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Divorce Italian Style is a comedy milestone--a brilliant, biting satire that was originally conceived as a drama; directed with nonstop inventiveness by a filmmaker who had never done comedy; and featuring an actor who, though not even among the first dozen players considered, cemented his international stardom with this performance. The movie also marked a breakthrough for foreign film in America, winning popular as well art-house success, Academy Award nominations for director Pietro Germi and star Marcello Mastroianni, and--the first of only a few foreign-language films to do so--the Oscar itself for Original Screenplay.

On the sun-blasted island of Sicily, Baron Ferdinand "Fefè" Cefalù (Mastroianni) breaks out of his heat- and boredom-induced stupor long enough to be smitten with mad passion for his 16-year-old cousin Angela (Stefania Sandrelli). But he's married--to Rosalia (Daniela Rocca), she of the unfortunate mustache--and the Italian Penal Code gives him no way out... except, of course, for catching his wife in adultery and availing himself of the patriarchal license to commit a "crime of honor." So Fefè searches for a way to fling Rosalia into the arms of another man.

Mastroianni's Fefè is an indelible masterpiece, visually and behaviorally: a portrait in painterly chiaroscuro, with brilliantined hair, eternally drooping eyelids, a cigarette holder angled in perpetual salute, and a manic, conspiratorial slouch, like Groucho Marx on painkillers. Germi's direction hustles the film along with bold, mobile camerawork, stream-of-consciousness lurches into fantasy and flashback, Fefè's feverish voiceover commentary, and a wonderfully propulsive music score by the late Carlo Rustichelli. --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (11)

High-Styled Hijinks!
Pietro Germi's companion piece to his earlier "Seduced and Abandoned," this comedy comes so close to tragedy it takes your breath away. Only the director's insight into theocracy and Italian mores keeps "Divorce Italian Style" from succumbing to the darkness that lurks inside this material. Although Marcello Mastroianni and Stefania Sandrelli are the big names, in star-making performances, the picture is really held together by Daniela Rocca's tricky and subtle work as the dutiful wife who must be murdered to have a happy ending. This was very daring stuff in the 1960s, and Criterion's jaunty DVD transfer does it full justice (don't miss the nifty interview supplement). Germi's satirical epilogue will remind you of the one in "All About Eve," it's that good.

When Love Withers in Brilliant Comedy...
A flower's life span is nothing compared to humans, yet flowers go through similar developmental stages.The most memorable part of a flower's growth is the blossoming progress where it goes from being a small bud until it dwindles to the ground in a rapid withering phase.Occasionally, love uses the life span of a flower as a symbol for the affectionate spell under which two individuals bond.When the flower withers, the relationship turns numb, which is the case with Ferdinando "Fefé" Cefalú (Marcello Mastroianni).Fefé merely stays with his wife Rosalia (Daniela Rocca), as societal restrictions are enforced by the Catholic Church, family, and public, which forces people to remain married until death do they part.In the light of this notion, the audience will truly experience a socially important comedy, which plays with the ideas of divorce through more hideous plots such as murder, deceit, and other troublemaking.

The film opens on a moving train as Fefé exits the public toilet while he bumps into two Sicilian police officers.Quickly Fefé leaves them behind, as he slowly makes his way through gentle zigzagging around other passengers to the dining car.Seated while ordering roast beef and two potatoes, Fefé continues to gaze upon the passing Sicilian countryside, which does not seem to have changed much since the Roman Empire.This is a familiar place for Fefé who begins to disclose an amusing tale of why he is on his way home, as he recollects in homesick manner his hometown Agramonte. This opening has several suggestive nods towards Fefé's character, his family and what is important in Agramonte, which will be comically and profoundly illustrated as the story unfolds.

In the introduction by Fefé the audience learns through his words, the camera, and the actions of the characters that societal progress does not seem to be high on the agenda.Instead the audience learns about how politics and the Catholic Church seem to be intertwined in this small town.The slow progress has generated some very rigid guidelines, which no one seems willing to challenge.In this societal stalemate the men only seem to pay attention and gossip about one thing - women.This is essential information, as it depicts the boredom that helps the withering of the flowers.

The story goes into great detail to depict Fefé's monotonous life.He is unemployed due to social status because he is a Baron, which means that he often sleeps in.Whenever he does not sleep his exceedingly caring and nurturing Rosalia tends to his needs while it actually seems as if she is only annoying him.There is a wonderful scene where Fefé escapes everyone to read in peace and enjoy the soothingbreeze from a small fan in his study while Rosalia enters with coffee and turns off the fan.Fefé turns the fan on again while Rosalia turns it off with a smile, as she serves him the coffee.This scene oozes of tension between the two while Fefé keeps his cool and Rosalia tries her best to be a good wife. Yet, it offers him an opportunity to begin to imagine different methods of how he could kill her.

In between Fefé's annoyance and boredom he discovers the stunning teen Angela (Stefania Sandrelli) whom infatuates him with a brief look at mass.Fefé begins to think about Angela while he sneaks to the bathroom to steal a peak at the youthful girl through the window.Eventually, Angela expresses her mutual desire for Fefé, but they have to be careful so they do not cause a scandal, or worse.This provides an opportunity for Fefé to begin to actually think of how to get rid off Rosalia, which turns out to be a comically ugly event as he cannot divorce her by law.

The audience will feel empathy for Rosalia who tries to be a good wife, but Fefé does not allow it by being distant.Simultaneously, one cannot help to feel understanding for Fefé who now begins to study the law and how he possibly could get away with murder.It is a sad thought, even though the presentation of the topic is jovial, that the people are ready to commit the worst possible act in the name of love.Yet, it is also here where the film's strength lays, as it delivers a funny depiction of how a passé society can squelch life and frown upon societal progress, which was a big deal in the 1960s.A notion arises in regards to progress--should one have the freedom to find their own blossoming flower?

Divorce Italian Style offers a well-written and genuine comedy with deliberate intentions for the audience to ponder regarding the society and the social restrictions that govern the unhappy.The cast does a marvelous job in portraying the different characters.For example, Daniela Rocca's illustration of Rosalia provides authentic view of a woman who seeks love form her husband, but does not receive it.In addition, Marcello Mastroianni does a brilliant job through his dual performance in the film by also being in the Fellini's La Dolce Vita, which is shown in the film.However, Mastroianni's visual persona suggests his infatuation with beautiful women that can be explored if one views La Dolce Vita.Lastly, the camera work, mise-en-scene, and the framing of each scene enhance the complete ideas, as they transcends the expectations of the film.

That's it, I want a divorce!
Just so you know, divorce is now permitted in Italy. But in 1962, the only way you could get a divorce was by... well, "Divorce Italian Style," a ka bumping off your adulterous spouse. This delightfully warped black comedy focuses on that very idea -- a disgruntled husband who goes to absurd lengths to get a "divorce."

Ferdinando Cefalú (Marcello Mastroianni) is a middle-aged Sicialian noble who is displeased with his life, and his adoring wife Rosalia (Daniela Rocca). In true midlife-crisis fashion, he falls for his angelic-looking cousin Angela (Stefania Sandrelli), but he can't get a divorce. Divorce isn't allowed in Italy at this time, so Ferdinando is left stewing over his problems, fantasizing about murdering Rosalia.

But then he hears about an odd law: if an adulterous spouse is caught in flagrante, then the wronged spouse can kill the adulterer and get off with a light prison sentence. So Ferdinando starts desperately searching for a potential lover for Rosalia, but she remains faithful. Then he locates an ex-boyfriend of hers, hoping to rekindle the old flame. But nothing goes quite according to plan...

Yes, it's a bit sick. But in such a funny way that it really doesn't offend. At a certain point it becomes less about Ferdinando trying to murder his wife, as it is an increasingly overwrought attempt to get her to commit adultery. Not to mention a spoof on traditional views on "family honor," where it is more shocking to NOT kill your adulterous spouse than it is to do so.

Ferdinando carefully straddles the line between being slime and being a funny character -- his surreal murder fantasies are hilarious, such as when he shoves Rosalia into a vat of soap. And in keeping with the spoof atmosphere, the romance is overemotional, the fighting is overwrought, and the contrived adultery/murder scheme is absurd. The final scene is the final tragicomic flourish, hinting at future disaster that Ferdinando deserves.

Pietro Germi at first seems to be making an offensive movie, but viewing it with a sense of humor shows that he's poking fun, and making wry social observations. He was also not above plugging Mastroianni's other movies -- one scene has a priest denouncing "La Dolce Vita," followed by crowds rushing to see it. Ferdinando's future brother-in-law ogles the beautiful Anita Eckberg, then hastily tells his fiancee that Eckberg is pretty, but "she has no soul."

The immortal Mastroianni injects just enough humanity into Ferdinando to keep us from loathing him -- in the middle of a midlife crisis, he seems increasingly confused as the movie goes on. Daniela Rocca sits on the fence between being devoted and annoying, while Sandrelli plays a girl who acts like an angel, but definitely isn't.

Thankfully Italian spouses no longer have to bump each other off to get a "divorce," but "Divorce Italian Style" remains a classic black comedy/social satire.

Amusing
Charming story indeed.Baron Pepe Cerafulu gets bored with his wife's over nuturing and nagging ways.Oh how he yearns for his teenage cousin, Angelina.Baron does give us some amusing facial gestures.

His schemes to arrange for this divorce are kind of far fetched.They will certainly have you chuckling especially when the tape recorder fails to catch his wife in the act. Carmello is quite charming in his role as the painter.

The Black and White Cinematography works well depicting Italy several decades ago.The subtitles are a little out of synch but otherwise this old movie is certainly a goodie.

The Film Is Great, The DVD Is Not
Divorce, Italian Style is a superb movie from the 1960's genre.The story is highly entertaining and the characters are witty, especially Marcello Mastroianni, whose dry, cynical humour is an absolute pleasure.However, the DVD from Hen's Tooth could certainly be better.The excessive scratches do take away from some stunning black and white cinematography, but the film itself more than makes up for it.The film is definitely worthy a spot in the Italian film aficionados' collection, but wait for a new DVD version. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

North & South: A series to be remembered
Before, during and after the Civil War, two friends George Hazard a northerner and Orry Main a southerner despite their beliefs, remain friends at a time when the north and south was divided with the problems of the nation.

An excellent script, cast and music. A movie that made me appreciate history . I learnd more from the series than I did from the textbook I had when I was in school. I own book I & II on VHS. I want the DVD version.

North and South-Excellent Mini-Series
I love stories from the Civil War, and this is one of the best. I was so glad when Part II came out, and I look forward to when North and South Part III-Heaven and Hell, comes out on video, or DVD. If you love the Civil War era, and the stories, you will love North and South. The scenery, settings, homes and clothes are so beautiful. The cast was excellent, and did a fine job of protraying their characters. At least once a year, I watch the entire mini-series on a weekend, and I love it more every time I watch it. I highly recommend North and South to everyone.

Finally!!!
Finally it is here! North and south on dvd. I'm so glad. I have been waiting for years to be able to own all three books (book 3 has never before been available). I have enjoyed watching these miniseries since I was a child. It is surely one of the best stories I have ever seen. The friendship, the love and romance, and the struggle of war are all magnificent. A group of very well casted characters. I will cherish it for years to come.

Hmmm....
I LOVED this these movies when they aired on TV. I am looking forward to their release on DVD. B*U*T, I have just one thing to say.... They had BETTER be closed captioned like they say it is. I'm hearing impaired and have been disappointed WAY too many times buying films that SAY they are captioned and then find out that they are actually not. Here's to keeping my fingers crossed!

Here at Last!
Well it's here at last, North and South on DVD! This complete collection totals in at 1392 minutes (that's almost a complete 24hrs) and includes Books 1,2,and 3. This wonderful mini-series showcases life before, during and after the Civil War. Patrick Swayze and James Read star as the heads of two very different and very intriguing families. Read's clan is a Northern industrial family while Swayze's is a plantation owning Southern family. First airing in 1985, Book 1 focused on the tumultuous times immediately prior to the Civil War. This epic masterpiece showcases beautiful scenery, emormous sets, and a large, talented cast. 1986's equally brilliant Book 2 takes us into the Civil War and has some impressive battle sequences. Book 3 (made many years later) focuses on the Reconstruction period of American history. Unfortunately, many of the principle cast members (Patrick Swayze, Kirstie Alley) did not return for this third outing and it suffers because so. It is also only half the length of the previous efforts.
The DVD promises some interesting extras including a documentary "The History of North and South" as well as interviews with some of the films stars. To get this much entertainment all in one package is remarkable deal. ... Read more

Reviews (62)

CULT MOVIES 29
29. THE LAST STARFIGHTER (SCI-fiction, 1984) For young Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) living in a trailer park is boring. He wants to escape from his rural existence and go to the city where he hopes to go to College. Bot for his girlfriend Annie (Catherine Mary Stewart) the prospect of leaving her grandmother behind is hard. Alex's only real excitement is playing a video game called 'Last Starfighter', having played it so many times that he finally breaks the game's points record. Soon after he's visited by a friendly alien power. They want to recruit him as one of their elite 'Starfighters' in an inter-galactic war where his skills will prove the turning point. Here he finds an unexpected chance to finally break free and follow his dreams. But will Annie join him?

Critique: The Star Wars phenomenon inspired a slew of science fiction films in its heyday that, surprisingly enough, has continued to this day. Although the 80s produced its share of memorable films, this is one of the most appealing of the bunch. Capturing the youthful exuberance and innocence that made the Star Wars fantasy a worldwide smash. The 'once upon story' line works from the disillusioned, dreamy nature of those kids whose earthly existence leave much to be desired. Wishing they could be whisked away to another galaxy, and take part in some far-off adventure. An added bonus to the film is the pairing of the 2 young leads. Exacting the warmth and amazement of encountering such a journey, and taking their love to the infinite reaches of space.

Sweet, Exciting Sci-Fi Adventure!
A combination of 'Coming-of-Age', 'Small-town U.S.A.', and Science Fiction films, 'The Last Starfighter' is one of that rare breed of films that actually become more enjoyable after repeated viewings, which makes it an EXCELLENT choice for your film collection!

Famous in film history as the first film to utilize computer-generated FX for its space scenes (producing a 'big-budget' look to more modestly budgeted film), the effects today seem as creaky and out-of-date as the 'Last Starfighter' arcade game that teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) is so expert at! Don't let this put you off, though, as this story is really about the youngster, and being willing to take advantage of an opportunity to 'shine', as Otis (Vernon Washington), his best friend at his trailer park home, reminds him.

The concept of the game being a secret test for fighter pilots is clever, and when game creator Robert Preston (who is magnificent, in his last screen appearance) whisks young Rogan off to fight in an interstellar war, all of the youngster's long-stated ambitions to leave home and make something of his life are tested. In a series of amusing scenes, our hero stumbles through his first encounter with alien races, meeting the affable Grig (an unrecognizable Dan O'Herlihy, who nearly steals the movie), the pilot of his fightercraft. After almost making the worst decision of his life, Rogin comes to his senses....

... director Nick Castle (who directed the sweet and equally wonderful 'The Boy Who Could Fly') understands people and small-town life, and gives the space adventure so much charm and savvy that you'll love it, nonetheless!

Guest is terrific as Alex, conveying both the humor and frustration of growing up in the trailer park; Catherine Mary Stewart, as his girlfriend, is equally good! As Alex' space-fixated younger brother, Louis, Chris Hebert has some of the film's funniest lines, and the image of him, taking his shot at the arcade game and a chance to become a Starfighter, at the conclusion of the film, is a fitting finale!

Special praise should be given to Craig Safan's rousing score, some of the most beautiful, sweeping music since 'Star Wars'!

The DVD edition IS the version to buy, with a terrific documentary on the making of the film, hosted by Lance Guest, and commentary by director Nick Castle and production designer Ron Cobb!

'The Last Starfighter' has achieved near-cult film status over the years, and is a rich experience you'll enjoy, again and again! I STRONGLY recommend it!

One of my fondest memories...
One of the fondest memories of my childhood was watching this movie while eating a Chef-Boy-Ardee sausage pizza. (remember those?) Many hot summer days were spent enjoying the adventure of Alex Rogan travelling to Rylos and realizing his dreams and his destiny as a Starfighter with his navigator, Grigg. This is one of those inexplicably optimistic films that popped up in the 80's. Despite the fact that the special effects may look dated now, the story is timeless and well written for this genre. The video presentation on this DVD is rather crisp and clear but the audio could be a "little" better. Still, this is a wonderful film for kids and nostalgic adults alike. Oh, the extras are nice as well. I hadn't seen the "Making of" documentary since it appeared on HBO when I was a kid. This is a wonderful film.

Thoroughly enjoyable
An interesting little film of how a dead-end kid is forced to become a galactic hero, because of his facility at a computer game, which is a secret recruiting station for starfighter pilots. The computer-generated graphics, advanced for their time, now look ridiculously crude, but it somehow adds to the quaintness of the whole thing, with marvellous performances from Lance Guest as the reluctant hero, Robert Preston as the likeably roguish Centauri who is prepared not so much to bend the rules as to smash them into very tiny fragments and Dan O'Herily as Grigg, the lizard co-pilot whose dream is to go down fighting against impossible odds!

Formulaic Fun.
If you're looking for a masterpiece film that rewrites the sci-fi genre with intense drama and gritty characters, this isn't the movie for you. If you're looking for a really fun film that's a great mix of Star Wars, Saturday morning cartoons, and video games then stick this in your DVD player.

The movie's special effects hold up suprisingly well, considering that they're 20 years old. When Alex Rogan is flying the gunstar, it's like you're there with him, especially if you grew up loving this film. The characters are developed enough that you care, but not so much that it's like a daytime soap opera. Two thumbs up! ... Read more

Reviews (598)

An incredible animated movie
"Spirited Away" won the Oscar for 2002's Best Animated Film. It richly deserved this award, for it is by far the best movie of its type in years. It may not be funny like 'Monsters Inc." or entertaining like "Shrek", but for sheer beauty and artistic integrity, it's almost impossible to top. Since words, like any other medium, have built-in limits, you will have to experience it for yourself to see what I am saying.

Imagine this: A little girl is riding in a car with her parents. They are headed to their new house. Dad makes a wrong turn, and they wind up traveling along a dirt road which ends at what appears to be a deserted train station. Dad decides that it's really the entrance to a failed amusement park. He and Mom decide to go exploring, and the little girl, filled with trepidation, has no choice but to go along. After awhile, the little family discovers a restaurant that is still operating. The parents gorge themselves until they are turned into pigs. Suddenly alone, the child finds herself in a place full of witches, ghosts, goblins and other assorted spirits. Aided only by an unearthly boy, she must now save her parents and find her way out of this surreal place.

The movie was made in Japan by animation master Hayao Miyazaki and his crew. It became the highest grossing movie of all time in that country. The people at Disney bought the American rights and lovingly added an excellent English soundtrack. The company's marketing department apparently was at a loss as to how to sell such an unusual animated movie. It was seen by relatively few Americans in theaters. I suspect that this masterpiece will find its audience here via video and DVD.

Hayao Miyazaki's Latest Masterpiece
From the legendary Studio Ghibli and anime director Hayao Miyazaki (of "Princess Mononoke," "Castle in the Sky," and "Kiki's Delivery Service," among others) comes a new favorite among otaku (anime fans) world-wide. "Spirited Away" is the story of a young Japanese girl named Chihiro (literally, "heroine") who is, as the title implies, taken from her normal life and deposited reluctantly in a small town built around a bathhouse for spirits. Chihiro overcomes fear and other obstacles, including a large, faceless monster and a black-hearted witch named Yubaba (literally, "old hag") to save her parents from a rather unpleasant fate. The story is exciting, well-paced, and thoughtful, with a good mix of humor, symbolism, emotion, traditional Japanese legend, and moral.

From an animation standpoint, "Spirited Away" is astounding. The sheer amount of movement and energy in Hayao Miyazaki's most recent work is quite impressive. Combined with the beautiful scenery (including several awe-inspiring and detailed shots of the bathhouse that can by themselves be regarded as masterpieces), and the realistic textures of the grass blowing in the wind, the flower gardens around the bathhouse, and the interior of the bathhouse, "Spirited Away" is truly a work of art.

The only flaw in the otherwise near-perfect film is the dialogue. A few lines sound a little forced, and some intended to be funny simply aren't. Fortunately, these slip-ups are few and far between.

Already, "Spirited Away" has earned several prestigous distinctions, including the 2003 Oscar award for Best Animated Feature. Also, "Spirited Away" was anime released in movie theaters, which is rare in the United States. Ever rarer, it became the top-grossing film in America for several weekends in a row. Not surprisingly, it was also popular in Japan, where it became the top-grossing film in that nation's history.

Most people I have talked to have been very impressed with the quality of "Spirited Away." Many of these have been adults, mislead by the films "Disney" tag. When they sat down to watch it with their kids, they simply expected another children's movie, but instead found a film they could enjoy and appreciate as well. On the face, the plot is simple enough for younger kids to understand, but the symbolism and artwork is so complicated and intricate that it can be enjoyed by adults and older kids as well. In other words, however cliché those words may be, this film really does have something for everyone, and is well worth your time and your twenty-five dollars.

A work of art!
First of all,don't listen to people who give this masterpiece bad reviews... they probably think disney movies are the only animations worth watching!
This anime is fantastic... Miyazaki is truly a genius. Everything about it blew me away, from the animation and characters to its storyline! The characters have depth, and they show real emotion, and unlike disney movies, there are no annoying sidekicks or crappy songs... in fact, the music is very beautiful and heightens the feel of the movie.Even the dub is pretty good(at least in my opinion), but of course the original japanese with subtitles is best(as always)!
I HIGHLY recommend this one to everyone, anime fan or not!This is definitely worth your money! Don't hesitate!

Simply Amazing
I must admit that if it weren't for my friends, I probably would have never even given this title a second look, but after I watched it, I was amazed. Miyazaki has managed to create one of the most beautiful, not to mention entertaining, movies I have ever seen. The characters (especially Chihiro) are very true to life. I highly recommend "Spirited Away" even if you aren't an anime fan or, like me, are an otaku (you know who you are). I also encourage you to check out Miyazaki's other works, two of my favorites being "Princess Mononoke" and "The Castle of Cagliostro."

6 stars
This movie feels like a dream. There are not many works of art that can do this, but with this one I distinctively got the feeling that watching this film was the same as a really sweet dream. I love it. ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Bless them all...bless them all....
I am unable to recall another film whose opening and closing scenes are more effective than those in this brilliant portrayal of the 918th Bombardment group based in England which flew almost daily missions to Germany during World War II. The character of General Frank Savage (Gregory Peck) is reputedly based on Brigadier General Frank A. Armstrong, Jr. Sy Bartlett wrote the book and then the screenplay. Brilliantly directed by Henry King, we are introduced to a combination of combat fatigue and self-pity which results in the replacement of Colonel Keith Davenport by his friend Savage who is told by his commanding officer, General Pritchard (Millard Mitchell), to shape up the 918th while avoiding Davenport's problem: Becoming overly involved emotionally in decisions to send B-17 crews on exceptionally dangerous missions, day after day after day. Savage immediately establishes his authority and almost immediately loses whatever goodwill he may have had. He applies and then maintains constant pressure on the crews to improve their performance in all areas of flight operations. Underachievers are reassigned to one B-17 renamed "The Leper Colony." Morale deteriorates to such a point that those at headquarters become concerned. A formal investigation of the situation is conducted. This is a critical moment for Savage. If he has "lost" his men, he cannot continue. In fact, he expects to be relieved and begins to pack his personal items. However, for reasons revealed in the film, Savage remains in command. And then....

It would be a disservice to those who have not as yet seen this film to say any more about the plot. Suffice to say that brilliant direction, great acting by everyone involved (notably by Dean Jagger who received an Academy Award for best actor in a supporting role), superb cinematography (Leon Shamroy), and haunting music (Alfred Newman) are seamlessly integrated in this analysis of effective leadership (especially decision-making) under wartime conditions. The film begins when Harry Stovall (Jagger) makes an especially significant purchase in an antique store and then proceeds to what has by then become an abandoned air base. As we begin to hear the bombers' propellers whine as the engines roar to life, we are transported back in time. Later, as the film ends, civilian Stovall climbs back on his rented bike and departs what is again an abandoned air base. Stunning images throughout both sequences.

Peck included this among his favorite films, while adding that he was especially proud of his performance as Frank Savage. When first released more than 50 years ago, it did not receive the recognition (much less the appreciation) it so obviously deserves. Whenever CEOs and other senior-level executives ask me to suggest war films which offer important lessons about leadership and management, Twelve O'Clock High is first on the list, joined by (in alphabetical order) Command Decision, The Dirty Dozen, The Enemy Below, Fort Apache, The Hunt for Red October, Paths of Glory, Pork Chop Hill, The Red Badge of Courage, They Were Expendable, and Zulu.

The best war movie I've ever seen. Magnificent!
Twelve "O'Clock High is a powerful and true-to-life film dealing with the early days of the 8th US Air Force in Great Britain. Its mission: to bomb Germany not by night in saturation bombings as the British were doing, but instead to boldly engage in "precision daylight bombing." No one knew if the concept was viable because no one had ever dared try it before on a large scale. Gregory Peck plays the role of a leader suddenly thrust into command of a deeply troubled, demoralized, and shot-up bomber squadron. How he motivates the men and overcomes the fact that the men well know that their chances of survival were poor (the worst survival odds of any American combat assignment in the war) is a deeply moving, powerful, indeed unforgettable story. This is a great movie.

The cinematography of this movie is wonderful, featuring actual combat footage of B-17s engaging German Focke-Wulf fighters in deadly combat. The sense of authenticity that this movie brings to the screen is total. One feels transposed back into England in 1942, engaged in a life-and-death struggle in the air against the Germans. The uniforms, dialogue, everything, about this movie reeks of authenticity. The storyline moves along at a breakneck pace--no dull interludes. And yet this is not just a "shoot-em-up" war flick. It is a stirring story of leadership, personality clashes, honest fear and human imperfections that reminds us what an incredible debt we all owe to the men who fought and won the air war over Nazi Germany.

This is a DVD movie to keep and watch repeatedly over the years. It is not only a great movie, it is wonderfully entertaining. This is truly one of the all-time great war movies.

The best review from someone who lived it.
My father, a b-17 bomber pilot, flew 52 missions out of England (Bassingbourn) during WWII. He spoke very little about his war-time experiences, but he said that this was the closest that Hollywood ever came to capturing what it was like for the B-17 bomber squadrons during WWII. It is a great film about human beings under extraordinary stress, making extremely difficult choices and living with their consequences - but most especially it is a moving portrayal of the complexities of leadership and friendship, and the trust needed to get others to do difficult, if not impossible things.

the meaning of "Maximum Effort"
This is a magnificent World War II film about U.S. airmen stationed in Britain in the fall of 1942, and so much more; it's about the psychology that goes into situations of extreme stress, and what makes a man a winner or loser when put to the test. As General Savage (Peck) says in his pep talk, "fear is normal, but stop worrying about it". Savage has no time for self pity, for himself or anyone else, and his toughness and high principles bring out the best in his men, and it also points up the dangers of emotional attachment in the wrong situations.
The script by Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay Jr., from their book which is loosely based on a true story, is intelligent and insightful, and the direction by Henry King meticulous. The cinematography by Leon Shamroy is crisp and marvelous, and also includes riveting portions of actual WWII battle footage interspersed in the aerial shots.
The Alfred Newman score also adds much to the film.

Gregory Peck is perfect as General Savage, fabulously handsome, with one of the greatest voices of the 20th century, one cannot imagine a better actor for the part. Dean Jagger is also splendid as Major Harvey Stovall; wise and often witty, it is through his eyes that we see the story, told in flashback as he wanders the deserted airfield in 1949.
Other excellent performances come from Gary Merrill and Hugh Marlowe, but every cast member is good, with strong turns from all.

Nominated for a Best Actor and Best Picture Oscar (losing out to "All the King's Men" on both counts), "Twelve O'Clock High" spawned a much better than average TV series (1964-67) that I enjoyed watching, especially in its first season when it starred Robert Lansing.
This is a film that is actually used in "leadership seminars" for business executives, and by the U.S. Airforce as a teaching tool. It has lessons for the average person too, but most of all, it's a superb film, with memorable performances. Total running time is 132 minutes.

Excellent Movie for Leadership
This movie is a classic tool used by the USAF Squadron Officer School. It is a great way to see the different styles of leadership. When we viewed it in an educational fashion the movie carried a much greater sense of meaning for us. For all military buffs this movie has to be in your collection. Tobey Jugs, leather caps, B-17s...Bless them all, bless them all... ... Read more

Reviews (234)

The Emperor's New Groove--A Groovy Movie!
The Emperor's New Groove is a very interesting movie. Viewers will have a comical experience, typical of Disney movies. The animation of this movie is also excellent, showing details that really make the movie shine. The music is wonderful, contributing to an overall outstanding movie.

This movie is fun for all ages, clean for a child safe movie and comical enough for the adults. Join the arrogant Kuzco as he learns a lesson in hospitality, he won't soon forget. Prepare to meet Pacho, the villager who unwittingly will teach him that lesson, and a score of other interesting characters. This movie had my interest from start to finish.

The Ultimate Groove has special features like you wouldn't believe. Did you ever wonder how a Disney movie was made, or what goes on behind the scenes? Prepare to have these questions and more answered as Director and Producer take you behind the scene, on your choice of tours. Play a game, and help Kuzco get to the castle, but beware. Danger lurks right behind you.

This game was fun, but not that fun. I would not spend too much time on it. Overall, I vote for the Ultimate Groove for the backstage tours and commentary. If this does not sound like your interest, the normal version is an absolute must.

Just shy of a five-llama rating
I avoided seeing this movie in theaters, due in large part to the television and print ads which made the film seem dumb and uninteresting. I bought the DVD largely because it was a special edition and I want to encourage Disney to make more. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the film was a pretty straight comedy buddy picture which didn't get bogged down in obligitory romances or other typical plot devices. It's not really one of my favorite animated films, but it's fun and I like it.

This is a pretty good special edition, though it lacks that bit of extra oomph that would have made it a great one. The bonus material gives viewers a pretty good overview of the film's production, including some nice bits of rough animation of the major characters. The commentary, while lacking the guys-sitting-around-talking-about-their-movie-and-having-fun informality of something like "A Bug's Life", is infortmative without being boring. I guess my main gripe with this DVD is the lack of real information about the "Kingdom of the Sun" version of the film. I realize that Disney wasn't really happy with the way that was going and would probably rather forget it. But a synopsis of the original plot would have been interesting, even if it only shows why that version was scrapped. Overall, this is a nice DVD that will please fans of the film and provide some interest for the animation buffs.

Awesome movie!
My kids watch this one all the time. My youngest just loves it, she laughs through the whole movie (and so do!) David Spade is hilarious as Kuzko the self obsorbed Prince turned Llama, and John Goodman plays a heartwarming Pacha, the peasent who's home Kuzko wants to destroy to make his dream vacation spot.

Two thumbs way up!

Talk about baseball instead
This movie stars David Spade as a "llama." Who cares about a llama? Well, he does not start out as one. The movie is about an emperor who gets a spell cast on him. This movie is lame.

Ho-hum Disney Flick
The Emperor's New Groove never gets your pulse up. You never care about any of the characters. It would have been ok as a Saturday morning cartoon special, but is unworthy of the title "Disney Animated Feature." David Spade stars as an Inca king who is turned into a llama to teach him a lesson on kindness. John Goodman voices his best friend. The villian looks like an anorexic Cruella DeVille with disgusting spidery eyelashes.

Endless babbling and anachronistic cultural references made me weary. I was glad when it was over. I know that the destruction of the Inca civilization at the hands of the Spanish conquistadors was one of history's greatest tragedies. But if I were Pizzarro, and the Incas were this annoying, I would have annihilated them, too! I recommend Disney's 2003 "Brother Bear" instead, as a wonderful film for both kids and adults. ... Read more

Reviews (163)

Almost Great, But . . .
Most of "True Lies" is a wonderful combination of action, adventure, thriller, and comedy. Most of this movie could stand up against most James Bond movies.

However, I have one major concern. In the first third of the movie, when Arnold Schwarzenegger's character thinks his wife, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, is having an affair with a car salesman who pretends to be an international spy to attract women, his response is pretty sadistic. He uses his resources, as the international spy that Arnold's character actually is, to have his wife's phone tapped, have her followed, have her captured, have her interrogated, and have her coerced into becoming a spy. He's already gone too far, but he goes even further by having her first assignment be to pose as a prostitute in order to plant a miniature microphone in the hotel room of a sleazy stranger (played by Schwarzenegger, hiding in the dark, and using someone's tape-recorded voice). I find that entire sequence very distasteful and uncomfortable to watch.

My recommendation: watch the movie, but fast-forward through that entire sequence described above. It's cheap, sleazy, and distasteful.

True Lies - An extremely entertaining action/drama film!
"True Lies" is quite simply, one of the most entertaining, fast paced and hilarious films that Arnold Schwarzenegger has ever starred in. From the very first time I saw this movie in the theater to several viewings both in VHS and DVD format, I've found that the superior script and exceptional acting in this film entertains every time. I've read of and heard many lament over some aspects of this film and the best I could say to those is that quite often the movies that Hollywood produces are a sensationalism of real life events and ultimately a movie such as this one is for entertainment not making statements about any one group or individual and as a medium for entertainment, this film succeeds completely!

Performance wise, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere and Art Malik all deserve great honors and the accolades they received for their respective parts in this film. "True Lies" was probably Arnold Schwarzenegger's best overall performance both in the action and the dramatic sense. Jamie Lee Curtis couldn't have been any better in this role and I can honestly say that I was impressed with Tom Arnold's performance in this movie whereas any other film or show I've seen him in I was not impressed. I believe the only other movie I've seen that Art Malik was in was "The Living Daylights" and in both that movie and this one his work has been exceptional.

Say what you may like about director James Cameron but you would definitely have to admit that prior to the current but most likely "temporary" culmination of his career as a director with the movie "Titanic" and heading off to run the "Dark Angel" television series, few directors could come close to matching his accomplishments. "True Lies" was James Cameron's fifth highly successful hit in a row and with this movie and "Titanic" one could definitely say that during this run of box office hits, he had the pulse of the fans as he wrote screenplays and directed these extraordinary films.

The Premise:

Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a high speed "spook" working for a highly secretive government agency that is a watch dog/operator spook agency that identifies and handles terrorist threats to the United States. Along with his handler Albert Gibson (Tom Arnold), they uncover a major terrorist operation which is bent on using nuclear warheads against the US to accomplish its goals. As Harry, Albert and their organization are working to uncover the terrorists plot; his family becomes heavily involved in the story which is where Helen Tasker (Jamie Lee Curtis) comes in to play and some extremely hilarious scenes involving Simon (Bill Paxton). What follows from there is one of the most hilarious and exciting action/drama films to have come out of the nineties.

I highly recommend this film to any and all who are interested in seeing a great, fast paced, highly intriguing and hilarious action/drama movie and aren't interested in reading too much into the plot or the characters in the plot that are used as plot devices. {ssintrepid}

Special Features:

-Original Theatrical Trailer

A lot of fun - over the top action with humor & drama
True Lies is an action romp with several story lines that flow into each other for the big climax. Harry (Arnold) and Helen (Jamie Lee) are in a stereotypical middle-class marriage where the husband is totally career focused and because he is "successful" he thinks all is well at home. Helen is bored and miserable because she feels invisible to her husband. Their daughter Dana (Eliza Dushku - Faith from Buffy) is alienated from them both and headed down a very bad path.

Harry has a secret life as a spy for a super secret government organization. His partner is Albert (Tom Arnold in his best role / performance anywhere) and they are closer to each other than to anyone else in their lives as they travel the world saving us all from the bad guys.

The terrorism they are battling could have been ripped from today's headlines. However, I doubt such a film could be made today because of political sensitivities. I was surprised how much of it held up.

But this film is about fun more than drama. The action is exciting, but preposterous and the scale of the action crescendos toward the final ridiculous aspect of Harry flying a Harrier jet while saving his daughter, fighting the big bad guy and fending off an attacking helicopter all at the same time. Another problem, a small one for this kind of action film, is the endless weapons fire focused at the heroes to no effect, while Helen can simply drop a machine pistol down the stairs and wipe out a platoon. It is a delightful seen, however. If you can suspend disbelief for this, the movie can be a lot of fun.

Many have called the film misogynistic, and I suppose you can see some of that in the film. But Bill Paxton's wonderful performance as the sleazebag Simon is easily the most despised person in the film and he is a male.

There are other find performances in the film. Faisal, played wonderfully by Grant Heslov (we should see more of him), is a terrific character who holds a lot of the story line together even though his role isn't that large. And Tia Carrere as the mercenary art dealer Juno is simply one of the best things in the movie. Art Malik is great as the villain Salim Abu Aziz. Mr. Malik provides the right kind of energy for such an over the top film. He provides the kind of passionate megalomania that makes all the fighting seem appropriate.

With all the sub-plots weaving in and out, the humor, and the fine performances, I think this is one of Arnold Schwartzenegger's best films. And I thought his pairing with Tom Arnold was great. Too bad we never saw them together again.

One of Arnold's best
Even Tom Arnold is good in this movie, and that's saying alot. Jamie Lee Curtis steals the show, but Arnold is great as the butt kicking spy. Amazingly they even have Middle Eastern terrorists as the bad guys...who would have ever thought of that? Most movies these days stay so far away from that subject they can get downright comical in their efforts to find a bad guy.

This is just a plain fun movie. Bad guys, stuff blowing up, hero dad saves the day. Great for a Saturday evening to get a few laughs and relax.

The best One of All
For sheer appeal and entertainment, "TRUE LIES" surpasses any of the Terminator Series, Twins or really any other Schwarzenegger film. It is about as perfect a movie as one could hope for - with all the action, humor, drama and sex appeal there is to offer. Jamie Lee Curtis is absolutely incredible as the plain Jane wife who becomes entrapped in a world of espionage and shadows. (The strip tease was one of the best scenes in filmdom ever.)

Tom Arnold was also perfect for his role as the patient buddy spy who is the perfect cover. Tia Carrere was also perfect as the evil villaness with a flair for the upscale. Whoever did the casting deserves a medal. Dialogue, action, plot - I loved it all! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Wonderful to have this great series on DVD at last!
I was absolutely thrilled when I discovered due South was on DVD. I got season one as soon as I could (I'm saving up for 2 and 3!). I didnt have any problems with the discs and their packaging. I would like to have seen some bonus features and the pilot included but the DVDs are still great without them.

*NOT* complete! No pilot! Buy, but be warned.
Terrible. Awful. Horrible. LIARS! Everything in the first season EXCEPT *THE* single most important episode!! The Pilot?! What a bunch of @#$%^&*! Besides that, it's okay. The rest of the eps are there, & it *is* due South. Some special features would have been nice, but are hardly requisite.
The episides rate a 5, but lousing up but not including the premiere & especially after billing it as the complete 1st season rates a two. Let's hope they did better with season 2 & will do better with season 3!

Good show. Okay packaging.
I bought the DVD of vol. 1 as a gift for my husband because he was so crazy for the show during its production and reruns. Then I found out what a gem Due South really is.

It's great to follow the evolution of the characters from the beginning, though it would have been ideal to have the pilot included. Even so, the show is thoroughly enjoyable. The sly satire of a Canadian-produced show presenting Americans' view of Canadians is really very funny. And it's a showcase of all those fine actors (and musicians) you didn't realize are Canadian.

For anyone who has never seen Due South, know that it's really a "buddy" show, a mismatch of 2 personalities who are more complete together than apart. One is innocent and naive, the other worldly and jaded. Definitely makes for some funny stuff!

Alliance Atlantis didn't seem to take a lot of care with this release. In spite of the box being labeled the "complete first season," it excludes the pilot. Very odd. Also, some extras, i.e. commentary (from somebody - ANYbody), would have been appreciated. The packaging of the discs is lame, allowing them to come loose and rattle around the box during shipping.

In short, the show is GOOD. The packaging and extras are cheap.

Loved this series, but it's cheaper at Canada's Amazon store
These DVDs are overpriced in the states. I bought mine a lot cheaper at Amazon.ca, the Canadian Amazon store. They're listed for $80 CDN, which makes them about $65 in US dollars, INCLUDING the international shipping. And they got here just as quickly.
Curator, AfroAmericanHeritage dot com

Due South Season 1
Will NOT (would not) purchase without the Pilot episode! What were they thinking? Apparently they weren't. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The brief 1980s mania surrounding "the Coreys" peaked with License to Drive, a modest but surprisingly still enjoyable adventure comedy. Les (Corey Haim, Lucas) has a chance to date his dream girl, Mercedes (Heather Graham, Boogie Nights, in her first significant movie role)--but he's just failed his driving exam. Motivated by a mixture of pride and hormones, he steals his grandfather's Cadillac and heads out on the town with Mercedes for a night that swiftly becomes an escalating series of disasters, made worse by the foolhardy antics of Les' best friend Dean (Corey Feldman, Stand by Me). Despite some egregious '80s fashion disasters (Graham gets the worst of them), License to Drive holds up surprisingly well--it's no work of genius, but it is a solidly made and entertaining teen comedy that's more coherent than most.The depiction of parent-teen relations is fairly honest and particularly well-played by Richard Masur (Risky Business) and Carol Kane (In the Soup) as the parents. The DVD includes a very funny and rambunctious audio commentary track by the screenwriter and director, as well as interviews with the grown-up Coreys. A must-have for fans of '80s nostalgia. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (37)

License to Drive - my all time favorite!
Being a child of the 80's - this movie was great! I watched it as a teenager over and over (probably more than 50 times) and laughed every single time! If you are a fan of 80's movies, you'll love this one! I've been waiting for it to make it to DVD - I'm so glad it has finally happened. It's a movie that brings back great memories for me.
Enjoy!

What more could you ask for?
I waited patiently for this DVD to come out.Ok, maybe not so patiently. Buuuut, I finally got my copy of License To Drive.I couldn't be more excited.Corey Haim, Corey Feldman and Heather Graham drunk and locked in the trunk of a hot car- what else could you possibly want in a light-hearted 80's teen movie!?This movie is an 80's classic! I would say it's even better than most of the Brat Pack stuff... This DVD is top notch. The extras are very cool. Interviews with both the Coreys! I've already watched the DVD start to finish twice this weekend!!!

License To Drive is Pure 80's fun.A must have...

A Cool Movie, Nice Extras
In License to Drive Corey Haim stars as Les Anderson. He has a problem. He has no license. He is too cool to be seen on the school bus and it's totally not cool to have your friends mom drop you off at parties. Plus, Wes has a crush on a hot blonde who just happens to be named Mercedes.

The time arrives when Les finally has his opportunity to go out on a date with Mercedes--but his parents discovered that he really failed his driving test. Les has got to make it happen and he takes the car anyway. Heck, Mercedes called him and expected to see him in 20 minutes, what's a teenage boy to do? The night becomes filled with misadventures and Mercedes gets so smashed she spends part of the night in the trunk of the car. The excitement only continues when Les' mother, played by Carol Kane needs to get to the hospital.

If you haven't seen this film in a while, it's just as great as it was when it was first released. The two Coreys followed up License to Drive with the movie Dream a Little Dream. Dream a Little Dream didn't have the commercial appeal as License to Drive. Although both Corey's appear on the cover, this was another film in which Corey Haim was definitly doing most of the driving considering the majority of the storyline revolved around him, his circumstance and his family, but Corey Feldman is a good sidekick as his buddy Dean.

There is also some cool music featured in License to Drive. While watching the movie keep your ears peeled for "Rush Hour," by Go Go's member Jane Wiedlin, "Mercedes Boy," by Pebbles, "Trouble," by Nia Peeples, "I Feel Free," by Belinda Carlisle, and "Get Out of My Dreams and Into My Car," by Billy Ocean.

The DVD itself does have some cool features which makes up for the wait in having this cool film on DVD. Extra's include interviews with Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, audio commentary with director Greg Beeman and writer Neil Tolkin, deleted scene, TV spots and theatrical trailers. The DVD-Rom portion of extras include the films screenplay.

The best extra's are the interviews with Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. Both actors look much better than they have in years. Corey Feldman has cut his hair since he appeared on The Surreal Life. Corey Haim has lost some weight and is sporting a spiky blond haircut. Both actors discuss how they got involved with the film, how they met and their experience of working together. The interviews are not real short, which is sweet.

Funny As 80's Comedy
Licence To Drive is one of those movies we can all relate to, wanting to get our licence, wanting the hottest babe in school. About certain scenes in the movie, the scenes i laugh at the most is where Dean is testing Les on driving licence questions & he goes up to the intercom & talks to les's sister & burps into it, another scene is where he is on the hill & the elderly driver behind him says "C'mon you little moron!" also the scene where the driver says to Les, "What am i speaking greek"? there are a lot more funny scenes too much to mention here, i just can't wait to buy it on DVD. One revealing scene you see is where charles is trying to pickup a passed out mercedes & take her into the resturant for a soda, in the next scene you can see a shadow of her hair moving back & forth. All in all a very funny 80's comedy that rates a high 5 for me.

Two Coreys, Fully Loaded with options and LOW sticker price!
LICENSE TO DRIVE is a fast-moving teen comedy from the 80s starring the comic duo of the two Coreys - Haim and Feldman.Anyone who remembers a time when all our idols were named COREY will love this trip back down memory lane. First off - great cast with Heather Graham in an early role as dream girl Mercedes Lane and Carol Kane as the pregnant mom.It's a typical comedy, but the director provided enough style and zip to make it all work well.The driving exam scene is classic, and there a lot of good one liners "Who would have thought a Mercedes could fit in the trunk of a Cadillac?".The DVD includes a deleted sequence with an ALTERNATE CLIMAX.The whole thing runs about 20 minutes, and shows you how the movie could have ended.Also you get a funny commentary with the director and writer, and some current intereviews with each Corey separately.The transfers and audio are top-notch as well!Great price for a great DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When egghead Scotty Smalls moves to town just before the summer vacationof 1962, his first priority is to make friends. He heads to the nearby sandlotonly to humiliate himself before the local kids, but star player Benny "The Jet"Rodriguez befriends the awkward boy, teaches him the basics of baseball, andwelcomes him to the team. It's a summer filled with camaraderie and fun untilSmalls hits his first home run. Problem is, Smalls's home run sends hisstepfather's "Babe Ruth" autographed baseball into a neighboring yard that'spatrolled by a snarling, slobbering monster called "The Beast." Creativityreigns and hilarity ensues when the boys risk everything to retrieve the ball. A final heroic encounter with "The Beast" and his owner yields some verysurprising results. Action, humor, and friendship permeate this 101-minute filmappropriate for ages 5 and older. Rated PG due to name-calling and somepubescent behavior. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (34)

The best baseball movie ever!
The Sandlot is a funny baseball movie that you'll love if your a child or an adult.
It's about a kid who moves into a knew neighborhood with no friends so he must learn how to play baseball to get friends and when he does in the summer the group runs out of balls to play with at the sandlot where they play so the Scott Smalls (the knew kid) ssteal's his step fathers baseball when he's away on business not knowing it's signed by Babe Ruth and he hit's it out of the sandlot into a yard with a dog they call the beast in it and while everybody feels good for him he needs to try to get the ball back from the beast and through the whole movie him and his friends are trying to find out how to get it back before his step dad get's back.I highly reccommand this movie if you like baseball or if you just like comedy's so at least rent this or buy it.

Nostalgic, clean, all-American fun.
This is a lovely movie. Humor and nostalgia combine to create a film without a sturdy plot, but with lots of heart. The beauty of this movie, however, is not in the storyline. It's in the tough-as-nails friendship of a couple of guys on a baseball field; the simplicity of a game that brings people together, no matter what their age; the memories of campfires and sleepovers in treehouses; of trying to fit in; of splashing in a pool on a steaming summer day...

Who can forget the s'mores joke? The kid nicknamed Yeah-yeah? The erector set baseball-extractor? Wendy Peffercorn? Smalls' first baseball cap?

One of my favorite scenes in this movie is when the boys are playing baseball under a midnight sky exploding with fireworks while "America!" is crooned on the soundtrack. That scene wraps up in a nutshell what this movie is all about--friendship, baseball, dreams, and being young in small-town America.

The Sandlot (1993)
Director: David Mickey Evans
Cast: Karen Allen, Dennis Leary, James Earl Jones, Arliss Howard, Tom Guirney
Running Time: 100 minutes.
Rated PG for some slapstick humor and some language.

"The Sandlot" is a great youth film that will keep the parents entertained as well, making it one of the few family sports films that not either too cheesy for adults to enjoy or too suggestive to be appropriate for children. Set in the 1950's or so in a normal suburban town, Tom Guirney plays a short, shy kid who has just moved to the new neighborhood. He has always struggled with making friends, but eventually he gets involved with a group who love to play the good ol' American pasttime.

The group (which consists of many hilarious and memorable youngsters) go through many trials and tribulations together--chewing their first slab of tobacco while riding on a devastating roller-coaster, giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to one of the hottest girls in the history of the world, retreiving a special Babe Ruth autographed baseball that has been snatched up by the child-eating neighborhood pooch, and trying to beat the stuck-up traveling baseball team. When it is all said and done, "The Sandlot" is an above average tale of the joys of childhood and using the great game of baseball as its playing field. There are some hilarious scenes throughout, fine acting by the young cast, and a well-scripted screenplay that will make those of all ages laugh. A true gem of a family tale.

Great movie for a gift !
My aunt sent this to my son when he was 2.
We live in France where baseball isn't played but
he LOVED the movie. He's almost 6 and he's seen it at
least 50 times. Now his 3 year old sister loves it.
It's just a great story.
I like it because is shows him my American culture.

great movie
one of the best movies made i have to say. I think this movie is one of the great kid/ adult movies made. It is a cross between sports and adventure movie, and its a movie for all ages!!! If you haven't seen this movie, you're really missing out ... Read more

Reviews (110)

one the definitive films of the '80s finally on DVD!
WALL STREET has always been one of my favourite Oliver Stone films. it crackles with the same intense, acerbic dialogue as SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS. from his "Greed is good" speech to the way he handles day to day deals with ruthless efficiency, you can see how Michael Douglas nailed this role of the ultimate amoral insider and deservedly won the Oscar that year for Best Actor.

after watching this film on a crappy pan and scam VHS tape, it is so gratifying to finally see this film given a proper DVD treatment. the transfer is crisp and clear with good sound but the real selling points are the fascinating documentary -- which features Douglas and Charlie Sheen and their views and thoughts of the film after all this time -- and Stone's informative and candid audio commentary. for someone like myself who has seen this film a zillion times, listening to Stone's observations on his movie was a real treat. great stuff. along with GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, this is one of THE best films about money, greed and the people who ruthlessly pursue it.

'Gekko the Great'
Real-life bigtime investment banker Jeff Beck not only advised Oliver Stone when he made 'Wallstreet' but also stars in this film for a few minutes playing himself at a climactic meeting of topdog-lawyers and bankers. He delivers one of the many exhilirating monologues in this Epic tale of greed, pride and innocense lost. "Now your boss will really start thinking he's Gekko the Great!" He shouts at Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) who plays a struggling young stockbroker who's desperately trying to get on the fast-track to becoming a "player".

Michael Douglas who plays 'Gordon Gekko' (not 'Gecko' as the Amazon review suggests, the name can be seen in the scene where Charlie Sheen turns on his computer in the morning and finds out it's "Gekko's Birthday") puts on such a mindblowing performance he really can be dubbed 'Gekko the Great'. The character is right up there with Don Vito Corleone, Tony Montana, Popeye Doyle and some other members of that elite group of high-octane male movie-characters that will long outlive the actors that created them.

Gordon Gekko is a high profile corporate raider that was probably modeled after Ivan Boesky (the biggest corporate raider of the 80's who eventually went behind bars for insider-trading), Michael Milken (creator and unchallenged 80's king of the high yield or junk-bond) and John Guttfreund (CEO of Salomon Brothers in the 80's who'se extravert and bizarre behaviour is documented in the classic books "Liar's Poker" (Michael Lewis) and "Barbarians at the Gate" (John Helyar).

Michael Douglas seems to have been born to play this part and from the moment he is introduced ("Lunch? whaddaya kiddin' me, lunch is for wimps!") to the moment we viewers have to part from his hypnotic character ("I gave you Darian, I gave you everything!") he reduces any leaps of faith that his character may present us with to tiny hops due to his powerhouse presence. In fact, whenever I see Michael Douglas in another movie I have the strange feeling that Gordon Gekko is trapped inside and might burst out at any time to hose us down with sardonic one-liners. ("Love is just an old lie created to keep people from jumping out of windows.")

Gekko is truly the "mother of all high-rollers", and his performance alone more than warrants the purchase of this film.

Charles Sheen plays a believable 'Bud Fox' but one wonders what a late 80's Tom Cruise or Kiefer Sutherland might have done with the part. Charlie never really creates the electricity that Douglas shocks the audience with.

I won't get into the details of the story here but will post some comments on the general themes in the movie.

There's the theme that Stone had already explored in 'Platoon' of two fathers fighting for the soul of their son. In Platoon it was Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe battling for custody of Charlie Sheen's spirit. In Wallstreet it's Douglas and Martin Sheen representing the 'exciting but evil' and 'wholesome but tedious' ways to go for Charlie Sheen's character. This theme introduces some good tension in the storytelling.

The other theme that Stone put into this narrative is the bleeding heart "Capitalism is bad and unfair" jingle. "I don't produce anything...I own..." Gekko confesses at one point. "How many boats to waterski behind do you need? When is it enough?!" cries a shocked Bud Fox. The moral comments on succesful capitalists come accros somewhat naive and in my opinion don't really work. I won't go into the details but most people I've met who've seen the movie don't even remember what it was about Gordon Gekko that was so wrong. All they remember is the classic "Greed is Good" speech and ironically most of them agree with Gekko on the issue. The fact that Oliver Stone lets Gekko initiate industrial espionage is the reason I gave the movie only four stars instead of five.

I personnaly think this was a real blooper. A man in Gekko's position doesn't need the aggravation of blatantly breakin the law. There's a good plot-line concerning a fictive company 'Bluestar Airlines' that Gekko has his own plans with to make himself rich and get scores of hard working people fired that adds enough suspense to the tale. It seems as though Stone was so set on painting a negative picture of egoistical an a-moral Wallstreeters that he went one bridge too far.

Fact is that, if anything, this movie is like a recruiting video for Investment Banking. What "Top Gun" did for Naval Aviation "Wall Street" has done for Investment Banking. Big corporate banks have never had to complain about the amount of interested well educated young hopefulls but nowadays there's probably not one person sitting in any dealing room anywhere in the world who has not seen Wall Street. I am currently a trader in Amsterdam and I am convinced that if it wasn't for the scenes that have the camera following runners and stressed out yuppies yelling "How about those september 40's!" I wouldn't have been in this racket.

The dealing room-scenes are some of the most exhilirating scenes in the history of cinematography. Spielberg sucked in audiences with his scenes of Normandy's beaches in '44. Stone creates the same spellbinding grip on the audience without getting anybody shot or brutally maimed. That alone is a great achievement for any director in Hollywood. More so for the man who made a career in gory cinematic violence with 'Scarface', 'Platoon' and 'Natural Born Killers'.

Al Hail Gekko the Great! See this movie again and again. It's full of catchy one-liners that will make you not only the toast of any party but might provide you with more of an energy boost than any Tony Robbins video ever will. "Life all comes down to a few moments...this is one of them."

One of the Best Movies of the 1980's
Oliver Stone will never be known for subtlety. "Wall Street" bashes you over the head with its message- getting to the top in society requires duplicity, dishonesty, and the willingness to destroy any obstacle. However, unlike Ayn Rand, Stone vilifies rather than lauds this dubious morality. Bud Fox is a fresh faced, innocent stock broker trying to get ahead through hard work and elbow grease, as he was taught by his father. Bud soon meets powerful, charismatic corporate raider Gordon Gekko, incapable of love, remorse, or empathy. Gekko, we are told, sold NASA short 15 minutes after the Challenger exploded (impossible since the shuttle was destroyed in 1986 and the film is set in 1985!). Gekko predictably seduces Bud with his world of "perks", and Bud's star rises dramatically the farther he falls into corruption.

Throughout the film, Bud serves as a sounding board for the rival values of Gekko and his father. The speech most cited by critics and fans is the immortal "Greed is Good" monologue. While this speech, standing alone, is a vigorous defense of capitalism and selfishness, it is important to note that Gekko is using it at a shareholders' meeting against a lousy, entrenched, and greedy management!

Inevitably, Bud is forced to decide whether to follow his father's philosophy or Gekko's, and to pay the price for his misdeeds. A slight complaint with the ending- the fate of Gekko is hinted at rather than displayed. Gordon Gekko has become something of a hero for young, wanna-be big shots, who are attracted to the glamour of his lifestyle and his "up your's, I got mine!" attitude much as Bud was. Perhaps seeing Gekko get his comeuppance could have made an impression.

Overall, Wall Street is a tight, well done character drama populated with iconic characters delivering iconic dialogue that acts as an indictment of a decade. The movie and its message will stay with you long after viewing it.

As for the DVD, the sound, although in 5.1, is relegated almost exclusively to the center channel. One does not hear the sounds of Manhattan from all directions as Bud navigates the concrete jungle. The video quality appears grainy in some areas. This is a great movie worthy of better treatment on DVD.

Good.
'Wall Street' was a good movie, although once again, Oliver Stone goes way over the top. Powerful speech about greed by Michael Douglas though.

My favourite movie
I found this movie to be fantastic. I loved every minute of it. Most of this movie seemed to tie in with politics. Being a conservative, I found this very interesting. The plot of millionare Gordon Gekko followed along the ways life should be lived. Greed, power, and self-confidence.

Revenge was another big part in this movie. I liked how Charlie
Sheen played his role of Bud Fox. Towards the end the focus was to screw over Gekko and to have sweet revenge.

From this movie came my favourite quote of all:
"... greed, for the lack of a better word , is good. Greed is right, Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essense of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all its forms-greed for life, for money, knowledge has marked an upward surge of mankind..."

I'm not sure that my way is the way that Oliver Stone intended his movie to be interpereted. Oh well, I don't necessarilly care. Greed is Good! ... Read more

Amazon.com

An elite U.S. counter-terrorism squad loses a member while decimating half of Paris in the reckless pursuit of Middle Eastern maniacs; a Broadway actor with a traumatic childhood secret is naturally hired to replace him. Oh--and they're all marionettes. South Park maestros Trey Parker and Matt Stone (along with co-writer Pam Brady) came up with this shameless satire of pea-brained Hollywood action flicks and even smaller-minded global politics, so don't expect subtlety or even a hint of good taste. Team America is soon on the trail of North Korea's evil Kim Jong Il, who treats us to a tender song about his loneliness before ensnaring Alec Baldwin and the rest of the oblivious Film Actors Guild (F.A.G. for short) in a plot to blow up every major city on the planet. Just as the mindless squad cheerfully demolishes everything in sight, so do director Parker and company. Throwing punches Left, Right, and in-between, the movie's politics leave no turn un-stoned; there's even time to bludgeon the musical Rent. It's offensive, irresponsible comic anarchy seemingly made by sniggering little boys. Painfully funny sniggering little boys.--Steve Wiecking ... Read more

Reviews (249)

"Team America"....f*ck yes.
Alot of people will dig this movie. It's accessable to mainstream audiences whether or not they get beyond the surface humor that might have linked "Team America" back to "Basketball", but it's also damn smart on so many different levels. There's the obvious connotations of the marionettes, but they've done so much more than strip bare the Hollywood blockbusters that too many people can watch with a straight face while the rest of us stand outside the theater gagging; they've displayed the cheesiness that seeped out of michael bay movies into the modern American mentallity. During no other 20th century war has cliche fiction had so many striking similarities to our hero-enemy soap opera ideas of what liberty is. But is the patriotism of the right really reminiscent of the hot blooded Reagan-era action flicks this film spoofs? Is the media role-playing of the left the result of Hollywood refusing to leave childish namecalling and immature ideology to elementary school playgrounds? Well, it's never seemed so familiar and never felt so much like there's been a mudslinging contest with the tactics and wit of a simple puppet show going on right under our noses.

"From the Guys who brought you SouthPark"...
That says it all right there, if you are unfamiliar with the now infamous landmark of the Comedy Central channel on cable, 'Southpark' are basically poorly drawn children characters that curse and make bodily function jokes at each other all day. The aim of it's creators is to basically smash every barrier of good taste and offend every group in society that they can, but where do you go from there? Team America functions along the same lines. The puppets in here are amazingly filmed, and I would recommend you see the way they look on screen. However, only see this film if you are a liberal and have a healthy sense of humor. There are a lot of infantile jokes, gross out humor and some very, very offensive material, often in poor taste. There's plenty of harsh language and this film is definitely not for children. I don't offend easily, but I even turned away during the puppet making love scene, in which they mimic all sexual positions and then go too far I feel, in showing the puppets deficate and urinate on each other. The premise of the film is obviously poking fun at Bush and the war on terror and a thinly veiled way of saying that we often poke our nose in other countries affairs. No one is left unoffended in this film. I would mainly say that if you like that Southpark
type of humor, this is your film. If that type of humor offends you, stay far away from this film.

Disgusting!
I thought this movie was going to be very funny, but I should have known better, being created by the people of south park. This was one of the worst things I have ever seen. The movie was filthy, the language grotesque, extremely perverse and total garbage!
The creators, producers and anyone involved in this movie should be extremely ashamed of themselves.
This movie should have been rated X or XXX.
If this is your version of what America should be then i feel terribly sorry for you.
Even if this IS your type of movie, it wasn't even funny.
Don't subject yourself to watching this blight on humanity.
0 starts!

I have not laughed as hard all year as I did at the scene...
...involving all the vomit. The sex scene got all the attention from critics and pundits but for my money, the extended regurgitation sc