Reviews (92)

Captain Ron
For a Wildly hilarious re-watchable comedy, this is your film. My review is of the movie as this is written pre-DVD. This film has the family of Martain Short, beautiful independent decorator wife and 8 year old son and 16 going on 25 yr old daughter all thrown together on an inherited sailboat they must sail back from the Caribe! They get the aid of one-eyed Captn Ron, a patch eyed Kurt Russel who seems to have no credentials, but to perturb Martain Short when against logic, he comes through time after time when the chips are down in the most humorous ways possible. Scene after scene has so much humor you can't pick it all up in one showing. Kurt Russell and Martian Short as Captn Ron and the father/ships owner are perfectly cast. You will not regret this film and if you are like a lot of folks will end up knowing many of the lines and jokes, the recollection of which will brighten your day with a smile long after the movie. Has a happy heart warming ending, some suspense, and a generally upbeat tone more movies should have. It's many sailors' favorite. I personally loved Steve Martain in The Jerk and to me they both rank one and two in terms of modern comedy movies. Suitable for a whole family and with a gut splitting ending.

That's okay, Boss, it could happen to anyone!
Even Captain Ron! Finally, on DVD!!! This is my family's favorite movie. We know all the lines and recite them along with the movie, and we still laugh so hard it hurts. Plus, the wisdom of Captain Ron helps bring humor into MANY real-life events. Something goes wrong at work? Just say, "That's okay, Boss, it could happen to anyone" and make everyone else wonder why you're smirking. Having trouble merging onto the freeway? Just say, "They'll get out of the way, they always do. Learned that driving the Saratoga." MUST HAVE DVD!!! CAN'T WAIT!!! Planning to buy several copies of the DVD. (rating the VHS version) (FYI, boaters, especially sailors, will probably find this movie more funny than land-lubbers.)

Don't cost much
Why are all the good movies so cheap within a month of me buying them? Try this one out. Don't cost much and it's worth a whole lot more.

Lets not get to serious here
This is just a fun movie. Yes, it is unbelievable, yes it is a bit dorky but hey so is Disneyland and it's a lot of fun. If you like movies like Goonies ect then get this film.

Funnier than it should be
First off, I laughed throughout this film. I suppose it qualifies as a 'guilty pleasure' since it isn't (and doesn't pretend to be) the Citizen Kane of boating flicks.

Kurt Russell gives an excellent comedic performance, something that isn't always easy to do. He plays his role straight, and really lets the antics of Martin Short and the rest of his family play off him. I love the scene where Russell is sleeping, and the daughter notices that he has his patch on the wrong eye...is Captain Ron for real, or a con man, or worse...?

This film brings a smile to my face whenever I watch it, or even think of a scene, or line, here or there. And what more do you want a comedy to do? Buy the film...you'll watch it more than once.

The cinematography is excellent, the boat beautiful, the Caribbean never looked better, and it's as good-naturedly funny as heck.

Recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A natural portrayal of character
You won't get large explosions, incredible lines, or wonderful camera work in "Gross Anatomy". What you will get, though, is a beautiful and realistic character portrayal of five clean cut kids who are trying to achieve the dream of thousands of students in this country: To become wonderful med students.

Matt Modine has to be one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. In this film, his development is staggering. From the moment you see him, you think "this kid is special". To see this beauty materialize during the course of the movie is unforgettable.

The film does a superb job of juxtaposing Christine Lahti's character (Dr. Woodruff) with Modine's. You can understand her dream of making her "best students into top doctors" and how Modine may fit this role. Modine's medical partners do a fine job of depicting some of the other practical problems that first year medical students may face.

Overall, this is a highly entertaining film that will leave the thoughtful viewer thinking about his own character development, perhaps juxtaposing it against one of the several fine characters in this film.

Perhaps the most underrated film of all time.
I am always disturbed to see the lack of recognition which "Gross Anatomy" has suffered. It is in my opinion one of the best films ever produced. The humour is good, but more significant is the character development which is so perceptive and subtle. It is certainly worth seeing, unfortunately it appears to be unavailable.

The best med movie ever!
For my opinion the year of 1989 it has been one of the most exciting years in the history of cinema. Three movies from this particular year changed my life. First Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, second Dead Poets Society and third is Gross Anatomy. the last one i saw it the first time in TV but i loved it right away. This movie mixtures two of my favorite items. Colleges and relationships. It has believable and true characters and most of all it has Daphne Zunigha. Its directory it is honest and modest but above all some melancholy corresses the story. I think the character Matthew Modine plays is a genious who he dosen't know he is genious. I loved it and i am waiting for the european edition of the movie because i cant buy it yet.
Dont miss it either youare med student or not...

Don't Watch This Unless You Care About Medical School
The only people I know who've even heard of this movie are med students and aspiring med students. I'll be starting medical school in a few months, myself, so I can't say that I'm any different. That's what initially drew me to the movie, and maybe that's the reason why I liked it.

This movie has Matthew Modine playing a first year medical student named Joe Slovak. He's the antithesis of everything that a stereotypical med student is perceived to be. He's laid back, worldly, handsome, and not especially self-serving. At first I thought his character would be in the style of Robin Williams in "Patch Adams", where he'd end up being the rebel who believed that medicine lacked humanity and would lead a crusade to somehow change things for the better. However, he doesn't really seem to care about people enough to make such a change. While this apathetic lack of motivation might be realistic, it certainly doesn't make for a colorful character in a movie. He is surrounded by four other med students who, as any movie about medical school would require, are all driven to excel and are vilified as a result. The movie tells how these five people worked together to get through their first year in school. All the typical elements are here: cut-throat competitiveness, jealousy, elitism, ways of dealing with stress, and of course, the obligatory subplot involving the budding romance between two lab partners.

If you're thinking about going to medical school, don't use this movie to decide whether it's a good idea. It won't sway your opinion in any particular direction. However, aside from the way in which the characters are skewed, this movie will give you a good idea of what medical school might be like. Though, if you're just looking for a movie to provide you with entertainment, this isn't what you want. Go watch "Patch Adams" instead. It's of the same genre, and it's better. Unless you're medically inclined, I don't recommend this movie.

No Special Features
If you read all the reviews of this film below based on the VHS version, you'll see it is one of the more enjoyable films of the late 1980s. Everything said about it is correct, and I stand by the praise I gave it as well.
I just wanted to alert viewers of the DVD, however, that there are NO special features. It's a bit odd for a DVD not to have any, but that explains why this is is so inexpensive.
Of course, the nice thing is, it's widescreen, so you can see the full picture. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Plots that move in mysterious ways.
FACE DOWN belongs to that class of mystery-suspense stories whose plot leaves you asking, "How did that guy fit in?" That guy is the REAL killer, but nothing in the movie ties him into the action except him's quick character switch. The fun part of this film is watching the other guy, Joe Mantegna, not-too-skilled private eye, get involved with one hot tomato, blonde client too many. You know the saying in Private Eye films when there's murder: "Cherchez le Private Eye." Mantegna was fingered for murder two which fingered him for murder one and he would have been fingered for a couple more murders, but time ran out; the REAL killer gets . . . heh! I can't give the plot away. See the film. It was entertaining and interesting. It will tell you whether Joe gets the girl. I was going to give this movie only 4**** but I gave it 5 because the dialogue didn't use too many cliches and the casting was definitely on track.

Too much dialogue..not enough content
Romance movie plus a drama? Nice plot, witty dialogue just short on action. Standouts include a violent bathroom scene involving a talented unknown actor and Ms. Maroney and the evil one played by Adam Ant. Worth a watch

so-so mystery movie with far too much dialogue.
For me, there was too much talking and plot to really get into this movie. with a crazy porn lady and a private eye who's "mysteriously" hated by everyone at the police station, one can only suspect that you might need a pillow to withstand this movie. the movie's shining glory, however is the "bad guy" played by adam ant, who is such a good bad guy. it's a shame that his part isn't bigger, but what the heck. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

RATZ, Second only to Chocolate
Do you love chocolate? Because if you love chocolate this movie is perfect for you! I loved all the seens with the hot rats and the chocolate mouse! My favorite part is when they are soaking in a jacuzzi of boiling chocolate! This movie is a cinematic masterpiece great for every boy and girl who ever need a chocolate fix and a great way to find a date to the upcoming dance! You know what they say chocolate is a aphrodigiac, and so is the movie RATZ!!!!!!!!!!! BY THE WAY, THE RATZ ARE DEAD SEXY (thats before they are turned in to the boys)

Now that I have seen this movie, I can die a happy person.
I mean it. I have now lived a complete, fulfilled life. I couldn't have lived a more fulfilled life if I worked in a fulfilling factory instead of a Nike shoe factory in Moscow, Russia. I haven't had this much fun since I got that girl at the fireworks stand in so much trouble.

Like, really, you should watch this movie!
THis is such a funny little movie, not to be taken seriously. My friend recommended it to me so my sister and I rented it. WE BOTH LOVED it!! Of course, our reasons may be a bit shallow, but hey, this is a lot better than some of the other pre teen stuff out there. Even as a high school senior, I can enjoy a fun movie. Ratz was that fun movie. The main characters actually had to deal with things that my friends and I had delt with at their age(not the whole magic ring thing), unlike some other movies where twin girls go off and find the perfect guys in foreign countries. Though I do enjoy "some" of those movies, this was more of my bag.
I like a movie where you can laugh out loud and at the same time identify with the girls in the dentist chairs. Meanwhile, there are other characters that you'll fall in love with to keep one's interest peaked! Just a fun little movie!

Great Movie for Preteen Girls (and their Parents)
The perfect antidote to Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen! This one of the sweetest, cutest, funniest movies I've ever seen for the 8-14-year-old set. The humor is sharp without ever being mean-spirited, and there's always something going on in the background, which makes repeated viewing rewarding. Even adults will find plenty to love about this one! No violence, a couple of extremely mild double-entendres (so mild that they went right past my 10-year-old daughter), wonderful performances by young and seasoned actors alike. The two girls are natural and just darling, and Kathy Baker and Ron Silver turn in marvelously nuanced performances as a pair of lonely, slightly flaky star-crossed lovers. Fun, fun, fun. Buy it for the preteen girl (or enlightened boy) in your life! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

"Don't worry...He knows you're an idiot!"
HE in this case is NAPOLEON of CRIME,Professor James Moriarty. YOU is "the world's most famous consulting detective",SHERLOCK HOLMES. Speaking is Ben Kingsley essaying the role of CRIME DOCTOR,John Watson.The case is WITHOUT A CLUE. Directed by Thom Eberhardt,WAC is a deft, wacky satire on Conan-Doyle's genius master detective positing what if Dr. Watson was THE MAN;and Sherlock Holmes was master of CLUTZ. Parody works because humor is arch but neither ham-handed nor condescending. Michael Caine (usually epitome of cockney cool from Super spy Harry Palmer, to Super thug Jack Carter)is Clouseau Goofy without overshadowing Kingsley who plays a genuine hero sleuth against England's most nefarious MASTER CRIMINAL. This is a very funny movie with excellent production values and superb(Victorian)ambience. And there is genuine mystery to solve. THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN is sure to revive interest in THE PROFESSOR if not Sherlock. WITHOUT A CLUE may or may not(like Spielberg's YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES)help much with its satirizing of the first League of Extraordinary Crime Fighters. But Doctor Watson's cloning of a Sherlock of extraordinary ineptitude and rank(though charming)stupidity is OXYMORONIC episode of Holmsian mythology in a Major League of its own.(4 & 1/2 stars)

This is a great movie!
Sherlock Holmes has solved unnumbered cases for Scotland Yard, but it turns out that Dr. Watson (played by Ben Kingsley) has a secret - there is no Sherlock Holmes! Having hired Reginald Kincaid (Michael Caine) to play the part of Holmes, Watson now wants to get rid of the man, as he is "a liar, a drunkard and a womanizer." But, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer arrives with a case that threatens the very existence of the Empire, and will talk to no one but the great Sherlock Holmes, Watson has to take Kincaid back for just one more case, and it's a whopper! There is a deep mystery here, one with Professor Moriarty (Paul Freeman) at it's heart, and only Holmes...er, Watson can possibly unravel it. [Color, released in 1988, with a running time of 1:47.]

This is a great movie! Turning the Sherlock Holmes stories any which way but loose, Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley make a great duet, battling crime and each other. The movie succeeds in being outrageously funny, and yet absolutely gripping. The movie is clean, though Leslie Giles' secret is enough to make you squirm in front of little ones. Overall, though, my family and I loved this movie, and highly recommend it to you!

Very clever, a lot of fun!
What if Dr. Watson (Ben Kingsley) is the real detective and Sherlock Holmes is his fictional alter ego whose name he created and uses to protect his medical practice? And what if, when pressured to produce Holmes to the public, Watson hires an out-of-work actor to pretend to be Holmes (Michael Caine). All Holmes has to do is what Watson tells him to do as he, Watson, does all the sleuthing. This is the clever premise of this film -- all the more clever if you know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a doctor who wrote the Holmes detective mysteries on the side. Of course, things start to spiral out of control when "Holmes" tries to solve the mysteries without Watson and "Holmes" makes up a lot of the famous mannerisms.

Lots of humor, a good mystery and very nice repartee between the two men as Watson becomes increasingly exasperated with his creation. (This has an almost "Remington Steele" like premise if any of you remember that 1980s TV show staring Pierce Brosnam.) A very under-rated film with a top notch cast.

I have not seen this film on the new DVD so can't comment on the quality of this DVD. I'm just reviewing the film itself.

What a delight!
Although I'm a lover of Sherlock Holmes movies, I almost missed this gem. Everything about this film was wonderful, particularly the tremendous performances by Caine and Kingsley. You can see they're having fun with it every scene, and I loved being along for the ride.

The script is intelligent and witty, without getting goofy or slapstick. The plot is hilarious yet holds together as a "mystery" (kind of...). It is totally devoid of the offensive language that plagues so many movies, making it a great family fun flick (but it's NOT at all juvenile).

I just wish they'd made a series of these films -- I didn't want it to end.

"I've got it! His real name is Arty-Morti!"
Without a Clue (1988) poses an interesting and humorous take on the Sherlock Holmes mythos created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The film asks what if the character of Sherlock Holmes was truly a fictional character created by Doctor Watson, and is played by an actor, with Watson being the actual mastermind behind solving the various cases and crimes?

In the film, Ben Kingsley plays Doctor Watson, the man behind the deductive and crime solving skills of his fictional character, Sherlock Holmes. For reasons that are revealed within the movie, Watson was not able to take credit for solving his first caper, so he invented the character of Sherlock Holmes, but soon found his creation was in great demand, so he hired an actor, Reginald Kincaid (Michael Caine) to play the part of the detective while Watson stayed in the background continuing to be the 'brains' of the operation. Only problem is Reginald Kincaid is a buffoonish, womanizing, gambling, drunkard, and unable to, as he put it, '...detect horse manure if he stepped in it.'

After a falling out, Doctor Watson fires Kincaid, and decides to go it alone as 'The Crime Doctor'. Guess what? The legend of Holmes has grown so large and become ensconced so deeply within the public psyche that no one takes Watson seriously, and even his publisher threatens to sue if Watson reveals the truth of the situation publicly. Not only that, but a rather important case involving the financial integrity of the British Empire has surfaced, one involving the nefarious Professor Moriarty, and Holmes is the only man for the job. Watson finds himself in the humbling position of bringing Kincaid back for what will be one last performance.

Kingsley and Caine play their parts perfectly, and are supported by a wonderful cast including Jeffery Jones as Inspector Lestrade, Paul Freeman as Moriarty, Lysette Anthony, and Peter Cook. The dialogue is witty, and even though the plot a bit thin in some areas, the film works wonderfully as a farcical tale with just the right amounts of slapstick and tongue in cheek humor. A completely professional job done by everyone all around. My favorite part of the film was the notion of Watson using Holmes to keep Inspector Lastrade busy tracking down pointless leads while Watson performed the real detection at the crime scene. I was laughing hard when Holmes was on all fours inspecting the pattern of a rug with the baffled inspector right next to him, trying to get the jump on the master detective.

I was a little disappointed in the release of this film on DVD, as I thought the picture and sound quality could have been better. Also, why is there only a full screen release available? Special features are virtually non-existent with the inclusion of a trailer for the film. MGM usually does a pretty good job with their releases, but they seemed to have dropped the ball here. Anyway, this is a great little film, and worth watching if only to see two fine actors at work

Cookieman108 ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Just Another Teen Movie?
It is known to many, that to find a good teen movie, you must look further than the video shelves of your local Video Hire. Sure, there is 'Pretty In Pink', 'The Breakfast Club' and more recently 'Get Over It', but they all rely on the love triangle's to boost thier plot. 'The Night Before' is different, not only in the conventional, but the unconventional. Creating laughs from the twisted love match of Reeves & Loughlin, the seedy going-ons that run the streets at night, to slapstick escapades that adorn the closing sequences. This is a must for any lover of films, or the Weird and Wonderful that fill studio backlists to the brim. Deleted in the UK, buy quick from America, a minor masterpiece of Hollywood legends.

Charming Romantic Comedy
This is a really funny, feel good movie with a happy ending. Lori Loughlin's character loses a bet with friends and has to take nerdy Winston Connelly (Keanu Reeves) as her prom date. Through a chain of events -- including getting lost, a broken down car, a bar in a bad neighborhood, a pimp, and the girl's policeman father -- they NEVER reach the prom at all. Winston proves to be a hero instead of a nerd and earns Lori's character's devotion by the end. Keanu Reeves is charming and not the airhead character he protrayed many times in his early career. He and Lori Loughlin have a nice chemistry. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I WAS A TEENAGE FAUST
I REALLY LIKED THIS DVD,BECAUSE IT IS JUST SUCH A NICE INNOCENT PLOT,KEEPS YOU INTERESTED,NICE DRY COMEDY,ALSO FOR NOT VERY WELL KNOWN ACTORS I THINK THEY DID VERY WELL ACTING JOBS.I JUST WANTED TO KEEP WATCHING, NO SLOWNES TO THE MOVIE. WOULD BE A GREAT FAMILY MOVIE FOR ALL AGES. THE MOVIE IS ABOUT A YOUNG NERDY BOY THAT SO DESPERATLY WANTS TO BE POPULAR AND GET HIS DREAM GIRL TO NOTICE HIM AND DATE HIM,SO HE MADE A DEAL WITH THE DEVILS HELPER,AND AFTER THE DEAL HE IS POPULAR,BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE WHAT HE WANTED AFTER ALL. NO REAL VIOLENCE, IF YOU LIKE COMEDIC
INNOCENT FAMILY ORIENTED MOVIES BUY IT! BAM FROM SASKATCHEWAN,CANADA

I was a Teenage Faust Review
I just watched this movie about a half hour ago. I thought it was a funny movie, a newish not very known comedy. The plot is simple and humorous. The actors are very good and overall I just plainly thought it was a good comedy to watch!! ... Read more