Description

Starring Emily Watson, 1997 Academy Award Nominee for Breaking the Waves. Based on the George Eliot novel, The Mill on the Floss is a powerful, emotional story about the choice between love and loyalty. As a child, Maggie Tulliver adores her brother Tom and desperately seeks his love and approval--but never receives it. While Tom grows up to be the kind of person the world approves of: dutiful and proud, Maggie becomes the kind of person the world judges harshly. A woman ahead of her time, brimming with intelligence and imagination, Maggie is difficult for her brother and the rest of her family to understand. Through her craving for intellectual stimulation, Maggie finds a kindred spirit in her childhood friend Philip Wakem. Though Philip feeds her mind, and eventually falls in love with her, Maggie finds her true passion is for her cousin Lucy's fiancee. Now she is faced with a choice: follow her heart or her sense of duty. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The cliff notes version of a classic
Mill on the Floss is an incredible novel, and arguably George Eliot's greatest work. All of the characters are extremely well-developed, the story is beautiful and the ending is heart-rending in its abruptness.

The masterpiece theatre adaption of this wonderful book left me feeling somewhat empty. The main story is there, but it is unable to make a connection with the characters in the brief two hours. A lot of scenes are missing, a lot of character development is absent, and the viewer is thus left with characters acting through the story of the novel with barely any of the emotions that were attached to the words. Students and teachers be advised: Watching this movie will give you an idea of the novel's plot, but will leave you with a very superficial understanding of the characters. In other words, don't expect to ace the essay test if you watch this film and don't read the book. In the long run, I gave it 3 stars because it's hard to go wrong with this story, but it is definitely an example of the book being better than the movie. Read the novel, then watch this movie!

It's Worth Seeing
The movie was well done, and the acting is good. My personal thought is that the book is much better. Read the book for more insight into the characters and for a better scope of the whole situation. The ending (just like in the book) in unpredictable, which makes the movie worth watching.

Excellently depressing
I've seen this movie on Masterpiece Theatre and was thrilled to find it on amazon. It is well worth buying. If you like Wuthering Heights..you'll like this movie too. ... Read more

Description

The latest triumph from Giuseppe Tornatore, the writer and director of the Academy Award®-winning CINEMA PARADISO, MALENA is an utterly unforgettable story of a boy's journey into manhood amid the chaos and intolerance of World War II. In a sleepy Italian village, the most beautiful woman in town, Malena (Monica Bellucci), becomes the subject of increasingly malicious gossip among the lustful townsmen and their jealous wives. But only her most ardent admirer, young Renato Amoroso (Giuseppe Sulfaro), will learn the untold true story of the mysterious and elusive Malena! In a captivating motion picture nominated for two Academy Awards, the eventual struggles and hardships that Malena must bravely endure serve to inspire Renato to new heights of compassion, courage, and independence! ... Read more

Reviews (79)

One of the best!
Malena is truly a great film. It works on so many levels. I have a relative who doesn't usually like foreign films but had to admit this is a great one. Its funny, its sad and it has a message. The story of the beautiful Malena is one that is heart-breaking. Malena is a beautiful woman whose husband is fighting in World War II and is left alone in this town. She is subjected to constant rumours and harassment by the men and women in their village.

Renato is the young boy obsessed with her. He is also the only person who knows the truth about her and knows she doesn't do the things people say she does. Malena wasn't dating everyone, she was sewing for people into the night, carrying her husband's picture and dancing to their favorite music. The sad thing is that Malena has to become what everyone had labeled her once word got back that her husband was killed. Women refused to sell her food and she had to sleep with men to survive. There is a scene towards the end that really upset me. This movie shows how rotten both the men and the women were to her. Malena shows how dangerous lies and assumptions are to a person's standing in their community and their own self-respect.

Malena is a very funny movie at times. There are scenes with Renato that made me laugh out loud. However, its a film that goes deeper than many out there. I would have to say this has become one of my all-time favorites. A beautiful, thought-provoking film.

A Beautiful Film
This lovely and heart-wrenching movie was made even more special by the fact that the two main characters barely speak (well, one of them IS the narrator). I had never heard of the beautiful actress Monica Belluci (Malena) but now look forward to seeing her perform again. She was exquisite and spoke volumes with just her facial expressions.

Giuseppe Sulfaro played Renato, a young boy feeling the first stirring of his sexual awakening who falls in love/lust with the beautiful Malena. His acting was very touching, especially when he goes to the church and lights a candle every day to try to ensure that Malena will come to no harm.

This coming of age film about love, jealousy, ostracism, and hate during four tumultuous years of World War II was filmed on the coast of Sicily - and what beautiful cinematography it was. The score was also magnificent, befitting the gorgeous setting.

ETMR - Malena
1. Humanity: The boy Renato, we learn, is a free spirit. He expresses, out of all the characters in the film, the willingness to step outside his natural, cultural boundaries and grow past his traditional philosophy. This film is not only about the life of Malena, but also about Renato's growth into an adult. What events force Renato to grow into this new kind of thinking?

2. Implications: The film shows the evolution of Europe, and the break from traditional values, not only through Renato but through the insanity of the war. In what ways does the movie show a critical eye to the old world?

3. Evolution: In what ways is the movie distinctly European, and yet more in detail, distinctly Italian? Do you think the film is trying to make a general statement on the madness of war, or is it trying to make a visceral attack on the rigidity of Italian traditionalism?

4. Realism: The story premise is interesting: imagine if you had a guardian angel in the form of a young boy, but you never knew he existed... do you think the set-up of the story was meant to describe an actual sequence of events with the boy, or is the movie playing a more important role with symbolism?

5. Stageplay: The script provides for a seedier look at the foundations of Fascist Italy. Do you think what was included was sufficient, do you think it was lacking in raw material, or do you think it contained too much teenage sensuality?

Lopsided film that doesn't have much life
This is a story of an Italian boy who grows a adolescent infatuation with a married woman who is so beautiful that she is horribly gossiped about. Here are the reasons this is a bad film. 1)The film often drifts into the fantasies of the main character(all of them are about Malena). At one point, this is so prevalent you wonder sometimes what's real and not. You also start to wonder why the filmaker did this and I have no real answer except that he couldn't come up with anything else. These dream sequences pull the film away from a grounding reality that the film fails to establish. 2)The title character is almost non-existant as a real character. We see her in real life and in fantasy, but she hardly says anything, or reveals anything about her inner character. This makes her a hollow basis for the film because she is in fact hollow and the character who is infatuated is vacuous as well. 3) The combination of these characteristics makes this film get to its conclusion heavyhandedly and it never feels real even if the results at the time were close to what we see. Dramatically, it's just dumb and vacuous. You wish it were more because you feel that Malena would have something interesting to say, but the filmaker chose not to. These things only approach my biggest gripes with the film. The gossip sequences, which are many, seem flippant and careless, and not the razor-sharped judgement that they would have to be in order to be a real factor in her life, which they are in the film. Sloppy, just sloppy storytelling. How the film ends is also very telling of just how bad this film truly is. He speaks about how he's loved many women, but the one he remembers best is Malena, the ideal that never came to grips with. An ending like this would be good if the film developed a relationship beyond what is in this film. This would be compelling if the protagonist was someone with more of a vocal perspective rather than a visual one. As is, it would have been far more effective to use yet another fantasy to illustrate her historic importance to him, but by then I'm sure that the film would seem incredibly redundant because of the rest of it. If this film had established the strong importance of the difference between fantasy and reality and how the protagonist felt about that it would be better. The film doesn't take this road, however, by putting in the scenes of harsh realism which aren't earned from the deadpan, flippant tone of the rest of the film.

La Bella Bellucci
Titillating, tantalizing, and tragic are just a few adjectives that come to mind...It takes no genius to realize Monica Bellucci is one of the most drop dead gorgeous international beauties of the current cinema. She is the Italian version bonafide beauty of Catherine Zeta Jones ! If that isn't saying much...

Belucci seems to play recurring roles of women in great distress and abuse.She does this so convincingly and makes it look so effortless that she is a rare actress who can say much with her facial expressions and actions without really saying much; It's all in the eyes, baby. Malena is the telling of a 27 year old widow left to fend for herself in a small Italian village after the downfall of her husband during WW2.No one will employ her and the women sell her rotten food;it's cruelty in severe doses for Malena. Her father has disowned her due to false allegations of being the town temptress. Men and boys alike fantasize and want her. The women hate her. In comes a young 12 year old boy named Renato Amoroso who develops an obsessive crush over Malena but guards her and holds vigil from afar. This "crush" is what propels Renato into becoming and maturing into a young man who begins to understand that there is much more to romance and life than just lustful sex. He watches and follows Malena secretly and witnesses the many transformations she goes through to survive in a town that has turned hostile against her simply because of her striking beauty ! All of this will culminate towards an unexpected ending which will leave a strong impression to stay with Renato for the rest of his life!

Cinematography is...well, it's filmed in Italy, what more can I say except stunning panoramic views of the Italian coastline.Plenty of comedic and colorful characters in the beginning. The film starts off with much humor when the viewer is permitted to see into Renato's mind concerning fantasies of farce and romance. But things turn sinister as a town bent on hate begins to enclose on Malena... The film score by Ennio Morricone is extrememly effective, captures the time period and also is very likeable and memorable ! The best surround effects take place during a German air raid over the town. You can also hear great detail in the surrounds of the ocean waves crashing and wind rustling through trees;this transports the viewer to an Italian vacation. The only gripe is that this Miramax dvd version of Malena is missing about 12 to 17 minutes of scenes that were included in the Italian or European release.This was due to more nudity involving Belluci's character and some scenes that raised eyebrows between more explicit sexual fantasies of Renato's. ... Read more

Reviews (72)

SPECTACULAR BUT DISAPPOINTING
For all its generous budget, extravagant sets, explosive fireworks, almost non-stop action, and the presence of Vin Diesel, "The Chronicles of Riddick" never works. SFX can make or break a sci-fi film, but that reality often makes filmmakers think they can ignore story and characterization. They can't, and "The Chronicles of Riddick" shows why. Devoid of any heart or soul, this movie never pulls you in or connects with you in any way, so that none of the visual pyrotechnics ever mean anything. The plot is threadbare (though the Necromongers are interesting villains, especially the Lord Marshall) and the direction takes some bad turns so that even the scenes that look like they should work fall flat. Vin Diesel is by no means a bad actor, but his character is so blatantly self-absorbed, immoral, and--even worse--artificial that he never generates much viewer empathy one way or the other. Moreover, Riddick is one of those "invincible" characters who can evidently do whatever he wants when he wants, so there's not much suspense. The climax is fairly well-done and exciting, but it takes too long to get there and ultimately not much is resolved. Certainly there will be a sequel, and in fact this is a sequel (of sorts) to the low-budget and lesser-known sci-fi thriller "Pitch Black" in which Diesel's Riddick was introduced. At least that film had the sense to build its story around characterization and suspense, and while "Pitch Black's" Riddick was a formidable killer, he was never the ultra-cool superman of TCOR. If the filmmakers make the next entry in this series more like that, maybe it'll be worth seeing. Regrettably, "Chronicles" isn't.

The Chronicles of Riddick
In 2000, we were introduced to Riddick (Diesel), a criminal who can see in the dark. With the video success of "Pitch Black" and the interest of Vin Diesel, a sequel was inevitable. "Chronicles" finds Riddick five years later, and still on the run from bounty hunters. When he crosses paths with old friend Inam (David), he learns that he may be the only one who is able to stop the Necromongers, lead by Lord Marshall (Feore). The Necromongers are gearing up to destroy Inam's planet, and Riddick has landed there just in time. He soon is on his way to save Jack (Davalos), a friend from the previous movie that may be able to help him out. Throw in Dame Judi Dench, and you even have a touch of class in this sci-fi action extravaganza.

Vin Diesel could very well have a real franchise on his hands here if "Chronicles" is able to make a dent at the box office. Filled with action and amazing special effects, "Chronicles" seems poised to do just that. The ending also provides a jumping off point to further adventures, so don't be surprised to see more of Riddick in a few years.

VISUAL DELIGHT
I HAVE WATCHED PITCH BLACK MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. RIDDICK'S CHARACTER FASCINATES AND HAUNTS ME. SO MANY OF US ARE ISOLATED AND DOING WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO SURVIVE - R.B.R. IS A MIRROR THAT MANY OF US NEED TO LOOK INTO IN ORDER TO FIND OUR OWN COURAGE TO CHANGE. CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK BRINGS US FORWARD IN TIME AND UPWARD IN SCOPE. NOW, RATHER THAN SAVING A FEW HE IS CALLED ON TO SAVE MANY. HIS ACTIONS WILL HAVE REPERCUSSIONS - LIKE RIPPLES IN A LAKE. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY WILL END. NEITHER DOES HE. MY ONLY CRITISISM, WHICH HAS BEEN ECHOED FREQUENTLY, IS THAT MUCH WAS LEFT UNSAID AND UNEXPLAINED. I HAVE HIGH HOPES THAT THIS WILL BE RECITIFED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. IN ANY EVENT THE VISUAL ARTISTRY OF THIS FILM IS UNPARALLELED. THE ACTING IS DIRECT AND POWERFULLY EFFECTIVE. DIALOGUE IS LEAN, CRISP AND TO THE POINT. FX ARE FLUID. IT IS A MUST WATCH - AND AT LEAST 3 OR 4 TIMES - TO TRULY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO IT. SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF, FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS AND ENJOY THE RIDE!!!!

Surprisingly fun...
I'm really glad I saw Pitch Black first because I appreciated the character of Riddick significantly more. Its one of those flicks that leaves you wanting more... and not more like I wanted a script and people who could act, and maybe some directing... but more like, I could have sat through another hour of adventuresome goodness. It was like Blade meets Star Wars... or something... True, I had a little difficulty with Jack/Kira's sudden development/growth in just 5 years, and the ending was a little... open for me (leaving obvious room for another episode), but pushing that aside (and some little holes of plot) it fully redeemed my faith in Vin Diesel as a capable action star. XXX had lead to his falling from my graces. But Riddick brought him back up to me with a smile. Judi Dench did a fabulous job as well, though I would have liked to have seen more of her... and that cool special effect... So all in all, its a great watch, see Pitch Black first, and go in expecting a PG-13 action flick and you'll be happy.

Less Than Riddickulous
Yes, parts of the movie is silly, but i still really enjoyed it. The main problem that i had with this movie was that half the time i didn't know what was going on. I only figured it out at the films conclusion. This is not a movie that is strong in storyline, but for some awesome visuals, this movie would be an excellent movie to see.

The scenes are great. They are so surreal and visually interesting that they are just breathtaking to look at. The special effects are top notch (especially the scene with the wolf things and the climactic fight at the end). The visual problem i had was with was the armor some of the main baddies. They just looked kind of silly and not the least bit intimidating.

I really enjoyed Pitch Black also and i believe that this is a role that Vin Diesel was made for. He does quite a job carrying 95% of the movie on his shoulders.

Sorry about my title. I agree, it is embarrasing. ... Read more

Reviews (349)

Fantastic!
Quentin Tarantino's debut film RESERVOIR DOGS broke new ground that many other directors and screen writers were afraid to tread upon. This amazingly well-written, directed, and acted film is about a jewel heist gone wrong and the consequences of each man's suspicions. Harvey Keitel is wonderful as tough but compassionate Mr. White(Each man is given an alias name, no one's real name is used), Michael Madsen is cool and psychotic as Mr. Blonde, Sean Penn delivers a strong performance as Nice-Guy Eddie, Lawrence Tierney is very intimidating as Joe, the crime boss, and Quentin Tarantino gives a great cameo performance as the short-lived Mr. Brown. The really great performances definitely go to Tim Roth and Steve Buscemi. For Roth(Mr. Orange), this was a breakthrough role in which he spends a good deal of the movie drenched in his own blood and in his screams of pain never once goes into an over-the-top performance. It's right on the money. Buscemi is dripping with attitude and gives one of his best performances until FARGO in RESERVOIR DOGS. From the moment he appears on screen, you know its gonna be a bumpy ride. A must-see for anyone who enjoys lotsa suspense, catchy dialogue and music, and some great action scenes.

Tarantino Makes His Mark
Quentin Tarantino's directorial debut, Reservoir Dogs is a brilliantly written, unique film that paved the way for Mr. Tarantino's breakthrough film, Pulp Fiction. The plot of Reservoir Dogs revolves around a diamond heist that goes afoul. A group of criminals who have never worked together are assembled and given names like Mr. White, Mr. Pink and Mr. Blonde. The film is intercut with flashbacks in which the characters played by Michael Madsen, Harvey Keitel and Tim Roth are explored in more detail. Mr. Madsen is incredible as the psychotic Mr. Blonde and his scene in which he brutalizes a cop in medieval fashion is alternately disturbingly brutal and humorous. Steve Buschemi is a scream as the jumpy Mr. Pink and Mr. Keitel provides the film with its backbone as Mr. White. Mr. Tarantino has keen eye for detail and the opening scene in a diner in which the crooks are discussing everything from what Madonna meant in her song "Like A Virgin" to 70's songs to tipping contains some of the sharpest dialogue in years. Mr. Tarantino also uses music to great effect and he overlays scenes with the voice of comedian Steven Wright as host of a radio show K Billy's Super Sounds of the 70's. Reservoir Dogs is a tremendous debut film and introduced Mr. Tarantino as a force.
The 10th Anniversary Edition is nice a step up in sound and quality from the first edition. The extras are good, but just the overall better sound and picture is worth purchasing this version if you already own the first.

Stylized, intelligent--but someone tell Quentin he can't act
To a degree amateurish, but to an equal degree compelling and original, Reservoir Dogs is a stylistic, gritty look at the gangsters of Quentin Tarantino's imagination. The story, such as it is, is the weak point of the film. The strange tale of an undercover cop who tries to bust up a family-sized gangster ring is just plain silly at times. The strong points, however, are many. Each character has a terrific, interesting voice; the dialogue is snappy and artistic; the music choices are inspired. And that infamous "ear" scene? Frankly, it's one of the few scenes that doesn't work. It just comes off as dumb.

Think of Reservior Dogs as the rough sketch for a movie yet to come: Pulp Fiction. Pulp Fiction is superior in every respect, but it's a treat to see its progenitor.

Bold enough to be a new genre
Quentin Tarantino has done an amazing job at taking a very low budget, and using a unique method of story telling and raw dialogue to turn it around. He was also lucky to get a great cast much like Pulp Fiction did. This film creates a new genre, because his un-chronological and very raw vision will be and is being copied all over the world. Many people criticize Tarantino for worshipping violence and profanity. However, when you examine the film's plot, it is really quite reasonable that characters swear as much as they do. And also, the violence in the movie only seems as bad as you make it in your mind, as the worst parts are only partially shown. This is another one of Tarantino's tricks. Some great performances are had too, for example Michael Madsen. His cold-blooded and partially psychotic character misleads us, up until a scene where he attempts to burn a kidnapped police officer, where our adoration of him turns to hate. However, Quentin quickly balances that out wonderfully. The ending may be a little "off" for some people, but all in all a great film.

Awesome movie. Awesome DVD. Definitely one of the Best!
First and foremost, this is indisputably Quentin Tarentino's best film ever. After having seen it some dozen-plus times, it still captivates and intrigues me with every watching. The way the plot works itself out is ingenius, the suspense is second-to-none. Steve Buscemi, as Mr. Pink, is a highlight of this movie: He plays his character ridiculously well.

The entire two hours of this film are violent, disturbing, riveting, captivating, and raw: All said, this film is like a cinematic car accident - you rubberneck, you gasp, you feed this primordial urge to see violence and power. The story of five men - Mr. Blue, Mr. Pink, Mr. White, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blonde - converge when they are called into do a jewelry store heist. However, theyf ind out that one of their fellow gangsters has set them up: That the heist failed because someone among them had ratted them out.
The entire movie unfolds as, really, a two hour dialogue between Mr. Blonde, Mr. Pink, and Mr. White - as well as with the subsequent intruders into the wharehouse. The entire film, essentially, takes place in a wharehouse with sporadic flashbacks and cuts to other instances which lead up to the final scene.

This DVD is an awesome buy. It comes with a fullscreen and widescreen edition, as well as lots of special editions: trailors, posters, picture galleries, etc. Definitely, this movie is an excellent addition to anyone's DVD collection. One of the best values I have in my collection! ... Read more

Reviews (127)

Whom the Bells Told
Disney brings the Victor Hugo's classic tale into a spectacular and touching animated wonder. Gentle and deformed bell ringer Quasimodo (voiced by Tom Hulce) lives a solitary life on the top of majestic Notre Dame. When Quasimodo befriends gypsy beauty Esmeralda (voiced by Demi Moore), he embarks on an adventure to protect his true friend from the harsh authority of his master Frollo. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is a powerful, star-studded and stunning masterpiece. The movie appeals to both kids and adults, but some content may be too strong for younger audiences. The story is well-paced and uplifting. The voice cast also includes Kevin Kline and Jason Alexander. The animation, music score and detailed backgrounds are quite amazing.

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is a surprisingly good DVD. This animated tale is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains a detailed video transfer with bright colors. Both 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS sound are remarkable with stunning clarity. The animated menus are simple but certainly appealing. Its supplemental material features the pleasant Making of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" featurette, an audio commentary with directors Kirk Wise and Gary Tousdale, and the Topsy Turvy Underground game. Like so many Disney DVDs, it also contains forced commercials and trailers. With its fine DVD presentation, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" scores a "B".

A Disney Must See
This is the first video I've owned that I've had to replace because I literally wore it out by watching it too often. "Hunchback" is a wonderful adaptation of Hugo's novel. Of course it has the Disney touch. This movie has everything - from intense drama to hilarious scenes that make me laugh just thinking about them. The animation is fantastic and the story is engaging. You'll hear the voices of Kevin Kline, Demi Moore, Jason Alexander, David Ogden Stires and Tom Hulce. The music is by the award winning duo of Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz and it is captivating from the biggest show stopping numbers down to the almost subliminial latin liturgical chants in the backgrounds of some songs. As Disney videos go this one can be considered pretty intense at times with perhaps the most well developed and complicated villan of any Disney film. Watch it first before you let the very youngest kids see it just in case. You'll want to see it twice anyway. It's lots of fun for most kids and just about everyone else. If you liked Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast you'll most likely love Hunchback of Notre Dame. END

Not too good.
I saw this movie when I was maybe seven I suppose. It was downright disturbing. I mean they tie up Quasimodo, throw rotten fruit at him at him, they show Quasimodo's Mum being killed while trying to seek refuge in a chruch, we see the evil guy nearly drowning baby Quasimodo in a well, a house is set on fire with children inside, there is predjudice against gypsies, there is a song about Hell (I didn't fully comprehend the message they were trying to get accross at that part, I'm pretty certain it was Hell though), they nearly burn Esmeralda at the stake and a whole bunch of other really WEIRD stuff goes on. It's a big royal mess from beginning to end. I understand bad thing shappen in the world but this movie was intended for children and I don't recommend it for small children or anyone else for that matter. In a few short words, it creeped me out and I didn't see a point to it.

WOW.
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTORE DAME WAS THE BEST. I M GETTING IT ON VHS,I WATCHED IT HALF AND IT WAS ASWME. LOVE IT. COOOOOOLOE.WALT DISNYS MASTERPIECE.WOW.JUST WOW.

Probably the most detailed Disney film ever made.
This is a really cool Disney flick because it is the least cartoonish. Everything about it is detailed, more so than some of the Pixar films. The animation is very intriquite and miraculously precise in bringing the Gothic city of Paris to life. The voice casting is very star studded and well done. The music is very good as well, and the score is very moody and probably the most dramatic of all the Disney films. It isn't the best but it is definately "the most". ... Read more

Amazon.com

John Travolta's should've-been-nominated-for-an-Oscar performance is the best reason to see this largely moving work, which is a little reminiscent of the novel Flowers for Algernon (basis for the film Charly). Travolta plays a mechanic who sees a bright light in the sky one night and wakes up the next morning a genius, hungry for knowledge and so smart he figures out national defense secrets in his own living room (and gets in hot water for it). The more interesting drama, however, is not with the government but with the character's longtime neighbors and friends, who come to reject him for being different. Robert Duvall gives a stirring performance as a doctor who has known the hero all his life, and Kyra Sedgwick is very good as an ambivalent love interest. If you missed this one in the theaters, then you haven't seen one of Travolta's best performances since his comeback. The DVD release presents a widescreen image, optional French soundtrack, optional Spanish subtitles, and theatrical trailer. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Phenomenon: A Moving, Under-rated movie
I took me awhile to catch on to the John Travolta "comeback." Always a good actor, he is trancendent in "Phenomenon." Taking his character of George, struck by a mysterious light, and turning him from an average man to a genius, could have been an actor's trap. Travolta makes it his triumph. He gives George such a humanity that even with the genius powers we are aware that George of old is still there, trying to desparately to just be his old self, and only the girl he longs for, played excellently by Kyra Segwick seems to understand his wanting to remain the same, no matter how many "miracles" he performs. So many films like this are too serious, use too many special effects, or are just plain ridiculous. Travolta great performance seems to lift the entire genre and wins us over like he does Segwick and her two children. The supporting cast is excellent, especially Robert Duvall, who does miraculous things with the town doctor. Forrest Whittiker is also good as George's best friend. The town accepts the miracles like no other movie town does. Yes, they are in awe, but they still doubt, as George doubts, that he was given a gift as a mistake, but when all is said and done, we know the "bright light" made the right choice, that he was able to even handle his own mortality. There is a scene near the end of the movie, when George is sharing his last moments and an apple with the two young children, that is as moving as any I've seen in recent memory. Some may see "Phenomenon" as too far-fetched or mauldlin, and if so they are as jaded as many movie goers are getting. What does an audience want? Here is a movie without much violence, blood, or spectacular special effects and does have a message but does not force it on you, how all of us have the possibility to be more than we think, that there is genius on a small scale, in the feelings for love, simple pleasures, sharing an apple with children, or facing one's own mortality without fear. A great Movie.

One of Travolta's best
Phenomenon is a great movie in every sense. It's about a mechanic (John Travolta) that sees a bright light in the sky one night and wakes up the next morning to find out he's a genius. He knows things such as when and where an earthquake is about to strike, national defense secrets, and he learns a new language in a matter of minutes. All the while he's interested in a good looking woman (Kyra Sedgwick), and like the other people she is scared of Travolta's new power of knowing just about everything. Watch Phenomenon and you'll see how a man struggles with his friends and the media even though he knows just about everything and could do any job on earth since this light hit him.

John Travolta gives a phenomenal performance in Phenomenon and this is one of the most underrated movies of all time. Travolta and Phenomenon should've won a few oscars, but it wasn't even nominated for any. Kyra Sedgwick, Robert Duvall, Forest Whitaker, and the kids also give good performances throughout the film. Phenomenon is without a doubt John Travolta's best drama film so far and one of my favorite movies of all time. If you're a Travolta fan or you like drama movies, I recommend getting Phenomenon because it's phenomenal to say the least.

Underrated, moving film
Phenomeonon was advertised as a sci-fi movie, and whilke it has a sci-fi sort of theme at its core, anyone going to see the movie based on that was sorely disappointed.

What this movie is, actually, is a story about a man learning to cope with something that he can't understand, and how it brings him closer to his friends and his community, and how it allows him to understand and deal with his own fate.

Yes, it's a bit sappy at times, but it also contains some really excellent performances. Travolta delivers what it certainly his most authentic and touching portrayal of a real human being yet seen in his post-Tarantino career. Forrest Whittaker and Robert Duvall likewise contribute first-rate performances. A wonderful contemporary soundtrack ties it all together.

A gift for your 37th birthday
George Malley is part of a close knit rural community. He is celebrating his birthday. On his way home he sees a bright light. After that his world changes. He finds he can think clearer and do extraordinary things.
Now we see if this is a gift or a curse. How will his friends and others deal with his "Phenomenon?"

The concept of the movie is not new. However it is the execution of the story and the interaction of the characters that make this a top notch film. You could also tell that John Travolta has a great time making this film. Many of the other actors fit the parts so well hat you forgot they were acting.

If you like this film, the film "Resurrection" (1980) with Ellen Burstyn is similar but more serious.

Romantic Drama With Healthy Comedy
I originally saw this movie in the theater and was pleasantly surprised. Not that I can see it at home the film's wonder has not disappeared.

Phenomenon stars John Travolta (with an appearance by Brent Spiner of ST:NG). The premise of this film is that John sees a light in the sky that hits him and knocks him out. After that he has increased brain usage. This enables him to read quickly, comprehend, think clearly and even perform minor telekinesis. In the small town in which he lives this sort of thing can cause some problems and fear. Robert Duval gives an excellent portrayal of a small town doctor and the rest of the cast does a marvelous job.

Phenomenon is partly a love story as John pursues the woman of his dreams, but it is also much more. It is a film about facing the unknown and the wonder of learning. While much of the film is funny it is definitely not a comedy and you should be prepared to have various emotional strings pulled throughout the film. An excellent choice for fans of romantic comedies and romantic dramas. ... Read more

Reviews (75)

What are you gonna do with your life??!!
Well, this movie has Bruce Willis starring in it, so from the very start, you know that it's definitely not going to be bad. This was the first Disney movie I've seen in a long time. It was strange to hear words like "jerk" and phrases such as "holy smokes" instead of the more commonly-used swearing we always hear in movies!

I liked the premise of the story, since I've often wished I could meet mini-me, so I went along to check it out.

I thought it was going just okay, until I started crying just that little bit! It really makes you think about your own life, and how being an adult can eliminate your dreams... if you let it. Sometimes you have to think about, and allow yourself to remember the negative events that occurred in your past, in order to get over it, forgive yourself and move on.

The kid wasn't annoying, so that was a bonus too! Brucey Baby, of course, was in amazing form. A great movie for the whole family, as they say!

highly enjoyable with a great cast and realistic story!
Disney's The Kid is a very real and original concept because almost any businessman in america could be Bruce Willis's character. DO NOT let the Disney logo stop you from watching this wonderful movie. It is fun and great at the same time. The acting was superb all around. bruce Willis is at his cometic finest and this is also one of his best performances. Spencer Breslin(the little boy) was fablous you could just see Bruce Willis being like that at eight. Lili Tomlin is as sacastic as ever and does her job to the "t." the perfromance that strikes you the most is Emily Mortimer. She has an amazing screne presence and the best chemistry with Bruce Willis I have ever seen. She even got to keep her acsent! This is the movie that will make her a star.(you may recognize her from Scream 3) She will make it in hollywood because she has a sweet, down to earth look that people just love. Disney's The Kid is great and a must see! A lot of people can identify with at least one of the characters. This is one for Adults and Children alike!

Sorry but I can't agree
This story has been done dozens of times over the centuries -- the hardened, cynical adult looks back over their life and has an epiphany. Stories like this and Dicken's "Christmas Carol" seem to me to drag the audience through a lot only to get them to an ending which we all know -- bad guy turns good. I much prefer the twist versions of the story, like "Harold and Maude" and "It's A Wonderful Life", wherein the protagonist is a more likeable character who comes to see how much they are liked and valued by others in the world. Saw this on a plane and I'm sure that hurt it a little but honestly I hated this movie.

Barely watchable emotional comedy
The movie starts off with Bruce Willis living a fast-paced lifestyle, and approaching his 40th birthday. He wakes up in the middle of the night to see a kid in his house. He recognizes the kid to be himself, 32 years ago! Willis is obviously hallucinating, but medications don't make the kid leave. The movie ends with an explanation of why the kid arrived in the first place, and once the reason is figured out, the kid leaves.
There are some comedic and emotional moments, but not quite enough to give this movie a higher than 3-star rating.

Spencer and Bruce good, but need different movie.
Spencer Breslin and Bruce Willis are good together, but it is almost impossible to make an excellent movie out of this plot. They were using A Christmas Carol's plot, but did not even come close to the success of it. Spencer is hilarious about Bruce's job and about Bruce not having a dog, and Bruce is Bruce displaying his acting talents all over the screen, but this movie just did not live up to its wonderful predecessor, A Christmas Carol. It was actually an okay film, giving a good moral and displaying acting talent, but they didn't follow through all the way. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Laughter Is The Best Medicine!
Jerry Lewis is Jerome Littlefield, an orderly at a mental institution who acts crazier than the patients. Since Frank Tashlin directed this movie, Jerry is free to concentrate solely on his performance, which he does to perfection. Once again Jerry is the lovable loser, who was thrown out of medical school because he felt the symptoms of every patient he diagnosed. This movie features a lot of great sight gags. Jerry fixes a television set in a patient's room that has poor reception, also known as snow. When he takes out the front of the TV, snow comes flying out of the set and soon fills the room! A patient is in a full body cast from head to toe, looking like a plastered mummy. Jerry accidentally knocks him over, the patient goes rolling down a hill and crashes into a tree. There's pieces of broken plaster everywhere, but no body! Jerry declares, "I lost a patient!" The movie concludes with one of the craziest chase scenes in movie history, as a wheeled stretcher with an injured man on it rolls out of the back of an ambulance and continues to roll down hills, while first one, then two ambulances chase him. This movie features more LPMs (laughs per minute) than most modern comedies, and is one of Jerry's funniest films.

Calling Dr. Jerry Funnybone, stat!
This is a hilarious nuthouse romp (although) Jerry makes everywhere a nuthouse.

The common Lewis flaw of getting carried away with a pathos-driven subplot (this time Susan Oliver trying to bump herself off) bogs things down a bit, but the sight gag totals serve to mellow it out in general.

The only real mistake happens at the tail end of the flick, when a wild chase ensues, ending with Jerry's boss rolling on a stretcher down the street, along a pier and into the ocean.

But right before that happens, two ambulances collide on either side of Jerry - one with Jerry's girlfriend in it and the other... shows no driver!

In fact, right before the crash, the movie's director Frank Tashlin even goes to all the trouble of showing us in a closeup that the ambulance's cab is empty, except that someone is still somehow turning the steering wheel.

What's up with THAT?!

A One Laugh Comedy!
I remember watching Jerry Lewis in a movie when I was a kid and liking it, I think it was called Cinderfella but I watched The Disorderly Orderly recently and since I love slapstick humor I thought I would love this movie but really it wasn't all that funny and when Jerry Lewis would use that loud voice for his character that gave the head nurse headaches it just kind of got on my nerves too.

I laughed once during this movie and that was when he was outside and the psychiatric patient tied him up in the straight jacket and he very slowly was trying to make his way back to the inside of the hospital and a snail passed him moving faster then he was.

superb
I loved this when I was a kid and I'm glad to say I still do now at 42! This is one of Jerry Lewis's finest with some really clever visual gags and an inspired use of sound(look out for the apple scene.)Kathleen Freeman is also great as the long suffering head nurse.The whole cast is excellent really and Everett Sloane is on fine form as the very un-pc director of the hospital.
A great film and very nearly up there with Lewis's(not Eddie Murphy's!) The Nutty Professor.

Great Comedy
This movie starts out kind of stupid, but about fifteen minutes into it you will be laughing on the floor. It as a great movie that the whole family can enjoy and will have you wanting to see other JL movies too! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good Karma
Kind of a hard movie to get into, in the begining, but, gets interesting as the story progresses.
Zane Smith (Craig Sheffer) has a laughingly pathetic life. He is the creator/producer of a hit, family t.v. show called "Rock 'n' Roll P.I." (get into that later). His life seems to be going in a downhill direction; his fiance leaves him for another woman; he owes the IRS 5 years worth of taxes, plus interest. His shrink, Dr. Berlin (played by Orson Bean), does him more harm than good.

Penelope (Chelsea Noble) is the object of Zane's obsessions. He meets her, and instantly becomes infatuated with on the set of Rock 'n' Roll P.I., where she is playing "Girl #3".
Then, there's Reno (David Cassidy). Reno is the star of "Rock 'n' Roll P.I." Ok...Rock 'n' Roll P.I. can best be described as a mix between "The Partridge Family", "David Cassidy:Man Undercover", "21 Jump Street". Reno, very well portrayed by former 1970's icon David Cassidy, is like Keith Partridge with a serious attitude problem. He's a temperamental, spoiled brat, that likes to get down and party...party in ways Mother Partridge would frown at.
Well, Zane's problem is his negative attitude. He dwells to much on how lonely he is, as well as obsesses to much on Penelope. His problem too, is how is he going to come up with 5 years of taxes owed, to pay his debt to the IRS??
Things look really bad for Zane...
Zane and Penelope's relationship moves in a possitive direction.

But, wait!!
The IRS comes down pretty hard on Zane. He owes quite a bit of money. Zane decides he can afford it, no problem, since Rock'n'Roll P.I. is a highly rated family show, even when it goes into reruns, so money shouldn't be a problem...
Well...life takes a serious turn. Fate? Karma? Well, Reno is arrested for possesion of cocaine, and charged with intent to distribute (WHOA!! The star of a family show, that has positive moral values, arrested for drugs!!!) The network pulls the plug on Rock'n'Roll P.I., and Zane loses everything...
...except love. Zane in the end, comes to his senses and realizes the most important things in his life are Penelope and his dog Wolfgang.
Hard to get into at first, but, it had a good story. David Cassidy as Reno was not the main, or central character of the story, but his was a strong pressence. Craig Sheffer as Zane almost reminded me of Kevon Bacon in his performance; Zane was a little stiff, kinda mannequin-like, whether he was meant to be portrayed that way, I am not sure, but Sheffer portrayed him very well, making him a likeable guy...he just needs to losen up.
If you are in the mood for a cute romantic comedy, you'll enjoy this.

David Cassidy only bright spot
I only bought this movie because David Cassidy was in it (he gets the star). He was the only good thing in it. He was a parody of his 2 former TV personalities. He played such a jerk and I found myself laughing at his outrageous behavior. His believability as such an arrogant jerk tells you what a great actor he is!!!!!!

dwaynec@cybertours.com
Craig, I am probably one of the biggest fans you have. I liked you in the movie, but the movie had a bad plot. I hope to see you in more films. I would like to meet you in person one of these days.

A bad taste of Karma! Unfunny and badly done!
This was an awful movie! C'mon Craig Sheffer, you've done movies so much better than this one! And it also features former 70's teen rock idol David Cassidy who plays a primadonna T.V. star in a series called "Rock N' Roll P.I.", whose character seems like a Keith Partridge with an attitude problem, his comeback album was realeased the same year as this movie. He must've been embarrased at the results of the film like Craig Sheffer should be since he's also done better productions such as his national theatre productions of "Blood Brothers"(with Petula Clark and his half brother Shaun),"EFX", and "Time." As well as his appearances in "Police Story"(2 parts),"Fantasy Island"(2 episodes),"The Love Boat", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Tales of the Unexpected", "Flash", and "The John Larroquette Show" and the T.V. movie "The Night the City Screamed." Craig Sheffer did great movies like "Some Kind of Wonderful", "The River Wild", and many others! Cast also features comedian, actor, and the husband of Shirley Jones Marty Ingels. I'd be surprised if this movie ever went to theatres, because it never came to where I used to live. Badly acted, directed, and scripted!

Instant disaster!
I am a major Craig Sheffer fan. I have seen all his films and enjoyed them all...except for this one! I hate to say it, but it's pretty pathetic. It is the story of a filmmaker(Sheffer), the starlet he falls for(Chelsea Noble), and a spoiled actor(David Cassidy). After that point, I am not really sure what the movie is about at all! It does have a few funny moments, but on the whole not enough to make it worth the effort. Even Sheffer's acting ability could not salvage it. If you really need to see this film, wait for it to come on cable, or try and rent it. Otherwise, see one of Sheffer's numerous other films, there isn't a disappointment in the bunch. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"The Tholian Web" was conceived when writer Judy Burns went looking for a new angle on ghost stories. A physics student suggested she somehow use the theory of infinite dimensions, and out of that came Burns's script, which finds Captain Kirk (William Shatner) trapped between different kinds of space, floating in and out of view of the Enterprise crew. Adding to the dilemma are time constraints (Kirk's oxygen supply is running low), an effort by the arachnid-like Tholians to trap the Enterprise in a gigantic web, sub-space dementia affecting the crew, and rising hostilities between Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), the latter none too happy with the way the Vulcan is running the ship in Kirk's absence. Burns's original conception was to make Spock the spectral Starfleet officer locked in interspace, but the show is quite effective in the way various characters mourn the presumed death of their leader and figurehead. The Tholians don't make another appearance in Trek lore until The Next Generation, but this particular episode won the original series its first Emmy for special effects. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Spock and McCoy get to run the ship when Kirk disappears
"The Tholian Web" basically removes Kirk from the equation and gives us the Star Trek episode that most focuses on interactions between Spock and McCoy. The Enterprise has found the USS Defiant with all of its crew dead, apparently having killed themselves. But this area of space is unstable and before Kirk can be beamed back, he becomes trapped in a parallel universe/dimension. While Spock waits for the next opportunity to rescue the captain, the Tholians show up and demand an explanation. Spock explains, but the presence of the Tholian ship throws off his equations. When Kirk does not reappear the Tholains cripple the Enterprise and begin to spin a web of tractor field filaments. To make things even more interesting, the unstable space is beginning to after the sanity of the Enterprise crew. The best scenes of "The Tholian Web" are clearly between Spock and McCoy, who get to hear the taped message Kirk has left for them in the event of his death. Their interaction is at the heart of this episode, because the idea of taking several hours to make a giant web around a damaged starship is pretty far out there. I mean, come on, with all the energy they are expending they could surely finish the Enterprise off, or at least they could make a SMALLER web. But if you always enjoyed the bickering between Spock and McCoy, then this is a truly enjoyable episode.

The first third of Season Three was actually quite good
This episode, in which Kirk disappears and a web is built around the Enterprise, in many ways belongs in another season. It has a lot of action and a straightforward plot. However, it also has some signatures of the third season, such as the trippyness of a winking-out Kirk floating through space, as well as a subtle pitting of illusion vs. reality. Plus it's always nice to meet new aliens--the Tholians even have a visible ship

Tholians and the earliest U.S.S. Defiant.
The U.S.S. Enterprise arrives in an uncharted area of space to answer a distress call from the U.S.S. Defiant, NCC-1764. The starship is visible on their viewscreen, but sensors on board the U.S.S. Enterprise say it's not.

Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Chekov beam aboard and spread out to investigate. Everyone aboard is dead ... apparently killed in a bizarre mutiny, although there are no life readings aboard. McCoy, in the ship's sickbay, tells Kirk that he can find no clue as to why the crew died, but has taken readings to study. Then, as his hand passes through a body and exam table, McCoy realizes the U.S.S. Defiant is dissolving.

Quickly Kirk orders them beamed back to the U.S.S. Enterprise, but Scotty explains that due to the poor stability of the space around them, he can only beam three aboard. After the usual debate, Kirk stays behind while the others beam back. When Scotty tries to bring Kirk aboard, his image wavers, and disappears. Interphase, Spock calculates, will occur in a little over two hours. In the meantime, they must wait. If the captain is still alive, they should be able to retrieve him then.

Complications arise when Chekov goes crazy and attacks Spock on the bridge. Slowly, more members of the crew fall prey to the "illness," attacking their crewmates. McCoy and his staff work round the clock to find a cure. When the doctor suggests Spock "put some distance" between the Enterprise and the Defiant, Spock explains that any movement in the weakened space could disturb both ship's positions and jeopardize Kirk's rescue.

At a little over an hour before interphase, a Tholian ship appears, telling Spock that the U.S.S. Enterprise has violated Tholian space. The Vulcan explains that they were answering a distress call from the nearby U.S.S. Defiant and are waiting until they can retrieve Kirk. The Tholians agree to wait until the appointed time before taking action.

Unfortunately, when the interphase occurs, Kirk is not where he should be. Spock suspects that the Tholian's entrance into the area of space disrupted the U.S.S. Defiant's position. A funeral service is held for Captain Kirk, following which McCoy insists they view the Captain's last orders. Spock reluctantly agrees and the two men go to their friend's quarters and listen to Kirk's touching advice.

Uhura is the first to see Kirk's image floating before her, and for a time, McCoy thinks she's contracted the disease. But when he and Spock see the Kirk on the bridge, they realize that he is, in fact, still alive.

The Tholians decide that Spock has, lied to them and opens fire. Making a decision, Spock orders the phasers fired at the ship. The Tholian ship is disabled, but soon another ship joins it and they begin "building" a sort of web made of shining filaments. Spock analyses the web and announces that if they don't bring Kirk aboard and leave before the web is completed, they "won't see home again." At the last minute, Spock orders full power against the web and the U.S.S. Enterprise is thrown outside the Tholian's trap, several parsecs from their previous position. The hope is that Kirk, caught in the U.S.S. Enterprise tractor beam when they changed position, was brought with them.

Tensely McCoy waits with a hypo of tri-ox for Kirk, whose air is running out as he's successfully beamed on board the U.S.S. Enterprise, alive and unharmed. In a humorous tag, McCoy and Spock convince Kirk that there had been no time to view his final orders and Kirk, somewhat disappointed that his wisdom had gone unheard, says that he hopes there isn't a similar circumstance where the two men will view the tape.

As close to a 'ghost story' as the original series would get
When it was originally written this episode had placed Spock in the dilemma that Kirk would eventually find himself in. Changing it to Kirk benefits the entire show as it allows for some of the best Spock and Dr. McCoy clashes of will that the series would offer up. Another change involved adding the environmental suits that were substituted for a belt device worn around the waist that provided a force field for the wearer and provided a supply of oxygen also. Both of these alterations to "The Tholian Web" help significantly, resulting in one of the strongest entries in the uneven third and final season.

The Enterprise finds the USS Defiant a floating derelict but the Enterprise cannot detect anything with the starship scanners. Further complicating things is the state of flux the Defiant is in due to a spatial interface in the unstable area of space. Kirk boards the Defiant with Spock, Dr. McCoy and Chekov to investigate why there is no response and they discover that the crew had killed each other in a fit of frenzy. Within a few moments McCoy reports that the area he is investigating is becoming transparent and he believes the rest of the ship will also. Attempting to beam back Scotty explains that the transporters can only handle three at a time so Kirk remains while the others return. The Defiant then disappears completely taking Kirk with it. Spock finds evidence that the same spatial interface will occur in a short while and that they will make an effort to beam Kirk back aboard then. The Tholians then encounter them, which disrupts the plans made by the Enterprise and compounds the situation with a ship to ship attack. Meanwhile McCoy makes an uncomfortable discovery - if they remain in this area of space they will experience the same calamity as the Defiant unless he finds a cure. Soon afterward crewmembers report sightings of a ghostly image of Captain Kirk appearing to them.

The few moments when Kirk appears as a 'ghost' are quite effective and thankfully not overplayed, each one happening at perfect intervals. Instead of having Kirk wander through the starship in ghostly form, attempting to communicate, he appears infrequently precipitating the spatial interface the Enterprise is waiting for. All of the story elements are balanced well here: the encounter with the Tholians, the disappearance and recovery of Kirk, the expected volatile dialogues between Spock and Dr. McCoy, the effects the crew experiences in the unstable area of space. Placing Kirk in an environmental suit works better than the previously suggested use of a force field type belt. The introduction of such a device would have caused extreme complications in later episodes yet to be produced. His ghostly appearances in the suit have an unsettling horror feel to them as well, emphasizing the idea that he is stranded.

The only trifle I have with this episode is the way in which Kirk is recovered. At the moment Kirk appears onscreen on the bridge Spock has full power restored to the starship and this sudden effect throws the Enterprise completely free of the Tholians energy field and Kirk as well as soon discover because he was caught in Enterprise's transporter beam. Hold it! Back up a minute...just before full power is restored Spock says "Ready to transport on my order," but he never gives the order or at least we never hear it. However, we do know that Scotty had locked a transporter beam on the coordinates provided him; perhaps he didn't want to risk losing the captain one more time! Also notable: McCoy ruins a perfectly good (and I assume quite costly) environmental suit - as soon as Kirk is beamed aboard the doctor gives him a shot with a needle directly through the material of the suit.

Captain Kirk gets trapped in outer space ---- literally
"The Tholian Web" is one of the most original episodes of Star Trek - The Original Series. The Enterprise ship runs up on a mysterious ship in space that is supposedly not even there, but they can see it. Soon they all find out that they are in a part of space where matter disintegrates. Before the Enterprise crew knows it, Captain Kirk vanishes in space and Spock has to take command. Will Captain Kirk vanish just like the mysterious ship or is there a possible way to find Kirk and beam him back onboard the ship?

"The Tholian Webb" is slow going, but it's not boring. It has some of the best special effects of any of the episodes. The alien enemies that make the energy-draining webb and the idea of Captain Kirk being trapped in outer space is intriguing.

If you like original episodes of Star Trek that are interesting and have great special effects for their time, I recommend getting "The Tholian Webb." ... Read more

Amazon.com

"The Conscience of the King" is a memorable drama about a traveling Shakespearean troupe led by one Anton Karidian (Arnold Moss), who may or may not be the same man as Kodos the Executioner, former governor of a Federation planet who oversaw the mass murder of thousands of people rather than watch them starve to death during a food shortage. (Shortly after the deaths, Federation supply ships arrived and Kodos disappeared, right around the time that Karidian arrived as a classical actor touring the planets.) A nice twist: among victims of Kodos's wrongheaded mercy killings were relatives of Captain Kirk (William Shatner), adding a personal note to the mystery of Karidian/Kodos. Well-written (by Barry Trivers) and sensitively directed by a not-well-known but very interesting Hollywood filmmaker, Gerd Oswald. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great stuff
This Shakespearean episode, in which a father and daughter lead an acting troupe being transported by the Enterprise, is one of the most underrated. The episode has a very distinctive feel, from the opening shot of the bloody knife to the medieval-sounding musical score. The parallels between Macbeth (and other Bard works) and the episode are also quite intriguing. Themes explored in this thoughtful show include 1) the impossibility of escaping the past, and 2) the strength (for better or worse) of familial bonds. Add to this the fact that the episode is a murder mystery with three plot twists (one of them is admittedly revealed far too soon), and you have a winner.

Solid, superior 1st season episode with a few minor flaws...
Tightly written and expertly acted, 'The Conscience Of The King' foreshadows the recurring themes of Shakespeare used inventively in several episodes and incarnations of Star Trek. Here Kirk is a thinly veiled interpretation of Hamlet as he tries to determine the guilt or innocence of a suspected mass murderer and whether or not he can act on the scarce evidence at hand. Though the plot seems a bit farfetched - of 8,000 colonists on Tarsus IV only nine eyewitnesses can identify the planet's most prominent politician - the story is punched acrossed solidly with it's few obvious flaws sidestepped gracefully. As Anton Karidian/Kodos The Executioner Arnold Moss supplies one of the best character portrayals from the original series, and Barbara Anderson (of television's "Ironsides") is his equal as his daughter who comes unhinged in the finale.

A scientist who claims he has invented a food substance that will save the populace of another planet suffering a famine summons the Enterprise to Planet Q. Soon after they arrive though they discover the story is a ruse. The scientist, an old acquaintance of Kirk's, explains to him that he is certain that an actor in the traveling troupe visiting Planet Q is the infamous Kodos The Executioner. Kodos was responsible for the death of 4,000 colonists on Tarsus IV, a colony that both Kirk and his friend were part of when the massacre occurred; now some twenty years later only a few eyewitnesses who can identify Kodos remain alive. Kirk is skeptical at first but when his friend turns up dead and a consultation with the ship's computer reveals that seven of nine eyewitnesses have been murdered while the traveling troupe is in the vicinity, this coincidence persuades Kirk to arrange to transport the actors to their next destination. After attempts are made to kill Kirk and Lt. Riley - another eyewitness - the captain finally forces both the assassin and Kodos to reveal themselves.

While this episode is one of the series' better-acted and directed shows it painfully reveals the series 1960's origins. In attempting to proof that Karidian is actually Kodos Kirk uses information provided by the ship's computer and later a voiceprint analysis. DNA evidentiary findings weren't in vogue at the time of production, but certainly fingerprints were! And wouldn't a Federation appointed colony governor have been sufficiently processed by a clerical system to have some sort of records that could provide damning evidence too? Despite this glaring oversight the show succeeds in providing sufficient suspense and a terrific finale. Also contained within the story is another worthy round in the continuing Spock vs. McCoy ethical debates; eventually they confront the captain - both as friends and as staff officers - to determine his questionable motives, a scene that is handled brilliantly.

Note: William Shatner would later co-star with Barbara Anderson in an episode of Mission: Impossible (post Leonard Nimoy years); but the tables would be turned this time, as Ms. Anderson would set a trap for the villainous Shatner. By the way, does the figure seven of nine ring a bell to anyone?

Definitely one of the best episodes!
Conscience of the King is the 1st season Trek Original Series December 8th, 1966 episode. The story is that Anton Karidian a space touring Shakespearean actor may really be Kodos the Executioner who wiped out half of his colony (4000 people). Kirk is one of 9 witnesses, 7 of which have been killed, and Karidian and his beautiful daughter Lenore(Barbara Anderson of Ironside fame) end up onboard the Enterprise.

It's an interesting twist on the equivalent of a Nazi war criminal of the future, and a reference is made as such: "his own form of eugenics" "he wasn't the first".

And considering William Shatner's classical acting training, he must have loved the Shakespeare stuff in this episode. And it's hard to take your eyes off of Barbara Anderson, strikingly beautiful (oh I said that already) and great intensity in her acting. And the story offers a great twist at the end, not at all predictable. Watch also when Janice shoots Lenore a quick icy "get away from my man" stare.

Finally all acting here is first rate, and we even get to hear Uhura sing and play that guitarlike thing. And the final part is classic '60s Trek drama all the way: the "death scene" where Hamlet merges with reality, and the final thing with Bones "you really cared about her didn't you?...I have my answer."

A couple lines in the dialogue were definitely "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" influenced as that film was out in 1966:
"later, latest, too late" and such. And even the sub-theme is a vague allusion being a woman who has lapsed into fantasy. This and the other best Star Trek Original Series episodes have that je ne sais quoi surrealism, intensity, intelligence, believability, creativity, and '60s style.

Kirk thinks he is on the trail of Kodos the Executioner
"The Conscience of the King" is surely one of the most dated Star Trek episodes. Just think: hundreds of years have gone by and Kirk has a difficult time trying to prove Anton Karidian, the head of a troop of actors, is really Kodos the Executioner. You think they would have known what forensic technology would be like before the end of the 20th century. The Enterprise can analyze planets from the far side of the galaxy, but cannot come up with a way of determining the identity of a human being. So there are only three people left in the universe who can identify Kodos. Actually, that's two after Kirk's old friend is murdered after the pair watch a performance by Karidian. Kirk then arranges things to get the troop on board, where he has to deal not only with the actor but his daughter, Lenore, who loves her father much more than she is attracted to the dashing Captain Kirk. The line "The Conscience of the King" is taken from "Hamlet," and certainly Kirk is placed in a similar position to the Danish prince in that he thinks he knows but he is not sure enough to take action. But since I have never really found the inability of the hero to act particularly enjoyable, this episode tends to drag a bit for me, despite the outstanding performances by the guest stars. Karidian is given a dignified presence by Anton Moss, while Lenore is played by Barbara Anderson, better known for playing Eve Whitfield on "Ironside." Anderson's performance in the shattering climax of this episode when her character goes over the edge is as memorable a piece of acting as any you see in any Star Trek episode. This is another one of those Star Trek episodes where the holes in the story are made up for by the performances of the actors. I know I have always enjoyed "The Conscience of the King" more than it deserved, which is why they call it the willing suspension of disbelief. However, it is depressing to think that in the future Shakespeare's plays will be performed by a half-dozen actors...

Slow Moving but Fascinating
The suspense isn't very engrossing and the mystery doesn't yield too much of a surprise, but the concepts in the episode are worth considering.

The actor that portray's Koridian does an excellent job and Bruce Hyde gets to ham it up again as the passionate, misunderstood, overeager Kevin Riley.

If you can sit through the slow moving story, this is actually a fairly good episode. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not that bad after all. Hey, at least its different.
Catspaw, an episode which employs Halloween frights (witches, black cats, etc.), was the first episode produced in the second season. There is a light, jaunty quality to both the music and the performances not seen during season 1. It's almost as if everyone gave a collective sigh when the show was finally renewed, and thought they wouldn't be as heavily scrutinized the next year. Whether or not this was a good thing is certainly open to debate, but there is no denying that the second season shows feel more relaxed and lighter than the first.

But back to Catspaw. This episode and the 3rd season opener (Spectre of the Gun) were the only episodes written with a specific airdate in mind. This was meant to be first and foremost a Halloween episode, and it does a decent job of providing some frights. (Spectre of the Gun aired within a day or two of the anniversary of the gunfight at the OK Corral.) But Catspaw is ultimately too reliant on a parade of gimmicks (that don't even frighten the landing party) to be engaging. Uninspired performances by Antoinette Bower and Theo Marcuse don't help any either. Other than the gimmicks, there just isn't much here; on the other hand, the gimmicks keep the show moving.

what are scotty and sulu doing?
spooky.these aliens control the minds of enterprise crewmen.the spooky begining with the enterprise crewmeber screaming youll all die! and then dying himself.scotty,sulu and mcoy are well....spooky when under the aliens control.the good alien is very dull.the ending is good too.

How broke was Gene Roddenberry anyway??
Now I know a TV series that was never popular with the network in the first place ain't gonna get much money, but c'mon. The best they could do was two puppets at the end that looked like they were stolen out of a garbage can in TJ? The black threads are so thick a child can point them out and laugh.

There's something familiar about that woman with the warlock
"Catspaw" is the Halloween episode of Star Trek, where the Enterprise discovers fog, witches and a haunted castle on Pryis VII. There they also find a warlock named Korob and his beautiful but definitely strange associate, Sylvia. The pair are visitors to Prysi VII themselves and want to learn about the technology of humans, apparently as a prelude to launching some sort of invasion. They demonstrate their powers when Sylvia holds a small pendant shaped like the Enterprise over a fire and the crew reports things getting suddenly very hot aboard the ship. This is one of the few times that Kirk relies on his good look and charm rather than his brain or his right hook to save the day. "Catspaw" does not amount to much as an episode, although we do get to see Kirk and Spock hung up in a dungeon and you have to chuckle at the Vulcan's characterization of the witches' curse as "very bad poetry." But the idea that "magic" is nothing but alien technology dressed up with smoke and mirrors, is a tad cliche, even for Star Trek.

Don't let the cat paw you to death
"Catspaw" is another one of the great episodes of Star Trek that used illusions as its main effect. This is the episode where you'll see the catwoman hang a U.S.S. Enterprise chain above a fire and it will heat the whole ship and its crew up till they're sweating. She uses everybody as a slave and when she gets mad, she will turn into a huge black cat. Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and Spock must find a way to get Scottie and Mr. Sulu out of their spell while they try to survive in the dark dungeon.

"Catspaw" is a great episode and anybody who likes Star Trek should get it. It has some of the best special effects of the series and it also has good acting. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Mixed Review - 4 stars, but really a 2
I have mixed feelings about this movie. I really thought when I bought it it was just going to be that first episode which started the tv series. I loved that first episode. But what I found was that it was a compilation of several episodes. It flowed smoothly, but