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Kevin Bacon gives one of the best, most nuanced performances of his career in The Woodsman, a daring and thought-provoking drama he co-produced with his wife, Kyra Sedgwick. In portraying a convicted pedophile named Walter, recently released from prison and struggling to rebuild his life, Bacon and writer-director Nicole Kassell (making her feature-film debut) do a remarkable job of exploring all facets of this troubling yet very human character, from his continuing criminal impulses to the despair he feels over having to conceal his horrible past. Sedgwick costars as the one woman who appears willing to accept Walter, secrets and all, and while The Woodsman takes a few regrettable shortcuts in illustrating Walter's quest for the good man he can be, the film deserves to be seen and discussed as a provocative yet admirably humane study of an individual whom society may too quickly label a "monster." The film allows for different interpretations, and that complexity--along with Bacon's performance--makes it worthy of a wide and hopefully understanding audience. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (40)

A journey through the deep, dark woods
What a difficult subject. Kevin Bacon deserves a lot of credit for his courage in taking this on, and for doing so in a fair and balanced way. His portrayal of a man who would be broadly regarded as the lowest of the low reveals the compulsion that drives the molestor to commit such acts. He also gives the viewer glimpses into the self-disgust and self-hatred that many of these individuals feel. His struggle to control his impulses, and his fear of allowing himself to feel any emotion lest the most hideous one overtake him, is clearly communicated. Dealing with the absolute contempt of all who know his dark secret provides yet another source of deep conflict. The little girl who nearly becomes his next victim turns in a well-controlled, subtle performance. Kyra Sedgwick is also to be admired for her portrayal of a victim who has managed not to let her childhoodtrauma ruin or run her life. It must have been strange for her to think of her real-life husband as a sex offender and put herself through all the emotions that would accompany such a revelation.
The Woodsman approaches all these conflicts, and many others, in a way that allows the audience to sympathize with the offender without condoning what he did. It is gratifying to watch him tentatively open himself to another and to begin, just begin,to discover his own humanity.

Easily and Often Misunderstood
Many people are often left with disgust after watching this film, because they don't understand the writer's reasons and intentions for making the film.If you have the time, I encourage you to watch the movie with the commentary by director Nicole Kassell.Watch it with an open mind and you will learn that this film was not made to make people feel sorry for pedophiles or anything along those lines like that.You will understand it was made to appreciate an incredible struggle.The end of the film is by no means an end of the story or ultimate redemption of the Walter character either, it is just the beginning of Walter's steps in the right direction to become "normal."Also, I think an Oscar goes to Kevin Bacon for this film.

Superb Representation
This is a superb representation and great acting by Bacon. I have seen most of his movies and his been impressed by his range (I still fail to see how many less talented actors with less range get nominated, ah, well). The emotional ranges are impressive and realistic. Some of the other reviewers have done such an excellent job, I will stop here and defer to them.

Great acting.....BUT........
The WOODSMAN features excellent acting by Bacon and Sedgewick..BUT.... we have to question the motivations behind the Hollywood film community who seem to be recently releasing a load of similiar films trying to evoke sympathy for Child Molestors and Pedophiles.

What is the point of this movie ?
What is the real motivation behind the writers and creators of this film ?

This socially liberal mindset that seems to be poisoning America is beginning to concern me.
It seems there is a movement afoot to try and rationalize all forms of behaviour as acceptable and tell us we should be tolerant of people's differences no matter how evil, twisted, sick or perverted.

Great job done as a film in terms of acting and production..... but not sure I like the message trying to be sent.

"Sounds like you were banished."
Walter (Kevin Bacon) returns to his hometown after spending 12 years in jail. An apartment is waiting for him, and according to Walter it's the only place in town that will accept him as a tenant. He also has a job arranged at a factory, and his new boss quite frankly tells Walter that he "doesn't want any trouble." Walter begins his 'new life'--we don't really know what his 'old' life was. The only trace left of life before jail is a brother-in-law, Carlos (Benjamin Bratt) who comes to visit Walter in his sparsely furnished, depressing apartment. Carlos acts as a messenger to tell Walter that his sister, Annette (Jessica Nagle) doesn't want to see him yet.

Walter is a pedophile, and in Walter's scheduled sessions, his psychologist tries to get to the root of Walter's problem. Walter possesses a deep loathing for his problem, and expresses the desire that he wants to be "normal". Self-loathing causes Walter to not want to discuss his impulses, and to avoid examining his past. It's painful for him to even think about it--but think about it he must if he's ever going to understand why he's drawn to 12 year-old girls. Walter is so isolated, and the thing he needs most is social contact and support--and yet can we blame those who stay away? But it looks as though things may be looking up for Walter when he begins a relationship with a tough worker at the factory, Vickie (Kyra Sedgwick). Vickie knows that there's something "wrong" with Walter. Fellow employee, Mary Kay (Eve) sniffs he's "damaged goods", and while that's quite obvious, the nature of Walter's crimes is not.

Is there a criminal more hideous than a child molester? Placing a child molester at the centre of a film is a bold stroke. "The Woodsman" isn't a thriller--it's a character study of a person who is an outcast from society. If Walter were a vicious child molester, the film would be too much to watch, and it would probably turn into some sort of gory thriller. As it is, Walter's crimes are puzzling enough for the viewer to stick around and see whether or not Walter ever has a chance at rehabilitation. While it seems hardly credible that Vickie should bother to give Walter the time of day, as her story unfolds, her continued liaison with Walter is believable. "The Woodsman" is a finely detailed character study, and Kevin Bacon does an incredible job of portraying the damaged, fragile Walter. The script subtly weaves the theme of Little Red Riding Hood throughout the film, and the story works, ultimately, thanks to the generosity shown towards all the characters--those who do not accept Walter--as well as the ones who do--displacedhuman ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Kolchak is really Mulder's father!
An important television film from director/producer Dan Curtis (Dark Shadows) and screenwriter Richard Matheson (The Twilight Zone among many others)and a sharp, fun horror film. The Night Stalker set a new standard when it aired in the 70's; it's story with Darren McGavin's narration and the Vegas setting contributed to it being one of the highest rated t.v. movies of the week. Adapted from Jeff Rice's (then) unpublished novel, the story is about a murdered who kills his victims and then drains their blood. Kolchak (McGavin)becomes convinced that the murderer isn't a garden variety psycho but, perhaps, a real vampire. Unfortunately, no one believes him.

Films like Fright Night have used a similar premise but not in as compelling a fashion. John L. Moxey's direction is taunt and shows his roots as a veteran movie and television director. Both Darren McGain and Simon Oakland as his put upon editor give outstanding performances. Additionally, the late and under rated Barry Atwater gives substance to the shadowy role of Janos the creature that Kolchak stalks ultimately must face. Carol Lynley is fine in an underwritten role as Kolchak's girlfriend. Surprisingly, she really isn't given that much to do but, then again, this was the 70's when women in peril pretty much described the role in television programs and movies.

The sequel The Night Strangler couldn't touch the first film despite reuniting the original cast and creative crew. Perhaps it's Curtis' understated direction, but The Night Strangler doesn't quite capture my interest as well as the first film. Richard Anderson plays the title "monster".

Still, it is fun and, if it doesn't quite measure up, it's still an entertaining and imaginative story by Richard Matheson. The DVD doesn't boast any extras but the transfer is very nice given the age and source for the DVD. Anchor & Bay has done a great job returning hard-to-find classics to DVD and video. This is no exception. My only complaint is that there isn't a commentary from director Dan Curtis or actor Darren McGavin. McGavin's acerbic comments would be a welcome addition to this fine double feature.

Now it's time to return these vintage horror classics to DVD.

Carl Kolchak finds another unbelievable mystery to solve
Darren McGavin reprises his role as Carl Kolchak in this sequel to "The Night Stalker," one of the most celebrated made-for-television movies of its day. "The Night Strangler" finds our intrepid reporter challenged by his old Las Vegas editor, Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland), with uncovering a 120-yeard-old Jekyll and Hyde type killer in the eerie underground of Seattle, Washington. There really is a sense in how this sequel is trying too hard to top the original, which had the virtue of a simplistic elegance to its plot. This time around director Dan Curtis tries to come up with a really big ending, which is not where Kolchak was most effective. Maybe we would have been more impressed with this story if it did not have the original to contend with, but this is yet another instance of Hollywood trying to milk the golden goose dry. Still, any scene between McGavin and Oakland is worth paying attention to and the supporting cast throws Jo Ann Pflug, Wally Cox, Richard Anderson, Margaret Hamilton, John Carradine, and Al Lewis at us If you can not identify the Mr. Peepers, the Wicked Witch of the West, Dracula, and Granpa from the "Munsters" in that list, shame on you. But then it also serves as more evidence that this movie is trying a bit too hard.

Carl the Vampire Slayer?
When I was 9, I used to stay up and watch Kolchak: The Night Stalker. To me, it was some seriously scary stuff. I didn't know at the time that the series was based on 2 made-for-TV movies from a couple of years earlier. Many years later I was in the Air Force in 1987 and stumbled onto the original Night Stalker on VHS. I immediately rented it. The memories came flooding back. The Night Stalker, when originally aired, became the most viewed TV movie ever (at the time). It would be many more years before I got to see the second movie, The Night Strangler as part of this DVD double feature.

The Night Stalker is the story of Carl Kolchak (played by Darren McGavin), a formerly respectable reporter who fell on hard times and has ended up at a Las Vegas newspaper, searching for the one big story that will propel him back to the New york daily papers and the Big Time. That big story comes in the form of a killer with amazing strength who is, for some reason, draining his victims of blood. There is much nervous joking about the killer thinking he is a vampire. However as Kolchak follows the killer's trail, he comes to the impossible realization that the killer may indeed be a genuine vampire, and since no one else will believe or at least admit the possibility, it is up to him to kill it.

The character of Kolchak works because he is a lot like the rest of us. When the killer discovers him in hiding, Carl screams like a little girl and runs like mad! It makes us examine how we would truly react if faced face-to-fang with a REAL mythical undead creature. Carl is cowardly in many ways but he is noble on some level too. He risks his life to stop the creature, but then again, maybe he is just doing it to land that perfect story.

The Night Strangler takes place in Seattle (Kolchak moves there after the events of the first film) and he bumps into his old editor from the original movie, Anthony Vincenzo (played by the great Simon Oakland)and begs his way into another job. Soon he is investigating a series of murders where the killer apparently re-appears every few decades. This story is very similar to the character of Toomes in the first season of the X-Files, and since Chris Carter's inspiration for X-Files was the Kolchak series, it is possible that this resemblance is not coincidental.

As many other reviewers have mentioned, it is a SHAME that the Kolchak TV series has not been released on DVD yet. I am sure it will happen eventually, but the sooner the better. These movies are 30 years old now, but they still hold up today. Just try to ignore the polyester suits, plaid sports jackets, and go-go boots!

Note: in August 2004 a new release of these 2 films is being issued. It supposedly will have some featurettes and interviews. I am reviewing the 1998 release which has no extra features. Hold out for the new release if you have not bought this yet.

Bring on the TV Series
I see TV show collections on everything from The Monkees (which I like, by the way) to MASH (good one, two), but why hasn't this classic show been issued? Let's hope it will soon -- along with the "Get Smart" TV series. Come on, my credit card is ready to go CHA-CHING!

This is a priceless piece of the golden era of TV
Man... I saw this and it took me right back to my childhood. I remembered the old house we lived in during that period, and how my elementary school friends and I used to revel in this show. We loved this show. If was by far the hippest TV show of the early 1970's. After this, "The 6-Million Dollar Man" took over. I was about 7-9 years old during this show's all-to-brief run. That is the prime time of the childhood imagination. I had several lost time experiences while watching this show. My sister hated it because it was "too scary". That was why we loved it. The opening theme song is absolutely unforgettable.

This show had a ton of entertainment value. It is one of the forgotten gems of the golden era of TV. A number of academy award winning directors got their first breaks directing episodes of this show. Chris Carter-creator of the X-Files-often sited this show as one of his inspirations. The studio team killed this program because the FX budget was too limited and noir filming schedule was killing the cast and crew. You will note that almost all the shots are night time shots, and done outdoors on location in Hollywood (even though this was supposed to be Chicago.) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen 30th Anniversary Edition)
Having proven itself as a favorite film of children around the world, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is every bit as entertaining now as it was when originally released in 1971. There's a timeless appeal to Roald Dahl's classic children's novel, which was playfully preserved in this charming musical, from the colorful carnival-like splendor of its production design to the infectious melody of the "Oompah-Loompah" songs that punctuate the story. Who can forget those diminutive Oompah-Loompah workers who recite rhyming parental warnings ("Oompah-Loompah, doopity do...") whenever some mischievous child has disobeyed Willy Wonka's orders to remain orderly? Oh, but we're getting ahead of ourselves ... it's really the story of the impoverished Charlie Bucket, who, along with four other kids and their parental guests, wins a coveted golden ticket to enter the fantastic realm of Wonka's mysterious confectionery. After the other kids have proven themselves to be irresponsible brats, it's Charlie who impresses Wonka and wins a reward beyond his wildest dreams. But before that, the tour of Wonka's factory provides a dazzling parade of delights, and with Gene Wilder giving a brilliant performance as the eccentric candyman, Wonka gains an edge of menace and madness that nicely counterbalances the movie's sentimental sweetness. It's that willingness to risk a darker tone--to show that even a wonderland like Wonka's can be a weird and dangerous place if you're a bad kid--that makes this an enduring family classic.

The Wizard of Oz
When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939, The Wizard of Oz didn't start out as the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business, but it wasn't until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. And while Oz's TV broadcasts are now controlled by media mogul Ted Turner (who owns the rights), the advent of home video has made this lively musical a mainstay in the staple diet of great American films. Young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), her dog, Toto, and her three companions on the yellow brick road to Oz--the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger)--have become pop-culture icons and central figures in the legacy of fantasy for children. As the Wicked Witch who covets Dorothy's enchanted ruby slippers, Margaret Hamilton has had the singular honor of scaring the wits out of children for more than six decades. The film's still as fresh, frightening, and funny as it was when first released. It may take some liberal detours from the original story by L. Frank Baum, but it's loyal to the Baum legacy while charting its own course as a spectacular film. Shot in glorious Technicolor, befitting its dynamic production design (Munchkinland alone is a psychedelic explosion of color and decor), The Wizard of Oz may not appeal to every taste as the years go by, but it's required viewing for kids of all ages. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (131)

Jennifer's The Graduate Review
The film The Graduate is a classic 1967 release that is directed by Mike Nichols and released by Embassy Pictures. The film earned $50 million in 1968, which is number one money maker in that time.
Director, Nichols, won the Academy Award for Best Director. The film was also nominated for 6 other Awards, Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. The soundtrack featuring songs by Simon and Garfunkel was gold in 1968 and "Mrs. Robinson" was number one on the charts for four weeks.
College grad (Dustin Hoffman) does what his parents and other people tell him to do including family friend Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) who tells him to have an affair with her. Then he falls in love with her daughter Eliane Robinson (Katherine Ross), and finally finds something he wants to do with his life.
I give this film 4 stars because I thought Dustin Hoffman did a good job. I thought that the music complimented the movie nicely as well. It was a good film.

always relevant no matter what year you graduated!
This movie put Dustin Hoffman on the map -- it is the tale of Ben (Hoffman) and his uncertainty about what to do with his post-collegiate future (despite his neighbor's advice that the future is in plastics.) At his graduation party, he meets up with longtime family friend Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) who proceeds to seduce him ("I think you're the most attractive of my parents' friends, Mrs. Robinson.") They have a secret affair for quite some time.

Then, Ben's parents think it would be nice if he dates Elaine, that nice Mrs. Robinson's daughter! They set up the date, paying no attention to Ben's wishes against it. He acts like a complete jerk during the date so Elaine won't like him, then ends up falling for her anyway. This ends up with him proposing to her later, even when she has decided to marry someone else. The wedding scene is dramatic, and has been parodied on everything from Wayne's World 2 to The Simpsons.

The writing is hilarious, and Hoffman's delivery is great - upon seeing Elaine's finacee approaching them, he gives the sarcastic praise: "He's a good walker!" I love Ben's mom's over-the-top scream of delight when Ben announces he is getting married -- though he hasn't actually asked Elaine yet. And in the scene at the zoo, when Ben is left alone watching Elaine walk off with her fiancee, the camera cuts from the actors to a pair of monkeys grooming each other, and then to a lonesome gorilla. (I think they were trying to be dramatic but I found it funny.)

The Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack is great, and the acting is superb. Ben's father is played by William Daniels, also known as the voice of KIT on the 80s show "Knight Rider" and Mr. Feeny on "Boy Meets World". Ben's landlord at a boarding house is Norma Fell, Three's Company's 'Mr. Roper' (does he always play a landlord?). A great film!

THE Coming of Age Movie
This one is fantastic and very relevant even now a days. Dustin Huffman's breakout film has wonderful performances by all of the actors, a great story, beautiful filmography and a fantastic sound track by Simon and Garfunkle.

Bad movie, no donut
I was 21 when this came out, it was pointless then and still is.
Hoffman was no actor and still is not.

A Beautifully Crafted Film
This movie is a classic example of how good films were even as recent as the 1960's. The plot itself is not so original (young man has an affair with older married woman), however the movie is done in such an artistic way that the affair itself is put in the backseat for most of the film. If this movie were to be remade today, it would have been very sexualy charged and raunchy will the majority of the content focusing on the actual affair itself. However because this movie was made during a time when true quality and craftsmanship was appreciated, the themes are delicate and subtle. It really makes you use your imagination and look deeper into the storyline, rather than just the obvious. The backdrop (Southern & Northern California), the wonderful musical score (Simon & Garfunkel) and great cast made this movie very worthwhile to see as well. If you enjoy movies made with thought and care behind it, you should definitely check this one out! ... Read more

Reviews (130)

Takes classic film noir detective story to new heights
This 1974 film takes the classic film noir detective movie to new heights. Yes, there is murder, scandal and lots of lies. But yet Jack Nicholson, cast as a private eye, is a sympathetic character. There's one scene in which the director, Roman Polanski, playing a bit part as a thug, rips open Nicholson's nose with a knife. This is the kind of wound that makes the audience grimace every time someone refers to it in the film. Faye Dunaway is cast as the femme fatale. She's beautiful, of course, and it's hard to take our eyes off of her. She's a woman of mystery, but little by little we glimpse her humanity. And by the time her secret is revealed, she's won everyone's heart.

Based on a real life scandal in Los Angeles in 1908, another underlying theme is about water and power in this desert city. The action takes place in the 1930s, and the details of that period of time are well portrayed, right down to Faye Dunaway's shaved and penciled eyebrows. The screenplay won an Academy Award and I can understand why. It was tightly written and revealed details that moved the plot forward at just the right pace. I sat there fascinated, not wanting to take my eyes off the screen, trying to figure out what would happen next and constantly surprised by the next twist and turn. John Huston is cast in the role of a wealthy landowner with a huge secret of his own. He's a fine actor and his presence on the screen added depth to the whole production.

The DVD has a special interview with the writer, Robert Towne, as well as Roman Polanski. This added to my enjoyment of the film and provided further insight about its production. Definitely recommended.

Transcendent Film Noir
I've seen very few "greatest film" lists that don't have Chinatown among the top 10, or even top 5. It's deserving. It's done in the style of a '50's film noir, but transcends the genre.

There are great performances here by Jack Nicholson and John Huston. Nicholson plays a jaded but heroically decent private investigator in the mold of Humphrey Bogart. He's much less the tough guy than Bogart, though, and you get the impression that he'd rather being doing something less seedy for a living. It's a very subtle portrayal. Huston, on the other hand, plays a tycoon whose mere presence on the screen can make your skin crawl.

The film stands out in just about every respect. The sets are wonderful and the cinematography beautiful to look at. Even the score is exceptional.

The DVD is a little short of extras, but they really aren't missed. The transfer is very high quality in all respects.

To the brainiac above who doesn't understand why the water is being dumped in the ocean: they're trying to create a drought to drive the farmers out of business. That's pretty much the key point of the plot. And, yes, a .38 snubnose is perfectly capable of hitting someone at 50 yards. Guns & Ammo tests them to that distance all the time. Get a clue!

A Master Screenplay, A Perfect Film
Many writers consider Robert Towne's screenplay for 'Chinatown' as the perfect screenplay. It is, and is also in fact the example of how important good writing is in the art of cinema. It is perfection and in the hands of Roman Polanski it became a film masterpiece. But it all goes back to the writing. Robert Towne has taken the true story of how Los Angeles stole water to grow and wound around it the fictional story of Jake Gittes, Evelyn Mulwray, and Noah Cross and made them major participants in an ugly little tale of lust and greed. Towne's screenplay is layered like a decaying Dahlia with twisting mysteries and taught suspense. There is not a loose end in sight and a few well placed red herrings are added to the mix to delight any fan of this type of story.
The attention to detail from vintage cars, sets, real L.A. streets and alleys to the excellent score by Jerry Goldsmith and the golden cinematography of John A. Alonzo contribute to all the aspects of this classic of the post 60's film noir.
Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Mulwray is at the top of her game creating a neurotic exotic hothouse flower that carries death within the heart of her dark and dirty secret. Lacquered and veiled in the most perfect black widow getup of the genre she is superbly brittle and vulnerable at the same time. She is fascinating to watch as she slowly unravels along with the mystery until she is naked in the horror of what her past and present prison is. This is a great performance by a great artist.
As Evelyn's father Noah Cross, John Huston is the debauched cancerous center of evil and greed captured within the crumbling casing of a seemingly charming old man. He too gives the performance of a lifetime and his soliloquy on what a man is capable of is chilling.
The center of this masterwork is Jack Nicholson who became a star with this, the best of his early work. His J. J. Gittes is hardboiled and ruthless in getting to the bottom of why he is being used to take the fall for a murder. He embodies the soul of Bogart and the heart of a romantic fighting to stay tuff in a rotten world. He is drawn with such skill that he seems not to be acting but simply existing the real world of L.A. in the late 1930's.
"Chinatown" is seminal in its place in film history. It bridged and old and forgotten genre with a new Hollywood in its post studio infancy and laid the groundwork for later films of equal ambition such as "Mullholland Falls" and "L.A. Confidential".
This is one of the best film ever made and a must have for any serious film collector.

I cut my nose shaving
Not since Otto Preminger's LAURA had filmgoers the pleasure of watching a classic film noir, until Polanski's CHINATOWN. The plot and characters are complex but chillingly believeable. I can't find anything wrong with this film. It is well-paced for a fairly long movie. The lighting, cinematography, setting, costumes... everything is as should be. The performances by John Huston and Faye Dunaway are eerie and tragic, respectively. Then of course there's Nicholson. Mad Jack was already firmly established on the Hollywood map having already won acclaim for EASY RIDER, THE LAST DETAIL, and FIVE EASY PIECES. This film however fixed him permanently in the constellation of Hollywood stars. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST would soon follow. In any event, his portrayal of an aloof, world-weary gumshoe who stumbles in over his head into an intrigue involving crooked politicians and the money-slobbering wealthy still holds up 30 years later. This is an incredible film.

THIS IS WHAT FILM IS SUPPOSED TO BE
The mid-1970s saw a spate of "government conspiracy" films, all with liberal themes that emanated from Watergate. None of them were about Kennedy stealing the 1960 election. Hmm.
"Chinatown" (1974) may be the best screenplay ever written. A historical look at 1930s Los Angeles, it actually condensed events from the 1900s with events that, uh, never happened but made for good drama. Written by L.A. native Robert Towne, directed by Roman Polanski, produced by Evans and starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunnaway and famed director John Huston, it told the story of how Los Angeles became a metropolis. In Towne's version, Huston "owns" the L.A. Department of Water & Power with a character based on actual L.A. City engineer William Mulholland. Mulholland had orchestrated the political deal which built the aqueduct that brought water from the Owens Valley into the L.A. Basin, allowing millions of Southern Californians to keep their lawns green to this day.
The Mulholland character is "sacrificed" at the altar of greed, embodied by Huston, who secretly buys the San Fernando Valley, knowing that once the water deal is set, it will be incorporated into the city, making him a gazillionaire. It is rather cynical, although nobody suggests the L.A. "city fathers" were boy scouts. The same old theme is that capitalism and American political power are corrupt. To make sure the audience is convinced the corruption is beyond redemption, Huston is in the end found out be an insatiable, incestual monster. He plays the role so well it brings up minds-eye imagery of his real daughter, Angelica. The film is utterly beyond any criticism, regardless of political colorization. For decades, film students and screenwriters have studied it. It spawned an artistic quest to lace the screen with symbols, metaphors, backstory, and twists.
"Chinatown" seems to be the apex of the American film period, the mid-1970s. The period from 1960 to 1979 is unparalleled, but the backstory of the people who created these classics is a telling tale of why the genre leans to the Left. In the 1960s, film schools became popular. Four schools emerged, and have held their place as the place to learn the craft. In Los Angeles there was the USC School of Cinema-Television. Their first big alumnus was "Star Wars" director George Lucas. UCLA combined their film school with their drama program, so as to bring actors, writers, directors and producers together. Coppola went to UCLA along with a future rock star named Jim Morrison, who would form The Doors with another UCLA film alumnus, keyboardist Ray Manzarek.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM ... Read more

Description

Lara inspires lechery in Komarovsky (her mother's lover who is a master at surviving whoever runs Russia) and can't compete with passion for the revolution of the man she marries, Pasha. Her true love is Zhivago who also loves his wife. Lara is the one who inspires poetry. The story is narrated by Zhivago's half brother Yevgraf, who has made his career in the Soviet Army. At the beginning of the film he is about to meet a young woman he believes may be the long lost daughter of Lara and Zhivago. ... Read more

Reviews (132)

Doctor Zhivago with Omar Sharif
Doctor Zhivago is David Lean 's measured and beautiful adaptation of Boris Pasternak 1958-acclaimed novel. Made in 1965 and winner of five Academy Awards, starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie, Doctor Zhivago is a cinematic masterpiece, a visually stunning and expressively powerful love story set in the foreground of life in Russia during the latter days of Czarist Russia and the turmoil of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.

The film features gorgeous landscape and romantic scenes set to Maurice Jarre's haunting music. Lean uses Panavision cinematography to boast his landscapes that are often remote and cold is contrasted with the emotional fires burning within Zhivago and Lara -- a romanticized version of an illicit relationship without moral dilemmas or conflicts. The romance is amid the opulence of Russia before the war and the violent social upheaval that followed. Like many Russians, Zhivago's life is swept away with the radical currents of the Revolution.

A stunning Russian love epic of grand proportions.
This is the film that set off a fashion trend at my high school when it was released in a 30th Anniversary edition. This film is a grand scale drama about a Russian poet/doctor who dearly loves his sensitive wife yet wants this other woman named Lara. The backdrop is Russia during the Revolution around 1916, or something like that. Zhivago and his family are swept up in these fleeting events that put him in self-conflict between his wife and adulterous lover. His final choices concerning her and his family forever alter his remaining years. Based on the Nobel-Prize winning novel, it won 5 Academy Awards in 1965--Best Screenplay Adaptation, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, and Best Music Score, which introduced the hit tune "Lara's Theme" a.k.a. "Somewhere My Love." It was also a Best Picture nominee. Omar Sharif won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Zhivago. Julie Christie and Geraldine Chaplin also star. Christie won the Oscar that same year for Best Actress in the film "Darling", which I also reviewed. Not rated upon its release, but the anniversary edition denotes a PG-13 rating for mature themes and situations. This is one of my favorite films ever and is one of the films listed on AFI's Top 100 Films of All Time. The acting is great, costumes exquisitely detailed, gorgeous photography, lavish sets, and a famous score all add up to one of the greatest films of this century.

Doctor Zhivago Was An Adulterous Slime!!
Folks, get the romantic stars out of your eyes. Doctor Zhivago was cheating on his pregnant wife with (...) Lara, who started out in the world by having an affair with a MARRIED MAN! She seems to like the married ones. Commitment phobic?

Yes, it had a soaring score and gorgeous landscapes, but the morals of these characters made me sick. For Zhivago to leave his pregnant wife with an old man in the middle of nowhere in a Russian winter was reprehensible. I found it poetic justice when Zhivago's raging hormones led him back to the town where Lara was and he was caught by the army and inducted as military surgeon. He deserved the misery he put upon himself! That's the plot in a nutshell!

great film
This dvd format of "Doctor Zivago," is excellent a great documentary and much extra special and footage and a trailer. This is well worth getting and excelent film, one of the best ever. Great packaging and wonderful acting. A must see movie.

An epic that lasts...
David Lean, creator of the also epically great Lawrence of Arabia, has taken Boris Pasternak's novel and created a very good film with it. Having not read the book, I cannot comment and will not on whether it matches the book, but I can say the movie itself is very near excellent. This movie is really almost a historical film in disguise, since it highlights the lives of many, but especially Yuri and Lara, the main characters, and their attempts to live during and after the early nineteen hundreds Russian revolution. Like the movie To Live did for China, Dr. Zhivago helps one understand the daily sufferings before and after the revolution. These sufferings, or sufferers, are laced with almost hope as they live and love one another and try to thrive. This movie, although long, should interest almost anyone. It will also touch the mind and remind themselves of other culture's and their historical changes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Geoffrey Rush is in bravura form in his shape-shifting performance as one of the cinema's great chameleons:Peter Sellers. This higgledy-piggledy biopic races across the high and low points of Sellers's adult life, pretty much sticking to the standard explanation (endorsed by Sellers himself) that his genius for mimickry and impersonation was the result of lacking a personality of his own. Sellers's monstrous treatment of wives and colleagues is balanced by his childlike enthusiasms, all nicely captured by Rush. As for the re-creations of Sellers routines from The Goon Show or Dr. Strangelove, Rush gives it a game and sometimes inspired go. Other characters are as incidental as they seem to have been to Sellers himself, with Miriam Margolyes (as Peter's grasping, goading mother) and Emily Watson (patient first wife) especially good. Charlize Theron is Britt Ekland, with little more to do than adopt a Swedish accent. The events chosen to illustrate Sellers's neuroses seem random--from a drawn-out infatuation with Sophia Loren to his feud with Blake Edwards--and the film piles up until Sellers's heart finally gives out. This middling life story could have made, and deserves, a great documentary. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Funny bio-pic
Genre: Bio-pic, Comedy, Drama

Genre Grade: C+

Final Grade: B-

This movie didn't keep me interested very well, I kept wishing it would hurry up and end. After the first half of the film you hate who Peter Sellers was so much that you just hope he'll have a heart attack and die. The film redeems itself somewhat in the end, but not enough to leave a lasting effect on me. The film, however, was very well made and the screenplay was excellently written, though on the boring side.

Geoffrey Rush does an excellent job at capturing the character of Peter Sellers - during some moments of the film (such as the Dr. Strangelove re-enactments) you truly think you're watching footage straight from the original.

I did enjoy finding out what kind of horrible man Peter Sellers really was (I won't go into details as not to ruin it). It makes me respect him as an actor much less, but it seems the awards knew about his true self as well because he only won one major award in his life, and that was very early in his career. For me, I will just have to remember him as his four characters from Dr. Strangelove and Inspector Jacques Clouseau from The Pink Panther.

The Many Faces of Peter Sellers.
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers is a captivating biopic of a legendary actor who had been able to play many memorable characters in film, but have lost his own character in life. Peter Sellers is brilliantly portrayed by Oscar-winning Geoffrey Rush(Shine), who had turned in a multilayered and powerful performance. It's amazing that he could do so many impersonations. This film chronicles the family life, relationships, and career of Sellers.

Peter Sellers worked in radio before making his transition to acting in films in Britain. His first wife Anne is played by multiple Oscar-nominated Emily Watson(Breaking The Waves, Hilary and Jackie), who managed to steal some scenes, and appeared in mostly the first half hour. Sellers is an emotionally unstable man, and his relationship with his family is quite volatile. His overwhelming passion for acting made him neglectful towards his family, and he divorced his wife when he tried to pursued his co-star Sophia Loren(Sonia Aquino, who is a total SL look alike).

He eventually make his crossover from Britain to Hollywood, and he was a sensation with his debut film The Pink Panther in which he played a supporting role that allowed him to steal the movie. During his rise in Hollywood, he takes the advice of psychic Maurice Woodruff(Stephen Fry) and pursued a bombshell actress Brit Ekland(Charlize Theron), who would become his second wife. Their marriage didn't last long dued to personality differences.

At the peak of his career, he worked with famous directors including Blake Edwards(John Edwards) and Stanley Kubrick(Stanley Tucci). His last sentimental dramedy Being There garnered him an Oscar nomination.His personal life was a disaster, and he emotionally abandoned his unconditionally loving mother Peg(Miriam Margolyes). He was did cocain and hadcasual sex with many women. We also get see a lot of his on set filming experiences.

Even though I am not familiar Peter Sellers' work, because his films were made in '60s and '70s, but after seeing this movie, I am probably going to check out some of his best movies.

Rush Shines as Sellers
Peter Sellers is my all-time favorite screen comedian.I'm familiar with his early Ealing work to "Being There".I approached this film with great skepticism because I did not think it possible to recreate his unique genius.Geoffrey Rush would not appear to be the ideal choice to play Sellers.He neither looks or has the vocal patterns of Sellers.During the initial stages of this film it's hard to overlook this but as the film progresses Rush slowly morphs into your mind that he is Peter Sellers.It's not so much in the recreation of Sellers' famed film roles but in his depiction of his personal life.To those unfamiliar with Sellers he was a manic-depressive.Sellers creativity was unfortunately fueled by his insecurity and self-loathing.Where I think this is an important film is not so much as biography of Sellers but as a vehicle to shed light on the personal hell that life is for the clinically depressed, where, in this case, you happen to be the world's most famous comedian.Though this film is essentially a showcase for Rush, the supporting cast is uniformly superb.Where do I begin?Kudos to Emily Watson, Charlize Theron, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Miriam Margulyes, and Stephen Fry.Director Stephen Hopkins directs this film stylishly but I do quibble with some of the film's continuity problems.Some of the events are chronologically out of order.For instance, "The Pink Panther" was made after "Dr. Strangelove".Also, a scene attributed to "The Pink Panther" was actually from "A Shot in the Dark".They also utilize The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go", a song that came out two years after Sellers' death.

"Life is being someone else"
In order to dutifully engage in this arty, surrealistic biography it probably helps if the viewer has some prior knowledge of Peter Seller's acting and the contributions that he made to screen comedy. Because without this knowledge the film could well seem overly opaque and unclear as it tends to rely on a patch network of events that are well paced, but that sometimes come across as being rather obscure, and hard to follow.

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers manages to sustain interest most of the way, mostly due to the remarkable performances, but the combination of an unsympathetic central figure and a strange, eccentric narrative style, makes for an ambitiously told life story that doesn't really cut it. The movie paints a complex, intelligent, and artistically ambitious portrait, which centers so deeply in Sellers' mind that it really only paints, half the picture.

The annoying inclusion of movie scenes within movie scenes, where Geoffrey Rush as Sellers breaks character to become Sellers' mum, dad, or even Anne, his wife commenting on Sellers, all draws too much attention to itself and becomes a sort of distraction from the main story.

The movie begins as Sellers (Rush) is shifting into film after radio's The Goon Show, moving from wacky costar to leading man. His ambitious, dictatorial mother Peg (a terrific Miriam Margolyes) won't stand for him settling for second best, and certainly won't allow him to stay at home looking after the children, which she views as "women's work."

Peg deliberately pushes Peter into the movies with the rest of the story covering his roller- coaster career, from the making of Dr Strangelove, and the Pink Panther movies, to his aborted attempt at James Bond, and his unbridled passion to make Being There. Throughout, we manage to get a glimpse of his working relationships with Blake Edwards (John Lithgow) and Stanley Kubrick (Stanley Tucci). The story also covers his physical problems, his emotional dysfunctions, and his troubled domestic life, involving his marriage and children with Anne (a stunning Emily Watson) and Britt Ekland (an equally stunning Charlize Theron).

This is a masterful performance by Rush who interprets Sellers as a kind of perpetual, selfish child. He gives us a portrait of a tortured, and physically and emotionally abusive genius, who was so deeply immersed into his characters that he virtually disappeared; a man so obsessed with his identity that he found it impossible to relate to those around him. Severely spoilt and mollycoddled by his Mother, Sellers expected women to unadulteratingly fawn over him. But he just can't handle hearing the truth, and when Sophia Loren (Sonia Aquino) tells him to "go home to his wife" he reacts with a strange mixture of sexual rebellion and juvenile violence.

The colours and textures of the 50s, 60s and 70s, are inventively captured and a good job is done of recreating scenes from Sellers' movies along with constant references and sight gags. But the insertion of the fantasy sequences, while impressively showing Sellers gradual slipping grip on reality don't always work, such as when his mother is forced to have lunch, not with her son, but with Dr Strangelove.

Watson and Theron are absolutely sensational as Sellers' troubled, abused wives (Theron is almost unrecognizable as Ekland, and she proves that Monster was definitely no fluke). Most of the best scenes are when Rush effectively plays off both actresses.

This is a funny, romantic and ultimately tragic story that feels a little stretched, episodic, and ultimately overly ambitious in its artistic intentions. The movie is clever enough to let the characters grow on us, but as it goes on it all comes kind of exhausting and just little too much to handle in a 2 hour film. Mike Leonard May 05.

Who is Peter Sellers and Why is Acting Like That?
Paraphrasing a famous line serves as a summation to this excellent study of Peter Sellers, one of Hollywood'smost popular and beloved comedians: for all the public masks there were many more private ones that until now never seemed so cogent.

Peter Sellers (a brilliant Geoffrey Rush who is such a fine actor that he doesn't try to impersonate Sellers, rather interpret him) was one strange man.His foibles in life are more interesting than the fascinating characters he created on film, characters that are still being imitated by such actors as Steve Martin, etc.He was a disturbed man, with a more than bizarre relationship with his mother (Miriam Margolyes), his directors Stanley Kubrick (Stanley Tucci) and Blake Edwards (John Lithgow) and abusive relationship with his wife Anne (the always superb Emily Watson) and his tryst with Britt Ekland (Charlize Theron).

At times in this rather cumbersome script the film loses focus with a too heavily weighted angst that besmirched Sellers life.His abominable behavior patterns and generally inappropriate responses to those who would make him a star, while expertly crafted by Geoffrey Rush into complete credibility, are not relieved by sufficient moments of comedy, moments that made this actor famous in the first place.

The acting is uniformly excellent, far better than the script would suggest, and the glamour of the 1960s excesses is well captured though degenerate to see again.But for all that, this is a well-done look at the life of a comedic genius whose screen presence was probably the only real thing about him.Grady Harp, May 05 ... Read more

Reviews (495)

A cinematic masterpiece!
Meet Oskar Schindler. A German living in occupied Poland during World War II. A member in good standing of the Nazi party. A womanizer, a war profiteer...and ultimately a man of conscience. A man who became one of the great unsung heroes and humanitarians of the war.

"Schindler's List" chronicles Oskar Schindler's spiritual odyssey from war profiteer to humanitarian and hero. Winner of seven Academy Awards® in 1993, including Best Picture, this harrowing and heart-rending film is Steven Spielberg's masterpiece, and perhaps one of the finest and most important movies ever made. It depicts Schindler's ultimately successful attempt to rescue 1,100 Jews from Hitler's "Final Solution" by getting them to safety outside Poland.

Dynamic performances abound in this beautiful movie, Especially noteworthy are Liam Neeson as the suave Schindler, Ralph Fiennes as the monstrously depraved Nazi colonel, Amon Goeth, and Ben Kingsley as the dignified, principled Jewish prisoner Itzhak Stern.

"Schindler's List" is definitely not light entertainment! This beautiful movie allows viewers to feel like they're actually a part of one of the darkest, most horrific periods in history. (I'm sure this is the reason the film was shot in black-and-white, with only minor "colorized" bits included.) The story of the Holocaust needs to be told over and over again, in hopes that future generations can understand the horrors perpetrated on an entire race of people and prevent future occurrences. "Schindler's List" is perhaps one of the best and most effective vehicles for telling that story I've ever experienced.

Whoever Saves One Life Saves the World Entire!
That's the tagline of Steven Spielberg's 1993 holocaust epic, SCHINDLER'S LIST (a film that has inspired me with my own film, TRIANGLE). What is this film? A documentary? A memorial service? A biopic? The answer is all of the above. It is a realistic look at a man who began as a womanizing criminal and ended as a sympathetic savior to thousands of Jewish people.

Based on Thomas Keneally's bestselling novel, it is passionate look at the Jewish struggle during the ghetto liquidation by the Nazis and in the concentration camps.

Filmed entirely on location in Poland and in black-and-white, with some color aspects, SCHINDLER'S LIST brings to life one of the saddest chapters in history. Starring Liam Neeson as industrialist Oskar Schindler; Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth; Ben Kingsley as Schindler's accountant Itzhak Stern; and Caroline Goodall as Schindler's wife, Emilie.

This is a film too sad to imagine, but also very important to watch and shameful to miss. Neeson does an extraordinary job in showing us the man who saved so many lives. A man whom most would call a pirate, he has shown us a brighter light. But, honestly, the one who impressed me (and shocked me the most) was Ralph Fiennes as a Nazi superior. Fiennes was known for playing romantic heroes on the London stage before playing such a dastardly role. (In the end, you can't help but cheer when he is eventually hanged.) And to Ben Kingsley (Oscar-winner for GANDHI), always the dependable one! His Stern provided me enough time to breathe a sign of relief and smile at his nervously mousy character. From his being trapped inside the train to his trying to reason with Schindler about the one-arm man's dependability working in the factory (a rare comedic moment in the film).

This is a triumph in every way possible! To watch a man, whom we never even heard of, save thousands of lives is heart-breakingly wonderful. Good job, Steven!

Winner of 7 Academy Awards including: Best Picture - Steven Spielberg, Branko Lustig & Gerald R. Molen; Best Director - Steven Spielberg; Best Adapted Screenplay - Steven Zaillian; Best Cinematography - Janusz Kaminski; Best Art Direction/Set Decoration - Allan Starski, Ewa Braun; Best Score - John Williams; and Best Film Eediting - Michael Kahn.

Approximately: 3 HOURS and 17 MINUTES

**Schindler's List **
This film from Steven Spielberg was shot in black and white and is very effective as a film to portray what happened to the Jews in Germany/Poland etc.. from the ghettos to the concentration camps. The film is very realistic in its portrayal and the environment of that time in history of the 1930's and 1940's. This is a film that you may only want to watch once. It is an excellent film. The acting is very good, the reality of the killings is very graphic. The cinematography is excellent. The only reason I think that is a film to viewed once or twice in one's life is due to the depressing nature of the film. I think it is a film that younger generations (teenagers and some people in their 20's) should see because many are coming out of school without even knowing who Adolf Hitler was and what he had done. I think it's important that they see what occurred so a repeat of history does not happen. This is an important film, but not necessarily one you want to view over and over again.

Some other reviewers on this forum start bringing up that "other genocides occurred in history" and how come only this one is made into a film. I'm afraid folks that Spielberg didn't make an all encompassing film to include all of the past atrocities that happened in the past 1000 years. He focused just on the Holocast. Also it is just pure ignorance to deny that 5-6 million Jewish civilians were killed/murdered. Even if it was 10,000 Jews, it does not make it any better. It doesn't really matter if they were Jews or any other religion. The fact is that 6 million PEOPLE who were civilians were murdered. They were Germans, Polish, French and many other nationalities. It just happened they were of the Jewish faith that was targeted by the Nazis(Jews were used as a scapegoat to blame all of Germany's economic ills as a country on. The Nazis also killed and murdered gypsies too. The people (men, women and children) killed were white people (Jewish is not a race. It is a religion).
Actual documentation of what the Nazi's did is on film shot by British news cameras as the American and British soldiers entered these concentration camps throughout 1945. Disease was rampant in these camps due to all the mass graves and thousands of bodies that were left to rot (by the Germans) as the British bulldozers needed to bury these corpses. My father and grandfather were in the 2nd World War as part of the American and British invasion of Germany and witnessed it first hand. That's enough proof as far as I am concerned. Yes. Not all Germans were bad people, but there were enough of them to throw the world into a World War in 1939 and to allow this to go on just a few miles from their towns and villages.

This is a good film. Good coverage of a very bad time in world history.

Not the best Special Edition one can expect, but still...
Although this 5 time Academy Award winning film certainly gets a beautiful presentation on disc, I both do and do not understand the complaining of the DVD presentation of Schindler's List. But first, let me discuss the benefits of the disc first.

The picture here is impressive, although there are noticeable flaws. The 1.85:1 anamorphic picture showcases excellent detail and rich black levels; at times the picture looked so good I thought that the movie was remastered by Lowery Digital Services. But then minor flaws show up, such as excessive grain and minor print flaws (such as in the sequence where Schindler Jews are calling out their names, I spotted a vertical line). Flaws aside, the picture is still beautiful and Janusz Kaminski's photography is put to good use here.

The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 Surround. All Dolby and DTS tracks give a sense of place to the film, and while the tracks aren't bass-heavy, they fit the movie's tone perfectly. It demonstrates excellent stereo separation and bass response, all the while not calling attention to itself. The two-sided disc cuts down on cost, and the menus allow one to access each part of the DVD with considerable ease. (The movie is also given French and Spanish spoken languages and subtitles, while the extras have optional subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.)

Now, the disadvantages. I know people were expecting an extras-packed version of this movie, but we only have two real extras included; the "Voices From the List" Featurette and "Behind the Shoah Visual Foundation" Featurette. Both are good extras detailing the various stories recounted by actual Schindler Jews, and while these are substantial enough, I had the feeling more could've been added. If Spielberg were to do commentaries, I would appreciate one done for this film, and the addition of the theatrical trailer would help too. Inclusion of those two extras would've added much more to the DVD.

Still, quibble about the extras aside, the disc release of this film gives newcomers a chance to be introduced to one of Spielberg's greatest cinematic achievements ever made, with great picture and sound. It may not always be easy viewing, but the impact it leaves is indelible and unforgettable. For fans of Spielberg's work and this movie, this disc is a must-have, despite the slim extras. (If you're intent on having more, the gift set is a viable option. Along with the DVD, it also includes a booklet, the movie's soundtrack CD, certificate of authenticity, a photo still book and a Plexiglas keep case.)

History repeating it's self?
Why don't we hear about other genocides, like the ones in Russia and Turkey that inspired the German one? The movie was so distorted and stereotypical it's ridicules. The nazi's weren't all-bad and the Jews weren't all good. Jews aren't as innocent as they are portrayed. This could be due to Hollywood being monopolized by them. See how much trouble Mel Gibson had when he tried make a movie that portrayed Jews as less than perfect. If they had really went through all that trauma, why would they go to Palestine and commit the same atrocities only decades before to the Arabs? Schindler's List is just one of the yearly Jewish propaganda films that are thrown at us, like the pianist for ex. And worst of all, every year schools have to show this movie to young children. And Disney show's this movie every yr on the wonderful world of Disney. Why is this gruesome movie targeted at kids I have no idea. "so we won't forget the past my A**" ... Read more

Amazon.com

In paying simple tribute to firefighters, Ladder 49 gets to the heart of those who risk their lives for a living. Director Jay Russell brought similar sincerity to his memorable family favorite My Dog Skip, and despite the banalities of an ultra-conventional screenplay by Lewis Colick, Ladder 49 generates so much goodwill toward its Baltimore firemen that you may find yourself unexpectedly overcome with emotional appreciation for guys like Jack (Joaquin Phoenix), a firefighter whose career, courtship, marriage, and fatherhood are viewed in flashback as he struggles to survive in the present-day framing scenes, cut off from his fellow firemen in the fiery guts of a collapsing 20-floor building. There are no surprises in the familiar scenes of male bonding, dangerous rescues, injury and death, and the supportive concern of Jack's wife (Jacinda Barrett), but by focusing on the simple integrity of Jack's personal and professional commitment, the movie gives Phoenix a showcase for unselfish virtue, while John Travolta provides dignified support as Jack's mentor and devoted firehouse captain. Ladder 49 is routine in most respects, but it's a much-deserved valentine to working-class heroes. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (143)

Good production values but blah story
This DVD looked and sounded great; the surround sound put you right in the middle of the fire scenes. Unfortunately, I couldn't get involved in the very simplistic story. The only thing different about the film was the non-linear timeline. Everything else was by the numbers, including the performances. But, if you have a good home theater system, it would be worth a rental.

Poor plot, poorly executed storyline
I didn't feel any sense of brotherhood between these men.And the plot and entire movie just fell flat for me.It was a cliched portrayel of the profession, cliched life of a man (becomes rookie firefighter, marries immediately, has a boy, then a girl, bbq's with other firefighters at his house etc.).Just a boring salute to firefighting.
Firefighting gentlemen, deserved BETTER.A better screenplay would have been a good start.A more tragic or moving death would be have been good.One that made me care more than an ounce.You could see this truck coming a mile away.

Please read this.
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/safety/
http://www.firekills.gov.uk/home/04.htm
http://www.firesafety.gov/
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/kidsroom/firesafe/firesafe.html
http://www.nfpa.org/sparky/
Unfortunately most people don't understand the seriousness of a fire. They light candles indoors, they smoke cigarettes in bed, they leave the kitchen with the stove on... things we do everday, no big deal right? Unfortunately to find out the error of our ways it sometimes costs us our lives,the lives of those we love most, and sometimes the family next door.
It can happen to any of us at any moment. I listed some websites here because I know what it's like to lose relatives to a fire and BELIEVE me it is most certainly worth spending an hour of your life to read the important information on these websites. Educate your children. Don't even keep candles in the house. Keep matches out of reach of children. Make sure you have working smoke detectors.
I cried during this movie because I know how important a firefighters job is and what they risk running into burning buildings that could have been prevented with just a little education and a little caution.
I just hope it does more than entertain but also encourages people to do the best firefighting job one can do and prevent the fire from starting in the first place.
Even a tiny spark can turn completely out of control in a matter of seconds, please arm yourself and your family with a reasonable amount of fear of fire.

UNINSPIRED AND UNCREATIVE
This movie is sort of a flag waving movie for firefighters, which is ok in principle, but it's not very well done.Most of all it has no real story or momentum.A review of the main character's life is the sole "story".This is a sharp contrast to the much more engaging and dramatic "Backdraft".

The fire scenes are fine, but again they were probably more interesting in Backdraft.

It's time to get on the ladder!
This is what you call an honest-to-goodness description of what goes on in the lives of brave firefighters. The movie contains no Soap Opera material or love triangle nonsense. There are no invincible, James Bond type firemen running around putting out infernos all by themselves.Rather, the plot centers around the daily struggles of people in the firefighting business;both in their professional as well as their personal lives.

Joaquin Phoenix proves that he is up to the task of playing a very likable character. Unlike most of the characters portrayed by John Travolta, the captain of the firehouse is only slightly nuts (as opposed to completely nuts!). The acting is splendid all-around & I did not notice any weaknesses in that department.

While there are some spectacular scenes in LADDER 49, I liked the fact that the filmmakers did not try to get TOO extreme and caught up in making far-fetched heroic scenes. I would think that every episode depicted in the film would have a counterpart mirrored in real-life.For once, there is a movie about courage that is not "Hollywoodized" beyond belief.

Another nice touch is that the story takes place in Baltimore.As most movies of this type take place in either New York, Chicago or LA, it was good to see a different American city portrayed on film.Even better, in the Special Features the DVD contains interviews and commentary with real Baltimore firemen & their families. Nicely done.

I readily admit that I am not a fireman myself.However, I can't help but think that this movie speaks for a great many firemen across the country.I would be mortified to find out that firemen could not relate to at least some aspects of this story.I can't think of a higher compliment to pay this movie than that.

So, here is the bottom line. If you enjoy movies about firemen and / or heroism, pick up this DVD. If, on the other hand you dislike movies about firefighters, then pick up this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (262)

Merman! Merman!
Zoolander, the second film written and directed by Ben Stiller, is a very ridiculous and silly film. Ben Stiller plays Derek Zoolander, an absurdly foolish male model at the top of the business. He's in the best position, career wise, when Hansel [Owen Wilson] enters the industry and steals Zoolander's place as male model of the year--an award that Zoolander had the honor of holding for three years, almost four, in a row. When asked in his acceptance speech whom he admires, Hansel answers, "Sting...Sting would be another person who's my hero. The music that he's made over the years--I don't really listen to it---but the fact that he's making it...I respect that." Owen Wilson is the one that really makes this movie funny. He's funnier than is Ben Stiller--he's a better actor, too. Zoolander is Ben Stiller's and Owen Wilson's funniest movie together--their senses of humor are perfectly harmonized with one another. Though it is funny, there are still some parts of the film that go beyond humor into sheer idiocy--what with the assassination of the prime minister of Malaysia and all. Though the film is often cited as stupid and pointless, I thought it was really cool that David Bowie made a cameo. Zoolander and Hansel are obviously sexually ambiguous--they are male models, yes?--and Bowie is known for his feminine masculinity. Anyhow, I thought that a very commendable and intelligent thing to be added. Overall, Zoolander is a funny movie. Not meant to be taken too seriously, at least Stiller and Wilson know what it takes to make people laugh--stupid brainwashed male models mispronouncing words and stuff.

3% BODY FAT. 1% BRAIN ACTIVITY. 100% FUNNY!
The Ben Stiller film 'Zoolander' took the year 2001 by storm. It quickly became one of the funniest and greatest comedic accomplishments of the year. So what makes a film about a vacuous male model that has trouble turning left such an amusing film?

The answer is simple; finally a modern comedy that actually works. Great cast fabulous characters, good story line, hilarious cameos and the continuous dissing of male modeling.

Derek Zoolander (Stiller) VH1 male model of the year 3 times running life is turned upside down when his is usurped by the young and 'hot' model Hansel (Owen Wilson). Derek goes on a journey to find himself in a world that doesn't make sense to him. When he is brainwashed to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia by the evil Jakob Mugatu (Will Ferrel) who is upset as garment prices will rise due to the elimination of child slavery in Malaysia. Derek is forced to deal with both his homicidal tendencies when he hears the song 'Relax' as well as his superstition by Hansel. The result is pure comedy.

Sure the film essentially has a one running joke basis (That of making fun of the fashion world and male models) but it seems that the jokes don't remain stale. When the audience finally get tired of seeing 50 'looks' from Derek all exactly the same we suddenly see a petrol fight between a group of models set to 'Wake me up before you go, go' by Wham. The result of this constant changing of mood and comedy leads to the same jokes being fresh when they are initiated again.

In many cases having a lead star direct his/her own comedy film doesn't really work. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, namely Kevin Smith's films. But in Stiller's directorial debut who'd of thunk he would pull off the two roles so well. It's so very easy to see the intentions trying to be brought out by both Stiller and Wilson due to the fact they are real life best friends and thus it's easy to see the onstage repore they have and the directing supports this.

Some of the film's funniest moments stem from the cameos by recognized stars. David Duchovney plays a hand model from yesteryear who guides Zoolander through the world of assassination and intrigue that stems from the male model lifestyle. Billy Zane plays Derek's stalwart friend in the party scene and it's simply hilarious to here Zoolander say 'Stay out of it Billy Zane'. I was simply howling with laughter when low and behold David Bowie appears to judge the walk-off in which Hansel decides to be daring and 'go monk'. Also the use of Maury Ballstein (Jerry Stiller- Ben's father) of 'Seinfeld' fame is hilarious and this father and son dichotomy works brilliantly in the context of the film.

The DVD is feature packed for a single disc. Deleted and extended scenes are actually very funny; some memorable scenes include dialogue between Hansel and Winona Ryder that was cut from the film. Sound and picture and both very good, the vibrant colors transfer perfectly to the DVD format and the exaggerated 80's soundtrack sounds great though a home theatre system. Not to be forgotten is the amazing menu screens that are only rivaled by 'This is Spinal Tap' in which Derek puts in his own two cents about each button.

'Zoolander' is a comedy success. For a film that came from nowhere and immediately became a box office hit the film is amazing. A Stiller directorial debut is great and we can only hope he decides to do more base comedy like 'Zoolander' in the future.

Sublimely ridiculous satire
Beneath its ridiculous surface, "Zoolander" is a whip-smart look at one of the stupidest parts of our increasingly stupid culture, namely the world of fashion. Taking a break from his now-standard neurotic-nerd persona, Ben Stiller mugs furiously and often as legendary male model Derek Zoolander, who's sure to go down as one of the most indelible movie characters of the past few years. Derek has a repertoire of looks that have different names but all appear the same, and he's so stupid and shallow that he mangles almost any word with more than two syllables and thinks bulimia is the ability to read minds. The movie sees him searching for some meaning in his life beyond being "really, really good-looking," a search that's interrupted when he unwittingly becomes involved in a top-secret fashion-industry plot to assassinate the prime minister of Malaysia. If you think all this sounds bizarre, that's because it is. But that doesn't mean it's not funny.

Given its subject matter, it makes sense for "Zoolander" to be heavy on stupid humor, and it doesn't disappoint. "Zoolander" starts out over the top, and stays there. This movie throws everything it can think of at you, and some of it sticks, and some doesn't. It's that simple. Everything here is calculated for maximum absurdity, be it Stiller's near-microscopic phone, the ultra-lame '80's soundtrack, or the hairdos and outfits worn by just about everybody (most notably Will Ferrell and Jerry Stiller). Among the more inspired ideas are a "walk-off" between Zoolander and his rival Hansel; a surprisingly intelligent bit that takes off on the Stanley Kubrick classic "2001;" and of course the Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good. All in all, this movie has a more than ample supply of laughs crammed into its 89 minutes. While too many movies these days seem to be unaware of their stupidity, "Zoolander" positively revels in it, and even for that reason alone it would be worth watching.

One star because there is no negative 5 option
In a word, innane. In two words, sophomoric and stupid. Don't bother. Between over the top portrayals and no perceivable plot, this is a waste by any standard.

better than expected
Several minutes into this film, I worried that it was going to be a bust, but by the end, it was better than expected. This movie plays out a lot like Austin Powers-similiar in style featuring a dumb male model instead of the secret agent.

I liked the soundtrack of this movie a lot and it was worth watching just for that. Owen Wilson is not too bad either...

My main complaint with this movie is that it was flat. David Bowie was in it (always a pleasure to see him) but he wasn't utilized much. The art direction was competant, but it could of (and should of) been more pronounced. A lot of this film's success depended on the comic tone and the scenery was a bit too bland to carry the story along.
The plot was dull and uninspired however this wasn't an issue for me because the story is about a dull and uninspired model anyway. For the most part, all the elements needed to make a reasonable film were there and it was in balance, but there was a need for a little more "oomf". ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Critics? HA!
Go figure..if you pay attention to "editorial reviews" for this little movie, a person would never waste a dime to see it.....but this is AMERICA and we ignore critics!!!! (Read the other customer reviews, they couldn't be any more opposite the opinion of our "critics". Hundreds of times they've hated a movie and it's been terrific, whether at the box office or when it hit video)

Perhaps there's not enough here for these two to bite into, but Mr. Maltin and Mr. Keogh should be less nasty and critical of this film and criticize something else....Patton, Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, whatever....you can leave this little movie alone...It's for kids, guys. Amusing, while not too heavy except some violence regarding the apartment building with some smashing and burning, which of course is repaired by the "little guys". Small flying saucers, "little guys" as Jessica refers to them, zoom all over New York secretly repairing "stuff" that's not perfect......silly yes, but who cares? It's a fantasy..... Go with it for goodness sake. Hume Cronyn (Frank Riley) and real life wife, Jessica Tandy (Faye Riley) act together in too few a number of films (Cocoon and its sequel, are a couple). Each character in the movie has his/her problems, each prays for a little help and gets it in this most curious way, feeling God answered them in this way.

It's a fantasy....don't be expecting oscar performances from anyone. Jessica thinks the local fire bombing hood, Carlos, is her deceased son, who was in a car wreck years before. She suffers from altzheimers and so doesn't remember he's dead. Referring to Carlos, as Bobby; all the while he's trying to burn their building to ashes. Elizabeth Pena, (Marissa) is a very pregnant, single female trying to exist day to day with hoodlums harassing her every coming and going at the building. She finds her knight in shining armor, Mason, a not too productive resident painter, and he ends up with our lonely Marissa. It's predictable, but OK.

Frank McRae, ex-boxer, has been punched one too many times while professionally boxing, yet somehow manages to title the movie during one of his only speaking lines.....figure that one, but that's how the movie got its name, they planned it that way!

This film may not one win any oscars, but 95% of the movies I'd bother to review, I own; this is one of them and I like a good feeling when I finish a movie.

Cute Film
When you think about it, there aren't too many movies with a premise like this one. I mean, robot aliens who resemble UFOs that can procreate, raise families, and repair anything at super speed? Pretty unusual.

Something else unusual is that the plot doesn't focus on the robots but the humans who are each trying to hang on to their little piece of home. The robots offer assistance to the main characters and add some comic relief, but the story centers on the human element. The story is well-told and unfolds at the right pace. I thought the acting was also pretty good.

There's one last thing worth mentioning. I notice that the video quality has an odd fuzziness to it. It's barely noticeable and not terribly distracting but potential viewers should be made aware of it. Personally it did nothing to detract from my enjoyment of the movie.

This film was made in 1987 so don't expect the special effects to be impressive by today's standards. Remember that, suspend disbelief, and you'll find *Batteries Not Included to be an entertaining experience.

Not Enough Batteries Could Power This Lame Film
Another film produced by Spielberg in the vain of "Disney-esque" family fare (i.e. HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS, GOONIES). "Close Encounters" is shrunk down to cute little "tonka toys". The gimmick in *BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED is that the aliens' spaceships (of various shapes for degree of personality) are the characters. You don't see the aliens inside controlling the flying saucers (just like you couldn't see the truck driver in Spielbergs' DUEL). The plot is as old as an OUR GANG short. An evil landlord is about to evict a diverse group of stereotypical poor residences from his tenement slum and the mini-aliens arrive in time to save the day to fight the landlord and his evil henchmen. The actors are then directed to act bewildered, angry, awe-inspired, laugh, cry, and hug each other, around the special effects-laden-E.T. spaceships...(yaaawwwnnn...zzz...zzz!). The title of this movie should be renamed to *ORIGINALITY NOT INCLUDED...or...*ACTING NOT INCLUDED...or...*DIRECTION NOT INCLUDED...or...*BRAINS NOT INCLUDED..or...!

Belongs in every children's collection
... whether or not you have kids. It has some moments that might make a four-year-old cling to an adult, but every kid I know likes it. No guns, no bloody fights, no chases, and it still holds their interest.

There's plenty here for an adult - "dotty grandma" isn't a completely comic character here. She's not just a tragic figure of senility, either, though she's some of both. Mostly, she's just making her way through each day the best she can, and better than people seem willing to believe. Most of the other characters are similarly on the edge but muddling by well enough, with a little help from their friends.

I honestly can't call this a science fiction movie, despite its SF elements. It's sweet (almost sappy) and funny, the poor-but-honest folk win out over the thugs and evil corporations, and they all live happily ever after. Well, for now, at least.

If there's ever a list of "most under-rated movies", this one gets my vote. I like it.

A sentimental little beauty from Spielberg
This 1987 little sentimental ditty was utterly irresistible to the public, even as critics panned it as too schmaltzy. It concerns a squadron of little UFOs who arrive on the room of a NY apartment building, one which is about to be razed as soon as the owners can manage to evict the quirky bunch of tenants. The tenants include Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy (always and forever a winning pair) as well as a guy who plays a mentally (or emotionally - or maybe both) disabled man who speaks only in set phrases from commercials or TV jingles or product tags, such as that of the title: Batteries Not Included. As the tenants band together to save the lives of the little aliens, including a spine-tingling scene in which one gives birth, the aliens come to the rescue of the folks in danger of eviction - and the tenants, previously a disparate bunch, come together to fo