Reviews (2)

Laura is Lost
Upon reading other reviews I was surprised, did they see the same movie as I? This David Hamilton movie has NO plot whatsoever and NO dialogue. I like "artsy" movies, and those coming of age romps with attractive young women, yet this movie farce was the worst example of both. Instead of ascetic beauty, one gets contrived nonsensical boredom. The "lolita" of the movie is average at best, and more of an after thought to plot design, or more aptly lack there of. I highly recommend you pass on this one, I wish I had!

Art seen via a teen dancer & sculptor. Must see/appreciate
When one hears the name David Hamilton, the thoughts that come to mind include nudity in youthful figures and an ability to skillfully portray what othewise might be deemed as porn in the true artistic light. The sculptor loves 'making' young nudes. He sees a lovely angel. Next, he finds the angel is daughter of a former lover. Adams acts like she is there again for him. It is only Laura. Fearing the inevitable, she shows the sculptor nude photos of Laura. He becomes obsessed with presenting Laura in the most beautiful piece since the David. Then he loses sight. Laura has developed a crush. Seeing the finished part of the sculpture, she rejoices in its/her beauty while wanting to see it finished and also enjoy his love. There are young girls
frolicing in the nude in the shower and park. Nudity fits in
naturally. Hamilton interweaves a portrait with complex relationships skillfully and very touchingly. Laura is a lovely young lady. Go beyond the playful nudity and into her persona. The sculptor's soul can be felt. So can Adams and Laura. With upmost taste & talent, Hamilton presents the gratification of budding womanhood & fulfillment of an artist's dream.

I must see this again. Classic cinematic treatment of mother-
daughter competition done as gracefully as a Nureyev skip. ... Read more

Reviews (123)

For Christopher Lee Fans And James Bond Enthusiasts Only
I was a fan of the James Bond films as a child and my interest in these films has recently returned to me. I don't believe "The Man With The Golden Gun" is the worst Bond film because this negative honor goes to either "Moonraker" or "A View To A Kill." I do feel, however, that it qualifies as the third worst one.

"The Man With The Golden Gun" has a lot of weaknesses. I don't know why Roger Moore was allowed to make seven Bond Films. Although Moore wasn't as weak as George Lazenby, he still comes across as being bland and mannequin-like. Timothy Dalton was a much more effective James Bond. If Dalton had been given better scripts and more time, he would have been nearly as effective as Sean Connery. Britt Ekland's Mary Goodnight rivals Tiffany ("Diamonds Are Forever") Case as the most ineffectual and irritating Bond woman. Maude Adams is more effective as Andrea Anders, the villain's long-suffering mistress, but this character is given too little screen time. A pre-"Fantasy Island" Herve Villechaize makes an awkward henchman. The return of Clifton James' J.W. Pepper character was also unnecessary.

The weaknesses of this movie also extend beyond the cast. An awesome car stunt is weakened by a poor sound effect. Tacky humor is woven throughout the entire film. The martial arts motif in part of the film also seemed out of place.

Christopher Lee is the saving grace of this film. If Lee weren't in this movie, I would have ranked it with "Moonraker" and "A View To A Kill." He is excellent as the egotistical and cruel Francisco Scaramanga. I am only sorry that the screenwriters didn't further develop this interesting character. Lee is one of the screen's greatest bad guys and can effectively play just about any villainous character. He is a much better actor and greater presence than Roger Moore. Lee's villain is more interesting than Moore's hero.

"The Man With The Golden Gun" is only for big Christopher Lee fans and those who feel that they need to see every James Bond film. A disappointment.

Good second Bond film for Moore
Roger Moore returns to the role of 007 in this excellent follow up to Live and Let Die. The film is certainly dependant on 007's evil counterpart, the hitman Francisco Scaramanga, played by Christopher Lee. He is the perfect match for Bond, which adds more excitement than any to the film. Bond finds himself racing to recover the Solex Agitator, which converts solar power to energy and has fallen into the hands of Scaramanga. There are very well done fight sequences and boat-car chases in hong kong and thailand. the redneck sherriff J.W. Pepper returns from Live and Let Die, but fails to provide the same humor as before. The film did try a little too hard to be funny like its preceding movie, thus it comes off a little cooky at some points. The Man with the Golden Gun Leads to an awesome climax in Scaramanga's island lair, where he and Bond face off in a "duel between titans", which also includes Scaramanga's servant Nick-Nack, a pint sized character who also tries to fool and beat Scaramanga in his deadly games of cat and mouse. With suspense, some humor, and exciting twists and turns, The Man with the Golden Gun is one Bond you won't want to miss!

Even Better Now in STEREO
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN is the "cult" Bond movie to end all "cult" Bond movies. I don't think many people realize that this DVD or even the VHS tape of this movie is in STEREO sound. John Barry's score sounds fantastic. As for the film, it is pure fantasy yet pure "Bond" and very misunderstood.

Last but not Least of Ian Fleming's Bonds...
This Bond, shot at a time when youthful science-fiction hadn't yet turned into narrow "science-faction" remains dreamy, elegant, distant, stylish, subjective, outlandish, an intelligent and romantic island of fantasy... The scenes are a pleasure for the eye, and the gadgets are still mind-tickling, as we haven't yet reached that depraved era of pseudo-scientific vulgar objectivity (as in the latter Bond series, for example)... nor do we have a cop-Bond, as with Timothy Dalton... neither a little tough-guy with piercing eyes, as in the Brosnan series... This Bond remains somehow between the Connery and Lazenby/Moore episodes, in that it has definitively a lot of style and class, yet includes some (controlled, soft-spun) action, a reasonable panoply of gadgetry, and a fair amount of cold-blooded British humour. In the end, the gently out-of-time atmosphere appears to be almost as much James West as it is James Bond.

In this almost Hamiltonian eerie, James appears pretty adventurous and humorous, yet moral, distinguished, self-detached, while he faces a spooky sophisticated darker-self in the person of three-nippled Scaramanga (Christopher Lee, alias Dracula), in a movie where even the villains appear to be somehow more gentleman-minded than the heroes of the latter Bond series (where ugly realism alas only too often ends up stealing the show). There's also a plenty of great exotic and scenic shots in Thailand and the Far-East, which somehow propel you in a world of dreams and fantasy. I especially liked the oblique sunken Queen Mary decorum, which seemed almost surrealistic, and the villain's den artifact-decorum somehow reminded me of the Wild Wild West TV-series, starring Robert Conrad.

It is a commonly acknowledged opinion that Gentlemen Prefer Bonds such as Goldfinger, Dr No and Thunderball, but Golden Gun could, with all reasonable fairness, also be included in some of those early and memorable old Bonds (vintage Connery or Lazenby). Note that this was actually the last Bond to feature the (by-now cherished) Harry Saltzman - Albert Broccoli collaboration, and this is today quite heavily felt, as the then following Bonds somehow all lacked the elegant, essential, gentlemanly, romantic and quirky sparks of those early Bonds (and matters seem to be getting only worse, if not clearly out of hand) (James Bond as another victim of the modern-age?).

The Man With A Golden Gun was also the last Bond movie to be based on a true and authentic Ian Fleming novel. Well, maybe those die-hard Bond-movie-makers will one day (tomorrow? another day?) realize that the Fleming reservoir has been tapped unto the last droplet, instead of just killing time with more and more flawed episodes... Goodnight boys and girls (Britt Ekland was, by the way, one of the most memorable and gently-subtle Bond-girl), that was it for Ian Fleming's Bond... which was to be followed by the Hun's invasion of Vin Diesel and consort, fast, furious and brutal (to say the least)...

An Intensely Groovy Theatre of The Bizzare
Folks, listen to me: This is the best Bond movie ever made, and Roger Moore is the best Bond. You can argue, but chew on this, Admiral Skeptic: Name one movie that Sean Connery made that had a midget, a flying car, a giant laser, and Bond threatening to blow a man's genitals off with a rifle. That's right; there aren't any. Checkmate, Connery.

This film is a brilliantly surreal entry into the Bond series. It's a clear departure from Connery's films, where he had to stop the KGB from destroying the world. Moore is called in to stop an overpaid hitman and his midget from selling solar power to the UN (or something similar.) Adapted as I am for describing awesomeness, I can't begin to describe this film's grovvy factor, but I can tell you it's somewhere between ChocoTacos and regular tacos. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the year 2018, violence and crime have been totally eliminated from society and given outlet in the brutal blood sport of rollerball, a high-velocity blend of football, hockey, and motor-cross racing sponsored by the multinational corporations that now control the world following the collapse of traditional politics. James Caan plays Jonathan E., the reigning superstar of rollerball, whose corporate controllers fear that Jonathan's popularity has endowed him with too much power. They begin to pressure him according to their own ruthless set of rules, but Jonathan has rules of his own--the rules of a man determined to retain his soul in a world gone mad. As directed by Norman Jewison (who was enjoying a peak of success during the early and mid-1970s), Rollerball creates a believable society that's been rendered passive and compliant by the homogenization of corporate dictatorships, where the control and flow of information is the only currency of any importance. It's a world in which natural human aggressions have been sublimated and vented through the religious fervor toward rollerball and its players. Rollerball now looks like one of those 1970s science fiction films (another example being Logan's Run) that seems a bit dated and quaint, but its ideas are still provocative and fascinating, and the production is visually impressive. The DVD includes full-screen and widescreen versions of the film, audio commentary by director Norman Jewison, a behind-the-scenes featurette, an interactive "rollergame," trivia, and production notes. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Excellent futuristic sports film with a message
Definately one of the best science fiction films ever to grace the big screen, and one of James Cann's finer films. Rollerball is an excellent futuristic ports film with a message. A message that informs the audience of a future that could happen. Corproartions running the world, as well as Orwellian themes. The film tells the story of a Rollerball player Jonathan E. who is the top player in a violent futuristic sport that is a combination of roller derby, ice hockey, football, and gladiatorial fighting. The film has outstanding sets, costumes, music, characters, a solid plot, and good actors. Indeed an international flavor. One that ITC Entertainment could have produced. The film also tells the story of how the corporation wants Jonathan to retire from the game for fear of him being too good for his own good, and fear of him in general. Yet, Jonathan does not want to retire, which leads to the corporation making certain decisions that would make Jonathan retire. Retire or die.

The film has some violent moments, bordering on the graphic and explosive. Yet, it is still entertaining and enjoyable to watch. Filmed on location at Pinewood Studios in London, England and Munich, Germany, the film truly represents a 21st Century world that could very well happen. The ending of the film is even better. One of the most thought-provoking. If you enjoy good science fiction as well as sports, check this film out. The melding of the two is very unique, if not lethal.

"This was never meant to be a game! Never!"
The rollerball game of the future was created for a special reason. "To show the futility of individual effort." To make anyone that wants to go his own way, bow dowm to the powers that be. James Cann, in one of his best roles, is Johnathan E, rollerball's super star. He's relaxed and friendly off the track, and a determined gladiator on.

The action is great and strangly hypnotizing as skaters and motorcyclists race around a large circular track, trying to throw a steel metal ball into a basket.

John Housman makes one of the best establishment heavys as he hints, demands, and threatens Johnathan to retire. For people that like gladiator movies, sports action, or the lone man trying to survive, Rollerball will excite you. You'll be shouting Johnathan's name along with the crowd. And after it's over, you'll feel like taking on the world. Yes, a great motivational movie as well.

Pay no attention to remake. This is the one and only "Rollerball".

are you kidding me?
I've heard nothing but bad reviews and it looks like they were justified because this movie blows. Plot is pretty weak and the fact that its set in Kazakhstan is even stupider. I think filmmakers just like the way it sounds because its they seem to forget that they are many other soviet republics ( but I guess any time there is any action is all happens in Kazakhstan) . Geez. Naveen Andrews who did quite a good job in Kama Sutra looks like a total dweeb with a wedge haircut. Jean Reno is a caricature of a villain. It also looked like the half of the cast of La Femme Nikita had supporting roles in this movie. And that green light in the final sequence! What the hell were they thinking?! I guess they wanted something artsy but it just looks ridiculous. Oh, and the last straw was that Chris Kline nerd. Not only he is a lousy actor but casting him as a main bad boy who loves adrenaline is the stupidest thing anyone could have done. He has no personality and no charisma. He is bland, bland, bland.

A cult movie
In the future you will live horror nightmares , and feel the pression of an overcrowded world , but instead you'll have always Rollerball!
I saw this film from its release in 1975 , and I watched again three months ago . The film hasn't lost just a bit from its initial impact.
The knock out performance given by James Caan supported by a dark story about the fate of these future gladiators will let you thinking about the entertainment as mass media phenomen and the deep implications about the way of living .
Caan obviously is tired , he refuses to keep that job and wants to escape from this show business cycle but you know : the rules are the rules. The conflict is announced and the final combat will be an unforgettable experience.
Good transfer on DVD!
Superb script and dazzling direction!

Great Movie - But You'll Need Coffee for the Commentary
The commentary uhhhhhh option for this film, dirrrrr, uh, director Norman Jewison, uhhhhhhh, talk..... ing about the making of, uh, the film, really makes one wonder ahhhhhhh how a narcolepsy-inducer like this could ever make an action film as fine as Rollerball. Buy the DVD for sure, but -- uh, errrrrrr -- SKIP the director's comments! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The Inside Review Of The Story...
The James Bond story is worth, buying or watching.
Great for any Bond fan who wants to know a little bit more about the secret agent and the films in the pass, from DR. No, to The World is Not Enough.
The Story is based on the coming of Bond, Gadgets, Girls, and more. Interviews with our favorite characters as Bond from past and present.
But the story is great, but could have added more to the story, more details, to be exact. Worth getting, by all means.

A great documentary... not as good as the 1987 one...
I can tell you this...if you're a Bond fan, see this...you will thoroughly love it. Interviews with all 5 Bonds, great clips from all 19 films, Q, the girls, villains, and a whole lot more. It's a fun-filled hour or so for us Bond-maniacs. I saw it on AMC one night earlier this year and am glad it made it to video and DVD. My only complaint: the 1987 Happy Anniversary 007 was more entertaining than this one. This documentary was more educational and told the history of the series more than the greatest moments. This also seemed to be rushed a bit more than the previous documentary. The one from 1987 was hosted by Roger Moore. It would have been nice to see the host of this program instead of hearing Miranda Richardson's very droll voice.

The Story of Bond....James Bond.
Are you a bond fan? This is the movie for you! Filled with exciting information on all the James bond films from Dr. No to The World is Not Enough, this story is one not to be missed. Also included are interviews with many people of the "Bond Family" including Cubby Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, Terence Young, John Glen, Louis Gilbert, Maud Adams, Jane Seymour, Pierce Brosnan, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Sean Connery, George Lazenby and many more.... There are also exclusive interviews with Ian Fleming from his home Goldeneye in Jamaica. This story contains chapters on the Bond girls, exotic locations, the novels of Ian Fleming and many more. The only downer to this is the very droll voice of narrator Miranda Richardson. Telling the tales of the movies, the novels and James Bond himself- this story should be in everyone's collection who calls themself a Bond fan!

Bond for beginners...
This documentary, which only barely scratches the surface of Bond is not only very short, but also not well researched. How well can a documentation about 19 (official) movies be, when it only last about an hour? It is more than obvious, that the people who created this DVD did not know what they were talking about. They even show an interview with Maud Adams, who did appear in Golden Gun and Octopussy, but still say that no Bondgirl actress appeared twice in different movies... After watching this, owners of Bond DVDs, will be frustrated they spent money on this. Each one (!) of the Bond DVDs includes more features and more interesting documentations. In my opinion, they should have put these documentaries on a DVD Set by themselves. Instead, they created this documentation with all that was left over... or so it seems. Don't buy it, if you own Bond DVDs! If you are a newcomer to the Bond phenomenon, and only own a few Bonds on VHS, this is a good, but very basic overview of all things Bond.

Um, there were 19
Never Say Never Again was indeed a remake of Thunderball, but it wasn't produced by same people who produced all the other films (Cubby Broccoli & company, later his family members who took over the helm of the Bond series). Like Casino Royale, it's not technically a true Bond film, it just has the character. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A hidden Gem
I recently found "Jane and the Lost City" by accident at my local video rental shop. I thought it looked junky and camp so I rented it. What I got instead was a super mellow rendition of the world war two daily mirror comic strip "Jane" which basically concerned the lead character Jane and her cohorts the Colonel and Tombs the butler "confounding the Nazi's at every turn" by pure dumb luck. During this process Jane keeps getting her clothes torn off (to lingerie level) by a variety of unlikely means. In other words, a very silly operation. The film is so mellow that if you need something to go to sleep in front of this will do nicely, allowing you to wake up occasionally and see more lingerie and hear more silly dialogue. I watched "Jane" twice in 24 hours and liked it very much. Very good trash indeed. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

turgid yet enjoyable melodrama
Based on the novel "Sultant" by Prince Michael of Greece, INTIMATE POWER (aka THE FAVORITE) is a tepid, turgid period piece that is saved by the performance of Amber O'Shea.

INTIMATE POWER is the startling "true story" of Aimee Dubuoa (Amber O'Shea), who is kidnapped by pirates and sold into the harem of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

Tragically falling in love with the Sultan's nephew, the sensual young Aimee instead becomes the Sultan's favorite, posing as a threat to the older women of the harem.

This epic of sexual and political power follows the remarkable life of a woman as she fights for and gains ultimate control of one of the world's last male-dominated empires.

With F. Murray Abraham, Maud Adams, James Michael Gregary, Andrea Parisy and Ron Dortch.

I want to see this movie again
In 1990, Venezuelan billboards announced 'La Favorita' - a darkhaired, blue-eyed beauty in a harem. 4 of us Americans went to themovie (English with Spanish subtitles in Caracas). Something musthave gotten lost in the translation. The Venezolanos remainedserious, quiet, respectful throughout the film. We Americans couldnot keep from laughing at bad acting. Leaving the cinema, I had toapologize to the other three for suggesting the film. Ever since, Ihave wanted to re-watch this worst movie I have ever seen to determineif my first impression was right. I seriously want to see it again..... END

A true story with more imagination than Hollywood has
Based on a true story, this intrigueing story has no biased axe to grind. A French girl taken captive by pirates and sold to the Sultan of the Ottoman empire eventually becomes his willing favorate. Her own infant son is murdered by another of the Sultan's wives who wants her own son to take the throne. The French girl outwits her rivals and ultimately plays a great part in the destiny of Turkey. Don't confuse this movie with the other movie of the same title. It is unfortunate that more people can't see this one. It's not sex trach.

A weak entry in the HAREM genre.
Young, sexy Aimee is abducted by pirates and shipped across the ocean where she is sold to the Dey of Algiers for his carnal amusement! Once aware of her fate, she fights the head eunich, until she realizes that she will die if she does not sleep with Sultan f.Murray Abraham. The love scenes in this movie about sex (harem genre) are tame, and lame...Ive seen hotter sex scenes on the soaps...the dey and his slave appear to have been filmed separatley? During a love scene! The kiss they initially share is promising, but then the director seemed to have lost his nerve. Amber O"Shea, while an atractive enough actress, seems terrified of nudity/scenes of sexuality! Usually HBO films come out with some racy stuff. The love scenes in "The Rat Pack"nearly scorched the screen. But this was a weak entry in the genre...Please, some fearless director/producer, do this story the right way...NC-17 rating, Omar Sharif as the sultan, maybe Ashley Judd, or Christina Applegate as the love-slave, and a general feeling of fearlessness of both graphic scenes of sexuality, and frequent nudity a-al-Showgirls" without the cheesiness....any takers?

Lame entry in the "harem" genre
Intimate Power is quite simply a waste of film. While the sets and costumes were appropriate, the two principals simply have zero on screen chemistry. Abraham is seemingly too young looking for the part of the sultan. And Amber O'Shea seems absolutley terrified of baring her body. Come on this is an R rated film. The whole purpose of her being sold into sexual slavery, is to have sex. The love scene in the movie is beyond lame. I have seen more eroticism on the morning soaps. The rest of the movie moves very slowly. Omar Sharif and perhaps Heather Locklear would have been better cast as the two leads. Someday someone is going to tell this story right. ... Read more