Reviews (62)

Steals the Show
The Cooler is a movie similar to "Casino", it shows the gritty side of the business that the public is not aware of. Taking place in old Las Vegas, you'll get to see the professional cheaters that try to steal from the casinos and the mob ties to the business. Shelly (Alec Baldwin) is the manager of the Shangri-La casino, and he opposes the changes being made to the business. He hates the fact that he is being forced to sell out to the new corperate powers and Shelly will do anything to prevent changes from happening. Bernie (William Macy) is a looser, who has the unusual ability to spread bad luck to winning players (cooling the winners), he has a loyalty to Shelly, but changes when he meets and falls in love with a cocktail waitress.
The movie is slow paced but is very well written and keeps you engrossed with their characters. It has excellent camera work, editiing and lighting. The lighting in particular is made in a film noir fashion, adding to the grittyness of the atmosphere. There are some violent scenes in the movie and done realistically. The violence is very sparse yet disturbing. Most of the movie is convulted with hoplessness emphasized by the Bernie character who always looks sad and pathetic, you can almost imagine a dark cloud hanging over his head. His only happiness is the love relationship developing with the waitress. And when he's feeling happy in love, Bernie doesn't do a good job as a cooler. This enrages, Shelly.
Shelly is old fashioned and doesn't like change. He would do anything to keep things the way they are; even if it means hurting those he loves. Alec Baldwin steals the show in this movie! Even though he is a supporting character his presence on screen is creepy and powerful at the same time. His character is so interesting that you'll wish he had more screen time. I just wished that the character, Bernie had more guts. And there are a few situations in the movie subplots which were not handled well. Overall, this is a very good movie, especially if you want to see a modern day film noir.

Interesting Premise. Flat Story and Characters.
Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy) is one unlucky guy. He is so unlucky that he is employed as a "cooler" at the Shangri La Casino in Las Vegas. His mere presence at the table of a gambler on a winning streak will break the streak and save the casino a fortune. But when Bernie becomes romantically involved with Natalie (Maria Bello), a waitress at the casino, his luck begins to change. Shelly (Alec Baldwin), the Shangri La's stubbornly old-fashioned manager, is frustrated by Bernie's change of luck at the same time he is adamantly resisting modernization that the casino's owner envisions will usher the business into the future.

The Las Vegas of "The Cooler" isn't family friendly or a fashionable destination for the rich and famous. This is a hardened, sleazy Vegas that isn't much removed from its mobster roots. And Shelly is an old school casino manager who resists the new glossy and respectable face of Las Vegas with all of his power. He tenaciously clings to the traditions and superstitions that served him well in years past, including the employment of coolers to combat gamblers on a hot streak. I wish the film had revolved more around the concept of coolers and shown more of the inner workings of old Vegas casinos. That might have been interesting. But "The Cooler" is a messy love story about an unlucky guy who turns out to be lucky in love. The trouble is that the love story is clichéd, and the characters are two-dimensional. Shelly seems like more of a stereotype than a character. This is the first time that William H. Macy has ever bored me. He always brings something interesting to his roles -until now. Bernie Lootz is a profoundly uninteresting person. All of the characters seem to lack a certain facet that would make them interesting, or realistic, or sympathetic, or anything that would endear them to the audience. And their behavior in the film's final act is completely nonsensical. That might not matter if there were something in the story to capture the audience's interest. But the story also lacks anything that would distinguish it. One thing I do like about "The Cooler" is that it presents Luck as a real thing, a commodity that can be quantified and traded. That's interesting. And a cooler is a virtual embodiment of bad luck. There's a good and original story there somewhere. But it isn't this film. "The Cooler" sports a talented cast in a story that fails to engage. Paul Sorvino, model Estella Warren, and In Sync crooner Joey Fatone have small supporting roles. I love gambling films, so I wish "The Cooler" had been better. But I can only recommend it to connoisseurs of Vegas movies.

MUDDLED, BUT WORTHWHILE
The Cooler is a dark tale of luck and free will. It is loaded with brilliant performances. Yet it falls well short of its potential.

The best thing about The Cooler is Maria Bello. She is among a handful of the most beautiful women on the screen these days. As Natalie she exudes an emotional depth and an aching honesty that almost makes this movie something great.

Almost.

Despite similarly wonderful performances from Baldwin and Macy, this dark comedy drowns in its "dark" (dank to be more precise). The Cooler can't figure out if it wants to be a gangster flick, a romantic comedy, a dark comedy, or an elegy for the old ways of Vegas. That the movie almost pulls this off is a credit to the actors involved.

The Cooler misses its mark though. I found it enjoyable, but I have the feeling that most of my friends would either have their patience tested or balk at the heavy violence and sexual content. People watching a slightly more humorous version of Leaving Las Vegas still have to deal with the existential goo of Leaving Las Vegas--no matter the outcome or humor along the way.

That said, if you feel you're up to the challenge, The Cooler, for all its scattershot befuddlement, does sing a strain of the greatest song of all: the song of Love and its power to save and transform--a song well worth listening to--in any form.

"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it."

Fantastic Las Vegas flick
The actors did such a great job in this movie. I've always been a William H. Macy fan, but the job he did in The Cooler blew me away. He totally encompassed the role of Bernie Lootz. Alec Baldwin was also very impressive. He managed to create sympathy for an unsympathetic character. I think this rates among his best work.

Maria Bello was also great. I loved how real the love scenes were. No airbrushing, this was obviously real people with real flaws. That's good. I hate to watch a movie while castigating myself for not hitting the gym!

A very moving story.

William Macy gives another great performance
William H. Macy plays Bernie Lootz and as you'll read in other reviews here, Bernie is a guy who is so unlucky that a Casino has hired him to let his bad luck rub off on the other players in the Casino.

What impressed me about Macy's portrayal of Bernie is that he is so completely used to his position as one of life's doormats that he exudes a kind of confidence in this role. In the brilliant opening of the film we see Bernie strolling through the Casino with a kind of casual self-assurance that you might expect to see from an actor playing James Bond as they say "shaken, not stirred". Bernie walks casually by a table where a player is beginning to get hot. Without even looking down Bernie reaches out and glides his fingers along the edge of the table as he walks by. Off-camera we can hear that his bad-luck imparting has worked. As unlucky as Bernie is, he at least recognizes that he is good at his job and that he performs a valuable service to the Casino.

Unlucky in life and unlucky in love, Bernie secretly pines after Casino waitress Natalie, played by Maria Bello. When Natalie begins to take an interest in Bernie things get exponentially more complicated for Bernie.

Alec Baldwin is Shelly Kaplow, the manager of the Casino, and he remembers the good old days before Vegas became like Disney World: back when gamblers gambled and drank, showgirls strutted around naked, and the Mob would rough you up when you owed them money. Shelly is the Casino equivalent of Baldwin's real-estate mogul in Glen Garry Glen Ross.

How far will Shelly go to keep things the "old way"? How much pressure will he put on Bernie when "The Cooler" starts getting luckier - and ineffective as a cooler?

This movie is fun and inventive and has great acting and dialogue. There are sex scenes that are steamy and nude so keep in mind who you watch this with. It's just barely a cut below the best casino-mobster movies. I recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When you are in the mood for a pleasant little romance, this should fit the bill. Amy Irving and Richard Dreyfuss are young pianists vying for the same prize. Surprise, surprise, they fall in love. We then must wait, with (nearly) breathless anticipation, to see if she will throw the contest to ensure his love. It is all a bit starry-eyed, but not overly gooey. The concert footage is handled with class, and there are some fine supporting performances from Sam Wanamaker and Lee Remick. It is also a lot of fun to see Dreyfuss and Irving as such fresh-faced innocents. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Watch this with someone you love !
Gosh, there were so many good movies from the 1970's & 1980's. The Competition is definately one of them. People who enjoy classical music with a good star cast will really enjoy this flic. The story is simple enough. Richard Dreyfus & Amy Irving are young pianists who fall in love while vying for the prize of a major competition.For the finale, Dreyfuss chooses Beethoven's piano concerto no.5, while Amy chooses the more complex Prokofiev's piano concerto no.3. Though Amy Irving is more smitten by Dreyfuss's charm, he's a bit reluctant to get involved due to the competition which both parties want to win desperately. Lee Remick is apt as the watchful teacher over Amy Irving. Sam Wanamaker who's also a popular director himself is excellent as the conductor of the competition. Popular 70's music director Lalo Schifrin is the movie's music composer & Joel Oliansky takes the honors for story, screenplay & direction.

The love/ hate movie
I gotta tell you, my sister and I both love Dreyfuss and Irving and Lee Remick. The best part of this movie is the piano competition. The actors were beliveable in their "playing" the piano. Eveything thing else stunk in this movie. It is a guilty pleasure movie. This is possibly the worst acting from an entire cast in a single movie. Lee Remick walks around in robotic motion and needs a beat down for the insults. Dreyfuss' parents should have thrown him out from the basement years ago for over-acting more than usual. Sam Wanamaker and his sweater on the shoulders, joint smoking, getting his mack on to weird music was just what we needed to push us over the edge into uncontrollable laughter. I rent this movie when I need a good laugh and it suits the bill. I am sure that wasn't the intention when it was made. Did I mention about Dreyfuss crying after having sex and that silly cap? Now I need to watch the movie again!

one of my favorite movies for almost 25 years
I just bought this video to share with my daughter who is a high school musician beginning to seriously compete. I saw it in 1980 when it was released, eight years before she was born, and it has remained in my memory as one of my all-time favorites. I just finished watching it for the first time in 20 years or so. The entire movie looks very late-70s, and Richard Dreyfuss really needs to lose that silly-looking cap, but the power of the music and the message is completely intact. The scene in which Amy Irving performs her concerto is absolutely delicious and riveting. Richard Dreyfuss overacts as usual, but his realization as he listens to her performance backstage that she is, as he puts it, "brilliant," is in itself brilliantly communicated without words. Lee Remick's character provides a kind of narrative frame for Dreyfuss' and Irving's romance, and lends the movie some much-needed zing to balance all that sweetness. As does the delightful Sam Wanamaker, who plays a Leonard Bernstein-type (quite accurate except that Sam's character likes girls). And the music is just extraordinary. Although The Competition is entertaining as a love story, this is most especially a movie for musicians to savor. When I was a music major in college it was those few who were "driven" to create music and felt they had no other choice who were the tortured souls. They reached amazing emotional peaks with their music, but often struggled with despair as well. The rest of us just enjoyed ourselves. The variety of personalities portrayed in this movie is very accurate.

Great Movie!! But when a DVD????
A fun, romatic movie with usual settings and unusual confrontations. It NEEDS a DVD release!!!!!

Art
The Competition is true to the pianist world. It captures the self-annihilating desire to play well, the desperation of it. The fierce competition with everyone else and with yourself. It's a movie without jokes, it's not entertainment, but movie making at its best. When you make a movie...or write a book...or draw a picture without thinking of your audience. When you do it because it's inside you and you want to give it expression.

And the people are lovely. Is it just because it was made in 1980 that the absense of media seems so strong? They're just lovely people with personality. Even the Piano Teacher, who's slightly stereotypical, isn't made into a joke. You feel her contained ambition. That is, if you're a pianist. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this ninth installment in The Land Before Time series, a cast of spirited, young dinosaurs explores the familiar emotion of loneliness and the need to belong. Torrential rains have turned the Great Valley into an unfamiliar landscape, causing Littlefoot to feel lonely. "You are only as alone as you choose to be," his grandfather tells him. The flood has transported new swimming creatures into the valley, including a playful porpoise named Mo who quickly befriends Littlefoot. Yet Mo must return to his home in the Big Water and so, against parental wishes, Littlefoot and pals escort Mo on an adventurous journey back to the sea. Danger ensues, including "earthshakes" and "sharptooths," while the courageous group grapples with questions of loyalty and friendship. The strengths of the series have not been diluted; its stories continue to captivate using beautiful animation and lively music. Six original tunes make for finger-snapping fun for the younger set. (Ages 3 to 12) --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (12)

My 3 year old loves it! and so do I, kinda.
I would never have, by any measure, thought these movies would be worthwhile. But my 3 year old loves all of them. He has his favorites . . . going back to The Great Adventure and the Big Freeze. But he wanted Journey to Big Water as soon as he saw it advertised. And as he watched it the first time, he got the threat of danger and suspense involved which, of course, went right past me. He had many comments and breath-taking moments and has watched it at least once a day since. He is very involved with the adventures of his favorite characters once again. Plus he really liked the new characters, Mo and the menacing Sharp Tooth Swimmer.

I'm happy to be able to give my son cheap entertainment like that. If only he could watch Land Before Time Live, his life would be complete! Seriously though, he was just as or even more fascinated with the movie as he was with The Lion King on Broadway show, and that trip cost a small fortune. He loves the TV games included, the sing-a-long songs, the JumpStart Video . . . everything! Sooooo ... I give it 5 stars because he is totally engaged and entertained.

The music isn't that drippy and inferior, either. I mean, you would think that the 9th in the series would be BAD, but it's really not. I guess I'm easy to please too, but the music is alright. Plus, I like the Donny Osmond song at the end so much that I am considering buying his CD. And that is amazing, considering I'm not an Osmond fan by any stretch of the imagination. So there you have it. Buy the DVD for your preschooler and let him have a ball, and know that there are a few touches for adults too.

Another Great Land Before Time Movie!
My girls are ages 3 & 4 and Love this movie, along with all of the other LBT movies. I like it too! They meet a new friend and the songs are so catchy. As always, there is a lesson to be learned here & kids will enjoy watching it over & over, not realizing they are learning something! If you've liked any of the others, you'll like this one!

Great series!
This is just one of a great series of movies...My 3 year old daughter wanted The Great Longneck Migration and from there it was history...I have been buying her every one I can in the series...This one in particular seems to be one of her favorites...She's been watching each of the 4 we have so far over and over(with 3 more on the way from Amazon)...Although the the issue of 'bad grammar' could be irritating to some adults, I think it is nothing compared to what some TV programs "teach" our kids...Better than sponge bob thats for sure!...Great movie...

The English Issues.
Personally, I would love it if the characters spoke in a correct grammatical manner, but in real life there are many adults who cannot do that, so it would be unreasonable to expect child characters to do so. ( Besides, children watching the film probably would not notice, or be bothered if they did .)
Also, correct me if I am wrong, but I always thought that Ducky was female, so Cera is not the only girl in the group.
I enjoyed the film, but I think my favorite so far is " The Big Freeze " : I have a soft spot for Spike.
I am looking forward to number ten " The Great Migration " coming out in this country, though I do not know when that will be.

Great Movie
My 2 yr old son loved this movie. It is his favorite and we have about 5 out of the series so far (don't waste your money on Through the Mists). He especially loves Moe and was thrilled when he went to the beach for the first time and got to see dolphins playing in the surf. It really connected for him the "big water" and Moe the dolphin-like swimmer. Yes Cera, as usual, is bratty and ugly but who doesn't have one of those kind of kids in their acquaintance. In the end she figures out it was really her insecurity causing her jealousy for no reason. Unfortunately our dvd has developed a spot where it freezes and I will have to purchase another one but it is worth it for the joy it brings my little man. This is a great video despite some of the other reviews and worth the money. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Over 20 Years Later, And I Still Love It!
When I first saw Fame, I loved it. Although I was in the age range of the characters back then, I never went to a performing arts school, but I always found it fascinating, and my short stint at a NYC school was extremely exciting. Just something about the setting.

I was always curious how I'd feel about the movie in 10 or 20 years. I can now say that I consider this one of my all time favorites. It still moves me like it did in 1980. Sure, there are a few things about it that are dated, but I love the characters, can absolutely relate to seeing Rocky Horror for the first time, and the mood is captured perfectly.

And to this day, the scenes with "Out Here On My Own", "Is It Okay...", and "I Sing The Body Electric" give me chills.

A wonderful coming-of-age Musical
On its release "Fame" resonated for me because I was 18, headed for NYC, and full of many of the same hopes and dreams as its characters had. I also saw it with a group of friends, all of us recent high school grads, and whether we were off to study medicine or law, music or architecture, the movie captured the essence of what its like to be on the way to new dreams. The score is brilliant through and through, and the performances nuanced, sweet and special. From the auditions at the outset of the movie to the final sweeping "Body Electric" the film is powerful for anyone who came of age in the 70s. We can all relate to seeing "Rocky Horror" for the first time, doing the "Time Warp" and being on the losing side of love. And, those of us with overbearing mothers could understand Doris's embarrassing moments with her own backstage mom. The film has guts, emotion, and passion to spare, and still stands as one of the last great musicals Hollywood produced. This one deserves a full re-release on DVD, and is far superior to later spin-offs like "Footloose" and "Flashdance." They all started here, with "Fame."

Fame
This is a very good musical movie. It has so much going on. You can almost feel what each characater is going through in the movie. I can watch it over and over. I never get tired of it.

Film at it's best.
Fame is by far my favourite movie. It has made me cry and laugh all at once. I can definetly identify with the characters. If I were you I would get my copy fast.

It needed Debbie Allen for more than two lines.
Full of energy and spirit, but in the end a bit corny and very melodramatic. I attended a school of the arts in Washington, DC, and at that time we were all thrilled to see a film which paid tribute to the special institution we had to endure for 8+ hours a day- though there was not one moment, in the four years I attended, that anyone danced in the streets and on top of the cars!! I actually preferred the television show, which did not take itself as seriously, and created much broader, fuller, characters than the 'types' presented in the film (the ambitious over-achiever, the militant hood, the ingenue, the comic, etc.) All in all, it was passable, but could've been better. And recheck the movie; Debbie Allen is only in a small opening scene judging the dance auditions. She has been quoted as saying that her role was originally much larger, but producers felt it too closely resembled the Coco role, so it was finally reduced to two lines in the film's first fifteen minutes. She did, however, star in the TV show, and got to dance and choreograph on-screen. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A sincere film that speaks of the Cuban soul
As, I'm assuming, the only Cuban-American to review this film online, I feel especially proud that my country was able to produce such an eloquent, intelligent and all around outstanding film. Many people unacquainted with our customs couldn't possibly begin to relish the cultural nuances that abound in this film. The slang, the attitudes and all-around mannerisms are unmistakibly Cuban and to me it was as if though I were watching a home movie of some old friends. Rarely, have I related to characters the way I did to David, Diego and Nancy. Jorge Perrugoria's Diego is a triumph. Anyone familiar with what's regarded as the quitessential Cuban homosexual (cultured, well-read, opera and ballet loving) will be able to savor this performance like a fine wine; it is absolute perfection. It is hard to believe that he is, in reality, heterosexual. He is just too, too perfect. The fact that this film captures the essence of Cuba is both a revelation and a devestation. One is made to see the crumbling glory that is Havana and it almost inspires heartbreak. Nevertheless, a terrific film through and through and one that I can't recommend enough!

Four stars for the movie, two for the DVD
STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE [Fresa y Chocolate] (Cuba/Mexico/Spain 1992): Used as an unwitting pawn by his pro-revolutionary colleagues, naive student David (Vladmir Cruz) is encouraged to develop a platonic relationship with flamboyant gay artist Diego (Jorge Perugorria), whose political allegiances have fallen under suspicion. But as their friendship deepens, David is transformed by Diego's resistance to the Cuban regime, even as the forces of oppression begin to close around them.

Though based on a short story ('El Lobo, el Bosque y el Hombre Nuevo') by screenwriter Senel Paz which explores opposite ends of a political ideology, knowledge of recent Cuban history isn't a prerequisite for viewers of STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE, a small gem from co-directors Tomas Gutierrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabio. Far from a mere political tract, this is a joyous celebration of life and non-conformity, distinguished by Perugorria's extraordinary performance as the camp but dignified Diego, who rejects his friend's unquestioning loyalty to the Cuban political system that is stifling their beloved homeland. Their budding relationship is complicated by Diego's unrequited love for David, depicted here with remarkable honesty and compassion, particularly for a mainstream film. But it's their political differences which ultimately unite the two characters, even as Diego is forced to reap the whirlwind of his public defiance. Much of the narrative unfolds within Diego's crumbling apartment building, where David enjoys a liaison with flaky neighbor Nancy (Mirta Ibarra), who introduces the inexperienced student to the joys of sexual liberation! It isn't a terribly cinematic film, but production values are solid, and the characters are so vivid, and played with such integrity, it hardly matters; this is a movie in which ideas take precedence over action, and the emotional payoff is quite powerful indeed. Beautiful music score by Jose Maria Vitier, too.

Now the bad news: Buena Vista's DVD version is incomplete, missing approximately six minutes of footage. Absent material includes a brief conversation about racism during David's first visit to Diego's apartment, and a sad little sequence in which the two characters pretend not to notice each other after meeting by accident in a bookstore. These revisions were perpetrated before the film's North American theatrical release by Buena Vista's 'art-house' subsidiary Miramax, a company which is notorious for the cavalier manner in which it treats its foreign acquisitions (their version of THE HORSEMAN ON THE ROOF is similarly incomplete). The alterations imposed on STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE seem completely arbitrary, and demonstrate little more than contempt for American audiences. For the record, the UK video version runs 105m 51s at 25fps in the PAL format, which corresponds to 110m 15s at the original 24fps.

There are no extras, not even a trailer (there's a puff-piece which trumpets Miramax's involvement in a 'golden age' of cinema, which is ironic given the way they treat their movies). So, four stars for the movie, two for the DVD, and only because the sound and picture quality are so good, despite a worrying amount of grain in the film's opening sequence. The running time quoted below doesn't include the Miramax/Robert Redford logos which open the US DVD print and weren't part of the original film.

103m 53s
1.85:1 / Anamorphically enhanced
Dolby Surround 2.0
Ultra Stereo [theatrical]
Spanish soundtrack
Optional English subtitles
Region 1

Where's the DVD???
I was captivated by this charming little film many years back, what with its setting, performances, humour, and all the little nuances that foreign films have mastered over their Hollywood big-buck counterparts.

My only complaint is why there hasn't been a DVD release of this movie just yet! With such vastly overrated mediocrities such as "Like Water For Chocolate" or "Babette's Feast" now available, it should only be a matter of time.

A phenomenally enjoyable film, whatever your personal preference.

Not a Bad Berry....
It's a good movie, but not what I expected. From the amount of foreign films I've seen, there have been some outstanding ones like Central Station, City Of Lost Children, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Like Water for Chocolate and Amelie. I guess I hold all foreign (subtitled) films to this high standard. The actor who played Diego, Jorge Perrugoria was wonderful though. He's one of those few actors that uses his eyes to convey so much internal action. Over all, I'm not saying the film was bad, but it wasn't one I'd watch again and again. First film from Cuba nominated for an Oscar.. *** stars

Wonderful film that transcends stereotypes
The Cuban film, "Fresa y Chocolate," is the story of friendship between a young student (a loyal member of the Communist Party), and a gay political activist, who is critical of the government's censorship. It is an amazing film for a number of reasons. First, it presents a balanced and somewhat critical view of the Cuban political system. This is surprising since it was co-produced by ICAIC, essentially the official Cuban film production company. Second, though the main characters start out as stereotypes, they develop into very real people who go beyond what the audience would expect.

Considered by many to have been a major catalyst in improving the treatment of gays in Cuba; this film presents a rich and interesting view of Cuban society. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) serves up a great, steaming pile of the famed British comedy troupe's finest, funniest, and foulest work. Culled from their four-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl in 1980, this selection of sketches and songs includes some of the most storied material from the BBC series, Monty Python's Flying Circus. Numbers include the sexually confused lumberjack, the Ministry of Silly Walks, the Argument Clinic, and the exploding balladeer. Some of the group's funnier short-film pieces are featured as well, including the International Philosophy Match (Germany vs. Greece) and Terry Gilliam's animated pieces. This program is a fine introduction for viewers unaccustomed to Monty Python's peculiar brand of humor, and it will become clear where The Kids in the Hall got their shtick. Monty Python aficionados will enjoy seeing the lads do their thing for a live crowd, and there's a nice (though "nice" hardly seems the word) rapport with the audience. The sketches are looser and less hermetic than those in the Monty Python show or movies, such as 1974'sMonty Python and the Holy Grail or 1983'sMonty Python's the Meaning of Life. Aside from the unusual setting, there's nothing particularly revelatory about Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl. But for Python fans and fanatics--and they are legion--this won't matter a jot.-- Nick Poppy ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Careful to what is inside your chocolates
More English humour. You will undoubtedly laugh at some jokes and antics. You will smile at most of them too. Monty Python is always the same group of weirdos who respect nothing and make fun of everything that is sacred in everyday life in England : the Queen of course, but gently ; the police, a little less gently ; the church definitely less gently ; and things like chocolates that contain dead frogs to make them crunchy or some other disgusting things like cockroaches or whatever including some vomit. They cannot resist comparing American beer with ditch water and there they are definitely right, and that explains probably why so many sportsmen in one sketch start a race by ending up in the toilet. Too much of that beer is not good at all for the bladder. We learn that Descartes wrote « I drink therefore I am » which is definitely French in inspiration and tone. But lumberjacks are also ridiculed, with a lumberjack who wears a bra, for instance. English judges are of course revealed as being effeminate, which is in complete phase with the fact that they wear wigs : you should see their nice and colourful underwear. Try Monty Python at least once or twice, but be careful with an overdose of that drug because you may become either bored or just mentally disoriented and corrugated.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Grateful US Fans
It is interesting to watch Monty Python live. This performance gives quite a different effect than the studio series - for good and for worse. A big plus is the enthusiasm of the USAmerican fans, who can take just everything and even cheer for more and more. A few of the sketches do not work out perfectly on stage though.

Still, »Monty Python Live At The Hollywood Bowl« makes you roll over laughing, as usual.

sux that its out of print
yes it sucks that this film is out of print, but you can find it a local video rental store. This film is great, its got some great sketches, albatross, silly walks, the church police(In wich the Pythons begin to crack up beacause terry jones wig begins to slip off) and the silly olympics. I highly reccomnd this to a python fan, but not to a person who has never heard of python.

The Hollywood Bowl hasn't recovered since.
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Michael Pallin, and Terry Gilliam bring their british humor to America, at the Hollywood Bowl, and this film will keep you laughing right through the end.

A "greatest hits" compilation for Monty Python
This is Monty Python at their very best. Very little of the amusing but confusing sketch comedy that can be so hit or miss with American audiences. This is a collection of their material that appeals to the general public. This needs to be re-released so that people can get a chance to see how delightful this comedy troupe was. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Shirley Temple, the original dancing baby, sings her signature song, "On the Good Ship Lollipop," in this heart-rending drama, one of eight films she made in 1934 (!) at the ripe age of 6, and for which she was honored with a special pint-sized Academy Award. Temple stars as Shirley, the curly-headed "gosh, oh gee"-adorable mascot to a group of aviators since her pilot father "cracked up and went to heaven." Get out your handkerchiefs when Shirley's mother is also killed, setting up a custody battle between the nasty, highfalutin Joy Smythe's curmudgeon uncle Ned; Loop, another pilot; and the society girl who once left Loop grounded at the altar.

Temple's movies are today marketed as children's films, but, like the classic Warner Bros. cartoons, they were made for adults. Her plucky, indomitable spirit helped America get through the Depression. She's perky and precocious to beat the band, but she suffers so on the way to the inevitable happy ending. When she gushes, "It's the best day I've ever had in my whole life," you know tragedy is imminent.

In Bright Eyes she is also at the mercy of bratty Smythe (scene-stealing Jane Withers), a pint-sized tantrum-throwing terror who makes Linda Blair in The Exorcist look like a Teletubbie. A further parental advisory in these politically correct times: Joy's eagerly awaited comeuppance is a real slap in the face. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (17)

OUR FAVOURITE WAIF
This was the first movie actually crafted just for Shirley and the kids should find it a fun diversion, even today. It's in this movie in which Temple sings her famed version of ON THE GOOD SHIP LOLLIPOP - while on an airplane! The supporting cast includes the little seen silent screen actress Lois Wilson who plays Shirley's mother (employed as a maid) and the talented Irishman, James Dunn - he won an Oscar for the happy alcoholic singing waiter in A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN - does well as Shirley's kind uncle. Cheeky Jane Withers (Remember Josephine, the plumber who endorsed Comet cleanser in the sixties?) plays Joy, and she's fun in contrast to Shirley's goody-goody personna- she's wild, mischievous, noisy, jealous, messy, angry and not particularly cute; she was eventually ranked second in popularity to Temple as a thirties female child star. Recommended for the little ones because these Temple films are inoffensive (with very few exceptions) and are expertly computer colourized!

Jane and Shirley light up the screen!
Shirley Temple and Jane Withers are a dynamic duo together as Shirley plays a orphaned child that everybody wishes to adopt and Jane plays a selfish brat who has no compassion for Shirley or anybody else. This movie is simply hysterical with the rude Joy (Jane Withers)and the funny and political Uncle Ned. I have never laughed as much as I did in any other Shirley Temple film! Shirley sings her trade mark song "On the Good Ship Lollipop" and will dazzle you with her charm. The plot of the story is easy for young children to follow and consists of tear jerkers, hysterical moments, and dramatic scenes. I have to say this movie wouldn't receive 5 stars without Jane Withers!

"Sweet Landings"....
This review refers to the 20th Century Fox DVD edition of "Bright Eyes".....

I've always been a sucker for little Shirley Temple singing "On The Good Ship Lollipop" and couldn't resist picking up this DVD.From 1934, this story takes you back to a time of innocence that just can't be done again in today's world. Shirley will tug at your heartstrings and you're happy to let her do it!

This story was tailor made for Temple's charms. Already having lost her father, "the best aviator there ever was", she is now the apple of they eyes of all the flyers at the airport.Espcially one,'Loop' Merritt(James Dunn), her father's best friend who loves her dearly.Shirley lives in the home of a wealthy but nasty couple where her mother is a maid. When tragedy strikes again, and Shirley's mom meets with an unfortunate accident, the fight begins over who will adopt this adorable orphan.

In the short span of 83 minutes, it's a story that has laughter, tears, adventure and lots of love. If you love Shirley..this is a must have. But it's not just the Shirley show...the rest of the cast is terrific. James Dunn, Jane Darwell,and Lois Smith will all touch you, but the two that nearly steal the show are Charles Sellon as Uncle Ned, an old curmudgeon who becomes a real softy around Shirley, and little Jane Withers...the brattiest brat there ever was. All this little tyke wants for Christmas is a machine gun!

I was very pleased with this DVD by 20th Cent Fox. Yes it was a bit on the grainey side, but the film, now 70 years old, showed no scratches, lines or cracks.I hope I look that good at 70! I nearly had a panic attack though when I read the back of the box and it said that this version was colorized, but don't worry, when you pop it in the player, the first thing that comes up is a choice of the original B/W or the colorized version..so you can watch both and see which you prefer. You also get the choice of viewing it in the newly enhanced stereo or mono.There are also subtitles in English(captions), and Spanish.

It's a nice one to watch during the holidays as a good part of the story takes place during Christmas.If you are a fan..introduce a new generation to Shirley. This a great one to start with.

Sweet Landings.....Laurie

One of her better movies.
The movie has the seen that the TV networks always have qued up with her singing: On the good ship lollypop.

One of the cutest films!!!
Shirley is VERY cute in this film. She plays a very unselfish and cute little girl who likes to help out and visit the airport. She basicially does not have to act in this film because the way her chartacter acts is how Shirley acts herself . (Notice that her name is Shirley in this film.)
It deserves a three star though because I didn't see much dancing in this film except for The Good Ship Lollipop, and when you watch Jane Withers and Shirley together you can feel guilty when you act selfish. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Perhaps if The Bishop's Wife had lapsed on its copyright and fallen into the public domain like It's a Wonderful Life, it would be as much a Christmas staple as that classic. It certainly deserves to be. Dudley (Cary Grant) is an angel sent down by the prayers of a new bishop (David Niven). The bishop is trying to build a new cathedral, and he's so entrenched in his fundraising that he's watching his own marriage crumble around him. Loretta Young is devoted, moist-eyed, and basically a great date for the tempted Dudley. They drink in the afternoon, go skating at night, and make impulse buys. The skating sequence beats mightily on one's suspension of disbelief, but the rest of the film is an absolute joy. Grant is suave, worldly, and enchanting. A wonderful present for anyone who has not seen it. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Delightful Holiday Story
Cary Grant stars as an angel named Dudley who suddenly appears and befriends an Episcopal bishop (David Niven) who is completely focused on raising money for his new church, and the bishop's wife (Loretta Young), who has become lonely and unhappy as her husband has gotten lost in his work. Grant uses little bits of heavenly magic and loads of charm to help Niven raise money and to help Young rediscover the joy of life. He also helps Niven and Young rediscover each other and realize that love must be the highest priority for anyone, including an ambitious bishop who's devoted to his job.

The acting is superb, as one would expect from this stellar cast. The story takes place at Christmas and, while not shown as much as other Christmas movies, I think it's one of the best. Cary Grant, all charm and suave coolness, plays this part perfectly, and the viewer even sees a touch of wistful envy in the angel who cannot have the Earthly love and happiness he helps Niven and Young rekindle for themselves. Buy this one and watch it every Christmas (or any other time you need a happiness booster or a reminder of the importance of love and kindness).

P.S.: "It's a Wonderful Life" is a good movie, but definitely I prefer "The Bishop's Wife".

A Family Favorite!
This film is one of the best of the Christmas Classics. The Bishop's Wife tells a story of an angel (Cary Grant) who comes down to earth in answer to a busy Bishop's (David Niven) prayer. The angel helps the Bishop learn to adjust his priorities and comes close to falling in love with Julia, the Bishop's wife (Loretta Young). The movie includes a lovely Skating/ Dance scene that defies description. Make this movie a tradition for your family this year.

Christmas with Cary Grant.
I think overall, this movie is maybe my favourite that was set around Christmas time. It's better than the brilliant - although overrated - Capra classic, "It's a Wonderful Life". I am in no way meaning to compare the two though. "The Bishop's Wife" is not really like that movie. But both films remain the two greatest christmas time classics to come out of the 1940's.

The film is, as one would have already guessed, set around christmas time. The main plot of the story, is that David Niven is this Bishop, who prays for guidance, of how to get a new cathedral built. Dudley (Cary Grant) is an Angel, who has been sent to help, although the Bishop does not take to him being an Angel too seriously, for some time. Dudley helps everyone he meets, but not always in the way they might prefer, to start off with. Dudley spends a lot of time with the Bishop's wife (Loretta Young) and he is not liking it. Dudley becomes the popular friend among all the people he meets, and helps, but the Bishop is the odd one out, becoming more annoyed, and frustrated with him as it goes along. It all ends nicely though, of course.

The film is really wonferful. There is a skating scene, that is inparticularly memorable, among Cary Grant always charming, excellent performance. The acting in this movie, is simply brilliant. I cant possibly have seen it being any better. The script, the story, everything about this movie is great. Repeated viewings are easy, and its one of Cary Grant best movies.

This DVD from MGM has a great print. It contains very few signs of scratching, and the other little artifacts you find in some movies of this age, and is an overall good looking transfer. The extras are lousy. You get the trailer (which is quite fun, might I add) but absolutely nothing else. Oh well, the print is the main thing, and they have done a good job in that part. Highly recommended.

Charming but overlong
Bishop: Are you expecting a letter?
Dudley: Well, you never know. If I did get one, the stamp would certainly be worth saving.

That's because Dudley (Cary Grant) is an angel sent to give guidance to forlorn Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven), and who eventually lights up the lives of everyone else in the Bishop's life, especially The Bishop's Wife in this delightful Christmas film from 1947. When the Bishop prays for help in getting a new cathedral built (the local millionairess widow will only give if her late husband's name is prominently displayed), Cary Grant shows up as his "assistant" but soon makes the Bishop even more miserable by charming his wife Julia (radiant Loretta Young), daughter Debby, and even housemaid Matilda (Elsa Lanchester, always wonderful).

The Bishop's Wife is truly "heavenly" with Grant playing off his tried-and-true persona. Originally Grant and Niven were supposed to have the opposite roles, but Grant decided he could do more with the angel role -- and Grant was a bigger star -- so they were exchanged. Good thing, too: I can't imagine Cary playing the indecisive Bishop any more than I can imagine Niven charming a woman away from Cary Grant.

Only a few things keep The Bishop's Wife from being perfect. There is an overlong ice-skating scene that really stretches the believability (I had to keep telling myself "he's an angel; he can do anything), and the film runs on about twenty minutes too long. In the beginning, Grant is so taken by Young that, if he weren't an angel, those looks would feel really sleazy. Turns out that Cary is just discovering temptations, which makes the ending all the more noble.

Watching The Bishop's Wife in June (during a Cary Grant festival on Turner Classic Movies) is a little strange, but the movie is so ... happy that it's easy to slip into the vibe, especially with all the Christmas carols being bandied about like so many candy canes. I'd certainly recommend that fans of the stars watch it at least once (especially since Loretta Young, whom I don't find all that attractive, is made, through Gregg Toland's photography, into a very appealing woman). Niven is rather on the milquetoasty side and his richest scene involves him being stuck in a chair, but the rest of the film is two hours of Christmas joy.

Charming!
THE BISHOP'S WIFE is a thoroughly charming movie about an "angel" (Cary Grant) who changes the life of a bishop (David Niven) who at Christmas time is trying desperately to raise funds to build an elaborate cathedral and has consequently neglected his wife, Julia (Loretta Young). The three leads give beautiful performances, and there is a wonderful supporting cast, including Monty Woolley as a kindly if doubting professor and James Gleason as a loveable cab driver. The screenplay is subtle, as is the musical score. The scene near the end of the film in which Grant, Young, and Gleason take time out for some ice skating is a delightful respite, very much like a number in a movie musical. THE BISHOP'S WIFE is a relatively recent addition to my video library, but it has quickly become my favorite classic Christmas movie -- next to MIRACLE ON 34th STREET and Alastair Sim's A CHRISTMAS CAROL, that is. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great film on Soviet Georgia
Several of these reviews seem to be for some teen comedy -- "A Chef in Love" is definitely not a teen comedy! Instead, it is a tragi-comedy about a French chef who falls in love in and with Georgia (the country, not the US state) as the Soviets are coming to power. Having lived in Georgia, I was spellbound. Much of the movie was filmed in old Tbilisi, and the scene at the ancient cave city of Uplistika is spectacular. And for those lucky few who have enjoyed Georgian food, the Chef's love affair with the country, its culture and people is more than understandable. This is a great film about a great country.

Exquisite! Delicious!
A delicious movie filled with love, food, and revolution. Captures beautifully the situations so many found themselves in during the Soviet revolution. The acting is SUPERB [there's neither a judge nor a lawyer in sight, so the other review attached to this movie musts have been meant for another film]. The cinematography is exquisite. Pierre Richard plays a fascinating Frenchman--a combination opera singer, chef, and retired gigolo--who falls in love first with a Georgian princess, and then with her country and its cuisine. Tragic and beautiful. My only complaint: you can't buy the soundtrack...Too bad because it is probably the very best thing about the film. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Why isn't this on DVD?
This is one of the greatest movies of all time in my opinion. I am very pleased it has lasted and not been blacklisted like Disney's 'Song Of The South'. The black cast does speak with an overly Southern accent of the time, and that's what makes this so charming. Rex Ingram is delightful as "De Lawd". Don't miss Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as Noah. ("I guess I can get de animals, Lawd. There was a circus in town last week...")

With every junky new movie coming out on DVD, why hasn't this classic come out?

Triumphant!
I first saw this movie as a child, probably aged 5 or six, and I'd never forgotten it. For some reason, I had never been able to catch it on t.v., and as the years went by, it became very sketchy in my mind, but still there. Last night, about 44 years after the first time I viewed it, I had the profound pleasure of seeing it again. It was worth the wait.
The cast is spectacular, the sets charming and beautiful. It tells the story of creation, Adam and Eve, Noah ect, with a child-like simplicity. Often hilarious, sometimes very poignant and moving but always reverent, it illustrates what has given African Americans the strength to survive the tremendous struggles we have faced as a people. A simple, steadfast faith in God, who, for many of us, is as real as the sun, flowers, storms, and just as much a part of our every day lives. It is an awesome movie, and one that I think every one should see, at least once.

A True
I keep watching this film over & over again. It displays some of the very best cinematography in Black & White film making, I have ever seen.The film encompasses; Drama, comedy, visualizations & tremendous conversation of the old time south. The feeling of watching the all African - American cast, in a true southern depiction & context, is compelling to me. This is the time before the media introduced a rediculous control over what we, as Americans, can watch & enjoy as main stream filming.

I would love to see this & other classics of it's time being replayed on todays television a lot more frequently. To me, todays black film makers are to reluctant to create films of life, in much lesser, simpleminded & wholesome environment. I recommend for all ages,to be a " must see " motion picture.

Please the King!
This movie is a throwback to a better time; a time when political correctness didn't get in the way of a good laugh. It consists of bible stories seen through the eyes of poor Southern blacks in the 1930s. You will roar with laughter as adorable pickaninnies ride clouds in Heaven and Noah debates with De Lawd about how many "kegs o' likka" he can take on the Ark. My favorite scene is when Moses and Aaron confront Old King Pharaoh to demand that he "let the Hebrew chillun' go." Moses is portrayed as a simple yet pious half-wit empowered by De Lawd with a magical walking stick and a few extra IQ points (okay, make that a lot of extra IQ points). You will cheer when he gives the Pharaoh his comeuppance by showing him that you can't out-trick De Lawd. Rex Ingram does some fine acting in his triple roles of De Lawd, Adam, and Hezdrel. The scene where Hezdrel tells De Lawd about how mankind found "moicy" is heart-touching. I wholeheartedly recommend this film to anyone interested in cinema the way it used to be, without the liberal bias and distortions of fact we are subjected to today. So if you'd like an old-fashioned good time, just rare back with a ten-cent ceegar and a bottle of sonny-kick-mammy wine and pop this one in the VCR. It's more fun than a fish-fry in Heaven!

Wish I could get it on DVD
Well, Im settling for VHS although I really want it on DVD. This has got to be the best movie of all time...in my opinion of course. I saw this movie some years ago and Ive been looking for it ever since. I was actually on my way to a church revival that night and this movie came on AMC so i watched it as i got dressed. I then found myself debating whether i should go to church late and see the end or go to church on time and see the movie later? This was during black history month so I was sure it would come on again. Well I went to church hoping that Id catch the movie again another time and I never did because..OH WOW! I never caught the name of the movie. Ive spent my day today looking up every old African American movie I could find and I actually found it on someones list. Its a wonderful movie yall, funny as I dont know what although I doubt its meant to be. The vernacular is what sealed it for me. If you want to hear some real serious Ebonics, buy this movie!! For real. Gods name in the movie was Lawd! I wish we could rate higher than 5 stars cuz I'd give this movie a 10! ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Who is most damaged?
"Damaged people are the worst because they know they can survive." Dangerous is a good film that examines the dark side of obsessions. Jeremy Irons portrays a british government official who becomes obsessed with his son's fiance played by Juliette Binoche. The result is a film that only partially succeeds.

I had several problems with the film one being Irons motivation to become involved with this woman in the first place. A look and phone-call and then BAM! OK... but why was he so willing to jump into the dark waters? Power? Lust? Carelessness? Boredom? And herein lies the major weakness of the film. The film deals almost exclusively with the obsesson of Iron's character with Binoche but does not deal with the obsession of the mother (Iron's wife) with her son. Her relationship is clearly destructive and unhealthy but all the damage she inflicts under the guise of her love for her son never finds a voice. No fault falls on the mother when her obsession might well explain both the son's and father's weaknesses. At one part the son is talking about his family life saying that although it was good it lacked passion. His mother then replies that it is probably her fault and he replies that he rather thinks it's his father's. It's a careless and misdirecting remark and a sadly missed plot point.

As you may expect there are many sex scenes. I don't know what I was expecting but many made me laugh. They seemed so ridiculous and absurdly physical. I rather think Binoche must have suffered some bruising as a result of Iron's flailing.

While this film is meant to portray the damage that a traditional obsession (i.e. an affair) can have, it also begs to be seen from the the alternate perspective of a mother's obsession for her son. I am disappointed that Malle didn't have the courage to pursue this theme more vigorously.

Fascinating Study of Obsession
Stellar cast and thoughtful direction make this a completely fascinating film. There are some moments where you must definitely suspend your disbelief, but even so this is a thoroughly engaging character study into sexual compulsions and obsessions.

Nice to have the two different versions available, along with a short director commentary. 'Would have been nice to have a complete commentary track with one or more of the stars.

Why isn't Leslie Caron working all the time?

Uncontrollably Obsessed MP escapes unpunished
The story is seen entirely from Fleming's viewpoint. (If there is any guilt on the fiancee's part, she doesn't show it.) Fleming is a leading Conservative MP, likely to take over a Cabinet post as minister of health in the next re-shuffle. I feel the author, Josephine Hart, decided to give him that job, in order to maximise the fall that confronted him when his errors are discovered. It was as senior an establishment role that the protagonist could have without fearing he would be recognised at every street corner. Politics don't play a large part in the story, but the film will have played some small part in the image of sleaze that the Conservative party acquired in the early 1990s.

Binoche is utterly beautiful, and totally passive during the sex scenes, but her accent (cleverly excused by scriptwriter Hare as the result of her travelling the world) is all over the place. Irons is convincing in the role, and Miranda Richardson puts in another perfect performance. Their son, the victim, is almost too good-natured to be true, but this helps to highlight the contrast with his father's uncontrollable lust.

As with 'Day of the Jackal', the motion is very occasionally jerky -- one or two frames seem to be missing from the transfer from film reel to DVD, but not enough to harm one's enjoyment.

This is not far from being a truly great film, but I think it would have needed one extra dimension -- don't ask me what -- to achieve that.

Pure Animal Lust & Sexual Attraction Abound!
Louis Malle's film with a young fiancee, Juliette Binoche & the father of her soon to be husband-an elder, mid-life crisis bound, government official in Jeremy Irons. The second they gaze upon each other, you just KNOW that there is going to be some trouble ahead. Miranda Richardson as Iron's wife, plays a pivotal role in the movie also. Very erotic & base sex scenes with a twist of an ending that you will never forget. Hence, the title - DAMAGE! Highly recommended and truly great ensemble performances by all...

Damage
Love at a first sight exists, at least in this movie.
A honourable member of English Parliament falls in love with a woman who introduces herself to him unexpectadly during one party. Soon, this woman appears in his life again, this time as his son's fiance but that doesn't mean that he can not start a
very romantic affair with her. So two people who are prisoners of the happiness of the moment change so many lives forever.

I was sick to death to watch a movie where a father of an old child has sex with his fiance but I had to keep watching it only to find out how it will end. Luckily it ended perfectly making it crystal clear that prisoners of passions and killers of harmony always get what they always asked for which is = HELL on EARTH.

I would recommend this movie to people who have to learn something new each day even though it may be very disturbing to watch something like this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Let's be honest: this should be titled Wretched Excess' Frankenstein. Swooping, wild, bloody, and energetic, this is bad moviemaking from the best, which makes it all the more lovable. Kenneth Branagh plays Victor Frankenstein, a man so obsessed with conquering death that he decides to create life. What he gets, after a protoplasmic mud wrestle, is a Mean Streets monster (Robert De Niro) that isn't particularly happy to be back from the dead or thrilled about all the stitches. Helena Bonham Carter may, at several points in this film, actually be channeling Ramtha. The supporting cast couldn't be peopled with better performers (Tom Hulce, John Cleese, Ian Holm) but they all look like they're ringside at some Ultimate Fighting competition. A must for any midnight movie collector for the shock factor alone. A hoot. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (90)

not too scary, more sad
This was a good movie with a good point about the way society doesn't always accept people who are different. But, I was really disappointed. When I read that Robert De Niro was in this movie playing Frankenstein's monster, and that it was a horror movie, I was expecting an entertaining, wild, bloody, eerie, and terrifying horror about a mad monster. But, instead, it was a very sad film. I almost wanted to cry. Just thinking about the scene in which Frankenstein's monster kills a good-hearted woman makes me sad. And, what's so sad is that the monster wasn't truly a monster at heart. He had love inside him, but nobody understood him, so he reacted with violence. The sadness of the film makes it less enjoyable to watch. Overall, it is a good movie though. But, don't watch this film if you are prone to weeping about sad scenes in movies. And, I wouldn't recommend watching this movie if you're looking for a scary movie, because it's not all that scary. If you like science, and you enjoy creating strange experiments, and science fiction, and watching tragedies befall upon good people, I recommend this movie.

A worth-while version
As film adaptions of Frankenstein go, this is more accurate than most. It's good to see the Arctic climax restored, as it is so often omitted. Kenneth Branagh has made a satisfying, staightforward version of the story, thankfully containing little of the wayward characterisation and tricksy camera work which combine to sink Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula. The horror element has been toned down a bit, although the section where Frankenstein ressurects Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) is quite disturbing.

Just a word about the creation scene, which is somewhat different to the 'thunder and lightning' scenario we have become used to. The monster floats in a tank full of amniotic fluid, which Frankenstein moves about the laboratory by means of chains and pulleys. The spark of life is provided by power generated from electric eels. Frankenstein, stripped to the waist, slips and slides on the fluid that has now poured onto the floor, and strikes the monster on the back, in the manner of a doctor slapping a new-born baby. It certainly gives a novel slant to a familiar situation.

Branagh directs and also plays the part of Frankenstein with energy and gusto. Robert DeNiro makes a formidable monster, but also manages to elicit our sympathy for his plight, which is just how it should be. The supporting performances from a host of well known British actors are generally good, perhaps the most interesting being John Cleese. He does well in a straight role as Dr. Waldemann, who takes Frankenstein under his wing at medical school. The comic relief is provided by Tom Hulce as Frankenstein's friend, Henry Clerval.

This is a good and entertaining version of Frankenstein, and well worth a look.

Not an authentic adaptation of the book, but still fun.
"Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" is an incredibly melodramatic adaptation of the book that takes huge liberties with the plot, but I still find it thoroughly entertaining. The movie is perfectly cast, and I think that the embellishments that Kenneth Branagh takes with the story only make the film more enjoyable. Even though I doubt that Dr. Frankenstein ran around without a shirt on as much as Branagh does in the film, most women will probably find it quite enjoyable. Robert DeNiro is amaing in his role of "the creature," and Helena Bonham Carter gives a great performance as Elizabeth. If you're the type of person who detests it when filmmakers stray too far from the text of the book they're adapting, then this film probably isn't for you. If you're a bit more open-minded and are just looking for an entertaining movie to watch, this is a perfect film to add to your collection.

Ingolstadt,?
The scene with the crowd was gathered during the lynching,
did'nt the caption say Ingolstadt and is'nt Ingolstadt in
Germany?

I am wondering why De Niro was talking like an englishman
and the crowd sounded like english too?

Maybe I missing something; should'nt the people so german?
I remember like thirty years ago about you should be true
to your heritage.

Excellnt film!
This is bye far, the best remake of Frankenstein ever. This is better than the Frankenstein sequel's to, well MOST of the Frankenstein sequel's at lest. Comes very close to the perfect book written by Mary Shelley. Some people said this was bad because there was to much drama. Will people stop being Nerd's! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

You will really feel the heat with this movie!
This version of the Long Hot Summer is an excellent adaption of the earlier movie with Paul Newman and JoAnne Woodward. Don Johnson is perfectly cast as Ben Quick and James Gammon is appropriately smarmy as his dad. Cybill Shepard, William Russ, Jason Robards, Judith Ivey, and Ava Gardner are also well cast in their roles. You start to sweat right along with the characters as their relationships heat up. Don Johnson just oozes sex appeal in every scene. It is easy to get lost in their portrayals, you will want to order a mint julep and sit on the veranda before the night is over!

Oh yes, it's good!
I happened to catch this movie on TV and fortunately for me, taped it. I loved the scenes between Judith Ivey & Don Johnson - in the store & by the river - best love scene I have EVER seen. The scenes between Jason Robbards & Don Johnson makes you feel like you are listening at the door on the veranda. The music is wonderful, different, haunting and adds so much - the direction and shots and the passion - they're all there. I watch this movie once a summer - when it is very hot out. Wish I could see it on the BIG screen.

Don Johnson Hot and Sexy!
I remember watching this movie on NBC. I was in fifth grade and drooling over this sex symbol. Don Johnson played a drifter Ben Quick, who was mysterious and trouble to some of the residents in the small town. Varner, played by the late Jason Robards, was a man who was respected in his community. He liked Quick. Varner had a daughter Noel, who was aloof and would later find herself in the arms of Ben Quick. Sybil Shepard was Eula Varner, the wife of Jody Varner. She cheated on Jody with another man. When she showed up beaten, Jody was quick to believe Ben did it. When the murder of her lover and a fire occurs, Ben is the first suspect.
Ben, being a drifter, attracted women because of his physique and cool attitude. Don Johnson has sex appeal and a collective attitude that made him good for this role.

Long Hot Summer-Remake
Over the years I have ocassionally seen Long Hot Summer with Don Johnson and have enjoyed it tremendously. He and Ivey did a tremendous job together and I felt the match was perfect. The tension between the two kept the movie very interesting. I liked it so much that I've recently bought both the original version and the remake. When I watched the original with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward I was a little disappointed in it. Although I like both Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward I felt their acting in this movie had a little to be desired. Maybe for that time it was good, but after having already seen the remake first I didn't think the original was as good. Definitely purchase the remake and you will enjoy it thoroughly.

even better
I have seen both verson's and as much as I love paul newman I liked the remake better. Don Johnson makes you feel his torment in a way that Paul Newman did not. Judith Ivey was good as the love interest because she was not beautiful. In the original the the brother and the boy friend were play by actors that I like, but their personalitys were too strong for the roles they were playing. The longer running time let the writer develope the chactors better and let the plot, relationships, and suspence build gradually. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Elvis' best SAFE dramatic role.
When I say "safe", I mean where Elvis does not killed in the end like in "Love Me Tender", and "Flaming Star." This something that's much better and I prefer a whole lot. Elvis has not one but three female costars: Hope Lange, Tuesday Weld, and Millie Perkins. I don't know about you but he gives an equal amount of attention to every one of them except near the end when he focuses more on Hope Lange. I love the songs which are: "Wild In The Country", "I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell", "In My Way", and "Husky Dusky Day". My favorite line is when Elvis as Glenn Tyler says "This routine of yours could stagger a billygoat." That's one of his best lines. All Elvis fans should see this once in their lifetime. It's a must!

Wild In The Country
Wild In The Country would offer Elvis his last serious role in a film by a significant director (Philip Dunne). Elvis portrays Glenn Tyler, a southern boy from a rural, poverty-stricken background, who has just been released from juvenile hall. Central to the character of Glenn is that the brooding young man is at a crossroads in his life, and he must choose the path most suitable for him. His choices are represented by three women. Noreen (Tuesday Weld) is Glenn's cousin who urges him to stay with his own kind. Noreen offers passion and good times, but such a carefree existence allows little thought for the future. Betty Lee (Millie Perkins), who is Glenn's childhood sweetheart selflessly places Glenn's future above her own needs, urging him to leave town and attend college. She is prepared to lose him that he may have an education and a secure future. Hope Lange costars as Irene Sperry, the court-appointed psychiatrist assigned to Glenn's case, who recognizes in him the raw talent of a budding writer. She also encourages Glenn to attend college but causes scandal when she falls in love with him. Glenn ends up following Betty Lee's advice and asking her to wait for him.

With a strong supporting cast including a young Tuesday Weld who was only 17 years old during the film's production. She was one of the hottest and wildest starlets in Hollywood and already had romances with two of of her costars in the film - Elvis and Veteran Actor John Ireland.

Produced for Twentieth Century Fox by Jerry Wald. Released June 22, 1961. Color.

Of Banana Oil and Bathtubs With Dry Ice In Them
This movie starts with Glenn Tyler (Elvis) trying to kill his brother Hank in the barn while their father looks on as casually as if this was an everyday occurrence. His brother throws a pitchfork at him, and Glenn breaks a milkstool over Hank's head, injuring him... There is a hearing after this fit of violence and Glenn is put under the care of his uncle who runs an elixir business. This uncle has a brasen daughter, Noreen, who has a baby, and he is determined to get Noreen and Glenn hitched up. Noreen is perpetually tight from the elixir, the uncle spends his nights at the bowling alleys and poker games, and Glenn divides his time among work, his girlfriend Betty Lee, and visits to Mrs Irene Sperry the psychiatrist. Irene finds out that Glenn has always loved writing but stopped because people laughed at his dreams of being a writer. So she asks him to write down the story of what happened at Hi-Tension Grove a few nights before (Glenn had had an argument/near fight with Cliff Macy, a rich young guy) and he does as she asks. She is amazed a