Reviews (214)

A great shame.
John Woo films have always had a tendency to rely more on explosive action sequences than masterful acting to pull the crowds. Face Off was loud but intriguing. M.I. 2 was loud but fairly stylishly done. Unfortunately, Windtalkers is really just loud.

The central plot is actually very good. Two U.S. marines must escort a pair of Navajo Indians who are trained to use a secret code to make transmissions to allies without Japanese troops earwigging. A factual plot too-this really happened. So all the potential was there, but the main problem from my point of view is that this movie was simply overdone.

Although the action sequences themselves are well done, nearly all of them are accompanied by dramatic war music which spoils the reality of them. There are also, if you can believe it, too many of them. Great war films like Saving Private Ryan and We Were Soldiers(watch that!) offered respite between the bangs for some thought provoking dialogue. Not so here.

The acting is far too over the top. Nicolas Cage is unusually poor, while Christian Slater barely breaks a sweat. I found that I did not care what happened to the characters-NOT a good sign.

This movie is a prime example of the fact that explosions cannot make a movie on their own. John Woo has made a good effort, but sadly this movie just did not hold my interest. If you REALLY like war films, you may like this movie, but otherwise, it's not really worth the postage and packaging!

ASIN: B00008PBZW

emotional, but lacking
i admit, it made me cry - but what ever happened to the lady nurse who helped Joe Enders pass his hearing test in order to be able to go back to war, and was writing him all the time? the characters are static, though the Navajos are slightly more dynamic; there was little background info. too much bombs and shooting throughout, and i especially did not like the melodramatic part when Enders killed Whitehorse along with the Japs and then told Yahzee,"I killed him. I threw a bomb and blew him up," acting so sarcastic, wanting to provoke and die. finally, the code language should have been featured more.

ful of stereotypes!
It is a well done typicall Hollywood movie but I have seen all this so many times. Everything is so predictable. The movie with such great actors as Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater doesn't have any material for them to work with. I was shocked that such inventive director as John Woo could make such lame movie. Not recommended.

I Wonder What the Wind Would Say
First of all I will say that the importance of the concept for this film is necessary and much overlooked. The involvement of American Indians in war is sadly left out of too many history books.

I was hoping this film would be better than it turned out to be. The historical facts should be recoginized along side all of the other celebrations of war heroes. Sadly this film was a complete bomb. The direction was predictable and the action scenes could have been shot by a five year old boy playing "war hero" in the backyard, alot of noise and piles of dust and actors pretending to be dead. All this with the constant drone of a musical score best left for a karoke bar to hum along to.

And what happened to Nicolas Cage? He used to be a great actor with individual style and presentation. It seems that he just keeps slipping away. I just was not convinced of his "hero" ability in this film....and his death scene is almost the most horrendous I have ever witnessed, not for the gore or emotional impact, but because it was simply awful acting!

Windtalkers
This DVD is not widescreen . And I need all my DVDs widescreen because I have a windscreen TV. Went to Hasting all of Windtalkers DVD are both widescreen and Fullscreen.
And I went back to my order from you and it show it was widescreen that was order.
What happen? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Steven Moffat's second season of Coupling is a brilliant consolidation of all those neuroses, small deceits, obsessions, and personality tics that struck such a resonant chord when Steve, Susan, and their four friends were first unleashed on us. Comparisons with Friends itself are tiresome and lazy: Coupling is an intrinsically British comedy that picks apart the trivial and the mundane in everyday relationships and takes them on surreal journeys, leaving the participants hilariously bemused and rarely any wiser. Its success is due to the magical combination of Moffat's very funny scripts and the talents of six extremely likable actors, including Jack Davenport (Steve) and Sarah Alexander (Susan). But it's Richard Coyle's Jeff whose sexual fantasies exert a compelling fascination that will really keep you watching in disbelief.

Breasts, bottoms and pants are the basis for most of the conversational analysis when these friends get together as a group, as couples, as girlfriends, or as mates, invariably becoming metaphors for the state of a relationship or situation. Individual viewpoints and terrors are explored through respective memories of the same event and what-if scenarios. Chain reactions inevitably ensue, fuelling comedy that is based almost entirely on misunderstanding. --Piers Ford ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Growing, changing, Moving Forward
If you're looking for a DVD that simply continues the first series of Coupling, sorry, this isn't it. This moves the story forward, creating more complications for the story arc, deepening the characters, telling us more about who these people are and where they come from. We find out more about Sally's insecurity, Jeff's libido, Steve and Susan's relationship, and more.

The DVD of the first series of Coupling was so short you could watch it all in one sitting. This isn't the case with the second series, which ran to nine episodes and doesn't even fit on one disk. You have to pace yourself with this one. But it's worth it, because each episode teaches us something new about our beloved characters and also gives us plenty of laughs.

The first two episodes, "The Man with Two Legs" and "My Dinner in Hell," really feel incomplete, like transitional episodes from the previous series. But beginning with the third and fourth episodes, a two-parter called "Her Best Friend's Bottom" and "The Melty Man Cometh," things get low-down, dirty, and more sophisticated. Episodes like "Naked" and "Jane and the Truth Snake," in which we learn a great deal about all six characters, and the structurally complex "End of the Line," are worth watching over and over.

One benefit to this DVD is that it contains commentary from writer Steven Moffett and various stars and production personnel. This allows us insight into the creation of this sophisticated comedy. This feature was lacking from the previous series DVD, and it's something I missed.

It's easy to see why the American version of this series failed. Like Monty Python and Doctor Who, it's such a quintessentially British show that Americanizing it could only ruin it. But after watching that Yankee turkey, now you can come over and watch this fine British songbird. I promise you, you won't regret it.

I am a big fan of "Friends", but...
One day my wife talked to me about a new series she discovered in BBC America and said that since I liked Friends so much I should watch it. I was not very prone to do it, but you know how it is...I complied :). I started watching an episode of Coupling that was already started, after ten minutes I did not understand very well what was going on and decided the series was not worth my time.

A couple of months later my wife rented the first season of Coupling in DVD and this time I sat with her to watch it from the start. I could not stop laughing! Of course I ordered the second season too and plan to do the same with the following ones.

The basic setting of the series is similar to the one of Friends; three males and three females that have clearly defined personalities and get involved in funny situations. Coupling has a more prominent sex element present. In the particular case of the men, I can draw a clear parallel with Friends, but it is not so easy in the case of the women (I would relate Jane in Coupling with Phoebe in Friends, but that's it).

I think Jeff is the most interesting character the series has, he is almost always living in a "different world" and if you have watched the first season then you know about the Jeffisms; like the naked giggles. In the second season there are some new Jeffisms, like prickles, blurts and head laugh. There are also a few phrases by Jeff that struck me as particularly funny, like "When a woman wears a skirt you know there is a VAA...a Visual Access Angle", or "There was a detectable NAT...Nose Avoidance Tilting".

The writers of the series do a great job in manipulating the differences between men and women, often showing the same situation from both sides emphasizing the contrasts. The dialogues are witty and usually several topics are connected in a very short space of time creating hilarious threads.

You cannot afford to miss this!

Great show, even better DVD with special features
Plain and simple: Once you are able to ignore the canned laughter, this show is pure comic brilliance.

What situation comedy should be
This series follows the mad antics of 6 thirtysomethings looking for love. It explores the temporary insanity people find themselves in when they are pursuing a long term relationship, or just looking to get laid. They do and say the craziest things when love (or sex) is on the line. This show illustrates just how crazy things can get in that pursuit. To make this completely plain, this show is just plain funny, because people are funny. This show taps into that human comedy better than any American "sitcom" ever has. The second season is, in my opinion the best of the best. It contains the episodes "The man with two legs" and "The end of the line". These are must sees of the coupling series.

Turn off your American network and watch this instead...
I think alot of Americans are turning to Britian for comedy these days. Between the advent of "reality tv"(If you'd like to call that load of bollocks reality) and censorship at an all time high, England's hysterical BBC has become a haven for SMART and INTELLIGENT Americans in search of witty and yet sometimes raunchy humor. Coupling has become my all-new favourite since ABFAB. So well written and performed by all concerned. Brilliant
(Jeff's most commonly used word)jokes and the most unreal sex farces you'll ever see!! All 3 seasons are so very worthy indeed! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Love & Tragedy & All That Jazz. . .
This early vehicle for a young Catherine Zeta-Jones does justice to the complex Hardy novel despite the constraints of the television movie format. 'La Zeta' is perfectly cast as Eustacia Vye, a mysterious beauty with 'black hair and pagan eyes' who captivates the young men of the vicinity while the older country people regard her with suspicion as a witch who is not to be trusted. Eustacia has a reputation as a loose woman in the neighborhood--she dallies with another woman's fiance out of sheer boredom, even though she is tired of him. When dashing Clym Yeobright returns home after many years abroad in Paris, Eustacia sets her cap for him, with tragic results.

Fans who have followed Zeta-Jones' high-profile career in movies such as 'Entrapment', 'Traffic' & 'Chicago' will be interested to see her here, long before Michael Douglas and Oscar came calling, in her debut role outside of her native UK. She displays all the beauty and cool self-possession of the star she would later become. She's had her teeth capped since, and been otherwise glammed up, Hollywood-style, but all the fundamentals are there. The setting is breathtaking (shot on location in Northern England), and the simple yet vivid costumes Eustacia wears add to her characterization. Eustacia/Catherine is dressed simply but vividly in tones of scarlet, yellow and turquoise blue, setting her in sharp relief to the browns and grays of the landscape, and the dull clothes worn by the other characters.

The entire cast does a superb job, but this is really Zeta-Jones' show. Whether you're a Zeta fan, or a student of Thomas Hardy, this production should be on your shelf.

Attempt at Thomas Hardy almost reaches it.
Anyone who has read the novel will see that this movie is far truer to the storyline than average. Where the movie "almost" reaches success is in its portrayal of the characters. The egocentric nature of Eustachia is portrayed well until the death scene, when, from that point, she comes off as too much of the unforgiven, tragic, heroine. Wildeve's passion never quite attains to the pinnacle reached in the Hardy novel, Venn's homespun nobility isn't as evident, nor does Clym's "martyr complex" ever really emerge. The flick has much to recommend it however, especially in the first 2/3 of it. The setting is magnificent and appropriately stark, the subordinate characters (Grandfer Cantle, Susan Nunsuch, Mrs. Yeobright, etc.) are accurately displayed. This is one film in which I would recommend for the viewer to see the movie first before reading the novel. This would eliminate some of the sense of loss in the character displays and help one appreciate the "love-never-dies, beyond-the grave" finale.

Great
Ok i dont get the 007 thing but whatever. this movie was awesome!!! it was so sad!!!!! Catherine alone on that bridge will break your heart! i really felt bad 4 her throughout this movie, just because they "THOUGHT" she was a witch didnt mean they need to go and stab her in church! how mean! lol sry i love catherine zeta jones! lol well the movie was great, it was sad, and in the first minute a lil confusing but then you catch on after like 2 seconds.

Clive Owen could become the next "James Bond 007".
I saw this Hallmark television movie when it originally aired. I lost interest in the story because a character was said to be a witch. I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to watch this film. But Hallmark is a name the presents the best, quality films. Now, there is a reason to give this film a second look. Clive Owen who plays "Damon Wildeve" just might have a chance to be selected as the next James Bond 007 when Pierce Brosnan passes it on. Clive Owen might have to wait until the year 2008. The other reason is the female lead is Catherine Zeta-Jones is now a celebrity (she was unknown at the time) and became an Academy Award winner for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2003. Joan Plowright as "Mrs. Yeobright" is also in this film. I like the opening line in the film: "Deliver my heart from this fearful, lonely place. Send me a great love from somewhere or else I shall die, truly I shall die".

great for catherine fans
i only liked this movie because of zeta-she is great in it and young-24 yrs old ... Read more

Reviews (80)

"Lawrence and Smith Are The Bad Boys of Comedy"
Hilariously enjoyable as any black comedy and full of fast paced action, "Bad Boys," as a 'slick flick,' stars Martin Lawrence as Marcus Burnett and Will Smith as Mike Lowrey playing two cops who fall on to the trail of millions of dollars of Heroin stolen by a criminal mastermind named Fouchet (Tcheky Karyo) and try to recover it as well as rescue Julie Mott (Tea Leoni) who is also involved. Personal matters appear to Marcus Burnett who is obsessed with getting "quality time" with his wife Theresa (Theresa Randle) and almost loses his marriage when he is forced to switch names and use Mike Lowrey in front of Julie. The comedy works unmistakeably well, however, the only mistakes I find in here are the heavy profanity and the violence used. But I keep saying this to myself, how can you pardon the profanity if it works well with the script? Oh well. Don Simpson-Jerry Bruckheimer Films/Columbia Pictures, 1995, Rated R for intense violent action and persuasive strong language.

The first film in hopefully a trilogy and bruckheimer's best
Don Simpson and legendary action producer Jerry Bruckheimer who almost surpasses Joel Silver in what he put's on the screen,
and at this time first time director Michael Bay who also helmed
the much bigger and from the looks badder sequel Bad Boys 2.Get's
down and dirty for Bad Boys the first flim of this series wich
teams Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.100 million in confiscated
heroin has been hijacked from Miami Police the pride bust of DEA
and Narc agent's Mike Lowry(Will Smith)who is a stylish single
and full of money and his partner Marcus Burnett(Martin Lawrence)
,a family man who want's quality family time could not be any more
oppisite , but if they don't work together to find out about the
whereabouts of the missing heroin it will shut down the narcotics
of the Miami Police Department but when a drug kingpin played by
Tcheky Karyo kills a freind of Mike Lowry's with a witness spying
on the murder it becomes personal for Mike.But they must do all
they can to protect Julie(Tea Leoni) before she is killed by the
kingpins henchmen even if Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett trade
places to protect her but they will also have to fight a drug war
in order for them to recover the stolen drugs and save Julie's life.

An explosive first entry in the series in hopfully a trilogy wich would be very weird on Bruckheimer's part of taking the
advantage of making his first trilogy.Explosive action , car
chases , unbeleivable stunts and the like wise teaming of Will
Smith and Martin Lawrence who without there chemistry added to
the film would be no sequel and just and ordinary action film
but there Mel Gibson and Danny Glover like appeal makes this film set afire as one of the best films Bruckheimer has made
Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer would only team one more
time for The Rock before Simpson's untimely death , the highly
anticipated bigger and badder sequel is due out this friday
an awsome action film.

Love this movie
I love this movie. It is funny and action-packed. I just wish two could have copied the same formula. It had too much action. It made me dizzy.

Nevrer seen
I have never seen this movie so it will get 4 stars need to get my boycott across to show this point

Something Old, Somthing New
By the mid-nineties, the buddy cop action flick was not a new idea. Starting with 48 Hours and continuing with movies like Beverly Hills Cop and Lethal Weapon, the "cat and dog in a barrel" concept had been fairly played out. However, in 1995, a new director and some rising stars teamed up with the movie veterans behind Top Gun to create a new breed of action movie.

In Bad Boys, wild card narcotics officers Marcus (Martin Lawrence) and Mike (Will Smith) are in a bind. Their career dope bust has just been robbed from the station, and their only hope of finding it is the witness to a murder. However, circumstances get complicated when the two are forced to switch roles, and family man Marcus has to become swinging bachelor Mike for 72 hours.

The plot of the movie is fairly weak, centering around the drug bust and the cops' efforts to protect the witness, find the dope, and (shock and awe) keep Internal Affairs off their backs. However, the plot is not the reason to see the movie. For the reason, just look to the stars.

The same spirit of banter and hen-pecking that made the Lethal Weapon series so enjoyable is given a fresh coat of paint, and a couple of fresh voices. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence snap, crackle, and explode on screen, whether their shooting the bad guys or just firing pot shots at each other. While Lethal Weapon showed us the friction between a fresh pair of partners, Bad Boys shows us two cops who have been together six years, and know just how to get on each other's nerves.

But even with the snappy humor that Lawrence and Smith bring to the screen, the movie rides on wheels of action. Micheal Bay has become synonymous with action movies, and Bad Boys is the reason why. In his directorial debut, Bay uses swift camera moves, scenic pans, and judicious slow motion, fusing elements of John Woo and MTV to create a fresh take on gunplay and car chases. Although he lacks Woo's finesse in creating bullet ballets, Bay definitely knows how to keep a film's pace going, and Bad Boys does just that.

Sure, the movie's not perfect. The plot is sometimes laughably flawed, and the real Miami PD wouldn't put with half the crap that Smith and Lawrence pull, but the movie is enjoyable nontheless, focusing on character conflict and balls-out adrenaline to keep the audience entertained. Combined with a solid cast of character actors (Joe Pantoliano ROCKS), and Bad Boys is summer entertainment at its funnest. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Oh Nelly!
Nell is an earnest and slightly soporific drama about a doctor's inadvertant discovery of a wild child in the remote hills of North Carolina. Jerry Lovell (Liam Neeson), a rural MD is dispatched to confirm the death of a hermit-like mountain lady and is quick to discover a cantankerous, violent, and unintelligible young woman, obviously the old woman's unacknowledged daughter,hiding in the cabin rafters. Lovell is immediately captivated by Nell (Jodie Foster) and is soon joined by career-climbing psychologist Paula Olsen (Natasha Richardson) in attempting to decode the mysterious woman's gibberish-filled rages. Before you can say "Wapner at 5:30," this hillbilly rain woman's past becomes brutally clear: her mother, a victim of rape in her youth, had given birth to the child but kept her a secret from the the world for thirty years; Nell has been taught that men and daylight are harmful, and her language is the product of imitation after her mother's stroke.

The sentiment here is laid on thick. Nell is harrassed by those stereotypical movie rejects, scientists and red necks. The scientists want her brought in for study; the red necks want to play a little doctor (Can you say Deliverance?) There are a number of nice scenes portraying the bonding between the three leads, and the direction by the talented Michael Apted is sensitive and well-intentioned, but Nell suffers by asking us to shed too many unearned tears. In this regard, most damaging is the lack of key exposition. We never really get to know Nell. Her mystery, while at first quite interesting, loses its novelty by the time they take the wide-eyed country girl to the big bad city.

The biggest roadblock has to be Jodie Foster. Her pagan-like emoting as she dances naked through the woods is two stations short of hamville. It's like she wants us to believe so desperately in Nell's tragic story that she has to use a few neon signs to show us the way. Thanks, but I think we can handle it ourselves. Neeson is more effective, and he and real-life wife Richardson do a nice job of counterbalancing Foster's excess in the role of Nell's surrogate ma and pa.

Painfully cliche; unintentionally hilarious
Nell is a clunky drama about two psychologists (Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson) who study and befriend a young woman Nell (Jodie Foster) at her lakeside log cabin. A product of potentially disturbing family circumstance that this film promptly glosses over, Nell speaks her own language and was raised basically without civilization. Of course, Nell proves to everyone in a bombastic climactic courtroom scene that she is in fact more civilized than so-called modern society. She frankly states in 'nellish' that modern men and women don't look each other in the eye, avoid genuine communication, and possibly every other unoriginal complaint about contemporary society. Yet, it all seems a bit absurd since Nell is clearly an ideal product of such a society- she's compliant, fun-loving, clean with Aryan good-looks, and can even play matchmaker! When she hooks up her doctors, the movie officially becomes about Neeson and Richardson gettin-it-awwwn and loses any facade of insight into the human condition. Whatever it had was facile to say the least though as it ignores the scary, violent, sexual, and basically id-centric depths of human nature. Time and time again, Nell comes across like a domesticated pet- one that desperately needs to be put down.

This is a great movie for women, men and parents!
This is a wonderful, wonderful movie. And it is a great test of a relationship. Women, if your boyfriend or fiance is unwilling to watch this movie, or is not moved by it, dump him immediately and save yourself years and years of pain. If you are already married, get marriage counseling.

Guys, this is a great movie. Even if you prefer action movies to chick flicks, the woman you are with will be totally moved by the movie and that you watched it with her.

Parents, this is also a great movie for teenagers. Nell, played by Jodie Foster, has had no contact with anyone other than her now dead mother, so she has no sense of shame about her body. She is as free as a three year old in taking off her clothes to go swimming at night. Therefore, while there is nudity, there is no sexuality. And the nudity is not exploitive. (This is like the nudity you used to find on the pages of old National Geographics on articles about Africa.) On the balance, the sensitivity outweighs concerns about nudity, this may even be a way to spark conversation with your kids about puberty, etc.

intellectual viewers please
If you are one who only likes movies that are geared to viewers with a 13 minute attention span or if you don't like to think at all, please don't watch this movie.
But if not....this movie is a great! I love movies that show people who haven't experienced normal life because it allows us to take a deeper look at things and appreciate things that we overlook. Like standing in the breeze, or the colors of fruits.
Jodie Foster played this part perfectly.

Different And Great
Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson, and Natasha Richardson star in the drama "Nell". The screenplay was wonderfully written. They take the audience into another world, which may seem unusual to many. Exploring a language and a lifestyle lived by only one person, everything stays heartfelt. That touch is never lost for a single second. Such feelings intensify as the courts try to take this life away from Nell. Everything said and done keeps the audience watching closely. Jodie Foster, who also produced, was rightfully nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Nell. Every drop of energy poured onto the character. This gives the movie the added emotion. Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson wonderfully play their roles as doctors protecting Nell from the hospital and the press. Their roles intensify greatly as Nell begins changing their lives forever. The great creativity of "Nell" makes this experience unforgettable. This is great viewing for all audiences. ... Read more

Reviews (352)

A LOT better than the original
Ok, I'm really getting sick of hearing people flog this movie. The fact of the matter is that it's a lot better than the original in every way. Let's start with the beginning. The original film's first act, yes, the first HALF HOUR is set in a sitting room...with a bunch of people talking. Be careful not to doze off here. Also there is a flashback here, put in for apparently no reason. The scientist, who is never given a name, just wants to see if time travel is possible, that's his only real motivation. Then we are treated to some REALLY godzilla-like special effects and hokey Star Trek: The Original Series sets. When he finds the girl, she has 50s styled hair, speaks perfect english with no explanation whatsoever, and is dumb as a stump. The plot hole here are numerous. Check this out "You mean you have no government?" "No". "You don't work?" "No". If they don't do these things, how the heck do they know what he's talking about? Then the morlocks come bounding out. Remember that old bad monster flick with the guy in the gorilla suit and the deep sea helmet? These aren't far off. Now let's talk about the new movie. Aside from the really annoying "quirk" Guy Pierce comes up with, hanging his mouth open for the entire first act, I liked it. He now has an impotace to change the past, then a motivation to go forth into the future. I loved the broken moon thing, much more interesting than a nuclear attack that sets off a volcano in New York. The Eloi are no longer Star Trek extras, but a real culture. They don't just meander around like zombies but have real tasks to do. When the Morlocks show up, It gets pretty intense. The notion of 3 different kinds was cool. I also liked that Jeremy Irons justifies their behavior. The ending was much better, more fun, and wasn't just some geek professor turning into Rambo and punching out white gorillas.

There Was Potential...
At best, Time Machine was a worthwhile Saturday watch. The effects were top rate and very convincing worthy of even George Lucas' ILM stamp of approval (althought the f/x were done by another company).As a previous viewer commented, it was painful to watch Guy Pearce's performance in some scenes. He either displayed "wooden emotions" or he tried a bit too hard. Also, his appearance looked gaunt and very tired in the first 30 to 40 minutes of the film. The ending or fading out of the film had a sort of Titanic feel with overlapping the past and future together in one particular melancholy scene. Despite the advances in special effects over the past 40 years since the original, the 1960 version will always be the best and is definitely a classic. In addition, the 1960 release produced some very grotesque and terrifying images with regards to the underground dwellers (the Morlocks; who can forget their yellow glowing eyes and savage growls)! However, what was admirable in the new version was the introduction of actor Jeremy Irons' intellectually sinister character role ! To hear him say his lines was like hearing his voice all over again from The Lion King playing the evil Scar. Showing that although the human future race was near extinction the existence of a multi-ethnic population was still possible (unlike the original). What I kept yearning for was more adventuresome exploring by the time traveller before he would finally advance to 800,000 years into the future. Also, it would have been fascinating if the writers or director would have gone the H.G. Wells route where supposedly the time traveller goes so far into the future that the entire planet is near total destruction (possibly leaving the traveler lingering in outerspace). This was the room for potential I was talking about!

better than harry potter and the chamber of secrets
yup this movie is better than harry potter and the chambers of secrets. since that movie didn't have great acting the quiddich game was not appealing.

unbelivable
this movie was unbelivable. since this movie never gets boring.

stunning
this movie i would say is stunning. since this movie has phenomenal action and special effects. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A sincere film that speaks of the Cuban soul
As, I'm assuming, the only Cuban-American to review this film online, I feel especially proud that my country was able to produce such an eloquent, intelligent and all around outstanding film. Many people unacquainted with our customs couldn't possibly begin to relish the cultural nuances that abound in this film. The slang, the attitudes and all-around mannerisms are unmistakibly Cuban and to me it was as if though I were watching a home movie of some old friends. Rarely, have I related to characters the way I did to David, Diego and Nancy. Jorge Perrugoria's Diego is a triumph. Anyone familiar with what's regarded as the quitessential Cuban homosexual (cultured, well-read, opera and ballet loving) will be able to savor this performance like a fine wine; it is absolute perfection. It is hard to believe that he is, in reality, heterosexual. He is just too, too perfect. The fact that this film captures the essence of Cuba is both a revelation and a devestation. One is made to see the crumbling glory that is Havana and it almost inspires heartbreak. Nevertheless, a terrific film through and through and one that I can't recommend enough!

Four stars for the movie, two for the DVD
STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE [Fresa y Chocolate] (Cuba/Mexico/Spain 1992): Used as an unwitting pawn by his pro-revolutionary colleagues, naive student David (Vladmir Cruz) is encouraged to develop a platonic relationship with flamboyant gay artist Diego (Jorge Perugorria), whose political allegiances have fallen under suspicion. But as their friendship deepens, David is transformed by Diego's resistance to the Cuban regime, even as the forces of oppression begin to close around them.

Though based on a short story ('El Lobo, el Bosque y el Hombre Nuevo') by screenwriter Senel Paz which explores opposite ends of a political ideology, knowledge of recent Cuban history isn't a prerequisite for viewers of STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE, a small gem from co-directors Tomas Gutierrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabio. Far from a mere political tract, this is a joyous celebration of life and non-conformity, distinguished by Perugorria's extraordinary performance as the camp but dignified Diego, who rejects his friend's unquestioning loyalty to the Cuban political system that is stifling their beloved homeland. Their budding relationship is complicated by Diego's unrequited love for David, depicted here with remarkable honesty and compassion, particularly for a mainstream film. But it's their political differences which ultimately unite the two characters, even as Diego is forced to reap the whirlwind of his public defiance. Much of the narrative unfolds within Diego's crumbling apartment building, where David enjoys a liaison with flaky neighbor Nancy (Mirta Ibarra), who introduces the inexperienced student to the joys of sexual liberation! It isn't a terribly cinematic film, but production values are solid, and the characters are so vivid, and played with such integrity, it hardly matters; this is a movie in which ideas take precedence over action, and the emotional payoff is quite powerful indeed. Beautiful music score by Jose Maria Vitier, too.

Now the bad news: Buena Vista's DVD version is incomplete, missing approximately six minutes of footage. Absent material includes a brief conversation about racism during David's first visit to Diego's apartment, and a sad little sequence in which the two characters pretend not to notice each other after meeting by accident in a bookstore. These revisions were perpetrated before the film's North American theatrical release by Buena Vista's 'art-house' subsidiary Miramax, a company which is notorious for the cavalier manner in which it treats its foreign acquisitions (their version of THE HORSEMAN ON THE ROOF is similarly incomplete). The alterations imposed on STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE seem completely arbitrary, and demonstrate little more than contempt for American audiences. For the record, the UK video version runs 105m 51s at 25fps in the PAL format, which corresponds to 110m 15s at the original 24fps.

There are no extras, not even a trailer (there's a puff-piece which trumpets Miramax's involvement in a 'golden age' of cinema, which is ironic given the way they treat their movies). So, four stars for the movie, two for the DVD, and only because the sound and picture quality are so good, despite a worrying amount of grain in the film's opening sequence. The running time quoted below doesn't include the Miramax/Robert Redford logos which open the US DVD print and weren't part of the original film.

103m 53s
1.85:1 / Anamorphically enhanced
Dolby Surround 2.0
Ultra Stereo [theatrical]
Spanish soundtrack
Optional English subtitles
Region 1

Where's the DVD???
I was captivated by this charming little film many years back, what with its setting, performances, humour, and all the little nuances that foreign films have mastered over their Hollywood big-buck counterparts.

My only complaint is why there hasn't been a DVD release of this movie just yet! With such vastly overrated mediocrities such as "Like Water For Chocolate" or "Babette's Feast" now available, it should only be a matter of time.

A phenomenally enjoyable film, whatever your personal preference.

Not a Bad Berry....
It's a good movie, but not what I expected. From the amount of foreign films I've seen, there have been some outstanding ones like Central Station, City Of Lost Children, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Like Water for Chocolate and Amelie. I guess I hold all foreign (subtitled) films to this high standard. The actor who played Diego, Jorge Perrugoria was wonderful though. He's one of those few actors that uses his eyes to convey so much internal action. Over all, I'm not saying the film was bad, but it wasn't one I'd watch again and again. First film from Cuba nominated for an Oscar.. *** stars

Wonderful film that transcends stereotypes
The Cuban film, "Fresa y Chocolate," is the story of friendship between a young student (a loyal member of the Communist Party), and a gay political activist, who is critical of the government's censorship. It is an amazing film for a number of reasons. First, it presents a balanced and somewhat critical view of the Cuban political system. This is surprising since it was co-produced by ICAIC, essentially the official Cuban film production company. Second, though the main characters start out as stereotypes, they develop into very real people who go beyond what the audience would expect.

Considered by many to have been a major catalyst in improving the treatment of gays in Cuba; this film presents a rich and interesting view of Cuban society. ... Read more

Reviews (81)

REPROBATE ALLEN WINS ME BACK, THIS TIME
When it was first released, I avoided seeing DECONSTRUCTING HARRY (a.k.a., Woody) because I couldn't bring myself to face yet another self-deprecating, neurotic, self-indulgent, self-centered Woody Allen on screen (who the newspapers had just confirmed is that way off screen too!). Having first laughed at and then endured Allen since the 1960s, I'd had enough. Nevertheless, to this day Allen's THE FRONT remains one of my all time favorite movies ... mainly because of its truthfulness, honesty and courage. Unintentionally, one night I saw part of DECONSTRUCTING HARRY on cable TV (and then HAD to buy it here in DVD) ... because I couldn't stop howling. I'd only seen perhaps the middle half hour of it, but that was enough. Mercifully, THIS movie was not ALL about Allen. Rather Harry Block-Woody Allen was "exploited" as a vehicle for a higher form of humor. Then there were a parade of actors who I never imagined had it in them: Richard Benjamin, Kirstie Alley, Amy Irving ... of all people ..., Mariel Hemingway ... yet! ALL were great in this comedy ... they were terrific. Equally terrific were Hazelle Goodman as Harry's motherly hooker Cookie (wonderful), Billy Crystal and Robin Williams ... who you'd expect to be funny, were indeed that.

I must admit, Allen pulled one out as writer, director and star. But not merely because of the brilliant writing and directing (oh, O.K., and the acting) but because for ONCE Harry-Woody was not the center of the neurotic universe. He was in the middle of the action .... but he tied it all together in DECONSTRUCTING HARRY. Many modern interpersonal issues, stereotypes and clichés are brought into scrutiny under this microscope. It is the very absurdity of it all, making the movie hysterically funny.

Clearly, this is a movie for mature audiences. It is definitely not a movie for children and adolescents. Probably they would find it boring and confusing. The language and situations are graphic, raw and irreligious. But in this movie these are necessary "paints" for painting this picture. Grownups will enjoy this movies thoroughly.

Allen's self-exploration vignettes
Weaving between fiction and reality, Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry tells the tale of a writer's sexual exploits, romantic failings, and dealings with depression. Allen's character Harry transfers his life's problems into his books, which causes much strife between the real-life counterparts in his world.

Once again Allen has leveraged his considerable fame to draw in Hollywood's elite. Throughout the film, every face is a familiar one. Billy Crystal is portrayed as the devil who steals Woody's romantic lead, Robin Williams as a blurry actor who can't get his focus, Kirstie Alley as a ex-wife who discovers Harry has cheated with a patient, and countless more celebrity cameos.

The joy in partaking in this film is evident in the celebrity actors who appear. There's a certain prestige in such an endeavor, and we, the film audience, can identify just about everyone in the film. At the same time, each character that appears has so much baggage in our minds. For instance, Demi Moore appears as an ex-wife. How many of us can honestly think of her in any way other that her celebrity profile. While this isn't a major problem, identifying with some of the celebrities proves difficult at times.

Deconstructing Harry catalogs Woody's struggle with sexual desire and his inability to love. Early on we discover that he has finally found true love in a pupil, Elizabeth Shue, but she has fallen in love with his friend.

The plot is shaped around Harry's self-identity questions, and the character's goal is to go to an honorary ceremony at his alum. He has nobody to take. His ex-wife won't let him take his son, his girlfriend has left him, and a hooker is the only one around that will take him up on his need for companionship.

The play between Allen's semi-autobiographical stories, which flash to and from reality, illuminate the film and shows how Allen's writing channels his depression and gives him a release from an otherwise ugly life.

After viewing Deconstructing Harry, I wonder how autobiographical it really is.

Witty, perhaps, but heartless
There is no doubting the genius of Woody Allen. The clever ideas and witty dialogue flow thick and fast here, but there is just one problem: The film is totally and utterly heartless.

Woody Allen's humour here is just downright cynical. Cruel, even. The film has a narcissistic feel to it, where everyone is mocked and ripped apart mercilessly apart from Woody's alter-ego, Harry. Though I saw this a few years ago and loved it, on rewatching it recently, I just couldn't enjoy it. His cynicism here is left untempered by optimism and faith, something that marked out his earlier work. Sorry, but this just left a bitter taste in my mouth.

One of Woody's best!
This belongs on the shelf along with the other Woody greats such as Hannah, Manhattan, Stardust Memories & Crimes and Misdemeanors. I can't imagine any objection to this movie unless you're the type that gets excited whenever you see a Tom Cruise type up on the screen. About as close to art as a movie can get and in the same league as Bergman, Wenders, Godard or any of the other greats.
Enough said.

incredible
This is by far my favorite woody allen film . most people who discredit the movie do so because of course language and/or typical woody allen roles and situations. well, if you can't take a little vulgarity, f__k off this movie's not for you. It's not potty humor, it's unfiltered dialogue fitted to the characters and the situations they find themselves in. As for the typical allen scenerios of love triangles and even squares, that's what has made him. Would you expect a woody allen film where he is not nuerotic, or tense, or in constant insecurity? Then don't expect one in which all the angles of relationships are dissected and exploited. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

How things have changed...
I think Do the Right Thing is Spike Lee's best movie, and the early 1990s was a time where Spike was making his movies with a message. Do the Right Thing is a movie that stands the test of time in my opinion, because so much of it rings so true, it's incredibly funny, and heartbreaking at the same time. Lee received a lot of flak for that movie while making it. When it came out, it shut everybody up.
About one year after that, Jungle Fever was released. It was definitely a big deal at the time - a movie about a black man and an Italian woman in a relationship in NYC, a city at the time still basically reeling from the well-known racist killings of two black men at the hands of Italians in their neighborhoods. So this whole interracial thing and the ramifications of it seemed groundbreaking at the time.

I watched this movie the other day and marveled in terms of the interracial aspect of it how much of it is just not the case anymore in 2003 America. It was a big deal for a black man to be seen with a white woman. Now, it's totally taboo, and desired, and nobody really cares. I mean, I actually found myself giggling during the movie and saying to myself, "Come on, now. It's not even like that!"

Okay. A quick review of the movie: Wesley Snipes stars as Flipper, who starts an affair (for no damn good reason) with a white temp worker, Angie, played by Annabella Sciorra, and then has to deal with the repercussions of it. In the midst of this are storylines with Flipper's brother and his drug use, his strict bible-thumping father, and other storylines with Angie's folks, part-time boyfriend, etc. Spike Lee's ensemble cast is featured, and they do not disappoint. Samuel L. Jackson is absolutely fantastic as the crack addcited brother. His performance is both hilarious and pitiful, Ossie Davis is wonderful in his role (hated the actions of his character at the end, though, did he go to the slammer? He should've), John Turturro is excellent (when is he not? Absolutely phenomenal in Do the Right Thing, btw), and the list goes on and on. Fortunately, these actors all balance out Wesley Snipes who is basically ineffective in his performance. In my opinion, he just can't act. You feel so sympathy for him as he has to deal with his wife and all her anger about the affair, you don't care about him and his issues with his job, and everything else he goes through. And I think we're SUPPOSED to care and sympathize with this guy, I just think Snipes was just unable to pull off the role. BTW, Annabella Sciorra is excellent.

On another note: much has been made of Halle Berry's performance in this movie, how groundbreaking it was, etc. Not! She is totally overrated in this movie. All she does is act crazy, fire off expletives and the like to the point of annoyance. She has proven herself to be a good actress in movies following this, but in this one, give me a break. It's Samuel L. Jackson who makes that storyline, let me tell you.

The bottom line is if you watch this movie around Wesley Snipes, you can actually enjoy it. It gets a little long-winded at points, but the performances are pretty good. Some other performance notes, the little girl who plays Snipes and McKee's daughter Ming (someone explain the chinese name for this black child to me, please?), annoying! I know she was young, but she was totally not cute, though she tries very hard to be. Totally irrelevant to my review of the movie, I just wanted to say that I found her incredibly annoying and not cute.

BEST SPIKE MOVIE EVER!!
I'm a Spike Lee fan and i have to admit that this is his best work ever! I'm a teenager and ever since this movie came out I had always wanted to see it. I finally saw it 2 hours ago and I thought it was excellent. I'm a big fan of Sam Jackson and I think in a way he stole the show. Everybody played their part accordingly specially Anthony Quinn and Lonette McKeen. This actors did a great job and I do think this is an "underrated masterpiece." This movie has been overlooked by some people and I think it deserves way more reviews than it has received. The issue of white/black dating was discussed throughout this movie and I loved the scene where the "girls" were talking in the living room about why they thought black men dated white women. Go rent this movie now if you haven't seen it and if you don't liek it then you're crazy!

One of Spike's Most ambitious films
But he apparently was still having some trouble with balance. The story is , well, you know. And it's a great thing that Spike had the guts to do something like this. And while there was some balance, the scale was a shade racist. Just a shade. Still, one of his absolute best and a must, although he really did have trouble with ending this one.

Spike Showed Truth With This Film
First of all, I am a black female who could care less if someone dates out their race. And I don't know if Spike is a racist or not (because he has dated white women and his father is married to a white woman). But one thing is clear; SOME black people do get offended when they see a black man with a white woman. I have personally seen black women confront black men for dating white women and I have seen black men act crazy when they see a black woman with a white man. In my opinion, Spike showed reality in this film, whether you agree with it or not. However, I don't like this film because it was so unfocused to me. There were too many things going on and in the end, it all seemed useless. I guess Spike wanted to get people talking about race and if that was his goal, then he achieved it. Personally, what I find most offensive and racist is the person who is playing the lead character. He (Snipes) made nasty comments about black women to a black magazine, which explains why his popularity has gone down.

Spike Lee ought to be banned from filmmaking
This is one of the absolute worst movies I have ever seen. Spike Lee is not a brilliant filmmaker. He clearly has racist views that he feels the need to display on film. Jungle Fever is the story of a black man who has an affair with an Italian woman. When their affair is found out, everyone is up in arms. The woman is accused of stealing the Black Man. Black women sit around dissing her when Flipper's (Snipes) wife needs to be questioning her husband. Last I checked, the ring was on Flipper's finger. The very idea that these women can sit around dogging white people and it be deemed ok is deplorable to me. As a young black female, I was disgusted at this image. Queen Latifah's portrayal of that waitress was even worse.

This movie is disgusting and it is a very good example of irresponsible filmmaking. This does not promote racial unity or racial tolerance.

Avoid it at all cost. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Originally made as a two-part TV miniseries, this umpteenth adaptation of Johann Spyri's novel is exceptionally easy on the eyes. Jason Robards plays the grumpy grandfather who tends for the orphaned Swiss girl. Jane Seymour chews up the scenery as the governess to a spoiled, rich city girl whom Heidi is forced to visit. The adults think the invalid Klara (Lexi Randall) needs companionship, but wise old grandpa knows she needs good mountain air and independence. Noley Thornton is sweet enough in the title role and Robards's performance provides depth. This Disney production brings little to the story, but is worth watching for its stunning Alpine vistas.--Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Better Than The Shirley Version
Possibly one of the greatest books of all time-- this is also one of the last good made for T.V. movies disney did. As a huge Shirley Temple fan I will always love Shirley's version but, my opinon this is the best version of Heidi to own and the version I watch most often on family movie night.

The acting is brillantly done by newcomer Noley("Fine Things")and it has the best grandfather Jason Robarbs who delievers the performance of his career. You really catch their love and connection on screen and you see how far he will go for the little girl he loves. Really Heidi is all about faith and love renewalle and in this version you can really see that.This story also sticks more to the orginally book unlike some of the remakes which is nice since the story is perfect the way it is...

My little cousins love this movie and we all want to adopt Jason Robbarbs as our grandfather now! Some of my cousins liked the movie so much they are now reading the book for fun!I'm personally glad I bought this movie to watch with my cousins on family movie night for it's a movie all about family and connecting with the ones you love. Buy "Heidi" and enjoy watching it with your kids over and over again.

The best version of Heidi
My name is Heidi and I have grown up getting Heidi either as a book or a movie for birthday and Christmas presents. (I do own the german version) This is by far my favorite version of Heidi. I grew up with Hayley Mills and The Wonderful World of Disney. Noley Thornton does a wonderful job of depicting Heidi. I wish it would come out on DVD!! You won't be sorry for getting this.

edited for video
On commercial free television, this movie runs in two parts with a total runtime of over 3 hours. The video version of the movie has about 20 minutes cut out of the original presentation. Some really sweet nuances have been removed.

This is an enjoyable movie in either case, or course, but let's hope that Disney releases an unedited version to DVD soon! I would love to add it to my collection.

Stunning!
This version of Heidi is truly wonderful.The story is so great and all the actors played the roles very well.Shirley Temple was good, but Noley Thornton is fantastic.Unlike the older version of Heidi this has a freshness to it.The other version the Alps don't look nearly as stunning and the slede ride was the fakest thing I have seen in my life.In this re-make you can almost see the hills bursting with song and joy.It is truly magnificent.

Great film for People of all ages!!!!
I rented this from Top Hat Video the other day and I watchedit last night when the thunderstorm was interupting the sound this has gotta be one of the best disney films ever Noley Thornton is a sweet girl in this films she's great for the part of Heidi Sure Shirley Temple was good for the part of Heidi in her version of the tale but Young Noley is great too her sweetness in this film makes me feel so good if you thought Shirley was great for Heidi wait till you see this disney version of the tale it's a very sweet story I recommend you get this Noley Thornton is great for Heidi!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (125)

A well-done movie in a non-Hollywood way
I wasn't expecting to be enthralled when I went to this movie (it was husband's choice movie night), but after the first five minutes of the film, I was thoroughly hooked. I came out of the theater feeling like I'd actually seen one of the first above-average movies of the year.

In this movie, Harrison Ford plays a 1960s Soviet sub captain who is brought in to command the Soviet navy's new nuclear submarine after the original captain (Liam Neeson) is removed from the position for political reasons. Neeson stays on the ship as second in command, and Ford is forced to contend with the crew's loyalty to Neeson. Problems plague the submarine before it even leaves drydock, leading the men to begin calling it "The Widowmaker."

This movie isn't told from an American point of view, and doesn't restrict itself to American ideals. The drama is played out without being biased by Hollywood notions of hero vs. villain or a formulaic plot. It really seems like this movie was true to the historic event it was based on.

The characters were portrayed well by everyone in the cast, including Harrison Ford, who was cast against type. Ford turns out a really good performance as the domineering captain and manages to escape his celebrity and really descend into the character. I actually forgot I was watching a Harrison Ford movie. Liam Neeson is solid as well, and the crewmembers without exception turn out convincing performances.

Director Kathryn Bigelow delivers a strong and well done movie with "K-19: The Widowmaker". In a sea of forgettable fluff, this movie rises above typical Hollywood and achieves something special.

Flawed but decent submarine drama
In the sub-genre of submarine dramas, K-19, The Widowmaker doesn't compare with great films such as Das Boot or The Hunt for Red October. Based on a true story that isn't as gripping as those other films, it has limited potential to begin with. So, of course, the couple of serious flaws that K-19 possesses quickly undermines that potential.

K-19 follows the maiden voyage of the Soviet Union's flagship nuclear submarine, whose initial captain (Liam Neeson) is replaced by a new captain (Harrison Ford). During a series of drills, Neeson and the rest of the crew are leery of their new leader, but after a dangerous but successful test of their limits, the new captain earns the crews, (but not Neeson's) trust. However, when a radioactive leak is discovered and the fate of the ship is up in the air, no one knows whose lead to follow.

One of my biggest problems with this film is the first third of it, illustrating drill after drill with a loud, suspenseful soundtrack that tries to make the mostly harmless drills seem more dangerous. The film here seems to be preparing the audience for an inevitable attack from an enemy. All it serves to do in the end is to be misleading so that when that inevitable attack never happens, it proves to be a let down. Also, and perhaps even more annoying, are the poor Russian accents. Everyone, including Ford and Neeson, have wavering accents that are sometimes Russian, sometimes American, and sometimes something else entirely. In fact, without even a single word ever spoken in Russian, the film's authenticity suffers. You never forget that these are all Americans playing Russians. Perhaps if the casting director found more Russian actors for the supporting roles, and the director maybe placed some Russian dialogue in the beginning (such as The Hunt for Red October did), It would have been more convincing.

Still, the film is not without merit. Once the radiation leak is discovered the film becomes more interesting and well worth your time. It truly was a harrowing event and the tension finally begins to build here. It's just too bad it took an hour of false tension to get there. If emphasis on the drills had not been pushed as it was, and the atmosphere more authentically Russian, this could have been a solid four star film doing justice to the true events.

It's worth a rental as it is, but stick to Das Boot or other submarine thrillers to fill your DVD rack.

Great Movie!!!
This is a great movie and is far superb to U-571. The story is exellent and just about everything is exellent. I recommend this to any submarine movie collector or just a person who likes a good story.

An Exciting Submarine Movie
Veteran actors Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson star in this thrilling film about a Russian nuclear submarine and its crew during the height of the cold war. Ford stars as Captain Alexi Vostrikov, a by-the-book, bend and no break commander of the Russian submarine K-19. Neeson stars as Captain Mikhail Polenin. Polenin is the exact opposite of Vostrikov. He is well liked by the crew and is willing to take advice from them.

The K-19 is the newest is Russian submarine technology. Capable of firing missiles up and down the American coast, the submarine and its crew set off on their maiden training mission.
The crew successfully fires the test missile, but soon another problem develops. The crew soon realizes that their nuclear reactor which powers the ship has developed a severe leak which threatens to possibly destroy the ship.

Volunteers are chosen to go inside the reactor area to try to fix the leak by welding pipes to bypass the leak, but these men soon are suffering from radiation exposure. Meanwhile, an American destroyer has come upon the crippled sub and has offered assistance. Vostrikov is determined not to seek help from the "enemy" Americans, and the K-19 does manage to contact another Russian sub and the crew is transferred.

I thought this was a very good movie. Neeson and Ford do very good jobs as the Russian captains, although I didn't care too much for the fake Russian accents. The special effects, especially the underwater shots of the K-19 are excellent. I've been a fan of submarine movies for a long time, and I rate this movie alongside others such as "U-574", "Crimson Tide", and "The Hunt for Red October". It is full of excitement and will definitely captivate you throughout.

Sometimes reality is far worse than Hollywood
I became a fan of the "sub" genre after seeing movies like U-571 and The Hunt for Red October. While U-571 was sort of a pastiche of all the other submarine films that went before it, it made me an immediate fan. It also made me realize just how contrived spaceship movies are.

Unlike the other films, K-19 - The Widowmaker is about a real incident (like the supposed Red October incident) in which a Russian nuclear submarine's reactor nearly had a catastrophic meltdown just off the eastern coast of the United States in the 1960s. Scary stuff.

As a result of this gritty reality, K-19 is powerful in a way that Titanic was powerful. It doesn't matter if the movie isn't quite realistic - the events are so horrible that tension is rife throughout the film. Or at least, it should be.

K-19's initial launch is a debacle. In short, the submarine never has a chance to be successful - the men are inexperienced and costs are cut, such that K-19's crew is lucky that it even works at all. Add in the ship's doctor getting run over by a truck, the failure of the christening bottle to break against the sub's hull, and the firing of the chief engineer and it's hard to disagree with the notion that the ship is cursed.

The new captain aboard Alexei Vostrikov, played by Harrison Ford, pushes the sub to its limits. The tension rises as he forces the crew to do random drills, forces it to dive to near crushing depths, and rise right through the arctic ice. This by far is the most exciting part of the film - there is no enemy except Vostrikov, and it's nail biting after witnessing the poor construction of K-19. Ultimately, K-19 fires its test missile, signaling a message to America that the Russians could launch a nuclear strike if they wished.

Then the sub is pushed to its limits once again, beyond what even Alexei could have feared. They are to patrol the eastern seaboard, right near a NATO base. The ship's original captain, Mikhail Polenin (Liam Neeson) disagrees. Indeed, he disagrees with everything Vostrikov does because he puts the men at risk. I couldn't help but feel contempt for Polenin, who seems so attached to his crew that he no longer has the stomach for war. I'm not sure if that was the director's intent.

Unfortunately, the second half of the film drags. The ship's engines begin to overheat and the inexperienced chief engineer concocts a plan to pipe coolant into the system from the ship's freshwater tanks. Failure means a nuclear explosion "a hundred times worse than Hiroshima."

And so we have a long, slow, miserable, sometimes disgusting foray into the effects of radiation poisoning on the human body. The men who go in have naught but chemical suits rather than radiation suits to protect them. That is, they have no protection at all. So they are exposed for 10 minutes a time in an attempt to minimize the radiation poisoning.

Not only doesn't that tactic works, the radiation leak spreads throughout the submarine. Alexei's choice: accept help from the Americans and save the men or sacrifice his crew to retain Soviet secrets. This decision takes a loooong time to resolve. The movie loses a lot of its momentum, almost becoming a different film that's a lot more like The Andromeda Strain.

What was most striking about this part of the film was how it's been cribbed in other genres. I couldn't help but be reminded of Wrath of Khan, my favorite Star Trek film. Similar to K-19, an officer takes it upon himself to enter the highly lethal radiation chamber in order to "sacrifice the few to save the many." It's chilling to imagine that real human beings had to make that choice. It certainly changed my perspective on Wrath of Khan. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

Ultimately, the Russians on board were treated like traitors instead of war heroes. The men weren't fighting any enemy but the politics of Russia itself, and as such they could never leave the disaster of K-19 as heroes. The movie wraps up with what happened to them afterwards, after the fall of the U.S.S.R. At least 27 of the crew died from radiation poisoning.

K-19 is a depressing movie that is torn between being an action submarine flick like U-571 or a disease epidemic battle for survival like Andromeda Strain. It's not as good as either film, but the fact that it's based on real-life events leaves a chilling reminder that sometimes reality is far worse than anything Hollywood can dream up. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A great Western
Despite its title, this movie does not center around the gunfight at the OK corral. Instead, this is a sort of life of Wyatt Earp, and includes much information about his life in Dodge City as well as Tombstone. One of the most interesting aspects of the film is Earp's developing relationship with Doc Holladay, which is perhaps never treated so well as in this movie.

Burt Lancaster, who plays Wyatt Earp, does an exceptional job. And Kirk Douglas, as always, is also very good. Still, I just can't picture these men well dressed, impeccably groomed, and always wearing light colors. I give this movie four stars for the simple reason that I can never think of Doc Holladay again without picturing Val Kilmer. For me at least, the definitive movie about Wyatt and Doc will continue to be the recently made "Tombstone." I enjoy this movie immensely, but it just doesn't have the raw power that the later film does.

"Boot Hill...Boot Hill...So cold...so still"
One of the best retellings of the historical gunfight to ever make
it to the silver screen. Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas are in top
form as the legendary gunmen Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday.Both on the
opposite sides of law by design the two men develop respectful but
cautious friendship in a time where a man's life depended on how he
was with a gun.

This is by no means the "Tombstone" version of the '90's with it's
with it's glorified hightech shooting angles nor the over sensitive
"My darling Clementine"(Both Classics in their own respect) This is
however a spirited techicolor wonder of a film best noted for its
splended pace, great cinematography and a grand cast of familiar
faces including the always lovely Rhonda Fleming and Jo Van Fleet
along with faithful bad guys Lee Van Cleef, Jack Elam and a young
Dennis Hopper. Also in the cast Forest De Kelly,Kenneth Tobey and
John Ireland. And the best sung theme song since "Do not for sake
me" from High Noon and "El Dorado" from El Dorado.

The DVD version is superior in sight with it's respected scope of
2.35:1 Enhanced and sound is what you expect for mono. I was way
disappointed with no trailer added. Shame on you Paramount!

Better than OK
Much like its predecessor "My Darling Clementine", this film uses the names of real people for its characters - the Earps, Clantons, Doc Holliday - but has virtually nothing to do with historial reality. It's a marvelous film nonetheless and entirely different in its feel and approach from "Clementine." "Gunfight" focuses on the friendship between occasional marshall Wyatt Earp and occasional gunman John Holliday (Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas), and if anything underplays the intense bond between the two men in real life. Screenwriter Leon Uris telescopes several years of events into a few months to fit the movie, and director John Sturges was never better at the pacing and staging of his story. For my money this is Kirk Douglas' greatest performance; the combination of menace and degraded dignity he gives the TB-ridden Holliday is something to see. Just as great as the performances and production work is Dimitri Tiomkin's score. It's so powerful it seems almost like another character; the same effect he achieved in "Red River" for Howard Hawks.

A Classic
I always loved the pairing of Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas because of their impeccable work together.

While lacking in the grandeur of recent remakes of the tale, the movie certainly does ably tell the story leading up to the titled gunfight--as well as the friendship between Earp and Holliday. Unlike Tombstone, Wyatt's brothers have a relatively peripheral role in the movie. Note: Morgan Earp is played by DeForrest Kelley, who went on to play Dr. Leonard McCoy in TV's Star Trek.

Lancaster is excellent in his portrayal of the straight-as-an-arrow Wyatt, and Douglass is his equal as the smug Doc Holliday. I love Douglas's line (when he volunteers to be Wyatt's deputy to track down some bank robbers): "Well, I am handy with a gun, but those best able to attest to my skill are no longer around to do so."

The movie deserves a place in any western fan's DVD collection.

A showcase for Lancaster and Douglas
Basically, a vehicle to showcase the talents of Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, but an appropriate one. Though there are many characters, this is hardly an ensemble cast, with Burt and Kirk prominent in virtually every foot of film. Rhonda Fleming provides a bit of window dressing in a wonderful but brief role as Wyatt's love interest.

More of a classic western than "My Darling Clementine", an earlier movie about Wyatt and Doc at the OK Corral, but this version is more episodic in nature, though equally fictional. Don't look for nuance in the characters. The bad guys are bad, the good guys good but not flawless.

Gunfights, gambling, galloping horses, bar room ladies... If you love westerns, you'll love this one. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The Best Python Bio So Far-Lackluster DVD Effort Though
This is a great way to become aware(or re-aware) of just how great the Pythons still are. There are plenty of clips and new interviews with all of them which are informative and funny. There's even on-set footage of "Holy Grail" and a so-so 10 min May Day film. The best parts though, are the new skits performed by the Pythons(except Idle), a Palin tour through Pythonland, and one of the German episodes of the Flying Circus. It's great to see that they have not lost their ability to be completely irreverent and silly, and it's neat to see what the spots where they filmed their most famous skits look like now. Also the German episode is surprisingly one of the funnier episodes of Circus I've seen. Unfortunately this DVD does have a few flaws that keep it from being the fitting tribute that they deserve. First of all, what is Meatloaf doing on here? They could have at least found someone who has something to do with Python to do this-like Steve Martin or Kevin Kline. I don't even want to think of Meatloaf, then alone see his ugly mug on a Python tribute. Also this was made by A&E, who put absolutely NO effort into their DVD's. Why is the other German episode not included? I know it's in German, but I CAN READ SUBTITLES. The fact that they have a second DVD that has nothing but a 42 minute episode on it is ridiculous. This DVD may have flaws, but it is definately worth getting because, unless by some miracle they all decide to give it one last try, this is the best we're going to get.

Ah, yes....
'Fliegender Zirkus #1' is among the funniest TV programmes the group ever did (among many others, of course). So this means I'll have to hold onto my England-imported Guerilla Films VHS copy of the two German episodes for a while longer. Hopefully this wrong will be corrected one day, and 'Fliegender Zirkus #1' (AS WELL AS "Live at the Hollywood Bowl") will get the DVD treatment. But it's too bad they couldn't get it right the first time.

With that said, this 2-disc set still makes a fine companion piece to the 45 'Flying Circus' episodes. In addition to 'Fliegender Zirkus #2,' it's got an almost definitive documentary of the Monty Python story, a travelogue of the locations of where the group filmed many of their beloved sketches, a Python song review, new material by the surviving boys (though none of it really adds anything to the Python legacy, but it's still interesting to watch), AND the somewhat legendary, long-lost 7-minute May Day special from 1971 (though, again, it adds nothing to the Python legacy [especially since it uses bits from other 'Flying Circus' episodes], but is still interesting to watch -- and, yes, John Cleese's comment after it ends is priceless....classic Cleese). So pick up a copy of "The Life of Python" today. Apart from that glaring omission of 'Fliegender Zirkus #1,' it's still a must for any Monty Python fan.

The Pythons still got it!
I was very pleased to view this documentary and other various programs on this 2 disc set. First off it includes BRAND NEW sketches with all of the cast except for Eric Idle, who although does not appear in the sketches, he does appear at the end of the mock interview sequence (which only lasts about 1 minute). It also would have been nice to see Graham Chapman but of course that was impossible. Most of the new sketches are good except the timing on the jokes was not quite as sharp or quick. Even Carol Cleveland appears and she still looks great. There is a rare 10 minute short film made in 1971 celebrating the Mayday Festival that was lost for years. A Pythonland tour with Michael Palin covering some the original areas where the classic Python sketches were filmed is also a plus. But the big attraction is a Monty Python episode that was made specifically for a German audeince. It was 1 of only 2 ever made. Very Rare Indeed! It is the second show of the two shows. The first show is not included although there is a clip of it in the bonus features are of the dvd.

Monty Python is still the best.
This is a documentary of the men and work of Monty Python. Great video. I saw this on PBS and loved it.

Monty python are the best, and they're British!!!!
I wasn't around when they first appeared (being 16) so i don't remember them well, but they're our best Comedy ever.
Aswell as the goon show and several other things.
I recommend this video to every python fan, The BBC did a wonderful job.(aswell as the best of flying circus)
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