Amazon.com

For those not familiar with the popular Nickelodeon TV series and the phenomenally successful Scholastic book series by K.A. Applegate, Animorphs centers on the adventures of five teens who can morph into animals and bugs. They battle the Yeerks, a frightful mercenary alien race (slimy, sluglike, gray-green, and the size of a rat) who want to control humans by entering their ears and taking over human minds. Don't dismiss Animorphs as a sci-fi Saved by the Bell. The acting is surprisingly topnotch and the stories are fun and thrilling.Animorphs: The Invasion Series, Part 1--The Invasion Begins introduces friends and morphers Jake (Shawn Ashmore), Rachel (Brooke Nevin), Marco (Boris Cabrera), Cassie (Nadia Nascimento), and Tobias (Christopher Ralph). Three episodes from the TV series, "My Name Is Jake," parts 1 and 2, and "The Underground," reveal how the Animorphs learn to use their gift and uncover the Yeerk plan. Part of the nasty alien plot is to acquire as many human controllers (those possessed by Yeerks) as possible. And despite the darkness of story, there's a sense of humor, too: one of the human controllers is the high school principal. For ages 6 and up. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (70)

Paper into Film
K.A. Applegate's world famous book series ANIMORPHS has finally hit the TVs of kids who tune into Nickeldoen. Shawn Ashmore plays the Animorphs' leader, Jake. The brave and lion-hearted Rachel is Brooke Nevin. Boris Cabrera plays Marco's part well with his jokes and, may I add, he's really cute. Nadia Nascimento (maybe I spelled that wrong) plays the nature wise Cassie. And last of the "human" actors is Tobias played by Christopher Ralph. And Homer is played by Jesse. These actors play their parts well and the special effects are great for the low sum they had to use. If you liked the books, you'll love the shows. But, and a big BUT, the books are always better. So, don't forget to open the newest ANIMORPHS soon!!!

Im sorry, but I...LUV IT!!!!!
Okay, let me show you what I liked about it. The exellent visser three portrayal was definitely a good start, and the morphing was nicely done. The music fit well with it (though I'm darn dissapointed with the theme) and Boris Cabera and Christopher....what's his name... were good actors and the yeerk pools had a nice spooky touch. It did well copying the pulse pounding excitement of the books and... though it didn't really have that Animorphs FEEL sometimes, it had a unique feel that I really liked. The starship was... dissapointingly low resolution, but it was satisfactory and the Hork Bajir...well...I just don't think they really should look like that. Overall, Animorphs is a fun series that appeals to many ages.

Review of Part 1
I watched this video 2 days ago and it fascinated me and my 8-year old son...the acting is good and these kids are more or less similar to the characters in the book but totally different. With books turned into a TV series, you cannot really expect a "literal" copy of the book to be turned into a TV series but it's still entertaining to watch. I just wish they have this series in reruns or something....and continue to fascinate young generations like my son.

HONESTLY
I don't mean to insult those who think the movie is okay--well that's your choice. Sure movies don't always NEED to fit the book exactly, but come on, at least they should still MAKE SENSE. In the part after the Animorphs have found Ax, as they run away from Visser Three and the controllers, they run into a room with an open ceiling and lock the door. Visser Three uses his tail blade to break the door open (and in the meantime, the Animorphs are aquiring butterflies, to get away) After Visser Three managed to get the door open all the way, he morphs to human before going in and saying "Nooo!" as he sees the butterflies fly away. Now WHY WHY WHY would Visser Three morph to human??? He only uses his human morph when he's among real humans, to hide his real form. There were no real humans here, only controllers. And after all, he thought that he was dealing with Andalite warriors here, right? SO why would he morph into a human that has no natural weapons at all???
There's a lot more pointless stuff than that. Like when Rachel morphs to cat to go spying on Chapman's house. Why doesn't she stay in the dining room to spy on Melissa and Chapman??? Why does she go down into the basement? In the book, the reason why she went there was cause she was following Chapman there, but here it makes no sense at all. And then, get this, once she reaches the basement, she DEMORPHs, which is really dangerous. And then she starts searching through a desk that's there, muttering "come on, come on". ERM, what exactly is she looking for? In the movie she went into this house to check wether or not Melissa is a controller. So what exactly does she expect to find on a DESK? Maybe a document, some piece of paper, that says "Melissa Chapman is a controller" ?? It just seems really stupid, how she's hastily searching through this desk, muttering "Come on, come on.." when she's really searching for NOTHING if you think about it, lol. Like someone else said: If you wanna save money, don't buy this junk. On the other hand, I would also recomend you to buy it, if you feel like it :D , just so that you can laugh your butt off at all the cheapness. (Jake always grins so stupidly when he's supposed to be serious, the furr on Ax's head looks like a punk, and in the part where Elfangor tells the Animorphs to run away from the aproaching yeerks, he's like "Go! Goooo! Gooo!" ugh. He might as well say "Gooo, my little Animorphs, gooo! Mwhahahaha!" ;) )

Animorphs, The Invasion Series
The movie (or small episodes on one video) was quite disappointing. I am a HUGE fan of the book series, Animorphs, by K.A. Applegate so I decided to check out the movie in the library. The movie was a horrible. The actors were much older than the characters in the book. The actors did not portray the characters they were playing very well. The Andalites were completely fake looking and the movie strayed more from the basic book plot than I would have liked. I thought maybe the people who made the movie might have put the episdes in order instead of skipping around. There were some switched roles and completely messed up personalities. All in all, I wouldn't recommend buying the movie if you want to save money. Try renting or borrowing it. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

the man who prevailed
This film is an earnest telling of chapters 25 through 33 of Genesis, and starts when Esau sells his birthright to his twin brother Jacob for a bowl of pottage (red lentil stew), and then gets maneuvered out of his father's blessing by his mother Rebekah. She knows Esau doesn't listen to God's voice, and his two Canaanite wives are a wearisome thing in her life, so Jacob is sent off to her brother (who has daughters), some 400 miles away, where Jacob falls in love with the attractive Rachel...and once there, "everything he touches, flourishes". It is a narrative of great faith and perserverance, and the relationship between Jacob and Rachel is touching and sweet.

Most of the story follows biblical lines, with a few additions; one of them is inexplicable to me, because it is the only part of the film that could be upsetting to children; it shows Jacob on his journey, fleeing a man he thinks is Esau seeking retribution (it is actually Esau's brother-in-law), when his donkey has a fatal fall from a hillside. It is odd that they would embelish the story with such an unpleasant event, because otherwise the sheep, goats and camels are wonderful, and would be enjoyable viewing for children.
The story ends as Jacob, his wives and children (the sons who would become the twelve tribes of Israel), servants and flocks arrive at Shehem. The story is continued in another film of this series, "Joseph", which is superior to this film, and highly recommended.

The cast:

Matthew Modine is fine as Jacob, Lara Flynn Boyle an excellent, lovely Rachel, and the ever beautiful Irene Papas is a marvelous Rebekah. Sean Bean (Boromir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy) is very good as Esau, and Giancarlo Giannini is Rebekah's devious brother Laban.
The score by Marco Frisina adds to the atmosphere, and the cinematography by Ennio Guarneri, though often darkened with a lot of shadows, is nice when using the sub-saharan landscape around Quarzazate, Morocco, where this was filmed; it well depicts how one would imagine the primitive life of ancient nomadic shepherds could be.
Total running time is 94 minutes.

Inspiring Entertainment for the Whole Family
"Jacob" is not one of the better productions from the excellent Turner Bible Collection. Nonetheless, it is inspiring entertainment, solidly based on the Biblical account of Jacob. There are portions of the narrative that are brilliantly captured, while other aspects of the story are poorly handled. I would still highly recommend the movie as quality entertainment for the entire family.

pretty ordinary!
This is a fairly ordinary film about the life of Jacob. Set in Morocco, It has very stark desert scenery as a backdrop, pehaps a reflection on the barren period of Jacob's life as a luckless, penniless 'slave' to the greedy and cunning Laban. I did NOT like the actress who played Rachael. I would have expected a shepherdess of that period to be portrayed as a strong resourceful woman, with perhaps an air of Oriental mystique i.e. just her eyes showing at that first meeting at the well. She looks 'wimpy', like, just stepped out of her air-conditioned tent? Considering the casting of the later Lube Productions in this series, they mis-cast in this one! Laban, however, as the villain of the story, is acted well. As the cunning and conniving Uncle he holds the plot together. His ultimatum to the two daughters to 'swap' places is a convicing scenario of how it might have actually happened. Ok, it's not the best film in the world, but if you like Biblical dramas, it would be worth getting.

Great Video
Great casting, acting, directing, scenery, etc. I was recommended this by a girl from Reno, NV. I'm so glad she did. In the past, when I used to read the Bible passage about Jacob, aka Israel, and Esau, aka Edom, arguing about their birthright over a bowl of lentil stew, I always had difficulty picturing it in my mind. The movie easily cleared this up for me by doing an excellent job of taking me back in time and re-enacting this scene. Regarding the actors and actresses, their personalities and appearances seemed perfect for the parts, especially Jacob played by Matthew Modine and beautiful Rachel played by Lara Flynn Boyle. Whether or not the cast and crew were made up of Bible believers, I think the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had His hand in helping with this movie.

Fantastic
I saw this movie right after I had read the story. It stayed so true to the Word. Outstanding cast! Anyone could enjoy this story.And it is truly a family movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This remastered, pan-and-scan 30th-anniversary edition of that kiddie-car caper is flawed but solid family fare. It retains a quaint charm while some of the songs--including the title tune--are quite hummable. A huge plus is Dick Van Dyke, who is extremely appealing as an eccentric inventor around the turn of the century. With nimble fingers and a unique way of looking at the world, he invents for his children a magic car that floats and flies. Or does he? The special effects are tame by today's standards, and the film is about 20 minutes too long--but its enthusiasm charms. The script was cowritten by Roald Dahl and based on the novel by Ian Fleming, best known for his James Bond adventures. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (121)

A fun family film, kiddie winkies!
This attempt by United Artists to craft its own version of Mary Poppins comes oh so close. The period setting (pre-WWI England), two young kids, Dick van Dyke, and super music by the Sherman Brothers make this seem like a Disney product.

However, the somewhat overlong film seems to lack the charm found in Poppins. This may be the result of adult elements subtly worked in, such as the wife-hating Baron and double entendres ("You'll find a slight squeeze on the ... an excellent safety precaution..."). The hook-wielding child catcher character is likely to be downright scary for small children.

On the plus side are terrific performances by the lead and supporting characters. You will keep humming the catchy tunes in your head for hours afterwards. The movie also has lots of visual goodies, including some beautiful automobiles.

The DVD is disappointing, since widescreen is not available. Despite the shortcomings, this film is worth having, at least on VHS.

Truly scrumptious !
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is one of the best movies ever made.
It is on dvd now in all it's glory. Ignore the Amazon editorial review which was obviously written by someone who disliked the movie entirely- perhaps they are too young to appreciate the splendor of it as they stated it was too long, out-dated, lacking special effects,etc. See and hear for yourself the delightful wonders that Hollywood used to make. Unlike the most recent movies made by Hollywood in the past decade -high budget disappointing typical movies filled with high-tech special effects yet no decent story at all ! By comparison Chitty Chitty Bang Bang holds it's own based solely on a great script, superb acting, songs that make you want to sing along, dancing that makes you wonder " how can Dick Van Dyke dance like that ?" with action,comedy,adventure and a love story all thrown into this family film. Who could ask for more ? They just don't make'em like this toot-sweet story anymore !

Great Movie Finally in Widescreen!!!
Theyve finally rleased this film in widescreen as they should have done years ago. And for the record this is NOT a DISNEY movie! It was made and released by UNITED ARTISTS. Don't you guys read the credits?

Bang Bang at Last
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on DVD is now in WIDESCREEN and at last we get a bang for our buck. "Why issue a classic widescreen epic on DVD if you are not going to present it in its original aspect ratio?" That was my original question along with many many more fans as this Ian Fleming tale. Count Zborowski is no longer as disapointed about this DVD as he must have been when he lost the original Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang in 1922. This is an outstanding DVD presentation with pleny of extras for the young and old alike.

Good film, bad packaging
Please read this review to the end, because it discusses several important highs AND lows about this DVD package. It'd be unfortunate & unbalanced, if you only got half the picture.

1) The main DVD (1 of 2) has the widescreen version of the film on one side, and the TV-square version on the other side. This format makes SO much sense, and is good value for the customer.

2) Disney, which usually overloads their VHS video and DVDs with ads, and shovels them at you BEFORE the main feature, has let their ads sit in the PROPER place, this time-- under "extras" in the DVD menu. There are LOTS of extras-- a kids' book built-in on the DVD case, and some slightly puffy ad-interviews... but generally satisying despite the happy-happy-joy-joy quality of the interviews.

3) If my copy is typical, then the plastic Disney used in the DVD is substandard. My copy of the DVD has no other signs of heavy use, but already has a PAIR of fractures extending from the center of the DVD to the silvered data-bearing surface. Repeated insertion and removal from its standard pressure/friction-fit DVD case, will cause this DVD to quickly disintegrate into an unreadable coffee-cup coaster.

4) Oh yeah-- the MOVIE. *grin* It's pure Dick Van Dyke musical. I'd love to say it's Dick Van Dyke + Julie Andrews, like Mary Poppins, but it's not. However, the Julie Andrews replacement used in this film is completely acceptable, and does a job equal to Ms. Andrews' performances, and almost as pretty onscreen.
Like the Andrews films "Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins", the childrens' performances are somewhat weak. Dick Van Dyke, however, is at the top of his game. Amazing, in someone old enough to have grey in in his hair (40 something, at this point ?) is energetic enough to do over 20 takes (by his own reporting) of the "Old Bamboo" piece, where he's required to jump over a piece of bamboo that he's holding for himself (at slightly over waist height). Good GOD, I may only know one person who can do that, even ONCE.

The music is memorable, especially the "living doll" duet late in the film. The plot is predictable, and silly kids' stuff, but-- heck, this IS a kids' musical, so one can't expect a Dustin Hoffman acting level, with a Michael Moore punch and a Silence-of-the-Lambs plotline.

5) Do you REALLY want to buy a Disney film, this year ? I don't. It'd send the wrong message to them, after they've withheld distribution (through their daughter-company Miramax) on the latest Michael Moore film (Fahrenheit 9/11). Their excuse is, it'd endanger the million-dollar tax breaks they get from Bush's brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush. So, they're copping out on their contractual obligation to distribute the film that got Cannes Film Festival's top award. That ain't right. If they'd had objections, the time to raise them was when the contract wasn't yet signed. Don't support these guys. Not this year. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Charming movie
I've seen this movie quite a few times now over the years, and why not wright a little review of this wild and crazy classic. it actally isnt as silly as most of the jerry lewis films, this is serious at times, and has alote of fine actors in it.
Jerry Lewis plays (as almost always) a nice and friendly chap, but clumsy who just can't seem to do anything right.
In this movie he is working at a big store, a huge store. and everything goes wrong! almost anyway. alote of fun scenes. not just a couple. i laughed many times through the movie. this is a fun and crazy jerry comedy, i think its one of the best jerry lewis movies. (atleast of what ive seen so far)
oh, and by the way, check out that beatiful secretary "Shirley", oh mama! i wish she had played a bigger role! and don't you just love the movie title? check it out.

Physical Comedy At Its Finest!
This is the first movie Jerry Lewis appeared in after his masterpiece "The Nutty Professor." Freed from the chores of writing and directing this film, Jerry turns in one of his finest performances. Norman Phiffier (Jerry Lewis) lives his life according to the philosophy that honesty is the best policy. He is a dog walker and dog sitter in love with Barbara (the beautiful Jill St. John). He believes that she is just an elevator operator at Tuttle's Department Store but, in reality, she's the daughter of the store owner and heiress to the Tuttle fortune. Her mother Phoebe (Agnes Moorehead) disapproves of Norman and doesn't want her daughter to marry him. Determined to break up their romance, she instructs the store manager Mr. Quimby (Ray Walston) to hire Norman to work in Tuttle's Department Store and give him the worst possible jobs. He first assigns Norman to paint the tip of the flagpole hanging outside the ninth floor window. Norman tries to climb out on the pole and almost falls to his death. He comes up with the bright idea of putting a paint brush at the end of a fishing pole. To paint the bottom, he enters the office of the store's president John Tuttle (John McGiver). John is a henpecked husband whose wife really runs the store. Since John is busying himself by putting golf balls, Norman takes him to a machine that electronically measures how far you hit the golf ball. When Norman hits the ball it flies out the window, hits a traffic cop on the head, keeps bouncing around and knocking things over, and eventually lands back on the tee and explodes!

One of Norman's jobs is working in the women's shoe department. Mr. Quimby has hired a lady wrestler to come in and try on a pair of shoes much too small for her foot size. Norman tries to force the shoes on her feet and they end up getting knocked to the floor. She gets Norman in a headlock, picks him up and flings him over the counter. Looking closely, it's plain to see that it's Jerry and not a stunt double flying over the counter! After getting stomped on, Norman gets thrown into a huge rack of shoe boxes, which crash through the window and land on the same traffic cop who earlier got hit with the golf ball! In another scene, Norman is working in the men's clothing department on the morning that they're having a 50% off sale. As soon as the doors open, a crowd of stampeding women converge on the clothes, grabbing every article of clothing in sight. They even pull off most of Norman's clothes! There are many other departments Norman has to work in, all ending with disastrous results.

My favorite scene involves a rich woman, carrying her Chihuahua and accompanied by her manservant, who is bringing an old vacuum to the store to be repaired. Mrs. Tuttle appears with Mr. Quimby to observe the proceedings. Norman rewires the vacuum to increase its suction. The vacuum becomes so powerful that it starts moving on its own, sucking up everything in sight, including the old lady's dog and Mrs. Tuttle's wig! Norman is unable to switch off the vacuum or even unplug it, so the vacuum's bag keeps getting bigger and bigger, and eventually floats up to the ceiling! Norman ends up climbing a ladder and sticking a knife into the bag. The resulting explosion of dirt and debris is hilarious, as the Chihuahua plops back into the old lady's arms. Norman puts the dirty, dust covered wig back on Mrs. Tuttle, who promptly fires him. Mr. Tuttle, accompanied by his daughter Barbara, come to Norman's aid and Norman finally learns that Barbara is the Tuttle's daughter. Proud and determined to make it on his own, Norman quits and goes back to being a dog walker. The last scene involves Norman walking a large number of dogs. First Barbara, then her father, and finally her mother go by also walking many dogs and wearing jackets that say I'M SORRY. They all round a corner out of sight. The next thing you hear are the screeching of brakes and the sounds of cars crashing. The last shot is of the poor traffic cop, surrounded by wrecked cars and barking dogs. "Who's Minding The Store?" is, without a doubt, one of the funniest movies Jerry Lewis has ever done!

Hilarious but...3 stars for format
No need to review the film which is a comedy gem...just the format:
The film starts in widescreen, unusual for a video tape. And just when you're getting used to it, the opening credits end and it reverts back to fullscreen(!)
To add insult to injury, the end credits are not even included, the movie simply ends! So much for finding out who the actors were.......

C'mon Paramount...how about the full version on DVD?

THE BEST PART WAS WHEN JERRY WAS WITH THAT BIG SHEEPDOG
I GOT TO OPEN A PRESENT EARLY-AND IT WAS 3 JERRY LEWIS VIDEOS-WHOS MINDING THE STORE-ROCK A BYE BABY-THE NUTTY PROFESSER!

WHOS MINDING THE STORE IS ABOUT A DOGWALKER WHO ALSO DOG-SITS WHEN THE DOGS OWNERS ARE AWAY-BUT WHEN A MEAN WOMAN WHO OWNS A DEPARTMENT STORE FINDS OUT HER DAUGHTER IS GOING TO MARRY THIS LOSER SHE HIRES HIM TO WORK AT HER STORE AND GIVE HIM TOUGH JOBS-SHE EVEN HAS HIM FIRED!

I WOULD RECCOMEND THIS MOVIE TO ANY JERRY LEWIS FAN!

Who's Better than Jerry?
THIS MOVIE IS ONE OF JERRY'S GREATEST, GREAT SUPPORTING CAST & A GREAT GAG DIRECTOR, FRANK TASHLIN...NO COMEDY OF TODAY EVEN COMES CLOSE TO THIS ONE...ONE OF THE KING OF COMEDY'S GREATEST! ... Read more

Reviews (257)

It's a Small World
DreamWorks explores the world of an unlikely hero in the imaginative animated adventure "Antz". A neurotic worker ant named Z (Woody Allen) questions his place in the colony and tries to gain the attention of the rebellious princess Bala (Sharon Stone). After a series of mishaps and misadventures, Z becomes an inspirational figure and creates uproar within the colony. "Antz" is a smart and entertaining animated tale of one person making a difference. The story is surprisingly clever, funny and appealing to both kids and adults. Woody Allen delivers a fine comic performance and provides much of the film's witty humor. The all-star voice cast also includes Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Lopez, Danny Glover, Christopher Walken and Gene Hackman. The computer animation and character designs are quite amazing. The scenes within the ant colony and the fierce battle against the termites are stunning visual achievements.

DreamWorks manages to pull a real winner. The animated feature is presented in its 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains a stunning picture quality with striking color detail. Its 5.1 Dolby Digital sound is well balanced and fairly aggressive. The animated menus are colorful and wonderfully done. Its supplemental material features an audio commentary by directors Eric Darnell and Tim Johnson, multiple behind-the-scenes and CGI featurettes, trailers and TV spots. With its lively presentation, "Antz" gets a pleasing "B+".

A very well rendered kid-adult movie.
Who knew a cartoon could have such deep views and ideas about Utopias, communism, dictatorship, and governmental oppression? This is one of the best I have watched. The movie itself is wonderful and has a very deep and involving plot even though you might not expect it. The characters are well written and it doesn't fall into the typical cliches like disney movies do. As for the disc, the video quality is the BEST I've seen, no pixels were present in the video. Heck, I tried to find something wrong with the video quality and I couldn't! The 5.1 audio is excellent also and the .1 channel knows when exactly when to come in. The vibrant sounds never fight with the dialogue, and the movie has a great sense of 5.1 surround creating a real environment. The features are also where this DVD shines. The colorfull animated windows are user friendly leading you to Behind the scenes featurettes, The basics of computer animation, CG facial and character designs, commentaries, a trailor, 4 TV spots, and more. Overall, this is how all DVD's should be and will set a standard. It's a good movie for kids AND adults and I mean that, I'm a 20 year old Male and I loved it. This is definately a movie adults could enjoy.

NOT FOR KIDS
I bought this for my kids and I was NOT happy when I heard cuss words and watched this video. Adults may like this video but I WOULD NOT ever reccomend it for kids.

Clever and Witty Animation for Adults
It's rather unfortunate that Antz and A Bugs Life were released so close together, as they will always be compared, and Antz suffers as a result of the association. In actuality they have very few similarities.
The first thing to note when watching Antz, is that it's not a movie designed for children. There is little here that kids would understand, and some of what they'd be able to pick up on would scare the heck out of them. The battle with the termites is really more graphic than it needs to be. Particularly the aftermath where we see what happened to Barbatus. However, when viewed by a more mature audience this movie is really very bright. The dialogue is clever and insightful. The food for thought comes along just as quickly as the jokes do.
The animation leaves something to be desired. Everything is very angular, and the endless use of browns and greys becomes very monotonous.
The actors do a nice job and put forth a lot of character, and combined with the entertaining story line and intriguing views presented here the movie is definitely worth seeing.

Very Mature in Nature
I don't recommend this movie for kids. Its very mature in nature. Theme is virtually very similar to human, too violent. It doesn't depict the true nature of ants. Ants are more civilized than human, they know what to eat and not to eat. unlike humans anything goes.
One horrific scene of the movie is when they attack their enemy, bodies of ants are scattered all over the place. Especially when Woody Allen is talking to Danny Glover's Head, looking for his body.
This kind of movie relates to striking workers who wants justice.
No wonder this movie never got a sequel.Its a fun movie for grown ups but for kids i don't think so. ... Read more

Description

Irene Cara (Fame) and Lonette McKee (Round Midnight) sing and struggle their way to show-business glory in a Supremes-like girl group. Dynamite Curtis Mayfield soundtrack. Year: 1976 Director: Sam O' Steen Starring:Philip M. Thomas, Irene Cara, Lonette McKee ... Read more

Reviews (27)

MY FAVORITE MOVIE!
I must say Sparkle is my favorite movie. I've seen it probably hundreds of times since the 70's. Lonette McKee and Irene Cara were great in this movie. Making it big in the "Music Business" was their dream until Sister (Lonette McKee) let something over power her dreams. Fortunately, Sparkle (Irene Cara) was able to succeed with the help and encouragement of her boyfriend Stix (Philip Michael Thomas). This is definitely an African-American Classic. I hear there's going to be a remake of this film soon. It may be good, but it will never come close to the original.

"Sparkle" SPARKLES!
I saw this film in the movies as a teenager and I've never forgotten how it made me laugh, cry and sing. It's the story of the fictional struggles of three sisters who are trying to make it in the music business, but each of them encounter individual problems. There are fine performances in this movie. Irene Cara (who plays "Sparkle"), Lonette McKee, and Dorian Harewood are particular standouts. Look for future "Miami Vice" star, Philip Michael Thomas, as Sparkle's enterprising boyfriend. It has been compared to Broadway's "Dreamgirls" and the Supremes' story, but it has its own strengths, plus a slammin' soundtrack, written and produced by the late, great Curtis Mayfield, and sung by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. "Something He Can Feel" is STILL the jam. I gave it four stars because the ending was predictable, but all around this is a wonderful film. Highly recommended.

Sparkle
I Really Loved This Movie, I Must Have Watched It About Fifty Times, And Everytime It Makes Me Want To See It Again. Please Can Somebody Put This Movie On DVD.

"Sparkle" is a hidden classic
The movie "Sparkle" is one of my favorite movies of all time. I love this movie and think that this movie is something that everyone should see at least once. Although I watch this movie all the time, I love the singing, acting and just overall concept of the movie. I reccommand this movie to everyone.

BEST Movie hidden!!!
Sparkle is a classic and excellent cast and directed film. This movie is hidden from getting the attention that is deserves. The story and acting is superb! It's a classic movie in the class with "The Imitation of Life" (but a different type of story here). I STRONGLY recommend this film. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Next to The Wild Bunch, this may be director Sam Peckinpah's best movie--all the more extraordinary because it was shot almost a decade before his big breakthrough. Peckinpah cannily cast two aging stars of cowboy films--Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott--in their only film together, playing a pair of over-the-hill cowboys who take a job guarding a gold shipment on its journey down from a mining camp. A reflective tale about two men past their prime, looking back on the paths their lives have taken and the choices they've made, it features a stirring finale and terrific performances by McCrea and Scott. It also features, in her first movie role, a very young Mariette Hartley. Look quickly and you'll see Warren Oates, James Drury, and L.Q. Jones. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Spectacular Western
Joel McCrae stars as Steve Judd, an ageing lawman reduced to taking odd jobs in the rapidly civilizing west of the late 1890s. Taking a job transporting gold from a violent mining camp in the High Sierras, Judd hires two men to help in the job, one a friend(Randolph Scott) from law days gone by. The two assistants plot to steal the gold as soon as they are hired and the action gets thick from there. Vital to this movie is the display of Judd's moral code. Judd may be a man just barely hanging on, a supurfluous man in the New West, but he's kept his manly virtues- his strength of character, his wisdom, his courage, and his dignity. However humbled by his circumstances, Judd is a man worthy of emulation. He is a true hero. END

One of the very best...of all time
When this film came out in 1962 I went with my Dad to see it at the movie theater. Its images, its words, its story have remained with me ever since....

Sam Peckinpah's RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY is one of the finest western adventures in cinematic history. Everything---the superb acting from old time veterans Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea, the crisp and pointed dialogue, the camera work (and film editing), and the never-overdone elegiac underlay of farewell and warning, not just about the "old west" of the motion pictures (of the 1930-1960 period), but about the reality of the American frontier and the American spirit--adds up to excellence.

If two actors truly symbolized the Old West of public imagination, certainly those actors were Randy Scott and Joel McCrea. How fitting that RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY should be their "so long, pardner" to the genre! In 1962 the classic Western was dying, the genre changing, just as America was changing. The spirit of American innocence and optimism was subtly being transformed--while we longed for the return of Randy Scott, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, and moral certainties, Vietnam would soon make us a nation of cynics and skeptics. Thus, RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY is more than just a salute to two great Western actors and their farewell to that enduring American film creation the classic Western; RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY tells us, through two of the most admired cowboy actors of all time, about ouselves, about changing American society, and presents us with a classic morality tale. Steve (McCrea)Judd's remarkable words to Gil (Scott) Westrum, when Westrum gently suggests they might skip out with the gold they are charged with transporting, says it all: "All I want to do is enter my house justifed." It was the classic, optimistic American dream that motivated the pioneers of the old West just as it did the pioneers of Virginia or Massachusetts, the foundation of our society "to enter our house justified," to make a just and fair life for ourselves in a new land. RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY reminds us, this one last time, of our original national purpose, and shows us the pitfalls along the way--not just temptation but the "times" that threaten us.

In the end Westrum (Scott) returns (repents of his deviation from the moral course) to Judd's rescue...and Judd's response is: "I knew you would [return] all the time." Perhaps it is indeed too late, for Judd dies, alone, in one of the most amazing scenes in all cinema. Does his fervent dream of a "house justified" die with him? Does the older America of undbounded optimism and a moral code disappear with his departure and the end of the western frontier---and the end of "old time" Westerns? Peckinpah does not answer, and we are left to ponder. But one thing IS certain...we are never the same after watcbing this marvelous film.

Peckinpah's Masterpiece
After a lengthy apprenticeship in the theater and TV, this was Sam Peckinpah's second feature, and the only one that completely fulfilled his talents as a director. Joel McRea and Randolph Scott (finishing their sterling careers in a blaze of glory here) joust over right and wrong, money and honor in a parable about two men bringing a gold shipment from the mines to a bank. Ironically, they are brought to the brink of destruction not by greed but by the torments of young love, something of which they only have dim memories. Peckinpah, who was an accomplished TV scriptwriter, reportedly augmented N.B. Stone's original story with his own touches. The pacing and changes of mood, the action scenes, the great dialogue are all masterfully handled and speak of a very talented artist still more interested in his material than in himself. Sadly, this didn't last; Peckinpah's next feature, "Major Dundee", was a fiasco, and although he created many great moments in a dozen more films over the next 20 years, he never again pulled it all together over the course of an entire project. By the by, "Ride the High Country" is certainly worthy of DVD treatment.

Great in all respects.
The opening scene of this movie fooled me. I thought the movie was going to be a Western comedy set in the city. I was wrong. The character interaction, dialog, and scenery are first rate. Even the soundtrack is stirring to the point that it moves your soul. The conversations between Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott reminded me of my own personal life. The ending is stirring. One of my favorite Westerns of all time.

Peckinpah directs McRae and Scott in this classic western
MGM thought they were producing just another B-Wesern when director Sam Peckinpah made this 1962 movie, but "Ride in the High Country" turns out to be a classic of the genre. Aging ex-Marshall Steve Judd (Joel McRae) is hired to transport a load of gold from a mining camp to town. He hires his old friend, Gil Westrum (Randolph Scott) and a younger one, Heck Longtree (Ron Starr) to help him guard the gold. Westrum tries to convince Judd to steal the gold, but Judd refuses. They attend the wild wedding of Elsa (Mariette Hartley), who ends up running away with them, having fallen for young Heck. While the groom's family comes after Elsa, Westrum and Longtree try to steal the gold. Judd stops them and vows to bring them in for trial. But when the in-laws catch up with Judd, Westrum returns to help out his old friend in one last gun battle.

"Ride the High Country" is about the death of the Old West. This film was supposed to be the last film for both Scott and McRae, although McRae changed his mind afterwards. Peckinpah presents a natural Western, in settings far removed from the Monument Valley splendor we associate with John Ford. Both the dialogue and the performances represent that realism as well. The final scene between Scott and McRae is as touching as any this side of "Shane." Of course, Peckinpah goes on to deal with the end of the Old West in a more different fashion in his classic "The Wild Bunch." But I really think this is the better Western once you get past all the bloody violence of the other one. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The Blue Bird
As a small child I remember seeing this lesser-known movie, and it so impressed me that I wanted our small grandchildren to see it. I hadn't seen it since then, so I watched it again to make sure it was as I remembered. I know that when our "grands" come soon, they will enjoy it as much as I did years ago. Shirley Temple was magical little child, and the story line is unusual for a Shirley Temple movie in that it is a fantasy tale. I heartily recommend it for small children!

"The Blue Bird means Hapiness"says Berri Lou
This is my favorite Shirley Temple movie and I being a lover of "The Wizard of Oz," I fell in love with "The Blue Bird" also. I love stories that have fantasy plots and adventures of young children seeking love and/or happiness. The characters in the story are very creative and loveable-except for the mean Tylette and the greedy Luxuries. The setting is beautiful for being an early 1940's picture. I'm a big fan of Shirley Temple and love anything she does, but this is my favorite all time movie of hers. If you have children or are a child of the heart, rent or buy the movie from the trustworthy Amazon.com. If you miss out on this movie, you are missing out on a classic picture.

Sub-par attempt at Wizard of Oz
I previewed this movie for my 5 year old after all the great reviews I saw on Amazon... This movie has poor production. The shifting from black and white to color was not explained but just happens.
Then it is down right scary!
Walking across the grave yard at midnight comes out ok but I'm curious Why can't light go with them? No real reason is given.
the script is poor and pathetic. The lines these children were made to say makes me shutter...
Someone raved about the grandma scene.. It teaches your child to think Grandma is only "alive" when you think about her. Yuck! Why lay that burden on a childs' shoulders.
Oh and BTW all babies are pretty and caucasion before being born.
The big fire scene is really frighting.
Not to mention the script writer must have hated cats!
This is not a movie for Cat lovers.
I can understand why I had never heard of this movie.
The production writing and acting leave a whole bunch to be desired.

Grandmas house
when i was younger and i would visit my grandmas house, before bed i got to choose a movie to fall alseep to "The Blue Bird" was always my choice. the movie was filled with imagination and wonder. i fell in love with it the first time i saw it. now that my grandma has past away i want my own copy. not only because its my favorite movie, but because there will always be great memories with it.

A Remarkable film
"The Blue Bird" Has to be one of the most beautiful and underrated films ever made. I am also a big fan of "The Wizard of Oz" But Iv always felt that The Wizard of oz was not a childrens due to it's scary scenes and I for one used to be very afraid of it. I could never just sit and watch it because I would always be worried about one Scary Scene after another. With The Blue Bird you can sit back and relax while your chiled gets a good clear useful message from the film. I advise any parent to show there children "The Blue Bird" before showing the Wizard of oz. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Riding the strange '50s nostalgia wave that swept through America during the late 1970s (caused by TV shows like Happy Days and films like American Graffiti), Grease became not only the word in 1978, but also a box-office smash and a cultural phenomenon. Twenty years later, this entertaining film adaptation of the Broadway musical received another successful theatrical release, which included visual remastering and a shiny new Dolby soundtrack. For its video and laser disc re-release, Grease lovers can also now see it in the correct 2:35 to 1 Panavision aspect ratio, and see retrospective interviews with cast members and director Randal Kleiser. All these stylistic touches are essential to the film's success. Without the fabulously choreographed, widescreen musical numbers; vibrant colors; and unforgettably campy and catchy tunes (like "Greased Lightning," "Summer Nights," and "You're the One That I Want"), the film would have to rely on a silly, cliché-filled plot that we've seen hundreds of times. As it is, the episodic story about the romantic dilemmas experienced by a group of graduating high school seniors remains fresh, fun, and incredibly imaginative. The young, animated cast also deserves a lot of credit, bringing chemistry and energy to otherwise bland material. John Travolta, straight from his success in Saturday Night Fever, knows his sexual star power and struts, swaggers, sings, and dances appropriately; while Olivia Newton-John's portrayal of virgin innocence is the only decent acting she's ever done. And then there's Stockard Channing, spouting sexual double-entendres as Rizzo, the bitchy, raunchy leader of the Pink Ladies, who steals the film from both of its stars. Ignore the sequel at all costs. --Dave McCoy ... Read more

Reviews (221)

5 Star Movie Lowered (Slightly) By Disappointing DVD
I won't go into the plot here, because, let's face it, if you haven't seen Grease by now, you probably won't ever see it. And you are missing out on a really fun film. That is the secret to this movie's popularity. It's just plain fun! It doesn't have a really great script, none of the performancies (with the exception of Stockard Channing) is anything above run-of-the-mill, but it's got a lot of great, catchy songs, a very likeable cast, and is just a treat to watch again and again. I was disappointed by this DVD release though, because it's exactly the same as the laser disc, only smaller and you don't have to turn it over. The cast interviews at the end are four years old, and this is really just a delayed release of the 20th Anniversary Edition on DVD. And what fan of Grease needs a cheap, paper booklet of song lyrics? Believe me, we know them all by heart. Truly the most profitable and one of the most popular musicals ever made deserves a better DVD package. The fans certainly deserve it too, having waited so long for this. Boo! to Paramount for, apparently, wanting to wait and pick our pockets again some time down the road when they release the two-disc set with all the extras this movie should have. At least it's in widescreen, which is a totally different viewing experience for anyone who hasn't seen it letterboxed or on the big screen yet. The musical numbers have a much larger scope, with dancers and other action on the sides that had previously been cut off. You will be surprised how many previously unseen guys are on the bleachers with Danny and the gang for "Summer Nights". And to anyone who is planning to buy the full-frame DVD--shame on you! You are truly missing out.

You CAN right a movie about rock&roll!
Most people would think that you could'nt write a good movie about rock&roll. This movie sure proves them wrong. The songs are great, and the movie is great.
I said that the songs were a great part of the movie. Here they are.
1. Grease-5/0
2. Summer Nights-8/10
3. Hopelessly Devoted To You-3/10
4. You're The One That I Want- 10/10
5. Sandy-1/10
6. Beauty School Dropout-5/10
7. Look At Me, I'm Sandra D.-7/10
8. Greased Lightning-9/10
9. It's Raining On Prom Night-3/10
10. Alone at the Drive-In-Movie-1/10
11. Blue Moon-9/10
12. Rock "N" Role is Here To Stay-8/10
13. Those Magic Changes-10/10
14. Hound Dog-4/10
15. Born To Hand Jive-4/10
16. Tears On My Pillow-2/10
17. Mooning-2/10
18. Freddy My Love-0/10
19. Rock "N" Role Party Queen-8/10
20. There Are Worse Things I Could Do-3/10
21. Look At Me, I'm Sandra D.(Reprise)-5/10
22. We Go Togeter-10/10
23. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing-4/10
24 Grease(Reprise)-5/10

As you can see, there are some VERY bad songs, but for the most part, the songs are pretty good. The whole movie was even better than the songs. The whole idea of the movie is a senior high schooler comes to the U.S. and goes to a cheap high school. There, she runs into a guy she met in the summer, who is in a car gang that is against another car gang. Throughout the year, this girl ( her name is Sandy) and her friends deal with the guy(his name is Danny) and his friends. The movie pretty much told about the "typical" high scholl senior's problems, except in a more 60's background. The movie actually took place in the 70's. At the end, Danny's car gang beats the rival gang in a car race, and at the end of the movie, the whole gang of guys and girls gets back together without any problems at the end of the year. The movie is all in all VERY good. Buy it today.

Grease lightning!
(...)

Anyway, "Grease" is one of my favorite movies. It's just one of those timeless gems that will never die (can't say the same for the sequel, though). Every song is a joy and the film couldn't have been casted any better. John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing; all involved give indelibly charming performances. A lot of great films came out of the 70's (The Godfather, A Clockwork Orange, Taxi Driver, Chinatown, Jaws, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, etc., etc...) but "Grease" is still able to hold it's own after all these years. A quintessential film to add to your collection.

As far as the DVD goes, well... it's typical of Paramount to stiff us with what could have been a solid release. If you take into account that almost everyone who buys the disc already knows all the songs and dialogue by heart, the studio could have done lots of fun things with the material. Alas, we only get a songbook (which is admittedly kinda cool) and a documentary. Oh, yeah. And a theatrical trailer. How rare. *scoffs*

A half-assed effort to bring "Grease" to a great medium notwithstanding, I'd highly recommend buying this.

"Summer lovin'... had me a bla-haaast..."

I love this movie
Firstly because it reminds me of a carefree and happy time in my life. I saw this in the summer of 1978 when I was 12 years old and the only thing I had to worry about was making sure I didn't have any overdue library books, keeping the lawn mowed and starting ninth grade in the fall. Secondly because there's some great pop music in this movie, _Hopelessy Devoted to You_ is one of the best pop songs about unrequited attraction ever written. Thirdly because of the subtext of this movie, the lesson this movie teaches you is that in order to get ahead you have to be a slut, just look at the way Olivia Newton John (who was 30 when this movie was made) turns from a good girl at the beginning of the movie into a leather trouser wearing slut at the end. Fourthly I love this movie because all of the actors in it are so obviously too old to be in high school. I figured as a kid that this was because the lead paint factory at the town of Rydell was dumping a lot of stuff into the water supply in those halcyon, pre-EPA days of the 1950s and the resulting heavy metal poisoning made the children of Rydell somewhat slow, which was why they were all still in high school even though they were in their late 20s and early 30s.

Greasy John isn't my cup of grease
As an Australian I find this movie extremely offensive. Why should Sandie have to change and become a greasy fat rude American. She should haved stay the way she was I reckon.

There's a line in this movie about eating sh*t...I agree. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Some of us will never understand why this boy-and-his-whale tale became the hit family film of 1993 and one of the bestselling videos of all time. But it is easy to see how clever marketing and a tear-jerking story could touch the hearts of kids and parents the world over, especially because the endangered Orca whale named Willy is such a majestic creature. The story couldn't be more conventional--it's like Old Yeller and The Black Stallion with a big sea mammal--but as the boy who comes to Willy's aid against the whale's exploitative owner, young Jason James Richter gives an appealing performance with which children can readily identify. After two sequels and an animated television series, this popular film also had a happy real-life ending: Keiko the whale (who plays Willy) recovered from failing health and was gradually trained to survive outside of captivity. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Freedom
The reason this film is so moving is because it is about freedom. We all value freedom and the human spirit longs to be free. Animals are born to run free, on the earth or in the sea. The thought of trapping a whale in a tank just large enough for dolphins seems rather cruel. So, we cheer on, as a 12-year-old spunky street kid makes freeing this beautiful Orca whale possible.

Jesse is the star of this movie and is at first a troubled kid who keeps thinking his mother will come back to take him home. Willy is the whale who was also taken from his family, so the two find common ground. When Willy saves Jesse's life, they form a bond of friendship and Jesse is the only one who can train the whale. The owner of the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Park plots to get insurance money by destroying the tank and when Jesse hears of the plans he has to race against time to save his friend.

The scenes of the Pacific Northwest are spectacular and the whales playfully dancing in the water is a pure display of joy. These are truly on of God's most magnificent creations. Keiko, a 7,000-pound Orca is the whale star, but they also have back-up from a full-sized "animatronic" whale. I could not tell the difference between the whales, it was that good.

One of the best parts of the film is when Jesse spends his pocket money to buy the whale his favorite treat, salmon. I just thought that showed Jesse's true character. While he acts tough on the outside, he seems to be fascinated with nature and animals and that brings out his more loving side.

Throughout the movie, the theme of family is very important and I think that might be why this film is such a favorite. There is a music video at the beginning of this video and there is also information for children about helping save whales from becoming extinct. Overall, I felt this was a great movie for children and adults and it teaches such great lessons: that we all need a family and that we should respect animals. I was captivated from beginning to end. A wonderful movie for all ages.

Classic Family Entertainment (Good For The Grownups, Too)
Young Jesse -- abandoned by his mother at an early age -- is a troubled kid. His antics keep his social worker and foster family worried and busy. He runs away, begs for spare change, steals food and spray paints graffiti on walls. His foster parents really love and care for him but Jesse resists them, believing that his mother will someday return.

Jesse's life takes a turn for the better when he encounters Willy, a giant orca, at a marine park nearby. Jesse's fascination with the whale leads to an emotional bond based, at least in part, on their similar circumstances. Willy misses his mother and, like Jesse, tends to 'act out' once in a while.

I saw "Free Willy" in 1993 when it was released in theatres. I remembered agreeing with the critics who praised it as great family entertainment and I'm happy to say that the film remains very effective today.

My niece (age 8) was thoroughly entertained by this movie but the younger children in the group were alienated by the somewhat advanced, dramatic themes of abandonment, responsibility and love. For what it's worth, I enjoyed the film immensely.

Over a decade since its release, "Free Willy" holds up quite well. I got "misty" and "choked up" throughout the desperate climactic rescue sequence that gives the movie its name. The opening sequence, during which Willy is captured, is also quite touching.

This is efficient storytelling offering a steady, sustained buildup to a thoroughly satisfying climax.

"Free Willy" also offers believable performances by all members of its small ensemble cast, including Michael Madsen, Michael Ironside, Lori Petty, Jason James Richter (as Jesse) and Keiko (as Willy).

i like it
i like this movie, it has pretty colors

Great Family film
I have this film, its really great for the family,amzing ending too that will shock us, just get this film for the family if u never saw it yet.

If you take it as fantasy...
The odd thing about Free Willy is that it's a film which makes money using a captive animal to do tricks--and it's about the evils of capturing animals to do tricks for money. The film came out at the same time as and with the same mentality of its partner-in-ideology Jurassic Park (using technology to make money by condemning the use of technology to make money).

If you can get over that, it's a beautiful piece of work. The best part is Basil Poledouris' wonderous score, which should have been released on its own without all the clutter of pop songs. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Molly Ringwald established herself as the teen queen of the '80s in this fresh comedy. The movie is a day in the life of Samantha, whose 16th birthday is turning out to be anything but sweet. All the traumas of teendom come down on one long day, which sees Samantha surrounded by dithery relatives, mooning over a high school hunk, and pursued by a sawed-off Lothario. Sixteen Candles marked the directing debut of John Hughes, and its goofy energy displayed a promising talent with a great ear for high school lingo ... a promise neglected since Hughes became, after Home Alone, a one-man entertainment industry. There are some pretty crass moments (Why the stereotype of the foreign-exchange student from Asia?), but Ringwald's steady appeal smoothes over the rough spots. As the pubescent, self-styled lady-killer, Anthony Michael Hall turns in a hilarious portrait of a young swinger; he and Ringwald would reteam with Hughes for The Breakfast Club, another key teen picture of the decade. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (129)

Classic 80's Teen movie on a very poor DVD
If you want to own this movie on DVD then you'll have to be prepared to pay an arm and a leg. It's only out on region 1, and has long since been deleted, so commands a very high price for no apparant reason other than the film itself - its certainly not for the extras - there aren't any.

The film stars 80's starlet Molly Ringwald (Breakfast Club) and Anthony John Hall (Weird Science, Breakfast Club) and also reunites them with director John Hughes, also from "The Breakfast Club". Comparisions between the two cannot be helped. Personally I prefered "The Breakfast Club" but there must be many who disagree - both are good, assuming that you like that sort of thing. High School coming-of-age movies are after all pretty much of a muchness, as the recent spoof movie "Not Another Teen Movie" so aptly illustrates.

Where both Hughes movies fall down on DVD is with the lack of extra features. "Sixteen Candles" is at least in widescreen, but that's all - there's no remastered 5.1 audio mix, no subtitles, no trailer, no cast biographies, no featurettes, no commentaries, no nothing. And if the other reviewers are to be believed then the music on the DVD isn't even the original soundtrack, supposedly due to rights issues. I say this because I'd never seen the film before I brought the DVD so don't know any different. If true, it'll certainly be interesting to see the proper soundtrack if and when it ever comes to DVD again. 2004 will mark the 20th anniversary of the film, so prehaps the time is right to ask Universal to consider a re-release with decent extras.

Long Duck Dong
Sixteen Candles is another classic 80's teen/high school film. It's one of the rare ones that is actually great and memorable. The film starts teen queen Molly Ringwald as Sam, your normal, every day kid. Her family has forgotten her sixteenth birthday amid all the uproar of her older sister's upcoming wedding. That's not all. An annoying geek(hilariously played by Anthony Michael Hall)is hound-dogging her, she has a huge crush on a popular jock, her grandparents have invaded her home, and, worst of all, a foreign kid named Long Duck Dong(Gedde Watannabe)is staying in her room. It's a comedy of chaos as a young teenager tries to grow up. As expected, happiness shines through for all in the end. Sixteen Candles is a sweet,hilarious look at the life of an ordinary teen. Molly Ringwald is so real and believeable in this that she could be somebody you know, or, just maybe, could be you. The always reliable Paul Dooley plays her father. Watch out for John Cusack, Joan Cusack, and Jami Gertz in small roles. Sixteen Candles is a candle you'll never want to blow out.

Definitive 80's. A must!
Sixteen Candles is a must-see classic. Truly unique, original, and memorable. The cast is fantastic and the story has been duplicated countless times. It took me so long to finally see this, and I regret not seeing it earlier. Everyone talks about it, it's not worth being left out and you're just gonna thank yourself later anyway, so SEE IT NOW if you haven't already. If you have, see it again, memorize the lines, and have a Sixteen Candles drinking party!!!!

Great movie - BAD DVD
This was a fun movie. It does not take itself seriously and pokes fun at its characters. Some of the pokig fun is not politically correct (to wit - Long Duk Dong, and some of the BoHunk comments)) but that was a bit of the 80's.

This DVD has the original soundtrack, previously unavailable on VHS or the old DVD, and it still holds up.

THE BAD PART
Where to start - the packaging is cheap cheap CHEAP! They did not even put in a little card to tell you the chapter names. There is no commentary, no extras, NOTHING!

PLUS when you put it in, it goes through ads for other movies and DISABLES THE MENU BUTTON!

Again, this is a fun, 80's movie, but the DVD is so cheap and so obnoxious to the fans/owners that I hate to recommend it becuse the people who put it together were such jerks.

But I do recommend it. Enjoy.

A Rememberable Teen Flick.
This is definately the rebound film. It is hard to live up to a movie like The Breakfast Club. This film is your average, average, teen movie. It does boost some new things to the screen, but it is mostly predictable, however, it is enjoyable. It has enough great moments to outweigh the cheesy parts, which makes it good in my book. If you are in the mood for a "no surprise" movie, this is the film for you. I reccomend it. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Funny, cute, sweet and lightly witty
I had heard and heard about what a great film Something About Mary is, but never saw it. It is now clear to my why all those who praised it never really explained why it was so good. This is a guilty pleasure movie. Cameron Diaz is beautiful and plays her sweet, innocent, charming character flawlessly. The humor is in-your-face funny. Within 10 minutes you will either eject the video or sit back for a fun ride. I especially liked the twist with the heavily accented architecture character.

Bottom-line: This is a light-hearted, funny and fun film. It's not high art, strong social commentary, nor stirring dramatic fare. However, it is often witty, and always cute.

P.S. I also thought the dog scenes were hilarious slap-stick comedy. Maybe he--rather than Cameron--should get Most Valuable Player Award?

OK
The cameo appearance by Brett Farve is the best part of the film. The rest is so low brow...7th grade humor..that it is a bore. Young teens and gawkers will like this. Maybe a sports director I used to work with would like this too. HA.

To adults this is mindless garbage.

Doesn't this airline supply paper bags on its flights?
There should be stars with negative integers situated to the left of the y-axis intersection on the horizontal x-axis number line to rate this film. Watching this movie gave me the same physiological results as a good swig of ipecac. Everything from its lousy script and acting to its tasteless, sordid brand of humor (especially that "have you seen my baseball" ridicule of the mentally-challenged) made me regret even renting the video. To begin with, that offkey troubadour who must have been gonged by Jamie Farr, Jaye P. Morgan, and the Unknown Comic was painful to listen to. Cameron Diaz is currently a box office magnet with her charming looks; but she appears incongruous with her unsuitable role in this flick. Equally wasted is the appearance of Ben Stiller who is bound to find funnier and more suitable roles in his future films. Anyone who thinks any part of this film is funny has to have about enough intelligence to half-fill a shotglass. Now that the global Human Genome Project is completed, the gene responsible for bad taste can be theoretically altered and any future productions of films similar to this one can be obviated.

Looks good, not what i expected. 16th april 2004.
I watched it and it was nothing like what i had got in mind. I never expected it to be like this, it is quite boring to watch. It may look good by the box, its watchable but not brilliant.

Extremely Hilarious!
I saw There's Something About Mary when it first came out in the theaters and I even had the video but I gave the video away because when I get around to it I'm going to buy the widescreen DVD. I liked this movie and didn't have a problem with the low brow humor. Some people get offended by this type of humor but I didn't have a problem with it and I think this movie is hilarious and I think Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller were both terrific and the supporting actors were pretty good too and I even enjoyed the cameo by Brett Farve from The Green Bay Packers and I highly recommend this movie but only to people who don't have a problem with crude humor. ... Read more

Description

A troubleshooting special agent is assigned to the investigation of a worldwide terror ring headquartered in Hawaii. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great for the opposite reasons
My name is Jim McLain, spelled the same way as in the movie. This said I'm here to tell you that this is a five star rating because I LOVE terrible movies! Sometimes I wish John Wayne hadn't used the rare spelling I do in my name. The Duke was running, yes RUNNING from the House of Unamerican Activities. James Arnes Gets bested by two little oriental guys who combined don't match his weight and beat him down hand to hand! More sermons than an Amish Convention. Great drunk late night viewing!

For Patriots Only
OK, I know the ultradicallibrocrats of our society disaprove of any attempt to recognize the evils and sins of communism. When commies are portrayed as evil, or if there is an attempt to defeat them, the libs will howl and bellow all kinds of leftist rhetoric. And they certainly make a big stink about this movie, which goes to show how good it really is. Why is it that the libs always are critical of anti-communist sentiments, but never seem to have any objection to anti-fascist movie? Hmmm.... I wonder.
If you're patriotic and want to see one of the few films that puts a white hat on the good guys, this is a show for you.
Forget the whining of the pink brigade and enjoy the show.

Relax and enjoy
In some ways this movie can be seen as political [persuasion] from the 50's, but so what. All I can say is relax and enjoy. Enjoy the Hawaiian scenery and ignore the attempts to turn you into a blue blooded right wing capitalist. It's still a pretty well made movie from my standpoint. It's slow pace is due to the sort of documentary feel of it. It's pacing is more like All the President's Men. Not to say it's as good as that movie, and it's definatly coming from the "right" side of the fence.
...
Forget the politics and get the popcorn.

Underrated
This excellent movie about two detectives (6'4 (76) Wayne and 6'7 Arness) who search for Communism in the Honolulu area. The plot is realistic in the sense that the movie is about something that was happening in 1952. Many people don't like this, even though I don't know why. It has everything: comedy, action, scenery, adventure, remorse, etc. It is a switch for Wayne (who would make Hondo in '53 and The Searchers in '56.), but it shows how great an actor John Wayne is. This is a must-see movie for any fan of Wayne, big or small.

A neat movie!
This is a good movie! I see that a lot of people don't like it. I'll admit it's slow, but it has a good lesson. I mean, it's totally patriotic and wonderful! You can really see how patriotic the Duke was. James Arness costars and is cool. I enjoy watching it every so often, and I think it's a good movie. That's my humble opinion! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Ok, Felice Schatcher is in it, so it must be good.
Felice Schatcher stars in this 1980 spoof of Carrie. Everyone remembers 16-year old felice from her role as Nancy on The facts Of life. Scott Baio also stars. Some people remember him as Chachi on Happy Days, or on Joanie Loves Chachi. willie Ames is remembered for his guest appearences on Charles In Charge. Heather Thomas is ugly. Scatman Crothers is always silly. Sue Ann Langton plays the principal, who is most known as nothing in the movie world. Everyone says that there is Nudity in this film, but it is all brief. She is blocking them with her hands. And that photo shows her cheerleading?????

I Really Liked This Movie!
I don't know why critics are so hard on this movie, sure Zapped may not be a movie that you could picture getting an Oscar for best picture but I still think it is a good movie and I have a lot of fun watching it and I think Scott Baio, Willie Aames, Felice Schatcher and Heather Thomas all are good, there is nudity in this movie but only briefly and anyone who says that there is no nudity probably saw it edited on TV, I have the movie unedited on video and there is indeed brief nudity especially near the end of the movie during the dance, I am rating this cute, funny movie a 5 and I wish it would get onto a wide-screen DVD.

Needs to be Released on DVD!
I originally saw this movie whenever they first started showing it on cable and I thought it was funny and I happen to like Scott Baio who I watched on Happy Days and Willie Aames who I watched on Eight Is Enough. I had this movie on tape and I'm waiting for it to be released on DVD!

DVD?
I know this isn't the greatest movie of all time but I would like to add it to my DVD collection.

hilarous fun
I HIRED THIS VIDEO IN 1982 THEN AFTERWARDS THE CENSOR
REFUSED LISTING WHY I DO NOT KNOW.
I am 77 now and have never seen it since, its hilarious
and I would love to own it ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Franco Zeff