Reviews (10)

Stellar cast makes great but unknown movie
Leo McKern Geraldine Chaplin, Jeanne Moreau, Lauren Bacall, John Randolph, and Alec Guiness make a largely unknown, quiet, and poignant movie about facing painful memories, mending old wounds, and dealing with adversity by gaining strength from one another. This movie was originally released by the BBC, which accounts for its unknownness in the United States.

World War Two veterans gather in a seaside hotel in Normandy almost fifty years after D-Day. The gruff American, the equally gruff but more refined Brit, the Brit's brain-damaged friend (more on him below), the mysteriously quiet woman (more below on her), the American's neurotic and uptight daughter, her husband, and the woman who was long-ago-loved by both the American and the Brit, all eventually meld into a cohesive group as they face and work through the ghosts of their pasts. There are two major surprises in the movie, and I'll give one away (you find this out early in the movie anyway): the dually loved Jeanne Moreau, who lives in a retirement home, was a floozy/prostitute during the War, and is unashamed of her past. She dramatically and unabashedly takes full advantage of having the attention of two former beaux/customers. The other surprise, which is disclosed, quietly but stunningly, late in the movie, I'll leave to the viewer.

Everyone does a fine job of playing their parts, but two performances would have earned Oscar nominations if the film had been released by a major production company in this country. Lauren Bacall could not be equalled in her performance as the tragic, dignified, and slightly alcoholic mystery woman with a heart of gold and more common sense than the rest of them combined.

What can be said about Alec Guiness, who plays the brain-damaged friend and war buddy of the gruff Brit? With one-twentieth, or less, of the words of any other actor in the movie, he gives a moving performance that will amaze the viewer and leave the audience speechless. All would-be actors, and many currently-working actors, could learn much from this performance.

While the history of this story is increasingly remote for viewers, anyone over fourteen or so will get caught up in this movie sooner or later. WW2 veterans will be hooked from scene one. I dare anyone to watch it and not be moved or shed a tear!

Battlefield reunions as they should be
Foreign Field is a very moving film for those who were veterans and also for those who were not. An American man, his daughter and son-in-law are visiting France to see Omaha Beach, where the father landed in 1944 Randolph, Chaplin and Herrmann). Two British men are also visiting the same area (McKern and Guinness) one who is severely handicapped and mutters Briggsy throughout the film. What developes when these two groups meet is both funny and moving. The British and American veterans remember a French girl who tended them when they were wounded during the fighting in Normandy. When they find that it is the same woman and she now lives in a nursing home the reality of aging sinks in. The casting of this film was superb. On the British side, Leo McKern and Sir Alec Guinnes are outstanding. The American casting is no less thoughtful, John Randolph as the American vet, Geraldine Chaplin as his cranky and rather bitchy daughter, Edward Herrmann as the befuddled son-in-law cast in the role of peacemaker. Lauren Bacall as a single woman, recently widowed, visiting Normandy for her own reasons gives the film a bit of mystery.Jeanne Moreau as the French woman who as a girl was the angel of mercy to both the wounded men is a key piece of casting. There are a number of memorable scenes in this film; the whole group huddled in one car as Leo McKern describes how his best friend died after crawling over a landmine in the hedgerows, Lauren Bacall taking them to her brother's grave, John Randolph visiting his friends grave off of Omaha Beach, Edward Herrmann getting an early christmas present from his now more reachable wife. The most moving scene is purely visual and leaves the greatest impression, I think. It is the vast row of crosses and stars of david that cover the American cemetery behind Omaha Beach, it is breathtaking and emotionally charged at the same time. This is a finely crafted film that has had little market exposure, but should be a must see for anyone interested in World War II and the aftermath.

Quite Simply...its brilliant.
Beautifully written, brilliantly acted.

I have just recommened this to a gentleman who went to Normandy for the 60th anniversary of D-Day. This was written as part of the 50th anniversary commemorations.

I was disappointed to see that it wasn't reshown as part of the recent memorial. It is the most touching movie I have ever seen. There are twists but they are believable and done so gently the effect is all the more startling.

Themes of reconcilliation and sacrifice and intermingled with the charcters and their splendid devotion to duty and the memories of those long gone.

We should never forget. And never has a jam jar meant so much.

Watch this movie. And Brian if you read this I am sorry it appears it is only on VHS not DVD. But get it anyway.

A great way to say goodbye to Obi-Wan & Rumpole
I knew nothing about "A Foreign Field" until I saw a bio of Sir Alec Guinness. Growing up lucky enough to be exposed to Sir Alec's Ealing comedies, I felt I should try to score this. Not to mention the fact that the movie co-starred the late, great Leo McKern. I found a used copy via Amazon, & though the ex-rental tape doesn't track well, I'm not disappointed in the least. Sir Alec & McKern portray old comrades returning to Normandy. McKern is right out front, as an irascible, less than charming Rumpolesque figure. Sir Alec's character, Amos, is "retarded", but though we suspect war wounds, we don't get any info along this line until late in the film. The rest of the ensemble cast works amazingly well, even Geraldine Chaplin, who has grated on me in everything since Dr. Zhivago. FDR, excuse me, Edward Herrman, is very good, as are Lauren Bacall, Jeanne Moreaua, and John Randolph. The moving look at the return of old soldiers to "a foreign field" behind Sword or Juno beach is reminiscent of ex-private James Ryan visiting Capt James Miller's gravesite in "Saving Private Ryan". I don't know, but I think Sir Alec Guinness was very ill when this was filmed. He says very few words, but his subdued, almost delicate Amos says volumes without verbalizing. This is one that must be brought out on DVD, and just to keep things unanimous, I give "A Foreign Field" 5 stars.

Movie Perfection
It is truly a shame that this movie is largely unknown, because it is one of the finer movies I have ever watched. The acting is amazing, and the characters play off of each other brilliantly. I have told others about the movie, and have to warn them that if they are looking for lots of explosions, blood, and guts, that this is not the movie for them. Unfortunately, we have come to expect and even crave that in a war movie. What makes A Foreign Field so great is the fact that the noise and bloodshed are long over, and the movie focuses instead on the memories and core emotions that veterans and their loved ones feel when reflecting on a different time. It is a great movie to watch on Veteran's Day or Memorial Day every year. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Family Tree Becomes A Family Bush
I found this movie so funny and mind-bending. About a woman, Marjorie Turner, who is so bored with her husband, Harry Turner, is persuaded to have an affair by her sister, Jeanine. Marjorie does, indeed, have the affair (which is against her character): Unwittingly, with her husband's brother, Charles Turner Jr. Talk about loving someone to death! A salesman, Nick, enters the hotel room, with the body under the covers. He tries to install vertical blinds, and they fall on the head of the dead chap. Nick thought that he killed Charles. He manages to call Marjorie, to tell her about the news of the death of what he thought to be her husband. (Marjorie tripped over Nick's blinds, things spill out of her purse. She hurries into the lift before Nick discovers her wallet.) Both of them find themselves in a sticky-wicket. Neither can contact the officials (for Marjorie's husband and his family are doctors, and Nick's brother is a policeman.) So they try to make it appear that Charles committed suicide. Brothers and sisters of Marjorie, Harry, and Nick all get involved somehow or another. It's difficult to give details without confusing you (as I said, it's mind-bending) and/or giving out too much information. Kirstie Alley is Marjorie Turner; Bill Pullman is Nick; Scott Bakula is Harry Turner (who, by the way, looks absolutly gorgeous with longer hair and beard at the end); Sam Elliot is Charles Turner Jr.; Jami Gertz is Jeanine; etc. Three families intertwine so much that they are no longer family trees, but a family bush! Enjoy!

Sibling Rivalry - A Family Tree Becomes A Family Bush
I found this movies so funny and mind-bending. About a women, who is bored with her husband, is persuaded to have an affair by her sister. Marjorie does have an affair: unwittingly, with her husband's brother. Talk about loving someone to death! A salesman, Nick, enters the hotel room, with the body under the covers. He tries to install vertical blinds, and they fall on the head of the dead chap in bed (Charles Jr.). Nick thought that he killed Charles. He manages to call Marjorie, to tell about the news of the death of what he thought to be her husband. Both of them find themselves in a sticky-wicket. Neither can contact the officials (for Marjorie's husband [Harry] and his family are doctors, and Nick's brother is a policeman.) So they try to make it appear that Charles committed suicide. Brothers and sisters of Marjorie, Harry, Nick, all get involved somehow or another. It's difficult to give details without either confusing you or giving too much information away. The cast is good. Kirstie Alley as Marjorie Turner; Bill Pullman as Nick; Scott Bakula as Harry Turner (who, by the way, looks absolutly gorgeous with longer hair and beard at the end); Sam Elliot as Charles Jr. Turner; Jami Gertz as Marjorie's sister, Jenenne; etc. Three families intertwine so much that they are no longer family trees, but a family bush. Enjoy!

Horrible
I'll make this review quick: This movie was so awful that I seriously contemplated jabbing my eyes out with a rusty fork so that I would no longer have to watch it. The acting is ok, but for the people in the movie (especially Kirstie), it's very below par. The plot is convoluted and stupid, and by the time 1/4th of the movie has passed, any interest or concern for what happens to the characters is replaced by a concern for how much longer the film can possibly continue. Save yourself the money and time that I will never be able to get back: don't watch this movie.

A funny little Movie
This movie has some scenes in it that make you laugh until you cry. Kirsty Alley's character who is a bored wife of a Doctor has a crazy fling with Sam Elliott's character. She thinks it's a one night stand until she finds out he is her husband's brother returning to the US after being away for years. When her brother-in-law dies of a heart attack in the motel room, the movie takes off as Bill Pullman a nerdy blind salesman tries to help her make it look like her brother-in-law committed suicide. Carrie Fisher plays a snotty Sister-in-law. A Great cast and a funny movie.

Rolling on the floor laughing
There are not many movies I can watch 6 times and enjoy every
time. Kirstie Alley, Sam Eliott, Ed O'Neil, and Carrie Fisher
are all at their best, and this commedy does not hold back any
opportunity to score laughs. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sunset Strip would like nothing more than to become a sex, drugs, and rock & roll American Graffiti for the 1972 Los Angeles scene, right down to the flashy "where are they now?" coda. The film follows the lives of fringe players in the music industry who crisscross paths over a 24-hour period. Funky fashion designer Anna Friel and colorblind photographer Michael Baker are the ostensible leads, best friends whose hopeless affairs and quickies blind them to the growing attraction between them. Orbiting around these two are naive young rock & roll dreamer Nick Stahl; cynical, substance-abusing songwriter Rory Cochrane; Afro-wearing, jive-talking would-be impresario Adam Goldberg; country-fried rocker Jared Leto; and Scottish art-rock superstar Tommy J. Flanagan. Director Adam Collis, working from a script cowritten by Randall Jahnson, who penned The Doors for Oliver Stone, tries to capture the easygoing, offhanded quality George Lucas brought to American Graffiti. It's an entertaining piece with a restless undercurrent of characters stumbling around for their place in this hyped-up, hopped-up world, but Collis has little of Lucas's deft touch and the film ultimately has little to say about the characters or the period. This lightweight flashback, however, does come accessorized with groovy fashions, hip haircuts, and loads of rock music (some of it the real thing, the rest modern retro compositions). --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Good movie
I liked it because it has Rory Cochrane. So there.

doesn't stack up
This is another movie about the 60s/70s with all the sex, drugs, and rock & roll. But this one doesn't quite stack up to the others. There are two storylines, that never really converge. I'd say the acting is ok, it's an ensemble cast, but no big names in there, nor any stellar performances. The soundtrack is good, but other than that, this movie doesn't add anything that those that came before have. Maybe check it out on cable.

Not the worst, but...
I rented this movie with the sole intention of seeing what Rory Cochrane's been up to since "Empire Records". Nice to know he's still playing the disaffected youth, only grown to full-blown sociopathic, self-destructive adulthood. I didn't think the movie was terrible in and of itself, hence two stars instead of one. I was amused by the costuming (I almost want to own all of Hot Lava's clothes), really liked some of the camera work, got a kick out of the soundtrack and loved the scene where Zack and the busboy start playing guitar. Still, the dialogue wasn't particularly inspired, for the life of me I couldn't figure out WHY Michael was in love with Tammy, the musician characters were entirely one-dimensional (though I do agree with whoever it was who said Jared Leto was the best actor in this lot) and was left hollow by the tidy little notecards at the end of the movie telling the outcome of everyone's lives. As for Felix...oh, Rory...I was so disappointed. This character could've been the muse/honesty barometer/fairy godfather, and there are hints of that side of him, i.e. when he takes it on himself to get Michael and Tammy together. Instead he just comes across as hostile and smelly, occasionally taking the time to randomly do things that might be construed as benevolent if done by someone who wasn't so clearly misanthropic. Perhaps the best way to watch this is as the appetizer for "Almost Famous". Just enough '70s flavor to get you going, but nowhere near enough to eclipse the real article.

I hated this film!
I was SO dissapointed when I saw this movie. Comparing itself to Almost famous and Boogie Nights! I don't think so! This film was so boring, and it actually was getting into action like the last 20 minutes of the film. The music was horrible, it sounded like "modern rock" kind of music, not 70's music. Some of the clothes were all wrong(except for Adam goldberg's wardorbe). Jared Leto was trying to be like Jim Morrison, but it did not come out right(I do admit he looked sexy, and was the best actor in the film though, so kudos for Jared). The scenes at the whiskey a go go, were OK. This film just did not feel like 1972.

Buy Almost Famous, it's the best rock movie ever!

not THAT bad
I have to give this movie 5 stars--not because it necessarily deserves it but because it doesn't deserve to get slammed with
one star. Okay, this is no _Almost Famous_ or _Boogie Nights_;
get over it, okay? I watched it, I enjoyed it, it is not that
bad of a movie in its own right. Actually, I thought the character development was good and I actually cared about the characters...especially the photographer and the costume designer...there is an epilogue at the end of the movie and we find out that the female lead died in an auto accident, which is kind of sad. It had a nice 70s mood feel to it. Helluvalot of sex for a movie that takes place within 1 day. Worth a look. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Zellweger Shines in Ethnic Drama; Divergent Viewpoints
...

A carefully and compellingly rendered drama of a contemporary woman's stirring discovery of self, "A Price Above Rubies" is set in the context of a Hasidic Jewish/American community. Beautifully photographed, this film's acting sparkles -- and renders a reasonably accurate portrait of an easily caricatured community.

Renee Zellweger establishes herself as a talent of unlimited possibilities. ...

The film's feminist perspective is gracefully realized without belittling all guys -- which greatly enhances the film's power! (And lowers my blood pressure!)

Production design is exceptional!

Those Orthodox Jewish critics who are angered by this film's portrayal of Jewish Orthodoxy might have us believe that the world of Orthodoxy is monolithically benign. It is not. ...

Traditional thought and practice -- orthodoxy in many settings -- has its beauties and strengths and -- like most things human-- it has its dark, shadow side as well. "A Price Above Rubies" depicts the delicate balance gone awry.

For a very different, also wonderful film which depcts both light and shadow sides of Ameriocan Jewish traditionalism, but less critically of Orthodoxy, try "The Chosen" (1982) (adapted from Chaim Potok's book), with Robby Benson (quite good in this film, to my surprise), Rod Steiger and Maximillian Schell -- available on VHS, not yet on DVD. For me "The Chosen" is a five star, among my all-time top 10 films!

Zellweger Shines in Ethnic Drama; Points of Comparison
REVISED from my earlier review:

A beautifully rendered drama of a contemprary woman's stirring discovery of self, "A Price Above Rubies" is set in the context of a Hasidic Jewish/American community. Beautifully photographed, this film's acting sparkles -- and renders a reasonably accurate portrait of an easily caricatured community. Renee Zellweger establishes herself as a talent of unlimited possibilities. (I wrote these words of promise when the film was 1st released, long before Renee's fame via the fluffy "The Diary of Bridget Jones" and the incredibly wonderful "Chicago"! Now I saw hor on the cover of Cosmo!) The film's feminist perspective is gracefully realized without belittling all guys -- which greatly enhances the film's power! Production design is exceptional!

Those Orthodox Jewish critics who are angered by this film might have us believe that the world of Orthodoxy is monolithic. It is not. In my own family and beyond, many people experience forms of Jewish Orthodoxy which are fulfilling and wonderfully peaceful. On the other hand, abusive conduct does creep in to parts of this world, as exemplified most vividly by the 1999 Amos Gitai film, Kadosh -- a terrifying portrait of the worst side of Orthodox Jewish patriarchy, which makes "A Price Above Rubies" seem like a fairy tale. In my own community, we have learned of an attempted horrific Orthodox shunning and boycotting of a wife and doctor after she reportedly sought a divorce alleging substantial physical abuse. (Who can say whether the woman's charges were true! The vengeful letter writing and attempted boycott are fact, however.)

Traditional thought and practice has its beauties and strengths and -- like most things human-- it has its dark, shadow side as well.

AN INTENSE TALE OF EMANCIPATION. NOT ABOUT RELIGION.
Beyond a touch of sensationalistic Hollywoodisation (over-simplifying the perceived orthodoxy of Jews) the movie is about a woman who is stifled in her relationship with a fanatically devout husband, and in that it etches an intermittently sharp portrait of a subculture caught between a rich historical legacy and a changing contemporary world.

To me, the movie was NOT about the Hasidic way of life. I could see this film holding just about as relevant even if I replaced the community potrayed in it with any other. It is about the marital suffering of two people who are very different in their moorings.

Renee Zellweger, the pivot, does a very convincing job of showing the desperation in a young woman's personal search, Sonia, who embarks on a search for not only herself but also her place in the world -- for the duration of the film Renee gave Sonia the precise dignity and emotion that the role deserved.

The supporting cast were strong, Juliana Margulies certainly showing that she's doesn't always play the 'nice girl'. Christopher Eccleston was convincingly wicked and Glenn Fitzgerald puts in a credible performance as Mendel, the husband, capturing the essence of the role commendably.

Bordering sometimes on being a chick-flick, the movie generally deals with feminine issues, and I would think that the emotional dominion would have it seldom appeal to a male audience. Which is quite evident in the other belittling reviews here.

I recommend this film highly, although it is an intense one and perhaps not for every Joe Blogg. Make sure you're in the mood.

Very high price of individual freedom
What a movie! At the end I had goosebumps and was trying hard to hold back the tears. What a fantastic performance by RZ!

The movie starts off as a slow-as-molasses slice-of-life story about an orthodox Jewish family in NYC. But it ends as the heroic struggle of a Jewish woman yearning to be free -- free of paternalistic controls, free to decide on her own fate, free to pursue beauty in life, a rebellious street-smart and hard-headed woman who wants to be free enough even to judge the wisdom of God, an ultimate heresy for the social milieu she was raised up in. She goes through hell, but at the end she hangs on to her dear freedom. And that has a "price well above rubies" and diamonds.

RZ is a star! She is burning with talent and heart.

Dark Side
Despite the Orthodox Jewish background this movie is really about a womens life and her ways of reaching what she has always wanted. See the movie with an open mind and all will be well. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

An Ape Revelutionary and His Human Collaborators
Of all the Planet of The Apes films, this was the most exciting to watch. Ceasar (Roddy McDowall) with the aid of Armando( Ricardo Montablan) and Mr. McDonald (Hari Rhodes) plans, organizes and leads a revolt against the human regime led by Beck (Don Murray). Mr. McDonald , the only African-American in the film, plays an influential role in saving Ceasar's life and saving the lives of the captured humans.

The Apes Are... Dare I Say It... Revolting!
Back in the 70s, if you wanted to show the future, you filmed in a brand new shopping mall. Or Century City, which looks like a community college in "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes," the fourth film in that time-tripping monkey movie series.

In this one, Roddy McDowall plays Caesar, the son of Cornelius, the character he played in the first and third movies. Caesar's human mentor Armando (Ricardo Montalban) takes him to the big city. Unfortunately, the big city is where Caesar's fellow apes slave for The Man, represented here by Governor Breck (Don Taylor).

Revolution ensues, which gives rise to the apes' rule over the humans. And not a moment too soon, because before it turns scary-violent, "Conquest" is by turns preachy, unintentionally funny (Caesar gets naked and hides himself in a cage of extras wearing terrible ape suits apparently on loan from "Gilligan's Island") and tedious (the conditioning scenes go on and on). The final image, with a blazing building in the background, remains chilling, but overall, one film too many in this series. And yet there would be another...

Most Disturbing Entry in the APES Saga
This is the fourth "Planet of the Apes" movie and one of the best in many as it is violent and disturbing. One scene in particular of an ape being tortured by electric shock is almost unbearable to watch. The film documents how the apes led by Caesar (portrayed by Roddy McDowall) rebel against the humans and ultimately begin their takeover of the planet. Don Murray as the maniacal Fascist Breck is brilliant in an energetic and demented performance. Hari Rhodes as the sympathetic MacDonald is very convincing but he is unable to convince Breck of the inevitable. Ricardo Montalban returns as Armando the beloved circus owner. J. Lee Thompson's direction is impressive in what may look like another hokey sequel but in reality the film is a metaphor of mans' infinite capacity for cruelty.

One of the series best
What could be cooler than an ape running down the street with an M16? This "futuristic" setting was extremely well done. The story was great and aside from the original (the best), the climiax will leave you in awe. The whole series rocks, even the new version (2001) You can't go wrong by owning all of these movies, and the Tv series on DVD. Go Ape!

The best of them all!
This film has been overlooked, even though it is the best of all next to the original. It has a an excellent story which leads up to the downfall of makind to the apes. It is one of the best because it explains alot of the questions that we the viewers have watching the frist 3. How did mankind fall to the apes? Who was the ape that lead them? etc. Although it seems to be slightly altered from the original history of the original film. My favorite part of this film, is the main character Caesar. He smart, strong and the king of the apes. It so interesting how he lead the apes out of slavery. This is the best ape film of all. In the words of Caesar, "Long live the king!" ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

By now, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have amassed such a fund of goodwill with moviegoers that any new onscreen pairing brings nearly reflexive smiles.In You've Got Mail, the quintessential boy and girl next door repeat the tentative romantic crescendo that made Sleepless in Seattle, writer-director Nora Ephron's previous excursion with the duo, a massive hit. The prospective couple do actually meet face to face early on, but Mail otherwise repeats the earlier feature's gentle, extended tease of saving its romantic resolution until the final, gauzy shot.

The underlying narrative is an even more old-fashioned romantic pas de deux that is casually hooked to a newfangled device.The script, cowritten by the director and her sister, Delia Ephron, updates and relocates the Ernst Lubitsch classic, The Shop Around the Corner, to contemporary Manhattan, where Joe Fox (Hanks) is a cheerfully rapacious merchant whose chain of book superstores is gobbling up smaller, more specialized shops such as the children's bookstore owned by Kathleen Kelly (Ryan).Their lives run in close parallel in the same idealized neighborhood, yet they first meet anonymously, online, where they gradually nurture a warm, even intimate correspondence. As they begin to wonder whether this e-mail flirtation might lead them to be soul mates, however, they meet and clash over their colliding business fortunes.

It's no small testament to the two stars that we wind up liking and caring about them despite the inevitable (and highly manipulative) arc of the plot. Although their chemistry transcended the consciously improbable romantic premise of Sleepless, enabling director Ephron to attain a kind of amorous soufflé, this time around there's a slow leak that considerably deflates the affair. Less credulous viewers will challenge Joe's logic in prolonging the concealment of his online identity from Kathleen, and may shake their heads at Ephron's reinvention of Manhattan as a spotless, sun-dappled wonderland where everybody lives in million-dollar apartments and color coordinates their wardrobes for cocktail parties. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (480)

Caviar Garnish
This is the second remake of "The Shop Around the Corner". The first was Technicolor musical called "In the Good Old Summertime" which starred Judy Garland. References to Miss Garland's most famous film "The Wizard of Oz" abound in "You've Got Mail" (Meg Ryan hanging ruby slippers on a Christmas tree and reading the book "The Scarecrow of Oz" while ill, the song "Over the Rainbow" being sampled throughout and sung in its entirety at the end, etc.) In addition to reminding me of the two previous versions, I was also reminded of "Pillow Talk". In "Pillow Talk", Doris Day and Rock Hudson, who hate each other, fall in love over a party line without either realizing who the other is. Here, it's Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks falling in love over the Internet. The plot is lightweight and predictable, but the performances more than make up for that. Dabney Coleman, Jean Stapleton, Greg Kinnear, and indie-queen Parker Posey are all brilliant, and although neither of the leading rolls are much of a stretch for Hanks or Ryan, they are at least likeable and have more than enough star power to make this picture work. The script is light and funny, and this film is sure to please if you don't ask it to be more than it is.

The best romantic flick I've ever experienced.
There are a couple of things this film has going for it. First is the chemistry between the on-screen characters. There's a reason Hanks and Ryan were casted for this flick- it's because audiences (including myself) like to see the sparks between these two people. They were a great team in Sleepless in Seattle, and it's pretty obvious the 'magic' is still there.

The soundtrack to this movie is absolutely incredible. Harry Nilsson is perfect (the puppy song, over the rainbow), and the rest of the songs fit so well with the mood of the movie at all times. Sinead O'Conner's addition (I think it's called the lord must live in NY city) adds to the mood I talk about later, and Carol King's Anyone At All is one of the best romantic songs I've ever heard/played.

The mood to the movie is always incredibly upbeat- which is strange- most movies have their lulls or depressing moments. This movie, however, never gets itself in that rut. It's always very very cheery and bright. Although some may hate that, I can do nothing but appreciate the change of style. Everytime I watch You've Got Mail, I just think, "I WANT TO GO TO NEW YORK!!!"

Overall, the movie just makes you feel good. It's one of my favorite movies, and is certainly my most favorite romantic film. Even techies won't get annoyed, because thank goodness the focus isn't aol or anything of that matter.

Bouquets of sharpened pencils, indeed
Here's the main and completely irrelevant reason to love this movie: New York City in the fall. Honestly, it should have no bearing whatsoever on the plot, but it does -- and it's impossible not to fall in love with the bright, sunshiny, orange-leaved sheer beauty of the city encapsulated in this movie. Without even resorting to shots of Central Park in all its glory (and really, who can resist that?), "You've Got Mail" takes you on a lovely scenic tour of the Upper West Side, Starbucks and all. Who can resist the street fairs, the parks, the stores, the dock? It's picture-perfect, and if it's a bit surreal, I won't admit it: New York really is rather lovely in the fall.

Aside from making me want to run away to the Big Apple and work in the children's section at Fox Books, "You've Got Mail" also features Meg Ryan at her most adorable ("Aren't daisies just the friendliest flower?"), Tom Hanks at his most charming, and a terrific supporting cast (Greg Kinnear and those typewriters!). The story, a modernized little "remake" of "The Shop Around The Corner", is more fairy tale than realism -- two people fall in love over email, in war in real life, and however can such a thing be solved -- but it's an enchanting story nonetheless. In a time when romance on the web seems all-too-seedy and in reality, sometimes frankly dangerous, this little tale of two people sharing their most intimate thoughts long before they share a single glance is like a breath of fresh air. Sure, the technology's a little faded, but the magic's still there.

I know, I know...
I know what you're thinking. Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Greg Kinnear. You think you're too good for this movie, don't you? It's the sappiest, dumpiest little half-a-flick ever reared by Nora Ephron. Romantic comedies suck. Do I paint a correct picture, or do I exagerate? Well I think you're just cinematically jaded.

Yeah, that's right! I said it!

A lifetime of Vietnam movies and tragic love stories has left you too cynical to enjoy a simple romance between two adults. Teenagers getting into car crashes, mothers being diagnosed with breast cancer, murderers who you like despite the fact that they're pure evil. These are the cinematic icons that appeal to you, yes? Well what about hard-edged bookstore manager and idealistic bookshop owner? What about oddly-principled boyfriend who owns two identical typewriters? What about...uh...Jean Stapleton? She was funny, right?

Look, the point is it doesn't suck and don't judge it just because it's a Hanks/Ryan romantic comedy on par with "Sleepless In Seattle" (Which was a good one too, by the way).

Although, I still prefer the original "Shop Around the Corner" with Jimmy "Not Bow-Legged" Stewart.

Clever!
This is an excellent updated version of "The Little Shop Around The Corner" with anonymous penpals using email instead of the letters used in the original with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks,as always,make a great team. ... Read more

Description

Make merry as Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid and an ensemble of comedy favorites strive to gift-wrap the "perfect Christmas" for the Griswold family. The most successful of the three vacations.Year: 1989Director: Jeremiah S. ChechikStarring:Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, ... Read more

Reviews (209)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buy it, love it!

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

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

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

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

MODERATELY RECOMMENDED ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Black Humor At Its Best
Nobody could have played Charlie Partanna like Jack Nicholson, who gives an exceptionally fine performance as a stereotypical mob hitman. Angelica Huston is wonderful in her Oscar-winning role as Maerose Prizzi, the black sheep of the family and former love-interest of Partanna's. And Kathleen Turner lights up the screen as the sexy, mysterious woman that Partanna falls for. Fine acting, great story, all in all a great film.

Star-Cross'd Hit Persons
Only after seeing this film can you be expected to believe that this is a charming comedy about two killers (PC: hit persons) who are deeply involved with mob families, fall madly in love, and then....

One is Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), a contract laborer for the Prizzi family headed by Don Corrado on the East Coast; the other is Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner), based on the West Coast, who accepts an assignment to kill Partanna before meeting and then falling in love with him. The romance flourishes for a time. Previously, Partanna had ended his relationship with Maerose Prizzi (Angelica Huston), the Don's beloved but volatile granddaughter. Later, Huston received an Academy Award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role. She deserved it. Although apparently quite talented in his line of work, Charley often seems somewhat dimwitted, at least when contrasted with Irene who seems highly intelligent as well as physically attractive. Watching Nicholson play a smitten, almost schoolboyish Charlie is indeed a treat. Director John Huston does a brilliant job of juxtaposing romantic comedy with mob-directed violence. Amidst all the laughter, people really do get killed. William Hickey certainly deserved his nomination for an Academy Award for best actor in a supporting role, won in 1985 by Don Ameche for his work in Cocoon. He and other members of the cast were blessed with having an immensely clever script by Richard Condon, based on his novel. Listen carefully to Hickey's reading of his lines while also paying close attention to his masterful use of body language. Don Corrado Prizzi is indeed a lovable but deadly senior citizen. Yes, this film is highly entertaining. Witty, at times zany. However, as directed by John Huston, it also has layers of subtle menace as it examines darker regions of human nature.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
The Prizzi's are the second best (celluloid) Mafia family ever to come out of New York. The script is a masterwork, the best line deadpanned by Nicholson to John Randolph: "I didn't get married so my wife could go on working (in Brooklynese, it comes out "woiking")." William Hickey, frail, onion skinned, gravel voiced is unforgettable as Don Corrado Prizzi (lovingly called Padrino by Jack's Charlie Partanna). The Oscar won by Angelica Houston was richly deserved in what was her father's last film. Always exit on top.

kathleen turner
This is a great movie. It has substance, it has style, it has humor, and it has some excellent acting (my favorites are W. Hickey in the role of the family don and A. Huston as the black sheep of the family). Nothing new about these facts, every review on this page will tell you similar things. I would like to point something else out - did anybody else notice just how extraordinary beautiful Kathleen Turner was in this movie? For example that scene where don talks to her in the garden and tells her she has to pay the other half of the money back to the family... I think, no - I am 100 percent sure, this is the most beautiful face I've ever seen in any movie.

Good but The Ending Is Disappointing!
This movie was pretty good and I liked the majority of it and thought Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner were both great but I didn't like the ending, I have to agree with the guy who said it just ended, it ended rather abrubtly and just seemed so unfinished. But that is my opinion. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Maureen Stapleton Rules!!
Maureen Stapleton rules as a wife who is disenchanted with her homemaker role and organizes a discussion group.It's a must see movie!! ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Black Humor At Its Best
Nobody could have played Charlie Partanna like Jack Nicholson, who gives an exceptionally fine performance as a stereotypical mob hitman. Angelica Huston is wonderful in her Oscar-winning role as Maerose Prizzi, the black sheep of the family and former love-interest of Partanna's. And Kathleen Turner lights up the screen as the sexy, mysterious woman that Partanna falls for. Fine acting, great story, all in all a great film.

Star-Cross'd Hit Persons
Only after seeing this film can you be expected to believe that this is a charming comedy about two killers (PC: hit persons) who are deeply involved with mob families, fall madly in love, and then....

One is Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), a contract laborer for the Prizzi family headed by Don Corrado on the East Coast; the other is Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner), based on the West Coast, who accepts an assignment to kill Partanna before meeting and then falling in love with him. The romance flourishes for a time. Previously, Partanna had ended his relationship with Maerose Prizzi (Angelica Huston), the Don's beloved but volatile granddaughter. Later, Huston received an Academy Award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role. She deserved it. Although apparently quite talented in his line of work, Charley often seems somewhat dimwitted, at least when contrasted with Irene who seems highly intelligent as well as physically attractive. Watching Nicholson play a smitten, almost schoolboyish Charlie is indeed a treat. Director John Huston does a brilliant job of juxtaposing romantic comedy with mob-directed violence. Amidst all the laughter, people really do get killed. William Hickey certainly deserved his nomination for an Academy Award for best actor in a supporting role, won in 1985 by Don Ameche for his work in Cocoon. He and other members of the cast were blessed with having an immensely clever script by Richard Condon, based on his novel. Listen carefully to Hickey's reading of his lines while also paying close attention to his masterful use of body language. Don Corrado Prizzi is indeed a lovable but deadly senior citizen. Yes, this film is highly entertaining. Witty, at times zany. However, as directed by John Huston, it also has layers of subtle menace as it examines darker regions of human nature.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
The Prizzi's are the second best (celluloid) Mafia family ever to come out of New York. The script is a masterwork, the best line deadpanned by Nicholson to John Randolph: "I didn't get married so my wife could go on working (in Brooklynese, it comes out "woiking")." William Hickey, frail, onion skinned, gravel voiced is unforgettable as Don Corrado Prizzi (lovingly called Padrino by Jack's Charlie Partanna). The Oscar won by Angelica Houston was richly deserved in what was her father's last film. Always exit on top.

kathleen turner
This is a great movie. It has substance, it has style, it has humor, and it has some excellent acting (my favorites are W. Hickey in the role of the family don and A. Huston as the black sheep of the family). Nothing new about these facts, every review on this page will tell you similar things. I would like to point something else out - did anybody else notice just how extraordinary beautiful Kathleen Turner was in this movie? For example that scene where don talks to her in the garden and tells her she has to pay the other half of the money back to the family... I think, no - I am 100 percent sure, this is the most beautiful face I've ever seen in any movie.

Good but The Ending Is Disappointing!
This movie was pretty good and I liked the majority of it and thought Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner were both great but I didn't like the ending, I have to agree with the guy who said it just ended, it ended rather abrubtly and just seemed so unfinished. But that is my opinion. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Black Humor At Its Best
Nobody could have played Charlie Partanna like Jack Nicholson, who gives an exceptionally fine performance as a stereotypical mob hitman. Angelica Huston is wonderful in her Oscar-winning role as Maerose Prizzi, the black sheep of the family and former love-interest of Partanna's. And Kathleen Turner lights up the screen as the sexy, mysterious woman that Partanna falls for. Fine acting, great story, all in all a great film.

Star-Cross'd Hit Persons
Only after seeing this film can you be expected to believe that this is a charming comedy about two killers (PC: hit persons) who are deeply involved with mob families, fall madly in love, and then....

One is Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), a contract laborer for the Prizzi family headed by Don Corrado on the East Coast; the other is Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner), based on the West Coast, who accepts an assignment to kill Partanna before meeting and then falling in love with him. The romance flourishes for a time. Previously, Partanna had ended his relationship with Maerose Prizzi (Angelica Huston), the Don's beloved but volatile granddaughter. Later, Huston received an Academy Award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role. She deserved it. Although apparently quite talented in his line of work, Charley often seems somewhat dimwitted, at least when contrasted with Irene who seems highly intelligent as well as physically attractive. Watching Nicholson play a smitten, almost schoolboyish Charlie is indeed a treat. Director John Huston does a brilliant job of juxtaposing romantic comedy with mob-directed violence. Amidst all the laughter, people really do get killed. William Hickey certainly deserved his nomination for an Academy Award for best actor in a supporting role, won in 1985 by Don Ameche for his work in Cocoon. He and other members of the cast were blessed with having an immensely clever script by Richard Condon, based on his novel. Listen carefully to Hickey's reading of his lines while also paying close attention to his masterful use of body language. Don Corrado Prizzi is indeed a lovable but deadly senior citizen. Yes, this film is highly entertaining. Witty, at times zany. However, as directed by John Huston, it also has layers of subtle menace as it examines darker regions of human nature.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
The Prizzi's are the second best (celluloid) Mafia family ever to come out of New York. The script is a masterwork, the best line deadpanned by Nicholson to John Randolph: "I didn't get married so my wife could go on working (in Brooklynese, it comes out "woiking")." William Hickey, frail, onion skinned, gravel voiced is unforgettable as Don Corrado Prizzi (lovingly called Padrino by Jack's Charlie Partanna). The Oscar won by Angelica Houston was richly deserved in what was her father's last film. Always exit on top.

kathleen turner
This is a great movie. It has substance, it has style, it has humor, and it has some excellent acting (my favorites are W. Hickey in the role of the family don and A. Huston as the black sheep of the family). Nothing new about these facts, every review on this page will tell you similar things. I would like to point something else out - did anybody else notice just how extraordinary beautiful Kathleen Turner was in this movie? For example that scene where don talks to her in the garden and tells her she has to pay the other half of the money back to the family... I think, no - I am 100 percent sure, this is the most beautiful face I've ever seen in any movie.

Good but The Ending Is Disappointing!
This movie was pretty good and I liked the majority of it and thought Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner were both great but I didn't like the ending, I have to agree with the guy who said it just ended, it ended rather abrubtly and just seemed so unfinished. But that is my opinion. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Iron Maze - Who?
The time - the late 80s.

The place - a Pennsylvania steel town in the grips of a recession.

Against this less-than-pleasant backdrop is set a story of jealousy and violence. Who did what to who? Why did who do what to who? Who is telling the truth about what who did what to who and why who did what to who?

Although this movie should have been good, it comes across as mediocre. The acting is so-so, some sections of the movie seem to wander, it leaves you with the feeling that it should have been better.

Ah well, that's show business!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

BEAT, HIP and POIGNANT
This film is dark, beat, hip, avant garde, poignant, distrubing and highly entertaining. Music by Mal Waldron. - - A down and out hip white professor/jazz buff with a drinking problem one step from the skids and a legendary Jazz musician with a habit meet at a pawn shop and befriend one another... yet as their friendship developes, the explosive race problem in America is drawn to surface in the charactors themselves and the events that ensue. - - The opening scene shows the musician overdosed in the apartment, the film provides a window of what happened in the days leading up to it. The directorial style and cinemetography is deeply engaging - - and makes you listen and watch intently to find out whats really happening as the scenes unfold. MEMORABLE, DISTURBING AND ENGAGING. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Eagerly waiting
As soon as Amazon gets this video in, I'm ordering. I grew up watching wonder woman, and am deeply offended that today's little girls do not have that opportunity. This should be required syndication on a national level!

Yes, Lynda Carter was a beauty queen, but she was not airheaded or anorexic. Heck, she was an amazon who could and did save the day while getting the hot guy. Thankfully Wonder Woman's version of "girl power" would be way more Xena/Buffy than Spice Girls. Wonder Woman can hold her own in any sittuation.

Excluding the horrid Cathy Lee Crosby movie, the series was very well done for the time and still holds up. Wonder Woman is one of the greatest shows of all times, and needs to be offered as soon as possible.

Inspired casting
Let's face it, one look at Lynda Carter in the Wonder Woman suit is worth at least three stars. Tall, statuesque, and athletic looking --- especially for the 1970's --- putting her in this role was truly inspired casting.

The 1940's portion of the series was markedly better than the "modern" ones, and wears a bit better. Fighting Nazi supervillains was a better use of the character than the standard crime clichés of the later series. The Seventies cars and architecture date the later series more than these.

Except for the business about the belt being her weakness, as opposed to being handcuffed by a man, the TV show was markedly consistent with the comic book series. They didn't do enough with such things as the invisible plane, but it appears in these. They also didn't seem to find that much time onscreen for Wonder Woman as opposed to Diana Prince.

Still, this was probably the best adaptation of one of the classic superheroes, at least until the first -Superman- movie appeared a few years later. It deserves credit for that much.

WONDER WOMAN ON DVD?
It's really astonishing how an AMERICAN HERO has been ignored by the american movie makers. In England they have already issued Wonder Woman on DVD (I believe 3 episodes, so far).
I wish all of the episodes from the entire series would be available on DVD as soon as possible.
And perhaps a movie would be nice, possibly starring Linda Carter as Wonder Woman (she's still very pretty and young-looking); if not, she could, at least, succeed to her queen-mother's throne in the movie.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WONDER WOMAN ON DVD, just like we've had Spider Man, Charlie's Angels, The Hulk come-backs.

WW on DVD
Some people have complained that Wonder Woman isn't available on DVD -- well, it is in the UK. One volume (with 3 episodes) is available already, and a 2nd one is due to be released August 2003. The one that's out now features the pilot for the CBS series (which takes place in 1977) as opposed to the original pilot, featuring Wonder Woman in WW2. The 2nd episode is Anschluss '77, where an evil ex-Nazi scientist (are't all scientists evil??) brings back Adolf Hitler to life. The 3rd episode is The Man Who Moved The World, about an ex-Japanese prisoner of war who has developed telekinetic powers, and tries to kill Wonder Woman (will he? won't he?!) Re-live the fabulousness of the 70s, the clothes, the chest hair, and the wonderful, beautiful Lynda Carter. It's all slightly camp, but all the better for it. Buy it, and enjoy it (although the European PAL tv system may not work on American TVs)

Favorite Super Hero
I think it is about time they put Wonder Woman on DVD. I grew up watching the show and miss it. I see repeats on the Scfi channel but I want the whole series. Come on folks, bring it to DVD. It is way over due. I want my WW. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

An Ape Revelutionary and His Human Collaborators
Of all the Planet of The Apes films, this was the most exciting to watch. Ceasar (Roddy McDowall) with the aid of Armando( Ricardo Montablan) and Mr. McDonald (Hari Rhodes) plans, organizes and leads a revolt against the human regime led by Beck (Don Murray). Mr. McDonald , the only African-American in the film, plays an influential role in saving Ceasar's life and saving the lives of the captured humans.

The Apes Are... Dare I Say It... Revolting!
Back in the 70s, if you wanted to show the future, you filmed in a brand new shopping mall. Or Century City, which looks like a community college in "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes," the fourth film in that time-tripping monkey movie series.

In this one, Roddy McDowall plays Caesar, the son of Cornelius, the character he played in the first and third movies. Caesar's human mentor Armando (Ricardo Montalban) takes him to the big city. Unfortunately, the big city is where Caesar's fellow apes slave for The Man, represented here by Governor Breck (Don Taylor).

Revolution ensues, which gives rise to the apes' rule over the humans. And not a moment too soon, because before it turns scary-violent, "Conquest" is by turns preachy, unintentionally funny (Caesar gets naked and hides himself in a cage of extras wearing terrible ape suits apparently on loan from "Gilligan's Island") and tedious (the conditioning scenes go on and on). The final image, with a blazing building in the background, remains chilling, but overall, one film too many in this series. And yet there would be another...

Most Disturbing Entry in the APES Saga
This is the fourth "Planet of the Apes" movie and one of the best in many as it is violent and disturbing. One scene in particular of an ape being tortured by electric shock is almost unbearable to watch. The film documents how the apes led by Caesar (portrayed by Roddy McDowall) rebel against the humans and ultimately begin their takeover of the planet. Don Murray as the maniacal Fascist Breck is brilliant in an energetic and demented performance. Hari Rhodes as the sympathetic MacDonald is very convincing but he is unable to convince Breck of the inevitable. Ricardo Montalban returns as Armando the beloved circus owner. J. Lee Thompson's direction is impressive in what may look like another hokey sequel but in reality the film is a metaphor of mans' infinite capacity for cruelty.

One of the series best
What could be cooler than an ape running down the street with an M16? This "futuristic" setting was extremely well done. The story was great and aside from the original (the best), the climiax will leave you in awe. The whole series rocks, even the new version (2001) You can't go wrong by owning all of these movies, and the Tv series on DVD. Go Ape!

The best of them all!
This film has been overlooked, even though it is the best of all next to the original. It has a an excellent story which leads up to the downfall of makind to the apes. It is one of the best because it explains alot of the questions that we the viewers have watching the frist 3. How did mankind fall to the apes? Who was the ape that lead them? etc. Although it seems to be slightly altered from the original history of the original film. My favorite part of this film, is the main character Caesar. He smart, strong and the king of the apes. It so interesting how he lead the apes out of slavery. This is the best ape film of all. In the words of Caesar, "Long live the king!" ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Black Humor At Its Best
Nobody could have played