Reviews (32)

White Fang- One of the best animal-film ever?
The story tells us about a battered wolf, who becomes the best friend of a young gold digger called Jack (Ethan Hawke).

The scenery of the wilderness and of the snowy Alaska is incredible. The dog-fight between White Fang and a bulldog is dramatic. If you like animal-storys, White Fang is the best film for you.

The actors are convincing and the score is good. The film is so good because it's based on a partly true story. We think that the film includes fun, action and adventure. We liked the scene in which the wolf saves Jacks life by chasing away a grizzly bear best.

It's a must to watch this film!

White Fang- One of the best animal-film ever?
The story tells us about a battered wolf, who becomes the best friend of a young gold digger called Jack (Ethan Hawke). The scenery of the wilderness and of the snowy Alaska is incredible. The dog-fight between White Fang and a bulldog is dramatic. If you like animal-storys, White Fang is the best film for you. The actors are convincing and the score is good. The film is so good because it's based on a partly true story. We think that the film includes fun, action and adventure. We liked the scene in which the wolf saves Jacks life by chasing away a grizzly bear best.

It's a must to watch this film!

Powerful tale of love and violence in Alaskan wilderness
This Disney version of White Fang, starring Ethan Hawke, Jed the wolf, and Bart the grizzly is my favorite movie. The film has breathtaking, sweeping views of the Alaskan wilderness with a swelling score to accompany the cinematography. And that's just the beginning. Fresh-faced and innocent Ethan Hawke plays a wonderful Jack, a young man trying to find his father's Yukon claim during the Gold Rush of the 1800's. Klaus Maria Brandauer brings realism as the man who grudgingly befriends the boy. Jack takes a journey from boy to young man as he encounters death, violence, cruelty, ignorance, friendship, and love in this beautiful movie for anyone of any age.

There is no sex, bad language, or nudity, but make no mistake: this is a violent and scary film. Scenes of dogfights are so realistic you cannot believe the animals are just acting. There is the death of a mother wolf in front of her cub, vicious dogfights, a grizzly attack, implied killing of a man by a pack of ravenous wolves, and an implied sensuous relationship between Brandauer and his lovely girlfriend.

Native Americans and wolves get the treatment they deserve in this movie, bringing a new perspective to viewers without being preachy or maudlin.

Warning: When the grizzly makes his appearance, it is when you least expect, and it will make your heart jump. And it is the biggest grizzly I have ever seen in my life. My hat goes off to the animal trainers in this film.

White Fang - Not even close to the book
If there was any mark lower than one star, I'd put it down. I have not even seen the movie and yet I read the description, and can say that this movie is the lowest of the low.

Jack London's book was an absolute masterpiece, and the movie has absolutely no connection with the book in question, other than title and the name of the wolf.

In the book, it was the life story of a wolf who eventually became domesticated, but not after being injured, beaten, thrown into the fighting pits, and generally had to endure a life of hate for both men and other dogs.

I cannot beleive disney put such a great title on a movie if the film does not have a shred of the art it has been named after.

If you want the real White Fang, go to some bookstore, or search here at Amazon, and get the book. This movie's been designed only to catch the attention of gullible oafs who do not check the back of the case to see what it's about.

To those people who rated 3 and above, read the book and you will share my view, that this movie is a scandal against Jack London and the novel, and should be ignored like any other crappy movie.

I loved this movie...
It's a little different than the book, but a wonderful movie nonetheless.... My only complaint is that it's not on DVD.. major bummer! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Before their blockbuster collaboration on Grease, John Travolta and director Randal Kleiser boosted their early careers with this well-acted, sensitively directed television movie. Teenager Tod Lubitch (Travolta) is forced to live in a plastic isolation chamber because he was born with a nonfunctioning immune system, leaving him vulnerable to even the most common everyday viruses. A unique coming-of-age story, the movie (first telecast in 1976) has become the subject of jokes over the years, but Travolta's comeback has sparked new interest in the star's Welcome Back, Kotter days. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Sad but Very Good Movie!
I remember watching The Boy in the Plastic Bubble when it first aired on TV when I was 11 years old and I thought it was a very good movie and John Travolta was terrific as teenager Tod Lubitch who was born with a nonworking immune system that forces him to live in a plastic isloation chamber away from germs which are extremely dangerous for him! The movie also stars Robert Reed and Diana Hyland as Tod's parents and Glynnis O'Connor as the girl who lives next door and they are all pretty good though John Travolta and Glynnis O'Connor got much more screen time. This movie is pretty sad but it's a good movie and I highly recommend it. I taped this movie when it was rerun commercial free on cable but it was taped on a VCR that was old and breaking down so the tape is messed up and I would like to buy the DVD which is unfortunately out of print but I will have to think of ordering a used copy!

PRETTY GOOD FOR A TV MOVIE.
I actually enjoyed "The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" more than I thought I would. After all, it has been the topic of many jokes over the years. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had some very nice human elements to it. John Travolta did a pretty good job of playing Tod, a teenager with a severe immune deficiency who is forced to live in an enclosed germ free area in his house. He spent a lot of the film acting rather goofy and socially inept. That made a lot of sense though for someone who had limited contact with the general public.

Tod has spent many years watching the teenage girl next door, Gina (Glynnis O'Connor). He is extremely attracted to her but whether she feels the same way about him is questionable. Eventually, Tod is able to go through a series of steps which allow him more and more freedom. He uses this new found freedom to both try and fit in with the other kids as best he can and also woo Gina. There are some touching moments between the two of them although at times it crosses over into being too cut and dry. I would've liked the filmmakers to have made the situation between them a bit more complex.

Robert Reed and Diana Hyland, who play Tod's parents, are given less screen time than one might think. The real story here is about Tod's dreams of one day being "normal" and falling in love with Gina. His relationship with his parents is very secondary. Oddly, Hyland won an Emmy for her performance even though she didn't get a chance to exhibit any real emotion or acting skill.

"The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" doesn't know if it wants to be more of a romance or a medical drama. It ends up doing both fairly well and is worth the buy at such a low price.

A Classic Movie
I first saw this movie when i was a kid, and i loved it because the kids in the movie were around my age. Now as an adult i still love it because John Travolta portrays the character so tenderly. The innocence and "corniness" makes this film truly endearing. i have done an internet search on the real Todd Lubitch, to see if he survived outside his bubble. anyone has any info, please contact me. hollywoodchik@hotmail.com

The importance of this early example.
In this film that predates AIDS, there is an important insight that somehow never carried over into HIV and AIDS discourse. The teenager with the severely compromised immune system was not enclosed to protect us from him, but to protect him from us. Although this move did not portray an infectious agent but a genetic problem, it is an important reminder. In all the paranoid constructions associated with AIDS in America, we seem to have collectively forgotten the simple reality that people who are sick need care. A culture is judged by the way it treats its young, its old, and its sick. Our culture is more concerned with money than real morality, and the so-called religious right is anything but. This film should be revived, even if only for that one insight.

"These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry baby don't cry
Don't cry" -Paul Simon, "The Boy in the Bubble"

Wonderful Movie!!!
To start things off I will watch it over and over. John Travolta is a wonderful actor and portrayed the story of this boy wonderfully. It is very sad how he had to live so isolated in this plastic housing just so he could survive. It was kinda sad how the girl next door took him for granted but finally came to what I think love him. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I wish they would have said whatever happened to him, or how he's doing or something. What became of him after he came out of the bubble. I think the ending isn't fair since it left me questioning. But like I said I will watch it over and over. : ) ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Sad but Very Good Movie!
I remember watching The Boy in the Plastic Bubble when it first aired on TV when I was 11 years old and I thought it was a very good movie and John Travolta was terrific as teenager Tod Lubitch who was born with a nonworking immune system that forces him to live in a plastic isloation chamber away from germs which are extremely dangerous for him! The movie also stars Robert Reed and Diana Hyland as Tod's parents and Glynnis O'Connor as the girl who lives next door and they are all pretty good though John Travolta and Glynnis O'Connor got much more screen time. This movie is pretty sad but it's a good movie and I highly recommend it. I taped this movie when it was rerun commercial free on cable but it was taped on a VCR that was old and breaking down so the tape is messed up and I would like to buy the DVD which is unfortunately out of print but I will have to think of ordering a used copy!

PRETTY GOOD FOR A TV MOVIE.
I actually enjoyed "The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" more than I thought I would. After all, it has been the topic of many jokes over the years. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had some very nice human elements to it. John Travolta did a pretty good job of playing Tod, a teenager with a severe immune deficiency who is forced to live in an enclosed germ free area in his house. He spent a lot of the film acting rather goofy and socially inept. That made a lot of sense though for someone who had limited contact with the general public.

Tod has spent many years watching the teenage girl next door, Gina (Glynnis O'Connor). He is extremely attracted to her but whether she feels the same way about him is questionable. Eventually, Tod is able to go through a series of steps which allow him more and more freedom. He uses this new found freedom to both try and fit in with the other kids as best he can and also woo Gina. There are some touching moments between the two of them although at times it crosses over into being too cut and dry. I would've liked the filmmakers to have made the situation between them a bit more complex.

Robert Reed and Diana Hyland, who play Tod's parents, are given less screen time than one might think. The real story here is about Tod's dreams of one day being "normal" and falling in love with Gina. His relationship with his parents is very secondary. Oddly, Hyland won an Emmy for her performance even though she didn't get a chance to exhibit any real emotion or acting skill.

"The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" doesn't know if it wants to be more of a romance or a medical drama. It ends up doing both fairly well and is worth the buy at such a low price.

A Classic Movie
I first saw this movie when i was a kid, and i loved it because the kids in the movie were around my age. Now as an adult i still love it because John Travolta portrays the character so tenderly. The innocence and "corniness" makes this film truly endearing. i have done an internet search on the real Todd Lubitch, to see if he survived outside his bubble. anyone has any info, please contact me. hollywoodchik@hotmail.com

The importance of this early example.
In this film that predates AIDS, there is an important insight that somehow never carried over into HIV and AIDS discourse. The teenager with the severely compromised immune system was not enclosed to protect us from him, but to protect him from us. Although this move did not portray an infectious agent but a genetic problem, it is an important reminder. In all the paranoid constructions associated with AIDS in America, we seem to have collectively forgotten the simple reality that people who are sick need care. A culture is judged by the way it treats its young, its old, and its sick. Our culture is more concerned with money than real morality, and the so-called religious right is anything but. This film should be revived, even if only for that one insight.

"These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry baby don't cry
Don't cry" -Paul Simon, "The Boy in the Bubble"

Wonderful Movie!!!
To start things off I will watch it over and over. John Travolta is a wonderful actor and portrayed the story of this boy wonderfully. It is very sad how he had to live so isolated in this plastic housing just so he could survive. It was kinda sad how the girl next door took him for granted but finally came to what I think love him. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I wish they would have said whatever happened to him, or how he's doing or something. What became of him after he came out of the bubble. I think the ending isn't fair since it left me questioning. But like I said I will watch it over and over. : ) ... Read more

Reviews (221)

5 Star Movie Lowered (Slightly) By Disappointing DVD
I won't go into the plot here, because, let's face it, if you haven't seen Grease by now, you probably won't ever see it. And you are missing out on a really fun film. That is the secret to this movie's popularity. It's just plain fun! It doesn't have a really great script, none of the performancies (with the exception of Stockard Channing) is anything above run-of-the-mill, but it's got a lot of great, catchy songs, a very likeable cast, and is just a treat to watch again and again. I was disappointed by this DVD release though, because it's exactly the same as the laser disc, only smaller and you don't have to turn it over. The cast interviews at the end are four years old, and this is really just a delayed release of the 20th Anniversary Edition on DVD. And what fan of Grease needs a cheap, paper booklet of song lyrics? Believe me, we know them all by heart. Truly the most profitable and one of the most popular musicals ever made deserves a better DVD package. The fans certainly deserve it too, having waited so long for this. Boo! to Paramount for, apparently, wanting to wait and pick our pockets again some time down the road when they release the two-disc set with all the extras this movie should have. At least it's in widescreen, which is a totally different viewing experience for anyone who hasn't seen it letterboxed or on the big screen yet. The musical numbers have a much larger scope, with dancers and other action on the sides that had previously been cut off. You will be surprised how many previously unseen guys are on the bleachers with Danny and the gang for "Summer Nights". And to anyone who is planning to buy the full-frame DVD--shame on you! You are truly missing out.

You CAN right a movie about rock&roll!
Most people would think that you could'nt write a good movie about rock&roll. This movie sure proves them wrong. The songs are great, and the movie is great.
I said that the songs were a great part of the movie. Here they are.
1. Grease-5/0
2. Summer Nights-8/10
3. Hopelessly Devoted To You-3/10
4. You're The One That I Want- 10/10
5. Sandy-1/10
6. Beauty School Dropout-5/10
7. Look At Me, I'm Sandra D.-7/10
8. Greased Lightning-9/10
9. It's Raining On Prom Night-3/10
10. Alone at the Drive-In-Movie-1/10
11. Blue Moon-9/10
12. Rock "N" Role is Here To Stay-8/10
13. Those Magic Changes-10/10
14. Hound Dog-4/10
15. Born To Hand Jive-4/10
16. Tears On My Pillow-2/10
17. Mooning-2/10
18. Freddy My Love-0/10
19. Rock "N" Role Party Queen-8/10
20. There Are Worse Things I Could Do-3/10
21. Look At Me, I'm Sandra D.(Reprise)-5/10
22. We Go Togeter-10/10
23. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing-4/10
24 Grease(Reprise)-5/10

As you can see, there are some VERY bad songs, but for the most part, the songs are pretty good. The whole movie was even better than the songs. The whole idea of the movie is a senior high schooler comes to the U.S. and goes to a cheap high school. There, she runs into a guy she met in the summer, who is in a car gang that is against another car gang. Throughout the year, this girl ( her name is Sandy) and her friends deal with the guy(his name is Danny) and his friends. The movie pretty much told about the "typical" high scholl senior's problems, except in a more 60's background. The movie actually took place in the 70's. At the end, Danny's car gang beats the rival gang in a car race, and at the end of the movie, the whole gang of guys and girls gets back together without any problems at the end of the year. The movie is all in all VERY good. Buy it today.

Grease lightning!
(...)

Anyway, "Grease" is one of my favorite movies. It's just one of those timeless gems that will never die (can't say the same for the sequel, though). Every song is a joy and the film couldn't have been casted any better. John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing; all involved give indelibly charming performances. A lot of great films came out of the 70's (The Godfather, A Clockwork Orange, Taxi Driver, Chinatown, Jaws, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, etc., etc...) but "Grease" is still able to hold it's own after all these years. A quintessential film to add to your collection.

As far as the DVD goes, well... it's typical of Paramount to stiff us with what could have been a solid release. If you take into account that almost everyone who buys the disc already knows all the songs and dialogue by heart, the studio could have done lots of fun things with the material. Alas, we only get a songbook (which is admittedly kinda cool) and a documentary. Oh, yeah. And a theatrical trailer. How rare. *scoffs*

A half-assed effort to bring "Grease" to a great medium notwithstanding, I'd highly recommend buying this.

"Summer lovin'... had me a bla-haaast..."

I love this movie
Firstly because it reminds me of a carefree and happy time in my life. I saw this in the summer of 1978 when I was 12 years old and the only thing I had to worry about was making sure I didn't have any overdue library books, keeping the lawn mowed and starting ninth grade in the fall. Secondly because there's some great pop music in this movie, _Hopelessy Devoted to You_ is one of the best pop songs about unrequited attraction ever written. Thirdly because of the subtext of this movie, the lesson this movie teaches you is that in order to get ahead you have to be a slut, just look at the way Olivia Newton John (who was 30 when this movie was made) turns from a good girl at the beginning of the movie into a leather trouser wearing slut at the end. Fourthly I love this movie because all of the actors in it are so obviously too old to be in high school. I figured as a kid that this was because the lead paint factory at the town of Rydell was dumping a lot of stuff into the water supply in those halcyon, pre-EPA days of the 1950s and the resulting heavy metal poisoning made the children of Rydell somewhat slow, which was why they were all still in high school even though they were in their late 20s and early 30s.

Greasy John isn't my cup of grease
As an Australian I find this movie extremely offensive. Why should Sandie have to change and become a greasy fat rude American. She should haved stay the way she was I reckon.

There's a line in this movie about eating sh*t...I agree. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Sad but Very Good Movie!
I remember watching The Boy in the Plastic Bubble when it first aired on TV when I was 11 years old and I thought it was a very good movie and John Travolta was terrific as teenager Tod Lubitch who was born with a nonworking immune system that forces him to live in a plastic isloation chamber away from germs which are extremely dangerous for him! The movie also stars Robert Reed and Diana Hyland as Tod's parents and Glynnis O'Connor as the girl who lives next door and they are all pretty good though John Travolta and Glynnis O'Connor got much more screen time. This movie is pretty sad but it's a good movie and I highly recommend it. I taped this movie when it was rerun commercial free on cable but it was taped on a VCR that was old and breaking down so the tape is messed up and I would like to buy the DVD which is unfortunately out of print but I will have to think of ordering a used copy!

PRETTY GOOD FOR A TV MOVIE.
I actually enjoyed "The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" more than I thought I would. After all, it has been the topic of many jokes over the years. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had some very nice human elements to it. John Travolta did a pretty good job of playing Tod, a teenager with a severe immune deficiency who is forced to live in an enclosed germ free area in his house. He spent a lot of the film acting rather goofy and socially inept. That made a lot of sense though for someone who had limited contact with the general public.

Tod has spent many years watching the teenage girl next door, Gina (Glynnis O'Connor). He is extremely attracted to her but whether she feels the same way about him is questionable. Eventually, Tod is able to go through a series of steps which allow him more and more freedom. He uses this new found freedom to both try and fit in with the other kids as best he can and also woo Gina. There are some touching moments between the two of them although at times it crosses over into being too cut and dry. I would've liked the filmmakers to have made the situation between them a bit more complex.

Robert Reed and Diana Hyland, who play Tod's parents, are given less screen time than one might think. The real story here is about Tod's dreams of one day being "normal" and falling in love with Gina. His relationship with his parents is very secondary. Oddly, Hyland won an Emmy for her performance even though she didn't get a chance to exhibit any real emotion or acting skill.

"The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" doesn't know if it wants to be more of a romance or a medical drama. It ends up doing both fairly well and is worth the buy at such a low price.

A Classic Movie
I first saw this movie when i was a kid, and i loved it because the kids in the movie were around my age. Now as an adult i still love it because John Travolta portrays the character so tenderly. The innocence and "corniness" makes this film truly endearing. i have done an internet search on the real Todd Lubitch, to see if he survived outside his bubble. anyone has any info, please contact me. hollywoodchik@hotmail.com

The importance of this early example.
In this film that predates AIDS, there is an important insight that somehow never carried over into HIV and AIDS discourse. The teenager with the severely compromised immune system was not enclosed to protect us from him, but to protect him from us. Although this move did not portray an infectious agent but a genetic problem, it is an important reminder. In all the paranoid constructions associated with AIDS in America, we seem to have collectively forgotten the simple reality that people who are sick need care. A culture is judged by the way it treats its young, its old, and its sick. Our culture is more concerned with money than real morality, and the so-called religious right is anything but. This film should be revived, even if only for that one insight.

"These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry baby don't cry
Don't cry" -Paul Simon, "The Boy in the Bubble"

Wonderful Movie!!!
To start things off I will watch it over and over. John Travolta is a wonderful actor and portrayed the story of this boy wonderfully. It is very sad how he had to live so isolated in this plastic housing just so he could survive. It was kinda sad how the girl next door took him for granted but finally came to what I think love him. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I wish they would have said whatever happened to him, or how he's doing or something. What became of him after he came out of the bubble. I think the ending isn't fair since it left me questioning. But like I said I will watch it over and over. : ) ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Sad but Very Good Movie!
I remember watching The Boy in the Plastic Bubble when it first aired on TV when I was 11 years old and I thought it was a very good movie and John Travolta was terrific as teenager Tod Lubitch who was born with a nonworking immune system that forces him to live in a plastic isloation chamber away from germs which are extremely dangerous for him! The movie also stars Robert Reed and Diana Hyland as Tod's parents and Glynnis O'Connor as the girl who lives next door and they are all pretty good though John Travolta and Glynnis O'Connor got much more screen time. This movie is pretty sad but it's a good movie and I highly recommend it. I taped this movie when it was rerun commercial free on cable but it was taped on a VCR that was old and breaking down so the tape is messed up and I would like to buy the DVD which is unfortunately out of print but I will have to think of ordering a used copy!

PRETTY GOOD FOR A TV MOVIE.
I actually enjoyed "The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" more than I thought I would. After all, it has been the topic of many jokes over the years. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had some very nice human elements to it. John Travolta did a pretty good job of playing Tod, a teenager with a severe immune deficiency who is forced to live in an enclosed germ free area in his house. He spent a lot of the film acting rather goofy and socially inept. That made a lot of sense though for someone who had limited contact with the general public.

Tod has spent many years watching the teenage girl next door, Gina (Glynnis O'Connor). He is extremely attracted to her but whether she feels the same way about him is questionable. Eventually, Tod is able to go through a series of steps which allow him more and more freedom. He uses this new found freedom to both try and fit in with the other kids as best he can and also woo Gina. There are some touching moments between the two of them although at times it crosses over into being too cut and dry. I would've liked the filmmakers to have made the situation between them a bit more complex.

Robert Reed and Diana Hyland, who play Tod's parents, are given less screen time than one might think. The real story here is about Tod's dreams of one day being "normal" and falling in love with Gina. His relationship with his parents is very secondary. Oddly, Hyland won an Emmy for her performance even though she didn't get a chance to exhibit any real emotion or acting skill.

"The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" doesn't know if it wants to be more of a romance or a medical drama. It ends up doing both fairly well and is worth the buy at such a low price.

A Classic Movie
I first saw this movie when i was a kid, and i loved it because the kids in the movie were around my age. Now as an adult i still love it because John Travolta portrays the character so tenderly. The innocence and "corniness" makes this film truly endearing. i have done an internet search on the real Todd Lubitch, to see if he survived outside his bubble. anyone has any info, please contact me. hollywoodchik@hotmail.com

The importance of this early example.
In this film that predates AIDS, there is an important insight that somehow never carried over into HIV and AIDS discourse. The teenager with the severely compromised immune system was not enclosed to protect us from him, but to protect him from us. Although this move did not portray an infectious agent but a genetic problem, it is an important reminder. In all the paranoid constructions associated with AIDS in America, we seem to have collectively forgotten the simple reality that people who are sick need care. A culture is judged by the way it treats its young, its old, and its sick. Our culture is more concerned with money than real morality, and the so-called religious right is anything but. This film should be revived, even if only for that one insight.

"These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry baby don't cry
Don't cry" -Paul Simon, "The Boy in the Bubble"

Wonderful Movie!!!
To start things off I will watch it over and over. John Travolta is a wonderful actor and portrayed the story of this boy wonderfully. It is very sad how he had to live so isolated in this plastic housing just so he could survive. It was kinda sad how the girl next door took him for granted but finally came to what I think love him. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I wish they would have said whatever happened to him, or how he's doing or something. What became of him after he came out of the bubble. I think the ending isn't fair since it left me questioning. But like I said I will watch it over and over. : ) ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Brilliant ERIC Roberts
So you thought Julia Roberts had all the talent in the family? Think again, and see "It's My Party" if you want proof positive that Eric, her brother, deserves the same level of praise and attention. A shattering performance that was grossly overlooked in 1996, Roberts plays the central character, dying from AIDS with dignity and self-determination that is so rarely captured ANYWHERE it's often astounding to the viewer to get through. If you thought "Terms of Endearment" was a terrific film, you might dislike the honesty and wrenching sincerity of this movie. There is little room for self-disdain here, or sadness. Rather, what erupts throughout is pure emotional awareness....Roberts captures so many dimensions of a dying man, you're celebrating AND reflecting at once. There is also an incredible supporting cast and special kudos to Harrison, Newton-John, and Cho. A real family film - see it and share it with the people you love. A note to the studio - how about a DVD release with some behind-the-scenes extras and perhaps even some reflections from the lovely Julia Roberts on her brother's extraordinary turn

Don't waste your time
A few weeks ago, I attempted to watch this movie with a small group of friends. We had all read the summary on the back of the case, and though it sounded good. We were wrong. While the basic story has potential, the presentation is extremely melodramatic. The acting is terrible, and the writing even worse. This is, without a doubt, among the worst movies I have ever seen.

Powerful film, inspired by true events
IT'S MY PARTY (USA 1996): In the last few days before an AIDS-related brain tumor renders him insensible, a young LA designer (Eric Roberts) decides to end his own life, though not before throwing a final joyous bash for family and loved ones. However, the occasion is strained by the arrival of Roberts' former lover (Gregory Harrison), seeking reconciliation at the eleventh hour...

Though heartfelt and moving, Randal Kleiser's powerful film - inspired by actual events - feels a little fragmented and plays like a reunion of his closest showbiz friends (the cast is a veritable who's-who of familiar faces), anchored firmly by Harrison and Roberts in the central roles. Their former relationship is outlined briefly at the start of the film, too briefly for the subsequent break-up to register as anything more than a minor event, though their love for one another is conveyed with real strength and conviction. Roddy McDowall essays the voice of conscience during a brief cameo appearance in which he questions the ethics of suicide, but his character's conservative views are given short shrift by Kleiser's defiant screenplay, which uses a sprinkling of mordant humor to keep mawkishness at bay (at one point, Roberts and his best friend [Bronson Pinchot, camping it up with abandon] launch into a rousing rendition of "It's my party/And I'll die if I want to"!). Viewers are advised, however, that the final twenty minutes are relentlessly, heartbreakingly sad. Amongst the high-profile supporting players, look fast for Nina Foch, Sally Kellerman, Greg Louganis, Steve Antin and a virtually unrecognizable Dennis Christopher and Christopher Atkins.

Sound and picture on MGM/UA's DVD are uniformly fine, and the extras include extended/deleted scenes, a trailer, and an audio commentary with director, cast and crew which goes into greater detail about the 1992 events which inspired the movie.

109m 35s
1.85:1 / Anamorphically enhanced
DVD soundtrack: Dolby 5.1
Theatrical soundtracks: DTS
Optional English subtitles and closed captions
Region 1

Yes it is Moving, But Geez is it ever Depressing
As a rule, if you are a gay male, you are suppose to support any independent type gay film thrust upon you. I have yet to be impressed with these art house gay themed films (with the exception of "Monster"). This one is no exception.
Yes the story is written well. Yes the message is deep. Yes it will make you cry and blah blah blah.
Why do gay films depict the main characters as either drag queens, tramps, or suffering from disease?
Maybe I don't like this film because it was disturbing in the true depiction of what an AIDS victim could possibly face. Or the flashbacks of others that have died in the film. Or the shallow lover that abandons the sick main character. I don't know, it isn't a bad film, it is just horribly depressing and not a film I ever care to watch again.
Why can't the next gay film embrace life, not death. Embrace love, not break-ups. Embrace happiness, not sadness?
Olivia Newton-John sings a beautiful song over the ending credits, if you watch the film, leave the credits rolling to witness this moving song.

Great performances enhance a timely story!
I came upon this little-known film by accident the other evening and it was a discovery that I was glad to have made. As has previously been stated, Eric Roberts portrays "Nick" who has been living an idyllic existence with his partner "Brandon", portrayed by Gregory Harrison. Suddenly, their lives are turned inside out when Nick is diagnosed with AIDS. Brandon is unable to cope with the revelation and begins to distance himself from his friend. The strain on the relationship caused them to have a permanent and ugly separation.

One year later, as the disease begins to progress to its eventual fatal end, Nick decides to throw a "bash" for his himself, as well as his family and friends. Nick also intends on taking his own life because prior to his mind and body's deterioration.

Nick's family and friends all come with the exception of the unknowing Brandon. Margaret Cho, playing one of Nick's friends, intercedes and seeks out Brandon, telling him about his former lover's intentions. During the party, Brandon appears and amidst the celebration, he and Nick briefly reconcile.

The final meeting between the two is poignant as well as celebratory.

As far as the performances are concerned, the principals are superb. Why Roberts did not attain the heights, as his better-known sibling, Julia, is unfathomable. He is quite good as the dying Nick.

Harrison is appropriately confused and compassionate as one that must deal with his own guilt and the mortality of someone with whom he had planned to share his life.

Lee Grant, as Nick's mom, is brilliant, showing why she has been one of the most under appreciated actresses of the past fifty years.

With a supporting cast of Bronson Pinchot, George Segal, Bruce Davison, Marlee Matlin, Olivia Newton-John (who supplies the song heard over the closing credits), Roddy McDowall (in one of his last roles), and a cameo appearance by acting legend Nina Foch (as Brandon's mother), the film has the clout to be one of the best ensemble cast in recent years.

It's too bad that this well-made film came and went with little fanfare and seems now relegated to late night on cable televsion.

The film is powerful and deserving of wider viewership. ... Read more

Reviews (221)

5 Star Movie Lowered (Slightly) By Disappointing DVD
I won't go into the plot here, because, let's face it, if you haven't seen Grease by now, you probably won't ever see it. And you are missing out on a really fun film. That is the secret to this movie's popularity. It's just plain fun! It doesn't have a really great script, none of the performancies (with the exception of Stockard Channing) is anything above run-of-the-mill, but it's got a lot of great, catchy songs, a very likeable cast, and is just a treat to watch again and again. I was disappointed by this DVD release though, because it's exactly the same as the laser disc, only smaller and you don't have to turn it over. The cast interviews at the end are four years old, and this is really just a delayed release of the 20th Anniversary Edition on DVD. And what fan of Grease needs a cheap, paper booklet of song lyrics? Believe me, we know them all by heart. Truly the most profitable and one of the most popular musicals ever made deserves a better DVD package. The fans certainly deserve it too, having waited so long for this. Boo! to Paramount for, apparently, wanting to wait and pick our pockets again some time down the road when they release the two-disc set with all the extras this movie should have. At least it's in widescreen, which is a totally different viewing experience for anyone who hasn't seen it letterboxed or on the big screen yet. The musical numbers have a much larger scope, with dancers and other action on the sides that had previously been cut off. You will be surprised how many previously unseen guys are on the bleachers with Danny and the gang for "Summer Nights". And to anyone who is planning to buy the full-frame DVD--shame on you! You are truly missing out.

You CAN right a movie about rock&roll!
Most people would think that you could'nt write a good movie about rock&roll. This movie sure proves them wrong. The songs are great, and the movie is great.
I said that the songs were a great part of the movie. Here they are.
1. Grease-5/0
2. Summer Nights-8/10
3. Hopelessly Devoted To You-3/10
4. You're The One That I Want- 10/10
5. Sandy-1/10
6. Beauty School Dropout-5/10
7. Look At Me, I'm Sandra D.-7/10
8. Greased Lightning-9/10
9. It's Raining On Prom Night-3/10
10. Alone at the Drive-In-Movie-1/10
11. Blue Moon-9/10
12. Rock "N" Role is Here To Stay-8/10
13. Those Magic Changes-10/10
14. Hound Dog-4/10
15. Born To Hand Jive-4/10
16. Tears On My Pillow-2/10
17. Mooning-2/10
18. Freddy My Love-0/10
19. Rock "N" Role Party Queen-8/10
20. There Are Worse Things I Could Do-3/10
21. Look At Me, I'm Sandra D.(Reprise)-5/10
22. We Go Togeter-10/10
23. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing-4/10
24 Grease(Reprise)-5/10

As you can see, there are some VERY bad songs, but for the most part, the songs are pretty good. The whole movie was even better than the songs. The whole idea of the movie is a senior high schooler comes to the U.S. and goes to a cheap high school. There, she runs into a guy she met in the summer, who is in a car gang that is against another car gang. Throughout the year, this girl ( her name is Sandy) and her friends deal with the guy(his name is Danny) and his friends. The movie pretty much told about the "typical" high scholl senior's problems, except in a more 60's background. The movie actually took place in the 70's. At the end, Danny's car gang beats the rival gang in a car race, and at the end of the movie, the whole gang of guys and girls gets back together without any problems at the end of the year. The movie is all in all VERY good. Buy it today.

Grease lightning!
(...)

Anyway, "Grease" is one of my favorite movies. It's just one of those timeless gems that will never die (can't say the same for the sequel, though). Every song is a joy and the film couldn't have been casted any better. John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing; all involved give indelibly charming performances. A lot of great films came out of the 70's (The Godfather, A Clockwork Orange, Taxi Driver, Chinatown, Jaws, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, etc., etc...) but "Grease" is still able to hold it's own after all these years. A quintessential film to add to your collection.

As far as the DVD goes, well... it's typical of Paramount to stiff us with what could have been a solid release. If you take into account that almost everyone who buys the disc already knows all the songs and dialogue by heart, the studio could have done lots of fun things with the material. Alas, we only get a songbook (which is admittedly kinda cool) and a documentary. Oh, yeah. And a theatrical trailer. How rare. *scoffs*

A half-assed effort to bring "Grease" to a great medium notwithstanding, I'd highly recommend buying this.

"Summer lovin'... had me a bla-haaast..."

I love this movie
Firstly because it reminds me of a carefree and happy time in my life. I saw this in the summer of 1978 when I was 12 years old and the only thing I had to worry about was making sure I didn't have any overdue library books, keeping the lawn mowed and starting ninth grade in the fall. Secondly because there's some great pop music in this movie, _Hopelessy Devoted to You_ is one of the best pop songs about unrequited attraction ever written. Thirdly because of the subtext of this movie, the lesson this movie teaches you is that in order to get ahead you have to be a slut, just look at the way Olivia Newton John (who was 30 when this movie was made) turns from a good girl at the beginning of the movie into a leather trouser wearing slut at the end. Fourthly I love this movie because all of the actors in it are so obviously too old to be in high school. I figured as a kid that this was because the lead paint factory at the town of Rydell was dumping a lot of stuff into the water supply in those halcyon, pre-EPA days of the 1950s and the resulting heavy metal poisoning made the children of Rydell somewhat slow, which was why they were all still in high school even though they were in their late 20s and early 30s.

Greasy John isn't my cup of grease
As an Australian I find this movie extremely offensive. Why should Sandie have to change and become a greasy fat rude American. She should haved stay the way she was I reckon.

There's a line in this movie about eating sh*t...I agree. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Sad but Very Good Movie!
I remember watching The Boy in the Plastic Bubble when it first aired on TV when I was 11 years old and I thought it was a very good movie and John Travolta was terrific as teenager Tod Lubitch who was born with a nonworking immune system that forces him to live in a plastic isloation chamber away from germs which are extremely dangerous for him! The movie also stars Robert Reed and Diana Hyland as Tod's parents and Glynnis O'Connor as the girl who lives next door and they are all pretty good though John Travolta and Glynnis O'Connor got much more screen time. This movie is pretty sad but it's a good movie and I highly recommend it. I taped this movie when it was rerun commercial free on cable but it was taped on a VCR that was old and breaking down so the tape is messed up and I would like to buy the DVD which is unfortunately out of print but I will have to think of ordering a used copy!

PRETTY GOOD FOR A TV MOVIE.
I actually enjoyed "The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" more than I thought I would. After all, it has been the topic of many jokes over the years. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had some very nice human elements to it. John Travolta did a pretty good job of playing Tod, a teenager with a severe immune deficiency who is forced to live in an enclosed germ free area in his house. He spent a lot of the film acting rather goofy and socially inept. That made a lot of sense though for someone who had limited contact with the general public.

Tod has spent many years watching the teenage girl next door, Gina (Glynnis O'Connor). He is extremely attracted to her but whether she feels the same way about him is questionable. Eventually, Tod is able to go through a series of steps which allow him more and more freedom. He uses this new found freedom to both try and fit in with the other kids as best he can and also woo Gina. There are some touching moments between the two of them although at times it crosses over into being too cut and dry. I would've liked the filmmakers to have made the situation between them a bit more complex.

Robert Reed and Diana Hyland, who play Tod's parents, are given less screen time than one might think. The real story here is about Tod's dreams of one day being "normal" and falling in love with Gina. His relationship with his parents is very secondary. Oddly, Hyland won an Emmy for her performance even though she didn't get a chance to exhibit any real emotion or acting skill.

"The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" doesn't know if it wants to be more of a romance or a medical drama. It ends up doing both fairly well and is worth the buy at such a low price.

A Classic Movie
I first saw this movie when i was a kid, and i loved it because the kids in the movie were around my age. Now as an adult i still love it because John Travolta portrays the character so tenderly. The innocence and "corniness" makes this film truly endearing. i have done an internet search on the real Todd Lubitch, to see if he survived outside his bubble. anyone has any info, please contact me. hollywoodchik@hotmail.com

The importance of this early example.
In this film that predates AIDS, there is an important insight that somehow never carried over into HIV and AIDS discourse. The teenager with the severely compromised immune system was not enclosed to protect us from him, but to protect him from us. Although this move did not portray an infectious agent but a genetic problem, it is an important reminder. In all the paranoid constructions associated with AIDS in America, we seem to have collectively forgotten the simple reality that people who are sick need care. A culture is judged by the way it treats its young, its old, and its sick. Our culture is more concerned with money than real morality, and the so-called religious right is anything but. This film should be revived, even if only for that one insight.

"These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry baby don't cry
Don't cry" -Paul Simon, "The Boy in the Bubble"

Wonderful Movie!!!
To start things off I will watch it over and over. John Travolta is a wonderful actor and portrayed the story of this boy wonderfully. It is very sad how he had to live so isolated in this plastic housing just so he could survive. It was kinda sad how the girl next door took him for granted but finally came to what I think love him. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I wish they would have said whatever happened to him, or how he's doing or something. What became of him after he came out of the bubble. I think the ending isn't fair since it left me questioning. But like I said I will watch it over and over. : ) ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Sad but Very Good Movie!
I remember watching The Boy in the Plastic Bubble when it first aired on TV when I was 11 years old and I thought it was a very good movie and John Travolta was terrific as teenager Tod Lubitch who was born with a nonworking immune system that forces him to live in a plastic isloation chamber away from germs which are extremely dangerous for him! The movie also stars Robert Reed and Diana Hyland as Tod's parents and Glynnis O'Connor as the girl who lives next door and they are all pretty good though John Travolta and Glynnis O'Connor got much more screen time. This movie is pretty sad but it's a good movie and I highly recommend it. I taped this movie when it was rerun commercial free on cable but it was taped on a VCR that was old and breaking down so the tape is messed up and I would like to buy the DVD which is unfortunately out of print but I will have to think of ordering a used copy!

PRETTY GOOD FOR A TV MOVIE.
I actually enjoyed "The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" more than I thought I would. After all, it has been the topic of many jokes over the years. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had some very nice human elements to it. John Travolta did a pretty good job of playing Tod, a teenager with a severe immune deficiency who is forced to live in an enclosed germ free area in his house. He spent a lot of the film acting rather goofy and socially inept. That made a lot of sense though for someone who had limited contact with the general public.

Tod has spent many years watching the teenage girl next door, Gina (Glynnis O'Connor). He is extremely attracted to her but whether she feels the same way about him is questionable. Eventually, Tod is able to go through a series of steps which allow him more and more freedom. He uses this new found freedom to both try and fit in with the other kids as best he can and also woo Gina. There are some touching moments between the two of them although at times it crosses over into being too cut and dry. I would've liked the filmmakers to have made the situation between them a bit more complex.

Robert Reed and Diana Hyland, who play Tod's parents, are given less screen time than one might think. The real story here is about Tod's dreams of one day being "normal" and falling in love with Gina. His relationship with his parents is very secondary. Oddly, Hyland won an Emmy for her performance even though she didn't get a chance to exhibit any real emotion or acting skill.

"The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" doesn't know if it wants to be more of a romance or a medical drama. It ends up doing both fairly well and is worth the buy at such a low price.

A Classic Movie
I first saw this movie when i was a kid, and i loved it because the kids in the movie were around my age. Now as an adult i still love it because John Travolta portrays the character so tenderly. The innocence and "corniness" makes this film truly endearing. i have done an internet search on the real Todd Lubitch, to see if he survived outside his bubble. anyone has any info, please contact me. hollywoodchik@hotmail.com

The importance of this early example.
In this film that predates AIDS, there is an important insight that somehow never carried over into HIV and AIDS discourse. The teenager with the severely compromised immune system was not enclosed to protect us from him, but to protect him from us. Although this move did not portray an infectious agent but a genetic problem, it is an important reminder. In all the paranoid constructions associated with AIDS in America, we seem to have collectively forgotten the simple reality that people who are sick need care. A culture is judged by the way it treats its young, its old, and its sick. Our culture is more concerned with money than real morality, and the so-called religious right is anything but. This film should be revived, even if only for that one insight.

"These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry baby don't cry
Don't cry" -Paul Simon, "The Boy in the Bubble"

Wonderful Movie!!!
To start things off I will watch it over and over. John Travolta is a wonderful actor and portrayed the story of this boy wonderfully. It is very sad how he had to live so isolated in this plastic housing just so he could survive. It was kinda sad how the girl next door took him for granted but finally came to what I think love him. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I wish they would have said whatever happened to him, or how he's doing or something. What became of him after he came out of the bubble. I think the ending isn't fair since it left me questioning. But like I said I will watch it over and over. : ) ... Read more

Reviews (221)

5 Star Movie Lowered (Slightly) By Disappointing DVD
I won't go into the plot here, because, let's face it, if you haven't seen Grease by now, you probably won't ever see it. And you are missing out on a really fun film. That is the secret to this movie's popularity. It's just plain fun! It doesn't have a really great script, none of the performancies (with the exception of Stockard Channing) is anything above run-of-the-mill, but it's got a lot of great, catchy songs, a very likeable cast, and is just a treat to watch again and again. I was disappointed by this DVD release though, because it's exactly the same as the laser disc, only smaller and you don't have to turn it over. The cast interviews at the end are four years old, and this is really just a delayed release of the 20th Anniversary Edition on DVD. And what fan of Grease needs a cheap, paper booklet of song lyrics? Believe me, we know them all by heart. Truly the most profitable and one of the most popular musicals ever made deserves a better DVD package. The fans certainly deserve it too, having waited so long for this. Boo! to Paramount for, apparently, wanting to wait and pick our pockets again some time down the road when they release the two-disc set with all the extras this movie should have. At least it's in widescreen, which is a totally different viewing experience for anyone who hasn't seen it letterboxed or on the big screen yet. The musical numbers have a much larger scope, with dancers and other action on the sides that had previously been cut off. You will be surprised how many previously unseen guys are on the bleachers with Danny and the gang for "Summer Nights". And to anyone who is planning to buy the full-frame DVD--shame on you! You are truly missing out.

You CAN right a movie about rock&roll!
Most people would think that you could'nt write a good movie about rock&roll. This movie sure proves them wrong. The songs are great, and the movie is great.
I said that the songs were a great part of the movie. Here they are.
1. Grease-5/0
2. Summer Nights-8/10
3. Hopelessly Devoted To You-3/10
4. You're The One That I Want- 10/10
5. Sandy-1/10
6. Beauty School Dropout-5/10
7. Look At Me, I'm Sandra D.-7/10
8. Greased Lightning-9/10
9. It's Raining On Prom Night-3/10
10. Alone at the Drive-In-Movie-1/10
11. Blue Moon-9/10
12. Rock "N" Role is Here To Stay-8/10
13. Those Magic Changes-10/10
14. Hound Dog-4/10
15. Born To Hand Jive-4/10
16. Tears On My Pillow-2/10
17. Mooning-2/10
18. Freddy My Love-0/10
19. Rock "N" Role Party Queen-8/10
20. There Are Worse Things I Could Do-3/10
21. Look At Me, I'm Sandra D.(Reprise)-5/10
22. We Go Togeter-10/10
23. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing-4/10
24 Grease(Reprise)-5/10

As you can see, there are some VERY bad songs, but for the most part, the songs are pretty good. The whole movie was even better than the songs. The whole idea of the movie is a senior high schooler comes to the U.S. and goes to a cheap high school. There, she runs into a guy she met in the summer, who is in a car gang that is against another car gang. Throughout the year, this girl ( her name is Sandy) and her friends deal with the guy(his name is Danny) and his friends. The movie pretty much told about the "typical" high scholl senior's problems, except in a more 60's background. The movie actually took place in the 70's. At the end, Danny's car gang beats the rival gang in a car race, and at the end of the movie, the whole gang of guys and girls gets back together without any problems at the end of the year. The movie is all in all VERY good. Buy it today.

Grease lightning!
(...)

Anyway, "Grease" is one of my favorite movies. It's just one of those timeless gems that will never die (can't say the same for the sequel, though). Every song is a joy and the film couldn't have been casted any better. John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing; all involved give indelibly charming performances. A lot of great films came out of the 70's (The Godfather, A Clockwork Orange, Taxi Driver, Chinatown, Jaws, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, etc., etc...) but "Grease" is still able to hold it's own after all these years. A quintessential film to add to your collection.

As far as the DVD goes, well... it's typical of Paramount to stiff us with what could have been a solid release. If you take into account that almost everyone who buys the disc already knows all the songs and dialogue by heart, the studio could have done lots of fun things with the material. Alas, we only get a songbook (which is admittedly kinda cool) and a documentary. Oh, yeah. And a theatrical trailer. How rare. *scoffs*

A half-assed effort to bring "Grease" to a great medium notwithstanding, I'd highly recommend buying this.

"Summer lovin'... had me a bla-haaast..."

I love this movie
Firstly because it reminds me of a carefree and happy time in my life. I saw this in the summer of 1978 when I was 12 years old and the only thing I had to worry about was making sure I didn't have any overdue library books, keeping the lawn mowed and starting ninth grade in the fall. Secondly because there's some great pop music in this movie, _Hopelessy Devoted to You_ is one of the best pop songs about unrequited attraction ever written. Thirdly because of the subtext of this movie, the lesson this movie teaches you is that in order to get ahead you have to be a slut, just look at the way Olivia Newton John (who was 30 when this movie was made) turns from a good girl at the beginning of the movie into a leather trouser wearing slut at the end. Fourthly I love this movie because all of the actors in it are so obviously too old to be in high school. I figured as a kid that this was because the lead paint factory at the town of Rydell was dumping a lot of stuff into the water supply in those halcyon, pre-EPA days of the 1950s and the resulting heavy metal poisoning made the children of Rydell somewhat slow, which was why they were all still in high school even though they were in their late 20s and early 30s.

Greasy John isn't my cup of grease
As an Australian I find this movie extremely offensive. Why should Sandie have to change and become a greasy fat rude American. She should haved stay the way she was I reckon.

There's a line in this movie about eating sh*t...I agree. ... Read more

Reviews (221)

5 Star Movie Lowered (Slightly) By Disappointing DVD
I won't go into the plot here, because, let's face it, if you haven't seen Grease by now, you probably won't ever see it. And you are missing out on a really fun film. That is the secret to this movie's popularity. It's just plain fun! It doesn't have a really great script, none of the performancies (with the exception of Stockard Channing) is anything above run-of-the-mill, but it's got a lot of great, catchy songs, a very likeable cast, and is just a treat to watch again and again. I was disappointed by this DVD release though, because it's exactly the same as the laser disc, only smaller and you don't have to turn it over. The cast interviews at the end are four years old, and this is really just a delayed release of the 20th Anniversary Edition on DVD. And what fan of Grease needs a cheap, paper booklet of song lyrics? Believe me, we know them all by heart. Truly the most profitable and one of the most popular musicals ever made deserves a better DVD package. The fans certainly deserve it too, having waited so long for this. Boo! to Paramount for, apparently, wanting to wait and pick our pockets again some time down the road when they release the two-disc set with all the extras this movie should have. At least it's in widescreen, which is a totally different viewing experience for anyone who hasn't seen it letterboxed or on the big screen yet. The musical numbers have a much larger scope, with dancers and other action on the sides that had previously been cut off. You will be surprised how many previously unseen guys are on the bleachers with Danny and the gang for "Summer Nights". And to anyone who is planning to buy the full-frame DVD--shame on you! You are truly missing out.

You CAN right a movie about rock&roll!
Most people would think that you could'nt write a good movie about rock&roll. This movie sure proves them wrong. The songs are great, and the movie is great.
I said that the songs were a great part of the movie. Here they are.
1. Grease-5/0
2. Summer Nights-8/10
3. Hopelessly Devoted To You-3/10
4. You're The One That I Want- 10/10
5. Sandy-1/10
6. Beauty School Dropout-5/10
7. Look At Me, I'm Sandra D.-7/10
8. Greased Lightning-9/10
9. It's Raining On Prom Night-3/10
10. Alone at the Drive-In-Movie-1/10
11. Blue Moon-9/10
12. Rock "N" Role is Here To Stay-8/10
13. Those Magic Changes-10/10
14. Hound Dog-4/10
15. Born To Hand Jive-4/10
16. Tears On My Pillow-2/10
17. Mooning-2/10
18. Freddy My Love-0/10
19. Rock "N" Role Party Queen-8/10
20. There Are Worse Things I Could Do-3/10
21. Look At Me, I'm Sandra D.(Reprise)-5/10
22. We Go Togeter-10/10
23. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing-4/10
24 Grease(Reprise)-5/10

As you can see, there are some VERY bad songs, but for the most part, the songs are pretty good. The whole movie was even better than the songs. The whole idea of the movie is a senior high schooler comes to the U.S. and goes to a cheap high school. There, she runs into a guy she met in the summer, who is in a car gang that is against another car gang. Throughout the year, this girl ( her name is Sandy) and her friends deal with the guy(his name is Danny) and his friends. The movie pretty much told about the "typical" high scholl senior's problems, except in a more 60's background. The movie actually took place in the 70's. At the end, Danny's car gang beats the rival gang in a car race, and at the end of the movie, the whole gang of guys and girls gets back together without any problems at the end of the year. The movie is all in all VERY good. Buy it today.

Grease lightning!
(...)

Anyway, "Grease" is one of my favorite movies. It's just one of those timeless gems that will never die (can't say the same for the sequel, though). Every song is a joy and the film couldn't have been casted any better. John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing; all involved give indelibly charming performances. A lot of great films came out of the 70's (The Godfather, A Clockwork Orange, Taxi Driver, Chinatown, Jaws, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, etc., etc...) but "Grease" is still able to hold it's own after all these years. A quintessential film to add to your collection.

As far as the DVD goes, well... it's typical of Paramount to stiff us with what could have been a solid release. If you take into account that almost everyone who buys the disc already knows all the songs and dialogue by heart, the studio could have done lots of fun things with the material. Alas, we only get a songbook (which is admittedly kinda cool) and a documentary. Oh, yeah. And a theatrical trailer. How rare. *scoffs*

A half-assed effort to bring "Grease" to a great medium notwithstanding, I'd highly recommend buying this.

"Summer lovin'... had me a bla-haaast..."

I love this movie
Firstly because it reminds me of a carefree and happy time in my life. I saw this in the summer of 1978 when I was 12 years old and the only thing I had to worry about was making sure I didn't have any overdue library books, keeping the lawn mowed and starting ninth grade in the fall. Secondly because there's some great pop music in this movie, _Hopelessy Devoted to You_ is one of the best pop songs about unrequited attraction ever written. Thirdly because of the subtext of this movie, the lesson this movie teaches you is that in order to get ahead you have to be a slut, just look at the way Olivia Newton John (who was 30 when this movie was made) turns from a good girl at the beginning of the movie into a leather trouser wearing slut at the end. Fourthly I love this movie because all of the actors in it are so obviously too old to be in high school. I figured as a kid that this was because the lead paint factory at the town of Rydell was dumping a lot of stuff into the water supply in those halcyon, pre-EPA days of the 1950s and the resulting heavy metal poisoning made the children of Rydell somewhat slow, which was why they were all still in high school even though they were in their late 20s and early 30s.

Greasy John isn't my cup of grease
As an Australian I find this movie extremely offensive. Why should Sandie have to change and become a greasy fat rude American. She should haved stay the way she was I reckon.

There's a line in this movie about eating sh*t...I agree. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One of My Favorite Made for Television Movies!
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble is one of my favorite made for television movies. I originally saw this movie when it was first shown on television when I was 11 years old and I thought it was a very good movie. It stars John Travolta as a teenager named Todd Lubitch who is forced to live in a plastic chamber because he has a nonfunctioning immune system and germs are extremely dangerous. The movie also stars Robert Reed and Diana Hyland as his parents and Glynnis O'Connor as the teenage girl who lives next door. I recommend this movie and I'm thinking of buying the DVD which I think is out of print but I can always buy a used DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Sad but Very Good Movie!
I remember watching The Boy in the Plastic Bubble when it first aired on TV when I was 11 years old and I thought it was a very good movie and John Travolta was terrific as teenager Tod Lubitch who was born with a nonworking immune system that forces him to live in a plastic isloation chamber away from germs which are extremely dangerous for him! The movie also stars Robert Reed and Diana Hyland as Tod's parents and Glynnis O'Connor as the girl who lives next door and they are all pretty good though John Travolta and Glynnis O'Connor got much more screen time. This movie is pretty sad but it's a good movie and I highly recommend it. I taped this movie when it was rerun commercial free on cable but it was taped on a VCR that was old and breaking down so the tape is messed up and I would like to buy the DVD which is unfortunately out of print but I will have to think of ordering a used copy!

PRETTY GOOD FOR A TV MOVIE.
I actually enjoyed "The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" more than I thought I would. After all, it has been the topic of many jokes over the years. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had some very nice human elements to it. John Travolta did a pretty good job of playing Tod, a teenager with a severe immune deficiency who is forced to live in an enclosed germ free area in his house. He spent a lot of the film acting rather goofy and socially inept. That made a lot of sense though for someone who had limited contact with the general public.

Tod has spent many years watching the teenage girl next door, Gina (Glynnis O'Connor). He is extremely attracted to her but whether she feels the same way about him is questionable. Eventually, Tod is able to go through a series of steps which allow him more and more freedom. He uses this new found freedom to both try and fit in with the other kids as best he can and also woo Gina. There are some touching moments between the two of them although at times it crosses over into being too cut and dry. I would've liked the filmmakers to have made the situation between them a bit more complex.

Robert Reed and Diana Hyland, who play Tod's parents, are given less screen time than one might think. The real story here is about Tod's dreams of one day being "normal" and falling in love with Gina. His relationship with his parents is very secondary. Oddly, Hyland won an Emmy for her performance even though she didn't get a chance to exhibit any real emotion or acting skill.

"The Boy In The Plastic Bubble" doesn't know if it wants to be more of a romance or a medical drama. It ends up doing both fairly well and is worth the buy at such a low price.

A Classic Movie
I first saw this movie when i was a kid, and i loved it because the kids in the movie were around my age. Now as an adult i still love it because John Travolta portrays the character so tenderly. The innocence and "corniness" makes this film truly endearing. i have done an internet search on the real Todd Lubitch, to see if he survived outside his bubble. anyone has any info, please contact me. hollywoodchik@hotmail.com

The importance of this early example.
In this film that predates AIDS, there is an important insight that somehow never carried over into HIV and AIDS discourse. The teenager with the severely compromised immune system was not enclosed to protect us from him, but to protect him from us. Although this move did not portray an infectious agent but a genetic problem, it is an important reminder. In all the paranoid constructions associated with AIDS in America, we seem to have collectively forgotten the simple reality that people who are sick need care. A culture is judged by the way it treats its young, its old, and its sick. Our culture is more concerned with money than real morality, and the so-called religious right is anything but. This film should be revived, even if only for that one insight.

"These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry baby don't cry
Don't cry" -Paul Simon, "The Boy in the Bubble"

Wonderful Movie!!!
To start things off I will watch it over and over. John Travolta is a wonderful actor and portrayed the story of this boy wonderfully. It is very sad how he had to live so isolated in this plastic housing just so he could survive. It was kinda sad how the girl next door took him for granted but finally came to what I think love him. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I wish they would have said whatever happened to him, or how he's doing or something. What became of him after he came out of the bubble. I think the ending isn't fair since it left me questioning. But like I said I will watch it over and over. : ) ... Read more