Amazon.com

For better or worse, David Mamet's hit play Sexual Perversity in Chicago is watered down into this romantic comedy about a couple (played by Rob Lowe and Demi Moore) who get together and then fall apart due to Lowe's character's inability to commit. Jim Belushi is on hand as the gratuitously swinish best friend who looks at women as meat, and Elizabeth Perkins is entertainingly arch as Moore's gal pal and Belushi's nemesis. There's nothing about this 1986 film by Edward Zwick (cocreator of TV's thirtysomething and director of Glory and Courage Under Fire) that is at all reminiscent of Mamet, but that doesn't make it bad or dull. While one can feel the script straining to fill in gaps where chunks of the original play have disappeared, Zwick often successfully tells the story without words at all, relying on the actors to convey pure emotion. Lowe is good, and the then-willowy Moore's understated performance reminds one of the actress she might have been before she became a spectacle. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (34)

An honest look at relationships!!!
If there is any movie that realisticly portrays relationships, it is this one, Rob Lowe & Demi Moore are very believable as lovers who decide to live together in the hopes that they will live a long & happy life, but the perils of living together are explored very deeply here, as with any couple there are problems, past relationships,disapproving friends,adjusting to each other's habits, it is all here & anyone who has lived with anyone will see the realism of this film, if you have not ever lived with your boyfriend or girlfriend this film will seem off balance, this is the perfect film for anyone who might be thinking of moving in with their lover or anyone who has second thoughts, highly recommended!!!!

Slice of Life...Perhaps a Bit Stale
I enjoyed this movie. It was a nice little romance that followed the formula. First of all boy meets girl, and a relationship develops. Quick film sequences follow showing the happy couple, hand in hand, laughing and enjoying walking, shopping and just having a good time. The next step is moving in with each other, and then facing those unavoidable difficulties of adapting to life together. The good times are followed by not so good times, and, according to formula, there is a falling out and ultimate reconciliation. I am not revealing much here as there are no real surprises in this movie. None whatsoever. There are jealousy scenes; the "what's bothering you?" question followed by silence; the scenes deploring each other's household habits, and so on and on.

It's pleasant viewing, though, with Demi Moore and Rob Lowe obvious candidates for the most attractive couple of the year award. While their struggles as lovers are extremely realistic, and can cause some squirming by most of us viewers who have tread this path at some point in our lives, the two best friends of our couple are something else. Belushi and Perkins give us something different to squirm about. If you have had a lover with a friend that you didn't much like just get a load of these two friends from hell. Belushi is a boorish womanizer, and Perkins is a possessive snot. These two, possessing some of the most obnoxious traits found in humans, are both totally non-supportive of the growing relationship between Lowe and Moore. Belushi plays his part well, showing the ugliest traits to be found in the male. I kept wishing he would be run over by a truck, and thus vanish from the movie. But then, I guess, the movie itself would have become even more of a routine story of relationship problems.

All in all the movie was well done. I just wish there had been a real surprise or two. As it is you sit through the whole thing fully aware in advance of what will happen next.

Its a pretty standardized romantic comedy.
Because of the cast, I thought this would be "Brat-Packish." It's a pretty standardized romantic film. Not really a good date movie because there is alot of nudity. However, in all honesty Demi Moore gets extremely naked and its pretty rare footage of her bearing all before she got too famous. All in all, About Last Night is your basic 80's dating movie.

Good Representation of Dating Life the 80s
If you were old enough to date in the 80s and were in your 20s to early 30s back then, a good many of the situations portayed in this movie will look quite familiar. I know many people who've lived through all the situations that arise in this movie, and I think most people who've ever dated can relate to something in this movie. Despite the hairstyles and clothes, the content of the movie itself are probably still relevant today in terms of new relationships and dating.

Although this movie is no classic, it is still quite enjoyable. James Belushi is the quirky, macho, insensitive sidekick to Rob Lowe and does a decent job, though not a great one. What I like most about the movie is that Lowe and Moore's characters really develop well. Their characters seem to grow and mature as the relationship gets deeper. Lowe and Demi have very good chemistry together, and they sell the idea that they're very atracted to each other, which helps make it believable--and their acting is actually pretty good too.

Demi has several nude scenes... Both Lowe and Moore are very young (around the "Brat Pack" days) and look great. I wouldn't recommend it for young kids due to the nudity and language, but it's still a good flick regardless and I do recommend it for anyone 18 or over.

good stuff
'About Last Night..' is by far one of the best movies I have ever seen. It has a bit of an eighties touch and a little TOO much nudity but, other than that this movie is awesome. Rob Lowe looks sexy and acts his best, and Demi Moore is just beautiful in this movie.
It takes place in Chicago and two singles Debbie and Danny, have a one night stand. They move in together and try to make a sexual relationship into a romantic one, will it work out? HMM.. I highly reccomend this movie, especially if you are a Rob Lowe fan(you see a lot of his @ss). ... Read more

Reviews (29)

For Zappa fans only (and the eternally curious!)
This 1971 film shot on videotape is simply a showcase for Frank Zappa's twisted humour and unique brand of hybrid music. It has neither plot, logic nor coherence, but is basically a series of musical numbers (combining rock, orchestral and opera styles) and comedy skits tied together by the theme of how "touring can make you crazy".

Augmented by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, and the Mothers of Invention, Zappa provides the viewer with some inspired lunacy, great video effects and some highly memorable songs. If the music tickles your fancy, then the soundtrack, recently released for the first time on CD by Rykodisc/MGM, is also a must-have.

Recommended only for those with a high tolerance for Zappa's audio/ visual madness, this is nonetheless a truly satisfying psychedelic ride through the mind of the drug-addled, sex-obsessed musician.

Definitely not for young children though, as the movie contains sexual references, coarse language, nudity and what can be considered as drug-related material.

An unforgettable viewing experience...
First of all, the one thing that a lot of people miss about Zappa was that he was a master "resource" utilizer. - - He knew what he wanted his projects to look and sound like, and was great enough of an artist/producer to find/discipline people capable of delivering his vision - - So the big question : Despite his notorious reputation for his mixture of music and oddball stage antics, given a REAL big budget to make a real big motion picture, could he pull something off ? - - The answer... UNBELIEVABLY FRIGGIN' YES ! ! ! - - The film captures the MOTHERS in their prime circa the antics of FLO & EDDIE... the bizarre stage routines of his group are MELTED together by a great theme... that TOURING can make you crazy... though surreal, beyond the paranoia and psychadelic wierdness, the backstage politics of a band touring on the road, the stresses between the leader and bandmembers... and yes, the neverending quest for the ultimate BJ come through in the form of a BRILLIANT opera, featuring a full symphonic orchestra and some surprizing guest appearences... including Ringo Starr as frank zappa. - - The music is great... the images are great... and the performances (musical, now and then sexual, and stagewise) are a brilliant and mindtripping experience... This film is DEFINITELY something to watch over and over into and really get into... especially (of course) if you're a Zappa nut - - just don't get too psyched, otherwise you might find yourself singing the words to LONESOME COWBOY BURT outloud on the bus on the way to wherever...

It was just bad
One day i was looking through the cult classic section of my video rental store and I found one movie that I have not yet seen. That movie was of course none other than 200 Motels. I thought Frank Zappa and a movie= fun drug induced imagery and ridiculous dialouge about a little Jewish princess.
I was horribly mistaking. The movie was painful to watch. It had no plot and nothing to do with a band going on tour. It was completely unfunny except for one part where Captain Beefheart's hat phonetically spells out f**k in the cyrillic alphabet.
I watched this movie with my uncle who had been a pretty serious stoner back in the day when Zappa and Beefheart were still touring; he was a fan of both of these musicians. Even he continued to ask about the whereabouts of the plot or the too easily forgotten entity: entertainement.
I was sober when I watched this movie and I would expect that that is not the best way to see it. Probably some acid or at least weed would be needed to make this movie at all tolerable.
Zappa should have stayed with his ridiculous music.

A True Video Masterpiece!!! * * * * *
Frank Zappa was a creative genius, and his "200 Motels" was a true video masterpiece! "200 Motels" tells a simple story about how touring in a rock band can seem to make you crazy. Zappa used a new medium of the early 70's, what we now call "video", and really pushed it beyond the known limits. The effects he used in this movie have often been copied, and were used to describe the weird world of touring. City after city, sandwich after sandwich, the towns all begin to look fake after awhile; the effects where used to emphasize how the struggles of touring and how all that traveling and responsibility really tweaks your brain, your ability to perceive reality. This movie was possibly the first true "music video", since it originated in video, and possibly tweaked the minds of the engineers up in the control booth. When you look at how the video was structured, well, it's all shot entirely in a studio environment. It's a story within a story, and like so many other filmmakers, Zappa was almost making fun of himself, in a lighthearted manner, much as Felini and Allen have done in some of their films. Yes, this movie is twisted, in fact just as twisted as life in America tends to get. This movie is best seen projected in a theater, and unless you have a t.v. larger than 27", I recommend you wait, because it really needs to be seen larger than life!

an excellent movie
This movie is very good. But the reason, why I didn't give it 5 stars, is that here are some cuts, which are so dumb, and annoying. I don't see Frank Zappa a lot in here. They show him sometimes when they perform. And they perform the songs live. In the soundtrack, they re-record it in studio. You can hear it, and see it, by their sweat. But I really don't understand, what the movie is all about. But you'll enjoy. It's really interesting to watch a movie, with real rock stars. And real live performances. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nice Slapstick Comedy!!
Jean Paul-Belmondo stars as an incompetant stuntman who's madly in love with his stuntlady co-worker(Raquel Welch).It's a nice slapstick comedy!! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Sequel Better Than The Original...Warm Hearted and Sweet
Usually sequels aren't as good as the original (although there are exceptions such as the Star Wars trilogy and the Back To The Future series), but this movie is much better than its predecessor, "My Girl." It is a warm and fuzzy family film with a great soundtrack featuring songs of the early 1970s. Vada is now 13, tackling a school assignment in which she decides to write about her mother's life. A trip to California to visit her uncle aids in her quest to track down her mother's high school classmates and friends. With each person she interviews, Vada makes some unexpected discoveries about her mother. Her search culminates in a touching, sadly sweet moment when she is able to "meet" her mother. Along the way, Vada finds love from Nick, (played by Austin O'Brien), her somewhat reluctant escort who was paid by Vada's uncle to accompany her around town. I love the fact that all of the primary actors were retained for the sequel (except for Macauley Culkin, whose character died in the first film). Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Akroyd give fine performances as the happily married Mr. & Mrs. Sultenfuss expecting their first child. While "My Girl" was sad and depressing, "My Girl 2" is positive, upbeat, and great fun. Don't let that surly old curmudgeon, Leonard Maltin, influence you with his review. This film is great family entertainment and quite enjoyable.

My Girl 2 is ok but there was no point in making it though.
This is a pretty good movie but whatever his name was Austin whatever was trying way to hard to be the tough guy in the movie. And it was so obvious that he was just there to replace Macualay Culkin. It would have been really nice if at the of My Girl 1 Vada and Thomas had gotten together. Because I personally think that Vada and Thomas were sort of the right ones for each other. It depends on how you look at it. I also know that deep down inside Thomas had a little soft spot for Vada you could tell by the way he was acting around her. Vada and Thomas 4ever.

it is a cute movie
i luved this movie my favorite part was when she brought bac the thought of my girl one i think evry 1 should go and bye it right away but watch the fist 1 befor the second i think that u people will like it

Original My Girl: Ok Second My Girl: Much, Much Better!!!
My Girl 2 was much better than the original My Girl. This one goes more in depth with the story focusing more on Anna Chlumsky, or Vada Sultenfuss as she's known in the movie. Vada is assigned by her English teacher to write a poem about someone who had achieved something and someone who was a complete stranger to her. She picked her mother. Vada goes to Los Angeles despite her father's firm decision to not let her go. Throughout the movie, she is searching for answers about her mother. What was she like? The big mystery she must solve is to figure out why there was a date written on a paper lunch bag in her box of her mother's things. Will Vada succeed in finding answers to her questions? Will she find out things she didn't know before? The only way to find out is by WATCHING THIS EXCELLENT MOVIE! DON'T MISS OUT!

Great, but not as good as the original
This was a wonderful movie. I love how much Vada has matured. She's 13 now, and not obsessed with death like in the first one. She's also not the tomboy she was. She's more into boys and makeup and things like that. During her spring break, Vada goes to California to stay with her uncle and do research on her mom. Nick, her uncle's girlfriend's son, is her reluctant tour guide. It's obvious they like each other from the start, but they try to hide it. Vada makes some startling discoveries about her mother, and for awhile it seems she's not the person Vada thought she was. In the end she "sees" her mother and goes home reassured-not before her first real romance, though.
This was an excellent movie, but in my opinion, not as good as the first one. Maybe it was just the absence of Macaulay Culkin, whose character I fell in love with after watching the first movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In between the disaster movie satire Airplane! in 1980 and the hardboiled cop show parody The Naked Gun in 1988, the comedy crew of Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and David Zucker put together a picture that's almost as funny as their better-known hits. Top Secret! sends up spy movies and cheesy teen rock & roll musicals. Val Kilmer stars as swivel-hipped American rocker Nick Rivers, a sort of blonde Elvis whose secret weapon is Little Richard's tune "Tutti Fruitti." On tour behind the Iron Curtain, Nick strikes blows for democracy overtly and covertly, with his music as well as his espionage skills. In short, this is a very, very silly motion picture. Some great gags, including a subtitled scene in a Swedish book shop, and an inspired bit with a Ford Pinto that not everybody may get anymore. (The Pinto, you may or may not recall, was notoriously prone to gas tank explosions when rear-ended.) --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (97)

They Had It Coming
The creative Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker team behind the successful "The Naked Gun" and "Airplane!" spoof war and Elvis films in the surprising comedy "Top Secret!" An American rock idol (Val Kilmer) goes on a goodwill tour in East Germany and teams up with a freedom fighter (Lucy Gutteridge) to rescue her father from the dreaded East German High Command. The comic team delivers the same non-stop laughs as their previous hit "Airplane!" This very silly spoof contains hilarious comic scenes and great visual gags. The cast is inspiring with Omar Sharif and Peter Cushing in outstanding roles. The side-splitting comedy is presented in its 1.85:1 widescreen format. Its picture quality is disappointing but the 5.1 Dolby Digital sound is quite satisfactory. The menus are simple and unimpressive. The DVD includes alternate scenes, a feature-length commentary with filmmakers and its widescreen theatrical trailer. Like so many Paramount DVDs, "Top Secret!" doesn't surpass average and earns a "C+".

If you liked Airplane! you'll love Top Secret!
I've been a fan of the ZAZ team for as long as I can remember. And this is one of their classic films- Top Secret! spoofs both Elvis musicals and doubleya-doubleya two films- and does it really well. There's sight gags, background gags, puns, a scene shot entirely in reverse, an underwater saloon fight, what else do you want in a movie? I've watched Top Secret! on a regular basis for 15 years, whether it's the version I taped off of TV or the DVD, and am still not bored with it. I always find some new gag that somehow escaped me in previous viewings. While Top Secret! isn't as well known as Airplane!, it's just as hilarious. Watching it with the commentary is not advised- it's quite possibly the worst commentary track I've come across and it's mostly just a bunch of guys laughing. A note- the "alternate scenes" featured in the DVD were re-inserted for the TV version of the movie.

"You're alright now, I'm here. S'alright"
YEAHHHH!!!!!!!! this movie is flat-out FUNNAY! It's about this "American Rock 'n Roll Star" (kilmer) who helps a German girl find her father along with some pretty kewl cats. This movie has awesome not-obvious jokes and quotes you'll seriously LOVE until your dying day.

Well-Deserved Exclamation Point
Top Secret! - the Jim Abrahams/Zucker Bros.' follow-up to Airplane! - does for (or is that *to*) Elvis movies and WWII espionage films what the earlier feature did for/to the airborne disaster genre. The gags are slightly more immature (not necessarily a bad thing, but in some cases may have been better had they been allowed to age a little before being put into production), but some, like the forced-perspective oversize phone or saying farewell to the Scarecrow, rival anything the ZAZ team has ever done.

The music is a mixed bag. "Skeet Surfing" and the Macy's jingle are great. "Tutti-Fruitti" and "Straighten the Rug" are less so (not that every song in an Elvis movie was worthy of screen time, either). Kudos to Val Kilmer, though; even when he's camping it up, the musical numbers remain watch- and listenable.

The only thing I don't care for on the disc is the audio commentary. The production team really rips the movie apart as if they had tried to make a "serious" film that fell apart. In that case, learning why/how it failed would be interesting and instructive. To shred a spoof film, especially a sophomore and sophomoric effort like Top Secret!, is entirely unwarranted. Sure there are plot holes. Sure it makes no sense that submarine would crash into a prison dungeon. Sure some things are only mildly amusing. Drawing undue attention to them is doubly pointless. Sheesh! If you're a big fan, skip the commentary.

I really enjoyed this movie and really (mostly) enjoyed its presentation on the DVD. There aren't a lot of extras, but be sure to hunt for the Easter Egg - it's definitely worth finding.

A very clever "silly movie"
Besides being a little dated, this ecclectic comedy mixes spoofs, satire and every possible form of visual humour and adds up to a hilarious film that bases its strength in never letting the viewer rest.
Some visual gags are place in the background and need repeated views to be found, and enjoyed (like a statue shaped as a pigeon where humans stand on).
One example of the wacky sense of humour of this film is that the scene where Hillary and Nick go into the Swedish bookstore was staged, shot and then run backwards to make the dialog sound sweedish.
If you like movies like Airplane and Naked guns series you will have a little feast with this less known movie.
Watch for a young Val Kilmer in the leading role and a great cameo by Omar Shariff. ... Read more

Reviews (186)

"Once this baby hit's 88 miles per hour..."
"Back to the Future" has to be one of the funnest movies I've ever seen and it's one the greatest films of the 1980's, if not of all time.

Marty McFly is a 17 year-old living in the small town of Hill Valley (not sure of the state) and hasn't got a great life; he's stuck in a family of losers, notably his wimpy father, and is not a successful student. The only things Marty has going for him are his pretty girlfriend Jenny and his friendship with the zany Doctor Emmett Brown. Marty's life begins to make a huge turnaround when he travels to the past in a time machine that Doc Brown has invented out of a DeLorean sports car. Landing in the year 1955, Marty inadvertently prevents his parents from meeting the way did as teens and this change ends up disrupting the events of his future; if Marty is unable to get his parents toghether, he'll cease to exist! Marty's is forced to go onto a madcap scramble to save the future and his very life.

So many things work great in "Back to the Future." Rob Zemeckis gives the film some excellent direction, packing it with lots of energy and excitment. Something else I really love about the film is the script. You can describe it in three words: smart, snappy, and witty. You don't see that in a lot of sci-fi movies and it's certainly a welcome addition to this film. The acting, meanwhile, is superb. Michael J. Fox gives what may very well be the best performance of his career playing Marty McFly. Christopher Llyod and Crispin Glover, who play Doc Brown and Marty's dad respectively, are just as good. Llyod virtually steals every scene that he's in with that eccentric look of his and Glover plays the role of a nerd to perfection. Though this film was made almost 20 years ago, the special effects look pretty good, even by todays standards. I'm betting this film laid a lot of ground work for special effects later on.

This movie is a must-see. If you really consider yourself a movie fan, then you can't miss out on "Back to the Future." It's the complete package. Check it out.

Its a wonder I was even born at all !
Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, time travel and an ingenious story. What more could you want. All of these terrific actors disappear melting into their original characters. When you think of Michael J. Fox, you may think of Spin City, but more likely than not the name Marty McFly enters your mind. Christopher Lloyd has done many characters in several movies, but none compare to his perfect portrayal of Doc Emmit Brown. Lea Thompson's post Caroline in the City role had me wondering when I was a child whether it was possible that she was playing both young and old versions of Marty's mom. In fact, I had an argument with my own mother about it. "No way!" I said. Now that Im older I know better, but it just seems that a more perfect cast has never been assembled.

Robert Zemeckis has crafted a fine story envolving a paradox and simplicity. Guess what? The Trilogy is coming to DVD in December! I can't wait to add them to my collection. I'm sure you can't either!

Back to the Future is a movie so close to so many heart's that it will forever remain a classic, whether or not it makes A.F.I.'s top one hundred list. I consider it to be one of the funniest and incredible movie's ever made. What would you do if you could take a trip into the past?

Time Travel Adventure filled with Pop-Culture
An 80s high school kid (played by Michael J. Fox) must travel back in time to make sure his parents actually end up together. A "nutty professor" has come up with the machine to enable the trip: A 1985 DeLorean powerd with plutonium. Fox not only manages to make his parents fall in love with each other, but ends up changing the future of his entire family forever.

There are many enjoyable references to 50s life (they never heard of skate boards or using your hands to twist the cap off a bottle of Pepsi, not to mention "Calvin Kline briefs" or the "devil music" of Chuck Berry). This is a wonderful film for any age audience. It's in my personal all-time top 10 (and I've seen my share of good films!). Zap yourself an Orville Reddenbacher, grab a "ring pull" Pepsi and enjoy this fun fun fun film!*****

Really movie-like movie
As a tenager in the real life 1980's I personally testify that no one had life like the fictional character of Marty McFly in BTTF. Nobody! His whole life, dialogue, situations all totally Hollywod style and thus movie-like. Oh yeah-- and we didn't travel around in cars that could go back in time eithr.

maker that made the story nobody have thought is wonderful.
The Back to the future‡T is the best favorite works in1-3. Certainly for 1985 film, the fashion and film making etc is a little out of date. But the comedy and wondeful story that nobody have though ever will not be inferior to all other works. From a long ago, time mathine etc, there have been such tume theme stories, but they go back old age and by varying the codition as should exist originally, they recover now truth themself. The story was tempted very much.

The character of the cast was tempted me too. For instance, the docter that is devoted to the crazy experiments always or the timid but comic father that can not resist to the aggresive boss and funny dog that was named to Ainsyutaim.

Though it was pitiful, the scene that the father was tease to the boss in the child age even in a coffe shop was fun. the last scene that the father beated the boss is happy to me too.

Certainly the maked film is old, for instance in the movie Chicago Cubs was said the lowest rank all the time and could get to the victory, but last year the team advanced to the play off games.
But the story was very wonderful. After I wathced to the film, my feeling became refleshing though I can not express very well. Anyway old, young, woman,man, it is the movie that everybody can enjoy.

Thank you for reading poor English. ... Read more

Reviews (149)

Raunchy, funny, but repetitive. And not for the kids.
"Bad Santa" is a movie from that dirty magazine row tucked in the back of gas stations: It is thrilling, and funny, and eventually a little tiresome and disappointing, to watch Billy Bob Thornton play a degenerate, drunk thief masquerading as a department store Santa Claus. Appropriately named Willie T. Stokes, Thornton achieves a kind of white trash zen, slurring, stumbling and cursing his way through nativity sets.

And Willie's just the jumping off point. "Bad Santa" is a comedy cast like a noir picture, where every player reveals a touch of the bizarre. There's Willie's dwarf partner (Tony Cox), a fat kid who takes to Willie as a father figure and Willie's Jewish girlfriend (Lauren Graham), who has a Santa fetish. Bernie Mac and John Ritter have smaller, goofy roles as department store employees; the late Ritter, sadly, is again cast as a nebbish, probably gay man for no particular reason and to little avail.

The humor is repeatedly pitched at basic crassness, or maybe just a notch above, as Thornton and his co-stars run the same gags into the ground; there are only so many ways the dwarf can verbally dress down Willie, or Willie dress down the kids. Some scenes border on scatological "Who's On First?" routines. Terry Zwigoff's direction is painfully flat and amateurish for a guy who made "Ghost World."

The idea, of course, is to offer perfectly intelligent, affluent adults a bargain-budget 90 minutes to indulge in the communal loathing of precious tykes and holiday materialism while extolling the virtues of loose women, cheap whiskey and stone cold burglary - essentially a middle finger to the very suburbanites that will be among its biggest fans. If your SUV can handle an evening in the cold, there are worse ways to get over yourself.

Note: "Bad Santa" has drawn some fire from Christian conservatives for debunking that long held Christmas myth that, apparently, Santa and Jesus are long lost buds. That couldn't be better publicity for a movie like this.

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE DARK COMEDY
If you love comedy, especially dark comedy then this is the movie for you. When I first saw the commerical on TV I knew I had to see this movie and I was right- it was excellent. Movies arent meant to be the same and I have never seen a Santa like this before!!!! It's a collectible item if you ask me and a must have. People with a sense of humor shouldn't miss it.

FEARLESSLY BAWDY BUT FUNNY
Bad Santa has many crass gags, it almost drags you into a dark alley of tasteless humour and thrashes you up. Imagine Billy Bob Thorton in a comic lead role, tough to visualize. But the man is bloody hilarious! Some parts are better scripted than others, but for a film that's so determined NOT to have a heart, it does surprise you with one. A wonderfully perverse treat that goes by in a flash, so it can't be all that bad any way. Recommended!

The funniest movie ive seen in a long time
this movie is god awful funny, if you have a problem with sex or language this movie is in no way for you. For all of the rest of us, this movie is hilarious. Billy Bob Thorton is funny as hell throughout the whole movie and you will be quoting him for weeks after. please, if you dont mind language or sex, watch this movie, you will love it.

A Funny Contrast to The Christmas Story
It's true, most reviews I have seen, they have described "Bad Santa" as a Christmas movie for cynics. Billy Bob Thornton takes a huge risk with the leading role, as a hard drinking, swearing, unkempt department store Santa with a fetish for plus-size women.
Let me be completely frank...although I admit most kids nowadays have been seasoned with the F-word, I think the language in the movie alone would dissuade most parents from screening it for young children. This is for adults, folks. Anyway, Bad Santa teams up with his partner, Marcus (who masquerades as a black elf) to rob department stores every Christmas. They have an interesting modus operandi..get jobs at the mall at Christmas time as Santa and elf, break in after hours, and abscond with the store's safe contents and assorted loot. Next season, different city, different mall, and so on. Thornton's Santa, real name Willie, is portrayed with no redemptive qualities. He is talked every year into the robbery scheme by his diminutive partner Marcus. Let's face it..Willie is only good at two things..drinking and safe cracking. The fact that Willie can barely tolerate people and hates children creates a great deal of comedy in itself. His exchanges with the children who sit on his lap and the department store manager (well played by the late John Ritter)are both shocking and funny in their audacity.
Anyway, through a bizarre set of circumstances involving a young boy (it was a stroke of genius for the director to cast the child as a fat, socially inept stalker) and a kinky bargirl who has a fetish for Santas, Willie goes through a slight reformation..sort of. Don't get me wrong..there are no "It's a Wonderful Life" brush strokes of cinema in here. "Bad Santa" knows why some people spend Christmas in bars..and gets more than a few twisted laughs from its observations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderfully Bizzare
Mork and Mindy was a favirote show of mine in the early 80's. Like Teen Wolf, it acknowlleged that being different was cool (added plus, I was living in Colorado)and desirable. I would be able to end up with a partner despite my differences.

This video showcases Willams different characters and Mork's early attempt at romance. It is quintessentially Robin Williams at his nuttyness and funniest. Combined, the two episodes make a fail-safe pick up on your bluest days.

Although M&M are still in their platonic stages at this point, there is a developing attraction. While the flirting is subtler than many today's sitcoms, it is still detectable. Devoted fans of the show (such as moi) know what will eventually happen, but find the subtext absolutely delicious ... Read more

Reviews (9)

great may/december romance
This movie is Sean Connery's masterpiece,surpassing even "Untouchables".Some
of the mountain climbing scenes are worthy of a Sylvester Stallone movie.Betsy
Brantly is most adorable,both in the Alps and in the flashback scenes.There is also
an amazing side story in which the body of a young man is found entombed in
ice.Pay attention to the story of the ancient villager who identifies him.I only hope
this movie will be released on dvd before me and my vhs copy have crumbled away.


ice.pay
ice.pay atte

ome of
the mountain climbing scenes are worthy of a Sylvester stallone movie.

Slow, but intriguing
Five Days One Summer is one of those movies that you just have to see from beginning to end and rewatch to get the real "Jist" of the movie. The Swiss Alps had to be the best part of the film. They were just gorgeous and the plot of the film will keep you interested until the end. There is no profane language, no completely immoral scenes, and you can absolutely tell this movie was created in the early eighties. Watch this if your into love stories, soap operas, lovely scenery, and foreign accents.

Great Movie!
I love Sean Connery and have seen many of his films. Five Days One Summer is like I have never seen him before. Great story.

Forbidden affair soars before heading for a fall!
The best part of this movie is the scenery. The Swiss Alps come beautifully alive in this moody period piece about a married middle-aged Scottish doctor having an affair with his attractive niece. Sean Connery plays the doctor and a much younger Betsy Brantley (Second Noah) is the niece. She has long fantasized about a love affair with her uncle, and in this film, she finally gets what she's wished for. .only the fantasy is definitely better than the reality.

Fantasies don't yell at you, raise their hands to strike you during an argument. Fantasies respond to your every whim. .fantasies are also ageless. Fantasies don't have wives waiting at home either.

The young niece is soon plagued by doubts and guilt, especially after she meets the mountain guide, a handsome young man who challenges her relationship with the older doctor.

This film is exciting as it builds to a tense climax and unexpected conclusion. The silence of the high mountain scenes contrast with the growing tensions and and dis-ease between the lovers. Connery and Brantley are both quite good. My only frustration is with the back-and-forth justaposition of the flashbacks from the couple's lives back in England--his with his wife, and hers flirting with him, during a visit with her relatives. Other than that, the film is enjoyable.

I would recommend this film for a rainy Saturday afternoon. Makes an ideal matinee, as you sip a mug of hot cocoa. .or something stronger!

You won't find a better video.... NO YOU WON'T!!
Ok.... So, where is the bloody plot!!! Come on!! When most of the review on the back of the box is talking about Sean Connery's one minute self done stunt, you know you should probably be worried. It's good for a laugh, though!!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not worth watching
The Movie, The Pale Horse, was very challenging to follow. It had many characters and situations that it made me loose track of who was who. To me the ending was very disappointing and I wish it was different.

a subtle, excellent drama
I thought in memory of Anthony Quinn's passing, I'd view one of his lesser known performances, and do a review on it. One of my favorite actors, he was always fascinating and versatile, with a great screen presence. His filmography is remarkable, and spans 6 decades. I love "La Strada" ('54), "Lawrence of Arabia" ('62), and one of his last, the sweet and sentimental "A Walk in the Clouds" ('95).

This film starts with actual 1936-39 newsreel footage, and proceeds to tell the story of Manuel, a warrior-soul who won't give up, and the anguish and trials he goes through. The intrigue that surrounds him, in trying to capture him, makes for a subdued but suspenseful drama.

Gregory Peck is Manuel, and though not 100% convincing as a Spaniard, is nevertheless excellent. Quinn is fabulous as the police captain, rougueish and full of vitality, determined to get his man. My favorite character in this film is the priest, with Omar Sharif giving a performance of amazing and unforgettable depth.

Made in 1964, Fred Zinnemann directed this with a lot of sensitivity...it's in black and white, with a lovely score by Maurice Jarre. Though this film never received much critical acclaim, or public recognition, I've seen it several times, and appreciate it more with each viewing.

BEHOLD A PALE HORSE- GREGORY PECK , ANTHONY QUINN
A classic action film with a brilliant cast! Features Gregory Peck as "Manuel Artiguez" an aging spanish revolutionary exile living in the french town of "Po" near the spanish border and the Pirennes Mts. Artiguez is dreaded by the spanish authorities and specially by ruthless and somewhat corrupt commander of Franco's Guardia Civil, Captain Vin~olas, brilliantly portrayed by Anthony Quinn,due to Artiguez ability to cross the border, raise havoc in spanish territory and escape, unharmed back to his safe haven in France, in spite of Vin~olas best efforts to capture him. Equally brilliant supporting cast by Omar Sharif, Mildred Dunnock, Paolo Stoppa and Mario Angeletti. Probably based on a true story,which takes place around 1959 or 20 years after the end of the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) this is an unforgettable action film, a must buy! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lisa Simspon in an odd role
There's not a lot to say about this film. It tries to be a comedy, then it tries to be a 'true-life' style drama, and it never really succeeds at either. And it has Yeardley Smith, the actress who does the voice of cartoon Lisa Simpson, briefly topless. The film kept me interested enough to watch the whole thing, but probably not enough to watch it again. ... Read more

Reviews (177)

NOT AS FUNNY AS THE FIRST TWO
Scary Movie 3 is, obviously the third installment in the comedy/horror spoof series which skewers recent horror movies. In the third installment which stars Leslie Nielsen and Charlie Sheen, the targets of the jokes are "The Sixth Sense", "Signs", "The Ring", the matrix, "The Others" and "Darkness Falls".

The heavy targets are "signs" and "The Ring" with Charlie Sheen taking over the Mel Gibson role as the former minister. Leslie Nielsen plays the President in typical Airplane-esque fashion.

The jokes come rapid fire and there are a lot of sight gags and inside jokes that you might not get unless you saw the above movies.

Scary Movie 3 is a bit toned down than the first two movies and gets a PG13 rating for language and sexual content. Nothing too strong though. The opening sequence with former Playboy Playmates Pam Anderson & Jenny McArthy playing out the opening sequence from "The Ring" in dumb blonde fashion complete with their enhanced breasts in bras is a classic.

No classic, but good fun and several laugh out loud funny scenes.

Terrifyingly hilarious
After the success of SCary Movie 1 and 2, it would be inevitable that a third would be released, and Scary Movie 3 carries on the tradition of parodying the latest and greatest horror movies, but this one ventures away from horror movies in a couple of scenes, parodying the likes of 8 Mile and the Matrix. As always, the first scene nearly steals the show, having Pam Anderson and Jenny McCarthy playing the two girls at the beginning of The Ring. After the hilarious beginning, we find Charlie Sheen playing the part of Mel Gibson, who has 60 days to make a 1.50. Meanwhile, Cindy views the tape that kills people, her sister's kid Cody gets hit by countless objects, and Sheen's brother ventures out to become a white rapper. However, the movie takes a not to welcome break from humor for about 10-15 minutes, following the rap showdown. But the movie picks up again once Cindy meets the oracle with bad gas, and all this leads up to Leslie Nielson playing the president, who's trying to stop the alien's trying to kill the girl on the tape, after viewing it. This is a very funny movie, but it falls flat in some parts which is why I had to give it 4 stars.

"Sex, violence and the weather"
Loosely based on the summer blockbuster movies The Ring and Signs, and strangely enough, the Eminem film, 8 Mile, Scary Movie 3 provides more of the toilet humour and juvenile laughs that we have come to expect from this series. Unfortunately though, this installment is pretty light on the laughs. The first two movies were actually funny and clever, and although they were unashamedly audacious in their tackiness, there was a kind of enduring honesty to them that left the viewer chuckling for more. When watching Scary Movie 3, the viewer is more likely to be laughing in embarrassment, and wondering why Hollywood could malign and continue a franchise that has become so obviously tired.

If you've seen Signs or The Ring, you'll have a pretty good idea of the plot of Scary Movie 3. Like in the previous Scary Movies, lead actress Anna Faris is back as Cindy Campbell. This time, she's dropped into the middle of a combination alien invasion/ghost story. After watching a killer video tape, she has only seven days to live, and, in that time, she has to stop a deranged ghost living in a well, fall in love with a white, self-doubting rapper named George played by a bumbling Simon Rex, and help the President - a tired, embarrassed looking Leslie Nielsen - stymie an invasion by aliens who have a fondness for the corn field of a minister-turned-farmer, played by the desperate Charlie Sheen. Along the way, Denise Richards, Queen Latifa, and Camryn Manhem, Simon Cowell, and the big-breasted Pamela Anderson pop in for a visit.

Anna Faris is her usual perky, big-eyed self, Charlie Sheen appears somewhat ashamed to be in this rubbish, and Simon Rex is probably the unlikeliest and most unlikable love interest one will ever see in a movie. Then there's the sad case of 77-year old Leslie Nielsen, as a bumbling lame-duck president who spends his limited screen time trying to re-create the kind of comedic bumbling that became his meat-and-potatoes when he re-invigorated his career in the '80s. Now, this routine is tired, repetitious, and devoid of energy - which is a pretty good way to describe the movie as a whole.

Absent for this third installment are the Wayans Brothers who are replaced by David Zucker and his scribe-for-hire, Pat Proft, which is unfortunate because it is the Wayans Brothers gift for irreverent humour, that made the first two so funny, even though they were bordering on the offensive. There are about three or four genuine laughs in Scary Movie 3, and a lot of failed jokes in between. The comedy is lame and flaccid with characters that are either constantly falling over or bumping into things and there's a child that is continually hit by a car and thrown out a window. There's also some gross-out material and various indignities are performed on a corpse. The weaving together of the primary three storylines is done awkwardly, and the narrative is fractured and hard to follow. With so much of the humor failing, it becomes increasingly obvious that there's not much of a storyline to fall back on, and that makes Scary Movie 3 a gigantic waste of time and almost unwatchable. Mike Leonard July 04.

Better than Scary Movie 2 but that isn't saying much...
Scary Movie 3 works well over the disappointing Scary Movie 2 in many ways. A different cast of characters for the most part and better movie spoofs. But saying Scary Movie 3 is better isn't all that special since Scary Movie 2 was one of the worst movies I ever saw.

Scary Movie 3 is great humor at first. This one spoofs "The Ring", "Signs", "The Matrix", "The Others" and "8 Mile". Its funny really but only the first time around. The second time you get a chuckle and the third time you probably won't care for some parts.

The movie begins with a rather clever spoof of "The Ring", letting you know what the main spoof of the movie is. The movie then goes off into Cindy (yes the same Cindy from the previous two films). She finds this mysterious tape and watches it and learns that she'll die in seven days. Not unusual for anyone who's seen "The Ring".

The film also focuses on a Pasture that's lost his faith since his wife died in a car accident of a friend who fell asleep behind the wheel (clearly from "Signs"). The crops circles and aliens are there as well.

The THIRD and final focus is on a young boy who wants to be a rapper and hopes to make it in the movie business someday (clearly 8 Mile).

The humor in the film can be to die for. Not so much language and drugs in every scene but as far as sexual humor goes, this film STILL has a lot of that, in case you're wondering. It says "PG-13" but if you've got younger kids keep them FAR FAR AWAY from this movie as a lot of the kiddies will be asking questions to the sexual jokes they don't (and more than likely won't) understand.

But as I said, watching the movie again and again shows that you'll quickly forget it. The humor is nice but a lot of it is incredibly stupid! This is a movie that you go to only for the laughs and nothing more. If you were expecting a CLEVER spoof then you came to the wrong movie.

The DVD offers an alternate ending and if you watch it you'll learn just WHY it wasn't used. The alternate ending is shown to you unedited but it really isn't funny. After a while you stop laughing because it becomes too much and is clearly too stupid.

Overall, the average comedy lover might go for this movie but for someone looking for a smart humor film stay far away.

I see a ring! ... wait... wait... it's a big, fat zero!
Well, not exactly a zero. I admit, the crude, and often, sexual, humor of the Wayan Brothers always brings a laugh out of me. But unfortunately for the third movie of the "Scary Movie" series, this one is by far, the worst. As with most movies and series, the quality just keeps going down... and "Scary Movie 3" is not an exception.

"Scary Movie 3" uses "The Ring" and "Signs" as the main themes of the third installment. The beginning of the movie is exactly like the beginning of "The Ring" with Pamela Lee Anderson and Jenny McCarthy. It was pretty hilarious to watch, as also what the Scary Movies do is point out questionable and often, stupid, aspects of the movies that they are portraying.

Charlie Sheen and Simon Rex are two of the main characters in this movie, with the theme of "Signs". Sheen is an ex-priest living on a farm with his wanna-be rapper brother, Rex. Faris returns as the leading character in the film, as a news reporter. She represents Naomi Watts' character in "The Ring" who is a newspaper reporter trying to find out about the mystery of the videotape. Regina Hall also re-appears as Faris' good friend, who is now a teacher. There are cameos by Queen Latifah, George Carlin, Eddie Griffin, Denise Richards, and Leslie Nielson (Gun 1 1/2), are some of the actors/actresses that appear in the movie.

With ideas from "The Sixth Sense", Faris' nephew has an extrasensory sense that gives him the ability to see and know things that other people do not. Also, there is a part of the movie that uses "The Others". Rex's character portrays Eminem in "8 Mile", with a MC battle scene. It also uses ideas from "The Matrix Reloaded", with Queen Latifah as the Oracle and Eddie Griffin as Morpheus.

Faris' character begins investigating the mystery of the crop circles that appear in Sheen's field, and she discovers a mysterious tape that "kills" people. The story unfolds, character's stories are told, and aliens land on earth...

The movie had its funny parts, but most of it was corny and typical as they come, much like stale popcorn you get at the theatre. Most of the crude, sexual humor that made "Scary Movie" so popular is not there as much and neither is the signature "release" scene, which I was looking forward to but got disappointed when I found out there was no such scene in this one.

My advice would have been to keep it the crude, sexual humor that made the two predecessors so popular, and keep away from the corniness. Keenan Ivory Wayans apparently rushed the filming of this movie, wanting to complete it as soon as possible. It shows, very strongly, in the movie. Instead of making it even funnier, all they added was more cameos or eye candy, to keep the audience entertained. I'm sorry, but I did not take it.

I didn't bother to watch any extras but the alternate ending. It was a good thing that they didn't use this as the real ending, it was twice as corny. Rex turns into the Hulk, and Faris goes into the Matrix...

For any Scary Movie fans, it's something to watch, it's entertaining enough. But if you haven't watched any Scary Movies yet, I would recommend watching the movie in order. It also helps to make sense between the first and second one. I also noticed that there is no connection between the first two movies and the third one, except the return of Faris's and Hall's characters. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Double Trouble....Three Geat Stars....Hours of Fun...
This review refers to the "Romancing The Stone/Jewel Of The Nile" 2 pack(VHS).....

If you loved "Romancing The Stone" and can hardly pass the TV without stopping to watch when it's on, then go ahead and splurge on this two-pack. RTS alone is a five star film on it's own and worth the price of admission.It is one that is as enjoyable the 50th time you watch as it was the first. Then follow the adventures of Jack, Joan and Ralph to Africa in "Jewel Of The Nile".The only problem is...you'll have a heck of a time trying to decide what genre to put them in. There's something for everybody. Action-Adventure, Comedy, and Romance. It's a Caper and a Cliffhanger.

Here's the story for those that may have missed this gem....

Joan Wilder(Kathleen Turner)is a romance novelist who's hopes and dreams are to be swept off her feet by a man like Jessie, the hero of her adventurous stories. She's about to have her own adventure though, one that includes a man, well... not quite like Jessie,but a hero in his own way, Jack T. Colton(Michael Douglas). He has dreams too. And he's into "short-cuts" to make them come true.

After coming into possession of a mysterious treasure map, Joan finds herself in the jungles of Columbia. She must use the map to bargain for her kidnapped sister's life. Things are not going smoothly though. All kinds of villains are after the map. Enter Jack to the rescue, but are his intentions to help her or is he also after the treasure at the end of the map?? Find out as things go downhill(literally), they are swinging from vines, fighting off crocodiles, and are all the time being chased by bad cops and bumbling thieves, including the likes of Danny DeVito!

"Jewel Of The Nile" is the sequel to this fun adventure, and although a bit on the predictable side, and maybe not one that you'll watch as often as RTS,(I would probably give it 3 1/2 stars on it's own),it's a chance to see these three great stars back in action again,this time being chased and romancing their way across Africa.

Joan and Jack have been living together on his boat for six months already.Jack wants to take off and see the world, Joan has a bit of a writer's block and wants more from life. Opportunity knocks on her door when a powerful Sheik wants her to write his story. She's wisked off to Africa, leaving a brooding Jack behind, and immediatley finds herself in the midst of a mysterious,intriguing and very dangerous situtation involving an all powerful "Jewel". But have no fear, Jack is warned of the danger his beloved is in and is off to save her. Ralph(DeVito),who has been lurking about and hears the word "Jewel" is not going to be left out this time, and tags along as well. An added bonus to this one are the fabulous Flying Karamazov Brothers juggling troupe, who jazz up this film a little with their entertaining skills.

I did not see this set available yet on DVD(although they are sold seperately),I have a feeling it won't be long though. Amazon is sold out of this 2 pack at this time,but there are some reasonable deals here from the sellers if you are interested in the VHS editions.

Fun, Romance,Adventure,Great Location shoots, and three great stars to spend action-packed hours with....go for it..and enjoy....Laurie ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Though Not Perfect, A Good Introduction To Opera
That should sum up the schism viewers have for Zefferelli's opera film starring Placido Domigo and Teresa Stratas. There is no question about the supremacy of the film visually. The famous Italian director has made excellent, quality drama and opera as film in the 60's, 70's and 80's; among them the 1968 Romeo and Juliet, Verdi's Othello (also with Domingo) and the 1991 Hamlet starring Mel Gibson. Zefferelli lavishes his films with artistry and lush photography, especially striking are his sweeping locales and precise camerawork. For Verdi's tragic romance, he has selected a fine location that is meant to resemble the French countryside, luxurious interior "ballroom" scenes, effective lighting and contrast, and actors and actresses that look the part. Vocally speaking, the only reason you should get this opera is the tremendous talent of Placido Domingo. He is the equivalent of Enrico Caruso for the twentieth century, an incarnation of the master, appearing handsome and earthy, as well as singing and acting his roles as any Hollywood star would approach the role (could they sing opera that is ). As the lovestruck Alfredo, his arias are striking and reveal great character, especially his "Un Di Felice", his "De Mei Bolenti Spiriti" "O Mio Rimorso" and his final duet "Parigi O Cara". Teresa Stratas looks the part, she is pale and delicate, exotically beautiful as the dying courtesan Violetta. But she has vocal limitations, especially in the higher registers. She has no warmth to her voice and has rather limpid, straightforward vocal lines. The role of Violetta is not an easy role for most sopranos- the heroine must sing most of the time in the course of three acts, and each characterization differs from the other- in Act I she is a flirtatious, bubbly and charming, even operetta-like heroine where her aria "Sempre Libera" demands coloratura fireworks, and her cavatina "A Fors E Lui" requires mellow lyricism. This same type of lyricism, although sung to serve the theme of pathos and dramatic suffering, should be very clear through her duet with Germont in Act 2. These are the arias "Non Sepete" "Ditte A La Giovine" and "Morro La Mia Memoria". In Act 3, she must convey her immediate situation, she is dying and taking her last breath, urges Alfredo to remember her name and to remarry, consuming the audience with the portrayal that although she has been a glittering, amoral prostitute, she will die with God's forgiveness and the joy of having fallen deeply in love. Though vocally this is not the best La Traviata, this is certainly a good introduction to opera. If you watch this film, you might be tempted to see a performance of La Traviata. For recordings of this classic masterpiece, you should go for your favorite soprano. Most go for Maria Callas and Joan Sutherland. I went for Beverly Sills, who sang the role a record 54 times in the space of 63 days, (no one but Sills could ever know the role of Violetta Valery) and who truly masters the role with dramatic, artistic value and sheer, tonal and vocal beauty. All in all, this is still a good film, despite the negative comments below my review.

La Traviata: Opera For Valentines
This 1982 opera-film is highly recommended. It's a perfect way to get into opera if you are a novice and seek to get deeply in love with opera. La Traviata might just do the trick. Franco Zefferelli was by this time a veteran Italian cinema director. He had directed such romantic classics as 1968's Romeo and Juliet. He has a flair for elaborate visuals and scenery. He selects gorgeous locations to shoot his films and drapes the characters with elegant costumes that they seem to come straight out of the 19th century itself. It's very clear that he spends much money and time on his films. He would also direct Shakespeare's Hamlet starring Mel Gibson in the early 90's. It was no secret that Zefferelli loved opera. An Italian man, the opera was a passion to him instilled since his youth. He loved Puccini operas and Verdi operas. Verdi's La Traviata must have been a real delight for him to direct and he always cast the best singers and actors. In this case, he was smart to cast Placido Domingo and Teresa Stratas as the tenor and soprano lovers Alfredo and Violetta. This opera is given a film treatment- there is enough room for the singers to act as well. The film is made in a retrospective style. Alfredo, the romantic lead, is remembering the one year he spent with Violetta and how she died tragically. It reminds me of the way that Baz Luhrman formatted Moulin Rouge, which has the same technique- boy meets girl, boy loses girl to death, boy is remembering their love story and re-telling it to an audience.

With opera, strong emotions are carried out through the dramatic musical score and through the singing, which is required to be sung with real feeling and passion. Placido Domingo, quite possibly the world's greatest tenor, sings with real substance and real passion, which we are inclined to believe springs naturally from his Spanish heritage. Placido Domingo is sensational as Alfredo, his romantic yearnings expressed in the Brindisi, in the "Un Di Felice" duet, throught Act 2's Flora Party's scenes and in the later portions of the opera, especially towards the end. Teresa Stratas, a Canadian soprano with exotic looks (she reminded people of Maria Callas) has an equally gorgeous and dramatic voice. It's greatly to her credit that she's a beautiful woman as well as actress, who can convince the audience as a frail, glamorous beauty who gives up the courtesan life to live with her true love only to meet with an ill fate. Suffering of tubercolosis (or possibly a sexually trasmitted disease like syphillis but Verdi was'nt going to shock everyone with that much information in his opera) Violetta hides her secret torment by giving herself over to decadent pleasures. She lives it up during the Belle Epoque in Paris as a high-class hooker, owns a villa in the country and has many lovers. But she finally finds meaning in her life when she falls in love with Alfredo, a gentleman caller and one-time client of hers. But Alfredo's father disapproves of their love simply because Violetta is a courtesan or has had a past as a lady of the night. He convinces Violetta to give up Alfredo. The tension builds as Violetta and Alfredo are temporarily seperated. For Violetta, tragedy strikes. She becomes increasingly ill to the point she is confined in bed. Teresa Strats delivers her best work in the last act, in which she is reunited with Alfredo only to die in his arms. Her "Addio Del Passato" is heartbreaking as is her death scene, even if she may lack the brilliance and vocal fireworks for the Act 1 aria "Sempre Libera" and even perhaps the "Amami Alfredo " farewell scene. This is a perfect film to watch on the day dedicated to love- Valentine's Day.

The Supreme La Traviata: A Masterpiece
This is without a doubt the greatest version of La Traviata ever produced.On DVD, it's unbelievably gorgeous and features production notes and cast bios as well as a trailer. The forces behind this masterpiece are responsible for its greatness- Italian director and designer Franco Zefferelli, tenor Placido Domingo, soprano Teresa Stratas and baritone Cornell McNeil. The singers are at the top of their game, Domingo is a young, sexy Alfredo and Teresa Stratas IS Violetta Valery in a performance that even Maria Callas would envy. Zefferelli had Maria Callas in mind when he cast Teresa Stratas. Like Callas, Stratas has a Greek background through her parents though she was Canadian born, she has the same type of voice and she is in Zefferelli's own words "an electrifying actress and soprano of the lyric entertainment". The Callas connection is most obvious when Stratas appears in a black veiled gown in Act 2 at Flora's party where even her hair is similar to Callas' infamous 50's performances.

Released in 1982, Zefferelli sought to "convert" people into opera lovers through the lush visual seduction of the cinema. This is exactly what he did. The cinematography of this film kills you with excessive beauty. The opening credits roll as we see scenes of Paris in the Notre Dame Cathedral area and surrounding residential district by the Seine river. The interior of Violetta Valery's mansion, where she hosts the Act 1 party, is luxurious and Zefferelli allows us to be dizzied with the sheer opulence of the house- gilded mirrors, portraits of Violetta, curtains, chandeliers etc. Visually on film we are able to tell things about the characters that stage performances do not, for example as the guests depart from Act 1's party, an old woman steals a silver box from Violetta proving to us that Violetta is not among real friends, these are only fair-weathered friends and bad ones at that. They were not even there for her when she was dying in the finale.

The beginning of the film has Violetta reminiscing about the better days as a desirable and wealthy courtesan who partied all the time. She is deathly ill and already her house is sold and men are moving her things out. The country scenes are incredibly beautiful as Violetta and Alfredo live happily in seclusion. Alfredo rides his horse and Violetta picks flowers for her greenhouse and feeds her white doves in their big cage. Cornell McNeil's bombastic but fatherly Giorgio Germont is a great support to the refined performances of Domingo and Stratas. The Flora's party scene is exceptional with even more visual beauty as Gypsies and bullfighters dance seductively and professional gamblers enjoy themselves. The closing ensemble is not to be missed and neither is the melancholy and tragic ending. Conductor James Levine leads the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Once again, this is the greatest and ultimate version of La Traviata ever made. It is a must have for opera fans and for curious non-opera lovers. Other films Domingo made after this film are Carmen in '84 and Verdi's Othello in 86. Teresa Stratas is the greatest Violetta and she will win your heart with her convincing performance as the sickly, passionate and self-sacrificing courtesan whose love for Alfredo redeems her and gives her happiness even if she dies at the end.

Almost perfect
I loved this film. Only about 20 minutes were excised from the score, it was nearly complete. At greater length in the other reviews can be read descriptions of the ballet, breathtakingly beautiful scenery, particularly effective arias. Domingo and Stratas were wonderful. I have Stratas in Boheme on DVD (to replace my original VHS), it made me cry. Traviata made me cry. Can you call anything so painful beautiful? The music was of course glorious. The principals acted and sang to perfection, and of course frail diminutive Stratas looked the part. The movie began interesting, then became wonderful at the first party with the drinking song, then lost interest for me for some time, then picked up again and never let up. The camera-work and crowd scenes were brilliantly done. (I don't like to use the word "brilliant" because it sounds so affected, but I will.) I resent the reviews that call this a good introduction to opera, as though it were somehow inferior to "real opera," I find it condescending, supercilious, pompous and demeaning. However, I gave a copy of the movie to a close friend of mine who also cried, watched it twice and loved it, and this was I think her first opera. It is very beautiful music, well-acted, well-directed, well-sung and with scenery beyond belief.

Traviata agotada
Parece que la extraviada (Traviata)realmente esta muy enferma al final ya que la escena esta incompleta. esto no deberia asombrarnos ya que Zeffirelli hizo algo peor con su Otello con su recortada aria del Sauce. Excepto este detalle no tan importante como el Otello, la pelicula es muy bella aunque para los puristas, entre los que me incluyo humildemente quizas por mi condicion de Profesor de Apreciacion Musical, encuentro en ella tal como note en la Carmen de Migenes y Domingo, ruidos innecesarios que en la presentacion en un teatro serian imperdonables; al fin y al cabo lo importante es la musica y no los extras caprichosos de Zeffirelli. A pesar de estos pequenos detalles la presentacion es maravillosa; las cuatro estrelas en vez de cinco obedecen a estas para algunos quizas necedades. Para mi repito, soy un purista y pienso en la intencion siempre del compositor. Recomiendo la version de Beverly Sills y ni se diga la de Angela Ghiorgiu, superiores excepto los tenores ya que Placido Domingo sigue siendo el mejor. ... Read more

Reviews (281)

3.5 stars; Entertaining, Funny Film
Jerry Zucker's RAT RACE (2001), a new entry in the MAD-GUMBALL-SCAVENGER-CANNONBALL RUN tradition, is not the classic that the 1963 film IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD was (& still is), but it is funnier and more entertaining than the latter three films combined (actually four, if you include CANNONBALL RUN 2). It stars the winning Breckin Meyer (remember him as the stoner-skateboarder in 1995's CLUELESS?) in his first starring role ever--quite a feat in a movie that also stars Cuba Gooding, Jr., John Cleese, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, and Rowan Atkinson!

Meyer is Nick Schaffer, a nice young guy who has just returned from his best friend's bachelor party and, of course, is asked when he will settle down himself. But good-hearted Nick, while not exactly a wild child, still isn't ready. However, while passing through a Las Vegas casino and finally tempted to put a quarter in a slot machine, he becomes embroiled in the adventure of his lifetime, as casino-owner/billionaire-boys-club organizer John P. Sinclair (Cleese) fixes certain slots to pay out six special tokens. These tokens have a room number printed on them, beckoning Schaffer, along with the NFL's worst referee (Gooding, Jr.), a harried mother (Goldberg) and her on-the-go-biz-minded daughter (Lanai Chapman), two party-dude brothers (Seth Green and newcomer Vince Vieluf), and a bumbling Italian funnyman (Atkinson, doing his best Roberto Benigni impression). Of course, these largely dimwitted characters are the unwitting participants in Sinclair's latest game to amuse himself and his billionaire buddies. The goal: find $2 million locked in a train station safe 563 miles away in Silver City, New Mexico---winner takes all, naturally!

Just as with all of the previous treatments of the same basic theme, the point of watching is not to see who wins, but to see what incredibly incredulous situations these greedy, wacky characters can get themselves into. See hapless referee Cuba Gooding, Jr. being even more hapless behind the wheel of a touring bus--of "I Love Lucy" conventioneers. See hapless dad Jon Lovitz who essentially kidnaps his entire family to join him on the ride, and ends up taking them on a tour of the "Barbie Museum" (which sets up this film's funniest series of gags, if not most controversial). See hapless Rowan Atkinson making mincemeat of the English language through his character's overly engaging Italian accent--and falling asleep at the least opportune times as he happens to be narcoleptic. Breckin Meyer essentially plays the straight man to everyone else's bunch of rodeo clowns, but his character is no less the [end] of the film's joke, as he gets into trouble with his too-trusting nature.

I will not give away any of the film's surprisingly funny scenes. I will simply say that although many of its characters are rather stupid, the movie itself is not. I laughed at the vast majority of jokes. So this isn't AIRPLANE or THE NAKED GUN--it isn't trying to be! It is, however, funny and fast-paced. Besides, you just can't hate a film that gives us cameos by wonderful stage veteran Kathy Bates and feminist attorney Gloria Allred! RECOMMENDED

10 star Modern day classic
Having grown up loving the classics It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World with an array of well known comics and actors/actresses, we stumbled across this gem on a cable movie channel and fell in love with it, and needed to own a copy. The nice thing about the movie is it is dang funny, and on the edge without the vulgar language that so many modern comedies have. All the actors-actresses are excellent as is the dialogue, scenery and plot. If you are a fan of Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean or Blackadder) or John Cleese,Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr or Jon Lovitz and Kathy Najimy who play a husband and wife you will LOVE this movie.

My favorites are the Jon Lovitz and Kathy Najimy who play a husband and wife with 2 kids. I is one of the funniest we have ever seen. Their kids wanting to visit the "Barbie" museum which turns out for this Jewish couple to be the Klaus Barbie of Hitler fame museum and results in a quick get away in a car once owned by Hitler with swastika flags and all. You will laugh so dang hard. I laugh just thinking about their performances.

Then the whole Kathy Bates ... The Squirrel Lady and Whoopu Goldberg and the whole break the land speed record segment is a riot. Cuba Gooding Jr. ... Owen Templeton and the whole bus load of Lucys look alikes headed for a Lucy convention will have you laughing so hard. There is also a naughty but not vulgar scene with the two young guys, (one has piercing) and the two girls in the car where the one girl Tristin Leffler (Pierced Girl) shows the one guy driving that she has more piercings than him and he drives the car off the road and into a hilarious segment that will have the Nascar and trucker fans busting a gutt.

The nice thing is the ending .... not at all what one expects.

What the Heck?
This was the oddest, wierdest, strangest, dumbest, movie in the world! I LOVED (...) It was really stupied some of the things that happened like one of the guys found a bus full of I Love Lucy impersinators to that whole "Squirrel thing." But it's an awesome, hilarious movie and I loved it.

The Best
I go to the Movies twice a week since 2000. When I saw Rat Race in 2001, it was my favorite movie. Even though I see 2 movies a week (104 movies a year) Still that movie back in 2001 is still to this day my favorite movie. It was so funny! Best Movie for kids even better for adults! I bought this dvd last year and i watch it every day and it never gets boring.

I LOVE RAT RACE!

Good comedy!
The Hitler scene is probably my favorit movie comedy scene since I