the registration on the car said "72", he was back in 1972, just before Dr. Graham had died.

JD Nevesytrof

I remember this came out in the middle of a whole bunch of baseball movies. I don't know why, but there was a period in the early 90's when baseball movies were everywhere. This one, A League of Their Own (a good watch btw) Eight Men Out, Major League, Rookie of the Year....Angels in the Outfield...I don't know why everything was suddenly baseball, but Hollywood tends to do that, settle on a subject that gets popular all of a sudden. It was also the Time of Kevin Costner for some reason too. It was a weird film and I didn't really get it at the time. (I'm still not sure I entirely get it now I mean who's talking to him anyway, the Baseball Gods?? His dad? A random ghost??) but I guess the hallmark of a good film is to make you feel something, to feel good about the movie, and this one certainly does that.

Alyson Addington