Reviews (1)

Puss in Boots
This is a great movie. It's real light hearted and comical. The characters are all very love-able, except for the ogre of course! I also thought it was neat that all the main characters are African American. I highly recommend this film if you're looking for a good, clean, fun movie to enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Classic Film in the Faerie Tale Theatre Series
Another one of my favorite films in the Faerie Tale Theatre series. Christopher Reeve plays the galliant prince who loves listening to a good story or two. Bernadette Peters plays the beautiful and graceful princess. Carol Kane plays a very whimsical good fairy. And watch out for Beverly DeAngelo as the wicked fairy Henbaine. She really used to scare me when I was little especially as the fire breathing dragon. A very interesting scene in the film. The special effects are intriguing. Although, I feel the plot is slowed down by a few unnecessary segments, I still love this movie and would recommend it to absolutely everyone!!! A+

Faerie Tale Theatre: Sleeping Beauty
Charming and obviously one of the funniest episodes from Faerie Tale Theatre, this is the classic tale of a beauty who was cast into a spell of a deep sleep and a prince must come to kiss her in order to wake her and the rest of the kingdom. Bernadette Peters and Christopher Reeve are absolutely amazing in their roles and have excellent chemistry. Beverly D'Angelo was equally impressive as the wicked Henbane. The script is filled with hilarious one-liners and situations. A great episode.

I loved this movie as a child and I still love it today!
Faerie tale theatre has lots of wonderful shows with great actors, but my favorite is this one. Christopher Reeves and Burnedette Peters are wanderful actors that bring the tale of Sleeping Beauty to life. If you never watched one of Shelly Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre collections, I highly recommend watching them all.

"Sleeping Beauty is Sleeping Classic"
When I say "Sleeping Classic" I mean that since the "Faerie Tale Theatre" series has gone out of print, and what a shame it did, all of the movies are now known as classics. "Sleeping Beauty" has always been my favorite of the series. The portrayal of all the characters is acted out with such passion, Bernadette Peters and Christopher Reeve have excellent chemistry on screen and Beverly D'Angelo is perfect for Henbane, the evil sorceress not to mention, the special effects were cutting edge considering this was 1982! It is also probably the only time you'll ever see Bernadette Peters on film, other than "Cinderella." It's just as good as the Disney version, if not better. I believe every single "Faerie Tale Theatre" movie is a screen gem, and if you decide to view "Sleeping Beauty" for the first time, don't hesitate, it's great for family viewing!

Faerie Tale Theatre: Sleeping Beauty
I was very disappointed with this movie. I've enjoyed many others from the Faerie Tale Theatre collection, so I was expecting to be more like the others. It was not very romantic or uplifting, as I expected Sleeping Beauty to be. It was comical, but were a couple parts that had sexual inuendos (sp?) and I would have been embarrassed if I had watched this for the first time with family or friends. I bought this movie thinking it would be a cute, romantic fairy tale that my family and I would enjoy. But I don't know if I even want my young children to watch it. Overall, it was okay, but did not at all meet my expectations. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Four African American teenage boys from the Bronx, caught in a maelstrom of panic stirred up by police officers engaging in "racial profiling," end up committing the shocking, senseless murder of a young white woman. A sort of inverse Bonfire of the Vanities minus the antic humor, Color of Justice is a thoroughgoing anatomy of "yet another vicious crime by a gang of marauding inner-city youths," as a TV news anchor characterizes the murder. The film attempts to present its emotionally charged, "ripped from the headlines" story in a balanced, evenhanded manner. To that end, several characters' points of view are examined: the homicide victim's grieving husband, Frank (Bruce Davison); Kameel (Dule Hill), a good boy who was merely along for the ride on the night of the killing; the Reverend Walton (Gregory Hines), an Al Sharpton-typecharacter; the defendants' court-appointed attorney, Sam Lind (Judd Hirsch); up-and-coming TV news reporter Linda Chang (Mia Korf); and calculating Bronx D.A. Jim Sullivan (F. Murray Abraham, who, coincidentally, also played the Bronx D.A. in Bonfire). The movie's all-inclusive agenda precludes any real depth; in the end, the film can't help but slip into parable and melodrama. Still, Color of Justice remains compelling and provocative, thanks to convincing performances by an excellent cast. --Laura Mirsky ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Story Idea, An Average Script, Great Acting
This is an example of a movie that has an average script but is saved by the acting. Not only Sissy Spacek, who can elevate any script, but also Art Carney and Jane Wyatt of TV's "Father Knows Best" fame make it a moving film experience. It could have been a self-pitying liberal mess but is actually a pretty good examination of what happened to make some American upper middle class white kids become America-hating anarchist bombers in the 1960s. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Sting II Stinks!
In 1973, Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw starred in "The Sting," which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In 1983, Jackie Gleason, Mac Davis, and Oliver Reed starred in "The Sting II," which narrowly beat out "Caddyshack II" for my award for the worst sequel of all time. Jackie Gleason (Henry Gondorff) and Mac Davis (Johnny Hooker), in addition to being laughably bad replacements for Newman and Redford, have no screen chemistry together. Oliver Reed (Doyle Lonnegan) bellows his way through the film, having none of the subtlety of Robert Shaw. Karl Malden chews scenery as the new villain Macalinski, who is being set up for the latest con job. The only reason the movie studio greenlighted this turkey is to make money off the good name of the original film. Don't get stung by watching "The Sting II."

Excellent movie, STILL TOO MUCH foul language, though.
Jackie Gleason is TERRIFIC as Henry Gondorff though I don't see why the hell Paul Newman couldn't have returned for the smash sequel. This movie comes CLOSE to being as successfull as the 1973 hit but misses by an inch. EVERYONE who worked on this film-TERRIFIC job. I LOVED Oliver Reed's portrayal of Doyle Lonnegan. Rated PG. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

An overlooked gem.
True, The Journey of Natty Gann is darker and more adult-oriented than most live-action Disney movies, but that doesn't stop it from being a contemporary classic that the entire family can enjoy.

Set in Chicago during the Great Depression, this inspirational story is about a young girl named Natty Gann's (Meredith Salenger) search for her father (Ray Wise) after he is forced to suddenly travel west to take on a job. Along the way, she is befriended by a wolf and a young drifter named Harry (John Cusack) with whom she develops a romantic attachment.

As it turns out, The Journey of Natty Gann is an enjoyable romp with decent acting especially from Meredith Salenger, glorious visuals, a realistic depiction of the Great Depression, and a beautiful score by James Horner. Unfortunately, it's no longer available on video (it was last released in 1995) which is a shame because it remains a favorite among many people including myself. Disney seems to be embarrassed of their 80's family films as hardly any of them appear still available. To sum it all up, The Journey of Natty Gann is just - wow!

Endearing story of the Depression
This is a little-known Disney movie that is probably one of the studio's best live-action films. This was one of my childhood favorites, and, when I saw it again recently, it became one of my adulthood favorites.

The story takes place in the midst of the Great Depression and starts out in Chicago. Natty and her father are struggling to make ends meet, but still manage to love each other and survive. Trouble comes when Natty's father finally gets a job - in Washington. Unable to find Natty to tell her, he leaves her a note and leaves her in the charge of an overbearing boardinghouse owner. Fed up with bad treatment and not wanting to believe that her father abandoned her, Natty sets out to meet up with her father, hopping on trains and hitching rides west. Along the way, she helps free a wolf who is being used in dog fights. She and the wolf meet up later and become companions. Natty also joins up with John Cusack, another drifter looking for work.

The movie includes beautiful scenery and an interesting portrayal of Depression-era America. The relationships are also fascinating. For instance, Natty only calls the wolf "wolf," and still recognizes that he is a wild animal. In other words, she doesn't attempt to make him into a pet. Additionally, her relationship with John Cusack's character is not silly, self-conscious, or filled with expectation.

Another reviewer noted that the DVD version of this movie is disappointing. I found the quality of my DVD to be absolutely fine. There are no special features, but the film itself is of decent quality.

This is a sweet, fascinating movie that is appropriate for children and adults and should immediately be considered a classic.

Decent movie, bad transfer
A good period piece about people struggling to find work during the depression. When Natty's father leaves Chicago, Illinois and goes to Seattle, Washington for a job at a lumber camp he leaves her behind. He misses her when he has to leave so he tells her in a letter he will send for her. When she decides she can't wait she strikes out on her own. She runs into John Cusack's character and helps a wolf escape from a dogfighting ring. Her adventure getting to her father is difficult and enriching. She travels the rails and highways to get there. A little slow in parts but overall a decent family movie. If only Disney had thought enough of this movie to make a good transfer to DVD. I was appalled at how bad it was during the opening credits. The credits jumped around on the screen. The rest of the movie was not as bad as that but it was a little grainy, not clear and sharp like we usually see with Disney films. That probably explains why I have seen it selling for what it is sold here or less.

a little gem- 2 stars for the dvd, 4 for the film
I recently saw this movie again on cable, and concur with other reviewers that the dvd is a waste of time. This movie is a rarity for family fare in that it is uncompromising and un-sappy. It treats the depression theme in a very mature way, but the journey itself transcnds what could be a very dark and somber mood throughout the movie. Interesting to me that it was all filmed no more than 15 km. from my neighbourhood in Vancouver . Seeing it for the second time 20 years later, I got to see a small slice of my past- the old train station, the law courts building, etc.

Not a Family Movie
Parents, beware, this movie is not for your children. The majestic scenery is overshadowed by a gloomy outlook, grotesque swearing (including taking the Lord's Name in vain several times), and the point of view that all adults in leadership are evil. Trust me, this is one for the trash can. That's where my copy is. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Whoa Nelly!
Wow, if you like fencing, this movie has some entertaining value. If you were an extra in this movie and you want to show your friends, this movie rocks. If neither apply, this movie was a waste of time and money. The final bout with real swords is completely stupid. If you must see it, rent it, don't buy it. It's like Karate Kid, but only ten times worse.

A worthwhile movie
On the whole, this movie is very good, with a few minor problems. The movie presents us with a very interesting hero, an ex convict ( F. Murray Abraham) who is returning into the world, coming back to the fencing school where he studied. He comes back to meet the son of his long time protoge played by Eric Roberts. F. Murray Abraham plays a very convincing main role, as the dark, sullen swordsman Max Suba as is Eric Roberts in the part of the protege's son who is obcessed by excellence. This movie also offers an interesting look into the world of fencing and offers a explosive, can't be beat duel at the end between Eric Roberts and F. Murray Abraham, which makes the viewer wonder just how long it took them to fight as good as they do! The one thing that broght this movie down, although it was quite minor was the side story of two young fencing students who fall in love, this subplot is plauged with bad, cliched diologe that makes me want to fast foward to the fencing, but all in all, it does not subtract from the complete value of the movie. I would give this movie four stars for it being almost perfect.

from a fencer: Flawed But Entertaining, 4.5 stars
As a fencer, I feel the need to warn anyone reading this isn't a very good movie about the modern sport of fencing. Many liberties are taken in the interest of presenting this material to the people in Peroria. As a movie-watcher, I was distracted by too many side characters and side stories. Objectively looking at it, this is definitely a 'B' movie in my book. Trick is, I love it. I own a copy and have watched it dozens of times. I know many lines before they're said. As a fencer, I am grateful that someone made a very respectable effort to do a film with the modern sport of fencing as its backdrop. With a little suspension of disbelief, I find the fencing parts very entertaining. As a movie-goer, I admire the producers' efforts to try to bring in all age groups and genders with the many characters and side stories. If you're looking for Oscar material, pass this up. If you want a fun modern swordplay-themed drama, see it!

True to the Sport
This is one of the few fencing movies which attests to the true nature of the sport. Being head of a fencing team from a major university, it's hard to impress me in that aspect, but the film was remarkable. Beyond the fencing, Abraham delivers an excellent role, making this movie worth-while to fencers and non-fencers alike.

There is a cheesy side plot of two fencers falling in love and while it does detract some from the movie, it merely serves to offer the viewer a break from the intensity of the movie.

Overall, it was a fanstastically directed film, the cinematography on the final fight scene just added to the overall effect of the film.

Highly entertaining and nice story
I like the acting done in this film. The sword fights were very convincing to the extent that I feel the agony inflicted by the sword as seen thru their faces. This film is a rare masterpiece of talent. A nice story too. ... Read more