Reviews (3)

I keep thinking about what could have been ....
I knew that this film was not going to be Oscar caliber, but I was a little disappointed with the broad strokes the director allowed the Mexicans in the film to be painted with. We see them as outsiders, never delving into their souls and emotions. The Cholos are generic and they sound like "West Side Story" rejects. But the funny thing is that I liked this film. In the hands of a competant director, this material could have been a GREAT film, but as it is, it is just a fair film. The score is excellent, and I wish I could find it. If you have a copy of the soundtrack, let me know!

A Great Chicano Movie
This movie was the bomb, if you are chicano see this movie I am down with cholos and east L.A. this movie portrays all of that, I have seen this movie ten times and still think it is great a must buy.

This movie is Hella Tight
I recomend this movie to anyone out there who is down for LA RAZA!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Oh, Brother
This is a very overblown account of the L-1011 accident in the everglades in 1972. It is full of horrible acting and gross historical inaccuracies. Read the book by John Fuller ("The Ghost of Flight 401") or the NTSB report to get a real clue. The moral of the story: do not rely on William Shatner for your aviation accident information.

World Class Hokum
I had seen this when it came out as a made for TV movie many years ago, and rewatching it recently made me realize what a horrible production it really is. I am an airline pilot, and have flown the L-1011 (and dearly love it), so it is natural that I would be able to nitpick technical material in the film. I am not going to do so, as most people wouldn't care about the technical details of airline operations, anyway. My only caveat is that nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, about the film from an aviation perspective is even remotely correct.

I can deal with the technical inaccuracies if the remainder of the story is well crafted, and attempts to be true to the historical events, but I recommend that you heed well the disclaimer at the beginning of the film that certain aspects of the film have been fictionalized. I will certainly say that they have. It basically becomes a soap opera in a swamp. A very large portion of the film is told in flashback and concerns who is pregnant, who is having an affair with whom, the flight attendant, oops, I'm sorry, stewardess who is afraid to fly, etc. Even if these situations existed onboard Eastern 401 it hardly impacts the story of the crash, which is ostensibly the subject of the film.

All that leads up to the films biggest over the top departure from reality: William Shatner. Shatner plays an NTSB investigator (who is actually seen performing mostly FAA duties, but I digress) who has to solve the case. Unfortunately he doesn't have Spock along to help out with the case, though he ends up being the hero in the end, and gets to chew a lot of scenery in the process. Eddie Albert also stars as the plane's Captain, though for some reason they changed his character name to "Dunn" from the real Captain's name (Bob Loft). I have always liked Eddie Albert, but apparently his only direction in this film was to be a cranky old codger. Also notable is 'Barney Miller' regular Ron Glass as a buyer for a department store who basically wanders around the swamp in a happy delirium after the accident. Of course shock can make episodes like this happen, but I was less than convinced by the performance here.

I gave the film two stars, which is fairly generous, but I have such a soft spot for the L-1011 that I can't bear to give it only one. The crash is an interesting story, and in real life has become the definitive teaching example in Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) classes. Ultimately, the accident occurred due to everybody in the cockpit being absorbed with a minor light bulb malfunction, and leaving the airplane to its own devices with nobody flying the plane. It is worth seeing just to see some great shots of L-1011's flying around. A better film on the same crash which is a bit more realistic (up through the crash anyway) is "The Ghost of Flight 401" starring Ernest Borgnine. If you get the opportunity, try that one, it covers the crash and the paranormal aspect that was detailed in the John Fuller book, if you are interested in that angle.

Crash Of Flight 401
For those of us who loved the book, this movie is very much worth watching. However, there is no mention of the ghosts which is disappointing. It is sometimes scary, because you get to re-live the crash and see & feel what the crew went through.

It was excellent!!!
dsdddfd ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Tribes: The Walls Don't Come Tumbling Down
TRIBES belongs to a little-known sub-genre of 'The young man goes off to war' movie, best exemplified by Jack Webb in THE DI. Unlike THE DI, which has stood the test of time as the prototype of all such movies, TRIBES now is seen as a curious period piece in which a hippie is drafted into the US Marines and finds himself squarely opposed by the short-haired establishment symbolized by a marine drill instructor, superbly played by Darren McGavin. Jan-Michael Vincent plays Adrian, the hippie. Much of this movie plays like a rerun of THE DI. There is the hard-as-nails DI breaking down the recruits only to rebuild them into the sanctioned image of gung-ho marines. Early in the film, the DI soon realizes that Adrian is a square peg who has been ordered to fit into a round hole. Adrian shows up at boot camp wearing long hair and sandals, causing a predictably angry response from the DI. At this point the movie becomes a test of culture-vs-culture, with each side refusing to blink. Adrian is seen as some sort of mythic superman who is able to draw from his inner chi the strength and stamina to outperform all his fellow recruits. The battle from the DI's point of view is external: the drill field, the shooting range, the obstacle course. From Adrian's perspective, it is internal. Whenever he is called upon to perform heroic feats of exercise, the scene shifts from Adrian's 'now' to Adrian's 'then.' This 'then' is punctuated by hippie music and a pretty girl with flowers in her hair. The DI does not know how Adrian manages to excel but he is pretty sure that he is up against a force of internalized nature that soon threatens to spread to the other recruits who see Adrian's daily exploits and beg him to reveal his Mahesh Yogi secrets. Adrian explains in pseudo-hippie jargon of the late 1960's that "Man, you have to move yourself from the present world of hurt to a past world of good."
It is not difficult to see that in any confrontation between DI and recruit, any victory by the recruit can only be temporary. Surprisingly enough, Adrian's DI blinks first. He passes Adrian only to learn that the senior DI, who sees the hippie philosophy of Adrian as a menace greater than the communist dialectic of Marx and Engels, has failed Adrian on a technicality and orders him recycled to repeat the entire twelve week course of basic training. Adrian goes AWOL, thereby affirming the power of the state over the individual. Yet, the victory of the state may be as hollow and as ephemeral as was the early victory of the recruit over the system. As a new group of recruits enters the very grounds where Adrian trained just recently, the DI stands ready to receive them, but this time he carries with him a flower of Adrian to remind him that though tribes may differ dramatically if only externally, there is some core resemblance that connects hippie to DI and the state to the individual. Perhaps it is this knowledge that we are more alike than commonly perceived which makes this movie eminently watchable--even if Jack Webb would not understand.

Classic TV movie
They just don't make TV movies like this anymore. Well these days most TV-movies are cable based, but whatever the case, most of it's thrown together trash. The early 70s were a great time for TV movies ("Tribes, "Duel," "Brian's Song," etc). Little did I know as a young kid these prime-time specials would become ageless classics.

Everyone in this film does a top-notch job of acting, no matter how small the part. I don't care a whole lot for the melody "Tribes Are a Gathering" played thoughout the film, but it still does a pretty good job of setting the tone.

Too bad "Tribes" isn't available on DVD. Hopefully soon.

Pro hippie, not Anti-war
'Tribes'was a movie I was made to watch in my sociology class, and considering the times, anti-war really hit home for us. Though, my boyfriend is in the army reserves, and so I know for a fact that the depiction of the boot camp was only partially accurate. However, it doesn't matter so much about how accurate it was. The other reviewers are constantly criticizing the movie's portral of Adrian as this abused hippy, but that wasn't what the movie was about at all. Adrian is a boy who is thrusted into a conformist controlled establishment which he had spent his life trying to defy. How he got there isn't the point. He maintains his beliefs of anti-conformity while still being in that environment and wins. The general's reasons and rules that he followed were accurate, he cannot be completely blamed, but the rules of not thinking just doing is what Adrian is against. He uses meditations to survive pain that he is expected to feel, he helps rather than competes, and he politely objects to things rather than arguing or simply accepting them. As to the scene where Adrian does not shoot a board isn't about being whimpy, it's about realizing that to shot that board is the equivalent of being willing to shoot a human being, which he's not. The message is pro-hippie and hippie ideals; you can be a pacifist and patriotic at the same time. The marine setting was just that, a setting. the ultimate location of anti-hippie conformity. See it for what it means, not what you see with the naked eye.

Interesting In Retrospect
I saw this film when I was in high school, and found it horrifying. Oh my gosh, they shaved off his hair! Oh my goodness, the abuse he is forced to endure! Oh my lands, they are so cruel to this gentle young flower!

Well, more than two decades passed before I even thought of this movie again, or viewed it. Watching it after growing more mature, and having my own military experience behind me, it wasn't quite so horrifying. (Then again, when you're not yet 20, the future is infinite and eight weeks of boot camp an eternity.)

First, what was this hippie kid doing there? One volunteers for the Marines, rather than being drafted. The guy had to sign his name somewhere, and he must have read the document, so there's really no explanation for him beeing so apparently clueless about the process.

Second, the drill instructor was perfectly fair, he was following the program and doing his job, and was not being particularly horrifying or mean to this one hippie recruit. McGavin made it clear at one point, when Adrian asked the purpose of a particular exercise, by replying, "You must do this because I told you to do it, and that is the only reason you need to have." This is how the armed forces function, folks -- particularly in the infantry.

Third, Adrian really did have more self-control than the other guys, with his relaxation techniques. He wasn't needlessly tense or worried over a day's events, and he obviously had the physical make-up for doing well as a Marine.

Fourth, that nonsense with the rifle -- Adrian crying and shivering when handed a rifle -- was utterly absurd. Adrian had sufficient self-control to perform all sorts of difficult physical tasks -- yet he cracks up completely, whines and moans and cries when handed a rifle to fire? He can't simply take a deep breath and operate a small mechanical device, launching a projectile at a completely inanimate target? Give me a break.

Fifth, the film did include positive comments about military service, specifically the reference to the mix of people and skin colors in the training platoon, and the benefits of such close interaction by such differing sorts of folks.

Finally, I bet all of the surviving "Adrians" of the Hippie Movement are kicking themselves now, to some extent, for not bucking up, shutting up and simply enduring that eight weeks of basic training back then -- less than an eyeblink in the whole time of their lives. They know, deep inside, they would have emerged better for doing so, and would not look back upon those failings with contempt that is actually shame in disguise.

Was this movie intentionally campy?
Or was it conceived out of a laughable naiivete? During my own citizenship in the Woodstock Nation, I saw it as a depiction of my "brotherhood" scoring a minor but significant victory over the Establishment and its War Pigs. Jan Michael Vincent's "hunky iconoclast" roles have always had a cooler-than-thou aspect to them--in this film he plays a hippie drafted into the Marines and confronted by a drill sergeant played by Darren McGavin. The concept of hippie-dippy hero versus the Semper Fi villain approaches cliche, however. Perhaps Adrian (Vincent) has a wider worldview than the Sarge, but what people like Adrian (and myself as well at the time) refused to understand was that if you're in the military, you're in a profession where people are by definition unusually focused on the ideals of that profession, and that's bound to be seen as narrow-minded by outsiders. The irony is that this "narrow-mindedness" is necessary in a person whose job is protecting his country. You find that quality to a significant extent in police officers as well for the same reason--their job is domestic defense. So the clash of cultures in this film might make for a good story, were it not for the fact that there's an obvious partisan slant here. The problem is that in this story, the good guys and bad guys get mixed up. These two guys are not supposed to be enemies--they're both Marines. Isn't it Adrian's job to face the fact that he's temporarily lost his civilian status and is supposed to act like a soldier for awhile? Isn't it the sergeant's job to turn him into that soldier? And isn't it ridiculous to portray the sergeant as being out to destroy Adrian--a citizen of his own country? Most of the blurbs about the 1950s film "Reefer Madness" describe it as "campy" for its inaccurate depiction of the effects of marijuana, but no one knew back in those days that the real menace of that drug is more subtle. Three decades after first seeing this film, I get the impression that it's roughly the same kind of camp. I was just too much of a peace zealot at the time to see it as such. Belief in peace does not mean you demonize your country's soldiery--they're just people who were once civilians like you and hope to go back to that status some day. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Cancel My Reservation
This movie is truly one of Bob Hope's best movies. It is funny from the very start to the ending credits. The theme song is catchy with a great beat. Bob Hope and Eva Marie Saint are great together and have a comedy chemistry that can't be beat.

Stupefyingly awful
Bob Hope was funny in the late 30s and 40s, a real comic original. By the 50s he was still funny but more predictable, and his movies were not as well written (or improvised). By the sixties, he was becoming a lame parody of himself. This movie is so bad that even before the title appears, you might be asking yourself if you'll be able to make it all the way through. His later comedies with Phyllis Diller were so bad they're good, so that's something, I suppose. But this one, Skidoo, How to Commit Marriage -- awful, awful, and more awful. A terrific comic (and primary influence on Woody Allen) ended up bullying his way onto the Tonight Show periodically just long enough to plug his latest fossilized special before disappearing again. If not for his many years of show-biz service to the US Armed Forces, his number would have been up 40 years ago. So skip this one and go back to the Road pictures, The Paleface, The Big Broadcast of 1938, and remember Hope when he was truly funny. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

fun film about four families
This is a fun premise -- spending the Thanksgiving holiday with four very different LA families -- that is executed very well, with capable direction and a fine cast. Children are coming home and families are setting extra places as friends and members of these families -- one Asian, one Hispanic, one Jewish and one African-American -- get together and face various real-life issues such as parent-child disagreements, meeting the SO's parents, in-laws, adultery, etc. The movie could have been riddled with cliches, but a decent script and excellent cast -- including Mercedes Ruehl, Alfre Woodard, Lanie Kazan, Dennis Haysbert and Joan Chen -- make this an entertaining film that is part drama but mostly comedy. Don't watch this while you're dieting, though, as there are many scenes of the wonderful dinners being prepared.

DVD features include subtitles in English, French or Spanish; a commentary track with writer/director Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Backham) and co-writer Paul Berges; interview segments with the director on the characters and on Thanksgiving, with Kyra Sedgwick on Julianna Margulies, with Mercedes Ruehl on the film's premise, with Dennis Haysbert on Los Angeles, with Joan Chen on food, and with Alfre Woodard on Chadha; and recipes for Vietnamese spring rolls, tamales, rustic (apple) pie, macaroni & cheese, noodle kugel and oyster-shiitake stuffing.

Definitely a worthwhile rental.

A great ensemble cast makes this a delicious feast...
Directed by Gurinder Chadha, this good ensemble piece centers on four Los Angeles families (in various stages of dysfunction) attempting to come together over Thanksgiving dinner. Though the story lines are familiar, the laughter and emotions keep this movie from being a leftover Turkey sandwich.

The fantastic ensemble cast includes the always wonderful Alfre Woodard as a woman fighting the stress of maintaining peace in her family. Mercedes Ruehl turns in another good performance as a level-headed matriarch rebounding from a cheating husband. Kyra Sedgwick and Julianna Margulies are delicious as a lesbian couple trying not to spar with one set of parents (enably played by Lainie Kazan and Maury Chakin). Joan Chen is also great playing a tradition-based parent losing a battle against her rebelling teenage kids. Toss in Estelle Harris for extra laughs and wonderful turns from much of the supporting cast, and you can't go wrong.

Though the movies' editing is somehwat choppy, it comes together nicely at the end. I'd highly recommend filling your plate with an extra helping of this gem. The enjoyment of laughter, possible tears, and multi-ethnic traditions make this one a winner.

Typical Thanksgiving Day
This movie was great. It shows a typical thanksgiving day in four different households. It goes without saying, there are
problems in every family. If you are expecting A WALTON MOUNTAIN THANKSGIVING or even THANKSGIVING WITH THE CLEAVERS, I'm sorry this is real.

Exquisite and spicy banquet for the soul
Food and its preparation is one of the things that define us, our culture and how we come together with our families.

Writer/Director Gurinder Chadha (who will later write and direct Bend it like Beckham) brings us her first "american" film: an exquisite, sweet and even sexy (while brutally honest) look at contemporary family dynamics in present-day L.A, using food (and surprisingly enough, surfer music) as the thread to sew together the trials and tribulations of four "ethnic" families during a Thanksgiving day.

But "What's cooking" is more than "just" a food movie, or a Thanksgiving movie. Through an amazing ensemble cast (including Academy Award winner Mercedes Ruehl), ingenous cinematography, smart direction and an outstanding script, Director Chadra makes us feel the joys and pains of these characters.

The story itself is simple: follow the lives of four West L.A. families (Latino, Vietnamese, Black and Jewish) through a Thanksgiving Day. But immediately we get drawn into very powerful statements about love, family, community, divorce, diversity, racism, politics, tolerance and violence. We identify with these characters because we can all relate to their problems, and their family interactions.

I highly recommend this film because it is beautifully and skillfully done, and because of the great actor performances, particularly the female leads. Alfre Woodard is exquisite and brutally believable as the wife trying to keep her family together. Joan Chen, Lainie Kazan and of course Mercedes Ruehl all give extraordinary performances as the matriarchs of these families. Julianna Margulies and Kyra Sedgwick are a joy to watch as a lesbian couple. Dennis Haysbert ("24", Far From Heaven) is fabulous also.

For all you Seinfeld fans out there, you get a glimpse of Estelle Harris in yet another Estelle Costanza incarnation. With her, the loveable Ralph Manza as uncle David (Gepetto in "The Cigar Store Indian").

DVD extras include interviews (they're interesting, although not well edited; it feels like they were "thrown together" at the last minute,sometimes even cutting off mid-sentence, but the raw material is there), theatrical trailer, recipes, and a commentary track (with Writer/Director Chadha and co-writer and husband Paul Mayeda Berger). As expected, the commentary track gives us an inside look ad the writing, casting, production, cinematography and the filming process in general.

Expect bigger and greater things from this power couple.

The Melting Pot
Much like her 2003 hit movie "Bend It Like Beckham", Gurinder Chadha's "What's Cooking?" is infused with people who love one another very much, and so even though some tough issues are thrown their way, we know that, because of that love, they will get through life's obstacles ok.

"What's Cooking" centers around four families living on the same block in Los Angeles. They don't know each other, however, and instead, like most modern families, are focused on their own problems and worries. Chadha makes good use of "the American melting pot" idea, as one family is Italian, one is hispanic, one is black, and one is Asian. One of the most wonderful aspects of the movie is that, even though the people are of different ethnicities, they are portrayed respectfully as human beings. We can relate to each of them. They are different, but the same. Isn't that the underlying truth of us all? People are, indeed, people.

There are some nice performances here: Alfre Woodard is great as a stressed, neglected wife. Dennis Haysbert is quiet, cool and simmering as her husband. Mercedes Ruehl shines as the mother of the hispanic family, trying to move on with her life from an ex-husband that just won't understand that it's over between them. Kyra Sedgwick and Julianna Margulies are endearing as a lesbian couple on their first trip to meet the parents. Estelle Harris (of "Seinfeld" fame) is deliciously wicked as the aunt who just keeps pushing the issue. And, of course, there's Lainie Kazan -- always a treat.

I saw this film at Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in 2003, and it was very well-received. There are dramatic, serious moments, and then there are quite hilarious moments. The theater was filled with laughter a number of times, and deservedly so. In the end, this is a 'feel-good' film. And one which will also have you salivating throughout, as each family is busy cooking and preparing their Thanksgiving dinners.

This is the second Gurinder Chadha movie that I have seen, and from what I have tell, she seems to really believe the best of people. Yes, we fight. Yes, we quarrel. Yes, we disagree. But at the heart of humanity has to be love and understanding, if we are to get along and survive. "What's Cooking" embodies this sentiment wonderfully. It was a joy to watch. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Worth Watching
I have never been much of a history buff, but lately Texas History has become a passion of mine.

I thought this movie had some outstanding acting (with the exception of Sam Houston's part Cherokee wife) and told a story that you rarely get to see in such honesty. Watching previous accounts of the battle at the Alamo between Santa Ana and General Travis...one might be led to believe that Houston was a coward for not going to go help them fight. But watching this movie, and reading more about what he did, you understand his reasons for refusing..and you find a new found respect for the man. Well, at least I did. Very well done and very informative! I give it an enthusiastic two thumbs up!

God & Texas...and Sam Houston
This made for TV movie is a decent attempt to portray one of the central figures in the Texas Revolution and the subsequent history of Texas. Told from the perspective of Sam Houston, the story begins with a cameo of Houston's election as Govenor of Tennessee and a very brief explanation of his subsequent journey to Texas on the eve of revolution.

The history portrayed is largely correct, and the scenes of battle (at the Alamo and at San Jacinto) are carefully portrayed and present viewpoints and information rarely seen elsewhere. I would like to have seen Sam Elliot shave off his famous moustache for the film, but I guess I can overlook that. As one of the many Jacksonian era living history reenactors whose time, effort, and presence made the movie, and especially the battle scenes, more accurate and memorable, I am somewhat prejudiced about the film's merits. Still, viewed from a historical perspective, it gives a good overview of the passions and politics that forged the Republic of Texas. If you want to learn something about the way Texas became an independent Republic, this movie beats reading almost any single account of the story. There are a few glaring flaws in the movie, but they pale in comparison to the overall product. Academy Award material? No, but a long way from boring.

"REMEMBER THE ALAMO!"
"Gone to Texas" is one of those films that resonate with truth. Sam Elliott is one of the great actors of our time, and his portrayal of Sam Houston is incredible! A fine supporting cast, and a brilliant recreation of the battle of San Jacinto! This is a movie worth owning! An awesome made-for-television historical epic! Grade: A+

Slow moving Sam Houston autobiography
Gone to Texas is a good TV movie about the life of Sam Houston. It follows Houston from his days as the Governor of Tennessee all the way through to his time as the commander of the army during the Texas War for Independence. Interweaved through it all is depictions of the fall of the Alamo, the Goliad massacre, and also the government convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos. This is also one of the only movies to show the taking of San Antonio by the Texans three months before the siege of the Alamo.

This may not be very interesting to people who do not already know something about Houston or at least some background about the time. Sam Elliott is pretty good as Sam Houston with Michael Beck giving a decent performance as the knife fighter Jim Bowie. There is a very good presentation of the battle for San Jacinto as well. Interesting movie which does take a while to get going.

POOR, POOR, and POOR
Badly filmed, badly written, and the editing was beyond bad. Sam Elliot should be ashamed of himself for getting involved with this turkey. Do yourself a big favor pass on this one. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Cancel My Reservation
This movie is truly one of Bob Hope's best movies. It is funny from the very start to the ending credits. The theme song is catchy with a great beat. Bob Hope and Eva Marie Saint are great together and have a comedy chemistry that can't be beat.

Stupefyingly awful
Bob Hope was funny in the late 30s and 40s, a real comic original. By the 50s he was still funny but more predictable, and his movies were not as well written (or improvised). By the sixties, he was becoming a lame parody of himself. This movie is so bad that even before the title appears, you might be asking yourself if you'll be able to make it all the way through. His later comedies with Phyllis Diller were so bad they're good, so that's something, I suppose. But this one, Skidoo, How to Commit Marriage -- awful, awful, and more awful. A terrific comic (and primary influence on Woody Allen) ended up bullying his way onto the Tonight Show periodically just long enough to plug his latest fossilized special before disappearing again. If not for his many years of show-biz service to the US Armed Forces, his number would have been up 40 years ago. So skip this one and go back to the Road pictures, The Paleface, The Big Broadcast of 1938, and remember Hope when he was truly funny. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Okay
I bought this movie in a two-pack with the Italian "epic" BATTLE FORCE. Overall, it is all right. It concerns an American General (Ben Gazzara) who must find a traitor in the ranks of the division he's just taken over. Gazzara is modeled on General Patton; in fact, the whole film seems like is borrowed a lot of elements from the 1970 feature PATTON: the music score (also some music here stolen from VON RYAN'S EXPRESS and THE LONGEST DAY) a few actors and even some battle footage. The cast is full of big-name actors, mostly in cameo roles. Watch for Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H) VERY briefly as an uncredited Army nurse.

The video was released by Direct Source. It was recorded in EP mode and not of the highest quality. Colors are washed out and there is also some on-screen snow which doesn't clear up too much even when one uses the tracking control. The music also drops out once in a while. I have seen this on video from the Platinum Disc Corporation as well. That release has ever-so-slightly better color and no music dropouts. There is also no onscreen snow.

B Movie but with a Nice Twist
This was a TV movie, and frankly, it stole a few things from big screen movies -- like the theme music from Patton. The acting ran the gamut from really good to really baaad. Nonetheless, it's entertaining as a look at how a commander takes over a failing division and rebuilds it in the middle of combat.

The most interesting thing is that this commander recognized the probability of a spy within, and called in the Army Counterintelligence Corps. Only two movies I'm aware of even recognized the existence of, much less the contributions of the CIC. That alone makes the movie worth viewing. Add to this L.Q. Jones' portrayal of the CIC major, always an actor worth watching, and you have a pretty ok B movie.

No, it's not an award winner, but it's just different enough to be fun. Give it a try. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Western!! Rogers and Tritt Rule!!
Kenny Rogers plays an unconventional role as Quentin Leach,a bounty hunter with both a trigger finger and temper.Also singer,Travis Tritt makes his movie debut as Benjamin Tabor who is out for blood after the kidnapping of his bride by a fleeing gang of bank robbers who Leach is after for the bounty money dead or alive.This movie is an Excellent Gun Blazin Western!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Western!! Rogers and Tritt Rule!!
Kenny Rogers plays an unconventional role as Quentin Leach,a bounty hunter with both a trigger finger and temper.Also singer,Travis Tritt makes his movie debut as Benjamin Tabor who is out for blood after the kidnapping of his bride by a fleeing gang of bank robbers who Leach is after for the bounty money dead or alive.This movie is an Excellent Gun Blazin Western!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Okay
I bought this movie in a two-pack with the Italian "epic" BATTLE FORCE. Overall, it is all right. It concerns an American General (Ben Gazzara) who must find a traitor in the ranks of the division he's just taken over. Gazzara is modeled on General Patton; in fact, the whole film seems like is borrowed a lot of elements from the 1970 feature PATTON: the music score (also some music here stolen from VON RYAN'S EXPRESS and THE LONGEST DAY) a few actors and even some battle footage. The cast is full of big-name actors, mostly in cameo roles. Watch for Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H) VERY briefly as an uncredited Army nurse.

The video was released by Direct Source. It was recorded in EP mode and not of the highest quality. Colors are washed out and there is also some on-screen snow which doesn't clear up too much even when one uses the tracking control. The music also drops out once in a while. I have seen this on video from the Platinum Disc Corporation as well. That release has ever-so-slightly better color and no music dropouts. There is also no onscreen snow.

B Movie but with a Nice Twist
This was a TV movie, and frankly, it stole a few things from big screen movies -- like the theme music from Patton. The acting ran the gamut from really good to really baaad. Nonetheless, it's entertaining as a look at how a commander takes over a failing division and rebuilds it in the middle of combat.

The most interesting thing is that this commander recognized the probability of a spy within, and called in the Army Counterintelligence Corps. Only two movies I'm aware of even recognized the existence of, much less the contributions of the CIC. That alone makes the movie worth viewing. Add to this L.Q. Jones' portrayal of the CIC major, always an actor worth watching, and you have a pretty ok B movie.

No, it's not an award winner, but it's just different enough to be fun. Give it a try. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Okay
I bought this movie in a two-pack with the Italian "epic" BATTLE FORCE. Overall, it is all right. It concerns an American General (Ben Gazzara) who must find a traitor in the ranks of the division he's just taken over. Gazzara is modeled on General Patton; in fact, the whole film seems like is borrowed a lot of elements from the 1970 feature PATTON: the music score (also some music here stolen from VON RYAN'S EXPRESS and THE LONGEST DAY) a few actors and even some battle footage. The cast is full of big-name actors, mostly in cameo roles. Watch for Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H) VERY briefly as an uncredited Army nurse.

The video was released by Direct Source. It was recorded in EP mode and not of the highest quality. Colors are washed out and there is also some on-screen snow which doesn't clear up too much even when one uses the tracking control. The music also drops out once in a while. I have seen this on video from the Platinum Disc Corporation as well. That release has ever-so-slightly better color and no music dropouts. There is also no onscreen snow.

B Movie but with a Nice Twist
This was a TV movie, and frankly, it stole a few things from big screen movies -- like the theme music from Patton. The acting ran the gamut from really good to really baaad. Nonetheless, it's entertaining as a look at how a commander takes over a failing division and rebuilds it in the middle of combat.

The most interesting thing is that this commander recognized the probability of a spy within, and called in the Army Counterintelligence Corps. Only two movies I'm aware of even recognized the existence of, much less the contributions of the CIC. That alone makes the movie worth viewing. Add to this L.Q. Jones' portrayal of the CIC major, always an actor worth watching, and you have a pretty ok B movie.

No, it's not an award winner, but it's just different enough to be fun. Give it a try. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Okay
I bought this movie in a two-pack with the Italian "epic" BATTLE FORCE. Overall, it is all right. It concerns an American General (Ben Gazzara) who must find a traitor in the ranks of the division he's just taken over. Gazzara is modeled on General Patton; in fact, the whole film seems like is borrowed a lot of elements from the 1970 feature PATTON: the music score (also some music here stolen from VON RYAN'S EXPRESS and THE LONGEST DAY) a few actors and even some battle footage. The cast is full of big-name actors, mostly in cameo roles. Watch for Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H) VERY briefly as an uncredited Army nurse.

The video was released by Direct Source. It was recorded in EP mode and not of the highest quality. Colors are washed out and there is also some on-screen snow which doesn't clear up too much even when one uses the tracking control. The music also drops out once in a while. I have seen this on video from the Platinum Disc Corporation as well. That release has ever-so-slightly better color and no music dropouts. There is also no onscreen snow.

B Movie but with a Nice Twist
This was a TV movie, and frankly, it stole a few things from big screen movies -- like the theme music from Patton. The acting ran the gamut from really good to really baaad. Nonetheless, it's entertaining as a look at how a commander takes over a failing division and rebuilds it in the middle of combat.

The most interesting thing is that this commander recognized the probability of a spy within, and called in the Army Counterintelligence Corps. Only two movies I'm aware of even recognized the existence of, much less the contributions of the CIC. That alone makes the movie worth viewing. Add to this L.Q. Jones' portrayal of the CIC major, always an actor worth watching, and you have a pretty ok B movie.

No, it's not an award winner, but it's just different enough to be fun. Give it a try. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

fun film about four families
This is a fun premise -- spending the Thanksgiving holiday with four very different LA families -- that is executed very well, with capable direction and a fine cast. Children are coming home and families are setting extra places as friends and members of these families -- one Asian, one Hispanic, one Jewish and one African-American -- get together and face various real-life issues such as parent-child disagreements, meeting the SO's parents, in-laws, adultery, etc. The movie could have been riddled with cliches, but a decent script and excellent cast -- including Mercedes Ruehl, Alfre Woodard, Lanie Kazan, Dennis Haysbert and Joan Chen -- make this an entertaining film that is part drama but mostly comedy. Don't watch this while you're dieting, though, as there are many scenes of the wonderful dinners being prepared.

DVD features include subtitles in English, French or Spanish; a commentary track with writer/director Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Backham) and co-writer Paul Berges; interview segments with the director on the characters and on Thanksgiving, with Kyra Sedgwick on Julianna Margulies, with Mercedes Ruehl on the film's premise, with Dennis Haysbert on Los Angeles, with Joan Chen on food, and with Alfre Woodard on Chadha; and recipes for Vietnamese spring rolls, tamales, rustic (apple) pie, macaroni & cheese, noodle kugel and oyster-shiitake stuffing.

Definitely a worthwhile rental.

A great ensemble cast makes this a delicious feast...
Directed by Gurinder Chadha, this good ensemble piece centers on four Los Angeles families (in various stages of dysfunction) attempting to come together over Thanksgiving dinner. Though the story lines are familiar, the laughter and emotions keep this movie from being a leftover Turkey sandwich.

The fantastic ensemble cast includes the always wonderful Alfre Woodard as a woman fighting the stress of maintaining peace in her family. Mercedes Ruehl turns in another good performance as a level-headed matriarch rebounding from a cheating husband. Kyra Sedgwick and Julianna Margulies are delicious as a lesbian couple trying not to spar with one set of parents (enably played by Lainie Kazan and Maury Chakin). Joan Chen is also great playing a tradition-based parent losing a battle against her rebelling teenage kids. Toss in Estelle Harris for extra laughs and wonderful turns from much of the supporting cast, and you can't go wrong.

Though the movies' editing is somehwat choppy, it comes together nicely at the end. I'd highly recommend filling your plate with an extra helping of this gem. The enjoyment of laughter, possible tears, and multi-ethnic traditions make this one a winner.

Typical Thanksgiving Day
This movie was great. It shows a typical thanksgiving day in four different households. It goes without saying, there are
problems in every family. If you are expecting A WALTON MOUNTAIN THANKSGIVING or even THANKSGIVING WITH THE CLEAVERS, I'm sorry this is real.

Exquisite and spicy banquet for the soul
Food and its preparation is one of the things that define us, our culture and how we come together with our families.

Writer/Director Gurinder Chadha (who will later write and direct Bend it like Beckham) brings us her first "american" film: an exquisite, sweet and even sexy (while brutally honest) look at contemporary family dynamics in present-day L.A, using food (and surprisingly enough, surfer music) as the thread to sew together the trials and tribulations of four "ethnic" families during a Thanksgiving day.

But "What's cooking" is more than "just" a food movie, or a Thanksgiving movie. Through an amazing ensemble cast (including Academy Award winner Mercedes Ruehl), ingenous cinematography, smart direction and an outstanding script, Director Chadra makes us feel the joys and pains of these characters.

The story itself is simple: follow the lives of four West L.A. families (Latino, Vietnamese, Black and Jewish) through a Thanksgiving Day. But immediately we get drawn into very powerful statements about love, family, community, divorce, diversity, racism, politics, tolerance and violence. We identify with these characters because we can all relate to their problems, and their family interactions.

I highly recommend this film because it is beautifully and skillfully done, and because of the great actor performances, particularly the female leads. Alfre Woodard is exquisite and brutally believable as the wife trying to keep her family together. Joan Chen, Lainie Kazan and of course Mercedes Ruehl all give extraordinary performances as the matriarchs of these families. Julianna Margulies and Kyra Sedgwick are a joy to watch as a lesbian couple. Dennis Haysbert ("24", Far From Heaven) is fabulous also.

For all you Seinfeld fans out there, you get a glimpse of Estelle Harris in yet another Estelle Costanza incarnation. With her, the loveable Ralph Manza as uncle David (Gepetto in "The Cigar Store Indian").

DVD extras include interviews (they're interesting, although not well edited; it feels like they were "thrown together" at the last minute,sometimes even cutting off mid-sentence, but the raw material is there), theatrical trailer, recipes, and a commentary track (with Writer/Director Chadha and co-writer and husband Paul Mayeda Berger). As expected, the commentary track gives us an inside look ad the writing, casting, production, cinematography and the filming process in general.

Expect bigger and greater things from this power couple.

The Melting Pot
Much like her 2003 hit movie "Bend It Like Beckham", Gurinder Chadha's "What's Cooking?" is infused with people who love one another very much, and so even though some tough issues are thrown their way, we know that, because of that love, they will get through life's obstacles ok.

"What's Cooking" centers around four families living on the same block in Los Angeles. They don't know each other, however, and instead, like most modern families, are focused on their own problems and worries. Chadha makes good use of "the American melting pot" idea, as one family is Italian, one is hispanic, one is black, and one is Asian. One of the most wonderful aspects of the movie is that, even though the people are of different ethnicities, they are portrayed respectfully as human beings. We can relate to each of them. They are different, but the same. Isn't that the underlying truth of us all? People are, indeed, people.

There are some nice performances here: Alfre Woodard is great as a stressed, neglected wife. Dennis Haysbert is quiet, cool and simmering as her husband. Mercedes Ruehl shines as the mother of the hispanic family, trying to move on with her life from an ex-husband that just won't understand that it's over between them. Kyra Sedgwick and Julianna Margulies are endearing as a lesbian couple on their first trip to meet the parents. Estelle Harris (of "Seinfeld" fame) is deliciously wicked as the aunt who just keeps pushing the issue. And, of course, there's Lainie Kazan -- always a treat.

I saw this film at Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in 2003, and it was very well-received. There are dramatic, serious moments, and then there are quite hilarious moments. The theater was filled with laughter a number of times, and deservedly so. In the end, this is a 'feel-good' film. And one which will also have you salivating throughout, as each family is busy cooking and preparing their Thanksgiving dinners.

This is the second Gurinder Chadha movie that I have seen, and from what I have tell, she seems to really believe the best of people. Yes, we fight. Yes, we quarrel. Yes, we disagree. But at the heart of humanity has to be love and understanding, if we are to get along and survive. "What's Cooking" embodies this sentiment wonderfully. It was a joy to watch. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Western!! Rogers and Tritt Rule!!
Kenny Rogers plays an unconventional role as Quentin Leach,a bounty hunter with both a trigger finger and temper.Also singer,Travis Tritt makes his movie debut as Benjamin Tabor who is out for blood after the kidnapping of his bride by a fleeing gang of bank robbers who Leach is after for the bounty money dead or alive.This movie is an Excellent Gun Blazin Western!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful Family Film. Disney missed this?
This is a wonderful movie! No cussing, no nudity, no car chases, no explosions, not even a loud argument. Appropiate for anyone over 6 years old. Mischa Barton plays Frankie (Francheska), a 12 year old prima ballerina. Frankie has done ballet all her life, but walking through the park she sees a sign announcing baseball tryouts. Encouraged by her activist best friend and neighbor, Hazel, Frankie decides to go out for the team. She has to do this on the sly because her grandmother, whose thinking is in the victorian era, feels Frankie should live, breathe, and eat ballet. Frankie lives with her grandmother because she lost her parents when she was two. Frankie's grandmother hasn't finished grieving for her daughter, who also was a ballerina, and demands ballet from frankie because it's a way of closure for the severe emotional loss. The amusing subplot in this movie is the activist exploits of Hazel. Bothered by a library rarely open, filthy parks, and ignored by the town's mayor, Hazel does her homework and discovers that there's no age set to run for mayor. Hazel announces her run, and quickly draws a following. The scene not to be missed is the mayoral debate where she hands the middle aged mayor his hat, metaphorically speaking. Any mother can put this vid on and know that their children will be inspired by Frankie and Hazel.

WOW wish there was a 6 star award. This would get it !!
I review a lot of movies. Most of them tend to be humdrum. Every once in a rare while you find one with a simple plot, predictable happy ending that makes you feel good inside. Even though you have a pretty good idea of how it will end, we never cease to be amazed by the impact that some movies may have on us. This one presents a strong, loving human side of our nature that rarely surfaces. Kids come pretty close to presenting this higher side of ourselves. Even though this movie is simple. It is one of those movies that that will always make you "feel good" inside, and enjoy watching many times over with family and friends. This one is being added to my permanent collection !! Bob :-)

mischa barton shines
mischa barton is truely the star of this touching storey about two 12 year old girls who are neighbors and best friends. the movie centers on frankie(barton) whose mother a ballerina was killed in a car crash along with frankie's father, when she was to young to rember either of them. frankie's grandmother(joan plowright) wants frankie to follow in her mother's footsteps, frankie isn't sure she wants to, but she does want to play baseball and joins a fall team without her grand mother knowing. meanwhile frankie's best friend hazel is running for mayor, being dissatisfied with the mayor job. the two young leads, especially barton, keep this movie from being a hooky afterschool special, and make the movie just special ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Okay
I bought this movie in a two-pack with the Italian "epic" BATTLE FORCE. Overall, it is all right. It concerns an American General (Ben Gazzara) who must find a traitor in the ranks of the division he's just taken over. Gazzara is modeled on General Patton; in fact, the whole film seems like is borrowed a lot of elements from the 1970 feature PATTON: the music score (also some music here stolen from VON RYAN'S EXPRESS and THE LONGEST DAY) a few actors and even some battle footage. The cast is full of big-name actors, mostly in cameo roles. Watch for Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H) VERY briefly as an uncredited Army nurse.

The video was released by Direct Source. It was recorded in EP mode and not of the highest quality. Colors are washed out and there is also some on-screen snow which doesn't clear up too much even when one uses the tracking control. The music also drops out once in a while. I have seen this on video from the Platinum Disc Corporation as well. That release has ever-so-slightly better color and no music dropouts. There is also no onscreen snow.

B Movie but with a Nice Twist
This was a TV movie, and frankly, it stole a few things from big screen movies -- like the theme music from Patton. The acting ran the gamut from really good to really baaad. Nonetheless, it's entertaining as a look at how a commander takes over a failing division and rebuilds it in the middle of combat.

The most interesting thing is that this commander recognized the probability of a spy within, and called in the Army Counterintelligence Corps. Only two movies I'm aware of even recognized the existence of, much less the contributions of the CIC. That alone makes the movie worth viewing. Add to this L.Q. Jones' portrayal of the CIC major, always an actor worth watching, and you have a pretty ok B movie.

No, it's not an award winner, but it's just different enough to be fun. Give it a try. ... Read more