Reviews (18)

The 80's at it's finest! Not to be missed!
I saw this movie when it first came out... I"ve owned the soundtrack on tape and now on CD... I've bought the movie used from a video store when I couldn't find it new - and I hope that it will somehow get onto DVD... The movie is a must see if not a must own.. the Soundtrack is a MUST OWN for sure... one of my fave's of all time with it's ONLY problem being that it doesn't have the song "Where Is She" by Blue Future on it - if you've seen the movie, you know the song... other than that it's near perfection... another great soundtrack "The Lost Boys" ironically another Corey/Corey tagteam hit...

Great Movie for all Generations.
This movie is a great movie and I have been enchanted by it since I first saw it in the 80's. Now it is out on DVD and I still enjoy it. It is so romantic and has alot of human emotion in it. I have to also admit I used to be in love with Meredith Salenger. She is such a fine actress and Wow, what a bod. This movie has soooo much cool music in it and it appeals to all ages. The romantic part of me loves this movie and it is right up there with another romantic movie that I love, "Xanadu" with Olivia Newton John. Corey Feldman might not have been the best actor ever, but he was excellent in this and the Academy Awards should have noticed. (Like they ever vote for anthing that REALLY deserves it). The rest of the crew made an excellent movie and the dirctor and editor did a first rate job. What else did the director go on to do?

Pick up the sound track and you will love it. I listen to it all the time and the inclusion of the Van Morrison hit "into the mystic" sets the mood for any situation. Beautiful movie and all time classic.

my favorite movie of all time so far
although a hard movie to follow at times,its very entertaining and i know it word for word.i have probably watched it 50 times or so.its not for everyone,but if you like 80s movies about romantic comedy with wild twists you will love this one.its worth a buy for sure,and i suggest getting it new ,for only a few dollars more.

Dinger lives / An 80's gem
One of my favorite films so defining of the 80's. A classic teen angst high school movie but with imagination. I think Corey Feldman & Corey Haim made a great team in this. This film makes you want to go back to the 80's as a teenager in high school, watching it nowadays. I completely related to Corey Haims character Dinger. Dinger and Bobby are best friends Bobby falls for Lainie the hottest girl in school and has to convince her that she loves him before the night's over but here's the story in an accident Bobby switches his body with the old man next store living life thru his eyes and vice versus. The same thing with Lainie and the old man's wife. A romantic comedy with a twist. Pay attention to the characters and their bond. A great film about friendship & relationships in high school. An essential to collection for anyone who grew up in 80's cinema. I own the DVD and the soundtrack is great too.

Dream a little dream on dvd
Just to let you know Dream a Little Dream was released on dvd ... Read more

Reviews (21)

One of Elijah Wood's best movies!
I loved North. It was so funny. One of my favorite parts was when he went to Hawaii and then during the ceremony thing, they showed him that big boared thing with his butt crack! It was a very hillarious movie and the thing that was the most hillarious about it was that Jason Alexander and Julie Lewis-Dreyfus (I think that's how you spell her name) played North's parents and they were both on the TV show, "Senfield"! But of course, my favorite character in the movie was North and he's played by Elijah Wood. By the way, Elijah Wood is soooo cute and does very well in this movie and if you love Elijah Wood, Jason Alexander, Julie Lewis-Dreyfus, Bruce Willis, Reba McIntire, or Dan Akyroyd, then you'll love this movie 'cause they are all in it and it's one of the best movies I've ever seen!

Only if you're an Elijah Wood Fan...
Yes, this is the film in which Bruce Willis appears in a pink bunny suit! And no, unless you are an Elijah Wood fanatic, there is no other reason to watch this! Anyone under twelve will find this film entirely satisfactory and enjoyable- but then anyone under twelve shouldn't be watching it. The very thinly-veiled sexual innuendo and profanity that appears on several occasions is unforgivable and unjustified in a work marketed as a 'children's film'.' North' does not have the depth to be appealing to adults and yet manages to make itself entirely unsuitable for its target audience.
Its hard to pick out any flaw in the performance of Elijah Wood as the title character- he is uniformly excellent- its just that the rest of the film is purely awful. It starts out positively, working off the interesting premise of 'can a kid divorce his parents?' but rapidly descends into dismal clichés. Indeed some scenes could easily pass for send-ups of the whole 'children's movie' genre! Wood is dragged from one slapstick situation to another mercilessly, at a jumpy pace that allows little time for the development of the film's central 'importance of family' message. Those who watch 'North' through to the conclusion will realise that it was only Wood's skill that came between them and the eject button. He is energetic throughout and, at times, incredibly genuine. Unfortunately even the best of actors cannot wholly redeem a weak film and it is easy to see why 'North' failed at the box-office.
Basically non-Elijahfans should avoid 'North' at all costs. Mind you, one cannot discount the obvious attraction of Bruce Willis in that furry pink bunny suit!

"North" Needs to Head in an Upward Direction...
This movie had WONDERFUL acting; you would be hard pressed to find better acting from EVERY actor in a family movie. The problem lies in the story... While the idea was cute and perfect for a family film, it was just too pathetic for anyone, including kids, to relate to. Even if a kid was to take over the world, grown adults wouldn't think of serving his every whim. This movie should definatly be seen once by every family with young kids, but once is enough, trust me... Parts are very funny, and others very touching but the story is the scum of movie making.

This is the cutest movie!
this movie is great. i like it because bruce willis is in it and he is so hott!! <3. it has a great storyline to it and its really funny. i can watch it over and over and still be surprised and laugh at everything. i love it!

good family film
great family film with Elijah Wood as North. Wood has 24 hours to find new parents or he goes back to his orignal ones who are past out and put on display in a museum(just hilarious). he meets a lot of new folks, including, Dan Aykroyd, John Ritter, Faith Ford, Kelly McGillis, Alexander Gounov, Kathy Bates, Graham Greene, Reba MacIntyre and a whole cast load of fun stars including Abe Vigoda, Joe Polito, Jon Lovitz, Jason Alexander, Julia Lous Dreyfuss, Richard Belzer and the great Bruce Willis(who looks cute in a bunny suit) a great time, though theres some violence involving gunfire at north ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Written for the stage and coherently opened up for the screen by veteran director Herbert Ross, Play It Again, Sam is closer to a conventional comedy than Woody Allen's more self-contained films, but his smart script and archetypal hero-nebbish achieve a special charm aimed squarely at movie buffs. Allen is Allan Felix, a film critic on the rebound after his wife's desertion trying to brave the choppy waters of born-again bachelorhood and struggling to reconcile his celluloid obsessions with the hazards of real-world dating. His apartment is a shrine to Humphrey Bogart, and it's none other than Bogey himself who materializes at strategic moments to counsel Allan on romantic strategy. He gets more corporeal aid from his married friends, Linda (Diane Keaton) and Dick (Tony Roberts), who try to orchestrate prospective matches and reassure him when those chemistry experiments explode. When Allan finds himself falling in love with Linda, the dissonance between fantasy and reality proves both funny and poignant--a precursor to the deeper emotionalism missing from the star's earlier directorial efforts that was soon to inform Allen's most affecting '70s comedies. It's also the start of his onscreen relationship with Keaton, further underscoring Allen's evolution toward a more satisfying contemplation of the friction between head and heart. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Classic Woody!
As I'm sure you now by now, this film stars Woody Allen as a film critic and CASABLANCA buff (coincidentally named Allen) whose bored wife leaves him in the throes of insecure bachelorhood, while he secretly yearns to fulfill Humphrey Bogart's role in his own love life. Watching Woody at his neurotic, self-deprecating best is fun, and he does a lot of physical comedy in this entertaining little film. It's funny that this is an essential Woody Allen film, yet Woody Allen himself didn't direct it! The film's director is Herbert Ross, director of some clever & funny movies such as MY BLUE HEAVEN (1991), and some not-so-clever-and-funny movies, most notably the awful PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (1981). However, Woody wrote the screenplay, which had been adapted from the stage play that he also had written. Since Herbert Ross doesn't take any liberties with Woody's style, it ends up being by all accounts a classic Woody Allen film.

Co-starring in this enjoyable film are Diane Keaton (in her first of many films with the irreppressable Allen), Tony Roberts (as Keaton's too-busy and full-of-himself husband), and Jerry Lacy (who continually appears to Woody as a vision of Mr. Bogart). This film was originally set in New York City, but ended up getting re-set to San Francisco due to a labor strike. Of course, all of the actors in this movie have New York accents, but that's no matter. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM is so much fun to see for all of the trouble that Woody gets into with his dates that we only care for how his character will redeem himself by film's end.

Classic Woody!!!

An unknown classic
A very clever, funny film. Anyone who has struggled in the dating game will probably see a little of themselves in Woody Allen's charactor. The scene on the couch, between Woody and Diane Keaton, is one of the funniest scenes in any movie ever. Tony Roberts and Jerry Lacey are excellent as the too-busy husband and Humprey Bogart. If you liked ANNIE HALL or WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, I highly recommend this movie, even if you are not a Woody Allen fan.

Play it again, Sham... Go on!!!
A work of genius.

While this is one of Woody's finest moments, it also brilliantly underscores one of the dilemmas of modern man.

Allen's nerdy new age man Allan Felix is so in his head and ineffectual that his wife simply abandons ship - a brilliant observation on a social a trend that is if anything, on the increase.

The magic and true genius of this movie lies in the way Bogart's grounding yet wild Dionysian energy drives Allen's UberNerd to stop whining and intellectualizing and just act. I'm slightly paraphrasing, but Bogie's ghost's advice to Felix to 'Tell her she's beautiful' and 'Go on, kiss her... Go on!' are a joy to behold.

The revelation is that by finding his inner warrior, his wild man energy, he is actually successful, and creates a scenario in which the man and the woman can be more comfortable in their clearly defined, yet non-hierarchical roles.

While there is immense significance in the role and transforming power of the Bogart figure, this is still a warm, loving and utterly crazy Woody classic and can be enjoyed on any level.

Diane Keaton... sigh...

Great for my teenage angst
This was an important movie to me as a teen. Its the classic Woody as nebbish who wins out in the end. Far more conventionally filmed than a Woody-directed film its nonetheless up their with his funniest - touching as well.

Funniest movie ever
If you like comedy, I mean genius works of comedic brilliance, watch this movie. Buy it, rent it, or whatever. You won't be dissapointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This vigorously entertaining film, sharply directed by Robert Redford from Paul Attanasio's brilliant screenplay, is based on the game-show scandals of the 1950s, when TV quiz shows were rigged to attract higher ratings and lucrative sponsorships. The fact-based story focuses on the quiz show Twenty-One and popular contestant Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes), a charming, well-bred intellectual who agreed to win the game by using answers supplied by the show's producers. This unfair advantage turned Van Doren into a prototypical media darling at the expense of reigning Twenty-One champion Herbie Stempel (John Turturro, in a bravura performance), a working-class Jewish contestant who, according to the show's sponsors, had worn out his welcome in the public eye. When a congressional investigator (Rob Morrow) catches on to the scam and Stempel blows the whistle on this backstage manipulation, Quiz Show becomes a smart, political expos&eacute; about the first generation of television, the corrupting effect of celebrity and success, and the ongoing loss of innocence in American society. Bristling with superior dialogue and energized by an excellent cast including Paul Scofield as Van Doren's morally upstanding father, Quiz Show succeeds as history lesson, intelligent thriller, and morality tale, setting the stage for the countless scandals that would follow in a nation addicted to television. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Superb recounting of the Quiz Show Scandals
Although not a reason this movie is so good, I would like to begin by stating that as a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, I believe this is the only movie ever made that mentions Arkadelphia. And not just once, but twice!

There are many, many reasons this movie succeeds so marvelously, but I would like to focus on three.

First, this movie benefits from an exceedingly fine cast. Not merely the leads, but many of the lesser roles are filled with extremely good actors and actresses. While Ralph Fiennes, John Tuturro, and Rob Morrow all shine in the leads, lesser parts are filled with people like David Paymer, Hank Azaria, Mira Sorvino, and Martin Scorsese. I was especially impressed by the always superb but underutilized Paul Scofield (who won the Oscar portraying Thomas More in A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS). He seems the very embodiment of the man of reason, erudition, and courtesy portraying Mark van Doren, and his pain upon learning his beloved son has lost his teaching position at Columbia is one of the great poignant moments in the film. Look very carefully at the scene where several attractive coeds interrupt Ralph Fiennes and Rob Morrow and you will spot Calista Flockhart (a.k.a. Ally McBeal).

A second reason this film succeeds so well is its tremendous period feel. The movie looks and feels like the late 1950s at every second. QUIZ SHOW does a great job of [pulling] you in and giving you an almost tangible sense of time and place.

Finally, the movie is easily one of the most accurate historical films I have ever seen, although drama is never sacrificed for the mere sake of being accurate. If one has done any reading about the scandals or perhaps if one remembers the events, the film constantly impresses with the amount of accurate detail it contains. Too often when watching a movie dealing with historical events, one can become irritated of the events are inaccurately portrayed. For instance, although LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is a truly great movie, Peter O'Toole was nearly a foot taller than the real T. E. Lawrence, which is a huge problem, since Lawrence's self-consciousness about his short stature was a major factor in his self-image. There are no such moments such as this in QUIZ SHOW.

But if you watch, or rewatch, this film, please note those references to Arkadelphia! My undergraduate hometown!

Redford Hits 21
Quiz Show is about the quiz show scandal of the 1950's that shocked the nation. Robert Redford expertly guides this film and gets excellent performances from his actors. Ralph Fiennes is cool and dashing as Charles Van Doren, a Columbia professor who became a national hero due to his success on the popular quiz show Twenty-One. John Turturro gives a manic and hyper performance as loose cannon Herb Stempel who was the most popular contestant on Twenty-One until Van Doren came along. He is forced to take a dive in return for future TV work, but the show's producer Dan Enright reneges on his promises, sending Stempel on the trail for vengeance. Rob Morrow gives a solid performance as a young and aggressive federal investigator Dick Goodwin. He investigates the shows and along the way become friends with Van Doren. Paul Scofield gives his usual superb performance as Van Doren's father, the noted poet Mark Van Doren. David Paymer is perfectly slimy as Twenty-One's producer Dan Enright and Chris McDonald plays Twenty-One's host Jack Barry with the right touch of mock importance. Mira Sorvino has a small part as Goodwin's wife and Martin Scorcese has a cameo as the head of Geritol who was the show's sponsor. Mr. Redford expertly weaves the lives of Van Doren, Stempel & Goodwin together and we are taken from the highest of highs to the low of lows. The movie is meant to show that prior to the scandal, America was a more trusting place, we accepted things at face value, but after the scandal, we started to become skeptical and question everything. In many ways, Mr. Redford is dead on with that assessment.

"They just wanted to watch the money."
Ah, the good ol' Fifties. The time when, after decades of depression and war, people finally wanted to get on with their lives, rebuild the economy and sweep everything dark and dirty under a big rug (including the escalating arms race with the Soviet Union). When television was everybody's new best friend, and ruled by the likes of Ed Sullivan, Lassie, Bozo the Clown and Lucy ... and by quiz shows.

Well aware of the contests' new, uniquely thrilling live entertainment, studio executives and sponsors quickly capitalized on their appeal, eager to maximize the resulting profits. To that end, however, the shows' outcome couldn't be left to chance: Then as now, viewers were looking for the "right" kind of hero to identify with; so ultimately it was unthinkable to let someone like Herbert Stempel (John Turturro) - not only an annoying nerd with thick glasses and bad teeth but worse, an annoying *Jewish* nerd with thick glasses and bad teeth - win the famous "Twenty-One" for more than a couple of weeks. A more suitable replacement was found in Columbia University lecturer Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes), descendant of one of New England's foremost intellectual families and, in the words of the show's co-producer Albert Freedman (Hank Azaria), soon the TV nation's new "great white hope." A brilliant intellectual who nevertheless felt eternally inferior to his Pulitzer Prize-winning father, poet Mark Van Doren (Paul Scofield), his mother (Elizabeth Wilson), likewise a distinguished author, and his uncle, Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Van Doren, Charles ultimately agreed to sell his integrity for a high flight to fame and fortune on borrowed wings, and thus succumbed to the one force driving a quiz show's appeal more than anything else: money, and astronomically large sums thereof.

Based on former Congressional investigator and Kennedy speechwriter Richard Goodwin's "Remembering America: A Voice From the Sixties" and scripted by Paul Attanasio, Robert Redford's 1994 film brilliantly traces the "Twenty-One" scandal - the biggest of several scandals involving rigged quiz shows - from the moment Stempel was told to take a humiliating dive and pass the helm to Van Doren (Goodwin also co-produced). The movie's tone is set from the opening scene, which focuses on neither of the contestants but Goodwin himself (Rob Morrow), newly arrived in Washington with a first-in-his-class Harvard Law School degree in his pockets, and admiring the latest thing in automobile technology in a Chrysler showroom ("Used to be the man drives the car, now the car drives the man," he eventually comments, wowed by the dealer's sales talk). Turning on the radio, they catch an announcer's remark on the Sputnik launch: "All is not well with America" (but "America doesn't own the [Chrysler] 300," the dealer responds). Then Goodwin changes the station and the film's opening credits begin to roll, significantly over Bobby Darin's "Mack the Knife" from Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's "Threepenny Opera:" Although originally conceived as a "Moritat," a darkly cynical ballad, Darin's swinging, upbeat 1959 version, a No. 1 hit for all of 22 weeks (1 1/2 times as long as Van Doren reigned on "Twenty-One") musically pulls every last tooth out of the song's sharp-edged lyrics; just as television's goody-two-shoes pseudo-reality and America's newfound prosperity seemed to obliterate the era's grimmer sociopolitical truths.

"Quiz Show" has been described, in turns, as a political thriller, a morality play, a parable on the loss of innocence and a fact-based drama; and it is all that, and more. It obviously has to be seen in context with "All the President's Men," Redford's 1976 film costarring Dustin Hoffman and Jason Robards, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning Woodward-Bernstein account on Watergate. Just as America lost its political innocence there, it had already lost its innocence vis-a-vis showbiz in the quiz show scandals. But this is also a fascinating exploration of the scandal's underlying psychology; of that mix of insecurity, greed, ambition, hero-worship, prejudice and self-deception which made the manipulation possible in the first place and allowed it to go undetected for so long.

Of the movie's tremendous cast, John Turturro, Ralph Fiennes and Paul Scofield particularly give standout performances as the nerdy, deeply humiliated Herb Stempel, the dazzling Ivy Leaguer Charles Van Doren and his intellectually brilliant, unwaveringly supportive and profoundly moral father Mark, who can snap out a Shakespeare quote appropriate to any situation at the drop of a hat. Rob Morrow's Dick Goodwin, the Jewish kid from Brookline who made it to Harvard and D.C. but is still occasionally up against prejudice, is not far behind (although I confess I sometimes find his accent a tad unconvincingly thick; more so than Fiennes's and Scofield's more refined New England versions). Not to be overlooked are also their female costars - besides Elizabeth Wilson, Mira Sorvino and Johann Carlo as Goodwin's and Stempel's wives - and of course the gang responsible for the goings-on at "Twenty-One:" David Paymer as slick producer Dan Enright, Hank Azaria as his sidekick, Christopher McDonald as host Jack Barry, Allan Rich as NBC boss Robert Kintner and Martin Scorsese in a rare and deadpan appearance as an actor as corporate sponsor Geritol's chairman Martin Rittenhome. (Besides, watch for Barry Levinson as "Today Show" host Dave Garroway and Calista Flockhart and Ethan Hawke [uncredited] as star-struck students).

When first setting out to investigate "Twenty-One," Goodwin aimed no lower than putting television itself on trial. But while the Congressional hearings did cause the downfall of the show and its greatest champion, Enright and Barry soon returned to television, and none of the others responsible for the manipulations suffered any consequences at all. Quiz shows are more popular than ever. "Give the public what they want ... It's entertainment. We're not exactly hardened criminals here. We're in showbusiness," was Al Freedman's cynical conclusion. And the movie's last words are again those of Berthold Brecht, but this time in Lyle Lovett's much darker version of the Moritat: "Mackie, how much did you charge ...?"

"Millionaire," anyone?

Robert Redford's morality play about the quiz show scandal
The first era of prime-time television programming was the Vaudeo Era, which was defined by shows like "The Texaco Star Theater" with Milton Berle, "Your Show of Shows" with Sid Caesar, and "I Love Lucy." However, during the Fifties television underwent monumental changes in terms of how shows were produced. There are two specific programs that represent the major changes. One is "Dragnet," which was the first successful series that was filmed in Hollywood and represented the shift away from live television broadcast from New York. The other is the CBS game show "Dotto," which was the first such show to be exposed as being rigged in 1958. It was not as successful as "The $64,000 Question," which was apparently run cleanly, or as infamous as "Twenty-One," which is the basis for the 1994 film "Quiz Show," but it was first. Because the quiz show scandal was driven by the greed of corporate sponsors, networks then began the practice of selling advertising time. No longer would a sponsor, such as Geritol, be able to decide what programs would go on the air.

However, Robert Redford's film is not really about the massive changes in the business of television that resulted from the quiz show scandals. The final word in this film is given to Dan Enright (David Paymer), the producer of "Twenty-One," who insists that because the show was entertainment and everybody made money, there was nothing wrong with giving contestants the answers and rigging the game. The point of this film is the human wreckage left behind by the scandal in terms of the two "Twenty-One" contestants at the center of the storm. Herbie Stempel (John Turturro) and Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes) are polar opposites in terms of looks and religion but what they have in common is a vast knowledge of what can be called facts or trivia depending on your point of view. As Van Doren's father observes, if you are going to ask a question worth $64,000 it should be about the meaning of life.

Stempel is the reigning champion on "Twenty-One," but the show's sponsor (Martin Scorsese) has grown tired of Stempel's looks and grating personality. So the producers order him to take a dive and in a calculated move that backfires on them insist that Stempel blow an easy question on what film won the Oscar for best picture in 1955. Enright thinks that for 70 grand Stempel can be humiliated, but the producer grossly underestimates the importance of a reputation for being a smart guy has to someone like Stempel. The producers also think they have the perfect replacement for Stempel in Van Doren, the son of a famous American intellectual family. They offer to feed him the answers to ensure victory, but when Van Doren refuses they go ahead and find a slightly different way of producing the same results. Van Doren blinks, but takes the money, and sales for Geritol go up fifty percent.

Between these two is Dick Goodwin (Rob Morrow), a young lawyer who works for the Senate committee with oversight responsibilities on television. Goodwin is Jewish like Stempel but also Ivy League like Van Doren, and while he is pursuing the truth regarding how "Twenty-One" is run he is also attracted to the life lived by Van Doren, who exchanges Shakespeare quotations with his poet father Mark (Paul Schofield) over a family lunch. The great irony of the script by Paul Attanasion, based on Goodwin's book "Remembering America: A Voice from the Sixties," is that Stempel wants to get "Twenty-One" and Goodwin wants to get television, and while neither wants to do it with Van Doren, that becomes unavoidable. Not that any of these three men comes close to getting what they want out of this experience.

It is impossible not to consider "Quiz Show" to be a morality play, but as such it is a rather disheartening one since nobody gets what they deserve at the end of this one. But Redford sees the quiz show scandals as being a point in American history that ended a period of innocence. After this point Americans could not longer believe what they saw on television as being the truth and Redford, who did star in "All the President's Men," sees it as the first in a series of violations of the public trust that extend through Vietnam, Watergate and beyond. But the performances by Turturro and Finnes are so compelling that they keep this film grounded on the personal level, so that the larger social issues are lost in the personal wreckage of Stempel and Van Doren's lives. Enright claims that nobody lost with these quiz shows, but that is obviously not the case.

My only complaint about this film is that it really does not do a good job of capturing the excitement of such shows. Stempel and Van Doren played each other four times before Van Doren became the new champion. Van Doren also played Vivienne Nearing three times to a tie before losing (and had beaten her husband Victor earlier that year). I do not think we get a sense of the drama or the addictive nature of the game. Fortunately, it was only a few years after this film that game shows made it back to prime time with "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" With that show we could really appreciate what it was like for the country to be riveted by a game show. Ironically, "Twenty-One" was brought back, but it did not catch on.

A time of innocence and the deception of the pubic
Directed by Robert Redford and nominated for several Academy Awards, this 1994 film tells the true story of the quiz show "21" in the 1950s and how the contestants were given the answers ahead of time and coached for the show. As a child at the time I remember the hoopla and how whole families would watch this show together, holding their collective breaths during the competitions for big money. It was a time of innocence and the viewing community was deceived. And never again have the networks won that kind of public trust.

Paul Attansio adapted the screenplay from the book written by Richard N. Goodwin who was the government investigator at the time. In the film this role is played by Rob Morrow who is determined to uncover the deception. All the other actors are excellent too - most notably John Turturro who is cast as a Jewish man from Queens who is allowed to win for seven weeks before being replaced by Charles Van Doran, a professor at Columbia who came from a long line of scholars. Paul Scofield also shines in the role of Van Doran's father, who stands by his son even though the family is disgraced by the publicity.

It's not just the quiz show phenomenon that comes alive in this film. It is the nature of the times as well as the anti-Semitic undercurrent and cultural conflict that was endemic. Usually, when I see a film about the fifties, it looks like someone's imagination of what those times were like. But this film was different. I really felt I was right back there, many years before computers or even color television, sitting wide-eyed in front of that black and white set and admiring the contestants for being so smart. Times have changed. Now, we know we're being manipulated. And there is no outrage.

I was unprepared to love this film so much. There is tension throughout and consistently wonderful acting. The dialog was authentic and the actors all played their roles with subtlety. They became the characters in the film and I wound up caring about all of them. "Quiz Show" is a simply wonderful film and I give it one of my highest recommendations. Don't miss it. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A Classic 'disaster'...
The most catastrophic earthquake hits Southern California, levels Los Angeles and with it, changes the lives of all people who live there. 'Grand Hotel' formula with larger than life acting, plus some of the most chilling special effects ever filmed. Earthquake still remains one of the most successful disaster movies in film history. Charlton Heston plays the construction engineer, Ava Gardner is his spoiled, rich wife & George Kenedy plays the tough cop. Also starring Lorne Greene, Genevieve Bujold, Marjoe Gortner, Lloyd Nolan, Barry Sullivan, Victoria Principal & Richard Rowntree watch out for Walter Matthau in a cameo role.
An average DVD presentation, the PAL version released in some European countries is much superior than this one (with Charlton Heston & Ava Gardner on the cover) & includes 4.1 Sensurround & presented in 2:35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen.

Thrills, Chills, and Fun!
"Earthquake" was a late entry into the early '70s Disaster film mania, and the audiences had become a little jaded after whetting their appetites on "Towering Inferno" and "The Poseidon Adventure." But hey! "Earthquake" has its own charms and some surprisingly good special effects.

Charlton Heston is in his stone-faced glory playing a heroic engineer who is trying to save Los Angeles from a devastating 7.2 earthquake. Dams break, buildings tumble, glass flies, panic and hysteria reign. Beautiful Ava Gardner ... plays Heston's spoiled, expensive wife. To give Heston the proper angst, he has reluctantly fallen in love with the nubile Genevieve Bujold who fetchingly needs rescuing quite often. The ending surprised me; I wonder if Charlton insisted upon it.

"Earthquake" delivers. If your expectations are for deep characterizations and startling ambiguities; you will be disappointed. If you want a couple hours of thrills and mindless fun, "Earthquake" will satisfy. My only complaints are the overly long set-up before the earthquake begins and a vague sadness that I haven't the facilities for "Sensurround."
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer

Goodtimes doesn't 'make' movies. Oh, and this one is awful
Goodtimes is a small VHS/DVD distributor, usually of long forgotten bad movies and that's why their sooooooooo cheap.
Of course you get what you pay for.
And what do you expect with Charlton Heston?
Eventually all 'Chuck's movies' will wind up in the Goodtimes bin!
Because Charlton Heston can't act his way out of the proverbial paer bag.
Chuck once had muscles (just like Popeye) and his biceps got him into the movies. But he always needed to be stuck in big budget epics like this brain fart. Why? Because if you pay attention to all the DTS Dolby stereo High definition yaddas then you won't notice the huy can't act!
Even most Hollywood reviewers who like the poor big dumb fella have written that this is one of his worst.
Yuk

It rumbles!
The old vhs video did not rumble. This DVD RUMBLES! It shook the house. Thanks for restoring the "sensurround"

The only decent dvd made by Goodtimes Video
This classic movie was somehow given to the "Goodtimes Video Company" that is know for releasing horrible picture quality on their dvds. "Earthquake" however is decent. The picture quality is as good as the vhs video release and the only bonus to this dvd is the fact is is in widescreen format. Goodtimes Video Company is the worst company to buy from in my opinion. I avoid buying from Goodtimes like the plague. I would say this dvd is excellent quality comparred to anything else I've seen from Goodtimes besides "Airport 75". The quality of picture is just like the video. No new enhancments or re digitalized or anything. The picture is as good (if not a touch better) than what you'd see on vhs or television, so it is worht buying for a low cost.The sound quality SHOULD'VE been redone in DTS or Dolby Digital just because of the old Senssurround that went with this movie. However the sound quality on this dvd is in mono, the quality is not that bad for what you've heard before on vhs or television. I would say, if this is the only release on DVD available, it is worth buying if you loved this movie.The ONLY other dvd release by Goodtimes Video that was done ok was "Airport 75". ALL other dvds released by this company have been horrible and not worth a nickle. "Airport 77" was absolutly horrendous to watch on their dvd. Bad picture (dark) and had a soundtrack suppossedly called Dolby Digital that in my opinion was a lie because all I heard was mono.Anyways, "Earthquake" was an ok buy at a low enough cost. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A Classic 'disaster'...
The most catastrophic earthquake hits Southern California, levels Los Angeles and with it, changes the lives of all people who live there. 'Grand Hotel' formula with larger than life acting, plus some of the most chilling special effects ever filmed. Earthquake still remains one of the most successful disaster movies in film history. Charlton Heston plays the construction engineer, Ava Gardner is his spoiled, rich wife & George Kenedy plays the tough cop. Also starring Lorne Greene, Genevieve Bujold, Marjoe Gortner, Lloyd Nolan, Barry Sullivan, Victoria Principal & Richard Rowntree watch out for Walter Matthau in a cameo role.
An average DVD presentation, the PAL version released in some European countries is much superior than this one (with Charlton Heston & Ava Gardner on the cover) & includes 4.1 Sensurround & presented in 2:35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen.

Thrills, Chills, and Fun!
"Earthquake" was a late entry into the early '70s Disaster film mania, and the audiences had become a little jaded after whetting their appetites on "Towering Inferno" and "The Poseidon Adventure." But hey! "Earthquake" has its own charms and some surprisingly good special effects.

Charlton Heston is in his stone-faced glory playing a heroic engineer who is trying to save Los Angeles from a devastating 7.2 earthquake. Dams break, buildings tumble, glass flies, panic and hysteria reign. Beautiful Ava Gardner ... plays Heston's spoiled, expensive wife. To give Heston the proper angst, he has reluctantly fallen in love with the nubile Genevieve Bujold who fetchingly needs rescuing quite often. The ending surprised me; I wonder if Charlton insisted upon it.

"Earthquake" delivers. If your expectations are for deep characterizations and startling ambiguities; you will be disappointed. If you want a couple hours of thrills and mindless fun, "Earthquake" will satisfy. My only complaints are the overly long set-up before the earthquake begins and a vague sadness that I haven't the facilities for "Sensurround."
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer

Goodtimes doesn't 'make' movies. Oh, and this one is awful
Goodtimes is a small VHS/DVD distributor, usually of long forgotten bad movies and that's why their sooooooooo cheap.
Of course you get what you pay for.
And what do you expect with Charlton Heston?
Eventually all 'Chuck's movies' will wind up in the Goodtimes bin!
Because Charlton Heston can't act his way out of the proverbial paer bag.
Chuck once had muscles (just like Popeye) and his biceps got him into the movies. But he always needed to be stuck in big budget epics like this brain fart. Why? Because if you pay attention to all the DTS Dolby stereo High definition yaddas then you won't notice the huy can't act!
Even most Hollywood reviewers who like the poor big dumb fella have written that this is one of his worst.
Yuk

It rumbles!
The old vhs video did not rumble. This DVD RUMBLES! It shook the house. Thanks for restoring the "sensurround"

The only decent dvd made by Goodtimes Video
This classic movie was somehow given to the "Goodtimes Video Company" that is know for releasing horrible picture quality on their dvds. "Earthquake" however is decent. The picture quality is as good as the vhs video release and the only bonus to this dvd is the fact is is in widescreen format. Goodtimes Video Company is the worst company to buy from in my opinion. I avoid buying from Goodtimes like the plague. I would say this dvd is excellent quality comparred to anything else I've seen from Goodtimes besides "Airport 75". The quality of picture is just like the video. No new enhancments or re digitalized or anything. The picture is as good (if not a touch better) than what you'd see on vhs or television, so it is worht buying for a low cost.The sound quality SHOULD'VE been redone in DTS or Dolby Digital just because of the old Senssurround that went with this movie. However the sound quality on this dvd is in mono, the quality is not that bad for what you've heard before on vhs or television. I would say, if this is the only release on DVD available, it is worth buying if you loved this movie.The ONLY other dvd release by Goodtimes Video that was done ok was "Airport 75". ALL other dvds released by this company have been horrible and not worth a nickle. "Airport 77" was absolutly horrendous to watch on their dvd. Bad picture (dark) and had a soundtrack suppossedly called Dolby Digital that in my opinion was a lie because all I heard was mono.Anyways, "Earthquake" was an ok buy at a low enough cost. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Babs and Segal charm in dated romantic comedy.
Way back in 1970, Barbra Streisand paired with George Segal in this sleazier than Neil Simon,opposites attract, romantic comedy, written by Buck Henry based on a play by Bill Manhoff.. While Owl and the Pussycat is far better than your average romantic comedy (just try the 'Touch of Class' movies today for instance), the film is little more than an unrealistic, though entertaining sit-com.

Barbra Streisand risked a lot by playing Doris, a slutty, gutter talking (more rude than crude) part-time prostitute who is 'an actress with three, well two commercials' to her name. This was a far cry from the beloved Funny Girl or Broadway Diva who starred on T.V. specials the audiences accepted. George Segal is Felix, the overly nervous intellectual struggling writer. They live in the same apartment building. [...] About halfway through the film, the film gets a bit more serious and we learn a little more about the characters. This is not a utter fantasy type film like say Pretty Woman, but the characters are clearly not particularly realistic either.

The film is a relic of its era and perhaps a bit more interesting now because of that. Streisand appearing as a prostitute in skimpy outfits (you'll perhaps remember the lingerie with the strategically placed pink hand silhouettes when you see it from the old poster for this film). Streisand proved with her thicker than usual Bronx accent, and her portrayal of a risqué character that she had talent as an actress/comedian and there was more to her than Funny Girl. George Segal is at his best. His reactions, comic timing and slow burn frustrations are amusing and very entertaining to watch.

Robert Klein pops up as Barney, a friend of Segal's Felix (and his girlfriend is none other than former Ivory Soap star turn porn star Marilyn Chambers), and there's Allan Garfield as a manager of a dress shop and Jacques Sandulescu as the cranky apartment manager/super, but this is almost entirely a two character film and the charisma and talent of Segal and Streisand carry the picture easily. Don't expect Streisand to break out singing--she doesn't warble a note in character here in this movie.

PC WARNING: When Doris first meets Felix she insists he's gay and continually taunts him for being a weak gay man. The sensitive among you may find the dated, insensitive and not politically correct references more insulting than funny.

NOTE: This is the re-released PG rated film which is two minutes shorter then the original R rated film that was released in 1970. Barbra says the F word in the original, but does not do so here and there was also a few other cuts for language (and one peek-a-boo revealing shot of
Bab's anatomy now excised). A bit of a cheat to release the re-release of the film without a note or explanation about it.

In the end of course the film doesn't stray very far from the formula of your typical Doris Day/ Rock Hudson film. Eventually the characters reveal their softer sides to each other but the film doesn't let itself get too soppy.

If you like the stars at all you'll want to see the film, but even if you aren't a fan of Streisand, she's playing an interesting bigger than life character here worth taking a look at , particularly if you like plays and films like Barefoot in the Park or The Odd Couple.

DVD STUFF

The film is presented in 1:85:1 Anamorphic widescreen of you can watch a pan and scan version as well (don't). The film has been digitally remastered from an excellent print that has only occasional specks of grain and a few scratches. The colors look good, the black levels are strong and very little edge enhancement is visible.

The Audio is Dolby Digital Mono, (in both English and French.). The over-lapping dialogue is easy to hear and the dialogue, sparse sound effects and background music is sharp and free from distortion or signs of age.

EXTRAS:

The only extra feature on the DVD are three theatrical trailers for The Mirror has Two Faces (a bad Streisand film), For Pete's Sake (a forced dated Streisand comedy) and Roxanne (the Steve Martin romantic comedy). No trailer for Owl and the Pussycat however.

There are the not quite complete filmographies of the director and stars, and lots of different subtitle choices.

This is a no frills DVD.

bottom line:

Here's a slightly risqué and racy romantic comedy sit-com feature film relic from 1970. It's dated but if you have any affection for either one of the stars or have forgotten that Diva Barbra is actually a pretty impressive actress when she wants to be, there's a lot to encourage you to give this film a try. The film boasts many funny one-liners and director Herb Ross never lets things get too soppy. The DVD looks and sounds very good but there are no extras..

Christopher Jarmick, is the author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder a critically acclaimed, steamy suspense thriller.

I'm with the critics -- DON'T CUT IT!!
Enough reviewers have groused that the verdict is in -- The Owl and the Pussycat WAS a classic that rocked, until the idiot Babs and the Columbia scissor boys got hold of it. If I were Buck Henry, I'd be angry. The majority of people who would be interested in this film ALREADY SAW IT in our relative youth. That means we saw Babs nude and we heard the "F" word that had everyone talking, as she tells off a bunch of moochers. More than a few of us need to give Columbia a piece of our minds. This is unconscionable. The nude scene was NOT destroyed, it was BLOCKED from the collar bone down (she was laying in Barney's bed, asking "Whatdaya think?" just before Felix joined her. It still exists in the vault. I own a copy with the "F" word intact, and in context, it only makes it funny. COLUMBIA, NOW HEAR THIS: GIVE US THIS FILM IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM, OR GIVE US NOTHING!!

OWL & THE PUSSYCAT DVD CENSORED???
Finally, one of the funniest STREISAND films Comes to DVD, unfortunately in a PG-EDITED version! Why can't Columbia picture heads let us decide what we can and cannot see? I own the almost unedited R rated VHS copy, and waited for years for it's widescreen DVD debut. Much to my dismay, it finally comes out EDITED!!!! WHY??? Because i wanted the widescreen version i plopped down my $25.00 for it anyway. Transfer is great and i highly recommend this DVD if you don't mind Corporate Censorship! Shame on Columbia Pictures DVD, do they honestly think someone underage will shell out for a movie they probably never heard of?

"The sun does not spit!"
One of the most hilarious films ever made, THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT has more laughs than ten of today's so-called "comedies" combined. Even though a few set changes and a couple of new supporting characters are added to "open up" the storyline, director Herbert Ross and writer Buck Henry manage to keep the same spirit of the original one-act, two-character play intact. There's a lot of verbal warfare in Henry's screenplay, and he seems to have a gift for penning wickedly funny dialogue. Some viewers could argue that THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT is little more than two characters insulting each other for 95 minutes, but - when those insults are so rigorously funny - who cares?

In the female lead, Barbra Streisand gives a refreshingly unsentimental performance as Doris, the semi-literate hooker who (for once) does not have a heart of gold. George Segal was primarily known as a dramatic actor befre he was cast as Felix, the snotty book clerk/writter-wannabe. His performance is so convincing that he has been known as an expert comic ever since. The chemistry between Streisand and Segal ignites from the beginning, and it stays aflame throughout their relationship's many ups and downs. Robert Klien has a funny supporting role - and plays it expertly - but THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT remains a showcase for the chemistry between Streisand and Segal. I think well-respected film critic Pauline Kael said it best when she wrote, "Were Tracy and Hepburn ever this good. . . maybe, but they were never better." High praise indeed!

About the DVD: This relatively featureless DVD has excellent picture quality (I wish all films from the seventies looked this good), but I am very disappointed that Columbia chose to use the PG edit of the film for this release. Though only one scene was edited, that particular scene no longer makes any apparent sense with Streisand's foul-mouthed phrase deleted. Hopefully the original theatrical cut will someday make it's way to DVD

The Owl and The Pussy Cat w/Barbara Streisand
This movie is a classic. Very funny worth buying especially at Amason' prices a must see for all Barbara Streisand fans. It will have u rolling on the floor with laughter ... Read more

Reviews (216)

Entertaining but lacks intelligence
Always the victim of impulse buys,...I have purchased 'The Scorpion King' today along with a new Sony progressive scan DVD player (model NS715P, see separate review.) After viewing the movie I can not say I was not entertained to some degree or totally disappointed with the flick. Aside for some major flaws in the plot and historical reality, the movie was watchable. I feel I must point out the flaws as I always do and two of the largest lay on the shoulders of the Villain played by Steven Brand. Why on earth would the director and casting allow a British actor to present his lines in native accent? Hugo Weaving (agent Smith) did not do it in 'The Matrix,' why would Steven Brand do it here? Second, in one scene, he used a French phrase, this a language not born until the seventh century. C'est plus qu'un crime, c'est une faute.

Overall, like its sister series 'The Mummy' and ' The Mummy Returns,' this DVD is full of interesting extras and vignettes worth watching. However, the feature lacks intelligent dialogue, is tainted with twenty-first century humor and all the CG special effects could have spent more time rendering in the computers (the snakes were ridiculous and half the ants were missing shadows). I choose to save ten dollars and not buy the release that included the CD soundtrack. Why, oh why a hard rock soundtrack for such a period movie? I might recommend this movie, but I would not have bought it had I rented it first.

rocks 2nd film
a assassian in biblical times is hired to kill some big shot wizard elsewhere.rock is the assassian.the only popular character is the rock.kids around 10 and up should be able to handle it.this is the rocks 2nd best movie id say.it was suprisingly good considering nearly every other movie starring a wrestler-including the mummy returns-sucked.its a action/fantasy type deal.there are a number of half naked chicks in this one.the rocks sidekick is the idiotic type you just keep wishing would die the whole damn time like the donkey on shrek.it is very good,but nearly as good as the wwe and hollywood would have you belive.

The Rock as the Scorpion King
The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, former WWF Champion, and the
People's Champion makes his first leading role acting debut as the Scorpion King.

The Scorpion King is the prequel to the Mummy Returns in which the Scorpion King is killed and later tried to be revived.

The success of the Mummy Returns and the Mummy lay in it's great story, action, effects and characters. The addition of the Scorpion King character in the Mummy
Returns was a big hit with movie fans. The Rock's brief role in that movie made a lasting impact on fans and the fans wanted more.

Chuck Russell , the director of this movie, obviously took the success, that the character of The Scorpion King had in ''The Mummy Returns'' and added more depth and detail.

The Rock underwent sword training, staff training, cardiovascular training for the Scorpion King. Being over 5 time WWF Champ , the Rock already had
the work ethic , dedication and charisma for the role. Although this is not mentioned. part of ''The Scorpion King's'' success lay on the fact, that the story is also similiar to the ''Conan The Barbarian'' movie with Arnold Schwarzenger.

In fact, comparing the 2 movies, one can see that the Rock in a much shorter time, has become a greater actor than Arnold Schwarzenger.

In his first films Arnold's movie and acting were less than stellar, so the Rock has managed to not only leave an impact with movie critics but entertained them as well. The Scorpion King is about an evil king, Memnon (Steven Brand), an evil king who has slaughters dozens of people including the village of Mathayus (The Rock).

Mathayus is a desert assasin and a great warrior. Pretty soon , the people who fear Memnon agree that Mathayus must get rid of him. However, Memnon's sorcererss, Cassandra (Kelly Hu) plans to kill anyone trying to take over the land.
Mathayus , the greatest warrior in the world, does not plan to let this happen, must kill Memnon before it's too late, and claim his right as the Scorpion King.

In his quest, Mathayus is joined by Balthazar (Michael Clark Duncan) and many others who will fight side by side to get Memnon. This is where the real actions begins, as we are treated to a bunch of violent, but cool action scenes involving
swords , spears and more. The visual effects are also extremely well done,
if you have seen the effects for ''The Mummy'', or ''The Mummy Returns'' then you won't be satisfied by the effects of this film.

Interesting notes about the Scorpion King:

The Discovery Channel recently had a special about uncovering a real life Scorpion King in Egypt, so the movie itself is not entirely made up. The success of the Scorpion King has spawned a couple of great games including a Gameboy Advance version and a planned Playstation version.

Overall, the Rock does a successful and great acting role in his first lead, since ''The Mummy Returns''. ''The Scorpion King'' has plenty of action, visual effects and romance, to please even the most diehard fan. If you are already a fan of ''The Rock'' you are going to be very satisfied with this flick.

Even if you are not a fan of ''The Rock'' I am sure you still love this great prequel to ''The Mummy Returns''.

Not a patch on The Mummy series - but still good.
I can officially say, hands down, I loved The Mummy & The Mummy Returns. Of course, they both had Brendan Fraser in them - always helps. You know what I hate? When films get released, and then they do a prequel. That's what annoys about me the Stars Wars or whatever movies. What is the point?!

But OK, "The Rock", otherwise known as Dwayne Johnson, only had a small, what could almost be called a cameo, in The Mummy Returns. He almost appears from nowhere in the movie, just for a couple of small scenes at the start, and a major scene at the end - but I suppose he's all done by CGI at the end. And to capitalise on his role, Stephen Sommers made a prequel, to explain (albeit not very well) how Mathayus the Scorpion King came to be in The Mummy Returns. And I'm still lost.

In The Mummy Returns, Mathayus the Scorpion King looks practically evil, and he really does look different in this. Obviously, they had to give him extensions again, just to keep the continuity, and making me relive my days as a professional Barbie doll hairdresser - I was just itching to braid his hair! I think this was set about 10 years before The Mummy Returns too?

What's different between The Mummy movies, and this, is the lack of obvious special effects. Whereas in The Mummy movies, you had people being sucked quite literally dry, or being eaten by beatles, which demanded lots of CGI, there's not very much in this. (If you were a cynical person, which I'm so-o definitely not, then you could say it was due to lack of budget, due to the fact that The Rock got his hands on $5.5million for doing this movie) It's back to basic sword/fist fighting for The Rock, and lots of flexing of muscles. He quite literally romances the clothes off Kelly Hu - which wasn't hard, considering she didn't wear that much during the movie - and does all these weird looks, which totally reminded me of Brendan Fraser/Keanu Reeves/a guy I know! Although I desperately wanted to braid his hair, I think it would have more suitable to have short hair - plus he looks cuter with short hair. Can you imagine having to film days of scenes in the desert with hair like that?! I'd be pulling the extensions out there and then!

There's been rumours (or maybe it's truth by now, I'm not totally 'up' on movie/actor news - I need to get down on my hands and knees for that kinda info and beg) that Dwayne will be the next Dirty Harry. HUH?! Where did that come from? OK, so we all know Clint Eastwood is on the wrong side of 70 to be doing anymore Dirty Harry movies. (I've said that now, and thinking he's only 68 or something like that), but Dirty Harry is a character. Maybe if you were to say that he was going to be the next Arnie (with those muscles, hell yeah!), but you can't say someone's gonna be the next so-and-so character. A character is meant to be unique, and the actor who plays him will always be known for playing that character. I'm sorry, but if he does decide to do a Dirty Harry movie, a) Clint will have something to say about it, b) I can't see my mum liking it and c) people reviewing it will make endless comparisons.

There's heaps of extras on this, as is on both Mummy DVDs. And they literally take years to get through. Most of them aren't that much worthwhile - unless you're interested in breath-by-breath breakdowns of scenes - so all I was interested was the outtakes! But if you're into those kinda extras (which I'm not, I'd be braindead by the end of them - wait a second, am I?) then you'll be in your element with the DVD.

This is a good film. Anyone who follows The Rock in his career as a wrestler, will probably notice little titbits like he uses the same moves or does "the stare", but I'm not. So he's an OK actor, a little bit wooden sometimes, but no one's perfect.

The Legend?
This was a B movie with some interesting references. I remember the TV adcvertisements when the movie was first released -- The LEGEND of The Scorpion King. Well, there were quite a few legends that rated mention through the characters of the movie. We have Mnemnon of the Greeks, Mattithias of the Hebrews, Seth of both Hebrew and Egyptian legend, Isis of the Egyptians, Acadians and a ziggurat of the city of Ur, and a few others. If you have some background in ancient legend, the first mention of one name and you start listening for others. Also deserving of mention is that the city that the Scorpion King takes is Gamorrah of Hebrew legend -- with the mention of Sodom as a rival city. I can't say much more about the plot. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The birth of Jeannie!
Jeannie comes to live with her master in these two episodes,that debuted Jeannie's series!

In 'The Lady In The Bottle', Anthony finds Jeannie's bottle and releases the glamorous girl for the first time!

'My Hero?' has Jeannie sending Anthony back to her old Arabian village to marry him. Anthony is more than a little taken aback!

The pilot has also made an appearance on video in a ghastly colorised version, which omits Jeannie's subtitles on the island and changes the opening credits to not include the supporting player's names. Pure sacrilage!

Two Great Episodes including the Pilot!
In the pilot episode, "The Lady In The Bottle", Captain Tony Nelson's spaceship crashes on a deserted desert island. He finds a bottle on the beach and a beautiful Genie (Jeannie) comes out of it!

In the second episode, "My Hero",Jeannie "blinks" Captain Nelson back to ancient Persia where he meets another Genie. This one is a huge, nasty, male Genie named Ali and he doesn't care too much for Captain Nelson. Jeannie also comes to the mistaken conclusion that she and Captain Nelson will be getting married! When Captain Nelson tells her that his plans are different, she leaves him at the mercy of Ali!

This is a must see and have for any IDOJ fan!!
In glorious black and white film, captured for the ages by the magic of video tape, is the pilot episode of I Dream of Jeannie. Conceived, written and produced by famed author Sidney Sheldon, the pilot episode sets the stage for what was to become a five season run on NBC. In the pilot, Captain Anthony Nelson finds himself stranded on a deserted island in the South Pacific after his space mission is aborted. While trying to spell out the distress signal SOS with shells and beach debris, he stumbles upon an odd shaped, old bottle and upon opening it forever changes his life when in a burst of smoke suddenly appears our beloved Barbara Eden. The episode follows a comic and rapid pace from this point after Captain Nelson is rescued and returns home to Coco Beach. Little does he realize that the genie he had said goodbye to on the beach cunningly becomes a stowaway in his duffle bag. What is very interesting about this episode is that the viewer walks away knowing that the two main characters (Jeannie and Cpt. Nelson) will build a very interesting relationship. To what degree, the viewer won't know...they'll just need to tune in to other espisodes. Also interesting to note is that IDOJ appears to be the first show that deals with a male and a female co-habitating outside of wedlock. (very progressive for 1965 society). I highly reccommend this video for any fan or anyone who has never seen the show, or anyone who likes a lady running around in a red velvet bolero jacket and sheer harem pants!!! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Different Hamlet
This video is an adaptation of the stage production that was produced in London's Roundhouse (a former train roundhouse converted into a theatre). The film makes use of the entire theatre, not just the stage. It makes for a very claustrophobic, but effective setting.

I have mixed feelings about this film. I am glad someone tried something different with Hamlet. I was glad to see a 30 year old Hamlet for a change. Hamlet is not the young undergrad college student we always picture him to be, but a 30 year old grad student. Shakespeare's play tells us that Yorick's skull has been in the ground for 24 years and Hamlet tells us how he knew Yorick as a childhood friend. Nicol Williamson (while not the common image of Hamlet)was a 30 year old actor playing a 30 year old character.

stuck in its time
they don't show the ghost, for one, but rather there's this sort of trippyish light, as if they're at a psychedelic rock concert. Ophelia is the most gorgeous Ophelia I've seen, and she acts well, too. While Anthony Hopkins looks spectacular as Claudius, he's not as good as Derek Jacobi in the Branagh version. But he is quite good.
Overall, kind of weak. The costumes are lame. The player king is good.

flawed
Nicol Williamson is a great actor but he's too darn old to play young Hamlet. He looks older than his Uncle Claudius played by Anthony Hopkins.

BRAVO! An Actor's Hamlet!
Tony Richardson's production of Hamlet is perhaps too subtle for those used to more ostentatious renderings of the play, but do not let that discourage you from enjoying the depth and clarity of this fine stage/film version, which reads very well on the television screen. Celebrated Nicol Williamson plays an infinitely human and palpable Hamlet. There is no bombast nor bloat to the intelligent tone and pithy rhythm of his soliloquies. Williamson is one of a handful of actors who can phrase the complex *long bow* of Shakespeare's verse into the meaningful and memorable images that the author so skillfully aimed. With Williamson (as with Branaugh 25+ years later), this Hamlet's increasingly cynical dispair fuels his rage--not the simpering *moral confusion* of more formalized drama school portrayals. Gordon Jackson, best known to American film buffs as THE GREAT ESCAPE's MacDonald (*Intelligence*), plays a wonderfully intimate and faithful Horatio--indeed, here IS a friend! Marianne Faithful is in her element as Ophelia. And one can only wonder how Anthony Hopkins would play Claudius today? He seems to overdraw his character in this 1969 stage to film version--but then again, why wouldn't a King breakfast on baked fowl in the comfort of his own bed while tenderizing fair Rosencrantz and good Guilenstern for their fouled English mission? Let others scoff at the humanity and subtlety of this performance. This lovely version is shown frequently on the BRAVO channel (*The Actor's Channel*) for good reason. *Ah, the point and the venom, too....*

the worst interpretation of Hamlet ever
it sucked! the close ups were aweful, it had to be either a really horrible artistic director or a lowbudget on camara film. the acting was hard to watch it had horrible caracture choices and they all were vulger...not to sound too harsh or anything ... Read more

Amazon.com

Most of this second volume of stories from the 1985-87 televisionanthology series is a middling offering from former Steven Spielbergprot&eacute;g&eacute; Robert Zemeckis, who later won an Oscar for directingForrest Gump. (Spielberg was the creator of Amazing Stories.)Zemeckis's episode is a bit of schlock horror called "Go to the Head of theClass," and while itstars Christopher Lloyd in a fiendish role as a decapitated teacher, and an atypical part for Mary Stuart Masterson as a manipulative teenage babe, there isn't much that sticks to the ribs.

The real treat on Book 2, however, is the animated "Family Dog,"directed by the little-known Brad Bird but supervised by Tim Burtonlong before he became a household name. A witty and observant satire on familydysfunction as seen through the eyes of a pet pooch and perennial scapegoat,"Family Dog" follows the misadventures of a sweet-natured mutt just trying tofit in with his human housemates but betrayed at every turn. Tormented by abratty boy, prodded by an exuberant toddler, and an easy target for an unhappymom and duplicitous dad, the dog can't get a break. Burton's dark sensibilitiesare certainly in play, and the animation--while owing something to Warner andDisney--is novel and expressive. One needn't worry about young viewers watchingthis one: there's no physical brutality and the comedy always prevails. Plus,the ending proves, definitively, that every dog does indeed have hisday. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Family Dog Takes the Cake!
The Family Dog is absolutely the funniest cartoon I have ever seen. We wore out our copy years ago, and I'm so grateful to find that it's here for sale. Although we haven't seen it for eons, my family still quotes from it, and we never fail to crack up in giggles at even the memory! I can't speak for the Christopher Lloyd portion, but Family Dog is WELL worth the investment, for the youngsters as well as the adults in the family!

Family Dog is the head of its Class! But, Class is a Dog.
This tape consists of "Go to the Head of the Class" and "Family Dog." Team Robert Zemeckis with his 'Back to the Future I, II, & III' & 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' star, Christopher Lloyd and you are bound to get a hysterically funny, creative tale. But, that did not happen here. Nothing of Zemeckis' (Used Cars, Contact, Forrest Gump) film making know how is evident here and Lloyd has never been more annoying. Additionally, this hour long episode has a half hour story-line stretched way too thin. Even Coffey and Masterson have no charm here. On the positive note, some of Stan Winston's (Terminator, Jurassic Park) headless effects are very impressive for 1980's television. BUT Family Dog!This could be the most successful of the entire series. After all, it spawned a spin-off series! (Very short lived). But, it is meritous. The animation is great fun. The dog's nose floating an inch off his face is hysterical and his reactions are obvious without being human. The stories themselves are smartly paced with 'real' dialogue and each is balanced with humorous music by Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo fame. Enjoy!

OH MY GOD!!!
The cartoon was unbelievably funny! That rotten little boy and the smartass dog was too too funny for words.I RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO ANYONE WITH AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS MOVIE WILL GET RID OF IT TEMPORARILY. JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO FORGET WHY YOU WERE MAD IN THE 1ST PLACE

Amazing Stories Review By MaxS. McPike
When I first watched the Amazing Stories TV show I was just
stunned ,I loved it and I even thought it was better than
the Twilight Zone movie and also it was a lot different than other movies and TV shows . What I also liked about it was that it had a lot of famous people in it like: Kevin Kostner, Pat Hingle, Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Stuart Masterson,Christopher Lloyd, Rhea Perlman, and many others. I think it is fun for the whole family. P.S. I think they should put it on DVD.

THE BEST ANIMATION SHORT OF ITS TIME
BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT, just for the short, "Family Dog" I have been looking for this cartoon for years!! I knew of someone's household that was similar to this short! My family and I used to watch this everytime it came on cable, before the series came out. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Sneakers...Sneaks in 5 Stars!!
SNEAKERS is a great caper flick with minimal violence and an ensemble cast one would never expect would ever be put on screen. Who would think that a movie would contain the likes of Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, David Strathairn (Eight Men Out, League of Their Own), Mary McDonnell (Dances with Wolves), River Phoenix (Dog Fight, Stand by Me), and the great Sidney Poitier to boot. It's fun, light, and suspensful. Redford heads a group of high tech misfits who troubleshoot and hack security systems. They are hired by a renegade government agency to steal a device that can decipher electronic coded messages developed by a mathematical genius, but get caught up into something more sinister than they bargained for as people begin getting kidnapped and murdered. Great characters including Dan Aykroyd's tailor made 'Mother' who sprouts off any conspiracy theory at whim, David Straithairn's blind hacker 'Whistler' whose ears can "see" more than anyone's eyes and whose only need in life is peace and good will towards his fellow man, and a great cameo by Ben Kingsley as the vengeful 'Cosmo' who is behind all the evil doings. Overall, a great cast, great script and first class entertainment!!

Conspiracy Theory?
Other movies that have tried (and failed) to cover hacking/conspiracy theories have one fatal flaw. Instead of trying to be entertaining, as movies should be; they take their cues from the mainstream media and try to scare the audience to death with images of cival liberties being taken away as fast as some on screen hacker can type into a not-so-secure government database.

Sneakers on the other hand shows us what the government(and people pretending to be the government) is capable of through the eyes of very entertaining yet somewhat believable characters in the industry. From a phone phreak to an ex cia man, their group covers the gambit in skills and personalities. Redford leads an allstar cast as a good looking social engineer who talks his way past security in lieu of hacking. Dan Akroyd gives a performance unparalelled except maybe for his character in Gross Pointe Blank.

So if you are in the mood for something completely different from the Net, Conspiracy theory, and Masterminds, then this is the movie for you.

Loved it, seen it uncountable times, just upgraded to DVD version. James *Too Many Secrets* Stewart

A strong, intellectually intriguing movie
When I first saw this movie I was expecting something completely different. Being a software developer, I was expecting the standard stereotype of eccentric not-in-touch-with-reality radical leftist computer nerds. What I got instead was a bunch of really fun characters that I thoroughly identified with and who covered the gamut of personality types. The plot was somewhat believable (the core plot device notwithstanding) and the choices the characters made to come out on top were also fairly enjoyable, such as the sightless gentleman driving the van down a steep embankment to save his buddies with only radioed instructions to keep him on track. What few persons have mentioned, however, in these reviews is that the movie also has a winning soundtrack. Its theme is quite catchy and emminently memorable. Pay no attention to the gentleman who says the movie isn't worth anything. This movie was meant to be a cut above the rest and it succeeded. If someone was unable to enjoy it, then I unashamedly chalk it up to his small mind.

Superlative Film; DVD is Lacking in Supplements
I currently own the original Widescreen Edition (1998 Universal). I'll buy the 2003 Collector's Edition, but I'm very disappointed by the paucity of extras: This movie is too good to have this few DVD extras.

One of my favorite movies of all time, for all of the same reasons listed by others here. I own the original DVD, which was released in 16:9 anamorphic, quite ahead of its time.

Unfortunately, it's painful to see a favorite movie come out on DVD with so few Special Features. This was a wasted opportunity, considering the quintessential ensemble cast that made this movie as fun as it is. The movie's 11 years old, and while I'm glad Universal thought enough to re-release it earlier this year with director Phil Alden Robinson doing a commentary track, I think there's much more that could have been done. I can understand the difficulty in tracking down such an incredible ensemble cast after 11 years. But as a consumer, I can say: this movie is too good to have this few DVD extras.

I *will* buy this new version for the following reasons: It's under $15, my existing copy is worn from repeated use, and I have been hoping for extras such as Robinson's commentary. I am, however, disappointed at the waste of potential on Universal's part: The quality of this movie deserves a DVD with a lot more to it.

5 stars for the movie, 2 stars for the extra features.

Great Film, Fair DVD
This film is an example of what an ensemble cast of A-list actors can do when they have fun with a project. While their acting has been better in other films, their camaraderie carries the film.