triple8
I am the first to admit I like TV movies if they are done well. This is a TV movie that was perhaps on the pure level of ACTING absolutely tops-the cast was all around very very good in their roles and that was the major plus of the film.However- as a movie I just didn't think this was done all that well. Throughout, Most of the film you kind of know whats gonna happen even before it happens(is there anyone who didn't know who the vicitm was gonna be?) Also, seeing the pain these girls went through to belong-to fit in-was brutal and unpleasant and for nothing because the plot didn't go anywhere except into the predictable.Also is it me or was Hilary Swank VERY OBVIOUSLY not college looking? Hilary Swank is a beautiful woman and a talented actress-but looked older then someone starting college. I mean the whole premise was tough to swallow.Everyone has their own ideas about what makes a movie good-I did watch this movie to completion but I didn't feel even as I watched it that I was watching anything very well done or good, except the acting which I will concede, as this movie's fans suggest WAS much better then the typical TV movie. But as far as the movie in general I would only give it about a five. Just didn't do it for me.
jill-70
Oh my gosh, all I have to say about this film, even though it had a suprisingly good and thrilling plot for a tv movie, is how gorgeous does Mark-Paul Gosselaar (a.k.a. Zack Morris from the teen tv show 'Saved By The Bell'-the original and best!) look?????!!!!! Phwoar!!!! I'd watch this again and again just to see him wearing those glasses even if it had been a bad film. He looks much better with dark hair (although I did still have a crush on him years ago as the blonde 'Tom Cruise' Zack Morris!!). But honestly, it's actually quite good and definitely worth watching even if you don't want to gaze at the lovely Mark-Paul!!!!!!!!!!Don't be put off and leave it too long; you'll regret it if you don't watch 'Dying To Belong'!!!!!!! (sorry I know that's really cheesy but I couldn't resist!!!) jill-70 :-)
zedex
Spoilers Dying to Belong is about a girl in her freshman year of college whose best friend is killed during hazing. She investigates whether it was really an accident or if there is something more sinister going on. This is an OK film, not as good as some of the comment on here say ("Best TV movie ever" is a gross exaggeration), but decent all the same. The acting is good, for the most part, the girl playing Kim over acted her way through every scene, making her part in the ending too obvious. Speaking of the ending, it was a little too predictable, not because of the writing but because of the direction. The way we see it, a girl is on the roof of a church or something being told that she'll win "Best Pledge" if she hangs a banner. We then see her friend on the ground realising she's disappeared, then the girl falling. This means the audience already knows she was forced onto the roof, which means the next 45 minutes of what's supposed to be tense is actually less exciting than the start of the film. Still, its worth watching, 7/10
Lindsay-7
I never actually saw this movie in its fullness, but what I saw impressed me. It had a great teenage cast headed by heartthrob Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Hilary Swank of The Next Karate Kid and Buffy,The Vampire Slayer (the movie) fame did an exceptional job. I don't really like Jenna Von Oy but she was good in her short amount of film. Can't wait to see this movie in its fullness.
AD
