Reviews (8)

Worth adding to your collection!
As a mother of two young children my husband and I often rely on our DVD collection for a night "at" the movies. Hello Again is just a cute film that the whole family can pile up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy.This movie may seem silly to some but hey sometimes a good movie is just that...silly. I love this film and have seen it many times over without growing tired of it. I am anxiously awaiting its release on DVD.

I love Hello Again!
This is one of my all-time favorites! Yeah it's cheesy, but it's so funny... you really can't take it seriously. I can practically recite the dialogue with the movie, I've seen it so many times... it's great! Shelley Long is hilarious in this role.

VERY cute and funny
I thought this movie was VERY funny. Shelley's death scene is quite a laugh. And of course the story premise is very fun. Not a bad film at all. What can I say! It's just very cute and funny. Very good for a Saturday/Sunday afternoon movie.

If I could give it less, I think I would
This has to be just about the worst movie I've ever sat through. I watched it because I couldn't take my eyes off Gabriel Byrne, who has beautiful eyes and a beautiful accent, but otherwise it was just terrible. It wasn't even bad in a funny way; I just felt embarassed.
The story was completely ridiculous. I'm generally willing to suspend disbelief, but the whole back-from-the-dead thing seemed singularly pointless. Implausibilities mounted like cars in a pile-up. The dialogue was so banal it was almost unbelievable. The problems facing our pair of lovers were so manufactured I expcted the seams of the film to tear every moment. You don't fire a good doctor because reporters are crowding the operating room. You ban the reporters from the hospital. And why did they have to tie up all loose ends by hooking up the protagonists sister with that millionaire?
Among the many bad performances, the sister had to be the most annoying of the lot, but Shelley Long was pretty awful too. Even Byrne wasn't great (how could he be, with those god-awful lines to say) but at least he wasn't embarrassing like the rest.

Hello Again
One of the funniest movies ever produced. Good for families as well as adult viewing. Did not get enough notice in the theatre when first released. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After destroying 4 billion people in the Malurian star system, a 21st- century NASA probe called Nomad--carrying friendly greetings to whateverunknown, extraterrestrial race might find it--has a violent encounter with theEnterprise, nearly blowing the starship out of space. Hoping to sidestepanother attack, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy)invite the diminutive, computer-driven, impossibly powerful spacecraft aboard tolearn how its peaceful mission was supplanted by a program to destroy life.Written by John Meredyth Lucas, who was intrigued by the idea of a sentient,almost godlike machine that turns against its creator, "The Changeling"transcends, fortunately, Star Trek's cash-strapped special effectsdepartment to become a compelling drama. (Let's just say that Nomad lookslike a cross between the Tin Woodman and a 1960s beach radio.) Particularlymemorable is Spock's mind-melding scene with Nomad, in which the Vulcanis shaken by the probe's chaotic memories of being captured by a machine planetand given destructive impulses. Frequent Trek director Marc Daniels wasparticularly proud of the way his crew made Nomad appear capable ofindependent movement: There was one model for hanging from a wire, a second forstanding on a floor, and a third for riding on a dolly (to get a sinister,point-of-view traveling shot). If "The Changeling" sounds vaguely familiar, itshould: The script was rewritten as the basis for Star Trek: The MotionPicture. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Uninspired
This episode, which features a confused and destructive floating robot, is an unspectacular offering. Like several episodes, it ably enough explores the unfortunate fact that technology is fallible, and that even with the best intentions, things can and do go wrong. This ship-based episode is less exciting than some of its neighbors, although there are a few dramatic scenes. On the negative side, the idea that Uhura could be rapidly re-programmed would be laughable if it wasn't so insulting to her. Also tedious is Kirk's outwitting of Nomad. And just how did NOMAD manage to mesh so smoothly with 'the other.'? Shouldn't he look a little the worse for wear? As a final gripe, I'll note that NOMAD wasn't much of an actor, although I suppose he didn't have much to work with.

TV version of first plot for The Motion Picture
"Chageling" the basis for Star Trek the Motion Picture

In this one we get to see on a TV scale; the same plot of Star Trek: The Motion Picture played out here.
We have the long lost satellite from outer space taken by an alien intelligence. We get to see Scotty killed and revived by the amazing little machine. It's all because the computer thinks that Kirk is the computer's creator "Roykirk" ; because it was damaged in space. It's an implausible plot but OK if you can suspend you belief in reality for a while to enjoy this. Despite the enormous plot hole (the Roykirk thing) it's the same story for the movie condensed into a 50 minute episode. If you see this one you'll still enjoy how Kirk outsmarts the computer. I was impressed that the machine was very compact and yet could lay the Enterprise in ashes if not treated properly. Size and power were not exclusive here. The docile looking machine proved to be a profound menace.

Good idea, but a movie??
Ever see the first Star Trek movie? This show was the low budget version.

James Kirk (a.k.a. the Creator) outwits another Computer
"The Changeling" was always an interesting episode, even before it served as the template for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." The Enterprise discovers that all humanoid life in the Malurian system has disappeared when the ship is attacked by a tiny vessel. When Kirk hails the vessel, the attack suddenly stops and "Nomad" is beamed aboard. It turns out that once upon a time it was a probe from Earth sent into deep space to contact alien life, where it was damaged and eventually met up with a probe from another civilization that was designed to collect soil samples and sterilize them. The two probes somehow end up merging into a single entity, so that now Nomad believes its mission is to contact alien life and sterilize it. The only reason the life forms on the Enterprise have not been sterilized is because Nomad has mistaken James Kirk for its "Creator," Jackson Roykirk. Nomad is not impressed by the biological life forms on the Enterprise, although it does allow that the Spock unit is well ordered. "The Changeling" is another one of those episodes where Kirk uses logic to defeat a superior computer while Spock looks on in amazement. However, the bit where Nomad erases Uhura's mind would be more chilling if they did not retrain her in about a week. Still, this is an above average episode and one of the better confrontations between Kirk and a super computer.

The Enterprise vs a machine that can destroy Mankind.
One of the best Star Trek shows from the original series finds the crew of the Enterprise up against a machine called Nomad which has destroyed a solar system and will repeat the same path of destruction to Earth, unless the Captain can find a way to destroy it before it's too late. Written by John Meredyth Lucas. Directed by Marc Daniels. Music Composed and Conducted by Fred Steiner. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent film - but not exactly a comedy....
This film is based on Paul Erdman's novel "The Silver Bears." Like Mr. Erdman's books, this film is rivetting from start to finish. Not unlike James Bond movies of the 1970s in some respects (exotic locations - in this case Lugano, Switzerland and the Persian Gulf, high finance, sex, corruption etc. etc.). If you have an interest in finance, commodities, or simply a good honest to goodness story with interesting and colourul characters etc. then you will enjoy this film. I for one watch it again and again. Although there is some satire in the movie, and many of the characters are used for humorous purposes, I would not describe this as a comedy movie. First and foremost it is a thriller about corruption, greed and the interplays between a man who works for a criminal organisation and his attempts to break away into a 'legitimate' business of his own. On the way, he is made to question the nature of friendship, love, and more besides. Charles Gray gives an excellent performance (as always). There is a lot of humour and comedy-esque moments - but not more than in a typical James Bond movie of the period. So not a comedy in my opinion - a light hearted romp with comic moments and a thriller theme would perhaps be a better description.

But what ever you call it, one thing it certainly is: First class entertainment. Something for everyone! Buy it. You will watch it again and again! One of my personal favourite movies of all time, and I'm sure it will become one of yours too......

It has it all
This movie is like Catch 22 or Kelly's Hero's in that everyone in it became a star...Tope acting with a good story line leads to a movie that is very enjoyable and a pleasent way to spend a couple hours...if you think Michael Caine, Charles Grodin, and yes even a very young Jay Leno trying to buy a bank from an Italian Count so they can launder mafia money sounds like fun...this is it...a cornerstone of a comedy collection

Low budget screwball comedy well worth it
Plot twists and turns abound. This low budget comedy is delightful. It entertains from start to finish. Lots of throw-away humor. Amazing cast includes Jay Leno (in his first movie), Tom Smothers, Michael Caine, Cybil Shepard. A satirical look at banking, insurance, mob crime, commodities traders: All are shamelessly crooked. Really fine ending. Guaranteed to entertain. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A war between the Klingons and Federation is imminent, and it's up toCaptain Kirk (William Shatner) to persuade the peaceful, agrarian planet Organiato sign on with the good guys before the Klingons overwhelm the place. What'sthe rush? Organia is in a strategically valuable position for whichever warringside claims it first. The only problem is, the Organians don't seem to care.Kirk and First Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) make an awfully good pitch forFederation protection, but the planet's Council of Elders rejects the offer as atacit invitation to violence on their world. Worse, the Council takes littleheed of a Klingon invasion, insisting there is no problem and earning the enmityof both Kirk and Klingon Commander Kor (John Colicos). Essentially a Cold Warsatire disguised as a Federation-Klingon showdown in most unusual circumstances,"Errand of Mercy" is the brainchild of producer-writer Gene L. Coon, who makes awonderfully convincing case for the absurdity of each side's claim to moralsuperiority. Highlights of the episode include the enigmatic, retiringperformances of the Council members, and the Butch-and-Sundance banter betweenKirk and Spock as they set about trying to become a two-man Resistance targetingKlingon munitions. The episode is directed by John Newland, best known as thehost of the supernatural television series, One Step Beyond. --TomKeogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Perhaps a bit overrated
This thoughtful episode introduces us to the Klingons, who along with the Federation are seen here currying the favor of the peaceful and pastoral Organians. While thoughtful and somewhat slow, this episode is not without it's share of tension. We share the anxious feeling of time having stopped before the onset of war; only the Organians seem curiously subdued. The episode eventually hits us with a very nice twist, which is intelligent in that it eventually forces us to see the Klingon and Federation positions as more similar than different; the real distinction is with the more advanced Organians. This is one of those examples of how watching Star Trek could be simultaneously humbling in its depiction of our current society and uplifting in its optimistic vision of a possible future.

The Organians stop the Klingon-Federation War
"Errand of Mercy" provides one of the most problematic story lines in Star Trek history. The Federation and the Klingon Empire have started fighting again and the Enterprise hurries to Organia, a strategically important planet. Wanting the cooperation of the Organians, Kirk and Spock beams down and find the universe's most passive people, who are not at all concerned that the big bag Klingons are coming. The Klingons do show up, stranding Kirk and Spock on the planet where they are disguised as Organians and get to witness the arrival of Kor, the Klingon military governor. Kirk and Spock begin a two-person resistance movement, blowing up Klingon supplies. The Klingons retaliate against the population, but then Ayelborne, leader of the Organians, decides he has had enough of all this nonsense. One of the things I most like about "Errand of Mercy," is that it is one of the few times that the Enterprise encounters a race of superior beings who are not seriously flawed in some way. You even get Kirk put in the uncomfortable position of insisting on the right to make war and kill millions of people. This also becomes one of the most problematic episodes in Star Trek history, because the Organian Peace Treaty makes it impossible for the Federation and Klingon to go on killing each other. At least in theory (you have to admit, they have the enforcement capabilities); in practice, the two civilizations would continue to have fun with each other in future Star Trek episodes.

A Pretty Good Story -- a Brilliant Portrayal of a Villian
John Colicos turns in a standout performance as Kor, the first Klingon to appear in the series. Kor is strong, cunning, ruthless, and a little bit charming. The peaceful Organians are also very compelling characters. Throughout the episode, there is just a hint that there is more to the Organians than meets the eye.

There is some action in the story, along with a little suspense, but it would have been nice if there was a little more of both. Additionally, we are never shown the Klingon vessel.

In spite of these flaws, this is a very good episode with a very strong supporting cast. A definite must for any Star Trek fan.

Federation vs the Klingons.
The Captain and Mr. Spock are trapped on the planet Organia which is occupied by the Klingons just as war with the Federation begins. The two fight to stay alive while the Orgainians plan a surprise ending for both sides. Actor John Colicos turns in a great performance as Commander Kor. This episode also predicts the future for Federation/Klingon relations. Another great story from Gene L. Coon.

First episode with Klingons
This was the episode that introduced the Klingons with an excellent performance by John Colicos of Battlestar Gallactica. Kirk and Spock land on a very placid planet with a society reminiscent of Medevil Europe finding it to be overrun by Klingons and the inhabitants remaining amazingly passive about it. Kirk and Spock disguise themselves as citizens, but the Klingons soon find out their true nature. This is apparently the only episode with the exception of the first two that Dr. McCoy didn't appear in, for some reason. I guess he was on leave. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Good work, beautifully done
I was fortunate enough to see this lovely film in a theatre, rather than as a video/DVD rental.

Not much of obvious consequence seems to take place, but gradually we realise that learning and growing is taking place.

This beautiful film transports us all back to the days when we found that one teacher who inspired us to learn and grow. For me (more than 40 years ago) it was a young Miss Dey, and for the fortunate kids in the Auvergne it was Georges Lopez.

This is inspirational stuff and should not be missed.

Awesome & Incredible Captivation!!
When friends invited us to go with them to see a French documentary with subtitles, I wasn't sure what to expect...but dry and tedious came to mind. I couldn't have been more wrong!

I could watch this movie over and over and still get something more out of it each time. It ended too soon! The cinamatography is nothing short of spectacular. It is landscape photography come to life. It is portraiture with voices. And if you don't fall in love with Jo Jo, you have a heart of stone. You will become so drawn into this gem that you will feel as if you are sitting in the classroom yourself and observing what is happening first hand rather than watching a movie. And you will wish that every student in the world could have Mr. Lopez for a teacher. This movie should be required viewing for every teacher everywhere...and those who are not inspired by it should consider another profession.

It is difficult to appreciate this movie on all levels in one viewing...the artful cinematograpy, the beauty of the landscapes in all the seasons, the faces of the children, the wisdom of this wonderful teacher. This is on my list of most memorable movies...and I have a very short list. There aren't enough words to say how highly I recommend this. I'll be first in line to buy the video!

Etre et Avoir is a joy to watch
It is a pleasure to see the everyday events of classroom life in rural France unfold in all its varied details -- some momentous, some apparently trivial -- in Nicolas Philibert's gentle documentary.

It is a privilege indeed to see M Lopez at work, softspoken and consistently calm in manner, with a genuine affection for his students, and yet also having authority and commanding real respect. The schoolchildren themselves, making up a delightful cast of characters, both amuse us and move us.

A real joy.

The Best School
I don't know how we can clone M. Lopez, the incredibly great teacher in this one-room schoolhouse in France, but he is the answer to education's problems. And so is his charming schoolhouse. See this movie and then think about what throwing a few million at this school would accomplish. We need to find the Lopez's now graduating from our colleges and to make it worth their time to work with children like JoJo. He, by the way, will probably be President of France. A delightful movie whether you're interested in education or not.

An amazing, moving visual experience
(Reviewing the DVD version of this film)
I must admit, I was very sceptical about renting this movie. I feared another boring documentary, narrated by a dry, monotone, superimposed voice. Not the case at all! Wow, was I ever pleasantly surprised!

This movie is about the small community schools in France. This particular school is led by a loving wonderful teacher, for whom you may wish that you would have had or at least your children will have. The movie follows this classroom of kindergarteners to grade sixers for one year and shows the intimacy and development of this group of children with each other and their teacher. I fell in love with this group of students, especially young Jojo. He is a kindergarten student who is outgoing and charming. A lot of the film revolves around him and his interactions.

I would highly recommend this show. It will have you laughing and crying as you follow the development of these children under the tutelage of this amazing teacher. The cinematography and scenery are also breathtaking and make this movie experience well worth the rental or purchase price. Enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Actors' Showcase
This is a great "acting" movie. The stars are great, but the rest of the movie was missing something--my interest.

I'm not saying it was bad. The acting was wonderful, masterful even. The cast consists of Christina Ricci, Johnny Depp, John Turturro, and Cate Blanchett, all doing work that is equivalent to their best. Ricci, especially, as the main character, gets to run the gamut of emotions and I couldn't take my eyes off her. Blanchett does a thick accent that is hard to understand sometimes, but her performance was as good as I've seen her give. And as for Depp and Turturro, well, they don't make wrong moves. Even if they are in bad films now and again, they can always be depended upon to give superb performances.

No, the cast was not the problem. It was the story. I just didn't care what was happening. I liked watching great actors practice their craft, and I cared about them, but I couldn't get involved in the story. I know there was some subplot involving a white horse, but I couldn't tell you the significance, except to make the Johnny Depp character look sensitive, but he does that anyway.

I would definitely recommend it for fans of the actors, but I couldn't recommend it as entertainment.

A visually beautiful film in the shadow of oppression...
A Russian-Jewish man travels alone to the United States in order start a better life for his family, which he intends to send for when he has raised enough money. However, the communist rule under Stalin separates the family which leads to the death of the mother and the escape of the daughter, Suzie (Christina Ricci). Suzie's escape brings her to England where she is adopted and forced to assimilate to the British traditions and culture that eradicates her of her own past. Years later when Suzie has reached adulthood she travels to Paris with hopes to raise money that can bring her to her father in the United States. In Paris she meets love, dreams, hope, and horror as she must face anti-Semitism brought to France by the Nazi's during World War II. Man Who Cried is visually stunning as it portrays the struggles of Suzie and those around her in a time of hostility. The visual elements are also enhanced by a terrific cast such as Christina Ricci, Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett, John Turturro and many more. In the end, Potter ties together a meaningful cinematic experience that has both historical value as well as morals.

A beautiful artistic masterpiece of a film.
No, it's not a fast-paced story. It's slow, it is subtle, and you have to savor it to really enjoy it. Performances by everyone are perfectly wonderful. Turturo & Blanchett especially, Stanton included. Very well done. I loved it. If you reflect on the film after you see it, you realize how much LIFE this girl lived. Beautiful movie. Underappreciated.

\m/
I haven't seen this film either but I still give it 5 stars because it ... has Johnny in it.

The Holocaust goes Hollywood...literally!
From an impoverished Jewish settlement in Russie to the soundstages of Hollywood, this well intentioned but overwrought melodrama seems much longer than its nearly two hours.

In spite of the interesting, original premise, the story goes south with incessant lipsynching and an improbable melange of accents. Christina Ricci's tragic waif, "Susie," isn't a viable heroine in spite of excellent performances by the stars surrounding her. Blanchett, as usual, steals the show and captivates every moment of her screen time. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's time to face one of the great questions of the television age: Is"The Trouble with Tribbles" really as good as everyone thinks it is? You bet.While the story might be a little slower than many of us remember, the episodeis deservedly beloved for writer David Gerrold's witty, mildly acerbic script,and the way the cast took to heightened comic possibilities against networkresistance. (Heavens! Comedy on a science fiction show?) Stanley Adams isdelightful as the huckster Cyrano Jones, who gives a trilling furball called atribble to Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), who brings it aboard the Enterpriseand watches it reproduce... and reproduce... and reproduce. Soon, hundreds oftribbles are in every part of the ship, making Captain Kirk (William Shatner),already grouchy about guarding a mere grain shipment from Klingons, evengrouchier. There's no question that Gerrold made a major contribution toTrek culture with this show, setting a tone that Star Trek hasvisited again and again, including the feature film Star Trek IV: The VoyageHome and sundry episodes of The Next Generation, Deep SpaceNine, and Voyager. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The episode where Star Trek becomes a situation comedy!
"The Trouble With Tribbles" might not be the best Star Trek episode, but it is certainly the funniest. The Enterprise rushes to Deep Space Station K-7 only to find a pretentious bureaucrat named Nilz Baris who wants Kirk to protect tons of quadrotriticale, a hybrid grain that will be used to colonize Sherman's planet. Kirk is ticked off that Baris misused the Priority 1 Distress Call and only allots two guards to watch the "wheat". Meanwhile the rest of the ship gets shore leave and Uhura meets Cyrano Jones, a trader of curious items, including the amazing Tribble, the creature that is apparently born pregnant (one of Bones' best all-time diagnoses). While the little beasties threaten to overwhelm the ship, Kirk has to deal with some unhappy Klingons, reprimand Scotty for defending the ship's honor in a bar room brawl with the Klingons, and try to protect all that wheat, er, quadrotriticale. Watching a clearly peeved Kirk deal with all these headaches is a hoot, as is the classic moment when he has to endure a shower of Tribbles. Plus there is the sight of Spock petting a Tribble and Scotty ending the episode with the all-time greatest pun in Star Trek history. They must have had a total blast doing this one.

David Gerrold, who wrote this episode, also wrote one of the more interesting Star Trek non-fiction books detailing how he came to write the episode and how his script came to be filmed. An excellent behind-the-scenes book for aspiring Star Trek writers. If you love this episode, then you owe it to yourself to also check out not only Gerrold's book but the Deep Space 9 episode "Trials and Tribbulations," where Sisko, Worf, O'Brien and Bashir go back in time and re-live the original Star Trek episode to preserve the time-line. That episode is worth it just for the double-take everybody does when they see how different Worf looks like from the "original" Klingons. That episode was definitely my type of homage. Oh, and the "sequel" on "Star Trek: The Animated Series" was that the best episode of that short-lived cartoon series as well.

"No Tribble at All"
Even people who barely know what Star Trek is have seen or heard of this episode. "Tribble" has become a household word. This episode is hilariously funny, expecially if you know the characters. It is generally regarded as the funniest episode in the series. Although it is not my favorite, I love this episode, and highly recommend it. The Enterprise answers a distress call and travels to a space station, where the crew dicovers that there is no emergency. The space station has just recieved a shipment of a new, highly dvanced grain, and the powers-that-be want it guarded. Kirk is, needless to say, very annoyed. Add to that a Klingon ship requesting "shore-leave rights," and a trader selling cute little balls of fluff called Tribbles. Humans instictively like them, but Klingons do not. Once one Tribble is brought on board the Enterprise, it begins mulitplying so rapidly that it becomes a source of concern to Kirk and Spock. There is no better combination for a funny episode.

The Funniest episode of TOS.
William Shatner and the rest of the Star Trek cast get to laugh and have a good time in this light-hearted adventure when the Enterprise is assigned the task of protecting a space station full of grain for delivery to a developing planet under dispute between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, and they encounter a trader (Stanley Adams) who sells some of the crew a small animal called a "Tribble" which then reproduces into hundreds of "hungry little Tribbles" who hate Klingons, like both humans and Vulcans, and proceed to eat the grain. Which then exposes a Klingon plot to destroy the grain shipment. Lots of laughs abound in this episode including Jim being buried alive by a hundreds of tribbles that fall out of a hatch. Was followed by a sequal in the Star Trek animated series called "More Tribbles, More Troubles."Written by David Gerrold. Directed by Joseph Pevney. Music Composed and Conducted by Jerry Fielding.

Stanley Adams (Cerano) wrote an episode as well
The episode with those furry little creatures was the apex of humor on Star Trek. By this point in the show's run, characters were well enough developed for the actors and brain trust to feel comfortable stepping out a bit. And they certainly step out in this one. Thanks to writer Gerrold, the episode actually has a fairly solid dramatic foundation that includes Klingon intrigue, and threats to both the food supply and the Enterprise itself. One could be forgiven for not realizing this though, since the tribbles
completely steal the show. Actually the enterprise crew (and Adams as Cerano)for the most part prove quite adept in the comedic roles, and the officious Schallert is a perfect straight man under the circumstances. A Starfleet official is even correct in his desire to reign in Kirk, for once!

Tidbits: The fight scene was supposedly pinched en masse from a prior film. Recognize the Klingon? He was Trelane from The Squire of Gothos, played by William Campbell.

One Of The Finest Hours Of The Original Series
"The Trouble With Tribbles" is my personal favorite among the nearly 80 hours of the original "Star Trek" series. It is unquestionably the funniest, with David Gerrold's deft, wittty prose creating hilarious scenes and dialogue as precious as any I've seen on Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners". James Doohan's Scotty steals many of the scenes he's in, though highest honors for hilarity deservedly go to Stanley Adams as the trader Cyrano Jones responsible for the tribble infestation on the Federation space station. The fight between the Klingons and the Enterprise crew is certainly among the finest examples of "Star Trek" humor I've seen. Fans of slapstick comedy will not want to miss this terrific "Star Trek" episode.

This was David Gerrold's first professional sale as a writer and remains one of his finest episodes of science fiction television (However, his best probably is the Babylon 5 episode "Believers".). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Danny Kaye spoofs Robin Hood and Scaramouche in this inventive slapstick swashbuckler. Portraying the clownish but good-hearted entertainer Hawkins, he infiltrates the court of the corrupt Basil Rathbone (up to his usual brand of cruel villainy) disguised as the legendary king of jesters, Giacomo. After a court sorceress hypnotizes Hawkins into believing he is also a legendary assassin, Hawkins has more identities than he can keep straight, and Kaye zips back and forth between them at, literally, a snap of the fingers. Comic highlights include a wonderful sword fight with Rathbone in which he constantly switches identities, and the classic "chalice from the palace/vessel with pestle" wordplay as Hawkins plays "hide the poison" and forgets where it is. With comely Glynis Johns as his spy-in-arms love interest, Angela Lansbury as the scheming princess, and Mildred Natwick as the dotty spellcaster, this is Danny Kaye at his comic best. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Charming and Hilarious Re-telling of the Robin Hood Story
I am not a great Danny Kaye fan, but this movie is one the the very funniest I've ever seen. Everything about it is excellent, from the production values to the songs & lyrics, from the fine quality of actors to the charm and wit of the dialogue and the story. There is literally nothing wrong with this movie. It is fit for all audiences, from the youngest to the oldest members of your family. I remember the first time I saw it, being struck by the fact that all the actors seemed to be having an absolutely marvellous time. Particularly during the Jester's first call at entertaining the court...unforgettable and sheer delight. Every single person on camera looked like they were having a wonderful time just being there. I hadn't seen anything like such a fine emsemble cast since 'All About Eve.' I think it must have been because there were no bad lines, no bad parts, no scenes that didn't work, and everyone had a chance to shine. Having a good material to work with really does make a world of difference. Stars Danny Kaye, Angela Landsbury, Basil Rathbone, and a host of marvellous British actors whose names are right now escaping my memory. Buy it. Keep it. Enjoy it for years.

The Brew that is True...
If one is tired of baudy bathroom humor of the typical comedies one finds today, perhaps "The Court Jester" will satisfy your comical thirst. Set in England during the time of chivalry and knighthood this musical comedy stars Danny Kaye as a ne'er do well circus performer who ends up out"fox"ing the dastardly villains, getting the girl and saving the real king's butt (so to speak). Glynis Johns plays Maid Jean whose stunning beauty and big eyes just make you melt (wow, I wish I'd been born earlier). Basil Rathbone is his typical bad self as the evil Ravenhurst playing it to the hilt! This film pulls out all the comical stops from tongue twisters to hypnosis, magnetism and even a Zorro sword play spoof with Rathbone! This is Danny Kaye's finest and funniest comedy! A must see movie!

Comedy Could Not Better Be!
In the history of the movies, fewer things are more amusing than watching Danny Kaye behave as Danny Kaye. Watching his films was a wonderful part of my childhood,and I remember being at home from High School on the day of his passing. I'm very glad for the legacy he has left us to enjoy.
In "The Court Jester" he couldn't be more in his element as he amuses us with his usual patter numbers clever, tounge-twisting lyrics and sword play, and moves us with his loving care of the orphaned infant heir to the English throne. The scene of his lullabying the baby was shown as a tribute to him at the end of "Entertainment Tonight" the weekend after his death and it was a fitting tribute to him, his love of children, and the childlike sense of wonder he brought to all of his films.
As Kaye's love interest, Jean, a charismatic Glynis Johns is highly complimentary.She is not the sterotypical woman of medeival times, but having been raised as a boy, has a lot of cunning, ingenuity, and an occassional bit of brawn as the leader of those in rebellion against Cecil Parker's evil King.
Angela Lansbury's Princess Gwendolyn longs for true love rather than an arranged marriage. She is firm and decisive in many ways, as she helps bring the tale to a positive conclusion.
As the sourceress, Mildred Natwick leads into some of the film's funniest scenes, including the notorious "Pellet with the poison is in the vessel with the pestle" routine that has become a classic.
Hubert Hawkins' cleverness in seizing the real Court Jester,(John Carradine, a man whom I could never really think of as funny) who was very arrogant, disguising himself in his clothes, and using his tounge-twisting dialogue with the King to cover his tracks is also a riot.
Basil Rathbone as the evil henchmen is a refined villian. It's amusing the way Kaye kept pushing his name out of the way during the opening credits, and I have wondered how often Hawkins' accelerated knighthood ceremony had to be rehearsed before those on the set could stop laughing.

Although the film overlooks the fact that a person can't be hypnotized against their will, the way Hubert Hawkins is, the comedy is generally light, and goofy, doesen't get any saucier than the exposure of an infant's backside, and children will love it.
And as Hawkins reassures us at the beginning,"What starts like a scary tale ends like a fairy tale, and life couldn't possibly better be!"

So funny your cheeks will ache from laughing!!
This is one of Danny Kaye's best. He was so talented and his comic timing is impeccable. The "chalice from the palace" scene is so funny that I have not forgotten it over the years. This movie will get you out of the blues in no time.

You will go and buy this movie and do it like that (snap)!
This is my favorite movie of all time. When I was a kid Danny Kaye movies played every Sunday morning and we would wait the few months until it came around again.

I have never stopped laughing at the scenes, the funny interplay between Danny Kaye and the court and his continual buffonery.

Even kids will love this movie. It starts with a dance routine which is almost like Robin Hood Men in Tights. That is quaint, yet the next scene will take you in and take you on the funniest rides of all time.

Kaye, disquised as an old man who is hard of hearing having a scream fest with the captain of the guard. This few minutes is one of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed. Then there are just funny scenes that will make you split your sides with laughter from there on out.

The wit it took to bring together this cast and the concept of the movie seems that it will never be outdated.

What Danny Kaye and the rest do here is ascend age and time making this movie appeal to any age group, young or old. I have seen a young family start off thinking this was a silly movie then, taken by the first comedic interaction, launch into continuous laughter. I laugh getting a kick out of watching everyone else laugh too.

This movie is a must for any DVD or VHS library. Share it with your friends, watch it when you are a little too stressed out to do anything else to lighten up your day.

The plays on words, the different fast paced situational scenes that will have you thinking; 'how clever...,' even when you think that Hawkins/Giacommo is at his end, then it gets even funnier. The Chalis with the poisly has the pellet with the pesly......

This movie is so fast paced that you cannot believe you have sat there and laughed for the better part of 90 minutes. The great thing about the DVD, you do not have to worry about watching this over and over again and wearing it out.

This movie has great color and scenery. The imagery is wonderful. You wonder if they really were in a castle.

Laugh and love this movie......I recommend it for school, church and family activities. It is a classic that may become more well known with time. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Problematic transfer
Pasolini's naturalistic adaptation of "Matthew" may be the best ever made on the life of Jesus. (This gospel is considered the preachiest of the four, and proves a strange choice for cinema.)

Alas, the transfer on this DVD isn't worth a recommendation. Considerable flicker and film artifacts make the picture a real eye-stabber; the soundtrack is frequently muffled, and the musical cues are garbled.

As with most Italian films of the time, sound is "post-synch" (which is to say it's dubbed in). The dubbing is no worse than you'd find in a Fellini film, but no better.

The sole extra is a European TV documentary from the early '70s. It's in pretty deplorable condition, and is featured on all the "Pasolini series" DVDs.

On the whole, a great film, well worth seeing -- but not a good DVD. I'll give it three stars and hope Criterion puts out a better edition soon.

a literal, riveting telling
Filmed in Southern Italy in rocky hillside villages and along the coast, Pasolini's "Gospel" has the feel of a silent film, with its long close-ups of its cast of non-professional actors, which include Susanna Pasolini, the filmmaker's mother, and how the camera loves these rough, beautiful and distinctive faces...it is like a moving tapestry of Renaissance paintings, and a visual artist's dream film.
Enrique Irazoqui's Jesus, with his lofty forehead, thick eyebrows that meet over his nose, and coal black eyes, is stern and compelling, and recites the Gospel with strength and mettle.

Released forty years ago, the quality of this black and white film is gritty, which adds to the harsh depiction of the life and the landscape. Though much less ambitious, it reminds me a little of Tarkovsky's "Andrei Rublev", and it has the same pacing (especially in the first hour) and gravity. The soundtrack also shows signs of age, and includes Bach, Mozart, Prokofiev, Webern, some American spirituals ("Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" during the Manger scene), Kol Nidrei during the Last Supper scene, and Missa Luba. There is also a biting wind, whooshing and whistling though much of the film.

The tape that I own is dubbed, and this is the only instance where I don't find dubbing intrusive. Since the dialogue is literal and familiar, and many scenes are purely visual, the dubbing frees one to just take in this marvelous interpretation of St. Matthew's Gospel, which is sometimes simple and sometimes quite savage (the Massacre of the Innocents is chaotic); a must see for anyone interested in Christianity, and students of film and the graphic arts.

Great Movie with a mocking Waterberer Logo and front picture
It is a great movie.
I think the cover of the DVD should be relevant to the film.
the same movie in Europe has Jesus's picture with a cross !!!!

As you play the film, the first thing you see the Waterberer Logo
scrolling on the screen with giant letters and inside the letters you'll see a naked man running then a woman kissing a woman !!!!!!!!
I think somebody trying to mock this film.

probably the greatest film ever on this subject
pasolini, unlike mr. gibson, was not a christian and never converted.
what we have here is an artist's honest reaction to the gospel of matthew upon encountering it.
an honest reaction without pre-concieved notions that lead to a truly magnificent work of art.
the film should be watched by all who think they've got jesus nailed down.
the low budget actually adds to the frankness of the film.
i mean, would christ really have wanted anyone to spend 30 million dollars on a movie about his torture?
let's face jesus was POOR and kudos must go to this filmmaker for an inspiring masterpiece.

A Great Movie Experience - But Revert Back To Subtitles!
Pasolini's THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW is by far his best ever work and probably the greatest movie on the life of Jesus ever made.

I have this movie on VHS with English subtitles and this will be the one I stick with. Dubbing this movie into English was a big mistake.

However, this is still a wonderful movie in it's simplicity. The cast is superb as are the locations and imagery. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Flawed but fascinating
George Pal, one of the most underrated filmmakers who worked during the Golden Age of Hollywood, made his most ambitious film, this, in 1962. Running 135 minutes with overture and intermission, it's a very curious project that seems especially incongrous in Cinerama. At times it drags and seems a bit silly, but it comes off as one of those films which seem detached in time, as it does not seem dated, but never would have been made today. The three fairy tale sequences are the film's highlight, with top-notch Puppetoon animation. Watch this on TCM, and petition for a DVD release. This needs a good DVD, AND NOW!!!

Jamie Teller

Terrific
This film is cute without being syrupy. Harvey and Boehm are
excellent. The fairy tales are wonderful. I love the German
scenery--the Grimms' "hometown" scenes were filmed in Rothenburg
ob du Tauber, Bavaria. As of 1995, the town still looked exactly
as it does in the movie. My favorite scenes--Laurence Harvey as the cobbler. What a transformation from Harvey as Wilhelm Grimm!

Every kid will want to see it dozens of times.
I saw this film when it first came out in the 1960s. For some reason, what stuck with me from the moment the theater lights turned back on, to the present era, was the catchy theme tune. The tune is still there, as one might expect. I recently took a few moments to learn the song of the elves from the cobbler sequence. Although the lyrics are a bit awkwardly written, the tune is fun to sing now and then. The storylines for each tale seem intact. (They're not extensively modified as in the Disney style) The connecting sequences, which comprise a biography of the Grimm brothers, is cleverly written. The somewhat different personalities and career goals of the two brothers are wonderfully related. Children might be especially amused by the scene where one brother leans on a suit of armor, causing the entire suit to collapse. The "voice" of the singing bone is exquisite. Another clever moment is the means by which the cobbler addresses a hunter, i.e., "Your Marksmanship." Another memory that stuck with me from my first viewing in the early 60's, was the effect of a sleeping potion on a plant, causing the plant to whither. The conclusion of the film, featuring masses of children cheering in a railroad station, is ideal for this story. What a great ending! The print is more than adequate, unlike, for example, the Beatles' Help, and Disney's Darby O'Gil and the Little People, which seem only available on blurry videotape prints that are difficult to endure. I can think of only one real complaint -- the dragon's fire looks like it was put on the film with strips of cut out colored paper.

An Odd, Pleasant Little Film
I have no idea where my Mom got a copy of "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm", but my family has been watching this movie since I was a young girl. A fictionalized account of the adult life of the Grimm Brothers, the story revolves around their transformation as writers of dull, patron-sponsered biographies to chroniclers of the world's great fairy tales. In between the telling of their story, 3 fairy tales are spliced into the narrative.

The Grimm Brothers segments were directed by Henry Levin in a semi-dull but ultimately servicable manner. The fairy tales, however, were directed by the imaginative George Pal , who also directed "The Time Machine" and "Tom Thumb" in the sixties.

"The Cobbler and the Elves" comes first, and is the weakest of the three, although it does have some good claymation. Next comes "The Dancing Princess", and as a ballet dancer, I can tell you the choreography in this segment is absolutely first-rate. The Gyspy dance performed by the wonderful Russ Tamblyn (West Side Story) is among the best onscreen pieces of its kind.

Finally, there is the eerie "Singing Bone" which features Buddy Hackett and the English comedian Terry-Thomas together with a stunning jewel-encrusted Claymation dragon. These three segments are well worth the price of the video and very entertaining for childen. You may also enjoy this movie if you are a dancer or a animation fan.

All in all, "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" is a slightly odd curio, but suitable entertainment for the whole family.

A DVD in proper format is desperately needed
I saw this in the current pan & scan (or as is euphemistically appropriate now, full screen) a few years back and found it to be a painful experience. Adding insult to injury was the condition of the print; faded, washed out, and subject to the ravages that plague single strip colour prints of this era. The movie itself is entertaining enough, but what I'd really like to see is a DVD done in anamorphic widescreen in the Smilebox letterboxing process. This would preserve the original look of the Cinerama process and reduce the amount of distortion normally associated with those tiny lenses Cinerama used. MGM's been doing well with its rereleases on DVD; here's hoping this one will get on the list at some point. ... Read more

Amazon.com

South Park cocreator Trey Parker goes straight for the gross-out humor in this live-action farce set in the adult-movie industry.Parker stars as an innocent Mormon kid who gets sucked into the world of pornographic filmmaking and becomes an international sensation as the porno superhero Orgazmo, all the while hiding his secret life from his milk-fed fiancée. It's practically a one-man show for Parker, who directs, writes, stars, and even performs the self-penned theme song as frontman for his rock band, and perhaps he should have spread the responsibilities a little. As an actor he's surprisingly appealing--his dazed grin and bleached white surfer-dude hair give him an engaging air of innocence (he can also be seen, just as innocently endearing, in the sports farce BASEketball). Paired with longtime crony Dian Bachar, the diminutive actor who plays his superhero sidekick Chodo Boy, they bring a Hardy Boys naiveté to the rude world of mobbed-up producers and jaded adult film stars. But the film is only fitfully funny, with vulgar jokes that are often more disgusting than humorous and clumsy comic timing sabotaging promising scenes. Only rarely does it reach the heights of his hilarious cutout cartoon series, but when he delivers he does so with the carefully cultivated tasteless excess his fans have come to know and love. Matt Stone costars as a clueless photographer and adult film star; Ron Jeremy appears as a gross gangster henchman. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (114)

One of the funniest movies you will ever see!
I had to search to find this movie when it was released to theaters in October 1998 because of the limited release due to the MPAA's NC-17 rating. It was well worth all the struggle to get to it. I am a huge fan of Trey Parker and Matt Stone. I thought "BASEketball" and "Cannibal! The Musical" was hilarious. But when I walked out of the theater from "Orgazmo", my stomach muscles literally hurt from all the laughing I did. This is one of the funniest movies you'll ever see. It is about Joe Young (Parker), a Mormon Missionary who gets pulled into the porno industry to try to earn money for his upcoming nuptuals. He is the porno superhero, Orgazmo, and he becomes a big hit. I don't want to tell you too much, but don't miss seeing this movie. I am buying it at full price. I don't want to wait and you won't either!

Is this available in DVDA?
Trey Parker and Matt Stone. You either love them or you hate them. Back when South Park was just a few bits of cardboard lying around a bong-filled apartment, the guys paid the bills by making this movie. And it's pure comic genius! With sight gags and one-liners everywhere, this movie demands repeated viewing, and soon you'll be quoting classic lines such as "I am Sancho", "I don't wanna sound like a queer or nothin', but I think Depeche Mode are a sweet band" and "Stuntcock!" in your sleep.
The movie follows Joe Young (Trey Parker), a young Mormon missionary to L.A., who becomes [pulled] into the porn industry one sunny afternoon while out trying to convert the heathens. He justifies this career change, as the money he earns will go toward a wedding in the Temple in Salt Lake with his "Cupcake" ("Why does the church make it so expensive to get married in the Temple?"). Hilarity ensues as a cast of pornographers (including cameos from real life skin-stars such as Ron Jeremy and Chasey Lain), racketeers and rocket scientists combine to make the movie-within-a-movie (also called Orgazmo) "the cross-over success of the decade!" (a jump cut reveals it to be the highest grossing film of all time behind Jurassic Park). But can Joe extricate himself from the sequel he's under contract to make? Will Choda-boy ever use his "hamster style" again? How can they defeat the evil A-cup/Neutered Man? Will G-fresh sign over his sushi bar to developers? And what will happen when Cupcake rolls into town? I guess you'll just have to watch it to find out...
This film is criminally under-appreciated, and hopefully, with the success of South Park, more people will be encouraged to discover the delights of the Parker/Stone back catalogue. If you're a fan of South Park, Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker or the Farrely brothers, I promise you will not be disappointed. "Oh, wait..Daddy's here to take me to choir practise. Jesus and I love you..."

I don't want to hurt you.
Easily one of the most hilarious, mormon out of water features ever made.

Better than snifffing gloo. More edgy than a torus.

Hamster Style Forever!!!
(...)this movie is pretty sweet. Where else can you get Kung-fu, Porn, & Mormon Missionaries. This is the best movie ever it is so funny & has a heart. I think Trey Parker is a genius & he is pretty hot too. Plus Matt Stone's performance as Dave the Lighting Guy is the best. I can't wait till this dvd comes out so I can see all the special features. Drunken commentary rules!

Lewd, irreverent, daring, and - most of all - hilarious
The careers of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creative geniuses behind South Park (the funniest, most daring, satirically sharp-witted television show in history), actually go back farther than many fans are probably aware. In 1997, not long before South Park premiered and became an instant phenomenon, Trey Parker gave the world a new superhero: Orgazmo. He wrote, directed, starred in, and even sang the opening song to this film. Matt Stone puts in a hilarious performance of his own in a relatively minor role, but this is clearly Trey Parker's baby. Most actors would run screaming from anyone who so much as mentioned the fact they appeared in a film as crude and ridiculous as Orgazmo; Parker, of course, embraces this sort of weird, over-the-top, controversial humor, and his singular daring and utter shamelessness in the interests of making people laugh are the keys to making a movie such as this work so amazingly well. Naturally, the standard Parker-Stone rules apply, so let it be known that anyone who is easily offended will not enjoy this brand of comedy. As for the state of Utah, I doubt you can even find a copy of Orgazmo anywhere.

Trey Parker plays Joe Young, a clean-cut Mormon nearing the end of his proscribed time of mission work, looking forward to the day he can leave Los Angeles to return home to his fiancé and get married in the Mormon Tabernacle - if, that is, he can somehow earn enough money to pay for it. As luck would have it, an adult movie is being filmed in one of the houses he visits; a bunch of big guys, unappreciative of the spiritual zeal of the Mormon faithful, deal with him rather roughly, and he basically goes Mormon Karate Kid on them. The director, having seen the fight, insists that Young play the role of the superhero Orgazmo in the film he is shooting. Young doesn't really want to have anything to do with this type of movie, but he reluctantly agrees to do it for three reasons: 1) he could make enough money to give his fiancé the wedding she wants, 2) he doesn't think anyone will ever find out (he is a masked hero), and 3) he has a no penetration clause in his contract (there's a double for that). Well, this stupid adult film about Orgazmo and his sidekick Choda Boy saving gorgeous and very appreciative women from evil (and ugly) bad guys crosses over to mainstream success and becomes one of the highest-grossing films of all time. There must, of course, be a sequel. Young finds himself increasingly ensnared in this embarrassing situation that has the potential of costing him his fiancé and/or landing himself a new role "sleeping with the fishes, see." The bad guys are really bad, even in real life; clearly - need I say it? - this looks like a job for Orgazmo!

Let's talk about the cast. Parker is great as the naïve young Mormon, and it's rather strange to see him portray a character who remains clean-cut and, in a weird sense, pure from start to finish. Dian Bachar is hilarious as Orgazmo's sidekick and Young's new friend. Michael Dean Jacobs is perfectly oily and crude as Maxxx Robinson, the adult film director who threatens to ruin Young's life. Matt Stone steals every scene he is in, but his role should be seen and not discussed (especially since it is sort of hard to describe). Let us not forget Sancho; what can you say about Sancho except that, well, he is Sancho. There are also, I should mention, some actual adult film stars in this film - including Ron Jeremy, who is, in my opinion, the most disgusting man to ever live. Luckily, some of the horror Jeremy inspires is assuaged by the addition of gorgeous starlets such as Juli Ashton, Chasey Lain, and Jill Kelly. Oddly enough, there is no female nudity in this film at all; the only nudity you get comes in the form of male hinders (and it ain't pretty) - the only thing that can explain the film's NC-17 rating is the barrage of sexual references and sex implements that are on display here.

Make no mistake about it: this is a crude film that many individuals will disapprove of (particularly members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), but it really doesn't go as far as I expected it to. Take away a few "unusual" outfits, and this thing becomes a rather tame R rated movie. If you love South Park, you'll appreciate the humor of Orgazmo, but those who cannot stomach our little friends in Colorado would do well to duck and cover if they ever see this movie coming. I would love to give this film five stars, but I can't: the story's engine loses a cylinder or two before the end, and - more importantly - no movie that makes me have to look at Ron Jeremy will ever get a perfect rating from me. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Teenage mutant ninja turtles 2 the secret of the ooze!
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!This was awesomely entertaining,and cartoonishly funny.Speaking of that,I like the change they made from dark and serious to bright and toonish (as I just said).what I think is that the director perpously wanted to have each turtle film to be different.As in,the first to be dark and moody,the second to be for younger kids and the third film to be more in between.See what Im talking about,that gives you a choice on what kind of movie style you like.....you know what,I barely know what the hell im saying..So,anyway!The entire film is way funny and well done,I just love those creature things Rahzar and Tokka.There are non stop laughs and parts that are little over done,wich is okay.I always laugh my head off when donatello gets thrown 50 feet in the air.Well the dvd has plenty of fun stuff like Pick that flick game and a theatrical trailer.OK,I give the movie 5 stars and 3 and a half for the dvd.I like the second one the most and the third and first are tied for second...hmm sounds fare enough.

GO NINJA GO!!!
Okay, cheesy title, I personally hate Vanilla Ice, but I loved this movie. There was more humor in it, and the turtles were fun. The first one was absolutely thrilling, and this one matched it quite nicely. I personally like the looks of the turtles better in #2. I also like Donny's voice better. I love Corey Feldman, but whoever did Donny in #2 was really good. Raph was the best looking turtle, and his accent was so perfect!!!! GO RAPH!!! The mouth movements of the turtles in this one were much better, and I loved the humor. I didn't really care for Keno, but yah. He was cool too I guess. Some people don't like the fact that this one is more cartoonish in appearance, sound and storyline, but it started out as a cartoon, why not make it a bit more cartoony? Okay, I could live if there was less humor, but YA GOTTA LOVE MIKEY!!!! Yeah, so out of the trilogy, the second one was my favorite. (I LOVE DONNY!!!)

Just GREAT!
THIS MOVIE IS SO GREAT AND IS FILLED WITH ACTION, HUMOR, AND A GREAT SCRIPT! LOVE IT!

YES!
Teenage mutant ninja turtles 2 is a great movie and is much better than the first one because it has more of everything a movie needs to have in order to be a good movie. It isn't one second boring and I still love after I watched it 11 times already. A GREAT MOVIE!

It has Vanilla Ice in it!
This movie is worth the price and its 5 star rating just for Vanilla Ice. He sings a rad song called 'Ninja Rap' and its one of the greatest audible compilations to ever enter my ear lobes.
But it. Now! ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Digging Bear's Review
A masterpiece of American cinema, pure and simple. There is no person before or since that has portrayed General George Armstrong Custer better than Richard Mulligan in this film. Dustin Hoffman gives a truly wonderful performance as Jack Crabb all the way from boyhood to an aged man of one hundred and twenty one years old. The makeup done on Mr. Hoffman for the old man scenes is incredible. You can hardly tell that it's Dustin Hoffman under it. All the Indian actors are real American Indians and the movie is so much the better for it. The man playing Little Big Man's father, who is a fine actor seen in many a western movie, should have been nominated for an Oscar for this as I do believe Richard Mulligan was. The movie can seem long at some points but as soon as you would begin to notice you yanked quickly back into another engaging predicament Mr. Crabb has gotten himself in. One of my favorites is when he becomes a gun slinger with the outragous outfit to go along with the attitude. But when he meets up with Wild Bill Hickock and sees his first dead man, he quickly changes profession. The climax of Little Big Man is probably one of greatest moments in cinema. Jack Crabb is an Indian scout for General Custer at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. It does not get any better and is a must see.

Oh, and Faye Dunaway gives an erotic seduction performance that gives me goose pimples every time I see it.

Terrific film adaptation of Thomas Berger's novel
Just a few years after success in The Graduate, Dustin Hoffman continued his identification as the Everyman of modern youth in this delightfully rambling, mordant, and affecting picaresque set in the American frontier. Hits all the right notes perfectly in its representation of the contrary and conflicting moods of a person awkwardly attempting to makes sense of the world and find a place in it. Enjoyable in its own right as a marvelous piece of movie story-telling, the film yields greater meaning when viewed with appreciation for the conflicts of the late 60's: the war in Vietnam, the generation gap, Native American and other groups' struggle for freedom and respect. Chief Dan George turns in a magnificent performance as Cheyenne tribal leader Old Lodge Skins, Hoffman's adoptive "grandfather" and the film's spiritual centerpoint. I've watched this movie several times and always come away moved by the beautifully poignant ending with Grandfather and Little Big Man on the mountaintop. You'll want to view this film again and again.

ehhh
I've read the book, so I'm definitly biased, but I'd like to think that even if I hadn't read the book I wouldn't like this movie. It gets two stars for Dustin Hoffman and his Indian wife, who was really hot.

"I wasn't just playin' Indian - I was livin' Indian!"
Little Big Man is framed as a retrospective narration by Jack Crabb, who at age 120-plus, is the oldest living survivor of Custer's last stand at Little Big Horn, and in the 1960's (?) is being interviewed by a newspaper writer.

As kids, Jack and sister Caroline are the only survivors of an Indian attack, and they are taken to an Indian village and meet "Old Lodge Skins", the chief. Caroline expects to be raped later (and is somewhat disappointed when she is not) and rides away at night. The Cheyenne ("human beings") adopt Jack. Due to his small stature, Jack is named "Little Big Man" after he saves Younger Bear from a Pawnee attack.

In a battle againt the cavalry, just before he is about to be killed, Jack ID's himself as a white man, and is put in the care of Reverend Pendrake, whose wife (Faye Dunaway) takes an interest in Jack. He is taught to to read and write, and takes up religion with Mrs. Pendrake. After he finds Mrs. Pendrake and a soda-shop man in bed, that ends his religion phase.

Jack takes up with Mr. Meriwether, a con-man, and ends up getting tarred and feathered by a group lead by his own sister. Jack moves in with Caroline and she teaches him to shoot ("Go snake-eyed"). Jack becomes a flashy gun-fighter known as the Soda Pop Kid after his drink of choice. He meets Wild Bill Hickok ("Might I ask who I are addressin'?") but gives up gunfighting after Hickok kills a man in a bar. Caroline disowns him, so Jack gets a partner, becomes a store owner, and marries Olga, a large Swedish woman. Jack's partner is a crook, and he goes bankrupt.

General Custer is passing by, takes pity on Jack and advises him to "go west" with his personal guarantee of safety - cut to Indians raiding a stage coach and riding off with Olga. Jack looks for her unsuccessfully, and heads deeper into Cheyenne country, where he is ambushed. He convinces the Indians of his identity, and returns to their camp. He tells Old Lodge Skins about Custer.

Jack rides off, and joins up with Custer to be a scout to find his wife. Custer is snobby and gives him a job as "mule-skinner". He rides in a massacre against an Indian village which he tries to stop, then escapes himself. He meets "Sunshine" as she is about to give birth in the bushes, and returns to the Indians with her. Old Lodge Skins is now blind from a wound. Jack stays with Sunshine and she hooks him up with her 3 sisters, so he now has 4 wives as Old Lodge Skins once predicted. It turns out his competitive Indian arch-enemy has married Olga.

After birth of a son, the Indians are attacked and Sunshine and the baby are killed. Custer orders Jack hanged, but Jack identifies himself and talks his way out of it. Later at camp, Jack has the opportunity to kill Custer but chickens out. Custer insults him and Jack goes back to the white man as a common drunk. He meets Hickok again and learns Hickok was seeing Mrs. Pendrake, now a widow and prostitute. Hickok gives some money to Jack to give to the widow for a train ticket, then is shot and killed. Mrs. Pendrake flirts with Jack, but Jack just puts Hickok's money on her stomach and leaves.

Jack becomes a drunk again, and sees Meriwether (now with a hook and peg-leg) and does not join him in buffalo hunting. He has reached his low-point, and goes into the wilderness to become a hermit. He sees an animal's gnawed off foot in a trap and "snaps". He goes to a cliff to commit suicide, but hears the passing cavalry.

He decides to "meet the devil head on", and joins Custer again. Custer wants to use him as a "perfect reverse barometer" to out-fox the Indians. He asks Jack's advice on a proposed attack, which results in Custer's famous last stand at Little Big Horn.

Jack rejoins the Indians. Old Lodge Skins gives a moving speech, and goes to the hilltop to die. The narration leads us back to the present as old Jack Crabb winds up his story.

Originally R-Rated, the movie was re-rated PG-13, for violence and some sexual situations. The movie runs 138:35 minutes not counting end credits (listed as 139 on DVD, 147 at IMDB). I know they've cut the part of sleeping with the three extra wives when shown on TV.

Spectacular cinematography including the snow-covered great plains. Nice harmonica/guitar-based score. Excellent acting by all, and direction by Arthur Penn. Richard Mulligan as Custer is one of the best characters on film. Some of the movie dealing with the massacre of the Indians is truly sad, but the movie also contains a lot of ironic humor. Movies don't get better than this. DVD has widescreen movie, setup/subtitle options, and chapters.

In a year of Oscar insanity, Little Big Man had one nomination - Supporting actor for Chief Dan George - and "Airport" gets 10 nominations and wins a couple. Obvious a reflection of the political problems of the times.

"Sometimes grass don't grow, wind don't blow, and the sky ain't blue"

Timeless Film
Little Big Man is one of my all time favorite movies fro many reasons. Dustin Hoffman gives what I believe to be his greatest performance as Jack Crabb. His range here is incredible as he portrays a man torn between two cultures and his life weaves back and forth between the white world and the indian world in which he was raised. His performance is funny when appropriate and yet filled with pathos and emotion when the necessary. An absolute masterful job of acting.
The Cheyenne scenes are moving and Ghief Dan george who plays Crabb's adoptive grandfather provides the film with gravity as he consistently demnonstrates wisdom and dignity despite the increasingly difficult circumstances that his tribe finds themselves in.
I don't know the actor's name who plays Custer but he provides just the right amount of comic bravado to make Custer seem to be a pathetic character who's hubris led to his troops demise. While this may or may not be an historically acurate portrayal it certainly fits the mood of the film.
Other famous western personalities such as Wild Bill Hickock are included in the story as Jack Crabb's life zig-zags it's way through the west. A fabulous ride and a very memorable film to be enjoyed again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I Could Not Stop Laughing
This is another one of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor's funniest movies in the world. They are hilarious, and so is this movie. I didn't stop laughing through the whole movie. I love this movie, and also every other one with Pryor/Wilder in it. My favorite part of this movie was when Dave aka Abe Fielding, "comes back from the dead" and starts yodeling. If you want to laugh, watch this movie and every time you even think about it after you watch it, you'll crack up. I can't even see why that guy up there says it's boring.

Save your money for Silver Streak or Stir Crazy
I am a huge fan of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. I loved Stir Crazy and Silver Streak. When this movie came out, I made sure to see it on opening day. I have never been so disappointed in a movie.

This movie starts bad and gets worse. The script is so bad that Wilder and Pryor look like they're embarrassed to be acting in it. As the movie went on, I held on to what little hope I had that the movie would improve. It didn't. When I thought things couldn't get any worse, the yodeling scene came on. At that point, I too became embarrassed for having witnessed this.

I am only giving this film one star because Amazon has not allowed reviewers to give negative stars yet.

Yo del elaine
I love this movie. It is so funny when Gene Wilder starts yodeling at the resteraunt and he calls it yodel elaine. Gene Wilder & Richard Pryor sure do make a great team together. It is also funny when Richard Pryor can't play the saxaphone.

I Could Not Stop Laughing
This is another one of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor's funniest movies in the world. They are hilarious, and so is this movie. I didn't stop laughing through the whole movie. I love this movie, and also every other one with Pryor/Wilder in it. My favorite part of this movie was when Dave aka Abe Fielding, "comes back from the dead" and starts yodeling. If you want to laugh, watch this movie and every time you even think about it after you watch it, you'll crack up. I can't even see why that guy up there says it's boring.

very boring
i'm a big time Richard Pryor fan and i dig Gene WIlder but this film sucks.the material is very weak.i was watching this movie for about a hour and i went to sleep.i never did that with the 3 other ones that they have made together. ... Read more