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Disney's take on this historical confrontation between European settlersand Native Americans follows the paths of two future lovers. One is British adventurer John Smith, who travels the Atlantic with the Virginia Company to establish Jamestown. On the shore is Pocahontas, a typical Disney heroine: bright, beautiful, mischievous, and motherless. The two meet in the untamed wilds of America (the first meeting is quite divine), fall in love, and try to ward off the warring factions. It's Disney's version of a Native American West Side Story. Two Disney trademarks do not quite muster up: the villain isn't hissable and the score's only high point is the Oscar-winning "Colors of the Wind." Calling it "historical" is a stretch, but Disney created a very natural look at the two cultures. The Native American characters are handled especially well, andkids should be intrigued by their world; the movie is a far different lesson from the one their parents and grandparents learned. Disney has discovered a few things, though: you don't have to kill to solve your problems, and you can end the film without a happily-ever-after, illustrated by a touching final visual. (Ages 5 and older) --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (113)

Disney's Pocahontas Gold Collection DVD
Pocahontas is a good tale that deserves to have the Disney name. While far from the most entertaining in the Disney library, this one does have some of the most spectacular animation and imagery then any of them! The film is definatley not for the very young, there is much war violence (superficial, yes, but it's still there), including some blood-free shot wounds. The story is much more mature oriented, with Pocahontas trying to end the war between her people and the white-men for the sake of her love for John Smith.

The film has many songs, but only a few stand out - -Oscar Award Winner "Colors Of The Wind" is one of them, "Around the River Bend", and "If I Never Knew You" is the other - - the rest are catchy, but unmemorable numbers.

The "Gold Classic Collection" DVD edition of the 1995 film, has a mediocre picture. There is constant grain, and it is rarely perfectly clear. On the plus side, the animation is still able to be appreciated and the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is good.

Again, this is NOT the Disney movie to show little kids (it would probably be a complete fly-by for them), but it does have much appeal to an older audience who can appreciate the animation, and the Oscar- winning music. A true modern masterpiece.

POCAHONTAS DVD REVIEW: What happened to the video???
I suppose this movie has a more meaning for me due to a past romance and the this to be the movie we shared, so I enjoyed it. Sure, Disney knows how to take some part of history and make it so fictional but one of the things I like about this movie is the detail they put into Pocahontas facial expressions. That feature always caught me.

Anyway, you either like the animation or you don't. The audio is very well done. No major sound effects but the music and the dialogue is the main things for this film. What about the video? The video is a shock. Where Tarzan bursts with a radiance of colors, not Pocahontas. What happened during the transfer? It's like a transfer from a video tape seen 10 times before. Not acceptable with a DVD! I can't believe the colors aren't superb.

Extras...well, I guess after the fans were upset that Disney didn't include any extras in their previous releases, now they are with their "Gold Collections". I like how the DVD has the two music videos especially "Colors of the Wind" by Vanessa Williams. There are a lot of trailers before the movies which you can fortunately skip over, a trivia game and DVD storybook like the Tarzan DVD and a fun with nature booklet which they should of added to the DVD. Otherwise it's better than what we got before from older Disney DVD's. So, we have the movie at above average, the special features in the C to C- range and the DVD Overall probably a B-/C+.

Otherwise, for a DVD from Disney, this movie deserved better. A better video transfer and they could at least added the making of Pocahontas or something. (sigh)...

Anyway, if you want to watch Pocahontas, get the DVD version. Even those it's VHS quality, you get those extras and good sound. If you don't care about the extras and just want to see the movie, then the VHS might be your thing.

Politically-correct racism
I wish my children had never seen this movie, but since I made the mistake of trusting Disney and since it reappears on TV frequently, I've used it as an opportunity to talk about the blatant (but politically-correct) racism woven through it. My point to my children: racism is wrong, no matter who it's directed at (a point that goes directly against the main theme of the movie).

In this movie, there is one and only one exception to the rule that all Native Americans are good and all English are bad. John Smith is the exception that proves the rule - other than him, all British are evil (and crude, dirty, greedy, etc.). The Native Americans aren't all quite perfect but all come around in the end, while the English are clearly rotten to the core, and the world would be a better place if they were all gone.

Get this movie for your children IF you want to teach them to use skin color as a way of predicting good versus evil. And don't worry, they won't get the wrong, racist lesson that dark skin is bad - they'll get the politically-correct lesson, that people with white skin are bad.

Disney produces yet another inaccurate cartoon...
As always, Disney provides us with an hour-glass shaped, beautifully dashing, ever accomodating heroine, and a strong, handsome, brave, conquering hero; a romance story that is historically inaccurate, romanticized, racist, and sexist. "Pocahontas" was not her real name, and she was about ten years old. According to LEGEND, she saved John Smith's life - the woman of color saves the white man, while falling in love with him. According to REAL history, he was brought in to the village, well-fed and well-treated. Most likely, she simply talked with him while he was in her village. There was NO romantic relationship. She was actually kidnapped a few years later and held for ransom in Jamestown. She died of a White Man's disease. Disney has created a cartoon "Romeo & Juliet" story for children, and what hurts my heart the most is that people really believe that the Disney version is true. There are so many un-truths in the world, especially in our Media, and "Pocahontas" is one of them.

Love Story with a touch of History
In reality Pocahontas was the wife of another white settler named John Rolfe. She later became Lady Rebecca. We can say she fell in love with John Smith but their love story didn't workout.
The story of Pocahontas repesents us all Americans. That no matter how you look like, Black or White we are all foreigners on this land.The original Americans are the American Indians, cause they are already here when Columbus discovered America.As for this movie itself, I love it especially the music. ... Read more

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The flaws are easily forgiven in this beautiful version ofLouisa May Alcott's novel. A stirring look at life in New England duringthe Civil War, Little Women is a triumph for all involved. We follow one family asthey split into the world, ending up with the most independent, theoutspoken Jo (Winona Ryder). This time around, the dramatics andconclusions fall into place a little too well, instead of finding life'slittle accidents along the way. Everyone now looks a bit too cute and oh,so nice. As the matron, Marmee, Susan Sarandon kicks the film into amodern tone, creating a movie alive with a great feminine sprit. KirstenDunst (Interview with the Vampire) has another showy role. The youngensemble cast cannot be faulted, with Ryder beginning the movie in a roleakin to light comedy and crescendoing to a triumphant end worthy of anOscar. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (113)

What You Would Call a "Beautiful" and Brilliant Movie
In my opinion, this is the best version of "Little Women". Although it sways just a bit from the book, it captures the essence of the book perfectly and weaves a story that works splendidly. The acting is phenominal and the casting was done incredibly well. Claire Daines, Christian Bale, and Susan Sarandon provide a stability to the movie that grounds it (and they do it so well), and Winona Ryder brings the passion and character of the beloved "Jo" that makes it such a fantastic film.

I also find this movie a thing of beauty. Everything about it, from the cinematography, to the color schemes, to the sets, to the seasons and the natural shots, to the Oscar nominated score, to the costumes, to the acting and the storyline, are beautiful. They work together in an artistic collaboration to create an atmosphere of reality and eye candy that can only be achieved through a period film. Certain period films have elements that will stand out and ruin the feeling of belief, but this movie suceeds in it's efforts to keep you suspended there, and the whole movie flows wonderfully together.

This is a brilliant movie.

This film captures the spirit of the book
While this film version of LITTLE WOMEN does not follow the book exactly, it captures its spirit with expert performances and cinematography. The soundtrack beautifully enhances this classic story of a family of women, struggling largely by themselves, in unforgiving New England.

This may be Winona Ryder's best role - she captures the ambitious spunk of Jo with a winning performance. As Jo's sisters, Trini Alvarado (Meg), Claire Danes (Beth) and Kirsten Dunst (the young Amy) give strong, if sometimes uneven, performances. Susan Sarandon as Marmee has the right measure of no-nonsense Puritanism; her feminist lines often are too heavy-handed for this film that otherwise has a light touch, but the way she sweeps into a room overshadows any flaws in the writing.

All in all, this is an excellent adaptation. Children may be bored by the art film pace, but teens and adults will delight in these characters brought to life by nuanced performances.

Highly recommended.

The best movie adaption of the novel!
Of all the versions of Little Women that I have seen, Gillian Armstrong's is the best! She definitely chose her actors/actresses well - the cast includes: Winona Ryder (Jo), Claire Danes (Beth), Trini Alvrado (Meg), Kristen Dunst (Amy), Christian Bale (Laurie), Susan Sarandon (Marmee), and Gabriel Bryne (Professor Bhaer). What an astounding performance they gave - this movie made me laugh, cry, and feel for the characters each and every time I watched it! . . . And though some of my favorite scenes from the book were missing, it still portrays the characters extremely well. I love this movie and highly recommend this to all Little Women fans, the people who didn't bother to read Little Women, and everyone else!

blah
if one was to compare katharine hepburn to winona ryder, the results would be obvious. the book isn't supposed to be a feminist account, it's supposed to be a civil war tale of a family. since it's so modern, and the acting and even the colors are modern, we never feel the full experience, or that we are in the 1800's. In the 1933 version we feel a part of the family. This is less than inspiring. how clare danes became Beth, i'll never know, what Kirsten dunst is doing here is a mystery. Although SUsan Sarandon is fine, she is the best thing in here, but nowhere near spring bryington. Christian bale is too dreamy, and his and winia'a chemisrty isn't right. it doesn't follow the book, and the cast is miscast. I don't recommend, instead watch the beautifully done 1933 CLASSIC, or even the 1949 one with June Allyson and Margaret O'brien. Skip this.

The best version, and NOT just for kids
This version of Alcott's classic story is luminescent, brilliantly acted, perfectly staged, and far more emotional than the book.

Katharine Hepburn's Jo, six decades earlier, was hard to top, but Winona Ryder does it -- with sensitivity, more believable passion, and a far more expressive face. Ryder's Jo is entirely believable in her plunging into writing with reckless abandon, more so than Hepburn, for whom it took second place to love. Yet, paradoxically, the romance is far more believable for the newer Jo when it does come along.

Everyone else in the story reflects her struggles and triumphs, and it's a stellar ensemble cast. Especially adept are Trini Alvarado, a conflicted and beautiful Meg; Claire Danes, trembling and heartbreaking as Beth; Christian Bale, giving a raucous edge to next-door Laurie; and most of all, Gabriel Byrne, a younger-by-15-years Prof. Bhaer, finally made both believable and romantic.

All actors portray the same character throughout except for Kirsten Dunst and Samantha Mathis, who assay Amy at ages 12 and 17. Others have criticized this casting, but it worked well for me, especially in the older Amy taking her propriety and "finishing" far more seriously than it deserved.

The story does depart slightly from the book, but not from Alcott, and the film is better for it -- certainly less precious and affected. A few plot elements from "Little Men" and later books flesh out this story, and Alcott's own attitudes about empowering women are brought into Susan Sarandon's quietly powerful Marmee. The Alcott family's intellectual interests inform Jo's stay in New York, adding some depth and grounding to her character and romantic feelings.

This new DVD's features are a delight, especially in Gillian Armstrong's intense narration on the commentary track. She had a vision and depth of attention to this film's details that ought to be celebrated, yet rarely is for women directors. Outtakes are also narrated, a rarity. The making-of featurette and other elements are well-shaped, though Danes's behind-the-scenes program from HBO is not present, which is a bit disappointing.

The transfers are crisp and clear, both video and audio. Thomas Newman's brilliant music can be heard on a separate audio track, and anyone who likes this film should watch it once with just his evocative (and often-imitated) score filling the ears. ... Read more

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Except for feature-length animation, the musical has gone the way of the dinosaur. The Walt Disney company took a stab at reviving the live-action musical in 1992 with Newsies, a throwback picture with a curious subject. In 1899, the pint-sized newsboys delivering the New York papers go on strike against the unfair practices of news magnates Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. The production is heavy on kiddie humor, although Christian Bale (the child star of Spielberg's Empire of the Sun) is charismatic as one of the older leaders of the revolt. The adult stars don't fare as well, with Robert Duvall doddering around as Pulitzer and Ann-Margret and Bill Pullman doing decorative duty. The film was not well received when first released, but hindsight reveals its charm (and allowed the young target audience to catch up with the picture on video). The first-time director is Kenny Ortega, the choreographer of Dirty Dancing, who brings plenty of energy to the action. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (494)

Simply in the wrong place at the wrong time
The world was not ready for a return to the days of the movie-musical when "Newsies" was released in 1992. A box-office flop, it has quickly risen to cult classic status with fans everywhere. Newsies is based on the true story of the New York newsboys' strike of 1899. Granted, Disney is guilty of "improving the truth a little", but doesn't any musical, where people break out in spontaneous song and dance, require one to put reality aside for a while? This film tells the tale of the newsies, led by tough, street-smart Jack Kelly (Christian Bale) and intelligent, reasonable David Jacobs (David Moscow), who form a union when Joseph Pulitzer (Robert Duvall) ups the price of newspapers from fifty to sixty cents a hundred. The street children - with names like Racetrack (Max Casella), a compulsive gambler who steals many scenes with his wisecracks - are aided by a newspaper reporter named Brian Denton (Bill Pullman). Together the unlikely company endures many troubles, including run-ins with the police and their leader's betrayal, throughout the strike. The actors are believable as poor orphans and runaways during the turn of the century, and one look at any of them shows that they've poured their heart and soul into this movie. The lack of depth in some characters - especially Sarah (Ele Keats) and Medda Larkson (Ann-Margret), roles that serve no discernable purpose other than sex appeal - is my only qualm with the film. Looking past that and the many continuity errors (some of which are actually quite amusing), this is a highly enjoyable movie for the entire family to share. Not a masterpiece, but plenty of entertainment!

Extra! Extra! See All About It!
An uplifting story portraying the greatest accomplishment children have made in our entire lifetime. Well directed by Kenny Ortega with amazing choreography (Kenny Ortega/Peggy Holmes) with amazing music by Alan Menken and creative lyrics by Jack Feldman. This motion picture has a wonderful cst including stars such as Robert Duvall (Joeseph Pulitzer), Ann-Margret (Medda Larkson), and Christian Bale (Jack Kelly). Other actors in this film include David Moscow, Aaron Lohr, Max Casella, Gabriel Damon, Luke Edwards and many more.
Set in 1899, this courageous group of newsboys from New York City, organize with other newsies from all to take on the most powerful man in New York City, newspaper giant Joeseph Pulitzer, to make their dreams come true. Through all the difficulties, the boys stay srong and become unlikely heroes by challenging the powerful.
After seeing it in my history class, i soon became a big fan and have researched everything from the actors to the acrual story. this motion picture gives accurate information and is fun for the whole family.

Newsies Rocks my Sox!
Wow. This movie has got to be one of the best ever. I was visiting a friend in St. Louis who had gone to a musical camp, and they watched it there, and she made her mom go out and get it for us. We watched it 5 times! It really is that good. It's got great singing and dancing, an awesome story line, catchy songs, and plus it's based on real events. And Christian Bale is sooooo cute! If you haven't seen it yet, go rent it NOW!

NEWSIES IS THE BEST!!!!! I love this movie!
Well, if you didn't already read my title NEWSIES IS THE BEST! And I love it. It's a great story about friendship and sticking up for what you believe in. Plus, it's Christian Bale and David Moscow...how can you go wrong with those two! I love the singing and dancing too. If you love the music as much as I did I suggest you buy the soundtrack because it's awesome! I'm telling you girls, if you have a bad day, pop this movie in and watch it. I mean it's a bunch of cute boys singing and dancing...it works everytime. I recomend this movie to anyone who likes musicals, boys, and great Disney magic. Watch it...trust me. It's probably one of my favorites movies of all time! If your cool you won't regret it.

Newsies
I love the Newsies....if your into musical's this is a must see! ... Read more

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Imagine a work by Shakespeare reduced to one of those pretty, glossy coffee-table picture books that have only a dollop of text alongside its sumptuous photographs, and you might have Michael Hoffman's adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This all-star version of Shakespeare's comedy is gorgeously shot in Tuscany, complete with a magical forest, breathtaking landscapes, beautiful villas, picturesque villages, stunning period costumes--oh wait, there's supposed to be a story here, too!Hoffman hijacks Shakespeare's basic premise but doesn't instill it with much more than surface shine and transplants it to turn-of-the-century Italy.Ergo, it's left up to the actors to find the heart and soul of this classic play, in which the fairies of the forest play mix and match with four young lovers, courtesy of a magical love potion. Hoffman couldn't ask for better (or better looking) actors to play Shakespeare's dreamlike love games--Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, Christian Bale, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Kline, Anna Friel, Dominic West, the list goes on and on--but he sure as heck doesn't know what to do with them, aside from putting them in various states of undress. Only Flockhart (as the lovestruck Helena), Tucci (a sprightly Puck), Pfeiffer (dazzling and funny as the queen of the fairies), and especially the sublime Kline (as weaver-turned-donkey Bottom) seem to connect with their characters in ways that make this adaptation occasionally soar; the rest are inexplicably left to flounder. Hoffman does seem to set himself right with the film's climax, when Bottom's amateur acting troupe hilariously enacts the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe (it helps that the troupe includes Roger Rees, Sam Rockwell, and Bill Irwin). Those searching for a more in-depth exploration of Shakespeare's farce might do better to look elsewhere, but if it's gorgeous actors and scenery you're in the mood for (along with an evocative opera soundtrack), and an all's-well-that-ends-well ending, this Midsummer Night will give you pleasant if weightless dreams. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (110)

Cast better than inept direction
While I don't have a problem with new interpretations of Shakespeare, I didn't find this all that new, just confused. Updating Shakespeare is also fine, if it serves a purpose, or at least doesn't interfere with the story, but those bicycles were ridiculous, and simply not funny. There was no point of reference, no reason for them to be there, no punchline. Likewise with Helena and Hermia's little mudbath...generally, the direction was absolutely horrible. The film is quite entertaining though, thanks to some very hard work from some of the cast. And that does not mean Calista Flockhart and Michelle Pfieffer (C.F. is grating, and M.P. obviously not comfortable with the text). It means Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, and Rupert Everett among the stars, but especially to some of the secondary characters: Anna Friel as a grounded Hermia (mud bath excepted) Sophie Marceau as an actually likeable Hyppolyta, and the great Roger Rees, as the most memorable Peter Quince I've ever seen. The music is gorgeous, and the scenery is nice, although having actually taken the trouble to go to Tuscany, Hoffman decides to film the magical forest on a really horrible, cheesy, creaking sound stage. Watch it for the cast.

Ah the Tuscan Hills!
Wow, what a great movie! But of course if you're a traditionalist closed to new interpretations, lock yourself back in your room with your Turner Classic movies. And if you've never had an English class where you liked Shakespeare or if you've never read and enjoyed an Elizabethan comedy and/or tragedy, forget about this movie. The language will just confuse you too much.

But if you can get past your conservative views and are open to the language, then watch A Midsummer Night's Dream.

I think that after five hundred years, it's amazing that these plays are still around and can generate such mainstream attention. I also feel that after that long, a fresh adaptation is more than welcome, especially if you've been subjected to the less than glamorous BBC version.

I felt that the setting (the Italian Athens you've never heard of) and anachronistic props (bikes with lights) actually lend to the farcical quality of this movie. It is a comedy and it is supposed to be funny, so lighten up and enjoy the fantastic performances of Michelle Pfeiffer (my FAVORITE Fairy Queen), Rupert Everett (fairy king--pun intended?), Kevin Kline as Bottom (he makes an Ass of himself--heehaw), and the myriad of other wonderful actors and actresses that breathe life into an old play.

And before you take offense to a director's interpretations, you might inquire as to the reasons for them before you denounce his movie. And if you really want the Bard's opinion, Joseph Fiennes could probably give it to you.

All good things, JOE

Not perfect, but certainly worth watching
To make Shakespeare accessible, you have to make it entertaining. Not just entertaining to those who already know and love his work, but entertaining to those who have never picked up a Folger edition of anything in their lives.

I teach English to teenagers. Teenagers, who gasp in horror at the mention of Shakespeare. Teenagers, with their 30 second attention spans, faulty grasp of the modern English they supposedly speak, and affection for the physical comedy of the likes of "Jackass."

So, how do we make teenagers like Shakespeare? We edit. So, naturally, some of the best speeches are missing or drastically shortened (remember, 30 second attention spans); the physical, often silly humor is accented; and the women mud wrestle. So what?

This movie is entertaining. At times, it is enchanting. It is fast-paced, visually interesting, and funny. The emphasis is shifted away from the complexities of the language because it is the language, the very thing we love about Shakespeare, that makes these plays inaccessible to the majority of the American movie audience.

I use this film because it is easy to understand. The actors have faces my students recognize, and it gets them excited about Shakespeare.

What this film does is to put the content of the play within the grasp of its modern audience. Shakespeare himself would have done no less.

An occasional dream
One of Shakespeare's most beloved works finally gets a modern cinematic makeover, good news for all of those who'd rather not see Mickey Rooney's Puck again. Unfortunately the latest retelling leaves much to be desired. Though mostly enjoyable, this film could use a good shot of fairy dust.

The story concerns three sets of lovers - Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius, and fairy royalty Titania and Oberon. The first pair loves each other but cannot marry because Hermia is betrothed to Demetrius, the object of Helena's desperate affection. When Hermia and Lysander steal away, the second couple makes chase and all four end up lost in the woods where our third pair, the quarreling fairy king and queen, reside. Oberon, dissatisfied with all about him, enlists his servant, Puck, to make amends. Puck is to place a spell on Demetrius so that he will fall in love with Helena, but a case of mistaken identity causes Lysander to become smitten with her. Meanwhile, a traveling actors troupe, led by Nick Bottom, stumbles into the woods for a late-night rehearsal. They prepare a play for the Duke's wedding and soon become the object of the fairies' mischief.

With the shell of Shakespeare's original, this movie pulls of adequate amounts of wit and humor; clearly the script is better than most. Despite Puck's much abbreviated role, it remains a light comedy and surreal and magical in every sense. The costuming, makeup, and Italian backdrop add to the enchantment and are some of the most enjoyable aspects of an aesthetically pleasing film. I loved the energy of Monte Athena in turn-of-the-century Italy (punctuated by a soundtrack of renowned operatic talent), although it added little to the understanding of the story or the updated time period.

My main qualm for this otherwise fanciful retelling is the distracted acting, which ranges from inspiring to embarrassing. Shakespeare's language, archaic by our standards, depends on talented actors and directors to lift it and his beautiful stories from obscurity. Kevin Kline proves that you don't need an English accent to perform Shakespeare effectively. His Nick Bottom is the most rounded character in the film, wholly human and rich with emotions thick enough to dip your fingers through. Anna Friel's Hermia acutely defines the play's romance and innocence. Along with Kline, she seems the most comfortable in her role and possesses a grace and naturalness absent from the other female characters. Dominic West gives an amusing and (sometimes) smitten Lysander to Friel's Hermia. I also liked Roger Rees' affectionate Peter Quince. The remainder of the cast spirals downward. Calista Flockhart as Hermia and Michelle Pfieffer as Titania appear uncomfortable and rather unsure of their characters, as if they are too afraid of fouling up the Bard's work to dig deeply into it. Rupert Everett's Oberon is tired and melancholy to a point of boredom. I am still trying to figure out why David Strathrain, who lacks the nobleness of his character, was cast as the Duke. Poor Sophie Marceau should have stuck with Mel Gibson. Though I would not have picked Stanley Tucci for Puck, he provides a slightly amusing if ineffectual performance, as does Christian Bale as Demetrius.

Because of the spotty acting, the film never gels completely. An unfamiliarity with the play by certain actors interrupts otherwise fluid scenes. Those who act well in this film make it worth watching; the others leave us wanting more.

Kline and Flockhart shine!!!
3.5 stars. This is a moderately enjoyable Shakespearean comedy with only two stand-out performances. Calista Flockhart, of "Ally McBeal" fame, shows here that her range and understanding of the poetic language of Shakespear is both impressive and fluent. She steals every scene she is in. Speaking of scene-stealing, Kevin Kline, a veteran of the stage and Shakespearean theater, has the best performance here. He hams up the goofyness of his character and makes him ultimately hilarious and endearing. Many of the other actors are merely okay. Michelle Pfeiffer, often a great actress, seems to struggle here. She sounds like she understands iambic pentameter well, but fails to emote any feeling behind the words; except for her scenes with Kevin Kline, she is simply mediocre. Also, the character of Puck, played by Stanley Tucci, is traditionally portrayed as more mischievous and problem-causing than the lap-dog of Oberon as he is portrayed here. All in all, this is certainly above par, with great costumes and fine sets and scenery. It just doesn't come together as a whole. This film is fun in moments, but eventually feels incomplete. ... Read more

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Roundly dismissed as one of Steven Spielberg's least successful efforts, this very underrated film poignantly follows the WorldWar II adventures of young Jim (a brilliant Christian Bale), caught in the throes of the fall of China. What if you once had everything and lost it all in an afternoon? What if you were only 12? Bale's transformation, from pampered British ruling-class child to an imprisoned, desperate, nearly feral boy, is nothing short of stunning. Also stunning are exceptional sets, cinematography, and music (the last courtesy of John Williams) that enhance author J.G.Ballard's and screenwriter Tom Stoppard's depiction of another, less familiar casualty of war.

In a time when competitors were releasing "comedic," derivative coming-of-age films, Empire of the Sun stands out as an epic in the classic David Lean sense--despite confusion or perceived competition with the equally excellent The Last Emperor (also released in 1987, and also a coming-of-age in a similar setting). It is also a remarkable testament to, yes, the human spirit. And despite its disappointing box-office returns,Empire of the Sun helped to further establish Spielberg as more than a commercial director and set the standard, tone, and look for future efforts Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (154)

Coming of age for a young boy and Spielberg
Made back in 1987, EMPIRE OF THE SUN, is based upon the best selling book by J.G. Ballard. It tells the story of Jim, (Christian Bale) a young British boy, who is separated from his parents, during World War II. His family is living in Japan at the time. The young boy is thrown into a Japanese internment camp. As the story unfolds, Jim befriends 2 Americans (John Malkovich and Joe Pantiliano) also trying to stay one step ahead of their captors and fight for freedom. As it says on the back of the DVD "Through [Jim's] eyes we see the facination and horror of war." Jim goes from being a child of innocence to an adult who is just trying to stay alive in a harsh world.

When the film ended, I had forgotton how flawless the movie is. This was not only a young boy's coming of age story, but a coming of age for Spielberg as a Director as well. This was his 1st film (up to that point) without a real "Gee Whiz" element to it The performance by Bale is outstanding. As the viewer, you really get a sense of what it must have been like to be held captive in that prison. The scene where Jim runs back to the comforts of his home, shortly after being separated from his Mom and Dad, only to find it ransacked, and his parents gone, is particularly effective. The scene is both horrible and funny at the same time The film also boasts some fine production design and a good film score by John Williams. The film was the first to be shot in the People's Republic of China and eagled-eyed viewers will note a supporting role from funny man Ben Stiller.

The only extra feature of note on the DVD is, a good 45 minute documentary, made at the time of production. The documentary is narrated by Actor Martin Sheen. When this movie was released, I remember the reviews being somewhat mixed. That is a shame. It is one of the only movies from Spielberg, that you don't hear much about, even today. I guess I just wanted to remind folks that EMPIRE OF THE SUN is still out there and certainly worth a first or second look

An Unheralded Masterpiece
This epic film is the first of Spielberg's World War II trilogy that includes "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan." It was made at a time when Spielberg was financially successfully but artistic merit eluded him. That this remarkable piece of filmmaking has been overlooked is no reflection on him; it is the failure of the tastes of critics and the public alike. Spielberg tells a beautiful story of the horrors of war, how families are uprooted and separated, and how the human spirit overcomes adversity. Christian Bale is superb in the film. I cannot comprehend why his career did not soar after the film's release. It was good to see him in the role of Jesus in the recently televised movie on Mary. John Malkovich is his usual fantastic self as a fellow POW who becomes Bale's Long John Silver, a sly comparison to the classic "Treasure Island." The film is beautifully photographed and has a subtle and moving score from Spielberg stalwart John Williams. It is a must for fans of the director and those who appreciate masterful storytelling.

a skewed reality, how a twelve year old boy would see things
A film by Steven Spielberg

Film critic Ernest Rister has written a brilliant review of "Empire of the Sun" where he details the unreality of the movie, how the viewer cannot trust what we are seeing on screen because it is the impressions of a 12 year old child and Spielberg gives us enough hints and allusions and images in the film that with a little bit of work, the viewer should be able to figure this out. Since I had read Mr Rister's review more than a year before I finally saw this movie, I tried to keep that knowledge in mind when I was seeing "Empire of the Sun" for the first time.

"Empire of the Sun" is the story of Jim (Christian Bale), a 12 year old British boy living in China with his parents. The movie is set during World War II when Japan was attacking China. During a raid on the city they are living in, Jim and his parents are trying to escape when they are separated. We don't know what happens to his parents, but Jim ends up in a Japanese internment camp. Jim meets an American named Basie (John Malkovich), whom he befriends and sort of tags along after. "Empire of the Sun" deals with the isolation and loneliness of this one boy who is quickly losing his innocence. That is really the heart of "Empire of the Sun", the loss of Jim's innocence in the midst of World War II.

The one thing that I struggled with was not taking this film at face value, that the events on screen are not truly happening, but rather how Jim is remembering them. They are happening as a twelve year old boy is seeing them, heightened and slightly distorted. I did not catch the clues that Mr. Rister wrote about, but I suspect you have to be studying "Empire of the Sun" to really grasp what Steven Spielberg is putting into the movie. Fortunately, "Empire of the Sun" works on two levels: as a straightforward film, and also on the level that Rister discovered and Spielberg intended.

-Joe Sherry

Wunderbar
One of the greatest dramas ever. Buy it. Watch it. Many times.

Empire of the Sun - Spectacularly Moving
What a sensational film. I'm curious as to why it has been so overlooked all these years. It's so much more than a war movie. It not only speaks to the tenacity of the human spirit, but also to it's frailties.

When Jim reunites with his mother in the final scene, it always brings tears to my eyes. Yeah... lots of tears. ... Read more

Reviews (125)

Swing Kids
Swing Kids is a movie about a group of kids who get caught up in the Nazi mess in Germany in the late 1930's. The boys are Peter, Thomas, and Arvid. They are all friends who love swing music. Although the trouble really starts when Peter and Thomas decide to steal a radio from a bakery women who got it from the Nazis. The Nazis had taken the radio from some Germans who helped Jewish people. Peter gets caught and is forced the Hitler Jugend and Thomas decides to join because Peter is his friend. Thomas starts to become a Nazi and Peter still hates them and this starts to cause trouble in their friendship. Then Peter is at a swing party and Thomas is one of the HJ's that are going to stop it. This is all I can tell you, you'll have to watch the video to find out what happens.
I liked the movie because it was very realistic in depicting life during the late 1930's. It is also realistic in how scared everyone is of the HJ's and the Nazis. The action was also really neat like in the part where Peter beats up the HJ with an umbrella. The music in it that include songs by Duke Ellington and Count Basieh the music seems to fit the time period well. The setting is also good. All in all it's a good movie except for a few details.
I really didn't like the ending because it really didn't answer much. It might have been better if Peter ran away and joined the Allies. I also didn't like the way the over dramatized parts like when Peter found out what was in the boxes he was delivering. I also didn't like how at the beginning they portrayed the Gestapo man as a nice and good person. Other than this it's a great movie
I think it's a lot like Anne Frank because you can see both sides of the story and how it was very hard for both Jews and Germans. It also shows that they both were very alike in just not knowing what to do and when to do it. It also showed that the kids just wanted everything to go back to the way it was and shouldn't have been thrown into the hatred that Hitler created and the terror he made.

What are these people thinking????
Ok - I just had to write this review because there were so many rave reviews of this film. COME ON PEOPLE!!!! A movie about kids swing dancing to defeat the Nazis????? Even that one sentence sounds bad. Yes Kenneth Branaugh and Christian Bale are two of my favorite actors but they both need to be embarassed by this horrible film.

This is ludicrous. What is hilarios about AMAZON.com is that you can put in any bad movie and see people who LOVE it. Just put in HOWARD THE DUCK as an example.

Some of these people should not even watch movies!

AMAZING!
Hey there!
I first watched this movie in my grade 9 or 10 class, I fell in love with this movie! I don't know if its the music or the actor's but its' just an amazing movie, I think that it captures those times quite appropriately. I'm also a fan of Robert Sean Leonard! and of course, Jazz music!
Thanks!

Excellent film of swing and moral struggle
Anyone who has stepped on to the dance floor with a live swing band playing knows just how well Swing Kids captures the electricity of a night of swing. Anyone who has strapped on their best duds an hour earlier knows the romance and anticipation captured perfectly as Peter Muller (Robert Sean Leonard) dresses for his last night of swing. This movie was in no small measure part of the impetus for the swing revival in the mid 90's, and I personally get "in the mood" for a night of cuttin' rug with Janis Siegel's incredible rendition of "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon" from the film. But what makes this film truly superlative is its honest dealings with ordinary Germans' motivations for complacency towards or participation in Nazism. In Nazi Germany it was in everybody's best interest (save the Jews) to play along. From Peter's mother who just wants her to children live happily and avoid the terrible fate of their father to Thomas Berger (Christian Bale) who finds acceptance and encouragement for the first time, they do so for the reasons that would tempt each of us sorely. The horrible truth of the Holocaust is that, like the Germans, very few of us possess the selflessness and moral courage it would have required to oppose the evil tide of Nazism. Swing Kids is almost alone in its portrayal of this chilling truth among Holocaust and World War II films. Robert Sean Leonard's portrayal of this moral struggle for understanding and courage is very moving. (Of course, there's noone better at playing angst-ridden. c.f. Dead Poet's Society.) As he dances his last dance, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, the world spinning around him, he finds a rare kind of release that is perhaps found only on the dance floor. And yes, his brother's cries, "Swing Heil! Swing Heil!", in the final scene give me a lump in the throat every time. For all these reasons and more, Swing Kids is an excellent film. Shame that there are no extras on the DVD.

it dont mean a thing if you aint got that swing
this ones got the groove, the drama, the comedy. nice swing music and sometimes the actors are a little bit cheesy but it works out in the tearjerker end, not that I cryed. the cast includes Robert Sean Leonard(My Best Friend is A Vampire,The Last Days Of Disco), Christian Bale(American Psycho, Laurel Canyon), Frank Whaley(Swimming With Sharks, Pulp Fiction), Jayce Bartok(Spider-Man, Suburbia), Barbara Hershey(Beaches), Kenneth Bragnagh(Rabbit Proof Fence, Much Ado About Nothing), Noah Wyle(tvs E.R., The Myth Of Fingerprints). a good old fashioned movie ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Tragedy & love, drawn from history, on a sunny Greek isle!
For pure entertainment, it's hard to beat a love story wrapped in a war story. As a war story, Captain Corelli's Mandolin is a failure. As a love story, it's barely there, but the combination is greater than the sum of the parts. The story is rich; it's historical, and the cinematography of a sunny Greek island will give any movie a lift.

Set in World War II, the Italian army, under the control of the Germans, occupies the Greek Island of Cephallonia. The islanders are not intimidated in the least, by the Italians. They regard them as hopeless, spineless cowards and the most pathetic excuse for soldiers. These soldiers are not real fighting men anyway. They are musicians in uniform. Despite the intrusion of the Italian occupiers, these musicians bring a love of music and an enjoyment life, where they can find it, to the war stressed town.

Penelope Cruz plays Pelagia, a medical student and daughter of the village doctor. She has a boyfriend in the village, Madras, who is involved with the Greek resistance. Nicholas Cage plays Captain Corelii, the ranking Italian officer on the island. He of course, works on charming the initially hostile Pelagia away from Madras. The romance is a little frustrating. It's stretched out over the length of the film without enough romantic, "Action, " along the way.

I've always liked Nicholas Cage. By the formulas of Hollywood, he was not perfectly cast as the Captain. His posture is awkward. He's not slick, not a classic romantic type. But the rough fit gives the film some of it's charm. Penelope Cruz doesn't seem perfectly cast either, but by some magic, she made a Penelope Cruz fan out of me. On the down side, Cage's accent is horrendous, by the way, and varies throughout the film. It doesn't hurt the film, but both Cage and Cruz seem far too old for the roles they play.

I thought the portrayal of the German officer, Captain Weber, by David Morrissey, was exceptional. He is not characterized as the stereotypical, Teutonic tyrant. With very little screen time, I felt his characterization was human, complex, sympathetic and conflicted.

Christian Bale's acting, as Madras, is also excellent. As a member of the Greek resistance and as Captain Corelli's rival for Pelagia, he has every reason to do him. Observe his non-verbal behavior.

In contrast to the Greek islander's initial view of the Italians, in the end, Captain Corelli and his band of musicians turn out to be courageous men of conviction. The musicians fight, and die, for the love of life, humanity and the love of a woman. By contrast the Germans fight and kill, for all the wrong things. And when it came to life and love, it is our German officer, so capable of life and love, who becomes the spineless coward.

How sad it was to read in the film's afterward that the German military executed thousands of Italian soldiers on Cephallonia in 1943. How sad it is that so many films today entertain people with faked violence, exaggerated a thousand fold; yet, we remain ignorant where it was a reality. By contrast, the makers of Captain Corelli's Mandolin had to minimize showing the historical violence so it would not obliterate the love story. In the movie there is just violence enough to shock and inform us.

The film was based on a historical novel of the same name, by the way. If you want to know more about the historical incident upon which the movie was based, just search on the Internet for Cephallonia. It is one of the three Ionian Islands, which also happen to be the birth place of Greek philosophy. Today, the Greeks have a shrine there for the executed Italian soldiers. The actual execution sites and places where the bodies were dumped are marked and preserved. Many Greeks and Italians pray at the sites.

Dazzling....
I will not write a review about this movie from an expert critique's stand point. Nor will I give you a summary of the plot as others have done.
I will simply tell you this: this movie touched me deeply on an emotional level.
Nicolas Cage plays an uncanny role as the compassionate and music loving captain of a small group of Italian soldiers on the Greek island. He falls in love with the beautiful Pelagia (superbly acted by Penelope Cruz) who is torn between her hidden desire for the Captain and her loyalty to her finance Mandras (Christian Bale)who ignores her to take partake in the Greek resistance.

Well thats a very brief summary there...(sorry I've contradictd myself) But the rest of the movie is pure beauty and emotion.
The scenes on the actually island are breathtaking, the music by Stephen Warbick (Shakespeare in Love) simply fabulous and heartbreaking,and the acting by Cruz,Cage was perfect despite Cage's somewhat not so perfect accent. I also have to add great support by Christian bale and especially John Hurt who I thought should ve been nominated for an oscar for supporting role.

I think this movie can be summed up by one tiny scene where the Italian and German soldiers along with the local Greeks are at terrace in the evening drinking and debating on war and justifying their point of view. The argument gets heated until one Italian soldiers gets up and says poignantly :
"its such a beautiful night.....I want to fall in love"

could have been a good movie with a different set of actors
I can't stand either Nicolas Cage or Penelope Cruz so I was prepared to hate it. It wasn't as bad as I anticipated but it wasn't great either. Nicolas Cage is a terrible actor and his fake Italian accent was getting on my nerves in a major way. All the Italians in the movie joke around and sing-that all they do. I also couldn't see how they(N and P) fell in love. One day they just were. Yeah, right. I have to add one more thing and its about Penelope's looks. I think with right clothes and makeup she can look decent but in this movie she looks downright horrid. Her hair is done in the most unflattering hairdo on the planet and her clothes look as if she robbed the scarecrow. Whether the look was intentional or accidental is a mystery. The ending was incredibly stupid. He leaves Penelope until the war is over and then doesn't come back until two years later because he feels guilty about coming between her and her fiancé. Give me a break

Pizza and Chianti for this slow-mo tearjerker
A confession: I did not read the book. From what I can gather from reviewers, those who did read "Corelli" were sadly disappointed by Hollywood's hatchet job. Whaddja expect?

As for the besotted grognard that I am, and not having been contaminated by prior perusal of that sensitive and romantic novel, I found the DVD "Corelli" to be a passable evening's entertainment, not great, but OK. I happen to be a Nicholas Cage fan, although he is showing signs of overexposure in real turkey movies ("e.g. "Windtalkers") but still shows brilliance in films like "Matchstick Men." He is best when playing eccentric characters ("Raising Arizona") and does less well when confined. "Corelli" is somewhere in between. His Italian accent is OK but along the lines of the old faux Italian restaurant operator in the ad, "Chianti for everybody!" I found Penelope Cruz to be an unconvincing Greek, but how many convincing Greeks are there between Irene Pappas and Anthony Quinn?

The story line is plausible. We see a happy and prosperous Greek fishing village where Penelope Cruz and her physician father live high on a hill above the town. A swarthy but otherwise illiterate young fisherman yens for Cruz but she is hesitant (this is about all we get to know about the dark handsome fisherman, who eventually runs off to join the partisans). Suddenly, the war intervenes and the Italians arrive to take over the town, assisted by a few Germans who are, at this point, non-assertive. (Italy attacked Greece from Albania in the fall of 1940, got pushed back into Albania, and was ultimately bailed out of its embarrassment by German forces in the spring of 1941.)

I suspect that in the book, the Italians are more complex; here, Corelli's artillerymen would rather sing opera and drink wine than tend to their guns. Corelli's guileless charm ultimately wins over Cruz (she likes him, she likes him not) and a young German liaison officer who senses that his Italian allies are great drinking buddies but unreliable. Flash forward to 1943: Italy capitulates to the Allies and attempts (mostly unsuccessfully) to switch sides; Corelli's troops are forcibly detained by the German occupation forces. I will not get into the resulting tragedy, but I liked the treatment of this volatile period for the Italians in WW2. I will not describe what happens to Corelli himself, save that I began to draw uncomfortable parallels to another tear-jerker, "The English Patient."

I found the earthquake scene near the end of the movie stupid. Was this to draw a connection between the natural disaster and manmade disaster that was WW2? Hit me over the head. And why does Corelli stay away so long after the war? It's like the Rafe (Afflick) character in "Pearl Harbor", who disappears while flying overseas with the RAF, and then after many months all he can pen to his girlfriend is a hastily scrawled note, "I am alive." Is the man illiterate? Was he in a coma? They did have telephones. Or Western Union.

OK, so a typical Hollywood romantic war-date movie, worthy of a pizza and some cheap Italian plonk.

Good movie ... if you have not read the book
If this movie had been an original screenplay, I would think it brilliant, lovely, and wonderful. However, I read the book first (which I absolutely adored) so the story was set in my mind. The movie cut so many scenes that I thought were completely necessary to the plot, and added silly Hollywood scenes in their place. The film relegated major characters in the book (like Carlo Guerccio) to one or two lines in the film. In my opinion, this was a big mistake by the screen writers.

Cage and Cruz played their respective parts well in this film. Cage was funny and quirky like Corelli's character is described in the book, and Cruz honed in on Pelagia's quiet, reserved nature. Christian Bale looked surprisingly Greek in the movie, playing Pelagia's fiancé, Mandras. Although his character in the novel was the complete opposite in the filml, he played the part well. Dr. Iannis was intelligent, kind, and loving, and his character in the film translated the same way.

In conclusion, the movie is good and beautiful, but it pales in the light of the novel. Read the book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This TV movie doesn't venture far from biblical accounts to dramatize the life of the Virgin Mary.It gets off to a promising start by showing Mary to be a resourceful and brave teenager, as she stands up to Roman soldiers who come thundering on horseback into her village.The production thenproceeds chronologically, and the major events of Mary's life, and the life of Jesus, are played out in dramatic fashion.Mary is portrayed as having to face a series of struggles and tests of faith, from the time when she is terrified to meet the messenger of God who foretells the birth of the Messiah to her witnessing the brutal scene of her son's crucifixion.As the movie deals with material that will, of course, be familiar to most viewers, an unavoidable problem is that there are few surprises, and while the script does attempt to fill in some nuances of Mary's life, at times the dramatic portrayals can't help but seem forced.Mary, Mother of Jesus was obviously a labor of love by the executive producers, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her son Bobby Shriver, and while it may not always succeed dramatically, the story is told coherently and some viewers will find it an inspirational paean to a revered religious figure.--Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (15)

She was a woman--She was a mother!
After watching this beautiful movie for the first time during the Easter season, have used clips several times in our Women's Study class to illustrate the humanity, joys, and pains Mary may have experienced in being the mother of Jesus. One member thought it should be mandatory watching for new converts, others noted "it was the best they had ever seen'>

Nice Movie!
This was a nice movie to watch but I thought it will be better. I found Mary in this movie not the Mary that we always, well most people thought she was, I thought of Mary as a person above everyone else, who don't judge, who don't talk much but listen and is always there for everyone but in this movie Mary is show as well like any other human, with her good qualities her faults, she a strong woman who not afraid to say what she thought and sometime I find her to juge to fast, like when she said, "Where you were, you coward, you didn't were there to help Jesus!" I find her harsh to said that when she knew of the prophecy that Jesus have to die for the sin of others. The movie past way to fast but I do find the actors good, the atmosphere was good, it put you in that time. Jesus act good, just like I imagine him to be, well Mary act good too but like I said it's not he Mary I grow up to imagine to be! Overall it's a nice movie!

Identity Crisis Jesus
When a major network must start its film with a disclaimer that reads, "While dramatic license has been taken, we believe this film reflects the spirit and historical significance of the biblical story of Mary and Jesus," it is best to turn the channel immediately. The film begins with Mary fleeing from the Romans as they are attacking her village. As the story unfolds, an angel appears to Mary outside of the city to announce her pregnancy. The Bible says it was inside the city, but NBC must know better. Mary is then threatened with stoning by her fellow villagers, and Joseph comes to her aid, also not found in the gospel passages. After Jesus' birth, Herod tells his soldiers to kill all children six months and younger, another Bible inaccuracy. Further into the film, Jesus' family is returning from Egypt, Roman soldiers ride by, and Jesus remarks that Herod must be dead. Jesus is depicted as a teenager in this scene. So when did Herod die?
The next few scenes involve Jesus in the Temple. Mary and Joseph find him, scold the young man, and Jesus remarks that he must be about his Father's business. Biblically, that's an accurate portrayal, but the scene just prior to this is not. Jesus is attacked by a local bully, and he refuses to fight. After the confrontation, Jesus asks the question to Mary, "Why do I see these things (not wanting to fight because it solves nothing) but no one else does?" Either Jesus knew who he was or he did not. Throughout the film, this identity crisis is a major theme.
An hour into the film, Jesus is finally ready for ministry, or is he? Mary convinces Jesus to go on his ministry and be baptized by John. In the conversations between Jesus and Mary, Jesus uses the term "we" as if Mary is an essential component to his success. Shortly afterwards, Mary and Jesus are seen walking down a dirt road, and Jesus makes the bizarre statement that he had not heard God's voice for eighteen years. The last time Jesus had heard the voice was when he was in the temple at the age of twelve, but the Bible makes it very clear that Jesus walked in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). Jesus was not abandoned by God nor left alone as the film suggests. NBC adds to the theme of uncertainty by depicting Jesus as being fearful. In a night- time scene, Mary and Jesus are walking near a campfire, and they pause to converse. Jesus, visibly shaking and fearful, repeatedly asks the question, "Is it right? Is it right?" As Mary tries to convince him that the power that Jesus feels inside of himself, post-baptism, is an acceptable thing to have and he should use it as part of his mission (NBC, 1999). Clearly, this film has taken liberties beyond what is scripturally acceptable

Sound track of music tol\o loud
The movie was great even with the poetic license of when various
words were spoken and by whom they were spoken.

The music score often overpowered the voice of the actors making it
difficult to understand all of the words spoken.

mother of all
This story is simply told and therein lies its strength.It's
not an epic film like "King of Kings" but does what it was meant to do inspire faith.It is unfortunate that some self righteous Christians never get enough of bashing Roman Catholicism and its beliefs and they call themselves Christians. ... Read more

Description

Personal narrative documentary made by Amy Eldon. Her brother was a photographer killed while on assignment in Somalia in 1993. By exploring the stories of journalists willing to risk their lives for a story and finding witnesses to her brotherchr(39)s de ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent & powerfull.
I have used this video with my high school photography classes every year since its release. The students absolutely love it, and usually know by the end if a career in photojournalism is for them. I love the video because the journalists are 'real' in it. This past year as I showed this video, at about 8:45 Am in the morning while they are all half asleep, I told the students how it makes them understand what is happening in the rest of the world because we don't seen war zones here. At 9:00 another teacher ran in the room telling us to turn on the TV. The date was September 11, 2001. Needless to say, this video in combination with that tragedy taught my students far more than I ever intended nor would have wanted them to learn. We went from seeing it somewhere else, to seeing it here. I will continue to use this video as it is one of the best produced documentaries I've ever seen. If both a teacher and her high school students endorse it, you know it has to be good! I do know my little mini lectures I do to accompany it have changed. Never again will I watch it and say it doesn't happen here.

A superior and important documentary
This is a splendid documentary about the efforts by photojournalists to cover wars. The focus on Dan Eldon is especially compelling and moving. His story and that of other journalists is riveting and beautifully told. It's a great reminder of the human cost of war and the value of journalism in bringing the stories of war out to the world. This is an important video for individuals in general, and it's essential viewing for young people in English, journalism, and world-affairs classrooms.

Beautiful documentary about the other side of journalism.
I saw this when it first aired on TBS and, for two hours, sat in awe (not to mention cried quite a bit). It was a fabulous documentary where well known photojournalists were interviewed. It explained to me a question I had always asked: 'why would anyone put themselves in such danger for a picture?' I recommed this highly. Dan Eldon's story is extraordinary and this is a beautiful tribute to him, done by his sister. Christian Bale's readings of Dan's journals are very well done as well, with the right emotions and feelings evident. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A tale about a fatherless boy finding dramatically different father figures throughout a remarkable adventure, Treasure Island is anentertaining coming-of-age story, with themes of family, loyalty, friendship, trust, and honesty at its core. While Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure tale is popular filmfare, it's never been done this well. Charlton Heston stars as Long John Silver and Christian Bale as plucky Jim Hawkins in this TNT production. Directed by Heston's son Fraser (who also directed the excellent family fare Alaska), the film remains faithful to the novel, and draws much of the spirit and excitement of the book. The action scenes are first-rate, andif the ship Hispaniola has never looked better or more authentic, no surprise: the ship is the original from 1962's Mutiny on the Bounty. The opening scenes are dark and rich, as they capture the period well, with careful attention to makeup (the teeth, the body grime!) and costuming. Oliver Reed and Christopher Lee are frighteningly effective as Capt. Billy Bones and Blind Pew, and the film's first half-hour is theirs. The tone shifts and lightens when Heston appears as the legendary pirate. Look for Pete Postlethwaite, Julian Glover, and Richard Johnson in wonderful supporting roles. The film marks Bale's segue from poignantly promising child actor (Empire of the Sun) to compelling teen (he would later continue to prove his talent as a versatile young actor in Little Women and Velvet Goldmine). --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A brilliant adaptation, definitely worth owning!
I was hooked on this film from the first time I saw it on television almost 10 years ago. I had never actually read the book, but it didn't matter. From the opening sequence of Billy Bones (a very excellent Oliver Reed)'s arrival at the Admiral Benbow, through young Jim Hawkins (the even more excellent and underrated actor Christian Bale)'s adventure on the high seas in search for buried treasure, all the way up to the climactic battles between the good guys and the pirates led by the fearful Long John Silver (Charleton Heston, in what I consider his best role ever!), this film is nonstop action, adventure, and great fun! It has a great plot, great characters, and even some comical moments. It will make you want to pick up the book and read it all over again. Every person of every age and gender can appreciate this movie. It is an essential modern classic.

GREAT MOVIE
Although Ms. Sandy, UT said there was "quite a bit of profanity", I think she's crazy. I have seen this movie several times and would never feel bad about anyone of any age watching it. There is, however, one time that Billy Bones was talking to blind pue and said "Flint's dead goddam him" Blind Pue: "yes dead and damned". This may not be the "gee golly" language that she wants, but this movie isn't as bad as she makes it sound, remember, the movie is rated G.
I thought Charlton Heston was a perfect Long John Silver. I also thought the music was perfect too. It really helped to enhance the film. The music is done by The Chieftains. I don't know if there is an actual soundtrack, but the chieftains have an album out titled Film Cuts. This disc has songs from Treasure Island, Rob roy, and Far and away. I have listened to the CD as well. I rate the disc at a 10. I rated this movie as a five, but I would actually rate it as a 10 if the scale went higher. Please give this movie a chance, it will make its way into your heart as it has into mine.

stellar cast, fabulous adventure
A terrific telling of Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure, Christian Bale as the young Jim Hawkins and Charlton Heston as Long John Silver are both superb, and head a great cast: Richard Johnson, Oliver Reed, Clive Wood, and Julian Glover among the many actors that bring the story to life. Filmed in Jamaica, as well as the Hispaniola, a beauty of a ship, the scenery and cinematography by Robert Steadman are marvelous.
The soundtrack is by Paddy Moloney and performed by The Cheiftains, and is also very effective.

Christian Bale, so moving two years earlier in "Empire of the Sun", is here courageous and strong; only fourteen at the time this was made, he is quite remarkable, and Heston does a turn as the bad guy, and is sensational as old wily Silver, saying things like "I'll have yer liver for breakfast !".
Director Fraser Heston, who made his cinematic debut as the infant Moses in the 1956 "The Ten Commandments" his father starred in, keeps the pacing fast and though there are a lot of sword fights and shooting, it is mostly sound effects and there is very little in the way of gore, making the film suitable for children. The dialect of the sailors sounds foreign at first, but one soon gets used to it.
Originally made for television, this is rousing, exceptional story-telling, that will keep one's interest for numerous viewings.
Total running time is 132 minutes.

Shiver TNT's timbers unless they issue the DVD right smart!
Brilliant, wonderful adaptation of R. L. Stevenson's classic seafaring tale -- this is beyond doubt THE best pirate film to have yet been made. Bar none. If you don't clap this one to your heart, ye be a false-sworn landlubber, by thunder, and here's my affydavy to that!

Treasure Island
The movie is excellent, what's left of it, that is. The original cable TV production went on for several more hours than the VHS tape does. A good bit of footage of the more eccentric characters (Blind Pew, Black Dog, Squire Trelawney), and an unconscionable amount of the Chieftains' music, got lopped so that the cut would fit onto a two-hour VHS tape. I, personally, would pay to see the original full-length film on DVD. Whether TNT will be offering this any time soon is moot.

All that said, the scurrilous lot of pirates, headed by an especially effective Charlton Heston as Long John Silver, is all that could be hoped for, even if you rehearse for National Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept. 19) all year.

The good guys are pretty well-played, too, especially the Squire, Captain Smollett, and Dr. Livesey. I'd have given this a 5 if it weren't so short, and a 10 for the original on DVD, by thunder! ... Read more

Reviews (373)

A Sharp, Potent, Slick, Funny & Ultimately Disturbing Satire
American Psycho may be one of the most carefully crafted, and exceptionally filmed movies in recent memory. That depends, of course, how you percieve the movie. Educated viewers will catch the importance of the film, and realise that this is really an art film - less experienced viewers will probably call it sick. That it mind, the film is ultimately recommended to viewers that want to challenge their minds (this is for mature audiences only). The film itself is about a 1980s yuppie, played so beautifully by Christain Bale. As the film progresses, we have an awareness that he is insanse, but rarely see any evidence to back this up (sure he's bad... but I've seen MUCH worse). However, after establishing that leasurely pace, the film strikes with sharp, blatantly shocking images of violence and mayem. Basically, the acts of murder get more and more disturbing until we finally realise just how sick and out-of-touch this person is. Of course, there is much to praise about the film. The performances are over-the-top (with a great appearance by Willem Dafoe - one of my favorite actors). The set designs are absolutely amazing, most notably the spacious and "arty" apartment! All throughout, there are great references to the 1980s, and the film contains some pretty funny sequences (the most hilarious being a card contest). But this does not detract from the bloody excesses, which might offend those viewers who are not accustomed to seeing blatant scenes of gore and splatter. Many people have read the book by Ellis, and might be cautious to seeing the movie. However, the violence in the movie is far less than in the book and most of the pornographic sadism that was so evident in the novel is missing. So if you're tired of "contemperary cinema", with connect-the-dot movies that insult your intelligence, sit down and watch American Psycho.

Oh.. and a thankful nod to the filmmakers for putting in that footage from THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE - perfect in this film!

Excellent Satire.
While American Psycho may seem a little dated now, it is still right on the money when it comes to corporate America's greed, corruption and materialism. If you want some top notch satire with a dark and violent twist, American Psycho is your film. The surreal nature of the film brings it to a higher level than your run of the mill social commentary. American Psycho is a must see for any non-conformist who appreciates cutting wit.

This is the WORST "horror" movie ever!
I don't know what to say. This movie is so horribly bad, I had to stop it more then twice. The only reason I started watching it again is because I didn't want to waste the three bucks I spent on it at Blockbuster. I know by now, you are problably thinking that I'm an ignorant movie watcher who hates horror. Well, you're wrong. I love horror movies as much as the next guy. To be honest, I enjoy gore very much and I don't expect a good plot from a horror movie, not even from American Psycho. I knew it would be stupid, long before I watched it, but a friend of mine told me it was funny. So I thought: "What the hell." This movie was distasteful, even to me. And another thing, the amount of sex incorporated into this film, is pointless. I think the film's director put that amount because she is a woman and just wants to prove to people, that she can be just as dirty as any male director. In conclusion, I would give this film no stars if I could, but unfortunately 1 is the lowest number. One last thing, I heard there's an unrated version to American Psycho. I can't imagine how that turned out.

Good movie, avoid the book
This is a pretty good movie. Christian Bale is great, and there are some very funny moments. The director Mary Herron deserves credit for salvaging something out of Brett Easton Ellis's vomit-inducing novel.
That is my real goal for posting this review: warning viewers to steer far clear of the book. Trust me, I am doing a valuable public service. You may be curious about the book because you liked the movie, but STAY AWAY! The book is a big, heaping, stinking pile of trash. If you thought the movie was voilent, you ain't seen nothing yet. Unlike the movie, the "satire" of the book gets utterly lost within scene after scene of depravity. You have been warned. Flipping through this book is like peeking into Ellis's toilet several hours after he ate a very large meal. You might find some pages of his book floating in there too, because that's all it's good for.

Journey into the mind of a psychopath killer...
I thought this was a great movie. It has dark comedy in it, but it is mainly a horror movie. I thought Christian Bale did a superb job as Patrick Bateman. The movie was directed by Mary Herron, and was done really well. The cast includes Christian Bale, Jared Leto, Chloë Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, and Willem Dafoe.

'American Psycho' is about a rich businessman Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) who, during the day anyway is a charming guy, but sometimes he just wants to kill whenever he feels the urge.

DVD Features include Production notes, Theatrical Trailers, Making of 'American Psycho', and a Christian Bale interview. Overall this DVD is worth every penny you pay for it. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

An Interesting Movie!
I remember watching this movie when it was first shown on television in 1986 and it was an interesting movie with an intriguing mystery of if this woman named Anna was really Anastasia Romanof daughter of the last czar of Russia and did she really survive the execution of her family or is she just looking for fame and fortune? Amy Irving stars in this movie and she was very good!

One of the Twentieth Century's Great Puzzles
Amy Irving stars as Anna, a woman claiming to be the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II of Russia, a claim which would mean that she had survived the execution of the Royal Family. She seems to know things about the Royal Family that only Anastasia could know, yet she has huge gaps in her memory and is unable/unwilling to speak Russian. Things are complicated by the fact that other women have claimed to be Anastasia in the past, and the Royal Family has grown tired of the pretenders to the throne. However, Anna has her supporters, although she knows the must win the support of her grandmother, the empress, if she is to have any hope of being officially recognized. Irving has a few good moments as Anna/Anastasia, but she doesn't project the strength that so many of the characters tell her character that she has. The supporting cast is competent, although few are given much in the way of characters to flesh out. The real bright spot in the film is Olivia de Havilland as the Empress. She infuses her character with humour and wisdom, and steals her far too few scenes. There is a narrator that appears irregularly throughout the film, and that device should have been eliminated. The direction lacks pacing, the script could be stronger, and the ending is rather flat. Despite the fictious romance and other weaknesses, I did find the film interesting, since the mystery surrounding Anna Anderson was one of the great puzzles of the Twentieth Century. People argued for and against her with equal passion. Since the film was completed, scientists appear to have proven that Anna Anderson was not Anastasia, but it would be interesting to think that maybe someone could have survived that brutal moment in history. I do wish they had made a more fact based, tighter film about it.

Anastasia, the Mystery of Anna....Superb!
From the beginning, this story compells the viewer in the tale of Anna Anderson, a woman who believes and claims that she is the last remaining member of the last Tzar of Russias immediate Royal Family. She believes she is the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaevna. The story beginns with the introduction to the Royal Family. Omar Sheriff is very good as Tsar Nicholas II and Clare Bloom shines as Tsarina Alexandra. Christian Blae makes his screen dabute as Alexis. The story then unfolds into the Russian Revolution, and eventualy to the Royal Familys Execution.

We are then taken to Berlin, where a lady is attempting suicide. She has bad amnisia, but slowly begins to believe she is Anastasia. In meeting Prince Eric, they battle to gain her Title as the Hier to the Russian throne.

The story is filled with trouble and Turmoil, as well as heeps of Romance. Amy Irving is Outstanding as Anastasia, her red eyed-teary performance is outstanding. Other good parts are taken By Olivia De Havvilland as The Grand Duchess Maria, and Rex Harrison puts in a regal performance as Grand Duke Cyril.

This film may alter History slightly, but it is something you will fall in love with again and again. Well worth the price for such a gem. Fantastic.

Also available on DVD in the uk, but u have to hunt high and low! Good luck!

Interesting Portrayal
While the love story is completely fictional, and personally, I think we could have done without it, it is a very moving film. Amy Irving plays Anna extremely well. I have read a great deal about the Romanovs, particularly Anastasia, and I find that this particular version of the tragic story is one of the best that I have seen.

Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna
This movie is excellent! But I would still give it a 4 star rating. The music is distracting at times, and you have to mess with the volume quite a bit, the voices often get softer. It is a very emotional film, and I wouldn't reccomend it for children younger than 10. It portrays the view of Anna (Anderson) who believes she is Anastasia.