Reviews (42)

Modern Romance
For everyone who loves romance novels, this is your movie. This hilarious, hearfelt movie pairs a recovering cancer patient with a beautiful, unattainable journalist. With the help of Shelly Long, who is a romance novelist in this movie, Steve Guttenburg wins the girl of his dreams and makes you believe that love is not just skin deep....

Please Don't Tell Her It's Me
I saw this movie a long time ago, and I just fell in love with it! It is such a great movie, and it really made an impression on me. So great in fact, that I've been trying to buy a copy of it, but can't find it anywhere. Will they be re-releasing it? Please let me know! Thanks.

Modern Day Romance
For everyone who loves romance novels, this is your movie. This hilarious, hearfelt movie pairs a recovering cancer patient with a beautiful, unattainable journalist. With the help of Shelly Long, who is a romance novelist in this movie, Steve Guttenburg wins the girl of his dreams and makes you believe that love is not just skin deep....

Dont tell her its me on DVD?
years ago I saw this movie and now I do hope that the producers will realize what a wonderful movie this was and still is and decide to put it on DVD ... PLEASE !

Guttenberg miscast as human
This "film" also sports easily the most insensitive depiction of cancer survival ever caught on celluloid. Gus Kubicek (Mr. Guttenberg) is introduced to the audience as a cartoonist recovering from a bout with Hodgkin's disease, which, according to the filmmakers, makes you look some thing like the love-child of Curly and the Toxic Avenger. He does, however, whip himself back into dynamite Guttenberg-esque shape via a delightful 5 minute jogging and sweating montage (This is bookended by a scene in which a convertible full of Warrant groupies alternately groan or wolf-whistle as Gus sheds his foam latex poundage).


The new, improved Gus still suffers from an atrophied ego and when faced with the obstacle of conquering the heart of one Emily Pear he resorts to the "alter ego" approach, a transformation which requires the afforementioned hair extensions, blue contacts and a black biker jacket. Jami Gertz is terrific as the love interest who can't tell the difference between Steve Guttenberg with blue eyes and an ear clip (I miss the early nineties...) and Steve Guttenberg with brown eyes and the same flat line delivery. Wouldn't you know that at some point during one of Gus' quick changes he forgets to take off the ear clip? Hillarity ensues!


All criticism aside (get me a bulldozer), it is important to remember the moral of this decidedly cookie-cutter exercise: It's what's on the inside that counts. A worthy notion to impart... ... Read more

Reviews (4)

wait to go snoopy
snoopy is my favorite peanuts charecter he's done wonderful things in his life like the time he ran away or the time he joined sled dogs but he's never done something like this before first when snoopy follows a bueatiful poodle named fifi into a circus tent his life was turned around into a famous circus star then in snoopy is getting married charlie brown when snoopy falls for another poodle named johnvue he annouces that he's going to get married everybody thinks a good idea including snoopy's brother spike when spike takes a jurastic journey to see snoopy get married and he does make it and everybody is going through it but what about the bride ?

Snoopy's Getting Married, CB
I am buying this video for my 3 1/2 year old because we have rented it numerous times and really enjoy it. In fact, when asked what video he wanted for Christmas, this was his choice. He loves watching Spike find his was from Needles Calif. to the wedding. The music, as always with Peanuts videos, is great. We don't get to see enough of Spike, and this one is worth it.

Show Biz Snoopy/The Romantic Snoopy
Life Is A Circus, CB features Snoopy running away from the Brown residence to join the circus and chase after a circus poodle. His master Charlie Brown misses him and Snoopy has 2nd thoughts about life in the circus, especially when they dye him pink!

Snoopy gets ready to tie the knot in Snoopy's Getting Married, CB. His brother Spike is the best beagle (he comes all the way from Needles, CA to see Snoopy get married. The gang has taken care of catering with a composition by maestro Schroeder and a salad by Lucy. Will Snoopy marry the dog or disappoint Schroeder's composition and Lucy's salad?

i love snoopy
I am a huge peanuts fan and I especially love this video. I think it is because I remember it so well. Snoopy runs off with the circus and falls in love with a cute little poodle. I think it is brilliant how much happens and how little is said. Snoopy at his best. I also find this one to be loved by little girls who love to see love in their cartoons. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Most people didn't mind Gwyneth Paltrow's English accent in this charming, 1996 adaptation ofJane Austen's novel (which also inspiredClueless). But even if it doesn't sound quite right to you, there are plenty of authentic and wonderful Brit thespians in this film by screenwriter-turned-director Douglas McGrath (co-author of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway), including Juliet Stevenson(Truly Madly Deeply), Alan Cumming(Buddy), Phyllida Law (Much Ado About Nothing), Ewan McGregor (the Scots star ofTrainspotting), and Sophie Thompson, outstanding and finally heartbreaking as the chattering Miss Bates. Paltrow plays Austen's benign busybody, Emma Woodhouse--so busy trying to arrange the lives of others that she is sidestepping her own. McGrath brings a kind of pretty and light touch to the production, his best move the wise delegation of creative authority to the actors themselves.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (195)

An all-around superb film
For some reason, people who see this movie either completely adore it or completely despise it. I will never understand those who despise it, because Emma is one of the most well-made movies I have seen. The entire cast is wonderful, with almost all of the actors accurately portraying the characters from Jane Austen's novel (which I believe everyone must read before they can fairly judge this movie). The score was excellent (apparently the Academy agreed) and the costumes were beautiful. Considering that Austen's novel is more than 400 pages long, I would have to say that the director did a fabulous job of turning it into a two hour movie. Gwyneth Paltrow is the exact Emma I envisioned when I read the novel for the first time, and Jeremy Northam is absolutely adorable as Mr. Knightley. The humor is subtle, but that is characteristic of most of Austen's novels. Despite the quality of this film, it's probably not for everyone. The language may be hard for some to take for two hours, and it is a period piece, which not everyone enjoys. However, I would still recommend this movie to anyone.

Brilliant in so many ways
Being a die-hard Austen fan, I couldn't resist watching this movie. Emma Woodhouse's story has always been my favorite of
Austen's efforts, and I am always glad to see her work brought to the screen. I was VERY pleased with this film.

Casting was well done. Northam provides a sturdy, but not overly-stern, Knightley, and Paltrow does an amazing job of convincing us that she is, indeed, British in her portrayal of Emma. Her accent is nearly flawless, and I felt that she truly captured the personality of Austen's most spoiled heroine. The sets and lighting are bright, airy, and perfectly suited to the comedic approach taken by this particular director. The scenes are edited just brilliantly. Each scene flows seamlessly from one to another, and the pace of the plot runs along just perfectly. It moves fast enough to keep everyone interested and slowly enough to make sure that everyone has enough time to absorb what's going on.

The criticism I've heard most often is that the film really only touches on the Jane Fairfax/Frank Churchill subplot for the briefest of moments. I did not find that to be injurious to the film. It's plain, while watching this version, that the director wanted to keep the story light and funny. Adding Jane and Frank's saga would have done two things: First, it would have seriously darkened and dramatized the bouncy and bright atmosphere of the entire film. Second, it would have taken the spotlight off of Emma Woodhouse as the focus of the story. I felt that, given the abbreviated length of time that a movie has in which to communicate a story...the omission of Frank & Jane's affair was a wise choice.

The second criticism I've heard of the film is that it's just too clean and "pretty" to be accurately representative of Regency England. Again...this didn't bother me. The focus of this film is NOT to be true to history. It is not a Regency documentary. It is a fun and aesthetically pleasing depiction of Emma Woodhouse and her friends. It's romantic, funny, charming, and very very pretty to look at.

I loved it.

Misguided, but somehow pleasing.
There's no reason this should work as well as it does. This is a very broad adaptation and the performances in general are unsubtle and broad as well. Ms. Paltrow's accent is heinous, and Ms. Collette's work is frankly annoying (though that is in part as written.) As the movie moves from set piece to set piece, lingering endlessly on the beautiful design, one can't help but think that if Ms. Austen's Emma had actually had so much to do, she'd have been little bored enough to spend so much time meddling in her friends' affairs. But in the end, the good will evinced by all involved somehow makes a film that charms very much in spite of several and severe flaws. The BBC version of Emma is much superior in adherence to the Austen story, and Clueless certainly has the edge for humor, but this is a fair adaptation that ultimately is more success than failure.

Love this movie!
Beautiful people, clothes, quirky characters and a flawed Emma make this movie enjoyable time after time. There aren't a lot of movies I can watch multiple times, but this is one I always enjoy!

Paltrow and Northam light up the screen!
Whether you've read the novel or not, this movie adaptation is enjoyable to watch. The characters are so vividly brought to life that it's impossible not to feel their joys and their sorrows. Paltrow is adorable as the young Emma and her scenes with Mr. Knightly (Jeremy Northam) spark with romantic chemistry. Mr. Knightly comes off as charming and very handsome thanks to Northam's own charm and classy good looks. Miss Bates makes you laugh but at the same time, she breaks your heart. Great sets, scenery, and acting by entire cast. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Description

The inner universe of Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti provides the basis for this first-person narrative.The story is divided into three segments. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Better than Prozac and no negative side effects
Nanni Moretti's Caro Diario is one of the most hopeful films I've seen in a long time. Listening to Moretti's quiet musings as he putters about Rome on his Vespa or watching his hapless scholar-friend comically succumb to the lotus eating world of American TV makes me realize how human we are all, and how wonderfully human are the Italians. This movie will cure any bad mood. Moretti is the best thing to happen to film since Federico Fellini picked up a camera.

This movie is simply great and Moretti is simply a genius
The thing that grabs me about this movie is that Nanni Moretti makes it look so simple to make a great film (its not, for sure) the plot is hilarious wheather Nanni is travelling between the Italian islands looking for a quite place to concentrate on his work or going from one dermatologist to another to find a cure for an itch. What makes this movie so great is that even when the plot stalls a little (not very often) you still have beutifull scences and great soundtrack to compensate for it. As far as I am concerned this movie is PERFECT.

a good picture of italy
3 very nice 'postcards' of italy in these late years. funny and desperate!

Siremar
There are so many things that make this movie great, but to me two things stand out. The melancholy scene of the Siremar ferry passing behind Nanni on the island of Stromboli that foreshadows his bout with cancer in the third act. And the redemptive and glorious act of drinking a simple glass of water. If you don't want to buy a Vespa after seeing this movie you have no soul.

Don't go on without it!
Even if youv'e never been to Roma or Stromboli and you don't know who Silvana Mangaro is. Indulge in this story of life and comedy and then if you still don't like it, book a trip to Italy and you will be hooked. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

NO Extreme? No Good!
I agree with just about everyone else who has reviewed this DVD, how can the people who edited this cut out the BEST performance of the concert which was Extreme's medley of Queen songs. I thank my lucky stars I still have it on tape from when MTV first aired the concert 10 years ago. It's my favorite part of the show and by far one of the coolest moments. The band, most especially Gary Cherone, payed tribute to Freddie and Queen in the best way I've ever seen. The medley of songs were performed with such excitment and the audience loved them. So did I :) This DVD just starts the concert with Joe Elliott doing Tie Your Mother Down, that's like the middle of the show! There were several performances cut out mainly Metallica, Guns 'N Roses, Def Leppard, and the above mentioned Extreme. This DVD needs to be re-issued in it's entirety. I did, however, like those Freddie segments included on the dvd that were shown to the audience during intermission. Those were really cool. Great concert but not shown to it's fullest potential on this dvd and that's a real shame. QUEEN AND FREDDIE deserve more...and so do the fans :)

It's About Time!...
Stupendously great concert from April 1992. I've owned it on laserdisc since 1993 and I've been hoping a DVD release would be forthcoming!
This concert is culled from a day-long Freddie Mercury tribute/benefit concert that took place about 5 or 6 months after Freddie died. The first half is largely devoted to a number of bands doing mostly Queen covers. Metallica opens with three of their own songs (and back when the boys in Metallica still had long hair). Def Leppard does a song or two, Extreme does a 12+ minute Queen medley (it ROCKS!), and there are some vintage Queen and Freddie clips interspersed throughout. Then, the REAL fireworks start! Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon take the stage and lead a Who's Who of musicians and singers through a lengthy set of Queen material. Robert Plant sings "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", Metallica's James Hetfield sings "Stone Cold Crazy", Gary Cherone of Extreme absolutely rocks the joint with "Hammer To Fall", Roger Daltrey sings "I Want It All", Seal does "Who Wants To Live Forever", Def Leppard returns, and we also get Lisa Stansfield, Elton John, Axl Rose, Paul Young, David Bowie, members of Mott the Hoople, and Liza Minneli closes the show with "We Are The Champions."
The show runs in excess of 3 hours, and the DVD release promises to have extra material not on the laser and VHS versions.
The audio recording of the show is stellar, and the video photography is crisp and clear. After you watch this you'll wish you'd been there.

Best of all, you get a renewed sense of how strong Queen's songwriting and performing talents were (and still are). And all of the artists singing in Freddie's place give it their all and make the versions their own, all without detracting from Freddie's original version.

You're an IDIOT if you don't get this concert DVD!

The Laserdisc is so much better, since it has the whole show
My long time waiting for a DVD version of that old but great Laserdisc was wasted. It's absolutely depressing what they did here, by cutting some of the best parts of the original show.

The Queen Medley by the great band Extreme was probably the best part of this show, not only because the way they played, but also because the playlist choice. A Medley of Bohemian Rhapsody, Bycicle Race, Another One Bites Dust, Keep Yourselves Alive, and others leading to one of the most beautiful moments of the show: the Radio Ga Ga ending, leading the audience to tears.
Although the sound has been improved and a new and useless "extra materials" has been added, it doesn't worth the content they cut (opening act, Metallica, Def Leppard, GnR, Extreme and others).

I would never exchange the old original laserdisc for this useles "extra materials" with a bunch of new footage.

I came out of my skin when I saw what was missing!
I too own the laserdisc of this show and got the DVD for the new mix in DTS. The sound is good, but it's the content they cut (the opening acts) such as Metallica, Def Leppard, GnR, Extreme and others. I would have gladly forfeited the "extra materials" for the original show instead of a bunch of new footage that was just as well served on the cutting room floor. Don't get me wrong, the performances they left in are great...but shame on them for cutting what they did...typical non-musician producer. The 2-star drop is for that reason alone. Glad I didn't sell the laserdisc!

It's a great concert but the DVD sucks
This DVD set is a huge disappointment. How could the DVD have FEWER matertials than the VHS version?! I was expecting to see not just what they have on the VHS, but also the ones they edited out, but no! They have 2 discs and this is all they could put in? I just couldn't believe it! Guess I should buy the VHS tape on eBay instead... ... Read more

Reviews (279)

"'Think you can get me ?"
High quality DVD !

As I watched again and again the (new) Thomas Crown Affair, I realize I came to enjoy it more and more. Dense entertainment: action, tumultuous and steamy romance, inspired direction from McTiernan ("Die Hard", "The Hunt for Red October"), and appropriate musical score. Good performances from Brosnan, Russo and Leary. A tour-de-force for Rene Russo ("tougher" in her portrayal of the insurance agent than Faye Dunaway in the original affair), considering the fact that in real life she is very much unlike the character she plays in this movie (see Russo's press and TV interviews). Kudos for Pierce Brosnan - much better and diversified delivery here than in all his three James Bond impersonations. (The wonder of the last 007, "The World Is Not Enough", is Sophie Marceau - not just good looking, but a good actress !)

No, I am not saying we should ever go out steal Manet, Monet, Degas, ... as a passe-temps, but, we do like this film because no matter who we are, deep-down in our subconscious mind lies the desire to be successful, which, somehow means being wealthy enough to allow us to indulge, satisfy all our needs, whims, and caprices, to be "rewarded" with an absorbing and adventurous life.

Pierce Brosnan and Renee Russo's affair is, perhaps, more alert, technical, and graphic (adapted for the 90's) than the original one involving Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. I have distinct praise for the 99 rendition of this fantasy, but I believe Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway are better actors (watch their other films), and their 68 performance is just better. Do not trust me ! Watch both films on DVD or VHS, and decide. Steve McQueen has presence, is sure of himself (that is what makes a man sexy !), and Faye Dunaway does not have to wear a see-through dress to make us feel she is sophisticated, beautiful, and desirable. The dialogues there are shorter, sparse, and to the point. Exquisite direction (and good use of the split-screen tech) from Norman Jewison teaming with Michel Legrand who raved us with the Oscar winner "Windmills of My Mind". The 68 "chess seduction scene" (subtle touching, teasing, warm eyes) has no equal in the 99 film, and the "chemistry" between the characters played by McQueen and Dunaway is more intense.

There is more entertainment packed in the 99 film, while there is more film in the 68 entertainment ! Enjoy both affairs !

The Caper Sizzles While the Romance Fizzles
This breezy remake of the 1968 original "Thomas Crown Affair" is a slick, enjoyable, and occassionally clever caper film. But the film suffers from several shortcomings that detract from it's initial promise. But it's mostly the film's wrong-headed romance that stops the action dead in its tracks.

I've never seen the first "Thomas Crown Affair" so I have nothing on which to judge this film but on it's own merits. Where once stood Faye Dunaway and Steve Mcqueen, we now have Rene Russo as the sultry insurance investigator Catherine Banning and Pierce Brosnan as high-living billionaire Thomas Crown. Both actors are good in their respective roles, especially Russo who basically steals the show from Brosnan and everyone else around her coming off as both smashingly smart and sexy. Unfortunately Brosnan and Russo share no chemistry and generate no heat. This subsequently renders their romance sequences together, from passionate love-making in Crown's apartment to basking in the sun light of a sandy island beach, all the more uninteresting.

But the problems don't stop there. Russo and Brosnan's characters also never seem really interested in each other in an emotional sense. Throughout the entire film I never felt Catherine Banning's interest in Crown stretched beyond revealing him as a crook. Her only purpose for sleeping with him or accompanying him to his island getaway always seemed to be just killing time.

But that's not to say the movie is without it's bright spots of which it has plenty. The actual caper is a cleverly devised one, and whenever time isn't being wasted on romance the movie is often highly entertianing and genuinely interesting. Still, so much time is wasted with Crown and Catherine jetting around for recreation that the final twist isn't nearly as astonishing as it should have been, simply because we've lost track.

All in all, "Thomas Crown Affair" is a glossily-textured, gorgeous-looking package. It's not a bad film by any means, and has alot of terrificly played sequences. There's a general lack of suspense and drama but it's still entertaining enough.

I'm a sucker for romance and intrigue (shhh)
I am such an avid movie watcher that I rarely feel inclined to watch a movie more than once. Well, let me admit to not only having bought the DVD, but to having watched it numerous times!

I love the sound track of the movie and will be doing my own remake--going Duo Discus glider riding with my significant other ;).

The love scene is wonderful, the chemistry between the actors works like a MIT Lab experiment and the whole movie is simply spot on.

I recommend it highly!

Russo At Her Best!
I won't go into the plot of this movie, most buyers will already know it anyway. The DVD transfer is superb. This is the only movie I've ever seen where I liked Pierce Brosnan and thought he was cast properly. What makes this movie for me, though, is the performance of Ms. Russo. She is the perfect combination of sex and brains. Her wardrobe is amazing and she knows how to wear it! There are some slow parts to this movie, particularly the tropical part, but overall it's a keeper.

The Two Crowns
I have been a huge fan of the original Thomas Crown Affair since I first saw it while in the military in 1969..... and bought this "re-make" because I heard so many good things about it. I must say that honestly there are good points in BOTH films. I never quite bought the fact that the original Crown had McQueen's character robbing a bank.... so stealing the "Monet" made much more sense to me. I also thought the story was improved upon in the new version and I was more satisfied by the challenge Bronsnan's character found in Russo's bluntness. On the other hand, the sumptuous music score by Michel LeGrand in the early film was superior to the weak, lackluster and frangmented score that Bill Conti created for the new one. I also think I preferred the sensuous and sexy elegance of the fire between McQueen and Dunaway to the overtly sweaty lust that Brosnan and Russo desparately share. HOWEVER.... I must say I did enjoy BOTH films and find each beautiful and entertaining in their own ways.

(...) The ART of the earlier version is a unique and compelling one and makes that film so fascinating to watch in widescreen! ... Read more

Description

A world-class gymnast fights formidable odds on his climb to the top. Olympics champ Mitch Gaylord and Janet Jones team for music-charged romance from the director of Purple Rain. Year: 1986 Director: Albert Magnoli Starring:Mitch Gaylord, Janet Jones, Michelle Phillips ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Must See !
I saw this movie when I was a teenager, my best friend and I recommended it to everyone, we even bought the soundtrack, as the music is Excellent. The Storyline, Gymnastics and Romance combine to make a movie which you will want to watch over and over again. If you haven't seen this movie, even though now fairly old, see it, it will be well worth it.

Ladies and gentlemen, Becky Cameron!
A wonderful movie! The plot centers on a young outcast who is attempting to find himself. Mitch Gaylord gives this superb performance as he shows us a glimpse of the duality of man. On the one hand, he is a tough, street-smart kid ready to follow in the footsteps of his father and work with power tools and wear wife-beater shirts. On the other hand, he is a feminine gymnast who wears tights and does cartwheels. In the end he learns that he does not have to sacrifice one aspect of himself in order to fulfill the other. I also thought the sideplot with Janet Jones and the kid from Mask was nice. That boy has the moves of Fred Astaire and James Brown!

A must see
This is one example of a movie that should be on DVD and unfortunately it is not.

A Great Movie
I have always loved this movie since i was a child and when i found it @ amazon i bought it straight away. I find Janet Jones Story in the movie much more interesting and it's what i focus on when i watch it. I also Love alot of the songs in this film too. I wish they had of making a second movie but all in all i love this film and i never get bored of it.

Another awesome movie overlooked
I have watched this movie so many times I know the words by heart. Mitch Gaylord and Janet Jones are really good actors. It is one of the best portrayals of modern gymnastics -- showing the intense training modern gymnasts go through to be the best, how relationships work in and outside of the gym, and the transfer to younger athletes within the sport. It is a must for any gymnastics fan! And for those not so interested in the sport it has a great story of overcoming the odds in it too. This is a movie no one should miss! ... Read more

Reviews (114)

Sappy story but somehow lackluster
Kevin Costner and Robin Wright Penn, along with Paul Newman and Robbie Coltrane star in this stomach-turning film based on Nicholas Sparks's titled novel. Penn plays Theresa Osbovue, a woman who falls in love with a man she has never met. A single-mom following a heart-breaking divorce, Theresa retains custody of her son Jason. On a solitary vacation while Jason visits his dad, Theresa is jogging along a remote stretch of coastline when she picks up a sand-immersed bottle containing a passionate letter signed G. The letter turns out to be a heartfelt soliloquy to Catherine. After Theresa's boss publishes the sappy note on the newspaper, Theresa unexpectedly receives a plethora of responses and oddly more letters of the same letterhead turns up at her office. The bittersweet poetry from the letter pulls Theresa's heartstrings and prompts her to search for this man known as the initial G. The movie has adopted from Sparks' novel and seen minor modifications such as the locations of places and the much. Theresa's search for Garret Blake is somewhat cut short in the movie. So if you're interested you should read the novel before watching the movie. Other than that the movie sticks with the original plot:still sad, poignant and heartbreaking, and a bit stomach-turning. Kevin Costner and Robin Wright Penn make an interesting couple to watch. I have to compliment on the beautiful cinematography. The movie, however, is not a bad selection for those who want to enjoy a cozy quiet evening at home. 37/50 3.7 stars.

One of Costner's Best Films
This is a great love story.

Had to watch this one two times!

I highly recommend it for husbands and wives who want and need to rekindle their relationships.

Not anywhere near as good as the book.
They changed SO much from the book to the movie version! Paul Newman's character as the father had his name changed, as well as Theresa's son; Garrett already had a boat, he did not have to build one; his wife was not a painter; Theresa lived in Boston and worked for a fictional newspaper; etc. The movie just lacked so much. There was zero chemistry between the main characters. Kevin Costner was the only wonderful part in the movie as he played the character of Garrett so perfectly that it felt like they stole him right from the pages of the book and breathed life into him to star in the movie. He is the reason to watch this movie - there aren't any other reasons. Read the book - you'll get a more satisfying experience and a more satisfying cry.

Romantic
The plot of this movie was simply beautiful, especially coming from brilliant Nicholas Sparks. The movie was sweet and subtle showing the relationship between a man and a woman.

A woman is a writer, and finds a bottle written with a very beautiful note. She wants to find the author of the notes and possibly write a story on him.

She does meet him, and ironically falls in love with him. She collects the notes any way she can loving him even more. While on her journey, she spends a lot of time with the new man she's fallen in love with.

She has to leave to be with her son who was with his dad over the holiday. Problems arise, and hardships are endured.

The novel and movie are both very touching and romantic.

Left feeling Empty
I like romantic movies. I want the ending to leave me feeling happy, not depressed. Life isn't the fairy tale, thats why I watch movies, otherwise I wouldn't waste my time watching them. I want the fairy tale, the things that could and would never happen in real life. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS MOVIE, until the end, I even stayed up on a work night until 1:30am. If they created this ending to make the movie "more realistic" they failed miserably. I thought I found a new romantic chick flick to add to my collection, I was sorely disappointed. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Indy finally gets it, but forgets it.
I thought, from reading the description, that this would be boring. But it wasn't, not by a long shot. It's probably the best "Young Indy".

The action is limited to the first five or so minutes, where Lieutenant De Fonz (aka Indy) disobeys his superior and tells the troops to advance instead of retreat. This results in victory, and a promotion to Captain, but also the Major holding a grudge. Naturally, Indy and the Major are then teamed up on a mission to retrieve some weapons.

The opening battle sequence was even more graphic then "Trenches of Hell", and when Indy grabs the machine gun and mows done countless men, we see just how far he's come (or fallen) in less than a year. I love this one for all the character developement Indy undergoes, especially in relation to the previous videos. It's good to keep in mind that it's now December of 1916, and just last February all Indy cared about was the prom, and driving a cool car to said event. More has happened to Indy in ten months than happens in real peoples' entire lives.

That's where he is at the start of "Oganga". By the end he's changed even more, due to all the slow death he's had to witness. "Onganga" is great just for the fact that Indy is more human in this than he's ever been. He gets feverish, delusionary, and downright depressed. He seems like a real 17-year-old who's in way over his head. This isn't your typical Indy.

While it's good to see Indy's interaction with Schweitzer, and how it changes his outlook on life, I can't help but note that Harrison Ford's Indy seems to have forgotten the whole thing. He's back to killing with nonchalance, and even glee. Perhaps the Young Indy writers should have tried to be more consistent with the already established future. But at least they are consistent within the series, because in the next video ("Hawkmen") Indy changes his approach to the war by joining the secret service.

Kudos to Sean Patrick Flanery, he's a great Indy, especially in this one.

A Gem
I bought Oganga, The Giver and Taker of Life for my younger son, who is enthralled with anything having to do with Indiana Jones, but I frequently find myself watching this and the other Young Indiana Jones videos with him. The series is simply superb.

George Lucas used some of the best writers, directors and acting talent available to him and filmed the series on location around the world. As a result, despite being made for television, they are gems. Ordinarily, I hate it when movies are used to send a message, but the messages in the series generally flow naturally from the plots without being overly heavy-handed.

In this installment, Indy is an officer serving in the Belgian army in Africa during the Great War who is sent on an important and dangerous mission. In the process, he learns much about leadership, European colonialism, death, and ultimately what is important in life. The series skillfully interweaves real-life people into the plot, and in this installment Indy meets Albert Schweitzer.

Parents should be advised that, while uplifting, this is a war movie and that death, from both battle and disease, is integral to the plot.

Pretty good
I have a friend who describes this one as boring. Not True! It's in the same line as Phantom Train and Daredevils. It's one of those episodes that teaches Young Indy about respecting life and people, but they're still great episodes, even if they are less exciting.

Action, but above all, Indy learns to care about life!
In the other movies, Indy never seemed to care about human life. In this he learns lots about life, feelings and points of view. This movie should be seen by everyone who can see it! It teaches valuable lessons and is still a classic Indiana Jones film.

I have always wanted to be a director and these movies have already taught me alot about the types of movies people like. I have used these and other George Lucas and Steven Spielberg films to use as exaples. Right now my friends and I are working on a film. We hope to have it completed by Jr. High.

Open minded people buy this!
This film lacks the cheesy comedy of the traditional indy videos. It explores philosophy and human nature. Indy has doubts about his involvment in the Belgian armys imperialist war in Africa. After speaking to an African native soldier about the war Indy learns that the Belgians will not leave Africa for the Africans but merely take it over from the Germans they are liberating it from. While it is action packed it also shows the political science of WWI. Get this! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Must See!!!
This movie was extraordinary and changed my life. Lindsay Wagner and Jeffrey Fields are wonderful. After watching this movie, it makes you stop to think about who and what's really important in your life. A DEFINITE MUST SEE! You will not be disappointed. As a matter of fact, I keep looking to see when it will be on again.

What makes this movie so special . . is once you become involved, you almost stop to wonder - this is exactly what I want to have a ONCE IN A LIFETIME experience with someone special.

good movie
I thought this was a great movie. As usual Danielle Steel has done it again. Worth watch more than once.

a Rex Smith find!!!
For those Rex Smith fans out there, He is in this, but it is a short lived role(literally). He is charming and handsome as ever as Jeffrey Fields, husband to Lindsay Wagner(Bionic Woman), who plays Daphne.
Barry Bostwick, most known for his role of Brad, in Rocky Horror Picture Show, plays the doctor who falls in love with Daphne.
The story starts with the present day, Christmas Day, and when Daphne gets hit by a car, the story unravels and goes back to when she lost her first husband, Jeffrey, and her daughter in a house fire. She gives birth to Jeffrey's son, who turns out to be deaf. Daphne becomes a famous author, and raises her son on her own.
This is the first Danielle Steel movie I've watched, I did read the book a long time ago. It is one of my favorites by her. While I don't read her anymore because of sophmoric and formulatic plots, I still enjoy romantic movies with happy endings.
I really wanted to watch this for the snippet of Rex Smith as I have been a fan for more than half my life. It turned out to be a nice story, with the usual Steel plot twists with tragedy(even a glimpse of the twin towers), romance, drama, and tie it all up with a happy ending.

By far this is one of Danielle steels Greatest flims
Last night I was watching my copy of once in a lifetime, Much to my dismay there were sense of world trade center in the movie I cant tell you how this has affected our life's with such sorrow, and in the movie it was business as always. Again Danielle steel has captured a piece of history.

Its a story of a women who beats the odds
An author comes to terms with her personal achievements and tragedies. Based on the novel by Danielle Steel. She has to Make a new life after the untimely death Of her husband and child soon after there death she finds out she's going to have another baby. After the baby's born she finds out he's deaf after taking special classes to learn all she can about her sons handicap she meets a man and he becomes apart of there family ... Read more

Amazon.com

Here's the film of a novel nobody liked in high school (but probably succumbed to when they read it in later life, as they should). Based on the book by Edith Wharton, it's one of those repressed romances of longing and regret carried out in real time and real life. Liam Neeson plays the humble Ethan, manipulated into marrying a plain and sickly woman (Joan Allen, every bit as good as she is in The Contender), who still manages to dominate him. When she grows so ill that Ethan requires help to care for her, they import her poor cousin (Patricia Arquette), who sparks thoughts in Ethan that never occurred to him with his wife. Neeson has a great fire within, as he confronts an array of possibilities that simply remain out of reach because the alternative is unthinkable in this tight-knit New England community. Arquette bubbles with life, while Allen can freeze blood at 100 paces with one of her icy glances. Slow-moving at times but worth it for the final payoff. Directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love). --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Are you a Born Romantic ?
If you love Romance, you simply must have this video! Yes, Ethan and Mattie are what we call "star crossed lovers" in a way, so all the more reason why their courtship escalates so far beyond the mundane.

I promise you this: there are at least two love scenes in this film that are so amorous and seductive that you will most certainly rewind the tape just to reassure yourself that it was accomplished completely without nudity.

Liam Neeson (Ethan) is at his expected best, portraying a character who is astonishingly sexy and lovable regardless of his physical deformity or intensely tragic circumstances. And Patricia Arquette (Mattie) exquisitely personifies a beautiful and kind young woman approaching her first peak of sexuality.

All of the actors are wonderful and the film follows the book very closely. Buy the video, read the book, and then if you are a true Romantic you will watch the video again and again.

Do read the previous reviews from other customers, I enjoyed reading all of them.

It could've been a great movie...
...If only Patricia Arquette weren't in it. I never had anything against her before I saw this movie, but boy, does she know how to ruin a good movie. Liam Neeson was brilliant, and Joan Allen's performance was good, too, but Arquette's "acting" (I use the term loosely) was so overblown, so limp and clumsy and unbelievable, that it ruined the whole film for me; I've seen sixth-graders with better acting skills than I saw out of Arquette in this movie. It's a shame, because the scenes without her in them are brilliant, and the other actors turn in commendable performances. If only they'd hired a more competent actress or paid for some lessons for Arquette.

It was a good book
Ethan Fromme is a great romance book, however as books to movies go, this is one of the worst. Most of the facts were there, but there were added details, and a few missing things which just destroyed the message portrayed in the book.

In the book, Ethan's crippled condition is only barely highlited, yet in the movie, it is dragged out to almost hillarious proportions. This reduces the novels intended effect on viewers of the movie, as the fact that it is supposed to seem almost a punishment on Ethan is lost almost completely. Zeena, the lifeless doll which we see with a certain sense of dread at her introduction in the novel, is a beautiful young woman when she appears in the movie, with only a little less charm later on, when, in the events of the novel, she is supposed to seem almost like death itself. Zeena in the movie is constantly portrayed as being not as bad as we are led to see in the book, therefore making us care for her and almost wonder why Ethan would want to have an affair when he has such a 'good' wife. Also, the character of Mattie, an innocent, vivacious character in the novel, is portrayed as a flirtatious... and almost instigates the affair more than Ethan. In the novel, Ethan is the one who truely begins everything, secretly longing for her, but never able to express his feelings to her until he fears she will be gone.

All these changes destroy the tone with which the author of the book adressed Ethan, and ruined the message that we were supposed to get out of her work. Instead of feeling for the characters of Ethan and Mattie as the evil Zeena destroys Ethan, we feel a sense of disgust at Mattie and Ethan's affair. While the movie was true to the book in many ways, it was the ways in which it wasn't that make this movie sub-par, and almost disgraceful to the book.

Interesting Movie
I really enjoyed the VHS version of this film and I'm looking forward to watching the DVD. I purchased the video a few years ago for a relative and I recently tried to buy one for myself. I was disappointed to find out that it was no longer for sale on VHS format. Fortunately, they are now going to offer it on DVD...I'm placing my order today!

AWESOME CHEMISTRY!!!
If you LOVE Romantic movies with chemistry, especially between the actor and actress, you will LOVE this movie. The chemistry between Liam Neeson and Patricia Arquette is breath taking!!!
I get butterflies in my stomach on a couple of scenes. I wouldn't change a thing in this movie it is absolutely superb!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Elaine May wrote, directed, and starred in this acidic comedy about a wealthy playboy (Walter Matthau) who discovers that he has nearly spent all of his fortune. Casting about for a solution to his money problems that won't actually involve work, he finds a desperate solution: He'll marry an heiress (May) for her fortune. The hitch: She's a social maladept ("The woman is feral," Matthau growls). Indeed, Matthau finds marriage so intolerable that he decides there's only one course of action, which is to actively pursue making himself a widower by bumping her off. An offbeat, funny, and dry film, with a wonderfully misanthropic performance by Matthau and a sharply drawn one by May. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Timeless classic
A New Leaf is a suprisingly unknown gem. If you were to watch this movie in another 20 years, it would still be as funny as the first time you saw it. Absolute classic comedy that appeals to all ages. Wonderful performance by May & Matthau. Can't say enough about May's performance. Priceless. They don't make movies like this any more. If you want to see how comedy should be done, you'd need to see this one, because it is the best. All others should be compared with it. I've rented it numerous times, but never found a copy of the original. I was a teenager when I first saw this from a real, and could never forget it. It is, without a doubt, my favorite of all time. This movie has been, sadly, edited of the most choice scenes from the original. I meet people all the time who have seen the original, and remember all the clipped scenes. The original is worth it's weight in gold - a must own. I give it 5+ stars.

Funniest film of Matthau's oevre. May is also brilliant.
This has been a favorite movie of my sister's and mine for ten years; this year I'm going to give her a copy for Christmas. Matthau's roles often exhibit some variation on his take on "The Odd Couple's" Oscar Madison. Here he plays half against type, convincingly presenting a mannered, cultivated snob, while maintaining and even expanding on his usual grouchy, wise-cracking attitude.

It's got laugh-out-loud moments, and is packed with enough wry scenes and subtle performances that it demands multiple viewings to catch them all. Many touching insights, too, but never a long rest between chuckles. Things do slow a bit at the end, but no more than most great comedies.

Now I read Maltin's capsule review and am amazed that May distanced herself from the final edit. Good gravy, could it have been significantly better? While not a masterpiece of cinematography or special effects, this certainly ranks as a comedy which, particularly if Maltin is correct, demands a Director's Cut.

Very dated, thin plot, not funny
I know that everyone's funny bone varies but this movie is
just NOT very funny. Any family that makes the viewing of this
movie an annual tradition for all ages needs to get real. If
you want to see Walter at his best, stick with Hello Dolly.

It's all true.
This movie is so clever and funny, that it is easy to miss the love story at its heart. It is one of my all-time favorite films and I've been evangelizing it for years.

I'm only adding this review to encourage lobbying to bring this film out on DVD and restore it to May's original cut.

So if each person who reads this will get the movie and show it to 10 friends, and so on, and we get a huge deman for the full three our releas on DVD, we might create movie history.

It is a crime that this movie has been so badly neglected since if was first released.

Barkeep, Gimme Mogen David Malaga Cooler!
Saw this movie in the theatre many years ago, and never ever forgot it. It has become the source of numerous family jokes (poor Henrietta and her lapful of crumbs) - we've even gone so far as to order a Mogen David Malaga cooler at a fancy restaurant -- much to the alarm of the server. This is really how comedy should be done - not vulgar or gross-out, just a great set of characters. Oh, and how about that scene with the toga/nighty? That still makes me scream! Give yourself a treat and get this movie - you'll watch it over and over. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"The Daleks" (sometimes called "The Dead Planet") is the second-ever Doctor Who serial, presented with all seven unedited episodes on one tape. First broadcast between December 1963 and February 1964, the story ensured the program's success by introducing the Doctor's most iconic enemies. Five hundred years after a nuclear war has devastated the planet Skaro, the Doctor (William Hartnell), Barbara, Ian, and Susan materialize in a petrified forest where the pacifist, and decidedly camp, Thals face starvation. Our heroes visit a nearby city that is home to the last remaining Daleks, terrifyingly cold-blooded mutants encased in armed, pepper-pot-like shells, and become involved in a desperate battle for survival. Given a nightmarish atmosphere by Tristram Cary's surreal electronic score, "The Daleks" proved the template for many a future Doctor Who adventure. Hartnell's Doctor is a surprisingly self-serving hero, and the ambitious storytelling, which reflects the cold war fears of the time, belies a tiny budget. The story, remade for the cinema as Dr Who and the Daleks (1965) and starring Peter Cushing, is still both an effective, if at times unintentionally hilarious, entertainment and an essential piece of television history. A superior sequel, "The Dalek Invasion of Earth," was screened in late 1964. --Gary S. Dalkin ... Read more

Reviews (19)

This episode should be exterminated
First let me state unequivocally that I love the Daleks. I have Dalek wav's on my computer and a little Dalek figure action on my desk. And William Hartnell is, as far as I'm concerned, the quintessential Doctor. So I was quite excited to get this rather long series, the second ever Doctor Who series and the first ever featuring the Daleks. And it took me forever to get through it! While it's historical value to the evolution of Doctor Who is enormous, the fact is that these episodes are mostly a snooze.

For starters, the Daleks are awfully talky, which kind of minimizes the effect (not to mention that they are a bit hard to understand what with the Dalek voices and 1960's era sound quality). Susan, again, is frequently hysterical, which just seems odd for a character who is supposed to be so brave and who has traveled throughout time and space. The Thals (...) are too one-dimensional to hold one's attention for this many episodes, even taking into account that Doctor Who was, at the time, a children's program.

The one truly interesting part of this set is the fairly in-depth look at how the Daleks function. At least we get an acknowledgement about the Daleks' mobility issues and weaknesses and a sense of what makes them work. Unfortunately, the humans are far less interesting, especially the Thals, although the romantic tension between Barbara and one of the blonde Thal he-man is sort of interesting as well, although not nearly as interesting as watching the white shirts and dresses of all the characters stay perfectly white as they tramp through the mud and the swamp over the course of several days, suffering through the early stages of radiation poisoning without a dry cleaner in sight.

These episodes gain a little in impressiveness when you realize they were done around the same time that Star Trek was taking off in the states, and the comparison is fun to watch, although here there is something to be said for the usually annoying American habit of wrapping everything up in one tidy hour. This story arc deserves more than an hour, but could have easily been finished in 4 episodes. Instead, it just drags on. Get it for the historical value, but don't expect to be riveted.

'The Daleks¿ is a must to own.
This is my favorite Doctor Who tape. It has a great combination of original ideas, good effects and suspense. This is definitely an item with collector value.

The story contains all the original cast, being only the second adventure in the entire Doctor Who series. It is also includes the first appearance of the Daleks.

The story effects are impressive for their time. I particularly like the dead forest and the view of the Dalek city. One other memorable aspect is the eerie metallic sound used in the scenes shot within the Dalek city.

There were few disappointments for me with this story, apart from William Hartnell having trouble with some of his lines. I understand however that this was a continuing problem throughout his tenure.

One thing to bear in mind for this and all the Doctor Who stories is that they were originally designed as a television serial. Individual episodes were screened each Saturday afternoon. It therefore inevitably alters the viewing experience to watch each story as a complete series of episodes on one tape. Individual perceptions of each Doctor will also be influenced by personal history. I grew up in the sixties and prefer the early Doctors. Other people that I know grew up in the seventies and prefer the Tom Baker years. Notwithstanding the above there should be a reason for all Doctor Who fans to own this tape.

Unwilling Adventurers
"The Daleks", the second-ever "Doctor Who" story, is a brilliant example of world building. The TARDIS's first flight away from the Earth is accomplished without flying saucers and without children on board: ground-breaking, for the science fiction of its day. 40 years later, "Doctor Who" is still traveling through time and space, because "The Daleks" got there first.

In retrospect, "The Daleks" is helped by its seven-episode length. Half an hour goes by before we even see a Dalek and an hour before we see a Thal, and those are the first two alien races the show ever gave us. But there's something even better in their place: sets. Even though it's confined to studio, Skaro is a thoroughly alien world. The establishing shots are overexposed, making everything look "white and ashy". There's also a creepy alien corpse and a pristine flower (that, naturally, the Doctor ignores). When we finally get to the Dalek city, the doorways are weird and angular. Tristram Cary's unnerving score further sets the mood.

While Skaro looks more impressive than you'd expect from the story's 1963 vintage, here's a TARDIS crew completely at odds with each other. William Hartnell's Doctor is as selfish as he ever got, sabotaging his own ship just so he can lure the others down to the city. After Ian and Barbara (who calls herself an "unwilling adventurer") demand food, he takes them to his food machine... and doesn't offer them a thing. When he learns that Skaro's air is poisonous, he's ready to run back to the TARDIS and take off... leaving the missing Barbara behind. He's a childish old man, and, thanks to a daring script, is on death's door 20 minutes later.

Although the story takes seven episodes to tell, each individual episode is built entirely around one key concept. Though all of the third episode is devoted to "The Escape", for example (events which in the show's later years could be compressed to eight minutes), it's very carefully done. There's innocence, for example, when no-one realizes that the Daleks are monitoring their cell. The Daleks' interrogation of the Doctor is creepy, as the ailing Doctor is forced to kneel in a pool of harsh white light, with the Daleks willing to let him die since they can't spare anti-radiation drugs.

Once the TARDIS crew escapes, the Thals (withheld from view until the third episode) take over the story. We're told the natural history of Skaro -- a war waged with neutron bombs which ended thousands of years in civilization in a single. The Dals, the philosopher-kings, became twisted creatures living in metal shells, dependent on static electricity. The warmongering Thals became tall, elegant farmers, whose onscreen presence is even more imposing thanks to shrewd direction -- when Susan meets the story's first Thal, Alydon, he appears to be ten feet tall, until we see he's just standing on a ledge.

The story's moral centerpiece is the debate about pacifism versus non-violence. How far will the Thals go to keep their core values while fighting off the Daleks? The Daleks, merely paranoid in the first episodes (killing the Thals' pacifist leader, wrongly believing him to be a spy), quickly become ruthless when they realize that they'll have to flood Skaro with more radiation in order to survive... even though all the Thals will die. Most of episodes four and five are concerned with Ian's attempts to teach the Thals that "some things are worth preserving". On the flip side of that argument is the Doctor (and a vengeful Barbara), who merely want to turn the Thals into disposable shock troops, so the Doctor can retrieve his lost equipment from the city and leave the Thals to chance. It's a long argument, and a risky one, and, in the end, neither side is right, and he Thals' death toll mounts quickly. However, Ian's plan (stealth and intelligence, not violence) wins the day.

It's been said that the final "Doctor Who" TV story, 1989's "Survival", featured a "harsh" repudiation of Ian's morality. I don't think this a good idea, or even an accurate one. More important by 1989 was the realization that Susan didn't have to be a screaming teen afraid of walking alone outdoors. On the whole, Ian's morality remains intact under today's scrutiny; the Thals would have all died, without it. Even so, we're not meant to applaud Ian's simulated kidnapping of a Thal woman. At any rate, Hartnell's Doctor was not a pacifist, and without the human element of Ian and Barbara, would never have become the hero the series later needed him to be. When the Dalek plan is halted, a dying Dalek approaches the Doctor for mercy: "Stop our power from wasting." His response? "Even if I wanted to, I don't know how."

The story ends with an extended dialogue, as the Thals mourn their dead and the Doctor, a hero at least, offers benedictions (with a grim warning of "other wars to fight"). There aren't too many light moments in the story (apart from the exchange where Ian finally nails the Doctor for getting his last name wrong), but it's all very pleasant at the end, and we even learn a little more about the Doctor's past.

You could believe, from watching "The Daleks", that "Doctor Who" was built to a careful master plan. Each character (even Susan) was allowed room to grow and regress, early on. By the show's third season, the creation process was more haphazard, with things made up as they went along -- witness the Daleks' descent into comedy villains. However, "The Daleks", in spite of being only the second show, is quite possibly as good as "Doctor Who" gets.

The most evil creatures ever in the universe!
I must admit, when I first heard of the Daleks, I did NOT expect them to look like trash dispensers with plungers attached to them. In fact when I first watched this adventure, I laughed at the sight of them, because by today's standards they look somewhat ridiculous... at first. But after seeing just how cruel, vicious, and deadly they can be, I changed my tune considerably.

This was the good Doctor's first of many encounters with his arch-enemies, the Daleks. This was the second Doctor Who adventure, and it would be something that would solidify the show's popularity for years to come.

It is in this adventure that TARDIS crew land on a eerily deserted planet, a planet that had gone through a devastating neutronic war between the two races, the Thaals and the Daals. Soon they are being affected by the radiation fallout, are captured by the Daleks, they make their escape and meet the Thaal people. Soon a final battle is engaged, and the Thaals are victorious over the Daleks.

I enjoyed this adventure, for it is a prime example of intelligent writing and powerful acting. This story is very multi-layered as it serves as a sort of social allegory for what could happen as a result of the use of nuclear weapons for war. In addition, it serves up a fair amount of drama in regards to how far can one stay the course of pacifism before taking action. Some other great points are the Thaals themselves, the males in particular, the wardrobe makes them look as if they are part of the Kevin Sorbo Appreciation Society. but seriously, this is a great adventure and very essential for any Doctor Who fan.

One of the Best of the Hartnell Era
This, the 2nd story of the series is quite cinematic and grand in scope. And it is great to watch the evolution of the series as the production team started to get a feel for the format of the series. Having said that, this is one of the best of the Hartnell years. Hartnell himself is always charming, if not short-tempered and sometimes meanspirited. In these older episodes Ian and Barbara are the heroes. Also, let me say I am not a Dalek fan, but as far as those pesky creatures go this is one of their better showings. The story is very atmospheric and dark, though it does run a bit long. Overall, great stuff and some of the best Hartnell had to offer. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Secret Service Adventure
Being a big History buff. and loving Indiana Jones. i loved this movie. others of the series i have found fairly pleasing...but could do better. i am big on spying and espionage, and am glad to see a movie that portays spying accurately(compared to 007)...and of couse its INDY! BRAVO Lucas

Confusing plot, but on the whole a good movie
This movie is good on the whole, although it does have a few flaws.

The movie starts out with Indy helping 2 Austrian brothers get to Austria through the German barricades. This first half of the movie is good and has a lot of suspense. But once they get to Austria and Indy is re-assigned to Russia, the plot falls apart. It gets very confusing, and character development is underdone. There is some guy that is chasing Indy throughout the first half of the movie, and we never know who he really is. And then suddenly Indy is friends with some people in Russia, and we don't know how they came to be friends. It sort of clears up at the end when the Bolsheviks march through the streets of St. Petersburg, but even then, it is still confusing.

Other than that, it is a good movie, and the portrayal of spying here is magnificently accurate. If you're a fan of Indiana Jones, this is worth seeing, but if you're not, you should probably think before seeing this movie.

Stop being so picky
I'm disliking all the bad press that the second half of this tape is getting. Personally, it's one of my favorites along with two others which have not been released on tape.

I've seen pretty much most of the Young Indiana Jones series and have quiet a few recorded off TV from it's TV run (it's amazing that my tapes still work after 11 years) and personally, I like the Russian one. Oh yeah, I remember seeing in one comment that said that all of Indy's Russian friends were Bolsheviks. In fact only two of them are. If one would read the novelization of this episode, it would explain it more clearly (and it explains why Indy is friends with them). But even in the episode, it shows their differences. The two that are Bolsheviks are Sergei and Irina, the couple that loves each other. The girl that falls for Indy is Rosa and her political philosophy goes toward a democratic socialist government, simular to what many countries in Europe have today (and yes, socialists and communists are different), the man studying to be a priest is Dmitri and would support a Czarist goverment since the clergy was important back in that former government and would not support the Bolsheviks since they support atheism. And the last friend, Boris, is an Anarchist (who doesn't support government at all).

The reason I like this episode is because it shows me that Bolsheviks aren't evil creatures of doom. That they are in fact human with hopes and dreams. Yes, we tend to demonize communists, but that's because the idea was corrupted by human failings and became a dicatorship.

And the first episode on this tape. Eh. It's not my favorite, but it's interesting though.

Great first half, strange second half
The first half of this video is great, it starts out with an amusing instance of mistaken identity, as two Austrian princes, who are also French lieutenants, mistake Indy for a delivery boy because he's riding a bike and his uniform is covered up by his coat. They run him off the road with their car, and are later shocked to learn that he's not only not a delivery boy, but that he's a captain, outranking them. Indy, still insulted, isn't impressed to then learn that they are royalty. This doesn't get the relationship off to a very good start, and so of course Indy is assigned to escort them across the border to Austria.

There are more great moments of humor in the first half, along with lots of running around, and it's all very entertaining. Indy is somewhat grumpy the whole time, which, come to think of it, made him more similar to the older Indy played by Ford.

The second half finds him reassigned to Russia, which is weird in itself, but the bizzare thing was that Indy moves in with a bunch of Bosheviks, and becomes very good friends with them. How he managed this, and why, isn't addressed, since we're just plopped into the middle of his stint in Petrograd. The fact that the Bolsheviks, knowing full well that Indy is a capitalist American working for the French secret service (some secret), allow him to join their midsts is hard to believe. One girl even falls in love with him.

Indy dislikes desk work, and so did I. It was rather boring, watching him mull around the stacks of paper looking like they meant something to him, but we never understand what. He never really did anything in this half, except fail at just about everything he was supposed to be doing. The ending was the worst ending yet, and left me wondering just what we were supposed to make of Indy's politics.

The second half is good for two things, 1: showing that Indy still has a whole lot of growing up to do, and 2: that his birthday is in July (some trivia if you ever need it). But the first half was great, so the video is worth it.

good spy movie for indy.
this movie has a pretty decent first part where indy delivers two austria-hungarian princes to the emperor and empress. but the second part is real weird. indy meets friends in russia and then does some spy work. you never really find out what he's supposed to be spying on, and the russia part really has no plot. like all the young indy movies, the ending leaves you hanging, but this ending is where one of indy's friends die in a political demonstration, so it's extra weird. but the movie is good on the whole. ... Read more

Description

The Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry uncover a plot by the Cybermen to destroy all gold in the solar system. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

One of the best Cyberman stories.
The Doctor and his companions return from Skaro after 'Genesis of the Daleks' to Nerva Beacon, which is in isolation due to a mysterious plague. Before long the remains of the Cyberman army is on the scene.

This is a well-written and interesting story - it is here that we discover the effect gold has on the Cybermen, who are at their menacing best. The characters are well-thought-out, there are some memorable scenes, the cybermats are finally creepy rather than comical and there is a nice doom-laden soundtrack. Seeing the Doctor arriving in the past of a location he visited in a previous story is also an interesting idea.

A much maligned classic!
Okay, I admit I gave this episode four stars just to catch your eye. I'm that kind of deceitful, attention-grasping loser. But now that you're here, I'll be honest and say that I do indeed consider this an episode scorned by vengeful fans, who hate it for all the wrong reasons. I would give it a solid three and a half stars, or better.

"Cybermen" is Tom Baker's only tangle with this staple villain of the Dr. Who series; the clanking, droning, mechanical men bent on...gasp!...conquest of the universe (why do machines always want to conquer the universe?) He twice battled both the Daleks and the Sontarans, and crossed swords with the Master at least three or four times, but for the tin men, this his is his sole contribution. Apparently, fans of previous doctors found the Cybermen as they are portrayed in this episode to be extremely lame and toothless, and felt a good villain had been wronged with a weak portrayal. I have admittedly little interest in the other doctors, being a Baker freak, so I can't really say, though I admit the more mobile (and combustible!) versions I saw in "The Five Doctors were more threatening.

"Revenge" is an underrated episode for several reasons. First off, it makes excellent use of the underground caves in which it was primarily shot; given the show's modest (meaning pathetic) budget, Dr. Who episodes were generally stronger when shot on location than when they were entirely confined to sets. The costume design is very good, the script clever and full of double-crosses, the villains suitably evil (excluding the admittedly boring Cyberleader), and the plot imaginative and well-developed. I als