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Scientists discover that a pair of giant crabs mutated by atomic tests is responsible for the disappearance of researchers on a remote island. The crabs, which assimilate the voices and intellects of their victims, slowly destroy the island as they thin out the rescue party until a do-or-die plan is hatched. This early effort by Roger Corman has been labeled as schlock due to its pulpy title and atrocious monster effects, but the script by Charles B. Griffith, while stretched thin by the usual low-budget constraints, is more intriguing and gently self-deprecating than a movie about monster crustaceans should be (Griffith also wrote the blackly comic scripts for A Bucket of Blood and Corman's original Little Shop of Horrors). The script's handling of the monsters is especially notable; the crabs' malevolent logic flies in the face of 1950s creature standards, which demanded that monsters be drooling and dumb. And Corman's fast-and-furious direction delivers a surprising number of shocks (most notably, the alarming "bus" when Little Shop alumnus Mel Welles's character meets his fate) as it barrels toward the film's slam-bang conclusion. Sharp-eyed character actor fans will spot among the cast Russell Johnson and Ed Nelson, years before their respective TV fame on Gilligan's Island and Peyton Place; longtime Corman bit player Beach Dickerson and screenwriter Griffith portray sailors. Made for $70,000, the film grossed approximately $1 million, making it Corman's most profitable picture of the period. Crab Monsters played theaters in 1957 on a double bill with Corman's equally satisfying Not of This Earth. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Enjoy it with a bag of popcorn and some juju bees
Remember those hokey old "B" thrillers from the 50's? Remember your youth when it seemed like everyone had seen every 'monster' movie and loved to talk about it?

I remember having a friend over for the evening, watching our old B&W tv, and throwing a blanket over the monitor and ourselves -- we were in a drive-in *grin*. Shows like this were what we watched.

This film is a great 'time trip' back to those early days of monster movies when atom bomb testing (did we really detonate those things above ground?) was the cause for every mutation or monster loosed on humanity. As a young boy, it had scared me -- the voices in the night and an island which kept getting smaller gave me dreams. Of course, today's film crowd would hoot at it. But it's not the cinematography, special effects or even the story that makes this flick one worth adding to your library. It's the wistful return to our youth that gives it charm.

If you were born after 1970, you'll probably not have much in common with this film -- bypass it. However, if you grew up watching 'Chiller Theater' and 'Movie of the Week', this film will transport you back in time to the less complex world of our childhood.

Famous Monsters of Filmland fans will love it
I've wanted to get this movie on video for years, and finally got one thanks to Amazon. A glorious low-budget Roger Corman piece that has some surprisingly clever ideas in its script, and a bit of genuinely creepy atmosphere. Sure, the crab monsters themselves are a bit naff, but that's exaactly what you expect when you watch a movie like this. If you can't appreciate the finer points of a B-movie, you should obviously stay well away. But if you remember watching this one on television when you were a kid, like me, you may find yourself drawn to it the same way I was.

The print used for the video is not very good, unfortunately. Too much contrast, and it looks like it's more than one generation down from the master video copy. It makes it difficult to see what's happening at times. I don't know if other editions have better video quality. Although the edition I have is recorded at SP, it almost looks as if it were dubbed from an EP tape.

But you know what? I'm still happy I have the video. Any Saturday morning I can escape back to my childhood by watching a cheap B&W monster flick is a good one to me, and this is a perfect movie to fit the bill.

Good Monster Movie!
This movie was another Grade B gem from the master of these
types of films Roger Corman.A rescue party is sent to an island
to rescue a group of scientists.The rescue party discovers that earthquakes are decimating the island. They make a scarier discovery in the forms of giant crabs who have undergrown a
tremendous growth cycle because of atomic testing.One by one
these monster crabs kill and eat the members of the rescue team.
It is an all out battle for survival.Who will win? The monster
crabs or the rescue team members.This movie stays exciting until
the ending. This is a unique film that you will enjoy.

Crabs take over the island...
Another Roger Corman classic staring monsters from the deep. This time we have a research team investigating an island for effects of radiation. We all know that radiation in a black and white film creates monsters. This time is no exception.

In typical Corman fashion, the plot is established and the terror begins and at first we only see the handywork of the monsters and not the monsters themselves. As quakes wrack the island, causing large sections to disappear, and scientists disappear, we become aware that there are some nast giant crabs on the island. They have been eating the scientists and causing the island to sink. If that wasn't enough, they have absorbed the knowledge, and voices, of those they have eaten.

The film climaxes with the final battle between the survivors and the crabs on all that remains of the island (about 10 yards across).

This is the type of movie that makes B-movies so much fun. Monsters, suspense, bad effects, melodrama and sinking islands. Great film.

Pay no attention to the wheels and legs under the monsters
If you see only one talking crab monster movie in your life then this 1957 bad B-movie from director Roger Corman is the one to check out. The monsters are stupid looking, the dialog is laughable, but just keep in mind the film's tagline--"From the depths of the sea... a tidal wave of terror!"--and enjoy the film. The idea is that some scientist types are off to a Pacific island to study the effects of atomic radiation (they are bad; worse than you can imagine). What they discover are a pair of giant crabs who (wait until you hear this) ate the previous group of scientists, thereby absorbing their knowledge and allowing them to imitate the voices of their human victims so they can get more people to munch on. Just to make things fair the humans have guns and grenades, but they are trapped on the island when their plane explodes and bad weather stops their radios from working. Oh, and did I mention that the island is slowly sinking into the sea?

Of course the scientists are mostly menu items, which leaves it to our hero, Hank (Russell "The Professor" Johnson), who proudly declares "I'm no scientist, I'm a technician and a handy man." Well, those are the people who made this country and most monster movies great. The human voices from the crabs are rather lame, but the clicking sound they make with their pinchers has its moments. This is a nice example of an early Corman quick and dirty production, the second of nine films the director made that year: "Not of This Earth," "Naked Paradise," "Teenage Doll," "The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent," "The Undead," "Sorority Girl," "Rock All Night," and "Carnival Rock." But none of those have fake looking talking crabs rolling around on wheels on a sinking island talking with the voices of the human beings they consumed. Look for screenwriter Charles B. Griffith as Tate and keep in mind that actors Beach Dickerson (Ron Fellows) and Ed Nelson (Ensign Quinlan) are doing double-duty as the operators of the crab monsters. "Attack of the Crab Monsters" definitely goes in the so bad it is good category. In fact, this one might become your textbook definition of bad Science Fiction B-Movie. It is a two-star movie but a four-star experience. ... Read more

Reviews (105)

The Pivitol Battle of the Pacific War
In June, 1942, the United States uncovered Japanese plans to invade the island of Midway, located only 1100 miles from the Hawaiian islands. This fine film brings this great battle to life.

An all-star cast, including Charlton Heston (Capt. Matt Garth), Henry Fonda (Admiral Chester Nimitz), Glenn Ford (Admiral Raymond Spruance), Hal Holbrook (Commander Joseph Rochefort) and Robert Webber (Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher) turn in fine performances as the men who would ultimately win the battle and turn the tide against the Japanese. The Japanese actors do a fine job as well portraying such officers as Admiral Yamamoto and Admiral Nagumo.

The battle scenes, especially the American dive and torpedo attacks against the Japanese fleet, are excellent. Real battle footage is also included, and if you watch close enough, you may even see some scenes from "Tora Tora Tora" in the footage.

One part of the film that I didn't care very much for was the love relationship between Matt Garth's son Tom and a Japanese/American girl. I felt that this was unnecessary and didn't really contribute anything to the movie. Overall, however, I thought this was an excellent film. The battle scenes are top notch, and the attention paid to historical fact is evident throughout the film, right down to Joe Rochefort's smoking jacket and bedroom slippers.

I've seen this movie several times on VHS, but this was the first time I saw it on DVD. The widescreen format made me feel like I was in the theater. I highly recommend this fine war film. Watch this film and experience the turning of the tide in the Pacific.

Poor sound, over-edited
Midway as originally filmed is one of the great movies of all time. This DVD is not.

Problem #1: I have one of the best sound systems you can buy. The sound goes up and down and up and down on this DVD. You have to hold on to the remote just to be able to stay in the room with it because some combat footage is too loud, and other dramatic discussions are too low in volume.

Problem #2: My wife grew to hate this move somewhere around 1990 because on the veteran related holidays, a good 4+ hours were lost to watching this movie. Others claim that the original was over 5 hours. I'm very disappointed with the 2+ hour version. I want to see it all.

The manufacturer needs to do something to get us the complete movie. They won't, though, becuase they have to redo the sound for the DVD, and that's expensive.

One of the better historical WWII movies

A good friend of mine (and a contemporary) rode in the backseat of a dive bomber at the battle of midway. He's dead now, like three quarters of the men who fought in World War Two. Can you imagine riding backwards in a dive while the people below are doing their best to kill you? Unless you've been there, probably not.

This is, historically, one of the most accurate portrayals of the war. One critic complained that "the writing was weak. There was no suspense at all in the film." Perhaps there'd have been enough suspense if he'd been there, like Bill. But Bill survived the battle and died of old age, so I can't ask him about whether he felt any suspense, although we talked a lot about the battle of Midway.

In the film, they used top notch actors. For "Bull" Halsey they used Mitchum. Not a look alike, but of course Bull's dead, too, and Mitchum did a good job. Heston, of course, represented a fictional character (Matt Garth), but virtually all of the names of people in the film were real men who fought a real battle, and it was the turning point of the war. After Midway, we took a lot of lumps, but they were on the run from that point on.

Of course Hollywood took some liberties, and since they used a lot of actual combat shots, some of the aircraft used were out of place (F6F "Hellcats" for F4F "Wildcats" several times, and the ditching scene where Ensign George Gay went in showed a "Hellcat" instead of the TBD Douglas torpedo bomber that he actually flew. And the shot of the "Hellcat" being torn apart on the carrier's island was well-known footage from the technicolor documentary, The Fighting Lady, which was shot on the old Enterprise during battle, with narration by Lt. Robert Montgomery (qv). Garth's (Heston's) fictional son was supposed to be flying it in the film, but it was an actual crash on board the "Big E", in an actual battle. "Hellcats" (F6F) were Grumman fighter planes (the big brother of the "Wildcat" (F4F) which was obsolescent when the war started, but in use at the Battle of Midway--as was the old Brewster "Buffalo") and the F6F never saw combat until late 1943 (on my birthday, as a matter of fact.) The battle of Midway was in June of 1942, six months after Pearl Harbor.

It helps when you know a little history. For instance, Ensign George Gay actually did ride out the battle in the water, after he ditched, and was debriefed personally by the commander-in-chief, pacific fleet (CINCPAC), Admiral Chester Nimitz. He was the only survivor of his torpedo squadron, VT-8 (torpedo squadron 8).

Altogether, when you see this picture, you are watching history (as near as Hollywood will ever get to it), and many of the people who died to entertain today's movie audiences are named in the movie.

So, try to overlook the lack of a plot, at least in the battle sequences. History wrote them, not Hollywood script writers.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre, USN (Ret)

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

All-Star Cast. Ultimate invasion of Midway Island.
This story is set in June 1942, six months after the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. Includes the all-star cast of: Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Hal Holbrook, Toshiro Mifune, Robert Mitchum, Cliff Robertson, Robert Wagner, Ed Nelson, Monte Markham, David Macklin, Christopher George, Robert Webber, Kevin Dobson, Edward Albert, Pat Morita, Dabney Coleman, Erik Estrada, Tom Selleck, Robert Ito, Steve Kanaly, Kip Niven, Clint Ritchie (ABC serial "One Life To Live"), Frank Parker (NBC serial "Days Of Our Lives"). The main cast can be seen acting with stock footage from THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO and some old Japanese war films. However, some actual wartime footage of the real combat is incorporated into this film. The actual war footage was filmed in color by navy photographers and by the cameras mounted on fighter planes in 1942.
Filmed in the same manner as EARTHQUAKE (1974) and ROLLERCOASTER (1977) and in "Sensurround". "Sensurround" was a new sound system set up for specific films only that would make the sounds in the film seem realistic to you. The sound was balanced and came at you all around. You would hear the sound of an earthquake, riding a rollercoaster or being in the middle of a battle. Very few films were made in "Sensurround" and was only a gimmick in the 1970's. Small theaters benefited the most. Nowadays, we have sound systems in our own modern homes that come at us from behind and the sides. Disneyland rides use a sound system similar to "Sensurround".
A special television version runs four hours with commercials. It includes new scenes NOT shown on video or in the theatres. It includes new scenes with an additional cast NOT seen in the original version, Susan Sullivan, Richard Sanders, Noel Conlon, Don Dolan, Richard Sarradet, Alec Smight, Miiko Taka and William Wellman Jr. The extended tv version includes a Charlton Heston-Susan Sullivan romance and the scenes of the Coral Sea battle is played out. At the end of the television extended version, Susan Sullivan and Christine Kukobo are both shown waiting at dockside.
I think this film was meant to be a tribute to those Americans who served.

Just slightly over-edited
Our USMC squad went to the 'World Premier' at Luneta Theatre, Manila, Philippines. Midway WAS a Full-length FEATURE movie-then. It was near 5 hours long. Our sixes burned from seating.
>These days the once good, and quite long Midway has been edited-down from it's feature film status, a 5, to the new 2+ hour typical 'Hollyweird' shortened edition, a true waste of unreplaceable WWII Pacific footage, though actually faked. According to The NAVY, there were NO USN photojournalists with color motion-picture cameras at or near Midway, and actual Naval Aviators names were changed, and most colorized motion picture photography was filmed at The Battle For Leyte Gulf.
>Some carrier shots depict the ESSEX-class carriers designed POST Midway, and produced in 1943. "Universal" left-out several hours of video footage. Midway should be near 4-5 hours. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Great Movie
I read the other 2 reviews of "Soldier in the Rain" and totally agreed with them. I just wanted to add my opinion - and that is that this movie has universal themes that will appeal to anyone I think. I first saw the film, probably in the 70's when a friend highly recommended it. The characters from Jackie Gleason's seasoned performance to Steve McQueen's innocent youthfulness to Tuesday Weld's sweetness to Tom Poston's pompousness all contribute to a very human story - along with the antagonist soldiers and gentle humor and little tragedies we all encounter along our lives. I highly recommend this great great movie to everyone - it has some wonderful lines and lessons for us all.

Another lost gem
It's a shame that this classic is going the way of all things. I don't know if service in the military is absolutely essential to appreciate this film, but those who have served can easily appreciate Gleason's and McQueen's genius in rendering their characters. Both figures are timeless and ever-present in the real military (the military that's generally not reflected in entertainment media because it's simply too real, ordinary and every-day) and Gleason and McQueen play them with dignity and a sensitivity that shows their characters for the ordinary human beings they are. These characters may be less compelling to the average movie-goer than those of Preminger or Spielberg, but they are much more typical of the institution that, for most Americans, exists in peacetime somewhere out there in the backstage of their minds.

One might argue that a movie about street sweepers would be just as relevant. To the degree that most Americans have well developed preconceptions about street sweepers that don't accord with the every day reality of street sweeping in our society, the argument may be justified. But I doubt that's the case. That most Americans have fairly concrete, if uninformed, notions about their standing military is hard to deny. That even informed citizens fail generally to distinguish between the peacetime and wartime institutions is nearly axiomatic (and not a peculiarly American phenomenon).

Nor should Gleason's and McQueen's characters be interpreted as exclusively American stereotypes. Anyone who has served in any professional military - American, Soviet, German, Chinese, French etc - will recognize these characters and appreciate the realism and drama these masters bring to their roles.

Movies like "Soldier in the Rain" (or "The Pawnbroker" or "A Patch of Blue") are evidence of what Hollywood can do when it's not just trying to sell movie sound tracks and sequel rights.

Steve and Jackie outstanding
A splendid showing of their versatility, Steve of his upcoming stardum and Jackie of his seasoned acting. This is in a catagory along with stalog 17. It pulls you along with all the feelings of an actual happening. It has your comedy and tragity in good order. Tuesday Weld also makes her character true to life. This film is outstanding with performance excelence. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Police Academy 3 was a great comedy
I loved Police Academy 3, it will always make you laugh. The comedy never stops in this great action film. All of the Police Academy movies are great and very funny..

The graduates of the original train new recruits
This time the city has decided to shutdown of their police academies, so know it's between Lassard and Mauser's academies to compete to see which academy is the best and can stay open. Mahoney, Hightower, Jones, Tackelberry,etc are training new recruits including Sweet Chuck, and Zed(the gangleader in P.A. 2). There are many great gags, as one would come to expect, Mauser loses his eyebrows this time. There's a great Blue Oyster bar scene with Proctor. If you liked the first two you should enjoy this one, however it is tamer than the prievious Police Academy films, this would be one for the whole family to enjoy.

The Best Police Academy
Police Academy 3 Back In Training. Is Probabaly the best out of all seven. The others are Exellent but this one is Faboulous.
If you have not seen this movie yet.The cast is faboulous , It is a great family comedy. Kids will love it.

hijinks and hilarity
A film by Jerry Paris

If you have seen any of the "Police Academy" movies, you know exactly what you are going to get with "Police Academy 3: Back in Training". This is a screwball comedy dealing with the police force and a police academy. All of the major protagonists are very likable characters, however, and this has been the charm of the series (at least for those who think the series has charm). It is fun to follow the antics and hijinks of the squad of new recruits as they grow into police officers who always save the day no matter how ridiculous things gets. And no, that is not giving away the ending of any "Police Academy" movie.

Having graduated from the Academy in the first movie and being given their first assignment in the second movie, Commadant Lassard's (George Gaynes) favorite recruits are called back to help Lassard save his beloved Academy. The city is threatening to close one of its two police academies and there will be an evaluation team deciding which academy will remain open and which will close its doors for good. The competition is between Lassard's Academy and that of Lieutenant Mauser (Art Mertrano). Mauser will stop at nothing to keep his academy open. Lassard calls back his favorite recruits: Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Tackleberry (David Graf), Hightower (Bubba Smith), Jones (Michael Winslow) and the soft voiced Hooks (Marion Ramsey). They join Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook), a favorite instructor from the first film. Together, they mess things up in the attempt to look good for the evaluation team, but they are earnest enough that they can't help but win you over (all the while you are laughing).

When if first saw this movie ten to fifteen years ago, I loved it (and all the other "Police Academy" movies). Having grown up a bit, I understand that they aren't particularly great movies, but I still found "Police Academy 3" to be a lot of fun to watch. It remains funny, and charming, and reminds me of when I first watched the movie. It is a bit of nostalgia for me. The only downside to this movie: the return of Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait), the former gang leader from the second movie who is now a cadet at Lassard's academy. Naturally. Zed aside, fun movie.

-Joe Sherry

They're back where they started!
March 1986 saw the theatrical release of this film. The Metropolitan Police Academy Class of 1984 are "back in training" due to the possibility of one of two academies becoming defunct. A hired committee evaluates and compares the two academies,Commandant Eric Lassard's(George Gaynes) and Lieutant Mauser's(Art Metrano). Mauser hires Kyle Blankes and Chad Copeland,who both return after appearing in the first film,to rig Lassard's academy(Mauser wants to keep his and kill Lassard's). The devious duo come up with various tasks for Lassard's academy members. Much of the previous cast members appear in this film. Bobcat Goldthwait and Tim Kazurisnky return in this film,now members of the Metropolitan Police Academy. Now joining is Doug Fackler's wife,who two years ago,dissuaded Doug from joining! Doug's philosophy is "a woman's place is in the home". Also there's newcomer Karen Adams,a blonde beauty who also joins and whom Carey Mahoney(Steve Guttenberg) becomes attracted to. The villains in this film are terrorists at an outdoor luncheon. So the MPA members go undercover in wetsuits bringing the terrorists to justice. Mauser's academy becomes defunct which means Art Metrano would not return for the following sequels. Memorable scenes include Mauser losing his eyebrows via duct tape. This happened when at a pub,Carey blindfolds Mauser with the tape. Carey revolves a glass of beer,and champagne in another glass,same shape and size. Mauser plays the guessing game and wins. Proctor(Lance Kinsey) rapidly removes the tape,thus removing Mauser's eyebrow hairs. So Mauser gets a fake pair. Well,that was a much smaller mess of hair than what happened in PA2. The hooker,seen in the first film,also returns in this one. She does a favor for Proctor. Another funny scene,is where after a romantic escapade between the two,the hooker sweetly and gradually evicts Proctor from her hotel suite while he's still naked. He receives stares from shocked passersby! Also returning is Leslie Easterbrook as Lt. Callahan. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Oh, Brother
This is a very overblown account of the L-1011 accident in the everglades in 1972. It is full of horrible acting and gross historical inaccuracies. Read the book by John Fuller ("The Ghost of Flight 401") or the NTSB report to get a real clue. The moral of the story: do not rely on William Shatner for your aviation accident information.

World Class Hokum
I had seen this when it came out as a made for TV movie many years ago, and rewatching it recently made me realize what a horrible production it really is. I am an airline pilot, and have flown the L-1011 (and dearly love it), so it is natural that I would be able to nitpick technical material in the film. I am not going to do so, as most people wouldn't care about the technical details of airline operations, anyway. My only caveat is that nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, about the film from an aviation perspective is even remotely correct.

I can deal with the technical inaccuracies if the remainder of the story is well crafted, and attempts to be true to the historical events, but I recommend that you heed well the disclaimer at the beginning of the film that certain aspects of the film have been fictionalized. I will certainly say that they have. It basically becomes a soap opera in a swamp. A very large portion of the film is told in flashback and concerns who is pregnant, who is having an affair with whom, the flight attendant, oops, I'm sorry, stewardess who is afraid to fly, etc. Even if these situations existed onboard Eastern 401 it hardly impacts the story of the crash, which is ostensibly the subject of the film.

All that leads up to the films biggest over the top departure from reality: William Shatner. Shatner plays an NTSB investigator (who is actually seen performing mostly FAA duties, but I digress) who has to solve the case. Unfortunately he doesn't have Spock along to help out with the case, though he ends up being the hero in the end, and gets to chew a lot of scenery in the process. Eddie Albert also stars as the plane's Captain, though for some reason they changed his character name to "Dunn" from the real Captain's name (Bob Loft). I have always liked Eddie Albert, but apparently his only direction in this film was to be a cranky old codger. Also notable is 'Barney Miller' regular Ron Glass as a buyer for a department store who basically wanders around the swamp in a happy delirium after the accident. Of course shock can make episodes like this happen, but I was less than convinced by the performance here.

I gave the film two stars, which is fairly generous, but I have such a soft spot for the L-1011 that I can't bear to give it only one. The crash is an interesting story, and in real life has become the definitive teaching example in Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) classes. Ultimately, the accident occurred due to everybody in the cockpit being absorbed with a minor light bulb malfunction, and leaving the airplane to its own devices with nobody flying the plane. It is worth seeing just to see some great shots of L-1011's flying around. A better film on the same crash which is a bit more realistic (up through the crash anyway) is "The Ghost of Flight 401" starring Ernest Borgnine. If you get the opportunity, try that one, it covers the crash and the paranormal aspect that was detailed in the John Fuller book, if you are interested in that angle.

Crash Of Flight 401
For those of us who loved the book, this movie is very much worth watching. However, there is no mention of the ghosts which is disappointing. It is sometimes scary, because you get to re-live the crash and see & feel what the crew went through.

It was excellent!!!
dsdddfd ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Light Weight '50s Sci-Fi Flick
A spaceship lands in a remote woods that high school kids use as a lover's lane. Little green men emerge and the fun begins. This bargain basement little B movie is a blend of comedy and monsters-on-the-loose. The saucer men are typical pulp fiction invaders from space. Once again, teenagers are the early warning system. The local cops of course don't believe the stories of saucer men. The humor is on the same level as Bowery Boys' movies. There is some sci-fi suspense to enjoy. The best scene shows a dismembered space invader's hand crawling over a car seat and threatening Johnny and Joan. A young Frank Gorshin makes an appearance as the saucer men's first victim. Western movie veteran Raymond Hatton is a cranky farmer dealing with a drunken bull. Otherwise, the cast is full of unknown faces. Special effects, such as there are, are low budget. Incredibly, military men are already around town and take the kids seriously. It appears the USAF has a tip that something from space is afoot. The subsequent bungling of Eisenhower-era military brass adds to the "smart kids, dumb adults" cliches of many '50s teenage flicks. This film is clearly targeted at the Friday night movie crowd. Today, collectors such as myself (i.e., aging baby boomers who can't get enough of cheesy sci-fi flicks) can still enjoy viewing the silly fun. ;-)

1950s Fun
I'm not much for alien movies but this one was a heck of a lot of fun and certainly a film I would enjoy watching over again but now that DVD is available with great films being restored and shown in their original widescreen format I will no longer invest my money on video.

Yikes! Those needled fingers
I also saw this as a kid on channel 20's Creature Feature, and now that I've gotten over my fear of needles I can watch it again. If anyone remembers, the little saucer men had retractable needles at the end of their fingers. Loved the movie but can't see buying until it's on DVD.

First Scarry Movie I Probably Was't Supposed To See
I was about 10 years old when I saw this movie and had nightmares for a long time. I thought the little aliens were under the bed and in the closet. Those hands could crawl anywhere and those needles were long and dripping. The oversized melon heads were frightning. By todays standards it is pretty goofy but I want a copy just to remember when.....sort of like buying that classic car( which wasn't classic then). Childhood memories.

Help!! Mommy!!
I remember seeing this b&w film on TV when I was about five. It scared me pretty badly, especially the scene where the alien's severed hand is crawling up a carseat toward some teenagers--and it had long hypodermic needles in the tips of the fingers. Dripping something. When I watched the movie as an adult, it wasn't scary at all. But it was entertaining and sometimes funny. And what really cracked me up was the "bad" teenagers, the ones the cops don't believe and apparently consider some kind of juvenile delinquents, wear suits and ties. As for the aliens themselves, nearly everyone has seen them. I suspect they are more well-known than the film. And it was a hoot watching Frank Gorshin (best known for playing the Riddler on the '60's TV series, "Batman"), playing a 17-year-old. Definitely worth a look. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good but not as good as the first one!
I rented this thinking it might be good as the first one and it's ok but the first one I really like the most. This one is about he takes a trip to Athens, Greece. He enjoys the trip but he gets lost and tries to find his family. The Greece theme is really annoying but it mostly has the the same score from the first one. The first Benji I think is great out of all three the other two is not as good but Benji is still a classic!

Benji secures his fame as the world's most huggable hero
For the Love of Benji takes the world's most huggable hero all the way to Greece, but this wonderful Greek vacation becomes a nightmare for Benji even before he is loaded on the plane. A bad guy drugs him and tattoos something on his paw, and when he finally get to Greece alongside his girlfriend Tiffany, he finds himself camping out in a storage area for misplaced baggage. He manages to get out of his crate and escape, only to find himself lost and all alone in a strange new city - hungry, tired, and frightened, missing Tiffany and Paul and Cindy Chapman. The bulk of this film follows Benji in his seemingly impossible search to find his family. He searches in vain, becoming more and more depressed, but he does manage to make one new friend. Still, he has to guiltily steal food in order to live, and if all that isn't bad enough, several strangers including that bad man who drugged him back in the airport are doing all they can to nab him. Benji has risked everything to save his friends in the past, but now he has to use all of his intelligence and leg power just to keep himself alive while he strives valiantly to find and be reunited with his family. There's an underlying storyline, of course, of the bad guys and their evil plot, but what really matters here is Benji. The film builds up to a thrilling conclusion that almost equals the emotional power of the original Benji movie.

Some people may not know that the Benji of For the Love of Benji is not the same talented actor who starred in the original Benji movie. Higgins, the original Benji, was fairly old when he made Benji a household name in 1973, and the role of Benji for this second movie was played by Higgins' daughter (who was actually named Benji). Yes, this Benji is played by a female, but it does not matter. What is obvious is that acting ability courses powerfully throughout the Benji bloodline, as this Benji gives a simply amazing performance, in some respects bettering that of her dad in the original. There is much more action in this film, much of it taking place on the busy city streets of Athens; this little dog really has to run his legs off in this movie as well as navigate many obstacles and perform a number of actions that only Benji could do. He also faces a menacing, large, unfriendly canine enemy and has to avoid a number of gunshots. Most importantly, he has to show a wide range of emotions, as well, and this dog is truly an incredible actor. When he is supposed to be frightened, he really and truly looks frightened; the guilt he feels over having to steal food is obvious; the forlorn look on his face as he searches in vain for his loved ones looks heartbreakingly real; and when he is supposed to stop and think about his next move, you can almost literally see the wheels of his mind turning inside his head. Even the smallest and shortest of expressions - perking up at a certain sound, reacting to a smell, breaking out in excitement when he thinks he sees one of his family members - are performed with a level of skill few human actors could ever hope to rival.

I think the original Benji film will always be my favorite, but For the Love of Benji is not far behind. Children will probably enjoy this film more than the original because of all the action scenes it showcases. This Benji, just like her father Higgins, is among the most talented actors to ever grace the big screen, and I can't imagine my childhood (and don't plan on living my adulthood) without the presence of this greatest dog of them all.

Another Great Movie!
In the sequel to "Benji", kidnappers target someone else - Benji! As Benji tries furiously to get back to his family, and escape from his kidnappers, there some really great scenes. My personal favorite is where Benji grabbs a string of hot dogs and takes off down the street! This isn't as good as Benji, but it is worth watching anyway.

Love for Benji
The film FOR THE LOVE OF BENJI should be added to all family video collections. It picks up where the previous movie leaves off. The family goes on vacation and brings their beloved mutt Benji with them to a foreign land. Benji once again faces adversaries but manages to make new friends along the way. This movie is about a dog with a heart of gold. If you enjoyed the movie BABE, you will surely enjoy watching Benji's adventure unfold in this film. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good but not as good as the first one!
I rented this thinking it might be good as the first one and it's ok but the first one I really like the most. This one is about he takes a trip to Athens, Greece. He enjoys the trip but he gets lost and tries to find his family. The Greece theme is really annoying but it mostly has the the same score from the first one. The first Benji I think is great out of all three the other two is not as good but Benji is still a classic!

Benji secures his fame as the world's most huggable hero
For the Love of Benji takes the world's most huggable hero all the way to Greece, but this wonderful Greek vacation becomes a nightmare for Benji even before he is loaded on the plane. A bad guy drugs him and tattoos something on his paw, and when he finally get to Greece alongside his girlfriend Tiffany, he finds himself camping out in a storage area for misplaced baggage. He manages to get out of his crate and escape, only to find himself lost and all alone in a strange new city - hungry, tired, and frightened, missing Tiffany and Paul and Cindy Chapman. The bulk of this film follows Benji in his seemingly impossible search to find his family. He searches in vain, becoming more and more depressed, but he does manage to make one new friend. Still, he has to guiltily steal food in order to live, and if all that isn't bad enough, several strangers including that bad man who drugged him back in the airport are doing all they can to nab him. Benji has risked everything to save his friends in the past, but now he has to use all of his intelligence and leg power just to keep himself alive while he strives valiantly to find and be reunited with his family. There's an underlying storyline, of course, of the bad guys and their evil plot, but what really matters here is Benji. The film builds up to a thrilling conclusion that almost equals the emotional power of the original Benji movie.

Some people may not know that the Benji of For the Love of Benji is not the same talented actor who starred in the original Benji movie. Higgins, the original Benji, was fairly old when he made Benji a household name in 1973, and the role of Benji for this second movie was played by Higgins' daughter (who was actually named Benji). Yes, this Benji is played by a female, but it does not matter. What is obvious is that acting ability courses powerfully throughout the Benji bloodline, as this Benji gives a simply amazing performance, in some respects bettering that of her dad in the original. There is much more action in this film, much of it taking place on the busy city streets of Athens; this little dog really has to run his legs off in this movie as well as navigate many obstacles and perform a number of actions that only Benji could do. He also faces a menacing, large, unfriendly canine enemy and has to avoid a number of gunshots. Most importantly, he has to show a wide range of emotions, as well, and this dog is truly an incredible actor. When he is supposed to be frightened, he really and truly looks frightened; the guilt he feels over having to steal food is obvious; the forlorn look on his face as he searches in vain for his loved ones looks heartbreakingly real; and when he is supposed to stop and think about his next move, you can almost literally see the wheels of his mind turning inside his head. Even the smallest and shortest of expressions - perking up at a certain sound, reacting to a smell, breaking out in excitement when he thinks he sees one of his family members - are performed with a level of skill few human actors could ever hope to rival.

I think the original Benji film will always be my favorite, but For the Love of Benji is not far behind. Children will probably enjoy this film more than the original because of all the action scenes it showcases. This Benji, just like her father Higgins, is among the most talented actors to ever grace the big screen, and I can't imagine my childhood (and don't plan on living my adulthood) without the presence of this greatest dog of them all.

Another Great Movie!
In the sequel to "Benji", kidnappers target someone else - Benji! As Benji tries furiously to get back to his family, and escape from his kidnappers, there some really great scenes. My personal favorite is where Benji grabbs a string of hot dogs and takes off down the street! This isn't as good as Benji, but it is worth watching anyway.

Love for Benji
The film FOR THE LOVE OF BENJI should be added to all family video collections. It picks up where the previous movie leaves off. The family goes on vacation and brings their beloved mutt Benji with them to a foreign land. Benji once again faces adversaries but manages to make new friends along the way. This movie is about a dog with a heart of gold. If you enjoyed the movie BABE, you will surely enjoy watching Benji's adventure unfold in this film. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Absurd but delightful cmic fantasy
Brook Shields plays newspaper reporter Brenda Starr, the glamorous heroine of a strip cartoon drawn by a slightly wet but amiable artist, who somehow manages to draw himself into the strip and finds himself sharing her adventures as they try to find a missing professor who has developed a secret formula to replace petrol and who is also being pursued by various baddies (well, something like that anyway). The artist naturally has a crush on the glamorous Brenda, but romantic compications occur when gorgeous Brazilian aristocrat Basil St. John (Timothy Dalton in tight black trousers and an eyepatch,oh crikey, I'm drooling again)turns up, he's also after the formula, I think. Look, I've watched this film three times now and I still don't really understand the plot, but who cares. It's a lot of fun anyway, and with Brook Shields in tight skirts and Timothy Dalton in tight trousers it has something to please everyone. True, there is a rather long bit in the middle of the film where Dalton isn't around, but you can't have everything, and the rest of the time, he's there, and absolutely divine. Don't worry about the baffling plot and crazy characters, just enjoy it.

Very Styleish.
I love all the pretty outfits that Brooke Shields wore in the Brenda StarrVideo. I think that Brooke is one terrific actress as well as supermodel.

Funny movie
Yes, I admit, I bought this movie because Timothy Dalton stars in it. And it does not disappoint. It is a movie with lots of humour and not to be taken too seriously. Just sit back and enyoy the humour. It has no pretensions of deep human emotions or of world philosophy and that is what makes it so enjoyable.

So Many Pizza Hut Plugs in This One It'll Make You Dizzy
We know of Timothy Dalton because we shamefully watched all of the James Bond movies, happening to see the one or two Dalton starred in. (Now, a man unleashes a wet, sickly cough, bracing himself on kitchen counter for support). "Brenda Starr" is one of the worst movies ever. What can account for this? Try one too many liberal arts graduates shuffling around under dim lighting in an empty warehouse, while yet another chain smoker coughs horribly into a tissue. It all comes up bloody in the end. At last! Brooke Shields is no longer making films!

It has lovely Brooke in it !! Of *course* we'll watch her !
Hi ... I am One Of Those Guys who, in His Adolescence, was so down on _me_ that it was not until into my Adulthood that I actually began **really** taking notice of those comely yeomen strutting their lovely posteriors in their micro-minis all up and down the Enterprise ... so, what's my point ?? Simply this: Brooke Shields is a sight for sore eyes no matter HOW old a man is when he finally learns it's okay to LIKE himself AND gawk at very beautiful girls. That is, apart from BRENDA STARR being, as I understand my elders, a pretty faithful adherence to the Heroine of so many young ladies in the fifties; lush with romance, comedy, bright colors and adventure; and a diverting and entertaining indulgence absent of foul speech which never takes itself *too* seriously -- there is, in every frame, our Brooke, our Heroine, Gorgeous Eye Candy for the Age of Cable and Color TV, most splendidly attired, for several delicious minutes at least, in a most eye-pleasing, fetching Barnum and Bailey style "costume" [ heh heh ]. Or, in the immortal words of my pal, Homer: "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Brooke _Shields_." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It is not nice to try and ....Heinlein's Puppet Masters
In the town of Riverdale, Illinois a mysterious cone shaped object is discovered, quickly followed by the traditional string of deaths and disappearances. Sent to investigate is Senator Walter K. Powers (Cornelius Keefe), who teams up with local scientists Dr. Paul Kettering (Ed Nelson) and Dr. Wyler (David Hughes). The idea of sending a senator to do the army's job is certainly different. Of course the trio learn the horrible truth, that a group of parasitic brain eaters have come up from the bowels of the earth and have taken over key citizens in town, cutting it off from the outside world as to the first step of an invasion that would mean the end of life as we know it. This means that now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.

"The Brain Eaters" is a standard example of a low-budget science fiction film, although the effect of looking through the eyes of the Brain Eaters was rather effective. The film is obviously based on Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters," although the producers neglected to mention this fact. My understanding is that Heinlein sued them and got an out-of-court settlement that made the filmmakers cut the most blatant examples of their borrowing. Consequently, this 1958 AIP science fiction thriller now only runs 60 minutes and has some holes in both the narrative and the action. The film was also released as "The Brain Snatchers" (gee, remind you of any classic sci-fi film from the 1950s?), "Keepers of the Earth," and "The Keepers" because that is how things were done way back then.

Those Nasty,Evil Little Parasites!!
In this classic 1958 horror film,evil furry little parasites from the earth's core ,invade the brains of the intellectual elite and misguide them to create a higher order to fit their needs.But the Good Guys provide a little electrical persuasion convince those nasty,evil parasites to go back where they came from.The film is even better if watched in 3-D!! ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A Disaster Film Classic but bad acting
I recently bought the Airport Terminal pack for myself because I always had a passion for disaster films. Before I bought the terminal pack, I wanted to see if I could rent the Airport sequels at the VHS store, they didn't have them, when I finally bought the terminal and when I saw Airport 75, I thought it was a classic for a disaster film, but for acting i though it was a joke, in the entire film, from the beginning and to the end, Karen Black who plays the Head Stewdess on a Boeing 747 that collides with a small private plane during flight looks like she has her eyes crossed, now that was hiliarious! Her acting was just as bad, it became even worse when she had to take instructins for Al Murdock ( Charlston Heston) to fly the plane, that scene was really painful to watch, and one other thing to, the man who was flying the small private who eventually crashed into Flight #409 looked like he was having a heart attack when he lost control, before that happened, if he did have a heart attack then why didn't the movie tell anything about heart problems, I guess that was just to add excitment to the movie. All in All the movie was good, the acting was a joke, esepically Karen Black's acting!

Best of the bunch
My personal favourite of all the Airport movies, Airport 1975 is a camp classic. Right from the opening credits I am whisked away to the 70's and the familiar feeling of snuggling up at the drive-in....I can almost smell the thermos coffee. Airport 1975 doesn't take itself too seriously, yet all the characters play it straight. With a cast that reads like a guest list for a post Oscars party this movie seems to be full of cliches, yet it was this movie that started the said cliches, which I suppose debunks that theory. This is the movie that Airplane (aka Flying High) stuck closest too. With the sick child (Linda Blair), singing nun (Helen Reddy) and commitmentphobe pilot (Charlton Heston) all represented in the direct spoof. The movie however belongs to Karen Black, the poor old flight attendant. The plane is rendered pilotless when a midair collision with a small plane collides with the cockpit. Ms Black then has to take control of the 747 with no experience in flying whatsoever. Entertaining and hilarious.
I was disappointed however in the DVD which was very light on features. I would have loved to see a trailer, a commentary or better yet, a feature on all four Airport movies, but alas, it was not to be. I had to settle for a filmography on the top 2 stars only and that was it.
If you want a blast from the past, or are just fond of the disaster flicks churned out in the 1970's I would heartily recommend Airport 1975.

Buy this version unless they remaster the Terminal Pack...
I won't comment on the film or the acting; it's hard to take any Airport film seriously after Airplane! skewered the genre.

However, if you appreciate the film for what it is, fun entertainment, this is certainly one of the better in the 70's disaster film genre and the special effects have held up well over the years.

If you're interested in this film, I strongly urge you to buy this copy instead of or in addition to the Airport Terminal Pack; there is a mastering error that does not fully expand the film horizontally in that collection, with the result that objects are somewhat compressed horizontally from their true proportions. Another reviewer's references to "tire ovals" and "stick people" is a bit of an exaggeration, but you'll wonder why the plane is so short and stubby and why the airport's pickup trucks look as if they have 4' beds. :-)

In short, another mastering error on Universal's part and, frankly, a somewhat better transfer on GoodTimes' part make THIS the better transfer of Airport 1975...

Superfluous from Beginning to End
I first watched this movie on NBC back in April 1977. Though edited to make it fit its two hour timeslot and allow room for commercials, I later purchased the video from Goodtimes Video to watch the parts not shown by NBC. From the beginning of the movie shot at Dulles Airport in northern Virginia, the cast who star as the crew and passengers aboard Columbia Airlines flight 409, board a Boeing 747-123 (on loan from American Airlines) and it is typical Hollywood overacting, particularly the passengers. Some of the crew, especially Erik Estrada, who plays flight engineer Julio, does quite a bit of womanizing with one of the stewardesses. I've flown a lot during my lifetime, even aboard 747s, and have never heard so much redundancy as depicted in this movie. The sound effects were a little primitive from the Boeing 747 sounding like a Boeing 707 on take-off down to the telephone gongs that are the same ones used on the beginning of the "Rockford Files". This was in the days before George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic came into the vogue. By the way, his film "American Graffiti" was the inflight movie. Some faults are present in the film. The private pilot (Dana Andrews) identifies his plane as "two-three-two-zulu" instead of the correct identitication: N9750Y. Another fault was at the time the stricken 747 lands at Salt Lake City and runs out of runway before Charlton Heston has to turn the nose tiller to make the plane go left at a high rate of speed. Here, we see the passengers get thrown to the left instead of to the right. Another fault we see is that the passengers are catching a glimpse of the daring midair transfer. In reality it would be difficult for anyone to see such an operation. If you were to watch the movie more than once, you could see all these errors.

Better transfer than the "Terminal Pack" transfer
As hard as it may be to believe, this being a "Good Times" release, the transfer on this DVD is better than that included in the "Terminal Pack". Yes, the "Terminal Pack" transfer is anamorphic, and this one has SLIGHTLY more grain....but this transfer is in the correct proportion. Tires are round and the actors don't look like stick people.

My recommendation...buy this disk to supplement your "Terminal Pack". ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Visually lush telling of a chilling story
The previous viewer was right in calling this a "non-Hollywood" style of film-making. How fitting that the tale of a girl terrified into silence is supremely visual, and the story unfolds slowly, in fits and starts, like her own attempts to communicate. Strong performances by York, Black, and especially by the girl. It must have been a very difficult role. The isolation of the community is shown in the beautiful, but menacing, tropical island itself. Highly recommended.

chilling psychological thrller
This is a very "non-Hollywood" movie. Story is about a young, seemingly autistic girl, and a slightly older woman who helps her. Has one of the most evil villains I have ever seen in the movies. Very Southern story - reminds you of Faulkner. Virtually all the authorities come off looking terrible. The social worker is especially bad. Extremely optimistc film in the end, however. Shows the redemptive power of love in fighting evil. Its a don't miss - but don't let young kids see it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Shot in English and budgeted higher than any of his previousAsian features, Jackie Chan's last film under his Hong Kong contract is anaction-packed globe-trotting adventure shot with the American audiencein mind. The spies and secret agent-laden plot is packed with car chases,explosions, gunfire aplenty, and of course Jackie's own brand of gymnastic martial arts. But the flood of his older films between his hits Rumble in the Bronx and Rush Hour had sated American viewers and Who Am I? woundup being sold directly to cable. It's our loss, for this mix of goofy slapstick and jaw-dropping action is his most impressive film since Drunken Master II. Playing a special forces agent (named, naturally, Jackie) struck with amnesia and adoptedby an African bush tribe following a failed assassination attempt, heembarks on a quest to discover his true identity while armies of killers pourafter him. After an explosive opening, the story gets momentarily bogged downin the kind of mugging humor that leaves most American audiencesscratching their heads, but once Jackie kicks into gear the film is a high-speed action flurry that culminates in a furious battle atop a Rotterdam skyscraper. Jackie is at his most charmingly naive (he berates the villains, pleading "Why do you want to destroy when you can make things better?") and athletically impressive: the marvelous stunts--including a flight downthe side of the skyscraper--and fight choreography make Rush Hourlook like a Sunday drive. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (111)

A very pleasant surprise
This is a great flick for both devotees and novice fans of Jackie Chan.

Why Jackie Chan's U.S. distributors didn't release this in theaters is beyond me. Before I saw it, I thought that it would be c**p, but hell, it's Jackie, so I gave it a whirl. Though the first half hour is slow (by Jackie Chan standards, at least), once this flick gets going it ranks right up there with Drunken Master II and Police Story. The escape from the police with a rope and bucket, the chase and fight in the streets of Amsterdam (what Jackie can do wearing of wooden shoes...), and the final fight on the roof are amazing examples of action and comedic artistry. Stuff that ONLY Jackie Chan could pull off. There's even a car chase scene that breathes some life into the old warhorse of action movie cliches. I feared that Jackie Chan might be slowing down as he reached 45, maybe doing less dangerous stunts...no way.

The actors are terrible, the plot non-existent, the dialog silly, the production values shoddy at times, but one might as well complain the writing is poor in Playboy. You're there to look at the pictures, and Who Am I? has some that took my breath away.

Wow! Typical Jackie Chan - completely entertaining
Let me state upfront that I am not an unbiased reviewer but rather a believer ("my name is Paul and I am a Jackie-Chan-fan..."). The man is, as always, amazing in his stunts. Here he again manages to take action and humor, mix them up in diverse locations, and come up with a winner.

Although the plot is a bit thin in places (who watches his movies for the plot?), this movie is fast-moving from the get-go. Action, action, action. Which in Jackies's case always means stunts and fights... from an atypical car chase in South Africa to a clog-assisted dust-up in the mean streets of Rotterdam to the truly breathtaking final scenes, this film hit all the right buttons.

If you've ever seen Jackie Chan before this film is sure to please, and if you haven't you're in for a family-friendly treat (staged violence aside).

Who Am I-Your a legend
This movie is very nice.It may be his best movie it takes place in Africa at First and he falls off a Helicoptor and gets amnesia and he then meets some girl who had to get help by him.Then later they are in Amstradam and he slides down a building believe me you will like this movie a must
Acting 10 Story 9 Direction 9 Ation 10 Entertainment 10
Overall=48/50 This movie gets a 96 wich is 5 star territory

The original has been cut so much!
I really like the original movie. But this release has been so much cut. I don't know what was the reason for it. But some really funny scenes (like a lion chasing Jackie) don't show up. Try to find uncut version.

STAY WITH ORIGINAL
Why American production make HK movies look so cheap? First of all, they cut off so much scene, second of all ruin it by making look acting so dumb by English Dubb. ALWAYS stick with ORIGINAL LICENSED HK RELEASE. Be careful with cheap imports, boots though. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Absurd but delightful cmic fantasy
Brook Shields plays newspaper reporter Brenda Starr, the glamorous heroine of a strip cartoon drawn by a slightly wet but amiable artist, who somehow manages to draw himself into the strip and finds himself sharing her adventures as they try to find a missing professor who has developed a secret formula to replace petrol and who is also being pursued by various baddies (well, something like that anyway). The artist naturally has a crush on the glamorous Brenda, but romantic compications occur when gorgeous Brazilian aristocrat Basil St. John (Timothy Dalton in tight black trousers and an eyepatch,oh crikey, I'm drooling again)turns up, he's also after the formula, I think. Look, I've watched this film three times now and I still don't really understand the plot, but who cares. It's a lot of fun anyway, and with Brook Shields in tight skirts and Timothy Dalton in tight trousers it has something to please everyone. True, there is a rather long bit in the middle of the film where Dalton isn't around, but you can't have everything, and the rest of the time, he's there, and absolutely divine. Don't worry about the baffling plot and crazy characters, just enjoy it.

Very Styleish.
I love all the pretty outfits that Brooke Shields wore in the Brenda StarrVideo. I think that Brooke is one terrific actress as well as supermodel.

Funny movie
Yes, I admit, I bought this movie because Timothy Dalton stars in it. And it does not disappoint. It is a movie with lots of humour and not to be taken too seriously. Just sit back and enyoy the humour. It has no pretensions of deep human emotions or of world philosophy and that is what makes it so enjoyable.

So Many Pizza Hut Plugs in This One It'll Make You Dizzy
We know of Timothy Dalton because we shamefully watched all of the James Bond movies, happening to see the one or two Dalton starred in. (Now, a man unleashes a wet, sickly cough, bracing himself on kitchen counter for support). "Brenda Starr" is one of the worst movies ever. What can account for this? Try one too many liberal arts graduates shuffling around under dim lighting in an empty warehouse, while yet another chain smoker coughs horribly into a tissue. It all comes up bloody in the end. At last! Brooke Shields is no longer making films!

It has lovely Brooke in it !! Of *course* we'll watch her !
Hi ... I am One Of Those Guys who, in His Adolescence, was so down on _me_ that it was not until into my Adulthood that I actually began **really** taking notice of those comely yeomen strutting their lovely posteriors in their micro-minis all up and down the Enterprise ... so, what's my point ?? Simply this: Brooke Shields is a sight for sore eyes no matter HOW old a man is when he finally learns it's okay to LIKE himself AND gawk at very beautiful girls. That is, apart from BRENDA STARR being, as I understand my elders, a pretty faithful adherence to the Heroine of so many young ladies in the fifties; lush with romance, comedy, bright colors and adventure; and a diverting and entertaining indulgence absent of foul speech which never takes itself *too* seriously -- there is, in every frame, our Brooke, our Heroine, Gorgeous Eye Candy for the Age of Cable and Color TV, most splendidly attired, for several delicious minutes at least, in a most eye-pleasing, fetching Barnum and Bailey style "costume" [ heh heh ]. Or, in the immortal words of my pal, Homer: "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Brooke _Shields_." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Yawn.
Christy, owner of a seedy nightclub, loves Natalie. But Natalie loves a clean-cut gambler, and Christy is going a bit mad because of it. Yawn. Well, this is a forgettable film. If you're going to see it at all, see the Exploitica version.

A "Fast Forward" Button Video
The story is silly and d-r-a-g-s on much too long with a lot of melodramatic corn. For Rockabilly fans this one is worth watching to see Bob Luman perform. Note a very young, pre-Elvis James Burton playing hot licks in Bob's band. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Enjoy it with a bag of popcorn and some juju bees
Remember those hokey old "B" thrillers from the 50's? Remember your youth when it seemed like everyone had seen every 'monster' movie and loved to talk about it?

I remember having a friend over for the evening, watching our old B&W tv, and throwing a blanket over the monitor and ourselves -- we were in a drive-in *grin*. Shows like this were what we watched.

This film is a great 'time trip' back to those early days of monster movies when atom bomb testing (did we really detonate those things above ground?) was the cause for every mutation or monster loosed on humanity. As a young boy, it had scared me -- the voices in the night and an island which kept getting smaller gave me dreams. Of course, today's film crowd would hoot at it. But it's not the cinematography, special effects or even the story that makes this flick one worth adding to your library. It's the wistful return to our youth that gives it charm.

If you were born after 1970, you'll probably not have much in common with this film -- bypass it. However, if you grew up watching 'Chiller Theater' and 'Movie of the Week', this film will transport you back in time to the less complex world of our childhood.

Famous Monsters of Filmland fans will love it
I've wanted to get this movie on video for years, and finally got one thanks to Amazon. A glorious low-budget Roger Corman piece that has some surprisingly clever ideas in its script, and a bit of genuinely creepy atmosphere. Sure, the crab monsters themselves are a bit naff, but that's exaactly what you expect when you watch a movie like this. If you can't appreciate the finer points of a B-movie, you should obviously stay well away. But if you remember watching this one on television when you were a kid, like me, you may find yourself drawn to it the same way I was.

The print used for the video is not very good, unfortunately. Too much contrast, and it looks like it's more than one generation down from the master video copy. It makes it difficult to see what's happening at times. I don't know if other editions have better video quality. Although the edition I have is recorded at SP, it almost looks as if it were dubbed from an EP tape.

But you know what? I'm still happy I have the video. Any Saturday morning I can escape back to my childhood by watching a cheap B&W monster flick is a good one to me, and this is a perfect movie to fit the bill.

Good Monster Movie!
This movie was another Grade B gem from the master of these
types of films Roger Corman.A rescue party is sent to an island
to rescue a group of scientists.The rescue party discovers that earthquakes are decimating the island. They make a scarier discovery in the forms of giant crabs who have undergrown a
tremendous growth cycle because of atomic testing.One by one
these monster crabs kill and eat the members of the rescue team.
It is an all out battle for survival.Who will win? The monster
crabs or the rescue team members.This movie stays exciting until
the ending. This is a unique film that you will enjoy.

Crabs take over the island...
Another Roger Corman classic staring monsters from the deep. This time we have a research team investigating an island for effects of radiation. We all know that radiation in a black and white film creates monsters. This time is no exception.

In typical Corman fashion, the plot is established and the terror begins and at first we only see the handywork of the monsters and not the monsters themselves. As quakes wrack the island, causing large sections to disappear, and scientists disappear, we become aware that there are some nast giant crabs on the island. They have been eating the scientists and causing the island to sink. If that wasn't enough, they have absorbed the knowledge, and voices, of those they have eaten.

The film climaxes with the final battle between the survivors and the crabs on all that remains of the island (about 10 yards across).

This is the type of movie that makes B-movies so much fun. Monsters, suspense, bad effects, melodrama and sinking islands. Great film.

Pay no attention to the wheels and legs under the monsters
If you see only one talking crab monster movie in your life then this 1957 bad B-movie from director Roger Corman is the one to check out. The monsters are stupid looking, the dialog is laughable, but just keep in mind the film's tagline--"From the depths of the sea... a tidal wave of terror!"--and enjoy the film. The idea is that some scientist types are off to a Pacific island to study the effects of atomic radiation (they are bad; worse than you can imagine). What they discover are a pair of giant crabs who (wait until you hear this) ate the previous group of scientists, thereby absorbing their knowledge and allowing them to imitate the voices of their human victims so they can get more people to munch on. Just to make things fair the humans have guns and grenades, but they are trapped on the island when their plane explodes and bad weather stops their radios from working. Oh, and did I men