Reviews (168)

Entrapped by itself.
When this movie was originally released in theatres, I was warned not to see it on the big screen. I was told it was a bad movie, not worthy of watching. I didn't understand why so many people told me that; I mean the film has Sean Connery, contains a seemingly interesting plot, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. There was also a lot of discussion over the fact that Sean Connery was old enough to be Catherine Zeta-Jones' grandfather, yet he was playing her love interest. Luckily, I didn't see the movie in theatres and I am grateful for that.

ENTRAPMENT starts off on the right foot. The film's early scenes are interesting and demand attention. However, about thirty minutes later, the movie takes an unexpected twist into territory it should not have entered: romantic entaglement with bad dialogue and no chemistry. Even though Sean Connery is pushing 75, he's still considered by many to be one of the sexiest men alive. Catherine Zeta-Jones is a beautiful young woman and attracts the eye of many men. Nevertheless, just because two people are physically attractive does not mean that there will be any chemistry between them. In this film the chemistry between Connery and Zeta-Jones is like the chemistry between the same sides of a magnet: instead of uniting, the two objects pull away from each other. Of course, it doesn't help that the movie is full of bad dialogue and many of the emotional scenes of Zeta-Jones are totally forced with no reality or logic to them at all. The screenwriters should have kept to the basics instead of relying on dazzling special effects to save the film.

There are a few good action scenes, especially at the beginning. However, towards the end even those are so blown out of proportion that you begin wondering when the masked superhero will arrive that can match Connery's superhuman skills and foil his evil plans. Overall, ENTRAPMENT is a movie that had a lot of potential, but ending up getting entrapped by itself.

Sean and Catherine Magically Transcend and Transform!!
I apologize, this is probably nothing more than a "3-star" (or even two!) movie in the traditional sense. However, Catherine Zeta-Jones has emerged as the brunette version of positively and literally the most beautiful and majestic woman to ever grace the legendary Hollywood screen: Princess Grace Kelly. The presence and charisma of Sean Connery, of course, has always transformed mediocre films into true spectacles. Now, delicately introduce the tender and multi-talented Zeta-Jones, and you enjoy a relationship that combines the eloquence of James Stewart and Donna Reed ("It's A Wonderful Life") with the mesmorizing qualities of Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret ("Viva Las Vegas"). At this point, if you can possibly manage to persuade your brain to overlook some far fetched and perhaps ill conceived plot twists, you're probably ready for the home stretch: A razzle dazzle conclusion with gut wrenching suspense and cool special effects. There is something sleek and silky smooth about this DVD production and its main characters that defies description. If you seem to like what you're hearing (and seeing) so far, trust me: This special DVD version is worth its weight in gold. But for heavens sake, what's up with "Suave Sean" slurring his "s" words and butchering the "r" sounds?? A few quick speech therapy sessions to address this mild regression, and I'd be tempted to give the sequel "five stars" (but only if Connery keeps his partner in crime who is also a highly romantic companion)!

Entrapment a DVD review
Catherine Zeta Jones and Sean Connery star as two ingenious jewel, painting, and money burglars who plan a huge heist at the turn of the millenium during New Years Eve in 1999.

Zeta is actually an insurance detective, Virginia Baker trying to find, the person responsible for a couple of burglary crimes in the area.

She suspects Mack (Sean Connery aka Robert MacDougal) is the person behind it, but rather than try to bring him in, she decides to get the man's confidence, and convinces him to try to pull of a big heist thus implicating Mac some more and
getting the evidence she needs to put him behind bars for a long time.

Mack is not an idiot, and he distrusts her from their very first meeting.
By the end of the film, one of the film will have pulled a great heist while the other
will either be in jail for a long time or worse. Their 2 contrasting styles in the movie, and their styles in pulling of different heists in the movie is really fun to watch.

The acting and special effects and stunts are also great including the culminating
climatic scene near the end where Mac and Virginia plot their big escape after
a heist.

There are some problems with the film however. Virginia is young and naive and
she takes the lies and garbage that Mac says at face value. Mac is not even a good
liar yet Virginia's character is dumb enough to believe this old thief'ss lies.

Now on to the dvd itself:

The DVD is very well done and contains a great
number of features:

* Deleted scenes

The deleted scenes in the movie are actually quite good, in fact, I think they were alot better than a couple of the scenes in the finished draft of the movie.

One great deleted scene is the car chase that Mack and Virginia get into while trying to dodge a couple of hitman that are tracking them down.

The scene has a great climax at the end that has you guessing what's going to happen next.

The scene is actually in the film, but what you get in the finished movie is actually
less than half of the original scene!!

Needless to say, I think this scene was great and should have been put in the original film.

Other features in the DVD include:
* Special feature on the making of the film

*Special commentary on the film itself

The commentary is teriffic, the director Jon Amiel, provides a lot of great insights and fact into the characters and Catherine Zeta herself, that fans may not
know.

*Alternate ending to the film!!!

The alternate ending in the film is actually very similiar to the original ending
with minor differences.

*Special trailers of the film
* Production Notes and much more!!!

Entrapment from head to toe is one of the best heist/thriller movies in quite a long time.

It gets predictable in a couple of areas, but the film is entertaining from beginning to
end.

Rent the DVD and enjoy it, along with the film itself.

HONOR AMONG THIEVES?
Let's get the sexist comment out of the way: Catherine Zeta-Jones is simply one of the most beautiful women to ever grace a movie screen!
Now, with that out of the way, ENTRAPMENT is an enjoyable heist movie, and we're never sure who's zoomin who!!! Sean Connery is elegant, if a bit lethargic, in his role, but always an actor who is fun to share a couple of hours with. Zeta-Jones does a good job in her role, but her acting chops have certainly matured since this film.
Ving Rhames and Will Patton are adequate, but other actors could have done just as well.
There are some really breathtaking scenes, especially with Jones in the initial heist and the jawdropping escape from the bank. It's not the best movie either one has made, but in spite of Jon Amiel's routine direction, I enjoyed it.

Give Me a Break...Sean connery's HOT
First off, I'm tired of people harping on the age difference bewteen CZJ and Sean. Some of the classic Hollywood pairings have been older men with younger women: Bogie/Bacall, Clark Gable/Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn, even Julia Roberts/Richard Gere. So...move on. What matters is if the pair work well together, and Catherine and Sean are great together. By the way they never actually hook up, but if they had, it would have been very intense. The chemistry between the 2 was very evident to me throughout the entire movie, I was egging on a romance. But Sean's character is above the physical involvement level with partners, so Catherine is held at bay. The movie reminded me of a classic thriller, a movie loaded with action...but thank God, not an "action movie". Enough of a hint at romance to keep us gals interested...but certainly not a romance. And on top of everything it was smart and well done. It took me on lots of twists and turns, and I loved them all. I'd gladly watch Catherine Zeta-Jones & Sean Connery (now 3 years older) re-pair in a sequel. By the way...I'm 19, and I'd take 53 year old Richard Gere any day over some of the young guys I see posing and looking pretty in movies today. As long as we see more Sigorney Weaver in Tadpole type roles for women (older woman dates younger man) keep 'em coming. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great music, great cast, writing and Keanu!
What a feast for the senses and mind! First of all Keanu Reeves is in it - but that is not the only reason this tape should be released in DVD format - it should be released because it has the following: 1) Great Music soundtrack that would do so well on a DVD format! Really gives a New Orleans feeling. Loved that jazzy/throaty female singer who was singing in one of the scenes. 2) The scriptwriting of a play within a play is so hilarious and outrageous - from the Albanian jokes, all the costume changes (bizarre) of the sciptwriter, the soap opera's various characters. The cast is made up of entirely entertaining individualistic characters, even those with small parts - have great comic details in their short time on screen (Keanu's screen aunt fluffing up her hair AND the plant leaves before she answers the door for example)- and Keanu Reeves is so fun and sweet as the totally smitten young man, slightly befuddled by the Peter Falk character's manipulations, plotting seduction! 4) Great chemistry between Keanu and Barbara Hershey!I think his best kiss is in this movie. 5) Get this movie - pray it comes out in DVD - that soundtrack deserves that kind of format - get some popcorn, invite your friends and watch it and laugh and laugh!

Very Entertaining! 5 stars movie!
This movie is delightful to watch. Keanu Reeves is great in this movie - very charming and fun to watch. I like his character a lot as a 21-year old college boy (very believable). My favorite part in the movie is when Martin was w/ his aunt Julie in a cafeteria - telling her about his dreams, of Paris, etc. Barbara Hershey and Peter Falk are such great actors. I highly recommend this movie.

Fair movie,the real star is Wynton Marsalis's soundtrack
The movie is a bit of a mess, hard to follow at times, hard to know when to laugh, or if we are laughing, should we be?

Peter Falk stars as a 1950's script writer for a New Orleans radio station's soap operas. Apparently he dislikes Albanians and allows his radio soap operas to take strange detours into jokes at the expense of Albanians.

The movie also has a movie within a movie involving a romance between 36-year old Barbara Hershey and 21-years young Keanu Reeves.

The real star of the movie is the city of New Orleans and the amazing soundtrack of Wynton Marsalis. He really did a hell of a job with his compositions, but hey the guy is from New Orleans -- who better to set loose to write a soundtrack about his home city.

Great Fun!
A wonderfully entertaining, delightful and original movie. Peter Falk is the stand-out here and the beautiful Barbara Hershey shines. The consistenly dull Keanu Reeves is even bearable in this one. Just a great way to spend two hours with a smile on your face.

Pretty hilarious, and I'll never forget the Albanian jokes!
I laughed out loud so many times during this movie. It was truly a delight.

It centers around a young writer (Reeves) who becomes smitten with his world-weary older aunt (well, aunt-by-marriage -- they are not blood relatives). Barbara Hershey plays the aunt, who plays the lovely 36-year-old divorcee who finds herself attracted to this sweet 21-year-old young man. She thinks she wants someone "older" and "dull," so she can have some stability in her life. But, as her sister tells her later -- "You won't change. You're too wild." So she ends up falling for this younger man who has dreams of being a writer in Paris.

Their romance is sweet and heartfelt, but the true hilarity comes in the form of Peter Falk, who plays an extremely eccentric radio serial writer who is manipulating the whole town with his sensational writing. The town loves the tabloid-like melodrama he interjects into the plots; they are completely hooked. And Falk gets a lot of his ideas for the story by setting up Reeves and Hershey -- encouraging their romance (and then lifting big parts of their conversations to each other and putting it in the radio show). He also manipulates the whole town by targeting Albanians. Over and over, Albanian jokes. Albanian slander. The Albanians in town take notice!

The absurdity of the overripe plots of the radio serial are absolutely *hilarious*. We are taken into the "world" of the radio serial plot, where actors Peter Gallagher, Dan Hedaya, Elizabeth McGovern, John Larroquette, and Hope Lange play the "fictional" characters come to life in everyone's imaginations. These scenes are particularly hilarious, especially when you learn to wait for the Albanian jokes to emerge. And you *know* that they will!

One thing I will confess when I first heard about this movie: I was puzzled how they got the "incestuous" romance between Reeves' character and his "aunt" to work without creeping us all out. But, the "incest" thing quickly dispelled early in the movie. She's just an "aunt-in-law," of a sort. Not a "real" aunt. The story wouldn't have worked had she been a flesh-and-blood aunt, because we would have been too aware of the stigma that would exist in such a relationship.

This was a sweet, unusual movie. I really enjoyed it. I recommend it. It's silly, slapstick, and wait for the wretched Albanian jokes! ... Read more

Reviews (137)

Deserves so much more credit
When the core of the Earth stops spinning, chaos ensues. Birds fly into buildings and international landmarks are destroyed. A group of scientists is assembled to travel to the Earth's core and start it again.
"The Core" is one of the most underrated movies I've seen.
Firstly, I don't think that the technical aspects are so laughable. Why wouldn't we be able to go to the Earth's core? I am not a scientist by any means, but if we are determined to do something, what could stop us? Besides, if you are focused on the technicalities during the entire movie, you might be watching it for the wrong reasons.
Although all of the actors are fabulous, Aaron Eckhart completely outshines the rest with his impeccable portrayal of Doctor Joshua Keyes, a witty college professor.
One of the really refreshing things about this movie is the fact that there is hardly any romance. Some slight flirtation in the beginning, yes, but it never leads to anything significant. I am a hopeless romantic, but sometimes even I get sick of romance in movies. It's nice to see one with just action, suspense, and humor.
The DVD features are very good. Special effects are broken down, deleted scenes are shown (great stuff), and there is a commentary from director Jon Amiel.
Once again, I have to say that this movie is depreciated far too much. Watch it once and see how you like it.

OK, so what if the physics were laughable . . .
And as the narrative stated, 'what if we could?'! I read so much about this movie before it was released, so much negative press and so many amusing articles about the stupid movie physics of the story, and finally when I took my wife to see it we both had a whale of a time! In the story, the Earth's core stops rotating and it seems the only way to restart it, to prevent natural disasters getting worse, is to drill down there using a special ship and a crew of 'terranauts', and don't forget that ultrasonic laser dril! In the crew are a NASA astronaut played by Hilary Swank who brings down a shuttle in spectacular fashion and is assigned to the VIRGIL(as this drilling ship is named), Dr Conrad Zimsky(played by Stanley Tucci who really hams it up well when Zimsky's character flips!), a nerdy computer hacker named Rat(DJ Qualls) who has to instigate a massive worldwide cover-up to prevent worldwide panic and main man Aaron Eckhart as Dr Joshua Keyes who warns the authorities of impending doom. They naturaly misunderstand at first, until they meet Ed Brazzleton(played by Delroy Lindo), a reclusive genius who designed the laser drill and the special ship. The SFX are what really makes this one worth watching - lots of variety of underground rock formations and plenty of lava, a magnetic storm destroying Rome in a scene which looked awesome on the big screen, pigeons attacking tourists in London, San Franscisco's Golden Gate Bridge collapsing, and a suspenseful little underwater segment! And the ending is not what you might expect. Less overblown than say, VOLCANO or ARMAGEDDON and with a story much more intent on diving straight into the action with the right amount of character development(Keyes and Zimsky most notably), no unnecessary romantic subplots getting in the way(thankfully) and a mixture of tongue-in-cheek fun and genuinely exciting moments, THE CORE definitely delivers the goods. Highly recommended and don't listen to the critics!

HuH ??
ahhh what did i watch, i felt like i was eating bad takeout? deep impact had a better story than this one , but the wonderful grace that saved this film from being a total bomb is the special effects in it. if you're curious then rent it you'll be glad you save some money then paying dearly. they should've made this into a comedy it would've been better.

Talented Actors in Lackluster Film
I'm still wondering how so many talented actors got suckered into doing such a turkey of a movie. After watching the deleted scenes, I think they would have rounded out the characters more and made them more believable. But the science, puh-leeze! What a joke! (And not a funny joke) I'm glad this was a rental and I did not pay a hefty admission fee to see this.

Solid disaster/suspense film, flimsy science
This film begins with an interesting premise, although seeing a bunch of birds crashing through windows seems to be a poor way to start a film built around geophysics phenomena. Stan Tucci is a very talented actor who plays his complex character very well, and even less established cast members do well, as this flick was well cast. The biggest drawback in the film is the actual journey to the core. Since there isn't too much to see there except a bubble with a bed of giant quartz crystals, the story presents a series of challenges and mishaps in which crew members must die. The subplot with the hacker is a nice touch, and it is all too true to life that only an info leak spread by a computer geek could provide the real story about world events. I would have liked for the story about "Destiny" to be developed more, as this seems to be what is most based on real science, as there is a real project in Alaska called HAARP that manipulates energy in the ionosphere and can be used defensively or offensively as a weapon. There is also real science involving "scalar" wave electromagnetics that can create earthquakes. Unfortunately, this movie is more about the special effects - disoriented birds crashing through thick glass and the Roman Collisseum shattering from an overload of electrical charge. Overall I found this to be a solid, above-average sci-fi/disaster suspense film, which maintains formulaic plot elements that don't become much of a drawback due to the solid premise, cast, and visuals. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of Jim Henson's finest hours was the Storyteller series that airedon HBO in 1987. As with his other non-Muppet creations (Labyrinth), Henson fills the screen with wonderful creatures that have a wisp of a J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy. Half of the eight-part series was adapted from Greek myths by Anthony Minghella, who became an Oscar-winning filmmaker a decade later with The English Patient. Minghella weaves the narration of the storyteller (a sturdy and wonderful Michael Gambon, accompanied by a scene-stealing dog) with dialogue from the stories--two episodes per video--to beguiling effect.

John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) directs the tale of "Theseus and the Minotaur." A young man reunites with his father, King Aegeus, but is cursed by his witch of a stepmother (literally). When Theseus tries to stop the regular sacrifice to the half-bull, half-man Minotaur, a new curse awaits the young prince. The magical musician Orpheus (Art Malik) finds his muse in "Orpheus and Eurydice." Unfortunately, she soon dies and goes to Hades where Orpheus follows, attempting to win her soul from the devil himself. By nature, the Greek myth episodes are a bit more mature and downbeat (ages 8 and up), yet give the audience lasting impressions of oft-quoted tales. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Truly an all time favorite
In the course of what must now be almost 20 years since I saw Jim Henson's adaptions of fairy tales for the first time, they have lost none of their appeal to me - something, I should perhaps add, that also rings true for most of other Henson's work, ranging from 'Sesame Street', 'The Muppets Show' to 'The Dark Crystal'. Among the twelve episodes of 'The Storyteller' (nine fairy tales, three Greek myths), 'The Soldier and Death' has a special place in my heart, not least thanks to the ranks of rather cute devils that have 'muppet' written all over them. While it is a pity that to this very day there is, indeed, no RC1 dvd edition available, it may be of interest to afficionados that in the Netherlands 4 dvd featuring all 12 episodes were released. While the release by 'Bridge Entertainment' suffers from notable defects in sound & picture quality (the dvds seem to have been mastered from VHS material), to my knowledge it offers what is currently the only chance to view one of the best childrens' series that ever were in their entirety. While I do hope to see the day on which the episodes of 'The Storyteller' get the dvd treatment they deserve, I'll keep on watching my old tapes as I have done for years ... and recommending 'The Soldier and Death' and all other available episodes of 'The Storyteller' to old and new Jim Henson fans alike.

Sapsorrow: the Best Rendition of Cinderella
With a screenplay by Anthony Minghella, soundtrack by Rachel Portman, and production by Jim Henson, it is no wonder that The Storyteller is one of the best series ever filmed. Sapsorrow is my all-time favorite of the 13-odd episodes they made. John Hurt's superb narration gives the story an extra kick, not that it needed it, what with the exciting story of princess who must excape marriage to her father plus the dynamic relationship between the prince and the "Straggletag." "The Luck Child" is another excellent one. You can definitely relate to the wicked king who only wants to keep his kingdom and his daughter to himself, then comes home to find the lucky boy he tried to kill *married* to his daughter. The rest of the series is excellent and then some. See it if you can find it.

among the best
I can't praise these incarnations of the greek myths enough. They are neither watered-down nor meant to cater to the queasy hypocrisy that seems to pass for children's fare in these days of over-protectiveness and over-indulgence. My own children grew up with these tales and appreciated Jim Henson's series for the undiluted yet highly masterful handling of the tales that, until the advent of Shakespeare, best defined the human ethos.

Already the possessor of the equally praiseworthy Storyteller series on DVD, I can only echo the sentiments of previous reviewers: the entire Henson Greek Myth series deserves to be out on DVD.

Superb Video for everyone
Our children watched these videos when they were very young. I searched every store for the past ten years and could never buy them. These are so good that even as teenagers and now as over 20-s they can enjoy them. A great investment for proper viewing for children! I can't agreee more with one reviewer who said that the whole series (Volumes 1and 2 and 3) should be published. Enjoy the ones that are available!!!

C.A.M.
UAE

Please, Oh Please, Give us this on DVD...!
Superb! I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Jim Henson's muppet creations, as well as good children's fairy tales (I must admit I enjoy these myself, and I am now 38 years old...!).
I only wish the missing episodes were available. The very best thing, would be the whole collection in a DVD Box Set...!!! ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Well written story, entertaining
A very clever script with some very well written situation comedy. I tried getting my teenage daughter to watch this, she thought it was extremely stupid, so the audience has to be right. I thought she'd enjoy it. I've watched it a couple of times and still found it entertaining and funny.
Murray plays a hapless American caught up in a ring of international espionage while thinking that he is just playing the part in an audience participation stage play in London. A lessor actor in this film and it would have a a complete dud, but Murray's talent shines and there aren't any dull moments. A scene near the end has him dancing with Russians while unknowingly stopping a time bomb, it is very well choreographed and lots of fun to watch. This movie is a strong recommendation to any that like Murray and his talent of being funny while seemingly not trying to be. It is a good recommendation to any that enjoy clever situation comedy and aren't expecting "What about Bob?" or "Groundhog Day" which this film is not.

A laugh out loud video!!
The first time i saw this movie i was in a movie theater and i couldn't stop laughing! I knew that i had to get the tape so i did. It is a little confusing in the very begining but once you see it a second time it makes a lot more sense. It's about Bill Murray's character who is brother's with Peter Gallagher's character. Bill goes to England(where his brother lives)for Bill's birthday. Peter gives him a ticket to "the theater of life"- a performance you play as the main character. In the performance, it takes you around town acting as if it were real life only there are actors everywhere to help you along the way. It sounds confusing but you'll understand when you see it. Anyway, Bill loves the present but somethng goes wrong. Bill get's mixed up with the wrong people who think he's a killer but Bill thinks it's all part of "the theater of life". but it's not the performance, it's real life! Bill get's close to dying so many times but he doesn't even realize how much danger he's in. All throughout the movie Bill thinks it's just a performance. In the end everything turns out fine and he even get's the girl! The only thing i didn't like was that Peter Gallagher was Bill Murray's brother, they don't look anything alike and Peter's really ugly! But other than that it was a hilarious movie and you're really missing out if you haven't seen it! go see it now before it's too late!

What a hoot!! Too many great scenes to list them all..
Confusion is often funny, but sometimes it can lead to danger. In this film, confusion and danger, coupled with a marvelous cast and excellent comedic script, take us on a heckuva fun trip to London. The whole of the underbelly of the world of duplicitous spies and sneaky secret agents is cut to shreds by a simple, unsuspecting video store clerk from Iowa. Absolutely hilarious, and Bill Murray is his zany best. Joanne Whalley is the cat's meow, and is perfect as Murray's cohort. Just the mix-up of the real and pretend torture doctors is worth the purchase. You will laugh until you can't cry any more tears.

Lori Wants Her Letters........
This movie was a real surprise for me and my wife. We rent a lot of comedy movies and have passed this one up a couple of times thankfully having picked it out just recently and now intending to buy it.

Murray plays a very funny underachiever who just so happens to get involved with international intrigue, yet he thinks he is involved in a one night reality TV program. His straight side kick in the movie is Joanne Whalley playing Lori.

Murray is a crack up throughout the film thinking he is in a movie and thinking that all of the spies and diplomats are actors staying in character.....he is the funniest since Groundhog Day in this. I feel he is better than 'What About Bob.'

Peter Gallagher plays his brother and the funniest interaction he has is with an actual police officer where Gallagher, who funded Murray's intended movie romp, thinks he is talking with an actor and as he gets angrier he just gets funnier.

The movie has a lot of funny scenes that I laughed throughout. I thought the first part of the movie was little slow in developing but as soon as he got the call for what he thought was the reality show, things really took off.

I laughed and laughed as he got chased, shot at, tortured and then all through it he thinks he is in a show.

If there is a movie you want to share with friends for a nice fun evening this it.

Delicious Desert for Bill Murray Fans
This is an enjoyable, lightweight Blake Edwards-style farce that gave me plenty of belly laughs. Bill Murray is such a good comic actor that he takes what ought to be a one-joke pastiche and milks it for every last drop of comedy. I've seen bumbling detectives and secret agent spoofs before, but Murray turns this into something special. I wouldn't rate it as highly as "Ghostbusters" or "Groundhog Day" but "The Man Who Knew Too Little" is enough of an overlooked gem for me to recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great music, great cast, writing and Keanu!
What a feast for the senses and mind! First of all Keanu Reeves is in it - but that is not the only reason this tape should be released in DVD format - it should be released because it has the following: 1) Great Music soundtrack that would do so well on a DVD format! Really gives a New Orleans feeling. Loved that jazzy/throaty female singer who was singing in one of the scenes. 2) The scriptwriting of a play within a play is so hilarious and outrageous - from the Albanian jokes, all the costume changes (bizarre) of the sciptwriter, the soap opera's various characters. The cast is made up of entirely entertaining individualistic characters, even those with small parts - have great comic details in their short time on screen (Keanu's screen aunt fluffing up her hair AND the plant leaves before she answers the door for example)- and Keanu Reeves is so fun and sweet as the totally smitten young man, slightly befuddled by the Peter Falk character's manipulations, plotting seduction! 4) Great chemistry between Keanu and Barbara Hershey!I think his best kiss is in this movie. 5) Get this movie - pray it comes out in DVD - that soundtrack deserves that kind of format - get some popcorn, invite your friends and watch it and laugh and laugh!

Very Entertaining! 5 stars movie!
This movie is delightful to watch. Keanu Reeves is great in this movie - very charming and fun to watch. I like his character a lot as a 21-year old college boy (very believable). My favorite part in the movie is when Martin was w/ his aunt Julie in a cafeteria - telling her about his dreams, of Paris, etc. Barbara Hershey and Peter Falk are such great actors. I highly recommend this movie.

Fair movie,the real star is Wynton Marsalis's soundtrack
The movie is a bit of a mess, hard to follow at times, hard to know when to laugh, or if we are laughing, should we be?

Peter Falk stars as a 1950's script writer for a New Orleans radio station's soap operas. Apparently he dislikes Albanians and allows his radio soap operas to take strange detours into jokes at the expense of Albanians.

The movie also has a movie within a movie involving a romance between 36-year old Barbara Hershey and 21-years young Keanu Reeves.

The real star of the movie is the city of New Orleans and the amazing soundtrack of Wynton Marsalis. He really did a hell of a job with his compositions, but hey the guy is from New Orleans -- who better to set loose to write a soundtrack about his home city.

Great Fun!
A wonderfully entertaining, delightful and original movie. Peter Falk is the stand-out here and the beautiful Barbara Hershey shines. The consistenly dull Keanu Reeves is even bearable in this one. Just a great way to spend two hours with a smile on your face.

Pretty hilarious, and I'll never forget the Albanian jokes!
I laughed out loud so many times during this movie. It was truly a delight.

It centers around a young writer (Reeves) who becomes smitten with his world-weary older aunt (well, aunt-by-marriage -- they are not blood relatives). Barbara Hershey plays the aunt, who plays the lovely 36-year-old divorcee who finds herself attracted to this sweet 21-year-old young man. She thinks she wants someone "older" and "dull," so she can have some stability in her life. But, as her sister tells her later -- "You won't change. You're too wild." So she ends up falling for this younger man who has dreams of being a writer in Paris.

Their romance is sweet and heartfelt, but the true hilarity comes in the form of Peter Falk, who plays an extremely eccentric radio serial writer who is manipulating the whole town with his sensational writing. The town loves the tabloid-like melodrama he interjects into the plots; they are completely hooked. And Falk gets a lot of his ideas for the story by setting up Reeves and Hershey -- encouraging their romance (and then lifting big parts of their conversations to each other and putting it in the radio show). He also manipulates the whole town by targeting Albanians. Over and over, Albanian jokes. Albanian slander. The Albanians in town take notice!

The absurdity of the overripe plots of the radio serial are absolutely *hilarious*. We are taken into the "world" of the radio serial plot, where actors Peter Gallagher, Dan Hedaya, Elizabeth McGovern, John Larroquette, and Hope Lange play the "fictional" characters come to life in everyone's imaginations. These scenes are particularly hilarious, especially when you learn to wait for the Albanian jokes to emerge. And you *know* that they will!

One thing I will confess when I first heard about this movie: I was puzzled how they got the "incestuous" romance between Reeves' character and his "aunt" to work without creeping us all out. But, the "incest" thing quickly dispelled early in the movie. She's just an "aunt-in-law," of a sort. Not a "real" aunt. The story wouldn't have worked had she been a flesh-and-blood aunt, because we would have been too aware of the stigma that would exist in such a relationship.

This was a sweet, unusual movie. I really enjoyed it. I recommend it. It's silly, slapstick, and wait for the wretched Albanian jokes! ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Beautiful historical romance with a sad ending
After watching Jodie Foster in "Nell," where she plays a speech-disturbed mountain woman, I was motivated to re-watch "Sommersby." What an actress! What a movie! She has the most "southern" accent of the two lead characters, and although she is a little unbelievable as a field worker, there is sensational chemistry between Foster as "Laurel Sommersby" and her civil war veteran husband, played by strikingly handsome Richard Gere.

This movie is not accurate in all its historical details, for instance, everyone is too clean and well-washed to have been working in the hot fields all day, given the state of personal hygiene at the time. And Gere is just TOO handsome and manly to have spent half a dozen years withering away in a cell as a civil war POW. And the townspeople are soooo easily moved to community action. They are just a mite too credulous given the war-time setting.

But if you prefer dreamy historical romance to stark reality, you will indeed enjoy this film. The narrative progresses without any slow spots from the moment the opening credits roll and we see Gere aka Sommersby burying his dead partner. Then he walks and walks, through the lush scenery of the war-ravaged south, until the viewer is as ready for "home" as he must have been relieved to finally arrive. Greeted like a treasured hero by the townspeople, he is then taken in by a skeptical wife despite not a word between them for six years.

With great tact and consideration, Jack Sommersby proceeds to court his wife, leading to many tantalizing moments and lots of significant looks between them. In the meantime, he devises a plan to buy seeds to grow burley tobacco in overgrown fields on the Sommersby estate, using the labor of the townspeople. They will not be sharecroppers, but owners, and even the "coloured folk" will have the option to buy, which later leads to a KKK cross-burning scene.

Complications result from the fact that, during her husband's long absence, Laurel Sommersby had been keeping company with Orrin, another veteran, and although she tells her husband she hadn't been kissed, the rival lover hovers in jealous rage, and when his chance comes to do harm to Jack Sommersby, he takes it.

All along, Laurel finds herself wondering "Who is this man in my kitchen?" because before he went away 6 years ago, her husband was a no-good drinker and gambler who abused her and didn't love her. The man who returns to her is wholly changed, a considerate lover, a caring father, a responsible member of the community. Is he really Jack Sommersby, or an imposter?

When the tobacco crops are growing well and standing tall in the fields, the married lovers are delighting in their happiness, and just after the first baby is born, two federal marshalls arrive to carry Jack away to Nashville be tried for murder. I won't give away the ending, but I cried and cried all through the last 20 minutes or so of this touching romantic film. You never do find out if "Sommersby" is himself or not. Either way, he has changed for the better.

This is definitely an enjoyable film. If you are a fan of romantic historical romance, you will enjoy this delicious love story.

A touching romance
I am a dyed-in-the-wool romantic. When I went to see this film in the theatre several years ago, I only knew it was a romance based on the French film The Return of Martin Guerre. (I knew nothing about the original film either.) I found Sommersby to be a very charming love story, everything I expected a romance to be. I'm not a fan of Richard Gere, but I enjoyed his performance as Jack and he and Jodie Foster had excellent chemstry. What I didn't expect was the way the film ended. As the film moved towards it's conclusion, I reached for the tissues only to find I didn't have any! I thus sat there struggling to keep the tears at bay (it didn't work :) )

But it's not just a romance, there is a tinge of mystery. Jack Sommersby, we assume from what we see on the screen, was not a nice person before the war. He comes back a changed man -- is it indeed Jack Sommersby -- or is it someone else?

For those who enjoy a good period romance movie, this is an excellent choice. If you enjoy a good cry, again, an excellent choice.

Sigh.....
This review refers to the DVD edition (Warner Bros) of "Sommersby".....

No matter how often I watch this wonderful story, I am always left sighing at the end. Lucky for me DVDs have been invented, or for sure I would have worn out several tapes by now. "Sommersby" has got something for everyone. The romantic in you will love the deep and passionate love story. For those that love to try to solve a mystery,this is a good one. It's a period piece set post civil war, and has some excellent court-room drama as well.

Jack Sommersby has left his small southern town of Vine Hill to fight in the Civil War. He hasn't been seen or heard from in over six years and is presumed dead. Then all of a sudden, one day he turns up to find his town ravaged by the effects of the war, and his lovely wife Laurel, now promised to another. He seems to pick up right where he left off though,renewing friendships,becoming very much a part of the everyday life in the town, and having his wife back where she belongs... in his bed.Up to now, we only get a little hint that someting is amiss..."Jethro", his faithful dog, doesnt seem to recognize him.

As the story progresses,and Jack and Laurel fall more deeply in love then ever, we have more and more reason to believe that Jack is not who he says he is. Could he possibly be an imposter with an uncanny resemblence to Sommersby? Do the townfolk realize this and accept him at his word because he has brought a new hope and a new vitality to Vine Hill? And what about Laurel, did she know all along? When Jack Sommersby must stand trial for his life will the truth finally come out? Who is Jack Sommersby???

Richard Gere and Jodie Foster have an incredible chemistry and you will feel the intense love they share on screen. The supporting cast turn in outstanding performances as well. James Earl Jones as a black judge who must put up with the extreme prejudices of the witnesses,Bill Pullman as the jilted and vengeful fiancee,Frankie Faison the ex-slave now becoming a property owner, and young Brett Kelly who's love grows for his new found father all add greatly to the film. And of course,it is always a treat to see Wiiliam Windom make an appearance.The story based on the beautiful French film "The Return of Martin Guerre",is a fabulous remake. The musical score by Danny Elfman is one that will stay with you long after the view,and the photography of Philippe Rosselot is gorgeous.All under the expert direction of Jon Amiel make this one beautiful film.

The DVD presents a beautiful picture in widescreen or a standard version.The color does justice to the lush farmlands. The sound in Dolby Surround(Stereo) is excellent. No special features other than a theatrical trailer. Languages and subtitles are English and French.

"Sommersby" is a film that will leave you thinking about it and maybe sighing a little too.....enjoy...Laurie

A Very Under Rated Movie
This movie never got the acclaim it deserved. Jodie Foster is great as an independent woman who is torn between doing what is "right" or surrendering to a man she has fallen deeply in love with. This is Richard Gere at his best and the chemistry between he and Foster is amazing! I usually don't care much for romantic movies but this is one of my top ten all time favorite films. If you can watch it without shedding a tear you are a lot tougher then I am!

Modern-Day Classic
I love this movie and try to watch it at least once a year (a rarity for me). It's extremely moving and a great love story to boot. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great music, great cast, writing and Keanu!
What a feast for the senses and mind! First of all Keanu Reeves is in it - but that is not the only reason this tape should be released in DVD format - it should be released because it has the following: 1) Great Music soundtrack that would do so well on a DVD format! Really gives a New Orleans feeling. Loved that jazzy/throaty female singer who was singing in one of the scenes. 2) The scriptwriting of a play within a play is so hilarious and outrageous - from the Albanian jokes, all the costume changes (bizarre) of the sciptwriter, the soap opera's various characters. The cast is made up of entirely entertaining individualistic characters, even those with small parts - have great comic details in their short time on screen (Keanu's screen aunt fluffing up her hair AND the plant leaves before she answers the door for example)- and Keanu Reeves is so fun and sweet as the totally smitten young man, slightly befuddled by the Peter Falk character's manipulations, plotting seduction! 4) Great chemistry between Keanu and Barbara Hershey!I think his best kiss is in this movie. 5) Get this movie - pray it comes out in DVD - that soundtrack deserves that kind of format - get some popcorn, invite your friends and watch it and laugh and laugh!

Very Entertaining! 5 stars movie!
This movie is delightful to watch. Keanu Reeves is great in this movie - very charming and fun to watch. I like his character a lot as a 21-year old college boy (very believable). My favorite part in the movie is when Martin was w/ his aunt Julie in a cafeteria - telling her about his dreams, of Paris, etc. Barbara Hershey and Peter Falk are such great actors. I highly recommend this movie.

Fair movie,the real star is Wynton Marsalis's soundtrack
The movie is a bit of a mess, hard to follow at times, hard to know when to laugh, or if we are laughing, should we be?

Peter Falk stars as a 1950's script writer for a New Orleans radio station's soap operas. Apparently he dislikes Albanians and allows his radio soap operas to take strange detours into jokes at the expense of Albanians.

The movie also has a movie within a movie involving a romance between 36-year old Barbara Hershey and 21-years young Keanu Reeves.

The real star of the movie is the city of New Orleans and the amazing soundtrack of Wynton Marsalis. He really did a hell of a job with his compositions, but hey the guy is from New Orleans -- who better to set loose to write a soundtrack about his home city.

Great Fun!
A wonderfully entertaining, delightful and original movie. Peter Falk is the stand-out here and the beautiful Barbara Hershey shines. The consistenly dull Keanu Reeves is even bearable in this one. Just a great way to spend two hours with a smile on your face.

Pretty hilarious, and I'll never forget the Albanian jokes!
I laughed out loud so many times during this movie. It was truly a delight.

It centers around a young writer (Reeves) who becomes smitten with his world-weary older aunt (well, aunt-by-marriage -- they are not blood relatives). Barbara Hershey plays the aunt, who plays the lovely 36-year-old divorcee who finds herself attracted to this sweet 21-year-old young man. She thinks she wants someone "older" and "dull," so she can have some stability in her life. But, as her sister tells her later -- "You won't change. You're too wild." So she ends up falling for this younger man who has dreams of being a writer in Paris.

Their romance is sweet and heartfelt, but the true hilarity comes in the form of Peter Falk, who plays an extremely eccentric radio serial writer who is manipulating the whole town with his sensational writing. The town loves the tabloid-like melodrama he interjects into the plots; they are completely hooked. And Falk gets a lot of his ideas for the story by setting up Reeves and Hershey -- encouraging their romance (and then lifting big parts of their conversations to each other and putting it in the radio show). He also manipulates the whole town by targeting Albanians. Over and over, Albanian jokes. Albanian slander. The Albanians in town take notice!

The absurdity of the overripe plots of the radio serial are absolutely *hilarious*. We are taken into the "world" of the radio serial plot, where actors Peter Gallagher, Dan Hedaya, Elizabeth McGovern, John Larroquette, and Hope Lange play the "fictional" characters come to life in everyone's imaginations. These scenes are particularly hilarious, especially when you learn to wait for the Albanian jokes to emerge. And you *know* that they will!

One thing I will confess when I first heard about this movie: I was puzzled how they got the "incestuous" romance between Reeves' character and his "aunt" to work without creeping us all out. But, the "incest" thing quickly dispelled early in the movie. She's just an "aunt-in-law," of a sort. Not a "real" aunt. The story wouldn't have worked had she been a flesh-and-blood aunt, because we would have been too aware of the stigma that would exist in such a relationship.

This was a sweet, unusual movie. I really enjoyed it. I recommend it. It's silly, slapstick, and wait for the wretched Albanian jokes! ... Read more