Jay und die Affenbande

This is a well acted & directed adaptation of Wilson Rawls "Summer of the Monkeys". A truly great movie for kids and a book that ought to be read too, along with Rawls award winning, "Where the Red Fern Grows".

Good summer fare for kids out of school for the summer and entertaing for adults too.

The book is so amazing as Wilson Rawls writes his magical story just as he did with Where the Red Fern Grows. The movie "Where the Red Fern Grows" does not disappoint and is 99% just like the book. Summer of the Monkeys was lazily done. They didn't follow the book and may as well not referred to The Wilson Rawls version. So disappointing I wouldn't let my children watch it , because the writings of Wilson Rawls should be respected as "Where the Red Fern Grows " director and producer respected his writing.

At first I thought this would be a standard boy-meets-pet movie. Indeed, in the first part, you see many typical elements of that type of movie : it's the beginning of summer vacations, young Jay wants to work at his grandfather's general store to buy a pony for himself but he can't because he has to work on the family farm. And then there's his sister who has an handicapped leg, and an the old hermit who shoots everything he sees moving in the woods.

But as the story evolves, you discover many profound characters and relationships : the old hermit is not exactly what you thought, the grandfather has many interesting conversations with his grandson and with Jay's mother (his own daughter). The relationship between Jay and his sister also develops into something not predictable at first.

And of course, the chimps are there all along, which can only add comic as well as touching situations.

I rented that movie mainly for my children, but all in all, I found many edifying lessons for myself in it.

In the tradition of "Old Yeller", "the Waltons", "Monkey Trouble" and "Dunston Checks In". This heartwarming unforgotten family/animal film will delight both young and old and those who have or haven't read the book that was based off and written by the Author who also wrote "Where the Fern Grows". Director Michael Anderson (the Oscar Winning Director of Around the World in 80 Days and Logan's Run) does a very good job directing this family film, the Cinematography is Magnificent and so out the Costumes, and the acting is very nice and delighted and Screenwriter Jim Strain (the writer for Bingo (1991)) and Greg Taylor (Prancer, Jumanji, Harriet the Spy) did a good job writing and changing the setting to the Canadian Plains in 1910, plus this family film deals with with many issues common to adolescents such as peer relationships, bullies, sibling relationships, conflict with parents, role in the family, accepting responsibility, sharing, caring,and maturing. It also deals with seeing things from another's point of view. It is pertinent to children and bittersweet nostalgic for adults and there are some scenes that will make you laugh, make you cry and put a smile on your face and the whole family will enjoy it as well.

Plus i first saw this movie on videocassette before i read the book and i recommand checking this out for those who read this book and "Where the Red Fern Grows" at local Public Libraries and Public Schools as well, and despite that this was Independent Movie and being released straight to video and distributed by Walt Disney Home Video back in the Holiday Season of 1998.

I watched this with another adult and nine children. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The monkeys were very entertaining and there were plenty of laughs. However, the movie is mainly quite serious. It deals with many issues common to adolescents such as peer relationships, bullies, sibling relationships, conflict with parents, role in the family, accepting responsibility, sharing, caring,and maturing. It also deals with seeing things from another's point of view. it is pertinent to children and bittersweet nostalgic for adults.

The story line was original, the acting very good, the cinematography outstanding and the costuming was authentic. I would give this movie very high marks and recommend it to both adults and children. There should be more movies of this quality and thoughtfulness generated for the enjoyment of families and movie buffs.