Reviews (12)

The King goes to DC!
I saw this movie on Showtime back in 1998, and have been hoping it will break into the DVD market soon. A brilliant account of true events. It gives you an enjoyable experience of the King of Rock and Roll, as he journeys around Haight-Ashbury and then around DC, ultimately visiting with President Nixon in the hopes of becoming a DEA agent to fight the war on drugs. A great insight into the similarities of two totally different characters, Elvis and Nixon!

Elvis at 35 and out on his own
This Showtime movie stars Rick Peters (as Elvis, played with affecting sympathy) and Bob Gunton (as Nixon, played with broad wit). The movie recounts the time in 1970 when Elvis (at 35 and out on his own) traveled from Graceland to the White House, where he met with Richard Nixon and asked to be deputized as a federal agent in the war on drugs. Altogether, it was a stranger-than-fiction encounter between two larger-than-life figures. "I think it's one of the greatest events of American pop culture, that Elvis got in to see Nixon," says the movie's writer and producer, Alan Rosen; while Dick Cavett, the movie's narrator, assures us, "If what you're about to see didn't happen exactly this way, it should have" ... The photo of Elvis shaking hands with Nixon continues to be the most requested item at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, Calif. - but you can see that photo and others, along with correspondence from the meeting, at the National Security Archive website ("The Nixon-Presley Meeting: The Documentation").

one memorable weekend
In 1970, in a bid to do his part for the Vietnam War, Elvis takes his first-ever solo plane trip to DC to meet President Nixon to discuss being a federal drug enforcement officer. He usually doesn't carry money or a passport --- one of his entourage does that for him -- but in these pre-Sept. 11 days, he gets past all that.

Nixon has his own turmoil with the Vietnam War protestors -- after all, the war started under Kennedy. Elvis has his own umbrage with those British upstarts, the Beatles. One of the best discussions is when both Nixon and Elvis blame America's fascination with their respective nemesis on "the hair and the accents."

I love that this is a true story, told with some embellishments as no one was actually in that meeting with Elvis and Nixon. It is funny without being a joke. Worth your time!

The Trickster and the Hounddog.
This highly entertaining, hilarious film, that originally aired on Showtime; examines the time that Elvis flew to Washington, D.C. to meet President Nixon to convince the President to make him a federal marshall. The movie is very loosely based on fact and as the film's narrator points out, if that's not the way things happened then it should have been. This movie portrays Elvis and Nixon as two very similar persons on opposite sides of the cultural spectrum. The film also illustrates how very human these two powerful giants were and that besides their power, the only thing that separated them from "the rest of us" were their very odd eccentricies. Highly enjoyable film.

Great Fun! How about a DVD?!?
I started watching this on cable one night with absolutely no expectations. I was pleasantly surprised at how much damned fun this movie was. Quirky, funny & good story. Now how about a DVD??? ... Read more

Amazon.com

The soap-opera career of Motown's most successful group, theTemptations, lends credence to the old belief that great art comes from troubled lives. Over three decades, the band struggled through numerous ego trips, countless members, broken relationships, coke addiction, alcoholism, suicide, cancer, deadly arthritis--in short, all the melodramatic devices necessary for a TV miniseries. This two-and-a-half-hour docudrama touches on all of these personal tragedies, but unfortunately forgets the real reason for the strength of the story: the music. Sure, there's wonderful reenactments of the quintet's finest material, such as "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and "The Way You Do the Things You Do," all performed with the slick choreography and shimmering vocal harmonies that made the band legendary. But, unfortunately, director Allan Arkush (Rock and Roll High School) and writers Kevin Arkadie and Robert Johnson forget to put the music into any historical perspective. Why were the Temptations so important? What was their contribution to pop music? By watching this saccharine, manipulative exposé, you'd never know. The performances are nonetheless terrific, especially Charles Malik Whitfield as leader (and narrator) Otis Williams, D.B. Woodside as his partner, Melvin Franklin, and Leon as the group's talented livewire, David Ruffin. The DVD edition offers several fine features including 2.0 Dolby Surround Sound, a discography, cast and crew profiles, extensive production notes, and most important, the ability to jump to any of the seven songs performed... basically the main reason to watch this epic. --Dave McCoy ... Read more

Reviews (207)

Superb
A fantastically well-written T.V mini seires that explores the troubled lives of each of The Temptations and their rise and fall on the music scene. The Temptations were one of Motowns hottest and most versatile acts with their carefully planned chorography on stage and their diverse ranmge of shimmering harmonies on record. An interesting aspect of the series early sequences are when they are first introduced to Motown Records and its fun to see portrayals of the great Motown legends such as Diana Ross, Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson. Interestingly enough Diana Ross' daughter, Rhonda Ross makes an apperance in the film playing the troubled Paul Williams wife. The sequences where the group are seen performing Papa Was A Rolling Stone and Paul Williams is about to shoot himself are moving and the funeral is sure to get a lump in your throat (where Smokey Robinson himself appears). The film also carefully chronicles David Ruffins fall from grace as he steadily declined into cocaine addiction andalso continually mentally and physically tortued his wife, Tammi Terrell. The ending sees the grop reunirted when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
The performances are excellent, the 60's ambience such as the nightclubs and drug culture are superbly evoked and the stage performances are mastered to perfection. Recommended.

Engrossing, enl;ightening, bittersweet...The Temptations
The Temptations on VHS or DVD (we recommend DVD becasue of its great advantages and special features) is one of the better made for TV miniseries to come along in a long time.

Although its 3-hour length still leaves many unanswered questions, the spectacular songs (of which all on stage performances except for "My Girl" and "Cloud Nine" were sung by the actors) and excellent perfomances by the actors make this movie one that you can enjoy time and time again.

The actors who portray Paul Williams, Eddie K., David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams have all done their homework and then some. The DVD is only $13.99, cheaper than the video, so opt for the DVD.

This film highlights the life of the Temps from the eyes of its founder, Otis, and from the very beginning,when Otis meets Al (Eldridge Bryant--one of the first Temps prior to his dismissal)at a hop in Detroit, the movie kicks off in high gear. Excellent performances by "The Cadillacs,' ("Some people call me Speedo"), Leon (Johnson) of "Cool Runnings" Fame, Christan Payton and an unforgettable performance by Eddie Kendricks--so well done it seems like the real Kendricks--means you will this DVD watch again and again. Our favorite parts include the Copacabana scenes, "My Girl," auditioning for Berry at Motown's Hitsville USA, the whole Ruffin performance by Leon, "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was A Rolling Stone," Otis & The Distants at St. Stevens Hall with the Primes and the Primettes (Paul, Eddie and the soon to be Supremes) and a great performance by Smokey - both the actor and the real life Smokey himself in a special song at the Melvin Franklin Funeral. Buy this DVD. It will be the best $14 you'll ever spend on a movie. Fun for the WHOLE Family!!!

an amazing movie
i have to be honest i really wasn't all that interested in the movie,at first anyway...i first saw the movie while i was in the wonderful city of detroit, michigan... i went to hitsville, usa,(the motown museum), i found the location where paul williams shot himself, where david ruffin was buried, where all five the the classic five lived, and basically roamed their old stomping grounds. this was an amazing experience for me, probably the most interesting... during all of this chaos of me getting all exited about everything there is to see in detroit, i had the honor of speaking with one of david ruffin's children, david ruffin jr. well that topped it all off...this was all before i watched the movie, so of course i didn't know how truly amazing it was standing in studio a where they recorded until i watched the movie... i was bawling by the end, it was an amazing movie although it isn't all completely true, like on the new years scene al really sent paul to the hospital, and melvin really passed on in a hospital in los angeles, it was the best movie i've seen... so to all the actors who where in this movie, you really gave me a completely different look at motown, thank you otis, and everyone who produced the movie... and i have to say, Leon, you were wonderful in the five heart beats, little richard, i have watched your movies, you're an amazing actor and i hope to see you in more movies in the future...

History in the making! To be enjoyed for generations.
This is one of the greatest movies of all times! The characters come alive. As I watch it, I have to remind myself that the characters on the television are not the real Temptations. It is spooky, but I get a selfish satisfaction knowing that I can experience the beauty and the sadness of the Temptations whenever I choose. My ten-year-old is even hooked on it. We watch it at least once a week and he swears that he sings like Eddie and Paul! In fact, he does. Go figure! It gives me comfort to know that the genius of The Temptations has been integrated into another, younger generation.

What makes this movie so wonderful is that it takes us back to the times when music really meant something and touched us on a deeper level. Each time that I watch it I am transported to a time when the melody of a voice could melt away the pains of a troubled society. Don't get me wrong, there were problems with segregation and wars, but there was an innocence that I long to return to. I hope that Paul, David, Eddie, and Melvin are resting in peace. Their music changed the face of entertainment and now their stories have truly changed my perception of the world.

I say all of this to say that this movie is a must have for Temptations fans as well as for those who want a break from all of the ugliness in the world.

I can't resist this temptation!!!!
I love this movie! I can watch it over and over and over again, especially the performances. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Do your parents know you're Ramones?" With those withering words, Miss Togar (Mary Woronov), the uptight neofascist principal of Vince Lombardi High School, addresses the four mop-haired, leather-jacketed members of America's first and most famous punk band. And you know it won't be long before the Ramones's jackhammer riffs are blaring through the public address system at maximum volume, the kids are running--not walking--wild in the hallways (without passes!), and Miss Togar's gulag is re-christened "Rock 'n' Roll High School." Then, in keeping with the outrageously nihilistic animus of punk, the high school students and the Ramones just blow the place to smithereens. It's a crowd- pleasing, fantasy-fulfillment climax that combines the apocalyptic finale of Michelangelo Antonioni's Zabriskie Point with the explosive conclusion of Alice Cooper's "School's Out." Rock 'n' Roll High School is a blast, a goofy and liberating salute to the rebel spirit behind the teen rock & roll movies of the 1950s, which always pitted the kids' insatiable appetite for fun against the adults' fear-based authoritarianism. The film is emblematic of the disarmingly silly, tongue-in-cheek humor of the youth-oriented B-pictures cranked out in the '50s and '60s by renowned low-budget exploitation mogul Roger Corman (who gave many a hungry young filmmaker, including the creators of this film, their start in the biz), and of the noisy, anarchic energy of '70s punk rock, as personified by the inimitable Ramones. In the words of the maestros' beach-blanket-buzz-saw title anthem, this movie is "Fun, fun, oh baby, fun, fun..." --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (54)

The Ramones kick!!
I own Rock and Roll Highschool. This movie is awesome!!! The Ramones totally can't act, and they give all the lines to Joey, but hey, the movie is a classic. Its got some great scenes (i love when they blow up the school) and AWESOME music. I was surprised they put music from Paul McCartney and Wings in their since Paul isn't even close to punk, but thats cool wit me cuz im a big wings fan anywayz. They put great Ramones songs in it too. ( i wish they put beat on the brat in it,i love that song but it has nuttin to do with the movie)

The Kids Are All Hopped Up And Ready To Go
It's hard to admit, but the recent death of Joey Ramone took a lot of the wind out of my sails, bringing with it a feeling of vulnerability, mortality and, yes, approaching middle age. Having said that, it's a treat that this part of his legacy is finally available again for all to treasure. Sort of a twisted mix of low-budget 1950's juvenile delinquent movies and 1960's beach comedies, "Rock 'N' Roll High School" has aged surprising well, thanks in most part I guess to the timeless appeal of the "brothers" Ramone. Highlights, besides the hopped up concert footage (filmed in front of an enthusiastic audience), include the Ramones pulling up to a concert venue in an old Cadillac singing "I Just Want To Have Something To Do," a fantasy sequence in which self-proclaimed #1 Ramones fan Riff Randall (P.J. Soles) imagines the band serenading her in her bedroom, complete with Dee Dee and his bass under a running shower, and the final scene in which The Ramones play the title track while the high school explodes behind them in a piece of perfectly staged incendiary directing by Allan Arkush. Timeless, mindless, exuberantly staged entertainment...

Whose the Ramon-e-s
This is the best movie ever, it's funny, has great music, and has the Ramones in it. ME and my friends watch this movies over and over, and there aren't that many movies that we do that to. So if you love a great laugh and great music then this is the movie for you!!!! Rock on

Cult Classic + Ramones = Fun Fun
This is a masterpiece of low budget cinema. Everything about this movie rocks. The Ramones are undoubtedly one of the best punk rock bands of all time and this film showcases them to great effect. Really fantastic live footage. PJ Soles is mighty sweet and Dey Young is even sweeter. Great stuff from Mary Woronov, Paul Bartel and the mighty Dick Miller as well. Some of the cornball dialogue is unforgettable. And did I mention that Dey Young is sweet? She used to make my heart go pitter patter watching this in high school.

"1,2,3,4!!!"
Hey Ho! Let's Go! Listen up, kids. Rock 'n' Roll High School may have been released way back in 1979 but it still kicks the butt of any of those square MTV movies. Forget about Britney Spears and Mandy Moore's brand of bubblegum pop music -- they don't hold a candle to the unbridled power of those punk rockers from New York City, the Ramones!

The movie does a great job of playfully championing the Ramones as rock gods and yet shows them being accessible to their fans. The band first appears in a car driving down the street on the way to their venue as they play "I Just Wanna Have Something To Do." Once outside the club, they get out of the car and interact with the crowd of ticket buyers. The editing, coupled with the insanely catchy song gives the scene an infectious energy.

From B-movie veterans like Paul (Eating Raoul) Bartel and Mary (Death Race 2000) Woronov to newcomers (at the time), P.J. (Halloween) Soles and Dey (Strange Invaders) Young, the entire cast has a lot of fun spouting the film's wonderfully inspired cornball dialogue ("If you don't like it, you can put it where the monkey puts the nuts."). The Ramones are good sports and mumble their way through the film and truly coming alive during the music sequences. The movie rightfully cements their reputation as legends.

Rock 'n' Roll High School embodies the essence of the punk rock music that made the Ramones famous. The film is bursting with youthful energy, a dose of good ol' fashion anarchy and is loads of fun to watch. These are also the ingredients that made Rock 'n' Roll High School a cult film. It was a commercial and critical failure upon its initial release but repeated midnight screenings, coupled with steady appearances on TV, have helped the film endure over the years.

Producer Michael Finnell, screenwriter Richard Whitley and director Alan Arkush deliver an engaging and rather chatty audio commentary. The three men laugh and joke about working on Rock 'n' Roll High School. They clearly have fond memories of their experiences on the movie.

Also included is a dynamic theatrical trailer that gives away the ending! Definitely watch this last if you haven't seen the movie.

Leonard Maltin interviews Roger Corman about the movie. To his credit, the veteran filmmaker admits that he was wrong about the Disco High idea and was glad that Arkush convinced him to go with Rock 'n' Roll High School.

A real treat for fans of the Ramones are several audio outtakes during the filming of the concert sequence. These are the original audio tracks of the band in action.

While Rock 'n' Roll High School will appeal predominantly to fans of the Ramones (duh!), it is also one of those fun, goofy movies to invite friends over and watch with copious amounts of junk food on hand. Despite a lackluster transfer, the audio commentary and audio outtakes are worth the price of purchase for this fantastic cinematic oddity. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Some television ages well, some doesn't. For every Mary Tyler Moore Show that still rocks, there's a Family Ties that's painfully mired in its era. One would think this would be the case for Moonlighting, the detective series of the mid-1980s starring Cybill Shepherd (on a career rebound) and Bruce Willis (then unknown). The ingredients are all there: '80s fashion, hourlong TV mystery plots, Wayfarer sunglasses... Fortunately--and gloriously--this is not the case.As fresh as it was when it first aired, Moonlighting is a prime example of groundbreaking television at its peak and a timeless lesson in the science of star chemistry. Shepherd, as the ice-queen model Maddie Hayes, and Willis, as the "do bears bear, do bees be?"hipster-doofus David Addison, were the quintessential match made in hell, thrown together under dubious circumstances. In this pilot episode, Shepherd, having discovered that her accountant has left her broke, proceeds to liquidate her assets, including the City of Angels Detective Agency, headed up by Willis.However, thanks to a dead body that pops out of an elevator, the two pair up to solve a case involving a broken watch and some pilfered Nazi loot, hoping to get some publicity (and cash) for their newly rechristened Blue Moon Investigations. The plot is negligible, involving a dead jogger, a mohawked hit man, and a sadistic henchman, but the mystery was never Moonlighting's selling point--it was the sparring, the swearing, the sparks that Willis and Shepherd created together. Watching these two at their best (before the series slid downhill when they finally slept together), you'll realize that neither has ever been paired with a better costar; they bring out something in each other that's undiluted antagonism mixed with irresistible attraction. Discounting some of Shepherd's fashion choices and hairstyles, and Willis's, well, hair (he had some), this is timeless farce and screwball comedy in the tradition of His Girl Friday, snappily penned by Glenn Gordon Carron. Also featuring Allyce Beasley as rhyming secretary Agnes DiPesto, the only supporting character in the series who could intrude upon the Shepherd-Willis repartee without upsetting their rhythm. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Looks great! , Could sound better
Well, a bruce willis classic has been released on DVD. The whole Pilot has been remastered but I was disepointed that the sound was in MONO. Other than that, you can also choose the see some very rare Bruce Willis Sreentests which he has a lot of hair on! and also a screentest with another guy who odetioned for the role of "David Addison" who I've never seen in my life! and Plus , it was great to hear Bruce Willis and Glen Caron's thoughts about the pilot and the series in the audio commentary. Defenatly for a Bruce Willis Or a "Moonlighting" fan to add to their collection!

Jump starting the double entendre
Fifteen years after I wanted to be David Addison and realized I could only watch David Addison, they release the Pilot on DVD. I want to be David again but my wife won't let me! Seriously- the highlight of the DVD, which is not one of my favorite episodes (Atomic Shakespeare) is the audio commentary with Glenn Caron and Bruce Willis. They share fond memories of working on Moonlighting, and remind us how, culturally speaking, huge the show was. They also comment on other episodes, guest stars, and make a list of THEIR favorite episodes. And Bruce tells nice stories about the fourth season! The only problem is the audio commentary disappears for a long time during the last twenty minutes. I wanna know how they filmed all that stuff on the clock!

Should Have Complete Season Box Set DVDs.
Moonlighting is a good show, a local TV station used to show reruns but unfornutately stopped showing them so I was glad to find out you could buy episodes on video tape and I think they even have this pilot episode on DVD but I really think they should put out box set complete season DVDs, that would be super cool! Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd are great and I also like Alyse Beasley who plays secretary Miss Dipesto (SP?) and the guy who played Booger in the Revenge of the Nerd movies.

Hell on High Heels
The chemistry between "Maddie" and "David" is classic, like Tracy and Hepburn. My teenagers and I used to tape every episode, they were so witty. Please, put the whole series on DVD. It's an instant seller of a classic madcap comedy.
A New England viewer

Pilot Episode
At about an hour and a half in length, this is the pilot episode, the one that set the standard for the show. It is fast paced, witty, charming, and romantic. All the best qualities that the show retained until near the end of it's run. If you ever enjoyed Moonlighting, you'll love this. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The King goes to DC!
I saw this movie on Showtime back in 1998, and have been hoping it will break into the DVD market soon. A brilliant account of true events. It gives you an enjoyable experience of the King of Rock and Roll, as he journeys around Haight-Ashbury and then around DC, ultimately visiting with President Nixon in the hopes of becoming a DEA agent to fight the war on drugs. A great insight into the similarities of two totally different characters, Elvis and Nixon!

Elvis at 35 and out on his own
This Showtime movie stars Rick Peters (as Elvis, played with affecting sympathy) and Bob Gunton (as Nixon, played with broad wit). The movie recounts the time in 1970 when Elvis (at 35 and out on his own) traveled from Graceland to the White House, where he met with Richard Nixon and asked to be deputized as a federal agent in the war on drugs. Altogether, it was a stranger-than-fiction encounter between two larger-than-life figures. "I think it's one of the greatest events of American pop culture, that Elvis got in to see Nixon," says the movie's writer and producer, Alan Rosen; while Dick Cavett, the movie's narrator, assures us, "If what you're about to see didn't happen exactly this way, it should have" ... The photo of Elvis shaking hands with Nixon continues to be the most requested item at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, Calif. - but you can see that photo and others, along with correspondence from the meeting, at the National Security Archive website ("The Nixon-Presley Meeting: The Documentation").

one memorable weekend
In 1970, in a bid to do his part for the Vietnam War, Elvis takes his first-ever solo plane trip to DC to meet President Nixon to discuss being a federal drug enforcement officer. He usually doesn't carry money or a passport --- one of his entourage does that for him -- but in these pre-Sept. 11 days, he gets past all that.

Nixon has his own turmoil with the Vietnam War protestors -- after all, the war started under Kennedy. Elvis has his own umbrage with those British upstarts, the Beatles. One of the best discussions is when both Nixon and Elvis blame America's fascination with their respective nemesis on "the hair and the accents."

I love that this is a true story, told with some embellishments as no one was actually in that meeting with Elvis and Nixon. It is funny without being a joke. Worth your time!

The Trickster and the Hounddog.
This highly entertaining, hilarious film, that originally aired on Showtime; examines the time that Elvis flew to Washington, D.C. to meet President Nixon to convince the President to make him a federal marshall. The movie is very loosely based on fact and as the film's narrator points out, if that's not the way things happened then it should have been. This movie portrays Elvis and Nixon as two very similar persons on opposite sides of the cultural spectrum. The film also illustrates how very human these two powerful giants were and that besides their power, the only thing that separated them from "the rest of us" were their very odd eccentricies. Highly enjoyable film.

Great Fun! How about a DVD?!?
I started watching this on cable one night with absolutely no expectations. I was pleasantly surprised at how much damned fun this movie was. Quirky, funny & good story. Now how about a DVD??? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Doris Roberts & James Coco unforgettable as "Cora & Arnie"
Actually, this video tape includes two of the first four episodes from the first season of "St. Elsewhere," the award-winning 1980s television medical drama that looked at the lives of the beleaguered staff and their patients at Boston's St. Eligius Hospital. In "Bypass" (Episode #2, November 9, 1982), Dr. Morrison (David Morse) has to treat a terrorist. "Cora and Arnie" (Episode #4, November 23, 1982), tells the heart rending story of a homeless couple played by Doris Roberts and James Coco. Both actors earned Emmy Awards for their Supporting performances. It is no surprise that Roberts is so good, but the performance by Coco is stunning, although we all should have stopped being surprised years ago that comedians turn in such great tragic performances. Cora and Arnie live together on the streets; he is mildly retarded and if Cora does not have her feet amputated, she will die. However, she refuses to leave Arnie alone. The scene where he is huddled in the corner crying for her will stay with you forever. It has for me.

Final Note: It has always been my belief that because of these performances, which deserved Emmys but were for characters who appeared only once on a show (Emmys are based on performances in a SINGLE episode which is submitted for consideration), the awards of best performances by "guest stars" were created. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

UNDERRATED CLASSIC
THERE ARE MANY DISPARAGING REVIEWS AND COMMENTS CIRCULATING ABOUT THIS FILM. TRUE, IT WAS A COMMERCIAL FLOP; AND, TRUE, THIS MIGHT BE THE MOVIE THAT DESTROYED ANDY'S MOVIE CAREER. HOWEVER, ALL OF THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A WELL MADE, THOUGH CHEESY, FILM. OF COURSE, WITHOUT ANDY IT WOULDN'T BE NEAR AS GOOD, BUT IN ANY EVENT, IT'S WORTH WATCHING. PERFECT FOR THE KIDS.

Underrated Classic
Two robots (portrayed by Andy Kaufman and Bernadette Peters) escape from their factory(along with a hack-comedian type of robot) and embark on a wilderness adventure. Along the way, they create a child named Phil from spare parts, all the while falling madly in love with one another. There are a lot of disparaging comments circulating about this film, but don't let that discourage you. Perfect for the kids.

Underrated Kaufman classic features bizarre world view
Many people never understood Andy Kaufman's creative genius while he was alive, and it seems that many people never will. Kaufman's performances in mainstream TV stuff like Taxi were well and great, but it's his fringe work that I feel best represents what Kaufman had to say about the world. HEARTBEEPS is one of those early 80s films that clearly dates itself with its cheesy hairstyles and out-of-date social commentary, yet at its heart lies a film about the dehumane treatment of "weaker" people that wear their heart on their sleave... as well as their battery pack. Andy's pewrformance (as well as Bernadette Peter's) is full of mild wit and charm, and his eyes (hidden underneath what I consider to be some of Academy Award Winning make-up artist Stan Winston's most creative and beatiful effects) portray a character full of innocense, imagination, and a rebellious sense of curiousity. A beautiful, low-budget look at a surreal future (back when the era of capitalism and "Reaganomics" reigned over humanitarianism and progressiveness) in which robots are the only true humanistic creatures left on the earth, and the sheer message of hope and love that such creatures are capable of... despite their creators' faulty programming. A highly recommended film for fans of Andy Kaufman or even strange old cheesy films full of quirky characters, odd make-up effects, and robotic romance. This is one of the best little cult comedies of the 1980s, and severely under appreciated for what it has to offer fans of the goofy and sentimental. Don't let other people that don't "get" Kaufman's brilliance and off-beat sense of humor put you off from experiencing something so lovely and unique as HEARTBEEPS.

Great For Kids, Agony For Adults
This movie is a wonderful children's film. I believe one of the reasons this film was so poorly recieved is because it was sold as a comedy when it is, in fact, a kids movie. There are a lot of lessons and interesting ideas about humanity and free will that are touched on in this movie. And to all Andy Kaufman fans: This is not an "Andy Kaufman movie". It has nothing to do with ANYTHING he did in his stage act.

Well, I Like It.
This is one of those rare films that people either love or hate. I happen to like it a lot, but I have personal reasons. I was three when I first saw it, and I fell in love with it. Then, it disappeared and I went for well over seventeen years before I saw it was finally re-issued on video. Thus, it brings back my childhood, and that is why I like it. I can perfectly understand why people hate this movie. Is it cheesy and stupid? Yes. Is it charming and quaint? I think so. You really have to decide for yourself, but I think it is worth a watch. I showed it to my girlfriend and my little brother, telling them this was my favorite movie when I was little. My brother adored it and watched it many times. My girlfriend just looked at me with a strange face. Decide for yourself. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Why St. Eligius Hospital is called "St. Elsewhere"
Before there was "E.R." there was "St. Elsewhere," which was originally considered to be "Hill Street Blues" in a hospital. Both shows were filmed in a gritty, realistic style. In the pilot episode we meet the beleaguered doctors of St. Eligius, a teaching ospital in Boston. The drama focuses on idealistic intern Jack Morrison (David Morse), who is fighting to prevent an operation that may kill a beautiful young woman (Dominique Dunne) under his care . Morrison, like Mark Green on "E.R.," became the compassionate young doctor who symbolized the dedication of these television doctors. Meanwhile, Dr. Annie Cavanero (Cynthia Sykes) is running all over the hospital trying to find a missing patient while down in the Emergency Room Dr. Ben Samuels (David Birney) and Dr. Wayne Fiscus (Howie Mandel) are trying to save the victims of a terrorist bomb attack. Trying to serve as the father figure for all this insanity is Dr. Donald Westphall (Ed Flanders), who has to put up with his bombastic heart surgeon, Dr. Mark Craig (William Daniels), who has gotten the hospital new clocks. One of the most critically acclaimed shows of its day, "St. Elsewhere" is now remembered mainly for the fact that young Denzel Washington played Dr. Phillip Chandler. "St. Elsewhere" was created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey, who went on to create other critically acclaimed series including "I'll Fly Away" and "Northern Exposure." ... Read more

Amazon.com

While Billy sits speechless at ringside, "Theme of Life" (first season, episode 17) gives Ally and Georgia the opportunity to vent their suppressed animosity in a kick-boxing match, and the battering leaves them bruised but closer as friends and colleagues. Meanwhile, Ally defends Greg (Jesse L. Martin), a handsome young doctor who transplanted a pig's liver into a dying woman without securing official permission. A romance begins between him and Ally that will continue in subsequent episodes. Fish is seen on the town with Attorney General Janet Reno (later Whipper confronts him about his obsession with Reno's wattle), and Ally reluctantly visits a therapist (Tracey Ullman) who urges her to choose a lively, danceable "theme song" for her life. While the kick-boxing match is surely a season highlight, this episode is memorable for creator David E. Kelley's seemingly effortless balance of crackling wit and engaging drama. Here we have an episode that's as moving as it is amusing--a quality that gives the series its singular appeal.

A lively round in the battle of the sexes, "The Playing Field" (first season, episode 18), finds Ally returning to the therapist (Tracey Ullman), worried that the "dancing baby" that plagued her in previous episodes has reappeared as a roller-blading hockey player! ("Get him!" advises the counselor.) Continuing the "baby" theme, Ally finds herself pitted against child prodigy Oren Koolie (Josh Evans), a pint-sized 9-year-old attorney whose negotiation strategy consists primarily of crying when he doesn't get his way. Kelley continues to probe the gender gap in a case of harassment via sexual exclusion, the outcome of which causes a tempest of fury in the office, with Ally and Georgia confronting Fish over his backward theories of gender inequality. All's well that ends well in the closing nightclub scene, where men and women call a truce. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The best "Ally McBeal" from Season 1 is on this tape
This set of episodes from the first season of "Ally McBeal" includes the one that ended up being my personal favorite, Episode 17 "Theme of Life." Written by David E. Kelly, of course, this is the one where Ally (Calista Flockhart) and Georgia (Courtney Thorne-Smith) go toe to toe in kickboxing class and where Ally tries out "Tell Him" by the Exciters as her theme song, which makes crossing the street on of the great moments in the history of the quirky series. The episode begins with Ally finally giving in to Cage (Peter MacNicol) and visiting his therapist, Dr. Tracy Clark (Tracey Ullman), who offers the sage opinion that kickboxing Georgia is great therapy: "She's a beautiful, smart woman married to the man you love! Smack her!" Meanwhile, Ally's client du jour is the handsome Dr. Greg Butters, who is being sued for offending a patient by performing an operation to save her life (it mean putting a hog liver in her body, which is not strictly kosher). I would say that if you watched one episode of "Ally McBeal" this would be the one to watch, but you sort of have to watch the rest to understand the context of such things as Cage's new smile therapy.

Episode 18, "The Playing Field," also written by Kelley, finds the dancing baby is becoming aggressive (he plays street hockey now). This is not good news for Ally who is defending Dr. Butters from a lawsuit being brought against her new love interest by Oren Koolie, a nine-year-old genius who is practicing law until he is old enough to go to medical school. What can Ally do against a lawyer who cries before he demands $125,000? Meanwhile, Cage/Fish is also representing a woman who is suing her boss because he only promotes women who have slept with him. The title comes from Ally's conversation with Georgia, who once won a sexual harassment case against her old bos (he transferred her because she was beautiful) and complains that she wished she had fought him on an even field: he gave up when she threatened to make a claim. Ally takes this as a sign that she should ignore the sex-role conventions that stop her from speaking first in a romantic relationship. "Playing the Field" is only a notch below "Theme of Life" but has another great moment when Ally makes the mistake of following Dr. Tracy's advice and treating the Dancing Baby like a hockey puck the next time she sees him--or thinks that she does.

Both of these Episodes are Priceless!
In the entire set, this tape offers two episodes that aired almost back to back! They involve Tracy Ullman (hilarious as the therapist) and the early stages of the romance with the doctor! I own all three tapes, and have to say this one is a worthy addition to any collection. What a great way to enjoy this show all over again, or for the first time. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Prince Charming
I have just seen this film for the forth time on TV and I love it! It was a great storyline and was very amusing to watch! I am planning to buy it on DVD in the future as it is the same people who made The Tenth Kingdom which I bought on DVD and the book of. The setting was perfect and I loved the script. My favourite scene is when John takes Kate to the museum to prove who he is and confesses some of his feelings for her. Well done Hallmark for a wonderful adventure film

call me old-fashioned but . . .
I bought this thinking that I would share it with my granddaughter who is 7. However, the swear words and the bell scene mean that this one goes directly out the door again. You can't trust Disney any more and now you can't even trust Hallmark. Someone said this movie was more for kids. Well, if you're going to make a movie for kids, the themes should all be ones that are appropriate for kids. If you're going to make a movie for adults then you have to decide whether you're doing a comedy or a romance. This movie tries for a middle road, and despite the lovely Christina Applegate and the wonderful Bernadette Peters, winds up trite and dull. Or perhaps this is a 'tongue-in-cheek'commentary on what Prince Charmings are really like??

Utterly Charming
Prince John of Anwyn (Sean Maguire) and his squire Rodney (Martin Short) are sentenced to a frogging for offending Princess Gwendolyn of Lothian (Christina Applegate) on their wedding day when he goes after another woman. A Lothian wizard turns both men into frogs with the following conditions John must entice a maiden to kiss him upon the lips and then he must marry her before the noon bells of the next full moon and be faithful to her for the rest of his life.

The marriage of John and Gwendolyn was to end three centuries of war between the two kingdoms. Even though King Leo (Colin Fox) hands his son over for punishment, John's antics cause the war to continue with disastrous consequences for Anwyn.

This curse was laid upon them in the 15th Century but 500 years later the two men are still frogs until an American boy steals them and brings them back to New York City. They meet Kate (Christina Applegate), a Central Park carriage driver who agrees to help them find Margo Stockard (Bernadette Peters) an actress who kissed him while trying to prove her love to her unfaithful director boyfriend. The problem is John loves Kate.

This was movie was both comedic and romantic. A wonderful tale to be watched again and again!

A disappointingly "different" modern love story...
A disappointment is the best way to describe this recent Hallmark film. The story begins in Medieval England in the time of kings and castles. Two neighboring kingdoms are seeking to end a long feud by marrying their son and daughter. The problem: Prince John of Anwyn (Sean Maguire) is known for his many extramarital indiscretions, and when he commits one right before his upcoming marriage to Princess Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate), Prince John and his squire Rodney (played by Martin Short) are turned into frogs (called a "frogging," by a famous wizard's curse); until the prince finds true love, (by convincing a maiden to kiss him, and then to marry him), they will remain frogs for all eternity. Fast forward to 21st century Manhattan, 500 years later: this is where the rest of the story takes place.

For those of you worried about content: Prince John is quite the ladies man, sleeping with maids and wenches alike: there are a few swear words, (...)a thief attempting to steal a woman's bike; a swordfight between two men; some spells, potions, curses, and witchcraft and wizardry (although fairly mild as movies go); and a woman who attempts to seduce a young man.

All in all, I was very disappointed in this newest Hallmark film. I was expecting a cute, possibly sweet romantic comedy about a man who is "Prince Charming" to all, and instead got stuck watching a villainous ladies' man who supposedly reforms. As Hallmark puts it, "a delightfully different love story," and while definitely different, well...

Utterly charming!
What a great find! I have to give credit to Hallmark... They make some of the most brilliant movies I have ever seen (check out The Tenth Kingdom, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Cleopatra). Funny, witty, and just plain awesome! Oh, supporting characters Martin Short, Christina Applegate, and Bernadettte Peters did an especially good job. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With the premiere of its untitled pilot episode on the Fox network in1997, Ally McBeal arrived as a comedy-drama worth watching. Springing from the observant mind of creator David E. Kelley, the show briskly established its well-cast ensemble of oddballs, legal sharks, neurotics, and semihappy couples in love, lust, or various stages of personality crisis. The pilot instantly sets the tone for the series, introducing Ally (Calista Flockhart), a young Boston lawyer who's just joined a firm where her now-married former boyfriend Billy (Gil Bellows) is also employed. To make matters worse, Billy's wife, Georgia (Courtney Thorne-Smith), is jealous of Ally's romantic past with her husband (a conflict developed in subsequent episodes), and Ally loses her first case in court. Through all of these emotional crises, this impressive pilot introduces meddlesome legal assistant Elaine (Jane Krakowski); Ally's former classmate and new boss, Richard Fish (Greg Germann), who excuses every tactless remark he makes with the word "bygones"; Ally's hip and headstrong roommate, Renée (Lisa Nicole Carson); and Vonda Shepard as the house singer at the nightclub that provides the show's after-hours pressure valve and watering hole. A slick, engagingly comedic study of human foibles, the pilot gets this popular series off to a rousing start.

"Silver Bells" (first season, episode 11) is a Christmas episode, following an impasse in the relationship between Fish and Judge "Whipper" Cone (series semiregular Dyan Cannon), while Georgia continues to stew when husband Billy confides in Ally over private marital matters. The episode also deepens the platonic affection between Ally and law-firm partner John Cage (Peter MacNicol), who, like Ally, is at odds with being perpetually single. Culminating in a memorable scene during an office Christmas party, this delightful episode conveys series creator David E. Kelley's expert ability to combine humor and melancholy in a way that perfectly captures the personalities of the characters, all of whom reflect some quirky manifestation of human strengths and weaknesses. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The pilot episode for "Ally McBeal" still holds up
This is certainly an interesting combination of episodes from the first season of "Ally McBeal" given that there is the very first episode, "Pilot," and then the "Christmas" episode, "Silver Bells." In searching for a common denominator the only things I can come up with would be that there is a lot of music in both episodes and the theme of being alone together is clearly present as well.

I tend to collect pilot episodes and so the "Pilot" written by David E. Kelley is of historical importance to me because it is what established the tone for the show. In retrospect, of course, it is interesting to watch this episode again and see how Kelley's vision was quickly refined over the course of that first season. The story of Ally McBeal (Calista Flockhart) begins with an ending as the Harvard Law alumna gets fired by her firm after a lecherous senior partner, Jack Billings, gropes her in the hall and she blows the whistle on him. However, he claims he has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and she ends up losing her job. Ally runs into Richard Fish (Greg Germann), and the joins the firm of Cage and Fish where we discover that Ally's world is not only quite imaginative but small. That is because Billy Thomas (Gil Bellows), Ally's first love not only works there but has a wife. You can tell this show is going to be different becuse Ally takes four arrows in the chest when she learns Billy is married and there are a dozen songs worked into the episode (including "Neighborhood," "Maryland," "Tell Him," and the theme from "Psycho").

In Kelley's "Silver Bells" (Episode 11 for those counting) Ally takes a case of two women and a man who want to have their unique relationship recognized as a legal marriage (one woman gave birth to three children one of which was the fertilized egg of the other). However, as is usually the case on "Ally McBeal," the case resonates with the characters, causing Judge "Whipper" Cone (Dyan Cannon) to yearn for commitment from Richard, while Ally and Georgia (Courtney Thorne-Smith) are both upset that Billy has been a better love with his wife since his ex-girl friend showed up. Ah, the bitter irony of it all. This episode features the Cage/Fish Christmas party where both Renee (Lisa Nicole Carson) and Elaine (Jane Krakowski) gets to do production numbers and even Fish sings ("More Today Than Yesterday").

Looking back on these episodes what I find most interesting is how Kelley uses legal cases to explore relationship issues. This is obviously truer of "Silver Bells" than the pilot, but in that regards the second episode on this tape is more representative of the series as a whole. You can also see how halfway through the first season the pace of the show had picked up considerably. Everybody has more to say and is saying it faster. Consequently, I am not sure that this is an ideal pairing from Season 1, but I find it insightful. I might have gone with "The Promise" instead of "Silver Bells," although the "Kiss" would be the obvious one to emphasis the Ally-Billy dyad. Since it is not, I kept playing with the idea that this pairing was appropriate until I came up with a rationale that justified the choices. You can decide if the circle gets the square.

If you love Ally, you can't miss it.
Personally among many of Ally Mcbeal series,I prefer Season one.That's why I can't help buying this VHS. This VHS has the begining story of Ally Mcbeal. That is really attractive. Sometimes I wonder how David E. Kelly who is not a woman, can describe the inner feelings of women like this.Unbelievable!
Especially, I like her voice over. It reminds me of Doogies diary in my childhood.
Well, if there is a DVD version, that must be a better choice...

Ally Rocks My World!
First of all, Ally Mcbeal is a brilliant show. I was very upset when Billy left the show and thought it would go downhill from there, but with the addition of Ann Heche, Robert Downey Jr., and Taye Diggs it keeps on rocking! If you love Ally these videos are a must have!

GET THIS NOW! YOU"LL LOVE IT!
Watching these episodes are like watching them for the first time. NO COMMERCIALS AND NO HOLD BARRRED as Alley and rest of the cast display their usual wackinest and sorrow. A sure hit! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

UNDERRATED CLASSIC
THERE ARE MANY DISPARAGING REVIEWS AND COMMENTS CIRCULATING ABOUT THIS FILM. TRUE, IT WAS A COMMERCIAL FLOP; AND, TRUE, THIS MIGHT BE THE MOVIE THAT DESTROYED ANDY'S MOVIE CAREER. HOWEVER, ALL OF THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A WELL MADE, THOUGH CHEESY, FILM. OF COURSE, WITHOUT ANDY IT WOULDN'T BE NEAR AS GOOD, BUT IN ANY EVENT, IT'S WORTH WATCHING. PERFECT FOR THE KIDS.

Underrated Classic
Two robots (portrayed by Andy Kaufman and Bernadette Peters) escape from their factory(along with a hack-comedian type of robot) and embark on a wilderness adventure. Along the way, they create a child named Phil from spare parts, all the while falling madly in love with one another. There are a lot of disparaging comments circulating about this film, but don't let that discourage you. Perfect for the kids.

Underrated Kaufman classic features bizarre world view
Many people never understood Andy Kaufman's creative genius while he was alive, and it seems that many people never will. Kaufman's performances in mainstream TV stuff like Taxi were well and great, but it's his fringe work that I feel best represents what Kaufman had to say about the world. HEARTBEEPS is one of those early 80s films that clearly dates itself with its cheesy hairstyles and out-of-date social commentary, yet at its heart lies a film about the dehumane treatment of "weaker" people that wear their heart on their sleave... as well as their battery pack. Andy's pewrformance (as well as Bernadette Peter's) is full of mild wit and charm, and his eyes (hidden underneath what I consider to be some of Academy Award Winning make-up artist Stan Winston's most creative and beatiful effects) portray a character full of innocense, imagination, and a rebellious sense of curiousity. A beautiful, low-budget look at a surreal future (back when the era of capitalism and "Reaganomics" reigned over humanitarianism and progressiveness) in which robots are the only true humanistic creatures left on the earth, and the sheer message of hope and love that such creatures are capable of... despite their creators' faulty programming. A highly recommended film for fans of Andy Kaufman or even strange old cheesy films full of quirky characters, odd make-up effects, and robotic romance. This is one of the best little cult comedies of the 1980s, and severely under appreciated for what it has to offer fans of the goofy and sentimental. Don't let other people that don't "get" Kaufman's brilliance and off-beat sense of humor put you off from experiencing something so lovely and unique as HEARTBEEPS.

Great For Kids, Agony For Adults
This movie is a wonderful children's film. I believe one of the reasons this film was so poorly recieved is because it was sold as a comedy when it is, in fact, a kids movie. There are a lot of lessons and interesting ideas about humanity and free will that are touched on in this movie. And to all Andy Kaufman fans: This is not an "Andy Kaufman movie". It has nothing to do with ANYTHING he did in his stage act.

Well, I Like It.
This is one of those rare films that people either love or hate. I happen to like it a lot, but I have personal reasons. I was three when I first saw it, and I fell in love with it. Then, it disappeared and I went for well over seventeen years before I saw it was finally re-issued on video. Thus, it brings back my childhood, and that is why I like it. I can perfectly understand why people hate this movie. Is it cheesy and stupid? Yes. Is it charming and quaint? I think so. You really have to decide for yourself, but I think it is worth a watch. I showed it to my girlfriend and my little brother, telling them this was my favorite movie when I was little. My brother adored it and watched it many times. My girlfriend just looked at me with a strange face. Decide for yourself. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

It would have been better if I hadn't seen the first one.
This movie honestly wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it's pretty weak. Jackie Mason's one liners, the gophers eating habits, and Ty Webb's stupidity was funny in this movie. They really brought the film up higher than it would have been. However, since I've seen the first one, this movie really didn't win my favor. The original cast of characters was absent in this movie, the familiar setting of the Bushwood Country Club and golf course were not to be found, and the gopher had an uncomfortably different voice (it also gained a few extra pounds, but that's a different story). The only member of the original cast that returned to do "Caddyshack 2" was Chevy Chase, reprising his role as a more "out there" Ty Webb. The way they potrayed his character in this movie was very funny and refreshing, but he was much more down to earth in the first one, and a lot less weird. Jackie Mason's character sort of replaces Rodney Dangerfeild's character in the first one: a crude newcomer seeking to buy the club from the snobby owners. He does an okay job, but no one can replace Rodney. Robert Stack's character sort of replaces Ted Knight's character in the first one: a snobby high roller in charge of the club who will do anything he can to keep the newcomer from buying it. And of course, the thing I found most disappointing in this movie was Dan Akroyd's character, who desperately tried to replace Bill Murray's "Karl" from the first movie, but failed so badly. He tries to talk the same way Karl would talk, except he does it much higher. Just imagine that! Dan Akroyd trying to talk like Karl, except doing it at a much higher tone of voice. It really gets annoying. Dan Akroyd also doesn't fit in with the rest of the cast. This movie would have been much better if it hadn't have been a sequel to "Caddyshack." It doesn't even show a caddy shack in the movie! Even though that may not be a big deal, it expresses the way that I feel. If you have never seen the original "Caddyshack" or don't intend to, this more mild film should be viewed for satisfaction. However, if you love the movie "Caddyshack" just like I do, than prepare to be disappointed, because this movie is just not good enough. However, I give it credit for being an okay movie by itself. So no matter who you are, I at least recommend that you watch this movie once, just for the fun of it.

One of the worst movies in the history of mankind.
It's quite possible that not reprising his role as Al Czervik was the most intelligent decision Rodney Dangerfield ever made (aside from marrying a hot chick 40 years his junior). This movie is to "funny" what hammered rhino-dung is to haute cuisine. I'm certain that, when actors, directors, and golfers go to hell, they are condemned to an eternity of watching Caddyshack 2 (while being fed hammered rhino-dung).

This Film Is Actually Funny! Crazy, Huh?
Most people already have their minds made up on this one, and it is easy to see why. After all, Caddyshack is not a film that needed a sequel. Why would you need one? Well, the 80s was a great time for unecessary sequels. It's hard to top the cast from the first film; I mean, it was full of funny characters. This one tries for that and only succeeds to a limited degree. As much as you may hate this film, how can you not laugh your behind off at Chevy Chase? He's hilarious in this film. IN fact, his performance is reason enough to watch this film. Well, he is playing Ty Webb who was hilarious in the first film. How did they talk Chase into doing this film? My theory(and I could be wrong) is that Chase didn't need a paycheck so bad as much as he probably loved playing Ty Webb. Jackie Mason is no Rodney Dangerfield, not in a million years. His presence is okay, but he's just not that funny. Randy Quaid is a little over the top, but he has some pretty hilarious lines. The whole "putting with a wedgie" thing is great. And Dan Aykroyd. Oh Lord, poor Dan Aykroyd. He should leave Caddyshack 2 off his resume. He's trying to replace Bill Murray's chracter from the first film, but fails miserably. We all know Dan can be funny, but wow. He may say one or two fairly funny things, but that's the extent. The rest of the time you'll have to deal with his fingernails on a chalkboard voice. The voice would be okay if he were funny. These are the comedians of the film, everyone else is there just coz some nonfunny people were needed. Robert Stack(if you have any information call 1-800-876-5353) is always a good actor and plays a stiff snob convincingly, but it's surely an unsolved mystery why he chose to do this film. Jonathan Silverman isn't here for laughs, but I've always liked him either way, even though his role here is throwaway. All in all, the gags here are all hit and miss, but there are some pretty heavy hits I must say(like when Chevy Chase introduces Jackie Mason to some country club members in the men's locker room. I can't get too descriptive, but it's hilarious). If you put it up against the first film, well then you're doomed because Caddyshack this is not. There are worse ways to spend your time......like the remake of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre for instance.

Not the worst movie of all time, as some would suggest...
but still pretty bad. As others have pointed out, Jackie Mason is the only reason to see this movie. The rest of the movie falls flat. Still worth sitting through once, just to enjoy Mason. His years of being blacklisted really deprived us.

The other comment I wanted to make is that most people miss out on a great joke -- Jackie Mason's character in Caddyshack II is the same character he plays in The Jerk.

Just as funny as the first
This is one funny movie. I do wish Chevy Chase had a bigger part in this. Other than that, my two favorite characters are Dan Akroyd and Randy Quaid. The golpher is funny in this too, and his little voice is cute. I got this movie by surprise. I went to my movie collection to watch a movie, when I saw this sitting in there. I didn't remember buying it, but I watched it anyway. My wife was the one who bought it for me. This movie does have a couple bad parts, but it's still got some funny parts. I never knew that a PG rated movie could have the F word in it. But then again i kinda knew, because in beetlejuice he says the F word and also in Vacation. Harold Ramis didn't direct this film (he directed the first one) but he wrote it, so he did have a part in the making of this movie. It's funny what happens to the golf coarse, it's turned into a theme park. Anyway, this is a movie that should be in your collection no matter what. THE SHACK, IS BACK. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Cro-Magnon" (first season, episode 12) will be remembered by Ally McBeal fans as the "dancing baby" episode, in which Ally--woefully celibate and tortured by the ticking of her biological clock--envisions a strutting, diapered infant who haunts her at home and office. The little tyke's appearance (accompanied by the "ooga-chocka" refrain from the 1970s hit "Hooked on a Feeling") coincides with Ally's obsessive attraction to a well-endowed male model she meets in a sculpting class. A prime example of the series' capacity for frank and hilarious sexual content, the episode finally gives Ally a chance to unleash her pent-up sexual energy (courtesy of the model), while the guys in the law firm are left to ponder if "size really matters." By the final scene, Ally (sporting the flannel pajamas that became a modest fashion trend) has come to terms with her imaginary dancing baby, and the episode closes with the two of them dancing happily together... at least for the time being.

"The Attitude" (first season, episode 7) finds Ally struggling to navigate the stormy seas of romance. She's coping with close proximity to Billy, the former love of her life, and the tension increases when Billy's wife, Georgia, is invited to join the firm of Fish & Cage. While Ally defends a woman (Brenda Vaccaro) who's been wrongfully expelled from her synagogue, Cage takes on Georgia's ex-boss on a sex-discrimination charge. During a disastrous dinner date Ally obsesses over salad dressing on her date's chin, and later she simultaneously offends and attracts the young rabbi who ousted her client, leading Ally to trade her pursuit of "Mr. Right" for more pragmatic dates with "Mr. Not-Likelys." As usual, this episode is blessed with Kelley's rapid-fire dialogue, but it's best remembered for the superbly written scenes between Ally and Georgia, who forge a friendship despite their shared history with Billy. Calista Flockhart and Courtney Thorne-Smith really shine here, making this one of the first season's pivotal episodes. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Ally takes some chances on a trio of Mr. Not Likelys
I keep trying to draw some significance out of the fact that the two episodes from the first season of "Ally McBeal" are shown in reverse order of how they originally aired, but all I can come up with is that the better known episode (where Ally dances with the infamous dancing baby) goes first. Both episodes, written by David E. Kelley, deal with Ally's decision to take some chances on some Mr. Not Likelys instead of waiting for Mr. Right:

"Cro-Magnon" (Episode 12) finds Ally (Calista Flockhart) and Renee (Lisa Nicole Carson) are taking a sculpture class where they discover that Glenn, the male model, is rather "gifted" (they need more clay). Georgia (Courtney Thorne-Smith) joins the class but it is Ally who actually dates Glenn. Meanwhile, in court our heroine is defending 19-yeard old Clint, who punched out a guy for insulting the virtue of his date and who's cute little behind has become the object of his lawyer's attentoin. The title of the episode comes from Ally's declaration that she likes a little Cro-Magnon in her man. Actually, this episode is one of the more heavy handed ones, with the contrast between the girls oggling the model and the guys watching a prizefight on pay-per-view lacking subtlety.

"The Attitude" (Episode 7) has Ally getting the hots for district attorney Jason Roberts, a colleague of Renee's, who fortunately asks her out before the theme from "Jeopardy" ends. Ally's client this week is Karen Horwitz, who is trying to get Rabbi Joseph Stern to grant her a divorce because her husband is in a coma (the poor guy was hit by a bus before he obtained a "get," the formal Jewish divorce decree). Ally cannot get the rabbi to change his mind, but she does get another offer for a date.

I would not label either of these as classic Ally McBeal episodes, but they are certainly representative of Ally's love life in Season 1, before things became increasingly bizarre in Season 2. I would have paired up "Cro-Magnon" with the follow up episode, "The Blame Game," where Ally and Renee take vengeance on Glenn by giving him "the penguin," but that is just my impulse towards narrative completeness.

These are the two best Ally McBeal episodes
I have the DVD box set thing, and it has these two episodes, and they are the strongest. So if you don't want to spend all the money that the box set costs, you can buy this. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Better than Kill Bill!!! Carradines best work!!!
Oh man. My friends and I went to Blockbuster to look for movies, and saw this movie. The cover looked totally tremendously spectacular! it was like.. omfg it owns the matrix special effect. The motorcycles were totally cool looking, and theyr swords are SO AWESOME, CUS THEY WERE CLEAR!. and oh man, i love how they recycle scenes over and over and put funny buzzing noises everytime the awesome motorcycles roll bye. The BEST, AND I MEAN BEST PART about this movie is when the girl gets naked in the torture chamber omg, my friends mom came in while we were watching, and we changed it right away, but thats another story. HAHA OMFG, THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME, the girl is hot too! and i love their ray guns, where whatever they shoot just dissapears, i also love how things explode for no reason. Yeah thats about it. A+!! I REALLY SUGGEST YOU BUY THIS MOVIE!... lol oh man... their swords... are... GREAT.

Death Sport
Entertaining cheerful low budget crap, that is strangely less dated than the bile of sword & sorcery films that came in the next decade.
Looking at this film now it is basically an adult version of Battlestar Gallatica, with violence and female nudity
David Carradine sleepwalks through this and he is still superb.
However this not in the same league as the brilliant satire DeathRace 2000. Still it's fun to see films like this, that would
not have a pray of being made in this day and age.

Post-apocalyptic World of the DeathSport
Death Sport is one of my favorite films. It is the best of the post-apocalyptic action genre which, sadly, with the fall of the Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union has seen its heyday. No one has done it better than Roger Corman. David Carradine, a free and independent "guide," exhibits a cold-blooded and deadly swordsmanship showing no mercy to the "enforcers," a uniformed, motorcycle-riding force of "state-men," the conformist and totalitarian-ruled city-dwellers of the future "after the neutron wars." Claudia Jennings co-stars as a warrior equal in prowess to Carradine and equally deadly to the "enforcers." Richard Lynch is superb as a renegade "guide" who joins the "enforcers" and leads them in their evil plans to capture enough "guides" to hold the Death Sport, a gladiator-like motorcycle combat in which the "enforcers" hope to pr