Description

A troubleshooting special agent is assigned to the investigation of a worldwide terror ring headquartered in Hawaii. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great for the opposite reasons
My name is Jim McLain, spelled the same way as in the movie. This said I'm here to tell you that this is a five star rating because I LOVE terrible movies! Sometimes I wish John Wayne hadn't used the rare spelling I do in my name. The Duke was running, yes RUNNING from the House of Unamerican Activities. James Arnes Gets bested by two little oriental guys who combined don't match his weight and beat him down hand to hand! More sermons than an Amish Convention. Great drunk late night viewing!

For Patriots Only
OK, I know the ultradicallibrocrats of our society disaprove of any attempt to recognize the evils and sins of communism. When commies are portrayed as evil, or if there is an attempt to defeat them, the libs will howl and bellow all kinds of leftist rhetoric. And they certainly make a big stink about this movie, which goes to show how good it really is. Why is it that the libs always are critical of anti-communist sentiments, but never seem to have any objection to anti-fascist movie? Hmmm.... I wonder.
If you're patriotic and want to see one of the few films that puts a white hat on the good guys, this is a show for you.
Forget the whining of the pink brigade and enjoy the show.

Relax and enjoy
In some ways this movie can be seen as political [persuasion] from the 50's, but so what. All I can say is relax and enjoy. Enjoy the Hawaiian scenery and ignore the attempts to turn you into a blue blooded right wing capitalist. It's still a pretty well made movie from my standpoint. It's slow pace is due to the sort of documentary feel of it. It's pacing is more like All the President's Men. Not to say it's as good as that movie, and it's definatly coming from the "right" side of the fence.
...
Forget the politics and get the popcorn.

Underrated
This excellent movie about two detectives (6'4 (76) Wayne and 6'7 Arness) who search for Communism in the Honolulu area. The plot is realistic in the sense that the movie is about something that was happening in 1952. Many people don't like this, even though I don't know why. It has everything: comedy, action, scenery, adventure, remorse, etc. It is a switch for Wayne (who would make Hondo in '53 and The Searchers in '56.), but it shows how great an actor John Wayne is. This is a must-see movie for any fan of Wayne, big or small.

A neat movie!
This is a good movie! I see that a lot of people don't like it. I'll admit it's slow, but it has a good lesson. I mean, it's totally patriotic and wonderful! You can really see how patriotic the Duke was. James Arness costars and is cool. I enjoy watching it every so often, and I think it's a good movie. That's my humble opinion! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fiesta means party in Spanish, and Sesame Street is pulsatingwith activity in this upbeat preschool program featuring Latino songs. JimHenson's Muppets join the fun while everyone's favorite, Elmo, learns the Conga- Wiggle dance. Maria, Rosita, and Gabi create floats and costumes; even Oscarreluctantly partakes in the festivities. The dialogue is sparse in order todevote most of the 30-minute show to singing and dancing during eightSpanish/English tunes, featuring special performances by Linda Ronstadt andCelia Cruz. Most of the music will be familiar, such as "Conga Counting Song,""Amigo," and "It Sure Is Hot." Kids will also learn greetings, familiar words,and numbers in Spanish. While some might wish for the addition of live-actionscenes of Mexico or a more complex story line, the bilingual focus is solid andthe ever supportive cast of Sesame Street grownups, kids, and Muppets make it aneighborhood worth visiting. --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Cjluckycat
Great music, and an easy way for kids (and adults) to learn Spanish. We are raising our 16 month old son to be bilingual, and this is his favorite video. Elmo and Rosita and all the upbeat music and bright colors keep his interest. It is just the right length, too.

Great video!
Very fun -- my kids love it! They picked up a few words and phrases -- but more importantly, they are becoming familiar with the sounds which will help them when they start their formal education. I also highly recommend the Global Village Kids' SING AND LEARN CD -- these are bilingual nursery rhymes in Spanish and English which are fun for kids and help them pick up words and phrases in Spanish.

Great Video... especially Celia Cruz singing the numbers...
I bought this for my niece who is 20 months old. She loves it. And I think its pretty cute. She runs to the tv and asks for it and when its over she asks for it again. We are a bilingual family, she says words in both spanish and english already. My family is Cuban and listening to Celia Cruz sing the numbers song with latin rhythm is really funny. You won't be disappointed if you buy this.

Absolutely wonderful
My son is two and a half and he LOVES this video. We received it almost a month ago and have been watching it everyday. I don't understand why it doesn't come in the DVD format. If you have a kid with lots of energy, this is a must have.

Catchy Tunes
This is my one year old son's favorite video. Neither one of us has gotten tired of it yet - how many of your kid videos can you say that about? Actually, even I think the tunes are quite catchy and have found myself humming them to keep my son occupied on car trips, etc.
While I do acknowledge that the format is primarily English, even a little Spanish is better than none at all. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Clifton Webb brings the imperious fussiness that made him a prissy film noir icon in such films as Laura and The Dark Corner to the role of Lynn Belvedere, the self-proclaimed genius who takes a position nannying a trio of bratty boys. This professed child-hating bachelor proves to be a godsend for flustered parents Maureen O'Hara and Robert Young. Within days his unconventional mix of child psychology and strict discipline tames the three rambunctious boys--faced with an infant who insists on spattering him with oatmeal, he simply dumps the bowl on the tyke's head. The trouble in paradise begins when a snoopy neighbor spreads gossip about an affair between Belvedere and the mother of the house, which sends hot-headed Dad into a tizzy, but just as things look their darkest Belvedere turns the tables on the neighborhood when the real reason of his suburban relocation is revealed. Director Walter Lang underplays his hand so much that the film takes on all the style of a 1950s TV sitcom, but his fine direction of performers brings out the humor of this middle-class satire with warmth and wit. Ultimately, however, the film belongs to Webb, whose witheringly snide insults and cutting comments roll off his tongue with comic effortlessness. He proved so popular that he starred in a pair of sequels: Mr. Belvedere Goes to College and Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Window to a sweeter time
It is a farce/comedy. The story has mystery, romance and humor. What it lacks is the harshness of the movies today. A brief escape to a sweeter time. I love looking at the decor their home.Very enjoyable.

Can children really love a man like Mr. Belvedere?
The jack of all trades and self-proclaimed genius Mr. Belvedere is appealing enough, but can a stiff man with admitted contempt for children be truly loveable? None of his unconventional methods of child discipline would account for the doting behavior of the three boys, and that's mainly why I can't recommend this movie. Every character has their appeal, but as a group, it's difficult to believe they interact as well as they do. And the problems that do crop up are equally unbelievable: How could Robert Young be jealous of a rigid fop like Mr. Belvedere? The fantasy of an uber-nanny appearing mysteriously to enrich our lives and control our household is worthy of a suburban comedy like this, but the story here just doesn't use the possibly delightful premise as well as it could. The ending is much too pat without the absurdity that a Preston Sturges would make of it (like the dual marriage at the end of Palm Beach Story).

sitting pretty
this is a wonderfully funny and entertaining movie.clifton webb is great as mr. belvedere. robert young and maureen o'hara were also terrific as the parents of the 3 boys. also if someone knows where i can get the 2 sequels on video mr. belvedere goes to college mr. belvedere rings the bell i would appreciate it very much.

Clifton Webb is a scream
This is not a particularly well-known movie any more, but it is a great film worth buying and enjoying. Clifton Webb plays the prissy and effeminate Mr. Belvedere, a no-nonsense butler who moves into Robert Young and Maureen O'Hara's home to watch their bratty sons. Webb immediately instills discipline into the home and the boys end up adoring him, even if he is a martinet. The hilarious scenes he finds himself in... delicious!

Clifton Webb's comedic timing is underrated and the plot twists and ancillary characters will entertain and delight you throughout. This is one of the best sleepers from the 1940's and will have you laughing from beginning to end.

Delightful farce
This is a delightful little farce about turning the tables on the local busybodies and bullies. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Sesame Street character has fun singing some catchy new songs (you and your toddler just might, too), explaining the difference between light and heavy, having a laugh over pictures and numbers, and sharing the screen with a good-natured Whoopi Goldberg and Julia Roberts. Of the various Elmo videos, this one really does have the choicest material and stands up to repeat viewings--a big plus with little ones. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (91)

The Best of Elmo on DVD
I originally purchased The Best of Elmo on VHS in 1994 when my son was three years old. I have recently rediscovered my appreciation for this wonderfully amusing story on DVD through the eyes of my 3 year-old daughter. The Best of Elmo has a variety of songs, dance numbers, and short comedy skits from Sesame Street featuring the lovable character, Elmo. I like this DVD because it is entertaining for preschoolers, and it teaches valuable lessons about sharing and diversity. The theme to the video is Elmo taking his drawings to the "Monster Art Show." Each drawing that Elmo created tells a story. When Elmo shows one of his drawings, the video proceeds into another skit or musical number.

Some songs include:
•One Fine Face: Elmo and Ernie sing about their facial features. This is a great way for toddlers to learn names for parts of their face.
•Happy Tappin' with Elmo: This is a cute number where Elmo wears little tap shoes and dances down a staircase.
•Five Jive with Elmo Hammer: This song features Elmo as a rapper with back up singers. He wears baggy pants, and sunglasses and sings about the number five.
•Elmo's Song: This is the original song that inspired the theme song for the skit "Elmo's World". Elmo plays the piano and sings his "theme song" with Big Bird and Snuffy.

Comedy Skits with Celebrity Guest Stars:
There is a comedy skit with Elmo and Julia Roberts. Elmo is trying to scare Julia because he is a "monster". However, Julia ends up frightening Elmo! The second celebrity skit features Whoopi Goldberg and Elmo. Elmo tells Whoopi that her skin is a pretty brown, and she explains the differences between, skin, hair, and fur. This is a very educational lesson to young children that is easy for them to comprehend.

My daughter really enjoys watching this DVD. I would definitely recommend this DVD for toddlers.

Now HEAR THIS-Best of Elmo DVD Rocks !!
My title is in response ...against the DVD on its lack of audio quality. Audio quality?!? I have an 18th month old who LOVES Elmo, and of course, this video is one of her favorites. And mine too-for several reasons. I actually like the fact it is "short and sweet" (in fact, I am purchasing Favorite Song DVD for that exact reason)-there are times when I don't want her or us to sit in front of the TV (or computer monitor as in our case) for 45-50 mins. Sometimes, we are both in the mood for a concise, entertaining, educational, fun video-and that exactly what it delivers. I have never noticed the poor audio I have to admit. Plus, to me, the main reason I pay an extra $$ for a Sesame Street DVD (at Target, etc) is because I don't have to constantly rewind it. I don't expect SONY to make drastic improvements. Sesame Street was always about quality of material, not cutting edge technology. Also, DVDs have a much higher resale value which is another reason to buy it. ... Let your kids decide if they like it-I'm pretty sure they will!

What!?!
Yeah, we pay may pay taxes to put Sesame Street on, but the show itself is free. We don't pay for PBS like cable. Our libaries. hospitals, and cops get our tax money too, are you going to boycott them as well?

This is a good video. My triplets go NUTS over Elmo. I, for one, try to be out of earshot when the videos on (I can't stand Elmos voice!!!) A good flick!

Just okay
A mixture of Elmo skits, and in my opinion, not necessarily "the Best". To link the skits together, Elmo shows his drawings to Seasame friends with each picutre then leading to a skit. In the end all the pictures are gone & elmo has none to put in the Monster Art show. But Seasame friends learn of this and give him back his pictures. This disk is nothing like Elmo's World skits. But my 2yr old daughter does watch this, though it's not her favorite. It's not a bad one, but there are so many more Seasame & Elmo videos out there that I would pick over this one.

Be prepared to watch it over and over and over......
My 2-year old LOVES this DVD. He will watch it 3 times in a row, easily. As soon as the credits roll, he says "Elmo, again!" And I gotta admit, I enjoy it as well. Some of it is pretty dated, so those of you who are new to Elmo will notice that his voice is a little different in the older segments. I would have given it 5 stars if it were about 10 minutes longer! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

"Home is the nicest word there is."
I grew up watching the reruns of Little House on the Prairie every day when I got home from kindergarten. My mom taped them, so my family owns 170 of the 200 episodes, from Episode 1, "Harvest of Friends," to the final episode, "Hello and Goodbye." Somehow, however, we missed taping "Premiere," so when I bought this DVD, I had never seen it. Well, I was a bit disappointed that in two hours the Ingalls family never reaches Walnut Grove (I was looking forward to seeing introductions of our favorite characters!), but I'm still very glad to own this gem. I know from experience that VHS tapes degrade with time and many viewings, but DVD will last forever. The pilot introduces Mr. Edwards (with a much thinner beard!) as well as the Ingalls family and includes some memorable moments between Pa and Laura. Probably the best scene of all is the classic "Errand for Santa," featuring a snow-caked Victor French who braves a blizzard to get his Christmas gifts to their recipients on time. Overall, a beautiful beginning to an endearing show.

"Caroline...We're Home....."
This review refers to "Little House On The Prairie...The Premiere Movie"(Goodtimes Video DVD)

Get ready to go from a good cry, to a big grin and back again on this very enjoyable and heartwarming family TV program. It's the beginning of a classic series that stands the test of time, and should be shared with a new generation.

"The Premiere Movie"..a double length feature that will introduce you to the Ingalls family and their harrowing journey to make a better life for themselves. You'll also meet Jack the dog and Mr. Edwards(Victor French) for the first time. When Charles says "Caroline..were home...".have the kleenex ready! It stars Michael Landon(who also directed many of the episodes), Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson.

Goodtimes DVD has done a nice job of transfering these 70's TV classsics. They look great. Nice color and sound. There is some occasional flickering but a very enjoyable view overall. It's nice to be able to enjoy them whenever the mood hits and without all the commercials!.If you really love these stories, you may want to consider buying the 4 pack. It includes this one,a double length feature "The Lord Is My Sheperd"(Little Laura runs away to be closer to God),"The Collection"(guest starring Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash), and "Laura Ingalls Wilder"(Laura and Almanzo finally tie the knot), another double length feature.

You'll laugh, you'll cry!...enjoy...Laurie

The Beginning of "Little House"
The Pilot film of "Little House on the Prairie" was what made Little House as it is today. It was first aired in 1974 on NBC-TV. Millions of fans gathered around the TV to watch it and now years later it is still a hit. Watch this great movie and enjoy it on DVD with your family for years to come! I have seen it several times and each time I see it I see somthing new that I have forgotten or that I have'nt seen before.

Goodtimes Video Tape Version!
I'm reviewing the video tape put out by Goodtimes Home Video, it contains the pilot movie that started the television show. Little House on The Prairie was one of my favorite shows as a child. I was Nine years old when this TV movie aired for he first time and I liked it and grew up watching the show. This Goodtimes tape is okay but kind of grainy. Complete seasons of Little House on the Prairie have been put on DVD, I think there is about 4 seasons that are available right now and I'm hoping to someday buy complete seasons on DVD! This is a terrific show!

Classic Tv Show
In this Dvd are the pilot episode of Little House of the Praire not a double lenght movie as the package says.

The transfer quality is good as well the sound.

The only thing is the absence of any subtitles or captions necesary for international customers like me.

I want to see also a good show featuring M Landon and Victor French Highway to Heaven released soon on Dvd.

Meanwhile I will collect most of the LHOTP Dvds. ... Read more

Description

Based on the true story that captured the hearts of America, THE STRAIGHT STORY is one of those rare films offering powerful, uplifting entertainment for audiences of all ages. Directed by acclaimed director David Lynch (WILD AT HEART, MULHOLLAND DRIVE), this gentle, inspiring film celebrates the human spirit. Richard Farnsworth (MISERY, THE NATURAL) stars as Alvin Straight -- a no-nonsense man who has never been one to lean on others. Now at an age when his eyesight denies him the ability to drive and walking is accomplished only with the help of two canes, Alvin lives a quiet life with his daughter Rose (Sissy Spacek). But when the call comes that Alvin's estranged brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton, THE GREEN MILE) has suffered a debilitating stroke, Alvin embarks on a dangerous and emotional journey to make amends. With little money, but plenty of patience and tenacity, he climbs aboard his 1966 John Deere lawnmower and plots the 260-mile course from his small Iowa town to Lyle's home in Wisconsin. Filmed along the actual route that the real Alvin Straight traveled in 1994, THE STRAIGHT STORY is a heartwarming and poignant drama chronicling Alvin's six-week odyssey and the many lives he touches along the way. ... Read more

Reviews (160)

A straightforward story honestly told.
A wonderful gentle movie that I'm still enjoying after several viewings. Clearly Mr Lynch is not afraid to experiment and deliver something different and this is so unlike his previous output. Judging from some of the reviews this is not a movie for everyone but fortunately the one or two stars are in a minority. Most of the others, like me, appreciated the slow moving (just like five mph Deere mower) unfolding of Alvin's big adventure and the folks he met. Where else other than the Midwest, where honesty comes as standard, could this story take place.

There is so much to enjoy! Angelo Badalamenti creates the perfect bluegrass style theme music, cinematographer Freddie Francis captures the gorgeous colors of the Midwest, the actors and especially Richard Farnsworth sparkle. Great lines, too, Alvin says to a hitchhiker, who has run away from home and shares a meal with him around the campfire, "A warm bed in a house sounds a mite better than eating a hot dog on a stick with an old geezer travelling on a lawn mower".

The 'Straight Story' is a little gem and I bet I'll still be enjoying its warmth and honesty for a long time.

Clearly one of the best acted films of the year
This film is probably one of the warmest and heartbreaking films of the year and it is all because of David Lynch and Richard Farnsworth. Unlike your typical Hollywood movie, David Lynch is able to work in the multitude of charachters in "The Straight Story" in a very natural and unpretentious way. The beauty of the picture is the way in which Alvin Straight (Farnsworth) is able to touch all the people he meets as he travels from Iowa to Wisconsin on his tractor to meet his ailing brother. The ending, which may leave the typical moviegoer scrathching his head and asking "so what happens?", is brilliant in how the expressions on the brothers' faces explain how they feel; and there is no need for a long drawn out speech that screams for the Academy's attention.

This film, in essence is about getting old and how aging has its benefits as well as its tragedies; how anger and resentment of family and friends is really not worth it in the end. Richard Farnsworth does a brilliant job that not many actors could have done. The wisdom he seems to have just by staring at him is astonishing. The second best line in the movie is when a young man asked him, "What is the worst thing about getting old?" and Alvin stares at him and says quietly, "Remembering when you were young." The best line, of course is the last sentence of the movie which makes you feel happy as well as sad inside.

David Lynch did a beautiful job in making the cornfields of the midwest seem amazingly scenic; trust me, I have been through Iowa and it is not as gorgeous as he made it out to be. The soundtrack goes perfect with the movie also. And I did not even mention Sissy Spacek, who plays Alvin's daughter and she does a great job as well as the rest of the cast in playing characters touched by Alvin and his mission.

What makes a movie a classic or a great film is that after you watch it, you sit there and think about it and have discussions with your friends about it. This movie did that to me, and I have been reccommending it to all my friends. But I must warn you, you also have to be in the right mood for it, and it might be best if you either watched it alone or with only a couple of other people. It is a must see for anyone.

a (mostly) orthodox story
wilhelm furtwngler; the conductor of the berlin philharmonic up until 1954, had a very unorthodix beat. indeed, his conducting was in itself unorthodox. he had heard some grumbling amongst the orchestra members that his beat was hard to follow, and that his conducting was too improvisational.
he then appeared before them and said ' so you dont think i can give you an orthodox beat?, okay let's go' and he proceeded for several minutes to do a 'by the book' reading of brahms. he then stopped. ' see i can do it, but it has no life. its not interesting!'.
the same could be said for the films of david lynch and his most ardent critics.
lynch has, all along, been able to tell a story straight, as he did here and elephant man. but even then lynch has to be lynch. he has to filter the story through his own sensabilites and style.
elephant man and straight story both have lynchs style deeply stamped upon them.
elephant man has his visual artistry, straight story his quirkiness.
the beauty of straight story is this is his 'g' rated quirkiness, and that's very appropriate for a man,who despite all of his progressive accomplishments in film, still lives in the suburbs.
with straight story lynch set out to prove that he could indeed tell a story straight and its most certain there was a sly wink in titling this film.
he actually upped the furtwangler philosophy one in that he did an orthodox narrative and STILL made it interesting, but naturally its still lynchian all the way through.
by the way this was farnsworth last film. he was terminally ill and took his own life about a year later.
he was a charactor actor with grace and vulnerability.
he will be missed

Boring... These other reviewers are nuts!
The Straight Story is horribly boring. Nothing of note happens in the entire film. The people that have given this four and five stars must be crazy. You will be very disappointed if you watch this film "The Straight Story". There are some nice views of Iowa in the film, and if that's all you expect you may be satisfied. If you want to see a plot or story line you will be disappointed. All you will to see is character development with nothing ever happening. The retarded daughter(Sissy Spacek) is totally pointless btw. Anyway, don't say I didn't warn you!

What a priviledge
Where do you begin with a film that is as beautiful, poetic, moving, powerful, substantial, grounding, uplifting, and definitively sublime as The Straight Story. From it's emotionally and technically pitch perfect score by Angelo Badalamenti to the brilliant direction of David Lynch, the film takes us on a journey we will never forget.
Despite everything I've offered, the film depends upon one man- Richard Farnsworth. In his last role, his award-winning performance is a master class in listening and being. He IS Alvin Straight instead of acting like Alvin Straight. His beautiful blue eyes are weary with pain and memories. I have never seen the eyes convey so very much. To watch his scene at the bar and not have a resounding physical reaction- well, there may be no help for your soul.

Simply put, allow yourself the priviledge of viewing The Straight Story. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One Of The Few Movies About Golf
This is a good biopic about golf immortal Ben Hogan, master of the repetitive swing and accurate beyond belief. It reflects the dramatic standards of 1951, however, and you just have to know that Ben and wife Valerie CRINGED when they saw some of the onscreen exchanges between Glen Ford and Anne Baxter.

Hogan himself hit the golf shots for this film, and you can easily see how masterful he was. The Beatles later wrote a theme song for "Follow the Sun," but there was never enough demand to substantiate a re-release of the movie updated with that musical addition.

Classic B&W Hogan
Hogan is such a mysterious man. Ford tells an adequate job of portraying him, aloof and intense, always polite and maticulously dressed.

The coverage of the accident and rehab is great. Thought maybe the opening of the caddie segment of his life could have been done with little more "up close and personal touch," since this seemed to affect Ben so much.

Sampson's book "Hogan" provides a worthy reference to read along with this video. Heard that there was to be a new attempt at Hogan's story with Kevin Kostner playing Ben.

Neat to have one narrated by Crenshaw or Kris Tschetter and those who actually knew the guy (for sure, Venturi!) Done right, could be great!

Follow the Sun
It has been many years since watching Follow the Sun. This is a motivational movie for any young golfer to watch. It is about faith and persistance.

As a young man this picture had a major influence on my life. When it is available for sale again, I will be the first to buy a copy. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Filled with valuable lessons................
We borrowed this from the library. Although it has cartoon sequences with live action I think that this movie appeals more to the older child and adults. The scenery is beautiful. The cartoons are great with wonderful songs. The actors are great also. Burl Ives does a wonderful job as Uncle Hiram. His natural, effortless, singing ability jumps up through out the film.
The story is about a young boy being raised by his grandmother in the early 1900's. His dreams of owning a champion race horse change when a black lamb is born and is not accepted by its mother. Jeremiah soon falls in love with the lamb and dreams of taking him to the state fair. Without any extra money for train fare Jeremiah must raise money to pay his way.
Strong emphasis placed on faith in God and doing the best with what you got.

'Lavender blue, dilly dilly; lavender green!'
This movie is one of the long forgotten Disney classics that have gotten far less star treatment that it deserves. It should go on record that I think that this movie is one of the best yet least known movies Disney has ever made.

It's about a boy named Jeremiah Kincaid who dreams of owning a champion race horse, but soon tosses away that dream when he falls in love with a little black lamb named Danny.
Danny is the most mischievous lamb ever who drives Jerry's granny to near distraction, but Danny makes up for it all when he wins the special prize at the county fair.

If you are looking for a good, clean movie to show your kids, this is the one. The kids are respectful to their elders, there is no hard language, and this movie is very heartwarming indeed. I promise you, if you see this movie, you won't regret it. It's an all time classic!

OK
The little lamb is adorable and cute, but that is about it. Burl Ives's character mainly just crawls around, singing songs, and the kid is OK. The lamb made me like the movie. It is so cute. But the story is a little lame, so that takes away some of the lamb's cuteness.

fabulous movie
My kids rented this every time we went to the store, so I finally bought it. It should be re-released. We had to buy a used copy, but it is in great shape. I don't recall seeing this movie as a child. I love it. My kids love it. Ages 3, 4, 5

Someone Left The Cake out in the Rain
My daughter and I saw this on cable a year ago and realized there is a segment that image for image would seem to be the inspiration for the trippy 60's song MacArthur Park, Even the cake out in the rain is there! This could be a secret bonus for aging boomers like me who enjoyed playing Pink Floyd while watching the Wizard of Oz! Enjoy!

Chris Browne ... Read more

Amazon.com

While the plot of this Australian film may seem a bit familiar (The Ugly Duckling meets Dirty Dancing), the whimsical tone and superb dance sequences will make you forget the movie's predictability. Scott (Paul Mercurio) is a champion ballroom dancer who wants to dance "his own steps." Fran is the homely, beginning dancer who convinces Scott that he should dance his own steps... with her. Complicating matters are Scott's domineering mother (Pat Thompson), a former dancer herself, who wants her son to win the Australian Pan Pacific Championship (the same contest she lost years ago), and a conniving dance committee that is determined that "there are no new steps!" The dancing is enjoyable, yet not overwhelming, and the movie strives hard not to take itself too seriously (the beginning of the film is even styled as a pseudo-documentary). Strictly Ballroom, while not so subtly imparting its moral ("A life lived in fear is a life half-lived"), is a laughable romp that's sure to be a crowd pleaser. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (149)

My anti-depressant
Okay, maybe that's an overstatement, but the first time I watched this movie, I checked it out of the library. I was a recently divorced single parent of two, struggling with a house note and bills I couldn't pay. On this particular day, I was fighting a bad cold, and feeling generally tired and unhappy. I took this movie out based only on the "Two Thumbs Up" recommendation of Siskel & Ebert at the bottom of the case. After viewing this film, I felt energized and full of good humor. I eventually bought it and have shared it with my mom, sister, kids, friends, and new husband. They all loved it! Where do I start? 1. The performances. Everyone in this movie is wonderful. They are believable and credible even though the material is completely over the top so much of the time. I love these people. 2. Then there's the romance. The main love story is very sweet, but all throughout the film, you feel like romance is literally in the air. It's also amazing how much sensuality is conveyed without any overt sexuality. 3. The dancing. I never gave ballroom dancing a thought until I saw this movie. Now, I love watching it. 4. The family relationships. They may seem unbelievable, but that mother is all too familiar to me. 5. Paul Mercurio--he's hot! Enough said.

This movie is funny, touching, and like nothing I've ever seen before or since. I can't even compare it to anything else. I'm happy to see how favorably other people have reviewed it.

Can I bend your ear for a tic?
I can't believe this movie completely escaped my attention during it's release in 1992. In fact, I hadn't even heard of it until about two years ago. However, after one viewing, it quickly became one of my favorites. The biggest plus, in my humble opinion, is the cast. Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice are wonderful leads. They both possess an intensity that makes for wonderful sparks between the two. I also love the fact that the character of Fran was not a dressed-down supermodel-type. Tara does a wonderful job of conveying Fran's determination but, at the same time, her self doubt. As her confidence and dancing ability evolves, so too does her appearance. It's such as gradual and completely believable transformation. It is wonderful to watch Scott's feelings for her also change. The supporting cast is top-notch too. Pat Thompson was magnificent as Scott's overbearing mother. She could sometimes border on viscous but, at the same time, remain somewhat sympathetic.

Now for the DVD itself. I may get raked for this but, as OK as it was, it could have been better. During the commentary by O'Connol, Martin, and Luhrman, Ms. Martin referred to some scenes that had to be cut before the release of the movie. I would loved it if they would have included deleted scenes on this DVD edition but they didn't. And, speaking of the commentary, I really didn't find it too enlightening. Well, let me put it this way, if you're watching it to get a background on ballroom, and other types, of dancing - then this is the commentary for you. However, if you're like me and want lots of interesting tidbits on cast, crucial scenes, etc., you'll only find them sparsely placed in between long stories about ballroom training, the history of the Paso Doble, and descriptions of sets. Even Baz, at one point, had to proclaim it was time to get back to commenting on the movie. Lastly, since I didn't see the movie during its original release, I would have loved it if they included its original theatrical trailer but it was not to be.

Nevertheless, even if this DVD were to come only equipped with the movie itself, it would be a bargain at whatever price it was offered. If you haven't seen it, watch it! If you're wondering if you should splurge on the DVD, despite my nitpicky complaints about the DVD edition, I'd encourage it.

Awesome movie, not so the DVD
I have loved this movie for years, and had it on tape. I was so happy when I saw there was a DVD, and it had a commentary. But, surprise! The commentary is absoluely rotten. I can't believe people who could make such an entertaining movie couldn't find anything interesting to say about it. I found my self yelling at the TV screen for them to get moving. Don't remember ever doing that before...

There are a few interesting extras, but really, the only thing I got for my money as a slightly clearer picture.

Some spectacular dance scenes
I've never really been a great fan of Baz Luhrmann's. Moulin Rouge was also a 3 out of 5 rating, in my opinion. I think it must be his style of cinematography - its neither theatre nor film, its halfway in-between... but I'm like this : If I watch a film I want to see a film, and if I want to watch a musical, I go to the theatre. Still, I gave this a shot after reading lots of glimmering reviews about it here. What I can say is this : the dancing was spectacular, and I love dancing, so that was why I gave this movie 3 stars. Apart from that, its just a run-of-the-mill love story... The lush prop sets and costumes might be a main attraction for some who loved this film enough to give it 5 out of 5, but I tend to look for something original and a bit different in a movie, and this just wasn't it.

strictly superb.....oh, and sweet.....
When I started dance classes in 1992, I was probably one of the gawkiest, most unconfident little dancers you would have ever seen......chubby, shy, not very well-coordinated. You know how tough it can be to be ten years old! Anyway, the year was 1993, and I went to see a film called STRICTLY BALLROOM, that had just been released at a local art house movie house. Not many people had even heard of it, let alone of the director, Baz Luhrmann. It was a small film about ballroom dancing, of all things...and a comedy! All I knew was I always enjoyed watching ballroom dancing on PBS, and dreamed about being slender, graceful and perfectly tan! Just like all of those competitive dancers I saw. This film was probably one of the best tonics I needed. The storyline is about Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio), a young man who has grown up with the dancing gene ever since he could remember. He even started competing in ballroom (modern and latin) since the age of six. He truly had the ultimate "stage mother" mum forcing him to stick to the moves (and the partners) that will get him the ultimate in coveted honors in the Ballroom dancing community--first prize at the PAN PACIFICS. His partners are all the same: blonde, busty and bossy. Also, divas with a capital "D." Scott upsets and shocks the ballroom dance community with his "crowd pleasing" steps during one of the performances, which leads to an immediate and messy break-up between him and his current partner, Liz (Gia Carides). Scott does not want to give up on his original footwork, and stubbornly practices his spins, jumps and twirls, completely unaware that Fran (Tara Morice), the beginning dancer and ultimate "ugly duckling" from his mother's dancing studio is watching him in admiration. Fran longs to break free of the "beginning dancers" mold, and team up with someone like Scott who has the guts to challenge the authority of the traditional dance steps drilled into him through years of rigourous training. She also has some spicy moves of her own--being of Spanish extraction, with a background in flamenco.

This film is a real confidence booster for anyone who felt awkward on the dance floor. It is also great fun for people who need an attitude booster, and want to see a really wonderfully crafted, quirky, low-budget Aussie comedy. This debut by Baz Luhrmann is delightfully unaffected, and beautifully done. Guaranteed to have you dancing in the aisles...and, in spite of what you might think, this has the potential to be a great date film. That's right, fellas....though it has "chick flick" written all over it in the title alone, you might find yourself having fun, too!
Don't miss this treat. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

The music's good. Videos...so so.
I'm one of them new U2 converts, and my first CD by them was the hits collection, so I was pretty happy when I got this music video collections.

GOOD
-The music's all top notch stuff.
-The Unforgettable Fire and New Year's Day...beautiful videos both.
-Sweetest Thing is funny, but also quite poignant if you know the story behind the song.
-It is kinda funny watching Bono dance in I Will Follow like U2 was a new wave/synthpop act (they even looked the part, the buttoned to the neck white suits...)
-Where the Streets Have No Name, what a heck of a video
-One Tree Hill
-Amazing version of Bad, from Rattle and Hum

THE BAD
-Unfortunately, the amazing version of Bad features Bono taking off his shirt...uh, I don't think I wanted to see that.
-'New wave' U2 in I Will Follow
-'Hair' U2 in With or Without You (Bono in sleeveless leather top with long ponytail, ugh)
-I kinda cringe with the whole 'Bono marching to the drums' and the 'white flag' in Sunday Bloody Sunday
-They made a video for 'Gloria' didn't they...I love that song, I want that video.

Good video compilation, but...
...not a complete one. Again, like the album of the same name, it's missing songs, it's not in chronological order, and - unlike THE BEST OF 1990-2000, it's not on DVD yet!!!!! Here's what could have been the tracklisting for the original VHS release and what should be for the DVD (and as a bonus, the UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY/LIVE AT RED ROCKS concert video should be included):

1. I Will Follow
2. Gloria
3. New Year's Day
4. Pride...In The Name Of Love (two versions)
5. The Unforgettable Fire
6. Bad (two "live" versions)
7. A Sort Of Homecoming
8. Where The Streets Have No Name
9. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
10. With Or Without You
11. Bullet The Blue Sky (LIVE)
12. One Tree Hill
13. The Sweetest Thing
14. Desire
15. When Love Comes To Town
16. Angel Of Harlem
17. All I Want Is You
UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY/LIVE AT RED ROCKS (bonus material)---------
1. Surrender
2. Seconds
3. Sunday Bloody Sunday
4. The Electric Co.
5. October
6. New Year's Day
7. I Threw A Brick Through A Window
8. A Day Without Me
9. Gloria
10. Party Girl
11. 11 O' Clock Tick Tock
12. I Will Follow
13. '40'

(by the way, the video for "Sunday Bloody Sunday" on 1980-1990 was taken from the LIVE AT RED ROCKS concert so that's why I didn't list it with the other promo videos)

DVD Must be released
This is another example of a music video that should be on DVD,
Please release it!

?????
Why isn't this available on DVD? When it is issued on DVD, they should include the unreleased Red Hill Mining Town video by Neil Jordan. Hopefully their merchandising team has thought ahead with Best of 1990-2000 and will automatically issue it on DVD as well as VHS.

Where are Gloria and Celebration?
Of course, whenever you are a "snob" who has liked something longer than most people you know, you tend to like the stuff that they all missed more than the stuff that made them jump on the bandwagon. I did not like Joshua Tree for several years because it made U2 a household name instead of a cult band. Yeah, only a couple of years later, after I hadn't listened to it a a while, I had to say, "This was the album of the '80's - well done."

But this isn't about that, it's about the vid collection. My point is that this is a collection for all of those who jumped on the bandwagon on or after Joshua Tree. For the "thousands" of us who rushed out to buy War in 1983 this collection is missing some relics. Most significantly, Gloria, the first song I heard by them on a Joliet, IL punk/new wave station, and Celebration - an early "single-only" (like Party Girl and 11 O'Clock) and never has appeared on an authorized album. It was probably the next best video to New Year's Day.

Nonetheless, any collection of U2 video's automatically gets at least 4 stars by default. Worth the money, of course, just disappointing by the lack of the relics. Maybe they will cash in by releasing a DVD with Celebration included! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Both the televison pilot and the first Fleisher cartoon
Volume 1 on "TV's Best Adventures of Superman" has the first and last episodes of the syndicated television series starring George Reeves that ran from 1952-1957. "Superman on Earth" (Episode #1), written by Richard Fielding, tells the story of how the infant Superman was rocketed from the dying planet Krypton to Earth, where he was raised by a kindly couple, the Kents (renamed Sara and Eben for some reason). When he grows up Clark Kent gets a job as a reporter at the Daily Planet, a great metropolitan newspaper, while Superman makes his first appearance and rescues a man from a dirigible. Then in "All That Glitters" (Episode #104), Superman's friend, Professor Pepperwinkle, has figured out how to transmutate base metal into gold. Of course, crooks force the professor to make lots of gold for them, but it seems the professor has an even bigger secret. He knows how to turn any man into a Superman. This final episode, directed by George Reeves and filmed in color, was written by Robet Leslie Bellem and Whitney Ellsworth. Phyllis Coates plays Lois Lane in the pilot while Noel Neill had the role from the second season on, Jack Larson is Jimmy Olson and John Hamilton rules as Perry White. As a very special treat, in between these two episodes is the first Superman cartoon by Dave Fleisher, which was nominated for an Oscar in 1941. The cartoon provides a brief explanation of Superman's origin (this time he is raised at an orphanage), and then we are introduced to what would be the standard format for this cartoons: Lois Lane goes off on an assignment, gets into big time trouble, and is rescued by Superman. Clearly, this first volume is the one to have if you are only going to have one Superman tape in your collection (the "Superman and the Mole Men" two-part episode/movie would be the second).

Wish these were still on TV...
This is it! That great first episode when Superman comes to Earth. Great fun, good fiction, campy directing. Who could ask for more. There is a cartoon between 2 George Reeves episodes. The cartoon is clever but not nearly as much fun.

Must see television !
This stuff is the basis of the 50'S! Reeves was the #1 hero of his generation. You should see this historical footage. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Barry Levinson (Wag the Dog) directed this comedy-drama about an Armed Forces Radio disc jockey (Robin Williams) whose manic, hilarious delivery from a studio in 1965 Saigon gives U.S. troops in the field a morale boost (while upsetting military brass). Based on the real-life experiences of deejay Adrian Cronauer, the film is actually more concept than story: put Williams in front of a microphone and let him go nuts. Still, the surrounding stuff about the influence upon Cronauer of the endless deaths among his listeners--as Cronauer tries to stay funny while feeling the mounting losses--is affecting. Williams got a much-deserved Oscar nomination for his work. DVD release available. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (34)

funny comedy, so-so drama
This flick really put Robin Williams on the map, and deservedly so- he's freakin' hilarious in this movie! Good acting jobs by all major roles; Forest Whitaker also does nicely as the "protege".

However, the fault of this movie is where it tries to be serious. Williams's politics are thinly veiled, as the only people who oppose anything he does (VC's, bully GI's, "the brass") are stereotypes. Nothing Haup or Dickerson say or do is ever pleasant or reflective of any redeeming qualities whatsoever. In addition, after picking oneself up from the floor from laughing at Williams's brilliant jokes, one can step back and understand (empathize?) why people might not have liked such comments as "If it's being done well, here or abroad, it's probably *not* being done by the U.S. Army!" Now, maybe that's true, maybe it's not, but a lot of people work (and worked) very hard to be sure that what the U.S. Army did is/was done well, and these people wouldn't be the jerks that Dickerson and Haup (sp?) are in this film if they took offense to a deejay like Williams's portrayal of Cronauer.

In short, watch this movie and enjoy the humor, but think twice before taking any sort of "deeper meaning" more seriously.

He bucked authority and won the hearts of the soldiers
Starring Robin Williams as Airman 1st Class Adrian Cronauer, this 1987 film is loosely based on a real radio DJ whose outrageous sense of comedy bucked authority and won the hearts of the American soldiers in 1965 Vietnam. The audience never learns much about Cronauer's character as there is virtually no back story. He is just set down in Vietnam at a time in history when the American police action is about to escalate. When he gets to know the Vietnamese villagers, however, his character slowly changes. Of course there is conflict with his very uptight superiors which adds to the comedy. Eventually though, the story becomes more complex than the comedy and, at film's end, Cronauer has become more mature and wiser.

I found myself giggling at the jokes, but eventually the comedy all had a certain sameness. However, I did get into the story. There wasn't much military action, only some strong hints of what was to come. Wisely, the film focused on the characters and portrays the Vietnamese villagers as real people who Cronauer teaches to curse in American slang and with whom he plays baseball, using mangos as the ball. This is a good video, lighthearted and yet with a message. Robin Williams' performance is excellent. And, although some of the action was a little too slow for my taste and the comedy ran thin early, I still do give it a good recommendation.

Gooooood Moooooorning Amazonnnn!!!!
Robin Williams, one of my favorite actors, is great as the crazy DJ who shakes things up for the soldiers of Vietnam. With his ability to do so many voices, love the Cronkite, and also his talent to convey some of the most diverse emotions, Robin Williams leads the movie. William's character is a radio dj, as I mentioned, who seems in his own world, and happy with it. Yet, with the violence of vietnam but also it's appeal, which to him is the Vietnamese people themselves, he is torn. One of the more uplifting stories about Vietnam this movie is very good and very funny, as only William's, even early in his career, can be.

Morality Charged Comedy
When Williams gets to do his stand up bit behind a mike as a Vietnam War disc jockey the results are hysterical. However, when the movie timidly ventures out from the safe confines of the airbooth, the movie seems ungainly. Williams' Adrian Cronauer is actually kind of a jerk. A funny jerk but a jerk. Being uncooperative, giving people a hard time and being a smart alecked rebel-without-a-cause seem to his modus operandi for the 1st 2/3 of the movie. The movie seems to be trying to tell us the Vietnam War was bad and sad, censorship is bad, mean people suck, many people in influential positions are self-interested jerks and the Vietnamese citizens were just people like you and me. I couldn't escape the impression that the scritwriter was much more interested in making a Robin Williams Movie than in showing any real interest in the Vietnam War.

Wakeup Call, Williams Style.
1965 was the year when, as a result of the Congressional Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, American military buildup in Vietnam began in earnest, and troop strength grew by a factor of no less than eight; from 23,000 at the beginning of the year to roughly 184,000 at the end. 1965 was also the year when a new AFN DJ arrived in Saigon, which over the course of that same year would transform itself from a sleepy French-Vietnamese colonial town into the nightmare it has since come to be in the memory of countless vets.

The new DJ in question was Adrian Cronauer; fresh from an assignment in Greece.

While the idea for a fictionalized account of his Vietnam experience was Cronauer's own, fueled by the popularity of "M*A*S*H," the script for Barry Levinson's "Good Morning Vietnam" was ultimately penned by screenwriter Mitch Markowitz with only some input from Cronauer himself, who has since gone out of his way to underline the fictional nature of the account and stress that his true stance was not so much anti-military as "anti-stupidity." Thus, the film has to be taken with a considerable grain of salt; both as far as the portrayal of 1960s' armed forces radio and as far as the movie's plot is concerned. But that doesn't make it any less poignant; nor does it take away one iota of Robin Williams's performance as Cronauer: Indeed, the role of an irreverent, unstoppable DJ seemed tailor-made for Williams, who had burst onto the scene with his inimitable brand of lightning-quick ad-libbing ten years earlier in "Mork & Mindy" - and of course, all of Cronauer's hilarious broadcasts in this movie are ad-libbed, too.

The film follows Adrian Cronauer from his arrival in Saigon in the spring of 1965 to his forced departure about a half year later (although the real Cronauer in fact stayed for a year and was not forced out but left when his regular tour of duty was over). While a comedy, and although not trying to be anywhere near the "definitive" take on Vietnam, it does take a close look at the year when the conflict escalated and, in particular, at the resulting toll on human relations. Robin Williams earned his first of to date four well-deserved Academy Award nominations for this role (the others were for "Dead Poets Society" [1989], "The Fisher King" [1991] and "Good Will Hunting" [1997], the movie for which he finally scored on Oscar night). And in his inimitable way he provides pointed comic relief not only over the microphone but also, and always with a unique ear for the situation's mood, whenever the script would otherwise threaten to veer off into melodrama; such as after his discovery that his Vietnamese friend Tuan is actually a Viet Cong fighter named Phan Duc To ("It's unbelievable. Five months in Saigon, and my best friend turns out to be a V.C. This will not look good on a resume!!"); and in scenes that would otherwise be burdened with a bit too much cliche and/or deliberately funny writing, such as the conference after Cronauer's first broadcast, where Bruno Kirby (Lieutenant Hauk) gets to deliver such gems as "Don't say that the weather is the same all the time here, because it's not; in fact, it's two degrees cooler today than yesterday" and "I hate the fact that you people never salute me - I'm a lieutenant, and I would like salutes occasionally. That's what being a higher rank is all about." Even if Kirby himself gets to make up for these a little later in the same scene with the comment "We are not going to escalate [Vietnam into] a whole war so we can get a big name comedian" (Bob Hope who, as the men have informed him, does not "play police actions"), it takes Williams's/Cronauer's final weaving of the lieutenant's preferred abbreviations into a single sentence to truly put the finishing touch on the scene.

Although "Good Morning Vietnam" is clearly first and foremost a star vehicle for Robin Williams, he is joined by an outstanding supporting cast, including inter alia, besides Bruno Kirby, Forest Whitaker as Cronauer's good-natured sidekick PFC Montesque Garlick, the ever-reliable J.T. Walsh as his second great nemesis, Sergeant Major Dickerson (whose stock character of a straight-laced white middle class guy would probably not have come off convincingly as a villain vis-a-vis anybody *but* Robin Williams) and, in particular, Tung Thanh Tran as Tuan and Chintara Sukapatana as his sister Trinh: Her plea with Cronauer not (even) to seek her friendship, let alone more, because for her such an association with a man (particularly a foreigner) is culturally unacceptable, is one of the movie's most quietly powerful scenes. Exceptional is further Peter Sova's cinematography, which convincingly captures the daily realities of a city and a country on the brink of an all-out war, and is brilliantly complimented by the editing, which in turn also uses the soundtrack - more or less a mid-1960s "greatest hits" compilation - to maximum effect; be it in framing daily military routine, the soldiers' enjoyment of Cronauer's style of broadcasting or combat action: Indeed, hardly any image could make a more powerful statement on the cruel absurdity of war than seeing a village blown up to the tune of Louis Armstrong's "It's a Wonderful World."

Thus, "Good Morning Vietnam" is in its own way as poignant a wakeup call as any other movie about Vietnam - or about World War II, or any other war for that matter. It deservedly netted the Political Film Society's 1989 Peace Award, in addition to Robin Williams's Oscar nomination and his Golden Globe and American Comedy awards, as well as the movie's ASCAP soundtrack award. And it certainly bears revisiting - for its overall quality, for Robin Williams's performance, and also for lessons learned and deserving never to be forgotten. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Perhaps a better title for The Best of Ernie and Bert would beVisits with Ernie and Bert, since the daunting prospect of culling thechoicest episodes from more than three decades of Sesame Street issubjective at best. Only eight skits are included in this 30-minute program,which may result in viewer disappointment as countless "favorites" have beenomitted. Having said that, the chosen scenes are gems, such as Ernie at themovies contending with a woman's large hat obstructing his view, or Bertresiding at a meeting of the Association of W Lovers. Gina and Big Birdintroduce the skits while reminiscing through a scrapbook; but, when theirconversation turns to babysitting, viewers will wish for more Ernie and Bert andless introductory chitchat. Three songs are included and, thankfully, "RubberDuckie" is one of them, though the classic bathtub sketch has been overlooked.Nonetheless, Bert's legendary sardonic wit and Ernie's sweet sincerity arewondrous to behold, and the humor ripens as audiences grow older. (Ages 2 andolder) --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Entertaining for kids, nostalgic for adults
I have to agree that there's no way to get all the great Ernie and Bert skits and songs into one movie, even if they made it longer than 30 minutes. This is a nice start. Maybe we'll see more collections later. Anyhow, my toddler loves this (though the talking statue in Egypt scared him a little at first, now he laughs)and we find it brings back memories of our own childhoods.

Timeless Fun
My 5 year old watched this video over and over and over (you get the point) when she was a toddler. Now my twin 1 year olds have begun watching it. They LOVE it. Ernie and Bert are their favorite Sesame Street characters and the short skits and fun songs keep them glued to the TV for the whole 25 minutes. My 5 year old was also scared of the "Egypt" section, but not until she was about 4. Up until then she loved it.

Even Babies Love It!
My 4 month old loves this tape! I needed to buy a little time one day and Play With Me Sesame wasn't on TV at the time, so I remembered that I had this tape. Anyway, I popped it in and my daughter was mesmerized. While it is only 30 minutes, that's about all the television a little baby can handle before they need something else to do. I love it because I remember all the skits and it is very funny, even for adults, while some of the newer Sesame Street DVDs are so "kiddie" that they're hard to take. Forget Baby Einstein. This good ol' standard works just as well!

Pretty Good...
most of these clips, (the theater, egypt, "That's What Friends Are For") had me laughing so hard i almost wet myself! But still, not enough songs. Not even "Rubber Duckie" or "Doin' The Pigeon". But still, if you want some of the most hilarious muppet moments ever, buy this video!

Wish it was longer!
My son loves Bert and Ernie so I had to buy this video. It's not his favorite, Kids Favorite Songs 2 is, but he does sit down for this one. I can tell he's anticipating the rubber ducky song! A little disappointed it's conducted with Gina and Big Bird looking through a book to show you little clips on Bert and Ernie but it's a good video overall. Just wish it was a bit longer like the one hour Elmo tapes! By the time the half hour video is over and I can get another one in the vcr, my son is gone. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The movie was good.
Boy, it's astounding how many "11-year old viewers" on Amazon are so surprisingly literate and exacting in writing reviews. You'd think that maybe it was just an adult trying to pass themselves off for whatever reason, but no, certainly, it couldn't be that. Besides, we all know how much concern the average pre-teen has for accurate portrayals of historical figures in film.

A Real Disappointment----
Though I was optimistic when I started the movie, I was soon appalled to see the way it portrayed Ben Franklin. Ben Franklin was a famous inventor, not a befuddled old man who can barely remember his own name! His 'Poor Richard's Almanac' was very popular, but this movie made it sound boring and unnecessary. Right from the point that Amos arrived in Ben Franklin's shop, he was helping him. Ben Franklin invented bifocals and the Franklin stove on his own, but here Amos is said to have come up with both! And in the incident where Ben Franklin flies the kite in the storm, the real scientific purpose is never even mentioned. Instead, Amos is again in the spotlight, put out at being a part of one of Ben's "silly experiments." The story suggests that Benjamin Franklin can't manage anything without the help of the mouse. And towards the end of the story, when AMOS is shown to have been the writer of the beginning of the Delcaration of Independence I couldn't believe my eyes! I couldn't and still can't believe how much they omitted or changed the real history, to show Amos as the hero in every situation. Educational and Historical? It might make a good animated film for kids just to watch for pleasure, but if you're looking for an educational video this is the wrong place to go!

How well do we really know Ben Franklin?
Ben and me is the fun-filled story of Benjamin Franklin's friendship with a little mouse named Amos. In the 1700's, Amos the mouse set out to make his way in early America. He soon found himself at the home of Benjamin Franklin, a young, unsuccessful printer and bookbinder. Seeing an opportunity to help Ben out and find a place for himself, Amos supplies Ben with helpful ideas to improve his life and business. Together they work on Ben's paper, and Amos invents the Franklin stove and bifocals. Soon, thanks to Amos, Ben is the successful and well respected publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette, and he is fast becoming one of the most popular men in America. But Ben and Amos have a falling out one day, when Ben's experiments with electricity prove to be hazardous to Amos's health one time too many. The two spend several years apart, until war is in the air and America is ready to separate from its mother country of England. Ben goes to Amos for help, wanting his little friend to return home with him and resume their partnership, but Amos is still bitter after all these years. Amos draws up a contract that Ben must agree to if they are to be friends again, a contract that reads remarkably similarly to our own Declaration of Independence!
Ben and Me is a wonderful Disney Classic featurette about Ben Franklin and America's struggle for Independence. It is definitely a must watch around the 4th of July, and a must have for any fan of Ben Franklin, the American Revolution, or Disney Animation in general! I'm thrilled to have it in my video collection! Pick your copy up before it's gone!

Entertaining AND Eductational
This is a wonderful video, which teaches alot about Benjamin Franklin, while being quite entertaining for children. My 2 year-old loves it. I wish Disney made more videos like this one.

Ben and Me Is a Great Historical Educational Video
The movie, Ben and Me, is a good historical, educational video for children yet it is also humorous. My mom even liked it! It teaches a lot about Benjamin Franklin and how he got his ideas, from a mouse named Amos! Buy this video and have fun! We sure did. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Ma & Pa get their own movie since "The Egg and I" (1947)
This is he first starring role for Ma & Pa Kettle, but not the first film they appeared in. The very first film Majorie Main and Percy Kilbride as "Ma & Pa Kettle", along with Richard Long was in the film "The Egg And I" (1947). They were only minor characters in the film, but made such an impact and was considered so down-home funny that it was decided they should be given a movie of their own. Thus "Ma & Pa Kettle" (1949) was made. In fact, they made eight more films to follow. The films are quite wholesome and Ma & Pa Kettle living on the farm, I'm sure you will enjoy the country-life humor. Ma & Pa Kettle didn't always stay on the farm. They did go to the fair and traveled to the city and even Hawaii. In this film, they finally get to move into a new model home. Wait until you see all the fancy stuff this house can do. I highly recommend you see "The Egg And I" (1947) first, to get the good flavor of the films and appreciate the humor. Enjoy! Followed by: Ma & Pa Kettle Go To Town (1950), Ma & Pa Kettle Back On The Farm (1951), Ma & Pa Kettle At The Fair (1952), Ma & Pa Kettle on Vacation (1953), Ma & Pa Kettle At Home (1954), Ma & Pa Kettle At Waikiki (1955), The Kettles in the Ozarks (1956), The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm (1957). Note: Be sure to catch Majorie Main in "Dead End" (1937).

NUTS TO BIRDIE HICKS!
Percy Kilbride and Marjorie Main star in this spin-off of the EGG AND I, a 1947 flick in which they were scene-stealing supporting characters. The Ma & Pa Kettle series - corny and unsophisticated as they were - proved huge money-makers for Universal Pictures. The hoi polloi just loved watching the antics of these loveable country bumpkins who lived out in Hicksville! In this offering, Ma & Pa play the down-and-out parents of 15 kids who are faced with being evicted from their ramshackle home. Pa wins a slogan contest for a tobacco company, and wins his wife and brood an ultra modern (for 1949) brand-new, fully automated house. Local grouch Esther Dale (as the hilarious Birdie Hicks, a sour old beldame with the face of curds) is jealous of the Kettles' new fortune and accuses Pa of plagiarizing the slogan...Note the the eldest son - Tom - is played by 22 year-old Richard Long who would go on to play Jarrod Barkley on TV's THE BIG VALLEY.

reminds me of growing up in my big family
I grew up in a family of nine, with parents like man and pa. I just love these movies and am looking to collect all their titles..Does anyone know how many video's have been released and where I can get them. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Emma Thompson scores a double bull's-eye with this marvelous adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Not only does Thompson turn in a strong (and gently humorous) performance as one of the Dashwood sisters--the one with "sense"--she also wrote the witty, wise screenplay. Austen's tale of 19th-century manners and morals provides a large cast with a feast of possibilities, notably Kate Winslet, in her pre-Titanic flowering, as Thompson's deeply romantic sister. Winslet attracts the wooing of shy Alan Rickman (a nice change of pace from his bad-guy roles) and dashing Greg Wise, while Thompson m