Amazon.com

Clark Gesner's musicalization of Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" comic strips was a hit off-Broadway in 1967 and on Broadway in 1999. This video presents 49 minutes of the show, combining the familiar look of "Peanuts" animated television specials with Gesner's charming skits and songs, including the title tune, Snoopy's ode to eating "Suppertime," the Beethoven adaptation "Schroeder," the baseball yarn "T-E-A-M," and the sweet-as-a-warm-puppy anthem "Happiness." It should be noted that Gesner's clever score, while inspired by the actual strips, is aimed at a slightly older viewing audience than are most "Peanuts" videos, and that these young voices occasionally strain to keep up with its demands. Still, it's solid entertainment, and for anyone who performed the show in school and wishes there were a stage performance recorded on video, this is the next best thing. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (12)

CHARLIE BROWN IS GREAT FOR ALL AGES!!!!!
When I was little I loved watching Your a good man Charlie Brown. I loved listening to the music like "The Kite" Which I learned in 4th grade. All my friends and I did was sing songs from "charlie brown." Whenever you dont feel good about yourself you can refer to Charlie the boy who was most of the time miserable and who had a huge crush on the red hair girl. Sometimes if you think that a boy/girl doen't like you, you can see poor Charlie who know one likes him. HE IS A WONDERFUL CHARACTER LOL

You're a cood man Charlie Brown
A wonderfull musical treat.The songs are witty and imaginative
with a big dose of just plain fun!
The "book report on Peter Rabbit" just makes my day and I'll never hear Home-on-the-Range the same again

Love it.
You are a good man, charlie Brown, is the best peanuts show I've ever seen. It is also a great musical.

It's a great musical, Charlie Brown!
I've loved this Peanuts special from the minute I saw it. I own the CD soundtrack from the 60's play (with Gary Burghoff from "M*A*S*H* as Charlie Brown). I used to sing with the songs all the time. The highlights are the main title, and anything done by Snoopy. "Queen Lucy" and "Oh Give Me a Home" are funny points. All in all, this is one of the best Peanuts cartoons that have ever been made.

We love Charlie Brown
This video is cute. I have a record from the 60's with the show. One or two of the main songs seem to be missing but the animation is cute. My daughter loves it and she is 5. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ever spend eight hours in a "Productivity Bin"? Ever had worries about layoffs? Ever had the urge to demolish a temperamental printer or fax machine? Ever had to endure a smarmy, condescending boss? Then Office Space should hit pretty close to home for you. Peter (Ron Livingston) spends the day doing stupefyingly dull computer work in a cubicle. He goes home to an apartment sparsely furnished by IKEA and Target, then starts for a maddening commute to work again in the morning. His coworkers in the cube farm are an annoying lot, his boss is a snide, patronizing jerk, and his days are consumed with tedium. In desperation, he turns to career hypnotherapy, but when his hypno-induced relaxation takes hold, there's no shutting it off. Layoffs are in the air at his corporation, and with two coworkers (both of whom are slated for the chute) he devises a scheme to skim funds from company accounts. The scheme soon snowballs, however, throwing the three into a panic until the unexpected happens and saves the day. Director Mike Judge has come up with a spot-on look at work in corporate America circa 1999. With well-drawn characters and situations instantly familiar to the white-collar milieu, he captures the joylessness of many a cube denizen's work life to a T. Jennifer Aniston plays Peter's love interest, a waitress at Chotchkie's, a generic beer-and-burger joint à la Chili's, and Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show) has a minor but hilarious turn as Peter's mustached, long-haired, drywall-installin' neighbor. --Jerry Renshaw ... Read more

Reviews (493)

Way underrated
Anyone who has ever worked in corporate America will relate to this hilarious gem.
It is low key as opposed to slapstick comedy. I think the movie was well cast about a cube dweller who had enough and basically quits working and gets a promotion to upper management while his hard working and dedicated buddies get slated for layoffs by "The Bob's" two management consultants.
Ron Livingston does a great job as Pete Gibbons, and Ajay Naidu as "Samir Nu, ne, nunu, uh nnn ,not work here anymore" David Herman as Micheal-why should I change - Bolton.
The boss Lundbergh is played perfectly deadpan by Gary Cole, and I think there is a Tom Smykowski and Milton Waddams in every organization. Lets not forget the "Bob's" I knew two idiot consultants just like them.
Office Space has it all, from stupid meetings, CI programs, and of course the infamous TPS reports - "didn't you get the memo about the new cover sheets?"
I could not stop laughing through the whole thing.

Well worth the price of the DVD, even though the transfer was only fair.

Hiliariously Close to the Truth
Though the situations and characters in Office Space are certainly larger than life, they are not that far from the truth--to which those of us in the corporate world will readily attest. That's what makes the movie so delightfully funny: seeing characters on screen act out (without much exaggeration) the trials and tribulations of today's desk-bound workforce.

The plot of the movie itself is somewhat secondary to its entertainment value. Basically, the main character (Ron Livingston) isn't happy with his job; having been asked once by his high school guidance counselor to picture what he'd do without being paid and consider that his ideal job, he responded that he's like to sit around and do nothing. The rest of the main plot centers on his attempt to get his life back on track, from discovering a love interest in a local waitress (Jennifer Anniston) also unhappy with her job to plotting revenge on his company for firing his friends.

Quickly one sees exactly why the characters are so unhappy with their jobs: a clueless, paper-shuffling boss who speaks in total monotone; inane office regulations requiring more time spent on reports than on real work; faulty office equipment; and so on. Carefully crafted to represent archetypes we all know from our own office experiences, the characters and their attempts to break free of the 9-to-5 drudgery are absolutely hilarious.

You don't have to be a computer programmer or engineer to enjoy this film--all you need is to have worked somewhere once in your life that was far from the ideal environment. Watch this film and enjoy a laugh at schmucks who have it ten times worse than you ever have!

THE comedy movie to see from the late 90s
If you see one comedy from the late 90s, see this one! The cast is great, and the story is better. The only person I know who didn't like this movie just doesn't understand the modern industrial/metroplitan environment. Driving to work in Silicon Valley REALLY IS THIS BAD, and if your definition of heavy traffic is going 15-20 mph on the freeway, you might not appreciate this film.

Dilbert's got it easy!
OFFICE SPACE either suffered from bad marketing or poor distribution because I had never heard of it nor did many of my movie-going friends. When I saw it on cable, I kept asking myself, "Where did this come from?" While the film occasionally breaks down in predictable sequences and cheap shots, it really does hold together remarkably well. This is one of the better written, directed and acted comedies in a long time. Even though the late 90's office world it illustrates is long gone, muddle-headed supervisors, know-nothing consultants, and very weird office workers are not. Enjoy this movie!

A MODERN CULT CLASSIC
Having seen and enjoyed bits and pieces of this movie countless times on cable (usually on Comedy Central) over the last couple of years, I finally broke down and purchased it to add to my DVD collection. Smart move on my part. Now that I've seen the entire movie from start to finish, it makes a lot more sense now (I'd never seen the hypnotism scene). It has all the makings of a modern cult classic. How do I know? Because every time I roll across it on cable I usually wind up watching the balance of the film and enjoying it all over again. Having 2 Geto Boys songs on the soundtrack and co-starring Jennifer Aniston doesn't hurt either. Damn it feels good to be a gangsta. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Beverly Cleary's entertaining sequel to The Mouse and theMotorcycle comes to life in another stop-motion animation TV short,starring a young Fred Savage. Ralph, a squeaky-voiced mouse with apenchant for peanut butter, decides to run away from the Mountain ViewInn when his uncle threatens to ground him for reckless motorcycleriding. He winds up at the Happy Acres Camp, where an unenthused campernamed Garfield (Savage) captures the tiny rodent. When "Garf" saves Ralphfrom a hungry cat, Ralph starts talking and a friendship develops.Together, boy and mouse combat Garf's own desires to run away from adifficult situation and solve a camp mystery to boot. Wholesome fun bestdescribes this 42-minute family feature, which does not rely oncliché-ridden dialogue or breakneck action. The '70s go-go style ofmusic is a little dated and Ralph's stop-motion movements may seem alittle jerky by today's animation standards, but he and his furrycostars still garner plenty of appeal. Children 4 years old and upwill easily comprehend this film's lesson about the importance of workingthrough problems rather than avoiding them. --Liane Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Mouse and the Motorcycle 2!
Hi, people! If you liked the TV special The Mouse and the Motorcycle(1986), yu'll really like this 1988 TV special! They were both based on novels written by Beverly Cleary, a children's author. It's about a mouse named Ralph who runs away from home on his toy motorcycle, and stops at a summer camp. There, he meets a lonely boy named Garfield (Fred Savage, later of "The Wonder Years") and they become friends. Well, I don't want to spoil it, so this is all I'm going to tell you about the story.
This film was originally aired on ABC in 1988, and, aside from cheap animation, is GREAT! Ya just gotta get it! And, in addition to this movie, get Mouse and the Motorcycle too. They are two excellent movies for all ages.

They don't get any better than this
This classic needs to be in every video library. Children of all ages will find this movie irresistable. I'm ordering my 4th copy because friends and family have a cute way of begging my copy away from me and ironically, I have no children. When guests come over, a guaranteed way to capture the attention of their unruly children is to put this in the VCR. It usually captures the attention of the adults too. Unfortunately, the film is only 45 minutes long.

I like Runaway Ralph because I like animal books.
Dear Beverly Cleary, I just read Runaway Ralph. I loved the book a lot. My favorite part was when Ralph met Chun because Ralph asksed Chum what kind of animal he was. I am going to ask you a couple of questions-OK? Why did you want to write so many books? Which of your books do you like the best? When you were little is this what you wanted to do? Please answer my questions. Sincerely, Sarah Teixeira END

Very good
The mouse on the motor cycle is kickin butt on his motor cycle he's trying to get back to his home but in the process he gets cought and put in a cage thats all for now END ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Better...but not good...sequel...
The second sequal is...marginally good on account of one good song (yes I know that sounds impossible). However, it doesn't make up for the fact that the rest of the movie stinks.

Especially Sarah...my god she does nothing but scream for five minutes in one scene!! It makes you irritated beyond belief! Oh sure, you may think I'm overreacting, but you listen to some one give a girly high-pitched scream every two seconds for five minuntes and then tell me how you feel. Sarah should have been killed off and saved us all a lot of mercy. She probably should have been killed by Sharptooth in the first movie!

This sequel could be enjoyable for some. Could be.

Fun way to learn about working together
Even though words like "dumb" were used, this is a reality for children. It gives parents an opportunity to talk to children about how it feels to be called names and to be sensitive to others feelings. My kids love all the movies and pretend play the characters. They see what being a good friend is all about. I can refer back to the movie to make a point.

Warning, Warning! Not suitable for children!!!! 0 stars!
"Hip" the young bully dinosaur refers to Littlefoot, Cera and the other young dinosaurs as big babies. He also uses the words stupid and dumb. This is very unfortunate for an otherwise wonderfully creative concept. I now find myself trying to explain to a 2 year old that these are unacceptable things to say.......

Great fun with Great morals!!
My 3 1/2 year old son can not get enough of this whole series. He wants to watch them over and over. The stories & characters are fun and the songs are wonderful. The best part is they all have great lessons and messages for kids to learn. They are all about caring and good morals without preaching to the children. My son loves to talk about the story after watching them and doesn't even realize he has learned whatever message they were trying to get across. Kids seem to identify with the little dinosaurs and their relationships with the adults. A great video collection that makes both children and adults happy.

One of the best of this series.
Excellent film, with interesting characters and well-chosen topics ... Read more

Amazon.com

You know those movies that seemed really, really awesome when you were a teenager? Then, when you saw them again as a adult, you recognized them for the romantic dreck they always were? Mahogany exemplifies the breed. Made in 1975, Mahogany is mired in tedious melodrama that is not enhanced by a predictable and sexist ending. Diana Ross, a poverty-stricken young woman, pulls herself up by her camisole straps until she is at the top of the fashion world. Along the way she meets terrible people who want to use her. They break her heart. She has trouble bouncing back. One of those troubled people who seem to flock to Ross's unstable character is a deranged photographer, played with wild abandonment by Anthony Perkins. His psychotic performance gives this film its only energy. Ross remains unfulfilled until she finds love with inappropriate Billy Dee Williams, who shows none of his usual charisma. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Wonderful Masterpiece by Berry Gordy
Mahogany is a Wonderul black love story of a woman raised in Chicago's inner city ghetto (Diana Ross). She has dreams and aspirations of becoming a fashion designer and eventually achieves that goal. But when she leaves home to go to Rome to claim her fame as a model she learns that it's lonely at the top and she starts to miss home and her one true love (Billy Dee Williams) who she's forsaken. The movie has a great moral to the story simply put by Billy Dee Williams, What's sucess (money and fame) when you don't have no one to share it with. This was a great performance by both actors.

Bringing back memories...
Even young people might like to hear old Supremes songs like "Baby Love" or "You Can't Hurry Love", they really have something going for themselves. The Supremes were enormously successful in the sixties. It all seemed to end when Diana embarked on a solo career in 1970. Luckily she managed to return to the top of the charts with her dramatically version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enogh". She then surprised everyone when she did a wonderful acting role in her first movie "Lady Sings The Blues" in 1972. She followed with "Mahogany" in 1975 and scored a #1 single with the beautifully sung title theme "Do You Know Where You're Going To?". The film doesn't belong to what you could call "classics" but for all those Ross fans, who enjoyed almost every career-step Diana made, the album brings back nice memories. But let's be honest after all those years: the music - except for the nice title theme - can't tempt anyone anymore.

Diana screeches, Billy Dee mumbles
MAHOGANY is a camp classic featuring screechy acting by Ms. Ross, mumbling by Billy Dee Williams, and drama queen antics by Anthony Perkins. Talent is wasted all around in the film depicting the rise of a poor-little-rich African-American model and fashion designer who has her mouth poked out because she misses her man. After this film, Berry Gordy never stepped up to the director's chair again (thank God). Good for its camp factor and that's about it.

A camp classic
Like so many divas before her and after her, "La Ross" shines in this 1975 camp classic which exemplifies the cliche saying "it's lonely at the top."

The gowns, the glamour, the nails and the youth of Miss Ross are unparalleled. She was beyond fabulous and at the height of her artistic zenith. The montage is especially pleasing and one can only fantasize about being in Rome in the mid 70's while swathed in those fantastic creations and Fendi and Maximillian furs (read the credits).

Substantively, the film is not to be taken seriously....but I agree with one reviewer's assessment back then who said that it is "testament to how glorious it is to be Diana Ross." I wholeheartedly agree.

Classic!
Diana Ross returns after her acclaimed film debut in 'Lady Sings The Blues. She plays the role of an ambitious struggling secretary who becomes a world famous designer-model (hmmm...). Diana Ross is a challenging & versatile performer and in this classic flick she showcases her impressive talents. Watch out for Anthony Perkins 'reprising' his Norman Bates persona.
Over the top plot, cheesy dialogue, wonderful soundtrack, glamorous costumes... Diana Ross never looked more gorgeous! ... Read more

Description

Westward frontiersmen Hunt (Chris Farley) and Edwards (Matthew Perry) are out-of-doors and out of their minds as they try to overtake Lewis and Clark and be the first to blaze a trail across the American continent.Year: 1998 Director: Christopher Guest Starring: Chris Farley, Matthew Perry ... Read more

Reviews (34)

NO Lewis and Clark!
It's all about Chris Farley and Matthew Perry, not Lewis and Clark. They slapped funny people, watched a woman bathe and Farley cooked eggs over easy. It was splendid! Watch Matthew Perry gag after taking some medicine. Walking over coals is the best! "Almost Heroes," is Chris Farley's last movie and he will always be remembered for making a genius laugh. This movie which was directed by Christopher Guest, needs to be released on DVD. Any Farley fan will appreciate it. Purity.

If you are a Farly Fan You will Love this movie
What a great concept for a flick. Attempting to beat Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the Pacific Ocean. Being this is the 200th anniversary of that expedition made it a little interesting.

There are some very funny scenes indeed but Farly is Farly, yelling, getting angry, fighting and fussing. If you like that you will love this. My favorite scene is where he faces the Eagle at her nest. "Why didn't you tell me you only wanted the shell?" What a great one liner.

Perry is a little stiff as a character and is more of a straight man to Farly's funny man. My only problem with the movie is that there are too many places where it gets slow. Part of it is because you are in the wild and it was a slower time.

There are so many great one liners that seem to have too much time between them. The inuendos are a bit much especially at the beginning. The older Indians are just great. And the scenery, especially of the Tetons and the Snake River are outstanding.

If you want to have a fun night with mostly the guys this is okay for that. My wife did not like it. Anyone who knows and liked Farly for his antics and his in character concept, you will just think this is a hoot.

Intentional Stupidity
This was Chris Farley's last film. He ended on a high note. The movie is intentionally stupid--a hilarious GOOF--and directed by Christopher Guest (known for having directed "This is Spinal Tap"). They surely weren't pushing for an Oscar with this one - merely encouraging laughter. This is the story of Bartholomew Hunt (Chris Farley) and Leslie Edwards (Matthew Perry) who, in 1804, follow explorers Lewis and Clark, in hope of being the first men to see the Pacific Ocean. Along their journey they're sure to bring laughter to true fans of Farley's ways, and perhaps to fans of Mel Brooks' as well, as some of the comedy is similar to Brooks' humour in "Robin Hood - Men in Tights".
It is a real shame that this movie isn't available on DVD (yet?), because the presentation of it on VHS is awful. I quote the fine print on the back of the tape's case: "This film has been modified as follows from its original version: It has been formatted to fit your screen". The picture is zoomed in WAY too far, and the result looks distorted. In many shots heads are cropped, we sometimes see only approximately 75% of the face of the person who speaks, and at one point, where a sign reads "Welcome to Snakes Bend", we only see "elcome to Snakes Ben". I was hugely disappointed by the film's presentation, but surprised by the quality of comedy since this is not a much talked about movie.
Zero points to he who decided to crop the movie, and full points to whoever releases is on DVD (with OPTIONAL formatting).

"WHOS IDEA WAS THE CORN???"
that line gets me every time! farley, matt perry and eugene levy all give great comedic performances. this movie took about 2 or 3 viewings for me to really appreciate the style of humor, but the best comedies are usually like that. once you start listening to how ridiculous some of the dialogue is, you start to laugh from wondering how the actors kept a straight face for the scenes. one of the funniest movies of all time! maybe not as funny as tommy boy, but pretty close. i laugh to myself just thinking about some of the scenes as i type this. its a shame the world lost chris farley, but he went out with a great final movie.

A Guiltless Pleasure
Is this movie dumb? You bet! But I love it. The dumber "the better" I always say. Well sometimes. Farley and Perry play off each other quite well with their own styles of comedic humor in this interpretation of the Lewis and Clark exploration. But then so does the whole cast of zany characters in this whimsical historical tale. Some of the situations and lines of dialog are absolutely stupid, but they are just so funny in their own way. After I recently viewed this film again I just thought it was absolutely gut wrenching funny and worth the 5 stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Scientists discover that a pair of giant crabs mutated by atomic tests is responsible for the disappearance of researchers on a remote island. The crabs, which assimilate the voices and intellects of their victims, slowly destroy the island as they thin out the rescue party until a do-or-die plan is hatched. This early effort by Roger Corman has been labeled as schlock due to its pulpy title and atrocious monster effects, but the script by Charles B. Griffith, while stretched thin by the usual low-budget constraints, is more intriguing and gently self-deprecating than a movie about monster crustaceans should be (Griffith also wrote the blackly comic scripts for A Bucket of Blood and Corman's original Little Shop of Horrors). The script's handling of the monsters is especially notable; the crabs' malevolent logic flies in the face of 1950s creature standards, which demanded that monsters be drooling and dumb. And Corman's fast-and-furious direction delivers a surprising number of shocks (most notably, the alarming "bus" when Little Shop alumnus Mel Welles's character meets his fate) as it barrels toward the film's slam-bang conclusion. Sharp-eyed character actor fans will spot among the cast Russell Johnson and Ed Nelson, years before their respective TV fame on Gilligan's Island and Peyton Place; longtime Corman bit player Beach Dickerson and screenwriter Griffith portray sailors. Made for $70,000, the film grossed approximately $1 million, making it Corman's most profitable picture of the period. Crab Monsters played theaters in 1957 on a double bill with Corman's equally satisfying Not of This Earth. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Enjoy it with a bag of popcorn and some juju bees
Remember those hokey old "B" thrillers from the 50's? Remember your youth when it seemed like everyone had seen every 'monster' movie and loved to talk about it?

I remember having a friend over for the evening, watching our old B&W tv, and throwing a blanket over the monitor and ourselves -- we were in a drive-in *grin*. Shows like this were what we watched.

This film is a great 'time trip' back to those early days of monster movies when atom bomb testing (did we really detonate those things above ground?) was the cause for every mutation or monster loosed on humanity. As a young boy, it had scared me -- the voices in the night and an island which kept getting smaller gave me dreams. Of course, today's film crowd would hoot at it. But it's not the cinematography, special effects or even the story that makes this flick one worth adding to your library. It's the wistful return to our youth that gives it charm.

If you were born after 1970, you'll probably not have much in common with this film -- bypass it. However, if you grew up watching 'Chiller Theater' and 'Movie of the Week', this film will transport you back in time to the less complex world of our childhood.

Famous Monsters of Filmland fans will love it
I've wanted to get this movie on video for years, and finally got one thanks to Amazon. A glorious low-budget Roger Corman piece that has some surprisingly clever ideas in its script, and a bit of genuinely creepy atmosphere. Sure, the crab monsters themselves are a bit naff, but that's exaactly what you expect when you watch a movie like this. If you can't appreciate the finer points of a B-movie, you should obviously stay well away. But if you remember watching this one on television when you were a kid, like me, you may find yourself drawn to it the same way I was.

The print used for the video is not very good, unfortunately. Too much contrast, and it looks like it's more than one generation down from the master video copy. It makes it difficult to see what's happening at times. I don't know if other editions have better video quality. Although the edition I have is recorded at SP, it almost looks as if it were dubbed from an EP tape.

But you know what? I'm still happy I have the video. Any Saturday morning I can escape back to my childhood by watching a cheap B&W monster flick is a good one to me, and this is a perfect movie to fit the bill.

Good Monster Movie!
This movie was another Grade B gem from the master of these
types of films Roger Corman.A rescue party is sent to an island
to rescue a group of scientists.The rescue party discovers that earthquakes are decimating the island. They make a scarier discovery in the forms of giant crabs who have undergrown a
tremendous growth cycle because of atomic testing.One by one
these monster crabs kill and eat the members of the rescue team.
It is an all out battle for survival.Who will win? The monster
crabs or the rescue team members.This movie stays exciting until
the ending. This is a unique film that you will enjoy.

Crabs take over the island...
Another Roger Corman classic staring monsters from the deep. This time we have a research team investigating an island for effects of radiation. We all know that radiation in a black and white film creates monsters. This time is no exception.

In typical Corman fashion, the plot is established and the terror begins and at first we only see the handywork of the monsters and not the monsters themselves. As quakes wrack the island, causing large sections to disappear, and scientists disappear, we become aware that there are some nast giant crabs on the island. They have been eating the scientists and causing the island to sink. If that wasn't enough, they have absorbed the knowledge, and voices, of those they have eaten.

The film climaxes with the final battle between the survivors and the crabs on all that remains of the island (about 10 yards across).

This is the type of movie that makes B-movies so much fun. Monsters, suspense, bad effects, melodrama and sinking islands. Great film.

Pay no attention to the wheels and legs under the monsters
If you see only one talking crab monster movie in your life then this 1957 bad B-movie from director Roger Corman is the one to check out. The monsters are stupid looking, the dialog is laughable, but just keep in mind the film's tagline--"From the depths of the sea... a tidal wave of terror!"--and enjoy the film. The idea is that some scientist types are off to a Pacific island to study the effects of atomic radiation (they are bad; worse than you can imagine). What they discover are a pair of giant crabs who (wait until you hear this) ate the previous group of scientists, thereby absorbing their knowledge and allowing them to imitate the voices of their human victims so they can get more people to munch on. Just to make things fair the humans have guns and grenades, but they are trapped on the island when their plane explodes and bad weather stops their radios from working. Oh, and did I mention that the island is slowly sinking into the sea?

Of course the scientists are mostly menu items, which leaves it to our hero, Hank (Russell "The Professor" Johnson), who proudly declares "I'm no scientist, I'm a technician and a handy man." Well, those are the people who made this country and most monster movies great. The human voices from the crabs are rather lame, but the clicking sound they make with their pinchers has its moments. This is a nice example of an early Corman quick and dirty production, the second of nine films the director made that year: "Not of This Earth," "Naked Paradise," "Teenage Doll," "The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent," "The Undead," "Sorority Girl," "Rock All Night," and "Carnival Rock." But none of those have fake looking talking crabs rolling around on wheels on a sinking island talking with the voices of the human beings they consumed. Look for screenwriter Charles B. Griffith as Tate and keep in mind that actors Beach Dickerson (Ron Fellows) and Ed Nelson (Ensign Quinlan) are doing double-duty as the operators of the crab monsters. "Attack of the Crab Monsters" definitely goes in the so bad it is good category. In fact, this one might become your textbook definition of bad Science Fiction B-Movie. It is a two-star movie but a four-star experience. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Now and forever a favorite among kids, this 1990 comedy written by John Hughes (The Breakfast Club) and directed by Chris Columbus (Mrs. Doubtfire) ushered Macaulay Culkin onto the screen as a troubled 8-year-old who doesn't comfortably mesh with his large family. He's forced to grow a little after being accidentally left behind when his folks and siblings fly off to Paris. A good-looking boy, Culkin lights up the screen during several funny sequences, the most famous of which finds him screaming for joy when he realizes he's unsupervised in his own house. A bit wooden with dialogue, the then-little star's voice could grate on the nerves (especially in long, wise-child passages of pure bromide), but he unquestionably carries the film. Billie Bird and John Candy show up as two of the interesting strangers Culkin's character meets. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are entertainingly cartoonish as thieves, but the ensuing violence once the little hero decides to keep them out of his house is over-the-top. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (111)

A Holiday Classic...
In 1990, another Christmas movie classic was made. This movie, "Home Alone" is a holiday classic that you can't find anywhere else. The cast is great, the scenes are hilarious, and it's wonderful family movie. Macaulay Culkin starts his fame as the family icon for parents and thier children.

The movie starts out in Chicago, IL at the McCillister house. Here we meet Kevin's family that is running all over the house preparing for their Christmas trip to Paris. Also in the house scoping out the place is Harry (Joe Pesci), a crook posed a cop that is planning on robbing the house after they leave. Now here is where the problems start. When the whole family is eating pizza for dinner, Kevin (Culkin) is looking around for his plain cheese pizza because that's all he eats. So his older brother Buzz (Devin Ratray) eats it on purpose. Then Kevin attacks him and the place becomes a mess and soda is spilled and the passports are soaked, etc. Kevin's mother Kate (Caterine O'Hara) sends him to his room. In Kevin's state of anger he says to his mother that he doesn't want to see his family again. Now while in bed Kevin says, "I wish they would all dissapear." During the night the power goes out and the alarm clocks goes out. The next moring they are rushing left and right to get to the airport. Here's the problem: THEY FORGOT KEVIN!

Now kevin wakes up an sees nobody is home. He actually thinks that his wish came true. Now at first Kevin loves this. He jumps on the bed, shoots his brother Buzz's BB gun, takes his brother's life savings, and eats all the junk food in the world and watches "R" rated films. While the family is on the plane, Kevin's mother gets the feeling they forgot something. Kevin's father Peter (John Heard) asks her, "What could we have forgotten?" Then Kate screams: KEVIN! Now while Kevin still is having fun back at home, the family is in Paris trying to get a flight back home. and calling the police, etc.

One day, Kevin goes out shopping and spots a misterious van in the neighbor's driveway. It's the crooks. Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Pesci), The Wet Bandits. Now after Kevin actually goes out shopping to get food and milk, he notices the guys in the van. Now he realizes they are after his house. Sorry Christmas Eve night he plans his battle against the crooks.

The gadgets and the tricks he pulls on the crooks are undoubtably hilarious. First, when the crooks starts talking to Kevin through the back door pretending to be Santa Claus and an Elf, Kevin takes his borther's BB gun and sticks it through the cathole and shoots Harry is the lower region. Then Marv sticks his heasd through the cathole and he gets shot in the head. Now there is ice on all the stairways, the front door knob is burning hot and when Hary touches the knob, the knob's inprinted "M" is impronted into Harry's hand. Lol! Then in the basement there is tar paper on the stairs and eventually there is a nail sticking up which Marv steps on with his bare foot. See what other tricks Kevin has got up his sleeve.

This movie, "Home Alone" is the perfect holiday movie that the entire family can enjoy. It's another Christmas classic. One thing this movie does for me is it gets me into the holiday spirit. In the beginning when Kevin said he didn't want to see his family again, throughout the movie, you realize how important family is, especially around the holidays. Buy this movie for you and your kids and you will love it as much as I do. Merry Christmas! Ho, Ho, Ho!

A Christmas Favorite
Home Alone has always been one of my favorite Christmas movies, It's funny and entertaining!

The movie is about a boy named Kevin McCallister[Macaulay Culkin] who accidently gets left behind in his home in Chicago when his family goes off on a trip to France. While Kevin is at home, two burglars are trying to break in. The burglars are played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. One of the burglars was at the house at the beginning, pretending to be a policeman, to check out the house. After Kevin finds out, he sets up a set of booby traps on the night they arrive. Meanwhile, Kevin's mom[Catherine O'Hara] wan'ts to get home as quickly as she can when she finds out that Kevin was left behind. So, instead of going on a plane she travels back to Chicago on a truck with a group of musicians and their polka king of the midwest[John Candy] when they offer to take her home. After the burglars get arrested with one of Kevin's plans, Kevin's mom arrives home with the rest of the family including his dad[John Heard] and they all feel so grateful to see him.

This is a movie your whole family will enjoy!!!

Home Alone
This is a great family film. You will laugh and laugh when you see keven (macaulay culkin) jumping for joy that his family is not at his house, but when robbers try to brake in the house he starts to see that he really wants his family. This will make the kids laugh seeing growns up laughing. This truely is a great movie!

Great Maculay Culkin
I own 1,2,and 3! I don't own 4. I don't like it!

My favorite holiday movie of all time (Or for any other day)
I am EXTREMELY happy that this movie finally made it to DVD because this is one of the most exciting and nicest holiday and family movies ever made. Everything from beginning to the end reminds me of the Back to the Future movies - when I watch that movie, I always notice something interesting, familiar, funny, or exciting when I see those movies and Home Alone. Many people may not like this DVD release because of inferior picture and sound quality and lack of bonus features - I THINK THIS DVD IS GREAT! Of course, the only bonus features on this DVD are the trailers to the Home Alone trilogy, and the sound is only stereo, but still, that's great because I LOVE THIS MOVIE! You know, because I love the funny parts - including the fake movie Kevin watches and uses to scare off the pizza guy and the villians (I always wanted to try that!) The fake movie, in case you didn't know, is translated into foreign languages as well! Speaking of which, this DVD comes in English, French, and Spanish audio and English subtitles. I've seen this DVD in English sound with closed-captioning from the TV, and on the computer in Spanish sound with English subtitles (still remains Kevin's infamous scream)! Yeah, I'm glad Fox has a Spanish option for this disc because I'm currently finishing up my Spanish class at my prep school and from time to time, I watch DVDs in Spanish (if available; otherwise it's French for the Canadian viewers!) You know, this week or next week, I'm bringing this DVD into Spanish class for my teacher to show. EVERYONE WOULD LAUGH!

This is a sweet movie. The DVD may not be the best, but it's still a great buy! Enjoy!

sethn172 ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Missionaries travel to the Brazilian rain forest and make a mess of everything. What else is new? Actually, plenty in this dark but beautifully realized adaptation of Peter Matthiessen's well-regarded novel, directed by Hector Babenco. Aidan Quinn, Daryl Hannah, Kathy Bates, and John Lithgow play the Americans who travel to the Brazilian interior in an effort to do some good. But their definitions of good vary wildly; Bates and Lithgow are old-fashioned puritans who want to convert the heathens to Christianity and remove all traces of their own culture. Quinn and Hannah are more spiritually minded, hoping to make a connection and a cultural exchange with the Indians they encounter. In the end, they're all delusional, trapped in their own preconceptions. Downbeat but magical in its way, with sterling performances all around and amazing scenery, to say the least. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Finally!! A Movie For Adults!!
I have probably watched this movie 10 times and each time I see something I missed before. In this age of comic-book character drek movies,here's a story with characters and plot that makes you think. A movie for ADULTS!

The story concerns a group of missionaries en route to the jungle to ram their religion down the throats of the poor indians (Lithgow, Hanna, Quinn and Bates). Tom Berenger is an American half Indian who is hired to bomb the people he discovers is of his own race. He decides instead to parachute himself into the tribe, thereby being considered their God.

From here everything goes downhill. Bates and Quinn's son dies of a fever, Bates goes mad; Berenger's character has a sexual fling with Hanna who is unknown to everyone, carrying a virus
which would not kill anyone in a first world, but is catastrophic to the Indians when Berenger returns to infect everyone.

The aerial photography at the beginning was some of the most beautiful you'll ever see in any movie. The South American topography looks like the Grand Canyon, only covered in green, green, GREEN!! The characters are very fleshed out and deep. This is a movie that leaves you wondering what happened to them after the movie ends. Too bad garbage like "X-men", "Spiderman, "Incredible Hulk", ad nauseum get all the big box office. I'm sorry this one did not do well either. But, then, considering the mentality of humanity these days, I'm not surprised.

Berenger and Quinn make this film worth viewing
Ofcourse, Tom Berenger and Aidan Quinn have the only two fully developed characters in this script and they both did a tremendous job. Darryl Hannah's performance was also good, but would have been better had her character been explored more deeply. I was not impressed with the performances of Bates and Lithgow, however, despite being a fan of their other work. There were moments when I laughed because the acting was so over the top.
What is so sad about this film overall is that it really could have been great. It's a great story that needs to be told, but even the best actors can only do so much with a poor script.
I've read comments from others about the nudity being an issue in the film. That's just ridiculous and I had to comment on it because when I finally viewed the film, I didn't even notice the nudity. Naked body? We've all got one under our clothes. Get over it.
Two of the three stars are for Berenger and Quinn for doing such a great job. Without those two performances, this is a one star film.

Good.
'At Play in the Fields of the Lord' is a excellent movie about a failed attempt to "civilize" a group of native americans living in the Amazon. Check it out.

Fantastic missionary movie
At Play in the Fields of the Lord is a movie to have in your personal collection. It has stayed in my memory since my first viewing many years ago, and remains to date one of the best missionary movies ever made. Based on the book by the same name by Peter Mathiessen, author of In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, the film masterfully weaves the clash between Native peoples and the well meaning Christians who aim to convert them. Featuring stunning scenery, filmed entirely on location in Amazonia, and with an all-star cast, I can't recommend it highly enough. I also recommend Black Robe if you enjoy this movie.

Culture clash...
Here's a big book reduced to a three-hour film. I don't have a problem with that. The parts left out could make a whole 'nother film. The resulting film is quite profound and fascinating; Babenco got a big budget after his success with "Kiss of the Spider Woman", and made an epic which is unusually intimate. I appreciated the acting, all of it. Kathy Bates in particular was solid in her relatively small role, and one of these days Daryl Hannah will be taken seriously. Berenger and Quinn have the moxy to carry this film well. The photography is exquisite, especially some of the aerial shots, but also crystal clear close-ups that show every bead of sweat, etc. Stunning! I've read most of the other reviews before making my comments. This film had me from the beginning, and I'm sorry for those who didn't "get it". Films about trying to change the beliefs of natives are interesting (and upsettingly frustrating) for me. Another riveting film (for me) was 1966's "Hawaii", based on Michener, which told a similar story. "Windwalker"? "Roots"? The religious thing, to me, is merely a matter of interpretation. Who's to say that these natives aren't praying to the same God? Idols? Well, the Christian churches have plenty of their own, patron saints to various things; St. Christopher medals, cricifixes... Those movies about Columbus, or the Pilgrims, also told of similar situations. Imagine the confusion of those innocent people, who only died of age until the "Christians" came along. Nudity? Who cares. It's what they did. How dare I criticize another's culture, when my own is so screwed up. Babenco used authentic Amazonians, and I applaud him for it. This film pretty much put the kabosh on Babenco's legitimacy in Hollywood; alas, the film was a failure. I eagerly await the emergence of a DVD version of this film, as well as "Hawaii". A wide letterbox could show off some breath-taking panoramas and brilliant photography. Sorry if you don't like my opinions. I'm still an American and believe in the First Amendment; I'm also a Christian who is never ashamed, often embarrassed. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

truly magnificent
in this awesome edition,the falcon crashes on endor.this is a planet full of tiny tree dwelling teddy bears with intelligence.to a point.this is definately the most family friendly of the star wars films.they are hanging out and discover the one weakness that could shut down the empire for good.so a battle ensues over the building where it is housed.george lucas is the directer.did he ever do anything basides these?it is the final episode of them all.most anyone will like it.the makers of nontendo made a game that borrows heavily from this film.it is called body harvest.the movie independance day uses it a lot too.by borrowed i really meant ripped off.i dont use that term very often but it was pretty blatant.the only chick is still leia,but at least shes kissing the guy whose NOT her brother this time.the emporer is very very ugly.this movie is spectacular.dont belive anything else.the special effects are cool.the future is done for this batch.this is the last.but if yoiu were born in the 70s,theres still 3 more parts released after this one.prequels.they all are outstanding!

"Jedi" Triumphant
"You, like your father, are now mine."
- The Emperor underestimates The Skywalker bloodline in "Return of the Jedi"

George Lucas' sci-fi saga comes to a satisfying close in Episode VI, "Return of the Jedi".

"Jedi" opens with Luke Skywalker returning to his home planet of Tatooine to rescue his friend Han Solo from the gangster, Jabba the Hutt and his creature co-horts. After bargaining negotiations fail, a spectacular battle commences as the young Jedi (with the help of Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, R2-D2 & C-3PO) fights a huge monster called The Rancor and then does a battle royale with Jabba and his horde of weird galactic denizens and servants. The film then jumps to Luke returning to the swamp planet Dagobah to complete his training as a Jedi, only to discover that his master, Yoda, has fallen deathly ill. In his final breaths Yoda reveals the truth about Luke's family ties and gets reassurance, & a final bit of guidance from the spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi. In order to complete his training, Luke must face Darth Vader again, as well as, Vader's master, Emperor Palpatine. Meanwhile, The Rebel Alliance has prepared for an all out final assault on the Galactic Empire after recieving secret information of a new battle armored space station secretly being built by the Empire. If completed, this new Death Star will spell certain doom to the small band of freedom fighters, as well as, the fate of the galaxy.

First off, its hard to top "Star Wars" and "The Empire Strikes Back" (I'm a die-hard fan of the films (yeah, the prequels too, but don't get me started!). "Jedi" comes close to those first two films, but, not close enough (its still better than the prequels!). Directed by the late Richard Marquand, "Jedi" is packed with both special and creature effects alike. The problem is "Jedi" is much like the first two films, but, on a more massive scale. The film's main premise is to tie up all the loose ends of the saga, and it does a great job of doing just that. Highpoints in the film include John Williams' oscar nominted score, the speeder bike chase, the space battle, Jabba the Hutt, the battle on Endor & the redemption of Anakin Skywalker. Lowpoints - the death of Boba Fett (embarrasing to the point where the character is resurrected in the Marvel comic book and survives in the expanded universe), the Ewok Celebration at the films conclusion and the Lapti Nek number in Jabba's palace is an ominous shadow of Lucas' cutesy side that weighs heavily on the prequels (I remember a lot of fans seeing this & going "What the f**k!?!").

The biggest highlight of all is Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia dressed in the metal bikini as Jabba's slavegirl. What a hottie! During filming there actually was a stagehand who had to make sure that she felt comfy in that bikini, making sure that she wasn't getting hurt to vital parts of her bod (that had to be one of the best jobs on the planet at the time of filming).

Originally titled "Revenge of the Jedi", making the folks at Paramount Studios retitle "Star Trek II: The Revenge of Khan" to the "Wrath of Khan". Lucas changed the title, stating Jedi don't seek revenge. Nominated for 7 Oscars including original score, costume design, set design, and recieving a special Oscar for the film's SFX (presented to Dennis Muren by Cheech & Chong!). Released on 5/25/83 (for the Memorial Day weekend) "Return of the Jedi" has grossed 309 million at the U.S. box office.

"Return of the Jedi" is a satisfying capper to the classic "Star Wars Trilogy" and the conclusion to the most influential and best science fiction saga in film history. ... Read more

Reviews (160)

Mary Poppins on DVD
This is probably one of Walt Disney's best films, if not the best. It is the most excellent realized combination of live action and animation. It contains eternal charm, wit, and magic as it introduces us to the "practically perfect" nanny who brings profound change to the Banks family of London in the early twentieth century. Every song composed by Richard and Robert Sherman is pure magic. The believable visual effects, the heartfelt scripting, and the solid performances by Julie Andrews and the heart rendering Dick Van Dyke are truly eternal. Every element of production came together at their zenith to create a treasure of cinematic endearment. The DVD is excellent. The supplemental material is very good and nostalgic. One of the best films ever made. The superb cast also includes: David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Elsa Lanchester, Arthur Treacher, Ed Wynn, Hermione Baddeley, Reginald Owen and Jane Darwell as The Bird Woman. Director, Robert Stevenson is at his best.

Do Movies get much better than this???
This is my favorite musical of all time. It's wonderfully done, and the story is excellent. Julie Andrews did a great job in her first ever cinematic role, she plays a magical nanny that comes to a rich man's house in order to bring the family back together. What I love about her performance is that she looks very confident and so straight forward and firm, not as playful as you may think. The film also has Dick Van Dyke in the role of Bert, who is a very good friend of Mary Poppins and also handles magic very well. That role was funny and very entertaining(the accent is a bit confusing though), and i loved all of his dance numbers, especially Step In Time, the dance on the roof-top. Another excellent performance was David Tomlinson, who did the role of George Banks, the father of the children. He is very firm and strict, but he can also be very clumsy and forgetful, which is another reason I liked him. His song The Life I Lead was also great. This film was prized with five well-deserved Academy Awards, for the excellent Film Editing, the Visual Effects, like the jump into the pavement picture, the tea party on the ceiling and the smoke ladder, the excellent score, the song Chim Chim Cheree, which may have not been the best song, but one of them had to win, and last but not least, the excellent (oscar-winning) performance by Julie Andrews. I cannot find any more words for this film, so I'll leave you with one word. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

"Perfect Nanny"
Mary Poppins is my favorite movie. I love the charictors, the singing, the dancing. It is fun for the whole family. When I was alittle girl I watched it over and over again. I love to dance with the chimeny sweeps; I can't do everything they do, but still. This is the best master piece Walt Disney ever created besides Micky and friends. I love it and I am a teen.

It is about a fun nanny who has magic. That is probobly why I like her. There is never a dull moment when Mary Poppins is around: fox hunting, laughing in the air, riding a merry-go-round without the going arout. One of the best parts of all, supercalafagilisticexpialadocious.

My Kids Love it!
I have a preschooler and a kindergartener. They both watch it together. They get up and dance to "Step in Time" and "A Spoon Full of Sugar". We purchased the music CD, and listening in the car, makes the time go faster.

This Movie is Defintately a "Jolly Holiday"
I had not seen this movie for a very long time until last week I borrowed a copy from my cousin and it was very good.It was so much better than I remembered.My favorite part of this movie is the scene where Mary,Bert,and the children go into the painting and they see the pinguin waiters who do a very funny dance with bert,and they sing my favorite song in the movie called "Jolly Holiday".This is a very good movie.I recomend this movie to anyone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In his book, Robert C. O'Brien called his brave widow mouse "Mrs. Frisby," but Disney escapee animator Don Bluth must have thought kids would laugh the wrong way at that. They renamed her "Mrs. Brisby" for NIMH. That acronym stands for the National Institute of Mental Health, and the rats that live near Mrs. Brisby came from NIMH--they have strange ways. But they're the only ones who can save her house and her children, so Brisby seeks them out with the help of a humorous crow (Dom DeLuise). The magic gets laid on a little thick but this is Don Bluth's most successful attempt to achieve a complete, sincere, animated film. It's often forgotten, but it's a true surprise and a rare treat in the vast wasteland of insubstantial children's fare. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (106)

the ultimate in animated movies
I'd give this movie 10 stars if possible. I watched this movie everyday when I was a kid and when i watch it now, i can still recite it. This is such a great movie. As some of the other reviewers said, this movie is a little more realistic, a little grittier.
This movie truly does have something for everyone. Children will love the talking creatures, the ridiculous crow, Jeremy, (voiced with perfection by Dom DeLuise), and they'll recognize the overwhelming, self-sacrificing love Mrs. Brisby (the mother) displays for her family. Adults will enjoy the more subtle humor as well as the message of pure love conquering all obstacles. This movie (along with my role model mother) formed my image of how mothers should be: loving, strong and self-sacrificing. Even when Mrs. Brisby if forced to face her deepest fears (an owl, the cat), she does it, not without fear, but to save her son's life. This is a touching movie.
Another point of appreciation for this movie is that it does not try to simply dumb things down for kids. I like most Disney movies but this aims a little higher. There are some deep issues, such as death, jealousy, fear and hate, that aren't dwelt on but are brought up and as children grow older, they will grow to understand and love this movie more and more.

An enduring tale of love, courage and trust
Don Bluth's "The Secret Of NIMH," based upon the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH," was released in 1982 and was quickly forgotten at the box office in favour of Steven Spielberg's E.T. (which was released around the same time). I picked this up for less than ten dollars on DVD and I haven't stopped playing it since. It has been at least fifteen years since I had last seen it, and I enjoy it more than ever.

Bluth and close to two dozen Disney animators defected from Disney's studios in favour of having a chance to express and explore their artistic visions and creativity. One of their first animated films was "The Secret of NIMH." Other Bluth films include "Anastasia," and "An American Tail." But no other animated film captures the sense of magic and wonder like "The Secret of NIMH."

Mrs. Brisby, a recently widowed field mouse, tries desperately to protect her invalid son Timothy from Moving Day, when the farmer's plough will destroy their underground home. She is led to a colony of superintelligent rats, ex-subjects of laboratory experiments at the National Institute of Mental Health. They are led by wise old Nicodemus, a friend of Mrs. Brisby's late husband Jonathan, also an escaped lab mouse from NIMH.

The somewhat dark tale does feature light-hearted comedic relief in the form of Jeremy, a trouble-prone young crow voiced by Dom Deluise. The story sticks fairly close to the book version, although several new elements are added and some side plots are cut due to time restraints. The artwork is breathtaking; vibrant backgrounds, clever special effects, the play of light and shadow. The characters are real and you quickly become attached to them. No one breaks into song every five minutes, although there is a very beautiful lullaby on the soundtrack that Mrs. Brisby sings to Timothy.

To me, this film is deeper, darker, and more imaginative than anything that Disney has produced. There are no fancy CGI effects, only the skilful work of animators that love what they do. The film carries a message of courage, love, and trust without being preachy or simple. There are plenty of tense, dark scenes, some of which might upset smaller children. But "Secret of NIMH" is a beautiful, intelligent movie that is so much more than a cartoon or a children's fable.

filled with wonder
As a kid in the 1980's, this was a favorite film of mine. I remember thinking how cool and imaginative this was compared to the sludge of rerun 80's tv cartoons (did anyone else have to suffer through the "USA network cartoon train" as a kid?) like "The Flintstones."

Don Bluth, like Tim Burton, was a very talented artist and animator who broke away from Disney. Both Burton and Bluth could not stand redrawing the same animation cells for other people all day long. Burton found profit, Bluth, sadly, did not. However, that is not to say that Bluth did not create some very fascinating films along the way.

This is a tale of wonder and imagination. Watching this film is almost like seeing the equivalent of an American film with Miyazaki style and presentation. If you have ever seen "Spirited Away" or "Kiki's Delivery Service" there is an obvious similarity here between Miyazaki and Bluth. However, Bluth is very much an American, as is the setting for this imaginative tale.

It is a tale of rats who were experimented on by humans, who became very intelligent, strange, and different as a result of what the humans had done to them. Eventually, these creatures managed to escape their bondage from humans, and formed their own kingdom far out in the country. This is the tale of Mrs. Brisby encountering this strange race of rats, but it is so much more.

Please check it out and experience one of the more unique animated films ever made. This is not Disney, this is a new and different style. Sadly, these films just didn't catch on with the 80's crowd and Bluth was forced to go underground and now, today, makes a living in the straight-to-video kid market (He churns out those Land Before Time sequels just about every month).

Not the same as the book, but just as good anyway!
While this movie is a bit more fantasy-like than the book, I think it's just as good. The first time I saw this was several years ago when Nickelodeon used to play movies on Sundays. Once I saw it, I immediately went after the book, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Told in the style of Poppy or Watership Down, both the movie and the story have the same main plot: A family of mice must move out of their home before the tractor comes for the yearly harvest. The problem is, little Timothy mouse is sick with pnemonia (forgive my spelling) and if he goes out of the house, he will die. Now Mrs. Frisby must look to the Rats, a race of intelligent rodents, to help them to be able to survive the tractor without leaving their home.

A childhood classic
This had been my favorite cartoon movie since I was six years old. I knew every line Mrs. Brisby spoke. This is the stuff that flying dreams are made of and will always be treasured in my heart.

A great tale of bravery and overcoming the odds with a touch of magic. ... Read more

Reviews (122)

A poetic story about love and family
"Sarah, Plain and Tall," by Patricia MacLachlan, received the 1986 Newbery Medal, a distinguished honor in the world of literature for young people. The honor was well deserved. "Sarah" is a warm, moving story.

"Sarah" is a story told in the first-person by Anna, a young farm girl who lives with her widowed father and younger brother, Caleb. Anna's father sends by mail for a prospective new wife: Sarah, a woman from the Maine seacoast. As the story unfolds, Sarah arrives on the farm and gets to know the family.

MacLachlan writes in a simple but poetic style that expertly conveys the emotions of her characters. MacLachlan is wonderful at catching the details of farm life, which the reader discovers along with Sarah. I also like the way MacLachlan evokes the Maine coastal landscape through Sarah's dialogue. There is a subtle suspense to the story: will Sarah decide to stay and become a part of the story?

I won't give away the ending. But I will say that "Sara" is a gentle and compassionate book for readers of all ages.

I may be a kid, but I have big thoughts!
Sarah, Plain and Tall is about a girl named Anna who's mother dies from giving birth to Anna's brother Caleb. Leading a very lonely life, Anna's father has no choice but to remarry. So, he puts an ad in the paper. A few days later, he gets a reply from a lady named Sarah Wheaton. She wants to take the place of Anna's mother. When Sarah arrives, Anna and Caleb can't help but noticing how very sad Sarah is. "I love the sea." she says. Will Sarah stay? With 4(and 1/2)stars what do you think? Read this book to find out!

Boring, Terrible, Not Good At All
"Sarah, Plain and Tall" is a short and boring book. I, an eleven-year-old boy, had to read it for Accelerated Reader, and as the story progressed it became worse and worse. I thought Sarah's letters to her brother in Maine sounded like letters a four-year-old would write to their parents from camp. The book might have been better if it had been told by another character in the story, such as Caleb or Papa. I would never recommend this book to anyone, unless they are absolutely desperate for AR points. I am very surprised that it won the 1986 Newbery Medal. No offense to the author.

Review Of
This book was a book that I did not care for. The plot was poorly developed. There is very little detail. The story goes nowhere fast. My last comment is the book is too short. If you're a person who likes short books basically about the colors blue, gray, and green, and your between the ages of 7-10, knock yourself out.

Sarah, Plain, and Tall
Sarah came to the prairie, from Maine, to marry Papa (Jacob Witting). At firs it seemed like alot to us (Caleb Witting,and Anna Witting,or Jacobs childern) to have a new mother, years after our born mother had died.

These are the words of the spirt filled, child, Anna Witting.
Her mother died the day after her younger brother, Caleb Witting was born.To Caleb a mother was a mystery, unit Sarah came into there life. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you were a kid in the early 1960s, then you saw The Parent Trap with Hayley Mills--it's as simple as that. Now Disney has pulled the beloved comedy--about a pair of twins who meet for the first time at summer camp and vow to reunite their long-divorced parents--out of the mothballs and remade it with a decidedly '90s feel. This time, the twins act is performed by newcomer Lindsay Lohan, who plays both Hallie and Annie, who each live with one of their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson). Adversaries when they first meet at camp, Hallie and Annie become, well, sisters when they figure out that they are siblings. The comedy springs from their efforts to sabotage Dad's impending marriage to the gold-digging Elaine Hendrix, while reintroducing Dad to Mom. Quaid has a nice, loosey-goosey way with slapstick, as does Richardson, who plays a very funny drunk scene. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (291)

subtle and hilarious
The parent trap is a great movie for several reasons : just like the original movie the main caracter is played excellently by Lindsay Lohan. The other actors are of equally high standard, specially Elaine Hendrix as the bride to be and Lisa Ann Walters as the "butler" of the father. Lisa Ann Walters outclasses her predecessor in the 1961 movie. Director Nancy Meyers has a keen eye for detail which shows in scenes with some great nonverbal communication, for instance the conversation in the garden between Elaine Hendrix and Lindsay Lohan. Dennis Quaid is very convincing as a father with his legendary broad smile. Another aspect is the way some "adult" items like divorce and seperation are dealt with and yet arevery acceptable for kids. Very moving moments, like the moment Annie reveals her true identity to Chessie (Walters) are pared with hilarious reactions where Chessie shows her affection by offering in the midst of tears to cook something special, while at the same time not degrading the emotional content of that moment. The same goes for Hallie in London. The music is very functional and thanks to DVD a treat to listen to. Visuals are wonderful too. Elaime Hendrix has had the opportunity to play a much more sophisticated opponent making the movie more fun to watch. All in all a must see family novie !

Terrific Family Film
The parent trap is a great movie for several reasons; just like the original movie the main caracter is played excellently by Lindsay Lohan. The other actors are of equally high standard, specially Elaine Hendrix as the bride to be and Lisa Ann Walters as the "butler" of the father. Lisa Ann Walters outclasses her predecessor in the 1961 movie. Director Nancy Meyers has a keen eye for detail which shows in scenes with some great nonverbal communication, for instance the conversation in the garden between Elaine Hendrix and Lindsay Lohan. Dennis Quaid is very convincing as a father with his legendary broad smile and Natascha Richardson is great as the british mother. Another aspect is the way some "adult" items like divorce and seperation are dealt with and yet arevery acceptable for kids. Very moving moments, like the moment Annie reveals her true identity to Chessie (Walters) are pared with hilarious reactions where Chessie shows her affection by offering in the midst of tears to cook something special, while at the same time not degrading the emotional content of that moment. The same goes for Hallie in London. The music is very functional and thanks to VHS a treat to listen to. Visuals are wonderful too. Elaime Hendrix has had the opportunity to play a much more sophisticated opponent making the movie more fun to watch. All in all a must see family movie, perfect for anybody.

Better than Holes!
I used to have this movie on video tape, but I decided to donate it to Salvation Army and get it on DVD, because I like DVDs better. I had the movie Holes on DVD, too. I bought the movie Holes on DVD when they first released. I really like Holes, too. The differences between Holes and The Parent Trap are good girls vs. bad boys. Holes talks about a camp that's for bad boys and The Parent Trap talks about the camp for good girls. That's why I like girls better than boys, that's why I like The Parent Trap better.

Lindsay Lohan is great!
The movie isn't so much but Lindsay Lohan is great on her double part.
She is a beautiful girl with lots of talent.

Great Movie, Botched DVD.
I absolutely love this movie. I've been waiting for this re-release to come out for a long time and am very disappointed to find it is not an anamorphic widescreen release. It actually says on the back of the packaging, "Enhanced for 16X9 televisions". This is blatantly false. I have to wonder why Disney took the trouble to re-release this but couldn't be bothered to do it right. However, the picture quality was excellent for a non-anamorphic DVD. ... Read more