Reviews (14)

Powerful!
I like this movie because of it's powerful, dramatic story. As George Lucas says in the beginning It's designed to show the horrors of war, so don't expect comic relief, because there is none to be found. The reason why is this film appears to be very grim. It's also very serious. I highly recommend this film to future Indiana Jones fans, and for future High School history classes. Part one of this movie is horrific. It's just a warning of what you shouldn't expect. That's all. I also recommend that future High School teachers, and students watch this video as part of their history classes.

Indiana Jones Lost in the Trenches
"Trenches of Hell" is one of the few modern examinations of World War I, and for that alone it's worth the purchase price. It has a fine "slice of life" feel about it, meandering from the horror of gas warfare to camraderie stolen amongst the hodgepodge of allies that made up the allied side in this "war to end all wars."

What it doesn't have is Indiana Jones--or very much of an ending. There is, after all, no reason for Indy to be present in the telling of the tale--we learn nothing about him nor are we even treated to any of his trademarked mannerisms. Yes, we get lost in this world, and the storytelling--until the surprisingly weak ending--is intriguing enough to demand our attention. But the protagonist could've been Anyman for as much as the spirit of Indiana Jones appears here. Flanery is a fine actor, and his performance is clearly one of the hooks that keeps us interested, but he needed a few scenes of genuine character development to tie his Indy in with Ford's. Instead, this is another Young Indy epsiode in which the name "Indiana Jones" has been stolen for the noble purpose of introducing a wider audience to history.

Thus, like some other entrants in this series, "Trenches of Hell" leaves Indy fans disappointed, but better off for the experience.

Please sir, I want some more
If you watch these videos in chronological order (which you should) this provides a fascinating follow up to the cute and funny Spring Break Adventure (even the more serious Mexico half featured jokes like the letter Indy wrote to his dad). The only problem is, that it shouldn't follow directly after like it does. There were two episodes, "Ireland, April 1916" and "London, May 1916" that were not put on video. Instead, we jump from what must be March (in Mexico) to "Somme, Early August 1916" and "Germany, Mid August 1916". One might ask why this was done.

Once you stop wondering how Indy got to be a Corporal and all that, this video is very good. It really is too bad that there are so few WWI movies out there, compared to all the WWII ones to pick from. I've read some reviewers complain about the fact that the series would be better if it took place in WWII, but it wouldn't exactly be YOUNG Indy, then, would it?

Personnaly, I enjoyed the second half more, as it was less grim and more adventurous. Charles de Gaulle is the only one who seems to recognize Indy's American accent for what it is. It's too bad the ending is so abrupt. Indy doesn't even get out of German territory, which leads to yet another big gap between this video and the next one, where Indy is magically in Africa with Remy, whom I swear died in "Trenches of Hell." Yes, indeed, there are two more episodes, "Verdun, September 1916" and "Paris, October 1916" which are not included.

So, the video itself is great, but for a person who likes to know what's going on all the time, this video series leaves me feeling gypped way too often.

Outstanding - Best of the series
These are arguably the greatest episodes in the series. They are emotional, moving, action packed, and realistic. If there's a knock on the series it's that it's often hokey, and Indy runs into too many famous people. But this episode pulled no punches and delivered on all cylinders. It is so excellent, I rate it better than the last two Indiana Jones movies.

I should also point out I agree with reviewer James Irwin in his comparisons. I found SPR a nice story, and I love Tom Hanks, but if you want a much less Hollywood drama, and something to both thrill you, and move you, check this out. I also agree on BWP being the most overhyped film ever....but that's another thread.

If you're at all curious about the series, buy this, you won't be disappointed.

A harrowing tale of the horrors of war
The 8th chapter in the Young Indiana Jones series, this is a dark and harrowing look at the horrors of war. The movie is divided into three parts:

It starts out in France where Indy, Remy, and a whole army of French and Belgian soldiers are all assigned to take a chateau at the top of a hill. German soldiers have the place surrounded, and the soldiers must fight their way through trenches, past Germans, grenades, and gas. The whole gas sequence is flat out scary and harrowing. The mortars firing gas bombs and the sight of German soldiers in gas masks turning the knobs on tanks filled with poion gas is scary, and gets even worse when out of the clouds of gas come Germans wielding flamethrowers. It is an awesome sight, and quite graphic for a made-for-television movie.

Then we move on to a German P.O.W. camp where Indy and a group of French soldiers dig their way out of the camp, in a scene reminiscent of THE GREAT ESCAPE, right down to the partial collapsing of the tunnel. Although I have always questioned the scene where the German Officer comes into the room to inspect everything but does not notice the giant piles of dirt hidden in the showers that are extremely evident to the viewer.

The third and final part is a second P.O.W. camp (which is actually a castle) where Indy is thrown after being caught trying to escape from the first camp. The castle is for all the "bad apples", and he is put there after being mistaken for a French Officer who has made many escape attempts. Here he meets Charles De Gaulle who together plot their escape from the camp. In a very tense scene, they escape the camp and death of incineration in a giant furnace.

Overall it is a great movie, and truly shows the horrors of war associated with "no man's land" and trench warfare. Definitely an episode to see, and one to consider buying. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Indy plays Ned Nickerson
I would have given this 5 stars, because I really did enjoy it very much. But I can't quite get over the fact that for much of the first half Indy whines and follows his girlfriend around reluctantly, as she initiates all the adventure. I can understand that, at 16, Indy isn't going to be exactly the same as when he's older, but really, when he was played by River Phoenix, during the "Last Crusade" prologue that took place in 1912 (four years before this one) he had much more initiative.

That said, I think Sean Patrick Flanery saves it by being so cute and appealing as Nancy's sidekick, especially toward the end as the Indy in him finally wakes up. I can date it to the moment he takes his fedora out of the closet, and then all of a sudden he's the hero again. One of my favorite parts was when he punched in the glass case after Nancy failed to get it open by picking the lock. But even before then, it's fun to watch, reagardless of the liberties it takes with Indy's character. Nancy is a worthy "Indy girl", being as plucky as Marion Ravenwood (though more innocent).

The second half, the Mexico/Pancho Villa adventure, is a little too contrived for my tastes...I mean, even for "Young Indy", where you have to take all the historical figures popping up with a grain of salt, this doesn't quite make sense. Why is Indy risking his life to retrieve a bunch of dresses? Just buy the lady some new ones, for Pete's sake. It does bring up another thing that irks me; the fact that none of the Correy Carrier (young young Indy) episodes are on video. I watched the whole series when it was on TV, but I can barely remember them. Here we have Indy writing letters to T.E. Lawerence, whom he met in an earlier episode, and he encounters Demetrius, the bad guy from that episode. All this harkening back seems rather cruel when it's not on video, especially when they tout these as "The Complete Adventure of Indiana Jones."

Lloyd Owen, as Henry Jones Sr., does a very good job of sounding just like Sean Connery. I enjoyed the few scenes with him in, since "Last Crusade" is my favorite "old" Indy, due to the repartee between Ford and Connery. Here you get a glimpse of the things they were talking about. Remy never ceases to annoy me, however. But it's worth tolerating Coutteure to watch Flanery. He may not try to evoke Ford as much as River Phoenix did, but he's a great Indy throughout the series.

One of the Best
While Mystery of the Blues is the Best Young Indy video, this is probably second. The Nancy Drew mystery of the first half is really fun, really young, and really Indy. It was great to see Indy with his dad, and to see the suburbia of the time period. I really enjoyed the first half. Great chemistry between Indy and his girl, and his clumsiness came out, along with other hints to the Harrison Ford Indy. The second half was good too, though more serious and educational.

Good movie!
This film is exciting! Indy and his girlfriend, Nancy Stratenmeyer whose father wrote the Nancy Drew mysteries, solve a mystery in the first half involving a traitorous employee and theft of important submarine plans. Lucasfilm hints that Nancy's father based the fictional Nancy Drew on his daughter. I also liked that Indy helps Mr. Stratenmeyer with his stories. The Pancho Villa part is thrilling and fast-paced, Indy's impulsiveness and gallantry getting him more than he bargains for. Eventually, he catches up with his old enemy Demetrius (from "My First Adventure," not currently available on video) and retrieves the fabled Jackal headpiece, originally stolen from the tomb of an Ancient Egyptian architect. All in all, this is a great film of excitement and intrigue, worthy of the name Indiana Jones.

young indy
This was a good video, and I've waited seven years for the series to be released. I was disappointed to find out that Old Indy is not even featured. Perhaps the worst thing they done was to put two episodes together with new footage. This didn't even look right because all of the actors are noticeably older, and Sean Patrick Flanery's hair is obviously longer in the back. They should have thought about these things beforehand, and perhaps filmed them this way in the first place, not try and finish them now as Star Wars Special Edition so tragically looked.

Three and a half stars (couldn't figure out how to do 1/2*)!
The first half is cute and very fun to watch (with a feeling very similar to that of one of the other films by this director: The Rocketeer). I enjoyed the young comedic romance and Hardy Boys/Nancy Drewish mystery. The second half is good, but stretches credibility a tad having Young Indy getting involved with Pancho Villa. There is a good confrontation with an old foe and old score. Staggering production values for a small screen effort (rivals much of the big screen). ... Read more

Reviews (16)

nice action movie
this is my second young indy-movie(my first was treasure of the peacock's eye),and i have all the 3 Harrison ford Indiana movies,and i must say that this movie is a well acting adventure,with nice action,and a exciting fight between Indy and Schiller,the German's officer at the end. Indy must save the live's of a troop of Australian's Horseman,by keep the drink-places saved,in the WW1. Indy meets a dancer(C.Zeta Jones)who is a German's spy,but he don't no this. here in holland are not all Young Indy movies for sale,but the 2 i have are so exciting,that you will never forget this history adventure!

If adventure has a name, it's Young Indiana Jones...
This is an amazing Young Indy episode not previously aired on television. Like the whole series, this episode balances history with adventure in a way that is entrancing and exciting. It co-stars Catherine Zeta-Jones. You'd be surprised to see the list of once little-known actors who appeared in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles who later became big-time stars.

Aussies show the way with a little help from Indy
A great yarn with a little bit of poetic licence. Although based on a true theatre of operation in the Middle East, Indy gets involved with the Aussie "Diggers" of the Australian Light Horse. He befriends them and become great mates. A ripping yarn with great excitement and well put together. The action could have been a little more intense as it was in the Australian Movie "The Lighthorsemen". Albeit, I enjoyed it and found it pretty accurate for its historical content. The only thing thing it doesn't show is how the British stuffed up, like they did everywhere else during WW1.

Warning: NOT for children
Although this movie has no rating, (and why is that?) I would say it is the equivalent of a PG-13. The film contains quite a bit of violence and violent themes. War scenes. Guns firing. Man falling off cliff including hitting the ground. And the scene that made me turn it off showed a close up of Young Indiana stabbing a man including close-up of knife going in and out of his stomach. Parents beware. "Not rated" does NOT mean it didn't deserve one!

bad
they are insulting other nations in this film. As a turkish youth I felt myself very bad. This is a political film it only aims to insult other nations.. Americans and British people are hero in this film of course.. According to them other nations are natural disasters.. Too bad for human beings.. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Semi-educational movies?
While the YIJ series takes some liberties with history, these movies are a great way to learn about the crucial events of the turn of the century. Some even seem to be more of a thinking-person's adventure, which is quite a departure from the swash-buckling Indiana Jones movies.

Too bad this series is so under-rated! I only wish Lucas would produce more! I don't understand why real-quality shows like this don't ever seem to last longer on the networks. Guess it needs to be on Discovery, the History Channel, or TLC.

Shadows in the mist tell intriguing stories
In a significant way, the two hours of this episode could not be more mismatched. Hour one is a film noir exploration of the paranoia associated with a life of espionage. Hour two takes a decidedly more phantasmagoric tack, resulting in scenes of no small terror.

In Hour One, Indy is a spy in Turkey, trying at once to get married and complete a mission for the French Secret Service. It is easily the best-directed hour of the entire series. The lighting, pulled focuses, and intriguing camera movements all evoke the bittersweet emotion the plot would have us feel.

But it's hardly an original plot. It's "From Russia With Love" meets "The Maltese Falcon" meets "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". Fortunately, these are all very good films, so the trip is one we're more than willing to take.

Hour two is perhaps more questionable in this regard. It's a fantastic journey through the dark side of Romanian mythology, and while appropriately creepy for a Haloween party, it marks a significant departure from the traditional themes of Indy plots that some parents may wish to shield their younger children from. I wouldn't call the violence "needless", as other reviewers have, but it is graphic. It is, in short, classic gothic, and it's done very well.

All in all, then, this is an episode well worth your time, but, along with "Trenches of Hell" and "Temple of Doom", it's one of the few Indiana Jones episodes inappropriate for young children.

Definitely not for young children
After reading another review on this site (gypsy18, 5/31/01), I was shocked to see that the reviewer's child had the exact same reaction, almost word-for-word, as did my son. He was equally upset that such violence could have come from the mind of George Lucas.

This video was in the children's section of the store, and it had a "family" label stuck right on it. We asked the store to remove the label, as it is NOT appropriate.

THIS EPISODE ABSOLUTELY NOT FOR CHILDREN!
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones is an extraordinarily well done series. My son, age 8, just loves it. But it was a mistake buying MASK OF EVIL. My son (usually a tough little guy) was almost physically ill from a particularly bloody scene (although the violence was performed behind a curtain). He had trouble sleeping & actually started crying in the middle of the day from the trauma of remembering this scene! He said, "Mom, I wish we'd never bought this one." My son also said, "Mom, why did George Lucas let this one be unrated? That was bad!" Out of the mouths of babes! Vampires are just too violent a subject for children I think (& some adults, including me)!

The Best!
It has it all with spies and vamprires! We see indy's first supernatural adventure but at the beging it is a spy thriller. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Indy finally gets it, but forgets it.
I thought, from reading the description, that this would be boring. But it wasn't, not by a long shot. It's probably the best "Young Indy".

The action is limited to the first five or so minutes, where Lieutenant De Fonz (aka Indy) disobeys his superior and tells the troops to advance instead of retreat. This results in victory, and a promotion to Captain, but also the Major holding a grudge. Naturally, Indy and the Major are then teamed up on a mission to retrieve some weapons.

The opening battle sequence was even more graphic then "Trenches of Hell", and when Indy grabs the machine gun and mows done countless men, we see just how far he's come (or fallen) in less than a year. I love this one for all the character developement Indy undergoes, especially in relation to the previous videos. It's good to keep in mind that it's now December of 1916, and just last February all Indy cared about was the prom, and driving a cool car to said event. More has happened to Indy in ten months than happens in real peoples' entire lives.

That's where he is at the start of "Oganga". By the end he's changed even more, due to all the slow death he's had to witness. "Onganga" is great just for the fact that Indy is more human in this than he's ever been. He gets feverish, delusionary, and downright depressed. He seems like a real 17-year-old who's in way over his head. This isn't your typical Indy.

While it's good to see Indy's interaction with Schweitzer, and how it changes his outlook on life, I can't help but note that Harrison Ford's Indy seems to have forgotten the whole thing. He's back to killing with nonchalance, and even glee. Perhaps the Young Indy writers should have tried to be more consistent with the already established future. But at least they are consistent within the series, because in the next video ("Hawkmen") Indy changes his approach to the war by joining the secret service.

Kudos to Sean Patrick Flanery, he's a great Indy, especially in this one.

A Gem
I bought Oganga, The Giver and Taker of Life for my younger son, who is enthralled with anything having to do with Indiana Jones, but I frequently find myself watching this and the other Young Indiana Jones videos with him. The series is simply superb.

George Lucas used some of the best writers, directors and acting talent available to him and filmed the series on location around the world. As a result, despite being made for television, they are gems. Ordinarily, I hate it when movies are used to send a message, but the messages in the series generally flow naturally from the plots without being overly heavy-handed.

In this installment, Indy is an officer serving in the Belgian army in Africa during the Great War who is sent on an important and dangerous mission. In the process, he learns much about leadership, European colonialism, death, and ultimately what is important in life. The series skillfully interweaves real-life people into the plot, and in this installment Indy meets Albert Schweitzer.

Parents should be advised that, while uplifting, this is a war movie and that death, from both battle and disease, is integral to the plot.

Pretty good
I have a friend who describes this one as boring. Not True! It's in the same line as Phantom Train and Daredevils. It's one of those episodes that teaches Young Indy about respecting life and people, but they're still great episodes, even if they are less exciting.

Action, but above all, Indy learns to care about life!
In the other movies, Indy never seemed to care about human life. In this he learns lots about life, feelings and points of view. This movie should be seen by everyone who can see it! It teaches valuable lessons and is still a classic Indiana Jones film.

I have always wanted to be a director and these movies have already taught me alot about the types of movies people like. I have used these and other George Lucas and Steven Spielberg films to use as exaples. Right now my friends and I are working on a film. We hope to have it completed by Jr. High.

Open minded people buy this!
This film lacks the cheesy comedy of the traditional indy videos. It explores philosophy and human nature. Indy has doubts about his involvment in the Belgian armys imperialist war in Africa. After speaking to an African native soldier about the war Indy learns that the Belgians will not leave Africa for the Africans but merely take it over from the Germans they are liberating it from. While it is action packed it also shows the political science of WWI. Get this! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

We did kidnap my father! It's a nightmare!
All right, I'm biased. When I watched the whole series on TV I was only about 7, so my memories of most of the episodes are all but nonexistent. "Phantom Train" is one of the exceptions, and the most vivid in my mind. So naturally I enjoyed watching it again, even more than the others. It's great as a breather between "Trenches of Hell" and "Oganga", which are very thoughtful and serious. It is a tad hokey, but in that respect most like the Harrison Ford movies. Indy undergoes character developement, however, which is good. The first half has plenty of action, but Indy learns his lesson of the day, and this lesson actually sticks with him and is seen in the movies. That is, that the ability to improvise is a quality.

The second half seems slow when compared with the first, but doesn't end up being anticlimatic. Von Lettow was really great as the stodgy German general, who reminds Indy of his father (see review title). The German woman who manages to shampoo and condition her hair out in the wilds was, in my opinion, a yawner. But she didn't figure in all that prominantly, so it wasn't too bad.

Five stars for all the times I was able to say, "I remember this part!"

VERY, VERY GOOD VIDEO
I've been an Indiana Jones fan for over six years and this was one of the first young Indy videos I watched. I have seen about half of the episodes available on video and so far this is still my favorite. It had a good story with good acting and great special effects. It is a classic tale of adventure in Africa. In the first part of the video Indy accidently goes on a mission to blow up a mysterious train with a flat-bed mounted cannon that has been shelling allied troops but cannot be found. In the second part of the video, Indy and his army buddy Remmy try to survive the wilds of Africa with an important german military prisoner. They run into hostile bush-men, lions, and are being pursued by the entire German army the whole time. Action-packed and full of surprises along with nice bits of humor in appropriate places this video should delight anyone intereseted in Indiana Jones.

Wonderful Saturday matinee fun
The first hour is pure fun, the action has all the wit and humor of Raiders or Last Crusade, with a wonderful contrast between Young Indy and the much older soldiers.

The second continues all of the wit and humor, yet adds a thoughtful look at Indy's search for father figures to replace his own estranged father, Prof Henry Jones Sr.

Quick, some lead a crusade to persuade Viacom (Paramount's parent company) that either of their networks CBS or UPN needs to make more Young Indy movies! We'll all be right behind you!

"Train" lays down tracks for the developing Indy's character
In his filmed introduction, George Lucas describes "Phantom Train of Doom" as one of his favorite Young Indy stories. For once, his perception of his own work isn't inflated. This is great Saturday afternoon matinee material, as the series was always intended to be. Like the equally exciting "Daredevils of the Desert", this episode succeeds because it is plausible, its historical figures are limited, and its two hours--filmed at different times--are knitted together extremely well.

Hour One has us meeting a very young Indy, indeed. This Indy is a relatively new inductee into the Belgian Army fresh off the boat to East Africa. Indy here is, well, uptight--more uptight than even the younger, River Phoenix portrayal. He likes plans, orders. He hasn't learned yet to say, "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go along". But the group of older soldiers he meets in East Africa soon teach him the value of flexibility. They teach him, in short, how to improvise. In the process, we're shuttled along on a rollicking great adventure.

Hour Two largely reverses Hour One and shows us--and Indy--that improvisation can only successfully begin from a position of discipline. Demonstrating the point is a finely-acted General Von Lettow Vorbeck, Commander of the German forces in East Africa, who variously plays captive and captor. It is a fascinating study in the relative values of luck and strategy. Lucas' choice of von Lettow, along with the apparently accurate 'elderly regiment', is, to my mind, what Lucas should've been doing in most of the episodes. By chosing people who are at once historically important, yet relatively unknown to modern audiences, Indy's association with them doesn't feel so blatantly contrived as in other episodes. Also, by concentrating almost exclusively on Von Lettow in the second hour, we really get a chance to understand the character in a way we never did in, say, "Mystery of the Blues", where historical figures virtually flooded the plot. Here, with just the single villain, we have an enjoyable game of cat and mouse, somewhat akin to "Silence of the Lambs", where we at once dislike and admire our antagonist.

What Hour Two ultimately says, then, is that, while fortune does indeed favor the bold, heroic outcomes are largely the result of ordinary hard work. Ford's Indy has obviously learned the lesson well. For all the action and adventure we see in the films, there's also a lot of study and hard work before Indy ever dons the leather jacket. It is, for the audience, a lesson far more valuable than the history on offer.

Classic Indy Adventure
This film has the classic Indy feel to it. It is an adventure comedy and it is full of fun adventures and one liners. While not as good as Oganga or Trenches of Hell this film is probably the most Indiana Jonesesque of all the Young Indy series. Fun for the family! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Secret Service Adventure
Being a big History buff. and loving Indiana Jones. i loved this movie. others of the series i have found fairly pleasing...but could do better. i am big on spying and espionage, and am glad to see a movie that portays spying accurately(compared to 007)...and of couse its INDY! BRAVO Lucas

Confusing plot, but on the whole a good movie
This movie is good on the whole, although it does have a few flaws.

The movie starts out with Indy helping 2 Austrian brothers get to Austria through the German barricades. This first half of the movie is good and has a lot of suspense. But once they get to Austria and Indy is re-assigned to Russia, the plot falls apart. It gets very confusing, and character development is underdone. There is some guy that is chasing Indy throughout the first half of the movie, and we never know who he really is. And then suddenly Indy is friends with some people in Russia, and we don't know how they came to be friends. It sort of clears up at the end when the Bolsheviks march through the streets of St. Petersburg, but even then, it is still confusing.

Other than that, it is a good movie, and the portrayal of spying here is magnificently accurate. If you're a fan of Indiana Jones, this is worth seeing, but if you're not, you should probably think before seeing this movie.

Stop being so picky
I'm disliking all the bad press that the second half of this tape is getting. Personally, it's one of my favorites along with two others which have not been released on tape.

I've seen pretty much most of the Young Indiana Jones series and have quiet a few recorded off TV from it's TV run (it's amazing that my tapes still work after 11 years) and personally, I like the Russian one. Oh yeah, I remember seeing in one comment that said that all of Indy's Russian friends were Bolsheviks. In fact only two of them are. If one would read the novelization of this episode, it would explain it more clearly (and it explains why Indy is friends with them). But even in the episode, it shows their differences. The two that are Bolsheviks are Sergei and Irina, the couple that loves each other. The girl that falls for Indy is Rosa and her political philosophy goes toward a democratic socialist government, simular to what many countries in Europe have today (and yes, socialists and communists are different), the man studying to be a priest is Dmitri and would support a Czarist goverment since the clergy was important back in that former government and would not support the Bolsheviks since they support atheism. And the last friend, Boris, is an Anarchist (who doesn't support government at all).

The reason I like this episode is because it shows me that Bolsheviks aren't evil creatures of doom. That they are in fact human with hopes and dreams. Yes, we tend to demonize communists, but that's because the idea was corrupted by human failings and became a dicatorship.

And the first episode on this tape. Eh. It's not my favorite, but it's interesting though.

Great first half, strange second half
The first half of this video is great, it starts out with an amusing instance of mistaken identity, as two Austrian princes, who are also French lieutenants, mistake Indy for a delivery boy because he's riding a bike and his uniform is covered up by his coat. They run him off the road with their car, and are later shocked to learn that he's not only not a delivery boy, but that he's a captain, outranking them. Indy, still insulted, isn't impressed to then learn that they are royalty. This doesn't get the relationship off to a very good start, and so of course Indy is assigned to escort them across the border to Austria.

There are more great moments of humor in the first half, along with lots of running around, and it's all very entertaining. Indy is somewhat grumpy the whole time, which, come to think of it, made him more similar to the older Indy played by Ford.

The second half finds him reassigned to Russia, which is weird in itself, but the bizzare thing was that Indy moves in with a bunch of Bosheviks, and becomes very good friends with them. How he managed this, and why, isn't addressed, since we're just plopped into the middle of his stint in Petrograd. The fact that the Bolsheviks, knowing full well that Indy is a capitalist American working for the French secret service (some secret), allow him to join their midsts is hard to believe. One girl even falls in love with him.

Indy dislikes desk work, and so did I. It was rather boring, watching him mull around the stacks of paper looking like they meant something to him, but we never understand what. He never really did anything in this half, except fail at just about everything he was supposed to be doing. The ending was the worst ending yet, and left me wondering just what we were supposed to make of Indy's politics.

The second half is good for two things, 1: showing that Indy still has a whole lot of growing up to do, and 2: that his birthday is in July (some trivia if you ever need it). But the first half was great, so the video is worth it.

good spy movie for indy.
this movie has a pretty decent first part where indy delivers two austria-hungarian princes to the emperor and empress. but the second part is real weird. indy meets friends in russia and then does some spy work. you never really find out what he's supposed to be spying on, and the russia part really has no plot. like all the young indy movies, the ending leaves you hanging, but this ending is where one of indy's friends die in a political demonstration, so it's extra weird. but the movie is good on the whole. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Really funny
The first half is a hoot the whole way through, it has to be the funniest Young Indy episode. The ending is great; I remember being surprised when I first watched it on TV, so I won't give it away. I'll just say Giulietta isn't as naive as she seemed.

To the second half. This one wasn't supposed to be amusing, but it was. First off I'll say that I did not like Edith Wharton, and from what I've read about her books, I wouldn't like them either. (Basically they're about people with repressed passions, who have affairs that ruin their lives...blah). Edith is obviously going through a midlife crises, and sees Indy as a potential boy toy to make her feel young again. Indy sees her as a mother figure, though a couple lines at the end try to convince us he wishes he were his father's age so he could have a romantic relationship with her. Frankly, it sounded more like he was just saying that to make her feel better.

There was some slight adventure going on in the second half, but it was just backdrop for the romantic tale. All in all, this one is great to watch if you want to laugh at the characters all the way through.

One of the best in the series to start with
Though the series is plagued with misguided efforts to steer Indy into the company of historical greats, this time Lucasfilm keeps the improbabilities to a minimum. This pleasant surprise allows Indy some interesting character development. This is the only tape in which both hours are devoted to romantic plot lines.

Hour One has Indy scuffling with Ernest Hemingway over the affections of an Italian heiress. It's an unusually light-hearted turn for the series to take. The battle between Hemingway and Jones is a treat, and we're more than glad that the battlefield is Italian. Happily, too, Hemingway's appearance in the episode is plausible and welcome. Nothing very original happens in this oft-repeated tale of romantic rivalry, but it's cleverly done against gorgeous backdrops so we hardly mind the staleness of the plot. It's particularly satisfying to see Indy so romantically vulnerable, if only because he grows up to be more of a cynic in the theatrical films. The groundwork laid in this episode introduces us to the side of Harrison Ford's Indy that recklessly falls for the German archaeologist in THE LAST CRUSADE. Yet it also gives us a peek into why he might've had problems committing to Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood character in RAIDERS.

Hour Two is one of my favorite hours because it combines an interesting mystery with Moroccan surroundings and the unrequited love of an older woman. The friendship with the very much older Edith Wharton is handled with great tact and affection. It is this relationship, more than any other in the YOUNG INDY series, which demonstrates Indy's true philosophical take on women. We see here that he is not a rogue capable of maliciously ruining Marion's life in RAIDERS-as Marion accuses-but that the end to Indy's longest-lasting relationship must have come for other, more noble reasons.

Also, there's a lot more to Hour Two than tentative romance. A mystery of interesting proportions is afoot, and Indy's tracking of it is a delight. It's a kind of Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes mystery, with Indy doing some pretty impressive sleuthing.

All in all, then, "Tales of Innocence" is a highly recommendable member of the YOUNG INDY series, and should probably be one of the first three tapes newcomers watch.

WOW!
This has to be the best out of the titles released in the UK so far ('Phantom Train of Doom', 'Treasure of the Peacock's Eye', 'Daredevils of the Desert' and this itself). I know that may not be saying all that much, but this is truly a FANTASTIC chapter of Indiana Jones.

The love story in the first half is my favourite part of it. Very comic but also moving. It's also really great to see Pernilla August (Shmi Skywalker, Anakin's mother from 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace') in another good role - she's even playing a main character's mother again!

Pretty good
Now I remember, Jay Underwood is his name! Well, I love his Hemmingway performance here and even more in Mystery of the Blues. I'd say this one is great...the first half that is, the second half has it's moments, but I didn't really like that old lady.

A lovely story of romance and growth
I love the arc of this video. Starting with a comic tale of a crush (and romantic competition with 'Ernie' Hemingway), continuing with a short, sexual fling, and ending with a adult, lovely, if doomed relationship with Edith Wharton.

Flanery does a wonderful job of letting us see Indy grow and mature thru these adventures. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Judi Dench, Olympia Dukakis, Leslie Caron and Cleo Laine
Judi Dench is a recent widow who wonders what happened to her life. In her youth she was the star saxaphonist for an all girl swing band, The Blonde Bombshells. She picks up her sax and busks with a young musician. There she is reunited with the only male member of the band, a womanizing drummer who played in drag. Together, try to reunite the band. They manage to find the band leader(She played Madge in Dench's series As Time Goes by), the trumpet player(Dukakis' drunken rich lady is wonderful), the singer, and another band member who joined the Salvation Army. Together, they ready themselves for their first gig, Dench's granddaughter's school dance.

Dench, as usual, is excellent in this role. The supporting cast is cast pretty near perfectly, especially Dench's stodgy children. You find yourself rooting for the band's reunion very soon into the story, and the film does not disappoint.

I absolutely loved this movie!
When Elizabeth's (played by Judi Dench) husband dies, she contemplates where she should go with her life. She starts by returning to the music she played during World War 2, when she belonged to an all-girl band called The Blonde Bombshells. However, when she runs into Patrick (Ian Holm), the drummer from The Blond Bombshells (OK, they couldn't find a girl drummer), she hits on the idea of bringing the Blonde Bombshells back together. However, that's easier said than done--some are dead, some have left the country, one has lost her sanity, one has found God, and all are scattered. However, Elizabeth is not a woman to give up easily. This is the story of nostalgia, overcoming, the love of music...and so much more! [Color, released in 2000, with a running time of 1 hour, 24 minutes.]

I absolutely loved this movie! It is star-encrusted, and even though I am an American, I kept recognizing just about everyone in it. The story is touching, and yet not maudlin. I loved the music (so very timely again), the acting, and the story. The one warning I will give is that the movie earned its PG-13 rating due to swearing, with the "F" word being used all too often. That said, though, this is a great movie, one that I highly recommend.

Three things to love
If you love Dame Judi, nostalgia and intergenerational angst you'll love this one...so guess it's really four things to love.

One of The Very Best Movies I Have Ever Seen
This wonderful movie is a must for those of us who remember the good old days, when music was played by real musicians, who could read music. This is another WW 2 movie and there are hundreds of them, but this is a bitter sweet comedy drama that will make you sit back and close your eyes and transport yourself back into the era which many call, "The greatest musical period of the 20th century. Judi Dench surly deserved an award for her performance of a grandmother saxophone player who played with an all girls band during the war. She was the star. She had not played in years and after her husband had died her little grandaughter asked her to pu the band back together to play at her school dance. The story of how this came about is funny, sad, sentimental and entertaining. I will leave the rest for you to see, but I give this a 5 star rating and if there 10 stars it would get that. Enjoy an afternoon with these ladies and relax, you are in for an enjoyable time.

just too much fun
Saw it on cable last night and ordered the dvd today! Actually two copies - one for me and one for my father. Had never heard of this film - just came upon it by accident. ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Beautiful and mystical
Titanic was the first movie I saw Kate Winslet in, and while the movie really impressed me, the press surrounding it turned me off both of the lead actors.

The great cover design caused me to pick up "Hideous Kinky" in the video store on 5 seperate occasions before I finally rented it. It turned out to be one of the most beautiful adventure movies I've seen. The next day I bought the DVD.

Hideous Kinky (I still haven't figured out exactly what that means) has the patient cinematography of a foreign film, great supporting actors (including the kids), and Kate plays her naive character in such a beautiful and natural way that I now have full respect for her as an actor (a respect which was reinforced after seeing "Holy Smoke").

As for the actual DVD features, well there aren't any. The production quality is nice and crisp though... and on a movie like this, that's really the best feature.

Beautiful locations, gorgeous lighting, lovely sets, but....
Where's the story? That's the question I kept asking myself watching this visually stunning, but flawed movie.

To be fair, I guess, there IS a story. A young British mother drags her two young daughters to Morroco in search of spiritual enlightenment. That's pretty much the movie. She meets a local, rugged, Morrocan male... He likes her kids. They have no money. They travel around. Her eldest daughter wants to be normal and disagrees with the Mom's bohemian ways.

There is good acting and I liked the relationships between Kate Winslet, ... and her eldest daughter. Also there are a lot of little, sweet, scenes with the characters and their surroundings. But in the end I didn't really care for Kate's character or the choices she made. I didn't "take the journey" with her for her quest for enlightenment.

But the movie is VERY visual stunning. It was a treat just to watch it. The colors, the production design, the shots. Visual fantastic. I just wish they'd taken a little more time creating an engaging story around all this beauty.

B-

A 70s hippy movie, set in Marrakesh
Marrakesh was a famous hippy destination during those amazing hippy hears. Gillies MacKinnon, the director of Hideous Kinky, spent time here and documented the probably-at-least-partially-true story of an innocent middle-class young London woman with two daughters who goes off the deep end. Kate Winslet plays the lead role in a story narrated from the point of view of one of the girls. While their mummy goes about her business of drifting around looking for love and enlightenment, the girls shift mostly for themselves. One of the girls seems entirely willing to go along for the bumpy ride, but Lucy, the sensible one, craves tea-time, regular meals, school uniforms, and a reliable mother. Mostly set in the colorful and exotic local of central Marrakesh, Hideous Kinky is a feast of images, sound, and color - and a good depiction of the ethos of those oh so confusing years.

Beautiful and Intriguing
Julia (Kate Winslet) is a mother in search of enlightenment and religious discovery (Sufism) -- with her two lovely daugthers, she journeys to exotic Morocco to find what she is searching for. This movie is very well directed, and the performances of Winslet, Said Taghmaoui (Bilal), Bella Rizza (Bea), and Carrie Mullan (Lucy), are extraordinary. For some, Julia will seem to be the worst of the self-absorbed, selfish, deluded, irresponsible mothers of all time. But, as a single mother myself, I truly felt a kinship with her in wanting to give her children a sense of adventure. For all of the characters, adventure is a great teacher bestowing extravagant gifts memorable enough to last a lifetime.

SWHippyF w/ 2 daughters Seeks Spiritual Center
Hideous Kinky is a nice film not trying to be a great British epic. It is a smaller work about a young mother who insists on dragging her daughters around North Africa, mostly Morocco, to find her spiritual center. She is not fully blessed with the maturity to understand how she is throwing her family off center. The cinematography captures the terrain of land and people beautifully. Kate Winslet and the kids create the wonderful illusion of a clueless hippy family that graces and jinxes Bilal's life. I felt like the invisible 3rd daughter whining that I want to go back to England and go to school, but then crying when it is time to repatriate. Waaaaaaaaaaahhhh! I want to stay! Bilal has to be relieved to send me back, too. I would just like to know how I can send him a postcard.

I would pair it with the BBC series ÒFlame Trees of Thika;Ó the episode of Absolutely Fabulous where Edina, Patsy & Saffy go to Morroco; ÒLaurel Canyon;Ó ÒAlmost Famous;Ó and ÒThe Sheltering Sky.Ó ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Well worth watching
It's too bad the celtic tiger government doesn't support its film industry. Films such as this don't make it over here because they're not supported. They don't have that sappy 'lucky charms' and leprechaun lack of mind. "Trojan Eddie" is a tale about the "Travellers" a minority in Ireland whom the Irish don't like to talk about too much.Richard Harris is the Patriarch and Stephen Rea a a bumbling jester type. Both are excellent in their roles and the laughter at the end is warmly chilling. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A Simple Twist of Fate, Steve Martin's second adaptation of a classic (after his Roxanne-ization of Cyrano de Bergerac), is a melancholy, dramatic comedy about a recluse coming out of his shell. Suggested by George Eliot's Silas Marner, this isn't a cutesy picture akin to Father of the Bride. It's much more heartfelt, gentle, and satisfying, as long as you accept its traditional and predictable conclusions. Scorned by life, Michael McCann (Martin) lives in an auburn-tinted town and goes on with his colorless life. That is, until an abandoned child is left on his doorstep, and he adopts her. A custody battle ensues years later with far too many cheap, unconvincing courtroom dramatics in which money is the root of all evil, but the toneand wholesomeness of the story are special. Gabriel Byrne pulls off a nearly unplayable role as the town's aristocrat with fine underplayed support by Catherine O'Hara and youngster Alana Austin. The wonderful score is by Cliff Eidelman. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Modern version of George Eliot's story 'Silas Marner'
I really enjoyed viewing this movie when I rented it a few years ago. 'A Simple Twist of Fate' is based on Mary Ann Evans' (1819-80; Pen-name George Eliot) story 'Silas Marner'(if anyone is interested in reading Silas Marner on-line, go to this web address, inside the {} brackets: {http://www.mastertexts.com/Eliot_George/Silas_Marner/Index.htm}

Steve Martin is a sad & lonely bachelor school teacher who's life feels empty and irrelevant; Then a sweet little baby girl walks into his life. The short of it is that she has recently become an orphan; So Steve Martin adopts her. Raising this precious little girl brings much love, joy, and happiness into their lives. It is a story about the transformative and healing power of love.

I was dismayed to find that this movie is not currently available to purchase

This is an adorable film all should see.
I rented this movie and liked it so much that I bought my own copy. Steve Martin did a good job of taking this movie and making it modern from George Elliot's book Silas Marner. All the characters played their role well and it has great music and scenery. Everyone should at least see this movie once in their life if not more!

Silas Marner gets an update.
A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE is a good middleweight movie which doesn't quite go into the top-drawer class because of a few predictable moments and a truly cheapjack ending that doesn't just stretch plausibility but mangles it completely. Steve Martin wrote the script and produced it as well as starred and it's apparent that this was a special project for him. He, Catherine O'Hara, Laura Linney and Gabriel Byrne are all in fine form and Alana Austin just melts your heart away as the Martin character's adopted daughter.If it's not a classic film it's still a good way to spend an hour and forty-five minutes and makes me forgive Steve Martin for SGT. BILKO two years later.

A Must Have
This movie warms your heart, feeds your mind and leaves you feeling like there is hope for humanity. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Steve Martin is awesome in this film.

Excellent Movie!
This movie is excellent. Most of the movie was filmed at my next-door neighbors farm across town. I remember watching the movie being filmed when i was younger. It is a great movie and I highly recommend it for people of all ages. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This extraordinary World War I film concerns themes of heroism, sacrifice, duty, and self-knowledge as profound as any in Saving Private Ryan. The story, taken from Pat Barker's 1991 novel Regeneration and based on true events, is set in a British Army hospital in Craiglockart, Scotland, in 1917. There, a pioneering psychiatrist named Dr. William Rivers (Jonathan Pryce) works with shell-shocked soldiers in a gentle, humane manner that contrasts sharply with the brutality of his colleagues. (The film's most horrifying scene features a mute patient being forced to speak by means of electric shock.)

Among Rivers's patients is a mute, amnesiac officer named Billy Prior (Jonny Lee Miller), as well as the emotionally depleted poet Wilfred Owen (Stuart Bunce) and another poet and war hero, Siegfried Sassoon (James Wilby). Unlike the others, Sassoon is not, in fact, suffering from any disorder but is being quietly punished for writing a pamphlet denouncing the war. The army hopes Rivers can find some basis for mental incompetency in Sassoon, but the thoughtful doctor instead attempts to persuade him to add legitimacy to his criticisms of the war by returning to active duty.

Pryce brilliantly captures the cumulative effects of Rivers's responsibility--of fixing men and sending them back to their possible deaths--on the good doctor's nerves. Wilby is also fine as Sassoon, but the film belongs just as much to actors Miller and Bunce, whose characters are different kinds of men struggling to find their balance, one through a revived sense of duty and the other through his writing. Scottish filmmaker Gillies Mackinnon (The Playboys) is at the top of his form, telling a unique story about the invisible wounds of war while shedding light on the meeting of two visionary poets and one visionary physician. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Well-acted drama presumes too much to itself ...
BEHIND THE LINES, in my estimate, fails to be the powerful commentary on war it aspires to be. Jonathan Price is excellent as the Military Psychiatrist whose duty is to return men to battle. James Wilby is fine as accomplished war hero-poet who comes to self-illumination: war may not be so "dulcet" (sweet/fitting) a path to manhood nor glorious in yielding a "sacramental" death. It's not that the film is hackneyed in exploring these themes. Rather it is too careful and overly "refined". Opening scenes move viewers through Heironymous Bosch-like images of front line horror and chaos. These are effective in IMPLYING the brutally scarred, mental landscapes dominating soldiers' minds. Yet this powerful beginning is squandered. Radical questions of duty, honor and sheer survival are treated like geometry problems rather than spiritual and emotional wounds in REALITY. The fact that the most powerful sequence in the film presents men being tortured (by a stimulus-response fanatic employing SHOCK THERAPY)into "moral" acquiescence as prerequisite for return to war is unnecessary coercion on the part of Director Mackinnon. He seems to finally realize that an abstract "poem-film" won't work.

At least it didn't for me. Existential "crisis" films frequently employ irony, understatement and even boredom to comment on the human conditon. But WWI was one of the most useless wars fought in recorded history (in any Tradition). The one-in-four LOST GENERATION DEATH toll is not a story that does well in drawing-rooms of psychiatric hospitals or tea time T-groups. BEHIND THE LINES Director Mackinnon hedges his bets and makes a clever art film...forgetting(since he has chosen NOT to be entertaining)that war is humanity's frontal assault on itself. Being dulcet( the way the film often affects its own emotional terrain)is deceptive if not false. Therefore,in its own terms, mediocre as art...

a beautiful adaptation of the great novel...
...but why does the american film industry feel the need to change the titles of films. this film is called "regeneration". that it has mutated into "behind the lines" in the united states is ridiculous. that film companies will do anything to the "product" in order to secure an audience means that they will sacrifice anything about the film. the title "regeneration" is an important feature of the story of this book. it is NOT a film about being "behind the lines" (we are rarely behind the lines in this film) but about, as wilfred own put it so well, the pity of war. to make it sound like some gung-ho action movie is to do it an injustice. the director takes barker's orginal narrative - suffering, torment, passificism, objection to war, homoeroticism, class conflict - and turns it into a good depiction. it cannot repressent the book but it repressents something of its own. it is well worth watching for that reason.

Good film, deals efficiently with WW1's secondary effects
First of all (in response to many previous reviews), "Behind the Lines" is a perfectly suitable title for this movie. It directly and accurately conveys the film's focus - literally, on what went on in one particular institution "Behind the lines" during WW1. Being in a military mental hospital certainly qualifies as being behind the lines. Maybe some are reading "behind enemy lines"? Otherwise there is NO reason for confusion here. To think "behind the lines" implies an action movie is silly. If anything it implies detachment from the action.

As for the film, this is a responsible analysis of the effects of trench warfare. Some mute soldiers are treated brutally with electro-shock therapy, but Dr. Rivers takes a more humane approach, all the while questioning his work - is he simply sending soldiers back to die, and is that really noble?

Overall, not terribly exciting, but certianly effective and historical (Owens and Sassoon are principles). A good film.

A great film adaptation
BEHIND THE LINES is a film adaptation of the first volume of Pat Barker's excellent Regeneration trilogy. I was anxious to watch this DVD since I finished reading this book last week, but I had some reservations since film adaptations are often less than par. However, shortly after pressing the play button I was reassured that this DVD did the book a great justice. The directors did a phenomenal job in re-creating the atmosphere of the suffering of the soldiers and the horrific psychological consequences of trench fighting. BEHIND THE LINES follows a group of officers suffering from shell shock who are treated at Craiglockhart War Hospital outside Edinburgh. There is no doubt that what these soldiers experience can disturb even the most strong-minded individual today. The principle psychiatrist is Dr. Rivers, who suffered from his own personal demons and war symptoms. He created strong friendships with many of his patients and cared dearly for their well being. Rivers is a complex, nuanced character. While he portrays an exterior of believing in the War, he holds an internal debate of the War's philosophical warrants.

As stated by a previous reviewer, the original title of this film is Regeneration *not* Behind the Lines. I have no idea why the title was changed when it was released in the United States because the current title doesn't make any sense. Another complaint is that there is a lack of any special features on this DVD. It would have been marvelous to watch a director commentary or behind the scenes footage. It's unfortunate that this is a bare bones DVD. Regardless of these two negative aspects, BEHIND THE LINES is a wonderful and deeply moving film of British soldiers suffering from shell shock during the Great War.

Read Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy and watch this film. Both are highly recommended.

Far, Far Away the Thudding Guns [Regeneration]
Good grief, I finally found a US edition of this film so I can buy it. Can't the original title be put in brackets or something beside the 'nouveau' so you at least find it?! The philistine who came up with the new title didn't even bother to look at a Sassoon or Owens poem, obviously. My suggested title above (which admittedly may be no better as a film title) is from a Sassoon poem and I picked it more or less at random on the first page I opened in my anthology.

The film did manage to get across the awful (British) Imperial jingoism without ramming it down our throats more or less exclusively. The experiences that caused such acute suffering as displayed by the inmates of Craiglockhard were presented well, as was the personal humiliation of succumbing to mental illness or "shell-shock". Less successful however, was the treatment of the worst thing a soldier can do: failing to act with stoicism and diffidence. (Sassoon for example, developed an intense hatred for civilians as a result of this fairytale "let's all pretend we're having a lovely time in Flanders because that's what they want to hear at home, and we can't go upsetting the ladies, now can we, lads?", that at least outlasted the war.)

This was a well-scripted, well-acted,thoughtful and thought-provoking film. This is not a standard "tear-jerker" but if it does not make you shed a tear of sorrow and rage then you must have been multi-tasking.

This film actually rekindled a schoolgirl interest in the history of the First World War and in the extraordinary change in and range of poetry resulting from the experience of those in the foul trenches of France and Flanders. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

"We really don't see much of the law down here."
The Scottish coming-of-age film "Small Faces" is the story of the three teenage Maclean brothers growing up in the slums of Glasgow in the late 60s. Quiet, gentle Alan attends Art College. Wayward brother Bobby is a member of the Glen Gang and right hand man to the gang leader--Charlie Sloan. The film's protagonist is the youngest brother, 13-year-old Lex. While Alan is the 'good' brother, and Bobby is the 'bad' brother, Lex has yet to define himself. Lex shares Alan's artistic talent, but he also suffers from being the youngest brother of the three and longs to be viewed as a man. There is a certain amount of subtle pressure from the Glen Gang for Lex to join their ranks--a certain cloak of safety apparently comes from the idea that you have powerful--or in this case--violent friends. Bobby has declared himself by joining the Glen, and Alan steers clear of gang involvement while trying to protect and shield Lex at the same time.

When Lex commits a foolish, thoughtless act, the Glens and their serious territorial rival--the Tongs--both begin paying attention to the Maclean Brothers. Interest is heightened when it becomes common knowledge that Alan has a relationship with Joanne--a 17-year-old girl who manages to be friends with both Charlie Sloan and Malky Johnson (the leader of the Tongs).

Most of the film deals with the idea that a child--Lex--is forced to make serious, irreversible decisions--which will impact the rest of his life. Some of the best, and most touching scenes in the film occur when Lex is placed in typical childhood situations. For example, in one scene, Lex, who is hiding out in a local cinema--terrified that he will be murdered--wakes up to find himself in the middle of a children's matinee. He is surrounded by happy, joyful children, and Lex responds and echoes their behaviour with ecstatic relief. It is poignant scenes like this that remind us that Lex is still--at heart--a child who has been robbed of his childhood innocence by poverty and violence. One of the most interesting relationships in the films occurs between Lex and Gorbals--a fellow 13-year-old who is affiliated (rather against his will) to the Tongs. Neither Lex nor Gorbals want to get involved with the gangs, but they are forced into contact by their situations. When they meet, the boys stare at each other for a few moments as they recognize that they are both hostages to proximity.

Unfortunately, this lesser-known Scottish film is out-of-print. The film did not receive the acclaim or notoriety of "Trainspotting." "Small Faces" isn't as stylish as "Trainspotting", but I think it's a better film. If you enjoy "Small Faces", I also recommend "Fresh" (director Boaz Yakin)--displaced human

dynamite
The film small faces is great, i live where the film
is set and gang culture is very popular in the gorbals.
The gangs in the film (tongs,glen)were very feared around glasgow in the 1990s but now they are not very popular.
the film is a very sad when lex has his brother killed.
THE FILM HAS SOME QUIT VIOLENT SCENES THE FILOM HAS EVERY THING FROM SEX VIOLENCE AND TEARS IT IS GREAT

An amazing film... Trainspotting but far better!
Small Faces tells an amazing story of two brothers growing up in 1950's Glasgow, Scotland. Bringing together director Gilles Mackinnon and brother Billy Mackinnon, the story is told straight from the heart. While comparable to Trainspotting in some ways, the film far surpasses that in its drama and intensity; its reality. And while the cinematography in Trainspotting was impressive, Small Faces blows it away in that department also.

Enjoy...

m

Brilliant!
I've seen this movie a few times now on video and still think it's great. It's a story of three Scottish brothers, particularly the youngest who becomes involved in a gang. It's a great story about a family growing up together. It shows how many families lives are like, particulary in the UK. It's greatly acted and scripted. I've even got everyone I know to see this movie. A must-see movie.

Great movie!
If you can get past the painfully thick scottish accents, the movie is wonderful. Saw it at the Seattle International Film Festival a few years ago, and got to meet the director. It is well done, with great dialogue, only a few jokes or references inexplicable to non-scottish viewers. The acting is great, particularly on the part of the young man who plays the older brother, Charley, I believe. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

delightful! Aidan & Robin are the picture of joyfull love.
I enjoyed this so much that I bought the video to watch over and over. Unfortunately, I lent it out once too often & did not get it back the last time. I am glad to see it is out on DVD & will order right away.

very moving story, with parallels to Othello
This is a wonderful film, with terrific performances, especially from Albert Finney who nearly steals the movie with his portrayal of a on the wagon alcoholic cop who finally loses it when rejected by a young woman he got pregnant and humiliates himself.

Irish love story.....
THE PLAYBOYS stars Albert Finney, Aiden Quinn and Robin Wright. I saw the film in the theatre several years ago and have been waiting to buy the DVD. I don't remember the characters names, but the gist of the story is this: Robin Wright plays a young woman living in a small village in Ireland. She is the mother of an adorable out-of-wedlock baby. She will not divulge the identity of the baby's father. Albert Finney plays the village constable. He wants to marry Wright, but she refuses to marry him or to identify her child's father. Many folks in the village feel Wright ought to marry the good cop.

One day, a very small traveling carnival arrives in the village. The carnival is so small all the members of the troupe perform multiple tasks. One of the troupe is played by Aiden Quinn. Quinn has a nifty motorcycle which he spins round and round the village green to impress Wright. Finney disapproves of Quinn's interest in Wright. When the carnival leaves the village, Quinn asks Wright to ride aways with him on his motorbike. Will she, should she? You'll have to watch the film to find out whether she chooses the good cop or the dashing young man, and you will discover the identity of the baby's father by the end of the film.

Naive... fresh
I liked this movie a lot. It's just charming, fresh...delightful. I can't wait for the DVD!

An Irish "Cannary Row"
Give this one a second chance. First time through, I thought plot was thin and weak. Second time through I picked up on the nuances of personal relationships in a rural Irish village, as intertwined as a Celtic knot. Good acting all around - even the stoic children do their part. When traveling players come to town, secrets are revealed and personalities clash, but in the repressed undercurrents common where small groups must live together. A global story with an Irish accent, told in the days before television homogenized the world. ... Read more