Amazon.com

Hold on to your school bags: it's time for another eccentric day with Ms. Frizzle, the wacky and winsome science teacher who stars in Scholastic's popular program Magic School Bus. Science concepts come alive when the Friz leads her inquisitive class on extraordinary adventures inside a magical bus, in this wildly watchable program based on Joanna Cole's books. Ms. Frizzle explores the secrets of color for today's lesson in "Makes a Rainbow." From her bag of tricks comes a dazzling light-powered pinball machine, which she hides away in her classroom closet. To win at pinball, students must figure out how to light up all six colors of the rainbow by learning the principles of light, wavelength, prisms, and refraction. To help them, the Friz piles her class into the school bus and shrinks it to the size of a Tonka trunk for a journey inside the pinball machine. Things go badly awry, however, when the bus hits a prism and splits into six colors, including six hues of every student. It gets worse, however, when the school's principal, Mr. Rule, is about to make a colorful discovery of his own. To reinforce the film's concepts, repeat showings and follow-up discussions are recommended. And lest viewers become confused when the innovative program blurs fantasy and scientific reality (like when the speed of light is remarkably slowed in the pinball machine), a science review at the story's end clarifies the two. Moreover, children are reminded of the program's larger message, that if you keep asking questions, you'll continue getting answers. (Ages 6 to 9). --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Rainbow of Education for Kids!
Learn how the colors of the rainbow work in this video. Best for art teachers and teachers, and kids! Play Ms. Frizzle's pinball game--and rack up some colorful points! Find out what makes the colors of the rainbow and how they become colors. Find out the prism trick and how to stall you principal! (hehe!) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Cy Endfield co-wrote the epic prequel Zulu Dawn 15 years after his enormously popular Zulu. Set in 1879, this film depicts the catastrophic Battle of Isandhlwana, which remains the worst defeat of the British army by natives, with the British contingent outnumbered 16-to-1 by the Zulu tribesmen. The film's opinion of events is made immediately clear in its title sequence: ebullient African village life presided over by King Cetshwayo is contrasted with aristocratic artifice under the arrogant eye of General Lord Chelmsford (Peter O'Toole). Chelmsford is at the heart of all that goes wrong, initiating the catastrophic battle with an ultimatum made seemingly for the sake of giving his troops something to do. His detached manner leads to one mistake after another, and this is wryly illustrated in a moment when neither he nor his officers can be bothered to pronounce the name of the land they're in. That it's a beautiful land nonetheless is made clear by the superb cinematography, which drinks in the massive open spaces that shrink the British army to a line of red ants. Splendidly stiff-upper-lipped support comes from a heroic Burt Lancaster and a fluffy, yet gruff, Bob Hoskins. Although the story is less focused and inevitably more diffuse than the concentrated events of Rorke's Drift which followed soon after, Zulu Dawn is an unflinchingly honest depiction of British Imperial diplomacy. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (16)

I Love this Movie!
I highly recommend this movie to all war or history buffs.This movie is based on the true story of the Battle of Isandlwana in south Africa .The battle was fought on Jan. 22nd 1879 between the 24th regiment under the command of Lt.Gen. Lord Chelmsford and the Zulu nation under King Cetshwayo. To make a long story short, The Zulus crushed and wiped out the entire British regiment largely in part because they outnumbered the British 24,000 to about 1,500, but also due to British arrogance(Which is pointed out time and time again in this movie)and the lack of respect and where abouts of the enemy.An allstar cast including Peter O'toole and Burt Lancaster Star in this Classic. The only Bad thing about this movie is that it is no longer in print, which to me is a real travesty, considering all the garbage that was made that still is in print. In fact i had to buy this movie off an online auction. I hope that the Movie Company that made this Great film comes to it's senses and Redistributes this movie so that it can be enjoyed on DVD as well.

Disaster at Isandhlwana
ZULU DAWN is a superb companion film to the classic ZULU, particularly since both films were written by the same man, Cy Enfield. ZULU DAWN climaxes with the Battle of Isandhlwana, which immediately preceded the Battle of Rorke's Drift, accurately portrayed in ZULU. While the Battle of Isandhlana is important, the real significance of ZULU DAWN lies in its revelation of how the British governor of South Africa orchestrated the war against the Zulu. Moreover, the British governor, Sir Henry Bartle-Frere, acted against the wishes of Queen Victoria and Parliament, resulting in the bloody defeat and near annihilation of the British 24th Regiment of Foot at Isandhlwana. The arrogance and carelessness of the British is shocking and the humiliating defeat of the British army in South Africa strikes the viewer as completely justified. The fact that good copies of ZULU are hard to find is pitiful enough, but the unavailability of ZULU DAWN is a real tragedy. It's extremely difficult to rent; it's been out of print so long that most recent video rental establishments have never been able to acquire it. I myself have only encountered two copies for sale ever, and I bought both of them (one went to my uncle, who turned me on to ZULU DAWN in the first place). Keep an eye out for ZULU DAWN in used video stores and exchange shops.

Less Heroics, More History
I really wish this would come out on DVD, it is an excellent movie. This is the 'prequel' to the Stanley Baker. . .and introducing Michael Caine. . .epic, 'Zulu.' While made almost 15 years later, it completes the story. This movie has a much more interesting cast and more accurately shows the fact that the British were the aggressors in this war. The Battle of Isandhlwana was, and is, the single most disastrous defeat of the British Army, and one brought on by the hubris of the commanding officers and the politcal operatives of the British Government. I really like this movie and have it on VHS, but it is getting worn out.

zulu's a kinkin royal butt
very well made movie
large supporting cast and known actors's
those carbines that the infantry used were
the only flaw i seen, after the ammo ran out this'
became a bayonet vs spear.

Great Historical recreation of a British Military defeat.
Very well done. Must watch this movie first and then the 1960 movie "Zulu". Also read about these events. Some shocking facts will surprise you. Excellent movies! ... Read more

Reviews (43)

The Entity One of My Favorite Movies
The Entity was one of my favorite scary movies; one of the reasons is that it was based on a factual account of another's life. Imagine being that woman, the horrors she must have faced, and the terror she still must be facing. I think that Barbara Hershey did a wonderful job portraying in this role. The effects for that time were done very well, especially when the hands were touching her and you could actually see the imprints on her skin. It surely left chills up my spine. I can't wait until this movie comes out on DVD. One of your previous reviewers from Greenville, SC USA said," This movie had great acting, intriguing story, and good music, but it is not even the least bit scary or disturbing. I really think it had potential, but it was way too predictable. If you thought it was scary, well whatever. I didn't think it was scary. If you want real scary get The Other (not The Others), The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Salem's Lot, Pet Cemetery, or Evil Dead". That person needs to realize the difference between the Gore factors and the Fear factors. His/her opinion is fine if your looking for blood and gore then this movie isn't for you. I found this movie to be more of a suspense/drama/thriller. So, if you are looking for blood and gore like (i.e.: Troma type movies) than this movie isn't what you'll be getting. So, Mr./Ms. Greenville, SC USA should really reevaluate his or her perspective before giving an opinion on movie genre's and not compare suspense and fear flicks with blood and gore....it just isn't appropriate.

Poor Barbara Hershey
I really like Barbara Hershey, and I wish she had saved her talents for something better than this movie. This is the story of a woman stalked by a ghost who rapes her repeatedly. Puportedly based on a true story, it fizzles after a promising beginning, and believing that some woman actually experienced this (or thinks she did) doesn't help matters.

The special effects are quite convincing for the time, but fail to carry the movie. I watched this at home, alone, late at night, and wasn't scared at all. Perhaps my expectations were too high after several recommendations, but I was frankly bored by this movie.

That said, Barbara Hershey does turn out a solid performance. That held my interest just enough to watch the entire film. Had it starred a lesser actress, I think I would have stopped watching after the first half hour. If you are a dyed-in-the-wool Barbara Hershey fan, you should catch this movie (it'll make you miss her old lips, however). But if you want to be scared out of your wits, choose something else.

Scary as Hell
This is the ultimate haunted house flick that will scare you dead. What makes this film so scary is the fact that you can't see the ghost/entity when it decides to attack Carla Moran, and do other violent things.

The Entity appears to have an insatiable appetite for sex, and Carla just happened to be the ghost's favorite victim (he does have great taste I must say). Poor Carla can't seem to shake this psychotic ghost from following her around. It's really creepy. Perhaps he didn't get enough while he was alive.

On the more serious note, Carla's family gets caught in the middle of all this mess and don't know what to make of it. And if this wasn't creepy enough, "The Entity" is based on a TRUE STORY!

It's basically a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Carla and her family decide to move into this house (haunted as hell I might say). She had no idea of the history of the house or perhaps didn't care. Once she moved in that was it, the entity drilled her like there was no tomorrow. And she couldn't escape. EVERYWHERE Carla went, the ghost ran after her [lustily]. Apparently, the ghost had an endless supply of viagra!

If you have trouble sleeping DON'T watch this movie. If you get scared easily, DON'T watch this movie. If you're superstitious DON'T watch this movie! If you don't care and want to have fun while peeing on yourself, GET THIS FILM! It's not available on DVD yet, but you can enjoy it on VHS. You might also want to light a few candles before watching it. If this film doesn't scare you, check your pulse!

new millenium
This is a fantastic horror flic.
I cannot believe that it is not available on DVD with widescreen format. Some body should tell the video industry that the twentieth century is over, VHS is out of date.

Honesty
This is one scary movie. Based on a true ongoing story. Kind of want to know what life like today for our main character. I've watch this 3/4 times and it still gets to me. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The era of Molly Ringwald's profitable collaboration with writer-producer-director John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club) was at its peak with this 1986 film (directed by Howard Deutch but in every sense part of the developing Hughes empire). Ringwald plays a high school girl on the budget side of the tracks, living with her warm and loving father (Harry Dean Stanton) and usually accompanied by her insecure best friend (Jon Cryer). When a wealthy but well-meaning boy (Andrew McCarthy) asks her out, her perspective is overturned and Cryer's character is threatened. As was the case in the mid-'80s, Hughes (who wrote the script and produced the film) brought his special feel for the cross-currents of adolescent life to this story. In its very commercial way, it is an honest, entertaining piece about growing pains. The attractive supporting cast (many of whom are much better known now) does a terrific job, and Ringwald and Cryer have excellent chemistry. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (68)

John Hughes At His Best
Movies like this are what make one want to cry over the media-provoked labeling and fall of "The Brat Pack". The stars of the 1980s teen films were expected to form the next generation of great actors until Hollywood tore them apart and sent them scraping for whatever cable-movie parts they could get their hands on. Though Pretty in Pink was more-or-less the swan song of John Hughes'-masterminded films, to this day it continues to bring in fans to the genre with it's sweet and simple poor girl/rich guy romance and the social issues therein. Though star Molly Ringwald is occaisonally over-emotional in her portrayal of the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it is not unfitting with her strong but somewhat neurotic character, Andie. Andrew McCarthy, though of greater acting capability than he displays here, still plays his rich but insecure Romeo (Blane) to a T, and is cute enough to make any teenage girl fall in love with him-despite the wierd eye thing. Annie Potts and Harry Dean Stanton are both memorable in their roles of somewhat bizzare parental-type figures, as is a young James Spader as Blane's perfectly condescending best friend. However it is Jon Cryer, as Andie's best and besotted friend Phil "Duckie" Dale who truly steals the show with what is surely one of the top performances of Cryer's varied career. Though on the outside this movie may appear to be pure teen fluff, the story has an endearing quality that will continually find it back in the VCR on any all night movie fest.

A girl from the wrong side of the tracks and her life
This movie set in the mid 80s era of brat-prack movies is a unique shining star. Molly Ringwald is Andie a girl from the wrong sides of the tracks who has romantic intrests from both sides of the spectrum; Duckie (Jon Cryer) who's puppy-dog love for her is both sweet and endearing to watch, and Blane (Andrew McCarthy) the rich guy who has everything going for him. What follows is Andie having to deal with this, the bitchy cheerleader type girls at school, her loving but dishonest father (Harry Dean Stanton) and through all this will she get an invatation to the prom? This is a great film, with both Blane, and Andie having to deal with their friends disagreeeing with their relationship. Steff (James Spader at one of his very best) Blane's best friend, who tries to make Blane try to decide between Andie and himself, when really he just wants his finger in the pie. Annie Potts as Iona, Andie's quirky older best friend is excellent and her weird and orginal costume changes throughout the movie are a highpoint. This is a emotionally raw film a rareity at the time it was made. If you ask me this should have swept the Oscar nominations with Molly Ringwald getting Best Actress, but hey regardless of the miss of Oscars watch this, it is a powerful film and a great piece of film making

Watch 16 Candles or The Breakfast Club, instead
Pretty in Pink is truly one of the worst bratpack movies ever made. Whiny Molly Ringwald has by this time thoroughly worn out her welcome; her perpetual pout, her eye-rolling and her generally sour disposition are extremely grating, all the moreso because she is in virtually every scene! The only interesting thing about Ringwald's "performance" is her ever-changing haircolor (throughout the movie, her hair goes from strawberry blonde to dark auburn to nearly chartreuse back to strawberry blonde, and so on. At least SOMETHING changed; her expression never did!).

Andrew McCarthy is the wimpiest "romantic hero" ever, and, like Molly, his expression never changes. "Must remain bland" was surely his mantra throughout filming.

Jon Cryer plays "Ducky" (did YOU go to high school with anybody who had a nickname like that???) like a spastic goofball. James Spader is wasted in a one-note role as "The Mean Snobby Guy." There's no end to the talent wasted in this film: Annie Potts and Harry Dean Stanton are also squandered in thankless, my-character-only-exists-to-showcase-Molly-Ringwald roles.

As if all that's not annoying enough, Molly's character is the richest "poor girl" ever, with her own lilac-colored Kharman Ghia, an endless supply of funky vintage dresses, petticoats, sweaters, granny boots, and hats (if you think she picked all that swag up at Salvation Army, you're crazy), and her own phone complete with answering machine (no big deal now, but it was in the '80s).

The cherry on top is the fact that the dress Molly cobbles together and "triumphantly" wears to Prom is ugly. Ugly, ugly, UGLY. That's not just my opinion, either: I saw this dog in the theater, and people LAUGHED when she made her entrance.

Bottom line: if you're in the mood for a bratpack movie, watch 16 Candles or Breakfast Club, instead.

One of the better Brat Pack movies.
Molly Ringwald did an good job in this film. The movie wasn't the best brat pack movie, but it is enjoyable. The supporting cast is okay, and the romance you are able to relate to. All, in all good, and heartfelt. See it, if you love teen romance movies.

Pretty good 80's movie
This isn't really my favorite movie that John Hughes made, Sixteen Candles is my favorite, but this one is also pretty good..besides the ending. Molly Ringwald was SO much better with Duckie. Duckie is the best character in this, he's so funny. The part at the end when he's at the dance and he looks at you through the camera, it's priceless!! You got to check this movie out, it's a good one. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Can't Get Enough of the Magic School Bus
My grandson comes over my house frequently and always asks to watch the Magic School Bus baseball video. He's seen it so much that he has memorized most if not all of the words. There's barely enough time to rewind it before he wants to watch it over and over again. He's three years old and all of the videos from the Magic School Bus are great for kids to start learning about sience in and around his age level. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

This one deserves more stars!!
This is one of my all-time musical favorites and in my opinion, the best MGM musical made outside the Freed unit, with a top of the tops score by Cole Porter, my all-time favorite composer.

Grayson and Keel are in top form, their on-screen chemistry at its best moment, in such numbers as "We Open in Venice", the wonderful "Wunderbar", and the wondrous, lyrical and evocative "So In Love", one of the best romantic songs ever written by Porter.

Also in the cast, Ann Miller in excellent tap-dance form, in such show-stoppers as "Too Darn Hot", "Tom, Dick and Harry" (accompanied by Tommy Rall, Bobby Van, and Bob Fosse), but especially "From This Moment On", a number which features the aforementioned male dancers, plus Carol Haney and Jeannie Coyne, which is stolen by Fosse and Haney, in an unforgettable jazz-oriented pairing, as the french say: "la creme de la creme".

And last but not least, the funny couple of Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore, are thrown in for good measure and lots of laughs, getting also their chance at showbiz with "Brush Up Your Shakespeare".

I had longed for this dvd release, and after buying it I can say that I am satisfied with it.

If you are musical film-buff, buy it, it has an excellent score, sophisticated lyrics, very good singing, excellent numbers, expert dancing and some very funny moments indeed!!

KISS ME KATE A JOY TO WATCH
I saw this film for the first time in it's initial release in 3-D and loved it so much that I returned to see it twenty times or more. Anytime it is shown on the big screen in retrospect showings, I try to attend. To me, it is my most favorite MGM musical next to "SINGIN IN THE RAIN." Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson are outstanding in their roles and do justice to the Cole Porter tunes, even if MGM saw fit to clean them up a bit. Kathryn Grayson's rendition of "I HATE MEN!" sets the standard for all others to follow. Ann Miller is finally showcased in songs and dances where her true talent shines. The male dancers Tommy Rall, Bobby Van and an-oh-so-young but talented Bob Fosse are spectacular to watch, especially in the "FROM THIS MOMENT ON" number where Fosse dances with Carol Haney and his style just burns up the stage. Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore shine in their gangster-hood roles and do a nice soft shoe as well. I cannot say enough good things about this entertaining play-within-a-play musical filled with great Cole Porter tunes.
I have bought this on both vhs and laser disc and sure wish that MGM would get off their proverbial butts and release this on DVD soon.

Should have included a Field Sequential 3-D version!
Not that many people are aware of the Field Field Sequential 3-D .
This is a 3-D TV system that uses special shutter glasses that can be purchased here through Amazon in a set that includes 3 DVD's using this process. This system Is the only way to view a 3-D film effectively on TV to date. The result is about 90% close to the effect you will see in a theatre showing.. like IMAX and Disney and Universal.
These glasses are made of sturdy plastic and clear not these cardboard red and blue pieces of garbage, so you can view the film without constricted to seeing red and blue colors and with this system you will see more actual 3-D depth with the films true colors.. It's really amazing!
For some add reason the big studios haven't adapted to include a separate version of a 3-D title in this great format.
Films like:
"House of Wax","Kiss Me Kate","Friday the 13th Part 3", "Robot Monster, "Cat Woman on the Moon", "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and "Jaws 3" are all now in 2-D DVD, but were originally shown in 3-D and could have been included using the Field Seqential 3-D system on the same disc with the 2-D version.
In Japan in the late 80's there were a few 3-D titles released using Field Sequential 3-D and can be found on e-bay converted to DVD and VHS.
Why aren't the studios producing these now!
I boycott any film DVD release that was originally intended to be seen in 3-D that's only presented in a 2-D version or anaglyph (Red and Blue Glasses).

The studios should really be awaken to this great 3-D system.

How to Win Back Your Wife
I write this review in honor of Howard Keel's 85th birthday.
"Kiss Me, Kate" is a lively, albeit dated musical with a slightly chauvenistic streak. It takes liberties with Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew", but is more fun than reading the actual play.
The estranged couple Fred Graham and Lilly Vanessi (Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson), have been divorced for a year at the time they take the lead roles in the Cole Porter musical. Based loosely on Alfred Lunt and his wife Lynn Fontaine, their behind-the-scenes bickering gets a little out of hand and occasionally, resulting in a well-defined lack of professional courtesy as they occassionally humiliate each other in full view of an audience.
But they also have their glorious moments, such as a reminiscence that leads to the number, "Wunderbar".As did their first number, "So In Love", this number reveals a certain wistfulness at their estrangement from each other at the end.
The subplot is the realationship between the play's secondary couple, Lois Lane(Ann Miller) and Bill Calhoun (Tommy Rall), a compulsive gambler who signs Fred Graham's name to an IOU.
The play begins. The number,"Another Opening, Another Show" is heard only as an instrumental piece beforehand. But the numbers, "We Open In Venice" and "Tom, Dick or Harry" kick the show off magnificently. As a big fan of the late Ann Miller's dance numbers,the latter is probably my favorite. As Gremio and Hortensio, Bobby Van and Bob Fosse thrill us with their trademark moves.
Keel sings a sumptuous ballad as his ex discovers that the flowers she thought were intended for her were intended for Lois. Through it all, Howard Keel is characteristically confident, uttering lines of unadulturated sarcasm as his ego occassionally gets the better of him. After being slapped by Lilly, he proves to be even more of a drama queen than any actress.Perhaps the sexiest scene in the film is when Graham removes the sausage links his ex-wife hides against her poitrine during one scne in the play.

Kathryn Grayson, with her porcelain skin and heart-shaped mouth, is a living Madame Alexander Doll in the part of Lilly/Kate. She is comically, firey and able to stand up to her ex-husband and to the thugs that he uses to keep her onstage(Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore) when she threatens to leave after Fred humiliates her. Lippy and Slug appear to collect they debt they believe Graham owes them, and while not althogether academically inclined, they display some knowledege of the Bard and his works, although they look ridiculous in their onstage costumes.
Willard Parks, as Tex Callahan offers Lilly a possible escape from her life in the theatre. But ultimately she is won back not by Fred's threats or humilation, but by the simple admission that he was wrong. While some may find the end to be disappointing, it should be remembered that it was Lilly who ultimately chose whether or not to give Fred a second chance, and Graham's beam of triumph and the twinkle in his eye at the end are worth more than any words-even those by the Bard himself-can say.

Keel is keen!
Grayson is good, but Howard Keel steals this show. He shines in the role of the egomaniacal stage ham. His voice and his presence are perfect for the role. Ann Miller and Tommy Rall provide all the dance moves you could ask for in a great musical. If you are a fan of musicals, this is a must for your collection. The DVD also provides some fun behind the scenes information. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Magic School Bus, The - Out of This World
This Video is about the space field trip to rescue the Earth from an asteroid collision, and kids are learning all about gravity and meteors. My kids loved this one very much. Strongly Recommended....

Star light, Star Bright...
This video about stars is a great introduction to our sun! The kids set out to "buy" a star. They encounter different age stars and learn how they are different and how they are the same. As always Ms. Frizzle takes all kids for an adventure they wont soon forget! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Just as Do the Right Thing was the capstone of Spike Lee's earlier career, Malcolm X marked the next milestone in the filmmaker's artistic maturity. It seemed everything Lee had done up to that point was to prepare him for this epic biography of America's fiery civil-rights leader, who is superbly played by Oscar-nominated Denzel Washington, from his early days as a zoot-suited hustler known as "Detroit Red" to his spiritual maturity after his pilgrimage to Mecca, as a Black Muslim by the name of El Hajj Malik El Shabazz. Do the Right Thing climaxed with the photographic images of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King engulfed by flames of rage; Malcolm X explores the genesis and evolution of that rage over Malcolm's lifetime, and how these two great figures--held up to the public as polar-opposites within the African American human rights movement (King for nonviolent civil disobedience, Malcolm for achieving equality "by any means necessary")--were each essential to the agenda of the other. Lee careens from the hedonistic ebullience of Malcolm's early days to the stark despair of prison, from his life-changing conversion to Islam to his emergence as a dynamic political leader--all with an epic sweep and vitality that illuminates personal details as well as political ideology. Angela Bassett is also terrific as Malcolm's wife, Betty Shabazz. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (72)

Awesome man, excellent tribute
Denzel Washington makes this little understood nearly mythical man breath. After studying the life of Malcolm X in a sociology of religion class, we watched this film to relax a bit. The script seems fairly accurate to history, and the imagery helps bring the conflict, drive and sincerity of Malcolm X to life.
In the movie, it becomes so obvious that Malcolm had just reached a kind of Buddhist nirvanna in his Islamic faith. Had he been allowed to live, his newly found spiritual insight gained from his pilgrimage to Mecca most likely would have helped to enlighten other Americans, Muslim or Christian, white or black. Malcolm appears on the verge of something even greater than he had previously been. Malcolm appears to be on the verge of becoming a national and perhaps even global spiritual and secular leader at the time of his death. Denzel makes more mourn the death of a man I never met. Inspiring, insightful. I'm grateful to Denzel and Spike for bringing me this "joint."

Excellent Biopic, One of the Best!
A sweeping biopic of an admirable man, who, while his ideas were wrong, had the will and the determination to defend his ideas and to say them publicly. A powerful film, with a sweeping force and excellent production values. While the film is extremely long (200+ min.), it is never boring ans always fascinating, it is divided in equally interesting stages; Malcolm's youth, prison time, his dedication to Elijah Muhammad, and the ultimate betrayal and death of Malcom X. A compelling study of a complicated, angry man, and whether you agree with his ideas or you don't, the movie remains a riveting biopic that is one of the best movies of the 90's. The reason the film works so well is mainly because of the performances and the assured direction by Lee. Not as incendeary or provocative as one would expect from a Spike Lee film, only the first and last few minutes are controversial. Denzel Washington delivers a powerful performance that ranks among his best. Also Angela Bassett is great in support. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 9!

Powerful...
...is the best way to describe Malcolm X, Denzel Washinton's greatest work in cinema so far. It tells the story of Malcolm X, the strong-willed black revolution leader whose ironic and powerful views differed very differently from Martin Luther Jr.
Denzel Washington gives an extraordinary performance, and with heart he shows the metamorphosis of Malcolm X, from hip young kid, to his life of crime days, to when he was a white-hating civil rights leader.
There are many other great performances in the film, and Spike Lee makes Malcolm X his best "joint" ever. You can feel that this is a Spike lee film, because it is a little strange and it swings from one mood to another. Spike lee also stars in the film, but as a minor character.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Malcolm X, and it ranks as one of the best film of the '90s. If you love Denzel Washington, you haven't seen him perform until you have seen him in Malcolm X.

BEST MOVIE EVER
Movies are never good as the book, but its good to see a visual. One thing I didn't like about the movie is the way they protrayed Elijah Mahammad.
This movie changed my life, for someone like me in High School that didn't like to read. lol It was becasue of this movie I joined the Nation Of Islam when I was 18. I figured I would go to the source, Malcom X just repeated what Elijah said, and look how great he became. Malocom X was so great, but always thought he would come back to the N.O.I....Give thanks to Malcom X our living Ancestor...

Definite classic
But... while this film marks Spike's high point as a director and one of Denzel's highest points as an actor (THIS is what he should've goitten the Oscar for, not Training Day, and it's criminal that Spike wasn't nominated.)
That being said, the film is overall excellent and historically accurate, even when it hurts, such as the corruption of the Nation of Islam. Two things, however, mar it: First, Freeman's Elijah sounded like he belonged in Kung Fu film; the real Elijah (there are tapes)didn't quite sound that Asian. Second, the ending just didn't fit. That was just Spike trying way too hard to say something that really didn't need to be said. The film could've ended at the assassination and been near perfect. The rest was attempted spin-doctoring.
DEFINITELY see this film. It's essential in understanding a lot of the early '60s political scene. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

from the golden age of Technicolor
Though this film has only a few scraps to offer in the way of scriptural accuracy, it is a visual delight, and one of the very best examples of the lush Technicolor of the mid 20th century, with its deep cobalt blues and incredibly rich reds. The cinematography by Leon Shamroy, along with the massive sets and luxurious costumes (all three were Oscar nominated but lost out to "An American in Paris") make this a fabulous "sword and sandals" epic; it also boasts a dramatic score by Alfred Newman, and one of my favorite dance sequences on film, by the brilliant Jack Cole. One had to be very strong and athletic to do his choreography, and the dancer in this number is the great Gwen Verdon.

Gregory Peck is handsome beyond words as King David, and it's always a pleasure to listen to his resonant voice; his recitation of the 23rd psalm, and his prayer at the Ark of the Covenant, are memorable scenes. In this film David is a pale reflection of the Bible character, this story being more about a big Hollywood romance, and the trouble it gets him in along with his partner in sin Bathsheba, played by the stunning Susan Hayward, who maintains her tiny waistline even though she is supposed to be "with child".
Directed by Henry King, the script and score were also Oscar nominated but lost to "A Place in the Sun".
For a film that is faithful to scripture, see the excellent TV production starring Nathaniel Parker, but for simply lavish entertainment, vibrant color and a gorgeous cast, this film is a classic well worth viewing. Total running time is 1 hour and 55 minutes.

SIN AND REDEMPTION...
This is the story of the love between David (Gregory Peck), King of Israel, and Bathsheba (Susan Hayward). It is a love that is doomed from the start, because she is the wife of one of David's army captains, Uriah (Kieron Moore).

David, uncharacteristically, wants Bathsheba at any cost. His is a passion that will not be denied. When she capitulates, it is to have great ramifications for all the parties involved. When their transgression and the lengths to which David went to secure Bathsheba for himself become known, it is Bathseheba who may pay the ultimate price in order to expiate their sin.

Gregory Peck seems ill at ease in this role and a bit stiff, though he revives at the end in order to quell God's wrath. Susan Hayward is beautiful, but she and Peck seem to lack chemistry. Jayne Meadows plays David's first wife, and she is very effective in the role of the woman scorned. Raymond Massey is excellent in the role of the prophet, Nathan, who calls David to judgment for his sin. It is Kieron Moore, however, who plays the role of the David's faithful captain, Bathsheba's cuckolded first husband, who steals the show.

This 1951 film, which received three Academy Award nominations, is a biblical epic that, despite some of its shortcomings, still manages to entertain the viewer.

Regal!
I do not understand (nor comprehend) why so many people think that this movie, i.e., David and Bathsheba VHS ~ Gregory Peck does not deserve more then two or three stars at best. In my opinion Mr. Peck plays with a sense of dedication, fortitude and resolve that (is rarely seen) and is only displayed by the true actors of our time, e.g., Kirk Douglas, Humphrey Bogart, Charlton Heston, Clint Eastwood et al. The story line is very well developed with a story that has intricate stops and turns; and one cannot predict or foresee how this movie will end. The most powerful scene in the movie is at the end when Gregory Pecks character is near the Arc of The Covenant and this is a very intense scene when one anticipates the wrath of God for David's sins. As for the costumes and the music; well, the former is better then the latter and the costumes can be said to have been done with a meticulous, careful and precise hand in order for the movie to be as authentic, real and genuine as possible. All in all, I would have to say that I think and consider this movie to be one of those great movies and that it will be viewed by many generations to come.

It's pretty good and watchable
If you want to see a movie with great acting in it, this is it, as Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward try to find redemption and hope in dark times.They really don;t make movies like this anymore and that;s a shame.

It Was Pretty Good Despite What Others Say...
I recently caught this when it was on cable at 3am. Unable to sleep at that time, I put the tv on just as the opening credits came on. As soon as I saw Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward's names I knew I had to watch it. It was a good story with great acting & I was glued to the set. Sadly, if this story were made today it wouldn't be anywhere near as good & would be panned by critics. If only there were actors of the caliber of Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward today. This is a movie I would gladly watch again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Behaving as if it hadn't already been immortalized in Judges, chapters 13-16, Cecil B. DeMille immortalized history's most famous haircut all over again in this 1949 classic of the Epic Saga genre. Victor Mature is a trifle bovine as Samson--which perhaps isn't so inappropriate--but Hedy Lamarr's Delilah is a magnet on fire. Impossibly perfect and sexy, she sashays through the movie in a whole wardrobe of revealing halter tops, bending the men like blades of grass. These days it's hard to enjoy a DeMille film without condescension: from Samson's fight with a lion that might well be stuffed, to the famous collapsing-temple scene, we are constantly aware of how far movies have come, and the Philistines parade around in costumes that won an Oscar but can only remind the modern viewer of Klingon cocktail parties. But in so many other ways this is very classy filmmaking. DeMille takes considerable liberties with the biblical story to come up with a sort of Ur-narrative of love, betrayal, and remorse that you can swallow very nicely with or without its religious ingredient. Best exchange: Lamarr--"You killed him with... your hands. Oh, Samson!" (Jumps on Mature's back.) Mature--"Hey! One cat at a time!" Also stars George Sanders, a very youthful (and miscast) Angela Lansbury, and impassioned music by Victor Young. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (18)

AN EPIC OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS!
One of the greatest films ever made, "Samson and Delilah" stands out as a crowning achievement in Biblical epics, the trademark of legendary director Cecil B. DeMille. The story of Samson, the strongest of men, felled by the temptress Delilah is brought to the screen in majesty and splendor. Victor Mature is wonderful in his role as Samson, bringing a sense of humor and humanity to the role. Hedy Lamarr nearly overwhelms the brilliant Technicolor with her ravishing beauty as Delilah, sleek and seductive. As Delilah's sister, Angela Lansbury fares well in her brief role as do George Sanders (as a subtle ruler of the Philistines) and Henry Wilcoxon (as a military governor). And the actors are only one ornament to the production. The art direction is masterful and incredible. And the costumes... such gorgeous opulence and splendor were never seen since, sometimes almost stealing the scenes from the actors. Both categories won 1949 Academy Awards, giving Oscar's gilt to this classic. The film is immensely entertaining and superbly directed with reverence to the sacred texts by DeMille (at 128 minutes, dramatically shorter than DeMille's "Ten Commandments". But the special effects are one of the best reasons to see the film: Mature's three-minute fight with a lion, to the unbelievabe climatic scene in which Mature pulls down a temple of stone. A classic all the way through, "Samson and Delilah" is a film that you will never tire of, and always want to see again and again...I now quote the film's final words: "Men will tell his story for a thousand years." And if it lasts that long, men will watch this movie for a thousand years.

Correcting an error in the Amazon review
Yeah, I give the film "four stars" but my main reason for submitting is to set the record straight. Angela Lansbury did not play Samson's sister; she played "Semadar", sister to Delilah and betrothed of Samson. Her accidental death at the hands of one of the Philistine wedding party sends Samson in a murderous rage, setting the stage for Delilah's emergence as a treacherous romantic interest.

yes, groucho, vic's chest is bigger than heddys!
when the inimitable groucho marx was asked if he was going to attend the premiere of this movie, he responded that he refused to go to any movie where the hero had a bigger chest than the leading lady!

they dont make them like this anymore, which is a good thing!

Great Hollywood Biblical Epic
I have always loved this movie since I was a kid. I want to purchase this movie but I prefer to wait until it is released on DVD. Why isn't this movie on DVD? There is no excuse. DVD has been out for a long time now. PLEASE PUT THIS MOVIE OUT ON DVD!!!

why 2 tapes?
I like this movie. Wish it were on DVD. But why is it on 2 tapes? The movie only runs 128 minutes! Why did they divide it? I have movies that run MUCH longer on a single tape. Strange. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Impressive Work by Steve Buscemi
Steve Buscemi has long been one of the premiere character actors in the business; his resume reads like a veritable Who's Who of interesting, complex characters who run the gamut from psycho hit-man to regular guy, all of whom he has brought vividly to life in film after film. And whether or not a particular project is a hit or a flop, Buscemi is always good, and can always be counted upon to add that extra something to any given film, as he has in "Trees Lounge," an affecting drama he not only stars in, but with which he makes his debut as a writer/director-- and an impressive debut it is.

Tommy Basilio (Buscemi) is an out-of-work mechanic who lives alone above a bar called Trees Lounge in Long Island, N.Y. He's more than a bit down on his luck; not only did he lose his job, but his pregnant girlfriend of eight years, Theresa (Elizabeth Bracco) recently dumped him for his former boss, Rob (Anthony LaPaglia). He wants to pick himself up and get his life back together, but he doesn't seem to know where to start, and the garages to which he's applied for work aren't exactly knocking his door down to hire him. So he gravitates to the Trees, where he can at least interact with others who seem to be in situations not entirely unlike his own, though at different stages and for different reasons. But they all have one thing in common-- they're people just trying to get through the day; they're trying to get through life. If they can only figure it all out.

With this film, Buscemi proves that he is more than just a talented actor, but rather a true artist in every sense of the word, with his chosen medium being film. He has an eye for detail which complements his insights into human nature and enables him to effectively translate his material to the screen. His characters are finely drawn and complex, and with each and every one he manages to successfully avoid the stereotypes to which a setting like this could easily lend itself (and no doubt would, in lesser hands). Even with the minor characters, he succinctly gives you enough of who they are that it allows you to see beneath the surface and know what makes them tick. And he does it imaginatively-- by filling a room with photographs or items that reflect who a certain person is, for example, or simply by training his camera on someone's face and allowing that extra beat that affords the viewer a telling glimpse of what's hiding behind a character's eyes. Buscemi has an innate sense of knowing how to convey what he's trying to say, and he does it in a million small and different ways that are subtle and incisive. Simply put, he knows what works-- including how to get what he wants out of his actors-- and he presents it all with a pace and timing that are right on the mark.

In Tommy, Buscemi creates a character to whom many will be able to relate and identify on any number of different levels. To say that Tommy is a "loser" would be too much of a simplification, because the character is too complex for that tag alone to be accurate. Tommy is blue-collar, down on his luck, and like so many people in real life, just can't seem to put it all together, can't figure out how "life" is supposed to work. And that's what Buscemi conveys so subtly and so well, and it's the key to the success of this character-- it's what makes Tommy believable and real. Obviously, Buscemi knew exactly what he wanted when he wrote this character, and he puts it across with a brilliant, memorable performance which also demonstrates his ability to star in and carry a movie on his own. Certainly, he has a wonderful supporting cast that gives him plenty of help, but few character actors have ever been able to step into a lead role with such facility and achieve the level of success Buscemi has here. And it's work that deserves to be acknowledged.

There are a number of notable supporting performances in this film, as well, beginning with Mark Boone Junior, who as Mike captures the essence of a guy who is successful, but a loser nonetheless; LaPaglia, who gives a solid performance as Rob; Bracco, with a performance that is introspectively revealing; Debi Mazar, who with very little screen time leaves an indelible impression (and her eyes are absolutely mesmerizing); Kevin Corrigan (another of the finest character actors around), as Matthew; and especially Chloe Sevigny, as Debbie, Theresa's mature-beyond-her-years, seventeen-year-old niece.

Rounding out the ensemble cast are Carol Kane (Connie), Bronson Dudley (Bill), Michael Buscemi (Steve's real life brother, playing Tommy's brother, Raymond), Suzanne Shepherd (Jackie), Rockets Redglare (Stan), Seymour Cassel (Uncle Al), Annette Arnold (Sandy), Michael Imperioli (George), Mimi Rogers (Patty), Daniel Baldwin (Jerry) and Charles Newmark (Puck). An involving story presented with a rich assortment of memorable, convincing characters, "Trees Lounge" is a drama about life-- about the things going on in your own neighborhood, or downtown or two streets over, no matter where you are in the world. Wherever people are, there are situations like the ones depicted in this film, problems that have to be solved and life that has to be lived. And that's what makes this film so good; it gives the audience a chance to connect with, or at least examine, things that anyone anywhere will be able to recognize. It may have taken a collaborative effort to make this one what it is, but in the end, it's Buscemi's film from start to finish, and a satisfying little gem of a movie it is. And that's the magic of the movies.

Funny, sad portrait of a man slipping away
Steve Buscemi is one of our absolute finest character actors, but in Trees Lounge he gets a chance to direct himself in a starring role. The result is an excellent movie that doesn't seem to have gotten the attention it deserves.

Buscemi's character is a loser: he's been fired from his job as a mechanic, his long-time girlfriend left him for his best friend, and he spends much of his time as a regular at the local bar, the Trees Lounge. A loser, to be sure, but also a basically decent guy. A funny guy with a quick wit, living in a dead-end, blue-collar Long Island suburb, surrounded by friends and relatives with little vision beyond their dead-end lives.

We watch as this loser tries to do the right thing, but just can't get it right. At one point, he apparently succumbs to a certain temptation, but when confronted about it, he insists that "nothing happened!". We believe him, we even feel sorry for him, but we also recognize the inveitability of the outcome, for he has squandered whatever goodwill he still had coming to him.

The final scene is haunting in the way it echoes the opening scene. Sometimes funny, usually bittersweet, Trees Lounge is a very good character study. As a portrayal of alcoholism, it also makes a fine, understated companion piece to Barfly, its more famous, self-conscious, and, in my opinion, inferior predecessor.

"The ice cubes are too heavy."
Steve Buscemi wrote, directed and stars in "Trees Lounge" He plays Tommy, an unemployed mechanic who lives above a bar, and in fact he spends most of his waking life in the bar, hanging out with the other regulars. Tommy is a lost soul, but he doesn't seem to grasp that fact. He's about to face the middle-age existence of a total loser, and he doesn't know how he got to that point or how he can get himself out of it. He yearns for his past romance to former girlfriend, Theresa (Elizabeth Bracco) who's now married to Tommy's ex-boss (Anthony LaPaglia.) Tommy doesn't really want Theresa back--it's more that he wants that period of his life back. Tommy's lack of direction put the nail in the coffin for his relationship with Theresa, but now that he's facing his 40s, he really looks pathetic. It's no wonder that only a naive 17-year-old girl falls for his tarnished charm.

The cast is loaded by supporting talent--Carol Kane is the long-suffering bartender at Trees Lounge, and there's Uncle Al (Seymour Cassel). Uncle Al is a great character, and Uncle Al is exactly what Tommy will become--somewhat shady but always guaranteed to be viewed as the amusing family scallywag at all gatherings. When Al dies, Tommy uses Uncle Al's ice cream van and takes his place at the wheel. But even this relatively harmless employment leads Tommy into more trouble. Buscemi is right at home in the role of Tommy. We all know people like Tommy, and Buscemi's wonderful script and superb acting breathes life into a character who could all too easily be played as a stereotype--displacedhuman

Where Everybody Knows Your Name
A BIG little film by writer/director/star Steve Buscemi helped by a healthy cast and witty script, TREES LOUNGE is the indie version of CHEERS to a certain degree. A good character study with Buscemi as Tommy, an umemployed car mechanic dealing with his mistakes( past and present) and drowning his sorrows at a local hole-in-the-wall bar. Buscemi's performance is low key yet full of life as the well-meaning lovable misfit who loses his job, girlfriend, an Uncle and gets involved (innocently platonical) with his 17 year old niece, Debbie (Chloë Sevigny). He puts his life together somewhat as he takes over his dead Uncle's Ice Cream Truck business but trouble abounds as he takes on Debbie as an "assistant". There is an intertwined sideplot with fellow barfly Mike (Mark Boone, Jr.)who has just moved out from the city into the Long Island suburbs with his family. He is a bored furniture moving contractor who has ended up "running his business" from the bar much to the dismay of his wife. Some excellent support roles especially Carol Kane as barmaid Connie and some short but weighty cameos from Mimi Rogers, and Samuel Jackson, Debi Mezar, Anthony LaPaglia,Daniel Baldwin, and Seymore Cassel and some great Long Island location shots makes TREES LOUNGE a fun and interesting movie to watch for its characters as the movie doesn't resolve and sugercoat problems, but somehow gives a good portrait of well meaning but empty lives of an existing population in anywhere U.S.A.

It's as though you climbed into an Edward Hopper painting.
"Trees Lounge" is a well made, dark movie about a man in the suburban NY area played by Steve Buscemi who is deeply alienated and is in the process of falling apart, one of Marx's lumpenproletariat. It's very affecting, and I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

If Franz Kafka had been an animator and film director--oh, and a member of Monty Python's Flying Circus--this is the sort of outrageously dystopian satire one could easily imagine him making. However, Brazil was made by Terry Gilliam, who is all of the above except, of course, Franz Kafka. Be that as it may, Gilliam sure captures the paranoid-subversive spirit of Kafka's The Trial (along with his own Python animation) in this bureaucratic nightmare-comedy about a meek governmental clerk named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. Not a software bug, a real bug (no doubt related to Kafka's famous Metamorphosis insect) that gets smooshed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr. Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro).When Sam becomes enmeshed in unraveling this bureaucratic glitch, he himself winds up labeled as a miscreant.

The movie presents such an unrelentingly imaginative and savage vision of 20th-century bureaucracy that it almost became a victim of small-minded studio management itself--until Gilliam surreptitiously screened his cut for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, who named it the best movie of 1985 and virtually embarrassed Universal into releasing it. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (302)

the definitive look at this masterpiece
Brazil is, arguably, Terry Gilliam's crowning achievement. Originally called 1984 1/2, this film was embroiled in an infamous battle to be distributed. The studio didn't like Gilliam's version and cut together one of their own. Gilliam went to the press and got the L.A. critics behind his movie and finally shamed the studio into releasing his version.

Criterion's 3-DVD set documents the struggle Gilliam went through to get his film shown. Disc One contains his cut of the film with an informative and entertaining commentary by the director. The second DVD contains the bulk of the extra material. Not only is Gilliam's struggle documented but also various aspects of the production are examined -- including the screenplay, costumes, art direction, etc. The final disc contains the studio's ....py cut with a film historian's audio commentary documenting why this version sucks.

Once again, Criterion comes through with an exhaustive look at an important film of modern cinema. Brazil is a brilliant satire of a dystopian society run amok by pointless bureaucracy. Anyone who has worked a souless job in an office will immediately empathise with the protagonist's plight. Like any great work of science fiction, Brazil offers more questions than answers -- not everything is wrapped up neatly, instead the viewer is left questioning certain aspects of our modern society. Great stuff.

Great movie about dreams and hope
Brazil, despite the science fiction, social commentary and surrealism, is at it's core a film about a man who trapped by the mundanity of life, imagines himself in a more fantastic world.

Jonathan Pryce stars as a tiny unimportant member of a vast hyper-capitalistic society. Life is cold and dreary for everyone. All his spare time is spent dreaming of magical romantic worlds and the beautiful woman who lives there. One day, a simple beaucratic mistake causes a monumental disaster. Not that anyone cares... they just don't want to be blamed. Sent to solve the problem, or maybe to be a scapegoat, Pryce accidentally meets the literal woman of his dreams. As he pursues her, he brings suspicion on himself of being a terrorist (the scourge of the government), and his dreams begin to invade his waking thoughts.

A suprising list of talent lend themselves to the film and is written, minus Kafka and Orwell themes, by Monty Python's Terry Gilliam so expect some obvious humor and much biting satire throughout. Depressing and magical without losing it's hope, any person who can identify with the main character should find themselves entranced.

Despite being made in 1985 the special effects prove to be suprisingly effective (although easily noticed). I personally think this movie is the second best Science Fiction film, 2001 being first, and the best 1984 type movie ever made.

Much loved, but I never got it ...
This is a cult classic, but I find it over-rated. It delivers the zaniness, surreality and crazy camera work, but the film has no interest in its characters -- you'll feel nothing for them, and for me that leaves a big hole in the center of the movie.

For a movie with a similar feel but considerably more heart, try Barton Fink instead. Or even Amelie.

Boring
This movie is really disappointing and boring.

a bizzare and frightening film
If you enjoy futuristic Sci-Films then I would heartily reccomend this, as it presents a number of interesting and imaginative concepts.
The setting is the far future.The world is a polluted wasteland. A strange network of wires covers the ceiling of every room.
A corporation-government, Central Services, controls all trade enterprises. Any who indulge in the businesses they control (which are almost everything) without the proper paperwork are labeled terrorists. So, unfortunately, are those who criticize Central Services' inane policies.
Their Cops, clad in spacesuits that look like they came straight out of David Lynch's adapatation of "DUNE", frequently capture these "terrorists" to be interrogated, tortured, and/or executed with bizarre devices.
The "food" eaten by the characters in this film is premasticated garbage, into which are stuck pictures of what the characters believe they are eating.
The rich and powerful under Central Services rule get daily facelifts and parties,
and they strike the viewer as stupid and frightening.
The plot of the film concerns a daydreaming young paper-pusher (Jonathan Pryce) for Central Services' Ministry of Information who discovers a glitch in some paperwork that led to the wrongful arrest and unfortunate execution of Archibald Tuttle, who was mistaken for Archibald "Harry" Tuttle (Robert DeNiro), who has fallen out with the law because of his entrepeneurial fix-it man services.
Soon, a truck-drivin' gal(Kim Greist) who witnessed Archibald Buttle's wrongful arrest pleads for his release to the Ministry of Information, who label her a terrorist.
Later, The young MOI employee notices her picture in the lobby of his workplace, and decides to pursue her. He saves her from being arrested, and, in doing so, is labeled an enemy of society, which eventually leads to his tragic end at the hands of his friends(Ian Holm and John Palin).
This frightening look at the evils of technology, corporations,wrongful arrests, and totalitarian governments is not to be missed by any except the very young(if it gave ME nightmares, imagine the effect it would have on a seven-year old boy!) . ... Read more

Amazon.com

Robert Redford's underrated directorial follow-up to his Academy Award-winning Ordinary People, The Milagro Beanfield War is a loose and whimsical fable about community pride and social activism in the face of modern progress. Sonia Braga (Kiss of the Spider Woman) plays a local mechanic in a small New Mexico town who takes up the challenge of rallying support for a local farmer who uses water owned by a real estate developer to grow beans in his field. Everything escalates to a showdown between the townspeople and the developers, with unexpected results. The strongest aspect of the film is the way it doesn't take itself too seriously, with Redford adopting a leisurely tone and allowing his fine cast (including Ruben Blades as the pragmatic town sheriff and Christopher Walken as a nasty state police officer) to deliver finely nuanced performances that touch on themes of faith and perseverance without seeming heavy-handed. The Milagro Beanfield War is an overlooked gem. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (29)

UNHERALDED BUT WELL WORTH A WATCH
After his well-known, Academy Award-winning success with ORDINARY PEOPLE, Robert Redford directed the unheralded MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR, a tale that speaks of the importance of the basics of life versus the onset of supposed progress, materialism and pride.

A small farmer makes the mistake of using water that isn't his to use in order to cultivate a parched and unproductive beanfield. Sonia Braga (STREETS OF LAREDO) stars as a mechanic in the farmer's New Mexico pueblo who supports the farmer and joins the "war" against the real estate developer who cares about nothing but himself and his profits. Ultimately the townspeople and the developers square off. You'll love the "hombre angel" that keeps popping up.

Enchantingly written THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR is a wonderful film. Frankly, I'm surprised that it doesn't have a stronger following. A great cast includes Ruben Blades as the sheriff and Christopher Walken as a corrupt state police officer.

It's high time for this one to be released on DVD.

THE HORSEMAN

An ode to New Mexico, and a sweet fable
Only the townspeople, in tune with the land and the spirit of New Mexico, can hear the coyote angel's playing music. Because you can hear it too, you feel special.
This is a superb feel-good movie (although having seen the movie dozens of times, I still am not quite sure-- in the end, does he die or doesn't he?? he does walk off with the angel who says in Spanish "Let's take a shortcut to where they are playing the music!")
The soundtrack, the scenery, the actors' portrayal of New Mexicans transport you there. Drive through Espanola and Truchas the next time you are in the Santa Fe area, and you will see, it feels in person just as it appears on the movie. You can stay very quiet and almost, but not quite--(we are not native townsfolk!)--hear the magical accordion.
Note: the Migration CD by Dave Grusin has, along with other selections, VERSIONS of the music on the soundtrack, beautiful, but not exactly the same. I want the exact renditions! and I want a DVD too!

best movie not on dvd
come on redford, please release Milagro to dvd. this is the finest movie most folks have never seen. it surely deserves a wider audience. i would advise all to see the movie, even if you have to buy it on vhs. funny, smart, honest, compelling, good performances from a fine cast and kudoos to redford for this fine effort.

Beautiful, Magical Film
Beautiful film from (then very fresh) director Robert Redford. This film depicts the epic struggle between good and evil with some very nice twists. Excellent roles that were handled well by Ruben Blades, Sonia Braga, James Gammon, and a host of many other great characters that were depicted quite well. Chris Walken presents to us the governmental enforcer to a sheer tee. Richard Bradford (joined by Melanie Griffith) also gives us the perfect "fat cat" & (his) band of bad guys that are trying to hoard an already conspicuous pipeline of water through a dry valley near the Mexican border when one of the (near povertied) residents of Milagro makes a grave, yet somehow worthy mistake.
Milagro is a community inhabited by crazy townfolk, idealistic views, & even a familiar face (Freddy Fender) as town mayor. Get ready for ghosts, legends, and an inspiring story and cast that will keep you smiling, thinking, and loving this film for many years to come!
*A grammy won that year for the haunting soundtrack was also quite well deserved.

Waiting for DVD
A great movie. I am waiting for the DVD to come out with some interesting extras. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Generally acknowledged as a bona fide classic, this Francis Ford Coppola film is one of those rare experiences that feels perfectly right from beginning to end--almost as if everyone involved had been born to participate in it. Based on Mario Puzo's bestselling novel about a Mafia dynasty, Coppola's Godfather extracted and enhanced the most universal themes of immigrant experience in America: the plotting-out of hopes and dreams for one's successors, the raising of children to carry on the good work, etc. In the midst of generational strife during the Vietnam years, the film somehow struck a chord with a nation fascinated by the metamorphosis of a rebellious son (Al Pacino) into the keeper of his father's dream. Marlon Brando played against Puzo's own conception of patriarch Vito Corleone, and time has certainly proven the actor correct. The rest of the cast, particularly James Caan, John Cazale, and Robert Duvall as the rest of Vito's male brood--all coping with how to take the mantle of responsibility from their father--is seamless and wonderful. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (179)

I'll Write A Review You Can't Refuse
Francis Ford Coppola does something with this movie many filmmakers are unable to do. Coppola makes us feel as if we're part of the"FAMILY". We feel as if were behind the scenes watching the Corleone's up's and down's. A one of a kind screenplay written by Mario Puzo and Coppola,and as we all should know by now,the film the based on Puzo's novel. Truly desevering of the Oscars in won. Brando's performance in this movie,is in my opinion,the best of his career. And the same goes with the rest of the cast:Al Pacino,Diane Keaton,James Caan,Robert Duvall,and Talia Shire. Everyone in this movie delivers a powerhouse performances. Many unforgettable lines and characters that will stay with us forever. Terrific music score by Nino Rota,beautiful camerawork by Gordon Willis,and top notch directing Coppola. Truly one of the greatest films ever made! If there's anyone who hasn't seen this movie,you have no idea what your missing. A must for anyone's video collection.

The Greatest Movie of All Time.
A movie of such size, influence, and power as "The Godfather" isn't simply a movie. It's a life-altering experience. Francis Ford Coppola, barely into his thirties, would team up with author Mario Puzo to create the greatest period gangster epic whose influence remains incalculable. It all begins with the performances. Take a look at the opening scene, in which the undertaker Bonasera comes to Vito (Marlon Brando) for "justice" following the brutal assault of his daughter. That scene is brilliantly played and wonderfully directed, and Brando's portrayal as the Don is nothing short of perfect. The public perception of a Don of this magnitude is someone who is loud, brash, and emotional. Not this one. Brando's Vito is calm, soft spoken, and rarely raises his voice, which makes his character even more intimidating. But while Brando shines in this film, the heart of the movie (and indeed the entire trilogy) belongs to the then-newcomer Al Pacino, who playes Vito's youngest son, Michael. Michael's transformation from a mild-mannered college grad to a ruthless Mafia thug is one of the greatest performances you will see. James Caan as the hotheaded Sonny, John Cazale as the dim Fredo, the suave Robert DuVall as attorney Tom Hagen, and Talia Shire as the troubled newlywed Connie all shine in their supporting roles. Reviewing a movie like "The Godfather" is a bit overwhelming, as it has already been studied by other, more experienced film geeks. But if there's one movie you see in your lifetime, it has to be this verified, straight-up classic. Give three hours of your life to this movie, and what it will give in return will reward you richly.

LOUSY TRANSFER OF A CLASSIC
I can only add my voice to the many who were disappointed by the DVD transfer. How can you mess up one of the best movies of the last half century? Looks very grainy in some indoor scenes...in fact, some scenes looked like they were filmed with an old, cheap video camera. That said, the story, acting, editing and music are just about perfect. The only thing that rings false is the carelessness the family exhibits after Don Corleone's attack. They act a bit like amateurs. This begs for a DO-OVER (maybe they're waiting for another anniversary year to roll around to release a definitive edition). I refuse to buy the box set as it includes the inferior Part 3. Hopefully, when they release Part 2, they pay more attention to the quality of the transfer.

"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."
I never saw the movie before because I have no interest in "the Mob", New York, or gang politics. It took Brando's death, plus all the great reviews here and the #1 ranking at IMDB to prompt me to get this movie to add to 400 movies I have. The only thing I knew about it going in was there was a horse head in a bed, and Brando mumbled and played with a cat.

The movie has a long list of big name actors including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall, and was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It seems to be filmed rather darkly with muted colors, though many posts here complain about the transfer.

I had big expectations for this movie, but at the one-hour mark I was so bored I turned it off. Later I started over with the commentary, which was a bit more interesting. I took a nap in the middle, then came back to finish this 3-hour exercise in tedium.

Mostly OK acting. Good photography. Famous theme. I liked 2 lines of dialog, but that's about it.

Okay, but not great. Poor DVD Transfer.
I have just viewed this movie for the first time, and for the life of me, I don't know what all the hype has been about. The acting is at most, mediocre (with some roles just downright poorly acted). The plot seems to come and go throughout the movie, and the violence is by today's standards very cheesy. I also kept wondering how Marlon Brando's char