Reviews (87)

The Edge
Couldn't have been better. Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, and Elle McPherson star in an awesome film from director Lee Tamori, with a great moral, great lesson, great number of suspenseful scenes, and is just plain a great flick. Hopkins plays billionaire Charles Morse, who with his wife (McPherson) and photographer friend Robert Green (Baldwin) and his partner decide to take a trip to the wild backwoods of Alaska. When Morse, Green, and their friend are thrown into the wilderness after a plane crash in a lake in the middle of who knows where, the group of men must add up eachother's bravery and try to escape from the edge, and not "die of shame", as quoted by Hopkins, while being pursued by a goliath kodiak bear. YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE. It's rated R, BUT IT'S WORTH SEEING!

A Beauty That Can Devour!
The Edge is a very much underrated film that sadly did not get the proper recognition it deserves, for it is an above average multi-layered movie that works very well on many levels, all equally well written and directed.
New Zealander Lee Tamahori, with the excellent Once We Were Warriors to his name,and writer David Mamet manage to make a movie that offers much more than its genre might suggests, both on the drama and thriller levels.
First there is the breathtaking Alaskan wilderness, spaces so vast they are equally inviting and menacing.A Napoleon general, lamenting the disaster that befell the French army once said: 'The vasteness of Russia devours us'. In the Edge you will too get the impression that the beauty of this untamed nature can also devour: break the bodies and souls of our heroes, Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin, both offering their most underrated acting best.
Three men are lost in the middle of a wilderness after their plane crash.The hope for an early return/rescue is dashed by the misleading spaces and a huge and determined Kodiak bear.One man, played by Harry Perrineau gets to know first hand about this determination,leaving Hopkins and Baldwin, bewildered, and weary,to try and escape with their lives.
This is when the film really starts. It becomes a journey of incredible hardship that will strip both men of their 'social' selves and replace it with the need to survive that will take them to the 'Edge' of endurance on one hand, and the depths of their own souls on the other. The animosities, tension and grudges that laid hidden between the two men emerge as a powerful and consistent force that mark their relationship from then on.
David Mamet has managed to write the 'Edge' that any human being can face whether lost in an unforgiving wilderness or anywhere else for that matter.It is simply how human beings change,and how social niceties is slowly eroded when the need to survive becomes the single driving force. This is a fine piece of writing!
Of course there is the thriller angle in the film..the bear, the master and primary predator of its environment,chasing two men that have been stripped from all the power and control they once possessed and taken for granted.
The direction and cinematography of these scenes are of top quality.
So if you want to watch gorgeous scenery, be scared of this huge and beautiful animal,or witness the changes incredible circumstances that trigger in men, then the Edge is the film for you eyes and mind, a journey that can easily be revisited in the safety of your own home.

Mamet's Mutt
This movie is so hokey and predictable, I can't believe it was written by the same mind who gave us "Glengarry Glen Ross." I have so many problems with this film, but I'll just list the main ones: (1) unoriginal plot (disaster strikes on a trip into the wilderness. Only the 999th movie to give us that lame storyline.) (2) After the "PLANE CRASH!!!", when the big bear is killed, all of a sudden there is no more bear threat. it's like there were only two bears in that whole wilderness. With all the bleeding going on between those three guys, bears would have been having a festival with those nimrods. (3) Then, it was so implausible to me that Alec Baldwin's character, Bob, would try to kill Anthony Hopkins' character, Charles, who had singlehandedly killed a bear and saved their lives --- because he, Bob, was SECRETLY in love with Charles' wife, the beautiful supermodel back at the warm cozy hunting lodge! Wouldn't he at least have waited until he was a little bit closer to being found? (4) Later, when Bob is injured and bleeding badly, he fades out for a second and Charles says "Don't die on me, Bob!" Hello! Is that not the most hackneyed line in show business? and (5) my personal favorite: just when Bob is playing his deathbed scene --- cue the helicopter to appear through the mountain fog! They're saved! All is well! But, (6) Ooops! Bob just died while the helicopter was buzzing the mountainside! Then, when it mercifully fades to black, we see "The producers would like to thank 'BART THE BEAR' for his contribution to this motion picture. Puhleeeeeeze! Just a horrible, unoriginal film. The only redeeming features were two performances: First and foremost Anthony Hopkins. He made chicken salad out of you know what. And believe it or not, supermodel Elle Macpherson, in the small role of Charles' wife, is not bad. It was a revelation to be a supermodel come through with an understated performance with some nice depth even when she's not speaking; it was very nice. As far as the other actors, they were all right, but nothing great. Alec Baldwin did his usual grimacing, shouting and gnashing of teeth; nothing new from him. I stayed up until 3:30 in the morning watching this thing, waiting for it to become a good film. I kept telling myself "This is Mamet. Come on!" A total disappointment. At least the cinematography was good. And the music was quite good. But the rest of it: A big ole stinker. But I am giving it 2 stars, just because it's Mamet, and I'm sure if I know Hollywood, they probably made him put in some of that junk.

ANTHONY HOPKINS IS INCREDIBLE IN THIS MOVIE !
A man who possess many bilions dollars and a privats plane has not friend every people see his fortune an nothing other as this hunter qui speak to him, after a few minutes, he can discern than he is same at the other, but he possess a trump in his play, he has an instinct to be able to the survival at any problem witch can arrives without attain his force morale he will be bound to rescue his life, and the lifes of his real enemy
after a crash witch bring about the death of the pilot of the plane, and also later a young man who will be devoured by a GRIZZLY who can smell the blod at many miles around a wound the three men, thus, when they will be only two, the reals sentiments will appear time after time INCREASINGLY ! But who will be SURVIVOR at this reculiar fight for the life AGAINST the death ?

The rabbit is smoking a pipe.
A juggernaught of a film, THE EDGE delivers and then some. Extreemly well written, expertly lensed, wonderfully acted, mature, exciting, edge of your seat entertainment that moves like a hungry mankilling bear after a portly english thesbian. Fast. A great adventure tale that's grounded in reality, making it THE ultimate survival flick. THE EDGE also bennefits from a strong plot as well, a story thick with character development (another in the long string of superb HOPKINS performances) and edge of your seat cliffhangers. Oh, and a giant bear whose desire for dining on human flesh is insatiable. Great DVD viewing, there is a lack of extras on the disc but with a film this good all you need is the feature. ... Read more

Reviews (473)

Die Another Day
The title of Bond's twentieth foray onto the screen comes not from Ian Fleming but rather from the last line of a Houseman poem.Lee Tamahori directs the hero through the usual paces but by now the franchise seems a little dated. Sure there is a lot of action here but the film is a little weak (read farfetched) when it comes to plot.

In this film Bond must save the world from a mad North Korean colonial who has perfected what is essentially a death ray. The colonial wants to use his death beam in order to move into South Korea and then into the west.

All the usual Bond special features are here. We have car chase on ice, exotic locales, beautiful women but something feels like its missing. Halle Berry tries hard in this movie as NSA agent Jinx but she remains little more than eye candy. If there is a Bond girl to watch in this outing it is Rosamund Pike who plays double agent Miranda Pike.

The real treat here is the two DVD set by Universal which offers two commentaries, a trivia track, a great documentary, photo galleries and Madonna's video of the title song.

All in all not one of the best Bond movies but certainly worth its two hour running time.

Die Another Day- So you'll live to die another day.
Die Another Day, the 20th Bond installment is for the most part entertaining. The best Bond film yet, well I'm not sure. Featuring a great cast including Halle Berry, Rick Yune, Toby Stephens, Rosamund Pike, Judi Dench and John Cleese as well as Diretor Lee Tamahori (Along Came A Spider, The Edge).
Pierce Brosnan reprises his role as the secret agent James Bond 007, which he still aces. Bond is trouble when he learns he's been betrayed, soon he embarks on a craz North Korean (Rick Yune) who has an accomplice, our villan Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens). Graves has a sophisticated weapon, a laser satellite and wants complete dominance over the world. The movie's plot isn't totally original or intelligent but it still works. Bond is on the trail with an assitant, our new, gorgeous Bond girl Halle Berry playing an NSA agent named Jinx. The film features a few remarkable sets and locations including a set consisting of ice. The gadgets aren't too amazing, mainly the car, the Aston Martin Vanquish with a unique invisibility mechanism. Gadget guru John Cleese and Judi Dench as "M" sparkle.
Die Another Day is rated PG-13 for Action Violence and Sexuality. The film is abundant in terms of violence, including gunplay, swordplay, a hovercraft and car chase and fistfights. There is also a decent amount of sexual innuendo, and non-explicit sexual situations but rather steamy and erotic. Worth seeing, I saw it in theatres and was glad I did and now own it on DVD. DVD has a lot of features and is a two-disc set. Purchase or atleast rent.

bond ,james bond
i love all james bond movies and this is a good action movie adventure and i love pierce brosnan then i am waiting bond 21 this movie is great

STILL LIFE IN BONDAGE
Who would have dreamed in 1963 that Dr. No would be the first of twenty James Bond films? There have been some misses in those 20 films (Moonraker, Octopussy, to name two), but overall the series has aged quite well, and moves into the 21st century quite adroitly.
While ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE remains my favorite Bond film, Pierce Brosnan has done well in his Bond role. He's dashing but vulnerable, and he is a good actor. He's joined in this technological brouhaha by the talented Halle Berry. While this is certainly not Halle's best performance, she shows the versatility and dedication that eventually led to her Oscar win in MONSTER'S BALL. She's a beautiful woman and she holds her own in the fight game too! Rosamund Pike is delightful as Ms. Frost, the double agent who battles Halle in the climax. Toby Stephens does a good job as Graves, but he's not the most memorable of the Bond villains. The action sequences and effects are stunning, except for the obvious blue screen used when Bond escapes from the supercar. And the laser in the sky threat has been used twice before in Bond movies: You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever. John Cleese is cool as Q; Madonna is silly in her cameo, and DIE ANOTHER DAY is one of the worst themes of any Bond movie. No one will ever replace John Barry as the master of the Bond themes. And it wouldn't hurt to see Judi Dench soften a little in her role as M. Nice touch in having B movie actor Michael Masden as the American NSA chief.
All in all, a worthy entry in the Bond series; if Brosnan and crew can keep up this kind of pace, we may see Bond hit 50!!!

Dreadful
Ridiculous effects, ridiculous story, ridiculous dialogue... And Halle Berry can't act to save her life. The fact that the producers wanted to make a spin-off series with her prove they don't know what they're doing! When the studio execs (the ones who axed the Jinx/Halle Berry movie) are the ones with taste and commons sense you know you're in trouble! ... Read more

Amazon.com

New Zealand filmmaker Lee Tamahori (The Edge) directed this brutal but powerful story drawn from the culture of poverty and alienation enveloping contemporary Maori life. Rena Owen plays the beleaguered mother of two boys--one of whom is already in prison while the other contemplates membership in a gang--and a daughter whose potential is being smothered at home. Temuera Morrison gives an outstanding and sometimes shocking performance as the violent head of the household, more adept at keeping up his social stature within his community of friends than holding down a job. The film pulls no punches, literally and figuratively, but despite the rough going, Tamahori gives us a rare and important insight into a disenfranchised people digging down deep to find their pride. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (99)

The Clashing of Cultures Brings Ruin
ONCE WERE WARRIORS is a gem of a movie that received little play in the United States. And that is a shame since this film is one of the most brutal and unforgettable exposes of the disintegration of a native culture after debilitating contact with a colonially suffocating one. Director Lee Tomahori presents a poverty-stricken subculture of the Maori tribe in New Zealand, one in which the dissolution of the formerly strong tribal bonds and rituals becomes increasingly evident in each scene. Part of the appeal of this movie is that the theme of cultural sabotage is often repeated in many cultures--and not just in third world cultures that accept Burger King rather than their own gods as a worthy pantheon.

Temuera Morrison is Jake, a brute of a husband who finds that his place in society has been undercut by a Western civilization that seems bent on putting Guess jeans on all the natives. Jake finds it difficult to hold a job so he spends his days drinking in pubs with his mates. He brawls, he drinks, he abuses his long suffering wife Beth (Rena Owen) whenever his self-esteem dips below a critical level. Beth tries hard to maintain some semblance of normalcy, but with one son in prison, another seeking to join a gang, and a teenage daughter trying to face the issues of her own burgeoning sexuality in a male-dominant society, she finds this job impossible. She loves Jake, but she hates what he has become, and there is no easy solution.

Nearly all the major characters are blighted in some way by their inability to adjust to their newer and low-class status in a Western culture than relegates their own to disrepute. Much of the film is filled with the raw violence of bar room brawls, ugly scenes of domestic abuse, and rape. All of this violence serves to underscore the need of a disenfranchised people to look within themselves to find the pride and respect that once marked them as warriors. Most fail, but the few who do not suggest that the recovery of basic human decency transcends cultures and borders so that any who see this marvelous movie can take heart that brutes like Jake are dinosaurs, eventually to be replaced by adaptable survivors like Beth. The closing scene of Beth's son,now fully engaged in his gang's ritualistic dance of discipline, punctuates this most basic of human desires.

Superb acting and a point well made
It isn't hard to see why this movie garnered so many kudos after its release. The acting is superb. (Note: Temeura Morrison later stated that he was "scarred" for quite a while emotionally and mentally after playing Jake.) The unexcelled acting in AND the directing of this film, in this viewer's opinion, show the exact nature of family violence more clearly than other presentation in any media ever has. At first I was unwilling to see another film dealing with the subject, especially since I the results of domestic violence almost daily on my job. Now I say that if you watch only one film on the matter in your life, make it this one. For an American viewer, the fact that all the action takes place in Auckland, New Zealand helps give the distance needed for an honest perspective on the theme. Then the highly skilled actors (may we see more of all of them!)play the story out as it happens to thousands of families all over the world, totally stripping domestic violence of any excuse to be. By the heart-rending and horrific end of the movie there can be no doubt in anyone's mind that neither substance abuse, cultural conditioning, disenfranchised cultures, poverty nor a host of other things often invoked as "reasons" justify turning one's household into a war zone. Most family violence perpetrators are not hardcore psychopaths; they are "Jakes", and they have no excuse for what they do to their families. A beautiful film that makes its point without resulting to melodrama and sensationalism. It's a credit to all involved with the production that we look in on the lives of one family in crisis and realize, knowing that this scene is repeated thousands of time daily worldwide, the ultimate devastation brought about by "routine" family violence. A brilliant presentation. A "must see."

Film Of The Century!
Without discussing the content of this film, suffice it to say that the acting is absolutely phenomenal! The male and female leads are enormously talented!It's real ,it's raw, and I think that is the best example of acting that I have ever seen

Just sucks you in...
... and won't let you go. Really amazing story with people you really care for.

The best film of 1994
ONCE WERE WARRIORS is one of the most powerful films I have ever seen. Released at a time when NZ films weren't widely accepted, yet when audiences saw it ... they changed their minds. This was the most talked about film in Australia in 1994. It's one of those rare movies that made me cry.

Incredible performances from both male and female leads which contribute to the powerfulness of this film. The sequel from 1998 called "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" is worth seeing, but not a patch on ONCE WERE WARRIORS.

Buy it, rent it, or whatever ... just get yourself a copy. You must have this DVD in your collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Too much surface. Director Lee (The Edge) Tomahori's noir story serves as a McGuffin to its ripe style. Amid secret agendas and unspeakable acts onscreen you stare at the fall of light across old cops' desks.Musing on super-8 footage of naked Jennifer Connelly, your mind wanders.Ah, yes, an allusion to the opening shots of Chinatown. Roman Polanski's grand reinvocation of the dark intuitions of 1940s noir is there, too, in the sumptuous look, the plump list of stars (Nick Nolte, Michael Madsen, Melanie Griffith, John Malkovich), and the swoony, bittersweet soundtrack. The zigzags of the story that bring together two cheating husbands, one pneumatic babe, and (somehow) homosexuality waywardly recall The Big Sleep.The Atomic Energy Commission subplot feels like an homage to Kiss Me Deadly.With so many other movies to please, by the middle of the film it's clear that the story isn't going to thicken, that for all the amperage in Nolte's performance, for all the male rage in Michael Madsen and Chazz Palminteri, the hints of sexual malfeasance aren't going much past Nolte's domestic guilt about his affair with Connelly. And yet there are rich things. Tracing a path from his girlfriend to the head of the Commission (Malkovich), Nolte listens, hat in hand, to a purring existential science lecture about the invisible world of atoms."Yeah," Nolte growls, "well, I see too much." Would that the filmmakers had let us see more. --Lyall Bush ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A pleasure to watch
A beautifully shot, low-key noir flick, MULHOLLAND FALLS is a pleasure to watch, despite a too predictable plot and sleepy pacing. I guess we're supposed to be more occupied by "mood" which is okay with me. This is the only film I've seen where Melanie Griffith gives a more than tolerable performance, and Nick Nolte is excellent as your grim, conflicted noir hero guy. Not nearly as emotionally wrenching or as well-written as CHINATOWN, and nowhere near the interesting, subtle and exciting LA CONFIDENTIAL, this is still a classy movie worth watching. The 1940s setting is almost too perfect, and oh my, what a car! Chazz Palminteri is excellent, despite the writers not giving us enough depth. The rest of the supporting cast is superb. A mellow murder mystery making for a great late-night watch, in the tradition of the film noir. Cheers.

A Cops vs. Federal Government story of murder

Format: Color
Not for sale to persons under age 18.
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: June 23, 1998

Cast:

Nick Nolte ... Max Hoover
Melanie Griffith ... Katherine Hoover
Chazz Palminteri ... Elleroy Coolidge
Michael Madsen ... Eddie Hall
Chris Penn ... Arthur Relyea
Treat Williams ... Colonel Nathan Fitzgerald
Jennifer Connelly ... Allison Pond
Daniel Baldwin ... McCafferty
Andrew McCarthy ... Jimmy Fields
John Malkovich ... General Thomas Timms

Kyle Chandler ... Captain
Ed Lauter ... Earl
Larry Garrison ... Perino's Maitre d'
Chelsea Harrington ... Lolita
Johnna Johnson ... Bar Woman
Rick Johnson ... Staff Car Sergeant
Britt Burr ... Staff Car Driver
Melinda Clarke ... Cigarette Girl
Ernie Lively ... Foreman
Richard Sylbert ... Coroner
Michael Krawic ... Assistant Coroner
Titus Welliver ... Kenny Kamins
Robert Peters ... Cop #1
Father William M. Thigpen ... Priest
Drew Pillsbury ... Chief's Assistant
Brad Hunt ... Guard
Aaron Neville ... Nite Spot Singer
Buddy Joe Hooker ... DC-3 Pilot
Eddie Caicedo ... Gasping Patient
Price Carson ... Honor Guard
Azalea Davila ... Perino's Girl
Sky Solari ... Perino's Girl
Alisa Christensen ... Spaghetti Girl
Bruce Dern ... The Chief
Rob Lowe ... Hoodlum
Johnny Martin ... Mafia Hitman
William L. Petersen ... Jack, Mafia Mobster
Sharmagne Leland-St. John ... Woman in Night Club
Louise Fletcher ... Esther

Max Hoover (Nick Nolte) is the head of a special police squad that is given carte blanche when it come to methods of running bad guys out of L.A., including throwing them off cliffs; hence the title: as one of the bad guys observed, "There are no falls on Mulholland Drive," Until of course, he discovers them as he falls down the cliff.

The instant crime which the story centers around is the death of a young woman, whose body, it turns out, is discovered to be radioactive, and was a paramour of General Thomas Timms (John Malkovich), who is in command of an Atomic Energy Commission base. The AEC and the FBI, on the one hand, and the LAPD on the other, head for an inevitable jurisdictional clash, in spades.

I will not divulge further details of the plot, except to say that it is rated "R" for language and violence--deservedly.

But, unlike several other reviewers, I found the film interesting and am watching it for the second or third time.

Perhaps not a "great" film, but certainly entertaining within its genre, and well acted and directed.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

Mulholland...FALLS--Oh, NOW I get it!
Let's get to the good stuff about this movie before the real fun of dissecting it. For Nick Nolte fans, you'll enjoy it because he's good in it and cuts a swaggering figure in a fedora. For Jennifer Connally fans, this is a must have (you naughty boys) and you'll want to keep your finger hovering over the pause button. In the meantime, you'll be cursing the director for editing the heck out of that really good 8mm B&W movie starring the impressive Miss Connally and spending most of the film on something about radiation and men with hats in a shiny Buick. Even though this impenetrable storyline features the additional treat of one of the Baldwin brothers (Adam? Stephen??) getting the crap beat out of him, I still found it lacking since the complete footage of Miss Connally's kinky films were never found and fully displayed to their archival stature. Talk about an extra for your DVD edition!

Now for the bad stuff. The film tries for atmosphere, but only occasionally succeeds. The shot out at the A-bomb crater is impressive, but on the whole, the movie spends too long doing too little. Of the cast, only Nolte is given enough meat to excel. This is a strong cast, but with the exception of Nolte, they have little to do. Melanie Griffith looks fresh off collagen injections to enlarge her upper lip, sadly ruining her beautiful face. Lord help me, but I kept expecting her to go "quack!" Why is it some gorgeous women keep obsessing about their bodies-tattooes, piercing, injections, etc.? They are like masterpieces that continue to have work done to them and hence ruin their natural beauty (ahem, end soliloquy). And miscasting reaches new heights with uber-quirky John Malkovich as an Army General! Apparently they offered him the part in the B&W porno flick and he was theirs for whatever role nobody else wanted.

Well, I don't want to give away the ending, but for me , the whole movie FELL FLAT. My interest PLUMMETED in the climactic scene. So don't feel you should DROP EVERYTHING to go out and rent this movie.

entertaining
with a early 1950's flair, this los angeles police drama and suspense movie is no oscar winner, however a saturday afternoon a the movies would be good.
also after seeing the cast;

nick nolte
chazz palmenteri
bruce dern
kyle chandler
treat williams
william petersen
rob lowe

they could have had more of a movie, such as l.a.confidential
than this mess.

i liked it, up to a certain point.

Modern Film Noir... a classic!
This movie is NOT on the level of Chinatown, LA Confidential or some of the genuine film noir made in the late 40s.... however... if you enjoyed them, you will enjoy this one, and I give it 5 stars for the atmosphere, music, style, costumes, and story so typical of those other great films. ESPECIALLY interesting is Jennifer's portrayal of a "Black Dahlia" type character, pale blue eyes and all.... and Treat Williams role as a military thug, which he plays beautifully. The score by Dave Grusin is absolutely gorgeous and brings the perfectly beautiful shots of period Los Angeles and matching sets to life. Cinematography and sound is first rate. I can hardly wait to own this on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (133)

Disappointment if you were really into the book
If you were a HUGE fan of this book by James Patterson, then keep in mind this is merely based off the book. There are parts that are left out of the movie that could've otherwise been included. The story is the same but other things could've been differentiated.

Matt Whittman plays Gary Soneji, a kidnapper at a private school who kidnaps the senator's daughter. Morgan Freeman plays Detective Alex Cross on his trail. Monica Potter plays Jezzie Flanagan, Cross' alias in getting Soneji.

I guess the first annoyance of this movie is that its only "based" off the book. So a lot is changed around. The beginning starts off with Cross' partner (and it isn't Sampson for those of you who read the book) in a car with a killer and eventually action comes into play and she's soon killed off merely 5 minutes into the movie (not including the opening credits). There's the attention grabber...unfortunately the movie can only go downhill from there.

Gary Soneji is very out of character. This isn't bad for those who haven't read the book. But the movie fails to show depth to Soneji's character. This isn't just Soneji but Alex Cross as well. The characters in the movie feel wooden at times. The dialogue is pretty corny at times so likewise most characters feel the same.

The other part that annoys me is in the book they constantly told you that Gary Soneji wanted to commit the crime of the century. In the movie there is no motivation whatsoever so you wonder "What is Soneji's motive?" "Why is he doing this?" Believe me you'll learn that it isn't for money.

The plot twist wasn't done too well either. We're supposed to believe that the senator's daughter was kidnapped from the boat Soneji imprisoned her on when we NEVER see it happen! You wonder how she got to her new location near the end of the movie.

Lastly, the ending. With a few exceptions its easy to say the ending is usually changed for the worst and in this movie IT WAS FOR THE WORST! Alex finds the girl and then it just...ends. No falling action or resolution it just ends.

If you really loved the book the movie will more than likely disappoint you. If you didn't read the book the movie has a "Love/Hate" relationship. I'm sure that if you haven't read the book you could pull the movie apart.

A good film but an even better novel
Glossy thriller doesn't measure up to James Patterson's excellent novel but does have great work by Morgan Freeman and enough action and suspense to make for a good film. Alex Cross is on the trail of psychopath Gary Soneji who has kidnapped a young girl from school and murders a schoolteacher for good measure. Monica Potter seems self-conscious and stiff and doesn't breathe enough life into Jezzie Flannigan's character. Penelope Ann Miller is fine as the distraught mother of the missing girl and Mika Boorem is heroic and resourceful as the kidnapped Megan. The film's opening sequence of a helicopter surveillance of Soneji with Cross' female partner in harm's way provides one of the movie's best moments. Jerry Goldsmith's music score is moody and understated and is a great asset to the movie.

Alex Cross returns
If you are real generous and forgive some major leaps of logic, than "Along Cane A Spider" is a pretty good little thriller. Detective Alex Cross(played by the ever reliable Morgan Freeman) is brought in on a high profile kidnapping case patterned after the Charles Linbergh baby kidnapping. Gary Sonji is a very worthy advacary indeed. With out giving too much away, there is a lot more to it than that. Director Lee Tamahori dose a lot to give the movie a slick style, and that works well, in a "Miami Vice" kind of way. As said before, Morgan Freeman gives a very good performance, though I have a few comments on his Alex Cross. The Alex Cross character is based on James Patterson's novels, and that version of Cross is much younger (in fact I picture Denzel Washington or Wesley Snipes), also with a son and daughter. Also his personal life usually gets a lot of attention (though I liked the movie's decision to not concentrate on his family.) Another complaint is that, yes, Cross is very smart; but to make some of the connections he made to figure out what was going on, he has to be psychic. That seems a little silly. Monica Potter's Jezzie Flenagan was alright, not a lot of depth to her (in the book, she was Cross's lover; that was another change I was happy about). Michael Wincott is the cold blooded Gary Sonji, changed a lot from the book, and not a good change. I liked him a lot, but there really wasn't a lot to go on while trying to figure out what makes him tick. The little girl, Mika Boorem, dose a good job, at least she didn't cry all the time which always gets on my nerves. But on the other hand, she seemed a little too smart and resourceful to be only 10 years old. All in all, it isn't bad, just a little too contrived for my taste.

Kidnapping with a Surprise Ending
The daughter of Senator Rose is kidnapped by her "teacher"; another teacher is killed. This crazy killer hides young Megan Rose, and calls Dr. Cross, a profiler. (How did this "teacher" pass his background checks?) The problem is to recover Megan Rose unhurt by solving this crime. The Secret Service agent who failed to protect Megan Rose partners with this profiler whose previous partner was killed on the job (an omen?).

Dr. Cross discovers a clue hidden away in a digital photograph. (This crime is modeled after the Lindbergh kidnapping.) Megan Rose tries to escape, the man who tries to help her is killed by kidnapper Songee. There is an attempt to meet another student that goes awry, almost trapping Songee! The police seem to be closing in. Songee calls for $10 million in untraceable diamonds, but this call can't be traced. (Have they no Caller ID?) A series of phone calls leads Dr. Cross to the transit system to deliver the ransom. While this pair discuss the case, Songee invades their house to question them! (Believable?) This mistake leads to Songee's death. But Songee never got the ransom! Is there another criminal involved? The brains behind this plot is a killer! Now Megan Rose knows too much, and must be silenced. But Dr. Cross arrives to stop the killer and save Megan Rose.

This is an entertaining story with plot twists; but the final ending seems incredible to me.

Convoluted Plot
It seems as though I am in the minority with this film. I enjoyed the plot twists, though you had to follow them carefully. If you were watching you could, in theory, figure out who the bad guys are, though you really do not have all the facts to truly figure out every detail, somewhat like a Sherlock Holmes story.

Our story focuses on one Gary Soneji (Michael Wincott), who has carefully planned to kidnap the daughter of U.S. Senator Hank Rose, unconvincingly played by Michael Moriarty. The point of the kidnapping is not to kidnap Megan (Mika Boreem), but to get access to a foreign diplomat's son, who is good friends with Megan. Mr. Soneji is, as might be guessed, a bit of a wacko. He wants Dr. Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman), a famous profiler, to chronicle the battle of wits between them. Ultimately there is a showdown between the two of them, but the showdown does not reveal the location of Megan.

The plot twists and thickens more, and yet, there were clues in several places, I thought. I was quite puzzled when the security guards went running out the front of the school instead of just closing the gates. Further, I thought someone would have at least tried to grab a car to follow the kidnapper. Later, Jezzie Flanagan (Monica Potter) has a chance to shoot the kidnapper and does not, though she seemed to have a chance to wound him. All these little tidbits hint at the convolutions within the plot that are revealed only near the end of the movie.

The convolutions did entertain me, and I got much more enjoyment out of trying to figure out the plot than with gunshots and car chases. However, I prefer "Murder, She Wrote," "Columbo," and "Sherlock Holmes" to movies with nearly all action and no intelligence in their plot. When you watch this movie, you do have to pay attention or you will lose direction, and you will see more plot holes than there actually are. I thought nearly everything was explained as the movie progressed, and the only plot holes were mistakes by those involved in the kidnapping of Megan.

There were four standout actors in this film. Morgan Freeman is excellent, as usual, as Alex Cross. Michael Wincott is quite convincing as the marginally sane Gary Soneji. Monica Potter brings a good balance of strength and vulnerability to her role as Secret Service Agent Jezzie Flanagan. The real surprise performance is by Mika Boreem as Megan Rose. Megan tries very hard to get away throughout the movie, and uses her head continuously, incidentally saving her own life. Mika's performance is better than many of the adult actors in this film, and bodes well for a future career in acting.

It could just be that I'm getting older, and car chases and flying bullets just are not as enjoyable as they once were. Or it could be that I just liked the intellectual challenge of unraveling the threads of the complicated plot. In any case, this movie is clearly not for everyone, but I would love to watch it again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Writer David Mamet created two engrossing and memorable characters, played by Alec Baldwin as the urbane fashion photographer and Anthony Hopkins as a reserved and intellectual billionaire. They find themselves teamed up against a giant Kodiak bear, and their own inner demons, when lost together in the Alaskan wilderness. There is a lot going on in this picture, as the subject matter includes male rivalry, the isolationism of extreme wealth, and, most conspicuously, the survival of the fittest. Mamet's script, which sounds a little too arch in spots, is well served by New Zealand director Lee Tamahori, who knows how to capture beauty and brutality in one frame. Although the themes are enormous in scope, they are well balanced. One rarely overpowers the other, nor does the achingly beautiful scenery overshadow the acting. Even if you do not like the intellectualism of the dialogue, there are some great scenes with the bear. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (87)

The Edge
Couldn't have been better. Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, and Elle McPherson star in an awesome film from director Lee Tamori, with a great moral, great lesson, great number of suspenseful scenes, and is just plain a great flick. Hopkins plays billionaire Charles Morse, who with his wife (McPherson) and photographer friend Robert Green (Baldwin) and his partner decide to take a trip to the wild backwoods of Alaska. When Morse, Green, and their friend are thrown into the wilderness after a plane crash in a lake in the middle of who knows where, the group of men must add up eachother's bravery and try to escape from the edge, and not "die of shame", as quoted by Hopkins, while being pursued by a goliath kodiak bear. YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE. It's rated R, BUT IT'S WORTH SEEING!

A Beauty That Can Devour!
The Edge is a very much underrated film that sadly did not get the proper recognition it deserves, for it is an above average multi-layered movie that works very well on many levels, all equally well written and directed.
New Zealander Lee Tamahori, with the excellent Once We Were Warriors to his name,and writer David Mamet manage to make a movie that offers much more than its genre might suggests, both on the drama and thriller levels.
First there is the breathtaking Alaskan wilderness, spaces so vast they are equally inviting and menacing.A Napoleon general, lamenting the disaster that befell the French army once said: 'The vasteness of Russia devours us'. In the Edge you will too get the impression that the beauty of this untamed nature can also devour: break the bodies and souls of our heroes, Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin, both offering their most underrated acting best.
Three men are lost in the middle of a wilderness after their plane crash.The hope for an early return/rescue is dashed by the misleading spaces and a huge and determined Kodiak bear.One man, played by Harry Perrineau gets to know first hand about this determination,leaving Hopkins and Baldwin, bewildered, and weary,to try and escape with their lives.
This is when the film really starts. It becomes a journey of incredible hardship that will strip both men of their 'social' selves and replace it with the need to survive that will take them to the 'Edge' of endurance on one hand, and the depths of their own souls on the other. The animosities, tension and grudges that laid hidden between the two men emerge as a powerful and consistent force that mark their relationship from then on.
David Mamet has managed to write the 'Edge' that any human being can face whether lost in an unforgiving wilderness or anywhere else for that matter.It is simply how human beings change,and how social niceties is slowly eroded when the need to survive becomes the single driving force. This is a fine piece of writing!
Of course there is the thriller angle in the film..the bear, the master and primary predator of its environment,chasing two men that have been stripped from all the power and control they once possessed and taken for granted.
The direction and cinematography of these scenes are of top quality.
So if you want to watch gorgeous scenery, be scared of this huge and beautiful animal,or witness the changes incredible circumstances that trigger in men, then the Edge is the film for you eyes and mind, a journey that can easily be revisited in the safety of your own home.

Mamet's Mutt
This movie is so hokey and predictable, I can't believe it was written by the same mind who gave us "Glengarry Glen Ross." I have so many problems with this film, but I'll just list the main ones: (1) unoriginal plot (disaster strikes on a trip into the wilderness. Only the 999th movie to give us that lame storyline.) (2) After the "PLANE CRASH!!!", when the big bear is killed, all of a sudden there is no more bear threat. it's like there were only two bears in that whole wilderness. With all the bleeding going on between those three guys, bears would have been having a festival with those nimrods. (3) Then, it was so implausible to me that Alec Baldwin's character, Bob, would try to kill Anthony Hopkins' character, Charles, who had singlehandedly killed a bear and saved their lives --- because he, Bob, was SECRETLY in love with Charles' wife, the beautiful supermodel back at the warm cozy hunting lodge! Wouldn't he at least have waited until he was a little bit closer to being found? (4) Later, when Bob is injured and bleeding badly, he fades out for a second and Charles says "Don't die on me, Bob!" Hello! Is that not the most hackneyed line in show business? and (5) my personal favorite: just when Bob is playing his deathbed scene --- cue the helicopter to appear through the mountain fog! They're saved! All is well! But, (6) Ooops! Bob just died while the helicopter was buzzing the mountainside! Then, when it mercifully fades to black, we see "The producers would like to thank 'BART THE BEAR' for his contribution to this motion picture. Puhleeeeeeze! Just a horrible, unoriginal film. The only redeeming features were two performances: First and foremost Anthony Hopkins. He made chicken salad out of you know what. And believe it or not, supermodel Elle Macpherson, in the small role of Charles' wife, is not bad. It was a revelation to be a supermodel come through with an understated performance with some nice depth even when she's not speaking; it was very nice. As far as the other actors, they were all right, but nothing great. Alec Baldwin did his usual grimacing, shouting and gnashing of teeth; nothing new from him. I stayed up until 3:30 in the morning watching this thing, waiting for it to become a good film. I kept telling myself "This is Mamet. Come on!" A total disappointment. At least the cinematography was good. And the music was quite good. But the rest of it: A big ole stinker. But I am giving it 2 stars, just because it's Mamet, and I'm sure if I know Hollywood, they probably made him put in some of that junk.

ANTHONY HOPKINS IS INCREDIBLE IN THIS MOVIE !
A man who possess many bilions dollars and a privats plane has not friend every people see his fortune an nothing other as this hunter qui speak to him, after a few minutes, he can discern than he is same at the other, but he possess a trump in his play, he has an instinct to be able to the survival at any problem witch can arrives without attain his force morale he will be bound to rescue his life, and the lifes of his real enemy
after a crash witch bring about the death of the pilot of the plane, and also later a young man who will be devoured by a GRIZZLY who can smell the blod at many miles around a wound the three men, thus, when they will be only two, the reals sentiments will appear time after time INCREASINGLY ! But who will be SURVIVOR at this reculiar fight for the life AGAINST the death ?

The rabbit is smoking a pipe.
A juggernaught of a film, THE EDGE delivers and then some. Extreemly well written, expertly lensed, wonderfully acted, mature, exciting, edge of your seat entertainment that moves like a hungry mankilling bear after a portly english thesbian. Fast. A great adventure tale that's grounded in reality, making it THE ultimate survival flick. THE EDGE also bennefits from a strong plot as well, a story thick with character development (another in the long string of superb HOPKINS performances) and edge of your seat cliffhangers. Oh, and a giant bear whose desire for dining on human flesh is insatiable. Great DVD viewing, there is a lack of extras on the disc but with a film this good all you need is the feature. ... Read more

Reviews (133)

Disappointment if you were really into the book
If you were a HUGE fan of this book by James Patterson, then keep in mind this is merely based off the book. There are parts that are left out of the movie that could've otherwise been included. The story is the same but other things could've been differentiated.

Matt Whittman plays Gary Soneji, a kidnapper at a private school who kidnaps the senator's daughter. Morgan Freeman plays Detective Alex Cross on his trail. Monica Potter plays Jezzie Flanagan, Cross' alias in getting Soneji.

I guess the first annoyance of this movie is that its only "based" off the book. So a lot is changed around. The beginning starts off with Cross' partner (and it isn't Sampson for those of you who read the book) in a car with a killer and eventually action comes into play and she's soon killed off merely 5 minutes into the movie (not including the opening credits). There's the attention grabber...unfortunately the movie can only go downhill from there.

Gary Soneji is very out of character. This isn't bad for those who haven't read the book. But the movie fails to show depth to Soneji's character. This isn't just Soneji but Alex Cross as well. The characters in the movie feel wooden at times. The dialogue is pretty corny at times so likewise most characters feel the same.

The other part that annoys me is in the book they constantly told you that Gary Soneji wanted to commit the crime of the century. In the movie there is no motivation whatsoever so you wonder "What is Soneji's motive?" "Why is he doing this?" Believe me you'll learn that it isn't for money.

The plot twist wasn't done too well either. We're supposed to believe that the senator's daughter was kidnapped from the boat Soneji imprisoned her on when we NEVER see it happen! You wonder how she got to her new location near the end of the movie.

Lastly, the ending. With a few exceptions its easy to say the ending is usually changed for the worst and in this movie IT WAS FOR THE WORST! Alex finds the girl and then it just...ends. No falling action or resolution it just ends.

If you really loved the book the movie will more than likely disappoint you. If you didn't read the book the movie has a "Love/Hate" relationship. I'm sure that if you haven't read the book you could pull the movie apart.

A good film but an even better novel
Glossy thriller doesn't measure up to James Patterson's excellent novel but does have great work by Morgan Freeman and enough action and suspense to make for a good film. Alex Cross is on the trail of psychopath Gary Soneji who has kidnapped a young girl from school and murders a schoolteacher for good measure. Monica Potter seems self-conscious and stiff and doesn't breathe enough life into Jezzie Flannigan's character. Penelope Ann Miller is fine as the distraught mother of the missing girl and Mika Boorem is heroic and resourceful as the kidnapped Megan. The film's opening sequence of a helicopter surveillance of Soneji with Cross' female partner in harm's way provides one of the movie's best moments. Jerry Goldsmith's music score is moody and understated and is a great asset to the movie.

Alex Cross returns
If you are real generous and forgive some major leaps of logic, than "Along Cane A Spider" is a pretty good little thriller. Detective Alex Cross(played by the ever reliable Morgan Freeman) is brought in on a high profile kidnapping case patterned after the Charles Linbergh baby kidnapping. Gary Sonji is a very worthy advacary indeed. With out giving too much away, there is a lot more to it than that. Director Lee Tamahori dose a lot to give the movie a slick style, and that works well, in a "Miami Vice" kind of way. As said before, Morgan Freeman gives a very good performance, though I have a few comments on his Alex Cross. The Alex Cross character is based on James Patterson's novels, and that version of Cross is much younger (in fact I picture Denzel Washington or Wesley Snipes), also with a son and daughter. Also his personal life usually gets a lot of attention (though I liked the movie's decision to not concentrate on his family.) Another complaint is that, yes, Cross is very smart; but to make some of the connections he made to figure out what was going on, he has to be psychic. That seems a little silly. Monica Potter's Jezzie Flenagan was alright, not a lot of depth to her (in the book, she was Cross's lover; that was another change I was happy about). Michael Wincott is the cold blooded Gary Sonji, changed a lot from the book, and not a good change. I liked him a lot, but there really wasn't a lot to go on while trying to figure out what makes him tick. The little girl, Mika Boorem, dose a good job, at least she didn't cry all the time which always gets on my nerves. But on the other hand, she seemed a little too smart and resourceful to be only 10 years old. All in all, it isn't bad, just a little too contrived for my taste.

Kidnapping with a Surprise Ending
The daughter of Senator Rose is kidnapped by her "teacher"; another teacher is killed. This crazy killer hides young Megan Rose, and calls Dr. Cross, a profiler. (How did this "teacher" pass his background checks?) The problem is to recover Megan Rose unhurt by solving this crime. The Secret Service agent who failed to protect Megan Rose partners with this profiler whose previous partner was killed on the job (an omen?).

Dr. Cross discovers a clue hidden away in a digital photograph. (This crime is modeled after the Lindbergh kidnapping.) Megan Rose tries to escape, the man who tries to help her is killed by kidnapper Songee. There is an attempt to meet another student that goes awry, almost trapping Songee! The police seem to be closing in. Songee calls for $10 million in untraceable diamonds, but this call can't be traced. (Have they no Caller ID?) A series of phone calls leads Dr. Cross to the transit system to deliver the ransom. While this pair discuss the case, Songee invades their house to question them! (Believable?) This mistake leads to Songee's death. But Songee never got the ransom! Is there another criminal involved? The brains behind this plot is a killer! Now Megan Rose knows too much, and must be silenced. But Dr. Cross arrives to stop the killer and save Megan Rose.

This is an entertaining story with plot twists; but the final ending seems incredible to me.

Convoluted Plot
It seems as though I am in the minority with this film. I enjoyed the plot twists, though you had to follow them carefully. If you were watching you could, in theory, figure out who the bad guys are, though you really do not have all the facts to truly figure out every detail, somewhat like a Sherlock Holmes story.

Our story focuses on one Gary Soneji (Michael Wincott), who has carefully planned to kidnap the daughter of U.S. Senator Hank Rose, unconvincingly played by Michael Moriarty. The point of the kidnapping is not to kidnap Megan (Mika Boreem), but to get access to a foreign diplomat's son, who is good friends with Megan. Mr. Soneji is, as might be guessed, a bit of a wacko. He wants Dr. Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman), a famous profiler, to chronicle the battle of wits between them. Ultimately there is a showdown between the two of them, but the showdown does not reveal the location of Megan.

The plot twists and thickens more, and yet, there were clues in several places, I thought. I was quite puzzled when the security guards went running out the front of the school instead of just closing the gates. Further, I thought someone would have at least tried to grab a car to follow the kidnapper. Later, Jezzie Flanagan (Monica Potter) has a chance to shoot the kidnapper and does not, though she seemed to have a chance to wound him. All these little tidbits hint at the convolutions within the plot that are revealed only near the end of the movie.

The convolutions did entertain me, and I got much more enjoyment out of trying to figure out the plot than with gunshots and car chases. However, I prefer "Murder, She Wrote," "Columbo," and "Sherlock Holmes" to movies with nearly all action and no intelligence in their plot. When you watch this movie, you do have to pay attention or you will lose direction, and you will see more plot holes than there actually are. I thought nearly everything was explained as the movie progressed, and the only plot holes were mistakes by those involved in the kidnapping of Megan.

There were four standout actors in this film. Morgan Freeman is excellent, as usual, as Alex Cross. Michael Wincott is quite convincing as the marginally sane Gary Soneji. Monica Potter brings a good balance of strength and vulnerability to her role as Secret Service Agent Jezzie Flanagan. The real surprise performance is by Mika Boreem as Megan Rose. Megan tries very hard to get away throughout the movie, and uses her head continuously, incidentally saving her own life. Mika's performance is better than many of the adult actors in this film, and bodes well for a future career in acting.

It could just be that I'm getting older, and car chases and flying bullets just are not as enjoyable as they once were. Or it could be that I just liked the intellectual challenge of unraveling the threads of the complicated plot. In any case, this movie is clearly not for everyone, but I would love to watch it again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With a core audience of gameboys and hot-rodders aged 25 and under, xXx: State of the Union is the kind of action movie that requires literally no thought to enjoy. With Vin Diesel's original character just killed in Bora Bora (for details, see the uncensored unrated director's cut of xXx), Ice Cube steps in to play bad-ass, and the whole franchise takes on a hip-hop edge that's almost admirably absurd. The asinine plot is anarchy in Washington, D.C., as an insanely hawkish Secretary of State (Willem Dafoe) plots a Capitol coup just as the President (Peter Strauss, playing it straight) is giving his state-of-the-union address. All of this is prefaced by Cube's recruitment as a former Navy SEAL turned new-xXx, escaping from jail (Dafoe's character put him there), hooking up with an old flame who runs a chop-shop full of the world's hottest wheels, and reuniting with his old commander (Samuel L. Jackson) for a bullet-train climax that feels like Mission Impossible Lite. You could argue that Diesel's the smartest guy in the franchise for cashing out early, but xXx: State of the Union gets the job done in passable fashion, with action veteran Lee Tamahori delivering the goods while he waits for a grown-up script to come along. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (16)

AKA Boyz in the Union or State of the Hood
If you like ridiculous storylines, loud Hip Hop music, improbable situations, unlikely characters, and woefully silly plot twists and wooden acting BUT love action - go see this movie. Ice Cube plays Darius, a former navy seal recruited by Samuel Jackson (Gibbons) to become the new XXX and relieve Willem Defoe of his desire to kill the President and take over the Country. If you can believe that a bunch of homeboys in suped up cars with bull bars can drive a tank down Pennsylvania Avenue unchallenged (after jacking it!) and beat numerous hords of highly trained troops, armed with little more than street wise attitude and a stolen truck load of guns, you'll be OK. For me this was laughably bad, and I only gave it 2 stars for the action content. The stunt coordinator must have been on triple overtime to come up with some of the amazing (if stupidly unrealistic) action footage, and the whole spectacle of it, just about carries your interest. I thought Vin Diesel was cliche ridden and cheesy in the first movie, but this is a real turkey in comparison. Action fans and viewers about 13 years of age will no doubt lap it up, but for me it was just too silly to be really entertaining. Of course at the end of the movie we are left with plenty of scope for another sequel, and one wonders who will be up next, Jet Li perhaps? for an oriental slant, who knows?

Exactly what you expect, if not skip it!
Ice Cube is the new XXX in this action blockbuster that loosely follows on from Vin Diesels original a couple of years ago. We find out early on that Xander Cage (Diesel) has turned up dead, and Gibbons (Samuel L Jackson) must look even further "off the grid" to find a replacement with even more attitude. It so happens that Darius (Cube) just happened to be a former Lt in the Navy Seals under Gibbons before being invited to do a 20 year stretch in jail, for among other things breaking his own generals jaw. That former general (Willem Dafoe), is now Secretary of State for Defense, and is planning a laughably absurd coup to oust the current administration and put himself in power. The reason for all of the drastic mayhem is of course to prevent the current President from passing a bill to reduce military spending (whatever happened to political lobbying?). The movie opens with a crack squad infiltraing Gibbons HQ and killing most of the agents, leaving Gibbons and quirky nerd sidekick Toby on the run. Ice Cube reluctantly steps up complete with former streetsmart gang of home boys equipped with a teenagers dream catologue of muscled up vehicles and high powered weapons to take on the bad guys. This is a fun movie, and as long as you view it that way you'll enjoy it - piles of action, some inventive if ludicrous stuntwork, and a fast pace keeps your attention. If you're looking for a tense credible storyline this is NOT the movie to go see, and is rather more suited the the Hip Hop action seeker who basks in the eye candy, and could care less about the plot. There are some OK performances though, and this is by no means BAD - Willem Defoe as the erstwhile senior officer, and now main Baddie oozes villanous charm, and seems to be cornering the market in bad guy roles lately. Jackson is as usual engaging, and Ice Cube brings a nice streetwise Badass edge to the role, preventing comparisons with Diesel. Scott Speedman (Underworld) plays the NSA agent who believes Darius and in so doing puts himself in danger, with a nice buddy buddy sideline. It was also nice to see Peter Strauss again, albeit in a small role as the President, and all round this was a lot of fun. For fans it's a must, and certainly on a par with the first movie in terms of action and thrills, just put your brain in neutral and grab the popcorn. Enjoy

xXx 2 vs. xXx 1.
I'll admit that I'm a huge Vin Diesel fan and I loved the first movie mostly for him. But I did get surprised by that movie having an enjoyable action packed plot.
If it wasn't for most of the original cast being in this one and Xibit and Ice Cube, I probably wouldn't have checked it out until it was on pay per view.
I was pleasantly surprised after watching this film. It does have plot(unlike what some may say.) And I'm not going to try and convince you by telling you plot. I'm not a spoiler type reviewer. I will however say I enjoyed the mix of conversation, busywork and action. The only reservation I may have is that some of the stunts seemed too hollywood and not as believable as the first film.
The new X is a whole lot more serious. This film doesn't have the same jokes per minute like the last one. Which to some action movie viewers that's just fine. For me, I could have used a few more. That's not to say this movie is completely dry of jokes either, and I'm sure there are ones I missed the first time around that I'll see later.
My personal thought is that this film left things wide open for even more sequals and has the potential to be the American Bond. Though it's still too new to know for sure. As a loyal Bond fan I'm heasitant to commit to my above comment too deep.
My reccomendation? Ignore the post from people who always post negative posts. Take the time to view it for yourself and make up your own mind. My personal thoughts are that this film holds up well on it's own and that if it wasn't made as a sequile that many wouldn't be disregarding it the way they are now. Enjoy!

xXx oh my!
That's right.xXx is out in theaters.And no I didn't get to see any nudity.It should be a shame.

Well the movie starts out nice and stupid.I love the intro affect right in the midst of day time the stealth bad guys decked in full BLACK uniforms.I guess dressing in black helps prevent people seeing you in the day time when the sun shines all over your bum and while they are scouring the building with walls that were white.So yeah I can definately see blending into the building no problem (sarcasm it's a living).

I have never seen anything funnier than an overweight man tromping through woods and mud and water.Very funny.Darius Stone is his name and he was a fat NAVY SEAL.Oh sure....I'm 100% posative
a guy with his perfectly orbed body and massive ONE (count them ONE) giant AB.It's not that i'm against heavier set people being the lead action hero in movies.Just that i'm against heavier set people being the lead action hero in movies.You will definately see the comic of chunky climbing the rope.

My FAVORITE most stupid line said in the movie was:"Deckards little boy scouts are gearing up for World War 4."
Of course that was really NOT Ice Cube Trays fault.Unless he added that line in himself.Gee, I didn't realize we already had World War 3.

The final perfect touch to the movie.Gangsta!That's right!You read correctly.Gangsta not gangster.This is the ghetto crap rehash of the first xXx.Granted Vin Diesel isn't what you'd call a well educated man with his vocabulary.But at least the set up was right and proper.If you go ghetto go ghetto.Please don't try to mix that ROCK/RAP compilations.It doesn't work.Should have just had plain rap in there.Would have set the atmosphere well enough for awefulness.

As far as the goodness of the movie.If you want to see something that would NEVER happen in a million years.You'll definately want to see this.It's always a pleasure to watch things go boom!Next time I watch a movie with Ice Tray (Ice Cube for those that are slow at catching on) I will definately bring a dozen doughnuts with me to "FILL IN" the atmosphere that is emitted off him.

for craps sakes
typical modern hollywood action packed blockbuster. there is no story, the action is cheesy, and ice cube blows. guys who are in to crappy action movies like this are no better than girls and their chick flicks. stop supporting heaps of garbage labeled, "action thriller of the year." ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A pleasure to watch
A beautifully shot, low-key noir flick, MULHOLLAND FALLS is a pleasure to watch, despite a too predictable plot and sleepy pacing. I guess we're supposed to be more occupied by "mood" which is okay with me. This is the only film I've seen where Melanie Griffith gives a more than tolerable performance, and Nick Nolte is excellent as your grim, conflicted noir hero guy. Not nearly as emotionally wrenching or as well-written as CHINATOWN, and nowhere near the interesting, subtle and exciting LA CONFIDENTIAL, this is still a classy movie worth watching. The 1940s setting is almost too perfect, and oh my, what a car! Chazz Palminteri is excellent, despite the writers not giving us enough depth. The rest of the supporting cast is superb. A mellow murder mystery making for a great late-night watch, in the tradition of the film noir. Cheers.

A Cops vs. Federal Government story of murder

Format: Color
Not for sale to persons under age 18.
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: June 23, 1998

Cast:

Nick Nolte ... Max Hoover
Melanie Griffith ... Katherine Hoover
Chazz Palminteri ... Elleroy Coolidge
Michael Madsen ... Eddie Hall
Chris Penn ... Arthur Relyea
Treat Williams ... Colonel Nathan Fitzgerald
Jennifer Connelly ... Allison Pond
Daniel Baldwin ... McCafferty
Andrew McCarthy ... Jimmy Fields
John Malkovich ... General Thomas Timms

Kyle Chandler ... Captain
Ed Lauter ... Earl
Larry Garrison ... Perino's Maitre d'
Chelsea Harrington ... Lolita
Johnna Johnson ... Bar Woman
Rick Johnson ... Staff Car Sergeant
Britt Burr ... Staff Car Driver
Melinda Clarke ... Cigarette Girl
Ernie Lively ... Foreman
Richard Sylbert ... Coroner
Michael Krawic ... Assistant Coroner
Titus Welliver ... Kenny Kamins
Robert Peters ... Cop #1
Father William M. Thigpen ... Priest
Drew Pillsbury ... Chief's Assistant
Brad Hunt ... Guard
Aaron Neville ... Nite Spot Singer
Buddy Joe Hooker ... DC-3 Pilot
Eddie Caicedo ... Gasping Patient
Price Carson ... Honor Guard
Azalea Davila ... Perino's Girl
Sky Solari ... Perino's Girl
Alisa Christensen ... Spaghetti Girl
Bruce Dern ... The Chief
Rob Lowe ... Hoodlum
Johnny Martin ... Mafia Hitman
William L. Petersen ... Jack, Mafia Mobster
Sharmagne Leland-St. John ... Woman in Night Club
Louise Fletcher ... Esther

Max Hoover (Nick Nolte) is the head of a special police squad that is given carte blanche when it come to methods of running bad guys out of L.A., including throwing them off cliffs; hence the title: as one of the bad guys observed, "There are no falls on Mulholland Drive," Until of course, he discovers them as he falls down the cliff.

The instant crime which the story centers around is the death of a young woman, whose body, it turns out, is discovered to be radioactive, and was a paramour of General Thomas Timms (John Malkovich), who is in command of an Atomic Energy Commission base. The AEC and the FBI, on the one hand, and the LAPD on the other, head for an inevitable jurisdictional clash, in spades.

I will not divulge further details of the plot, except to say that it is rated "R" for language and violence--deservedly.

But, unlike several other reviewers, I found the film interesting and am watching it for the second or third time.

Perhaps not a "great" film, but certainly entertaining within its genre, and well acted and directed.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

Mulholland...FALLS--Oh, NOW I get it!
Let's get to the good stuff about this movie before the real fun of dissecting it. For Nick Nolte fans, you'll enjoy it because he's good in it and cuts a swaggering figure in a fedora. For Jennifer Connally fans, this is a must have (you naughty boys) and you'll want to keep your finger hovering over the pause button. In the meantime, you'll be cursing the director for editing the heck out of that really good 8mm B&W movie starring the impressive Miss Connally and spending most of the film on something about radiation and men with hats in a shiny Buick. Even though this impenetrable storyline features the additional treat of one of the Baldwin brothers (Adam? Stephen??) getting the crap beat out of him, I still found it lacking since the complete footage of Miss Connally's kinky films were never found and fully displayed to their archival stature. Talk about an extra for your DVD edition!

Now for the bad stuff. The film tries for atmosphere, but only occasionally succeeds. The shot out at the A-bomb crater is impressive, but on the whole, the movie spends too long doing too little. Of the cast, only Nolte is given enough meat to excel. This is a strong cast, but with the exception of Nolte, they have little to do. Melanie Griffith looks fresh off collagen injections to enlarge her upper lip, sadly ruining her beautiful face. Lord help me, but I kept expecting her to go "quack!" Why is it some gorgeous women keep obsessing about their bodies-tattooes, piercing, injections, etc.? They are like masterpieces that continue to have work done to them and hence ruin their natural beauty (ahem, end soliloquy). And miscasting reaches new heights with uber-quirky John Malkovich as an Army General! Apparently they offered him the part in the B&W porno flick and he was theirs for whatever role nobody else wanted.

Well, I don't want to give away the ending, but for me , the whole movie FELL FLAT. My interest PLUMMETED in the climactic scene. So don't feel you should DROP EVERYTHING to go out and rent this movie.

entertaining
with a early 1950's flair, this los angeles police drama and suspense movie is no oscar winner, however a saturday afternoon a the movies would be good.
also after seeing the cast;

nick nolte
chazz palmenteri
bruce dern
kyle chandler
treat williams
william petersen
rob lowe

they could have had more of a movie, such as l.a.confidential
than this mess.

i liked it, up to a certain point.

Modern Film Noir... a classic!
This movie is NOT on the level of Chinatown, LA Confidential or some of the genuine film noir made in the late 40s.... however... if you enjoyed them, you will enjoy this one, and I give it 5 stars for the atmosphere, music, style, costumes, and story so typical of those other great films. ESPECIALLY interesting is Jennifer's portrayal of a "Black Dahlia" type character, pale blue eyes and all.... and Treat Williams role as a military thug, which he plays beautifully. The score by Dave Grusin is absolutely gorgeous and brings the perfectly beautiful shots of period Los Angeles and matching sets to life. Cinematography and sound is first rate. I can hardly wait to own this on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (87)

The Edge
Couldn't have been better. Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, and Elle McPherson star in an awesome film from director Lee Tamori, with a great moral, great lesson, great number of suspenseful scenes, and is just plain a great flick. Hopkins plays billionaire Charles Morse, who with his wife (McPherson) and photographer friend Robert Green (Baldwin) and his partner decide to take a trip to the wild backwoods of Alaska. When Morse, Green, and their friend are thrown into the wilderness after a plane crash in a lake in the middle of who knows where, the group of men must add up eachother's bravery and try to escape from the edge, and not "die of shame", as quoted by Hopkins, while being pursued by a goliath kodiak bear. YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE. It's rated R, BUT IT'S WORTH SEEING!

A Beauty That Can Devour!
The Edge is a very much underrated film that sadly did not get the proper recognition it deserves, for it is an above average multi-layered movie that works very well on many levels, all equally well written and directed.
New Zealander Lee Tamahori, with the excellent Once We Were Warriors to his name,and writer David Mamet manage to make a movie that offers much more than its genre might suggests, both on the drama and thriller levels.
First there is the breathtaking Alaskan wilderness, spaces so vast they are equally inviting and menacing.A Napoleon general, lamenting the disaster that befell the French army once said: 'The vasteness of Russia devours us'. In the Edge you will too get the impression that the beauty of this untamed nature can also devour: break the bodies and souls of our heroes, Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin, both offering their most underrated acting best.
Three men are lost in the middle of a wilderness after their plane crash.The hope for an early return/rescue is dashed by the misleading spaces and a huge and determined Kodiak bear.One man, played by Harry Perrineau gets to know first hand about this determination,leaving Hopkins and Baldwin, bewildered, and weary,to try and escape with their lives.
This is when the film really starts. It becomes a journey of incredible hardship that will strip both men of their 'social' selves and replace it with the need to survive that will take them to the 'Edge' of endurance on one hand, and the depths of their own souls on the other. The animosities, tension and grudges that laid hidden between the two men emerge as a powerful and consistent force that mark their relationship from then on.
David Mamet has managed to write the 'Edge' that any human being can face whether lost in an unforgiving wilderness or anywhere else for that matter.It is simply how human beings change,and how social niceties is slowly eroded when the need to survive becomes the single driving force. This is a fine piece of writing!
Of course there is the thriller angle in the film..the bear, the master and primary predator of its environment,chasing two men that have been stripped from all the power and control they once possessed and taken for granted.
The direction and cinematography of these scenes are of top quality.
So if you want to watch gorgeous scenery, be scared of this huge and beautiful animal,or witness the changes incredible circumstances that trigger in men, then the Edge is the film for you eyes and mind, a journey that can easily be revisited in the safety of your own home.

Mamet's Mutt
This movie is so hokey and predictable, I can't believe it was written by the same mind who gave us "Glengarry Glen Ross." I have so many problems with this film, but I'll just list the main ones: (1) unoriginal plot (disaster strikes on a trip into the wilderness. Only the 999th movie to give us that lame storyline.) (2) After the "PLANE CRASH!!!", when the big bear is killed, all of a sudden there is no more bear threat. it's like there were only two bears in that whole wilderness. With all the bleeding going on between those three guys, bears would have been having a festival with those nimrods. (3) Then, it was so implausible to me that Alec Baldwin's character, Bob, would try to kill Anthony Hopkins' character, Charles, who had singlehandedly killed a bear and saved their lives --- because he, Bob, was SECRETLY in love with Charles' wife, the beautiful supermodel back at the warm cozy hunting lodge! Wouldn't he at least have waited until he was a little bit closer to being found? (4) Later, when Bob is injured and bleeding badly, he fades out for a second and Charles says "Don't die on me, Bob!" Hello! Is that not the most hackneyed line in show business? and (5) my personal favorite: just when Bob is playing his deathbed scene --- cue the helicopter to appear through the mountain fog! They're saved! All is well! But, (6) Ooops! Bob just died while the helicopter was buzzing the mountainside! Then, when it mercifully fades to black, we see "The producers would like to thank 'BART THE BEAR' for his contribution to this motion picture. Puhleeeeeeze! Just a horrible, unoriginal film. The only redeeming features were two performances: First and foremost Anthony Hopkins. He made chicken salad out of you know what. And believe it or not, supermodel Elle Macpherson, in the small role of Charles' wife, is not bad. It was a revelation to be a supermodel come through with an understated performance with some nice depth even when she's not speaking; it was very nice. As far as the other actors, they were all right, but nothing great. Alec Baldwin did his usual grimacing, shouting and gnashing of teeth; nothing new from him. I stayed up until 3:30 in the morning watching this thing, waiting for it to become a good film. I kept telling myself "This is Mamet. Come on!" A total disappointment. At least the cinematography was good. And the music was quite good. But the rest of it: A big ole stinker. But I am giving it 2 stars, just because it's Mamet, and I'm sure if I know Hollywood, they probably made him put in some of that junk.

ANTHONY HOPKINS IS INCREDIBLE IN THIS MOVIE !
A man who possess many bilions dollars and a privats plane has not friend every people see his fortune an nothing other as this hunter qui speak to him, after a few minutes, he can discern than he is same at the other, but he possess a trump in his play, he has an instinct to be able to the survival at any problem witch can arrives without attain his force morale he will be bound to rescue his life, and the lifes of his real enemy
after a crash witch bring about the death of the pilot of the plane, and also later a young man who will be devoured by a GRIZZLY who can smell the blod at many miles around a wound the three men, thus, when they will be only two, the reals sentiments will appear time after time INCREASINGLY ! But who will be SURVIVOR at this reculiar fight for the life AGAINST the death ?

The rabbit is smoking a pipe.
A juggernaught of a film, THE EDGE delivers and then some. Extreemly well written, expertly lensed, wonderfully acted, mature, exciting, edge of your seat entertainment that moves like a hungry mankilling bear after a portly english thesbian. Fast. A great adventure tale that's grounded in reality, making it THE ultimate survival flick. THE EDGE also bennefits from a strong plot as well, a story thick with character development (another in the long string of superb HOPKINS performances) and edge of your seat cliffhangers. Oh, and a giant bear whose desire for dining on human flesh is insatiable. Great DVD viewing, there is a lack of extras on the disc but with a film this good all you need is the feature. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Low budget film but worth watching
An extremely low budget and cheap film. It is divided into 5 mini stories based on Bradburys Martian Chronicles. It is no where near as good as the original Chronicles starring Rock Hudson.

Cheap and unnecessary
I remember the "Martian Chronicles" with Rock Hudson, Maria Schell and others and I'm still waiting for a re-release of this mini-series. I bought "The Martian episodes" instead and it's nothing but a cheap and unnecessary remake. Sci-Fi Fans will maybe enjoy it, but there is certainly better stuff on the market !

Awful. Worst movie ever.
This movie kills the objective of the boo

This TV movie is a very good presentatio of Bradbury's book.
I remember seeing the Martian chronicles when first it aired on Television as a mini-series. I never thought that any one could accurately put Bradbury's poetic vision of Martian colonization and the end of the earth on celuloid. This film does an admirable job of presenting Bradbury's vision. Although there are a few scenes that some might consider to be slightly campy, overall, the film is haunting and poetic. The mini-series does what no single movie could have. For any Bradbury fan, it is a welcome gift to see his words translated to screen, as they have rarely been done in the past. ... Read more

Reviews (473)

Die Another Day
The title of Bond's twentieth foray onto the screen comes not from Ian Fleming but rather from the last line of a Houseman poem.Lee Tamahori directs the hero through the usual paces but by now the franchise seems a little dated. Sure there is a lot of action here but the film is a little weak (read farfetched) when it comes to plot.

In this film Bond must save the world from a mad North Korean colonial who has perfected what is essentially a death ray. The colonial wants to use his death beam in order to move into South Korea and then into the west.

All the usual Bond special features are here. We have car chase on ice, exotic locales, beautiful women but something feels like its missing. Halle Berry tries hard in this movie as NSA agent Jinx but she remains little more than eye candy. If there is a Bond girl to watch in this outing it is Rosamund Pike who plays double agent Miranda Pike.

The real treat here is the two DVD set by Universal which offers two commentaries, a trivia track, a great documentary, photo galleries and Madonna's video of the title song.

All in all not one of the best Bond movies but certainly worth its two hour running time.