Reviews (275)

One Super DVD
Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap the tallest building in a single bound. The world's greatest superhero has finally arrived on DVD with "Superman: The Movie" Special Edition. The film focuses on the young survivor of the doomed world of Krypton. After crash-landing on earth, the young alien is adopted by a caring farm couple and grows up with amazing superhuman abilities. Moving to Metropolis, he uses his incredible powers to protect the people and fight injustice. "Superman- the Movie" is probably the best superhero movie to date. The story is quite entertaining but does lose some strength during the second half though it still manages to preserve its entertainment value. The film contains some great performance by Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and Marlon Brando as Jor-El. The cast also includes Jackie Cooper, Terence Stamp and Ned Beatty. From daring rescues to superhuman feats of strength, the film contains some impressive action sequence and terrific visual effects.

The DVD honors the Man of Steel like it should. The comic book film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains a sharp video transfer and a fine 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with great surround effects. This amazing DVD features an audio commentary with director Richard Donner and consultant Tom Mankiewicz, additional footage including an extended sequence inside Lex Luther's underground gauntlet, behind-the-scenes documentaries, theatrical trailers, deleted scenes and DVD-ROM extras. With such a striking DVD presentation, "Superman" earns an "A".

Super features, super options, JUST PLAIN SUPER!
I enjoyed the Superman DVD. 25 years after this movie came out and seeing it so many times on TV with pan and scan, the newly remastered print blows everything out of the water. The music only option works for the title sequence and hearing the extra tracks on Side B adds to the genius that was John Williams soundtrack.

The audio is remastered and put on a surround sound system instead of the setup I have at home would shake your house to the core. The extra scenes were a good touch as well. Behind the scenes added the great touch of mystique that was Superman. Having Marc McClure host the BTS stuff added a bit of credibility.

Until Spider-Man last year and Batman in 1989, this was the film on which Superheroes were judged. The Hulk disappointed and Daredevil and X-2 were moderate hits.

Superman still stands the test of time, no matter what your views.

Spider-Man has kind of surpassed it...
Well now that we have seen the two Spider-Man movies, I tend to belive that they are now the standards by which other comic book films (both Marvel and DC) will have to live up to now. In a way, Superman is now kind of the odd film out. It works better as an origin story in how Clarke Kent becomes Superman and Chris Reeve's effective perfomance in the title role still works, In the comics, Lex Luthor has always been a one dimensional cartoon character, the only time that he was an effective villian was when Gene Hackman played him in this movie. The final scenes of Superman turning the Earth backward to save lois lane, are what they are. It might be a bit far fetched to put in a movie, but that does not stop audiences from enjoying it. and it doesn't stop me from watching it over and over again.

Born on Krypton, raised by the Kents on Earth, Becomes Hero
The Man of Steel flys into the spectactular motion picture, Based The DC Comic and also appearing in Action Comics, Christopher Reeve stars as Clark Kent.Reporter in Metropolis,Illnois for the newspaper the Daily Planet,And trouble emerges Clark Kent flys to the rescue as Superman, a blue suited red caped powerful wonder. He takes on Lex Luthor played Gene Hackman and falls for Lois Lane played Margot Kidder and Marlon Brand as the Krytonian father of Superman Jor EL. This Film is a Great Superhero movie and great film all around, probably the most imaginative thing the Man of Steel has been in. Superman began as the comic, then a radio show, several 1950s B movies, TV show and in 1978 the true Superman ovie. Superman is imaginative in everthing because hes an imaginative character. A pop culture icon on screen and in everthing else. the Special Effects are incredible, This a Super high flying ride. You Want a good superhero movie before Batman and Spider-Man this is it. If it wasn't for this classic we would'nt have superhero movies like Spider-Man 1&2,Batman,Hulk and X-Men 1&2. Thank Hollywood for making a great superhero film that lauched other superhero films. A thrilling Film of one of the greatest heroes of the 20th century, The Man of Steel, SUPERMAN.

Release Superman into our 21st century!
Very bad film.
They released Spiderman into the 21st century, why not Superman?
I've always found him to be the most appealing comic book character. He is sure for an amazing performance.
RELEASE HIM INTO OUR CENTURY! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

The best Tom Sawyer i ever saw.
This movie was playing at Radio City Music Hall back in the days of the movie/stage show formt. It was also presented in 70mm on that huge Radio City screen. I remember how impressed i was with that opening scene with the steam boat going down the river and you see Tom running thru the field and the music builds more and more. Wow,,,,what a great movie!I've seen many versions of "Tom Sawyer" but this one seems to be the best ever brought to the screen. Maybe because it's a musical. Whatever made this so successful back then you will not be disappointed by it's gradure and scope. A must for ever American kid and adult too. This is as red, white and blue as it gets and now must be the most politically incorrect movie ever made. (hehe) Buy it before some group puts a ban on it. Which should want you to buy this for the kids even more. They don't make them like this anymore.

Energetic, sunny adaptation
Made at a time when the inclusion of songs was all but compulsory for a family film, this musical adaptation nonetheless manages to translate the best aspects of Twain's book to the screen. The movie does an impressive job of creating a dramatic shape out of Twain's material. The book is a collection of episodes which form a composite portrait of Tom's character, and, for adult readers, offer a glimpse into a lost world; but there really is no narrative drive. The murder and Tom's subsequent dilemma about testifying in court are simply two episodes unconnected to the other events. In the book, the boys simply decide one day to form a gang of robbers and go live on the island. In the movie, the retreat to the island arises out of the boys' fear after having witnessed the murder, and it is only the guilt they feel while spying on their own funeral that makes them return home. The songs are not especially memorable, but harmless enough. The performances by the supporting adult cast are strong, particularly that of Celeste Holm as Aunt Polly. A splendid scene at the dinner table is a masterful fleshing-out of Twain's prose. Full of nice photography and beautiful scenery, this movie sparkles with joy and youthful optimism.

A national treasure! Please release on DVD.
I just re-watched this film and wow, what a treasure of a film!

With songs written by the famous Sherman Brothers (the brilliant Disney songwriters who did "Mary Poppins" et al.) and the charm of Johnny Whitaker as Tom Sawyer (1970's tv show"Family Affair") this is the best version of the classic Mark Twain tale I've ever seen on film. You really feel like you're right there in Hannibal, Missouri.

Great casting all the way around and a fantastic musical as well.

I originally saw this when I was about nine and it completely caught my imagination both then and now. I'd never forgotten several catchy songs from the film, such as "Free Bootin.' Great stuff all the way around.

My only complaint is that this film is not currently available on DVD, as I'd love to see and hear this treasure of a film in full visual and audio clarity.

whatever
this movie is like so the not so awesome.we are watching it in school(me go to mater dei academy)and when i go home my ears hurt so much from all the... singing.i wish it only had like no singing and like what is up with the charectors dos man it is like way out there if ya know what i'm sayin.so i would not like refer this to anyone.if yall wanna watch tom sawyer watch the one with jtt.

Jodie Foster is GREAT! The music is terrible.
I fast-forwarded through the really bad songs in this would-be musical. It is a lot of fun. The character of Tom Sawyer is great. He is both a bad kid and a great guy at the same time -- a mix not so common in America's world of truly evil and absolutely saintly characters. Not particularly deep, not particularly inspiring, but fun. ... Read more

Reviews (275)

One Super DVD
Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap the tallest building in a single bound. The world's greatest superhero has finally arrived on DVD with "Superman: The Movie" Special Edition. The film focuses on the young survivor of the doomed world of Krypton. After crash-landing on earth, the young alien is adopted by a caring farm couple and grows up with amazing superhuman abilities. Moving to Metropolis, he uses his incredible powers to protect the people and fight injustice. "Superman- the Movie" is probably the best superhero movie to date. The story is quite entertaining but does lose some strength during the second half though it still manages to preserve its entertainment value. The film contains some great performance by Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and Marlon Brando as Jor-El. The cast also includes Jackie Cooper, Terence Stamp and Ned Beatty. From daring rescues to superhuman feats of strength, the film contains some impressive action sequence and terrific visual effects.

The DVD honors the Man of Steel like it should. The comic book film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains a sharp video transfer and a fine 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with great surround effects. This amazing DVD features an audio commentary with director Richard Donner and consultant Tom Mankiewicz, additional footage including an extended sequence inside Lex Luther's underground gauntlet, behind-the-scenes documentaries, theatrical trailers, deleted scenes and DVD-ROM extras. With such a striking DVD presentation, "Superman" earns an "A".

Super features, super options, JUST PLAIN SUPER!
I enjoyed the Superman DVD. 25 years after this movie came out and seeing it so many times on TV with pan and scan, the newly remastered print blows everything out of the water. The music only option works for the title sequence and hearing the extra tracks on Side B adds to the genius that was John Williams soundtrack.

The audio is remastered and put on a surround sound system instead of the setup I have at home would shake your house to the core. The extra scenes were a good touch as well. Behind the scenes added the great touch of mystique that was Superman. Having Marc McClure host the BTS stuff added a bit of credibility.

Until Spider-Man last year and Batman in 1989, this was the film on which Superheroes were judged. The Hulk disappointed and Daredevil and X-2 were moderate hits.

Superman still stands the test of time, no matter what your views.

Spider-Man has kind of surpassed it...
Well now that we have seen the two Spider-Man movies, I tend to belive that they are now the standards by which other comic book films (both Marvel and DC) will have to live up to now. In a way, Superman is now kind of the odd film out. It works better as an origin story in how Clarke Kent becomes Superman and Chris Reeve's effective perfomance in the title role still works, In the comics, Lex Luthor has always been a one dimensional cartoon character, the only time that he was an effective villian was when Gene Hackman played him in this movie. The final scenes of Superman turning the Earth backward to save lois lane, are what they are. It might be a bit far fetched to put in a movie, but that does not stop audiences from enjoying it. and it doesn't stop me from watching it over and over again.

Born on Krypton, raised by the Kents on Earth, Becomes Hero
The Man of Steel flys into the spectactular motion picture, Based The DC Comic and also appearing in Action Comics, Christopher Reeve stars as Clark Kent.Reporter in Metropolis,Illnois for the newspaper the Daily Planet,And trouble emerges Clark Kent flys to the rescue as Superman, a blue suited red caped powerful wonder. He takes on Lex Luthor played Gene Hackman and falls for Lois Lane played Margot Kidder and Marlon Brand as the Krytonian father of Superman Jor EL. This Film is a Great Superhero movie and great film all around, probably the most imaginative thing the Man of Steel has been in. Superman began as the comic, then a radio show, several 1950s B movies, TV show and in 1978 the true Superman ovie. Superman is imaginative in everthing because hes an imaginative character. A pop culture icon on screen and in everthing else. the Special Effects are incredible, This a Super high flying ride. You Want a good superhero movie before Batman and Spider-Man this is it. If it wasn't for this classic we would'nt have superhero movies like Spider-Man 1&2,Batman,Hulk and X-Men 1&2. Thank Hollywood for making a great superhero film that lauched other superhero films. A thrilling Film of one of the greatest heroes of the 20th century, The Man of Steel, SUPERMAN.

Release Superman into our 21st century!
Very bad film.
They released Spiderman into the 21st century, why not Superman?
I've always found him to be the most appealing comic book character. He is sure for an amazing performance.
RELEASE HIM INTO OUR CENTURY! ... Read more

Description

Mary & Joseph: A Story of Faith is an engaging, devout and fresh look at the beloved religious figures. The Bible reveals little about them. But using what is known about the social and political issues of the era, an involving yet speculative story can be told. In it, the betrothed pair confront the iron rule of the Roman Empire, the condemnation of religious leaders, the revolutionary fervor of the zealots and more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A love story first and foremost
I first saw this movie on television when I was a child. The story of the birth of Christ having always been my favorite in the Bible, I was thrilled to see it acted out. This movie gives you a 'what might have been' view of the lives of Mary and Joseph, something that the bible failed to give. Mary and Joseph where a young couple deeply in love, but the discovery of Mary's pregnency, plus Joseph's involvment with the Zelot's, almost drove them apart. We also get a look into the lives of Elizabeth and Zacarias, the parents of St. John. This movie give a completely human view of all characters in what is the most famous story in history. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not on DVD? It should be
This is a hidden treasure of a film. It is unfortunate that quite a few garbage movies make it to DVD format before movies like this one.

Cai-ro ai-ro, Illinois!
I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Frost's review, except for the fact that a soundtrack LP was indeed released by Reader's Digest. The music is as grand as the movie as a whole! What a great movie! What happened to Jeff East?

If it came out today, it would be considered a classic!!
Just listen to the beautiful songs in the score and notice the magestic sentiment... Although this movie has all but been forgotten, I'm sure that one day people will give it a chance. If you like musicals and you like Twain, then it's a must see, even for its many imperfections. There are some incredibly witty songs and some truly poinient moments. The song "Freedom" is one of the most powerful songs I've ever heard-- and for some reason the LP was never even released... go figure. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A starkly original visual treat, this Halloween-themed exercise in terror is uncommonly well made, seeking to add yet another creature to horror film lore. A group of teenagers camping in a remote mountain resort accidentally kill a boy and cover it up, and his aggrieved father (Lance Henriksen) vows revenge. Enlisting the help of a local witch, he conjures up a mythic demonic monster to kill those responsible for his son's death. The plot and dialogue are not very original, but the creepy mood and some fine work by director Stan Winston (the special effects whiz behind Jurassic Park) make Pumpkinhead an eerie gothic horror tale and great viewing for Halloween nights. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Sowing the Seeds of Revenge!!!!
Who couldn't use a pumpkinhead in their lives? I love the premise to this. A redneck has his child murdered by sterotypical teens and goes to the "old witch in the hills" for revenge. Her bright idea is to summon "pumkinhead", a hideous creature who literally feels the rednecks pain. It sets out on a mission of vengnece destroying the guilty parties with a ferocity not seen in horror films in a long, long time. The demon is cool. Theres lots of bones braking and suffering though little gore. So why only three stars? For one, the score is downright aggravating. I never want to hear a harmonica or blues guitar again! ever! Plus the screenplay is rotten. I found the characters to be painfully one dimensional. You really could care less if they all end up rotting in pumkinheads vile belly. You just don't "feel" this movie like others of its ilk. Theres a pretty cool demon in "The Unnamable" and that film is far superior to this. Still, pumkinhead has a pretty dark and sombre mood to it. If thats your thing, this movie could be for you.

An overlooked horror classic
Stan Winston, who is possibly the greatest makeup artist and creature effect artist ever, directed this unusually good horror film. Lance Henriksen stars as Ed Harley, a man who wants revenge against the city folk who accidently killed his son. He goes to a witch that lives near a swamp and she conjures up Pumpkinhead, a monster that will get revenge on the yuppies. However, Ed begins to realize that he has made a mistake, and he tries to stop the monster he helped unleash. Henriksen is unbelieveably good in his role, and it may be the best of his career. Stan Winston did a great job as director and its a shame he hasn't directed anything since. As with the original Halloween, Pumpkinhead is a horror movie that pulls off being scary and good at the same time without buckets of blood and gore being splashed every other scene. Highly recommended.

Full screen?
Oh dear. Buy the R2 release instead, it's in proper widescreen.

Much better than I expected.
I am a huge horror fan, but have found myself disappointed with many of the more recent horror films, particularly the garbage churned out by Artisan Entertainment. I hadn't heard much about this film prior to renting it. I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was above average and Stan Winston's creature was quite impressive. The film has one of the creepiest atmospheres about it of any horror film I've seen since the original "Alien." Lance Henriksen was excellent and believable as the vengeful backwoods dad. Particularly if you are a parent, you know where he's coming from. There was genuine pathos in the scenes that dealt with his son. And unlike most newer horror pictures, the film was actually scary! My one question is: Why isn't this superior horror film more widely known?

Surprisingly decent horror film
At first glance, you think this would be mediocre, right? For starters, there's the old "Oh we commited a crime we can't tell the police!" sort of plot. Also, there's the usual young-adults-being-killed-one-by-one sort of setting. However, despite all this, "Pumpkinhead" really does stand out among other horror films that have used this formula.

For one, Lance Henriksen delivers perhaps the best performance of his career. You really do feel a relationship between his character and his son, and you really can't hate him even after he chooses to unleash Pumpkinhead on the kids who killed his boy. Also, when Lance gives that one guy a death look shortly after finding his son dead...oh believe me, you will feel all the anger and frustration - and pure HATE - that he is feeling.

Pumpkinhead himself is impressive. As usual, there aren't too many full body shots of the monster until the very end, but that's fine. There are some indeed creepy moments as the monster stalks the "city folk" one by one, killing them off the minute one is seperated from the rest. He's not just an animal...he's a sick bastard! He takes the time to mutilate or torture his victims, making him even more frightening than the famous Alien. I might add the special affects aren't that bad; some people have made fun of the affects, but I was impressed - Pumpkinhead looks like a real monster.

To summarize, if you're in the mood for a bit of a chill, give this one a view. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great movie for animal lovers!
This little-known live action movie is about a tame wolf who was brought up from a pup to live in civilization and be the pet of Russ Hanson(Jeff East). Grey,(the wolf's name)was later blamed for some attacks on livestock and on a little girl. With hunters on their trail, both Russ and Grey flee into the mountain wilderness to escape, and along the way Russ attempts to train Grey to adapt to life in the wild and run with his own kind. One of my favorite disney movies that should be rereleased on video and dvd and digitally mastered like other films of the same time period such as Nikki Wild Dog Of The North, Big Red, The Legend Of Lobo, etc. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Richard Donner's 1978 epic about the Man of Steel showed how a film about a superhero could be a moving and romantic experience even for people who long ago gave up comic books. Beginning on the icy planet Krypton, the story follows the baby Kal-El, whose rocket ship lands in Smallville, Kansas. He is found there by a childless couple and raised as the shy Clark Kent (the young Kent is played by Jeff East). The film is perhaps most touching in these sequences, with expanses of wheat fields blowing in the wind and with a young man who can't figure out what part in destiny his great powers are meant to play. The second half, with Reeve taking over as Clark/Superman, is bustling, enchanting (the scene in which Superman flies girlfriend Lois Lane--played by Margot Kidder--through the night sky is great date material), and funny, thanks largely to Gene Hackman's sardonic portrayal of nemesis Lex Luthor. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (275)

One Super DVD
Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap the tallest building in a single bound. The world's greatest superhero has finally arrived on DVD with "Superman: The Movie" Special Edition. The film focuses on the young survivor of the doomed world of Krypton. After crash-landing on earth, the young alien is adopted by a caring farm couple and grows up with amazing superhuman abilities. Moving to Metropolis, he uses his incredible powers to protect the people and fight injustice. "Superman- the Movie" is probably the best superhero movie to date. The story is quite entertaining but does lose some strength during the second half though it still manages to preserve its entertainment value. The film contains some great performance by Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and Marlon Brando as Jor-El. The cast also includes Jackie Cooper, Terence Stamp and Ned Beatty. From daring rescues to superhuman feats of strength, the film contains some impressive action sequence and terrific visual effects.

The DVD honors the Man of Steel like it should. The comic book film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains a sharp video transfer and a fine 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with great surround effects. This amazing DVD features an audio commentary with director Richard Donner and consultant Tom Mankiewicz, additional footage including an extended sequence inside Lex Luther's underground gauntlet, behind-the-scenes documentaries, theatrical trailers, deleted scenes and DVD-ROM extras. With such a striking DVD presentation, "Superman" earns an "A".

Super features, super options, JUST PLAIN SUPER!
I enjoyed the Superman DVD. 25 years after this movie came out and seeing it so many times on TV with pan and scan, the newly remastered print blows everything out of the water. The music only option works for the title sequence and hearing the extra tracks on Side B adds to the genius that was John Williams soundtrack.

The audio is remastered and put on a surround sound system instead of the setup I have at home would shake your house to the core. The extra scenes were a good touch as well. Behind the scenes added the great touch of mystique that was Superman. Having Marc McClure host the BTS stuff added a bit of credibility.

Until Spider-Man last year and Batman in 1989, this was the film on which Superheroes were judged. The Hulk disappointed and Daredevil and X-2 were moderate hits.

Superman still stands the test of time, no matter what your views.

Spider-Man has kind of surpassed it...
Well now that we have seen the two Spider-Man movies, I tend to belive that they are now the standards by which other comic book films (both Marvel and DC) will have to live up to now. In a way, Superman is now kind of the odd film out. It works better as an origin story in how Clarke Kent becomes Superman and Chris Reeve's effective perfomance in the title role still works, In the comics, Lex Luthor has always been a one dimensional cartoon character, the only time that he was an effective villian was when Gene Hackman played him in this movie. The final scenes of Superman turning the Earth backward to save lois lane, are what they are. It might be a bit far fetched to put in a movie, but that does not stop audiences from enjoying it. and it doesn't stop me from watching it over and over again.

Born on Krypton, raised by the Kents on Earth, Becomes Hero
The Man of Steel flys into the spectactular motion picture, Based The DC Comic and also appearing in Action Comics, Christopher Reeve stars as Clark Kent.Reporter in Metropolis,Illnois for the newspaper the Daily Planet,And trouble emerges Clark Kent flys to the rescue as Superman, a blue suited red caped powerful wonder. He takes on Lex Luthor played Gene Hackman and falls for Lois Lane played Margot Kidder and Marlon Brand as the Krytonian father of Superman Jor EL. This Film is a Great Superhero movie and great film all around, probably the most imaginative thing the Man of Steel has been in. Superman began as the comic, then a radio show, several 1950s B movies, TV show and in 1978 the true Superman ovie. Superman is imaginative in everthing because hes an imaginative character. A pop culture icon on screen and in everthing else. the Special Effects are incredible, This a Super high flying ride. You Want a good superhero movie before Batman and Spider-Man this is it. If it wasn't for this classic we would'nt have superhero movies like Spider-Man 1&2,Batman,Hulk and X-Men 1&2. Thank Hollywood for making a great superhero film that lauched other superhero films. A thrilling Film of one of the greatest heroes of the 20th century, The Man of Steel, SUPERMAN.

Release Superman into our 21st century!
Very bad film.
They released Spiderman into the 21st century, why not Superman?
I've always found him to be the most appealing comic book character. He is sure for an amazing performance.
RELEASE HIM INTO OUR CENTURY! ... Read more

Description

In a movie suitable for the whole family, meet Jack London, one of America's greatest writers.As a young man, he lived a life full of adventure, and wrote down every word.Klondike Fever is his story - the tale of a 21 year old's epic journey from San Francisco to the Klondike Gold Fields in the great Gold Rush of 1898. ... Read more

Reviews (70)

The Hour After......
THE DAY AFTER was to be THE made-for-TV anti-BOMB fable. Released in 1983 as "secular" film of Revelation...BEYOND IMAGINING! hyped TV promos...it was greatly disappointing. This is partially because of asinine Talking Head discussions predicting national traumatism of youthful viewers. (Legions of counselors were dispatched like a priesthood...T-Group/Mass for the masses...to enable psychic healing.) The crassness of ratings-war ploy failed "to protect" a vunerable public from a movie that lacks wallop...nuclear or otherwise.

Director Meyer seems to be going through the motions. As do many fine actors (led by Jason Robard and John Lithgow)in the ensemble cast. Technically the film is adequate. The NUCLEAR STRIKE sequence effects are good. But the DAY AFTER War Day suffers from the same "listlessness" that characterizes the pre-Attack segment. Problem? The movie, in my estimate, lacks moral and "military" compass. The War Scenario positing Soviet invasion of Western Europe though the Fulda Gap...followed by text book NATO "tactical" nuclear response...is curiously unmoving. (The Escalation Narrative is ambiguously conveyed by cliched use of intermittent News announcements). This is the Time of Terror. Relegation of "reasons" for WW III to backgound noise neither sustains tension, nor provokes reflection this movie purportedly intends. The satirical characterization of THE PRESIDENT (probably intended as Reagan) is as transparent as it is indign for a film of such serious matter. (Recall: Peter Sellers' roles as President and RAF Wing Commander/SAC liaison in DR. Strangelove were played with deadly seriousness; without meretricious irony.)

Yes: Nuclear War is bad (wrong......INAPPROPRIATE!). But: THE DAY AFTER...unintentionally... conveys moral vacuity by lack of dramatic force or commitment (cf: THE MISSILES OF OCTOBER; or 13 DAYS). Though set in Kansas, this is a Hollywood "adventures of World War III" piece of slick, PC amorality that blames no one for anything, nor accounts for its own flacid nihilism. 20 years later this film is ...in my obviously critical assessment...a "Wonderland" curiosity. Technically and dramatically competent in execution THE DAY's impact is decisively low yield. Watch it and be "entertained". But it is not an illumating, frightening or stirring-to-rage STATEMENT. It's just a big TV movie whose "effect" will be forgotten...by most viewers...THE HOUR AFTER

The ultimate anti-war movie
Probably the most heartbreaking scene in "The Day After" is the one where four missiles bearing nuclear warheads zoom into a crystalline blue sky on a glorious spring morning from a hidden bunker in Kansas, while doctors and nurses at a nearby hospital watch in shock as the impact of what those missiles mean gradually hits them.

Watching this film, we pray that scene never comes true; if it does, we can kiss the world goodbye. "The Day After" is probably the most gut-wrenching anti-war film ever made. It's set sometime in the last quarter of the 20th century; the decades-long cold war has turned burning hot, and the news broadcasts are turning hourly worse. We are in Lawrence, Kansas, the center of the United States, following the routines of ordinary people as they try to go about their lives while the world around them is going to hell -- a doctor and his wife, a farmer and his family, including his young daughter two days away from her wedding, a graduate student, a cynical college professor, and a young soldier about to be separated from his wife and baby. The hostilities between Russia and the United States, meanwhile, have gone beyond the point of no return; and the decision is made: nuke 'em. We watch the missiles being launched; we feel all the horror of the impending counterstrike, and then three stark words from an officer at the missile base: "We have incoming." Incoming doesn't begin to describe it. Two nuclear warheads hit nearby Kansas City, and the world explodes. The resulting scenes of destruction are unbelievable; and yet, they are all too believable. If the wrong finger hits the nuclear button, this could someday happen.

The immediate scenes leading up to the nuclear strike are as compelling as the hit itself: shoppers at the supermarket grabbing up everything edible off the shelves; people bolting out of a college stadium in a panic dash for cover; a young bride-to-be coming downstairs to the family's fallout shelter carrying her wedding dress and her childhood teddy bear, the look of stark terror in her eyes competing with the realization that she will never wear that dress in any wedding; and her mother, grimly going about her business of making beds and tidying up the house, being carried kicking and screaming to shelter, refusing to accept the realization that her life as she knows it is finished. And after the devastation of the nuclear strike, as ashes continue to rain down from the sky for days, we realize that those who died in the attack may have been the fortunate ones; the survivors are left to face a horrible slow death by radiation sickness, starvation and anarchy.

Nicholas Meyer didn't direct this film for shock value, although the shocks keep coming and don't let up; in smaller but telling ways he makes us feel all the devastation of total war. At the film's end, one of the survivors asks, "Is anybody out there? Anyone at all?" His guess is as good as ours. There are no redeeming moments in this movie. From the minute the first button was pushed, everything is gone.

It's been said that "The Day After" is a dated film, but this is true only in the sense that the cold war, as we knew it from 1945 through the 1980s is over; as long as there are nuclear weapons around and anyone fanatic enough to even contemplate using them, it's a film with telling immediacy. When the film was first shown, some viewers asked, why didn't they say who started the war? Meyer shows us that the question is moot; no matter who started it, there will be precious few survivors left to point fingers. We emerge from watching "The Day After" emotionally devastated, drained, realizing that in a nuclear war, everyone, even the victors, will be the losers.

Still packs a multi-megaton emotional wallop
This made for television film first aired nearly 25 years ago while the Cold War was on - and it still packs the same sobering multi-megaton emotional wallop as it did back then. The story and scenes of human and animal tragedy and suffering will haunt for days afterwards. It's very good early 1980s period piece that fairly accurately depicts the rising Cold War tensions early in the Reagan administration.

In a reprise of the Soviet blockade of Berlin two decades earlier in 1961, the plot begins with a Soviet blockade of access points between East and West Germany, following by the massing of troops on the border between East and West. When the Soviet bloc troops move across the border, NATO responds by unleashing tactical nuclear weapons on the invading forces, destroying two German cities in the process. The Soviet responds by targeting a NATO regional headquarters in England. It rapidly escalates from there to a major exchange of MIRVed ICBMs, including electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons that detonate high in the atmosphere and knock out all electrical and electronic equipment.

All of the European developments are depicted via fast paced news reports and bulletins coming into a worried American heartland on what would have been an otherwise typical early September weekend as people went about and planned their lives. One of the more chilling scenes vividly depicts the contrast between normal life and unfolding nuclear exchange. Two children innocently watch television, unaware of the gravity of the situation, as their amorous parents slip upstairs for a quick interlude before breakfast. Suddenly a TV bulletin interrupts to report the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe. The scene then shifts to a nearby Strategic Air Command base as klaxons wail and B-52 crews scramble to get their planes into the air. The film is set in Kansas City and Lawrence, Kansas. Jason Robards puts in a fine performance as a doctor and the central character.

Ensemble cast shines.
The Day After (Nicholas Meyer, 1983)

Recently, motivated by a strong desire to see Threads again, I've been going through a kind of craving for nuclear-holocaust-flick nostalgia. Seeing The Day After again was my first foray back into the world of atom-bombs-blowing-stuff-up. I hadn't seen it since its original television broadcast more than twenty years previous, and was surprised at how well it holds up.

The excellent ensemble cast is headed by the late Jason Robards (Magnolia, Enemy of the State, etc.) and John Lithgow (Shrek, Third Rock from the Sun, etc.) as a doctor and scientist, respectively, at two college campuses in the midwest in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. (Said nuclear holocaust happens, as one might expect, early in the film, but not as early as you might figure; unlike modern-day films, stuff made a quarter of a century ago actually took time to build its characters before getting into the plot.) Also along for the ride are Robards' right-hand nurse, played by JoBeth Williams (Poltergeist); a family whose house was close to one of the bombed missile silos, the Dahlbergs; Lithgow's right-hand man Aldo (Stephen Furst of Animal House fame), oh, we'll just run down some names: John Cullum, Bibi Besch, Steve Guttenberg, Lori Lethin, Amy Madigan, Jeff East, Dennis Lipscomb, Arliss Howard... you get the idea. This may have been a made-for-TV movie, but didn't shirk on the starpower. Also, look for uncredited appearances by Wayne Knight (Seinfeld's Newman), David Kaufman (Presidio Med, Pearl Harbor), John Lafayette (various movies based on Tom Clancy novels), and the late director Herk Harvey (in his first screen role since Carnival of Souls twenty years before, and the last before his death in 1996). Meyer and co. didn't scrimp on the casting budget.

It shows. The whole thing is exceptionally well-acted, though sometimes it's a bit tough to believe these folks are really as devastated as one would think survivors of an all-out nuclear war should be (and that a house situated right next to a bombed missile silo would still be standing just because Steve Guttenberg happens to be hiding there provides a moment of unintentional humor). Robards is probably the best at communicating this, especially in the movie's final scene. The makeup job on Robards was also not scrimped on; by the end of the film, he could be something out of a Romero film. For that matter, the makeup crew did an all-around fantastic job; by the end of the flick, Steve Guttenberg was unrecognizable. (I have heard it opined-- well, okay, inside my own head-- that perhaps he should have kept the makeup on when doing Three Man and a Baby.)

The point was brought up in a recent discussion that perhaps those born after the early eighties will probably be too young to really grasp the terrors of the Cold War to those of us old enough to remember "Duck... and Cover!" So perhaps not the best flick to get your kids to thinking about how bad off you were in the old days (for that, use Threads), but it's definitely worthwhile on the nostalgia-trip angle, or if you just like watching Jason Robards act with an equally fantastic cast around him. ****

Life As We Know It Ends...THE DAY AFTER
The made-for-TV film THE DAY AFTER was enormously controversial when it was originally broadcast on ABC in November of 1983, primarily because it was promoted as being the first film to accurately and realistically depict a nuclear holocaust and its aftermath. Political right-wingers didn't like it because they believed such a film would deter support of a strong U.S. military and a large nuclear arsenal. Those on the left were concerned that it might promote the idea that a full-scale nuclear war could be survivable, thereby INCREASING support of the right-wing's push for a strong U.S. military and a large nuclear arsenal. And both sides were worried that the film would be too graphic for the prime-time position in which it was slotted to air. In fact, much of the controversy was vehement enough to worry the sponsors, so consequently not a single minute of commercial time was sold for the part of the film following the depiction of the nuclear war--the last half of the show was aired commercial free!

Socio-political controversy aside, THE DAY AFTER is a very powerful and compelling drama. In the tradition of great SF and horror films, it takes a real-life potentiality--in this case, nuclear holocaust--and portrays it as graphically and as realistically as possible, thereby allowing viewers to vicariously experience the nightmare. For this film, said nightmare takes place in the small towns surrounding Kansas City, one of the ground-zero targets for the enemy's hydrogen bombs. But the real horror of it all is not the bombing itself. The real horror is being a survivor and having to suffer through the aftermath with things like radioactive fallout, nuclear winter, contaminated food and water, political anarchy, and the like.

Portraying survivors from various walks of life, the highly talented cast--which includes big names like Jason Robards, JoBeth Williams, Steve Guttenberg, and John Lithgow, to name a few--does a fantastic job running the gamut of human emotion as their characters come to grips with the traumatic and devastating situation. The excellent script for THE DAY AFTER was written by Edward Hume, a respected TV writer best known for his work on series greats like THE FUGITIVE, CANNON (which he also developed), and THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO. And the film was directed by the venerable Nicholas Meyer, who has directed other SF greats such as 1979's TIME AFTER TIME, 1982's STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, and 1991's STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, and who has written the screenplays for other greats like 1976's THE SEVEN-PER-CENT SOLUTION (having previously written the novel), 1986's STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME, and 1987's highly acclaimed FATAL ATTRACTION. With such great talent behind it, it's not hard to defend the claim that THE DAY AFTER is ONE of the best films, if not THE best film, made specifically for TV.

The DVD from MGM is a no-frills disc, meaning that it is without bonus material, but it does offer a nearly pristine digital transfer of THE DAY AFTER in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1. And the asking price is very reasonable (especially with amazon.com's discount), so lovers of great films and good drama have no excuse for not having this gem in their collections. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Linda Blair RULES in this Cheesy Horror Flick!
I saw this flick for the first time about 20 years ago after reading the book SUMMER OF FEAR by Lois Duncan. The Book was Awesome...so I had high expectations for the film. I have to admit it's not too bad for a TV Movie. Very Tame...but swell casting...You really can't go wrong with Linda Blair and a slueth!

I was THRILLED ...I mean THRILLED...to see the DVD Transfer. Better than I remembered it!

=^..^=

It's Great
If it has Linda Blair in it,It Deserves a 5 cause she looks great as always in this and she's a great actress.I Feel it's hard to write a review on older movies cause they didn't have the technology back then as they do in current movies.But this one is more then watchable.Buy It!Expecially if you are a Linda Blair Fan.I Hope Born Innocent comes to Dvd That's another Great TV movie Blair did.

Summer of Fear (1978)
Entertaining telechiller from Wes Craven starring Linda Blair. Blair plays Rachel, whose cousin Julia (Lee Purcell) comes to live with her and her family at the farm, but macabre events begin to happen and Rachel soon suspects that Julia is practicing witchcraft and voodoo. I wasn't expecting much out of this thriller but in my opinion, it worked very well and was surprisingly scary. Blair does a good job as Rachel and we are with her every step of the way, and Purcell is great as Julia. Wes Craven gives the film a slick, hard look and an impressive atmosphere (this was Craven's first 35mm film), and the script by Glenn M. Benest and Max Keller is riveting and suspenseful. Lois Duncan's acclaimed novel gets a nice little fright of a treatment with this little TV gem.

Fun TV movie!!!
When young Julia's (Lee Purcell) parents are killed in a car accident, she moves in with cousin Rachel (Linda Blair) and her family. At first, things are seemingly normal, but Rachel quickly comes to believe that the distant newcomer is a witch who's out to steal her boyfriend, her father, and her new party dress.

The story is based on Louis Duncan's (I Know What You Did Last Summer) well-regarded young adult novel. For Linda Blair, the role marks a transition between her prepubescent "Exorcist" character and the flashy roles she'd play a few years later. In the same way, for director Wes Craven, the film is a huge step away from his early exploitation attempts (Last House on the Left, The Hills have Eyes) and toward mainstream respectability (A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream).

Produced for CBS television in the 70's, as A Stranger in the House, standards and practices at the time didn't allow any gore or extreme violence -- a pair of demonic eyes and a car crash or two is all you're gonna get, so don't expect any more than cheesy 70's PG-13 violence. But comparing Wes Craven's early efforts, Summer of Fear is actually his most accomplished film, at least technically. His first feature shot on 35mm, Fear looks slicker, is generally better acted, and comes from acclaimed source material, which it sticks pretty closely to.

That's not to say Summer of Fear is an undiscovered classic. The film is very campy, and offers plenty of unintentional laughs. Craven's direction is often rough and amateurish, but he shows some flair with background/foreground compositions and even throws in a few classic Craven-ian dream sequences to appease the Elm Street gang. I also like the fun supporting cast, including an appropriately bitchy Lee Purcell as the bad girl, a young Fran Drescher as Blair's best friend, and even Superman himself, Jeff East, complete with a bad perm.

This is a fun film to say the least, recommended for fans of the novel and those anxious to see Craven's Pre-Scream films. Don't expect anything special and you will have a good time. Thank you Artisan, for releasing this forgotten, but never lost, TV movie.

My Cousin Rachel
"Summer of Fear/Stranger In Our House" finds chubby chickadee Linda Blair gettting a tough time from her much prettier cousin Julia, who to everyone's horror happens to be a connniving little witch! What with Linda's pasty complexion making Prince Prospero appear a pinacle of good health, her pet horse having to be put down (cop the unfortunate stunt double in that scene!), Dad philandering with cousin Julia, best friend Caroline(Fran Drescher in an hilarious pre 'Nanny Fine'turn as a sexy hospital nurse with a knife-edged wit), a besotted brother who fails to score and a slimey boyfriend who dumps Rachel and gets it on with Julia, our poor beleaguered teenage heroine can't help but throw a few whiney tanties. This is a terrible film, completely without suspense(by the time cousin Julia busts out of the dark room sporting her red, white and blue contact lenses and proceeds on a Starsky and Hutch smash-up for the last five minutes its too little too late). Linda Blair has NO talent; this opus is proof perfect of her inability to act. If in doubt check out a few of her other cinematic craptasms- Airport 1975(so bad its great), Sarah T Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic, Roller Boogie, Savage Streets, Red Heat and most notorious of all Born Innocent. The toilet scene in that film says it all! ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Sowing the Seeds of Revenge!!!!
Who couldn't use a pumpkinhead in their lives? I love the premise to this. A redneck has his child murdered by sterotypical teens and goes to the "old witch in the hills" for revenge. Her bright idea is to summon "pumkinhead", a hideous creature who literally feels the rednecks pain. It sets out on a mission of vengnece destroying the guilty parties with a ferocity not seen in horror films in a long, long time. The demon is cool. Theres lots of bones braking and suffering though little gore. So why only three stars? For one, the score is downright aggravating. I never want to hear a harmonica or blues guitar again! ever! Plus the screenplay is rotten. I found the characters to be painfully one dimensional. You really could care less if they all end up rotting in pumkinheads vile belly. You just don't "feel" this movie like others of its ilk. Theres a pretty cool demon in "The Unnamable" and that film is far superior to this. Still, pumkinhead has a pretty dark and sombre mood to it. If thats your thing, this movie could be for you.

An overlooked horror classic
Stan Winston, who is possibly the greatest makeup artist and creature effect artist ever, directed this unusually good horror film. Lance Henriksen stars as Ed Harley, a man who wants revenge against the city folk who accidently killed his son. He goes to a witch that lives near a swamp and she conjures up Pumpkinhead, a monster that will get revenge on the yuppies. However, Ed begins to realize that he has made a mistake, and he tries to stop the monster he helped unleash. Henriksen is unbelieveably good in his role, and it may be the best of his career. Stan Winston did a great job as director and its a shame he hasn't directed anything since. As with the original Halloween, Pumpkinhead is a horror movie that pulls off being scary and good at the same time without buckets of blood and gore being splashed every other scene. Highly recommended.

Full screen?
Oh dear. Buy the R2 release instead, it's in proper widescreen.

Much better than I expected.
I am a huge horror fan, but have found myself disappointed with many of the more recent horror films, particularly the garbage churned out by Artisan Entertainment. I hadn't heard much about this film prior to renting it. I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was above average and Stan Winston's creature was quite impressive. The film has one of the creepiest atmospheres about it of any horror film I've seen since the original "Alien." Lance Henriksen was excellent and believable as the vengeful backwoods dad. Particularly if you are a parent, you know where he's coming from. There was genuine pathos in the scenes that dealt with his son. And unlike most newer horror pictures, the film was actually scary! My one question is: Why isn't this superior horror film more widely known?

Surprisingly decent horror film
At first glance, you think this would be mediocre, right? For starters, there's the old "Oh we commited a crime we can't tell the police!" sort of plot. Also, there's the usual young-adults-being-killed-one-by-one sort of setting. However, despite all this, "Pumpkinhead" really does stand out among other horror films that have used this formula.

For one, Lance Henriksen delivers perhaps the best performance of his career. You really do feel a relationship between his character and his son, and you really can't hate him even after he chooses to unleash Pumpkinhead on the kids who killed his boy. Also, when Lance gives that one guy a death look shortly after finding his son dead...oh believe me, you will feel all the anger and frustration - and pure HATE - that he is feeling.

Pumpkinhead himself is impressive. As usual, there aren't too many full body shots of the monster until the very end, but that's fine. There are some indeed creepy moments as the monster stalks the "city folk" one by one, killing them off the minute one is seperated from the rest. He's not just an animal...he's a sick bastard! He takes the time to mutilate or torture his victims, making him even more frightening than the famous Alien. I might add the special affects aren't that bad; some people have made fun of the affects, but I was impressed - Pumpkinhead looks like a real monster.

To summarize, if you're in the mood for a bit of a chill, give this one a view. ... Read more

Reviews (275)

One Super DVD
Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap the tallest building in a single bound. The world's greatest superhero has finally arrived on DVD with "Superman: The Movie" Special Edition. The film focuses on the young survivor of the doomed world of Krypton. After crash-landing on earth, the young alien is adopted by a caring farm couple and grows up with amazing superhuman abilities. Moving to Metropolis, he uses his incredible powers to protect the people and fight injustice. "Superman- the Movie" is probably the best superhero movie to date. The story is quite entertaining but does lose some strength during the second half though it still manages to preserve its entertainment value. The film contains some great performance by Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and Marlon Brando as Jor-El. The cast also includes Jackie Cooper, Terence Stamp and Ned Beatty. From daring rescues to superhuman feats of strength, the film contains some impressive action sequence and terrific visual effects.

The DVD honors the Man of Steel like it should. The comic book film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains a sharp video transfer and a fine 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with great surround effects. This amazing DVD features an audio commentary with director Richard Donner and consultant Tom Mankiewicz, additional footage including an extended sequence inside Lex Luther's underground gauntlet, behind-the-scenes documentaries, theatrical trailers, deleted scenes and DVD-ROM extras. With such a striking DVD presentation, "Superman" earns an "A".

Super features, super options, JUST PLAIN SUPER!
I enjoyed the Superman DVD. 25 years after this movie came out and seeing it so many times on TV with pan and scan, the newly remastered print blows everything out of the water. The music only option works for the title sequence and hearing the extra tracks on Side B adds to the genius that was John Williams soundtrack.

The audio is remastered and put on a surround sound system instead of the setup I have at home would shake your house to the core. The extra scenes were a good touch as well. Behind the scenes added the great touch of mystique that was Superman. Having Marc McClure host the BTS stuff added a bit of credibility.

Until Spider-Man last year and Batman in 1989, this was the film on which Superheroes were judged. The Hulk disappointed and Daredevil and X-2 were moderate hits.

Superman still stands the test of time, no matter what your views.

Spider-Man has kind of surpassed it...
Well now that we have seen the two Spider-Man movies, I tend to belive that they are now the standards by which other comic book films (both Marvel and DC) will have to live up to now. In a way, Superman is now kind of the odd film out. It works better as an origin story in how Clarke Kent becomes Superman and Chris Reeve's effective perfomance in the title role still works, In the comics, Lex Luthor has always been a one dimensional cartoon character, the only time that he was an effective villian was when Gene Hackman played him in this movie. The final scenes of Superman turning the Earth backward to save lois lane, are what they are. It might be a bit far fetched to put in a movie, but that does not stop audiences from enjoying it. and it doesn't stop me from watching it over and over again.

Born on Krypton, raised by the Kents on Earth, Becomes Hero
The Man of Steel flys into the spectactular motion picture, Based The DC Comic and also appearing in Action Comics, Christopher Reeve stars as Clark Kent.Reporter in Metropolis,Illnois for the newspaper the Daily Planet,And trouble emerges Clark Kent flys to the rescue as Superman, a blue suited red caped powerful wonder. He takes on Lex Luthor played Gene Hackman and falls for Lois Lane played Margot Kidder and Marlon Brand as the Krytonian father of Superman Jor EL. This Film is a Great Superhero movie and great film all around, probably the most imaginative thing the Man of Steel has been in. Superman began as the comic, then a radio show, several 1950s B movies, TV show and in 1978 the true Superman ovie. Superman is imaginative in everthing because hes an imaginative character. A pop culture icon on screen and in everthing else. the Special Effects are incredible, This a Super high flying ride. You Want a good superhero movie before Batman and Spider-Man this is it. If it wasn't for this classic we would'nt have superhero movies like Spider-Man 1&2,Batman,Hulk and X-Men 1&2. Thank Hollywood for making a great superhero film that lauched other superhero films. A thrilling Film of one of the greatest heroes of the 20th century, The Man of Steel, SUPERMAN.

Release Superman into our 21st century!
Very bad film.
They released Spiderman into the 21st century, why not Superman?
I've always found him to be the most appealing comic book character. He is sure for an amazing performance.
RELEASE HIM INTO OUR CENTURY! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"You'll Believe A Man Can Fly!"
And we did! Superman was one of my favorite movies of alltime! It's action packed, exciting, romantic, and fun! Warner Bros. can try, but they can never replace Christopher Reeve as Superman! Not now or ever!

superman
I think this was an excellent film of in the time it came out. I was little at that time but when I watched it, it was cool. ... Read more