Reviews (105)

FUNNIEST MOVIE MADE IN THE 1980'S
I LOVE THESE CRAZY GUYS, THEIR (PIPED IN) AIR GUITARS AND THE FUTURISTIC RELIGION THEY UNWITTINGLY ESTABLISH AS A RESULT OF THE MUSIC OF THEIR (VERY UNTALENTED) BAND-- THE WYLD STALLYNS!!! IT REALLY DOESN'T GET ANY FUNNIER THAN THIS!

UNDER PRESSURE OF FAILING HISTORY CLASS, AND HAVING TO ATTEND A MILITARY ACADEMY, BILL AND TED RUN HEADLONG INTO A GUARDIAN ANGEL FROM THE FUTURE, WHILE HANGING OUT AT THE LOCAL CIRCLE K, TRYING TO DECIDE HOW TO PASS THEIR CLASS. FROM THERE, THEY GO ON A MISSION IN A TIME-TRAVELING TELEPHONE BOOTH, WHICH TAKES THEM ALL THROUGH AN AMAZING VARIETY OF "HISTORICAL" TIMES AND PLACES, MEETING UP WITH SOME AWESOME "MEDIEVAL BABES" ALONG THE WAY. (THE "HISTORICAL BABES" END UP BECOMING THE NEXT TWO MEMBERS OF THE BAND WYLD STALLYNS IN THE END!!! HAHAHHA)

ON THEIR EXCELLENT ADVENTURE, THEY PICK UP NAPOLEAN, JOAN OF ARC, SOCRATES (THEY PRONOUCE IT "SO-KRATES"), BEETHOVEN, BILLY THE KID AND A FEW OTHER HILARIOUSLY UNSTUNNED HISTORICAL FIGURES, ALL OF WHOM TAKE THE JOURNEY AS THOUGH IT WAS NOTHING TOO OUT OF THE ORDINARY. (THIS, IN ITSELF, IS FUNNY!)

I WON'T GIVE AWAY THE ENDING, WHICH IS VERY FUN AND MAKES FOR A GREAT SHOW FOR BILL AND TED'S FELLOW-STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, WITH ALL OF THE HISTORICAL CHARACTERS ACTING OUT THEIR PARTS IN AN
"A-WINNING" SCHOOL PRESENTATION. BUT THE REAL FUNNY PART IS THE ADVENTURE ITSELF!!!

GOTTA SEEE THIS ONE!!!

Its about time! (Literally)
Finally, one of THE funniest movies ever made is coming to DVD. This is one of the movies that helped launch the career of now mega-star Keanu Reeves, and spawned a bunch of copy-cat movies like "Wayne's World" and "Dude, Where's MY Car?", but this was the original DUDE movie! Dim-witted high school friends Bill & Ted don't realize they are destined to be the great ones who will change the course of the world through their music, bringing about world peace (as well as clean air, and more excellent water slides than any other planet we communicate with!) Right now, they have to pass history! With help from cool futuristic dude Rufus and a time-travelling phone booth, they travel back in time to assemble the greatest historical figures for the greatest history report of all time! Its a hilarious romp through the past and present (and you may learn a thing or 2). Wyld Stallyns rules!

Misadventures In Time & Space
* BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE (B&TXA) is a low-budget,
derivative, silly film that shamelessly panders to its teen-age target
audience; it represents nothing new in film-making; and is blatantly
commercial.

I really liked it.

The plot is simple enough. Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reaves)
are two California kids who want to become famous rock stars. There's
only one problem: they can't play their instruments. Well, actually,
there's two problems: they're both complete boneheads, and their
hardnosed history teacher tells them that if they *don't* pass their
oral history report, they *will* flunk out of school. This oral
report involves imagining what historical personages would've thought
of the present day and the local environment. Not too demanding, but
it's still above the ability of these two, and if they flunk, Ted's
sourpuss dad intends to send him off to a military academy in Alaska,
separating the two friends, probably forever.

Fortunately, the society of Earth 700 years from now has a special
interest in them, and an agent (George Carlin) is sent back in a time
machine (shaped like a phone booth -- a normal one, not an
old-fashioned British police box) to help out. So Bill and Ted have
in their hands the best possible tool for conducting hands-on
historical research.

This sounds silly, and it is, and all the unkind things I said above
about this movie are true. That leads to the question: What saves

B&TXA? Simple enough: Bill and Ted. These two guys don't look like
they have the collective mental energy to make a nightlight glow.
They don't actually have to *do* anything to be funny. You laugh at
them even if they're just *standing* there.

Though when push comes to shove, it turns out they can be quite
resourceful. Like a lot of teenagers, they just need to get
motivated. It's hard not to like them, since they're about as
good-natured kids as you're likely to find. Bill has the initiative,
willing to take risks without hesitation because he doesn't have a
clue of what he's getting into. Ted is a born romantic, a sweet-faced
kid who all the girls think is really cute. Any time he sees a
good-looking girl his heart leaps into his throat and stars flicker in
his eyes.

The story, like I said, is silly, but silliness is hardly a critical
term when applied to a comedy -- and it does have its moments, such as
Napoleon at the water slides, and Genghis Kahn ... well, I won't say
any more. It certainly does pander to teenagers: nearly all the
adults are creeps or morons, and the kids turn the tables on them in
the end -- but it also made me feel wistful. I didn't have fun being
a teenager and this film suggests to me in its own bizarre way that it
could've been more fun than it was. The only thing I can seriously
say against B&TXA was that by the time it was over I was glad I didn't
have to listen to "PARTY ON, DUDE!" and "EXCELLENT!" one more time.

BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE isn't the sort of thing that would
win awards, in fact nobody in their right mind would recommend it for
one. Some movies are like expensive dinners; others are like Big
Macs. But as Big Macs go, BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE tastes
good.

Oh, yeah, the usual cautions: No noticeable bad language, overt
sexual activity, or graphic violence (unless you are the sort of
person who feels that the Three Stooges are a bad influence on kids).
And definitely, absolutely not for people who are into serious cinema.
[Minor update of review from 1989 -- GVG]

Profound in a weird way
On one level, this is one of the silliest movies of all time. The humor is juvenile, and the teenage protagonists *seem* almost completely vacant-minded, their only goal to to start a great rock band, despite their complete inability to play their instruments. They end up on the most hilarious journey through time imaginable, with their 1990's San Dimas, CA sensibilities encountering such historic figures as "So-krates," "Joan of Arc," and Sigmund "Frood," all of whom end up wreaking havoc in a So. Calif. shopping mall. Bill and Ted are endearingly mindless, driven by hormones, and Ted remains Keanu Reeves's best role. The film has some of the funniest one-liners you'll want to add to your collection of quotations suitable to many daily occasions, and somehow there's a sweetness, innocence, and weird profundity to the whole adventure. It's also a multigenerational classic. I'm in my 40's, and my teenage children have been fans since elementary school as well and remain so. It's one of those films that whenever I mention it in a college classroom instantly elicits nods, smiles, and complicit laughs.

Good!
Bill & Ted's's Excellent Adventure is a funny movie that is enjoyable to watch and it was just a really cute movie and reminds me of other good time-travel movies like Time Bandits. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter were really good and I also liked George Carlin and I recommend this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (106)

Disappointing.
Aside from Christopher Reeve's fine performance once again as Clark Kent/Superman, "Superman III" was a major disappointment back in 1983. I remember sitting in the theater as a 10-year-old and thinking, "Is that all there is?" Superman vs. a Supercomputer just cannot compare with him rescuing California from a major tectonic disaster or duking it out above Metropolis with three Kryptonian villains.

I also could never understand why the producers cast Richard Pryor. It's like he bumbled onto the set accidently from a different movie. He's a very talented comedian, yes, but exactly what audience were the Salkinds aiming for? I know I wasn't old enough then to see his concert movies or his vehicles with Gene Wilder. Mind boggling to me.

I missed the magic and awe I felt during the original film. I missed Lex Luthor's scheming ways. But mostly, I missed the witty relationship between Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane. Annette O'Toole is lovely, but her character simply wasn't as fun or interesting as the best girl reporter in Metropolis. With her husky voice and hilarious manic energy, Margot Kidder was absolutely perfect. Two small scenes were not enough.

I really don't like leaving negative reviews, but as a Superman purist, the only REAL Superman movie to see is the orginial. Richard Donner's vision for the film was flawless. The first sequel was fine, but it could have been sooo much better had Donner been allowed to finish (he was unjustly fired after the Salkinds worked him to the bone). Do yourself a favor... preorder SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE on DVD and enjoy!!

This Looks Like A Job For...Richard Pryor??
After getting off to a great start, the Superman film series, got muddled a bit by a director change while filming Superman II. Thanks to the fact that Creative Consultant Tom Mankiewicz's original story for the sequel stayed intact, despite all of the backstage hostility, Superman II still manages to work. Superman III, hovwever, is a whole nother matter entirely, with its own set of problems.

Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor) is a down on his luck computer genius, who is hired by Websco industries, to doa meanial data entry. Soon though Gus learns how to imbezzle large sums of money. When CEO Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn) finds this out, rather than send him to jail, Webster uses Gus and his computer skills to hold other competitors around the world at bay. Soon his plan becomes one of worldwide domination Superman (Christopher Reeve) tries to stop Webter and his cohorts in crime, but is halted by a synthetic chunck of Kryptonite, that turns the Man Of Steel against the planet he had sworn to protect.

Superman III took the series in a more comedic direction. From the farsical oppening credit sequence, to Pryor bumbling his way through one unfunny scene after another, It's sad to see a Superman film depart so drasticaly from what's come before and the comic book. Thanks to yet another dispute with producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the character of Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) is all but forgotten, save for a thankless, throwaway of a cameo. The action seems a bit silly, particularly at the end, as a super computer runs amok. For me, Reeve is the only thing about Superman III, that keeps it alive. Clearly director Richard Lester has it in for our hero, running him nearly into the ground. Superman III is more of a paraody, than a superhero flick.

The only extra on the DVD is the theatrical trailer.

I could have done with less comedy and moore of Reeve being...well...for lack of a better word super

You Will Believe Pryor Can Fly ...This Film Into the Ground!
When the movie poster first came out to promote SUPERMAN III with the illustration of Superman flying while carrying a distraught Richard Pryor, it was suspect. When the film was finally released, all suspicions were true. Director Richard Lester (A HARD DAY'S NIGHT)did such a great job on SUPERMAN II making it a straight action adventure film, but SUPERMAN III was just too campy. From the poster, we go to the opening credits. As they roll, a sequence of "Rube Goldberg", slapstick, domino-effect, accidents happen around a clueless Clark Kent walking through the streets of Metropolis. Somehow the audience knows that this is going to be a different Superman film. Richard Pryor (as Gus Gorman) is a computer whiz who is caught electronically embezzling from his conglomerate boss Robert Vaughn (Ross Webster). Instead of turning him in, Webster offers Gorman a job to help him rule the world by controlling a weather satellite (through Gorman's computer skills), and building a super computer. Superman gets in their way and they devise a plan to kill him with a bad batch of Kryptonite. Instead of killing him, the kryptonite turns Superman evil. He mostly flies around neglecting himself, the people of Metropolis (and of the world), and doing juvenile pranks (i.e. straightening out the Leaning Tower of Pisa). Richard Pryor is not bad in the film, but more of a distraction. The movie-going audience is not used to seeing him in this type of film. British comic actress Pamela Stephenson (whose talents were wasted during her one season on Saturday Night Live--was hardly used or seen in any sketches--but she was brilliantly hilarious on BBC's sketch comedy series NOT THE NINE O'CLOCK NEWS) is wasted and miscast in her role as Lorelei Ambrosia, Vaughn's/Webster's mistress. The special effects are decent for the pre-digital age. Some of the action sequences are excellent (i.e. when Superman has to fight the super computer). Also, the Smallville sequences with Clark Kent rekindling his frienship with Lana Lang (Annette O'Toole) are noteworthy. However, most of the film did not work due to the casting of Richard Pryor, other casting decisions, some cheesey sequences (some involving Pryor), and unnecessary humor! As John Lennon's appraisal of the Beatles' film HELP! (also directed by Lester) to paraphrase, "it was a movie about frogs with snakes in it!". That seems to be the case with SUPERMAN III.

Another Really Cheesy 1980s Movie!
Get "Superman III" and "Supergirl" by the Salkind folks and you'll have the cheesiest evening ever! In fact, Superman III nearly beats Supergirl in the "pure cheese" category. And if, like me, you're a fan of such movies, you'll absolutely love this DVD.

The story - Clark Kent/Superman goes back to Smallville for a school-reunion and meets up with a really lovely Lana Lang (Annette O'Toole). Unfortunately, there's this businessman and his bimbo girlfriend and his sister who hires Richard Pryor to mess up the world-weather (and Columbian coffee) with computers. Superman turns evil after touching some green crystal (Kryptonite mixed with tar) and gets drunk, then ends up sleeping with the aforementioned businessman's bimbo girlfriend and even pushes the Tower of Pisa straight. Finally, a supercomputer designed by Richard Pryor turns evil and transforms the aforementioned businessman's sister into an evil, mechanical sister. Superman fights them all with acid and then proceeds to make the Tower of Pisa a leaning tower again before soaring off triumphantly. Movie ends. Roll credit.

I hated this as a kid but watched it again last night and absolutely loved it. It's the nostalgia thing again. I knocked one star off my rating for it because there's this scene where Richard Pryor skies off a skyscraper, lands on the street and DID NOT die!

Superman can be better
Without Lex Luthor, this film rather suffers. But it was an attempt to create an original story instead of returning to the same old theme, which, let's be honest, can get exhausting.

This also got me interested in psychology as a child, because I thought the whole notion of two sides of the same man duking it out was fascinating, to say the least.

Besides, Richard Pryor is a scream here, though what he does on the computer intuitively instead seems to be very close to what a skilled hacker can do today.

This film has one other great idea: Clarke should forget about Lois and start dating Liana. Liana is much sweeter, and unlike the Superman-obseesed Lois, Liana only wants her old friend, Clarke? And, she's smart enough NOT to put herself into deathtraps. ... Read more

Reviews (212)

Suprise Surprise
Like many people out there I avoided this movie while it was in theaters. The media tore this film to pieces before moviegoers even had a chance to check it out. Also like many others I rented this movie because of how 'awful' it was said to be. I have to admit that I enjoyed this movie very much. I guess I dont understand why people say the script doesn't make any sense...it was pretty cut and dry. The characters all provided a comedic value, and I thought Ben and Jennifer did an excellent job. I'm not really a fan of Jen, but I even found her great in this movie. This is hardly the worst movie of the year, and I can think of a number of movies that are worse than Gigli. I wasn't expecting an oscar award winning film...it's made for you to relax, laugh, and have a good time. If the critics negetive reviews would not have so heavily saturated the movie market, I think this movie would have done much better in the box office. I suggest people give it a chance with an open mind, rather than having their minds set on hating the movie.

better than hustle and heat
yes this movie was alot more better than hustle and heat. since vivica a fox's acting isn't as good as her prior movies.

it ain't the worst
what the critics were saying claiming that this movie was the worst of 2003 is false. this movie really was good. since this movie has superb acting from ben affleck and the whole movie is funny and clever.

whoa
oh snap this movie is one of the best i have ever seen. since the acting from this movie is outstanding.

better than scream 2
this movie was ten times better than scream 2. since the acting from that movie is wack. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A really intersting watch
Well, i have heard this movie descriped as "a scrappy little indie flick" many times. That is what it is. It's scrappy, and the plot isn't exactly new but the realationship between Michael Goorjian and Portia De Rossi on screen is really quite interesting. it's a story about two people changing each other and that's it. It's not about everlasting love or about relationships, its just about these two people and how they affect each other and it's really quite interesting the way it is produced. I happen to think the acting is quite good. I was a little worried about Portia De Rossi, but she definately held her own and was very charming. Michael Goorjian is one of those guys who oozes talent though i have to say i found it a little hard to buy that he was a drug addict....but that's just me.

Really interesting Idea
Ok, first off i would like to say as my disclaimer that i am an enormous Michael Goorjian fan, which is how i found this movie. Lame, yes, i know. I happened to really really enjoy this movie. It's independent and not perfect, but i happen to adore independent flims in general. The style that they filmed it in is black and white and very grainy looking. It's a really nice effect. The ending is satisfying but not all "oh beautiful love lasts forever" because that's not what the movie is about. It's just a reall interesting look at how two people can affect each other for just a period of time in their lives and how Fame messes up the lives of those who partake in it. Some of the stuff that it talks about is a little trite and obvious, but that doesn't stop the whole production from being interesting and intruiging. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Evict This
This DVD features Shannon Elizabeth on the cover but she has all of maybe 10 minutes worth of screen time in the movie. I didn't spend a lot of time watching this because it became annoying pretty quickly. I kept hitting the fast forward button to the SE scenes (of which there are 2-3 max.) Two guys are being evicted from their apartment so they decide to throw a lame party. Judging by the film quality, this movie has a late 70's/early 80's feel to it except it was made in 2004. I mean the music at the party is being played with a PHONOGRAPGH for Pete's sake. (That's a LP record player to all you young guys) and there's a Rambo poster on the wall. Maybe they were striving for this look or this was truly a cheap movie in every sense. I didn't really care, the synopsis said that Shannon Elizabeth was a stripper but sorry, there is no "performance" at all. All she does in her limited time is flirt seductively with her black gangsta boyfriend/pimp. A lame cash in with less than minimal results. ... Read more

Description

Lying in a gently rolling range of hills, the town of Paris has prospered from the hunting and destruction of cars: the road into Paris is a death trap. Into this trap drive George and Arthur Waldo. George is killed; Arthur survives and is pronounced harmless by the mayor. Although unaware, Arthur is a prisoner. He must never leave Paris. But the town that lives by the car shall die by the car, and eventually the hunters become the hunted, in this film directed by Peter Weir (The Truman Show, Dead Poets Society and Witness).
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cult Classic!
What an off the wall film! I enjoyed it. But it is not for everyone.

It is a cult Aussie classic. Terry Camilleri is great as the leading man Arthur Waldo. Terry is still pals with director Peter Weir. I would have loved to have seen Terry in Master and Commander.

But check this Aussie classic out. It has great music, a weird plot, and great humor. Fun to be had for all! ... Read more