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Alan Alda wrote, directed, and starred in this lightweight comedy about a wedding and the havoc it causes in one family. Dad (Alda) wants it big and splashy; Betsy (Molly Ringwald), the one who's actually getting married, wants something small and personal (and is even considering eloping). As the momentum shifts back and forth between lavish and intimate, other comic tussles are played out in the background--such as how Dad is going to pay for all this. The best moments belong to the odd couple of Ally Sheedy and Anthony LaPaglia: She's a cop and the bride's sister and he's a Mafia underling who discovers he has a thing for a woman in uniform. Even if it doesn't add up to much, it's painlessly entertaining nonetheless. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Wonderful, Warm and Funny!
I love this movie. It's so funny and warm. Stevie D is hilarious, and of course Alan Alda is stupendous. If it was available to purchase, I'd own it!

Very funny. Alda comes off as the typical dad.
I've always been a fan of Alan Alda's work. This movie is one of his best. When he's eating dinner with the mafia gang and the bodyguard starts to shoot, I laughed to bust a rib. Alan Alda sure hasn't lost his touch.

One of 1990's most popular films
In Alan Alda's "Betsy's Wedding",he is Eddie Hopper,a construction foreman and architect. His daughter Betsy(Molly Ringwald) and her boyfriend Jake Lovell(Dylan Walsh) announce their engagement at a family gathering. Betsy's sister Connie(Ally Sheedy) is happy herself but jealously upset because she can't find herself a man. The late Madeline Kahn is Lola,Eddie's wife. At the gathering Lola's sister Gloria Henner(Catherine O'Hara) tells her she plans to get even with her husband Oscar(Oscar winner Joe Pesci) for all his inept schemes. Gloria says "Someday,when I have my nice little nestegg,I can take a walk and he can go f--- himself." Anthony LaPaglia is Stevie Dee,a guy who would later in the film become Connie's boyfriend. Stevie Dee's uncle Georgie(Burt Young) is a business associate of Oscar's. There's once scene where when Betsy and Jake meet with the man performing their wedding ceremony,the Dixie Cups' CHAPEL OF LOVE is played. They want to be pronounced "husband and wife" instead of "man and wife" and they have "obey" omitted from "love,honor and obey". The late Julie Bovasso plays Rose,Eddie's mother and Joey Bishop is Eddie's deceased father. The father,as a ghost,is seen and heard only by Eddie. The wedding was somewhat disasterous. It took place in a rented tent on a rainy evening. The tent was made of cheap,not-too-strong materials so a hole in the roof where the rain fell into increased to the point where it caved in. After a heated argument between Gloria and Oscar at the reception also in the tent,Gloria pulls a loose thread causing the growing hole and the dowse of fallen rain. So Connie and Stevie Dee can be together more often,Stevie Dee applies to the police academy,since Connie's a cop. Unbelievably,the wedding dinner was pizza! By the way,Oscar planned to divorce Gloria and become romantically involved with his secretary,who also attended Betsy's and Jake's wedding. That was one of the things that led to the argument. The wedding ceremony was performed in the Jewish style. Jake stepped on a wine glass wrapped in a cloth napkin. This film was Alan Alda's most successful and not a minor hit like "A New Life",another one of his personally scripted films.

ITS SO FUNNY I LOVE IT
ITS A FUNNY MOVIE ALAN ALDA DID A WONDERFUL JOB ACTING WRITING DIRECTING IT I CAN WATCH IT 10 TIMES OR MORE AND NEVER GET BORED WATCHING IT.

FROM A BIG ALAN ALDA FAN FOR 4 YEARS NOW KIRSTEN

Underrated Comedy about Family and Being Married.
When a family man (Alan Alda-Also the Film`s Director) tries to make the best situation of his daughter (Molly Ringwald) wedding, because he trying to created a old fashioned expensive wedding, but he`s needs the money, he needs but he caught between his complicated family and his gangster friends.

Directed by Alan Alda made a often uproarious comedy. This film has a great supporting Cast including:Madeline Kahn, Oscar-Winner:Joe Pesci, Ally Sheedy, Burt Young, Joey Bishop, Catherine O`Hara and Anthony La Paglia, this is a light-hearted film. Grade:B+. ... Read more

Reviews (424)

Absolutely Effective
Most movies I've seen about the Vietnam War have been depressing. "Platoon" and "Hamburger Hill" come to mind, as they are there to remind us that Vietnam was a real shock to us back in the 60's and 70's. Yes, we remember we pulled out, lost if you want to say, but I don't go to a movie to get depressed. Randall Wallace's "We Were Soldiers" is not a depressing movie by any means, but shows that heroes were made in a war we look down on even today.

From the book "We Were Soldiers...And Young", the main character is Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Mel Gibson), a family man put in charge of, for the most part, green officers and men. The film also stars Sam Eliott, Chris Klein, Madeline Stowe, Keri Russell, and Berry Pepper. The majority of the movie takes place in Vietnam, where Moore and his 7th Cavalry fights 4000 NVA's while there are only 300 with Moore.

The battle scenes (which comprise the movie pretty much) are gory. Now, this isn't the goriest battle sequences you've ever seen, but it ranks number three in my book ("Black Hawk Down" and "Saving Private Ryan" taking the other two) for realistic wounds and such. The battle is hot and exciting, featuring infantry, air force, artillery, the whole deal. Some of the most frightening scenes come at night, when we see how close the NVA's really get to the lines. Wallace effectively knows when to change scenes at different places of the battle, and the changing it to back home with the soldiers' wives.

Gibson of course performs admirably here. He plays Moore to detail as not only a father of seven, but a father of three hundred. Sam Eliott was casted brilliantly as the gruff Sgt. Major, Barry Pepper as the journalist who would write the book along with Moore, Klein as an upcoming platoon leader that meets his demise, and Russell and Stowe clean up at home. Once again a great ensemble cast, and a great film. A little lengthy, but this film makes it worthwhile. "We Were Soldiers" is a rather positive look on Vietnam, thankfully conveyed by Wallace and Gibson.

I knew that Wallace had written the flop "Pearl Harbor", but the last time that he and Gibson got together was "Braveheart", and we all know how successful that movie was. "We Were Soldiers" is no different, with intense battles, emotion, and the reminder that heroes can just be ordinary people.

Hard to connect to depiction of early Vietnam War combat
"We Were Soldiers" is an good-but-not-great post-"Private Ryan" Vietnam War film. I had read the excellent book by retired General Moore, which describes his experience in leading a battalion into the Ia Drang Valley in 1965, and nearly getting overrun in a day-and-night battle. The Ia Drang battle took place when the news from Vietnam wasn't quite the nightly dinner-table companion, and when helicopter assaults were still new. Mel Gibson is good as Moore, but lots of people could have played this part. The movie doesn't let us get to know most other characters, so it feels more like a high-octane A&E documentary than a theatrical drama.

I don't know why I had trouble completely connecting with the movie. Perhaps the main reason is after so many movies dealing with the late-war period like "Apocalypse Now", and "Platoon", it's a bit of a culture shock seeing earnest, crew-cut soldiers that look like they stepped off of "Sands of Iwo Jima." We're used to seeing our average Vietnam grunt as a stoned-out disaffected short-timer. This isn't the director's fault - the Oliver Stone version of the war was four years in the future, but in might as well have been forty.

So what remains is a conventional war story which could have just as well taken place on Okinawa or in Korea. The political and spiritual upheaval caused by the war was just a glimmer, and the film can't really address it. The brief scenes of Colonel Moore's Vietnamese officer counterpart are interesting but far too short. The North Vietnamese soldiers, at least, are humans, we see them as individuals with histories and feelings, and rather than mindless insects or worse, sadists ("Deerhunter").

Recommended reading: Moore's book, "We Were Soldiers", is better than the movie. Another account of the battle is Larry Gwin's book, "Baptism" which follows a different battalion which, while walking back from the Ia Drang, was ambushed and nearly wiped out.

New wave propaganda
It is highly disappointing to watch Mel Gibson giving his high credibility (Patriot; Braveheart) as humanistic actor in this cheap propaganda. There is nothing in the movie but (a) 45 minutes of wasting time before going to Vietnam and (b) 90 minutes of violent extremist Vietnamese wanting to humiliate the west (by liberating their country??) challenged by few American heroes.
Opposite to 1800 Vietnamese, there were almost 360 Americans, supported by artillery, helicopters and extensive use of Napalm bombs by jet fighters. What is heroic on this? Why making a movie about it? Are we back to the 50's to celebrate American heroism of WWII?
Am glad that I saw the film on cable and did not specifically pay for it; the film is very boring, repeated and vague.

very good
the war scenes are outstanding, but the scenes with the women getting the cards were too sappy. dvd has good extras. the irish song was kind of strange at first, but it and the rest of the music was very good.

Great movie...
This is a really great movie. The war scenes were great as well as the acting. My heart really went out to the wives of the men when they started receiving the messages that their loved one had passed on. I recommend anybody to see this movie. I won't forget this movie for a long time to come. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

"Worn to perfection" is the tag line promoting this crafted character study. It describes Paul Newman, the resourceful 70-year-old lead actor, but not his character, Sully, a North Bath, New York, loner who totally emulates the negative definition of the title. Newman gives a brilliant performance (Oscar-nominated and winner of two critics circle awards) relying on his well-honed subtleties. The dramatics are simple: the return of his son (Dylan Walsh) and grandson, offering a chance to reconcile; odd jobs for a construction company he's trying to sue for an injury; and a comedic grudge match against the owner (a reserved Bruce Willis). North Bath is the kind of place, wrapped in winter (beautifully shot by John Bailey), where enemies are friends, marriages are shaky, and Hawaii is only a state of mind. This "town drama" of a blue-collar America offers the patient filmgoer a rich and rewarding experience. Another small gem from writer-director Robert Benton (Places in the Heart). --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Paul Newman is a national treasure
This is a lovely, dense movie about a deceptively simple man and his deceptively simple life. Paul Newman makes it look so easy and makes everyone else include Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith and a slew of character actors look wonderful. The movie is never forced and the pace is perfect. I lived in one of the towns in which the movie was filmed and the director captures the town perfectly. The light is even right. Watch this movie. It's funny and sweet and warm and perceptive about people and family and relationships. And Jessica Tandy never looked more graceful in this her last film.

Paul Newman can still play the everyday guy and be amazing!
Finally we are able to again appreciate the elements of effective storytelling in the movies: depth of character, simple settings, moral values, and pure entertainment. Paul Newman has always been one of the best natural actors in the business, and he shows it again here with class and maturity. He plays Sully, an older man who goes from one odd job after another to find meaning in his life. He boards with his past eighth grade teacher (Jessica Tandy, in one of her last roles) and accepts jobs from time to time from a sleazy contractor (Bruce Willis). It is only once he reunites with his son (Dylan Walsh) and his grandson that he realizes where his responsibility lies and the meaning of his life is found. Writer/director Robert Benton, who has directed Newman in other films such as "Absence of Malice," knows exactly where Paul's strengths in acting lie, and he allows him to show it off in very effective ways. Sully is not an overly emotional or vibrant character, but does have wit and grace that is totally likable and fascinating. Melanie Griffith also contributes to the stellar cast as Willis's neglected wife (Imagine that!), and she herself is touched by Sully's qualities just as we the audience are. "Nobody's Fool" is a triumph of writing and subtle genius, a masterpiece that relies on natural talent and realism of character to tell its tale, and what a rewarding tale it is!

I bore Sully's children
NONONO. Not Paul Newman, but the character he played, Sully. I cannot tell you how many people said he had nailed the charming ne'er do well, and Bruce Willis channelled his best friend, for whom he worked. His children love him, I love him, I just can't live with him anymore. This was the story of my life for many years, a man drifting from job to job, helping others before his own family, and shrugging at the consequences. Paul Newman deserved the Oscar for this performance. It is criminal he was not awarded it. He was brilliant, and this will be recognised years later as one of those losses that was probably the result of the movie not being a big box office draw. I have worn out my vhs, and am ordering the dvd. This is a must see, a must have for any intelligent connoisseur of fine cinema. It is a poignant, gentle tale, with more than a dash of humour. I should also add that I vividly remember the cold and very snowy winter this movie was made, and the news from the set because I live near where it was filmed. Normally I would not mind signing my name, but I am hesitant, since "Sully's" current girlfriend reads all of these things and she has been blaming me for not granting him a divorce. In typical Sully passive-aggressive fashion, he has treated that too with a wink.

Almost as good as the book
This movie, like the novel of the same name, shows the life of a flawed but amiable character, Donald Sullivan, over a period of a few days in a small town in Upstate New York. Rarely do I see a movie that is almost as good as the book, but here the only drawback to the movie is that it is too short. (It would probably have to be 8 hours long to tell the entire story.)

Paul Newman is perfect as Sully, Bruce Willis is astounding as a small-town builder, and Rachel Griffiths is heartwarming as Willis' wife. If you like the book, see the movie; if you like the movie, definitely read the book.

One of my favorites...
I love this movie...it is one of my all-time favorites for a variety of reasons. It features a wonderful performance by Paul Newman and a great cast of supporting characters, but the real star is the story. It's a very good reminder of the impact we have on the lives of others, even if we mostly focus on our own challenges, dreams, and daily frustrations. But whether the movie makes a poignant impression on you or not, you can still enjoy it as a fun, touching story... ... Read more

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This is a terrible movie. Frank Marshall (Arachnophobia) demonstrates no control over story, actors, effects, or general presentation in this adaptation of a Michael Crichton novel about an expedition into deep, dark Africa that runs into an unknown race of killer apes. The big monkeys attack and attack and attack and have to be fought off with machine guns and lasers--that's pretty much the story, except there's probably an even better one behind "fourth Ghostbuster" Ernie Hudson's bizarre decision to speak with a British accent. While Marshall wants us to root for the human characters, they're all so obnoxious and unbelievable you can't help but feel lousy for the poor apes when they get chopped to bits just for defending their homes against these twerps. If you're not feeling enough environmentalist ire these days, watch this and get angry. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Preposterous, But Fun Jungle Adventure
In the tradition of H. Rider Haggard and "Indiana Jones" comes another blockbuster adaptation of a bestselling Michael Crichton novel. Up until now, this has not been one of his better known books, although it was a good enough read. The film is okay, but hopefully it will lead people to the even better book.

The story begins in the jungles of the Congo. An expedition of scientists has discovered an incredible find: a huge source of pure, blue diamonds. They communicate the good news back home, but before they can transmit their coordinates, they are suddenly attacked and killed. But by what?

Another scientist is sent in to find out. Dr. Karen Ross (Laura Linney), for reasons best left unexplained, attaches herself to a mission already bound for Zaire. A primatologist (Dylan Walsh) is returning his talking gorilla-she communicates through sign language-to her home in Africa. He is accompanied by a mysterious and very shady Romanian "philanthropist" with the unlikely name of Herkermer Homolka (Tim Curry). Karen comes along at a crucial time with a pile of money and is soon part of the gang.

Once in Africa, they meet up with Monroe Kelly (Ernie Hudson), their Great White Hunter "who happens to be black." That's when their adventure begins in earnest and it is a wild one. I won't give it away here-you probably wouldn't believe me anyway-but it is exciting and suspenseful, if never actually believable.

The screenplay for "Congo" was written by noted playwright John Patrick Shanley ("Moonstruck"). He has an odd sense of humor-witness his underrated "Joe Vs. the Volcano"-that is very much in evidence here. The story at times borders on the ludicrous and it is filled with all the delightful cliches that usually populate jungle adventure films (e.g. porters who go missing in the night, and a corpse with a diamond clutched in its hand).

Maybe the film wouldn't have worked any other way. I don't know. By making the story a pseudo-spoof, though, Shanley has removed the dramatic tension and suspense that made the novel work. Since everything is played for laughs-all too frequently unintentionally-then it is almost impossible for us to really get involved and care about what is happening.

Still, there is always pleasure to be had from a film that doesn't take itself too seriously and is not above poking fun at the customs of its genre. "Congo" has that, plus a few exciting scenes and some fun performances, particularly by Ernie Hudson. It is certainly not a great film, but it is a pleasant diversion on a hot summer day.

Why are these folks so critical, was the book so good?
I did not read the novel and while I won't say it's the best movie ever made (It's probably a four and a half in my opinion) I found it perfectly entertaining. Admittedly, I have read a lot of SF and like well made SF and adventure movies (Aliens 2, Matrix, even Bakshi's LOTR) but I also enjoy any genre of movie that is created with attention and art if possible and not with lowest-common-denominator formulaic design or for contract obligations. True, if your looking for dramatic acting, go watch "Boys Don't Cry", or "Men Don't Leave" (Movies, not a Four Seasons greatest hits compendium) Congo lacks the special effects of the newer Godzilla movie, but I enjoyed it more than the latest Star Wars movie (Phantom Menace) Congo, which I have watched twice on VHS and will most likely pick up on DVD, has, as one of the other reviewers noted, a Saturday morning adventure feel. It was tense and the gorillas were well done for monster movie make-up. The characters all unobtrusively played out their archetype roles. I recommend this movie to those who can keep thier minds open and who have a taste for adventure in a E. R. Burroughs vein.

EXCELLENT STORY-EXCELLENT MOVIE!!!
Definitely a great adventure and one of my personal favorites, Congo, brings to the screen a tale set in the African jungles involving an unlikely group that has banded together in search of a lost city and the rare diamonds that are rumored to exist there in abundance. The actors' performances are outstanding, especially Tim Curry whose "Romanian philanthropist" character steals the show. The plot, the jungle ruins, and the battles are all wonderful, making this film one of the best of its kind.
Congo is an action packed movie with strong elements of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, therefore, a "must see" for those with a passion for archaeology, mystery and adventure.

Before Python there was Congo
Made way back in 1995. A horror story about a lost city and killer gorillas. A research team is slaughtered by some unknown creature will locking for a dimon to power a laser. Design for communication. She goes on a quest across the africian border to retrive it.

What she things is an ancient legendary city and killer gorilas. Can the survive and get off the island. Before the volcano errupts.

If you like Congo I also recomend Raptor, Python, Phyton 2, Anadaconda.

Entertainment well done
I loved this movie, bought the DVD and watch it over and over the performance is so good. It is hard to single out any one thing. The musical score and songs are so good, I keep playing them over in my head. The scene where Dylan Walsh's character starts singing "California Dreaming" to Amy and everyone of the Africans join in the song shows the universality of music and song to people. As with any well executed movie, the details were done right letting the viewer enjoy the actors work. All of the priciple actors came accross as believable in their characters. The only mystery to me is the total lack of credit listing for Joe Pantoliano's participation and his character not even being listed in the ending credits! There must be some Hollywood Gossip behind that. Ernie Hudson really stole the show. The using of a British accent was genius. Since the English colonized and ruled most of Africa for years and set up most of the schools, an African guide would speak English with a British accent. The ending sequence with the volcano erupting and the land splitting brings back fond memories of 1940s "expedition" movies that always ended with such a scene.

"Congo" is entertaining, well directed, scored and acted. It is well worth the price of purchase and my only critcism (the devil is in the details) is the depiction of too few porters to haul the amount of equipment they kept coming up with for different scenes. Laura Linney's character was great! She had the best lines in the movie too.

Rent it or buy it, you will not regret it. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

LOVERBOY ON DVD!!!
This movie is an halirious comedy of the 80s. Its about a guy(Patrick Dempsey, who has a girlfriend and he gets a job as a pizza delivery guy, the only thing is that the deliveries he makes arent just a pizza its a little fun with the opposite sex. The movie is halirious, he ends up even making a delivery to his mom(ALMOST). Colombia/Tristar pictures needs to bring this back on DVD!!! We should beg Colombia/Tristar pictures to bring this back, private resort, and just one of the guys, all on DVD. They need to be put on DVD, for us 80's fans.

Stupid
What I don't get is how people liked this movie, despite its paper-thin jokes and some cameos by famous actresses (Kirstie Alley, Carrie Fisher).

The thing is, it's only very mildly amusing (and I do put emphasis on very mildly). You'll get bored and want something fresher and funnier. If you want to see a good Patrick Dempsey movie, try "With Honors." It's a lot better than the idiotic mess that "Loverboy" was made from. The only reason for the second star was that it ended and it had the latter mentioned actresses in it.

Rated PG-13 for language and sexual innueudos.

Great movie, terrible price
I love this movie, it's an 80's classic in my opinion. Patrick Dempsey is absolutely adorable as the teen who mistakenly falls into the line of being a male gigalo. Unfortunately, I cannot bring myself to pay this price for a DVD with absolutely no extras. What were they thinking?!?!? For now I'll just rent this movie and wait for the day that the price drops. Too bad....I was looking forward to buying it.

great 80's fun
love this movie. represents what was great about 80's comedies. great soundtrack, silly storyline, and loads of fun.
since when did everything get so serious? this movie doesn't pretend to solve any social problems, it simply makes you laugh.
THAT is what i liked about this flick and what i love about it and other movies of it's genre. don't see it if you take yourself to freakin seriously, but if you want a good time, it's well worth a look!

FINALLY REISSUED AND ON DVD AS WELL!!!!!!!
Im so happy, that Columbia/Tristar pictures finally!, reissued this film, and on DVD in WIDESCREEN! Its about TIME! This movie has never been reissued since it was released originally on home video back in 1989. Im so glad its coming out, and in WIDESCREEN! Itll be the first time ill see this film in its original theatrical aspect ratio! If u dont have this film, Go and get it, u wont be disappointed! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

where the heart is dvd
Just to let anyone know, this dvd is a widescreen edition. Which (to me) is the most important feature. If you were hoping for any bonus features, there are none (not even the trailer). The movie itself, and the fact that it is in widescreen, should be enough reason to purchase it.

Where the art is
Where the heart is was an unexpected surprise when I saw it back in 1990 and it continues to catch my breath and stir my heart every time I see it. More than a story of poor little rich and spoiled kids or parents that just don't get their kids, this is a visually beautiful and fluid portrait of vastly different people. Some start out as family members and some join the family. The exploration and expressions of love and the true treasures of life are richly set in the artwork that flows across the screen and unites the story. A real treat for both the eye and the mind, it will delight the heart, wherever it is.

the paintings are incredible
and i have worn out a local video rental copy showing them to artist friends. it is a simple romp of a movie that i could easily pass by except for the old house set and the paintings. I keep hoping for my own copy. or maybe a copy of the calendar?

love it
This movie is alot of fun. The trompe l'oeil paintings are just incredible. I hope it becomes available soon. I'm still looking to buy it.

lovely
just caught this movie on hbo, and was hoping to buy it here on Amazon as I thought is was incredibly beautiful. Story maybe not the strongest, but enjoyable. What got me was the unbelievably enchanting "human" paintings. It's nice to see a movie that for once gives space to visual art, and gives the viewer the time to appreciate it. For this alone I would like to own this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Music was able to make me cry.
After a long time, I saw the movie and cried. It was crying, when I had noticed it said whether it is negligent. My favorite movie increased by one again. If such a great movie can be encountered, continues seeing a movie from now on, and it will go. Music was able to make me cry intolerably. Since I wanted to buy a sound track, although I searched in Tokyo and New York, I was not found.

A great movie
This is a very romantic movie with an extraordinary soundtrack...

A very kind and wonderful film.
Very colorful, nice soundtrack, Actors are excellent. Strange the film isn't more famous.

I cried
A heartfelt salute to caring, romance, and tragic loss. I fully recommend this great movie. ... Read more

Description

A former FBI profiler who has recently undergone a heart transplant comes out of retirement to track down the serial killer who has recently begun killing victims with the former agent's blood type. ... Read more

Reviews (90)

MediaGab Review
Dirty Harry meets Grumpy Old Men, really that about sums up this movie. Blood Work is a detective movie that Clint Eastwood is at the heart of. A FBI Profiler Terry McCaleb (Eastwood) tries to runs down a suspect outside of a homicide crime scene but has a heart attack before he can catch him. He has to have heart transplant in order to live. He learns that the heart he got was from a murdered woman.

The sister of the murdered woman tracks Terry, who is now retired from the FBI down and pleads with him to look into the investigation. So with a license or the authority he takes on the investigation. The investigation goes from one unbelievable twist to another.

I found this movie to move way to fast. The twists and the conclusions that Eastwoods makes from the clues are really hard to swallow. In particular the part when the sister asks for his help. He basically jumped to this womans rescue without even thinking about what he was getting himself into. He was only sixty days post-op from his transplant surgery.

I think this was Eastwoods last hurray at a detective movie. At least I hope. He should stick to directing as he states he wants to do more of in the making of special feature. I think he wanted one more Dirty Harry moment before he stepped behind the camera.

blood work
this is the worst detective movie i have ever seen. in twenty minutes i solved the crime that it takes clint eastwood's character the rest of the movie to solve. the motive, the crime, etc., are completely given away by the first clue. yet the movie keeps draging on as clue after redundant clue fail to yeild any progress. it's like watching wheel of fortune and all but one letter has been revealed, yet the contestant can somehow not solve the puzzle. absolutely horrendous, please don't waste your money.

Decent crime-thriller flick but awkward at times.
I happened to have had a fascination with the whole way that forensic investigators have used unusual evidence to track down and find who the real criminals behind crimes really are. 2002's Clint Eastwood directed "Blood Work" for the most part does succeed in being a really good and sometimes challenging movie for crime-drama thriller moviegoers.

Terry McCaleb is a former FBI agent Miami who recently retired after a minor heart attack forced him to retire from the job of police investigator until after a string of killings, he comes out of retirement and goes back on the job when the sister of a murder victim is desperate to have her sister's killer brought to justice. Terry McCaleb has had a hard life because of the frustration of letting the killer slip through his hands due to the heart ailment that he suffered just as he was about to catch him. Even more daunting is that the victims' blood matches McCaleb's and he in fact got a heart transplant from one of the murder victims but defies the health effects of his heart transplant to bring down the killer before he strikes again.

This movie is a really good thriller for the most part but the movie does have it's share of flaws like even a lot of positive reviews have emphasized. One of the is that the acting by the entire cast, while decent, does from time to time, drift off in all directions. However my favorite one was actor Paul Rodriguez. While he doesn't have a whole lot of acting time on this film, he is so funny as the hot-tempered chief who has had a long standing semi-rivalry with McCaleb. Seeing his character go ballistic all the time is so funny and to be honest, besides Clint Eastwood, Paul Rodriguez really is the shining star for me.

"Blood Work" is also marred somewhat by a slow moving storyline and it drags on in places and as a result it's sometimes hard to watch the movie without sitting still or getting bored but it does pick back up before you would fall asleep. One lovemaking scene between Gracielle Rivers(Wanda De Jesus) and McCaleb was somewhat iffy in my opinion due to their age differences and it felt cold to me.

However, The idea of the killer targeting individuals with the same blood type is in my opinion quite original and keeps this movie from being totally predictable. This is not an essential movie by any stretch of the imagination but for those who like shows like "CSI" as well as "CSI: Miami", then this film is worth a look or two. The DVD has offers no worthy extras in my opinion.

Read the book...
I give kudos to Mr. Eastwood for seeing a great book in the novel - Michael Connelly is a gifted writer - and developing a movie, however, the movie does not have the suspense of the book.

As a devout reader of crime mystery, I had to have this movie for my library because it was a Michael Connelly novel - no other reason. It was distressing not to at least have an interview on the DVD with Mr. Connelly. The acting is mostly mediocre, with the exception of Eastwood. Buddy is miscast with Daniels, as is Graciela with DeJesus. I like the work of Daniels, and he would have been better in the cop role.

If you want a good cop movie, by another great writer, try the Onion Field.

Not all that great but far from bad.
This movie is a rather average crime drama about a retired FBI agent who recieved a heart transplant from a murder victim and is now on the case of solving the murder and finding who is behind the heinous crime that took place at a convenience store.

He gets out of retirement after being asked by the sister of the murder victim to help her track down the one responsible for the crime. This serial killer targets individuals who have blood types that match that of the former retiree.

This movie is good to a degree but the whole thing is just watered down by a very predictable outcome and does nothing to make it very memorable. The acting has seen better days as well.

Not a bad film but this could really have been a lot better in my honest opinion. ... Read more

Reviews (424)

Absolutely Effective
Most movies I've seen about the Vietnam War have been depressing. "Platoon" and "Hamburger Hill" come to mind, as they are there to remind us that Vietnam was a real shock to us back in the 60's and 70's. Yes, we remember we pulled out, lost if you want to say, but I don't go to a movie to get depressed. Randall Wallace's "We Were Soldiers" is not a depressing movie by any means, but shows that heroes were made in a war we look down on even today.

From the book "We Were Soldiers...And Young", the main character is Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Mel Gibson), a family man put in charge of, for the most part, green officers and men. The film also stars Sam Eliott, Chris Klein, Madeline Stowe, Keri Russell, and Berry Pepper. The majority of the movie takes place in Vietnam, where Moore and his 7th Cavalry fights 4000 NVA's while there are only 300 with Moore.

The battle scenes (which comprise the movie pretty much) are gory. Now, this isn't the goriest battle sequences you've ever seen, but it ranks number three in my book ("Black Hawk Down" and "Saving Private Ryan" taking the other two) for realistic wounds and such. The battle is hot and exciting, featuring infantry, air force, artillery, the whole deal. Some of the most frightening scenes come at night, when we see how close the NVA's really get to the lines. Wallace effectively knows when to change scenes at different places of the battle, and the changing it to back home with the soldiers' wives.

Gibson of course performs admirably here. He plays Moore to detail as not only a father of seven, but a father of three hundred. Sam Eliott was casted brilliantly as the gruff Sgt. Major, Barry Pepper as the journalist who would write the book along with Moore, Klein as an upcoming platoon leader that meets his demise, and Russell and Stowe clean up at home. Once again a great ensemble cast, and a great film. A little lengthy, but this film makes it worthwhile. "We Were Soldiers" is a rather positive look on Vietnam, thankfully conveyed by Wallace and Gibson.

I knew that Wallace had written the flop "Pearl Harbor", but the last time that he and Gibson got together was "Braveheart", and we all know how successful that movie was. "We Were Soldiers" is no different, with intense battles, emotion, and the reminder that heroes can just be ordinary people.

Hard to connect to depiction of early Vietnam War combat
"We Were Soldiers" is an good-but-not-great post-"Private Ryan" Vietnam War film. I had read the excellent book by retired General Moore, which describes his experience in leading a battalion into the Ia Drang Valley in 1965, and nearly getting overrun in a day-and-night battle. The Ia Drang battle took place when the news from Vietnam wasn't quite the nightly dinner-table companion, and when helicopter assaults were still new. Mel Gibson is good as Moore, but lots of people could have played this part. The movie doesn't let us get to know most other characters, so it feels more like a high-octane A&E documentary than a theatrical drama.

I don't know why I had trouble completely connecting with the movie. Perhaps the main reason is after so many movies dealing with the late-war period like "Apocalypse Now", and "Platoon", it's a bit of a culture shock seeing earnest, crew-cut soldiers that look like they stepped off of "Sands of Iwo Jima." We're used to seeing our average Vietnam grunt as a stoned-out disaffected short-timer. This isn't the director's fault - the Oliver Stone version of the war was four years in the future, but in might as well have been forty.

So what remains is a conventional war story which could have just as well taken place on Okinawa or in Korea. The political and spiritual upheaval caused by the war was just a glimmer, and the film can't really address it. The brief scenes of Colonel Moore's Vietnamese officer counterpart are interesting but far too short. The North Vietnamese soldiers, at least, are humans, we see them as individuals with histories and feelings, and rather than mindless insects or worse, sadists ("Deerhunter").

Recommended reading: Moore's book, "We Were Soldiers", is better than the movie. Another account of the battle is Larry Gwin's book, "Baptism" which follows a different battalion which, while walking back from the Ia Drang, was ambushed and nearly wiped out.

New wave propaganda
It is highly disappointing to watch Mel Gibson giving his high credibility (Patriot; Braveheart) as humanistic actor in this cheap propaganda. There is nothing in the movie but (a) 45 minutes of wasting time before going to Vietnam and (b) 90 minutes of violent extremist Vietnamese wanting to humiliate the west (by liberating their country??) challenged by few American heroes.
Opposite to 1800 Vietnamese, there were almost 360 Americans, supported by artillery, helicopters and extensive use of Napalm bombs by jet fighters. What is heroic on this? Why making a movie about it? Are we back to the 50's to celebrate American heroism of WWII?
Am glad that I saw the film on cable and did not specifically pay for it; the film is very boring, repeated and vague.

very good
the war scenes are outstanding, but the scenes with the women getting the cards were too sappy. dvd has good extras. the irish song was kind of strange at first, but it and the rest of the music was very good.

Great movie...
This is a really great movie. The war scenes were great as well as the acting. My heart really went out to the wives of the men when they started receiving the messages that their loved one had passed on. I recommend anybody to see this movie. I won't forget this movie for a long time to come. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

What, No deleted scenes?
This movie is a mess. Nothing makes sense. It seems like half the story is missing. While watching it, I kept trying to fill out the gaps in my mind, but eventually I stopped because I was nearly bored to death. If there's not going to be a good story, then you need sex and action. This movie has no action and no sex. It's all a big tease. On the good side, the acting and production values are good, but that's about it.

NOT SO DEADLY SECRETS
Fiona McKenzie's "indie" DEADLY LITTLE SECRETS has a lot of potential going for it: Dylan Walsh ("Congo" "True Crimes") is its charming lead; lovely Dina Meyer ("Starship Troopers") looks as beautiful as ever, and even Craig Sheffer ("Night Breed") is in the cast. So what went wrong?
First of all, let's try plausibility: why was Sheffer knocking off the pro athletes? Hints of sexual release aren't sharply defined.
Second: what is with the lesbian romance between Meyer and Michelle Hicks?
Third: Why was Meyer anxious to get the child back if it wasn't hers?
And why did these two girls let the killings go on without informing someone?
And why was Walsh given a mandatory leave---hints of "inappropriate behavior."
It ends up a decent film, with Walsh basically lost in a thankless "hero" role---but if he was a cop, he does some pretty stupid things, e.g., why does he try and lose his FBI backup after locating the fleeing Meyer?
Sheffer doesn't convince in his demented role, looking more like a modern Prince Valiant in the climax. And does he die in the end????
Not an awful movie, but one that missed a lot of potential.

Deadly Fun...
I was in the mood for unpretentious unpredictability when I picked this one up, and I wasn't disappointed. Lots of twists--but not twists for twists' sake. I love Michele Hicks and Dina Meyer (sp?) is starting to grow on me.

More than anything, I love indies when they bring in a high quality film without the bells and whistles and overkill of the big studios.

This one should go in your suspense library to be seen multiple times!

Extraordinary Film
A suprisingly fantastic thriller from an independent film maker! For those who haven't seen it, WATCH IT!

"Secrets" should be shared with friends
Deadly Little Secrets' represents everything good about independent film. It is biting, memorable and most of all intelligent. This film has an excellent and compelling story, beautiful artistry and performances by little known actors of which they should all be proud. Craig Sheffer, in particular, after several forgettable earlier performances, seemed to have really hit the mark with this role. I could tell how much he bonded to and loved his character.

The story moves at a comfortable pace, giving the viewer just enough time to take in all the subtlety of the performances and the scenery (of which there is a lot), while never dragging its feet or stumbling. The story also possess the rare quality of being both complicated, as the character maneuver through the various twists and turns of the plot, and very direct, almost simplistic, presentation of the larger issues with which the film grapples.

I was most impacted by the amazing atmosphere that the entire story seems to create. In many films I have seen, the story is presented, and a picture is shown, and most of the time the two are completely unconnected. But with `Deadly Little Secrets' the two are so seamlessly crafted together that I actually lost myself completely in the world that was being presented to me.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a big budget attempt at this same story, or at least the themes it so richly portrayed, come out of Hollywood in the near future.

In the end, if you want big budget eye candy that spits on your mind, go see the next Lucas film. But if you want a film that is actually crafted to be smart and effecting then share `Secrets' with your friends. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Poorly executed
As a dedicated Rutger Hauer fan, I have to state honestly that "Arctic Blue" is a mediocre film. Anyone remotely familiar with this actor knows he is an accomplished thespian capable of highly memorable performances. He is probably best known for his turn as one of the androids in Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" and the psychotic killer in "The Hitcher," two immensely enjoyable movies. Sadly, Hauer is an actor who is willing to sell his talent short in order to pick up a paycheck. "Arctic Blue" serves as a prime example of this actor's weakness. Still, watching Hauer in a cinematic clunker is often better than what most performers can turn in on their best days. We learn early in the film that "Arctic Blue" is a nickname for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), an affliction that sometimes causes severe depression in human beings living in areas hit hard by winter conditions. Since "Arctic Blue" the movie takes place in the wilds of Alaska, the term makes some sense. After watching this mess of a film, I felt as though I had suddenly come down with a disorder completely unrelated to cold weather called CAD (Cinematic Affective Disorder).

Welcome to Devil's Cauldron, Alaska, population roughly twenty. The main characters are a young couple working for the oil company, Eric and Anne Marie (Dylan Walsh and Rya Kihlstedt respectively), and a quartet of rough looking mountain men led by Ben Corbett (Hauer). Nobody really likes having these trappers hanging around town, let alone poaching out in the woods, but everybody leaves them alone because they fear their wild ways and insolent behavior. When Corbett and his ruffians murder a man out in the forest, it is up to the sheriff to bring the men to justice. Since the cop is aware of the dangers inherent in messing around with the mountain men, he enlists Eric and Anne Marie in the apprehension of Corbett. Bad move for Eric and his lady. Corbett has no intention of waiting around for the chopper to arrive and fly him to Fairbanks for a trial. After the trapper kills the sheriff in an escape attempt, Eric decides to fly Corbett to Fairbanks himself in his oil company's little plane. Of course, the aircraft goes down in the mountains after Ben turns the engine off in mid-flight, thus leaving the two men stranded in the wilderness with only each other to depend upon. Meanwhile, back in town Corbett's goons hunt down Eric's woman in an attempt to discover the whereabouts of Ben. There's also some lame subplot about the mayor of the town thwarting Eric's efforts to bring Corbett to justice.

Eric and Ben spend a few days tramping through the snowy landscapes of Alaska where they deal with hunger, finding shelter, staying warm, and occasional escape attempts orchestrated by Ben. The two grow to like each other despite the fact Corbett is a murderer who could very well try to kill Eric before the two reach town. You could call the budding relationship between Eric and Ben male bonding, I guess. I would call it nonsensical and utterly ridiculous. When Eric finally gets Ben back in a jail cell in Devil's Cauldron, the other three trappers come looking for their compatriot. These guys mean business in a very serious way, and won't hesitate to kill anyone who opposes them. An extended chase scene occurs as Eric and Anne Marie try to get Ben Corbett into a chopper before his pals blow their heads off. The conclusion of the film is about as ridiculous as the rest of the film, an ending that worked in a movie like "Midnight Run" but fails totally here. Finishing "Arctic Blue" takes an immense amount of patience on the part of the viewer.

The movie could have succeeded if the editing, plot, script, and pacing worked better. As it stands, the people behind the film attempted to do too much with too little. Several themes running throughout the film, such as the trapper as a dying breed in a modern world, never go anywhere. You feel nothing for Corbett and his pals because most of them are violent jerks wantonly destroying the environment, terrorizing visitors and townspeople, and killing innocent people. Moreover, other plot points go nowhere or make little sense. Why, for example, didn't Eric just kill Corbett after the man murdered the sheriff right in front of him? Why was the sheriff's body hanging in a tree towards the end of the film? Why, exactly, was the guy running for mayor so intent on doing everything in his power to place roadblocks in Eric's path? How is it possible to wonder around in the wilderness without adequate clothing? As I watched the film, I kept wondering if I nodded off during important scenes that explained these mysteries. By the time the end of the film rolled around, I came to understand it was the film's fault and not mine.

The DVD edition includes trailers ("Arctic Blue," "Striking Distance," "The Replacement Killers") and a commentary from director Peter Masterson. The picture quality is sharp despite a fullscreen presentation. The best advice I can give you concerning this movie is to rent it and not buy it. Even diehard Rutger Hauer fans will probably express disappointment over what should have been (and probably was) a straight to video film. Watch it if you must see every Hauer film known to man, but you're better off simply watching "Blade Runner" or "The Hitcher" again. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Changing Habits
Moira is her usual fantastic self. Her talents as an actor a clearly on display. The story and acting are good. It is worth seeing.

Ironically they list this movie as a romance-comedy when in fact it is a romance drama. They rated the Cutting Edge as a romance dram but that is a romance comedy. How do they figure these things out?

Moira Kelly is sensational
Changing Habits is a great vehicle to show the superb talents of actress Moira Kelly. She shows all facets of her acting ability from being mad, sad, hate and love throughout the movie. It is an excellent movie to see how a person can come about 180 degrees and it also gives us all hope and faith.

Pleasant, thoughtful, quirky
No huge payoff, but Moira Kelly is always worth watching ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Preposterous, But Fun Jungle Adventure
In the tradition of H. Rider Haggard and "Indiana Jones" comes another blockbuster adaptation of a bestselling Michael Crichton novel. Up until now, this has not been one of his better known books, although it was a good enough read. The film is okay, but hopefully it will lead people to the even better book.

The story begins in the jungles of the Congo. An expedition of scientists has discovered an incredible find: a huge source of pure, blue diamonds. They communicate the good news back home, but before they can transmit their coordinates, they are suddenly attacked and killed. But by what?

Another scientist is sent in to find out. Dr. Karen Ross (Laura Linney), for reasons best left unexplained, attaches herself to a mission already bound for Zaire. A primatologist (Dylan Walsh) is returning his talking gorilla-she communicates through sign language-to her home in Africa. He is accompanied by a mysterious and very shady Romanian "philanthropist" with the unlikely name of Herkermer Homolka (Tim Curry). Karen comes along at a crucial time with a pile of money and is soon part of the gang.

Once in Africa, they meet up with Monroe Kelly (Ernie Hudson), their Great White Hunter "who happens to be black." That's when their adventure begins in earnest and it is a wild one. I won't give it away here-you probably wouldn't believe me anyway-but it is exciting and suspenseful, if never actually believable.

The screenplay for "Congo" was written by noted playwright John Patrick Shanley ("Moonstruck"). He has an odd sense of humor-witness his underrated "Joe Vs. the Volcano"-that is very much in evidence here. The story at times borders on the ludicrous and it is filled with all the delightful cliches that usually populate jungle adventure films (e.g. porters who go missing in the night, and a corpse with a diamond clutched in its hand).

Maybe the film wouldn't have worked any other way. I don't know. By making the story a pseudo-spoof, though, Shanley has removed the dramatic tension and suspense that made the novel work. Since everything is played for laughs-all too frequently unintentionally-then it is almost impossible for us to really get involved and care about what is happening.

Still, there is always pleasure to be had from a film that doesn't take itself too seriously and is not above poking fun at the customs of its genre. "Congo" has that, plus a few exciting scenes and some fun performances, particularly by Ernie Hudson. It is certainly not a great film, but it is a pleasant diversion on a hot summer day.

Why are these folks so critical, was the book so good?
I did not read the novel and while I won't say it's the best movie ever made (It's probably a four and a half in my opinion) I found it perfectly entertaining. Admittedly, I have read a lot of SF and like well made SF and adventure movies (Aliens 2, Matrix, even Bakshi's LOTR) but I also enjoy any genre of movie that is created with attention and art if possible and not with lowest-common-denominator formulaic design or for contract obligations. True, if your looking for dramatic acting, go watch "Boys Don't Cry", or "Men Don't Leave" (Movies, not a Four Seasons greatest hits compendium) Congo lacks the special effects of the newer Godzilla movie, but I enjoyed it more than the latest Star Wars movie (Phantom Menace) Congo, which I have watched twice on VHS and will most likely pick up on DVD, has, as one of the other reviewers noted, a Saturday morning adventure feel. It was tense and the gorillas were well done for monster movie make-up. The characters all unobtrusively played out their archetype roles. I recommend this movie to those who can keep thier minds open and who have a taste for adventure in a E. R. Burroughs vein.

EXCELLENT STORY-EXCELLENT MOVIE!!!
Definitely a great adventure and one of my personal favorites, Congo, brings to the screen a tale set in the African jungles involving an unlikely group that has banded together in search of a lost city and the rare diamonds that are rumored to exist there in abundance. The actors' performances are outstanding, especially Tim Curry whose "Romanian philanthropist" character steals the show. The plot, the jungle ruins, and the battles are all wonderful, making this film one of the best of its kind.
Congo is an action packed movie with strong elements of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, therefore, a "must see" for those with a passion for archaeology, mystery and adventure.

Before Python there was Congo
Made way back in 1995. A horror story about a lost city and killer gorillas. A research team is slaughtered by some unknown creature will locking for a dimon to power a laser. Design for communication. She goes on a quest across the africian border to retrive it.

What she things is an ancient legendary city and killer gorilas. Can the survive and get off the island. Before the volcano errupts.

If you like Congo I also recomend Raptor, Python, Phyton 2, Anadaconda.

Entertainment well done
I loved this movie, bought the DVD and watch it over and over the performance is so good. It is hard to single out any one thing. The musical score and songs are so good, I keep playing them over in my head. The scene where Dylan Walsh's character starts singing "California Dreaming" to Amy and everyone of the Africans join in the song shows the universality of music and song to people. As with any well executed movie, the details were done right letting the viewer enjoy the actors work. All of the priciple actors came accross as believable in their characters. The only mystery to me is the total lack of credit listing for Joe Pantoliano's participation and his character not even being listed in the ending credits! There must be some Hollywood Gossip behind that. Ernie Hudson really stole the show. The using of a British accent was genius. Since the English colonized and ruled most of Africa for years and set up most of the schools, an African guide would speak English with a British accent. The ending sequence with the volcano erupting and the land splitting brings back fond memories of 1940s "expedition" movies that always ended with such a scene.

"Congo" is entertaining, well directed, scored and acted. It is well worth the price of purchase and my only critcism (the devil is in the details) is the depiction of too few porters to haul the amount of equipment they kept coming up with for different scenes. Laura Linney's character was great! She had the best lines in the movie too.

Rent it or buy it, you will not regret it. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Pointless and pretentious
This low budget film is a real bore. Sean Young plays a chef (who doesn't know how to cut vegetables) who is trying to "find herself" by experimenting with sex and relationships. She is torn between her older boss (John Heard) and a young politically active photographer (the very likeable Richard Hillman). This situation is not very compelling and the movie has nothing new to say.

Sean does a pretty good job with the role; however, she is clearly at least ten years too old for such a role and tries to look younger by wearing pigtails and overalls, which is laughable at times. Unfortunately, much of the dialogue and several of the scenes are also unintentionally funny. The only positive aspect of the movie is the use of some great old jazz songs - too bad the soundtrack isn't available. Skip this movie.

very smooth
At the first sight, the film is all about sexuality. but to my point of view it's more a story about love. The actress finds out how to love herself by enjoying whatever she's doing. in the end the story turns out to be a very romantic love story. because after all the men she met she fell in love with one. it's heartbreaking. to me it was wonderful to look at a woman who can enjoy life that much, although her story is sometimes very tragical.

Living by your own rules
I liked this movie, because here we have Stella living by her rules and feeling comfortable in her skin...she is not a pretender.. very honest..trying to make life smoother among the rough cuts and fearless to live her sexuality without the labels that men put on women for being sexual..It was a refreshing movie about a woman, singleness, and having the courage to set your own standards for living...I liked this movie.

could have been better
This film needed a more introspective approach to really work. The music and pacing were weak. The boyfriends, with the exception of John Heard, were insipid and fairly revolting. Sean Young, who can be fine, was under directed here.

sex is power, men have ruled for years, now it is our turn
A woman to takes what she wants and give equally back, until the man/men find out that equality means just that. Does means justify the end? I certainly think so. Libido is libido and love is love; what makes the difference? Power overtakes all until love moves in. This movie makes me smile sadistically as a woman yet yern for love even more. Note to women: You can have this yet be prepared for the consequences...whatever they may be. I Loved this film, it is my life and I would not change a thing except no one should give up their life for sex. The acting su**ed in most places but the message came through loud and clear. Watch it and judge you not yet you be judged. There are women out there who think in equal terms. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A Mesmerizing and Thoughtful Love Story
I stumbled upon this picture one afternoon and was instantly mesmerized by the subject of "astral travel" as presented in this movie. Who hasn't had the feeling after coming out of a deep dream state that we have "traveled" in our dreams? I couldn't believe the way the movie portrayed the other-worldly feeling of being out of one's body and circling the universe through the narration and acting of Joanna Going. She is magnetic, provacative, and credible not to mention very beautiful. This movie really hit on something that few dare to talk about but "feel" every night in their dreams-ASTRAL TRAVEL.
I highly recommend this movie and the other actors provide a wonderful pallet for this eerily real and lovely film. Check out Joanna Going in "Still Breathing" with Brendan Fraser-mesmerizing!

Save you money for something better
Quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. I would have walked out on it only I was in my living room. I hoped it would somehow redeem itself so I watched until the bitter end, and believe me, the end weas not bitter but a blessing.

It's one worth looking up
I enjoyed this story about a woman with MS who uses her unique and rather puzzling gift for astral projection to escape her illness and her limited life as a 1950s housewife (or 1960s - I didn't catch the exact setting). Her husband really got on my nerves with his martyr attitude toward his ailing wife; he was so smug about how well he was taking the change in her while pushing her hard not to give in to her symptoms. Meanwhile, she keeps wanting to teach and her husband insists that she has plenty to do in the home. No wonder that with frustrations like that, she literally chooses to escape the world. Finally, at the end of the film, the information gets through to her husband that he can't keep forcing his wishes on her. The ending is truly moving and made me cry.

I find the astral projection angle puzzling, though. Little was actually explained about it - little was shown. There was no mention of how long she'd been doing it or why she could do it when others couldn't. When did she start it? It was like some scenes were missing. I suppose the angle works if you take astral projection as a metaphor for something she needed and used for escape. It's just such a darn unusual activity that the lack of background information puzzled me. Also, a student living at her house kept mocking her behind her back by saying "Psycho-somatic" whenever she acted a little bit odd. Were we supposed to think that maybe she was imagining everything? I feel much could've been made clearer. Still, I recommend the movie. It's okay to be asked to use your brain and interpret for yourself.

RIP
Responsibility, Initiative, Progress. This movie is now one of my top 5. I can see how it could be recommended for any of several reasons already mentioned by others; for me, as an educator, the "sub-plot" of learning was especially strong and moving.

Addiction to astral projection
Eden is the story of a woman, Helen, who learns how to make out of body trips and then becomes addicted to it. As with any serious addiction, it takes over her life. I found it a horror to watch Helen sink deeper and deeper into her addiction, deteriorating in her mental balance and stressing her body by lack of restful sleep and care -- while no one suggests any sort of psychotherapy or even recognizes her addictive behavior. The total absence in the 1960's of any mention or consideration of any sort of mental health care is beyond belief.

If instead of astral projection, the vehicle for Helen's addiction were alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, compulsive eating, or any of the other commonly recognized vehicles, the entire plot would be basically the same. But somehow the fact that the addictive vehicle is astral projection is supposed to turn this film into a life-affirming beautiful self-exploration -- completely oblivious to the true nature of her behavior.

Addiction is addiction, regardless of the means. The portrayal of how wonderful Helen feels when in the sway of her addiciton is somehow supposed to make this a beautiful movie. But all of the other vehicles of addicition make the addict feel just as wonderful at the time -- as the addiction takes control of their lives: that is precisely the nature of addiction, precisely what happens in this film. The addiction to astral projection is no different than any other form of addiction, no matter how beautiful the cinematography is.

A final note about astral travel and self-discovery, since these are the hooks for this movie for many potential viewers. If you really want to learn about self-discovery in other states of consciousness, then read Stanislav Grof's "The Adventure of Self-Discovery" or Michael Murphy's encyclopedic compendium "The Future of the Body." You'll feel a lot better about the quality of what you bought if you buy those instead of this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Changing Habits
Moira is her usual fantastic self. Her talents as an actor a clearly on display. The story and acting are good. It is worth seeing.

Ironically they list this movie as a romance-comedy when in fact it is a romance drama. They rated the Cutting Edge as a romance dram but that is a romance comedy. How do they figure these things out?

Moira Kelly is sensational
Changing Habits is a great vehicle to show the superb talents of actress Moira Kelly. She shows all facets of her acting ability from being mad, sad, hate and love throughout the movie. It is an excellent movie to see how a person can come about 180 degrees and it also gives us all hope and faith.

Pleasant, thoughtful, quirky
No huge payoff, but Moira Kelly is always worth watching ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Preposterous, But Fun Jungle Adventure
In the tradition of H. Rider Haggard and "Indiana Jones" comes another blockbuster adaptation of a bestselling Michael Crichton novel. Up until now, this has not been one of his better k