Reviews (32)

A disappointing adaptation of an excellent book.
Anyone who has read Clive Cussler's books would immediately agree that this movie was incredibly miscast. Richard Jordan as Dirk Pitt? If he loses the beard and cuts his hair, maybe; Jason Robards as Admiral Sandecker? Where's the red hair and vandyke beard? The actor who portrayed Andre Prevlov? I don't see the James Bond copycat that Marganin hopes will fail; and where is Al Giordino?. The story never seems to create the suspense and twists and turns that made the book a best seller. The actual raising of the Titanic and the scenes aboard the derelict vessel eventually make the movie despite the characterization. Even though Clive Cussler fans will probably pan this movie, they are probably also the only ones who will want to watch it.

One of my Favorite Movies
There is something about RAISE THE TITANIC that continues to draw me to it. Being objective, I know that this is not one of the best films ever made and is probably not even considered a good film by many. However, beyond two scenes that I actually consider good filmmaking, there is a hokey but appealing quality to this film that I can not seem to shake. I still remember the first time I saw RAISE THE TITANIC. What impressed me most about the entire film was its prologue. It was a montage of black & white photographs depicting the construction, the launching and the setting sail of the Titanic on its maiden voyage. The montage was accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful piece of music composed by John Barry. In this short yet effective composition John Barry captured the majesty of the Titanic, the romanticism of the sea and the mystique of Britain's maritime heritage in what I consider to be one of the best pieces of film scoring that I ever heard. John Barry's score seems more inspired by the actual tragedy of the Titanic and the unknown dangers of the cold Atlantic waters. Despite the shortcomings of the film, which can probably be attributed to weak editing and not necessarily the script, John Barry's music remains focused on the ship and the sentimentality its tragedy holds for Richard Jordan and Alec Guinness. Jordan and Guinness seem to be quixotically tied to the sea. The scene where Alec Guinness reminisces over his experiences aboard the sinking of the Titanic is a haunting and beautiful piece of histrionics. Guinness' heartbreaking sentimentality as he reverently hands over to Jordan the flag he took from the sinking Titanic many years before is one of the best pieces of film I have ever seen. Alec Guinness and Richard Jordan's performances and John Barry's score in this scene are truly heartfelt renderings by these craftsmen and stand as a genuine memoriam to the actual tragedy. This scene and the prologue really touched me and for that reason I always have enjoyed this film and it remains one of my favorites.

dissapointed
I was dissapointed that the movie left out so much great stuff that the book has to offer. I truly feel that Cussler was robbed of the finer and major points of his work. I also didn't like thier choice of actors for characters like Admiral Sandecker or Dirk Pitt. I hope in the new movie they plan onmaking McCaunahey decides to take the role if not Harrison Ford or someone like that.

This movie is hardly ever shown...
The film was something of a box office disapointment when released in 1979, of course it;s now dated, we know the ship broke apart and sank (where as in the movie, it's resting on the sea floor intact). The John Barry score works, but Richard Jordan and Jason Robards have to work with a flawed screenplay which forces the movie to be little more then a shallow Irwin Allen genre cheap film. Don't bother with this.

It Ain't The Book, but if you can get past that...
The scriptwriters and editors murdered Clive Cussler's great novel, Raise the Titanic. The original premise of the novel was excellent, and throughout the pages, you feel the excitement build as Gene Seagram searches for the missing byzanium. When NUMA gets involved in the search for the lost liner, you get a sense of how frustrating marine archaeology can get. When the submersible closes in on the 'Big T' you feel the peaking satisfaction, and when that monster soars halfway out of the water when she sees sunlight for the first time in over 70 years, you want to jump out of your seat and cheer.
The movie leaves almost all of that out.
You DO get the charge to the surface; the scene of Titanic finally making harbor in New York - slightly overdue - is GREAT. There are a couple of minor climaxes scattered around the film. And, as another reviewer wrote, Alec Guinness is excellent as the Commodore, passing his treasured White Star ensign over to Dirk Pitt to be flown again when the liner surfaces.
But generally speaking, the movie is only vaguely related to the book.
However, IF you can leave behind having ever read Cussler's work, the flick takes on a life of it's own. Not as vibrant, never as exciting, and sadly lacking the triumphant victory in the intelligence game being played out on both sides of, in deep below, the Atlantic.
But it IS watchable. Pity Robards, Jordan, Guiness and the others were wasted in such a low-grade film. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Finally on Video!
CBS made a big mistake waiting for more than half a year to air the second season of this great series which facilitated its cancellation. Didn't they know that the average American attention span is 20 minutes? People forgot The Magnificent Seven existed and a show which was a hit in its debut season went into oblivion... Luckily, someone finally released some of it on tape. Thank you, thank you, thank you! The cast features some of my favourite people -- Dale Midkiff as Bud is hillarious, Eric Close (currently on Now and Again, another CBS show you have to see) as Vin is a perfect choice for the part, Michael Biehn fills the shoes of Yul Brinner with aplomb, Ron Perlman is great as always. Anthony Starke is a new favourite of mine after seeing him work wonders as Ezra, the hustler, the card shark, the self-centered ego-maniac. I miss this show and only wish it had been given a better chance. We need more tapes with existing episodes.

The Magnificent Seven-a must own video!
The Magnificent Seven (Michael Biehn version) is the best I have seen as far as westerns go in a very long time. An ex-Confederate officer and his army come upon an Indian village, terrorize them and then threaten to return in a few days for gold they believe the villagers to possess. Two of the villagers go to the nearest town to seek/hire men to help them. What I love about this movie are the relationships that developed between the characters, Chris and Vin, Buck and JD, Nathan and Josiah, Chris and Ezra. The movie also conveyed with a few words, their actions or even a look each character's personality, what type of a man each character is, what their dreams are, what haunts them, etc. It has action (some very violent scenes), a little romance, some comedy, a villian of course, but most of all, seven men who become heroes. Michael Biehn's portrayal of Chris Larabee as the leader of this group of men is right on the money. Dale Midkiff is a delight to watch. Eric Close, Anthony Starke, Andrew Korvit, Ron Perlman and Rick Worthy are all wonderful in their portrayal of their individual characters. These seven actors' portrayal of their characters are a great ensemble and complement one another, while at the same time they are also very unique and diverse. I highly recommend this movie. You will not be disappointed.

Where's the DVD?
While not a fan of westerns this is a great series. Full of action, great writing and wit, why was this cancelled when there some real rubbish on TV?

Hopefully, someone will have the presence of mind to release this on DVD and then we in the UK can enjoy.

Possible Addiction
This is a great movie by itself, but it was an even better lead in to a wonderful, if short-lived series. It has all the guns and scenery of a great western, with much of the grim reality of 'modern' movies. Characters you can really cheer for, and good guys, who sometimes aren't so good. A lot of fun! After this, you may want to watch the whole series...

Brilliant
I bought this video for my wife. We both watched it, more than once. My wife is a Michael Biehn fan and I must admit he plays a very good part.
I believe that this is better than the original..... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent pre-crash approach realism, some cliched acting
Aircraft films usually prove aggravating. Bad directors resort to unrealistic sounds, actions, loud music, and horrendous dialogue in a vain attempt to paralyze the hapless viewer. It's even worse if you know something about flying, and find yourself constantly questioning why the over-budgeted dimwits didn't take some technical advice... you don't remember to extend flaps thirty seconds before landing, you don't use a yoke to turn an aircraft on the ground.

Fire and Rain didn't make any of these 'in-air' mistakes. There is no sensationalizing or embellishment. Everything, from the high-pitched whine of flaps extending, to the idle chatter in the passenger section, to the shadows fluttering in and out of the cockpit, contribute to an engrossing realism. Dialogue is tersely authentic, as is the turbulence. For about a thirtieth (if not a fiftieth) of the money, this film is far more realistic than the 'airline thriller' garbage of today.

The film delves into individual stories of heroism and tragedy after the crash. Considering the number of people who lost their lives on 191, and the few miracles that did happen, this is only appropriate. The crash scene is authentically strewn and cluttered without being too graphic.

Unfortunately some of the acting is rigid and repetitive, and the story does not really have much to expand on. In an effort to show all the feats of heroism, little attention is paid to why this actually happened beyond a laconic reference to wind shear. The reactions of many of the characters are without variety, and the story sadly relies on clichéd dialogue here and there.

The films good points overwhelmingly outweigh the bad. Acting is relatively solid, not great, and should be judged on a performance-by-performance basis, with the restricted storyline in mind.

If nothing else, the fantastically accurate approach scene makes this movie worthwhile, and gives the viewer a good feel for the terror those 150+ passengers endured on the final leg into DFW. In its understated realism, it is a suitable, dignified tribute to an American tragedy. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

strange
they took a film classic and did a tv-movie sequel to it -- much like the SCARLET sequel to GONE WITH THE WIND. music is good.

BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL...THE BEST!
What is it about TV Westerns that make the majority of them so memorable? Perhaps it`s the fact that these films are often made in order to tell a story to the viewers instead of making big bucks or promoting a certain actor.
This film is really great! The story is so well-made that you don`t need to be familiar with or have a particular liking for the original "High Noon" in order to enjoy this movie.The scenery is powerful,the music is beautiful and the characters are,for the most part,interesting-but a funny thing is that it is one of the smaller parts that becomes really big here.Will Kane is one-dimensional and tiresome and his wife Amy almost becomes invisible-but one character,the marshal who tries to keep Kane from returning to his past position and enjoy new triumphs,JD Ward,is remarkable in all his realness-a man with all the faults in the world,whom we still can identify with and even feel sympathy for,because he is portrayed in such a realistic and lively way-unlike for instance Peckinpah`s "bad guys",who seldom become anything more than cardboard characters. All honour to the ones who made this film great!

Superb Shoot "Em" Up Western!!
In a large,dusty Texas town called Haderville arrives a terrorizing new Sheriff,J.D. Ward(Pernell Roberts) and his corrupt, vicious gang of thug Deputies.Just released,spending the last 3 years in the Yuma Prison,Ben Irons (David Carradine), who is just passing through town, is mistakingly accused of being a wanted Outlaw with a heavy bounty on his head.Anxious for blood and money,Sheriff Ward and his ruthless Posse go after to shoot down Irons.The only person who knows of Irons innocence is Will Kane (Lee Majors) but is unable to convince Ward and eventually becomes hunted himself.This film is a Superb Shoot "Em" Up Western that is well worth watching!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Civil War Era Nowhere Man!
Great movie, wish that the other episodes would come out on video also. If ever a movie screamed for a 2hr. followup ending to wrap up the loose ends this is it. Too bad Mr. Urich is dead this was one of his best roles!

excellent
Everyone should see this video!!The 90 minutes went by too quckly! I was sorry when it ended, hopefully some more episodes will become available. Robert Urich is just great, handsome, appealing, and so believable as Lazarus. The music is enchanting, the sets excellent and the story exciting. I just can't say enough about how wonderful " The Lazarus Man" is. I will watch this again and again.

I loved this
I had only heard of this series as I am from Australia. I was not disappointed, Robert's acting, the civil war conspiracy and the music was top notch TV and I am sorry this show had to end because of robert's illness. I would love to see the rest of the series of video..anyone listening;)?

This is a true modern work of art...
I first saw this television show and was enraptured by it. From the fine acting on the part of Robert Urich to the scenic beauty of the landscape in which it was filmed. The costumes and the music: how could somebody not love this? Moreover, the opening two-hour episode (the series pilot) weaves a tale of conspiracy theories mixed with post Civil war angst that would make any fan of westerns or the X-files want to give this one a peek. If only the other episodes were also available...sigh! ... Read more

Reviews (30)

AIRPORT BOXSET
Airport 77 is probably the series best film. Second to Airport 75. The music score is great. To me the special effects were great. I didn't see any dumb effects. The cast was so fantastic. I am surprised some of them even come out of their shells for a movie but i am glad they did. Jack Lemmon heading the distinguished cast with Christopher Lee, Jimmy Stewart, Olivia de Havilland, Lee Grant & Brenda Vercarro.

A luxury 747 takes off from Washington DC packed with priceless art and lots of VIPs on their way to Steves (stewart) musuem where they will donate their part of the art. Grant as a drunk wife, de Havilland kindling old love and playing a hand, Lee planning for future living and dealing the with his drunk wife, Lemmon flying the big 747 and wanting to marry long time girlfriend Brenda Vacarro, Brenda Vercarro playing the head stewardess and girl friend to lemmon.

Bring out a boxset and a extra dvd with lots of info, bios and deleted scenes. And visit the AIRPORT DATABASE for lots of info and speak on our forum!

A lost treasure
This film, like all of the Airport movies is loaded with stars (something that a low-budget film could NEVER do today). Jack Lemmon, Jimmy Stewart, Lee Grant, George Kennedy, Olivia DeHavilland, Kathleen Quinlan, etc, etc...

While I must admit, the plot of the movie is rather fantastic, consdering a 747 hitting the water at 200 knots+ would break up. But, one thing that I am impressed with is the aircraft realism (the same goes for Airport '75). The production unit really went out of their way to represent the 747 in an accurate way. This film, along with Airport '75, utilized the American Airlines 747 flight simulators in Dallas, TX, thus providing the audience with a true-to-life cockpit environment. Therefore, this is a MUST for aviation buffs...

My only complaint about this movie is the quality of the DVD...Despite being a below-average transfer, it offers no special features or deleted scenes. Anyone who has seen the TV version of this movie knows that there is a lot of extra footage, especially in the beginning. Hopefully, there will be another release somewhere down the road...Maybe a collector's box of all the Airport films?

Airport '77 is all wet
Airport '77 is the story of bazillionaire Phillip Stevens (a slumming James Stewart) who is jetting some of his friends and colleagues and others on a luxury 747 to view his art collection which is going to become a museum, because, as we learn later...he has A FEW MONTHS TO LIVE!!! Unfortunately, some hijackers unleash some gas on the passengers and plan to swipe the artwork. But the plan goes awry when the plane crashes into the Bermuda Triangle.

Quite realistic, don't you think? The problem is the movie is boring. None of the characters make an impression. Let's see, there's the feuding couple with the wife who cheated on her husband, but that's never mentioned again; the old lady renewing a friendship with an old man; some kids who like to play Pong; a blind pianist who sings about seeing through "the eye of the beholder"; a bartender whose wife is about to give birth to twins, etc., etc. What are their names? I don't know, all I know is that they're bland characterizations meant to sustain interest before the big crash scene. Jack Lemmon is the pilot, and Brenda Vacarro is Eve, his love interest. They generate no heat at all.

To make a boring movie short, I just found this film bland and uninteresting. The big rescue scene is silly, and everything leading up to it is a waste of time. George Kennedy, who appeared in every Airport movie as Patroni, has about one minute of screentime here wherein he does nothing. Most of the movie is spent with people staring vacantly out the window, or squealing in pain. Much like the viewer would do.

The Sequels Have Never Been That Great
Since Arthur Hailey had his book "Airport" published which was later made into a movie in 1970, it became successful. The sequels that followed: Airport 1975 (1974) and Airport '77 (1977) did not have that big of a success, though the former fared better at the box office. I was not really that impressed with the latter in scientific terms. The plane crashes at sea and sinks to the bottom when only the forward cargo hold flooded. There was plenty of air inside the rest of the plane that, in reality, could keep it afloat for as long as it was available. The characters, like Airport 1975, overacted as well. Karen Wallace (Lee Grant) was an obnoxious alcoholic who was constantly rude to husband Martin Wallace (Christopher Lee) a professional scuba diver who drowns while accompanying Captain Don Gallagher (Jack Lemmon) to the surface to send out a mayday signal. She goes nuts and tries to open a door before she is subdued and kayoed by first stewardess and girlfriend of Gallagher, Eve Clayton (Brenda Vaccaro). There have been some sequels in the past that have meaning, but most are a waste of a movie watcher's time.

Quite primative,much room for improvement.
What can i say? There isn't much to say. A simple plot and not much to grab your attention, but some well known actors are present, so judge it how you will. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fans of Walker, Texas Ranger, martial-arts veteran Chuck Norris's small-screen alter ego, get their fill of danger, uplift, and karate moves in Team Cherokee, a feature-length version of a two-part story line.As Cordell Walker, Norris strides stoically through a typical series plot casting the Rangers as avenging angels foiling racism, greed, and their foes' Miranda rights in the name of fair play, set against the backdrop of NASCAR racing. As always, Walker and his buffed comrades solve plot lapses or flat dialogue with flying kicks, whirling elbows, and a soft-boiled idealism that synthesizes liberal tolerance, good-old-boy camaraderie, and a weakness for collarless shirts.

A string of track victories by a Native American team of car racersgoads the ruthless, redneck circuit champs to resort to intimidation, sabotage, and commercially sanctioned road rage at triple-digit speeds.As in most Walker episodes, our hero's involvement stems not from a formal assignment but from personal connections, in this case a lifelong friendship with Team Cherokee's manager. Race footage, brawls, and periodic time-outs for wooden repartee and plot exposition at avuncular C.J.'s bar advance the story past the near-fatal crash that sidelines the team's star driver, leaving the ride free for Walker's triumphant debut as a racer. Naturally, there's a climactic dustup with the villainous rival team.

Team Cherokee preserves a formula that invokes bursts of piety amid one of network television's most relentless (if bloodless) barrages of violence. Both good guys and bad are proudly reduced to stereotypes, achieving a kind of surreal neutrality: a jaw-dropping gag about the Cherokees' "reservations" is cancelled out by an equally ham-fisted caricature of the racist team's owner. Ultimately, these are cartoons, as stylized as Norris's craggy rendition of the title theme, promising "the eyes of the ranger are upon you." --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (2)

jimmy wleck shines
jimmy wleck really outdid himself in this movie. A great show!

One of the BEST Walker episodes
I had the pleasure to watch this episode while it was on tv, and although I have to admit one of the major reasons I watched it was because of Jimmy Wlcek, I have to admit this episode ROCKS! I highly recommend it to any and all Walker fans. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Glad it's being released.....but
I'm so glad these Gunsmoke movies are being released on DVD. But, can someone tell me why this wasn't released as a 3 DVD set and not indivdidual DVD's. Like the "Sarah Plain and Tall" 3 movie saga. It was released with all 3 movies together in one case. I'm pretty sure most people are going to purchase all 3 movies of gunsmoke. I'm thinking "SPACE", "ROOM" to keep all these DVD's that are being released or have been released. Not everyone has all the space in there home for so many shows being released on DVD. To the manufactures of these movies: Next time do a survey to find out what people would like. I sure would of liked all 3 Gunsmoke movies in one case (jacket).

MATT DILLON RIDES AGAIN.........
WITH THE OUTPOURING OF POOR PICTURES FROM THE WEST COAST WE ARE FORCED AT TIMES TO TURN TO WHAT USUALLY IS SECOND RATE ENTERTAINMENT IN THE FORM OF 'MADE FOR T.V.' MOVIES.
FEW OF THEM ARE WORTH YOUR TIME. JUST WATCH THE 'LIFETIME' MOVIE CHANNEL FOR A FEW HOURS AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN.

BUT EVERY NOW AND AGAIN ALONG COMES A CUT ABOVE. THIS ONE IS ONE OF THOSE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN TELEVISION EFFORTS THAT ACTUALLY ENTERTAINS NICELY.

WESTERN FANS ARE ALWAYS THRILLED TO SEE JIM ARNESS UP AND AROUND AND BACK TO RIGHTING WRONGS. FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF YOU CAN THRILL TO MATT DILLON, RETIRED U.S. MARSHAL TAKING OUT THE TRASH ONCE AGAIN.

DILLON IS TRYING HIS HAND AT CATTLE RANCHING AND WHEN HIS SMALL HERD IS RUSTLED HE IS BACK ON THE TRAIL OF THE BAD GUYS AND FINDS HIMSELF SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF A RANGE WAR.
ARNESS IS SUPPORTED WELL BY VETERAN ACTORS MORGAN WOODWARD AND PAT HINGLE. THIS FILM HAS A 'PAY ATTENTION' MOODY SOUNDTRACK THAT IS ABOVE AVERAGE FOR SMALL SCREEN PRODUCTIONS.

AND JUST LIKE THE OLD 'GUNSMOKE' SERIES, THE WRITING IS EXCELLENT. THE DIALOGUE IS SHARP AND EFFECTIVE.

THERE IS JUST SOMETHING SUPERIOR ABOUT THE DELIBERATE 'CAN DO' ATTITUDE OF MATT DILLON. HE NEVER HESITATES TO DO THE RIGHT THING. HE DOESNT HAVE TO MEDITATE ON IT OR REGRET IT AFTERWARDS.

HE IS A SLIGHTLY FLAWED BUT ALWAYS WHITE HAT GOOD GUY. THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED IN THIS 'AGE OF THE WIMP' DOUBTFUL 21ST CENTURY.

AT LEAST ONE PART IN THIS SHOW WAS MISCAST. THE YOUNG UNDECIDED COW THIEF WHO TURNS OUT TO BE A DECENT HAND COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER PLAYED. THE ACTOR PLAYING THIS PART DOESNT MAKE THE GRADE. HIS PUT ON COWPOKE 'TWANG' IS SEE THROUGH AND THIS HURTS THE OVERALL CREDIBILITY OF THE PICTURE
JUST A TAD.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT-
'GUNSMOKE; TO THE LAST MAN' IS QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT. LONG LIVE MATT DILLON!!! ... Read more

Reviews (39)

The beginning of the TV series "JAG"
This video is the pilot episode of the TV series of the same name starring David James Elliot. The first case he must try takes place on aircraft carrier. Harm(the name of the JAG lawyer) is sent with his partner to find out if a member of the miltary (a woman moving up the ranks) was drowned, murdered or committed sucide.To make matters worse there is a problem with some European country and Harm must go fly into combat to save the people and keep the USA safe. The pilot also co-star Kevin Dunn(Stir of Echoes,Godzilla,Almost Heros,Dave) as a JAG officer in Washington D.C. The video is about 1 1/2 hours. The only thing I missed watching the video was the titles I'm used to seeing on the reruns on USA network and CBS!!Other than a must for fans of the TV series!please put more of the series on Video !although I prefer DVD over VHS any day!please who ever owns this series bring the rest of the series out on DVD/VHS!!You've have many fans thankful for awesome show about our country's miltary forces and the trials they face in and out of the courtroom!if anyone knows of any e-petions to put this show on DVD/VHS please e-mail me!!

this series begs for DVD
JAG fans unite to request this series on DVD!!! I am a new viewer of this series, having just started watching during the 2002 season. I could kick myself for what I have missed. I am catching up on previous seasons in syndication as best I can, and taping episodes. The pilot episode offered here is better than many series pilots, and holds up well to repeated viewings. I am very glad to see that Terry O'Quinn as the CAG was there from the start, as he is my favorite recurring character and guest actor. See why Bud became a series regular. Lindsey, too was there from the start - in 8 years he became more asserive while remaining so smarmy. Some of the dialog surprised me, more overt sexual references than in the regular series. I agree most whole heartedly with other reviewers that this show should be offered on DVD. CBS could at least offer the seasons that aired on their network.

What i would like to see happen since this has happenes
I would like to see this go on to be a DVD box set with the whole series on it...i work in a movie store and have been asked several times about this and would like to see it happen.

MORE JAG PLEASE!!!
I have read many of the reviews of the folks who wrote about the Series JAG. I want to add my LOUD agreement with them when they speak of JAG being the BEST show on TV! I have taped many of the shows, and am trying to put them in order, but by looking at the list of episodes, I discover I have missed many!! I SURE WOULD like to see the whole series on tape or dvd..IN SEQUENCE!!
MY KUDO's to the Cast, crew and directors, and the writers! Great Job!! A.Anderson

More, Please!!!!!!
I enjoyed this video very much. As in many of the other reviews, I am also a big JAG fan. Other series such as Friends and West Wing are out on DVD. Please bring the full set of JAG out on DVD also, ASAP. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Chuck Norris carries the torch of Justice in the West!
Those of us who are "Proud to be an American" will all agree that Chuck Norris has done an unbeatable job of picking up the torch once carried by some of our nation's best known and loved men of justice ... Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, and the Lone Ranger! These episodes even include the mystery and detective sides of Charlie Chan, Dragnet .. all wrapped into one ... but now with a new addition of incredible kick boxing by some some of the world's champs! Easy to identify with, the good guys are REAL ... not perfect heroes, but folks who strive to uphold justice, truth, and right to the best of their abilities. Every episode covers a current issue (no namby pamby cattle rustling here!), and keeps you on the edge of your seat with adventure, intrigue, mystery, crime, and of course ... a touch of Texas! Great filmatography too! All are close-captioned and can be made even more suitable for average age family viewing with the use of the Nocursing.com computer box to remove the mild unsuitable language if so desired.

Chuck Norris Carries the Torch of Justice in the West!
Those of us who are "Proud to be an American" will all agree that Chuck Norris has done an unbeatable job of picking up the torch once carried by some of our nation's best known and loved men of justice ... Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, and the Lone Ranger! These episodes even include the mystery and detective sides of Charlie Chan, Dragnet .. all wrapped into one ... but now with a new addition of incredible kick boxing by some some of the world's champs! Easy to identify with, the good guys are REAL ... not perfect heroes, but folks who strive to uphold justice, truth, and right to the best of their abilities. Every episode covers a current issue (no namby pamby cattle rustling here!), and keeps you on the edge of your seat with adventure, intrigue, mystery, crime, and of course ... a touch of Texas! Great filmatography too! All are close-captioned and can be made even more suitable for average age family viewing with the use of the Nocursing.com computer box to remove the mild unsuitable language if so desired.

One Riot,One Ranger
Chuck Norris is wonderful as always in this movie were else can you see bad guys get beat up and learn about compassion and tolerance at the same time

Humm,sad.....
Irritatingly do gooder texas ranger in need of a good shave goes around with his normless,cack partner for half an hour busting see through,pityful crimanals 'like they did in the old west.'Really,how sad.If yoyu find this kind of thing entertaining,please see. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

mistaken identity for Matt Dillion
This made for TV movie was aired in 1992. It has an interesting plot and I enjoyed watching it. If you like James Arness,and haven't seen this one,get it for your collection.

Matt is the Standard
Anyone that enjoys a good movie, a good western, that has ever enjoyed Gunsmoke, who has always believed in the values that Matt Dillon has always stood for, has to watch this installment of Gunsmoke. Matt Dillon, ever the presence of solidity, calmness, justice, and virtue once again shines in "The Long Ride". Matt demonstrates cooperation with law enforcement even though unjustly accused and when that same law let's him down, without vigilance, he set's out to clear his name. Ever the presence and influencing others towards the paths of justice and right. I watched Gunsmoke as a child with my father, then it went off the air. With Gunsmoke videos and movies, I can share the virtues of Matt Dillon with my son without being concerned of what the content is. Thanks, Matt. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

A disappointing adaptation of an excellent book.
Anyone who has read Clive Cussler's books would immediately agree that this movie was incredibly miscast. Richard Jordan as Dirk Pitt? If he loses the beard and cuts his hair, maybe; Jason Robards as Admiral Sandecker? Where's the red hair and vandyke beard? The actor who portrayed Andre Prevlov? I don't see the James Bond copycat that Marganin hopes will fail; and where is Al Giordino?. The story never seems to create the suspense and twists and turns that made the book a best seller. The actual raising of the Titanic and the scenes aboard the derelict vessel eventually make the movie despite the characterization. Even though Clive Cussler fans will probably pan this movie, they are probably also the only ones who will want to watch it.

One of my Favorite Movies
There is something about RAISE THE TITANIC that continues to draw me to it. Being objective, I know that this is not one of the best films ever made and is probably not even considered a good film by many. However, beyond two scenes that I actually consider good filmmaking, there is a hokey but appealing quality to this film that I can not seem to shake. I still remember the first time I saw RAISE THE TITANIC. What impressed me most about the entire film was its prologue. It was a montage of black & white photographs depicting the construction, the launching and the setting sail of the Titanic on its maiden voyage. The montage was accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful piece of music composed by John Barry. In this short yet effective composition John Barry captured the majesty of the Titanic, the romanticism of the sea and the mystique of Britain's maritime heritage in what I consider to be one of the best pieces of film scoring that I ever heard. John Barry's score seems more inspired by the actual tragedy of the Titanic and the unknown dangers of the cold Atlantic waters. Despite the shortcomings of the film, which can probably be attributed to weak editing and not necessarily the script, John Barry's music remains focused on the ship and the sentimentality its tragedy holds for Richard Jordan and Alec Guinness. Jordan and Guinness seem to be quixotically tied to the sea. The scene where Alec Guinness reminisces over his experiences aboard the sinking of the Titanic is a haunting and beautiful piece of histrionics. Guinness' heartbreaking sentimentality as he reverently hands over to Jordan the flag he took from the sinking Titanic many years before is one of the best pieces of film I have ever seen. Alec Guinness and Richard Jordan's performances and John Barry's score in this scene are truly heartfelt renderings by these craftsmen and stand as a genuine memoriam to the actual tragedy. This scene and the prologue really touched me and for that reason I always have enjoyed this film and it remains one of my favorites.

dissapointed
I was dissapointed that the movie left out so much great stuff that the book has to offer. I truly feel that Cussler was robbed of the finer and major points of his work. I also didn't like thier choice of actors for characters like Admiral Sandecker or Dirk Pitt. I hope in the new movie they plan onmaking McCaunahey decides to take the role if not Harrison Ford or someone like that.

This movie is hardly ever shown...
The film was something of a box office disapointment when released in 1979, of course it;s now dated, we know the ship broke apart and sank (where as in the movie, it's resting on the sea floor intact). The John Barry score works, but Richard Jordan and Jason Robards have to work with a flawed screenplay which forces the movie to be little more then a shallow Irwin Allen genre cheap film. Don't bother with this.

It Ain't The Book, but if you can get past that...
The scriptwriters and editors murdered Clive Cussler's great novel, Raise the Titanic. The original premise of the novel was excellent, and throughout the pages, you feel the excitement build as Gene Seagram searches for the missing byzanium. When NUMA gets involved in the search for the lost liner, you get a sense of how frustrating marine archaeology can get. When the submersible closes in on the 'Big T' you feel the peaking satisfaction, and when that monster soars halfway out of the water when she sees sunlight for the first time in over 70 years, you want to jump out of your seat and cheer.
The movie leaves almost all of that out.
You DO get the charge to the surface; the scene of Titanic finally making harbor in New York - slightly overdue - is GREAT. There are a couple of minor climaxes scattered around the film. And, as another reviewer wrote, Alec Guinness is excellent as the Commodore, passing his treasured White Star ensign over to Dirk Pitt to be flown again when the liner surfaces.
But generally speaking, the movie is only vaguely related to the book.
However, IF you can leave behind having ever read Cussler's work, the flick takes on a life of it's own. Not as vibrant, never as exciting, and sadly lacking the triumphant victory in the intelligence game being played out on both sides of, in deep below, the Atlantic.
But it IS watchable. Pity Robards, Jordan, Guiness and the others were wasted in such a low-grade film. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

this video was ok.......
i am a big fan of Magnum P.I. Probably the biggest fan in the world. i have seen every episode at least twice and this episode of magnum isnt one of the ones i would have made available for vhs. Personally my favorite episodes have to do with when Magnum and Higgins are fighting over whatever. the episode "Paper War" is a really really good one. Magnum and Higgins are trapped in an elevator in it. Its really funny. MCA if you are listening why dont you guys have every single Magnum P.I. episode on vhs in a box set. Or even better DVD. Thanks.

Okay, Three and A Half
"Magnum P.I.", probably the best series in television history..It had everything...all the major elements, Drama, Action, Comedy and Mystery. In most cases, the actors worked perfectly off each other, especially Hillerman, and Selleck. What can be said about "Murder 101"? Another fine episode, but I think there are quite a few others that may have deserved the treatment of video above this one. The bonuses of purchasing the video, instead of just watching it on television? You get to see the original fifth season opening, not the one they play over, and over, with each episode in syndication, you get to see an extra three minutes of the episode, cut out in syndication, for more commercial time. All in all, good episode, worth purchase, I just wish there were more available, and it seems like the television section of video stores is slowly fading away.

Hot for Teacher
Murder 101 (a.k.a. Private Investigation 101) is one of the funniest, most tongue-in-cheek, episodes of Magnum ever. To pay some extra bills, Magnum has succumbed to teaching a second-rate college course on how to be a P.I....uh-um, that's Private Investigator. Anyway, the class is full of bumbling yokels and they look to Magnum to help them solve a case by going on a series of "class field trips". My favorite student was Danny, the stoned surfer dude who drove the group around in his van.

It's terribly funny to watch the blind leading the blind, as Magnum tries one dead end after another, finds himself digging through trash, and gets pummeled in a seedy bar bathroom.

The cast of charaters are over-the-top goofballs who truly bring out the comical side of this otherwise dramatic series.

The grand finale "exposition" scene once again pokes fun at the series as a whole when the students start asking questions as to how the case was actually solved. (You know how most TV mysteries are always magically wrapped up in about 5 minutes.) Magnum himself can't even answer the questions, so T.C. and Rick must step in to "explain" what happened. But good luck understanding the details. Despite the sloppy wrap up (which I believe was done on purpose as a parody/joke), "Murder101" is still one of my faves. ...

Private Investigation 101
Magnum teaches a class about his line of work. A lady in the class thinks her fiance is cheating on her. He is only running out on his bank job. He has discovered some incriminating evidence there. Now his life is at stake. Magnum and his students try to help this couple. This show has a few twists and turns especially at the end. Watch for the bar scene. This is the funniest scene in any Magnum show. The locals can drink their weight in beer. One huge drunk in particular zeros in on Magnum's round buying. He proceeds to swill six or seven bottles of beer in succession. MCA should release all the Magnum, P.I. shows on either vhs or dvd.

A good episode with a confusing plot
A funny episode with great interplay between the main characters. However, the story is confusing about who's doing what and why. They try to "wrap" it up in the end but I was still confused. I wish they would release all of the two hour Magnum episodes. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

MAGNUM! There is a God! Needs to be DVD though
The Best series ever and yet no movie? Not many have seen the first episode. It's a bit strange after seeing the later ones, only because it was more serious, not as much comedy. There needs to be a push to wake Universal up ... this should have hit the silver screen Years ago! Make DVD's and a Movie!

Oh My God, Magnum !
This is the first episode of a tremendous series that dominated the 1980's starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Sullivan Magnum, an ex' naval officer turned private investigator. The beginning of this episode features the hillarious round one of an ongoing confrontation between Magnum and his frequent nemesis, Jonathan Quail Higgins, who is the major domo of the Robin Masters' estate in Hawaii. This episode artfully combines humor and drama to present an outstanding harbinger of the show that ran for eight years. Highly recommended.

Dont eat the snow in Hawaii
Magnum is my absolute favorite series and when you see the first episode you'll know why he and the cast were so popular and still are to many of us. I loved how he introduced us to who he was , where he came from.
we hear him say "Ive done funnier" rub his shoulder you see a bullet wound then flashbacks intro us to Rick as a gunner and TC as a pilot in Nam (Steve Kux was a real Nam pilot responsible for all those cool shots over the opening theme hard to get but hes great and did it)
It had funny moments"Dont look at the dogs work the lock , dont look at the.." then he looks(apollo and zeus(Higgins dobermans) coming toward him) "you looked at the dogs" he was hired to see if he could breach security including steal the Ferrari. Youll see early Magnum trademarks that slow building temper esp. when he went to confront a hardnose officer who didnt like him. "youre gonna lose those bars you spent 30 years eggsucking for" (Magnum growls)important cause you'll see that temper again and again when Magnum feels he was wronged. It became a trademark the slow burn warn tone then boom he was off..and on your case.
He had very memorable music "the brazilian " in Unfinished business" and Mama in "Death and Taxes" you gotta see those two too!
Nobody had a cast like them they got along great couldnt be better friends..highly reccommend it for people who love suspense this is it!! youll be hooked..Mahalo (Thanks!!)

I would recommend you to see this very first Magnum episod
Magnum PI is one of the best shows on TV ever, and I really enjoyed seeing this premier episode. If you have seen the later episodes, you can see the chemistry between the casts - they are great together. In this first episode, the characters are still very "unpolished", and you would probably have difficult to recognize the different characters if you just have seen episodes from the last seasons. For example, Rick is some kind of Bogart-look-a-like that has some kind of Casablanca-club in Honolulu...nothing like King Kamehamea Club at all. Higgins are pretty much the same, even if I miss his great stories in this 1,5 hours episode. However, this is a great production, and if you were interested in seeing a film about great adventures, Hawaii, Ferrari, Friendship, and the start of one of the most successful TV shows ever, I would recommend you to see this very first Magnum PI episode.

a must see for all magnum fans
you've got to see this! I am a huge fan of the show, and this episode is definitely a classic. find out rick's real name, see the original scenes for the theme song, and learn about magnum's personality roots. I love this series, and enjoy this episode. it's not the best, but it will give you a deeper understanding of the show. thankfully they got a better theme song, and ditched the rings. the show only gets better... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Murky and grim encounter with Christmas skyscraper fire.
I am afraid that this rather murky and smeary print of a most forgettable film does full justice to the original. Materials handled with a certain amount of class in THE TOWERING INFERNO (such as the flashback, the smoke-filled room, the heroic firefighter, etc) here receive short shrift. This is disaster by the book, with little sympathy for the participants, little compassion for the victims, and little effort in the effects.

The print from which this DVD is taken seems in dire need of restoration. Focus is foggy, color faded, images darkened, clips and frames missing.

And yet, if you are a disaster-film junky such as I am, this film at its modest price will be a suitable addition to your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The London Caper Case
Great as most Magnum P.I.s. This time he must go to London to figure out what happened to a friend. Things seem familiar in a strange way. That is all I will tell you so as not to spoil the fun. To bad the whole series is not on DVD. As popular as it was I am quite certain it would sell well to the people that originally watched it, and those that did not that like private eye TV shows or movies.

This is not an Hawaiian story
When you think about Magnum PI, you most probably think about Hawaii, Ferrari, Beaches, Beautiful Girls, and other nice things. This episode are kind of different compared to most of the other Magnum PI episodes - this is not an Hawaiian story - instead Magnum have to go to London since one of his old Nam-buddies have died. Even if this episode don't have all the things you expect from a traditionally Magnum episode, this is a great story, and definitively worth seeing.

TOP-NOTCH PRIVATE EYE PROGRAM
Magnum pi was for me one of the best programs on television in the 1980's. I remember seeing this particular episode not too long ago on t.v and i liked the fact it took place out of the Hawiil setting into London. All i remeber this was a fast paced episode like all the other ones and the most memorable as well.

Magical Magnum Mystery
If you are looking for one Magnum, p.i. tape for your video collection, this is the one to get. The episode "Murder 101" which is also on video is another good choice. "Deja Vu," however, is a bit different than other Magnum episodes. First, it runs at a little over an hour and a half (so, that is more Magnum for your money.) Second, this episode is set in London and not Hawaii - but, never fear, the whole cast is there. Third, it is quite the excellent Magnum mystery with many twists and turns. In this episode, we also get to see some superior acting from Selleck and another side of the character of Higgins. For those who have not seen this episode or who don't remember it, I'm not going to give anything away. You'll have to watch it to find out. There were so many enjoyable Magnum episodes, I can't figure out why more are not available. I also can't figure out why the episodes which are available on video were chosen to be, with the exception of "Deja Vu" which most certainly should be out of video. Other episodes that should also be available though are "Unfinished Business" (an excellent Viet Nam POW/MIA episode), "Limbo" (the 1987 season finale with the excellent cliffhanger of Magnum being left in a coma), "Infinity & Jelly Doughnuts" (the first show of the next season which picks up where "Limbo" left off) and, of course, the final episode "Resolutions" which also aired for 2 hours as did "Deja Vu." Let's hope MCA Universal releases more Magnum episodes. The Tom Selleck movie "An Innocent Man" should also be re-released on video. Selleck is great no matter what he is in because he is just Tom Selleck. What also makes watching Magnum episodes enjoyable is knowing how much fun the cast had working together, how well they got along and the knowledge that Selleck was deeply loved and admired by all of the cast and others. All reports indicate that Selleck is not one of those stars whose fame went to his head. On the contrary, he has always been deemed a "nice guy" who takes good care of his friends and fellow cast members and who unselfishly shared his wealth. With Tom Selleck on screen: What you see is what you get - just an all around good guy! If you are a Magnum or Selleck fan, I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST BUYING THE BOOK: "ALOHA MAGNUM" WRITTEN BY LARRY MANETTI - the other all-around nice guy from the cast of Magnum, p.i.

Deja Vu
As with all of the Magnum shows, this was another great one. I actually believe it is one of my favorites. I would love to see a lot more of the shows available for sale. Actually I would like to have a set of all the shows made. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Christmas in Hawaii! However you may end up babysitting...
I rarely missed an episode of 'Magnum P.I.' when it ran on primetime in the eighties and I still occasion to watch an episode on cable TV when the opportunity presents itself. The four person cast of Tom Selleck, John Hillerman, Roger Mosley and Larry Manetti worked together excellently; equally compelling were the recurring characters, whether from Magnum's days in the Navy intelligence or Higgins' days in the British military each was a brilliantly conceived foil to both of them. That series chemistry is present here in this Christmas themed episode that revolves around a recently acquired Gauguin painting and a group of five preteen schoolgirls.

When Rick phones Magnum to tell him a client contacted him at the club to arrange a meeting, Magnum has no reason to believe this won't be anything other than the usual. However at the arranged meeting location he is surprised to find five little girls who wish to hire him to find their guardian who brought them to Hawaii for a holiday sightseeing tour. Magnum is shocked to hear that their guardian is missing and even more so at the reason they suggest. Naturally he brings them to the estate much to the chagrin of Higgins who takes an enormous amount of pleading and bargaining to gain access for the girls. But once Magnum begins investigating he soon finds himself involved in a very serpentine case that eventually imperils everyone.

A well-plotted and very satisfying episode, only the third in the then brand-spanking new series. There are no 'then unknowns' or recognizable faces in the guest cast but there are the requisite attractive ladies and of course the dogs, Zeus and Apollo who foil one of Magnum's attempts to liberate a little 'something' from the cellar. There is also a unusually good variety of location shots used in this particular show.

Note: if you've taken a flight recently watch the airport scene carefully and count the number of security checks that are missing!

The best show ever!
I really liked this Magnum p.i. I found it to be very interesting and also it is packed with alot of action and adventure! It was all the things I love in a show.

Great
I cannot figure out how Universal decided which episodes to release on VHS. There is no discernable pattern. However, I will take what I can get. There are very few episodes which I really do not like. Thankfully all of the ones they have released in this set are good ones. I think anyone who watched this show in the eighties would have a good time with this video.

Where are the rest of the episodes?
This Magnum, p.i. episode is from the first year of the series and is a gem. Great for repeated viewing around Christmas time. I bought all six Magnum videos that were released several years back. I enjoy them all but wonder when they will eventually release all the episodes on tape. There is obviously a market for them. Well, since you can't find Magnum in syndication in the US at this time you better enjoy these videos. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not too bad.
Overall, The Return is an okay Bonanza to have. It's about a murderer, who claims to have shot someone's son is a fair fight, who returns to Virginia City to get settled. Nobody cares for him nor likes him. But the Cartrights hire him and try to help him out. Then he tries to run away with a girl he loves, the man who's son got shot's daughter. How bad is that? But it has a very surprising ending. So if you really wanna see a great Bonanza, I suggest trying to find The Flapjack Contest, Woman of Fire, Springtime, The Smiler, or The Wooing of Abigail Jones.

It was a good family movie
It was a good family movie. I liked it though it is not the future I would foresee for the Cartwrights.

Aren't they missing someone?
For a lot of Bonanza fans, the series was about Ben Cartwright's three sons, but they were named Hoss, Joe and Jamie. The later "return to" and "next generation" treatments seem to indicate Jamie mysteriously vanished sometime after the last episode of the original show. He is never mentioned, even though he was a legally adopted member of the family. I guess family only matters if it's *blood*.

Otherwise, nice western. Good popcorn film. ... Read more