Watch Return to Paradise For Free

Thanks for the memories!

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

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

This was super good, I love movies that challenge you and this was totally thought provoking, forcing you to ask the question, what would I do? of course you like to think you'd do the right thing but when it came right down to it could you give up 3 years of your life for someone you barely know? Someone you spent a few weeks with 2 years ago on vacation? An excellent premise especially if you've ever spent any time backpacking. Following three friends who meet while travelling in Malaysia and spend several weeks partying together, using drugs (hash) in a casual way. Two of the guys return to the States (Vince Vaughn & David Conrad) leaving Joaquin Phoenix behind to continue on with his travels.Two years later, we join Vaughn & Conrad back in the states, everybody has gotten on with their lives. Out of the blue a persistent and determined lawyer turns up (Anne Heche) informing them that Joaquin's character has in fact been imprisoned for the past 2 years after being arrested for the possession of (their) hash. Enough of it to see him executed under Malaysian law (in just 8 days) unless they return and take their share of the blame, which would mean serving 3 years if they both return or 6 each.This story never went where I expected it too, romance, suspense will they-won't they? With fantastic performances form everyone. Vince Vaughn was a big surprise here, he does a great job but Joaquin Phoenix... just blew me away, his final scene will haunt me for a long time. 3/10/15

What kind of demented nonsense is the plot in this clunker? American hedonists and hippies at play forced to face unlikely consequences in highly concocted plot. Young starry-eyed animal activist's plan to save the world for baboons -- oh scuse me, orangutans -- disrupted by missing bike and eeevil third world uppity Asians. Cutesy sister posing as attorney screws narcissist to save brother's life, blows it at the last minute but promises to stick around and watch newly discovered idealist turn into a babbling hunk over next six years.Doesn't anyone recognize pure trash when they see it anymore?This movie is enough of an embarrassment just to watch. It's even more so when such drek is passed off as an 'emotionally wrenching' performance or given high cinematic marks.

I would recommend this film as more valuable than the Bible or Koran as a moral guide. It has no morale meaning, but nonetheless, the name genius would not be an exaggeration when talking about the director's film-making skills. The meat-head bloke was a great actor, as was the elf chick who should have been in Lord of the Rings. We feel delighted that the bloke who decided to help his friend got locked up, and got rewarded by seeing his friend die. Shouts out to the female journalist who broke the story, shouts out to all the news corporations of he world. It is up there with the classics, like Top Gun, and other moral dramas. A shame about the soundtrack, all it was lacking was a bit of Charles & Eddie.