Reviews (25)

No other movie was so ahead of it's time!
Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers star in this 1930's melodramatic tale of two mothers struggling for their children. Colbert plays Beatrice "Bea" Pullman, a widow with a young daughter. Life is hard for Bea until Delilah Johnson, Louise Beavers,arrives with her daughter and becomes Bea's maid. Delilah cajoles Bea to give her a job as her maid. Bea discovers that Delilah has a delicious pancake recipe. Bea acquires this recipe, and uses it to start her empire; with Delilah getting a not so equal cut. However, this empire has a price for both. For one, the price is happiness in a relationship. For the other, the price is dealing with racial confusion. Ironically, their daughters serve them the check. No movie of it's time dared to go into the deep waters of racism and self sacrifice! This movie is said to be a "imitation", but in fact some of it's scenes parrallel to the sad realities of life. When Bea and Delilah retire for the night, the scene emphasizes the seperation of races during this time. Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers give powerful and underestimated performances in this movie. Colbert has a real and caring presence in the movie. Beavers shows suffering like never before, and she proves that servants have lives outside of serving. With wonderful performances by Warren William as understanding Stephen Archer, Fredi Washington as the misunderstood and confused Peola, Rochelle Hudson as the lovelorn Jessie, and Ned Sparks as the sarcastic Elmer. "Imitation of Life" blazed a trail for movies dealing with the triumph of the self and the power of family love.

Tearjerker
Classic, compulsively watchable rags to riches tearjerker from a Fannie hearst novel. Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers play the white and black women who go into business together, and Rochelle Hudson and Fredi Washington play their daughters. Ross Hunter produced a remake in 1959 starring Lana Turner, which pulled out all the stops. In both versions you want to laugh at yourself for choking up, but at least, in this earlier more enjoyable version, it doesn't feel as if the sobs are being torn from your throat. The cast includes Warren William, Ned Sparks, and, as servants: Hazel Washington, Hattie McDaniel, and Madame Sultewon (the black actress who worked with D.W. Griffith)

The original, and still the best version
Most viewers are far more familiar with the campy, 1959 version of this film, starring Lana Turner. But, this is the original version, and I find it far superior to the remake for so many reasons.

First of all, it takes place in the early 1930's, putting us smack dab in the Depression, and a time period which suits the subject matter. Claudette Colbert, a much better actress than Lana Turner, is one of the first reasons I prefer this version. But, mainly, the incredible Louise Beavers is absolutely unforgettable as the black maid, Delilah Johnson, whose light-skinned daughter, Peola, is raised alongside Colbert's daughter, Jessie.

When the girls grow up, Peola realizes that she can "pass" for white, and in the 1930's, with racism and joblessness rampant, her choice makes sense, for the times. When Peola, played by Fredi Washington, completely rejects her mother, it is heartbreaking. To see Louise Beavers sobbing onto the counter in the department store is truly painful.

Peola breaks her mother's heart in order to fit into a world that would not accept her otherwise. In the end, she regrets the pain she causes her mother. This is another time and place, and we don't hate Peola for hurting her mother. Still, our heart bleeds for Delilah.

The acting is top notch, and I will take this more entertaining and serious version of the film over the campy re-make any day.

Very long movie
At 1 hour, 51 minutes, this movie is in no hurry to get to the end. I guess Depression-era audiences were happy to sit in a cool theater that long. Scenes are long, slow, and drawn out, like in real life. Claudette Colbert is is no hurry to move along to the next scene. And why should she when she doesn't age a bit in the 15 years this movie spans? And doesn't Warren William look like John Barrymore!! Same profile. If you are a fan of the Lana Turner version, you really ought to see this.

Unrelentingly grim, but a must-see
This film stands as a raw, no holds barred look at racism in 1930s America. Many people have problems today with the Louise Beavers (the maid) character's acceptance of her lot, but one must remember that oppression sometimes causes people to give up hope for a better earthly life. Ned Sparks provides some badly needed comic releif in this weeper, and one wonders what audiences of the time thought of it. This would be good to show and have a discussion session with younger viewers. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

On her first day of work, Sue Applegate (Ginger Rogers) has to escape the clutches of a lecherous client (Robert Benchley, whose favorite line is "Why don't you slip out of that wet coat and into a dry martini?").Fed up with the big city, Sue decides to head home to Iowa with the precious $27.50 train fare she's kept in a sealed envelope since her arrival.The fare has gone up, however, and she is forced to pose as a 12-year-old to buy a half-price ticket.On the train, she has to dodge the suspicious conductors and bursts into the compartment of Major Phillip Kirby (Ray Milland), who falls for Sue's masquerade and harbors her for the night.The situation is further complicated by the major's fiancée (Rita Johnson) and her savvy 12-year-old sister (Diana Lynn), the only one who sees through the ruse.Add a stay at the major's academy and some escapades with young, hormone-driven cadets, and you have an enjoyable, if not quite classic, silly comedy, well paced by Billy Wilder in his first directorial effort.Rogers's real-life mother appears in a small role as Sue's mother.Rogers is only occasionally convincing as a 12-year-old, but after all she was 30 at the time.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Priceless Classic, lots of fun!
What a wonderful film! Billy Wilder has directed a cute and wonderful film that is timeless! When Susan Applegate (Ginger Rogers) has had it with the big city (New York) she discovers that while she was trying to build a career that her train fare has increased. The laughs begin there as she adapts her wardrobe to become a 12 year old half-fare customer. The suspecting conductors chase "Sue-Sue" as she hides and meets Major Phillip Kirby (Ray Milland). Major Kirby takes "Sue-Sue" to the home of his fiancée (Rita Johnson) and her 12-year-old sister (Diana Lynn). She is the talk of the cadets at the boys school, and causes a very lighthearted stir. Sue-Sue's relationship with the young girl (Diana Lynn) is impressive as is the insight of the young girl. This film is truly a classic!

Suspend Your Disbelief
This film has raised a few eyebrows over the years, since the subject matter is of a grown man falling in love with a woman pretending to be a twelve year old girl. However, upon viewing, you will discover that this comedy presents the material in such an innocent way, you simply have to suspend disbelief and enjoy the complications that ensue. Ginger Rogers is the woman/girl who pretends to be the child to get the child's fare on the train since she is short on cash, and Ray Milland is the officer she meets on the train who takes care of her. She ends up at the military school where he works, and she causes quite a sensation amongst the young cadets. But more than that, she stirs up things in the relationship between Milland and his fiancee. Rogers does as well as anyone could playing a twelve year old in pigtails, making it almost believable that she could fool everyone. She's a lot of fun and well matched by Milland. Diana Lynn is terrific as Milland's fiancee's young sister, the only one who sees through Rogers' masquerade. There's a number of really funny moments, such as Rogers fending off the juvenile advances of the young cadets, and the hair "epidemic" of the girls at the dance (I don't want to give the funny visual away). Billy Wilder's clever dialogue is a treat to listen to (as usual) and deceptively adult. If you accept the premise of the film at face value, you'll find a number of laugh-out-loud moments and endearing characters in this comedy that is one of my favourites from the early Forties.

Discovering Ginger Rodgers, without Fred Astair
attached. I was pleasantly surprised by this excellent first time comendy directed by Billy Wilder. Some of the outside scenes were set at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin.
The dialogue is smart & mature enough to hold up well 60 years later. Ginger disguies herself as a 12 yearold to get half fare on a train taking her home to Iowa from NYC.Anyone who cannot see that she is a sexy, beautiful, full grown women is an idiot. But she fools the Major played by Ray Milland. She stumbles into his private compartment, fleeing the conductors. They bond, in a way that wold get him arrested today as a pervert. But it's all innocent & hilarious in 1942. He becomes Uncle Phil & falls in love with her, uncomfortable with the fact that he thinks she is 12 year old "Zue Sue".
The scenes of her being pursued & kissed by eager, unknowing cadets half her age, are kind of 'corny' especially the seduction scene when she breaks out in a brief tap dance.
This is my second Ray Milland film in as many weeks. It could not be more different than his role as a drunk in "Lost Weekend" only several years later. I'm becoming a "late" fan of Milland & Ginger sans Fred.

classic
who says this movie isn't classic? it's one of the funniest. Ginger somehow manages to be a surprisingly good little girl. (if not 12, then 14 maybe, but who cares?) she should have been nominated for an oscar at least. i don't know how this one made it past the censors untouched! on the train, when Ginger wakes because of the lightning, and Ray MIlland comes down to comfort her in her bed (he doesn't know she's really an adult) we can only imaginge what's going through her mind! and when she presse her cheek against his chest? HOLY MACKERAL! He thinks she's shaking because of the lightning, but we know better, heh heh...
Ginger is also Hilarious with all the looks and wisecracks that she gives. One of the best lines she has is, after being compared to a lightbulb (moths like lightbulbs) when Ray sees a cadet smooch her. He explains ( in another risque conversation!) that she should be careful around the boys, becase they're attracted to her. She replies: I'll try to be a well behaved lightbulb! Also watch for a little tap-dancing on her part, brings back memories of the thirties. But this movie is definately one of my favories dancing or no.

EVERYTHING IS JUST GINGER!
Last night (040404) I couldn't stop watching this movie, although I hadn't planned on it. Ginger may have gotten her Oscar for the unworthy Kitty Foyle, but she deserved a nomination for this first directing effort by Billy Wilder.
Just think of all the great acting and dancing Ginger has recorded! Awesome. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Joseph Mankiewicz's brightly stylized film of Frank Loesser's classic musical (based on the stories of Damon Runyon) casts the criminal underworld as a harmless fantasy in this whimsical vision of the Big Apple. Nonsingers Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons acquit themselves fine in the lead roles as high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson and Salvation Army missionary Sarah Brown. It's odd casting, to say the least. Frank Sinatra, who plays the good old reliable Nathan Detroit (who runs "the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York") is left with novelty tunes while husky Brando delivers the love songs and hits, including "Luck Be a Lady." But in the context of the colorful dialogue and comically affected speech patterns (a giddy gangster-speak straight out of Runyon's breezy stories) the song performances aren't the least out of place. Stubby Kaye, reprising his role as Nicely Nicely from the Broadway run, practically steals the show in his few scenes and his show-stopping solo "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat." The film is overlong at two and a half hours and somewhat stagily confined in the stylized, studio-bound sets--perhaps the mark of a director who had never helmed a musical before--but a terrific cast of eccentrics and Michael Kidd's high-energy choreography gives the film a memorable and enchanting character. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Not perfect, but a heckuva lot of fun.
Damon Runyon's work is an odd choice for musical comedy, but here it works just fine with a score by Frank Loesser, and a terrific cast. Sinatra as Nathan Detroit is a great anchor. He can sing, he can act and he's got charm for days. Scene-stealer Stubby Kaye offers considerable support as Nicely Nicely Johnson as does Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide. The casting of Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons in the central roles, strikes me as odd, but they both do good jobs, showing, particularly in Brando's case, a nice comedic sensibility.

The tunes are mostly catchy ("Can Do," "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" and "Luck Be a Lady Tonight" will have you humming for days,)the dialogue is witty and the actors give it their all. The result is a clever, funny, engaging film that you'll enjoy over and over. Highly recommended.

It's unanimous-Guys and Dolls is a five star film!
I've seen the play twice and the movie umpteen times, but nobody does a better Nathan than Frank Sinatra. Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, and Vivian Blaine all add to the movie's magic. Even though Stubby Kaye has a small role, he steals the show in his scenes. If you're feeling down in the dumps, this movie will make you chuckle, tap your feet, and burst out in song. You've read the twenty-four reviews above mine. It's unanimous--Guys and Dolls is a five-star film. Why doesn't amazon.com release it again? Don't they read our reviews? PLEASE RERELEASE THIS MOVIE!

Brando Singing...and dancing? Need I say More?
I really liked this movie. I am not much of a fan of musicals, (hence the 4 stars) but, because Brando was in it, I thought I'd give it a chance. He actually can sing and I loved the dance sequence. He is gorgeous as usual (surely the other reason why I like this movie so much). There is great chemistry between him and Jean Simmons, who was great also. If nothing else get this movie for the sheer curiousity of seeing Brando sing and dance. After I'm done with this I'm gonna go watch it again.

Another Score for Marlon Brando !
Angry, Aggressive, Bitter, Stanley Kowalski from "A StreetCar Named Desire" is singing and dancing in this Broadway classic. Versatility
on Marlon Brando's behalf proven at its finest .

Great flawed musical.
I rate this product with three stars only. I take off one on account of the film's shortcomings, and another because this particular edition on DVD lacks bonus materials (it has only the theatrical trailer and a three page booklet). Also, the DVD can't be run in other aspect ratio than the panoramic original format (2,35:1).

Now, into the film itself. The best of it, in my view, are the memorable lyrics and music by Frank Loesser, another of those half a dozen -or little more- genius popular musical artists of the XXth Century. Particularly, "Woman in love", played and sung in Spanish and in English, in several styles during the Havana trip of Brando-Masterson and Simmons-Sergeant pervades the atmosphere of the film for many minutes. I find that about the best part. Worth watching and rewatching and listening and relistening. The romance advances at the rythm of the music.

As to the actors adequacy for the parts, it is a little awkward. Sinatra is perfect, very at ease in the rol (no very far from the "Pal Joey" character at least in his general outlook). He can sing. Simmons is also excellent for the role, she represents the allure of the beatiful prude, the repressed young woman who explodes in passion when she is released by love. Brando... this doesn't seem a part for him, he looks awkward, his singing and voice are rather lackluster. But we can forget that and acknoledge his efforts to cover new ground. It is refreshing that he accepted to move aways from his usual mumbling "rebels". This is no to say that he does not mumble here... Vivian Blaine is perfect, she recreates the part from the stage musical she herself starred on.

The dancing numbers are good. Choreographed by Michael Kidd, they are also stylish and pleasant to look on, often spectacular.

This is a film one can see many times, so it is worth purchasing. Mankiewicz characterictic excess of dialogue doesn't come in the way. It is clever dialogue, well delivered -of course, a lot must come from the play-. So, with a little effort of enriching this DVD in various ways, it would have been near-great, as the movie is in fact. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

New Classics
This is an underated film that presents itself in understated way. It is a quiet movie that constantly moves you although you don't realize it. I takes you through the lives of the two main characters as they become helpless to the love they share.

It is an accurate portrayal of a families involvement, and a young womans ties to tradition and that of her own heart.

A hidden treasure movie
This is a quietly great movie. It did not hit the top charts after its premiere and soon went into oblivion. Only after Hank's success in the 90s, this film "resucitated" on TV. Every... needs concentration from viewers, and a basic understanding of sephardic history to appreciate its value. Mr. Hanks once said this is his most fondly remembered movie, believe or not. Hanks plays the role of an american fighter pilot enlisted with the RAF. After his plane was shot down in North Africa, he convalesces in Jerusalem. He meets a young sephardic jew (Cristina Marsillach) with whom he falls in love. Her family overall resists this romance. She is also caught with the dilemma: my family traditions or my love for somebody who is "different"?, and hesitates, but not for long. The film accurately reflects a part of the life of sephardic jews. The director is israeli (and sephardic I presume). It is also a true experience to hear Ladino, or Judeo-Spanish. As a Spanish speaker, I see it as a form of medieval Spanish preserved across time. This is unique. The only weakness I found was the audio. I highly recommend this movie.

An early glimpse of Tom Hanks' dramatic appeal!
This movie is amazing. I saw it once many years ago and I never really got over it. It's an incredibly dramatic, romantic, touching, and realistic story of young love in the 1940s. Hanks plays a WWII American pilot stationed in Jerusalem who falls in love with a Sephardic girl played by Christina Marsillach. Of course, Marsillach's family is dead-set against their daughter dating the American. The film focuses in on their forbidden love affair, and Hanks and Marsillach have amazing on-screen chemistry. The characters are remarkably real and raw, as is the storyline. There is no sugar-coated perfect ending, but it's not depressing either. This is one of those rare films that is able to capture at once both the dispair of human prejudices and the optimism of human determination. I rewatched this movie recently, and I was overwhelmed by the same feelings I felt when I watched it for the very first time. Although it's out of print and one of Tom Hanks' lesser known films, it's definitely worth the effort. Try getting your hands on a copy--you won't regret it. Highly, highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this Horton Foote (Tender Mercies) adaptation of the William Faulkner short story, an honorable prisoner put to work by the Red Cross rescues a pregnant woman grasping a tree just feet above the turbulent waters of the 1927 Mississippi flood. Having never manned a boat before and wildly off course, the convict (Arliss Howard, Full Metal Jacket) manages to convey Addie (Jeanne Tripplehorn, The Firm) in what amounts to a rowboat to New Orleans and then back home, while she gives birth and recovers on board their vessel. Along the way the pair manages to befriend Cajuns, conquer crocodiles, and fall quietly in love. This Hallmark Hall of Fame production directed by John Kent Harrison is suspenseful, moving, and, while leisurely paced, ultimately quite rewarding. Its lack of sexual content, violence (except to a few of the aforementioned crocs), or rough talk make it excellent family fare. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A flood of emotion
This is one of the best of Hallmark. It's a story of a convict in the 20's in a Mississippi prison. The rains came and he was sent on a mission. Every time you thought things were going to get better, they got worse. This is a tale of two strangers caught in a situation beyond their control, and find the trust and faith that had been lost in their lives. Arliss Howard and Jeanne Tripplehorn were excellent and very true in their portrayals.

Tough and Sensitive a Great story meanders Ole Miss.
What do you get when you have a great story terrific acting and a director who nows about pacing .Well you get a great movie that will stay with you for years. Beatifully filmed this movie has everything . It is fable like and the pace is similar to listening to a great folk tune or folk story . It is just right. It really captures your attention and subsequently you care for these characters. Arliss Howards strong quiet lead and country looks pull this film above chick-flic status.
I feel Old Man is a companion piece to the Cohen brothers "O Brother where art Thou". See them both as a twinbill !

Outstanding Performances/Great story!
Arliss Howard and Jean Tripplehorn, two of America's greatest, but little known acting talents shine brightly in this quiet, intelligent film. It gets its Southern setting just right, with plenty of story, suspense and heart. Best of all is Howard's nearly wordless protrayal of a convict who has a profound sense of honor and loyalty. For fans of Les Miserables, Cool Hand Luke, Horton Foote and Shawshank Redemption. The best HHF produced yet! Highly recommended! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Filming a love story centered on two mentally challenged people is a touching idea, one that's been attempted in films such as Benny and Joon and even, to a certain extent, As Good As It Gets. The Other Sister is another addition to the genre, a well- acted comedy-drama centering on the romance of Carla (Juliette Lewis) and Daniel (Giovani Ribisi) and throwing in some general family angst as a secondary story line. The acting is tremendous--Lewis and Ribisi both give convincing performances without condescending to their characters.Diane Keaton plays yet another charming scatterbrain, this time as Elizabeth Tate, the uptight, rich mother who wants a picture-perfect life. But good acting isn't enough here.These fine actors drown in a sea of mediocre writing, and we're left with a film with no real conflict or tension. Will Carla and Daniel make it work? Well, of course.Will mother Elizabeth loosen up about her "gay workaholic" daughter and let Carla live her own life? Do you really need to ask? There are a few cringe-worthy moments that have a sense of truthfulness, such as when Daniel stands up at Carla's sister's wedding to announce his feelings.But otherwise, these characters live in a pampered, fairy-tale world where the worst thing that happens to them is that the meanies at school put chewing gum in Daniel's bike helmet. Ultimately, this is a sweet, albeit occasionally saccharine, tale that will move those who are looking for cheerful fare. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Sweet, touching, and very- well acted! Excellent!!!
The Other Sister is a romantic comedy/ drama about the special relationship between two mentally impaired young people- Carla (Juliette Lewis), who just came back from 8 years in a special school, and wantd to proof she can now handle on her own and be independent, and Daniel (Giovanni Ribisi), a sweet young man who falls in love with Carla after she helps him with the vicious students in theyr Politechnic school. Of course things aren't perfect for the special couple- in their way stand Carla's overprotective mother (Diane Keaton), and Daniel's financial problems. The movie doesn't have actual plot, it mainly talks about Carla's journey on her way for normal, happy, independent life, life that she never had, and focuses on the main event on Carla's life- her relationship with Danni.

Juliette Lewis is great as Carla, real and strong, and Giovanni Ribisi's Danni is very well- acted. Ribisi managed to talentedly create a charming, sweet and sensitive Danni, and He, Lewis, and both of them together will make you laugh, cry,be touched and make The Other Sister a movie that you will not forget for a long time.

Sweet.
Juliette Lewis stars in this movie about a very wealthy (don't forget that, it's important to the story) mentally handicapped young woman, named Carla Tate, who returns home after spending eight years in a special school. Carla is very strong minded and wants to take classes at a local vocational school, move into her own apartment, and live a life of her own away from her family. She gets along with most of her family really well but is often in conflict with her controlling and demanding mother (Diane Keaton). While taking classes Carla meets a mentally challenged young man, Daniel (Giovani Ribisi) and the two quickly become good friends and eventually become romantic, a relationship which Carla's mother does not approve.

I was pleasantly surprised by THE OTHER SISTER. I knew before hand that it was a "chick flick" and was directed by Garry Marshall. However, for the most part the movie worked. The acting was wonderful. The family struggles were lifelike. The simple adventures of Carla and Danny were rather believable, but Danny's more so because not many mentally handicapped people come from wealthy families like Carla's. Some of the scenes were quite humorous and some were rather touching, evoking real emotion.

There are only two major complaints about the film. One, it was incredibly long (about 135 minutes). At points the movie was dragged out much too long and in those places the film lost some of it's poignancy. My only other complaint is that the film used THE GRADUATE throughout as a prop. I realize that often movies are influenced by other films and sometimes those films are even referenced and parts of them copied in another movie. However, the overemphasis of that movie in the film detracted from much of the movies' action. Other than that, not too bad.

Very Cute!
My husband and I both enjoyied this movie a lot! It is cute and funny and sweet. We both thought the acting was great and the story touching!

Touching movie
THE OTHER SISTER is a fine movie you should add to your library. A drama starring Juliette Lewis, Diane Keaton, Tom Skeritt and Giovanni Ribisi. Carla (Juliette Lewis) is a wealthy mentally handicapped person who comes home after attending a special school for many years. Just as she arrives at home her mother (played by Diane Keaton) wants her to play tennis and do certain things, which Carla automatically objects to. She goes to school, and meets a mentally handicapped young man named Daniel (Giovanni Ribisi). Carla learns a lot from Daniel and a friendship grows between the two. She learns that he lives on his own, so she decides she wants to get her own apartment, to the chagrin of her mother. Carla and Daniel decide to deepen their friendship into a loving relationship. The movie was well done, they played every beat in the story, how it affected the family. Watching the movie you will most likely find yourself sympathizing with Carla and Daniel, and feel their struggles dealing with their handicap. There were some really sweet moments, some funny ones, overall it was just a really great movie.

More sensitive the more often viewed
THE OTHER SISTER is one of those films that becomes a staple in the home library. With every viewing the tenderness and good qualities just improve. Though the film industry is dealing more often with the mentally challenged these days (I AM SAM, RADIO, etc) few can equal the tender love story that is created by Juliet Lewis and Giovanni Ribisi. The family setup is well paced with the skills of Diane Keaton and Tom Skerritt et al and other issues confronting the modern traditional family are certainly touched upon - obsession with public appearances, coping with a challenged child, teaching sex education, the presence of a gay sibling, to mention only a few. But it is the overwhelmingly fine performances by Lewis and Ribisi that are of the quality of commitment that seeing them on repeated viewings just fortifies the brilliance of their acting. These two people are people we readily love and grow to feel their fears, pain, frustration, and dreams. If ever there was a film that was able to read from the inside of the minds of the mentally challenged and find the mysteries and honest simplicities there, then this is the film. An outstanding cast and a very fine director in Garry Marshall make this movie a keeper. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Stupid
Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid
And once more Stupid
2 thumbs down and a fart!

The Classic "Hard to Find" Horror Movie
This particular movie in the Stepfather series is kind of comical (like part 2). The actor portrays a "dorky" or "square" sort of a guy who is really a psychopath. This crazy guy receives plastic surgery to keep his cover and he moves to some "cornball" suburban neighborhood. He takes a job working as a gardener for some fat, trashy looking dude.

Of course, this psychopath does the whole Catholic church bit and tries to be normal and meets a new woman. He eventually marries this woman who also has a son. He tries to connect with the son but the son thinks the guy is a total nerd. Things soon go awry with this new family because Keith the "loony" (main character) has some weird "perfect family" image.

On one of his gardening routes he meets another woman (now we have Keith the "player") where he engages into some more intimate social contact. His boss catches on to this new deal and confronts the psychopath (the dialogue during this scene is absolutely hilarious and eventful). The boss soon realizes he made a mistake when he finds a rake swung into his chest and abdomen simultaneously. He looks like a pansy gardener but is really a vicious killer (what an original idea?!). I am sure you can guess what kind of organic material he uses for growing his flowers!

Anyways, there are a series of events that take place (the priest suddenly found dead, the two woman finding out about each other, the smart stepson on his "sleuthing" adventure, etc.) that all lead to a classic chaotic ending. I am an extreme horror fan and have spanned all elements of gore and mystification(some laced with comical "corniness," such as this flick, without detracting from the psychopathic intensity). This movie pops up in my mind much of the time and is so hard to find...unless your using amazon. Rent it or buy it if you can...you will not be disappointed if your a true horror fan!

Really Scary Movie.
I really liked this movie a lot. The movie was spine-tingling and there are lots of shock scenes here. The evil stepfather goes after a single mom and her disabled son after he had plastic surgery, so the FBI couldn't find him. Three's Company star Priscilla Barnes gives a really belivable performence as the mother.

Poor Sequel.
Unfortunantly, this third film in the Stepfather series dosn't feature Terry O'Quinn, the great actor who did a great job portraying the psychopath who marries and kills widows. However, this film just dosn't stand up in comparison to the other two films. Only watch if it's a slow Saturday night and there is nothing else to watch. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

AN UNFORGETTABLE MASTERPEICE
I remember when I first viewed this movie, having never had heard of the book or such a concept. I guess I was young then and wasn't expected to know anything about it anyhow, but I did remember enough so that I was on a three year search trying to find the Phantom Tollbooth...finally I realized the magic of the Internet. The Phantom Tollbooth is not only an educational film, inbreeding knowledgeable information through adventures experienced with Milo in Digitopolis, Dictionopolis, the Land of Expectations and the Castle in the Air, but also it is enjoyable to watch and be submerged in. It definitely is on my top ten list of movies, and I think it always will be. Chuck Jones's masterpiece is really a movie everyone, young and old, should own and love.

Much better as a book
This lifeless adaptation of the classic children's book is only notable as one of Chuck Jones few feature efforts. Just try not to fast forward as Milo drives back and forth changing from cartoon to real. We get it already! The songs are extremely dated, but if you like the choral style of the late 60s, you might get a grin out of "What's to Become of Milo."

A childhood favorite!
A boy named "Milo" ( Butch Patrick from The Munsters) is bored with school life and wants to be somewhere far away, but unfortunately he gets his wish come true as he finds a mysterious huge box in his room that unlocks a magic tollbooth. He also gets a car which takes him to an animated world beyond his wildest imagination, he joins up with two new pals " Tock" and " Humbug" on a quest through the world beyond to save two princess in the castle of the air from demons.

A highly entertaining and brilliant animated fantasy from animation maestro Chuck Jones with wonderful animation and is faithful to the brilliant original novel. It's also a very entertaining, provocitive and fun animated movie for both kids and adults.

(...)

the best film ever
this film is the best film ever.it explains life in the most basic form from a magical comical perspective.hauntingly beautiful and deeply provocative.watch it.(on drugs)

Disloyal to the text - a real disappointment
I'd read the book to my daughter before getting the video, and I looked forward to a true rendering of the book. What we saw was a travesty - the filmmakers took tremendous liberties with the spirit of the text and I felt that we were seeing a completely different story - and it wasn't one bit interesting. It took forever for the plot to begin; the filmmakers seemed to be having more fun showing off the "gimmick" of moving between real images and animation, but it got to be obnoxious and wasteful - where's the story? Stick with the book... maybe someone will come up with a better film version. (For the record, I'm not against all filmed versions of book: I love the films of Charlotte's Web, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - renamed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for film - and the Harry Potter films.) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sophomore jinx hit hard in this second film by Kevin Smith, whose debut Clerks transcended the limits of its setting and budget to become something memorably funny. (Smith followed Mallrats with the wonderful Chasing Amy, so Mallrats definitely had the old curse.) A ramshackle comedy set in a mall, the film follows several story lines involving lovers, enemies, friends, goofballs, and Smith's own "silent" character, who also appeared in Clerks and Chasing Amy. A heavy self-consciousness weighs on everything, as if Smith forgot how to make obscenity funny instead of tedious. Still, it's nice to see some of the director's film family on screen, among them Jason Lee and Joey Lauren Adams. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (304)

Mallrats
This was Kevin Smith's funniest movie! Who ever thought that hanging out at the mall would be funny? Well somehow, Smith did it and he did it very well in this non stop rib breaking comedy.

MALLRATS is about 2 guys T.S. (Jeremy London) and Brodie (Jason Lee). After breaking up with his girlfriend because she agreed to go on her father's copycat version of the Dating Game, he goes over to his friend Brodie's house and finds out that his girl, Renee (Shannon Dougherty) broke up with him as well. Brodie, wanting to make his friend feel better, takes him to the mall. It's a non stop laugh riot from sailboats to stage trashing to the backseat of Volkswagon, MALLRATS will keep you laughing from beginning to end.

This was Jason Lee's first movie and he really made it count. Lee is hilarious in this movie and he steals every scene that he's in. Plus who could forget the comedy due of Jay and Silent Bob? Of course you can't because they're in this one as well. Plus this movie is just wrong. There are some really scandalous scenes (Ms Ivana's fortune telling and the game show). And a very special cameo by Stan Lee, creator of Marvel Comics, doesn't hurt.

There is a lot of swearing, some nudity and some drug references but other than that, all good here. You'll definitely want to add this to your collection. Plus I had to give it 5 stars because this movie was filmed in MN and the "Minneso-TAH accent" (like in FARGO and DROP DEAD GORGEOUS) was not used!! That alone scores serious points. In any case, enjoy MALLRATS and don't forget to pick up Smith's other great titles like CLERKS, CHASING AMY, DOGMA and JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK

SILENT BOB IS BACK ON THE ESCALATOR
Mallrats did horribly at the box office. This fact is undisputable. However this movie has heart. It gets funnier the more you watch it. However if you don't like comics, sci fi movie references and dialogue about anything and everything this movie is not for you. The DVD collectors edition is a gem. There is over an hour of deleted scenes. In fact a whole subplot that got cut because it din't quite work. Commentary throughout the movie with Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes(Jay), Ben Affleck(Shannon) and Jason Lee(Brodie). Well worth it to hear them banter between themselves. You can tell they had a great time makin this movie. It shows in the film as well. This is definately a four star movie and with all the extras it goes straight to five stars. Hey at least Mallrats will make money on video since it bombed at theatres. Snoochie Boochies.

Halarious
I don't care who says this movie bad. I don't care how many peopel think it sucks. I think it's awesome. By far the best Jay and Silent movie. I like it cause it's funny and there isn't too much swearing or annoying stuff. Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back is funny to but annoying cause Jay is the main character and as a result of that. There is way too much swearing. I like Jay and Bob but they make more better back up characters. Jason Less is great. Yeah some parts of this are dumb but I love it cause it's filmed in my home state. Minnesota. The land of the hot blondes. Anybody who is from Minnesota know what I"m talking about. If you want a funny movie that is original and has a good story. Buy this movie.

Fun Fun Fun
Title: Mallrats

Cast: Shannen Doherty ... Rene Mosier
Jeremy London ... T.S. Quint
Jason Lee ... Brodie Bruce
Claire Forlani ... Brandi Svenning
Ben Affleck ... Shannon Hamilton
Joey Lauren Adams ... Gwen Turner
Renée Humphrey ... Tricia Jones
Jason Mewes ... Jay
Ethan Suplee ... Willam Black
Stan Lee ... Himself
Kevin Smith ... Silent Bob

Director: Kevin Smith

Tagline: "They're not there to shop. They're not there to work. They're just there."

Plot Summary: Two best friends whose girlfriends dump them on the same day seek solace in wandering around the local mall. Once there, wild and whacky events ensue that give them a chance to set things right with their girlfriends before it's too late.

Review and Comments: Words cannot describe what happens in this movie, it's one of those "you had to be there" kind of things...that's why the plot summary won't do the story justice. And once you see it, you either buy into it and like what you see, or you're violently annoyed by the proceedings. I can fully understand both reactions, but I'm firmly on the side of enjoying this movie. Yes, it's absurd. A lot of the comedy is slapstick. Yes, it involves a slacker college-age guy taking his less-of-a-slacker college student friend to wander around the mall the day they both experience breakups. Yes, they get into a bunch of weird and quirky situations that are either funny or annoying, depending on your sense of humor. I laughed a lot.

The relationships are about as one-dimensional as you can get. I think there's too much weird humor going on here for me to get too involved with the characters. But I appreciate how much these guys love their girlfriends. I appreciate that Brodie (Jason Lee) can't admit how much he loves his ex girlfriend, even though everyone can see it. I appreciate that Brandi (Claire Forlani) can't admit how much she loves T.S. (Jeremy London) because she's too busy trying to be mad at him and justify her breakup to herself. It's sweet to watch at times, but not much more than that. If you want depth, look elsewhere.

The comedy is what saves this movie, which is why you have to find it funny, or the movie will just annoy the hell out of you. There are several gross-out jokes, including one that made me want to puke. The elevator sex scene and ensuing discussion between the characters was hilarious. There's a running joke about a game show that's filming on a stage in the mall that night, and how Jay and Silent Bob keep attempting to sabotage it. There are about a million more, but I won't spoil them. Suffice it to say that slapstick comedy pervades this movie, and if you don't like that, you won't enjoy the movie. The ending is corny and sweet, and the proceedings are largely painless. It's not my favorite Smith film, but it's nowhere near as bad as critics made it out to be.

The Bottom Line: Perfectly fitting my weird sense of humor.

Smith is bad for comics and film.....
In 1998, when Smith's DAREDEVIL run began, everyone was saying, read it, It's great. Oh boy was it not. Very bad writing that basically destroyed the charecter, The same's true with this piece of celliod garbage. There is no one to like in this movie, heck an episode of Beveryly Hills 902010 has more plot, better dialoge, and casting then this. It should become a tradition to avoid all Kevin Smith movies as you would avoid a trip to the IRS office. ... Read more

Reviews (333)

65 Million Years is Well Worth the Wait!
Intense, supersonic-paced science fiction adventure finds paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and company invited to a remote tropical island theme park inhabited by genetically engineered dinosaurs! The awe and wonder is abruptly replaced by terror and a fight for survival after the park's security system is sabotaged, granting the resurrected behemoths free run of the island!

Director Spielberg is at his creative best in this tour de force of suspense, acutely blending action, thrills, awe and humor. Equal to the challenge is composer John Williams with an appropriately rousing and kinetic score that sounds something like Stravinsky on melodic steroids!

Expert direction, superb performances (Richard Attenborough is particularly effective as the eccentric billionaire entrepreneur, John Hammond) and breathtaking, unprecedented visual effects (the ILM computer generated dinosaurs are completely convincing!) more than compensate for less than dimensional characters and rudimentary plot. Along with the action and fun, "Jurassic Park" also raises some serious questions about the ethics of advanced science and cloning.

Perhaps Steven Spielberg's best adventure film, "Jurassic Park" truly is a cinematic masterpiece and one of my five favorite films of all time!

Unbelievable
Jurassic Park has got to be one of the greatest movies of all time. The directing, animatronics, acting, graphics, and casting were perfect in this movie. The beginning was perfect, no sitting around waiting for action. It opens with a worker being attacked by a velociraptor and Muldoon(Bob Peck) trying to help him.

You meat a character named Nedry(Wayne Knight) who is working for a company that will pay him 1.5 million dollars if he steals the dinosaur embryos.

Then some other stuff happens, yaddah yaddah, anyway, Grant(Sam Neill), Ellie(Laura Dern), Gennaro(Martin Ferraro), Malcolm(Jeff Goldblum), and Hammond(Richard Attenborough), reach the island. The island is owned by Hammond the billionaire. It is a theme park with real dinosaurs. The main four go on a tour with Hammond's grandkids.

Needless to say, the tour goes bad. Nedry steals the embryos, pulls the power and runs off. The five remaining characters are stranded out by the tyrannosaur paddock. Ellie has already gone back to the visitor's center where she, Hammond, Muldoon, and Mr. Arnold(Samuel L. Jackson) try to figure out what Nedry has done.

The tyrannosaurus escapes, eats Gennaro and nearly kills everyone else. Moments later Ellie and Muldoon come to try and find everybody, but they have left. They find Malcolm lying in a pile of hay, and the two cars destroyed.

Now Grant, and the two grandchildren, Lex and Tim, must find their way back to the visitor's center while Ellie, Malcolm, Muldoon, Hammond, and Mr. Arnold try to get the power back.

This was THE movie of my generation
As a college student now, I was 9 years old when Jurassic Park hit theaters and it couldn't have come at a better time. Watching it again, Jurassic Park holds up as great entertainment, even if the characters and storylines seem a bit flimsy at times. It's probably more worthy of 4 stars than 5, but hey, this is the movie of MY generation and I'm not going to apologize for its rating. Jurassic Park continually reminds its viewers that Steven Spielberg is the greatest entertainer since Walt Disney. Constantly filling the screen with visual treats, keeping the plot moving at a brisk pace (once the obligatory exposition is filled in), and allowing us to enjoy ourselves without stooping too low, nobody does blockbusters like this man. Since he was to direct Schindler's List that same year, this was more or less his kiss-off to the popcorn genre he helped invent (consisting of classics like Jaws, Raiders, and E.T.--some with more dramatic substance than others, but all damn entertaining). Like I said, I was nine when this movie premiered and I still remember watching in the dark theater as the whole show unfolded--perhaps taking it for granted that movies should be so thrilling and fun, and that every filmmaker was capable of such wonders. Wrong on both accounts, but it did spur me on to shoot my first movie on video camera that summer (admittedly, it was highly derivative). Now I'm a film student...thanks Steve
5/6

"This is a UNIX system. I know this"... And black leather?
Jurassic Park is good entertainment, but take most of the "science" it presents with a grain of salt.

All the characters seem to think the idea of cloning dinosaurs is a good idea except chaos theorist Goldblum who wonders if we should do what we apparently can do.

Innovative in its presentation of realistic looking dinosaurs, Jurassic Park is the name of a new dinosaur-based theme park that is sabotaged while a few scientists and kids are on a pre-opening tour. It becomes an adventure to see who will escape alive.

The movie is best when there are dinosaurs on screen.

Mostly good acting by Laura Dern and Sam Neill as dino experts, Jeff Goldblum as the chaos theory mathematician, and Richard Attenborough as the park designer. The kids, played competently by Ariana Richards and Joseph Mazzello had some of the best lines.

An entertaining adventure, but no big concept. Not quite the same level as Raiders of the Lost Ark, or Jaws.

The only nit-picks include wondering why Jeff Goldblum wears black leather to the tropics, and why a pre-teen girl can save the day on a complex computer (again - see S1m0ne) with her knowledge of UNIX.

DVD has wide-screen movie, a behind the scenes documentary, and a few other minimal goodies.

More Than Just A Movie...
Jurassic Park was more than just a movie. More than an event. It was a full blown phenomenon! Steven Spielberg is the unrivalled king of such films. Every few years he puts out another spectacular that sweeps the world and sets a new standard (like Jaws, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, E.T., Raiders Of The Lost Ark, etc.). This time out, we've got resurrected dinosaurs running amok! The basic plot has stranded people on dino-island trying to keep from becoming dino-chow. You've got your scientists (Sam Neil, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum), your crazy zillionaire (Richard Attenborough), a greedy, lecherous computer geek (Wayne Knight), a sleazy lawyer, and two cute kids to round out the cast. You even get Samuel L. Jackson as a chain-smoking computer tech guy! Throw in an approaching hurricane, and you've got the perfect monster movie! It's usually not the "deep" storyline (except in the cases of Spielberg epics like Schindler's List, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, The Color Purple, etc.) that causes the phenomenon. It's his way of thrilling us and breaking new cinematic ground that we love. I knew when I first saw JP that I was in for a blast. At the same time, I also knew that I wasn't going to see Hamlet or Macbeth! Jurassic Park blew my mind with it's realistic T-rex, Raptors, Triceratops, and the rest. We saw dinosaurs that were not rubber, clay, or robots (well, at least not robots that looked like robots)! We got CGI that put flesh on 65 million year old bones! The team that made this movie are legendary, and have pushed special effects to stratospheric heights. JP is a true milestone that stands the test of time. Belongs in every DVD collection... ... Read more

Amazon.com

With a nod to Preston Sturges's classic dark comedy Unfaithfully Yours (about a man who fantasizes about murdering his possibly philandering wife), this 1980 cotton-candy-feminist-vendetta film concerns a monstrous boss (Dabney Coleman) whose more capable underlings dream of ways of punishing him. That much of the film is particularly fun, but the rest of it descends into silliness when the women stumble onto a real-life opportunity to teach him a lesson. Fonda, the biggest star in the film at the time, takes a back seat to Parton's and Tomlin's showier roles. Written and directed by the late Colin Higgins (who made a lot of people happy in the '70s with his script for the beloved Harold and Maude). --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Before
"9 to 5" remains a favorite comedy of mine 24 years after its release. I first saw it in the movie theaters back in 1980. I thought it was hilarious then and I still think it is hilarious now. Dabney Coleman was the perfect evil boss. He was a sexist, bigoted jerk of a human being who treated his employees like dirt. Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton rounds out the cast as the disgruntled employees. Although we use computers now, office antics remains unchanged in the 21st century. Who hasn't dreamt of killing their boss? "9 to 5" really epitomized just how funny, if not torturous working in an office can be. I know from experience. Thankfully I never encountered a male supervisor who sexually harassed me like Dabney Coleman did to Dolly Parton in the movie. My personal favorite moment in the film was when the women were at Dolly's home kicking back on some wacky tobaccy. The fantasies were hysterical. They still crack me up to this very day. I personally loved Lily Tomlin's fantasy as Snow White. The longer I work in an office environment, the more I can relate to films like "9 to 5" and "Office Space". Talk about life imitating art.

Do you do M&M's?
I hope this is a fantasy movie. Dabney Colman plays Franklin Hart Jr. (...) Mr. Hart can not understand what is happening to him. It seems that everything he does backfires. Violet (Lily Tomlin) gets upset because he promotes someone that she trained, around her. After making overtures to the married Doralee (Dolly Parton), she threatens to turn him from a rooster to a hen with one shot. At one point Violet fantasizes about and may have put “Rid-a-Rat” in his coffee, which leads to a great hospital scene. Violet says, “I'm no fool. I've killed the boss, you think they're not gonna fire me for a thing like that?!” He eventually spends time literally hanging around Judy’s (Jane Fonda) house while the Trio of women get the goods on his side business of pilfering from their company. Dabney Coleman outdoes himself in the hunting scene. (...)

For Every Office Worker Who's Wanted to Bump Off the Boss...
Saw this movie over 15 times before it even hit video, let alone DVD - saw it in a theatre when I was younger, and it quickly became one of my favorite comedies.

The casting is brilliant. Lily Tomlin plays Violet, an office manager with a sexist-egotistical-lying-hypocritical-bigot of a boss, Mr. Hart (Dabney Coleman), who she is trying to put up with because she's in line for a promotion (even though she's had her share of seeing men SHE TRAINED promoted above and before her). Dolly Parton is Doralee, buxom secretary to the lecherous Mr. Hart, who put up with his advances and pinching and staring because she needs the job (little does she know, thanks to him and his mouth, she's also - behind her back - known as the office floozy). Jane Fonda is Judy, a newly divorced woman who's husband left her for his secretary - she's just started at Consolidated, and is having a hard time adjusting to office life.

In one bad -- really bad -- day, Mr. Hart manages to push all three of these women to the breaking point ... and that night, over good barbecue and an even better joint, the women fantasize about what it would be like to kill their boss; each woman has a unique and juicy way of doing him in that is both funny and suitable.

The plot changes drastically from here, when each woman systematically -- and accidentally -- puts a variation of her plan to action (or so she thinks), leading to all sort of misunderstandings, uncovering of big business schemes, kidnapping -- even a change in office decor!

The casting is ideal; this was Dolly Parton's first film, and she positively glows as Doralee. Jane Fonda, playing against type, is terrific as the mousy Judy, who finally finds her backbone after dealing with her husband's abandonment. And Lily Tomlin is awesome as Violet, a widow with four kids who's just trying to give her family a good life ... even if it means dumping her boss's body to do it (don't worry - this doesn't give the film away!).

It's rare to find someone who hasn't seen this great comedy -- anyone who's ever worked in an office can relate to it especially. It's funny, watching it now and seeing all the old typewriters and other office machinery that has now been replaced by computers in 2004 -- kind of dates the movie, in a way, but also adds to its charm. One of the best comedies of the 1980's, "Nine to Five" is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon - and a satisfying tale of justice served for every one of us who's had a hellacious boss.

Not your average working stiff movie.
It is no secret that there are many managers in this world who are nothing more than tokenheads of their departments. The real movers, shakers, and go-getters are the underlings that work for the manager.

And so is the case of Franklin M Hart, Jr., (perfectly played by Dabney Colemna) a vice-president at Consolidated. Oh sure, he was nice enough as he worked his way to the top of this male-dominated firm. But once he got there, he started stepping on everyone below him, including Violet Newstead (the ever funny Lily Tomlin), the office manager. As if that wasn't bad enough, Mr. Hart continously tries to seduce his unavailable, and equally unwilling, secretary, Doralee Rhodes (Dolly Parton, making her movie debut). And when the new girl, Judy Bernly (Jane Fonda), accidentally makes a mess in the copier room, Mr. Hart tells her like it is.

After a while, the three put-upon women become friends, and after smoking a single joint together, start fantasizing about how they would put Mr. Hart in his place. Soon, however, fantasy becomes reality when Mr. Hart finds out that Violet accidentally put rat poison in his coffee.

In an attempt to stay out of jail, Violet, Doralee, and Judy take Mr. Hart hostage while they formulate a plan. Soon they discover that Mr. Hart has illegally made a profit at Consolidated's expense, and set out to get the evidence needed that will keep Mr. Hart from going to the police. But it will take nearly three weeks for the home office to send them the information. Will they be able to keep Mr. Hart under lock and key until then? Better yet, can they fool the office into thinking that Mr. Hart is still at work even though he's not?

"9 to 5" is one of those movies that you can't help but to enjoy. Funny, witty, and smart, anyone who has ever worked for a manager that didn't deserve to be a manager will enjoy watching fantasy become reality (at least, in the movie).

Released in 1980, this movie earned over $100 million (a relative rarity back then). It also earned Dolly Parton an Oscar nomination (Best Music - Original Song), three Golden Globes nominations (Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy; Best Original Song - Motion Picture; New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Female), and a Grammy nomination (Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special). She also won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Song.

The success of the movie resulted in two short-lived TV series (first one from 1982-1983; second one from 1986 - 1988), both of which starred Dolly Parton's sister, Rachel Dennison.

If you've ever dreamed of watching your manager get his or her just desserts, then this movie will provide you with plenty of laughs (and possibly an idea or two).

The Sane Mutiny
What happens when a group of women working as secretaries for a big company get tired of their tyrannical, chauvinistic, not-very-competent boss? The answer is lots of laughs, if the women are Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda, and the boss is the deliciously despicable Dabney Coleman. At first, the women just daydream and chat about silly revenge plots. Then, a golden opprtunity for real revenge comes along, and they take their shot at realizing their daydreams.

Jane Fonda was the bigget name in the cast when the film came out, but she, while okay here, is outshone by Tomlin, Coleman, and Parton. The first half of the film is funnier and better than the second half, but it's a worthwhile watcher. To buy it? Only if you get a good price on a good used one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kenneth Branagh's 1993 production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a vigorous and imaginative work, cheerful and accessible for everyone. Largely the story of Benedick (Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson)--adversaries who come to believe each is trying to woo the other--the film veers from arched wit to ironic romps, and the two leads don't mind looking a little silly at times. But the plot is also layered with darker matters that concern the ease with which men and women fall into mutual distrust. Branagh has rounded up a mixed cast of stage vets and Hollywood stars, among the latter Denzel Washington and Michael Keaton, the latter playing a rather seedy, Beetlejuice-like version of Dogberry, king of malapropisms. The DVD release has optional full-screen and widescreen presentations, Dolby sound, optional Spanish and French soundtracks or subtitles.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (129)

funny and just plain enjoyable! by a 14 year old
This movie is so, as I said, enjoyable! It's hilarious - it has both physical and oral comedy. The scenes with Benedick and Beatrice are great.

Shakespeare's play is about two romances. One with a young, innocent, beautiful Hero and a naiive guy (I forget his name). The other is with Beatrice and Benedick, a couple who love to hate each other and don't realize their true feelings without a little help from some friends. Unfortunately, all is not completely happy. Someone is trying to put a damper on everyone's fun with lies and false accusations. But don't worry! Much Ado About Nothing isn't a tragedy.

The music and scenery is beautiful and the who feel is the movie is sprightly and energetic. I think everyone did a good job. Branagh and Thompson obviously were wonderful. Everybody says Michael Keaten (spelling?) and Keanu Reeves were terrible, but I strongly disagree. Perhaps they were a little prejudiced by former viewings of the actors. Keaten was so funny - I am sure Shakespeare was not always refined - and Reeves was evil. They both were fine!

I recommend this movie to Shakespeare lovers (though it may not be COMPLETELY true to the original text) and to anyone who wants a good laugh.

Much Ado About Something!
This is my absolute favorite Branagh version of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing"!!
Thank you, Mr. Branagh, for creating interpretations of Shakespeare's masterpieces which are entertaining, understandable, and excellent in quality. If the thought of reading Shakespeare makes you nervous, please do yourself a favor and rent one of Kenneth Branagh's movie versions first. He does an EXCELLENT job of interpreting Shakespeare's text and of helping to bring the stories to life (in a way that almost anyone can understand what's going on!) The casts of these film versions are equally talented and greatly contribute to the success of these movies. If it obvious that the actors understand what they are saying, and understand Shakespeare in such a way that allows them to pass that understanding on to the viewer.
This version of "Much Ado About Nothing" is wonderful in it's imagery and dialogue (interaction between the actors/characters). Emma Thompson (Beatrice) and Kenneth Branagh (Benedick) bring their characters to life with wonderful humor and personifications. Their dialogue and bantering is absolutly amazing in it's flow and "natural-ness"-- they truly make the movie. Please see this one-- it's most definitely the best!!!!!

Best Movie Ever!! by melmcc13
This movie is one of my favorite movies of all time!! I am a huge fan of of Keneth Branagh and Emma Thompson and think they are both wonderful! I absolutely loved this movie and thought that all the actors did a very good job. There were absolutely no confusing parts, and everything from drama to comedy in this film was perfectly displayed. The directing was excellent, and Kneth Branagh makes the movie seem very real. This movie does an excellent job at making Shakespeare fun and exciting!!

yuck!
I'm no fan of the original play and this film version is even worse. The film adds pointless scenes (nudity, along with others) not in Shakespeare's work and twists others; all aimed at an audience that doesn't care about solid acting--of which this film has none (spoiling the few interesting bits of the play)--to begin with and many of the actors simply shouldn't have even been considered-both Reeves (who can't act at all), and Keaton could never work out in a drama movie.
It should be said that nearly every big-screen Shakespeare translation (apart from Zeffirelli's version of Hamlet and Branagh's Henry V) have stunk. Parker's Othello is just as bad as this piece of trash to say nothing of Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet or Hoffman's A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's my suggestion, that if you really want to see Shakespeare off the stage, then look for BBC material.

A little ado about not much
I believe that the reading of this book/play shouls be encouraged for students across the country, because it shows a comical yet realistic view of love, and the effects it has on people.
When Shakespeare wrote this play, I believe that his purpose was to show the two differing sides of love. He uses two examples, the first being Hero and Claudio, who embody the spirit of romantic, superficial love. The two of them never seem to talk, and as far as the reader knows, they don't have a whole lot in common. Claudio puts so much stock in his "love" for Hero that he overreacts too easily. For example, at a party where Don Pedro agrees to woo Hero for Claudio, Don Pedro's bastard brother Don John tricks Claudio into believing Pedro wants Hero for his own. WIth this fresh in his mind, Claudio stomps off in a huff, without even checking the facts. This kind of love is based on gazing wistfully at the one's partner across the room, and sunshine, lollipops and rainbows.
The other kind of love that Shakespeare chooses to display in this play is the realistic kind of love that is displayed more often in society around us. This is shown in the couple of Benedick and Beatrice. These two quick wits are constantly bickering and at each other's throats, until they are tricked by their friends into each believing the otehr loves them. At this, all of their criticisms of love and claims to remain unmarried until death go right out the window. Suddenly, they are seized by a desire to be with each other, and their true feelings come out. It shows how love actually works in real lifeI would reccommend this play to anyone who enjoys a good comedy with just a twinge of love intrest in it. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

This movie is a great film!
Curly (Shirley Temple ) and her sister Mary are secretly adopted by Mr. Jones. Curly adds joy to Mr. Jones life while Mary falls in love with Mr. Jones. Curly sings and dances through-out the movie with some of her best songs yet. She sings "When I Grow-up" and "Animal Crackers in my Soup". Mary and Mr. Jones also sing and play a few songs as well. There are a few comic moments and the ending is a happy one. This film is apporiate for people of all ages and a film everyone can watch over and over again. Curly Top is wonderfully cheographed and has a great moral to the story.

A delightful Shirley Temple Film!
Shirley Temple is pint-sized in this film and is fun to watch as she sings some of her number one theme songs "Animal Crakers in my Soup" and "When I Grow Up." Shirley plays Elizabeth, an orphan living at an orphange that her sister Mary works at. Shirley charms one of the trustees and he imediately falls in love with her spunk. The movie has some entertaining moments that strike us all. I always laugh when Elizabeth is trying to adjust to her new rich and spoiled life. All though Shirley seems to be sweet and innocent through the whole movie, she has a selfish point where she says she rather have a pair of roller skates when her gaurdian gives her a pearl necklace. She saves that little rude comment by putting on a benefit for her orphan friends. The story line at times is hard to follow, but as always ends happily. Curly Top is a wonderful movie for young children, but doesn't have a moral or a point. Shirley of course will dazzle you!

Wonderful!!!!
Shirley stars as loveable Elizabeth in this movie. She and her older sister Mary live in an orphanage where the girls are not allowed to sing which is hard for Elizabeth. But one day a man named Mr. Jones comes and visits the orphanage and falls in love with Mary, who is much younger than him. He and Elizabeth take to each other right away and her golden curls earn her the nickname, Curly Top. But Mary recieves a marrige proposal from a boy her age, and Mr. Jones is jealous and upset. Will Mary realize that she and Curly Top belong with Mr. Jones? Find out in Curly Top!

One of the cutest movies ever
... enough said about that, but why did FOX Video spend all their money for colorizing a charming silver screen movie -instead of actually RESTORING it? This was a hit movie in the 30s, there must be dozens of copies still available from which they could have made a mint-condition B&W video release, knitting together the good pieces. Bigger scratches could have been re-touched, the audio digitally remastered and sent carefully through a noise reduction filter. But no! They splashed all sorts of unnatural colors onto the poor film; esp. in scenes with moving camera the color layer shakes visibly. No use switching your TV to B&W - contrast and fine details are all gone. Bad job, FOX.

GOTTA BE ONE OF SHIRLEY'S BEST.
Shirley Temple, whose career as a child star was over by the age of 10 (and who, according to her very good autobiography, reaped a mere $18.00 from it when she asked her father for her reapings upon her second marriage), shines and super-shines in this adorable and heart-rending film.

She and her sister are orphans. A mysterious benefactor adopts them and they enter a life of luxury, but also a life of love. Rochelle Hudson is delicately beautiful as the sister, and John Boles is excellent and exceedingly handsome. I wonder what happened to them both?

"Animal Crackers" and "When I Grow Up" are the top numbers, as well as several sung by Boles and Hudson. All works out as it should be.

There's just something very moving about this movie. It's a genuine heart-tugger.

And Shirley is simply a delight! So glad the camera caught this amazing little girl with such a natural talent shining through her girlhood. ... Read more

Description

An aging folk singer who has passed the peak of his popularity takes one last stab at regaining his superstardom. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Not too bad
This really isn't bad for someone who has never written a screenplay before, but if you don't like the style of music in the movie (which is pretty much "Paul Simon after 1970" style) there isn't much in this movie for you. A lot of his songs really do lack a hook, as one of the characters in the movies said, and this movie is categorized as a musical, which means the songs Jonah plays with his band fill up the majority of the time. I do have to credit Paul for the acting. He doesn't deserve an Academy Award but he wasn't bad at all. Overall this is a mediocre movie but if you're a Paul Simon fan and have 100 minutes to spare I'd say this is definitely worth one viewing.

Paul's not a "One Trick Pony"
Paul Simon's venture into movie-making with "One Trick Pony" is very good. I'll qualify this review by admitting I am a very big Paul Simon fan, and I believe that it shades my rating here. If I weren't a Paul Simon fan, I might be less inclined to give it such a high rating.

The movie is based on the fictional musician Jonah Levin, a folk music singer-songwriter from the 60s, still trying to make a career of music in the early 80s. Jonah's biggest hit, the war protest "Soft Parachutes," is his one trick, and everywhere he goes, it's the only song his audience knows or wants to hear, despite his insistence in not playing it. Jonah struggles with who he is, his relationship with his wife and won, being in a band, and the music industry in general.

A lot of fans have theorized that this is Paul's "what if," what might have been had Simon and Garfunkel's "Sound of Silence" been there one hit. Certainly, there are a lot of parallels between Paul and Jonah, and it's an interesting perspective on the movie.

Plenty of good music is in this movie, too. Not only does Paul put out a great album with a great band (playing themselves in the movie), with songs like "Late in the Evening," "Jonah," and "Ace in the Hole," but there are some notable appearances by other bands in the movie (Lovin' Spoonful, B-52's, etc.) In fact, you would be remiss to get the movie and not the album.

It's a very good movie, especially if you like Paul Simon. It has some interesting thoughts on people coming of age and struggling with their careers and relationships, as well as a scathing look at the music industry, as they continually try to shape Jonah and his music into what they want. If you're a fan of Paul, this is a must-have.

All time favorite
A fogotten classic. I saw this movie as a 16 year old, and loved it immediately. My copy of the soundtrack was worn out during my college years. It really gave me a good view of the life of the replaced artist, someone not at the top of their game anymore, but stil knowing they can contribute. Some great lines, including the dead rock stars game, Jonah with the groupie, and others. Don't forget this is also the last filmed performance of the Lovin' Spoonful. Also, Douglas Adams put the soundtrack as a "thank you" in one of the Hitchhiker books, saying it played constantly in his house while writing his books