Amazon.com

This 1995 family film tries to put a fun spin on the story of a paranormalist and widower (Bill Pullman) who moves into a new house with his daughter (Christina Ricci) and meets up with the ghost of a dead little boy. Based on the comic book about Casper the friendly ghost, the film is a dreary series of awkward interactions between live actors and computer effects, and you can almost see Pullman and Ricci reconsidering the project while on camera. A few cameo appearances from uncredited stars help things a bit. But there's no way, based on this film, that one could have guessed that its director, Brad Silberling, would go on to make the exceptional drama City of Angels. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (48)

A Sweet and Sentimental Comedy, Perfect for the Family
Casper is a fun children's film, that can be watched as a family and keep everyone entertained. Unlike many movies concerning ghosts, there is no reason to worry that this movie will upset or scare even the most sensitive children. Casper is sweet and endearing, and even the vicious ghosts in this film are far from threatening as they quickly bring a smile to your face and alleviate any tension with humor.
However, Casper does not rely souly on laughter, and has a strong plot to back it up. It raises spiritual questions that make you think, and has very heartfelt moments of intense emotion. You grow to care about the characters as we watch Casper and Kat in their simultaneous search for friendship, and Dr. Harvey in his quest to resolve his own unfinished business and finally get some closure.
Malachi Pearson does an outstanding job as the voice of Casper, and portrays all of his emotions very convincingly. You can also look forward to a great performance from Bill Pullman, and will love hating the bumbling villains portrayed by Cathy Moriarty and Eric Idle. Unfortunately, there are times where Christina Ricci seems to have some difficulty filling her role as Kat, and occasionally makes scenes awkward and unconvincing.
The score for this film is beautiful, and adds a great deal to the spirit and mood of the movie.
There is some light use of profanity that I don't find necessary or appropriate for a family film aimed largely at children, but it can be easily overlooked.

Awesome, fun movie!
I just love CASPER. It's a really great movie. CASPER is about a man (Bill Pullman) who studies the supernatural in search for his dead wife. He keeps moving his teenager daughter Kat (Christina Ricci) around all over the place because his job requires a lot of traveling. Kat hates all the moving because she never gets a chance to live in a particular place long enough to make any friends. When her father is asked to find the spirits who live in a haunted house in Maine, he promises Kat that this will be the last place they will move to.

A woman who wants Kat's father to talk to the ghosts wants him to do that because she is looking for a "secret treasure" that has been hidden in the house for years. Little does anyone know that this is the home of Casper the ghost and his "uncles": Stinky, Fatso, and Streatch. And they are not happy that somebody is moving into their house except for Casper. Casper is excited because Kat - a girl - is moving into the house, too. So while the father and Kat are living at the mansion, the three ghosts try to make them miserable...so miserable that they'll want to move out. But Casper is trying to impress Kat so he can win her over! An excellent movie with a special appearence by teen crooner, Devon Sawa, as Casper, the real boy.

If you are a fan of the Supernatural and of comedy movies, than this movie is for you!!

An endearing film about Casper and his friend Kat!
"The living impaired are known for haunting us," Dr Harvey explains, "My question is what's haunting them." Dr. Harvey and his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci) are persuaded to leave Santa Fe and come to Friendship, Maine to live at Whipstaff Manor, to help new owner Carrigan Crittendon and her friend Dibs get rid of the ghosts haunting her manor. Casper the Friendly Ghost is very excited when he learns that Dr. Harvey and his pretty young daughter Kat are going to be living in his house (maybe he can finally make a friend!); but his ghostly uncles have other plans...

The premise of Casper is that ghosts exist, are "spirits with unfinished business" (hence they have not yet "crossed over"), and interact freely with "live" people at times; (they haunt houses and wreak havoc on people who trespass there). For those who are worried about content: there is a scene where a man gets drunk in a bar and has an accident, there is a Halloween costume party, there are a few ghosts who are "mean" and play tricks and scare people, and a few arguments between characters in the film. There is a very sweet and innocent kiss between a girl and boy, but otherwise there is no objectionable content in that respect. Language: there are a few swear words, so be aware!

If you can view this film with the belief that it is just a cute and funny film about "ghosts," which as we know do not exist, it is a most enjoyable film. If you cannot rest easy while watching a film about ghosts, then by all means don't watch it. For those of you who can separate the real from the unreal and the difference between spirits and ghosts, the supernatural world and the real world, this is a cute and endearing film about a friendly ghost named Casper and his new friend Kat.

Family 'Friendly'.....
Any film that can gather the family together for a fun,wholesome, and entertaining view, and hold the interest of all for it's entire length, gets 5 stars in my book. "Casper" is one of those films. It may not go down as some great piece of cinematic art, but it is one that all generations can enjoy, will leave you with a smile, and something to talk about with kids afterwards.

Based on the old comic book stories, "Casper" is a very friendly but very lonely ghost. He lives in an old mansion, that has seen better days. He is not alone in this huge house though, he lives with his three very nasty(but funny) uncles,"Stretch", "Stinky" and "Fatso". Casper only wants someone to move in,so he could have a friend, the uncles on the other hand, do their very best to scare away any visitors.
So when a greedy woman inherits the property, and believes there is a buried treasure inside, she hires an array of 'ghostbusters' to rid the house of all spirits. None seem to be able to handle this terrible trio, until one day a ghost psychiatrist and his lonely daughter(also looking for a friend),move in and try to tame the threesome. From there it's a fun and wild ride, and a touching story of friendship.

The film has a terrific cast that works well with the wonderful animation and special effects. Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci are the father and daughter team that befriend these spirits. Cathy Moriarty("Forget Paris"), and Eric Idle as her bumbling assistant add their talents as they go for the treasure.Lots of big names are cameoed throughout. Don Novello, and Dan Aykroyd reprise their roles of Father Guido Sarducci, and ghostbuster Dr. Raymond Stantz for brief appearances, just to name a couple.
The voices including Brad Garrett as "Fatso" are marvelous, and you can never go wrong when James Horner scores a film with just the right touches.

It's rated PG for some occassional mild language and thematic elements, and at an hour and a half, it just the right length, and is a delightful way to spend some laugh out loud family time together.

Ghostly fun......enjoy.....Laurie

A "Spirited" Movie (yuk yuk); a "Poor" ending
Casper (not to be confused with "Casper: A Spirited Beginning" or any of the Casper The Friendly Ghost cartoons) is an interesting mix of elements both good and bad - but mostly good.

Without a doubt, the movie's strongest asset is its humor. By and large, this is thanks to Casper's uncles Stretch, Stinkie, and Fatso (The Ghostly Trio), all of whom are hilariously animated and perfectly voiced by three actors whose names I unfortunately can't remember. Bill Pullman is also very funny as Dr. Harvey, and great supporting comic performances are lent by Cathy Moriarty as the evil Carrigan Crittenden and Eric Idle as Carrigan's long-suffering sidekick, Dibs.

All of this, of course, amounts to a sub-plot in the end - a prominent one, but a sub-plot nonetheless. The main story is that of Casper (voiced by Malachi Pearson) and Dr. Harvey's young daughter, Kat (Christina Ricci). Ricci says some of her lines awkwardly (in my opinion), but for the most part does a nice job. Jessica Wesson's portrayal of Amber, the snotty girl at Kat's school, is perfect.

I think the movie's flaws lie in its plot more than anything else. For instance: throughout the story, Kat has a crush on Vic, the supposedly cute (and slimy) kid at her school, but in the end when Vic shows his true colors and stands her up at the Halloween party, she doesn't really seem to care at all. There is a brief shot of her sitting by the wall with a pouty (well, really, more broody) expression on her face, but this is dispensed with in an instant.

Another of my biggest beefs is with the ending. I don't want to give away specifics, but it is the weakest part of the story - bittersweet and touching one moment, and then it turns raucous and weird before you can blink. Makes you want to throttle the nearest neck.

Ah, well. As I said earlier, the movie is far more good than bad, and of course everything here is just one person's opinion. Who knows. You might love the ending. But if not, I have a feeling you'll like most everything else. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Film on a Boston stage in 1991, this concert film features the British comic in selected sketches from 10 years of performing and creating characters. Fans of The Thin Blue Line, in which Atkinson plays a British policeman, will be pleased, but Mr. Bean enthusiasts will be ecstatic with the handful of great Bean moments re-created for a live audience. A real treat for the Atkinson faithful. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Very Good with a little cursing
ROWAN ATKINSON LIVE! is a video with the man behind the Bean.In this video, Rowan Atkinson does 10 sketches from Mr. Bean, The Thin Blue Line,etc.I recommend this video for comedy lovers. END

If you like to laugh, you'll love this video!!!!!
This was the first thing I saw Rowan Atkinson in and I became an instant fan. Every skit is absolutely hilarious. My particular favorite is "No One Called Jones" where he calls role. This video is a must for anyone who loves Rowan Atkinson, Mr. Bean, Blackadder, The Thin Blue Line, or comedy in general. You will not be disappointed!!!

Loved it!
I absolutely love this tape and when I get company, I make them sit and watch it and they always love it. It's my favorite tape and I have many!!

Atkinson Live
Rowan Atkinson is a comedic talent to be reckoned with. His display of verbal talents such as on the Blackadder series to his visual ability with the Mr. Bean series are absolutely amazing. If you are a fan of either of these styles, then this video is a treat. If you are a fan of both of them, then this video is an absolute must. From "It All Started With A Sneeze" to "Pink Tights and Lots of Props" to the incredible "With Friends Like These", this concert never fails to please. I know that this video was shown on Comedy Central a while ago, but it was severely edited. Here is the full show. And if this isn't enough Rowan Atkinson for you, and I'm sure it isn't, then check out the Amnesty International concerts he appears in as well. I'd mention Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and The Thin Blue Line, but I am sure you have them already. Sit back and enjoy this full hour of a great talent doing fantastic comedy. Highest possible rating.

The Charlie Chaplin of this generation
Rowan is a great physical comedian AND has sarcastic, biting wit. What more could you ask for? "No One Named Jones" is possibly one of the funniest comedic routines of all time! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This '90s update of the Spencer Tracy-Elizabeth Taylor hit is a mix of the pleasant and the silly, a nice enough movie but a little too controlled to become particularly interesting. Steve Martin plays the aging patriarch who is threatened by his daughter's engagement and not-quite-willing to let her go. The writing-directing team of Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers provides Martin's character with a perhaps too-broad range of comic responsiveness to the situation, some of it gentle (a ritual game of basketball between dad and his little girl) and some of it slapstick (Martin sneaking around his prospective in-laws' house and encountering a guard dog). Martin Short turns up as a wedding coordinator--which has deliriously delicious possibilities--but his inventiveness doesn't quite strike the chord this time. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Laugh Out Loud Funny!!!
I absolutely loved this movie, not only because of the great writing, but because of the cast that brought the characters to life. The one who stands out, as many people know, is the wonderful Steve Martin who gives a terrific, hilarious performance as George Banks, a father who just wants to see his daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams) after she has returned from Rome. His reaction to her announcement is stupendous. I love the way the producers decided to suddenly make Annie a little girl of probably five years old.

Diane Keaton is wonderful as George's wife, Nina. She is the one who is in control the whole time, and who keeps her husband from doing really stupid things. I especially loved the scene where she goes to bail him out of jail and makes him promise a few things before letting him out. It was great! Kimberly Williams is wonderful as Annie Banks. You can really see how much she loves her dad, even when he does not-so-smart things, like taking the McKenzie's bank book and then accidentally throwing it into the pool, which results in *him* falling into the pool!

And how can anyone forget Martin Short. He was so, so funny as Franck (not Frank!), the Wedding Coordinator. His accent is so funny and very original. It makes me wonder if he thought it up himself. If you want to see a funny and quite original, I might add, comedy, see this one. You won't be disappointed!

A Father's Love.
FATHER OF THE BRIDE is a romantic comedy in a different vein. Most movies of that type are about a boy meeting a girl and the two falling in love. That happens in FATHER OF THE BRIDE. However, the movie isn't about the romantic love between a couple; it's about a father's love for his daughter.

It is true that the cast didn't have very difficult roles. Nevertheless, Steve Martin, Dianne Keaton, Kimberly Williams and the rest of the cast do a remarkable job, making the Banks family seem like real people you know instead of just some characters on a screen. Also, Martin Short, as the wedding coordinator, Franc, steals every scene he is in.

I enjoyed watching this film alot. I laughed quite often and, even though I'm a bachelor, found myself crying during some scenes. The film is a family picture and for any man who has a daughter, ranks up with FIELD OF DREAMS for bringing a tear to your eye. It's a nice movie to bring the past into prespective, remind one of what really is important in life, and thank God for the blessings you have.

So-so
Spoiled daughter and enabling mother guilt-trip dad into paying for ridiculously expensive and overdone wedding. Forgive me if I'm not entirely sympathetic. Plus, the movie gets overwhelmed in sap, sap, sap towards the end and loses its humor. It has its moments, though, so it's worth a viewing or two, even if it's not a must-own. My favorite bits: Steve Martin as father George Banks in the supermarket removing hot dog buns from the package so as to rectify the 8 hotdogs per package vs 12 buns per package situation and the scenes with Martin Short as wedding coordinator Franck ("George, why are you wearing blue tuxahdo?" "Franck, Armani doesn't make a blue tuxedo." "Armani also don't make polyester"). The actors are a talented bunch and the presence of Martin and Keaton do a lot to hold together a movie that otherwise wouldn't have much going for it.

The comedy about letting go
In 1950,Spencer Tracy was in the original film,the FATHER OF THE BRIDE and a young Liz Taylor was the bride. Forty-one years later,Steve Martin portrayed the father(his character is George Stanley Banks) and Kimberly Williams was Annie,the bride. Martin narrated the film,himself on camera in the first scene,dressed in the tuxedo he wore at Williams' wedding. Annie's romance with Bryan MacKenzie began six months before their wedding. Annie was studying architecture in Rome,where she met Bryan(George Newbern). According to the scene where Bryan went to the Banks' home to meet Annie's parents,Bryan went to Annie to ask for directions and one thing led to another. George left his workplace,Sidekicks,an athletic shoe factory which he runs,immediately after he was told that Annie had arrived home. For a homecoming gift,George buys her a ten-speed bike,all polished and ready to ride. Then,Annie announces her and Bryan's engagement at the dinner table to her father,her mother Nina(Diane Keaton) and her brother Matt(Kieran Culkin,MacCaulay's brother). George is very shocked,believing she's too young to get married(Annie is 22 and Bryan is 26). Bryan is an independent communications consultant,which he assembles and connects communication systems. Then,George and Nina go to the home of David and Joanna MacKenzie,Bryan's dad and mom. They toast the wedding of their respective children and other joyful events that will possibly follow(i.e. Annie's and Bryan's children). At one point in the film,a heated argument between Annie and Bryan causes them to split up and cancel the wedding. The Bankses meet with a wedding coordinator named Franc Eggelhoffer(Martin Short with a European accent). The glorious wedding day comes in early January,following a snowfall(a rarity in Los Angeles). Heaters were brought in and immediately taken out of the Banks' home,where the reception took place, since they were melting the ice sculptures. In the final scene,after the wedding,Annie phones her exhausted parents saying goodbye,"I love you" and "thank you for everything". Annie and Bryan were at the airport where they were about to fly to their honeymoon in Hawaii. Those who have seen this film may have also seen "Betsy's Wedding" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". It was released in theatres just before Christmas 1991. It was directed by Charles Shyer,who would direct the sequel,FATHER OF THE BRIDE PART II,four years later.

Here Comes the Bride: Give Out a Laugh
This movie is a classic, a 1990's update of the original Father of the Bride, starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. A befuddled father is trying to deal with his daughter's engagement and marriage. What a storm in the midst of the Bank's home! George Banks, the father, is shocked with Annie's anouncement over dinner, she is going the marry a complete stranger that she met in Rome. The poor father is really loving and caring of his only daughter, and he wants only what is best for her. His sensiable wife, Nina, tries to make him understand just what a big deal the wedding really is. George gradually gives in, ready to help prepare for his daughter's dream wedding and rception. However, the off-the-wall caterer and his crazy ideas, the expense, and the rush and hurry of life in general is enough the drive him up a wall. This movie indeed has a happy, fairy-tale ending. Funny situations are pulled off in this movie, including huge dogs, a bank book, a large swimming pool, and the new in-laws. Great music "My Girl", "Chapel of Love", and other songs are included. This movies promises to deliever magic and true love to those who have it and watch it. It will capture your heart. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Elvis Presley does the clam--a now-forgotten dance--in this 1964 potboiler in which the King stars as a singer who gets a gig in Ft. Lauderdale with his combo but has to baby-sit a mobster's teenage daughter (Shelley Fabares) as part of the deal. Fabares's character, looking for a break, runs wild and makes life difficult for Elvis. The film has the usual "Elvis movie" bounce and wolfish jokes and glossy disposability, but the endearing (and smart) presence of Fabares as the love interest adds a bit more zip than usual. Songs include the title track, plus "Puppet on a String," "Do Not Disturb," and "Let's Party Tonight." Directed by Boris Sagal (The Omega Man). --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Elvis Lite
What can be said of another formulaic Elvis Presley movie? The usual elements of music, romance, comedy, and exotic locations are present. The songs are typical light weight rock 'n roll fluff from the mid-sixties. Ultimately, the allure of this film is one's interest in Elvis Presley. As is well known, the mid-sixties were a creative wasteland in the career of one of the most remarkable musical entertainers ever. The iron-fisted control Colonel Tom Parker exerted over Elvis' career stifled Presley's creative impulses regarding movie roles. Parker's idea was to keep "my boy" before the public in an endless series of Grade B flicks targeted at teeny-boppers of all ages. Ironically, the concept was profitable, for a while. Dedicated Elvis fans, including me, flocked to the local movie theater to munch popcorn and hum along to the title song "Girl Happy," "Puppet on a String," and (dare I confess it?) "Do the Clam." Now I am almost fifty, I can admit these foibles without blushing.

"Girl Happy" is okay family entertainment. Artistically the film is in the same league with Doris Day movies and Jerry Lewis comedies. The romance aspects are mild enough to view with the kids. The comedy is clean, and the language always appropriate. The film is great for nostalgia buffs that remember early high school days and the entertainment options available for young adults. (Remember the Beach Party movies)? There is nothing remarkable about this movie, but it is harmless fun. It's sad to be reminded of the wasted opportunities of Elvis' career, but that is getting way too cerebral over a light weight movie such as "Girl Happy." Don't think about; just kick back and enjoy it.

My Favorite Elvis Movie!!
"Girl Happy"is the best and personally my favorite Elvis movie around.It's highly recommended and a must see!!

The best soundtrack of Elvis in the 60's
This movie is, to me, the best Elvis did in the 60's, surpassed only by Viva las Vegas. The soundtrack is great, the majority of the songs belongs to good old rock'n'roll, and the presence of Shelley Fabares is also exciting. In this movie is pure electricity between her and Elvis(the briiliant ending when Elvis, dressed in black, sings a reprise of the beautiful title song, and Shelley dances with him). The Meanest Girl in Town, I've got to find my Baby, Do the Clam, Startin'Tonight, Spring Fever and Puppet on a String are songs that reveals the true potential of the King, very far from the poor quality songs from Harum Scarum, Kissin'Cousins and others. It is a very entairtaining movie and in my country(Romania) still remains the most cherished Elvis's movie. I saw this film 20 times and I knew many people who likes to see it one more time.

Girl Happy proves fun for Elvis fans.
Okay, say what you want about Elvis Presley's movies, but some of them were actually a lot of fun. Girl Happy is one of those. Elvis and his band travel to Fort Lauderdale for the annual pilgramage of college students for spring break. He is there to perform at a local club and to keep an eye on Shelley Fabares, not a bad job. Fabares adds some extra zest to this forumulaic Elvis movie. The songs are pretty good too with the title track along with Cross My Heart Hope to Die, Puppet on a String and my favorite, Meanest Girl in Town in which Shelley shakes things up, literally. I remember going to the local theater when I was about 13 or 14 to see this movie, then I bought the soundtrack to it and played the grooves off the record. This movie is a lot of fun and can be pretty nostalgic as well as a bit of a piece of pop history.

FUN IN THE SUN
GIRL HAPPY features Shelley Fabares who herself had a number one hit record with JOHNNY ANGEL. There is a great scene where she sings while driving a car. She later starred in the ABC series COACH. Fabares and Elvis click on the big screen. The movie is like GREASE or the BEACH BLANKET BINGO movies or the ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW or BYE BYE BIRDIE. So if you liked those, you will like GIRL HAPPY. It has the usual Elvis routines: A fist fight, singing on stage, singing while driving a car, water skiing, riding a motocycle, and doing the Clam, a new dance that never quite caught on but which is fun to watch. Shelley Fabares and Mary Ann Mobley saunter on the beach and in the pool in their bikinis. GIRL HAPPY, indeed!

Uncle Festus (Jackie Coogan) from the Adams Family and Charlie Chaplin movies plays a policeman. The movie is a tongue in cheek take on the spring break movies. The plot and screenplay are adequate. The music is excellent although lyrically weak. The best song is PUPPET ON A STRING. The musical score is very good but the rest of the songs are merely MOVIE MUSIC such as Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and Wolf Call. But Elvis performs them well. They are tongue in cheek numbers.
GIRL HAPPY is entertaining. This version includes the ORIGINAL movie trailer. The picture quality and sound are excellent. This is not Elvis' best movie but it is a very good one from his MIDDLE PERIOD.

If you liked GREASE, you will like GIRL HAPPY. GIRL HAPPY is an enjoyable movie. Elvis sounds great toting a canary yellow Fender Telecaster guitar with a Bigsby tremolo bar. In VIVA LAS VEGAS, Elvis played a sunburst Fender Stratocaster.

See why Elvis was the artist of the century and why TV GUIDE named Elvis Entertainer of the Century. Elvis could do it all. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Rock Hudson became a beefcake star playing a self-absorbed, thrill-chasing millionaire playboy in the first of Douglas Sirk's glossy Technicolor melodramas. In a classic example of the wicked machinations of soap opera fate, Hudson's showboating antics kill the most saintly man in motion-picture history and stalk his newlywed widow (Jane Wyman), driving her into an accident that leaves her blind. The kindly attentions of a bohemian painter and part-time guardian angel help turn Hudson's life around, and he rejects his irresponsible lifestyle and dedicates himself to his new "magnificent obsession" of philanthropy and good deeds, meanwhile romancing Wyman in a sincere, soft-spoken voice and with a phony name. Magnificent Obsession was a huge success and established a style Sirk would refine through the 1950s, reaching a baroque peak in Written on the Wind and culminating with what may be his most successful and most famous film, Imitation of Life. Compared to his later successes, this is arch and flat, lacking the ironic edge and luscious style of his best films, but it's an exceedingly handsome production in bold, bright colors where swooning romance and life-saving operations define life as an emotional roller coaster of mythic proportions. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (10)

I can't believe people don't see what this movie is about!
Rock's guardian angel
tells him of this strange powerful lifestyle--LOVING OTHER PEOPLE AS YOURSELF! (hmm, I wonder Who said that?) He didn't shout or even say these words exactly, but Rock gets a full force blast of its power on his first attempt at helping his fellow man, culminating in the catastrophic blinding of Jane. This is his epiphany, his salvation, as he follows the subliminal path of Christ TO THE MAGNIFICENT ENDING!

I can't believe people don't see what this movie is about!
I saw this movie on TCM, coming in where Rock's guardian angel
tells him of this strange powerful lifestyle--LOVING OTHER PEOPLE AS YOURSELF! (hmm, I wonder Who said that?) He didn't shout or even say these words exactly, but Rock gets a full force blast of its power on his first attempt at helping his fellow man, culminating in the catastrophic blinding of Jane. This is his epiphany, his salvation, as he follows the path of Christ (again, not mentioned in the movie), but it SCREAMS IT OUT ON TO THE MAGNIFICENT ENDING!

Not Clear Enough
I've seen this movie on television many times. I'm a dyed in the wool Rock Hudson fan, so naturally I loved this movie. However, I've also read the book, and I don't think the movie made it clear what the story was really about. It focused on the love story--naturally--it's Hollywood! But the real story is a spiritual one, and I wish that could have been brought out more. Although the DVD isn't out yet, I sincerely hope the studio chooses to put it out--I'll add it to my collection

the color is almost hallucinatory
I liked this movie for its color which evokes the colors of Indian dieties such as Hanuman. Trippy acid colors.

The story is over the top, but enjoyable like Johnny Guitar.

Why You Should Never Refuse a Dinner Invitation
This movie proves that it never pays to refuse dinner invites from dashing men, especially when a refusal of lunch with them earlier has sharpened their persistance.

This movie was actually not so bad. Even though it was very soap-operaish. I did keep wondering when Bob Merrick was going to accidentally paralyse the daughter.

I liked seeing Agnes Moorehead in a non-snappish role, and Jane Wyman did fine as a blind person, although I felt both of them gave more in their roles in "Johnny Belinda".

This wasn't a picture I could really take seriously - it was a bit sappy, very hokey, and so forth - but enjoyable for laughs and didn't drag for a minute. I recommend it for fun, but for something more serious do the Johnny Belinda thing. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The Great Escape image of Steve McQueen (as "The Cooler King") astride his motorcycle has entered silver-screen iconography, alongside Brando on his bike from The Wild One. Based on a true story about a group of POWs who mount a daring breakout from a supposedly inescapable Nazi prison camp, this rousing and suspenseful WWII epic features an all-star cast, including James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, and David McCallum. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (151)

250 men just walking down the street? You're crazy!
That is the plot in the nutshell. 250 men planning to escape from German WWII camp. This movie has stars Steve McQueen, James Coburn, and Charles Bronson. John Sturges directs and Elmer Bernstein composes. If this sounds familar, its because you have seen Sturge's "The Magnificent Seven". Like "Seven", the Great Escape was sorely missed from AFI's top 100. They were later included in the top 100 thriller movies with Great Escape coming in at #20.
Here's the bad news. Its widescreen, but its not anamorphic. In other words, the movie is trapped in darkness even on an enhanced tv. Also there is no commentary, which is a shame.
Despite these techincal flaws, this three hour epic is enjoyable. James Garner, James, Donald, Richard Attenbourgh, Donald Pleasance and David McCallum also star. (Trivia: the latter two appeared in The Greatest Story Ever Told as Satan and Judas!)Sorry, no girls allowed in this film. This a man only film. Sturges carefully crafts it that each man is an unique individual who works with the team. You can see the competition going on in their acting which brings out the best of them.
The blend of American film stars and British stage actors is fabalous.
Elmer Bernstein, once again delivers a rememarkable score that you will be whistling when you finish watching the movie.
Favorite scenes: Charles Bronson crying in the dark tunnel, the 4th of July celebration, the river scence, and of course Steve McQueen's motorcycle chase! Steve agreed to do the film only if he had a bike chase. The result: the wisest choice in script rewriting creating a great climax.
Features include a documentary and a little booklet.
Highly resommended!

Gripping Tale of a
After more than a decade of trying to get a studio to film a movie based on Paul Brickhill's book "The Great Escape," John Sturges finally got backing from the Mirisch Company to recreate the true-life story of Allied officers escaping from a German POW camp in 1944.

While the screenplay by W. Burnett and James (Shogun) Clavell fictionalizes the characters and compresses time to fit a feature film's running time, the details of the escape attempt are true-to-life. Even better, the film was actually shot in Germany (even the thickest wooded areas in California don't come close to resembling the Black Forest area). Not only does Germany look like Germany, but the availability of WWII-era vehicles and uniforms make the authenticity more palpable.

Also helpful in the success of The Great Escape is the cast. Although the DVD artwork features the late Steve McQueen on its cover (and McQueen's contribution IS quite large, especially in the now-famous motorcycle chase, where McQueen did most of the real driving, since he was famous for his love of 'cycles and fast cars!), Sturges' movie is an ensemble movie. It's hard to remember, especially in the post-Vietnam era, that there was a period when war movies had all-star casts (The Longest Day is perhaps the best-known of these, and the trend continued -- even as viewership declined -- with such films as Tora! Tora! Tora!...Midway (a really bad film, by the way)...and ending with the well-made but poorly-received A Bridge Too Far). The Great Escape not only reunited director-producer with Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and James Coburn (whom he'd directed in The Magnificent Seven); it also features the talents of Donald Pleasence, James Garner, David McCallum and Richard Attenborough (who would later go on to direct A Bridge Too Far and Gandhi).

Also reuniting with Sturges was composer Elmer Bernstein, who had scored The Magnificent Seven three years previously. Bernstein's main theme is pretty catchy and still holds up well in these John Williams and James Horner-dominated years.

The DVD itself is pretty standard. The image is a bit grainy but it's not too distractingly so. It also includes the theatrical trailer and a short "making of" featurette.

And why did Sturges have such a hard time selling this now-classic film to major studios? Get this: Studio heads thought the subject matter was too depressing (most of the escaping POWs were recaptured, and 50 were shot on Hitler's personal orders), and there was no female romantic lead!

If you have the original DVD release SELL IT NOW!!!
Okay....All the extras are great...and there are MANY featurettes and interviews to keep you busy for hours....BUT..the main point I want to make is for all of you who don't care about extras and figure you already have this on DVD....you don't...
this transfer is AMAZING!!! it is a real HIGH DEFINITION transfer and STUNNING is what they say on the case and its true! Many DVDs say digitally transfered....and often that just means they pulled it from a previously issued laserdisc via digital output...you have never seen this movie this pristine....EVER!

TRUE AND INSPIRING AND TRAGIC
THE GREAT ESCAPE Special Edition (MGM) is based with fidelity on Paul Brickhill's best-seller. The inspiring story is about heroic men who cannot be broken and refuse to give up.

This was Steve McQueen's career defining role but it's the late and much lamented Charles Bronson that you most remember as the taciturn tunnel digger with claustrophobia.

Previously released on DVD, this hi-def transfer has new 5.1 surround sound, and interesting extras that include five featurettes, a terrific documentary on the untold true story and a commentary track that includes John Sturges, some of the cast (including the late James Coburn) and crew.

The two disc is WELL worth the money
I just finished watching all the extra stuff on the 2nd disc and if you are into the true story of this WWII event, you'll love it! I'm not sure, but I think there is almost 2 hours of extras. Although the film seems dated (especially after 'Band of Brothers'), I've now changed my mind - after seeing how accurate the director tried to keep the film. The only draw back was the director had to put the American's (mostly Steve McQueen) in the forefront where they didn't belong. ... Read more

Amazon.com

I.Q. has all the elements of a classic romantic comedy. Certainly Meg Ryan has demonstrated she has the stuff for funny love with films such as When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in Seattle, and director Fred Schepisi's Roxanne ranks among top contemporary romantic comedies. Even though Tim Robbinsreceived acclaim for dramatic work in Jacob's Ladder and The Shawshank Redemption, his early comedic work shouldn't be forgotten (well, maybe Howard the Duck, but not the hilarious Sure Thing). And Walter Matthau? No explanation needed.

Combine I.Q.'s talent with its fresh story and it charms. Garage mechanic Ed Walters (Robbins) is captivated at first glimpse by pretty, perky Catherine (Ryan), a gifted academic who lives with her uncle, Albert Einstein (a brilliant Matthau). Catherine is engaged to pretentious James Moreland (the oh-so-appropriate English actor and writer Stephen Fry). Catherine's early 1950s world is all bookish and brainy, even though she has aspirations toward the romantic (Moreland's idea of a honeymoon is the Belgian Congo with Pygmies; she longs for Hawaii). Einstein and his professor pals, played by Lou Jacobi, Gene Saks, and Joseph Maher, conspire to match their beloved Catherine with the sincere and smart (though not intellectual) Ed.

This is a sweet--but not saccharine--story about "engineering" the course of true love and the ironic triumph of heart over head. The topnotch performances (which also include Tony Shalhoub and Frank Whaley as fellow mechanics) really draw audiences into this winning movie. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The cutest, most endearing love story of all time!
An attractively, welldone movie. Meg Ryan's character seemed to be made just for her and she played it superbly. And Walter Matthau was wonderful as Einstein. They couldn't have picked a better guy. I was just cuted out by the characters he and his friends (Lou Jacobi, Gene Saks, and Joseph Maher) played. The were the funniest, most humorous match-makers I have ever seen in a movie. In short, I think that the cast of characters was nothing short of magnificent.

Catherine (Meg Ryan) is the niece of the well meaning but bumbling Einstein (Walter Matthau). She was born with the mind of a scientist who always follows her head, and is just learning what it means to follow her heart. And Ed (Tim Robbins) is just the man to teach her how (with a little help from Einstein and his friends).

This Movie Is, Like, Jivin'!
I have to confess.....I love this movie. I think I've watched it over 300 times, and I'll probably watch it another 300.

Say what you want to about Meg Ryan being too cute, about the plot being predictable, whatever. I think it's just....jivin'. It's a neat love story, about the actions of boy meets girl, fate and love, and Albert Einstien's convertible. Throw in a comet and a few wacky physicists, well, it's just pure fun. I wish to heck I could find the score somewhere; the blend of do-wap and Mozart is as much fun as the movie itself.

I'm prejudiced because Tim Robbins is my favorite actor, but all the acting in this goofy, off the wall film is top-notch. Though it's not one of the late Walter Matthau's most famous roles, I personally think it's one of his best, and I can't think of anyone better to play the eccentric Albert Einstien.

One of the most beautiful things about this film is the accuracy of the set and costumes. Not just Meg Ryan's picture-perfect 50's dresses, but the buildings and vehicles, and especially the heavily wood-panelled bungalows favored by the rich during the late 50's; they're so time-perfect you can almost smell the Lemon Pledge.

Incedentally...look for one of the funniest performances in one of the experiments by Meg Ryan's movie fiance, "Excremental Psychologist" James Moreland. I'm not sure who the actor is, but in the background of his lab is a student driven psychotic by a "time depravation experiment", and his physical humor and antics are about a thousand times better than anything from SNL in the past decade.

By the by, this makes a perfect date movie, and is mild enough for kids...but still fun for adults. It's just all around terrific, and a great buy.

A brilliant romantic comedy
Now this is how to do the genre!

This is brilliantly funny, poignant and tender, but never insipid (the director is Australia...so insipidness is definitely out) movie. Matthau is truly fantastic as Einstein, as are his three sidekicks (especially Godel! and the tree that likes to eat their stuff!) as they try to manuever the two leads together and remove the Lesser Professor, a.k.a the rat man, Chimp Pimp, etc from the picture: the stuffy english fiance of Meg Ryan's Character, played perfectly by Stephen Frey. Of course the Lesser Professor is trying to hang on to Meg Ryan's character and expose Tim Robbin's character as a fraud because of his new found friendhsip with Einstein and the secret paper they're working on so Tim Robbin's character can impress Meg Ryan's charater with 'his genius' because that is what she looks for in a man- a genetic hope of making genius children so she, lacking in her own confidence, can achieve through her children. MEg Ryan's character is Eistein's neice.

I can't understand how Matthau didn't get a best supporting actor nomination for this movie! He is so good, as is all the cast: they fit perfectly, especially the 'four boys'.

The story is fairly linear but well paced. It does deal with a lesser theme of self belief, being yourself, and sexual equality and that brilliant men can be have brilliant women as their equal, or betters. The main theme is not letting the brain rule the heart too much, and to be happy. And that some things-love- defy science!

I can't think of any movie like this one. Its unique, clever, witty and subtle at times (especially the humor: Einstein on a motorbike going wah-hoo...very cool!). So if you like your movies sophisticated, wholesome, honest, stylish and not contrived then you defintely want to see this one! The cinematography and 'fifty-ness' is fantastic!

Definitely 5 stars! More even...!

DVD is very plain: just the movie. No added features or even bio's for that matter. But with a movie this good, who needs them? The picture and sound quality are top notch.

SILLY, BUT CHARMING
Apart from a quote I love ("I'd rather be an optimist and a fool, than a pessimist and always right") the movie is also a relatively intelligent feel-good romantic comedy. Matthau is hilarious as Einstein, almost looks like him too! Robbins is at his suave best, and Meg a prim intellectually inclined neice of Einstein.

If you have any respect for the history of physics and the reputations of the people who formed non-Euclidean theory, leave it at the door. (One cannot but wonder if fictional physicists, instead of real characters could not have accomplished the same thing in terms of compelling characterizations?)

In any case, the movie is a neat little love story, and worth a cosy evening's rental.

Surprise! A good Movie
I caught this flick on cable TV one day and was left feeling I watched a good-hearted romantic comedy. The movie wasn't the funniest or raunchiest and it wasn't a tear-jerker...just the way a romantic comedy should be. Robbins (the actor) was great in his "working man" role. The Einstein twist was marvelous and his (Einstein's) fellow genius' were also great.

Strongly recommended for someone looking to watch a romantic comedy free of zany characters or crazy scenes. ... Read more

Reviews (51)

A funny, warm comedy all audiences will enjoy!
I recommend you all go see this movie! Tom Hanks plays an immigrant named Viktor Navorski from the Eastern European country of Krekozhia who travels to New York City on a personal mission. Upon arriving to the U.S., Navorski finds out that his country has had a civil war. As a result, he can neither return to his country nor enter the U.S. until the civil war ends and if the U.S. recognizes Krekozhia's new government.
He is left stranded at J.F.K. airport and is then ordered by Homeland Security officials to remain in the airport's international transit lounge until peace returns to his country. During the time he is there, Navorski finds out that the terminal is a world in itself where he experiences things like ambition, generosity, amusement status as well as romance with a beautiful flight attendant he meets played by Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Meanwhile, the Homeland Security supervisor who originally ordered Viktor to remain in the terminal considers him a problem he has a hard time controling in the system he oversees and a glitch he wants to quickly erase.
This film also touches on the bureaucratic non-sense immigrants have to endure when they come here. Aside from its (what I percieve to be) indirect political statement, overall, The Terminal is a funny and warm comedy audiences of all kinds can enjoy.

"Do you have an appointment?"
If you're looking for a sweet, poignant comedy, The Terminal is the movie for you. Tom Hanks stars as Victor, fresh off the plane from a small Eastern European country whose government was overthrown while he was inflight. Until the U.S. recognizes the new regime, his passport is invalid and he cannot leave the airport, according to the security chief (Stanley Tucci). Victor proceeds to make himself at home in the terminal, befriending some airport workers and even starting a romance with a lovely but flawed flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones).

This movie is simply a joy. Hanks' innocent-but-wise character is so likable that you are cheering for him all the way as he becomes involved in the lives of his quirky airport friends (lead by the scene-stealing Kumar Pallana), gets a good-paying airport job, and shows what a decent and caring man he is. Tucci is perfect as the humorless security man who watches as Victor's stay in the terminal stretches to nine months. Zeta-Jones is interesting as a troubled woman who collects men, and her character adds some reality and even saddness to the otherwise fantasy-world of Victor's airport.

The Terminal is a feel-good comedy with an excellent script and an amazing set that will make you think it was really filmed in an airport. Fans of Tom Hanks will add Victor to his long list of loveable characters. Highly recommended.

Great movie... just too long!
Wow. This is an amazing movie. One of Tom Hank's best, and one of Catherine Zeta-Jones's worst. She is the only disappointment in this movie. She is normally I very good actress but in this movie she is just... I don't know...her and Tom Hanks don't really click. Her portrayal of a somewhat ditzy, emotionally distraught flight attendant is wimpy and a little boring. The three people who befriend Tom Hanks in this movie, the janitor and the other two people... who he plays poker with... have great supporting roles and their careers should sky-rocket now. So...if it is such a great movie why do I only give a a four star rating? BECAUSE IT IS SOOOOOOOO LONG! It is about two hours and eight minutes long which doesn't seem terribly long (especially after seeing Return of the King twice in one day), but it is almost like there could be twelve endings...and it seems like its almost over then BAM! a pan to another scene. That is the only reason it gets four stars. But go see it anyways. Its one of those movies that, even though you might now watch it all the time... it is one that you will love watching a couple times a semester ( I'm a Jr.High student and movies are like... one of my favorite things in the world). Anyway great flick, go see it, and when it comes out buy it.

Terminal, indeed.
For all Steven Spielberg's directorial gifts, brevity is not one of them. The worst film he has made since "1941" 25 years ago, "The Terminal" is aptly named - a 90-minute concept stretched a full hour beyond its expiration date, with only a accent-bearing, shambling Tom Hanks to accompany us.

Spielberg's film fails on more than one level, but mostly because he saddles the central plot - a man forced to live in the international terminal of New York's JFK Airport - with a collection of either forgotten or underdeveloped side stories that pay lip service to diversity - a Latino, a black guy, a black girl, an Indian janior, a beautiful stewardess - without making much of use of them until the last half-hour, when these cardboard cutouts suddenly claim a stake in the game.

You think "Return of the King" had too many endings? Just wait. And wait.

Hanks is Viktor Navorski, a native of the fictional Krakovia, where rebels have overthrown the government. Viktor is in New York on a trip whose motiviation remains unspecified until very late in the film. With his country in the throes of a coup, his passport and visa are no longer valid. Homeland Security agent Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci) tells Viktor bluntly with a bag of chips smashed by an apple: Viktor can't go home, and he can't go to New York. He's shown the terminal, and the doors to New York through which he cannot pass.

What follows is a mix of Frank Capra fable and a human jungle version of Hanks' "Cast Away." Viktor builds a makeshift bed out of torn seats at an abandoned gate; he finds quarters to buy Burger King cheeseburgers (at a cheaper cost than you'd ever find in an airport); he makes friends with a baggage handler (Chi McBride), the janitor (Kumar Pallanatucci) and a food service worker (Diego Luna) smitten with an INS agent (Zoe Saldana); and he flirts with the Midwestern stewardness (a perky Catherine Zeta-Jones), a psuedo-intellectual who is the mistress of a wealthy, married man.

Viktor also turns down Dixon's offers to help him into New York, where he can become, Dixon thinks, "someone else's problem." Viktor won't leave on his own. He refuses asylum. Dixon won't detain Viktor until he's broken some law, although, I would think, taking payments under the table to do construction work in the airport is reasonably illegal.

The movie's turning point occurs when a Russian man threatens to kill himself unless he's allowed to deliver Canadian medicine to his dying father; Dixon calls in Viktor to translate, and Viktor's solution, clever as it may be, is so prepostorous that it takes "The Terminal" off whatever rail its was still hugging and straight into foolishness: A marriage proposal, an elaborate, mosaic fountain built out of ceramic scraps, a cruel blackmail by Dixon and, yes, a jumbo jet brought to a halt by a wet mop.

Despite his two Oscars, Hanks is more gifted than critics give him credit for, and his subtle comic work as Viktor works much better than his recent turn in "The Ladykillers." Tucci, until his character is forced to become vengeful, embodies a decent-yet-prideful Dixon. If there is a couple in this film, it's these two. Hanks and Zeta-Jones have zero chemistry - their kiss is in long shot, with the camera pulling away - and the downbeat end note on their relationship provides the lone beacon of reality in "The Terminal." The set design by Alex McDowell is quite flawless - this might as well be a working airport - and yet Spielberg never does much with it. He so immerses himself in these subplots that the airport becomes a stale gimmick.

But, more frustrating, is a screenplay, by Jeff Nathanson and Sacha Gervasi, that actually conspires to keep Viktor - and us - waiting longer than he needs to be. "Everybody has a story," Dixon says at one point, and if Viktor were allowed to explain his reason for being in New York to anyone but a stewardess who doesn't even know Viktor lives in the airport, it's quite likely that something could have been "arranged."

Would "The Terminal" have the been the same movie? No. It would have been a better one.

It's okay...but it's not great
Like virtually all other moviegoers, I was very excited about a new movie starring Tom Hanks and directed by Steven Spielberg. I never would have guessed that something would go seriously awry with this film. I certainly never would have guessed what that something would be either.

Well, let me go over the good things first. The storyline is fascinating. The idea of a foreigner indefinitely trapped in an airport terminal because of a violent military coup in his own country and the current U.S. immigration laws here -- a story with such a premise is guarranteed to contain a good deal of drama and comedy. The acting was superb. Yes, it's true that Tom Hanks's accent was awkward and felt out of place at first, but after awhile it starts to grow on you if you're patient. And Stanley Tucci (A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, ROAD TO PERDITION) is one of the very best supporting actors in movies today. All of the character development is top-notch.

So with all these great things to say, what could possibly be wrong with this movie? Well, for one there was the incredibly cheesy (and almost unnecessary) subplot involving Catherine Zeta-Jones's interaction with Tom Hanks. As a mere character in the film, she was fine. But when they started to talk to each other, it made me wish the screenplay writer had been fired early on. (My complaint revolves mainly around the "I'm like Napoleon" conversation. It was very lame, and very contrived.) Another complaint I have was John Williams's score. It could have been so much better if he had just picked it up a little. Criticizing the greatest composer of the last 100 years is not something I do lightly. Unlike most other filmscore composers, after you watch a film whose music was composed by John Williams, you'll usually be humming the main theme for the rest of the day. But I don't even remember what the main theme was for THE TERMINAL.

However, none of those gripes constitute my primary problem with THE TERMINAL. My biggest problem with this movie is that it wasn't great. It was simply okay, or adequate. Do all movies have to be great? Only if they're made by great filmmakers. Steven Spielberg is easily the greatest filmmaker of the last 25 years. Therefore, I don't think I'm being unreasonable when I hold his films to a higher standard (the standard which he himself has set) than the rest. I expect greatness from Spielberg. This wasn't great. It was just okay.

Therefore, 2.5 stars (but I'll round up to 3). ... Read more

Reviews (160)

Mary Poppins on DVD
This is probably one of Walt Disney's best films, if not the best. It is the most excellent realized combination of live action and animation. It contains eternal charm, wit, and magic as it introduces us to the "practically perfect" nanny who brings profound change to the Banks family of London in the early twentieth century. Every song composed by Richard and Robert Sherman is pure magic. The believable visual effects, the heartfelt scripting, and the solid performances by Julie Andrews and the heart rendering Dick Van Dyke are truly eternal. Every element of production came together at their zenith to create a treasure of cinematic endearment. The DVD is excellent. The supplemental material is very good and nostalgic. One of the best films ever made. The superb cast also includes: David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Elsa Lanchester, Arthur Treacher, Ed Wynn, Hermione Baddeley, Reginald Owen and Jane Darwell as The Bird Woman. Director, Robert Stevenson is at his best.

Do Movies get much better than this???
This is my favorite musical of all time. It's wonderfully done, and the story is excellent. Julie Andrews did a great job in her first ever cinematic role, she plays a magical nanny that comes to a rich man's house in order to bring the family back together. What I love about her performance is that she looks very confident and so straight forward and firm, not as playful as you may think. The film also has Dick Van Dyke in the role of Bert, who is a very good friend of Mary Poppins and also handles magic very well. That role was funny and very entertaining(the accent is a bit confusing though), and i loved all of his dance numbers, especially Step In Time, the dance on the roof-top. Another excellent performance was David Tomlinson, who did the role of George Banks, the father of the children. He is very firm and strict, but he can also be very clumsy and forgetful, which is another reason I liked him. His song The Life I Lead was also great. This film was prized with five well-deserved Academy Awards, for the excellent Film Editing, the Visual Effects, like the jump into the pavement picture, the tea party on the ceiling and the smoke ladder, the excellent score, the song Chim Chim Cheree, which may have not been the best song, but one of them had to win, and last but not least, the excellent (oscar-winning) performance by Julie Andrews. I cannot find any more words for this film, so I'll leave you with one word. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

"Perfect Nanny"
Mary Poppins is my favorite movie. I love the charictors, the singing, the dancing. It is fun for the whole family. When I was alittle girl I watched it over and over again. I love to dance with the chimeny sweeps; I can't do everything they do, but still. This is the best master piece Walt Disney ever created besides Micky and friends. I love it and I am a teen.

It is about a fun nanny who has magic. That is probobly why I like her. There is never a dull moment when Mary Poppins is around: fox hunting, laughing in the air, riding a merry-go-round without the going arout. One of the best parts of all, supercalafagilisticexpialadocious.

My Kids Love it!
I have a preschooler and a kindergartener. They both watch it together. They get up and dance to "Step in Time" and "A Spoon Full of Sugar". We purchased the music CD, and listening in the car, makes the time go faster.

This Movie is Defintately a "Jolly Holiday"
I had not seen this movie for a very long time until last week I borrowed a copy from my cousin and it was very good.It was so much better than I remembered.My favorite part of this movie is the scene where Mary,Bert,and the children go into the painting and they see the pinguin waiters who do a very funny dance with bert,and they sing my favorite song in the movie called "Jolly Holiday".This is a very good movie.I recomend this movie to anyone. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (3)

Old Yeller
In the late 1860s, young Travis Coats(Tommy Kirk) is left in charge of his family while his father takes cattle to market. Travis becomes a young man that summer as he protects the Texas farm with his mother(Dorothy McGuire) and spunky little brother,Arliss. A stray yellow dog arrives to startle Jumper, the contrary family mule but quickly proves to be worth his weight in gold as he eventually becomes the boy's best friend and even saves his life. Then Travis and Old Yeller have to face the unthinkable.
Old Yeller is "the best doggone dog in the west" and I recommend viewers watch it time and time again throughout their lives. This movie is a treasured classic produced by Walt Disney suitable for all ages from all walks of life. I rate it 5 stars (out of 5) for it's tremendous emotional pull.

best doggone dog in the west!
This movie will make you laugh and cry. It's a little hokey :), but in this case, hokey is good. Old Yeller is the best dog gone dog in the west.

You MUST buy this movie!!!
This movie was my absolute favorite growing up. The story is timeless. The end sequence makes me cry every time, even though I watch it probably once a week. ... Read more

Reviews (132)

50 First Dates
50 First Dates is an above average Sandler movie.Unfourtanetly that's not real good.I liked this movie, but the crude humor was extreme.At first it's not that big of a deal, but after a while it gets old; even if it is funny.This is a times a delightful romantic comedy; with both the lead characters acting and emotional depth.The acting isn't bad even with Rob Schneider .The dialogue isn't to terrible at the end, but the movie is pretty predictable in many aspects whichs makes it just another Sandler film.The plot was different though and I liked that.If you are in the mood for another Sandler movie then you will most definetly want to check 50 First Dates.

Henry Roth (Sandler), the local marina veterinarian, only dates tourists because he's afraid of commitment--that is, until he meets Lucy (Barrymore). Unfortunately, Lucy lost her short-term memory months ago in a car accident, and for her, each day is October the 13th. She follows the same routine every day--breakfast at the same restaurant, pineapple-picking with her dad, and eventually bed time, where sleep wipes away her short-term memory. Henry, however, refuses to be forgotten, and as his puppy love matures, he embarks on a quest to restore her memory, or at least be a part of her everyday routine. But vying for Lucy's attention isn't always easy. Sandler explores various neophytic approaches before making a video for Lucy to watch every morning, reminding her of who she is and what she's doing. The film includes a trademark Sandler ballad as Henry serenades Lucy with his ukulele and a series of familiar salacious puns. Rob Schneider plays Henry's best friend, a goofy native stoner whose physical hijinks earn many of laughs, and a cameo by Dan Akroyd as Lucy's doctor rounds out the cast.

"It may leave women sighing and men wondering why there wasn't at least one more joke about the prodigious endowments of sea lions."
-- Robert Denerstein, DENVER ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS

Adam Sandler Lost It...
Well, when you hear of an Adam Sandler movie, a natural reaction is that you think that the movie is a hilarious comedy, but in this case, that's not entirely true. Don't get me wrong, the movie is FUNNY, persay, but I don't think I would catagorize it as a true comedy.

If you're looking for an Adam Sandler type comedy, I'd rather recommend There's Something About Mary, which is a comedy with Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz, than this movie.

But don't get me wrong, this is a good MOVIE, but not a good comedy. Rob Schnieder's role is just plain dumb, but Drew Barrymore is what truly makes the movie worthy of watching. She did an excellent job. You have to be a die-hard Adam Sandler fan for you to appreciate his performance in this movie. If you are watching this movie for Adam Sandler, then this is a pure waste of your time, but if you're watching this movie for Drew Barrymore, it's well worth it!

First kisses are the best!
Henry, a Hawaiian local, has always dreamed of sailing his little sailboat up to Alaska to watch walruses in their native habitat. He's never met a girl he'd like to stick around for, until he meets Lucky.
But theirs a problem. Lucy can't remember they met, or that they made a date for the next day.

A year before their meeting Lucy had an accident which deprived her of any new long term memories. This means that every day she has to start again. Her friends convince Henry to leave her alone, but he can't get her out of his mind.

Thus starts a series of interesting meetings where he tries to get to know her, and maker her fall in love with him all over again every single day.

However, Henry must not only win her over, but her family and friends as well.

From the commercials I wasn't as interested in this movie, however after seeing it I think it's a wonderful romance, with a hilarious overtone. The way he overcomes her disability is fantastic and the ending is a little surprising, but marvelous.

fifty first dates
i love adam, drew,rob, missi and dan and everyone else in the movie.
i love how adam sandler uses all of the same people in his movies.
i hope they all keep making these great movies.

great movie
I laughed, I cried (not really) but it was just that good I loved 50 first dates, the funny sandler and the sexy barrymore at their best I've seen this is a total must buy man IT ROCKS! ... Read more

Reviews (70)

A Magical Disney Adventure
While the special effects on this movie are rather outdated (they were really quite good for the era) the story line still delivers an enjoyable experience, and is hightened by the fabulous acting of Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson and superb song and dance scenes.
While the youngest viewers will delight in the scenes where live action and animation mix, and where everyday objects take on lives of their own, I recommend this movie primarily for older kids and adults. The movie is to some extent a little slow paced compared to many modern childrens movies, which may cause the smaller children to grow a little restless, and much of the plot will be lost on the younger audience. I first saw this movie when I was four or five years old, and enjoyed it thuroughly, but it wasn't until years later that I was able to understand what was going on with the Nazis and the war and was able to truly appreciate it.
Now as an adult I'm able to fully enjoy every aspect of Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and think it's great fun!

I Love This Wonderful Movie! 5+ Stars!
Bedknobs and Broomsticks is my favorite Disney movie ever created. However, it is also one of the most overlooked ones as well. I've watched this movie since I was a little child, and you never get bored of it. One childhood memory I have, is watching this movie with my family. Now, I watch this 30th Anniversary DVD with my baby brother. Now I'll tell you all what this classic is about.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is about a middle aged apprentice witch named Eglantine Price who lives in 1940 England. She is ordered to watch after 3 children who have been evacuated from London. The kids find out Miss Price's secret, and they also find out that Miss Price learns witchcraft from a mailorder course. To make a pact that states that if they keep her secret, she'll make it worth her while. So, she enchants a brass bedknob that will make them go wherever they want. However, the school closes, without the most important final spell, the Subsitutiary Locomotion spell.

So, using the bedknob, they go to London and seek out the headmaster of the school, Emelius Brown. Mr Brown can't find the spell either because the book he got out the spell of is torn, and the spell is only found on a necklace of a sorcerer named Astoroth.

Anyway, they go to Portobello Road, like a mini mall, and learn that towards the end of Astoroth's life, he captured animals and kept them in cages to make them more human like. The animals rebelled and killed Astoroth and stole the necklace. The animals escaped and took refuge on a mythical Isle named Niboombu.

The animation starts know as the tiny group explore the sea and then the island using hte traveling bedknob, and get the necklace that has the spell on it after a fun soccer game with a lion, which almost ends our story. After getting the necklace and returning home, the Nazi soldiers attack, and using the Spell, Miss Price and Company defeat them.

Now, I highly reccomend this DVD because of its digitally restored and digitally remastered format, and the resolution is so clear. This also has one of the best climaxes in Disney history, when they fight the Nazi's, and also has great animation.

As Mr Brown says, "Do it with a Flair", and get this 30th anniversary DVD, Digitally Restored and Remastered and Ready to Go!

Poppins-lite
Made during the Disney wilderness years following Walt's death, Bedknobs is a re-tread of the hugely successful Mary Poppins. However, if you're going to re-tread a film, it might as well be a classic! Check off the ingredients: - initially cold matronly female lead who the children and audience quickly warms to, capable and charming child leads, a perky male side-kick, an animated/live action interlude that has nothing to do with the plot, a Sherman brothers score, an episodic structure, a general magical story-book quality to the film etc.
Angela Lansbury gives her most likable screen characterisation (apart from perhaps Jessica Fletcher!) and shows to those not familiar with her Broadway career that she can sing and dance. David Tomlinson brushes off the stuffy ghost of Poppins' George Banks and plays a buffoon with great relish. The children are all well cast and shine in slightly cliched and under-written roles. Special mention must go to Roddy McDowell for a lovely cameo as a scheming cleric and to British-favourite Bruce Forsyth as a flick-knife toting 'spiv'.
The animated sequence involving the 'Beautiful Briney' is wonderful and, once the characters reach dry land, the soccer game with the animals is as 'Looney Tunes' as Disney would probably dare be! The rest of the film is slightly slow in places but has some excellent set-pieces, in particular the Portabello Road musical interlude, the clothing being 'magic-ed' to life and the final 'Armour vs. Nazis' showdown. The special effects are very good for the age, especially the animated object scenes. The score, by the Shermans, isn't a patch on their Mary Poppins but includes some real gems including the afore-mentioned 'Beautiful Briney' and 'Portabello Road' as well as the catchy 'Substituciary Locomotion'.
This edition includes around fifteen minutes of previously cut scenes and lines of dialogue that have been re-inserted into the main body of the film. Unfortunatly, the audio from these clips has been lost, and so the lines had to be re-recorded with varying degrees of success. Lansbury and McDowell have supplied their own voices but Tomlinson's, the children's and Tessy O'Shea's have been 'impersonated' quite poorly, meaning that those with relatively keen ears can tell when a newly inserted scene is playing. The audio for the songs survived, meaning that 'Eglantine' and 'Portabello Road' have been extended, although some of the film quality in the latter also draws attention to the cut scenes. These q