Reviews (39)

"A man's got to know his limitations."
Who can forget that line from Magnum Force? It has more than one meaning here and definitely sets the theme. Dirty Harry says it a few times in the film but it has the most impact right after Hal Holbrook meets with an unfortunate accident in his car...priceless scene. This is my favorite line Eastwood says to Holbrook in the movie, with the second being when he throws a shell casing from evidence at him saying "eat it!". Magnum Force (1973) is the sequel to Dirty Harry (1971) and this time Harry is still an outsider with his own brand of justice, but he's got nothing on the 4 young motorcycle patrol cops who don't even bother with arrests and paperwork (the criminals don't make it that far!). In Dirty Harry, Callahan chased Scorpio, the mad sniper, but in Magnum Force he doesn't have to go far to find the criminals...they work with him! Action packed and stylish, Magnum Force is essential in the Dirty Harry/Eastwood Collection. The film is directed by television director, Tim Post (Baretta, Combat!) and written by Michael Cimino (director: The Deer Hunter, Thunderbolt & Lightfoot). The cast is great: Felton Perry plays Harry's unfortunate partner who just had to open his mailbox. Look for several familiar faces before they made it big: David "Hutch" Soul, Robert Urich, & Tim Matheson. Also look for a topless Suzanne Somers (uncredited) getting blown away in a swimming pool! I can imagine Joyce DeWitt from Three's Company laughing maniacally when she saw that scene.

"A man has to know his limitations".
"Magnum Force" from 1973,the follow up to "Dirty Harry",(a movie many consider to be a classic) is not as good.Of course sequels rarely are. It does have more action and laughs.You could call it a kind of black comedy,because it is kind of far fetched. The screenplay was cowritten by Michael Cimino,(who wrote and directed "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" with Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges in 1974,which was a good flick),and John Milius,who had an uncredited hand in the original "Dirty Harry". Milius wrote the now famous line,"This being a .44 magnum,...."Do you feel lucky?". It turns up again here right after the opening credits for "Magnum Force". It came out just two years after the original,both were Christmas releases, and it was just as big a hit.They both made about the same amount of money.

The producer and writers had in mind to answer the critics who called Harry Callahan a fascist and a vigilante.Clint Eastwood said in an interview in 1997 about him being called a fascist,"that was just nonsense.Harry was just very concerned about the rights of the victims.What's the matter with that?" The late Gene Siskel also disagreed with those critics. He said "if Harry were to encounter Mussolini or Hitler,he would have popped them to".The critic Roger Ebert calls Harry "extremely fair, he'll shoot anybody". "Magnum Force" is well paced,has some good action sequences and a good chase scene and it does get intense.But,the plot is hokey and it's a little too violent at times.This is not a movie for the kiddies. The cinematography isn't nearly as good as in the original. It doesn't make very good use the San Francisco locations. Lalo Schifrin's score is good though not as inspired as in the original. It's still better than many so called cop movies that have come out since.Like certain bloodthirsty,sadistic mayhem released in the '80's and '90's. In the funny book "Real Men Don"t Eat Quiche" from 1982, the author Bruce Feirstein put "Magnum Force" among those movies real men will pay hard cash to see. Feirstein had a couple of dozen on the list including "Patton","Rocky",some of the James Bond movies,only the ones with Sean Connery,"North Dallas Forty" among others. All these movies are for men only.

Some trivia,Clint Eastwood said in an interview that this story was inspired by the Brazilian death squad of the 1950's.Actor Robert Urich appears as one of the rookie motorcycle cops,this was Mr.Urich's movie debut.Also,a then unknown Suzanne Sommers appears in the swimming pool party scene.Ms. Sommers scenes have her showing off a ring she just received and where she takes her bikini top off in the pool.(Not so shocking since she did do a layout in PLAYBOY about ten years later).Her name didn't get mentioned in the credits.And,Ms.Sommers gets blasted along with the other unfortunate people at the party.And,remember "a man has to know his limitations".

My Favorite Dirty Harry Sequel
Okay... before I begin, I must tell you I am a bit prejudice. I actually saw a scene from this movie being filmed. I lived in San Francisco and in 1973 was walking up the hill to Lafayette Park as they shot some scenes in a high rise apartment building.
I was fascinated as they shot the scene over and over to get the "tension" just right.

Now it is on DVD 30 years later. It has never looked better. Color corrected true wide screen picture, and a soundtrack that is crystal clear.

2 of the vigilante officers are played to perfection by "pre-Starsky" David Soul and, in his first role, the late Robert Urich. The scene in the darkened garage is still powerful in it's quiet threatening tone. It is SO CLEAR the cops enjoy wearing their elegant uniforms and tall boots, leather creaking and chrome gleaming in the dark... an awesome and memorable moment when those who are sent to protect and defend, go over the edge so confidently, quietly and in their minds, logically. It is still very frightening.

Tell Warner Brothers to release the WHOLE film!
The people who assembled this DVD should be ashamed of themselves - the whole film is not there!

One of the most hilarious scenes in the original version of Magnum Force was when the crooked cops are chasing Harry around inside the (very dark) hull of a ship. Every time a shot was fired down there, there would be at LEAST six or seven loud, cartoon-like ricochets. The fact that this might really happen when all of the walls and ceiling are solid steel does not take away from its comic effect. Well, when they remastered the film for DVD, they took all of the ricochets out!

They also cut out some of the sting operation where three hoodlums hold up a convenience store.

Magnum Justice
This is the second of five "Dirty Harry" films in which Eastwood stars as a San Francisco police detective. By the time the last appeared (The Dead Pool in 1988), Eastwood had aged and times had changed but Callahan's non-negotiable values and unorthodox methods had remained essentially the same. In this film, directed by Ted Post with a screenplay co-authored by directors John Milius (e.g. Conan the Barbarian) and Michael Cimino (e.g. The Deer Hunter), the essential premise is that the same legal systems and law enforcement systems to which Callahan so strongly objects have encouraged others to become vigilantes, four of whom serve as police officers under the direct supervision of Lieutenant Briggs (Hal Holbrook). They target and assassinate those whom the "system" has failed to keep off the streets. Of course, Callahan has no sympathy whatsoever for those eliminated. However, he is uncomfortable with the vigilantes' methods (if not their motives) and with what the ancient Greeks -- but not Callahan -- would characterize as their hubris. Eventually, there is the inevitable and obligatory confrontation with them. (Guess who wins?) Those who enjoy this film should also check out The Brotherhood of the Bell (1970), Death Wish (1974), and The Star Chamber (1983) in which Holbrook also appeared. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

WONDERFUL! A GREAT INQUIRY ON THE HUMAN CONDITION!
People who aren't "turned off" & disgusted by the current state of the world (enviromentally, politically, culturally, sociologically, etc.) will immediately understand this film and appreciate its beauty! Upon the first time seeing it, I felt it was unfocused and confused. The second time, when it occured to me that these people were living in front of the backdrop of something emotionally emasculating (random slaughtering, War, whatever you want to supplement), I realized what a masterpiece this film is. That uneasy feeling that life is unraveling all around you, that human beings are destroying each other, even though you don't directly see it...Bergman captures that feeling beautifully.

The interviews in the film bothered me for a while, but then I started to view them (and commend Bergman's brillance) as Brechtian distancing effects, as if Bergman is saying: "yes, live vicariously through these people, but after all they're just characters representing something, but they are NOT these people, so what???". Fantastic!

If you don't already own this and you love Bergman, what's wrong with you???

Eros and Thanatos
This is one of the very few films that I came out of the theater crawling *under* the carpet... And I still find it disturbing - and at the same time or perhaps exactly because enlightening. Many of Bergman's films of that time dealt with the inherent self-destructiveness of the "human condition"; but most of them also had a plot element that involved an external destructive force: war (The Seventh Seal, Shame), the proximity of death (Wild Strawberries) and so on. Even Hour of the Wolf, the one that comes closest to Passion, has the "wolves" - the coterie that seduces Max von Sidow's character into reliving, facing, and ultimately succumbing to, his inner demons (by the way, make sure that your version of Hour of the Wolf includes the posface, "look, this is a movie, and we just wrapped it up, it's not real, you see, these people are just characters in a movie played by 'normal' people - but the demons will stay with you, cause they're not really ours, they're your own").

Not so Passion. Here, there is no outward force pushing these people - these "normal", whatever their personal demons, people - towards inescapable destruction. There is the wanton, unresolved slaughter of animals; but this doesn't touch the characters, no more than the everyday "slaughter of the lambs" that surrounds much of our lives does us except to at most evoke a vague disquiet, let alone drive them. They're doomed; always were. Nothing can save them. Not love, or the forlorn illusion of, not a bourgeois life surrounded by creature comforts, not even outburts of personal violence. There is simply no redemption.

For the "passion" is not "a" passion, but *the* passion, the passion that drives us all, and indeed all life: the endless collision and collusion between Life and Death, that sets down the boundaries within which we, like Von Sydow's character at the film's closing, must forever pace back and forth.

Genius at work...
I am amongst those Bergman fans who prefer his post-Persona work best. I find many of his late 40's-50's films too calculated & highly pretentious (especially films like The Silence & Winter Light). One of the best Bergman films of the 70's

A movie full of 'Passion'.
After having seen Woody Allen's INTERIORS I was so impressed by the direction. I found out that Allen was paying homage to Bergman and at the time I was just finding out about all sorts of different movies, I was 14 at the time so this was so amazing to me and still is. Afterwards I sought out movies by Bergman but I was always a little afraid of being dissappointed (I had recorded THE SEVENTH SEAL on TV but I thought I ought to take baby steps in terms of getting to know Bergman so I did not see it). But finally I decided to start with THE PASSION OF ANNA and now every week I rent at least two Bergman movies from my library. The direction is genius! I love the way Bergman doesn't try to hype up events. He just lets everything unravel in a natural way. Whenever someone in this movie is saying something regarding their emotional state or past experiences, etc. Bergman lets their emotions shine through and he presents us with intimate close ups of their faces so that we can observe every bit of the emotions that the character is going through. Other directors prefer to use music and other methods which I am not condemning, I actually like some of the other methods that other directors use but I had never seen a movie in which the director let everything happen so naturally, as if it weren't even a movie but a documentery though the look of the movie is not realistic, it looks like a movie but it doesn't feel like one. Bergman gives us a stark and compelling movie about these 4 people who are going through the motions and how they affect each other's lives. Max von Sydow plays a widower who lives a very mechanical life until he gets in involved in the lives of three other people and they are played by Bibi Anderson, Erland Josephson and finally Liv Ullmann as Anna. von Sydow and Ullmann I thought were particularly great. It's hard for an actor to play a man who is emotionally hollow to a certain degree but von Sydow does it perfectly. Ullmann plays a woman who is still suffering after effects of the deaths of her husband and child and who ends up looking for solace in von Sydow's character. She shows great measure of desperation and sadness in her performance without being showy. And the cinematography is very beautiful if a bit depressing to those who hate gray skies. And the lack of music gives it a very strange feeling like I mentioned before. And Bergman uses an interesting method of showing short interviews with each of the four actors with them discussing their characters. I found this to be a bit daring because Bergman ran the risk of breaking the suspension of disbelief of the audience but personally I felt it just made me go deeper into their lives and selves. I can see why Woody Allen idolizes this guy.

Apocalyptic Bergman.
'The Passion of Anna' sometimes feels like a compendium of Bergman films, such as 'The Seventh Seal' (Max Von Sydow struggling to find meaning in an apocalyptic environment), 'Persona' (Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson as two women suffering on a remote island) and 'Hour of the Wolf' (Von Sydow, living with Ullmann on a remote island, tempted by sophisticated strangers led by Erland Josephson).

But though the film deals with the many of those films' themes - emotional violence, power mind-games, dissatisfaction, ennui, exile - it somehow seems lighter, less like spending two hours on a (nerve) rack. This may be because though the title refers to two kinds of passion - an overwhelming love for or interest in something, and a journey of trials and sufferings leading to some kind of redemption - it features a hero who is removed from either.

A gruesome mystery element soon intrudes, as an unknown figure starts slaughtering all the animals on the island. This element performs at least two functions - by asking the question, who is this madman, it forces us to look more closely at our characters; and it creates an apocalyptic feel that is an appropriate backdrop to the characters' mental deterioraton or fatigue, while also suggesting a wider, largely unseen social framework against which these isolated figures exist.

It also contributes to the film's bleak colour scheme - though in colour, the film's winter setting is all brown and grey, with big black bare trees, swathes of mud and stone, dirty smudges of snow. This has obvious symbolic value - just as we first meet Von Sydow repairing his roof, as if trying to paper the cracks in his mind; so we see him alone, sometimes drunk, in this huge, empty landscape, peopled only by dead animals, elusive madmen and an unseen mob.

As is typical with Bergman, the film is full of narrative games or interruptions, such as the actors commenting on their roles, trying to encapsulate coherence while their director proliferates the unknown; and Ullmann's monochrome nightmare, increasing the sense of medieval plague, is a figure for a malaise much closer to home. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Underrated Sci-Fi/Horror
Okay, it's definitely a B-movie, it's derivative, and some of the special effects are cheesy. However, the story is quite literate -- it was adapted from a great novella. The sets, especially the lounge, are very cool. The characters (though two-dimensional) are well-played by some good character actors. Most importantly, the atmosphere is spooky. The creepiest parts come near the end of the film, as the surviving crew members head back into the dark, silent, malevolent spaceship, which has no gravity or life support. Not a perfect movie, but interesting and enjoyable.

Not as bad as Maltin thinks, several good moments.
Stewart does a good job in her scenes with Praed, considering that he was blue-screened in as a hologram in most of them. Des Barres also plays a fantastic role as Jon Winderman, a telepath that's gone around the bend. I also enjoyed the change from the standard "cramped space ship". It's made clear in the film that the ship was originally a freighter designed for infrequent shore-leave - something that should have a lot of space and a certain amount of creature-comforts, and the settings are in keeping with this. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Civil War Era Nowhere Man!
Great movie, wish that the other episodes would come out on video also. If ever a movie screamed for a 2hr. followup ending to wrap up the loose ends this is it. Too bad Mr. Urich is dead this was one of his best roles!

excellent
Everyone should see this video!!The 90 minutes went by too quckly! I was sorry when it ended, hopefully some more episodes will become available. Robert Urich is just great, handsome, appealing, and so believable as Lazarus. The music is enchanting, the sets excellent and the story exciting. I just can't say enough about how wonderful " The Lazarus Man" is. I will watch this again and again.

I loved this
I had only heard of this series as I am from Australia. I was not disappointed, Robert's acting, the civil war conspiracy and the music was top notch TV and I am sorry this show had to end because of robert's illness. I would love to see the rest of the series of video..anyone listening;)?

This is a true modern work of art...
I first saw this television show and was enraptured by it. From the fine acting on the part of Robert Urich to the scenic beauty of the landscape in which it was filmed. The costumes and the music: how could somebody not love this? Moreover, the opening two-hour episode (the series pilot) weaves a tale of conspiracy theories mixed with post Civil war angst that would make any fan of westerns or the X-files want to give this one a peek. If only the other episodes were also available...sigh! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A misfit drama in the grand Southern (by way of Hollywood) tradition, A Love Song for Bobby Long takes its cue from Carson McCullers's The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. Re-establishing his indie-cred, John Travolta adds Bobby Long to his gallery of colorful characters. Hobbled by an infected toe, the 50-something Bobby is a white-haired, unshaven, vodka-soaked mess. But he’s also a former English professor, and the piles of books in his ramshackle house, and the authors he drunkenly quotes give him a wounded dignity. Just how wounded will be revealed over the course of this atmospheric tale of redemption and penance. Bobby lives with Lawson Pines (Gabriel Macht), his former teaching assistant who is writing a book about his mentor, a project deferred by drinking, sitting around with the locals, or engaging in quotation oneupsmanship. Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation, Ghost World) holds her own against Travolta ("You are such a shameless ham," she chastises the loquacious Bobby) as Pursy, the estranged daughter of Lorraine, a recently deceased singer-songwriter in whose house Bobby and Lawson reside. A battle of wills between the two men and the headstrong young girl gives way to the formation of a tentative family unit. Pursy agrees to return to high school if Bobby and Lawson quit drinking. There will be the expected revelations, recriminations, and dramatic confrontations, but what makes this Love Songresonate are the performances by a cast that rarely hits a false note. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Travolta is GREAT!
Although not a Travolta fan, I have always enjoyed his performances. But this, this is his best. What a fine actor he has become. I used to suspect that much of his popularity was based on his appearance, but now that he is older and heavierhis acting really shows.Sometimes in just the twich of a facial muscle or a shrug of his shoulders. He actually seems to BE the character he is protraying.//Many will find the movie slow and some of the plot predictable, but focus on the relevation of the characters and the quality of acting and you will not be disappointed.

Incredible film...Scarlett is a great actress of our time
Genre: Drama

Genre Grade: A

Final Grade: A

If Hilary Swank had not won the Golden Globe for Million Dollar Baby, Scarlett Johannson should have walked away a winner. And the Academy Awards should be ashamed that they didn't nominate her. This is her best performance she's ever given (though her role in Lost in Translation is an all-around favorite). This movie should prove what kind of talent she has to anyone who had doubts.

Outside of Scarlett's wonderful acting, this movie was great. Don't be confused by the title - it is not a story about John Travolta falling in love or anything of the sorts. Their isn't even much romance in the story. The real love song that plays within the movie is that of the relationships built between the characters and in the somewhat predictable ending. This is a movie about a girl named after a weed going back to her roots, believing in herself, and in the end, re-discovering herself.

The production value of this film was perfect for it being based in New Orleans. This was also director Shainee Gabel's official first film (he co-directed a movie in 1997). Hopefully he will bring us more great films like this one in the future.

Definitely check this one out - especially if you love beautiful cinematography, Southern scenery, folk music, and famous English poetry.

An Amusing Southern Tale!
John Travolta continues his diversified acting career adapting the role of ousted southern professor, Bobby Long.He is great.The movie can be long at times, but the characters that come and go in this film are memorable.This was the first movie I've seen Scarlett Johansson in and I see a future Oscar winner in the making.She shines in this film with her acting ability.If you enjoy movies in the southern tradition, check this film out.

FYI!Be on the lookout for Sonny Shroyer "Enos" of the Dukes of Hazzard.

A sleeper -- we loved it!
OK, five stars is probably excessive since the plot is ultimately predictable, but it is SO refreshing to find a film shot on a modest budget which soars due to skillful writing.John Travolta does thorough justice to his broken, remorseful, but still literate and charming character, and Scarlett Johanssen is captivating (her acting is good, but her screen presence is just luminous).The project obviously appealed to such major talent because of the intelligent, lyrical screenplay, which quotes heavily from the poetry of Robert Frost, among others.The director did a fantastic job of recreating the stultifying, decayed, claustrophobic atmosphere of the characters' shared home and lives.Like so many good stories, it unfolds gently with many an anecdote and song to advance the narrative, complemented by a wonderful, blues-oriented sound track.The film was a true pleasure to watch and as far as I was concerned it could have been much longer.

Thought-provoking and suprising movie
I only rented the movie because I saw a preview on screens while browsing at Blockbuster.Going to buy it so I can see it again.I thought all the characters were very believable and grew on me as the movie progressed.See it with an open mind and you will enjoy this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Enjoyable Comedy - can't wait for it in DVD
This is an uplifting, cozy film about a May-December romance.
The characters are wonderful and you wish you can hang out with
them. Very funny and I can't believe it isn't out on DVD. See
it if you like warm 70's flicks. Gene Kelly is great.

feel-good movie about a May-December romance
This is a feel-good movie about a May-December romance.The story begins in romantic Greece and revolves around Liv Ulman trying to resist her "infatuation" with a younger man. A supporting role by Gene Kelly also helps to make this movie a gem. The impact on her family, his family and herself makes for a delicious comedy that has a...well you'll have to enjoy it for yourself to see how it all works out!

Not worth Liv-ing for!
This frothy comedy, based on a Broadway hit, is terribly undermined by the central miscasting of Liv Ullmann as the older woman. Ullmann,better a dramatic actress than a polished comedienne, lacks the glamor for the role, and is a decade too young for it. She is heavy and unconvincing, like a cow portraying a cool feline. This movie, along with the execrable "Lost Horizon", buried her mercifully short-lived Hollywood career. A fiasco! Would have been better with someone like Audrey Hepburn or even Liz Taylor.

LIV ULLMAN DELIGHTFUL
Forty Carats is the frothy Broadway comedy typical of Broadway several decades ago. This film version is given a greater dimension with the casting of foreign actress Liv Ullman in the leading role. Ullman gives this comedy a greater degree of poignancy and depth. In this story about a 40-ish woman being romanced by a man almost half her age, one can see that Ullman was clearly too young for the part. Although this fact works against her performance, Ullman's extraordinary skill as an actress makes us believe in her plight and you end up rooting for a happy ending. Forty Carats has a good supporting cast. Film veteran Binnie Barnes is delightful as Ullman's mother and hoofer Gene Kelly plays a pivotal role as Ullman's ex-husband. The beautiful Deborah Raffin made her film debut as Ullman's daughter. But this is Ullman's movie all the way and she makes this film worth watching. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Fairly Pointless Story
LADY L is a film about an octogenarian aristocrat (Sophia Loren) who reminisces about her steamy life as lover of an anarchist (Paul Newman) and wife of the sophisticated David Niven. The film has a lot of great scenery and a thoroughly competent cast but not much of a story.

Loren's husband Carlo Ponti is the producer. Peter Ustibov is the director and screenwriter. The film is based on a novel by Romain Gary. The supporting cast includes Cecil Parker, Claude Dauphin, Philippe Noiret and Michel Piccoli.

A Wonderfully Querky movie!
This movie is so "nutty" that you are laughing the whole time... Paul Newman and Sophia Loren sizzle the screen! A great movie with a humdinger of an ending!

The movie is about eclectic Lady Louise. A friend wants to write her biography and she is delighted, but boy is the friend in for a surprise... she takes him to her summer home and tells her life story, ending it with a shocking revelation. A very good movie.

Nice video
The action is not availaible in the film, but the best actor is Mr. Raymond Schlatter that appeared in the film holding Sofia Loren in Switzerland. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A story about the Relationship that Really Matters
Road to Redemption is dubed as a comedy movie. Although the comedy part of the movie, allowed a chuckle now and then. The movie made a bigger hit in it's message. A young girl living with her lover works for a Mob boss. She and her lover in get in trouble by talknig illegal money mailed to her boss. Financially dry, she and her lover blow it on fixed horse racing bets. When they loose all the money, she travels to her meet her rich retired grandfather, who by the way has not seen her since she was a little girl. He agrees to give her the money owed under one condition. That she takes him fishing. Off they go cross country, with the mob at their heels, and her lover who turns eventually out to be her traitor. The theme is no doubt directed towards a grandfather who wanted to start a new relationship with his granddaugther, who is only intrested in getting the money she needs. A Good story, with a God inspired message, a good dvd for all young and old.

A++++
Road to redemption was better than I hoped for. A Christian movie with some humor. Don't miss out-Get the DVD version! You will get many extras that you won't find on the VHS. This is not a witnessing tool, but a good addition to the Christain DVD collection, try "Vanished" by cloud ten pictures for a witnessing tool. If you liked this movie try "Something to sing about" & "A Vow to Cherish" both are heart warming Christian movies and are also by world wide pictures. Plus they have many extras if you purchase the DVD versions.

Very funny and moving
It's always a risk to buy a DVD sight unseen, but I bought this gem based on some reviews I've read and the fact that it's made by Worldwide Pictures who have produced some great movies (Vow to Cherish, Something to sing about).

Road to Redemption tells of a young couple Amanda Tucker (the lovely Julie Condra) and Alan Fischer (Jay Underwood) who are sick of struggling along financially so "borrow" some money from Amanda's boss who also happens to be a Mob boss, along with the money comes racing tips for some fixed races so off they go to the racing track. All does not go to plan and Amanda finds herself having to leave town to track down her Grandfather Nathan (Pat Hingle) in order to hit him up for some cash so she can pay back her boss.

There are some excellent performances put in by the lead actors as well as the supporting mobsters Tony Longo as Vincent the enforcer is very amusing as it Wes Studi as Frank Lightfoot. There are some real funny set pieces in this film and some of it reminded me of the also excellent Dumb and Dumber (minus the crudeness).

Road to Redemption is a family friendly comedy with real heart. It's extremely amusing and a joy to watch. It also very moving and touching as well as Amanda gets to know her Grandfather and learns about what is most important in life. I recommend it whole-heartily for anyone needing a good laugh and it's refreshingly free from smut, foul language and jokes made in bad taste.

Enjoy this film and thanks for reading.

Is the Mob after you? God can handle it!
This is one Christian film that lots of people will enjoy. I mean believers in Christ and non-believers. It's a great insight on following the road to Christ. It's about a couple, Amanda (Julie Condra) and Alan (Jay Underwood) who found stolen mob money. They decide to gamble the money on horse racing and lose the money. The gangsters find out about this and go after the couple. The grandaughter, Amanda seeks the help of her wealthy grandpa Nathan (Pat Hingle) for the money she needs to pay back the mob. But grandpa has plans. It seems he "got religion" and is willing to give her the money. But she has to drive him to visit his favorite fishing hole some 800 miles away. There are some breathe-taking scenes of Utah. So they're all on the run from the mob and along the way learn a valuable lesson of choices and consequences. In the meantime, God gets Amanda's attention and God gives the mob a run for their money. The movie is rated PG for thematic elements and mild violent content, but still a clean Christian movie. It's advised that very young children shouldn't view this. For older teens and adults may find a lesson to be learned that doing something you know is wrong can only get you into deeper trouble. Billy Graham's 'Road to Redemption' is really a great movie with a great message to lead those to Christ.

This movie is really great!
We had movie night this past Sunday at church, and I have to tell you that this movie really moved within the church. I thought it was going to be a cheesy movie, but little did I know that the movie was going to be awesome. I think that this movie would make a great witnessing tool for non-believers to get an insight of how someone would come to know Christ. God Bless All!! ... Read more

Description

A portrayal of a teenager's coming of age in a rural Canadian community during the 1930s. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

KEIFER SUTHERLAND'S FIRST MAJOR MOVIE WITH A STARRING ROLE.
KEIFER SUTHELAND HAS HIS FIRST BREAK THROUGH ROLE. IN THIS 1930'ERA\SET MOVIE. ITS A GREAT DRAMATIC ROLE IF UR A KIEFER FAN THIS IS A MUS OWN MOVIE FOR U.BY THE WAY HE'S ONLY 17 IN THI FILM SO IF U THINK HE WAS HOT IN THE LOST BOYS WAIT TILL U SEE H IN THIS FLICK.

My crush on Keifer Sutherland
This movie started my ENORMOUS CRUSH on Keifer Sutherland. I believe this was his very first movie and it was GREAT! I would someday LOVE to visit Nova Scotia and see the beautiful scenery. The acting and plot were done very well and it got quite suspenseful when poor Keifer's character Donald kept that terrible secret and was continuously taunted by the father of the girl he loved. My crush has since wained, but it's still a good movie to remember my feelings for Keifer. Great movie!

Kiefer Sutherland in a complex coming of age film
Kiefer Sutherland plays Donald Campbell, a sixteen-year old boy growing up in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia in the 1930's in this coming of age drama from director Daniel Petrie. Donald's mother (Liv Ullmann), wants her son to join the priesthood, and the young boy is entertaining the idea. But he is also at the age when girls make a big impression, especially his neighbor, Saxon Coldwell (Leah Pinsent). Yet it is her younger sister Dianna (Jane McKinnon), who he turns to for his initial stumblings through the art of love. Besides, the Depression has hit, and after school Donald has to help his father with work rather than engaging in dating behavior.

Petrie crams a lot into this (supposedly) autobiographical film. There are dark family issues in the Campbell home--the death of a child in the past and an older brother who has become brain damaged--and when Donald witnesses the murder of two elderly neighbors you have to wonder if "The Bay Boy" is making a radical shift in direction. But the common denominator is quite simple: we are witnessing a young boy make the key decisions that will lead him to become the man he is going to become. However, this idea makes more sense the second time around watching this film.

This was Keifer Sutherland's second film, after a small part in "Max Dugan Returns." I am not sure if it is intentional on his part as a young actor, but he plays his scenes with the others his own age a lot better than he does with the adults. Ullman brings depth to the role of the hardworking mother, who represents the strong undercurrents in Donald's life. There is a lot crammed into the single year of his life depicted in this film, but through it all the impressionable young Donald retains his sense of wonder. The cast also includes Robert Donat, Matthieu Carriere and Isabelle Mejias. This 1984 film, which is a personal work by the director, was filmed on location in Nova Scotia.

Young Keifer Sutherland in a complex coming of age film
Kiefer Sutherland plays Donald Campbell, a sixteen-year old boy growing up in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia in the 1930's in this coming of age drama from director Daniel Petrie. Donald's mother (Liv Ullmann), wants her son to join the priesthood, and the young boy is entertaining the idea. But he is also at the age when girls make a big impression, especially his neighbor, Saxon Coldwell (Leah Pinsent). Yet it is her younger sister Dianna (Jane McKinnon), who he turns to for his initial stumblings through the art of love. Besides, the Depression has hit, and after school Donald has to help his father with work rather than engaging in dating behavior.

Petrie crams a lot into this (supposedly) autobiographical film. There are dark family issues in the Campbell home--the death of a child in the past and an older brother who has become brain damaged--and when Donald witnesses the murder of two elderly neighbors you have to wonder if "The Bay Boy" is making a radical shift in direction. But the common denominator is quite simple: we are witnessing a young boy make the key decisions that will lead him to become the man he is going to become. However, this idea makes more sense the second time around watching this film.

This was Keifer Sutherland's second film, after a small part in "Max Dugan Returns." I am not sure if it is intentional on his part as a young actor, but he plays his scenes with the others his own age a lot better than he does with the adults. Ullman brings depth to the role of the hardworking mother, who represents the strong undercurrents in Donald's life. There is a lot crammed into the single year of his life depicted in this film, but through it all the impressionable young Donald retains his sense of wonder. The cast also includes Robert Donat, Matthieu Carriere and Isabelle Mejias. This 1984 film, which is a personal work by the director, was filmed on location in Nova Scotia. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Best Beau Brummel
One of Stewart Granger's classic movies. This is the way all movies should be. The good ole days of fancy costume movies are long gone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This 1953 follow-up to the successful teaming of actor Robert Taylor and director Richard Thorpe on Ivanhoe isn't quite as good a film, but it is a sumptuous adventure-romance shot on location in England. MGM's first widescreen production finds Taylor playing Sir Lancelot to Mel Ferrer's King Arthur. Based in part on Thomas Malory's 14th-century version of the Camelot legend, Knights of the Round Table tells the familiar tale of Arthur's construction of a Utopian kingdom, where virtue, courage, and a sense of possibility rule the hearts of strong men. Lancelot is there every step of the way, but after Arthur marries a particularly bodacious Guinevere (Ava Gardner), Lancelot can't stifle his love for her, nor can she stifle her own for him. That chink in the wall of the Camelot dream is exploited by detractors Morgan le Fay (Anne Crawford) and Mordred (Stanley Baker), who set up the lovers for their downfall. The script by Talbot Jennings is proficient at capturing the outsized passions of Malory's epic, which may be one reason why Ivanhoe, with a bit more understatedness, is the better of the two adaptations. True-blue Arthurians, however, will want to see this for its visual sweep and loyalty to the source. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Exciting and Lush Arthur Tale
1953's KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE was MGM's first wide-screen motion picture (filmed in CinemaScope in England). What the film lacks in scripting is made up by spectacular and brilliant cinematography by Freddie Young, colorful art designs by Alfred Junge and Hans Peters and an exciting score composed by Miklos Rozsa (a prelude to his majestic EL CID score). Robert Taylor looks good as Sir Lancelot of the Lake. Mel Ferrer is King Arthur. Ava Gardner is Queen Guinevere. (Sir) Stanley Baker comes off best as Sir Modred who plots to undermine King Arthur. There are large-scale battles and much swordplay throughout the adventure. The sword fight between Sir Lancelot and King Arthur is well filmed and the most dramatic which sets the stage for the relationship between these two men. There is another sword fight later in the film between Sir Lancelot and Sir Modred's men. This is a well-staged and choreographed duel which takes place on the steps outside Lancelot's quarters in the castle. Despite all this swordplay the story is somewhat static and does not really evoke that much emotion from the viewer. However director Richard Thorpe is successful in conveying Guinevere's love, through a restrained but effective performance by Ava Gardner, for Sir Lancelot. Ultimately it is a solid film in the old Hollywood traditions of storytelling.

GENERALLY STILTED PRODUCTION - NICE LOOKING DVD
"Knights of the Round Table" was MGM's first feature in the newly christened widescreen format of Cinemascope and the studio's inexperience with a 2:35:1 aspect ratio, in retrospect, is rather obvious. The audience is treated to drawn out battle scenes (that are thrilling) and lavish spectacle. But the whole look and feel of the film is very theatrical, like Shakespeare on stage. Robert Taylor, usually so natural, is uncomfortably stiff as Lancelot, while Mel Ferrer fairs slightly better as King Arthur. Ava Gardner is wasted as Gueneviere. Sets and rear projection are glaringly obvious. Over all, for its historical context in the early days of widescreen film, more than entertainment value, "Knights" is a worthwhile movie.
Warner Home Video has given us a generally good looking print. No attempt has been made to remove age related artifacts from the negative. Overall, the quality of the transfer is very smooth though, at times, it can seem somewhat digitally harsh. Exterior footage tends to suffer from a considerable amount of film grain while interiors are well balanced. Black levels are perhaps a bit weak and fine details are lost in the darker scenes. Close ups look gorgeous. Long shots suffer from pixelization. Fades between scenes tend to suffer from a sudden grainy quality that is customary for all Cinemascope film stock of this period. The audio is stereo surround and amply provided for considering the limitations in the original recording.

EXTRAS: Mel Ferrer comments on the film's production. There's a featurette movietone trailer and the film's original theatrical trailer too.
OVER ALL: Not a bad movie but an incredibly dated one, "Knights of the Round Table" nevertheless offers up a good example of vintage Cinemascope film making from the 1950's.

Calvary Charges, Fierce Battles and Pageantry
KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE is a movie about the classic tale of King Arthur, Sir Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot's ill-fated love for Guinevere is played out against a background of cavalry charges, fierce battles and pageantry. The plot is amplified by the rivalry between Lancelot and Mordred as well as Sir Percival's quest for the Holy Grail. Merlin appears in the film as an advisor to Arthur and Lancelot's wife dies while giving birth to the future Sir Gallahad.

Robert Taylor as Lancelot and Mel Ferrer as Arthur are both superb. Ava Gardner makes a beautiful Guinevere but her acting seems to be a little flat. The strong supporting cast includes Stanley Blake, Felix Aylmer and Robert Urguhart.

KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE received Academy Award nominations for Best Color, Art Direction and Sound. The main competition for Oscars in 1953 came from STALAG 17, ROMAN HOLIDAY and FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.

Richard Thorpe also directed Robert Taylor in IVANHOE in 1952.

The Age of Chivalry
A very enjoyable movie about the legend of King Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere. Robert Taylor is perfect as Lancelot... noble and chivalrous, although human at the same time. Colorful and full of heraldry, if you like stories of the age of chivalry, you'll enjoy this.

Knight of the Round Table
I've always like a Robert Taylor movie. It's one of those movies, you could add to your video collection, and watch it again periodically. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A modern entertaining vampire show
My view is based on the fact I am a big Michael Praid fan as well as a horror fan. The special effects were cheesy and there were errors in the film. You could tell when there was a real baby and when there was a doll. But all in all, I enjoyed the movie and bought it for myself. It's different from the other vampire flicks and I found it entertaining enough to purchase a used copy to enjoy with my family. If you like vampire flicks, if you like Michael Praed, or if you like scary movies although this one doesn't really count as that, you will enjoy this movie.

A Great Sequel
This film is a worthy follow-up to its predecessor "To Die For". Here we find Dracula has moved to a small town in the hills, working as an emergency room doctor on the night shift. As the story unfolds, we learn that he is sustaining himself on plasma from the hospital while his extended "family", including is vicious brother Tom, are wrecking havoc on the natives. Then Dracula meets Nina, a single mother who has an adopted baby that seems to be plagued with problems. The infant's marathons of crying repeatedly send his mother to the emergency room trying to find out what's wrong. Dracula just wants to live in harmony with humans at this point. As in the first movie, he and his evil sibling end up doing battle over whose way of life is right and who gets the girl. It's a great modern vampire tale.

Plotless...
It could have been much longer, with more of a plot. It was obviously edited way too much. The acting was average. The reason I bought this movie was because the gorgeous Michael Praed stars in it. He WAS great, but the movie went to fast and didn't last long enough. And to top it off, the most likeable character dies in the end. It depressed me! Unless you are a Michael Praed fan, DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!

Entertaining vampire-movie!
This movie isn't very scary, and it's not groundbreaking...but for another strange reason, I find it highly entertaining. It also contains a little bit of humor. Here we met three vampires, one of them a "nice" doctor, who the myth of Dracula was born with. His brother Tom is slighty different. A cold-hearted vampire, with no remorse. I'm not saying that this is the best buy you can do, but if you like horror-movies, I'm sure you will find this movie very interesting. It also contains graphic scenes of gore. Some of the special effects are quite cheesy, but that's not a big minus. Enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (34)

A movie I can watch over and over again...
Although David Suchet's Poirot is, I think, more faithful to Christie's vision of him, I have always enjoyed Ustinov as the famous Belgian sleuth. Evil under the Sun appeals to me because of the quality of the cast, as well as its small size, and the gorgeous location (a small island in the mediterranean). The movie is infused with light and some of the best Cole Porter music. Diana Rigg is an absolutely odious Arlena Marshall, and Maggie Smith's Daphne Castle is wonderful as her erstwhile rival. Roddy McDowell's fruity Rex Brewster is probably my favorite. Jane Birkin is the fragile nagging wife of Arlena's toy boy Patrick Redfern (Nicholas Clay), and is wonderful in the staircase scene at the end of the movie. These and a few other characters congregate on Daphne's Island, for a sunny holiday, that is very quickly interrupted by murder. In order to avoid dealing with the inept local police, Daphne calls on Poirot's 'colossal brain power' to solve the crime for her. Poirot takes on the case, and is soon faced by a seemingly insurmountable problem...(and you'll have to watch the movie to find out what it is).

"Everyone automatically comes up with a watertight alibi"
Evil Under the Sun is an unfortunately abysmal rendition of Agatha Christie's novel of the same name. The very English environment and upper-middle class social milieu that Christie was so adept at creating has been mangled beyond recognition. Instead of the English seaside, the action has been removed to an island in a laughably fictional kingdom somewhere in the Adriatic. However, this does provide one of the few saving graces of the film - some absolutely stunning coastal scenery.

Peter Ustinov is a very passable Poirot (even if some of the things the director and screenwriter have got him doing are highly unlikely). When an aging actress is murdered whilst on holiday, there are no shortage of suspects amongst the other guesthouse residents. But all would appear to have cast iron alibis, so Belgian sleuth supreme Hercule Poirot must call on his "little grey cells" to distinguish fact from fiction. The other characters are portrayed with a highly developed sense of camp, and indeed the film ends up feeling like a parody that doesn't quite manage to pull it off. Watch however, for some fabulous verbal sparring between Maggie Smith and Diana Rigg.

It is only at the last, when Poirot is expounding his theory on the identity of the murderers that the movie regains some credibility. Despite the awkwardly connected sub-plots concerning a missing jewel and a murder on the English moors, the loose ends are tied up, and the viewer shares the guests' indignation as it appears that the perpetrators of the crime are going to get away with it. In conclusion, watch it if you must, but don't let it put you off seeing other (largely far superior) screen adaptations of Christie's stories.

Peter Ustinov returns a second time as "Poirot".
This is the second film with Peter Ustinov as Belgian Detective, Hercule Poirot, since his first, DEATH ON THE NILE (1978). Once again, an all-star cast and a mystery who-done-it. I won't reveal any of the plot. But the delightful Maggie Smith (Murder By Death [1976], California Suite [1978], Death On The Nile [1978]) plays a resort hotel owner on an island of Spain where she banters with Diana Rigg with dislike. It makes the film much more enjoyable. The cast also includes: Jane Birkin, Colin Blakely, Nicholas Clay, James Mason, Roddy McDowall, Sylvia Miles, Denis Quilley and Emily Hone. Other films followed with Ustinov as "Poirot", Thirteen At Dinner (1985-tv), Dead Man's Folly (1986-tv), Murder in Three Acts (1986-tv), Appointment With Death (1988). This DVD also includes the Theatrical trailer, a 16-minutes featurette "The Making of...", and Talent Bios.
For a lighter comedy, may I suggest MURDER BY DEATH (1976).

Mystery galore...
Agatha Christie's Evil under the sun with it's all star cast keeps your interest to the end. My wife and are especially caught up with Peter Ustinov's character mixing in with all of the rest to make this video a must for all mystery buffs.

Murder is 'just one of those things'
Agatha Christie's murder mystery, 'Evil Under The Sun' is brought gloriously to life, in this movie from the early 80's. It features Peter Ustinov in his second showing as the legendary Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot along with a cast of actors who camp it up for all they are worth.

The plot follows the classic Christie template (see Death on the Nile, Murder on the Orient Express) of a group of people gathered together, with one being particularly nasty and unlikeable and (surprise, surprise!!) is murdered, with all of the remaining characters having a motive for putting this person out of the way. While this movie doesn't move too far away from the template, it rewards the viewer with an intriguing yet fun couple of hours.

The performances from all of the actors on board are excellent - yes they are over the top (especially Roddy McDowell's bitchy Rex Brewster and Sylvia Miles's droning Myra Gardener) but that makes them all the more endearing. Maggie Smith is obviously having loads of fun as the hotel proprieter, Daphne Castle, and her scenes with Ustinov have great energy. However Diana Rigg all but steals the film as the "ageing" actress, Arlena Marshall, a prize and completely ostentatious vamp. Ustinov is again on fine form as Poirot and relishes the chance to add his stamp to a character already memorably portrayed on screen by Albert Finney.

This film offers a great opportunity to actors out of their normal milieu (the aforementioned Smith and Rigg, as well as the luminous Jane Birkin) and is almost worth watching for that alone. Added to that is a great soundtrack of Cole Porter numbers which indelibly places this movie in the 1930's. While it does deviate from the setting and characters of Christie's source novel, that doesn't detract it from being an superb addition to the canon of Christie films. ... Read more

Reviews (136)

Excellent Film -- Historically Accurate.
In my opinion, the best war movie ever made -- a notch better than "Saving Private Ryan," which contains certain historical inaccuracies. "A Bridge Too Far" masterfully adapts Cornelius Ryan's meticulously-researched book of the same title. More importantly, with the exception of the German tanks and armored personnel carriers depicted in the failed attempt to capture the northern end of the Arnhem bridge, the uniforms, machine guns, rifles, tanks, landscape, etc. depicted in the film are accurate -- unlike the vast majority of war films that cut corners, film off location, fail to research key facts, etc. The "second Omaha Beach" crossing of the Waal River by the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division -- filmed on loaction -- is the most riveting scene in the movie. Also spectacular is the reenactment of the dropping of hundreds of paratroopers over Holland from C-47 Dakotas. The only negative is that the movie can be quite confusing to one who is not familiar with the intricacies of Operation Market Garden. I urge anyone considering viewing the film to first read "Arnhem 1944" by Martin Middlebrook or Cornelius Ryan's above-mentioned book. Some research will help put this complicated military operation into perspective. After you've seen the movie, and if you have the time, money and inclination, take a battlefield tour of Nijmegen and Arnhem (both just an hour-or-so drive from Amsterdam) so you can truly appreciate the sacrifices made by the British, American, and Polish paratroopers depicted in the film nearly 55 years ago.

Gripping account of Operation Market Garden
A Bridge Too Far is one of my favorite war movies, and books of all time. The book is a classic, which you should read if you have not done so before watching the film.

The film is long (almost 3 hours), but well worth it. I have seen it more than a few times, and always enjoy watching it. I particularly like the Airborne drop and combat scenes. All which leave me wondering how they actually filmed some of them. The cast is full of all-stars with the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Robert Redford, Sean Connery, James Caan. The list of great actors just goes on and on.

The film does a good job of telling the tragic tale of Operation Market Garden, the largest Airborne operation ever. The plan is bold, which is a surprise in itself since General Montgomery was considered to be one of the more conservative well known commanders from WWII. As you watch the movie, you start to wonder how could they have been so wrong. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and you have to realize that this operation was to be the final punch to put Germany out of the war. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. And, in the end, the goal of reaching the Arnhem bridge is never achieved, and the British Airborne Division pays the ultimate price for the plan's failure.

The book does a better job telling the stories of individual soldiers involved in the battle. But, the movie does an excellnet job of keeping the viewer in the action, and aware of what happened when, during the fight. Especially considering, the action took place at three different areas all at the same time.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in WWII, war movies, combat leadership, or airborne operations. I also recommend watching the movie on a large screen TV if you can.

Great Battles, Dialogue, Characters Make A Great Movie.
I liked this film very much. It's not overly patriotic like Saving Private Ryan. It doesn't go for the happy, crowd pleasing ending. It doesn't pick out heros & bad guys for easy watching and it doesn't oversimplify.

This is well-paced, collage-style film about human fallibility and what happens when large wartime operations break down.

The dialogue is superb. There are 10+ characters interlocked in various relationships at all levels inside the army. These were the top actors in the world at the time, each with a role to play and an independent fate in the battle. All these guys are in their 60's now and seeing them so young is a surprise. Look for John Ratzenberger (Cliff Claven of Cheers) in Robert Redford's paratrooper platoon.

The production values were also excellent, on par with the best of WWII movies. There were many very realistic battle scenes and all the scenery and soldiers, equipment, etc. one could imagine. To the untrained eye it was 100% authentic.

This is not a happy movie or much fun. It's more real than that. Unfortunately it's also not especially harrowing - you know that things are not going to work out. It's just thoughtful and well-paced and very watcheable. If you like WWII movies this one is certainly worthwhile.

You need the Australian 2-disc set!
Personally I found this so-called classic a total bore. But if you're one of those dusty old f*rts who collects war memorabillia and gets off on these true-to-life war epics, get yourself a multizone player and buy the Region 4 Two-disc set which also includes: "Heroes From The Sky" featurette, "A Distant Battle: Memories of Operation Market Garden" featurette, "Richard Attenborough: A Filmmaker Remembers" featurette, (These featurettes are quite long...some go for nearly an hour) Photo Gallery, Trailer, Audio Commentary and Trivia Track. This is the way classic movies on DVD should be presented. Tons of information and a great price. Ezydvd.com

Excellent Adaptation of a Classic War Book
The movie version of Cornelius Ryan's book A Bridge Too Far is a fully faithful adaptation of a war classic. As such, it is a classic in its own right. The movie includes the planning and execution of the flawed Operation Market Garden, the largest Allied airborne operation of World War II. It also includes several of the human interest vignettes from Ryan's book. The movie is consistently interesting throughout and is never boring.

A true classic. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Priceless
My best friend raved about this move to me when we were in high school, and when I finally had a chance to see it, I fell completely in love. It's not an exaggeration to say that I base friendships on whether people love this movie. If someone doesn't appreciate "Hot Millions," they are to be spurned forthwith.

There have seldom been two actors as charming as Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith; together, they push the charm quotient through the stratosphere. Whether prattling about curry ("It's vile, i'n't it?") or realizing how lonely they are (and how to solve that problem) they are astonishing. They seem to have been born from the head of the same muse - in their timing and relation to each other they're like the most comfortable of old vaudeville partners. The freeze-frame close-up of Ustinov at the end and his sweetly concerned "Are you all right?" is one of the most lovely, moving things of its kind - almost on a par with Chaplin at the end of "City Lights."

Even the redoubtable Karl Malden gives a nice little performance here; the scene between him and Caesar Romero in Brazil is an absolute gem. And Bob Newhart is marvelously snide as the fly in Ustinov's ointment - not quite Iago, maybe, but we all know the type.

This is a movie so filled with little pleasures and wonderfully askew comic sequences playing off each other that it seems like a classic in the vein of Lubitsch and Wilder ... especially now, with the state of our movie comedy no laughing matter.

When, o when, will this darling film be made available - in widescreen - on DVD?

A Little-known Gem
This is a gem of a caper film, with fantastic performances by Peter Ustinov and a very young Maggie Smith. Anyone who liked Alec Guinness in the "Lavender Hill Mob" should also like this one, and Ustinov's role is similarly understated and brilliant. Bob Newhart and Karl Malden also have a great parts as bank employees, putty in Ustinov's fingers.
Besides the caper/con theme, this movie also touches on early computerization. How fun to see Ustinov's character grapple with the new technology of those giant old computers, and give the "expert" (Bob Newhart) a run for his money!
Thoroughly enjoyable!

Another Ustinov classic
If you like character acting at its very finest, then watch this movie. Peter Ustinov here builds on the sly but endearing crook persona he won Oscars for in Spartacus and Topkapi. While the characters in those films are expressions of Ustinov's great abilities in making sleazy characters sympathetic, this film goes beyond the slightly over-the-top characterisations of those films to present a fully-rounded character in the context of a credible and somewhat touching love story. This is particularly remarkable because Hot Millions is a light and airy 60s caper film. The scenes between Ustinov and Maggie Smith are brilliant, exhibiting a humourous warmth all too little seen in films, and there is great comedy generated by the presence of Karl Malden and Bob Newhart. Nice score and tight direction too. In my opinion, one of the very best mainstream movies of the late 60s, and one which gives renewed pleasure on each viewing. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A well-made, timeless British propaganda film
One of Our Aircraft Is Missing is a British propaganda film from 1941; leaving aside the propaganda aspects, it is a well-made motion picture that was nominated for best original screenplay as well as best special effects at the 1942 American Academy Awards (Casablanca took best picture). It also did quite well at the box office. The British bomber Bertie takes a hit during a nighttime bombing raid over Stuttgart, Germany, and her six-man RAF crew is forced to parachute to safety over German-occupied Dutch territory. Five of the men are discovered by some friendly children and are taken to town where an English-speaking schoolteacher helps facilitate their escape. The men are furtively passed along the sixty or so miles to the North Sea through a veritable underground railroad of Dutch resistance, eventually linking up with the pilot they feared had been lost. Interestingly, the most heroic assistance comes from women like the schoolteacher Els Mertens and the truly remarkable Jo de Vries. De Vries supposedly hates the British for having killed her husband in an air raid and works closely with the local German forces whom she secretly despises; this makes her the perfect final contact for the English airmen seeking to return home by sea. The final stages of the great escape do prove somewhat harrowing, but the RAF men do honor to the ancient creed of "being British" throughout the most dangerous moments. De Vries delivers a stirring ovation for the resistance and war efforts, and any Englishman or American who didn't already hate the Germans would have been more than willing to take up arms immediately and rush off to The Netherlands to free this remarkable woman and her friends in the Dutch resistance from Hitler's nefarious grip. One of the more interesting aspects of the film has to do with the Dutch resistance in general; the Dutch have a way of obeying German orders in a way that never fails to get under the occupying soldiers' skins. One of Our Aircraft Is Missing proves that propaganda can sometimes have a completely positive connotation, and the story itself is well-presented and quite timeless in its appeal.

"W" for Wonderful
In some ways, this is even better than that other great Powell-
Pressburger-Portman film, "49th Parallel." The casting here is
uniformly perfect. All of the stars act with a natural grace
that is a joy to watch. The propaganda is not too obvious, nor
forced. And the sly humor of certain scenes is fun (don't miss
Frank in a dress). Eric Portman is wonderful is usual, but the
entire cast is terrific. Yes, that is Peter Ustinov as a priest!
Don't miss this wonderful gem.

Never have so few done so much for so many.
During the Allied Bombing offensive of World War II the public was often informed that "A raid took place last night over ..., One (or often more) of Our Aircraft Is Missing". Behind these sombre words hid tales of death, destruction and derring-do. This is the story of one such bomber crew who were shot down and the brave Dutch patriots who helped them home.

Classic Propaganda
This war-time production by the Archers Studios and the famous writing/directing team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger is classic war time adventure. The crew of the British bomber, "B for Bertie" bails out over Nazi occupied Holland. The resistance finds the crew members and aids them in returning to England. Like their now out-of-print classic, 49th Parallel, the directorial team of Powell and Pressburger was assigned to make propaganda films to aid the war effort, what they produced were adventure epics. This film made such an impact that it was remade (presumably for the American audience) as Desperate Journey in 1942 with Errol Flyn and Ronald Reagan.

Not Gore but Camaraderie
This is a wonderful movie because it was done during the war. Movies about the war at this time did not focus on the horror of the war but how people were working together to solve and win the war conflicts. This movie is a fun way of portraying a war with out all the bad aspects. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

It is okay.
Due to no closed captioning, I was playing it in fast forward. But it is very entertainment.

Eric Idle melts my heart as Passepartout
Even though I am a big Pierce Brosnan fan, I only watched the mini-series just to see what Eric Idle looks like. He is so cute, adorable, witty, funny, and was the soul in the mini-series. That when I got my interest in him and how I watched Monty Python. While John Cleese put the straight man act, Graham Chapman put the one-line words, Terry Gilliam put the animation, Terry Jones dressing in drag was fun, & Michael Palin acted like the stupid man, Eric put the sex in Monty Python. I wished the producers of that mini-series would give a spin-off of Passepartout and let him go around in his journeys maybe with his kid or two and let him be either devorced or widowed. If I can get an internet site and write fan fiction, It would only be Eric's Passepartout and Passepartout only!! Pierce may be Bond and Peter Ustinov may be the brains and better actor but Eric is the comic relief and had Pierce show more emotion with his cold-fish character into a warm sensitive person. Everybody thought it was the Indian princess that moved Pierce but Eric' Jean Passepartout played a very big role in it and even though Phileas took the credit for the journey, Passepartout is the one who steals the mini-series and is the one also that deserves about 95% of the applause.

Far inferior to the Niven/Cantinflas/Todd-AO version!
Quite bland and distant compared to the old (1956)Todd-AO, Niven/Cantinflas version. Please see my review of same. This newer(TV)version has very little humor and seems forced. The older one is lighter than air (a good thing!) Since the newer one has so little to offer, the music alone in the '56 version is enough to make it better! In the TV film there is an attempt to match the bouncy but grand sound of the 1956 score, but the attempt fails. One customer reviewer said that the Brosnan version has better character development. I would point out that: 1) Jules Verne's works are not ABOUT character development, except in a very minimalist way; the '56 version preserved Verne's lean, light touch 2)The '56 film visually and verbally gave us more subtle and, in a way, deeper character development in the restrained and wintery performance of David Niven as Fogg, and the perfect lines written for him by the man who referred to himself as "Old Vinegar Puss" (S.J. Perelman - see his book of that title, probably available from Amazon). The '56 screenplay captured Verne's characterization of Fogg as one who could make an authoritative statement "in a few clear words." In contrast, Brosnan's Fogg was given less incisive, less telling, and less character revealing dialogue. One could see the warmth that Niven's Fogg was holding back, which is quite an achievement. Brosnan's performance, while good, seemed too strained and technical. The older version is one of those rarities: a film that is better than the book. The Brosnan version is merely interesting; the Niven version is a joy!

Better than the Todd-AO version
Not only a more detailed plot than the earlier version with David Niven, but doesn't suffer from scenes filmed only for the purpose of making the audience motion-sick from the wide curved-screen effects of Todd-AO. I was very pleasantly surprised that something intended mainly for TV distribution had such high production values.

Better than the book!
Thank God the scriptwriter took liberties with "Around the World in Eighty Days"! I read the book, and couldn't stand it. I watched the movie, and became addicted.

Pierce Brosnan's Phileas Fogg has a sterile, lifeless, prescripted life as a proper upper-class English gentleman. He plays card games at a men's club, wants his bath at precisely the right temperature, and speaks in a monotone. But when a bunch of men at the club wager against him that he can't go "around the world in eighty days," Fogg is suddenly fired with a desire to do that. He sets off across the world with his comedic new French valet, Passepartout (Eric Idle.. yes, THAT Eric Idle!).

But a bank robbery in London leaves Fogg as the primary suspect. He can't be arrested until he's on English soil, and the rather inept Detective Fix (Peter Ustinov) is sent off to bring him back.

But as we watch, Fogg's personality alters. He and Passepartout manage to save the life of a beautiful Indian princess, Aouda, and as the trip progresses, Fogg becomes less icy and "proper." How many proper Englishmen would fall in love with an Indian princess?

Brosnan and Idle are at their simple best. Idle's rather pathetic Passepartout is a bit irritating at times, but he has endearing moments as well, such as when he waves goodbye to girlfriend Madeleine.

Brosnan's Phileas Fogg seems like a standard cold fish at first, but the viewer cheers as he shouts "Stop!" at the Indians trying to kill Princess Aouda, or when he faces down a firing squad with steely courage, or when he admits for the first time that he loves the princess.

Julia Nickson-Soul is the exotic Princess Aouda, the Indian girl who is almost killed after her loveless husband dies. But after she is rescued, she becomes an invaluable asset to the journey. When I was little, I was simply transfixed by the array of colorful, beautiful saris she wears throughout it.

It travels all across the world, from the look-but-don't-touch grandeur of London, to the ornate beauty of China, to the sweaty jungles of Asia, to the plains of the USA. For an exotic and well-scripted adventure/romance/travel/comedy, look no further! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A HISTORICAL FICTION SOAP OPERA
April Morning is a historical fiction soap opera loved in great big portions by N. Lampi. (Une lampe for short) He made us watch this movie and I was shocked at how EVIL the British appeared to be. However, this movie was very soap opera-like. For example, the main character (Adam Cooper) said, "FATHER, WHY DO YOU HATE ME SO!" I found that very funny and TOO dramatic. Also, it maybe hard to remember *cough*test*cough* but at the end Adam receives his father's watch. WATCH! w-a-t-c-h!!! Remember that!!! Oh well. Thus, this movie gets 3/5 stars. Some talking people *cough*J. Reeves III*cough* ruined it by talking! OH well......

Factual, moving account of the birth of our nation.
I saw this a few years ago on T.V. and have wanted a copy of my own. I can't believe a movie this powerful is not on video yet. A must for all young people to see! Masterful telling of our country's revolution.

Ap-ril Morning
This was asesome I saw it at school

A morning for greatness
This is simply a gem of a movie based on Howard Fast's excellent 1962 novel,( which I still have), of the first day of hostilities between colonists and Britain.

There may have been bigger blockbusters made about the American Revolution (The Patriot, Revolution etc) but to me this under- rated 1988 film is a true classic, capturing the quintessential decency of American colonial village life in Lexington and the developing tensions and conflict on that fateful day of 19th April 1775.

I agree with the 2 previous reviewers that this film is a great teaching tool. It shows many things: the tensions and love in family life, particularly between Moses Cooper ( Tommy Lee Jones) and his son Adam ( Chad Lowe),who is no longer a boy yet not quite a man; romance between Adam and Ruth Simmons ( played by the lovely Susan Blakely); different generations and how they relate to each other; the underlying strong Christian faith of the era,( which still prevails in American life today); the need to perform civic duties; and culture and costumes far removed from our own period etc.

"April Morning" is also effective because it does not glamourise war or demonise the redcoats. In fact both Adam and a young redcoat are both seen, at various stages, to be scared witless by the whiff of 'grapeshot' and of battle. Yet overall, in what is truly a momentous day for Adam personally, (as well as the villagers of Lexington and Concord), we see how the events mature him and this is brilliantly illustrated at the end of the film when he leads his family in prayer for their food and life. This very subtle approach makes it evident that the boy, like colonial America, has gone for ever and has been replaced by a decent man who would,with humility, be worthy of his emerging new leadership role-as would America.

As a non-American I conclude by saying that any American who fails to appreciate this film simply lacks a soul and an understanding of the greatness of American history - a fact which was demonstrated on that dusty Lexington-Concord road 226 years ago- and by the makers of this film who have created another very special "April Morning".

One Shot Heard Around the World
This movie gives an accurate and interesting account of the beginnings of the American Revolution. A boy becomes a man, not by choice but because of events that are not under his control. There is great acting by all. My students will love this movie and will gain a greater understanding of the Lexington and Concord battles. I only wish I could obtain a video of the movie. My copy is so old! This is an action/adventure/drama all rolled into one. ... Read more

Description

A survivalist is all that stands between two innocent college students and a family of cannibals. Original uncut classic. Year: 1996 Director: Jeff Burr Starring:Kate Hodge, William Butler, Ken Foree ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Only one that lives up to the original
The first TCM was one of the biggest horror hits of all time, inflicting pain and brutal terror upon its viewers. The 2nd installment was awesome, but was nothing like the original. The 3rd TCM actually lived up to the original, but after it's release it was long forgotten. You would think with Tobe Hooper not directing this movie, it would be a huge mistake, but actually, it was a good idea. None of the old family members are here, accept an older, greener grandpa, and of course, Leatherface. The house is different, but the inside looks similar to the original, but not much. Leatherface has a different looking mask, still made of human flesh though. The settings are: The desert, an old gas station, the texas woods in very thick darkness, and Leatherfaces (new) house. This movie has a whole lot of action. Lots blood and gore violence, on the unrated edition, gunshots, and lots of good chainsaw action. This is Leatherface at his best, so look closely, you might miss something bizarre!

R-Rated Version: This version, well, sucks. It has a whole bunch of perfectly good violence edited out. Watch the unrated version for true terror!

Unrated Version: If you are a horror/violence fan, you should know to always look for an unrated version of a good horror movie. This version of L:TCM3 is the bloody, gory, violent version only strong horror fans can view. Weak-hearted people, you have been warned!

The saw is family
Since New Line released their recent re-make of the The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, they finally had the good sense to release Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 on an extra laden DVD. Undoubtadly the best, and sadly the monst infamous, sequel in the series, this installment finds two college students (Kate Hodge and William Butler) stranded on a Texas backroad being stalked and hacked up by Leatherface and his larger cannibalistic family. Ever since this film was released, it garnered a lot of criticism and bad press because of it's many attempts just to get an R rating. Well, here it is in all it's unrated gory glory, but for the life of me I cannot understand how the unrated version never got an R rating; I mean House of 1000 Corpses was gorier than that. The film also stars a pre-Lord of the Rings Viggo Mortensen as a member of Leatherface's family, and Dawn of the Dead's Ken Foree as a survivalist who is all that stands between the kids and the family. The DVD includes a documentary on the film, deleted scenes, and a commentary by director Jeff Burr and crew.

Wasn't as good as the original or 2
This film didn't live to the hype...Very Overrated..
I thought the Original was very creepy but this was alright..Leather faced looked horrible...Thats a bad thing..He looked stupid too.

I thought the plot was dull...Kina stupid...
The characters were alright....

The overall film was alright...Didnt do that good....

I give it 2/5 stars...

Very bad movie...

Later..

To Sum It Up
For everything the original was, this is the opposite. I don't even feel like reviewing this, so just to sum it up; Did you see the trailer for this movie? Yeah, the movie is just as crappy as the trailer.

wait, what...i missed it?
baaaaad movie....baaaad! lol its just so...bad...its kind of a spoof of itself...the story is so weak and the acting is so bad and theres no music! music is what makes a movie! music adds to the horror of a good horror movie...which this is definatly not! You barely see leatherface, and when u do see him, he doesnt even use his chainsaw!

no one will miss this movie...NO ONE! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

the ups and downs of an itinerant family
Set in the 1920s and about a family of Irish itinerant sheepherders, this film has panoramic views of Australia (cinematography by Jack Hildyard), a good script, and a diverse and interesting cast; the sheep also are terrific, and there are many glimpses of kangaroos, koalas and more, all set to an upbeat score by Dimitri Tiomkin. The film also shows the backbreaking labor of shearing the sheep, and the hard life and hard drinking of the people who do it.
It has its share of drama, poignancy, and humor, the latter usually thanks to Peter Ustinov, who puts in another memorable performance as a British wanderer who is always able to extricate himself from romantic entanglements.
Deborah Kerr shines as Ida, the tough but sensitive wife who stands by her man through thick and thin (mostly thin). Robert Mitchum is good as her irresponsible husband, as is Michael Anderson Jr. as their son, and Glynis Johns adds her irrepressible charm as a pub owner.

Though not quite on the level of director Fred Zinnemann's best work (like "High Noon", "A Man for all Seasons", and "Day of the Jackal"), it still has his masterful touch, and is a fine film, well worth viewing.
It was nominated for Best Actress, Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, and Supporting Actress (Johns), losing out to Elizabeth Taylor in the first category, and "The Apartment" and "Elmer Gantry" in the rest.
"The Sundowners" is solid entertainment from one of the great directors of the 20th century, and total running time is 133 minutes.

sucks
Robert Mitchum`s aussie accent in this movie is not very believable.

The Ever Lovin' Aussie
This movie does a great job of profiling the lives and loves of the bushman. It should be preserved in DVD.

The Sundowners clearly shows how love fits in with the Aussie's love of freedom and adventure. Hard work doesn't take anything away from their sense of humor. The land is unforgiving with its fires and droughts; and the hardships created by traveling from shed to shed are mittigated by good kinship. They love gambling and would take bets on whether or not the sun will rise the next morning if they have enough "spirits" in them. All nicely demonstrated in the movie. Their accents believeable and the music in the background is a treat!

Wonderful and life affirming
Some films and some books just make you glad to be alive, for me The Sundowners is a lovely, life-affirming experience, beautifully acted, warmly funny and intelligent.

Everytime I see this film, the temptation to join the Carmodys is irresistible. This is not a sentimental story, but the film has a genuine warmth and exuberance as well as a young boy on the point of making his own life, working out the path he wishes to follow.

There is great love and deep affection shared by the Carmody family, a bond which is one of the few fixed points in their wandering life. This love is not saccherine romance but realistic emotion; it is not always easy, it does not prevent anger, exasperation and pain, but at the end of things their family genuinely cares for each other.

Sundowners is a film full of sunlight.

Frist Rate film for Mitchum fans
The Sundoners is probley one of Mitchum's finer performences he's probley the most under rated actor of his time. Gives a solid performance as a roving Australin sheep herder who in his own robost way tries his best to be husband an father, Deborah Kerr is excellant as the wife who binds the family together who hopes somday there roving life style will end, so they as a family can have a home to settle. This film has a litle bit of everything comic relif, drama an action with good solid back up performances of Peter Ustinov, Glynnis Johns. Again if your a Mitchum fan then buy this video,an watch an actor who style owns every scene he's in.Thank you N. Skyles ... Read more