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 (26)

Sandra Dee at her liveliest and her most appealing!
There were three films centering on the perky, fun-loving beach bunny, Gidget. This was the first and by far the best!!!!! Pert and pretty Sandra Dee was seventeen and at her liveliest and most appealing when she made this cute little flick. She is absolutely irresistable in the title role, a cute, fun-loving American teenage girl who would rather hit the beach than chase after boys like her other girlfriends. However, when she meets two handsome beachbums, Gidget goes a little boy-crazy herself and experiences first love in the process. This is a warm, charming, and funny movie. I have no doubt that this is the film that made Sandra Dee such a popular star. It's easy to see why she became the idol of so many American girls and boys alike. If you're looking for good, clean and solid fun, then GIDGET is the movie for you!!!!!

Gidget is a time-travel back to innocence and fun.
If you are a '50s or Grease fan and want to escape today for yesterday, you will enjoy Gidget. This movie is the story of a girl coming of age, discovering boy-girl relationships and trying new things, such as surfing. Gidget is spirited for the '50s and you'll see her mischievous adventurousness as she tries out social life on the beach. You'll cheer her on and chuckle as she plans her "get the guy" schemes. You'll also find the expression of youthful longing and angst in this movie is superior. END

Another Disappointment
I started watching this hoping to see some good, clean teen-age fun. In the first scene, Gidget's friends tell her that she better "make it" before she turns 17. I was pretty shaken by this but I kept watching the movie. In the next scene, Gidget goes to the beach and goes schnoerkeling. She nearly drowns, but a surfer gets a hold of her, sticks her on his surfboard, and then using it as a stretcher surfs her back in. The next day Gidget goes back to the beach to buy a used surfboard and explains that she "surfed" for the first time the day before and that it was like "touching the sky" or something to that effect. This is interesting because she was lying flat on her face looking more dead than alive, and the wave itself was about one foot high. At this point I thought I'd had enough of this nonsense and stopped watching the movie. One other point. People seem to make a big thing out of the "funny" names of some of the characters in this movie (e.g. "Moondoggie" and "Kahoona"). I can't say that this does anything for me. Hope this helps.

Its on DVD!
I have found this movie on DVD. Its on Ebay. I love this movie. I am only 19 but I would watch it all the time at my grandmothers house, and its my favorite movie.

Young again...
I highly recommend this movie for everyone. A clean cut, fun movie that you don't have to worry about due to bad language. I loved this movie when I was growing up so I bought Gidget for my daughter. She had her friends over, teenage boys and girls, and all loved it. In fact the boys kept asking when we were going to watch it again..
Too bad it isn't available on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Miscast Elizabeth
Greer Garson stars as Elizabeth Bennet in this 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice. She plays the clever and witty eldest of five daughters, who are all looking for rich husbands. Lawrence Olivier plays Mr. Darcy, a suitably wealthy prospect, however he is too arrogant for Elizabeth's liking. The story follows the two as they tease and rebuff, only to end happily with their engagement, as we always knew it would.

Being such an old film, the quality of the picture and sound were poor. Even so, they were better than the outrageous casting of Greer Garson as the lead. She was much too old to play Elizabeth, and was utterly unconvincing. Two of her sisters were played by Anne Rutherford and Maureen Sullivan. They were both excellent and would have done better in the lead. Olivier was wonderfully snooty as the aristocratic Mr. Darcy.

The other major weakness with the film was the costume design. The ladies' gowns and men's suits looked like they were borrowed from the set of Gone With the Wind. The dresses were full and puffy, not at all like the delicate and low-cut gowns of the early 1800s in England.

There were no exterior shots of the grand houses; rather we saw only small rooms with very ordinary furnishings. The photography was drab, even considering the age of the film.

The screenplay was co-written by the famous Aldous Huxley, who, it seems, had no knack for reproducing Austen's glorious dialogue. All in all, I found this film an acceptable introduction to Jane Austen's classic book, but not deeply satisfying or beautiful.

Wonderful movie of a timeless novel
This version of Pride and Prejudice first got me interested in Jane Austen. Though it may not be the most acurate version of the famous novel, it is very funny and all of the characters are played well. Lawrence Olivier IS Mr. Darcy, and Greer Garson shines as Lizzy, despite her age difference to the character.

An inferior adaptation of a great book
There are three film versions of Jane Austen's immortal "Pride and Prejudice" extant, and this one, the first, is by far the weakest. It would be hard to tamper with the great story, which is so well known as to need no rehashing here; but although the film tries to follow the story, Aldous Huxley proved incapable of incorporating Austen's incomparable dialogue into the film script, as the two later versions were able to do with remarkable success. There are other, more egregious shortcomings, in this film, which are:

1) Casting Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennet. Whoever had this idea should have been put in the stocks and pelted with water balloons. Elizabeth Bennet is 20 years old in the book, and Greer Garson, on the wrong side of 35, looks absolutely ridiculous trying to play a young ingenue. Who was she kidding? She doesn't even look like Austen's description of Elizabeth. Vivien Leigh might have made a great Elizabeth, if she wasn't already fixed in the public mind as Scarlett O'Hara. Which brings us to:

2) The 1860-ish costumes. Were they trying to move the timeline up? Somebody should have told the costume department that Longbourn and Tara were six thousand miles and sixty years apart. "Pride and Prejudice" was set sometime between 1790 and 1810 (Austen's biographers are in disagreement as to the exact date), but the costumes in this first version of "Pride and Prejudice looked like leftovers from the set of "Gone With the Wind". A big no-no.

3) The casting of Lawrence Olivier as Darcy was a mistake. Austen describes Darcy as being tall and handsome. Olivier was handsome but he didn't look much taller than Garson. Or maybe Garson was too tall. Whatever... it was a total mismatch.

4) The whole scene at Pemberley, which is central to the book, was eliminated. So how did Elizabeth's one-eighty from loathing to love take place? The movie doesn't say and we're left totally unconvinced.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that "Pride and Prejudice" is one of the best-loved books in English literature. It certainly deserved a better film adaptation than this one. Fortunately it has not one, but two: the BBC version of 1985 starring Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul (my personal favorite), and the A&E film of 1995 starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. Watch either or both of these after seeing the Garson/Olivier movie, to see what a good film adaptation of a great book really is.

Worst Adaptation!
This film was the worst adaptation of Jane Austen's famous novel that I have ever seen in my life. It is not really true to the novel, the costumes are ridiculous looking, not to mention that they do not match the kind of clothing that was worn in Austen's time. They hardly ever use the famous words and/or phrases from the book, only once or twice but they are somewhat changed. Granted I think Laurence Olivier made a great Darcy if he was more like Darcy is suppose to be, instead his version of him was more perky and uppity than nonchalant and melancholy and a little arrogant, which to me is what Darcy is actually like. If you want to see the greatest adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" ever made then check out the BBC and A&E production starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, I guarantee you'll watch it all the way through with a satisfied and happy smile on your face.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that this movie is
Misleading, to say the least.

I saw this movie last week on Turner Classic Movie channel, expecting to see a nice little 40's style rendition of that book we oh-so dearly enjoy.

What a silly movie.

Granted, I'm sure making a two hour movie out of the novel is difficult, but if you were to take a high school test on Pride and Prejudice after seeing this movie instead of reading the book, you would fail miserably.

The dresses were too elaborate. Mary is way too pretty. Greer is too blonde to play Elizabeth, where are those dark "fine eyes"? Darcy grossed me out. I don't even remember Bingley or Jane, and Elizabeth's transition from hating to loving Darcy goes a little something like this (paraphrased, of course):

Elizabeth: "Oh, how I miss Mr. Darcy"
Jane: "What? I thought you hated him?"
Elizabeth : "Well now, quite suddenly I love him!"

This is without the reunion at Pemberly. Its rushed, to say the least.

I did like Lydia, and there is a lovely, albeit irrelevant scene where Mrs. Bennet and the girls Mrs. Lucas and Charlotte (who is much too pretty in this adaptation) are racing neck and neck via carriage to get to Netherfield to meet the eligible men.

And the slightly amusing part where Mr. Bingley is talking about what's wrong with Jane when she's sick. That was just weird. Trés 40's, no?

Mr and Mrs Bennet are enjoyable characters, but I imagine that it would be difficult to screw up those well-written characters in any cinematic endeavor.

And the part with Lady Catherine acting as a "secret agent" for Darcy. What the hell.

Ugh. This movie is slightly amusing, if it was 5 hours of nonsense I would give it one star, but since its only 2 hours you might as well watch it if you feel so inclined.

But read the book and check out the 1995 BBC production one, too. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Spot the dog leaped from the pages of Eric Hill's books to the Disney Channel some time ago, and now he has his own full-length video. The 13 animatedsegments (each 4.5 minutes long) feature the puppy, his parents, and pals Helen the hippo, Steve the monkey, and Tom the crocodile in such everyday adventures as building a tree house, camping in the back yard, and donning costumes for a homemade theatrical production. Lovers of the simply illustrated books will recognize such familiar landmarks as the stairway, the rug, and the sofa, as well as the same understandable themes (share, cooperate with adults, follow through). In a universe away from his Oscar-nominated turn in The Sixth Sense, Haley Joel Osment provides Spot's voice. Each short story includes an original song and is followed by a brief live-action segment in which kids extrapolate Spot's lesson with their own in "Spot's Garden," an outdoor set that incorporates nature with dress-up boxes. This 74-minute video can easily be viewed in segments by toddlers and preschoolers. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Best of the Spot videos
This is our son's favorite video. He's 2 and a half and has been enjoying it for about a year now and never tires of it. I bought a couple of other Spot videos (not to mention other sesame street, barney, thomas the train, bear in blue house etc.) but this remains his favorite.

After watching some of the others, it is my favorite too - it is sweet without being nauseating (like Barney) and it is quiet and calm and teaches nice simple values. Spot's parents and grandparents are great role models - patient, loving, and empowering, and we could all learn a lesson from them. In one episode Spot makes his own breakfast (to let his parents sleep in) and spills an egg, a loaf of bread and cereal and milk on the floor. When his mother comes in, he says, "Look mom, I made my own breakfast!" and she, unfazed by the mess, says something like "Yes, Spot, I can see that, can you help clean up too?" in a pleasant tone of voice. I'd like to be a parent like that.

After watching this video repeatedly, we bought a couple of the Spot books and were disappointed. The books are almost completely devoid of content. The warmth and interpersonal relationships are missing in comparison to the videos. My son likes them anyway, but only because he is already fond of the characters from the videos.

This tape has 10 short episodes on it, interspersed by real kids doing various tasks. I've seen other reviewers complain of these diversions, but my son likes them and never wants me to turn off the video until the "kids" are done.

Spot on the Farm is nice too. Sweet Dreams, Spot, is not as good, in my opinion.

My Child's Favorite Video
This is my 2 year old's favorite video by far. To all the people who gave this video a bad review and said they found it annoying - my first thought is who cares if YOU don't like it - what matters is if your child likes it or not. The songs and lyrics probably aren't annoying to your child. For the last year it has been my daughter's favorite and she will sit quietly and watch the entire video without getting up. It is a great video to put in when you need to get things done around the house. This video gets 5 stars from us.

Social engineering with liberal politically correct subtext
This full-length release is Disney's attempt at "updating and improving" Spot. Its real intent is to exploit Spot's popularity to insert a liberal socialization agenda. There is a conscious attempt by the producers to make Spot more like Sesame Street in that it explicitly and implicitly teaches children politically correct lessons. The video is made up of 13 short stories featuring Spot and his friends. After each story, there is a segment where children play various instructive games prompted by a narrator. They are very careful to make sure that at least half the children are minorities.

There is a shift in emphasis towards learning through social interaction instead of from parents, which was the predominant theme in the older Spot videos. The parental roles have changed from teacher and disciplinarian to that of supporter and enabler. Parents are seen as an audience for Spot's various games where they look on and clap enthusiastically. They never disapprove of Spot's childish behavior as they did in previous videos. Most of the lessons Spot learns are now from his friends as he conforms to their behavior.

Among the "improvements" in this new version of Spot are new music and the introduction of a song in each short story. The music is annoying and the songs are worse. The songs are mostly sung by the child they use for Spot's voice who cannot carry a tune. The songs are poorly written and arranged, and the overall effect is extremely grating. Finally, at 75 minutes, this video is long for toddlers and interminable for adults.

On the plus side, there are a number of instructive lessons on various topics that help young children to learn practical lessons. The general tone is mirthful, so it is fun for kids to watch.

I rated this video a 3/10. My principal objection is the politically correct subtext. The parental role has been trivialized in favor of social conformity and group behavior. I feel that the older Spot videos were more constructive, emphasizing proper family values and dynamics, showing the parents as supportive but setting clear boundaries. The message here is that the parents' role is to make the child happy, and that most of life's important lessons come from peers. This reduces the parents to just another one of the child's pals, like Columbine killer Dylan Klebold and his dad, who described Dylan as his "best friend". My recommendation is to purchase Spot videos produced in the early 90's before Disney started its attempts at using Spot for social engineering.

Absolutely wonderful video
This is my 21 month old daughter's favorite video. She requests this one every day! It's very low key, the music is nice and catchy (I find myself humming it throughout the day), the voices are very clear and graphics are simple. The short stories are very well done. One thing that I love about this video is the way Spot, his parents, and his friends interact. Spot and his parents are very loving and respectful towards each other, and Spot and his friends are all curteous to each other. There is definitely something to be learned from that! I plan on getting more Spot videos. This is THE best children's video we own.

Oy. Insulting overload. Gave me a headache.
Relentless repetitive unimaginative music, intro sequences that flash images so fast as to disorient and confuse, short 'stories' that go nowhere and are followed by pointless 'real-life' episodes...a text of how to make an 'educational' video that promulgates short-term, superficial thinking and acceptance of mediocrity (I'm being kind) in art. Any Blues Clues video is miles better. The room felt so much calmer when we turned it off. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This first theatrical outing for the ubiquitous Olsen twins is their take on The Parent Trap meets The Prince and the Pauper. One plays a foster child under the care of a single social worker (Kirstie Alley) whose marital status prevents her from adopting her favorite charge. The other is the neglected daughter of a "bazillionaire" (Steve Guttenberg), who's about to marry a gold-digging socialite (played nastily by Jane Sibbett, Ross's first ex-wife on TV's Friends). The foster kid comes to a charity camp abutting the rich girl's summer estate and--presto--the identical strangers meet, hatch a plan to solve both their dilemmas, and switch identities. Directed by Andy Tennant (Ever After), this PG-rated film features some decent G-rated chemistry between Alley and Guttenberg and surprisingly uncloying performances by Mary-Kate and Ashley. The rating is for mild language. (Ages 5 and up) --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (50)

A fun family movie
Amanda lives in an orphanage where her only real friend is her social worker. Alyssa is the only child of a multi-millionaire. But one summer, they meet by accident and hatch a daring plan. They switch places and try to get Amanda's social worker and Alyssa's dad to fall in love before he marries an awful woman. But when the fiancée figures out what's going on, can the girls pull it off?

Granted, this movie is a variation of The Parent Trap. And while there were a few unexpected twists, there really isn't anything new to the plot. But the movie is incredibly fun. The first time I saw it I laughed so hard it hurt, and I was in college at the time. The movie creates humor from the premise, sometimes setting up jokes well ahead of the punch line. The Olsens do a good job with the acting. It's fun watching them basically play each other. The adults do a fabulous job with their rolls, making it easy to get lost in this world.

I have shared this movie with many friends since I first saw it, and they all enjoyed it. I highly recommend this entertaining film.

Fun, fun, fun!
This is my favorite Olsen Twins movie, and I'm an adult who can honestly say she enjoys it. I grew up on Full House and have always loved watching those two. They've done a lot of movies, and this one is my favorite. Supported by the charming Steve Guttenberg, the extremely funny Kirstie Alley, and a supporting cast that includes Philip Bosco as the sly and smart butler and Jane Sibbett as Clarice, the snooty, evil-plotting fiance of Guttenberg's character, this movie is sure to please any fan of Mary-Kate and Ashley. So the story goes kind of like this: look-alikes Amanda and Alyssa (Mary-Kate and Ashley, respectively) literally bump into each other while at a summer camp (that Amanda's a camper at and that Alyssa's extremely rich father happens to own). Once the two realize how closely they resemble each other, they hatch a plan to get Alyssa's single dad and Amanda's pretty caseworker romantically involved. Will they succeed, amidst foodfights, canoes falling over, and the interference of the conniving Clarice? This is a fun movie from beginning to end, with lots of visual treats (Andy Tennant Films--Fools Rush In, Ever After, etc.--always seem to have beautiful scenery), funny dialogue, and fantastic characters. There's exactly one slightly objectionable word (spoken by one of the Olsens), but I think only very conservative parents will have a problem with it. This movie is part Parent Trap, part Three Men And A Little Lady, and . . . basically just a really cute movie.

Double Your Viewing Pleasure With The Olsen TwinS :)
Even though i am NOT one for remakes.And this is a remake of the
classic Disney movie "The Parent Trap" but underneath a different name.This is one remake that is even better the original.The Olsen Twins are these days' Shirley Temple.Both on screen and the way they conduct themselves.We have gotten to meet them and trust me they are the same in real life.We been fans of the TwinS since fuLL house days.I only have to warn parents of one thing in this movie that Mary-Kate does suprise the viewer with the use of a somewhat "dirty word".I would tell you what it is but it would most likely not get posted.Its P*SSED.Ok from that you can tell.
If you don't want your kids hearing that then stay away.But remember they hear that and worse then that in school and can't stop them from going to school.But most importantly the TwinS deliver in this movie.We have been blessed now with 18 years of their sweetness and talent.We wish them all the best they deserve all that they got.And when child stars turn out as they did that is more then an achievement.Don't miss this movie.And as for the Twins this is their best and that is saying a lot.Sit back relax and laugh and enjoy and double your viewing pleasure with the Olsen TwinS : Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen......

Moi
The Movie isn't half bad. Kids will like it, but adults might be annoyed. To be perfectly honest, Ashley's acting is forced and very annoying at times; she sounds like she's trying to have a British accent, but fails.. Mary-Kate does a fine job. It's really hard to believe that Steve Gutenburg would pick Kirstie Alley over his fiance, too.
If you really like the Olsen Twins, then you'll like this movie. If you aren't, then don't go into this movie with high hopes.

Charming!
I'm not a hardcore Mary-Kate and Ashley fan but I'm not one of their haters and I actually like them, have liked them ever since Full House. I think It Takes Two is a sweet charming movie and I agree that it's like The Parent Trap meets The Prince and the Pauper and I'm surprised that not many people seem to have noticed The Prince and the Pauper angle of this story. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were pretty good and Steve Guttenberg and Kirstie Alley were good too and fans of the NBC sitcom friends will notice Jane Sibbet as Steve Guttenberg's nasty fiance. She plays Ross's first ex-wife on Friends. I would like for me and my family to have this charmer on DVD but Amazon doesn't list what the aspect ratio is and from experience I have found that usually means the DVD is edited into a pan and scanned format and I would rather have widescreen. ... Read more

Description

Depicts the gallant exploits of the American Rangers and their leader, Colonel William Darby, as he leads his men through the landing assault on North Africa and the invasion of Italy. Suggested by the book by Major James Altieri. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Birthday Gift
I purchased this video for my dad's 72nd birthday and it would not play correctly. Lines throughout the picture on the screen. We tried it on 3 different TV's to no avail. Unfortunately I bought it on Aug.13th and his birthday was on Sept. 12th and by the time I returned home on the 14th of Sept. it was too late to return it. He had been so looking forward to receiving this video that I am saddened not to be able to provide it to him. He served in the Korean War and enjoys watching war movies. He had looked all over for this movie and I was so happy to find it on Amazon.com. I thought it would be a terrific surprise for him but it was I who was surprised by the video being defective.

Wild Bill Defies Formula
Near the end of his eccentric and notorious career William "Wild Bill" Wellman directed "Darby's Rangers" for Warner Brothers. Despite the studio's budget, which limited the production to formula action-war-adventure status, Wellman used the dialogue to create interesting characterizations from his young contract players. Focusing on James Garner as Darby and the personal lives of his men, on and off the field, Wellman delivered a to the point and appealing film still memorable to anyone who has ever seen it.

Great World War II Film from Wild Bill
"Darby's Rangers" was director William "Wild Bill" Wellman's second from last film. An ace pilot in WW1 "Wild Bill" Wellman went to Hollywood and directed "WINGS," the first film to win an Academy Award. "Darby's Rangers" released in 1958 deals with Major William Darby's formation of a crack ranger outfit. The studio wanted an aging Wellman to turn out another formula war film late in his career but thanks to the charisma that James Garner brings to the role of Major Darby this movie works much better than expected. The movie deals with the Ranger's exploits on and off the field of battle. Cinematographer William Clothier's images are well filmed and stalwart Composer Max Steiner once again gives us that old 'guts and glory' scoring. The good cast includes Jack Warden, Edd Byrnes, Stuart Whitman, Peter Brown, Torin Thatcher, Murray Hamilton and David Janssen.

Great action and adventure based on the WWII truth.
For those of you interested in World War II history, especially as it relates to the training and operations of commando units, this video is a must see. James Garner offers a wonderful portrayal of Major Darby, the founder of the modern-day Rangers. Hollywood fluff is at a minimum in this stirring account of Ranger missions. Sit back and enjoy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The postwar vogue for documentary-style realism, prompted by The March of Time and the critical success of Roberto Rossellini's Open City, cross bred with film noir to create a compelling strain of crime films; this is one of the most low-key and credible, based on the true story of a Chicago reporter (James Stewart) who became convinced of the innocence of a death-row inmate (Richard Conte). Director Henry Hathaway (whose Kiss of Death started the trend) stages the action on the actual Chicago locations, providing a fascinating documentary record of an underfilmed metropolis (the convict's mother is a washerwoman at the Wrigley Building), and leads his cast to appropriately restrained, naturalistic performances. Stewart is just beginning to explore his newfound, postwar maturity here, and there's an undercurrent of obsessiveness in his performance that anticipates the haunted figures he would soon be playing for Anthony Mann and Alfred Hitchcock. --Dave Kehr ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Henry Hathaway Special!
A Classic of sorts in that Henry Hathaway was making films like these( Kiss of Death) , that were shot on location.

This time its in the Chicago area and very ethnic story telling this film really is. Richard Conte plays one of the "two" convicted of murder. His mother slaves away at mopping floors to come up with money to pay an attorney to help her son ( Conte)

Another peerless performance by Stewart probably the most versatile actor ever( Probably? ) Here he plays the newpaper reporter drawn in to the drama in trying to exonerate ( Conte) Frank Weicek.

Dark alleys, old houses , trash cans cant stop Stewart. Betty Garde plays ( Wanda Skutnik) , the supposed eye witness who Stewart feels is lying.

Filmed in pure documentary style, It would be interesting to observe the events on screen if this was during the Mayor Daly period in Chicago Fine acting by all.

A Search For Truth...and Justice
Jimmy Stewart is a Chicago newspaper reporter who does a small human interest story about a woman who runs a newspaper ad offering reward money to anyone who will help clear her son of a murder charge. Stewart's editor thinks there is more to the story and Stewart begrudgingly starts prying it open. Through much of the film Stewart has to struggle with himself wondering if he is righting a wrong or helping to free a cop killer. In the second half of the film, now convinced of the man's innocence Stewart turns from reporter to crusader. We go along for the ride as Stewart meets dead ends, cautious politicians, and cynical prosecutors. There are good scenes between Stewart and Helen Walker as his spouse as well as with Kasia Orzazewski playing the mother of the convicted man. The real strength of the film however is its knowledge of Chicago, especially the Polish immigrant experience. Based on a true story, written with genuine feeling and suspense. Excellent viewing for an entire family.

Stop the Presses
For my money this is the best film ever made about American journalism. James Stewart is a staff writer made cycnical over the years by the grubby sensationalism and shallow hackwork that fills most American newspapers. When he actually latches onto a case of genuine injustice it's an episode that transforms his life almost as much as that of the convict he's trying to free. This is certainly director Henry Hathaway's masterpiece and he has never been given sufficient credit for it. The straight-on realism he achieved filming on location in Chicago has rarely if ever been equalled in the American movies in my view, and no effort was made to clean up the untidy skeins of the story either as Hollywood was wont to do. For instance, nothing was done to free the man unjustly convicted along with Richard Conte's character, around whom the story revolves. If you were to make a list of Stewart's 4 or 5 greatest performances this would have to be on it. He uses methods both praiseworthy and ugly to get what he's after and no American movie actor ever brought home that kind of mixed morality better.

ignore John Grave`s review
This is a good film for any jimmy stewart fan.His acting is top-notch as usual.

No passion, no surprises
Realistic, documentary-style recreations are one thing, but call Northside 777 falls off the mantle.

Sorry, guys, I give thumbs down on this one. This film is directorially unimaginative, the dialogue is lousy and lacks spontaneity, and a stone cold soundtrack almost totally devoid of music make Call Northside 777 a film I would rather have missed.

I am a serious fan of Lee J. Cobb and James Stewart, so I really can't fault the casting at all. The actors are appropriately cast in their roles; they make a great pair. But the director kind of plods along, the first half of the film so cumbersome, so utterly predictable. The emotional impact "hits" seem especially ill timed.

Henry Hathaway fails to plant any questions in the audience. In short, Call Northside is not a "whodunit", but rather a "Who- didn't-dunit"

Maybe the film editor blew it. But more than anything else, it's the lack of a score, a lack of passion, a lack of flow; cold, analytical, sluggish. Maybe this film could have been great if Alfred Newman had been cut loose to do something creative. But this time out, the composer seems to be in a straightjacket, and I doubt it was his choice. Someone taped up Newman, I swear it.

What this film needs more than anything else is a score. A score to richly stir the emotions: paranoia, loathing, suspicion, determination, insinuation. Instead, we have only the persistent crackling of the optical sound.

The best thing about this motion picture may be the locations, especially the rounded penitentiary location, which is stunning.

-John ... Read more

Amazon.com

Burt Kennedy wrote several of the finest Westerns ever for director BuddBoetticher in the late '50s--marvels of austere, subtle storytelling. Yet on hisown, writer-director Kennedy tended to very broad comedy-Westerns. TheRounders, based on a novel by Max Evans, falls somewhere between SupportYour Local Sheriff (high) and Dirty Dingus Magee (low). Glenn Fordand Henry Fonda play two bronc busters in the pickup-driving West who, by theirown admission, "ain't exactly the smartest cowboys that ever lived." Somehowthey always end up owing rancher Jim Ed Love (Chill Wills) one more year ofindentured servitude. The year we observe is dominated by a purely diabolicalroan and capped by a randy brush with two showgirls (Sue Ane Langdon and HopeHoliday) who play "Dumber" to Ford and Fonda's "Dumb."It's all very amiableand unassuming, but the toot-plunk-whistle-boom soundtrack--to signal "This isthe funny part"--is sheer torture. --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Charming cowboy comedy
Henry Fonda and Glenn Ford co-star as a pair of almost-over-the-hill cowpunchers whose love of the free life, and plain lack of horse sense, have kept them pinned to the same lousy job year after years, and also from settling down with any of the gals that moon over them when they come down from the hills long enough to spend their dough. These guys are loveable foul-ups, roustabouts who haven't quite figured out how to get ahead, but sure like doing things the hard way. Plenty of light comedy (including some of the most charming early '60s sexist jokes you're ever likely to see) and a funny love-hate relationship between Ford and the one horse he simply cannot break. It's nice to see Ford and Fonda play characters who just ain't that bright, each in their own typical understated style. Cute film -- recommended!

They sure don't make 'em like they used to...do they?
The inspired, superb teaming of Glenn Ford and Henry Fonda help raise this laid back film from almost certain obscurity. Based on the novel by Max Evans 'The Rounders' emerged as a sleeper hit when released in '65 and after all this time continues to defy the odds and remain a real audience pleaser today. Told with all too rare simplicity and filmed on alternately stark locations and colorful vistas, screenwriter and director Burt Kennedy crafts another one of his long series of winning films. Ford and Fonda play the aging bronc-busters (or 'cowboys with their brains kicked out' as Ford says) Ben Jones and Howdy Lewis just trying to earn enough money for a boat so they can live on the ocean...or a desert isle...or...well anywhere "where there ain't no grass and there ain't no horses!" as Ben firmly explains it to Howdy. Two factors stand in the way of their dreams: working for a stingy rancher who tries to pinch the duo for what he can and their own penchant for wasting every dime they earn in a matter of days when they make the annual journey into Sedona.

As the movie opens it is early autumn; Ben and Howdy reluctantly accept work from Jim Ed Love, a rancher they both love to hate. Part of their duties includes attempting to tame a furious and ornery young mustang properly named "Ol' Fooler". The horse quickly becomes their arch nemesis as it continually defies their attempts at bronc-busting; wily old veterans they refuse to be done-in by the stubborn animal and will eventually talk Love into letting them keep it as part of their pay. Ben and Howdy brainstorm that they can make a mint and leave their hard-luck days behind at the annual rodeo in Sedona by betting that no one can ride their varmint of a horse for longer than eight seconds. The plan goes fairly well but they encounter an unexpected twist of events that threatens to ruin the guys' enterprise and sink their dreams fast.

It shouldn't amount to much - but it does. One of the very best supporting casts ever assembled helps out tremendously providing endless appeal and colorful characterizations. Chill Wills, Edgar Buchanan, and both Kathleen & Joan Freeman show up as the story progresses and have fairly expanded roles. Barton MacLane, Denver Pyle and Doodles Weaver appear in cameo roles that seem tailored perfectly to their talents. An uncredited Warren Oates plays a bumbling gun-crazy wrangler that runs afoul of Jones and Lewis. The best surprise of all though is Sue Ann Langdon and Hope Holiday as two attractive and voluptuous ladies that Ben and Howdy happen upon when they make the late spring journey into Sedona. This sequence of the film supplies us with it's funniest and most memorable moments.

Made at a time when films could be both sparse of activity and routinely but unabashedly sentimental 'The Rounders' is living proof that comedies don't have to be big, bold and brassy to be enjoyed. For a refreshing change of pace and an opportunity to see Ford and Fonda at their most likeable I heartily recommend you set aside some time for this flick.

A not much of a movie plot
THE ROUNDERS is a not much of a movie plot. It's just a good movie. Unlike those wonderful B Westerns from the 1930s, these cowboys--Glenn Ford and Henry Fonda--got to drink hard "hotch" and also kiss the girls as well as the horse. It is a film that defines great countryside, solid friendship, how dreams keep yuh going, how great a movie can be without much of a plot, and how yuh learn to love your enemy. In this case, the enemy is that cagey Roan roping, bucking horse that slo-witted Ford tried his dangdest to break and couldn't. He wants to run down the horse with a pickup, shoot it,send it to the glue factory [soap product in this case] or sell it to some sucker willing to buy it. In the end bronco-busters Ford and Fonda don't bust the cantankerous Roan, but they prove that you can make an endearing story into a movie without getting maudlin about it. Three CHEERS and a DOZEN YIPPEES for this film.

loved it
This is a great old favorite of mine, all the stars, good story. If you liked City Slickers, give this a shot.

Totally Southwest Cowboy
I have sat and watched this movie several times and I've enjoyed it more each time. Ford and Fonda are a great cowboy team. With the spectacular scenery of Sedona and surrounding Arizona territory, this makes for a superb afternoon at the movies. ... Read more

Description

Mary-Kate and Ashley star as soccer-playing sisters who scheme to trade teams by secretly trading places. But as the plan unfolds, there's chaos on and off the field. With clever schemes, hilarious mix-ups and non-stop action all part of the game, Mary-Kate and Ashley are in for some fancy footwork in their all-new feature-length movie! ... Read more

Reviews (30)

OLSEN TWINS ROCK!
if you love soccer and if you love the twins than you will REALLY REALLY REALLY enjoy this GREAT movie! Even if you aren't a fan of the twins or maybe you are and just hate soccer you will really like this movie it's cute funny and adorable especially if you want your kids to be quiet(the older ones maybe) pop this movie in and they will keep quiet for about a hour!I also recommend Passport to Paris another great Olsen twin movie!

this movie was awsome!
if you like the olsens,soccer,and boys this movie is for you.this movie was about emma (ashley) and sam (mary-kate)stanton. sam is an athlete and emma,well is not!they end up on opposite soccer teams (sam on the bad, emma on the good) and they switch places to make eachother look good and then their mom finds out and they and thier dad are in trouble,they have to forfit their first 4 games fo lying. i won't spoil the end but lets just say emma and sam end up to live happily ever after with 2 boyfriends!

Really good and even interesting for adult viewing.....
My 5 yo got hooked on the Olsens by watching reruns of Full House on Nick and ABCFam. So I got a couple of videos for her to span the divide between her Dora years and whatever comes next! This is really a cute movie that even I enjoy watching several times over. I can relate to the parental roles and she can relate to the soccer and girly stuff. This led me to make more purchases of the video series and I hope the rest are as good. A nice relaxing watch!!

It Was Okay... I Guess
Switching Goals is not the Olsen twins best work, but if you're a soccer fan, you should watch it anyway. The plot was alright, but it was soooo predictable. It really needs more soccer scenes, but if you like soccer and/or the Olsen twins, you'll like this movie.

The Olsen twins are great role models!
I got this movie for for my younger sister for her birthday. She was kinda girly and didn't like sports much. I thought this would be a great movie since Ashley is her favourite actress. She had all the movies out at that time except for this one. When she watched it she wanted to be in sports! I thought it was so strange that suddenly she wanted to be in sports. I watched the movie for myself. I fell in love with. I bought a copy for myself. These girls are great role models. The Olsen twins got my sister into a physical activities instead of getting trouble or hooked on drugs. These are girls love being themselves and aren't into being what others are into, like drugs and stuff. They don't swear in their movies either. This is a great movie for the whole family to enjoy. This movie's about two sisters named Emma(Ashley) and Sam (Mary-Kate)Stanton who try-out for soccer teams for a soccer competition. Emma being girly thought it would be a new experience for her. When the sisters get the opposite teams which they had hope for. The girls secretly trade places. Will they pull it off? Will everything go smooth? Buy this movie and find out! Hope this was helpful!!! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Failure to deliver product
You cashed my check 2 months ago and you still have not sent the video. What is your problem?

Probably the second best way to spend a rainy afternoon
I bought this by mistake, but instead of changing it for the correct title, i watched it and thoroghly enjoyed it.
A great family drama and despite no tipping the velvet scenes this is one i would recommended to everyone, despite a slightly misleading title.

Surviving In The Wilderness
This is a moving story, well produced and enhanced with DVD capabilities. "The DVD feedback option is wonderful for promoting discussion." "The ease of going from scene to scene was a great benefit." Good historical information and author's biography. The kids liked the adventure story. DVD features easy to operate for most. "I liked the way we could go back to different sections, like when they were shooting arrows." "It showed a lot about hunting and building a cabin." "Matt got along with the Indians." Best for ages 8 to 12.

I'll Be Waiting, Pa
Terrific family entertainment and certain to please younger viewers as they relate to the child protagonist, 13-year-old Matt. The young settler has agreed to protect the homestead while awaiting the return of his family but, due to unforseen delays, his short wait turns to months. With assistance from the Penobscot Indians the boy learns the necessary skills to survive and must make the difficult decision whether to continue waiting for his family or depart with the natives as the Maine winter approaches...

I'll Be Waiting, Pa...
Terrific family entertainment and certain to please younger viewers as they relate to the child protagonist, 13-year-old Matt. The young settler has agreed to protect the homestead while awaiting the return of his family but, due to unforseen delays, his short wait turns to months. With assistance from the Penobscot Indians the boy learns the necessary skills to survive and must make the difficult decision whether to continue waiting for his family or depart with the natives as the Maine winter approaches... ... Read more

Reviews (1736)

Best movie of 2001 and a great DVD to own.
Great works of art that challenge conventional notions often polarize opinion, and it's obvious that "Moulin Rouge" has done just that. The polarity of opinions seen here on Amazon mirrors the love-it/hate-it reactions the film generated upon release in Spring '01.

I think this is because "MR" reinvents that most sacred and traditional of genres, the romantic musical, and because the film has the audacity to take pop culture [and pop music specifically] seriously. Plus, the idea of watching Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, whatever you think of their acting, SINGING for more than two hours isn't intuitively appealing.

But I urge viewers to give this movie a chance if you haven't already, and I'd highly recommend buying the DVD if you already DO like the film from the theaters. This is a marvelous piece of cinematic entertainment and the DVD is a fantastic exploration of the medium and the source material. I applaud the director and his crew for delving so deeply behind the scenes.

Make no mistake: "MR" is a work of art. If you didn't like it, I posit that you didn't get it.

Love it or Hate it--it is a great film and an awesome DVD!
Yes, this is a film like most any groundbreaking or specific director's vision that will cause people to love it or hate it. People who like musical theatre have both hated it and loved it. People who don't like musical theatre have both hated it and loved it. It just depends on how the film grabs you. If you don't like the first 10-20 minutes--wait--because the film's tone changes. It's like ROMEO AND JULIET. The first part is a crazy, comical spectacle. The second half is a gut wrenching, beautifully filmed drama. The film is thrilling and majestic. The DVD is FULL of incredible extras. If you listen and watch how Baz and his creative team made the choices that became this film, you really understand how well thought out this film is. I love the film even more knowing that there is indeed an intelligent method to the madness. And hey, the film hold the National Board of Review Award, Golden Globes, and 8 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. Seems the Love it audience is bigger than the (vicious) Hate it audience. I love this film and especially its DVD extras.

Come what may...indeed...
Frankly, the first reaction for this movie is, musical...cheezy! I have to admit, it is hard to look for a really good musical nowadays, or at least up average would be fine for me. Then, I heard Nicole Kidman is going to star on this musical, so I firgured, what the heck, let's gie it a shot. Since she just had her divorce and such. I must say, I have had put my foot in my mouth for this. The movie was splendid. Despite her personal mishaps, Nicole has proven to be one of the best. She sings, with Ewan Mcgregor as her co-star and they have their work ut out for them.

This is a story of a poor writer (Ewan) in strive of getting his unobtainable object of desire (Nicole), who happens to be the main star of this circus theater show in Paris. They succumb into some sort of Forbiddened Love and they tried anything to be and stay together but fate have other plans for them. Nicole has to help her friend and boss from going bankcrupt and with that, she has to attend to this other rich guy, who owns the deed to the place. Help in the sense of be her compainion. Meanwhile, to cover up their affair, the Ewan has manage to create a play, due to mistaken liason earlier in the movie; therefore giving them the room to be together at least somewhere along the line.

I must add one thing.

The rich man gets what he wants, and if he can't have what he wants...nobody else will either.

An applause for this one.

This Proves That Oscars Are Bought
I wish I could have given this no stars. Unquestionably one of the 10 worst movies ever made, although it doesn't even deserve to be called a movie. A lacerated video clip more like it. Nominated for a bunch of Oscars, together with A BEAUTIFUL MIND(another overrated dose of sugar), it proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that those awards are completely political & utterly misguided. As many will agree, CHICAGO was everything this dismal effort so desperately yearned to be. A girlfriend of mine told me she cried when Satine(Nicole Kidman)died. I was incredulous. Who cared???? (I was overjoyed since it meant the ordeal was nearly over) With Richard Roxburgh apparently suffering from constipation coupled with Tourette's & Jim Broadbent(usually brilliant)doing some sort of Quentin Crisp/Tootsie impersonation, I would equate this experience with a 3 day migraine. What in God's name were they smoking in the editing room?

I RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE ALL THE WAY!
VERY GOOD! A LITTLE SLOW, BUT I LIKED THE OVERALL SENSE OF IT! ... Read more

Description

During the Vietnam War, a doctor and nurse meet and fall in love. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Geniune reality
I just loved the movie, it I thought the movie was a real outstanding show of the life of a military man, and his love for a girl. I can really identify with it after being a military wife and not knowing what will happen, when your man is called off to go fight a war. It was great.

Must see
This movie is a sleeper, and excellent movie that never got alot of publicity. It is a must have for Viet Nam movie lovers. A great combination of action, love, tragedy, and comedy set in the turmoil of the Viet Nam war.

Relevant Even Today
While this pic is set during the VietNam war, it is still very relevant today with what is going on in the world. I feel it is an accurate depiction of the horrors of war, the lonliness of the soldiers and nurses and the compassion of the military personnel. Ken Wahl and Cheryl Ladd are excellent as the leads and your heart aches for them when they are apart and then finally reunited. The reunion never fails to bring tears to my eyes. This should be seen by all.

THE SECOND CASUALTY OF WAR
If innocence is the first casualty of war, romance is certainly the second. Both are explored in PURPLE HEARTS, Sidney J. Furie's second Vietman installment, 6 years post his classic THE BOYS IN COMPANY C. This could have been the Vietman War chick flick but instead it's a tight drama with solid acting by leads Ken Wahl and Cheryl Ladd, and great support by James Whitmore, Jr. (fantastic as a stoic CIA operative), Stephen Lee and the always great R. Lee Ermey, playing (what else?) a USMC gunnery sergeant. Get this one and BOYS to DVD ASAP.

Excellent war romance story
This needs to come out on DVD. This is a fabulous romance story set during the Vietnam War. Highly recommended to those who love action adventure romances. ... Read more

Reviews (48)

Delightful story with puppies that will steal your heart
It was a stroke of genius for the legendary Disney Studio to decide to remake their classic 1961 animated feature "101 Dalmatians", as a live action feature. Never a great fan of remakes, I feel this story is a natural for a live action version and on first viewing it totally won me over. It has so much to offer viewers of all ages, whether it be its 99 gorgeous Dalmatian puppies that would melt the heart of any dog lover, a top class production with terrific sets, locations and stunts or a wonderfully wicked villianess in the incomparable Cruella De Vil played to perfection by gifted actress Glenn Close.

The film follows closely the original story and tells the tale of London couple Roger and Anita who meet through a Dalmatian dog mixup in a London Park and fall in love, marry and find themselves the happy "parents" of 15 beautiful Dalmatian puppies when their Dalmatians Pongo and Perdita begin a family of their own. Their happiness is short lived however when Anita's boss the dastardly Cruella De Vil spots the puppies and immediately makes plans to have the puppies kidnapped so that she can turn their pelts into the extravagant spotted fur coat she has always dreamed of having. What ensures is a comical tale full of laughs, great stunts and hilarious situations of the "boo the villian, cheer the dogs" variety. The Dalmatian parents, with the aid of many assorted members of the animal kingdom from woodpeckers, squirrels, and assorted sheep pigs, and dogs not only succeed in tracking down the missing puppies in their hideout but also outwit Cruella and her incompetent accomplices at every turn. The animals revenge on Cruella and her accomplices makes for most of the humour as they find themselves being dumped through falling roofs, landing in tubs of gooey molasses and being smelled out by skunks!

No expense was spared on this production and indeed all the live action characters bare an amazing resemblance to their cartoon counterparts. Gleen Close towers over the whole production in her performance as Disney Studios most famous villianess the totally over the top Cruella De Vil. Her makeup, hair styles and clothing is everything you would imagine Cruella to be. It is to the credit of Glenn Close that she succeeds totally in bringing to life such a well known and "loved" cartoon villianess. A supremely talented actress as seen in such diverse roles as those in "Fatal Attraction", "Dangerous Liaisons", "Meeting Venus", and "Paradise Road" among others, she is a total riot as the bizzare fashion designer with an extreme fur fetish. It is she who makes "101 Dalmatians" such memorable viewing and her encounters with the animals in the second half of the film will have you laughing for ages. The sight of Cruella rising out of the tub of molasses where she has been unceremoniously dumped by the animal brigade will bring fits of laughter to the viewer. The film also boasts the great talents of Jeff Daniels and the lovely Joely Richardson as Roger and Anita the loving couple drawn to each other by their fondness for Dalmatians, and the gifted Joan Plowright as Anita's former Nanny who finds herself performing the role again but this time for the 15 puppies in the house. Much of the comedy stems from the great playing by Hugh Laurie and Mark Williams as the wacky Jasper and Horace employed by Cruella who's job it is to steal the puppies for Cruella. They receive the main brunt of the animals "revenge" to great comic effect as does John Shrapnel in the role of the sinister scarred Skinner who is employed to turn the puppies coats into Cruella's new coat. The animal stunts performed in this film will have you gasping as the animals seem top take on human personalities of their own to brilliant effect. The location photography around London and in the snow scenes at Cruella's hideaway also create a very pleasing look to the film.

I never fail to watch "101 Dalmatians" without finding a smile appearing on my face. It is a totally delightful film that is just as much for adults as it is children which is a real credit to the Disney Studios. Glenn Close really makes the film a viewing experience with her over the top playing here but if you are in anyway a dog lover you can't help but be totally captivated by these delightful 101 spotted creatures charming the audience in "101 Dalmatians". Enjoy!

"101 Dalmatians"
Having watched both the live-action and the animated versions of "101 Dalmatians," I find the live-action version to be vastly superior. This updated classic has a fresh, fun storyline. The actors who play the characters seem perfectly suited for their roles. Glenn Close is particularly good as Cruella De Vil. The movie was filmed in England and each scene is beautifully crafted. The director has done a remarkable job of giving the dogs respected status as emotion-feeling, three dimensional characters without resorting to the silly and mundane method of giving them human voices. Being a dog trainer myself, the thing I most enjoy about the movie is the absolutely phenomenal job done by the dog handlers. Not only are the trained behaviors remarkable, but the handlers have elicited responses from the dogs that readily convey understandable "emotions" to the audience. The ONE glaring fault of this movie is the final scene where all of the dogs have been allowed to breed ad infinitum. I find that totally irresponsible and the reason this movie gets 4 stars instead of 5.

CORNY!
One of the WORST films by Disney is this "101 Dalmations", which is a live-action version of the original cartoon movie & is nowhere near as good. All it was is just a retelling of the story obviously, but very little excitement and fun, bad acting and cheesy, cheesy, cheesy special effects. (not to mention the jokes sucked!) It is also TOO short! They could've added in more and it would've been better but it all ended too soon. Disney is really going downhill with these sequels and remakes and I suggest that they STOP now!! How anybody could like this film is beyond me! This is the stupidest, crappiest movie remake ever! Save your money and buy the original cartoon version instead cause it's 100% better than this smelly pile of dog crap! Your kids will also like it more.

A dog's life
Don't expect this type of overacting Disney movie that can be a sweet movie. It was pretty funny. It will be better than the second movie 102 Dalmatians.

Calling all dogs, we must find the puppies!
We purchased the cartoon version at our first opportunity, and this has been a heavily watched movie by our kids, especially when they were pre-kindergarten. This is still my 6 year old daughters favorite movie and the family voted it #8 of 41. Not quite up to the production standards of other Disney movies, this one was popular with all 5 children and is very watchable with repeat viewings. It narrowly beat out Fox and the hound for the 8th spot.

Cruella De Vil sees the 15 puppies of Pongo and Perdita and decides that she needs to make a polka dot Dalmatian coat with their fur. Her henchmen kidnap 86 puppies from around London and with these 15 she has 101. Pongo and Perdita call upon their doggie friend to search for the lost pups in hopes of engineering a rescue.
We had a lot of fun by gathering the family together to rank the 41 Disney movies we have that include some cartoon work. All the kids, ages 6 to 27, participated along with mother and dad. Peter Pan is no Codfish, we rank it #2. Lion King was selected number 1 of the 41 as the family favorite, but narrowly. Peter Pan was 2. Pete's Dragon 3, Beauty & the beast 4, Sleeping Beauty 5, Snow White 6 and Robin hood 7. These 7 movies all received a 5 star rating from us and complete our magnificent 7. ... 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 have it covered.)

This isn't only great cars, it has a neat plot, and one which I could, as a feminist, relate too and join in on the laughter.

As a small victory for the women, if you notice, they nearly carried the day -- but alas, the boys win -- but that's okey because this movie is a winner.

To Internal Combustion and Wind in the Face!
By far the best "car" flick made. Nowhere else canyou hear the unbridled song of a 427 Ford Cobra and a 12-cylenderFerrari boxer engine without the choking restrictions of modern day emission controls. The open road calls and a great adventure is afoot with some classic charactors who may or may not have anything to do with Hollywood. The cameo appearance of Linda Vaughn at the end of the film is worth the price of admission. Now that I've had the video for so many years, I love to just let it run to fill the room with the great sounds of performance engines while I work on other things - heck, I know the script by heart. I recommend this film to anyone whose looking for a well done, just plain fun movie with no political agenda or moral message to get in the way. END

Forget "Cannonball Run" -- this was first and best
Of the "let's break the law and have some fun while we do it" genre, this is one of the best. The writing, the acting and the production was witty, funny, and still holds up nearly 30 years later.

So where, oh where, oh WHERE, is the DVD? Another reviewer said it for all of us when he quoted Raul Julia's character-defining line from the early part of the film: "What is behind me...is not important." And so it goes with VHS...over, behind us, end of story...Bring ON the DVD!

Customers are standing by...

When is this coming out on DVD
The best road race movie ever. Much better than The Cannonball Run. When is this coming out on DVD. It's a classic.

Where's the DVD? My VHS is wearing out!
This is my favourite film of all time - no contest! I've watched it more times than I can remember as it is funny, action packed and with excellent characters. I must have been about 12 years old when I first watched it (I remember missing the very beginning because I had to go to the toilet and my mum told me what had happened and she said 'some man has just jumped into a swimming pool shouting "Gumball!"'). I am now 36 years old and there was so much that as a young kid I didn't appreciate that I now do and so the film just keeps getting better. An absolute classic... ... Read more

Reviews (150)

Unpredictable, Dream-like, and Uncanny
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is definitely one of those gems of a movie that makes sense despite its twists and turns. I'm not sure if this is a representation of the continuing wave of independent films with big name stars, such as last year's Lost In Translation, but it certainly was worth watching. It's one of those films that has a natural ambience.

The film does not follow the mundane plotlines as most Romantic comedies. Of course, in the beginning just when you think it's going to be one of those boy meets girl, boy loses girl scenarios, Charlie Kaufman, Eternal Sunshine's screenwriter pulls a curve ball. The relationship between Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) appear complicated, and indeed it is. But somehow Kaufman ties it all together in the end. This film is about identity and memory, and coming to terms with the past in order to tie loose ends that exist in the present.

The most uncanny aspect of the film is the appearance of opening credits 15-20 minutes into the movie! The film almost has a 'Magical Mystery Tour' feel -- the beginning starts off predictable, then suddenly half-way through the film you're hit with a warp sense of Joel's memory and experiences, and then the concluding scenes lends itself to an additional plotline somewhat relevant to the relationship between Joel and Clementine, which involves LacUna, the company that erases both Joel and Clementine's memories. Unfortunately, it is the weak portion of the film.

The cinematography was effective in portraying the fast paced parts of the film as well as the overexposed photography -- it gave that indie feel as well as the surreal-like effects. In addition, I found the soundtrack of the film to be quite interesting. At times I thought one of the opening chords or sound effects came from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, or maybe fragments of The Beatles' A Day In A Life. I was disappointed that ELO's Mr. Blue Sky wasn't present in the film, but then again it only appeared in the film's trailer.

Nevertheless, I recommend this film to anyone interested in catching a movie that's fresh and unpredictable.

Probably Kaufman's Best
Surprising enough, given the inclinations of his doppelgangers in the films he has written, I think Charlie Kaufman truly understands love. This is, in fact, quite obvious upon watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

In the first scene, we see Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) skip work impulsively and take a Long Island train to Montauk. There he sees Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) and they have a cute, though uncomfortable, meeting scene. But in a Kaufman film, nothing is as it seems, and we soon realize that this is not the f