Amazon.com essential video

Thanks in large part to its meticulous re-creation of the late 1960s and early 1970s rock scene and the uncannily authentic performance by Val Kilmer as legendary Doors front man Jim Morrison, Oliver Stone's hypnotic film biography is standing the test of time. Capturing the carefree mood of the Age of Aquarius, the film charts the meteoric rise of the Doors on the California club circuit (including a memorable scene showing the creation of the hit "Light My Fire"), and chronicles the band's exploits with hallucinogenics and Morrison's battles against charges of public indecency on stage. Kilmer's performance is hauntingly perfect, and performances by Meg Ryan, Kathleen Quinlan, and Kyle MacLachlan are similarly impressive. The movie doesn't fully probe the depths of Morrison's character, but as a portrait of excess it is vividly true to the spirit of the self-destructive poet known to his fans as "The Lizard King." --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (155)

Script Bad, Actor Good
The script to Oliver Stone's The Doors may not have been great, but V. Kilmer did a good job as Jim Morrison. I am a fan of Jim Morrison's writing and the Doors' music, and I think VK took Morrison on, body and spirit. A few moments in the film, in particular, are extraordinary, where his resemblance to/embodiment of Jim Morrison is uncanny... (*If you saw the movie and you're a Doors' fan, you can't have missed that.)

I agree that the soundtrack was fantastic, however maintain that Val Kilmer was the right one to play Morrison. In fact, I read that Val Kilmer was recorded singing along with Jim Morrison's voice on the last song in the film. For those who feel he was the wrong choice, go back and listen to how well he did that. I am a singer and I know what kind of work it takes to do something like that. It's hard enough to match your own voice, let alone someone else's. Credit where it's due. END

Absorbing movie - i didn't want it to end. (my only friend..
Utterly absorbing bio-pic of Jim Morrison. The name Val Kilmer is, or should be, synonymous with incredible acting that is not merely natural or convincing, but immensely fun and commanding. You may have noticed while watching his recent Wonderland - Val has the ability to make a picture. Here, he IS The Doors: The Movie. There, he WAS Wonderland. I am exaggerating, i suppose. For Oliver Stone has crafted a marvellous film which makes you feel like you've experienced what the sixties were like. Through using The Doors actual music (what was missing from the recent Sylvia, the art of the subject itself - her poetry) to help tell its story and colour its scenes, and filmic techniques to create the drug-induced world vision of Jim Morrison, Stone really takes you into the world of his movie, and the world of the sixties.

This movie made me appreciate what an exciting experience The Doors were, and has actually cultivated love in me for their music. I didn't realise they had more than one classic: Light my Fire, The End, People are Strange, Love her Madly, Break on Through to the Other Side, Riders on the Storm, Touch Me, Roadhouse Blues (Let it roll, baby roll) and probably more i'm yet to discover.

For a better recreation of what Andy Warhol's factory actually felt like, see I Shot Andy Warhol. Crispin Glover actually looks more like Andy than the guy who plays him in "I Shot," but the guy in I Shot much better captured Andy's vagueness and almost unconsciousness while in conversation. This, however, is but three minutes in the movie and has no effect on it as a whole.

Oliver Stone has an amusing cameo: a young film student, Jim Morrison, shows his short film to his class, who are uncouth and disparaging about it, after which camera pans to reveal Oliver Stone standing at the lecturn, (obviously, playing the film professor), who says: "Why don't we ask the author what he thinks?"

Flawed but Fascinating Film.
When a young man by the name of Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer), who writes Poetry and Studying Film in the University of Los Angeles. When Jim falls in love with a beautiful young woman (Meg Ryan). But then, his life slowly changes, when he decide to quit film school to be a songwriter and singer with the help of his close friend (Klye MacLachlan). Jim and his friend, together, they form a band called "The Doors" with two another members (Frank Whaley and Kevin Dillon). Which "The Doors" becomes One of the Most Sensual and Exciting Figures in the History of Rock and Roll, especially the lead singer-Morrison from the Sixties. Which the legendary outlaw, who rocked America's Consciousness-forever.

Directed by Oliver Stone (Any Given Sunday, Born on the 4th of July, The Hand) made a fascinating drama that make Stone's One of his Best Films. Kilmer is Perfectly Cast as Jim Morrison. The Supporting Cast are Terrific, including:Kathleen Quinlan and Micheal Madson. Also Rock Singer:Billy Idol, Cult Star:Crispin Glover and Film Director:Stone appears in Cameos. DVD has an sharp non-anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an digitally remastered-Dolby Digital 5.0 Surround Sound. This DVD is the Director appoved transfer for HD Televisions. DVD Feautres are only:Production Notes, Cast & Crew Bios and Theatrical Trailer. There's also a Special Edition DVD of this film also. This was a Box Office Disapointment and the only flaw in the film is Second Half, where the film slows down. The film is nicely photographed by Robert Richardson (JFK, Kill Bill Vol.1 & Vol.2, Natural Born Killers). Written by the Director:Stone and J.Randall Johnson. Panavision. Grade:A-.

"ALRIIIGGHHHTTT!!!"
This is the best rock movie ever made. Oliver Stone is the most talented filmmaker of all time. This is a film he gets less credit for, but it was very personal to him and brilliantly done. First of all, he nails the life of Jim Morrison, the story of The Doors, and the L.A. Scene (1960s) as perfectly as it can be done. It is beyond nostalgoia, it is time travel.

As great as Stone's use of Doors songs, scenery, drug use and beautiful, heavily-decorated '60s California girls is, it is Val Kilmer who does this turn its proudest. Kilmer probably gets to the core of a real person as thoroughly and realistically as any actor who ever portrayed actual folks.

Next on the agenda, you have to love Frank Whaley as Robbie Krieger and Kyle McLaughlin as a spot on, irritating Ray Manzarek. To those of us who really studied Morrison and The Doors, everything is flawless. The film also conveys the essence of the bar scene, particularly Morrison urinating at Barney's Beanery, which used to be a real rock hangout before it turned into a cafe.

The feeling watching "The Doors" switches between a longing for the romance and excitement of the rock life these people led, and revulsion for the drugs and immorality inherent within it.

Love my girl!

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

Fiction Not Fact
For a director who tries to show Jim Morrison as a poet who turned to philosophy and music to discover the truth about himself I have to say I am dissappointed because Oliver Stone created a drunk egoistic poser. Jim Morrison was the lizard king not a sex machine. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Prophecy Closes Full Circle
Unlike most films which carry the number 3 in it, The Prophecy III proves to be the most energetic and satisfying film in the trilogy. I can't say enough good things about it. The story while drawing from the previous films still brings the story to a close with it's own ideas and new directions for old characters. The best thing about Prophecy III is that it never does what you'd expect. Christopher Walken returns to the story once again as Gabriel the former angel of death now humble wandering human. The filmmakers have taken great care in recreating Gabriel while still having him be familiar too us. Still speaking in that menacing tone of his and piercing us with those eyes that see more than what is there. The movie somewhat mirrors T2. The villain is now the protector. Which I loved. The story revolves around The half angel half human neraphim of Prophecy II who is plagued by visions and compelled to stop the angel of genocide Pyriel. Enter Zophael, an assasin angel sent to Earth to destroy the neraphim Danyael. As before there are protectors. In this case it is the coroner from the previous two films who is tired of examining bodies with no eyes, the girlfriend who is taken hostage by Zophael as Gabriel had taken human slaves in the previous films, and finally Gabriel himself who does not have the lead role in this movie but shows up to deliver very compelling dialogue and give great foreshadowing for things to come. The story is in full drive for the whole movie. A surprising cameo in the end and a somewhat recreation of a scene from The Prophecy will have you rolling if you are a fan of the films. If the movie suffers from anything it is that all three films are well..the same. An angel chasing after a human to further the war in heaven. Human slaves are always taken by the angel in order to defeat the human who is always helped by another human. But despite that, Prophecy III has the same darkness of the original and a striking and subtle music score. This is not a film for first time Prophecy viewers. Go through the first two and if you like them then The Prophecy III will have you believing in The Word and that not all sequels to sequels bite.

Yup :-)
I'm speaking of the 3 movies I've seen in this series of movies, Christopher Walken is one of the best actors I have seen and this roll is his apex in my mind, totally funny + he gets weirder as the movies go along, the writers know what they are doing + christopher playes it perfectly + adds his amazing performance in a perfect roll for him. Top Rate!

Movie great, DVD lousy
I like the movie, I hate the DVD. I have never seen a DVD where, upon insertion, you are forced to watch four full-length previews. Menu is disabled, fast-forward is disabled, even the Stop button is disabled! I hope this is not the way of the future!

The Halfway Coffee shop scene most entertaining..
The only thing that seemed to hold this release together was the diner scene Gabriel re-enters, having crossed paths with Madge, the waitress again, who recalls him and asks "Where's your friend?" (from the first Prophecy). It was interesting that Gabriel "gets his wings back" at the end, but the humor was seriously lacking, save Gabriel explaining to Vince Spano how he "dies everyday...when I have the cash" and how he finally learned how to drive. The coroner investigating was [terrible]. It would have been nice to see someone like Thomas(Elias Koteas?) taking this on instead. I don't recall if that sign over the coroner's coolers was still there, stating "These are for storing bodies, NOT beer". That subtle sarcasm in the first was nowhere to be found in this one. It makes me wonder if someone else wrote the script.

The Best of the Set!!!
I liked this one best out of all three. Christopher Walken as Gabriel was at his best. I liked Gabriel in the other two, I loved him here. The premise behind the story was a bit cliche, but its delivery was incredible! The action scenes were also much better, "borrowing from "The Matrix," but then again, who doesn't these days." They were much more what one might expect from angels.

While delivering on the action and gore started in the first two movies, this one leaves you actually thinking. This is what sets this movie apart from all the others of its genre.

Some people have commented that the questions left at the end might indicate a sequel.

The questions this movie leaves you with can't be answered by a sequel. They're answered in this movie, but you half to look for them. (That may be a problem for some.) If being left thinking bothers you, don't watch this movie. For the rest of you, this movie delivers on the questions raised in the other movies about Angels, The Word, and God in general. This movie was the perfect conclusion to the trilogy.

"Get used to it!" ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Bert Glennon, who shot Stagecoach and seven other John Ford classics, has given this Raoul Walsh biopic of George Armstrong Custer a burnished glow--an evocative interplay of raw sunlight and elegiac shadow like no other vintage Warner Bros. Western. Glennon's artistry and Walsh's trademark gusto sustain enthusiasm even as the screenplay beggars belief. The flamboyant Custer (Errol Flynn), rushed into Civil War service straight from West Point, did get promoted overnight to general and establish a spectacular record for "ride to the guns" leadership. However, Custer as defender of Indians' rights--to the point of willing his own Last Stand so he could accuse corrupt Indian Commissioners from the grave--is historical rewrite of such sweeping chutzpah as to shame DeMille. Flynn and Olivia de Havilland make an even more appealing couple than usual, and the big supporting cast is unflaggingly energetic above and beyond the call of duty. --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Mock history but great entertainment!
In bare outline this fine picture may seem reasonably true to the career of the "boy general" George Armstrong Custer. But on the whole one cannot take the plot seriously. If, however, one looks upon it as a great spectacle, a wonderful show, the rewards are plentiful. Many of Custer's personal traits were well within the grasp of Errol Flynn, and the late actor turns in one of his finest performances. Olivia De Havilland is very good as Custer's faithful wife, and their final scene, in whitch Custer says goodbye to his wife, is very touching and well acted. The action scenes are very good, but not up to similar ones in "The Charge Of The Light Brigade", an earlier Flynn epic with a story line very much like the one we get in "Boots". I would have awarded this picture with 5 stars if it wasn't for the fact that it's a little bit too long. Some of the comedy segments may have worked well in the past, but to a modern audience they may seem a little ridicilous. This is especially notable in the first half of the picture. That first half is merely good, the second half is masterfully achieved. In fact, it's almost as watching two different movies. In the final analysis, "Boots" is still a beautyful picture to watch and hear, but honestly speaking, a little uneven.

Idealized but fun.
We see a lot of good stuff here:

Errol Flynn is a swashbuckling George Armstrong Custer. Olivia de Havilland is the love of his life. Gene Lockhart is the father who doesn't approve of Custer. Sidney Greenstreet is the gruff onion loving General Winfield Scott, Anthony Quinn is the brave and honorable chief Crazy Horse. If that isn't enough we have a supporting cast that does a first rate job. We see action, adventure, daring do, bravery, honor and respect for friend and foe. We see the American Indian portrayed as a wronged people. "..If I were Sioux I would fight." We see true friendship, true bravery, true honor. The only thing we don't see is a true story.

It would take much too long to go through every rewrite history goes through in this picture, but who cares. If you want history; buy Ken Burns THE CIVIL WAR. This movie is fun. Flynn idolized Custer is just as unhistorical as Richard Mulligan's brillant performance in LITTLE BIG MAN but no less brillant.

The movie is properly compared to Kevin Costner in ROBIN HOOD PRINCE OF THIEVES and Michael Keaton in BATMAN in the following sense. Great cast, great movie, great story but its not the story of the guy they say it is.

HISTORY ACCORDING TO JACK WARNER
If you want historical accuracy about George Armstrong Custer and his legacy pay a visit to the library. This is history according to Warner Bros. Studios, and no one of school age would cite it as a reference source for a term paper. Errol Flynn, handsome, debonaire, smooth...business as usual...The elegant Olivia DeHaviland, the two were never paired better than they are here. THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON is a great film. Get it to DVD and include the lyrics to "Gary Owen" in the liner notes.

This movie is a metaphor for WW II in 1942.
I saw this thing on late night television and the first thing I did after was talk to a friend of mine, who teaches history at the collegiate level in Missouri. Watch carefully. This movie was made in 1942, a time when we were fighting a world war and losing it. Therefore, this movie is really not about Custer at all. Oh yeah, it has a guy named Custer and a bunch of bad history, and some cool actors, but the whole movie is about the Second World War. Custer is turned into the symbolic sacrifice that we all had to give (a kind of living breathing Dunkirk) to win the war, and Sitting Bull and the Sioux are our symbolic Nazis.

It's a great war film. But the war in question is World War II, not the war with the Plains Indians. And it should be enjoyed as that, a kind of patriotic landmark, and a clever example of how Hollywood waged war.

I cannot believe he died!
The first time I watched this film was the 5th of January of 1978. I remember the date because was the same day my youngest sister was baptized. I was exciting because Errol Flynn was my favourite actor. I loved Robin Hood, the Sea Hawk . So I was ready to enjoy another movie. But I ended the afternoon crying because I could not believe he died at the end. Of course being seven years old I had no idea who George Custer was. The only thing important for me was that he died.

Believe me it was a shock!

I really think that this film has a great screenplay. the story advances thanks to little things, like the story with his wife and all the strolling matter, his passion for onions , the song Gary Owens, and the antagonism with Tarp. History here is not important. Raoul Walsh creates a world for our hero. With the usual supporting actors who are always the best, like Sidney Greenstreet or Hattie MacDowell.

No one ever played a hero like Errol Flynn. He is too good to be true, but we believe it, because he acts like a hero and moves like a hero. And Olivia de Havilland is as charming as usual. The best couple on a screen. This was their last film together, but what and end!

Enjoy this masterwork of the seventh art. Enjoy it like children, because it is the best way to watch this film. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

With Days of Thunder, director Tony Scott tried to do for the Indy 500 what he did for the U.S. Air Force with Top Gun. But without Top Gun's go-go soundtrack and visual feats, Scott merely ends up with a Tom Cruise vehicle that's out of gas.

Cruise plays (what else?) a cocky, upstart stock-car racer who faces down ruthless racing opponents. Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Cary Elwes, and Randy Quaid do the laps around this movie's tiresome track with Cruise, while director Scott attempts to propel the action along with his trademark visceral, gritty but glamorous visual style.

Days of Thunder is notable, however, as a turning point in Cruise's then one-dimensional career. After this film--having tired even his most devoted fans by playing a bartender, an air force pilot, and a stock-car driver--Cruise was forced to take on real character parts. --Ethan Brown ... Read more

Reviews (52)

All I can say is WOW!!!
Well, the first thing anyone that has even watched a Winston Cup race could tell how ridiculous the racing scenes can be. Although the intensity and action is there, you will NEVER see actual drivers 'rubbin' on a real racetrack. But please don't let my previous comments discourage you from watching this film. It is still one of my favorites in my video library. The story follows young open-wheel driver Cole Trickle(Tom Cruise) through his quest to become a Winston Cup legend. Owned by a local car dealer named Tim Daland(Randy Quaid) and having his pit ran by the legendary, and recently retired crew chief Harry Hogge(Robert Duvall). But after a tragic crash during the Firecracker 400 sent him to the hospital, possibly ending his career. Then it follows his journey of finding love with his doctor, Dr. Claire Lewicki(Nicole Kidman)and his painstaking return to win the Daytona 500.

Fix Review
Ok i have not seen the movie here but i just wanted to correct the review posted by amazon.com. The movie Top gun was not about the United States Air Force in any way shape or form. It was Navy all the way

tommy BOY, you're just a pretty boy.
the third in the ' i am sooooo hot and shallow gals ' tom cruise trilogy (top gun and cocktails being 1 and 2 ).
this thing made millions of course. no wonder europeans think us so stupid.

Unrealistic Yet Somewhat Entertaining
First of all, the Amazon.com reviewer must not know anything about racing, as this film has nothing to do with the Indy 500, and neither does NASCAR (except for racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the annual Brickyard 400). That said, the movie, though it features lots of unrealistic driving (err, crashing) scenes and less-than-stunning acting, still isn't the worst way to spend a couple hours if you've got the racing bug. As pointed out by other reviewers, Robert Duvall gives a great performance as Tom Cruise's crew chief who comes out of retirement to bring Cole Trickle (Cruise's character) to the top of the NASCAR ranks. Cruise's own performance is sufficient, given the character, as is Randy Quaid's. Nicole Kidman seemed to be trying too hard to be emotionless in this movie. Maybe the writers/directors told her to, I don't know. The racing scenes where the drivers aren't running each other into the wall are decent enough, and the car sounds are pretty good. If you want a great racing movie, try "LeMans" or (when it comes out on DVD) "Grand Prix." I really wish we had a truly great modern racing movie, especially about Formula One or CART/Indy car racing ("Driven" doesn't count--it sucked). Maybe someday...

Yeah
Dude I have never seen this movie but what i will say is this. The Editor who said Top Gun was a US Air Force movie is an idiot. You obviously did not watch Top Gun because then you would have realized it was a Navy movie. In my book you have lost all credibility, and should lose your job. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

A favorite film of some of the world's greatest filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, John Ford's The Searchers has earned its place in the legacy of great American films for a variety of reasons. Perhaps most notably, it's the definitive role for John Wayne as an icon of the classic Western--the hero (or antihero) who must stand alone according to the unwritten code of the West. The story takes place in Texas in 1868; Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a Confederate veteran who visits his brother and sister-in-law at their ranch and is horrified when they are killed by marauding Comanches. Ethan's search for a surviving niece (played by young Natalie Wood) becomes an all-consuming obsession. With the help of a family friend (Jeffrey Hunter) who is himself part Cherokee, Ethan hits the trail on a five-year quest for revenge. At the peak of his masterful talent, director Ford crafts this classic tale as an embittered examination of racism and blind hatred, provoking Wayne to give one of the best performances of his career. As with many of Ford's classic Westerns, The Searchers must contend with revisionism in its stereotypical treatment of "savage" Native Americans, and the film's visual beauty (the final shot is one of the great images in all of Western culture) is compromised by some uneven performances and stilted dialogue. Still, this is undeniably one of the greatest Westerns ever made. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (120)

A classic western
The Searchers is considered by many to be one of the best westerns ever made, and I cannot disagree with them. The story follows the efforts of two men trying to track down a kidnapped girl from Comanches over the course of five years. The men tracking the tribe are a Confederate veteran and the girl's uncle and the other a family friend and also part Cherokee. The film is beautifully shot as all John Ford westerns are, which adds to the overall mood of the movie. There is a vastness to some scenes which show the futility of tracking down this girl after so many years. The Searchers is a classic that provided John Wayne with a role that was different from any other he had previously played.

John Wayne stars as Ethan Edwards, the Confederate veteran trying to track down his niece after his brother's family is slaughtered by a Comanche raiding party. He plays the role of the racist veteran to perfection. At times it is startling to see him in a role that differs so greatly from most other movies he had done. Jeffrey Hunter plays Martin Pawley, the Duke's partner in his search for the kidnapped girl. He plays a good sidekick to Wayne throughout since they have such differing personalities in the movie. Also starring are Natalie Wood, Ward Bond, Harry Carey JR, Patrick Wayne, Hank Worden, Ken Curtis and plenty of other Wayne stock actors. The DVD is good but could have been much better. You can view the movie in fullscreen or widescreen, with trailers included alongside four documentary shorts. A must have for western fans that is up there with Shane and The Wild Bunch as some of the greatest westerns of all time!

John Wayne at his Western Best now on WideScreen DVD!
"The Searchers" (1956) Anamorphic Widescreen DVD version is one of the best classic westerns ever made! Ranked in the American Film Institute's (AFI) top 100 movies of the last 100 years (1998). Having the best Western Director, John Ford partnering up with his favorite cowboy star, John Wayne can only be the beginning of a grand movie. Adding Widescreen Technicolor, the colorful Panoramic Monument Valley - Utah (Ford's favorite western area to film), a fantastic musical score and top supporting cast leads us on one of the best filmed westerns ever!

Summary - Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) is returning home to his only Brother & his family. After he and a posse of Texas Rangers (Lead by Ward Bond) were decoyed away by distant marauding Indians. The actual Indian raid was on remaining defenseless families left behind. Ethan's returned to find his Brothers family massacured all but his youngest niece, Debbie (played by Lana (younger)& Natalie Wood (older). His vengence takes him on a 5 year journey to recover her. Wayne is brilliant and proves he is a great actor.

"The Searchers" is a powerful 2 hour emotional rollercoaster ride. This movie will leave you with more respect of John Wayne's ability to act, Director John Ford's genius to tell a very complex story. Leaving us forever with a Great Western Classic! Enjoy.

Searchers!!
Ethan Edwards, (John Wayne), finds his way home after the civil war to his brothers homestead. Some cattle are rustled and he and a few men track them only to discover it's a Comanche trick to lure them away while they kill out the folks left behind which is Ethan's brother, wife, and kids. They arrive back too late, all are dead except Ethan's niece who was taken captive. Ethan sets out to find his niece accompanied by Martin Pauley, (Jeffrey Hunter), who Ethan found as a baby years earlier after another Indian raid. Ethan loved his brother's wife which is clear in the book by Lemay but very lightly alluded to in the film. This helps to explain his rage because everything he cared for in the world is gone. He will pursue the Comanche that have his niece until hell freezes over. Along the way he finds that he is still a human being. This film is widely considered the greatest western of all time and a favorite film of Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg if that means anything to you, I thought I would toss it in anyway.

STILL SEARCHING FOR AN ADEQUATE TRANSFER
John Ford was a master craftsman of the American cinema. Though he dabbled in melodrama and action during his directorial career, his everlasting contribution to the movies remains in those galvanic distillations of the old west put forth by an unparalleled series of legendary films. "The Searchers" ranks among his most finely wrought and meticulously hand crafted projects. Indeed it seems to be the film in which the culmination of Ford's own commitment to the power, beauty and frailty of the western frontier tragically come together in a revisionist perspective that exposes both its grandeur and its flaws. The film stars the iconic John Wayne as Ethan Edwards - a strangely majestic antihero who vows bloody revenge after his cousin and family are slaughtered by marauding Comanches. But Ethan's search for his surviving niece (Natalie Wood) becomes a sinister and all-consuming obsession when he learns that she - having been abducted while still a child - has now adopted the ways of her captors and, at least in Ethan's mind, has become one of them. The film tackles racism in the form of Ethan's distrust of one time family friend (Jeffrey Hunter) who is part Cherokee and the sweep and spectacle of Death Valley has never been quite so poignantly captured on film.
THE TRANSFER: While Warner Home Video has made "The Searchers" available in anamorphic widescreen in a print that is light years ahead of anything the film has looked like before for the home film enthusiast, compared to more current DVD releases, the visual splendor of the transfer falls short of expectations. Though colors are rich there's something of a muddiness and lack of balance to them in many of the indoor scenes. Also, several scenes appear to be suffering slightly from color shrinkage, creating a slightly out of focus image quality that is distracting. Age related artifacts are present but do not distract so much as the digital anomalies of pixelization and edge enhancement which greatly plague the background information in most of the long shots. A slight shimmering is inherent in all of the scenes. Black and contrast levels can be solid at times, while sometimes appearing slightly pasty. Ditto for the unnatural flesh tones which are either overly pink or a ruddy orange. The audio has been remastered and delivers a nice expansive presentation which is in keeping with the vintage of the original sound elements.
EXTRAS: Not this time around. Sadly, this film deserves a documentary.
BOTTOM LINE: "The Searchers" is a masterful western, on par with "Stagecoach" and "High Noon". Definitely one to add to your film library.

The Best Western Ever Made
This is the best Western ever made. There's simply too much to say about it here to do it justice. The imagery, John Wayne's character's growth, the comraderie between the "searchers", the supporting cast and the theme will make seeing this film worth the while of even those who "hate" Westerns. It's a classic, and purchasing it will be money well spent.

Enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

If this movie was a bucket.. it would be a leaky one.
A deformed boy some how transforms into an 8 ft. demon. Of course there is a backwoods witch involved, also a revenge plot in which 6 teens in the mid 1950's torture the deformed lad. And yes you've guessed it, it wants revenge. We meet this 8 ft. demon about 30 minutes into the movie when the horror almost begins, but never really does. I never expect the acting in B-horror to be award worthy, but if the actors can't act scared, It's hard for the viewer to be scared. One more complaint is Pumpkinhead seemed to be very limited in movements in this 2nd film. He moved like a kid playing with an action figture of Pumkinhead from the first film. With all this being said just watch the first one, it's better and provides genuine chills that this sequel lacks. A good horror film is one that you might want to watch again in your lifetime. This film gives you your cake, but the problem is eating it too.

GOOD STUFF!
This is not a bad movie at all. Pretty good story to it. Got some descent scares and good acting. I thought it was put together well and is worth checking out.

NOT AS BAD AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN?
I saw the original PUMPKINHEAD years ago, but with the advance of arcus senilis, I can't remember too much about it, other than I thought it was good. Hence, PUMPKINHEAD 2 isn't as bad for me as other reviewers since the first wasn't fresh in my mind. With that said, though, I admit the acting was pretty bad, particularly with Linnea Quigley, Steve Kanaly (Dallas), Roger Clinton (the hairy mayor?), and J. Trevor Howard (the villainous Danny). You can telegraph every death, but the effects are allright, if you keep your expectations at a lower level. The monster itself looked good sometimes, and bad at others. However, I've seen worse (for instance, TAIL STING..Now THERE'S A HORRORBLE MOVIE!!). Anyway, rent it sometime, but don't spend money on it.

1 Star and that's a stretch.
Okay let me set a few things straight to clear some confusion. 1: Pumpkinhead in this film has no connection to the first film. (which by far was superior to this weak attempt of a sequel.) This is not Ed Harley nor his son come back from the dead as some seem to think in other reviews. And in some ways it is an expansion on the legend. Hence my 1 star rating. The first film was dark and rich in the flavor of the demon being a relentless killer. This should really be dubbed a prequel. It supposedly is the creature Ed Harley digs up but if one crunches those numbers it doesn't exactly add up. Now on to the things that really disappointed me about this film.

I was blown away by Pumpkinhead. Being a long time fan of Mr. Winston's works behind and in front of the camera. Stan Winston's Pumpkinhead was a work of genius that should have been revisted yes but, not by someone of far less caliber of the original creator. Pumpkinhead of the first film seemed so lifelike and down right nasty in manner and appearence was do to Stan's amazing animatronic demon. PH2 is badly noticeble as a man in rubber suit job.

The story was great (the background story not the ill handled plot) it added more to the legend when the research into the myth went on. The story of the myth itself was great but the story placed around it as the outer shell and ultimately lacking movie. It was made to obviously splash gore and sex into the film. The first left these elements out and stuck close to some of the old school formulas of horror. PH2 goes clearly for the 90's and mid 80's belief which still holds true to todays horror films I might add that sex and gore are the big draws to horror. Which in this reviewers mind can actually be a draw back to horror films. One scene with yes, that was the scream queen in this drivel of a sequel humping with a victim in a scene so badly thrown in just for the sake of having such a scene in this film.

This follow up is a huge let down in many ways. It isn't even so bad it's good. I've seen movies so badly thrown together that they are worth watching to pick on but this one isn't such a film. The only redeeming quality is the deeper exploration of the Pumpkinhead lore.

I advise watching Stan Winston's Pumpkinhead. This badly thrown together expansion is worth a watch for the moments we get a further peek into the demon's legend. As other viewers of this film put it: Pumpkinhead as mortal is a let down. The bad effects are a let down. The by far most heinous crime of this film would be the badly slapped together plot and acting and even directing of this movie. The only reason I will add this film to my collection is the fact that in all I am a Pumpkinhead fan and would ike to own it for the fact that it is related to the more superb first film. I am distrubed that a great horror film was mocked by this sequel. Most who saw the two and had expected more of the second film because of the first know how I felt upon seeing this picture. I wish sometimes that I never discovered that Pumpkinhead was followed up. Laters- Ace

Yawn!
My advise to all the directers out there is to not make a sequel unless its as good as the 1st!
I will say that this is probably worth at least one watch!
Ok gore!
Bottom Line: Not as good as the original! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Angela Lansbury starring in "The Shell Seekers"
Angela Lansbury stars in the movie "The Shell Seekers" based on the book of the same name "The Shell Seekers".The acting is good.If you like Angela Lansbury then you will enjoy this video since it is a good story.Angela Lansbury should have won a award for her acting in "The Shell Seekers"

I should have listened to the other reviewers.
I loved Rosamunde Pilcher's novel The Shell Seekers so much that I just had to buy this video simply to become immersed once more in the world of cosy detail Rosamunde provides us. I thought it couldn't possibly be that bad. Well, frankly, it is rather bad. Even though it was filmed in Great Britain, it lacked that British feeling that I was going after. I felt as though I had tuned into a very early "Murder She Wrote" episode with Angela Lansbury surrounded by two-bit actors. Danus was particularly dreadful - no character development - there is absolutely no appeal and you actually hope Antonia does not fall in love with him. The actor who portrays Noel has an easy time of it being weak and greedy, and as for Nancy, why is she so thin? Olivia and Cosmo were the only ones who seemed true to the book. As for reviving Richard - I can only agree with the other reviewer - Penelope would never have chosen to be without him. How trite they made that love affair!

In sum, the movie was far too short to offer any kind of in-depth development. The critical war years were glossed over in mediocre flashbacks. But I suppose it would be alright if you're home for the day with a ghastly cold and you can't actually read the novel again. Just make sure you lace your tea with something a bit stronger - it might make viewing more tolerable.

Shouldn't expect the movie to be like the book anyway
People, you know that movies are never as good as the book! This is no exception. However, in terms of the movie itself, I liked it. It was fun and interesting to compare my own personal images of Penelope, Nancy, Olivia, Noel, Antonia, and Danus to those in the movie. Sure, there were a lot of differences, but if you LOVE Rosamunde Pilcher's novels as much as I do then you can appreciate this movie and how it tried to grasp the feeling of the story, if not the exact plot. I highly recommend the book Coming Home if you enjoyed The Shell Seekers, and the movie Coming Home is excellent, too!

Turn it off before the last 20 minutes.
This is one of my favorite books and after re-reading it for the umpteenth time I decided to purchase the Hallmark Hall of Fame version. The first part is very good for a TV movie - beautiful locations, fine acting (how can one fault Angela Lansbury?), and relatively faithful to the story (one must take into consideration that time is of the essence on TV and often plots become condensed). However, to TOTALLY change the ending (a medical mis-diagnosis unexplained and bringing characters back from the dead to name only two!) was unconscionable. The power of the story was lost and it turned into just another tear-jerker. It would be as if Scarlett and Rhett rode off into the sunset together and lived happily ever after! BUT, if you've never read the book it would be an enjoyable couple of hours entertainment. I will never watch The Shell Seekers again, and am putting mine up for sale (cheap!).

This is NOT the SHELL SEEKERS
This film bears only a passing resemblance to Rosamund Pilcher's THE SHELL SEEKERS. The director watered down the book's powerful plot to weak tea and you will barely recognize the characters. Angela Lansbury does her best but cannot help the tepid writing. The casting was almost completely off the mark - Danus is particularly badly cast. I expected a better film from the Hallmark Hall of Fame. This was so bad it took me 3 trys to get through to the end. Don't buy it. In fact, it's hardly worth renting. Reread the book instead. ... Read more

Reviews (239)

A First-Rate Thriller... With a Heart
The premise for this first-rate thriller involves a New York fireman and New York policeman father and son duo who work together to save lives in both the future and the past. FREQUENCY is based on the idea of shifts in reality occurring in the present as a direct result of communications over short wave radio between a police detective here in this present time (Jim Caviezel) and his father in the past (Dennis Quaid) during times of heightened solar flare activity. 

This movie works because it is internally consistent, even as it stretches one's concept of what can be possible. I enjoyed watching this movie on several levels, as the father and son get to know each other by talking on a ham radio during a spectacular display of northern lights... and race to stop a killer before he strikes again.

I especially enjoyed the way the police detective in the film describes how it feels to have several different memories after reality shifts.  In one scene, John Sullivan (Jim Caviezel) talks with his dad, Frank Sullivan (Dennis Quaid), on a ham radio. John describes how he recalls both the memories of how his father died in a burning warehouse and also the memories of how his dad rescued a woman and emerged unscathed from that same fire. John says in amazement, "I remember both... at the same time. It's like waking up from a dream and you're not sure what's real. I remember you being here, but I also remember when you weren't."

This film is especially meaningful for anyone seeking insight into that phenomenon when your keys, purse, or sock aren't where you know you left them. The bonus features on this DVD are also highly enjoyable and include excellent scientific commentaries on the subject of solar flares, the aurora borealis, and string theory.

Very well-done 80's style time travel movie
In many ways, this movie is a variation of the concept the movie "Back to the Future" explored, with a slightly more deeper focus on the character-relationships between the father and the son character. Perhaps it is the presence of Dennis Quaid that makes it feel like an 80's film. Or maybe it is the changing-past-altering-future time travel concept. Nevertheless, it's a fun concept to explore, the idea of being able to communicate with somebody from the past through a radio, and thus warning that person in the past, thus altering the events of the present. This is basically what happens when John, a police detective, finds himself communicating with his presently dead father in the past through a HAM radio and manages to prevent his death. As a result, it somehow results in a set of serial murders, of which John must try to solve (with a help of his dad). The relationship between the father and son are quite endearing and the mystery thriller and sci-fi elements are an interesting bonus.

New Line dropped the ball!!!
All the other reviews will explain the plot etc, what I will say is that It is one of my favorite movies along with my wife's.

It leaves you smiling at the end , One other thing in an Interview Dennis Quaid said New Line dropped the ball because they did not promote it well enough...........I could not agree more.

Frequency (2000)
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Jim Caviezel, Andre Braugher, Elizabeth Mitchell, Noah Emmerich.
Running Time: 118 minutes.
Rated PG-13 for language and violence.

Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel both give fine performances in this quirky science-fiction drama that combines "Back to the Future" and "The Field of Dreams". The film opens in the year 1969, with fire-fighter Dennis Quaid first introducing the game of baseball (specifically the Amazin' Mets of that season) to his son, John. Fast-forward to thirty years later, in which John (Caviezel) is a lonesome, washed-ed ex-college baseball great turned cop who stumbles upon his deceased father's old ham radio.

One night, John uses the radio to connect with a man in the area, later discovering that he is talking to his father in the past. When the father avoids death in a fire that was supposed to take his life, John realizes that he can use this uncanny communication to help him with a serial killer murder case. The two join forces to change the course of history in order to save the lives of the killer's next victims.

Clever premise certainly works for the most part, although there are some twists that do not seem to fit. Hoblit uses the theme of baseball as the connecting link between the father and son, which is an overdone aspect in modern film; however, the script is smart and swift, making "Frequency" a film worth the while.

Don't Miss This One Almost Everyone Including Me Missed
With a little extra spending money I picked up a few DVD's 'to take a chance on', hoping for one gold nugget. Well, this one is just that. I have watched it several times in a few months, and have made a point of lending it out to my friends simply saying 'trust me, you'll enjoy it'. It has come back each time with positive to glowing reviews, and a smile showing each person did enjoy it.
The script is well thought out! Tell me how many times you've watched a movie that seemed to have been roughed out on a napkin the night before they started filming? The story moves forward with... a couple surprises/twists that fit perfectly into the storyline, but doesn't overshadow the identification with and the developement of the characters. Great casting. I have been a Dennis Quaid fans for over a decade, and Jim Cavieziel was a pleasant discovery for me.
I missed this in the theatre. Not too many people went to see it. Man, I might have missed it altogther had I not had a few dollars to spend... and in this case, that would have been a bad thing. You'll enjoy it, trust me. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

NO STRUTTIN HERE
I first saw this movie about five or six years ago and my two cats were enthralled with it...one of the few they even paid attention to. Alas and alack, those two pets are long gone, but my wife and I have three cats now so we thought, what the heck...maybe these three will enjoy it as much as our previous two. WRONG!!! They could have cared less..and that about sums up the movie. If you can't get cats involved, how can humans enjoy it? To be fair, STRAYS isn't gag your mouth bad, but it's so inane and inept, it's hard to be frightened. Shame on Kathleen Quinlan for giving such a horrible performance; shame on Timothy Busfield for not retiring; and shame on Claudia Christian for playing such a shallow character with little if any venom. Shame on the cats for overacting; shame on Shaun Cassidy for writing such a non-frightening movie. Shame on me for trying to subject my cats to it!!!

Darn silly
"Strays" was a made-for-TV movie produced by the USA network. According to some sources it was the worst made-for-TV movie USA ever made. That tells you something right there.

The premise for this movie is one of the hoariest old cliche's in horror-movie land; urbanite family moves to the country to escape the dangers of city life, unaware of the danger lurking around their new home. "Strays" adds nothing to this routine. Now basing a movie around a hoary old cliche without the slightest significant variation doesn't necessarily make it a "bad" movie, it just prevents it from becoming a "great" movie.

What makes "Strays" a bad movie is its incedibly poor execution. First, contrary to title's plurality there is really only one cat in the who actually causes any harm to the heroes. Oh there are lots of cats around, but only one does anything more than hiss and bare its claws to the heroes. So basically our heroes are meanced to near histeria by one single ordinary albeit foul tempered house cat.

Actually I shouldn't say "ordinary." This cat repeatedly breaks the laws of physics. It tears down a wall to get at a victim, bursts out of a microwave it has been trapped in and makes enourmous leaps into small spaces with perfect accuracy. Of course,no explanation is given for how this cat is able to accomplish these herculean feats, it's just a regular, cheesed off cat.

Now one would not think a cheesed off cat would provide horror so much as mild irritation. However, our heroes are incapable of dealing with this feline fiend in a remotely effective way. The cat leaps on them and they seem incapable of prying it off. On the rare occasions they use handy devices as impromptu weapons they ignore potentially useful things in favor of worthless ones (i.e. a long handled paint brush and a jug of water).

This isn't to say that the cats do not actually kill anyone. I counted three human deaths in this movie, two were surprised by a cat and fell to their deaths, one was apparently crushed by the sheer weight of the cats. Apparently the thought of killer house cats was too menacing, so the producers gave us killer house cats who can only kill by using their victims' sheer stupidity.

On the first viewing, "Strays" will dumbfound you with its sheer awfulness. The second viewing (if any) will have you rolling on the floor laughing at its monumental absurdity. By the third viewing you will realize you wasted your money by getting it, so don't.

Odd little horror movie
This movie isn't necessarily BAD...I just wouldn't call it GOOD. Its actually kind of neat, as far as horror movies go, the characters weren't unlikeable, and the concepts are all solid but...its not scary.

I mean...the bad guy is a house cat! I thought through out the whole movie "He's...kind of cute." So what if he attacks people, so does my cat. I don't scream and run away and lock doors and call the police. I throw him on the couch. That shows him who the dominant male is. The shots of cats swatting against the camera made me laugh more than shriek, and I have to wonder how cats are able to latch on to people's necks and make themselves incapable of being thrown off. Its not like cats have tentacles that wrap around you, and I doubt a domesticated cat has the power of nine men. Plus the main villain cat in this movie wasn't evil, he just needed to be neutered. I guess this is really a fine showcase of how to not take care of cats: don't treat them well and they'll lead prolitariate revolutions against you.

By the way, know what the shocking closing shot of this movie is? A kitten. Oooooooooooh!! Scary!!! My pants are drenched!!

Good Cheese
If you like cat movies like "Thomasina" or "Cat's Eye," then it is worth watching. I happened upon it several years ago, and like any "good" bad movie will, it hooked me. I just had to see what would happen, if the cats would eliminate the people, or if they would get a clue and run away. It is like watching the dumb girl in the horror film go into the basement when she should be running out the door. You just have to see if they are too dumb to make it out. I started tracking this movie down after my mom adopted a stray cat that looked (and acted at first) like the lead cat from this movie, it was a bit freaky. What I don't understand, is the price. It was a good movie, but com'on...It just doesn't make sense. My reccomendation... Rent it if you can find it, if not... well, I wouldn't spend more than $10 on it.

Suspenseful yet laugh-out-loud funny
If you're a fan of that good ol' tried and true "When Animals Attack" genre, you will looooove this one! I was just channel-surfing one day when I happened upon this gem. I'll sum it up in 3 words: THE MICROWAVE SCENE. Simply priceless. (hahaha) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

EXCELLENT CHASE SCENES!!
This is a great movie, if you are looking for a good 50's era flick. There are plenty of great car chase scenes (mercs, fords, chevys, & an awesome lincoln) and a few good songs to boot. An all around good movie.

Red-hot rockabilly,smokin' tires and moonshine aplenty!
Andy Armstrong reaches far back into the hills and glens of smokey mountain moonshine running in the late '50's. The sounds of throaty engines bellowing down tranquil leaf-strewn winding backroads are punctuated only by wailing sirens, howling tires, booming gunshots and broken glass. Attention to detail is stunning,as the viewer is transported back in time to a back-woods struggle between family tradition, stormy relationships,personal pride, federal law. Classic rock-a-billy music from the Sun Record studio accompanies this vintage look at the emotions and reckless courage behind a dangerous battle to stop the flow of white lightning, once and for all, and the price that had to be paid. A smorgasbord of vintage 50's memorabilia with a kickin' rock-a-billy soundtrack awaits eager nostalgia and car buffs. Well done! Too bad it is no longer available in Canada for purchase... ... Read more

Reviews (8)

may we never forget Bataan
Some of the most horrific events of WWII occurred in the Pacific Theater, and this film touches on what happened in Bataan, where tens of thousands of U.S. and Philippine soldiers died in captivity, either on the infamous Death March, the appalling POW camps, or the hell-ships.
At the beginning and ending, this film briefly shows some of the survivors, though it is "sanitized", and the men have some flesh back on their bones.

John Wayne is terrific as Colonel Madden, who organizes the resistance fighters, and does his own stunts, some of which must have left him muddy and bruised.
Anthony Quinn is also excellent as Captain Bonifacio, the leader of the Filipino guerillas. Both Wayne and Quinn are at their most handsome and heroic, and make a fine cinematic pairing.

Though the script is sometimes stilted, it is based on actual events and people, and was written as history was happening, taken from the daily newspapers to the screen.
Edward Dmytryk's direction is well paced, and Max Steiner's "stock music" was used, along with an original score by Roy Webb.

Much in this film can be said to be "propaganda", as it is "good vs. evil", with no subtleties or gray areas, but these were the days when Hollywood and patriotism were compatible, a sentiment that filmmakers seem to have lost, and a time that seems long gone.
May we never forget the souls who bravely fought for freedom and suffered so much in Bataan.

Just a little patriotism involved
Back to Bataan is a flag-waving patriotic movie that was filmed and released as WWII was drawing to a close. The story is about the Filipino people and their fight for freedom from their Japanese oppressors. This is very obvious patriotism with the Japanese portrayed as cowardly murderers and the Americans as noble freedom fighters. John Wayne stars as Colonel Joe Madden, the man selected to help organize the Filipino guerilla movement. His small company wreaks havoc on the Japanese forces in the Phillipines as the war progresses. The young Duke is very good in his role as Madden with Anthony Quinn also excellent as Captain Andres Bonifacio. Also starring are Beulah Bondi, Lawrence Tierney, Vladimir Sokoloff, and Paul Fix. This is a very good movie that shows a part of the war many people do not know about. Check this one out to see an exciting, well-told, adventure story. Classic Duke!

Back to Bataan: The Last of the
With the end of the Second World War close at hand, Hollywood was taking no chances as it continued to churn out patriotic, flag-waving war movies, most of which featured John Wayne. In BACK TO BATAAN, director Edward Dmytryk does showcase Wayne along with Anthony Quinn as both pay homage to the inspired loyalty of the Philipino men and women who risked their lives to aid the Americans against the Japanese. BACK TO BATAAN is an old-fashioned war film, of the kind that has not been filmed since then. In addition to the heroics of the American leads, it features a sterling cast of slanty-eyed Japanese villains to boo and hiss and stalwart Filipinos to cheer. Phillip Ahn and Richard Loo (both ethnic Chinese) play moustache-twirling Japanese officers who speak fluent if not accented English as they spin out their lines of threats and entreaties backed by more threats. Vladimir Sokoloff, a veteran of scores of films, here plays an unassuming school principal who refuses to haul down the American flag when ordered to do so. He is hanged for that, but his body, cleverly draped by the Stars & Stripes, is an unabashed symbol of solidarity between American and Philipino. Ducky Louie, as the schoolboy Maximo, is equally heroic as one who could not spell 'liberty' correctly but whose death proved that he full well understood its meaning. What BACK TO BATAAN shows is Hollywood's contemporary paen to America that the patriotism that is nowadays derided as colonialistic and left-wing jingoistic was then seen as a necessary adjunct to a war that had the bad guys on one side and us on the other.

A so-so Hollywood war film...
A hearty, but hamfisted, formulaic WWII propaganda film about the liberation of the Phillipine Islands from the Japanese occupation, loosely based on contemporary history. Future McCarthy snitch Edward Dymytrk directs; a handsome young John Wayne is the white guy who organizes the guerilla resistence, and Anthony Quinn is cast in one of his many "ethnic" roles, as the grandson of a legendary Filipino political figure, who is now called upon to lead their people to freedom. Although there's plenty of "good neighbor policy" talk about the nobility and can-do spirit of the Filipino people, this jingoistic, bluntly-scripted film is mostly pretty patronizing... And of course, the "Japs" are just pure, conniving evil. The script is pretty action-packed, though... if you like shoot-em-ups, this is OK, if you don't think too much about it. Really nice B&W cinematography.

Realistic and Innovative Filmmaking
This is an excellent film about Filipino guerillas fighting the Japanese during W.W.II. A highlight of this film is the black and white photography of realistic combat scenes filmed by cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca and directed by Edward Dmytryk. These were exciting and ahead of their time. John Wayne as Colonel Joe Madden and Anthony Quinn as Captain Andres Bonifacio give inspirational performances. The cast also included Beulah Bondi, Richard Loo, Lawrence Tierney, Paul Fix and Vladimir Sokoloff. This is one of my favorite war films of the period. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Lush And Glossy Ross Hunter Murder Mystery
Producer Ross Hunter was responsible in the late 1950's and early 1960's of reviving the careers of numerous top flight leading ladies that had earlier experienced lulls in their careers. He totally transformed the career of Doris Day with the classic "Pillow Talk",in 1959. Another of his successful collaborations was with veteran actress Lana Turner who starred in a series of highly glossy and very successful dramas for Hunter. "Portrait in Black", marked their second collaboration after the highly successful "Imitation of Life", the previous year. While certainly not as strong a film as that effort "Portrait in Black", is a beautiful looking, highly entertaining melodrama involving infidelity, murder, and deceit set against the plush surroundings of San Francisco's exclusive Nob Hill district. Lana Turner had one of her better 1960's roles in this film and of course being a Ross Hunter production no expense was spared in displaying his glamourous leading lady to perfection in beautiful clothes designed by Jean Louis, furs and jewels all set off with very flattering lighting courtesy of Russell Metty. Indeed his productions have a 1930's look to them

In "Portrait in Black", Lana Turner plays beautiful Sheila Cabot unhappily married to ruthless shipping magnate Matthew Cabot (Llyod Nolan). Neglected by her unlikeable and highly suspicious husband who keeps her on a tight leash Sheila begins a clandestine affair with the family doctor David Rivera (Anthony Quinn). It appears the affair is doomed to go nowhere as the pair have to meet secretly in David's apartment or in stores for time together. When David is offered a great medical opportunity in Switzerland the pair decide that rather than be seperated they have to take drastic action to be together and hatch a plot to murder Matthew and cover up the deed saying it was death by natural causes. Matthew administers a lethal injection however things are not smooth sailing for the pair after Matthew's death as Sheila begins to receive threatening notes in the mail which offer "congratulations on the success of your murder plans". Naturally the pair begin to see black mailers at every turn. Who knows of their guilt in the family circle? Is it Sheila's haughty disapproving housekeeper Tawny (Anna May Wong) or her unreliable driver Cobb (Ray Walston) who is riddled with gambling debts and would not shy away from black mail? Or could it be Sheila's remote step daughter Cathy (Sandra Dee)?Complication piles on complication for the pair and when suspicion falls on Cabot executive Howard Mason (Richard Basehart) , who has a passion for Sheila, it again leads to murder pulling Sheila and David further and further into the quagmire of criminial activity. After having disposed of Howard's body after a perilous drive to Carmel where Sheila is forced to drive one of the cars despite never having driven one before the real story of the blackmailing notes comes out. David learns tragically that his second murder of Howard was not even necessary for keeping their guilt quiet and that Shelia through her fear of losing David and attempting to tie him closer to her has actually ruined everything. Cathy by accident overhears the pair talking about their guilt and after attempting to call the police in an exciting climax escapes from a crazed David out onto the roof from where trying to pursue her David tragically falls to his death on the pavement below.

At first glance legendary Hollywood glamour queen Lana Turner and roughly hewn Anthony Quinn would appear to make an oddly matched romantic screen couple but both actually combine well in the frantic proceedings in "Portrait in Black". Both are perfectly cast with Turner excelling in the emotional stakes and Quinn being ideal for the more excitable action elements to this story. The movie moves along at an exciting pace, in particular in the second half as suspicion of all the characters increases and as the two get more and more deeply incriminated in the murderous proceedings. The story presses the ironic situation of what was supposed to give them their happiness, ie being free of Matthew Cabot, actually being their complete undoing as they are forced to commit repeat murders. The viewer really is drawn wholeheartedly into these exciting developments. The screenplay contains many intriguing moments such as Lana Turner's frightening drive out to the coast to dump Howard's body and you really feel her terror as she must manage a car when she has never driven one before during a rain storm and has to drive it around dangerously winding roads. Another terrific moment is when Cathy learns of the pairs murderous activity and tries to escape a by now deranged David over the steep rooftop. Many enjoyable red herrings are thrown in to distract the viewer and in that area the sterling work of veteran actress Anna May Wong in her last screen appearance and especially Ray Walston playing a slimy character who as it turns out is totally innocent are first rate and keep you guessing almost up to the stories climax. Ross Hunter had a way with creating beautiful looking productions and apart from the lavish set and costume design the film benefits greatly from on location photography around many parts of San Francisco and the Carmel area.

"Portrait in Black", maybe a glossy melodrama of the old school but it has many exciting moments that will thrill any lover of murder mysteries in high society. Lana Turner was totally suited to these super glamourous, highly melodramatic Ross Hunter efforts and the two had an even greater success together later in 1966 with the classic soap opera "Madame X". "Portrait in Black", not for a second should be taken seriously but the fast moving story guarantees a most satisfying viewing experience. Old style melodrama is rare these days and films produced the way they used to be with no expense spared on the films general look come no better than "Portrait in Black". Check it out sometime you wont be disappointed.

Lana Lover? You'll like this
I'm a big Lana Turner fan, and recently watched this movie for the first time in years. Very melodramatic, the clothes are gorgeous, Lana's makeup is flawless even when she is in the middle of murder. Almost campy, but not a bad movie if you have a couple of hours to waste on the weekend.

Good, but not without several flaws.
A faithless wife(Lana Turner) conspires with her lover(Anthony Quinn) to murder her wealthy husband(Lloyd Nolan). The dastardly duo carry out the dirty deed well enough for the unsuspecting hubby is most assuredly dead; however, after the dearly departed's funeral, someone starts to blackmail them. The premise of this suspense melodrama is rather ordinary, but it is given a considerable lift by splendid decor and an agreeable cast. It's slickly produced by the distinguished Ross Hunter who worked with star Lana Turner a year before on the classic soaper IMITATION OF LIFE. Empty-headed, yet irresistable Hollywood entertainment.

A Priceless Glimpse Of Complete Hollywood Ineptitude
There are 5 reasons to watch this movie: 1. The unbelievably strange cinematography by Russell Metty with its bizarre background/foreground, light/dark contrasts. 2. Lana Turner's first scene, a tour de force of Hollywood voyeurism: she's shown looking out a window so we can admire the back of her gown; as she turns and walks toward the camera, a mirror over a fireplace mantle reflects the lower half of her dress so we see front and back simultaneously. No view of her fabulous outfit is withheld. 3. Anthony Quinn's bunched-like-a-fist face which never modulates its expression no matter the melodramatic circumstances. 4.Sandra Dee's baffling outfit when she's shown boarding a boat on the San Francisco Bay. She looks like a reject from the set of "Lost in Space". 5. John Saxon's hilariously inappropiate impersonation of Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront". ... Read more

Description

Strap in for a high-altitude, history-making adventure and experiencethe thrill, precision and aerial artistry of the Blue Angels.Host Dennis Quaid (The RightStuff) opens the cockpit on this legendary squadron as they take off on their firstEuropean tour in 20 years.Soar above Russia, where MIG fighters intercept and escortthe Blue Angels the first U.S. Military flight demo team ever to appear in the formerenemy's skies.Trace the illustrious history of the Angels through incredible archivalfootage of their greatest performances through the years, and meet the men who madeaviation history as the most-celebrated stunt fliers in the world.And climb aboard an F- 18 Hornet to ride for the ride of a lifetime. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Working together for excellence
After seeing this video, I came to realize how important communication is. When you are flying within 36 inches of each other, it is a must. I also saw how much saying I was wrong and I will do better the next time is critical to staying alive. These men are men of excellence and the flying was awesome and the oneness exhibited was awe inspiring.

great for all ages
My 2 year-old and I have watched this together at least 100 times, and we love it. I'm a pilot; he loves airplanes. As a former coxswain on the US Rowing Team, I was struck how much the emphasis on teamwork and the training routines had in common with the rowing community. Watching this video made me want to give it to friends training for the 2000 Olympics, it reminds me so much of them. I recommended it to coworkers. The video and its world tour captures the optimistic feeling of universal brotherhood that reigned immediately following the end of the Cold War. You'll tap your feet to the music. The flying sequences are beautiful. You come away from this with boundless admiration for the pilots, the maintenance crews, the families, the airplanes and the whole program. For anyone associated with naval aviation especially, this video would be an endless daydream of heaven.

Excellent
This video allows you to get a never-before seen inside look into the selection process and show-life of the "Blue Angels"flight demonstration team; and it makes me proud to have come from a "Navy" family.

An outstanding, in-depth look at America's premier pilots.
This video does an outstanding job of showing you what it is like to BE a Blue Angel - whether you are a Blue Angel pilot or ground crew. It is a must see for anyone interested in military demonstration teams.

A truly GREAT aviation documentary!
This was one of the best documentaries that I've ever seen on the Blues. While other videos only concentrate on the flying scenes (don't worry, this has PLENTY of them) this video shows what the WHOLE team goes through to make the show work. Everything is covered, from the pilots, to ops and the techs who keep the planes in the air.

So many people get on planes every day and watch planes fly... Yet they don't think about what it takes to keep those planes in the air! As a aviation professional, I enjoyed seeing credit go to the the men and women who keep the Blue Jets flying! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fantastic! I Wish I Could Rate it More then 5 Stars!
I haven't read the Ernest Hemingway book yet nor have I seen the old Spencer Tracy movie yet but I saw this television remake starring Anthony Quinn and I loved it, it was a wonderful movie and I though Anthony Quinn was outstanding as Santiago the old fisherman. Anthony Quinn's daughter Valentina plays Santiago's concerned daughter in this movie and his son Francesco plays Santiago as a young man and the movie also stars Gary Cole and Patricia Clarkson as an American couple and I think this movie also had a young boy who befriended Santiago but I do not recall the actors name. This is a wonderful movie and I wish I could give it more then 5 stars and I very highly recommend it. The last time I looked up this movie on Amazon it was only available on video and now that it's also available on DVD I will definitely think about buying the DVD! I don't remember how long this remake was but I think it might have been a two part 4 hour mini series movie.

The film is better, really!
In my opinion, the film perhaps of its release date in 1963 is not at least standard for what I expect from a movie, but if you've read the book from Ernest Hemmingway it's pretty interesting watching the shark attacks, the big fish, the man and the boy and other events or protagonists of the whole story.

The visualisation makes the boring story a bit more exciting and the new elements that are implemented like the author Hemmingway itself and other persons not mentioned so directly in the novella surprise everybody who read the book at first in a positive way.

Once one said to me that a film as a visualisation of a novella could never as good as the written form. "The Old Man and the Sea" proves the contrary opinion because this movie simply is better than the original book.

Nevertheless also a good visual form cannot hide a weak story. For whose who have read the novella with pleasure or do like the great actor Anthony Quinn I can recommend the movie version.

Everyone else who don't like calm stories with philosophical background should take another video tape or DVD like "A Land Before Time" or "Predator"!

Great Remake!!
This film is a great remake of the former Spencer Tracey Film.Anthony Quinn Rules!! ... Read more