Reviews (50)

Better the second time around!
The thing that makes "National Lampoon's European Vacation" stand out from its original predecessor "National Lampoon's Vacation" is the lush, green European scenery combined with the dialogue between the film's characters. Add the delightful comedic talents of Monty Python's Eric Idle, and you have the makings of a hilarious movie, with Idle adding an element of slapstick, screwball physical comedy that occurs with each accident that brings with it a style only Chevy Chase's character, Clark Griswold can create. Dana Hill and Jason Lively fit into their roles as brother and sister Audrey and Russ Griswold quite nicely. Let's not forget the lovely talents of Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen Griswold, whose shower scene in the movie is sort of on the risque side, but ends up being hysterical when she finds it advertised on an Italian billboard due to Clark's accidental videotaping! I did find the kissing scene between John Astin's game show emcee character and the Griswold daughter (Dana Hill) character to be totally inappropriate for a film that the whole family can watch together. If you're into scenic films with a good dose of comedic dialogue and action-adventure, then "European Vacation" is the movie for you! Highly recommended

Funniest Movie, Ever
First I would like to disagree with all the neagtive comments about this movie. I have probbaly seen it a good 500 times. I have worn out 4 videotapes, so to my surprise and delight, it is finally coming out on DVD. I have searched high and low and always wondered why all the other vacation movies were out but not this one..
Anyway, the entire Vacation series in a nutshell, are brillaint, light hearted movies. Though European was the best. There are fun characters and amazing one liners. I love Clark in Germany and on Pig in the Poke... The kids were cool, I love that Rusty, but Audrey made me ill! Can you pass the crousaints, and the butter and the jelly...yuk.
Overall the plot was fun, they win a trip to Europe, on a fluke...Clark, Thats right..Clark, of Lewis and Clark...And the Griswalds' are our grand prize Pig in a Poke winners...and they allow us access to the American disfuncional family life. I think you can relate cause we all have had family vacationos like that, where dad is frustrated, mom is trying to smooth everything over ( and kidnapped ) and the kids are trying their hardest to be a pain in the rump!
Any way, I am delighted that I can get the DVD, and I am looking forward to the commentary. because one of the beauties of this film, is there are so many slapstick jokes going on in the background. They are not the focus of the scene, so unless you are a obsessed fan like me they would go un-noticed. So I am hoping that the commetary will shed a few secrets that even I was unaware of.

Great movie, definitely check it out! Its a joy! And I recomend that younger kids don't watch, due to adult suggestions... AHHHHH, I love it.

Better the second time around!
The thing that makes "National Lampoon's European Vacation" stand out from its original predecessor "National Lampoon's Vacation" is the lush, green European scenery combined with the dialogue between the film's characters. Add the delightful comedic talents of Monty Python's Eric Idle, and you have the makings of a hilarious movie, with Idle adding an element of slapstick, screwball physical comedy that occurs with each accident that brings with it a style only Chevy Chase's character, Clark Griswold can create. Dana Hill and Jason Lively fit into their roles as brother and sister Audrey and Russ Griswold quite nicely. Let's not forget the lovely talents of Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen Griswold, whose shower scene in the movie is sort of on the risque side, but ends up being hysterical when she finds it advertised on an Italian billboard due to Clark's accidental videotaping! I did find the kissing scene between John Astin's game show emcee character and the Griswold daughter (Dana Hill) character to be totally inappropriate for a film that the whole family can watch together. If you're into scenic films with a good dose of comedic dialogue and action-adventure, then "European Vacation" is the movie for you! Highly recommended

Not as good as the original, but still good
INTRODUCTION:
National Lampoon's European Vacation was the second film in the Vacation series of films. For many years, the first film has been hailed as a comedy classic, and this one has been all but forgotten. Is this film an underrated masterpiece that is as good as its predecessor, or is it a mediocre entry in the series? Read on for my review.

BASIC PLOT:
The storyline of the film goes something like this. The Griswalds appear on a quiz game show, and (through a rather odd twist of fate) win the grand prize - a tour of Europe. Beverly D'Angelo and Chevy Chase reprise their roles from the previous film. Before long, their vacation in Europe begins - and once again, they find themselves in a so-called vacation in which one thing after another goes wrong - they end up in a cramped hotel room, getting a huge phone charge, and even having their video camera stolen by a French criminal! They even end up accidentally destroying Stonehenge! One thing after another goes wrong once again...

FILM OPINIONS:
This film is not nearly as good as its predecessor, or it's follower, Christmas Vacation, but it's a good film nonetheless. If you liked the first one, you'll probably like this one too. Just don't be expecting it to be quite up to the quality of its predecessor.

DVD:
The DVD is severely lacking as far as extras go. We get commentary and trailers, and that's about it. There's really not much other than these things, things that every DVD should have. Still, the actual film is good, and it makes up for this.

OVERALL:
Overall this film doesn't top its predecessor, but it's still damn funny. If you want to laugh, pick it up. You'll be glad you did.

A Very Hilarious Sequel to a classic comedy
The Griswalds are on another vacation, but this time, they're going to Europe. This is a hilarious sequel to a classic comedy and it's one of the sequels that lives up to the original. People who hate this movie don't know what they're taling about. This disk isn't anything special, weird menu and hardly any features. The only features on this disk is a commentary by Chevy Chase (which sucked, I'm not kidding) and a theatrical trailer. Pick up this disk but only because it's a hilarious film. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Deuce's Review of Silence of the Hams
Some people take comedies too seriously. The Silence of the Hams is a funny movie. Maybe not the funniest of spoofs, but it is worth watching. Another reason to watch this movie is too see
the great looking Charlene Tilton. I didn't particularly watch
Dallas, but I can see why it was a popular show and she was one of the reasons. Billy Zane is good as the monotone Jo Dee Fostar.
Dom Deluise is always Dom Deluise. I think my favorite actor in
the movie is Ezio Gregio. His bad or horrible Italian accent had
me cracking up.

The last review
I'm sorry, but the last review was hilarious. i hope it wasn't serious. this is obviously not "The Silence od the Lambs" this is just a horror movie spoof with very cheap and bad jokes. The reason i gave it 2 stars is because it's a horror movie spoof that came before "Scary Movie"

What was all the hype??
I read this was a great action thriller with a ton of suspense. It was terrible. I can't believe the Academy gives awards to flicks like this. I don't even recall seeing Jodie Foster or Anthony Perkins in any scenes either, what was that? Was Perkins pretending to be Delouise and was Foster Billy Zane or something. Ick! Anyway, terrible. I guess it's one of those "art" movies that are supposedly deep. I just thought it was stupid. The Hannibal sequel is much better and understandable! Stay away!! Don't believe the hype!!

Fun!
This movie is a load of fun to watch. It's campy and crazy and you have to watch it several time to pick up on all the nutty humor. I loved it!

This movie is terrible
You ever see a movie so bad it gives you a headache. Well this pile of junk gave my a terrible migrane just watching it, It is supose to be a parody of silence of the lambs. Mel Brooks parody of Bram Stokers Dracula "Dracula dead and loving it" is far superior and that is not saying much. This asinine garbage is painful to watch. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Talking Dirty with Deborah
One of the more frustrating aspects of being a Deborah Harry fan is supporting her acting career. Though she's a decent actress and captivating screen presence, too often one has to suffer through 90 minutes of dreck to catch the two or three wonderful moments Deborah is on screen. For every "Videodrome" or "Hairspray" in her filmography, there are twice as many wastes of celluloid like "Drop Dead Rock" or "Forever, Lulu." This made-for-cable thriller isn't a great movie, but it's entertaining solely for Deborah's star turn as a phone sex operator who "witnesses" a murder over the phone. The cops, of course, don't believe her. Street cop James Russo overhears her being laughed out of the police station and decides to do some amateur sleuthing in hopes it'll help him get promoted to detective (like I said, not a great movie). It's pretty much a by-the-numbers, mediocre thriller, with Deborah getting stalked by the killer as she tries to discover his identity. Suspense fans will be disappointed, but Deborah Harry fans will be in heaven as they listen to her talk dirty to strangers in her flat, deadpan voice ("My eyes are blue--blue like the California sky," she breathes in the same tone of voice used to open the Blondie song "X-Offender"). Better still, Deborah's character is also a struggling singer, so she gets to sing a couple songs, the best being a forlorn cover of "Piece of My Heart."

One other group that'll love this movie: smoking fetishists. There's barely a scene Deborah is in where she's not lighting a cigarette--with matches, never a lighter. Even the opening credits begin with an extreme close up of her bringing a match to the tip of a cigarette. I can't watch this movie without wanting a cigarette myself.

Cheesey, but fantastic movie!
Here's the good stuff; see a sexy Deborah Harry chain smoke, talk really, REALLY dirty, and fight a maniac! Now, seriously, this is one great little movie you got here. If I'm correct, this was a made for TV movie, which would help to explain the look to it. The acting is very good at points, but then seems to fade at others. The maniac, for example, sounds incredibly scary over the phone, but when you see him face to face with heroin Deb, he doesn't seem to be that great. Just a small example. The plot is a little bit thin, but what can you say? It's a cat-and-mouse style movie, which usually doesn't includee much of a plot. The plot, however, doesn't seem to matter here, because the style of it all is great. It has a very eary look and feel to it, and the soundtrack is great (especially the Debbie songs!). So, yes, it may not be the best movie ever made, but it still deserves 5 stars for its creativity and the great sense of horror about it.

COOL PERFORMANCE
FOR BLONDIE FANS, ASIDE FROM THE PLOT WICH IS COVERED BY OTHER REVIEWS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE SHE PERFORMS ONSTAGE WITH AN UNKNOWN BAND IN A SMOKEY DIVE IN GOTHAM CITY & HER VOICE'S GOLDEN ESSENCE IS STARTLINGLY CAPTURED. IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, THESE PERFORMANCES ARE WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION, NOT ON ANY LP'S MIGHT I ADD!

GRITTY, GRIM AND GRIMY THRILLER
I FOUND THIS MOVIE HARD TO WATCH AT TIMES BECAUSE OF THE SLIGHTLY CLAUSTROPHOBIC ATMOSPHERE THE FILM HAS. EVEN THE CAST (WHO ARE ALL GOOD ACTORS) SEEM SLIGHTLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SCRIPT, MAYBE THATS WHAT THE DIRECTOR HAD IN MIND. WHAT'S OBVIOUSLY INTENTIONAL IS THAT DEBORAH HARRY HAS BEEN MADE TO LOOK AS BAD AS POSSIBLE IN JUST ABOUT EVERY SCENE SHE'S IN (AND SHE'S IN JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM). SHE OBVIOUSLY DOSENT MIND SHEDING THE GLAMOUR GIRL IMAGE FOR FILMS. THIS MOVIE WOULD PROBABLY MAKE AN O.K RENTAL FOR GROWN-UPS

Harry gives a Brilliant performance
Deborah Harry , who has appeared in almost 20 films ,all of which were supporting or cameo, finally gets a starring role playing a chain smoking phone sex call girl and struggling rock singer in this cat and mouse thriller. Harry gives a brilliant performance as Corey Wheeler being chased by a killer. The soudtrack is super eerie and Debbie also sings a couple Janis Joplin covers in nightclubs scenes. Top notch ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Classic Redition of The Garden
I'd have to say this is the best movie made from the classic novel by Burnett. They really don't make them like this anymore. The acting from the children is stellar and the atmosphere is great. It's just fun to watch. The spooky setting in the old house on the moors, the mystery in the story is told really well, and the sets are beautiful.

The characters are brought to life by Margaret Obrien, Dean Stockwell, and Brian Roper who play Mary Lennox, Colin Craven and Dicken respectively. Of the three characters, it's hard to choose a favorite, but Dicken is so well done and his way with animals and nature makes him a much loved character.

I would love to see this version on DVD (not remastered, which I think ruins old movies.) If some bigwig out there is listening, this classic movie deserves the DVD treatment.

Good classic movie
I like this movie a lot. The character of Mary is played fairly well. She seems like a spoiled, bratty child, but then she changes to be a nice little girl. I hope this is put on DVD soon.

excellent
This is a great movie. I have always been a Margaret O'Brien fan and this was one of her best. It goes from black & white to color and then back to black & white. It is a good story.

Highly campy and hysterical, but rather good.
The 1949 film version of "The Secret Garden" has its good points and its bad points. The good is that it's well-made by MGM, and its shifts from black-and-white to color are awesome. Now, the bad. Actually, it's not bad, just a few words of friendly warning. The child actors in this film seem to ham up their roles so much that the viewer starts to either gag or laugh with derision. Margaret O'Brien [Mary Lennox] is the most obvious example, with Dean Stockwell [Colin Craven] following her path. Their tantrum scenes are hysterical beyond comprehension! Also, the word "hate" is used to the nth degree, so much so that it becomes extremely laughable. No other movie I've seen uses this word so much. You could almost see this film as a part of MST3K, where you can have or make fun of it, but in a good way.

The Secret Garden
Margaret O'Brien does an absolutely fantastic job with this role, with Dean Stockwell and the other actors all running a close second! The full gamet of human emotions (fears, anger, selfishness, madness, wisdom, helpfulness,caring, control, etc.) has been written into this script. It is a story of discovering the truth about oneself. Mary, who everyone sees as selfish (and not without good reason) slowly turns into an "encourager". The young son who thinks he is a cripple and will not live to adulthood discovers he can be healed, and can live the life of a real boy. Mr. Cravens (the father) believes he is going mad when he cannot shake the black memories from the past---yet receives a sound mind as he sees the garden and his son restored to near perfection. Dicken, the country boy played by an unknown actor played a superb role of patience and compassion. This film was given five stars due not only to excellent acting, but directing, the background of the old castle, the garden, the gardner, the raven, the key, etc. It seems as if every touch was a "golden" touch to this 1947 version, and because of the character development of the children, certainly should be a part of every family's home video library! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

All That and Thurber, Too
What most reviewers miss about this romantic comedy is that it's primo for its style -- Good Neighbor Sam, Please Don't Eat the Daisies -- and they decided to spice up the montages by animating Thurber comics (since the central figure is a misanthropic cartoonist who falls in love in spite of himself). It's an old fashioned comedy, funny like they used to be: two dimensional characters, a conflicting love interest (Jason Robards taking a break from O'Neill for a change) interjected to put the heat on and help things come to a boil, and a flock of children each responding to the situation in a different way -- like the second tier comedia del arte characters. Give yourself a break, get a bottle of wine, a pizza, and a friend with a sense of humor and make an evening of it.

Superb Underrated Comedy/Drama!!!
This Movie is a superb underrated Comedy/Drama.Lemmon/Harris Rules in this film!!It's a must see!!

Half-forgotten treasure; To be rediscovered.
***Possible Spoilers***

-Peter: "Will this operation be of any help?"
-Oculist: "Your chances are less than 50%"
-Peter: "And if we don't operate?"
-Oculist: (Turns out the light).

These are the prospects that cynical, sloppy, family-hating cartoonist Peter Wilson (Jack Lemmon) faces, when he stumbles over the beautiful legs of Terry Kozlenko (Barbara Harris), a divorced mother-of-three. This rendez-vous results in a marriage.

Who, do you think, suddenly emerges at the wedding, takes photos, cuddles the kids, flirts with the bride, kisses the bride, and even carries her over the door-step? You guessed it: her ex.

Steven Kozlenko (Jason Robards), a photographer in war zones with a taste for young girls, has the habit of coming and going as he pleases. With devastating results on the psyche of his children: Caroline, 16, follows daddy's example (with boys), stammering Linda (Lisa Gerritson) tries very hard not to betray her feelings, and David, 6, sleeps on door-steps out of fear that his daddy nr.2 will sneak away too...

Nonetheless Peter tries to be a caring step-dad for the children, despite many mishaps: losing his trousers and even his towel in front of the kids, trying to explain the facts of life to them, only to discover that they know more than he does, even "saving" David from drowning, only to be saved himself by Steven (how embarrassing!).

After one night of heavy drinking Peter and Steven end up fighting the "war between men and women" - against cartoon-women. (This is a brilliant sequence, mixing real-life with cartoon-characters. "Peter Wilson" was modeled after James Thurber).

Next morning, Peter is missing something: his eyesight. He is shocked when he discovers that Terry and the children knew all about his imminent blindness right from the start, despite his efforts to keep everything secret. Never will he accept their charity...

This film is not flawless. Some gags don't work, and some are blue. Yet the actors cope wonderfully with their dialogue. Robards plays with charm and a chuckle, Harris is feisty, but a little heartless, and Gerritson makes an art-form out of her stammer.

Best of all, of course, is the star of this film. Jack Lemmon is funny when he should, sexy (and he could!), irresistible in his embarrassment and deeply touching in his sorrow. In tragi-comic roles he never had an equal. (Tom Hanks is flaccid by comparision, and Robin Williams schmaltzy). But Lemmon was touching because he was real. He had substance.

This film is a half-forgotten treasure: to be rediscovered. I can honestly recommend it. A very funny film for the whole family.

Bitter sweet comedy in a classic sense
Jack Lemmon and Barbara Harris were a perfect match in this classic comedy. The special effects with the cartoon drawings incorporated into the movie were excellent. I first saw this movie when I was a kid and it still makes me laugh.

Enjoyable romantic comedy
War Between Men and Women is a warm hearted romantic comedy based on the works of James Thurber. Similar in style to the old tv show, My World and Welcome to It, the film incorporates animated figures representing Thurber's drawings and commentary on the eternal battle of the sexes. Jack Lemmon is perfectly cast as the "man" who hates women, children, and dogs but falls for Barbara Harris, the "woman" who comes bag and baggage with all three. If your a Barbara Harris fan and consequently regret she didn't make more movies, this is the picture that proves she had the talent to be a star. One sour note, this video has been edited for content. Some scenes have "offensive" bits of dialogue bleeped out. In other words brief silence on the soundtrack ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Hard to get used to ...
seeing Gladys George start off in this movie as the wife of a wealthy French lawyer, since the only other two times I'd seen her, she was far less lofty: she's the Woman Who REALLY Loves James Cagney's Eddie Bartlett in "The Roaring Twenties" and has a much smaller role as Dana Andrews' broken down stepmother in "The Best Years of Our Lives" . So here, she's the unfaithful wife who must leave her home never to return in order to protect her husband's career and her son's place in society. Warren Williams turns in an appropriately starchy performance as her unsympathetic husband, but it's Henry Daniell who really steals the show as a dastardly fellow blackmailing Madame X about her real identity. Not bad at all.

Gorgeous George
LA FEMME X, that glorious old potboiler of thwarted mother love, served as a triumphant vehicle for everyone from Sarah Bernhardt to Tuesday Weld (!!!), but no version plucks at the heartstrings more effectively than the Gladys George starrer. Remembered by many moviegoers for her nightclub moll in THE ROARING TWENTIES, George had rare leading roles in this film and her Oscar-nominated VALIANT IS THE WORD FOR CARRIE, and she really brings home the bacon here. Perhaps a trifle world-weary for the straying matron and dispossessed wife at the picture's beginning, she's perfect for the gin-soaked wandering years mid-film, and incredibly moving in her final scenes. A rock would shed tears at Madame X's fate; Gladys George embraces and transcends the melodrama inherent in this role and makes it something human and real and aching. If you like weepers, lay in a big supply of Kleenex before you pop this one in the VCR. ... Read more

Description

Dragon Tales: Follow the Clues follows the adventures of 6-year-old Emmy and her 4-year-old brother, Max, as they discover a magic dragon scale in the playroom of their new house that can transport them to Dragon Land. In this enchanted land they meet Ord, Cassie, Zak, Wheezie (a two-headed dragon), and Quetzal--all fantastical dragons possessing very human qualities. The tape includes three episodes:

"A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words."
Ord decides giggle flowers would make a nice present for his mom on her birthday, so Doodle Fairy draws a map to a meadow full of them. Our friends learn the meaning of picture symbols.
"Follow the Dots"
Ord is afraid he has lost his father's favorite whistler, but Number Gnome knows where it is and shows everyone how counting from 1 to 10 will help them find the whistler.
"Wheezie's Last Laugh"
Mr. Pop steals Wheezie's laugh, plus he's switched all the animal sounds around. During a merry chase, everyone in Dragon Land learns that everything has its own special sound, especially Wheezie, in this segment where children learn to distinguish sounds. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the better ones.
This video is way better than "Big Brave Adventures". While it does have a song parody in story #2 - "Follow the dots", it's really not as grating as the one found in "Calling Dr. Zak" in the "Big Brave Adventures" video. This one's up in my "Good" list with "You can do it". I'd recommend picking this one up as well.

Silly Songs and Giggly Flowers
Super presentation. Fun music, clear voices, good graphics. Lively and positive. Pushes critical thinking and promotes pro-activity instead of re-activity. Great introduction into exploring and investigating. "Shows characters using their brains." Children were mesmerized, watched it from start to finish. They danced and sang along. They especially enjoyed the Silly Sounds Song and imitated the silly sounds. Dot-to-dot exercise held their interest. "We liked the silly songs and giggly flowers." Ages 2-5.

Dragon Land
In "A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words," Emmy has a video camera and is going to make a movie in Dragon Land. Emmy treats Max bad and doesn't let Max be in the movie. She says, "My movie is about Dragons, not little boys!" When Emmy gives Max the job of sound effects, Max doesn't do much so he goes to Quetzals. (By the way, Cassie is the star and they are looking for a mouse named Cheddar.) When Max helps Quetzl make a sandwich, Cheddar is near by and eats the sandwich. Ord and Cassie smell the sandwich, and come to Quetzal's to help. Then, Zak and Wheezie come, too. Then, Emmy decides to make Max the star of her new movie.

In "Follow The Dots," Ord, Cassie, Zak, Wheezie, Emmy, and Max are playing a game when Ord's dad's best whisler flys into the air. Then it gets lost. A little guy named The Number Nomb gives them disks and they have to find and count the number of things beside it. When they do it all, 1 through 10 they look what the drawing connects to and it connects to an arrow and Ord finds the whisler.

In "Wheezie's Last Laugh," some little guy puts sounds from different sounds from different things on to something that dosen't belong there. When he takes away Wheezie's laugh, the little guy leaves his thingamagicy that he used to take away things. Then, they put things back where they should be and they find the little guy's hideout. Then, Zak puts a wierd noise for the little guy's laugh. Then the little guy gives Wheezie back her laugh and Zak gives the little guy his laugh back. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

In the typical Don Simpson-Jerry Bruckheimer mold (the partnership yielded Top Gun and Days of Thunder, among many other films), this 1995 drama is a combination of one-dimensional but enjoyable performances, lots of high-tech nonsense taking place onscreen, and mechanistic movie-making at its loudest and most seizure-inducing. Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington play nuclear submarine officers squaring off over the former's apparent intention to do some unauthorized damage to an enemy. Tony Scott (Top Gun) directed, bringing his luster and pop commercial sense to go with all that Simpson-Bruckheimer eye candy. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Crimson Tide rocks the boat!
After experienceing Crimson Tide for the 15th time, I believe this is my favorite movie of all time. From the very beginning of the movie you are swept into a very plausible scenario: Russian rebels have captured nuclear missle silo's and are threatening to launch at the U.S.. The USS Alabama has been deployed to launch a preemptive strike against Russia. This movie has what DVD owners are looking for: Excellent visuals, bass thumping sound, and great acting. Denzel Washington gives the best performance of his career as Lt. Commander Hunter. His character's by-the-book style is at direct odds with Captain Ramsey's (Gene Hackman) old-school ways. The result is an incredible clash of wills that results in mutiny and the near destruction of the world in a nuclear holocaust. The tension is thick in this drama, and the movie has emotional moments and moments of extreme joy. You will be on the edge of your seat rooting for either Capt. Ramsey or Commander Hunter throughout the movie. This is a must-see movie!

Hoovers the greasy tool!
This movie sucks. It's a disservice to the men of the US Submarine Service. Let's look at what's wrong with this movie. Firstly we have Gene Hackman playing the gunger-than-ho submarine captain in a way that makes you think he prepared for this role by trying to channel George C. Scott from _Patton_. Cigar chomping, scenery-chewing aside the US Navy doesn't let guys who act like Gene Hackman did in this movie anywhere near nuclear weapons. I worked with three men who were former commanders of missile submarines and they were the polar opposites of Gene Hackman's character. Then we have the pseudo-dramatic tension of the conflict between Denzel Washington and Hackman over whether or not to launch the missiles, of course the problem with this bit of dramatic tension is that it's BS, one of the standing orders for nuclear launch is "when in doubt, don't." If you can't get a good authorization you don't just pull a wild hair out of your ass and decide to launch some missiles. Anyone who has a problem understanding this doesn't get near the nuclear missiles. People in the Navy have watched _Dr. Strangelove_ and know not to let people who don't understand this sort of thing near the nuclear missiles.

A JOKE
I am an American Submariner. The Boat I was on at the time this "movie" premiered in Canada was invited to partake in the first showing. There were about 50 of us including officers and chiefs. From the word "go", we tore this movie apart. No wonder the Navy didn't participate in its making. IT IS A JOKE! The beginning scenes where they were diving the boat included pictures of all sorts of other submarines diving. I remember at least 6 classes of boats being shown. Maybe if we were not "bubbleheads" we would have thought it was an interesting movie. Highly doubtful tho. The differences in classes is telling. As far as the plot goes there are fail safes incorporated to prevent this from happening. This movie was made to promote hysterics just like some news media only show one side of a story. I have seen this movie once and would reccommend you seeing " The Hunt For Red October". It's closer to what we did than this one.

isn't fit to scrape barnacles off "Das Boot"
I didn't think it was possible for there to exist a badly-made submarine movie, but I watched this and realized I was wrong. If you know anything about submarines, you'll not like this film very much. Examples? Ok, how about this: The boat (sub's are referred to as "boats" not "ships") is crippled by a torpedo explosion, and the Chief of the Boat announces to the XO (Denzel Washington),"forward ballast tanks damaged. we've lost forward air". The next moment, the boat's main propulsion plant is lost, and the sub is shown heading downward into the depths. Do they move the bow planes / fairwater planes or stern planes to use forward momentum to help the boat rise? NO. Do they blow after ballast (the after ballast tanks are presumably still operational)? NO. What do they do? They just ALL STAND THERE staring at the depth gauge, awaiting their arrival at "crush depth", the depth at which the surrounding pressure of the sea will be more than the pressure hull can withstand and the sub will implode and kill them all. But what saves them? Ah, someone in the Engine Room apparently flicks a switch to start the turbines again! "well, whaddya know, I've started the plant again!" Look, if you suffer an engineering casualty that causes the plant to be lost, chances are you're not going to be able to repair the cause in 5 minutes. Add to this the flimsy character development, the "musical chairs" Caine Mutiny - meets - Keystone Kops command changes, the contrived 'drama' - it's just not believable, folks.
So what to do? I recommend you rent, buy, or borrow "Das Boot" (or its very-well-dubbed version "The Boat"), come home and watch it. Immerse yourself in a real submarine drama. And deep-six this artificial-reef of a movie.

Hackman & Washington Chew Up the Screen
Superior performances by Denzel and Gene. Good supporting performances by Tony Soprano and Gandalf. Great tension. Perfect Tarantino dialogue. Lots of nice realistic touches. Aren't that many good sub movies out there. Only a handful come to mind. Definately worth repeated viewing. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Sea-Faring Adventure
SOULS AT SEA, an intelligent and entertaining movie, is a rare treat for fans of sea-faring adventures, classic drama and/or Gary Cooper. The plot, told in flashback, concerns a sailor (who may or may not be a slave trader) on trial for mass murder. This is one of those stories that leave you thinking, long after the movie ends, whether or not this man was justified in what he did and what you would have done in the same situation.

Excellent acting by Gary Cooper and George Raft (in the uncharacteristical role of Powdah- a salty sailor who is Cooper's best friend).

I heartily recommend it.

Fine human drama with scale and epic.
Cooper and Raft are well cast as buddies on the seas of the 1850s, fighting the slave trade. There's a sinking ship climax reminiscent of TITANIC on a small scale and a court drama where Cooper is accused of wanton murder in rescuing some but not all from the wreck. Impeccably restored black and white print and well directed with good solid performances. Oscar nommed for Art Direction, Score and Assistant Director. ... Read more

Reviews (173)

Crystal Comedy Sparkles
Billy Crystal writes, produces and stars in a "boy-loses-girl", "boy-gets-girl" tale with a twist or two along the way. Crystal plays Lee the publicist sent to placate the media with a "junket" and get separated "American Sweethearts" Gwen Harrison (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Eddie Thomas (John Cusack) back together again. Gwen is the self-centered movie star sister with a Spanish live-in lover with a lisp, Hector, played by Hank Azaria. Eddie is the soon to be ex-husband who has spent the last six months with his East Indian guru, Alan Arkin, getting over being betrayed. Julia Roberts as sweet sister Kiki is Gwen's personal assistant who also happens to be in love with her brother-in-law. Can you imagine a fat Julia Roberts? Flashbacks show us Kiki before she slimmed down. A great cast that also includes Christopher Walken in a pivotal bit part and a cameo appearance by Larry King. Great fun!!

Cute and entertaining
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays the star actress with a diva attitude, Julia Roberts is her ever-so-kind and helpful sister and personal assistant, and John Cusack is the love-sick estranged husband of Catherine Zeta-Jones'. Although they have been living apart for a year, are going to be divorced, and try to avoid each other, Zeta-Jones and Cusack both star in a movie which the movie's producer is anxious to earn big bucks from. Billy Cristal is the PR guy hired by the movie's producer to encourage (let's say, "dupe") Zeta-Jones and Cusack into making a star appearance at the film's premiere and he also orchestrates a series of "scandals" for the reporters and tabloids, just to make more money (as they say, no publicity is bad publicity, or something like that.) In the process, Zeta-Jones and Cusack end up in all sorts of funny, embarassing circumstances which they both try very desperately to extricate themselves from.

Cusack is not at his best, but he's entertaining. Roberts is looking good (and I wonder if she did really put on all that weight for this movie, cos it looks so real!). Zeta-Jones is stunning and ever-so-convincing in these diva roles.

I wouldn't say this is a great movie... but its a good one for renting for those nights in (with lots of crisps and popcorn at the side!). It does have enough unpredictability and gags in it to keep you chuckling, and the nice little happy ending will make you go "Awwww...." with a smile :)

Cusack is America's Sweetheart
This is Cusack at his best . . . quirky, new age, obsessive over Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is the most loveable self-absorbed prima donna ever to grace a screen.

I'm mad about this movie, it is probably the one that pushed me over the Cusack edge.

Star Studded Folly
How did someone take a light-hearted but cute premise, big name stars, and turn it into such a lame and inane film? The talent is obviously there, but the movie simply doesn't work. Alternating between over-the-top (which I think was the point) and deadly dull (which probably wasn't), this film stalls and fizzles.

Won't Win Any Oscars
This movie wasn't amazing, but it was a cute story. It was interesting to think about everything that goes into publicizing a movie, and what the actors are like in real life. Crystal's character was very funny. See it at some point if you don't have anything better to do, but don't spend too much on it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not bad...
Making a review for this movie isn't so hard. In fact, the movie is so simple and goes right to what he's made, to scare people, and do very well. Teenagers goes to the woods camping and one by one are kill by an mysterious murder. Some scenes are well made, and thinking about you could be there in all that darkness, that's scare you. Of course this movie is just fun, don't waste the money, in case you want to buy, but it's worth it if you're looking to rent some horror movies. Again, it's very simple, and the final isn't all that twist some new horrors movies have, but it deserve respect, being different from other ones. Good acting are showed when people are in dangerous moments, you can note they aren't "artificials" like most of horror movies out there, they do exactly what is the most common to do in that moment, and this is all about the movie. The sound (almost doesn't have music) fit exactly in this type of movie and the landscape isn't beautiful, more claustrophobic. See it once and you won't be disapointed, see it twice and you start to get bored.

"The Final Terror" worth a look for cast alone
Young Daryl Hannah, Joe Pantoliano, Adrian Zmed, and Rachel Ward are campers in the woods of Northern California who turn survivalist when they realize that there's a killer in their midst. Nothing terrific, but worth a look, if only to see the latter-day stars. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Kharis carries on.
A monster movie jolt from Universal Studios' fright factory, and the film that introduced Kharis the mummy. This foot-dragging monster wrapped in ace bandages became a standard member of Universal's classic monster family. Stalwart Dick Foran and a party of fortune hunters and archaeologists search for the lost tomb of Princess Ananka. The loyal minions of the ancient Egyptian gods, led by George Zucco, seek to thwart their purpose and protect the sacred tomb. Sometime Western actor Tom Tyler makes a one-time appearance as the mummy. As fans of classic horror films know, the mummy has a terrific thirst for tana leaf tea, a lusty 3,000-year-old love affair with Princess Ananka, and strangles everyone that gets in his way. The plot takes some time to really get going. Younger viewers may squirm a little as they await the mummy's first appearance. After the lost tomb is uncovered, however, the story rapidly shifts gears to an exciting suspense mode, and fans of classic horror films rejoice. As the wild jackals howl in the distance and the full moon illumines the Egyptian night, diabolic death holds dominion over those who defiled Ananka's tomb. Some of the exterior scenes of southern California doubling as Egypt are amusing examples of unintended humor. Checkout the primitive special effects of the mummy's glowing eyes. Again, good triumphs over the evil forces of darkness. Relax and enjoy the old-fashioned chills and thrills. ;-)

Perfectly laid out introduction to the mummy films
I think that "The Mummy's Hand" has all it needs to be a perfect introduction into the tales of Kharis. Steve Banning and Babe Jenson are shopping in native artifact stores when they discover a clue that later on leads them to the tomb of Princess Ananka. As they pursue the clue by going to the Cairo Museum to see about preparing and financing an expedition, they meet Professor Andoheb, the mummy's commander in a crude disguise as a professor. As they tell him the fact that the artifact they have, with its unique symbols, may lead to the discovery of the Princess, he starts his response by marveling at the work of the artifact. Unfourtunately, he deduces that it is an imitation made by a clever manufacturer. After Banning says he will be having to seek financial assistance elsewhere, the professor drops the artifact while trying to return it to Banning, and claims it was an act of random clumsiness.

Their artifact gone, they salvage the remains and eventually find another source of financing, only this time, they are in for a big surprise, not with just the mummy, but the financer's daughter. The surprises, however, are yours to find out in this must-have movie which started perhaps the most popular mummy miniseries of all.

The birth of the stereotypical mindless mummy
By 1940 and the reawakening of Universal's classic mummy monster after eight sequel-less years, the original Borlis Karloff-style mummy that could pass for a human as soon as he got his bandages off was long gone, and the mindless, staggering hunk of old bandages was the new norm. Comedy had also found its way into Universal's classic monster movies, perhaps as a counterweight to whatever horror the sight of a filthy shambling mummy supposedly inspired. Still, there are certain elements of 1932's The Mummy to be found here; in fact, a significant amount of footage from that earlier movie is used during some of the early scenes of The Mummy's Hand. We watch the burial of the princess Ananka and witness the horrible fate bestowed upon her lover (Kharis as opposed to Imhotep) for attempting to steal the one thing that could bring the princess back to life. In this case, it is not the Scroll of Thoth that has the power to resurrect the dead, it is the fluid of Tana leaves. Kharis has his tongue cut out and is buried alive, but - and this is a pretty big but - he never really dies. For some unexplained reason, the high priests of Karnak, whose temple stands opposite the mountain tombs of Kharis and Ananka, keep the mummy alive with steady doses of Tana fluid. Thus the mummy waits for the time when someone dares to disturb the tomb of his beloved, in which case the high priest gives him the fluid of nine Tana leaves, enough to give him the strength to dispatch those who defile Ananka's grave but not enough to give him complete strength and true immortality.

As the movie opens, down-on-his-luck archeologist Steve Banning (Dick Foran) and his comic sidekick "Babe" (Wallace Ford) think they have discovered the location of the fabled tomb of Ananka. Despite the subdued hostility of the respected Professor Andoheb (George Zucco), they are determined to investigate the site for themselves. Low on funds, they manage to find an unlikely patron in "The Great Salvoni," a magician whose daughter supplies the required love interest for the story. Work at the excavation site produces unexpected results, including the deaths of a few of the men, and our heroes eventually come to realize that Kharis the mummy is responsible for the attacks. The pretty young lady naturally finds herself in great danger before all is said and done, and the rest is fairly obvious.

The Mummy's Hand offers some new twists of its own to mummy lore, but these twists don't serve its purposes all that well. The story is just a little too far-fetched, I feel, and the ultimate conclusion far from difficult to figure out early on. Still, it's an entertaining film to watch, and the comic relief worked well without ever crossing the line into silliness. I'm not sure why the mummy's hand is so important, though, and it seems to me that the easiest way to avoid the legendary hand is to avoid the mummy altogether. I might add that while I am a George Zucco fan, I really don't think he was a great fit for the part of the high priest of Karnak, but the cast as a whole worked together quite well. While Kharis the mindless mummy (portrayed here by Tom Tyler) lacked the character and menace of the original Karloff mummy, it is this B movie grade mummy who would haunt the dreams of many an impressionable young monster fan back in the day as he shambled his way through this and three additional Kharis the mummy films.

Introducing Kharis!
When Universal dusted off the concept of their mummy, they changed the story quite a bit from the original movie with Boris Karloff. Somehow the reincarnated creature was not quite as menacing as Boris was, but these movies are still a great deal of fun to watch.

With egyptian priests, tanna leaves (which by the way, always looked like an ingredient I use when I make soup...bay leaves!) and a moldy ol' mummy, what else could an old monster movie fan want?

By the way, the longer the mummy series went, the more it became apparent to me that the only way Kharis could get you was if he got the drop on you from behind or snuck up on you. With all those bandages and 3,000 year old joints, he hardly moved faster than a snail's pace. I'm not much of a runner, but I know I could out-run him! But that misses the whole point. Anyone faced with a creature such as Kharis would no doubt be petrified with fright and couldn't move!

Recommended, along with the rest of the movies in the series.

Pleasing first effort in 1940's Mummy cycle
After having rested the saga of the mummy for almost 8 years since the release of the splendid Boris Karloff version Universal launced into a new cycle of Mummy movies to entertain patrons no doubt distracted by the horrors of the fast approaching World War.

On that level "The Mummy's Hand" is a well made and entertaining piece of movie making which never asks you to strain your brain muscles for too long. The saga of the mummy damned to eternal unrest for loving a high priestess and disturbing her burial place provides lots of opportunities for thrills and excitement and this film does not disappoint. While it could never compare with the Karloff classic I still feel it has its merits. Despite being placed in the "B" movie basket "The Mummy's Hand" has some great performers and vivid situations that were used over and over again in later films.

The film can be almost divided into two sections. The first section being almost a comic romp depicting Steve Banning"s (Dick Foran) and Babe's (Wallace Ford) adventures in Cairo and their efforts to set up a team of diggers to find the tomb of the high priestess Anuka. Almost too suddenly it then changes into a chilling drama when the mummy appears and death comes to numerous members of the Banning team. I feel the lead up to this section of the proceedings is too long in coming and really the story does meander too much before the real action around the tomb begins. Nevertheless the second half of the film is a vast improvement and the drama and horror of the proceedings really does involve you totally.

Tom Tyler, a former cowboy star for the first and only time places Kharis (after this film Lon Chaney Jnr took over the role for the remaining 3 films). He is excellent in the role and brings just the right sinister and cruel elements, combined with an almost pathetic longing for the high priestess, to make the character one we can almost feel for in a way. His look as Kharis is also different to Chaney's depiction and I feel he looks the part in a more horrific way. The film certainly benefits from a sterling supporting cast. George Zucco makes his first memorable appearance in this film as the high priest Andoheb. He would return in later films in the mummy series and as always he is most effective playing a sinister character bent on destroying the defilers of Anuka's tomb. His killing of the Dr.Petrie character is in particular very well done with our first sight of Kharis being returned to life with the juice of tanna leaves positively sending chills up one's spine. Peggy Moran makes a suitable heroine for the film and Cecil Kellaway is also on target with his depiction of the great Solvani who gets involved in the expedition to the tomb.

Overraul the look of the film is excellent. Universal had a very unique way of making even their "B" films have an expensive look to them and "The Mummy's Hand" is no exception. It benefits from the reuse of a temple set from an earlier film "Green Hell" which looks effective but unfortunately to the trained eye has Mayan or Aztec decorations rather than ancient Egyptian ones!! Also some of the outdoor locations are obviously Californian and they do have a spoiling effect on the look of the film.

Nevertheless its a good effort and certainly is an entertaining film full of atmosphere and thrills. The next installment in the Kharis/Mummy series "The Mummy's Tomb" which came out in 1942, is in my opinion the best film in the series. Enjoy "The Mummy's Hand" and lap up the old fashioned thrills that it provides. ... Read more

Reviews (66)

The PRINCE of KING'S Cinema translations!
First-off: I'm not a fan, but acknowledge Stephen King's preeminence among horror writers. Of half-dozen horror novels I've read, my favorite is NEEDFUL THINGS, a wicked Americanization of FAUST's legend. I've more enjoyed...because of eclecticism manifested....straying-off the path with THE RUNNING MAN onto THE GREEN MILE. King could use an editor however; his books aren't sold by the pound.

THE DEAD ZONE, in my estimate, is singular as King's movie masterpiece. Characterization carries the story from tragic beginning to sad, evocative climax. Phasers-not-on-stun master, David Croenberg...SCANNERS; VIDEODROME; THE FLY... deserves plaudits for restraining usual, often grotesque flamboyance. But the show "goes" with Chistopher Walken, playing JOHNNY SMITH. The "Dead Zone" refers to a faculty of Smith's brain...jolted into function by a near fatal car crash...that makes him CLAIRVOYANT.

The excellent cast includes Brooke Adams (as "lost" sweetheart);
Herbert Lom (as psychiatric mentor); Anthony Zerbe (as concerned parent of a reclusive son...Simon Craig...whom Johnny saves from drowning; Colleen Dewhurst (as devoted mother to the town's sexual predator and serial killer);
and Martin Sheen (as Greg Stillson: would-be President of the United States who...in perverse moment of ebulience in power... will start WW III in Nero-like act of self-glorification).

A complicated plot focuses on "blessing"/curse of psychic powers on Johnny. It approaches tragedy (DZ is not a "horror" story") because Walken is superb in refusing to "melodramatize" his most unwanted "celebrity" status as "Who wants to be Psychic?" hero. He hates the "freak quality" it confers; as well as having cost TRUE LOVE.
Again, I think the book was too long; King telegraphed Johnny's heroic confrontation with the American Anti-Christ. However
the film's pacing...particularly pursuing the serial killer...jolts. All...(sometimes Sheen is overly DEMON-strative as Prime Candidate of the Demagogue Community)...actors contribute qualities of NORMALCY King as writer so magnificently exploits to HORRIFY. Perhaps THE DEAD ZONE is really our USA still(son) pretending to be NORMAL when it isn't; with "President Greg" waiting (in THE WEST WING?) to prove it. Again: this is MOVIE KING...or at least crowned PRINCE of cinema efforts...

Intriguing Character-Driven Film
Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken), a young teacher, has been in a coma for the last five years as a result of a car accident. When he suddenly awakens, he finds that the world around him has completely changed. The love of his life, Sarah Bracknell (Brooke Adams) has married another and he has received the dubious gift of second sight. Johnny finds that when he touches another person, he can see their future. Distraught and unable to bear the ramifications of his gift, Johnny retreats into himself and lives alone in a small town in the country. He tutors children in his home to make ends meet and tries to avoid physical contact when at all possible. However, as opportunities to use his gift come up, Johnny finds that he cannot resist. First there is the rapist/murderer, then there is the young boys' hockey team falling through thin ice, and finally there is an obsessed politician (Martin Sheen). In the end, Johnny must make the choice between doing what is right or continuing to endure his bleak, loveless life...

Director David Cronenberg did a wonderful job adapting this Stephen King novel. It is not a horror story like many of King's books are, but a wonderful story about a man's inner landscape. Christopher Walken was fabulous as the self-tortured lead character and I felt that I knew exactly what he was going through, even though he never said anything. He was also ably supported by other actors, including a conflicted Brooke Adams as his love interest and Martin Sheen as a characteture of a smarmy politician who takes kissing babies to a whole new level. Shot almost entirely in a bleak, gray, cold winter, the settings were perfect for this film and really let you focus on the characters. A wonderful movie to curl up at night with.

The Best King Adaption!
John Smith (Walken) leads a humble, but fulfilling life as a teacher, has a sweet girlfriend and an all around normal life until, in his words: "God through and 18-wheeler at me." After a 5 year coma Johnny wakes up to find he knew is a different place and that he is a different person.

I've seen The Dead Zone in bits and pieces many MANY times on TV, but surprisingly never sat down and watched it from beginning to end. Well, one night I popped this baby in and realized what a dumbass I had been. The Dead Zone is simply an unforgettable thriller and quite possibly the best film based on a Stephen King novel. Our hero in this film is the everyman, a man who lives humbly and happily. A man with a lovely girlfriend and would-be wife who is respected in his community. Everything is good in his little world until one rainy night when he has a run in with a big truck that puts him in a coma for 5 years. When Johnny wakes up he finds the world has changed. His girlfriend is now married with child, his job is gone, and his body is shot. AND on top of that he can predict the future of those he touches. Mostly predicting death and destruction, but occasionally seeing the past. This new ability is considered a curse at first. As though God played a cruel trick on him, but after saving a little girl's life, solving a series of brutal murders, and saving a boy from drowning, Johnny considers his gift a blessing.

Just as Johnny begins coming to grips with his abilities he meets Greg Stillson (Sheen), a candidate for a senator and very dangerous man who dreams of becoming president. After seeing some kind of Hitler-esque prophecy Smith sets out to change the future, even if he has to sacrifice himself.

The Dead Zone is of course based on the book by Stephen King and is directed by David Cronenberg who's best known for making sexually surreal thrillers. This is definitely Cronenberg's most straight forward and best film. Shot in the fall, covered in bleak gray skies, and snow, the atmosphere of The Dead Zone couldn't be more perfect. The small town adds a sense of isolation that forces Smith to take digs at a new location at the half way point of the film to get his back together. Cronenberg's usual bleakness is here, but in this film is means something is crucially needed not just for the sake of atmosphere.

Christpher Walken is riveting as Smith, one of his best performances. The tragic everyman, who didn't ask to be anything special, but when it came down to crunch time the guy wagered it all to save the many. A truly powerful exercise in selflessness. Brooke Adams is great as Smith's would-be wife, now torn between her feeling for him and her new love. Great performance! Martin Sheen is a good villain, but takes his character a bit over the top at times. Herbert Lom is good as Johnny's friend/slash doctor as well.

The Dead Zone can be looked upon as a depressing tragedy, but I don't consider it to be that way. The finale speaks volumes about selflessness, seizing your potential and not pissing away your true gifts. The finale while sad is more chilling and unforgettable, not a tragic fate, but a product of ultimate sacrifice.

The Dead Zone is simply a brilliant film, an unforgettable journey, and one of the most fulfilling films I've seen. A true classic and one film that deserves it's place in cinema history. Check it out!

Cronenberg in his best movie!
Exciting adaptation of the Stephen King novel . It turns around a man who uses physic powers to solve multiple murderers and perhaps avoiding the end of the world. Christopher Walken as always , perfect for the role. Cronenberg once more in one of his most challenging works, but he wins all the way. Notice this is a little crossroad of The Green Mile fifteen years after.

OH JOHNNY WHERE HAVE YE GONE?
David Cronenberg took a definite twist from his usual shock-laden films when he helmed THE DEAD ZONE. One of King's best books, this is also one of the best adaptations of his books. Beautifully filmed with an expert talented cast, THE DEAD ZONE is a heartbreaking look at Johnny Smith, a young man who loses five years of his life lying in a coma. When he awakens, the girl he planned to marry has already wed, and has a young son. He is physically handicapped and sentenced to a world he doesn't know or understand. Christopher Walken gives one of his finest performances as Johnny. Beautifully understated and poignantly touching, Walken creates a Johnny you will never forget. And what a fine cast he has to support him: Brooke Adams as his love Sarah who still loves Johnny but knows there is no hope for a future together with him; Martin Sheen as the preening, dangerous Senatorial candidate with a predicted itchy finger; Tom Skerritt as the frustrated sheriff who seeks Johnny's help; Colleen Dewhurst as the mother of a serial killer who knew his crimes; Herbert Lom as Walken's doctor and mentor, who tries to help Johnny adjust; Anthony Zerbe as the father who wants so much for his son to function normally in his world; and Nicholas Campbell as a deputy hiding a horrifying secret.
The stark winter landscapes add to the chill and there are horrors here, but they are the horrors of not belonging, of loving someone you can never have.
A brilliant film and a must for King affecionados and lovers of compelling psychological thrillers. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Most directors use a hit film to launch an immediate career--but notPaul Brickman, who hit in 1983 with Risky Business then waited until 1990 to make this, his second movie. And it was a good, if overlooked one, starring Jessica Lange as a woman suddenly widowed and unable to cope. She moves her kids (including Chris O'Donnell in his film debut) from the suburbs to downtown Baltimore, where they develop urban survival skills much more quickly than she does. Most of the plot centers on her inability to open up to a man (Arliss Howard) who obviously is right for her--and on O'Donnell's improbable (but extremely funny) affair with a nurse who lives upstairs (Joan Cusack). Touching and funny enough that its lack of surprise won't bother you. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Surviving hard times as a single woman and parent
I don't know if the movie title is appropriate. My initial impression was that the main character, played by Jessica Lange, husband left her for another woman.

But it has to do with a woman who was happily married, husband dies in fatal accident, she has to settle financial matters leaving her with only a home, no marketable skills, and two growing boys.

She is forced to sell the home, move to Balitmore, find work that pays a half way decent buck, find romance, lose the new romance or come close to, her older son, played by Chris O'Donnel, is involved with an older woman played by Joan Cussack, and, in the end, this mother becomes very depressed at the whole, I mean, the whole situation: her reality.

This is a great movie. It depicts, for a change, a non minority family, who also goes through tough times and also experiences the same hardships of others.

Thanks,
Diego

Perservering Through Hard Times
Sometimes life deals us a bad card. Men Don't Leave is a movie that depicts such tragedy to Jessica Lange's movie character when her well providing husband is killed in a work related accident.

From that point, money woes plague Jessica and she has to move her family from the lush suburbs to a more edgy part of Baltimore. At this point her two boys become more affected by the new surroundings as each crave for the attention left by the oid of their late father. Chris O Donnel's character is especially rebelious as he takes on "the man of the house" role and acts up around Lange's musician love interest.

Its very interesting how the relationships between mother and sons shift and change as the movie develops. The influence of both O'Donnel's and Lange's romantic relationships are quite unique as well. In spite of some rebelious attitudes by all, the bonds of family seem to stand strong. Help proves to be around the corner.

Good pacing, drama, and balance between laughter and tears. This movie does have a fairly broad appeal to many audiences.

The Widow in Baltimore
Jessica Lange is an American Treasure in the same league as Meryl Streep but with a much less lauded filmography. In "Men Don't Leave," Lange plays a recently widowed woman who finds herself without much money, two young sons and no job. She moves to Baltimore to seek her fortune and make a new life for herself and for her family.
There is a deep and abiding humanity in everything Lange does. Here she is all naked emotion and frantic desperation tempered with an endless well of positivism.

Chris O'Donnell's scene at the Riverfront with Arliss Howard is one of the great, emotionally open and heart wrenching scenes in movies...ever. O'Donnell has not been as truthful in films, since.
"Men Don't Leave" was much ignored when it first opened and it is an embarrassment that it is not available on DVD. But nonetheless, it contains one of the best performances of Jessica Lange's career and it is not to be missed by anyone interested in fine movie acting.

Hate Jessica Lange, Liked the Movie
This movie centers around a widowed mother-of-two's struggle to keep her famly together. Lange annoys me to look at, but she does give a very good performance as a mother of two children who lose their father to an accident at work. A young Chris O'Donnel is her eldest son, who has a few really funny and sarcastic lines in the movie. His character plot involves building a romantic relationship with an older Joan Cusack, a nurse that he meets when his family moves to Baltimore. (Every teenager watching has to be wishing a woman like that would just throw herself at them as she does with Chris's character in the movie). To tell the truth I was falling asleep during the stupid scenes between Lange and Arlis Howard, who plays her new love interest in the move to the city. You wanna just reach in the screen and kick Kathy Bates out of the movie during her scenes, and I think Joan Cusack, (really the only reason worth watching the movie) doesnt have enough screen time as far as Im concerned. The movie is very sweet though, and if you can tolerate dead-air every now and then as you watch, its worth seeing. And I think you'll also favor the storyling between Joan and Chris O'Donnel.

How very sad
This film recommends itself so strongly to you that you feel the need to reach out and strangle it and cry 'STOP!' With a luscious cast including Jessica Lange, Joan Cusack, Chris O'Donnell and Kathy Bates, one would think that this would endear itself more than it ultimately did. Sadly though, despite being a terrific feature in terms of acting, I would have to agree with critic Ebert in saying that it finally falls under the weight of its' own ugly cliches.

Jessica Lange loses her husband in the first few minutes of the film, and a host of Chinese cooks get to witness her pain after her trip to the morgue (Lange later dreams about the cooks, though I can't imagine why). Her eldest son, played by a youthful Chris O'Donnell (whos supposed to be 17 here, but looks 13) is a snotty brat who wants to be 'man of the house' now that Daddys dead. Her youngest, played by Charlie Korsmo (a has been who could've been - he was also that boring child in 'Dick Tracy') is sweet enough and likeable, but the vapid script soon makes it hard to care about any of these people.

Lange wastes no time finding a new boyfriend in Baltimore. This was highly expected of course, and coming as it does just 25 minutes into the film, it marks the beginning of the end of this movie. Lange is a superb actress and tries to do things with her role that could possibly inject it with SOME kind of interest, but like all the others, she too stumbles. The only thing really worth watching here is Joan Cusack who plays a nurse living above the Lange family. She and Chris get it off, much to Lange's puzzlement and dismay, yet it is she who finally brings some sort of sanity into Lange's life (after a series of predictable cliches, of course).

All this goes to show that it is the weird who help the 'normal', I suppose. Whatever. The point is, this film starts so well and ends so tamely, and the director is to blame. How else could you explain the brilliant Kathy Bates utterly wasted as the owner of an exclusive Italian eatery? She has the minimal of lines, and barely begins to make a presence before the film ends. Disappointing.

Chris O'Donnell is impressive as the eldest son, though its easy to sleepwalk through such a role. His wooden-facedness makes it that much more tasklesss for him to achieve perfection in this part. Lange, as usual, does more for her character than any of the others, and Cusack is hilarious, though I wondered what she was doing in this film at all. And it was quite a relief to find that O'Donnell's character was supposed to be 17 in this movie - I was a trifle startled to see Cusack jump his bones, for she looked like she could be 30, and he really looks pre-teen like in this film. Oh well.

This is a good watch, and while certainly not as 'essential' as this website says it is, it does have its moments. Pity that the cliches got in the way of everything. Heres a spoiler : as usual, the child gets hurt, and this in turn brings the family together. Ho hum. BOOOOOORING!! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Milk-mustard with tomato relish...indeed
In the teen sci-fi romp "Seven Minutes in Heaven," an early Jennifer Connelly stars as Natalie, a young girl coming to terms with being fifteen while trapped in a town that has a dark secret. Natalie is not alone, however, as she and two friends, Jeff and a sex-starved Gollum, unearth the forces behind their town's mystery. To the audience, this secret soon becomes apparent, but it is unfortunately lost on Natalie and her friends. A force-field surrounds the town, and all the men who enter through it undergo a radical metamorphosis, growing tall and thin with dark hair. At first, this would seem merely coincidental, but further examination reveals that not only do these men look the same, but they all share the exact same haircut. It is scruffy on top, with mid-length curls and what can only be described as "poof" in the back. Beware; this haircut is not a mullet, but rather something far more sinister.

Jeff soon falls victim to the town's curse and flees his home, seeking shelter with Natalie, whose father, in search of a cure, has left her alone for an undetermined amount of time. Their friend Gollum, whose feeble mind has been warped by the town's force-field, joins them and attempts to mate with any young man who will look at her for more than two minutes (the special effects on Gollum are especially impressive, considering this film was made in 1985. They way the filmmakers managed to digitally transplant Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale's hair onto Gollum's head is astounding and seamless). When her sexually crazed efforts are rebuffed by every able-bodied man in the town, Gollum is forced to seek solace elsewhere. Enter professional baseball star Zoo Knudsen (played by real-life Zoo!), who, upon entering the town, is quickly transformed into a tall, skinny, and dark-poofy-haired young man. Gollum mates with Zoo, but while her wish for physical intimacy is granted, it soon becomes her curse. Gollum loses what is left of her mind and attacks Natalie, calling her "swine" and subjecting her to a nonsensical and sexually-confused puppet show.

While obviously rooted in science fiction, the film does impart many lessons for young adult viewers, such as "it is perfectly okay for fifteen year old girls to accept lingerie from grown-up professional baseball players and later try to have sex with them in a car," and the timeless "never question a stranger if he wants you to sleep over in his squalor-turned studio beneath a baseball stadium and teach you all about orgasms ['It is like being released from torture']," and-in true 1980s fashion-"all step-parents are evil."

Does Natalie's father find a cure before it is too late? Will Natalie ever be able to tell the difference between her love-interest Casey and the nine extras who look exactly like him? What about Jeff--in this mixed-up, crazy world, can he find love with a cave-troll like Gollum? As a teen, it sometimes takes guts and an early intelligence to be able to answer these questions. Of course, sometimes it only takes "Seven Minutes in Heaven."

Seven minutes in heaven, honest, vulnerable
An off-beat tale of young girl's affection, loyalty, trust, and sexual curiosity. Still timely today. Solid performances given by everyone in this film. It's an honest look at the depth of emotions during this age.

This movie is so charming!
Just like the title says folks, watching this movie will take you through "Seven Minutes in Heaven". It's a great coming of age movie featuring a very young Jennifer Connelly, star of "Requiem for a Dream" and "A Beautiful Mind". You meet her friend Polly, who is a bit boy crazy. All the characters in this film are so endearing that you want to laugh and cry with them as they discover themselves.