Reviews (4)

Fascinating premise; poor execution
"Dark Horizon" has an exceptionally well-written plot, but the characters leave something to be desired. Aphassno, sent to Earth to retrieve the slaves, is a fascinating character even if he ocasionally moves his head like Michael Myers. However, the symbolism gets VERY heavy-handed at times and I was forced to fast-foward. Cathy and Sykes have no chemistry, and the time wasted on developing their relationship is incredibly boring. She and Aphassno are far more believable as lovers and I wish their affair had been more developed. Still, it is a fascinating movie and worth your while, especially if you were a fan of the show.

Alien Nation: Dark Horizon
I loved this movie. It would be neat to have aliens living here on earth

Loved,loved,loved this movie!
How wonderful it would be if we could live among others from another planet who were so similar to us. However, if that could happen, it would not be without it's predjudices as depicted in the movie. It was so realistic! Watch it and I gurantee you the Tenctonese will seem just like your next door neighbors! This is a very thought provoking,emotional film. I highly recommend it!

I really liked the movie.
I haven't seen much alien nation movies, actually, this is the first I have seen. After I saw the movie, I went to the video club and hired an other alien nation video. I think it is an inspiring story. I do not wish to ruin the movie for all those who wish to see the video. I liked it because of it's many unexpected plot turns, and the way the problems were solved. and ofcourse, if you don't know alien nation, a little mystery from the unknown. the strange language, the alien culture. that was wat I liked about the movie. I could recomend it to anyone. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

How could I NOT give it 5 stars?
Lady and the Tramp is simply my all-time favorite Disney film! In my opinion, it is a 5 star masterpiece, and I would give it more if I could! I remember when I was just four years old, watching the characters Lady, Tramp, Jock, Trusty, and the Siamese Cats light up my eyes, as well as my TV screen, as very few films have done for me before or since. The music and songs are especially enjoyable, especially "Bella Notte" and "He's a Tramp." And the thrilling climax, which I won't spoil for the people who have yet to see it, ranks with the climaxes of "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King." I remember having to wait almost a decade for Disney to re-release this classic so that I could replace my old worn-out copy. Now that I have it on both VHS and DVD, and both editions are in widescreen, I can enjoy it for years to come as I never thought I'd be able to! Your kids will love it, and so will anyone who's still young at heart. Buy it today! Don't make the same mistake I did over 10 years ago!

How could I NOT give it 5 stars?
Simply speaking, Lady and the Tramp is my favorite Disney film of all time! In my opinion, it is a 5 star masterpiece, and I would give it more if I could! I remember when I was just 4 years old, watching the characters Lady, Tramp, Jock, Trusty, and the Siamese Cats light up my eyes, as well as my TV screen, as no other movie (except maybe Pete's Dragon or Superman) has done for me before or since. The music and songs are especially enjoyable, especially "Bella Notte." And the thrilling climax (which I won't spoil for the peope who have yet to see it) ranks with the "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King" climaxes! I remember having to wait almost a decade for Disney to re-release this classic on video so that I could replace my worn-out taped version. Now that I have it on both VHS and DVD, and both editions are in widescreen, I can enjoy it for years to come as I never thought I'd be able to! Your kids will love it, and so will anyone who's still young at heart! Buy it on DVD today! Don't make the same mistake I did over 10 years ago! (And don't let the lack of special features stop you, either!)

truelly magical
I grew up with this film. It was one of my all time favorite movies. The music the charictors the story the romance! Oh it is truelly one of the best disney movies I have ever seen! No pixie dust or fairy godmothers just a great film you could watch again & again & I'm sure the DVD is even better.
True This is based on VHS I got a DVD player only a month ago & cannot get ahold of a copy of the DVD. It is too much of a treasure bring it back out of the vault for all to enjoy! It is truelly not to be missed & always to be treasured.

Disney's 15th Animated Masterpiece!
Forget about princesses marrying princes or princes marrying peasent maidens, this is Disney's most romantic film ever. Lady and Tramp is the loving story of a beautiful girl dog named Lady who falls in love with another dog from the other side of the tracks named Tramp, after different adventures in the streets of the city, they both settle down for a nice, romantic dinner at a town's restaurant, this scene is probably remembered as one of Disney's most romantic moments ever, we all love this film. Something is troubling lady though, a new baby was born at the house where she lives, and she hasn't been receiving the attention her owners usually gave her, now in the care of Aunt Sarah, Lady is afraid to return home, but many different events will give this story one of the most beautiful happy endings ever.

This Limited Edition DVD, brings nothing in Bonus Features, this title really needs a much better release and it will get it since it has been officially announced as part of the Platinum Edition line, which will give the title a much better release.

How could I replace this movie from my heart?
This is an AMAZING movie. I feel really lucky to have such a movie. I read the other paragraphs in the category,and you can say I agreed with the other peaople whom liked it. I am glad i sticked to five stars for this amazing movie!!! It's an amazing love story that brougt my love for cartoons and animated movies back to life!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mykenna Tremblay age #12 ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Good premiere episode...score: 75 (out of 100).
The Reluctant Stowaway is my favorite episode of the entire Lost In Space (LIS) saga. Actually, the two primary characters that steal this episode are Dr. Smith and the robot.

Plot: Evil government agent, Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris in his best role of the entire series), plans to sabotage space ship that carries Earth's first family into orbit for colonization. All in all, this episode of LIS could have survived as a story on The Outer Limits or The Twilight Zone, but CBS insisted that the series undergo three dreadful years.

Pros: Jonathan Harris, robot, special effects (for its time)
Cons: Characters, story

Overall score: 75 (out of 100)

Classic and Exciting First Episode of a Great Series
"The Reluctant Stowaway", is the first episode of the hugely popular 1960's sci fi series "Lost in Space" that premiered in 1965 and is still constantly seen in reruns around the world to this day. To see "Lost in Space", at its dramatic best you need go no further than is wonderful episode which sets up the whole story line from which the series would develop. Always remembered for its campy, comic approach, nowhere are those characteristics evident in this action filled, suspensful and exciting episode which represented clearly the serious approach the series took for its first season.

"The Reluctant Stowaway" chronicles the story of the Robinson family who have been selected to spearhead a mission to the far reaches of space in the hope of colonising a distant star, Alpha Centauri. However the episode tells us that other forces are at work to sabotage the efforts of America in the form of one Dr. Zachary Smith who has the assignment of reprogramming the Robot to destroy the Spaceship once it is 8 hours out into space. This premise is where all the excitment of this episode comes from as we find Dr. Smith actually trapped on the Space Ship as it takes off from Earth thus joining what he had planned to be a doomed mission. At this stage in the series Dr. Smith was still a cold blooded killer which added greatly to the dramatic slant of the story . Only later on when his character mellowed and became a comic individual did the series begin to lose steam along with its serious reputation. With Dr. Smith's added weight on board the space ship soon finds itself off course and heads straight into a huge meteor storm which seriously damages the flying capacity of the ship. Awakened from their suspended animation the family attempt to decide what to do when, as programmed the Robot begins its descruction of the ship and in the confusion the ship is pushed into a hyper drive which takes it right out of the galazy into a state of now being hopelessly lost.

For a 1960's program this is television at its very best. The sight of the launcing of the Jupiter 2 Space Craft, the Robinsons and Major West being sealed in their freezing tubes, and the spectacular Meteor Storm which the ship goes through are all grade "A" special effects which along with the dramatic storyline make first class entertainment. Aided by a seasoned cast of great actors "Lost in Space" at this time offered much promise for as long as the serious element was kept in the story. "The Reluctant Stowaway", is one of the better episodes of the series and gave good dramatic moments to most of the cast during its running time. For an exciting journey back to the beginnings of a classic 1960's science fiction series you cannot get better than this initial installment in the long running series . I highly recommend you take a look at this episode to see what the serious "Lost in Space" was all about, you wont be disappointed.

This is the original
This is the classic episode one where the Robinson's blast off to colonize Alpha Centori....

Timeless Masterpiece by Irwin Allen
I was five years old when this show aired for the first time. I didn't understand a thing. Then, after numerous reruns, the show grew on me as I grew up.

Owning this video brought back that magic a kid sees! I was so taken by the video, that I remembered how I really believed the robot was going to destroy the ship. I began to believe robots that walked and talked really existed.

Now, having had a career in computer science, I realized what got me started in the field: I was so involved with the goings on during the ship's launch and the ship's travels through the meteor belt that I began dreaming of mastering computers. No one realized that today we would have color monitors to look at instead of rows of blinking lights.

This show was the spark that built a career out of a dream. My children were equally captivated with the show. We highly recommend it. Buy it.

A great trip down memory lane
I saw the original in 1965 when I was 5 years old. After 35 years, the technical and plot flaws are painfully obvious. Of course, I didn't notice any of those back then--all I saw was the cool technology (spaceships, cryo-tubes, spacesuits, computers, huge displays, mission control, wow!) that fired an interest in science and space travel that has stayed with me ever since. Even now, watching it invokes some of that old excitement. What made "Lost in Space" special was that, unlike more "adult" SCI-FI fare like Star Trek, it involved a kid almost my age (Will Robinson) which made it much easier to relate to. Perhaps the best part of buying this tape was watching my own son view it and seeing the same reaction on his face that I had all those years ago. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great For Grandchildren
This is a great video for grandchildren in the age range of 2-6 year. Its a splendid way to introduce children to the delights of classical music. Our grandchildren insisted on taking our copy back to their home. We also recommend other puppet videos by Jim Gamble - including a) Peter and the Wolf; b) Peer Gynt; c) Nutckracker Suite; and d) Hansel & Gretel. They are all excellent and the best of their kind. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

One movie lover's nightmare is another's raucous joyride, and this special effects-laden horror comedy is bound to split both camps right down the middle. (Or, as Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide puts it, "definitely not for all tastes but a wild time for those who get into it.")Michael J. Fox plays a psychic investigator who can actually see ghosts, and lives with a trio of undead spirits who scare people to promote Fox's ghost-busting business. In a town infamous for serial killings, a new series of deaths prompts Fox to induce his own out-of-body experience so he can battle death in a spirit-plagued netherworld where evil reigns supreme--or something like that. So much happens in this chaotic film that you might feel like you're watching several movies at once--a slasher pic, a supernatural thriller, and a black comedy all rolled into a nonstop showcase for grisly makeup and a dozen varieties of special effects. It's an odd but wildly inventive film from New Zealand director Peter Jackson, who earned critical acclaim for his previous film Heavenly Creatures and would later create the ingenious pseudo-documentary Forgotten Silver. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (93)

A wicked sense of humor
As a huge fan of the horror genre, it's my duty to loathe the injustice given to The Frighteners. It's astounding to see how little known and/or undervalued this awesome film is. I think what killed the movie was its timing. Michael J. Fox's career hadn't yet been revived by Spin City and insufficient marketing ( not to mention the fact that Robert Zemeckis plastered his name all over it!) resulted in the films poor box office performance and attack by critics. Perhaps it will attain some much-deserved popularity when Peter Jackson, he of Dead Alive fame, becomes king when Lord of the Rings (which I am 99.9% sure will rock) is finally released. The movie starts with "psychic investigator'' Frank Bannister (a scuzzier-than-usual Michael J. Fox) selling his services as ghost exterminator. It's a scam, though: Frank is in league with the ghosts (John Astin, Jim Fyfe and Chi McBride), whom he can see because of a past trauma -- a car accident five years earlier that killed his wife. When substantial numbers of people start dropping dead in town, only Frank sees that the culprit is a Grim Reaper-like spirit. The cops -- along with a bug-eyed FBI agent (Jeffrey Combs) -- think Frank's the killer. Frank's only ally is psychologist Lucy Lynskey (Trini Alvarado), whose husband (Peter Dobson) is among the recently deceased. Lucy uncovers a link between the current killings and a long-dead serial killer (Jake Busey), whose psycho girlfriend (Dee Wallace Stone) is still alive and rattling around in a spooky mansion.

It has to be said that Jeffrey Combs steals the show as Agent Dammers, the paranormal specialist who is himself far from normal. Sporting a Hitler hairstyle, Dammers provides comic relief/villainy and is laughably pathetic. The thing that stands out in the film is its evil sense of humor. After all, serial killing has never been so funny. Indeed, kudos to Jackson for the masterful handling of twisted horror and black comedy. The film also makes extensive use of computer graphics. Since the ghosts are some of the film's main characters, they became a focal point in the film's production, resulting in over 400 computer enhanced shots. Special makeup veteran Rick Baker was responsible for the interesting look of some of the complaining ghosts, ghosts who are slowly falling apart. Peter Jackson had set up his very own special effects company a few years ago, in order to be able to work completely detached from Hollywood in New Zealand. After upgrading the company substantially for this project, his effects unit was eventually able to handle all of the 570 effects shot of the film without having to use ILM -- Yeah! Universal released The Frighteners in its original theatrical 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio. The disc's anamorphic transfer is stunning and beautifully rendered. It creates a sharp image with a huge amount of detail. The film comes fully dubbed in English and French. It is also closed captioned and contains Spanish subtitles. So in the end, The Frighteners is easily one of those cases where any self-respecting horror fan has to say "screw the critics".

Wicked fun
Just before doing "Lord of the Rings," acclaimed director Peter Jackson (who can be seen in a cameo as "Man with Piercings") made an off-kilter horror/comedy movie called "Frighteners." Though "Frighteners" was barely in theaters, it's funny, creepy, well-acted and wonderfully directed.

Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) has seen spirits and apparitions ever since the traumatic car crash that killed his wife. Now he operates an amateur "ghostbusting" operation that is supposed to exorcise ghosts from people's houses -- the underbelly of his business is that the ghosts who haunt those houses are in league with him (Chi McBride as the extremely opinioated afro-ed Cyrus, Jim Fyfe as the nerdy Stuart, and most of John Astin as what is left of The Judge).

Frank's business certainly isn't hurt by the fact that for years after a serial killer's murderous spree, people have died mysteriously of heart attacks. Then Frank starts seeing fiery numbers emblazoned on the foreheads of people who later die, including the husband of doctor Lucy Lynskey (Trini Alvarado, who has an eerie resemblance to Andie MacDowell). As if trying to stop a specter of death weren't hard enough, crazed FBI agent Milton Dammers (Jeffrey Combs) believes that Frank is the one murdering people. And the evil specter is still killing -- and Lucy is the next victim.

Peter Jackson once said that he has a "moronic" sense of humor, and it shows up in all its glory here -- from bug spray dissolving a ghost's face to a piece of talking oily sludge to a drill sargeant ghost with submachine guns, this is weird and absolutely hilarious. But he's also good during the more serious moments, such as Bannister's flashbacks to his wife's death, or a psychopath stroking her ghostly lover's face. One of the most effective shots is of a pair of murderous lovers giggling, kissing, dancing and holding a shotgun; it's stuff like that that got Jackson "Lord of the Rings." The opening shot is pure Jackson, with the camera swooping through a window, past fluttering curtains, and though a hole in the attic floor to a screaming woman below.

Jackson also takes the opportunity to poke a bit of fun at more conventional ghost movies, with the big Gothic house, the ghost in '70s clothes, and Fox's hilarious turn as a ghostbuster. (One scene in particular seems to be spoofing "Ghostbusters") Big problem? Probably that would be that the opening scene doesn't seem to make much sense later on in the movie. But aside from that, there aren't many, especially since the conclusion makes a lot more logical sense than the average horror flick.

Michael J. Fox does an excellent job as Frank, giving the right combination of cockiness and pathos to a guy who isn't perfect, but is good at heart. Trini Alvarado is excellent as a smart, kind woman who is a bit on the gullible side, but definitely not a damsel-in-distress. (Nor is she eye-candy) McBride, Fyfe and Astin are great as the big annoyed guy, the nerd, and the dirty old cowboy. Jake Busey's freaky eyes and toothy grin are perfect for serial-killer Johnny Bartlett, and Dee Wallace-Stone embodies both cowering fear and freaky girlishness as his old girlfriend. And Jeffrey Combs is great as the twitchy, crazed FBI agent who will do anything to hunt down Frank.

"Frighteners" is a fantastic horror flick, with good acting and great direction. Don't walk, run to go pick this up and watch it. (And you will never see a bathroom mirror the same way again)

A very funny look at spirits and the afterworld!
I saw this movie in the theater years ago and I have always loved it! It is quite a thriller....fasten your seatbelt! I was laughing, crying, and screaming all at the same time. A must for any collection

A well thought out horror/comedy
This is one of those well done movies that balances several genres into a single story. On the one hand, you have Bannister's (Fox) tragic character who never fully got over the death of his wife. And his grief has made him pretty self destructive, so he's fallen from a successful and wealthy architect to a con-man living in his own, half-finished masterpiece. On the flipside of this are his partners in crime, the ghosts who scare Bannister's potential clients into hiring him in the first place. The humor gets pretty bizarre at times, but actually balances very well with the other story elements. Things go from grim, to funny, and back again just when they should. The third angle is the almost gothic and equally bizarre horror element to the story, where the ghost of a dead serial killer shows up as the bad guy. Bannister, the broken down wreck who can barely keep himself together is the only one who can see the killer. Yet even he's powerless to stop his enemy. Even worse, the wonderfully played FBI agent (Jeffrey Combs) has pegged Bannister as the "wacko" killer, though it's clear that the agent is the most deranged of all. Trini Alvarado does an excellent job as his potential love interest. She's a little naive, but strong willed.

If you like well thought out, thinking man's horror (instead of just the slash'em up variety) and have a dark (or even twisted) sense of humor, you'll like this movie.

Creepy Good Fun!
Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) had pretty much given up on life since his wife died in a freak car accident. He was an up and coming architect before the wreak, but ever since he watched his wife die before his eyes, whispers have followed him around town that he murdered her in cold blood. Frank's erratic behavior since the car accident don't help matters any and its not like most people believe that he can really see ghosts, even though he can. Something about being so close to death opened his eyes and Frank found himself a new line of work as a kind of ghost buster. Frank supposedly gets rid of poltergeists and haunting ghosts, but he really sends his three friends, The Judge (John Astin), the afro sporting, disco wearing Cyrus (Chi McBride) and the nerdy Stuart (Jim Fyfe), all of whom happen to be dead, into homes to terrorize innocent people until they pay his outrageous fees. Frank made a pretty good living from it, too, except people have starting dying from freak heart attacks all over town - and Frank can see numbers engraved in their foreheads. Numbers that show Frank who will be taken next...

As Frank struggles to save the people marked for death, he finds himself falling in love with Dr. Lucy Lynskey (Trini Alvarado), a very recent widow whose husband was killed by whatever thing is stalking the town. But Lucy has her own problems to deal with as she tries to help the reclusive Patricia Ann Bradley (Dee Wallace-Stone), who lives in an old Gothic mansion on the edge of town with her crazy mother (Julianna McCarthy). Lucy is convinced that Patricia is being abused and wants to help her, but she doesn't quite know how. What Frank and Lucy don't know is that all of their problems stem from one event - serial killer Johnny Bartlett's (Jake Busey) killing spree at a local mental hospital. It was never proved that Patricia was involved in the deaths of so many people, but it was never disproved either. She was Johnny's girlfriend and has never been what you would call normal. Johnny was caught, condemned and executed shortly after his killing spree, but his spirit has come back to haunt everyone and he was determined to kill more people than any other serial killer in American history...

The Frighteners was one of those rare movies that made you laugh as it scared the heck out of you. With great special effects and a wonderful score, you never know what may pop out at you and I found myself jumping often. The cast was marvelous with Michael J. Fox leading the way as a smarmy con-man who is out to make a quick buck. Amazingly, you find yourself really caring for him and rooting him on in his weird romance with Trini Alvardo (who could be Andie McDowell's twin, I swear), a sweet, but not shy woman who makes Michael's character work for her. The trio of ghosts were hilarious, as was FBI Agent Milton Dammers (Jeffrey Combs), who is convinced that Frank killed all of those people. Agent Dammers had some serious issues to work with, which made him relatively easy to manipulate, which was a joy to watch. Jake Busey and Dee Wallace-Stone were perfectly cast and really creeped me out. I could definitely believe that they were serial killers who were completely insane. Once again we see Peter Jackson's directing brilliance in this very entertaining film. As always, he has creative camera views, eye-popping effects and little surprises around every corner. Try it - you'll like it! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Coffee, cigarettes and verbal sparring
Coffee and Cigarettes is not a movie that everyone will like, but fans of Jim Jarmusch may appreciate it as much as I did. This is not a conventional movie, but a series of short conversations between well known people over coffee, mostly in improbably seedy places. The dialogue reminded me a lot of Jarmusch's first film, Stranger Than Paradise; there is an existentialist absurdity to many of the encounters. There is also a fair amount of tension. Most of the conversations are between two people who don't like each other very much, or who are at least are engaged in some kind of power struggle or game of one-upmanship.

Among those that stood out to me --Two English actors, Steve Coogan and Alfred Molina conduct a clever spoof on celebrity egotism. Molina tells Coogan that they may be cousins; Coogan is arrogant and indifferent until he finds out that Molina has Hollywood connections, and then the tables are turned. Tom Waits and Iggy Pop barely conceal their competitive feelings as they verbally spar over trivial topics like quitting cigarettes (both smoke, but claim to have quit). Steve Buscemi, a ubiquitous presence in independent films, is a waiter in a Tennessee diner who imposes himself on a pair of twins ( Joie and Cinqué Lee) and espouses his theory that Elvis was impersonated by an unknown twin brother. Cate Blanchett has a dual role as a celebrity and her resentful cousin. This one really highlights what I liked about the whole movie. You could easily read it either way --seeing Blanchett (the glamorous star) trying her best to be supportive while dealing with an envious relative, OR as a suave celebrity who has mastered the art of polite condescension. The line between the two interpretations is paper thin.

I appreciated the atmosphere of these scenes as much as the dialogue. Shot in black and white, they evoke a kind of noirish simplicity from older films, although the dialogue itself is very postmodern. I found all of the scenes entertaining; the lack of a plot beyond the talk, if anything, added to the charm. It is refreshing to see a film that stands on the actors' performances. Since dialogue is so central here, every word, gesture and nuance becomes filled with meaning. There are no special effects, car chases, shoot-outs or sex scenes to distract us. I can imagine someone criticizing this as being almost an exercise for the actors rather than an actual film, but I found it totally captivating. In fact, contemporary directors and screenwriters would do well to study this as a class in subtle and intelligent dialogue, something many of them could use. I highly recommend this to fans of Jarmusch or anyone who has an ear for offbeat conversation.

Check, please!
I read about this film in the lobby of my neigborhood indy movie house, and thought, "Well! That sounds like it could be very interesting!" A series of vignettes all centering on people meeting over coffee and cigarettes. Names you must know, like Cate Blanchett, Alfred Molina, Bill Murray, et al. Concept, yes. Execution, no.

Despite there being so many different actors, almost every vignette was basically the same--one person is trying awfully hard to please or make a good impression on the other, who isn't having it. And, the object of desire is never worth it, either.

The exceptions: Two old Italian guys in a diner somewhere, cursing up a storm at each other. This was very New York and very real; there must be about 1000 longshoremen here just like that. Taylor Meade and another old guy wind up the film as two friends on a coffee break hearing a tune in Taylor's mind. Clever and artful.

But all the rest--even the much lauded Cate as two cousins--were just TOO irritating, I suppose because my own Personal Motto is "Don't cast your pearls before swine." The idea of trying so hard to get a hostile person to like you is anathema to me, sorry, and this whole movie turns on that. The odd thing is that it seems the filmmaker is on the side of the "hip" unpleasant people, so I guess I won't be meeting him for coffee and a biscotti (I don't smoke) any time soon. Misanthropic without a filter.

Would you like coffee with your cigarettes?
I just saw the latest Jim Jarmusch film "Coffee and Cigarettes" today. I was intrigued bythe film when I first saw the trailer for it when I saw "Dogville" a couple of months ago. I thought it looked very interesting. The film centers around the notion of smoking cigarettes while drinking a cup of coffee. In the film there are a slew of celebrities including Steve Buscemi, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Wu Tang Clan's Rza and Gza, and Alfred Molina. The film is shot in entirety in black and white so it has this grainy feel to the film which really worked out for the best. I couldn't imagine seeing this film in color. There are approximately a dozen vignettes (or close to a dozen) with two or three different celebrities discussing the finer points of smoking a cigarette and drinking coffee or just having a pointless conversation. Steve Buscemi was quite funny as this annoying waiter in a Memphis diner. The only vignette that didn't have more than one celebrity was in "Cousins" with Cate Blanchett who played both herself and her cousin Shelly. That was one of my favorite vignettes. I had a good laugh at the "Cousins?" vignette starring Alfred Molina and Steve Coorgan. It wasn't all comedy until the final vignette where the moviegoer catches some glimpse of bleak and despair where two elderly men are on a coffee break. The dialogue in most of the vignettes were hilarious. I loved the two old Italian men who got into each other's faces over their bad habits, one drank too much coffee and the other smoked too much cigarettes. There were moments in the film that did get on my nerves like the "No Problem" vignette but overall I enjoyed this movie. There may not have been much of a plot but it was refreshing to see a group of actors and musicians be themselves rather than try to pretend to be someone other than themselves.

A couple of the vignettes may make it worth your time
Coffee and Cigarettes is not for everyone. It most certainly is not an action film. Did you perhaps see the fabulous 1981 production, My Dinner with Andre? If so, you should get the general idea. Some parts of this film are very boring. The interaction between Roberto Benigni and Steven Wright, for instance, didn't work for me. Is Director Jim Jarmusch trying for the existential angst crowd? Are we all supposedly insane in a world which doesn't have any meaning? Oh well, Cate Blanchett is at least superb playing both sisters, Cate and Shelby. Blanchett once again proves that she is one of our most brilliant actresses. It wasn't until I read the credits after the movie ended when I even realized that she was performing both roles! One sister is a success in the eyes of the world and the other is deemed a loser. They have little in common but their bloodline. It is hauntingly beautiful. The vignette staring Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan is also provocative dealing with the theme of snobbery and the desire to belong to the elite class.

There's enough here to warrant buying the the eventually released dvd. You will then be able to decide which vignettes grab your attention while skipping over the others. As a matter of fact, many viewers may prefer avoiding the theater experience altogether. Your living room TV screen may be deemed more than sufficient for your viewing pleasure. Coffee and Cigarettes earns four stars.

must have coffee?
saw it and loved it!; 10 or so vignettes pieced together so that the venue of where the actors are consuming coffee improves, while the acceptance of both caffeine and tobacco wanes -- until the end --when it is rejected in toto. Each vignette is subtlely linked to at least one other. Our renowned director is trying to tell us to listen to one another -- the interaction is essential for the human being, even if the parties do not particularly like one another. Coffee and cigarettes are the life blood or conversation, or, are they? As the film moves forward we see that good social intercourse can take place without actually drinking coffee or inhaling cigarettes -- but that is because we once did. The final vignette summarizes the world and takes a drab, depressing locale and elevates it, existentially, to the highest peak ... Read more

Reviews (3)

4 1/2 stars: What Women Think About Food
This low budget, thoroughly entertaining look at a group of women gathering for a luncheon party is a rare critique of how women have come to be obsessed with food. Quasi-documentary in form, actresses in this film seems to teeter between acting and reality. Certainly many lines are blurred, and the result is fascinating.

While something of a "chick flick", men will come away from this film with plenty to think about. Whole film is a real conversation-starter, highly amusing and never gets too heavy. Excellent and very unique in subject matter. Amazing how seldom we see people eating and enjoying their food in movies, yet it is such an important part of our lives. Hollywood sense of beauty is blasted between the lines.

Only aspect I objected to was the lack of polish in the production itself. It could have been visually smoother in parts. But Jaglom films always look like this, I suppose. Still a winner.

don't offer these women a cherry pie!
One has to wonder about Henry Jaglom's mother, when he dedicates a film about women suffering from eating disorders to her. This is one of Jaglom's more successful efforts since there is some dramatic conflict amongst the cinema verite talkfest that is his trademark. One might even mistake this film as a documentary with all the to-the-camera discourse. Otherwise his camera is thankfully still, aided by the excuse of a Frenchwoman making a documentary at an exclusively female (and enormously populated) birthday party. Maybe it's a very "L.A." thing but it's shocking how so many beautiful women have food issues, and the association they make with food and sex, and food and love, makes for a compelling (for Jaglom) social study. He begins uncertainly, as the women gather. Jaglom gets a little carried away with cross-cutting, and there is a definite lesbian subtext which turns out to be misleading. But as the film develops our initial judgment of the women presented, as shallow and stupid gives way to depths of feeling and marvel at the openness and emotional accessibility of the female species. As the eldest of the group and the mother of Helene (Lisa Richards), who resides in the house where the celebrations occur, Frances Bergen represents the voice of reason and the sounding board for the confessions. Jaglom cleverly maintains our empathy for her, aided by Bergen's wonderful naturalness, even when her reaction to news of an infidelity defines the survival strategies of women of her generation. In spite of the heaviness of the subject, there is much humour to be found, partly from the women's own insight into their behaviour, and also from the idea of having Helene seek out the mistress under the guise of mingling. Richards' performance improves considerably after she stops pecking. As her predatory best friend, Gwen Welles adds some amusing spite to the proceedings. Her demonstration of the use of a present of anger-releasing padded poles gets a big laugh. It's no surprise to learn of Welles' bulimia since she looks anorexic, and she is about the only one who doesn't seem to think they are "fat". When the birthday cake is cut, no-one wants to eat it. Since the cast is so large some actors get lost in the mosaic, but mention should be made of Toni Basil in Carmen Miranda get-up as an actress quitting her agent ("If Michael Jackson can fire his father ..."); Aloma Ichinose who has a great riff about smoking; and Mary Crosby looking like a fawn and being very I-shot-JR in a bathroom confrontation. I particularly liked the line "I'm looking for a man who can excite me as much as a baked potato".

Offbeat look at women and their eating habits
This movie is hilarious and sad at the same time. Henry Jaglom assembled an enormous cast of recognizable but mostly unknown actresses in this examination of Southern California women and their eating habits. There are three sympathetic characters in this film: (1) the lovely French protagonist played by Nelly Alard, who has come to Los Angeles to do a documentary on eating, finding perfect fodder in the many attendees of a party thrown to celebrate the birthdays of three different women; (2) the mother of the birthday girl whose home is the setting for this potentially disastrous gathering (played with aplomb by Candice Bergen's own mother); and (3) Mary Crosby who is refreshing as the kind and balanced best friend of the birthday girl/host. Everyone else seems to be out-of-her-mind neurotic when it comes to food. I watched this movie in total fascination because I personally don't know any women like these but know who they are (that makes no sense unless you've seen this film). Dare I say it - most of these women are snotty, superficial and whiny, but totally representative of a certain type of woman indigenous to wealth and So Cal. Just view it and you'll see what I mean. We discover everyone's passionate responses to food through the eyes of the film maker, as she interviews each woman throughout the long afternoon. One of the funniest and most definitive scenes in EATING shows three birthday cakes on the table, and one bedeviled slice being passed around as all the women refuse it. The humor in EATING is in recognizing the eating habits/problems that so many women will be able to relate to. It is also the saddest thing about this movie. That, and how nasty and self centered most of these women are. Although there are no men in this film, I recommend anyone, male or female, watch it. Short of a documentary (and I've never seen one on this subject), this film is curious, funny and educational. Jaglom presents a huge cast whose characters are so engaging, you don't seem to lose track of or interest in them. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

hare/brained hits
i grew up on bugs bunny and this one tape reminds me of the times my grandpa us to tell us about his days of growing up , especial the part about the hillbilly's. cause i'm from the north carolina mountains. i'm 27 years old and i still love watching this one,but i can't find it on vhs tape any where here. i've been looking at all stores and no one has it. this is my first time on the net and i hope some one could help me keep my memories of my grandpa alive ,cause he's been gone for 10 years and the hare/brained hits reminds me of him when he was young. even its is just the part about hillbilly hare is my favorite one of all of bugs bunny. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The only half-hour Bugs Bunny?
I may be wrong, but I believe this was the only continuous half-hour format show Chuck Jones ever did using the original Looney Tunes characters ("continuous" meaning all one story, as opposed to ones like Bugs Bunny's Bustin' Out All Over, which was was made up of three individual new shorts, or others which were actually spliced together from the classic shorts). In fact, I think it still stands as the only half-hour Looney Tune to this day.

I'll admit that it's not Jones's best, because he clearly has some trouble with the pacing of a half-hour show (the beginning of the second act drags a bit), but it's still a lot of fun, and it deserves to get aired more often than it is. The Ray Bradbury in-joke at the beginning is particularly funny if you go into it knowing that Jones and Bradbury were longtime friends-but the joke works anyway, because Mel Blanc's enunciation makes "Ray Bradbury" come off as a really goofy-sounding name.

Another Lost Bugs Special
Every so often, when we think about Bugs Bunny, we often think about the humor and joy that the directors and animators that've created such a breathtaking masterpiece of a character, a wabbit that was recently name TV Guide's Greatest Cartoon Character of All Time. Nevertheless, the wabbit continues to endure with all the humor and joy within every single heart in the world.

The Chuck Jones created special, Bugs Bunny In King Arthur's Court was a crazy remake based on the Mark Twain novel, A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court, the exact same novel that loosely based a previous Chuck Jones cartoon, Knight-Mare Hare. The special from 1979 was hilarious, with each and eveery angle of humor and joy you could still expect.

Although it still remains sad that Chuck Jones died in 2002, and this special he created for Warner Brothers was never reissued on video, it still stands as a fair testament, to one of the greatest characters in the world, and the greatest animator of the 20th Century.

An example of post-classic Jones
The Looney Tunes gang takes on Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court" in this awkward, tedious Chuck Jones offering. The animation (mostly by veterans Ben Washam and Virgil Ross) is good at times, but the direction is erratic throughout. For diehard Jones fans only. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This was the most depressing movie I've ever seen!
I first saw this movie when I was about 40 years old. Thankfully, I was watching it alone because I cried so hard at the end. Whenever I tell someone about the movie, it was so SAD that I could start crying just explaining what the movie was about. It was really good until the end and the ending was so disturbing, I would never watch it again!

a surprising little gem
Its odd how the most underated films can really surprise you. I saw this film for the first time recently, and I regret now not seeing it as a child, I had put off seeing it for such a long time. I did not expect to get too involved about the welfare of a few pit ponies; but honestly the film; inc story; performances and attention to detail are so well done that it almost has a timeless quality about it. Modest as it is; be warned the happy ending only comes with a rather surprising price unexpected for disney in the 70s. Rosemary Anne Sisson,wrote the screenplay also penned 'Ride a Wild Pony' for disney which came out around the same time; also recommended as a companion to this film, hopefully one day that film will be released as well.

A great pit pony film
This film was filmed entirely in the forbidding Yorkshire moors. It tells the story about the small working ponies that have spent their entire lives down in the coal mines and are about to be sold to the slaughterhouse. Although many famous faces appear, the real star of the show must surely be Flash the pit pony. Wrinkles

"Vintage" Disney Classic
This is the sort of quality family fare that will rarely, if ever, be made again. Produced in the mid 70's when 'The Waltons' was popular and America wasn't so afflicted with Attention Deficit Disorder, it earns its place as one of the best in Disney's period piece library. The cinematography is excellent with many colorful landscape panoramas and some choice episodes including a dog racing event in the Yorkshire countryside, visually interesting shots of old-fangled colliery machinery, worklife inside the coal mines, and an honest rendering of family life inside the village homes.

The characters of the story are all cast with competent actors, both child and adult. The films' action derives from the resourceful efforts of the kids to save the colliery ponies whose fate is a grim one in the face of production efficiencies soon to be installed by mine owner Alastair Sim-(played Scrooge in 'A Christmas Carol') The film has an innocent charm, although a little dated in both the period of history it covers and its storyline and humor. Even so its charm and quiet drama build to a surprisingly effective climax. There's a sense you've been treated to a unique glimpse of the past with a wide array of period detail providing rich realism. Anyone with patient appreciation for the concerns of children and an interest in the historic difficulties posed by economic/industrial evolution will find a gem in this film. Kids not addicted to video games may also find it enjoyable. Thanks Anchor Bay for a very good transfer to DVD.

Pit ponies
This movie was filmed in and around my 77 year old mother's home town of Doncaster, England. Her father was a miner until a mine collapse in the 30's left him permanently disabled. She saw this movie MANY years ago on TV & has been looking for a copy since. She and her sisters used to watch the ponies going down and coming out of the mines. It's a beautiful movie & brings back wonderful memories. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Brilliant Romantic Comedy!
Quirky, charming romantic comedy. Jacobs is a funny clutzy guy whom we all would love to save. Ms. Jacob is fabulous with her coy French ways. There are some brilliant hilarious moments - don't miss this!

Don't waste your effort to view this one!
One of the world's worst directed and edited films ever put on market! Very choppy in it's editing; Ms. Jacob's dialogue very difficult to understand at times; the acting is atrocious! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

She took my pointer!
"She took my pointer" is one of my favorite lines in the series and apeared in this! This one is really funny and a can't-miss episode. Sure the story is gay at times, but the line "She took my pointer" makes it all worth it! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It was funny!
1988 was a great year for SNL, and it really shows in this great collection! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

utterly forgettable
Made at a time when Chuck Jones' gifts were in decline; the animation looks really low-grade, the first few minutes of the show are pure headache fodder, at least five minutes worth are a pure rehash of Cricket In Times Square. If this show is trying to say something at any level I couldn't pick it out. If I had a half hour to fill this holiday season I'd just go take a nap before I sat through this again.

A holiday must see!
A very Merry Cricket by Chuck Jones is one of my usual must see Holiday tapes. A sequel to Mr. Jones Cricket in Times Square. We find Harry Cat, Tucker Mouse feeling down about all the commerical selling in the Big City of New York. People have forgotten the meaning of the Holiday, so off they go to Sunnyslope, Connecticut in search of Chester the musical cricket,also featured in "A Cricket In Times Square" also by Chuck Jones. We have a little fun with their adventures getting back to the big city of New York in time for Chester to play "Silent Night" on his wings during a blackout and remind people just what the holiday of Christmas stands for. With voices done by Mel Blanc, a wonderful holiday tape. For all ages.

VERY MERRY FOR THE HOLIDAY!
A very merry cricket is great for the holiday. Working at a public school that is 3/4ths black we have the privlege of having a nice video set up in our cafeteria. So instead of letting it go to waste I asked our principal if I could share my video collection (I'm the school maintenance person) with the student's at breakfast (30 minutes). She said ok as long as it didn't bring any protest's from parents or show R rated movies. VERY MERRY CRICKET IS A HOLIDAY SPECIAL FROM CHUCK JONES, ABOUT TUCKER MOUSE, HARRY CAT WANTING THE SPRIT OF CHRISTMAS AGAIN IN NEW YORK CITY THEY GO OFF TO SUNNYSLOPE,CONNECTICUT IN SEARCH OF CHESTER THE CRICKET (ALSO FEATURED IN CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE ALSO BY CHUCK JONES) VERY MERRY CRICKET IS A SEQUEL, ALL 3 HAVE SOME ADVENTURE GETTING BACK TO NEW YORK WHERE THE CRICKET MANAGES TO HELP ALL PEOPLE FEEL THE SPRIT OF THE SEASON WITH A PLAYING OF "SILENT NIGHT" DURING A POWER BLACK OUT. VERY ENJOYABLE AND A MUST FOR THE HOLIDAY. ... Read more

Description

A lyrical, controversial recreation of the story of The Passion, which examines the role of the Church in the persecution of homosexuality. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Tribute to Jarman
"The Garden" is the only (but not last) film I saw by the late gay British director Derek Jarman. I was impressed. Sex and religion, so I've read, seem to be a recurrent theme in Jarman's work. I'm not gonna brag to much about the "daring" portrayal of homosexuality, although this film clearly sought to make a (subtle) statement. To me it was refreshing, sensual, and at some point quite erotic. I myself am not gay, but Jarman's experimental touch poses a unabashed alternative to the recent "gay movies" coming out of Hollywood. ... Read more