Reviews (3)

Interesting!
I saw this movie on TV when I was a kid and thought it's not Rock Hudson's best movie it is an interesting story about the dangers of cloning and is a pretty creepy movie!

Embryo / DVD
Shame on Passport Video. My VHS Tapes look better than this DVD. The transfer looks to be off someones 6 hour tape. What a waste. I'll think twice before I purchase another Passport Video.

An interesting movie about the dangers of cloning
I have seen Embryo twice on television and I have enjoyed it both times. It is an interesting drama with a touch of science that presents the dangers of cloning, which is quite a futuristic view since the movie was released in only 1975, decades before "Dolly", the cloned sheep. For the most part, it is scientifically sound and is an original concept for a movie.

Rock Hudson stars as the doctor who finds an injured dog on the road and takes it home to nurse back to health. The doctor has been working on advanced growth formulae, however, and is able to regenerate (or clone) the dog within a matter of weeks. He is thrilled with his success and decides to make the giant leap to cloning a human. Not only does this intrigue the viewer, but introduces an eerie and suspenseful feeling about what is going to happen, especially when his "cloned" dog has an encounter with a small white dog (you'll have to see the movie to find out what happens here).

His "cloned" human is a girl named Victoria, nicely played by Barbara Carrera. Within days she is a beautiful, fully-grown adult with the remarkable ability to learn quickly and retain knowledge. She becomes very close to the doctor and helps him with his research. Then, near the end of the movie, something goes terribly wrong. It shows how an experiment can take a turn for the worse and is a warning to the limits of human testing. You will definitely have to watch the end of the movie to understand what I mean.

Embryo is successful as both a drama and pseudo-science movie. It was merely by chance that I watched it on T.V., but I'm glad I did because it was well worth it. The acting by Hudson and Carrera is well done, but I think the story idea itself makes this movie good. I recommend this movie to anyone who has an open mind to science and the future. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Christy (Lauren Lee Smith) and the rest of the Cutter Gap community arejust beginning to recover from a typhoid epidemic when a storm hits the ruralalcove. In A New Beginning, the second of a two-part PAX production thatbegan with A Change of Seasons, she gets stranded in the forest with Dr.MacNeill (Stewart Finlay-McLennan), and her fiancé David (James Waterston) riskslife and limb to rescue her. Despite a loss of property, the town makes itthrough the storm relatively intact, but many have been changed by theexperience. Christy, for instance, has come to see Dr. MacNeill in a new light,thus questioning her engagement to David. Will she marry the preacher or breakoff the engagement? Marriage is on the minds of several characters in thisengaging recollection by the elderly Christy about her experiences as a youngschoolteacher in the Smoky Mountains. Age 8 and older. --Kathleen C.Fennessy ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Stewart Finlay-McLennan is fantastic in this movie!
I have to say that I did enjoy the movie, but found it difficult to believe in its realism (in comparison to the television series).

Certain actors seemed to be either overacting or just not right for their parts. Dr. Neil McNeill (played by SFM)is one of five returning actors to the movie and he hold's the most realism in his character and acting. He is believable as the doctor, and although he appears as though he has aged considerably since the original series, he performance is flawless and enjoyable.

Lauren Lee Smith who plays Christy was also pretty good. I found the transition from Kellie Martin to Smith was a bit difficult for me to accept, but in the end I was pleased with her performance. The character of Miss Alice was probably the most disappointing. She seemed the most fake and overacting to me, and although I'm sure the actress is top-notch, this part wasn't quite right for her.

In the end, this mini-series combines a fantastic story with beautiful scenery and unforgettable characters. It's worth buying.

Ok...
The new "Christy" was ok. But the original cast with Kelly Martin and Tyn Daly will alway be Christy and Miss Alice. I just thought that the girl they got to play Christy was so bland and calm when the Character was actually a little more fiesty. But that wasn't even my main problem with it. My problem was that they had replaced all the character's which is fine, but if your going to do that. Then replace all that characters. Dr.Mcneil is played by that same actor that was in the telvision series. He had chemistry with Kelly Martin. You knew those two. They had no history with him and "NEW CHRISTY". It just didn't seem right to have him played by the same man and everyhting around him different. I might have enjoyed it more if they had gotten a different actor b/c then I wouldn't thought through the whole thing, NO THIS WRONG. We watched the series as him and Kelly battled and domewhat flirted and You were so upset when they left you hanging. But to add new people and then keep him. Just wasn't right...

a bit disappointed
Having read the book many times growing up & seen the CBS series, I was a bit disappointed with the movies. While great for loyal Christy fans who're familiar with the characters & the incredible story, I agree with some other reviewers that 'newbie' fans shouldn't start with the movies. The original CBS series was great!!! Although Lauren Lee Smith, Diane Ladd & Sam W. are commendable, I think Kellie Martin's Christy, Tyne Daly's Miss Alice & Randall Batinkoff's David were MUCH MORE believable. At times, the acting came off a bit overly done or not enough & unfortunately, Lauren's Christy struck me as a bit...bland. The saving grace: 3 cheers though for Stewart Finlay-McClennan's returning performance as Dr. MacNeil! Hope this helps: I'd try to get the whole series 1st, and then these movies.

at least she marries the right one...
This mini-series takes advantage of the fans' interest in the love triangle. Two different endings were shot, so that not even the actors knew who Christy would choose. Unfortunately, this decision to keep the viewer guessing until the final scene makes Christy looks like a flake. By the time this soap opera ended, I didn't care about Christy's fate; I was feeling too sorry for both the men in her life. Catherine Marshall's characters deserve better. Stewart Finlay McLennan is excellent as Neil; I wish he had an experienced actress playing Christy and a script worthy of his talent.

better than the original series
i was never able to get into the regular series with kelly martin and tyne daly. not that i don't like their acting, it just always seemed that they were not right for the roles that they were playing. i grew up reading catherine marshalls books and lauren just fit my image of what christy would have looked and acted like. and tyne daly definately was no miss alice!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Too flawed to be satisfying
I was persuaded to watch MACHO CALLAHAN because of the movie's decent cast (David Janssen, Jean Seberg, Lee J. Cobb, David Carradine), and it's plot (the frequently-used but still reliable scenario of a wronged man seeking revenge). Unfortunately, the film is lacking in several ways. Janssen plays a Civil War P.O.W. whose situation can be blamed on the underhanded Cobb. He busts out of a Confederate military prison (in one of the film's few good scenes), intent on tracking down his quarry. But that storyline - which is the selling point of the movie - ends (rather abruptly) midway through the picture. The rest of the film deals with the consequences of Janssen gunning down a newlywed (Carradine), and his wife's (Seberg) desire to see Janssen dead. Credibility is strained to the breaking point when Seberg begins to fall in love with Janssen almost immediately after he's brutally raped her! Some really bad dialogue doesn't help, either. In a scene that's supposed to be tender, Janssen tries expressing his feelings to Seberg by saying: "Never learned no readin'. So I got no idea what you're supposed to say when you're like this. I know you're supposed to say somethin'. Some damn thing like 'you got pretty eyes', or somethin'. I know that." Yikes! The apparent intent was to show how a good woman can change a bad man...but it's handled in such a fashion as to make it seem unlikely at best, and utterly implausible at worst. A few scenes indicate that the film might not have had the biggest of budgets. When Seberg is confronted by a bear protecting her cub, it's obvious that Momma Bear is a guy in a bear suit! Fast editing tries to disguise the fact, but it's still noticeable. (Quick note: Janssen, in a rare act of compassion, plans to take the cub where it can be cared for, after declaring that the young animal can't make it on it's own. But when a posse starts to close in, the cub is promptly abandoned). All in all, MACHO CALLAHAN is somewhat like a jigsaw puzzle that hasn't been pieced together properly. Several scenes start and end too abruptly, without the benefit of appropriate transitions. You get the feeling that the filmmakers have left out a few things that would have made the movie flow better. Despite this, the film isn't a total bomb. The opening scenes convincingly depict the deplorable conditions of a Civil War prison, and the break-out is rousing. MACHO CALLAHAN is watchable, but it has too many elements going against it to be recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Rage Against the Mediocre: Alan Smithee's Raging Angels
Despite a name cast and a couple of Oscar veterans, this silly film has little going for it.

Sean Patrick Flanery, who is still trying to find that star making role, is a down and out musician with a cute girlfriend. She is hired as a backup singer for Michael Pare, who is pushing a one world order with the backing of...oh, I don't know...could it be...SATAN. Flanery has religious fanatics grandma Shelley Winters and evangelist Diane Ladd on his side, for what that is worth.

The pseudonym Alan Smithee is used by directors who take their name off a project, and I was surprised to not see it used more throughout the credits. Five different writers are credited with a script that features more holes than an Afghani cave complex. Michael Pare finally gets to use the guitar face that made "Eddie and the Cruisers" so successful, but the songs here are all really tepid and uninteresting. Speaking of tepid, the special effects are awful, I have seen better use of computer animation on local television ads.

I cannot imagine the film makers started out with such a cheap idea, but after getting the cast, that is what the film degenerated into. "Raging Angels" is a cool title to an otherwise bland film.

This is rated (R) for physical violence, some gun violence, some profanity, and sexual content.

Not even the eye candy could spice it up.
This movie is more of a comedy than a horror. Beyond the attractive qualities of the young leads, there was not much to enjoy about this flick. Even good actors like Diane Ladd and Sean Patrick Flanery give poor performances. The only thing that made this movie worth viewing (in my opinion) was the vocal stylings of Mr Flanery (yes, I watched the credits and was really him singing).

Great movie, but it just didn't work for any audience.
It was too obviously Christian for a secular audience, but it was a bit too riske for a Christian audience. Gotta say it was a gutsy move to make a film so blatently Christian in today's world. That alone impresses me. I love the story, though. I'm not one to be picky about special effects (which were pretty bad) just so long as the story is creative and fascinating. And I LOVED the end.

loved it
I love the music in this movie

If anyone ever comes in here and knows where i can get some of this music i would be greatful. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Drama & Thriller In One!
A woman is reunited with her biological mother after she was taken by child-protective services when she was little. Her mother was suffering from postpartum psychosis and supposedly put her into a bathtub of scalding hot water. After all these years, her mother is still psycho. She meets her daughter's lifelong foster parents, husband, son and new-born baby. As she tries to bond with her daughter, extreme rage and jealousy builds up inside of her towards the foster parents. And when her anti-psychotic medication runs out, she goes on a violent and sociopathic rampage against the family. It gets to the point where she plans on completly destroying every person in her daughter's life so they can start over, just the two of them. Her daughter realizes what she's up to when the bitch tries to kill the baby. The same way she did before, a bathtub full of steaming, scalding water. It turns into a shocking, heartpounding turmoil between the mother and daughter which leads to emotional pain, violence, and certain death.

A very good movie
The story line for the movie is very good and convincing and the acting by every character was believable and sincere. ... Read more

Reviews (79)

Good film, great extras
The breezy rehab story of Gwen Cummings(Sandra Bullock) and her 28 days towards the road to recovery isn't a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination, but it's definitely enjoyable.The key points to the DVD that may warrant you buying it are Betty Thomas's directors commentary, three character testimonials that were cut from the final film, instructions on how to make a gum wrapper chain like the fiesty heroine,theatrical trailers,and talent files. But the best thing, and possibly worth the price of the rest of the disc, is the hilarious 26 minutes of "lost episodes" of the fictional soap "Santa Cruz" that everyone at the rehab center watches.That alone is almost as funny as the movie, with the actors playing their scenes with intense seriousness amid ridiculous plot situations even more far fetched than the average soap.

Here's Looking at You, Sandra Bullock
Director Betty Thomas has achieved something rare: A modern movie that tackles a serious issue and emerges with it's tastefulness intact. "28 Days" has the plot of a drama, the soul of a comedy, the feel of a documentary and a fabulous performance by Sandra Bullock that gives each genre a place in the delicate mix of this wonderful movie.

Bullock is Gwen Cummings, an alcoholic, pill popping journalist who is sentenced to spend 28 days in a rehab center she drunkenly steals a limo and crashes it into a house. Leaving behind her boozy British boyfriend Jasper (superbly played by Domonic West), Gwen soon finds the support and understanding of her eccentric and often hilarious new neighbors. There's Eddie (Viggo Mortensen), the washed up baseball player who'll sleep with anyone; Oliver (Mike O'Malley), the wisecracking Park Avenue pot addict; Andrea (Azura Skye), a young woman addicted to drugs and a preposterous soap opera called "Santa Cruz," which she eventually turns everyone on to; and Gerhardt (Alan Tudyk), the wacky German. "28 Days," unlike an "Erin Brokovich" where one star dominates, is an ensemble film that allows a variety of talents to shine. And with a cast of this caliber, sometimes that shine rivals the stars themselves in brightness.

Despite many humorous moments, it's the dramatic aspects of "28 Days" that make it great. When Gwen becomes so desperate for her pills that she jumps out the window to get some she threw away earlier, the obsessiveness and despair of dependency are captured at their most vivid. Then there's her troubled relationship with her sister Lily (sensitively portrayed by Elizabeth Perkins), who can't decide whether she wants to give up on the woman who has never been there for her, or stand by her in the hope that she will reform, risking having her heart broken yet again.

It's because Bullock and screenwriter Susannah Grant have made Gwen such a likable character that these situations have real bite. Sine we can't decide whether we love her or hate her, we keep watching the movie on the edge of our seats, searching for something that will proove to us once and for all what Gwen Cummings is. The movie wisely avoids giving us a straight answer to that and many other questions, allowing the viewer instead to make their own decisions and create their own relationaships with the characters and the things they encounter.

"28 Days" is a triumph for all involved. There's nothing better for a cynical critic like me then proof on the screen that films moving stories with engaging characters are still being made. Perhaps the best news of all is the resurrection of Sandra Bullock's career after three flops in a row. If she continues to show such wise judgement in choosing her projects, this poor man's Julia Roberts may be topping the A-list once again.

drunks on parade......
While the film was entertaining, I do not find anything in the least entertaining about the subject matter of drug addiction. In Gwen's book it was booze and Vicodin......a killer combo.....Alcoholics are often seen as hilarious, but in reality most of the time they leave a trail of tragedy not only for those who are closest to them, ie families and their friends, but they create pain in the lives of total strangers.....witness Gwen's destruction of a limo and a residence when she left her sister's wedding reception. I suppose we should be happy she did not end up on the freeway with the limo.
I found the characters in this film just too cute.....From what I have seen on COPS, they don't appear to be that cute in reality, or maybe if you have the 50K, which rehabs centers like Gwen was staying at cost, perhaps you see a different bunch of addicts.

Good movie with some strong performances
I liked this one- am finally adding it to my video collection.
Sandra Bullock is a believable drunk who has a very tough time relating to anyone and everyone. Was nice seeing someone who is not overly likeable in movie like this.
Nice performance by a clean cut and hunky Viggo Mortenson livens this up.
For a double downer line up of sobering drama
see Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia in When a Man Loves a Woman.

Santa Cruz & Gum Wrapper Chains
Sandra Bullock's character goes to rehab. She hates it at first then sees she should be sober. Its a funny movie thats not very preachy and it has good characters. The dvd has cool features like how to make that gum wrapper chain thing, and actual scenes from Santa Cruz. ... Read more

Reviews (209)

A Christmas Classic!
The film that inspired a whole generation of exterior illuminators! Subsequent to the release of this film, houses soon began Christmas-light makeovers, which I think really adds to the atmosphere of the season! Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo are superb in this John Hughes classic Christmas comedy - as is Randy Quaid. Clark W Griswold Jnr is anxious to have the 'perfect' old fashioned, fun, family Chritmas. But, as usual, nothing goes according to plan: Getting stuck under a truck in the opening minutes... becoming psychotic over the failing of the thousands of lights he's added to the building... ruining the Christmas of Tod and Margo (their yuppie, bourgesois next door neighbours)...Eddie (Quaid) kidnapping Clark's boss because Clark didn't recieve his bonus cheque, needed to pay for a swimming pool...a storm sewer exploding (and the poor cat!)...the tree getting burnt...etc...Leading to the house teetering on 'the threshold of Hell'! There are many great moments in this movie. My personal favourite is when he takes Eddie and the kids sledging: a silicone-based kitchen lubricant Clark's company invented is smeared onto his sledge, propelling him like a rocket! The scenery is so Christmassy here. I have a selection of Christmas movies I stack around the video at this time of year. Christmas Vacation takes prime position. I have seen it *so* many times yet I am still not bored with it. Note: There is mild bad language in the PG version, but for those with younger children, some versions have worse. I really don't know why Hughes had to do this; this film could be accessible to all, as with Miracle On 34th Street (Hughes' remake). As is usual with John Hughes, those typical huge mansions (as with Home Alone, Ferris Bueller and Uncle Buck) feature. The photography is very Christmassy and it just might get you in the mood... The DVD has the trailer (including the other Vacation trailers), different language options, production notes etc... I am glad to have found a site that sells those reindeer egg nog glasses too!

At Long Last!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, after all this time, Warner Brothers have come to their senses. On October 7th, we will be treated to a heftly helping of one of the greatest Christmas films to ever grace the silver screen............in WIDESCREEN.

I was extremely disappointed with the previous DVD release of this film which contained a pan & scan presentation and nothing more than a theatrical trailer in the extras department.

What we have here is a special edition of this great movie, which will contain audio commentary from both Beverly D'Angelo and Chevy Chase, a "making of" featurette, as well as other stocking stuffers which have yet to be disclosed at this present time.

Being a huge fan of this movie, I honestly can't wait for this release. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" has become a holiday tradition in my home, and to be able to see it the way it was intended to be seen is truly a treat for me.

Aside from the features of the disk, the film itself is the true gift. One of the funniest movies today which still withstands the test of time even 15 years later. The premise is simple. Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase) is hell bent on having an old-fashioned family Christmas in his home, relatives and all. Of course, the hilarity kicks in when things start to go awry. There are so many hilarious scenes in this movie, it would be difficult to list them all. You have everything from an electrocuted cat, to a house with the brightest Christmas light display known to man. Let's not forget the dried up turkey, the saucer sled and the dog/squirrel chase! There's so much more I could say to praise this movie, but if you haven't already seen it, [I won't say more]

The Griswalds are great
The group at national lampoon have a real winner in this one. It is the christmas from hell, and about the greatest christmas comedy there is. It is decided to have an old fashion christmas... all the family on both sides gathering together to celebrate christmas, and the joy of family. Well, it is national lampoon, so you know thats not all together whats going to happen. When you mix in-laws, snooty neighbors, alcohol, and the less desirable part of any family, you get something great! It's 97 minutes of National Lampoons best!

Phenominal
This has to be one of the best "Vacation" movies made yet. I cannot express this enough. It's definitly on my list of all time Christmas Classics, and you can still watch it throughout the year!

The "Vacation" movies really dig into almost any typical American's search to make the perfect vacation, life, experience for their family. Chevy Chase and Beverly DiAngelo just highlight it and make it all funny. I have had many friends and neighbors we could dub "the Grizwolds" over the years because of the bumbling things they've tried to do and these movies hit home, especially Christmas Vacation.

Buy it, love it!

The Griswold Family's Christmas From Hell
It's amazing that Chevy Chase wasn't maimed or killed during the making of this movie. I know, there were plenty of stunt players who fell off the roof, crashed through the attic, were flung about into brick walls, etc.---but still! Chevy, who had a well-publicized stint in the Betty Ford Clinic for addiction to painkillers (due to extreme back pain caused by, of all things, his numerous falls on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1970's while spoofing then-President Gerald Ford---how ironic is that???), certainly took on a certain level of risk in reprising his role as the perpetually clumsy, but good-intentioned, WASP patriarch Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr. in this, the third installment of the VACATION series by Chase's old comedy troupe, National Lampoon.

Having not seen (as of yet, believe it or not) either VACATION or EUROPEAN VACATION, I was a bit unfamiliar with the main characters; however, CHRISTMAS VACATION got me to know them real fast. I have to admit, I have not been a Chevy Chase fan since the '70's, during and immediately after his SNL days. (Let's face facts, the show made him an instant star, but he was never really one of the funniest members of the Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time Players.) However, I believe that he gives a truly inspired comedic performance in CHRISTMAS VACATION. I'm not even referring to the copious physical comedy he displays. I'm actually talking about his comedic acting! I love the manic energy with which Chase infuses his role, and the crazed look in his eye when his character is pushed over the edge. Beverly D'Angelo, as patient but frequently unamused wife Ellen, provides a good low-key foil for his over-the-top antics. She's well-cast and, I must say, beautiful.

As far as acting talent goes, this film has no shortage in this department. A pre-stardom Juliette Lewis is welcome as Griswold daughter Audrey, and a very young Johnny Galecki is engaging as her kid brother Russell (three years before he was cast as Darlene's lazy boyfriend David on the hit TV show "Roseanne"). We also get memorable performances from E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, an unrecognizable Dianne Ladd, and a hysterically funny William Hickey. Rounding out the mix is Randy Quaid as filthy slob Cousin Eddie (who parks his trailer in the driveway), Nicholas Guest and Julia-Louis Dreyfus as the bland and stuck-up neighbors next door, and Brian Doyle-Murray who serves up good moments as Clark's old crabby boss.

The problem with CHRISTMAS VACATION is that, while it does contain some very funny scenes with lots of great, memorable one-liners, it is marred by inferior direction on the part of first-time director Jeremiah Chechik. He tends to interlace the fast-paced physical scenes with long, slow ones that grind the movie to a dead halt every time. While I didn't expect the level of non-stop, lightning-paced zaniness a la AIRPLANE!, these extended slow breaks (that usually focus on a character staring dreamily into the sky) are awkwardly placed and paced, and thereby create an uneven viewing experience. However, John Hughes' smart and wickedly funny script pretty much saves the day. I wouldn't add this to the list of perennial must-see Christmas films (such as A CHRISTMAS STORY or IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE), but CHRISTMAS VACATION does offer a lot of fun for the whole family (except for kids under the age of 10, as the language is well-seasoned with four-letter words). If it does nothing else, this film should make you feel a lot better about your Christmas!

MODERATELY RECOMMENDED ... Read more

Reviews (21)

NOT A GOOD MOVIE
Sorry, but this film is rediculous. Casper Van Dien is awful in the role. It's obvious he doesn't know how to act and whoever said Van Dien looked like he did alot of research on the role has got to be out of there mind. It's even a horrible love story, it's often very corny and is horribly photographed. And seventy-five percent of the whole film wasn't even true. He never came on to Natalie Wood and never talked to Pier Angeli after she broke up with him.
To start with: Casper here, portrays the Hollywood legend as if he were some big time macho skirt chaser (as mentioned, in the film he came on to Natalie Wood), looking for trouble. James Dean was not a skirt chaser, he was shy and took his acting seriously. He wouldn't moon the camera (as at the beginning of the film he moons the camera when shooting for "East of Eden"). And when he's at Pier Angeli's house in the film. He turns on some Rock'n'Roll music. Jimmy listened to classical music, with classic singers like Frank Sinatra (not insulting Rock'n'Roll or anything, just noting it). Also, the racing sequences are horrible. It looks more like they're racing at a theme park. And also the film doesn't even cover Jimmys whole life, it didn't cover the years that effected his life. And at the end when the cars collide it's horrible. It shows the hero dead, it's really painful and heart breaking (even if it is pathetic Casper Van Dien) to see the hero die, especially when it's supposed to be James Dean.
As asnother reviewer said, I would recommend the bio-pic starring James Franco, although not totally accurate (but more accurate than this film) it shows James Dean for who he was. James franco is a real gifted actor (unlike Casper Van Dien) he has a bright future ahead if he keeps acting.

An insult to Jimmy!
This film is extremely insulting to the memory of James Byron Dean, and attempts at presenting a "cool-legend" other than how Jimmy actually was. Bad, bad, bad stuff right here. Please, ... Casper? (I can't believe I can't get work acting (I look more like Jimmy than he does), this performance was pathetic and one-dimensional.) For a great and multi-layered portrayal of how Jimmy was check out "James Dean" starring James Franco (a role in which he won several awards). While the TNT film may have some factual slip-ups here and there, it does not romanticize and idealize James Dean. It presents Jimmy as a lonely boy with vast emotional problems searching for acceptance and love. (Which is exactly who he was)...

Pure [junk]
I could play a better James Dean than Casper. I cannot even believe they chose him, I find that so insulting. This movie [stinks] royally and thats that. And for once could we please have an honest hollywood film about his LIFE no fiction added romance.... EVERYONE KNOWS he was bisexual... whats the big deal? I think its okay to make a film about that as well as all the other real things he did and what he delt with. Enough of this low budget trash.

Get Over it CRYBABIES!!!! Good Film , Casper is awesome
I think this is a good film, period!!!! I live in Indiana and I have been a Jimmy Dean fan for over half my life (I'm 36). The point here is that there will never be another James Dean, we all know that, so get over it!!!!! I'd never expect any guy to play Jimmy and capture his whole persona. Jimmy was too talented and special for that to happen. Casper is blond, blue eyed, medium-short height, and pulls off Jimmy's facial expressions and body gestures well. What else can you expect? I think Casper is a fine actor and he does a sensitive thoughtful acting job in the role of James Dean.

For starters, everyone knows Pier left Jimmy for Vic Damone (documented facts here, even Pier said so later). The story of Pier and Jimmy in this movie is considered by most Dean fans to be the true one. Pier's mother pushed her to marry Vic, end of story. Unless you subscribe to the story that Jimmy was gay and their relationship was a farce (for myself, I think the idea of Jimmy being gay is a farce in itself).

Yes this film has flaws. Sal and Natalie are depicted unfairly, but that is a judgement call depending on whose facts you choose to believe. I thought the jibe to both was unessesary. sal was gay and Natalie slept around, but Jimmy was no angel either. It was uncalled for.

Robert Mitchum and Connie Stevens are awesome in this movie as well as Carrie Mitchum (Casper's ex-wife). Diane Ladd was so good as Mama Pierangeli that I wanted to reach through the TV screen and punch her lights out. If you like Dean and are open minded enought to seeing someone play Jimmy, then you may find that you will like this film. It is meant to be an action-drama, not a serious hardcore bio picture. Lot's of cool scenes of Jimmy (Casper) riding a motorcycle and Jimmy's Porche's. The soundtrack can be overbearing at times, like alot of film's nowadays.

Poor Jimmy and Pier, I'll bet they are in heaven right now snuggling. I hope they are together finally.

but the music is good
i have to agree with the other reviewers for the most part this movie stinks. With the possible exception of Robert Mitchum the acting is horrid and the movie very inaccurate. James Dean was not madly in love with Pier Angelli and in fact broke off the relationship with her. In the movie the reverse is true. On the plus side the music, at least the songs by Gordon Waller are excellent if you like mid 50s music or are a Peter and Gordon fan. You may consider buying the soundtrack 'Race With Destiny" if you can find it. I give it 4 stars, fron what i have heard from the movie. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An Australian perspective
Having just recently watched this on TV in Australia i would like to add my thoughts on this movie .Firstly i am not an expert on what happened here, having not read any books on the subject nor any significant media coverage so my knowlede thus far has been gained from watching this movie.With that in mind i know what has been portrayed here will not be entirely accurate.

The movie does a good job in building a profile of the Weaver family their Christian fundamentalist beleifs which in their case incorporates Anti Govt views,mixing with Neo Nazis,there own kids wearing Swastikas on their arms,teaching of hatred to their kids of others that do not look like them (ie non whites) & the belief that you can never have too many guns lying around the house.The family become isolated even from Vicki Weaver's parents & sister their views of things like the end of the world as we know it are too much for even for them.

Some have said this movie paints an unflattering portrayal of the Weaver's i did not find this.If anything i found it too much skewed against the FBI & the ATF.

The issues of responsibility of the Weaver's own actions are not addressed here.What happens when a man & his wife take their kids to an isolated location have little contact with the outside world,teach their kids hatred of others& their own govt?.Cople that with Fundamentalist beliefs that blind you to reason & understanding of others who do not share your views. Well the answer is not good & you can see them on a collision course with an unhappy ending.

Let's get to the bottom of this Right wing Ant Govt feeling.All of us in 1st world western countries can get get annoyed at our govt but we have avenues where we can channel our frustration IE voting,attending political meetings,working for a party or a person that beleives in the same things as you do,forming your own political party or if that is not enough run for office youself At local,state or Federal level.There is no excuse for people living in countries like the US to hold the anti govt views like the weavers did.Those that do should be booted out of the country & go to places like (if they even know these countries)China,Nth Korea,Iraq,Iran & coutless others where they can experiance for real brutal dictatorship & human rights violations by the truckload.
We have all seen what happens when hatred of Govt,ignorence & intolerance gets mixed together- April 19th 1995 Oklahoma 169 innocent Americans killed.

Enough Said

media demonization
This movie set out to demonize the Weavers and did a great job of it. Far too many inaccuracies to even begin. While I understand the need to condense for the sake of a movie,this was too much. Saying this is based on the book"Every knee shall bow" is about like saying "Ben Hur" is based on the Bible.

It Was Ten Years Ago: Remember Ruby Ridge
I have read several books about the Ruby Ridge murders. I also have an amature video with footage taken during the siege. This made for tv movie is about 75% accurate. That is pretty good for Hollywood. The story told in the film is not complete and I urge anyone to read "Ambush At Ruby Ridge" by Alan Bock first.
The movie has some mistakes. Randy Weaver was a short man and Randy Quaid was a poor choice to play him. He was a former Green Beret and not a slacker as he is sometimes portrayed in the movie. Laura Dern is made up to look like Vicki Weaver very well. Vicki was a strong woman but not the domineering type as she is sometimes made to be in the film.
Kirsten Dunst played Sara Weaver very well and was true to the character for the most part.Her performance in the second part of the movie alone is worth the price of the video .
There was no Confederate flag in front of the Weaver's cabin as is shown in the movie. There was never any real evidence that Randy broke the law and this is not shown well in the film. The shoot-out that took the lives of Vicki and her son was very well done. The part of the movie that shows the shoot-out and what followed is very accurate. In fact, the second part of the movie shows just how in the wrong the government was in what it did.
This August 21 will be the tenth anniversary of the Ruby Ridge murders. Read the book I mentioned and then view the film. Only then will you understand the danger our country is in from overbearing and power hungry tyrants.

Outstanding
Until I saw this film, I didn't really know anything about Ruby Ridge and what happened to the Weaver family. I'm glad that I've finally seen it because what happened there was inexcusable and must be told.

Watching the movie and not knowing what to expect, I found that it was very cleverly done and the story seamless.

A must see! ... Read more