Amazon.com

Danny DeVito's adaptation of the Roald Dahl book for children is mostly just fine, helped along quite a bit by the charming performance of Mara Wilson (Mrs. Doubtfire) as young Matilda, a brilliant girl neglected by her stupid, self-involved parents (DeVito and Rhea Perlman). Ignored at home, Matilda escapes into a world of reading, exercising her mind so much she develops telekinetic powers. Good thing, too: sent off to a school headed by a cruel principal, Matilda needs all the help she can get. DeVito takes a highly stylized approach that is sometimes reminiscent of Barry Sonnenfeld (director of Get Shorty, a DeVito production), and his judgment is not the best in some matters, such as letting the comic-scary sequences involving the principal go on too long. But much of the film is delightful and funny. The DVD release has a pan-and-scan, full-screen presentation only, plus Dolby sound and optional French and Spanish soundtracks. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (71)

A Charming and Over-the-Top Movie
This has always been one of my favorite films. This fanciful tale of a young girl who escapes into the world of literature from her abusive parents and principal is a must-see for all families. Some of the material is a little frantic for very young children. Your children must be mature enough to understand that their school principal will not throw them over a fence by their hair.

The film has wonderful actors in it. Pam Ferris, as the child-hating principal of Crunchem Hall, put on an enthusiastically over-the-top performance. Danny De Vito and Rhea Perlman did a great job as the parents who can't understand their six-year-old daughter and her love of reading. Fresh out of "Schindler's List," came Embeth Davidtz playing the warm and loving teacher Miss Honey. And last, but not least, is Mara Wilson, who at a very young age put on a very convincing performance as a girl who loved to learn.

Even though the story has some absurdness, it has a wonderful lesson for children. They shouldn't spend all their time in front of the T.V. For the film buff's out there, the camera shots are very interesting for a family film. Composer David Newman ("Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," "The War of the Roses") wrote a wonderful music score for the film. It had humor and sentiment, and it is one of his personal favorites.

So if your looking for a good family movie that is average as a film, but above the standards of a family film, this movie is for you.

A modern childrens' classic!
Based on the book written by Roald Dahl (who brought "Willy Wonka" to life), this story revolves around the 6-year-old title character and her incredibly dysfunctional "Typical American" family. Daddy is a used car salesman, Mommy is a throwback to the worst stereotype of the 1960's housewife, and her brother is equally without redeeming qualities, but she loves them anyway and tries to save them from themselves -- most of the time.

Matilda escapes her life as an unpaid and unloved receiving clerk for her father's business (which is under surveillance by inept FBI agents) by devouring every book she can lay her hands on.

The next step in her liberation is toward Crunchem Hall, the neighborhood school run by -- well, I won't spoil the plot, just suffice it to say that "Matilda" is a Must Buy for any home with kids and a DVD player!

This film is as rich and delicious as "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," and is no more a "little girl movie" than "Wonka" was a "little boys' movie." For that matter, even adults will enjoy this one, especially when watching it with your (or anyone else's) kids. END

Great for kids and adults!
Matilda is a cute and wonderful story! It's funny and makes you wonder what will happen next! It is hard to turn the tv off before it is finished! Sometimes people aren't sure they want to buy it but I'm not lying. You have to get it! If you don't like it, you're crazy. Still if you are unsure, go to Blockbuster or another movie rental place and rent it.

How To Survive Private School
Every now and then I see a movie intended for younger viewers that impresses me. Matilda, based on the book by Roald Dahl (Witches, James and The Giant Peach, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) is one such movie. This is the story of a young girl who is special. She is very intelligent, self-sufficient, and inquisitive.

When Matilda's parents (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman) realize that she is old enough for school (sort of late) they send her to a private school run by a horribly mean woman who hates children. This environment, coupled with her life at home with a family that barely knows she is there, causes Matilda to discover and develop telekinetic powers. These she uses to help a friendly teacher and the rest of the students.

Once again a Roald Dahl book has been made into a very good movie. DeVito is excellent as a crooked used car salesman and Perlman is great as his wife. Matilda is played by the same actress who was in the remake of Miracle on 34th Street. The imagery and story are of the type that can only be found in stories for younger audiences. Although the movie does differ from the book this is a movie that I highly recommend.

Funny Family Movie, highly rated
This is a great must see family comedy about an orphan who has magical powers and uses it for good stuff and at the same time brews up some slapstick comedy fun, a great cast including Danny Devito as actor and narrator for this great family movie and a tale of a smart and gifted young child you'll never forget, i'm sure you'll love it. 10/10. ... Read more

Reviews (261)

The best comic book movie.
Superman. Spider-man. X-Men. They're all good comic book films, but to me they pale in comparison to this 1989 classic. Micheal Keaton plays Batman/Bruce Wayne and pulls both roles off real well being a millionaire by day and a crimefighter by night. Jack Nicholson also pulls off a great role as the psychotic Joker. The writers did a very good job on the story. My only complaint is the DVD itself. There's not even a theatrical trailer. Maybe Warner Bros. will release a 2-disc special edition next year for the film's 15th anniversary, complete with a theatrical trailer, deleted scenes, and possibly a commentary. They should, considering all the 2-disc special editions they've been releasing lately. Anyway, I highly recommend this to anyone.

My favorite line from the movie:

Mugger: Don't kill me.
Batman: I'm no going to kill you. I want you to do me a favor. I want you to tell all your friends about me.
Mugger: What are you?
Batman: I'm Batman.

Is there a 6-foot bat in Gotham City?
I can still remember as a 4 year-old being completely obsessed with the Batman character. And I loved the movie. To put it simply, Batman was my hero. Of course this isn't the case anymore but I still think that "Batman" is a great film.

One of the most striking things about "Batman" is the set design by Anton Furst, which is very Gothic and bleak looking (during the outdoor scenes there is no sun whatsoever). The Gotham City that looked like any other in the TV series is transformed into dark, slimy crime pit in which good is basically nonexistent. Tim Burton gives the film some good direction, keeping things tight and interesting. He executed the action scenes nicely as well. Aside from the impressive set design and direction, the movie is also well acted. Michael Keaton played the role of Batman very well, giving Batman a powerful presence and a sort of everyman personality (which is even a bit off-the-wall) when he's Bruce Wayne. Jack Nicholson, meanwhile, was excellent as the Joker. He hams things up a lot, which makes sense since the character of Joker is supposed to be a complete, smart-mouthed maniac. I did notice a few problems with this movie though. The story, for the most part, focuses too much on the Joker, which is silly. I mean, isn't the movie called "Batman"? The plot is bit shallow as well, which probably explains why I found it a bit difficult to pin point exactly the Joker wants to do with Gotham City. The love story was bit weak as well. While Kim Basinger did good job as Vicki Vale, she and Keaton didn't develop a lot of chemistry to make their pairing believable.

If you can ignore some minor problems, "Batman" stands as pretty good comic book adaptation. If you like superhero films, then this one is certainly worthy being included in your collection.

al right
It's the first batman movie and it really wasn't that good. Jack Nicoleson was good at joker. But this movie just doesn't catch you. The story between Bruce and Vicky is okay. Tim Burten filmed it well,the action wasn't that good, and compared to the others except the fourth one it doesn't stand a chance.

im batman!
jack nicholson set a world record for accepting 89 million bones to play the joker here.i didnt like the fact that the joker got wasted since he was easily the best character in thefilm.also,although i think tim burton is a directing genius,in this film he focused way too much on character development and the beautiful gothic arcitecture of gotham and really had little left for the actual storyline.michael keaton is batman.children will enjoy this one.this is easily the best of the batman onslaught of the 90s.this is a film most anyone will enjoy except people who criticize everything.there is only one really hot babe in this one.her name is vickie.shes one of those stuck up buisness broad by day-raving whore by night types.the only major difference between this movie and the comic book is that the joker is batmans long time arch nemisis not just some fly by night clown who gets wasted in the first episode.jack nicholson played an awesome joker.he deserved an award.people say this movie rocks and THEY ARE RIGHT.

garbage
Laughable special effects, especially for a movie that came out in the 90's, Robot Jocks had better effects. Watch where the joker falls off the building, and where the bat plane crashes, I think the fire is done with cigarettes. Choreography is lame, like at the end where a guy jumps over Batman's head then goes falling through the floor. Batman doesn't use his intellect or detective skills really, just goes charging in to battles, he almost gets killed twice while out of costume. It doesn't make sense that batman tries to tell Vicky Vale his secret identity. "Yeah, this'll make her respect me
". I can imagine him in front of a mirror practicing "I'm Batman". He also endangers innocent civilians in a car chase(...). What's up with her wardrobe?(glasses), and the guy reporter is an annoying geek. The batsuit is more powerful than the batplane? Batman is shot about 15 times through the course of the movie (twice without the suit), but all it takes is one shot to bring down the plane, i guess because it's moving towards the bullet at such a speed. An aluminum tray also provides stronger armor than the batplane according to tihs movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The dark, brooding tone of Conan the Barbarian is replaced in this rousing sequel by a lighter, more humorous tone and one of the campiest casts ever assembled. This time, Conan is assigned by a duplicitous queen (Sarah Douglas) to escort a virgin princess (Olivia d'Abo) on a treacherous trek to a crystal palace where they will retrieve a priceless gemstone. Basketball champ and self-described Lothario Wilt Chamberlain plays Bombaata, a warrior sent on a secret mission to kill Conan, and the androgynous Grace Jones plays Zula, a wild woman who becomes Conan's loyal ally. Some consider this sequel a disappointment, but the film makes no apologies for its silliness, and that's the key to its success as gloriously pulpy entertainment. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Not horrible but not great
Call this more like 2 1/2 stars. This movie may actually be a bit closer in spirit to a true swords and sorcery epic than the first movie. We've got evil queens, evil wizards, monsters, etc...

Unfortunately, Conan is even saddled with a bigger cast of companians. Mako is back as the wizard, Tracy Walter plays a thief for comic relief, then we have Oliva D'Abo as a Princess, and Wilt Chamberlain and Grace Jones rounding out the cast.

This is some of the worst casting EVER! Jones, Chamberlain and Walter are totally out of place in this movie. Chamberlain is even more wooden than Arnold, Jones basically scowls and growls for 90 minutes and Walter sounds like a hillbilly in ancient times.

The special effects are B movie at it's best. Poorly looking rubber costumes. Conan's nemesis from the books and comics, Thoth Amon comes off as totally pathetic.

It's not all bad. Arnold himself holds things together as best he can and the action scenes are well done. Still, We have yet to see anyone do a REAL good swords and sorcery/fantasy movie(discounting Lord of the Rings, of course).

King Kull with Kevin Sorbo was yet another slap in the face to fans of Robert E. Howard.

Quirky casting decisions quickly sink this "Conan" sequel
The 1982 film "Conan the Barbarian" is the film that gets the credit (or blame) for turning Arnold Schwarzenegger into a movie star, but it should be remembered more as the best Sword & Sorcery film produced to date. The main reasons, besides Schwarzenegger cutting an imposing figure as Conan, flexing his muscles and swinging his big sword, was that director John Milius treated the characters seriously and avoided descending into camp. But for the 1984 sequel "Conan the Destroyer," the key factor seemed to be coming up with casting in a similar vein to the logic that had landed Arnold the role.

The story of "Conan the Destroyer" was by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway, a pair of writers for Marvel Comics. Thomas was the writer for Marvel's "Conan the Barbarian," often adapating Robert E. Howard's stories, whether they were originally Conan stories or not. The story is a basic quest story where Conan escorts a virgin princess to bring back a powerful gem from a crystal palace, which will then be returned to a queen (Sarah Douglas), who turns out to be evil and wants to sacrifice the princess so the gem can used to summon an ancient demon, at which point wackiness will ensue.

The problem is not in the story, which certainly allows you to string together a series of Sword & Sorcery adventures, but in the casting. The princess is played by Olivia d'Abo, who simply looks too young (i.e., Conan was forever leaving pregnant princesses behind in his various adventures but there is not chance for that sort of chemistry here). Her body guard, Bombaata, is played by basketball Hall of Famer, Wilt Chamberlain, while Zula, the warrior woman who joins the group is played by Grace Jones, the singer/dancer/model/crazy woman. Comic relif, which was relatively absent in the orignal film, is provided by Tracey Walter as Malak. With such casting the descent into camp becomes inevitable. Besides, there is nothing in this film even close to rivaling Arnold's best moments in the original (especially since the final shot of the old King Conan is recycled from the first film).

Those who have actually read the originally Conan stories will also find it rather distressing that Toth-Amon, the great Stygian wizard who was Conan's biggest enemy in the Howard stories, is reduced to a pit stop on this quest (I remember thinking at the time that this was the equivalent of Darth Vader being one of the guys that got dispatched at the Cantina in "Star Wars"). Thomas and Conway were upset by Stanley Mann's final screenplay, as well as the finished film, and ended up turning their story into the graphic novel "Conan and the Horn of Azoth," with art by Mike Docherty (all the names got changed to avoid any confusion).

Ultimately, "Conan the Destroyer" gets three stars because we round down simply to make sure that it is clear that "Conan the Barbarian" was a better movie. Besides, this 1984 film pretty much killed the franchise, although Milius is apparently preparing a 2005 film "King Conan: Crown of Iron," which there being a lot of speculation as to who will play Conan now that Arnold is Governor of Cal-e-fornia (the hot names are apparently all wrestlers).

Awful movie. I wish I could forget it
The masterul epic quality of "Conan the Barbarian" demanded an epic sequel. Instead, what we were given was a parody.

In the first movie Conan's character was well developed, you saw what happened to him over the course of his life, what created him, and what his motivations were.

In this movie, Conan is reduced to a bodybuilder in a fur diaper.

Conan's companions in the first movie were formidible accomplices who Conan respected. In this movie, Conan's companions, especially the annoyingly sniveling cretin Malak, (played by Tracey Walter) have no redeeming qualities at all. I kept hoping Conan would impale him and put us out of our misery. I was constantly lead to wonder "Why is Conan hanging around with this guy?"

Sandahl Bergman in the original movie was a Valkyrie. She was amazingly beautiful, but also amazingly powerful and dangerous.

In the second movie we were given Grace Jones. Please. Not only is she unattractive, her character was essentially unbelievable, crude and repulsive. The notion that she could portray any kind of a warrior was laughable.

The villains in the first movie are fearful. James Earl Jones as Thulsa Doom, Sven Ole Thorsen as Thorgrim and Ben Davidson as Rexor come across as men who could perhaps beat Conan. It made the outcome uncertain and Conan's eventual victory that much more powerful.

In this movie the villain is a guy in a monster suit, and a rhino horn with poorly done special effects. It is so ridiculously, lame that Conan must drop his sword and arm wrestle the monster for a fair fight. Wilt Chamberlain, while a creditable athlete, simply did not have the screen prescence necessary. One look at him and it was obvious that Conan could take him. Chamberlain didn't do the role justice.

In the first movie, magic was just that. Magic. It was dangerous, expensive in terms of life and used only in dire circumstances. In this movie magic is reduced to the level of a bad "Dungeons and Dragons" game. I halfway expected The wizard (Mako) to pull out some oddly shaped dice and roll them in his battle with the Man Ape/Toth-Amon.

In the original movie, Conan ponders The riddle of steel, he's a thinker and a man of action. He speaks little. In this movie, talks toomuch, Conan rescues a blonde girl and is betrayed by the evil stepmother. It was a variation of Snow White, Cimmerian style. At least there weren't seven dwarves.

Finally, Conan movies should be R rated. The world of Conan is violent, brutal, lusty and grim. Solutuions ot problems are found with the edge of a blade, not with talk. This watered-down milquetoast version of a Conan adventure was designed to pander to a family friendly audience and D&D geeks. There's plenty of family entertainment out there, and to bring adapt Conan to that environment is wrong.

It's too bad that John Milius was not in charge of this movie. The suits in Hollywood had their way and this movie stinks as a result. The fans lost, because instead three movies we only get one good one, one bad one, and if a third is ever made, it likely won't star Arnold in the title role. What a missed opportunity. It could have been SO much better.

If you like the Conan stories, ignore this film, and stick to the one and only Conan movie.

the greatest
this is the best one cuz this one has more speical Affects and it has monster like the other one didn't and this had more fighting and more wizards now this was the best one of all thats what i think get this,it's a really great movie Arnold kicks @$$ on this movie but i think he should just get about valeria.but this is a great and powerful movie

A Must-have
Among Arnold's early movies, this one stands out for the eclectic supporting cast. His early movies were remarkedly free of any acting on his part; I suspect he was still learning English then. But one way to make him look better is to hire nonactors, or miscast semiactors. Enter Wilt and Grace. (Later, Richard Dawson). This is as much a collectible as Terminator 2. ... Read more

Description

Biography of the life of Dorothy Day (Kelly). The title refers to the religious practice of treating all people, no matter how poor or humble, as if they were visiting angels. Day was a famous activist and philanthropist of the 20's and 30's. The film traces her growth - mostly spiritual and religious - as she left journalism to become a suffragette in Greenwich Village. Eventually, Day converted to Roman Catholicism and dedicated the rest of her life to helping the poor. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The Dorothy Day Story
This video portrayed the life of Dorothy Day, a remarkable woman, who with her passion for Christ started the Catholic Worker movement.

A special movie... One that is not at all light-hearted, but one that will challenge you and make you think differently about the value of human dignity.

If you are in the mood for something different, a movie that will bring you closer to your own faith, I recommend this one. It made me reevaluate my priorities.

Inspirational biography
Although many people have not seen this biographical movie about the life of Dorothy Day, the co-founder of the Catholic Worker, an organization dedicated to helping the poor, it provides a clear and well-crafted image of Day's life. Kelly does an outstanding job, as well as Sheen and a then little-known Heather Graham as a fragile alcoholic. If the story of Dorothy Day intrigues you and you want to know more about her remarkable life, from journalist to single-mother to helper of the poor, this movie will definitely provide you with answers. It is a heart-warming and spiritual journey. Buy it!

I Wish I Had Read Her Autobiography First
I watched this on telvesion recently and knew I had to have the video to share with others this most inspiring story of Dorothy Day, a political and social activist who practiced what she preached. This movie may only be superficial... but it nonetheless gives one a glimpse into the person who is rightly called the Mother Teresa of America. Moira Kelly does a great job portraying Dorothy Day. Martin Sheen is excellent in his portrayl of Peter Maurin who inspired her to set up a hospice to help the poor in her quest for political and social justice.

.... I have heard many Catholics complain that while Dorothy Day did great work like Saint Mother Frances Cabrini and Mother Teresa, she was too political for the Catholic Church. Perhaps. It is true the Catholic Church discourages political involvement by her priests, laybrothers, and nuns. However, as a lay woman not bound by constraints imposed by the religous life, Dorothy Day was free to be involved with politics. This movie shows actor Brian Keith as a Catholic Prelate telling Miss Day she is an embarassment to the Church with her socialist views, and thus so Dorothy Day must change or the Church governmment and clergy need to keep her at a distance, lest they too be considered Communists or Marxists. Dorothy Day did not change but continued her political protests and lobbying for the help of the poor.

Although not a life-to-death biography, I feel that Entertaining Angels portrays the spirit and the conscience of Dorothy Day. A convert to the Faith in her early adulthood, Dorothy Day proved why many converts make better Catholics than some of us who were born, baptized, and raised in the Catholic Church. In want of a better understanding of Dorothy Day I recommend the viewer of this movie also read her autobiography titled: The Long Loneliness. Although I have given up on politics I must say I find the life of Dorothy Day most encouraging. Like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Dorothy Day saw people suffering and had the courage to help them to better lives - becoming perhaps - a martyr in her own right.

Having just her read her autobiography called the Long Loneliness I am very disappointed that the movie did not follow her version of the events. The movie does justice to the spirit of Dorothy Day, but not to the facts of her life. I advise the viewer to read both "the Long Loneliness" and the biography by Robert Coles for a much better understanding and appreciation of Dorothy Day.

If you thought this was good...
I am a Catholic Worker--this movie was only a shadow of the intensity and power of the real thing. You don't have to be Catholic. You have to love people with an intensity that can only come from one place. It's a hard life in the film and it's unimaginably difficult in person. I ask you find the film and then find a Worker House and share in the struggle.

Introduction to a Modern Saint
This video was an introduction, for me, to Dorothy Day, and the whole Catholic Worker movement, as it was begun. It made me want to know more (even though I am not a Catholic)! The acting was quite well done, and Moira Kelly was convincing as a passionate Dorothy Day. It is worth sharing, as it is quite an incredible story of faith and history. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Eastwood tries to sing country
In the early 1980's, Clint Eastwood tried a number of different characters. He had his ups and downs, and HONKEYTONK MAN is definately a down. Based on a novel, the movie takes place in the 1930's with Eastwood playing Red Stoval, an aging country singer trying to make it in the bars. He sest out on a trip to Memphis, hoping to make it big. His real-life son Kyle plays his nephew, who tags along to keep him out of trouble.

I give him credit for trying, but Eastwood CANNOT sing. He actually did a better job trying in PAINT YOUR WAGON then here. The movie is rather slow, with the occasional sleazy comment or action to hold your interest, which doesn't last long. One funny moment is when Red tells off a cop who is frisking him. Another is when he holds up a friend with a shotgun, (yes, he does carry a gun in this one briefly). By far the funniest part is where he takes his nephew to a brothel to help him lose his virginity! Still, the movie is depressing with Red suffering from TB throughout the whole film, and to see him waste away while singing doesn't make things any better. The cars are also not in date with the film. Wanting to be somebody is a good motive for still going on with the show, but he takes it too far, and any Eastwood fan would be rattled by the ending. HONKEYTONK MAN was a commercial disappointment, and I would sadly rank it as one of Eastwood's worst films.

Watchable, but horrid
Let me say straight off the bat that this is an enjoyable film in many ways. It moves along without ever boring, despite not having much in the way of dramatic highs and lows. The acting feels pretty natural for the most part, but not really believable for the place and time in which the movie takes place.

But there is a lot to complain about. First of all, Eastwood cannot sing at all. It's pretty embarrassing, and I'm a little astonished that he didn't have someone do this for him. It's not just because his voice is timid to the point of being characterless, or without any sort of natural projection or decent intonation. There are plenty of "way off" country singers I love and admire. It's more that his voice has no country in it at all - it's almost a more tepid and unaccented sub-sub-James Taylor sort of voice. Downright bewildering, especially when this film is meant to take place in the 30's, when country music was in its infancy and fairly crude sounding, recorded or live.

I notice one other reviewer mentions a cameo from Bob Wills, who entered into a coma a decade before the movie was made, and died eight years prior to the film. That's a hell of a cameo! Even if this "thirties" movie was meant to represent 1939, Wills still would have only been in his early 30s - which makes odd the fact that he's played as if he's at least in his 60s here, and performing a song that wasn't recorded until two decades later. (Kudos, on the other hand, for having an actor who actually worked with Wills play the part.) Ditto the clothing styles (a woman who performs on the Grand Ole Opry wears an outfit that wouldn't have been worn until roughly five decades later, performing a song that sounds like early 80s Barbara Mandrell - nothing even remotely within two generations of the period in which this movie takes place.) One could say it's this failure to get even the most basic period details correct that prevented this movie from having very much success. It's a largely comical adventure a la "O Brother, Where Are Thou", which plays around with a lot of cultural mythology - but "O Brother" could play even faster and looser with credible plot development largely because they captured the details of the time period so wonderfully well. Bear in mind that even the term "honky tonk" was not widespread until the 40s, and hardly used at all to describe a genre of music until the early 50s. That makes the title of this film and its general basis pretty suspect. It's ironic that the success of "O Brother" was largely in their use of "real" traditional music sounding like what it did at the time, not some weakened Nashville pap. Another point is that in the mid-30s the Grand Ole Opry wasn't anything like what it became in the 40s and 50s - Chicago actually would have been a better destination, as the WLS Barn Dance was really roaring then.

There's also the names - there was a Herman Arnspiger who played with Bob Wills and was by any account I've read, a pretty swell guy. Here he is a friend of Bob Wills, but a total lying scumbag robber thief trying to pimp an underaged girl. "Stovall", the name of Eastwood's character, was also the name of a guy who was one of country's great songwriters. (His name was Vern, not Red though). And the TB thing is kind of a conflation of the death of Jimmie Rodgers (or Woody Guthrie's cousin Jack, for that matter) - coughing between takes in his final recording session. I know people who assume this was based on a true story, and that's a shame, as some of the true stories of these country guys are far more compelling than this tale was.

I'm a young person whose musical interests extend largely to reggae / punk / 60s soul, so it's not like I'm an oldtimer complaining about how it really was. I sure wasn't there then. My point is more that when a novice classic country fan such as myself can see the gigantic flaws in research, there's a big problem.

My final word is that this is a fair way to spend a couple of hours, but probably a poor choice of things to spend your money on. Buy "O Brother" or Robert Altman's "Nashville" instead if you want something similar.

The Eastwood Team
I enjoyed the film very much over all.The acting was well done,which showed the skill of the Director in bring out the talent of each individual actor. I am not sure if the singing and guitar playing of Mr Eastwood was actually done by him or a professional country Western musician. I do think Marty Robbins contributed a great deal to the ending and perhaps it was in some part his sing and playing that inhanced Mr Eastwood in his part

I did wish that more scenes could have involved the radio stations of that error but that was not any detraction from the picture.

I am sure it is difficult for a parent to capture the attention of a son or daughter in a work setting for long periods of time. The very fact of how this film turned out is of special significance to the sucess of the relationship between father and son. Well done gentlemen!

Critics seldom know what people really enjoy
This wouldn't be the first time, I thoroughly enjoyed a movie that critics labeled as too-something-or-other. This is a great movie and apart from the usual Eastwood fare except for the 'gut-and-grit' exhibited by the lead character, Red Stovall, to accomplish his dream despite tuberculosis. As for down-grading Eastwood's singing ability, there are a number of country greats who lack melodic tone and volume but make up for it with style. (Truly unfortunate that critics can do the same!)

Buy and enjoy this movie; you won't be sorry.

Eastwood Sings Country.
Eastwood play uncle Red, a drifter trying to get to the Grand Ole Opry. Along for the ride is Eastwoods son Klye. ... Read more

Reviews (94)

A Classic Cult Film!!!
Repo Man is THE classic cult movie. It's a real original! A wacky and complex masterpiece that defies description. Emilio Estevez, in his one and only good role, is the title character, a teenage punk who lives with his hippie parents in L.A. The always brilliant Harry Dean Stanton is the veteran repo man who takes Estevez under his wing and shows him the ropes of the trade. To reveal more would be wrong, one of the many pleasures of this movie is the wild surprises and twists that the film springs on us. Let's just say the film mixes a punk attitude with bizarro science fiction, hysterical comedy, satire, a GREAT soundtrack and much more. With this film and the brilliant Sid & Nancy (another film you should see if you have'nt)Alex Cox announced himself as a great director. Unfortunately, he seemed to want to self destruct a promising career with the release of two deeply flawed but nonetheless interesting films Walker and Straight to Hell. This is a man who needs to direct again? Where is he now??

Cult classic
Of all the low-budget films to come out of the Eighties, Repo Man, Alex Cox's dark cult comedy about Eighties urban sprawl and alien paranoia, is one of the better ones. Emilio Estevez stars in one of his earliest roles as Otto Parts, your modern apocalyptic teen up to his armpits in drugs, sex, and parental neglect. He soon finds a way out through Bud (Stanton), an ace repo man, who gives him a job and teaches him the ways of the car repossessing trade. The two wander through the guts of L.A. in search of a '64 Chevy Malibu, priced at 50 thousand dollars, and run into a cast of bizarre street characters: feds, girls in distress, a lobotomized nuclear physicist, and really, really dumb criminals. Estevez gives one of the best performances of his career, honing his acting skills as a punk white boy just in time for his role in Coppola's The Outsiders, released later that year. Cox, who wrote and directed the film, creates a strange but hilarious view of our culture, a brilliant satire on modern society.

What the f*ck do I know?
One thing I do know is this film is a modern day masterpiece.Unlike anything made before it.A true work of art and absolutely essential to any great DVD collection.Better than Gone With The Wind.It will make you wanna go to L.A. but stay home and watch Repo Man instead.I really wish they'd release the made for TV version of it as well.Along with the high art of Richard Elfman's brilliant Forbidden Zone, Repo Man is in a class all by itself.SUPERB!

not what i had expected
I was thouroughly pleased upon seeing repo man. Though i Admit it was defintitletely not what I had expected. A friend recomended the movie to me saying it was apunk rock thing, and it was actually an acurate portrayal of the punk rock lifestyle of the 80's. WHOA no way, thats the last time i trust that guy. What I did discover was a magical glowing, flying spacecar, which everyone and their mother wanted. It's brilliant, just half way through the movie it takes a twist for the strange. I'd recomend this movie to anyone. This is probably Emelio's only good performance ever so that makes the movie that much more special.

"The more you drive, the less intelligent you are."--Miller
Wow, ummm....interesting. Finally something different. No, I mean this is REALLY different. About time to, cuz lately I've seen a string of bvad movies, so it's nice to see something cool and original every now and then. Otto (Emilio Estevez) is a Los Angeles punk, a loser with no direction and no role models. But he discovers a code of honor and higher purpose when he joins a select group of latter-day knights: the repo men. As a fledging apprentice, Otto slowly learns the ways of these high-caliber, overmedicated auto repossessors. And when a $20,000 bounty is placed on a mysterious missing car, Otto eludes the police, feds, religious cultists, and other repo men in a frantic search for this holy grail. Could one man's destiny lie in the back of a 1964 Chevy Malibu? For some, actually for many, this film will come of as stupid and random, but for those of us who "get" it, this is a breathe of fresh air. Using clever, if somewhat odd, story telling, this film should keep you entertained and amused throughout the entire duration of the film. I say rent first, then but. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nicholson directed and starred in this Western spoof about an outlaw who is saved from hanging by a young widow (Mary Steenburgen) who puts him to work as an indentured servant. She has a gold mine that no one knows about and she wants him to help her get the gold before anyone else finds out. But, of course, his old gang--who gave him up to the law in the first place--finds out about the mine and wants a piece of it. This was filmed in the late 1970s, when drug use was rampant (and not particularly frowned upon) in Hollywood; keep that in mind when you listen to Nicholson's stuffy-nose delivery. Alternately amusing and flat, with a cast that includes Steenburgen in her first movie role and John Belushi in a tiny part as a member of the gang, also making his film debut. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (12)

humorous redemption
GOIN'SOUTH is a funny movie about a humorous redemption. Jack Nicholson is the redeemee and lovely Mary Steenburgen is the redeemor. Jack, the low-life criminal, finds that marriage with obedience to Mary is the price he has to pay for going straight. Mary finds that the price of getting cheap gold miner labor through marriage to Jack includes all of the vows, conjugal and otherwise. They actually strike gold and GREED enters into the plot. Greed is a dandy comedy catalyst. The writers gave this movie excellent dialogue. Casting was terrific. What can telegraph a better joke than Nicholson's devilish leer? Mary Steenburgen fit the role of a prim, greedy reformer to a Tee. Even the cover on the box sets the comedy mood of this film with Jack's leering face framed by a noose, saying if I may, "Hey! This is going to be a funny, funny, movie."

A DEFINITE LAUGHER
This was the first incarnaction of Jack reading the phone book: You don't care what's being said because Jack's saying it. GOIN' SOUTH is so pointless it can't help but be funny. The scene where Jack devours the boiled chicken is hysterical (then dead panning to Mary Steenburgen, "How about a little DE-sert?"). I wonder how much of this film was off the script and how much was improved. GOIN' SOUTH isn't ground breaking comedy, but it is a definite laugher.

Give me more
Jack rocked this. He played his part perfectly. I laughed myself silly watching this movie. It was predictable but hell we all like a movie that touches home base every once in a while don't we. If you rent this movie you will probably want to buy it so just buy it first and watch it with style. A clear picture is worth an extra few bucks. VHS is fading away in front of your eyes.

Goin' South
I have watched this movie many times and never get tired of it. I have shown it to many of my friends and they all enjoy it. Jack Nicholson cracks me up every time. No-one could carry this part off as well. Watch this movie and be entertained as you want to be.

Missing some scenes and lines.
My wife and I both agree that the DVD seemed to be missing some scenes and lines, particularly "We don't need no stinkin' batches" by Belushi. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This one is way, way up there on the silly meter--and it has the distinction of being the second film directed by Oliver Stone. This bizarre and unintentionally funny horror film deals with a cartoonist (Michael Caine) who has drinking and marital problems; both are exacerbated when he loses his hand in a car crash. But that seems like child's play compared to his real troubles: the severed hand, which was never recovered, takes on a life of its own and starts killing everyone who makes Caine angry. The hand lacks the dexterity of the Addams family's Thing but, otherwise, it's just as funny. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Lost Cult Horror Gem
Okay if you like to find the little gems that are really good and yet nobody has heard about them then try this Oliver Stone/Michael Caine movie on for size because it is really very good.

It is a crime that this is not on DVD yet but hopefully that problem will be resolved by the time you read this review. The premise is a simple one. Michael Caine is an cartoon artist who, in a very brutal traffic accident, looses his hand, which eventually means that he looses his career, life, respect and family in the process.

Then murders start occurring in his home town and there is a sneaky suspicion that his hand may be involved. The movie is quite frightening in parts and does have the ability to make you jump... but laugh after. Although this is one of Oliver Stone's early works, and there is a learning curve involved for the director, it still stands streaks and bounds ahead of most other horror films of its generation.

The final plot twist should blow your mind. The gravity of it did not dawn on me until the final reel. This was a real surprise ending that ranks up there with the Usual Suspects and some other movies that come to mind. The twist is very good but alas some viewers might work that out before the final revelation comes about.

In my opinion this is a little cult gem of a movie that deserves to be watched especially if you like to dig up old forgotten movies that are much better than what the critics have to say. This is one of those.

Good intelligent horror. Stone should be proud of it.

Michael Caine is great
Enjoyed this movie very much. Background music is riveting. The hand is the silly part of the movie but the acting is great. Caines wife is perfect as the adulterous vixen who really leads Caine down the scary path he takes. I now own 4 movies starring Michael Caine and have to say he can out act any of the Harrison Fords or Brad Pitts of the world. His role here reminds me of his starring role in Deathtrap, a true psycopath

There is no story to This.
Oliver Stone's second movie as a director...and oh boy what a silly film this is as Michael Caine plays a cartoonist whose life is destroyed when he loses his hand in a car accident, and then the hand is guided by his thoughts to hunt down and destroy those he hates. Wither it's his ex-wife, or his former boss, or the new comic artists he's supposed to teach at school. The ending does not resolve things. Caine's talents as an actor are wasted, there is no screen play, there is no point to this movie. Better to just forget it and watch one of Michael Caine's other and more better movies.

A FRIGHT DELIGHT FOR THE "HORROR" GENRE
After losing his hand in a freak car accident Michael Caine's life goes insane when his missing hand goes on a kill crazy ramapge reacting to the mind thought's. Interesting concept an Outlandish Caine performance! Especally the ending when Caine is strapped down into a chair and with his thoughts kills his doctor by chocking her to death. Pure silliness but wacthable.

Michael Caine is fabulous in this chiller
The great and always enteraining Caine steals the show in this silly horror yarn involving an "evil" hand. Grimace as Caine loses his hand in a freak accident, and then proceeds to slowly lose his mind as well, or does he? You'll ponder and laugh your way through this dated and great fare. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Writer's Blockhead
Well, let's see. When his first novel (entitled "Hitler's Child") fails to generate sales and his publisher refuses to print his second book, what is a starving writer to do?

Work for a male escort service, of course!

As goofy as this premise is, THE MAN FROM ELYSIAN FIELDS actually delivers a compelling story that is both fun and painful to watch. Unable to get his old job back and desperately strapped for cash, hard luck novelist Byron Tiller (Andy Garcia) is lured by the seductive enticement of "easy money" as an escort for Elysian Fields, a playground for rich, neglected housewives. Problem is, there's nothing "easy" about Byron's new career, and this character learns lesson after lesson--about himself, about the importance of his marriage--via a very unforgiving school of hard knocks.

The tragic irony of this film manifests itself over and over. By trying to provide for and protect his family, Byron's poor decision to join Elysian only serves to destroy it. And naturally--irony of ironies--Byron's best client is the exotic, beautiful Andrea Alcott (Olivia Williams), who just happens to be married to Pulitzer-prize winning novelist Tobias Alcott (played wonderfully by James Coburn). The ailing Tobias seeks Byron's aid to rewrite his last novel; the young writer eagerly agrees; the stage is set for dismal, heartbreaking disappointment (should have insisted on a written contract, dude).

Garcia is so soft-spoken and restrained in this role, even after getting knocked down again and again, that I--unlike some of the reviewers here--actually was relieved when he finally unleashed some anger and frustration by trashing the wardrobe room at Elysian Fields. I'll bet the character felt better; I know I did.

Mick Jagger as the articulate, whiskey-sipping proprietor of Elysian Fields was an unexpected and delightful surprise. The ending was a bit uneven and sappy, but entirely predictable. For all you struggling writers out there, I would recommend you forego becoming an escort and pick something safer. Sword swallowing comes to mind.
--D. Mikels

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
In the film, "The Man from Elysian Fields," Andy Garcia plays the morose married writer, Byron Tiller. Tiller's one book "Hitler's Child, " isn't exactly a best-seller, and now he's almost finished book number two. Tiller's publisher won't even publish this second book. Tiller's wife, Dena (Julianna Margulies) is so unshakeable in her belief that both the book and her husband will be whoopingly successful, that Byron can't break the news that there will be no second book--no advance--no great writing career.

Desperation leads Byron to Elysian Fields--an elite male escort agency that just happens to be conveniently located next to his drab little office. The owner of the agency, the fascinating Luther Fox (Mick Jagger) offers to provide Byron with work, and so Byron accepts. His first assignment, as luck and Hollywood would have it, is to accompany porcelain beauty, Andrea Alcott, for a night on the town. Now Andrea is married to Byron's idol--popular author Tobias Alcott. Byron finds the situation intriguing and delectable enough to leave moral scruples behind as he fills in for Tobias in the bedroom too, but things are not quite as they seem, and Byron has a nasty illogical lesson waiting for him.

The film possessed many allegorical elements--Elysian Fields is, of course, in mythology, the place where souls go after death. Luther Fox is certainly a believable satiny evil Satan--by offering Byron an evening with the wife of a literary giant, he tempts him into selling his soul. Supernatural elements are weaved into the story and the set designs, but the film doesn't seem to know quite what to do with the layers of meaning created in the plot. So instead, the film disintergrates nonsensically into codswallop--sarcastic, world-weary, elegant Luther Fox turns into a pathetic love-lorn reject, and Byron's hell is laced with the promise of Hollywood happy endings. A sad disappointment indeed--why bother to lace the story with allegory and then suddenly switch gears half way through? Splendid performance from Mick Jagger--he redeemed this film for me--displacedhuman--Amazon Reviewer.

Very Poorly Written
It is ironic that this movie should pertain to the subject of writing, as it is very poorly written.
A MICROCOSM of this can be seen at the end, where the author reads his supposedly "breakthrough" novel: anybody over an amateur level readily recognizes what he is reading as extremely poor, extremely amateurish writing. It is also interesting that John Grisham is referred to once in the movie as a paragon of good writing--as though "fast food" writing ever qualified as very good intellectual reading meat.
The stupidity of the protagonist in not procuring a contract for his services strains credulity.
The likelihood that a well-known author would acquiesce to co-author his last book strains credulity.
The very stilted dialogue of this movie strains credulity.
Mick Jagger did a great job acting, but it's not enough to save this stinker.
The guy who wrote this movie neither understands good writing nor was capable of it.

The Man From Elysian Fields
My husband and I enjoyed this movie very much. Even though the story line was a bit of a downer at times, it was still very entertaining and kept our interest throughout the entire movie. Andy Garcia and Mick Jagger did an excellent job in conveying the desperation they each felt during critical moments in their lives. James Corburn and the actress who played his wife were good in their roles, as well.

a 10 star movie-must see!!!
Husband and I loved everything about this movie. Don't need to elaborate-read the previous reviews. Please rent, won't be disappointed ... Read more

Amazon.com

Three middle-age buddies (Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby) facing personal crises decide to sign up for a two-week cattle run for a change of pace. The trail proves a tougher place than anyone thought, and the boss (Jack Palance) is a grizzled taskmaster who doesn't cotton to tenderfoot urbanites. Popular in theaters, the film is both funny and moving, with Crystal giving one of his most complete performances and Palance (who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar) a lot of colorful fun. Director Ron Underwood (Heart and Souls) subtly shifts the tone of the film from broad comedy to poignancy over its running time, and he makes the story's end a bittersweet victory that feels like life as most people know it. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (27)

One of the Best Comedies of the Ninties.
New Yorker Mitch Robbins (Billy Crystal) turns 39 and thinking that he will be misrable for the rest of his life. Then his two best friends (Daniel Stern & Bruno Kirby) offer a present to Mitch by bringing him to a cattle drive in New Mexico. Then mitch's life start to change unexpectedly by going on his fantasy vacation with his friends. They are set out to find thier freedom and thier adventure, they will remember for a life time.

Directed by Ron Underwood (Tremors, Heart & Souls, Mighty Joe Young-Remake) made a extremely likeable entertaining ambitious comedy. Crystal, Stern, Kirby and Jack Palance's wonderful Oscar Winning Performance makes this Contemporary Comedy Classic really worth watching. Crystal also Executive Produced the film. There's a nice music score by Marc Shaiman (South Park:Bigger, Longer & Uncut). DVD's has an fine anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an good Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound. DVD only extra is the Original Theatrical Trailer. This is Wonderfully Written by Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel (City Slickers 2:The Legend of Curly's Gold). Watch for Jeffery Tambor, Yearley Smith, Robert Contanzo, Jake Gyllenhall, Danielle Harris and that's Crystal real-life Daughter-Lindsay Crystal playing his Daughter in the flim. One of the highest grossing films of 1991. This is One of the Best & Most memorable comedies ever made, see it. Grade:A.

Buckaroo Bonanza....
This review refers to the MGM Contemporary Classic DVD Edition of "City Slickers".....

Saddle up Buckaroos, for the funniest city dude meets cowboy adventure since Bob Hope roamed the plains!

Mitch(Billy Crystal) is going through a mid-life crisis. He sells "air" for a New York radio station and finds that as he nears 40, his life seems unfulfilling. His buddies Ed(Bruno Kirbly), an aging Romeo, and Phil(Daniel Stern), pitifuly henpecked, also seem to be feeling the strain. They decide a little vacation is in order and head for a New Mexico cattle ranch to enjoy life as they "bring in the herd".

This "fantasy" vacation turns into one hysterical adventure. Learning to rope and ride is trickier(and funnier), then you think. But the toughest part is dealing with the tough ranch hands. One in particular..."Curly"(Jack Palance)...is one bad hombre as he scares these guys out of their wits.

They are joined by several others as the drive begins from New Mexico to Colorado and anything than can go wrong... does! There's a stampede, a runaway wagon, and Mitch even has to deliver a calf. Their cell phones are no help here! There's also mucho male bonding going on during the trek. These guys even bond with the cows! They learn about each other and with the help of the very tough Curly, they even learn what is important in life.

The funny lines and gags are non stop, and there are some very poignant moments as well. It'll have you smiling and often laughing out loud. You won't want it to end, but luckily...there's a sequel.."City Slickers 2..The Legend of Curly's Gold".

The film was honored with several awards. Among them Jack Palance took an Oscar for Best supporting actor, as well as a Golden Globe and a Best supporting actor from the American Comedy Awards. Billy Crystal was also honored at the American Comedy Awards as Funniest Actor in a lead and the People's Choice Awards voted the film the Favorite Comedy of the year. They are joined by some outstanding and seasoned character actors. Jeffrey Tambor, John Mostel, David Paymer, Patricia Wettig, and Helen Slater and the wonderful Noble Willingham all keep us in stitches as well. The music by Marc Shaiman is as fun as the story and Direcotr Ron Underwood and Photographer Dean Semler bring us some real cinematic delights.

The transfer of the DVD is very nice. An excellent picture in widescreen presents the beautiful Western scenery and terrific colors. If you watch the original theatrical trailer, you can really notice the difference made by the transfer. Although the sound in Dolby Stereo was good, it could have been better. This film with all the great music and action needs to be in 5.1. It may be viewed in French(Mono) and has subtitles in Spanish and French, but no other special features. Just a really funny flick that will take you away for about 2 hours.

So sing along to the tunes of "Rawhide" and "Bonaza" with Mitch, Phil, Ed and Norman the cow along the big trail...have fun...Laurie

Poignant Comedy
This is one of those great comedies that also speaks to the great truths of life. I have watched this film over and over again and am always left with a wonderful feeling after having watched it. It lifts my spirits when I am low and helps to remind me what is truly important in life.

Mitch Robbins (Billy Crystal), Phil Berquist (Daniel Stern) and Ed Furillo (Bruno Kirby) are three friends approaching mid-life at break neck speed. Each year they go on increasingly more dangerous adventures which Mitch's wife (Patricia Wettig) describes as desperate and juvenile attempts to hold on to their youth. When Ed suggests mushing along the trail of Admiral Byrd as a way to top running from bulls in Spain, Mitch is ready to quit the adventure trips and settle into senior life at the ripe old age of 39. After a demotion at his job and a surprise at his birthday party where Phil and his icy wife Arlene (Karla Tamburelli) have a blow out after she learns of his infidelities, Mitch's depression gets the better of his wife who sends him on one more adventure - to find his smile.

And so it is that the trio finds themselves on a cattle drive in the American west with five other lost souls and Curly (Jack Palance) as the cattle boss. Palance is wonderful as the gruff old cowboy who intimidates everyone around him (Mitch:"Kill anyone today, Curly?" Curly: "Day ain't over yet."). Yet he knows the secret to life and relates the cryptic answer to Mitch during the ride. As they drive the cattle and overcome obstacles like stampedes, drunken escapades by the trail hands and their own personal struggles, Mitch comes to realize what Curly's answer means and that it is the only answer he needs to bring the pieces of his life back together.

A Big Letdown!
WARNING: Spoilers Ahead!! I hate it when they do this!! The first hour of this movie is so funny I laughed out loud on a number of occasions. Something I don't usually do when I watch a comedy by myself but this was just too hilarious. Then, a cow gets shot just after giving birth, Jack Palance dies and is buried on the trail, two horses get killed going over a cliff with the wagon and a cute little calf nearly drowns in a river. After being bullied and deserted by drunken cowboys, the "city slickers" manage to drive home the herd of cattle and are informed that the cows that "trusted" them will be ground up for hamburger....but hey, that's life! Billy Crystal finds his family is the most important thing to him, and he adopts the little calf, but no jokes could make me even smile after the middle portion of this movie that starts out broad comedy and mutates into warm'n'fuzzy, overly-sentimental, and very predictable fluff. Not my idea of a "feel-good" movie... a little sad actually. When it started I was making plans about buying the sequel. When it ended I decided to sell the original. I can see why there are so many used copies for sale at Amazon Marketplace.
This could have been up there with the best National Lampoon Vacation movies (started out that way) but they blew it.

Great movie, horrible dvd
I love this movie! Its among my top favorites. However, the DVD [is bad]! One reason, the dubbing. The first half of the movie is fine, but about half way through, the words being spoken by the characters dont match up with their mouth. It looks like a bad Bruce Lee movie! Im not one to complain, but it just kept getting worse! At one point the whole line was almost spoken before the characters mouth started moving! I just baffles me that those responsible for transfering this movie to DVD took no care at all in doing it! I really dont know how this DVD made it to stores without someone noticing this huge fault and trying to make it better. Like I said, this is my favorite movie, I give it the lowest rating for the lack of dubbing quaility! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I can't believe I spent more then 10 bucks for this
Perhaps at the time this was considered a great movie. Me being a bondage fan was looking forward to this film with high enthusiasm. What I found was just far too low in terms of quality. I'm not looking for James Cameron quality but I was expecting this film to stress on the fantasy as opposed to straight-out sex in every scenario.

To keep it short.

Pros: some decent looking women and has bondage.
Cons: the women may be decent looking but don't meet what you'd expect, poor execution, you should stick to watching Baywatch.

The First is the Sleaziest
The first in a trilogy of films starring Cheri Cafarro (the winner of a Bridget Bardot look-alike contest) as Ginger MacAllister, "the female James Bond". Ginger, although she has no training in things like law enforcement or detective work, is recruited by an agency to take down a small time blackmail and drug ring in New Jersey. Copious nudity and badly-staged violence probably made this one a big hit at the drive-ins. The other two films, "The Abductors" and "Girls Are For Loving" had bigger budgets, and ALL rate VERY low on the Political Correctness scale. Your enjoyment will be directly related to your taste for sleazery. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

strange
they took a film classic and did a tv-movie sequel to it -- much like the SCARLET sequel to GONE WITH THE WIND. music is good.

BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL...THE BEST!
What is it about TV Westerns that make the majority of them so memorable? Perhaps it`s the fact that these films are often made in order to tell a story to the viewers instead of making big bucks or promoting a certain actor.
This film is really great! The story is so well-made that you don`t need to be familiar with or have a particular liking for the original "High Noon" in order to enjoy this movie.The scenery is powerful,the music is beautiful and the characters are,for the most part,interesting-but a funny thing is that it is one of the smaller parts that becomes really big here.Will Kane is one-dimensional and tiresome and his wife Amy almost becomes invisible-but one character,the marshal who tries to keep Kane from returning to his past position and enjoy new triumphs,JD Ward,is remarkable in all his realness-a man with all the faults in the world,whom we still can identify with and even feel sympathy for,because he is portrayed in such a realistic and lively way-unlike for instance Peckinpah`s "bad guys",who seldom become anything more than cardboard characters. All honour to the ones who made this film great!

Superb Shoot "Em" Up Western!!
In a large,dusty Texas town called Haderville arrives a terrorizing new Sheriff,J.D. Ward(Pernell Roberts) and his corrupt, vicious gang of thug Deputies.Just released,spending the last 3 years in the Yuma Prison,Ben Irons (David Carradine), who is just passing through town, is mistakingly accused of being a wanted Outlaw with a heavy bounty on his head.Anxious for blood and money,Sheriff Ward and his ruthless Posse go after to shoot down Irons.The only person who knows of Irons innocence is Will Kane (Lee Majors) but is unable to convince Ward and eventually becomes hunted himself.This film is a Superb Shoot "Em" Up Western that is well worth watching!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

You wouldn't know it by watching the mostly ridiculous escapades on display in Wild America, but this comedy/adventure for young boys is marginally based on the true story of Marshall, Mark, and Marty Stouffer, three young brothers who successfully pursued their dream of becoming wildlife filmmakers. From their home in the South, the Stouffer boys embark on a cross-country trek to the West, where they hope to get rare footage from inside the dreaded Cave of the Sleeping Bears. Along the way they encounter cute British tourist girls, deadly alligators, a rampaging moose, and an Air Force fighter on a bombing range. In other words, Wild America is about as contrived as it could possibly be and still claim to be based on reality, but it is harmless enough for young viewers with its wholesome message about bravery, hard work, and family togetherness. Jonathan Taylor Thomas (from television's Home Improvement) leads the young cast of adventurers. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Three cute boys, 'N' loads of cute animals!!
I think the title kind of explains it all really. Three guys going off into the wild of America, on a mission to find a cave filled with a thousand bears, although being told that they sleep alone, the boys don't believe anyone, find the cave, and have loads of adventures along the way!! Jonathan Taylor Thomas played a great part in this movie and he really narrated it well too! As I live in the UK, I was lucky enough to see it while I was in America, I'd always liked Jonathan and Devon's films, and this was another one I HAD TO HAVE!!! I would also say that this is a great film for all the family, only recently has it been released in the UK, but I bought it in America, luckily I have an international VCR. This film is way cool. I would really reccommend it.

It could have been better.
Wild America isn't that wild. It still has good story elements too it, but you feel cheated when you realize the kids in the movie didn't go anywhere but to a bunch of unknown areas. So much for going across America. The actors fit the movie perfectly. Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Devon Sawa, and Scott Bairstow seem to be enjoying their roles as the three boys who hit the road to film animals. The music is ok and the cinematography is wonderful. I wish they would have seen more animals. The movie made me smile throughout, but many aspects of the movie could have been better. Their trip across so called "America" could have been extented greatly and the mystery man should have been removed. He's just a waste of time and talent by Danny Glover. The DVD version has the widescreen aspect and the original trailer, plus a bunch of info on the movie. The Movie is rated PG for Profanity and violence, mainly. The swearing is totally pointless and if it were gone, would have made a better movie overall for kids. Watch at your own risk.

Great all round film!
I first saw this film in 1999 I loved it.The first thing that grabbed my attention was the 3 brothers and their relationship throughout the film and how it changes.The storyline with the youngest brother marshall was great.The film is like an adventure story,the type you would of loved to have gone on! Traveling,being young,free and inexperienced at almost everything.its a bit like a coming of age film,finding yourself etc.This all sounds heavy but its not,the film is filled with humour from the brothers and all the other characters,the animals are great and some even get in on the humour too.The music even grabs me,the whole thing is a feel good factor of a film,one I would recommend anyone watching of any age.

Not Bad
Okay so I wouldn't say this is the best movie I've ever seen. But I still really enjoyed it. I liked how they showed the relationship between the three brothers. Sure they picked on JTT but they still protected him especially Devon Sawa. He was more protective of him than Scott Bairstow. I liked the end and How JTT showed there father that they needed to find there own dream and the permission to follow them. So I'd reccomended it to Brothers and children 10 and Up. Sure The animals looked fake but It was still enjoyable.

An enjoyable, interesting plot with well-done acting
I haven't seen this movie too often, but I really enjoy it every time that I do. Why? Because it is full of fun, adventure and mild comedy. The acting is wonderful, all of the three boys are terrific. However, this isn't necessarily a movie for younger children-it is geared towards pre-teens and teenagers. There is obscenities, implications, and alcholol use that isn't right for everyone.
But, it is mad up for in the interesting plot. I don't know how much of this is true, but I enjoy it just the same. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Eastwood tries to sing country
In the early 1980's, Clint Eastwood tried a number of different characters. He had his ups and downs, and HONKEYTONK MAN is definately a down. Based on a novel, the movie takes place in the 1930's with Eastwood playing Red Stoval, an aging country singer trying to make it in the bars. He sest out on a trip to Memphis, hoping to make it big. His real-life son Kyle plays his nephew, who tags along to keep him out of trouble.

I give him credit for trying, but Eastwood CANNOT sing. He actually did a better job trying in PAINT YOUR WAGON then here. The movie is rather slow, with the occasional sleazy comment or action to hold your interest, which doesn't last long. One funny moment is when Red tells off a cop who is frisking him. Another is when he holds up a friend with a shotgun, (yes, he does carry a gun in this one briefly). By far the funniest part is where he takes his nephew to a brothel to help him lose his virginity! Still, the movie is depressing with Red suffering from TB throughout the whole film, and to see him waste away while singing doesn't make things any better. The cars are also not in date with the film. Wanting to be somebody is a good motive for still going on with the show, but he takes it too far, and any Eastwood fan would be rattled by the ending. HONKEYTONK MAN was a commercial disappointment, and I would sadly rank it as one of Eastwood's worst films.

Watchable, but horrid
Let me say straight off the bat that this is an enjoyable film in many ways. It moves along without ever boring, despite not having much in the way of dramatic highs and lows. The acting feels pretty natural for the most part, but not really believable for the place and time in which the movie takes place.

But there is a lot to complain about. First of all, Eastwood cannot sing at all. It's pretty embarrassing, and I'm a little astonished that he didn't have someone do this for him. It's not just because his voice is timid to the point of being characterless, or without any sort of natural projection or decent intonation. There are plenty of "way off" country singers I love and admire. It's more that his voice has no country in it at all - it's almost a more tepid and unaccented sub-sub-James Taylor sort of voice. Downright bewildering, especially when this film is meant to take place in the 30's, when country music was in its infancy and fairly crude sounding, recorded or live.

I notice one other reviewer mentions a cameo from Bob Wills, who entered into a coma a decade before the movie was made, and died eight years prior to the film. That's a hell of a cameo! Even if this "thirties" movie was meant to represent 1939, Wills still would have only been in his early 30s - which makes odd the fact that he's played as if he's at least in his 60s here, and performing a song that wasn't recorded until two decades later. (Kudos, on the other hand, for having an actor who actually worked with Wills play the part.) Ditto the clothing styles (a woman who performs on the Grand Ole Opry wears an outfit that wouldn't have been worn until roughly five decades later, performing a song that sounds like early 80s Barbara Mandrell - nothing even remotely within two generations of the period in which this movie takes place.) One could say it's this failure to get even the most basic period details correct that prevented this movie from having very much success. It's a largely comical adventure a la "O Brother, Where Are Thou", which plays around with a lot of cultural mythology - but "O Brother" could play even faster and looser with credible plot development largely because they captured the details of the time period so wonderfully well. Bear in mind that even the term "honky tonk" was not widespread until the 40s, and hardly used at all to describe a genre of music until the early 50s. That makes the title of this film and its general basis pretty suspect. It's ironic that the success of "O Brother" was largely in their use of "real" traditional music sounding like what it did at the time, not some weakened Nashville pap. Another point is that in the mid-30s the Grand Ole Opry wasn't anything like what it became in the 40s and 50s - Chicago actually would have been a better destination, as the WLS Barn Dance was really roaring then.

There's also the names - there was a Herman Arnspiger who played with Bob Wills and was by any account I've read, a pretty swell guy. Here he is a friend of Bob Wills, but a total lying scumbag robber thief trying to pimp an underaged girl. "Stovall", the name of Eastwood's character, was also the name of a guy who was one of country's great songwriters. (His name was Vern, not Red though). And the TB thing is kind of a conflation of the death of Jimmie Rodgers (or Woody Guthrie's cousin Jack, for that matter) - coughing between takes in his final recording session. I know people who assume this was based on a true story, and that's a shame, as some of the true stories of these country guys are far more compelling than this tale was.

I'm a young person whose musical interests extend largely to reggae / punk / 60s soul, so it's not like I'm an oldtimer complaining about how it really was. I sure wasn't there then. My point is more that when a novice classic country fan such as myself can see the gigantic flaws in research, there's a big problem.

My final word is that this is a fair way to spend a couple of hours, but probably a poor choice of things to spend your money on. Buy "O Brother" or Robert Altman's "Nashville" instead if you want something similar.

The Eastwood Team
I enjoyed the film very much over all.The acting was well done,which showed the skill of the Director in bring out the talent of each individual actor. I am not sure if the singing and guitar playing of Mr Eastwood was actually done by him or a professional country Western musician. I do think Marty Robbins contributed a great deal to the ending and perhaps it was in some part his sing and playing that inhanced Mr Eastwood in his part

I did wish that more scenes could have involved the radio stations of that error but that was not any detraction from the picture.

I am sure it is difficult for a parent to capture the attention of a son or daughter in a work setting for long periods of time. The very fact of how this film turned out is of special significance to the sucess of the relationship between father and son. Well done gentlemen!

Critics seldom know what people really enjoy
This wouldn't be the first time, I thoroughly enjoyed a movie that critics labeled as too-something-or-other. This is a great movie and apart from the usual Eas