Reviews (14)

Good Movie! Brock is awsome!
This movie stars a hott kid, Brock Pierce, Hes a really good young actor! It also has Sinbad and Zachary Ty Bryan from Home Improvement. It's basically about the First Kid (The president's son) trying to fit in at his new public school, it's really good!!!

Funny movie with excellent Sinbad
First Kid is a very funny movie that benefits greatly from Sinbad's performance. Secret Service agent Sam Simms is trying to get bumped up to the president but instead is assigned to Luke, the president's son. At first, Luke is your typical stuck-up annoying kid, but soon Simms and Luke begin to bond and have a legitimate friendship. Along the way there are certain problems but in the end all things turn out well. There are some very funny bits here with Sinbad including his running collection of colorful ties, teaching Luke how to dance, and many more. This is a good movie with a great part for Sinbad.

Sinbad plays Agent Sam Simms, the secret service agent assigned to the first kid. He is great throughout and easily the best part of the movie. Brock Pierce is also good as Luke Davenport, the First Kid who struggles to lead a normal life in the spotlight. The movie also stars Blake Boyd, Timothy Busfield, Robert Gillaume, Art LaFleur, and Zachary Ty Bryan. The DVD offers no extras, but the movie is worth a watch even with the lousy DVD. For a funny movie with a great performance by Sinbad, check out First Kid!

I love this film.
This film rules i would have hated to been luke stuck in his house and not allowed to go out with his friends.I really laughed at the bit where luke is asking the girl to the dance and his carers are in the bush telling him what to say and he copies everythink they say on some bits where he shouldnt.
I looked everywhere for this films so i bought it here and it rules!
love and kisses XXXEmilyXXX

Classic
I felt sorry for that poor man in the wheel chair, when he did all that for something he wasn't involved in...

Sinbads best movie
I think this is Sindbad's best movie because I wasnt really into Housegeast with him and Phil Hartman. this is about the first kid(Brock Pierce) and his bodyguard(Timohty Busfield) gets fired and the replacement is Sinbad(damn hilarious) and Sinbad teaches him the ways of being a man, he teaches him how to dance and have fun and talk to girls, who Pierce is in love with this girl but a bully pints over her played by Zachery Ty Bryan(Home Improvment's Brad). a fun and charming movie with a cute cast and Sinbad's best, and where the hell is Sinbad anyway, we dont see him often now, what the frizz happened to him? is he living on a deserted island or something? ... Read more

Amazon.com

The BBC's lavish, glowingly designed adaptation of MervynPeake's eccentrically brilliant novels Titus Groan andGormenghast is a triumph of casting. Ian Richardson's Lear-likedepiction of the mad earl of a remote, vast, ritual-obsessed buildingis matched by the brutal pragmatism of Celia Imrie as his wife, thesynchronized madness of Zoë Wanamaker and Lynsey Baxter as his twinsisters, and the duplicitous charm of Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Steerpike,the kitchen-boy determined to take over no matter how many deaths itcosts. John Sessions is surprisingly touching as Prunesquallor, thefamily doctor who realizes almost too late what Steerpike intends.

It is always tricky to film a book dear to the hearts of its admirers.Wilson and his design team achieve a look rather more pre-Raphaelitethan Peake's own illustrations--shabby velvets, garish sunlight, anddank, stone passages. The score by Richard Rodney Bennett is full ofattractive surprises--fanfares and waltzes and apotheoses--and JohnTavener's choral additions are plausibly parts of the immemorial ritualof Gormenghast. --Roz Kaveney ... Read more

Reviews (79)

An Austalian Peake Fan
When watching this I found myself constantly referring back to the novels to compare the characterisations with Peake's drawings. They were astonishingly close, especially Fuchsia and Flay, and the performances brought them to life brilliantly.

Such a grand story cannot ever be done justice in a TV version, but the BBC surpassed my expectations. Jonathon Rhys Meyers was eminently hatable, and Christopher Lee dominated his scenes. Old hands such as Warren Mitchell, Stephen Fry, Ian McKellen and Zoe Wannamaker brought their characters to life very much as I expected.

The production design was breathtaking, and I particularly appreciated the way the producers played with time and place to leave you unsure in the end exactly when Gormenghast was set.

Some reviewers appear to have objected to the film as presented in this version. I recommend buying the full anamorphic widescreen version available direct from the BBC. This DVD won an award for best use of DVD technology, and is fabulous. Great sound, proper structure of the story, and interesting special features. The BBC version is worth 5 stars.

A Great Adaptation
Whenever someone decides to make a movie adaptation of a book, fans of the book cringe. The tendency of directors to "adapt" the story line for the on screen version can often leave a bad taste in people's mouths. Luckily, Andy Wilson did a fantastic job staying true to the text. With no real story line changes and only a handful of noticeable omissions for the sake of time--remember it often takes Peake 50 pages to describe a 2 minute sequence--I think Peake would have been pleased.

The cast did an excellent job and I was thrilled by the performance of the actors. Steerpike, the Countess and Prunesqualler all shine in their depiction of the characters. The immensity of Gormenghast is wonderfully portrayed through the use of special effects.

Read the books first, and this movie will compliment them well.

Extremely well-done
This is an extremely well-done and COHERENT adaptation of the novels, which are not easy reading by any stretch of the imagination. Rhys-Meyers is probably too pretty to be Steerpike, but we shouldn't hold that against him; he did an excellent job. However, Celia Imrie was my favorite. At first I thought she was a man in drag, but she certainly sounded like a woman. Then I realized she was a woman in heavy makeup. (You can see her in CALENDAR GIRLS and realize that she's actually pretty attractive.) Great production values, music, et. al. Here,I think, is the ultimate compliment. When I saw this it was about 20 years since I had read the book, and the miniseries brought it all back to me.

Not Bad
I haven't read the books either, but decided to watch the series since it was highly recommended by a friend. I immediately found the cartoony look and silliness of the first episode offputting, but the series improved with each episode. In spite of the murders, the villain Steerpike still appears to be most fit to be ruler. After all, other great monarchs have killed to rise to power and maintain it. He's also the craftiest and most intelligent of the characters, almost all of whom are mad or incompetent. Evil is too strong a description for him -- I didn't see it as the worst thing that he would want to get rid of an incapable monarchy run by a doddering old man who didn't care for the poor. And his situation is sympathetic, since he doesn't get respect even when he ascends to high-ranking positions. Jonathan Rhys Meyers does a perfect job of playing him. The only one who comes close is the countess, who could have been a good ruler if she cared a little more about the city and less about her pets. In all, I think the series could have been excellent if it were a bit more serious.

Needs a decent DVD treatment
I'd give the BBC production 5 stars, but the DVD release only gets 1 star because they chopped a widescreen production down to pan and scan. They were probably trying to make Walmart happy, but it's a shoddy way to treat a piece of art. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Reliving the horrors of the Bus Tour
If you've ever gone on a whirlwind bus tour, you'll find a lot to identify with in this hysterically funny send-up of the tourist business. We see all the things that can and do happen, especially the funny (peculiar?) people on the bus with you. Suzanne Pleshette is the cute American tourist on the bus who falls for the dashing tour guide, played by Ian McShane. He has a girl in every port and happily adds the naive Suzanne to his list.

The tour group is made up of some great character actors (especially Norman Fell and Reva Rose) who take too many pictures, talk too much, steal everything from the hotels, and generally make Americans look sily. The scenery is great as the bus speeds from England to Italy in just a few days. The film is quick-paced, with lots of sight gags and a little romance, too. A great popcorn movie.

An hidden gem. Very funny and clever film
This is a very funny movie about a diverse group of American Tourists who are going to see 9 countries in 18 days. Suzanne Pleshette is lovely as a Yank business woman and Ian McShane is very nice as the 'seen it all' British tour guide. There is a WWII vet on the Bus, and in a very funny scene at Bastonge, Belgium, he is describing how they held off the German attack (during the Battle of the Bulge) then, they cut to, a German vet, talking and gesturing as if holding a machine gun, how they held off the American attack, they pass each other by without noticing one another, it's very clever.Also, there is one quiet Tourist, who takes a bunch of souvenirs from wherever he is. He gets the morning wake up call, says meekly, "thank you." Then, cuts the phone line and takes the hotel telephone as a souvenir.This film really is an overlooked gem. There are no sexual scenes ..., unless you find Miss Pleshette wearing only a mans shirt to be risque.

Somewhat amusing
One of the other reviewers called this a good "popcorn movie," and I agree. It is an amusing bit of fluff with some romance thrown in. At a breathless pace we are introduced to a diverse bunch of ordinary American shmoes who are about to take a whirlwind bus trip across Europe. Their charming British tourguide is mostly interested in the young women he has waiting to meet him for one-night stands at various ports of call, until he suddenly falls more deeply for one of the tour members, a young Suzanne Pleshette. At first she rebuffs him but eventually the loneliness and atmosphere (and some booze) make her fall for him. These two characters are never given very much depth, actually, but I guess that's kind of the point - a whirlwind, summery romance (which reminds me of a better movie called "Summer" about Katherine Hepburn wandering around Venice). The other characters thrash about having ridiculous adventures, including an almost accidental Italian wedding and a visit to a Swiss hippie pad where Donovan strums guitar. I didn't find much of it very funny, except for one guy who happens to be a cleptomaniac. So, while the idea is a good one - the misadventures of ugly Americans abroad - the film seems a bit dated now in much of its dialogue, the comedy is faint, and the romance isn't especially touching. This is not to say that this is a bad film; as I say, it's worth seeing once with a bowl of popcorn handy.

Deju Review
I came upon the middle of this movie the other night right after writing of my experiances, while stationed in England in the late 60's. It was if I was transported back to more enjoyable times.

The viginettes of each couple and their adventures while traveling from place to place are light hearted and laughable. I enjoyed the tet a tet between the two main characters, but expected a different ending.

The movie moved along with a deliberate pace, and I anxiously awaited each new adventure before it came along.

If looking for a light hearted, funny movie, with laughs galore, then you will enjoy this one!

If It's Tuesday...This Must be a Great Film
A forgotten comic gem that's very understated and low key. A satire on European vacation packaged tours, IF IT'S TUESDAY, THIS MUST BE BELGIUM is almost a precursor to tv shows like the LOVE BOAT as groups and/or individuals meet and then go off on their separate (mis)adventures. As stated, the comedy is very low key and understated, and the characters and individual adventures are very funny with Susan Pleshette and Ian McShane in lead roles as tourist and tour guide respectively on a european bus tour. The most memorable sequence is, of course, when a WWII vet Mike Harmon (Micheal Constantine -MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING) is reminiscing at a battlefield site memorial with one of the women passengers, of the battle confrontation. At the same time, a German tourist with his wife is reminiscing the same confrontation. The two pass each other simultaneously making machine gun fire noises. However, one of the funniest sequences is with tourist John Marina (Sandy Baron - Mr.Klompus on SEINFELD). While in Venice, he visits distant relatives and winds up on a receiving end of a shotgun wedding with a girl he doesn't even know. He escapes out a bathroom window and jumps into the Venice canals for a narrow escape. Other cast members include Norman Fell (THREE'S COMPANY), Murray Hamilton (THE GRADUATE, JAWS), Marty Ingalls,Peggy Cass,and cameos with the likes of John Cassevetes, Robert Vaughan,Joan Collins,and 60's pop star, Donovan. Overall, very entertaining and fun. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The controversial, Reagan-era invasion of Grenada by U.S. troops is, oddly enough, at the center of this initially interesting story of a seasoned Marine sergeant (Clint Eastwood) routinely insulted by younger officers for being a symbol of the war that America "lost" in Vietnam. Looking for both a victory and a little redemption, Eastwood's character trains a squadron of scrappy pups and turns them into fighting grunts, just in time to follow White House orders and take the little island. Marsha Mason plays Eastwood's love interest, and Mario Van Peebles is funny as an undisciplined con artist who joins Clint's men and finally catches the spirit after getting his butt kicked a few times. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Heartbreak Ridge
Easily one of my favorite films of all time. From the intro's black and white scenes of the Korean conflict with Don Gibson's "Sea of a Heartbreak" playing, with a dubbed in banjo, in the background to the fade to color present with a battle scared Clint in the drunk tank telling war stories and backing it up with action to prove his point in front of a captive audience. This is a great action and scene packed film. Meant to be taken as tongue in cheek. I look at it as what it might be like if Clint Eastwood did standup comedy. I probably watch this movie 3 times a year. No it's not high art as other reviewers have stated; but who cares. It's a good story, an honest story with some peripheral basis in fact and a lot of patriotism. The story exploits ideals and emotions that most folks over 50 can probably identify with throughout the movie. My 11-year-old son loves the movie. " This is an AK47 assault rifle, the preferred weapon of your enemy and makes a distinct sound when fired at you." This is entertainment at its best.

Clint Eastwood's Marines
Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the lead role of this film about a "salty," battle-hardened career sergeant who whips a platoon of new Marines into shape. Along the way, he attempts to repair his failed marriage and locks horns with the Marine Battalion's Operations Officer.

Eastwood is Gunnery Sergeant Highway, a Korea and Vietnam veteran who won the Medal of Honor and survived a horrific battle in Korea referred to as "Heartbreak Ridge" in the film. He's a warrior on the battlefield, but his aggressive, hard-drinking and "tell-it-like-it-is" personality has cost him promotion and his marriage. Nearing retirement, he receives orders to return to his elite specialty of Force Reconnaissance. Upon arrival, the battalion's operations officer treats Gunny as a washed-up old prima donna and he finds his new platoon comprised of misfits. On the personal side, Gunny's ex-wife still resides locally earning a living as a cocktail waitress.

Tackling his main problem, he commences to breathing fire into his young Marines, turning them into "heart-breakers and life-takers." During his off-time, he tangles with his ex-wife in an attempt to repair their failed marriage. All during this time, he's one step away from being under-mined and kicked out by his nemesis.

The film culminates with their deployment to intervene the crisis on the Island of Grenada (actual operation in 1983), leading the way into combat for the Marine battalion. It is here where the plot unfolds to reveal if Gunny's old-school training methods have worked, if his wife decides to return, and if he'll survive.

Overall, the movie has Eastwood's brand of humor and it's a likeable feature not to be taken too seriously. There are some technical flaws, such as an absence of other officers in the battalion, but this doesn't spoil the movie too much unless you're a proud member of the Marine Corps. Another item about this movie is the use of profanity; it's colorful and there's plenty of it. By rumor, this story was originally written for an Army Ranger battalion, but apparently the Army denied permission to portray their Rangers in this fashion. Whatever the case, it's enjoyable to watch and does touch upon some actual leadership values.

"I'm mean, nasty, and tired"
I can't tell you why this movie is great, if you break it down into individual pieces, it probably wouldn't hold a candle to a bad made-for-TV movie. However, I've watched it dozens of times (and several more on the extra-clear DVD version) and enjoy it thoroughly each.

Eastwood's lines are memorable, if only for their raunchy hilarity. "I eat canstantino wire and piss napalm". Ooh Rah!

A Tribute to Greatness
Heartbreak Ridge is hardly about the military- it's more about greatness and integrity. Clint is assigned to lead a team of rowdy recruits. By demanding greatness from them, Clint is able to transform the group from a bunch of criminals into a well-oiled military team. In doing this, Clint shows the true nature of great leadership. There is also a fair amount of comedy throughout the film, making it enjoyable on multiple levels.

A Great Ride With Clint....To..."Heartbreak Ridge"....
This review refers to "Heartbreak Ridge"...Warner Home Video..DVD edition...

"Heartbreak Ridge" from 1986 is Eastwood's tough guy image personified. He is Gunnery Sgt. Tom "Gunny" Highway. Gunny has seen it all, and done it all. He's a decorated war hero who has survived battle in both Korea and Vietnam.He's tough and gruff and will soon face mandatory retirement.With no war to fight his last assignment is to whip the members of a raw but feisty recon platoon into shape. He's up against an unwilling group,a "follow orders or else"(not exactly his style)type commanding officer, and an ex-wife who's as feisty as the recruits.Both he and his men(and his ex-wife) are put to the test when war breaks out on the Island of Grenada.It was directed by Eastwood, Marsha Mason co-stars and the cast is nicely rounded out by Mario VanPeebles, Moses Gunn, Bo Svenson and the wonderful Eileen Heckart.

This 1986 film looks great on this DVD. Warner has done a nice job with the clarity and colors. The widescreen format lets us in on all the action and the Dolby Dig 5.1 surrounds wonderfully. Lennie Niehaus' fabulous score completes the package.Don't look for much in the way of special features.There are theatrical trailers, some cast film highlights,and subtitles in English, French, Spanish,Portugese and Japanese.It may be viewed in French as well.

If you're a big Eastwood fan, you may want to purchase this in the Eastwood "Hero" 3-pack instead. It also includes "Absolute Power" and "A Perfect World"...You know you'll buy them all anyway and this way will save you some money...check it out!

Thanx...and enjoy.....Laurie ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

With its high-intensity plot about an attempt to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle, the bestselling novel by Frederick Forsyth was a prime candidate for screen adaptation. Director Fred Zinnemann brought his veteran skills to bear on what has become a timeless classic of screen suspense. Not to be confused with the later remake The Jackal starring Bruce Willis (which shamelessly embraced all the bombast that Zinnemann so wisely avoided), this 1973 thriller opts for lethal elegance and low-key tenacity in the form of the Jackal, the suave assassin played with consummate British coolness by Edward Fox. He's a killer of the highest order, a master of disguise and international elusiveness, and this riveting film follows his path to de Gaulle with an intense, straightforward documentary style. Perhaps one of the last great films from a bygone age of pure, down-to-basics suspense (and a kind of debonair European alternative to the American grittiness of The French Connection), The Day of the Jackal is a cat-and-mouse thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until its brilliantly executed final scene (pardon the pun), by which time Fox has achieved cinematic immortality as one of the screen's most memorable killers. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (72)

Why can't they make movies like this any more?
Rarely does a movie do justice to a book, but Fred Zinneman's production of "The Day of the Jackal" is wonderful adaptation of Frederick Forsyth's novel which, I continue to believe, is one of the greatest thrillers ever written.

It's hard to put a finger on what exactly makes this film great: excellent performances by relatively unknown actors, a wonderful plot, fantastic location shooting or a complete desire to avoid the bells and whistles, special effects laden movies that are all that makes up the "suspense" genre of films these days. Like other reviewers have said, be this the first or the fiftieth time that you watch this film, you will be left on the edge of your seat with its "cat and mouse" plot of the search for a lone assassin hired to murder President De Gaulle. The young Edward Fox is brilliant in the title role and the supporting cast excellent.

If anything, this film proves that you do not need big named stars, explosions around every corner or computer generated effects to make a fantastic film. The only downside to watching this film is that you realise that the movie industry just does not make films like this any more.

Highly, highly recommended.

ONE SHOT IS NEVER ENOUGH !
Fred Zinnemann's THE DAY OF THE JACKAL is not the kind of thriller you are familiar with nowadays. For once, french actors don't look silly and have the terrible task to trace Edward "The Jackal" Fox who gives an award-deserving performance.

DAY OF THE JACKAL made me think of these cold war spy movies of the seventies. Do you remember ? We had the impression they were filmed only in green and blue, the characters didn't speak much leaving to the audience the task to understand the plot by itself. You will feel this kind of atmosphere in this film with the difference that Zinnemann worked with a solid gold screenplay.

The final scene, the day of the jackal, is about 30 minutes long and is already part of Motion picture History.

A few problems with the images ; white spots, images standing still during 1 or 2 seconds. The sound is, in my opinion, the best we can expect from a 1973 movie.

A DVD worthy of multiple viewings.

Excellent adaptation from Forsyth's novel. A winner!
Why not the jackal?
This is the answer given by the hard and cold assasin who signs the agreement to kill De Gaulle.
The story runs through a set of historical issues who are part of the story. A group of officers decides by themselves to revenge the lost honor of France due the fact about the independence of Algiers.
Edward Fox - one of the best actors of his generation - played with sublime perfection the demanding role of the Jackal.
So from the first images of the film you'll be engaged with this chess film. All the movements of this exceptional mind are guided by an amazing sense of hunter behavior. He acts like a western samurai , without blinking , he kills when the circunstances don't let him other choice. The feelings don't exist in this professional.
You are invited to presence an authentical tour de force. And since the moment an important link is arrested , your histamina and cold sweat will invade you.
The efforts of Le Surete for following any possible clue leads to an unforgettable mind game to spark the human chase since the moment the Jackal decides to go ahead with the plan and drive to France from Niza.
The rest of the story runs for you when you acquire this legendary and hair raising punch thriller. And once more you'll admire how the famous film maker Fred Zinemann could win with this story.
The locations and the sense of the drama are extraordinary made. And the words are not enough to describe the countless sequences of hard beating you'll experience.
A perfect film and believe me ; you won't feel the 140 min of the picture.
This is the first and best version!

A First Rate Spy Thriller

Not so much "spy" as "assassin," though, for Edward Fox is cast as an assassin, doing a job that will earn him his retirement. He is to kill President Charles de Gaulle, "le Grand Charles" himself, in Liberation Day, as we eventually find out--but not until much later in the film.

The killer goes through many personalities, disguises, and changes, and manages to kill a few innocents on the way to his final conquest. He is unknown to the gendarme, who are on his trail early, with the help of an informer on the inside, but eventually his appearance becomes known to them--and even then, in spite of an alert commissioner of police in Paris who is every bit his match, Inspector Lebel (Michel Lonsdale)--he almost makes his kill. Had he done so, of course history would have had to be re-written because of a movie, an unlikely event--so we knew that he would fail, but still the plot was so well played that the suspense was never lost.

Written by Frederick Forsyth and directed by Fred Zinneman, perhaps this film was predestined for greatness, but in any case it is one of the great ones.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

If only it had had a happy ending
_Day of the Jackal_ is one of the best film adaptations of a book ever done, the directors managed to keep the vital elements of the plot and the pacing of the book and successfully transfer them from one medium to another. When I read the book after seeing the movie I was amazed at how much they had managed to keep. Edward Fox was perfect as the Jackal, it's a pity that he's ended up starring in so many bad films in his career as he is truly a fantastic actor. There are some wonderful moments of irony such as when the leader of the French terrorists says that no soldier of France will ever raise a weapon against him and then is shown being shot by firing squad the next day. The only thing that would have improved this movie is if the Jackal had succeeded in blowing Charles DeGaulle's head all over the pavement in Paris, I mean really, the guy goes to all of this work and fails in the end, and come on, he's trying to shoot DeGaulle, it's not as if he was attempting to shoot a decent human being or something, heck, even Eisenhower and Churchill wanted to shoot DeGaulle because he was such a useless, vainglorious prick. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Worth adding to your collection!
As a mother of two young children my husband and I often rely on our DVD collection for a night "at" the movies. Hello Again is just a cute film that the whole family can pile up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy.This movie may seem silly to some but hey sometimes a good movie is just that...silly. I love this film and have seen it many times over without growing tired of it. I am anxiously awaiting its release on DVD.

I love Hello Again!
This is one of my all-time favorites! Yeah it's cheesy, but it's so funny... you really can't take it seriously. I can practically recite the dialogue with the movie, I've seen it so many times... it's great! Shelley Long is hilarious in this role.

VERY cute and funny
I thought this movie was VERY funny. Shelley's death scene is quite a laugh. And of course the story premise is very fun. Not a bad film at all. What can I say! It's just very cute and funny. Very good for a Saturday/Sunday afternoon movie.

If I could give it less, I think I would
This has to be just about the worst movie I've ever sat through. I watched it because I couldn't take my eyes off Gabriel Byrne, who has beautiful eyes and a beautiful accent, but otherwise it was just terrible. It wasn't even bad in a funny way; I just felt embarassed.
The story was completely ridiculous. I'm generally willing to suspend disbelief, but the whole back-from-the-dead thing seemed singularly pointless. Implausibilities mounted like cars in a pile-up. The dialogue was so banal it was almost unbelievable. The problems facing our pair of lovers were so manufactured I expcted the seams of the film to tear every moment. You don't fire a good doctor because reporters are crowding the operating room. You ban the reporters from the hospital. And why did they have to tie up all loose ends by hooking up the protagonists sister with that millionaire?
Among the many bad performances, the sister had to be the most annoying of the lot, but Shelley Long was pretty awful too. Even Byrne wasn't great (how could he be, with those god-awful lines to say) but at least he wasn't embarrassing like the rest.

Hello Again
One of the funniest movies ever produced. Good for families as well as adult viewing. Did not get enough notice in the theatre when first released. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Too Beautiful, So Fragile- And A Visual Feast For The Eyes
I'm not going to write too much about this exceptional film- The reviewer before me has already done a superb job. I will say this: I saw Nijinsky upon its first release in 1980, and I was impressed enough to return to the theatre again, to see if my original impressions were accurate. I was both enchanted and more than pleased by the entire production. I've read the definitive 1970 biography Nijinsky by Richard Buckle (in fact I still own it), and this film is as close as you will ever get to seeing a portrait of his time. Not only the man, but his peers, and events that shaped and inspired his turbulent vision are portrayed with great care and thought. The colors of the film are vibrant and rich, and true to the art of Leon Bakst, principal designer to the ballet troupe. I felt like I was transported to this marvellous age, when electricity was still a wonder, great luxury liners rode the waves, and the airplane was discovering the sky while the automobile and railroads crossed the land. It was the age of Empires, yet the world still held unexplored places waiting to be mapped. The Arts really could present The Shock Of The New, while the working classes discovered their strength in strikes and unions and the wealthy lived in opulence. For me, this film worked on every level. A mirror in time, and the breakdown of an artist's mind. A distant era, a beautiful film, a sad ending... Yet we are left knowing that Nijinsky, with all his visions of light and shadow, was never left alone, never forgotten. This broken man was cared for, and still loved. We should all be so fortunate. If I have any regret about this film, it is that it has yet to be released on dvd. I sincerely hope that oversight will one day be corrected.

Well Worth A Viewing
Hard to believe that "Nijinsky" is now a twenty-two-year-old film; its look and performances are so fresh that it could be the latest from Ivory-Merchant.

The film focuses on the period 1912-1913, when Vaslav Nijinsky was both at his height as a choreographer, and at his lowest point personally. He was under the guidance and domination of impresario Sergei Diaghilev in his work and his love life, and he was also being pursued by ballet groupie Romola de Pulzsky, who eventually met and indeed married him.

The film is based on actual events, but viewers should be aware that the script takes minor liberties with historical time frames, character motivations, and events to advance its story. The production is mounted most handsomely, with the London Festival Ballet helping to recreate Nijinsky's most famous works. The ballet sequences are beautifully filmed, but many suffer from being cut very short. However, "L'Apres-midi d'un Faune" is presented at decent length, and there is an amazing, if too-brief, re-creation of the lost Nijinsky ballet "Jeux", done entirely from old photos and Valentine Gross's drawings of the original production.

The major performances are beautifully detailled; George de la Pena's Nijinsky is as winning and as troubled as we believe the actual man to have been. Alan Bates' Sergei Diaghilev is charming, ruthless, and ultimately defeated. Italian ballerina Carla Fracci plays Nijinsky's dancing partner Tamara Karsavina as tender, elegant, and nobody's fool- which is, according to Fracci enthusiasts, type-casting at its best. The one performance that is somewhat vague and unformed is Leslie Browne's as Romola; it may be that she or director Herbert Ross was trying to suggest that Romola was too immature to manage the torrents of emotion she unleashed between herself, Nijinsky, and Diaghilev. Alan Badel gives his final screen performance as Diaghilev's financial backer Baron de Guinzbourg; his plummy portrayal is one of the film's chief delights.

I've heard this movie described as disappointing by others, but I think the trouble stems from the history it portrays. The love triangle ends badly, with Nijinsky leaving lover Diaghilev to marry Romola, and subsequently descending into madness. This obviously is not satisfactory dramatic structure, but that's the way it happened, folks, and the movie begs, as it must, the unanswerable question of whether Nijinsky's marriage had anything to do with his illness.

For those who want to know what happened after this film's story ends, Romola stood by Nijinsky for the three decades of his schizophrenia, making certain that he had the funds and the care he needed. Shepherding someone through such an illness in Central Europe over the course of two world wars was certainly an act of the most extreme devotion. As Alan Bates' Diaghilev says to Romola at the end of the movie, "I suspect you are the best thing that could have happened to him."

Whether you agree or not, you won't regret the time spent watching this one.

Great dancing in an otherwise overblown soap opera
Considering the star power in this movie (Bates, DeLaPena, Irons, Badel, and directed by Herbert Ross) it misfires at just about every point. The life story of the great dancer Nijinsky has been put into a box of soapflakes and churned with a lot of soft water to produce an awful lot of suds, but nothing much actually comes out clean and bright and we are left with annoying residue. Ross seems to have fixated on the sexual relationship between Diaghilev and Nijinsky so much so that a much more balanced and fair story was abandoned to tittilating sensationalism. The film also gives us the impression that Nijinsky went crazy because of his inability to come to terms with his sexuality as well as his break with Diaghilev which are, psychologically, simply not true at all. Perhaps in today's world Nijinsky could be treated with Lithium or other potent drugs for bipolar abnormalities or schizophrenia, but to suggest that he went crazy because of a broken love affair is just plain silly. Unfortunately, all this whipped cream and soap flakes melodrama leaves the dancing very much in the lurch. What there is of it (the dancing) is wonderful and the film would have been MUCH better had Ross and company focused on that aspect rather than the bedroom nonsense we are for the most part already aware of (and so what?). George DeLaPena is a wonderful dancer and actor, or should I say a "dancing actor" and he is much underused in this movie in which he has the title role. Even Nijinsky's extraordinarily controversial ending of "The Afternoon of a Faun" is, by all historical reports, grossly overdone in this movie. The other ballets are given slight notice, even the brillant "Scherazade" with the beautiful original costumes and sets by Leon Bakst is given short shrift. On the plus side, Alan Bates gives a fine performance as Diaghilev (although he is working with a very poor script), and as I've said, George DeLaPena is wonderful as Nijinsky (again, crippled by a bad script). Perhaps one day someone will make a really good movie of these fascinating people. They deserve it, as all truly great theatrical geniuses do. As an aside, I've long thought that the impressario in the movie "The Red Shoes" (Lermontov, played by the brillant Anton Walbrook) was meant to be Diaghilev. Now, if you want to see a really GOOD movie about ballet and ballet dancers, check that one out ("The Red Shoes"), and Ross's "The Turning Point" is also a winner. Too bad "Nijinsky" is a turkey. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

So slow...
"Cafe Romeo" starts out slow and ends at a dead crawl. The plot is hard to decipher, but yes it does star Gilbert from Wonderwork's "Anne of Green Gables." The actors are capable, the dialogue well-written, but the story progresses at the rate of molasses. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Alexander Ramati's The Assisi Underground
The story of Italian priests hiding Jews in the Chapel of St. Francis and Cloister of St. Clare should have been given better treatment than this poorly done film.

Slashed by almost an hour from its original release, Cross plays a young priest asked by Bishop James Mason to hide some Jews in the monastery and cloister at Assisi. He does, while making friends with thoughtful Nazi Maximilian Schell, as the town commandant. Jews are almost discovered, the war ends, everyone gets a little mention about what happened to them at the end of the film.

The film's pace here is dull. The film is nothing more than Nazi extras asking for identification papers and Cross looking like the cat that ate the canary. I half expected him to wink at the camera everytime a Nazi goose stepped into frame. Cross also often forgets his Italian accent. Mason's idea of an Italian accent is to add an "uh" syllable at the end of every word, such as "We-uh must-uh help-uh the-uh Jews-uh." Most of his speeches are completely devoid of understanding, I thought I was listening to pig latin.

The Jews here are not shown as victims so much as that they have been inconvenienced by World War II. They do not come across as stoic and bold, but spoiled and complaining. In one embarassing scene, Cross, loved by all Jews who meet him, does a magic trick, compliments a painting, and comforts Jews like he is the activities director at an adult day care facility.

Maximilian Schell comes off best as the Nazi officer torn between his obligation to the Third Reich and his upbringing as a Catholic. Not enough of his inner turmoil was explored.

The film also features a horrendous soundtrack that sounds like bits and pieces of other war films just thrown into the sound mix. There are a couple of battle scenes, one with obvious stock footage, but this is not good.

"The Assisi Underground" was made by the guys at the old Cannon Group studio, and that was the first mistake if you are familiar with their product. I cannot recommend this film.

This is rated (PG) for gun violence and mild profanity.

Great Movie About The Italian Resistance During World War 2
This is a great film about the Italian - Catholic resistance movement during the NAZI occuppation of Italy. Like its coutnerpart "The Scarlet and the Black" with Gregory Peck and John Gielguld, this movie features an excellent cast that includes Ben Cross and James Mason. When I first saw this movie on television I knew I had to have the video for my library and to share it with others. The others by the way, loved it, also calling it a great movie.

I thought it noteworthy that the movie points out that the Italian Resistance helped save all but 2 percent of Italy's Jews - just the opposite of what happened in all the other Nazi occupied countries. Since I have heard my people called cowards and turncoats all my life, this was especially welcomed.

The Assissi Underground
Although not filled with hi-tech footages and action packed scenarios, The Assisi Underground is based on a small group of Catholic monasteries and convents in Italy that forms an underground railroad that only rivals Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad of the 19th Century.

Ben Cross plays a young catholic priest who shows us through his eyes the struggle to keep Italian Jews at bay from the clutches of the Nazi regime that has infiltrated Italy. His ease and care of his charges is charming and thoughtfully played. The young priest finds a godsend through a colonel in the German army who is also a humanitarian, and in seeming unknowing ways helps the priest execute his mission.

Slow at times, this film integrates real WWII film and newspaper clippings to keep time with the events of WWII. Ben Cross's performance speaks multitudes of the anxiety and anticipation of the Third Reich's actions during its occupation of Italy.

History enthusiasts should find it intriguing. Although not filled with hi-tech footages and action packed scenarios, The Assissi Underground is based on a small group of Catholic monastaries and convents in Italy that forms an underground railroad that only rivals Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad of the 19th Century.

Ben Cross plays a young catholic priest who shows us through his eyes the struggle to keep Italian Jews at bay from the clutches of the Nazi regime that has infiltrated Italy. His ease and care of his charges is charming and thoughtfully played. The young priest finds a god-send through a colonel in the German army who is also a humanitarian, and in unseemingly ways helps the priest excecute his mission.

Slow at times, this film integrates real WWII film and newspaper clippings to keep time with the events of WWII. Ben Cross's performance speaks multitudes of the anxiety and anticipation of the Third Reicht's actions during its occupation of Italy.

History enthusiasts should find it intriguing. ... Read more

Description

Sheep rancher, determined to move his herds into cattle country, meets opposition from wealthy ranchers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Solid Western from Flynn
The year was 1950 and Warner Bros. was looking to recapture their glory days into the foray of very big Westerns the studio produced during the 40s. MONTANA was one of Errol Flynn's last Hollywood films. He would make his last Western for Warner Bros. that same year ROCKY MOUNTAIN, based on a little known Civil War incident and one of my favorite Flynn films. In MONTANA Flynn is a sheepman who invades cattle country in Montana controlled by cattle ranchers Alexis Smith and Douglas Kennedy. Under Ray Enright's direction and under James R. Webb, Borden Chase and Charles O'Neal's scripting it has a feel of the empire building era that was prevalent in numerous Westerns. Flynn is smooth as usual but the film's greatest asset is the colour Cinematography by Karl Freund (Academy Award Winner for THE GOOD EARTH). Composer David Buttolph (THE HORSE SOLDIERS) provided the score.

Montana with Errol Flynn
Flynn is good as sheepherder in confrontation with cattle ranchers in the old West. Alexis Smith co-stars. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Bitter Truths
This film exemplifies what Christian hypocrites did to decimate the African world-view. My favorite scenes involved storytelling, done in the traditional African manner, by different slaves. Christianity was a great tool of oppression and domination, and this film shows it.

A sobering flick
The demand for sugar brought the demand for labor and the demand for control over the labor. The Last Supper was an excellent movie in the way opening one's eyes to the use of Christianity as a means of control. Throughout the movie the Count, the owner of a Spanish plantation, is trying to use Christianity through the Padre and through guilt to cause the slaves to work better for him. He plays the neutral role as he allows Don Manuel, the overseer, to keep the slaves working and allows the father to teach them about reaching paradise if they follow their masters here on this earth. Eventually the slaves revolt after he lets 12 of them eat at his table in a recreation of the last supper. He realizes that he gave them too much. He does not want another revolt and graphically shows what will happen to those who go against his authority. Those who do not appreciate how much he has done for them. However, one of the twelve who sat at the table runs free, hope is still alive.

"Time before democracy", so to speak.
I know the title of this comment may be questionable. The movie depicts the tension between the powerful, wishing to reach a narcisistic climax (be like Christ), and the abused wishing to reach freedom. The result, bizarre and painful, is presented as a fable for humankind. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

High Life in Paris MGM Style
Following her first sound film, the box office hit Anna Christie, Greta Garbo made six films for MGM in a period of 24 months. But in the words of John Bainbridge in his still readable study of Garbo's career (1955), "None added much to her reputation. Only 'the greatest living actress' could have survived the banality of most." Inspiration, one of the lesser items in the series, deals with the rising and falling fortunes of Yvonne (Greta Garbo), the "inspiration" for a circle of affluent Parisian artists. But when she encounters the young Andre (Robert Montgomery), she recognizes true love and abandons the demimonde. Sadly, however, Andre, a contemptible twit who comes from a respectable bourgeois family, is being groomed for the foreign service and abandons Yvonne when he learns of her past. At the conclusion, just as he is on the verge of marriage, Andre returns to her, but Yvonne, far nobler than he, renounces him and while he sleeps steals off with a former lover who has just come out of prison.

Inspiration was adapted by Gene Markey from the short novel Sappho by Alphonse Daudet--uncredited--written in 1884, which has more than passing similarities to Camille by Dumas fils. But Markey updated the story to the present time, with the unintended effect of making these bohemian antics seem wildly anachronistic--after all, this was the Paris of James Joyce, Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau and the surrealists, not to mention Getrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway, and not the playground of superannuated roues posing as bohemians. But if the film would have seemed ludicrous to anyone familiar with the contemporary European art scene, it is even harder to fathom what audiences here would have made out of it at a moment when most American males were more worried about where their next meal was coming from rather than about where they could latch onto a poule de luxe.

Inspiration is emphatically a pre-Code production, and anyone still suffering from the false impression that MGM was a goody-goody studio in the early 1930s may find the picture an eye-opener. (In an early scene a cab driver brags about one of his lady fares granting him her favors after he takes her to her house.) But the main reason for watching Inspiration today is not to peek at a salacious curiosity but to worship at the shrine of the most unique leading lady in American cinema history. Garbo did not so much transcend a movie like this as she transformed it altogether, and the emotional intensity she brought to a role like this rivaled the fabled skill of any alchemist in changing dreck into gold. At the end, after she has penned her farewell letter to Andre, she silently pauses for a moment before parting, and the gamut of emotions that plays over her face has the electric force of a revelation.

A vehicle for a great star was as much of a genre as the western or the musical, and Metro lavished its resources on Garbo with the same abandon that Yvonne's admirers lavish their bank accounts on her. William Daniels photographed the picture, Cedric Gibbons designed the sets, and Gilbert Adrian contributed the costumes. Sadly, Garbo did not get as much of an assist from her fellow performers, especially the men. Although Lewis Stone is appropriately villainous as the cruel Delval--whose discarded mistress commits suicide by jumpimg out a window and falling at his feet--but the indefatigably stuffy Robert Montgomery takes a rather unsympathetic character and succeeds in making him even more obnoxious.

Although the video is not a digital transfer, MGM/UA has done a reasonable job of manufacturing. Nevertheless, the materials used for the video do not seem to have been very well preserved, and the optical quality is often disappointing--scratches and cinch marks show up throughout the picture, which often has quite a washed-out look in comparison to Mata Hari or Grand Hotel, both from the same period as Inspiration. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eliot Asinof's detailed book Eight Men Out illustrates how the system of American sports collapsed in 1919, the year the Chicago White Sox threw the World Series. Filmmaker John Sayles worked on his script years before the 1988 film (or before he had the rights to make the film) as a labor of love. Sayles's adaptation proves one can make a historically accurate film in the day and age of artistic license. And what a story. Although many know about the "Black Sox," made famous--again--in the 1989 hit film Field of Dreams, the details of the saga are far less known. The center of Dreams, Shoeless Joe Jackson (portrayed correctly by D.B. Sweeney as illiterate and left-handed in Eight), is not the core of this film; it's ace pitcher Eddie Cicotte (Sayles favorite David Strathairn), who took the money, and third baseman Buck Weaver (John Cusack), who did not. The film fits nicely into Sayles's (Lone Star) strong suit: the ensemble drama. We are introduced to bickering owners, famous crooks, high-minded judges, lowlife gangsters, investigative reporters (played by Studs Terkel and Sayles himself), and, most of all, players who are at the breaking point when it comes to low salaries and degrading rewards. While some may feel the film is not as visceral as it should be, there is a great amount of verisimilitude when watching finely tuned athletes telling their bodies to play poorly--heartbreak on the nation's diamond. Beautifully detailed (like Sayles's previous labor-drama, Matewan), Eight Men Out gives us powerful lessons in which everyone lost: players, gamblers, and especially the fans who love the game. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Wonderfully flavored baseball movie
What a fun movie! This film is a depiction of the 1919 Chicago WhiteSox who are alleged to have "fixed" the World Series that year against the Reds.

Here's what I loved about the film. The portrayal of Charlie Comisky, the White Sox owner is outstanding. I found myself quickly siding with the players from the outset and bristling at his obviously unethical and cheap approach. The time period depicted has a great "feel" to it. The baseball scenes are excellent and have a realistic feel as well. John Cusak and DB Sweeney are excellent as Buck Weaver and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.

The portrayal of the newly appointed commisioner Kennisaw Mountain Landis is also excellent. After watching this film you will better understand the current situation with Pete Rose, and where his expulsion from baseball originates. If you are at all a baseball fan you will enjoy the film.

My only criticism is that too much film time is spent of the gangsters and the announcers. That was a little tedious, and limited the further character development of the players, the depiction of the game, the owners, and the era.

I recommend this film though easily to any baseball fan.

Great look into the White Sox world series of 1919
This movie examines the role of the Chicago White Sox in the famous White Sox world series scandal of 1919. I thought it was one of the most appreiciated baseball movies of all time. It deals with the corruption of gambling in sports and the temptations that this particular group of athletes had in throwing the world series. Watching this movie helped me understand why sports betting, for the most part, is the major corporation it is today.

John Cusak is wonderful as Shoeless Joe, one of the White Sox who does not want to go along with the scheme. This movie is very detailed: we get an inside point-of-view from the audience, mob, player and player's wife's perspective. It is a look at the conscience of the White Sox players who must either "sell out" and throw the World Series to make the extra buck and keep the sports sharks off their backs, or keep the integrity of the game intact by giving their all on the field and denying the prospects of more money.

I recommend this movie not only for baseball fans, but all movie junkies. It examines many of the sports issues that we deal with today, such as corruption, integrity of the sport, and gambling.

Sayles' masterpiece
It's difficult not to get your personal feelings called into play when watching an obviously slanted film like EIGHT MEN OUT. John Sayles, like Oliver Stone, is an obvious agit-prop master for the left or at least for labor in its battle against owners. But so are several others movie-makers. However, those others do not get the responses that Sayles has evoked because they don't have half the talent that Sayles possesses. There is no fence-sitting when watching his films, and that's because his visions and messages are clear, uncompromising and passionate. EIGHT MEN OUT is one of his highest achievements in those regards.

In his analysis of the rigging of the World Series of 1919, Sayles targets White Sox owner Comiskey as the true villain. And I believe this is accurate, if not justifiable, at the very least. The Black Sox scandal, as it came to be known, was undoubtedly the lowest point in baseball history, but it could have been avoided. Had Comiskey treated his players as they merited, it is doubtful any of it would have come about. This is not to say that these athletes were angelic: Sayles goes to great lengths to show that several of them would be easily corruptible, such as Chick Gandil (played by the underrated Michael Rooker). Other players seem to want to do the right thing, but are pushed too far by Comiskey--specifically, Eddie Cicotte, as portrayed by Sayles' favorite, David Strathairn. The enigmatic Shoeless Joe Jackson (subtly played by D.B. Sweeney) is just plain too dumb to understand the implications of his involvement. As others have noted, Jackson wound up the series' batting leader.

The real moral compass of EIGHT MEN OUT is Buck Weaver, played by John Cusack in what may have been the performance of his career. Sayles' Weaver is portrayed as the victim of the ultimate betrayal for not participating in the scheme. His teammates don't back him up. The courts do not defend him. The press lumps him together with the guilty. His only crime was not being a snitch. And for that, Weaver has basically been relegated to baseball history's limbo, in spite of an above-par career. Sayles does an admirable job in evoking a justified sympathy for Buck Weaver, and Cusack captures it beautifully.

EIGHT MEN OUT is not a mere baseball movie. Like much of Sayles' work, it's a film about greed, and the desire of American owners to extract as much from labor as possible, without giving anything in return.

P.S. -- Sayles does a great job of portraying writer Ring Lardner. I just wish he didn't sing!

How about a movie called...
How about if the film industry makes a movie called 'The Hammer'? Gee, they made 'Cobb, 'The Babe', 'Eight Men Out', 'Field of Dreams', 'The Pride of the Yankees', 'The Natural', and '61*'. Well, how about making a movie about Henry Aaron, Josh Gibson, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, or even Jackie Robinson? Oh, I forgot, baseball will never allow it...

I WANTED to love it!
I love baseball and I love baseball movies. So I was ready to love this movie, yet it somehow failed to please. Great actors, great period setting, yet we are not let inside the minds of the characters. Aside from John Cusak's Buck Weaver, none of the characters are even that appealing, so we don't really care what happens to them. We know nothing about their background, why they play baseball, or what drives them. In summary, the movie just wasn't that engaging. Since most of us know the rough outline of the story already, there are no surprises. The characters were so 2-dimensional, that I almost expected them to disappear when they turned sideways! Also, the DVD has no special features at all except for a movie trailer which is just a summary of the movie.

If you want a baseball movie with heart, get Field of Dreams. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Move along nothing to see here
... This was an awful attempt to separate people from their money in a horrible masquerade of nostalgia. The problem is, they were all period pieces. Now, taken out of context of the era in which they were produced you have a collection of attempts at humor. Lousy attempts at that. Do yourself a favor, skip this video entirely.

Treasure!
This is quite a find... admittedly I got it for really cheap elsewhere, but the Toby Huss/Sinatra impersonator spots are pure gold. And of course, Donal Logue as Jimmy the Cabby is great fun, too. Worth checking out if you can get a good price...

Worth it just for the Cab Driver...
I always thought the best part of MTV was the little bits between ( back then ) videos - Here is a nice collection of them going all the way back to the early " I Want my MTV " bits with Cyndi Lauper and Billy Idol, Randy and the Redwoods, up thru the Sleazy Cab Driver.
My only complaints are that it isn't long enough - and that makes it cut out some of the more interesting bits of the recurring characters.

I WANNA SEE THIS TAPE
I WANNA SEE THIS TAPE BUT I DONT OWN IT ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Not only the shadow knows!
As a serial afficionado, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this one. Bela Lugosi plays his role as the mysterious Dr Strang well and Robert Warwick adds a touch of professional stage in his role as the famous detective. Bob Kortman is his usual evil self as the escaped convict Slade. Lafe McKee (I love that name) will keep you guessing about his intentions. Some of the acting is, as in many serials atrociously overdramatic, but one must remember that the film was made in 1933 in the early years of the talkies. The endings are standard, but the surprise in the last chapter is who the Shadow turns out to be. It is beyond the last person you would suspect. And the serial contains the most oft-repeated line in serial history: "This is the last time you have interfered with my plans!" Hah! Little does the Shadow know about how resilient our hero is. The fighting is bad, the action sequences are limited, but the serial is enjoyable.

The Real Deal
Thank Heavens! Jason Hyde explained that the pulp version of The Shadow, who originated in his own magazine, did not become invisible as the later radio version did. I saw this serial as an eleven-year-old (in the 50s, when it was often run on TV over several Saturday mornings). Victor Jory was the picture of the Shadow and the voice as well. The voice that made him such a menacing villain made him believable as a hero who could make the hair on a villain's head stand on end. To the great credit of the actors and director, the serial was not campy or done for laughs a la the later Batman TV show. We still needed and valued our heroes back then. In an era when it's tempting to feel that things are out of control, that no one of us can do much to set right all the wrong in the world, it's relaxing and reassuring to return once again to a more idealistic time. We believed then that, no matter how bad things got, no matter how strong the villains we faced, truth and justice (and real effort) would ultimately triumph. Isn't that the perfect thing for a break from real evil?

More serial tomfoolery from James Horne
In this sillyass but amusing serial the Shadow does not have invisibility as he did in the radio series. This is given to the Black Tiger a peevish, prissy old fogey who fancies himself a leader of men. With numbskull underlings this fancy is not difficult to achieve and it is most amusing to hear these swaggering tough guys give out with a lot of sheepish "Yes sirs" to the Black Tiger's demands. As usual Horne gets a lot of comic mileage with the antics of the villains. Still one wonders why the Shadow was not made invisible so he could "cloud men's minds". Perhaps the producer did not want to spend the extra time and money on special effects or perhaps Horne himself felt that with his bad guys there wasn't any minds out there to cloud. 2 1/2 stars.

One of Columbia's better serial efforts
Serial fans know that the chapterplays churned out by Columbia were seldom up to the standard of those made by Republic (compare BATMAN to THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL for proof), lacking the imagination, polish, and furious pace found in the more famous studio's releases. THE SHADOW comes as a bit of surprise, then, after reading some negative comments on it. It must be pointed out that the character of the Shadow existed in several incarnations during his time. The radio version is the most famous, with his powers of invisibility, pretty assistang Margo Lane, and eerie laughter. The pulp hero, by contrast, did not become invisible and was a far more physical, though still eerie and mysterious, entity, with a vast network of operatives at his disposal. In addition to these, there was a lesser known version that ran as a newspaper strip and featured in his own comic for several years. This took its cue mainly from the pulps, but made the Shadow even more earthly and eliminated nearly all of his operatives. The Columbia serial version takes its cue mainly from this incarnation. Toss in radio's Margo Lane, (Harry) Vincent from the pulps and add The Black Tiger, a villain with the radio Shadow's gift for invisiblity and you've got an immensely enjoyable experience. Most of the faults found in Columbia serials are certainly present, like woefully unimaginative chapter endings (how many roofs can fall on the Shadow?), some indifferent pacing, and a reliance on coincidence that's staggering even for a serial. However, this one improves on Columbia's other efforts in two important departments. First, the photography is great, frequently dark, appropriately shadowy, and much more impressive than the ugly, nonexistent photography found in, say, BATMAN. The scene in which the Black Tiger makes himself invisible in order to address his (particularly idiotic) minions is very atmospheric, and you'd better like it, because it's repeated in every chapter. Second, this is an unusually well acted serial. Victor Jory is ideal casting as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow. Jory was a successful stage actor who mainly played supporting roles in feature films and rarely got the opportunity to play the leading man. While starring in a Columbia serial may have been a step down from his stage work, Jory clearly relishes ths spotlight, turning in a whirlwind performance that's never less than perfect. And he looks exactly like the illustrations of Cranston in the comics and pulps, too. He's ably supported by a cast of serial/b-movie veterans including Veda Ann Borg as Margo and Roger Moore as Vincent. And never has a serial villain's true identity been more obvious than it is in THE SHADOW. This, along with the sadly unavailable THE SPIDER'S WEB, is one of Columbian's best serials, proving that maybe they should have just stuck to pulp characters. Enjoy.

Nothing special
A far, far cry from the excitment of the radio series. Ordinary in production values and story line, the series is distinguished only by Jory's solid performance and his chillingly accurate laugh. If you want to sample the best of the cliffhangers go to Spy Smasher. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

fABulous!!!
This is the BEST ab workout video I've ever used! I've been an athlete for almost 20 years, and even I saw dramatic results with this product. I used to take an intensive 30 minute abs class and I never had results this great. I can't even begin to tell you what a difference it made after the births of my 3 children too. I love the format, a different workout for 5 days, and I never get bored with it. When you can do every day all the way through, you know you're kicking some butt! This is ABsolutely the answer to your waistline, paunch problems. GREAT!!!!

If you want a cut stomach...
This video is excellent! I'm only 16 years old and i play volleyball, so it is essential that i work out my abs for spiking and serving. Kathy has a 5-day workout plan that helps target every area on your stomach that you know and some you don't. If you have 10 minutes a day, I recommend that you buy this video and within weeks, you will start to see results! I think this would be excellent, not only for teenagers that need to strengthen their stomach area, but adults who just want to lose inches. This just targets the abs and is fairly hard for me to keep up with. I do not recommend this for beginners. Guys don't hesitate to buy this either. There are guys working out on this video also and they look like they are having a time keeping up, so it's not as easy as you might think.

It is a complete Ab Work-out for all skill levels
This ab work-out video will work parts of your stomach that you never knew existed. Because of the types of exercises used, the video can be used by someone of most any skill level. You will definetly see results with regular use. ... Read more

Amazon.com

OK, let's get all the disclaimers out of the way first. Despite its colorful (if crude) animation, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is in no way meant for kids. It is chock full of profanity that might even make Quentin Tarantino blanch and has blasphemous references to God, Satan, Saddam Hussein (who's sleeping with Satan, literally), and Canada. It's rife with scatological humor, suggestive sexual situations, political incorrectness, and gleeful, rampant vulgarity. And it's probably one of the most brilliant satires ever made. The plot: flatulent Canadian gross meisters Terrance and Philip hit the big screen, and the South Park quartet of third graders--Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman--begin repeating their profane one-liners ad infinitum. The parents of South Park, led by Kyle's overbearing mom, form "Mothers Against Canada," blaming their neighbors to the north for their children's corruption and taking Terrance and Philip as war prisoners. It's up to the kids then to rescue their heroes from execution, not mention a brooding Satan, who's planning to take over the world.

To give away any more of the plot would destroy the fun, but this feature-length version of Trey Parker and Matt Stone's Comedy Central hit is a dead-on and hilarious send-up of pop culture. And did we mention it's a musical? From the opening production number "Mountain Town" to the cheerful antiprofanity sing-along "It's Easy, MMMKay" to Satan's faux-Disney ballad "Up There," Parker (who wrote or cowrote all the songs) brilliantly shoots down every earnest musical from Beauty and the Beast to Les Misérables. And in advocating free speech and satirizing well-meaning but misguided parental censorship groups (with a special nod to the MPAA), Bigger, Longer & Uncut hits home against adult paranoia and hypocrisy with a vengeance. And the jokes, while indeed vulgar and gross, are hysterical; we can't repeat them here, especially the lyrics to Terrance and Philip's hit song, but you'll be rolling on the floor. Don't worry, though--to paraphrase Cartman, this movie won't warp your fragile little mind. Unless you have something against the First Amendment. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (500)

Great movie, but no extras
I admit, I was not one of those folks who ran out to see South Park as soon as it hit the theaters. In fact, I didn't even run out to rent South Park when it was released on VHS and DVD. But I finally did rent it in a moment of weakness, and am so glad I did. A few minutes into the film I had to scrape my jaw off the floor, but then I laughed my head off for 90 minutes and promptly watched the film again. After I returned the rental, I bought the DVD, and still watch it whenever I need a laugh.

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is, in a word, brilliant. From the Disney-esque musical numbers (skewered by the biting wit of the lyrics) to the I-can't-believe-they-just-said-that vulgar hilarity of Terrance and Phillip to the "Saddam is from Mars, Satan is from Venus" moments sprinkled throughout, South Park is the best piece of satire written in years, and is guaranteed to keep you in stitches.

The movie is set in, of course, South Park, home of our heroes Cartman, Kenny, Stan, and Kyle. The boys manage to worm their way in to a theater to see Canadian duo Phillip and Terrence's new R-rated movie, which is brimming with jaw-dropping language. It proves "educational" to the boys, and they're swearing with flair and gusto quicker than you can say... well... you'll have to imagine. From there, it's a short leap to horrified teachers, mortified parents, and then Mothers Against Canadians. And it would be criminal to give away any more of the plot.

Yes, the language is positively filthy.... Yes, the film ridicules networks willing to do anything for ratings, Hollywood families of fame, overbearing and misguided parents, and everyone in between.... Yes, there are many moments of plain grossness.... So if you're easily offended, generally uptight, or a member of any morally outraged group, this film is not for you. This film is ABOUT you. Find something else to watch.

But for everyone else: buy this movie. You'll laugh; you'll cry (well, maybe not cry...); it will become a part of you.

Last note: The only reason I rated this DVD 4 stars instead of 5 is the complete lack of extra features. The movie is certainly worthy of a 5 star rating, but the complete lack of extras for the DVD format, especially given this material that's just screaming for extras, is inexcusable. But I highly recommend purchasing the movie, anyway.

Incredibly funny!
Although not a highest-grossing film of the year, this movie was a surprise success when it was released. It has caused people like the writers of the Simpsons to reconsider making an animated feature film of Homer and the rest.

On the surface this is not much more than a long episode on South Park with slightly better effects. But under the hood they developed a lot of technology to create the film, and it has definitly smoothed the process for the show's production.

As for the plot, I'm sure it's been discussed to death, but I will say that the quality of the movie is at it's best! Terrance and Phillip (my favorite characters) play a starrng role, and the show wastes absolutely no time trying to explain to the audience who such-and-such is (except for a small blurb about Ike being Canadian). All of our favorite characters are in it, without it being a showcase. And of course, since it's a feature film, it's much more irreverent than what's on the public airwaves. But again, it's not a giant excuse to offend you. It's all done consistently and it remains hilarious.

Finally, as usual, Trey Parker is given full writing credits since he's usually the one that ends up physically typing the script. But like always the show is a full collaborative process between Parker and Stone. At least, this is what they publicly admit :).

Great cartoon.. yet anti christian
First off, i love south park. I love Terrence and Phillip's inmature fart jokes, cartmans loud mouth, how kenny dies in the movie, and how the usa goes to war with canada. But i hate how they make fun of christianity. It is morally wrong and as funny as the creators re, if they do not ask for forgivness, they will rot in hell. Then they will see how funny it is. If they stopped being anti christian, then more people would like it. That is why i am sticking with the simpsons, even though it has a little anti christianity in it. If south park changed there ways, it would be the best show and movie ever.

Warning-
No, I'm not giving the movie itself 2 stars. The movie's actually one of the funniest things I've ever seen and was the first dvd I ever watched back in 1999. But the dvd itself gets 2 stars. All it had was 3 trailers and that's it. Which is why I posted this review/news-

A special edition of this is being worked on right now.

So hold off on this and wait for the better edition, which is bound to have tons of features like commentary, making-of and maybe a deleted scene or two (I can't imagine what could've been deleted from this). There isn't any release date set for it as of yet, but I'm guessing it'll come out in November or December.

Totally outrageous
I remember when I rented this movie a few years back, and I tried to watch it at about 1 a.m. I had to turn it off....it was TOO funny....too much for my senses that late at night!!! The usual guys are here....Kyle, Cartman, Kenny, etc....with one very big difference.....they curse a LOT and dont bleep it out!!! As usual theres the fast rapid fire humor that South Park is known for.

So if you like it fast and raunchy, get a big bag of popcorn, a nice cold soda, and take a few deep breaths cause you will LAUGH!!! ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Spectacular!
The novel Death On The Nile ranks as my favorite of all of the Christie novels I've read, and so I was hoping that this movie was faithful to the original material. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed.

The performances of the many actors are great. Simon MacCorkindale's portrayal of Simon Doyle is wonderful, and Angela Lansbury as Salome Otterbourne is very entertaining. Maggie Smith and Bette Davis as Miss Bowers and Miss Van Schuyler, respectively, have some wonderful scenes together and have great chemistry. David Niven as Colonel Johnny Race is great and makes for a good Watson to Poirot. Jack Warden as Dr. Bessner and Jon Finch as Jim Ferguson, while don't have a ton of screentime, still portray their characters perfectly, and of course Peter Ustinov as the great Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is great.

The scenery is beautiful. The scene where Simon and Linnet Doyle are climbing the pyramid is simply breathtaking.

The extras on the DVD are pretty good. The 24-minute featurette "The Making of Death On The Nile" is interesting, and the interviews (both in French with subtitles) with Peter Ustinov and Jane Birkin (who plays Louise Bourget), while not extremely interesting, are still a nice addition.

There are a few flaws in the movie. The largest one is the fact that they cut out Tim and Mrs. Allerton. For those of you who have read the book, you'll know that cutting out Tim Allerton changes a few important things. Cornelia Robson is also cut out, as well as James Fanthorp and Signor Richetti (which again changes a few things). While I did like these characters a lot in the book, during the movie, these characters were hardly missed.

The movie runs approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, and despite the PG rating, has some slightly graphic violence in it.

I would highly reccomend buying this DVD, however, I would suggest reading the book first.

Christie goes to Egypt
This big screen treatment of mystery author Agatha Christie's best-seller is dinstinguished by the first appearance of Peter Ustinov as the world famous sleuth, Hercule Periot. Though the film version of "Death on the Nile" doesn't rise to the quality of its immediate predecessor, "Murder on the Orient Express," it is still a worthy trip with a boatful of nouveau rich upper classers who all have a motive to kill a filthy rich heiresss (Lois Childs). When she actually come up with a bullet to her head while sleeping, suspicion falls on her husband's spurned ex-fiancee (Mia Farrow, in a slightly nerve-trying overacting job) and an all-star passenger list headed by Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury and Olivia Hussey. Enter Inspector Periot and David Niven as another sleuth aiding in the investigation. Though the "who did it" isn't a surpise, the "how they did it" is, and that solution makes the film an enjoyable watch. Additionally, there's some stunning scenary of Egypt and along the Nile, and Ustinov's personification of the fabled detective is worthy. He shows up again in subsequent film versions of some of Christie's other novels, and this is one of Ustinov's better efforts.

The MAID did it!! Or did she??
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I watched this 1978 movie of 140 minutes without first reading the 1937 Dame Agatha Christie novel (of the same name) that it was based on. I'm glad I did this! Why? Because it forced me to really watch the movie in order to try and deduce who the murderer was.

As a brief synopsis, the movie begins with "Jacquline ('Jackie') De Bellafort" (Mia Farrow) telling her very wealthy friend "Linnet Ridgeway" (Lois Chiles) about the man "Simon Doyle" (Simon MacCorkindale) she has fallen in love with. Linnet falls for Simon and they eventually marry. Their honeymoon is on a riverboat (technically called a 'paddle steamer') called the "S.S. Karnak" that takes then down the Nile River in Egypt. Aboard the boat, besides the three mentioned above, are "Hercule Poirot" (Sir Peter Ustinov) and his good friend "Colonel Johnny Race" (David Niven). There are other passengers on board who all dislike Linnet.

Linnet is murdered. Eventually two other passengers are also murdered. Poirot has to solve who the killer is. For both Poirot and the viewer, it's obvious that the killer is either male or female or, as Poirot might say, either a "beau" or a "belle." It's also obvious that the killer is no "Simple Simon."

Who are these passengers? Besides the five mentioned above, they are as follows:

(1) Louise Bourget, Linnet's Maid (Jane Birkin)
(2) Socialite Marie Van Schayler (Bette Davis)
(3) Miss Bowers (Maggie Smith), Aid to Marie
(4) Marxist James Ferguson (Jon Finch)
(5) Romance Novelist Salome Otterbourne (Angela Lansbury)
(6) Rosalie Otterbourne (Olivia Hussey), Salome's daughter
(7) Lawyer Andrew Pennington (George Kennedy), Linnet's uncle
(8) Dr. Ludwig Bessner (Jack Warden)
(9) Manager of the Karnak (I.S. Johar)

Of the fourteen actors mentioned above, Ustinov's performance stands out. This was his debut performance as Poirot and I feel he does a stellar job being both serious and comical at the same time. Other performances to look for are Mia Farrow as the ex-fiance and Angela Lansbury as the perpetually drunk novelist.

The cinematography of this movie is visually stunning. We especially get to see the Sphinx, the Pyramids, and the ancient ruins of Egypt. The costume design is elegant. The main background music adds to this movie as well.

Listen for gags that run throughout this movie. For example, Poirot is Belgian but is always confused as being French. One of my favorite pieces of dialogue is where a passenger gets angry at the great sleuth:

Van Schayler: You perfectly foul French upstart!
Poirot: Belgian upstart, please madam.

As Poirot attempts to solve the crime, we are shown what might have happened. Unfortunately, there is some unintended humor as Linnet continually gets shot (in the head) as Poirot goes through each possible scenario. I found this somewhat distracting.

Finally, the DVD (which has the movie in widescreen format) has five extras. I found that the only one that was interesting was about the making of this movie. It lasts about 25 minutes.

In conclusion, this is a fun movie, even if you have read the book. For those who haven't read the novel, I have left clues in the above review as to the possible identity of the killer. If you think you know who it is, then watch this movie to find out if you're right!

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A Mysterious Movie and a Superb Tale!
It begins with a rich woman who gets EVERYTHING SHE WANTS and when her best friend Jackie's new fiance meets her. The rich woman immediatly steals Jackie's hunk and in a matter of weeks they are married and set off for their honeymoon in Egypt. Poor Jackie. Her only love has been stolen for her BY HER BEST FRIEND! But Jackie is determined and follows the new couple to Egypt. After meeting a host of new characters, the couple plus Jackie boards a little Nile tour thing. But suddenly the rich woman is dead (shot). Who could it be?

All Star cast who-done-it in Egypt.
The second lavish all-star Agatha Christie adaptation. This is the first film with Peter Ustinov as the Belgian Detective, Hercule Poirot. If you love a who-done-it mystery, this one will keep you thinking and stimulate your brain to the very end. Please watch it to the very last second. What may be so one minute may be different the next second. This all-star cast is wonderful, especially Angela Lansbury. Olivia Hussey, Peter ustinov and Simon Corkindale had just finished the NBC tv-miniseries movie "Jesus Of Nazareth" (1977). Also in the cast is Bette Davis, David Niven, Mia Farrow, George Kennedy, Maggie Smith (California Suite [1978], Jack Warden, Lois Chiles (Moonraker [1979]), Jon Finch, Jane Birkin, Harry Andrews and I.S. Johar. Warning: This is not for children to watch. very Grusome and graphic violence. There are many Agatha Christie movies from film and television. Here are some worth watching. Those with an "*" include Peter Ustinov as "Detective Poirot". And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians) (1974), Murder On The Orient Express (1974), The Mirror Crack'd (1980), *Evil Under The Sun (1982), *Thirteen At Dinner (1985-tv), *Dead Man's Folly (1986-tv), *Murder In Three Acts (1986-tv), *Appointment With Death (1988).
For a lighter comedy, may I suggest MURDER BY DEATH (1976). ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Definitely worth the wait!
I placed the order for this DVD at the beginning of April. I received it at the end of August. But boy, was it worth the wait!!

I remember seeing this film a while back on television and loving it. Jeremy Irons is one of the world's finest actors, and he sure shows it in this film.

As usual, Criterion- the creme de la creme of DVDs presents an amazing DVD. And with a combination of Irons and Cronenberg, how can you go wrong?

I must warn, that people may find this film disturbing, to say the least- especially women. If you can get past that factor, this is a must-see film

Jeremy Irons plays both Elliot- the playboy- and Beverly- the more work obsessed of the two- identical twin gynecologists, and things start to fall apart when a soap star(played brilliantly by Geneviève Bujold) enters the boys' lives- in particular, Beverly(For Elliot, It's just another fling)

As usual, Criterion spare nothing when it comes to extras. DEAD RINGERS has to have one of the best commentary tracks I have ever heard. I don't think there is ever a moment where no one is not talking!

There's Director-David Cronenberg; Actor-Jeremy Irons; Editor-Ron Sanders; Production Designer-Carol Spier; and Director of Photography-Peter Suschitzky

Other cool features include "Mathematics in Metal" and "Instruments for Operating on Mutant Women"- a gallery of photos and designs that were made for the film; The designs for the opening sequence(I just adore that music!!!!)

A good featurette that is quite lengthy compared to others, and a trailer. And one of my favorite features- how the twinning effects were done.

A brilliant, but at the same time, disturbing film!

OH, DOCTOR! AM I IN TROUBLE?
'House Calls' were never quite like this.

David Cronenberg takes us deep into the ever-festering and drug-distorted world of Identical Twin Insanity - this time based on fact! JEREMY IRONS provides the disturbing double-trouble with appropriate brilliance as Doctors Beverly and Elliot Mantle - the dead-ringer gynecologists. [You know the story - # 1 would start the exam, leave - # 2 would enter, continue the exam - and the patient? Totally oblivious of the switch! Nasty, very nasty ...]

GENEVIEVE BUJOLD as the Caustic Star, provides the catalist. A superb performance as the woman who eventually unhinges the twins.

It's a cool, disturbing movie, especially considering the trust one has to place in physicians, as They say "We practise medicine". "Practise???"

Nasty moment? Those 'specially designed' instruments - for 'the mutated'. It's close to Kafka - leaving metamorphosis to the imagination.

A superlative performance by Mr. Irons - who went on to "Reversal Of Fortune" [Award Winnner], another chill!

More 'punishment'? Try "Requiem for a Dream"

welcome to cronenbergs brutal beautiful world
the criterion collection is a superb presentation of david cronenbergs masterwork; dead ringers.
this film stands with crash, rabid, the brood, and spider as essential cronenberg.
his whole body of work has been impressive and one is hard pressed to come up with a more individualistic auteur in cinema today.
dead ringers contains two of the most incredibly acted performances in recent memory. irons, of course , and bujold.
much has rightly been made of irons' dual performance and he deservedly (and surprisingly)won an oscar nomination for that performance.
but as much as irons performance was celebrated, bujolds was somewhat ignored. her character is smoldering in tormented sexuality and she balances coolness, vulnerability and agressive sexuality in a truly jarring performance. bujold, with barbara hershey,remains one of the most underrated actresses of her generation and she (unlike actresses such as nicole kidman) is an actress we need have no fear of ever going 'merchant ivory'
the visuals in this film are numbing and one walks away with various shades of horrific red seared into your brain (and of course we know red equals both sex and death, an understandably favorite obsession with cronenberg).
the images of gynological instruments transformed into sculpural torture devices is one of the most horrific ever shown on celluloid and this takes that whole sex and death theme to the nth degree.predictably enough, it is one of the most squirm inducing moments of the entire film.
by the time this film is finished you are mentally drained and i remember walking out of the theatre mumbling (probably incoherently) to myslef.
there are not many films that can make me feel like ive just been run over by a freight train.

Jeremy Irons' Best Work
Maybe it's the combined effect of having two Jeremy Irons for the price of one, but I believe -and Irons has been quoted to the same effect- that this is the finest work this fine actor has commited to the screen. Much more deserving of the oscar than his recessive Claus Von Bulow in 'Reversal of Fortune.'
The way he plays the weak twin off the stronger one, whose influence fades when a woman comes between them, is extraordinary. If you don't mind the pervasive grimness of the story in general, than do yourself a favor (God, starting to sound like that pretentious guy from the Actors Studio on Bravo), and get 'Dead Ringers.'

Cronenberg-Irons tour de force.
'Dead Ringers' may indeed be David Cronenberg's best film. Jeremy Irons performance is truly extraordinary. As for not being able to tell the difference between the two brothers, I could sense immediately which brother was which by simple body language and how each brother carried himself. Which is a testiment to the subtlties of Iron's acting, that he could make you believe he was two different people at the same time on screen. This belief was also helped by the amazing motion control camera sequences which allowed Irons to "act with himself" in the same frame. The clean perpendicular lines of the twins' appartment was especially chosen to make it easier to cut the film together.

Viewers should be warned beforehand that 'Dead Ringers' is not a horror movie, it's more of a psychological character study. The twin brothers have an unusual gendered relationship. Elliot as the suave unfeeling male who's "no good with the serious ones" and Beverly, with the girl's name, as the the sensitive, caring female. Soon they come to realize that they are one physical entity, forever separated as two physical beings.

In talking about the film Cronenberg has said that men have proven to be much more squeamish about this film than women as lying on the gynecological chair is an experience that many women have gone through. Yet many men have no idea what it's like. Cronenberg was fascinated by these doctors who knew more abaout their patients than their husbands did.

The only drawback about this whole project is that the marvellous soundtrack is not available anywhere! ... Read more