Description

Confronted with life-changing news, a middle-aged architect seizes the opportunity to begin living life on his own terms as he builds the house of his dreams, and winds up rebuilding the world around him in the process ... Read more

Reviews (182)

certainly memorable
Life as a house is a brilliant movie. There is never a dull moment. Although it does not have war planes crashing at every second, it still keeps your attention. The story is about a divorced man (Kevin Kline)who has drifted from his family and from his son espcially. His son visits him on certain weekends and doesn't like it too much. Then the dad finds out he is going too die soon so he wants to do the things in his life that he has put off for so long, like rebuilding his beach shack and reconnecting with his lost son, Sam (Hayden Christensen). Hayden Christensen turned in a beautiful performance and he really makes you feel what the character was feeling. Sam is somewhat of a case. Certainly not the kind of kid your parents wanted you hanging around. It will surely be a long time before I forget this film, not only because of the wonderful story line and intense drama, but for the wonderful Oscar deserving performances also. Espcially by newcomer Hayden Christensen(Anakin Skywalker in upcoming Episode 2). He really portrayed his character, Sam, perfectly. He is an outstanding actor; not just for a newcomer. He really gets your attention.
Life As A House is one of the best films I have ever seen. It was certainly a memorable film.

A good movie that might have been great
Have you ever watched a movie, totally engrossed, walked out of the theater satisfied that your hard-earned money was well spent, went to sleep, and then woke up the next morning with the sneaking suspicion that someone had pulled a fast one on you? This was my reaction to Life as a House.

Wonderful, engaging performances by Kevin Kline, Kirsten Scott-Thomas and Hayden Christensen make it an enjoyable experience despite the overcrowded, mediocre screenplay, which often resorts to cheap and unnecessary tricks and clichés to tug on our emotions. An early scene involving George (Kline's character) and a compassionate nurse is one example. Another involves an awkward subplot with an angry neighbor and a building inspector. Like many things that happen in Life as a House, it adds nothing to the story, and detracts from the characterizations and struggles of the main players. And the final scene! Well, please. Don't get me started.

Still, despite the flaws, the movie is sweet and enjoyable. After all is said and done, a good movie that might have been great with a better screenplay.

Wonderful
A person walks away from this movie thinking how lucky he or she is to just be alive! Bravo! Kevin Kline's best performance except for "Sophie's Choice."

Life is a house, not American Beauty
First of all, Life As A House is pretty much like American Beauty, only better. Hayden, from Star Wars 2, portrays the teenager in a very dysfunctional family, while Kevin Kline plays his father. Like American Beauty, it seems like the whole block is dysfunctional, and they pretty much are. Yet, when Kevin Kline is diagnosed with cancer he decides to build the house he has always dreamed of, and in doing so try to reconnect with his son. I personally feel that although this is a very typical picture of teen angst and family dysfunction it is shown in a fresh new way, and one that actually connects with the audience.

good movie
this overall was a very good movie. hayden christensen was excellent in it, as was kevin kline. i would have given it the full 5 stars, but some parts were a bit melodramatic. besides that, this movie was both funny and sad, put together with a great cast to produce a very good movie. i would probably give it 4 1/2 stars but thats not really an option. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Essentially a cautionary tale of slightly futuristic cyberterrorism, Netforce carries Tom Clancy's heavyweight name as the executive producer (but not writer). Don't expect a drama on the level of Patriot Games, however: Netforce is a blunt and somewhat rushed thriller with little time for character or relationship development. What it does offer is a scenario for the prospect of organized crime uniting with computer geeks and malevolent industrialists to sabotage national security through attacks on the Internet. Scott Bakula plays the FBI agent in charge of the Netforce division of the bureau; he takes charge after his mentor (Kris Kristofferson) is murdered and the investigation points to the involvement of a Web pioneer (Judge Reinhold). The hero's romance with a colleague (Joanna Going) grows a little trickier after he promotes her to the number two spot behind himself, but with the president's chief of staff (Brian Dennehy) breathing down their necks, that's the least of their professional problems. The action bounces around from good guys to sundry bad guys, but there's no question that a creeping paranoia about Net vulnerability and its disastrous implications grows on this production--and the viewers. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Trite, slow, boring, inaccurate - Minus 5 stars
I've read a lot of Tom Clancy bookds and seen his movies...this is really a travesty...a poor premise/plot, a clunky use of technology throughout, just a sad, sad excuse for a movie. By the way, I really have begun to dislike Scott Pakula as an actor, he's not too smart and in my mind has screwed up Enterprise ... he does an equally lame job here

A great movie
I have never read Tom Clancy's books nor had I heard of the Net Force series before, but this movie was so good that I actually went to the net to look for Clancy's books. Even though some characters are not well developed, the movie was a very realistic depiction of how our technology could be in about 20 years. The plot was fast moving and it kept me on the edge of my seat to the very end.

Tom Clancy's Netforce
I've read some of Tom Clancy's works before. They are all quite entertaining in their own different way. However, the only one of Clancy's works transferred to the screen I've bothered to watch was Netforce. That was strictly to see Scott Bakula again. Scott's portrayal of Alex was a gem to see. After Netforce, I went out to find other books in this series and only read the Alex parts!

It sounds good
Hi everyone. MOst of you know who Tom Clancy is. He has video games out there. Like Tom Clancy's Rainbow 6 and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. Those are great games. So most people would think this would be a great movie since it has his name in it. I thought it was a pretty good movie. But most of the other reviews said it sucked. So if you don't believe me just see it yourself. And stop listening to the reviews.

Clancy must not research his movies as much as we thought
Very inaccurate depiction of computers. Tom Clancy, i thought you were highly touted as being a realistic researcher of the details... how did you flub this one so bad? ... Read more

Reviews (1022)

Astonishing
This is one of the truly rare films that works brilliantly on every possible level. As a satire, it delves deep into the heart of society, and illuminates the strong undertones of resentment, despair and desire that flourish beneath glossy facade of American life. It displays the reasons why so many lives unfold without any happiness, because people choose to live without going after their dreams and ambitions. On the other side "American Beauty" is also a modern tragedy, a story of one man's search for identity and freedom, and the way he profoundly impacts the people around him. The film slowly unravels the masks people where, and explores the moral obscurity and emotional chaos they could plunge into when they decide of follow their heart instead of their conscience. Kevin Spacey is phenomenal as Lester Burnham, his performance is 100% worthy of an Oscar. Alan Ball's script never ceases to amaze me, it's abundance of shrewd observations and insights is something to marvel at. Visually, the film is stunning, it's imagery is nothing short of cinematic poetry, you will find yourself in awe in every frame, every moment. "American Beauty" never shies away from reality, no matter how sad, and in the end, you will find yourself looking at the things that surround you with a whole new outlook. This is a truly remarkable film, one of the decade's best.

Visually stunning and utterly repellent.
There's a scene in American Beauty in which a teenaged boy is found filming a dead bird by two girls his age. They ask him why, and he explains, "Because it's beautiful." That's one opinion: another, which also applies to "American Beauty," is that no matter how beautifully you light, film and score it, something foul and rotten is still foul and rotten.

Director Sam Mendes is clearly gifted; cinematographer Conrad Hall's use of color and light is stunning; the music is haunting, and the cast talented, and even Alan Ball's script shows a deliberate intelligence too many movies lack. But none of these elements can disguise the fact that this movie is sad, cynical and sick at heart. It's a mean-spirited chronicle of suburbia as hell which tries to patch itself over with a feel-good moral and fails utterly.

With the possible exception of one semi-redeeming choice Kevin Spacey's character makes at the end of the film, none of the main characters exhibit any likeable or even remotely worthwhile traits. Spacey's Lester Burnham goes from being a wimp to an arrogant lecher; Annette Benning as his wife is a shrill Martha Stewart caricature; Mena Suvari, as Burnham's teenaged lust object, is profoundly unlikeable; Thora Birch's daughter character is selfish and sullen; her creepy love interest, boy-next-door Wes Bentley, deals drugs when he's not filming her obsessively. Then there's Bentley's abusive ex-Marine dad... the list goes on and on.

No one is having a good time in American Beauty. Everyone is miserable. And the one person who figures out a way to escape that misery is horribly dead soon after. There is a worthwhile message in American Beauty, as well as one utterly lovely scene involving nothing more than a videotape of a windblown plastic bag. But the brighter elements of this movie feel hastily tacked on to its warped, unrealistically dark world view, and in the end they cannot compensate for the utter, gaping landfill where this film's moral center ought to be.

An amazing film
I thought this movie was awful. It's amazing to me how anyone could like this. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I had to rate it when I saw how many people thought it was a masterpiece? This simplistic piece of badly acted crap? The situaion with the father and the teenage girl is almost child pornography.

AN EXQUISITE AFFIRMATION OF LIFE
On the surface, this stunner from Sam Mendes is such a relentlessly bleak look at the vacuity of the supposed "American Dream" that viewers may just turn off to it en masse. And it shows in the acute polarization of reviews here on Amazon.

But if you can be a little less knee-jerk and not shut off all rational thought when confronted with what's disturbingly familiar, you may also find that the film is genuinely, voraciously amusing, and directed with such breathtaking flair that Spacey's bravura performance seems like a career-defining one.

Beneath the surface of all the seeming pettiness in our daily idiosynchrasies, the theme points out, is an entire world of such simple elegance that chortles to be seen and heard, but is neither recognized nor heeded to.

An interesting visual device in the film is the use of windows. Not just a use, but a splurge, come to think of it. Almost everything important happens in front of, around, or through windows. Could this be a metaphor perhaps for self-examination, for viewing one's life from the outside?

What I do not understand is why most films in this genre (Ice Storm, Ordinary People) end with a dramatically tragic finale. Does it take a shattering turn of events to break everyone out of their daily reverie? Something to think about.

Any rate, long story short: an evocative gem you need to own.

There is only one word for this movie..... PERFECT
I've seen a lot of Hollywood crap, and I was just getting sick of that whole movie industy when I happened to see American Beauty. I'm a story-line fanatic and I've seen way too many stupid blunders on most movies, but this one was just flawless.
It was absolutely perfect. In fact, the only camparable movie to this one was that Korean film, Old Boy. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Amazing!
One of the best scifi alien-related movies I've seen so far, and I've seen a lot of them.

No clue as to why this movie isn't popular here in the US, in Germany it was a hit. It also seems to be very hard to find for some reason.

Go to the Original TV Series
Original version is far better that this "pilot" version. Special effects in the Quinn Martin Production were so real... look at the way this version show the death of an alien. Did you see the UFO's here? And the main character has nothing to do compared to the famous David Vincent role. Forget it!

Fair Remake of the 60's series
Long before David Duchovny's Fox Mulder was chasing alien conspirators, Roy Thinnes in the person of David Vincent was on a one-man crusade to reveal the aliens among us. This 1995 miniseries stars Scott Bakula in a similar role. Thinnes appears briefly as Vincent. Richard Thomas, who seems not to have aged a day since "The Waltons," is one of the humans taken over by the malevolent aliens.

A routine exercise in science fiction politics, the film benefits from a knock-out performance from Jon Polito, late of "Homicide: Life on the Streets," as a harried subway operator. His is the only reason for viewing although he doesn't appear until the film's last quarter.

They're here, but who are they...
Scott Bakula leaps into this action-pack film with both feet running. Playing a desperate pilot who must attempt to uncover and stop a plot to over-throw the Earth with the help of Elizabeth Pena, Bakula does a wonderful job throughout the movie as he once again shows his wide range of acting abilities. The movie has some good special effects although the aliens leave a little to be desired. This is a great movie for those who like suspence in science fiction, but don't want blood and gore. If you're trying to quit smoking this movie is for you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Psychological twists and turns strangle the plot of this disappointing effort from the director of The Stunt Man, Richard Rush. Emotionally damaged psychiatrist Bruce Willis leaves his practice behind and moves to LA when a patient commits suicide in front of him. Out of the goodness of his broken heart, he takes over the practice of a murdered colleague (Scott Bakula). Jane March is the needy but mysterious woman who literally crashes into his life, making sexual advances the good doctor soon reciprocates. What March seems to need most, however, is underwear. The plot and the dialogue vacillate between silly and inane, leaving us with some so-so sex and overblown performances. This could explain why it was the winner of the 1995 Razzie Award for Worst Picture. If you want a more effective thriller that delves into damaged psyches, take another look at Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (59)

'Not One of Bruce's Best Work'
I rented this movie because it was supposed to be a suspensful thriller with a shocking twist to it. PLEASE, the only reason- and I do mean reason that I got thru this movie is the fact that I love Bruce Willis and will pretty much watch anything that he does. This movie plot is sooo bad that in this case the word BAD actually means BAD!! I figured out the whole plot within 20 minutes flat. That wasn't even worth the money that I paid. Bruce Willis playing a psychiatrist was different and interesting considering he's always playing tough-guys. I certainly don't know how Jane March got the female lead in this movie. Her acting was very laughable. There are alot of sex scenes in this movie-a first for Bruce. His body looked pretty good. I know he got slammed in this movie for his body and his sex scenes, but I mean if his wife can do it and be successful why can't he? However in the future, the public would rather see him with his clothes on or at least with a sheet around his body.

I'm A Naked Psychopath Schizo - Check Me Out
So here's the deal - Mr. Willis shows up at his buddy's house who is the dude from Quantum Leap. That dude gets aced. Then Willis goes to town on this chick, who's got a sweet ass body, but is kind of weird in the face. Don't get me wrong - I'd tear it up - I'm just saying her face is a little wrecked. Then in the end she's wearing some make-up to make her look like a dude. There was a dude in my junior high that we thought was a chick (...).

Worse than a low budget erotic flick
This movie has everything that any bad movie usually has: bad plot, poor acting, absolutely no chemistry between Willis and March, bad make-up, dissappointing sex scenes, and a primitive dialog.

The ONLY reason to watch this movie is if you absolutely must see Jane March naked. But I think you'd be better off with "The Lover."

It's a guilty pleasure not a great film
I watched this film originally because of Jane March, who I think is a real cutie. (Full disclosure: my wife thinks she looks like a chipmunk but she likes Bruce Willis so she tolerates this film.) It's all I expected: lots of Ms. March, wearing very little when she wears anything at all, and smiling a lot; Bruce Willis ('nuff said), and some really lame "suspense" plot that does little more than provide excuses for more nudity and sexual antics. Do you care? Well, it's no Pulp Fiction! Depends what you want to see, and at least it's a lot easier on the eyes than some of her other turkeys (Provocateur, Tarzan).

Honestly, if you're looking for a film with a story, go elsewhere -- even March's first hit, "The Lover" -- is a good alternative. If you're looking for some guilty pleasure, look no further. Fast-forward through the non-nude scenes and you'll be watching this one over and over. It's a guilty pleasure, but sometimes you just gotta give in.

Color of Night---WOW!!!!!!
I saw this movie as soon as it came out on video and again when it was released on DVD last March 2003. I liked this movie a lot, but was disappointed that the cover on both the VHS and DVD stated (15 extra steamy minutes not shown in theatres). Well, I didn't get a chance to see it in the theatre and finally saw it on DVD and VHS and counted only 5 minutes total and that is all the love scenes combined. I heard that there was a lesbian love scene cut out and probably some more cut out, but who knows. If there is anyone out there who knows where to get the unrated version with NOTHING cut out, let me know. I did like this movie. It kept me on my toes and at the edge of my seat. ... Read more

Reviews (182)

certainly memorable
Life as a house is a brilliant movie. There is never a dull moment. Although it does not have war planes crashing at every second, it still keeps your attention. The story is about a divorced man (Kevin Kline)who has drifted from his family and from his son espcially. His son visits him on certain weekends and doesn't like it too much. Then the dad finds out he is going too die soon so he wants to do the things in his life that he has put off for so long, like rebuilding his beach shack and reconnecting with his lost son, Sam (Hayden Christensen). Hayden Christensen turned in a beautiful performance and he really makes you feel what the character was feeling. Sam is somewhat of a case. Certainly not the kind of kid your parents wanted you hanging around. It will surely be a long time before I forget this film, not only because of the wonderful story line and intense drama, but for the wonderful Oscar deserving performances also. Espcially by newcomer Hayden Christensen(Anakin Skywalker in upcoming Episode 2). He really portrayed his character, Sam, perfectly. He is an outstanding actor; not just for a newcomer. He really gets your attention.
Life As A House is one of the best films I have ever seen. It was certainly a memorable film.

A good movie that might have been great
Have you ever watched a movie, totally engrossed, walked out of the theater satisfied that your hard-earned money was well spent, went to sleep, and then woke up the next morning with the sneaking suspicion that someone had pulled a fast one on you? This was my reaction to Life as a House.

Wonderful, engaging performances by Kevin Kline, Kirsten Scott-Thomas and Hayden Christensen make it an enjoyable experience despite the overcrowded, mediocre screenplay, which often resorts to cheap and unnecessary tricks and clichés to tug on our emotions. An early scene involving George (Kline's character) and a compassionate nurse is one example. Another involves an awkward subplot with an angry neighbor and a building inspector. Like many things that happen in Life as a House, it adds nothing to the story, and detracts from the characterizations and struggles of the main players. And the final scene! Well, please. Don't get me started.

Still, despite the flaws, the movie is sweet and enjoyable. After all is said and done, a good movie that might have been great with a better screenplay.

Wonderful
A person walks away from this movie thinking how lucky he or she is to just be alive! Bravo! Kevin Kline's best performance except for "Sophie's Choice."

Life is a house, not American Beauty
First of all, Life As A House is pretty much like American Beauty, only better. Hayden, from Star Wars 2, portrays the teenager in a very dysfunctional family, while Kevin Kline plays his father. Like American Beauty, it seems like the whole block is dysfunctional, and they pretty much are. Yet, when Kevin Kline is diagnosed with cancer he decides to build the house he has always dreamed of, and in doing so try to reconnect with his son. I personally feel that although this is a very typical picture of teen angst and family dysfunction it is shown in a fresh new way, and one that actually connects with the audience.

good movie
this overall was a very good movie. hayden christensen was excellent in it, as was kevin kline. i would have given it the full 5 stars, but some parts were a bit melodramatic. besides that, this movie was both funny and sad, put together with a great cast to produce a very good movie. i would probably give it 4 1/2 stars but thats not really an option. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

David Doesn't Fall In Love - He Falls in Lust
This film is a whodunit, soft-porn, whatever. David (Scott Bakula) and Jerry (John Getz) are best friends since school. They have always been competative. They share a long-time friendship with Beth (Sheila Kelley), who dated them both when they were in school. Now, all of them are just plain old ordinary friends. Then enters Diana (Chelsea Field) who married Jerry on a singles-cruise, without David's or Beth's knowing. Diana is one mixed-up piece of work. Jerry asks David to "talk" to Diana (David is a psychiatrist), get to the source of her erratic behaviour. David is hesitant, and seeks the advice of a fellow psychiatrist, Louise (France Nuyen); who advises David that he is playing a dangerous game with his "help" with Diana. But...he falls head-over-heels (and other body parts) in love with Diana (someone else they share, without Jerry's knowing). Jerry received some very interesting informaton about Diana from someone from her past. He is not amused. Next thing you know, Jerry is murdered. David should have taken heed of his friend's advice. Diana is a prime suspect. But suspicion also falls on Beth, who is still in love with David, hoping that they would someday get back together again. David suspected Beth because be believes her to be obsessive with him, thinking that she is jealous of Diana; as well as a rather a damning clue he discovers. He is aware that Diana is quite capable of killing, and wishes otherwise. The storyline is okay, but I found the sex-scenes a bit gratuitous. I like Jerry, Beth, and Louise the best; as well as the two policemen, friends of Beth.

A Passion to Kill
At first sight, David (Scott Bakula) and Diana (Chelsea Field) were immediately attracted to each other. Unfortunately for them, Diana was recently married in secret to David's best friend, Jerry (John Getz). However, it's not long before their marriage starts to crumble, and Jerry soon approaches David to run interference since David is a psychiatrist. Of course, David "reluctantly" gets involved, knowing better, but his hormones cloud his judgment.

Shortly after David and Diana's affair begins, Jerry is murdered, and the two prime suspects are Diana and Beth (Sheila Kelley), a friend and former girlfriend of both Jerry's and David's. The suspicion is mainly focused on Diana since she had attempted to kill her first husband, Ted (Rex Smith), in the first scene of this movie. She claims it was self-defense, but could it just be a homicidal pattern? Or could the possible killer be Beth, who may still have feelings for David, even though they split up years ago and are now "just friends"? Could she be jealous enough of his relationship with Diana to kill Jerry and frame his wife?

Despite the run-around, Jerry's killer is pretty obvious; in fact, you don't even have to watch the entire movie to know who it is--just read the tag line. But aside from that, "A Passion to Kill" is one of the few halfway decent B-grade erotic thrillers I've seen in awhile. The acting's pretty good, and I especially liked Sheila Kelley's character.

There is quite a bit of sex/nudity (at least on Chelsea Field's side) than violence or danger, and it's not as bloody as most psycho-killer movies go, though there are a couple stabbing scenes. But if you like low/medium-budget racy dramas, then "A Passion to Kill" is certainly worth watching at least once. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Quantum Leap classic
i dont know why they took this show off after only 5 seasons. the pilot episode is great, if you have any questions about quantum leap, this episode will answer all of your questions.

I think it was very awesome in how Sam dealt his merory.
How he dealt with his loss of memory,and also how he jumped into the accelerator just to prove his point on his theory of Quantum physics. Also how he dealt with the premature labor of his (Tom Stratton's) wife.Plus, I think Quantum Leap is cool, But the pilot episode goes above the norm. to FAR-OUT!

Great Pilot
The best Quatum Leap episode available. The first season was QL's best season. GET IT! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This movie needs more attention!
Just finished watching Papa's Angels and rushed to Amazon.com to read all the reviews for this excellent, poignant, made-for-TV movie. Imagine my disappointment when I only found one other review!
Scott Bakula and Cynthia Nixon give moving performances as Grins and Sharon Jenkins, a depression-era family living in deep Appalachia with their 4 children. Nixon expecially is ethereal as the dying wife and mother. She makes you really believe in her character.
Veteran-actor Eva Marie Saint does a tremendous job with her supporting portrayal of the mother of Grins. Her "granny" is tough, resilient and gruffly tender. She also has the "sight"- which plays a role in the movie.
The children were all well-cast, especially the mute daughter, and the oldest son, who tries hard to be the man of the family when he feels his father is letting go of his responsibilities to the family.
This story had me alternately weeping and smiling, although it was in no way saccharine sweet or maudlin.
The only thing I felt kept it from being more of a "family" movie was the degree of mild profanity sprinkled throughout. It was totally unnecessary and a disappointment in what was otherwise a wonderful holiday movie.
It's also a beautifully filmed movie, with the log cabin and surrounding mountain vistas giving warmth and character to the storyline as much as the actors themselves. The music was very appropriate for the time period and location, and I enjoyed hearing the old folksongs.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys movies of love, suffering and courage. It's on my wish-list already!

Papa's Angels - you'll laugh and cry
If there ever was a movie to make you believe in miracles, then this is your movie. Scott Bakula is very believable father who goes from carefree and funloving to serious and depressed - with such ease that you forget he is the Captain in Enterprise. ... Read more

Description

Major League:Back to the Minors

On this team they don't just throw screwballs, they put them in uniform!Scott Bakula plays a minor-league manager on the spot to turn a squad of sad sacks into title contenders in another hit sequel featuring Corbin Bernsen, Dennis Haysbert and the inimitable Bob Uecker. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

It has its moments
This is one of those movies that Hollywood produces with the "throw in a nickel, get a dime" attitude. It's a low cost film with a bunch of no name actors and a relatively famous one. Scott Bakula does a fine job, playing the player turned minor league manager.

The cinematography is fair, it's a watchable film, we get to see the return of Pedro Cerrano and Taka Tanaka. I wouldn't have high expectations of this film though. It is a clichéd storyline, and if you want a better baseball movie watch "Bull Durham."

Just make sure when you buy this film to not get the Spanish subtitles unless you need them, I accidentally did just that.

Baseball to the MAX!!
Great Movie! I think it is hilarious. Especially without guys like Rick Vaughn, Willie Mays Hays, Jack Parkman. I do enjoy the new guys, like Billy "Downtown" Anderson, Taka Tanaka. It's funny how those guys don't appear but Pedro Cerrano does. Baseball fans, this movie's for you no questions asked!!!!

Underrated by many
People think Major League, and they think Rick "The Wild Thing" Vaughn, Willie "Mays" Hayes and Pedro Cerrano. This film has nothing to do with those Indians teams from 1 & 2, but that doesn't mean it's bad.

I think they should have just simply renamed the film. There's nothing wrong with having a different name for a film with a few of the same characters such as Roger Dorn, Pedro Cerrano and Taka Tanaka.

This movie comes out with some good baseball knowledge for both on the field and off the field stuff. Pops McGee and Doc who's fastballs couldn't kill a fly if it hit is straight on are great examples of what you see in the minors. Guys with heart who just aren't good enough to make it to the Bigs. Then there's the prima donna top prospect "Downtown" Anderson who thinks he's the next Ken Griffey Jr.

This film is meant to be fun, it's not supposed to be Bull Durham. It delivers what it wanted to deliver...entertainment. Especially for the baseball fan who doesn't want to see a monkey or a 10 year become a major leaguer. Although Little Big League is underrated as well, but that's a different story.

I would give this movie 3.5 out of 5 stars if it were possible, but we can't vote like that here, so I rounded it up.

Very Good!
Gus Cantrell,(Scott Bakula) washed up minor league pitcher is given the undertaking of managing the Twins minor league affiliate the Buzz. I said undertaking not job for a reason! But Gus utilizes former teammates and previous movie cast members talents to turn this team from laughingstock to laudatory. This movie gives great laughs. The ace relief pitcher cant be picked up on the teams radar gun because it only picks up speeds above 60. The shortstop and second baseman are identical twin brothers both named Luis. Taka Tinaka and Pedro Sorano the voodoo twins are reunited and provide ample laughs when they come to bat with black hoods over their heads and use pieces of wood they find as bats. The teams speedster is a former ballet dancer who curtseys for the crowd after scoring runs. Meanwhile, the plot centers around the team possibly being better than the major league team, and Gus's rivalry with the big club's manager, and possibly even being his replacement.

a good movie for its budget
the Major league series is a good series and this is a good movie. I thought it was dumb though how they where with the Indians and now they are with the Twins but I guess the Indians are better now and cost more money to get their rights. This movie had a very low budget and you can tell but they do a great job even so. this isn't going to be the best movie ever but if you want a good movie to watch watch this one ... Read more

Reviews (1022)

Astonishing
This is one of the truly rare films that works brilliantly on every possible level. As a satire, it delves deep into the heart of society, and illuminates the strong undertones of resentment, despair and desire that flourish beneath glossy facade of American life. It displays the reasons why so many lives unfold without any happiness, because people choose to live without going after their dreams and ambitions. On the other side "American Beauty" is also a modern tragedy, a story of one man's search for identity and freedom, and the way he profoundly impacts the people around him. The film slowly unravels the masks people where, and explores the moral obscurity and emotional chaos they could plunge into when they decide of follow their heart instead of their conscience. Kevin Spacey is phenomenal as Lester Burnham, his performance is 100% worthy of an Oscar. Alan Ball's script never ceases to amaze me, it's abundance of shrewd observations and insights is something to marvel at. Visually, the film is stunning, it's imagery is nothing short of cinematic poetry, you will find yourself in awe in every frame, every moment. "American Beauty" never shies away from reality, no matter how sad, and in the end, you will find yourself looking at the things that surround you with a whole new outlook. This is a truly remarkable film, one of the decade's best.

Visually stunning and utterly repellent.
There's a scene in American Beauty in which a teenaged boy is found filming a dead bird by two girls his age. They ask him why, and he explains, "Because it's beautiful." That's one opinion: another, which also applies to "American Beauty," is that no matter how beautifully you light, film and score it, something foul and rotten is still foul and rotten.

Director Sam Mendes is clearly gifted; cinematographer Conrad Hall's use of color and light is stunning; the music is haunting, and the cast talented, and even Alan Ball's script shows a deliberate intelligence too many movies lack. But none of these elements can disguise the fact that this movie is sad, cynical and sick at heart. It's a mean-spirited chronicle of suburbia as hell which tries to patch itself over with a feel-good moral and fails utterly.

With the possible exception of one semi-redeeming choice Kevin Spacey's character makes at the end of the film, none of the main characters exhibit any likeable or even remotely worthwhile traits. Spacey's Lester Burnham goes from being a wimp to an arrogant lecher; Annette Benning as his wife is a shrill Martha Stewart caricature; Mena Suvari, as Burnham's teenaged lust object, is profoundly unlikeable; Thora Birch's daughter character is selfish and sullen; her creepy love interest, boy-next-door Wes Bentley, deals drugs when he's not filming her obsessively. Then there's Bentley's abusive ex-Marine dad... the list goes on and on.

No one is having a good time in American Beauty. Everyone is miserable. And the one person who figures out a way to escape that misery is horribly dead soon after. There is a worthwhile message in American Beauty, as well as one utterly lovely scene involving nothing more than a videotape of a windblown plastic bag. But the brighter elements of this movie feel hastily tacked on to its warped, unrealistically dark world view, and in the end they cannot compensate for the utter, gaping landfill where this film's moral center ought to be.

An amazing film
I thought this movie was awful. It's amazing to me how anyone could like this. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I had to rate it when I saw how many people thought it was a masterpiece? This simplistic piece of badly acted crap? The situaion with the father and the teenage girl is almost child pornography.

AN EXQUISITE AFFIRMATION OF LIFE
On the surface, this stunner from Sam Mendes is such a relentlessly bleak look at the vacuity of the supposed "American Dream" that viewers may just turn off to it en masse. And it shows in the acute polarization of reviews here on Amazon.

But if you can be a little less knee-jerk and not shut off all rational thought when confronted with what's disturbingly familiar, you may also find that the film is genuinely, voraciously amusing, and directed with such breathtaking flair that Spacey's bravura performance seems like a career-defining one.

Beneath the surface of all the seeming pettiness in our daily idiosynchrasies, the theme points out, is an entire world of such simple elegance that chortles to be seen and heard, but is neither recognized nor heeded to.

An interesting visual device in the film is the use of windows. Not just a use, but a splurge, come to think of it. Almost everything important happens in front of, around, or through windows. Could this be a metaphor perhaps for self-examination, for viewing one's life from the outside?

What I do not understand is why most films in this genre (Ice Storm, Ordinary People) end with a dramatically tragic finale. Does it take a shattering turn of events to break everyone out of their daily reverie? Something to think about.

Any rate, long story short: an evocative gem you need to own.

There is only one word for this movie..... PERFECT
I've seen a lot of Hollywood crap, and I was just getting sick of that whole movie industy when I happened to see American Beauty. I'm a story-line fanatic and I've seen way too many stupid blunders on most movies, but this one was just flawless.
It was absolutely perfect. In fact, the only camparable movie to this one was that Korean film, Old Boy. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Nice Romance!!
Connie Selleca and John Ritter star in this superb romance of a movie.It's a must see!!

Last Fling
One actor in this film who fails to get mention is Scott Bakula. Both he and Ritter do a wonderful job bouncing off each other and their scenes are enjoyable to watch.

Nice Romantic Comedy!!
Connie Selleca and John Ritter star in this nice romantic comedy about an engaged woman who has one last fling with a man who wants more than a one night stand.It's a film very well worth watching!! ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Buy This for Yourself
I've been waiting for five years for this to come out on DVD because I know if I buy it on VHS I'll just have to buy more copies after I wear the first one out. This is one of the best animated movies of all times. It's an adorable cartoon without the saccharine overdose that many of them have. The hero is the adorable Danny, who dreams of becoming a movie star. The backup cast is just as enchanting, and are a little more jaded than the average cartoon character. The pacing is almost like speed, and it will sweep you up and hold you until the very end. If you want something deep, buy The Lion King. If you want something fun that will make you feel good, buy Cats Don't Dance. You won't be disappointed.

Cats Don't Dance is a really *cute* movie!!!
Its been a while since I saw this,but I remember how much I loved it after watching it once so I watched it again!!! Animals who all want to make it big in Hollywood,but can't because animals are'nt accepted to play anything,but animals,but they don't give up just yet!!!Darla Dimple is a totally bratty actress who tricks them and doesn't want them making it big doing whatever it takes to make sure they don't make it.! This is a very charming film for all ages and is a suitable film for the whole family so check out "Cat's Don't Dance"!!!

And how does the kitty cat go?
Well, it's been a while since I've seen a musical cartoon not produced by Disney. The movie is about a small town cat who moves to Hollywood to try and become a star, but in Hollywood animals are not considered good enough to be actors. It's good for all ages and the music is great too. I would recommend buying the soundtrack as well.
And in my opinion I really see nothing wrong with this movie...but it doesn't leave you in awe or anything so it gets 4 out 5 stars from me. : )

this rocks
the best movie for the family Grate music that I can't for get well I love it

An under-rated gem!
The music is livelier than Disney has had in years, the animation is crisp, clean, and a treat for the eyes. Randy Newman really shows that cats can dance, sing, and make you feel good. The animated cameos of golden age film stars (WC Fields, Mae West, Clark Gable), are iceing on a most delicious cake. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Nice Romance!!
Connie Selleca and John Ritter star in this superb romance of a movie.It's a must see!!

Last Fling
One actor in this film who fails to get mention is Scott Bakula. Both he and Ritter do a wonderful job bouncing off each other and their scenes are enjoyable to watch.

Nice Romantic Comedy!!
Connie Selleca and John Ritter star in this nice romantic comedy about an engaged woman who has one last fling with a man who wants more than a one night stand.It's a film very well worth watching!! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

To the contrary...almost alright
This is an idealized but rather narrow characterization of Latinas. The film's weakness, contrary to the other reviews, is the writing. The male characters are pat and two-dimensional. Even the "cholo" professor (Cheech Marin) gets re-played as the proverbial "if only it were so" Chicano sight gag. The female characters, like the over/under-sexed Virgen-de-Guadalupe-devotee Irene (Angela Moya) whose persona manages to trivialize Catholic Lenten spirituality, seem shallow and undeveloped.
Only Sofia (Marta Du Bois) and Andrea (Evelina Fernandez, incidentally also this film's writer) develop any depth. Ironically, most believable of all is Andrea's abused divorce client (played by Seidy Lopez) who is type-cast in a role all too closely mirroring her brilliant chola portrayal in Mi Vida Loca.
Warning!: the film tackles racial-political issues from shaky ground...the 'rage' of the oppressed minority class that Andrea harbors rings ingenuous. 'White oppression!' she proclaims, from the balcony of her lawyer mansion, or from behind her executive desk safe within the high-rise realm of white power structures. As a Latino/a one can sympathize with anti-white/male bent, but it is at times shrill and probably out of sync with the experience of upwardly mobile Latinas at large.
This film is praise-worthy for the effort to take on so many issues at once, and is visually striking in moments, due to the art direction of noted Chicana artist Patsi Valdez. It also takes an interesting and all too short side-track into Banda sub-culture. It is worth watching though, because the genre is so rare and endangered. It conveys the sedate warmth of Latino family life and friendships convincingly, and does seem to typify the inter-racial scope of contemporary Chicano life in L.A.

Latinas Watch This Movie
I am a white male, and was not offended one bit. This movie is not racist, but a very accurate sescription of what Mexican women are like. I am friends with many Mexican ladies, and by God, put them together, and You have Luminarias. This movie is funny, touching, and very true to life. All the actors are great. Scott Bakula, Cheech Marin play their roles to perfection. The real stars are the ladies. Hats off toa wonderful movie. Everyone should see this movie.

Funny; Great Characters; Light; Entertaining; Truthful
I saw this movie last night by chance (there was nothing else on TV) and I am very glad I did. Even though I am not Mexican American I am a hispanic woman and this movie showed a side of us that many people don't see. First of all these women were not your stereotypical latinas we see on screen such as gang bangers, prostitutes, poor and uneducated, instead the're just the opposite but with the hangups that plague most minority women. I know because as a latina growing up in the South during the 60's I always felt the same way. I attended private Catholic schools and it was hell, the white girls felt I was too brown so friendship was out and the black kids I came in contact with also gave me the cold shoulder so for a long time I felt displaced. As a result I did everything I needed to do to have a great education and make money. But the price was high. It is only now that I'm trying to get back to my roots.
This movie also shows a lot of the problems women in general have to deal with specially those of us who are independent and of strong will. And as for those who thought the male characters were flat and two dimensional, they need to realize that the movie was about the women. By the way, I thought portrayal of "cholo" the professor was a great depiction of how many of us judge people by the way they look instead of who they really are.

Luminarias
This movie has so much to offer. I have seen this many times and i enjoy it each and every time. This movie really shows how Latinas in the real aspects of reality. This has a powerful message saying that women of color (latinas) are worth gold and that no matter what we can make it. The friendships in this movie is great, dysfunctional but great. It really shows how interracial relationships effect others and how good it is at the end. To not try something new and different doesnt' always mean that it's a bad thing! Que sige la movida de peliculas como esta!

Very Insightful
I watched this movie last night was really touched by it. It spoke to the heart of what Mexican Americans face on a daily basis. The complexity of the story lines were very realistic to me. As a minority in this country I could identify with some of the struggles that these women faced. Its just a fact of life. On certain levels there are no easy solutions. Certain aspects of these women showed them as being "flawed" in some way, but I appreciated how they helped each other through some of the "madness". We all have issues that plague us, but it matters how we allow them to help us grow. Either we embrace them or let them hinder how we relate to others. Even in the face of assumptions about "other" races (or lifestyle chosen) that were made, there were moments when the main characters had to re-examine how they previously felt. I would say that they were enlightened, maybe not completely changed..but more aware. This film really could have been played out within any racial group in some way all of us have had to think about these things. I also enjoyed how it examined how females and males relate to one another as well. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An Intelligent and Captivating Psychological Thriller
"Above Suspicion" offers both a plausible plot and realistic character portrayals. The dilemma of the story becomes apparent when a family man's (Bakula's) past comes back to haunt him, consequently tearing his life and his family apart. His wife (Sciorra) becomes more and more unsure of her husband as the story progresses. "Above Suspicion" has the qualities of an intense psychological thriller, as well as a heart warmer. It's a must see for almost any movie fan. Just don't confuse this "Above Suspicion" with the film starring Christopher Reve! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A compromise .
In this episode Sam is a teenager trying to open his sister's mind to the fact that the man she has chosen to marry is a very poor choice . You won't remember much of the episode after seeing it , but it's better than the some of the other bargains offered here .

One of the best QL episodes
This is one of the best Quantum Leap episodes. I truly enjoyed watching Scott Bakula as a Cameron

HIGH SCHOOL NERD!
When Sam leaps into Cameron, a hotrod jock who loves junk-food, (and has the zits to prove it) He must rescue Cam's sister from a horrible relationship! But who will listen to him?! Not One of the Best Quantum Leaps, although pretty good! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Family Tree Becomes A Family Bush
I found this movie so funny and mind-bending. About a woman, Marjorie Turner, who is so bored with her husband, Harry Turner, is persuaded to have an affair by her sister, Jeanine. Marjorie does, indeed, have the affair (which is against her character): Unwittingly, with her husband's brother, Charles Turner Jr. Talk about loving someone to death! A salesman, Nick, enters the hotel room, with the body under the covers. He tries to install vertical blinds, and they fall on the head of the dead chap. Nick thought that he killed Charles. He manages to call Marjorie, to tell her about the news of the death of what he thought to be her husband. (Marjorie tripped over Nick's blinds, things spill out of her purse. She hurries into the lift before Nick discovers her wallet.) Both of them find themselves in a sticky-wicket. Neither can contact the officials (for Marjorie's husband and his family are doctors, and Nick's brother is a policeman.) So they try to make it appear that Charles committed suicide. Brothers and sisters of Marjorie, Harry, and Nick all get involved somehow or another. It's difficult to give details without confusing you (as I said, it's mind-bending) and/or giving out too much information. Kirstie Alley is Marjorie Turner; Bill Pullman is Nick; Scott Bakula is Harry Turner (who, by the way, looks absolutly gorgeous with longer hair and beard at the end); Sam Elliot is Charles Turner Jr.; Jami Gertz is Jeanine; etc. Three families intertwine so much that they are no longer family trees, but a family bush! Enjoy!

Sibling Rivalry - A Family Tree Becomes A Family Bush
I found this movies so funny and mind-bending. About a women, who is bored with her husband, is persuaded to have an affair by her sister. Marjorie does have an affair: unwittingly, with her husband's brother. Talk about loving someone to death! A salesman, Nick, enters the hotel room, with the body under the covers. He tries to install vertical blinds, and they fall on the head of the dead chap in bed (Charles Jr.). Nick thought that he killed Charles. He manages to call Marjorie, to tell about the news of the death of what he thought to be her husband. Both of them find themselves in a sticky-wicket. Neither can contact the officials (for Marjorie's husband [Harry] and his family are doctors, and Nick's brother is a policeman.) So they try to make it appear that Charles committed suicide. Brothers and sisters of Marjorie, Harry, Nick, all get involved somehow or another. It's difficult to give details without either confusing you or giving too much information away. The cast is good. Kirstie Alley as Marjorie Turner; Bill Pullman as Nick; Scott Bakula as Harry Turner (who, by the way, looks absolutly gorgeous with longer hair and beard at the end); Sam Elliot as Charles Jr. Turner; Jami Gertz as Marjorie's sister, Jenenne; etc. Three families intertwine so much that they are no longer family trees, but a family bush. Enjoy!

Horrible
I'll make this review quick: This movie was so awful that I seriously contemplated jabbing my eyes out with a rusty fork so that I would no longer have to watch it. The acting is ok, but for the people in the movie (especially Kirstie), it's very below par. The plot is convoluted and stupid, and by the time 1/4th of the movie has passed, any interest or concern for what happens to the characters is replaced by a concern for how much longer the film can possibly continue. Save yourself the money and time that I will never be able to get back: don't watch this movie.

A funny little Movie
This movie has some scenes in it that make you laugh until you cry. Kirsty Alley's character who is a bored wife of a Doctor has a crazy fling with Sam Elliott's character. She thinks it's a one night stand until she finds out he is her husband's brother returning to the US after being away for years. When her brother-in-law dies of a heart attack in the motel room, the movie takes off as Bill Pullman a nerdy blind salesman tries to help her make it look like her brother-in-law committed suicide. Carrie Fisher plays a snotty Sister-in-law. A Great cast and a funny movie.

Rolling on the floor laughing
There are not many movies I can watch 6 times and enjoy every
time. Kirstie Alley, Sam Eliott, Ed O'Neil, and Carrie Fisher
are all at their best, and this commedy does not hold back any
opportunity to score laughs. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

It's a fun movie...plain and simple
In the tradition of movies like SLAP SHOT and MAJOR LEAGUE, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS is nothing more than an unrealistic sports movie that's extremely fun to watch (and that's exactly what it's supposed to be). It has all of the right elements...slapstick comedy, hard-hitting action, and an underdog college football team tempting fate with a great-looking placekicker!

For heaven's sake, don't take this movie for more than it's worth...two hours of non-stop fun!

Necessary Roughness - definitely
This is one film that I could watch repeatedly. It was an entertaining story starring the talented actor, Scott Bakula, as the aging QB. It is funny, great cast-interaction, exciting game action and characters you can't help but really root for .....

Rough and unnecessary
Necessary Roughness is a humorous film that's supposed to make us laugh and cheer for the underdog. It has its parts, I admit, where it is good fun and it is enjoyable, but then it has its stupid, cliched parts that kinda ticks me off as a student of football.

Good points:
1) I think there's a good range of characters, each one has a different persona, thankfully. Some of them are pretty enjoyable and even at times believable. Especially the QB, an older guy going back to college to guide a losing team to a better record. It's a storyline we can follow and his character is pretty fun to follow.
2) I like how this was about a losing team, a nobody school, that is trying to get a couple wins, not a championship under their belt. If this had been a film about a nothing school going all the way, I would've given it one star.
3) This film has a solid plot, for a football film. It has easy characters to follow and the objective of the film is clear. Meaning, you know what it's about and it answers most the questions that might be raised during the film.

All right the bad things:
1) The dialogue of this film is so full of cliches and you can almost expect what each character is going to say because it is so scripted. This really hurt the originality of this film, the complete originality of this film.
2) The romance is unnecessary and dumb. It has nothing to do with the plot, it's just a side note that the QB is making out with his English prof. I mean, who cares? It's not as if she plays an important role and it isn't as if the romance is crucial to the development of characters.
3) The bar fight. How predictable and stupid. And naturally the team they fight over in the bar is the very same team they meet in the final game. How cliche.
4) What I wanted to see was this aging QB to have to prove himself all over again, kind of work his way up and earn the confidence of his team members. That would've added the element of emotion in this film, which lacks because you don't really care a whole bunch about any of the characters, they are just entertaining jocks. Instead, he's accepted almost instantly and doesn't have to earn his starting job, it's granted to him. Because everything is practically handed to him, all the oppertunities that is, how in the world can we possibly sympathize with his character?
5) A football film without emotion is a pretty boring film, if at best, a one time wonder and then it's dull. Which is the problem with this film. It's fun to watch the first time around, but after that, it's like who cares? This film taught me nothing because I was never involved with the plot or any of the characters emotionally. Again, it had good characters, but they weren't good enough to make this film better because they were all distant jocks.

If you are looking for a football film that's fun to watch one time, then watch this film. But don't even think for a second you'll want to buy this film to watch again and again. It's just not worth it. It's an average sports film, with poor dialogue, and lack of creativity in development of characters.

Grade: C

Pretty bad, though some nice scenery (I don't mean Kathy I.)
It's really not a good movie in spite of some decent cast members such as Elizondo, Bakula, et al. In fact, about the only real reason I would ever watch it a second time is to see scenes of the campus -- and only because it was my alma mater, University of North Texas.

A great film
All of the charaters are likeable in their own way. Scott is a great actor who I always enjoy watching. It doesn't quite follow the pattern of other sports films, and I don't agree that it's unrealistic. All they are doing is trying to win, and you will be as pleased as they are when they do. ... Read more