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This weak, 1991 remake of the French comedy La Chèvre stars Danny Glover as a detective who is sent to Mexico to find a businessman's daughter (Sheila Kelley) and who gets stuck with a hapless assistant (Martin Short). The film wears out its welcome very quickly, despite some passable physical comedy from Short. Both actors have made much better movies; don't be surprised if you can't make it through to the end of this one. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This film must come to DVD!!!!!!!!!!!
This has been my family's favorite comedy for years. Everything about it is simply top notch fun. Martin Short at his BEST!!! If anyone knows of an online petition to get this to DVD, let me know and I'm there!! thesingingvoice@yahoo.com

100% pure fun.
Very good remake of the French film "La Chevre" ("Knock on the Wood"). First and last good film by director Nadia Tass.
Valerie (Sheila Kelley) is unluckiest women on the face of the Earth. She disappears in Mexico without the trace and nobody have any clue what happen. Her frustrated rich father taking his last chance with very odd team: "Private Eye" Ray (Danny Glover) and Eugene, unluckiest man on the face of the Earth ( Martin Short). The plan is simple: go to Mexico and let Eugene just be himself. Did it work? Sure it did, but you have to se how.
This comedy is 100% pure fun. The only one reason why I gave it 4 stars is the French film, which I've seen many times. No one can beat a French team of Gérard Depardieu and Pier Rishard.
"Vlad"

Hilarious
As far as comedy films go, this is my all-time favorite. While I think I have a pretty good sense of humor, there aren't many films that will make me laugh out loud. This one does. In fact, there are belly-laughs galore from start to finish. I have recommended this film to many of my friends and everyone that has seen it has loved it. Highly recommended.

Made me laugh out loud not just giggle!!!
The movie was very light hearted and not serious at all. Myself and my kids were able to enjoy it together. In this day and age that in itself is a real treat.

Just plain fun!
If you like slapstick, this is the movie for you. I've searched local video houses for this one for my kids with no LUCK! My boys, 6 & 11, think it's hilarious. For good, clean fun, try this. Martin Short is a hoot! ... Read more

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This 1953 musical is very much a vehicle for Doris Day, in the title role, as a wild cowgal who can outshoot and outsing any boy on the range. When an actress arrives in Deadwood and uses her feminine charms on Jane's secret love, Wild Bill Hickock (Howard Keel), Jane tries to mend her tomboy ways. Not exactly up to the feminist code of honor, this is still energetic and Day is very perky. Of course, one could almost detect a homosexual undercurrent with the cross-dressing Jane, but this was Hollywood in the 1950s, so we best not. This won an Oscar for Best Song--"Secret Love," by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (57)

How the Wild West was Sung!
Doris Day is an absolutely fabulous Calamity Jane. I can't describe how wonderful this movie really is. I grew up watching Calamity spout insult after insult and enjoyed it, but now after many years I still love this movie. As an adult I can't help but fall completely into the love story and the beautiful songs but part of me still enjoys the fastest mouth in the west.
Day plays opposite Howard Keel, probably one of the handsomest cowboys ever the set foot in the Golden Garter Saloon. Calam describes Wild Bill Hickok (Keel) as a seven year itch, but admits that's its awful fun scratchin'. Together Calam and Bill help to keep a would be actress from Chicago from getting herself killed, keep Deadwood's saloon from closing, and realize that underneath they really love one another. The musical numbers are staged perfectly and Doris Day sings song after song without hesitation and does it while wearing a deer skin suit. Howard Keel's rendition of "My Heart id Higher than a Hawk" makes me go weak at the knees, and the characters will dance right into your heart. A can't miss for either Keel or Day fans.

"Take Me Back To The Black Hills"
Two years ago, I began to rent a musical whenever I went to the video store. I started with the ones that I had at least heard of and then moved on to others (the workes still think I deranged). "Calamity Jane" was my first meeting with Doris Day, and I fell in love with this actress. This movie, completely historically inaccurate, is wonderful. It has everything without the vulger lanuage or sex scenes of today's movies. My one problem with this movie is its attitude and treatment of women and minorities (the Dakota Indians). This movie, if taken only for fun, music, and with a grain of salt--is absolutley delightful. My favorite part of this movie is the music. As the one songs says, "Take Me Back To The Black Hills." --Becky, 17 yearold girl

Fun western musical!
As tomboy Calamity Jane, Doris Day is entertaining and funny. In order to get noticed by leutenant GilMartin, Jane changes her deerskin leather for silk and high heels. Unfortunately for Jane, GilMartin has his eyes set on the newcomer actress Katie Brown. But all isn't lost for Jane because she manages to impress her handsome best pal Wild Bill Hickock (Howard Keel) with her new feminine look.
Fun musical numbers and great chemistry between Day and Keel.

Just Blew In From The Best DorisDayest Movie In The West
I watched this movie recently again and I love it so much. I love all doris day Movies and I own all 39/39 of her movies but I will have to say that this is my favorite out of all of her films. Doris Day was dynamite as Clamity Jane and Howard Keel was excelent as Wild Billy Hicock. This is a great movie it focuses around Calamitys lieing and 2-timing. And how even though she won't admit it the man she really loves is Wild Billy who has a crush on A Singing Sensation that Calam brings to town but at the end of the film Calam and Billy you guessed it they get themselves hitched. This movie also includes great songs from the old west like. Just Blew In From The Windy City. Secret Love. Black Hills. and a lot others. This movie is a movie you and your whole family will enjoy so buy or rent a copy tonight and share it with your whole family.

The Doris Day Show.
Very much the star of the show, Doris Day carries "Calamity Jane" with all the perkiness and spark one could possibly imagine. Jane is more manly than most of the men in the show, and although one could read a lesbian subtext into the film, that was most likely not the intention of the writers or the star. Still, this is a fun, albeit slightly cornball western musical, and one of Day's greatest film roles. ... Read more

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Director Stanley Kramer's socially conscious 1961 film tackles the subject of the war crime trials arising out of World War II in an earnest and straightforward fashion, exploring the consciousness of two nations as they struggle to come to terms with the aftermath of the Holocaust. Spencer Tracy plays the American judge selected to head the tribunal that will try the suspected war criminals. As he sets about his task, he must confront the raw emotion felt by the German people, and his own notions of good and evil, right and wrong. Regarded as a classic, this stark rendering of one of the most pivotal events in the 20th century features a stellar cast including Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, a young William Shatner, and Maximillian Schell, who won an Oscar for his role as counsel for the defense for those charged with crimes against humanity. Judgment at Nuremberg is important viewing not only for the history of film, but for the history of modern times. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Star-Studded Recounting of Legendary Nazi Trials
This star-studded film vividly captures the characters on all 3 sides of the spectrum: The accused, the victims, and the international tribunal judging the perpetrators of unspeakable atrocities against fellow human beings. It is shocking to see how many of the people responsible for the gruesome deaths of millions justified their actions.

After hearing witnesses who often were tortured, mamed by sadistic doctors, and had their loved ones murdered, I can not grasp the fact that the majority of those on trial were released after serving minimal prison terms. Some of them are still among us, while millions of victims lie in their graves at the hands of an evil minority!

Stellar performances by an International cast. Most noteworthy are Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland as testifying victims, Maximilian Schell as Prosecutor (Oscar Winner), Marlene Dietrich as wife of a defendant, and an elderly Spencer Tracy, trying to make sense of it all.

Effective use of B&W photography, first rate sets and costumes, along with many other production values, make this a timeless Classic. Although considerd over-long by some, I recommend this film to be shown to high school classes as a reminder that these things happened in a not so distant past.*****

SCHELL, TRACY, GARLAND, LANCASTER, CLIFT & WIDMARK GREAT!
This is a superb film by Stanley Kramer with an unbelievably great cast at the height of their craft. Each of the legendary actors were at the top of their performances in the reinactment of the Judge's Trial at Nuremberg. The world was tired of the Nuremberg trials. This one was a mopping up operation. Against a backdrop of an escalating Cold War with the Soviet Union, the selling out of justice by prominent Nazi judges serving the Third Reich is put on trial. Spencer Tracey plays Judge Dan Haywood, a retired Maine circuit court judge brought out of mothballs to serve as the chief justice. Amazingly, the usual action actor Burt Lancaster plays the top Nazi judge who at first does not recognize the Nuremberg tribunal's authority to judge him. For some mysterious reason, critics over the years failed to acknowledge the tremendous acting job he did in convincingly carrying off what was perhaps this film's most dynamic character change. However, my personal favorite was Maximillian Schell whose quintessential Germanic Hans Rolfe, the defense attorney released the full range of this incredible actor's virtuosity. For this he deservedly won an Academy Award Oscar.

One thousand words are not enough to celebrate this timeless film: Judy Garland (in perhaps her last film role) delivers a heartbreaking middle aging Irene Hoffman, reliving her experiences of Nazi cruelty on the witness stand; once again. However, not very good was the young Canadian actor, William Shatner playing Army Captain Byers, the aide de camp to Judge Haywood (Tracy). [The Starship Enterprise didn't seem to improve Shatner's skills any.] Richard Widmark (the moody, hostile prosecutor) and Montgomery Clift [who begged for the role he was willing to play without pay!] were excellent. Clift plays a slightly retarded German laborer, sterilized by Nazi doctors because of his mental slowness. This is among the very best films made by Kramer in the decade of the 1960s. Amazingly, it was released one year after INHERIT THE WIND, another Tracy-Kramer classic!

MASTERPIECE
What happens when Stanley Kramer teams Tracy, Dietrich, Garland, Schell, Clift, Lancaster and Widmark in a drama based on the trials in pos-war Nuremberg??? It`s vintage Hollywood; still 1 IF not THE BEST about the horrors from World War II ..... The film should be in every school-library across the world

MASTERPIECE
What happens when Stanley Kraner teams Tracy, Dietrich, Garland, Schell, Clift, Lancaster and Widmark in a drama based on the trials in pos-war Nuremberg??? It`s vintage Hollywood; still 1 IF not THE BEST about the horrors from World War II ..... The film should be in every school-library across the world

Wooooooooow
Ok, you`ll get Garland, Dietrich, Clift, Tracy, Widmark & Schell - the production headed by Stanley Kramer.... the result is pure Hollywood vintage combined with horrors from the 2nd World War??? But indeed; it is a masterpiece.... It should be in every school-library all over the world:-) ... Read more

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One of the most compelling tragic romances ever captured on film, Wuthering Heights is an exquisite tale of doomed love and miscalculated intentions. Though only half of Emily Bronte's classic tale of Heathcliff and Catherine was filmed by director William Wyler, it lacks for nothing.

The story begins when a Yorkshire gentleman farmer brings home a raggedy gypsy boy, Heathcliff, and raises him as his son. The boy grows to love his stepsister Catherine, with catastrophic results. Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon were perfectly cast as the mismatched lovers, with Olivier brooding and despairing, Oberon ethereal and enchanting. This won cinematographer Gregg Toland a much-deserved Oscar for his haunting and evocative depiction of mid-19th century English moors. (Quite a trick, as this was shot in California!) Though nominated for seven otherOscars, it won none of them, as it was released in 1939, one of the best years in Hollywood history and the same year as Gone with the Wind. Interestingly, the script was written by Charles MacArthurand Ben Hecht, best known for their witty 1931 flick, The Front Page. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (65)

How Can You NOT Like This Movie?!
You can never compare the movie to the book since a movie can't possibly incorporate ALL of the text from the author! William Wyler put together an excellent cast, fantastic, dark, moody scenes and beautiful music to turn out this brilliant film. The handsome and brooding Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier), the ravishing and haughty Cathy (Merle Oberon) along with the stoic, dull Edgar (David Niven)and the rebellious and pathetic Isabel (Geraldine Fitzgerald) turn this into one of the most romantic, haunting love stories ever.

This movie will forever be considered, for me, the epitome of the romantic film. When Heathcliff carries Cathy to the window to look upon the moors one last time as she's dying, my heart swells and tears fill my eyes. It's simply stunning!

An Incomparable Feat of Cinematic Storytelling
I had the good fortune of seeing this film on a big screen at a New York cinema in the early seventies. Viewing a master print in a darkened theatre was one of the all-time highlights of my movie-going experiences. Yes, this is a truncated version of the novel, which I would urge anyone who hasn't already done so to read. It is on my personal top ten list for greatest novels ever. In my opinion this film is far superior to GWTW, which took home the oscar for best-picture in '39. Basically this is due to the source material. Wuthering Heights is great literature. GWTW was a best-seller, but not what one could call great literature. Catherine and Heathcliffe belong in the same literary company as Abelarde and Heloise, Dante's Paolo and Francessa, and Romeo and Juliet. I cant think of anyone who could have been better cast as Heathcliffe than Olivier. Merle Oberon also made for a highly believable Catherine. Flora Robeson also delivers a flawless performance. This is William Wyler's masterpiece. I didn't know until reading some of these reviews that this was filmed in California. I was certain it had to have been filmed on the English moors. If you want to see genius at work, by all means buy the video or the DVD. And if you ever get the chance to see it on a big screen, seize the opportunity. I'm not ordinarily the sentimental type. I can only recall two occasions when I openly wept at the conclusion of a movie. The first was when I saw "Old Yeller" at about eight-years-of-age, the second when I saw Wuthering Heights. I have seen it about five times since and I'll be damned if it doesn't always have the same impact.

Pure movie magic
Does it really matter that this was released in 1939? What about the cheap production values, weak set construction, dated acting, primitive cinematography and low-budget sound editing? No, the fact is that it still can't be done better today. Olivier, Oberon, Niven and Wyler made a movie masterpiece that stands up remarkably well today despite numerous TV broadcasts and big budget remakes. The original is still the best. Watch for yourself. Within just a few minutes you won't be able to stop.

I am torn apart by my desire for you
"Not even you, Cathy, could keep us apart," says Heathcliff. And thus is the ill-fated romance of two childhood friends who end up with different paths in life yet are kept from true happiness because of the void left by the absence of the other. The passionate acting of the handsome Laurence Olivier is supplemented with a talented supporting cast, especially Geraldine Fitzgerald, who plays exquisitely the part of Isabella, the long-suffering wife of Heathcliff who wants her husband to love her as she is and who will never get her wish because he is consumed with passionate desire for her sister. Having read the original novel by Emily Brontë, I would consider this possibly the greatest romance I've ever seen as such passionate longing is rarely seen. "I cannot live without my life. I cannot die without my soul," says the tortured Heathcliff about his Cathy. 10/10. A+.

Olivier at his BEST.
Perhaps I'm biased...I'm absolutely in love with Laurence Olivier's performance in any given role--defintely my favourite actour. But along with Max DeWinter in Rebecca, this is his greatest role. After a string of unsuccessful Hollywood pictures, he lands as Heathcliff in Emily Bronte's classic pre-victorian novel. As I got from reading the book, the story is creepy + drawn out, yet a superb portrait of everything I believe it intended to be--the "unrequited love" between Cathy and Heathcliff. It's definetely my most favourite love story in literature, surpassing even that of Rhett + Scarlett. Olivier's performance is genius. Nothing short of that. The cinematography is a perfect capture as every frame captures the tale to perfection. I shudder to think of Vivien Leigh as Cathy...yes, Vivien would have to be my favourite actress, but I worry that it would've become trapped in the "Larry + Vivien" slot of time..tsk. No less, I enjoy Merle Oberon's performance, however it's not what makes this the grand film that it is. Watch this, if for nothing else, to see the greatest cinematic performance from the greatest actour of the century, and for haunting cinematography. The b/w photography only captures the mood moreso. ... Read more

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Billy the Kid is reimagined by director Sam Peckinpah as a kind of Old West rock star, a young man who wants to do his own thing but constantly runs up against the objections of the establishment--in this case, the cattle barons who run this part of the country. Peckinpah indulged in some quirky casting, including Bob Dylan as an outlaw named Alias and most of Kristofferson's band as Billy's gang. He also draws exceptional performances out of a cast of old veterans, including James Coburn as the reluctant Pat Garrett, R.G. Armstrong, Katy Jurado, and Slim Pickens, who has a terrific death scene to Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." Look for this longer version (122 minutes); the shorter version is the one that MGM recut against Peckinpah's wishes, removing all the character development and Peckinpah's elegiac sense of the Old West in favor of action and violence. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Outstanding Western
This is a stunning Western by any count, whether its the exhausted 70's patina (strangely similar to Easy Rider), Coburn's whiskey-soaked degenerate ambiance, or Peckinpah's inspired and artful trademark mayhem (yes, it even has children playing on a hangman's noose). Forget about Dylan's "Peas ... corn .. carrots" scene, which is completely idiotic and funny only in a 1973 "I'm stoned on brownies and watching Dylan read vegetable cans, wow man" sort of way. Dylan could actually have provided his soundtrack and been done with it. Because that soundtrack is crucial to the lasting and laconic mood of the film. The image of a wounded Chill Wills going to his knees for death while Heaven's Door plays in the background is far too poetic for words. That scene will stay with you for a very long time. As Billy, Kristoffersen has somehow mutated into a baby-faced Jim Morrison lookalike. Coburn is a grizzled and cynical character, hard nosed and out for himself. "I aim to be rich, old, and happy, in that order." The mood throughout the film is fated, inevitable, manifest destiny, "just doing my job." Billy/Kristoffersen is the single character who fights the inevitable: "Times might change, not me." Dozens of great lines in this film. A unique ambiance. Interesting twists and characters. Definitely a keeper.

Did I rent the wrong version?
While recently reading Howard Sounes' "Down the Highway - The Life of Bob Dylan," I rented this movie at my local video place. The "baby-faced" Kris Kristofferson is well worth the price of rental. Dylan's performance is one long wry wink at the Western genre. I watched the movie three times and still never heard Bob *SING* "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." Sure, there's a haunting instrumental version accompanying Chill Will's death walk to the creek bed, but I thought I remembered Bob singing it in the theatrically released version?

this needs to be on DVD!
This is a wonderful Western. Extremely stylish. Both Colburn and Kristofferson are cooler than cool. You might also want to check out the Last Days of Frank and Jesse James. It lacks Peckinpah's style and is a tv movie, but it's on DVD and Kristofferson is great as Jesse James.

Jack Elam at his best
The portrayal of Alamoosa Bill by Jack Elam is a classic. It's a shame The Kid has to shoot him, but it's the exclamation point of Elam's skill as an actor. The soundtrack is superb. Rita Coolige is in her prime. See it!

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
One of the best Westerns out there! I just love Rita Coolidge. I've got this movie on Letter Box Laser Disk, but I just can't wait till the DVD arrives! How much longer must we wait?? ... Read more

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Thelma & Louise is a feminist manifesto writ large on the big screen, a smart and funny gender reversal of the standard Hollywood buddy formula, a road movie extraordinaire, with characters who became instant cultural icons. No matter how you define it, Ridley Scott's 1991 box-office hit pinched a nerve and made the cover of national news magazines for tweaking gender politics like no movie before or since. Callie Khouri's screenplay overhauls the buddy formula with its story about two best friends (Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis) who embark on a liberating adventure that turns into an interstate police chase after a traumatic incident makes both women into fugitives; they are en route to a destiny they could never have imagined. The perfect casting of Sarandon and Davis makes Thelma & Louise a movie for the ages, and Brad Pitt became an overnight star after his appearance as the con-artist cowboy who gives Davis a memorable (but costly) night in a roadside motel. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (90)

Enjoyable "Buddy Film" classic
Is there anything more satisfying then a romantic, funny, action-packed, well scripted AND well acted movie? Perhaps, but after watching "Thelma and Louise" I certainly have my doubts. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis star in this highly entertaining, truly heartfelt movie. When one begins this film, you immediately feel the need to choose a "favorite" between the two characters, Thelma or Louise. It is impossible. You can masquerade that you like Thelma more, or that Louise tickles your fancy...but the truth is that both characters are immediately likeable and hard not to love.

The basic plot: Thelma and Louise go on a seemingly weekend long roadtrip as a brief escape from their drab, unexciting lives. Their first night out, Thelma has a terrifying experience...Louise, in her efforts to save her, commits a major crime. Suddenly, they are no longer two pals going on a trip...they are fugitives running for their freedom and from the law. As the story progresses, their list of crimes grows longer, and their chances at reaching their destination seem to get slimmer as they get closer to it.

A thrilling romp through the southwest, with beautiful acting, writing and cinematography, this movie is a classic "buddy movie", "road movie" and "chick flick". Whatever label it is given, it is one of the best of its kind.

The Ultimate Road Movie!
This is an instant classic. Controversial and creating two instant female American icons. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis are nothing short than perfect as Thelma & Louise, both creating equally likable and complex characters. Considered to be a female buddy road-trip movie, but this film is much, much more, mainly because of the excellent multi-layered screenplay. Ridley Scott directed an instant American classic. Some scenes are now considered classics, such as the ending. The 'male' part of the cast are all excellent, Harvey Keitel and Michael Madsen are great. Brad Pitt is also a stand-out in the role that shot him into stardom. Extremely entertaining and even poignant near the end. This one is in a category all of it's own. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film an 8!

A remarkable movie!
Originality is the supreme adjective for this picture. It won deservedly the Academy Award as Original script. Ridley Scott made an authentical road movie but loaded with humor , cynicism , haunting and above all very anti macho movie.
The sinister fact that will turn a twist of fate in these two women who only wanted to have fun just for a while will become in a permanent and menacing nightmare for both of them .
The spectacular landscapes are a huge background all the way reminds us Paris Texas . The use of big lenses and the arresting images walks together with a solid script .
Brad Pitt appears briefly as the hitch hike guy who eventually seduces Thelma . Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis are the mirror images of Sundance Kid , you may consider it a speculation, but think it carefully . Since the accidental murder , and the sweet smell of the risk when Geena robes a supermarket , the dramatic car chase is very close in spirit to the sudamerican getaway and above all the ending sequence .
Keitel works efficiently , once more and Scott shows us once more why he's on the top direction .
Consider this one from its release as one of the most powerful nineties cult movies!

The Ultimate Buddy Movie.
This is definately Ridley Scott's best film to date. Thema and Louise may be one of the most popular chick flicks, but you do not have to be a woman to like it. This film is the absolute perfect movie to watch with your best friend. The way that Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis take you into the lives of these two friends is amazing. On their jouney they encounter lots of characters including a perverted truck driver, and a young drifter played by Brad Pitt. The movie all in all is good, and I would definately give it two thumbs way way up.

A modern classic
I saw an interview with Susan Sarandon, and she said that "Thelma and Louise isn't about feminism, it's about human liberation." I completely agree.

If you put the sexual politics aside, what you have is a story of two human beings who have spent their whole lives being oppressed and controlled by other people. Louise (Sarandon) is a waitress with a tragic past and an unreliable boyfriend. Thelma is a housewife with an arrogant, controlling husband. The two decide to embark on an impromptu vacation, but while stopping for a couple of drinks at a redneck nightclub, Thelma is almost raped by a lecherous customer, and Louise shoots and kills him in the parking lot. Instead of going to the police, the two decide to skip the country and head to Mexico, but a string of unfortunate events forces the two to commit even more crimes, turning them into bona fide fugitives and outlaws.

Strangely, what the two characters discover is that their new lives as outlaws are more satisfying than the stifled lives they led before. At the end of the film, the two make a choice to remain free and never surrender, despite the consequences.

This film asks the question: is the only way to be free in our society to be an outlaw? The answer just might be yes. ... Read more

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Not an ideal choice for younger kids, this hip and violent animated feature from Disney was nevertheless a huge smash in theaters and on video, and it continues to enjoy life in an acclaimed Broadway production. The story finds a lion cub, son of a king, sent into exile after his father is sabotaged by a rivalrous uncle. The little hero finds his way into the "circle of life" with some new friends and eventually comes back to reclaim his proper place. Characters are very strong, vocal performances by the likes of Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, and Whoopi Goldberg are terrific, the jokes are aimed as much (if not more) at adults than kids, the animation is sometimes breathtaking, and the music is more palatable than in many Disney features. But be cautious: this is too intense for the Rugrat crowd. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (339)

Well worth your hard earned money
This new two disc set for the Lion King is yet another masterful DVD production job by the Disney folks. The video and audio quality are top notch, with plenty of choices how to see the film (both original and extended). There are an amazing amount of extras included on disc two, it will take some hunting to find them all, and quite a bit of extra time to view the entire contents. A few are overly self promotional, but there is so much stuff here, just skip to the next item if that bothers you. Some of the games are actually fun too.

With both Lion King and Sleeping Beauty being newly released on DVD right now, if you can only get one of them, there is no question this is by far the better choice. The impressive animation, the story, the fantastic sound, the extras are all superior in this Lion King package. This still isn't my favorite Disney release (Roger Rabbit will always have that honor), but maybe top 5--certainly top 8.

Lion King Platinum is well worth the investment for your DVD collection. Your family will get many years of enjoyment from it.

The Lion King
The first time I ever saw "The Lion King" was on September 14th 1995, the day it came out on video. Strangely, I went to all of Disney's releases from "The Little Mermaid" to "Aladdin" (including rereleases of their older classics) but missed out on "The Lion King". Silly me. "The Lion King" is a masterpiece. The film is visually amazing. Some scenes stand out in particular; such as the wild-beast stampede and the opening sequence. The movie wouldn't be completed without the powerful score and songs, composed by Hans Zimmer and Elton John, respectively. The Oscar-winning "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and the ever-popular "Circle Of Life" are all here. The characters in this movie have also become wildly popular, especially Timon and Pumbaa. The villain, Scar, is the ultimate villian: evil and deceitful, yet wit and sarcastic. In this 2-disc special edition, the film looks like a video-game, in terms of sharpness and clearity. You won't believe of how smooth the image can be. "The Lion King" is a movie that deserves all the praise and success that it had gotten.

Earns its place among the old Disney classics
Animation films are incredibly tricky. Adults(or just mainly uptight people view animated films as kids only. However kids see them as great pieces of film that they "get". For once, Disney gets it right. This was really a powerhouse film when it came out and held the record for the biggest animated film of all time(until recently when a so-so film about finding a fish called Nemo came out).

Simba is a young lion in the Serengeti(they call it the Pride Lands though) who just can't wait to be king. However, he's a mischievous little cub who gets into trouble a bit easy. When a terrible tragedy strikes, Simba exiles himself where he meets a warthog and meerkat and develops a carefree lifestyle. Now an adult, he returns to the Pride Lands to reclaim the throne from his evil uncle, Scar.

Sounds a bit like Hamlet huh? But you won't care. Many impossibly catchy songs, funny moments and jokes and words that even appeal to adults(do you really think a kid would understand "illustrating the differences in your royal mangerial approaches"? Exactly.)

Voice acting is top notch, animation is absolutely gorgeous, and it's done by hand by the way, none of that Finding Nemo/Toy Story/A Bug's Life CGI stuff. There's a reason why this is considered the best Disney film but you owe it to yourself to find out why.

This is NOT a violent movie for kids
I'm sorry, but if you found this movie to be too violent for kids over the age of five, then you're robbing your children of a valuable experience. Yes, there is death. Yes, it is not a safe and simple death. But kids CAN handle it. An evil man killed a great man. It's not a theme that kids should enjoy, but it's one that is of particular resonance to us as Americans. This movie is simple, beautiful and moving- seemingly one of Disney's last treasures. While the Broadway show may be even more moving, this movie has the power to move us. I hope you'll see it if you haven't. I hope you'll let your kids watch it if you haven't. And I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I have. Humbly submitted, -Matt Calcara, Overland Park, KS

Best movie of all times
I really love this movie it was so cute and the songs were great I gave my neice this movie when she was born and she watches it all the time and she is 7 years old now Thanks to everyone who created it your the best ... Read more

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In a misty London train station, four siblings await their journey to the country, a place to avoid the bombs of World War II, a place where one boy imagines nothing ever happens. As it turns out, the old professor's spooky country house is ripe for exploration. Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter's adventures begin when the back wall of a fur-coat filled wardrobe opens up into the magical world of Narnia, where, because of the malevolent White Witch's spell, it is "always winter and never Christmas." Before long, the children (the Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve) are participating in an epic, allegorically Christian battle between good (Aslan the lion) and evil (as represented by the diabolical White Witch, played with wonderfully hideous zeal by Barbara Kellerman).

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, first published in 1950 and designed to be the second book chronologically in the Narnia series, was faithfully, painstakingly adapted into a BBC TV series, and then edited into a feature-length film in 1988. The snowy landscapes of Narnia are lovely, but youngsters accustomed to stunning silver-screen special effects may pooh-pooh this rather slow-moving, homespun production, with humans dressed like beavers, a large stuffed-animal-looking lion, and oddly patched-in Disneyesque animated winged creatures. Still, there's an arresting sweetness and simplicity to this fantasy adventure in two episodes (59 minutes and 110 minutes) that suit this old-fashioned, well-loved classic to a T. --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Great to see, but could have been better.
I love the books, and think of them as some of the best literature ever written. I enjoyed watching the animated movie as a kid, but longed for something that was more real- namely, live action. And in an age when Harry Potter is big, and The Lord of the Rings has been updated into live action from it's original animation, why not also Narnia? And here it is.

It kept very close to the book, which was helpful. And it is overwhelmingly British- which is just right, since Lewis was British and wrote about British children. This is a production that needed to be done in England to do it right. The acting is certainly superior to anything you see in Harry Potter, thank God- these children can actually act, and emote. But as many have pointed out, the special effects really drag the movie down. It's a bit odd, as the movie obviously has the money for location shooting that put it above a high-school project. But every little while through the movie, you see bits that look like high-schoolers plugged sequences in. The beavers look like people in costumes, with make-up. There's no attempt to hide that they are people. The wolf transforms (very sloppily) from a dog into a guy in a wolf costume, who doesn't look scary as much as humorous. A bit of Babe or Animal Farm (live-action version) technology, with talking animals, would have done well here, and not have been that hard to do. And the painted mythological creatures are really badly done. A computer would have touched this up very easily, very cheaply, to make the special effects realistic- or even some costumes for mythological creatures.

The telling point is a final fight scene between Peter and a wolf, in which the background suddenly changes, inexplicably, into a set for a play, throughout the entire fight. It was then that I realized that this would make an excellent play. There was nothing wrong with the acting, or costumes, or sets, were this a play. It just doesn't measure up to what we have come to expect from movies or even TV.

Wonderful and Magical
I have all three of the Chronicles of Narnia video sets - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe; Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; and The Silver Chair, having been given them as gifts at least 7 years ago. I am shocked that these are now currently not available, especially with the current Harry Potter craze. The Chronicles of Narnia are wonderful stories for children and adults alike and these British productions from the late 1980s of four of the seven C.S. Lewis books are wonderful and magical. I thought I recalled still seeing these in the PBS Video Catalogs from time to time - I could be mistaken though. Even though I already have these tapes, I hope they are re-released soon for others to enjoy!!!

Bad Beginning....
This no-budget production from the BBC fails to live up to the production values of films made 100 years ago. Shoddy production design offers us absurd anthropromorphic animals of the stage-horse variety. The problem is not the budget - I offer the example of John Coates's "The Snowman", which opens with a simple shot of a man entering a wintry wood overlaid with a voiceover, all you need to create an atmosphere of impending enchantment. Instead, the producers foolishly try to emulate Hollywood-style visual effects on a shoestring budget. The results are depressing. The truth is, even with a huge budget, no one involved with the design and execution of this telefilm would be capable of creating a memorable visual.

The 4 children playing the leads are chubby and indolent looking. They consistently seem to be blissfully unaware of the fact that they are being filmed - were they chosen randomly from the nearest grade school? Aslan is a lifeless animatronic head which rasps out his lines via poorly synched voice over.

However, the first 30 minutes or so are wonderful, the minimally made up Mr. Tumnus the clear highlight. The score is very good, from the same composer who scored the deservedly praised BBC "Brideshead Revisited". The text of the telefilm is also very accurate to the text and Christian religious themes of the novel by CS Lewis.

This series gets better with each outing though: "Prince Caspian" ekes its head a little beyond its predecessor, "Dawn Treader" surpasses both by leaps and bounds and finally "The Silver Chair" carries itself with considerable aplomb and charm, despite some very poor designs and effects.

Overall, a decent warm up for the curious before the real thing hits cinemas Christmas 2005.

not very good
this movie wasn't even interesting, it is just a waist of money!

Immerse your child and yourself in Narnia
Excellent video production by people who love and respect C.S. Lewis and his Narnia Chronicles. My son likes this particular story of the series the best (so far) and after reading it, we watched this show. The book was enhanced by it, not diminished. Wonderful sets, actors and dialogue. It may be a bit intense with the White Witch scenes as the actress plays it to the hilt, but either holding hands or the fast forward button soon remedies the few minutes of nasty old witch harmless. The Brits know how to make the ultimate Narnia show. Get the DVD if you can. ... Read more

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Sixteen years after Francis Ford Coppola won his second Oscar for The Godfather II (his first was for the 1972 Godfather), the director and star Al Pacino attempted to revive the concept one more time. Despite an elaborate plot that involves Michael Corleone seeking redemption through the Vatican while simultaneously preparing his nephew (Andy Garcia) to take over the Corleone family, the film fails to take shape as a truly meaningful experience in the way the preceding movies do. Still, Pacino is very moving as an elder Michael, filled with regret and trying hard to make amends with his wife (Diane Keaton) and grown children (one of whom is played, and not all that well, by the director's daughter, Sofia Coppola). --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (104)

A movie that should not have been attempted
"The Godfather", and its sequel, are quite possibly the greatest films made after the golden age of movies. It's all the more disappointing, then, that "Godfather Part 3" is a turgid, impotent movie that is always trying to set up a big finale, but never concludes anything convincingly. The cinematography lives up to the Godfather pedigree, but that's where the similarity ends. Coppola is clearly trying to revive feelings for Michael Corleone, his now-estranged wife Kay, and introduce newer characters like Sonny Corleone's bastard son (acted superbly by Andy Garcia) and the family's lawyer (George Hamilton). But years after Michael's overboard vendettas in "Godfather 2", the story has too much catching up to do to draw the viewer in. Coppola uses a heavy-handed technique to bring the audience along. The film often recalls previous scenes: the opener is a social gathering... there's a bloody "hit" that wipes out assorted gangsters... there's kitchen plotting... there's an Italian festival as a backdrop for murder. The look is there, but the feel isn't. Equally distressing is the casting. Hamilton's tanned, lounge lizard oiliness make him more of a corporate than "criminal" lawyer. Garcia should have acted the part of Michael's son. Sofia Coppola is sadly wooden, and I suspect she's not just acting the part of a bored princess. Michael's son is totally useless, as are the myriad characters flitting in and out of this film. We get a pope, a priest (unconvincing as Tom Hagen's son), a shifty cardinal, two beefcake bodyguards, a cowardly financier, an assassin who's not very good, and Father Guido Sarducci. Michael's old hitman Al Neri looks a bit paunchy as he fingers the chocolates that conceal his pistol... and what the heck is Brigitte Fonda doing in this story? In the first two films, every character mattered to the plot; there wasn't a dead character ('scuse the pun) in either story. Arguably, the first "Godfather" was a complete entity that needed no sequel. Coppola gambled and came up a winner with Part 2, but it's a tall order to repeat that formula in Part 3. When I fire up the "Godfather" films, I have no trouble forgetting that Number Three was ever made.

Great way to end the classic epic
i Don't understand why everyone are hating on ''the Godfather III'' after all it was nominated for a best picture in 1990 (Goodfellas should have won that year)true it's was not as brilliant as the first film mostly because there was too much recylcling going , but overall Godfather III was a good film .

Lay Off Sophia!
Sophia Copola has been bashed too much, and it's undeserved. While she had no experience, she had a certain sweetness about her. She's also much prettier than Wynona Ryder- YEAH, YOU HEARD ME! Coppola had a certain innocence about her. After all, she was never convicted of stealing.

The bigger problem is with Robert Duvall's absence as the lawyer Tom Hagan. Without his charasmatic presence, the film is seriously lacking. But the film does have its moments.

Good Movie, but ruined the Trilogy
Godfather 3 was a movie saved by one person, Al Pacino. His powerful acting in the first two Godfather films was without a doubt visable in the third. But this movie was destroyed by horrible acting. Andy Garcia portrays Micheal's (Al Pacino) nephew from his dead brother, Sonny. Andy plays Vinnie, a youthful hoodlum looking for power and respect. This movie got Andy Garcia famous, even though it was obvious he was just trying to copy Marlon Brando and Al Pacino's prefomance's in the last two Godfathers, and he did a horrible job and tore down the legacy of Godfather with every scene he was in.

But it wasn't just Andy Gracia who tore apart this movie, oh no. He had some help. Sofia Coppola plays Mary Corleone, Micheal's daughter. You could tell she had no idea what was going on. It was like Francis Ford, the director, just told her to say random things without even giving her a script. Marlon Brando, may he now rest in peace, was probably disgusted with this movie before he died.

To make this movie even worse, they decided to have a dramactic ending scene with Mary shot by a some random person sent to kill Micheal. This scene ends with Al Pacino screaming his lungs out, and the whole time I was sitting there saying, "That guy did you a favor by killing off that unholy death angle sent from the deep dark bowels of heck." The final scene, was indeed, a sad one, but with the acting skills in this movie, I don't blame Micheal for dying. I do have to admit, there are no words to describe the death scene of Micheal Corleone, because that marked the end of the Godfater lagacy, hopefully, forever. But don't get me wrong, I still love the Godfather trilogy, and always will. It just needs to end, here and now.

If you ever plan to watch this movie, tape a knife under your couch, just in case you feel like killing yourself after seeing the horrible acting presented by the infamous Andy Garcia and Sofia Coppola, The Destroyers of the Godfather Trilogy.

soso
godfather III was entertaining, in that we got to see what happened to some of the characters we loved (or hated) from the first two movies. this alone is reason enough to rent it (not buy!). however, godfather III should NOT have been made. the moral of the story is fulfilled with the last scene from godfather II, where michael is sitting alone, old and graying, face lined from a stressful life. after watching "II" i felt that the corleone tale indeed had nowhere left to go. anything after that would be harmful to the artistic acheivement of the first two movies. mario puzo said that his godfather books were really stories of family. michael the all-american marine, from the beginning of "I," and michael the morally bankrupt head of a crime family at the end of "II," should be seen with what has happened to his family along the way. THAT is what the godfather story means. godfather III isn't useless. again, it's fun to see what has happened to those interesting characters from the first two movies. but i wouldn't trade all three hours of director's cut "III" for that last scene in "II"! ... Read more

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Unlike the fly in the 1958 horror classic, they never really explainwhat happens to the neighbor's sheepdog when young Wilby Daniels trades places with it. The dog just vanishes, or is subsumed or assumed or something, leaving Wilby (Tommy Kirk) to explain to his dog-hating, allergic, mailman father (Fred MacMurray) that he's turned into a canine.The Shaggy Dog seems like the first instance of Disney packaging, as most of the principals were either Mouseketeers or had been in the short Disney segmentSpin and Marty or a previous Disney film. As successful as The Absent Minded Professor for humor, Dog follows Wilby and a rival as they vie for the hand of the new French girl in school, and the girlnext door (Annette Funicello). The exchanges with Wilby's younger brother, Moochie (Kevin Corcoran), who always wanted a family dog, are alone worth the price ofthe tape. Indeed the most successful element of this overall endearing film is the re-pairing of the two actors as brothers (they had done so before in 1957's Old Yeller). This is family fare that's diverting without pandering, a feat that the later Disney regime would have a difficult time re-creating. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Sweet, nostalgic Fun
This movie may seem a pretty dated to today's kids and teens, but adults will enjoy this family film about a boy (Tommy Kirk) who can shape-shift into a big, shaggy dog. The wonderful Fred MacMurray plays his allergic-to-dogs father.It is funny and innocent, set in a more carefree time. I highly recommend this movie. 5 Stars!

Hot diggetty Dog!
I hadn't seen this black and white Disney classic since I was knee-high to a sheepdog! It's a fun reunion with old friends and an enjoyable treat for the whole family. Fred MacMurray is a mail man. He hates dogs. His older son, Wilby (Tommy Kirk) is a geeky teenager. Younger son Moochie, (Kevin Corcoran) wants a dog. Annette Funicello (after the Mickey Mouse Club but before the Beach) is the girl next door whose hold on Wilby and his friend Buzz (later to be the eldest of MacMurray's Four - there were 3, and then he left and Ernie - Chip's real-life brother- came and there were still Three - TV Sons ) is threatened by an exotic new girl on the block, Francesca. Francesca has a very large Bratislavian (Shaggy) Sheepdog and a father with lots of unsavory friends and associates, including Struther Martin who will later have a "failure to communicate" with Paul Newman in "Cool Hand Luke."

It is 1959. It is the height of the Cold War with the USSR and its Eastern Bloc. Wilby has stumbled (literally) into possession of an accursed ring of Lucretia Borgia's - which, at unpredictable times and places "shape shifts" him into the Shaggy Dog or back into Wilby. In his various incarnations, Wilby overhears a plot to destroy America. He and his family and friends must save Democracy! Along the way we see a pajama clad Dog gargling and brushing his teeth at the sink before bedtime, chatting with confounded policemen, and leading them on a merry high speed car chase. A Bratislavian Sheepdog driving a convertible at a rapid rate is quite a sight to see! My favorite line is Buzz (an Eddie Haskell type of adolescent) hitting up Wilby for some money. "I'll need some gas. You wouldn't happen to have a buck on you?" Things have changed.

Disney gets big laughs with new comedy formula
This movie has kids and teens, animals, fun music, a magic ring that changes a person into a dog, spies, fumbling police, mixed up identities, fast cars, action and chase scenes, and a suffering dad who has to take the brunt of his boys antics including an attempt to prove he is crazy by a psychologist. This is an important film as the first live action comedy made by Disney introducing a popular series of formula Disney comedies through the sixties. The best parts of this film were mimicked in so many others.

It is also the first Disney film to feature Fred MacMurray. This was a comeback vehicle for the actor who was languishing without much work since the type of film he was known for was no longer produced. But after this film he went on to do many films for Disney, the "Absent Minded Professor" and its sequal "Son of Flubber","Bon Voyage", "The Happiest Millionaire", "Charley and the Angel", and "Follow Me Boys", a non-comedy sentimental film Dinsey made about a boy scout leader.

Tommy Kirk is also in this film as Freds son "Wilby" and the hero, of sorts. After all, he is the one turns into a dog with the accidental help of a magic ring. Juvenile Disney star Moochie (Kevin Corcoran)plays his younger brother, and is outright hilareous with his show stealing antics. The ever charming Annete Funicello is here, along with a couple of other Mouseketeers in bit parts. But mouseketeer Roberta Shore plays the sweet Franceska, the new neighbor that Wilby falls for. Her dog looks just like the dog that Wilby turns into when he is enchanted, so Wilby takes his place to find out how good a dog's life really is. But Wilby soon finds out that her villainous father is a dangerous foreign spy.

While it was filmed as a low budget piece, it was very succesful comercially raking in $8 million in its first theatrical release. That was very big in 1959. The movie concept was first offered to a TV network as an idea for a new series, and they gruffly turned it down as "a stupid idea that no one would want to watch". Walt made it anyway, turning it into a theatrical release. When the crowds poured in to the theatre the studio boss called Walt to admit his mistake. Walt laughed all the way to the bank, and created a whole series of movies based on some ideas from this movies formula. This includes the police officer scratching his head, and other character actors that seemed to crop up in the next dozen comedies.

A great Disney advertising campaign aimed at teenagers capitalized on the then-current fad for "I was a teenage ____" movies. The film starts with some great animated titles done expertly by veteran Dinsey animators X. Atencio, T. Hee, and Bill Justice. Released in 1959, written and produced by Disney Studio man Bill Walsh. Directed by Charles Barton. Disney veteran Bill Koehler did the animal training with the sheepdog that is used in some scenes as he did on at least half of the Disney films. (read his rare book "The Wonderful World of Disney Animals" if you can find it.)

Look out for famous Disney voice talent Paul Frees in this, he is the narrator and is seen as the psychiatrist (a rare on-screen appearance for the voice actor). His famous voice is featured throughout Disneyland ride attractions, especially in the Haunted Mansion (ghost host)and Pirates of the Caribbean.

The plot has a touch of 50's paranoia about the cold war, but spoofs it rather than warning of the dangers. Kids just love this film and so do parents and teens.
A sequal called "The Shaggy DA" was made after this. This movie was also remade recently for television by Disney with more modern effects.

Just hilarious.
This is one of the funniest Disney movies they ever made. The adults are goofy, the kids adorable, and the exchanges between the two brothers....priceless. I'd forgotten how much I love it.

Funny
this is a funny movie about a teenager who finds this magic ring and reads what it says on the ring, he sometimes (you never now when) will turn into a dog, and worse the dog that he turns into belongs to a girl he likes. very funny good family movie ... Read more

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Don't waste this one on your children: buy it for yourself. A spectacular adaptation of the Anna Sewell novel, this is faithful to the source material but creates a life of its own on the screen. Told from the point of view of the horse, it recalls a time and a place that could be both beautiful and cruel. Black Beauty faced both hardship and kindness as he passed through the hands of many owners throughout his life. Some are generous, but the agonies endured by the title character may be too harsh for small children. Unfortunately, director Caroline Thompson did not resurrect her magical touch a few years later with another animal tale, Buddy. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A movie to be enjoyed by all.
I've been watching Black Beauty since it came out in 1994 when I was 9. The enchanting cinematography, thoughtful narration and beautiful horses stick in your mind long after the movies is finished. I've worn the tape out and recently bought it on DVD. I watched it immediately with friends who made fun of me. 19 and in love with a horsey movie?? Luckily I forced them to watch it and they were soon engrossed in the fabulous story. I have never read the book, but anyone who dislikes this movie because it isn't "true" to the novel is a sad person indeed. This is a great movie that can be enjoyed by horse lovers or even people who aren't that fond of horses. A good movie is a good movie, and Black Beauty will remain a timeless classic.

Beautiful movie for horse-lovers!
Black Beauty was one of the best movies I've ever seen! Docs Keepin Time was an excellent "actor". There was inhumane treatment of the animals and Ginger was so tragic. The horses had no say in anything and were abused yet they tried to please their masters. With kind masters they flourished and the ending was beautiful. The music was evocative and everything it this movie made me cry. (It was also an excellent book.)

The Best Movie Of All Time
Just like the first reviewer I have been watching this movie since I was 9 years old back in 1994. I am nighteen now and haven't seen the movie for a while but still remember it dearly as it was my most favorite movie on my shelf as a child and teen. I still have it even though it's worn quite a bit but I will show it to my kids. The movie always brings me to tears. I quote the first reviewer, "A good movie is a good movie, and Black Beauty will remain a timeless classic."

A bit boring. 15th april 2004.
Kids would probably enjoy it. It was quite good the first time i watched it then i thought it was a kiddy film, but anyone would normally like these sorts of films. Not me it isn't my type.

I'm sure kids will love it but adults be prepared
I love horses and will watch almost any movie with them in it. But because I work with them I am also sensitive to their correct portrayals in film.

Although lovingly filmed, with very pretty scenery, nice settings and good actors, this movie was disappointing. It was not its faithfulness to the book I call into question - a good movie adaptation will always have changes - but the style in which they were done.
Alan Cummings as the voice of Black Beauty was given an overly saccharine script in my opinion. Instead of giving the animal a realistic viewpoint, it was a whiny and naive portrayal. In a bizarre twist, Ginger was portrayed as Beauty's love interest, which I found completely incomprehensible, since Black Beauty is a) a gelding and b) it detracts from the true meaning of the story, which was that Ginger, a close companion during the best days of their youth together, was squandered and brought low by mens' cruelty.
I also found it jarring that none of the other horses were given voices of their own, especially the likes of Ginger and Merrylegs. They are portrayed interacting together at several points, yet while Black Beauty "speaks" during those times, he never refers to them speaking to him, nor do they ever speak directly in the film. It makes for an odd sense of dislocation, as you watch two horses acting out a scene together while the voice of one is reiterating the present happenings - without giving the other a viewpoint.

Despite the fact that it is Black Beauty's story, this film also succumbs to giving him a human character with whom he forms a "deep" relationship. I find it irritating that most movies whose main characters are supposed to be animals usually resort to enlarging or inventing a human character for them to have a special relationship with - presumably to give the story significance, or substance, to the audience. If the story is being told correctly, the audience should identify with the main character directly, not only through a human relationship.

Lastly, while some scenes were well done - notably Black Beauty's first experience with shoes - most of the horse scenes looked fake. Few and far between are the movies that portray horses in realistic ways. This is not one of them. The scenes with Ginger in pasture, when the two of them were reunited, were so obviously staged. Two horses, facing off camera, were being signalled to rear several times in a row. They were not even facing each other.
The action of the horses in harness was also lacking in realism. Neither horse traveled well in harness and when the bearing rein was supposedly put on, cranking their heads up, you couldn't tell the difference. When Ginger is stretching her neck out, supposedly in sympathy, it is another obvious horse trick - someone is holding a treat for her just off camera and she's stretching out her neck to get it.
Also, Doc's Keeping Time, the main equine actor, was signalled to perform an irritating trick of tossing his head around and up and down to indicate emotions. This is a bad habit for a horse to pick up and most people discourage it; beyond that it was irritating to watch because I knew it was a bad habit and therefore unrealistic, again, to the portrayal. Horses don't toss their heads around in that fashion when exhibiting such emotions.

Picturing Black Beauty lying down while he narrates his tale was also extremely irritating to me. Most horses do not lie down naturally or often; it was an unrealistic attempt to elicit an empathetic reaction from the audience. The only thing I could think was that a horse would never stay for long in that position.

The comic touches also fell flat. In addition, while I admire greatly any horse with the training and ability to perform such a demanding role, Doc's Keeping Time was the wrong physical type. The Black Beauty of that era was a thoroughbred and it is that type of horse which is needed to perform the roles of being a hunter and carriage horse with the correct style for the period. Doc's Keeping Time is an American Quarter Horse, and again, while I admire him greatly, the filmmakers should have spent some extra time or research finding an animal that better fit the role's requirements.
But the ending of the film was surprisingly good. For whatever reason, it touches an emotional chord. I recommend the film highly for children but for adults looking for a good horse movie - it will be amusing but probably disappointing. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Warren Beatty's lengthy 1981 drama about American Communist John Reed and his relationships with both the Russian Revolution and a writer named Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton) is a compelling piece of little-known history told in a uniquely personal way. Beatty plays Reed as he did the title gangster in Bugsy and Senator in Bulworth, as a visionary likely to die before anyone fully recognizes the progressiveness of the vision, including those who are supposed to be on the same page. Jack Nicholson has an interesting part as fellow intellectual Eugene O'Neill, and the late author Jerzy Kosinski--himself a refugee from then-Soviet-controlled Poland--makes a strong impression as Reed's problematic Russian liaison. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Amazing Epic
There have been tons of epics in Hollywood- from the biblical epics like The Ten Commandments, the David Lean epics like Dr. Zhivago or the recent self-bloated Hollywood [poor] epics like "We Were Soldiers", "Pearl Harbor" and "Saving Private Ryan". "Reds", which was directed by Warren Beatty, and stars him along with Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Gene Hackman, is perhaps, along with the Lean epics, the greatest one ever made.

The story is of John Reed (Beatty), writer of "Ten Days that Shook the World", and the only American buried in the Kremlin. Even though I am against the "this is a true story" deal some movies pretentiously say, Beatty's film is so intelligently and almost objectively done, that I'll go ahead and ignore that "flaw". (espacially now that it is known that Reed was a massvely paid missionary of the USSR)

Yet one should look at the film itself. This is a beautiful and romantic film. While the movie remains closer to leftism, the film doesn't forget the injustices the Soviets did to Reed. The movie's main plot is the romance story between Beatty and Keaton- in that respect it is similar to Dr. Zhivago.

I don't think I have ever seen more beautiful cinematography in my life- Vittorio Storaro's snow scapes are some of the greatest squares ever filmed. It is real injustice to him that this film is only available in a [poor] pan-scan VHS version.

Yet the true power of the film is Beatty, both as Reed, the idealist who has to choose between love or idealism, and as the director. Despite its length, the film flows breathlessly, intercutting with various real interviews with people who actually knew Reed.

I wholeheartedly recommend this movie- it's one of the great moments of Hollywood. And one of the few.

A personal epic
Warren Beatty pulls off a difficult task in "Reds." He's got to juggle several epic stories, including the rise of the American left in the early 20th century, the Russian Revolution, and a personal story of two romantics in a relationship charged by passion both emotional and political.

Any of these story threads presents a difficult task for a filmmaker and Beatty weaves his multilayered tale together with skill. He pays close attention to detail, gives us a multitude of historical characters and events, and mixes his story telling with the words of real people. Beatty buttresses his scenes with deceptively simple "talking heads." These "witnesses" provide a real background to the John Reed/Louise Bryant story of "Reds," giving viewers a good grounding in the passions of the era. The attention to little details (Reed bringing Bryant lilies, the constant phrase "There's a taxi waiting," etc.) provide a rich portrait of two volatile human beings.

Beyond the personal, Beatty knows how to handle epic screen drama. The rousing montage that leads up to the overthrow of Russian government is sumptuous and envigorating. Don't be deceived thought; this is not a "pro-Bolshevik" film by any great stretch of the imagination. Reed's dissillusionment with the Soviet system is portrayed in agonizing detail. Emma Goldman's story, a really great history in and of itself, gives another point of view to the difficulty passionate people have when taking on governing authorities and social mores.

The performances are uniformally excellent. Beatty and Keaton are well matched and there's plenty of gems in the supporting roles. Standouts include Jack Nicholson as Eugene O'Neil, Maureen Stapelton as Emma Goldman, Edward Herrmann as Max Eastman, writer Jerzy Kosinski as Soviet bureaucrat Grigory Zinoviev and Paul Sorvino as Louis Fraina.

I love "Reds." It's one of my favorite films. Be forewarned, however, you could be lost and confused by the myrad of events in this film if you don't know much about political history of the radical left in early 20th Century America or the Bolshevik Revolution and its aftermath. On the other hand, if you're intrigued by the film you'll find yourself up to your eyeballs at the library reading about the true events and real people who inspired this film.

One Of The Great Films Of The 20th Century
This is a wonderful film that is really a love story. Yes, it is an epic history of the Russian Revolution but it is one of the best biographies of Jack Reed and other progressives of the early 20th century. My wife and I saw this film in the theater in 1981 and fell in love with it. We watch it at least once a year because of the terrific love story and amazing historic sweep of the film. I love the idealism found in this film. It shows that ideas are important and that each of us should attempt to live out what we really believe in. Someone should release this film on DVD it stands the test of time!

USEFUL IDIOTS
EXCERPTED FROM STEVEN TRAVERS' "GOD'S COUNTRY"

The 1920s were a strange time. John Reed's "Ten Days That Shook the World" reached a large audience in the United States and internationally. Many wanted to know why an entire planet could be thrust into war. In an attempt to address that issue, some decided that nationalism, governmental agendas, realpolitik, racism, class warfare, capitalism, Democracy, and corporations in bed with politicians and militarists were to blame.

Nationalism was part of it. German unification and Balkan nationalism played a role. Governmental agendas and realpolitik always have played a role in conflict. Since Communism addressed the concept of "one world government" and a "world without borders," some concluded that Communism offered the answer to these problems.
Racism was never an original part of the war, but would emerge as an ugly by-product. The Turks unleashed an open can of worms resulting in "ethnic cleansing" and genocide pitting Christians against Muslims, Turks against Arabs, secular vs. religious. In Germany, an easy scapegoat began to emerge: The Jews. Lies began to spread that Jewish banking interests profited from the war. In the American South Jewish influence was an affront to their sensibilities. The Ku Klux Klan rose again after a period of dormancy. The KKK's "mandate" pitted them against a "worldwide Jewish conspiracy" somehow in league with Papal domination. They said Catholics pledge allegiance not to the U.S., but to the Vatican. But few Catholics and fewer Jews lived in the South. Many blacks did. They were becoming a more prominent segment of society. Blacks were emerging as professional athletes in the Negro baseball leagues, and as musicians in the jazz world. As they asserted themselves, this infuriated the white underclass.
But the most pernicious thing that emerged out of World War I were Westerners who believed that the war had occurred because of the failure of capitalism, Democracy, and corporations who were in bed with politicians and militarists. When Reed's book came out, a segment of society allowed themselves to believe that the new political system in Russia should be given a chance. Communism became "the answer" to society's many problems, including racism and poverty. The failure of Communism, already evident by 1920, was not exposed to the world. Reed either chose not to write about the thousands and thousands of famine victims, the secret police, the crackdowns and forced marches, the banishments, assassinations and disappearances, or he was controlled by the hierarchy, and not allowed to see it. He probably did not want to see it. He had found his story and he was going to stick to it. The great failure of the free press, of governments and political figures, of humanists and truth-seekers, was the failure to pin Russia - Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky, and the rest of them - down before they became too powerful. To expose them for what they were.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
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Beatty's masterpiece
Warren Beatty's magnificent film, winner of many awards in many areas, deserves a DVD. Beatty, Keaton, Nicholson, Stapleton, etc., have never been better. Oscar winning cinematography deserves a good widescreen. Anyone else out there who thinks a DVD is long overdue? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One of the Better B Terror Films
I saw this when first released at the theater. It was a great terror movie. The tension runs throughout the movie as a group tries to escape a planet that prays upon their fears. One scene with a giant caterpillar and a scantilly clad lady was rather erotic. A good movie for fans of movies like Hellraiser and Phantasm. Erin Moran even does a decent job of acting.

Forbidden Planet meets Event Horizon
This is a strange little film. The poster art shows a scantily-clad woman being menaced by monsters. This is not really accurate. This is a psychological terror as opposed to a more overt monster film.

Things are ruled by The Master, a red-glowing figure. He hand picks a rescue te