Description

A decade has passed since John Connor (NICK STAHL) helped prevent Judgment Day and save mankind from mass destruction. Now 25, Connor lives "off the grid" - no home, no credit cards, no cell phone and no job. No record of his existence. No way he can be traced by Skynet - the highly developed network of machines that once tried to kill him and wage war on humanity. Until?out of the shadows of the future steps the T-X (KRISTANNA LOKEN), Skynet's most sophisticated cyborg killing machine yet. Sent back through time to complete the job left unfinished by her predecessor, the T-1000, this machine is as relentless as her human guise is beautiful. Now Connor's only hope for survival is the Terminator (ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER), his mysterious former assassin. Together, they must triumph over the technologically superior T-X and forestall the looming threat of Judgment Day?or face the apocalypse and the fall of civilization as we know it. ... Read more

Reviews (694)

ARNOLD + PRETTY WOMEN + INCREDIBLE EFFECTS = WORTH SEEING.
After a 12 year absence, a Terminator movie is around. One more time Arnold Schwarzenegger repeats his signature role, and despite this time the director of the first two movies James Cameron, the actress Linda Hamilton and the actor Edward Furlong didn't came back for T3, there's new blood on the series.

In "Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines", there is a new Terminator model, the T-X (Terminatrix), played by the gorgeous Kristanna Loken, who does a good job as a cold and precise cybernetic killer. Also there is a new John Connor, actor Nick Stahl. On this movie John Connor loses a lot of the personality that Edward Furlong printed to the character in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day". However, the pretty Claire Danes fills the hole left by the "new" John Connor, Claire plays Kate, a brave woman that refuses to let the humanity to be destroyed.

The visual effects and the audio effects are incredible. The highlight is a vehicle chase scene, which is jaw-dropping. Despite T3 doesn't have the same depth of the first two movies, is a very enjoyable film and a worthy sequel.

A Pleasant Little Surprise...
When I first heard that T3 was coming out I was terrified. I mean, no James Cameron? No Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton)?? A new guy (Nick Stahl) playing John Conner??? A female terminatrix???? An ancient Arnold creeking along as the terminator????? Boy, was I scared of the potential catastrophe this flick could've been! Well, my fears were unnecessary. T3: RISE OF THE MACHINES was a pleasant surprise. First, though Cameron would have done a completely different film with Linda Hamilton, they both opted out (of T3 and their relationship w/ each other) and there was no hope of their being involved. Jonothan Mostow does a great job, keeping the action at an insane pace, making T3 an excellent 2hr rollercoaster ride. Claire Danes is wonderful as the unfortunate Kate, sucked into the vortex of John Conner's destiny. Kristanna Loken is the perfect ice-cold assassin as the TX Terminatrix. She's beautiful, lethal, and indestructible. The perfect date for yours truly! Nick Stahl is John Conner. I liked him and found him quite believable. That leaves Arny as everyone's favorite cyborg. I was frankly amazed at how good he looks! This future governor of la-la-land looks physically like he did in the first two terminators! Either he's wearing a rubber body, or Arnold is in peak condition. Either way, he IS the terminator and always will be. He delivers his trademark T-101-liners with typical Arny style. As for the storyline, I was so caught up in the explosions and chase elements, I almost forgot what it was all about! It seems that judgement day has only been postponed and the TX has arrived to seek out and destroy John Conner. The T-101 intervenes again, this time protecting both John and Kate in an attempt to save the remnant of humanity from skynet's planetary conquest. Can they escape the TX? What secret does Kate's dad hold? Will Arnold take time off from his office job to do T4? Only time will tell. The only complaint I have is that it could have been longer. Another 20 minutes or so to flesh out the story would've been nice. However, I digress...

Funner than the first two, but less story-driven
While the first two movies were more story-driven, apocalyptic affairs, this Terminator is pretty much all explosions and has a slightly disappointing ending, but is still an awesome movie. The special effects are mindblowing and Arnold looks like he hasn't aged a bit (botox? plastic surgery? natural youthful looks? a mix of all three? :-) Anyhow this movie is sweet and actually really isn't that violent except for a murder at the vet clinic and a nasty impaleing scene in a cop car (if you've seen it, you know what I mean). It's awesome though, rent it first and if you like it as much as I do (a lot) then pick it up.

talk to the hand!
in part 3 here,sara conner is dead.john conner is in his early 20s and keeping his self impossible to trace.they send this extremely sexy terminater chick to kill his officers since he cant be located.arnold must protect john and this other chick who is an officer later on.they call her a captain.a cap is by no means 2nd in charge like they say in the movie.that would be a general.arnold shows again in another excellent performance in the terminater movies.i dont know who that sexy chick terminater is but damn is she fine!john,however,is really ugly and nasty.his officer,the chick is pretty but an uptight bitch.its kind of violent for children.this is as youve read already the third part to this fantastic series.the bad terminter chick has many neat powers like dna testing,talking to other machines,mimicking dial up tones,controllling other machines etc.there are a few more.its the second best of the 3 .any terminater fan will love it.only like squeamish and non-intellectual sell out julia roberts types will not like this.but screw them anyway.no fate but what we make does not carry over to this one.this is arnolds second best.the special effects are cool.the action is great.im still waiting on a 4th part with the man vs machine war.

John Conner a drugie loser?! Otherwise good fun.
I thought this movie on par with Alien 3 of the Alien movies. Not bad but not near as good as the first two.

The chase scene is probably the best in all the Terminator movies. It was jaw dropping! The effects are superior to the first two. Arnold was great as always but looked a little older which makes no sense. The terminatrix was very cool and interesting. I liked the "down" ending too.
The problems were the bad acting (nowhere near as good as the first 2), no Linda Hamilton and terrible characterization of the John Conner character.
I couldn't believe what a disapointing John Conner this was. He looks nothing like the kid from T2 and Nick Stahl can't emote half the feeling or charm that the little boy did. This John Conner was also written terribly; he is homeless, a drug user and has absolutely no ambition or leadership qualities. So this movie basicaly claims that NONE of his mother's toughness and kick-ass asertivness rubbed off on him and basically he's just a big whiney loser at this point??? He's so pathetic that it is impossible to believe that he'll EVER lead any ressistence movement of any kind.

Its a good action flick but nothing more. I hope there won't be anymore of these but it looks like this ending is setting up more movies. Arnold is now Govenor of Cali. so I don't see him coming back again, at least. ... Read more

Description

An arrested drug kingpin is transported by a Los Angeles Police Department S.W.A.T. team, led by Jackson's character, out of the city and into federal custody. Plans go awry when the kingpin offers $100 million to anyone who can free him. Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Oliver Martinez. ... Read more

Reviews (185)

A fine fast-paced, junk food movie
I spent my hard earned cash for a matinee fully expecting to watch a big, loud, dumb, mindless and escapist action packed film filled with gun-fights, fist fights, stuff blowing up, mean Euro-trash villains (in this case a real slimy Gaul), a team made of devoted experts, decent enough acting and a few funny lines as well as a passable performance by the young Mel Gibson-like Colin Farrell and I have to say, my money was well spent.

SWAT has the potential to be the TOP GUN for special police forces. SWAT contains TOP GUN'S romanticized vision of ripped warrior bodies performing great feats of physical skill. Like TOP GUN'S Navy Pilots and their super sonic jets, this super Police force expertly manipulates specific technology to defeat the forces of evil. A warrior's complete and total command over the tools of the trade- guns, cars, clubs and each other makes such films work as effective recruitment tools. Who wouldn't want to be part of such an expert team?

SWAT embraces all the required clichés befitting a proper action/cop picture: the[rear-end] chewing by-the-numbers captain, the hardened veteran (played with the usual strength and charisma by the always excellent Samuel L. Jackson), the roguish rebel, the tough female partner, the shapeshifting turncoat and the family man as sacrificial lamb.

If someone wants a decent action-adventure, no thinking required, entertaining junk food movie that provides temporary satisfaction, SWAT serves the bill.

This movie stinks
Collin Farell can't act for sh....

I saw this movie one a VCD...think god I didn't pay 8 bucks for a ticket for this crap in a box...

What a dumb film...Samual L. Jackson saved it....Movie sucked pretty much.....Horrible casting...Worst then Phone Booth...Acctually Phone was worse then this........they both suck pretty much...

I wish i could give it a -000000/5...

Worst movie I've seen last summer...

Later...

Saw it for the first time on TV last night....Bad Film!
I skipped this one in theater because it looked cheesy and man is it ever. Colin Farrel and Sam Jackson's talents are wasted in this mess of an action movie and the dialogue and realism of SWAT is below-average at very best. Don't even rent this stinker, catch it on cable for free.

Slickly produced mainstream action fluff
Based on the 70's cop drama TV show, S.W.A.T. is pure slickly produced mainstream action fluff of the highest degree. Beginning with a rebellious and disgraced SWAT member (Colin Farrell) who is picked to join a new squad (which includes Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Brian Van Holt, and Josh Charles) by a fresh out of retirement sergeant (Samuel L. Jackson). Soon afterward, the head of a European drug cartel (Unfaithful's Oliver Martinez) is captured and offers 100 million dollars to whoever breaks him out of prison, and the crew ends up having their hands full when anyone and everyone comes out of the woodwork to claim the bounty. The film looks great and his some great action scenes, and the cast is nicely assembled, but it's an ultimately shallow experience. If you're a mainstream action fan, this is worth a look, but there's better, more character driven action films out there that are more than worth your time.

aight
this movie was very tight. and this movie is also better than you got served. ... Read more

Description

A decade has passed since John Connor (NICK STAHL) helped prevent Judgment Day and save mankind from mass destruction. Now 25, Connor lives "off the grid" - no home, no credit cards, no cell phone and no job. No record of his existence. No way he can be traced by Skynet - the highly developed network of machines that once tried to kill him and wage war on humanity. Until?out of the shadows of the future steps the T-X (KRISTANNA LOKEN), Skynet's most sophisticated cyborg killing machine yet. Sent back through time to complete the job left unfinished by her predecessor, the T-1000, this machine is as relentless as her human guise is beautiful. Now Connor's only hope for survival is the Terminator (ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER), his mysterious former assassin. Together, they must triumph over the technologically superior T-X and forestall the looming threat of Judgment Day?or face the apocalypse and the fall of civilization as we know it. ... Read more

Reviews (694)

ARNOLD + PRETTY WOMEN + INCREDIBLE EFFECTS = WORTH SEEING.
After a 12 year absence, a Terminator movie is around. One more time Arnold Schwarzenegger repeats his signature role, and despite this time the director of the first two movies James Cameron, the actress Linda Hamilton and the actor Edward Furlong didn't came back for T3, there's new blood on the series.

In "Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines", there is a new Terminator model, the T-X (Terminatrix), played by the gorgeous Kristanna Loken, who does a good job as a cold and precise cybernetic killer. Also there is a new John Connor, actor Nick Stahl. On this movie John Connor loses a lot of the personality that Edward Furlong printed to the character in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day". However, the pretty Claire Danes fills the hole left by the "new" John Connor, Claire plays Kate, a brave woman that refuses to let the humanity to be destroyed.

The visual effects and the audio effects are incredible. The highlight is a vehicle chase scene, which is jaw-dropping. Despite T3 doesn't have the same depth of the first two movies, is a very enjoyable film and a worthy sequel.

A Pleasant Little Surprise...
When I first heard that T3 was coming out I was terrified. I mean, no James Cameron? No Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton)?? A new guy (Nick Stahl) playing John Conner??? A female terminatrix???? An ancient Arnold creeking along as the terminator????? Boy, was I scared of the potential catastrophe this flick could've been! Well, my fears were unnecessary. T3: RISE OF THE MACHINES was a pleasant surprise. First, though Cameron would have done a completely different film with Linda Hamilton, they both opted out (of T3 and their relationship w/ each other) and there was no hope of their being involved. Jonothan Mostow does a great job, keeping the action at an insane pace, making T3 an excellent 2hr rollercoaster ride. Claire Danes is wonderful as the unfortunate Kate, sucked into the vortex of John Conner's destiny. Kristanna Loken is the perfect ice-cold assassin as the TX Terminatrix. She's beautiful, lethal, and indestructible. The perfect date for yours truly! Nick Stahl is John Conner. I liked him and found him quite believable. That leaves Arny as everyone's favorite cyborg. I was frankly amazed at how good he looks! This future governor of la-la-land looks physically like he did in the first two terminators! Either he's wearing a rubber body, or Arnold is in peak condition. Either way, he IS the terminator and always will be. He delivers his trademark T-101-liners with typical Arny style. As for the storyline, I was so caught up in the explosions and chase elements, I almost forgot what it was all about! It seems that judgement day has only been postponed and the TX has arrived to seek out and destroy John Conner. The T-101 intervenes again, this time protecting both John and Kate in an attempt to save the remnant of humanity from skynet's planetary conquest. Can they escape the TX? What secret does Kate's dad hold? Will Arnold take time off from his office job to do T4? Only time will tell. The only complaint I have is that it could have been longer. Another 20 minutes or so to flesh out the story would've been nice. However, I digress...

Funner than the first two, but less story-driven
While the first two movies were more story-driven, apocalyptic affairs, this Terminator is pretty much all explosions and has a slightly disappointing ending, but is still an awesome movie. The special effects are mindblowing and Arnold looks like he hasn't aged a bit (botox? plastic surgery? natural youthful looks? a mix of all three? :-) Anyhow this movie is sweet and actually really isn't that violent except for a murder at the vet clinic and a nasty impaleing scene in a cop car (if you've seen it, you know what I mean). It's awesome though, rent it first and if you like it as much as I do (a lot) then pick it up.

talk to the hand!
in part 3 here,sara conner is dead.john conner is in his early 20s and keeping his self impossible to trace.they send this extremely sexy terminater chick to kill his officers since he cant be located.arnold must protect john and this other chick who is an officer later on.they call her a captain.a cap is by no means 2nd in charge like they say in the movie.that would be a general.arnold shows again in another excellent performance in the terminater movies.i dont know who that sexy chick terminater is but damn is she fine!john,however,is really ugly and nasty.his officer,the chick is pretty but an uptight bitch.its kind of violent for children.this is as youve read already the third part to this fantastic series.the bad terminter chick has many neat powers like dna testing,talking to other machines,mimicking dial up tones,controllling other machines etc.there are a few more.its the second best of the 3 .any terminater fan will love it.only like squeamish and non-intellectual sell out julia roberts types will not like this.but screw them anyway.no fate but what we make does not carry over to this one.this is arnolds second best.the special effects are cool.the action is great.im still waiting on a 4th part with the man vs machine war.

John Conner a drugie loser?! Otherwise good fun.
I thought this movie on par with Alien 3 of the Alien movies. Not bad but not near as good as the first two.

The chase scene is probably the best in all the Terminator movies. It was jaw dropping! The effects are superior to the first two. Arnold was great as always but looked a little older which makes no sense. The terminatrix was very cool and interesting. I liked the "down" ending too.
The problems were the bad acting (nowhere near as good as the first 2), no Linda Hamilton and terrible characterization of the John Conner character.
I couldn't believe what a disapointing John Conner this was. He looks nothing like the kid from T2 and Nick Stahl can't emote half the feeling or charm that the little boy did. This John Conner was also written terribly; he is homeless, a drug user and has absolutely no ambition or leadership qualities. So this movie basicaly claims that NONE of his mother's toughness and kick-ass asertivness rubbed off on him and basically he's just a big whiney loser at this point??? He's so pathetic that it is impossible to believe that he'll EVER lead any ressistence movement of any kind.

Its a good action flick but nothing more. I hope there won't be anymore of these but it looks like this ending is setting up more movies. Arnold is now Govenor of Cali. so I don't see him coming back again, at least. ... Read more

Reviews (92)

Not a Chick Flick
Forget what ya heard, Foxfire is definitely not just a chick flick. I'm a guy and I've loved this movie since the first time I saw it. Initially, I'll admit I was attracted to it because it featured two of my favorite actresses(Jolie, Burress) but it was the story itself that has made me a devoted viewer of this movie ever since. The movie is miles and away different from the book it's based on, and not just due to the setting. The relationships between the girls are slightly altered, not to mention a good number of the girls are left out. That in no way diminishes how dead on the emotions each character portrays are played out. Thelma and Louise? Definitely a film made solely for the female audience. But Foxfire is just head and shoulders above that. Great film.

whew
oh my gosh. i absolutely love this movie and i fell in love with both maddie and legs. hat's off to both hedy buress and angelina jolie. their performance was absolutely incredible. while some have deemed this a 'lesbian' film it is definitely not. of course there is some nudity but the most sexual scene occurs with all of the clothes on. .... this is the most poignant and sexually tense scene in the whole movie. on the whole it was a good movie with some odd lines thrown in. especially the 'do you girls run with foxes'. that was so random and so forced. some of the acting could have been done without but buress and jolie saved it. my only regret was that maddie didn't leave with legs. don't try comparing this movie to the book, they are very different and equally good. the casting couldn't have been better for the two female leads. my recommendations to anyone who wants an excellent movie to watch.

Angelina Jolie is HOT!!! That was a bad title.
I wasn't supposed to like this movie. I wasn't. I got the urge to see it after renting the "Girl,Interrupted" DVD and falling in love with Angelina Jolie and then seeing the preview for this on the DVD.The movie in fact is pretty damn good.It's sad and funny and Angelina Jolie is incredible. The movie is about 5
High School girls starting with Maddy(Hedy Burress),a young,pretty,and intelligent art student.Rita(Jenny Lewis) a typical high school girl that is the one chick in Science class that doesn't wanna disect(If that's how you spell it) the frog.
Goldie(Jenny Schmizu) a chinese and/or japanese drug fiend.
Violet(Sarah Rosenberg) a perky "social" chick.And last Legs
(Jolie) a young rebel passing through town to town.When Rita is sexually assaulted by a teacher,the five girls join foreces and teach him a lesson.In other words they beat the crap out of him.
They're suspended and start hanging out at an old abandoned house and all discover their true selves I guess you could say.
I really don't know why I liked this movie,the movie is a chick flick at heart.It's a sad film,but Angelina Jolie shines and makes it more sad then it's meant to be.Go see this movie.B+

as good as the book but not the same exactly
the book and film are in different settings, legs is much different in the movie than in the book as how she treats maddy but i guess nobody wanted to see legs bust maddy's nose and leave her on the streets or see the initiation ritual of one girl and it was no tattoo (im not saying the tattoo scene wasnt in the book because it was but the movie was sugar coated in parts). There were alot more molestation stories, things were explained alot clearer and it was set in new york in a far earlier time period. they were very different. i do love the movie though, its great. just as great. just different.
no its not a chick story, its based on a feminist novel..

For All Girls Everywhere!
A wonderful romp through girlhood, friendship, and growing up! One of my favorite girl movies, Foxfire proves itself to be a truly great movie! Not wholly unlike the Breakfast Club and other teen necessities, Foxfire is a true gem! ... Read more

Description

An arrested drug kingpin is transported by a Los Angeles Police Department S.W.A.T. team, led by Jackson's character, out of the city and into federal custody. Plans go awry when the kingpin offers $100 million to anyone who can free him. Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Oliver Martinez. ... Read more

Reviews (185)

A fine fast-paced, junk food movie
I spent my hard earned cash for a matinee fully expecting to watch a big, loud, dumb, mindless and escapist action packed film filled with gun-fights, fist fights, stuff blowing up, mean Euro-trash villains (in this case a real slimy Gaul), a team made of devoted experts, decent enough acting and a few funny lines as well as a passable performance by the young Mel Gibson-like Colin Farrell and I have to say, my money was well spent.

SWAT has the potential to be the TOP GUN for special police forces. SWAT contains TOP GUN'S romanticized vision of ripped warrior bodies performing great feats of physical skill. Like TOP GUN'S Navy Pilots and their super sonic jets, this super Police force expertly manipulates specific technology to defeat the forces of evil. A warrior's complete and total command over the tools of the trade- guns, cars, clubs and each other makes such films work as effective recruitment tools. Who wouldn't want to be part of such an expert team?

SWAT embraces all the required clichés befitting a proper action/cop picture: the[rear-end] chewing by-the-numbers captain, the hardened veteran (played with the usual strength and charisma by the always excellent Samuel L. Jackson), the roguish rebel, the tough female partner, the shapeshifting turncoat and the family man as sacrificial lamb.

If someone wants a decent action-adventure, no thinking required, entertaining junk food movie that provides temporary satisfaction, SWAT serves the bill.

This movie stinks
Collin Farell can't act for sh....

I saw this movie one a VCD...think god I didn't pay 8 bucks for a ticket for this crap in a box...

What a dumb film...Samual L. Jackson saved it....Movie sucked pretty much.....Horrible casting...Worst then Phone Booth...Acctually Phone was worse then this........they both suck pretty much...

I wish i could give it a -000000/5...

Worst movie I've seen last summer...

Later...

Saw it for the first time on TV last night....Bad Film!
I skipped this one in theater because it looked cheesy and man is it ever. Colin Farrel and Sam Jackson's talents are wasted in this mess of an action movie and the dialogue and realism of SWAT is below-average at very best. Don't even rent this stinker, catch it on cable for free.

Slickly produced mainstream action fluff
Based on the 70's cop drama TV show, S.W.A.T. is pure slickly produced mainstream action fluff of the highest degree. Beginning with a rebellious and disgraced SWAT member (Colin Farrell) who is picked to join a new squad (which includes Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Brian Van Holt, and Josh Charles) by a fresh out of retirement sergeant (Samuel L. Jackson). Soon afterward, the head of a European drug cartel (Unfaithful's Oliver Martinez) is captured and offers 100 million dollars to whoever breaks him out of prison, and the crew ends up having their hands full when anyone and everyone comes out of the woodwork to claim the bounty. The film looks great and his some great action scenes, and the cast is nicely assembled, but it's an ultimately shallow experience. If you're a mainstream action fan, this is worth a look, but there's better, more character driven action films out there that are more than worth your time.

aight
this movie was very tight. and this movie is also better than you got served. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The title character of Molly, played by Elisabeth Shue (Oscar nominee for Leaving Las Vegas), suffers from one of those afflictions that are only found in Hollywood movies: she's sort of mentally challenged, sort of autistic--but only enough to give her a childlike appreciation of rhythmic water fountains and The Wizard of Oz. An operation that somehow activates brain cells brings Molly to a more sophisticated level of intelligence, much to the astonishment and joy of her brother Buck (Aaron Eckhart, playing a much more sympathetic character than he did in In the Company of Men). Then, when her brain cell progress becomes threatened for some unclear reason, Molly and Buck are faced with her mental reversal. Aside from being scientifically dubious and somewhat insulting to mentally challenged people and their families, the developing sibling relationship has an emotional pull. Eckhart brings a quiet dignity to his role, lending a bit of realism with his understated performance. Shue, though saddled with an impossible character, has moments of naked emotion that almost make Molly believable. Thomas Jane (Deep Blue Sea), as a medical assistant with a never-explained "learning disability," does all he can with his equally inconsistent part but fares less well. Molly wants to be a combination of Forrest Gump and Flowers for Algernon, movies about discovering the meaning of life through an appreciation of simple things, but falls short. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Molly, wierd stuff
I love Elizabeth Shue and I think her acting has become very strong in the past decade so I am amazed that she chose a script that transforms a 25+ year old mentally retarded woman with physical disabilities to a very well read and very coordinated woman with a photographic memory. It's not that the fanciful plot isn't a good story it's just so poorly told that it makes the transformation seem the overnight result of an experimental procedure that gives a false represnetation of the 'treatment' of people mental disorders. I like many aspects of the movie and it has some moments that are endearing. Overall, in the end, I didn't like the movie based on it's haphazard beginnings and many unexplained plot set ups. Someitmes the characters don't seem to belon in the movie at all- as if they are passing through. Watch for yourself, see what you think. It is worth watching, once. Maybe more.

Two Stars for Unintentional Comedy...
What a pathetic movie. The filmmaker didn't know whether it was a comedy, a drama, or a heartwarming romatic dramedy about incest between a mentally challenged woman and her poorly groomed brother.

First of all, as the title character, Molly, Elisabeth Shue is almost painful to watch. So painful, in fact, that she pulls off the comedic performance of the decade by yanking every tired stereotype about mentally disabled people out of her "Please Nominate Me for an Oscar" bag. Yikes.

Second, how insipid and ridiculous can you get? Molly loves organizing her shoes. She loves the Wizard of Oz. She teaches the jaded "sane" world how to love life again by standing in a fountain and taking off her clothes in public.

I'm in disbelief that there are actually earnest accolades for this movie floating around Amazon.com. THIS MOVIE IS GARBAGE, PEOPLE!!! Molly is a wonderful failure insofar as E. Shue gives the funniest, most painful, performance of her lifetime. But, "heartwarming"????? Please....

richly detailed, engaging portrait of autistic experience
This romantic comedy-drama about a cure for autism builds on the premise that the audience has digested the intro-to-autism that was Rainman, and is ready to move beyond that stylish snapshot to a more interior view of the frustrations and hopes of an autistic hero. Molly is considerably less introverted at times than most autistics, making her a more sympathetic character but causing some families of autistics to object that the movie is very unrealistic. Keep in mind that there are still many competing theories of why autistics fail to interact socially - are they genuinely indifferent to other people, or just socially learning-disabled? Those who think the latter is the case will find this story plausible and moving - others have been exasperated with what they see as a dishonest picture of the nature of autism.

Autism Awareness
There are very few movies dealing with extremely painful issues. It seems these issues are at times hidden in doctor's offices and schools and unless you have a relative or friend with this disorder it might remain a mystery to you.

Since recent studies are suggesting that as many as 1 in 150 children age 10 or younger may be affected by autism or a related disorder, this film is relevant and brings awareness to the disorder.

Some say it is a result of giving babies their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot and doctors claim it is primarily a genetic disorder. Many parents say the shot caused their child to throw tantrums, lose language skills and tune out. The theory is that some autism stems from a severe immune reaction to the vaccine.

There are many treatments which can make a difference in the life of an autistic person. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, medication and special diets are of benefit.

I first found out about autism while working for a family in the Seattle, WA area and I was amazed at the sheer patience the parents exhibited. If you think your life is at all difficult, spend one day with an autistic child. It takes a great amount of patience, love and commitment.

Not only is life difficult for the caretakers, daily life is also difficult for autistic people. "Molly" shows both sides of the story.

Elisabeth Shue plays Molly and completely captures the extremely short attention spans, indifference to those around her, tantrums and screaming, obsessive interests, preoccupations with various objects, love for identical routines, acute hearing and love of saying "no" to every question.

Her 32-year-old brother Buck (Aaron Eckhart) suddenly becomes responsible for her when the home she is staying in closes. She turns his world upside down and when he loses his job, he finds other work he can do at home so they can survive.

When they discover a way Molly may be significantly helped, she undergoes a brain operation. There is a constant threat that the person who has emerged from Molly's body will again sink into the depths of autism. She starts to make everyone aware of what an autistic person goes through and can express herself in an intelligent manner. In fact people with autism can be extremely intelligent. They are really just locked inside a body
which will not let them interact with others in a way society expects.

Molly has moments which are so delightfully funny because in any other situation besides a movie, they would probably be embarrassing to a person caring for the person. Molly has a child-like joy and one of the best moments in the movie is when she runs through a water fountain with pure joy and fascination. She can be rather mischievous at times. There are also some rather surreal moments you just have to accept for what they are.

She even considers marriage and reaches a level of independence which was impossible before the operation.

Throughout the movie, they promote an awareness that we are all valuable human beings no matter what our disorders and that love and patience is sorely needed in our society. Instead of accepting societies tendency to hide individuals with mental conditions, they encourage us to learn more about mental illness and to treat these individuals with the respect all human beings deserve.

This is a beautiful story of how a brother takes on the responsibility of looking after his sister and goes beyond the call of duty to make her life peaceful and comforting.

Get out the tissues! Throughout the movie, the beauty of the innocence of a child can at times be a bit overwhelming. Especially if you know someone who has this condition.

You will cry, laugh and cry some more. I found this to be a roller coaster of emotions and while the ending is not what you expect, it is a mingling of beauty and sadness.

Absolutely Amazing!
Molly is a great movie. The more times I watch it, the better it gets. This is a movie which deals with a disabled person (Shue), and ,as a disabled survivor myself (traumatic brain injury from an auto accident), I can fully attest to the fact that so many of the points dealt with in this movie are 100% accurate. I know this only a movie, but I always get so emotional watching this video (and I hardly ever get emotional otherwise). So, to sum up, this is a fabulous movie that needs to be viewed, if at all possible! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A glimpse of a pre-stardom Sharon Stone in a state of undress may be the sole selling point for this routine police potboiler directed by Dorothy Ann Puzo, daughter of Godfather author Mario Puzo. Brad Davis stars as a tough cop who goes on the warpath to find the brutal hoodlum (Jonathan Banks) who murdered his father. An over-the-top Adam Ant and Eddie Egan, the former policeman whose career served as the basis for The French Connection, add some color, but the script by Puzo, producer Lisa M. Hansen, and Moe Quiqley (from a story by former Haunted Garage frontman Dukey Flyswatter!) is woefully wooden, and the frantic action and performances signify very little. Undiscerning action fans may find some diversion here; all others can disregard. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (6)

eh....
This movie is just o.k. Like pretty much everyone else I bought it so I could drool over Adam Ant for an hour and a half. For that it was good. If there is an actor you have the hots for in this movie, it's worth buying. Otherwise.....skip it.

Cold Steel Used
The cover of movie looked old and I was disappointed as I was giving as a gift to my son.

Adam Ant Movie Lover
I bought this becuase it was cheap and was an Adam Any movie. While not the main character, he plays his part as bad guy extrordinaire. Sharon Stone is also very good in this early role for her and looks hot... Not the greatest story line but like I said, it was bought becuase I'm his biggest fan.

Ok, but not the best
The reason I watched this is because Adam Ant was in here and I thought 'cool, I gotta watch this'. It wasn't that good, though.
He made a wonderful bad guy, but if you like the average cop movie, here ya go!

FLAWED, WEAK, UNDRAMATIC!
Flawed, weak, undramatic! That's all I have to say, except: Skip it! Grade: D+ ... Read more

Amazon.com

Steven Seagal has always been an awkward action hero. Initially, he hada certain amount of credibility thanks to his nebulous association with secret government agencies and mastery of aikido, which helped to excuse his bad acting. But as a self-righteous action hero in the vein of Schwarzenegger and Stallone (which helps to explain his bad acting), Seagal fell into unintentional self-parody faster and more dramatically than either of his two predecessors. In Out for Justice, Seagal plays Gino Felino, a Brooklyn-born cop known and respected by everyone--both good and bad--in his neighborhood. The worst of the neighborhood baddies is Richie Madano (William Forsythe), a crack-smoking killer who murders his partner and terrorizes the neighborhood. Technically, Felino is a terrible cop--touching evidence at murder scenes, stealing evidence, intimidating witnesses--but only by breaking those rules can he bring in this horrible criminal. As his soon-to-be-ex-wife discovers, he does everything because he cares too much. Julianna Margulies (ER) has a small but thankless role as Richie's hooker girlfriend, and Gina Gershon (Face/Off, Bound) has an equally thankless roleas Richie's foul-mouthed, bar-owning sister. The movie plays like a vanity piece for Seagal, and in that vein, it is fascinating to watch. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Acting? Hell, No. Action? Hell, Yeah!
First of all, this movie is not getting five stars for its acting, its plot, its writing or its cinematography. Those basically don't exist. This film is about action, not acting, though some of the cast occasionally slips up and really does act, especially people like William Forsythe and Jerry Orbach, who apparently can't entirely help themselves. "Out For Justice" is a Steven Seagal vanity piece, plain and simple, and doesn't pretend to be anything else. In that sense, it succeeds in its purpose admirably well.

Seagal portrays yet another hero sporting a ponytail to hide his emerging bald spot. His traditional squinty-eyed grimace is used at all appropriate times, namely whenever he's trying to convey emotion, whether it be outrage, anger, sorrow, affection or desire. It's great how the viewer is left constantly guessing as to how poor Steven feels; it's highly doubtful that even he knows, so how can he be expected to show it to others? Acting is not this guy's forte, and it really shows when he's in a scene with real talent like Orbach or Forsythe. Those poor actors just don't know how to roll over and play dead so Steven can really shine. Not to worry, though, because it's in the fight scenes where Seagal gets to flex his muscles---on his body, not his face---and there's nobody who can kick tail quite the way he does.

There's no sense describing the plot, which is as flimsy as wet toilet tissue, but there's plenty of mayhem for those who like their action movies hot, bloody and raw. The film bogs down whenever Steven's character tries to make nice, such as in the scenes where he's chatting with a puppy. Fortunately, such interludes are few and far between, and do little to distract from the main point of this movie, which is to show off Seagal's creative use of expletives, martial arts and found objects like pool cues and meat cleavers. No, this is definitely not a chick flick or an intellectual exercise designed to make the viewer think; what it is, is action, designed for the testosterone crowd. Go into it with very low expectations of it being anything other than an adrenaline rush and you'll be fine. A good movie to watch with beer and chips---just don't look for it to be anything remotely like "Under Siege" and there'll be little disappointment.

a power house. pure adrenaline.
FIRST HE WAS ABOVE THE LAW. THEN HE WAS HARD TO KILL. THEN HE WAS MARKED FOR DEATH. NOW STEVEN SEAGAL IS OUT FOR JUSTICE. HE IS A COP. IT'S A DIRTY JOB. BUT SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE. AND STEVE DOES. HE HAS TO TRY TO STOP A MADMAN WILLIAM FORSYTHE BEFORE IT IS TO LATE. VERY GOOD ACTION SCENES AND SEAGALS MOST GRAPHIC MOVIE. RATED R FOR STRONG VIOLENCE,STRONG LANGUAGE,AND BRIEF NUDITY.

ANOTHER ONE OF SEAGAL'S FILMS FROM THE GOOD OL DAYS
A BROOKLYN COP [SEAGAL] GOES AFTER THE MURDERER OF HIS PARTNER. HAS PLENTY OF GOOD ACTION TO SPARE AND IT HAS A VERY GOOD VILLAIN, WHO'S PLAYED BY WILLIAM FORSYTHE. THIS IS ANOTHER REMINDER OF HOW GOOD STEVEN SEAGAL'S MOVIES REALLY WERE BACK IN THE EARLIER DAYS OF HIS CAREER. SEAGAL FANS SHOULD DEFINITELY TRY TO GO OUT AND BUY THIS ONE. THIS IS REALLY WORTH OWNING.

Gino on a mission!!
This movie is definately action packed with it's share of violence. Steven Seagal is wonderful as a "Brooklin born" cop willing to go the extra mile to catch a killer. This movie is well written because it shows the viewers that even policemen have difficult jobs going after bad criminals, even if it is a friend. I thought that this movie was one of Steven Seagal's best!I would encourage any fan of his to definately add it to your collection!

That's for Bobby!
I find it appropriate to review this, one of Seagal's best films and a classic in the genre. His career now a shell of its former self, Seagal proves with 'OFJ' that he used to deliver the goods.

I used to think there wasn't much to making a good Seagal film. How hard can it be? But his recent efforts, which have gone straight to DVD, prove that some talent is required to make a satisfying rogue-cop-on-a-mission flick.

Seagal plays Brooklyn cop Gino Felino (I'm not kidding) whose partner is blown away on the streets (18th Avenue, we're told over and over) by the crack-smoking lunatic Richie, played with aplomb by William Forsythe. Using his acute knowledge of 'the neighborhood', Gino sets off on revenge, killing several dozen people before the suitably ultraviolent finale.

The film has many things going for it. Firstly, Seagal attempts a Brooklyn accent and an overall Brookln persona which is priceless to watch. Second, the violence is top notch. It starts off strong with a pimp being put through a windshield after insulting Gino's Italian-American heritage. The violence then escalates as Gino uses tried-and-true methods of interrogation such as the old cue-ball in the bar towel, shots to the family jewels, the snapping of wrists, and good old fashioned Smith and Wesson. Thirdly, William Forsythe is amazing as Richie, proving that he will throw himself into a role totally and completely. His fat man waddle, crazy crooked mustache, and berserker behavior make him a great villain. Think about it--Seagal versus a fat character actor doesn't sound like much, right? But Forsythe is game and makes the film fun to watch.

What else? The film is totally foul-mouthed, full of off color humor and a message that is morally dubious at best.

OFJ also has a crop of familiar faces. Jerry Orbach, plays ::gasp:: a cop. Gina Gershon appears as Richie's sister. John Leguizamo appears in a two second bit during a cheesy montage sequence. Julianna Margulies plays one of Richie's hook-ups. B-movie babe Shannon Whirry appears in a revealing outfit.

Highly recommended to the action fan. Required viewing if you hail from Brooklyn. ... Read more

Reviews (185)

A fine fast-paced, junk food movie
I spent my hard earned cash for a matinee fully expecting to watch a big, loud, dumb, mindless and escapist action packed film filled with gun-fights, fist fights, stuff blowing up, mean Euro-trash villains (in this case a real slimy Gaul), a team made of devoted experts, decent enough acting and a few funny lines as well as a passable performance by the young Mel Gibson-like Colin Farrell and I have to say, my money was well spent.

SWAT has the potential to be the TOP GUN for special police forces. SWAT contains TOP GUN'S romanticized vision of ripped warrior bodies performing great feats of physical skill. Like TOP GUN'S Navy Pilots and their super sonic jets, this super Police force expertly manipulates specific technology to defeat the forces of evil. A warrior's complete and total command over the tools of the trade- guns, cars, clubs and each other makes such films work as effective recruitment tools. Who wouldn't want to be part of such an expert team?

SWAT embraces all the required clichés befitting a proper action/cop picture: the[rear-end] chewing by-the-numbers captain, the hardened veteran (played with the usual strength and charisma by the always excellent Samuel L. Jackson), the roguish rebel, the tough female partner, the shapeshifting turncoat and the family man as sacrificial lamb.

If someone wants a decent action-adventure, no thinking required, entertaining junk food movie that provides temporary satisfaction, SWAT serves the bill.

This movie stinks
Collin Farell can't act for sh....

I saw this movie one a VCD...think god I didn't pay 8 bucks for a ticket for this crap in a box...

What a dumb film...Samual L. Jackson saved it....Movie sucked pretty much.....Horrible casting...Worst then Phone Booth...Acctually Phone was worse then this........they both suck pretty much...

I wish i could give it a -000000/5...

Worst movie I've seen last summer...

Later...

Saw it for the first time on TV last night....Bad Film!
I skipped this one in theater because it looked cheesy and man is it ever. Colin Farrel and Sam Jackson's talents are wasted in this mess of an action movie and the dialogue and realism of SWAT is below-average at very best. Don't even rent this stinker, catch it on cable for free.

Slickly produced mainstream action fluff
Based on the 70's cop drama TV show, S.W.A.T. is pure slickly produced mainstream action fluff of the highest degree. Beginning with a rebellious and disgraced SWAT member (Colin Farrell) who is picked to join a new squad (which includes Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Brian Van Holt, and Josh Charles) by a fresh out of retirement sergeant (Samuel L. Jackson). Soon afterward, the head of a European drug cartel (Unfaithful's Oliver Martinez) is captured and offers 100 million dollars to whoever breaks him out of prison, and the crew ends up having their hands full when anyone and everyone comes out of the woodwork to claim the bounty. The film looks great and his some great action scenes, and the cast is nicely assembled, but it's an ultimately shallow experience. If you're a mainstream action fan, this is worth a look, but there's better, more character driven action films out there that are more than worth your time.

aight
this movie was very tight. and this movie is also better than you got served. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Kinda nice, but mixed
This consists of three shorts, "Forbidden Zone," "The Art of Loneliness," and "Picnic". The first, FB, was a story within a story, where the video switched back and forth between the couple and the scene from her imagination. I liked it - the female leads were gorgeous, and the imagined scene had an iconic quality. The second story, TAL, featured a woman narrating her fantasies. There was conversation, of a sort, where the other would step into the narration for a little while. The scene, the characters, and the story-telling all had a dusky elegance. In the end, though, the narrator was alone with her story. The third short, Picnic, reminded me why I like compilations - the other stories suited me, even if that one didn't.

This isn't the steamiest collection around, but the first two stories each set an agreeable mood. I could imagine moving either story forward on my own, given a willing partner. These stories weren't especially memorable. They were well done, in a low-key way, and I'll come back when my mood matches their understated sensuality.

Sizzling Hot!
Description
Zalman King's long running Showtime series is a unique blend of erotica and fantasy and is one of the few cable tv shows that can claim to be both genuinely erotic and tasteful. FORBIDDEN ZONE includes three episodes from the series. The title episode finds two lovers mysteriously transported to the future, where they find the freedom to shed their inhibitions and give themselves over to lust. Also included are "The Art of Loneliness" and "The Picnic."

Sexy storyline!
Zalman King's long running Showtime series is a unique blend of erotica and fantasy and is one of the few cable tv shows that can claim to be both genuinely erotic and tasteful. FORBIDDEN ZONE includes three episodes from the series. The title episode finds two lovers mysteriously transported to the future, where they find the freedom to shed their inhibitions and give themselves over to lust. Also included are "The Art of Loneliness" and "The Picnic." ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Movie Does Justice to Women
I disagree on many points with the 1 star reviewer of this noble film about women and their valiant contributions as war nurses during WWII.

I believe this movie had strong performances and that it is a significant one in how few movies portray a women's experience and view of war. For this reason, trashing this movie isn't fair. Sure, it isn't a "great" war film and some of the portrayals of Japanese aren't realistic and even laughable. However, I have to say that this movie clearly stated in the beginning it was a fictional account and was created in order to show how valiant many women acted during war. The one star reviewer was unfair in their assessment of this movie as a result. Acting needs to be considered when making such a review and he did not factor that in fairly in their overall rating.

I treasure this movie, especially Kristy McNichol's performance. This movie is between a 3-5 depending on how one chooses to view it. I give it a 5 because of its unique message and content, and because the acting was superb. Anyone who gives it under 3 stars perhaps is more upset at how men are portrayed in this film -- not a typical depiction in a war movie. Men are sometimes humiliated, but really they only humiliate themselves.

Heinous garbage
A pretty much unwatchable smorgasbord of prison camp cliches.

It's clear that someone watched Bridge Over the River Kwai a few dozen times, but managed to do so without learning anything from it. It wouldn't be quite so bad if the abuse of the women POW's by their Japanese captors (while undoubtedly reflecting reality, and probably underplaying it) hadn't been staged in such an exploitative way. Someone has shrewdly cloaked the film in lofty bookends (Susan Sarandon doing dramatized "congressional testimony") and given it an honorable-sounding title, but there's no denying that not far underneath the veneer of disingenuous respectfulness lies a "women-in-prison" movie.

The development of the cardboard characters (Sarandon is the "loyal earth mother" to daughter-figure Kristy McNichol's "sullen rebellious one with a heart of gold") intrudes only as frequently as absolutely necessary to get us as quickly as possible from one rape, beating, or humiliation to the next. (The highlight(?), I guess, being when McNichol and Sarandon are forced by the "evil guard" to repeatedly slap one another across the face -- I'm sure that happened all the time in WWII prison camps.)

Since it was made for TV, we have to get by without the nudity, shower scenes, and lesbian love scene normally found in this sort of adventure; I guess we'll have to wait for the director's cut.

The Japanese are played to caricature as either socially inept, ridiculously "honorable," or insanely and stupidly mean; it's an amalgam of stereotypes.

Both McNichol and Sarandon do the best they can with what they've been given and McNichol, particularly, triumphs repeatedly over the bad dialogue and murky photography; she's worth ten times whatever they paid her.

An awful movie, of interest only to fans of McNichol or Sarandon.

Girlfriend made me watch it.....
I am am glad she did. Not only should "women everywhere" be inspired by the valor the women potray in this movie, but men should be inspired as well. Based on a true story, this movie will truely entertain, and make you realize that not only men fight wars. (Plus it should get a few "good guy" points from your girlfriend!!)

A powerful story of WWII, as seen through the nurses' eyes.
I saw this movie on television years ago, and was so impressed I have been looking for it ever since. Thank goodness for Amazon.com!! :) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

SHOWDOWN
I watched this film with an open mind having seen LeBlanc in Friends & Lost in Space. I was very pleasantly suprised to see what a talented actor he actually is. He showed a full range of acting skills & made the character of Anthony appealing, he could have failed & just made him obnoxius. The plot is good, characters strong & the film enjoyable. Glad I bought it.

Matt LeBlanc is so good looking and is such a good actor!
I love this movie so much I have ordered it and watched it so many times Matt LeBlanc is so good looking. I wish I could Meet him! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Why isnt it available??
Why have the studios not cottoned onto the fact that fan's of this excellent TV series is in large demand. I've been looking for the videos and all sorts, there just not available here in the UK. Bring it out on DVD on all regions so I can get a one for my so desperate mum!! It'll make her day to own just on not alone a whole series or even all the episodes!!. The studios could make alot of money from its fans, we all want to own it! All you have to do is produce it and tell all the fan clubs including the UK one that Gale Gwent runs.
what an overall FANTASTIC programme...an absolute classic.

Put Beauty and the Beast TV on DVDs!
This show was so unusual in that it inspired fans to help others for charity, read more literature, listen to classical music, and also brought out hidden talents, ie writing, drawing, creativity! This is a show that definitely needs to be released on DVDs. Fans have worn out their tapes watching them over and over. We need our show to be put out on DVD! Vincent and Catherine demand it.

I LOVE this show. Please put every episode on dvd.
I love this show, and I hope they will put it on dvd. I hope they put every episode on dvd, instead of only first season like they did with the vhs tapes. If you like/love this show please vote to put it on dvd. They put so many dumb shows out, but not this great show. Why?? ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Misunderstood
This gist of this film is clearly distorted by the rigor of
collective defense mechanisms extant on both the hetero- and homo-sexual side of the proverbial fence. If the film is instructive at all it reminds the viewer of the thin line that separates us all in the arena of sexual inclination and drive. "Cruising" manages to convey, through the prevailing imagery that the title connotes, the psychic pitfalls rampant in the all too fettered terrain just off the lower Hudson.While there is much to critique in this film, no one can deny that Pacino's characteristic tension perfectly projects the often horrific sexual ambivalence that is the film's main thrust. To the extent that the viewer permits himself to be entertained by the intimate dichotomy that underlies the
murderous aggression, a reasoned sense of enlightenment may be the surprising result.

Distasteful But Historically Significant
Gay characters began to reach the American screen in the 1960s, but they would not be portrayed with any validity until the 1980s.Curiously, one of the most homophobic films created by Hollywood would mark the transition: the 1980 William Friedkin CRUISING starring Al Pacino, Paul Sorvino, and Karen Allen.

Based on the novel of the same name, CRUISING might best be described as a sexual thriller.Police officer Steve Burns (Al Pacino) is sent undercover into the gay community to attract and identify a serial killer who stalks New York City S&M bars, slashing and sometimes dismembering his victims with a serrated knife.But even as the killer strikes again and again, Burns becomes more and more entangled in this extremely dark world, comes to identify with the killer, and eventually self-destructs in a particularly nightmarish way.

From an artistic standpoint, CRUISING has several things going for it.Director Friedkin has an interesting eye, and the film has an unexpectedly gritty, at times almost documentary-like style.It also has tremendous atmosphere; it is adept at making the viewer feel unsettled.The cast is also effective in heightening the disturbing tone of the film as a whole.What the film does not have is a coherent plot, nor does it have anything approaching a decent script, and it is grotesquely insulting to the gay community in several ways.

CRUISING equates homosexuality with an extreme sexual lifestyle, and what emerges is a portrait of "nasty men doing nasty things in nasty bars."Does such a subculture exist in the gay community?Of course it does, just as it does in the heterosexual community--but CRUISING posits this as the norm for homosexuals.Even more distastefully, what ultimately emerges is the idea that a heterosexual man can be seduced into the gay community in which (at least according to the film) extreme sex, insanity, and violent death all go hand in hand.And it was precisely this that so outraged many in the gay community when the film was made.Film shoots were repeatedly disrupted by protests, and director Friedkin tried to calm the matter by stating that CRUISING was not "about" homosexuals--an extremely bizarre statement that only fueled community ire.

A number of gay organizations greeted the film with boycotts, but as it happened their efforts were unnecessary.Few critics and even fewer moviegoers liked the film and it soon faded from view.Seen today it reads very much like a snapshot of American homophobia in 1980 and little more. But CRUISING does have a certain historical significance: by and large it would be the last major Hollywood film to present the entire gay community in a wholly negative light.

The very outrageousness of the film seemed to prompt American film makers to a much needed reevaluation of the way in which gay characters were portrayed on screen.Although "gay man equals bad man" characters have cropped up in a few films since--Kevin Costner's NO WAY OUT and several of Mel Gibson's films come to mind--the overall reaction to CRUISING killed the stereotype.And so the film, in an accidental sort of way, is significant from a historical standpoint; film historians and movie buffs will find it interesting, and I give it three stars for their sake.But just about everyone else should leave it alone.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

CRUISING CHANGED AL PACINO'S MIND ABOUT THE GAY LIFE
After CRUISING came out, I saw the author of the original book interviewed on a NY television news show. He was as confused as most of the audience who saw the film."It doesn't make any sense," he said. "They cut out the principle parts of my book and bowed to pressure.It's a mess."

I went to see CRUISING at a huge theatre on Broadway and saw it with a packed house. Some guys I personally knew were in the film (I was supposed to audition but had to leave town because Mommy was ill).I didn't dislike the movie, per se, I just don't like to be blind-folded and led down a dark "cul de sac."This movie was mostly a tease: is Al Pacino getting turned on by all the sex he's witnessing, or, is he just amazed that good-looking gay men, most of whom are as masculine as straight guys, are actually doing these things?The Central Park, Village and other cruising activity was very realistic and ominous.

Pacino was in a rather dull, "let's-eat-and-watch-television" type of relationship and was suddenly thrusted into the dark underworld of leather bars and anonymous sex.It was obvious that the Pacino character was "interested" in the raunchy goings on at the underground haunts.He really got caught up in the scene filmed at The Bar in the East Village where he unwittingly sees the killer for the first time.Al gets swept up in some frenzied dancing and popper sniffing during this scene and actually looked like "one of the muscled boys."

On Uniform Night at dark dive, he witnesses some heavy sex activity which included a sling and a can of Crisco.Freidkin fought like made to keep Al straight, but curious, and I think that he really did have catching the murderer as his #1 priority.But there were holes in the script.The main one came when Al felt he had found the killer and where he lived.He breaks into the guy's apartment, snoops around, but doesn't take anything that might have the guy's fingerprints!The police have the killer's print on the coin found in the gay book store's porn peep booth.Al ignores or forgets his training as an undercover cop.I think he was more interested in "getting under the covers" with some of those oversexed studs he stared at in the bars.

I hated seeing Malo turning into such a wuss during the stabbing scene in the Times Squre hotel.He could have taken that guy, or at least fought for his life!

My friend Denny did a wonderful job of cruising the guy who became the second victim who gets stabbed to death in the peep show at the book store over on Eighth Avenue.

And where did the idea come from to put two drag queens in leather and high-heeled boots, stomping through the Village in this mix?!!!.I've never seen any NY characters like that in real-life!And then, to have two wayward cops force "the girls" to have sex in the back of the police car?Please.It was nice seeing Keith Prentice (Larry in "Boys in the Band") as the partner of victim #2.He was a good actor and should have gotten more work.

You could see Pacino "changing" during the latter part of the movie. He felt self-conscious about his body after seeing all the perfectly-built gay men and he starts to work out.His love-making with his girlfriend became rough and abusive while the sounds of the depraved gay-bar-sex played in his head.

At the end (after he has solved the crime), we see Al Pacino, dressed completely in leather, headed for a night out in the sleazy leather bars...

Pacino, gives a realistic, but confused performance (as written and directed) and I enjoyed Paul Sorvino as the police chief.I liked the film noir quality of this piece, even though it was in color.The night was dark in this film and the bar scenes, though a bit over-the-top, gave a pretty acurate view of this underworld.

Where's the DVD on this ground-breaking movie?

Very good
Every gay guy needs to watch this movie and stop having so much anoymous sex. I myself a gay man seen this long time ago and going home or anywhere with someone has always made me think of this movie. Everyone should be careful including straight people when going home with someone. This movie will make you think more with your brain instead of your....

Flawed, un-PC, but still disturbing & effective - no DVD?!!
I snuck into the theater when I was 13 years old to see this and was disturbed to say the least - as a young gay teen, Friedkin's own brand of "horrorshow" made me (wrongly) assume that all gay men were leather-clad, freaky serial killers! Still, when you look at the f*d-up film now, you see many of the same techniques the director used for his earlier hits like "Exorcist," most notably shock tactics and in-your-face blunt sexually violent imagery to get a reaction out of conservative critics and audiences alike. In fact, in retrospect, I'd say all the negative press coverage and gay rights protests that met "Cruising" upon its initial 1982 theatrical release were a bit overkill - sure this movie decidedly portrays (some) gays in a negative, one-note light, but this isn't a documentary (even if it feels like one), but a fictional murder-mystery thriller with a gay angle as thematic hook.Oddly, I actually wish Friedkin would have gone further - funny, he doesn't shy away from showing seedy, explicit, severely cruel gay murders (*the scene where the killer knifes the cute Columbia professor in the back saying "You made me do that!" ranks as one of the most disturbing death scenes ever!), Friedkin doesn't have the BALLS to show male-on-male affection - this explains why Pacino in the lead role seems so UNCOMFORTABLE at doing his P.I. work - he's willing to go underground, but he's NOT willing to GO DOWN!And what are we to make of the notoriously "ambivalent" final shot - to me, it feels more like a COP-OUT than a genuine mystery - is Pacino's cop gay? the killer? in denial? Is it all a dream? Who knows - the film itself looks like it was SEVERELY EDITED prior to release - so here's hoping when and IF it ever re-surfaces on DVD we will be treated to DELETED SCENES which censors cut out that might finally explain it all?Or at least an indepth documentary illuminating the process behind the camera?As it is, CRUISING remains a flawed, but undeniable ground-breaking, ahead-of-its-time movie - do you think a major studio movie covering gay sexuality would ever be THIS unflinching in its depicting or honesty of some segements of extreme gay sex culture? Hell NO! At times, it looks like a bleak, sad glimpse at another world - and it was to my eyes: a decadent 70s idyll in NYC that we've all heard about, but now post-AIDS seems like centuries ago, the Roman era if you will.At least we have this sordid little flick as a kind of document of that long lost Mappelthorpe-esque era.**FINAL NOTE: During the graphic gay murder scenes, if you look VERY close, you can tell that Friedkin has INSERTED SUBLIMINAL XXX GAY PORNO SCENES in the midst of the violence, equating gay intercourse with the act of murder?Aside from the fact I am AMAZED this got past the censors in the 80s, this kind of directorial decision is very very upsetting to say the least - what is Friedkin trying to say in these sequences - or just get us all collectively off with homophobic violence?Not everyone's cup of tea, but you'll have to rent the film to decide. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

SHOWDOWN
I watched this film with an open mind having seen LeBlanc in Friends & Lost in Space. I was very pleasantly suprised to see what a talented actor he actually is. He showed a full range of acting skills & made the character of Anthony appealing, he could have failed & just made him obnoxius. The plot is good, characters strong & the film enjoyable. Glad I bought it.

Matt LeBlanc is so good looking and is such a good actor!
I love this movie so much I have ordered it and watched it so many times Matt LeBlanc is so good looking. I wish I could Meet him! ... Read more