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Chuck Jones directed some of the funniest shorts in the history offilmmaking, and this 1979 feature-length compilation includes several of hisbest cartoons. Among the 11 shorts shown in their entirety are the classicsRobin Hood Daffy, What's Opera, Doc?, Bully for Bugs, andDuck Amuck, which remain as hilarious as they were when first releasedalmost 50 years ago. As with any collection, the viewer wonders why some filmswere included and others omitted: Why Hare-way to the Stars andOperation: Rabbit, but not Rabbit of Seville or A Bear forPunishment? Nor is the material always shown to its best advantage: LongHaired Hare has, unfortunately, been cut, and combining footage from severalRoad Runner shorts into a 20-minute montage weakens the pacing Jonesbuilt into the individual films. These caveats aside, The Bugs Bunny RoadRunner Movie provides a showcase not only for Jones's razor-sharp timing,but for the work of his exceptional crew, which included designer Maurice Noble,writer Mike Maltese, composers Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn, and voice actorMel Blanc. (Ages 4 and older) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Best of the five fully animated Looney Tunes movies
Chuck Jones' The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie came out in September of 1979. Chuck Jones directed some of the funniest shorts in the history of filmmaking, and this 1979 feature-length compilation includes many of his best cartoons. Among the 11 shorts shown in their entirety are the classics Hare Way to the Stars, Robin Hood Daffy, Duck Amuck(quite possibly the greatest cartoon ever made), Ali Baba Bunny, Bully for Bugs and What's Opera Doc? which are still hilarious as they were when first released well over 50 years ago. However, some viewers questioned why other greats like Rabbit of Seville were deleted. Amongst the classic cartoons is some new animation of Bugs from Chuck Jones recalling his exploits with Daffy, Marvin Martian, Elmer Fudd and Wile E. Coyote whom also has a confrontation with The Road Runner in a 20 minute montage which was also great as well. Also, the wascally wabbit's explanations of chases was hysterical. Also, the beginning credits and ending credits were funny with the That's All Folks trying to curtail the movie at start and near the end and Bugs getting irked and puts a NOT or a NOT QUITE between That's All. At the end, Bugs sits on the WB logo smiling saying "Eat Your Heart Out Boit Reynolds" and That's Really All Folks!. This movie is highly recommended!

The first Looney Tunes movie 25 years on
Chuck Jones' The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie came out in September of 1979. Chuck Jones directed some of the funniest shorts in the history of filmmaking, and this 1979 feature-length compilation includes many of his best cartoons. Among the 11 shorts shown in their entirety are the classics Hare Way to the Stars, Robin Hood Daffy, Duck Amuck(quite possibly the greatest cartoon ever made), Ali Baba Bunny, Bully for Bugs and What's Opera Doc? which are still hilarious as they were when first released well over 50 years ago. However, some viewers questioned why other greats like Rabbit of Seville were deleted. Amongst the classic cartoons is some new animation of Bugs from Chuck Jones recalling his exploits with Daffy, Marvin Martian, Elmer Fudd and Wile E. Coyote whom also has a confrontation with The Road Runner in a 20 minute montage which was also great as well. Also, the wascally wabbit's explanations of chases was hysterical. Also, the beginning credits and ending credits were funny with the That's All Folks trying to curtail the movie at start and near the end and Bugs getting irked and puts a NOT or a NOT QUITE between That's All. At the end, Bugs sits on the WB logo smiling saying "Eat Your Heart Out Boit Reynolds" and That's Really All Folks!. This movie is highly recommended!

Worst Of The Bugs Bunny Movies!
Very dull, seems like it lasts forever. Trust me here people, you'll be shutting this one off, ten minutes into it. Yes, it's that bad!
You wanna see a good movie, then go buy or rent Gigli. Totally brilliant!!!!
Avoid.
Pogo has spoken!

Top-notch, it should only be released on DVD
Shortly after this came out, the media was swamped with well-meaning attacks on the violence in children's programming, much of which was directed at such classic cartoons as featured here - clearly a wrong-headed knee-jerk reaction gone too far. Perhaps that is why WB never re-released it on DVD. As it is, it is a prized member of my VHS collection, but I'd really like a newer one.

On the other hand, what I wouldn't like is the politically correct editing that started appearing in WB cartoon anthologies released after this one. For that alone, I despair of ever seeing this released in its original form again. In a post-Columbine world, I suppose such temerity is to be expected, but it's simply wrong to butcher such masterpieces of the animators' art.

But enough about that...

This is, to me the definitive WB cartoons. The only thing that could have improved it was more of the same, plus some other often overlooked characters such as the 3 bears. I've always been a huge fan of the late Chuck Jones and his Roadrunner cartoons in particular. This video has (almost?) all of them, grouped to run sequentially. As previously noted, some of the cartoons included here are on other WB collections, where their questionable editing for content is quite evident.

If you're an adult who can realize that when Wile E. Coyote falls 2000 feet, followed by an anvil, what's on display are Chuck Jones' artistry and comic genius rather than anything remotely related to reality, the you're in the target demographic. Let's face it, these cartoons with their somewhat dated references don't belong to the Columbine generation, they belong to us old-timers who grew up with them - and we deserve to be able to see them.

And that, succinctly, is what this is - the best of the best, without a post-modern social conscience.

Anyone who gives this 1 star is loonier than the movie!
Chuck Jones is a master and has the funniest cartoons ever created. Bugs Bunny narrates this hilariously looney movie. This tape includes:

DUCK AMUCK-- An absolute classic! One of the best cartoons ever made! And that's HIGH praise!

WHAT'S OPERA DOC?-- Just as good! One of Bugs Bunny's finest performances, not to mention Elmer Fudd's!

DUCK DODGERS IN THE 24TH 1/2 CENTURY-- This is so funny, every second of it has you laughing at something else, if it doesn't than your still laughing at the last gag! Cartoon Network made a TV show about Duck Dodgers and it's really funny but not close to being as funny as this!

HARE-WAY TO THE STARS-- One of Marvin the Martian's funniest performance. It is topped by DUCK DODGERS IN THE 24TH 1/2 CENTURY but Daffy provides most of the laughs in THAT one.

ALI BABA BUNNY-- Every cartoon in this is funny! And this one is no exception. It is FUNNY!!!!!!

ROBIN HOOD DAFFY-- "I'm Robin Hood, and I'm very good at avoiding the sherrif's eye!" Or so Daffy says. But Porky Pig is not convinced that he's who he says he is. This biggest hoot is the gag where Daffy is swinging down to the Sherrif and planning to steal his gold, but he bumps into every tree there. Another one of the best parts is the end.

Not to mention all the Road Runner cartoons in it!
The only complaint I have is where Bugs is naming his "FATHERS" and included are: Tex Avery, Robert Mckimson, Friz Freleng and Chuck Jones. And that's all fine and dandy! But what about Bob Clampett??? He did as much as the others! And Ben Hardaway may not have directed too many cartoons with the hare (two, actually) but he was the original creator of Bugs and so she be included as one of Bugs' fathers.
Buy this! That's all I have left to say! ... Read more

Reviews (27)

ALOHA, HAWAII! Elvis loved it there.
If I had to summon up the content of this whole movie in one word, it would be: "exotic". Why I say that is because of the scenery, the palm trees, the Waikiki beach, the beach boys and girls, the Hawaiian music, the ukeleles, the luau, EVERYTHING! Elvis is a returning G.I. who does not want to go into his family's pineapple business. Instead, he works for a tourist guide service, and his first customers are a pack of gorgeous-looking girls and a beautiful chaperoning schoolteacher (Nancy Walters). Beautiful Hawaiian wedding scene at the end when Elvis marries Joan Blackman. Angela Lansbury is perfect for Elvis' mother in this picture. She enjoyed working with Elvis. "Blue Hawaii" is quintessential and Elvis' top picture and
his best '60s musical next to "Viva Las Vegas", and "G.I. Blues".

Tour Hawaii with Elvis!!!
Tour Hawaii with Elvis Presley!!! That's a pretty good description of this musical, the success of which marked the end of the singer's attempts at being a serious actor. For what it is--a travelogue with music and a slight plot--it isn't bad at all. But "King Creole," "Flaming Star," and even "Follow That Dream" demonstrated that Elvis could indeed act when given half the chance. That's all "Blue Hawaii" is, though: half a chance. The songs aren't exactly rock and roll, but most provide pleasant listening, and, of course, this is the movie that introduced the lovely "Can't Help Falling in Love," the song with which he would end all of his concerts in the 70s. Angela Lansbury is on hand as Elvis' mother, even though she was only a few years older than him (just as she was only a few years older than Laurence Harvey when she played his mother in "The Manchurian Candidate" the next year, a movie in which Elvis might just as well have been cast considering his apparent manipulation at the hands of Colonel Parker), and, of course, there are plenty of luscious babes about for those who don't consider Angela a turn on. "Blue Hawaii" is a real mixed bag. It is, perhaps, the very definition of "fluff," and as fluff it is attractive, but it would ultimately lead to dozens of execrable imitations that would make Presley's movie career one of the most lamentable in history. The writing was on the wall and, more importantly, in the grosses.

Can't Help Fallin' In Love With This Movie
Mr Presley certainly wasn't a great actor, but this movie shows him off to his best advantage. The music isn't the usual bad Elvis movie music and the scenery is to doe for. The storyline could come from any family - a son trying to be independent, a father who wants son to follow in his footsteps, a dropdead gorgeous girlfriend who just isn't what HIS folks had in mind, outrageous friends and an airhead, over-protective mama dead-set on embarrassing the son at any given chance. The plot is easy to follow and even makes sense. OK, not everyone breaks into song on a horseback ride, but what the Hell ! The wedding scene ( oops, gave it away ) makes up for any gaffes.

Blue Hawaii
I think this movie was above and beyond Elvis's usual movies. It has a cute plot and the scenery is unbelievable. If you are not a Elvis fan you will fall in love with the scenery.

Wonderful Postcard
I re-watched this just before going to Maui last November on my first trip to Hawaii. The story may not be much, but the scenery is "spot on" and this is a nostalgia trip for the "older Hawaii" of the 50's. What a great postcard, and Elvis thrown in, doing his 60's Elvis thing, with more style and good grace than later films would exhibit. He seemed to enjoy himself and you'll enjoy the music. ... Read more

Reviews (540)

Simply Astounding
This movie has a very simple message and you read it in the title Life is Beautiful taking place during the holocaust in Italy no one could ever guess that this movie could be so touching and honest...Roberto Benigni who I believe won the Academy Award for his performance does the wonderful job in the role as a happy go lucky man who's whole life changes during the holocaust and it is up to Benigni to keep his family together...Another refreshing thing to see was the fact that this movie takes place in Italy during the holocaust and what is was really like for jewish families in Italy during the holocaust and very few history students know today that Italy was allies with Germany for a time...I love Benigni and enjoy watching his struggles and watching his love for his son and his wife. Why can't there be more guys like Benigi out there? The DVD features an English language track and of course English subtitles...I prefer the subtitles myself so I can get a real feel for the movie.I have been moved by this movie and you should rent or buy this movie for...by the end of this DVD you'll either be in tears or screaming life is beautiful!

Life is Beautiful, Movies can be Weird
After skimming the reviews here, Roberto Benigni has obviously struck a chord with a lot of people.
I would not argue with them but I found myself with the reviewer who called this film MR. BEAN GOES TO AUSCHWITZ. Actual history proved just too distracting for me to get caught up in this "fable."

Actually, the film I kept thinking of has never been seen: Jerry Lewis' THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED. I've read the script and I can only imagine the reviews of that film if it was ever released! (Now there's a film in itself: a daffy but deranged filmmaker, popping pills and performing pratfalls, producing his movie about a German clown entertaining Jewish kids on their way to the ovens. Yikes.)

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL doesn't go that far, but I found myself constantly distracted by Benigni's rubbery slapstick taking place in a concentration camp. Yeah, it's sweet that he wants to spare his son the horrors of the camp...but they're in a camp, a concentration camp.
The first half of the film actually plays like a whimsical, slightly-more-witty Jerry Lewis movie. Then the Nazis arrive. Individual scenes manage to touch and charm, but overall it just feels very odd.

Jerry Lewis must have gone nuts when Benigni won the Best Actor Academy Award (William Goldman, the sage of screenwriters, certainly did in print by saying this was the greatest Oscar abomination since THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH won Best Picture in the 1950s). I admit I was put off at Benigni's antics at the Oscars--"I LUFF YOU, I LUFF YOU ALL, I MAKE LUFF TO YOU ALL!" I can't even picture Jerry Lewis carrying on that much if he'd won Best Actor for THE BELLBOY. Now that I think about it, maybe he would....

Yes, movies are a great escape from reality--but there are some realities that shouldn't be part of that escape.
We have new generations of kids coming up who are quite removed from the terrifying reality of the Holocaust and the near-slapstick version of it portrayed in LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL could diminish the true horror of it.
That heaviness, that memory, made buying into the humor nearly impossible.

"I want to make love to all of hollywood"
The pride of Italy Roberto Benini in his WWII masterpiece, tastefully combining comedy with drama in an oscar winning foreign film. A must have. Make sure you watch it in Italian with the subtitles.

ETMR - Life is Beautiful
1. Humanity: How does Guido express the human quality of endurance?

2. Implications: Life is Beautiful expresses the need for family strength. What does this mean for today?

3. Evolution: Life is Beautiful employs a style that is at first jarring to watch, and then succeeds on its own as a force of comedy. How has this affected cinema since its release in 1998?

4. Realism: Is the game Guido plays with his son feasible realistically?

5. Stageplay: The basic story is one of a man trying to remain optimistic during a time of intense suffering. How does the light-heartedness of the plot change the realistic consequences of the Holocaust?

A Beautiful film
Never before has such a brilliant hybrid of comedy and the tradegy of war been so skillfully woven togen. The film, although disjointed slightly in its early stages, presents a delicate balance between the otrocities of the second world war and the genuine warmth and kindness of its protagonist. There are times when you will you laugh, others that you will feel deeply saddened by the plight of the characters, with the comfortable compromise reached at the film's conclusion leaving a pleasant after taste in spite of the circumstances. Brilliantly acted and filmed, Life is Beautiful presents a different take of what life was like in that dark period of history whilst leaving intact the integrity of the central themes and the brutality of war. This is a movie that can be enjoyed on multiple levels and is a worthy Oscar winner. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Everything you'd expect from those roly-poly, TV-bellied creatures is packed into Teletubbies: Nursery Rhymes: animation, videos, singing, dancing, tumbling, and, of course, nursery rhymes. Each of the Teletubbies is introduced to the joys of old-time school rhymes: Po happily noshes on her Tubby Toast as the mysterious speaker rises from the ground to warble "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Dipsy and Laa-Laa tumble down hills like "Jack and Jill." Tinky Winky learns the fundamentals of "Pat a Cake." Kids will shriek with Dipsy as he runs away from the fuzzy pink spider that pops into place at the appropriate moment in "Little Miss Muffet," and they'll march about the living room with all four Tubbies to the "Grand Old Duke of York." "Hey Diddle Diddle," "Hickory Dickory Dock," and "Humpty Dumpty," and more are accompanied by much dancing and exclamation. The videos within the video feature a storybook telling of "The Gingerbread Man," and a smooth-voiced crooner intoning rhymes to a group of galloping kiddies. This third video in the Teletubby series--following Here Come the Teletubbies and Dance with the Teletubbies--combines the best of the TV series for entertainment that will have your kids squealing, "Again, again!" --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Wonderful video for young toddlers!
My 20 month old toddler still loves this video. He's had it for months, and it was an instant hit! This and Favorite Things are his favorite Tubby videos. The Baby's First Impressions videos are also great to have - they give a nice break from Teletubbies and they're very entertaining and educational at the same time!

Good, but not great.
We actually borrowed this tape from our library to see if it was worth purchasing. I'm glad we did this too b/c we won't be buying this Teletubbies video. For some reason, the "seasonal tree", that is also sometimes shown on the TV show, scares my 15 month old to the point of tears and screaming. Otherwise, my son did enjoy this video for the most part. The story of the Gingerbread Boy didn't capture his attention. His favorite parts were the songs and the dancing/movement that went along with the Nursery Rhyme.

Mesmerizing and educational
My 19 month old has never been remotely interested in TV, but this video captured her. The first thing she says when she gets up in the morning is "See Teletubbies." She sings along with the tubbies DELIGHTEDLY and adores the Miss Muffet sequence. The laughter of the baby sun sends her into fits of amused shrieking. The video is not repetitive in the way the TV show and is genuinely educational. There are some boring bits, like an incomprehensible British child reading the Gingerbread Boy. My daughter waits in frustration for this to end to return to the Teletubbies. Hopefully she is learning patience. I recommend this video 80%, based on the content and the fact that we now have previously unknown free time. I am withholding the last 20% because I can see my daughter's interest in books has waned dramatically since we got this video.

Very Fun and Very Cute
Setting aside the controversy about the Teletubbies, this is a great video.

The Teletubbies are easy to like and have appeal to young children. My son enjoyed them until he was about two and a half and I find my daughter is moving on from their shows at about the same age.

They sing and dance and talk in simple terms. They play and enjoy life. In this video they concentrate on Nursery Rhymes while they sing and dance. The little skits are centered around nursery rhymes as well. This particular video is one of my favorites as well as a favorite of my children.

The segments are short which means you have a good stopping point at about 10 minute breaks. This helps control how much tv your children watch.

Enjoy.

Wonderful Entertainment
My 11 month old just started watching the Teletubbies a few weeks ago and she loves them. This particular tape is very entertaining for her. She absolutely loves the baby in the sun and mimics the sounds the baby makes. I highly recommended this tape for babies her age and older. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A Kinder, Gentler Billy and Shelly...
Let's face it, no matter HOW advanced you are, sometimes ya' just don't feel like a bone crunching workout! I've been doing Tae-Bo Advanced and Get Ripped for two years. While "Cardio" is not quite as challenging as the Advanced and Get Ripped series, it DID get my heart rate up.

Be aware that are no floor excercises on this tape; ab work is minimal.

To keep my heart rate up between exercises, I tried the running in place moves from the advanced tapes instead of the "Butterfly" move. And, once I learned the new combinations, I went right into double-time rather than doing the first, slow repetitons.

Tae-Bo Cardio is decidedly mellower than the Advanced series-- I am pleased that Billly has listened to fans who find his yelling and Shelly's grunting distracting . Here, they tone it down.

This is a good companion video for anyone who does both Tae-Bo and Pilates, as I do. It's low impact,-- so it goes well with the Pilates philosophy, but still gets your heart rate up.

For those who rely exclusively on Tae-Bo, call it "Billy Light", and save it for those times when you're not in the mood for shouting.

Another great Taebo product - but it's too easy!
As someone who has been enjoying Tae-Bo for several years, I put Cardio into my video player this morning and looked forward to a heart-pumping 45 minutes. Unfortunately I soon realised this tape is geared towards beginners and moderate exercisers.
If you are just starting out this is an excellent workout for you. It will get your heart rate up sufficiently to burn fat and the moves are relatively easy to follow. Also, quite a bit of time is spent warming up and cooling down (The actual cardio stuff only lasts for about 20-25 minutes).
If you are an advanced Tae-Bo veteran or are quite fit, this workout will probably not challenge you much.
I do want to take this opportunity to sing the praises of Tae-Bo as a workout in general. Not only is it extremely enjoyable but it really works. You want a flat tummy? You've come to the right place!

Absolutely great
I'm a bona fide Tae Bo veteran. I've been doing it for 4-6 hours a week for years, and I'm very accustomed to the Tae Bo II Advanced Get Ripped workouts, which are definitely in the "VERY DIFFICULT" category.

I've read many Tae Bo enthusiasts referring to this program as "intermediate," and I think that's a little bit misleading. Yes, it is shorter (45 minutes) than the older workouts, and its pace is slower.

But Billy really knows what he's doing. If you do this workout CORRECTLY, it is actually extremely intense cardiovascular work, along with tremendous trunk/core muscle training.

What MOST Tae Bo-ers don't understand is that your form is of paramount importance. I've taken several accredited Tae Bo classes, and I don't think I've ever seen more than three or four people who were really doing the moves correctly.

Almost everyone I've ever seen do Tae Bo relies on momentum to execute the moves, especially the kicks. If you bounce your way through it, you'll work up a nice sweat, yes. But you're not going to be doing the workout properly, and your core (stomach, sides, back and rear) aren't going to gain strength.

Tae Bo Cardio FORCES you to focus more on your form. And believe me, working muscles intensely is FAR more draining that hopping up and down, allowing momentum to flail your legs out in an approximation of a kick.

(...) I've worked it into my regular routine.

Basic Tae Bo, Revved Up
This is the perfect daily workout for someone at Basic level who wants a break from the other tapes or a bit more exertion. The goal of this tape, as Billy says, is to test and develop aerobic endurance. What that means are more exercise moves with fewer reps than in other tapes, interspersed by a "butterfly step" that keeps both legs and arms moving. If you've never done Tae Bo, get the instructional video of the Live set and work on that first in order to become familiar with the moves.

I've done Tae Bo classic, Live and Get Ripped, and the moves in this tape are familiar, with a few twists. The cross-corner punching, roundhouse kicks, knee raise, front and back kicks, squats and speedbag are all here. The "music" isn't very tuneful (pulsing video game music, basically), but it gives the beat which is important for aerobic workout. A bonus for me is a thorough cool-down that emphasizes not just stretching, but muscle control and visualization, something Billy's tapes are getting better at developing.

All in all this has become my favorite Basic workout! I've definitely gotten my money's worth.

Way too fast for beginners!
I have never ever seen a Tae-Bo video or class before. I thought this video would get me into the loop, based on other reviews here (they all complain that it is for beginners). Well, let me tell you, it is waaaaaay too fast for beginners. Billy doesn't teach you any of the moves - he just does them (and does them fast). I couldn't even keep up wth the warmup portion at the beginning. The counts of eight take like 4 seconds, and his arms are swinging on every count. I know this is supposed to be a really fast-paced cardio workout to get the heart pumping, but I cannot even keep in synch because I'm trying to learn the moves at a ripping fast pace - it is very frustrating. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A great film of a great Hollywood period!
The Story of Ruth was released in 1960 and I remember seeing it on a wide wide screen, curved, and in stereophonic sound; it was glorious, as were all Cinemascope films.

This film is not the Bible, but a meditation on it, factual, no, but it gets the point of The Book of Ruth across.

The best bits are a very moving perfromance by Peggy Wood as Naomi, and some stylish acting by Elena Eden and Stuart Whitman.The Wood scenes are excellent, and Naomi's prayer is quite striking, all filmed in a small house in earth tones...very good. Peggy Wood's many scenes of emotional upheaval are instances of excellent screen acting.

The Moabite scenes are crazy, as is all of that Chemosh stuff, but this film has great appeal...for die hards only, and especially for cinemascope afficionados of yore who can re-imagine it all even on the tiny screens we must put up with now, TV and movie alike. Buy and enjoy. Still not letterboxed.

Good TV watching
I saw this movie just last night on AMC. There are two ways to look at this movie: Scripturally and story-wise.

Scripturally the movie is not that good. There is a lot of license with Scripture (not surprising considering how small the book of Ruth is). But the license isn't really congruent with revelation. For example, this movie makes Ruth out to be a high priestess of chemosh and married for about 1/2 second to a Jewish man just before he dies. Boaz is a bitter man who makes a Moabite man drink poisoned water. The roles of kinsmen-redeemer is not even close to accurately portrayed. These things were done to try to make the movie have additional action, but detracts from the very real story. Also, here Naomi does not change her name, Moab tries to track Ruth down and kill her, and so on and so forth.

From a story perspective, the story is your classic structure. Boy meets girl, girl is coy, boy gets into trouble, girl rescues, boy says sappy stuff, girl falls in love, boy dies, girl moves on, girl meets new man, girl marries new man. And the actors do a good job with this standard plot line. For a movie made 41 years ago, it's still enjoyable watching. The production is pretty good and the acting is good. The sets remind you of Ben-Hur. The pacing of the story is standard for a movie made at that time, kinda slow (for today's tastes).

Overall the movie is fun to watch as long as you can overlook the Scriptural errors.

beautiful ruth
Elani Eden is drop-dead BEAUTIFUL! Buy this movie just to look at her.I hope this comes out on DVD soon.

Inspiring Story of a Woman's Devotion!!
Stuart Whitman, Jeff Morrow, Peggy Wood, and Elana Eden star in this screen version of the story of Ruth.

Ruth is a young Moabite woman who was raised from childhood to become a priestess and revere a pagan idol, but when she meets Mahlon the Judean (Tom Tryon), she's deeply affected by his belief in a merciful God who demans no human sacrifices, so she marries Mahlon, and when he dies, she renounces her own culture to remain with her mother-in-law, Naomi (Wood).

Now she comes into Judea, where she meets Boaz (Whitman), and the story begins anew. There is a wonderful depiction of loyalty, romance, faith, and devotion, and although the film is 132 minutes, it seems so short once you get into it.

Highly recommended, and the whole family with enjoy it.

A Classic!
This movie is captivating and a treasure! This film needs to be released on DVD!
PLEASE! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Sarah (a teenage Jennifer Connelly) rehearses the role of a fairy-tale queen, performing for her stuffed animals. She is about to discover that the time has come to leave her childhood behind. In real life she has to baby-sit her brother and contend with parents who don't understand her at all. Her petulance leads her to call the goblins to take the baby away, but when they actually do, she realizes her responsibility to rescue him. Sarah negotiates the Labyrinth to reach the City of the Goblins and the castle of their king. The king is the only other human in the film and is played by a glam-rocking David Bowie, who performs five of his songs. The rest of the cast are puppets, a wonderful array of Jim Henson's imaginative masterpieces. Henson gives credit to children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, and the creatures in the movie will remind Sendak fans of his drawings. The castle of the king is a living M.C. Escher set that adults will enjoy. The film combines the highest standards of art, costume, and set decoration. Like executive producer George Lucas's other fantasies, Labyrinth mixes adventure with lessons about growing up. --Lloyd Chesley ... Read more

Reviews (769)

A wonderful movie for the kids... Great Jim Henson fun!!
I watched this movie for the first time as a young child and , I must say, it definitely appeals to the imagination of young and old alike. The puppets and the scenery are very fanciful and identify well with the fairy tale story line.Jennifer Connelly plays a young girl who lives in her ficticious dream world with princesses and goblins. When she makes the mistake of taking the fairy tale for granted, her bratty baby brother is swept away by none other than the almighty Goblin King (played by David Bowie.) She is forced to search through a twisting, mystical maze called the Labyrinth. Along her way she makes friends who are also fed up with the Goblin King and his shenanigans.The music provided by the talented David Bowie brings the story to life. It excites the kid in you and leaves you with at least one song in your heart. Jim Henson's muppets are as colorful and imaginative as ever and they conjure up rememberances of the fanciful visions that we used to dream of as children. This film is definitely worth seeing again and again and again...

A MAZE OF WONDERS!
This movie is a timeless classic. I first saw it on its theatrical release and still love it as much now as I did then. Its fantastic characters and enchanting sets make this a beatiful and magical tale, which could only be created by the artistic genius of Jim Henson's workshop. Now with this Dvd release, the film has been given a new lease of energy. The improved picture quality really emphasises the films gorgeous colors, really bringing to life the action. The script is blessed with the fantasy of the 'Dark Crystal' (an equally brilliant movie) but with the added mayhem of the Muppet show,it is far more more light hearted.

As is standard with Jim Henson movies, there is a wonderful mixture of characters, which interact together brilliantly. The acting may not be the best, but it is important to remember that Jennifer Connelly who plays Sarah (the lead character)was only 14 when she made this movie and is having to act with puppets which can't be easy. The great David Bowie gives a convincig performance as the goblin king, providing musical interludes, which admittedly, I found somewhat tedious as a youngster but enjoy now. All the elements blend to make a lively, innocent adventure movie which will be enjoyed by all ages.

The Dvd also provides a wonderful trove of extras, including a delightful 'making of' documentary which gives some really interesting insights to the movies creation.

Timeless magic
On its' release this little gem of a film was overlooked and not the hit it deserved to be.
The story centres around Sarah, a teenager, who resents her stepmother and Toby, her baby stepbrother and 'wishes' for the goblins to take him away. When they do Sarah finds herself journeying through the labyrinth of the goblin king (Bowie) in order to save him.
She befriends an assortment of creatures such as Hoggle, a grumpy dwarf type being and Ludo, a massive, hairy beast who has a gentle nature. They accompany and help Sarah on her way to the goblin king's castle where Toby is being held.
Jim Hensons workshop has worked it's usual magic and the film is littered with songs written and performed by David Bowie.
This film is pure entertainment for any age group, well worth watching.

Simplistic yet Imaginative
Rather than relying on modern cinematics and special effects, Labyrinth instead relies on the talent and imagination of it's creators. It combines the talents of Set Designer M.C. Eshcher, Producer and Director, the infamous Jim Henson, and of course, the talented fantasy artist and designer Brian Froud. This combination creates an absolutely fun, and magic filled journey through the naivete of childhood that can be shared by the young and old alike.

Jeniffer Conolly is superp as Sarah, and David Bowie even more superb as Jareth, The Goblin King. The casting couldn't have been more perfect, as both artists became legends in their own right in that their appeal has lasted through the decades, and so, has the film. It remains a cult classic.

If anything, the lack of special effects has made it's appeal even more undeniable, as it cannot be dated. Too many times has it occured with films that as speical effects develop, the films lose their appeal. As the film relies on the fantastic nature of not only the genre, but the spectacular muppetry, the film retains it's beauty, despite it's simplistic cinematics...

A must see for all lovers of the fantsy genre...and of course Jim Henson or David Bowie fans...

The Labyrinth
This is a great movie! I love it so much. It's kind of corny by today's standards. However, it is allot of fun.
The costumes are really cool to look at. David Bowie's music is fun in it as well.
Makes a nifty sound track. The character Sarah Williams is kind of annoying. However, David is great in it. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Bergman shines in religious epic
Overlong but fairly engrossing bio of Gladys Aylward, an English-woman who, despite her lack of qualifications, becomes a missionary in China. The film is episodic and covers Aylward's brief career as a parlor maid (saving money for her trip to China), her journey to China, her work at the Inn of the Sixth Happiness and the Chinese-Japanese war which results in her guiding 100+ children in an arduous journey through the mountains to a safer village. I didn't find the film as moving as other reviewers but it is well mounted and nice to look at. Bergman is outstanding as are other supporting players, most notably Curt Jergens and Robert Donat. This was Donat's last film (he died before it was released) and his last screen words are prophetic - "We shall not see each other again, I think. Farewell."

What is most notable about this dvd release is the excellent commentary by Nick Redman, Aubrey Solomon and Donald Spoto. Redman talks about the real Gladys Aylward, Solomon talks about the film production and Spoto discusses Ingrid Bergman. There were many things changed for the film version and many of them are small and inexplicable. For example, Aylward's given Chinese name was Ai-weh-deh (not Jenai), an adopted child was actually named Ninepence (Sixpense in the movie), etc. Other changes were more larger in scope - Aylward's journey to China was quite harsh and she almost died several times. The inn-keeper, Jeanne Lawson (memorably played by Athene Seyler) was no as agreeable a woman as portrayed in the film - she was actually a cantankerous person prone to fits and thought to be quite mad by the villagers. Aylward herself was thought by many to be fanatical and to put it bluntly, off her rocker. Many other fascinating aspects about the film and the women (both Aylward and Bergman) are included.

A must for every video library ! An inspiring tear-jerker !!
One rainy afternoon I was channel surfing and came across this movie and fortunately for me it was very close to the beginning. I was so drawn into the story and captivated by Ingrid Bergman's performance that I forgot I was even watching television!! This is one of the most touching and moving stories I have ever seen and (I won't give this part of the movie away) when the Chinese gave "Gladys" a new name and what that translated to in English I thought I was going to go through a whole box of tissues right then and there. The storyline, scenery and acting are superb and the fact that it is based on a true story only makes it more inspiring. My cousin is 18 years old and wants to pursue a career in the mission field and I told her many times that she has to see this film. So I'm not only going to purchase one for MY video library but one for HER'S as well.

following God's call
This is a magnificent film in every aspect; the acting is brilliant, the landscapes beautiful, the drama intense. Based on the true story of Gladys Aylward, a house maid in England who was "not qualified" to be sent to China as a missionary, so went there on her own, saving every shilling earned for a ticket on the Trans-Siberian railroad. Taking place in the pre-WWII era, it's an adventure story of great spiritual courage, the chaos of war, and a romance between two independent people who never thought they would find love.

Ingrid Bergman is luminous as Gladys. It is one of her very best performances, and my personal favorite. Robert Donat, who passed away before the film was released, is also marvelous as the Mandarin of Yang Cheng, and Curt Jurgens as Captain Lin Nan is handsome and believable as the man who falls in love with Gladys. In a small but pivotal part, Athene Seyler is terrific as Jennie Lawson, the elderly missionary who helps Gladys in her early years, and Peter Chong is a delight as Yang the cook.
It is odd that the only Oscar nomination went to director Mark Robson; perhaps Bergman was overlooked because she had received a "Best Actress" for "Anastasia" two years earlier, but Bergman fans will give this film their own five-star award.

The fabulous location filming by Freddie Young was done in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales, a remarkable substitute for Shaanxi Province, in the heart of China. The village reproductions are very well done, and look incredibly similar to films I have seen shot in China. The lovely score by Malcolm Arnold adds much to the film, and Alan Burgess, whose book "The Small Woman" is the basis of the story, wrote the script, which is witty, wise and wonderful, with Isobel Lennart.
Many times I've laughed out loud , and many times I've cried watching this film; it's good for several viewings, as it is epic in scope, and the script has an intelligence that makes it a rare gem. total running time is 158 minutes.

In the film, Chinese tradition has five "Happiness" wishes: Wealth, longevity, good health, virtue, and a peaceful old age and death. "Each person must decide in their heart what the sixth happiness is".

Break out the Kleenex...
...for this manipulative, mawkish tear-jerker. The story feels superficial (you never get a feeling for Aylward's sense of spirituality, only the very ocassional bit of tacked-on religiosity), and it's all grossly sentimental. All those feel-good moments with singing kids and long hugs actually detract from the important message about selfless service by making self-sacrifice seem all too easy and romantic, even in the face of brutal Japanese invasion.

The casting choices will try your suspsension of disbelief, to say the least: a Swede as an Englishwoman, a hulking German as a half-Dutch/half-Chinese colonel, and an Englishman as a Chinese mandarin. That said, this is still a fun film if you take it for what it is. It boasts an unusual story and exotic setting, and Bergman is as radiant as ever (even if she overacts in a couple scenes). Donat and Jurgens are uqually winning, in their own way.

Hardly Bergman's best film, but certainly worth a watch if you're a fan.

Noah visits the baby Jesus
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness was filmed in Wales and the scenery is beautiful. Ingrid Bergman is in top form as Gladys Aylard would be missionary to China. One of my favorite scenes is when her assistant Yang, who has a fondness for Noah and his ark, is telling the diners at the inn that Noah came in his ark to visit the baby Jesus along with the wise men. When she gives him a disapproving look he goes on to explain that even though Noah was born long before Jesus people lived alot longer back then, so no one could say for sure that he couldn't have been there. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Those roly-poly creatures playfully romp with their beloved toys in the Teletubbies' fourth video, Favorite Things. Tinky Winky has his bag, Dipsy his splotched hat, Laa-Laa her ball, and, of course, littlest Po her scooter. The opening of the video has each Teletubby lose in turn his or her favorite item, and all must go off in search of it. Each Tubby is then featured in a segment: Laa-Laa chasing her ball, Tinky Winky singing into his bag, Dipsy dancing with his hat, and Po riding in circles on her scooter. Two videos--one of playing in a kiddie pool and the other of fixing up a bike for a ride--and a short animation are also included. Of all the Teletubbies' videos, this is most likely to be a kid's favorite--and the most likely to grate on a grownup's nerves. The constant repetition of chasing games will have children hopping about, but parents will find little of the charm of Here Come the Teletubbies or Nursery Rhymes. Yet, as slow as some of the moments may be, the Tubbies are as adorable as ever and still worthy of a "big hug!" --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Mesmerizing for toddlers and for parents too....
My 16-month-old son LOVES this video. And, because it has helped us weather teething, fevers, general crankiness, etc., we love it too. We must have watched it 100 times and it really hasn't become annoying. I love Ned and his bike (he's the 2nd cutest boy ever!), and I don't feel guilty letting my son watch it over and over.

An excellent Teletubbie Video
What makes the Teletubbies so enjoyable for young children is their predictability. The opening section of this video is just that, predictable. The Teletubbies all gather together with their favorite things- but uh oh... someone has lost something. Each Teletubbie loses his/her favorite thing, as each items is found, they gather together again, only to find someone else has lost his/her favorite thing. And so it goes, until every favorite item has been lost and been found.

The ship segment is my favorite segment: nice music and great graphics. My children both enjoy this segment. The boy, Ned riding his bike is very fun and reminds my son of how he enjoys riding bikes.

I know there is controversy on the Teletubbies. However, I think they are cute and harmless. Surely they don't teach anything negative, they teach hugs and fun and sharing and caring, if they teach anything at all. Mainly I use this video (and all others and TV) as a time for my kids to wind down at the end of the day or just prior to nap. A short time to just sit and turn off their brains for a few minutes.

Enjoy.

Perfect metaphor for loss of the British Empire
Powerful metaphor for the loss of the British Empire as Dipsy searches all over for a missing hat. Tinky Winky and his controversial bag (...) is also lost, as well as Po's scooter, symbolic of the once powerful British Navy.

Don't miss the stirring performance by Laa-Laa in her lament over a misplaced yellow ball. Laa-Laa was definitely robbed by the Academy when they overlooked this powerful emote-o-fest.

They make my baby smile, and that is worth everything!
Let me set the record straight, for those of you who dislike these folks: I hated Teletubbies! I thought it was a foursome of weird characters, that couldn't talk well, etc... Well, while they continue to be weird (though you gotta admit they're kinda cute), and they still haven't gotten past the "He-o!" (for 'Hello!') one thing Laa-Laa, Tinky Winky, Dipsy and Po have done is make my baby laugh and calm down when cranky in a way only Baby Mozart is able to do. So all other criticism became secondary after I saw this happen over and over. He just loves it, so it's become one of the 2-3 official videos to be played while his mom and I fix breakfast, because it "buys" us enough time! :)

This particular video has a particular story where all Teletubbies loose an item each: a ball, a bag, a hat and a scooter; to be found later on. What is interesting about it is the repetition within it: repetition of words in the dialogs, in the scenes during the searches for each item, etc. in a way that becomes educative, since the babies learn about patterns, things and colors in the process.

If you haven't gotten yourself a copy of "Baby Mozart" I'd probably recommend you do that before, but if you already have that covered, you have to have Teletubbies' "Favorite Things".

teletubbies are loved and have staying power
My two boys, ages 35 and 21 months just never seem to tire of Teletubbies. We have numerous videos and this one is very well liked. Sometimes I think they are starting to out grow the novelty of Tubbies, but they always eventually start asking for Teletubby videos "again, again"! Teletubbies are very consistent, just what babies and toddlers desire and thrive on. This volume, like all others, has everything you expect from the television series format. The tubbies are always entertaining, kind, friendly, and love to have fun. What more desirable personality traits could any parent hope for in thier children? ... Read more

Reviews (24)

An all time classic !
This movie is simply one of my favorite movies of all time. I did'nt realize it could be bought anywhere on Earth. I have been looking for it for years since tv stations stopped running it years ago. I hav'nt seen it in over 10 years and am ordering my copy now. I would suggest that anyone else who loves railroad movies do the same before it disappears from production. Hands down the best rail movie ever.Excellent.

This movie takes place in the Salem-Eugene area of Oregon during the great depression. It involves the sadistic engineer of the #19 named Shack (played by Ernest Borgnine) and the hobo who tries to ride his train (Lee Marvin). I was in Salem Oregon recently and was glad to finally see for myself the beautiful countryside first brought to me by this movie. A must have movie.

Great movie!
This is one of those good movies that don't need a lot of words to describe why it's great. "Lee Marvin vs. Ernest Borgnine on a train" should be enough. This is also one of those movies that cries out for a major DVD release, what with the rugged scenery, vivid action and great dialogue. As "A.No. 1" tells Cigarette in one of my all-time favorite lines: "You could be a meat eater, kid, and I mean people, not their garbage!" But while you're waiting for the DVD release (which, incidentally, I hear is to be timed to coincide with the freezing over of hell) snag this VHS release while you can. This film has only been released once on video and it's famous for being one of the hardest to find films of all time.

even some of us women love this flick.......
a lot of great acting here. ernie as the cruel train bull/enforcer. Lee Marvin as the old seasoned depression era Hobo. Keith Carridine as the young punk newbie. Simon Oakland as the rail yard cop who strays into the hobo's camp and is lucky to come back out. and the poor engine driver and Borgnine's flunkey who has to keep his eyes out for any bo's trying to board Shack's train. I love this picture because of the trains, the scenery and the music. Marty Robbins' "a man and a Train" seems to have been written for this film. It is a realistic and very graphic film for the years in which it was made. you feel for all the parties involved in this tale. The near miss with the other freight train is a nail biter for sure. Not for the bleeding hearts, but if you like any of these actors, trains and american history I recommend this film for a little eye opener on what our parents or grandparents might have seen or gone through in the depression days of the us of a...... A++++

Get the facts straight....
Too bad Shack IS NOT a conductor. He is a Bull, law enforcement of the railroad. And that's what Bulls did in those days. Keep hobos off.

Great movie. I wish they had it in DVD form too.

good hobo movie
this is an entertaining enough 'bo movie,with a nice gritty sense of realism initially,then a fairly exciting action end to it.i wont bother with going over the plot in too much detail,basically a hobo wants to ride a train,which the train conductor says specifically NO HOBOS.he has a sign and everything....well,not really.but it is a great hobo movie,see "hobos christmas" for how NOT to make a hobo movie.3 out of 5,hardly a classic but good fun all the same. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

"IF YOU SAW THEM, THEY WEREN'T APACHE,"
is arguably one of The Duke's best lines (Michael Herr referenced it in his Vietnam War best seller DISPATCHES, making it a prophecy). John Ford's cavalry trilogy is a great body of American film, all three works have their individual moments that distingush their own lasting perfection. FORT APACHE has the classic Ford/Wayne elements: action, dialogue, a great supporting cast both Ford and Wayne knew how to play (Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen). Henry Fonda is brilliant as the pompous, ego maniacal Colonel Thursday and Victor McLaglen's drunken buffonery is classic. FORT APACHE is a ride into film greatness.

A great American film
Director John Ford's first entry in his "cavalry trilogy" is this excellent film about life on a military outpost far from the glamorous theaters of the Indian Wars in the American west. The film is about character development of the officers and enlisted men on the post, family relationships and the class distinctions among the military social order. Henry Fonda dominates this film with a wonderful interpretation of a bitter, unhappy colonel who feels he has been shunted aside by an ungrateful military hierarchy to an isolated desert outpost to fight Apaches, an assignment he considers beneath him. John Wayne's Capt. Kirby York gives the film just the right balance between the two men who have very different viewpoints about fighting Apaches and respect for their fierce adversaries. The concerns of the wives of officers and enlisted men are also explored in the daily routine at Fort Apache and their fears are touchingly portrayed as their men march at dawn one morning to do battle with Cochise's warriors in an attempt to force the venerable chief to return to a reservation that is run by a corrupt, morally bankrupt Indian agent. The original black and white print is superb and is much better than the colorized version available on video. Richard Hageman's music is reflective and melancholy.

This Ford still works.
I'm out of my element with this film. I normally don't review black-and-white classics, because I'm too cynical to view the big studio releases of yesteryear with an open mind. All of them are contrived and somewhat sappy; I watch them and envision a cherubic Mickey Rooney looking on while eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking milk. "That's a swell show, Dad!"

But I like John Ford films. And I really like FORT APACHE, despite the movie being a stereotypical product of its time. Why, you ask (or mutter indifferently)? Because this film actually depicts some range for Henry Fonda and the Duke himself. Fonda plays a very unsympathetic role, while John Wayne steps out of character (for him) to play a compassionate second fiddle. And Ford's experiment works: the two actors pull off exceptional performances; their on-screen chemistry is riveting.

Tension--that's the motor that drives FORT APACHE. A new disciplined, disgruntled, by-the-book colonel (Fonda) arrives at a remote Arizona outpost; immediately, he is at odds with the fort's seasoned and weathered captain (Wayne). The captain, who possesses a deep respect for a band of Apache that has left the reservation, has the loyalty and affection of his men; the colonel is looked upon as an unwelcome intruder and resented as a martinet. The two officers wage a battle of wills that ultimately has Fonda using an unsuspecting Wayne as a ploy to draw the Apache back for a surprise attack--a strategy that produces deadly consequences.

This is good stuff, further enhanced by some outstanding supporting roles, including Ward Bond, Pedro Armendariz, and Victor McLaglen. We're even treated to a grown-up--yet still annoying--Shirley Temple. Kudos to John Ford for creating a good-looking film that successfully had Fonda and Wayne step outside their respective boxes. FORT APACHE, despite its "Aw, shucks" big studio smarm, is solid entertainment.
--D. Mikels

Four and a half stars, actually...
A truly excellent western, one of the all-time greats; the only reason it's not a full 5 stars is there are a few which are marginally better, such as "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" and "Shane".
Both Henry Fonda and John Wayne are cast against type here, and both prove what great actors they are. Fonda plays a stubborn, excessively proud army commander (loosely based on General George Armstrong Custer) furious at being sent to an outpost in Arizona to fight the Apache, complaining they're not even the "tough" Indians. Wayne is a looser, kinder man more adjusted to living in the middle of nowhere, beloved by his men, and holding much more respect for the Apache since he's dealt with them many times. Fonda insists on using the Apache's trust of Wayne against them, luring them into a trap to force them back onto the reservation. Wayne does his best to stop it, but the forces are already at work and there's little he can do. The ensuing massacre (remember, this tale is based on the exploits of Custer) leaves Wayne with the dilemma: tell the truth about Fonda, or go along with the typical "national-hero" myth that has developed around his death?
This is not your typical western. The cavalry aren't the bad guys (as they would be portrayed 40 years later in "Dances With Wolves"), but the Indians aren't exactly the bad guys, either. Their treatment on the reservation at the hands of a corrupt American government, providing them with scant food to survive but plenty of rotgut whiskey to demoralize and destroy them, is clearly presented. The Indians (portrayed here mostly by Mexican actors) are justifiably angry as their trust in "the great white father" is betrayed over and over. They are presented as intelligent strategists; they offer Fonda a legitimate chance to sit down and talk, but when they're betrayed yet again they go on the offense and, incredibly, they don't lose the fight. This was a western far ahead of its time, and since it was directed by the great John Ford it isn't just a moral tract: it's a beautifully-photographed and expertly-acted drama that pulls you in and teaches you something at the same time. Great stuff.

A wonderful movie
This was the greatest movie! Anyone would like it~! I would tell anyone/everyone to see it! You should add this great one to your westerns! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Based on the mid-'70s novel by Judith Rossner (whichitself was based on a true story), this film was supposed to be the one that established Diane Keaton's credibility as a "serious" actress--and yet she won the Oscar for the other film she did the same year, Annie Hall. Still, Looking for Mr. Goodbar is a solid and intriguingfilm, which offered the first substantial film roles to Richard Gere and Tom Berenger. Keaton is a repressed Catholic school teacher who works with deaf children. In the midst of the sexual revolution, she discovers her own appetite for carnal pleasure--but tries to keep it physical, avoiding emotional entanglement, until she meets Mr. Really Wrong. Keaton is solid but director Richard Brooks can't keep this from dragging. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Annie Hall Meets Mr. Goodbar
Released in 1977 and based on Judith Rossner's best-seller, "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" was touted as the star turn for Diane Keaton, but it was "Annie Hall" that swept her to the Academy podium that year. A Catholic teacher of deaf children, Keaton's portrayal of a sexually repressed woman looking for scores in all the wrong places is unsettling in an generally inaudacious - and brutal - film. But, the talent that she is, Keaton keeps our attention and is nearly upstaged by Tuesday Weld in an Oscar-nominated supporting role. "Goodbar" takes us to the darker side of casual sexal encounters and issues a warning that we ought not delve too deeply into the darkness without a light on in our brains. The film also marked the first substantial work of Richard Gere and Tom Berenger. But it remains Keaton who carries the film, and she does it splendidly and achieves the intended goal of making us squeamish about the dangerous underpinnings of sexual experimentation. The film's closing scene is harrowing and also achieves its own goal to send the viewer off with an unsoothed boding of doom, and it gives us no hope. Panned critically at the time, the film nonetheless is a showcase of Keaton's dramatic talents, something she'd had little chance to do until then. She alone makes the film worth watching.

Very dark seedy film
A very dark film and shocking for the time period 1977 actually it would qualify today as well. Diane Keaton stars as a sexually adventurous teacher from a strict catholic family who escapes the normality in her life by retreating into the sordid vacuous world of New York City's singles bars. She has an affair with her older college professor but that doesn't turn out good so she spends her nights doing cocaine and picking up random guys until one night she picks up the wrong cowboy. Tom Berenger plays a bar hopping drifter and is the final man she brings home. The ending is quite shocking & disturbing, the cinematography and use of light/sound. It would hold up to todays shock value easily. Keep in mind this movie came out in 1977. A story about an insecure woman constantly rebelling, misguided search for love & acceptance who could not come to grips with her estranged relationship with father. In a sense looking for a father figure. One of my favorite dark genre films.

Looking for trouble
"Looking for Mr.Goodbar" is a cautionary tale of the swinger lifestyle. It is set in the 70s, but it's just as prevalent today as it was then (more so with AIDS and other STDs). Diane Keaton plays Theresa, a school teacher for deaf kids by day, and by night she's a very promiscuous party girl. As time goes by, the night life interferes more and more with her teaching job. Eventually she decides to get out, but by then, it's too late. I liked the idea, but I thought the cast was all wrong (of course I have over twenty years of sterotypeing to try to get over). Diane Keaton may not have been the best actress to do this kind of role, after playing Kay Adams/Corleone or "Annie Hall", playing the "whore" dosn't seem right. Tuesday Weld dosn't have enough time to establish the sister as anything. Richard Kiley plays an adultourous professor, kind of a one note character. William Atherton is the red haring. Richard Gere is obviously at the beginning of his career, he isn't the typical Gere persona, he is acting more like John Travolta from "Saturday Night Feaver", he got on my nerves bad. The movie has an interesting concept, the dangers of casual sex and partying, but it is defeated by the ending. ... So what is this movie? It is a good idea with the wrong cast and the wrong ending.

Takes the viewer back to New York City in the 1970's
This movie was highly recommended to me, and now that I've seen it I can see why many consider it a memorable film. The suspense was brilliantly built up and Keaton's performance was worthy of the Golden Globe nomination it received.

The movie depicts many of the problems of being a liberated single female in the 70s. The main character, Theresa Dunn, moves out of her oppressive Catholic family home to find her place in the world. She becomes a compassionate teacher of deaf children during the day, and ventures out at night into the bar scene. Through Keaton's ability to capture the emotionally vulnerable Theresa, the viewer connects strongly to Theresa's journey to find the life she wants.

Richard Gere's performance is also worthy of note, as are the cinematic effects. Unfortunately the lighting in the film is too dark and this detracts from the overall impression of it, and it also makes it seem dated. The moral messages in the film are interesting and leave more questions than answers.

...and the pursuit of happiness
On its best level, "Mr. Goodbar" showed the audience how you can be an intelligent, cultured and sensitive person and yet become a tragic figure, a victim of circumstance.

The Keaton character realizes the entity of her own sexual frustration and takes to casual sex as a form of emotional therapy. When she decides it's time to get her act straight, she fails, fatally, to put her experience to fruition: not because it's morally too late for redemption and she must be punished, but simply out of bad luck.

I don't think Brooks had a 'this is what you're going to get if you stray from the straight and narrow' agenda. I have a feeling he was more interested in the intrinsic tragic potential of being human. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Released at a time when psychic auras, near-death experiences, and Kirlian photography were all the rage among early New Age proponents, Resurrection achieves a spiritual depth rarely found in Hollywood movies. In one of her finest performances, Ellen Burstyn stars as Edna McCauley, a transplanted farm girl who develops healing powers following an accident that left her widowed and paralyzed. Returning to her Kansas homeland, she attracts awe and controversy, performing healings while deflecting any pretense of religion. That's a risky position in the Bible belt, and even Edna's new beau Cal (Sam Shepard) responds with zealous incredulity, fearing what he can't understand while others embrace Edna with unquestioning faith. Through it all, Edna remains calmly resolute as the conduit of an extraordinary gift.

Sensitively written by Lewis John Carlino (The Great Santini), Resurrection tenuously mixes spiritual significance with John Ford's homespun tradition, but for the most part it works: Burstyn superbly conveys Edna's heartfelt determination, and both she and stage veteran Eva LeGallienne (in a rare and final film performance, as Edna's grandma) deservedly earned Oscar nominations. The movie dares to suggest that miracles reside within everyone, and that pure grace will manifest itself in unexpected ways. To that end, Richard Farnsworth is warm and wise in a brief but perfect role; Burstyn's final scene with Roberts Blossom (as her disapproving father) is a heartbreaker; and the film ends with an act of compassion that brings the story full circle as an affirmation of life's greatest mysteries. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (36)

The Best Film I've Ever Seen Ellen Burstyn Do
Ellen plays a woman who suffers a near death experience and tragedy to find that she has developed the power to heal people. The scene where she climbs into the tragically stricken womans hospital bed to heal her and visually takes the womans deformity into her own body is nothing short of Oscar winning acting at the highest level.The film has a slow start, is typically dated in the costuming and sets, but Ellen shows the actors of today how to take a sow's ear and turn it into a silk purse.This movie is a fantastic choice to curl up with on a bad winter day and get lost in. I highly recommend it and I don't waste my time reviewing ANYTHING unless I truly believe in the product. Buy it.

ONE OF THE BEST EVER!
I taped this movie from TV, a long time ago. I thought it would be reshown, but it has not been, to my knowledge. Despite my e-mailing the networks, they seemed uninterested in showing it again, therefore my copy is in very poor condition; needing to be replaced, badly. I have been looking for it, on video for ages, either with no success, or an unusually high price tag attached, for some reason. I absolutely love this movie, as it has something for everyone. It is a very well written and acted drama, with both Ellen Burstyn and Sam Shepard "playing off" each other perfectly. The supporting cast is also as good as it gets. Not only does Ellen's character want to leave this "gift" behind, but Sam Shepard does not appreciate it, as he views it more a curse, than blessing; feeling it is something that will distroy, their already, struggling relationship. Even when he sees what the "gift" affords to people in need, it is beyond his grasp to accept. This is a hard-edged movie, but has such a soft undertone and so much feeling and love, plus the struggle by Ellen Burstyn, as she tries to reason why this gift has been given to her, as she feels totally unworthy, therefore she rages against it, trying to throw it away..then.. the final acceptance of something that is truly a gift from God and therefore, should not be questioned. Anyone who wants to be inspired by a truly wonderful movie that will leave you with that "feel good" feeling... this is the movie to do just that! I hope others will enjoy it, as much as I have.

An Outstanding Film
If you like Ellen Burstyn, or even if you don't and have a bit of an open mind, you'll love this film. It is a moving and sensitive portrayal of the painful journey of someone blessed/cursed with perception and abilities that we normally discount. Ellen Burstyn is magnificent, and the story is compelling.

Another Ellen Burstyn Classic
Anyone captivated by the 70's Ellen Burstyn ("The Last Picture Show," "The Exorcist," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Same Time Next Year") ought to have this gem as well. As Edna, she steps across the line between life and death but returns, now with the gift to heal. The why is asked, but Burstyn's portrayl of a not-so-perfect human who is given an extraordinary gift makes the why irrelevant. The genius, though, is that the gift - to be healed - can be given only to those who "accept" it (some people need their sickness, Edna explains, after one unsuccessful tent "healing"). "Ressurection" is clearly a Burstyn-driven vehicle, but she's nearly upstaged by French actress Eva LeGallienne as Edna's grandmother. Both women were justly Oscar-nominated, and both are stunning. The film's conclusion is classic. A terminally ill boy whose only fear is for the parents he will leave behind doesn't know he's been healed, and the freeze-frame on Burstyn ends the film with a dosage of "feel-good" for the viewer. A must-see!

bioenergy healing
From an insider at Universal Studios I learned that this screenplay portrayed an amalgam of a number of "healing" episodes into one. This reviewer, is also a healer even though not as powerful as the character depicted. The healing power related in this picture is also known as bioenergy and is not connected to any religious power. It is within all of us, if only we would let it emerge.The very basis or successful bioenergy is based solely on unconditional love for an even total stranger. The emphasis is on the unconditional reaching out to out to another person, who is ailing. Remember though that not everyone can be healed, especially those who use illness for attention.The portrayal by Ellen Burstyn in her actions is overwhelming in its accuracy and also the thoughts of the maniacal fundamentalist who believes that this gift is from the devil; it isn't. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A story line that truly deserves the A-list treatment, The Last Unicorn is memorable for its attempts to stay faithful to its origins, the Peter Beagle novel of the same name. The animation is vintage Rankin/Bass, and that's too bad; but there's an undeniable strength in this tale and telling. A unicorn (Mia Farrow)--she believes herself the last--searches for any others of her kind, while avoiding the malevolent Red Bull, the agent believed to have destroyed the rest of the herd. Along the way, she is mistaken, ignored, attacked, and obsessed about, finally finding help from a magician named Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) and a knight named Prince Lir (Jeff Bridges). A haunting film that pays homage to mythology and the people who love it. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (419)

Still one of my MOST favorite movies!!!
My mother tells me that when I was little, I used to make her rent this movie every week. I still remember what the old cover looked like. I have to say that I bought a copy a few years ago and I still watch it every once and a while. I know all the songs by heart - I can still repeat my favorite lines - This is an incredible movie for all ages that I think everyone should watch to get a glimpse of that magic of the imagination that we tend to forget exists after we've grown up!

The plot of the movie is based on the book by Peter S. Beagle(read it if you like fantasy!), but I have to say that I like the movie better. Of course, the author did the screenplay, so that might explain why the movie is so good. It's about a unicorn searching the world for others of her immortal kind. On her journey, she meets humans who help her on her path, like Schmendrick(sp?) the bumbling magician who transforms her into a human woman to carry out her quest, Molly Grue the cynical outlaw, and Prince Lir who becomes a hero for her sake. But some of those she meets, like Mommy Fortuna the witch and King Haggard with his castle by the sea, will try to stop her from solving the mystery of her lost people. Will she be able to hold onto herself long enough overcome the ominous Red Bull who drove the other unicorns down all the roads long ago?

Again, I say that this is one of the movies that defined my childhood, one of the things that convinced me I wanted to be a writer and believe in the magic of imagination. This is a great movie for kids, but there's plenty there for an adult to appreciate as well. Buy it and watch it!!! It's worth it.