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After her success with Basic Instinct, Sharon Stone opted for familiar territory with this campfest that purports to be a sexualized thriller about voyeurism but in reality is more of an excuse to get Stone and costar William Baldwin out of their clothes. Rear Window it ain't. Stone plays it drab and quiet as a successful career woman on the rebound from a bad marriage who moves into a mysterious Manhattan high-rise. Once there, she discovers that she has a few admirers: a hunky and enigmatic neighbor (Baldwin), a popular writer of crime novels (Tom Berenger), and someone who seems to enjoy watching her every move on the building-wide surveillance system. And is one of them the serial killer who's stalking the comely female tenants? Scripted by the erstwhile Joe Eszterhas (Basic Instinct and Jagged Edge), Sliver follows the standard Eszterhas plot line of a protagonist suspecting that his or her lover may or may not be a vicious killer, the tension mounting as clue upon clue is discovered. Unlike both Instinct or Edge, though, Sliver delivers little suspense, thanks in part to a reshot ending that changed the original identity of the killer in the Ira Levin novel and confounded students of rational thought. However, if you're looking for an unintentionally funny thriller with loads of extraneous nudity, Sliver is an enjoyably huge hunk of cheese. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

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Stone in yet another over-charged sex-thriller.
This super-sleazy sex-mystery features Sharon Stone as a lonely book editor who moves into a handsome, slender Manhattan apartment building(the "Sliver" of the title), and later learns that it is the scene of a series of brutal and unsolved murders. Unfortunately, this filmization of Ira Levin's reasonably suspenseful novel focuses more on Stone's steamy relationship with practicing voyeur William Baldwin rather than the mystery/suspense angle. This muddled mess was obviously an ill-fated attempt to cash in on the success of "Basic Instinct" and attract that same audience, but it was all for naught because "Sliver" still crashed and burned at the box-office. Admittedly, there are several hot and heavy sex scenes, but they would be more at home in a hardcore skin flick rather than a film like this that tries to pass itself off as a suspenseful murder mystery. The unrated version features several minutes worth of even more sexually explicit material. If you're going to buy it, get the unrated version since the few sex scenes are the film's only real virtue anyway.

SLIVER, WANNA WATCH?
Sliver is a fantastic film. The best out of all the erotic thrillers filmed between the years of 1987-1995, preferably the time in which the Erotic Thriller genre was big. Ending with Eszterhas's JADE. Eszterhas (Basic Instinct, Jade, Jagged Egde) wrote Sliver. A film starring Sharon Stone as Carly Norris, stuck in this age of loneliness after coming out of a 7 year bad marriage. Moving into a slick and sleek sliver apartment building, she is warmly welcomed by all of it's tennants. Including, Vida Warren a woman with a dark double life. Gus Hale, a man that is willing to tell all dirty little secrets. Zeke Hawkins a handsome young man that takes a sexual interest in Carly, FAST. And Tom Berenger a classy writer, with a macho jerk attitude. When Carly gets involved, very involved, with Zeke she begins to learn that inside the walls of this building hides a secret that could reveal everything. With an ending so fast paced it will blow right by you, but a very satisfying ending if I do say so in the least. Again, buy SLIVER in the unrated version, sit down and relax in the darkness and remember that there is no place more frightening than home...

Very sexy but empty
There was a time when movies were slicker than they are now, when they pushed the buttons of sexuality/abhorrent sex. This is a lot about voyeurism and the thrill of being stalked. Sharon Stone was of course capitalizing on the Basic Instinct success. Billy Baldwin is very attarctive and they make a sexy couple but it didn't make a good movie. The soundtrack is amazing though!

LONELINESS - exemplified !!!
Few films have a matching soundtrack.This is one of those few.
The script is strong.The pace is quick.Actors/Actresses have done a commendable job.It's all about people , who have made good money - stable lifestyle - those who are already out of the daily rat race - who now have time for some mischief & pleasure.And , a rare combination of Money & Loneliness formulates a unique approach to life.This is it.The best that the people of this status can do in life.The beginning is simply superb - mystery commences right from shot 1 - excellent dialogue quality - absolutely no useless chatter - just to the point action & dialogues.A great addition to the collection - for sure.

So much for the "erotic thriller" genre
Sharon Stone is Carly Norris, one of those sucessful types who, in Hollywood's mind, must be tortured by insecurity and self-loathing. She's just moved into a new building which, for its stark loveliness, leaves her feeling even more unsettled than usual. (Because Joe Ezsterhaus perpetrated the script, the regular denizens of the building are into rough and otherwise generally unconventional intercourse. Closer to Carly are two suspicious admirers ' Lanford (Tom Berenger), a hardboiled crime novelist, and the building's owner, Zeke (Billy Baldwin). Lanford telegraphs his problems in the way he introduces himself ' running into people while jogging in Central Park. Zeke has a bigger problem ' he's wired the building for sight & sound, using a hidden control center stacked with monitors and recorders on which to view whatever's going on in his building (lover's pressuring their mates into rougher sex; parents molesting their children, women shaving, etc..) When suspicion exuded by the characters isn't enough to get the story going, a string of murderers is tossed in. ... Read more

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Nowadays it's rare to find a movie that pays attention to human weakness as well as strength, and that sees a whole person as having both. When a sports magazine gets bought by a media conglomerate, an ad sales executive named Dave Foreman (Dennis Quaid, The Rookie) finds himself playing second-in-command to Carter Duryea, a hotshot barely half his age (Topher Grace, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!) whose marriage has just fallen apart. One evening Carter invites himself over to Dave's house to escape his loneliness, where he meets Dave's daughter Alex (Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation). The two strike immediate sparks and when they run into each other later in the city, a relationship begins--which they discreetly keep from Dave. But the heart of the movie is not in its plot, but in the way that Dave responds to the news that his wife is pregnant, or how Carter tries to fortify his self-image with a new car. These aren't jokes; the actors inhabit these moments fully and turn them into psychological events. Quaid plays Dave as a simple man, but his straightforwardness feels genuine (rather than a failure of the writer's imagination). Grace and Johansson have terrific chemistry as lovers, but so do Grace and Quaid, both as rivals and as a substitute father and son. In Good Company isn't likely to win any awards, but it's honest and honorable; there's a core of truth to its characters and their problems aren't resolved too neatly. Sometimes, that's worth watching. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Moral Fable Never Gets Sappy
Dennis Quaid plays a 51-year-old father of two daughters and head of a sales division for a sporting magazine. After a buyout, he is demoted and has a new boss, a 26-year-old coffee-drinking yuppie full of corporate speak and blind ambition who falls in love with Quaid's gorgeous daughter. The father's self-worth is tested savagely in this comic film which, exploring the absurdity and brutality of the corporate world, actually has a moral message about integrity and being true to yourself. It's rare that a comedy is both funny and packed with moral meaning as it attempts to find redemption for the father and his new boss. For a darker look at corporate life with no redemption for the characters, check out the bleak and nihilistic In the Company of Men by Neil LeBute.

Not exactly what I expected.
Dennis Quaid gives a magnificent performance as a long-time salesman who's proud of his work, and who suddenly loses his status when he gets demoted. Topher Grace plays the new boss, and he's terrific as an obnoxious but charming kid on a power trip. Quaid and Grace's awkward, amusing, and (eventually) fond friendship is the crux of the film, and the best reason to see it. The movie's flaws: First, it's slow at times, I expected more inter-office interaction. Second, for a film about cold corporations and job insecurity, the comedy is less sharp than it could be. It's almost as if the movie is too light for its subject. Characters get laid off but you never see how it would hurt their families. The only really bad thing that happens to anyone is that they have to take out a second mortgage! Another reason the comedy is so lightweight is that there no major bad guys to make fun of. Quaid and Grace (who lays off Quaid's colleagues) represent different business philosophies, but they're both essentially good-hearted. Only one or two characters are slightly villainous, and they're on screen for just a couple minutes.

An Excellent satire
"In Good Company" is a lovely movie - part romance, part drama, part satire. It strays occasionally into the obvious, but, overall, it's enormously entertaining. While the satire and drama elements are marred by pat endings, the romance part is given a blissfully hopeful, rather than a happy, ending.

Dan [Dennis Quaid] is a high powered advertising executive at a big sports magazine. At age 52, he's at the top of his game. Out of nowhere, his company is bought by a media conglomerate headed by a billionaire megalomaniac. To Dan's horror, his new boss is a 26-year old kid named Carter [Topher Grace]. In typical early 21st Century fashion, Carter has arrived through sheer ambition and charm. He has zero experience in advertising. Carter does, however, have some experience in romance. He meets and falls deeply in love with Alex [Scarlett Johansson]. As fate would have it. Alex is Dan's daughter.

The acting here is superior. Quaid was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. Johansson is one of the best young actresses working today. The revelation is Grace, prior to this best known for his role in a hit sitcom. Here he creates one of the more memorable movie characters in recent movies.

Funny and original
Genre: Indie Comedy

Genre Grade: B+

Final Grade: B

This movie was disguised as somewhat more of a romantic comedy, but it indeed was not. It did have some of that in it, but mostly the movie was about the connection of a younger, naive boss taking on the older, experienced salesman. There was some hilarious moments and some really cheesy, odd ones too, but overall it had a good feel to it and was a good movie. The best part about this movie was the music - from The Shins, Damien Rice, and Iron & Wine. Unfortunately, Iron & Wine is the only bad that appears on the soundtrack to the movie. Bad mistake!

On a side note, this movie does not have a cliche Hollywood ending, but rather a more realistic approach to a very possible situation. Some people may not like the ending because of that, but I applaud the creators of this film for doing what they did. Wandering outside the box is something more movies should do these days. I would compare this movie to Garden State, and while Garden State may have seemingly followed the Hollywood guidelines more than this film did, I just think it was more appropriate in that film, because of the depth of the connection between Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. I don't think Scarlett Johannson and Topher Grace shared as much of a connection. Or maybe they did, but that was not the entire focus of this movie.

Not the greatest movie!
Kind of cute. I really thought I would have liked this movie, it was really great until the end of it.They could have done better on the end, kind of cheap.It definetly deserves three stars. ... Read more

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Undoubtedly the first movie in history to have played in theaters with three different endings (depending on which theater you attended), Clue is a silly whodunit based on the familiar board game featuring Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, and all the other usual suspects. A broadly comic cast play the sundry suspects gathered in a mansion to solve a murder, knowing that one of their numbers is the culprit. Michael McKean, Eileen Brennan, and Tim Curry are the best of the bunch, and the film is as lightweight an experience as a round of the game itself. Directed by Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinny). The video release contains all three endings. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (227)

Get a Clue -- Get this DVD!
"Clue" (the movie), features just about every great comedy actor of the day. From Leslie Ann Warren to Michael McKean to Eileen Brennan to Howard Hessman to the priceless Tim Curry, they're all here! -- If you are familiar with the board game, just picture a film version of the search for "whodunit". This laugh-a-minute fun fest is loaded with outragous, silly slapstick, superbly acted out by the great cast. -- You'll be amazed at how many of the lines and gags get stuck in your head. I'll never be able to forget the flusterd looks of Mrs. Peacock, the wit and charm of Wadsworth or the subtle facial expressions of Mrs. White. The picture in this WIDE SCREEN VERSION is the best yet of this film since it's initial release. -- The soundtrack is kept in it's original mono, still I'd greatly enjoy hearing a stero or, even better, a surround sound version in the future.--Without a doubt the best feature of this DVD is the one with the multiple endings. After you select "play" you will be asked if you would lilke the player to randomly choose one of the three endings for you, or see all three of them at the end. Whoever thought of this feature deserves a raise as it greatly enhances the longevity of the disc and brings the film closer to it's board game roots. Now you have the option of really not knowing who did it until the final scenes play bringing suprise into the untold repeat viewings that are sure to occur. -- Get a clue--get this DVD! You won't be disappointed! *****

"It's All Too Shocking"
Clue is a clever whodonit mystery based on the popular board game. As mentioned in prior reviews, it has an all-star cast of actors (Tim Curry, Madeline Khan, Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull, Leslie Ann Warren), many who play the notable characters from the board game.One of the wonderful things about the DVD is that it features a "random" ending option, in which you see one of the three endings of the film. You can also see all three endings of the movie in succession.

Movies have tried to be funny for the sake of being funny and not come through, but this movie seems to do the exact opposite. This movie is so effective as a comedy-mystery because it doesn't take itself so seriously and doesn't really try to be impressive. Dry, witty humor seeem to be the main menu for many of the characters. Also, the script is loaded with tons of "double" meanings (For instance, a police officer looks around the place and returns to tell Wadsworth that everything is okay and that "America is a free country". Wadworth replies "I didn't know it was THAT free.")

There are many dark comedy jokes in the movie. ("Two corpses. Everything's ok".) As the body count rises, the suspicions mount. The assortment of character personalities and motives are revealed as the plot progresses. Each character has a part of their past that make them a target for blackmail. The suspects continue to change, and individuals become wary of each other as possibly being capable of murder. The air of distrust, the mystery of each crime, and the smart one-liners keep the light-hearted suspense intact.

In my opinion Tim Curry, in the role of Wadsworth, absolutely steals the show. He is the prototypical butler, with his snooty way of speaking and his clever remarks to others. He has a way of setting the mood of the movie and giving it a fast-paced and witty tone. His deductions are clever and humorous ("Don't you remember your fatal mistake? ....and monkey's brains, though popular in Cantonese cuisine, are not often to be found in Washington, D.C") , and he pretty much takes over the last part of the film.

Clue is also a relatively tame comedy and mystery. It has a few suggestive scenes, but really can be viewed by younger teens and up. I suggest that if you haven't seen this movie to give it a shot....err...try.

Fun and Original
The different endings on this dvd make the dvd pretty original and fun! Its a great addition to those collecting eighties films. It features a GREAT cast and a fun story, nothing breakthrough but something that just is fun and good entertainment!

Great!
Its funny, silly and pretty original! The different endings was a GREAT idea for this film. Depending on which theatre you saw it in decided on which ending you saw in the theatre. That is pretty cool, or annoying, to some. On this dvd you can set it to play a random ending or play all of them. Pretty nifty actually! A fun and entertaining film from the 80s. Gotta love the 80s.

If you like the Game you¿ll LOVE the Movie!
Definitely a great movie and one of my personal favorites, Clue-The Movie, brings to the screen a mystery set in 1954 in a mansion in New England involving an unlikely group of people that has been invited to dinner; one that they will not easily forget. Together they must try and solve a whole list of questions that linger all around. The actors' performances are outstanding, especially Tim Curry's character who as the butler, steals the show. The plot, the costumes, and the 3 different endings, are all wonderful, making this film one of the best of its kind.
Moreover, Clue is a movie with strong elements of comedy, tying in McCarthyism and the culture of the early 50's to create a very entertaining film indeed and therefore, a "must see" for those with a passion for mystery and comedy alike! In short, I would definitely line up to watch a sequel, and it would be about time too considering that the movie was made back in 1985! ... Read more

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Hearts of Darkness is an engrossing, unwavering look back at Francis Coppola's chaotic, catastrophe-plagued Vietnam production, Apocalypse Now. Filled with juicy gossip and a wonderful behind-the-scenes look at the stressful world of moviemaking, the documentary mixes on-location home movies shot in the Philippines by Eleanor Coppola, the director's wife, with revealing interviews with the cast and crew, shot 10 years later. Similar to Burden of Dreams, Les Blank's absorbing portrait of Werner Herzog's struggle to make Fitzcarraldo, the film chronicles Coppola's eventual decent into obsessive psychosis as everything that could go wrong does go wrong. Storms destroy sets, money evaporates, the Philippine government continually harasses the director, Coppola has romantic affairs, and he can't write the story's ending. Everything is captured on film. In the most disturbing scene, we watch Martin Sheen have a drunken nervous breakdown while his director goads him on (he eventually suffered a heart-attack, but finished the film).

Other incredible footage is not visual, but aural as the film includes tapes Eleanor Coppola recorded without Francis's knowledge. In them, he truly sounds like a madman as he confesses his fears about making a bomb of a movie. But while Hearts of Darkness is an amazing, voyeuristic experience, its importance lies in the personal reflections offered by those involved. Sheen, Coppola, and Dennis Hopper speak frankly without embarrassment, offering us an essential piece of film history. --Dave McCoy ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Wonderful Documentary Is Even Better than the Actual Movie
Shot by Francis Ford Coppolla's wife, Hearts of Darkness is an incredible, one hour fifty minute documentary that reveals the horrors of making the very popular Apocalypse Now. The film took forever to make, driving many of its participants to the brink of insanity, not just Coppolla, who was emotionally-unstable for much of the film. Viewers of this fascinating documentary will be amazed to learn that Harvey Keitel was originally cast as Willard, but was dropped after only two weeks of shooting. Though only 36 years-old, Martin Sheen suffered a heart attack during filming, an event that further postponed its debuts in theaters. There is some really great footage included here, especially the shooting of the opening sequence of the film which involves a very drunk Sheen lashing out as both his character and himself (at that point, Sheen was experiencing a lot of hostility towards Coppolla and had it out with him right then and there, an episode that would appear in the finished movie). Even if you didn't particularly care for Apocalypse Now, you will most likely find Hearts of Darkness interesting, nonetheless. It is a magnificent look at the troubles and triumphs of a film crew headed by a somewhat mad, but brilliant director. This shouldn't be missed.

A stirring portrait of the making of a masterpiece
Subtitled, "A Filmmaker's Apocalypse", this 1991 film is a documentary about the making of "Apocalypse Now", the 1979 film based on Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness". Set in Vietnam, it is the story of a captain, Martin Sheen, and his crew's mission to find and kill an insane colonel, Marlon Brando, who had created his own kingdom deep in the Jungle. On the way, everyone is touched with the evil around them. This summer I saw the re-edited version of the film and have been intrigued by it ever since. When I heard about this "Hearts of Darkness" I just HAD to see it.

The filming of Apocalypse Now was supposed to take just sixteen weeks at a budget of $13 million. It wound up costing more than $30 million, much of it put up by Francis Coppola himself, and took almost three years to get to the public. Coppola' wife Eleanor and their three children went along on location in the Philippines. She was interested in making a documentary and shot a lot of behind-the-scenes footage, even secretly recording private conversations she had with her husband about the film. The authenticity of the experience really comes through, as everyone involved with the production seemed to go a little bit insane.

Coppola had serious doubts throughout and we hear his words of despair as he thinks he's making a bad movie. We see the terrible typhoon that destroyed all the sets and realized that the helicopters that were being used for the shooting were actually property of the Philippine government who kept calling them away to fight a real disturbance that was going on just ten miles away. We see shots and scenes that never made it into the original film (although much of it eventually made it into the 2001 "Redux" version). We see and overweight Marlon Brando who insisted on being filmed in shadows. And we are right there to watch the filming of the scene in which Martin Sheehan has a mental breakdown. In order to do this he became bleary-eyed drunk, cut his thumb on a mirror and used the blood as part of the scene. The intensity is chilling and when, a short time afterward, he has a life-threatening heart attack at the age of 36, we're all there to see him as he is given first aid.

Now, years later, some of the actors are interviewed about their experiences. We learn that they did a lot of drugs during many of the scenes - acid, speed, marijuana, alcohol, which certainly added to the authenticity as well as the craziness of the whole production. Robert Duval talks about how his famous line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning was improvised. And the whole cast talks about how they improvised a massacre scene. Laurence Fishburne was only 14 when the film was made, a real coming-of-age experience for him. But this very stirring film portrait belongs to Francis Coppola. We get to meet him as a very imperfect human being doing his best to create an art form out of the script, changing it constantly as he went along, and eventually turning out a small masterpiece which went on to be nominated for eight academy awards.

I give this video my highest recommendation. It is a "must" for movie buffs. And an essential education for anyone involved in filmmaking itself. Don't miss it!

A Great documentary&RIP Marlon Brando
this Documentary truly hits behind the scenes&captures the strong acting&Overall Chemistry of the Film.Much Props to Marlon Brando who shows why He is One of the Mount Rushmore's of Actor's.you get a great Climpse at the workings&the overall concepts&Direction of this Film.truly a Must have.

"Hearts of Darkness" IS "Apocalypse Now"
The only known versions of this "essential" documentary are V-taped from the "Pay-Per-View" broadcast. ALL officially packaged VHS versions have long since disappeared from the video store shelves once it was discovered that this title was pulled "out" of release. Now my 1st reaction was that they were preparing to "bundle" "Hearts of Darkness" with a Special Edition release of "Apocalypse Now:Redux" and was thoroughly dumbfounded to find out otherwise.

That said I will take this oppurtunity to advocate that the ONLY other RIGHT way to release this "essential" documentary left would be as part of a 25th Anniversary ( "Apoc..Now" was 1979 release ) Special Edition Collector's Boxed Set of "Apocalypse Now".I say this because ALL afficianadoes of masterworks of filmcraft will agree that you just CAN NOT apprreciate "Apocalyspe Now" ( or Redux version for that matter ) WITHOUT the inclusion of "Hearts of Darkness" .

In essense, "Apocalypse Now" and "Hearts of Darkness" are ONE FILM and are to be experienced as such. I would also stress that suched a special Edition Boxed Set would be found slakcing "with extreme predjudice" if it didn't also include a "commentary" version from none other than AND inclusion of the ORIGINAL ending.
That amazingly surreal soundtrack intensifying the mysterious destruction of Kurtz's temple compound makes the full ending credits far more dramtically displayed by being displayed "in context" with the obliteration of the world of "Apocalypse Now"; an ending also portraying a rather telling , if subconcious, expression of Copolla's psyche at the time of "that" final cut.
The eerie set of events and the surreal convergences of professional lives on the line surrounding the making of "Apocalypse Now" is one of the great , even historic , filmmaking stories of the 20th century and I effortlessly rank it right up there with the story of the making of "Citizen Kane". Orson Wells' wunderkind stature in pulling off the "Citizen kane" masterwork humbles even Francis Ford Copolla ( which I'm quite sure HE would readily admit ). Copolla was cetainly in awe of that Wellsian masterpiece, as well as of Wells himself, when making his artistic masterpiece, but the parallels of BOTH of their artistic daring and "risking it all" to get their vision on film are striking and awesome nonetheless.
( Perhaps one day we'll see someone equally surreal, like some future Terry Gillaim, attempt making an even more Wagnerian-proportioned dramatization about the making of "Apocalypse Now" the way they made "RKO 281: The Battle Over Citizen Kane" ).
Anyway, the absolute importance that "Hearts of Darkness" serves toward understanding just what planet "Apocalypse Now' came from is inarguably cast in stone as "essential"!
I just wanted to bring in some salient points not yet presented here in making the case for DVD release of "Hearts of Darkness".
My job is done here.

Life As Art As Life As Art As Life As Art...
It's truly a shame that this amazing documentary is now out of print. Hunt down a used copy or find it at your local video rental place. It's well worth the effort.

The amazing thing about the Coppola's efforts is the circular karma that seemed to go into overdrive: Francis tries to make a film based on "Heart of Darkness", a story about a man and a country that gets lost in his mental interior while probing the interior of an alien land. He uses the story to try and tell the story of a different man and a different country getting lost in their mental interiors while probing the interior of another alien land. In the process Coppola, trying to deal with his lead actor getting lost in his mental interior while probing the interior of an alien land, loses himself in his mental interior while probing...well, you get the picture. ... Read more

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TV's Saturday Night Live has been like the evil twin of the legendary alchemist's stone, which supposedly could turn lead into gold. SNL usually does the opposite, taking rich comic premises from short skits and extrapolating them into overblown and unfunny full-length films. ("The Coneheads"? Puh-leeze!) But this film proved to be the exception, thanks to Mike Myers's wonderfully rude lowbrow humor and his full-bodied understanding of who his character is. Wayne Campbell (Myers) and his nerdy pal Garth (Dana Carvey) are teens who live at home and have their own low-rent cable-access show in Aurora, Illinios, in which they celebrate their favorite female movie stars and heavy-metal bands. When a Chicago TV station smells a potential youth-audience ratings hit, the station's weasely executive (Rob Lowe) tries to coopt the show--and steal Wayne's new rock & roll girlfriend (Tia Carrere) at the same time. It's filled with all kinds of knowing spoofs of movie conventions, from Wayne talking to the camera (and forbidding other characters to do so) to hilariously self-conscious product placements and labeling a moment a "Gratuitous Sex Scene." Dumb--and very funny. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (73)

Awful... Not
Based on the popular "Saturday Night Live" sketch, 1991's "Wayne's World" is the funniest movie I've ever seen. I don't remember going longer than 20 seconds without even smirking. The "Bohemian Rhapsody" sequence is worth the price of the film alone, but it's an altogether hilarious effort.

Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers in his breakthrough film role) and Garth (Dana Carvey) host their own cabel access show in Aurora, Illinois. One night, a sleazy tv exec Benjamin (Rob Lowe) catches their show and gets video arcade honcho Noah Vanderhoff (Brian Doyle Murray) to sponsor it. Wayne and Garth agree to sign the contracts and broadcast the show nationally. They indeed reap the pleasures of fame - baxkstage passes to meet Alice Cooper, $5, 000, 000 plus Wayne winning the affections of robobabe Cassandra (Tia Carrerre). But soon, things go awry. Wayne loses Garth and Cassandra, and his show's cancelled. What could possibly make it worse? Find out in this hilarious comedy romp.

This has proved to be the only good movie based on an "SNL" sketch. It's sad to se that so much of Dana Carvey's talent is in this film, because it's a shame that all of his subsequent efforts tanked ("Master Of Disguise", anyone?). The extras included trailer and a nice documnetary.

Schawing
"Wayne's World" is a movie that shouldn't be funny but is. It shouldn't be funny because its plot is so ridiculous and pointless as to render the story almost meaningless. The basis of the plot is that two guys named Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) have a cable-access show in Wayne's basement in Aurora, Illinois. The show, which is just Wayne and Garth goofing on stuff, catches the eye of Benjamin Kane (Rob Lowe), a smarmy television producer who wants to buy and remake it into a cash cow. Meanwhile, Wayne falls in love with a local musician named Cassandra Wong (Tia Carrere). After Benjamin comes into the picture, Wayne is afraid of losing Cassandra to him because of his music industry connections, good looks, money, and fancy car.

What saves "Wayne's World" from the purgatory of its plot is Wayne or, more specifically, Mike Myers. Myers was still an unknown in 1992. For those of us who had seen him on "Saturday Night Live" we already knew he could be stomach-hurting funny. However, until "Wayne's World" you just didn't know if he coud keep it going for a whole movie. As everyone knows now, he can.

Myers comic timing created gold out of lead. "Wayne's World" is a movie more memorable for its lines than its story. That can be a dangerous way to make a good movie as the lines can grow tired with age (see "Spaceballs"). That's not the case with "Wayne's World" though. It's still as good today as it was ten years ago.

It makes me feel kinda funny
Long before the world ever heard of Austin Powers, Mike Myers was infusing pop culture with the catch phrases and wild doings of Wayne Campbell and hastening the move of multiple Saturday Night Live characters to the big screen over the course of succeeding years. Wayne and his trusty sidekick Garth raked up at the box office and left us with a classic comedy that will be making people laugh for years to come. Aside from all the Wayne-isms and Garth-isms, this movie changed forever the way we listen to a number of classic rock songs.

Okay - let's review. Wayne lives in his parents' basement, but it's okay because he and his buddy Garth have their very own public access show on their local cable station in Aurora, Illinois. Wayne thinks his dream of doing Wayne's World for a living (and thus escaping from the world of name tags and hair nets) has come true when he gets an offer to do the show on a Chicago TV station, but there's a certain matter with the fine print. Will Wayne sell out? Yeah. And monkeys might fly out of my butt.

Myers and Carvey take their SNL trademark routines as far as they can, going a little too far once or twice (as with the Scooby Doo and Mega-happy endings - although they did make possible the much-appreciated Tia Carrere bikini scene), and it's not hard to see why: Wayne's World was the most popular SNL skit for a good two to three years running. The film has a surprising number of familiar faces: besides the aforementioned Tia Carrere, you get Rob Lowe (fresh off a certain little infamous home movie), Brian Doyle-Murray, Ed O'Neill, Lara Flynn Boyle, Donna Dixon, and - making cameo appearances - Chris Farley, Meatloaf, and Alice Cooper. Of course, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey take center stage at all times. They satirize everything, from Grey Poupon commercials to the entertainment industry, to themselves.

There are a number of memorable scenes: the Bohemian Rhapsody bit as the guys cruise town in the Mirth-mobile, Garth's Foxy Lady dance number (many of us will never be able to listen to that classic Jimi Hendrix tune the same way again), all of the Dreamweaver moments, the Laverne & Shirley take-off trip to Milwaukee, Wayne's Marilyn Monroe impersonation, and others. Whether you knew it or not, you were exposed to Wayne's World lingo throughout the 90s, so if you haven't seen the movie, isn't it time you learn why you should have laughed at all those jokes you didn't understand way back then?

Mike's Best
Wayne's World takes you through the world of Rock'n Roll, through the lives of two friends, Wayne and Garth, who own their own television sitcom. Wayne and Garth's friendship, along witht he show, is threatened when a bigtime producer, Benjamin, tries to takeover the show.

Good movie
This movie is very funny. If you liked Dumb and Dumber you would like this movie. Mike Myers is hilarious. And also the chinese man is hilarious. Anyway you should definately buy this movie. Its worth spending the money. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Women will like this movie, too, and not just gearhead girls
As someone who was friends with people who actually DID the real Cannonball Run, I have to say that Gumball Rally does more to capture the spirit of these amazing people that do the Cannonball Run movies. Michael Sarazzan, Tim McIntire, and Gary Busey are the Cannonball types that cover the range from corporate executives to folks for whom automobiles are a passion.

But why a women's film? Unlike other movies (like brand X that the Joker sedulously warns us to avoid) the film is repecectful of women -- there is even a women's team in a "little motorboat." And Raul Julia, in one of his early films, is irresistable as the Italian champion. The women in the Porsche (I identified with the older of the two) have to enlist the help of two young "Good Old Boys" to help with with a mechhanical problem and wind up having to show their "appreciation," but even this small aside is only to prove that racing girls still love guys -- and itsn't it the truth, as they say in 200 Motels.

The "in" jokes about cars are classics. And speaking of classics, I am laughing my head off about the Jag and the starter. I wonder if the two guys in the XKE are still there in the garage. Years later I laugh at that one and a score of classic one-liners from this movie just keep on coming (see the other reviews below, for they have it covered.)

This isn't only great cars, it has a neat plot, and one which I could, as a feminist, relate too and join in on the laughter.

As a small victory for the women, if you notice, they nearly carried the day -- but alas, the boys win -- but that's okey because this movie is a winner.

To Internal Combustion and Wind in the Face!
By far the best "car" flick made. Nowhere else canyou hear the unbridled song of a 427 Ford Cobra and a 12-cylenderFerrari boxer engine without the choking restrictions of modern day emission controls. The open road calls and a great adventure is afoot with some classic charactors who may or may not have anything to do with Hollywood. The cameo appearance of Linda Vaughn at the end of the film is worth the price of admission. Now that I've had the video for so many years, I love to just let it run to fill the room with the great sounds of performance engines while I work on other things - heck, I know the script by heart. I recommend this film to anyone whose looking for a well done, just plain fun movie with no political agenda or moral message to get in the way. END

Forget "Cannonball Run" -- this was first and best
Of the "let's break the law and have some fun while we do it" genre, this is one of the best. The writing, the acting and the production was witty, funny, and still holds up nearly 30 years later.

So where, oh where, oh WHERE, is the DVD? Another reviewer said it for all of us when he quoted Raul Julia's character-defining line from the early part of the film: "What is behind me...is not important." And so it goes with VHS...over, behind us, end of story...Bring ON the DVD!

Customers are standing by...

When is this coming out on DVD
The best road race movie ever. Much better than The Cannonball Run. When is this coming out on DVD. It's a classic.

Where's the DVD? My VHS is wearing out!
This is my favourite film of all time - no contest! I've watched it more times than I can remember as it is funny, action packed and with excellent characters. I must have been about 12 years old when I first watched it (I remember missing the very beginning because I had to go to the toilet and my mum told me what had happened and she said 'some man has just jumped into a swimming pool shouting "Gumball!"'). I am now 36 years old and there was so much that as a young kid I didn't appreciate that I now do and so the film just keeps getting better. An absolute classic... ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

In the tradition of such obsessively driven directors as Erich von Stroheim and Werner Herzog, Francis Ford Coppola approached the production of Apocalypse Now as if it were his own epic mission into the heart of darkness. On location in the storm-ravaged Philippines, he quite literally went mad as the project threatened to devour him in a vortex of creative despair, but from this insanity came one of the greatest films ever made. It began as a John Milius screenplay, transposing Joseph Conrad's classic story "Heart of Darkness" into the horrors of the Vietnam War, following a battle-weary Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) on a secret upriver mission to find and execute the renegade Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), who has reverted to a state of murderous and mystical insanity. The journey is fraught with danger involving wartime action on epic and intimate scales. One measure of the film's awesome visceral impact is the number of sequences, images, and lines of dialogue that have literally burned themselves into our cinematic consciousness, from the Wagnerian strike of helicopter gunships on a Vietnamese village to the brutal murder of stowaways on a peasant sampan and the unflinching fearlessness of the surfing warrior Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore (Robert Duvall), who speaks lovingly of "the smell of napalm in the morning." Like Herzog'sAguirre: The Wrath of God, this film is the product of genius cast into a pit of hell and emerging, phoenix-like, in triumph. Coppola's obsession (effectively detailed in the riveting documentaryHearts of Darkness, directed by Coppola's wife, Eleanor) informs every scene and every frame, and the result is a film for the ages. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (285)

The Best War Movie Of All-Time!
Francis Ford Coppola risked his career, his money and his sanity in making this Vietnam adaptation of 'Hearts Of Darkness'. The result is a large-scale war movie that ranks among the best movies of all-time. Martin Sheen has the role of a lifetime as Captain Willard, and he does deliver a credible performance. Marlon Brando is equally credible as the mysterious and possibly mad Colonel Kurtz. Robert Duvall creates a brilliant character; Colonel 'I love the smell of napalm in the morning' Kilgore. Grandly majestic war sequences are awe-inspiring. Thought provoking and filled with eerie chaotic imagery. Simply masterful filmmaking from Coppola. Extras: Laurence Fishburne and Harrison Ford in small roles, also spot Francis Ford Coppola in a cameo. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 10!

Dark and somewhat slow-paced, but excellent epic film
I saw this film for the first time on video, and was somewat surprised by its somewhat deliberate pacing and lack of straightforward action. For someone who is not a huge Coppola fan, nor a reader of "Heart of Darkness", I found the movie somewhat difficult to follow.

That is not to say that this isn't an excellent film. Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is an apparently unattached Airborne soldier who is "waiting - waiting for a mission" and is enlisted to find and "terminate the command" of the renegade Special Forces Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Along the way, we meet a motley crew of a Navy riverboat, including a very young Lawrence Fishburne as a 17-year-old machine-gunner. The plot takes an almost whimsical turn when we meet Lt. Col Kilgore (Robert Duvall) who is an Air Cavalry commander, and plays the immortal "Flight of the Valkyries" while systematically laying waste to a North Vietnamese village. While the fighting is still going on, he orders a couple of his soldiers to either "surf or fight", being that he is a huge fan of surfing. It is from Duvall's character that we get the immortal line, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It smells like --- it smells like victory!"

After this scene, Sheen and his crew of Navymen proceed further upriver, until they reach the last American outpost on the river. The outpost is under apparent heavy attack, and there are no officers to be found. This scene, which makes no sense in the context of a typical war movie, makes perfect sense in this film. The leaderless American soldiers seem to move about in a haze, apparently oblivious to anything outside their immediate surroundings, particularly the grenadier, who is either at far beyond the point of psychological exhaustion, or heavily drugged. Copolla never makes either clear, but rather leaves that to the imagination of the viewer.

When Sheen and his crew get further upriver, the plot takes stranger and stranger turns - the crew is attacked by an unseen enemy, in which Clean (Fishburne) is killed, and shortly thereafter, the boat's chief is killed in an attack by natives hurling, of all things, spears at the Americans!

However, the strangest part of the movie is the last half-hour or so. Sheen reaches his objective, but Col. Kurtz is heavily guarded by native warriors toting modern weaponry. There are bodies everywhere - hanging from trees, floating in the river, laying sprawled about on the ground. It is truly horrific, and speaks to the level of insanity to which Col. Kurtz has descended, but it also begs the question - "How could all those people stand being around all those rotting corpses?" In the climax, Sheen sneaks past Kurtz' guards, and hacks the colonel to death. As he lay dying, Kurtz whispers, "The horror - the horror..."

All in all, an extremely powerful and moving film, although rather slow-paced.

A True Masterpiece!
I watched this movie in 1978 when it first came out and was totally in awe! Francis Ford Coppola spent almost 3 years making this film and it was well worth it. The all star cast in this film rocks! Everytime I watch this film, I wind up mimicing the characters. The lines are memorable! (I love the smell of Napalm in the morning.) It is the greatest movie ever made!

A great adaptation
To write that this movie is a comment on war or the politics of the period is a gross misconception in my view. this movie like the book Heart of Darkness, which I suggest everyone who sees this movie reads, is a powerfull commentary on human nature. The line 'the horror, the horror' does not refer to the horrors of war or acts of violence commited but is a general judgement and condemnation of the darkness that resides in human nature.

Anyway this is a brilliant adaptation and well worth the few bucks it costs.

The horror, the horror.
The horror of war and what it does to teh mind of men is exposed beautifully here in this grande epic. Great performances, plot and cinematography. It doesnt get much better than this. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

I Love Howie/Bobo !
This movie starts off slow, but soon enough it picks up and its hilarious. Howie Mandel was a comic genious. My favorite scene is where he changes clothes in a dressing room but the dressing room was...umm..occupied! You'll love it too.

An Absolute Childhood Classic!
I remember watching this video every day, when I was very young, until my siblings were blue in the face with annoyance! :) I am 17 now and this movie is still a favorite with me. I would really like to have it in my collection but I am having trouble finding it! It is a must have!

how can you get funnier than this
the very first time i saw this movie i was laughing so much that tears were rolling down my face.the best part was when they were in church and bobo was howling to the song.there were parts in this movie that would make anybody laugh.this is one that should be on dvd i would be one of the first ones to buy it.

Laugh out loud funny
This has to be just about the funniest movie I ever saw. Howie Mandel is excellent as Bobo a man lost in the woods for 28 years raised by wolves. This movie is very kid friendly and good family entertainment. There is no sex or violence in the movie. I very highly recommend Walk Like A Man to anyone who enjoys laughing a lot.

Howie Mandel at his best!
If you like Howie Mandel and his type of humor, you will really enjoy this movie. I laughed out loud at his portrayal of being a wolf that is being trained to be a man. This film is unique because it doesn't have any violence or wild love making yet it is good. I found humor based on Howie's body language. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

This could have been something special....
I'm gonna go out on a limb here by saying that most people my age (20) don't watch the Honeymooner's, and might not be familiar with Smokey & The Bandit. Me however, am a fan of both... but for the first time in my life, I feel anger toward the (sadly, no longer with us) Jackie Gleason. Without his portrayal of Buford T. Justice, I must say the series wouldn't have been the same. But Smokey & The Bandit 3 was an alright film that was seriously hurt by 2 things. First being the absence of Burt Reynolds (and Sally Field, of course). 2nd being the spotlight stealing Jackie Gleason. His ego stole the show, when they SHOULD have waited for Burt Reynolds to finish his other films. Smokey and The Bandit WITHOUT the real bandit? come on. However, I did enjoy Jerry Reed getting to "Wooo Hooo, Play the Bandit!" This movie could have been a bridge to a Smokey & The Bandit 4, with The Real Bandit making his return, with Frog (Field) and SnowMan (Reed). But I give this movie a two. It has it's moments, but the end literally choked me up when I realized it WAS the end. Avoid depression and stick to Smokey 1 & 2. I'm fighting back tears to write this Review. Maybe someday they'll do Smokey & The Bandit 4, and do it RIGHT (with Burt, Sally and Jerry), and wake me up from this nightmare that I refuse to let ruin the dream.

Choke and Puke
After the disappointing Smokey and the Bandit 2, there was no way to go but up... But put it to the makers of this film to find a way to bring the franchise down even further, crashing in an unfunny pile of automobiles and recycled jokes.

The franchise has gone through even more changes... Now, the jokes are more vulgar and crass with a sexual overtone that did not exist previously. (...)

This is not funny.

Smartly, Burt Reynolds has relegated himself to a brief cameo appearance. Jerry Reed is out of his league carrying the film as "The Bandit" and the late Jackie Gleason repeats every bit of dialogue from the previous 2 films, hoping to squeeze a snicker out of the audience. Even the Enis Boys, played by at McCormick and Paul Williams are given a much bigger role here and boy is that unnecessary.

Stick to the first film.

This is not tiresome at all
This film is soooooo funny! I'm 13 years old and I'm a SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT fan. I liked it even though the story was bad. My favorite parts are when a man in a Tarzan suit says, "Hey mking it with a fish, Crazy!", when the lady from the hotel scene pops out of Buford T's blue car, and when she chases Buford and yells, "Beau, baby." and falls in the water. This also had a shark that looked like one from the JAWS series. Also, JAWS 3 was released the same year SATB 3 come out in 1983. I also liked it when Little Enos said, "Sorry Daddy, I lost my head."

This Film Sucked
If no stars were possible, this film would get it.

Sixth sense, that ain't even a dime
Oh Puhleese, this movie all that bad, I mean it ain't no original Smokey and the Bandit but it's a pretty good southern comedy.
Pros: Good music, The scenes with Buford T. Justice and his son Junior, the hotel part and Junior at his dumbest.

Cons: Poor script, Cledus playing the bandit, The Enos playing mean tricks on Buford, and the new girl, man was she awful.

Overall, if you're a big fan of car chase movies, this is a must have (as long as you don't compare it to the first one).

This movie is about Buford T. Justice retiring and relaxing at Miami Beach, but his vacation doesn't turn out as well as he hoped, so he decides to come back and the Enoses tells Buford to drive all the way from Miami, FL wish the fish on top of the car to Austin, TX in 28 hours, he'll get a quarter of a million dollars, if Buford fails, his badge is going to be destroyed.
Along the way the Enos do everything they can so Buford wouldn't make it on time, and later on The Enoses call up Cledus to become the bandit and he later picks up a new girl (she's horrible compared to Sally Field).

In order to see what happens, watch this movie, although you may want to watch the original first to like Smokey and the Bandit. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This is a Gem
This film is perfectly charming all the way through. There's lots of great talent in the star-studded cast and the whole effect is one of a charming fairy tale with wit and humor. The story is just a little bit far-out when private investigators break with their professional code and actually meet and fall in love with the people they are hired to watch. But putting that on one side, this is a lovely story that shows us a charming side of New York. This film rises to the delighful level that one rarely sees in films set in New York. Too many wallow in the 'mean streets' with guns and violence, but this one is a story about people who enjoy the city and move seamlessly through it, jumping from taxi to taxi arriving for meetings and liasons so smoothly. John Ritter shows us he is a master craftsman at being the buffoon and comes up with an assortment of fients, starts and gaffs to lighten the story. Ben Gazzara shows a charmingly romantic side of him, Audrey Hepburn is the masterful actress she always was. The street scenes are entirely authentic and lend credibility to the film. Nice acting, smooth cutting and humorous sub-plots are there too, and these make it all the more real. Dorothy Stratten glows with charm and beauty and is absolutely captivating. Peter Bogdanovich has posed and illuminated her well and she carries herself with confidence. What a charming legacy to leave behind is this film. How sad she was not given the opportunity to do more.
I put this film on whenever I want to be put in a good mood, and visit The City, and the film never fails to show me additional things each time I see it. What a gem

Falls short
I have heard a lot about this movie over the years and finally decided to buy it. I am a huge fan of Dorothy Stratten which is the reason why I bought it! I have also heard a lot about Peter Bogdanovich and his movies and style. I am by no means a director so it wouldn't be fair to judge by that, but I know what I like and I didn't like this! It was what I call a "feel good" movie where everything fits neatly together(e.g. Coyote Ugly, Varsity Blues) and some parts of the story are left out either deliberately or by mistake so that the whole story comes
together in the end, it was long and had some great talent which were wasted on the storyline which seemed to go in circles. I guess I expected a lot more from a supposedly brilliant Director at the peak of his career!

Mind candy
Over the years a cult has grown up around this movie. And most of it centered around the murder of co-star Dorothy Stratten, who it must be pointed out is immensely appealing here. One can only wonder what lay ahead for her had she lived. It's obvious that Bogdanovich(her real-life fiance) tried to turn this movie into a valentine to her. It's just too bad he nearly lost his shirt in the process, because this is certainly a very charming picture.
But it could also be argued that charm is this film's selling point since it offers very little by way of a script. It moves along rather aimlessly from one story to the next, and for a comedy there really aren't all that many laughs to be had. Still, I completely enjoyed this movie. The charm and appeal of all the players more than made up for any shortcomings in the script. Stratten, like I said is breathtaking here and it's certainly no stretch of the imagination why John Ritter, playing the somewhat addled detective assigned to follow her would take more than a professional interest in his work(In an ugly parallel to the film Stratten's real-life estranged husband had her followed in a similar fashion in the weeks leading up to her death). Patti Hansen and Colleen Camp are both great-looking and likeable although Camp's over-the-top character can be grating at times. Audrey Hepburn brings her usual touch of class, as well as a lot of warmth to her part. Ben Gazzara shows a softer, more sensitive side that we rarely get to see. And John Ritter proves that with the right director he can be a comic force to be reckoned with.
An added bonus. The cinematography is top-drawer. New York has never looked so good.
The verdict? Yours to make, really. Just lie back, put your brain and neutral and enjoy. There are a lot worse ways to kill a couple of hours. Enjoy.

If movies were fabric this would be the cheapest polyester!
This film is definately in the running to be the worst ever made. I've watched it about 4 times, just trying to find some saving grace in it. But sorry, not even the grand Audrey Hepburn could save this one. I love wacky romantic comedies, however, this is neither romantic, funny, fun, or intelligent. It is simply lacking a script, and a good director. I feel it deserves minus 000000, but had to give it one star. It is sad that when Ms. Hepburn returned to films after an 8 to 9 year retirement she never again made a good film.

Great Big Little Film for NY'ers
The last credit in this film explains its appeal - - Thank you to the people of Manhattan on whose island this was filmed. A charming and witty romantic comedy, it is a love story written to New Yorkers (Peter Bogdanovich is a native) who can identify every location (West 12th Street, Greenwich Avenue - not Street, the Ansonia, the old FAO Schwartz, the Plaza, the Roxy, and City Limits which was a country & western club - not a Tex-Mex joint). One gets the impression that the entire ensemble cast clicked as well off-screen as they do on, and this intimacy is clearly communicated. I laughed, I cried, it was better than CATS. Not only an ode to Dorothy Stratten, it was also one of Audrey Hepburn's last appearances on-screen (if not THE last) and her inner beauty seeps from the screen. Buy it, make a big tub of popcorn, and curl up with someone you love. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Morgan-Hot Stuff
This is Morgan Fairchild's finest moment on film, and you see lots of her if you catch my drift.... The plot and supporting cast are better than passable, this isn't a totally bad flick. Fairchild is a TV news broadcaster who has a stalker, a much younger man who is obsessed with her. At first she humors him and doesn't think much of his bizarre behavior--until he butcher-knifes her boyfriend while she's "entertaining" him in her hottub. Mad Morgan realizes she has to take matters into her own hands, which she does, with a 12-guage rifle. Lots of nudity here, but tastefully done for a tasteful lady. The Seduction is for Morgan Fairchild fans only.

Worst Movie Ever Made
This movie is HORRIBLE. In fact, when I think of the "worse movie ever made" I think of this one more than 20 years later.
Worse yet, it was the first movie the local theater charged the then-unheard of [money]admission price for. I felt violated after paying [money]to sit through this "thing," like the wimpering fool crying at the end of this atrotious film.
Junk. Garbage. Trash.

Good lighting, excellent shots of Morgan's anatomy!
The best part of the whole movie was the undressing sequence of Morgan in the bathroom and the bathing sequences - excellent! Not much acting but great body shots of MF! I would watch it again just for that! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anybody seen Keanu? The action star of Speed opted out of this overbearing sequel, which finds costar Sandra Bullock in love with another guy (Jason Patric) and in trouble aboard a cruise ship under the control of a mad extortionist (Willem Dafoe). Speed director Jan de Bont is back at the helm for part 2, but even he seems to have forgotten that what made the first film work was the simplicity of its hook (the bomb, the bus that can't drive below 50 mph, the handful of sympathetic passengers, etc.). Speed 2 is all about hugeness: big ship, lots of places to get into trouble, and so on. Even with an eye-popping, endless finale of the vessel crashing into port (and causing mondo destruction), there is nothing about this movie that is remotely as involving as its predecessor. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (94)

What was so wrong with it?
My mother and I were the only two people in the theater the day that we saw Speed 2: Cruise Control. After watching the movie, I couldn't understand why so many people hated this movie. It was not a bad movie by any account, except for some discrepancies in the destruction of the cruise ship. The movie made me laugh while also giving me a dosage of suspense, thrills, and great special effects. Sandra Bullock is always a joy to watch on screen, giving each of her movies a comic, light and happy feel. The absence of Keanu Reeves is nothing to worry about, seeing as how he didn't really bring much adventure to the first movie either. Jason Patric delivers a terrific performance, and it is Willem Dafoe's character who is the epitome of insanity and hunger for revenge. I wouldn't really listen to a lot of what people had to say: this is a comical, thrill-ride movie that will have you laughing and holding your breath.

Fast Bus 2: Big Slow Ship
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1998)
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, Willem Dafoe
Directed By: Jan de Bont
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 121 minutes
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On One Hand...
"Thumps up!"
-Roger Ebert

...on the Other.
"A waterlogged sequel that'll soon be bottom-feeding with Beyond the Poseidon Adventure."
-Mike Clark, USA Today
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The Love Boat meets Air Force One

Speed 2: Cruise Control was one whacked-out movie. Throwing the thrilling dramatic elements of the first film overboard, all it has left is the action...and some dude called Jason Patric.

One sure thing that can be said about this movie is its special effects are fabulous. We're talking big money effects, including that oh-so-cool finale where the Seabourn Legend (the ship) crashes into a resort town.

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The Plot

Trouble continues to follow LA citizen Annie Porter when she and her new hubby (a stone-faced Jason Patric) book a tropical cruise on the Seabourn Legend cruise ship. A crazed computer hacker (Willem Dafoe) has taken over the ship and is setting on a course to destruction...to some sort of some tanker, I guess, that would've exploded (and ends up exploding anyway, but the ship is safe, of course). So, of course, Annie and her beau attempt (meaning they will of course succeed) to save the ship and its passengers.

__________________________________________________________

The Cast

Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter
(Speed, 28 Days, Two Weeks Notice)
Ms. Bullock, easily my favorite actress, gives a good, if not great, performance, in an iffy-at-best action movie. Speed was outstanding, and it's hard to live up to that, but Sandra OWNS this movie, pretty much.

Jason Patric as Officer Alex Shaw
(Your Friends and Neighbours, Sleepers, Narc)
For one, I have no idea who this actor is, he's new to me. And I'm not likely to see any more of his movies based on his performance in this movie. Instead of Keanu Reeve's more human performance as an LAPD cop in the first movie, Patric plays his Alex Shaw (also in the LAPD) as a traditional action hero, always stone-faced and heroic. In fact, Alex Shaw is not the most interesting character in the world. Well as long as Annie's happy...

Willem Dafoe as John Geiger
(The English Patient, eXistenZ, Spider-Man)
Dafoe takes over the psycho role, vacated (and beheaded) by Dennis Hopper in the first film. He's didn't seem evil (maybe crazy) but he is rather cool, and his plot to destroy the Seabourn Legend cruise ship was inspired. Willem Dafoe is a very talented man.

Another very good performance comes comes from deaf actress Christine Firkins, who plays a deaf teenager named Drew. This movie is notable for the fact that there's not only a deaf character, but the fact that they hired a deaf actress for the part.
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So, About the Special Effects...

The effects in this movie are very, very good (they better have been, considering its supposed $110-$150 million price tag). The ship is jaw-droppingly cool, as good as the titular vessel in Titanic...unlike that movie though, Speed 2 employed an actual cruise ship (the real Seabourn Legend) in some shots (most shots of it are computer graphics). The finale in the resort town was very, very neat (I talked about this part in the first part of this review).
___________________________________________________________

So What Did I Think?

Aside from the effects, this a pretty average action movie with pretty average performances. While nowhere near as good as the first Speed movie, this sequel is glossy, silly movie-night fun (even though it thinks its a seriously heavyweight action movie).

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not bad
ok, this sequel does not live up to the standards of the first but it is very enjoyable. Sure there can be the occasional stupid dialogue here and there, but only really by one person, Willem defoe, but he did an ok job but i didnt see it for him, i saw it for the action. The action sequences really picked up when daylight came. They are good but they should have cut them shorter a bit, only because i really wanted to feel the rush like in the first, but i love the ship running into the town and the boat blowing up in the end. I think this film would have been great if Keanu had accepted to come back and they should have kept the MA rating. sandra Bullock, good as usual, Jason Patrik, well they needed somebody to fill in and he did a good job. This film does not take itself too seriously, they made it for the fans, and i liked it, just enjoy it for what it is, a pretty decent sequel.

Speed 2 needs to slow down!
The original Speed was a different kind of movie (Who would have thought a movie that took place mainly on a bus would be so good?) that for one reason or another MANY people enjoyed. Speed 2 seems to be one of those "We liked the first one so we want a sequel!" Kind of movies, and it turned out to be pretty bad. Speed 2 actually makes a Disney sequel look GOOD.

The movie centers around our heroine Annie (her role reprised by Sandra Bullock) who is taking a driving test in the beginning of the movie to get her license back for (gasp!) speeding! She has just gotten herself out of a relationship with Jack (Who was in the first one) and is now with Alex (Jason Patric). When she finds out that Alex works for the same squad that Jack works for she isn't too happy with that.

Later Alex decides to take Annie on a cruise and when they do things start off fine and dandy until a mad bomber (William Dafoe) by the name of Geiger takes over the cruise ship trapping a few passengers on board.

Let's put this one thing aside, Keanu Reeves didn't show up in this film. Surprisingly enough this one thing is what starts the film slide into ruin. Jason Patric and Sandra Bullock don't really have a whole lot of chemistry. It isn't as well developed as it was in the first Speed movie. I'm sure that even if Keanu Reeves had appeared in this movie it wouldn't have saved it from becoming a mess anyhow.

William Dafoe doesn't make for the greatest villian either (who would've thought that five years later he'd be the Green Goblin in the blockbuster hit: Spider Man?). He has the potential to be a great mad bomber but somehow he misses what the bomber in the first movie had. That would be his lack of remorse and intelligence.

Speed 2 doesn't keep on the edge of your seat like the first movie did. Speed 2 is like a Disney Sequel, not good enough for the theater. Speed 2 I can honestly say was a bad movie. An under developed plot put along with some pretty under developed characters make this movie seem like garbage.

I don't recommend this movie to anyone who liked the first one. Those who enjoyed the first movie probably won't like this one.

Defiantly not as Good as the first
it was alright, but i can't say it was better or as good as the first. i strongly recommend watching the first, then watching the second. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Based on the book? Well...
The only connection here to the esteemed book is that our main (and desperate) character Alan (Cameron Dye) keeps a well thumbed copy with him in class. He pines for Leslie (Michelle Meyrink) who's considered off-limits because her father (Christopher Lloyd) is the overprotective lethal wrestling coach. Leslie is looking to "score" also - she misunderstands her doctor and thinks she only has a few months to live. Subplots revolving around Alan and Leslie's attempts to "lose it" include a confused exchange student from Mecca and an undercover policewoman (Colleen Camp) who's looking to bust a student named "Mushroom" Malone. Formula teen comedy offers some laughs and originality - not to mention a "fart lighting" contest.

Joy of Sex
I have seen this movie and if you want a good side splitting laugh get this movie. It will take you back to the hi jinks of your high school days. It is well worth the money to get it. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The second sequel to the mold-making action film Die Hard brings Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) to New York City to face a better villain than in Die Hard 2. Played by Jeremy Irons, he's the brother of the Germanic terrorist-thief Alan Rickman played in the original film. But this bad guy has his sights set higher: on the Federal Reserve's cache of gold. As a distraction, he sets McClane running fool's errands all over New York--and eventually, McClane attracts an unintentional partner, a Harlem dry cleaner (Samuel L. Jackson) with a chip on his shoulder. Some great action sequences, though they can't obscure the rather large plot holes in the film's final 45 minutes. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Bruce does the sweaty-vested hero thing again...
Director John McTiernan returned to helm the 3rd part to the Die Hard trilogy, which regains much of the fun action that was missing in Renny Harlin's Die Hard 2. Bruce Willis does the sweaty-vested action hero thing again as John McClane, and to good effect. The main villain, played by Jeremy Irons, is much better than the weak bad guys in DH2, and the inclusion of Samuel L. Jackson makes it even better. Great stunts, action, one-liners, explosions and music. Fine extras too, with a featurette and trailers.

Die Hard With a Vengeance
The heat is on again as Bruce Willis plays Detective John McClane battling a very intelligent mastermind through out the streets of New York city. In NY, there has been a bomb explosion and the man responsible wants John McClane in this case for some reason. It seems that the main villain in this movie is known as "Simon" (Jeremy Irons)but is really the brother of Hans Gruber, the villain in the first Die Hard, who seeks revenge on McClane. Although that is what it seems, Simon's main goal is to steal truck loads of gold bars from the NY Federal Reserve Building. Simon admits hiding a very large bomb in NY. John and a Harlem dry cleaner, Zues (Samuel)L. Jackson go through wierd obstacles in order to find this bomb. All die hard fans will love all the bomb explosions, fast car drivings, and gunshootings throughout this movie. This is the best Die Hard throughout and I think anyone else would to if they get this.

Decent action scenes can't save middling DIE HARD III
John McTiernan returned to direct this second follow-up to McTiernan's original DIE HARD from 1988, but unfortunately all his considerable skill and energy can't rise above screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh's generic script. DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE could easily have been LETHAL WEAPON 4 (maybe it almost was), and the script does little to make it stand out from other buddy action-movies (although Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson undoubtedly do work well together). As for the action scenes, they're certainly well-executed, but there's just no real momentum connecting the action scenes the way there was in the second half of DIE HARD 2. In VENGEANCE, there's just one action scene piled upon another, and the whole thing simply feels like an incoherent mess, which certainly was not the case in the first two films of the series.

DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE will certainly entertain action fans, since the action scenes are undeniably creative and well-mounted. Compare VENGEANCE to the first two DIE HARDs, though, and there's no contest. DI