Reviews (641)

Schizophrenia is *not* this pretty
It's extremely difficult to get into the mind (and therefore the world) of the patient with schizophrenia or a similar thought disorder. Necessarily simplified from the biography of mathematician John Nash, this film achieves dramatic pace and structure that has no analogue in the life of even some of the most extraordinary individuals suffering from such a condition.

Setting aside the fact that Ron Howard's work is not true to the nominal subject of the movie, however, this film comes laudably close to a good clinical depiction of the desperate vividness of the auditory and visual hallucinations suffered by patients with schizophrenia, including the sort of elaborate structures of delusion which the more intelligent individual has been known to develop.

I would wish that Howard and his associates had managed to portray something more of the adverse effects of the drugs available to treat schizophrenia in the '50s and '60s. Indeed, I would've liked to have seen Russell Crowe add to his superb performance some intimation of these harrowing elements so that the audience could better understand the pharmacotherapeutic factors that drove Nash to discontinue his neuroleptic medications and undertake what is essentially self-directed cognitive therapy in order to address his thought disorder. Even the more recently-developed "atypical" antipsychotic medicines have pretty nasty side effects, and we are far from perfection in the medical management of schizophrenia today.

This is in no way a perfect movie, certainly. It is, however, good art, and we owe the makers of this film our thanks for helping increase the general public awareness of thought disorders. Schizophrenia is a great deal easier to treat (both with and without neuroleptic agents) when it is brought to appropriate medical attention at the earlier phases of development, and Russell Crowe has succeeding in putting a human face on the disorder -- much as Tom Hanks did for HIV/AIDS in *Philadelphia* -- with great power and (I hope) telling effect.

An Excellent Film
While many complain that Ron Howard whitewashed much of John Nash's life in A BEAUTIFUL MIND, those same fail to acknowledge that the film as it stands is in and of itself quite a strong picture. And while those same people scream of sentimentality throughout, there is nothing here that suggests anything sentimental or even likable about the person of John Nash. Granted, there are a few moments where scenes with his wife teeter on sappy, but overall I think the film depicts rather well the horror that must have been, and still is, Nash's life as a schizophrenic. The acting is uniformly excellent--Russell Crowe shows far more of his capability(and should have got the Oscar) here as an actor than in GLADIATOR The supporting cast is also first-rate--Jennifer Connelly gives a quiet, beautifully restrained performance as Alicia Nash(and I think it's safe to say the Oscar wasn't completely unjustified), and there's also equally fine work from Ed Harris, Paul Bettany, and Christopher

Plummer. Best Picture of the year? Nope, that would have been LORD OF THE RINGS. But I think this is a solid second choice.

"They are my past. Everyone is haunted by their past."
Ron Howard's "A Beautiful Mind" is a tragic and inspiring masterwork that showcases one of the most impressive acting performances in recent memory. If there were still any lingering doubts as to the extent of Russell Crowe's acting prowess, this film dashed them all.

John Nash (Crowe) is a brilliant mathematician who makes an amazing breakthrough in his field while a student at Princeton. After graduating, he teaches at M.I.T. while working for the federal government as a code-breaker. He begins a relationship with a graduate student (Jennifer Connelly) and soon they are married and settle into a quiet domestic life. However, Nash soon starts to see patterns and associations of information everywhere and it is soon discovered that he is suffering from schizophrenia. Serious questions as to his perceptions of the real world, both in the past and in the present, must now be confronted.

Virtually all aspects of "A Beautiful Mind" work beautifully. Howard's confident direction and the strong lead performances by Crowe and Connelly is the glue that holds the entire production together. However, the important contributions made by supporting actors Paul Bettany, Ed Harris, and Christopher Plummer, composer James Horner, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman should not be underestimated and should also be acknowledged. Furthermore, "A Beautiful Mind" deserves credit for not sentimentalizing Nash's struggle against mental illness. The darker aspects of his tortuous road to recovery are not avoided and are unflinchingly presented warts and all. It is a credit to Crowe's talent that we come to know John Nash so well and come to care so much for him. Nash's life is an amazing story and "A Beautiful Mind" is an amazing recounting of it.

Not a true tale
Let's be clear from the start: This is a movie about A Nobel Prize winning mathematician that suffers from schizophrenia named John Nash. However, this is not the true-life story of THE John Nash, a Nobel Prize winning mathematician that suffers from schizophrenia. Nor is this the screen adaptation of the book "A Beautiful Mind," by Sylvia Nasar. The two share a title, a mental illness, and character names but little else.

That said, the movie does an excellent job of portraying the life of a promenant individual who suffered from many classic symptoms of schizophrenia in the 60's & 70's. But it does not present the illness from both sides equally. We see how the main character (not named in this section to avoid confusion) is afflicted, but we do not see enough of what those around him see. Nor does it quite arrive at showing how glorious the "light at the end of tunnel" is after decades of fighting the darkness.

The movie does not discuss John & Alicia's real-life divorce, the repeated coast-to-coast trips, or the years John spent living in Europe. And definately does not offer any hints at John's experiments with homosexuality (discussed at length in the text, but reportedly excluded at Nash's request).

In short, this movie is a starting place for future movies about mental illness, but is not an end-all experience.

Darn This Movie
I can't stop watching it. The music always gives me goose bumps and I cry every time Crowe says goodbye to the little girl. And I never even noticed the pigeons the first time!....duh. ... Read more

Reviews (72)

My Babysitter was NEVER this Fun!
Elisabeth Shue is Chris Parker, a normal seventeen year old who begins the night with an ordinary babysitting job, sitting two normal suburban children, Sarah and Brad. After her friend - Brenda (Penelope Anne Miller) -- calls from a bus station in the city (Chicago), stating that she has runaway from home and needs Chris' support, Chris takes off to the city with Brad, Sarah, and Brad's friend, Daryl. What should have been a 30 minute ride to the bus station turns into a run through the city as the group of four encounter car thieves, weird mechanics, and a place where nobody leaves without singing the blues.

Adventures in Babysitting is THE fun movie of the 80s. Well, THE fun movie that doesn't contain little monsters, goonies, or Tom Hanks. As we follow the quartet through Chicago, we are introduced to hilarious scenes and crazy antics as they get themselves in the middle of a car heist, a cheating wife and her enraged husband, and many more. I must say that one of the biggest highlights of the film is the Blues Bar scene where Elisabeth Shue and the kids absolutely have to sing before leaving the bar. It's great.

The films is full of great characters. Elisabeth Shue is vibrant as Chris Parker, the babysitter gal. Her interaction with the kids was great, and she handled her leading status with ease. Maia Brewton is little Sarah who offers a lot of the laughs in the movie. She was awesome - I wonder where she is now? Keith Coogan and Anthony Rapp (Rent! Mark in Rent! I love Rent!) are Brad and Daryl, and both stay true to their roles and make them entertaining. But did anyone else want to occasionally strangle Anthony Rapp for that laugh?! We also see the likes of a young Penelope Anne Miller and Vincent D'Onofrio in cameo roles. Although Miller's role is a bit bigger, and very hilarious.

Although the DVD release is bare, without even a nice trailer to suit a fan, we do get a nicely widescreen anamorphic presentation with nice picture (Although there are signs of an aged film) and good audio.

Adventures In Babysitting is definitely one of my favorite 80s movies. For the fact that it's a great, fun, and crazily adventurous comedy.

Don't Mess With This Babysitter!
In the tradition of the "Goonies," Elisabeth Shue shines in her first starring role as Chris, whose day starts out on a bad note. After her boyfriend cancels their date, Chris decided to babysit for a couple who are in dire need for her services. In care of charges, Brad and Sarah, Chris believes this will be an ordinary job, however trouble comes knocking, first when Brad's pest of a friend, Daryl comes to stay over, and then when Chris' best friend is stranded at the bus depot in downtown Chicago.

What follows are a series of madcap adventures that take these suburban kids into the heart of the city. After their car's tire goes flat, the Chris and the kids must find a way to find their way back home and go help her friend at the same time. However, when they run into a car-theft ring headquarters, their night won't be the same again.

Featuring a wonderful cast including many actors unknown back then (Penelope Ann Miller as Chris' friend; Vincent D'Onofrio as the mechanic, etc.), "Adventures in Babysitting," marks the directorial debut for director Chris Columbus ("Home Alone"; "Stepmom"; the upcoming "Harry Potter" film adaption) who does an excellent job of making this film work. His ability to stretch character limits works well here, as he is able to place the kids in nearly impossible scenarios. The most memorable scene in this film that captures Columbus' imaginative directing features Sarah scrawling the windows of the towering building in downtown Chicago where her father works at night. As she scrawls the windows in fleeing from a member of a car-theft ringleader, she sees her parents at their party from the outside. Who could have thought of such a funny way of seeing your parents at the wrong place and wrong time?

Similar to other amazing average-day adventure films such as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and the "Goonies," - "Adventures in Babysitting," is still as entertaining today as it was over a decade ago. Truly this is one of the late 1980's hidden comedic gems.

WHEN THE SHUE FITS
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING is a wonderfully entertaining film from the late eighties that still resonates almost 20 years later. Chris Columbus (the future director of the first two Harry Potter films) brings us a series of vignettes resulting in Elizabeth Shue's Chris Parker babysitting for the precious Maia Brewton and the mooneyed Keith Coogan. Shue is marvelous; Coogan and Anthony Rapp are delightful; and little Maia is appropriately cute and loveable. Penelope Ann Miller as the nearsighted Brenda is a riot...especially when she picks up a stray "cat" at the bus station.
Of course, the primo scene is the "nobody leaves till you sing the blues" with Albert Collins. Shue's transformation as she gets into the "Babysitter Blues" is priceless.
This is one feel good movie, and in spite of some of its profanity, a film everyone should enjoy.
It's a minor classic to me!!!

Excellent movie...not too many great DVD features, though
This is an 80's classic! I have always loved this movie...and I was pretty shocked when I found out that Anthony Rapp...aka Mark in RENT is in it! That was soo cool, especially since I liked his character alot. If you've never seen this movie, you should check it out, but if you're going to buy it, unless it's to add to your DVD collection, I'd stick with VHS.

stray dog
if i've said it once, i've said it a million times: keith coogan, where are you? this 1987 flick is hysterical! ya think? ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

You remember high school? Really remember? If you think you do, watch this film: it'll all really come racing back. After changing the world with the generation-defining Slacker, director Richard Linklater turned his free-range vérité sensibility on the 1970s. As before, his all-seeing camera meanders across a landscape studded with goofy pop culture references and poignant glimpses of human nature. Only this time around, he's spreading a thick layer of nostalgia over the lens (and across the soundtrack). It's as if Fast Times at Ridgemont High was directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The story deals with a group of friends on the last day of high school, 1976. Good-natured football star Randall "Pink" Floyd navigates effortlessly between the warring worlds of jocks, stoners, wannabes, and rockers with girlfriend and new-freshman buddy in tow. Surprisingly, it's not a coming-of-age movie, but a film that dares ask the eternal, overwhelming, adolescent question, "What happens next?"It's a little too honest to be a light comedy (representative quote: "If I ever say these were the best years of my life, remind me to kill myself."). But it's also way too much fun (remember souped-up Corvettes and bicentennial madness?) to be just another existential-essay-on-celluloid. --Grant Balfour ... Read more

Reviews (213)

"The 70's...oh my god, they obviously suck!"
That is one of many classic lines from this movie that makes it a classic. However, this movie could have been set in the 70's, 80's, 90's or 2003 and people would have seen themselves or their friends in this outstanding cast of characters. We all lived through high school, and we can all identify with the characters depicted in Dazed and Confused.

For example, there's the kid who's 27 and still hanging out with all the high schoolers, still trying to date high school freshmen 13 years his junior (Matthew McConaghey). For some kids, you can tell that high school will be the pinnacle of their sad, pathetic lives, and Ben Affleck plays this character to a tee. There are also the ludicrously bitchy and snobby girls (Parker Posey), the perpetually nice and perky girls (Michelle Burke), and the kid who comes to parties "to drink some beer and kick some ass." (Nicky Katt)

This movie is funny because it is so true. High school is pretty much the same regardless of decade or location. You have your jocks and your intellectuals, your snobs and the kids who are nice to everybody. In that way it's like real life, but in real life you're not bound together with 800 other kids you grew up with and who know your entire embarassing life story.

This movie depicting only one day in the life of a high school student is hilarious and touching. Though it will make you laugh out loud, it will also bring back memories of feeling inadequate or ugly that were magnified by the clausterphobic setting of high school. This movie features some stellar performances by actors who went on to become very famous. Though the characters in this movie could have gone to school at any time period in the 20th century, the 70's setting adds to the hilarity. Dive into this world of bell bottoms, bongs and Black Sabbath and try not to cringe when you recognize yourself or your friends in the wonderful cast of characters.

Smoked out hilarious
Ok, being born in 1974 I never got to experience the weirdness of the '70's. I've longed to live in the days of bell bottoms, platforms and the beautiful women with the straight ironed hair. This is one of those movies that captures exactally how I perceive the mid 70's to be. This film is about, well, graduation night and future freshmen and seniors. They basically go around smoking weed and trying to terrorize the up coming freshman. The line up is an all star cast of who's who in movies. Ben Afleck, Mathew Mcconaughey, Jason London and Milla Jovovich.

This is a film that takes a comedic, yet precise look at life in 1976. The music is absolutely awesome and the dialogue will keep you laughing from beginning to end. You get the guy that's always doped up, the jock, the preppy little bi**h and the freshman who wants to fit in. It's hard to describe just what this movie is about because it is really about nothing. One night in 1976 would have been just as good a title as "Dazed and Confused". I love this film. If you enjoy great humor pick this one up.

WOOD-A-BEEN, HAPPENIN'
Finally, a DAZED AND CONFUSED special edition. This is one of the best comedies ever made. Some people find it boring and plotless, but they're just unable to appreciate the honesty that comes along with the movie. Whenever I watch this movie, I watch the whole thing, no scene selections. There is just something about this movie that makes you feel comfortable. It is probably the familiarity that accompanies each of the characters that reminds you of people that you know. There is also something about the feeling of following the characters from the end of their last day of school into the party and concluding on the next morning. There is a feeling about joining the party that makes this movie watchable at most any time. You can feel like you are in the movie, and there is something about it that just wants to make you have fun or go hang out with your friends. People who haven't seen this movie will also be surprised to see the a lot of the cast, which includes many now-famous actors. This cast includes Jason London, Ben Affleck, Rory Cochrane, Mila Jovovich, Matthew McConaughey, and, well there is too many, but believe me, if you remember high school, or you like comedies and you haven't already, you have to check this movie out, and watch the whole thing. It is also good to watch it with a friend so you have someone to talk to about it. An unforgettable set of characters, some good jokes, an unforgettable party, and finally, some special features to go along with the movie. I was one of those people who was told about the movie from a cousin and I picked up the DVD (old one with no special features) and it became one of my favorites. The thing that surprised me was that nobody really knew about it, except for some older people, because the movie was like AMERICAN PIE when it came out. This special edition will definitely get some new recognition. The only thing that pisses me off is that when this special edition does come out, new people are gonna see it and they are gonna act like they discovered it, like I haven't seen it before them. That is gonna suck, but it is gonna be worth it when I see those special features. I hope they have some behind-the-scenes footage or a reunion of the cast or something. By the way, Richard Linklater is a genius who writes with honesty (he also directed this movie). I am gonna buy WAKING LIFE (also starring Wiley Wiggins), BEFORE SUNRISE, and see BEFORE SUNSET. If you liked this movie, you'll probably like DETROIT ROCK CITY and ALMOST FAMOUS. Those movies are good, but we'll get to those later. DAZED AND CONFUSED is a movie you gotta check out. I can't wait for this special edition. You'll also like AMERICAN PIE, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, and a lot of other comedies with honesty. By the way, I forgot, there is some stupid dialogue in the movie, but it is overweighed by the good stuff, and you won't notice it until you have seen the movie around three or four times. By the way, that doesn't mean I think that the movie is stupid or anything, I can say that because I am a big fan, and I still really like that movie. Plus, you've got to take some stupid jokes along with every good comedy. Anyway, my hands are starting to hurt, and I'm running out of ideas. DAZED AND CONFUSED is one of the greatest comedies ever made. This isn't the only move coming out with a special edition. There is MEET THE PARENTS and a bunch of other UNIVERSAL movies coming out with special editions.

Hilarious!!
This comedy is a scream!! It perfectly captures high school in the 1970s - if you were in school then, you'll recognize everyone in this film as someone in your class. Every detail is perfect - the clothes, haircuts, parties, parents, attitudes, cars, everything. And unlike many teen movies, it doesn't pretend to be heavy or deep - its just and all out good time. I could not stop laughing, watching it, and the soundtrack is awesome.

Looks like someone's smoking the reefer...
I saw this movie and was certainly surprised at how different from its peers it is. "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" is deep, and certainly funny, but it lacks that underlying tone of what will happen to the kids once they get out of school. "American Pie" is hilarious, but it's too bogged down by clichés. "Dazed and Confused", however, finds the perfect middle ground. Set in Austin, Texas, on the last day of school in 1976, the film follows a rouges gallery of colorful (if not fun-loving) teenagers who plan to spend the afternoon and night having as much fun as possible, and that's an understatement. The story itself is very simple, yet captivating and intriguing. Each teen spends his/her night doing something different, yet they all eventually convene at the party at the moon tower. It's like a combo of a day-in-the-life movie, an in-depth character study, and a great teen comedy. And it is of course the comedy that more then any thing explores the alienation and unsettling nature that teenagers feel, regardless of age or timeframe. We see this through such lines as: "I came here tonight to do two things: kick some ass and drink some beer. Looks like we're out of beer!" and "If I ever refer to these as the best years of my life remind me to kill myself." That captures how these kids feel about school, and about life. Cause hey, you want the best years of your life, forget high school. Try college ... Read more

Amazon.com

Twister was a mega-million-dollar blockbuster--helmed by a director (Dutchman Jan de Bont) hot off another scorcher hit (Speed)--that flaunted state-of-the-art digital effects and featured a popular leading actress (Helen Hunt) who would win an Academy Award for her next film (As Good As It Gets). But ask anybody who's seen it and they'll tell you who the real star of Twister is: the cow. Not to give anything away, but the cow is one of those inspired little touches (like, say, Bronson Pinchot's career-making cameo in Beverly Hills Cop) that adds a touch of personality to a gigantic Hollywood production. The story is blown out the window after an impressive prologue in which Hunt's character, as a little girl, witnesses her daddy being sucked into a tornado. Basically, Hunt and Bill Paxton are thrill-seeking meteorologists chasing twisters in order to study them (and help warn people of them, of course) with a new technology they've developed. If you thought the Kansas tornado in The Wizard of Oz was every bit as scary as the Wicked Witch of the West, then this may be the movie for you. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (202)

The DTS version rocks the home theater!
This is the first disc I bought since I got the home theater set up and this one you won't believe! Ok, I'll admit the story here is a little weak, but this isn't supposed to be a "Raging Bull" type of character study. This is a very entertaining, state of the arts effects, fun film. The sound from this DTS version is extraordinary. The separation of the 5.1 is incredible. The twister sequences will blow you away. You feel the sound and the fury! The only other disc that compares is the Saving Private Ryan one. For you home theater fanatics, this is your film.. you'll see it, hear it, and feel it. This disc also has some great extras like director commentary and a cool documentary of how it was made. All in all, it's not one of the finest 100 or 200 movies ever made, but you may find yourself watching it over and over for the experience of it! You'll love it! The movie itself is about a 3, but the DVD DTS is about a 5!

I like it anyway...
OK, I've read the other reviews...I think "Twister" is entertaining, with great CGI effects. The plot is intense, and most sub-plots are silly. Helen Hunt is beautiful, and quite a good actress. Bill Paxton is customarily hammy. Still I enjoy this film as entertainment. It's interesting to note that a lot of our current best actors today got a start in this film. Philip Seymour Hoffman, in particular, shows great flair, as well as Jeremy Davies, playing the wimp. Director Jan de Bont seems to use Alan Ruck a lot, and for good reason: He's talented. I was disappointed when Jamie Gertz won the Razz Award as "Worst Supporting Actress" in '96. I thought she gave a fine performance...her character was written to be reactionary, and I thought her every nuance was touching and sincere. As far as writing, well, some of the soap opera stuff could've been cut short. Jan de Bont, with all the films he could've chosen, showed scenes from Kubrick's "The Shining" (at the drive-in), and Cukor's "A Star is Born" (before Aunt Meg's house is blown away). If these are homages, he has good taste. And Lois Smith was solid as the aunt; I've liked her since she played Nicholson's sister in "Five Easy Pieces". A fine character actress. With this stuff in mind, I watch "Twister" often, and enjoy it each time. Why be so analytical? It was made as mass-marketed entertainment and, on that level, it succeeds. Doesn't seem to matter that it was also on quite a few "10 Best" lists in '96. I like it a lot; if you don't, maybe you should get out more...

the suck zone II
In the movie, the twister destroys a drive-in while The Shining is showing on the screen. One could only imagine that this amounted to a review of The Shining. I don't agree with this review. The Shining is a very good movie.

the suck zone
I rented this movie thinking it was going to be a remake of The Wizard of Oz. Boy what a letdown. Come to think of it I had the same experience watching Zardoz.
While watching this movie, it became clear to me that "actors" are people who have been randomly selected to get in front of a camera and pretend to do things. The characters say things like, "these satellite readings have increased in the last ten minutes" "Keep monitoring this pattern" "Ok" Then there is a tossing aside of sodas and a melee of excited, riot-like running toward vehicles. Then there is more dialog, like "We're not going to be able to intercept!" "No, we will. Hang on!" "Are you out of your mind?"
"We gotta get outta here!" "I know!" This last dialog is screamed over the sound of lots of wind. The movie appears to be about a weather phenomenon wherein lots of wind causes a general sucking effect: the script sucks, the acting sucks, the effects even pretty much suck.

The tornadoes alone save this movie.
I have had interest in the concept of severe weather for my entire life and had high expectations for the movie "Twister" and the result cuts boths ways for me.

The movie is of a married meteoroligist couple who are in the midst of getting a divorce, and have not gotten along for a very long time and they make a new invention that they believe will help them see what it looks like, inside a full blown tornado. They have ambition to deploy this new technology to disperse 'lighter than air' radio transmitters into a twister and record the signals to see what it may look like inside a tornado.

The special effects when the tornadoes strike are absolutely awesome not to mention the chase scenes especially towards the ending when the couple speed away from a tornado drive right through a house that was thrown onto the countryside road by a tornado (Impossible in real life) and the other of when a drive-in movie screen showing a snippet of the movie "The Shining" being ripped apart by a F5 tornado in the middle of the night.

"Twister" though suffers from several things and I can sometimes see where some of the detractors are coming from when regarding this movie. While the action scenes and special effects are amazing, the movie's plot lacks a good flow and the film drags on and on in several places and one scene which is just like a boring day at home would've been better left out altogether. Plus the characters are very unconvincing and lack personality.

Even for me who doesn't mind ocassional deviation from the laws of physics in movies, some of the tornadoe scenes are completely unrealistic. For example as I said earlier in a review, there is no way a twister could fling a whole house across a countryside road or even roll the whole intact house across the countryside because most houses are built on foundations and strong tornadoes in real life would shed houses into tiny pieces or otherwise reduce them to ruin. An F5 tornado would leave nothing of a house behind and can even rip the pavement off a road if the conditions warrant. \

This movie is nonetheless worth watching just for the tornadoes alone but this movie could have been a lot better than it turned out to be. While having it's share of flaws Roland Emmerich's "The Day After Tomorrow" is far superior on many levels and corrects a lot of the flaws of "Twister" in my opinion. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

John Guare's hit Broadway play--about an Upper East Sidecouple who gets bilked by a young black man claiming to be Sidney Poitier'sson--receives a terrific screen translation in this film by Fred Schepisi. Though the play was discursive and episodic, Schepisi, working from Guare's adaptation, makes it all flow like a fascinating evening listening to friends recount something that happened to them. But the story itself is also intriguing for the disparity it reveals between the wealthy, the would-be wealthy, and the have-nots yearning to be rich. Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland are exceptional as the couple who open their home to a young man they believe is a friend of their children (to whom they barely speak); Will Smith is fascinatingly glib as the young man, who claims that his famous father is casting a film version of Cats and offers his hosts roles as extras in the film. Smith finds the heartbreaking core of this character and Channing is haunting as a woman looking to make a connection, even with a confused young con artist. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (47)

It's A Small World After All.
One night in a posh Manhattan apartment a young black man (Will Smith), appearing to be mugged enters the home of Flan (Donald Sutherland) and Ouisa Kittredge (Stockard Channing). The man who says his name is Paul, claims to be friends of the Kittredge children. Over the evening Paul flatters the couple and a buisness guest they are hosting with his exotic tales and fascinating life stories. However, things aren't always what they seem to be. Like the painting in the movie, what is chaotic on one side, may be controlled on the other and vice versa.

This was the first major film breakthrough for Will Smith, proving that he isn't just the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and is a serious actor. Donald Sutherland does a superb job as the stuck-up art dealer who makes millions of dollars but spends more than he can make. However, the real star of the movie is Stockard Channing. Her performance is perfect and her portrayal of Ouisa's self-disovery, realization, and spiritual redemption could not have been better.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION has become a part of the American pop conscience (thanks largely to the Kevin Bacon game). However, the movie is much more than a pop cultural reference. It is a movie for the critical movie viewer. It explores questions of great magnitude and in the end, concludes on a comic, rather than tragic, note. It is a small world after all, just six degrees of separation.

Amazing!
A wonderful movie with many hidden truths about life. All characters in the movie have done an excellent job in portraying the superficial lifestyles that is common in the West.
As the families in this movie get taken advantage off, by the young Paul Poitier, they begin to learn more about themselves. The reality of life we accept may not be the reality that we once hoped for. Ouisa, Paul's star student finally understands herself and how her life has been a complete lie, serving her husbands needs and neglecting her own. The pursuit of money is a driving principle in the Western culture and we often neglect other aspects in life that deserve more of our energy. Paul is the catalyst in showing Ouisa the truth about life and removing her social mask. A person of mystery who demonstrates that anything is possible in life.
Overall, an amazing movie that should be watched more than once to capture the brilliance it portrays.

too-clever adaption of the play
You can read other reviews for the plot but in conclusion I found this adaptation of the play not to work as well as it could. While the individually performances by title cast are exceptionally strong, the unbalanced parody of the stereotypes diminishes the piece: The shallow, smug socialite is not shallow enough, the disaffected, spoilt child is too shrill, the poor prospective conman too composed - its as though the film cannot decide whether to be more farcical or more serious. Direction aside, the main themes of the story reach conclusion midway through from which point it begins to wander and in the end, the continuing relationship between the Kittredges and Paul, in particular Ouisa Kittredge's revelation about her perceived connection, feel too contrived.
In part a self-proclaimed social commentary, the film adaptation also overlooks the opportunity to properly contrast the existing class division's between Paul and the Kittredge party, concentrating instead on the pseudo intellectualizing conversations - which Paul adeptly mimics/takes on - of the Manhattan social elite (i.e. the clever part). Having said that, it was a worthy attempt and it certainly *is* worth watching: there is a lot to take away from the film which by the way also has some great cinematic pans of New York City.

Excellent recreation of thoroughly entertaining play
I recall reading a press report on the Columbine School shootings and the lifestyle of the two protaganists - apparently they were friends who
spent many many undisturbed hours in the basement of one of their parent's home making bombs etc as is the want of modern middle class teenagers. The point of the report was how dissociated or at least unaware the parents were of what their adolescent children were up to.
This wonderful film is about in part spoilt children and the huge gap that exists between them and their parents - or at the least the horror the parents experience when the children mirror their values. There is a wonderful scene when the wealthy Kitteredges (played by the SUPERB Mr Sutherland and Ms Stockard Channing) are abused for giving away their son's pink shirt to a wounded stranger. Or the horror they experience when the children DON'T mirror theirb values. Another scene features a telephone call from a student who tells her parents that she is getting married and going to Afghanistan to help the peasants in revenge against her parents for her highly privileged upbringing.
In this fine film, Paul (Will Smith was BORN to play this role) brings joy to the people her interacts with and actually changes the life of some, especially Mrs Kitteridge. Playing a ... black who is talented but poor, Mr Smith makes being an outsider in a materialistic hypocritical society a glamorous and attractive thing. Good or bad? It is also ravishingly photographed which fits one of its major themes - Western societies obsession with appearances - as well as fitted with excellent soundtrack. A thoroughly ENJOYABLE cinematic experience. After a dozen viewings, my intial impressions have been resoundingly confirmed. Worth owning.

5 stars but no English subtitles!
Without copying what others have already written about this beautifully crafted and cast movie.... I feel I need to add an important point. For some unknown reason, the DVD version of this movie does not come with English subtitles. This makes some of the dialogue hard to catch, especially if your hearing isn't what it used to be. Nevertheless, a magnificient movie! ... Read more

Reviews (47)

It's A Small World After All.
One night in a posh Manhattan apartment a young black man (Will Smith), appearing to be mugged enters the home of Flan (Donald Sutherland) and Ouisa Kittredge (Stockard Channing). The man who says his name is Paul, claims to be friends of the Kittredge children. Over the evening Paul flatters the couple and a buisness guest they are hosting with his exotic tales and fascinating life stories. However, things aren't always what they seem to be. Like the painting in the movie, what is chaotic on one side, may be controlled on the other and vice versa.

This was the first major film breakthrough for Will Smith, proving that he isn't just the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and is a serious actor. Donald Sutherland does a superb job as the stuck-up art dealer who makes millions of dollars but spends more than he can make. However, the real star of the movie is Stockard Channing. Her performance is perfect and her portrayal of Ouisa's self-disovery, realization, and spiritual redemption could not have been better.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION has become a part of the American pop conscience (thanks largely to the Kevin Bacon game). However, the movie is much more than a pop cultural reference. It is a movie for the critical movie viewer. It explores questions of great magnitude and in the end, concludes on a comic, rather than tragic, note. It is a small world after all, just six degrees of separation.

Amazing!
A wonderful movie with many hidden truths about life. All characters in the movie have done an excellent job in portraying the superficial lifestyles that is common in the West.
As the families in this movie get taken advantage off, by the young Paul Poitier, they begin to learn more about themselves. The reality of life we accept may not be the reality that we once hoped for. Ouisa, Paul's star student finally understands herself and how her life has been a complete lie, serving her husbands needs and neglecting her own. The pursuit of money is a driving principle in the Western culture and we often neglect other aspects in life that deserve more of our energy. Paul is the catalyst in showing Ouisa the truth about life and removing her social mask. A person of mystery who demonstrates that anything is possible in life.
Overall, an amazing movie that should be watched more than once to capture the brilliance it portrays.

too-clever adaption of the play
You can read other reviews for the plot but in conclusion I found this adaptation of the play not to work as well as it could. While the individually performances by title cast are exceptionally strong, the unbalanced parody of the stereotypes diminishes the piece: The shallow, smug socialite is not shallow enough, the disaffected, spoilt child is too shrill, the poor prospective conman too composed - its as though the film cannot decide whether to be more farcical or more serious. Direction aside, the main themes of the story reach conclusion midway through from which point it begins to wander and in the end, the continuing relationship between the Kittredges and Paul, in particular Ouisa Kittredge's revelation about her perceived connection, feel too contrived.
In part a self-proclaimed social commentary, the film adaptation also overlooks the opportunity to properly contrast the existing class division's between Paul and the Kittredge party, concentrating instead on the pseudo intellectualizing conversations - which Paul adeptly mimics/takes on - of the Manhattan social elite (i.e. the clever part). Having said that, it was a worthy attempt and it certainly *is* worth watching: there is a lot to take away from the film which by the way also has some great cinematic pans of New York City.

Excellent recreation of thoroughly entertaining play
I recall reading a press report on the Columbine School shootings and the lifestyle of the two protaganists - apparently they were friends who
spent many many undisturbed hours in the basement of one of their parent's home making bombs etc as is the want of modern middle class teenagers. The point of the report was how dissociated or at least unaware the parents were of what their adolescent children were up to.
This wonderful film is about in part spoilt children and the huge gap that exists between them and their parents - or at the least the horror the parents experience when the children mirror their values. There is a wonderful scene when the wealthy Kitteredges (played by the SUPERB Mr Sutherland and Ms Stockard Channing) are abused for giving away their son's pink shirt to a wounded stranger. Or the horror they experience when the children DON'T mirror theirb values. Another scene features a telephone call from a student who tells her parents that she is getting married and going to Afghanistan to help the peasants in revenge against her parents for her highly privileged upbringing.
In this fine film, Paul (Will Smith was BORN to play this role) brings joy to the people her interacts with and actually changes the life of some, especially Mrs Kitteridge. Playing a ... black who is talented but poor, Mr Smith makes being an outsider in a materialistic hypocritical society a glamorous and attractive thing. Good or bad? It is also ravishingly photographed which fits one of its major themes - Western societies obsession with appearances - as well as fitted with excellent soundtrack. A thoroughly ENJOYABLE cinematic experience. After a dozen viewings, my intial impressions have been resoundingly confirmed. Worth owning.

5 stars but no English subtitles!
Without copying what others have already written about this beautifully crafted and cast movie.... I feel I need to add an important point. For some unknown reason, the DVD version of this movie does not come with English subtitles. This makes some of the dialogue hard to catch, especially if your hearing isn't what it used to be. Nevertheless, a magnificient movie! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Awesome Cast for moive
One night I was browsing in the drama section at Hollywood videos looking for a good movie starring a well known black actor (Samuel L. Jackson is an excellent choice). Well to make a long story short, the moive was excellent the cast was put together well for a historical account of the incident at West Point in the 1880's.

Average acting, good story line. History of West Point
This video is a good historical story line regarding the court marshal of a West Point black Cadet. It is a true account of what took place at that time. Interesting for those interested in history. Not very good acting. We enjoyed the movie, but we are also interested in West Point history. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Road Trip is a mostly agreeable, by-the-numbers teenflick with a handful of inspired sequences, most of them involvingMTV's resident disturbed soul, Tom Green. It concerns a sleepyUniversity of Ithaca student named Josh (Breckin Meyer) whoaccidentally mails a video of his sexual encounter with an infatuation(Amy Smart) to his longtime girlfriend (Rachel Blanchard), who'sseemingly avoiding him while at school in Austin, Texas. Naturally, herecruits some buddies--Seann William Scott as the lech, D.J. Qualls asthe hopeless nerd, and Paulo Costanzo as the doper genius--to hit theopen highway and intercept the package. Even more naturally, mayhemensues: A car explodes, a bus is stolen, a nerd is deflowered, Frenchtoast is horribly violated, and an elderly man bogarts both pot andViagra.

The film's humor is more democratic than politically correct, aseveryone--women and minority characters, not just the hipster whiteguys--have a hand in the high jinks. Green plays Barry Manilow (no, notthat one), a professional student (eight years and counting)--herelates the film's story to skeptical prospective students whileleading them on a tour of the college--and thrill-seeking dork extraordinaire. In particular, in an already justly famous sequence ofscenes, he sadistically anticipates and endeavors to accelerate amouse's demise at the jaws of a python. It's very much in the vein ofAmerican Pie, perhaps a smidgen tamer, but at least itscharacters don't really learn any dopey lessons in the end. Directorand coscreenwriter Todd Phillips, who earlier made the much-questioneddocumentary Frat House, again proves he's more adept at staging fictional comic sequences than real ones. --David Kronke ... Read more

Reviews (131)

TASTELESS AND UN-FUNNY
Borrowing much of it's plot from the 1997 film "Overnight Delivery", "Road Trip" centers around four college friends embarking on a cross-country race to intercept a package.

Josh (Breckin Meyer) is trying to cope with his long distance relationship, having phone conversations, and sending video-taped messages to the girl he has been dating since grade school, played by Rachel Blanchard.

While being urged by his buddy (Seann William Scott), Josh, succumbs to temptation and has a wild one-night stand with Beth (Amy Smart). What started as a night of passion ends in disaster, as a video tape of his encounter is accidentally mailed to his girlfriend at the Univeristy of Austin...so begins "Road Trip".

Being a huge fan of this type of comedy, I have to say I was extremely disappointed, most of the gags in this movie are tasteless and gross (the breakfast diner scene being the worst). Breckin Meyer does not come off believable as the campus stud, and Tom Green...how does anyone find this guy funny? The only saving grace of this movie is Seann William Scott, given the best lines, and the only funny scenes in the movie(the sperm bank scene is hysterical), he steals the show. If you are looking for laughs in a teenage setting look elsewhere, possibly "American Pie", or "Porky's" for that matter.

The special features don't help this movie much; deleted scenes, and unrated footage can't save the mess that should have been a howlingly funny comedy...

Beats the hell out of Eurotrip!
This movie is hilarious from start to finish. A MUST-BUY!!!

More fun then a vacation!
This no-holds-barred comedy is one hilarious movie! ROAD TRIP is basically a rude, crude, nasty movie from start to finish! People may be offended with the rude acts in this movie, but forget them! It's supposed to be fun.

When a college student named Josh accidently sends an lurid and incriminating tape having sex with a girl to his girlfriend in Texas, he and his pals decide to travel 1800 miles in three days in order to prevent the tape from getting there! The results are laugh out loud funny. They go through several detours including a blown-up car and mishaps with stereotypical people. Tom Green is the funniest member of the talented cast by "narrating" his story to us.

Seann William Scott(AMERICAN PIE fame) also stars in this 2000 unrated edition DVD, which shows more nudity and crude acts not seen from the theatrical version!

Subpar, to say the least
Going into this, I thought I would like this movie. I figured it would tread the same line as the American Pie movies. I found it, however, very disappointing. I've never been a fan of Tom Green. His patent "Confused stare" is stomach churning. An accidental genious, if you will, and I am glad America has woken up from their hypnotized state that he had over them. All the other characters are unlikeable. The pot head kid is an arrogant, self-serving, character that is too smart for his own good. DJ Qualls is too whiny in the beginning and then is too full of himself at the end. Sean William Scott tries but fails to save this movie by delivering a second-rate Stifler. The ending feels too much like a cop out. Breckin Meyer gets saved because of Tom Green's stupidity. If only Tom Green would have taped over Paris Hilton's tape. A better ending would have been if his girlfriend beat him to a bloody mess.

Road Trip rules all!!
I own around 60 dvd's ive had this one for about 2 years now , ive watched it more than anyone of my dvd's. This dvd is one of thoughs really rare movies that where you can watch it over and over and still be entertained i also really liked that there is a big difference from the unr8ed one then the normal one. This dvd contains excellent extra features and i garuntee youll love it. If you like movies like American Pie you'll really like this. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

It's A Small World After All.
One night in a posh Manhattan apartment a young black man (Will Smith), appearing to be mugged enters the home of Flan (Donald Sutherland) and Ouisa Kittredge (Stockard Channing). The man who says his name is Paul, claims to be friends of the Kittredge children. Over the evening Paul flatters the couple and a buisness guest they are hosting with his exotic tales and fascinating life stories. However, things aren't always what they seem to be. Like the painting in the movie, what is chaotic on one side, may be controlled on the other and vice versa.

This was the first major film breakthrough for Will Smith, proving that he isn't just the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and is a serious actor. Donald Sutherland does a superb job as the stuck-up art dealer who makes millions of dollars but spends more than he can make. However, the real star of the movie is Stockard Channing. Her performance is perfect and her portrayal of Ouisa's self-disovery, realization, and spiritual redemption could not have been better.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION has become a part of the American pop conscience (thanks largely to the Kevin Bacon game). However, the movie is much more than a pop cultural reference. It is a movie for the critical movie viewer. It explores questions of great magnitude and in the end, concludes on a comic, rather than tragic, note. It is a small world after all, just six degrees of separation.

Amazing!
A wonderful movie with many hidden truths about life. All characters in the movie have done an excellent job in portraying the superficial lifestyles that is common in the West.
As the families in this movie get taken advantage off, by the young Paul Poitier, they begin to learn more about themselves. The reality of life we accept may not be the reality that we once hoped for. Ouisa, Paul's star student finally understands herself and how her life has been a complete lie, serving her husbands needs and neglecting her own. The pursuit of money is a driving principle in the Western culture and we often neglect other aspects in life that deserve more of our energy. Paul is the catalyst in showing Ouisa the truth about life and removing her social mask. A person of mystery who demonstrates that anything is possible in life.
Overall, an amazing movie that should be watched more than once to capture the brilliance it portrays.

too-clever adaption of the play
You can read other reviews for the plot but in conclusion I found this adaptation of the play not to work as well as it could. While the individually performances by title cast are exceptionally strong, the unbalanced parody of the stereotypes diminishes the piece: The shallow, smug socialite is not shallow enough, the disaffected, spoilt child is too shrill, the poor prospective conman too composed - its as though the film cannot decide whether to be more farcical or more serious. Direction aside, the main themes of the story reach conclusion midway through from which point it begins to wander and in the end, the continuing relationship between the Kittredges and Paul, in particular Ouisa Kittredge's revelation about her perceived connection, feel too contrived.
In part a self-proclaimed social commentary, the film adaptation also overlooks the opportunity to properly contrast the existing class division's between Paul and the Kittredge party, concentrating instead on the pseudo intellectualizing conversations - which Paul adeptly mimics/takes on - of the Manhattan social elite (i.e. the clever part). Having said that, it was a worthy attempt and it certainly *is* worth watching: there is a lot to take away from the film which by the way also has some great cinematic pans of New York City.

Excellent recreation of thoroughly entertaining play
I recall reading a press report on the Columbine School shootings and the lifestyle of the two protaganists - apparently they were friends who
spent many many undisturbed hours in the basement of one of their parent's home making bombs etc as is the want of modern middle class teenagers. The point of the report was how dissociated or at least unaware the parents were of what their adolescent children were up to.
This wonderful film is about in part spoilt children and the huge gap that exists between them and their parents - or at the least the horror the parents experience when the children mirror their values. There is a wonderful scene when the wealthy Kitteredges (played by the SUPERB Mr Sutherland and Ms Stockard Channing) are abused for giving away their son's pink shirt to a wounded stranger. Or the horror they experience when the children DON'T mirror theirb values. Another scene features a telephone call from a student who tells her parents that she is getting married and going to Afghanistan to help the peasants in revenge against her parents for her highly privileged upbringing.
In this fine film, Paul (Will Smith was BORN to play this role) brings joy to the people her interacts with and actually changes the life of some, especially Mrs Kitteridge. Playing a ... black who is talented but poor, Mr Smith makes being an outsider in a materialistic hypocritical society a glamorous and attractive thing. Good or bad? It is also ravishingly photographed which fits one of its major themes - Western societies obsession with appearances - as well as fitted with excellent soundtrack. A thoroughly ENJOYABLE cinematic experience. After a dozen viewings, my intial impressions have been resoundingly confirmed. Worth owning.

5 stars but no English subtitles!
Without copying what others have already written about this beautifully crafted and cast movie.... I feel I need to add an important point. For some unknown reason, the DVD version of this movie does not come with English subtitles. This makes some of the dialogue hard to catch, especially if your hearing isn't what it used to be. Nevertheless, a magnificient movie! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Brendan Fraser plays a student attending a wealthy boarding school on a football scholarship in the 1950s. When the other kids find out he's Jewish--a fact he's been hiding--his fortunes and relationships instantly change. The film is pretty much what one would expect with that scenario: a story of bigotry, conflict, the hero trying to hang on. In the end, good intentions are the driving force of the movie, but it is not much more than the sum of its obvious parts. Directed by Dick Wolf, creator of television's Law and Order. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Powerful
"Just when you think you know something, you have to look at it from a different perspective"- John Keating, 'Dead Poet's Society'. School Ties is not your typical story of Anti-Semitism. It gives you both sides; the Jew and those who can't get beyond it.
David Greene is accepted by his peers at Prep School, but he is never truly at ease because he can't let his guard down. This movie is excellent at showing how fast people can turn on you, and how true it is that people put up facades. This movie really tests true friendship. It tests loyalty as well. Once his secret is out, most of his friends turn on him... he is almost expelled from school because of the injustice of having no one believe him. Finally, one person is able to see how wrong it is... but the movie is just a series of powerful moments about betrayal, love, honesty, and differences. Everyone should watch the movie once to see how ugly hate can be.

good cast and story
Brendan Fraser stars as David Green, a 1950s working-class boy from Pittsburgh who has the chance to attend one of the best prep schools in the country on a scholarship, thus giving him a shot at attending Harvard. When he arrives, he is surrounded by a bunch of great guys whom he deems his friends ... as long as he hides the fact that he is Jewish.

David Green becomes the nemesis of Charlie Dillon (Matt Damon) early in the movie by being a better dancer and capturing the interest of Charlie's blonde thoroughbred date, Sally, played by Amy Locane in one of her only big roles. Charlie, who has attended the school for years, feels put out by this popular newcomer and when he finds a chance to bring him down, he goes for it full-force.

When racial slurs and hate crimes abound, the boys are divided between their personal friendships and loyalties and doing the right thing. This is made more interesting by the fact that they are only teenaged boys, who have all lived a privileged life amongst those exactly like themselves, so their struggle to empathize and feel from someone else's perspective is more difficult, and their varied responses are interesting, especially when David's personal and social future at the school hangs in the balance.

good message..good movie
Brendan Fraser(Mummy 1 and 2,Glory Daze) in one of his more better roles, plays David Greene, a Jewish kid who gets into a wealthy college as a star quarterback..there he meets his new friends, Dillon-MattDamon(Dogma, Glory Daze, Good Will Hunting), Randall Batinkoff(The Peacemaker and Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Anthony Rapp(A Beautiful Mind), Ed Lauter(Pythopn, Not Another Teen Movie), Ben Affleck(Glory Daze, Dogma, Good Will Hunting), Jayce Bartok(Suburbia, Spider-man, Swing Kids) and Chris O'Donnell(Batman Forever, Batman and Robin, 29 Palms) and David hides his ethnicity and then Damon finds it out and then chaos ensues...Fraser delivers a promising performance and so does Damon as the evil preppy rich kid who wants it his way..some good moments and not so much good moments..all in all its a movie not to be missed

Everything and Nothing
"School Ties" provides an excellent tale of the truth about the nostalgic past--about the polite and not-so polite hostility towards those perceived as inferior, dressed up in elegant as well as not-so-elegant surroundings. It is a story dealing mostly with people who appear to have every advantage in life and every opportunity for generosity towards others, but who are empty and bigoted. They choose to hate and to influence others in their circle to rail against the object of their hatred.
Through it all Brendan Fraser carries himself with grace and dignity. He plays David Greene, a poor Scranton, Pennsylvania kid who is given a rare opportunity to better himself at a Massachusetts prep school in 1955. The film begins with a view of his tough neighborhood, and an alleyway brawl between himself and a few local anti-Semites. Soon afterwards, with last-minute advice from his father he arrives at St.Matthew's, a calm and stately academic environment where he becomes fast friends with the popular students, which include a congenial Chris O'Donnell as Chris Reece, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in an early joint appearance as Charlie Dillon and Chesty Smith, Andrew Lowrey as the vulnerable McGivern, Cole Hauser as the charismatic Jack Conners, Randall Batinkoff as the courageously honest Rip Van Kelt, and the cold and distant Anthony Rapp as Richard "McGoo" Collins.
The boys enjoy music, football games, and playing pranks on the French teacher together(An early scene of Fraser making noises like an ape during one such prank seems to have paved the way for him to play George of the Jungle a few years later) . But Greene is soon exposed to his classmates' feelings about Jews, as well as those of Headmaster Dr. Bartram, played by Peter Donat, who barely covers his feelings with polite and restrained turns of phrase.
David proves to be a worthy classmate and student, standing up for his friends when they are wronged, even by authority figures, winning friends with his unprentiousness and wit, helping his team win football games, and winning the heart of Charlie Dillon's friend, Sally Wheeler.
An ethereal and angelic Amy Locane, who has the classic looks of a '50s model, has this part. During her initial appearance at a school dance, her striking beauty stands out from that of the other girls, and she is definitely at her most radiant and most demure in her scalloped off-the-shoulder velvet dress, dancing at a country club to a Rodgers and Hart (not Rodgers and Hammerstein, of course) tune . But in a way, her role is one of the most tragic because she leaves one with the sense that she might have been willing to accept David or anyone who has earned the right to be liked, regardless of origins, but has to surrender a potential love interest because of the predjudices of her family and friends. If we had to imagine a future for her, we might find her in a loveless marriage with someone whose religious background met her family's approval rather than a happy marriage with someone whose religious denonimation they were vehemently against.
We see the academic pressure put on these students and how their strong desire to live up to their families' expectations results in their stooping to subterfuge. David suffers various setbacks after he is exposed as a Jew, which happens partially because the envious Charlie Dillon lashes out in frustration. He challenges his schoolmates to face up to their real feelings about him, inspiring some of them to overcome their predjudices, and standing up to one authority figure who covertly and not so covertly encouraged the students to adopt such an attitude.
Greene's biggest moment of triumph in the film comes as he walks across the campus after a profound moment of truth, rather symbolically adjusting the collar of his coat against a cold world, having battled a few of its injustices, and looking a little taller than the many young men from whom he otherwise appears no different, with his future vast before him.

Disgusted!
Anti-Semitism, an evil that has killed millions, is an extremely serious subject. That this silly film claims to deal with it, is disgusting. All this is, is a cute little story of good-looking young American boys in their perfect American world. And more than that, it was just an excuse to have some soft erotica in the completely non-sequitir and perplexing nude shower fight. (Are men who are militantly proud of their heterosexuality really going to hold each other naked in the shower?) ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Good movie
This movie does several things pretty well. First, Drew Barrymore's character is really well drawn. She's sensitive, consumed by her own emotions, and, well, horny. Unlike the teenagers in so much of today's cinema, Drew's character has a total lack of attitude, she's fueled by feelings, not cliches. This is all done in a subtle way, and that makes her very likable and sympathetic. Also, the "far from home" atmosphere is created nicely. You really do feel as if you're in the last place on earth, with all these oddball characters either trying to get out or else slowly losing their sanity from the isolation and desolation. These things contrast well and give the film a really uneasy feeling. The totally naive girls put in a dangerous place - but of course she doesn't know it's dangerous. It could so easily descend into melodrama, but it doesn't because of the skillfulness with which it is crafted. The other characters are also well done - everyone has a very definite personality and they all add together to create the atmosphere - exactly what you might expect to find in such a place, but of course you've never thought about it before because who would want to?

Overall, an effective film.

great!
I bought this movie 'cause I'm a big fan of Drew, luckily I liked it! Drew was such a good actress even then and she looked gorgeous! The movie is really exciting and the ending is very surprising. If you're a fan of Drew you'll definitely like it and if you're a fan of thrillers you'll like it as well!

very sexy drew !
this is a very good b movie. i first saw it on cable years ago.
this is the movie that sold me on drew barrymore. its kind of a creepy movie yet a very good plot.drew is more sexy in this movie than anything ive ever seen her in.she is smokin' hot.to bad she didnt show more skin than she did but its well worth wacthing just to see her in a high cut t shirt.shes definantly eye candy in this movie. i highly recomend this movie to anyone that likes drew she is hot in this one !

Great movie
A very good movie, wrongly crucisfied by the critics. I was on the edge of my seat watching this film, and you could never tell what was going to happen. Drew Barrymore proved in this film she was going to be the great actress she turned out to be.

I think it is because Drew is in it or else......
....... I would never have bought it in the first place.
This is really a stupid movie. It is all based on sex and getting revenge.
This is definitely not my fav movie of Drew.

The movie is about this guy who is obsessed with Drew. But he's really dangerous and violent
In a way she likes it at first, but then he almost tries to rape her, and it's not all that fun anymore.
The rest I think you should see for yourself, if it only were to be because of Drew.

I am giving it only a three because Drew is in it. ... Read more

Reviews (131)

TASTELESS AND UN-FUNNY
Borrowing much of it's plot from the 1997 film "Overnight Delivery", "Road Trip" centers around four college friends embarking on a cross-country race to intercept a package.

Josh (Breckin Meyer) is trying to cope with his long distance relationship, having phone conversations, and sending video-taped messages to the girl he has been dating since grade school, played by Rachel Blanchard.

While being urged by his buddy (Seann William Scott), Josh, succumbs to temptation and has a wild one-night stand with Beth (Amy Smart). What started as a night of passion ends in disaster, as a video tape of his encounter is accidentally mailed to his girlfriend at the Univeristy of Austin...so begins "Road Trip".

Being a huge fan of this type of comedy, I have to say I was extremely disappointed, most of the gags in this movie are tasteless and gross (the breakfast diner scene being the worst). Breckin Meyer does not come off believable as the campus stud, and Tom Green...how does anyone find this guy funny? The only saving grace of this movie is Seann William Scott, given the best lines, and the only funny scenes in the movie(the sperm bank scene is hysterical), he steals the show. If you are looking for laughs in a teenage setting look elsewhere, possibly "American Pie", or "Porky's" for that matter.

The special features don't help this movie much; deleted scenes, and unrated footage can't save the mess that should have been a howlingly funny comedy...

Beats the hell out of Eurotrip!
This movie is hilarious from start to finish. A MUST-BUY!!!

More fun then a vacation!
This no-holds-barred comedy is one hilarious movie! ROAD TRIP is basically a rude, crude, nasty movie from start to finish! People may be offended with the rude acts in this movie, but forget them! It's supposed to be fun.

When a college student named Josh accidently sends an lurid and incriminating tape having sex with a girl to his girlfriend in Texas, he and his pals decide to travel 1800 miles in three days in order to prevent the tape from getting there! The results are laugh out loud funny. They go through several detours including a blown-up car and mishaps with stereotypical people. Tom Green is the funniest member of the talented cast by "narrating" his story to us.

Seann William Scott(AMERICAN PIE fame) also stars in this 2000 unrated edition DVD, which shows more nudity and crude acts not seen from the theatrical version!

Subpar, to say the least
Going into this, I thought I would like this movie. I figured it would tread the same line as the American Pie movies. I found it, however, very disappointing. I've never been a fan of Tom Green. His patent "Confused stare" is stomach churning. An accidental genious, if you will, and I am glad America has woken up from their hypnotized state that he had over them. All the other characters are unlikeable. The pot head kid is an arrogant, self-serving, character that is too smart for his own good. DJ Qualls is too whiny in the beginning and then is too full of himself at the end. Sean William Scott tries but fails to save this movie by delivering a second-rate Stifler. The ending feels too much like a cop out. Breckin Meyer gets saved because of Tom Green's stupidity. If only Tom Green would have taped over Paris Hilton's tape. A better ending would have been if his girlfriend beat him to a bloody mess.

Road Trip rules all!!
I own around 60 dvd's ive had this one for about 2 years now , ive watched it more than anyone of my dvd's. This dvd is one of thoughs really rare movies that where you can watch it over and over and still be entertained i also really liked that there is a big difference from the unr8ed one then the normal one. This dvd contains excellent extra features and i garuntee youll love it. If you like movies like American Pie you'll really like this. ... Read more

Reviews (202)

The DTS version rocks the home theater!
This is the first disc I bought since I got the home theater set up and this one you won't believe! Ok, I'll admit the story here is a little weak, but this isn't supposed to be a "Raging Bull" type of character study. This is a very entertaining, state of the arts effects, fun film. The sound from this DTS version is extraordinary. The separation of the 5.1 is incredible. The twister sequences will blow you away. You feel the sound and the fury! The only other disc that compares is the Saving Private Ryan one. For you home theater fanatics, this is your film.. you'll see it, hear it, and feel it. This disc also has some great extras like director commentary and a cool documentary of how it was made. All in all, it's not one of the finest 100 or 200 movies ever made, but you may find yourself watching it over and over for the experience of it! You'll love it! The movie itself is about a 3, but the DVD DTS is about a 5!

I like it anyway...
OK, I've read the other reviews...I think "Twister" is entertaining, with great CGI effects. The plot is intense, and most sub-plots are silly. Helen Hunt is beautiful, and quite a good actress. Bill Paxton is customarily hammy. Still I enjoy this film as entertainment. It's interesting to note that a lot of our current best actors today got a start in this film. Philip Seymour Hoffman, in particular, shows great flair, as well as Jeremy Davies, playing the wimp. Director Jan de Bont seems to use Alan Ruck a lot, and for good reason: He's talented. I was disappointed when Jamie Gertz won the Razz Award as "Worst Supporting Actress" in '96. I thought she gave a fine performance...her character was written to be reactionary, and I thought her every nuance was touching and sincere. As far as writing, well, some of the soap opera stuff could've been cut short. Jan de Bont, with all the films he could've chosen, showed scenes from Kubrick's "The Shining" (at the drive-in), and Cukor's "A Star is Born" (before Aunt Meg's house is blown away). If these are homages, he has good taste. And Lois Smith was solid as the aunt; I've liked her since she played Nicholson's sister in "Five Easy Pieces". A fine character actress. With this stuff in mind, I watch "Twister" often, and enjoy it each time. Why be so analytical? It was made as mass-marketed entertainment and, on that level, it succeeds. Doesn't seem to matter that it was also on quite a few "10 Best" lists in '96. I like it a lot; if you don't, maybe you should get out more...

the suck zone II
In the movie, the twister destroys a drive-in while The Shining is showing on the screen. One could only imagine that this amounted to a review of The Shining. I don't agree with this review. The Shining is a very good movie.

the suck zone
I rented this movie thinking it was going to be a remake of The Wizard of Oz. Boy what a letdown. Come to think of it I had the same experience watching Zardoz.
While watching this movie, it became clear to me that "actors" are people who have been randomly selected to get in front of a camera and pretend to do things. The characters say things like, "these satellite readings have increased in the last ten minutes" "Keep monitoring this pattern" "Ok" Then there is a tossing aside of sodas and a melee of excited, riot-like running toward vehicles. Then there is more dialog, like "We're not going to be able to intercept!" "No, we will. Hang on!" "Are you out of your mind?"
"We gotta get outta here!" "I know!" This last dialog is screamed over the sound of lots of wind. The movie appears to be about a weather phenomenon wherein lots of wind causes a general sucking effect: the script sucks, the acting sucks, the effects even pretty much suck.

The tornadoes alone save this movie.
I have had interest in the concept of severe weather for my entire life and had high expectations for the movie "Twister" and the result cuts boths ways for me.

The movie is of a married meteoroligist couple who are in the midst of getting a divorce, and have not gotten along for a very long time and they make a new invention that they believe will help them see what it looks like, inside a full blown tornado. They have ambition to deploy this new technology to disperse 'lighter than air' radio transmitt