Description

The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format. ... Read more

Reviews (362)

Rousing swashbuckling tale
This is not your Father's Zorro, and Antonio Banderas does a fine job as the masked avenger (and according to the Amazon.com trivia section, the first Hispanic to play this role). Banderas plays the second generation people's hero in Southern California, just prior to Spain's ceding of the land to Mexico.

Anthony Hopkins is a great second (who is actually the first) Zorro, a/k/a Don Diego de la Vega, a Mexican land baron and freedom fighter. After escaping decades later from prison, Hopkins escapes from prison to seek revenge on the no-good governor (well played by a smarmy Stuart Wilson) the man who killed his wife and stole his daughter.

Bandaras, a low-life bandito becomes urbane and a proficient warrior at the teaching of Hopkins, and then becomes transformed by a positively bewitching Catherine Zeta-Jones. Their interplay gives the film its romantic, and often sensual edge.

Lots of swordplay and general excitement, as we recall from Douglas Fairbanks and Disney's Guy Williams. The movie moves quickly (but bogs down for awhile 2/3 of the way through. Happily, it picks up the pace through the end.

Nice scenery. When we see the sign of the return of Zorro, via a blazing Z cut into a hillside , it is positively thrilling. A stirring script which fits the film well. More than enough humor (such as the scene in the confessional, or one of several chased of Zorro by the troops) for the purpose of lessening the tension which is well added by a malevolent Matt Letscher.

As one says, it is a grand throwback. As another said: That's entertainment!

...They make the sign of the Z...
This film is the most recent Zorro film. It stars the young Hispanic Antonio Banderas and the intelligent actor Anthony Hopkins. THis may be the first time that a true Hispanic has played Zorro in an American film.
In 1820, Spain has lost California to Mexico. But Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson) the Spanish govenor, is determined to kill his nemisis Zorro. The fox again foils Montero's plans with the help of two young orphans, one of whom he gives a medallion. Somehow, Montero learns that Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins) is Zorro. Diego's wife is murdered by Montero's men, his hacienda burned, Montero robs him of his child, and Diego is sent to prison. Defeated but determined never to surrender, the enraged fox promises the govenor that he will never be rid of him.
Twenty years later, Santa Anna has become worse than Montero, and people vanish without a trace. The orphan who helped Zorro, Alejandro Mureita (Banderas) and his brother are caught by Montero's man Capitan Love (Matthew Letcher) who beheads Alejandro's brother. Meanwhile, Deigo escapes and sees that Montero has raised his stolen child Elena (Catherine Zeta Jones). Diego sees Alejandro. The two men form an alliance. Diego trains Alejandro in the art of the sword, the whip, riding a horse, and athletic ability. Alejandro tries an exlpoit as Zorro but is rejected by Diego. In the end, however, the new fox earns his mask. Diego now seeks revenge on his nemisis, Montero, while the new Zorro tries to free the people.
This film extends Zorro's legacy. However, in the future I am sure we will see more films with Zorro being Diego. One line with this film seems to hold more emotion than the rest.
DIEGO: "Rafael! You'll never be rid of me! Never!"

New Zorro, New Age
I have never been a huge fan of Antonio or Jones until I saw this film. With its breathtaking scenery, action and atmosphere it makes you love zorro again! A new zorro for a new age! Very well done film with superb acting. The dvd is full on with excellent picture quality and sound.

Zorro No Longer a Hero
Zorro, the hero of Pulps, movies, books, comics and television, has a new movie out. Antonio Banderas, on Larry King Live, mentioned that he hoped this movie would help to keep alive the spirit of the only Spanish super-hero (he in not the only one nor was he at the time of the interview). Well, I think it will do much to keep the name alive but not the spirit.

Anthony Hopkins is Zorro, the Fox. After years of struggle, Spain is pulling out of California and leaving it to the Mexicans. But Zorro slips up and the evil Governor tracks him down, kills his wife, steals his daughter and throws him in prison. Twenty years later Don Diego (Zorro) hears that the Governor is back. Minutes later he has escaped from prison (what was he waiting for?) and is destined to run into Antonio Banderas. After their meeting, Don Diego trains Antonio to be the new Zorro. The rest of the movie involves the plan to create the Independent Republic of California by buying it from Santa Ana with gold dug out of its soil and stamped to look Spanish. Mexico is willing to make the sale because of their war with the United States (it is now 1841).

If you are looking for a fun swashbuckling adventure, then this is definitely the movie to see. If, however, you want to see Zorro, you might find yourself a little disappointed. Gone is Zorro, the defender of the common people and the innocent. In his place is, not one, but two, Zorro's who are bent on personal vendetta's and enlightened self-interest. It is actually Don Diego's daughter who helps some enslaved Mexicans near the end of the movie.

The transition from one Zorro to another takes the Fox out of the wealthy and privileged and makes him a commoner. The new Zorro is also a thief (in a wonderfully fun scene the young Zorro steals his horse, a very serious crime at the time). Having Zorro break so common a law seemed wrong to me. To have Zorro flaunt the breaking of laws meant to worsen the lives of the commoners is another thing entirely. But in this movie Zorro does not taunt authority. He plots against it, to be sure, but for his own reasons and not for the good of the people.

As this movie has two Zorros, there are now also two villains to be defeated (one each). The elder Zorro still has his old nemesis to contend with while the younger Zorro has made a personal enemy of Captain Love, a young Cavalry officer who seems to be in the wrong country. Both villains are vile and easy to hate. This make the personal vendettas a little more palatable as well as making the ending a lot more fun.

The other main problem with this film is that Zorro loses. Zorro never loses. but in this film Zorro loses big time. He loses his wife, his home, his daughter, his name and twenty years of his life. Granted, he briefly regains his daughter but gone is the hero who can laugh in the face of danger and triumph brilliantly.

The last thing I wanted to mention is that, probably due to the controversy over the new Jeffrey Irons film, Zorro is no longer married to his wife Lolita. Her name has been changed (how dare they) to the more common Esperanza. I can understand the concern of some but Don Diego won the heart of Lolita before the Roaring Twenties. As in the Nabakov novel, Lolita is a valid name before it was turned into an adjective. Next thing you know people are going to try and get Disney to change the name of Bambi because they think it is a girl's name (Bambi was the prince of the forest).

So, if you want to see The Mask of Zorro because, to you, it means an exciting swashbuckling movie, you will really enjoy this one. But if you want to see the movie to watch the continuing adventures of a hero that has entertained all generations since his debut almost eighty years ago, part of you will be disappointed in what has happened to the character.

ZORRO MEETS ZETA JONES
THE MASK OF ZORRO is a rousiing, energetic, exciting romantic swashbuckler movie, reminiscent of all those great Fairbanks and Flynn movies.
Antonio Banderas is a perfect Zorro, starting off rude and crude, ending up flamboyant and gallant. His injection of humor and the way he rolls his eyes is a definite good addition to his role.
The ever amazing Anthony Hopkins shines in his role as the first Zorro, whose life is ruined when his wife is killed and his daughter taken away from him by his cruel enemy. It's rare to see an action hero over the 50 year mark!
Catherine Zeta-Jones is breathtakingly beautiful and is wonderful in her role as Hopkins daughter, feisty, yet adolescent in her yearnings for the masked man.
Stuart Wilson is vile and irreprehensible as Don Metero, the head villain, and he plays it to the hilt.
Matt Leschler as the Captain is even worse, his dashing good looks hiding a psychotic imbalance.
The whole movie is superb; James Horner's overlooked Oscar score is beautiful, including the closing credits duet by Tina Arena and Marc Antony of "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You."
This is a fun, enjoyable and uplifting kind of movie. ENJOY! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great story, very romantic, but man some depressing.
The acting was first rate, no complaints, especially William Forsythe's character. This was a very powerful movie about coming to grips with a life-altering accident, then learning to adjust and carry on. The movie is compared to "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" which it does resemble in some ways. Eric Stoltze is very good in the lead role. Helen Hunt is her beautiful self and exceptionally revealing in this movie, she is awesome!!! She is unbelievably gorgeous!!! Do not deny this movie, cause you could be missing something. Although extremely depressing at times, the ending will satisfy. A must see!!!

A life affirming movie worthy of Frank Capra!
If you have ever felt sorry for yourself, this movie will open your eyes to just how good you have it. The exploration of life's worth and how quickly we can lose sight of it is what this movie is all about. The ensemble cast of Hunt, Stoltz, Snipes, and, especially, William Forsythe, will bring you into a world of people you may never meet in real life, but perhaps you should. A must-see.

wow
i watched this finnally after my mom said it was good. i loved it. where were you all my life?

Realistic story and tremendous ensemble acting
This film never received the attention it deserved, although this is one of the finest pieces of ensemble acting, and one of the most realistic stories I have seen on screen. Clearly filmed on a small budget in a real V.A. Hospital, the center of the story is Joel, very well-played by Eric Stoltz. Joel has been paralyzed in a motorcycle accident, and comes to the hospital to a ward with other men who have spinal injuries. Joel is in love with Anna, his married lover, played by Helen Hunt, who shows early signs of her later Academy-Award winning work.

Although the Joel-Anna relationship is the basic focus, there are many other well-developed characters in the ward. Wesley Snipes does a tremendous job as the angry Raymond. Even more impressive is William Forsythe as the bitter and racist Bloss. I think Forsythe's two best scenes are when he becomes frustrated and angry at the square dancers, and, later, when he feels empathy for a young Korean man who has been shot in a liquor store hold up. My favorite scene with Snipes is the in the roundtable discussion of post-injury sexual options.

The chemistry between Stoltz and Hunt is very strong, and they have two very intimate, but not gratuitous, sex scenes. The orgasm in the ward is both sexy and amusing. There is also another memorable scene where Joel and Bloss and the Korean boy take the specially-equipped van to the strip bar. It's truly a comedy of errors as they make their feeble attempts to get the van going to see the "naked ladies."

The story is made even more poignant by the fact that the director, Neal Jimenez, is paralyzed in real life. This is basically his story. This film is real, not glossy or flashy. To have the amount of talent in a film of such a small budget is amazing. I recommend this film to everyone I see, because it is one of those films that even improves on a second look. It's a shame that such a great piece of work gets overlooked, but through video, perhaps it can get the attention it so richly deserves.

Helen Hunt is Fabulous!
The scene with Helen Hunt and Eric Stoltz at the motel made the movie for me. It was a bit brief but worth the price of the movie! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Amazing and realistic look at how powerful drugs are!
There are some among us who would like to legalize drugs. They ought to watch this film. There are some who think that drug addiction is just an excuse. They ought to watch this film. In fact if you ever wanted to know what its like to be addicted to cocaine, just watch this movie.

This movie is simply the most powerful depiction I have seen of the devastating effects drugs can have on people. James Woods is brilliant, and the gradual erosion of his life seems to happen without his knowledge. Like the frog boiling in water, it all slips away subtly and quietly. In the end, he depicts the painful and harsh reality of a person who cannot see that he is in any way at fault, and if he gets just "one more break" it will all work out again.

Tremendous film and a very under-rated performance by Woods.

a great film.
James woods is excellent as a high powered salesman who's life goes of the rails as he becomes involved in drugs and high powered business deals.It shows how drugs can ruin ones life.

Cautionary Tale of Drug Abuse
Released during the "Just Say No" 1980s, this film is a cautionary tale of drug abuse. Lenny is a guy just trying to stake his claim in the world, to make a little money. He soon impresses a big wheel who moves Lenny and his wife to California where they are at first overwhelmed by the opulence but then become willing participants in it. Lenny continues to buy, buy, buy until it all crashes down. When the money stops rolling in, he is introduced to cocaine and the story then takes a dramatic turn as we watch Lenny lose it all. James Woods is fabulous as Lenny. I've seen this movie many times and now that I'm writing about it, I think it's time to pop this one into the VCR for another viewing.

WOODS AT HIS BEST
Although somewhat cliche ridden and certainly overly dramatic, "The Boost"presents a truly frightening depiction of cocaine and kinds of drug abuse. A picture of self destruction that is almost hard to believe.

James Wood outdoes himself in yet another fine performance. A film is worth seeing if only because he is in it. ... Read more

Description

Focusing on accepting and accommodating differences." Not Separated at Birth" -- Zak and Wheezie are bickering over what they'll build for the new playground - the xylophone slide or the drum trampolines.When they wish they had separate bodies, Quetzal gives them some magic crystals -- and their wish comes true!But when Wheezie's slide collapses because she didn't follow directions, she misses Zak's patient input. Zak makes the trampoline so loose and saggy that Cassie and Emmy can't jump on it and he misses Wheezie, who always knows how to make things fun. "The Greatest Show in Dragon Land" -- The kids and dragons are really excited about flying to Wonder World amusement park.When they find out Zak and Wheezie have a broken wing and are unable to fly, however, they agree to accommodate their friends by walking there instead. "A Tall Tale" -- Eunice the unicorn, who is terribly near-sighted, has lost her glasses, and Max and Emmy join the dragons to help her find them.Max wants to steer Eunice so she can see where she's flying, but he's too small to climb up on her back.And when they spot an object that looks like her glasses, he's too short to reach it.Poor Max, who was already feeling frustrated about being too little to do the things he wants, feels even worse. "Dragon Sails" -- The group sets sail for Rainbow Canyon in search of a special rainbow-colored crystal to complete Cassie's shimmering crystal set.When Ord's heavy weight rocks their little boat and they all fall into the water, he's sad because he fears they'll have to continue on their adventure without him.He hates being so big!The gang solves the dilemma by crafting a bigger, Ord-size boat and off they go again. "Staying within the Lines" -- The Stickleback Mountains have lost their colors!They were washed away in a big rainstorm, so Quetzal puts the gang to work painting the scene.Max, who is not worried about staying within the lines, gets carried away with the blue he's using for the stream.As the river threatens to overflow, Emmy and Cassie finish off a boulder dam just in time. The five adventures in Dragon Tales: It's Cool to be Me! are linked by four songs, "Shake Your Dragon Tale," "Hello," "Zoo" and "Round & Round." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Continuous play finally!
We just love the dragon tales cartoons. My three year old has learned so much about friendship from this series, and loves the music. The DVD itself is good. You can choose to play each episode once or play them all continuously. There is also and option to play the music segments which consist of four songs. Some of the songs are repeated from previous DVD's, but my daughter doesn't mind since they are so catchy.
Better than some of the previous dvd formats, and they still do not include a song between the chapters which would have been nice.

Continuous Play finally!
We just love the dragon tales cartoons. My three year old has learned so much about friendship from this series, and loves the music. The DVD itself is good. You can choose to play each episode once or play them all continuously. There is also and option to play the music segments which consist of four songs. Some of the songs are repeated from previous DVD's, but my daughter doesn't mind since they are so catchy.
Better than some of the previous dvd formats, and they still do not include a song between the chapters which would have been nice. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This quintet of Dragon Tales episodes focuses on the importanceof planning ahead and following instructions. When Quetzal gets sick with a coldin "A Kite for Quetzal," Emmy, Max, and the Dragon gang make a kite on their ownand quickly discover the need to think ahead and delegate jobs. A lack ofplanning almost sabotages a trip to Crystal Cave in "Prepare According toInstructions," while forethought and strict adherence to directions proves vitalto a successful day of baking in "The Big Cake Mix-Up." Ord's defiance of Zak'sinstructions in "True Blue Friend" lands the group in a mess that can only beremedied by carefully following Quetzal's detailed instructions. Finally,Wheezie struggles to follow her doctor's exacting prescription for reignitingher fire breath in "Light My Firebreath." DVD features include four sing-alongsongs, English or Spanish audio, and English subtitles. (Ages 2 to 6) --TamiHoriuchi ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on the much-maligned 1998 American Godzilla feature (including the revamped creature design), the animated Godzilla: The Series (1998-2000) actually hews much closer to the original films from Japan, as illustrated in this exciting, three-part episode from the first season. The storyline, which borrows heavily from Destroy All Monsters, has alien invaders take control of the mutated creatures that Godzilla and H.E.A.T. (Humanitarian Ecological Analysis Team) tangled with in the previous 13 episodes of the season-including the Godzilla that rampaged through New York in the theatrical feature, but now augmented with robotic parts (shades of Mecha-Godzilla!). The Monster Wars Trilogy manages to pack considerable excitement and suspense in its brief running time (just over an hour), and benefits greatly from a fine vocal cast, which includes Joe Pantoliano, Paget Brewster, and Kevin Dunn, reprising his role from the theatrical film. No extras are included. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (1)

i hope there is a season set soon
where the american godzilla had major problems this went a ways toward the original by adding the atomic breath. these are supposed to be the three best episodes a destroy all monsters homage. but i want them to release the entire series of which i have only seen several episodes of when it was broadcasted. i would also like some special features but not expecting much in that category based on other godzilla releases. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This follow-up to Warlock boasts more sophisticated visualeffects, slicker production values, and bigger (and bloodier) action, but fans of the original's dry wit and tight story may be disappointed.It's really more a rehash than a sequel.The Devil is up to his old tricks again, sending his favorite son (the title character) on a mission to recover six runes--ancient stones that will allow His Satanic Majesty to escape Hell and once again walk the Earth.Leading the forces of good are a group of modern-day druids and a pair of teenage lovers who have no idea they've been selected to save the world.There are some genuinely spooky moments, a few laughs, and some nice visual touches, but the scattershot script keeps throwing out one cool idea after another, hoping something sticks.On the other hand, if watching Julian Sands writhe on the ground spewing black blood sounds like a good time, this may be just the ticket.Gremlinsstar Zach Galligan has a cameo (as the boyfriend of the Warlock's mom!) --Geof Miller ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Middle of the road. That's it, and that's all!
This movie is nothing more than an attempt to cash in on the first one's success. Julian Sands once again returns as Satan's son, but he seems to be sleepwalking this go-round. Two disposable teenage actors (Paula Marshall and Christopher Young), play two descendants of Druid warriors who are the ONLY people who can fight the Warlock and prevent him from releasing Satan into Earth. Oh, and there are six rune stones or something he has to possess to unlock Satan from the bowels of the Earth (etc.etc.). You get the idea.

Anyway, this has some pretty decent effects, and some pioneering computer animations, but all in all, it's a very weak film, and, putting the special effects aside, there's not much left but incompetent acting and cheap thrills. If you like the Warlock films or love Julian Sands, buy this one, or if you're curious, buy it, but overall, you could skip it without really missing anything.

ANTHONY HICKOX DOES IT AGAIN!
Warlock:The Armageddon is an enjoyable watch. I bought this DVD because 1.Anthony Hickox directed it. 2.Monika Schnarre has a small part in it. I hadn't seen it before when I purchased this film, but I enjoyed it. I love what Anthony Hickox did with this sequel. The special effects, a good cast. I love Paula Marshall (from 'Hellrasier 3)- what a talented and likeable actress. I got a thrill seeing Monika Schnarre again in a small part as a runway model.

I hope that anthony Hickox would make more films like this.

Druidism and Satanism?
I have to say, that I am really into Horror-Films, also if they have a satanic touch; but when I saw, that this film is a mixing of old pagan-rites with satanic rites I came into rage. For myself Wicca and celtic Rites of Paganism are wonderful Ways and I learned, that Pagans do not believe in Satan! So, this story is one of the worst, I've ever seen! If the producer would describe kabbala-rites, which would be more suitable than pagan-rites, this film would be a little bit more interesting...

But sorry, Paganism and Satanism... nothing has to do with each other...

Blessed be

If you love Julian Sands this is a great movie.
If you love Julian Sands this is a great movie. He looks wonderful in this film. It also has lots of action and a good story line.

HE'S BACK!
This is a thrilling sequal to the classic "Warlock".You will love it!It is just as good as the first!If the first one made you jump,you will fly out of your seat watching this one!The Warlock is reborn and has to collect 6 sacred stones for the rise of satan.Now two warriors must stop him before it's too late.With a trail of blood in their way,can the warriors stop him?This thriller also stars Joanna Pacula.The dvd features include the theatrical trailer,interactive scene selection and set up.It's agreat buy so get it now! ... Read more

Reviews (162)

Fun entertainment that suffers from an overly-mawkish tone
Stuart Little

Score: 64/100

He's clever. He's enthusiastic. He's a can-do little guy with an attitude. And he's a mouse. From the co-director of The Lion King and the writer of The Sixth Sense comes an entertaining family film from classic American author E.B. White. It's surely a star-studded crew there, and there's not much a family of four could white other than a couple of talking mouse's and many exciting scenes. Even though Stuart Little falls flat from a few flaws, it's still a fun children's comedy, that will be worth your time, depending on your feelings towards movies like this.

In a cosy house near New York City's Central Park, Mr. and Mrs. Little (Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis) bring home a surprising addition to the family...Stuart (voiced by Michael J. Fox), and he's a er...mouse. Despite the urgings of Mrs. Keeper at the orphanage to adopt within their own species, the Littles beam with the pride of new parents. At home the little guy with a big heart (not to mention whiskers, a little pink nose and a really dapper wardrobe), searches for a sense of belonging and a place to call home in the decidedly supersized world. When Stuart is adopted by the Littles he embarks on an adventure with a variety of characters - including his nemesis, the cat Snowball (voiced by Nathan Lane) - and learns the true meaning of family, loyalty and friendship. The Littles, in the meantime, each discover there is a Stuart in all of us - the spunk, spirit and courage to be true to ourselves and follow our dreams despite the odds.

Stuart Little is a good movie, but it suffers majorly from an over-corny note. It's big smiles and drowning frowns all the time, none of the characters ever look normal. Their expressions are practically drawn in, and none of them have much originality about them apart from Stuart, of course. Still, the film provides plenty of entertaining scenes, including an exhilarating cat chase and a superb boat race. It may have a sense of bore in some parts of the film, but overall, it's a very bearable movie that will silent children and, surprisingly, adults for a rainy day. It's a film that combines live action with some groundbreaking visual effects by artists and innovators who have taken digital character creation to a bold new level with the birth of Stuart. The visual effects are the most plausible thing about the film, they are truly memorable, it's some of the most amazingly done animal-talking done since Babe.

Not as good as it could've been, Stuart Little is still watchable fun, a film where you can really expect the whole family to enjoy it.

Pleasantly surprised
I rented this DVD because I am a huge fan of British actor (and musician, comedian, novelist...) Hugh Laurie, and was very pleasantly surprised.

The animation is outstanding, so much that you don't even notice it, and Michael J. Fox is absolutely perfect as the voice of Stuart. The very colorful, almost-realistic-but-not-quite setting was quite well done, and the group of acting cats must have been a monumental accomplishment. Jonathan Lipnicki is cute as a bug, and Hugh Laurie (great fake accent!) and Geena Davis are perfect storybook parents who finish each other's sentences and eat a lot of meatloaf. Rounding out the talent is Nathan Lane as the voice of Snowbell, the cat who is mortified at having a mouse in the family.

It is fascinating to watch the extra features and to see just how much work went into making Stuart so real. Excellent work! A clean, fun, enjoyable movie.

Stuart Little brought to life
This is a marvelous adaptation of E.B. White's tale of the little mouse who found himself a place by the hearth in an all too human family. It is such a wonderful story and the animation brings Stuart Little to life. Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis play the adoptive parents to a tee, and the other members of the family provide excellent support. Jonathan Lipnicki turns in a first class performance as the reluctant brother.

The story plays out effortlessly, with wonderful scenes moving back and forth between mad-cap adventure and family bonding. The animation team really outdid themselves with Stuart and his fake mouse parents, who make a fantastic entrance midway through the movie. The conspiracy of cats is mostly humorous, and not overly frightening for little ones. Every scene appears to have been meticulously created. The toy boat race is riveting. The kids will love every minute of it, as will adults as this movie avoids the typical pratfalls of family entertainment. The DVD also provides some nice add-ons, such as storyboard sequences for some of the scenes and mouse trivia games for the kids.

Mickey Mouse
Magical, heartwarming family film based on E.B. White's children's book. A couple's adoption of a second son, oblivious to the fact that he's a mouse, leads to problems with their human son which plae in comparision to the family cat's resentment. High-quality computer-generated detail allows the mouse to appear real and permits the many featured cats to talk freely. Jonathan Lipnicki is adorable as the human son and the voices of Michael J. Fox as Stuart and Nathan Lane as his nemisis Snowbell perfectly fit the roles.

Animals steal the show
There are few kids movies I can sit through more than once--this one I've already seen 7 times! My son is now over 3 and he can load the DVD player himself and turn on the TV. Guess what gets put on now?! I must say that I love that the movie doesn't patronize my son. There are heavy issues here: fear of being alone; fear of violence; fear of failure--but the characters aren't obsessed or broken by their fears, they confront them and work through them. For example, when Stuart is trying to make friends with the family pet cat Snowball, Stuart says rather naively, "Can't we just be friends? Do you want me to scratch your ear? Can I pat your tummy?" to which Snowball answers, "How'd you like to pat it from the inside mouse-boy!?" Direct, without wishy-washy handwringing, or moralizing. My son says that he "loves Stuart." I too love Stuart. ... Read more

Description

Michael Keaton stars as a rock'n'roll dad who gets one last chance to finetune his life -- and prove that "ice" guys finish first -- in this wild, wintry fantasy-adventure frosted with a blizzasrd of special effects! ... Read more

Reviews (42)

JACK FROST DVD REVIEW: A cool movie for families/children!
I remember when I first heard that Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston were going to be in a snowman movie and I was like...why? I was actually expecting this movie to be bad but I was surprised that I enjoyed it a lot! I really liked how they developed the story between father and son and then son losing father. A very touching story that your children will definitely enjoy!

First, the pictures don't do the snowman justice because they really did a good job in the movie making the snow man look good with the use of teaming up with George Lucas Industrial Light and Magic. Awesome!

The video transfer is beautiful and the audio is pretty good considering it's a dialogue movie. As for the DVD, the movie comes with production notes and the theatrical trailer. I wish there was a long featurette and perhaps deleted scenes or something but it's ok... I got more what I expected from this movie.

In a way, I'm kind of happy that Michael Keaton took this role because for a good actor, to make a film for the families/children out there, shows great character.

A cool movie for families to watch together with their children.

I thought that it was very good.
I saw most of this film on HBO and I thought that the film was very good. I don't think that it glorifies death. Who is to say that our relitives don't come back?? It is a movie that deals with a father that dies in an accident. A year later he returns in the form of a snowman. I thought that this movie was sooo good! I thought the film had the right touches of comedy and Drama. I thought that this movie was a wonderful showcase for Michael Keaton. Not only can he be funny and serious, he can also play music too! I thought that this movie should have been treated better. Sometimes we all need magic in our lives. The end scene with the father and son together for the final time had me crying. I think that Jack Frost should have been treated a lot better... Diserves a chance to be seen...

GREAT FAMILY FUN. 16th april 2004.
A great family film for everyone don't hire buy it.

A Different Kind of Warm Fuzzy Movie
I became introduced to this movie when my son brought home a book from school that contained an elementary school-level synopsis of the story. He had me read it to him at bedtime. When I was reading the ending to him, I looked over and saw tears in his eyes. That created the same effect in me and I immediately decided that we WOULD see the movie. It must have been a slow night at the theatre complex because my son and I were the only two watching the movie that night. It certainly added to the special feelings we both had for the movie. Obviously, the VHS was under the Christmas tree next year.

With all that, why did I only rate it 4 stars? Well, as a movie, it doesn't quite earn its' place among the classics. The acting's OK, the storyline is good, the photography, sets and scenery are fine, but it doesn't near the level of a "Wizard of Oz" or "Toy Story". On the other hand, if you're a father with a young son and you're both looking for a good movie to rent on a cold winter's night, I've got a recommendation...

Snowbody Does it Better!
This is one excellent movie.I love it because it's funny,heartwarming wholesome.Michael Keaton is blues musician Jack Frost.One snowy day he gives his son a harmonica as a gift.Later,Jack decides to leave his ban on the road and spend more time with his family.Unfortanately,an accident takes his life.Then his son plays the harmonica and Jack Frost comes back to life-as a snowman!Their father-son relationship will touch your heart and the special effects will make your eyes pop!An absolute must! ... Read more

Description

Christopher Lloyd stars as Quicksilver, a delightful collector of oddities.After a newlywed couple's car breaks down, the husband goes off for help.Along comes Quicksilver in his Rolls Royce, offering the fearsome bride refuge.He then tells her a story of a traveling salesman who stops at a rustic little diner and is given a set of "chattering teeth" as a birthday present.He picks up a hitchhiker and trouble follows.In the second story, Matt Frewer plays a petty pickpocket who meets Lloyd in his house of oddities and is todl the story of a plastic surgeon whose hands stage a revolt against him for their independence. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Irony? Horror?
Oh man, what a bad movie. But then, what exactly did they want with that movie from the beginning? It's pretty entertaining and reminded more of the Twilight zone stories but both stories and the stuff in between is light years away from the standart of both story tellers. I know 'the body politics' by Barker from the book 'inhuman conditions' in which much much better stories could've been taken into this short story movie.

When all the separated neighbours' hands have a meeting on the rooftop (they're planning rebellion against the bodies, trying to convince other hands to get 'independant' by cutting themselves off the arms and enjoy freedom) at the climax of the second story, the protagonist decides to fake the hands and become their leader only to make them follow him when he jumps. Add some cartoon voices going "wheeeeawhoooo" (the screaming hands)... this movie has to be a joke. A funny twilight zone episode. A bad one.

Excellent Lloyd, So so for the rest
The Wrap Around concept that Lloyd plays a part of is quite a great idea. As such, I find Lloyd's work as Quicksilver very malevolent, and is all part of the consummate skill he possesses, in fact Lloyd can be quite a chameleon.
And whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the stories he related, I suspect that this will not appeal to all fans of thisgenre.
Very worthwhile film; great trip, and hopefully the concept will be "resurrected" at some later stage.

ENJOY

GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 666
Originally a made for TV movie, QUICKSILVER HIGHWAY is actually two different stories, framed by a storyteller from hell. Christopher Lloyd stars as Quicksilver, the delightful collector of oddities and such. We first meet him after a newlywed couple's car breaks down, the husband goes off for help and along comes Lloyd in his Rolls Royce and trailer, who offers the fearsome bride refuge. He then tells her the story, which is based on Stephen King's "Chattery Teeth." Rafael Sbarge (Carnosaur 2, The Hidden 2) plays a traveling salesman who stops at a rustic little diner and is given a set of "chattering teeth" for his son's birthday present. He also picks up a hitchhiker and there the trouble begins. Of course you know the teeth are alive, and the outcome is fairly predictable. Veronica Cartwright (Alien) has a nice bit as the proprietor of the diner. The tale lacks a lot of tension that a tighter script could have given it and Sbarge is miscast. The second story, as absurdly outrageous as it is, was adapted from Clive Barker's short story "The Body Politic." Matt Frewer plays a petty pickpocket who meets Lloyd in his house of "oddities" and is told the story of a plastic surgeon who discovers his hands are revolting against him for their independence. They make him do strange things including killing his wife. The talking hands screaming for revolution are hilarious and the way they crawl and run around borders on the ridiculous. But because of Matt Frewer's dynamite performance, the story works.
QUICKSILVER HIGHWAY doesn't reach the class of such collections as Tales from the Crypt or even Tales That Witness Madness, but Matt Frewer and the rebel hands make it worth it!

Tales to terrify ... or should they have remained in print?
'Quicksilver Highway' is the collaboration of two of the world's most talented literary horror writers, Stephen King and Clive Barker. It is a rather short anthology of two terrifyingly twisted tales, with an inset story featuring Christopher Llyod (Back to the Future 1, 2 & 3). But do they terrify the average filmgoer?

A wandering storyteller, Aaron Quicksilver (Lloyd), narrates the tales in two strikingly different locations: Stephen King's 'Chattery Teeth' along a deserted stretch of desert highway and Clive Barker's 'The Body Politic' within the carnivalesque setting of a funfair.

The more interesting of the two tales is 'Chattery Teeth', which tells of a psychopathic hitchhiker who falls prey to a relentless and dangerously-sharp set of chattering teeth owned by the travelling salesman driving the car. 'Chattery Teeth' is taken from a short story written by King and first published in 'Cemetery Dance' magazine in the nineties. Similar to the stories found in 'Creepshow' and 'Creepshow 2', it is a bizzare and disturbing story with a twist in the tail, very similar to the 'Twilight Zone' and the 'Ray Bradbury Theater'.

The lesser of the two is Barker's 'The Body Politic'. Here, a hand comes alive, goes completely out of control, and eventually attacks its owner. The story is taken from Clive Barker's 'Books of Blood: Vol 4' and is actually quite an entertaining and intelligent story ... in print. However, attempting to re-create this story on film just doesn't work. The effects are nothing short of laughable, which inevitably ruins a good tale.

'Quicksilver Highway' is directed by Mick Garris, who has collaborated with Stephen King on more than one occasion (see 'Sleepwalkers', 'The Stand', 'The Shining' (TV), and the forthcoming 'Riding the Bullet' and 'Desperation'. He is also the man behind some of the 'Twilight Zone' episodes and 'Freddy's Nightmares', the latter explaining his less than efficient effort with 'Quicksilver Highway'.

Nevertheless, the cast is well chosen - Matt Frewer (The Stand), John Landis (Director of 'An American Werewolf in London'), Bill Nunn (Kiss the Girls), and Clive Barker - and although the movie does have its tedious and ridiculous moments (check out Lloyd's fetishistic leather garb), it is watchable. Fans of 'Tales from the Crypt' and 'Tales from the Darkside' will certainly want to give this film a look-see.

Rating: A good weekday watch after the witching hour ... but time spent reading the short stories would be considerably more prudent.

5 Stars for creativity
Steven King and Clive Barker was very creative on this one.Well... think about it, possessed chattering teeth?I think the people who thought of that hand story are geniuses, plus it was a very good idea that the guy with one hand sacrificed his life to stop the revolution at an end.BRAVO!!BRAVO!!BRAVICIMO!! ... Read more

Description

Spectacular battles, rollicking humor, and lavish production values frame a sweeping romantic drama that all audiences will enjoy.At the time of its release, this lavish historical epic was the most expensive Polish film ever made.Based on the novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz (QUO VADIS?), this grand drama is set in 17th century Poland during the Cossack uprising against the Polish nobility.As the violent confrontation builds, a battle for the heart of a beautiful girl rages between a dashing Pole and a brutish Ukrainian.This is a special full-length version, including footage not in the original theatrical release. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

DVD version of With Fire & Sword
This movie is great! It is in full screen mode, but it's so much better than the widescreen version no longer available. This movie was originally filmed to be a TV series of 4 episodes. When the widescreen movie came out, the distributors cut the movie up and there is about 10% of the movie missing. Polart has released the full length version, but unfortunately no widescreen version is available in Poland. The story is very good. This recently filmed movie has some of the most amazing costumes and battle scenes. It's a great story, and is based on historical events, so history buffs should love it.

What a Shame!
First, the manufacturers of this DVD should have there heads examined and their post production staff fired! First, the film and the others in the trilogy are presented in a flacid, grainy, FULL FRAME version. This epic was shot in scope (2.35 : 1 widescreen). In fact, the widescreen VHS version looks better! Also, I find it hard to believe that one of Poland's great film epics was mixed in two channel stereo and not 5.1. Overall, if you want this film, search out the widescreen VHS version until they get this DVD and the others right...if ever! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Don't expect the splendour of "Peter the Great"
Do you ever remember seeing a 6 part series about Peter the Great about 10 years ago - you know, the one with an aged Laurence Olivier playing the King of England? Well I thoughtthat was great. I think this is trying to be the same but failing miserably! I feel that this film was once a mini series that has been whittled down to be made into a film - er sorry "movie" for the non-Brits reading this review. It shows. The beginning is not so good. There is a tarty performance by Zeta Jones who just wants "the love of a real man". Oh please! I'm going to throw up! But to give the movie its due, it does pick up and get more interesting as political inytrigue ensues. Ian Richardson is playing his usual role as a shady poilitician, Omar Sherrif is there as an ageing sex symbol, Brian Blessed is playing a fat bloke with a beard - nothing original there either but what the hell Henry out of nieghbours is in it for I don't know. He is the worst actor in this movie! Zeta Jones is definitely very sexy, though. But that has nothing to do withthe merits of the movie. Conclusion. I wouldn't bother!

It...doesn't make her seem that great...
Catherine the Great was known as Catherine the Great for a reason. She helped raise the standards of living in Russia, attempted to modernize it, and it was during her reign that the long dream of Russia was realized: they ruled all sides of the Caspian Sea.

They tell you this in the movie...but only in the last five seconds of the film. Most of the movie is spent concerning Catherine the Great's supposedly promiscuous sex life (although many historians think that is just anti-Catherine - and antique - propoganda). Oh sure they give you five seconds of a peasant rebellion, five seconds of some guys that strangle jailors, and five seconds of a Turkish battle...but the rest is pretty much Catherine Zeta-Jones stripping down in corsets.

I mean don't get me wrong, she's cute and all...but I saw the film to see her attempt acting, not cleavage. I would have liked to have known what made Catherine so "the Great."

This accompanied with "The Scarlet Pimpernel" really made me lower my standards for A&E's productions. I really expected better.

A movie you don't forget
Catherine the Great was a movie that I saw when I was very very young ( and I mean with that, that I was too young to watch the movie), but somehow it stock, there was somthing about this movie, that made me remember it.....
I don't remember it being bad. I liked it then.

Great acting...but lacking in the edit department.
The costumes and acting was great...however Catherine's character was made out to be a very sensual character. This isn't a movie for kids under 13 years old, so be forewarned.

Where are we?
I was lost througout the entire movie, and it felt completely imcomplete. Not knowing much about her, I thought this video might help me learn more on Catherine the Great, but it left me dazed and confused. I recently watched the Hallmark channel's "Young Catherine" and was amazed. Look for this miniseries and compare. "Young Catherine" was definately much better than A&E's version, and I learned so much more, and understood what really happened clearly. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Warrior woman Lana Clarkson (Deathstalker) survives the massacreof her little village (on the eve of her marriage to a tribal prince) and vowsrevenge. Surrounding herself with an estrogen brigade of female fighters, shemakes quick work of the marauders before moving on to the city to lead thebrewing rebellion against the evil king. Don't think for a second that this isabout empowered women: every female character is raped or molested in thepicture. Ostensibly directed by Héctor Olivera (Funny Dirty LittleWar), this silly, badly dubbed, shot-in-Argentina production is full ofgratuitous nudity and slapdash but serviceable action and is enlivened largelyby Clarkson's charisma and energy. Much of the marvelous music is cribbed fromJames Horner's lush Battle Beyond the Stars score. Clarkson returns inthe sequel, Barbarian Queen II: The Empress Strikes Back. --SeanAxmaker ... Read more

Reviews (5)

"Bondage Scene" NOT COMPLETE!
I just got my copy of the DVD R-Rated version and yes the best parts of the bondage scene are missing. Why those edit happy bozos would remove the lower body scenes showing the actresses powerful legs around her captor and leave the breasts showing is beyond me. Since this scene is most appealing in the way the Original version first displayed it in 85, to take it out in my opinion degrades the movie entirely. I was completely dissapointed in this version of the movie. If anyone saw the unrated 1985 Vhs version you would know what I mean. Lana was the movie. Why remove it????? I have [not a] clue!!! Unsatisfied customer.

For those looking to upgrade their VHS copy
There are two forms of the movie on VHS. The R rated one and the Unrated one. The DVD is of the R rated version. The only difference is in the Lana Clarkson bondage scene (which, if you ask me, is the best scene in the movie). Something is missing in the R rated version. Benefits to getting the DVD? Immediately go to your favorite scene. On top of that, the picture clarity is much MUCH better than your old beat-up tape.

About the movie? Well, I'm about as big a cinema snob as you can get without being a professional film critic. I love the classic film-makers. Kurosawa, Kubrick, Keaton, Ford, Wilder, Hitchcock, etc. But I really like this movie. It is one of the best B movies out there. What's so great about a B movie? I think it's intent. B movies are obvious. They know exactly what they are and what they can do. They are there for a little action, a little adventure, some blood and guts, some T and A. They don't try to be anything more than that. That's why they are my guilty little pleasure.

You want a good B movie? Get this one, if you can. But if you have the unrated VHS, you might want to have second thoughts about this purchase. But then again, it's 10 bucks. Why not?

Beautiful BAD Movie
I would say that this movie is ... good. This is definitely going to keep u watching from beginning to end as u count the number of times the actresses are [exploited].

Not Deathstalker but very good
I like the barbarian queen movies as much as I like the mid deathstalker sequels not touching the first or 4th one but as good is about 2 & 3 of deathstalker I wish they would take it easy on the rape scenes .....a little t&a but god all in all not bad

B Movie...what could you expect?
Well, let's put it bluntly: it's a B Movie. Meaning? for a B Movie to be such, there would usually be 3 main caracteristics: 1- low budget, 2- There will always be a naked (or half naked) woman scene, 3- It's just made to watch that woman scene. So, that pretty much sums up what the movie is mostly about, thus, if it fits your needs, go for it. As far as the story line goes, it's too stupid to even mention. One only thing I can say about it that lifts the mood of the observer: Lana Clarkson. The main character of the movie, an Amazonian looking women who likes to wield a sword and kill rapists. Unfortunately, not strong enough to take on an army, she's captured and taken to a "torture" room. In which, we happen to see the then-23-year-old blonde babe with her boobs in the air, strapped in a wooden table, being "tortured" by a small, ludicrous looking guy with equaly ridiculus glasses. Now, I must add, from any other b-movie, this one is probably the one that has the longest bondage scene, and, had the producers been a little more flirtatious, the closest to a 2x movie. So that single part is probably the whole reason to watch the movie, no more, no less. Advantages of the DVD version? just put the disk in, go to the chapter you need to see, enjoy, and then get out of it. No need to rewind or fast forward the tape for hours when you just need to see 5 minutes of the movie, right? Well, that pretty much ends my need to talk here. Having said all this, the purchase I leave to you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Suffering from the extreme bad luck of being released at the same time as the low-budget The Blair Witch Project, this adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House attempts to update Shirley Jackson's psychologically terrifying ghost story to the era of big-budget, computerized special effects. Does it work? Well, let's just say that showing isn't exactly the same as telling. A prime example of bloated studio filmmaking, The Haunting telegraphs all its frights so blatantly that it forsakes any of Jackson's subtle horrors for the remedial scares of a clunky carnival ride. The story remains basically the same, with four people called to an old mansion for experiments in the supernatural, but instead of getting inside the heads of its main characters (as the 1963 adaptation by Robert Wise did so well), Jan DeBont's film deserts character development for the huge, glorious set design provided by Eugenio Zanetti (Restoration). Thus, instead of a well-drawn story you get... a well-drawn house, one that four very talented and underutilized actors--Lili Taylor, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Liam Neeson, and Owen Wilson--wander around in endlessly (as Zeta-Jones puts it, the house is "sort of Charles Foster Kane meets the Munsters"). Taylor, as the hypersensitive Nell, is the unknowing lynchpin in the battle between good and bad ghosts and gets saddled with most of the expository dialogue of the mansion's gothic backstory. Zeta-Jones (showing some spark) and Neeson (showing none) are sadly reduced to providing reactionary shots of the film's disastrous climax, which mixes hapless new-age affirmations with computer-generated effects of ghosts and exploding windows, walls, doors, etc. For this haunted-house story, take a quick tour of the breathtaking rooms, but definitely don't stay the night. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (324)

This HAUNTING is a flop
Being a fan of horror movies and having never seen the original 1963 film, I found myself eager to catch this remake, which looked interesting from the theatrical trailer. However, I could have never been more mistaken. THE HAUNTING, with its expensive special effects and large budget, looks more like a 'tamed' episode from TV's Goosebumps than an actual feature film. What's worse is that this incredibly dull chiller lacks what many of these types of films require to work...chills! Infact, the only scary thing about this flick is how DreamWorks managed to green-light this expensive dud into production. The paper-thin plot finds a psychological researcher tricking a group of people to staying a night at a haunted mansion in hopes of studying them and their reactions. While the cast seems promising, they are surprisingly wasted...Neeson especially, with Catherine Zeta Jones offering a pretty face to look at, but nothing more. And surprisingly, I never thought that director Jan DeBont could top the horrendous Speed 2: Cruise Control, but once again I was wrong. All in all, THE HAUNTING was one of 1999's biggest Hollywood disappointments and, in my opinion, I would seriously consider that you walk passed this one at the video store. DROUGH!

Not frightening, not anything
There are 2 good things in this movie-

(1) Bruce Dern, who plays the groundskeeper and who, in about 3 lines and 20 seconds, out-acts everyone else in the film, even though they get hours. Bruce Dern should have been the star of this film. He's got more talent in his left nostril than the rest of the cast have in their whole bodies. He's of the old school like Donald Sutherland, and he is squandered in this film. The director is like a prospector who puts the mud in his pocket and leaves the gold behind.

(2) The mansion itself, which is extraordinarily beautiful, but probably only a bunch of sets. Still, it's lovely.

Nothing else in this movie is remotely interesting or frightening. The screenplay reads as if it were written by a junior high student.

Artistic Masterpiece
Whether this movie was true enough to the book or not, I don't know. What I do know is that it's awesome and very well-made. The actors did a great job, the special effects were wonderful, and the creepy-yet gothicly beautiful house-simply couldn't have been better. I'm not sorry I watched it. It's worth every minute and every penny.

IF IT AIN'T BROKEN, DON'T FIX IT
"The Haunting" with Julie Harris was so good--even better for its black and white medium, which enhances the sense of the macabre and general off-kilterness of the set. Why don't they remake "The Wizard Of Oz?" Now, there's a picture that could be made MUCH pertier with modern cinematography. The cheap set and old theatre-style acting throw a damper on what's still is a great universal story.

Beware of Evil Capitalists (and ghost movies about them)
Some day Lili Taylor will land that role in a film which will show the world what a high-calibre actress she really is. THE HAUNTING is not that film. What a thankless part for Ms. Lili. What a thankless film. The scariest thing about this movie must have been the bill for the c.g.i. effects that the studio received. I mean, the movie had a moment or two of tension, but on the whole, I was bored.

There was nothing new here: the fury of an evil, dead capitalist and the pain inflicted on his mostly children workers--and his family--just can't seem to get out of the house. So! The evil men do does live on! How original! I'm reaching for sarcasm which is never pretty, so I will end here. This movie was the pits. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The initial concept of this remarkably poignant film may not be sexy,but it's well-executed and genuinely touching and easily brings its audience into the moving story. J.P. Tannen (Jon Voight), a divorced, absentee father, takes his three children, Tilde (a beautiful, heartbreaking Roxana Zal), Truman-Paul (Robby Kiger), and Trung (Son Hoang Bui), on a European cruise, during which a tragedy occurs at home. The emotionally charged setup of a father trying to reconnect with his children may be familiar to many people. Versatile writer David Seltzer (Lucas) melds realistic dialogue, conversations, situations, and reactions in a subtle, credible manner, giving his characters many levels and sincere depth. It's this realism that makes the story all that more compelling--Tannen is neither ogre nor saint, and his children are like real children: they're embarrassed by their insecurities, they act out, they crave affection. There are no one-dimensional characters either. Tannen and his ex-wife (Millie Perkins) maintain a distant fondness for each other, as she understands and finally accepts his foibles. Her husband, Mitchell (Richard Crenna), genuinely loves Tannen's children as he would his own. Party of Five isblessed with great talent, including the youngest stars. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Overlooked gem
A very emotional, well-acted piece of work by Jon Voight. Perhaps his best acting ever. Don't miss this one.

A man bridges a gap with his children...
Jon Voight plays a divorced father of three, who rarely sees his kids, remembers their birthdays, and generally isn't much of a parent.The role of parent to the kids belongs to his beautiful ex-wife, played by Millie Perkins, and her current husband, a loving man played by Richard Crenna.Voight arrives to take his children on their yearly vacation together, and it turns out to be a Mediterranean cruise.During the cruise, the love he has for his kids is evident as well as the unfamiliarity he has with playing the father and putting his kids first.But when a tragedy strikes back home, Voight must decide if taking on the role of father permanently is something he can and wants to do...

Jon Voight Rules
I loved this movie because Jon Voight gets closer to his kids then he ever was!

A Real Weeper
This is one of those movies that is perfect for those days when you feel like a good cry. Just imagine a marathon of Penny Serenade, Terms of Endearment (when she sees her kids for the last time!) and add Table forFive to that list.Maybe it was just the mood I was in, or I am notproperly medicated, but this was a terrific tearjerker.Well written,acted, and filmed, it is a great flick! ... Read more

Reviews (159)

A grossly under-rated movie that is a lot of fun!
I loved "Intolerable Cruelty." Maybe my expectations were lower since so many reviewers didn't like it. Or, maybe everybody else just missed it. George Clooney is perfect as a lawyer who is, shall we say, a few writs short of a full briefcase. He meets Catherine Zeta-Jones in a divorce case, and instantly and completely falls head over heels for her (and what lawyer wouldn't). Even though he knows she is going to try to get his money, he thinks he has outsmarted her and pursues her anyway. The plot twists and turns from there. But it isn't the plot that makes this movie funny, it's the little things. You've got to pay attention! For example, when George Clooney gets married, the priest lists his law firm after his name. This cracked me up. Plus, the expressions on George Clooney's face are really funny, like his role in "Brother, Where Art Thou?" The characters are all somewhat exaggerated, and this separates "Intolerable Cruelty" from your average comedy. This movie relies on a pretty brutal form of humor, in the same vein but not as rough as "The Fortune Cookie." If you're able to let go of people being nice to each other, you'll be in the right mood for "Intolerable Cruelty." I also think people who have some knowledge of legal processes, either as a lawyer or as a litigant, will find this movie funnier than people who have never experienced this particular joy. "Intolerable Cruelty" is definitely worth a look.

A tolerable 4.75 stars!!
The Coen brothers won me over with the hilarious "O Brother Where Art Thou," so when I saw this film about to be released, I was, shall we say, excited. Add to the mix the always wonderful George Clooney and the marvelous Catherine Zeta-Jones, and you get what promises to be a great ride.
"Intolerable Cruelty" does not disappoint. I came in with high expectations for this film, and I was more than happy with the result. The acting is great. The script is great. The directing is great. It's just a fun, heartwarming movie.
"IC" is filmed with the same muted hues as "O Brother," and the humor is in the same vein, but a little bit more accessible. If you liked "Brother," you'll love this. If you didn't, there's still a chance you'll like it.
Clooney does a great job in his role as Miles; I think he continues to grow as an actor. After the moody "Solaris," it was nice to see him as a romantic, humorous lead. Zeta-Jones, recently of "Chicago" fame, is, if I may quote Clooney's character, "fascinating."
Great job all around to this cast and crew, marvelous film!!

clooney + coens = ???
as long as you realize this is a screwball comedy, it's not SO bad. there are some very funny moments, courtesy of clooney. but there are also many dead spots. and some pretty bad dialogue - ie, could've been written and directed better. an interesting effort from the coens, easily their least idosyncratic film.

Is Diner Food Really That Bad?
Miles Massey (George Clooney) is a ruthless divorce lawyer and Marilyn Rexroth (Catherine Zeta Jones) is an equally ruthless gold-digging wife in this Coen Brothers take on the screwball comedy genre. The film takes place in a slick, shiny and heartless Los Angeles-it's a place with no sympathy for losers. In the old thirties' comedies, there was always an element of humorous class confrontation (and sympathy for losers) that gave the films an edge-there's not enough of it here. If we knew a little bit why Miles and Marilyn were so driven (Miles seems to have a father problem, but we never really learn anything about Marilyn) it could put their behavior into perspective.

The inclusion of an African-American detective is interesting-but he's of so little value to Miles that Miles meets him for lunch in a dingy diner instead of one of the glossier restaurants we see in the film. In the screwball genre, this should be the scene where we see the better, decent side of Miles; we should see that he's a man of the people. But in this film the diner, usually a place of populist wisdom, (and a handy cinematic counterpoint to the empty values of the wealthy characters), is dismissed and ridiculed. It's too bad, because the dowdy patrons of the diner are also surrogates for the ordinary people in the audience. If Miles had met the detective in an upscale restaurant (and taken Marilyn to the diner), that would have told us something about his inborn decency despite his privileged background-then we would have really been on his side. And if we'd been given an inkling of why Marilyn is so money-hungry, we might have more sympathy for her. This film lacks the underlying empathy for ordinary people that the great comedies had beneath thei