Reviews (24)

The Christmas Toy
I am so excited to find this on Amazon.com, this was a favorite of mine growing up and i watched it every chrismas, sadly as i got older it was misplaced and for years i have looked for the tape, then a friend told me to check here. This movie makes me feel like a child again. I also reccomennd A Very Muppet Christmas, if you like this movie, as in that movie they have all of the muppets, maybe ABC Family will play this as a christmas Special as part of thier 25 days of Christmas, now that Disney has rights to the muppets.

SEARCH IS FINALLY OVER
I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING EVERYWHERE (DEPARTMENT STORES, VIDEO STORES, INTERNET, ETC.) FOR THIS MOVIE SINCE I FIRST SAW IT YEARS AGO ON NETWORK TELEVISION. MY CHILDREN WERE YOUNG AT THAT TIME, AND NOW I HAVE A GRANDCHILD WHO CAN ENJOY IT EVERY CHRISTMAS WITH ME. THE TOY STORY IS SIMPLY A "REMAKE" OF THIS MOVIE. I WISH IT WERE MORE WIDELY PUBLICIZED. THANK YOU AMAZON.COM YOU'VE MADE A CHRISTAMS WISH COME TRUE.

The greatest!
I fell in love with this film when I was 3 years old and to this day, 15 years later I still love it. If only it was available in England. A story to end all stories that should be taken on board in all walks of life. I'm so sad, I even have my own Rugby the tiger : )

The best Xmas show ever
Ever since we taped this off of the air, it has become a family tradition. My daughter even has a stuffed animal which is the spitting image of Rugby the Tiger (which, when she was three, was here Santa wish).

This is a great show for the whole family.

A Christmas Wish Come True
I can remember curling up in my mom and dad's bedroom every year at christmas and my mom would slip this tape in that she had recorded off of t.v. It became a treasured christmas tradition for me. I'm twenty now and during my mom and dads divorce the tape got lost. I ordered it off of amazon and watched it alone in my apartment the other night and it brought back millions of memories. I can't wait to share it with my children someday. Truely a christmas classic that is a must have for all children and adults looking to remember the magic of a childhood christmas. ... Read more

Description

Mary & Joseph: A Story of Faith is an engaging, devout and fresh look at the beloved religious figures. The Bible reveals little about them. But using what is known about the social and political issues of the era, an involving yet speculative story can be told. In it, the betrothed pair confront the iron rule of the Roman Empire, the condemnation of religious leaders, the revolutionary fervor of the zealots and more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A love story first and foremost
I first saw this movie on television when I was a child. The story of the birth of Christ having always been my favorite in the Bible, I was thrilled to see it acted out. This movie gives you a 'what might have been' view of the lives of Mary and Joseph, something that the bible failed to give. Mary and Joseph where a young couple deeply in love, but the discovery of Mary's pregnency, plus Joseph's involvment with the Zelot's, almost drove them apart. We also get a look into the lives of Elizabeth and Zacarias, the parents of St. John. This movie give a completely human view of all characters in what is the most famous story in history. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

The Christmas Toy
I am so excited to find this on Amazon.com, this was a favorite of mine growing up and i watched it every chrismas, sadly as i got older it was misplaced and for years i have looked for the tape, then a friend told me to check here. This movie makes me feel like a child again. I also reccomennd A Very Muppet Christmas, if you like this movie, as in that movie they have all of the muppets, maybe ABC Family will play this as a christmas Special as part of thier 25 days of Christmas, now that Disney has rights to the muppets.

SEARCH IS FINALLY OVER
I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING EVERYWHERE (DEPARTMENT STORES, VIDEO STORES, INTERNET, ETC.) FOR THIS MOVIE SINCE I FIRST SAW IT YEARS AGO ON NETWORK TELEVISION. MY CHILDREN WERE YOUNG AT THAT TIME, AND NOW I HAVE A GRANDCHILD WHO CAN ENJOY IT EVERY CHRISTMAS WITH ME. THE TOY STORY IS SIMPLY A "REMAKE" OF THIS MOVIE. I WISH IT WERE MORE WIDELY PUBLICIZED. THANK YOU AMAZON.COM YOU'VE MADE A CHRISTAMS WISH COME TRUE.

The greatest!
I fell in love with this film when I was 3 years old and to this day, 15 years later I still love it. If only it was available in England. A story to end all stories that should be taken on board in all walks of life. I'm so sad, I even have my own Rugby the tiger : )

The best Xmas show ever
Ever since we taped this off of the air, it has become a family tradition. My daughter even has a stuffed animal which is the spitting image of Rugby the Tiger (which, when she was three, was here Santa wish).

This is a great show for the whole family.

A Christmas Wish Come True
I can remember curling up in my mom and dad's bedroom every year at christmas and my mom would slip this tape in that she had recorded off of t.v. It became a treasured christmas tradition for me. I'm twenty now and during my mom and dads divorce the tape got lost. I ordered it off of amazon and watched it alone in my apartment the other night and it brought back millions of memories. I can't wait to share it with my children someday. Truely a christmas classic that is a must have for all children and adults looking to remember the magic of a childhood christmas. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Priceless
My best friend raved about this move to me when we were in high school, and when I finally had a chance to see it, I fell completely in love. It's not an exaggeration to say that I base friendships on whether people love this movie. If someone doesn't appreciate "Hot Millions," they are to be spurned forthwith.

There have seldom been two actors as charming as Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith; together, they push the charm quotient through the stratosphere. Whether prattling about curry ("It's vile, i'n't it?") or realizing how lonely they are (and how to solve that problem) they are astonishing. They seem to have been born from the head of the same muse - in their timing and relation to each other they're like the most comfortable of old vaudeville partners. The freeze-frame close-up of Ustinov at the end and his sweetly concerned "Are you all right?" is one of the most lovely, moving things of its kind - almost on a par with Chaplin at the end of "City Lights."

Even the redoubtable Karl Malden gives a nice little performance here; the scene between him and Caesar Romero in Brazil is an absolute gem. And Bob Newhart is marvelously snide as the fly in Ustinov's ointment - not quite Iago, maybe, but we all know the type.

This is a movie so filled with little pleasures and wonderfully askew comic sequences playing off each other that it seems like a classic in the vein of Lubitsch and Wilder ... especially now, with the state of our movie comedy no laughing matter.

When, o when, will this darling film be made available - in widescreen - on DVD?

A Little-known Gem
This is a gem of a caper film, with fantastic performances by Peter Ustinov and a very young Maggie Smith. Anyone who liked Alec Guinness in the "Lavender Hill Mob" should also like this one, and Ustinov's role is similarly understated and brilliant. Bob Newhart and Karl Malden also have a great parts as bank employees, putty in Ustinov's fingers.
Besides the caper/con theme, this movie also touches on early computerization. How fun to see Ustinov's character grapple with the new technology of those giant old computers, and give the "expert" (Bob Newhart) a run for his money!
Thoroughly enjoyable!

Another Ustinov classic
If you like character acting at its very finest, then watch this movie. Peter Ustinov here builds on the sly but endearing crook persona he won Oscars for in Spartacus and Topkapi. While the characters in those films are expressions of Ustinov's great abilities in making sleazy characters sympathetic, this film goes beyond the slightly over-the-top characterisations of those films to present a fully-rounded character in the context of a credible and somewhat touching love story. This is particularly remarkable because Hot Millions is a light and airy 60s caper film. The scenes between Ustinov and Maggie Smith are brilliant, exhibiting a humourous warmth all too little seen in films, and there is great comedy generated by the presence of Karl Malden and Bob Newhart. Nice score and tight direction too. In my opinion, one of the very best mainstream movies of the late 60s, and one which gives renewed pleasure on each viewing. ... Read more

Reviews (87)

Pieces missing from Classic
This is an annual favorite. I can't for the life of me figure out why Henson Productions would allow these meaningless edits. After all, a vhs tape will hold 2 hours-worth. This special was watched BY MILLIONS of people on Nick-at-Night for years, not to mention it's original airings. Did they think NO ONE would notice the missing scenes????? For this reason, I give this vhs version only 4 stars. Absolute senseless and stupid editing by people who obviously have NO CLUE why we true fans like The Muppets. It's a good thing I have an old video tape copy from having taped it off TV myself. Maybe we'll all get lucky, and The Odyssey Channel will air it this season, unedited. (tho their track record for giving the Muppets their due is sketchy at best).

If you've never seen this... it's a family favorite, charming, sweet, and **very** funny! The running gag of the icey patch, the Swedish Chef trying to make a holiday meal of Big Bird, Piggy getting caught in a blizzard, and the poignant cameo by Jim Henson all make it a wonderful special that's hard to beat (even the edited version). At the end is a wonderful Christmas carol sing-along. A real treasure.

Not for 80's version fans!
Really now.. When I heard that they were putting my FAVORITE Christmas film on DVD I was so excited. Muppet Family Christmas is something that my family always watches. It's funny, sweet, and so entertaining.

But, unfortunetly, the version on the DVD is not the version I just praised. They're are massive edits that are very noticable to viewers who have watched it since it first aired on TV and may leave new time viewers confused. Fozzie's duet with the Snowman is cut out, the Muppet Babies home video is cut out (leaving Doc with a very strange line that doesn't make sense) and in my opinion the best part, where Miss Piggy enters and sings her song and slips on the Icey Patch is edited out. The best Icey patch gag and it's left out of the DVD/VHS.

I am not going to buy this DVD, Fortunetly, my VHS tape still works well enough to watch it (yes with the OshGosh commercails and Double Mint Gum ones too!). Until they put the real version on the market, I will not spend my money on the DVD.

Oh, if anyone has a good version of the real version, please let me know!

The Best of Jim Henson's Muppets
I have loved this movie for years. Not only does it have Kermit and the others(including Robin) but it has Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and a special appearence by Jim Henson in it. I have watched this for too many Christmas's to remember, and always cry when I see all of them together.

Great "Make Yourself Feel Good" Movie !
I've loved this movie, along with The Christmas Toy, ever since I was little ! I was going to get the dvd but saw that many funny, familiar parts were cut out. Luckily, I went through some old tapes and found my original, 47 minute, taped from t.v version. Until they put out an absolutely uncut dvd, I'll stick with my 19 year old taped copy. If you've grown up with the full version, the cuts will greatly bother you. If not, then you won't really notice all that much of a difference. That said an done, this is a really wonderful movie to watch with the whole family. For the older people, it's a great chance to see all your fave muppets from childhood. For the youngin's, they see THEIR favourite muppets the way they used to be. If you've never seen this movie, or don't mind edited movies too much, you might consider getting this for the little ones....maybe just for yourself !

BUYER BEWARE!
I would have very gladly bought this DVD if it wasn't so poorly put together and edited. It is missing some of the best moments including Fozzy singing, dancing and telling jokes with the snowman. I had taped a lot of Christmas specials from TV and I went through my old tapes but I was upset when I found out that the tape that had the uncut version was the tape that broke in the video rewinder and the remaining tape had the edited version so apparently unless you were lucky to have caught the original airing you will be out of luck because it seems that they now show the edited version on TV. Sorry people but this edited DVD is the pits and the video tape version is the same and are total rip offs! BUYER BEWARE! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Adequate interpretation of the book, but not magical
I can't say that this film, based on a popular book for young readers is particularly impressive. It's the story of two friends who enjoy an imaginary world together in the woods, a place they call "Terabithia" , and whose special friendship ends in tragedy, (reminding me of the more recent movie, "My Girl"). This is a plot with a lot of potential to make a good movie, but to me, some of the acting seemed shallow, and the plot, as interpreted by the movie, lacked depth and detail. The relationship between the two best friends is not fully developed, so there isn't much of an "emotional charge" to draw you in.

In spite of these negatives, the film is entertaining enough to keep some children's attention, or for family-time viewing and discussion. I think the best use of the film would be to show it to children at home or at school as a supplement to the book, and for this, it would serve its purpose adequately. It may be time to do a higher quality remake of this movie.

Video good but doesn't measure up
As an elementary school teacher, I read Bridge to Terabithia with my class every year. It's the best core-lit book in our school. The video is pretty good for a TV movie. The acting performances approximate the characters pretty well. It could easily been a lot better with the addition of a classroom teacher character. Combining the teacher Jess loves with the one he can't stand was a bad move. Still. I enjoy showing the movie after reading the book. As we say in Spanish, Mejor que nada!

very good, i thought
i recently took this video out of my library and watched it. i thought that it captured the book very well. sure it did leave out a few characters, but wasn't this video made for tv? because then they probably left situations out (like the easter service part) for time. the acting overall was very good, but there were some times when the actors/actresses got annoying. i thought it was a great adaption of a great book.

Great Movie
Do yourself a favor and buy this video. Julian Coutts gives a very rewarding performance that really touched me. The young actor shows a great deal of depth and emotion, that more than makes up for the sometimes slow storyline. I haven't had the chance to sit down and watch the film in a while, but after comming across it here, I look forward to seeing it again soon.
Julian Coutts -- Where Are You?

Movie of "The Bridge to Terabitha" by Francis McGill
A good movie. The movie takes place on a poor man's farm in the 1960s not far from Washington D.C. Jesse Aarons, a ten year old boy, lives in a house with four sisters, a nagging mom, and a dad who isn't home much. A girl named Leslie Burke moves in an old far next door. Against the odds they form a great friendship. Together they create a magical land called Terabitha. A tragic event occurs changing Jesse Aaron's life forever. ... Read more

Reviews (87)

Pieces missing from Classic
This is an annual favorite. I can't for the life of me figure out why Henson Productions would allow these meaningless edits. After all, a vhs tape will hold 2 hours-worth. This special was watched BY MILLIONS of people on Nick-at-Night for years, not to mention it's original airings. Did they think NO ONE would notice the missing scenes????? For this reason, I give this vhs version only 4 stars. Absolute senseless and stupid editing by people who obviously have NO CLUE why we true fans like The Muppets. It's a good thing I have an old video tape copy from having taped it off TV myself. Maybe we'll all get lucky, and The Odyssey Channel will air it this season, unedited. (tho their track record for giving the Muppets their due is sketchy at best).

If you've never seen this... it's a family favorite, charming, sweet, and **very** funny! The running gag of the icey patch, the Swedish Chef trying to make a holiday meal of Big Bird, Piggy getting caught in a blizzard, and the poignant cameo by Jim Henson all make it a wonderful special that's hard to beat (even the edited version). At the end is a wonderful Christmas carol sing-along. A real treasure.

Not for 80's version fans!
Really now.. When I heard that they were putting my FAVORITE Christmas film on DVD I was so excited. Muppet Family Christmas is something that my family always watches. It's funny, sweet, and so entertaining.

But, unfortunetly, the version on the DVD is not the version I just praised. They're are massive edits that are very noticable to viewers who have watched it since it first aired on TV and may leave new time viewers confused. Fozzie's duet with the Snowman is cut out, the Muppet Babies home video is cut out (leaving Doc with a very strange line that doesn't make sense) and in my opinion the best part, where Miss Piggy enters and sings her song and slips on the Icey Patch is edited out. The best Icey patch gag and it's left out of the DVD/VHS.

I am not going to buy this DVD, Fortunetly, my VHS tape still works well enough to watch it (yes with the OshGosh commercails and Double Mint Gum ones too!). Until they put the real version on the market, I will not spend my money on the DVD.

Oh, if anyone has a good version of the real version, please let me know!

The Best of Jim Henson's Muppets
I have loved this movie for years. Not only does it have Kermit and the others(including Robin) but it has Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and a special appearence by Jim Henson in it. I have watched this for too many Christmas's to remember, and always cry when I see all of them together.

Great "Make Yourself Feel Good" Movie !
I've loved this movie, along with The Christmas Toy, ever since I was little ! I was going to get the dvd but saw that many funny, familiar parts were cut out. Luckily, I went through some old tapes and found my original, 47 minute, taped from t.v version. Until they put out an absolutely uncut dvd, I'll stick with my 19 year old taped copy. If you've grown up with the full version, the cuts will greatly bother you. If not, then you won't really notice all that much of a difference. That said an done, this is a really wonderful movie to watch with the whole family. For the older people, it's a great chance to see all your fave muppets from childhood. For the youngin's, they see THEIR favourite muppets the way they used to be. If you've never seen this movie, or don't mind edited movies too much, you might consider getting this for the little ones....maybe just for yourself !

BUYER BEWARE!
I would have very gladly bought this DVD if it wasn't so poorly put together and edited. It is missing some of the best moments including Fozzy singing, dancing and telling jokes with the snowman. I had taped a lot of Christmas specials from TV and I went through my old tapes but I was upset when I found out that the tape that had the uncut version was the tape that broke in the video rewinder and the remaining tape had the edited version so apparently unless you were lucky to have caught the original airing you will be out of luck because it seems that they now show the edited version on TV. Sorry people but this edited DVD is the pits and the video tape version is the same and are total rip offs! BUYER BEWARE! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

To Catch A KILLER
I discovered this to be an excellent movie on the proceedures and detection of serial killers. It is a US&Cdn production and includes some of the best actors from both countries. This 2part TV series which I first saw many years ago continues to draw me to viewing it often to remind me that there are good and dedicated law enforcement agents that work to keep us safe from monsters such as the killer "John Gacey" in this TV movie. The subject matter was dealt with seriously and was very informative as to how the proceedures used in this movie became the format for detecting and catching serial killers. The performances by every member of the cast is outstanding. Mr. Dennehy out does his self as the Killer and Riley joins him at the top of the list of fine, sensative, and caring portrayals of the characters they played... with Dennehy giving an terrifying and chilling totally believable portrayal of the killer. The supporting cast , such as Scott Hyland etc...Margot Kidder and the rest equally surrounds and fills the movie with the normalcy of everyday life of people that can and are often affected by actions caused by deadly strangers that enter their life uninvited and turn it upside down, never to be the same again. And the victims of this killer and their friends and loved ones[as with others who have suffered from deranged evil killers]was threaded throughout this excellent movie and reminds and educates and alerts us[the public]that we can wake up one day and be anyone of the innocent victims ... by profession or association and[as so many of innocents have already learned and experienced, that anyone can be a victim on so many different levels when dealing with evil people. Never a dull moment, and the suspense is only heightened at the realization that it is a true story and enhances the fast pace and deparation of those trying to catch this killer and bring him to justice. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The past from which lessons are to be learned.
Based on actual facts, we learn more about this man of principles in the Christian faith for which he sacrificed his life. I first heard of this man of God from Chuck Southcott of MYL fame a few years back when he told me of a video in which he and some of his colleagues out in L.A. perfomed the narration.

The life of this German 'saint' ended much too soon. He stood up for what he felt, not a modern practice, and taught us that even in the heat of turmoil we should keep the faith.

His story is an inspiration to all who would follow in his footsteps. No, they won't be executed as he was -- in today's world. Everyone needs to know of this man of principle.

A historical novel, SAINTS & VILLAINS (1998), studies the character of this righteous man who acts on his convictions even at the expense of his life. It describes how a failed assassination attempt against Hitler led to Bonhoeffer's imprisonment. He was truly a dedicated Christian whose beliefs caused him to oppose the Nazis.

I can recommend this and also HANGED ON A TWISTED CROSS as good Easter fare for all Christians and those who want to be good people in a world replete with so many bad people.

Docudrama Suffers from Vagueness
This docudrama about Dietrich Bonhoeffer's wrestling with putting his Christian faith into action while living in a Nazi context suffers because it marginalizes Bonhoeffer's faith and instead plays up the politics of the German resistance movement to which he belonged. It falls far short of the power of the movie ROMERO, although Bonhoeffer's story is no less powerful than that of Archbishop Oscar Romero, murdered by the El Salvadorian fascists during mass for his outspoken commitment to Christ incarnate in the people of El Salvador.

Bonhoeffer also made clear that Christ was incarnate in the German Church--and acting in accordance with that belief brought him to join the German resistance movement, hoping to overthrow the evils of the Nazi regime. This video, however, neglects Bonhoeffer's struggle with the ethical dilemma this posed and focuses on the details of that resistance. While it does pose some nice anectdotes about Bonhoeffer's impact on other prisoners, and how his faith and prayers helped them go calmly to their deaths, it falls short of HANGED ON A TWISTED CROSS, a documentary about Bonhoeffer.

Three stars. No more. Don't waste your time on this one until you've seen HANGED ON A TWISTED CROSS and ROMERO. Both are far more powerful movies that proclaim a Christ Incarnate in the immediate present, rather than muddying the water with obscure political machinations gone awry.

...

Bonhoeffer "Agent of Grace"
What can one say? This is the story of a upper class German who decided to revoke the Nazi's. A true story that demonstrates what courage can provoke in people. Although Bonhoeffer dies for his believes, he lives eternally in the human fabric. He was and is an asset. A must see film for students of German resistance.

haunting
This made-for-TV movie quietly made an appearance on PBS several years ago and then disappeared, but may now be kicking around on the
shelf at your local library, or just maybe at your video store. You'd do well to look and see if you can find it, because in its unassuming way it
is a powerful exploration of the particular duty of good people when evil prevails and a testament to the life and death of one remarkable man.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a leading Protestant theologian who returned home to Germany from the United States when World War II began,
writing to Reinhold Niebuhr :

I must live through this difficult period of our national history with the Christian people of Germany.

Once home, though a pacifist, he reluctantly became involved in various anti-Nazi activities, eventually even participating in a plot to
assassinate Hitler, which obviously failed. He justified this course of action because :

I believe it is worse to be evil than to do evil.

Bonhoeffer was arrested on April 5, 1943, but when authorities could not determine how deeply involved he was, they simply held him without
charges or trial and it seemed possible he eventually might be released. During his time in prison, he wrote a series of remarkable, often
heartbreaking, letters. If Anne Frank affects us with her innocence and our sense of a life unlived, Bonhoffer first saddens us with the hopeful
tone of his early letters and then awes us by the serenity with which he faces the prospect of his own death.

The film tells this whole story, but does so in rather scattershot fashion. Unless you know the story ahead of time, it is often difficult to tell
precisely what is going on and how all the characters and situations relate to one another. There are also a few unfortunate liberties taken with
the story--liberties that do not make the film more understandable but less--the most perplexing of which is the decision to make Bonhoeffer's
teenage fiancé seem quite ditzy. This makes it hard to imagine what Bonhoffer saw in her, other than youth, beauty, and availability, and, I
thought, gave their relationship an almost creepy quality. From what I've been able to find in reading about them, she was actually quite
intelligent.

At any rate, the film is more than redeemed by its final scenes, leading up to Bonhoeffer's execution. In October 1944, the Nazis finally
uncovered evidence that revealed the extent of Bonhoeffer's involvement in subterfuge and he was at last tried and sentenced to death. He was
hanged on April 9, 1945, just a month before Germany surrendered (May 8th). A doctor at Flossenburg prison, who witnessed the execution,
described it thus :

Through the half-open door in one room of the huts I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling
on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and
so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the steps
to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor,
I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.

We do not get all of this in the movie, but we do see Bonhoeffer walking naked to the gallows. I hope that I can say precisely what I mean
here, without giving offense, but in the concentration camp footage we were shown in school there was something dehumanized about the
victims--first, because they appear in black and white; second, because they are so emaciated as to be barely recognizable as fellow humans;
third, because there are just so mind-numbingly many of them. But in this scene, Ulrich Tukur, playing Bonhoeffer, is obviously and achingly
human--pale, doughy, naked, and defenseless. Yet he carries himself with a poise and a calm that cows the vile Nazi prosecutor who has come
to sate his own bloodthirst. More than that though, the viewer too is humbled by the dignity and serenity that is portrayed here.

The writer Andrew Delbanco has said that, "belief is really not an option for thinking people today." Never mind anything else about this
provocative statement; consider just this aspect : Dietrich Bonhoeffer went to face death "certain that God heard his prayer" and so died a man
at peace. His life and his death still speak to us today. How will those who believe in nothing, who are certain of nothing, face their imminent
deaths? Who will wish to tell the tale of their futile rage against the dying of the light?

Likewise, consider the other phrase the doctor used : "entirely submissive to the will of God". Bonhoeffer's faith assured him that even his
death, especially his death, served God's purposes. If, for the faithless, Man is the measure of all things, then what purpose can a man's death
serve? Is it not always, necessarily a catastrophe beyond redemption? What have men who believe in their own sufficiency really gained in
freeing themselves from submission to God's will, if in exchange their lives become meaningless and their inevitable deaths disastrous?

Without being blasphemous or overdramatic here, there are obvious parallels to the life of Christ in Bonhoeffer's march toward death and they
add to our sense of him as the quintessential modern martyr. None of this is meant to suggest that Bonhoeffer is any more deserving of honor
than the tens of millions of totalitarianism's other 20th Century victims, but as it happens we know more of his life and death, and of his
struggle to remain true to himself and his God in the face of overwhelming evil, than we know of most of the others, and that the record he
managed to leave behind convinces us that his struggle, his life, and his death are worthy of memory. In one of the many bitter ironies that
litter Bonhoeffer's biography, he began his book, Ethics, with the foreboding line :

When Christ calls a man he bids him come and die.

The manner in which Dietrich Bonhoeffer heeded this call, despite, or because of, his understanding of how it must end, makes, despite some
weaknesses, for an extraordinarily powerful and moving film. I am haunted by its final images.

GRADE : A-

A Worthy Biography
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, author of Ethics, The Cost of Discipleship, and Life Together (to name but a few) embodied the commitment that the Christian makes to incarnate grace and peace. The paradox of his life, a pacifist who engages in an attempt to assasinate Adolf Hitler, is presented well leaving the moral ambiguities of his decision to the viewer to contemplate. What I found most useful was the human story of Bonhoeffer, presenting this modern Lutheran martyr in a human light as a pastor and friend. This biography will serve well as an introduction to Bonhoeffer the man and will hopefully inspire the viewer to read Bonhoeffer's works. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

AWESOME!!
This was one of my all time favorite movies!! It was filmed just outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (my home town) in Stonewall. My cousin also did the make up for the movie and I have some pictures of the making of the movie! Anyways... this was a GREAT movie and if you can get a hold of it...you'll LOVE it!

Find my way home
I saw this movie on a plane trip about 2 years ago, and that song still runs through my head. This movie is great, and that should be all that is required to watch it. A powerful message, and the ending is definetly not sappy compared to recent movies that have been put out by producers.

realy inspiring film
this was an excellent film. gema zamprogna was amazing. the thing i liked the most was the way she showed her emotions of her father dieing in a odd way which shows the pain she was going through and that just made me emotional. but an excellent film it was.

best movie ever
I love and enjoy this movie but I have not seen it for about 3 year . I really want to buy it . If you can help me fine a way to buy it e-mail me !!!

The Challengers chronicles a life a girl in pain.
When her father dies, a young girl must face life without him. Trying to fit in, she makes herself into a boy so she can fit into an all-boys band. When the band members finally learn that she's a girl, explosions erupt. Find out what happens by renting this movie. It's really great for the family. ... Read more

Description

Two Canadian boys begin to experience romantic love with the opposite sex: one with a young girl, the other with an older woman. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Delighful drama, with a good Corey Haim!
This comming to age drama set in the 1950's. Corey Haim does a great job, together with Barbara Williams and Robbie Coltrane.
Corey plays Sam, who get his eyes open for older woman Vera. A delighful movie with good cast. So if you a free a sunday evning, go and rent this movie.

Highly Recommended/Very uplifting,Warm feel good Movie!!!
Just as I had given up on Corey Haim as a sensible actor he pulls
out his trump card.
This film is set in the 1950`s and is about Girls,Cars and first time love.
Corey Haim plays Eric,a 15 year old boy who works on his Dads
chicken farm.
Eric lives with his Dad and step mom and spends his free time at a lake nearby.
One day he see`s Barbra Williams taking a dip in the nude and starts to fantasize about her.
Eventually he gets closer to her,has a dance at the local fair
and then eventually has a first time experience with her in the Hay barn.
All scenes are very tastefull and rather charming and Corey I
have to say that this film is your best.
It was nice to see him returning to the quality of his earlier
performances such as Lucas,he needs to appear in more films like
this to restore his lost credibilty due to appearing in immature childish rubbish like Fat Getaway 2 and Watchers.
Well worth seeing ... Read more

Reviews (19)

An interesting contrast to more traditional versions
If you already have (and love) the Alistair Sim version (Scrooge, 1951), the Reginald Owen version (1938) and Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (no, I'm not kidding, it's beautifully done), this will be an interesting film for comparison.

Two good points stand out for this version of Dicken's classic Christmas story:

1) Since it is an adaptation, set in a different time and place from the original (Depression-era New England), deviations from the text and basic plot-line, are not as bothersome as they are in the films that adapt the story in "Dickensian" England.

2) Henry Winkler, who, at the time, was playing against his well-known Fonz character, gives an excellent characterization to the Scrooge-like Benedict Slade.

George C. Scott and Albert Finney give detailed performances as Scrooge in their version, and the films that feature them have good production values -- and, in the case of the Finney version a couple of good songs -- but the deviations in text in the Scott version and the added material in the Finney version (Scrooge in hell -- what?) are both unnecessary and more than a little annoying.

A Classic Tale Revisited
Awesome. If you like Christmas, then you'll like this movie. Just as the original by Dickens, it teaches us the true meaning of Christmas. I have been hooked since seeing this movie as a young adult and it still delivers. I enjoy the American twist on Dicken's story. You won't get a Victorian town in England, but you will get a simpler America and the American entrepreneurial spirit. Henry Winkler gives a commendable performance and the supporting cast works well. All in all, a must see for Christmas.

Another Great Christmas Classic
Henry Winkler stars in this remake of the classic tale of Scrooge. This one is set in post-Depression era America and is oneof the best I've ever seen. Winkler is equally at ease as a young man with a girlfriend or an old man with an attitude. I watch this every Christmas and was delighted to discover it on DVD. You'll love it!

Excellent...
Like many other reviewers, I first saw this as a kid on television in '79 and Henry Winkler's "Fonzie" persona was still so much a part of the cultural fabric that it was somewhat shocking to even think of him, much less see him, as anything else.

However, I was transfixed by this adaptation on the Dickens story and was genuinely moved by Winkler's ( Benedict Slade ) transformation at the end. Winkler is simply superb: believable, funny, dramatic, and imminently likable even as the curmudgeon. The supporting cast is wonderful as well even though most of them, with the possible exception of David Wayne, will be unknown to most viewers. The actor who plays Thatcher (the "Cratchit" character in the Dickens novel) does a wonderful job of being as compassionate as the role demands without being too "soft".

The actors playing the roles of Mr. Brewster and Helen Brewster also hold their own and give Winkler solid performances to react to even with limited screen time.

The movie looks and feels like I would imagine turn of the century and Depression era New England to look and feel like to an outsider: quaint, majestic, proud; yet tired and despairing.

My only problem with the movie, and this is REALLY nitpicking, is that they simply made Winkler look too old for the latter Slade ("Scrooge") part. the movie does an excellenet job of letting us know when things are happening, even in the Christmas Past scenarios, e.g., we know Slade and Helen broke up around 1917 because of the backdrop of the war effort (WW I). The contemporary story is set in 1933 and Slade looks like he has aged forty years instead of only 16 or so. He looks MUCH older than his contemporaries. However, maybe they intended to achieve this effect to accentuate his gnarliness. I just thought it was too much. The only other thing is that many of the actors are obviously Canadian born (Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher and Helen , for example)and several times their Canadian tones and speech patterns come out. This is noticeable particularly against the distinctive New England accents employed throughout the rest of the picture.

I recommend this DVD highly for anyone who loves the Christmas season, the Dickens novel in particular, Henry Winkler, or just any good heartwarming story. I looked for this on DVD and/or VHS for almost twenty years.It was worth the wait.

My Favorite "Christmas Carol"
"A Christmas Carol" may well be the most-adapted Christmas story in literature, with version ranging from whimsical to musical to deadly serious. This particular version, starring Henry Winkler as Benedict Slade (a.k.a. Scrooge) is my favorite.

The movie translates Dickens' classic story from 19th century England to Depression-era New England. The result is very effective. For me, an American born to parents who grew up in the Depression, the 20th century setting made the story feel very real. The writers and director made excellent decisions in their choice of sets. Three notable examples were the New England furniture factory as the setting for Slade's youth, the newly-conceived idea of consumer credit as the source of his subsequent wealth and avarice, and the choice of an African-American as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come ("You must be Future," Slade declares, cowering before him).

Winkler's performance is brilliant. He captures the essence of Slade perfectly, and makes the gradual transformation from miser to redeemed man seem natural and believable. The scene at the Thatcher (a.k.a. Cratchit) household at the end of the film never fails to bring tears to my eyes and those of my family. The supporting cast performs ably as well, making this a Christmas classic that one can watch every year.

"An American Christmas Carol" debuted in 1979, midway through Winkler's popular "Happy Days" television series run. After a few years of reruns, it disappeared from view until recently, when it became available on DVD and video. I heartily recommend it for your holiday DVD collection. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Duct Taped Comedy
Anyone who likes the Red Green Show should take to this movie like duck to water. I admit, I found it a little odd seeing the gang in a movie for the first time. Those who are use to the show's format will have to adjust in order to appreciate the movie. I know with me the first time I viewed it I was not thrilled. But a subsequnt viewing made me enjoy it a lot more. I think Red Green is kinda like that. When you first view it you kind of dismiss it, but something draws you back none the less, and then it gradually grows on you like a fungus! Give this movie a chance to do the same thing. True, its a little silly and sentimantal, perhaps more so than the Show for sure, but that's the why movies are these days. Red and his characters actually have to sustain some longer scenes, and the production value is deffinitely better than what we are accustomed to on the show. Harold seems to be the main character who gets to evolve, just a little bit, and he gets his first kiss with the female cop which was a bit hooky, but thats the movies! I wonder if they have sheriffs in Canada? Thought it might be Constables more on the English model. Was not sure on that point, but one really should not ask these kinds of questions with Red Green! An added feature are the behind the scenes notes on the making of the movie where many amusing interviews of the charaters are shown. This could be a real plus for the viewer even more than the movie perhaps. Overall, Red Green fans should enjoy it. This is the kind of film with a built in audience. I would recommend first time viewers to see some of the shows before checking out the movie. That way they can understand the strange way that Red Green works. Otherwise, sit back, lower your standards and enjoy!

A must-have for any Red Green fan!
Suddenly, Red Green (played by Steve Smith) finds himself in a real bind, and this one not of his making. When an unscrupulous businessman sues Possum Lodge for $10,000, Red has ten days to come up with the money. Taking his nephew Harold's advice (yes, believe it or not), Red sets out for Minnesota, hoping to win the $10,000 third-place prize in the Duct Tape Contest. But, there's a lot in Red & Harold's way: a crooked cop, the businessman and his army, and...well...each other. Can they save Possum Lodge? No problem, eh?

This 91-minute movie, released in 2001, is based on the hit Canadian comedy show The New Red Green Show. Changing the format from the show, this movie puts Red and Harold on the road, facing numerous adventures in the real world. (If you can call that the real world!) This is a fun adventure, stretching the already wonderful characters - a must-have for any Red Green fan!

Possum Lodge Sticky Situation
It is rare to find talents that move from the small screen to the big screen and retain their qualities that make them enjoyable and add depth and content. (Red would respond "What show did that?").

However, in this instance Possum Lodge members make the leap onto the "silver screen" with an extended rendition of the wit and wisdom of Possum Lodge intact. (All 80 blank pages). Well, Ok. maybe it needed a little duct tape to hold the plot together, but didn't we all wish for a road adventure that would show how lodge members stick together to solve a problem?

I mean if we can't all come together for third place, what do we aspire to?

To appreciate this movie it helps to have grown up in Northern Michigan with my Dad and his friend assembling a log splitter in their garages with various spare parts instead of taking the short cuts and buying some fancified-whimpy-under-powered piece of junk from some store. Red and Harold bring to life a place I grew up in, including all of the things that keep life entertaining.

May Red and his group keep their stick on the ice and only change if they have to.

They may not be handsome, but they are entertaining!

I thoroughly enjoyed the extended, plot-infested adventure that took our lakeside looneys from the short sketches into extended investigation of the tape-bonding travels. Rate it five rolls!

SEX, DIRTY LANGUAGE, MINDLESS VIOLENCE
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SEX, DIRTY LANGUAGE, MINDLESS VIOLENCE - YOU WON'T FIND IT HERE.

MY WIFE HAD NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE. ALMOST PEED HER PANTS, SHE LAUGHED SO HARD. ONE EXPRESSION CAME OUT SEVERAL TIMES. "THAT'S KENT". YES, WE KNOW A GUY JUST LIKE THAT. ACCTUALLY SEVERAL.

FOR SOME GOOD CLEAN HUMOR, IT IS WORTH WATCHING. THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. THE SIMPLE LIFE AT "POSSUM LODGE"

I DO NOT KNOW ANYONE I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO.

If you love to laugh..
If you want to learn how to belly laugh all over again, how to root for the hero and boo the villian, in short, everything that makes entertaninment fun, GET THIS DVD.You will love it, over, and over again. It makes me want to look for Possum lake on the map, and see if if I could live there ... Read more

Reviews (3)

running free
This is a movie that not just the family, but the whole town can enjoy. A must see and own movie. I wish they msde more like thid one..

Int'l. Falls, MN -Viewer
I loved this movie. I think that it's a show based on the courage and strength of one girl who never gave up on her beliefs. Shows the strength of one girl that was not giving up when others did. And, she conquers. It's a must see. The tear jerking, emotional rollercoaster is astonishing. Awesome show!

I fell in love with this movie when i first saw it years ago
It's a must see movie for all horse lovers and those that feel the need to cry. About a young brave girl taking on all odds even her fathers to rescue wild horses and setting them free on federal land. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Different
This film was one that I can't really describe other than different. I've seen many films in my life and this one grabs and holds onto you while at the same time telling you to get up and leave. I loved it. Buy it or see it! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Fun Heartwarming Family Movie!!
A spinoff from Jimmy Stewart's famous 40's movie"It's a Wonderful Life" Clarence the Angel returns this time trying to save a grieving widow from killing herself.it's a fun,heartwarming family movie!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Modest but pleasing modern noir
Henry Czerny plays a married Doctor ,asked by his vacationing neighbours to keep an eye on their nubile teenage daughter,who is being harrassed by a fellow student unable to accept the end of their affair.An affair develops betweem them and she films him getting dressed afterr a sex session,which is somewhat unfortunate as she is shortly afterwards murdered,placing him in an invidious position as he wrestles with both conscience and adesire to protect his freedom,marriage and social standing.

The plot is well worked out although the murderer is easily spotted.Good acting and direction make for a pleasing time passer

I disagree....
I first saw this movie last fall on one of the pay movie channels and enjoyed it. While it certainly is not a work of artistic genius, it's a fun movie to watch late at night and I thought it had sufficient eroticism and suspense to keep me watching. It is the sort of movie that won't require much thinking but it fulfills its purpose of entertaining and I tend to be one that is very critical of the mindless material the movie industry now releases.

Predictable, Boring, and Stupid
This movie is predictable right from the start and really stupid in places. The plot is simple enough, middle aged man with pregnant wife becomes infatuated with neighbors' 18 year old daughter. The man has a very brief affair with the girl after which she turns up dead and the man is now a prime suspect. What is stupid about the whole mess is the fact that nobody seems to be suspicious of the girl's boyfriend, someone who had been stalking her before the affair, everyone is more suspicious about the girl's new mysterious lover. To make the entire mess even more unbelievable, the girl took a video of the single night of passion that she had with her neighbour and he now has to get his hands on it.

The movie is also listed as an "Erotic Thriller". Well, there is very little erotic about the movie at all, in fact there are only two semi-sexy scenes in the movie. The first features the girl taking a skinny dip in the pool and the second is the girl and man having sex for the first and only time. Both times the scene is shot in darkness and you cannot see anything worthwhile to suggest any real nudity or eroticism.

The DVD is also very bare bones. There is very little extra on it. My advice, avoid this movie at all cost and instead consider one (or all) of the Poison Ivy movies.

A pleasant , suspenseful surprise
I viewed this movie with some trepidation, given the title and the somewhat lurid box art. I've followed Henry Czerny's career with interest, and have found his career choices intriguing, so I thought, what the heck. In brief, I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of performances, production, and particularly the direction. In less talented hands, this could've been movie-of-the-week schlock, but here, it's quite effectively presented. Very little that could be called gratuitous...nicely atmospheric...something of a "neighborhood noir." Again: a pleasant surprise, and kudos to Czerny, an excellent supporting cast (who ARE those guys? ), and a director who bears watching. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A 5 Star Romance with a K.D. Lang Soundtrack
Formerly titled "Buffalo Jump", this Canadian romance stars Paul Gross (of Due South fame) and Wendy Crewson (Santa Clause movies.) Wendy plays a woman rancher in need of a hire hand. Paul Gross will help on one condition - that they have a platonic business marriage and share the profits from the ranch. Families from both sides interfere and weigh on the the issue, and the tension and tenderness between the two leads is believable and heartbreaking. The scenary is breathtaking, as is the soundtrack featuring many of K.D. Langs first hits. Whether you rent it or buy it, this is a romance to treasure. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Modest but pleasing modern noir
Henry Czerny plays a married Doctor ,asked by his vacationing neighbours to keep an eye on their nubile teenage daughter,who is being harrassed by a fellow student unable to accept the end of their affair.An affair develops betweem them and she films him getting dressed afterr a sex session,which is somewhat unfortunate as she is shortly afterwards murdered,placing him in an invidious position as he wrestles with both conscience and adesire to protect his freedom,marriage and social standing.

The plot is well worked out although the murderer is easily spotted.Good acting and direction make for a pleasing time passer

I disagree....
I first saw this movie last fall on one of the pay movie channels and enjoyed it. While it certainly is not a work of artistic genius, it's a fun movie to watch late at night and I thought it had sufficient eroticism and suspense to keep me watching. It is the sort of movie that won't require much thinking but it fulfills its purpose of entertaining and I tend to be one that is very critical of the mindless material the movie industry now releases.

Predictable, Boring, and Stupid
This movie is predictable right from the start and really stupid in places. The plot is simple enough, middle aged man with pregnant wife becomes infatuated with neighbors' 18 year old daughter. The man has a very brief affair with the girl after which she turns up dead and the man is now a prime suspect. What is stupid about the whole mess is the fact that nobody seems to be suspicious of the girl's boyfriend, someone who had been stalking her before the affair, everyone is more suspicious about the girl's new mysterious lover. To make the entire mess even more unbelievable, the girl took a video of the single night of passion that she had with her neighbour and he now has to get his hands on it.

The movie is also listed as an "Erotic Thriller". Well, there is very little erotic about the movie at all, in fact there are only two semi-sexy scenes in the movie. The first features the girl taking a skinny dip in the pool and the second is the girl and man having sex for the first and only time. Both times the scene is shot in darkness and you cannot see anything worthwhile to suggest any real nudity or eroticism.

The DVD is also very bare bones. There is very little extra on it. My advice, avoid this movie at all cost and instead consider one (or all) of the Poison Ivy movies.

A pleasant , suspenseful surprise
I viewed this movie with some trepidation, given the title and the somewhat lurid box art. I've followed Henry Czerny's career with interest, and have found his career choices intriguing, so I thought, what the heck. In brief, I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of performances, production, and particularly the direction. In less talented hands, this could've been movie-of-the-week schlock, but here, it's quite effectively presented. Very little that could be called gratuitous...nicely atmospheric...something of a "neighborhood noir." Again: a pleasant surprise, and kudos to Czerny, an excellent supporting cast (who ARE those guys? ), and a director who bears watching. ... Read more