Reviews (3)

This is a Great Movie
This is one of the best Charlie Chan movies. Though I found the beginning to be slightly confusing, it is a very compelling and interesting story. I would recommend this film to any Chan fan.

A Strong Supporting Cast
Sidney Toler plays Charlie and Sen Yung has the role of Jimmie Chan in this movie about the great detective solving a homicide which happened on board an airliner. It's another 20th Century-Fox film with Harry Lachman as director and a strong supporting cast.

Murder Over New York
My Dad first saw Charlie Chan movies when he was a little kid watching the late late movie(which was frequently a Chan movie). He remembers none of the movies, except this one. Just that says alot. "Murder Over New York" is a great movie, and a good mystery. That plane scene towards the end is one of the most suspenseful scenes ever made in a Chan picture. Number two son Jimmy is on hand as usual, and Sidney Toler does his usual excellent job as Chan. Also, Shemp Howard of Three Stooges fame makes a surprise appearance at one point. "Murder Over New York" may not be critically acclaimed, but it is viewer acclaimed. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Buffalo Soldiers
Too many Americans are still ignoirant about the role of the Black "Buffalo Soldiers" that did a great deal to tame and build the West. This is a very good movie with stout portrayal of the position the black soldiers were in, fighting the Indians on the plains and their own fellow soldiers and the prejudicial system of the day.

As a white American and combat vetran who fought beside black Marines, I am not only proud of the history these black Americans wrote, but of the way they wrote it.

See the movie. It's well done and is definately worth the effort.

A great choice for DVD
This is surely a great title for a DVD release. It's no doubt one the best films by Mr. John Ford. The story is thrilling and remains undated. The battle scenes are great fun. It comes after "The Seachers", in importance, among other great Ford's films. Finally, if that's not enough, just the sight of Jeffrey Hunter in uniform and his fantastic set of blue eyes in Widescreen, would be worth buying two copies. Can't wait! Bring it right now!

A courageous film
What stands out for me about this film is not simply that it deals with racial prejudice at a time when blacks were still struggling for their basic civil rights (there were at the time other films that already dealt with this racism), but rather that it unflinchingly confronted perhaps its most sensitive and poisonous manifestation, namely the fear of whites, especially white males, of the black man ravishing the white woman. In this film, we are set up with the classic stereotype of such fantasies, young, blonde and virginal, and then confronted with the fear and hatred that the accusation against the benighted Sergeant Rutledge of having committed a brutal rape and murder against such a victim evokes in all of its raw ugliness. Moreover, I think that the film is still relevant in this regard in that it suggests that we should ask ourselves how much of a role this fantasy continues to play in the racism against the black male that remains today.
Although I do not consider this to be one of Ford's greatest films, it was, especially for a major and established film director like Ford, a profoundly courageous undertaking.

A cavalry film with a twist...
Director John Ford's strident civil rights drama, set among a troop of African-American "Buffalo Soldiers" in the post-Civil War frontier, is more than a little heavy-handed, but has its heart in the right place. Woody Strode plays a veteran cavalryman falsely accused of molesting a white woman, and facing a legal lynching at the hands of a kangaroo court presumably typical of the times. The script is relentessly one-sided, but is aided by an innovative narrative structure, with "Ran"-like flashbacks that lead backwards to the whole big picture that absolves Rutledge (yet still may not be enough to save his life). Strode, typically stolid and reserved, coolly unfolds his character's emotions, coming to a rousing crescendo at the film's end. Interesting Hollywood "issue" film made as the Civil Rights Movement was still doing a slow simmer in the American South.

A Vastly Underrated Classic
I have seen this film called a "minor Ford work" many times. That may be; however, it rises above much else that is available. The story of Braxton Rutledge,former slave and U.S. cavalry sergeant is captivating and Ford was ahead of his time in making such a story. The film was released in 1960 and the climate of those years was not as it is today. As a result, the film had a rather limited release.

Woody Strode was wonderful in the title role (note though in the credits he receives minor billing); bringing a quiet strength and dignity to the accused man. The scene in which he responds to the battering of a race-baiting attorney is powerful and makes one think that Strode could have been put to better use during his long career.

Sergeant Rutledge deserves reevaluation. ... Read more

Reviews (155)

A New Killer. A New Beginning.
Although most fans of this series say that this is the worst of the series, I whole-heartedly disagree. There are much worse installments of the franchise. The reason why people dislike this movie is mainly because of the fact that Jason Voorhees is not the killer of the movie. That's the beauty of it. It shows the fact that an average joe (or Roy in this case) can mentally snap and go off on a horrific killing spree. Let us not forget that this how Mrs. Pam Voorhees started.

The acting by the cast is horrible and the script wasn't thought out all that well. There are however some hilarious comedic moments now and then in the movie. It's one reedeming quality is the acting portrayed by John Shepherd as Tommy Jarvis. The portrayal of Tommy as a seriously disturbed young man after his encounter w/Jason is very realistic for it shows the constant fear, anger, sadness and paranoia of surviving that horrific night from F13thIV.

This movie had a lot of potential but fell short in what could have been the best in the series since the original.

Don't take my word for it: see it for yourself...if you dare.

NOT AS BAD AS PEOPLE SAY IT IS
YEAH I ADMIT THAT I WAS DISSAPOINTED THAT THE KILLER WAS NOT JASON BUT FOR ALMOST ALL OF THE MOVIE HE ACTED LIKE JASON,MOVED LIKE JASON AND KILLED LIKE JASON SO I THOUGHT IT WAS JASON FOR MOST OF THE MOVIE,THIS ISNT MY FAV IN THE SERIES,MY FAVS ARE PARTS 3,4 AND 6,PART 7 WAS WATCHABLE AND SOMETIMES ENJOYABLE BUT JASON TAKES MANHATTAN AND JASON GOES TO HELL WERE JOKES,EVEN THOUGH I AM A BIG FRIDAY THE 13TH FAN THIS IS NOT MY FAV SERIES OF HORROR MOVIES,MY FAVS ARE THE EVIL DEAD SERIES,A COUPLE OF THE HALLOWEEN SERIES AND A COUPLE OF THE NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET SERIES,BUT THIS INSTALLMENT IN THE FRIDAY THE 13TH SERIES ISNT THAT BAD AT ALL,ITS ACTUALLY QUITE ENTERTAINING AND HAS A COUPLE OF REAL INTERESTING CHARACTERS LIKE VIOLET,SHES SO HOTT,REGGIE THE RECKLESS,TOMMY AND THE HILARIOUS HICK MOTHER AND SON,I AM TRYING TO FIND THE SONG THAT THE GIRL VIOLET IS DOING THE ROBOT DANCE TOO,THE NAME OF THE SONG IS "HIS EYES" BY PSEUDO ECHO AND SHE DOES A PRETTY COOL VERSION OF THE ROBOT DANCE IN THE MOVIE,SHE REMINDS ME OF A YOUNGER MADONNA,ALTHOUGH THIS MOVIE ISNT THE BEST IN THE SERIES ITS STILL WORTH A LOOK

No Jason? No problem.
This is routinely cited as one of, if not the, worst film in the Friday series, and that's saying something.

First off, you won't be watching this flick by accident. Either you're a fan of the series, or not really. It's no secret that the films follow the same formula. It's a real statement about the 80s and about Hollywood in general that the ultra-cynical filmmakers would churn out the same product every year, to diminishing returns, until they ran it into the ground (witness the appalling Part VIII, Jason Takes Manhattan). Strangely enough, the last two installments of this indefatigable series were two of the best: Jason X, and Freddy vs Jason. You have to wreck the series to rebuild it.

Jason was killed at the end of Part IV. It seems that it only took a little bit more abuse than he had endured in Parts 2 and 3 to kill him, even though he was stabbed, hung, axed in the head, etc. But apparently, Tom Savini's machete-to-the-head finale to The Final Chapter was the necessary fix.

Tommy Jarvis, the hero of Part IV, finds himself in a halfway house, years after the events of the previous film. Of course, he is still completely haunted by Jason, the masked maniac invading his daily thoughts. (In Hollywood, you can never recover from trauma, ever, and it will always return to destroy you and your life.)

One day at the half-way house, populated with troubled 80s kids, someone gets butchered, and the cops haul off one of the youths. Then, one-by-one, people start getting offed by a hockey-masked psycho, and Tommy is convinced Jason is back from the dead. It's up to him to ultimately square off against the villain, again, after the requisite amount of bodies pile up.

No secret, but it's not Jason doing the killing in this one, which is the main reason the movie is not well regarded. Also, it happens to be ineptly directed and acted on many fronts, and the gore and violence has been cut to ribbons, yet again, courtesy of the hypocrits at the MPAA who gave an R rating to WAY more violent action films of the same period. Remember folks, if someone gets shot in the movies, it's an action movie, and that's okay. If they get stabbed, it's a horror movie, and the gore needs to be limited.

I would separate the Friday flicks into about three categories, the first four sequels comprising one, then VI, VII, and VIII comprising another, and the later era with Jason Goes to Hell, Jason X, and Freddy vs Jason the last. The original film was going to be a one-off murder mystery, till they decided to have Jason inexplicably rise from Crystal Lake. Then they had a new franchise on their hands. The early films still tried to be horror films, but they weren't scary, just very cynical and violent, and cheaply done. They're fun for fans in the obvious ways, but the series certainly changed with Part VI, becoming more self-reflexive.

The DVD, of course, is a lousy, bare-bones job, yet another by Paramount. We get...a trailer! Wow. The picture is good, the sound is fine, but these are real fan films, best enjoyed by horror film fans and geeks, who have fun with the whole thing, but of course we get zero in the appreciation department from Paramount. Compare these to some of the excellent Anchor Bay DVD releases, most of which reverently collect bonus material for added value.

Recommended for series fanatics, this film will have you rooting for the killer to bump off the annoying cast with demented glee. It does have some appropriately sick and demented touches, including the flare, the decapitated-on-motorbike death of an inbred cretin, a chainsaw, Dudley from Different Strokes, and a cameo by Corey Feldman, whose career would only go downhill after this masterpiece. Oh, and one of the more ineptly directed whodunit plots in a long time.

Not The Peak of the Series
Arguably the worst movie of the Friday the 13th series, "A New Beginning" is exactly that: a restart of the series. The shame in the movie is simply that (SPOILER ALERT!!!) Jason is not the killer. Rather, the culprit is the Ambulance driver posing as Jason to commit murders - - quite the dissapointment. For this the movie instantly loses alot of credit, seeing how Jason is the staple of the Friday the 13th series. Now, I don't want to bash the movie too hard here, there are still pleanty of thrills, scares and deaths. The formula for the film is exactly the same as that of its brothers, its just without the real Jason, and you don't even really know that until the end of the film (although you strongly suspect it about midway through). The film has the usual lot of dimwitted teenagers, including some of the "hardest" nudity in the series, but without Jason at the helm, this film is a sinking ship. Good for a watch, but definatley not my favorite.

My descent into cinematic self-torture
After watching and enjoying the 'Freddy Versus Jason' flick, I made it my duty to watch every 'Nightmare on Elm Street' and 'Friday the 13th' flick so's I could catch up on the back story of both combatants. And after viewing the first five 'Friday' flicks, I'm beginning to regret my decision. I mean, really-- what's the point?! Each new one's pretty much the same as the previous one! Well, except that this movie's setting is some hostel for wacko teenagers rather than a camp or house near Crystal Lake. Then there are the hilariously overdone 'squishy' sound effects that pop up every time an edged weapon rips into some poor slob's flesh. And there's one rather gruesome killin' that Jason DOESN'T perform here, which is kinda new. And the Jason-kills here are even more over-the-top than ever before (A road flare?! Gimme a freakin' break!). Then there's the whole mystery over whether or not the guy doin' almost all of the killin's is the real Jason!

Otherwise, there's the usual 'Friday' staples such as the intro that refers to the previous installment (featuring a brief appearance by 'Friday 4' star Corey Feldman). And of course there's the group of teens (& a few adults) that get picked off one by one. Speakin' And let's not forget the tried-and-true boink scene and pot use, both of which automatically mark for death the partakers in such debauchery. Then there're the attempts at acting by most of the cast that are so bad, you'd swear Ed Wood did the casting! And we can't forget the ending that gives ya a hint that it ain't over yet. Topping things off: just like the previous flicks, I didn't find myself all that scared by the goings-on here. It's probably due to the fact that, after having watched the first four installments, I've become jaded by it all. Well, that and I can see someone's doom comin' from a mile away.

Well, that's pretty much all I hafta say 'bout this entry in the 'Friday the 13th' canon. I'm halfway through now, yay! Now it's on the Part VI, yay! I just can't WAIT to see what new twists they've got in store for me there, heh. Um, yay...

'Late ... Read more

Description

Get set for more action, more vampires and more Wesley Snipes in this second monster-hit installment in the Blade franchise. ... Read more

Reviews (314)

Arguably the Best Action Movie of 2002
Wesley Snipes and Kris Kristofferson return to battle the undead in what will probably be the best action movie of 2002. With a whole slew of fight scenes, great costumes, great weapons, great scenes, and great soundtrack music, Blade II rocks.

Blade (Snipes) is enlisted by the Vampires to help destroy a genetic nightmare-being called the Reapers, which even have the Vampires themselves on the run. Assisting Blade is a re-juvinated Whistler (Kristofferson) and the Bloodpack, an elite group of Vampires trained to hunt Blade led by the lovely Leonor Varela and Ron Perlman. Blade is now the leader of the Bloodpack as they must try to defeat the Reapers.

Two hours later, you're going to have to catch your breath outside of the theater. Del Toro's direction is incredible, as you are right in the thick of the action. All the stops are pulled out for this sequel. However, the only drawback is the lack of a solid plot, but you pretty much forget about that after you get taken in my all the action sequences. The computer effects are equally dazzling, and adds to the gore of the film (which is definately a factor).

Everything is just right in "Blade II". The film is casted well, everything is shiny and glossy with a kick-butt attitude towards it. Camera shots and frame rate are queued with perfection, and the fight scenes during the film are what makes this production top-notch. A must see and a definate buy when released.

Claret has never looked better!!
If Guillermo del Toro set out to translate the language of comics to the silver screen, than he more than achieved his goal with the visually astounding Blade II. With the exception of the two returning characters of Whistler and Blade, this 'sequel' couldn't be more removed from the original if it tried. From atmosphere and colour coded lighting to whip crack pace and even more gore, Blade II is relentless in it's attempt to leave you gasping by the time the blood drenched credits roll. Foregoing any real semblance of plot (that would only slow things down after all), the film tends to feel like one long fight scene but it's all executed so impressively that the final impression left is one not unlike riding a rollercoaster. Not a bad thing and an even better thing if that's what the director set out to do. Guillermo himself is unapologetic in his honesty that he was simply intended to fashion a 'kick ...' movie that while different from Stephen Norrington's original, retains the similar style and wit that made the first so special. Acting wise, Blade is a role Wesley Snipes could probably play in his sleep so while he is predictably fantastic in bringing the character to believable life, all eyes settle on newcomer Luke Goss (he of Bros fame) and he doesn't dissapoint as the ruthless (and perhaps somewhat tragic) reaper Gerrad Nomak. From his appearance onscreen, Goss gives a captivating performance, somehow even investing a real humanity in a character that is more animalistic than human and that is testament to Goss' talents. Smartly avoiding overkill in the make up department, it's Goss' physical presence that is the most unsettling aspect of the villian. With two such formidable actors grounding the insanity that ensures in it's running run, the film is left to throw body parts up at the screen haphazardly. That it is crafted all so professionally allows you to simply be whisked away for the horrific ride. While not as acomplished as the first, Blade II remains startling good viewing. All action genres are pandered to, the horror fans get what they are after and when all is said and done, some might find themselves surprised how addictive the film continues to be, requesting if not demanding repeated viewings. A great horror and action film that deserves more of an accolade than simply 'sequel' and more a title in it's own right.

BEST MOVIE EVER
After the first installment in the Blade series, I was really looking forward to the sequel - and I wasn't dissapointed. This far surpasses Blade and just hightens the suspense for Blade: Trinity (out Dec 10). Wesley Snipes is his usual great self in a fast-paced, suspense action movie. Kris Kristofferson is brilliant as Whistler once again (as are the rest of the cast). If you liked the first then you will definetly like this - and hopefully like me you cant wait for Blade: Trinity !

Blade I Retains M. Wolfman Touch....
....Blade II does not.

What's the Marv Wolfman Touch you may ask. Wolfman and Gene Colan of course was the original Marvel comics team which created Blade from a subplot in their most popular horror comic Tomb of Dracula in the 1970s. Those dudes pretty much knew they were creating comic books stories and never, never took themselves 100% too seriously.

Blade II loses the light touch--as much as fables of vampirous goings on could indeed have a light touch--and goes for the jugular, pun intended. I found myself wishing for one of those campy, talky Vincent Price death scenes since most of the creatures here explode in a special effects blast into dust and immediately into oblivion type of thing when killed. The crew of offending vampires creepily open the flesh on their cheek, jaws and upper neck to--bite yer neck and suck yer blaad! Yeesh! And Snipes smiles sadistiaclly thru-out the entire thing. It was a chore to look at it 'cuz it is busy, so many of those vamp things disintergate and no one is having that much fun. I'll watch a video featuring Sesame Street's Count any day insteada this mess.

Pulse-Pounding!!!!
When the world is threatned by a new and deadlier breed of super vampire the legendary Blade and his mentor Whistler must join forces with the Bloodpack, an elite team of vampire warriors made up of his sworn enemies. In order to stop the carnage these ravenous fiends must be destroyed at all costs. In this high-voltage adventure, exploding with spectular effects and martial arts action. The electrifying Snipes reprises his role from the original cult classic Blade. I thought this was a hell of alot better than the original. I thought the sequel had a better plot, great acting, excellent fight scenes, and nonstop action. If you liked the original, you'll love the sequel. I loved the sequel, alot more than I liked the original. ENJOY!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Robert Bolt's successful play was not considered a hot commercial property by Columbia Pictures--a period piece about a moral issue without a star, without even a love story. Perhaps that's why Columbia left director Fred Zinnemann alone to make A Man for All Seasons, as long as he stuck to a relatively small budget. The results took everyone by surprise, as the talky morality play became a box-office hit and collected the top Oscars for 1966. At the play's heart is the standoff between King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw, in young lion form) and Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield, in an Oscar-winning performance). Henry wants More's official approval of divorce, but More's strict ethical and religious code will not let him waffle. More's rectitude is a source of exasperation to Cardinal Wolsey (Orson Welles in a cameo), who chides, "If you could just see facts flat on without that horrible moral squint." Zinnemann's approach is all simplicity, and indeed the somewhat prosaic staging doesn't create a great deal of cinematic excitement. But the language is worth savoring, and the ethical politics are debated with all the calm and majesty of an absorbing chess game. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (92)

A longtime favorite
One of the greatest English language films ever made about one of the greatest men who ever lived. St. Thomas More was a man of extraordinary conviction and through the years has proven to be a great inspiration to me, personally. When Sir Thomas is asked to endorse Henry VIII's petition for annulment from his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, he's fully aware of the consequences of his refusal. Nevertheless, he did what he knew and felt was right and he paid the ultimate price. A true martyr in every sense of the word and a film that makes the viewer question his own value system and sense of passion and integrity. Paul Scoffield's brilliant and profound characterization of Sir Thomas is still a wonder to behold. He imbues this larger than life person with such quiet dignity and grace that it belies the reality of his existence. This is not a man worried about dying. This is a man worried about living without the courage of his convictions, knowing that he supported something he truly abhorred and knew was wrong. Robert Shaw's performance as Henry VIII is equally wonderful, as are Susannah York, Dame Wendy Hiller and Orson Wells. I never tire of watching this film or reading the play; incidentally, also one of my favorites.

A well-crafted film...
I first saw "A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS" in 1966 when it first came out. I was a senior in high school, and since this was the pre-hippie era, everyone was gung-ho about Sir Thomas More's duty, integrity, etc. There's no question that Fred Zinnemann crafted a masterpiece on the tiny budget allowed him by Columbia, since all the studios were losing money on talky, period pieces.The acting is incomparable, a perfect ensemble centering around the unflinchingly confident performance of Scofield (he'd done the role hundreds of times on stage). The costumes won an Oscar, and were certainly beautiful, though they were so bulky it looked really difficult for the characters to get close to each other. It won an Oscar for Cinematography, too, though the film really is somewhat of a filmed play (I thought the filming of "Hawaii" and "The Sand Pebbles",also nominated, was more breath-taking). Though these are minor problems, they are soon forgotten when one pays attention to the incredible screenplay of Robert Bolt.Loaded with passion and strong character development, it's also a valid history lesson. Don't watch this if there are any distractions (kids, company, etc.) since its maximum appreciation requires concentration. I'm also wondering why the DVD is substantially higher-priced than most others, since there are absolutely NO extras of any kind. This film is notable also for Vanessa Redgrave's unbilled film debut as Anne Boleyn, on screen for only a few minutes, but an absolutely riveting film moment. Everyone should see ths film, but I'd hesitate to recommend you buy it if only due to the unreasonable price.

"Seasons" offers poignancy, pause
Paul Scofield's quiet, dignified portrayl of Sir Thomas More is one of the most riveting performances one will ever find.

With a determined, yet not brash or unseemly stance against Henry VIII (Robert Shaw, in all his young glory), More creates a devastating question for the viewer: how long do our principles remain dear to us. To discomfort? To imprisonment? To death?

Perhaps one of the most endearing qualities of More's character is that he does not waver. It is a quality that is only universal in the sense that it is respected by all men and possessed by very few.

In the end, perhaps the only validation More is given is the dignity of his death, his detractors exposed as dishonest, biased men. Is that enough? Certainly More was able to change little of history by the manner of his death. It did not stop the divorce OR the Anglican church. Perhaps the only prize integrity has is itself. Certainly More himself believed a much higher reward awaited him. After watching this movie, regardless of religion, you will find yourself hoping he was right.

The Most Interesting of Six Thomases
This period in English history and then the Elizabethan era which follows have always interested me. You thus can understand my appreciation of Derek Wilson's book In the Lion's Court: Power, Ambition, and Sudden Death in the Reign of Henry VIIII. Wilson focuses his primary attention on six Thomases: Wolsey, More, Cromwell, Howard, Wriothesley, and Cramner. Henry's VIII's relationships with all six serve as the basis of Wilson's narrative. By the way, there really were lions in London at that time ("the King's Beasts") housed in the Tower menagerie and a major tourist attraction. More once compared the king's court to a lion pit "in which the magnificent and deadly king of beasts held sway." Of the six, More interests me the most. His rectitude threatens and infuriates Henry, and eventually results in More's execution. Thus presented, More is a tragic but noble political victim and religious martyr, later canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. He is no less admirable as portrayed by Wilson but, in my opinion, is much more complicated than Bolt and others suggest. For years, More skillfully navigated his way through a court ("a lion pit") characterized by what Wilson refers to as its "seamy realities": "The royal entourage was a vicious, squirming world of competing ambitions and petty feuds, guilty secrets and salacious prudery. Courtiers, vulnerable to threats and bribes, could be induced to perjure themselves, to exaggerate amorous incidents which were innocent in the context of stylised chivalric convention, to indulge personal vendettas....Over all these momentous happenings looms the larger-than-life figure of Henry VIII, powerful and capricious yet always an enigma."

People still disagree about Robert Bolt's characterization of More in the play and then in the film for which Bolt received an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay. I agree with others who insist that More was less noble than Bolt suggests. No one, however, disputes the fact that More courageously accepted decapitation rather than compromise his religious faith. Cynics suggest that More was already a dead man...and knew it. He had an estate to protect and family obligations to accommodate. I am unqualified to speculate or even comment further on More's motives even as I marvel at his survival skills when drawn into "the lion's court."

Paul Scofield received and deserved his Academy Award for best actor in a leading role. The film and director Fred Zimmermann also received Academy Awards. The cast is exceptionally talented, especially Nigel Davenport (Duke of Norfolk), Wendy Hiller (Alice Cromwell), John Hurt (Richard Rich), Leo McKern (Thomas Cromwell), Vanessa Redgrave (Ann Boleyn), Robert Shaw (Henry VIII), Orson Welles (Cardinal Wolsey), and Susannah York (Margaret More). Unlike many stage productions later filmed, this one derives substantial benefit from Ted Moore's cinematography, especially the exteriors shot throughout and beyond royal residences. Moore also received an Academy Award for his work.

Those with an especially keen interest may wish to examine The Last Letters of Thomas More as well as several solid biographies of him by Peter Ackroyd, J.A. Guy, Richard Marius, and Gerard B. Wegemer.

A film for all viewers
Without a doubt, this is one of my top ten films of all time, mainly because there is so much that can be drawn from.

Zinnemann's adaptaion of the Robert Boltman play was done on a low budget, and whilst it takes artistic license slightly further, the film remains a historical masterpiece. Paul Schofield as More is magnificent, combining a stoical adherence to truth on the one hand, with a dry wit on the other, and this is an accuracy of depiction that could not have been drawn from the words of the script. Robert Shaw as Henry is also fantastic, showing the viewer both the very personal side of the monarch, when he is disappointed at More's non-attendence at the wedding to Anne Boleyn; and the aggression of a lion as he shouts (in full hearing of all party guests) - "I ask you, do they take me for a simpleton?" The swift change from an amiable friend to a dominating absolute monarch is brilliantly played by Shaw, and though it is a marked contrast to the plain More, the performances are equally great.

In October 2000, John Paul II made Thomas More the Patron of politicians (he was already the unofficial patron of Catholic lawyers in the UK). Both positions indicate what a great man he was. A scholar of great learning, a man of letters, a liberal in an autocratic age. His character was perhaps best displayed as his end, in his words to the executioner - "Pluck up thy spirits, man, and be not afraid to do thine office; my neck is very short; take heed therefore thou strike not awry, for saving of thine honesty." The combination of humor and greatness, even in the face of death, povide a role model for all.

If you enjoy the film, read the play and 'The Life of Sir Thomas More' by William Roper, his nephew. Although it bears relation to a specific incident, this popular poem of the time is a fitting epitaph for this great man -
When More some time had Chancellor been
No more suits did remain.
The like will never more be seen,
Till More be there again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This hit-and-miss 1988 comedy pairs John Candy and Dan Aykroyd in a story of one family's summer vacation all but ruined by the uninvited appearance of another, more loutish family. Howard Deutch (Some Kind of Wonderful) directs from a half-hearted John Hughes script, which reduces Hughes's jokes-and-epiphanies formula (The Breakfast Club, Home Alone) to true gaudiness. On the other hand, Annette Bening makes her screen debut here. The DVD release has a widescreen presentation, production notes, trailer, optional French soundtrack, and optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Hilarious and lighthearted
Dan Aykroyd and John Candy are hysterical in this lighthearted comedy. Candy and his family go to a cabin in the woods for what Candy hopes will be a relaxing summer vacation. Soon after their arrival, Aykroyd and his family show up uninvited and take over. Over the course of the week, they meet a man who has been struck by lightning 66 times, a 100-year-old man who dies on his birthday yet still comes to the party, and a feisty local girl who toys with Candy's oldest son. Add to this a family of determined racoons with a language all their own ("What do they think we have these wonderfully dextrous fingers for?"), an unwelcome bat flying in the house ("It buzzed me"), a dump full of hungry bears ("Yogi and Boo-boo in the flesh"), and a bald-headed grizzly ("Big bear chase me!") and hilarity ensues. It's a movie you'll want to watch again and again.

ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES
I LOVED this movie and would recommend it to everyone.
John Candy takes his family for a relaxing vaction in the mountains. To his surprise his obnoxious brother-inlaw, played by Dan Aykroyd and his family arrive. They were not welcome visitors.
Poor John tries desperately to have a relaxing time despite a cabin full of unwanted company. Unfortunately everything bad that can happen does. Including in this is another unwelcome guest, this time a bat. I'm telling you, I laughed myself silly over this scene. Perhaps it is because I have had such an adventure and it was much more fun watching someone else go through it. Of course the attack of the bald headed bear has to rank up there as well, as John and his brother-in-law try to protect their family against yet another unwanted guest.
This movie is a laugh a minute and one that will leave you with a giggle in your heart. Feeling down? Get this movie!
Truly a legacy of the one we all will greatly miss, Mr. John Candy.

A Perennial Favorite
We watch this movie at least once per summer while at the lake in Wisconsin. There's nothing like it to make the entire family crack up laughing with nearly every scene. This movie is as much a part of our family summer vacation as the stay in the Northwoods alone.

You can't go wrong with this classic movie, The Great Outdoors.

One big laugh riot
I adore "The Great Outdoors". This is one of my favorite John Candy movies of all time. Yeah it is no Shakespeare but I wouldn't have it any other way. Dan Ackroyd plays the obnoxious brother-in-law who crashes John Candy's family vacation up in the woods at a cozy little resort. Dan brings his neglected wife played by Annette Benning and their identical twin daughters who are bit on the scary side. The results is a non-stop laugh riot. No many how many times I have watched this film, I still find myself laughing uncontrollably, especially when the raccoons comes out at night to raid the trash cans. I loved it when the young raccoon is told what hot dogs are made of. Anyone familiar with Doug Seuss's bears would know that this is one of the films that the late Bart the Bear made as the bald-headed bear. I loved the final interaction between John Candy's character and the bald-headed bear. It is one of the funniest scenes in the film, next to the water-skiing scene. One of the classic moments in the film is when the entire family goes out to dinner and John Candy decides to order the ol' 96er (this enormous chunk of beef). I personally love "The Great Outdoors". It remains one of my favorite movies from the '80s. It is pure physical comedy. There are a lot worse films than this if you ask me, namely Carrot Top's lone film "Chairman of the Board".

A Good Family Movie
This is a pretty good John Candy/Dan Aykroyd movie. While it's not as good as Uncle Buck or Planes, Trains & Automobiles, it's not bad at all. It's a great Summer/Family Comedy. It doesn't make me laugh and laugh, it's just fun to watch. I'll never stop liking it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Régis Wargnier's 1992 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film is a bit like watching paint dry, despite its exotic locale and lead performance by the legendary Catherine Deneuve (Belle de Jour, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg). Deneuve plays a wealthy French landowner, born and raised in Indochina, from 1930 until 1955, the year of a Communist takeover. The brewing political changes bound to upset her fortune and destiny find an even more personal parallel in her relationship with an adopted daughter (Linh Dan Pham), who grows up and becomes independent. The outline of this scenario sounds pretty good, but the film is flat and unworthy of its star. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Sweeping epic that focuses on romance, not revolution
This 1992 film won an Academy Award for best foreign language film. Starring Catherine Deneuve, it's a sweeping epic set in French Indochina in the late 1930s. The French were colonialists without apology. They felt they were bringing civilization to the country. We all know what happened later, but the characters don't. This made me have the persistent feeling throughout about how I knew the style of life displayed in the film would all be swept away.

Catherine Deneuve was almost fifty years old when the film was made and her maturity just adds to her beauty and elegance. She's cast as a wealthy rubber plantation owner who has never married but has adopted a lovely young Vietnamese girl she raises as her daughter with all the advantages of a French education and beautiful clothes. Both she and her daughter, played by Linh Dan Pham, fall in love with the same French navel officer, 30-year old Vincent Perez. And when the lovely Catherine has him sent to a remote outpost, her daughter follows him. There's political upheaval in the air and soon the daughter and the naval officer are on the run. Eventually they become revolutionaries. There's much tragedy. And a child who is left to be raised by his grandmother.

It's a good story, well told. But it focuses on the romance instead of the revolution. This makes it a little too sugar coated for my taste although the acting is excellent and the screenplay engaging. It did hold my interest throughout the 158 minutes, however, and gave me a picture of what Vietnam must have been like for the French. They lived a fairytale existence in the lap of luxury while all around them people were being exploited and worked to death. I enjoyed the film even though it lacked the bite and emotional engagement that I would have preferred.

Beauty and Sorrow
This deeply felt and emotionally rich portrait of a country about to change forever is one of the most beautiful films ever made. It is elegant and opulent in it's visual presentation and subtle in it's human tale of heartbreak. This film has the majesty of morning sunlight on water we dare not shield our eyes from for fear we will miss one moment of its glory.

Director Reigis Wargnier has created a masterpiece of epic beauty, showing us the country of Vietnam when it existed as the French colony Indochine. He shows how and why the communist uprising was so popular and the way of life it threatened. It does not make judgements but shows the human drama and the heartbreak caused by a way of life that existed and the one that was coming to change it.

Wargnier accomplishes all this in a slow and visually stunning portrait of one family in Indochine centering around the magnificent performance of Catherine Deneuve as French rubber plantation owner Eliane Deveries and the equally terrific Linh Dan Phan as her adopted Indochine daughter Camille. The contrasts of Eliane's cool elegance and Camille's young and sensual beauty is like a mirror for the country itself as Wargner shows the difference between the French and those that serve them.

Eliane runs her rubber plantation with the help of her 'coolies' and it appears to be her entire life except for her daughter Camille. Eliane's cool outward elegance only masks the repressed emotions she hides from others. Her affairs have been casual and she believes indifference is the secret to surviving love. But that indifference changes dramatically as she finally falls hard for young French Naval Officer Vincent Perez (Jean-Baptiste Le Guen). She throws herself at him as he draws away and discovers she is not enough for Vincent.

There is much unrest at the class distinctions of Indochine. Eliane's Indochine is one of elegance and self-indulgence. It is a world of Fitzgerald and Gatsby. The world of the Indochene people is more severe. This film takes it's time showing us all that is beautiful about the country and slowly begins to show the darkness underneath that beauty when Camille falls in love with Vincent also. Eliane is stunned beyond words but not actions as she uses her clout to have him transferred to the farthest outpost so Camille can go through with an arranged marriage to Tanh (Eric Nguyen).

But Eliane has underestimated her daughter's love for Vincent and she runs away to find him. Vincent has learned about the slave trade which provides Eliane and others like her with their workers in this remote French outpost and sees firsthand it's brutality. When Camille finds him it is during the picking of these workers and a tragedy forces both to flee to a place hidden and supposedly cursed where their love will bloom and a legend will start. There are some tender and moving moments and some true heartbreak involving a baby.

As the communist revolution grows stronger and Camille is imprisoned, Vincent will meet Eliane once more. It is only when Camille is imprisoned that she is even sure she is alive. Her long time aquaintance Guy (Jean Yanne) has been searching for years as the legend of this young beauty has grown so that everyone in the country knows the story. Once released she will be the one to help change the country forever, but not before a heartbreaking meeting with her mother and a sacrifice of love.

This film may indeed be slow but it is emotionally rich and the visual beauty of the country itself is magnificently captured. Deneuve's cool elegance is perfect for the part and her Oscar nomination was well deserved. Linh Dan Phan is wonderful as Camille as she goes from the innocence of dancing with her mother to her country's Joan of Arc. There are no judgements made here. This is a human film and not a political one. This film is what a Renoir painting would be if it could leave the canvas and find our hearts.

Watch this film and stay with it. It is richly rewarding and certainly one of the finest films ever made. It's quiet beauty and sorrow you will not soon forget. You must see, and own, this magnificent film.

one of the best
Few films touch my mind, heart and soul at once. This one does. It presents strong, multidimensional characters in complex situations, and who change, grow, and cope with challenges and tragedy in sometimes surprising ways. I am stunned to see the reviews that saw the actors as wooden, the directing inconsistent, or the story lacking: they didn't see what I saw, suggesting that different experiences lead to different perceptions. This film can be seen at many levels and with many interpretations: among them, it showed how individuals may support tyranny with the best of intentions, oppression must fail, and change requires sacrifice...love may conquer, but perhaps not as one hopes for individual joy. There were no innocents, no ineffably strong heroes in this film. The characters portrayed people with whom I could relate, and understand, and cry for. Yet all of the central characters had (at least at some point) participated in enforcing oppression, or committed murder for various compelling reasons. It shows that those who accept the call to fight injustice may be compelled to sacrifice their personal happiness if not their lives-- and their motives are not necessarily noble. The film provides insight to the history that led to the Vietnam war, and relevant perspectives for reflecting on present problems of terrorism, cultural imperialism, and political justifications for war. As in life, there is no single correct view, no one correct line of action, only flawed humans, inadequate policies, and political systems dedicated to reinforcing a status quo. And Indochine shows the failures, the struggles and the human drama...will we ever learn from history?

Awful, overacted, messy
I wish I could find something good about this film but helas...I'm a true passionate about Vietnam but this film is one of the worst ever made about it. I really envy non french-speakers who may then not be affected by the terrible acting (but the text is basically awful so the actors may not be totally responsible). This film is discontinued, the storyline is either too slow or too fast, no identification with the characters is possible, the actors seem to 'recitate' their part with no emotion (Deneuve plays 'Deneuve' and Vincent Perez can be good-looking he truly has no talent). Everything happens abruptly with no real sense. We don't see that much of the Vietnam either and these bits of history do nothing for the film. Reality is far more complex than the 'nasty French and the nice Vietnamese'. This is a very black and white approach.
Bits of this and bits of that, I find hard to understand how this film got an award for the best foreign film. My advice would be: borrow it from someone you know before you actually buy it.
I certainly will recommend 'The Lover' inspired by Marguerite Duras'novel of the same name as well as the films like 'Cyclo' or 'the smell of the green papaya'. A different aspect of the Vietnam but far more interesting and so much more beautiful.

Powerful sophistication
Catherine Deneueve returns to bring class to the movies! This time, she plays a French colonialist in Vietnam who is in love with a man who has an affair with her adopted daughter. The film covers many social and political questions that are still hot topics today! A very relevant film with powerhouse performances by great actors.

Another great film by the progressive French! ... Read more

Reviews (42)

"Film Noir, Meet Marilyn Monroe."
Marilyn Monroe was so good at playing the ditzy, sexy blond in upbeat comedies she became typecast in those sorts of roles. Niagara was one of her rare opportunities to show she was a fine dramatic actress, as well.

This is the story of two couples. Ray Cutler (Casey Adams) and wife Polly (Jean Peters) are taking their three-years-delayed honeymoon. George Loomis (Joseph Cotten) is a stressed-out, failed businessman and war veteran, his wife Rose (Monroe), the ex-barmaid plotting with a secret lover to kill her husband. All four characters wind up at the same hotel bordering Niagara Falls.

Things go wrong for Rose when George, proving surprisingly resilient, overcomes the lover, killing him instead, and, realizing his wife set him up, fakes his own death and begins stalking her. The Cutlers, especially Polly, are drawn into the drama when George, post-murder attempt, not realizing the Cutlers have been moved into his and Rose's old cabin, breaks in, intending to stab Rose, surprising Polly instead. Now Polly knows George is alive, but due to her overbearing, not-terribly-bright husband's interference, can't convince anyone else, specifically the police, of that fact.

Jean Peters and Joseph Cotten turn in respectable performances. Casey Adams is irritating - of course, that might be because his character is a moron. For pure movie magic, Niagara belongs to Marilyn. Whenever she's on-screen, the camera loves her. The standout scene has her in a killer, shocking pink dress that does an outstanding job of emphasizing what she has so much of. When Ray sees Rose, he asks Polly (a fresh-faced girl next door type if ever there was one), "Why don't you ever get a dress like that?" Her answer: "Listen, for a dress like that you've gotta start laying plans when you're about 13." Rose has a kid at a party play a record of her favorite song ("Kiss"), then begins singing along. The look on her face then, dreamy, yearning, is mesmerizing. We get the feeling, way before we meet the lover, or even know he exists, it's not thoughts of her husband motivating that look.

Marilyn must've had a ball making Niagara. No one else has ever looked so good just lounging in bed. And when she believes her husband is dead, Rose's look of wicked delight - she has to hide her desire to laugh out loud in front of the Cutlers - is priceless. Rose is beautiful, scheming, deceitful, manipulative, cruel, sultry, and yet, paradoxically, has a sort of little girl innocence that makes you root for her to succeed in offing George - who's a serious whiner, anyway - and live happily ever after with her unnamed lover.

The only problems I had with this movie were: (a) We're never given a compelling reason why Rose plots to murder George. Sure, she wants to be free to be with her lover, but why not simply get a divorce? The motivation of a fat insurance policy, or that her husband would kill her if she tried to leave (difficult to believe in any event - he's pretty pathetic to start with), or any one of several other motives never established, would've gone a long way toward having the basic plot make sense. (b) A key scene has Rose and George locked inside a major tourist attraction after closing hours - which means the employees locked up the building without first checking to see whether anyone was still inside. Not likely.

Joe MacDonald's cinematography is excellent, the scenery - both Niagara Falls and Marilyn - stunning, and director Henry Hathaway makes the most of both. Niagara has been restored as part of the "Marilyn Monroe: The Diamond Collection" DVD project, its colors vibrant and alive. It's deserving of this treatment, if only for Marilyn Monroe as Rose Loomis, and that it proves film noir in bright, brassy Technicolor really can work.

MARILYN IN HER PRIME....
This isn't the ultimate Marilyn movie ("The Seven Year Itch" holds that honor) but it's a prime look at Monroe in an unusual role as a scheming man-trap out to kill her husband (Joseph Cotton, who's excellent). She's the whole show and I wish she could have done more films like this that put her in off-beat situations giving her a chance to stretch as an actress. She's gorgeous in Technicolor and a believable vixen/victim when her plan backfires leaving her to be stalked by Cotton. You feel sorry for her at this point. Jean Peters is good as a sympathetic neighbor but Casey Adams (as Peters' husband) is woefully miscast and clearly out of his league here. He nearly sinks the whole film as a co-star and there's way too much of him in the film. But that's the only complaint. Otherwise, Monroe keeps us glued to the screen when she appears and we root for her no matter what she's up to. There's beautiful Niagara scenery and a great scene where she appears at an outdoor party in a sexy red dress and requests a sexy song to be played. She then proceeds to sing along with the record as she closes her eyes obviously thinking of her lover. The song "Kiss" later is reprised as the lovers' theme song and figures in an unusual plot to lure Monroe to Cotton---whom she thinks has been killed by the lover as part of their plan. Marilyn shows here what she had to become the icon she is now. This movie nicely represents the reasons people fell in love with her. How right they were.

Marilyn Monroe in her first Technicolor starring role!
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This is Marilyn Monroe's first starring role in a glorious Technicolor production. The technicolor film process seems a perfect match for Monroe; her ruby red lips and golden blonde hair are dazzling, and her skin tones are magnificent.

The plot puts Monroe in a dramatic role that allows her to chew up every scene. It's also the only film in her career (fortunately!) in which Monroe's character dies.

Niagara Falls are the spendiforous background in this drama, and Marilyn Monroe proves that she is probably the only star in cinema history that can eclipse such a natural phenomenon.

Marilyn absolutely sizzles on the screen when she performs her sensual rendition of the siren song "Kiss", wearing a dress "cut so low in front you can see her kneecaps" (as stated in the script). Indeed, "a girl has to start making plans when she's thirteen to wear a dress like that!" (Also from the script.)

Enjoy the magic of Marilyn Monroe in dazzling Technicolor in this great movie.

MMMmmmmmmarvelous Marilyn!

Marilyn and Jean and Niagara- what a treat!
All reviews of this movie center on Monroe and her protuberant curves - and I agree, she and her instant fame deserve some of the credit. BUT Niagara Falls and Jean Peters also deserve some special mention here. Whereas Marilyn is sexy in most her scenes, Peters is charming, a good actress and quite beautiful...and then there is Niagara Falls. This torrent of water never looked better.
The acting. Marilyn in her first film as a "star" does okay - but as far as good acting is concerned it is Peters and Joseph Cotten that deserve better credit. Then I do agree with some reviews that Cassey Adams (aka Max Shoewalter) is miscast and a bit over the top in his acting. This role was to be played by another Fox contract player (I think Jeffrey Hunter) but Fox weanted someone funny in the role (big mistake!). And the role of Marilyn's lover was actually offered (enlarged, of course) to Tony Curtis.
The movie originally was planned for Anne Baxter in Peters's role and the role of Marilyn ironically was to be played by Peters. When Baxter got pregnant by her husband, Peters took over her role and Marilyn...well she became a "star". Even the movie's title song (which was to be "Night and Day") was changed for a song Marilyn portrayed in the movie -titled "Kiss". At any rate, it certainly is because of Marilyn that this has become a cult movie and a classic - But Peters, Cotten and Niagara Falls did help a lot in getting NIAGARA to achieve this status .

Sensual, unforgettable Monroe. Made her a star.
One of the best projects Marilyn was associated with. I didn't like Niagara the first time i saw it, because i thought Marilyn was only good for comedy. But this role as the sensual, unfaithful wife of Joseph Cotton's (superbly performed) troubled war veteran is one of her most memorable roles. Pleanty of indelible Marilyn images come from here: Marilyn lying seemingly naked with legs apart under bed in hotel room, purple dress standing against cabin in grammophone scene, and the entire grammophone scene. Pleanty of location shooting made good use of the beautiful location, and the motif of the song the lovers sing to each other is a beautiful touch. The suspense develops well, but i suppose it depends on what you're expecting. I found it a great sensual thriller, but this movie lives and dies with Monroe. She is captivating in every scene, and looks stunning. The belltower climax of the movie is very fine indeed, one of the best scenes she ever played in. Nods to director Hathaway for camera placement in this scene.

Best line:

(Monroe has just done a sensual walk to the grammophone and had them put it on, then had a virtual standing orgasm listening to it, and spent an entire minute of close-up singing along to it, and the happy-go-lucky honeymooner character says to her)

Honeymooner: You seem to really like this song, Mrs Loomis."

Marilyn: "There isn't any other song," she says. But its all in her face - it always was. One of the best moments in her career. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

LIFEGUARD
If you consider yourself a movie fan then Lifeguard is a must see. Sam Elliot's performance as Lifeguard Rick Carlson is vintage Elliot. This performance, and his perfect performance in Mask as Garr, make Elliot one of the best actors in the past 30 years. It takes place on the beaches of LA so Elliot is tan and in the best physical shape of his career. Elliot battles the pressures of the working world, while juggling several women. It has the beach, a great love story, and of course Elliot. So if you even somewhat like movies Lifeguard is for you!

THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB
The story goes that Daniel Petrie was having problems casting the lead role in his new movie, "Lifeguard." His wife had recently seen "Frogs" and she suggested that he take a look at a young actor in that movie named Sam Elliott. Bless Mrs. Petrie! Sam Elliott is so right for his role in "Lifeguard" that it's difficult to imagine the movie without him. In fact, though he's done some good work since then, nothing in Sam Elliott's career quite matches his performance here though, unfortunately, the movie didn't attract much notice when it was released back in 1975. Perhaps the audience which might have appreciated it was discouraged by an ad campaign which made "Lifeguard" look a bit like those "Beach Blanket Bingo" movies.

Actually, "Lifeguard" is a thoughtful study of a man who's happy in a job which others consider beneath him. At one point he's tempted to change his life in order to conform to others' expectations, but by the end of the movie he's decided to be his own man and to follow a course which satisfies him. This philosophy has echoes of the "do-your-own-thing" mood of the 1960's but it's presented here in a quieter, more mature form.

Still A Satisfying View!
I just took this movie off the shelf and viewed it again after a few years. The message still rings true and the storyline is still poignant and real. Sam Elliott is great in this movie as are the supporting actors. The beach scenes are fantastic and the "to thine own self be true" theme resonates long after the movie is over. I only wish the writers would have resolved Rick's relationship with his old high school flame. But I guess we can all imagine our own view of the ending. Buy it!

much better in original format
this movie is one of my favorite movies. but why did they change the original song to just plain music. the original song at the beginning and end of this film went much better with the movie then the song they have now. i wan't to get this on dvd with the original song please thank you.

A CLASSIC!
This movie was a very good film indeed.Watch sam elliot star as a man in his early 30's going thru an early mid-life crisis,trying to decide whether he should finally "so called" grow up and get a real job or stay at a job he truly loves.This film really moved me and i am truly happy of how this movie ended!Buy this video while you still can. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

"Tis a far, far better thing..."
than a lot of other movies, that's for sure! What a wonderful adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities". Like so many of the great author's works, this story is crammed full of images famous outside of the work itself: Madame DeFarge and her incessant, malevolent knitting, Dr. Manet lost in his cobbling, Sydney Carton offering the ultimate love sacrifice. Ronald Colman gives a splendid performance as the world-weary Sydney, and looks surprisingly young without his trademark moustache. Among the good supporting cast, Edna May Oliver, as always, steals the show as the prim Miss Pross, chaperone to Lucie Manet, daughter of the unfortunate doctor held captive in the Bastille for half a lifetime. Like all pre-GWTW Selznick pictures, the movie has an air of the antique about it (like "David Copperfield" and "Little Women"), but for a story set in the distant past, that makes sense. It had been many years since I last saw this piece, and what surprised me were the excellently done mob scene when the French peasants charge the Bastille, and when Madame DeFarge denounces Charles Darney in the witness box. Usually, the only scene excerpted from "A Tale of Two Cities" is the last guillotine shot, but I think it's a disservice to the film to not show more of these other great scenes to a larger audience. "It was the best of times" seeing this grand old film--take my work for it, and rent it yourself.

COLMAN'S FINEST HOUR.
Originally released for Christmas in 1935, this splendidly produced, atmospheric and magnificently acted film displayed M-G-M's flair for filming literary classics - DAVID COPPERFIELD was released earlier that year - with no expense spared; the storming of the Bastille sequence employed several thousand extras and was filmed on one of Hollywood's largest sets ever. Ronald Colman was intially reluctant to play the role of Sidney Carlton, that charming but dissolute lawyer who commits the ultimate self - sacrifice ...... It took great persuasion to make Colman shave off his trademark moustache for the role of Carlton, but he delivered more than likely his finest performance ( Later in his life, Colman admitted this was his personal favourite of all his roles ). Charles Dicken's stirring classic of seventeenth-century Paris and London and the events surrounding the French Revolution had been filmed as silents on four different occasions -twice each in Great Britain and America - this easily remains the definitive masterpiece. Under Jack Conway's meticulous direction, A TALE OF TWO CITIES offers memorable performances by a fine cast, including the marvelously hammy Blanche Yurka, frightening Lucille LaVerne, vinegary Edna May Oliver, despicable Basil Rathbone, eloquent Henry B. Walthall ( he was the "Little Colonel" in BIRTH OF A NATION ) and, in a radical change of pace, the dimunitive Isabel Jewell, as the pathetic seamstress who accompanies Colman to the place of his execution.

MAKE THIS AVAILABLE AGAIN, PLEASE
They don't make 'em like this anymore - and that is a shame. A fast-paced, interesting plot which does not insult the viewer's intelligence...crisp, elegant dialogue...fantastic acting. Compare this to the fare of our day, which is sludge written, directed, and acted by and for morons (generally speaking, of course).

Full disclosure: My late grandfather, the original Mr. A, is in this movie (he is one of the extras storming the Bastille).

Cinema and Colman Congradulated
Having recently read the novel cover to cover, and falling madly in love with the character of Sydney Carton, I felt it was time to see MGM's take on the novel. So, I chose the 1935 version of A Tale Of Two Cities since I love the classics; and I hear that is rare for someone only seventeen! Anyways, Colman's performance of the beloved hopelessly and helplessly in love Carton, had me in happiness and romantic sympathy. I don't think I have ever been so emotionally shaken with any film like this one. It is a film that lays true enough to the novel, and to the characters. It is the best film adaption of the novel you can find, and the greatest performance of Sydney Carton you will ever hope to see. I raise a taost to Ronald Colman for his magnificence and grip on the character, and another toast to the entire film for keeping my eyes and mind on the story and its characters struggles in life and love, and the pursuit of self.

Amazing film
I've been on a Colman kick lately, thanks to a friend who is an ardent fan of his. So, I went to rent some movies, saw this one, and brought it home.

I'm a little funny about costume dramas. As a rule, I find them incredibly boring. But, I like Ronald (listening to him talk is almost worth watching a boring movie for), and I was pleasantly surprised with "Marie Antoinette", so I thought... I will try this one out.

The story was not only gripping, it was very emotionally powerful. I just don't cry over movies. Sometimes, I *almost* will - but with this one I just couldn't keep the tears back. It started when little Lucie started crying for her father and didn't stop from that point to the end of the movie. I knew what Sydney was going to do, and while waiting for him to do it, I dreaded the time when it would come and admired him. Sydney Carton is my hero of the day and will be forever enshrined in my hall of cinematic heroes. (Okay, so it was a book first, but I've never read the book.) He was so sweet to that poor seamstress, too.

Anyway, tears and emotion aside, this is a fascinating and terrifying glimpse into the bloody insanity of the French revolution and the terrible things that happened to the innocent right along with the guilty. Horrible proof of how a mob, once aroused, can be nearly impossible to stop. Basil Rathbone turns in a fabulous performance as the cold-hearted nobleman who can run down a child in the street and go on his way without blinking twice. Ronald Colman as the slightly sodden but thoroughly unselfish advocate. He can say so much with his eyes. The Christmas service scene was unbelieveably moving.

I fear I'm not making much sense. Let's say this film left a deep impression on me, definitely will be a favourite from now on. I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Reviews (74)

This movie is du-bomb!
This movie is so cool, I have only seen it once, but I fell in love with it the first time I saw it! I am planing on buying it as soon as I can! Sarah Jessica Parker is raidiant. Her dance moves are grace-full and at the same time very cool! All of the other actors: Helen Hunt! My gosh, this is one of the best preformences I have ever seen! This young girl is so talented! Now even more! With the awards that she has won! She is a great actress! Shannon Doherty, the cutes little girl I have seen! She has done alot too, and her preformanc was great! I have to give cudose (thanx) to all the actors! This movie was great! And I could watch it 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 times! I loved it! Out of all the movies that I have seen, this is one of my favorits! Every hting in this movie was perfect! The actors! The extras! The sets! Everone was great! Thanx to the directors for the great flic! You people make movies for our enjoyment and this one hit the spot! Thanx your a talented bunch of people! I loved this movie! Sincerly,

Sarah McClain! :o) P.S. Great movie! :o) LoL

The FUN of the 80's
Girls Just Want to Have Fun is an 80's classic, representing the time and culture perfectly. If you want to know what it is like try thinking of an 80's version of Center Stage and mixing it with Dirty Dancing. The movie follows Janey Glenn(Sarah Jessica Parker), who has just moved into town, as she tries out for the DanceTV contest to be a regular on the show. But as always in the 80's the parents get in the way and she has to sneak out in order to practice with her elected dance partner Jeff Malene(Lee Montgomery). As romance blossoms so does jealousy for a spoilt brat Natalie Sands(Holly Gagnier) as she tries her hardest to break the two up, to win the guy and the contest, by getting Janey into trouble with her strict folks! But who will win? Well Getting into trouble is easy, but getting out of it is all the fun! Look out for some younger versions of stars of today - Helen Hunt(Lynne Stone - Janey's new friend), Shannen Doherty(Maggie Malene - Jeff's younger "Punk" sister) & Jonathan Silverman(Drew - Jeff's annoying friend).

Incredible !!!
This is a fantastic movie I love this movie it stars : Shannel Doherty, Helen Hunt, and Sarah Jessica Parker . Sarah and Helen meet at a private school when Sarah and her family moves to Chicago when Janie's dad retires from the military and Janie is very interested in the show "Dance TV" and wishes to try out for an audition for a chance to become a regular dancer on the show and her friend doesn't make the cut but she does so she meets a trouble maker and she is very rich and she causes a lot of problems but Janie and her friends get even with her by crashing her party and it turs out hilarious they really do get even with her in a really good way and Janie wins the part and becomes a regular on the show!!!!!! But I would recommend any Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt fan to buy this movie!!!!

I would be " Dancing in Heaven " with Lee Montgomery....
I really love this movie...the cast is great, the music is
phenominal. It certainly is a totally 80's experience not to
be missed. The Dance contest at the end is the greatest.....
The best part to me is that sexy Lee Montgomery....whoo hoo..what
a body...what a face:) The nice thing about the movie is no sex
and I don't recall any language..so it is family friendly...
Just a all around great movie, but don't take my word...see it
yourself.......

I love this movie
I can't count the number of times I have watched this movie.It's one of those movies you can watch over and over.I have.I think that Lee Montgomery is so sexy.I also like the other famous actors and actresses in this movie,its also about dancing so that's a major plus too!!I love this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Better Than The Book
As far as TV movies go, "Killing Mr. Griffin" is a pretty good teen-oriented suspense film and a definite improvement on the 1978 book Lois Duncan wrote. In the book, there's no main character to empathize with, but in the movie, Susan McConnell (played by Amy Jo Johnson) is the leading protagonist, who is targeted by a group of popular classmates and asked to assist them in a senior prank played on Mr. Griffin (Jay Thomas), the harsh English teacher at Del Norte High School. Things go wrong, though, when Mr. Griffin accidentally dies on them due to his heart condition, and now all six teens must try and cover up his death.

Most of the book's characters are the same in the movie, except for Tori and Bree (Mindy Spence and Jennifer Hammon), who are kind of a combination of Betsy Cline, the cheerleader in the book. Tori is probably the closest thing to Betsy, though--she's basically a blonde rah-rah. But in the movie, Tori is Mark Kinney's (Scott Bairstow) girlfriend, whereas in the book, Mark was pretty much a loner. He's also much more popular and charismatic in the movie--and not all that bad-looking either. ;)

The remaining two guys, Dave Ruggles (Mario Lopez) and Jeff Garrett (Chris Young), act as Mark's sidekicks, but Dave is more in the spotlight than Jeff, because he's the one to lure Susan into their kidnapping scheme. Michelle Williams from "Dawson's Creek" even makes a few appearances as Susan's close friend, Maya (another made-up character for the movie).

If you've read "Killing Mr. Griffin" by Lois Duncan, then you might want to give this movie a try. In my opinion, it's much better than the book. It's more organized plot wise, has good character development and a somewhat better ending. Rated PG-13 for some violence and sensuality.

A somewhat dark teen flick
With lots of star power (Scott Bairstow, Amy Jo Johnson, Michelle Williams, and more), Killing Mr. Griffin occasionally hits home because it contains realistic elements of teenage life--at any rate, the life of an awkward, smart, unpopular teenage girl, Susan, who is dying to be popular. Amy Jo Johnson plays this part well. After her teacher, Mr. Griffin, humilates her in class, Susan agrees to be part of a prank that is operated by some of the popular kids, including the guy she has a crush on. The kids want to humilate Mr. Griffin, like he humiliates his students. But the prank goes horribly wrong, and the students spend the rest of the movie living with the consequences of having to keep a terrible secret. Susan is especially haunted by what has happened. Her friend Maya (Michelle Williams) and her family suspect she is hiding something, and Susan is conflicted between doing the right thing and keeping her "good girl" image. It's a bit scary at times. Sometimes even a little *too* dark and edgy. It isn't the best film out there, but it is an interesting story and features talented actors, which more than make up for the dreariness of the plot.

Great page-to-screen adaptation
Lois Duncan's Killing Mr. Griffin was an interesting novel in its own right, but this made for television movie manages to improve on the original. Amy Jo Johnson, the pretty young actress many may recognize as the former Pink Power Ranger, stars as Susan McConnell. Susan is a good student, yet she is shy and awkward around the popular crowd. She is especially shy around Dave (former "Saved by the Bell" player Mario Lopez), the handsome jock she has a crush on. Mark, the leader of the group Dave hangs with, is bent on becoming student body president and the most popular guy in high school. After being humiliated by Mr. Griffin, the notoriously strict English teacher, Mark develops a plan to get revenge. They will kidnap Mr. Griffin as a prank to humiliate him as he has humiliated students. Susan is unwittingly sucked into the plan by her feelings for Dave and her desire to become popular. Dave is pressured into using Susan's obvious feelings for him to a nasty advantage. The plan to kidnap Griffin goes almost as planned...but then he dies unexpectedly, and things spin out of control. The climax of the film is better than that in the novel, with just enough suspense to keep viewers hooked. Overall, this movie was excellent, and serves as a grim reminder of what peer pressure is capable of. The only qualm I had was that it was not a theatrical release. Highly recommended.

Would you go as far as murder for payback?
Killing Mr. Griffin could as well be true. A lot of people would go through anything just to fit in. But could you lose everything you know and understand in the process? An understandable movie about Responsibility, and Mistrust in the way of fitting in.

Mr. Griffin is a strict teacher. Maybe too strict. Five seniors at the school Mr. Griffin teaches at think so. When revenge is the first thought that comes to mind, Mark, David, Jeff, Bree, and Tori set out to find a way to get back at Mr. Griffin for what he's done, but no one is volunteering for bait. When Susan McConnell is put under the spotlight for what seems a harmless prank, she decides to go for it. Besides she gets a couple of satisfactions to go with it. One, she gets to fit in. Two, she can get Mr. Griffin back at embarrasing her in class, and Three, she can hang out with David, the guy she has a crush on. When Susan sees what doesn't seem like an inoccent prank, she goes to where they have left poor Mr. Griffin tied up, and hostage. But Mr. Griffin isn't moving. He isn't even breathing. He's dead. After trying to figure out what happened to Mr. Griffin, the six are faced up against the biggest decision of their lives. Tell what happened, or keep it a secret.

An amazing story. The characters may have been mixed up a little bit, but it still made a great story. Lois Duncan did well with the book, but I think the movie was better. In the book you weren't as sorry for Mr. Griffin as you were watching the movie. Jay Thomas gave an awesome portrayal of the overlystrict Mr. Griffin. I think they kind of mixed Susan and her friend Maya up on accident. Susan was supposed to be the loner with glasses, and not exactly attractive. But Susan was very attractive in this movie. It was kind of hard to believe she couldn't get a boyfriend. Like someone said before, Tori and Bree were a split up of Betsie in the book, but I don't think Betsie was exactly that "I'm so cool" kind of girl in the book. The boys were portrayed great. Snobbish, not exactly serious.

A great movie to the book which I also recommend. This time I recommend the movie first. Than read the book. Either way, Mr. Griffin will die twice. 5 stars without a doubt.

UNEXPECTED SURPRISE
This NBC-TV movie surprised me. Writers Kathleen Rowell and Michael Angeli are very adept in creating both scenes and dialogue that seems realistic: the mousy girl who wants to be popular; the teens who find themselves Svengalied by a handsome rich boy; how a boy interferes in the relationship between two blossoming young women. And some really credible performances, mainly from Amy Jo Johnson, Scott Bairstow, and Mario Lopez.
Jay Thomas Mr. Griffin is a difficult character to empathize with, but in view of what teachers have to put up with in school, one can understand his cynicism. However, one cant' excuse his cruely in humiliating students in front of their classmates. He is also an extremist. But...he doesn't deserve what happens to him.
Bairstow as Mark gives us a teen of arrogant self-delusion; a narcisstic liar; and an obviously psychotic personality. Johnson and Michelle Williams are great in showing the special bond between two good friends.
There's not a lot of action in the movie, but it really doesn't need it; the key here is what happens when people's lives aren't important to the callow youths who can't accept the responsibility of their acts.
A sharp, tidy thriller. ... Read more