Reviews (17)

Engrossing and captivating! Highly recommended.
"The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" is based on the Victorian novel by Anne Bronte. It tells the story of secretive, passionate and outspoken Helen Graham who lives quietly with her young son in Wildfell Hall. She befriends a young neighborhood farmer, Gilbert Markham, and he falls in love with her, despite her objections. It soon unfolds that Helen is "on the run" from her privileged life and her cruel, alcoholic husband - Arthur Huntingdon - and a series of flashbacks tell the story of her life with him. The story itself is engrossing and, like Jane Eyre, it's ultimately a story of a strong woman overcoming the odds and coming out triumphant in the end.

The BBC has done a great job with this production. Tara Fitzgerald ("The Woman in White," "Brassed Off") is perfectly cast as the downtrodden but feisty Helen. Handsome actors Toby Stephens ("The Great Gatsby") and Rupert Graves ("Room with a View," "Mrs. Dalloway") are excellent as the devoted Gilbert and the detestable Huntingdon. Tara Fitzgerald and Toby Stephens have a chemistry that most would find irresistible. The performances from the principal actors are excellent and Rupert Graves does such a good job that I found myself hating and pitying him at the same time. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys Bronte's work or first-rate British drama.

My favourite video!
This video (which runs for 160 mins) follows rather closely to the classic novel by Anne Bronte (except for the ending - nevertheless, it will still please you).

The production is lavish, the costumes beautiful and very correct to the period of time. The cast very capably brought to life the characters of the suffering Helen Graham, the scoundrel Arthur Huntington and the love-struck Gilbert Markham.

Tara Fitzgerald appeared a little miscast, owing to her often unnecessarly harsh displays of emotions and an unsuitable gruffy voice. But because she played the role of Helen Graham (who's an exceedingly likable heroine), I grew to ignore all that and found myself rooting for Helen to find all the happiness she deserves.

I simply love Toby Stephens whom I think, is just perfect as Gilbert, the handsome, young gentleman farmer who sees the goodness in Helen and seeks to protect her from the hypocrisy and prejudice shown by his unkind relatives and neighbours.

The cinematography is lush and breathtaking. It's obvious that this is a well-planned production with no expense spared.

I have only 1 minor complaint - that the romantic scenes involving Helen and Gilbert weren't made more passionate (the way it should be). Instead, we see more displays of love and affection between Helen and Lord Huntington (during their courtship days and early marriage). And to what purpose do they serve? - Since we know just what a brute Huntington turns out to be later!

If you love this video, please pick up the book (ie. if you haven't already) - the book fleshes out the thoughts, emotions and agonies of the love-lorn Gilbert much more effectively than could be captured on film.

Nevertheless, I love this video. It's great to have in one's collection for repeated viewings.

"He only wants for guidance."
In this excellent BBC adaptation of Anne Bronte's novel, an attractive young woman and her young son move into long-neglected Wildfell Hall. The woman (Tara Fitzgerald), Mrs. Helen Graham, claims to be a widow who is forced to make her living as an artist. Some of the local families try to befriend her, but they find Mrs. Graham to be abrasive and unfriendly. Local farmer, Gilbert Markham (Toby Stephens) is attracted to Mrs. Graham, and this does not escape the jealous eye of local lass, Eliza Millwood. Soon spiteful rumours abound about Mrs. Graham and her relationship to her landlord, Mr. Lawrence. Mrs. Graham tells Giles the truth about the past--including her desperate need for secrecy regarding her true identity. It seems that Mrs. Graham is really Mrs. Huntingdon--the wife of a dissolute rake who leads a life of debauchery in his constant pursuit of pleasure.

One of the reasons I enjoy "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" so much is it clearly depicts Victorian notions of womanhood. Bronte, however, through the characters and the story shows the absurdity and unfairness of the woman's role. Helen Huntingdon embodies the Victorian ideal of "the Angel in the House" and certainly Huntingdon expects angelic behaviour from her--no matter what abuse rains down on her head. Huntingdon thinks himself above criticism, and yet he holds Helen to the highest standard. He's a petty bully with a penchant for gratuitous cruelty. While he criticizes Helen's housekeeping abilities, her performance as a wife and as a mother, he also calls her "half mortal, half angelic." Helen embodies this perfect Victorian ideal, but we see the absurdity of her sacrifices as Huntingdon tramples on Helen's "delicate goodness" again and again. Bronte's book was a scandal when it was published in 1848, and while this adaptation no longer has the ability to make the average viewer swoon, nonetheless, there is great power to this story.

Fans of the novel should be happy with this adaptation. It is perfectly cast--even in the fairly minor roles. The photography is stunning, the costumes marvelous, and a haunting score accompanies the drama. There are several very clever camera shots. In one scene, the camera sweeps slowly and lovingly along the curve of Helen's shoulders, and in some scenes, the camera appears to take a bird's eye view of ballroom dancers. Tara Fitzgerald is always wonderful in these period piece roles. As Mrs. Graham/Huntingdon, she has a veneer of coldness, and Markham at first finds her "too hard, too sharp, too bitter." Helen Huntingdon's character is explored very well in the flashbacks of her awful married life to Arthur Huntingdon. Toby Stephens as Markham is in complete contrast to Huntingdon (Rupert Graves). Markham plays a solid, genuine lover--conscious of his social inferiority to the Huntingdons. Rupert Graves is an old hand with these sorts of roles, and he really does a spectacular job as Huntingdon--a man who's used to using his boyish charm to get what he wants, and yet the most unpleasant side of him shows after Helen is at his mercy while he runs with his pack of equally dissolute friends. Huntingdon delivers some of the very best lines in the film. Bronte fans, and BBC costume drama fans should be equally delighted with this production. The video is 160 minutes long, and it's worth every penny--displacedhuman

I'm Wanting to See This Wonderful Movie Transferred to DVD!
I haven't read the Anne Bronte classic novel yet but I saw this movie version of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall on cable one day and this is the movie that made me love watching British period costume movies. It is a wonderful movie with some terrific acing from the whole cast. Tara FitzGerald and Toby Stephens are wonderful but I think Rupert Graves gives a standout performance and I very greatly recommend this movie and I'm hoping it will be transferred to DVD! I'm also thinking about reading the classic novel!

The spirit of the original left out
I read Anne Bronte's book, loved it, then checked out the reviews for the VHS version here at Amazon. I couldn't find it to rent anywhere, but the reviews convinced me that I could safely buy a copy without viewing it first. Now that I've seen it, I am scratching my head wondering why it got the great reviews it did (and KICKING myself for buying it). Compared to the book, this BBC rendition I just watched last night made me think of cutting the arms and half the body off of your favorite sweater so that you could pack it better; it may fit in your small suitcase now, but it's not at all what it was. I gave the movie two stars instead of one star because the filming locations were good, and the costuming and the acting were not distracting - but the spirit of Anne Bronte's original story isn't there at all. The only thing that keeps it going for two cassettes is whatever the screenplay writer picked out of the book to make it recognizable. I think the worst misconstrued line in the movie comes from Gilbert, and it illustrates my point about the spirit of Anne Bronte's work being cast aside: Gilbert goes to Helen when she is with her husband, who is still alive - NOT in the book - and tells her (by way of trying to woo her), "It's not a sin to be happy." This line has become a classic in our generation, but this spirit was nowhere to be found in the book, and makes a completely different Helen and Gilbert than Anne Bronte would have given her permission for, which says a lot, since Helen and Gilbert are the principle characters. This video adaptation ruins the message of Anne Bronte's wonderful work. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great British Comedy!!
This movie is a great British comedy that can be described as a thinking person's"Thelma and Louise" which is about the love and hate friendship between a beautiful lady and not so beautiful lady and the trials and tribulations they go through.It's a delightful must see!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The BBC adaptation of Anne Bronte's moral tale The Tenant of Wildfell Hall will be a delight to those who revel in classics brought to the screen. Tara Fitzgerald stars as Helen Graham, a secretive woman who seeks independence for herself and her son from her cruel husband, Arthur Huntingdon. Huntingdon, a rake taken with women and drink, is played to perfection by Rupert Graves, believable as both the young lover who seduces Helen and as the depraved and brutish man he becomes. Toby Stephens is Gilbert Markham, the suspicious yet adoring yeoman farmer smitten with the supposed widow. The scenery and costumes of this period piece are lush, although the use of flashback as a narrative device is at times jarring. This tale is darker than the Jane Austen adaptations that BBC audiences are used to, yet the two-part film has an ending satisfying enough for even the most cynical of romantics. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Engrossing and captivating! Highly recommended.
"The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" is based on the Victorian novel by Anne Bronte. It tells the story of secretive, passionate and outspoken Helen Graham who lives quietly with her young son in Wildfell Hall. She befriends a young neighborhood farmer, Gilbert Markham, and he falls in love with her, despite her objections. It soon unfolds that Helen is "on the run" from her privileged life and her cruel, alcoholic husband - Arthur Huntingdon - and a series of flashbacks tell the story of her life with him. The story itself is engrossing and, like Jane Eyre, it's ultimately a story of a strong woman overcoming the odds and coming out triumphant in the end.

The BBC has done a great job with this production. Tara Fitzgerald ("The Woman in White," "Brassed Off") is perfectly cast as the downtrodden but feisty Helen. Handsome actors Toby Stephens ("The Great Gatsby") and Rupert Graves ("Room with a View," "Mrs. Dalloway") are excellent as the devoted Gilbert and the detestable Huntingdon. Tara Fitzgerald and Toby Stephens have a chemistry that most would find irresistible. The performances from the principal actors are excellent and Rupert Graves does such a good job that I found myself hating and pitying him at the same time. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys Bronte's work or first-rate British drama.

My favourite video!
This video (which runs for 160 mins) follows rather closely to the classic novel by Anne Bronte (except for the ending - nevertheless, it will still please you).

The production is lavish, the costumes beautiful and very correct to the period of time. The cast very capably brought to life the characters of the suffering Helen Graham, the scoundrel Arthur Huntington and the love-struck Gilbert Markham.

Tara Fitzgerald appeared a little miscast, owing to her often unnecessarly harsh displays of emotions and an unsuitable gruffy voice. But because she played the role of Helen Graham (who's an exceedingly likable heroine), I grew to ignore all that and found myself rooting for Helen to find all the happiness she deserves.

I simply love Toby Stephens whom I think, is just perfect as Gilbert, the handsome, young gentleman farmer who sees the goodness in Helen and seeks to protect her from the hypocrisy and prejudice shown by his unkind relatives and neighbours.

The cinematography is lush and breathtaking. It's obvious that this is a well-planned production with no expense spared.

I have only 1 minor complaint - that the romantic scenes involving Helen and Gilbert weren't made more passionate (the way it should be). Instead, we see more displays of love and affection between Helen and Lord Huntington (during their courtship days and early marriage). And to what purpose do they serve? - Since we know just what a brute Huntington turns out to be later!

If you love this video, please pick up the book (ie. if you haven't already) - the book fleshes out the thoughts, emotions and agonies of the love-lorn Gilbert much more effectively than could be captured on film.

Nevertheless, I love this video. It's great to have in one's collection for repeated viewings.

"He only wants for guidance."
In this excellent BBC adaptation of Anne Bronte's novel, an attractive young woman and her young son move into long-neglected Wildfell Hall. The woman (Tara Fitzgerald), Mrs. Helen Graham, claims to be a widow who is forced to make her living as an artist. Some of the local families try to befriend her, but they find Mrs. Graham to be abrasive and unfriendly. Local farmer, Gilbert Markham (Toby Stephens) is attracted to Mrs. Graham, and this does not escape the jealous eye of local lass, Eliza Millwood. Soon spiteful rumours abound about Mrs. Graham and her relationship to her landlord, Mr. Lawrence. Mrs. Graham tells Giles the truth about the past--including her desperate need for secrecy regarding her true identity. It seems that Mrs. Graham is really Mrs. Huntingdon--the wife of a dissolute rake who leads a life of debauchery in his constant pursuit of pleasure.

One of the reasons I enjoy "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" so much is it clearly depicts Victorian notions of womanhood. Bronte, however, through the characters and the story shows the absurdity and unfairness of the woman's role. Helen Huntingdon embodies the Victorian ideal of "the Angel in the House" and certainly Huntingdon expects angelic behaviour from her--no matter what abuse rains down on her head. Huntingdon thinks himself above criticism, and yet he holds Helen to the highest standard. He's a petty bully with a penchant for gratuitous cruelty. While he criticizes Helen's housekeeping abilities, her performance as a wife and as a mother, he also calls her "half mortal, half angelic." Helen embodies this perfect Victorian ideal, but we see the absurdity of her sacrifices as Huntingdon tramples on Helen's "delicate goodness" again and again. Bronte's book was a scandal when it was published in 1848, and while this adaptation no longer has the ability to make the average viewer swoon, nonetheless, there is great power to this story.

Fans of the novel should be happy with this adaptation. It is perfectly cast--even in the fairly minor roles. The photography is stunning, the costumes marvelous, and a haunting score accompanies the drama. There are several very clever camera shots. In one scene, the camera sweeps slowly and lovingly along the curve of Helen's shoulders, and in some scenes, the camera appears to take a bird's eye view of ballroom dancers. Tara Fitzgerald is always wonderful in these period piece roles. As Mrs. Graham/Huntingdon, she has a veneer of coldness, and Markham at first finds her "too hard, too sharp, too bitter." Helen Huntingdon's character is explored very well in the flashbacks of her awful married life to Arthur Huntingdon. Toby Stephens as Markham is in complete contrast to Huntingdon (Rupert Graves). Markham plays a solid, genuine lover--conscious of his social inferiority to the Huntingdons. Rupert Graves is an old hand with these sorts of roles, and he really does a spectacular job as Huntingdon--a man who's used to using his boyish charm to get what he wants, and yet the most unpleasant side of him shows after Helen is at his mercy while he runs with his pack of equally dissolute friends. Huntingdon delivers some of the very best lines in the film. Bronte fans, and BBC costume drama fans should be equally delighted with this production. The video is 160 minutes long, and it's worth every penny--displacedhuman

I'm Wanting to See This Wonderful Movie Transferred to DVD!
I haven't read the Anne Bronte classic novel yet but I saw this movie version of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall on cable one day and this is the movie that made me love watching British period costume movies. It is a wonderful movie with some terrific acing from the whole cast. Tara FitzGerald and Toby Stephens are wonderful but I think Rupert Graves gives a standout performance and I very greatly recommend this movie and I'm hoping it will be transferred to DVD! I'm also thinking about reading the classic novel!

The spirit of the original left out
I read Anne Bronte's book, loved it, then checked out the reviews for the VHS version here at Amazon. I couldn't find it to rent anywhere, but the reviews convinced me that I could safely buy a copy without viewing it first. Now that I've seen it, I am scratching my head wondering why it got the great reviews it did (and KICKING myself for buying it). Compared to the book, this BBC rendition I just watched last night made me think of cutting the arms and half the body off of your favorite sweater so that you could pack it better; it may fit in your small suitcase now, but it's not at all what it was. I gave the movie two stars instead of one star because the filming locations were good, and the costuming and the acting were not distracting - but the spirit of Anne Bronte's original story isn't there at all. The only thing that keeps it going for two cassettes is whatever the screenplay writer picked out of the book to make it recognizable. I think the worst misconstrued line in the movie comes from Gilbert, and it illustrates my point about the spirit of Anne Bronte's work being cast aside: Gilbert goes to Helen when she is with her husband, who is still alive - NOT in the book - and tells her (by way of trying to woo her), "It's not a sin to be happy." This line has become a classic in our generation, but this spirit was nowhere to be found in the book, and makes a completely different Helen and Gilbert than Anne Bronte would have given her permission for, which says a lot, since Helen and Gilbert are the principle characters. This video adaptation ruins the message of Anne Bronte's wonderful work. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Some Good Stunts Killed by Bad Editing and Silly Plot
Though I give only two stars to this film, that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it. I don't care if the plot is too silly. That's OK. I don't care a British guy plays an American. Many do that in this business. But I hate when there are good materials, and when they are ruined like in this film. I mean, its stunts.

The characters -- Devon Sawa ("Final Destination"), Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Rupert Graves, Rufus Sewell, Joe Absolom, Jana Paranske -- are hired to make a promotion video for Japanese client. (Inexplicably, only Ms. Wilson-Sampras is American among the main cast. Devon Sawa is Canadian.) They are going to travel to the Alps, all camping out in the construction site of a resort hotel up on a lonely mountain. But when this rag-tag team encounter a group of terroists (don't ask me why), they are forced to use their skills for extreme sports to survive the deadly fight against them.

The story is silly, but not bad. "Cliffhanger" was silly -- you know, Sly must have been dead within five minutes with that clothes -- but not a bad actioner after all, giving a series of great stunts. And "Extreme Ops" offers some great stunts, and actors are certainly doing their jobs. See, for example, Devon Sawa hanging from the tail of the train, strapped to it by ropes. You can see people doing skateboarding on a moving train, behind a moving train, and so on.

But the drirector Christian Dugay arrange them in a meaningless way, editing so badly that you just don't know what is going on particularly in the first scenes about the canoe riding. To make matters worse, as the film reaches its climax, you will see the cheesy CGIs, a crazy soldier with bad acting, and some ridiculous tactics that the characters use to protect them from the killers, all of which tell that the film is running out of tricks, and this feeling kills the excitement this kind of film should offer.

Not so bad as some people say, but "Extreme Ops" tells us why "XXX" is a great fun -- charisma of Vin Diesel, sexy Asia Argento, and great stunts aptly shown on the screen, all of which lack here.

Trivia: "Yana" is played by Liliana Komorowska, wife of director Christian Dugay, and she can be seen many of his films like "Screamers."

DOWNHILL UPHILL SIDEWAYS UPSIDE DOWN RACING
EXTREME OPS packs a real wallop with some of its outstanding mind-boggling ski/snowboard sequences. The scenery is breathtaking and there is one long tense scene involving dangling on the side of the Alps. Other than that, we have a standard plot that doesn't move quick enough and some cardboard performances particularly from Bridgette Wilson Sampras and Rupert Graves. Perennial bad boy Rufus Sewell seems lost in the role of a hero, and Devon Sawa hops around like one of the 17 year cicadas. BUT who cares? The action sequences are outstanding and it's an enjoyable diversion. Still the best ski scenes on film are from ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, and they didn't use CGI!

snowboarding mixed with bullets and action dont mix
this movie started out good but then got all mushy with the action and the gunfire. good snowboarding stunts, and the cast is great, Sawa looks a little scruffy looking. like I said, with the snowboarding and action, dont mix well and it gets muddled when the badguys come along

Extremely Bad
If someone went to the trouble of describing the plot of Extreme Ops to you, before you saw it, you would swear that it sounds like it might be a half way descent actioner. Unfortunately, the actual film isn't even that good, at that low standard.

The plot, such as it is, involves an extreme sports team, filmming a commercial, using gold medal skier Chloe Weston (Bridgette Wilson), outrunning a man made avalanche. As the director (Rufus Sewell), his cameraman Will Flaky, (Devon Sawa), and the rest of the crew settle in, they get more than they bargained for. The team inadvertantly stumble upon a Serbian warlord, and his cohorts hiding out in an unfinished resort, atop a mountain.

Sort of like Die Hard on a ski slope if you will. Now, I can accept that premise if done right. Sure, the plot is nothing new, therefore, it's all about excution. The main problem with the film is that it takes at least 50 minutes for the central plot to take hold. Up until that time, the movie concerns itself with dopey subplots about love connections, and hackneyed character conflicts. The action sequences are nicely staged but there's not enough of them to carry the film's plot. The cast somehow manages to muddle through. Poor director Christian Duquay should have seen that this film was trouble from the start.

I think Paramount knew they had a stinker on their hands and had no faith in the movie. The powers that be decided not to include any extras about the movie itself on the DVD. What else do you get, you ask? Viewers can watch Extreme Ops in either the widescreen or fullscreen formats. A trailer gallery with "previews" for Star Trek Nemesis and Abandon is all there is.

Extreme Ops isn't even a good bad film. It doesn't really qualify as a guilty pleasure either...

best sporting movie ever
i found that this movie had a great plot, excellent acting, and awesome stunts. with several plot twists, i was kept on the edge of my seat through the entire movie. the DVD is excellent, and something i would reccomend for ownership to anyone extreme enough to take it. this film is fun for all ages! the kids will love the stunts, and mom and dad will appreciate the positive, underlying messages in the content. definantly a must see, and the movie of the year, every year. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Some Good Stunts Killed by Bad Editing and Silly Plot
Though I give only two stars to this film, that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it. I don't care if the plot is too silly. That's OK. I don't care a British guy plays an American. Many do that in this business. But I hate when there are good materials, and when they are ruined like in this film. I mean, its stunts.

The characters -- Devon Sawa ("Final Destination"), Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Rupert Graves, Rufus Sewell, Joe Absolom, Jana Paranske -- are hired to make a promotion video for Japanese client. (Inexplicably, only Ms. Wilson-Sampras is American among the main cast. Devon Sawa is Canadian.) They are going to travel to the Alps, all camping out in the construction site of a resort hotel up on a lonely mountain. But when this rag-tag team encounter a group of terroists (don't ask me why), they are forced to use their skills for extreme sports to survive the deadly fight against them.

The story is silly, but not bad. "Cliffhanger" was silly -- you know, Sly must have been dead within five minutes with that clothes -- but not a bad actioner after all, giving a series of great stunts. And "Extreme Ops" offers some great stunts, and actors are certainly doing their jobs. See, for example, Devon Sawa hanging from the tail of the train, strapped to it by ropes. You can see people doing skateboarding on a moving train, behind a moving train, and so on.

But the drirector Christian Dugay arrange them in a meaningless way, editing so badly that you just don't know what is going on particularly in the first scenes about the canoe riding. To make matters worse, as the film reaches its climax, you will see the cheesy CGIs, a crazy soldier with bad acting, and some ridiculous tactics that the characters use to protect them from the killers, all of which tell that the film is running out of tricks, and this feeling kills the excitement this kind of film should offer.

Not so bad as some people say, but "Extreme Ops" tells us why "XXX" is a great fun -- charisma of Vin Diesel, sexy Asia Argento, and great stunts aptly shown on the screen, all of which lack here.

Trivia: "Yana" is played by Liliana Komorowska, wife of director Christian Dugay, and she can be seen many of his films like "Screamers."

DOWNHILL UPHILL SIDEWAYS UPSIDE DOWN RACING
EXTREME OPS packs a real wallop with some of its outstanding mind-boggling ski/snowboard sequences. The scenery is breathtaking and there is one long tense scene involving dangling on the side of the Alps. Other than that, we have a standard plot that doesn't move quick enough and some cardboard performances particularly from Bridgette Wilson Sampras and Rupert Graves. Perennial bad boy Rufus Sewell seems lost in the role of a hero, and Devon Sawa hops around like one of the 17 year cicadas. BUT who cares? The action sequences are outstanding and it's an enjoyable diversion. Still the best ski scenes on film are from ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, and they didn't use CGI!

snowboarding mixed with bullets and action dont mix
this movie started out good but then got all mushy with the action and the gunfire. good snowboarding stunts, and the cast is great, Sawa looks a little scruffy looking. like I said, with the snowboarding and action, dont mix well and it gets muddled when the badguys come along

Extremely Bad
If someone went to the trouble of describing the plot of Extreme Ops to you, before you saw it, you would swear that it sounds like it might be a half way descent actioner. Unfortunately, the actual film isn't even that good, at that low standard.

The plot, such as it is, involves an extreme sports team, filmming a commercial, using gold medal skier Chloe Weston (Bridgette Wilson), outrunning a man made avalanche. As the director (Rufus Sewell), his cameraman Will Flaky, (Devon Sawa), and the rest of the crew settle in, they get more than they bargained for. The team inadvertantly stumble upon a Serbian warlord, and his cohorts hiding out in an unfinished resort, atop a mountain.

Sort of like Die Hard on a ski slope if you will. Now, I can accept that premise if done right. Sure, the plot is nothing new, therefore, it's all about excution. The main problem with the film is that it takes at least 50 minutes for the central plot to take hold. Up until that time, the movie concerns itself with dopey subplots about love connections, and hackneyed character conflicts. The action sequences are nicely staged but there's not enough of them to carry the film's plot. The cast somehow manages to muddle through. Poor director Christian Duquay should have seen that this film was trouble from the start.

I think Paramount knew they had a stinker on their hands and had no faith in the movie. The powers that be decided not to include any extras about the movie itself on the DVD. What else do you get, you ask? Viewers can watch Extreme Ops in either the widescreen or fullscreen formats. A trailer gallery with "previews" for Star Trek Nemesis and Abandon is all there is.

Extreme Ops isn't even a good bad film. It doesn't really qualify as a guilty pleasure either...

best sporting movie ever
i found that this movie had a great plot, excellent acting, and awesome stunts. with several plot twists, i was kept on the edge of my seat through the entire movie. the DVD is excellent, and something i would reccomend for ownership to anyone extreme enough to take it. this film is fun for all ages! the kids will love the stunts, and mom and dad will appreciate the positive, underlying messages in the content. definantly a must see, and the movie of the year, every year. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Some Good Stunts Killed by Bad Editing and Silly Plot
Though I give only two stars to this film, that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it. I don't care if the plot is too silly. That's OK. I don't care a British guy plays an American. Many do that in this business. But I hate when there are good materials, and when they are ruined like in this film. I mean, its stunts.

The characters -- Devon Sawa ("Final Destination"), Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Rupert Graves, Rufus Sewell, Joe Absolom, Jana Paranske -- are hired to make a promotion video for Japanese client. (Inexplicably, only Ms. Wilson-Sampras is American among the main cast. Devon Sawa is Canadian.) They are going to travel to the Alps, all camping out in the construction site of a resort hotel up on a lonely mountain. But when this rag-tag team encounter a group of terroists (don't ask me why), they are forced to use their skills for extreme sports to survive the deadly fight against them.

The story is silly, but not bad. "Cliffhanger" was silly -- you know, Sly must have been dead within five minutes with that clothes -- but not a bad actioner after all, giving a series of great stunts. And "Extreme Ops" offers some great stunts, and actors are certainly doing their jobs. See, for example, Devon Sawa hanging from the tail of the train, strapped to it by ropes. You can see people doing skateboarding on a moving train, behind a moving train, and so on.

But the drirector Christian Dugay arrange them in a meaningless way, editing so badly that you just don't know what is going on particularly in the first scenes about the canoe riding. To make matters worse, as the film reaches its climax, you will see the cheesy CGIs, a crazy soldier with bad acting, and some ridiculous tactics that the characters use to protect them from the killers, all of which tell that the film is running out of tricks, and this feeling kills the excitement this kind of film should offer.

Not so bad as some people say, but "Extreme Ops" tells us why "XXX" is a great fun -- charisma of Vin Diesel, sexy Asia Argento, and great stunts aptly shown on the screen, all of which lack here.

Trivia: "Yana" is played by Liliana Komorowska, wife of director Christian Dugay, and she can be seen many of his films like "Screamers."

DOWNHILL UPHILL SIDEWAYS UPSIDE DOWN RACING
EXTREME OPS packs a real wallop with some of its outstanding mind-boggling ski/snowboard sequences. The scenery is breathtaking and there is one long tense scene involving dangling on the side of the Alps. Other than that, we have a standard plot that doesn't move quick enough and some cardboard performances particularly from Bridgette Wilson Sampras and Rupert Graves. Perennial bad boy Rufus Sewell seems lost in the role of a hero, and Devon Sawa hops around like one of the 17 year cicadas. BUT who cares? The action sequences are outstanding and it's an enjoyable diversion. Still the best ski scenes on film are from ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, and they didn't use CGI!

snowboarding mixed with bullets and action dont mix
this movie started out good but then got all mushy with the action and the gunfire. good snowboarding stunts, and the cast is great, Sawa looks a little scruffy looking. like I said, with the snowboarding and action, dont mix well and it gets muddled when the badguys come along

Extremely Bad
If someone went to the trouble of describing the plot of Extreme Ops to you, before you saw it, you would swear that it sounds like it might be a half way descent actioner. Unfortunately, the actual film isn't even that good, at that low standard.

The plot, such as it is, involves an extreme sports team, filmming a commercial, using gold medal skier Chloe Weston (Bridgette Wilson), outrunning a man made avalanche. As the director (Rufus Sewell), his cameraman Will Flaky, (Devon Sawa), and the rest of the crew settle in, they get more than they bargained for. The team inadvertantly stumble upon a Serbian warlord, and his cohorts hiding out in an unfinished resort, atop a mountain.

Sort of like Die Hard on a ski slope if you will. Now, I can accept that premise if done right. Sure, the plot is nothing new, therefore, it's all about excution. The main problem with the film is that it takes at least 50 minutes for the central plot to take hold. Up until that time, the movie concerns itself with dopey subplots about love connections, and hackneyed character conflicts. The action sequences are nicely staged but there's not enough of them to carry the film's plot. The cast somehow manages to muddle through. Poor director Christian Duquay should have seen that this film was trouble from the start.

I think Paramount knew they had a stinker on their hands and had no faith in the movie. The powers that be decided not to include any extras about the movie itself on the DVD. What else do you get, you ask? Viewers can watch Extreme Ops in either the widescreen or fullscreen formats. A trailer gallery with "previews" for Star Trek Nemesis and Abandon is all there is.

Extreme Ops isn't even a good bad film. It doesn't really qualify as a guilty pleasure either...

best sporting movie ever
i found that this movie had a great plot, excellent acting, and awesome stunts. with several plot twists, i was kept on the edge of my seat through the entire movie. the DVD is excellent, and something i would reccomend for ownership to anyone extreme enough to take it. this film is fun for all ages! the kids will love the stunts, and mom and dad will appreciate the positive, underlying messages in the content. definantly a must see, and the movie of the year, every year. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Some Good Stunts Killed by Bad Editing and Silly Plot
Though I give only two stars to this film, that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it. I don't care if the plot is too silly. That's OK. I don't care a British guy plays an American. Many do that in this business. But I hate when there are good materials, and when they are ruined like in this film. I mean, its stunts.

The characters -- Devon Sawa ("Final Destination"), Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Rupert Graves, Rufus Sewell, Joe Absolom, Jana Paranske -- are hired to make a promotion video for Japanese client. (Inexplicably, only Ms. Wilson-Sampras is American among the main cast. Devon Sawa is Canadian.) They are going to travel to the Alps, all camping out in the construction site of a resort hotel up on a lonely mountain. But when this rag-tag team encounter a group of terroists (don't ask me why), they are forced to use their skills for extreme sports to survive the deadly fight against them.

The story is silly, but not bad. "Cliffhanger" was silly -- you know, Sly must have been dead within five minutes with that clothes -- but not a bad actioner after all, giving a series of great stunts. And "Extreme Ops" offers some great stunts, and actors are certainly doing their jobs. See, for example, Devon Sawa hanging from the tail of the train, strapped to it by ropes. You can see people doing skateboarding on a moving train, behind a moving train, and so on.

But the drirector Christian Dugay arrange them in a meaningless way, editing so badly that you just don't know what is going on particularly in the first scenes about the canoe riding. To make matters worse, as the film reaches its climax, you will see the cheesy CGIs, a crazy soldier with bad acting, and some ridiculous tactics that the characters use to protect them from the killers, all of which tell that the film is running out of tricks, and this feeling kills the excitement this kind of film should offer.

Not so bad as some people say, but "Extreme Ops" tells us why "XXX" is a great fun -- charisma of Vin Diesel, sexy Asia Argento, and great stunts aptly shown on the screen, all of which lack here.

Trivia: "Yana" is played by Liliana Komorowska, wife of director Christian Dugay, and she can be seen many of his films like "Screamers."

DOWNHILL UPHILL SIDEWAYS UPSIDE DOWN RACING
EXTREME OPS packs a real wallop with some of its outstanding mind-boggling ski/snowboard sequences. The scenery is breathtaking and there is one long tense scene involving dangling on the side of the Alps. Other than that, we have a standard plot that doesn't move quick enough and some cardboard performances particularly from Bridgette Wilson Sampras and Rupert Graves. Perennial bad boy Rufus Sewell seems lost in the role of a hero, and Devon Sawa hops around like one of the 17 year cicadas. BUT who cares? The action sequences are outstanding and it's an enjoyable diversion. Still the best ski scenes on film are from ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, and they didn't use CGI!

snowboarding mixed with bullets and action dont mix
this movie started out good but then got all mushy with the action and the gunfire. good snowboarding stunts, and the cast is great, Sawa looks a little scruffy looking. like I said, with the snowboarding and action, dont mix well and it gets muddled when the badguys come along

Extremely Bad
If someone went to the trouble of describing the plot of Extreme Ops to you, before you saw it, you would swear that it sounds like it might be a half way descent actioner. Unfortunately, the actual film isn't even that good, at that low standard.

The plot, such as it is, involves an extreme sports team, filmming a commercial, using gold medal skier Chloe Weston (Bridgette Wilson), outrunning a man made avalanche. As the director (Rufus Sewell), his cameraman Will Flaky, (Devon Sawa), and the rest of the crew settle in, they get more than they bargained for. The team inadvertantly stumble upon a Serbian warlord, and his cohorts hiding out in an unfinished resort, atop a mountain.

Sort of like Die Hard on a ski slope if you will. Now, I can accept that premise if done right. Sure, the plot is nothing new, therefore, it's all about excution. The main problem with the film is that it takes at least 50 minutes for the central plot to take hold. Up until that time, the movie concerns itself with dopey subplots about love connections, and hackneyed character conflicts. The action sequences are nicely staged but there's not enough of them to carry the film's plot. The cast somehow manages to muddle through. Poor director Christian Duquay should have seen that this film was trouble from the start.

I think Paramount knew they had a stinker on their hands and had no faith in the movie. The powers that be decided not to include any extras about the movie itself on the DVD. What else do you get, you ask? Viewers can watch Extreme Ops in either the widescreen or fullscreen formats. A trailer gallery with "previews" for Star Trek Nemesis and Abandon is all there is.

Extreme Ops isn't even a good bad film. It doesn't really qualify as a guilty pleasure either...

best sporting movie ever
i found that this movie had a great plot, excellent acting, and awesome stunts. with several plot twists, i was kept on the edge of my seat through the entire movie. the DVD is excellent, and something i would reccomend for ownership to anyone extreme enough to take it. this film is fun for all ages! the kids will love the stunts, and mom and dad will appreciate the positive, underlying messages in the content. definantly a must see, and the movie of the year, every year. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Long Time Dead
I thought this movie was a creepy one, in a non-Steven Spielberg movie made kind of way. It had me very interested. Towards the middle/ending of the movie, is where it started to make sense and come together. I don't recommend watching this movie alone at night! I liked it, regardless of the quality, actors, or whom directed it. It's still a movie worth watching, although I had a hard time finding it, so I bought it. Hope to see more reviews on this movie! ... Read more