Reviews (9)

A big disappointment
This video was not animated like the classic Chuck Jones features such as "The Cat In The Hat" and "The Grinch". My daughter was rather disappointed to see the camera scanning over pages of the books she already owns along with paper cutouts of the characters floating around as a cheap replacement for animation. We give this video a thumbs down.

Not impressed
Though my son watches this atleast once a day since we received it, I am not impressed by the way it is put together. The voices and some of the light american accents make it hard for me to be fully satisfied. Also some of the rhymes are barely grasping it.

Perfect for Spanish classes!!!
I have used this video in beginning spanish classes, it is perfect!!

not received
I still have not received this product after more than a month. If I do get it, then I might change the rating. It's still annoying to not receive the product and still be charged for it.

Book in action
This is not an animated video. It is the book "alive". Some people hate the primitiveness of this type of format, but little ones don't need high-tech animation or special effects. I must admit that it took me some time to get used to it, though. I like it because I can read the book to my son at bedtime or pop in the video while he eats lunch, and it it the SAME. It is consistent with the original book. This is important because it helps children learn patterns and cause-and-effect. Sometimes if you have a book-inspired video, the video alters the original story. This does not. My son loves it. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

I was so surprised how my baby loves this video:
When I saw the video for the first time, I thought "This is so boring" My son is very alert & into details so I thought he will not like it, but he stares at it without paying attention to anything else.
It is my baby's favorite since he is 5 months old & he is 11 months now & I still have to put it on every day. I guess is the music together with the drawings, colors & spanish language etc...

LOVE IT!
My Daughter absolutely loves this video. I bought it for her when she was 8 months and she was just captivated by the catchy and fun songs and simple colorful animation. She gets so excited whenever it comes on that she will actually sit and watch it for the full 1/2 hour. She just loves to bounce and dance to all the songs.

For entertainment more than education
The sound quality of the video is not good enough to understand all the words, (a big drawback for a foreign language video), and ours also came with no book to help with this problem. The images are 2 dimensional graphics, but are bright and fun. The music is actually quite catchy, light and rhythmic. Most importantly though, my 2 year old triplets love it!!! They dance to it and enjoy the cute images.

It's terrible - BUT my child LOVES it!!!
The worst sound quality you've ever heard - the most primitive animations ever created... BUT my one year old stares at the screen and smiles and laughs and points and WILL NOT MOVE FROM HIS SEAT until it is over. We bought this as a set with two cassette tapes, a songbook and a video when he was 4 months old and he has been captivated ever since. He will not watch anything else on TV but when this comes on he will stop whatever he is doing and watch for the full half-hour. I'm not sure if he is learning anything, but the video has been a lifesaver if he is crying (it stops immediately) or if we have to put him down for a minute (he won't budge.) There must be subliminal messages in it! I highly recommend it for YOUR sanity, if nothing else! I'll keep you posted to see if he actually has learned any Spanish!

Nice try
There are some good things here, and it's definitly better than nothing at all, but really - aeroplano? Try avion. Please watch the aglicisms. The goal is spanish, not spanglish. ... Read more

Description

New direct-to-video feature length movie. Scooby-Doo and the gang visit a friend in Mexico to celebrate the Day of the Dead (Mexico's version of Halloween). Unfortunately, a monster appears and begins terrorizing the town. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Don't listen to robertcrabtree's review
Yeah, this really is a great movie! I'm a HUGE fan of the series
and let me say, Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico is NO dissapointment to the series.

Scooby-Doo is a child's video hero.
I, for one, am glad that they keep making Scooby-Doo movies. The old stuff is still fun to watch and the new ones are great for me and my nearly 3 year old son. I have to admit though, El Chupacabra from this movie and the ghosts from The Boo Brothers is scary for my son to watch at nighttime so I don't offer it as a choice at night. In this day and age of foul mouths and violence on TV, I am glad to offer Scooby-Doo as a choice for my son.

Scooby Doo Flies High
Kids loved this one. Catchy music, lovely Mexican setting, several character who seem "suspicious" when scary things start happening. The flying statues scene from the ruins kind of confused my kids, but added to the mystery - did the statues really come to life or was it another trick? (the mystery is solved in the end) Scooby Doo and his crew have endured since my childhood and their newer movies are still entertaining for kids today.

Moderately Amusing
I don't know what it is, but as they get newer, the "new" Scooby-Doo movies lose their appeal. I wish they would just stick to the plots from the '60s, or just not make anymore new movies at all. I mean, it is nice that they're trying to come up with new ideas, but they could at least doo a little better.

Jeenkys! How many dumb Scooby movies do we need!?!?!?!?!?!
I know this reveiw might offend all you Scoob lovers but here it goes:
I think this whole series was dumb from start to finish (if there is a finish). I mean, a Great Dane scared as easily as a 2 day old kitten!?! This series is an insult to all Danes! A real G. Dane would tear these "ghosts and monsters" to pieces without thinking twice!! And how many of these "Scaredy-Dooby-Doo" features do we need anyway, huh!?!?!

ADVICE.
If you want a true horror/comedy movie, get Beetlejuice, Night of the Living Dead, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 or anything from the Scary Movie series instead! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Waiting For Santa staring BARNEY
My young grandaughter just had to watch it daily. We allowed it because it brought fourth a good message to little ones. She also enjoyed it because she could sing the "Family song" with 'Barney' as well as her cousins and me. She learned to memorize words and act out things so well that her heart was just broken when her Video broke! So I am getting her one for this Christmas. I think it was one of the better videos of Barneys.This 'Waiting For Santa' has also been her most favorite.

A good video for little barney fans
Waiting for Santa is one of Barney's earlier video's. It has been one of my son's favorite Barney videos for a long time. It is a great video for toddlers who are just beginning to show interest in Barney. They do alot of singing which will keep a child's attention alot longer than just talking. I think this video is better than some of the more recent Barney videos if you are looking for something for a small toddler ( 1 to 2 years old ) ... Read more

Reviews (50)

3 stars for format...
4 stars for the movie, 3 for the DVD.

Love the movie. Remember it from my youth. Highly recommended for young aspiring kings and princes. It's a laughter-filled romp, and Disney at his best for great storytelling, and great character development.

However, this DVD gets only three stars from me because it is in Full Screen format, when the original was widescreen. As usual in these cases, in the tiny print at the bottom of the box, the dreaded words for any 16:9 TV owner:

"This presentation has been modified from the original. It has been formatted to fit your TV screen".

You'd think by now, the studios would get a clue, ESPECIALLY Disney, and release either the original with letterbox, or put both on the disc like so many do... Does anyone here like "Pan and Scan"?

My complaint ends there. It is otherwise a wonderful film to share with your kids... I enjoyed watching it again after so many years, this time with my four-year-old son. We laughed and marvelled together over the antics and magic of the Wizard Merlin, and the adventures of young "Wart". He was ready to see it again as soon as it ended.

Another must-have Disney classic!
I remember the first time I saw this movie. I've always loved Arthurian legends, and in its usual style, Disney puts aside many historical facts in favor of a more entertaining movie, fun for the whole family. Sword in the Stone ranks up in the top 3 of my favorite Disney movies of all time. The characters are well done, Merlin is hilarious, and the artwork and colors are beautiful, making this movie great scenery for the younger kids, and great, enriching fun for the older ones.

A Classic Disney Film that is sometimes overlooked.
This may not be as iconic as some of the other films that the Walt Disney company has made, but it is definately a classic. This gives us a more lighter whimsical look on Camelot. The voice talents are great. The animation is in the classic 60s style that Disney was into at the time. The whole movie is fun. See it, it is not a masterpiece landmark of an animated film but very very good indeed.

My #2 Favorite Disney Movie!
This is my #2 favorite Disney Movie.Sleeping Beauty is My #1 favorite,but just because it is my second favorite does not mean it is not a good movie,because this movie is absolutely great Especially Merlin.He steal's the show with his hilarious Magic spells and his extream intelligence.Merlin's wise talking pet owl Archimedes (who is voiced by the same person as rabbit on winnie the pooh) also is very funny who helps Wart (Future king Arthur) during movie,especially when Merlin turns him into a fish .This is a very good movie your whole family will enjoy.

Disney's 18th Animated Masterpiece!
This 60's Disney film was the last one that Walt Disney cooperated in all the way throughout it's making and theatrical release, he died in the middle of the making of The Jungle Book. The film is really great, and highly entertaining, although not a film I would personally watch over and over. This is the story of Merlin, a kind but a bit grumpy enchanter, on a quest to teach young Arthur that intelligence and strategy are more powerful than brutal strenght, and to teach him about science and math and how to read and write so that someday he'll become the greatest king in England.

The DVD is pretty decent, although the bonus features don't really relate to the film, I have to say that they are just enough to make this DVD acceptable. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

There is greatness in film that can be discussed, dissected, and talked about late into the night. Then there is genius that is right in front of our faces--we smile at the spell it puts us into and are refreshed, and nary a word needs to be spoken. This kind of entertainment is what they used to call "movie magic," and there is loads of it in this irresistible computer animation feature. Just a picture of these bright toys on the cover of Toy Story looks intriguing, reawakening the kid in us. Filmmaker John Lasseter's shorts (namely Knickknack and Tin Toy, which can be found on the Pixar video Tiny Toy Stories) illustrate not only a technical brilliance but also a great sense of humor--one in which the pun is always intended. Lasseter thinks of himself as a storyteller first and an animator second, much like another film innovator, Walt Disney.

Lasseter's story is universal and magical: what do toys do when they're not played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy's favorite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys (some original, some classic) during a wrenching time of year--the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though--he believes he's the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Bright and cheerful, Toy Story is much more than a 90-minute commercial for the inevitable bonanza of Woody and Buzz toys. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar for "the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." In other words, the movie is great. --Doug Thomas

... Read more

Reviews (81)

Toy Story
1995's "Toy Story" was the first feature length film generated entirely by computers, and Pixar's first dive into theatrical films. The movie opens as young Andy turns 7. The undisputed leader of Andy's toys, a 50's cowboy doll named Woody (Tom Hanks), finds himself challenged by the new toy on the block, "space ranger" Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). When Woody's plan to get rid of Buzz backfires, the two find themselves lost in the suburbs. Woody and Buzz relize they have to work together to get back to Andy's, and they eventually become the best of friends. The humor and animation is terrific, and a great start for Pixar. This lead to several other successes, such as A Bug's Life and Finding Nemo.

Now on to "the vaults". Disney is trying to squeeze every last penny out of the cash cow, and have the two Toy Story films under lock and key, no doubt so they can sell millions of "Special Editions" in five years. Once again, Disney appalls me with their unmatched corperate greed. In conclusion, Toy Story is an excellent film and a true must-see.

The Secret Lives of Toys Revealed
"Toy Story" is a modern fairy tale created with appropriately modern computer animation. Its snappy dialougue will appeal to adult viewers, the spectacle of fantastic toys coming to life will appeal to children, and adults may wax nostalgic about the toys they enjoyed as children, several of which are featured in this movie.
The story revolves around a cowboy doll named Woody, and his imminent replacement as the favorite toy of his owner, Andy, by Andy's new Buzz Lightyear doll, a multigadgeted gift that Andy receives for his birthday.
Tom Hanks'personality shines through in the persona of Woody, and Tim Allen's voice lends the right amount of charisma to Buzz.
In the process of forming an eventual friendship, the characters go through a lot of antagonism and a lot of other real human emotions. As they prepare for life in a new home, they are imperiled by the sadistic kid next door named Sid, into whose clutches they fall by accident.
It's entertaining to watch the toys interact with each other.
Buzz gradually learns that he is simply a child's plaything and not the noble space crusader he fancied himself to be in the beginning, and Woody learns to share his special place in Andy's heart. A great supporting cast including Annie Potts as Woody's sweetheart, Bo Peep, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Jim Varney as Slinky, Wallace Shawn as Rex, John Ratzenburger as Ham, and Laurie Metcalfe as Andy's mother help fuel this tale.
Seeing this innovative film made me want to buy dolls of Woody and Buzz as collector's items. But I am content with just a copy of this movie. The second installment of the "Toy Story" saga is an enhancement of the first one, and just like the first, nothing short of delightful.

Original and fun for the whole family!
This movie took me by storm when I saw it back in the summer of 1995 at the theatres and let me tell you, this movie is still one of the best computer animated movies of all time. In fact this movie shattered new grounds back in 1995 by not using drawing cel animation and instead this movie is the first of an unbroken chain of computer generated animated movies that has continued to date with "Finding Nemo".

The plot is absolutely joyful and stunningly original. The story revolves around the quiet family home of a quiet town where a boy owns numerous toys with his toddler sister. The toys however, are almost like beings of their own and are 'living' as well but stop 'moving' when the boy comes back into his room. However, a cowboy named Tim is the most popular 'toy' in the boys bedroom and is kept by the pillow almost every night until on his birthday, he gets a fancy astronaut toy named Buzz Lightyear who has many 'gizmos' and in time takes over the toy cowboys place as the most popular toy and Tim gets enormously jealous of this. However, after a botched attempt to remove Buzz, the cowboy himself along with Buzz end up in the hands of a punk teenager who takes joy in blowing up toys with firecrackers and or other means like burning, breaking, or smashing them and/or even taking them apart and re-assembling their parts to create 'mutant' toys and now the clock is ticking for Tim and Buzz to escape from the boys house before they end up being blown to molecules.

This movie is absolutely fun and original even by 1995 standards. The computer generated special effects are innovative and unbelievable especially considereing the fact that this movie came out nearly a whole decade ago. The whole tone of the movie is just fun and charming and is for the entire family. Not only that but this was what put the then newcomers Pixas right into the front seat of movie animation and would be the start of an unbroken streak of excellent movies from this dynamite team.

Computer animation wow. 16th april 2004.
The toys are great, the graphics and scenery is too. The collectables are boys mostly but the film is ace for anyone. The 3D toys look real, the colors are excellent[like finding nemo]. The talking toys are all friends, and they live with their owner andy.

Hit Me With Another One!
Give me another Toy Story and while your at it lets go for a 5th. Wow lets see...Tom Hanks and Tim Alan...Pixar and Disney...Go get it or miss out! ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Great kid's flick
This was a great movie for small children. It is also enjoyable for adults also. I found it to be very cute and entertaining! It is about Elmo, and how he gets in a fight with his friend over sharing his blanket. Well, alot of things go wrong and Elmo's blanket ends up at Grouch's trashcan. The Grouch throws the blanket down the garbage can and Elmo dives in after it, only to realize that it has been spirited to a place called Grouchland. What he dosen't know is that Grouchland is being ruled over by a guy named Huxley who has a problem with sharing things, and he has been stealing from the townsfolk, always telling them, "If I touch it...it's MINE!" Elmo has to figure out how to get his blanket back, with the help of many colorful characters. The whole movie is great for small children. It teaches them the value of friendship and sharing, which is something they need to know about at a young age. The movie also allows the children to participate in certain scenes (ex. singing along, helping Elmo to blow raspberries, helping Elmo find his way through a dark cave). Overall, this is a great movie for children, and I really did enjoy it, which is why I have to recommend it!

Wrong Message Gets Across
Is Elmo irritating? Heck yes. I wish he could use the pronoun "I." BUT he's a cuddly cute friend to a lot of toddlers out there, mine included. We don't watch Sesame Street at home, but my son must get enough Elmo from the daycare, because he knew who this movie was about when we borrowed it from the library.

The message viewers are supposed to get is about sharing - after not wanting to share his beloved blanket with his friend Zoe, Elmo loses said blanket down Oscar's trashcan and subsequently into Grouchland, where it is claimed by the colorful villian Huxley, who never shares anything.

So our little ones should be learning how to share...unfortunately, one of the more memorable songs is sung by Mandy Patinkin (Huxley) called "MINE." My little boy had never grabbed anything and yelled "Mine!" until he watched this video. He understood about Elmo's blanket, because he has one of his own that's special, but it seems he got the wrong message!

The film itself is a bit of a mixed bag of images; Vanessa Williams is stunning as the Queen of Trash, but her appearance is like a short cameo. There's a giant chicken that seems loosely related to Huxley. A conveniently placed talking vegetable. This is not the caliber of education and entertainment I've come to expect from the Children's Television Workshop, or from Henson Productions. I wouldn't recommend the video for children under 3, even if they're Elmo fans (my son was 26 months when we had the "MINE!" problem.)

Hooray for Ernie and Bert, though, our time-tested film narrators!

Excellent Movie!
My 20 month-old daughter LOVES this movie!! I can't imagine thinking it's too scary as one of the reviews I read says, ... what's scary? It's adorable! Even the villan is likable! I would highly recommend this movie to all!

Too Scary!! (even for brave kids)
This video was purchased for my 2 1/2 year old son for Christmas by his Grandma. She even bought a VHS version for her house so he could watch it at either place. The sole reason she selected this video was because of the title character. Yes, my son is a full fledged member of the ELMO fan club, like many children his age are. We soon found out that Grandma wasted her money...BIG TIME. The movie is a bit strange to say the least, and a little on the psychadelic side. The most disturbing part is when the "evil" character arrives in Grouchland via helicopter. This is when my son BEGS me to turn it off and says "It scares me, mommy." (while covering his ears) It didn't take us long to figure out that this was not the video for him!! It was heartbreaking when I saw the fear in his little face. With the typical daredevil little boy personality, we were surprised at his reaction and both Grandma and I wished we had previewed the video before we let him watch it!

A Must-Have for Elmo Fans
My 22-month-old son normally has the attention span of a gnat, but he will gladly sit through this entire movie again and again. He loves the songs, the colors, the action, and of course, he loves Elmo. If you have a toddler or preschooler who has an affinity for the little furry red guy, this movie is a must-have! ... Read more

Reviews (224)

Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker. ;)
1971's "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" is a colorful cult classic that includes both a witty score and a morality tale. Based on the children's novel by Roald Dahl, the story concerns Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum), a poor yet virtuous paperboy who dreams of a better life. With no father, no money, and four bedridden grandparents to support, Charlie's future seems bleak. However, that changes when a contest is started by the town's mysterious candymaker, Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder): 5 Golden Tickets are hidden among the billions of Wonka bars sold all over the world. The lucky buyers who find the tickets will get a lifetime supply of chocolate AND an exclusive tour through the factory. The first half of the movie shows the worldwide hysteria that results from the frantic search for the Tickets. Eventually, four winners are revealed one by one: Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole) is Great Britain's ultimate spoiled brat. Augustus Gloop (Michael Bollner) is a chubby German who considers eating his most favorite hobby. Violet Beauregarde (Denise Nickerson) bears the rude, disgusting habit of constantly chewing gum. Mike Teevee (Paris Themmen) is a cowboy couch potato who bears a distorted view on reality. When Charlie himself discovers the final ticket, he and his Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson) both enter the factory to savor the marvelous surprises awaiting them. However, temptation comes into play: Wonka's sinister rival Arthur Slugworth (Gunter Meisner) has offered each of the children $10,000 in exchange for an Everlasting Gobstopper, a brand new product Mr. Wonka was working on.
In the latter half of the film, viewers will meet Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka, whose elusive persona and literary quotes make him strangely appealing. Is this man lying or is he telling the truth? In addition, audiences (old and young alike) will catch the delightful sights of orange-faced Oompa-Loompas, a nightmarish Boat Ride, Fizzy Lifting drinks that cause drinkers to float away, and quadruple-size Geese that lay octruple-size eggs! Throughout the journey, the group's four nasty children (and their equally despicable parents), are eliminated one by one in gruesome yet amusing ways: The gluttonous Augustus falls into a chocolate river and is sucked into a boiler. Violet samples a 3-course-dinner gum (despite Wonka's warnings) and inflates into a gigantic blueberry. When Veruca Salt attempts to steal a Golden Goose, she falls into a garbage chute, one that happens to lead down to the furnace! After trying to get photographed onto Wonka's giant T.V. camera, Mike Teevee is shrunk down to the size of a pen; the only way to restore his size is by stretching him out on a taffy-pulling machine! With imaginative sets, clever confections, and pleasant tunes like "Candyman," "Pure Imagination," and "Cheer Up, Charlie," this movie was made to entertain adults first and children afterwards. It's a guilty pleasure to college graduates, much like H.R. Puffenstuff.
I chose to give this film four stars because I felt that a couple of mistakes were made. For one thing, the nature of Wonka's factory is a little too candy-coated; Roald Dahl himself wanted to have the story as a Grimm fairytale, not a wholesome musical. Also, I personally think that the scene involving the Wonkamobile should have been cut out. The device, which is fueled by gingerale, gingerpop, gingerbeer, and double-bubble burp-a-cola (among other carbonated fluids), really doesn't have anything to do with the story. As a result, it's a little too distracting.
Now that Tim Burton plans to reimagine the tale, I am gleefully anticipating what alterations he plans to make.

Timeless classic!
(Spoiler included) I watched this movie on TV for rhe first time when I was 6 years old and I haven't outgrown it since! It is a wonderful story about the power of imagination and how good things eventually come to those who do the right things.
The movie is based on the Roald Dahl book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Willy Wonka is an eccentric candy maker who starts a contest offering a factory tour to five lucky winners who find a golden ticket in their Wonka bars. One of them is Charlie Bucket, an impoverished, but good natured, child who hopes for a better future for himself, his mother and his four grandparents. The other four winners are nasty obnoxious and bratty children. Augustus Gloop is an overeating glutton, Violet Beauregard is a gum chewing fanatic with no manners (digging up her nose while talking about how disgusting spitting is), Veruca Salt is a spoiled brat who wants everything she sees and whines until she gets it and Mike Teavee is a television addict with a smart mouth. One by one, they are eventually done in by their bad habits. Augustus falls into the chocolate river against Wonka's protests and is sucked into a pipe, Violet chews a piece of Wonka's "meal gum," once again against his objections, and turns purple and blows up into a giant blueberry, Veruca goes on a tantrum when Wonka tells her she can't have one of his giant geese and she falls down a garbage chute and Mike wants to be on television so badly, he willingly gets zapped into the size of an insect by Wonka's TV camera. Charlie, by being the respectable child that he is and by not compromising his integrity, not only completes the tour, he wins a prize beyond his wildest dreams.

The parents make it obvious why their children are so impish. When the children get into trouble at the factory, the parents blame Wonka instead of the kids' own bratty behavior. From the moment they step into the factory, they're complaining and finding fault with everything Wonka does and they take things way too seriously (much like the critics of this film)! I bet if the Oompa Loompas, with their wisdom, raised these little demons, they'd be much better.

Don't miss this film. It is not only a fun to watch diversion from reality, the messages are very timely and it makes you think about the good that still exists in this world. The critics and nitpickers may not get it but anyone who watches with an open mind and doesn't take it too seriouly will.

Still a great one!
OK, I know you are saying to yourself, that movie is ancient ~ my kid wouldn't enjoy it. Well, trust me your kid will enjoy it. It is a great movie! For all who may have missed it over the years (is there anyone out there?), the story is about a giant chocolate factory run by a never seen owner (Wilder). Over the years of the factory's operation he has become quite the legend. He decides to open the factory to a few lucky winners of a contest ~ all but one of the winning kids are truly rotten. And as all good stories go, the bad kids get their just "desserts" (sorry, couldn't resist the pun) leaving the good kid to win. A lot of good lessons taught about sharing, greed, gluttony and theft. Pop some popcorn and enjoy it with your kid; you'll be glad you did.

A Great Metaphor for Life
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was my favorite book as a child, this movie remains a favorite of mine even to this day.

This film was made back in 1971 and is very simple in its style. The special effects are see-through and campy but the story line is a facinating metaphor for life that is forever timeless in its message. Willy Wonka is the creative genius who becomes a recluse in his chocolate factory because of society and its greed and malice. But he never loses his belief that someone in the world exists who can still believe in imagination and dreams. He finds this person in Charlie, a poor child who lives with his mother and four grandparents in a dirty basement home. Charlie has every reason to become dispirited and negative yet he remains a shining light of great positivity regardless of his circumstances. I suspect his attitude comes from the fact that his Grandfather Joe always supports his dreams, the boy never has to hear the word "can't"!

The chocolate factory holds a contest and several children, including Charlie, get invited behind the doors with Willy Wonka. While on tour they are tested with fame, fortune, greed and honesty until one by one they succumb to the failure of a human heart. All except Charlie, who keeps a smile on his face and wonder in his eyes while being faced with the simple adversities that cause the other children to fail. Sadly I feel the parents are to blame creating children who thrive on material wealth, constant TV watching, gorging on food, and looking for constant attention. The parents of the children who fail refuse to believe in the dream of Willy Wonka surrounding the atomsphere with doubt and negative beliefs. How could anyone survive under such circumstances?

The Chocolate Factory is filled with wonder, color and silly songs. Regardless of your age it will satisfy your sweet tooth and fill even a hardened heart. It certainly brings to life how parent's affect their children with their own actions and attitudes. Telling a child they "can't" accomplish all that they imagine only assists in stopping the world from greatness. Don't be afraid to dream!

Candy is dandy...
The film is based on a much-loved children's book, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', by Roald Dahl. Dahl wasn't always happy with the changes made between his book and the film, and wasn't always consulted on them. Today probably more people are familiar with the film sequence of events than the book. Charlie is a down-on-his-luck boy who is nonetheless optimistic and happy. He and his mother work to tend for their bed-ridden family members, all living together in a one-room home.

One day there is an annoucement that Wonka is going to open his factory to visitors, to be chosen more or less at random through finding the Golden Tickets, contained in Wonka bars (a brilliant marketing device back then). Scenes of shoppers' frenzy are shown all around with world, including a Wonka delivery van shown arriving at the White House.

The five golden tickets are found all around the world - the first one in Dusselheim, Germany, by the fat boy, Augustus Gloop (played by Michael Boliner, who is now a tax accountant in Munich, and is still rather large). The second ticket was found in the UK, by spoiled brat, Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole, the only Wonka child still acting), whose father, Roy Kinnear, is a well-known actor in British cinema. The third ticket was found in the USA, by gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde (Denise Nickerson, now an accountant at a nuclear plant in Colorado), whose used-car-salesman father was played by Leonard Stone (who was selected over Jim Bakus). The fourth ticket was also won in the USA, by Mike Teevee (Paris Themmen, considered a real brat by most of the cast and crew); his frantic mother was played by Dodo Denny (later Nora Denny), who was one of the few minor characters in the film to consistently act after this film. The final ticket at first is reported to be won by some shady businessman from Paraguay, but in the end, that is proven to be a forgery. Of course, Charlie buys a Wonka Bar expecting nothing, and gets the ticket.

An ominous figure, Slugworth (the arch-enemy of Wonka - who knew chocolate makers also made arch-enemies?), appears to each of the winners, whispering in their ears. Charlie is also confronted, and promised a reward should he bring Slugworth an example of Wonka's latest creation, the Everlasting Gobstopper. One wonders why (a) any candy maker would make a candy that never wears out (thus defeating re-sales), and (b) why Slugworth can't just buy one himself when they are released, analyse it and ruin his own factory the same way? But I digress... Gunter Meisner, a very prolific German actor, played the villain, who wasn't in the book (nor was the 'gobstopper plot').

The grand day of the event, the winners enter the factory with great fanfare, meeting Wonka (Gene Wilder) for the first time, and get the first taste of his bizarre sense of theatre. (It is reported not only Wilder's idea for the limping/somersault introduction to the crowd, but also a condition of his accepting the role.) From that point on, what was truth? It is ironic that Wonka's entrance doesn't occur until the film is half over. What we remember of the film comes after this, but over half the film is actually set-up. This is rather like the Wizard of Oz, where most of the film is done before we see 'the major character', although admittedly Wonka is far more prominent than Oz's balloonist.

Wonka, the man of mystery, only ever became even more of a mystery as the tour progressed. He is constantly switching his words ('we have so much time and so little to do'), and there are surprises at every turn. Wonka borrows a lot of his key phrases (Ogden Nash, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde) and there are a lot of fantasy-inspired elements (Alice in Wonderland, Lord of the Rings).

At each major scene, something ghastly seems to happen, but in epic-fantasy form, it doesn't seem to matter to the majority, who proceed onward with their quest. In the chocolate room, Augustus Gloop meets his untimely exit from the factory by falling in the chocolate river. Violet turns into a blueberry by chewing experimental gum, and has to be squeezed (squoozed?). Veruca, in the room with the geese who lay the golden eggs, turns out to be a bad egg herself, but has a sporting chance of going down a chute with an inactive furnace. Mike Teevee shrinks in the Wonka version of the Star Trek transporter beam, leaving in the end only Charlie, who is denied his prize of a lifetime of chocolate for a minor infraction.

It would seem that Wonka had a sinister side in many ways - the boat that carries the prize winners only seated eight, implying that Wonka knew someone would be missing. The Wonkamobile only had seats for four guests. Of course, the children apparently all had sinister sides, too, including Charlie, until the end. None of them let Wonka know of their Slugworth contact.

In the end, we never know what becomes of the fallen questers - we are led to believe that in this candy factory they got their just desserts. The Oompa-Loompas put the moral to each downfall in song, with a 1970s karaoke-type presentation of the lyrics as they sing. In the end, of course, goodness and justice win out, as the factory is given to Charlie after his act of unwarranted kindness toward Wonka.

Director Stuart always saw this film as a 'realistic' fantasy film. Those things that are not over the top are very ordinary. The people are not superheroes, and the situations, while fantastic, are not beyond the credible. Stuart also did his best for 'real' reaction - the kids had never seen Gene Wilder before his appearance at the door, the chocolate room in the factory, or the Oompa-Loompas prior to the first scene, either, so their reactions are more natural.

A great film for children and adults! ... Read more

Reviews (22)

A Very Charming Little Picture...Not Dull and Boring
While most of the reviews have been critical of this 1943 "package feature", it is really cute and informational. It is a Disney classic, featuring the animation of many classic artists and animators, such as Mary Blair, Fred Moore, Norm Ferguson, Les Clark, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball and others. It is the first feature which combines live action with animation, and would pave the way for other features to come, such as "Mary Poppins", "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", and many others.

"Saludos Amigos" is comprised of 4 shorts, "Lake Titicaca", "Pedro", "El Gaucho Goofy", and "Aquarela De Brasil". Many classic Disney characters are included, including the slapstick Goofy and Donald Duck. New characters are introduced, which include Jose Carioca, the samba dancing friend of Donald.

There is also an array of bonus features, including an original theatrical trailer from 1943, and a documentary on the making of the film, which displays many of the films' crew members at work.

Overall, I think this is a very charming feature film.

Fair Disney movie
Being a fan of the Three Cabalerros I was excited to hear that this movie would finally be available on home video minus a previous laser disc release. This movie was slightly a dissappointment. Not because of the film, just its length. 42 minutes just doesn't constitute as a feature for me. Other than that squabble, I enjoyed it. The DVD transfer is sharp and clear once again in the animation scenes, but the live action 16mm stuff is grainy but will probably will never look better. The extra "South of the Border" featurette is a nice addition but it reuses a lot of the material from the feature. Losing 2 seconds of footage of Goofy smoking is really no big deal to me, if Disney wants to "protect" children, whatever, it doesn't change the plot and is really insignificant.

Not as lively and exciting as The Three Cabelleros.
In this film, we see Disney and his fellow animators travel to Latin America. In this however, you feel as if you are watching the Discovery channel with a little Disney thrown in. The film is whimsical when you come across a Disney cartoon, but all the inbetween bits are lackluster and boring. If maybe you traveled along with Mickey or Goofy it may have been more exciting. Sorry. Good but lacks.

Disney's 6th Animated Masterpiece!
Walt Disney took his staff on a special trip to South America where the animators found all the needed material to create this wonderful, although rare, feature. The film does not really have much of a plot but it is very entertaining, the animation is wonderful and it briefly describes all the good things in South America, from their beautiful landscapes, to their sweet music. One of my favorite scenes is when Donald tries to cross a suspention bridge on a llama, it was very funny. The film has four different cartoons, as I said, not much of a storyline but really something fun to watch once in a while.

The DVD, as all the other Gold Collection titles does not bring much in bonus features, but since this isn't one of Disney's most majestic titles, it will do. This edition only brings an original trailer and a documentary featurette, not much, but enough.

For True Disney Fans
This film was made during the war and Walt didn't have the money to turn out another full length animated film. To appease his fans, he made a film which is basically a trip with him and some of his best animators "South of the Border." The animators where then inspired to make several short animated films, which are all packaged together to make this feature. The back of the box says "Total Running Time: Approc. 75 Minuites." By total running time, the mean with special features. The film is only 45 minuites, and the bonus "South of the Border With Disney" was a television show he did. If you are not a Disney fan, I don't recomend this film to you, because it is not like the other well known animated films you are used to. The picture and sound are not very good. Disney didn't feel the need to tough it up because hardley anyone knew of it's existance. ... Read more

Reviews (332)

Excellent job Disney.
I saw this when it first came out in theaters back in 1992. I was only 7 or 8 at the time, and it just didn't appeal to me as much as The Little Mermaid or The Rescuers Down Under. I don't really know why, but having just getting the DVD in the mail, my view of the movie is completely different.

Beauty and the Beast really is one of Disney's top 4 animated films. How they managed to combine a massive cast of characters into the main plot is amazing. Beast is one of my favorite Disney characters after re-watching this. There's so much emotion inside of him. Anger, rage, pity, ambition, and love. You'll really care for him from the moment he appears on screen. Belle is possibly the most humble heroine to date. She doesn't see that she's beautiful, but just cares for helping others and reading books. The supporting cast is just as good. Gaston, the villain, is just a....well I can't use the word. You can bet your money you'll feel the same way. But the characters are just the icing on the cake. The story is what the strong point's always been. Disney did a great job adding so much more to it, whereas the original didn't focus on anyone but Belle and the Beast really. But I'm sure you all know the story, so I'll just get into the features on this DVD.

On the first disc, you get 3 different versions of the film- theatrical, work in progress, and special edition. The theatrical is what you saw in theaters or on the home video release. Work in progress is mostly drawings in black and white while the voices and everything else is put in. The special edition has a few lines changed here and there, and the added musical "Human Again" into the film. Personally, I hated "Human Again". It comes right after and before other songs in the film, making you want them to just get on with the story. Plus the animation in it really stands out since it's newer and has those annoying shadows on every character that you see in so many made for video animated movies. There's also a commentary track that adds a lot of depth and information, and a game that unlocks another game. People complain about the picture quality of the movie, but it's not that bad. On a scale of one to ten, I'd give it a 7.5.

The second disc has a well done documentary on the making of Beauty and the Beast, story origins of a few other Disney movies, art galleries, music videos, more games, and much more. Amazon lists that the Broadway Musical is on this, but it isn't. It's mentioned in the documentary, that's all. This sets the standard for extras on Disney special editions of their movies. It's too bad The Lion King has nothing compared to this. Either way, if you like Disney at all...or just movies, you should go for this while you can. It's a masterpiece, and getting harder to find.

A thinking girl's heroine
When I saw "Beauty and the Beast" in the theater, I had a rare and magical experience: I felt like a child again watching an enchanting Disney movie. In fact, "Beauty and the Beast" seemed even better than the Disney classics like "Cinderella" and "Sleeping Beauty" that were such a wonderful part of my childhood. The animation is absolutely gorgeous--particularly the waltz scene, which feels incredibly three-dimensional. The songs are beautiful, singable instant classics.

Despite the animated characters, I felt like I was watching an old musical. The movie opens with a scene reminiscent of "The Sound of Music," with our heroine, Belle, singing on a hilltop about wanting more out of life. The "Be Our Guest" scene, featuring a Lumiere (the Maurice Chevalier-inspired singing candlestick), dancing dishes and champagne corks popping like fireworks, reminded me of the Busby Berkely musical extravaganzas of the '30s.

A big appeal for me is that Belle is a much different heroine than the Disney princesses of my childhood. Belle isn't looking for a man to rescue her from her life of drudgery. She loves to read and longs for a more interesting life. She already has the "town catch," Gaston, wanting to court her, but she's having none of it.

Belle's escape from "her provincial life" begins when her father, a kooky inventor, doesn't return from his travels. (He has sought shelter from a snow storm in a spooky enchanted castle and is being held prisoner by the Beast.) Belle tracks down her father and, out of concern for his ailing health, takes his place in captivity. The Beast, who has been placed under a spell, wonders if Belle might be "the one"--the young woman whose love will return him to his original human form.

The enchanted furniture, candlestick, clock and dishes added lots of fun characters to the traditional story. Cogsworth, a stuffy clock, and Lumiere, the match-making candlestick are a great comic duo. Cogsworth's romantic advice to Beast about wooing Belle is especially funny: Give her "flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep."

Gaston, meanwhile, wants to woo and wed Belle himself. He sings about his he-man attributes in one of the funniest ode to a redneck that I've ever heard: "I use antlers in all of my decorating," Gaston sings about himself.

When Gaston realizes that Belle loves the Beast instead of him, he stirs up an angry mob to head to the castle. In another twist on the traditional fairy tale ending, Belle ultimately rescues the Beast--not the other way around.

"Beauty and the Beast" is a delightful classic whether you are a child or a grownup who knows how to feel like a child at times.

Pure Magic!
Bringing this classic fairy tail to life is one of the best things that Disney has ever done. Every second of this film is full to the brim with wonder and magic. More than ten years after first seeing it, there are still some scenes that make me gasp at their beauty.
The movie provides all of the usual Disney elements of gorgeous animation, skilled voice actors, awesome original songs, and non-stop entertainment, but there's something special in the mix. We get one of the most believable and heart felt romances to ever grace the animated world. As a child every time I read a picture book of this Fairy Tail I found it impossible to believe that a woman could love a beast, but Disney found a way to make it happen. You truly believe that it's possible, and feel her pain when she thinks she's lost him.
In the classic Disney fashion, Beauty and the Beast brings along a message for the kids to learn. We see the value of intelligence and compassion, learn to look beyond the superficial, and discover that love knows no boundaries.

After A While One Doesn't Notice It Is Animated
It is quite rare for any animated film to be treated with the same respect as any other honored non-animated one. In BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale take the time-worn fairy tale of the outwardly loathsome beast who impossibly enough allows his inner nobility to shine forth sufficiently to cause the beauty to fall in love with him. Robby Benson is the voice of the Beast and Paige O'Hara is Beauty. Even for those readers familiar with the spoken tale or the revamped music video with Meatloaf as the Beast cannot help but allow themselves to be entranced with the seamless melding of sight to sound. The plot is simplicity itself with the Beast as the archetypal symbol of the rebirth of nobility long hidden by the evil spell of a unnamed wizard. There is nothing childish is the unfolding of the tale of Belle the Beauty who chooses to sacrifice herself in marriage to save the life of her doddering inventor father. Enter the Beast who is initially presented as the roaring brute that his tormenting wizard clearly intended him to be. Yet, as Belle ministers to his psychic wounds of self-loathing and his physical wounds incurred in defending her against a pack of wolves, the viewer can see a competing spell at work, one that is older than time itself--the power of love that the film's many songs allude to and function as as subtext that imbues it with timeless energy. There is, of course, some needed plot complications of unwanted attention heaped on Belle by the handsome but warped Gaston, who plots to snare Belle in marriage as firmly as he would stalk a reindeer for its antlers. As Gaston leads the villagers in an assault on the Beast's manor, one is reminded in reverse of the cliched villagers pounding at the walls of Doctor Frankenstein's castle, but in this case the attack in presented in comic tones that keep the real world of harm at bay.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has no down moments, with each fresh plot advancement heralded by stunningly effective animation and song. This film was a deserved nominee for Best Picture in 1991, and with repeated viewings, one may rest assured that the alternately gloomy and resplendent halls of the Beast will eternally resonate with the same cachet that gives Tara, Oz, or Rick's Cafe a ticket that allows the bearer to see just how awesome the human spirit can be.

The Beauty
This is a beautiful movie and is in a wonderful set. It has two discs with great behind the scenes stuff for Beauty and the Beast that you definitely wont want to miss out on.
The colors in this movie is beautiful and the music is lovely.
I really wouldn't miss out on this movie because it's a great film and a wonderful set. ... Read more

Reviews (107)

A Lawyer who tells the Truth?
Now there's a twist.

But that's the theme of the movie. Jim Carry plays the part of Fletcher Reede, a young, promising (and very unscrupulous) lawyer who always manages to win his cases. But there is a darker side to his life. His wife has divorced him because of several affairs, and his son (who he dearly loves) has been neglected for his professional career. Clearly, Mr. Reede is a man who never settled down to the more serious business of life and responsibility.

However, Reede's day of come-upance has arrived. Forgotten about one too many times, his son makes a birthday wish that his dad would have to tell the truth for 24 hours. An outside wind blows the cake candles out and the stage is set.

Mr. Reede intends to go about his daily, lie-ridden life (his natural style) but is flabergasted to suddenly find that whatever he tries to say, the truth always comes out - and with hilarious results ("I can't believe I said that"). Jim Carrey has the gift of gab, and God, does it come out in this film. Either he is very adept at learning complex lines or he is a natural comedian to whom words flow like water.

There are sight-gags in the film, but these are really secondary to the dialog -- which is priceless.

Unlike "The Mask", this film has a more serious side in the pathos of a neglected family and a wrecked personal life. Still, the movie is light-hearted and fun to watch. Jim Carrey does it once again.

~P~

Jim Carrey at the top of his game!
Fletcher Reed (AKA: Jim Carrey) is a lawyer and yes he lies alot when defending his clients. He is also a divorced father of one. He never shows up on time or sometimes doesn't show up at all to any of his son Max's special events. Hurt by these actions and the lies his father tells when explaining why he is late or why he didn't show up, Max makes a wish on his birthday that his father can't lie to him for 24 hours. Unfortunately for Fletcher, it comes true!

What follows is one of Jim Carrey's best films ever. If you like Jim Carrey and haven't seen this movie yet, you will love it. The thing he does best in this movie in my opinion is his physical comedy, especially the scene where he beats himself up.

Highly recommended for Jim Carrey fans who have not yet seen this one or for anyone who likes slapstick comedy movies that have a point in the end.

One of Jim Carrey's best movies
Fletcher Reed is a lawyer who always wins his cases by lying. But unfortunatly the judge isn't the only person he makes a habit of lying to. His constant promises to spend time with his son Max never come through at the last minute.

So when Max makes a wish that for 24 hrs that his dad cannot tell a lie, he never expected it to actually come true. Unfortunatly in the affected 24 hours, Fletcher has a HUGE divorce case to settle and his fabricated story cannot be told.

At the same time, Max's mother Audrey has been offered a marriage proposal from her boyfriend and plans to take Max to Boston with them. Now Fletcher must deal with not being able to lie and try to change Audrey's mind before he loses Max forever.

One of Jim Carrey's best movies, it made me lol the whole time.

Recomended only for Jim Carey fans
I have seen better from Jim he tried to hard to have a family one here and be funny at the same time wich he is but he is not regular Jim Carrey and I don't know why in this case some of his other movies are the Jim Carrey movies of choice.
Action 7 Story 10 Direction 8 Action 6 Entertaining 8
Overall=39/50 Still 4 stars however wich is nice

HA HA!
One of my favourite movies of all time!It's just hilarious all through.It is about a little boy who wishes his lawyer/liar father would tell the truth just for one day.What follows is heaps and heaps of Jim-Carrey-ish situations.
I'm so glad the pen is blue!! ... Read more

Reviews (656)

Fear Comes From Inside: Really Scary Film with Stylish Touch
Yesterday, on April 28, we have finally seen the theatrical release of this masterpiece in Japan, and the waiting time was very, very long. But it was worth of our patience. "The Others" is not only a chilling and scary movie; it is crafted with style and intelligence, and it is fantastic to watch the director (who is still below the age of 30!!) create this piece of art.

As you probably have known by now, beautiful Nicole Kidman plays Grace, whose children are allergic to light (and this disaease really exists, you should know). With ritual-like meticulous rules, she manages her household works, employing new servants in a huge, dreary countryhouse, which ever-hanging fogs mystriously surround. But there is (or are), she comes to know, some intruder(s) here, of which existence her children are convinced. And sooner or later, Grace comes to feel that, too.

It is a natural but unfair comparison if you point out that "The Others" resembles at some places a certain Oscar-nominated film, because the director Amenabar does it with completely different touch. I cannot tell you much, but let me say, like Hitchcock's classic "Rebecca," the heroine (and the audience) is lured inexplicably into the mystery of the old house and its past. Also using the classic frameworks of ghost stories used in the original "Haunting" (Robert Wise version, NOT THAT remake), the film makes us jumping in the seats, sending lots of chill in spine, and, moreover, it treats a universal subject of love between mother and children in a subtle fashion. On top of that, the film goes further, to make the mother Grace not exactly an ideal one for kids, and it succeeds eventually in depicting the fraility of humans -- in short, you really don't know what you think you know.

Anchored by strong and believable acting given from underrated Nicole Kidman (why did Oscar ignore her work here, preferring that musical ... well, but all right, I understand), and aided effectively by other well-cast players whose uncanny presence unnerve us greatly, "The Others" will rivet your eyes on the screen, especially when you are a connoisseur of old-fashioned horror film. Keep your eyes open when you see the details of the film: furniture, photoes, everything. Something is wrong with this house, but how and what is not clear. This bizzare sensation is another asset of the film, and you will find what you missed with repeated viewing.

For those who have enjoyed this (and I bet you did), the story is perhaps inspired by Henry James's novella "Turn of the Screw," which deals with the similar situation. You may as well read that equally well-crafted, creepy story.

Trivia: look closely at one of the old photoes of the dead: one of the three men on the bed is director Amenabar himself (and one of the others is Mateo Gil, director of Spanish film "Nadie conoce a nadie" of which music Amenabar composed, and of which star Eduardo Noriega was featured in the two previous Amenabar film in Spain, "Thesis" and "Open Your Eyes." The former one is a must-see for anyone loving blood-curdling thriller. But hey, appearing in a photo? This is exactly what Hitchcock did in one of his earlier films about a life-boat, another masterpiece about the people in a confined place !! Surely Amenabar loves his master.

"Others" Among Us
THE OTHERS is one heck of a ghost story. In the tradition of intellegent films of the genre, such as THE SIXTH SENSE and POLTERGIEST, this movie keeps you on your toes from start to finish. Grace (Nicole Kidman) awaits her husband's return from war. She and her children, who suffer from a rare medical condition, called Xeroderma Pigmentosum, (extreme sensitivity to light) live isolated from the outside world. Then, one day 3 mysterious servants, led by Bertha Mills ( Fionnula Flanagan) arrive at the door...Soon after Grace finds herself struggling to keep her children safe from strange forces as her sanity slowly slips away. This film has all the classic touches that make a good ghost story. Creaking doors, a big house isolated and poorly lit, strange noises and happenings, all helped along by a great performance from Kidman. Written and Directed by
Alejandro Amenábar, the movie is tops, where so many other recent ghost stories have failed, relying to much on dopey effects to push the story ahead (the remake of The Haunting for example).

The 2 disc DVD set is pretty good even though it all could have probably fit on one disc. The features are made up of documentaries and featurettes. The most intriguing of which, is on the aforementioned disorder, seen in the film. The still gallery includes rather typical looking photos from the film. I would have liked for a commentary track, but I know that not every DVD has to have one to be solid. Nicole Kidman makes this film more than just a story about "things that go bunp in the night" Recommended

Very Inteligent Horror Film
Another fantastic example of a new genre of smart, very well written and very well made horror movies. Had this come before Sixth Sense it would deserve a full 5 stars.

"I just feel more and more cut off from the world."
Alejandro Amenabar's "The Others" is a reminder that very good films need not be glitzy or gimmicky. Neither is an excess of special effects or action sequences required. Film is an exercise in storytelling and good films succeed in telling their story well no matter how small and quaint the film may appear to be.

Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman) and her two children, Nicholas (James Bentley) and Anne (Alakina Mann), live in a manor off the British coast. Three strangers arrive one day in answer to a placed advertisement for domestic help. For some strange reason, the three strangers prove to be familiar with Grace's house. Mrs. Mills (Fionnula Flanagan), Lydia (Elaine Cassidy), and the gardener Mr. Tuttle (Eric Sykes) soon immerse themselves in the daily routine of the manor, but the mood of the house suddenly seems changed with them around. Is there something to the strangers or is Grace's imagination just getting the better of her?

"The Others" revels in its simplicity. This is a film reminiscent of an earlier era in terms of filmmaking craft but it does not at all feel like a time-displaced relic when viewed through the filter of modern sensibilities. A legitimately unsettling atmosphere is created under the deft direction of Amenabar and Kidman is granted a wonderful opportunity to put her acting talents on display. She takes full advantage of her chance to carry a film on her own and succeeds admirably. Kidman is the emotional and dramatic catalyst of the story and the film as a whole would have been far less effective had she faltered. Flanagan, Cassidy, and Sykes are also great as the sweet but creepy strangers. From the outset, we know that there is something amiss by their arrival on the scene but we cannot put our finger on it. A tip of the hat to Amenabar for keeping us in suspense until the very end. Good work all around.

A Wonderful Classy Thrill Ride
Definately one of Nicole's Best Performances this film is gripping anc chilling. The acting is great and the plot takes you for many twists and turns. This reminds me of an Alfred Hitchcock movie and it will definately be remembered. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Feel good movie
This is a touching film with the story taking place in tropical Veracruz, Mexico. From the opening, with the passing of little eight year-old Julio's mom and her promise of him being sent an angel to protect him when she's gone, the title and plot immediately connect. As stated before, the setting is Mexico and make nodoubt about it as a morgue that could easily double as the towns block ice house is revealed. The muddy, unpaved streets filled with late model cars lets you know this ain't New York City. The colors and flavors of Mexico abound as the story takes place around the time of the Day of The Dead(November) and Christmas. The movie is about promises, loyalty and its consequences. Young Julio finds himself in a corrupt orphanage and escapes. The huerfanitos/orphan'sexploits and hissearch for his angel are the basis of the movie. The story quickly becomes a cross between Charles Dickens "Oliver Twist" and the classic Luis Bunuel film "Los Olvidados." Julio eventually meets an unlikely angel. His name is, what else, Angel. Angel is an unwilling angel who is the town ecentric who looks like Jerry Garcia, if he'd have lived to be older, with a Greek fishermans cap always on. Angel reluctantly takes him under his wing, sorry I had to say it, and the adventures of this unlikely couple takes the movie along. Angel teaches him what he knows and protects him from what he knows he shouldn't know, ya know what I mean?It's a heartfelt story complete with a bumbling wrap-around-sun-glasses bad guy who tries to track down Julio for fear of revealing the secrets of the orphanage. Julio and the other child actors do a credible job convincing the viewer of their plight but Angel solidifies the job. The visuals are very colorful and the music is great. The songs used are mostly sones Huastecas and Jaroches which liven up the the film. This is a very enjoyable story that will make you laugh, feel sad and touch you with it's simple, yet powerful message. If you've ever traveled in Mexico this will remind you of some of the places you may have visited. Quaint and old Mexico await the viewer of this touching story. ... Read more

Reviews (101)

Superman 4! Wish there were more!
Okay, so this movie is not considered the best out of all the Superman movies, but it still packs enough action and excitement to keep Superman fans entertained. Christopher Reeve once again delivers a knock-out performace as the Man of Steel in this final outing. He even helped write the provocative theme of nuclear disarmament that could have made this the best out of the series, had it not been for the 30 minutes that were cut out. Despite this, it is a compelling plot that is further enhanced by the return of Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and the rest of the classic cast from the original Superman movie! They have such wonderful chemistry that it's easy to look past any holes in the plot. This movie has been cleaned up for the DVD and VHS release and I can definitely tell a difference from my original video that I bought a few years back. The great performaces from the returning cast and the cool fight scene on the moon definetly make this better than a lot of other comic book movies!

Better Than 3, But Still....
Superman IV, released 4 years after the debacle that was Superman III, is not a great movie. This once grand, classy series was brought to a grinding halt with Part 3. Part 4 doesn't do much to try to salvage it. It is, however, better than 3. This time out, Superman plans on ridding the world of nuclear weapons. At the same time, evil villain Lex Luthor has escaped prison, with help from his newphew Lenny, and has created a superhero of his own named Nuclear Man. Nuclear Man's job is, of course, destroy Superman. Christopher Reeve, once again, is the anchor of this film. It's sad that he isn't given better material. However, he did help out with this one's story. It was definitley better than Part 3's lame plot. Gene Hackman as Lex is marvelous as always. All our other favorites also return. Margot Kidder was given a much better part than 3. Her Lois Lane is back in the action. There's even a nice flying sequence between her and Superman that is reminiscent of the one they took in the 1978 original. Clocking in at only 90 minutes, it doesn't have that long blockbuster epic feel to it that the others had. It's too short. Many of the flying scenes looked downright cheesy. Did director Sidney J. Furie know what he was doing?!. I don't think so. Poor Jon Cryer. He brings nothing to the role of Lenny, Lexs' dimbulb nephew. All in all, this was a pretty disappointing effort. Better than 3, but still mediocre at best. The Quest For Peace?. How about The Quest For A Good Script?.

The Quest For More
After running the series into the ground, with the almost cartoonish Superman III, it looked as if Superman were finally defeated by his greatest enemy...poor box office reciepts. But then, a few years later, star Christopher Reeve came up with an idea for one last adventure. Just like the last two sequels though, Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, didn't turn out as good as it could have.

After a poor test screening, it was decided that more than 35 minutes of footage would be edited out, leaving us with a very poorly edited film---filled with obvious plot holes that left some viewers scratching their heads. Another problem was the fact that the effects budget was slashed and boy does it show. The Salkinds refused to sell the equipment that made Reeve "fly" so well in the past, to the new producers, which also hurt the look of the film...At least original cast members Margot Kidder and Gene Hackman were both recruited to return to active duty.

Made at a time when President Reagan challenged Gorbachev to tear down that wall, the film takes a look at how our hero might deal with a still raging cold war. Superman (Reeve) is asked by a young boy to, "rid the world of all nuclear weapons" Troubled that Earth may suffer the same fate as Krypton's, he agrees, and for a time our world is safe. Lex Luthor (Hackman) has other plans. He decides to create a Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow) to defeat Superman once and for all, while rearming the world for his own financial gain.

It's a shame that the film has so many problems. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing the uncut version of the film anyway, and then let the chips fall where they may. Directed by Sidney J. Furie, Superman IV gets higher marks than third movie, because of Reeve and the return of Hackman. Both actors elevate the film in ways that Richard Pryor could not in Superman III.

The theatrical trailer is the DVD's only extra. With the relaunch of the franchise taking forever, let's see both Richard Donner's version of Superman II, and Superman IV uncut.

More watchable than part 3 but still bad
Compared to Superman 1 and 2, part 4 is lame and disapointing. It's still better than part 3 though. Part 3 had Superman against these rich snobs and the only good part was Superman vs bad Superman. Part 4 at least tried to make a villain worthy of going against Superman. He's still very weak compared to the 3 villains from Part 2 that had Superman's powers. In this Lex Luther basically says "I have an idea lets make someone who has Superman's powers". So they create this super blonde who is powered by the sun and who looks like he just came from a model shoot.

The special effects are B-Movie like and don't help the movie much either. Plus on top of it the movie is directed like a day time soap opera and seems like one too. It even has a date scene where Superman has to try and have a date with Lois Lane and Lacy Warfield (Mariel Hemingway) at the same time. That's lame and doesn't give Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder a chance to form any of the great chemestry that they had in the first 2. Just like in part 3 Lois is used as just a side character basically. All the actors still try hard, especially Gene Hackman. They just didn't have a good script to work with. It's too bad that Christopher Reeve can't do another with a bettter story and direction to make up for this one.

POOR END TO WHAT STARTED A GREAT SERIES.
By far out of story, Superman 4 The Quest for Peace was the weakest of the four films. The main problem with Superman 4 was the dramatic cutting made on the movie. The original running time was 134 mins, but it was knocked down to a disappointing 90 mins cause the 134 min version didn't do to well in a screening. It possible that a screening never took place and the story was never actually finished so they made did with what they had.

Cause of its terrible cuts, the story appears to jump and some voice overs can be seen in the film. I beleive that if Superman 4 remained at its 134 min version, Superman 4 would have been a far greater success. According to film resources the extra footage no longer exists. But there was budget restrictions on Superman 4 which is why it was totally filmed at Pinewood Studios.

Superman 4 The Quest for Peace actually feels more like a TV movie than an epic blockbuster.

A poor end to what started out as a great series of films. ...