Reviews (1)

Original Tubby the Tuba Animation
This is a fun video ahead of its time--1946--though it's not up to modern technology. The feature is the best of a few cartoons on the video, a little better than the 2nd one. But for pre-schoolers, it's wonderful for its wide-eyed and creative characters, as well as its music--a wonderful melody that becomes "Tubby's tune.". ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great Story, Great Actors
I was wonderfully surprised with this movie. It ran the gambit of emotions for me: laughing, crying... Frankie Muniz and Mathew Modine were EXCELLENT in their roles. The rest of the cast was great as well. The story was interesting all along and you felt warmth and compassion for the 'deaf man' as he grew in stature.

I've recommended this to anyone who'd listen. Good job!!!!!

VHS Much Better
I was waiting for the DVD format to become available as I loved this movie and was wearing out my tape from rewinding and fast forwarding to my favorite scenes.

The VHS version contains interviews with the actors and behind the scenes making of the movie footage. I guess I expected that if footage was on the video, then it would be in the DVD. Boy was I wrong.

The DVD version was good quality, but contained no extras whatsoever. So if you are like me and hoping to replace your VHS with the DVD, you'll be disappointed. Now I have two copies of this movie depending on if I just want to see a particular scene or the behind the scenes footage. I guess the VCR is sticking around a little while longer.

Not a good representative of the Deaf population
Even though the movie is touching, it doesn't represent the Deaf population. Many of them have told me that it is a good movie and wants me to watch it but they do not understand that it is not anything to do with the culture of the Deaf. If you want to understand the Deaf culture, watch the appropriate videotape such as "Children of a Lesser God" or "Love is Never Silent." I would heartily recommended this movie.

Charming, funny, and touching
What the Deaf Man Heard is a poignantly funny story about a boy abandoned on a bus by his mother (telling you why spoils part of the plot), who tells him not to talk to anyone. When he reaches the end of the bus line, he doesn't talk, so the everyone in the town assumes that he is deaf and dumb. The bus station manager (Tom Skerrit) allows him to live at the bus station and becomes his surrogate father. There are too many funny parts to mention here, but as the events leading up to the boy, now a man (Matthew Modine), revealing that he really can hear and talk are funny and touching. James Earl Jones is fantastic (as always) as the only person in town to figure out the truth, though he keeps the secret for his own purposes. You'll laugh, you'll cry. It's better than Cats. You'll want to see it again and again.

Outstanding!
This is a show to be viewed by all, both young and old, big and small. It accentuates on kindness, hidden secrets, love, loyalty and don't forget, determination. I was impressed with it's quality and with it's humor and sentiment. I have only seen it once, when it was shown on television, but it has stayed with me for years, and will continue to be a desired DVD to add to our library. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Rolling Thunder's ex-Vietnam War POW Major Charles Rane (William Devane) returns to a hero's welcome in San Antonio in the early '70s. He's bestowed with a red Cadillac convertible, $2,500 in silver dollars, and accolades from all sides. Soon, however, he discovers that all is not as it seems; his wife strayed with a close friend during his years of confinement. He also finds that he has his own personal POW groupie, Linda; her fascination with him is met with the same shoulder-shrugging blandness that he shows toward everything else in what's left of his life. One day Rane comes home to find a houseful of assorted Texas white trash demanding his small fortune in silver dollars. Their efforts to beat him into revealing the location of the money are for naught, so they jam his right hand down a garbage disposal instead. When his wife and kid come home, the two gladly give up the money but the robbers cold-bloodedly gun them down anyway. Flash-forward: Rane has himself fitted with a hook prosthesis (which he sharpens on a grinder), cuts down a couple of shotguns, and points the scarlet Caddy land yacht south towards Nuevo Laredo, bent on revenge. With Linda in tow, he tracks the bad guys as far as Acuña and Juárez, where he hooks up with war buddy Johnny (Tommy Lee Jones) for a final showdown. What would otherwise play as a routine revenge story is given a measure of dimension and depth by Devane's performance and Paul Schrader's script. The comparison to Schrader scripts such as the previous year's Taxi Driver are inevitable and obvious. Like Taxi Driver's Travis Bickle, Rane wears opaque state-trooper sunglasses that allow no window into his dead soul. However, Bickle's internal monologues are missing; all the audience can see of Rane's character is what's on the surface, only what Rane wants others to see. He's simply a vengeful automaton, riddled with a cold, poisonous, implacable rage. Strong stuff indeed. --Jerry Renshaw ... Read more

Reviews (5)

DEVANE'S SCREEN PRESENCE
This is a flawed but very interesting movie. What strikes me is that it starred Bill DeVane with Tommie Lee Jones in a supporting role. At the time, DeVane was headed, seemingly, for stardom. He had been brilliant as JFK in "The Missiles of October" and even better as a turncoat spy in "Marathon Man". Yet it was Jones, not DeVane, who went on to screen greatness.

DeVane is a Vietnam flyboy, shot down, captured by the Communists, held and tortured for seven years. He returns to his family, but is estranged from them. They are killed in a robbery. This is where the film veers somewhat, because it is in the realism of his character that DeVane leaves us wanting. The realism is that DeVane has learned, been programmed, to be dehumanized. It was the only way to survive his Vietnam ordeal. As he reacts to "the world," or rather does not react to it, to his family, his wife who plans to leave him, he has no emotion left. It has all been drained from him. He speaks about "when we were alive," which was the prisoner's code for before capture. He is like a zombie. It is good method acting, but the viewer thirsts for more.

The script tries to take us there by showing DeVane with a blonde "groupie" who tags along while he sojourns into Mexico and El Paso looking for his family's killers. Eventually he teams with Jones and they exact their revenge, which is as much their personal release of violent expression against their captor as it is the killing of the robbers who murdered DeVane's family.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
...

"GOT YOUR TIME BOY."
WILLIAM DEVANE HAS MADE A CAREER OUT OF STARRING IN T.V. MOVIES, MOST OF WHICH ARE OF THE HUM DRUM VARIETY. THIS BIG SCREEN FILM STANDS OUT ALONGSIDE MOVIES LIKE 'PAYBACK' AS SHOWING WHAT A FINE ACTOR DEVANE REALLY IS.
THIS WAS LONG BEFORE TOMMY LEE JONES WAS A HOUSEHOLD NAME ALSO AND YET IT DISPALYS THE TALENT THAT HAS MADE HIM A MULTI MILLIONARE.
THE TWO VIETNAM VETS RETURN HOME AFTER BEING HELD IN A P.O.W. CAMP AND ROUTINELY TORTURED. NEITHER MAN SHOWS UP WITH THE HUMANITY THEY PROBABLY LEFT WITH.
DEVANES WIFE WANTS A DIVORCE WHICH SUITS HIM FINE EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT HE GENUINELY WANTS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS SON.
DEVANES FAMILY IS SET UPON BY PETTY CROOKS WHO INVADE THE HOME IN AN EFFORT TO STEAL SILVER DOLLARS AWARDED TO DEVANE UPON HIS RETURN. THEY KILL ALL, OR SO THEY THINK. DEVANES CHARACTER SURVIVES WITH A PROSTETIC HOOK FOR ONE HAND. HE THEN SETS OUT TO AVENGE HIS SONS MURDER. HE IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN AIRHEADED GROUPIE WHO THINKS HE IS COOL.
WE THEN RIDE ALONG FROM SOUTH TEXAS TO VARIOUS MEXICAN BORDER TOWNS IN SEARCH OF THE LOW RENT KILLERS HEADED BY ACTOR JAMES BEST WHO PORTRAYS A GOON FAR REMOVED FROM THE ROSCOE P. COLTRAIN CHARACTER HE MADE FAMOUS IN 'THE DUKES OF HAZZARD.'

DEVANE ALONG WITH ASSISTANCE FROM WAR WRECKED TOMMY LEE JONES CORNERS THE BAD GUYS IN A WHOREHOUSE JUST ACROSS THE BORDER FROM EL PASO.
THE FINALLY IS CLIMACTIC, AND JUSTIFIABLY SO. THE COOLEST SCENE IN THE PICTURE IS WHEN DEVANE CONFRONTS BEST WHO LAYS IN BED WITH A PROSTITUTE. DEVANE WAKES THE MAN, SAYING "GOT YOUR TIME BOY." YOU CAN GUESS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT GIVEN THE FACT THAT DEVANE IS BEARING DOWN ON THE MAN WITH A DOUBLE BARRLED SAWD OFF SHOTGUN.

THIS IS KIND OF A 'DEATH WISH' TEXAS STYLE FILM BUT IT WORKS. THE BAD GUYS ARE SO BRUTALLY DISGUSTING THAT YOU CANT WAIT FOR THEM TO "GET THEIR TIME."

ITS A GOOD EFFORT AND WORTH A LOOK.

Rolling Thunder: Diamond in the Sand
I first saw this video in 1985. The movie caught my attention and held it throughout. Sure, there are other movies that attempt to deal with the plight of the vet, robberies and vengeance, love of family and vendetta. But there is not a movie out there that combines all of these with the same rhythm and intensity as "Rolling Thunder." At a time when movies are relying more on computer generated graphics than on a plot with substance, Rolling Thunder should be being aired on TNT, TBS, Lifetime, TNN and any other cable channel that wants to break away from the monotonous hum-drum of the fare being shown in the name of "entertainment." Devane does more than one good hand and a hook than most of today's action heroes do with both hands and both feet. Rah also for my main man, Tommy Lee Jones, who takes a back seat to Devane, but stands by his buddy to the end as they seek out the baddies that done Devane's family wrong. A must see!

Doesn't get much more powerful. . .
I am a huge movie buff and if you are looking for a raw, powerful, gritty movie experience, definitely check out this movie, which remains one of my all-time top three. I personally like this film better than "Taxi Driver", but if you liked "Taxi Driver" then you will definitely like this film, because it was written by the same guy and the themes are similar. I was blown away not only by the performances (particularly Tommy Lee Jones in a startlingly forceful role), but by the amazing amount of action. There is definitely more violence and action than there is in "Driver" and that's why I like it. Some people criticize the violence, but with the powerful storyline, disturbing violence is almost necessary. Definitely see this film. Along with "Driver" this film will awaken you to the horrors of the Vietnam War.

If you are a fan of "Taxi Driver", you will love this one
Basic storyline is this. Major Charles Rane returns home, Texas, from seven years of torture in POW during Vietnam War. As a big welcome gift, he receives a Cadillac and a couple of thousands dollars from city. Charles soon finds out his wife fell in love with other man and his emotion starts to build up. Then people came after Charles' reward money kill his son and wife and Charles loses his hand. Charlie and his friend from the war, Johnny played by Tommy Lee Jones, get together for a revenge. I found out about this movie from the "King Pulp: The Wild World of Quentin Tarantino". The movie "Rolling Thunder" is written by Paul Schrader, writer from "Taxi Driver". Like "Taxi Driver", this movie is charged with gripping scripts and emotionally rich and powerful characters. Without showing any real battle scenes, the movie builds up very strong Vietnam war drama. Also, the sequence where Major Charles Rane (William Devane) drives to find killers of his son and wife with a girl reminds the stoyline of "Natural Born Killers". Performance by Tommy Lee Jones as a supporting actor is also interesting to look at. This movie is as powerful and brutal as "Taxi Driver". ... Read more

Reviews (210)

A Good Presentation Of A Classic Film
Ben-Hur is a classic. It made AFI's top 100 films list. It's chariot race is one of the great moments in film, inspiring Lucas' near shot for shot remake in The Phantom Menace. Others here and elsewhere have admirably debated the merits of this film as cinema. Rather than concentrate on the film, I'd like to review this DVD presentation.

Pros :
- Excellent widescreen transfer. This disk is both dual layer and double sided. This nearly 4 hour film looks wonderful for its age.
- Excellent 5.1 mix from the original multitrack recording. The mix is relatively frequency limited and doesn't have the rumbling lows and crisp digital highs we've become accustomed to in modern films. This would have felt out of place on an almost 50 year old film.
- Excellent making of documentary. About an hour long, interesting and well produced.

Cons:
- Heston's commentary is not full length. It is probably about 30-45 minutes. It is also not very interesting, consisting largely of "This was a great scene." style remembrances.
- They failed to mark which side of DVD is which! To make matters worse the onscreen menus look identical on both sides of the disk. I did eventually realize that there is a serial number printed on each side of the disk which can be used to differentiate the sides. When "65506.1.A US & Canada 212 MINS. WARNER HOME VIDEO" is face up in your DVD player that means you are about begin watching the first part of the film. Intuitive, no?

All in all a good presentation of a classic film, and a good value.

Ben-Hur EPIC DVD, 11 Oscars including Best Movie 1959 !!!
Only a handful of motion pictures compare or even come close to this EPIC of EPIC's. (Voted as one of the greatest 100 movies of the last 100 years (1998) by the American Film Institute.

Ben-Hur won 11 Oscar's in 1959 including the "Big 3", Picture, Director - William Wyler and Actor - Charleton Heston.

This widescreen digitally restored picture & full sound (stereoized) DVD version is an absolute joy to watch & listen to.

The cast was meticulously casted and proved to be the right combination to provide the drama for "General Lew Wallace's" epic story.

In summary; This story parallels the "The Story of the Christ" Wallaces actual book title of this tale.

The setting is a Roman conquered and imprisoned Judah. There is unrest & possible rebellion in the air. Judah Ben-Hur (Heston) a Jewish Prince and grown childhood friend Roman Centurian Messala (Stephen Boyd) clash with different adult views. Shortly after their falling out a serious accident occurs involving the new Roman Governor & the Hur family. Due to this accident Ben-Hur is arrested & sentenced to be Galley (slave) rower & his family is imprisoned to keep this possible rebellion from occuring. Hur promises he will return and seek Messala with a vengence.

The movie is a long interesting journey (over 3 hours)of Hur and Christ. Their paths crossing at key times in each ones life. The Sea Battle and the most famous & spectacluar 11 minute chariot race highlights this greatest of tales.

The DVD extras add to this package !! In closing a movie must for your library.

Really The End of an Era
One of the last great grand sweeping epics. Truly a cast of thousands. I've never been a big Heston fan but you got give the man his due. He was born to play these larger than life characters. The chariot race is really all its cracked up to be. One of the greatest cinematic moments ever. The chariot race in the silent version is even better, if you can believe that. Just amazing.

AMAZING MOVIE!!!
Definitely a great epic and one of my personal favorites, Ben Hur, brings to the screen such heavyweights as Charlton Heston and Jack Hawkins in a tale set during the times of the Roman Empire. There are no words to describe this multiple (11) Oscar winning movie. The acting, the chariot races (!!!) and the costumes are all wonderful! It is simply amazing how a movie made in 1959 surpasses by far most movies that have been made in later years. Ben Hur is about honor, bravery, and heroes from a time long gone.
Together with Spartacus, The 300 Spartans, Cleopatra, and the Fall of the Roman Empire, Ben Hur makes my list of Top 5 classics of all times.
A great marvel indeed!

The greatest Movie of all times
This Movie no matter how many times i see it moves me. I have the Collectors Box Set. This set will be used to be passed down to my family forever. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

An absolutely brilliant adaptation of The Tempest
If you haven't read William Shakespeare's The Tempest, this film will likely confuse you. That being said, it's probably one of the most elegant and rich films I've seen. The Tempest is my favorite Shakespearean plays, so to see it done in such a clever and non-traditional way was refreshing.

The film is ripe with colors and sounds and movements that make you feel as though you are surrounded by the spirits which are so abundantly portrayed in the film. At first I was a bit confused by the purpose of a multitude of naked people with seemingly little purpose, but once I fell into the rhythm of the film it made perfect sense. The film was able to capture, as a staged version of this play couldn't, what it was like for Prospero to be constantly surrounded by spirits and faeries (i.e. the naked people).

If you are a lover of Shakespeare, or merely well done film, I highly recommend this film. Sir John Gielgud gives an outstanding performance and proves why he was, and remains, one of Britain's top Shakespearean actors.

A unique interpretation of Shakespeare's The Tempest
When I first saw this film, I was projecting it for a college crowd of maybe 300+ on a Friday night. By the end of the film, I would say that maybe 50 people were still remaining. Evidently, as with most of Peter Greenaway's films, this is not an easy film to watch. It just barely makes any sense, and unless the viewer has read the text of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" prior to seeing this film, he will become thoroughly lost and confused very quickly.

That being said, this is still quite a fascinating film to look at. The cinematography and montage of colorful images that comprise this film give it a magical, other-worldly appearance. There is really only one character in the movie - Prospero, as played by Sir John Gielgud. He is the narrator, the active player around which the movie revolves; everyone else plays essentially non-speaking support roles. The movie appears as though we are watching Prospero's dream of "The Tempest" as he follows us through his dream and narrates the plot. The narration, however, is difficult to follow unless the viewer knows the play (as previously stated).

Admirers of Greenaway's films will probably enjoy this film for its visual content and iconoclastic, stylish approach. I liked this film, though I feel I must have burnt out half my brain cells concentrating enough on the film to keep up with the plot. Those seeking a more conventional telling of the Bard's plays might do well to watch an Olivier or Branagh production instead.

John Gielgud. Mark Rylance--
For Mature Adults Only!
This film is made in the same cinematic style as "The Pillow Book" (1996), but the story in this film is easier to follow. This film is the adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. Sir John Gielgud (Arthur [1981], Arthur 2: On The Rocks [1988]) is the lead and narrates the entire film on film. The film begins with Gielgud as "Prospero" writing his stories which as he writes and tells comes to life. Each scene looks like a Renaissance painting in motion. Nearly all of the male and female models, dancers and actors are nude.
A film like this most certainly would be considered pornographic or exploiatation. If made in the USA, it would be to the least receive an "NC-17" rating or "unrated".
This is a foreign-made film British and Danish. Nudity in films is quite "common" in foreign films. In this film, "Prospero's Books", every scene is filmed as "art" and simular to a stage production. Wonderful cinematography and set design. There is no nude pornographic sexual acts in this film. What might be considered objectionable is the beginning of this film with the use of a nude boy resembling (in my opinion) the statue of the nude boy urinating. (In the United States of America, we have seen that as a statue and as a novelty item). Of course, the boy is not actually urinating, but it is a tube from under.
The adult nudity is constant through out the film. You will get use to it and be able to enjoy the storytelling.
Some well known faces include Erland Josephson (Fanny and Alexander [1983]) and Mark Rylance (Angels & Insects [1995], Intimacy [2003]). Mark Rylance plays "Ferdinand". Erland Josephson plays "Gonzalo". I wonder if Mark Rylance would be a contender for the "James Bond 007" role by 2008?

Where are thou, DVD?
Roger Ebert, in one of his most sensible comments, said this film stands outside of criticism, and that's certainly true. It's just a delight, everytime I see it and hear the words "Bosun! Bosun!" I crack a big grin and settle in for one of the most unusual films ever made.

So, after all these years, and with thousands and thousands of DVD's issued for obscure and worthless crappy movies, where in the heck is the DVD for this, a landmark film that would obviously benefit from the treatment? There must be something going on behind the scenes that is preventing it.

My Favorite Movie
I first saw this movie several years ago when I was a sophmore in high school. I didn't like it at first; I found the scene where Prospero summons the tempest tedious. And later, when all the nudity began I was mortified (I was watching it with my family and it was just about the first R rated movie I'd ever seen). But then you forget about the nudity because everyone's nude, even those who wear clothes only do so for ornamentation. It all seems natural.
As the movie continued I slowly fell in love with it. The intoxicating music, the imagery. "How lush and lusty the grass looks." and it does. I felt transported to the isle and I felt real regret when Prospero threw away his books at the end.
I can't convey how entranced this movie made me and yet with such a simple joyful plot (which isn't at all hard to get I don't understand what the other reviewers are talking about). I've watched it more times than any other movie except maybe the Wizard of Oz and Return to Oz as a kid. And when I'm not watching it I'm listening to the soundtrack. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Sissy Spacek won a much-deserved Oscar for her lead in this entertaining biography of country-music legend Loretta Lynn. British director Michael Apted (Gorillas in the Mist) brings fine texture to the Kentucky backwoods section of the film, where the teenage Loretta meets her future husband (Tommy Lee Jones), who ultimately pushes her into show business. Lynn's adult life is well covered, from her spouse's philandering to her own on-stage crackups; but between the chapter-and-verse recollections, the script by Thomas Rickman is layered with life and moments of great humor. No wooden portrait, this is a vibrant film made outstanding by the colorful performances of the two leads, as well as Beverly D'Angelo and the Band's Levon Helm. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Best Country Bio Picture Ever Made .Loretta is the QUEEN !
I never grow tired of this movie. I have seen it over 100 times since it was released in 1980.I own it on laser disc,VHS and hope to find it on DVD. Sissy Spacek did a outstanding job playing the "Queen Of Country Music," Loretta Lynn. She more than earned the Oscar & golden globe awards show won. The soundtrack album is also a winner ! Everyone cast in this film was perfect. This film received 7 Academy Award nominations includeing BEST PICTURE. Loretta Lynn is still going strong 20 years after this movie was released. I seen her in concert recently and she still rules as the "QUEEN." I look foward to a sequal to this all time favorite film.

Diamonds From Coal.
I LOVE this movie. This heartwarming, true rag-to-riches film about the life of Loretta Lynn took even the most sophisticated audiences by surprise when it was first released. Sissy Spacek is wonderfully accurate in her portrayal of the legendary but still humble and approachable country music star. This film made people who HATED country music take a second look. The story of the backwards, backwoods, painfully shy little girl whose simple, self-penned, biographical songs made her a huge star with almost unequaled # 1 country hits, is just as touching and great as when it was released. Tommy Lee Jones is perfect as "Doo", the man who stood by his woman, and Beverly D'Angelo gives a memorable performance as the legendary Patsy Cline. The fact that Spacek and D'Angelo so effectively do all their own singing, considering the shoes they had to fill, just makes this film all that much of a wonder. Levon Helm, of The Band, is also very good as "Lorettys" daddy. Just an all- around terrific film, with many touching moments from a by-gone time, when a little girl with a record could tap on the radio station window one day, and be a star a week later. Sissy Spacek's Oscar winning performance makes for a total class production about a total class lady. Loretta Lynn became one of this city boys favorites since seeing this film, and she remains so... a true, greatly admired, humanitarian *star*, who could teach most other celebrities a thing or two about "stardom". A perfect film for the whole family, the ultimate "feel good" movie. Thanks Loretty !! (And Sissy, too.) Just GREAT!!

Mostly Sexual Slurs
I can't fault Sissy Specak's outstanding performance or her superb rendition of Lorettta Lynn's songs but this movie has more sexual overtones then a peep show.
To suggest rural women are totally worthless aside from making babies {Lynn's fictional husband says "We finally found something you can do", when she gets pregnant.}and singing insults the audience's intelligence. This is not a "take your kids to movie".
A very minor point but worth a mention is that the movie left out Lynn's half sister Chrystal Gayle but included Patsy Kline.

FINALLY! Loretta on DVD
I remember being 10 years old and seeing this movie in the theater. Every time it came on TV I watched it. When we got a VCR, I retaped it every time it played just to have a fresh copy. I owned the VHS and now FINALLY after all these years, I have it on DVD.

This is one of the best movies ever made. The acting was so real it was amazing. I never thought of the characters as Sissy and Tommy Lee, I always thought of them as Loretta and Doo. It's one of the string of "Biography" movies to come out, like La Bamba, Sweet Dreams and The Buddy Holly Story.

The music. 'nuff said! The performances are just incredible. The old Grand Ole Opry gang was still alive and they were in the picture such as Ernest Tubb, Minnie Pearl, & Roy Acuff. Of course, Loretta... I mean Sissy's performances were stellar. In the DVD bonus interview with Loretta, she said that she taught Sissy how to play and sing her songs. And boy did she do a good job! All the way from the nervous but cute Loretta in the honky tonk singing "There He Goes" to the lovely queen of country music singing "Coal Miner's Daughter", the sound of her voice and the music perfectly imitates Loretta.

Someone said that they wanted a 5.1 soundtrack to the movie. Well... the movie was recorded in stereo. The country songs in the movie for the most part were in glorious 1950s one-speaker mono to give that authentic 1950s country sound. It plays mostly through the center channel and that's good enough.

The bonus materials also show Loretta's Coal Miner's Daughter museum. It houses alot of pieces from her past as well as alot of stuff from the movie. It will be interesting to go actually see this and be able to see it in person.

If you love CMD, get this DVD! If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for? DO IT!

Enjoyable whether you like country music or not
Whether or not you have an appreciation for Country Music or Loretta Lynn herself, you'll surely be entertained by this rags-to-riches biopic in the same vein as, 'La Bamba,' and, 'Sweet Dreams.' Great performances are in no short supply here with Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones in what would turn out to be career-making performances for the both of them. As good as Spacek and Jones are the supporting role that 'steals' the film in my book is Beverly D'Angelo's spirited performance as Patsy Cline.

While the video transfer quality of this 2003 released DVD is excellent, what baffles is the lack of a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. Surely a movie dripping from start to finish in vibrant Country music deserves more then the Dolby 2.0 Mono audiomix on the disc. Very puzzling indeed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This moving 1995 adaptation of Alan Paton's celebrated novel stars James Earl Jones as a beloved, rural minister in South Africa who makes his first trip to Johannesburg in search of his son. The latter's destiny has been linked with that of a doomed, young white man, whose racist father (Richard Harris) is approached by Jones's character in the spirit of mutual understanding. Directed by Darrell James Roodt (Sarafina!), the film is most powerful in those scenes featuring Harris and Jones together, though early sequences grounded in the hard life and times of Jones's community are colorful and dramatic. It's impossible not to be touched by the cautious but real connection made between the principal characters and by the moral authenticity of the actors. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A wonderful picture of "life" in the midst of tragedy
This adaptation of Alan Paton's instant classic Cry the Beloved Country is one of the few movies which does the book justice. And while I still prefer the book for its beautiful, poetic depth of character, thought etc, I must say that Richard Harris and James Earl Jones give outstanding performances. This might be enough to commend the movie to some.

The movie gives a powerful picture of some of the issues which existed in South Africa before Apartheid became official policy, but which certainly prefigured much of that horrid system of government. The story of two men caught in tragic circumstances,(James Earl Jones, a black preacher in rural South Africa, whose people/families are being lost to the "mines" and industry of the cities, loses his son, who kills the son of a white landowner/neighbor(Harris) while living in Johannesburg). A study in how each man, seeks to deal with the realities of life in these tragic circumstances, without succumbing to the further tragedy of marxism which would later infect South Africa.

A wonderful picture of "life" in the midst of tragedy

This is a life-enhancing film.
This is that rare film: one that is better than the novel upon which it is based. Alan Paton's 1948 novel is a great book, but this film surpasses it in terms of emotional impact, thanks largely to a well-crafted screenplay and to the superb acting of Richard Harris and James Earl Jones. Set in South Africa, the film tells the tale of a wealthy white landowner and a poor black priest whose lives are unexpectedly brought together by tragedy. It avoids sentimentality and the cliches about race that are so common in today's politically correct society. This is a deeply moving and honest human drama, and the viewer will find that the story touches his very soul. Mention must also be made of John Barry's brilliant score for the film, which contributes mightily to the drama being played out on the screen.

The greatest novel-to-film translation ever. . .
I am 22. I love action movies, I love well executed sci-fi thrillers . . . so why on earth would I rate this as my favorite film of all time? . . .

. . .Because one gets to a point in one's life when movies or any art for that matter, isn't about how much one is shocked, or how "entertained" one becomes . . . watching movies becomes like a mature appreciation of alcohol: one drinks and appreciates until satisfaction; not to become inebriated.

This film is the single most satisfying piece of visual art (besides the Brothers Karamazov, if that is visual art) I have ever experienced in my life. In metaphor to the prodigal son, the film deals with not only racial reconciliation, but much more importantly the deepest behavioral issues and ethos of agape: intense love for a family member.

This is the single most redemptive film I have ever seen. The performances are riveting and non-cliched, and the cinematography is fascinatingly spectacular. Richard Harris delivers a breathtakingly believable portrayal of a rich white racist (of sorts) whose acting is really put to the test in incredible subtle and emotionally charged interplays between the novels colorful characters.
James Earl Jones' presence is nothing short of phenomenal. His performance is so captivating that tt seems that he might actually have been through a similar occurance in his own life.

Of all the incredible movies that have been made, this is my favorite film. Please, do rent it. There are also some helpful reviews on the movies pace below my review as well.

Fantastic Movie
Not only is this a magnificently written story, the acting in the movie is among the best I have ever seen. James Earl Jones and Richard Harris offer better than Oscar worthy performances. The movie also follows the book very closely, something novel for Hollywood. This movie should become required viewing for high school and/or college students studying South Africa and/or race relations throughout contemporary history.

If you liked the book...
I am in the process of reading the book on which this movie is based. Usually, reading the book leads you to say, "The book is so much better." Not so with this movie. Yes, the book is fantastic. But reading it has increased my appreciation for the movie even more. Particularly the acting by Jones and Harrison. It is impressive how much emotion and meaning they convey without the aid of a narrator or augmented dialogue. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Paul Newman gives one of the defining performances of his career, and cemented his place as a beautiful-rebel screen icon playing the stubbornly tough and independent title character in Cool Hand Luke. And before he became familiar as a sidekick in 1970s disaster movies (Earthquake and the Airport movies), George Kennedy won an Oscar for playing Dragline, the brutal chain-gang boss who tries to beat loner Luke's cool out of him. It's a classic rebel-against-the-repressive-institution story in the line of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest or The Shawshank Redemption. Certain moments have become classics--particularly the hardboiled egg-eating contest, and the immortal line (drooled by Strother Martin, as a sadistic redneck prison officer), "What we have here is a failure to communicate." And don't forget, Luke is also the source of the oft-quoted driving ditty, "I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I have my plastic Jesus, right here on the dashboard of my car..." He is cool, all right. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (68)

My favorite movie of all time.
And I really mean it. They used to show this film often on the Superstation. When I was twelve, I watched it; the next time it came on, I taped it, and watched it probably more than 50 times over the next few years (I didn't know for a long time that the TV version has several scenes cut out for length, so getting it on video was a new revelation). What is it about "Cool Hand Luke" that is so moving? Well, it starts with Paul Newman's performance. Lucas Jackson is one of the most psychologically complex characters in the history of cinema, and Newman, criminally denied the Oscar for this film, makes him seem larger-than-life without saying much. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a revelation. The Christ allusions, which are fittingly done, heighten the sense of injustice that Luke is being slowly crucified by the lawmen, simply because he won't bend to their rules. On the surface, Luke seems self-destructive and ignorant, but in repeated watchings of the film, it becomes apparent that Luke is answering to a call that is bigger than the prison, bigger than the bosses, bigger than the law itself. I could go on and on about the myriad other ways in which this film is perfect, but why bother? I only get 1,000 words. Suffice it to say that this is the movie that makes George Kennedy, of all people, seem noble. YOU MUST SEE THIS FILM. The only flaw: I grew up in Georgia, and I can assure you that it is not filmed where it is set. Looks more like the Central Valley of California to me.

Just About Excellent
I cannot imagine why this film hasn't been more acclaimed. It is without a doubt one of the best of all time. I think the thing that appeals most of all to me is the unbelievable authenticity of all the characters. Except for Newman (because, hey, he's Paul Newman) nobody here appears to be acting. The guards are done just right--tough, good ol' boys who you don't wanna mess with. The prisoners meanwhile are a fairly diverse lot, some educated, some not, some with a whiff of femininity, but all have a refusal to be stripped of their dignity. Luke magnifies that element to the Nth degree.
The second best thing is the dialogue: Like "The Godfather", "Star Trek II", "Resoirovir Dogs", and "Jaws", Cool Hand Luke has several scenes which you'll easily memorize in their entirety.
Other elements: Boss Godfrey, The Man With No Eyes who doesn't say one word during the movie and who is one of the most chilling characters in a movie ever; Luke's mother, the car wash girl, the egg-eating contest, and Luke's excellent final monologue.
Luke's story has been compared to that of Jesus. When you look at it, you see that if Luke is a savior, he's a terribly flawed one, one who can't save himself. He's anti-authority, he's got nerve, and some major cojones, but he's got no aims, no goals, no beliefs. He's a Rebel Without A Clue. If he'd been born about 15-20 years later he could have made a good hippie. But this is still the early '50s and men who fail to conform end up exactly where he does. IMHO, this film accomplishes what One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest tried to do and does it much, much, better.

One final small note: The Lalo Schifrin score is great particularly during the "tarring the road" scene. Anyone who grew up in NYC in the 70s will instantly realize it as the theme to Channel 7 Eyewitness News!

An essential 60s movie - a touchstone for many
This is the perfect '60s movie. It is anti-authoritarian without being strident, a serious drama with whimsy, gritty and violent with a sexy side (who can forget the car wash scene?). Newman plays the "christ" figure and his prisoners as his disciples and believers (after he wins them over). The guards and the warden are the high priests and the Romans. And of course, they kill him in the end.

But we have some great fun along the way. Luke strips the heads off of a street of parking meters and gets a sentence far out of proportion to such a silly crime. To say that Luke chooses not to fit in is an understatement. It isn't that he takes on the system. Rather, his mere presence and indifference to the system causes it to change or to try and eliminate him as if he were some invading virus.

There are some wonderful and indelible scenes such as the egg eating, the fight with Dragline (George Kennedy), the race to the end of the road, the failure to communicate scene and the severe punishment Luke receives. It seems like you can sit around talking about scenes from this movie longer than the movie itself.

Paul Newman made Luke immortal, but George Kennedy as Dragline and Strother Martin as Captain are also essential to this movie's character and permanence.

Today's viewers might fine the pacing of the movie a bit slow and see some seams that those of us who love it might ignore, but so what? It is a classic and enjoyable film that is a touchstone for many who were young when they first saw it in 1967.

This film does NOT fail to communicate
This is the perfect '60s movie. It is anti-authoritarian without being strident, a serious drama with whimsy. It is gritty and violent and at the same time it has a sexy side (who can forget the car wash scene?). Newman plays the "christ" figure and his prisoners as his disciples and believers (after he wins them over). The guards and the warden are the high priests and the Romans. And of course, they kill him in the end.

But we have some great fun along the way. Luke strips the heads off of a street of parking meters and gets a sentence far out of proportion to such a silly crime. To say that Luke chooses not to fit in is an understatement. It isn't that he takes on the system. Rather, his mere presence and indifference to the system causes it to change or to try and eliminate him as if he were some invading virus.

There are some wonderful and indelible scenes such as the egg eating, the fight with Dragline (George Kennedy), the race to the end of the road, the failure to communicate scene and the severe punishment Luke receives. It seems like you can sit around talking about scenes from this movie longer than the movie itself.

Paul Newman made Luke immortal, but George Kennedy as Dragline and Strother Martin as Captain are also essential to this movie's character and permanence.

Today's viewers might fine the pacing of the movie a bit slow and see some seams that those of us who love it might ignore, but so what? It is a classic and enjoyable film that is a touchstone for many who were young when they first saw it in 1967.

Paul NewMan as Cool Hand Luke what a classic
newman (old blue eyes) stars as cool hand luke jackson, a war hero, who gets himself in trouble with the law, and is repeatedly beaten both mentally and physically savagely by the main boss of the prison he is in.

the main boss hates luke for several reasons: everyone likes luke. he is the typical rebel , yet he has a certain aura around that people love. even the people working in the prison like luke. the boss also hates luke, because he keeps escaping out of prison, which makes the prison's security and himself look bad. the movie from beginning to end, is one of the entertaining and powerful movies by newman. throughout the movie, we see luke's exploits including his status as "cool hand" which basically says that he can do anything. there is no better scene that shows this that luke's bet that can he eat 50 eggs in one hour. this scene is terrific and humorous to watch, time and time again. george kennedy plays greg dragline, luke's best friend and prison inmante. dragline's love of luke is evident through the whole movie. whenever, luke is mistreated dragline is there to try to pick up his spirits. whenever, luke is beaten severely for trying to escape the prison, dragline is one of the first friends that is there to pick him up and attend to him. then of course, this oscar worthy film has the memorable tunes and lines that all audiences all familiar with:

"what we got here is a familiar to communicate" is paul newman, legendary and household line that critics and audiences remember. this line has also been used in over a hundred, movies and tv shows including comedies, crime drama movies and much more. the line is a piece of cult phenomena and america which symobolizes a bad situation.

paul newman was nominated for best actor for this film, but didn't win. newman over his career has been nominated over 10 times for this aw ard: "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" , "Malice", "Nobody's Fool", are several of the great movies that NewMan has been nominated for. "Cool Hand Luke" stands as one of the American movies ever made. It represents the abusive and mistreatment that a couple of prisons have. It also represents an intelligent and popular fellow who all through his life had one bad situation after another, yet like Greg points "Ah Luke, always had that great smile." Luke's character in a way is a reflection on individuals like himself, whose life have been filled with pain and aggravation yet people like these never give up. Taken from a novel by Donn Pearce and directed by Stuart Rosenberg this film is a bonified classic. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

I Love this movie!!!
I watch this movie when I need some good "mind candy" entertainment. Having just come back from vacation in Jamaica, it was even more of a joy to watch. Robin Williams is (as always) great fun to watch. Peter O'Toole is classic as the disdainful British expat. Jimmy Cliff is a bonus! Don't expect anything deep, just a bit of parody and fun!

Give it to me on DVD PLEASE!!!
The scene where Eugene Levy and Rick Moranis hit the beach is one of the funiest 5 minutes on film I've ever seen!

This movie HAS TO be rereleased on DVD. Will somebody PLEASE tell the studio that if Power Ranger Movies can be on DVD, why not a cult classic like Club Paradise?!!!

Wish you were on vacation feelgood perfection
There is something about the atmosphere of this movie that really sticks with me over the years. The music and the cinema really does take me on vacation... a vacation from work, the weather, everything. It's zany and non-sensical flick but still maintains that metal drum sand-in-the-shoes goodness.

Certainly, I couldn't call this movie without flaws but it is a perfect fit for those moments when you are harried at work, tired of TV and can't slip out for that vacation just yet. If you watch it in the winter months, I'll bet you'll find yourself wanting to see it again days after.

"Funny stuff" for SCTV, Caddy Shack, Animal House lovers
My title refers to Eugene Levy (if you saw most of SCTV, you know what I'm referring to) but Club Paradise has an interesting, if predictable, plot and enough "situations" to allow the all-star cast to ham it up.

Robin Williams, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, Peter O'Toole, Joe Flaherty, Jimmy Cliff(!), Twiggy plays it straight a la Blues Brothers and is lovely.

Harold Ramis' direction, again, has the perfect touch.

Oh, did I mention the reggae soundtrack is terrific?

An 80's Masterpiece
I've always said that if I'm ever fortunate enough to meet either Rick Moranis or Eugene Levy, I'm going to surprise them by saying their finest comedic hour could very well be Barry Steinberg, Barry Neigh--smoke meats. So classic. Especially when under the influence of Johnny...ya know, Johnny, J's, joints... ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

At his best, director John Woo turns action movies into ballets of blood and bullets grounded in character drama. Face/Off marks Woo's first American film to reach the pitched level of his best Hong Kong work (Hard-Boiled). He takes a patently absurd premise--hero and villain exchange identities by literally swapping faces in science-fiction plastic surgery--and creates a double-barreled revenge film driven by the split psyches of its newly redefined characters. FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) must play the villain to move through the underworld while psychotic terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) becomes a perversely paternal family man while using every tool at his disposal to destroy his nemesis. Travolta vamps Cage's tics and flamboyant excess with the grace of a dancer after his transformation from cop to criminal, while Cage plays the sullen, bottled-up agent excruciatingly trapped behind the face of the man who killed his son. His attempts to live up to the terrorist's reputation become cathartic explosions of violence that both thrill and terrify him. This is merely icing on the cake for action fans, the dramatic backbone for some of the most visceral action thrills ever. Woo fills the screen with one show-stopping set piece after another, bringing a poetic grace to the action freakout with sweeping camerawork and sophisticated editing. This marriage of melodrama and mayhem ups the ante from cops-and-robbers clichés to a conflict of near-mythic levels. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (284)

Face Off DVD
The DVD of FACE OFF is one of the best, and a must-buy on the format. John Woo, uber director of The Killer (1989), Hard Boiled (1992) and Broken Arrow (1996) proves that even after the move to Hollywood, he still knows how to create fantastic action and Face Off is no exception. Building on the good but not great BROKEN ARROW, this one is a fantastic action ride. The film stars Nicholas Cage as Castor Troy, a villain, and John Travolta as agent Sean Archer, the only man who can stop Castor from unleashing a nuclear device.
Woo's trademarks are all present here: slow-mo gunfights, explosive action and those perennial doves. And both Nic Cage and Travolta are brilliant, especially Cage, whose eccentric performance is one of his most unrestrained and outstanding. One of the best (If not THE best) action films ever made. Excellent.
The DVD extras are sparse, with only a trailer. One hopes a future re-release will come soon...

Face/Off
Director John Woo's famous big-budget action-packed flick.This is the film that put John Woo on the map in America.Packed with guns, bullets, bombs, explosions and action scenes that are so original there choreographed like a ballet or a dance routine.

FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta)has been trying to apprehend terrorist, Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) ever since he murdered Sean's son six years ago.Sean apprehend's Castor during a violent shoot-out in an airport and as a result of this puts Castor into a deep comma.Sean then undergoes new surgery involving swapping faces with Troy.He does this to try and find out where Castor has planted a deadly bomb hidden somewhere in L.A.Castor awakes from his comma, with Sean's identidy and takes over his life.Sean(really Castor) disarms the bomb which he planted and becomes an instant hero.Meanwhile Castor (really Sean) is a high-tech prison trying to find information about the bomb from Castor's brother, Pollux (Alessandro Nivola).Since Sean(Castor) has destroyed all evidence about the surgical swap, Castor has to try and break out of prison.Not only does he have to fight for himself but for wife Eve (Joan Allen) and daughter Jamie.

This is a superb film with enough plot to become a series.It does sound far-fethced in places but John Woo makes it believable and real.Great performances all around including the two main stars, Joan Allen and the sexy tough female Gina Gershon.

face off
he best movie in the ear 1997 it is perfect action good and adventure good nice acting for john travolta and nice acting for nicolas cage

One of my all-time favorite action films!
Place this modern action classic up there with DIE HARD, SPEED, and THE NEGOTIATOR as one of my personal favorite action films.

Before watching FACE/OFF completely, I had taken a look at one of director John Woo's Hong Kong action epics, THE KILLER. I must say, I prefer FACE/OFF better. Sure, both films have that same over-the-top operatic style, but at least FACE/OFF isn't as shamelessly sentimental as THE KILLER was. In THE KILLER, Woo's main characters both demolished hundreds of extras in graphically bloody style, and towards the end it got a bit too much even for me. In FACE/OFF, the gore isn't quite as graphic, and while the body count is still pretty high, it never got to the point that I was disgusted.

I'm not a knee-jerk admirer of John Woo as some people are. That slow-motion technique of his can become wince-inducingly excessive, especially now that many lesser action directors have started to rip off his style. In this case, though, one is too engrossed in the plot and in awe of the high-energy action staging to notice.

Of course, most people probably already have an idea of what the plot is about: criminal Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) dies, but he has planted a bomb somewhere in LA, so obsessive detective Sean Archer (John Travolta) literally swaps identities with his arch-nemesis to go undercover at a high-tech prison to find out where that bomb is. Obviously, this situation leads to various complications as Troy wakes up from his coma, takes Archer's face, kills the doctors who performed the operation, and then tries to find Archer. It's the typical body-switch, and I would be remiss to mention that Troy is responsible for the death of Archer's son many years ago, and thus Archer has a vendetta against him that explains his obsessiveness.

It's a potentially laughable premise, but the actors and director make you buy it. Travolta and Cage are both convincing and have a lot of fun playing each others' characters, and the supporting cast is just as believable. The script, by Mike Werb and Michael Colleary, may have its bum dialogue lines here and there, but it's filled with ingenuity, plot-wise, as Troy tries to fit in with Archer's family and Archer tries to function in a prison. And of course the script gives director Woo plenty of leeway to go all-out with action scenes, and Woo does not disappoint, giving us plenty of stylish gunplay and loud explosions for about three action films, and even an audacious soundbite of "Over the Rainbow" as characters blow each other away. Woo sure lets his inventiveness run free here.

So okay, the film may be a little overlong, and that final gun battle at a church is perhaps too reminiscent of a similar battle in THE KILLER, right down to the flying pigeons motif. But all its flaws are forgivable in this case, since the movie is so thrilling matters of logic fall by the wayside. FACE/OFF may not be Woo's best film ever (I haven't seen HARD-BOILED yet), but it's pretty close to it, and in comparison to other modern action films, it stands pretty high there too. It'll ceratinly forever be one of my favorites. Recommended.

Action as Art
While the plot of this movie is relatively interesting, this movie is really about two things:
First, the lead actors get to do the characters they do best as fully as they know how. Cage is his typical, neurotic, repressed, and emotionally conflicted self. Travolta hams it up in the outlandish, larger-than-life way that he often does. Despite what could be seen as overacting by both the leads, the almost absurd disparity between them is one of central things that makes this movie work.

Second, this movie has the most beautiful action sequences of any action movie I have ever seen (excluding epic-type movies, i.e. LOTR, Star Wars, Braveheart, etc.). This is a film that knows it's an action movie and revels in it. The cinematography in the fight scenes simultaneously displays the nature of the characters and the intensity of the battle between them. There are so many moments when you will just delight at the visual art that is every action sequence in this film. Needless to say, this movie has all the gunfights, fistfights, chases, and large explosions that one would expect in a serious action film.
If you like action movies, this is the first one I would recommend. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A wonderful movie... 5 stars for sure
When I first saw this movie late at night a few summers ago on the Disney Channel, I loved it. Since then, it seems to get better everytime I watch it. I have recently gotten a dachshund, and we watch the movie together. My family loves it, and I would recommend it to anyone with a taste for good, quality, family entertainment. 5 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great For The Whole Family
This movie was so funny it was about a big dog that hung around with Daschounds which are small dogs and they were so much smaller then him they would break things and get the big dog in trouble he he wanted to hang around with them so he would low crawl it is such a great movie if you have not seen it oh you are missing out you need to see it its wonderful

One Of Disney's Finest "Little Known" Efforts.
Released in the mid '60s, "The Ugly Dachshund" tells the story of Mark Garrison (portrayed by the very talented and likeable Dean Jones) and his wife, Fran (portrayed by the equally talented and likeable Suzanne Pleshette), and their pet dachshund, Danka.
One day, Mark arrives at the family vet's clinic to pick up Danka and her 3 newborn pups. Before leaving with the pups, the doctor is able to talk Mark into taking home a great dane pup as well. This really makes Mark's day since he has never really cared much for dachshunds, but has instead always longed for a great big "man's" dog. From there on out, it's war in the Garrison household as the great dane, Brutus, grows up and becomes the "scape goat" for a lot of bad behavior brought about by the 3 new dachshunds.
Poor Brutus, it seems as though he will never be completely accepted in a home that only has room for dachshunds.
However, in the end, after numerous misadventures and a few arguments with Mark, Fran is finally won over by the loyal Brutus' endearing warmth and charm.
It's a shame that virtually no one has ever heard of or seen this completely wonderful little "lost" Disney classic. "The Ugly Dachshund" is, in my opinion, and certainly most everyones' who has seen it, not only one of Disney's greatest films, but one of the best movies ever released...period.
If you loved "Lady and the Tramp", "101 Dalmatians" and "Old Yeller", you simply must see ... "The Ugly Dachshund"!!

A charming, entertaining flick!
Any dog-lover should love this movie about a man(Dean Jones) who longs for a manly dog while suffering with his wife's dachsund. When his wife's dog gives birth to a litter of dachsund pups, he slips in a Great Dane puppy to remedy the problem. The pup grows up thinking he too is a Dachsund, uncontrollable and unaware of his tremendous size and strength! This all proves difficult for Dean Jones to deal with when it comes to convincing his wife that Brutus, the Great Dane, is not out of control, and can even win the local dogshow! This is another wonderful Disney offering from the 60's, one of those lesser known Disney films that is worthy of a much larger audience! It's full of great comedy with a truly charming cast and set in a suburban community that one can really relate too!

Fun for the whole Family....including the dog
In a wonderfully charming way the life of the Garrison's is turned upside down by the arrival of three dachshund pups and a fourth 'blind passenger' who quickly outgrows the dachsies and turns out to be a Great Dane. Mrs. Garrison is convinced that there is no place for a Great Dane in a dachsie household and she urges Mr. Garrison to return the dog to the local vet, he reluctantly agrees but changes his mind when 'Brutus' proves to be an excellent watch dog as he chases a nightpatrol police officer up a tree mistaking him for a burglar. The three dachsie pups an their mother Danka create much havoc around the house and yet always manage to flee the scene at the last minute appearing like little angels and blaming the disasters on Brutus. As the yearly dogshow approaches Mrs. Garrison is on pins and needles training her showdog Chloe when Mr. Garrison decides to secretly enter the show with Brutus......

This movie is full of good whole-hearted fun and laughter. An absolute must for every dog lover. ... Read more

Reviews (157)

Fantastic adaption of Clancy's novel
A first-rate thriller that provides the goods again and again. Excellent cast, good direction (the almost always reliable McTiernan--see "Last Action Hero" for the only real blemish on his record), plenty of suspense and thrills. There are a few differences between the novel and the film, but only purists will quibble about that. And yes, Scotsman Connery plays a Lithuanian, but he does it well, and as always, brings a touch of class to the role. I despise Alec Baldwin, but he's perfect as Ryan--the right age and look combined with the proper mix of guile, humility, and cockiness. The film also boasts an excellent supporting cast, with kudos to Sam Neill, Richard Jordan, and Courtney Vance for their performances. Scott Glenn and James Earl Jones are also solid in their roles. The occasional "technobabble" and military talk may confuse those unfamiliar with such terms, but it doesn't detract from the plot or action--in other words, you can still understand and follow the film even if you don't understand the terminology. The DVD features no extras of note, unfortunately, but the transfer quality--while a bit off-color at times--is still far better than VHS, and those of you with home theaters BEWARE--the sound quality (5.1 Surround) is frighteningly good at times (is that torpedo in your living room, or on the screen?!?). A so-so disc, but an incredible, intelligent thriller that's worth buying in any format.

Decent film; terrible DVD
"The Hunt for Red October" is a smart, tightly directed adaptation of Tom Clancy's novel of the same name. It's probably one of the more entertaining submarine movies (if you'll buy into the genre). There are some wonderful performances (especially by Joss Ackland, Courtney B. Vance, and the late Richard Jordan) as well as some inspired casting (most notably Tim "Dr. Frank-N-Furter" Curry as Dr. Petrov). While this film is certainly no "Das Boot," it is highly entertaining for all of its 134 minutes.
However, as an avid collector of DVDs and laser discs, this is perhaps the worst video transfer I have ever seen. In fact, I've seen Chinese bootleg copies of other films that have been superior in terms of video quality. For example: In the opening sequence there is a great deal of dust and dirt on the screen - like you're in a third-rate theater watching the film after it has been showing for about a month and a half. Another example: There is an important interior scene on the USS Dallas that features a wonderfully acted and written interplay between Seaman Jones (Vance) and Seaman Beaumont (Ned Vaughn). However, each shot of Jones is inexplicably awash with so much video noise that it completely distracts from the performances.
Why Paramount would neglect such a film is beyond me. The other huge disapointment on this disc is the complete lack of any extras. This disc is a complete bust. Frankly, I hope that another edition is released out of respect to this worthy film.

The best of the Jack Ryan film series.
Based on Tom Clancy's 1984 novel of the same title, "The Hunt for Red October" is the first Jack Ryan adventure on film. Although I like Harrison Ford better in the role of Jack Ryan than either Alec Baldwin or Ben Affleck, "Red October" is the best of the Ryan films partly because of the script, but largely because of the ensemble cast including Scott Glenn, Sam Neill, Tim Curry, James Earl Jones and, of course, Sean Connery as Captain Marko Ramius, the Lithuanian-born commanding officer on the Soviet nuclear submarine Red October who seeks to defect to the United States. Tension builds as Ramius and the Red October move closer to U.S. waters with the Soviet Navy in pursuit and U.S. forces unsure of Ramius' true intentions. "The Hunt for Red October" is a taut thriller, an excellent movie based on a modern masterpiece of a novel, and I fully recommend it.

One of the best movies you will ever see
Tom Clancy is a master writer. His books are amazing thrillers and the moives haven't been that bad either. This is the best of all the Tom Clancy books that have been made into moives and is one of the best book adaptations ever.

Captian Ramius(Connery) is the best the Soviet fleet has to offer. He's trained most of it and he's now in charge of a new Soviet sub. This sub has a new drive system that runs silent meaning it can't be detected by other subs sonars. After Ramius writes a letter to the Soviet Naval command the search is on. They alert the Americans saying Ramius and his crew has gone mad.

The Hunt for The Red October is on. The U.S. can't play around on this idea because the October could park in any U.S. bay and launch hundreds of Nuclear missiles. Jack Ryan(Baldwin) is a CIA Operative that gets selected to help with this mission. He's met Ramius before and doesn't believe that the man wants to harm the U.S. He believes that Ramius wants to defect along with his officers to the U.S., but he's not sure how Ramius is planning to do it. He now has only a couple of hours to prove the intentions of Ramius and save the ship before the U.S. or Soviet fleets find it and sink her.

All the actors are fantastic in the movie. Alec Baldwin is Jack Ryan is flawless. He played the role to perfection and it's the best movie he's ever made. Sean Connery is the man. Instead of killing Soviets he plays one to perfection in this moive. I love his accent and I though he did a great job of faking it. I loved Sam Neil in the moive. His character Vasily has always been one of my favorites because of his loyalty to Ramius. One of Neils best performances. Tim Curry is good as the weasal Soviet doctor. He plays a weasal better than anybody else. James Earl Jones is himself in this movie and like Connery is just the man. I also like Courtney Vance as 2nd Petty Officer Jones. He gives one of the most memorable performances of the movie. This is an all star cast and everybody is fantastic.

John Mctiernan is one of the best directors in Hollywood. He was one of the biggest when this moive was done with hit titles under his belt like Die Hard and Predator. He can make a good action thriller and this is one of the best ones ever made.

The cinematography is great in the film. You feel like your on real naval ships. The uniforms are authenic on both fleets. The sound is fantastic. This is such a well made movie and the is the movie that all submarine movies should stive to look like.

This is such a good movie. It's made to perfection with a great cast, well made, awesome score, and is just flawless. If you want to sit down and watch a good action thriller than this is it. You will struggle to find a better made movie than this.

Best of the Series
Though I have to admit that I prefered Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan, I'll have to give THFRO the nod for the best in the series. The show's brilliant. Brilliant script that is well executed by wonderful acting. Sean Connery's the man. Can't imagine anyone else playing Ramius. Baldwin did a wonderful job playing Ryan. His best role till date. Would have been greeat to have seen him develop the character in the sequels. And furthermore, James Earl Jones aka the voice of Darth Vader makes his presence in all 3 movies felt though his air time's brief. His presence was greatly missed in The Sum of All Fears.

If the studios are planning another Jack Ryan movie..... please get rid of Affleckand bring back Baldwin. ... Read more

Reviews (143)

Thoroughly Likable Romantic Comedy With Some Complexity
A lonely subway ticket-booth worker, Sandra Bullock, has a crush on a daily commuter, Peter Gallagher. When suave Gallagher is mugged and almost killed, Bullock saves the day. At the hospital, she is mistaken for Gallagher's fiancee, which feels so good that Bullock goes for it. Gallagher's slightly eccentric but very warm and likable family instantly adopts her. Meanwhile, Bullock finds out that the comatose Gallagher was not really very charming, but was actually shallow, materialistic, and snobbish, as is his real fiancee. However, Gallagher's brother, Bill Pullman, is what Bullock thought Gallagher was, and . . . well, nature takes its course.

Sandra Bullock is completely charming in her first starring role, and you want to either take her home or have her move in next door. Her "fiancee's" family consists of a very likable and somewhat eccentric group, played by a veteran cast including Glynis Johns, Jack Warden, and Peter Boyle.

This is a very nice movie filled with nice people. For my money, it's better than "Sleepless in Seattle". It has a little more depth, more realism, and less perfection. "While You Were Sleeping" is not completely predictable, like "Sleepless" is. For what it is, few movies do it better.

Perfect Romance for the Holidays!
In the overfed, overtired stupor that was my Christmas Day 2000, I decided to watch this movie again, having seen it maybe five times before. I never realized before what a perfect holiday movie it is! Of course, it's funny and romantic, and Sandra Bullock is perfect in her role as the lonely toll booth worker (though she may be just a tad too beautiful to be entirely believable as a single woman) and Bill Pullman-funny, smart, boyishly handsome Bill Pullman-finally gets the girl in a film.

But the movie also makes one realize the importance of family and people to love and be loved by, especially around those Major Holidays when we're usually too stressed out with gift-buying and feast-cooking to notice the really important thing-people. Watch this film some cold winter day, either alone or with loved ones, and you'll realize the same thing, along with being warmed from the inside out.

SWEET MOVIE!!
While You Were Sleeping is endearingly sweet and laugh-out-loud funny. Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman, the romantic leads, are excellently cast and have an even more excellent chemistry between each other. This movie will have you awwwing at the love between Lucy and Jack, and laughing at the family and situation. Highlight to look out for is the icy sidewalk scene- very very well done!! This movie is also very appropriate. In all, great movie, a little predictable but cute!

Sweet but not (too) overdone
While You Were Sleeping represents the pinnacle in chick flicks. Girls, you already know what I'm talking about. But guys, if you're looking to score with the ladies as a sensitive, caring man, watch this movie with your girl. It's guaranteed to promote feelings of goodwill, kindness, and heartfelt gratitude on their part.

Like virtually all those movies in this genre, Sleeping one doesn't really deserve a review for its dramatic value. The entire plot hinges on a few engineered coincidences while the story, cute and engaging, wins no awards for its daring portrayal of real life. But as I said before, that's not what we're looking for. Lucy, a sweet, lonely young thing who works in a Chicago tollbooth, is ably played by Sandra Bullock. The love of her life, to whom she has never spoken, is Peter Callahan, a rich young playboy who rides the train to and from work every day. It all comes to head when his not so understanding friends push him into the tracks, necessitating his resuce (by Lucy, of course) and his subsequent move to the hospital. Here's where it gets interesting--Peter's family rushes in and in the confusion mistakes Lucy for Peter's fiance. Hilarity ensues as virtually all the family welcomes her with open arms without any idea of the mistake. It's only the younger son, Jack (Bill Pullman), who is suspicious, and in his search for the truth finds more than he bargined for.

The power of the movie is found in its two stars. Tension between Sandra Bullock (in her signature role, to be reprised in countless movies afterwards) and Bill Pullman are palpable, moving the silly plot along with their realisic chemistry. In the end, While You Were Sleeping is a lovely story about family, friends and love, and I highly reccommend it for anyone who needs a pick-me-up and have already seen Amelie.

Lucy and jack. 16th april 2004.
Lucy[sandra bullock], see A man peter[peter gallagher] again even though i don't think she even knows him, she fancies him. He is pushed onto a train track, she saves him by moving him away before he gets killed. Peter is in a comber, and all his relatives think that she is his fiancee. Peters brother jack meets her and while he is still in hospital, they both fall in love, but when peter is finally out of hospital, he wants her too. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, EVERYTHING WENT ON WHEN HE WAS IN THAT HOSPITAL BED. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Women will like this movie, too, and not just gearhead girls
As someone who was friends with people who actually DID the real Cannonball Run, I have to say that Gumball Rally does more to capture the spirit of these amazing people that do the Cannonball Run movies. Michael Sarazzan, Tim McIntire, and Gary Busey are the Cannonball types that cover the range from corporate executives to folks for whom automobiles are a passion.

But why a women's film? Unlike other movies (like brand X that the Joker sedulously warns us to avoid) the film is repecectful of women -- there is even a women's team in a "little motorboat." And Raul Julia, in one of his early films, is irresistable as the Italian champion. The women in the Porsche (I identified with the older of the two) have to enlist the help of two young "Good Old Boys" to help with with a mechhanical problem and wind up having to show their "appreciation," but even this small aside is only to prove that racing girls still love guys -- and itsn't it the truth, as they say in 200 Motels.

The "in" jokes about cars are classics. And speaking of classics, I am laughing my head off about the Jag and the starter. I wonder if the two guys in the XKE are still there in the garage. Years later I laugh at that one and a score of classic one-liners from this movie just keep on coming (see the other reviews below, for they