Reviews (10)

"You're going to hold a dance?"
This Tom Baker adventure is an example of style over substance. The usual threat of alien invasion is dealt with in a more original way than usual, with a cosmic entity known as the Mandragora Helix planning to destroy human learning and endeavour at the time of the Renaissance, thus plunging the world into superstition and intellectual decay. Strangely enough, however, for a story set in Renaissance Italy, there is too much technobabble, especially in the climax, which is insufficiently explained. The story just ends and we're left asking how. (With no answer!) However, the story is a triumph of design. It has brilliant period costumes, lush surroundings and exquisite dance scenes during the masque. There is also a brooding sense of underlying terror. (The Doctor trapped in the temple while it is recreating itself is one such example.) There is also wonderful acting from all involved. The deficiencies of "The Masque of Mandragora" are overwhelmed by its sheer style.

Mandragora shall swallow the moon!
The opening story of Season 14 showed a return to a historical adventure. After a close encounter with the Mandragora Helix, the Doctor and Sarah head off to the Dukedom of San Martino in the late 15th century. Unfortunately, three things happen. One, Sarah is captured by the black-robed brethren, members of the Cult of Demnos, who intend to have her sacrificed. Two, the Doctor is captured by soldiers belonging to Count Federico. Three, some Mandragora energy which had slipped into the TARDIS goes around killing people, grossly distorting their faces.

Count Federico is quite the authoritarian, as his men make random attacks on peasants to get any idea of insurrection out of their heads. He is beset by one obstacle in his attempts to gain the dukedom after the death of his brother. That is his young nephew Giuliano, someone interested in scholarly learning, particularly astronomy, but also justice. "I want to rule over a land where there is no tyranny, no lies, no blind ignorance and superstition. ... We make our own lives... not the stars."

That last is against Hieronymous, the hooded court astrologer with a funny forked beard who also heads the cult. The Mandragora energy communicates with him and choses him as the one to become supreme ruler of the Earth. Hieronymous deems himself a humble astrologer and interpreter who says "the decrees of fate must be obeyed. We have no choice." I wonder if the name of this character was inspired by Hieronymous de Savanarola, who condemned church corruption under the Borgias and wore a monk's habit in public.

The Doctor and Sarah are befriended by Giuliano, who perceived the Doctor's scholarly abilities. He finds an ally in the Doctor, who helps him against Federico, who begins to openly move against his own nephew.

Great lines: when Hieronymous accuses the Doctor of profaning the sacred stone of the cult, the Doctor replies flippantly, "Oh, come off it, Hieronymous. You know who I am. You can drop all that bosh about profanity and sacred stones. Just be your natural horrid self."

One interesting question viewers might have is why do the Doctor's companions understand and speak with the local inhabitants in their travels. Here, the Doctor explains it as a Time Lord gift he shares with his companions.

Other things: Tim Pigott-Smith plays Marco, Giuliano's companion and at times, stronger friend. And Norman Jones (Hieronymous) appeared in another Who story The Silurians as the ill-fated Major Baker. This also sees the introduction of the secondary TARDIS console, with brown wood paneling, brass fittings, and no central column, and smaller so it could be more easily moved. And the Doctor should've said "another 150 years" instead of "another 50 years" when he says "we could've used Galileo's [telescope]."

Some sources place the setting as 1478, but as Giuliano mentions a man who believes the Earth is round and not flat, it's more likely 1492, as Columbus's theories were accepted upon his return back the following year.

The concept of superstition, astrology, and predestination, represented by the Helix, and that of knowledge, astronomy, and free will, represented by Giuliano and the Doctor seems a bit simplistic, but it works. After all, who would want to have their decision guided when Mars is in the House of the Ram or is in conjunction with Saturn? For man, the only thing worth having is a sense of purpose-"the ability granted to every living being to shape its own destiny" instead of being idle-minded, useless sheep. Indeed, Giuliano's pondering, "Perhaps the stars don't move, maybe it's we who move" sums it all. In that sense, it succeeds, with the use of Portmeiron in Northern Wales a good location doubling for early Renaissance Italy.

Boring boring boring!
Boring sums up this episode of Dr. Who. I tend not to be overly critical of most of the story lines, but I honestly must tell you that your money would be better spent on other tales. The doctor and Sarah find themselves in medievel Italy where a cult exists that is attempting to control the world. During the Doctors travels, he accidently picks up an energy source (glows red all the time) and brings it unknowingly to medievel Italy. It isnt long before this evil energy type entity establishes itself within this ancient cult and possesses its members to perform its bidding. This episode lacks anything intriguing in its storyline and I often found myself either falling asleep by the boredom of it all or eyeing my stack of other Dr. Who adventures with the idea of ejecting for another. Don't make this episode a priority if you collect Dr. Who tapes. And, if you must buy it, perhaps just buy one used. This episode could have been written so so much better. I got the distinct impression this was an episode that was thrown together by the writer in quite a big hurry!

Boot cupboard. Not very interesting...
The Doctor and Sarah are "blown off course" into Renaissance Italy by an alien intelligence that wants to suppress humankind's scientific and intellectual development. The alien intelligence finds a ready-made power base in the form of a secret religious cult and sets about trying to disrupt history. Meanwhile the Doctor and Sarah are caught in the middle of a family struggle: a bloodthirsty Count is trying to manipulate events so as to wrest power away from his nephew, the Duke.

Period pieces are always one of Doctor Who's strong suits and this trip to 1492 Italy is no exception. Great attention is paid to the costuming and set design, and there are even throwaway bits of dialogue that allude to historic figures like da Vinci and Galileo. There is a touching (dare I say flirtatious?) moment when the Duke Guiliano (Gareth Armstrong) confesses to Sarah his belief that the world is actually a sphere. For me the hard part is watching all these British actors with West End accents trying to pass themselves off as Renaissance Italians! The least believable moment comes when Sarah is hypnotized by the court astrologer and persuaded to assassinate the Doctor. I just can't swallow the idea that a cosmopolitan reporter from 1970's London can suddenly be made to believe her best friend is an "evil sorcerer."

A large chunk of this episode is shot on location in Portmeirion, a town which has apparently doubled for Italy in a number of other television shows and movies over the years. Enjoyable for Shakespearean-style court intrigue, swordfighting stuntwork, and the way it tackles the razor's edge issue of science over mysticism, THE MASQUE OF MANDRAGORA is nevertheless probably Season Thirteen's weakest episode. Heironymus (Norman Jones) is just plain not scary, even after he turns into a ball of lightning in a purple robe. Count Federico (Jon Laurinmore) is a far better villian, contemptuously sneering his way through scene after scene right on up until his grisly end. Tom Baker is in good form throughout, tossing out flippant one-liners and insults to palace guards and astrologers, but the overall pacing of the story is inconsistent and doesn't adequately explain just exactly how Good Triumphed Over Evil at the end.

My first Dr. Who and my favorite
One day I was surfing channel (in those ancient days when you did it by turning a knob standing next to the set.) when I spotted a fellow with curley hair and a long scarf in a little room that turned out to be an infinately big time machine that ended up in Italy in the era of Leonardo Da Vinci. I found it interesting but thought nothing of it till a few months later when I happened to catch the start of the very same episode again. This time I found out when it was on and my 25 year long love affair with Dr. Who began.

This episode started it all. We see the doctor in Italy battling a cult from the past and an intelligence from the future as they attempt to alter human history for their own ends. A great combination of humor, action and adventure. A pretty good description of the whole series.

Dr. Who fans you will enjoy the return to the backup control room which provides much more ambiance than the regular one.

I can't guarentee you'll fall in love with the series if you watch this one, but you'll find it fun. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Crystalline aliens lurk in their ship in the vicinity of the shield that keeps Gallifrey safe from its enemies, and the Doctor, in his Tom Baker incarnation, is engaged in highly suspicious negotiations with them. As he takes his seat as president of the Time Lords Council and displays ever-increasing signs of paranoia, expelling Leela (Louise Jameson) to the barren area outside the Time Lords' citadel, could it be that he has turned to the dark side? Or is this all a cunning plan?

This is one of the most inventive of the Doctor's adventures back home on Gallifrey, with nicely judged portrayals of the senior Time Lord bureaucracy, some suspenseful journeys through the Tardis's interior, and a surprise appearance by particularly unpleasant old enemies. The real high point, though, is Tom Baker's performance, more barnstorming than ever before, at times blazingly angry and at times even more terrifying when soft-spokenly whimsical; this is a story line that reminds us that the various incarnations of the Doctor are impressive as well as charming. --Roz Kaveney ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Doctor betrays his own people and Leela/first K9 leave!
In this episode the Doctor returns home to Gallifrey with Leela and K9.Unknown to the Time Lords , the Doctor is in league with aliens called Vardans who take over Gallifrey.Leela flees Gallifrey and meets Time Lord dropouts. The Doctor defeats the Vardans, but an old enemy is waiting to take over, the Sontarans. Finally the Doctor defeats the Sontarans and his memoory of being Time Lord President erased. Leela stays behind with a member of the security guards on Gallifrey.Also the Original K9 stay with his mistress.In the end the Doctor starts to build a replaceement for K9.This episode is the end of season 15. The next story to follow this is the Key to Time episode "The Ribos Operation". This episode is approx 6 episode long!Also why not put this on two tapes!Where is the stories that comes before it "The Sumakers" and "Underworld"?also please starting putting Doctor Who on DVD for the American fans!Thank You!Only buy this video if you're a fan of Tom Baker,The Sontarans,Leela or K9!Otherwise rent it before you buy it possible!

Bum Rap Earned, But still worthy
This is perhaps the most maligned of the Tom Baker - Louise Jameson Dr. Who episodes and the justification is aptly deserved: Jameson's Leela, my personal favorite of all the Doctor's companions, makes a major whimp-out of an exit from the series in a scene that was arrived at, not written. Reportedly, Jameson decided during the production to have it be her farewell episode but the director apparently failed to consult the scriptwriters before the cast and crew shot the passage where she and the Doctor part ways, and it's abrupt ineffectiveness mars and distracts from what otherwise is a quite satisfactory -- if overlong -- adventure. The Doctor brings Leela to Gallifrey where he brusquely stakes his claim as Lord President of the Time Lords, then inexplicably has her banished from the Citadel to what appears to be a sand pit by a drainage ditch. Meanwhile, the Doctor and K9 embark on a plan to ensare the Vardans, shimmering Alien Menace creatures depicted as bits of wrinkled cellophane with a light reflecting off of them, who have designs upon the Time Lords that Baker's Who never seemed to have bothered asking about. So all of a sudden there is civil war in the Citadel as some side with the Invaders and another sect sides behind the unremittingly dull Commander Andred, the swine that will end up winning Leela's heart during romantic scenes that are never shown. Why? Because the plot is too busy having the Sontarrens pop up out of nowhere, claiming that the Vardens were just their pawns [you following this?] and that they are there to achieve victory over Time itself. Uh-huh. I wouldn't have had a problem with any of this if the all important question of just when did Leela and Andred hook up? was answered. In fact, she spends the majority of the adventure running around with the pretty but aloof Rodan [that's right, the same name as the giant rubbery Japanese space monster] and acting tough in front of the local outcast Time Lords who live in the sand pit by the drainage ditch, subsisting on walnuts. All of that is so unnecessary but somewhat redeemed by what I look upon as a clever segment set inside of the Tardis where the Sontarrens stomp around and look menacing while our heroes get lost in the endless corridors and storage rooms, which all look suspicously the same. Much scorn has been levied against this part of the episode because it was shot on found locations rather than decorated movie sets, but I actually find it intruguing, demonstrating how the Tardis really is infinite in the space it contains and not all of it necessarily has to look like the control room. But all criticism with this episode has to boil down to Leela's exit and our displeasure with how offhandedly it is treated. Someone we have grown to respect and care for steps aside and says goodbye to shack up with the most boring man on Gallifrey for NO apparent reason, and I just don't buy it. Still, the installment is another tour-de-force for Baker as the Doctor, has some great scenes involving K9 [whom I usually find annoying, I must admit] and a delightfully slimy character in the person of Castellan Kellner. Overlong and overwrought and bittersweet because of the Leela cop-out, but still worthy, and a must-have for Jameson fans. It's not her fault. Recommended.

My favorite Doctor Who story. Hopefully a DVD release soon!
One of the most overlooked and under-appreciated stories but for the serious Doctor Who fan or even if you just started watching, it's great piece. Tom Baker is at his best - a great display of his wit and slapstick style. The dialogue and incidental music are well crafted. An excellent supporting cast with great development of the supporting characters - Borusa, played by John Arnatt, is the best of all 4 actors to play Borusa. The Castellan is a subservient weasel, played wonderfully by Milton Johns. The episode provides a deeper look into Timelord capital society but also has the fun "chase" scene through the TARDIS (which has a much more interesting look than in the Davidson era and beyond). Additionally, this story really keeps you wondering, who are the "good guys" and who are the villains? Even the Doctor is thrown into the mix!
This story got me hooked on Doctor Who nearly 20 years ago!!!! Still my favorite and always will be!!!
PLEASE RELEASE ON DVD SOON!!!!!!!

Exciting return to Gallifrey for the Doctor
The closing story of FDoctor Who's fifteenth season begins with the unthinkable. The Doctor signs a contract with three unknown and unseen aliens in space. He has ordered Leela inside the TARDIS. When he comes in, she is bursting with questions. The Doctor tells her to ask K9 to tell her to shut up. When she starts to comply, she catches herself with an angry "How dare you?"

His behaviour becomes more erratic. He sees Borusa, his former teacher and now Chancellor, played with dry and acerbic aplomb by Leonard Arnatt, and arrogantly claims his birthright, demanding to become inaugurated president of the High Council of Time Lords. The presidential investiture ceremony echoes that of a bishop or pope being sworn in. And when he's told, "I give you the Matrix," the network containing the sum total of knowledge and memories of dead Time Lords, I found myself thinking, "Good thing it doesn't have Keanu Reeves in it."

With the aliens fully in control, he then instigates a full-scale purge of Time Lords who could be construed as troublemakers to his regime, even ordering Leela banished into the "barbaric garden" of Outer Gallifrey. He is aided in this by the Castellan Kelner, whose obsequious surface masks motives of self-preservation, as he is quick to switch allegiances. Kudos to Milton Johns for his portrayal.

Like The Deadly Assassin, there's another incompetent Guard commander, Andred. He's played by Christopher Tranchell, who previously appeared in the no-longer existent Who story The Faceless Ones. However, he isn't as brutal as his predecessor.

The interior of the Doctor's TARDIS, and I'm not just talking about the control room is one of the best reasons to watch this story, as one finally gets the idea of dimensional transcendentalism. The scene involving the storage room is reminiscent of Monty Python's deja vu sketch, giving it a surreal edge. However, for a real design triumph, the Doctor's funky-looking presidential office is a masterpiece.

Along with the usual manic grins and jokes by the Doctor, there are two funny exchanges. When the Doctor's bodyguard protests that he'll be shot by the Castellan for leaving his side, the Doctor responds with. "That's all right. I'll have him [the Castellan] shot." Later, Andred tells him, "You have access to the greatest source of knowledge in the universe." Doctor: "Well, I do talk to myself sometimes, yes." Andred: "I mean the Matrix." Doctor: "Oh, that old thing."

The Invasion Of Time sees the farewell of two popular companions, and an unrewarding one on the part of Leela. She really proves her mettle here, being the tough warrior, believing in the Doctor despite his odd behaviour, and overall, has been one of the most intrepid and fearless companions of the Doctor, yet she suffers the fate of companions Susan, Vicki, and Jo Grant. WHY?? Her scenes with Rodan, a young Time Lord, not a gigantic double-crested barking pterodactyl from Toho Studios, are great. Rodan seems to be a prototype for Romana I, who would be the Doctor's companion in the following season. Hilary Ryan does a good job being the technically-skilled but sheltered counterpart to Leela's hardy experienced person.

This six-parter is one of the all-time classics, although it's probably best to first watch The Deadly Assassin, probably more classic than this story, in order to remember Gallifreyan institutions and Borusa. The Invasion Of Time adds more information on Gallifrey.

First 4 episodes interesting, last 2 are just ridiculous.
The Doctor returns to Gallifrey and declares himself President, seems to be hell-bent on assisting a sinister alien takeover. What follows is an intriguing look at the Time Lord society in decay. The fact that the Doctor can stroll in and become president on a technicality shows flaws have developed in their legal system, and there are now bands of outsiders who have abandoned life in the cities and now live as savages. Indeed, some of the best scenes are out in the wilds, a never-before-seen part of Gallifrey. Tom Baker is good as an almost sinister Doctor, and his Presidential Office is an unusual design. Though the first four episodes are sometimes a little on the slow side, if the story had finished at the end of Episode Four it would probably have been remembered as a fairly good adventure. What really lets the story down is the contrived arrival of the Sontarans. A far cry from Kevin Lindsay's intelligent warrior, these Sontarans are comedy stormtroopers. They spend two pointless episodes blundering about the corridors of Gallifrey's city, and an abandoned hospital (?) which seems to exist inside the Tardis. It's very tricky to take them seriously, especially as their leader has a cockney accent, and they have cardboard helmets with cut-out eye-holes that look like they were made for a school play. This story might be worth a look if you're interested in Time Lord society, but fans of Sontarans would be better off tracking down 'Time Warrior' or 'Sontaran Experiment'. ... Read more

Amazon.com

John Huston was only one of five directors on this expensive, all-star 1967 spoof of Ian Fleming's 007 lore. David Niven is the aging Sir James Bond, called out of retirement to take on the organized threat of SMERSH and pass on the secret-agent mantle to his idiot son (Woody Allen). An amazing cast (Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, Deborah Kerr, etc.) is wonderful to look at, but the film is not as funny as it should be, and the romping starts to look mannered after awhile. The musical score by Burt Bacharach, however, is a keeper. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (84)

The funniest James Bond spoof ever
The "Austin Powers" series sure could take a few hints from "Casino Royale". Whereas the former is predictable and obvious, "Casino Royale" is a good example of that famous dry British wit.

What else could you call it when wealthy Ursula Andress tells Peter Sellers that she gets her newspapers BEFORE they're printed, and he replies, "Well, I suppose you can do anything if you've got money..." Or when Joanna Pettet comments on her estranged mother's oversized bed and is told, "The German army was very large in those days."

I've withheld one star because the movie does tend to have an episodic feel, due to the five different directors who worked on it, and because it drags a bit in places. Still, the witty jokes more than make up for those small flaws. Considering how many hands this movie was in, it's amazing that it works so well. Woody Allen gives his funniest performance as neurotic Jimmy Bond. Peter Sellers is terrific, as usual. And watch out for an appearance by a young Jacqueline Bisset as Miss Goodthighs.

The movie's crowning touch is the music by Burt Bacharach, which manages to be catchy and loopy at the same time.

Finally, one of the best reasons for owning rather than renting this movie is that some of the gags go by so fast (Q's laboratory, the art auction), that you might not catch them all until your second or third viewing. And, like a lot of good humor, some of the jokes just get funnier with repeat viewings.

Somewhat entertaining, mostly dull
Casino Royale isn't a terrible movie; it has its moments, and, truly, has a superb cast. That much can be said for it. There are some scenes with Ursula Andress, especially, that are very funny, and the beginning isn't without its humor. However, in general it is a mess of movie; loosely constructed, making little to no sense, and, what is worst of all, not even all that funny. I had to fight off sleep to keep consciousness during the movie, something I almost never have to do. I actually got to the point where I couldn't wait for it to end. Not the worst film ever made, but save your money. Rent it if you must.

When your castle is blown up, it's back to the spy game....
Great movie! Sir James Bond played by David Niven is forced back into espionage after his hedonistic lifestyle is so rudely interrupted by a British army 81mm mortar team who proceeds to blow up his perfectly splendid castle. Bond prefers a life of luxury to the dangers of espionage but alas, it's back to the good old Walther PPK 7.65mm and the cloak and dagger for 007. As Dr. Michael Lim the Travelling Gourmet, I too appreciate the finer things in life. I think all fans of Bond do too. The music is remarkable. This is THE movie where that immortal and hauntingly seductive song, by Burt Bacharach, "The Look of Love" reaches deep into your libido and psyche, especially when you hear it for the very first time. My old friend, the late Derek Nimmo (of BBC's Just a Minute) fame is in this movie too as a would be Bond under the tutelage of Sir James himself. If you see the current Austin Powers movies you'll see where the scipt writers got many of their ideas from. Beautiful and seductively voluptuous women abound as in all 007 movies. In those days, men were men and women were not pale, anaemic anorexic skin and bone creatures but lovely, curvaceous and meaty damsels. Bring back the real women I say to Hollywood film makers! This spook spoof will put a smile on your lips and cheer you up no end. Certain scenes like when Sir James demonstrates how things should be done are really hilarious. Above all, the classic British ideal of stiff upper lip, always remain calm and unruffled no matter what, and carry on regardless...comes through all the antics, bombs, blondes and bullets. David Niven comes a very close second to Patrick Macnee (The Avengers) when it comes to playing cool, calm and collected English gentlemen. And so, what's next? As Austin Powers would say, "Yeah, Baby, Yeah!!!" By Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet ENJOY!

Bond Spoof and Origins
Charles Feldman's Casino Royale is a colorful psychedelic mess 36 years after its creation. This film was the first James Bond spoof and a precurser of the Austin Powers movies. Unfortunately the film has not aged well.

The jokes seem as dated as the costumes. There is virtually no plot to speak of and the sequences by four directors seem cobbled together by fifth director Val Guest.

The film is fun to watch with its great musical score and vibrant colors but there isn't a lot holding this thing together.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the disc is the 1954 TV movie from Climax Mystery Theatre which featured Barry Nelson as the American spy Jimmy Bond. It was fun to see the true origin of the Bond franchise.

Bottom line rent it for its place in history but don't go in expecting greatness.

Swingin' 60s on Film!
Funny! Despite it's bad reputation, if you are a NON-square, ya gotta check this out. Lots of in-jokes, droll humor and laugh-out-loud stuff. Sure, it's a bit "all-over-the-place" but that's half the fun. The go-go dancing Indians, the cavalry charge into the casino, the Dr. Caligari sets, the pop-art sets and psychedelic FX, the Frankenstein monster... it's all like a mix of The Magic Christian, Monty Python, Blazing Saddles, Austin Powers, The Monkees "Head" and James Bond thrown into a Swingin' Sixties blender. And all those great stars strutting their stuff!! Don't worry about the plot... this is eye candy. If you want a generous 60s fix, just sit back and let this flow over you. All that and the Burt Bacharach score. I'm glad I bought this. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Can Scooby-Doo rebound?
Since I was a kid, I loved the 1970's "Scooby-Doo" animated series. Every entertaining episode had Fred, Daphne, Velma, and funny duo Shaggy and Scooby-Doo unmasking a villian. I loved that series.

As for the "Scooby-Doo" film, I was hugely dissapointed and mad. Where were the lovable characters I cherished? Aside from a enjoyable performance from Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, every cast member was either miscast or was a dead pan. Freddie Prinze, Jr. was terrible as Fred. Part of the reason he was cast was because his wife Sarah Michelle Gellar(Daphne) told the producers to cast him or she'll leave the role. The producers made a mistake. At least my family enjoyed it.

As for the computer animated Scooby-Doo, he was lukewarm at best. I just love the cartoon version dog who munched on scooby snacks.

Ok, so there's SCOOBY DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED. Hopefully something good will come out this blated and unexcusable sequel(and that's just made up). Wow, Seth Green is in this picture! I wait in line for the movie right now! (I was being sarcastic by the way.)

This time around, more Scooby and less Doo
When the first Scooby-Doo came out, it was pleasant enough, but the film was hobbled under both the usual gross-out "humor" needed to attract the twentysomething crowd and the constant legends that have plagued the original series (Fred and Daphne always make out when the gang splits up, Velma's a lesbian, Scoooby and Shaggy are potheads, etc.). In this new outing, the screenwriters eschew this nonsense for a plotline that delves into the Scooby mythos, creating a situation that is classic Scooby-Doo: Mystery, Inc.'s hometown of Coolsville is threatened by an evil masked madman who steals the costumes of the classic monsters that MI have exposed as fakes from a recent museum exhibit, and used them to create REAL versions of same.

All the original cast has returned, and everyone shines in stellar performances, bringing their characters to life. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. make dynamic improvements in their roles as Daphne and Fred; Gellar brings a sweetness and kindliness to Daphne that she wasn't able to with Buffy, and Prinze gives Fred a sense of depth, humor and leadership.

(...)

Matthew Lillard returns with another explosive performance as Shaggy, channeling this character from somewhere deep within his psyche. Lillard has developed a reputation for intense performances (witness 13 Ghosts or SLC Punk), but with his portrayal of Shaggy, those performances are not so much eclipsed as erased. Eyes bugging, howling, screaming, limbs flailing, with the trademark cry of "[GHOST]!!!", at once terrified and RESIGNED TO the inevitable chase, Lillard nails Shaggy again and again throughout the film.

The CGI Scooby, voiced deftly by Neil Fanning, seems much improved, and this time it's a proper mix of cartoon and real canine that displays the lovability and goofiness of Scooby Doo. Much, much better.

The supporting cast includes a sympathetic Peter Boyle as former villain Old Man Wickles, and a devious Alicia Silverstone redeems her genre-film rep from the horror that was Batman And Robin as a two-faced TV reporter who seems to be out to deface the gang's track record. All in all, this second effort is well-made and worth the time spent. Four stars all round.

So Much Better Then The First!
As big of a fan as i was for the first one, i was excited to see this one. This one is so much better because it revisits some of the classic monsters from several of the shows. Such as the Pterodactyl Ghost, 10,000 Volt Ghost, Miner 49er, and the list goes on and on. If you were a fan of the first and even if you weren't give this one a try, it is definately one of the better sequels out there.

SCOOBY DOO 2
GREAT MOVIE. MY 4TH FAV. MOVIE. LOVED IT. MUCH BETTER TAN THE ORIGINAL. UNLIKE THE FIRST THIS KEYS TOGETHER THEMES FROM THEORIGINAL TV SHOW WHICH IS REALLY GOOD AND MAKES MUCH MORE ORIGINAL AND FUNNY. ITS ABOUT A MASKED FIGURE THAT BRINGS MOST OF THE MONSTERS THAT MYSTERY INC. HAS UNMASKED TO LIFE. ONCE THIS HAPPENS MYSTERY INC. IS BLAMED FOR ALL OF IT ANDF MUST FIND A WAY TO SAVE COOLSVILLE AND HAVE EVERYONE LIKING THEM AGAIN. YOU'LL LOVE IT.

scooby-doo 2:monsters unleashed-the best movie of all time!!
this movie is the best movie of all time.it's way better than the first one.sarah michelle gellar is the best actor in the film.freddie prinze jr.,matthew lillard,and linda cardellini were great as fred,shaggy,and velma.the people who made scooby(r&h)did a way better job than they did in the first.sarah m.gellar(s.m.g.)was the best actor though,she portrayed the role of daphne.alicia silverstone was faboulous,even though her character was the bad person,and she turned out to be a man in a mask.the film has a very good plot.all the monsters from the past come back because of shaggy & scooby-doo.so they have to make everything better again in coolsville.daphne,fred,& velma help them out a lot.this movie is the best i've ever seen.whenever this movie came out in theaters,the first few weekends it was out it was # 1 at the box office.but then that dang "hellboy" movie came out and knocked it down to # 2.at the end of may,scooby-doo 2 was down at #10,the lowest you can go.the movie did very well though.i saw it the day it came out.whenever it comes out to buy(september 14,2004)i'll buy it.this movie is fantastic.it should win an award.i am scooby's #1 fan & s.m.g.'s # 1 fan.well,GOODBYE!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Arthurian mythology and modern day decay seem perfect complements to each other in this Terry Gilliam drama/comedy/fantasy. Shock jock Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges) makes an off-handed radio remark that causes a man to go on a killing spree, leaving Lucas unhinged with guilt. Lucas's later, chance meeting with Parry (Robin Williams), a homeless man suffering from dementia, gets him involved in the unlikely quest for the Holy Grail. The rickety, and patently unrealistic stand that insanity is just a wonderful place to be, and that the homeless are all errant knights, wears awfully thin, but there are numerous moments of sad grace and violent beauty in this film. The screenplay by Richard LaGravenese launched his successful career and his smart wordplay helped garner Mercedes Ruehl an Oscar as Lucas's girlfriend. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (52)

A profound experience
The Fisher King is a representational movie. It makes use of Arthurian legend, and parallels the legend of the Fisher King with the lives of the two main protagonists - Parry (Robin Williams) and Jack (Jeff Bridges). Symbolism and metaphorical techniques are utilisied extensively throughout the film, which makes it an extremely visual experience to watch. However, the symbolism extends beyond the visual plane, to a very psychological one. For example, Parry's creation of a fantastical world full of 'little fat people' and the 'Red Knight', is very much representative of his own mental condition; the fantasy world, minus the Red Knight, represents Parry's acceptance/ignorance of his mental trauma. At the same time the Red Knight is symbolic of the pain and suffering as caused by the trauma itself.
Whenever Parry shows glimpes of sanity (lucid speech, dating, feeling love again, etc.), the Red Knight always appears in his life. While the Red Knight is at bay Parry is not catatonic or overwrought by his trauma. To overcome/accept the trauma of seeing his wife murdered before his eyes, ultimately Parry has to confront the Red Knight and vanguish him. However, he lacks the insight and strength to do this on his own. Enter Jack - who ultimately feels responsible for Parry's condition! Jack is the equivalent of the fool or simpleton from the story of the Fisher King. Jack's intent is one of redemption, while he is absorbed into Parry's world. Eventually Jack begins to understand Parry's need for the Holy Grail, which represents Acceptance of Loss. If Parry is able to possess the Holy Grail, then he shall be able to vanguish Insanity as represented by the Red Knight.
While there are elements of fantasy and Arthurian legend woven into this story, there is also a theme of Christianity. Originally Jack is driven by a need to regain the former glory of his life when he was a successful talkback radio host. He wants that life back and believes that by helping Parry, he will overcome his guilt, and thus be able to resume his former life. Jack feels a false resolution in his life when he regains his former life. However, ultimately, when Jack agrees to undertake the quest for the Holy Grail, only then do his motives become self-less. He helps Parry because he wants to, not because he needs to drive away his own guilt - this is very much part of the Christian Doctrine.
On the whole, The Fisher King is an intricate weaving of comedy, drama and tragedy. The direction by Gilliam is faultless, his attention to detail evident especially in the Chinese Restaurant scene, where he borrows from Chinese film-making techniques, using the vertical black bar wipe technique.
This is the type of movie which, on a superficial level, is only somewhat satisfying. However, it is on the psychological level where its real impact is felt - tragic, hopeful and uplifting. It is not the type of movie to watch if you are expecting to be entertained!

"I am the janitor of God."
With lines like that strewn throughout this odd but extremely likable film it is easy to see why Robin Williams was nominated for the Academy Award for his manic, yet heartfelt work here. The Original Screenplay was also nominated, and I cannot stress how "original" it is. The dialogue is unpredictable and outrageous at times but never strays too far from emotional honesty. There are poignant scenes as well as scenes where Robin Williams it let loose to let his comedic mania shine. While that would surely be enough for most fans, there is also the wild card actress Mercedes Ruehl, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her endearing performance. Not to mention she is very sexy here as well (nudge, nudge). Jeff Bridges and Amanda Plummer round out the eccentric foursome of talented actors to make this a must-see film for those who enjoy a little originality within their movie-going experience.

there are so many things to love about this movie
this is one of my all time favorites, for so many reasons. Robin Williams gives an amazing performance. Mercedes Ruehl has many of the best lines in the film-an awesome actress. i could watch Michael Jeter singing to Amanda Plummer a million times and never grow tired of it-he steals the whole movie with this one scene! so much of the dialogue is touchingly funny and sweet.i also love the music used in the movie.this is a great film,with great performances; i love it.

Saundra's favorite
I've seen A LOT of movies but this one is my favorite of all time. Starts out slow but makes up for it later. The story pulls you in and the character studies are so well done that you can relate fully to what might be going on in their heads. Mercedes Ruehl is the best thing in this movie and so deserving of her Academy Award. Jeff Bridges is brilliant (as usual) and Robin Williams is also outstanding. Every scene is full of visual clues to boggle the mind, and thought provoking circumstances and dialogue to keep you interested in what will happen next. Fantastic camera angles also pepper the film. I especially like the view of Jack with a cinder block tied to his shoe when preparing to drown himself. Parry and the Red Knight scenes are thrilling and involve the viewer in the knightmare that had become his life. Again, my favorite movie of all time.

One of my top 5 movies
Somehow I managed to miss The Fisher King in its first run theatre edition. My wife and I went to see a different film several years ago and it was surprisingly playing as a double-feature, and to this day I was so struck by this film that I can't remember what the other film was we originally went to see. The Fisher King is a remarkable achievement and tremendously uplifting. It expresses one of the universe's great truths: a being is only as valuable as he can help others. The point where a person feels he cannot help or is a detriment to others is where he begins to die. Jeff Bridge's character can only redeem himself and his life when he proves to himself that he can actually help Robbin Williams' character. While it might be argued that the film is too pat or simplistic in dealing with the issues of insanity -- that's not the message of the film. It's not meant to be a documentary statement. It is an artistic statement and delivers a very important message for our modern culture, that the ability and willingness to help those around you is what makes self-respect possible. If you have an excessively cynical nature you will probably have little time for this film. At the same time, this is a film that would be the best thing for you to watch at least 3 or 4 times back to back until you get the message. I rate The Fisher King as one of my top 5 favorite films of all time and recommend it highly. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

In Spanish too
I feel happy that tv series that I watched many years ago . Now I can get them in DVD, but these serios were no popular just in USA in other countries of Latin America was popular too. It should be make in Spanish too or with subtitles in several languages. Thanks

When's the DVD coming out????
I see all of these other old school TV shows coming out on DVD. Mission: Impossible was a great show and deserves its spot for a DVD release for each season.

Impossible to Match
I saw many of the Mission Impossible series as a teenager. I also read the original paperback book when it came out which was made as Vol. #7. Steven Hill playing Daniell Briggs (the first season)and Peter Graves ( all subsequent seasons) as Jim Phelps both play excellent as the genius mastermind Team leader of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) a top American government group virtually unknown to the rest of the top secret agencies. During his college days Dan or Jim majored in psychology at a top west coast university and was a chess champion. The rest of the IMF is composed of the beautiful model and Fem Fatale, Cinnamon Carter played by Barbara Bain is excellent. The academy award winner, Martin Landau who eventually married Barbara plays Rollin Hand, the magician and master of disguise. Black actor, Greg Morris does a superb job as Barney Collier, electronics genius with a prestigious background. The strong man or weight lifting world record holder, William (Willie) Armitage played by Peter Lupus is the brawn on the Team. he certainly looked the part also. Together the IMF carries out missions against impossible odds to rescue people, con enemy states, and change the courses of governments for the betterment of the free world especially without causing wars. This first volume is excellent in introducing this Team of specialists with exciting and intruiging plots and ways the IMF thwarts and bamboozles the opponent in the pilot and also in the second story called the Photographer which Anthony Zerbe stars. All of the Mission Impossible series are excellent and demonstrates how things can be accomplished through nonviolent methods also. The CIA actually did accomplish some similiar things which are now becoming declassified. This show was one of my favorite TV shows in the sixties and early seventies. You will enjoy them as well!!

Introducing you to the Cold War and the IMF Team
"Mission Impossible" originally ran from 1966 and 1973, telling tales of the Impossible Mission Force, a group of highly specialized government agents who were usually involved in disrupting the activities of small foreign powers trying to mess with the United States and the Free World. The group leader, Daniel Briggs (Steven Hill) in the first season and Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) for the rest of the show's run, put together the team and developed the complex plan to pull off the impossible mission; Cinnamon Carter (Barbara Bain) was the the beautiful female member of the team, Rollin Hand (Martin Landau) the master of disguise, Barney Collier (Greg Morris) was the electronics expert, and William Armitage (Peter Lupus) the muscle.

This first tape in the "Mission Impossible" series has the pilot and a choice episode from the show's second season. In the pilot episode (9/17/66), Wally Cox plays a safecracker who has to sneak into the vault of a hotel to steal a couple of nuclear warheads from a military dictator. This was the only episode of the show written by series creator Bruce Geller. This is not a classic episode per se, but it clearly sets the template for the entire series. "The Photographer" (12/17/67), written by two of the show's most productive writers, William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, deals with biological warfare. Enemy agents intend to spread pneumonic plague and a top photographer (Anthony Zerbe) is the key contact. The IMF fakes a nuclear attack on New York to get the key to the code. Yes, there is a large degree of irony in watching this particular episode today, but remember what things were like in the Sixties. "The Photographer" is a classic MI episode and along with the pilot makes this an excellent tape to have for fans of the series.

Final Note: For my money the title sequence for this show is definitely one of the ten best ever, not just because of Lalo Schifrin's memorable theme music but because of the way shots from the episode were mixed in with the burning fuse and shots of the cast. You always saw enough to get interested in what was to happen, but they never let the cat out of the bag enough to ruin the episode.

Mission: Impossible, Vol. 1
I Thought that these two episodes were two of the best. One the first episode had Steven Hill starring who I think in some cases is better at the part than Peter Graves is. Two the second episode had a clever set up. But I won't explain it to you I want you to see it for youself. ... Read more

Description

Travel to the land "down under" with Spin, National Geographic's animated globe-on-the-go, and learn why the animals of Australia are so darn weird!From leaping kangaroos to paddling platypuses to cuddly koalas, you won't believe the amazing variety of animals that make this island world their home.Here's a wonderful look at these creatures, brought to you by the world's finest filmmakers.Exciting music videos will get the whole family hopping!So, c'mon mate, and explore WONDERS DOWN UNDER -just one of the many Really Wild Animals adventures in this award-winning series. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very entertaining! Great for all ages.
National Geographic has done a fabulous job of presenting information in a very fun, lively way. This video is full of amusing commentary by the narrator (the kids may not understand all the jokes, but as an adult I appreciate the cleverness). The songs are upbeat and enjoyable. The up-close film footage of the animals is excellent, as you would expect from National Geographic. No matter what your age, you will enjoy this video -- my two-year-old laughs while watching it and I find myself joining the kids on the couch to watch the fascinating animals of Australia.

great fun and full of information
This video includes excellent footage of Australia's amazing animal life: creatures you don't find anywhere else on earth. The songs are fabulous! I taught the Marsupial Rap to my first grade class and they loved it. Kangaroos, Frilled Lizards, Tazmanian Devils, and others will fascinate both adults and children. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

The 2nd Best Marx after Duck Soup
Night at the Opera is different from their first 5 - in a nutshell, as everyone else had commented, there's no Zeppo, more music, Margaret Dumont is back, bigger role for romantic leads, and the comedy is somewhat more disciplined, i.e., the antics are perhaps less spontaneous than earlier films.

I understand criticisms leveled by those who prefer to skip the plot, musical numbers, and romantic plot development, but I wholeheartedly disagree that the movie is somehow lesser because of it, particularly the music. The brothers were an extemely musically talented trio, and throughout their lives saw themselved less as a Comedy show and more a variety show. To disregard the musical numbers as "filler" is to show a lack of appreciation for a performing art they held in very high regard.

I have always felt The Marx Bros. were more "in Character" here than in most of their other films (Duck Soup, Horse Feathers, Animal Crackers, are also good in this regard, as is Day at the races, to a lesser degree). Everything from the contract swindle ("the party of the first part...") to the organized fooling of sgt. Henderson ("now there are four beds - I know I'm crazy!") to the stateroom bit ("Is my Aunt Minnie in here?") to the methodically brilliant destruction of Il Trovatore in the finale are examples of great writing that suited the personalities of the brothers.

Duck Soup or Horse Feathers may be their funniest films, and Animal Crackers may be more memorable for it's classic scenes, but Night at the Opera in my opinion is the most well-balanced of all thier movies. I feel it's the best-written, best-produced, has the best plot, and contains BY FAR the best acting among suporting roles. If Duck Soup weren't so well-paced and funny, Night at the Opera would be my favorite.

The Marx Brothers at their very, very, best. Classic Comedy
On the one hand I want to say that I think "A Night at the Opera" is the greatest Marx Brothers comedy because their peculiar brand of lunacy works better when given a real world target such as Opera than in the fantasy land of Freedonia in "Duck Soup." On the other hand I want to say that I think "A Night at the Opera" has more funny stuff in it than "Duck Soup." I do not even want to begin to get into any consideration of what difference the retirement of Zeppo meant in all this. I just want to laugh my head off.

Groucho is Otis P. Driftwood, too busy trying to fleece Mrs. Claypool (Margaret Dumont) to waste time running an Opera Company. Harpo is Tomasso, the much abused valet to the pompous tenor Rudolpho Lassparri (Walter Woolf King), while Chico is Fiorello, self-appointed agent for the unknown but talent young singer Ricardo Baroni (Allan Jones), who is in love with Rosa Castaldi (Kitty Carlisle). When Groucho loses his job to stuffed shirt Herman Gottlieb (Sig Ruman), it is up to the Marx Brothers to restore order and sanity to the universe.

In terms of classic comic routines "A Night at the Opera" gives you (1) the Stateroom scene with all those people (and don't forget the hardboiled eggs); (2) Groucho and Chico discussing the clauses in a contract (including the Sanity Clause); (3) Chico and Harpo working "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" into the overture of the opera (get your peanuts); (4) a dinner date between Groucho and Margaret Dumont (looking at him is the price you have to pay); and (5) Chico the Russian aviator explaining how they flew across the Atlantic Ocean in a boat (always remember to take enough gas or else you will have to turn back). There are more-you now Chico plays the piano, Harpo plays the harp, and Groucho deflates a pompous windbag at some point--but I want to talk about other things now.

I think the person who really helps sell this film is Kitty Carlisle. In every Marx brother movie there are the boys, there is Margaret Dumont as the foil, and then there are the young boy and girl who sing their way into your hearts. Carlisle and Jones (the only boy singer to appear in more than one Marx Brothers movie) are clearly the best pair to ever take on these thankless roles. The boys clearly like her and take her seriously, which she does in return, giving "A Night at the Opera" a sense of heart. This does not happen in Marx Brothers movies (compare it to the campy efforts of the young lovers in "Animal Crackers"). On top of all this, Carlisle and Jones can sing and their duet from the end of Il Travatore is much better than all the sappy songs that the lovers usually sing in these films.

"A Night at the Opera" is directed by Sam Wood (who would later spend some time directing scenes on that "Gone With the Wind" film you hear so much about). James Kevin McGuineess receives story credit but the key thing is that George S. Kaufman had a major hand in the script (until it ended up in the hands of the actors of course).

Notes: Look for the father of the Marx brothers on the pier when the ship sets sail and please remember that it Leonard's stage name is pronounced "Chick-o" not "Chico." Put an end to this Marxist reinterpretation nonsense.

The beginning of the decline
Many think this film the best or one of the best the Brothers Marx ever did. It's probably a matter of taste (well, it's certainly a matter of taste), but I think the first MGM comedy by the Marx Brothers is scattershot. Groucho, Chico and Harpo are in top form, and when they're on -- and allowed to dominate a scene -- the film is terrific. The stateroom scene is still funny after 70 years, and the finale at the opera is Marxist anarchy at its finest.

But when they're off screen (at least a third of the movie), you're left with an embarrassing melodrama I'm sure the movegoing audiences of 1935 found as sappy as I did. Bad enough the young Italian lovers sound like they're from New England section of Italy; worse are the musical interludes, which bring the film to a halt and destroy any comedic momentum the Marxes have created. A scene where Chico, Harpo and Jones show off their musical prowess goes on far too long and completely stops the film. Their earlier comedies had musical interludes, but they were woven into the films better. The opening number in Duck Soup, for example, is a lengthy set-up to the first joke; ditto the "We're Going to War" number. When the young lovers in A Night at the Opera sing "Alone," there's nothing but the youngsters staring moonily at each other. Their voices are fine, but the studios of the time were never short of movies with beautiful youngsters singing to each other. It's unnecessary here, and it reminds you the Marx Brothers aren't on screen.

"A Night at the Opera" was the Marxes' most successful comedy at the box office, and probably the most popular film they ever did. But time has been kinder to their earlier Paramount productions. Those films are stagebound, but they have a madcap energy the MGM films never recovered.

If you're a real fan of the Marx Brothers, you've probably already seen this; the rest of you should start with Duck Soup or Horse Feathers. A Night at the Opera was, unfortunately, the beginning of the end for this legendary team.

"No need of you reading that, because these are duplicates."
Many have argued that A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is the Marx Brother's finest film, pointing out that it combined the best of the Brother's comedy with the biggest and boldest in MGM production values. Personally, while I really like the film, I wouldn't quite put it in the top slot. Any of the sequences containing the Marx Brothers themselves are gold, but I find that I'm not as enamored with the romantic subplot and singing as other reviewers have been (notably Leonard Maltin in this DVD's commentary). Still, arguing about which one of the fine films is actually the best is a little pointless. This is a great movie, regardless with how it compares to the others.

The biggest thing this film has going for it (outside of the wonderful Marx Brothers themselves, of course) is the big production values that MGM splashed out on. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it's nice to have some great big sets for the Brothers to clown around in (Harpo's stunt double swinging through the rafters is great), but all things considered, I think I prefer the tongue-in-cheek send-up of the big dance numbers (as done in DUCK SOUP) to the production dances which are played straight here.

Margaret Dumont is underused, which is a shame since her dignified outrage usually accounted for big laughs. She gets a good scene at the beginning, and a handful of opportunities to look indignant later in the film, but she isn't the constant presence that she had been in other films.

Still, while I can pick out a few flaws here and there, this is overall a hilarious and fun movie. Much of what is considered classic Marx Brothers material is from this film: the too-many-people-in-the-stateroom scene, the Marxian deconstruction of a legal contract (if anyone thinks that "'The party of the first part' shall be known in this contract as 'the party of the first part'" isn't realistic, then I can show you fine print I've received from credit card companies that are even more tautological than that), and, of course, the grand finale wherein the three brothers completely destroy an opera-in-progress.

The DVD also contains an all-new documentary, which features (among other people) co-star Kitty Carlisle, who is amazingly sharp for being in her 90s, and Dom DeLuise, who talks a lot about food and appears to have been interviewed in the middle of making breakfast (no, I'm not sure why he's here). This is mostly a talking heads interview documentary and there's not a whole lot of brand new material or trivia, but it is nice to see some differing perspectives on things. The story of how Groucho got his name contradicts the anecdote given on the commentary track, and Carlisle refutes the conventional wisdom that states that Margaret Dumont didn't get any of the jokes Groucho was bouncing off her.

A short except from a 1961 broadcast of "The Hy Gardner Show" (who?) reveals Groucho recounting the story of he and his brothers stripping naked and roasting potatoes in the office of Irving Thalberg after the famed producer kept them waiting once too long. I trust you will enjoy the anecdote, because it's told a whopping three times during the course of these DVD extras. Shockingly, none of the tellings blatantly contradict each other.

Two shorts have been included as extras, though I'm not sure I understand their relevance. Robert Benchley's HOW TO SLEEP won the Academy Award in 1935 for Best Short Subject/Comedy, and it's certainly entertaining enough. As for the other short, SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE TROCADERO, well, I'm baffled. I can't make heads or tails of it. Set in a nightclub, a Hollywood talent scout is visiting this ritzy affair. Numerous song and dance people are attempting auditions, while the club's doorman is trying to impress by doing very bad celebrity impersonations (it didn't help that half the time I didn't recognize the name of the person he was impersonating or the name of the person people actually thought he was doing). Cameos by stars of the day abound by having the camera cut to different tables and a voice over shouting, "Hey, look! It's Bob Has-been!" (or whoever). It isn't helped by the fact that most of the careers of these minor celebrities ended soon after the shoot, so for me I was watching cattle call of anonymous hotshots. I couldn't figure out why these people were appearing as themselves. Was the audience supposed to believe that these people really hang out at this fictional locale? Groucho Marx (out of character and costume) has a three-second cameo where he looks as confused as I felt.

I'm wary of commentaries performed by people who weren't actually born when the film they're talking about was made, but Leonard Maltin does a fine job here. He relates a lot of anecdotes about the Marx Brothers, points out how the script is layering the subplots, and relates a lot of trivia that I had never heard before (for example, the only surviving print is actually an edited version made during WWII when all references to Italy have been removed, which explains why the film bizarrely never tells you were the first scenes are set). He even gets into the fun, shouting "What a twit!" when the evil opera singer refuses to sing on the cruise-liner for free.

Although the DVD of A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is included in "The Marx Brothers Collection" box set, it is also available for individual sale. Although I slightly prefer A DAY AT THE RACES (also out on DVD now), I couldn't recommend anyone not pick up this film. For Marx novices, there's a great movie. For Marx aficionados, there's informational material that may be enjoyed. In any event, the powers that be have given a great film an excellent treatment on the DVD format.

Tiresome
Almost everything I write about stuff for Amazon gets either ignored or negative responses. I hardly expect this to fare any better. My original intent was to buy the 7 disc set of the Marx Bros (also just released), I grew faint-hearted near the deadline and canceled it and ordered the only 3 I wanted: Opera, Races and Casablanca. I think the first 5 "lost" Marx Bros movies (I have them on DVD and treasure them, all but Duck Soup, with a screenplay by one of their song-writing teams) are (so far) their funniest. Chaos, pandemonium, idiosyncrasies, personality. Either I was despondent when I watched this flick or else the Marx Bros' antics had worn thin for me. (I remember loving all their movies 30 years ago.) I was bored, saw what was supposed to be funny and didn't think it was. There were a few witty remarks, but those came from either Kaufman or Ryskind, not the Marx Bros. And on that subject, I never (at least not before The Solid Gold Cadillac) thought I'd ever watch or read a Kaufman play and not think it was hilarious. I did not think this was hilarious. The opera they featured at the end was Verdi's Il Trovatore, I don't like that opera anyway, particularly the mezzo gypsy song, particularly all of it. I thought the whole movie was watery, thin, dull and not the best of the Marxes, and not particularly funny. I just opened Casablanca. Tomorrow morning I'll take a crack at it, though I remember much of it now. I remember (and make the connection between that movie and this) that Harpo had gone from being an innocent who chases girls to a character who gets knocked around a lot by the heavies. I don't like the change. The characters, the (well, I said it already) idiosyncrasies and personalities of the brothers just weren't there in this movie. Sigh. I have 2 more to go. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Wonder Years is the best T.V. show ever created!
Wow! This tape would make an excellent gift for all Wonder Years fans! In the first episode, sweet 12-year-old Kevin Arnold is trying to find a present for his girlfriend Winnie and at the same time, the whole Arnold household is hoping Jack, the father will buy them a color t.v. for Christmas. In the end, Kevin learns that Christmas is more than presents and is about the memories and special moments in life. In the second episode, Kevin is older (sixteen-years-old) and is trying to find the perfect present for Winnie again. After the family, suffers a financial blow because Jack's partner decides to not invest in the furniture company, the holiday spirit is again being tested. I enjoyed the tapes so much and I watch them over and over. Definately a good tape.

Poor Tape Quality
The story was excellent, but the tape quality was awful. It looked like somebody taped it at home off their VCR. I was beginning to think it was bootlegged.

The Most Touching and Heartwarming Show I have ever seen
When I first saw an episode of the Wonder Years, I didn't connect with it much. I thought it was a show for kids, one that didn't have much bearing on me. As I watched it more, especially on Nick at Nite when there was nothing else on, I began to realize that this show was unique. Not only did it appeal to younger audiences with its light-hearted humor, but that it even appealed to middle to late teenagers like me, with its displays of Kevin's relationships, his feelings, and his growth as a person. This show deals with practically every difficulty that adolescents must face, from strange parents to changing friends. It is rare that a show has actually been able to reach out and touch my heart, but it seems that this show is able to do it whenever I watch it. My only wish was that they had the entire series available, so that I could watch it from start to finish.

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the wonderful wonder years
I have enjoyed watching The Wonder Years from a toddler to a teen and tears still roll down my cheeks when i see the reality of the pain in the world that this program shows. Through Kevin's eyes I have seen the Vietnam War. I have felt love, rejection, acceptance, care, compassion and loss. The Wonder Years is the truth of the world then and now. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Enjoyable Film from Stuart Gordon
Re-Animator was a classic, From Beyond was too, Dolls was disappointing and Robot Jox a great film of entertainment. The setting is somewhere after a Nuclear War and 2 countries have split in to oppossing sides; 1 Good (The Market) and 2 Bad (The Confederation). War has been outlawed and terrotial possession has been settled by piloting huge mechanical robots by there nation's champions. Achilles (Gary Granham) is the Market's only help against the Confederation's unstoppable champion Alexander (Paul Koslo) must do battle once and for all. This is a great movie from Stuart Gordon i noticed some people won't like it but it's there decision. Also there are some great stop motion by David Allen Productions but the effects aren't great but there ok for the age. Overall i enjoyed it.
Note: This move is extremely rare and i bought it at half.com they should have some copies left so better hurry before they run out.

Campy lunacy
I watched a screening of this at a convention where SF writer Joe Haldeman, who did the screenplay, sat in back with a something eating grin on his face.

What's not to like? In celebration of their son's visit, the family has meat--a lone weiner floating in a tureen of soup. The female pilot makes all the men nonplussed, then has the tables turned on her when an enemy robot unleashes a giant crotch chainsaw in the midst of a duel, for the obvious Freudian tie-ins (at which point Joe was grinning mercilessly.)

All the jokes and innuendos are way over the top. As Joe put it: "I was writing a movie for adults that kids could enjoy, and the director was writing a movie for kids that adults could enjoy."

Add in a Slim Pickens performance invoking Dr. Strangelove, and it's a twisted, unsubtle romp through political incorrectness, poking fun at (among others) environmentalists, capitalists, global politics and sports fanatics (the spectators who get squashed under a falling robot).

Oh yeah, and it has these kick butt robot warriors, too. Grab your friends, grab the kids, grab a pizza and a couple of beers for the adults and laugh until you choke.

Perfect for Any Occasion
Anyone who knows me is familiar with my philosophy that there are only three genres of movies worth watching:
First, there's the miniature robot movies (see Batteries not Included), that feature robots much smaller than people. These movies get a little sappy but they still make me hope for a day when I can have a conversation with my toaster. Second, there are the human size robot movies (see RoboCop parts 1-3), distinguished by robots that are roughly the size of the actors playing them. Third, there is the giant robot movie (like Robot Jox!). I'd take this genre any day of the week. I would recommend this movie. You've gotta see these robots bash each other into submission! I don't know if they used models or built real robots but the special effects make them look like robots. The acting glistens with reality.
The worst part about the movie is the opening credits-everyone knows the title of the movie they're seeing either from buying the ticket or from the box the tape was in so why do they have to waste valuable movie time by showing it on the screen? Unless you want to read a title you already know and a bunch of names I would fast forward that part.
I used to watch this movie almost every day in my basement and my dad would yell at me "quit watching that movie and eating peanut butter and get a job!" I also love the soundtrack but I don't listen to it anymore because it reminds me of my ex-girlfriend.

Crash and Burn
Any fans of campy movies like "Army of Darkness" and "Wing Commander" and TV series like Voltron and Transformers should love it. Similar fans of computer games like Mech Warrior should also appreciate this movie. Decent special effects, casting, directing, and music make it better than many B movies like those previewed before the movie. The best parts of the movie are the robot fight scenes, but even the storyline isn't bad.

We find our hero surrounded by "tubies", young men and women that have been created in test tubes for the express purpose of being robot jocks. He witnesses the ninth member loss of the Market team which he represents, to their nemesis the Confederation. The Confederation team led by a baddy with a Russian accent that kills people indiscriminately. It seems the Markets secret weapons are being sold to the Confederation by a spy.

The finale shows the spy exposed and a battle royale of the two mechs of the Confederation and Market. One can only hope this comes out on DVD since it is far more fun to watch than many of the others I have seen released. Let's hope Columbia Pictures makes it available soon.

Meca madness
I'd have to start with a contraction since that's what I'm reminded of seems to be a movie spin off of some 70's and 80's cartoon legends such as Voltron and Robotech (Macross, for the new generation). Over all Great fights, good fxs for early 90's release, a couple familar faces and good story line to run with. Hope you like it as much as I. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this ninth installment in The Land Before Time series, a cast of spirited, young dinosaurs explores the familiar emotion of loneliness and the need to belong. Torrential rains have turned the Great Valley into an unfamiliar landscape, causing Littlefoot to feel lonely. "You are only as alone as you choose to be," his grandfather tells him. The flood has transported new swimming creatures into the valley, including a playful porpoise named Mo who quickly befriends Littlefoot. Yet Mo must return to his home in the Big Water and so, against parental wishes, Littlefoot and pals escort Mo on an adventurous journey back to the sea. Danger ensues, including "earthshakes" and "sharptooths," while the courageous group grapples with questions of loyalty and friendship. The strengths of the series have not been diluted; its stories continue to captivate using beautiful animation and lively music. Six original tunes make for finger-snapping fun for the younger set. (Ages 3 to 12) --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (12)

My 3 year old loves it! and so do I, kinda.
I would never have, by any measure, thought these movies would be worthwhile. But my 3 year old loves all of them. He has his favorites . . . going back to The Great Adventure and the Big Freeze. But he wanted Journey to Big Water as soon as he saw it advertised. And as he watched it the first time, he got the threat of danger and suspense involved which, of course, went right past me. He had many comments and breath-taking moments and has watched it at least once a day since. He is very involved with the adventures of his favorite characters once again. Plus he really liked the new characters, Mo and the menacing Sharp Tooth Swimmer.

I'm happy to be able to give my son cheap entertainment like that. If only he could watch Land Before Time Live, his life would be complete! Seriously though, he was just as or even more fascinated with the movie as he was with The Lion King on Broadway show, and that trip cost a small fortune. He loves the TV games included, the sing-a-long songs, the JumpStart Video . . . everything! Sooooo ... I give it 5 stars because he is totally engaged and entertained.

The music isn't that drippy and inferior, either. I mean, you would think that the 9th in the series would be BAD, but it's really not. I guess I'm easy to please too, but the music is alright. Plus, I like the Donny Osmond song at the end so much that I am considering buying his CD. And that is amazing, considering I'm not an Osmond fan by any stretch of the imagination. So there you have it. Buy the DVD for your preschooler and let him have a ball, and know that there are a few touches for adults too.

Another Great Land Before Time Movie!
My girls are ages 3 & 4 and Love this movie, along with all of the other LBT movies. I like it too! They meet a new friend and the songs are so catchy. As always, there is a lesson to be learned here & kids will enjoy watching it over & over, not realizing they are learning something! If you've liked any of the others, you'll like this one!

Great series!
This is just one of a great series of movies...My 3 year old daughter wanted The Great Longneck Migration and from there it was history...I have been buying her every one I can in the series...This one in particular seems to be one of her favorites...She's been watching each of the 4 we have so far over and over(with 3 more on the way from Amazon)...Although the the issue of 'bad grammar' could be irritating to some adults, I think it is nothing compared to what some TV programs "teach" our kids...Better than sponge bob thats for sure!...Great movie...

The English Issues.
Personally, I would love it if the characters spoke in a correct grammatical manner, but in real life there are many adults who cannot do that, so it would be unreasonable to expect child characters to do so. ( Besides, children watching the film probably would not notice, or be bothered if they did .)
Also, correct me if I am wrong, but I always thought that Ducky was female, so Cera is not the only girl in the group.
I enjoyed the film, but I think my favorite so far is " The Big Freeze " : I have a soft spot for Spike.
I am looking forward to number ten " The Great Migration " coming out in this country, though I do not know when that will be.

Great Movie
My 2 yr old son loved this movie. It is his favorite and we have about 5 out of the series so far (don't waste your money on Through the Mists). He especially loves Moe and was thrilled when he went to the beach for the first time and got to see dolphins playing in the surf. It really connected for him the "big water" and Moe the dolphin-like swimmer. Yes Cera, as usual, is bratty and ugly but who doesn't have one of those kind of kids in their acquaintance. In the end she figures out it was really her insecurity causing her jealousy for no reason. Unfortunately our dvd has developed a spot where it freezes and I will have to purchase another one but it is worth it for the joy it brings my little man. This is a great video despite some of the other reviews and worth the money. ... Read more