Reviews (401)

Best Film of 1998-Forget Shakespeare in Love!
Nobody will ever accuse the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of having common sense or good taste. I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out why this film was beat out by "Shakespeare in Love", and why Jim Carey, who turned in the best performance of his career in "The Truman Show", wasn't even nominated for best actor.

The plot of this movie is simple enough-Jim Carey plays a young man whose entire life has been entertainment for the rest of the world. He dares to reach beyond the giant bubble which is his universe to see what's out there, only to be foiled.

Of particular note is the scene toward the end of the film where Truman reaches the end of the dome shaped studio and is told by Christoph (Ed Harris) about his world. This stands out as one of the most magical scenes in an extraordinary motion picture.

I realize that this movie isn't for everyone (my wife, for one, didn't particularly like it), but Carey's performance alone justifies the purchase of this video. He displays a vulnerability and childlike fascination that is unlike anything I've ever seen. A very good supporting cast includes the shamefully overlooked Ed Harris, as well as Laura Linney.

"The Truman Show" is one of the most brilliant and overlooked motion pictures ever made. The ersatz "Ed TV", which followed a similar plot, doesn't begin to approach the craftsmanship of "The Truman Show". Hopefully, the Academy will make up for their slight of Jim Carey with "Man on the Moon, which appears to be his second acting tour de force.

oustanding!
Imagine that your whole life is a lie, everyone is watching you everywhere, and the people who you love and with whom you've been sharing your life, including your best friend and your beloved and always funny wife are just actors. The Truman Show's basic idea carries an undoubtful cruel and sad felling, but in the hands of Peter Weir, a talented filmmaker who believes in the humanity and in hope, the film turns out to be an interesting, funny, and entertaining masterpiece, although it has an undeniable sad context. Truman is played to perfection by an actor who I've never thought that he could actually act, Jim Carrey. In this dramatic, powerful and blessed hole, Carrey delivers an excellent job! certainly he deserved the Golden Globe for this breakthrough performance. Carrey builds an ingenuous, good and honest man, making impossible for the audience stop caring and loving him. And during the whole running time of the film, you will find yourself laughing, having a great time and sometimes crying for Truman at each curve his fate takes. The supporting performances stand out for their quality, Laura Linney (from Congo, a great flick about explorers who are hunted down by killer gorillas in a mountain, available at Amazon) offers an unforgetable interpretation, playing with ear-to-ear smiles a cold and cruel actress. It's beyond me the reason why she didn't receive any Oscar nomination, but it's said that Paramount, Truman's studio, tried to nominate her in the Best Actresses Category but the year's other main performances (Cate Blanchet, Fernanda Montenegro) were more applauded, but had they took the Supporting Category, she would be a tough contestant for the Oscar. Ed Harris' Christof is one of those characters that will live forever in the hearts of the audience, and Truman, well, Truman is perhaps the most upright, honest and sweet hero that Hollywood ever conceived. The technical aspects count with curious, never-seen-before camera movements, intelligent and different ways of shooting the scenes and a strong direction by Weir. The Truman Show is available at Amazon, the DVD and VHS include the original trailers and interviews with the cast and director. Own this masterpiece! And don't forget to take a look at Congo.

My expectations were too high
I really like Jim Carey and the word of mouth about this movie was very good. It sounded like such an interesting premise. I watched it and was not entertained.

1984, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, Truman Show!
Who would have thought that 'The Truman Show' would be entered among the great literary and movie classics ever made. Where 1984 gives a bleak look at a government who looks at everything and Brave New World about cloning, The Truman show is the premierve movie about the most horrible of all television rages in the last 10 years: Reality-TV.

But in this case Truman does not it. The awful outside world has made him into an item of fun, a person used for the amusement of others.

Are we all watchers or maybe in a way all Trumans? Trying to get out if this spectacle called life?

Deep, great, wonderfullly acted and a seminal movie.

Hollywood's view of the fall of man
It amazes me that so few people notice that this is a religious allegory. Sure, on the surface this is about how the media have invaded every square inch of our lives, and it is a prescient take on reality television, but more than that, the story is about the fall of man and the end of innocence. If you've seen this before, watch it again and notice the parallels to Genesis, especially near the end where Christof (How obvious the name!) talks to Truman (true man) from the clouds. He even addresses himself as "the creator."

Jim Carrey gives what is still his best performance to date. And the screenplay gives you a great deal to think about. Watch this and "Pleasantville" back to back and notice the theological similarities. The Truman Show is definitely one of the best movies of the decade. And I think years from now, when people really begin to appreciate the depth of the screenplay, they will come to recognize it as the masterpiece that it is. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Get ready for the ride of your life!
If you've always thought of Brad Pitt as the sexy, rugged, boy-next-door you'll be SHOCKED! Personally, Pitt is not one of my favorites but he gives a scintillating performance as a serial killer, with Juliette Lewis as his trashy, dingy sidekick. Lewis also starred in "Natural Born Killers", another movie about serial killers; she plays the white-trash role very well! David Duchovny is sexy as Brian, a yuppie writer with Michelle Forbes as Carrie, his beautiful, fiesty photographer-girlfriend. Carrie relies on her instincts regarding Early's character from the first time she sees him. The only negative I can say about this movie is that it moves slowly - it isn't until well into the last half of the movie that the pace picks up and the killing spree REALLY begins!

Shocking or schlocky? That's the point!
This movie takes a familiar premise and makes the most of it, doing a pretty darn good job in the process. David Duchovny stars as Brian, a guy writing a book on serial killers who wants to take a cross-country tour of historic murder sites with his girlfriend phtographer, Carrie (Michelle Forbes). To share expenses on the trip and liven things up, they take along a trailer trash couple named Early (Brad Pitt) and Adele (Juliette Lewis). Unfortunately for all involved, Early is a serial murderer himself.
There's a lot going for this movie, particularly the performances by Pitt and Lewis. They get so immersed in their characters, you can almost smell them. Pitt is outstanding. He ain't just a pretty face (in this movie, he's nearly unrecognizable); he acts the hell out of his role. Some critics might say it doesn't take a lot of talent to play a moronic dirtbag, but check out all the nuances Pitt gives Early, and you'll disagree. It's easily one of the best performances of his career, and certainly the most disturbing.
Lewis, for her part, is often accused of "always playing the same character," but this is not true. For all her childlike foolishness and pitiful gazes, Adele is a sad, complex creature who becomes the movie's emotional core. Indeed, Adele would have a major struggle on her hands just trying to complete the first grade, and her voice and behavior might annoy the socks off of us (not to mention Brian and Carrie), but are there people in the world like her? Yes. They put us in the awkward position of earning our sympathy while making us uncomfortable. Then we feel guilty that we're uncomfortable. Courage and independence come easily to some people, just as lies and deceit are the natural tools of others. But Adele posesses none of the above. She is simply an innocent, dealt a rotten hand in life, and Lewis's ability to make this clear proves her acting talent. It's a tricky role, but she pulls it off beautifully. There's a world of difference between Adele and the character Lewis plays in "Cape Fear."
Duchovny (who, with his dry monotone and sparse facial expressions, has always been an acquired taste) does well in the role of Brian. He is repelled by Early and Adele, but won't admit it. He also makes the mistake of regarding them as an amusing curiosity. Forbes does a good job too, but with the marathon of excellent acting going on around her, she won't be the character you'll remember the most.
Thematically, some might find the movie a little shaky. Suffice to say, it's violent enough to put off many potential viewers, but that's not what I mean. Some have criticized Pitt's portrayal of Early as not in-depth enough, that is, why is Early a serial killer? Do we get "inside his head"? Is it enough to justify his crimes simply because we need them for the plot? Let me tell you what I think. Early kills for two reasons: opportunistic impulse, or to escape capture. Technically, this makes him NOT a serial killer. He's more like Charles Starkweather, not Jeffrey Dahmer. It's rather fitting that Brian, after all his theorizing about "the minds of serial killers" and preaching about "treatment, not punishment", should be faced with someone who kills out of small-minded necessity, not sadism or sexual desire.
All in all, a very good movie, if you can stomach the violence. It gives you a lot to think about, as well as a couple of significantly underappreciated performances to amaze you.

GREAT DARK CINEMA
Well Brad Pitt Hollywood pretty boy kills that image in this great film.Brad Pit is Early a white-trash,Serial killer.Pitt
gets the image down cold,the hair,beard,accent,tatoo's he is a
blast to watch.Juliette Lewis is great to as Early' girlfreind
who's harmless and terrified of Early.David Ducovany(X-files)is
his usual yuppy self but was right for the part.I can't decide
witch on the road killing spree movie I like more Kalifornia or
the classic Natural Born Killers.Both are going head to head
Watch both and you'll see what I mean both are aquirred taste
and if your not into violence for pleasure and dark humor avoid
both but if you like violence for pleasure and are into just flat
out guilty pleasures watch on.Although Kalifornia is a more real
-istic violent Natural Born Killers is action violent.See both now.All hail Brad and Woody.Mickey and Earlyt

Effective Psychological Thriller.
For those who love psychological thrillers in the tradition of Seven, Natural Born Killers and Frailty, this film is a great find.
Brian(David Duchovny) is an author preoccupied with serial killers. As research for his latest book, he decides to embark with his girlfriend Carrie, on a cross country trip to visit the sites of some of America's most notorious murder sites. To defray the expenses of the trip, Brian recruits Early Grace(Brad Pitt) and his dimwitted girlfriend Adele(Juliette Lewis) to journey with him. As the trip progresses, Early's increasingly violent nature and past reveals itself and culminates in a terrifying murder spree.
The greatest thing about this film is the wonderful cast who turn in completely believable and harrowing performances. Pitt in particular is cast in a totally atypical role and comes shinning through creating a complex and interesting character in the maniacal Early Grace. Michelle Forbes is excellent too as Duchovny's suspicious girlfriend Carrie, adding copious amounts of sexual tension to the film with her imposing presence. Lewis turns in her usual performance, eternally typecast as the idiotic, victimized, easily manipulated female (for more on this refer to Cape Fear and Cold Creek Manor). This is actually one of her better performances as she elicits a considerable amount of pity and sympathy.
The film is beautifully shot and very well paced, with nicely developed characters. Like similar films like Seven and Natural Born Killers, it is also quite violent but miles above intellectually the usual serial killer/slasher fare that Hollywood churns out.
The DVD presentation is good too, even though the video quality is lacking in some areas with a fair amount of grain and white speckle lines visible in the darker scenes. The R rated and uncut versions are included but the differences are negligible as both versions run 115 Mins. The option for widescreen or full frame presentation is also included.
The DVD also includes a making of...featurette and the theatrical trailer.
In conclusion, this is a chilling, remarkable piece of film making that belongs in every DVD collection. The minor video flaws on this DVD are more than compensated for by the low retail price. It would be nice to see a more comprehensive collector's edition of this DVD available someday.

Pretty boys (Brad Pitt and David Duchovny) show they can act
When this movie opened back in 1992, I skipped it (too graphic! too bloody!). When it came out on video, I skipped it (Brad Pitt, David Duchovny -- pretty boys who think they can act, forget it!). Then, one rainy evening when everything else had been rented out at the video store, I finally sat down and watched this movie. What a surprise. These guys can act. Especially Brad Pitt. Playing completely against type, he shows that there really is a brain and talent underneath all of that "Interview with a Vampire" hair. With Juliette Lewis and Michelle Forbes giving great supporting roles, this movie actually kept me guessing about the ending (not an easily accomplished goal). A good addition to any collection of those who like suspense movies. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Get ready for the ride of your life!
If you've always thought of Brad Pitt as the sexy, rugged, boy-next-door you'll be SHOCKED! Personally, Pitt is not one of my favorites but he gives a scintillating performance as a serial killer, with Juliette Lewis as his trashy, dingy sidekick. Lewis also starred in "Natural Born Killers", another movie about serial killers; she plays the white-trash role very well! David Duchovny is sexy as Brian, a yuppie writer with Michelle Forbes as Carrie, his beautiful, fiesty photographer-girlfriend. Carrie relies on her instincts regarding Early's character from the first time she sees him. The only negative I can say about this movie is that it moves slowly - it isn't until well into the last half of the movie that the pace picks up and the killing spree REALLY begins!

Shocking or schlocky? That's the point!
This movie takes a familiar premise and makes the most of it, doing a pretty darn good job in the process. David Duchovny stars as Brian, a guy writing a book on serial killers who wants to take a cross-country tour of historic murder sites with his girlfriend phtographer, Carrie (Michelle Forbes). To share expenses on the trip and liven things up, they take along a trailer trash couple named Early (Brad Pitt) and Adele (Juliette Lewis). Unfortunately for all involved, Early is a serial murderer himself.
There's a lot going for this movie, particularly the performances by Pitt and Lewis. They get so immersed in their characters, you can almost smell them. Pitt is outstanding. He ain't just a pretty face (in this movie, he's nearly unrecognizable); he acts the hell out of his role. Some critics might say it doesn't take a lot of talent to play a moronic dirtbag, but check out all the nuances Pitt gives Early, and you'll disagree. It's easily one of the best performances of his career, and certainly the most disturbing.
Lewis, for her part, is often accused of "always playing the same character," but this is not true. For all her childlike foolishness and pitiful gazes, Adele is a sad, complex creature who becomes the movie's emotional core. Indeed, Adele would have a major struggle on her hands just trying to complete the first grade, and her voice and behavior might annoy the socks off of us (not to mention Brian and Carrie), but are there people in the world like her? Yes. They put us in the awkward position of earning our sympathy while making us uncomfortable. Then we feel guilty that we're uncomfortable. Courage and independence come easily to some people, just as lies and deceit are the natural tools of others. But Adele posesses none of the above. She is simply an innocent, dealt a rotten hand in life, and Lewis's ability to make this clear proves her acting talent. It's a tricky role, but she pulls it off beautifully. There's a world of difference between Adele and the character Lewis plays in "Cape Fear."
Duchovny (who, with his dry monotone and sparse facial expressions, has always been an acquired taste) does well in the role of Brian. He is repelled by Early and Adele, but won't admit it. He also makes the mistake of regarding them as an amusing curiosity. Forbes does a good job too, but with the marathon of excellent acting going on around her, she won't be the character you'll remember the most.
Thematically, some might find the movie a little shaky. Suffice to say, it's violent enough to put off many potential viewers, but that's not what I mean. Some have criticized Pitt's portrayal of Early as not in-depth enough, that is, why is Early a serial killer? Do we get "inside his head"? Is it enough to justify his crimes simply because we need them for the plot? Let me tell you what I think. Early kills for two reasons: opportunistic impulse, or to escape capture. Technically, this makes him NOT a serial killer. He's more like Charles Starkweather, not Jeffrey Dahmer. It's rather fitting that Brian, after all his theorizing about "the minds of serial killers" and preaching about "treatment, not punishment", should be faced with someone who kills out of small-minded necessity, not sadism or sexual desire.
All in all, a very good movie, if you can stomach the violence. It gives you a lot to think about, as well as a couple of significantly underappreciated performances to amaze you.

GREAT DARK CINEMA
Well Brad Pitt Hollywood pretty boy kills that image in this great film.Brad Pit is Early a white-trash,Serial killer.Pitt
gets the image down cold,the hair,beard,accent,tatoo's he is a
blast to watch.Juliette Lewis is great to as Early' girlfreind
who's harmless and terrified of Early.David Ducovany(X-files)is
his usual yuppy self but was right for the part.I can't decide
witch on the road killing spree movie I like more Kalifornia or
the classic Natural Born Killers.Both are going head to head
Watch both and you'll see what I mean both are aquirred taste
and if your not into violence for pleasure and dark humor avoid
both but if you like violence for pleasure and are into just flat
out guilty pleasures watch on.Although Kalifornia is a more real
-istic violent Natural Born Killers is action violent.See both now.All hail Brad and Woody.Mickey and Earlyt

Effective Psychological Thriller.
For those who love psychological thrillers in the tradition of Seven, Natural Born Killers and Frailty, this film is a great find.
Brian(David Duchovny) is an author preoccupied with serial killers. As research for his latest book, he decides to embark with his girlfriend Carrie, on a cross country trip to visit the sites of some of America's most notorious murder sites. To defray the expenses of the trip, Brian recruits Early Grace(Brad Pitt) and his dimwitted girlfriend Adele(Juliette Lewis) to journey with him. As the trip progresses, Early's increasingly violent nature and past reveals itself and culminates in a terrifying murder spree.
The greatest thing about this film is the wonderful cast who turn in completely believable and harrowing performances. Pitt in particular is cast in a totally atypical role and comes shinning through creating a complex and interesting character in the maniacal Early Grace. Michelle Forbes is excellent too as Duchovny's suspicious girlfriend Carrie, adding copious amounts of sexual tension to the film with her imposing presence. Lewis turns in her usual performance, eternally typecast as the idiotic, victimized, easily manipulated female (for more on this refer to Cape Fear and Cold Creek Manor). This is actually one of her better performances as she elicits a considerable amount of pity and sympathy.
The film is beautifully shot and very well paced, with nicely developed characters. Like similar films like Seven and Natural Born Killers, it is also quite violent but miles above intellectually the usual serial killer/slasher fare that Hollywood churns out.
The DVD presentation is good too, even though the video quality is lacking in some areas with a fair amount of grain and white speckle lines visible in the darker scenes. The R rated and uncut versions are included but the differences are negligible as both versions run 115 Mins. The option for widescreen or full frame presentation is also included.
The DVD also includes a making of...featurette and the theatrical trailer.
In conclusion, this is a chilling, remarkable piece of film making that belongs in every DVD collection. The minor video flaws on this DVD are more than compensated for by the low retail price. It would be nice to see a more comprehensive collector's edition of this DVD available someday.

Pretty boys (Brad Pitt and David Duchovny) show they can act
When this movie opened back in 1992, I skipped it (too graphic! too bloody!). When it came out on video, I skipped it (Brad Pitt, David Duchovny -- pretty boys who think they can act, forget it!). Then, one rainy evening when everything else had been rented out at the video store, I finally sat down and watched this movie. What a surprise. These guys can act. Especially Brad Pitt. Playing completely against type, he shows that there really is a brain and talent underneath all of that "Interview with a Vampire" hair. With Juliette Lewis and Michelle Forbes giving great supporting roles, this movie actually kept me guessing about the ending (not an easily accomplished goal). A good addition to any collection of those who like suspense movies. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Laurence Fishburne helped shepherd this Emmy Award-winning exposé from American medical history books to the small screen. Anchored in the 1973 Senate inquiry into the infamous Tuskegee Study, the film uses a flashback structure to take us back 40 years as Nurse Eunice Evers (played with honest conviction by Alfre Woodard, who also earned an acting Emmy for her powerful performance) describes how a program designed to treat syphilis among blacks in the South was twisted into an inhuman study. Evers's conscience is torn between leaving her position on principle or remaining to give the dying menwhat comfort she can while they are systematically refused life-saving medicine atevery turn. Fishburne costars as Caleb, a easygoing but ambitious young fieldhand who discovers the cold reality of the study while courting Miss Evers. Adapted by Walter Bernstein from a play by David Feldshuh, the film rises above the TV Movie of the Week mold with a complex moral structure that eschews (if you'll pardon the expression) black and white polarities for shades of gray as the doctors' initial compromises become a lifetime of lies. Ultimately that tone becomes the most disturbing facet of the drama: doctors and nurses so enmeshed in what is tantamount to a conspiracy they can find no way out, and a government that searches for scapegoats for its own cold-blooded research. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Nurse's Perspective on "Miss Evers' Boys"
From my perspective as a professor of nursing, I would say the movie depicted well ethical issues of the most serious type. In this fact-based story, nurse Eunice Evers (Alfre Woodard) was drawn into the Tuskegee syphilis research study by promises that treatment would be coming, hopefully in six months to a year. Her responsibilities included recruiting African American subjects. They were screened for being syphilis positive and then brought into the research study without full disclosure that no actual effective treatment was being provided. Even when penicillin became available, "Miss Evers' Boys" would not be given the life-saving medicine. Only one of the "Evers'Boys", Caleb Humphries (who was expertly played by Laurence Fishburne) escaped the ravages of progressive syphilis by receiving penicillin immediately upon joining the military during World War II. Miss Evers' was portrayed sympathetically, even as she used all of her cultural skills to do the wrong thing -- recruit and retain subjects in this unethical study spanning 40 years. The HBO movie is excellent for students, nurses, medical researchers, doctors, and the general public interested in ethical issues in medicine.

HBO comes through
This is one of the better HBO productions to make it to video. Drama, ethics, and history all combine into an excellent movie with tremendous acting. This is a story that should not be forgotten.

A Powerful Story, Well-Told!
It's no secret that Hollywood has backed off of traditional socially conscious dramas. Oh, sure, issues of race and class are often touched on in cinematic releases, but in recent years, it has been pretty much up to cable channels such as HBO and TNT to produce meaty fact-based dramas with socio-political heft. We can only be thankful that someone has picked up the slack and that such work is still being done. "Miss Evers Boys," a dramatization of what has become the now-scandalous Tuskegee Negro Syphilitic Study, is a case in point. It is as powerful an indictment of racism as you are likely to see. It is also a nuanced and complex a statement on same. It is hard to see how any viewer could remain unmoved by this film.

Much of "Miss Evers'" impact stems from Alfre Woodard's astonishing performance as the title character. Had this actually been a theatrical release, she would likely have walked off with an Academy Award. She had to settle for an Emmy, which was certainly well-deserved. I have seen Alfre Woodard in roles in which she did not appear comfortable, but she inhabits the role of Nurse Eunice Evers totally (or perhaps, Eunice Evers inhabits her). Her performance alone would be enough to recommend the film. But it does indeed have much more to offer--including a great supporting cast (including producer-leading man, Laurence Fishburne, Joe Morton and Craig Sheffer), an intelligent and complex script, and capable direction. Thanks be unto the heavens that someone is still producing powerful, fact-based social drama. We need them now more than ever.

All I have to say, is WOW.
Ever get into those discussions with folks who say, "No, our government would never do something like that..." ?

This movie is the antidote for those people. Our government has made some tragic mistakes and this movie exposes one of the gravest mistakes our government ever made.

Our family watched this together and we were all incredulous. But it is all true. This movie is based a true incident and amazingly, the whole thing was successfully covered up for 40+ years.

This movie had an curious side effect for me - It inspired me to pray for our country and its leaders. The people involved in this heinous scheme need prayers of forgiveness. Hopefully, this could not happen again.

An Imprint in History
I was very upset when I say what the Goverment did to Our people in this movie! Just to show that Blacks and Whites react the same to Syphills! Damn! I was not taught this in school High School! This is a a piece of history that should be taught! ... Read more

Reviews (45)

A B Movie at Best
I thought RoboCop 3 was just OK. I loved the first one. It was great. RoboCop is my all time favorite Movie ever made. I think the Robo trilogy is the best. I watch them often. But the problem with 3 is they got rid of Nancy Allen and he flew. RoboCop wasn't meant to fly. I liked the new arsenal he had in this film, but nothing compares to his old fashioned killer gun. They tried to copy the first one with the music and some of the dialogue. Also the humor was good some parts were funny. I think that kid was too smart. Be that i am a die hard RoboCop fan, I think this is worth owning and watching on DVD. The sound is incredible. I wouldn't recommend the average movie buyer to get this, but I would reccomend this to all Robofans. I thought the series was great!

This is Painfully SH*T!!!
After the high quality of the first two films there's only one way to go...downhill and fast.
This film put plain and simply is pants! A crappy japanese cyborg is created as the new nemesis for robocop, & it looks exactly like a human.
A piss-take of the first two films rolled into one, what a disaster...ignore this film.

Oh man!
What a crap film this is!
Some films are so bad that they are funny. This isn't one of them. It's just plain bad.

I have nothing more to say on the subject cept make sure that your holding a loaded gun to your head before you start watching this film.That way you can put yourself out of your misery in the fastest possible way.

Lead in for TV Series and lame tv movies
This movie must have been made as a pilot for the series that followed. This would explain the lack of wit and social commentary as well as the toning down of the violence. This movie had a serious continuity problem. Nobody seems to have noticed that in the first two movies Robocop had a son, yet in the 3rd movie during the flashbacks he had a daughter. This was truly a bad sequel.

THIS IS KINDA INSULTING TO THE FIRST TWO MOVIES
OCP PLANS ON DESTROYING DETROIT TO BUILD DELTA CITY. BUT, WHEN A GANG OF ANGERED RESIDENTS DECIDE TO FIGHT OCP BACK, PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY BEGIN. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEMS, ROBOCOP [PLAYED HERE BY ROBERT JOHN BURKE] JOINS THE PEOPLE IN THEIR QUEST FOR FREEDOM. NOT AS VIOLENT AS THE FIRST TWO MOVIES, AND IT'S ALSO NOT AS GOOD. THE BIGGEST MISTAKE THEY MADE WITH THIS MOVIE WAS TO REPLACE PETER WELLER AS ROBOCOP. ROBERT JOHN BURKE JUST SEEMS LOST AS ROBOCOP. THIS SERIES WAS SERIOUSLY STARTING TO RUN OUT OF STEAM TOWARD THIS POINT. WHY COULDN'T THEY JUST KEEP THIS ONE ON THE SHELF? ANYWAY, ANOTHER BIG MISTAKE THEY MADE WAS TO HAVE ANN, ROBO'S PARTNER FROM THE FIRST TWO MOVIES, GET KILLED. HAS A FEW GOOD ACTION SEQUENCES, BUT IT'S SERIOUSLY LACKING THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT CAME WITH THE FIRST TWO MOVIES. IF YOU STILL HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BUT YOU WANNA SEE IT, RENT THIS, BUT DON'T BUY THIS. FOLLOWED BY FOUR DIRECT-TO-VIDEO MOVIES. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Pure FUN!
This is a fun film. If you want to see something cheesy and goofy and pure mind candy, then this is for you. I love it!

Great Film! Great Women!
This movie has it all!!! Naked Women, Drugs, A beach, and more nudity! A very funny movie to watch. I reccomend it to everyone! ... Read more

Reviews (401)

Best Film of 1998-Forget Shakespeare in Love!
Nobody will ever accuse the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of having common sense or good taste. I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out why this film was beat out by "Shakespeare in Love", and why Jim Carey, who turned in the best performance of his career in "The Truman Show", wasn't even nominated for best actor.

The plot of this movie is simple enough-Jim Carey plays a young man whose entire life has been entertainment for the rest of the world. He dares to reach beyond the giant bubble which is his universe to see what's out there, only to be foiled.

Of particular note is the scene toward the end of the film where Truman reaches the end of the dome shaped studio and is told by Christoph (Ed Harris) about his world. This stands out as one of the most magical scenes in an extraordinary motion picture.

I realize that this movie isn't for everyone (my wife, for one, didn't particularly like it), but Carey's performance alone justifies the purchase of this video. He displays a vulnerability and childlike fascination that is unlike anything I've ever seen. A very good supporting cast includes the shamefully overlooked Ed Harris, as well as Laura Linney.

"The Truman Show" is one of the most brilliant and overlooked motion pictures ever made. The ersatz "Ed TV", which followed a similar plot, doesn't begin to approach the craftsmanship of "The Truman Show". Hopefully, the Academy will make up for their slight of Jim Carey with "Man on the Moon, which appears to be his second acting tour de force.

oustanding!
Imagine that your whole life is a lie, everyone is watching you everywhere, and the people who you love and with whom you've been sharing your life, including your best friend and your beloved and always funny wife are just actors. The Truman Show's basic idea carries an undoubtful cruel and sad felling, but in the hands of Peter Weir, a talented filmmaker who believes in the humanity and in hope, the film turns out to be an interesting, funny, and entertaining masterpiece, although it has an undeniable sad context. Truman is played to perfection by an actor who I've never thought that he could actually act, Jim Carrey. In this dramatic, powerful and blessed hole, Carrey delivers an excellent job! certainly he deserved the Golden Globe for this breakthrough performance. Carrey builds an ingenuous, good and honest man, making impossible for the audience stop caring and loving him. And during the whole running time of the film, you will find yourself laughing, having a great time and sometimes crying for Truman at each curve his fate takes. The supporting performances stand out for their quality, Laura Linney (from Congo, a great flick about explorers who are hunted down by killer gorillas in a mountain, available at Amazon) offers an unforgetable interpretation, playing with ear-to-ear smiles a cold and cruel actress. It's beyond me the reason why she didn't receive any Oscar nomination, but it's said that Paramount, Truman's studio, tried to nominate her in the Best Actresses Category but the year's other main performances (Cate Blanchet, Fernanda Montenegro) were more applauded, but had they took the Supporting Category, she would be a tough contestant for the Oscar. Ed Harris' Christof is one of those characters that will live forever in the hearts of the audience, and Truman, well, Truman is perhaps the most upright, honest and sweet hero that Hollywood ever conceived. The technical aspects count with curious, never-seen-before camera movements, intelligent and different ways of shooting the scenes and a strong direction by Weir. The Truman Show is available at Amazon, the DVD and VHS include the original trailers and interviews with the cast and director. Own this masterpiece! And don't forget to take a look at Congo.

My expectations were too high
I really like Jim Carey and the word of mouth about this movie was very good. It sounded like such an interesting premise. I watched it and was not entertained.

1984, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, Truman Show!
Who would have thought that 'The Truman Show' would be entered among the great literary and movie classics ever made. Where 1984 gives a bleak look at a government who looks at everything and Brave New World about cloning, The Truman show is the premierve movie about the most horrible of all television rages in the last 10 years: Reality-TV.

But in this case Truman does not it. The awful outside world has made him into an item of fun, a person used for the amusement of others.

Are we all watchers or maybe in a way all Trumans? Trying to get out if this spectacle called life?

Deep, great, wonderfullly acted and a seminal movie.

Hollywood's view of the fall of man
It amazes me that so few people notice that this is a religious allegory. Sure, on the surface this is about how the media have invaded every square inch of our lives, and it is a prescient take on reality television, but more than that, the story is about the fall of man and the end of innocence. If you've seen this before, watch it again and notice the parallels to Genesis, especially near the end where Christof (How obvious the name!) talks to Truman (true man) from the clouds. He even addresses himself as "the creator."

Jim Carrey gives what is still his best performance to date. And the screenplay gives you a great deal to think about. Watch this and "Pleasantville" back to back and notice the theological similarities. The Truman Show is definitely one of the best movies of the decade. And I think years from now, when people really begin to appreciate the depth of the screenplay, they will come to recognize it as the masterpiece that it is. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Putrid
Use disc as a coaster. Everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves. This is one of the worst films ever made...And not in a good way.

The real mystery - how a great storyline died!
Like so many films these days you sit through the first third or even two thirds and your'e absolutely gripped only to be let down by a banal, predictable ending.

This movie starts off brilliantly and keeps up the pace and tension for up to two thirds of the film. In fact, I have seen so many films lately that lose the plot after half an hour, Consenting Adults, can be recommended on this alone!

Back to the film. Suddenly two thirds of the way through a superb film is butchered. A tense, emotional drama is replaced but a non-sensical murder mystery.

The two questions that kept coming into my head after Kline is framed for Murder. Does the criminal justice system in America really let a man who is about to stand trial for a brutal murder out on bail? Do they then let him wander, unsupervised, wherever he pleases?

My final film summary first two thirds of the movie - excellent last third - don't even bother to play. Stop the tape and return it to the video shop. If you don't you'll just be bitter, let down and very, very dissapointed!

Runs Out of Steam and Logic
This movie started out great the way it established the growing friendship between two very different couples and then moved into a murder mystery. The acting was first-rate (with the exception of Rebecca Miller -- can we say boring?) but then the plot defied logic. For example: Kevin Kline's character doesn't realize that he is not having sex with the neighbor's wife but with a "stand-in"? When Kevin Spacey's character confirms his wife's death in Savannah with the police, the police do not think to ask: "Hey, didn't you already report her death a few months ago?" Further, it is completely unrealistic that a shattered Kevin Kline's wife would have so immediately taken up with Kevin Spacey. By the time the film ended, it felt like a comedy, it was so ridiculous!

Kevin Spacey is awesome!
This was an excellent movie. Eddie Otis (Spacey) and his pretty, soft-spoken wife, Kay, move in next door to Richard Parker and his wife. At first, they seem like the perfect neighbors, and the two couples quickly develop a close friendship. Soon enough, though, we see that Eddie makes his money being a scam artist. He pretends to get hurt by the Parker's car, and then presents them with a check that will pay off all their debts. Although they were reluctant to accept the money, they think that Eddie is a good friend to have risked his life for them. This friendship changes, however, when Eddie (always the risk taker), talks Richard into a wife-swapping game. After this "game," all hell breaks loose. There is murder, and all fingers are pointed at Richard. There are so many twist and turns, and Spacey is terrific as the ultimate bad guy!

Not a bad idea but tailed off towards the end
I have to say about this film that although it's not the kind of film I really rate, it had a couple of startling moments with the initial set-up etc. I liked the idea up to a point but then by the end it was just like 'oh just finish this up in the usual way' with a totally run-of-the-mill climax. The film seemed to just run out of steam as time went on. That's the problem with a lot of thrillers is that it's hard for the ending to live up to the pace of what precedes it. A shame, but nevertheless the film had unintentional comic worth in that last showdown between Kline and Spacey(I challenge anyone to keep a straight face where Spacey egotistically challenges Kline 'Come on. COME TO PAPA!') ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Taut Psychosexual Drama
The usually June Cleaveresque Joanna Kerns takes a turn at steamy soft erotic drama in THE NIGHTMAN, directed by Charles Haid ("Renko" of "Hill Street Blues" fame).

The story concerns the sexual competitiveness of Kerns, as the mother/older woman proprietress of a run-down lakeside summer hotel, and Jenny Robertson as her daughter/Lolita. Both women vy for the attention of Ted Marcoux, who plays the young, irresistibly virile handyman/night manager of the hotel.

Kerns is unbelievably sensual and indubitably bitchy in her role, while the gamine Robertson fairly oozes hormones. Marcoux, as the Nightman of the title, is trapped between them, and is forced to make a choice. It is a decision which comes back to haunt him eighteen years later, when Robertson, now a psychologist, confronts him about occurrences at the hotel that long-ago humid summer.

Underrated, low-budget, and peopled with unknowns, without being explicit THE NIGHTMAN nonetheless manages to maintain a level of moody, stimulating tension throughout, which is hardly matched by most "adult" films. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Entertaining, but not as good as the original.
Pet Sematary Two is totally different from the original movie. It takes place in the same town, but with a different cast. The movie is about a 13 year old boy named Jeff Matthews, played by Edward Furlong (T2 Judgement Day, American History X) visiting his actress mother on set, while filming a low budget horror movie. While she was filming a scene, she gets electricuted and dies. Jeff and his father Chase Matthews played by Anthony Edwards (Revenge of the Nerds, TVs ER) move to Ludlow from Los Angeles to start a new life. His father was a vetinarian. Jeff goes to his first day of school and brings his kitten with him. After school, a punk named Clyde Parker takes his kitten and runs off with his friends. Jeff goes after him in his bicycle and they get to the path that leads to the Pet Sematary. Clyde and his friends tell Jeff about the rumors of the Burial Ground. Clyde offends Jeff by telling him to bury his mom in the burial ground and pray for her to come back. Jeff throws a punch at him, and Clyde goes off and kicks his ass. Jeff goes into the Pet Sematary to get his kitten out of the cage and becomes friends with Drew. An overweight kid with a mean, strict stepfather named Gus, played by Clancy Brown,(The Shawkshank Redemption)who is the town sheriff. Gus shoots and kills Drew's dog Zowie and buries him at the Indian Burial Ground with Jeff,wondering if it will work. Zowie comes back deadly and angrier. Gus gets upset and grounded Drew for lying to him saying he buried his dog. On Halloween, Jeff and Drew meet Clyde and his gang at the Pet Sematary where he told everybody about what happened to the Creed family. Gus, later finds out where Drew was at and starts to beat him. Zowie comes to the rescue and kills Gus. Drew and Jeff bury him at the Micmac Burial Ground and he comes back alive. He kills Clyde with a motorcycle, kills Drew and his mother in a head on collision with a potato truck, buries Clyde at the burial ground, digs up Renee and gets Jeff to bury her at the burial ground. She comes back killing Jeff's housekeeper, Clyde comes back trying to kill Jeff. Jeff and his dad put up a fight and kill all the dead ones and move out of the town. This movie is worth renting and watching. The first one is worth buying, but only rent this movie. It's an entertaining movie.

PET SEMATARY 2
PET SEMATARY 2 is the sequel to Stephen King's original PET SEMATARY. Jeff Matthews moves to the town of Ludlow with his father after his Hollywood star mother is accidentally killed while making a horror movie. Jeff makes friends with a local boy named Drew who has a dog named Zowie and a mean stepfather named Gus, who also happens to be the sheriff in Ludlow. When Gus shoots Drew's dog, Drew takes Jeff with him to bury the dog in the Indian burial ground that's next to the local Pet Sematary. When the dog comes back from the dead, Jeff begins to wonder if he should bury his mother in the burial ground. This is a decent, well-acted sequel.

Ick.
This sequel is a disgusting splatterfest with the bare bones of a story wrapped around it. Anthony Edwards (who should have known better) and Edward Furlong (who shouldn't have, probably) star as a father and son who move to the town which the Creed family from the first movie didn't have so much luck in. Mayhem ensues. A zombified sheriff oozing face goo onto his cute little screaming wife as he sexually assaults her... A box full of chewed-up kittens... A young boy getting his neck snapped in a scene which winds up being played for laughs... These scenes are not just disgusting, they are in bad taste.
The first movie was not "Silence of the Lambs"-caliber cinema either, but at least it was scary and a decent "popcorn" movie. It was gross too, but it was practically "Annie" compared to this sequel's pointless, offensive gore-a-thon. Apparently the filmmaker's goal was to make as many audience members as possible flee the theater retching. Mission accomplished. Shame on you, Dr. Greene!

PEOPLE NEVER LEARN
Why is it that even though every one knows the story of THE MONKEY'S PAW, people tend to want to bring the dead back, when they know it's not gonna be pretty. Mary Lambert's PET SEMATARY TWO is a disturbing, dark, brooding movie, where children and pets are wasted very casually. Especially brutal is the fate of Andrew (Jason McGuire). But here's my overall take:
THE SCRIPT: Stephen King wasn't happy, but he still let it come out, huh? Actually, the script's not that bad, it's just so dark and foreboding. SCORE: 3
THE CAST: I've never been a fan of Edward Furlong, but this is the first time he didn't tick me off through the whole movie; he obviously enjoys playing the cynical, dark, deep kid; Anthony Edwards is ineffectual, too zombielike; Clancy Brown is marvelous as Gus, especially when he returns from the dead; Jared Rushton (Big) is good, too, as the psychotic to be Clyde; and Darlanne Flugel is richly exotic as Furlong's dead mother.
SCORE; 4
TECHNICALLY: Up and down; the effects of the dog are sometimes good, and other times, very noticeably inept; the score does nothing to enhance the film, but when you're marketing for teenagers, it's inevitable; direction is a little slow at times. SCORE: 3

Very worthy sequel
Most people prefer PET SEMATARY II over the original because it's more fun and not nearly as disturbing. The original has images that stay with you for weeks, whereas the sequel is basically just a huge, fun gorefest. It still is very spooky and quite good, even though Stephen King put up a huge fight for it not to go to theaters and wanted all the video and DVD copies in the world destroyed. I think it's a very well-done sequel and you'll like it if you liked the original. ... Read more

Reviews (401)

Best Film of 1998-Forget Shakespeare in Love!
Nobody will ever accuse the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of having common sense or good taste. I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out why this film was beat out by "Shakespeare in Love", and why Jim Carey, who turned in the best performance of his career in "The Truman Show", wasn't even nominated for best actor.

The plot of this movie is simple enough-Jim Carey plays a young man whose entire life has been entertainment for the rest of the world. He dares to reach beyond the giant bubble which is his universe to see what's out there, only to be foiled.

Of particular note is the scene toward the end of the film where Truman reaches the end of the dome shaped studio and is told by Christoph (Ed Harris) about his world. This stands out as one of the most magical scenes in an extraordinary motion picture.

I realize that this movie isn't for everyone (my wife, for one, didn't particularly like it), but Carey's performance alone justifies the purchase of this video. He displays a vulnerability and childlike fascination that is unlike anything I've ever seen. A very good supporting cast includes the shamefully overlooked Ed Harris, as well as Laura Linney.

"The Truman Show" is one of the most brilliant and overlooked motion pictures ever made. The ersatz "Ed TV", which followed a similar plot, doesn't begin to approach the craftsmanship of "The Truman Show". Hopefully, the Academy will make up for their slight of Jim Carey with "Man on the Moon, which appears to be his second acting tour de force.

oustanding!
Imagine that your whole life is a lie, everyone is watching you everywhere, and the people who you love and with whom you've been sharing your life, including your best friend and your beloved and always funny wife are just actors. The Truman Show's basic idea carries an undoubtful cruel and sad felling, but in the hands of Peter Weir, a talented filmmaker who believes in the humanity and in hope, the film turns out to be an interesting, funny, and entertaining masterpiece, although it has an undeniable sad context. Truman is played to perfection by an actor who I've never thought that he could actually act, Jim Carrey. In this dramatic, powerful and blessed hole, Carrey delivers an excellent job! certainly he deserved the Golden Globe for this breakthrough performance. Carrey builds an ingenuous, good and honest man, making impossible for the audience stop caring and loving him. And during the whole running time of the film, you will find yourself laughing, having a great time and sometimes crying for Truman at each curve his fate takes. The supporting performances stand out for their quality, Laura Linney (from Congo, a great flick about explorers who are hunted down by killer gorillas in a mountain, available at Amazon) offers an unforgetable interpretation, playing with ear-to-ear smiles a cold and cruel actress. It's beyond me the reason why she didn't receive any Oscar nomination, but it's said that Paramount, Truman's studio, tried to nominate her in the Best Actresses Category but the year's other main performances (Cate Blanchet, Fernanda Montenegro) were more applauded, but had they took the Supporting Category, she would be a tough contestant for the Oscar. Ed Harris' Christof is one of those characters that will live forever in the hearts of the audience, and Truman, well, Truman is perhaps the most upright, honest and sweet hero that Hollywood ever conceived. The technical aspects count with curious, never-seen-before camera movements, intelligent and different ways of shooting the scenes and a strong direction by Weir. The Truman Show is available at Amazon, the DVD and VHS include the original trailers and interviews with the cast and director. Own this masterpiece! And don't forget to take a look at Congo.

My expectations were too high
I really like Jim Carey and the word of mouth about this movie was very good. It sounded like such an interesting premise. I watched it and was not entertained.

1984, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, Truman Show!
Who would have thought that 'The Truman Show' would be entered among the great literary and movie classics ever made. Where 1984 gives a bleak look at a government who looks at everything and Brave New World about cloning, The Truman show is the premierve movie about the most horrible of all television rages in the last 10 years: Reality-TV.

But in this case Truman does not it. The awful outside world has made him into an item of fun, a person used for the amusement of others.

Are we all watchers or maybe in a way all Trumans? Trying to get out if this spectacle called life?

Deep, great, wonderfullly acted and a seminal movie.

Hollywood's view of the fall of man
It amazes me that so few people notice that this is a religious allegory. Sure, on the surface this is about how the media have invaded every square inch of our lives, and it is a prescient take on reality television, but more than that, the story is about the fall of man and the end of innocence. If you've seen this before, watch it again and notice the parallels to Genesis, especially near the end where Christof (How obvious the name!) talks to Truman (true man) from the clouds. He even addresses himself as "the creator."

Jim Carrey gives what is still his best performance to date. And the screenplay gives you a great deal to think about. Watch this and "Pleasantville" back to back and notice the theological similarities. The Truman Show is definitely one of the best movies of the decade. And I think years from now, when people really begin to appreciate the depth of the screenplay, they will come to recognize it as the masterpiece that it is. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Nurse's Perspective on "Miss Evers' Boys"
From my perspective as a professor of nursing, I would say the movie depicted well ethical issues of the most serious type. In this fact-based story, nurse Eunice Evers (Alfre Woodard) was drawn into the Tuskegee syphilis research study by promises that treatment would be coming, hopefully in six months to a year. Her responsibilities included recruiting African American subjects. They were screened for being syphilis positive and then brought into the research study without full disclosure that no actual effective treatment was being provided. Even when penicillin became available, "Miss Evers' Boys" would not be given the life-saving medicine. Only one of the "Evers'Boys", Caleb Humphries (who was expertly played by Laurence Fishburne) escaped the ravages of progressive syphilis by receiving penicillin immediately upon joining the military during World War II. Miss Evers' was portrayed sympathetically, even as she used all of her cultural skills to do the wrong thing -- recruit and retain subjects in this unethical study spanning 40 years. The HBO movie is excellent for students, nurses, medical researchers, doctors, and the general public interested in ethical issues in medicine.

HBO comes through
This is one of the better HBO productions to make it to video. Drama, ethics, and history all combine into an excellent movie with tremendous acting. This is a story that should not be forgotten.

A Powerful Story, Well-Told!
It's no secret that Hollywood has backed off of traditional socially conscious dramas. Oh, sure, issues of race and class are often touched on in cinematic releases, but in recent years, it has been pretty much up to cable channels such as HBO and TNT to produce meaty fact-based dramas with socio-political heft. We can only be thankful that someone has picked up the slack and that such work is still being done. "Miss Evers Boys," a dramatization of what has become the now-scandalous Tuskegee Negro Syphilitic Study, is a case in point. It is as powerful an indictment of racism as you are likely to see. It is also a nuanced and complex a statement on same. It is hard to see how any viewer could remain unmoved by this film.

Much of "Miss Evers'" impact stems from Alfre Woodard's astonishing performance as the title character. Had this actually been a theatrical release, she would likely have walked off with an Academy Award. She had to settle for an Emmy, which was certainly well-deserved. I have seen Alfre Woodard in roles in which she did not appear comfortable, but she inhabits the role of Nurse Eunice Evers totally (or perhaps, Eunice Evers inhabits her). Her performance alone would be enough to recommend the film. But it does indeed have much more to offer--including a great supporting cast (including producer-leading man, Laurence Fishburne, Joe Morton and Craig Sheffer), an intelligent and complex script, and capable direction. Thanks be unto the heavens that someone is still producing powerful, fact-based social drama. We need them now more than ever.

All I have to say, is WOW.
Ever get into those discussions with folks who say, "No, our government would never do something like that..." ?

This movie is the antidote for those people. Our government has made some tragic mistakes and this movie exposes one of the gravest mistakes our government ever made.

Our family watched this together and we were all incredulous. But it is all true. This movie is based a true incident and amazingly, the whole thing was successfully covered up for 40+ years.

This movie had an curious side effect for me - It inspired me to pray for our country and its leaders. The people involved in this heinous scheme need prayers of forgiveness. Hopefully, this could not happen again.

An Imprint in History
I was very upset when I say what the Goverment did to Our people in this movie! Just to show that Blacks and Whites react the same to Syphills! Damn! I was not taught this in school High School! This is a a piece of history that should be taught! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Early on in Robocop 3, an action figure of our metal hero on the nightstand in a little girl's room informs us that he's now become a children's toy. The image is right on the money; despite following up two of the most violent, hilarious sci-fi/action films ever made,Robocop 3 is strictly for the kiddies. It's not just that the gorehas been toned down considerably to make for a PG-13 rating; also excised is the straight-faced portrait of a world run by corporate fascism. When evil corporation OCP, and its even more evil Japanese parent company, plan to raze a Detroit neighborhood to put up the shining new Delta City, the residents (including the aforementioned adolescent, who conveniently happens to be a computer expert) gang up to fight back, just like the angry neighbors in Death Wish V. Robocop (played this time out by Robert John Burke, Peter Weller having wisely passed) could be a hindrance to the companies' plans, so a ninja android is sent in to deal with him. Even all this could have been enjoyable, in a campy sort of way, but nothing pays off as either comedy or action--tellingly, the two big showdowns with the ninja start exhilaratingly (Robocop's clunky movements hilariously counterpoised by the android's acrobatic leaps), only to end just when they're getting good. Director Fred Dekker has some nice stylistic touches scattered about, but not nearly enough to save the film. One high note, though: The animated "Johnny Rehab" spot may be the funniest ad in the whole series. --Bruce Reid ... Read more

Reviews (45)

A B Movie at Best
I thought RoboCop 3 was just OK. I loved the first one. It was great. RoboCop is my all time favorite Movie ever made. I think the Robo trilogy is the best. I watch them often. But the problem with 3 is they got rid of Nancy Allen and he flew. RoboCop wasn't meant to fly. I liked the new arsenal he had in this film, but nothing compares to his old fashioned killer gun. They tried to copy the first one with the music and some of the dialogue. Also the humor was good some parts were funny. I think that kid was too smart. Be that i am a die hard RoboCop fan, I think this is worth owning and watching on DVD. The sound is incredible. I wouldn't recommend the average movie buyer to get this, but I would reccomend this to all Robofans. I thought the series was great!

This is Painfully SH*T!!!
After the high quality of the first two films there's only one way to go...downhill and fast.
This film put plain and simply is pants! A crappy japanese cyborg is created as the new nemesis for robocop, & it looks exactly like a human.
A piss-take of the first two films rolled into one, what a disaster...ignore this film.

Oh man!
What a crap film this is!
Some films are so bad that they are funny. This isn't one of them. It's just plain bad.

I have nothing more to say on the subject cept make sure that your holding a loaded gun to your head before you start watching this film.That way you can put yourself out of your misery in the fastest possible way.

Lead in for TV Series and lame tv movies
This movie must have been made as a pilot for the series that followed. This would explain the lack of wit and social commentary as well as the toning down of the violence. This movie had a serious continuity problem. Nobody seems to have noticed that in the first two movies Robocop had a son, yet in the 3rd movie during the flashbacks he had a daughter. This was truly a bad sequel.

THIS IS KINDA INSULTING TO THE FIRST TWO MOVIES
OCP PLANS ON DESTROYING DETROIT TO BUILD DELTA CITY. BUT, WHEN A GANG OF ANGERED RESIDENTS DECIDE TO FIGHT OCP BACK, PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY BEGIN. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEMS, ROBOCOP [PLAYED HERE BY ROBERT JOHN BURKE] JOINS THE PEOPLE IN THEIR QUEST FOR FREEDOM. NOT AS VIOLENT AS THE FIRST TWO MOVIES, AND IT'S ALSO NOT AS GOOD. THE BIGGEST MISTAKE THEY MADE WITH THIS MOVIE WAS TO REPLACE PETER WELLER AS ROBOCOP. ROBERT JOHN BURKE JUST SEEMS LOST AS ROBOCOP. THIS SERIES WAS SERIOUSLY STARTING TO RUN OUT OF STEAM TOWARD THIS POINT. WHY COULDN'T THEY JUST KEEP THIS ONE ON THE SHELF? ANYWAY, ANOTHER BIG MISTAKE THEY MADE WAS TO HAVE ANN, ROBO'S PARTNER FROM THE FIRST TWO MOVIES, GET KILLED. HAS A FEW GOOD ACTION SEQUENCES, BUT IT'S SERIOUSLY LACKING THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT CAME WITH THE FIRST TWO MOVIES. IF YOU STILL HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BUT YOU WANNA SEE IT, RENT THIS, BUT DON'T BUY THIS. FOLLOWED BY FOUR DIRECT-TO-VIDEO MOVIES. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Get ready for the ride of your life!
If you've always thought of Brad Pitt as the sexy, rugged, boy-next-door you'll be SHOCKED! Personally, Pitt is not one of my favorites but he gives a scintillating performance as a serial killer, with Juliette Lewis as his trashy, dingy sidekick. Lewis also starred in "Natural Born Killers", another movie about serial killers; she plays the white-trash role very well! David Duchovny is sexy as Brian, a yuppie writer with Michelle Forbes as Carrie, his beautiful, fiesty photographer-girlfriend. Carrie relies on her instincts regarding Early's character from the first time she sees him. The only negative I can say about this movie is that it moves slowly - it isn't until well into the last half of the movie that the pace picks up and the killing spree REALLY begins!

Shocking or schlocky? That's the point!
This movie takes a familiar premise and makes the most of it, doing a pretty darn good job in the process. David Duchovny stars as Brian, a guy writing a book on serial killers who wants to take a cross-country tour of historic murder sites with his girlfriend phtographer, Carrie (Michelle Forbes). To share expenses on the trip and liven things up, they take along a trailer trash couple named Early (Brad Pitt) and Adele (Juliette Lewis). Unfortunately for all involved, Early is a serial murderer himself.
There's a lot going for this movie, particularly the performances by Pitt and Lewis. They get so immersed in their characters, you can almost smell them. Pitt is outstanding. He ain't just a pretty face (in this movie, he's nearly unrecognizable); he acts the hell out of his role. Some critics might say it doesn't take a lot of talent to play a moronic dirtbag, but check out all the nuances Pitt gives Early, and you'll disagree. It's easily one of the best performances of his career, and certainly the most disturbing.
Lewis, for her part, is often accused of "always playing the same character," but this is not true. For all her childlike foolishness and pitiful gazes, Adele is a sad, complex creature who becomes the movie's emotional core. Indeed, Adele would have a major struggle on her hands just trying to complete the first grade, and her voice and behavior might annoy the socks off of us (not to mention Brian and Carrie), but are there people in the world like her? Yes. They put us in the awkward position of earning our sympathy while making us uncomfortable. Then we feel guilty that we're uncomfortable. Courage and independence come easily to some people, just as lies and deceit are the natural tools of others. But Adele posesses none of the above. She is simply an innocent, dealt a rotten hand in life, and Lewis's ability to make this clear proves her acting talent. It's a tricky role, but she pulls it off beautifully. There's a world of difference between Adele and the character Lewis plays in "Cape Fear."
Duchovny (who, with his dry monotone and sparse facial expressions, has always been an acquired taste) does well in the role of Brian. He is repelled by Early and Adele, but won't admit it. He also makes the mistake of regarding them as an amusing curiosity. Forbes does a good job too, but with the marathon of excellent acting going on around her, she won't be the character you'll remember the most.
Thematically, some might find the movie a little shaky. Suffice to say, it's violent enough to put off many potential viewers, but that's not what I mean. Some have criticized Pitt's portrayal of Early as not in-depth enough, that is, why is Early a serial killer? Do we get "inside his head"? Is it enough to justify his crimes simply because we need them for the plot? Let me tell you what I think. Early kills for two reasons: opportunistic impulse, or to escape capture. Technically, this makes him NOT a serial killer. He's more like Charles Starkweather, not Jeffrey Dahmer. It's rather fitting that Brian, after all his theorizing about "the minds of serial killers" and preaching about "treatment, not punishment", should be faced with someone who kills out of small-minded necessity, not sadism or sexual desire.
All in all, a very good movie, if you can stomach the violence. It gives you a lot to think about, as well as a couple of significantly underappreciated performances to amaze you.

GREAT DARK CINEMA
Well Brad Pitt Hollywood pretty boy kills that image in this great film.Brad Pit is Early a white-trash,Serial killer.Pitt
gets the image down cold,the hair,beard,accent,tatoo's he is a
blast to watch.Juliette Lewis is great to as Early' girlfreind
who's harmless and terrified of Early.David Ducovany(X-files)is
his usual yuppy self but was right for the part.I can't decide
witch on the road killing spree movie I like more Kalifornia or
the classic Natural Born Killers.Both are going head to head
Watch both and you'll see what I mean both are aquirred taste
and if your not into violence for pleasure and dark humor avoid
both but if you like violence for pleasure and are into just flat
out guilty pleasures watch on.Although Kalifornia is a more real
-istic violent Natural Born Killers is action violent.See both now.All hail Brad and Woody.Mickey and Earlyt

Effective Psychological Thriller.
For those who love psychological thrillers in the tradition of Seven, Natural Born Killers and Frailty, this film is a great find.
Brian(David Duchovny) is an author preoccupied with serial killers. As research for his latest book, he decides to embark with his girlfriend Carrie, on a cross country trip to visit the sites of some of America's most notorious murder sites. To defray the expenses of the trip, Brian recruits Early Grace(Brad Pitt) and his dimwitted girlfriend Adele(Juliette Lewis) to journey with him. As the trip progresses, Early's increasingly violent nature and past reveals itself and culminates in a terrifying murder spree.
The greatest thing about this film is the wonderful cast who turn in completely believable and harrowing performances. Pitt in particular is cast in a totally atypical role and comes shinning through creating a complex and interesting character in the maniacal Early Grace. Michelle Forbes is excellent too as Duchovny's suspicious girlfriend Carrie, adding copious amounts of sexual tension to the film with her imposing presence. Lewis turns in her usual performance, eternally typecast as the idiotic, victimized, easily manipulated female (for more on this refer to Cape Fear and Cold Creek Manor). This is actually one of her better performances as she elicits a considerable amount of pity and sympathy.
The film is beautifully shot and very well paced, with nicely developed characters. Like similar films like Seven and Natural Born Killers, it is also quite violent but miles above intellectually the usual serial killer/slasher fare that Hollywood churns out.
The DVD presentation is good too, even though the video quality is lacking in some areas with a fair amount of grain and white speckle lines visible in the darker scenes. The R rated and uncut versions are included but the differences are negligible as both versions run 115 Mins. The option for widescreen or full frame presentation is also included.
The DVD also includes a making of...featurette and the theatrical trailer.
In conclusion, this is a chilling, remarkable piece of film making that belongs in every DVD collection. The minor video flaws on this DVD are more than compensated for by the low retail price. It would be nice to see a more comprehensive collector's edition of this DVD available someday.

Pretty boys (Brad Pitt and David Duchovny) show they can act
When this movie opened back in 1992, I skipped it (too graphic! too bloody!). When it came out on video, I skipped it (Brad Pitt, David Duchovny -- pretty boys who think they can act, forget it!). Then, one rainy evening when everything else had been rented out at the video store, I finally sat down and watched this movie. What a surprise. These guys can act. Especially Brad Pitt. Playing completely against type, he shows that there really is a brain and talent underneath all of that "Interview with a Vampire" hair. With Juliette Lewis and Michelle Forbes giving great supporting roles, this movie actually kept me guessing about the ending (not an easily accomplished goal). A good addition to any collection of those who like suspense movies. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Get ready for the ride of your life!
If you've always thought of Brad Pitt as the sexy, rugged, boy-next-door you'll be SHOCKED! Personally, Pitt is not one of my favorites but he gives a scintillating performance as a serial killer, with Juliette Lewis as his trashy, dingy sidekick. Lewis also starred in "Natural Born Killers", another movie about serial killers; she plays the white-trash role very well! David Duchovny is sexy as Brian, a yuppie writer with Michelle Forbes as Carrie, his beautiful, fiesty photographer-girlfriend. Carrie relies on her instincts regarding Early's character from the first time she sees him. The only negative I can say about this movie is that it moves slowly - it isn't until well into the last half of the movie that the pace picks up and the killing spree REALLY begins!

Shocking or schlocky? That's the point!
This movie takes a familiar premise and makes the most of it, doing a pretty darn good job in the process. David Duchovny stars as Brian, a guy writing a book on serial killers who wants to take a cross-country tour of historic murder sites with his girlfriend phtographer, Carrie (Michelle Forbes). To share expenses on the trip and liven things up, they take along a trailer trash couple named Early (Brad Pitt) and Adele (Juliette Lewis). Unfortunately for all involved, Early is a serial murderer himself.
There's a lot going for this movie, particularly the performances by Pitt and Lewis. They get so immersed in their characters, you can almost smell them. Pitt is outstanding. He ain't just a pretty face (in this movie, he's nearly unrecognizable); he acts the hell out of his role. Some critics might say it doesn't take a lot of talent to play a moronic dirtbag, but check out all the nuances Pitt gives Early, and you'll disagree. It's easily one of the best performances of his career, and certainly the most disturbing.
Lewis, for her part, is often accused of "always playing the same character," but this is not true. For all her childlike foolishness and pitiful gazes, Adele is a sad, complex creature who becomes the mov