Reviews (2)

great stuff but a crappily made
Belushi and Aykroyd are amazing no complaints about the skits except maybe some more.

The videotape itself is really crappy though. It plays in EP. In my opinion all factory made, store bought videos should be in SP. I have the video about 5 years and I have trouble playing it now. It plays like a video you've had for ten years that was taped in EP off of TV

SNL the funny years
Yes, this is what SNL should be. All you people who think SNL has been consistently funny the last 10 years (they've had their moments, but they are few and far between): buy, rent, borrow or steal these videos. Now. You will learn the truth. ... Read more

Reviews (101)

This film is FALCOTASTIC!!
Wow! This film has it all ~ Great direction, a superb cast of very funny 'cats' and a really rocking soundtrack.

It's stars the very excellent KEANU REEVES, as Shane 'Footsteps' Falco, a professional football player who bombed back in '96.

He and his fellow team mates are given a 'second chance' to make it big as the 'replacements' when the real Washington Sentinels go on strike.

This is based on true events, which I always find more endearing.

Howard Deutch has made a gem of a film, which I'd gladly watch over and over again with no difficulty.

His sense of what is humourous is spot on and I just love the way different scenes are interspliced to give the movie it's own unique style.

The guys that directed the 'plays' on the football field did a marvellous job! You get to see the real action and it keeps you glues to your seat. The background music is well chosen to suit the situations that come up and just plain ROCKS!!

This is definately a film to watch whilst wearing headphones.

Watch 'The Replacements' and you will understand why I love Keanu Reeves. Mr Reeves is absolutely awesome as the quaterback with the hard task of getting his rag-tag team together. He's humble yet when it comes to the crunch can stand up there on his own.

His character reminds me of Neo, due to his initial self-doubt, but with the help of a good strong woman [Annabelle, played very well by Brooke Langton], anything is possible [I'm sounding all Matrixy now LOL].

The other characters are uniquely wonderful and played marvellously. My favourites are:

ORLANDO JONES as 'Clifford Franklin'. Has to be seen to be believed. This gentleman is a real talent and had me rolling with laughter. He has some great lines.

RHYS IFANS as 'Nigel Gruff'. Man! he is soooooo funny and has some real classic moments.

JON FAVREAU puts his all into 'Bateman' ~ not to be messed with, but truely hillarious!

Go buy this movie ~ you will not regret it!

Boring and Recycled
Let's get the only two eliments that I liked about the movie out of the way first. 1) The cast: With Keanu Reeves, John Favreau, Orlando Jones, Rhys Ifans and Gene Hackman. 2)The soundtrack: lots of great sport theme songs you would here at a real football or baseball game. The Movie itself. Well, maybe Hollywood thought the world needed a up to date sports comedy. Taking off of other such sports movie as Major League or Necessary Roughness where you have a bunch of underdogs (that are made of rookies, has-beens, and off-the-wall characters) that, if only they work as team, they will beat even the best of the best, win the hearts of all fans and ulitmately get the girl. I like movies like this, but this one didn't seem work. The crew didn't seem to click together, like the actors were just doing this movie inbetween their real projects (Keanu- waiting for Matrix sequels, Favreau- getting back to directing and writing, Orlando Jones- making an actual funny movie with non-recycled gags). The plot seemed too hokie. They needed a story line that could bring together a bunch of underdogs (In Major League, the owner wanted to put together the worst team so she could get relocated to a new stadium. In Necessary Roughness, the actual college players were pulled from the field because of bribes and under the table perks they were getting). In this movie, the actual pro-team players go on strike mid season forcing the owners to bring in average joes (with remarkable abilities ofcourse) to fill in their places (which is probably taking off the real life strike Pro Baseball went through and owners recruited outside players). The striking proplayers turn into the school bullies, all loyally following their quarterback, as they attempt to torment the players (turning over Falco's ((Reeves)) truck on more than one occasion). There is bar fight, a leading lady (which claims she doesn't date football players, but just happens to fall for one in this particular instance) and plenty of slap-stick gags that seems they may appeal best to 12 year old males. This isn't the first time Keanu has played a former football player. He goes from Johnny Utah (college quarterback turned FBI surfer in Point Break to Footsteps Falco in this movie). This isn't the first football movie for John Faveau, he played an over-weight nerd in Rudy. Gene Hackman played a better coach in Hoosiers. For some of these actors like Orlando Jones or Rhys Ifan this may be a big deal. Major motion pictures with big names to help out on their resume. Not that they haven't played in other movies with equally big stars, this one didn't hurt. For me, with the amount of actors in the movie, it makes playing "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon" that much easier. All and all, don't worry about rushing to your local video store to see this one anytime soon. If you like any of the actors in this movie, then it may be something you may want to pick up.

Worth Seeing
I've seen this movie no less than 5 times and I've found it funny each time. Definitely one to add to your collection.

Always Good for a Laugh
This film is essentially Necessary Roughness reincarnated for the 21st century. Except this time, Kathy Ireland has been traded for a wise-cracking, nipple-rubbing Welch kicker.

Despite the similar plot lines, The Replacements has enough surprises and character twists to stand alone. The musical score is simply incredible, and does a fantastic job of setting the mood for each scene. I've gotten more miles out of this dvd than many "critically acclaimed" films.

Bottom Line: It's uplifting, hilarious fun that is worth every penny. Anyone who has had a dream will enjoy this one.

Entertaining, but Nothing New
Overall, you will remember Remember the Titans (interaction of each member), and Jerry McGuire (true spirit of sports) when watching this movie after the twos.

Why this movie is worth to be watched more than once :

1. Like other sport movies, you will find friendship, teamwork, sportsmanship, overcome previous failure, and doing the impossible. So .. you will enjoy the game.

2. It's always interesting to watch someone (in this case, the coach) collecting different people with different skill to build the winning team, and how the skill is applied in the story.

3. You will not bored. The story is flowing quite fast (only a few unnecessary scenes), lots of laughable moments and good songs.

If you are film critics, perhaps you will find this film is 'usual' or 'light'. The plot is obvious, there is no intrigue/twist. Acting is so-so since characters are only revealed as much as this film needs.

But overall, it is very entertaining. ... Read more

Reviews (90)

Worthy viewing, sharp look at class culture of the period
While you may find the story bleak going at times, the authentic period details and stunning homes of the time will keep your attention during the slower portions of this film. Gillian Anderson is surprisingly good in her role as Lily, a woman who is both naively unaware of the conventions and manners of the day as well as admirably independent in her own way. Unfortunately, Lily makes some mistakes which "compromise" her and set her course for life, a course that spirals steadily downward. What makes this movie particulary moving, to my mind, was watching Lily fall from a possible place in the upper classes, a place she was never sure she wanted in the first place. By the end of the movie, it is clear that she regrets her choice. A convincing portrait of a particular woman in a particular time, well-acted by Gillian Anderson. Strong supporting roles by Dan Ackroyd, Laura Linney, Eric Stoltz.

TRAGIC
....but not dreary
This film is MORE than pretty costumes and beautiful sets.
The acting on ALL PARTS is very good. Gillian Anderson surprised me, I like her in her role as Scully on the X-files but didn't expect her to pull this off...I was wrong

Based on a story by Edith Wharton, and set in New York in the early turn of the 20th century.
Gillian Anderson plays Lily Bart. She lives with her aunt who gives her a modest allowance. Lily has a taste for luxury and insists she pays her own way, she plays bridge for money, creating debts...she's very naive

She has many influencial suitors and could easily marry. But she's in love with Lawrence Selden (Stoltz) a lawyer. Who is equally in love with Lily, but neither seem to want to marry.

One of her suitors, a married investor "Gus" Trenor, offers to invest some money for her, ending with a sum of $9,000. She spends it, only to learn that it was actually his money. She can't do what he expects from her, so now she's in debt to him.

She becomes in posession of some letters which could be very damaging to her married friend Bertha Dorset (Linney) ; which Bertha had written to Lawrence Selden. Bertha seems to be in an unhappy marriage with her husband George, George tells Lily, if it wasn't for her he would had left Bertha long ago.

Tensions grow between Bertha & Lily, when Lily accompanies them on their yacht. Bertha goes off with a man and doesn't come back to the boat until 7.00 A.M. When Lily approaches her, Bertha turns on her and makes a scene at a dinner party, telling Lily she won't be allowed back on the yacht with her and George.

Her aunt dies and instead of leaving everything to Lily (like everyone expected) Lily only gets $10,000. Which will have to go directly to Mr. Trenor. Mr. Rosedale ( Anthony La Paglia) offers to marry her, only if she uses the letters against Bertha, which would "redeem" Lily in the eyes of her society..."It'd be so easy" she'd have Bertha in the palm of her hand.
She declines... Mr. Selden is also tied to the letters

She instead enters the working class, attempting apprenticeship at millinery, but that doesn't work. Mrs. Hatch takes her in to keep track of her appointments and fill her prescribtions, but lets her go; she fears Lily's reputation might taint her... Lily leaves Mrs Hatch but keeps one of her prescriptions......

Lily refuses all offers of help, even Mr. Rosedale's offer to pay off her debt to Mr. Trenor..she won't swallow her pride, and wants to go it alone.....to the tragic end...

Gillian Anderson is enjoyable, her portrayal is fresh & poignant . Laura Linney is always good, as is Eric Stoltz and Anthony La Paglia. Hopefully we will be seeing more of Gillian Anderson.

It IS a long movie just over 2 1/2 hours, but I hardly noticed. Perhaps not the kind of movie you could watch over and over. But it's a good movie.

Heartbreaking
Couldn't help but feel the pain that the heroine went through. Wonderful film. I was surprised by Gillian Anderson's suberb acting because I had only seen her in the television show "X-Files". I would recommend this film to anyone who is patient to watch this film and who has an appreciating for tragic stories.

Disappointing
It doesn't seem to matter how good a story is, and The house of Mirth is good, casting the right players makes the difference between great and dismal. Dan Akroyd seems to be reading his lines off a nearby wall. Gillian Anderson is beautiful but doesn't elicit sympathy for her role as 'heroine led astray'. Eric Stoltz is a fantastic actor but even he seems to struggle. The movie has sumptuous wardrobe and settings done with meticulous detail. Even so,it's hard to watch without wincing at Akroyd's embarrassing performance or hoping that the heroine falls in the mud.

Uneven performance
The biggest flaw to this movie is the uneven performance put up by Anderson. She is great in the first half an hour, but her performance degenerates into pity (much like the character she plays) and unconvincing for the rest of the film. Aykroyd just looks and acts ridiculous as the married seducer, probably the worst cast role in the film. For some reason I never developed a full sympathy for Lily Bart. It could have been a great film, but the rather theatrical direction leave the film cold. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Mark Twain, Warner Brothers' Style
I've never read Mark Twain's novel to be able to say how closely this movie follows to the original story. It certainly has the Warner Brothers' touch. Errol Flynn is his usual dashing, dauntless self, perfectly at home with a sword in hand. Claude Rain again is the cunning, cultured villain, and Alan Hale is a welcome face, although this time he is Flynn's foe instead of friend. As Prince Edward and his look alike beggar friend, the Mauch twins are occasionally annoying, but for the most part quite effective as the victims of a switch that learn to appreciate the other side of life. The story is fun and played with a lot of energy and humour. Don't assume that this is an Errol Flynn video, because he really isn't the star - the twins are the stars. However, there is enough of Flynn to keep his fans happy, and a good enough story and movie to keep everyone happy (including children).

CLASSIC TWAIN ADVENTURE - GREAT LOOKING TRANSFER!
The Prince & The Pauper is based on the much loved Mark Twain classic. In a nutshell, the plot centers around twins, one the spoiled heir to the English throne, a other a begger with a heart of gold. When the two accidentally cross paths they become best friends and secretly trade places, much to the chagrin of one of the king's advisors (Claude Rains) who is plotting to kill the heir and take over himself. Enter into this fray a fortune hunter (Errol Flynn) who vows to set everything right for king, country and a healthy financial reward. It all ends pleasantly enough in a sword and swashbuckling sort of way.
WARNER HOME VIDEO gives us a handsome looking transfer that is sure to please. The gray scale has been impeccibly balanced with solid blacks and very nice renderings of fine detail. Certain scenes exhibit a touch of edge enhancement and a hint of pixelization, but nothing that will distract from this visually stunning film adaptation. The sound elements are somewhat disappointing by contrast. The main title sequence in particular sounds as though the music track was discovered under a rock. Nevertheless, dialogue - for the most part - is presented at an adequate listening level with only the slightest of pops, scratches and hiss.
EXTRAS: An essay and theatrical trailer - BIG DEAL!
BOTTOM LINE: The Prince & The Pauper is a visually stunning movie that, although straying somewhat from Twain's original intent, is nevertheless faithful enough to remind us why his name continues to be among America's greatest literary talents. The transfer is solid. I recommend this DVD!

Errol Flynn in Support of Mauch Twins in Classic Twain Tale!
In 1937, the WB, capitalizing on Errol Flynn's spectacular performances in CAPTAIN BLOOD and THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, cast him in four films, with varying degrees of success. The best, by far, was William Keighley and William Dieterle's production of the Mark Twain classic, THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, where he supported new WB 'discoveries' Billy and Bobby Mauch, portraying London urchin Tom Canty and his look-alike, Prince Edward Tudor. The twins were gifted, young (12 at the time of the filming) actors, with a Freddie Bartholomew-like quality of engaging innocence, and they gave this version of the oft-filmed tale a sense of reality that split-screen performances by a single actor could never achieve.

The story is an engaging one, as young Canty, inspired by his mother and a local priest to dream of a finer life than his father, an ill-tempered beggar (Barton MacLane) could provide, sneaks onto the grounds of Buckingham Palace. There, he meets young Prince Edward, who is thrilled to meet a boy his own age...and, after cleaning him up a bit, is astonished to discover that the pair could pass as twins. Edward decides this is a golden opportunity to see what life outside the Palace is really like, so, against Canty's misgivings, the two exchange clothing, and the Prince leaves...creating far more of an uproar than either boy could ever imagine!

Canty is soon considered 'mad', as he insists he is not Edward, and the Prince, abused and ridiculed by Tom's father, is unceremoniously thrown off the Palace grounds when he attempts to return, by a disbelieving Captain of the Guards (Alan Hale, in the first of 12 films he'd make with his friend, Errol Flynn). The ambitious Earl of Hertford (the always brilliant Claude Rains) investigates Canty's claim, and realizes, after interviewing the Captain, that the boy is telling the truth, giving him a golden opportunity to seize power. Ordering the Captain to find and kill the Prince, the Earl then threatens to kill Canty if he doesn't obey his commands.

Things grow desperate for the young Prince, as he attempts to evade his murderous 'father' on the streets, until Miles Hendon (Flynn), a roguish but good-natured 'soldier-for-hire' comes to his aid. Offering his protection to the lad, Hendon thinks him a bit balmy, as well...until events (the child's obvious despair over the death of Henry VIII, the Palace search party, and a sword duel with the Captain, where Flynn KILLS Alan Hale!!!) convince him otherwise. Then it becomes a race against time to smuggle the real King into the Coronation, before Canty is crowned, and the Earl assumes "the Power behind the Throne".

Blessed with a gifted cast, including wonderful character actor Montagu Love as the dying Henry VIII, the film offers a truly exceptional film score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold (who would eventually expand the theme into a symphonic work). Audiences have always been surprised that Errol Flynn's role is not larger, but as a faithful Twain adaptation, the focus had to be on the two boys, and not on the impoverished soldier. Flynn had fun playing Hendon, and the Mauch twins were nothing less than superb as the leads.

With THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD less than a year away, and Errol Flynn's star continuing to ascend, the WB had every reason to celebrate, and THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER is a pleasure to watch, to this day!

Good film based on The Prince and the Pauper
I saw this move years ago and decided to watch it again after getting the part of Lady Jane Grey in a local production of Prince and the Pauper. I also bought the book and read it and I would say it is now a favorite! I'm not sure how but they were able to make an enjoyable movie based on a general outline but completely changing the story, but they did! I would recommend this movie but don't expect Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper.

The Mauch Twins are a delight.....!!!
I loved this movie as a kid and still do as an adult. The Mauch twins, Billy and Bobby are outstanding in every way. When they look into the camera and laugh as they do in several scenes, it is pure magic! This film is highly recommended to both young and old. Too bad "Warner Brothers" did not appreciate their talents and build future films around these extremely talented kids. They were as talented, if not more so,than any other young stars of the period. See for yourself and enjoy the film! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This thematic video, featuring the best game-show parodies presented by Saturday Night Live, concentrates mostly on the later years, with regulars Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Julia Sweeny, and Chris Farley dominating the proceedings. And though some of the skits have their moments, such as when guest host Joe Pesci menaces seriously out-of-place contestant Chris Rock on "Bensonhurst Dating Game," an inevitable feeling of sameness can creep in. Perhaps that's mostly forgivable, as the individual sketches were not written or acted to be seen one after another. Besides regular cast members, guest hosts were regularly put to work in game-show skits, with varying degrees of comedic success--Garth Brooks (in drag in a misbegotten parody titled "Old French Whore"), Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Hanks, and Quentin Tarantino. Gilda Radner and Bill Murray appear all too briefly in a snippet of a sketch from the early years, but seeing Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd, Laraine Newman, and Chevy Chase in "Jeopardy 1999" from the show's first season is a treat. For a fan of 1990s vintage Saturday Night Live, this tape does have its winning moments, but it may be best watched in small doses. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Where's the Jeopardy?!!!!!
All right, I have always loved SNL, and especially the Celebrity Jeopardy's. There was only a single CJ episode at the end of the tape! I feel that with the exception of the guess the word game, the tape should be wiped clean of the waste on it now and filled with stuff that...gasp!...people actually want to see! My ideal: I must agree with another [person] when I say a tape full of Celebrity Jeopardy. Do not waste your money on this, simply tape skits off the air if it means that much to you.

Well it wasn't bad
Overall it was just an average video. The title is somewhat deceiving since not all the skits were game shows. What was disappointing was in some sections they didn't show all of the game shows they were parodying.

Varies wildly from hysterically funny to downright awful.
As you might expect, this "Saturday Night Live" tape is a lot like the show. Some of the skits are fantastic while others fall flat on their face.

The tape both starts and ends on a high note. The first skit is one that skewers our characterizations of French prostitutes. Garth Brooks (whom I didn't recognize at first) is in drag and is very funny. The final skit is the classic "Celebrity Jeopardy" episode where the contestants are supposed to be Tom Cruise, Adam Sandler (played FLAWLESSLY by Jimmy Fallon) and Sean Connery. Will Ferrell, playing Alex Trebek of course, delivers some of his best dry humor ever.

Regarding the rest of the tape, it's interesting to note that the best clips are those that shouldn't even be included...skits that have nothing to do with game shows. The best of the bunch is a mock promo advertising a new show coming to NBC called "Princess & The Homeboy". Tim Meadows is completely outrageous as G-Dog. It's some of the edgiest stuff that the writers of SNL ever came up with.

It's true that most of these SNL tapes don't seem to be chock full of the best that the show has had to offer. However, at least this one is able to provide a fair share of laughs and is worth a rental or a purchase at a cheap price.

Great Collectoin of SNL sketches
I definately recommend you buying this collectoin of SNL Game Show Parodies. It features some of the greatest SNL sketches ever. One is Dysfunctional Family Feud, which features Chris Farley at his greatest. Also, you'll enjoy Jackie Roger Jr.'s $100,000 Jackpot Wad, which features Billy Crystal as Sammy Davis, Jr. Pay attention to Rajeevs face when Saammy gives the clue for asparagus. And David Spade gives a great performance in Geek, Dweeb, or Spazz. The only thing that I think hould've been included is the rest of the Stand Up and Win sketch. Overall, this really is a great video.

Pretty Good Video!
The is a pretty good video. The only bad thing about it is that there is not enough good games shows. Some of them are very, very stupid. But all in all, it's a good video. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This layered film, a labor of love from director Jonathan Demme and star Oprah Winfrey, covers a lot of turf in its nearly three-hour running time. Part slavery fable, part mother-daughter tale, part ghost story, Beloved demands an audience's full attention from its dramatic, slightly bewildering opening, when a family dog comes down on the wrong side of some angry, unseen force. But Demme and his talented cast provide an unforgettable payoff for those who surrender.

The film traces the life of Sethe (played in her middle years by Winfrey), a former slave who has rebuilt what seems to be a peaceful, productive life in Ohio. Yet through chilling, sparing use of flashback, Demme slowly unveils, as does the Toni Morrison masterpiece on which the film is based, the horrors of Sethe's former life, and the terrible event that led to the haunting of Sethe's home.

While the horrors of slavery and the bloody event in Sethe's family leave undeniable impressions, the film's brilliance is also evidenced in smaller, equally satisfying ways. Rachel Portman's spiritual-influenced score is as uplifting as it is haunting, and the glimpses of the post-slavery African American world--as with a simple family outing to a local carnival, or a ladies' sewing-and-gospel circle--make this a treat for the intellect as well as the heart. The members of the cast, especially Kimberly Elise as Sethe's struggling daughter and Thandie Newton as the mysterious title character, are supremely affecting. --Anne Hurley ... Read more

Reviews (113)

Solid Acting
This movie is beautiful and painful to watch. It tries hard to live up to Toni Morrison's novel and succeeds in capturing many of the book's powerful images. The story's central characters are Sethe and Paul D., two ex-slaves from the "Sweet Home" plantation. Denver is Sethe's teenage daughter, the only of three (living) children who has not been driven away by the baby ghost in Sethe's house. Beloved is a strange young woman who comes to stay with the other three characters, stirring up memories of Sethe's horrible past. Acting awards go to Kimbery Elise as Denver and Thandie Newton as Beloved, who carry the movie with grace and strength. Denver is the movie's heart, and dares you not to look at her each time she crosses in front of the camera. Oprah Winfrey and Lisa Gay Hamilton do very well with the character of Sethe, portrayed at two different ages. Danny Glover is neither special nor offensive as Paul D. The story is easier to follow if you have already read the book, and might even then take more than one viewing to sufficiently grasp. The camera work is skillful, and the sets and costumes add very much to the film. Because of its style and three hour length, seeing this movie feels like watching a really good miniseries. It's an inspiring and artfully made film.

Loved Beloved
For those who did not understand or found it difficult to follow the story line of this hauntingly strange yet beautiful tale, I'm sorry for their loss. Had I closed my mind to this film after its first five minutes or because of the critics reviews, I too would have missed this powerful drama. Winfrey, Glover and the entire cast have my gratitude and respect for bringing Toni Morrison's story to film. Sethe, Paul Dee and Denver were wonderful strong characters. Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. My eyes beheld Beloved and found it a beauiful well done work of art. Like many, I allowed the critics to discourage me from the theater and almost ignored it completely.

The shock of several scenes depicting the horrors and cruelity of slavery wained after my first several viewings, but I continued to find the story powerful, sad, joyous, strange and hauntingly beautiful. I can't seem to get enough and have returned again and again. My purchase of this movie will be a great addition to my most selective library of films.

This film has stayed with me. I though it should be given a chance and have asked several friends who also passed it up to view Beloved just for their opinion. It seems more people than not truly enjoy this film once they give themselves permission to view it with an opened mind and look pass the five second dog scene. It's a shame Winfrey, Glover and the entire cast were so overlooked for their contributions. This film should be given a second chance. What do you think?

Almost a masterpiece
It took me a long time to watch the movie Beloved due to the fact that it wasn't easily available in South Africa, I truelly enjoyed this movie and was really happy with the way it stayed true to the book which is one of my all time favourites, I've read the book so many times I even know most of the lines, I mostly was anxious to see the movie cos I wanted to see how they would manage to bring such a story to life, thankfully I wasn't dissapointed, the only problem I have with the movie was the casting of Danny Glover in the role of Paul Dee, I strongly feel that he spoiled the movie,they would have done better to cast another actor to the role, If you want to see poetry in motion(which I deeply believe the book is) then you have to watch this movie, Bravo to everyone(except Mr Glover but for whom I would have given this film 5 stars)who was involved in the making of this film. Well done for an outstanding protrayal of what I truely believe must have been the hardest novel ever to bring to life.

Didnt do the book justice
Oprah ruined the whole essence of the book with this movie. I was expected an oscar performance and got garbage. The book was poetic and explained the relationship between the family members, the relationship that blacks have with religion each other, slavery etc etc. The movie did not catch any of that. Most of the movie did not even make sense. I was sorely disappointed.

Love your heart!
I recommend you reading the book by Toni Morrison before watching this movie (which I did) because I can understand the flashbacks being confusing if you have not read the book by the Nobel winning author Toni Morrison. "Beloved" is about a woman named Sethe who was "married" to a man named Halle at the plantation "Sweet Home" during the times of slavery. Sethe escapes slavery and is beaten by some white men while she was pregnant with her daughter Denver, and the white men drank her milk from her breasts. The scar from the cowhide whipping still remains on her back after many years, and it looks like a cherryblossom tree. Her husband Halle saw the whole thing and went crazy because of the experience, and she never saw her husband again. She has her baby with the help of a white girl named Amy Denver who is going to Boston to get some velvet. Amy is the one who points out that her back looks like a tree, and Sethe names her baby "Denver" after the white girl. She goes back home to Halle's mom's house, Baby Suggs, where she has hidden her children. Baby Suggs is an inspirational Christ-like character who gives sermons on loving your hands, skin, and heart because no one else will love them. Her speech scenes are done beautifully. Paul D, a man from Sethe's "Sweet Home," comes into their lives. Sethe's baby "Beloved" is haunting the house.
Beloved comes back in the body she would have been in had she lived. Sethe finally finds out that it is her baby, and she reveals that long ago when the white men came to claim Sethe's babies as property, she killed all of her children except Denver so that they would not be brought into slavery.
It is a beautiful and touching movie, and if you have never seen Oprah act, you are missing something! Glover and Winfry are both beautiful actors in this movie. Don't miss it! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Thank You! To the Late Robert Urich
Hello, I'm Janie Strifler. My only and deepest regret is that I wasn't able to say "hello" or "thank you" to this great actor. So, if you were ever a fan of Robert Urich from his character on "Soap, to Dan Tanna, Spenser, you'll want to add this video to your collection and to keep him in your memory. If by chance you happen to be a fan of Las Vegas and the Desert Inn Hotel this video is what you've been looking for. As a fan of this late actor and a fan of the entertainment industry Robert Urich will be forever missed but not forgot by this fan. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Fred Astaire plays a fashion photographer based on real-life cameraman Richard Avedon, in this entertaining musical directed by Stanley Donen (Singin' in the Rain). The story finds Astaire's character turning Audrey Hepburn into a chic Paris model--not a tough premise to buy, especially within this film's air of enchantment and surrounded by a great Gershwin score. Based on an unproduced play, this is one of the best films from the latter part of Astaire's career. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Great movie and the DVD Transfer is Crystal Clear!
I don't think I've ever seen a good print of this film till I bought the DVD, which is fabulous! I'm not a die-hard Audrey Hepburn fan, but she is very charming and looks fabulous in the fashions. I love the ability to skip the numbers I don't like with the DVD since I find this a very uneven film. When it is good it is nearly flawless (and that's most of the time--opening credits, Think Pink, Funny Face, Bonjour Paris, The Photo Shoots, S'Wonderful, the final fashion show) but when it is bad it is horrid (a 60 year old Fred Astaire trying to be a beatnik, Fred's unending "matador" dance number, the whole plot with the Professor, Clap Yo'Hands). I was disappointed in the additional features--the original trailer is ho hum and the Paramount "documentary" is really just an extended sales pitch with bad stock footage. Where's an interview with the great Stanley Donen? Still, overall well worth purchasing.

A Marvelous Movie!
Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn together on screen. Just that alone makes seeing this movie worthwhile. However, this film has a lot of other things going for it. To begin with, this film gives the fabulous Gershwin score a first class treatment. Astaie's version of the title song is definitive, and while no singer, Hepburn's rendition of "How Long Has This Been Going On" has a sensitivity and power that is quite hard to find in many musicals. Next, The lush Paris locales are simply beautiful. After decades of musicals that were done entirely on soundstages, it is a breath of fresh air to see the realism and freedom of space that on location shooting can bring to a film. Then, there's Kate Thompson. While Fred and Audrey are glorious, it's Ms. Thompson who's the real scene-stealer as the bossy magazine editor. She transforms "Think Pink" into a delightful Showstopper, and always gets the best lines. Enugh talk. Go see this movie. It's a treasure you won't soon forget.

P.S. If your wondering why I took off a star, it's because of the age difference between Astaire and Hepburn. Astaire was in his late 50's when he made this film, and Hepburn was not yet 30. I simply don't believe that their romance is reasonable. After a few great song and dance numbers, it's not really a big deal, but it's worth a star.

Where Was MArni NIxon?
Funny Face has just about everything going for it. Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Stanley Donen, great Gershwin tunes, a terrific rare glimpse of the incomparable Kay Thompson and above all some of the most exciting visuals and overall art direction ever caught on film. So what happened? The sad decision to let Hepburn do her own singing. That's not to say her voice is bad. It's very... nice. But for a full blown musical of this scale, the audience is yearning for Hepburn's character to really give out with a great set of pipes. Perhaps not quite to the extent of Kay Thompson, an actress perhaps better suited for the stage than the intimacy of the screen. Yet while the movie does not fulfill its promise, it's still well worth seeing. The transformation of Hepburn from mousy bookstore clerk to haute couture model is as wonderful as her similar transformation in "Sabrina". The modeling sessions with Astaire directing Hepburn are delightful and above all the VistaVision presentation of late 50s gloss can not be matched, (the opening credits nearly make up for the entire movie). With Richard Avedon and Suzy Parker's influence the movie almost makes you forgive its failings. Still by the last frame the audience is left with only one thought: "Where's Marni Nixon when you need her?".

The Ultimate Fashion Musical!
Anyone who loves Breakfast at Tiffany's and Roman Holiday knows that Audrey Hepburn is one of the most magical women ever captured on film. But there is something special about Funny Face. It captured a part of the real Audrey -- part book worm, part great dancer, part reluctant star. The "On How to be Lovely" scene with Patricia Neal is one of the most glorious moments in film. You just cannot help but smile when they start singing that song. It will make you fall in love with Audrey over and over again!

Isnt bad. Far from Great.
Fred Astaire, the greatest movie star of all time (Along with Chaplin of course) paired with Audrey Hepburn in this enjoyable, but still slightly dissapointing romantic musical set in France.

If your expecting this film to have great dancing, then dont. It hasnt. What you get however is a very colourful movie with a few decent songs, but others can be questionable.

The basic story is, Fred Astaire is a photographer who discovers a girl (Hepburn) who works in a bookstore and makes a model out of her (Check other reviews for more on the story).

Overall, not too bad a movie. Could have been better, but recommended for fans of either Astaire or Hepburn. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Review of Omar Khayyam
This is a wonderful film and it came as a most pleasant surprise. Omar Khayyam provides us with a splendid cinematic introduction to Persia's greatest poet. Khayyam was a compassionate and noble figure whose extraordinary literary talent and all-encompassing intellect displayed no natural boundary. Important aspects of Khayyam's fascinating personality are admirably portrayed by Cornell Wilde. The casting of the movie was exceptional and we are treated to fine supporting performances by distinguished actors such as as Michael Rennie and Sebastian Cabot among others. I was particularly impressed by extent to which this movie explored key historical issues surrounding the life and times of Khayyam. We learn about the Byzantine Roman Empire's war with Persia involving an alliance composed of Bulgars, Greeks, Franks and Lombards. We also confront a number of other historical and scientific issues in this film that are portrayed with an interesting admixture of detail and insight that seems to be unusual for such Hollywood productions. Omar Khayyam additionally provides us with a fascinating glimpse of the Assasins of Syria, believed by some to represent one of the world's first terrorist organization. As an advisor to the Persian Shah, Khayyam's effort to root the Assassins out of their extrodinary mountain fortress in northern Syria bears a striking resemblance to events taking place in Afganistan in the wake of September 11th. There is indeed an eerie parallel between the Persian Assassins, as depicted in this film, and the American and Northern Alliance-led effort now being waged to blast Osama Bin Laden and his al Qaeda units from out of the caves of Tora Bora. Omar Khayyam has a most satisfying ending. After seeing it, the viewer should be encouraged to read Fitzgerald's splendid translation of the Rubaiyat. By all means see Omar Khayyam - the film's artistry, poignancy and depth will not elude the sensitive viewer.

It's a disappointment!
Normally, Hollywood makes a very poor use of talented actors/actresses who have especial gifts, like great singing voices, for example. This is the case of this movie, which presents or introduces an extraordinary talent like Yma Sumac, without giving her the opportunity to show properly the talents she is famous for. I saw the movie just because her name was in it. What a disappointment! She is treated in the movie like a native extra! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Memorable Little Film
Natalie Wood stars as an 8 year old girl who witnesses a plane crash. She seeks solace with the town doctor. This film is no longer available and is a real treasure to own.

A Cutie movie
I think this is a nice pleasant movie with a good bit of humor and a realistic plot. The parts are well played and not to sweet, its better than you would think being made in 1947. It dosent copy any thing like many lassie clones do and is heart warming without be to over done. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

I love Richard Burton!
I first saw this movie years ago on cable tv when I was a teenager home sick from school one day. I sat and cried my eyes out because I too fell in love with Ashley (Richard Burton) and vowed to name my first child after him.

His character has morals and values and that is why he takes the high road and turns down the love from a younger woman, not quite of legal age, despite the fact that her love brings him to life again as an artist. He honors and respects the American culture of age appropriateness and for that his character becomes even more endearing to me. He's a safe man for a young girl to have a crush on.

Tatum ONeal is fabulous in this story, playing well beyond her years in maturity... and I will never forget the look on her face in the busy streets of New York as she slowly walks away and stands there as Ashley sticks to his resolve to send her back home after she shows up without his invitation all alone to confront her love for him.

Love is like that sometimes, it makes no sense, but in the end, if it's love, it always does the right thing and that's what I love about this movie.

Deary Canadian Pedophilia
Tatum O'Neal never fulfilled the promise of her first, delightful role as a child actor in Peter Bogdanovich's Paper Moon. Although she grew into a pleasant looking teenager, some unwise forces -- parents? agents? -- allowed or pushed her into "sexy" roles in terrible pictures like this and 1980's Little Darlings. There seemed to be a very unwholesome interest back in the late 70s/early 80s in pre-teen girl sexuality -- look at movies like these and Brook Shield's Pretty Baby and Blue Lagoon. I don't think you could get away with this kind of leering nonsense in today's climate of greater sensitivity towards child molestation, Jon-Benet Ramsey, etc.

Not too surprisingly, this low budget Canadian mishmash was directed by an older (French) director. It's the ultimate in fantasy for a late middle-aged male -- that a nubile teenager would fall in love with you and throw herself at you (and you of course would heroically refuse to have sex with her). Also that it would rejuvenate you not only romantically and personally, but professionally as well.

Aside from Ms. O'Neal's horribly leaden and awkward performance, there is so much that is wrong and off-key here -- a dreadful script full of lame dialogue and pontification, implausible situations and a cast of supporting actors who look like deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck.

Tatum O'Neal (Sarah) is supposed to be a 15 year old girl -- which she probably was at the time of the filming -- but she dresses like an middle-aged woman in loose blouses, dressy shoes and long flowered skirts. Apparently neither the director or costume designer was aware that teenagers in the 80s wore jeans, t-shirts,and sweatshirts. As a result, instead of coming across as an authentic 10th grader, "Sarah" seems to be a adult woman with a high pitched squeaky voice. This takes our focus off the disheartening spectacle of her sexual involvement with a man easily old enough to be her grandfather.

Richard Burton (Ashley), who looks very handsome and fit here, and has a grand theatrical speaking voice, appears pained and uncomfortable (I imagine he had kids younger than Tatum O'Neal), and although he tries mightily to make the character human and sympathetic, he doesn't stand a chance with the lame & embarassing lines he has to spout. To his credit, he comes across as grandfatherly with his co-star and not lecherous, but that tiptoes around the basic problem that a 60 yr old man having a romantic attachment with a 15 yr old girl is sick and destructive.

Speaking of that, where are the authorities -- police, prosecutors, child psychologists etc -- in Toronto anyhow? When Sarah's parents find out she is seeing Ashley, they respond in horror...and lock her in her bedroom (a bedroom that has a huge unlocked window leading to a big branched tree that any teenager could skedaddle down in a minute) but they don't make the slightest attempt to file charges against their daughter's geriatric seducer. Also, Sarah's teenage boyfriend (Michael Wincott) attempts to rape her -- but her parents are unconcerned about this and don't apparently file charges against HIM -- and in turn she bashes him in the head with a large rock and fractures his skull and nothing happens as a result of this either. When she starves herself and threatens sucicide on her 16th birthday, instead of putting her into a psychiatric hospital, her parents allow her to see her elderly boyfriend again.

The worst thing about this type of movie is that it invites us to leer -- even showing us Ms. O'Neal in the nude, quite unnecessarily -- and then wants to overlay the whole thing with a smarmy explanation that it's "true love" and that Sarah is a "woman" because she really loves this senior citizen whom she has known all of one month.

Today this kind of film would probably be made for cable and shown on the Lifetime channel, but hopefully public consciousness is more sensitive these days and no one would make a film glorifying what in fact is not just a crime, but a destructive act of control and manipulation and the objectification of the bodies of very young girls.

In conclusion -- gross, but too dull to be porno.

An American French Film
I agree with another reviewer, this is one of my favorite hard to find videos. I titled this review an American French Film, because of the subject matter. Normally we Americans steer away from the older man, much younger girl romance story. Something the French do with ease. Look at Beau Pere, which you can get right here at Amazon.com. Richard Burton gives a fine performance as the older man while Tatum O'Neil gives us a look at what I consider to be one of, if not her finest performance. A love story for the ages, too bad most ages will never see this film. If you can find this film, buy it. It is a keeper.

A very rare love story
This movie has been my all time favorite hard to find video. A story of an innocent youth (Tatum O'Neal) following her heart with no detour due to outside presures as the repectable aging man (Richard Burton) who recaptures his soul through her eyes which inspires him not only in his paintings, but in the heart and soul as well. A must see movie for all ages young and old alike.

Burton still a powerful force.
Sometimes you run across a movie that just moves you. I've been moved to get up and walk out on some movies, but others like Circle of Two moved me to tell my friends about it. I had the good fortune to see this movie just after it came out and I had a copy for a long time. To many viewings I guess. Burton and O'Neal play their parts very well. If you are a romantic, give it a glance, it will turn into a long look. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The series formula started to kick in with this immediate sequel to Lethal Weapon, but that doesn't necessarily make it a weak movie. Joe Pesci joins the fold, Richard Donner directs again, and Mel Gibson and Danny Glover return as LAPD partners, their relationship smoother now that Gibson's character has recovered from his maddening grief over his wife's death. But the reckless Mel and cautious Danny equation, good for a million laughs, settles into place in this story involving a South African smuggler and a new girlfriend (Patsy Kensit) for Gibson. The movie is hardly comfy, though. The last act gets nasty, and a climactic fight between Gibson (who gets the worst of it) and some high-kicking villain is ugly. The DVD release includes production notes, Dolby sound, theatrical trailer, optional full-screen and widescreen presentations, optional French soundtrack, and optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Illogical and brutal, but worst of all-- not funny
Pure manipulation without a shred of logic or genuine fun. It starts out as a good-natured buddy film and it would have been easier to take had it continued in that vein. However, about two-thirds through the film, director Richard Donner apparently felt that it was time for the audience to stop having fun and start feeling a sense of menace. He tries to accomplish this by brutalizing and murdering nearly the entire supporting cast of laughing, fun-loving cops who we are supposed to have bonded with because we've seen them playing poker together and sharing jokes about condoms.

The introduction of Joe Pesci's character makes no sense at all. Why would city cops be used to protect a government witness? Especially two such notorious loose cannons as Riggs and Murtaugh? And why would he be allowed to remain in their custody given the extremely careless job they do of "protecting" him? Because the script says so, that's why.

I don't necessarily mind it when comedies play fast and loose with logical motivation, or when action films display a bit of a cruel streak. "Lethal Weapon 2," however, is an extremely clumsy mixture of the two.

One of the best sequels.
A lot of sequels are shameless retreads of earlier material with nothing new to explore or for the audience to experience. Then there are some sequels which are worthy of the original, and there are even few sequels which outshine the original. Lethal Weapon 2 is one of those. This first sequel in the "Lethal" series is from beginning to end a roller coaster ride of action, comedy, suspense and drama. It is more "Lethal Weapon" than the first film was.

The story picks up a few years after the first film as Mel Gibson and Danny Glover return as cops Riggs and Murtaugh. They are on the brink of busting a huge drug smuggling ring and are reassigned to protect a government informant named Leo Getz played by Joe Pesci who should have been considered for an Oscar in this performance.

The introduction of the Getz character is the film's stroke of genius. In the first film Riggs and Murtaugh complained and bickered with each other. Now 2 years later the audience knows they are close friends, so bickering would seem unrealistic and a retread of the first film. They now have Getz to complain about and insult which gives the film many comic scenes. This action/adventure is as funny as a straight out comedy.

While the action is more abundant this time it does not replace story or character development like in most sequels. This film pays great respect to the events in the first film by continuing the Riggs/Murtaugh friendship storyline and having them bond even more than before.

Lethal Weapon 2 is everything what a great sequel should be.

LETHAL WEAPON 2
The boys are back in town for the second film in the legendary "Lethal Weapon" series. This time around, Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover) stumble upon a South African drug ring while babysitting key witness Leo Getz (Joe Pesci). All the laughs and action of the original; Pesci is outrageous. Richard Donner knows when to let up, and he hasn't done it yet.
* This director's cut includes four minutes of additonal footage.

Lethal Carnage
The engaging chemistry of Mel Gibson (Martin Riggs) and Danny Glover (Roger Murtaugh) continues into LETHAL WEAPON 2 as they take on a South African drug kingpin, Arjen Rudd(Joss Ackland). He also happens to be a South African diplomat with immunity to any type of persecution. So, Riggs and Murtaugh harrass him and his henchmen, playing a lethal cat and mouse game of picking off each other from both sides. A key witness Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) stands in the middle of all the carnage and the carnage mounts. Practically everyone from Riggs' and Murtaugh's precinct (detectives, officers and what have you) are eliminated... even the female lead/love interest to Riggs-(Patty Kensit) is oft in the proceedings. It seems the only ones left alive are Riggs and Murtaugh (it was reported that Shane Black's original screenplay was to have Riggs killed at the end) to take on the South African drug cartell. Even with the body count, the film is very entertaining due to Gibson and Glover's characters, a witty script, and the direction of Richard Donner (SUPERMAN-THE MOVIE, THE OMEN) who seems to have a fond affection for the two characters since he's directed all four films. The film franchise probably "perfected" (not invented)the buddy cop genre (forerunners: SUPERCOPS, FREEBIE AND THE BEAN, RUNNING SCARED) and is the "yardstick" for others that haven't come close (i.e. TANGO AND CASH...?). Lastly as the final credits roll in LW2, George Harrison's great song CHEER DOWN plays. Perhaps because guitar god/legend Eric Clapton did part of the muscial score for the film, he got pal Harrison to contribute the song. The song sounds very much like a James Bond-type tune and perhaps was inspired by the nature of the film. When the film is shown on network televison, its too bad the song is always drowned out by programming or commercial announcements (notoriously and especially on TNT and TBS). On cable, DVD, and video, the song can be heard in its entirety.

Terrific
My all time favorite action movie. Nothing else even comes close in terms of action and comedy. Gibson and Glover are outrageous as goofball cops Riggs and Murtaugh and Joe Pesci adds another element of wackiness. Tremendous action also.....a must see!!!. Go get it!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My Friend Loves This Video
My Friend Loves This Video After Watching It At A New Years Eve Party I Liked It. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very Underated
I know this is hard to believe, but this is one of my top ten video's of all time. As a theatre major I can really relate to the 'I can be loved by you' acting excercise that becomes a recurring theme. While the 'girl with boys name who acidentally winds up in the boys dorm' genre is usually pretty fluffy, in this case it works, going beyond laughs to a more serious and vulnerable (yet still fun) place. For the record, other movies that have affected me as deeply include 'Glory', 'The Muppet Movie', 'Monster High', 'Final Destination (1 & 2)', 'Schoolhouse Rock', 'The Specials', 'Mulan', and 'Not another Teen Movie'. Fairly eclectic I know, but I really encouarge you to give it a try, especially if you were involved in Drama or Writing in High School or University.

ANOTHER GREAT ONE FOR A RAINY DAY!
DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I SEEM TO ENJOY PATRICK DEMPSEY'S 80'S FILMS A LOT. THIS VIDEO IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES. JUST AS "CAN'T BUY ME LOVE" THIS ONE IS CHESSY AND PREDICTABLE, AND I THINK THAT IS THE MAGIC ABOUT IT, THAT'S PROBABLY THE REASON WHY EVERYONE WHO HAS SEEN THIS FILM SEEMS TO ENJOY IT. A GREAT ONE FOR A BAD DAY... IT WORKS FOR ME JUST LIKE STRAUSS' MUSIC DOES "UPLIFTS ME UP, DRAWS A SMILE ON MY FACE AND MAKES ME WANNA DANCE" AND AGAIN, JUST LIKE STRAUSS' MUSIC: ITS BEAUTY LIES IN ITS SIMPLICITY. NOT TO MENTION THAT HELEN SLATER LOOKS SPECIALLY LOVELY ON THIS FILM.

AS YOU CAN TELL... I NEED THIS ONE ON DVD A.S.A.P.

'80s musical montage madness
One of the most ridiculously fascinating films ever created, containing every cliche you can imagine regarding college romance--including the obligatory paint fight scene, the wacky dance scene/musical montage (set to what else? "Happy Together"), the threatening punk rocker ex-boyfriend, and witty, heartfelt exchanges such as "I'd like for you to love me." "Well, I'd love for you to like me." "Supergirl" Helen Slater opposite the king of all '80s PG-13 teen romantic comedies, Patrick Dempsey. This film is cheese-ball heaven!

Just as advertised, a nice and endearing movie
A funny and sometimes touching movie set in college, or what we'd like college to be. Recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Best ending
Excellent episode from this great show. The ending makes this one memorable. After the ice breaks, all of the men in town gather together for their traditional "running of the bulls"- in the buff. The music is perfect' "Where the Wild Things Are"- about everyone's need to go a little crazy, and we'll go there together.

Spring Breakup Brings Out the Animal in Cicely
This is one of my favorite episodes because it first introduces Officer Barbara Semanski to Cicely, the future bride of Maurice Minnefield. The whole town is struck with "Spring Fever"in anticipation of the ice breaking and to go along with that is a healthy dose of mass "horniness". Joel and Maggie go at it for the first time and Holling gets his horns clipped when Officer Semanski, played brilliantly by Diane Delano, lands a TKO in the boxing ring before the whole town. Chris has his own scheme for reminding people about "chaos" by ripping off stereos and Ed tracks him down. A quote by Chris "Sometimes you gotta do something bad just to know you're alive"..Excellent episode!

Spring Break
This is a gem of postmodern television. Spring is approaching, and along with it, the annual breaking of the ice. The stress of the ice manifests itself in many of the townspeople. See MTV, the Garden of Eden, the impermanence of material goods, boxing, and zen all come together for a rousing running of the bulls.

This is one of the best of what was a wonderfull show.
This episode has everything that makes northern exposure good. If you have never seen northern exposure than this is a great one to start with. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

After dominating the teen-movie genre for the bulk of the 1980s, writer-producer (and sometimes director) John Hughes proved that he had at least one good movie left in him before squandering his talent on lame comedies throughout the 1990s. LikeThe Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink, Some Kind of Wonderful treated its teenaged characters like real people with real feelings, hopes, fears, and desire. Mary Stuart Masterson gives a great performance as a tomboy drummer named Watts who's secretly in love with her best friend, Keith (Eric Stoltz), an aspiring artist who is oblivious to her affection because he's got a crush on Amanda (Lea Thompson), the popular high school beauty. Watts will even go so far as to chauffeur a date for Keith and Amanda, if only to prove--after a lot of patient, emotional anguish--that she's better for Keith than Amanda could ever be. The movie's drama comes from Keith's gradual realization that there's more to love than surface attraction, and Hughes gets extra mileage out of the romantic confusion by allowing Thompson's character to be more than a shallow campus cutie. All three of the leads are good fits in their roles, and this was one of the few teen films of the '80s to add genuine depth to its mainstream appeal. It's one of the few John Hughes movies to stand the test of time.--Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (57)

Pretty In Pink with a sex change...
Very cute movie by eighties teen film master, John Hughes, has a young Eric Stoltz as the poor kid trying to land a date with Lea Thompson, playing the rich girl, even though Mary Stuart Masterson, Stoltz's tomboy best friend, is really in love with him. I really liked this one, I can't imagine why it's the only one of Hughe's teen flicks that never got alot of attention considering it's up there with Ferris Bueller and Sweet Sixteen. Perhaps cinema audiences were getting tired of the formula at the time but in retrospect it's a sweet, funny little drama with the goofy late-Eighties settings and costumes we all know and love.

Before Dawson's Creek, There Was Some Kind Of Wonderful
This movie has remained my favorite film since it came out in 1987. That's 13 years my friends. Like most of the teen angst pictures made by filmmaker John Hughes (Pretty In Pink, Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off), this movie treats teenagers problems with a level of reality that you can't help but respect. John Hughes always made sure the adults were talking on a different level then the kids. Clifford (Keith's dad): "Ah, Keith, you're only 16 years old." Keith (Eric Stoltz): "Then I'm 18, then I'm 19, then I'm 20. When does my life belong to me?" There is a certain level this movie attains that other films cannot touch. Plus, at the core is a love-triangle story that you can't help but get wrapped up in. Mary Stuart Masterson (Fried Green Tomatoes) and Lea Thompson (Back To The Future) reaaly shine as the ladies in the life of Eric Stoltz (Mask). This movie does't pontificate with so many 50 cent words as much as it hits home with bright, witty dialog and a cast that actually looks like they live in the world they move about in. Buy it. You won't regret it.

Wonderful 80's Film
1987's Some Kind Of Wonderful is a gender-revised version of 1986's Pretty In Pink. Eric Stoltz takes the place of Molly Ringwald and Lea Thompson & Mary Stuart Masterson do the same for Andrew McCarthy & Jon Cryer. Mr. Stoltz plays Keith a loner, artistic type who works at a garage and whose best friend is a tom girl, drummer Watts played by Ms. Masterson. Keith pines after Amanda Jones (Ms. Thompson), one of the most popular girls in school. Amanda dates the spoiled rich boy Hardy Jenns (Craig Sheffer) and after they fight, Keith swoops in and asks Amanda for a date, to which she agrees. Keith finds out that the whole date is just a setup to get him to Jenns' house so he can beat him up, he still continues with the date. He sets an elaborate evening, dinner at a fancy restaurant, art museum after hours and a set of diamond earrings. It turns out that Amanda isn't some spoiled rich girl, but a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who sold herself out for popularity. All the while, Watts is secretly in love with Keith and in the end after a showdown at Jenns' house where he is exposed as a chicken and fraud, Keith realizes his true feelings for Watts and they kiss. The movie is filled with nice performances by the three leads, but it is the supporting players that give the best performances. John Ashton is perfectly gruff and pushing as Keith's dad, Maddie Corman is the classic, annoying younger sister, but Elias Koteas steals the show as Duncan, the school thug who befriends Keith. Mr. Koteas throws out some classic lines. This was the last film John Hughes would write or director in the classic 80's teen angst vein. The soundtrack to the film is excellent, featuring no name bands like Flesh For Lulu, The Licking Tins and Furniture and it captures the essence of the films.

Some kind of predictable
The saving grace to SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL are the performances by the three lead actors: Eric Stolz, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Lea Thompson, especially Masterson. There isn't much in this script that hasn't been done before, and yet these three very young performers really pulled something out of it. Otherwise, this is another typical Hughes film filled with teenagers who are vain and self-important until something that SEEMS significant enters their lives. I know I'm in the minority here, and I'm probably just too old, but I would feel so insulted if I were a teenager watching any of Hughes' films. (Go ahead, let me have all your "Not Helpful" votes)

80's music and movies unite in the bratpack movie genre
What is it that makes the 80's so special? It is almost like these beautiful years are the ultimate result of youth fighting through a rapidly changing world where things speed up, and where fighting for independance, emotions and love has become an art. Nothing captures this art better than movies. And there are few who can do this as great as John Hughes.
Yes, ofcourse the 80's are my youthful years and everyone romances his youth, but I am certain that the 60's, 70's were great years, and the 80's is the sum of all that.
Some kind of wonderful takes you right into the 80's rollercoaster with the cool drum scene opening of Mary Steward Masterson , the typical interactions between the teenagers and the punk and wave influences apparent in the clothing. Also the social groups becom clear. The punk-wave guy, the pretty popular girl, the alternative girl, the average normal neighbour boy (Stolz), the spoiled popular macho bratt, etc.
This combination was even enlarged in the best 80's picture ever, the breakfast club. It beautifully captures the different social groups on a highschool.
Some kind of wonderful, makes you happy, gives you that warm, first love feeling in which you would wrap yourself in as in a warm blanket. Just like the breakfast club, secret admirer, pretty in pink or st. Elmo's fire....it's makes you feel young....like the teenager you are of the 80's ... Read more

Reviews (2)

PREVIEW OF GREATNESS TO COME
This was the prologue to Jonathan Demme's directorial greatness, with MELVIN AND HOWARD, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, STOP MAKING SENSE...LAST EMBRACE is a tight little thriller that sadly never found an audience. There are some great moments here: Christopher Walken as the snary head of the nameless intel-agency; Roy Scheider's wardrobe; Janet Margolin in the bathtub (and shower). Great homage to all classic suspense films. Where's the DVD?

what Hitchcock could have done with this!
This exercise in neo-Hitchcockian psychological thriller is proof positive that no one can beat the Master at his own game, even when the director is as talented as Jonathon Demme. The start is deliciously promising with titles that move around and an irrestistibly lush score by Miklos Rozsa, but soon Demme gets bogged down - there is a recap of the opening scene that reads as totally superfluous - and in spite of having an unusually well-written and witty script to play with, Demme falls back on campy direction. One can practically tick off the allusions to Spellbound, Vertigo, North by Northwest and Psycho when they come. The lighting of this film is generally uninspired, and there is a particulaly badly handled set-piece in a belltower. Even the climactic chase at Niagara Falls (a location Hitchcock never got to), is disappointing. You know Demme is lost when he can't even present the falls well. As the man on the run from an Aramaic death threat for being the descendent of a white slave "whoremaster", Roy Scheider is dressed in a white sui