Reviews (14)

Jim Jones: The Guyana Tragedy
This is an outstanding movie! Powers Booth does an exellent portrayel of Rev. Jim Jones. This movie,I would say is not for children.The only thing bad with this video is the quality of the picture is not very good at all,but it is worth the money just to own the movie.The facts are a little shaky,but all in all it's pretty close. Shane

Riveting portrait of good that becomes evil
The events of November 18, 1978, in which 917 people died in a jungle enclave in the South American jungle of Guyana have continued to rivet the world. How could all these people have been brainwashed into following a man like the Rev. Jim Jones to their eventual doom? What social and economic conditions could have driven both them and their leader to do what they did?

The riveting 2-part 1980 TV film GUYANA TRAGEDY: THE STORY OF JIM JONES gives us a pretty good idea. Neither director William A. Graham nor screenwriter Ernest Tidyman could have found anyone better to play Jim Jones than the then-unknown Powers Boothe. I agree strongly with a previous reviewer who said that Boothe literally BECAME Jones right before our eyes. It's not a surpise, then, that he should have won an Emmy for his magnetic performance.

The film also features a big-name cast, including Ned Beatty, Meg Foster, Randy Quaid, Brenda Vaccaro, Brad Dourif, Madge Sinclair, Colleen Dewhurst, and Diane Ladd. This is a must-see for anyone interested in incredible single events like the nightmare of the Jonestown massacre.

GUYANA TRAGEDY-THE STORY OF JIM JONES
I FEEL THAT POWERS BOOTHE PORTRAYED JIM JONES EXCELLENTLY IN THIS MOVIE,AND I RECOMMEND IT VERY HIGHLY FOR VIEWING.

A Spellbinding Film Though Not Entirely Accurate
This film is masterfully done and will grab the viewer's attention from the beginning. Boothe does an excellent job of portraying Jones. Though the film has great artistic merit and portrays an overall sense of the life of the People's Temple, it fails to convey the true roots of madness that became the driving force of the Jonestown cult. For a better overall survey of Jones' theological presuppositions and personal history, I would highly recommend a reading of David Chidester's book, Salvation and Suicide. Also recommended is the audio broadcast "The Last Days of Jonestown," available from National Public Radio.

Boothe's Emmy was well deserved!
Besides the riveting portrayal of Jones by star Boothe, the two-part telefilm sports excellent performances from Rosalind Cash, Veronica Cartwright, Brenda Vaccaro, Madge Sinclair, and Levar Burton, fresh from his star-making turn as the young "Kunta Kinte" in "Roots.

The film is engrossingly disturbing from start to finish. It chronicles the events leading to one of the most horrific days in history, only parrelled by the attack on Pearl Harbor and that day in September two years ago. ... Read more

Reviews (48)

have you checked... the children?
I saw this with my parents when I was in 6th grade... I can't believe they took me to see this disturbing film! I just stopped having nightmares last year. It was such a popular film, however, that about every kid in my school had seen it and before such phrases as "Where's the Beef?" and "Show me the money!" became part of pop culture, everyone was saying, "have you checked the children?"

Seriously though, this film isn't for children. It's true life horror and even more true to home in these violent days we live in. When this film came out, no one ever heard stories about Polly Klaas or other children abuducted from their own bedrooms, or intruders entering a home for any purpose other than burglary. Sure, it happened... but it wasn't as prevalent as it is today.

Not contented enough to kill two young children with his bare hands, the antagonist intends to finish off the babysitter as well. Carol Kane is superbly convincing as the terrorized babysitter and Charles Durning does a stunning job as the police detective that won't rest until he can get rid of this guy for good. Slow in some places, but they're really just getting you calm enough so that scare the wits out of you when you least expect it.

The film is most focused on psychological terror... you really don't see much violence, you just hear about it and expect it. It may seem a little unsophisticated by today's standards, but it will scare the willies out of you.

When a Stranger Calls
I read all the reviews of this film, on this site, before actually buying it, so I knew what to expect, and most of the time, when to expect it! As every other reviewer says, the first 20 minutes are exceptional, and the last 20 minutes not too far behind. The problem is the bit in the middle, which provides neither direction, nor suspense. I'm not saying this film should have been full of murder from start to finish, but it lacks that little something that I don't think I've seen anywhere other than Black Christmas which, for me anyway, is the "daddy" of all "he's in the house" films. This is in my top ten scary movies, and is worth buying for the 40 minutes referred to alone. I just worry that, on those dark winter nights, when I love watching these films so much, the gap between the first and last 20 minutes is so bereft of anything interesting or suspenseful, I may well fall asleep!

When a viewer yawns
Despite a raging indifference to the acting chops of Carol Kane--I still can barely stand to watch "Taxi" largely due to her annoying grate--I decided to give "When A Stranger Calls" a chance. After all, who hasn't heard about the opening segment of this film, where babysitter Jill Johnson (Carol Kane) fields an increasingly sinister series of phone calls imploring her to "check on the children"? Lingering camera shots showing the dark, silent parts of the house highlight the growing sense of fear and despair felt by Kane's character as she bravely stands her ground for the benefit of her employer's children. Several phone calls to the police bring the men in blue into the picture, but will they get there in time if the caller materializes? The ominous shadow on the staircase signals trouble of a most horrific nature, Kane reacts, and the scene plays out to its grim conclusion. And then the real horror starts, the stark, soul shattering horror of watching a movie with a memorable beginning sink into a morass of banality. "When A Stranger Calls" would have worked better as a short, independent film strongly emphasizing its bravura opening instead of plunging into the sprawling mess we get here. Too bad.

Years after that horrible night Curt Duncan, the crazed caller, is back out on the streets after a lengthy stint in an insane asylum. Unfortunately, no one told retired detective and now private eye John Gifford (Charles Durning), the cop who was there the night the caller terrorized Jill Johnson. The father of the children brutalized by Duncan hires Gifford to bring the psycho down anyway he can, if for no other reason than to prevent a repeat performance in some other person's family. Gifford agrees to take the case and begins looking for Duncan. "When A Stranger Calls" rapidly descends into boredom from this point forward, as we see Duncan attempting to rejoin society and utterly failing. He ends up in a bar where he meets Tracy (Colleen Dewhurst) and promptly receives a heck of a beating after attempts to ingratiate himself with Tracy brings on the wrath of a beefy bystander. Why Duncan expresses so much interest in a cranky barfly is just one of the many inexplicable questions that arise frequently during the film. You have a better chance of discovering the origins of the Sphinx or learning quantum physics at the age of three than understanding why this movie takes the turn that it does here.

As Duncan takes a beating at the bar, Gifford enlists the aid of one of his cop friends, Charlie Garber (Ron O'Neal), now a lieutenant on the force who remembers the bloody horror of that night but hesitates in helping his buddy. This part of the film is interminable, with lots of shots of Tracy strolling through the blasted landscapes of her city in the middle of the night, Gifford pounding the pavement around town trying to track down Duncan, and the former caller's inept attempts to evade capture. Seeing Charles Durning run, although highly amusing and slightly worrisome from a coronary angle, is not enough to elevate this segment of the film. Thankfully, the film returns to its frightening pace at the end, when the now married Jill Johnson once again encounters Curt Duncan. And this time she has here own children to worry about. The scene where she takes a phone call at a restaurant is worth slogging through the preceding sixty minutes, as is the final showdown shortly thereafter.

Another let down with "When A Stranger Calls" comes when we finally see Curt Duncan face to face. The guy simply isn't that scary in person. He's older, sort of thin, and looks like your average, every day type of guy and not anything like some former sailor with an insatiable lust for blood. Apparently, the actor who played Duncan, Tony Beckley, died shortly after making the movie. As for Carol Kane, she does a good job playing the eternally frightened Jill Johnson but then promptly disappears for a large part of the movie. Durning sleepwalks through the role of the determined cop John Gifford and Colleen Dewhurst is largely wasted in the meaningless role of Tracy. The performances on the whole aren't bad, but the wooden pacing and uninteresting middle part of the film insured that no performer, no matter how good, could have saved this movie from the doldrums.

The DVD doesn't offer much in the way of extras, but it does give you the option of watching the film in either fullscreen or widescreen. "When A Stranger Calls" really is worth watching in its entirety due to the beginning and the conclusion; just don't expect to find a high level of dramatic tension throughout. I see that many, many reviewers present a united front about this film, something that rarely happens with most movies out there. They are not lying. Go ahead and watch the picture, but prepare yourself for some serious tedium in the process. Perhaps you can take a short nap while you wait for the conclusion?

The scarest opening ever!
The first 20 somethin minutes of the movie is so scary I can't describe it, and I mean it's scary up untill the veary last shoot of the first scene( my heart jumped out of my chest ), the movie is worth it for the first scene on it's own.
The movie sorta slows down for awhile after the oening scene some scary stuff hear and there but nothing even close to the opening( I think the writer was trying to make it suspenceful, but it was just stupid to me ).
The movie get interesting and scary again when we meat up with the girl from the opening scene and her family 7 years latter, then it slowly gets scary again, and it's scary up until the last shoot, I mean when I saw the last shoot I couldn't get the shoot out of my head and had a hard time sleeping.
Overall the movie is a classic, and a must see some slow parts hear and there but really scary, a must see( if you have the guts to see it ).

Why haven't you checked the children?
Wow, this movie was terrific. I just watched it, like five minutes ago and my heart is still beating quickly. The beginning scenes had me covering myself (except one eye) with a blanket as did the ending moments. The middle is a bit slow, but you are getting introduced to the killer. I actually ended up feeling bad for Kirk Duncan, because he didn't seem to know what he was doing. A real thriller. Save for a time where you can scream as much as you want! ... Read more

Reviews (186)

Love the Movie!!! Newer DVD is acceptable quality ...
I have always liked this movie. Sure, the story never reaches its purported climax, but there's a lot of fun getting there ...

Let me address the DVD issue right off: I have (apparently) a remastered version, widescreen, with chapter selection and promotional trailer included. The quality of this DVD is pretty good. I can't remember the exact cinematography but it seems like this is how the movie always appeared. Not top-notch but acceptable. The trailer is not as well preserved but is OK.

(I noticed this on the Rambo: First Blood Part II DVD I just bought ... on that DVD, the trailer is so-so, however the picture on that movie is crisp and very well preserved).

OK, back to the movie. A freak storm catches the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and transports her and her crew back to December 6, 1941 just off the coast of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The BIG question: Ignore or Intercept the Japanese Navy when it attacks on December 7? ... if you haven't seen the movie, I won't spoil it for you here.

There are top-named actors like Martin Sheen, Kirk Douglas, James Farentino, Katharine Ross and Charles Durning. And there are a few real carrier personnel who weren't professional actors, obviously. But they got to be in the movie and who could blame them? Most people who like this film enjoy the time-travel, naval-combat aspect of it and overlook the occasional potholes in the storyline. Hey, just have fun!

There are some great launch sequences of Naval fighter aircraft, recon birds, tankers and helicopters. And the inflight sequences are pretty good too. You get to see F-14 Tomcats, A-7 Corsairs, A-6 Intruders, EA-6B Prowlers, E-2C Haweyes, SH-53 Sikorsky's and more. Plus the carrier crew equip the aircraft with the Mach 4+ AIM-54A Phoenix missiles, AIM-9 Sidwinders and AIM-7 Sparrows for air combat. Great stuff!

Overall the quality of the DVD movie is fairly decent and played well on my 55" big screen and my 27" small screen TV's. If you haven't seen the film, it's similar to "The Philadelphia Experiment" with Michael Pare and Nancy Allen. Enjoy!!

Love the Movie ... Newer DVD is acceptable quality ...
I have always liked this movie. Sure, the story never reaches its purported climax, but there's a lot of fun getting there ...

Let me address the DVD issue right off: I have (apparently) a remastered version, widescreen, with chapter selection and promotional trailer included. The quality of this DVD is pretty good. I can't remember the exact cinematography but it seems like this is how the movie always appeared. Not top-notch but acceptable. The trailer is not as well preserved but is OK.

(I noticed this on the Rambo: First Blood Part II DVD I just bought ... on that DVD, the trailer is so-so, however the picture on that movie is crisp and very well preserved).

OK, back to the movie. A freak storm catches the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and transports her and her crew back to December 6, 1941 just off the coast of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The BIG question: Ignore or Intercept the Japanese Navy when it attacks on December 7? ... if you haven't seen the movie, I won't spoil it for you here.

There are top-named actors like Martin Sheen, Kirk Douglas, James Farentino, Katharine Ross and Charles Durning. And there are a few real carrier personnel who weren't professional actors, obviously. But they got to be in the movie and who could blame them? Most people who like this film enjoy the time-travel, naval-combat aspect of it and overlook the occasional potholes in the storyline. Hey, just have fun!

There are some great launch sequences of Naval fighter aircraft, recon birds, tankers and helicopters. And the inflight sequences are pretty good too. You get to see F-14 Tomcats, A-7 Corsairs, A-6 Intruders, EA-6B Prowlers, E-2C Hawkeyes, SH-53 Sikorsky's and more. Plus the carrier crew equip the aircraft with the Mach 4+ AIM-54A Phoenix missiles, AIM-9 Sidwinders and AIM-7 Sparrows for air combat. Great stuff!

Overall the quality of the DVD movie is fairly decent and played well on my 55" big screen and my 27" small screen TV's. If you haven't seen the film, it's similar to "The Philadelphia Experiment" with Michael Pare and Nancy Allen. Enjoy!!

No, not the album by "Europe"
I first saw this on ABC as a kid, and loved it. Seeing it again now, at 31, I don't find it nearly as interesting but still think it's a fine film. Check out how much young Martin Sheen looks like Charlie Sheen! Watch James Farentino, the TV version of Roy Scheider! And don't miss the surprise ending!

Cinematic experience that will stand its ground...
The USS Nimitz, a nuclear aircraft carrier, is on a routine assignment when the civilian systems specialist Warren Lasky (Martin Sheen) is flown to the aircraft carrier. Lasky's job is to evaluate the efficiency of the commander and crew as he should make recommendations in regards to what changes can be done to save tax dollars. Soon after Lasky's arrival Captain Matthew Yelland (Kirk Douglas) is put in a difficult position as the USS Nimitz is pulled into an outlandish electrical storm that relocates the warship in time. Captain Yelland is unsure about what truly has happened, but when they discover that they are in between the Japanese Naval Force that is about to strike at Pearl Harbor on December 6, 1941 they realize they might have a chance to undo history. Final Countdown is an interesting science fiction film that offers some room for thinking, yet it is entertaining as it displays the incredible event of time traveling. An appealing idea together with entertainment, Final Countdown offers a decent cinematic experience, which will stand its ground.

Excellent. Aviation fans take note...
Since so many reviews are already posted, I'll keep this brief. It's nice to see this film get such an excellent DVD release. This movie is great and has aged quite well. The premise of the Nimitz being thrown back into time and given the opportunity to change the course of world history is an intriuging one even today. The Final Countdown boasts some ofthe best aircraft footage ever caught on film, hollywood or documentary. The scene between the Jolly Rogers F-14's and the 2 Japanese Zero fighters is a timeless classic.

The sound is excellent, the transfer is quite good, and the 2 disc set includes very special bonuses for fans of the F-14, or aviation in general. And the bonus disc interviews the Jolly Rogers squadron that flew in the film, worth it if you are an avaiation fan. If not, you might still enjoy it anyways, as they certainly have an entertaining story about one of the cast members! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Another Full Moon stinker
The only thing I found great about this movie was the title, which suggests this series has finally come to an end. How it made it this far is beyond me.

The story centers around the puppets being threatened by a demon from hell, while at the same time a corporation wants to get their hands on them. After being tracked by both enemies, the puppets stage an all out fight to finish at the film's climax. Corporate morons are terrified, cute girls get their clothes ripped, and lesser character meet their demise while rubbing themselves with dolls. A new puppet is introduced as well, and it cheesily helps the other puppets fight the evil forces that have risen against them.

As usual with most Full Mooners, the special effects are low made-for-tv quality, with a campy, disconnected 1980's feel. The puppets are mostly stop-motion animated. The whole movie looks as if it were filmed in shadowed twilight (and no, it doesn't create a high scare factor). None of the bad guys are especailly threatening; not even the bloated hell beast that is dead set on getting the puppets. The thing looks like Spawn suffering from radiation sickness. The sountrack is not bad, but it's nothing special. Speaking of sounds, one of the few unerving things about this movie is the gooney, deranged laugh of the six-armed cowboy doll. Even more anoying is the screaming mutant beaver the demon creates to battle the puppets. I found the acting in this film to be pretty much the usual for the Puppet Master films. The script is a corny mess, and the actors' over-the-top delivery of lines reflect what they had to work with rather than their acutal talents.

In short, nothing changes in these movies. If you seen one, you've seen them all.

Perfect!!!!!!!!
I saw this movie maybe 8 times and I loved it. It was so funny that I could not stop laughing. Now that I've seen these other movies like "Blood Dolls" and "Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm" (The one with Ion Haiduc), I still find them all too funny so rent this if you haven't seen this.

STUPID!
I have the whole series on video and I must say this is my least favorite Puppet Master movie.This is not worth seeing.If you loved Puppet Master 4 then you should check this out otherwise stay away from this movie.

This movie is the same as Puppet Master 4.Toulon's Puppets battle the killer Totems.

This Movie Rocks!!!!!!!!
This was one of the funniest movies ever. Just like Blood Dolls and Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm.

kewl factz
heh did u know puppet master 4 and 5 were recored and filmed at the same time? they had the same story line and some same charectors. there were totems and icky men. itz just a kewl fact id like to share. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Truly ridiculous but somehow moving, this right-wing paranoid fantasy by John Milius (The Wind and the Lion) from 1984 concerns a Soviet takeover of the United States and a band of ragtag adolescents who metamorphose into freedom fighters. One can laugh at the notion of Nicaraguans, Cubans, and Russians having worked out a master plan to invade America, but Milius's account of how such a grim day affects a small Western town really does get under one's skin. The cast--most of whom were not yet stars (Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey had probably never heard of a script called Dirty Dancing at the time)--are quite persuasive as nice kids who come to recognize the tragedy of their lost innocence through fierce, uncompromising struggle. Powers Boothe is very good as a pilot who briefly comes to their aid, and Harry Dean Stanton is stirring as a solid working man and father who represents the virtues his sons are fighting for. The DVD release includes production notes, the original theatrical trailer, trivia, scene access, and an optional widescreen presentation. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (138)

Great entertainment--a Cold War cautionary tale
"Red Dawn" made its debut in the latter days of the Cold War, and is reflective of the fears and anxieties as regards the Soviets that characterized the times. For that reason, it was a controversial movie. Liberals and Leftists detested "Red Dawn" while conservatives loved it.

Red Dawn has its flaws. The acting (other than by Patrick Swayze) is not first rate, and the storyline is somewhat murky. On the other hand the special effects are pretty good, and the Soviet troops and equipment look authentically Soviet. The basic premise, I thought, was very entertaining--the Soviet bloc makes an actual surprise attack and ground invasion of the United States, which it partially occupies. The local high school kids form a partisan resistance movement which is suprisingly successful and effective. (Yes, this may be unrealistic, but who is to say?). While the acting is not brilliant, it is largely serviceable. It is a fact that this movie is unabashedly anti-Soviet. I guess critics can always go see Warren Beatty in "Reds."

In the final analysis this film succeeds for the reason that any movie succeeds--it entertains. It holds the viewer's interest. The movie will always be an entertaining reminder of how dreadful the Cold War was, and how grateful we should be that it ended successfully.

A classic Cold War movie that still packs a punch!
One of the best action thrillers of the 1980s is now available to buy on DVD here in the UK, and it was well worth the money! I remember seeing this when it first came out. Amazing to see such an impressive cast that went on to bigger things - Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Charlie Sheen and Lea Thompson among others. The story concerns a sudden invasion by Russian and Cuban forces into midwestern US, which takes everyone by surprise. Enter some spectacular military action scenes up Main Street as US Army helicopters blast Russian tanks to pieces, then our young heroes head for the mountains and learn to survive and develop guerilla warfare skills. They begin with pump-action shotguns and it isn't long before they end up with antitank missiles and AK-47s. Plenty of action and explosions for gung-ho fans and the new resistance, the Wolverines, take on the Soviet and Cuban forces. But . . . in time, they are not only trying to save themselves and their families from the enemy's firing squads and interrogation camps(at the drive-in. loved that nice touch!), but from their own fears and insecurities as their own comrades gradually get killed in action. The second half of the movie shows that wars can affect people in different ways - notably Powers Boothe as a downed F-15 pilot. Overall, this is one not to be missed. Authentic Russian military hardware(except the obviously disguised French Puma transport choppers which are too big for Hind Mi-24 gunships), pulsating action, great sound effects for your DVD, plausible scenarios(the descriptions of how WW3 was fought and how Europe fared was also thrown in well) and good performances from the cast. An eighties classic which should be in everyone's movie collection!

Red Sunset
Dreary "What-If" movie about a bunch of brat packers (a militia group calling themselves "The Wolverines") revolting against Soviet occupied America. The action/battle sequences are third-rate, the characters are one dimensional, and the script is very lame and predictable. The film's core point-of-view is a time-capsule for the Reagan Era paranoia of the evil red empire (Russia). Only thing worth watching in the film is the outdoor wilderness location shots, otherwise there is nothing that is remotely of value in this terrible John Milius film. If this reviewer was a wolverine, I would be very offended by this film.
A film which has almost the same premise and atmosphere, but is a way better film is THE POSTMAN with Kevin Costner.

Bad To The Bone
The words "great" and "classic" don't come to mind when considering this film."Moronic" and "stinky" do.Let's get this straight:A group of inexperienced teenagers with no military training whatsoever takes on crack Soviet and Cuban troops and fights them to a standstill.How'd those kids learn how to use captured Soviet artillery and rocket launchers?Did the weapons come with instructions on videotape?Did one of the kids read and speak fluent Russian?They're not just kids...they're Superkids.Truly amazing.This movie should be filed in the "fantasy" section in your local Best Buy because that's what it is.It's not even a good "what if" idea because the premise is so unbelievable.Why would the Russkies invade a big superpower of a country like the U.S. when they couldn't even conquer Afghanistan?Where were the Chinese in all of this?I'm sure they would have loved to get in on the action.Red Dawn is bad all around...bad premise,bad acting,bad direction and a bad script.I give it one star just for Powers Boothe, who plays the only semi-believable character in the whole film.

Wolverines!
This movie: Red Dawn, is a classic film. It is a film that every young man will love to watch and enjoy it wholeheartedly.

The script of the movie is creative. Communist Paratroopers have landed and are taking over. The regular soldiers are fighting them. However, the Russian communists have managed to land in many areas devoid of any regular American soldiers.

The movie depicts a slice of the bigger picture. The communist paratroopers land in a small town in the middle of nowhere. The adults are caught unaware and its upto few young teenagers to fight for their town(and country). They grab their rifles and head to the hills to wage a war against communist takeover.

There are some minor points in this film that made me give it 4 Stars instead of 5 Stars.

1.) The fighting scenes are unrealistic. It's hard to believe a few teenagers can take on such a large group of regular communist soldiers, again and AGAIN! It is true that it is just a movie but the movie that ads more realism to it becomes more suspensefull. The producer/director should have added few adults to the mix to make it more realistic and thrilling.

2.) The movie is somewhat like a comic book. There is not much depth to Action and some of the characters.

However, these two are just minor points. The movie gets 3 stars for a great storyline and another 1 for its memorable scene where a communist soldier takes away a brave man's gun from his cold dead fingers! and the bumper sticker behind the car is shown on the camera. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

WOW!
This is the best movie I've ever bought. I definitely recommend you this movie. Muhammad Ali's best movie and a fine performance by Kris Kristofferson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Experience in Boredom
A total fiasco! This movie doesn't even come near as " so bad is good " since is a total bore! The original SUPERFLY is an urban classic with a wonderful Curtis Mayfield score. This one the music by OSIBISA is good but not enough to compensate Mr. Ron O'Neal's lousy direction and Alex Hailey boring script. Sure, Mr.Hailey did a better job with ROOTS, but this story was dumb,uninteresting & forgettable. Beware, you have been warned!

bad sequel
this movie is probably the worst sequel that I have ever seen! please do yourself a favor, and stick to the original superfly. this film would have still been horrible, even if curtis mayfield had returned to do the score. pass on this one. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Superfly is the Bomb X 2!
Superfly, starring Ron O'Neal, Carl Lee, and Sheila Frazier is one of the greatest films ever made in the 70's Black film genre. It is a ghetto drama set to the music of the late great Curtis Mayfield - an excellent soundtrack that brilliantly narrates the film and compells you to contemplate the ins & outs of innercity blues; the challenges Vs. Options or lack thereof. This movie is hitting from beginning to end and though often dismissed as blaxploitation, it's strong messages of changing ones predicament, allows it to escape this criticism. Ron O'Neal portrays a drug dealer by the name of Priest with the baddest vines, cars, and plenty of women. He decides that there is more to life than this. With the help of his main squeeze Georgie,he stages one last score to get out of the game despite strong opposition from his partner and other shady individuals that rely on his thriving drug business. Will he make it out? Buy the film and see for yourself! I own a copy on VHS but I'm hoping and praying that Warner Bros. will stop sleeping on this gem and release it on DVD!

Way ahead of it's time
This movie was filmed and released quietly back in '72 but ended up being one of the biggest box office hits of the year, and deservedly so. ... Even today, 30 years after its release, it packs a hard and bitter punch at "the man" and it is hands down the best and most important of the blaxploitation films of its day... it probably has more in common with the ghetto movies of the '90s like New Jack City than anything else. Ron O'Neal is cast perfectly as Priest, a big-time cocaine dealer disenchanted with the hand he's been dealt... He adds a cold and quiet menace to the character, understating his lines with an authority as cruelly elegant as his cheekbones... Director Gordon Parks, Jr. broke down a lot of doors for young directors in the '70s with this film and caused the major studios to start taking a second look at unknown directors who before would have never been given a chance... Also, the late great Curtis Mayfield soundtrack is an absolutely essential companion piece for this movie and will forever have a place in music history as one of the single greatest recordings of all time.

A Classic....
This is one of those movies that I absolutely do not lend to my friends because its simply that good. I've had this movie on VHS for the longest time but I do plan to get this on DVD. This is simply one of the best movies that I have ever watched!!

R.I.P to Ron O'Neal& this film is tight
the film&the Soundtrack are timeless.Curtis Mayfield matches the Films Intensity.this Film has alot of action&Breaks things down.the Commentary here is Top Notch&Right On. this is a Classic Flim&Much Props to shelia Frazier.Props to the Whole Cast.

Classic Film&soundtrack with Messages
R.I.P Brother Ron O'Neal. what can i say about this film? it's timeless that deals with the Street Hustle,funny time Police officers,&everything else in between.does this not sound like 2004?hard to believe this was 1972 because many of the same issues in this film sound so familiar in this time period we are in.Shelia Frazier is So Fine She makes a Brother pull a Fred G.Sanford on the Spot.I dug the Realness&the constant Messages of the Film.Between what Priest was dealing with&the Genius Sounds of Curtis Mayfield pulsing through each frame you got the big picture&what was going down.Commentary was on Point&the cool thing about this film is that unlike so many films that have big budgets this film does so much with less&makes you think&then you understand so much more. Props to the Entire Crew&Cast on this Gem. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Larry Cohen scratched out some of the most memorably offbeatexploitation films of the 1970s, including two of the most energeticblaxploitation action classics: Black Caesar and its sequel, HellUp in Harlem, which made a star of Fred Williamson. In 1996 theyreunited for this tribute to the good old days and producer-star Williamson brought along a few of his fellow 1970s blaxplo icons: Jim Brown(Slaughter), Pam Grier (Foxy Brown), Richard Roundtree(Shaft), and Ron O'Neal (Superfly). They play old friends and former members of a neighborhood gang in economically depressed Gary,Indiana, who reunite when a new generation of gangbangers using their oldstreet name, the Rebels, turns the city into a war zone. It's great fun tosee the old faces back on the screen--Williamson is still buff and tough,and Brown and Grier have become more charismatic with age--but they're letdown by a slack script and lazy direction despite an almost nonstopbarrage of gunfights and back-alley brawls. Even with revved-up 1990sfirepower, the film never really captures the explosive energy of the filmsthat made their reputations. You're better off seeing the originals. PaulWinfield and Isabel Sanford also star, and Cohen casts cult faves CharlesNapier, Wings Hauser, and Robert Forster in supporting roles. --SeanAxmaker ... Read more

Reviews (12)

good idea but bad come out
Fred Williamson(Black Ceasar, From Dusk Till Dawn) is John Bookman and he returns home after his father is shot up by a gang called the rebels, a gang he formed back in his day, led by Spyro and Damien..two ruthless thugs who changed the gang from what it used to be, the rebels think they own the streets. well Bookman and co. join forces to try to stop them. an allstar cast including Jim Brown(Mars Attacks,Salughter) Ron O'Neal(Superfly), Pam Grier(Ghost Of Mars, Foxy Brown, Jackie Brown), Paul Winfield(Mars Attacks, The Terminator), Richard Roundtree(Antitrust, Shaft, Corky Romando) and many more. takes its toll on the 70's black films but is too much uninspired with wooden performances and a lack of, anything...was expecting much more

A violent reunion from back in the day
The reason to watch this movie is the reunion for those of us who remember the protagonists from the era of blaxploitation films in which we were introduced to them/ Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, Pam Grier, reconvene to take back their home town of Gary, Indiana from several well organized and terribly violent street gangs.

Also appearing in almost cameo roles are Ron O'Neal ("Superfly") and Richard Roundtree (the original John Shaft). Seeing them all together is a treat, but left me wondering why this quintet did not get more screen time all together. It is particularly pleasing to see Brown and Grier, who, as one of the expert reviewers noted, have aged very very well. However, the re-ignition of their former relationship is tepid and seemingly forced. By contrast, it has nowhere near the intensity seen when barely restrained Brown confronts a gang leader about the murder of his son.

I agree that the simplistic plot and the consistent (and predictable) violence keep this from being one of the great films of our time. Those who remember the first time seeing these individuals in character now some thirty years ago will enjoy seeing them all together again, and that makes this disc worthwhile.

great re-union of 70's actionmovie st ars
if your a film buff, and wanted to see just outta curiosity
what happened to the black star's of the early 70's...see this movie, sorry to say that most of the aging star's except for pam grier now could be cast in a new version of sanford and son...as fred's old buddies from the hood drinking
grape ripple. it was a good social commentary of life in gary,
indiana and how dependent that city was on the steel mills and the off shoot business's that gradually closed down, see this movie on a saturday afternoon,,,but if you have to mow the lawn or paint the house...you'd be better off doing that.

An solid comeback for an action movie vet--
Original Gangstas: Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, Pam Grier. Williamson is John Bookman, former football pro turned coach, who comes back to his old hometown to find it overrun by gangs. The last straw is when Bookman's dad is assaulted and his grocery store vandalized. Grier is the mom of a basketball prodigy slain by the Rebels, one of three major gangs in the city. Brown is Bookman's best friend who comes back to bury his son. In a touch of irony, the gangs are the modern day incarnation of the crews started by Bookman & his friends decades ago. But whereas the original intent was to be a teen militia of sorts, the modern crews-mostly people well over 21-- are about nothing but victimizing their neighborhood.

Filmed entirely on location in Gary, Indiana, the film uses many city landmarks to illustrate the decay that has taken place. The film rightly postulates that the abrupt downsizing of the US Steel mill in the late 60's started an economic domino effect that the city has yet to recover from. Abandoned storefronts still abound, while neighborhoods are peppered with derelict houses and other rag-tag buildings.
Supporting roles are offered by Robert Forster as a police detective, and Ron O'Neal & Richard Roundtree as longtime residents who join the effort to take the city back.

Williamson and his contemporaries first came to prominence in the black action movie trend of the 70's. Some of his real life was slipped into the script: Williamson was a Northwestern football star before turning pro; also, according to the star the film was inspired from an encounter he had while visiting his mother, who still lives in Gary.

Fred and the actors of his generation deserve better from the Hollywood industry-- folks like Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez have used them in a handful of contemporary films, but they should have the status of a Clint Eastwood or Burt Reynolds..

ORIGINAL GANGSTAS Review
In a reunion of the big-name 70's blaxplotation stars, you can expect a whole lot of fun. They're all here. Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, Jim Brown, Pam "Foxxy Brown" Grier, Richard "Shaft" Roudntree, and Superfly himself, Ron O'Neal. A host of other infamous character actors and some of today's big name underground rappers also show up for this bullet-riddled nostalgia pic.

It's "old school" versus "new school" as the Rebels, a gang once known simply for protecting their neighborhood has transformed into a gang of thugs who specialize in drive-by shootings and drug dealing. This doesn't sit well with the gang's founding members who reunite with the support of the community to clean up the streets once and for all.

While not nearly as energetic and entertaining as many of the 70's pics that it is paying homage to, "Original Gangstas" does have fun while delivering a solid anti-violence message. Seeing all your old favorites strap up again makes for some real good times. There are also some good performances from relative unknowns like Christopher Duncan as the leader of the new Rebels and rapper Dru Down as the group's loud-mouthed "trigger man". Also look for rappers, Scarface and Bushwick Bill in cameos. A genuine good time. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

not billy jack
just to clarify, laughlin plays finley in this movie, not billy jack. this film does not connect with the billy jack films in any way. this film is as bad as the 4 billy jack films are good!

It should be called The Master Snoozer
I saw this on TV many years ago and thought it was a made-for-TV movie. With good reason, it turns out. The plot develops at a glacial pace and is full of actions and motivations that don't make sense. For example, the actions of the hero's wife at the end of the movie are totally out of charcater, given what she's said and done earlier in the film. Rather improbably, the movie portrays early California as a sword culture coexisting with a gun culture, which allows the producer to deliver a combo Samurai flick and Gunfighter flick, with lots of the dramatic pauses for which both are noted. In fact, the plot plods along because it's so full of dramatic pauses you could almost say the whole thing was one big dramatic pause. The only redeeming feature of this movie was the beautiful scenery. It's not worth the price; I'm not sure it would even be worth half of what they're asking.

. . . but for the acting
I just got this movie (which I only remember vaguely from my misspent youth, on DVD and was very well suprised by the fairly high-quakity tranfer to the DVD format (I was expecting something closer to They Call Me Trinity). This could even have been a great movie if it weren't fro the absolutely horrible acting (eccept from Superfly, of course) and worse fight coreography. Still, true fans of Billy Jack will have to own this, there won't be any choice. Just don't buy it for any reason other than nostalgia.

Billy Jack Goes West
If you're looking for a sophisticated, well written and well acted western, look elsewhere. However, if you're looking for a unique western that will provide you with silly entertainment, get this movie. The movie can simply be described as a "Billy Jack" movie set in the old west and Billy Jack is armed with a samurai sword and a special revolver (and he, of course, knows how to use them both). If you're a fan of the "Billy Jack" movies or you're just looking to expand your 1970's cultural awareness, you'll enjoy this movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The pinnacle of blaxploitation movies, the 1972 Superfly stars Ron O'Neal as a drug dealer who wants out of the business but decides to take out some enemies in the process. With its criminal hero, one might almost think this could be an existential crime movie, but no...it's really just an effective piece of pulp with a strong performance by O'Neal, grim settings, cool direction by Gordon Parks Jr., and a famous soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Superfly is the Bomb X 2!
Superfly, starring Ron O'Neal, Carl Lee, and Sheila Frazier is one of the greatest films ever made in the 70's Black film genre. It is a ghetto drama set to the music of the late great Curtis Mayfield - an excellent soundtrack that brilliantly narrates the film and compells you to contemplate the ins & outs of innercity blues; the challenges Vs. Options or lack thereof. This movie is hitting from beginning to end and though often dismissed as blaxploitation, it's strong messages of changing ones predicament, allows it to escape this criticism. Ron O'Neal portrays a drug dealer by the name of Priest with the baddest vines, cars, and plenty of women. He decides that there is more to life than this. With the help of his main squeeze Georgie,he stages one last score to get out of the game despite strong opposition from his partner and other shady individuals that rely on his thriving drug business. Will he make it out? Buy the film and see for yourself! I own a copy on VHS but I'm hoping and praying that Warner Bros. will stop sleeping on this gem and release it on DVD!

Way ahead of it's time
This movie was filmed and released quietly back in '72 but ended up being one of the biggest box office hits of the year, and deservedly so. ... Even today, 30 years after its release, it packs a hard and bitter punch at "the man" and it is hands down the best and most important of the blaxploitation films of its day... it probably has more in common with the ghetto movies of the '90s like New Jack City than anything else. Ron O'Neal is cast perfectly as Priest, a big-time cocaine dealer disenchanted with the hand he's been dealt... He adds a cold and quiet menace to the character, understating his lines with an authority as cruelly elegant as his cheekbones... Director Gordon Parks, Jr. broke down a lot of doors for young directors in the '70s with this film and caused the major studios to start taking a second look at unknown directors who before would have never been given a chance... Also, the late great Curtis Mayfield soundtrack is an absolutely essential companion piece for this movie and will forever have a place in music history as one of the single greatest recordings of all time.

A Classic....
This is one of those movies that I absolutely do not lend to my friends because its simply that good. I've had this movie on VHS for the longest time but I do plan to get this on DVD. This is simply one of the best movies that I have ever watched!!

R.I.P to Ron O'Neal& this film is tight
the film&the Soundtrack are timeless.Curtis Mayfield matches the Films Intensity.this Film has alot of action&Breaks things down.the Commentary here is Top Notch&Right On. this is a Classic Flim&Much Props to shelia Frazier.Props to the Whole Cast.

Classic Film&soundtrack with Messages
R.I.P Brother Ron O'Neal. what can i say about this film? it's timeless that deals with the Street Hustle,funny time Police officers,&everything else in between.does this not sound like 2004?hard to believe this was 1972 because many of the same issues in this film sound so familiar in this time period we are in.Shelia Frazier is So Fine She makes a Brother pull a Fred G.Sanford on the Spot.I dug the Realness&the constant Messages of the Film.Between what Priest was dealing with&the Genius Sounds of Curtis Mayfield pulsing through each frame you got the big picture&what was going down.Commentary was on Point&the cool thing about this film is that unlike so many films that have big budgets this film does so much with less&makes you think&then you understand so much more. Props to the Entire Crew&Cast on this Gem. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

camp classic - not true to life though
When I saw this movie a found it a laugh a minute! It was like an east coast person's view of what life must be like in the Pacific Northwest. We don't all wear flannal shirts, drink beer in bars, listen to country-western, brawl, work as loggers and chew tobacky! Wow, did they ever get it wrong! I am from Gresham Oregon and had a front row seat (the Portland area had about the best view of this in the world.) May 18, 1980 was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the clear blue sky and I watched that mountain spew its contents all day long. No movie can ever capture it. The only thing I think I will never forget is that and seeing the ash cloud traveling east as far as the eye can see. Oh, the movie? Just watch it for fun, it's harmless, unlike the real deal.

Another title that SCREAMS for DVD release!
This cool movie is full of Northwestern atmosphere. It is the kind of movie that has that slow, ominous creep to it that really lends itself to a lazy, Sunday afternoon or a late night movie-watching get-together. It is a cult fave and should be re-released on DVD, preferably by Anchor Bay Entertainment. SO SOMEONE HOP TO IT AND GET THIS ONE OUT ON DVD!
Sidenote: Goblin does the soundtrack! How much more cult could you get?

Very Enjoyable!
This was the first "disaster" movie I recall seeing when I was about 13 and I still watch it every chance I get. The film combines real news footage of the actual eruption with re-enacted chaos, leaving the viewer with some idea of what it must have been like at ground zero. The scientist character is indeed based on a real scientist who camped out at the North side of St. Helens. His love interest may be fictional but it adds a human touch to his character. And Art Carney is very funny and warm as Harry Truman. No gore, no senseless violence or gratuitous sex scenes....I like this movie.

Fascinating film (though probably a bad one!)
This film follows the familiar disaster scenario: gifted scientist comes to small town where he is sure a horrible natural disaster is about to happen; he warns the citizenry but his cautions are rejected by the establishment (fear for tourist or manufacturing or whatever dollars); cataclysm occurs and hero is vindicated; often leading character(s) perish; finally disaster (volcano, meteor, shark, flood, whatever) effects occur.

This plot outline could describe St. Helens, Dante's Peak, Jaws, and a bunch of other films. In the present film, however, it is used to good effect to describe the very real eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State, and along the way gives an interesting accounting of the life and death of Harry Truman, noted St. Helen's character. The movie's strengths lie in its portrayals of the actual events surrounding the volcanic eruptions; its weaknesses occur with the invented characters of the scientist and his love interest.

As a citizen of Washington State with a love for disaster films, I have watched this film numerous times and enjoyed it. I would really recommend it.

mount Saint Helens
I went to Mt. St. Helens on vacation and came back home and saw this movie on TV. It's very good, but you can't appreciate the movie and the real life event unless you've been there or experienced what happened. It was a very good movie ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"Is this the reason Poitier took a hiatus from movies?"
This is without doubt one of the worst movies ever made! Wooden acting,poor picture quality and a soundtrack that made my teeth grate. Being a Poitier fan and language student, I got it for the foreign language subtitles. A die hard movie buff might want to see it for the early wasted performances of some fine actors,including Raul Julia as a "Hippy". I often disagree with the critics for lacking a sense of fun, but this turkey deserves all their venom. If you decide to see it, I suggest you use earplugs and just read the subtitles. ... Read more

Reviews (186)

Love the Movie!!! Newer DVD is acceptable quality ...
I have always liked this movie. Sure, the story never reaches its purported climax, but there's a lot of fun getting there ...

Let me address the DVD issue right off: I have (apparently) a remastered version, widescreen, with chapter selection and promotional trailer included. The quality of this DVD is pretty good. I can't remember the exact cinematography but it seems like this is how the movie always appeared. Not top-notch but acceptable. The trailer is not as well preserved but is OK.

(I noticed this on the Rambo: First Blood Part II DVD I just bought ... on that DVD, the trailer is so-so, however the picture on that movie is crisp and very well preserved).

OK, back to the movie. A freak storm catches the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and transports her and her crew back to December 6, 1941 just off the coast of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The BIG question: Ignore or Intercept the Japanese Navy when it attacks on December 7? ... if you haven't seen the movie, I won't spoil it for you here.

There are top-named actors like Martin Sheen, Kirk Douglas, James Farentino, Katharine Ross and Charles Durning. And there are a few real carrier personnel who weren't professional actors, obviously. But they got to be in the movie and who could blame them? Most people who like this film enjoy the time-travel, naval-combat aspect of it and overlook the occasional potholes in the storyline. Hey, just have fun!

There are some great launch sequences of Naval fighter aircraft, recon birds, tankers and helicopters. And the inflight sequences are pretty good too. You get to see F-14 Tomcats, A-7 Corsairs, A-6 Intruders, EA-6B Prowlers, E-2C Haweyes, SH-53 Sikorsky's and more. Plus the carrier crew equip the aircraft with the Mach 4+ AIM-54A Phoenix missiles, AIM-9 Sidwinders and AIM-7 Sparrows for air combat. Great stuff!

Overall the quality of the DVD movie is fairly decent and played well on my 55" big screen and my 27" small screen TV's. If you haven't seen the film, it's similar to "The Philadelphia Experiment" with Michael Pare and Nancy Allen. Enjoy!!

Love the Movie ... Newer DVD is acceptable quality ...
I have always liked this movie. Sure, the story never reaches its purported climax, but there's a lot of fun getting there ...

Let me address the DVD issue right off: I have (apparently) a remastered version, widescreen, with chapter selection and promotional trailer included. The quality of this DVD is pretty good. I can't remember the exact cinematography but it seems like this is how the movie always appeared. Not top-notch but acceptable. The trailer is not as well preserved but is OK.

(I noticed this on the Rambo: First Blood Part II DVD I just bought ... on that DVD, the trailer is so-so, however the picture on that movie is crisp and very well preserved).

OK, back to the movie. A freak storm catches the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and transports her and her crew back to December 6, 1941 just off the coast of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The BIG question: Ignore or Intercept the Japanese Navy when it attacks on December 7? ... if you haven't seen the movie, I won't spoil it for you here.

There are top-named actors like Martin Sheen, Kirk Douglas, James Farentino, Katharine Ross and Charles Durning. And there are a few real carrier personnel who weren't professional actors, obviously. But they got to be in the movie and who could blame them? Most people who like this film enjoy the time-travel, naval-combat aspect of it and overlook the occasional potholes in the storyline. Hey, just have fun!

There are some great launch sequences of Naval fighter aircraft, recon birds, tankers and helicopters. And the inflight sequences are pretty good too. You get to see F-14 Tomcats, A-7 Corsairs, A-6 Intruders, EA-6B Prowlers, E-2C Hawkeyes, SH-53 Sikorsky's and more. Plus the carrier crew equip the aircraft with the Mach 4+ AIM-54A Phoenix missiles, AIM-9 Sidwinders and AIM-7 Sparrows for air combat. Great stuff!

Overall the quality of the DVD movie is fairly decent and played well on my 55" big screen and my 27" small screen TV's. If you haven't seen the film, it's similar to "The Philadelphia Experiment" with Michael Pare and Nancy Allen. Enjoy!!

No, not the album by "Europe"
I first saw this on ABC as a kid, and loved it. Seeing it again now, at 31, I don't find it nearly as interesting but still think it's a fine film. Check out how much young Martin Sheen looks like Charlie Sheen! Watch James Farentino, the TV version of Roy Scheider! And don't miss the surprise ending!

Cinematic experience that will stand its ground...
The USS Nimitz, a nuclear aircraft carrier, is on a routine assignment when the civilian systems specialist Warren Lasky (Martin Sheen) is flown to the aircraft carrier. Lasky's job is to evaluate the efficiency of the commander and crew as he should make recommendations in regards to what changes can be done to save tax dollars. Soon after Lasky's arrival Captain Matthew Yelland (Kirk Douglas) is put in a difficult position as the USS Nimitz is pulled into an outlandish electrical storm that relocates the warship in time. Captain Yelland is unsure about what truly has happened, but when they discover that they are in between the Japanese Naval Force that is about to strike at Pearl Harbor on December 6, 1941 they realize they might have a chance to undo history. Final Countdown is an interesting science fiction film that offers some room for thinking, yet it is entertaining as it displays the incredible event of time traveling. An appealing idea together with entertainment, Final Countdown offers a decent cinematic experience, which will stand its ground.

Excellent. Aviation fans take note...
Since so many reviews are already posted, I'll keep this brief. It's nice to see this film get such an excellent DVD release. This movie is great and has aged quite well. The premise of the Nimitz being thrown back into time and given the opportunity to change the course of world history is an intriuging one even today. The Final Countdown boasts some ofthe best aircraft footage ever caught on film, hollywood or documentary. The scene between the Jolly Rogers F-14's and the 2 Japanese Zero fighters is a timeless classic.

The sound is excellent, the transfer is quite good, and the 2 disc set includes very special bonuses for fans of the F-14, or aviation in general. And the bonus disc interviews the Jolly Rogers squadron that flew in the film, worth it if you are an avaiation fan. If not, you might still enjoy it anyways, as they certainly have an entertaining story about one of the cast members! ... Read more

Reviews (138)

Great entertainment--a Cold War cautionary tale
"Red Dawn" made its debut in the latter days of the Cold War, and is reflective of the fears and anxieties as regards the Soviets that characterized the times. For that reason, it was a controversial movie. Liberals and Leftists detested "Red Dawn" while conservatives loved it.

Red Dawn has its flaws. The acting (other than by Patrick Swayze) is not first rate, and the storyline is somewhat murky. On the other hand the special effects are pretty good, and the Soviet troops and equipment look authentically Soviet. The basic premise, I thought, was very entertaining--the Soviet bloc makes an actual surprise attack and ground invasion of the United States, which it partially occupies. The local high school kids form a partisan resistance movement which is suprisingly successful and effective. (Yes, this may be unrealistic, but who is to say?). While the acting is not brilliant, it is largely serviceable. It is a fact that this movie is unabashedly anti-Soviet. I guess critics can always go see Warren Beatty in "Reds."

In the final analysis this film succeeds for the reason that any movie succeeds--it entertains. It holds the viewer's interest. The movie will always be an entertaining reminder of how dreadful the Cold War was, and how grateful we should be that it ended successfully.

A classic Cold War movie that still packs a punch!
One of the best action thrillers of the 1980s is now available to buy on DVD here in the UK, and it was well worth the money! I remember seeing this when it first came out. Amazing to see such an impressive cast that went on to bigger things - Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Charlie Sheen and Lea Thompson among others. The story concerns a sudden invasion by Russian and Cuban forces into midwestern US, which takes everyone by surprise. Enter some spectacular military action scenes up Main Street as US Army helicopters blast Russian tanks to pieces, then our young heroes head for the mountains and learn to survive and develop guerilla warfare skills. They begin with pump-action shotguns and it isn't long before they end up with antitank missiles and AK-47s. Plenty of action and explosions for gung-ho fans and the new resistance, the Wolverines, take on the Soviet and Cuban forces. But . . . in time, they are not only trying to save themselves and their families from the enemy's firing squads and interrogation camps(at the drive-in. loved that nice touch!), but from their own fears and insecurities as their own comrades gradually get killed in action. The second half of the movie shows that wars can affect people in different ways - notably Powers Boothe as a downed F-15 pilot. Overall, this is one not to be missed. Authentic Russian military hardware(except the obviously disguised French Puma transport choppers which are too big for Hind Mi-24 gunships), pulsating action, great sound effects for your DVD, plausible scenarios(the descriptions of how WW3 was fought and how Europe fared was also thrown in well) and good performances from the cast. An eighties classic which should be in everyone's movie collection!

Red Sunset
Dreary "What-If" movie about a bunch of brat packers (a militia group calling themselves "The Wolverines") revolting against Soviet occupied America. The action/battle sequences are third-rate, the characters are one dimensional, and the script is very lame and predictable. The film's core point-of-view is a time-capsule for the Reagan Era paranoia of the evil red empire (Russia). Only thing worth watching in the film is the outdoor wilderness location shots, otherwise there is nothing that is remotely of value in this terrible John Milius film. If this reviewer was a wolverine, I would be very offended by this film.
A film which has almost the same premise and atmosphere, but is a way better film is THE POSTMAN with Kevin Costner.

Bad To The Bone
The words "great" and "classic" don't come to mind when considering this film."Moronic" and "stinky" do.Let's get this straight:A group of inexperienced teenagers with no military training whatsoever takes on crack Soviet and Cuban troops and fights them to a standstill.How'd those kids learn how to use captured Soviet artillery and rocket launchers?Did the weapons come with instructions on videotape?Did one of the kids read and speak fluent Russian?They're not just kids...they're Superkids.Truly amazing.This movie should be filed in the "fantasy" section in your local Best Buy because that's what it is.It's not even a good "what if" idea because the premise is so unbelievable.Why would the Russkies invade a big superpower of a country like the U.S. when they couldn't even conquer Afghanistan?Where were the Chinese in all of this?I'm sure they would have loved to get in on the action.Red Dawn is bad all around...bad premise,bad acting,bad direction and a bad script.I give it one star just for Powers Boothe, who plays the only semi-believable character in the whole film.

Wolverines!
This movie: Red Dawn, is a classic film. It is a film that every young man will love to watch and enjoy it wholeheartedly.

The script of the movie is creative. Communist Paratroopers have landed and are taking over. The regular soldiers are fighting them. However, the Russian communists have managed to land in many areas devoid of any regular American soldiers.

The movie depicts a slice of the bigger picture. The communist paratroopers land in a small town in the middle of nowhere. The adults are caught unaware and its upto few young teenagers to fight for their town(and country). They grab their rifles and head to the hills to wage a war against communist takeover.

There are some minor points in this film that made me give it 4 Stars instead of 5 Stars.

1.) The fighting scenes are unrealistic. It's hard to believe a few teenagers can take on such a large group of regular communist soldiers, again and AGAIN! It is true that it is just a movie but the movie that ads more realism to it becomes more suspensefull. The producer/director should have added few adults to the mix to make it more realistic and thrilling.

2.) The movie is somewhat like a comic book. There is not much depth to Action and some of the characters.

However, these two are just minor points. The movie gets 3 stars for a great storyline and another 1 for its memorable scene where a communist soldier takes away a brave man's gun from his cold dead fingers! and the bumper sticker behind the car is shown on the camera. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

One of Chuck's better film efforts
Chuck Norris plays a detective haunted by a run-in with a serial killer that nearly cost him his life. That was a year ago, and he's now moving in with the therapist, pregnant with his baby, who helped him to deal with his encounter with the killer. But of course it isn't over. Through an apparently superhuman feat of strength, the killer escapes from prison and is back to murdering pretty young women. Chuck faces his fears and hunts the killer down.

This movie was a pleasant change of pace from the typical twenty-against-one fight scenes, explosions, and full auto gunfights. Chuck's character is tougher than any of us, but in this movie he takes his lumps physically and emotionally. He leans on his girlfriend for emotional support, and at the end of the movie we see him wisely running from the killer (after putting up a respectable fight). Although it wasn't Nicholson or Hopkins material, it was probably one of the better performances tendered by a martial arts star.

Simon Moon's a creepy dude
Chuck's after a nasty serial killer again! It's the mute villian from Superman 3 playing a mute villian again! Is this actor really mute or just have cruddy delivery of his lines? You get to see Chuck's sensitive side, get to see him beat up a few bad guys(the movie wouldn't feel complete without that!), and get to see him lie to the press! This one also has Superfly as the mayor, and the muscular black dude from American Ninja!(I wish he had more screen time) The serial killer's name is Simon Moon, and he's not the kind of serial killer that outsmarts and plays with cops. He's actually kind of a moron, but watch out coz he'll break your neck, boy! Doesn't it seem like most famous movie stars have to do at least one movie involving the pursuit of a serial killer? All of this and more in Hero and the Terror! Invite the guys over for a weenie roast and beer and check this one out.

'Hero' Always Saves the Day
"Hero and the Terror" is a 'face your fear' movie. But, then it's Chuck Norris vs. A Big, Ugly Weirdo. Guess who wins? It's hilarity to the extreme how Chuckage picks up the 1000 pound beast and throws him down a theater roof. Heavy load came crashing down onto a theater seat, ouch! Yes! Pure genius.

Essential Chuck Norris Viewing
"Hero" Chuck Norris plays a police officer named Danny O'Brian who is haunted by his past run in with serial killer Simon Moon (The Terror). (...). There is a side story involving O'Brian's relationship with his ex-therapist. This tends to slow the movie in spots. As Chuck Norris fans we want to keep the action pace high. Hero and the Terror is one of my favorite Chuck Norris movies though it has less martial arts and more suspense and story than you may expect from one of his movies. The quality of the DVD is very good. It contains both the widescreen and standard screen format with virtually no extras. That's OK considering the budget price of this MGM release. Hero and the Terror is an essential addition to a Chuck Norris movie library. Recommended viewing.

Hero faces his ultimate Terror.
Chuck Norris plays Danny O'Brien, a police officer emotionally troubled by his run in with a fierce hulk of a psychopath named Simon Moon (played by Jack - Superman 2 - Halloran). When Moon escapes from a mental institution O'Brien must again face his deepest terror. Norris, as always, makes for a likable hero and director William Tannen pulls off some nice suspense sequences. This is arguably the best movie Norris made for the Cannon Group and is an essential in any fan's Chuck Norris collection. ... Read more