Amazon.com essential video

Jingoism, beefcake, military hardware, and a Giorgio Moroder rock score reign supreme over taste and logic in this Tony Scott film about a maverick trainee pilot (Tom Cruise) who can't follow the rules at a Navy aviation training facility. The dogfight sequences between American and Soviet jets at the end are absolutely mechanical, though audiences loved it at the time. The love story between Cruise's character and that of Kelly McGillis is like flipping through pages of advertising in a glossy magazine. This designer action movie from 1986 would be all the more appalling were it not for the canny casting of good actors in dumb parts. Standouts include Anthony Edwards--who makes a nice impression as Cruise's average-Joe pal--and the relatively unknown Meg Ryan in a small but memorable appearance. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (209)

Fun, but not realistic.
"Top Gun" is not the movie to watch if you are looking for authentic military activities. It is, however, a showcase for Tom Cruise to show how hot he and his band of young stud actors are. Cruise plays Maverick, a crack Navy pilot who get the chance to go to the elite Top Gun Avaiation School. There he is placed in competition with other excellent pilots, but his cheif rival is Iceman (Val Kilmer). This is your standard story of a boy wonder trying to prove himself to a father figure. The romance with his instructor is also sort of superficial. It is, however, very funny to watch all the bloated egos trying to function, resulting in very funny lines of dialog. Also the dog fights are very cool and exciting. Good job Tony Scott. I have met a lot of pilots who act just like these guys, but it didn't seem as funny at the time, though.

Top Gun
This movie is an awesome hit from director Tony Scott (also directed Beverly Hills Cop, Enemy of the State,and much more) dense with fun and excitement that will keep you FLYING for as long as you like. Tom Cruise (Days of Thunder, Jerry Maguire, etc.) stars as hotshot fighter jet pilot "Maverick" Pete Mitchell, who is elected with his partner "Goose" (Anthony Edwards) to enter the Navy's very competitive "Top Gun" program, where many comparible opponents challenge him to win the top rank, including "Iceman" Tom Kusansky (Val Kilmer) and "Slider" (Russ Rossovich). Stars Kelly McGillis as Mitchell's girlfriend, with appearances by Michael Ironside, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Meg Ryan (as Goose's wife), and Tim Robbins. A great action film.

Top Gun baby!
TOPGUN..wat can i say. i grew up watchin this film ,its fun, exciting,thrilling and above all SEXY..tom cruise has never looked soo hott...this movie has given a new meaning to the song 'Youve lost that loving feeling' youd be surprised how many pilots, footballers sing this to girls in bars...it has an amazing soundtrack. 'take my breath away' performed by berlin is a wonderful emotional lovesong that truly melts your heart. so if your a fan of a little romance then this will be a movie top of your list. i know a lot of my boy friends have enjoyed this film so its not just a sloppy romance for girls. the boys get a kick out of 'Maverick' the stud played by Cruise who is 'one hell of an instinctive pilot' who learns never to leave his wing man. His best friend 'Goose' is the coolest character hes so entertaining. there are really fun sexy catchprases, such as 'goose ya big stud take me to bed and loose me forever' and 'son your ego is writing checks your body cant cash'
Top gun is a great movie to just chill out with some popcorn on the sofa and watch with your best friends. ill guarantee you will definately enjoy it.
"there are no points for second place in Topgun." (girls checkout the volleyball scene...mmm)

Awesome Movie!
This movie is a definate classic. The story line is interesting and not mindless like many of hollywoods other movies. Plus we have a beautiful guy with a smile that will make you melt playing the sensitive yet daring main charecter; need I say more? Be careful about chosing when to watch this though, you may have trouble focusing your brain on anything other than Tom Cruises amazing smile.

Top Gun Favourite.
Absolute cheese on a stick, but Top Gun proves that that's not always a bad thing. This movie's got everything - an arrogant prodigy who'd be out on his ass if he wasn't so good, a sensible, more down to earth best friend, a love interest, an arch nemesis and his dumb sidekick, a few cool high fives and catchphrases, the emotional death scene, a euphoric victory act and of course, some unforgettable action sequences. What more could any red-blooded child of the eighties ask for?

Anyone born around 1980 will remember how everyone was doing that double high five and saying 'talk to me Goose' to the kid next to them in class. Certainly one of my all time favourites - entertaining stuff. ... Read more

Reviews (184)

Identity Crisis
ENEMY OF THE STATE is a high-intensity thriller directed by Tony Scott (TOP GUN). Washington D.C. Attorney, Robert Dean (Will Smith) is unknowingly given a piece of evidence that ties a top official in the National Security Agency, (Jon Voight) to a political murder. All at once Dean's life is taken away from him and he is a man on the run. The only way that he can stay one step ahead of his lethal pursuers is to listen to a mysterious opperative (Gene Hackman) and he doesn't exactly trust him either. I think that the movie is saved from being too predictable, thanks to Will Smith and Gene Hackman, you really care about these two characters. Voight's bad guy is your typical bad guy in this film. But he isn't as memorable as, let us say, Dennis Hopper in SPEED or Alan Rickman in DIE HARD. The action is well staged and had enough punch to keep everythings moving. Produced by Jerry Bruckhiemer, the film is better than I anticipated it was going to be when I first heard about it during its theatrical run.

The only extras on the DVD, (aside from the trailer), are 2 mini-featurettes on the making of the film They seem ok but still are nothing more than EPKs (electronic press kits) If you like Smith and Hackman (and who doesn't?) than this is a keeper. This film is what I like to call a "true popcorn eating movie"

A Nice Surprise
I rented this expecting it to be totally mediocre, but at least worth a 3$ rental. I was pleasantly surprised to find this very watchable, thrilling, and something I'll probably rent again. Will Smith is great and easy on the eyes. All the acting was very good, though Jon Voight has popped up in so many movies lately I am starting to get tired of him. I didn't figure out how it was going to end, and the final showdown, plus how the main characters outwit the bad guys was great. Tom Sizemore I didn't recognize at first since he's put on so much weight, but he was fantastic. I give the writers extra points for not going for the cheap shot and having the bad guys kill Gene Hackman's kitty (if they had, I would have only given this movie one star, and probably not watched the rest). I thought that they did kind of beat you over the head with the "SURVEILLANCE IS BAD" message. After the first half hour it was like, ok, I get the idea guys. The various fictional super-sophisticated tracking devices were cool, and Tony and Ridley Scott always shoot their films beautifully. Oh, and the woman who played Will Smith's wife kicked a$$!

Enemy of the State (1998)
Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Regina King, Loren Dean, Jake Busey, Barry Pepper.
Running Time: 127 minutes.
Rated R for violence and language.

Another producer Jerry Bruckheimer/director Tony Scott thrill ride without substance, this time pitting family man lawyer Robert Clayton Dean (played by Will Smith in a ho-hum performance) against a technologically-driven government. Not knowing that the trivial meeting with an old friend would cause him so much trouble, Dean gets sucked into a conspiracy case involving a rogue National Security Agent (Jon Voight) who killed a United States congressman because he accidentally received a video tape with footage of the murder. With incredible surveillance techniques and technology, Voight is able to track all of the lawyer's moves and keep tabs on him.

Our hero's life is turned upside down until he meets up with a stealthy former NSA active named Brill (played very well by Gene Hackman). With the assistance of Brill, Dean attacks the government head on and must learn the truth in order to save his life. Director Tony Scott brilliantly uses the camera to portray his views, jolting the characters through a series of incredible chase scenes, rip-roaring explosions, and intense firearm combat, but ultimately "Enemy of the State" focuses solely on the unbridled advances in special effects abilities that it keeps the audience from understanding the story and getting involved with the characters. Smith is only adequate in his first major "dramatic" role, while Hackman and Voight pick up some of the slack in their devilishly effective parts. A must-see if you are into big explosions and dynamite cinematography, but one to leave on the shelf if over-acting and a mediocre script are an annoyance.

For what it is, perfect
Enemy of the State is a breakneck thriller that genuinely keeps you on the edge of your seat and is a real nail-biter. It is incredibly well-constructed for what it is: slick, well-shot, gloriously pacey and even with a dash of interesting social question in there. Granted, often it is incredibly implausible, and his ability to sit back and be happy at the end despite all the carnage of what has happened, make it a little laughable, but the fact is, thats not the point with this kind of film - the point is it is truly thrilling, stylish and cool. You really get deep into it.

Will Smith is startlingly good in his best performance since Six Degrees Of Seperation - if only he would turn in these great performances in credible, interesting films more often, and is well supported by a strong cast that includes Gene Hackman, Jamie Kennedy and Jack Black amongst others. This comes highly reccomended for an evening's entertainment and is truly exhilirating and packed with plot and intrigue that puts most regurgitated, lame excuses for a storyline to shame. Great stuff.

Excellent
I strongly recommend you buy or at least rent this fantastic film. It's got it all, suspense, action and even comedy for the lad-eez, as Will Smith might say. It's got excellent pacing and great suspense. The storyline is a little implausible, but it's hollywood so just chill out and expect it. Kick back and watch this rollercoaster ride of a film.
Great performance from Will Smith, his best to date in fact, suggesting there is more than just comedy and Bad Boyz to his routine. And Gene Hackman too - what more could you want?
If i was Roger Ebert, i'd give it two thumbs up!
The DVD is loaded with extrea special features too, and that makes the DVD in particular a must. Don't just buy this film, make sure you get it on DVD.
I give it 8/10, but cos i'm generous i'll round it up to 5 stars, including those great DVD features. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

With Days of Thunder, director Tony Scott tried to do for the Indy 500 what he did for the U.S. Air Force with Top Gun. But without Top Gun's go-go soundtrack and visual feats, Scott merely ends up with a Tom Cruise vehicle that's out of gas.

Cruise plays (what else?) a cocky, upstart stock-car racer who faces down ruthless racing opponents. Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Cary Elwes, and Randy Quaid do the laps around this movie's tiresome track with Cruise, while director Scott attempts to propel the action along with his trademark visceral, gritty but glamorous visual style.

Days of Thunder is notable, however, as a turning point in Cruise's then one-dimensional career. After this film--having tired even his most devoted fans by playing a bartender, an air force pilot, and a stock-car driver--Cruise was forced to take on real character parts. --Ethan Brown ... Read more

Reviews (52)

All I can say is WOW!!!
Well, the first thing anyone that has even watched a Winston Cup race could tell how ridiculous the racing scenes can be. Although the intensity and action is there, you will NEVER see actual drivers 'rubbin' on a real racetrack. But please don't let my previous comments discourage you from watching this film. It is still one of my favorites in my video library. The story follows young open-wheel driver Cole Trickle(Tom Cruise) through his quest to become a Winston Cup legend. Owned by a local car dealer named Tim Daland(Randy Quaid) and having his pit ran by the legendary, and recently retired crew chief Harry Hogge(Robert Duvall). But after a tragic crash during the Firecracker 400 sent him to the hospital, possibly ending his career. Then it follows his journey of finding love with his doctor, Dr. Claire Lewicki(Nicole Kidman)and his painstaking return to win the Daytona 500.

Fix Review
Ok i have not seen the movie here but i just wanted to correct the review posted by amazon.com. The movie Top gun was not about the United States Air Force in any way shape or form. It was Navy all the way

tommy BOY, you're just a pretty boy.
the third in the ' i am sooooo hot and shallow gals ' tom cruise trilogy (top gun and cocktails being 1 and 2 ).
this thing made millions of course. no wonder europeans think us so stupid.

Unrealistic Yet Somewhat Entertaining
First of all, the Amazon.com reviewer must not know anything about racing, as this film has nothing to do with the Indy 500, and neither does NASCAR (except for racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the annual Brickyard 400). That said, the movie, though it features lots of unrealistic driving (err, crashing) scenes and less-than-stunning acting, still isn't the worst way to spend a couple hours if you've got the racing bug. As pointed out by other reviewers, Robert Duvall gives a great performance as Tom Cruise's crew chief who comes out of retirement to bring Cole Trickle (Cruise's character) to the top of the NASCAR ranks. Cruise's own performance is sufficient, given the character, as is Randy Quaid's. Nicole Kidman seemed to be trying too hard to be emotionless in this movie. Maybe the writers/directors told her to, I don't know. The racing scenes where the drivers aren't running each other into the wall are decent enough, and the car sounds are pretty good. If you want a great racing movie, try "LeMans" or (when it comes out on DVD) "Grand Prix." I really wish we had a truly great modern racing movie, especially about Formula One or CART/Indy car racing ("Driven" doesn't count--it sucked). Maybe someday...

Yeah
Dude I have never seen this movie but what i will say is this. The Editor who said Top Gun was a US Air Force movie is an idiot. You obviously did not watch Top Gun because then you would have realized it was a Navy movie. In my book you have lost all credibility, and should lose your job. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

The ultimate revenge trip
This screen adaptation of the A.J. Quinnell novel has received mixed reviews, but I found it remained generally true to the spirit of the book.

Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a broken-down, alcoholic, ex-special forces assassin. Visiting his friend Rayburn (Christopher Walken) in Mexico City, he ends up taking a job as a bodyguard to make ends meet. A kidnapping spree has spread throughout Latin America and a wealthy young couple hires Creasy to protect their young daughter. Less concerned with her safety, their primary reason for hiring him is to fulfill the terms of a kidnap-insurance policy.

Pita (Dakota Fanning)'s spunk and unabashed friendliness slowly penetrate Creasy's veil of pain and alcoholism. Soon, he's not only protecting her, but is also coaching her at swimming and helping with studies. Then, in the turning point of the film, despite Creasy's quick-witted defense, Pita is kidnapped from her piano lesson and Creasy left for dead with multiple gunshot wounds.

Corrupt cops, mobsters, and other officials are all taking their cuts from the kidnapping game. As Creasy begins to recover, he sets off on the ultimate roadtrip of revenge. And all hell breaks loose.

I rated this film four stars. Tony Scott has to tone down the nausea-inducing quick cuts, fades, over-exposures, and other tricks of the trade. When he gets into story-telling mode, he does his best work, as Fanning and Washington are nearly perfect in their roles. Do yourself a service and read the books. Nothing matches the entire Creasy series.

Makes "Deathwish" look like a cakewalk.
"Death is his art. And he's about to paint his masterpiece."

That is the right line for this movie, spoken by Christopher Walken, the right actor. Obsessed with the grandeur of bloodshed, "Man On Fire" is apocalyptic, spun from the roughest parts of the Old Testament. Tony Scott's movie is a kidnapping drama set in Mexico City - a "special place" according the end credits. Special indeed - take the film at its word, and half the cops are corrupt and in competition with kidnappers for ransom money. The corrupt judicial unit, dubbed "La Hermandad," is impenetrable. Unless you're Denzel Washington.

In a performance that melds elements of his Oscar-winning turn in "Training Day" and his work in "Courage Under Fire," Washington is John Creasy, a suicidal alcoholic ex-Marine offered a job through war-buddy Rayburn (Walken) to protect the daughter of a sweatshop industrialist (Marc Anthony). This daughter, Pita, played by the increasingly skilled Dakota Fanning - who's given dialogue and mannerisms better suited to a 16-year-old - charms Creasy out of his shell, makes him become her swim coach. Fanning is, in a sense, a peculiar little girl, so far beyond her years in gestures that when she laughs at a joke of Rayburn's that she'd have no way of understanding, we begin to wonder if her maturity has been misused.

So then - Pita's snatched in a setup, Creasy's shot, and after he recovers, his counterpunch makes "Deathwish" look like a cakewalk.

"Kill them all," Pita's mother (a glammed-out Radha Mitchell) whispers as Creasy holds his Bible. This vengeance either invigorates you or it doesn't. As these films go, "Man On Fire" is among the most violent and malevolent. The script, by Brian Helgeland, pretends to ask the larger questions about sacrifice and morality, but it isn't into sparing lives. There is torture, then more of it, then death. When a nightclub is blown up, the crowd roars. That's quite a bit unlike the recent fire in Rhode Island.

The most controversial scene involves a rectum bomb set to Creasy's digital pager. "I wish - you had more time," Creasy intones ironically. A corrupt cop, stripped to his underwear and bent over a car under a freeway, has no more time.

Cynical and a bit beefier, Washington is good as the tough hombre with a rocket launcher. The mark of a good actor is to want what he wants even when we shouldn't. Washington's that guy. Walken shuffles around with his offbeat cadence, utters the movie's best line, and disappears. Anthony is jittery in a limited role. Mickey Rourke makes a cameo using his real, non-sandpaper voice. Mitchell isn't much of an actor, but she's platinum gorgeous, and a perfect trophy wife she makes. Between her and Anthony's character, you wonder where Pita got her smarts.

Mexico City, when we can get a clear view of it from Scott's dizzying camera, is a bright, messy backdrop. Scott's editor on "Spy Game," Christian Wagner, achieves the feat making sense out of chaos and vice versa, though an early scene featuring a drunk, bawling Creasy could have been pieced together more clearly. Helgeland adapts A.J. Quinnel's novel, and it's not his best work - the plot holes are big enough to drive Hummers through. Scott resorts to flashing dialogue, both Spanish and English, on the screen in a pop-art, free-verse-poetry presentation that's at first unique, then distracting, then annoying. Notice, too, that it doesn't start happening until Fanning's offscreen.

As it unfolds on a desolate bridge near a Biblical tree in the middle of Mexico, the end of "Man On Fire" is the kind of preordained, wide-shot-to-show-significance material Scott has loved since "Enemy of the State," the first of his "import" trilogy that hopefully ends with this film. Prior to that Will Smith vehicle, Scott made hard-boiled, straight-ahead popcorn flicks - "Days of Thunder," "Top Gun," "The Last Boy Scout" "Crimson Tide" - that were shallow, lurid, painfully macho but, at the very least, aware of themselves and fun. "Man On Fire" is enamored with its potential greatness when it's really a B-movie playing with an A-list star and budget.

Washington is Creasy Bear...storyline diverges from the book
If you've read the book, the movie's storyline is a little disappointing. If you've seen the movie and haven't read the book yet... You really need to. It is most satisfying, and will give you a better understanding and appreciation of the character Creasy.

The location switch from Italy to Mexico works well. Of course, we miss out on the Isle of Gozo. As with most novel-to-cinema adaptions, we miss out on a lot of subplot (Creasy's women). And as is inevitable with a major studio production, the ending has been "Hollywood-ized." (can't tell you more without giving away the ending... read the book).

However, Denzel Washington does an excellent job portraying the character Creasy, as I knew he would. Dakota Fanning is Pinta, no question about it. Christopher Walken, always a good choice, was an excellent casting choice here. A.J. Quinnell would be proud. Marc Anthony...? Well, A.J. Quinnell would understand.

Great Movie
Denzel Washington is one of the greatest actors around. And Dakota Fanning is absoultely amazing.
The script just has you on the edge of your seat the entire time. With alot of surprises and suspense.
Very enjoyable, one of the best movies this year.

Absolute Masterpiece
This movie is by far once of the best movies I have seen in a very very long time. One guy made the comment that Denzel didnt have a character that was believeable, this couldnt be anymore further from the truth. This movie is great from opening credit to the closing credits. Denzel once again not only wows me but Dakota Fanning did an outstanding job also. Anybody that hasnt seen this movie really needs to take the time and watch this. GREAT, AWESOME movie. you will all be happy you did...September 14th cant come soon enough.....5 stars isnt a good enough rating for this movie but its all i can give it

GO SEE THIS ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

In the typical Don Simpson-Jerry Bruckheimer mold (the partnership yielded Top Gun and Days of Thunder, among many other films), this 1995 drama is a combination of one-dimensional but enjoyable performances, lots of high-tech nonsense taking place onscreen, and mechanistic movie-making at its loudest and most seizure-inducing. Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington play nuclear submarine officers squaring off over the former's apparent intention to do some unauthorized damage to an enemy. Tony Scott (Top Gun) directed, bringing his luster and pop commercial sense to go with all that Simpson-Bruckheimer eye candy. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Crimson Tide rocks the boat!
After experienceing Crimson Tide for the 15th time, I believe this is my favorite movie of all time. From the very beginning of the movie you are swept into a very plausible scenario: Russian rebels have captured nuclear missle silo's and are threatening to launch at the U.S.. The USS Alabama has been deployed to launch a preemptive strike against Russia. This movie has what DVD owners are looking for: Excellent visuals, bass thumping sound, and great acting. Denzel Washington gives the best performance of his career as Lt. Commander Hunter. His character's by-the-book style is at direct odds with Captain Ramsey's (Gene Hackman) old-school ways. The result is an incredible clash of wills that results in mutiny and the near destruction of the world in a nuclear holocaust. The tension is thick in this drama, and the movie has emotional moments and moments of extreme joy. You will be on the edge of your seat rooting for either Capt. Ramsey or Commander Hunter throughout the movie. This is a must-see movie!

Hoovers the greasy tool!
This movie sucks. It's a disservice to the men of the US Submarine Service. Let's look at what's wrong with this movie. Firstly we have Gene Hackman playing the gunger-than-ho submarine captain in a way that makes you think he prepared for this role by trying to channel George C. Scott from _Patton_. Cigar chomping, scenery-chewing aside the US Navy doesn't let guys who act like Gene Hackman did in this movie anywhere near nuclear weapons. I worked with three men who were former commanders of missile submarines and they were the polar opposites of Gene Hackman's character. Then we have the pseudo-dramatic tension of the conflict between Denzel Washington and Hackman over whether or not to launch the missiles, of course the problem with this bit of dramatic tension is that it's BS, one of the standing orders for nuclear launch is "when in doubt, don't." If you can't get a good authorization you don't just pull a wild hair out of your ass and decide to launch some missiles. Anyone who has a problem understanding this doesn't get near the nuclear missiles. People in the Navy have watched _Dr. Strangelove_ and know not to let people who don't understand this sort of thing near the nuclear missiles.

A JOKE
I am an American Submariner. The Boat I was on at the time this "movie" premiered in Canada was invited to partake in the first showing. There were about 50 of us including officers and chiefs. From the word "go", we tore this movie apart. No wonder the Navy didn't participate in its making. IT IS A JOKE! The beginning scenes where they were diving the boat included pictures of all sorts of other submarines diving. I remember at least 6 classes of boats being shown. Maybe if we were not "bubbleheads" we would have thought it was an interesting movie. Highly doubtful tho. The differences in classes is telling. As far as the plot goes there are fail safes incorporated to prevent this from happening. This movie was made to promote hysterics just like some news media only show one side of a story. I have seen this movie once and would reccommend you seeing " The Hunt For Red October". It's closer to what we did than this one.

isn't fit to scrape barnacles off "Das Boot"
I didn't think it was possible for there to exist a badly-made submarine movie, but I watched this and realized I was wrong. If you know anything about submarines, you'll not like this film very much. Examples? Ok, how about this: The boat (sub's are referred to as "boats" not "ships") is crippled by a torpedo explosion, and the Chief of the Boat announces to the XO (Denzel Washington),"forward ballast tanks damaged. we've lost forward air". The next moment, the boat's main propulsion plant is lost, and the sub is shown heading downward into the depths. Do they move the bow planes / fairwater planes or stern planes to use forward momentum to help the boat rise? NO. Do they blow after ballast (the after ballast tanks are presumably still operational)? NO. What do they do? They just ALL STAND THERE staring at the depth gauge, awaiting their arrival at "crush depth", the depth at which the surrounding pressure of the sea will be more than the pressure hull can withstand and the sub will implode and kill them all. But what saves them? Ah, someone in the Engine Room apparently flicks a switch to start the turbines again! "well, whaddya know, I've started the plant again!" Look, if you suffer an engineering casualty that causes the plant to be lost, chances are you're not going to be able to repair the cause in 5 minutes. Add to this the flimsy character development, the "musical chairs" Caine Mutiny - meets - Keystone Kops command changes, the contrived 'drama' - it's just not believable, folks.
So what to do? I recommend you rent, buy, or borrow "Das Boot" (or its very-well-dubbed version "The Boat"), come home and watch it. Immerse yourself in a real submarine drama. And deep-six this artificial-reef of a movie.

Hackman & Washington Chew Up the Screen
Superior performances by Denzel and Gene. Good supporting performances by Tony Soprano and Gandalf. Great tension. Perfect Tarantino dialogue. Lots of nice realistic touches. Aren't that many good sub movies out there. Only a handful come to mind. Definately worth repeated viewing. ... Read more

Reviews (173)

A great movie.
A young man by the name of Clerence (Christian Slater) gets to meet a bright wide-eyed Prostitute named Alabama (Patricia Arquette) falls in love at first sight and then they get married. But the Couple takes a wrong turn, when Clerence told the wrong suitcase from a Pimp (Gary Oldman), which Clerence did kill him. Then Clerence & Alabama finds out that the suitcase is full of cocaine and than they decide go to L.A. to sell it and cash it in, while the Mafioso (Lead by Oscar-Winner:Christopher Walken) are searching for the Drugs and the Couple.

Directed by Tony Scott (The Hunger, Top Gun, Enemy of the Gates) made an excellent, clever thriller with romance. Excellent Performances from the Cast, including:Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Micheal Rapaport, Bronson Pinchot, Brad Pitt, Saul Rubinek, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, Samuel L. Jackson, James Gandolfini & Conchata Ferrell. This wasn't a huge success at the Box Office but it did recieve great reviews by Critics and it become a Cult Classic. DVD's has an terrific anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an digitally remastered-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (Also on DTS). DVD's has three separate feature-length Audio Commentaries by Stars:Slater & Arquette, Director:Scott & Writer:Quentin Tarantino. DVD has nearly 30 mintues of Deleted Scenes (also an Alternate Ending) with/without commentary by the director & writer. This DVD has great extras. Tarantino wrote a terrific written script, which he's best known for Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction & Jackie Brown. This DVD is a great 2-Disc Set. Do not miss this great film. Panavision. Grade:A.

Stay True To Yourself
Directed with a slick style by Tony Scott (Top Gun, Spy Game), True Romance, boasts an all star cast, a cool soudtrack, and a great script from Quentin Tarantino. He would of course, go on to write and direct Resevior Dogs, and Pulp Fiction. I happen to think though, however, that the script for this film is Tarantino's best work in anything he's ever done. Period I know I'm probably in the minority with that opinion, but most of the the other films he's written/directed himself, have a samenees to them.

Clarence Worley (Christian Slater) likes comic books, Kung Fu Films, and Elvis. He leads a fairly normal life, that is, until he meets call girl Alabama (Patricia Arquette). After a spending a passionate night together, they declare their love for each other, and they decide to get hitched. Clarence is visited by the ghost of Elvis (Val Kilmer) who tells him that he should kill Alabama's pimp Drexel (Gary Oldman)... Dennis Hopper Michael Rappaport Christopher Walken and Brad Pitt also star in this quirky, sometimes dark, love story.

The 2 disc DVD director's cut is a must for fans of the film, over the movie only disc version, that still available.

Disc One has the unrated director's cut of the film. There are 3 audio commentary tracks. Each one offers a unique perspective on the same film and it's kind of fun to have these different takes on the same film. All of the tracks are decent and never lag (especialy Tarantino's who barely misses a beat) The director's storyboard track allows for a side by side comparison between the final film and how Scott laid everything out beforehand. DVD-ROM stuff includes the original script, production notes, and a web site archive with a few links

Disc Two has interviews with both cast and crew, some interesting on the set footage. Cast members offer audio reactions to specific scenes that they appear in as they watch them--this is really cool. Comments are from Hopper Kilmer Pitt and others There are a number of deleted scenes that can be viewed optional commentary from Scott. The best extra is the alternate ending. Rounding out the extras are the ususal trailers and photo galleries and such.

This 2 disc set comes highly recommended

excellent
I loved this movie. Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper we're absolutely fantastic. I was really dissapointed that we didn't see more of Walken throughout the film. The thing that impressed me the most about it though was how each role no matter how small was executed to perfection. Bradd Pitt, Chris Penn, James Gandolfini, Vincent Donofrio? There are two many roles to mention. Scott did an excellent job with the script although it may have a sunnier disposition than Tarantino's other films.

Tarentino's Frist - Possibly His Best...
I recently read Tarantino's original screenplay to "True Romance". Apart from the change in narrative structure (non-chronological), it hints to a bleaker, grittier urban drama, with a tragic ending. It would have been very interesting to see the final film in Tarantino's vision.

Tony Scott's sugar-coated adaptation works wonders though. It was made very clear in the script that the relationship between the two leads was very strong. Scott took this unison and gave the film a fairy-tale tone. The villains in the film are very colourful, contributing to the feel that Scott has established. Hans Zimmer's score does nothing better, than to enforce this vision.

The cast is one of the most impressive line-ups I've ever seen. Much of the film rests on the shoulders of Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette, both characters come off very likable with clear, clean, simple motives. These are career performances. Dennis Hopper gives good in his limited screen-time as Christian's ex-cop, ex-alcoholic father. It is in his time shared with Christopher Walken (being a one-scene wonder, like in "Pulp Fiction"), that he comes off at his best. The Sicilian scene is Walken's most intense since "Deer Hunter". Gary Oldman also gives another deliciously evil and memorable performance, the man is a chameleon, he is yet to unimpress me.

But one of my favourite things about the cast is seeing then-relative-unknowns Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini in small, but memorable roles. A real shame that Jackson's performance was cut down heavily from the script, some of the dialogue in his one scene was very amusing, if maybe a little offensive to some.

"True Romance" is a brilliant crime drama, and a perfect (if phased) introduction to Tarantino's work, it is probably the most accessible film he's penned. People will always ponder over whether or not Tarantino's directorial version would have been better, but they can always rest-assure that Scott has given a wonderful adaptation, supported by a very strong cast. It could have been much, much worse.

great scott
what the hell is tony scott doing??? quentin tarantino really knows how to ruin something potentially good. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 1988 sequel to one of the most successful movies of all time finds Eddie Murphy reprising his role as Detroit police detective Axel Foley, and once again playing a fish out of water as he tries to solve a series of heists in Beverly Hills that may be connected to the attempted murder of his friend, a Beverly Hills police captain (Ronny Cox). Constructed in a much flashier and faster-paced visual style than the first film, the song still remains the same as Foley tries to keep his job in Detroit while solving crimes for the Beverly Hills cops. Murphy again makes the most of culture shock for comic effect, and the easy rapport between Murphy and Billy (Judge Reinhold), now a cheerfully over the top Rambo-esque figure, is still the centerpiece of this series. While not the least bit original, director Tony Scott (Crimson Tide, Top Gun) puts his own stamp on this installment and keeps the action and the laughs coming. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (26)

One Great Sequel
EDDIE MURPHY SHINES AGAIN IN THE 2ND INSTALLMENT OF THE BEVERLY HILLS COP TRILLOGY THE FILMS THAT MADE HIM A SUPERSTAR OF THE
80'S. AXEL FOLEY THE SMARTMOUTH FAST TALKING DETROIT COP IS
AGAIN IN BEVERLY HILLS INVESTIGATING A STRING OF PROFESSINAL
ROBBERIES THAT IS SOMEWHAT INVOLVED THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF
FOLEY'S FRIEND POLICE CHIEF BOGOMILL. THIS FILM IS MORE FAST
PACE AND HAS A LOT OF ACTION TO PLEASE ANY ACTION FAN. DIRECTOR
TONY SCOTT KEEPS THE ACTION & LAUGHS COMING AT A RAPID RATE.
BUT SOMEHOW THE ORIGINAL BEVERLY HILLS COP HAD MORE GENNUINE STYLE.

Murphy and Company Keep It In Check!
After the gargantuan success of "Beverly Hills Cop" it was inevitable that the executives at Paramount demand a sequel. So here you have it: "Beverly Hills Cop II," an unquestionably inferior sequel that still manages to be fun by rehashing some of the original's formula. The main problem with "Beverly Hills Cop II" is the fact that Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is now friendly with at least half of the Beverly Hills police force. Not so the case the first time around, since it was the very fact that he was unwelcome to begin with that made his tearing up of the culture the crucial crux of the comedy. Another weakness is the fact that this film's script places more focus on the action than it does on the laughs. This was a mistake for sure, since the comedy element is the original's greatest strength, as well as that of the cast. All is not lost however. This movie still manages to pull off some very funny gags thanks to the energy and timing of Murphy (still in his heyday) and of co-stars John Ashton and Judge Reinhold as the loveable Taggart and Rosewood. It is clear that the actors are enjoying these characters and it shows in their scenes together. There is a priceless moment at the Playboy Mansion featuring a cameo from Hefner himself. Interestingly enough, according to an included interview with Hef, this was the first time that he allowed a major motion picture to be shot on the infamous property. Most of the cast and crew are also interviewed as they look back on the making of what ended up being another major hit for Paramount in 1987.

Worthy of it's stars
Not as good as the first, but Good.

"Beverly Hills Cop" is back in business for sequel
Detriot cop Axel Foley returns to Beverly Hills to once again show "square" cops Rosewood and Taggert how real police work is done. This time, they're after a group of bank robbers known as "The Alphabet Bandits" who are responsible for shooting their boss. While this one is more dedicated to action than comedy (thanks to Top Gun director Tony Scott), Murphy is still in rare comedic form and manages to keep this sequel from being a waste of time. Too bad the same can't be said for the third entry in the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise. Number two is a bit of a rehash but seeing all the characters from the fist go-around (with the exception of Bronson Pinchot and Lisa Eilbacher) back in action makes it excuseable.

A Mess
Murphy should have held out. Not for more money but for a better script. BH2 is just dumb. Asinine plot and everything that was fresh and cool about the original is trotted out all over again. Lame. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans star as yet another pair of mismatched detective buddies in this violent, cynical action movie about a discredited Secret Service agent turned gumshoe (Willis) who teams with a former pro-football quarterback (Wayans) to investigate sports corruption. The script by Shane Black moves and feels exactly like his script for Lethal Weapon, with the same wisecracks, putdowns, fights, scenes of torture, and over-the-top climax. Willis is on autopilot, and Wayans is all right but far from charismatic. Some of the supporting cast make a bigger impression, including Halle Berry and stand-up comic Taylor Negron, who plays a very mean accomplice of the film's chief villain. The DVD release has remastered sound, optional full-screen and widescreen presentations, optional French soundtrack, and optional French, English, or Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Much fun indeed.
Back in 1991 there was still only one way that studios could sell Bruce Willis and that was as various incarnations of his Die Hard hero. Even Eddie (Hudson) Hawkins had similarities to John McClane. Joe Hallenback is a sort of mix between McClane and Snake Plissken. Watching him mumble and grunt thru various near-deaths and close shaves makes for much fun.

Hallenback is a P.I. and scrounges for work wherever he can find it. So he takes up a job protecting a stripper named Cory and soon finds himself in a lot of trouble. Bad guys are trying to get him left right and centre and his bratty 13-year-old daughter tagging along doesn't help much. The bad guys are truly evil and Hallenback seems more like an anti-hero. This adds to the rough nature of the movie and heightens the sense of adventure.

Tony Scott's style of direction is best suited to this type of action flick. The flashy, exotic editing and cinematographic techniques lend a lot to the witty script and compliment the seedy or pretty locations. Shane Black has also written dozens of one-liners and riddled the script with funny dialogue and exciting situations. It's no surprise that this was once the most expensive script ever sold in Hollywood.

Some people say that this film is too violent and misogynist but I honestly cannot understand what they are talking about. I guess it was just a little out of the norm back in 1991. But still the tone of the film is so light and enjoyable you begin to wonder how this never made up for it. Check it out for yourself and I am sure that you will enjoy.

The DVD is in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and is remastered in Dolby 5.1. Love that opening song, man

Great Trash Movie
This movie is one of those love it or hate it movies. I loved it. "The Last Boy Scout" is where Bruce Willis is a low down private detective who is hired to watch a stripper. When she is murdered, Willis and the stripper's boyfriend, a fallen NFL hero (Damon Waynes), track down the killers. The conspiracy is all about corruption and pro football gambling. The banter between Willis and Waynes is very funny, although very sexist and racist sometimes. They both are world weary, and have been burned and are disillusioned and cynical, which is where much of the humor comes from. But the action is fast, brutal, and angry. This fast paced thriller is in the vain of "Die Hard" (once again produced by Joel Silver, I love this guy!). Director Tony Scott's hyper speed dircecting keeps the pace in high gear at all times. But there are a lot of things people might not like, like the 12-year-old girl with a mouth like Andrew Dice Clay's. I really dug this movie, it's everything that a "guys movie" should be; violent, vulger, with really seedy humor. Enjoy.

Very trashy but still entertaining action flick
Tony Scott's THE LAST BOY SCOUT may be trash, but for an action flick it is very well-made, highly entertaining trash.

Of course, you could make a very good case against this film. Though I did not find it quite as woman-hating as some of the critics said it was upon the film's release, I would recognize that there is a subtle layer of misogyny throughout the movie---particularly with the two women characters in Joe Hallenbeck's life, his uncaring, cheating wife and his bratty, verbally abusive daughter---that might make some viewers more queasy than I was. And, objectively speaking, THE LAST BOY SCOUT is basically a retread of writer Shane Black's superior LETHAL WEAPON---a more foul-mouthed, ultra-violent retread with a lot of corny humor. This is an all-out testosterone-fest if I've ever seen one. If you've got a problem with people, just punch 'em in the "head or gut"---if anything else, that's the message of this movie. Really, Shane Black, where did your taste go since LETHAL WEAPON and LETHAL WEAPON 2?

Despite all that, though, this movie still delivers what matters most in this genre: thrills and exciting action scenes. Having seen this movie only recently, I must say that it is probably one of the most exciting action pictures I've seen in a long while, perhaps enjoyable because of its excesses. Tony Scott definitely knows how to film action scenes well (the climactic action scenes in the football stadium is a good example of his skill here), and of course he brings his customary slick style to the material. And its plot, involving a ruthless attempt to legalize gambling in pro football, takes some kinda intriguing twists and turns along the way. (It's like a hardcore action-film version of one of those hardboiled detective films of the '40s.)

In short, THE LAST BOY SCOUT is very trashy but still entertaining action movie that can be quite fun to watch, depending on whether you can overlook lapses of character logic (why on Earth is Shelly Marcone giving away his plan of framing Hallenbeck for Senator Baynad's murder just so Hallenbeck can outsmart 'em all?) as well as the more objectionable misogynistic aspects of the film. Personally, I felt a little guilty about enjoying it so much...but not guilty enough not to admit it. Marginally recommended.

The Last Boy scout says it best.
The best action movie of the 90's hands down! All this crap about the film being misogynistic is ridiculous. Willis' character is a burned out, embittered, down and out, has-been PI and former secret service agent ("a long time ago he saved the president's life" )who has seen too much and who has no faith left in anything. He is in a bad marriage, never home, drinks too much, a victim of marital infidelity. But he is still in love with his wife. ("I wish the sky wasn't blue, I wish water wasn't wet. I wish I didn't still love my wife.") He is a man's man of the old school; strong and ever silent with a black and white morality. He is loyal to a fault, taking on the case of the stripper and her boyfriend to avenge the car-bombing death of his best friend (who was sleeping with his wife.) His foul mouthed daughter is screaming for discipline which she finds (and drinks in ) at the end of the film. The one liners are great. The action scenes are awesome. The justice meted out in the end is fitting.

Not for the Faint of Heart
One of the most brutal, foul mouthed, and unrepentent action movies to come out of the early 90's. Adding the child to the action scenes and profanity laced screaming matches is gutsy, to say the least. Last Boy Scout is also smart, funny, fast paced & intense. Willis is a drunken P.I. & Wayan is a banned football QB. They're both losers. Most of the movie involves them running around L.A. shooting and punching people. The plot is some nonsense about legalizing sports gambling. Worth repeated viewings. ... Read more

Description

Hot Hollywood favorite Will Smith (MEN IN BLACK, INDEPENDENCE DAY) stars with Academy Award(R)-winner Gene Hackman (Best Actor, 1971, THE FRENCH CONNECTION) in a high-powered suspense thriller where nonstop action meets cutting-edge technology! Robert Clayton Dean (Smith) is a successful Washington, D.C., attorney who -- without his knowledge -- is given a video that ties a top official of the National Security Agency (Oscar(R)-winner Jon Voight, Best Actor, 1978, COMING HOME) to a political murder! Instantly, every aspect of Dean's once-normal life is targeted by a lethal team of skilled NSA surveillance operatives who wage a relentless, ultra-high-tech campaign to discredit him and retrieve the incriminating evidence! Also featuring Regina King (JERRY MAGUIRE, BOYZ N THE HOOD) in an impressive, star-studded cast -- get ready for the action to explode as Dean desperately races to reclaim his life and prove his innocence before it's too late! ... Read more

Reviews (184)

Identity Crisis
ENEMY OF THE STATE is a high-intensity thriller directed by Tony Scott (TOP GUN). Washington D.C. Attorney, Robert Dean (Will Smith) is unknowingly given a piece of evidence that ties a top official in the National Security Agency, (Jon Voight) to a political murder. All at once Dean's life is taken away from him and he is a man on the run. The only way that he can stay one step ahead of his lethal pursuers is to listen to a mysterious opperative (Gene Hackman) and he doesn't exactly trust him either. I think that the movie is saved from being too predictable, thanks to Will Smith and Gene Hackman, you really care about these two characters. Voight's bad guy is your typical bad guy in this film. But he isn't as memorable as, let us say, Dennis Hopper in SPEED or Alan Rickman in DIE HARD. The action is well staged and had enough punch to keep everythings moving. Produced by Jerry Bruckhiemer, the film is better than I anticipated it was going to be when I first heard about it during its theatrical run.

The only extras on the DVD, (aside from the trailer), are 2 mini-featurettes on the making of the film They seem ok but still are nothing more than EPKs (electronic press kits) If you like Smith and Hackman (and who doesn't?) than this is a keeper. This film is what I like to call a "true popcorn eating movie"

A Nice Surprise
I rented this expecting it to be totally mediocre, but at least worth a 3$ rental. I was pleasantly surprised to find this very watchable, thrilling, and something I'll probably rent again. Will Smith is great and easy on the eyes. All the acting was very good, though Jon Voight has popped up in so many movies lately I am starting to get tired of him. I didn't figure out how it was going to end, and the final showdown, plus how the main characters outwit the bad guys was great. Tom Sizemore I didn't recognize at first since he's put on so much weight, but he was fantastic. I give the writers extra points for not going for the cheap shot and having the bad guys kill Gene Hackman's kitty (if they had, I would have only given this movie one star, and probably not watched the rest). I thought that they did kind of beat you over the head with the "SURVEILLANCE IS BAD" message. After the first half hour it was like, ok, I get the idea guys. The various fictional super-sophisticated tracking devices were cool, and Tony and Ridley Scott always shoot their films beautifully. Oh, and the woman who played Will Smith's wife kicked a$$!

Enemy of the State (1998)
Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Regina King, Loren Dean, Jake Busey, Barry Pepper.
Running Time: 127 minutes.
Rated R for violence and language.

Another producer Jerry Bruckheimer/director Tony Scott thrill ride without substance, this time pitting family man lawyer Robert Clayton Dean (played by Will Smith in a ho-hum performance) against a technologically-driven government. Not knowing that the trivial meeting with an old friend would cause him so much trouble, Dean gets sucked into a conspiracy case involving a rogue National Security Agent (Jon Voight) who killed a United States congressman because he accidentally received a video tape with footage of the murder. With incredible surveillance techniques and technology, Voight is able to track all of the lawyer's moves and keep tabs on him.

Our hero's life is turned upside down until he meets up with a stealthy former NSA active named Brill (played very well by Gene Hackman). With the assistance of Brill, Dean attacks the government head on and must learn the truth in order to save his life. Director Tony Scott brilliantly uses the camera to portray his views, jolting the characters through a series of incredible chase scenes, rip-roaring explosions, and intense firearm combat, but ultimately "Enemy of the State" focuses solely on the unbridled advances in special effects abilities that it keeps the audience from understanding the story and getting involved with the characters. Smith is only adequate in his first major "dramatic" role, while Hackman and Voight pick up some of the slack in their devilishly effective parts. A must-see if you are into big explosions and dynamite cinematography, but one to leave on the shelf if over-acting and a mediocre script are an annoyance.

For what it is, perfect
Enemy of the State is a breakneck thriller that genuinely keeps you on the edge of your seat and is a real nail-biter. It is incredibly well-constructed for what it is: slick, well-shot, gloriously pacey and even with a dash of interesting social question in there. Granted, often it is incredibly implausible, and his ability to sit back and be happy at the end despite all the carnage of what has happened, make it a little laughable, but the fact is, thats not the point with this kind of film - the point is it is truly thrilling, stylish and cool. You really get deep into it.

Will Smith is startlingly good in his best performance since Six Degrees Of Seperation - if only he would turn in these great performances in credible, interesting films more often, and is well supported by a strong cast that includes Gene Hackman, Jamie Kennedy and Jack Black amongst others. This comes highly reccomended for an evening's entertainment and is truly exhilirating and packed with plot and intrigue that puts most regurgitated, lame excuses for a storyline to shame. Great stuff.

Excellent
I strongly recommend you buy or at least rent this fantastic film. It's got it all, suspense, action and even comedy for the lad-eez, as Will Smith might say. It's got excellent pacing and great suspense. The storyline is a little implausible, but it's hollywood so just chill out and expect it. Kick back and watch this rollercoaster ride of a film.
Great performance from Will Smith, his best to date in fact, suggesting there is more than just comedy and Bad Boyz to his routine. And Gene Hackman too - what more could you want?
If i was Roger Ebert, i'd give it two thumbs up!
The DVD is loaded with extrea special features too, and that makes the DVD in particular a must. Don't just buy this film, make sure you get it on DVD.
I give it 8/10, but cos i'm generous i'll round it up to 5 stars, including those great DVD features. ... Read more

Reviews (201)

Let the "game" begin.
"Spy Game" is a movie that begins in such a manner that you question your interest in it, but it quickly generates into a gratifying mix of action, suspense, and logical plot twists that are intelligent and witty. With a sense of style and a soundtrack befitting of its hardcore approach, and a cast of well-knowns that chews the material with superb gusto, this is one uniquely satisfying thriller that delivers in all fields, a film that will have you talking long after you've left the multiplex.

It also happens to be one of the few movies that makes my job as a film critic surprisingly difficult. There's not a moment in "Spy Game" during which something is going on that adds up to the big picture, which makes the formulation of a discreet synopsis that much harder. And while this presents a challenge, it also proves the movie's brilliance.

The plot begins with an undercover operation in a Chinese prison, in which Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt), a CIA agent, makes an attempt to rescue an unknown prisoner, but fails in succeeding. Soon after, word reaches his mentor, fellow CIA agent Nathan Muir (Robert Redford), who is on the brink of retirement. Tom's impending execution for espionage brings Nathan to a top secret meeting with the heads of Central Intelligence, who seem more inclined to ignore the situation than to take action.

Nathan's drive to understand their position on the matter leads him to answer their questions about his interactions with Tom, from their initial meeting in Vietnam, to his belief that Tom was incarcerated while trying to rescue Elizabeth Hadley (Catherine McCormack), a missionary with whom he shared a relationship. This is all told in flashback, a technique which begins slowly but evolves as past events lead to the present situation at hand. As all of this is going on, Nathan is using his resources and smarts to devise a plan to rescue Tom before time runs out.

The use of reminiscent storytelling takes time to gain momentum; the initial flashbacks allow the relationship between these two different men to expand. Some audience members will lose interest, but as these sequences progress, it gives us an understanding of the complexities and strategies that are important to the success of their various missions. Such a technique is successful in both shaping the characters as well as building up to the later, more intense plot twists.

This is done with an exceptionally high degree of energy. As the movie begins to reach the final half hour, everything we've seen, every action and reaction, every small detail or occurrence, will coalesce into one of the most satisfying conclusions to a film of this genre in quite some time. There's a certain degree of predictability to the final moments, yet they leave no loose ends, and manage to live up to the intelligence and delectable logic of the previous events.

Director Tony Scott adds an extra kick to his film by incorporating an edgy style that suits the material. From sepia tones and dismal colors, to swift, sometimes frightening cuts, the movie never fails to dazzle the senses as well as the mind. Also worthy of mention is the diverse score from Harry Gregson-Williams, which captures the setting and various moods exquisitely, ranking as one fine composition that blends fast, alternative beats with sweeping, heartfelt emotion.

The shining attribute of this gem, however, is its supremely delightful cast, who make the material realistic and exciting. Pitt turns in yet another worthy performance, stock-piling various elements from his previous roles into Bishop's character, whose bold outlook clashes with his naivety with dangerous results. McCormack adds a much-needed mysticism as well as true emotion to Elizabeth, whose motive we're never quite sure of until the movie's finale. Redford steals the show in a patented Redford-esque performance, playing Nathan with all the wit, intelligence and presence that we have come to love him for as an actor.

You can grumble about the style of "Spy Game," but there's no denying its ability to entertain in a pleasing fashion. Here's a movie that knows what it's about, and has the good sense and brains to take us there without resorting to cheap tricks or formulaic contrivances. It's a smart thriller that is easily understood once it picks up speed, and everything about it brings a smile to my face.

Not the usual retirement day party
Because the actor appears so infrequently nowadays, the end of 2001 has delivered a relative flurry of Robert Redford films to the Big Screen - two, THE LAST CASTLE and SPY GAME. The latter was, for me, the most entertaining, though the former includes an Oscar-worthy supporting performance by James Gandolfini.

In SPY GAME, Redford plays Nathan Muir, at the very end of a thirty-year career with the CIA. Before arriving at his Langley headquarters office on retirement day, he learns that a former protégé, Tom Bishop (played by Brad Pitt), has been imprisoned and condemned to death by the Red Chinese. Over the next 24 hours, Muir must race to save Bishop's life in the face of a high level CIA decision to sacrifice the incarcerated agent on the altar of the President's economic rapprochement with China. In the battle of wits with his weasely superiors, Muir must flashback for them (and the film's viewers) the history of his relationship with Bishop, which extends from 1975 Vietnam forward through Cold War Berlin and the war-torn Beirut of the mid 1980s.

SPY GAME is flashy and extremely fast paced, the latter because of film editing which limits each continuous scene to no more than perhaps 15-20 seconds. It's far unlike one of my very favorite spy flicks of the past, THE RUSSIA HOUSE (1990), starring Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer. In the latter, the emphasis is on plot evolution and character development - a slower paced, thinking man's film. However, the differences between the two don't reflect badly on SPY GAME. Redford is too fine an actor to be involved in anything substandard, and watching his Muir persona run circles around his Langley superiors is one of the movie's chief delights. (When was the last clunker Redford starred in?). Pitt does a creditable and credible job as the young military sniper (trained to shoot in the Boy Scouts!) first employed by agent controller Muir for an assassination in Laos, and then permanently recruited for the Agency by Muir soon after the US scuttled out of Southeast Asia.

SPY GAME did have its hiccups. I was unreasonably annoyed that the "Berlin" sequences were actually filmed in Budapest, probably because Berlin is one of my favorite cities. Actress Catherine McCormack's relatively cold performance as Bishop's love obsession didn't really click for me, though she was my heartthrob of the moment in DANGEROUS BEAUTY (1997). And, it seemed a bit much of a stretch for the Chinese correctional officer to connect bubblegum with a prison break. On the other hand, the depiction of chaotic and violent Beirut (filmed in Morocco) was masterfully done. Overall, the director succeeded in producing an intelligent and engrossing holiday thriller. And it's so good to see Redford back. Thus, 4.5 stars, rounded for Amazon to 5.

Awful
Yet another movie in which Robert Redford gets to reprise his role as an irritating know-all. He has played pretty much the same character for the last ten years, and this time the phoney sagacity emerges though the persona of a CIA commander handing out lines like 'don't ever question my orders again', 'you just lost ten seconds', and (yes) 'you're ten minutes late' to his fawning understrapper Brad Pitt. Yawn. Actually wasn't that last line followed by another admonitory cliché seconds later? Oh yes: 'Don't let it happen again.' By the way, this movie *is* marketed as a thriller.

How behind the times is a film which still tries to portray the embattled North Vietnamese as an enemy requiring murderous force to extirpate? How confused is a movie in which Redford refers in one moment to the 'seventeen sects' in Lebanon and thereafter has to use the cumbersomely neutral locution of 'the Lebanese militia' to refer to the sect the US had sided with? How cliched is a movie which intercuts between a tuxedoed reception at an embassy and a gritty car-chase behind the iron curtain? Plus the enemy du jour is - surprise, surprise - the Chinese.

The moviemakers' meticulous research and attention to detail is evdient throughout: Redford repeatedly pronounces Sheik as 'chic'; a scene opens with a shot of the Szabadság bridge in Budapest while the subtitle reads 'Berlin'; and of course stealing top-secret documents at Langley is simply a matter of distracting the secretary, swiping them off his desk and hiding them under your jacket.

But I suppose you could just watch it for the garbled morals, the inapposite techno/dance soundtrack and director Tony Scott's frenetic swoop-then-freezeframe camerawork...

I SPY U SPY
Tony Scott's intricately plotted spy drama ironically places two of our blond matinee idols in jeopardy. A leathery-faced Robert Redford with the fresh blossom of youth in Brad Pitt. Both actors do well in their roles, with Redford coming out on top as his role demands a little more. Scott is good in keeping the pace quick even though there are several moments that you wonder if he can keep it up. Pitt plays a CIA operative captured on a botched mission and scheduled to be executed by the Chinese. Of course, the CIA will allow this because Pitt was on a rogue unauthorized mission, and they don't want to ruin their trade relationship with China. Redford does everything he can in a 24 hour period to ensure Pitt's safety.
The movie has a fine supporting cast including Marie-Jean Baptiste as Redford's secretary; Larry Bryggman (soap opera's AS THE WORLD TURNS); Catherine McCormack as Pitt's love interest, and Stephen Dillane as Harker, the self-assured, egotistical fellow agent.

David Hemmings and Charlotte Rampling have cameos.
All in all, entertaining, if a little hard to follow sometimes.

Great Thriller, practically flawless
Wow, what's NOT to like in this tightly-directed, smart spy thriller? Certainly not Brad Pitt, who plays Viet Nam vet, ex-boyscout, erstwhile trained assassin who doesn't shy at doing wetwork while agonizing about the fate of his "assets" or contacts in the field. And a great performance from Robert Redford as Nathan Muir, who is about to retire as a CIA agent, but has plenty of game left in him on his last day at work.

The supporting cast is mostly unknowns who do a superb job as CIA flacks, and the plot is full of twists, turns and yet is logically laid out. The tension builds nicely at the beginning, and though this is a longish film (2 1/2 hours) it carries the tension well and never, ever drags.

I enjoyed this film for the fact that nothing really was telegraphed as to outcome, though we almost see the film in full circle from beginning to end. A fine effort by Pitt, Redford and most of all, Tony Scott.

Highly Recommended.

JLD ... Read more

Amazon.com

Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie are rich, beautiful, and oh-so chic as denizens of the night. Dressed in sleek outfits and stylish sunglasses, they haunt rock & roll clubs on the prowl for young blood, whom they bring home to their impossibly luxurious mansion for a late-night snack.Being a vampire never looked more sexy, but there's a price: Bowie starts to age so fast he wrinkles up in the waiting room of a doctor's (Susan Sarandon) office. The agelessly elegant Deneuve, evoking Delphine Seyrig's Countess Bathory from Daughters of Darkness, is perfectly cast as a millenniums-old bloodsucker who seeks a new mate in Sarandon and seduces her in a sunlight-bathed afternoon of smooth, silky sex. Tony Scott's (Ridley's brother) directorial debut, adapted from the Whitley Strieber novel, revises the vampire myth with Egyptian inflections and removes all references to garlic and crosses and wooden stakes--these bloodsuckers can even walk around in the daylight--but the ties between blood and sex are as strong as ever. Scott's background as an award-winning commercial director is evident in every richly textured frame and his densely interwoven editing, but the moody atmosphere comes at the expense of dramatic urgency. At times the film is so languid it becomes mired in its hazy, impeccably designed visual style. In its own way, The Hunger is the perfect vampire film for the '80s, all poise and attitude and surface beauty. Sarandon talks candidly about the film in the documentary The Celluloid Closet. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Cool Vampire Flick
Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie were cast well as an evil vampire couple. Susan Sarandon was also good in her role as a scientist. The film is about a vampire couple, Miriam(Deneuve) and John(Bowie). John, out of nowhere, starts aging very rapidly and has no idea why. So, he seeks the help of Sarah Roberts. Sarah Roberts (Sarandon) is a scientist who is studying the aging process. However, Sarah is unable to help John and he eventually dies.

Sarah is very interested about John's aging problem. So, out of curiosity, she visits Miriam (John's wife), and they form a sexual relationship. Immediately after Sarah and Miriam make love, Sarah feels very ill and has these weird urges. The movie was pretty entertaining for the most part, and I gave it three stars because I had a hard time understanding what was going on by the middle of the movie. You'll like this one if you like sexy horror movies.

Underrated and refreshing vampire flick
Director Tony Scott's (in his directorial debut) unique visual flair is the highlight of this early 80's film which takes a different look at vampires. David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve play John and Miriam; a luxurious vampire couple who prey upon young club-goers for blood, but when John begins to age rapidly (yes, vampires can age as well as walk in the sunlight in this film), Miriam finds a new mate in a scientist John had met who is studying the aging process (Susan Sarandon). The Hunger isn't your usual vampire flick, but that is quite a good thing here and is part of what makes The Hunger so unique. The film is horrifying, erotic, tragic, and darkly humerous sometimes all at once, and those looking for a different kind of horror or vampire film should definitely check this film out.

Sensual Feast Not to be Missed
This movie evokes sensuality, not just from the sexual scenes, in fact those are incidental to the haunting music, the flapping of dove's wings in the attic, the crumbling of aged bodies - all this behind the veil of the music. Then there is the poinancy of the lifestyle the characters are seduced into and the inevitability of that lifestyle. This is my favorite vampire movie of all time and on my top 10 movies of all time. Once you have seen the movie, you will understand my review.

Vampire Vogue
This is director Tony Scott's treatise on style. From the opening in a "new wave" club (featuring Bauhaus' "Bela Lugosi Is Dead") to the closing shot on a balcony overlooking Manhattan, appearance is everything. This is an observation, not a complaint.

The cast is uniformly good. Catherine Deneuve is hard and glamorous. Susan Sarandon is open and, um, hungry. David Bowie is, well I won't spoil it for you but the performance is fine.

Music is deftly used throughout the film. The Bauhaus sets a tone of dread and anticipation. The Shubert piece is haunting and sorrowful and used so well it suggests more depth than the movie possesses.

The "Flower Duet" from "Lakme" was used here before it became a cliche and it's used well--Deneuve uses it to seduce Sarandon in a scene that is probably the most erotic that I have ever seen (coming from a gay man that is quite a compliment).

The themes of aging love and the quest for more life (Harold Bloom would be proud) still work. The cult of "Donnie Darko" would do well with this one. Also fans of both sitcom TV and performance art will enjoy the cameo from Ann Magnuson.

Not quite a classic but well worth your time.

FEAST!
FINALLY ON DVD ! ONE OF THE MOST ELEGANT AND startling movies ever made about 'Vampires' rivalled perhaps by 'Interview with a Vampire'?

DENEUVE, BOWIE, SARANDON trio in this forbidden tale of superior elegance and [give or take] possibly one of the most sensual scenes on screen ever seen [between Deneuve and Sarandon].

Trouble is Deneuve is this ancient vampire - the embodyment of elegance and culture - she takes a lover every two hundred years - seems they last briefly - like cut flowers - then age rapidly but don't die. So into the coffin with the remains .... so she has quite an entourage of sarcophogi stashed upstairs in her New York pad. She also selectively teaches music - perhaps selecting another mate?

Bowie is the current companion - suddenly stricked by 'the age' -Sarandon is the doc. specilizing in the 'reason behind age' .... Sarandon slowly discovers the secret ......

This one's a guilty pleasure - worth watching over and over again - splendid cinematopgraphy [very hazy], artsy costumes, and a great classical score to boot.

Rivalled only by DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS - another super elegant piece of wit with Delphine Seyrige [could be Deneuve's double!]

Watch out for those ANKH's though! ... Read more

Reviews (37)

The ultimate revenge trip
This screen adaptation of the A.J. Quinnell novel has received mixed reviews, but I found it remained generally true to the spirit of the book.

Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a broken-down, alcoholic, ex-special forces assassin. Visiting his friend Rayburn (Christopher Walken) in Mexico City, he ends up taking a job as a bodyguard to make ends meet. A kidnapping spree has spread throughout Latin America and a wealthy young couple hires Creasy to protect their young daughter. Less concerned with her safety, their primary reason for hiring him is to fulfill the terms of a kidnap-insurance policy.

Pita (Dakota Fanning)'s spunk and unabashed friendliness slowly penetrate Creasy's veil of pain and alcoholism. Soon, he's not only protecting her, but is also coaching her at swimming and helping with studies. Then, in the turning point of the film, despite Creasy's quick-witted defense, Pita is kidnapped from her piano lesson and Creasy left for dead with multiple gunshot wounds.

Corrupt cops, mobsters, and other officials are all taking their cuts from the kidnapping game. As Creasy begins to recover, he sets off on the ultimate roadtrip of revenge. And all hell breaks loose.

I rated this film four stars. Tony Scott has to tone down the nausea-inducing quick cuts, fades, over-exposures, and other tricks of the trade. When he gets into story-telling mode, he does his best work, as Fanning and Washington are nearly perfect in their roles. Do yourself a service and read the books. Nothing matches the entire Creasy series.

Makes "Deathwish" look like a cakewalk.
"Death is his art. And he's about to paint his masterpiece."

That is the right line for this movie, spoken by Christopher Walken, the right actor. Obsessed with the grandeur of bloodshed, "Man On Fire" is apocalyptic, spun from the roughest parts of the Old Testament. Tony Scott's movie is a kidnapping drama set in Mexico City - a "special place" according the end credits. Special indeed - take the film at its word, and half the cops are corrupt and in competition with kidnappers for ransom money. The corrupt judicial unit, dubbed "La Hermandad," is impenetrable. Unless you're Denzel Washington.

In a performance that melds elements of his Oscar-winning turn in "Training Day" and his work in "Courage Under Fire," Washington is John Creasy, a suicidal alcoholic ex-Marine offered a job through war-buddy Rayburn (Walken) to protect the daughter of a sweatshop industrialist (Marc Anthony). This daughter, Pita, played by the increasingly skilled Dakota Fanning - who's given dialogue and mannerisms better suited to a 16-year-old - charms Creasy out of his shell, makes him become her swim coach. Fanning is, in a sense, a peculiar little girl, so far beyond her years in gestures that when she laughs at a joke of Rayburn's that she'd have no way of understanding, we begin to wonder if her maturity has been misused.

So then - Pita's snatched in a setup, Creasy's shot, and after he recovers, his counterpunch makes "Deathwish" look like a cakewalk.

"Kill them all," Pita's mother (a glammed-out Radha Mitchell) whispers as Creasy holds his Bible. This vengeance either invigorates you or it doesn't. As these films go, "Man On Fire" is among the most violent and malevolent. The script, by Brian Helgeland, pretends to ask the larger questions about sacrifice and morality, but it isn't into sparing lives. There is torture, then more of it, then death. When a nightclub is blown up, the crowd roars. That's quite a bit unlike the recent fire in Rhode Island.

The most controversial scene involves a rectum bomb set to Creasy's digital pager. "I wish - you had more time," Creasy intones ironically. A corrupt cop, stripped to his underwear and bent over a car under a freeway, has no more time.

Cynical and a bit beefier, Washington is good as the tough hombre with a rocket launcher. The mark of a good actor is to want what he wants even when we shouldn't. Washington's that guy. Walken shuffles around with his offbeat cadence, utters the movie's best line, and disappears. Anthony is jittery in a limited role. Mickey Rourke makes a cameo using his real, non-sandpaper voice. Mitchell isn't much of an actor, but she's platinum gorgeous, and a perfect trophy wife she makes. Between her and Anthony's character, you wonder where Pita got her smarts.

Mexico City, when we can get a clear view of it from Scott's dizzying camera, is a bright, messy backdrop. Scott's editor on "Spy Game," Christian Wagner, achieves the feat making sense out of chaos and vice versa, though an early scene featuring a drunk, bawling Creasy could have been pieced together more clearly. Helgeland adapts A.J. Quinnel's novel, and it's not his best work - the plot holes are big enough to drive Hummers through. Scott resorts to flashing dialogue, both Spanish and English, on the screen in a pop-art, free-verse-poetry presentation that's at first unique, then distracting, then annoying. Notice, too, that it doesn't start happening until Fanning's offscreen.

As it unfolds on a desolate bridge near a Biblical tree in the middle of Mexico, the end of "Man On Fire" is the kind of preordained, wide-shot-to-show-significance material Scott has loved since "Enemy of the State," the first of his "import" trilogy that hopefully ends with this film. Prior to that Will Smith vehicle, Scott made hard-boiled, straight-ahead popcorn flicks - "Days of Thunder," "Top Gun," "The Last Boy Scout" "Crimson Tide" - that were shallow, lurid, painfully macho but, at the very least, aware of themselves and fun. "Man On Fire" is enamored with its potential greatness when it's really a B-movie playing with an A-list star and budget.

Washington is Creasy Bear...storyline diverges from the book
If you've read the book, the movie's storyline is a little disappointing. If you've seen the movie and haven't read the book yet... You really need to. It is most satisfying, and will give you a better understanding and appreciation of the character Creasy.

The location switch from Italy to Mexico works well. Of course, we miss out on the Isle of Gozo. As with most novel-to-cinema adaptions, we miss out on a lot of subplot (Creasy's women). And as is inevitable with a major studio production, the ending has been "Hollywood-ized." (can't tell you more without giving away the ending... read the book).

However, Denzel Washington does an excellent job portraying the character Creasy, as I knew he would. Dakota Fanning is Pinta, no question about it. Christopher Walken, always a good choice, was an excellent casting choice her