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 (10)

Inside the third reich - Great movie to experiment
This is the type of movie I love. I recently bought the whole collection of Winds of War and War and Remembrance and this movie fits right in this line of drama. What's special in this movie for me is I saw it on TV years ago. I just completed my engineering degree at University and this moview woke me up. I could understand where Speer offered his technical knowledges for the 3rd reich. Conflicting for an intellectual but probably brought him a lot of satisfaction in terms of achievement and exceptional designs. Everytime I see a movie with the Nazi banners, I think about Speer who brought that to the NSDAP. It's just amazing to see him when they walk in the new chancellerie. The music, the scenes and Speer's fase expressions, are just touching deeply any technical designer. I recommend this movie for anyone that is ready to put himself (herself) into the character and accept what he's doing in the movie. Yes, he was part of the nazi movement, but we are talking about exceptional design productions. It's sad to see pictures at the end that shows the buildings destroyed. These were built to last 1000 years. Imagine which building today will last 1000 years!!!

Inside The Third Reich
This has got to be the worst movie on the Third Reich. Dates were wrong, the screenplay was horrible. It was funny that in almost every scene in the movies from the 30's until 45 Himmler,Goering were always there, when in real life they were off doing there own things. Randy Quaid playing Ernst Hanfstaengl that was real bad. The uniforms had the wrong insignia and rank and everything was just a mess. Also you can tell that the whole movie was filmed in th fall and mostly winter. There are many scenes that add to this, such as when Hess flew to Scotland in the movie it was snowing in real life it was May and hot. Also when the attempt on Hitlers life on July 20th everyone is wearing winter clothing and there is snow outside. If Speer wouldn't died before 81 this movie sure would of done the job.

Best of its genre
I watched all the WWII and nazi-related movies and miniseries from the 1980s and I must say this one has stuck with me ever since. Derek Jakobi's performance of Hitler is spellbinding. The scene of him practicing his gestures before a mirror is compelling. Hauer gives a competant though understated performance as Speer. But I must tell you if you watch this movies for no other reason it is the lengthy scene, without dialogue, of Hitler walking through the rooms of the new reich chancellory. The haunting soundtrack music and Jakobi's eyes as he takes in Speer's handiwork are memorable and at the end of the scene, with tears he looks at Speer and say "Well done." When I watch that scene, ever 20 years later, it still gives me goosebumps. This two-part movie is definitely a cut above others from the era. Well worth it to watch.

Nazi purists may disagree, but...
...this TV movie isn't as bad as some reviewers claim. At moments it gets quite interesting and it features a once-in-a-lifetime-never-to-be-seen-again cast that includes John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, Ian Holm, Elke Sommer, Blythe Danner, Robert Vaughn, Rugter Hauer (Albert Speer) and the great Derek Jacobi as Hitler.
Tends to be somehow an apology for Speer (couldn't be otherwise, it's based on his memoirs) and, true, it fails to inspire much emotion (except for the rage of a few reviewers, it seems). It's also rather long (a miniseries, actually) and may not be as accurate as some would like it to be. Personally ...who cares? If you're that obsessed with facts and dates read the book instead!
So, not a life-changing movie experience for sure (I hope), but interesting if you're into WWII within reason.

Good, and reasonably faithful to the book.
This movie is fairly faithful to "Inside the Third Reich" authored by Albert Speer while in prison. While it has gotten a barrage of criticism here on Amazon, I liked it. Rutger Hauer puts in a fine performance as Speer. The actors who play Hitler and the other major characters also do good jobs. This movie does a creditable job explaining who Speer was, and what he did, at least according to Speer as based upon his book.

This is very watchable historical drama. I hope it is soon available on DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

In Independence Day, a scientist played by Jeff Goldblum once actually had a fistfight with a man (Bill Pullman) who is now president of the United States. That same president, late in the film, personally flies a jet fighter to deliver a payload of missiles against an attack by extraterrestrials. Independence Day is the kind of movie so giddy with its own outrageousness that one doesn't even blink at such howlers in the plot. Directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day is a pastiche of conventions from flying-saucer movies from the 1940s and 1950s, replete with icky monsters and bizarre coincidences that create convenient shortcuts in the story. (Such as the way the girlfriend of one of the film's heroes--played by Will Smith--just happens to run across the president's injured wife, who are then both rescued by Smith's character who somehow runs across them in alien-ravaged Los Angeles County.) The movie is just sheer fun, aided by a cast that knows how to balance the retro requirements of the genre with a more contemporary feel. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (528)

Typical Big-Budget Fun Ride
Director Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow & The Patriot) became a popular name in big-budget summer movies with the successful 1996 blockbuster "Independence Day". Massive alien spaceships mysteriously enter the Earth's atmosphere and unleash a devastating assault on the world's major cities. Now, a small human resistance organizes a final stand against the powerful invaders. "Independence Day" is a 153 minutes of pure movie fun. Its simple plot and stereotypical characters are rather predictable but still quite enjoyable. Its amusing humor, intense battle sequences and outstanding special effects are this Sci-Fi film's true highlights. The all-star cast features Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch, Randy Quaid, Vivica A. Fox and Robert Loggia.

"Independence Day" Limited Edition is a worthy bargain DVD. Both theatrical and extended cuts are presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains an amazing picture quality with rich color detail and great resolution. The clear 5.1 Dolby Digital sound delivers some well balanced surrounds and awesome bass, but a DTS audio track should have been included in this new release. Among special features, it contains two audio commentaries by filmmakers and FX crew, and a sneak peak at Emmerich's FX epic "The Day After Tomorrow". Despite the lack of supplements, "Independence Day" receives a pleasant "B-".

There's always something...
This fulfills all of the expectations of a summer blockbuster;
things flying around, stuff blowing up, flag waving, etc etc

and yes it is escapist and all good fun

all good stuff (although a little over done, as others have
pointed out, with the flag waving bits -- but then given the
title, i think people must have known that before going in)

but it does fall foul of the usual fault of having one
supremely bad plot element. i'm referring to the odd idea that
the alien shields can be taken down by injecting a computer
virus (oh so easily). in this case, it is a cop out -- a cheap
way for the screenwriter to get from point A to point C without
bothering with B

a wise man once said never let the facts get in the way of a
good story. and a writer once said he never checks the technical
aspects of a screenplay (for the same reason)

the problem with this (and many films suffer a similar problem)
is that it pulls me right out of the film. the suspension of

disbelief of an action rah-rah film can take you to a certain
point, but it is easy to step over that line. the virus did it
for me in this one

any film that uses classic dialogue such as "this is real
life -- not a film" is almost guarenteed to suffer this sort
of problem

You didn't like this film? What are you anyway, a commie?
Normally I don't use reviews as a forum for sniping at other reviewers, but it would appear that Thomas B. Clark came as close as he could to calling me un-American because I didn't care for the jingoism that saturates this film. Well by golly, I guess it is now clear that this film must be a litmus test of the patriotism of all Americans. If you hate it, you must be some sort of com-symp pinko --- it's off to the Russkies with ya.

Incidentally --- I would have refrained from socio-political commentary if only you had also --- I would gently remind you that the Indian Air Force is reported to have done very well against the USAF in exercises conducted in February this year, so maybe the USA really isn't the only one who can get the job done. I'd be willing to bet that the Israeli Air Force, to name just one, might be able to hold its own as well. Of course, maybe I am just whining again.

The argument also seems to be that critics (in addition to being part of the 5th Column) cannot endure a film that engages in make-believe. You can't be serious. Just because a film requires the viewer to suspend belief doesn't necessarily mean it has to suck. I enjoyed "Hellboy," "Men in Black," and "Alien," for example. None of these is remotely believable, but they are well-crafted films with decent performances from their respective casts. Likewise, films packed with explosions & mayhem can also have compelling storylines & characters --- "Master & Commander," for example. I guess I am guilty of expecting the makers of a movie --- even one that is "just fun," should give us more for our money than some paint-by-numbers hack job.

And that is exactly what this movie is, Thomas B. Clark. Contrary to what you claim, I hardly did any nit-picking on all the plot holes in the story, although other reviewers have gone over this movie's silly inconsistencies with a fine-toothed comb. My main complaint was that with the disengaged acting, the cardboard-cutout characters, and the painfully predictable storyline, all the movie really could rely on is lots of special effects & nifty explosions, which really on works on the big screen. The commercial success of this turkey has only encouraged Hollywood to even greater FX excess, to the point that filmmakers seem to think that if they throw enough CGI and special effects at you, they are not responsible for also giving you a decently-crafted movie with a plot & characters and stuff like that.

Hey, it's your money. I spent $1.50 at the budget theatre watching this and I guess I broke even. I pity the people who blew 7 or 8 dollars for this, but again, spend it on what you want. I learned my lesson sooner rather than later. Being the anti-American creep that I am, I just purchased a nice bottle of the 2000 Canon-la-Gaffeliere, which is the equivalent of about 10 viewings of "ID4"-type films, and I think I got the better end of the deal.

AWESOME!!!!
I absolutely love this movie because it's so much action packed fun where vicious aliens from outer space unleash destruction upon the earth's human population and now they must fight back and destroy the aliens before they destroy humanity. This is just so much fun. The special effects are top notch and the acting is great! I really loved the way the spaceships looked like as opposed to looking like flying dinner plates. Go and buy this movie 2day!

Aliens Ate Our Brains!
What else would explain the hit this banal tripe was? ... Read more

Description

Frustrated with the general corruption of life in the big city, a New York city planner, his girlfriend and best friend, rob a bank. With determined police, and all of the madness of New York to contend with, the trio discover that it's easier to rob a bank than to getout of the city. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

New York's Finest Thieves
Bill Murray, Geena Davis and Randy Quaid play New York's perfect criminals. They have the perfect bank robbery plan. It's perfectly executed. The only thing that gets in the way is the city in which they operate. The city that spawned these crooks, also spawned the madness (the same madness that frustrated Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis in THE OUT OF TOWNERS) that get in the way of their getaway. From the opening scene of Bill Murray in a clown costume, I knew I was in for a quirky film, but it was much more than that. This was a surprisingly funny movie that captures the essential oddities of the city. Philip Bosco plays a bus driver who would better be suited as a Marine drill sergeant at Parris Island, and he's just one of the eccentrics. I won't give anything else away. Just take my advice and give this underrated film a look.

Possibly Bill Murray's Most Underrated Movie
Quick Change was hardly the most amusing film I saw at first viewing when it was released. With each successive viewing since, I have been more and more pleased. The directing is very good and Murray's comic nuances really become apparent the more I see this movie of comic twists and turns. Murray doesn't monopolize the great comedic acting here. On his level are Geena Davis, Randy Quaid, and especially the veteran Jason Robards. It's an interesting twist that we the viewer are led to sympathize and root for the criminals.

PUT IT OUT ON DVD ALREADY!!!
I've been waiting months and months for it to come out, and nobody wants to move a finger to put it out on DVD. There is so much crap out on DVD, so why cant they put out something actually GOOD?!? This is one of Bill Murray's best, and is my third favorite movie, apart from Groundhog Day being 1st, and Harold and Maude being 2nd. Please produce this on DVD. PLEASE!!!

Undernoticed But Definitely Worth Owning and Watching
This is one of my favorite movies. It's a comedy with classic performances by Bill Murray, Geena Davis and Randy Quaid, a great supporting role by Jason Robards, and a wonderful cameo by the late Phil Hartman of SNL fame. The movie pokes great fun at all the foibles of New York City. The plot is very clever, the twists and turns incredibly funny, and the result is a movie that keeps viewers laughing throughout. It's not just a movie to watch once, but one of those rare movies you can watch over and over again, yet never tire of. If only they would put it out on DVD!

Another Murray Classic
Although not very well known, this remains one of Bill Murray's funniest & most original films. Feeling frustrated with his life and NYC in general, a city planner comes up with the perfect bank robbery scheme, with the help of his girlfriend and best friend. Getting away with the money ends up being the easiest part of their day. Everything imaginable that can go wrong, does as the three attempt to make it to the airport. Quaid is especially good as the dimbulb best friend, and Murray is dead-on perfect as the subdued brains behind the almost perfect crime. Murray also co-directed.

Highly underrated, & more then worth checking out. ... Read more

Description

A metropolitan transportation engineer is forced to uproot his family from their New Jersey suburb to boise, idaho -- a move that wreaks havoc on their lives ... Read more

Reviews (16)

I love this movie! Good Movie! But I'm upset!
Richard Pryor did a great job in this movie! It was so funny and he sing like on Wizrd of oz "there was no place like home" He did a great job and I watch it over and over! I'm upset cuz they didn't make on DVD! I want them to make it on DVD's!
I gave them 3 star cuz they didn't make on DVD's! Please make it cuz I am Richard Pryor Fans! This is a good movie for making on DVD's.

This movie is timeless
Having experienced a variation of nearly every pitfall which Richard Pryor encounters during this hilarious film, I had tears in my eyes watching it happen to someone else. A character not to be overlooked is Dana Carvey who brings even more laughs to this side-splitting cult classic. Though this movie never made it in the "main stream", it remains one of my favorites and I suggest it to all of my friends. It's difficult these days to find a film most have not seen. They are surprised and delighted to find that this one shoud not have been overlooked.

A GOOD SIMPLE FUN COMEDY
The Toy is a great movie from an all time legend Richard Pryor.
O.K. its not in the top ten of all time comedys and the first 15 minutes is a bit slow,but if you are like me and my family who go on the feel good factor instead of "ACTORBILITY" and all that crap then you will love this film.
A classic comedy with good values, what more can i say!

I will rate this movie higher when its finally put on DVD
Why hasnt this great comedy been put onto DVD yet? Did the people converting movies from the reels pack up and leave, and this was one of the films that they said "where taking it with us"?

Come on, this a 4 to 5 star comedy , when is coming out on DVD? Treat great comedys with respect. And this is certinly one of Richard Pryors best.... TO DVD, NOW

A Funny Movie!
This movie was pretty silly but it was funny and enjoyable and Richard Pryor was very good as the father of a family who have to move to another state and the scenes with him and the teenage daughter who doesn't want to move are very funny and I recommend this movie and hope it will someday be put on DVD! ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Strange and wonderful world of McGuane brought to the screen
What makes this film brilliant, besides Jack Nicholson in a terrific role, and Marlon Brando really showing his incredible acting range, is a wonderful, funny, bizarre, and engaging script by Thomas McGuane. McGuane is arguably the best living novelist America has (The Bushwhacked Piano, Ninety-two in the Shade, Panama, Keep the Change, et al) and his ear for dialogue is sharp, satirical and in full force in the Missouri Breaks. He lives in Montana and has an incredible love for the land mixed with a disdain for those who exploit it, which is exemplified in this western to end all westerns. As far as what Leonard Maltin says . . .well, let's consider the source, shall we?

shakespeare on the breaks
This title belongs on DVD. That has to get said first. I'm not sure that Missouri Breaks really falls into the category of anti-western; it isn't undermining any of the accepted notions of manifest destiny or cultural superiority that make an anti-western like Little Big Man. It's more like a great western novel adeptly turned to film. Harry Dean Stanton and Randy Quaid give rock solid supporting performances and help lend realism to the characterizations which Nicholson caps with his performance. All this solid character/period piece acting allows Marlon Brando to launch an outer space crazy minded performance that somehow really works in this flik, better than his outer space performance in Apocalypse Now. The feeling of placement into a historical time period is intense, and unlike many such fashion shows of recent western period filming, this one is dirty and true, we're not gawking at the authenticity of the clothes folks are wearing, but at how we've been transported to the Breaks of the late 1800's. Amazing work all around. See this film.

One of the best "anti-westerns" of the '60s and '70s.
'The Missouri Breaks' caps a short list of "anti-western" films that marked the death of the classic western as an American Icon. Writer Thomas McGuane skillfully weaves the counter-cultural mores of his own generation into the fabric of this non-conformist screenplay in which the "good guys" are the cattle rustlers and the "bad guys" are the law (or what passes for law in the west). Jack Nicholson (as a rustler) and a very scary Marlon Brando as a looney bounty hunter head up this cast, which reads like a rogue's gallery of great character actors such as Frederick Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton and Warren Oates. Many mainstream American critics panned this film, largely because of its refusal to fit within well-defined story arcs, yet foreign critics praised it for its rawness and superb acting. If you're a fan of films that stretch the limits of their genre, then 'The Missouri Breaks' is a must-see Western.

Not another one like this EVER
This movie has the best character actors doing the most bizarre tour-de-force performances in cinema history. Just like Boagart could only have played Rick in "Casablanca," no other actor could have played the gunslinger that Marlon Brando protrays in this movie, and it is his talent to control the screen that makes this movie unforgettable.

In the same context, Jack Nicholson with his wry humor and controlling demeanor on screen, is the only adversarial character strong enough to hold his own on the screen with Brando.

What is the matter with the studios that they do not release this movie to DVD ... it is more than a classic, and when seen once, never forgotten and rarely compared with any other cinema celuloid done to date.

I give it 6-stars, in that nothing can touch this movie in any category.

Highly underrated film
I can't believe this movie has been so trashed & overlooked over the years. Like Mickey One & Left-Handed Gun, it's one of Arthur Penn's more offbeat & original films. Marlon Brando gives a highly inventive performance & demonstrates once more that he is one of the great comic performers of the screen (as he did more conventionally in Teahouse of the August Moon). To see Jack Nicholson (who is also excellent) with Brando is a terrific treat. Glad I found this on Laserdisc. Definitely should be given top treatment on DVD. ... Read more

Description

A down-on-his-luck golf pro struggles to find his game both on and off the golf course, since his long-suffering wife has just about had it. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Forget Tin Cup, this movie is much better!
It's an absolute shame that this movie is not out on DVD. Randy Quaid gives a great performance as an unfocused, over-partying bottom ranks PGA tour player whose marriage is on the rocks. This movie is a perfect blend of humor and drama. It is also as inspiring as Rudy and Hoosiers.

Attitude, women & winning . . .
Looking for an in depth study of the psychology of being good at something? Some insight into how women, male friends, helpers, sponsors and others play into that? You might like this. It's also a great lot of fun, and documents pretty accurately the golf scene of a few years ago. Frankly, it hasn't changed that much, they still don't let the women play with the men. But there are plenty of women playing with men in this movie.

I read the original Dan Jenkins novel some time back. It was great, but more complex, and I sort of got lost in the clever details and missed the main themes. But in the movie, which simplifies the novel for the sake of time, they come dramatically shining through.

The only complaint, other than it not being on DVD, is that there are one or two implausibilities, like Beverly getting up the day after surgery and going to a golf tournament. I believe that's a change from the book. But it's effective. Oh, and did I mention, there's a great music soundtrack too.

Why isn't this title on DVD? Best golf movie ever
Move over Dorf and forget all about TIN CUP. DEAD SOLID PERFECT is the best golf movie ever made. It's on the same level as CADDYSHACK, only more mature, so as not to scare away the conservative duffers. Randy Quaid and Jack Warden are wonderful and Corinne Bohrer is the cutest thing to ever grace the links this side of Annika Sorenstam.

It's criminal that DEAD SOLID PERFECT has not yet made an appearance on DVD. It's funny, it's got nice production values, great acting, drama, and Corinne Bohrer.

Funny, but weak.
Although not his biggest commercial success, 'Dead Solid Perfect' may be the funniest book written by one of this country's great talents, Dan Jenkins.

In the text, there is a combination of comedic genius, and a true love for the subject matter, the game of golf. Add 50 some years of experience reporting on the game, and Mr. Jenkins has just about every aspect of this story nailed, cold.

I know many who think one of his earlier books, Semi-Tough to be an exemplary piece of writing, I agree, but the film it produced turned out luke-warm as best.

This film is better, although it can not be described with the superlatives of Jenkins original. Sometimes it's just impossible to capture the essence of such multi-layered characters on film in 2 hours or less.

Not to knock Bobby Roth, or the two principals, Randy Quaid, and Jack Warden who both did good turns: Quaid as Kenny Lee, the talented but struggling tour golfer and Warden as "Bad-Hair' Wimberly, the cash-rich sponsor. For golf fans it's a good movie and certainly more honest and original than Tin Cup. For the rest I'd say only fair.

Quick-pic of life in the golf fast-lane
Randy Quaid plays a stereotypical golf/athlete who cannot grow up and out of his passion and lack of passion for the game. It is not only the precursor of Tin Cup, but it is a much better movie with certainly more comedy, and gets at the heart of a good walk spoiled. Certainly not a grade "A" movie by any standards, but a nice "B" look at the behind the scenes life of golf as evinced in Dan Jenkin's novel expose. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

EXCELLENT CHASE SCENES!!
This is a great movie, if you are looking for a good 50's era flick. There are plenty of great car chase scenes (mercs, fords, chevys, & an awesome lincoln) and a few good songs to boot. An all around good movie.

Red-hot rockabilly,smokin' tires and moonshine aplenty!
Andy Armstrong reaches far back into the hills and glens of smokey mountain moonshine running in the late '50's. The sounds of throaty engines bellowing down tranquil leaf-strewn winding backroads are punctuated only by wailing sirens, howling tires, booming gunshots and broken glass. Attention to detail is stunning,as the viewer is transported back in time to a back-woods struggle between family tradition, stormy relationships,personal pride, federal law. Classic rock-a-billy music from the Sun Record studio accompanies this vintage look at the emotions and reckless courage behind a dangerous battle to stop the flow of white lightning, once and for all, and the price that had to be paid. A smorgasbord of vintage 50's memorabilia with a kickin' rock-a-billy soundtrack awaits eager nostalgia and car buffs. Well done! Too bad it is no longer available in Canada for purchase... ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Home on the Range
"Home on the Range" may be the last hand-drawn Disney feature for the foreseeable future. Disney is going the way of computer animation and forsaking the old ways. That being said, "Home on the Range" represents Disney's animated films going out with a whimper. Well not a bad movie, it is not a great one either. It falls somewhere in the "who cares?" range, and will probably be easily forgotten.

The Patch of Heaven ranch is facing foreclosing, and the owner will not sell her cows because they are like family. The cows get the bright idea to track down Alameda Slim, a wanted outlaw, and collect the reward that just so happens to match the amount needed for the ranch.

The voices are middle of the road too. Roseanne Barr voices the main cow, and she is just as obnoxious sounding as ever. Judi Dench gives us a British sounding cow, and Randy Quaid voices the bad guy. The songs are average as well.

In the end, kids will probably enjoy it, but it may wear on adults patience. Some adult humor is sprinkled in (giving the film a PG rating), but it actually seems out of place. The best bet on this one would be to wait until it comes out on video.

Home on the Range
This is NOT for kids. This NOT a kid movie. Funny, but why make a utter (pun) joke into this movie.

Ummmmm............
Well, traditionally-animated movies by Disney went out not with a bang, not with a wimper, but something along the lines of a giggle, and with Home on the Range, the once proud Walt Disney Studios enters the frightening world of burp-and-bathroom-humor kids' movies.

The House That Mickey Built seemed to just copy themes from other films and make a new movie out of them: the basic premises (save the farm, would-be heroes) have been seen several times before. Humor goes to the dogs....er, cows, with crude humor (including a Disney limit-pushing quirk at udders). The animation, aside from the ocasionally gorgeous backgrounds, is pure lazy, and the cartoon cattle bear little resemblence to real livestock.

In conclusion, Disney needs to take a hint from Pixar and get back to doing what it does best: making original and entertaining movies for the whole family.

Destined to become a Disney Classic
This is an excellent film for young and young at heart alike. I really enjoyed it. The animation was very good as was the score. I understand that this may be the last animated Disney film to be drawn frame by frame by their talented artists. That is truly a shame. I thought the animation in this film was truly nostalgic. If this is to be the last hand-drawn full length animated feature by Disney than I will cherish this film. It deserves it.

Not the best, but far from the worst.
The state of animation at Disney is no where near as awful as most critics would have you believe. However, what is awful is that the company is abandoning the traditional animation market, a market that single-handedly saved the company in the early 90's. The final traditionally animated movie from the company was "Home on the Range" and it's obvious that the company simply didn't care anymore. Fortunately, the filmmakers did. "Home on the Range", while far from the delirious heights of the best Disney movies, is still a fast-paced entertaining film with bright visuals and vivid characterizations. Interestingly enough, the movie that most resembles "Home On the Range" isn't another Disney movie, it's "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West". Both movies have a very similar color scheme and are more comedy than old-fashioned western. "Home on the Range" may not make your spirit soar, but it provides some solid laughs and a very enjoyable outing at the movies. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

EARLY SCREEN APPEARANCES OF TODAYS STARS
This movie has alot of fun catch phrases and looks inside the thoughts of kids just outta high school.

What are you supposed to do in life....PARTY!

Hear Eddie Van Halen compose the sound track. If you're a Van Halen fan you'll enjoy hearing licks and riffs to songs that you know off of 1984 up to the present. Of course this is a corny coming of age movie. But with Eric Stolz, Leah Thompson, Rick Moranis and Chucks' little brother from "Weird Science" Check this movie out. Its a keeper.

This is THE definitive mid 80's teen flick!
I've been a HUGE fan of this movie for nearly 15 years...From the storyline to the soundtrack provided by Mr. Eddie Van Halen, this movie delivers! While some might say this is a sequel to Fast Times At Ridgemont High, the only resemblence I see is this movie stars another Penn brother, actor Christopher Penn. Penn is excellent as the neanderthal-like Tommy, a high school wrestler who is always looking for the next party..Eric Stoltz plays his straight laced roomate that is happy to be out on his own...even if it is just a couple of blocks away from Mom's house. Rick Moranis plays an over zealous retail manager with BAD hair hopelessly trying to win the affection of Tommy's girlfriend...The movie includes a scene in strip club that provides the background for Tommy's so-called bachelor party...Little do his friends know, he has no fiance...This movie is fun in an era where too many people thought too much about themselves AND their appearance...I can't wait until the DVD version is released!!

Ultimate Eighties flick
Dont be mislead by the views of most. If youre into eighties flicks and you DO like Fast times at Ridegemont, This is the movie for you!

I have owned this movie multiple times on VHS, Laserdisc and now am looking for the original 16mm film! Chris penn is hilarious as is Randy Quaid who intensifys his character as the burnt out vietnam vet! Its from a time in cinema where the "teen" movies ruled as this is a circumspect example! Out of hundreds of movies from the eighties era, this is CERTAINLY one of my all time fav's - HIGHLY reccomended!

See this movie for two reasons: Kitten Natividad's "assets".
A film forgotten amongst the pile of teen 80's fair, I thought this film notable for the big screen performance by one of classic strip-tease's most well-endowed performers. Hey, it wouldn't be an indulgent 'Ridgement High' style flick without a little skin, and Natividad certainly has the merchandise to sell even this script. Or maybe I am being too harsh? To be sure, this film sports some stars, like Stoltz and Quaid, and there are some funny moments. I admit that when I was an 80's teen and saw this movie, I sometimes identified, especially with the 'Nam-fixated younger brother. But as an adult, I seem to have lost my taste for such sophomoric hijinx. Really, this kind of film was done better. If you're gonna see it, see it for the strip club scene. That's about all I remember it for after all these years anyway.

Pretty bad, but you might as well rent it
When I think of 'pretty bad' movies I've seen, Cameron Crowe's "The Wild Life" comes to mind. Don't get me wrong; after you've run out of Hughes, Coppola, amd other, better Crowe movies to watch when you want some 80's-style movie fun, then "The Wild Life" is good for a rent. But unlike many other teen comedies from the 80's, this one lacks the sense of joy in life, the sense that we're witnessing a perfect memory from our teenage years, be it happy or sad or embarassing or whatever. "The Wild Life" boasts an emsemble cast of 80's movie regulars, including Chris Penn, Sean's little brother. But unlike Spiccoli of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", this token-dumbass isn't anywhere near loveable. Eric Stoltz's character is a straight-laced "adult" who is moving out of the house for the first time, into a bachelor pad, which will no doubt serve as the setting for a wild party later in the film. (One wonders how he affords this lovely furnished apartment on his bowling alley salary...)His ex girlfriend, played by Lea Thomson, is an issue for him as well, and she's pathetic to watch as she allows herself to be used cruelly by a sleazy cop, the quintessential "older man." Like "American Grafitti", the subplots of this movie seem to have very little to do with one another, but unlike the nostolgia classic, these one's are incredibly inane. The only interesting branch of the plot involves Stoltz's character's younger brother, a Vietnam-obsessed, camaflogue-clad 15-year-old who learns (we suppose) an important lesson from a war vet. Ilan Mitchell-Smith portrays Jim in a highly romantic fashion, with as much detail as possible. The mannerisms he uses are, in a way, fresh, compared to the stereotypical "street urchin" often seen in movies. In fact, it is a shame that a movie wasn't made revolving entirely around this character; THAT would be interesting.
Unfortuneately, Jim is the only character that is truly likeable; we end up not caring what happens to the others. Actually, nothing really does happen. This film documents a really wild couple of nights in the lives of a group of teenagers. So rent it - don't buy. Because it's not THAT wild. It's not even casual. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

With Days of Thunder, director Tony Scott tried to do for the Indy 500 what he did for the U.S. Air Force with Top Gun. But without Top Gun's go-go soundtrack and visual feats, Scott merely ends up with a Tom Cruise vehicle that's out of gas.

Cruise plays (what else?) a cocky, upstart stock-car racer who faces down ruthless racing opponents. Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Cary Elwes, and Randy Quaid do the laps around this movie's tiresome track with Cruise, while director Scott attempts to propel the action along with his trademark visceral, gritty but glamorous visual style.

Days of Thunder is notable, however, as a turning point in Cruise's then one-dimensional career. After this film--having tired even his most devoted fans by playing a bartender, an air force pilot, and a stock-car driver--Cruise was forced to take on real character parts. --Ethan Brown ... Read more

Reviews (52)

All I can say is WOW!!!
Well, the first thing anyone that has even watched a Winston Cup race could tell how ridiculous the racing scenes can be. Although the intensity and action is there, you will NEVER see actual drivers 'rubbin' on a real racetrack. But please don't let my previous comments discourage you from watching this film. It is still one of my favorites in my video library. The story follows young open-wheel driver Cole Trickle(Tom Cruise) through his quest to become a Winston Cup legend. Owned by a local car dealer named Tim Daland(Randy Quaid) and having his pit ran by the legendary, and recently retired crew chief Harry Hogge(Robert Duvall). But after a tragic crash during the Firecracker 400 sent him to the hospital, possibly ending his career. Then it follows his journey of finding love with his doctor, Dr. Claire Lewicki(Nicole Kidman)and his painstaking return to win the Daytona 500.

Fix Review
Ok i have not seen the movie here but i just wanted to correct the review posted by amazon.com. The movie Top gun was not about the United States Air Force in any way shape or form. It was Navy all the way

tommy BOY, you're just a pretty boy.
the third in the ' i am sooooo hot and shallow gals ' tom cruise trilogy (top gun and cocktails being 1 and 2 ).
this thing made millions of course. no wonder europeans think us so stupid.

Unrealistic Yet Somewhat Entertaining
First of all, the Amazon.com reviewer must not know anything about racing, as this film has nothing to do with the Indy 500, and neither does NASCAR (except for racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the annual Brickyard 400). That said, the movie, though it features lots of unrealistic driving (err, crashing) scenes and less-than-stunning acting, still isn't the worst way to spend a couple hours if you've got the racing bug. As pointed out by other reviewers, Robert Duvall gives a great performance as Tom Cruise's crew chief who comes out of retirement to bring Cole Trickle (Cruise's character) to the top of the NASCAR ranks. Cruise's own performance is sufficient, given the character, as is Randy Quaid's. Nicole Kidman seemed to be trying too hard to be emotionless in this movie. Maybe the writers/directors told her to, I don't know. The racing scenes where the drivers aren't running each other into the wall are decent enough, and the car sounds are pretty good. If you want a great racing movie, try "LeMans" or (when it comes out on DVD) "Grand Prix." I really wish we had a truly great modern racing movie, especially about Formula One or CART/Indy car racing ("Driven" doesn't count--it sucked). Maybe someday...

Yeah
Dude I have never seen this movie but what i will say is this. The Editor who said Top Gun was a US Air Force movie is an idiot. You obviously did not watch Top Gun because then you would have realized it was a Navy movie. In my book you have lost all credibility, and should lose your job. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Director Peter Bogdanovich(The Last Picture Show) tipped his hat to the classic screwball comedies of the 1930s, and especially the most glorious of them all, Howard Hawks'Bringing Up Baby. Barbra Streisand plays a charming flake who distracts a self-absorbed musicologist (Ryan O'Neal). He's engaged to be married, but soon Streisand's character has him chasing after stolen jewelry and getting into one madcap fix after another.Bogdanovich, who is also a film critic, understands the engine of the screwball genre, and his loving revival of the form brings a smile, though it is not quite consistently inspired or funny. There are plenty of great moments, however, including a slap at O'Neal's own star-making vehicle,Love Story. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (93)

As comfortable as cashmere...
When a comedy is done right on screen, it often has a very long life beyond its initial release. Such is the case with this wonderful movie. From the moment at the beginning when Streisand hums and sighs and launches into a blazing version of Cole Porter's "You're the Top", the film is a funny, frenetic, comfortable delight that is as cozy as a pair of flannel pajamas. Everyone here is working at the top of their form, and the fact that it looks effortless shows just how accomplished and talented they all are. Barbra looks slim, tan, loose, and very sexy; Ryan O'Neal is perfect as Cary Grant in "Bringing Up Baby", and Madeline Kahn is just perfect. There are so many moments that are memorable, it's hard to name them all. Peter Bogdanovich brought it all together so beautifully, with such style, verve, and loud-out-loud humor, you'll be in heaven for 90 minutes. Hollywood romantic comedy doesn't get any better than this. The DVD picture is bright, crisp, and letterboxed. What a treat for us all!

A gem of a film!!
I remember seeing "What's Up, Doc?" as a kid in a drive-in theatre and laughing uproariously. Later, as an adult, I bought the video and wore it out; the movie still hasn't lost it's charm. I've also introduced many of my friends to the film, but one consequence of that is that my tape is now faded and fuzzy. God bless whoever got this movie onto DVD!!

If you've somehow missed this film ... stop reading, turn off your computer, go to the store and buy it. (Don't rent it; you'll want to watch it more than once.) I mean it. Go now!

I'm not a Streisand fan, but I sure make an exception in this film. She's fantastic! Her zany energy just pours off the screen, her timing and delivery are top notch, and her chemistry with Ryan O'Neal is simply unbelievable. And O'Neal ... is awesome. You might not think of him as an actor who could so ably take on the role of the boring, distracted, absent-minded professor, but man! he owns the role. From his opening shot straight through to the end of the film, he's simply wonderful. And if Streisand's cheerful nuttiness and O'Neal's goofy, sweet seriousness aren't enough for you, there's the inimitable Madeline Kahn in her first role, owning every scene she's in ... 'til Liam Dunn shows up as the judge at the end, that is.

The dialogue sparkles; why aren't more people writing dialogue like this these days? There should be a law. The comedic timing is impeccable. The story is lunacy, but it's sold whole-heartedly ... and the lack of a score (other than Streisand's rendition of "You're the Top" to open and close the film, along with a brief snippet of "As Time Goes By" during the film) makes the whole thing seem almost believable, somehow.

This movie is a gem; I can watch it over and over. The DVD is crisp and clean, looking like it was filmed last week ... a rarity for some early '70's films. The sound quality is excellent; nuances that were lost on my video tape are restored here. Streisand's commentary is generally unilluminating, but Bogdanovich provides some wonderful thoughts and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. All in all, an excellent release.

One minor, tiny little flaw: at the very end of the film, with Howard and Judy on the plane, my VHS version shows Judy batting her eyes, then a cut to Howard ... a cut back to Judy for a lovely pregnant pause ... and finally the return to Howard, who delivers his deadly comeback. The timing on that, as with the rest of the movie, is perfection. But in my DVD, Judy batts her eyes, and we cut to Howard ... who delivers his line after only a short pause. There's a missing bit there in the middle. YES, it's a terribly minor quibble ... but when you monkey with a classic and throw off the comedic timing, a guy has to wonder who would do such a thing.

That's really my only quibble. 5 stars anyway. (Have you bought this DVD yet?! Get going!!)

Great Fireballs of Screwiness, Doc!
Genuine screwball comedy may be one of the toughest cinematic feats to pull off. Alot of directors, including Speilberg, have tried and screwed up, but very few have achieved genuine anarchic, screwball style; Bogdanovich does it ecstatically with Doc. Perhaps one of the reasons films of the seventies are considered so extraordinary is that titles such as Godfather, Exorcist and Chinatown, etc, achieved the high water mark for their respective genres. So it can be said of What's Up, Doc, which not only holds up beautifully but seems even funnier with the passage of years. Do we dare say classic? Yup.

"I can't breathe, is it possible to break a lung?"
The first screwball comedy to be a box office blockbuster since the early forties, WHAT'S UP, DOC? fills it's 94 minute runtime with so many terrific one-liners, double innuendoes, and visual puns that the average viewer will probably have to watch the film a couple of times before he or she catches all of the jokes! Apparently the film inspired repeat viewing even during it's initial release - Doc was the third-highest grossing film of 1972 (right behind THE GODFATHER and THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE). In all honesty, I think this film has a higher laugh-per-second ratio than any film before or since.

This film was the perfect (and surprising) way for director Peter Bogdanovich to follow-up his cinematic landmark THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, and he keeps the film's momentum running right at the perfect speed. He also knows how to cast a film flawlessly. Buck Henry's marvelous screenplay contains many scenes with overlapping dialogue and double reverses, and the entire cast never misses a beat. Barbra Streisand literally radiates with magnetism throughout the entire film! Anyone who still wonders why she was the highest grossing actress of the seventies definitely needs to see this film; Streisand's performance in DOC is what being a movie star is all about. Many critics complained that Ryan O'Neal was miscast when the film was originally released, and those critics obviously missed out on the joke. The fact that O'Neal was considered a heartthrob at the time was all part of the fun in seeing him cast as complete goof; and I don't think anyone can deny the fact that he throws himself into the role completely.

As most viewers already know, Madeline Kahn has her finest screen role in Doc, and steals nearly every scene she's in (and she wisely knows just how far to push the characterization without going over the edge). The rest DOC'S supporting cast also could not be improved upon, Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendlrton, and Liam Dunn give just three of the standout performances in this perfect supporting ensemble. As with most comedies, DOC was snubbed at the Academy Awards (Bogdanovich, Streisand, and Kahn all deserved nominations in the respective categories in my opinion), but time has been good to DOC and remains far more popular than many of the films that did get Oscar noms in 1972. Arguably, the best comedy of all time.

About the DVD: The picture quality is very good - a tad soft at times, but very natural and true to the film's original look. The sound is mono, but it's well-rendered. It's great to have the trailer and vintage featurette preserved on disc, and while Streisand's brief commentary isn't very illumenating, Bogdanovich's full-length track is very informative and entertaining.

Use Your Charm.....
This is unquestionably one of my all time favorite films. All of the actors are in top form. Streisand turns in a masterful comedic performance which I would describe as "understated zany". O'Neil is stoic yet endearing. Madeline Kahn (in her movie debut, which makes the film noteworthy if for NO other reason) gives a perfect performance as O'Neil's overbearing fiance. The supporting cast including Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendleton and Liam Dunn are top notch. Brilliant writing (Buck Henry, et.al.) and directing (Peter Bogdanovich) combine with the cast to make this film one of the rare Hollywood productions that appeals to young and old alike. Don't miss this one, it is truly a classic. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Parents, director Bob Balaban deconstructs our Father Knows Best perception of '50s suburbia, skewing it via moody cinematography and Angelo Badalamenti's sinister score. Ten-year-old Michael Lamele (Bryan Madorsky) thinks his parents (Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt) are cannibals.His constant fear of his folks and their supposedly evil doings begin to warp his view of the world, and he starts seeing a social worker to confront his problems. Are they merely childhood fears intensified by an overactive imagination, or do Michael's parents really crave human flesh? Much in the way that David Lynch approached the sinister underside of small-town America in Wild at Heart, so too does Balaban challenge our notion of the 'burbs as an escape from the harsh reality of the city. If anything, Michael's parents show their true colors once they become wrapped up in the materialistic, socially predatory world of suburban life. Vastly underappreciated, Balaban's Parents is one of those rare modern horror films that uses psychology to freak you out rather than tossing buckets of blood at you (although there are a few in the film, given its theme). This is one horror film that stands up, and deserves repeated viewings. --Bryan Reesman ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Brilliantly disturbing!
Parents is a film I had known about for quite a while before I finally decided to check it out. I was quite surprised by what I saw. Bob Baladan's cold, minimalistic style was just the touch this film needed. What could have been slapstick horror comedy (a la Dead-Alive or Evil Dead 2, both of which are great; that style just wouldn't work as well for this film) instead becomes a superbly filmed satire of 1950s family culture.

I never thought I could actually be afraid of Randy Quaid, but his performance is truly blood-curdling. (Strangely enough, due to the facial expressions he makes throughout the movie, this is the first time I've ever noticed a resemblance between him and his brother Dennis.) He plays the character with a understatement I didn't realize he was capable of.

I understand why some critics came down on the climax and resolution of the film, feeling it much too conventional in light of what had preceded it, but I feel that there weren't too many more possibilities they could have utilized. The film works fine the way it is, and I recommend it to fans of horror films and sharp-witted satire alike.

Parents: a future cult classic
Randy Quaid is what makes this film in my opinion. MaryBeth Hurt is good, but it's the bizarreness of Quaid which drew me in. It is the 1950's and it is a tale about a picture perfect family that turns out to have some very unusual customs. I will not tell you what seperates this family from others but I will tell you to give this movie a chance. This is Bob Balaban's directorial debut and it is a not a bad one. Buyer Beware: This is not typical Hollywood Cinema!

Parents (1988)
Bizarre film takes place in the 50's and is the story of a boy who wonders where his parents get all their leftover meat from and what it was before it was leftovers...and soon he discovers the terrible (but obvious) truth. "Parents" could have been a nice little horror/comedy like "House," but turned out to be more of a weirdo, bizarro, psycho film that is just too weird to be excepted as proper entertainment. The 50's was portrayed in the most horrific and lurid manner, and the way of life was just heartbreaking (ie. the little girl that Michael befriends). I was looking forward to a fun little horror/comedy, but was disappointed when I found it was a weirdo, bizarro, psycho film (hehe). It's alright, but I don't think it's really that special. Too weird for my tastes.

Duuuuuude...
This movie was really, really weird. I turned on the TV at 2 AM, and the first thing I saw was a kid drowning in a pool of blood. Needless to say, I had no choice but to watch the rest of the movie. The movie seemed to serve no real purpose, which is why I liked it. It was incredibly surreal. (Then again, part of that might have been because I was half-asleep.) In the morning, I actually convicned myself it had been a dream.

Anyway, through this whole thing I was expecting it to be deep, but it had a Goosebumps-type ending, which sort of ruined it for me. Well, anyway, I'm done now. I should never write reviews.

zero stars. terrible horrible no good very bad movie
People have compared this movie to David Lynch. David Lynch this is NOT. People have called it artistic because it has an ethereal dream-like quality to it. I think it's fine to have dream sequences, but to have absolutely nothing happen for 1.5 hours into the movie is unacceptable. The child's acting (if you can call it acting) was awful. It was as if his face had been injected with massive amounts of botox. no expressions. no emotion.

The storyline was predictible with little to offer in the way of ingenuity or thrill factor. The scariest part of the movie might have been when the child turned around and ran into a foot hanging on a meat hook in the cellar. Even then, his face (weighed down by the botox) registered nothing. The father's death scene in the end lasted about 10 minutes of him flopping about trying to lay his hands on the child.

And having his grandparents lay a meat sandwich on his nighttable in the end was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Do not rent this movie. Do not buy it. Exit this screen and never think about this movie ever again. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Like Easy Rider, Bonnie and Clyde, The Wild Bunch, andThe Graduate, The Last Picture Show is one of the signature films of the "New Hollywood" that emerged in the late 1960s and early '70s. Based on the novel by Larry McMurtry and lovingly directed by Peter Bogdanovich (who cowrote the script with McMurtry), this 1971 drama has been interpreted as an affectionate tribute to classic Hollywood filmmaking and the great directors (such as John Ford) that Bogdanovich so deeply admired.It's also a eulogy for lost innocence and small-town life, so accurately rendered that critic Roger Ebert called it "the best film of 1951," referring to the movie's one-year time frame, its black-and-white cinematography (by Robert Surtees), and its sparse but evocative visual style. The story is set in the tiny, dying town of Anarene, Texas, where the main-street movie house is about to close for good, and where a pair of high-school football players are coming of age and struggling to define their uncertain futures. There's little to do in Anarene, and while Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) engages in a passionless fling with his football coach's wife (Cloris Leachman), his best friend Duane (Jeff Bridges) enlists for service in the Korean War. Both boys fall for a manipulative high-school beauty (Cybill Shepherd) who's well aware of her sexual allure. But it's not so much what happens in The Last Picture show as how it happens--and how Bogdanovich and his excellent cast so effectively capture the melancholy mood of a ghost town in the making. As Hank Williams sings on the film's evocative soundtrack, The Last Picture Show looks, feels, and sounds like a sad but unforgettably precious moment out of time.--Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A plotless mood piece, but very well done
To call a movie plotless sounds negative, but in the case of The Last Picture Show, there's so very little plot that it's barely worth speaking about. The film revolves around a number of characters, most notably two high school seniors. Duane is dating the "only beautiful girl in town" and Sonny is carrying on an affair with a married woman. Several other characters move in and out of view, notably the beauty's mother and the owner of the pool hall. The film carefully develops its dozen or so main characters and simply watches them as they move about the bleak-looking desert town. Further adding to the immersion is the fact that the soundtrack consists solely of early-50's country music heard through tinny radios in the background.

This film was quite controversial at the time of its release for its frank (and unglamorised) depictions of sex. Jacy sums up the attitude of sex for the teens when she tells her mother "I would never do that, it's a sin before marriage," but later tells a college boy "I'm a virgin, but I don't want to be." In a small town with little to do, sex is just a form of entertainment, while 1951 morals required that it be hidden from view.

This is a film that cares about its characters and allows them to inhabit the setting. The dialogue and events occur naturally, and at the end of the film, the only things that have really happened are Jacy losing her virginity, a funeral, and the high school football team gets some better linebackers. But because you care about the characters (and the performances are universally fantastic), you care about these events that are objectively small, but which are important to the characters.

This DVD is not of high quality. This may be deliberate - the film is supposed to have a hard-edged, bleak feel that might not be as effective if the film had been cleaned up for the DVD. There is an hour-long reminiscence on the making of the film, which is interesting to watch once. Director Bogdanovich gets the lion's share of time, but many cast members have their say as well. Overall, it's a decent DVD, but the VHS will contain the important part, which is the film itself, and likely of the same quality.

Stark Picture
Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show is an adaptation of a Larry McMurtry novel. Much like most of Mr. McMurty's work, the film is set in Texas. The time is the mid 50's and like many towns at the time, TV was sweeping the land and fewer people were going to the movies, so the only movie theater in town is shutting down. The picture isn't built around that, but more around that the idea of a loss of a more innocent time. The film centers around Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) whose best friend is Duane (Jeff Bridges). They were the captains of the high school football team, but they have since graduated. Sonny still wears the varsity jacket as a sign that he was once something big. He ends up having an affair with the football coaches plain wife. Cloris Leachman plays the wife and she brings a sadness to the role. Sonny helps her feel young and alive, but she can never be with him. Sonny ends up falling for Duane's girlfriend Jaycee (Cybil Shepard) and Duane leaves town. Sonny & Jaycee marry, but in the end everything breaks apart. Mr. Bogdanovich filmed the movie in black and white and town is stark and dusty and we feel a sense of loss. Ben Johnson appears a the all-knowing Lion and he and Ms. Leachman won the 1971 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor & actress respectively. The Last Picture Show is difficult and depressing, but brilliantly made.

plaudits for cinematography
This flick is overrated. But you've got to give the filmmakers credit for going with black- and- white, for shooting it in Texas (where the story takes place) and for not trying to squeeze in too many characters into the "plot."
The Chase, starring Marlon Brando, that also takes place in Texas, might have received all the praise heaped on the Last Picture Show flick had they gone the black -and- white route and stayed away from the Universal back lot.

Hud, also shot in Texas, was a better film than this. It seems to me, a good rule of thumb to doing pictures in Texas is to go with black-and-white photography. Don't know why, could be the automatic, built-in authenticity factor one gets with B & W. Color very often means Hollywood glitz, and doesn't seem to work well with this type of tale.

Anyway, it's not the worst flick ever made. Ben Johnson does a nice job, so does Ellen Burstyn. The latter two deserve four stars for their work here. Sybil Shephard was drop-dead gorgeous at the time.

1950's North Texas in Full Color
This film captures life in small town Texas vividly. It was shot in black and white but color film would not have changed the appearance one bit.

Some of the scenes were shot where I delivered newspapers as a kid. I thought I had been transported back in time when I first saw the film. The characters and dialog are magnificent and the situations reminiscent of life as it was then.

It is a beautiful and touching film, one to watch over and over.

Last Picture Show
An amazing movie. Frankly, I agree with the glowing reviews of the film and I have nothing to add to them. However, concerning the quality of the restoration to DVD I must say that it appears that the widescreen formatting was done incorrectly. If you compare the image of the film's opening with that in the documentary(disregarding the full frame), you will notice that the area below the steps of the moviehouse, in the documentary, reveals the begining of the street. In the film itself, this has been cut off. You can also compare the image of Cybill Shepherd on the back of the DVD cover that shows her feet as she steps out of her car. In the film, this is also cut off. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This terrific Walter Hill Western follows the careers of the James and Younger brothers--and uses the nifty idea of casting actual clans of acting siblings in the roles. Thus, the James brothers are played by James and Stacy Keach; the Youngers by David, Keith, and Robert Carradine; the Millers by Randy and Dennis Quaid; and the Fords by Christopher and Nicholas Guest. Hill, working with an evocative Ry Cooder score, creates a film that is at once breathtakingly exciting and elegiac in its treatment of these post-Civil War outlaws. The Keaches in particular bring a surprising dignity to the roles of Frank and Jesse James, while David Carradine is a hoot as Cole Younger--and the Quaids mimic real life (as it was for them then) in their battles as the Miller brothers. Bloody, to be sure, but also bloody good. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (26)

An uneven guilty pleasure
I don't know why I am such a sucker for this film. It is too long, uneven, very slow in parts and certainly doesn't provide a happy ending. But it is one of the most honest yet entertaining westerns I have ever seen. The qimmick of using the Keach brothers as Frank and Jesse James and the Carradine brothers as the three members of the Younger family (plus throwing in the Quaid brothers for good measure)works wonderfully well. Always picturesque, frequently violent and bloody, this film evokes the unstable time just after the Civil War when the James and Younger gang were at their height. A terrific contrast is drawn between the James men, who are depicted as dedicated homebodies when not at "work", and the Youngers who are depicted as boisterous hell-raisers. Pamela Reed as Belle Starr is a standout in an already excellent cast. When Cole Younger and her husband square off for a knife fight she just smiles and declares "You boys sure do keep me entertained." The same could be said for this film. It is by far the best Jesse James film ever made, and with its sound track by Rye Cooder, a pleasant experience to revisit every year or so.

Walter Hill's best film -- an unsung classic
Just as the 80s were beginning and the Western was about to take a sad, decade long sleep, Walter Hill, fresh from his unexpected success with the gang film "The Warriors," turned out this unique and utterly remarkable Western about the James-Younger gang. Using real-life brothers to play the outlaw kin (two Keaches, three Carradines, two Quaids, two Guests), Hill crafts an intense character study that plays like a collaboration between Western great John Ford ("Stagecoach") and Japanese master Akira Kurosawa ("Yojimbo", a film Walter Hill later remade as "Last Man Standing").

"The Long Riders" is close to plotless, but it paints a fascinating picture of the gang and the family and community ties that keep them together (the Ford influence right there...community was his great theme) while delving into the nuances of each character (this is where the fraternal casting really helps out). And Hill acheives all this depth in only 100 minutes! The action sequences are the best in a Western since Sam Peckinpah; the Northfield robbery is particularly striking and brutal.

Aside from Hill and all the great actors, cinematography Ric Waite and composer Ry Cooder deserve special mention for the film's success. Waite creates an authentic "period" look with his deep, glowing photography; the DVD transfer captures this perfectly for the first time. Cooder's score is completely against the grain for the time: small, intimate, and filled with forgotten folk tunes that help paint a picture of a united, family-built community. It is almost a companion piece for David Mansfield's equally intimate score for "Heaven's Gate," released the same year as "The Long Riders."

The DVD has no extras except for a trailer, but the film is so wonderful and so rewards repeat viewings that you should grab a copy of it right away. Believe me, you'll be stunned by this piece of film art.

"I ain't aiming to do nothing...I'm doing it!"

Long Riders Is Long On Music, But Not On Plot
I saw this movie for the first time a couple of days ago. What hit me about the movie was the amount of music played in the movie. The movie is fair. Not a movie you would want to repeat several times in your lifetime. Maybe watch once and then move on. The cinematography is fine. It seemed to lack grit. I found it difficult to believe David Carradine as Cole Younger. Frank Keach was good as Jesse James, but brother Stacy Keach was passable as Frank James. I think a better rendition of the story of Jesse James and the Younger brothers was in the movie "The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid" made in 1972 as a television film (I believe). Cliff Robertson as Cole Younger and Robert Duvall as Jesse James seemed to be better renditions. The Long Riders is well made, but it seems to be missing something. Just rent it.....and if you really like the movie.....definitely buy it. Investigate the 1972 version with Duvall. Passable to good acting in the Long Riders.

the james and youngers ride again
This is the Western that out Peckinpahs Pekinpah! A gritty and bloody look at the greatest band of outlaws in American history with perfect casting and Walter Hill makes it look authentic and legendary all at once. Long Riders is a wonderful movie that hits the target and then some. It's a real Western gem.