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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
EAN: 0024543444930
Feature: From the makers of Ray, AMAZING GRACE tells the inspiring story of William Wilberforce and his passion and perseverance to pass a law ending the slave trade in the late 18th century. Several friends, including Wilberforce's minister, a reformed slave ship captain who penned the beloved hymn Amazing Grace, urge him to see the cause through. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating:&nbs
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Item Dimensions: 100
Label: 20th Century Fox
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageEnglishSubtitledFrenchSubtitledSpanishSubtitled
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
MPN: 2244493
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Region Code: 1
Release Date: November 13, 2007
Running Time: 118 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release Date: February 23, 2007
Features:- From the makers of Ray, AMAZING GRACE tells the inspiring story of William Wilberforce and his passion and perseverance to pass a law ending the slave trade in the late 18th century. Several friends, including Wilberforce's minister, a reformed slave ship captain who penned the beloved hymn Amazing Grace, urge him to see the cause through. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating:&nbs
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
No Description Available.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG
Release Date: 13-NOV-2007
Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com:
In this inspirational costume drama, Michael Apted (49 Up) recounts a period in British history sure to be unfamiliar to most Americans. In fact, his eye-opening biography of 18th century abolitionist William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) is likely to come as a revelation to many Britons, as well. After all, despite the presence of his wife, Barbara (Romola Garai), this isn't a particularly "sexy" story, but it is a powerful one. The title comes from John Newton's hymn "Amazing Grace" ("I once was lost but now am found"). Newton (Albert Finney) was a former slaveholder, who became a clergyman and spent his days repenting. While America had John Brown, England had Wilberforce, and Newton is one of many who helped the MP to abolish slavery in the UK. The story begins towards the end of Wilberforce's mission when he's sick with colitis and addicted to laudanum. Apted continues to alternate between 1797 and 1789, when Wilberforce was fitter and more idealistic, and ends in 1807 as his efforts come to fruition. Apted and writer Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things) do right by their hero. Unlike Amistad, however, slaves are largely off-screen, with the exception of author Equiano (Senegalese vocalist Youssou N'Dour). Amazing Grace reserves its focus for the politicians who risked their reps for the greater good, like Wilberforce and Prime Minister Pitt (an excellent Benedict Cumberbatch), and those more concerned with the income slavery provided their constituents, like Lord Tarleton (Ciarán Hinds) and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones). --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Amazing Grace chronicled the story of William Wilberforce, a key figure behind the British Abolition movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The film had an unfortunate tendency to hop around from "the past" to "the present" (which was also the past--dates would have been helpful). But basically, it was a tale well told--nicely filmed, well acted, and with a stirring soundtrack.
Like John Newton (the man who wrote the hymn, "Amazing Grace"), Wilberforce was primarily motivated by a conversion to Evangelical Christianity. Although little is made of his conversion in the film, this epiphany continued to inspire him throughout his life and provided the basis for many of the social reforms he championed.
While Amazing Grace was true to the spirit of the times, there were some significant inaccuracies. Departures from real history are expected in films, and I wouldn't normally point them out. However, in this case, the discrepancies tended to detract from the film rather than enhance it. First, John Newton, Wilberforce's friend and religious model, was an Anglican priest, not a rag-clothed penitent. It was not until late in his life that Newton repented of his earlier slave-trading days, and by then he had a congregation. Depicting Newton as someone who scrubbed floors in a burlap sack lent a distinctly melodramatic, off-key note to the story.
The second major discrepancy is that Wilberforce was in his seventies when the act to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire was finally passed. (He died a mere three days later.) In the movie he was shown as middle-aged, which, while better for the love story, really didn't capture the dedication of a man who literally spent his entire adult life devoted to the abolitionist cause.
Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for a high school class (students need to get their facts straight), Amazing Grace was a good, solid introduction to the history of the abolitionist movement. One can only imagine the course American history would have taken if the Revolution had occurred after the passage of the anti-slavery acts, rather than before.
Rating:  -
This is a powerful movie based on a true story. It is eye-opening and poignant dealing with the Britsh slave trade. Great acting, a very redemptive drama.
Rating: -
Good historical movie. Much to much talking but good political insite to British Political fighting. To understand everything a person needs to find out some historical background. But if you stay with it a very rewarding movie and well worth anyones time.
Rating:  -
This is a brilliant and moving film, perfectionists may criticise the way it is delivered but it is moving to see that any man could be so passionate for the truth and to triumph over the wrong's of the world.
Rating: -
I've loved the bagpipe rendition of "Amazing Grace" for so long that I knew that I had to watch this film. The life of William Wilberforce during the 15-year struggle to end the slave trade in England was quite poignant and emotional, especially at the time when the parliament finally approves this hard-fought legislation. Michael Gambon's speech in commemoration to Wilberforce (in attendance at the time) was especially emotional for me. Of course, what could be better then ending with "Amazing Grace" played by the piper of the Black Watch?
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