Amazon.com

William Hurt is perfectly cast as an arrogant surgeon who treats patients like interchangeable cogs in the machinery of his medical practice. Then he is diagnosed with throat cancer and, as the title of the memoir on which it is based tells us, he gets a taste of his own medicine. The subplot involves the solidarity between doctors, which is shattered when the newly conscious physician discovers that one of his partners (Mandy Patinkin) is trying to cover up a case of malpractice. Hurt is solid, as is Wendy Crewson as the doctor who treats him and Elizabeth Perkins as a fellow cancer patient. Interestingly, Hurt's fellow actors Patinkin, Adam Arkin, and Christine Lahti all wound up playing doctors on TV's Chicago Hope. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Moral, moving, and marvellous movie...
Every doctor - and every patient! - should see this movie; the difference is that, not all doctors will understand *why* they should see it..

I use The Doctor when teaching my medical students how to avoid becoming a certain kind of doctor; the kind who is so detached from humanity that they never feel anything of the pain, fear - and the hope - that their patients feel. They have forgotten how to care, and they don't care to remember it.

This is a film about a medical `Everyman`; Jack (played by William Hurt with great integrity and skill)is redeemed as a human being - and as a doctor - by his own experience of serious illness, and by that of his friend - her death frees him from the blinkers of self-absorption. The scene where the two of them dance in the Nevada desert is breathtaking.

Supporting cast are excellent; especially Mandy Patinkin as Jack's unscrupulous surgical partner. Jack's initially dysfunctional family life is a central part of this movie, and the roles of his wife and son are well played.

The last scenes are amongst the best; especially where Jack is explaining to his interns why they are going to spend the next 24 hours not as doctors, but as hospital patients - wearing hospital gowns, undergoing all the appropriate tests, and (horror of horrors) eating hospital food.

The following and final scene is simply beautiful, as Jack stands on the roof of the hospital and dances by himself, revived and renewed.

Anyone involved in medical or healthcare education should have this video - and use it! Others should watch it to understand better what can happen to medical students along the way to becoming doctors.

beautiful film
William Hurt's performance as a cold and arrogant doctor who finds out he has cancer and gets a lesson of life is wonderful(no surprise) as well as the whole cast including Elizabeth Perkins,Christine Lahti,Mandy Patinkin,Adam Arkin(yes, the doctors of chicago hope).Then you think: "but it's a doctor film" but actually this film is for all audiences not only for doctors. The scene where he gets a letter from a patient(Elizabeth Perkins)and he reads it on the roof of the hospital with pigeons flying is so beautiful and I couldn't hold the tears from tumbling down.

THE MOVIE THAT KILLED M.A.S.H.
The Doctor was another of those excellent, well-made 1990-91 releases pre-empted by laser-guided bombs and missiles of the 1990 Gulf War and forced into the video occult. But that's not stopped it from a second chance via DVD where it may get well-deserved recognition and revenues for each actor and crew's excellent contributions.
The cast drove home messages that health care professionals need take a good look at "because one day you'll be sick to" ... So "physician, heal thyself" and thereby prepare to heal others all the way down to your bedside manners. The Word is eventually sent via Jack McKee and partner whose cavalier professionalism ("Get in, cut it out and couldn't care less!") is callously unsuited to genuine warmth patients need communicated to them. And then there's the insurance companies who, like them, run on "stats" and "the bottom line" to coldly determine who lives and dies on the medical production line.
You don't know what it's like until you hear those 3 words "You've got cancer"; they'll floor you -especially if you're a physician who knows the realities of catastrophic illness. So "a taste of my own medicine" (subtitle to book movie is based on) engages McKee when he's told that. I've walked hospital hallways like McKee on the way to radiation therapy and sat with the terminally ill, knowing I'd likely survive (Or would I?) and that others were terminal, and encountered my own death watch. The disingenuous reassurance McKee gave others is sheer hypocrisy and his facetious talk of golf antagonizes "the herd," whom he'd felt beneath his ivory tower profession and HIS herd of incompetents. But now, his relation with a dying patient, whom he actually befriends, turns him inward and he admits his and the profession's shortcomings - then he falls out of love with himself - all too late to save her but soon enough to save himself and his family from the same callousness engulfing all but a few.
It sends a strong message to those who profit from medicine at the deadliest expense to others whom it's supposed to save! My only complaint is that Amazon.com hasn't mailed me my DVD of it yet. How long will it take?

A dose of your own medicine
After getting over the initial shock of seeing half the cast of Chicago Hope (when it was still a good show...and not the pale imitation of itself that it later became: Alan Arkin, Mandy Patinkin, Christine Lahti), this movie evolves into a fine, quiet, character driven drama. There are no great heroics, apart from June (Elizabeth Perkins), and even those are real, not manipulative, cliched, corny or obvious.

This is a movie that works to develop its characters and plot simultaneously and without artifice or obvious (groanable/cringe inducing) plot devices. None of them are in anwyay what you would call 'extreme' or cliched. They are just very normal people placed is a very stressful situation- the doctor being diagnosed with a growth in his throat and the changes in many lives this growth causes. The changes are both good, bad and 'educational' for most of them. The subplot- hospitals, statistics, malpractice cases, protecting each other- is subdued, never moralized or sermonized on but explored in a way whereby you can make your own judgements, based on some realistics situations (imagine a situation where somebody's life was worth less than $1000). The cast compliment each other and really connect. This movie is quite subtle at times and doesn't use in your face methods to make a point.

This is a movie then that is honest, beautifully made, accessible and at times really funny, and at times really raw and saddening. It isn't an episode of ER. So if you're looking for high medical drama look elsewhere. But if you're looking for real multi-layered human drama then look here. Honesty is the key word and theme in the movie (which if you watch it you'll understand what I mean). Honesty to oneself, others and just to the concept in general. And how too, sometimes we find spiritual and psychological 'healing' in the midst of the greatest physical peril.

The DVD contains no special features, only the movie, scene selection and set-up. Though it was made in 1990, it doesn't look too dated (apart from the cell-phones).

I have to admit watching this movie, I looked at the clock on the DVD player and actually hoped it wouldn't end. How many movies can you say that about?

I think the best moment in the story is when the doctor reads the story June gave him. I think there is a lesson in that that is relevant to all of us. Hopefully you'll get the opportunity to see what I mean by watching this movie.

SO in all, a brilliant, engrossing, poignant and real human drama built around believeable characters doing normal things and suffering typical tragedies that are enormous in our own lives. These are people we can understand and relate to, not the superficial and stereotypical larger-than-life, weirder-than-fiction characters designed to play with our minds and strum on our heartstrings. These people do touch your heart and mind for the right reasons...And maybe, if only for a moment, it causes you to question and reassess how you deal with others and the face you present the world, then maybe it has helped heal you a little bit too...If you need it, as most of us do.

One of my favorite films
"The Doctor" is one of my favorite films. I have seen it maybe 10 times (on VHS) and know much of it by heart. There is nothing artificial about this film. It is a human story about real people, well directed and edited, and with sincere, fleshed-out performances from everyone in the cast.

At the opening we see the successful heart surgeon Dr. Jack McKee, quite full of himself, performing another major operation while "Let's Get Drunk and Screw" plays in the background. We see him as he makes his rounds, failing in his attempts to interact on a human level with his patients, substituting crude attempts at humor for genuine compassion. We see him failing at home as well, as his professional life alienates him from his wife and son. All this begins to change when a seemingly minor throat irritation is diagnosed as laryngeal cancer. Then he learns what it is like to be on the other side of the medical profession, and it changes his life.

William Hurt, a fine but perhaps somewhat limited actor, is perfect as Jack McKee, and he is wonderfully supported by Christine Lahti, who plays his wife, and Elizabeth Perkins, who gives an amazing performance as June, a young woman with a grade 4 brain tumor who has a powerful impact on Hurt's character. June and Jack share a scene in the desert at sundown that gives me a lump in the throat every time.

Also worth mentioning are Wendy Tewson, who plays a rather nasty ENT surgeon who gives Jack a dose of his own medicine (so to speak), and Adam Arkin as Dr. Eli Blumfield, "the Rabbi", who has often been the butt of Jack's humor around the hospital, because he talks to his patients while they are anesthetized.

The Doctor is a film that illustrates the importance of treating people as human beings and not as objects or numbers on a chart. Highly recommended! (I've pre-ordered the DVD too.) ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Fantastic
"Dance With Me" was a really great movie that worked on manylevels. It had great music, an enthusiastic, fun-loving cast, a great storyline, believable characters, sensitivity, romance, and a happy ending. This was accomplished without the use of gratuitios sex, violence, and bad language that seems to be all too common in todays movies of lesser character. Vanessa L. Williams was great as dancer Ruby, and Chayanne was wonderful and romantic as her male love-interest, though he did have a tendency to smile way too much. They were amazingly romantic, full of chemistry, Chayanne was very convincing in his role as a man with dubious parentage. Chayanne is hot, yes, but even hotter was the man who played Vanessa L. William's ex-partner, the father of her son, and competetion partner during the Latin dance contest sequence. He is an extremely sexy man! I only wish that he, Valenzuela (the male Valenzuela--not the woman one), could have gotten WAY more screen time. This movie makes you want to get up and dance. It moves you in more ways than one. I've watched it at least twenty-five times since it was released (very limitedly in the theaters), and I will watch it, no doubt, twenty-five more times before it's all over. This is a fantastic, glamourous movie, and if you prefer a little "ethnicity" in your movies as opposed to formulaic movies like "Strictly Ballroom" or "Dirty Dancing," and if you want to hear great Afro-Carribbean-Latin sounds and see some of the best dancers in the world, this movie is for you.

Great, wonderful, highly enjoyable movie!
"Dance With Me" was a really great movie that worked on many levels. It had great music, an enthusiastic, fun-loving cast, a great storyline, believable characters, sensitivity, romance, and a happy ending. This was accomplished without the use of gratuitios sex, violence, and bad language that seems to be all too common in todays movies of lesser character. Vanessa L. Williams was great as dancer Ruby, and Chayanne was wonderful and romantic as her male love-interest, though he did have a tendency to smile way too much. They were amazingly romantic, full of chemistry, Chayanne was very convincing in his role as a man with dubious parentage. Chayanne is hot, yes, but even hotter was the man who played Vanessa L. William's ex-partner, the father of her son, and competetion partner during the Latin dance contest sequence. He is an extremely sexy man! I only wish that he, Valenzuela (the male Valenzuela--not the woman one), could have gotten WAY more screen time. This movie makes you want to get up and dance. It moves you in more ways than one. I've watched it at least twenty-five times since it was released (very limitedly in the theaters), and I will watch it, no doubt, twenty-five more times before it's all over. This is a fantastic, glamourous movie, and if you prefer a little "ethnicity" in your movies as opposed to formulaic movies like "Strictly Ballroom" or "Dirty Dancing," and if you want to hear great Afro-Carribbean-Latin sounds and see some of the best dancers in the world, this movie is for you.

Good, but I've seen better
I enjoy this show, but as a ballroom dancer, this movie did have a lot of problems. The competition scene itself was hopelessly off. If you're going to display a ballroom competition, at LEAST get it right! The comp they showed is nothing like a real competition, you get nothing of the real feel of what ballroom is. Someone looking to get hooked on the dance style will be sorely disappointed if that's what they're expecting. There's a lot more to it than this movie shows. More to the point, I'd like to see a ballroom movie that employs REAL ballroom dancers, people who actually know what they're doing. That could bring a whole new kind of charisma to the screen. Other than that, though...the music was incredible, very dance-able, it made me want to get out and samba the night away. The story was only halfway, and sort of muddy at times, like they were trying to put TOO much into it, but not too bad. Still, give me Strictly Ballroom any day.

slow & predictable
some good dancing/music & an occassional laugh; however, i found the story slow, cliche & predictable. did i miss the scene where the us/cuban governments began allowing hassle free travel for citizens between the us & cuba??? a 2 star film with an extra star for vanessa williams, who is unbelievably gorgeous.

A real feel good film
A glimpse of beautiful, stylish dance entertainment and a capture of smooth passionate heat. Vanessa L. Williams and Chayanne worked well together. A great feel good movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Adventures in geezer land--make that lovable geezer land--describes this often manipulative comedy-drama that is rescued only by the personalities of its leads. Richard Harris is a feisty retired sea captain in a Florida retirement community who still wants to chase girls and squeeze the most out of life. He forces his friendship on an also-retired, shy, and routine-loving Cuban exile (Robert Duvall), who eventually reciprocates. But Randa Haines's film isn't quite sure what to do with these old characters. Though each takes a romantic plunge (with Piper Laurie and Shirley MacLaine), you ultimately know what the last stop will be. Still, Harris is a force of nature whose exuberance is contagious, if stagey; and Duvall, as the anal-retentive retired barber, has all the right prissy moves. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (14)

You'll want to own this one.
A movie that examines the stock of ones life through the eyes of two lonely men. Richard Harris commanded this film with his portrayal of Frank. He made it his own. Robert Duvall and shirley MacClaine were outstanding. I echo the sentiments of a previous reviewer. It is is a film that I had never heard of, but happily discovered unawares. This will cause a few tears to flow.

An unexpected delight
I had never heard of "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway" until a friend suggested that I view it. Wow, what performances the two main actors bring to the screen! I had previously seen Harris in Gladiator, but this film truly proves his talent as one of the finest actors around. Duvall also shines in what is a very realistic performance, showcasing subtle acting at it's best. I was quite surprised the film didn't garner any Oscars as it has all the right elements needed to win many, many awards. And to think that such a wonderful piece of moviemaking was written by a 21 year old. Now that's an accomplishment.

Don't let the fact that this film didn't perform well in theatres, rent it for what it is: A great little film with a stellar cast, which even includes Sandra Bullock in one of her first roles. You won't regret it.

Magical!
Quite simply, one of the five best movies I've ever seen.

Great Movie
I saw this movie a long time ago. I'm an actor so, I was aware of it when it went in the theaters. Even Sandra Bullock is good. Imagine that! I won't bore you with details about the preformances. Other than the movie being deep in it's simplicity the fact is, this movie is FUNNY! great fun for all the family. Kids will love it too. But, don't overlook the SOUNDTRACK. This movie has the best Trio Matamoros music ever. Even the music puts a smile on your face.

A beautiful film
Echoing the other reviews printed here, I must express shock that more people have yet to discover this painfully honest,quiet, gentle and loving film.

Featuring outstanding work by Richard Harris (this may be his finest performance!, the incomparable Robert Duvall, Shirley Maclaine, and a gorgeous and graceful Sandra Bullock, "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway" also benefits from a solid script and expert direction that allows human beings to truly live.

This witty and softly tragic film contains something for everyone. It is a film about finding soul mates, about love, about facing loneliness and bravely avoiding despair through grace. It is a film about hope. One of the many great crimes in Film history is the fact that so many have overlooked this beautiful and gently profound film.

For its most agreeable price, "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway" (watch the film to get the title's meaning), is a safe and inexpensive gamble. If you are a fan of movies that value character, setting and introspection, this is a film for you. Enjoy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mark Medoff's tough play about deafness is sweetened and softened in this 1986 film adaptation directed by Randa Haines (Wrestling Ernest Hemingway). William Hurt plays a teacher newly hired at a school for deaf children, and Marlee Matlin is the deaf and withdrawn janitor who captures his attention. Romantic and heartfelt, the film makes its audience care very much about its two leading characters, and wince when Hurt's well-meaning instructor allows Matlin's handicap to become a problem. Haines develops some interesting visual ideas to underscore the isolation of Matlin's world, particularly a lovely refrain that finds Matlin swimming alone at night. The drama is cut somewhat by the bouncy energy and good humor of Hurt's students. Piper Laurie is very good in a supporting role as Matlin's mother. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Love on screen between silence and sounds.
Sounds familiar I'm sure, man meets woman and they fall in love, fall out, and fall in again. So,when hearing man falls in love with deaf woman, and they fall out, and so on, there is good reason to think you have been there, heard it all before. Well, listen up, you may be surprised by the quiet assured tale that is the Childen of a Lesser God. A film that gives us an idea of what we thought we knew: Love needs more than words to keep it lit.

This is a film about a deaf and a hearing world trying to find a compromise in communication and echoes of all our stories of love and grief. William Hurt as a Speech Therapist, arrives with a maverick reputation and a certainty in his expectations of the speaking deaf. He can interpret the signs, yet can't undertand his lover's abused heart.

Marlee Matlin has agony across her face that has little to do with cleaning the toilet of a School for the Deaf, or her own deafness. Fortunately, the expressive face also shows the vulnerable tenderness that lies beneath and makes you believe in her struggle to be heard. The script avoids shouting about how the experience of loving someone who has hurt her, affects a woman who is deaf. She falls in love as a woman, and is affected as a woman.

In the company of a strong supporting cast, the characters learn something about their special needs when in love or alone. They stutter into love with a simple but limiting,vocabulary of passion and desire. Like all our own tales of love and grief, the early promise proves illusory when the enduring relationship requires more understanding of the other than we believe ourselves capable.

A film about hearing oppression of Deafness.
William Hurt plays a speech therapist, James Leeds, a gifted teacher. His success does not stop him from being an egotist, or from disrespecting other cultures. Marlee Matlin plays a Deaf woman, Sarah Norman, who's oppressive family experience has made her so angry that even though she is intelligent, independant, sassy, sensual woman, she prefers to mop floors in her old school. Sarah is contrasted with the other Deaf people who are working on their speech. Although he signs James is highly dogmatic about the primary necessity of speech. His pupils come across as disabled in comparison, their speech flawed compared to Sarah's eloquent and expressive signing. Their vocabulary is basic; in one scene their attempt at singing delights the hearing audience, which sees them as becoming more "normal". James falls in love with Sarah's strong and commanding personality, but paradoxically continues to treat her in a patronising way, aiming to "improve" her by working on her speech. It becomes a battle of wills between them as Sarah seeks to have autonomy over her medium of communication. Even so, the dynamic of the relationship spurs Sarah on past the horizons of her menial job.

Gripping Tale of Closed Worlds Joined
This is just an excellent, moving film of an oral track special ed instructor played magnificently by William Hurt falling in love with a Deaf sign only woman superbly acted by Marlee Matlin.

The plot develops as the energetic, determined instructor James pursues Sarah to first allow the teaching of speech, but turns it into language of love.

Two new worlds open for both as well, united at the end in a space void of silence and sound.

Passionate, enlightening, thought provoking. Keeps your interest throughout.

Emotionally Entertaining
"Children of a Lesser God" is one of the best films released in 1986, starring William Hurt and Marlee Matlin. Its brilliant plot never loses its emotional value. Its story about a high school teacher, James, who teaches deaf students, then meets a deaf female janitor who doesn't speak, Sarah, is unique. As secrets are revealed about Sarah's past, the film becomes increasingly interesting. James and Sarah later fall in love, but the battle between Sarah and her inner demons prevents the relationship to function at the fullest. Such twists turns arise within the characters that keep audiences always awaiting anxiously for what happens next. Therefore, this film is more than a love story; it's a story about hope. Such combination adds more unique themes. The distinction between the spoken words and the sign language was brilliantly translated. Rather than typing subtitles on the lower screen during the sign language scenes, James usually speaks what they are saying. Many say that having subtitles may have likely ruined the film's emotional affect. Such accomplishment makes the writing more brilliant.

Marlee Matlin became the youngest person to win the Oscar for the Best Actress catagory (age 21). Her role as Sarah proved highly difficult, considering she only expressed herself nonverbally. Her body language distinuish Sarah's emotions perfectly in every scene. Few others have accomplished this in such magnitude. Only one other actress has won an Oscar for playing a non-speaking lead role (Holly Hunter, "The Piano", 1993). William Hurt performs his role as James wonderfully. Though not as demanding as Matlin's role, his emotional value still holds on top. James struggles between love and reaching out are expressed beautifully in every scene. All other actors, major or minor, also perform their roles beautifully.

"Children of a Lesser God" is a wonderful film for those looking for powerful themes. This is sure to continue pleasing audiences for many more years. Its quality proves that this is destined to become a classic.

Children of a Lesser God
For a movie so 'profound' in its beauty of bridging the gap between hearing and non-hearing people, maybe this movie could have been much more. As it is, it's practically just the idea of 2 different people relating that holds the movie up, and much of the screen time is filled with odd, formulatic sequences.

The movie is so formulatic in its delivery and so un-bold in its unfolding of events that it feels as if you have seen this movie a million times already, possibly because it borrows here and there from other movies similar to it. If this movie is described as boring, it's not because of long scenes, or lack of music, or lenghty dialogue bits, it's only because it only has mundane, tripe, and overused scenes to offer to the viewer. It also has the uncanny heavy 80's atmosphere that most people will be displeased to find in films weak with substance, and resorting to a all-knowing mocking tone towards how the 80's were in general. Take the kid in William Hurt's class for instance, who wears 80's punk garb and plays air guitar, constantly. Forget development of this guy, or possibly a less humiliating approach to his exploration into the ocean of speech, all you really get is him acting as a moving joke for the audience to chuckle at. For that reason, a movie with the title 'Children of a Lesser God' really doesn't even start to breach the waters of what this could possibly mean. No, it shows them in little humorous sequences trying to speak in plain English as a departure from their former medium of silence, and has them dancing around like idiots under control of the director. The beautiful sequences, which seem to be hampered down in thick, rich Vangelis style music, are very few, and definitely do not include any of the 'children'. And William Hurt, while possibly pleasing as the ordinary man's role, a bit tired, a bit patronized, like in his other movies, gets old in this role. Line after line delivered with that monotone voice and absolute paucity of facial expression, really gets overshadowed by even the smaller roles. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

You'll want to own this one.
A movie that examines the stock of ones life through the eyes of two lonely men. Richard Harris commanded this film with his portrayal of Frank. He made it his own. Robert Duvall and shirley MacClaine were outstanding. I echo the sentiments of a previous reviewer. It is is a film that I had never heard of, but happily discovered unawares. This will cause a few tears to flow.

An unexpected delight
I had never heard of "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway" until a friend suggested that I view it. Wow, what performances the two main actors bring to the screen! I had previously seen Harris in Gladiator, but this film truly proves his talent as one of the finest actors around. Duvall also shines in what is a very realistic performance, showcasing subtle acting at it's best. I was quite surprised the film didn't garner any Oscars as it has all the right elements needed to win many, many awards. And to think that such a wonderful piece of moviemaking was written by a 21 year old. Now that's an accomplishment.

Don't let the fact that this film didn't perform well in theatres, rent it for what it is: A great little film with a stellar cast, which even includes Sandra Bullock in one of her first roles. You won't regret it.

Magical!
Quite simply, one of the five best movies I've ever seen.

Great Movie
I saw this movie a long time ago. I'm an actor so, I was aware of it when it went in the theaters. Even Sandra Bullock is good. Imagine that! I won't bore you with details about the preformances. Other than the movie being deep in it's simplicity the fact is, this movie is FUNNY! great fun for all the family. Kids will love it too. But, don't overlook the SOUNDTRACK. This movie has the best Trio Matamoros music ever. Even the music puts a smile on your face.

A beautiful film
Echoing the other reviews printed here, I must express shock that more people have yet to discover this painfully honest,quiet, gentle and loving film.

Featuring outstanding work by Richard Harris (this may be his finest performance!, the incomparable Robert Duvall, Shirley Maclaine, and a gorgeous and graceful Sandra Bullock, "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway" also benefits from a solid script and expert direction that allows human beings to truly live.

This witty and softly tragic film contains something for everyone. It is a film about finding soul mates, about love, about facing loneliness and bravely avoiding despair through grace. It is a film about hope. One of the many great crimes in Film history is the fact that so many have overlooked this beautiful and gently profound film.

For its most agreeable price, "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway" (watch the film to get the title's meaning), is a safe and inexpensive gamble. If you are a fan of movies that value character, setting and introspection, this is a film for you. Enjoy. ... Read more

Description

In this anthology series, the legendary 1950's comic book rises from the dead as one of the most innovative, terrifying and frightfully funny horror shows on television.Each bone chilling adventure features a star-studded cast and is hosted by its slightly decaying master of ceremonies, the Crypt Keeper. From behind the camera, Tales From The Crypt boasts some of Hollywood's top talent and biggest names from television and films; from producers, to directors to composers.So, turn down the lights, lock your doors and join the Crypt Keeper with his fiendishly famous friends for unforgettable adventures, macabre, murder and mayhem. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

3 classic Tales from the Crypt episodes
I've owned this video for a long time now but it is always fun to watch. Only Sin Deep is such a great story and Lea Thompson does such a great job in it. Lover Come Hack to Me is the second story in the video and it is a pretty creepy tale, but the third episode Collection Completed is more comical. Maybe they should have titled this video Tales from the Crypt Wives from hell, considering all three episides have somthing to do with woman viciously killing their men. If you liked the Tales from the Crypt t.v. show, then you will really enjoy all three of these classic episodes.

One of the earlier "Crypt's" , it is also one of the best!
Considered to be "Volume 2" of our series, I will be reviewing "...Only Sin Deep" , "Lover Come Hack To Me" , and "Collection Complete" , all contained in the approximate 90-minute video. "..Only Sin Deep" , starring Lea Thompson, is the tale of a street girl who just needs a little cash. She gets it, all right, from a pawn store owner, in an unusual way. She rises to the top of her game, but no sooner does she notice something is changing...something truely horrifying.

"Lover Come Hack To Me" , starring Stephen Shellen , is the story of tortured love. When a gold digger marries a wealthy young lady, things really heat up the wedding night...just not the way you might think. Amanda Plummer co-stars in this houmerous shocker, professing the old adage: "What Goes around...comes around". "Collection Completed" is the story of a fresh off reiree, Jonas (M. Emmet Walsh) who looks forward to spending quality time with his loving wife Anita (Audra Lindley) , if only she did'nt have so many pesky animals! How Jonas hates them! So he starts a new hobby. Taxidermy. Perhaps Anita will follow up likewise...just not in the way you expect. These gory tales would make any horror buff proud. And just to make things clear, I am NOT writing any of my reviews from the back of the box! These are mine! Later!

ALL 3!!!!!! GREAT!!!!!!!
I LOVED ALL THREE OF THESE STORIES. THE FIRST, ONLY SIN DEEP HAS GREAT ACTING FROM LEA THOMPSON, AND IS SCRIPTED VERY WELL. THE SECOND STORY DOESNT HAVE ANY GREAT TWISTS, AND IS VERY PREDICTABLE, BUT IS STILL VERY ENTERTAINING. THE THIRD STORY IS EXTRODINARY IT HAS A GREAT TWIST AT THE END, AND A VERY COMEDIC STRUCTURE. THIS TAPE IS WELL WORTH A WATCH. END ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Tales from the Crypt doesn't disappoint in this video
What does a bone-chilling story, a tomb, and a rotting corpse have in common? Tales from the Crypt! What else? This video contains DEAD WAIT with one of the best comedians/actors in history, Whoopi Goldberg. She plays a medicine woman on an island that is being taken over by a group of rebels. At the same time, a young man named Red is planning to take a valuable black pearl. What happens when their paths cross?

Yet another great 'Crypt video, sure to send you shivers!
This film contains the episodes (which I will be reviewing) "Dead Wait", "People Who Live In Brass Hearses" and "Seance". I can't speak for other reviewers on this collection, but I found all installments in this video to be well-written and entertaining. "Dead Wait", which features hit TV and film star Whoppi Goldberg (who does a comedic stint with the Crypt Keeper at the end) is a tale of the strange cult of Voodoo and it's supposed magic. But how high do sacrifices go to steal a priceless treasure? Co-Starring James Remar and John Rhys-Davies, there should be lots of "heads rolling" after you see this tale! "People Who Live In Brass Hearses", starring Bill Paxton, in the tale of a common street robber and his mishappen brother (acclaimed film star Brad Dourif) as they try to take down a helpless Ice Cream vender. At the climax, the boys realize that two heads, legs, arms, etc. are better than one... "Seance" , starring Cathy Moriarty, takes a in-sight on the wicked world of tricks involvid psychics, gypsies and such. "But we all know the "Seance" we are seeing is fake, right?" , might be what our dear Alison Peters (Cathy) might say. Co-starring Ben Cross, Alison will learn how wrong she is. These three horrifying tales will do any ghoul's horror collection well. As The Cryptkeeper himself my say, "Til' next time, kiddees!"

VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD
IN THE FIRST EPISODE, WHOOPIE GOLDBERG IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS ANY GOOD. THE SECOND ONE IS EXCELLENT. BRAD DOURIF GIVES AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN THIS VERY COMEDIC EPISODE, WITH BILL PAXTON AS WELL. THE THIRD IS VERY GOOD AS WELL, IT HAS NO TWISTED SHOCK ENDING, AND DOESNT EVEN HAVE A VERY GOOD STORY, BUT IS STILL ENTERTAINING, ESPECIALLY WITH CATHY MORIARTY, SHE IS EXCELLENT. END ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Worth seeing for "Easel Kill Ya" alone
"Easel Kill Ya" is one of the best episodes of "Tales from the Crypt" ever. It features Tim Roth ("Rob Roy," "Gridlock'd," "Hoodlum"), one of my favorite actors, as a disturbed and uninspired artist who discovers inspiration in painting pictures of murder scenes... murders that he commits himself! Things get complicated when he meets a woman who can make him a happier man and change his murderous ways, but will his misdeeds catch up to him? One of the best concepts ever, and unlike a lot of these episodes, it's done correctly. The original comic book story (these old comics are available in reprints) was excellent too, although it looked a bit annoying the way the overwritten text was squeezed into seven and a half pages. This same concept was repeated in another comic book story called "Accidents and Old Lace," but that story was not as good.

"Well Cooked Hams" wasn't bad either. "Halfway Horrible" had a good concept but wasn't done very well, and since all these episodes are adapted from old comic books, the makers of this episode cannot be credited for the concept. But get this video for "Easel Kill Ya" alone.

TWO OUT OF 3 AINT THAT BAD
THIS TAPE GRTS DRAGGED DOWN TO A 6 DUE TO THE SECOND STORY, HALFWAY HORRIBLE. IT IS AWFUL, AND ALSO THE WORSE EPISODE THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE, IT IS INCREDIBLY BORING. THE FIRST EPISODE, WELL COOKED HAMS IS ALLRIGHT. THE THIRD EPISODE, EASIL KILL YA IS GREAT. AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE BY TIM ROTH IN THE THIRD ONE. WATCH THE FIRST, AND THEN FAST FORWARD TO THE THIRD, TRUST ME. END ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Two of the Best Episodes in One Tape!
One of my favorite episodes is Dig that Cat..He's Real Gone. In this episode, a bum gets a procedure that gives him nine lives like a cat. He decides to do the whole side show bit and it doesn't turn out the way he thinks it will. The Man Who Was Death is a great episode about a executioner that gets put out of business by a new law. Then he decides to take the law in his own hands. This is great!

Great Entertainment
Tales From The Crypt Vol.1 is a great video tape. The Man Who Was Death is one of the first and best crypt episodes ever.The last two stories are okay,but buy the tape for the first and one of the best crypt episodes ever The Man Who Was Death Spooktactular fun and entertainment!

ITS ALL GOOD!!!!!!
THE FIRST, AND THIRD ARE THE BEST STORIES ON THE TAPE. THE SECOND ONE WITH PRICILLA PRESLEY ISNT AS GOOD, BUT STILL WORTH WATCHING. THE FIRST, AND THIRD ARE DEFINATLEY WORTH WATCHING FOR THE GREAT STORIES, AND CASTS. END ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Brooke and Perry are great! Came The Dawn Is A Must See!
Came The Dawn is perfectly directed and written plus great acting from Brooke Shields and Perry King, this is one of the best Tales From The Crypt episodes ever due to the unexpected and surprise ending, a must see! Mournin Mess is only average but worth a watch. Watch the last story also for a surprise ending. A must own buy today!

MY FAVORITE EPISODE IS THE 1ST
THIS TAPE, WITHOUT A DOUBT, GETS A TEN DUE TO THE FIRST EPISODE, CAME THE DAWN, WITH BROOKE SHIELDS, AND PERRY KING. IT IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE EPISODE. IT HAS A BRILLIANT STORY, AND A TWISTED, UNEXPECTED, GENIUS ENDING. THE OTHER TWO EPISODES ARENT THAT GOOD, BUT YOU MUST SEE CAME THE DAWN. YOU WOULDENT BE SORRY!!!!!!!!!! END ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Supurb acting by supurb talent in this freakish "'Crypt".
This "Tales From The Crypt" video seemingly features great talent from great film stars past and present. From this video, I'll be reviewing "What's Cookin'?" , "Split Personality" and "As Ye Sow" . "What's Cookin'?", starring Christopher Reed (one of his best and most recent before his accident) , and Meatloaf (?!) , this is a houmerous tale of...well...kind of canibalisim, I guess. Let's just say some "special" meat is imported. Lot's of tounge-in-cheek material. The kind of 'Crypt you'd bring home to mom. "Split Personality" , featuring award winning actor Joe Pesci is a houmerous tale as well, as he dates two identical sisters at the same time, fooling them into thinking that he himself has a twin (he does not) . It's not untill he marries BOTH untill things REALLY heat up.... "As Ye Sow" , starring Hector Elizondo, John Shea and Patsy Kensit is a tale of a man who believes his wife to be cheating on him with a local priest. However, things are not always as they seem, as ending draws to a very shocking yet ironic end. Overall, another great "Tales From The Crypt" video. They're all good with variety. "What's Cookin'?" has humor, "Split Personality" has that gore you crave, and "As Ye Sow" is a great date 'Crypt! Well. No, not really, it's not. Later!

REALLY GOOD
THE FIRST STORIE, WELL COOKED HAMS IS GREAT, AND HAS A VERY ENTERTAINING STORIE. THE SECOND, SPLIT PERSONALITY IS EVEN BETTER, WITH AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE FROM JOE PESCI. THE THIRD IS THE BEST, IT HAS AN EXCELLENT STORY, AND A GREAT PERFORMANCE BY HECTOR ELIZONDO. MUST SEE!!!!!!!! END ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Tim Curry is outstanding in this!
Even if you are not a huge Tim Curry fan you'll enjoy his talented performances in this one. Eddie Murphy, eat your heart out! (Tim pulls off 3 characters in the same skit beautifully, along with great makeup and costume you can really buy that these are 3 family members, not just Tim in 3 costumes.) Bravo! The "sex" scene is a little much, but well worth it for seeing some truely original stuff by this great actor.

Tim Curry is God..............
This is a preformance (by my favorite actor) by Tim Curry that you must not miss! Tales from the Crypt was really thinking for once when they cast Tim Curry for the lead role. I encourage you all to by it. The 2nd episode on the tape, stunk, but the third was sexually fired up! I demand you all to see it!

1 IS THE BEST
THE FIRST EPISODE, WITH TIM CURRY IN THREE DIFFERENT SLACK JAWED YOKAL, HICK PARTS IS THE ONE TO SEE. TIM CURRY GIVES A GREAT PERFORMANCE. THE SECOND ONE IS IDIODIC, AND VERY LOWSY. THE THIRD IS PREETY GOOD, BUT TOO SEX BASED. END ... Read more

Reviews (2)

great
grea

GOOD
THESE THREE EPISODES ARE NOT AS GOOD AS OTHERS, BUT STILL WORTH WATCHING. THE THRID, WITH JON LOVITZ IS THE BEST (I THINK) END ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Kathy And Mimi Are Fantastic! And Great Directing From Fox!
The first episode on the tape Forever Ambergris is very dull and uninteresting, but the second and third stories are the best. Michael J. Fox does a great job directing the "Trap" the story is also well written and has a unexpected twisted ending."Beauty Rest" features two of the world's most beautiful actresses in Mimi Rogers and Kathy Ireland and for that reason it is the best story on the tape.

GREAT STORY!!!!!!
THE SECOND STORY, BRILLIANTLY DIRECTED BY MICHAEL J. FOX, IS THE BEST ON THE TAPE. IT HAS A GREAT STORY, AND IS WONDERFULLY DONE. THE OTHERS ARE OKAY, BUT NOT AS GOOD END ... Read more

Reviews (3)

UNFULFILLED DREAMS
Granny Weatherall has worked all of her life. She is proud of her accomplishments and still remains a demanding woman in her old age. Now things are changing. She's hearing things and seeing people long dead but she stubbornly refuses to slow down, until her body plays its own wicked game with her.

For the first time in her life this old woman is forced to confront the deep pain that she has carried in her heart. Her great love left her at the altar of matrimony. The incident infused a deep anger and sorrow that she carried around her for the rest of her life.Now ,in her old age, she must give an account of her life as she comes closer to the shadow of death.

This adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter's story shows us the dynamics in a woman's life when she abandons her dreams and substitute them for being a work horse. A vibrant young woman's folly turns into the bitterness of an old woman still holding a grudge over the man her left her and those who died on her. What is she left with after all of these years of sacrifice?

Such a snapshot of a woman's life give us pause to wonder about the meaning of our lives as we determine what is important. Are we to become the work horse grannies or the dutiful daughter called Cordelia who is ever faithful but unappreciated. Porter's story causes us to reflect upon this and this cinematic portrayal will make you think twice about your life. This is an enjoyable presentation with a profound message about living fully.

Unimaginative direction makes extraordinary story ordinary.
Katherine Anne Porter's short story "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall," being told in stream-of-consciousness, could easily have been a cinematic tour-de-force. Unfortunately, director Randa Haines drains any interest out of it by trying to present it in a literal manner. The story would have been nothing special were it not for the stream of consciousness technique. Instead of trying to express Granny's feelings, Haines simply gives us static reenactments of events in her past, filmed in such conventional ways that we do not get much of Granny's attitude toward how she remembers things.

In this TV movie, it is simply an old dying woman having flashbacks. Had Porter's story been given an imaginative director, it could have easily been made into a remarkable and astonishing film. Instead, we get a lame Cliffs Notes version of the story.

I would recommend this film only to curious Porter fans, but I don't expect they'll like it. Anyone who took interest enough to read this review is referred to the short story, which was very innovative in its day. It could make an innovative film someday, but this definitely is not it.

This is too cruel.
I think this is a well written book. I had to read it as an assignment in school. The book makes you think about being old and the dying process (I think) I recommend anyone reading this book and I would read it again. END ... Read more

Reviews (3)

my review
chocolate-filled donuts, just chocolate-filled donuts

One of my favorite episodes!
ABRA CADAVER is one of my favorite episodes of Tales from the Crypt. It's about this evil mortuarian. Buy It! END

Genius!!!!!!!
TALES FROM THE CRYPT IS AN EXCELLENT SHOW. IT IS MY FAVORITE SHOW EVER. THE THREE EPISODES ON THIS COLLECTION TAPE ARE NOT AS GOOD AS OTHER EPISODES , BUT ARE STILL WELL WORTH WATCHING. END ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Best of the Crypt
This is the best tape to get from "Tales from the Crypt" by far. "Split Second" is the best and by far the spookiest. Timothy Dalton is very good in "Werewolf Concerto" a very gross tale indeed. "This'll Kill Ya" is a great tale if you ever think about stretching the truth a wee bit and what may happen to you. These are all great episodes.

Possibly the best "'Crypt" in all of the series! Chilling!
This video contains three of my favorite Crypt episodes in the entire series! Again, I cannot speak for my fellow reviewer, but I watched these videos nearly two-dozen times! I will be reviewing "Split Second" , "WereWolf Concerto", and "This'll Kill Ya" , all included on this delightful video. "Split Second" is a very provocative tale starring Michelle Johnson. Set at a lumberjack forrest, the head cheif marrys a sultry waitress at a local tavern. No sooner than a few monthes later, a young man shows up and stirs up jealousy with the cheif. Soon, Liz seduces him (whooo, momma!) ; the cheif catches the two in the act. It seems down hill now for the young boy at the enraged man...or is it? A shocker. "WereWolf Concerto" is a classic WereWolf tale, "Tales From The Crypt" style! Taking place in a secluded lodge, a the WereWolf is deffintly on the prowl...but is there another monster as well? Timothy Dalton stars in this epic horror-fest. Don't watch it on a full moon! "This'll Kill Ya" is the tale of a harmless practical joke...but the receiver does'nt know the punch line. What follows is a wrongful urge of revenge. Dylan McDermott stars in this hypnotic, suspensefull tale that is garenteed to leave you thinking, long after the Crypt Keeper says his fare wells. This is probably one of my more favorite installments, and if I like it, I know you will as well. I suggest buying it today! Enjoy!

I HAVE TO ADMIT
THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEIR BEST TAPES, BUT IF YOU ARE A FAN OF TALES FROM THE CRYPT I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU GIVE ALL THREE EPISODES A SHOT. ITS NOT THAT THE EPISODES ARE BAD, ITS THAT THEY ARENT GOOD ENOUGH TO WANNA WATCH TWICE. END ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One of the Best Horror Shows ever. . . .
One of the best horror shows ever, with every episode worth watching. Spoiled is more humorous than other episodes, and Blythe Danner is excellent in Maniac, which has a great twisted ending. ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Fantastic
"Dance With Me" was a really great movie that worked on manylevels. It had great music, an enthusiastic, fun-loving cast, a great storyline, believable characters, sensitivity, romance, and a happy ending. This was accomplished without the use of gratuitios sex, violence, and bad language that seems to be all too common in todays movies of lesser character. Vanessa L. Williams was great as dancer Ruby, and Chayanne was wonderful and romantic as her male love-interest, though he did have a tendency to smile way too much. They were amazingly romantic, full of chemistry, Chayanne was very convincing in his role as a man with dubious parentage. Chayanne is hot, yes, but even hotter was the man who played Vanessa L. William's ex-partner, the father of her son, and competetion partner during the Latin dance contest sequence. He is an extremely sexy man! I only wish that he, Valenzuela (the male Valenzuela--not the woman one), could have gotten WAY more screen time. This movie makes you want to get up and dance. It moves you in more ways than one. I've watched it at least twenty-five times since it was released (very limitedly in the theaters), and I will watch it, no doubt, twenty-five more times before it's all over. This is a fantastic, glamourous movie, and if you prefer a little "ethnicity" in your movies as opposed to formulaic movies like "Strictly Ballroom" or "Dirty Dancing," and if you want to hear great Afro-Carribbean-Latin sounds and see some of the best dancers in the world, this movie is for you.

Great, wonderful, highly enjoyable movie!
"Dance With Me" was a really great movie that worked on many levels. It had great music, an enthusiastic, fun-loving cast, a great storyline, believable characters, sensitivity, romance, and a happy ending. This was accomplished without the use of gratuitios sex, violence, and bad language that seems to be all too common in todays movies of lesser character. Vanessa L. Williams was great as dancer Ruby, and Chayanne was wonderful and romantic as her male love-interest, though he did have a tendency to smile way too much. They were amazingly romantic, full of chemistry, Chayanne was very convincing in his role as a man with dubious parentage. Chayanne is hot, yes, but even hotter was the man who played Vanessa L. William's ex-partner, the father of her son, and competetion partner during the Latin dance contest sequence. He is an extremely sexy man! I only wish that he, Valenzuela (the male Valenzuela--not the woman one), could have gotten WAY more screen time. This movie makes you want to get up and dance. It moves you in more ways than one. I've watched it at least twenty-five times since it was released (very limitedly in the theaters), and I will watch it, no doubt, twenty-five more times before it's all over. This is a fantastic, glamourous movie, and if you prefer a little "ethnicity" in your movies as opposed to formulaic movies like "Strictly Ballroom" or "Dirty Dancing," and if you want to hear great Afro-Carribbean-Latin sounds and see some of the best dancers in the world, this movie is for you.

Good, but I've seen better
I enjoy this show, but as a ballroom dancer, this movie did have a lot of problems. The competition scene itself was hopelessly off. If you're going to display a ballroom competition, at LEAST get it right! The comp they showed is nothing like a real competition, you get nothing of the real feel of what ballroom is. Someone looking to get hooked on the dance style will be sorely disappointed if that's what they're expecting. There's a lot more to it than this movie shows. More to the point, I'd like to see a ballroom movie that employs REAL ballroom dancers, people who actually know what they're doing. That could bring a whole new kind of charisma to the screen. Other than that, though...the music was incredible, very dance-able, it made me want to get out and samba the night away. The story was only halfway, and sort of muddy at times, like they were trying to put TOO much into it, but not too bad. Still, give me Strictly Ballroom any day.

slow & predictable
some good dancing/music & an occassional laugh; however, i found the story slow, cliche & predictable. did i miss the scene where the us/cuban governments began allowing hassle free travel for citizens between the us & cuba??? a 2 star film with an extra star for vanessa williams, who is unbelievably gorgeous.

A real feel good film
A glimpse of beautiful, stylish dance entertainment and a capture of smooth passionate heat. Vanessa L. Williams and Chayanne worked well together. A great feel good movie. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Brentwood omitted some facts
For the price, enough good films on this set to make it a worthwhile purchase. HOWEVER, the manufacturer Brentwood, decided to omit the fact that 2 of the films are silent movies. Personally, I find a big difference between a silent and spoken dialogue film, and I believe this was no accident. I sent the comapny an email regarding this, but as with most online customer service, the recepient most likely just mumbled "f**k y**" and deleted the message.

Early Hitchcock
The director's art is revealed in these early classics. 1920s-1930s, from the silent era to early sound. primitive yet brilliant artistic mastery from one of the great masters of mystery.

Passable quality, spotty movies
Here, in one neat bundle, are presented 10 very early Hitchcock films, from classics such as the early version of THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and THE LADY VANISHES (one of my favorites) to more obscure films such as YOUNG & INNOCENT and JUNO & THE PAYCOCK (????).

I haven't watched them all yet, but here is what you get. Five two-sided DVD's, each side with one movie. The movies themselves are available in 2.0 sound or 5.1 "virtual" surround. There are "scene selections", which involve only a few chapters per movie. And that's about it. The quality of the transfer is not first rate, by any stretch. You would probably be able to get better quality on one of the Criterion editions, but you'd pay quite a bit more. If you plan to watch over and over...go that route. If this is a curiousity for you, then these DVDs will fit the bill nicely and economically.

I won't go into the movies themselves. These are early, pre-Hollywood Hitchcock films, and even the weakest of the bunch have many great Hitch moments. I feel like for the price, you simply can't beat it (hey, less than $2 a movie!!). And any serious film student ought to have THE LADY VANISHES on their list! ... Read more