Reviews (2)

my favorite episode
this is one of the best episodes. i love it because it mainly focuses on my favorite ranger adam- the black ranger. this was the first episode taped where adam, aisha, and rocky were actually rangers. it is one of the best a must own for any pr fan

The White Ranger Series : Goldar's Vice Versa
This video is really awesome! It is one of the shows that comes from the best series of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and includes the Thunder Ultrazord that is rarly seen on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Like everything else, the secret of a good wine is in the timing: thetiming of the grape-picking, the fermentation, the breathing. And the timing isjust right in Autumn Tale, a luminous story set in the winemaking countryof France; director Eric Rohmer, in his late 70s when the film was made, clearlywaited until this particular bottle had reached the proper maturity. At thecenter of the film is the friendship between two gracefully middle-aged women:Vineyard owner Magali (Beatrice Romand, star of the previous Rohmer gemsClaire's Knee and Le Beau Mariage), blunt and compact, iscurrently unattached. Isabelle (Marie Rivière, from Summer),willowy and slightly ditzy, is married--and would like to see Magali happilywed. A matchmaking scheme via the personal ads leads to a gentle, amusing, yetincreasingly profound romantic confusion.

At first glance, the film may seemlike sun-dappled simplicity itself, but stick around for the final moments atthe very tail of the end credits, and you'll appreciate the wise mingling oflonging, satisfaction, and regret that have been percolating through the movieall along. Rohmer likes to make films in groups (the "Six Moral Tales" launchedhim onto the international film stage in the 1960s), and Autumn Talerounds off a set devoted to the four seasons. The other films in the quartet areworthy enough, and Rohmer has the kind of adornment-free clarity that many greatartists develop after a lifetime's worth of craft, but Autumn Tale is thebest of the bunch: a warm, quiet masterpiece. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Rohmer knows relationships
And he knows how to write dialogue that is revealing, engaging and realistic, no small feat; and it is perhaps this talent more than anything else that has made Eric Rohmer the great director that he is. Here uses France's Cotes du Rhone wine country as a backdrop and symbol to help him explore not only autumn love, but the enduring friendship of two very different women. Isabelle (Maire Revière) is an elegant, tall, fair haired, blue-eyed haute bourgeoisie and her friend Magali (Beatrice Romand) is a short, earthy, dark-haired petite winemaker originally from Tunisia. Isabelle is happily married; Magali is divorced. They are both forty-something.

Isabelle's daughter is to be married. But the focus of the film is not on the bride and groom, but on the older generation, on Isabelle and Magali. In this way Rohmer combines the warm and enchantment of the celebration of autumn life, when the grapes are ripe for harvest, when love has its last chance, when Dionysus has his festival, when the heat of summer is over and we are ready to reflect and realize what is really important before it's too late.

Isabelle feels this strongly and wants her friend to find happiness before another winter comes. But Magali, because of the vineyard, doesn't have much of an opportunity to meet men, although she allows that she would like to. She is at that delicate age when one can try again or shrug it off. Isabelle intervenes by going to a dating service and placing an ad. She meets Gerald (Alain Libolt) and they have lunch (she insists on lunch) two or three times and she evaluates him. He is modest, somewhat suave and amazingly diplomatic. They share a certain attraction.

Meanwhile, Rosine (Alexia Portal) who is dating Magali's son and who is very close to Magali, perhaps more so that she is to her son, also wants to find a mate for Magali. She proposes her philosophy professor, Etienne (Didier Sandre), who is in fact sweet on her. He is the kind of man who, as Magali observes, likes them younger as he grows older. But maybe she will be the exception. Maybe he will finally grow up. Both arrange for their choices to meet Magali at the wedding.

As usual Rohmer explores humanity and how we relate to one another, and finds both love and a kind of sweetness that is liable to bring us to tears. The resolution of the film is followed by a most endearing anticlimax in which there is a dance of joy.

Into the realm of middle-aged romance.
Isabella, played by Marie Riviere, a happily married book-seller, has sympathy for the lonely plight of her best friend Magali, played by Beatrice Romand, a wine grower. Deciding to do something about it, she advertises in a lonely heart's column and, pretending to be Magali, goes on her first date with Gerald,
charmingly played by Alain Libolt. Two weeks and several pleasant dates later she confesses her deception, explains her reason for it, and invites him to her daughter's wedding where she tells him he can meet the real Magali - as if by accident. He accepts the invitation and he and Magali have a lovely encounter in which each makes a very promising impression on the other. But the euphoria she feels does not last. Only moments later she is bitterly disappointed to learn from her son's girl friend that he and Isabella have been meeting in secret. Her disappointment turns to resentment when she catches them behaving in a more than friendly fashion.

But it seems to me that what she sees is a plot contrivance put in to add drama and tension to the story line. Without it there would be no film. But it is still a central flaw which undermines the films reality. In one brief minute, in contradiction of everything she has said and that we know about her, Isabella comes on to Gerald and seems to be trying to seduce him. It seems so out of character that you wonder what on earth she is playing at. And at that moment, without either of them noticing who it is, the door is opened by Magali who seeing them together feels that all her hopes for happiness have been shattered. She feels betrayed. Isabella's subsequent explanation that it was only a peck on the cheek to thank him for liking her friend doesn't hold water, and flies in the face of what we remember. And then she has to face the ordeal of being driven home by Gerald, and her struggle to suppress her rage and inner turmoil is superbly acted. She fails of course and leaves him abruptly, convinced that all now is lost.

The ending of the film is a little inconclusive, leaving the question hanging; was Isabella coming on to Gerald or not? and if so what does it portend for the future of all three? But that is another film.

This one is typically Rohmer; warm, intimate, a film in which nothing much happens but in which considerable pleasure is to be derived from listening to the charming character's very real conversations and watching their very subtle and ever changing facial expressions. Just to be in their company is enough.

Enchanting Autumn Tale
Eric Rohmer's "Autumn's Tale" is one of those films that, even if you've watched it several times, you stop when you're flipping the channels on cable and watch it in parts or complete again and again. There is no plot to speak of and the characters seems to be floating on air or in this case floating on air in the Rhone Valley. These lives are lives observed and not dissected. Rohmer leaves it to the viewer to draw conclusions or not. The players include: Magali and her son and her son's girlfriend who used to sleep with her professor and Magali's friend who writes a personal ad to get Magali hooked up. In the telling it sounds silly. But in the viewing it isn't at all silly...just human and real and viewed with empathy on Rohmer's part. It's been a couple weeks since I've seen any part of this film..so I think I'll pop it in the player and enjoy it once again, open a bottle of Cote de Rhone and gnaw on a hunk of country bread and cheese.

Encore bonheur!
The most droll of romances yet from a great storyteller. Nothing seems lacking, nothing seems excessive in plot or characterization. The subtle refinement of the dialogue leaves one smiling with delight. The craft of this piece of art, the beauty of the Rhone valley (slowly being spoiled with industry), the sunswept fields, the wind, and that, acts on the heart like the last drops of a fine wine on the palate. I somewhat doubt that anyone much under forty can fully appreciate the bittersweet qualities of this tale, but for those who have lived enough to have found themselves solitary at an age when stoic resignation is considered a virtue, and dedication to career is seen as a cure, the universality of Magali's cri de couer is full of poignant charm. As so often before Rohmer emphasizes the contingency of romantic attachment while creating two of the most appealing and deserving heroines. The fact that they are the most mature women he has yet depicted suggests that, like Magali's vintage, he feels that one can't really appreciate life until it's been allowed time to ripen.

A beautiful film that exemplifies cinematic creativity
As I walked out of the theatre from this film, my whole being felt moved. It's very simplicity is endearing. The natural beauty of the actors was refreshing. They weren't glamorous or beautiful, and Magali strikes you as almost plain as the film commences. But you still grow to love her carefree spirit and the way she loves her work. In addition, the cinematography is commendable and you just want to drown yourself in the vineyards of France when you see it. There are times when the whole thing just seems droll. You feel as if you are stepping back in time, but not so much that you lose the comfortable understanding you assume with the characters. I love watching this movie, and I absolutely watch it again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (220)

A Solid Comic Gem
Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis are the ultimate ghost hunters in the entertaining supernatural comedy hit "Ghostbusters". After being fired from the University, three paranormal investigators (Murray, Aykroyd & Ramis) open their own ghost extermination business. When an evil being from a spiritual dimension invades New York, these unlikely heroes become the only ones that could save Manhattan. "Ghostbusters" is a creative mix of witty humor and amusing fantasy. This engrossing 80's comedy features an imaginative storyline, memorable characters and great visual effects. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis deliver some excellent comic performances. The cast also includes Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver.

Columbia TriStar has certainly put some effort in developing this Collector Series DVD. The smash-hit comedy is presented in its theatrical 2.35:1 widescreen format. The DVD contains a great video transfer with fine sharpness. The 5.1 Dolby Digital sound is well-balanced and quite clear. The DVD features an amusing commentary with director Ivan Reitman and crew, deleted scenes, trailers, behind-the-scenes featurettes and inventive animated menus. With its clear widescreen presentation and clever supplemental extras, "Ghostbusters" is one of the best Columbia TriStar DVDs and earns a winning "A".

Incredible DVD for an incredible movie
My words simply cannot do justice to this amazing DVD release. If you haven't seen "Ghostbusters", you really don't know what you're missing.

Incredibly entertaining, "Ghostbusters" is a comedy about paranormal scientists who go into business for themselves in New York City. The Ghostbusters (played finely by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson) go around Manhattan eliminating the spooks and spirits that trouble people. Director Ivan Reitman's 1984 masterpiece takes an interesting premise and works wonders with it. Funny and suspenseful, "Ghostbusters" features first-rate acting, witty writing, and some impressive special effects.

This Collector's Series DVD release is unmatched in quality. The anamorphic widescreen presentation makes the film look better than ever before. And the tons of extra features that Columbia has included allows "Ghostbusters" to excel on DVD. Included a three in-depth featurettes, audio commentary (with an innovative "live video" option that shows their silhouettes), deleted scenes, conceptual art, storyboards, trailers, and so much more. The 3-D animated menus are a nice touch. This DVD is highly recommended as it surpasses all the other discs in my collection. If you like "Ghostbusters", you certainly won't be disappointed with this release.

Central Park West was never funnier.
No need to tell anyone that GHOSTBUSTERS was the best comedy of the 80s (and probably better than anything in the 90s). Without resorting to adolescent potty humor (like PORKY'S or AMERICAN PIE), GHOSTBUSTERS relied on a super script, powerful directing, and the best acting jobs of the cast's careers. It did NOT rely on the special effects. As another reviewer perfectly put it, the special effects served the plot, not the other way around.

What I do need to tell you is that what makes this set worth the price is the gravy: all those extras, like the interviews, special effects demonstrations, and storyboards. The transfer to dvd is great and the enhanced soundtrack complete the value.

Still StayingPuft
The movie is classic. Period. Nuff said. End of discussion. Bill Murray is a legend. Every man should have at least one Bill Murray DVD in his collection, and if you only have one, then Ghostbusters has to be it. Sure others will go on about Caddyshack and blah, blah, blah. Those people are idiots. Sure Cadyshack was great, but it is no Ghostbusters. Ghostbusters started a completely new genre: modern sci-fi comedy.

The DVD itself is great. Nice menus, engaging commentaries, etc., but the DVD still feels a little "light" on extras for such a classic movie. Hopefully it'll get the royal DVD treatment on it's 20th anniversary release.

still holds up
This film phenomenon still holds up two decades later, with still passable special effects and great lines and performances from a very talented cast -- Bill Murray at his acerbic best, Rick Moraniss, Dan Ackroyd, Sigourney Weaver et al. DVD extras are very good and include: a text commentary (which works very well), a video, an original making-of featurette and a 1999 featurette, a sfx featurette, trailer, drawings and storyboard comparisons and 10 deleted scenes. The film can only be heard or subtitled in English.

Revisit your past -- you won't be disappointed! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Man from uncle are great
The first one is a little more wild than i like but the second on is the best I have seen.They are great guys I like it that the good guys always win at the end.

George Sanders steals Vol 2 in great dichotomous style
Why 5 stars you may ask? This volume really shows us the dichotomy that existed between the First and Second Seasons of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." television series. "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." was a great extension of the James Bond cinematic phenomena created in the 60s. "The Gazebo in the Maze Affair" and the follow-up "The Yukon Affair" couldn't be more different in tone. But that's what made this series so dynamic. George Sanders steals both episodes.

An UNCLE classic
The first show on this video is the sparkling Gazebo in the Maze affair, featuring the talented George Sanders as Squire G. Emory Partridge. This one is a classic example of how good this show was to begin with. The dialogue is crisp, and not to be missed are Jeanette Nolan's wacky Edith Partridge and Leo G. Carroll in biking attire! Written by Dean Hargrove, who should've done more episodes, this one has the kind of dialogue in it that made the show so popular. Illya is kidnapped by the Squire, who has a grudge against UNCLE, and it's Napoleon to the rescue (well, sort of, since he promptly gets captured as well). The classic line from this one is when they are escaping through the maze, while being chased by a gamekeeper and a very large, nasty looking wolf. When the gamekeeper accidentally is attacked by the wolf, Illya murmurs, "bon appetit!" Definitely a keeper!

The second title brings back the squire, minus his wife, for a less clever episode. It's okay, but it definitely lacks the sparkle of the first. However, Illya manages to kiss the cute little Eskimo, and both agents wind up in the hospital. Not as clever or as imaginative as the Gazebo affair, but not as silly as some of the third season episodes, either.

Gazebo in the Maze and Yukon Affair
Though "The Gazebo in the Maze Affair" and "The Yukon Affair" are something like a two part episode, "The Gazebo in the Maze Affair" appeared in UNCLE's first season while "The Yukon Affair" appeared in UNCLE's second season. If you read on you'll find out why I'm only giving this volume only 3 stars.

Episode 27 "The Gazebo in the Maze Affair": A long time ago, Napoleon and Illya stopped the plan of Squire G. Emory Partridge (George Sanders) to control a small country in South America. Now he wants revenge. He kidnaps Illya and lures Napoleon to his manor in Eastsnout. He captures Napoleon and wants to have Napoleon and Illya convince Mr. Waverly come to Eastsnout to try to bring UNCLE down. They refuse though and Partridge, together with his wife Edith (Jeanette Nolan), torture Napoleon and Illya. Peggy Durance (Bonnie Franklin) helps them escape fortunately. The only thing is, the dungeon is right in the center of a maze in which it is filled with all sorts of deadly traps.* Great episode with a great plot. In the second season of UNCLE, they made it so Partridge returned again, in The Yukon Affair. I definitely prefer this first one with Partridge though. The part when Napoleon, Illya, and Peggy are trying to get out of the maze is really exciting, especially with Partridge, his henchman, and a wolf looking for them.

Episode 43 "The Yukon Affair": Sqire G. Emory Partridge (George Sanders) has returned and has acquired in Alaska a large quantity of Quadrillenium X, a very heavy metal with high magnetic powers which THRUSH wants. Napoleon and Illya are sent there to try to stop him but are immediately captured by Eskimos, but are saved by the chief's daughter Murphy (Tianne Gabrielle). Partridge and his niece Victoria (Marion Thompson) again capture them though. Will Napoleon and Illya be able to escape and find the cache of Quadrillenium X? * Weak and stupid plot, not very high up in my list of favorite UNCLE episodes. The scene in the beginning where Illya and Napoleon are in UNCLE headquarters is the best part of the whole episode, the rest is just too silly.

George Sanders returns twice as G. Emory Partridge
Volume 2 in the "Man from U.N.C.L.E." video collection features George Sanders as that most urbane bad guy, G. Emory Partridge in a pair of episodes from 1965. First up is "The Gazebo in the Maze Affair" (Episode #27: April 5, 1965), where it turns out that Partridge has not really been dead these seven years since last the boys saw him. Partridge kidnaps Kuryakin as a trap for Solo, with the aid of his strange but deadly wife, marvelously played by Jeanette Nolan. Dean Hargrove and Antony Ellis wrote the script for this above average episode, based on a story by Ellis, while Alf Kjellin was the director. Partridge returns in "The Yukon Affair" (Episode 43: December 24, 1965), although I am sad to report Mrs. Partridge does not make an appearance this time around. Like most sequels it is somewhat disappointing, especially since Sanders and Nolan were such an interesting tag team. Anyhow, Partridge tries to kill Solo with a big rock and then Waverly sends the boys off to the Yukon to track him down. While this certainly gives a whole new meaning to the idea of the Cold War, this is an okay episode that is just not as good as "Gazebo." In both of them the cheif charm is the way Sanders proceeds to do his evil deeds with such charm and grace. Marc Siegel wrote the "Yukon" episode, which was also directed by Kjellin. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

I Hope Touched by an Angel Gets Complete Season DVD Boxsets!
Touched by an Angel was one of my Dad's favorite TV shows and it became one of my favorites too. I have a lot of favorite episodes and The 151st Psalm is one of my favorites, it is a sad but touching episode about a boy who is dying and how he wants to help his mother finish a song she was writing but never finished. The mother is played by Wynnona who I think did a great job and so did the actors who played the boy and his friend. This show was very popular and I don't understand why CBS cancelled it in order to air stupid reality shows and I wish they would start making new episodes or even TV movies and I really want to see Touched by an Angel put on DVD in complete season boxsets!

Fantastic!
I watched this episode first on TV, then I went out and bought the tape!! It was the first TV show that made me cry, but it the tears were happy tears. The acting in this episode was great. The message of love, acceptance, hope and, of course, that God loves us (more specifically you and me) went straight to my heart.

If you never buy any other Touched By An Angel videos or if you never watch another episode, make sure you get this one!

It's Finally Coming Out on DVD!
This is an update to my last review. The Touched By an Angel episodes on this tape are good but there is some great news! The First season of Touched by an Angel is being released on DVD on August 31, 2004. FYI: John Dye who played Andrew wasn't in the first season. I think he joined the show sometime during the second season and the angel in the first season who helped Tess and Monica was named Adam and played by Charles Rocket.

Wanted! "Touched By An Angel" DVD boxed set
I loved "Touched By An Angel" from the beginning. I had recorded episodes sent to me while stationed in Haiti with the Army in 1996. There was discussion at the time about cancelling the show. Public outcry helped to save the show. Had that not happened, there wouldn't have been a "151st Psalm" episode (the 100th episode) that's been mentioned in so many of the previous reviews. The audience is here, the demand is here, only the supply is missing. Release this series on DVD. You won't be sorry!

These episodes need to be released on DVD.
I enjoyed watching 'Touched By Angel' when it was on TV. I would like to see these episodes released on DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on a bestselling, allegedly nonfiction book about haunted goings-on in a Long Island house (The Amityville Horror Conspiracy), this rather cheesy horror movie is more silly than unsettling. James Brolin and Margot Kidder star as newlyweds who move into the empty home and are gradually affected by the legacy of a murder committed on the premises. Rod Steiger is a priest who can tell what's up and gets dispatched in a rather ugly way. Director Stuart Rosenberg can't lift the action above a certain level of tawdriness, and the audience ends up watching the horror from a distance instead of feeling involved. In the wake of The Exorcist, this 1979 spooker seemed like a no-brainer knockoff--and still does. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (127)

The Amityville Horror
This is an above-average film about haunted houses, and makes it a little creepy and fun to watch because of the so-called true story behind the book and this film. Margot Kidder and James Brolin are pretty good as the young couple who purchase a large house, to bring their children to as well. When strange things occur, the family begins a suspenseful escape from the house, which apparently has a life of its own.
The special effects are sometimes imaginitive and scary (such as the blood and ooze ejecting from the walls), but they can also be silly and embarrassing (the red eyes watching from the window). The music score is really absorbing and eerie, adding more atmosphere. It's no wonder the score was nominated for an Oscar. Overall, like I said, it's an above-average film with some good suspense, but something just feels missing. I don't know what, but it's apparent in its absence.

An fine ghost supernatural thriller.
The Beautiful, three-storied colonial in Amityville from the State of New York City. It`s seems to be the perfect dream house of George Lutz (James Brolin) and His Wife Kathleen (Margot Kidder) and thier children. Once they move to the house, troubles starts flying and Kathleen finds out a dark secert about the house. Series full of Inexplicable events are happening non-stop. When the local Priest (Rob Steiger) tries to bless the house but the house won`t let him. Cold Winds and Eerie Sounds rages thoughtout the house from the very beginning from it`s meancing eyes glowing from thier barn house, and the very walls of the house with a strange ooze. Now the Lutzes has to face the dangerous reality of the Situation of terror and Destruction, but the house would let the Lutzes leave?

Directed by Stuart Rosenberg, the film does have, it`s shares of Creepy Moments and including a share of Campy Moments in this supposedly based on a true story and Based on a Book by Jay Anson. This Film was an High Box Office Hit in 1979. DVD`s has an good non-anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer (also in Pan & Scan) with an fine Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Sound. The Film High-Light is the Creepy Score by Lalo Schifrin, which most of the score was unused for the 1973 Horror Classic:The Exorcist, which he Receive an Oscar Nomination. Grade:B+.

"GET OUT!"
It gets two stars for that scene alone! YIKES! I don't know, maybe it was because I read the book first that made me dislike this film so much. The book by the way is down right creepy - highly recommendable! If you haven't seen the movie yet, rent it first and then go from there. It's fairly disappointing but worth checking out.

The House Knows What Scares You
It's your typical fixer-upper: slight problems with the plumbing, doors and windows with a mind of their own and a bit of an insect problem. It's also got a bit of a grisly history (the house's former residents were killed in their sleep by one of their own), but the Lutzes (played by Brolin and Kidder) are undeterred and soon find out exactly why the house was sold for a song. This here is your typical haunted house movie (not as good as some, but better than others) and while it comes with the prerequisite scares assosciated with a haunted house story, it also generates enough energy to make the film somewhat unsettling. It should be noted that the film is based on the supposed "true story" of the Lutzes and their terrifying 28 days of residency. Whether or not you believe their stories of hauntings at the Dutch Colonial house, it is documented fact that the home was the sight of a real-life horrible tragedy in the mid-70's. Ronald DeFeo, murdered his entire family there and, when apprehended, claimed that "voices in the house" told him to do it. Herein lies the main unsettling nature of the film. It's not so much about the Lutzes or the bizarre happenings, but about the house itself. In fact, the film does an unnerving job of making the house the central character (what with it's half-crescent windows, it does seem as though the house is staring at you). The movie is filled with several not-so-very special effects, but also has enough tension in certain scenes to make it worth watching. Brolin and Kidder do an adequate job as the unsuspecting couple targeted for the house's wrath while Steiger wildly overacts in his role of Fr. Delaney, the priest who knows who the house's real owner is. Again, while the stories of the hauntings have been widely proclaimed a hoax, it is unnerving enough to imagine a new family moving into a place filled with such bad memories. This edition is sorely lacking in special features (surprising considering the incredible success of the film upon it's intial release and subsequent re-releases), but does feature an appropriately creepy menu design (which may seem silly to say, but owners of the DVD know what I'm talking about). All in all, it's worth a look whether you believe the stories or not and it does feature an incredibly well-done score courtesey of Lalo Schifrin (yes, the same composer responsible for the Mission: Impossible theme). Although "Poltergeist" would redefine the haunted house genre later in time by adding state-of-the-art (for the time) special effects, "The Amityville Horror" works mostly for it's sense of foreboding and the sincere sense of dread that the house elicits not only from it's characters, but it's viewers as well. I've seen the film several times and, while dated, it still works on some visceral level. Due, I would suppose, in large part to the house's actual history (documented here in the macabre prologue to the film). Technically adequate in the sense of direction, production and acting, it's no secret that the house is the star from the many shots of it presented in the movie (usually through an eerie red filter). My advice is to watch it with an open mind and to bear in said mind that, at least, the opening ten minutes of the film is entirely, incredibly and tragically true...

Amityville Horrible (sort of)
The movie Burnt Offerings is commonly compared (unfavorably) to Amitiville Horror. After seeing both, I prefer the former.

Amitiville Horror is popular mainly by reputation, and suffers from stock characters that make no significant contribution to the movie (the nosy detective, the renegade priest and his skeptical protoge, etc), not to mention cheesy effects (I know, it's the 70's but special effects don't make up for a good story). I keep thinking these extra characters are going to show up later at critical times in the movie and play some part in helping the family, but they don't. The priest and his protoge do show up in the movie again, but they have no further contact with the main characters and theirs is a minor side story that does not further the plot (unlike say, The Exorcist).

The movie Burnt offerings is scary because it is . . . creepy. It has only a few characters but all have an important part to play, and the movie doesn't rely on demons or flies. There is an undertone of something wrong that gives you the chills without other things to distract you. That is why I prefer it to Amityville Horror. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Peter Benchley followed his massively successful novel Jaws with another commercial success--but of an infinitely sillier nature. And the movie, directed by Michael Ritchie, isn't much better. Michael Caine stars as a New York reporter who is following a hot lead about the Bermuda Triangle--and gets his story, if he can only live long enough to report it. Because, in fact, there's nothing supernatural going on--just the descendants of 18th- and 19th-century pirates living on an uncharted island. And, naturally, they're able to wreak havoc with modern sailors because they have the element of surprise on their side--not to mention the willingness to perform unspeakable acts of violence. This is less Hollywood product than byproduct. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Island Horror
I first saw this late night on TV and it genuinely shocked me.

The 'island' is a home of descendants of pirates who continue on their piratic ways, robbing boats, killing the crews, and then heading off with the plunder... they destroy the boats (they are in the Carribean, so this is why all those boats vanish!)

However, because of their secret and isolated nature, they have become inbred. When Michael Caine and his son head out from Miami they are captured rather than killed. David Warner, chief bad pirate wants to adopt Michael Caine's son, and hopes his 'seed' can add to the inbred mix.

This film can be seen as rather silly, 'modern day pirates'? But there are some impactful moments, especially when the pirates take on a Coast Guard vessel.

Grotty modern day pirates loose in the Caribbean.
Peter Benchley's novel about a surviving clan of 18th century era pirates still wreaking havoc in the Caribbean seems even sillier on the big screen than it did as a novel. Michael Caine plays an investigative reporter lucky enough to have the last name of Maynard, who, after practically abducting his estranged son, flies down to the Caribbean to look into some boat disappearances. What he uncovers is the aforementioned island 'society' of inbred pirate remnants who have managed to survive without any real contact with/knowledge of the outside world. That these toothless goons could pose any kind of real threat after such a long period, and with such an arachiac method of attack, never become believable. When The Island was first released in 1980, critics lambasted the film for its excessive violence and ludicrous plotting, you will find no argument from me on those points. But the movie has some things of merit. Albert Whitlock contributes some typically wonderful matte painting work, Ennio Morricone's score has personality to spare, and director Micheal Ritchie choreographs some effective action scenes. None of that makes movie any better, just diverting enough to maintain the bad movie buff's interest.

The Carribbean from a different perspective
I saw this movie for the first time on cable when I was a kid way back in the early 80's While it may not be one of the greatest movies ever made, it certainly is intriguing.If you're like me and like to jaunt down to the Carribbean once in a while, THE ISLAND will put a different perspective and a new spin on that part of the world. It creeped me out as a kid to see pirates who still lived as though they were in the 18th century wreak all that havoc, yet frankly, today I don't know whether to laugh or to be greatly disturbed by it all.With the recent success of PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN, I wouldn't be surprised if people seek out this movie for a comparison.

Not bad at all
My first review. Hello, thanks for coming.

With the arrival of "Pirates of the Caribbean" at this Summer's box office, no doubt some people will be searching out pirate movies of yore....and perhaps this one. Which, to my mind, would not be such a bad choice.

The plusses:

1. To swim against the current of the above reviews, the acting isn't terribly bad at all. There is real fear in both the supporting victims and the major victims (Caine and son). Like so many of the movies from the 70's and early 80's there is no real promise that things will turn out all right, adding to the tension. Perhaps Caine and Son will meet a poor end after all.

Best of all, the Villains, led by David Warner, are wonderfully icky, dangerous and memorable...you just can't wait for them to meet their demise.

A favorite scene is the jerry rigged "trail" of Caine's hapless Maynard. The old crazy pirates have some, er, unique views of legal justice.

2. Though I can't say it is a stellar script, it has a few surprises that unfold rather well.

3. Pacing runs slow at first, building tension, releasing it, then building again. It is clearly not of the MTV generation, so don't expect a rollercoaster ride. It is a slower film, with spurts of great, realistic action.

4. The action. Unlike many of today's movies, the action here is real... so it arupts seldom, but when it does, it is violent and unpleasant for most involved....which is thrilling to me. There are only two (and a half if you count the opening teaser) set pieces, but they are terrific. The drug runners ship scene is paced extremely well. The drug runners are smug and complacent and fight a tragically loosing battle vs. the seasmart band of thugs.

The final storming of the coastguard ship and Maynard's revenge is the favorite. When he glances up and sees a tarp, you can just see the gears in his head working...then, when he pops up and preps the .50 caliber, there's an excellent silence before the storm of retribution upon the foul pirates.

Negatives:

Sure, it isn't perfect.

1) Longish. Even taking into account that this is not a movie of the MTV generation, it could use some trimming.

2) The photography isn't particularly inspired. A reviewer above complained that the night scenes are murky. Well. Welcome to the wonderful world of movies made more than 20 years ago. It was a rare film in those days that shot night for night and still retained sharp details....also, the only available copies are on VHS without remastering, so don't expect too much. When (and if) it is released on DVD, I'd like to see how the transfer improves. Still...the photography is ho hum.

3.) Silliness. A movie about modern day pirates stuck in the 17th/18th century....almost impossible to avoid goofiness.

Interesting but barely watchable actioner
Michael Caine is Blair Maynard, a somewhat too-intelligent-for-his own good writer for the New Yorker who gets caught up with carribean piracy in "The Island". Following up on tales of missing ships in the so-called "Bermuda Triangle", Maynard heads down to the Carribean with his 11 year old son, Justin in tow. Instead of UFO's or other mysterious phenomenon, Maynard finds the missings ships have fallen prey to piracy - in this case, a band of island-hopping cut-throats right out of "Pirates of the Carribean". Though existing into the 20th century (and remembering that there's nothing anachronistic about piracy today), the pirates here really are stuck in the 17th century - along with their clothes, manners and living conditions. Captured by the rogue band - led by David Warner - Maynard is kept alive until he can breed with the band's few women (imagine 300 years of in-breeding and you'll get the idea) while his son is brainwashed until he's led to believe he's one of them. Maynard tries to escape, but the region's natural dangers, an Island doctor who supports the pirates and his own son conspire against him.

So what makes this flick so hard to take? The movie's biggest flaw is that it can't decide if it's playing it straight or as a parody. There's something hysterical about modern-day sailors falling prey to a bunch of primitive castaways - a sentiment that comes to a head when the pirates board a drug-running schooner - and the fact that these guys have been using the same genes for a few centuries is only one more reminder that you're watching "Treasure Island" meets "Deliverance". Also, Ennio Morricone's music is a quick and rousing riff on ye olde Hollywood pirate epics. But the flick is also dead serious and violent - including scenes of Justin shooting people and leading up to a fierce clash (ala Peckinpah) between the pirates and the crew of a Coast Guard cutter. It's jarring and it just doesn't swim. The rest of the movie makes little sense - the pirates appear in every way isolated from modern man. Though they've been scavenging off of us for three centuries, they're stuck with their ancient weapons, and appear clueless as to such things as cocaine (considering the geography, they probably find gobs of the stuff; yet when Caine explains to a pirate that it's a drug, the pirate asks back "what does it cure?") or anything else. Even their lair appears untouched by 3 centuries of loot (Tom Hanks used more in Castway, and he didn't have a bunch of matey's to help him get it). In short, this was a barely watchable movie, slightly redeemed by giving Caine a surprise victory, but otherwise something that should have been left untouched for 300 years. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

We did kidnap my father! It's a nightmare!
All right, I'm biased. When I watched the whole series on TV I was only about 7, so my memories of most of the episodes are all but nonexistent. "Phantom Train" is one of the exceptions, and the most vivid in my mind. So naturally I enjoyed watching it again, even more than the others. It's great as a breather between "Trenches of Hell" and "Oganga", which are very thoughtful and serious. It is a tad hokey, but in that respect most like the Harrison Ford movies. Indy undergoes character developement, however, which is good. The first half has plenty of action, but Indy learns his lesson of the day, and this lesson actually sticks with him and is seen in the movies. That is, that the ability to improvise is a quality.

The second half seems slow when compared with the first, but doesn't end up being anticlimatic. Von Lettow was really great as the stodgy German general, who reminds Indy of his father (see review title). The German woman who manages to shampoo and condition her hair out in the wilds was, in my opinion, a yawner. But she didn't figure in all that prominantly, so it wasn't too bad.

Five stars for all the times I was able to say, "I remember this part!"

VERY, VERY GOOD VIDEO
I've been an Indiana Jones fan for over six years and this was one of the first young Indy videos I watched. I have seen about half of the episodes available on video and so far this is still my favorite. It had a good story with good acting and great special effects. It is a classic tale of adventure in Africa. In the first part of the video Indy accidently goes on a mission to blow up a mysterious train with a flat-bed mounted cannon that has been shelling allied troops but cannot be found. In the second part of the video, Indy and his army buddy Remmy try to survive the wilds of Africa with an important german military prisoner. They run into hostile bush-men, lions, and are being pursued by the entire German army the whole time. Action-packed and full of surprises along with nice bits of humor in appropriate places this video should delight anyone intereseted in Indiana Jones.

Wonderful Saturday matinee fun
The first hour is pure fun, the action has all the wit and humor of Raiders or Last Crusade, with a wonderful contrast between Young Indy and the much older soldiers.

The second continues all of the wit and humor, yet adds a thoughtful look at Indy's search for father figures to replace his own estranged father, Prof Henry Jones Sr.

Quick, some lead a crusade to persuade Viacom (Paramount's parent company) that either of their networks CBS or UPN needs to make more Young Indy movies! We'll all be right behind you!

"Train" lays down tracks for the developing Indy's character
In his filmed introduction, George Lucas describes "Phantom Train of Doom" as one of his favorite Young Indy stories. For once, his perception of his own work isn't inflated. This is great Saturday afternoon matinee material, as the series was always intended to be. Like the equally exciting "Daredevils of the Desert", this episode succeeds because it is plausible, its historical figures are limited, and its two hours--filmed at different times--are knitted together extremely well.

Hour One has us meeting a very young Indy, indeed. This Indy is a relatively new inductee into the Belgian Army fresh off the boat to East Africa. Indy here is, well, uptight--more uptight than even the younger, River Phoenix portrayal. He likes plans, orders. He hasn't learned yet to say, "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go along". But the group of older soldiers he meets in East Africa soon teach him the value of flexibility. They teach him, in short, how to improvise. In the process, we're shuttled along on a rollicking great adventure.

Hour Two largely reverses Hour One and shows us--and Indy--that improvisation can only successfully begin from a position of discipline. Demonstrating the point is a finely-acted General Von Lettow Vorbeck, Commander of the German forces in East Africa, who variously plays captive and captor. It is a fascinating study in the relative values of luck and strategy. Lucas' choice of von Lettow, along with the apparently accurate 'elderly regiment', is, to my mind, what Lucas should've been doing in most of the episodes. By chosing people who are at once historically important, yet relatively unknown to modern audiences, Indy's association with them doesn't feel so blatantly contrived as in other episodes. Also, by concentrating almost exclusively on Von Lettow in the second hour, we really get a chance to understand the character in a way we never did in, say, "Mystery of the Blues", where historical figures virtually flooded the plot. Here, with just the single villain, we have an enjoyable game of cat and mouse, somewhat akin to "Silence of the Lambs", where we at once dislike and admire our antagonist.

What Hour Two ultimately says, then, is that, while fortune does indeed favor the bold, heroic outcomes are largely the result of ordinary hard work. Ford's Indy has obviously learned the lesson well. For all the action and adventure we see in the films, there's also a lot of study and hard work before Indy ever dons the leather jacket. It is, for the audience, a lesson far more valuable than the history on offer.

Classic Indy Adventure
This film has the classic Indy feel to it. It is an adventure comedy and it is full of fun adventures and one liners. While not as good as Oganga or Trenches of Hell this film is probably the most Indiana Jonesesque of all the Young Indy series. Fun for the family! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Idyll of Boyhood
This film is one of the most honest and beautiful accounts of family life and boyhood in the Auvergne and in Marseilles. The warmth of the Langudoc shimmers through the colours of the film as also through the lives of this happy family drenched in the browning sunlight in the last few years of the nineteenth and the first few of the twentieth century. This warmth is reflected also in the son Marcel's friendship with the young peasant boy, Lili, who modestly asks if he may keep the sailor suit which fits him. In a sense, this is a 'lower professional' childhood rather than the aristocratic one of the Tadzio in 'Death in Venice'. It is completed by a continuation film, equally wonderful, called 'Le Chateau de ma Mere' - and this, too is a must. The two together make for a wonderful winter evening and make you realise just what dross we are generally offered on the television.

Lavish, Beautiful, and Sentimental
My Father's Glory is the first of two films dealing with the novelist/filmmaker Marcel Pagnol's childhood. The film really does not have a plot. Marcel's parents Joseph, a beloved school teacher, and his mother Augustine, a dressmaker meet, fall in love, and get married. Soon afterward Marcel is born, as is his brother and sister. Marcel's family, along with his Uncle Jules and Aunt Rose, vacation in the South of France, and his father wins a hunting contest. On the surface there is not much to hold the film together. Yet the plot of the film is not what makes it so worthwhile. The film's chief strength is the way that each character is developed. We can see that Joseph is a good and descent man, a masterful teacher, and most especially a devoted father and husband. Young Marcel idolizes his father, and wants all others to realize the father's great qualities. The father is not perfect, and Marcel has questions about his doubt of all things religious. Marcel admires his mother as well, who is a nurturing and caring soul. The other major characters are both richly developed and varied.

The setting of the film is sumptuous. The small French town where Marcel and his family hail from seems realistic and the viewer can feel as if he/she has stepped back in time. The music adds to the film and perfectly blends with the scenes and characters.

Some may feel that the film is too saccharinely sweet. This can be an easy dismissal of a film that is unashamedly lavish, nostalgic, and sentimental. Such critics are wrong, however. The film shows Pagnol's appreciation for his parents, and how their good qualities played such a significant role in the man he would later be.

One of the best childhood films ever
This is, quite simply, one of the best films about childhood ever made. But then again, to write this film off as a film about childhood is too easy. This is a gorgeously filmed adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's memoirs of growing up and vacationing in Provence with his family. The cinematography is beautiful, and the cast is uniformly excellent. And as a real treat to film viewers, there are no sentimental or treacly moments that can often bog a film down. A friend noted that while I watched this film, I had a smile on my face the entire time. That's the best kind of film. This is followed by the equally stellar but more somber "My Mother's Castle."

"Le Gloire de Mon Pere". C'est bonne filme
"Le Gloire de Mon Pere" is one of the best films I have seen in a long time. The first time I saw it was in my french class. I thought it was cute and decided to see if the library had it, they did. After I saw it the second time I realised how good it is. The true story of Marcel and his father is unique for the 90's. I highly reccomend this film and its sequel "La Chateau de Ma Mere", the rest of the story of Marcel and his family. It has a sad ending but is worth it.

charming and uplifting
What a beautiful film! This is one of those films where everything works. The visuals are beautiful, the script spare and heartfelt, and the characterizations profound. Can Americans make films like this; where there is warmth and nostalgia but where the humor and the modesty keep sentimentality under control? Forget irony and cliches...this is wonderfully real and exciting. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The two classic Brady Bunch Marcia, Marcia, Marcia episodes
We are not talking lofty standards here when we recognize the fact that this particular set of episodes from "The Brady Bunch" contains two of the show's signature episodes from the perspective of American pop culture. The common denominator here is the oldest female Brady, Marcia (Maureen McCormick), in what are clearly her two most famous misadventures. "Getting Davy Jones" (Episode #61, December 10, 1971) has Marcia promising to get teenage hearthrob Davy Jones of the Monkees to sing at her school prom. Unfortunately, this appearance is news to Davy. Good thing this is a television comedy otherwise this would end badly for Marcia. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia gets her comeuppance in "The Subject Was Noses" (Episode #90, February 9, 1973), when she gets hit in the nose with a football. The nose swells up like a balloon and because of the disfigurement Marcia's boyfriend Doug Simpson (Nicholas Hammond) ditches her. Obviously no great loss, but it sure bothers little miss vanity. For fan's of neglected sister Jan this has to be the most popular episode of "The Brady Bunch" ever. You do not have to like these episodes let alone "The Brady Bunch," but you do have to at least know about them as touchstones of pop culture. P.S. Pay attention to the guest stars besides Davy Jones on these episodes and their importance in television history. The first one has Marcia Wallace, who went on to success on "The Bob Newhart Show" as receptionist Carol Kester and who know provides the voice for Bart's teacher Edna Krabappel on "The Simpsons." Nicholas Hammond from the other episode ended up as television's "Spider-Man" after being one of the Von Trapp children in "The Sound of Music."

Girl, look what you've done to me ....
Classic Brady! Do you know any girl who, not only got a rock star to play at her prom, but got a date out of him? Only Marcia could pull this off! I remember when it originally aired in the 70's and had dreams of meeting the infamous Monkee (OK, I was 6 years old and hadn't discovered "Tiger Beat" yet). The clothes and hairdews alone make the episode (check out Davey's dorky mananger and Marcia's groovy poncho). On a footnote: did actually meet Davey 15 years later during a Monkees Reunion, a disappointment. Better on tape, than in person.

Of course it's stupid fantasy...
and this video is worth the money just to hear the black girl in the Davy Jones episode ask Marcia (referring to Davy) -- all excited and bubbly -- "is he as neat as he looks?" Yeah, right. I like the end of the episode when Marcia and Davy stand side by side, and you can get an idea of just how short Davy is - he is shorter than Maureen McCormick. The "oh my nose" episode is pure fantasy -- and as for Marcia episode it's right up there with the Romeo and Juliet and braces episode --the family that paints together? Marcia's swollen nose disappears overnight? The Big Man on Campus asks Marcia out? She ultimately chooses Charlie the awkward delivery boy? And in the former episode, Marcia enters Davy's recording studio -- while he's recording no less -- without any problems? If you ask these questions then you definitely won't enjoy it. If you don't care about reality...then this is the best! Crank up "Girl" and drive your neighbors nuts!

A Great Show For Its Pure and Utter Stupidity
The Brady Bunch is a guilty pleasure of mine. It's ridiculously cheesey and stupid and unrealistic, but it's a great show to watch and make fun of. Plus it's a good show to help cheer you up, or to watch when you're sick.

Still, it's pretty stupid. I mean (everyone knows this already) the Brady family is SO perfect, what with the dad always giving horrible speeches everytime the kids say something mean to each other (they don't much, though), but most of the time he just does the ridiculous speeches for no reason. The kids are terriblly happy all the time, and the situations they always get themselves into are just plain dumb!

Carol Brady (Florence Henderson) is only there to say stuff like "Oh, Mike," or "Your father's right." The kids are all very one dimensional yet fun to watch. Alice does nothing but say dumb jokes however I respect Ann B. Davis as an actress (not that she is one anymore).

Of course everyone also know that the late Michael Reed dispised this show, and he had good reason, especially with the way his character acts. Everyone seems to regret starring on this show! Serious. Just watch the E True Hollywood Story on The Brady Bunch, and see. Susan Olsen (Cindy) sais she's been stereotyped ever since. Barry Williams (Greg) claims it's now very hard to get a job, and Florence Henderson sais the show was to unrealistic, and so on.

Still, you gotta love the show. How can't you? The people that hate this show have no heart. I'm mean, it's a horrible show, but it's a wonderful show! Sound strange? Sorry, but come on, even you people who bash it here really love it, and you know it. Why? Because it's really entertaining, and some episodes are actually GOOD (the Hawaii episode early in the show).

Don't buy these DVDs, the show is on all the time. But do buy the Brady movies, they're hilarious!

Later

Don't knock him!!
For Pamela, I'm sorry David didn't fulfill your dreams. He is really a wonderful guy - YOU should try to make EVERYONE happy for a while and see how you do at it! David would feel terrible that he hurt your feelings. I've gotten to know him in the last few years, and he is sweet, charming, kind and considerate. Whatever happened at the concert you attended, he had his reasons for his behavior. He's not perfect - but then neither are ANY of us!! Please don't defile his character. He gets enough S**t from fair-weather fans who don't "know" him . He's a very special guy!! Give it another try - things will work out better next time!! Believe me, it's worth the effort!! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Worthy Follow Up to My Father's Glory
My Mother Castle picks up where My Father's Glory Ends. Like its predecessor, it is a movie that really does not have a plot, but it has well developed characters, a beautiful setting, and wonderful music. In this film, the family visits a beloved vacation home in the South of France as often as possible. The mother Augustine is more the focus of this film, but Marcel's father also plays a significant role. We get a sense of how powerful his father's teaching impacted students when we meet one of his former students who is now an adult. In this film we see Marcel grow up a bit more. He still has a great friend in the country boy Lilli, a friendship which began in the first film. He also has his first crush on a rather eccentric girl. Perhaps the greatest moment in the film is when the family learns that Marcel will be able to attend a prestigious exam school. Marcel realizes that this will give him greater educational opportunities than his father ever had, but he also realizes that he may never be the wonderful person that his father happened to be.

I viewed this film prior to viewing My Father's Glory. This is not to say that My Mother's Castle is not a good enough film to stand on its own. The two films are nearly equal in all aspects. The high standards of the first film were applied to the second film, but since this film takes place after My Father's Glory, it will be less confusing to viewers if they have already met the characters in the first film.

Love, family, teachers and students
This is a film with no action, no violence, no sex, no nudity.
I have seen it 6 or 7 times by the last count.
Superb acting, superb scenery.
The story closely follows Marcel Pagnol's book, and that, by itself makes it worth watching in French. The mastery of the language that Pagnol exhibits, in combination with the sedulously researched historical perspective create a masterpiece.
Other reviewers already have told the story, I am not going to repeat their comments.
If you have children, watch this movie with them. The scene when the schoolteacher father is taking his children along for a stroll, and all the while teaching them is worth millions.
This is not only a coming of age movie, but also a historical snapshot on France at the turn of the century, when science and technology promised a world where everything would be possible.
Of course you should see "My father's glory" first to savor the complete richness and texture of this movie, but it only loses a little if you watch it separately.
Just get both, and be done with it. This is a movie you will watch several times anyway.
A little tragic at the end (this is a French film after all)but no more than the tragedy that was about to unfold in France twice in the next 30 years.

Narrative Account of a Boy's Desire...
The young boy Marcel spends every holiday with his family in their cottage in the hills of Provence. However, every time they leave Marcel wishes to go back to the hills and he is always daydreaming of the hills. As he daydreams he is picked to take the scholarship application test offered once a year by his school and this conflicts with his desires. The teachers in his school, including his father, keep their eyes on Marcel and quiz him constantly. However, due to the deteriorating health of his mother, his family must return to the hills frequently. This means that they will have to walk six miles every time they want to go to their cottage. One day on their way to the cottage, they meet an old student of Marcel's father. The ex-student offers to take them on a shortcut and later offers them a key that takes them through the shortcut, but this is somewhat illegal and it is against his fathers principles. After some consideration the father accepts and the dream of coming to the hills more often seems to be more solid. My Mother's Castle is a narrative account where the audience gets to know Marcel and his family through their actions and their dreams. As the audience follows the story, they are presented with numerous short stories in the family's life that are cleverly intertwined leaving the audience with a terrific cinematic experience.

Beautiful film with a touching final scene
A wonderful lyrical film of childhood and memory. The final scene is a touching finale to Pagnol's paen to his young mother. See both films in sequence if possible, but "My Mother's Castle" is capable of standing alone.

more pagnol-based excellence
A joyous and entertaining continuation of the story begun in "My Father's Glory." Although the focus is on the beautiful mother, the characterization of the father is just as loving and heartfelt as in the previous film. So good is this film that, even though the family relations are at the core of it and are depicted skillfully, we also learn something about broader French society at the time. And it is all so unforced and subtle. The two films together are a funny and uplifting human experience. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

HUMAN INTEREST
Good human interest story - the actors were excellent in their roles. HOWEVER - the ending stumped me. I mean, I like James Caan taking Kirk Calloway off to New Orleans to search for Marsha Mason, although why they'd bother with her I have no idea...but what didn't gell was the fact that you can (poof!) swap identities with a retired sailor and resume civilian life with no repercussions. Maybe in 1973 you could, but certainly not now. Probably not in 1973!

One of Marsha Mason's Best
I remember watching this movie when it first came to the theater and thinking that the actors were exactly as I had envisioned them while I was reading the book. Great movie. Marsha Mason is a delight and deservedly got the Oscar nomination. James Caan is perfect as the put-upon sailor whose records have been misplaced causing him to be land-locked. Mason is wonderful as a hooker who is perpetually down-on-her-luck. This movie should be on DVD. I'll add it to my collection.

IT WAS OKAY.
The beginning was kind of boring, but as it dragged on it got a little interesting. Let's just put it this way, the movie climaxes then tires out. But the fact that it was released in 1973, it had done good addressing the interracial bond between the mother, Marsha Mason and her son, Kirk Calloway. When James Caan, the navy officer stepped in and took on the role of fatherhood, because the mother decided she couldn't take it anymore and bolted out of the relationship; it was a little strange but touching. All in all, it was a good movie.

cinderella liberty
Very good movie, probably James Caan's best role other than Sonny Corleone. Oscar nominated Marsha Mason is perfect! Good songs by Randy Newman. A litle dated in spots, but worht it for Mason alone!

If The Shoe Fits...
Actually, the 'Cinderella' in the title refers to the 24hr. length of a pass. Hardly as gritty as the slice of life 'The Last Detail' this Navy film still turns in great acting performances, especially James Caan, and is quite entertaining. Caan plays a sailor put ashore for treatment of a minor medical problem, a paperwork SNAFU however leaves him stuck there performing boring tasks during the day and working Shore Patrol duty at night with an annoying motor mouth. While in town Caan strikes up a friendship with a bar girl whose shine is a little worn off, but these two loners find they are good for one another. Sadly this is probably one of Caan's least seen roles and in fact his character exhibits almost none of the characteristics you associate with the actor and you almost don't recognize him. A fine job indeed. Edward Hermann makes the most of a tiny role and there is a great running gag about Caan's continuous search for the Drill Instructor on whom he intends to exact revenge. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A top knotch western!!!!!
This is an all time classic film.
Extremely well done and very enjoyable.
The cast reads like a who's who is western movies.
I highly reccomend this film to all western movies fans!!!

Against the Grain
This is an unduly neglected work that sank quickly into audience oblivion - the Vietnam seventies were not a good time for Westerns. True to the iconoclasm of the period, the producers set out to debunk the mystique of the cattle drive, and in the process take a big swipe at that arch-romancer of the Old West, John Ford. They only half-succeed. Put simply, their stab at realism is undone by too much gunplay, too much blood, and way too much conventional violence. Staples of the ordinary Western, their presence here only serves to reinforce the usual cliches. Much better when the story-telling cowboy refuses Geoffrey Lewis's challenge by quitting the drive, saying a gunfight over trifling matters makes no sense. That's certainly no cliche.

The role reversal at movie's end is stunning, given what Hollywood has led us to expect. Nevertheless, it works by bringing out a latent code of honor that at times can guide even the most brutal among us. Here Ford is trumped by Kurosawa. There are many fine touches in the movie. Billy "Green" Bush is totally convincing as the ruthless trail boss; Gary Grimes, appropriately callow; and the four gunsels, alternately abusive and sullen, while Geoffrey Lewis's cold-eyed stare bespeaks a lifetime of casual cruelty. Not the best of anti-Westerns, but deserves consideration.

Earthy and gritty western
Seems most like the real thing than most westerns I have viewed in the past.

They don't get better this!
I saw this film when I was 12 back in 1981 on tv and was captivated and emotionally saddened as with few other films, especially western films. This film begins with a teenagers dream of becoming a cowboy and tears it down as the youth realizes what being a cowboy is really about. In many ways the film UNFORGIVEN by Clint Eastwood does the same thing only with gunfighters instead of cowboys. THE CULPEPPER CATTLE CO. is a much better film. It moves faster and has better characters.

For years I have tried to rent or buy this movie. Almost no stores have it or have even heard of It. I finally found it at a video store that was liquidating its previously viewed films. I am so glad Amazon is now offering it. I hope that it ends up on DVD soon

Perhaps the most realistic Western of all
For realism, this movie is hard to beat!

'Culpepper Cattle Co.' is the story of a young boy who has his heart set on becoming a cowboy. He is successful in getting hired as cook's helper on a drive.

The movie chronicles the cattle drive, which encounters outlaws, a conspiracy of townspeople, and the normal arguments, drinking and fights between the drovers. It is gritty, and it 'feels real.' The boy, Ben, is surrounded by the rigors and realities of life on the trail.

The characters are well and believably acted, although by relatively unknown actors (at least to me.) Which perhaps is best, because one is not distracted by the expectations of some movie star's predictable reactions to each situation.

This is a fine movie, and one which provides some humor, suspense, and a good plot. It may be the best of its genre you will ever see, despite the lack of expensive, top talent to act the parts.

Joe Pierre
author, Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Mikhail Baryshnikov made his film debut in this lightweight but entertaining drama about the relationship between a renowned ballerina (Anne Bancroft) and the woman (Shirley MacLaine) who had trained with her but had given up dance to become a wife, mother, and teacher. Between MacLaine's envy over her friend's career and the attention her own ballerina daughter (Leslie Browne) is getting, MacLaine's character goes through a complicated crisis. The two actresses carry the story very well and probably camouflage its thinness; they even make a somewhat condescending climax involving a catfight seem like a good idea. A subplot involving a developing romance between the virginal Browne and Baryshnikov's womanizer makes for pretty window dressing. More memorable are dance sequences featuring each in splendid performance. Baryshnikov's leaps are something to behold. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Worth seeing for the dancing
The plot is silly, the "cat fight" near the end is embarrassing, but the dancing is a beautifully filmed record of some of the great ballet dancers of the 1970s. Most of the various pas de deux and other dances, however, were only shown in short excerpts. Actually, a lot more dancing was put on film than made its way into the final version of the movie (I spent a day watching them shoot parts of the Gala Performance sequence on the stage of the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1976). If all that never-released dance footage still exists in a vault somewhere, it would be great to put it all together either by itself or as a bonus in a special edition wide-screen DVD release of the movie.

TERRIFICALLY ENTERTAINING
Combining soapy suds and exhilarating dance sequences with the formidable acting skills of lead players Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft, Herbert Ross creates a winner in The Turning Point. Baryshnikov is every bit as magnetic onscreen, in a well-chosen role as a dance lothario, as he is every second he is dancing; he defies gravity and sends your spirit soaring. Leslie Browne, a novice (to put it kindly), in the acting department, is no less spectacular on the dance floor. Rarely has a big, old-fashioned, commercial film been so successful at making classical ballet so tangible and electric. The score, punctuacted throughout with the obvious classical scores of the many pieces we get glimpses of, adds a resonance to the story. MacLaine and Bancroft, as rivals in romance and once, in their careers, have a grand old time with our emotions, as they traverse the entire wide range of jealousy, humiliation, aging, love, friendship -- and eventually combust onscreen, which provides the movie with its most dazzlingly entertaining moments of drama. Tom Skerrit is terrific as Shirley's dancer-gone-husband, and the portrait of MacLaine's character has surprising moments of reality sprinkled throughout the screenplay. A wonderful big, overlong, old-fashioned movie, and a great way to introduce your family to classic dance, not only painlessly, but engagingly.