Reviews (10)

The best horror film of it's kind.
New York city is being terrorized by a series of murders and the public breaks into panic when the killer is a cop. Yes indeed, this is a film with a story that has not bee used befor, something new, and director William Lustig (MANIAC) and writter Larry Cohen (IT'S ALIVE) make this a good B-movie if youare looking for action, a few scares, and good acting. MANIAC COP 2 and 3 are good (but not as good as this) movies if you can find them.

1987. TWE. 92 MINS.

Rated R for Language and Some Strong Horror/Action Violence.

You have the right to remain silent, FOREVER
I found Maniac Cop to be a great action/horror film. Director William Lustig continues his crusade to make good flicks(like Relentless,Uncle Sam,and the classic Maniac). This film is among his best. Robert Z'Dar(a truely underrated actor)plays the psycho cop who stalks the streets of NY. Tom Atkins(Halloween III)is on his trail. Maniac Cop's sequels were not on par with the original, but all three films are worth a look, especially the well done original.

out of print?
This is a great cult flick! I can't believe it's out of print! What the heck is wrong with these people? Don't they like to make money? Re-master this puppy and get it on the shelves!

At least Bruce Campbell's in it...
And believe me, that's about all this movie has going for it. It's your typical low-budget freak/monster B-movie. There is little to nothing in the way of originality in this film and should be avoided by anyone who doesn't love B-movies. It lacks the humor and imagination of many other movies of this genre.

Having said that, though, it does star Bruce Campbell (star of the Evil Dead trilogy) as the hero and just about any movie starring BC is worth watching at least once. There's nothing terribly exciting about his performance here, but... it's Bruce Campbell.

It should also be said that this DVD comes with some excellent extras, considering that it's such a low-budget, relatively unknown, cult film. With many DVDs of this genre, you're lucky if you have any special features at all. Deleted scenes, trailers, commentary, etc. A very nice surprise.

DVD review
If you loved EVIL DEAD you will like this movie.
The DVD has a better quality than the old VHS, but it still could have been better.
The film is shown widescreen (1.85:1) and is not enhanced for 16x9. The quality is ok, but for Elite standards. A lot of the colors seem faded but this could be due to the age and budget of the film. A lot of the night scenes are too way too dark and grain can be spotted in several scenes. The laser had a much better brighter transfer. The sound is Dolby Digital Surround and sounds nice, but it seems to be Stereo and not Surround. The spoken word and music score is crystal clear with no pops but your speakers don't get much work.
You get the films original theatrical trailer, which is shown widescreen. The picture quality on the trailer hasn't been cleaned up. There is a lot of grain and most of the picture is very dark. You also get two television spots, which are shown full frame and both look like the trailer. Each is dark with grain running through them. You also get a trailer from France that is spoken in French with no subtitles. The picture looks a looks a lot worse than the previous trailer. There is also a Spanish radio spot, which is spoken is Spanish with no subtitles. There are also six extra scenes that were filmed for Japan television. These scenes are nice but don't add anything special to the film. Finally, there is an audio commentary with director Lustig, producer Cohen, Bruce Campbell and Jay Chattaway. The commentary is one of the best out there. Everyone is constantly talking and a lot of great stories are told about the making of the film.

Overall A fun movie if you don't expect too much out of it. The video is somewhat disappointing but the audio is nice. The extras are definitely the best thing about this DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Arcane anatomical differences between the sexes?
Something weird keeps happening in this movie. Everytime Princess Hundra or some other female character kick, hit, or grab a man between the legs, the man falls down, can't get up, and loses the fight he'd just started against the gal.
This happens countless times in this movie and is most unusual. Hm. I'm not sure what to make of it. Have these movie makers stumbled upon some ancient, esoteric, mysterious difference between men and women? Some strange anatomical aberration that men have between the legs that women do not?
If so, then I would highly recommend this film to female self-defense experts, as this could revolutionize the roles between the sexes completely. We're talking a whole new, and much more easy to master school of martial arts here: There may never be such a thing as rape again, and men may be the ones staying home from now on, doing the cooking and cleaning. This is big, big stuff happening here. Some heavy duty revelations mayhaps.

HOT HUNDRA!
This feminist version of Conan the Barbarian from the 80s got lost in the shuffle when the director, who had a distribution agreement with Universal, went behind the studio's back to see if he could get a better deal. He should have just taken Big U's deal so people could get to see this cool movie. Laurene Landon is hot as the title character out to avenge the pillaging of her tribe. Does her own stunts and swordplay. Landon is a terribly overlooked action actress. Maybe this dvd release of one of her best films will give audiences a chance to see her shine. What we need now is a dvd release of her follow-up, the serial tribute Yellowhair and the Fortress of Gold. Here's to a Laurene Landon revival! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

It has that Adam Arkin feel
Ed McMahon is a right-wing father that has to go on a mission to Romania and takes his son Adam Arkin. The father is interrogating a couple of female contacts. He tells them that in the US they would be free to walk the streets at night.
You can guess what biting experiences the son has to go through. Later requiring him to roam the world until he gets tired of packing. Then he must fulfill his destiny. There is a reference to ALPO. And a teenage sweetheart and his old friends haunt him. Will the little nipper complete his task? Get out the flea powder and watch.

THIS MOVIE ROCKS!
This is so funny. Fans of werewolf movies should love this spoof. This one is funny for the right reasons. Perfect sense of humor for this film. Ed McMahon is a right-wing father that has to go on a mission to Romania and takes his son Adam Arkin. The father is interrogating a couple of female contacts. He tells them that in the US they would be free to walk the streets at night. Don't take it seriously, because it is so ubsurd that you would have to laugh at it. This movie is great, but where is the DVD!

It has that Adam Arkin feel
Ed McMahon is a right-wing father that has to go on a mission to Romania and takes his son Adam Arkin. The father is interrogating a couple of female contacts. He tells them that in the US they would be free to walk the streets at night.

You can guess what biting experiences the son has to go through. Later requiring him to roam the world until he gets tired of packing. Then he must fulfill his destiny. There is a reference to ALPO. And a teenage sweetheart and his old friends haunt him. Will the little nipper complete his task? Get out the flea powder and watch. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The best in the trilogy!
Maniac Cop 2 is the best in the whole trilogy! It has some really awesome action scenes and some funny one-liners from the murderer that Matt Cordell becomes friends with. The car chase mid-way through the movie was awesome and well thought out. Robert Z'dar gives an awesome and well played performance in his second go 'round as the Maniac Cop. If you're into action movies with a little bit of horror, then be sure to give this one a look!

Maniac Cop is back! But this time he has a playmate...
Matt Cordell rises from his watery grave and seeks revenge on those who killed him in the previous entry. He also causes trouble by killing cops and helping the criminals. And when he teams up with a homicidal serial killer, it's up to though cop Sean Mc Kinney and his partner Susan Riley to stop this murderous duo before it's to late.

A very entertaining and well acted movie. Better than you'd expect and well directed by William Lustig (Maniac, Uncle Sam)One of the film most memorable scenes is where Matt Cordell causes a massacre at a police station.
The Maniac Cop movies are very underated slashers in my opninion. So, if you like other slasher movie series such as Friday The 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Child's Play and Halloween, you should add Maniac Cop 1-3 to your collection as well.

Deadly dull and silly stuff.
Zombie cop is on the loose again. Yes, this sequel's "bigger" but man it's boring and silly. Some action, but hardly enough.

An entertaining sequel.
The Cop (Robert D`Zar) was left for dead and missing from the river is back for more. This time, he has find the people has wrong him and having his revenge people has thought has killed him.

This horror/thriller is well made & better acted than the first film. Directed by William Lustig (Maniac, Relentless, Vigiilante) and Written by Larry Cohen (Guilty as Sin, Phone Booth, Q:The Winged Serpent) from the Original flick. Grade:B+.

Manaic Cop Is Back On Patrol!
Maniac Cop 2 is the entertaining follow up to the 1988 B-Movie Classic, Maniac Cop. Maniac Cop 2 takes place nine months after the original movie saw the infamous Officer Matt Cordell drown in the East River. After the original movie's heros' Officers Forrest and Mallory are killed violently, Detective Sean Mckinney (Robert Davi) begins the search for their killer. Mckinney is also battling another series of killings in the city, while also battling his own demons. Matt Cordell (played once again by Robert D'Zar) keeps the body count lower in his second film, but a higher budget and better made film makes the movie just as entrtaining as the first. The movie makers go back to the first in some sense by having another longer and more grusome police station massacre and a police chase scene leads up to the climax scene. Matt Cordell returns to Sing-Sing Prison to confront the men who killed him. The sequel provides the answer to questions left in the first film, such as is Cordell still human or in sense an living dead killer. Maniac Cop 2 will not leave any of this series fans upset. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Sad farewell to Bette Davis...
As many reviewers have said, the only reason to see this is for the last performance of Bette Davis. At 80 years old, she doesn't have what she used to (the film was made in 1989), but then, who would?

Aside from a hilarious lineup scene of very old women at a police station, and a nice bit (also at the beginning) about four shrunken people, this is truly unfunny (meant to be a supernatural comedy) and even sexy Barbara Carrera does not do much to save the day here. David Rasche underplays it completely, while Coleen Camp, as his wife, is here guilty of near-hysterical overacting. The kid who plays the husband's son (Mike) is only adequate.

The acting here is not at all good, but the script is worse. Lionel Stander is also in the film and turns in the most consistently good acting job through the film, but that's not saying much. Larry Cohen wrote and directed this, but he is nowhere near the top of his game. He's done much better films, among which are Q, The Stuff (my favorite), God Told Me To, and It's Alive.

This is a curiosity item, at best, and I would be surprised if it ever does get released on DVD. If so, it would be for the novelty of seeing Bette Davis one last time.

Not recommended.

Wicked Fun thanks to Bette
You must see this movie if your a Bette fanatic. I remember seeing this when I was 12 I am 21 now, and I thought the movie was stupid but I loved Bette Davis. I said to myself how old is that lady and she is a good actress. She shines in this from the beginning to the end. I just read Barbara Leamings new book on Bette Davis (came out in 04) and it says she left wicked stepmother because she didn't like the way she looked when she watched the footage, she was falling down, not remembering her lines, and her dentures kept falling out. its sad but see this movie if u love bette you won't be disappointed. its campy and fun if you liek those kind of movies.

Wicked Stepmother
I just bought it to see the wonderful actor who played the role of the Judge.

BETTE DAVIS, ONE LAST TIME, THAT'S ALL!
This film is nothing, except for BETTE DAVIS. You get to see her one last time. She's old now and looks weak, but she still SHINES! She steals every scene that she's in. Unfortunately, she's not in very much, she quit the movie after only one week of filming. Once she saw how she looked on film, she was very unhappy and did not want to go on with it, she just walked off the set and never returned. If you are a fan of Bette Davis, i would say, go ahead, buy this film, just to see and have it, because it is her last film and the little bit that she is in it, she still SHINES! After she turns into the cat, though, i would say, turn it off, the movie makes no sense. Just buy it to get to see BETTE DAVIS in her last film!

Bette Davis helped this movie - and ruined it.
The best thing about this movie is 80-year-old Bette Davis' performance. But she's also the movie's biggest problem. When the producers refused to change the script after her demands, she left the set, after one week of filming. That forced director/screenwriter Larry Cohen to rewrite the script to explain her disappearance, which resulted in a very confusing plot (she transformed herself into her daughter or a cat or something like that, I didn't quite get it...). Well, at least it's a better solution than Edward D. Wood Jr.'s way of replacing Bela Lugosi in "Plan 9 From Outer Space" (using a stand-in that doesn't look the least like Lugosi, covering his face with a cape).

The first half-hour or so is quite entertaining. Davis is overacting in a good way as Jenny's (Colleen Camp) father's new creepy wife, Miranda. After she's out of the movie, it's quite confusing. Miranda left the family and her daughter, Priscilla (who is Miranda in another shape or something, eh...) is staying with the family instead.

There are some good humor in the movie. There's one funny scene in the beginning, at the police station, with the lineup with the angry old homeless ladies. Some scenes are just silly, like the beach sequence somewhere before the middle of the movie.

So, Bette Davis' performance is what makes this movie worth watching, but she's also the main reason it's so bad (I guess it wouldn't have been a great movie anyway, but less confusing). The other actors are quite mediocre. However, the movie isn't quite as bad as its reputation. If you're curious to see Davis play the wicked stepmother in her last film, rent it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Off the Wall
War of the sexes, post-apocalypse Hollywood (filmed in Israel) style, with appropriate outfits and cheesy script and it's all good, even if a bit slow at times. The action scenes are very well-crafted though, and a young Karen Shepherd ("The Enforcer" in Hercules: Legendary Journeys and stunt player for "Faith" in the Buffy series) really shines here.

Give it a chance
This is a one hundred percent '80s movie. Big hair and loud music back drop a tale that is very silly but wonderful brated movie gargon at its best. Now if you are looking for something with social impact stay FAR AWAY!!! This is a total goof fest. NOT FOR THE SERIOUS MINDED--- kinda amazon warrior women meet the goof troop. ... Read more

Description

When the woman of his dreams is snatched by a strange ambulance Josh risks it all to find her.Looking into a series of similar disappearances involving the phantom ambulance, Josh tracks down a ring of doctors who traffic in human guinea pigs. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Intriguing premise is given comical treatment.
Eric Roberts is a comic book artist searching for a missing woman who he last saw placed in an ambulance. Intriguing premise from Larry Cohen is actually played for laughs more than anything else. Thankfully, once you get in the mood for it, it's pretty funny. The story slows down too often to create quirky characters, but when it moves, it's fitfully entertaining. Roberts is a lot of fun in the lead role.

I LOVE this movie!
A wonderful, funny, and criminally overlooked thriller. Eric Roberts stars as a comic book writer (Stan Lee cameos as himself, Roberts' boss) who watches a girl on the street get taken away by an ambulance and then disappear. He starts to investigate with the help of a police detective (a hilarious James Earl Jones) but soon discovers he is in WAY over his head. The action scenes are alot of fun because Roberts doesn't turn into an action hero but stays consistent with his helpless everyman persona throughout (by the end, he is battered beyond all recognition and is only alive by pure luck). And Red Buttons steals all his scenes, as he should. Check this one out, you won't be disappointed.

Clever, Campy Thriller.
A Cartoonist (Eric Roberts) stumbles into a odd conspiracy, what may have been a weird abduction, when his dream girl (Janine Turner) has been taking away by Paramedics Drivers, who never show up to any local hostipals.

Written and Directed by Larry Cohen (Q:The Winged Serpent, It`s Alive Trilogy) has made a campy, strange film infused with black humor and several exciting chase scenes. This is an intriguing flick. James Earl Jones has a supporting role as a Cop on the Edge. Cartoonist:Stan Lee appears in a Cameo. Grade:B+.

this ambulance needs an ambulance
Writer director Larry Cohen's 1977 God Told me To (Aka Demon) was a spectacular achievement yet Cohen has never managed to create anything that comes close since. This film is hampered by miscasting and a general lack of focus, so that the Michael Crichton-ish medical conspiracy is never made real. Cohen's mixes his chase thriller with a comic tone, and the scenes of explanation are less effective. Even the action scenes with the Duel-like threatening title vehicle are undermined by plain ridiculousness, and Cohen stoops to the man tied to an ambulance bed in traffic routine. The idea of humans being stolen to be used as guinea pigs in scientific research was also used in Michael Apted's 1996 Extreme Measures, and it worked there because Hugh Grant as the protagonist was believably curious. Cohen adds some more potential by only having diabetics being kidnapped, without any explanation given as to how they are identified as such. However playing the Hugh Grant part, Eric Roberts doesn't fair as well. Cohen indulges Roberts in his flaky mannerisms, and you can tell how off Cohen's judgment is when he removes James Earl Jones as a neurotic cop midway. As Jones' assistant, Megan Gallagher comes off best, able to handle the romantic/comic banter with Roberts and also presenting a believable policewoman presence. And as likeable as Red Buttons is, his contribution is unnecessary. TV's The Young and the Restless Eric Braeden appears as a doctor with an agenda but this is hardly the vehicle to re-launch his film career. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Intriguing premise is given comical treatment.
Eric Roberts is a comic book artist searching for a missing woman who he last saw placed in an ambulance. Intriguing premise from Larry Cohen is actually played for laughs more than anything else. Thankfully, once you get in the mood for it, it's pretty funny. The story slows down too often to create quirky characters, but when it moves, it's fitfully entertaining. Roberts is a lot of fun in the lead role.

I LOVE this movie!
A wonderful, funny, and criminally overlooked thriller. Eric Roberts stars as a comic book writer (Stan Lee cameos as himself, Roberts' boss) who watches a girl on the street get taken away by an ambulance and then disappear. He starts to investigate with the help of a police detective (a hilarious James Earl Jones) but soon discovers he is in WAY over his head. The action scenes are alot of fun because Roberts doesn't turn into an action hero but stays consistent with his helpless everyman persona throughout (by the end, he is battered beyond all recognition and is only alive by pure luck). And Red Buttons steals all his scenes, as he should. Check this one out, you won't be disappointed.

Clever, Campy Thriller.
A Cartoonist (Eric Roberts) stumbles into a odd conspiracy, what may have been a weird abduction, when his dream girl (Janine Turner) has been taking away by Paramedics Drivers, who never show up to any local hostipals.

Written and Directed by Larry Cohen (Q:The Winged Serpent, It`s Alive Trilogy) has made a campy, strange film infused with black humor and several exciting chase scenes. This is an intriguing flick. James Earl Jones has a supporting role as a Cop on the Edge. Cartoonist:Stan Lee appears in a Cameo. Grade:B+.

this ambulance needs an ambulance
Writer director Larry Cohen's 1977 God Told me To (Aka Demon) was a spectacular achievement yet Cohen has never managed to create anything that comes close since. This film is hampered by miscasting and a general lack of focus, so that the Michael Crichton-ish medical conspiracy is never made real. Cohen's mixes his chase thriller with a comic tone, and the scenes of explanation are less effective. Even the action scenes with the Duel-like threatening title vehicle are undermined by plain ridiculousness, and Cohen stoops to the man tied to an ambulance bed in traffic routine. The idea of humans being stolen to be used as guinea pigs in scientific research was also used in Michael Apted's 1996 Extreme Measures, and it worked there because Hugh Grant as the protagonist was believably curious. Cohen adds some more potential by only having diabetics being kidnapped, without any explanation given as to how they are identified as such. However playing the Hugh Grant part, Eric Roberts doesn't fair as well. Cohen indulges Roberts in his flaky mannerisms, and you can tell how off Cohen's judgment is when he removes James Earl Jones as a neurotic cop midway. As Jones' assistant, Megan Gallagher comes off best, able to handle the romantic/comic banter with Roberts and also presenting a believable policewoman presence. And as likeable as Red Buttons is, his contribution is unnecessary. TV's The Young and the Restless Eric Braeden appears as a doctor with an agenda but this is hardly the vehicle to re-launch his film career. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Terrific Film, Forgotten and Ignored
You would think that simply the huge popularity of wrestling in this country would lead Hollywood to consider again releasing this film on video or on DVD for the first time. This would be reason enough, as it has been in the past for way too many films that deserved to be ignored, like, say, those abominable spy films from the 60s rereleased because of the success of the Austin Powers series. But this is an excellent film in every way and merits release. The acting, story, photography, and the other creative contributions fit together beautifully in a film that will engage you, inspire you, and move you. Peter Falk, always superb, leads a female wrestling team through several years of struggle against corrupt managers, dishonest competitors, and their own emotional failings until they finally achieve the top position in the wrestling world by winning a final spectacular match. It's a journey you will be happy you took with them, believe me. Yes, this film will make you smile, cheer, and weep, but, mostly, it will make you see again that where there is hope, there is life. And we all need to be reminded of that, especially these days. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The best in the trilogy!
Maniac Cop 2 is the best in the whole trilogy! It has some really awesome action scenes and some funny one-liners from the murderer that Matt Cordell becomes friends with. The car chase mid-way through the movie was awesome and well thought out. Robert Z'dar gives an awesome and well played performance in his second go 'round as the Maniac Cop. If you're into action movies with a little bit of horror, then be sure to give this one a look!

Maniac Cop is back! But this time he has a playmate...
Matt Cordell rises from his watery grave and seeks revenge on those who killed him in the previous entry. He also causes trouble by killing cops and helping the criminals. And when he teams up with a homicidal serial killer, it's up to though cop Sean Mc Kinney and his partner Susan Riley to stop this murderous duo before it's to late.

A very entertaining and well acted movie. Better than you'd expect and well directed by William Lustig (Maniac, Uncle Sam)One of the film most memorable scenes is where Matt Cordell causes a massacre at a police station.
The Maniac Cop movies are very underated slashers in my opninion. So, if you like other slasher movie series such as Friday The 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Child's Play and Halloween, you should add Maniac Cop 1-3 to your collection as well.

Deadly dull and silly stuff.
Zombie cop is on the loose again. Yes, this sequel's "bigger" but man it's boring and silly. Some action, but hardly enough.

An entertaining sequel.
The Cop (Robert D`Zar) was left for dead and missing from the river is back for more. This time, he has find the people has wrong him and having his revenge people has thought has killed him.

This horror/thriller is well made & better acted than the first film. Directed by William Lustig (Maniac, Relentless, Vigiilante) and Written by Larry Cohen (Guilty as Sin, Phone Booth, Q:The Winged Serpent) from the Original flick. Grade:B+.

Manaic Cop Is Back On Patrol!
Maniac Cop 2 is the entertaining follow up to the 1988 B-Movie Classic, Maniac Cop. Maniac Cop 2 takes place nine months after the original movie saw the infamous Officer Matt Cordell drown in the East River. After the original movie's heros' Officers Forrest and Mallory are killed violently, Detective Sean Mckinney (Robert Davi) begins the search for their killer. Mckinney is also battling another series of killings in the city, while also battling his own demons. Matt Cordell (played once again by Robert D'Zar) keeps the body count lower in his second film, but a higher budget and better made film makes the movie just as entrtaining as the first. The movie makers go back to the first in some sense by having another longer and more grusome police station massacre and a police chase scene leads up to the climax scene. Matt Cordell returns to Sing-Sing Prison to confront the men who killed him. The sequel provides the answer to questions left in the first film, such as is Cordell still human or in sense an living dead killer. Maniac Cop 2 will not leave any of this series fans upset. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 1982 sequel to Airplane! is basically more of the same class-clown ironies but with a more forced feeling to the jokes. In the first film, veterans such as Peter Graves, Robert Stack, and Lloyd Bridges were feeling their way through self-parody, and the air of experimentation was part of the fun. By this film, however, everybody knows what's up, and the assuredness of new cast members Raymond Burr, William Shatner, and Chuck Connors is almost counterproductive. Still, there's lots to laugh about. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Out of the era where craziness reined supreame
Out of the late 70s and through the earliy eighties came some of the greatest comedies that man kind has ever known. Amoung them the Sequel to Airplane. A satire film dedicated to mocking disaster films (like Airport), and in this case, space disasters as the cast and crew are off to the first settlement on the moon when a sabature reeks havick on the computer system. The computer goes hayware and once again Stryker must save the day. Although the plot of this movie is pretty much the same as the first there is a slugh of new gags, plus some old ones revisited that makes this movie a great companion to the original. Like the first the movie is filled with many-a-hillarious moments that will keep just about anyone laughing. There are a few time sensative gags that some might not understand if they were not around for that era, but not as many as the original or other movies from this era. I was very happy when I got this DVD. However a warning to parents: although this movie is rated PG it does feature some brief nudity and a lot of PG-13 level jokes. This movie is not appropriate for children despite its PG rating.

Lack of New Material Lets it Down
Two years after the hilariously funny, and new comic styled original came the sequel (inevitably I suppose) and sadly was nowhere near its predecessor in comedy or durability. Perhaps the lack of the Zucker team at the helm helped steer this vessel on to the rocks, as it certainly dived at the box office pretty rapidly. Don't get me wrong, this is still funny, but is really only a reworking of the original movie, only this time using a Space Shuttle as the doomed aircraft. The main characters are all back to reprise their roles with the addition of William Shatner (who's presence and role are one of the high points of the movie), but unfortunately the director just went with the same formula, and the lack of fresh material, makes the movie lumber. Fans of the genre will no doubt find plenty here to keep themselves amused, and the budget price means that your home collection can be completed quite inexpensively if you have the original, but otherwise this is a bit of a let down. I desperately wanted to give more but 3 stars is a stretch.

Nowhere Near As Good As The Original, But It's Still Funny!!
The redundantly-titled (on purpose, of course) AIRPLANE 2 - THE SEQUEL (1982) follows the rapid-fire, gag-a-second style of the original AIRPLANE! (1980) so well that, although it doesn't come close to matching the original for laughs, it's amazing that it was made without any input at all from the ZAZ boys (Jerry Zucker-Jim Abrahams-David Zucker) whatsoever---no writing, no directing, nada! It was in fact written and directed by just one man: none other than Ken Finkleman. I know, you're probably asking, Ken Who? Well, it seems that good ol' Ken is rather famous---more like *infamous*---for two mega-bombs of the '80's: GREASE 2 (made the same year, actually---1982) and WHO'S THAT GIRL? (1987). The fact that he took a beloved comedy that was still fresh in the minds of the audience members and dared to follow it up with his own vision, and made it this funny, is just amazing. (Now, if he only could have done that good a job with GREASE 2...)

Of course, AIRPLANE 2 - THE SEQUEL couldn't live up to the lofty expectations set by its predecessor, but that's okay, as there are some big-league laughs here. Robert Hays returns as the stone-faced, hilariously serious Ted Striker as he tries to prevent disaster on the First Passenger Space Shuttle To The Moon. Along for the ride, literally, are Julie Hagerty as Elaine, the flight attendant and Striker's ongoing love interest from the first film. Also making a return is (believe it or not) Lloyd Bridges as old Steven McCrosky (who must've picked a bad time to start guiding space shuttles), and Peter Graves as Capt. Clarence Oveur (thankfully, little Johnny didn't board this flight). Too bad Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen) didn't come back for this trip; however, joining the crew in AIRPLANE 2 - THE SEQUEL are Chuck Connors as The Sarge, Raymond Burr as Judge D.C. Simonton, and William Shatner as Commander Buck Murdock. Shatner steals the show and gives what is easily the funniest performance in this film. Unless you've never seen Star Trek, you're bound to get the endless jokes!

In short, this is a really short movie. At only 85 minutes, with at least five of those minutes showing flashbacks to the first AIRPLANE!, this sequel doesn't give us very much. However, it still gives us plenty of hilarious moments, such as what happens at the end of a line of people, each one exclaiming "Striker," "Striker," "Striker...!" Also, it gives us Sonny Bono as the villain---c'mon, you can't possibly hate a movie that does that---plus, we get brilliant cameos by Rip Torn, Hervé Villechaize, and James Noble (the Governor on the TV show "Benson" for those who don't recall the name). Not only that, but David Leisure is back! (Although, instead of playing "First Hare Krishna" he's playing "Religious Zealot #1.")

Listen, I wouldn't recommend spending the proverbial arm & a leg on this DVD, especially because, like its predecessor, it offers absolutely nothing in the way of extras. But, at the price for which it's being offered on Amazon, I'd say that it's well worth it.

RECOMMENDED
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FANS OF AIRPLANE!

Not Anywhere Near The Original
Let me start off by saying I loved the first Airplane and consider it to be the best comedy ever. So I'm not a hater of the genre. When I first saw Airplane about two years ago I laughed until I cried. Just days after seeing it I was in an electronic store and saw Airplane 2 on DVD. Assuming it was made by the guys that made the original I bought it, oh how wrong I was. This is nothing but a sad attempt to copy the success of the original. Paramount asked the Zuckers and Jim Abrahams to do the sequel, when they declined saying there's not enough jokes left to do a sequel Paramount just hired some other guy to do it. The result, Airplane 2 crashes and burns.

Warning: There's Something Missing...
I won't waste time with complimenting or insulting this movie. I love it...just not as much as the origional. What really bothered me was the absence of several scenes. I kept having the funny feeling that I was missing something (I hadn't seen the movie in 10 years) and then it dawned on me. After the credits we see "Airplane III" and then it shows William Shatner say, "That's just what they'll be expecting us to do.". I had scene this snippet in a scene years ago when I watched Airplane II.

I then realized that some very funny stuff had been left out of the movie. The origional or even TV version had several more scenes that were simply deleted in the DVD version. I'm guessing maybe 10 to 15 minutes are missing. I can't even begin to comprehend why these scenes were deleted. We're obviously not worried about time constraints on a DVD.

I am very disappointed with this version simply because of the deleted material. I really enjoy this movie, but would have enjoyed it a lot more had the whole movie been included. Perhaps they should sell it with a warning stating that you're not receiving what you expect. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

TALK ABOT BIG TYM
THIS IT IT. KENU REEVS EART YOU HEART OUT. THIS MOVY MAKS ME BLOW TEARS INTO PAPR AFTR IT MAKES YOU BLOW CHUNCS BECAUS OF BIG BELY AIK..../ ") I THINK THIS MOVY GOT AWARD. YOU MAY GO HOME IF YOU NED BUT IF NO STICK HERE AND SIT IN CAR FOR LONG TYME WITH THE MOVY AND BELY~!!~!! BROUGHT HOME FROM DUMPSTR AND THINK IT WAS WORTH. BRING IT ON HOME GRAMPY WIT FIIIGHGHGHYTYYYHJGGHY MONKY STATUES. BIG LAUGHS NEXT WHEN THE BIGMAN GETS HONKY ON HONKYTONK ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The best horror film of it's kind.
New York city is being terrorized by a series of murders and the public breaks into panic when the killer is a cop. Yes indeed, this is a film with a story that has not bee used befor, something new, and director William Lustig (MANIAC) and writter Larry Cohen (IT'S ALIVE) make this a good B-movie if youare looking for action, a few scares, and good acting. MANIAC COP 2 and 3 are good (but not as good as this) movies if you can find them.

1987. TWE. 92 MINS.

Rated R for Language and Some Strong Horror/Action Violence.

You have the right to remain silent, FOREVER
I found Maniac Cop to be a great action/horror film. Director William Lustig continues his crusade to make good flicks(like Relentless,Uncle Sam,and the classic Maniac). This film is among his best. Robert Z'Dar(a truely underrated actor)plays the psycho cop who stalks the streets of NY. Tom Atkins(Halloween III)is on his trail. Maniac Cop's sequels were not on par with the original, but all three films are worth a look, especially the well done original.

out of print?
This is a great cult flick! I can't believe it's out of print! What the heck is wrong with these people? Don't they like to make money? Re-master this puppy and get it on the shelves!

At least Bruce Campbell's in it...
And believe me, that's about all this movie has going for it. It's your typical low-budget freak/monster B-movie. There is little to nothing in the way of originality in this film and should be avoided by anyone who doesn't love B-movies. It lacks the humor and imagination of many other movies of this genre.

Having said that, though, it does star Bruce Campbell (star of the Evil Dead trilogy) as the hero and just about any movie starring BC is worth watching at least once. There's nothing terribly exciting about his performance here, but... it's Bruce Campbell.

It should also be said that this DVD comes with some excellent extras, considering that it's such a low-budget, relatively unknown, cult film. With many DVDs of this genre, you're lucky if you have any special features at all. Deleted scenes, trailers, commentary, etc. A very nice surprise.

DVD review
If you loved EVIL DEAD you will like this movie.
The DVD has a better quality than the old VHS, but it still could have been better.
The film is shown widescreen (1.85:1) and is not enhanced for 16x9. The quality is ok, but for Elite standards. A lot of the colors seem faded but this could be due to the age and budget of the film. A lot of the night scenes are too way too dark and grain can be spotted in several scenes. The laser had a much better brighter transfer. The sound is Dolby Digital Surround and sounds nice, but it seems to be Stereo and not Surround. The spoken word and music score is crystal clear with no pops but your speakers don't get much work.
You get the films original theatrical trailer, which is shown widescreen. The picture quality on the trailer hasn't been cleaned up. There is a lot of grain and most of the picture is very dark. You also get two television spots, which are shown full frame and both look like the trailer. Each is dark with grain running through them. You also get a trailer from France that is spoken in French with no subtitles. The picture looks a looks a lot worse than the previous trailer. There is also a Spanish radio spot, which is spoken is Spanish with no subtitles. There are also six extra scenes that were filmed for Japan television. These scenes are nice but don't add anything special to the film. Finally, there is an audio commentary with director Lustig, producer Cohen, Bruce Campbell and Jay Chattaway. The commentary is one of the best out there. Everyone is constantly talking and a lot of great stories are told about the making of the film.

Overall A fun movie if you don't expect too much out of it. The video is somewhat disappointing but the audio is nice. The extras are definitely the best thing about this DVD. ... Read more

Description

Third installment of the It's Alive! series where the mutant babies have been placed by court order on a deserted island. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Michael Moriarty Rescues This One
In 1987, Larry Cohen finally made the long-awaited third (and final) installment of his unique (and cult fave) IT'S ALIVE! series. Coming after an interminable-seeming nine-year wait following IT LIVES AGAIN (1978), Cohen decides to place his second sequel way into the future, when murderous mutant babies are a much more frequent occurrence, though still a maligned and misunderstood oddity. He also called upon his old friend Michael Moriarty---star of his Q (1982) and THE STUFF (1985)---to star as a new mutant-baby dad, Stephen Jarvis. Thankfully, Moriarty was amenable to doing this favor, as his priceless Method acting is the only thing that saves this installment from being an otherwise blah picture.

That's not to say that the awkwardly-titled IT'S ALIVE III: ISLAND OF THE ALIVE would otherwise have been total garbage; however, it's safe to say that without Michael Moriarty in the lead, this movie would have been, well, awkward. Instead of using rubber models for the babies, director Cohen decides to use claymation to achieve a more "realistic" effect. It's interesting for a moment, but it doesn't really work. After an impassioned courtroom plea by Mr. Jarvis (one of Moriarty's best scenes in his career, actually), it is decided that murderous little Baby Jarvis be sent to live with his "own kind"---banished to this island, to where mutant tykes have apparently been sent for quite some time now. Of course, since "out of sight, out of mind" would have been precisely the wrong tack for this movie to take (given that the whole point is to see these babies, and to see them kill), we are given a fairly implusible excuse for the main characters to journey to this island, where...well, you can pretty much figure the rest out from there!

Although at the end, this movie *does* answer a burning "what if?" question in our minds (namely, what would these mutants look like if allowed to grow into mutant-adulthood?), the result looks suspiciously like Larry Cohen had run out of whatever little bit of money he had! If for nothing else, watch IT'S ALIVE III for the Michael Moriarty performance alone. His scene with a hooker is also priceless, and is also one of his career-best. Other than that, this film is

SO-SO
MODERATELY RECOMMENDED FOR FANS OF THIS SERIES ONLY

Larry Cohen suceeds again!
Larry Cohen has turned to stop-motion to show the babies without any strings. He does this quite amusingly. Now where is the Trilogy DVD Box set!!

No Gerber mush for these babies
IT'S ALIVE 3 opens with a woman giving birth to another deformed mutant baby in the back of a taxi on a rainy night. When the cabbie tries to blast the little nipper into oblivion, the quick little sprout drags him inside the cab and makes a meal of him. Thus begins director Larry Cohen's belated return to his much adored B-horror series.
The mutant is captured, caged and bought before a court which will decide its fate. The judge sides with the creatures dad, Steve Jarvis (Michael Moriarty) and decides it to be in the child's best interests that it is protected, so the monster is sent to a remote island inhabited by other mutants.
The FX in ISLAND OF THE ALIVE are none too convincing, the top-motion models (which are okay)add to the B grade fun, and there are some amusingly cheesy gore scenes. The movie does tend to be a bit sluggish in places, and Moriarty gives a decidedly erratic performance. My final quibble is that the finale is very similar to the first two movies, but generally speaking, it's still a pretty good movie.

pretty good movie
this movie is a gem for B-movie aficianados. It's got a decent amount of gore, some pretty funny scenes, a couple scenes which will make you jump, and a dash of Elephant Man-type emotion. I really like this movie, but if your one of those people who expect Hollywood class acting and special effects, then you might not like this movie. but for us b-movie lovers, this movie is great and i would highly recommend buying it.

Fantasic Goofy Movie.
If you are looking for horror, don't bother with this film. Cohen can handle horror, but his films usually are more like comedies featuring monsters. The mutant babies are back, and this time, good guy daddy Michael Moriarty, a Cohen favorite, is trying to protect his child. Too bad Sam Fuller, Cohen favorite and weirdo director himself, couldn't have been in this one, but he was in partII. If you liked Q and The Stuff, check this one out. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The best horror film of it's kind.
New York city is being terrorized by a series of murders and the public breaks into panic when the killer is a cop. Yes indeed, this is a film with a story that has not bee used befor, something new, and director William Lustig (MANIAC) and writter Larry Cohen (IT'S ALIVE) make this a good B-movie if youare looking for action, a few scares, and good acting. MANIAC COP 2 and 3 are good (but not as good as this) movies if you can find them.

1987. TWE. 92 MINS.

Rated R for Language and Some Strong Horror/Action Violence.

You have the right to remain silent, FOREVER
I found Maniac Cop to be a great action/horror film. Director William Lustig continues his crusade to make good flicks(like Relentless,Uncle Sam,and the classic Maniac). This film is among his best. Robert Z'Dar(a truely underrated actor)plays the psycho cop who stalks the streets of NY. Tom Atkins(Halloween III)is on his trail. Maniac Cop's sequels were not on par with the original, but all three films are worth a look, especially the well done original.

out of print?
This is a great cult flick! I can't believe it's out of print! What the heck is wrong with these people? Don't they like to make money? Re-master this puppy and get it on the shelves!

At least Bruce Campbell's in it...
And believe me, that's about all this movie has going for it. It's your typical low-budget freak/monster B-movie. There is little to nothing in the way of originality in this film and should be avoided by anyone who doesn't love B-movies. It lacks the humor and imagination of many other movies of this genre.

Having said that, though, it does star Bruce Campbell (star of the Evil Dead trilogy) as the hero and just about any movie starring BC is worth watching at least once. There's nothing terribly exciting about his performance here, but... it's Bruce Campbell.

It should also be said that this DVD comes with some excellent extras, considering that it's such a low-budget, relatively unknown, cult film. With many DVDs of this genre, you're lucky if you have any special features at all. Deleted scenes, trailers, commentary, etc. A very nice surprise.

DVD review
If you loved EVIL DEAD you will like this movie.
The DVD has a better quality than the old VHS, but it still could have been better.
The film is shown widescreen (1.85:1) and is not enhanced for 16x9. The quality is ok, but for Elite standards. A lot of the colors seem faded but this could be due to the age and budget of the film. A lot of the night scenes are too way too dark and grain can be spotted in several scenes. The laser had a much better brighter transfer. The sound is Dolby Digital Surround and sounds nice, but it seems to be Stereo and not Surround. The spoken word and music score is crystal clear with no pops but your speakers don't get much work.
You get the films original theatrical trailer, which is shown widescreen. The picture quality on the trailer hasn't been cleaned up. There is a lot of grain and most of the picture is very dark. You also get two television spots, which are shown full frame and both look like the trailer. Each is dark with grain running through them. You also get a trailer from France that is spoken in French with no subtitles. The picture looks a looks a lot worse than the previous trailer. There is also a Spanish radio spot, which is spoken is Spanish with no subtitles. There are also six extra scenes that were filmed for Japan television. These scenes are nice but don't add anything special to the film. Finally, there is an audio commentary with director Lustig, producer Cohen, Bruce Campbell and Jay Chattaway. The commentary is one of the best out there. Everyone is constantly talking and a lot of great stories are told about the making of the film.

Overall A fun movie if you don't expect too much out of it. The video is somewhat disappointing but the audio is nice. The extras are definitely the best thing about this DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Off the Wall
War of the sexes, post-apocalypse Hollywood (filmed in Israel) style, with appropriate outfits and cheesy script and it's all good, even if a bit slow at times. The action scenes are very well-crafted though, and a young Karen Shepherd ("The Enforcer" in Hercules: Legendary Journeys and stunt player for "Faith" in the Buffy series) really shines here.

Give it a chance
This is a one hundred percent '80s movie. Big hair and loud music back drop a tale that is very silly but wonderful brated movie gargon at its best. Now if you are looking for something with social impact stay FAR AWAY!!! This is a total goof fest. NOT FOR THE SERIOUS MINDED--- kinda amazon warrior women meet the goof troop. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

It has that Adam Arkin feel
Ed McMahon is a right-wing father that has to go on a mission to Romania and takes his son Adam Arkin. The father is interrogating a couple of female contacts. He tells them that in the US they would be free to walk the streets at night.
You can guess what biting experiences the son has to go through. Later requiring him to roam the world until he gets tired of packing. Then he must fulfill his destiny. There is a reference to ALPO. And a teenage sweetheart and his old friends haunt him. Will the little nipper complete his task? Get out the flea powder and watch.

THIS MOVIE ROCKS!
This is so funny. Fans of werewolf movies should love this spoof. This one is funny for the right reasons. Perfect sense of humor for this film. Ed McMahon is a right-wing father that has to go on a mission to Romania and takes his son Adam Arkin. The father is interrogating a couple of female contacts. He tells them that in the US they would be free to walk the streets at night. Don't take it seriously, because it is so ubsurd that you would have to laugh at it. This movie is great, but where is the DVD!

It has that Adam Arkin feel
Ed McMahon is a right-wing father that has to go on a mission to Romania and takes his son Adam Arkin. The father is interrogating a couple of female contacts. He tells them that in the US they would be free to walk the streets at night.

You can guess what biting experiences the son has to go through. Later requiring him to roam the world until he gets tired of packing. Then he must fulfill his destiny. There is a reference to ALPO. And a teenage sweetheart and his old friends haunt him. Will the little nipper complete his task? Get out the flea powder and watch. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

It has that Adam Arkin feel
Ed McMahon is a right-wing father that has to go on a mission to Romania and takes his son Adam Arkin. The father is interrogating a couple of female contacts. He tells them that in the US they would be free to walk the streets at night.
You can guess what biting experiences the son has to go through. Later requiring him to roam the world until he gets tired of packing. Then he must fulfill his destiny. There is a reference to ALPO. And a teenage sweetheart and his old friends haunt him. Will the little nipper complete his task? Get out the flea powder and watch.

THIS MOVIE ROCKS!
This is so funny. Fans of werewolf movies should love this spoof. This one is funny for the right reasons. Perfect sense of humor for this film. Ed McMahon is a right-wing father that has to go on a mission to Romania and takes his son Adam Arkin. The father is interrogating a couple of female contacts. He tells them that in the US they would be free to walk the streets at night. Don't take it seriously, because it is so ubsurd that you would have to laugh at it. This movie is great, but where is the DVD!

It has that Adam Arkin feel
Ed McMahon is a right-wing father that has to go on a mission to Romania and takes his son Adam Arkin. The father is interrogating a couple of female contacts. He tells them that in the US they would be free to walk the streets at night.

You can guess what biting experiences the son has to go through. Later requiring him to roam the world until he gets tired of packing. Then he must fulfill his destiny. There is a reference to ALPO. And a teenage sweetheart and his old friends haunt him. Will the little nipper complete his task? Get out the flea powder and watch. ... Read more