Amazon.com

Nowadays it's rare to find a movie that pays attention to human weakness as well as strength, and that sees a whole person as having both. When a sports magazine gets bought by a media conglomerate, an ad sales executive named Dave Foreman (Dennis Quaid, The Rookie) finds himself playing second-in-command to Carter Duryea, a hotshot barely half his age (Topher Grace, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!) whose marriage has just fallen apart. One evening Carter invites himself over to Dave's house to escape his loneliness, where he meets Dave's daughter Alex (Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation). The two strike immediate sparks and when they run into each other later in the city, a relationship begins--which they discreetly keep from Dave. But the heart of the movie is not in its plot, but in the way that Dave responds to the news that his wife is pregnant, or how Carter tries to fortify his self-image with a new car. These aren't jokes; the actors inhabit these moments fully and turn them into psychological events. Quaid plays Dave as a simple man, but his straightforwardness feels genuine (rather than a failure of the writer's imagination). Grace and Johansson have terrific chemistry as lovers, but so do Grace and Quaid, both as rivals and as a substitute father and son. In Good Company isn't likely to win any awards, but it's honest and honorable; there's a core of truth to its characters and their problems aren't resolved too neatly. Sometimes, that's worth watching. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Moral Fable Never Gets Sappy
Dennis Quaid plays a 51-year-old father of two daughters and head of a sales division for a sporting magazine. After a buyout, he is demoted and has a new boss, a 26-year-old coffee-drinking yuppie full of corporate speak and blind ambition who falls in love with Quaid's gorgeous daughter. The father's self-worth is tested savagely in this comic film which, exploring the absurdity and brutality of the corporate world, actually has a moral message about integrity and being true to yourself. It's rare that a comedy is both funny and packed with moral meaning as it attempts to find redemption for the father and his new boss. For a darker look at corporate life with no redemption for the characters, check out the bleak and nihilistic In the Company of Men by Neil LeBute.

Not exactly what I expected.
Dennis Quaid gives a magnificent performance as a long-time salesman who's proud of his work, and who suddenly loses his status when he gets demoted. Topher Grace plays the new boss, and he's terrific as an obnoxious but charming kid on a power trip. Quaid and Grace's awkward, amusing, and (eventually) fond friendship is the crux of the film, and the best reason to see it. The movie's flaws: First, it's slow at times, I expected more inter-office interaction. Second, for a film about cold corporations and job insecurity, the comedy is less sharp than it could be. It's almost as if the movie is too light for its subject. Characters get laid off but you never see how it would hurt their families. The only really bad thing that happens to anyone is that they have to take out a second mortgage! Another reason the comedy is so lightweight is that there no major bad guys to make fun of. Quaid and Grace (who lays off Quaid's colleagues) represent different business philosophies, but they're both essentially good-hearted. Only one or two characters are slightly villainous, and they're on screen for just a couple minutes.

An Excellent satire
"In Good Company" is a lovely movie - part romance, part drama, part satire. It strays occasionally into the obvious, but, overall, it's enormously entertaining. While the satire and drama elements are marred by pat endings, the romance part is given a blissfully hopeful, rather than a happy, ending.

Dan [Dennis Quaid] is a high powered advertising executive at a big sports magazine. At age 52, he's at the top of his game. Out of nowhere, his company is bought by a media conglomerate headed by a billionaire megalomaniac. To Dan's horror, his new boss is a 26-year old kid named Carter [Topher Grace]. In typical early 21st Century fashion, Carter has arrived through sheer ambition and charm. He has zero experience in advertising. Carter does, however, have some experience in romance. He meets and falls deeply in love with Alex [Scarlett Johansson]. As fate would have it. Alex is Dan's daughter.

The acting here is superior. Quaid was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. Johansson is one of the best young actresses working today. The revelation is Grace, prior to this best known for his role in a hit sitcom. Here he creates one of the more memorable movie characters in recent movies.

Funny and original
Genre: Indie Comedy

Genre Grade: B+

Final Grade: B

This movie was disguised as somewhat more of a romantic comedy, but it indeed was not. It did have some of that in it, but mostly the movie was about the connection of a younger, naive boss taking on the older, experienced salesman. There was some hilarious moments and some really cheesy, odd ones too, but overall it had a good feel to it and was a good movie. The best part about this movie was the music - from The Shins, Damien Rice, and Iron & Wine. Unfortunately, Iron & Wine is the only bad that appears on the soundtrack to the movie. Bad mistake!

On a side note, this movie does not have a cliche Hollywood ending, but rather a more realistic approach to a very possible situation. Some people may not like the ending because of that, but I applaud the creators of this film for doing what they did. Wandering outside the box is something more movies should do these days. I would compare this movie to Garden State, and while Garden State may have seemingly followed the Hollywood guidelines more than this film did, I just think it was more appropriate in that film, because of the depth of the connection between Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. I don't think Scarlett Johannson and Topher Grace shared as much of a connection. Or maybe they did, but that was not the entire focus of this movie.

Not the greatest movie!
Kind of cute. I really thought I would have liked this movie, it was really great until the end of it.They could have done better on the end, kind of cheap.It definetly deserves three stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nowadays it's rare to find a movie that pays attention to human weakness as well as strength, and that sees a whole person as having both. When a sports magazine gets bought by a media conglomerate, an ad sales executive named Dave Foreman (Dennis Quaid, The Rookie) finds himself playing second-in-command to Carter Duryea, a hotshot barely half his age (Topher Grace, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!) whose marriage has just fallen apart. One evening Carter invites himself over to Dave's house to escape his loneliness, where he meets Dave's daughter Alex (Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation). The two strike immediate sparks and when they run into each other later in the city, a relationship begins--which they discreetly keep from Dave. But the heart of the movie is not in its plot, but in the way that Dave responds to the news that his wife is pregnant, or how Carter tries to fortify his self-image with a new car. These aren't jokes; the actors inhabit these moments fully and turn them into psychological events. Quaid plays Dave as a simple man, but his straightforwardness feels genuine (rather than a failure of the writer's imagination). Grace and Johansson have terrific chemistry as lovers, but so do Grace and Quaid, both as rivals and as a substitute father and son. In Good Company isn't likely to win any awards, but it's honest and honorable; there's a core of truth to its characters and their problems aren't resolved too neatly. Sometimes, that's worth watching. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Moral Fable Never Gets Sappy
Dennis Quaid plays a 51-year-old father of two daughters and head of a sales division for a sporting magazine. After a buyout, he is demoted and has a new boss, a 26-year-old coffee-drinking yuppie full of corporate speak and blind ambition who falls in love with Quaid's gorgeous daughter. The father's self-worth is tested savagely in this comic film which, exploring the absurdity and brutality of the corporate world, actually has a moral message about integrity and being true to yourself. It's rare that a comedy is both funny and packed with moral meaning as it attempts to find redemption for the father and his new boss. For a darker look at corporate life with no redemption for the characters, check out the bleak and nihilistic In the Company of Men by Neil LeBute.

Not exactly what I expected.
Dennis Quaid gives a magnificent performance as a long-time salesman who's proud of his work, and who suddenly loses his status when he gets demoted. Topher Grace plays the new boss, and he's terrific as an obnoxious but charming kid on a power trip. Quaid and Grace's awkward, amusing, and (eventually) fond friendship is the crux of the film, and the best reason to see it. The movie's flaws: First, it's slow at times, I expected more inter-office interaction. Second, for a film about cold corporations and job insecurity, the comedy is less sharp than it could be. It's almost as if the movie is too light for its subject. Characters get laid off but you never see how it would hurt their families. The only really bad thing that happens to anyone is that they have to take out a second mortgage! Another reason the comedy is so lightweight is that there no major bad guys to make fun of. Quaid and Grace (who lays off Quaid's colleagues) represent different business philosophies, but they're both essentially good-hearted. Only one or two characters are slightly villainous, and they're on screen for just a couple minutes.

An Excellent satire
"In Good Company" is a lovely movie - part romance, part drama, part satire. It strays occasionally into the obvious, but, overall, it's enormously entertaining. While the satire and drama elements are marred by pat endings, the romance part is given a blissfully hopeful, rather than a happy, ending.

Dan [Dennis Quaid] is a high powered advertising executive at a big sports magazine. At age 52, he's at the top of his game. Out of nowhere, his company is bought by a media conglomerate headed by a billionaire megalomaniac. To Dan's horror, his new boss is a 26-year old kid named Carter [Topher Grace]. In typical early 21st Century fashion, Carter has arrived through sheer ambition and charm. He has zero experience in advertising. Carter does, however, have some experience in romance. He meets and falls deeply in love with Alex [Scarlett Johansson]. As fate would have it. Alex is Dan's daughter.

The acting here is superior. Quaid was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. Johansson is one of the best young actresses working today. The revelation is Grace, prior to this best known for his role in a hit sitcom. Here he creates one of the more memorable movie characters in recent movies.

Funny and original
Genre: Indie Comedy

Genre Grade: B+

Final Grade: B

This movie was disguised as somewhat more of a romantic comedy, but it indeed was not. It did have some of that in it, but mostly the movie was about the connection of a younger, naive boss taking on the older, experienced salesman. There was some hilarious moments and some really cheesy, odd ones too, but overall it had a good feel to it and was a good movie. The best part about this movie was the music - from The Shins, Damien Rice, and Iron & Wine. Unfortunately, Iron & Wine is the only bad that appears on the soundtrack to the movie. Bad mistake!

On a side note, this movie does not have a cliche Hollywood ending, but rather a more realistic approach to a very possible situation. Some people may not like the ending because of that, but I applaud the creators of this film for doing what they did. Wandering outside the box is something more movies should do these days. I would compare this movie to Garden State, and while Garden State may have seemingly followed the Hollywood guidelines more than this film did, I just think it was more appropriate in that film, because of the depth of the connection between Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. I don't think Scarlett Johannson and Topher Grace shared as much of a connection. Or maybe they did, but that was not the entire focus of this movie.

Not the greatest movie!
Kind of cute. I really thought I would have liked this movie, it was really great until the end of it.They could have done better on the end, kind of cheap.It definetly deserves three stars. ... Read more

Reviews (227)

Get a Clue -- Get this DVD!
"Clue" (the movie), features just about every great comedy actor of the day. From Leslie Ann Warren to Michael McKean to Eileen Brennan to Howard Hessman to the priceless Tim Curry, they're all here! -- If you are familiar with the board game, just picture a film version of the search for "whodunit". This laugh-a-minute fun fest is loaded with outragous, silly slapstick, superbly acted out by the great cast. -- You'll be amazed at how many of the lines and gags get stuck in your head. I'll never be able to forget the flusterd looks of Mrs. Peacock, the wit and charm of Wadsworth or the subtle facial expressions of Mrs. White. The picture in this WIDE SCREEN VERSION is the best yet of this film since it's initial release. -- The soundtrack is kept in it's original mono, still I'd greatly enjoy hearing a stero or, even better, a surround sound version in the future.--Without a doubt the best feature of this DVD is the one with the multiple endings. After you select "play" you will be asked if you would lilke the player to randomly choose one of the three endings for you, or see all three of them at the end. Whoever thought of this feature deserves a raise as it greatly enhances the longevity of the disc and brings the film closer to it's board game roots. Now you have the option of really not knowing who did it until the final scenes play bringing suprise into the untold repeat viewings that are sure to occur. -- Get a clue--get this DVD! You won't be disappointed! *****

"It's All Too Shocking"
Clue is a clever whodonit mystery based on the popular board game. As mentioned in prior reviews, it has an all-star cast of actors (Tim Curry, Madeline Khan, Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull, Leslie Ann Warren), many who play the notable characters from the board game.One of the wonderful things about the DVD is that it features a "random" ending option, in which you see one of the three endings of the film. You can also see all three endings of the movie in succession.

Movies have tried to be funny for the sake of being funny and not come through, but this movie seems to do the exact opposite. This movie is so effective as a comedy-mystery because it doesn't take itself so seriously and doesn't really try to be impressive. Dry, witty humor seeem to be the main menu for many of the characters. Also, the script is loaded with tons of "double" meanings (For instance, a police officer looks around the place and returns to tell Wadsworth that everything is okay and that "America is a free country". Wadworth replies "I didn't know it was THAT free.")

There are many dark comedy jokes in the movie. ("Two corpses. Everything's ok".) As the body count rises, the suspicions mount. The assortment of character personalities and motives are revealed as the plot progresses. Each character has a part of their past that make them a target for blackmail. The suspects continue to change, and individuals become wary of each other as possibly being capable of murder. The air of distrust, the mystery of each crime, and the smart one-liners keep the light-hearted suspense intact.

In my opinion Tim Curry, in the role of Wadsworth, absolutely steals the show. He is the prototypical butler, with his snooty way of speaking and his clever remarks to others. He has a way of setting the mood of the movie and giving it a fast-paced and witty tone. His deductions are clever and humorous ("Don't you remember your fatal mistake? ....and monkey's brains, though popular in Cantonese cuisine, are not often to be found in Washington, D.C") , and he pretty much takes over the last part of the film.

Clue is also a relatively tame comedy and mystery. It has a few suggestive scenes, but really can be viewed by younger teens and up. I suggest that if you haven't seen this movie to give it a shot....err...try.

Fun and Original
The different endings on this dvd make the dvd pretty original and fun! Its a great addition to those collecting eighties films. It features a GREAT cast and a fun story, nothing breakthrough but something that just is fun and good entertainment!

Great!
Its funny, silly and pretty original! The different endings was a GREAT idea for this film. Depending on which theatre you saw it in decided on which ending you saw in the theatre. That is pretty cool, or annoying, to some. On this dvd you can set it to play a random ending or play all of them. Pretty nifty actually! A fun and entertaining film from the 80s. Gotta love the 80s.

If you like the Game you¿ll LOVE the Movie!
Definitely a great movie and one of my personal favorites, Clue-The Movie, brings to the screen a mystery set in 1954 in a mansion in New England involving an unlikely group of people that has been invited to dinner; one that they will not easily forget. Together they must try and solve a whole list of questions that linger all around. The actors' performances are outstanding, especially Tim Curry's character who as the butler, steals the show. The plot, the costumes, and the 3 different endings, are all wonderful, making this film one of the best of its kind.
Moreover, Clue is a movie with strong elements of comedy, tying in McCarthyism and the culture of the early 50's to create a very entertaining film indeed and therefore, a "must see" for those with a passion for mystery and comedy alike! In short, I would definitely line up to watch a sequel, and it would be about time too considering that the movie was made back in 1985! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Digitally remastered with 49 minutes of previously unseen footage, Apocalypse Now Redux is the reference standard of Francis Coppola's 1979 epic. A metaphorical hallucination of the Vietnam War, the film was reconstructed by Coppola and editor Walter Murch to enrich themes and clarify the ending. On that basis Redux is a qualified success, more coherent than the original while inviting the same accusations of directorial excess. The restored "French plantation" sequence adds ghostly resonance to the war's absurdity, and Willard's theft of Colonel Kurtz's beloved surfboard adds welcomed humor to the film's nightmarish upriver journey. An encounter with Playboy Playmates seems superfluous compared to the enhanced interplay between Willard and his ill-fated boat crew, but compensation arrives in the hellish Kurtz compound, where Willard's mission--and the performances of Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando--reach even greater heights of insanity, thus validating Redux as the rightful heir to Coppola's triumphantly rampant ambition. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (244)

Absolutely brilliant
When I watched the original movie 20 years ago I was
very impressed (for all the wrong reasons like Duvall's swaggering Kilgore).
Watching the additional footage in Redux,
I can say I had no idea then what this movie is about, or
it's literary complexities. The Plantation scene is absolutely
brilliant, fundamental to the Heart of Darkness book theme, also
like the end scene where we see Kurtz's copy of the 'Golden Bough'.

It's so easy to sell the violent scenes to the movie audience, but you try to
show a loving scene in the movie the critics will say 'its too drawn out' in
the Plantation scene, or 'cheap' in the Bunny scene. That's the American
psyche still at work today, violence is embraced for over 3 hours,
but 3 minutes of love is way too long. There is no elegance in violence
but the movie love scene always has to be elegant
(like some airbrushed Playboy perfection) , if not, it's tawdry and shameful
to the movie critics.

On a historical note, the film seems to blend the various War
myths of Poshepny's Hmong army, II/47's operation at the Memot
rubber plantation, and SOG's Operation Tailwind. Martin Sheen
wonders aloud in Apocalpyse Now why they really want Kurtz dead.

When I saw the opium scene at the Plantation (US-backed
Warlords ran drug operations near Memot in war time) it seems to me
real-life military operations in the area were designed to keep the trade flourishing.
If the CIA wanted control of the area, an
out of control rogue like Kurtz (Poshepny?), had to go.

The Greatest War Film Ever Made
'Redux' brings to life the greatest war story of this generation in a completely new perspective. Copolla captured the insanity of Veitnam in a way that no other filmaker has. 20+ years since the original was released, I am still engrossed in this film and its story. This is not a film about Veitnam in the traditional sense. If you want that, go see Oliver Stone's Platoon (with all of the typical Oliver Stone sensationalism) or Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket (which doesn't even look like Veitnam). This is a film about a man's (in)sanity (Captain Willard played by Martin Sheen) delivered through the horror of Veitnam as he pursues the renegade Colnel Kurtz (Brando).

'Redux' adds nearly an hour of extra footage which gives more depth to the already epic film. The French Plantation sequence (nearly 30 minutes long) is the real highlight of the new footage. This is an elaborate series of scenes with completely new faces (including Aurore Clemente). Considering all that went into these scenes, it is difficult to imagine how this was omitted from the final cut of the original. But, in an effort to get the original under 2 1/2 hours, it was cut. The only hint that anyone had of Copolla's mysterious French Plantation Scene was in the 'Hearts of Darkness' documentary released several years ago. The extended sequence of scenes with Kurtz at the end is an additional highlight on 'Redux' along with a haunting new soundtrack.

The story doesn't change, however, and neither does the importance of this epic film. Copolla explores the depravity of one man's mind during the horror of Vietnam. Apocalypse Now takes such a different angle from any other war film of its era. There is no hero in this war, as illustrated by Willard. Copolla nearly lost his own mind (and his fortune) during the filming of Apocalypse Now (see 'Hearts of Darkness'). The result is as magnificent today as it was 20 years ago.

In watching 'Redux', it is difficult to determine when the film was made. The cinematography is unmatched and the attention to detail is witnessed in every scene. This film is a 'must see' and a 'must have' . The only real let down is the absense of any bonus material on the DVD. I would have gladly paid extra for any extras that might have been appropriate.

boring ?!?!
I find that the people complaining about this film have missed the point. Its NOT the theatrical version its NOT platoon its NOT full metal jacket, why are they expecting it to be so? Watch the other films then?!?!? This film is one man's glimpse into hell, in particular, the vietnam war experience. It shows how war and the idea of propaganda of wartime to make the government look good etc while good men die make people go mad. It shows the horror of war. After viewing this film I find in NO way it to be boring. I find the complainers comments to be sad and a reflection on them that they might be boring. This is a brilliant film and was NEVER supposed to be a shoot em up hollywood epic. Going into this expecting lots of action is like going into burger king for a pizza. Cmon folks...get a grip on reality! This film is a mind trip. Plain and simple. See its brilliance for what it is, a NEW version! Director's cut if you will but it's NEVER been seen like this. Its new, its refreshing and the new scenes add some "quirky" aspects but meld together well with the original film. For any fans of the orignal that want the original why go here, click the back button and buy the OTHER version. Nuff said.
Brilliant film, Brilliant acting, Brilliant NEW version. Period.

Comes across as a dark odyssey more than a war film.
PLOT(minus spoilers): We follow five soldiers, led by Sheen's character, as they head out on an assasination mission. The target is a C/O(Brando) who's apparently gone AWOL, having began to slaughter the enemy without orders as well as become a godlike figure in the eyes of many indigenous people in the area, virtually turning them into his warrior slaves. Upon traveling to find the C/O, Sheen becomes strangely intrigued by his military tactics, tactics so swit and terrible that even the VC have become fearful of him. The military, meanwhile, has assured Sheen's character that this commander is indeed insane, but it's the journey up river in which we see......

.... EVERYTHING out on the river is insane. Posts are manned without commanders, officers(Robert Duvall) are more fixated on surfing and Play Boy Playmates than their present battle. During these segments, when we move - almost drift - from scene to scene, we begin to see this Vietnam as something different, something more vague and faintly evil than we could ever had dreamt up. This side of the world has gone mad, as Sheen's character soon begins to see ever more clearly. Even the men accompanying him begin to shift towards the other side of sanity. But don't fret, the way this shift is portrayed is a beautiful thing to witness, as is the irony of their endeavor - that, sent to kill an officer for going crazy, EVERYTHING is also crazy, and the AWOL officer makes perhaps the most sense.

I suppose this film reiterates all we thought we knew about Vietnam, only it happens in a way that both tears and swallows your preconceptions alive, forcing you to dig ever deeper into the madness that surrounded Vietnam.

"The Horror...The Horror"
We have all heard about the difficulties Francis Ford Coppola experienced during the creation of what will be the movie he is most remembered for, 1979's "Apocalypse Now": A typhoon wiped out his sets in Asia. Star Martin Sheen suffered a minor heart attack during filming. Marlon Brando was Marlon Brando. The film's portrayal of war as madness often mirrored the problems involved in filming an epic about America's involvement in the Vietnam conflict. Until "Apocalypse Now Redux" arrived on the scene a year or two ago, we never saw the full cut of the film. Well, "Redux" still doesn't contain everything since Coppola supposedly lensed miles of film stock, but this version contains several brand new sequences as well as extensions of existing scenes not seen in the original. Coppola supposedly stated that his film, "Isn't about the Vietnam War; It IS the Vietnam War." As far as I know, the director never fought in that conflict, so this claim is spurious at best. What you will get from the film, though, is an immersion in the blackest of nightmares through the performances of some of the finest actors in Hollywood. "Apocalypse Now" in any form is a must see picture.

Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is probably not the best person suited for a top-secret mission. When we first see the man, he is in a hotel room in Saigon slowly going mad, the stresses of war having taken a terrible toll on his mental and physical being. His mission, if he chooses to accept it, is to track down a military officer named Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) and terminate him "with extreme prejudice." It seems the good colonel went insane up in the jungle, built up a mercenary army, began transmitting bizarre rants about snails crawling on the edge of a razor, and thus threatens the American war effort. The high command cannot have an officer carrying out his own warped whims in the bush, so Willard is to go up the Mekong River in a patrol boat and track Kurtz down. The captain accepts the order, obviously, and thus begins a journey into the darkest corners of Vietnam. During the lengthy trip, Willard reads extensively from Kurtz's military files, learning that his target once represented one of America's best and brightest soldiers, a man educated at top universities whose career track was paved with gold. How could such a brilliant man go completely over the edge? Willard tries to figure it all out.

Captain Willard has plenty of time to ponder the enigmatic Kurtz during the trip. The boat sails into one bizarre scene after another, some fraught with peril while others are just plain strange. Willard and the crew briefly spend time with the hyper macho Colonel Kilgore (Robert Duvall), an officer in the Air Cavalry who likes to blare Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" over his helicopter gunship's speakers while reducing a Vietcong stronghold to rubble. It is Duvall's character that utters the immortal line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" as he urges his men to surf the ocean waves in a combat zone. The weirdness doesn't stop here, as Willard and his crew witness a show put on by Playboy Playmates at a riverside supply depot, visit a plantation proudly maintained by a French family, and stumble over an isolated river bridge under constant enemy bombardment defended by American soldiers with no idea who is in charge. The final showdown between Kurtz and Willard is not only the most powerful sequence in the film; it is one of the most intriguing parts of any film ever made.

It is no secret "Apocalypse Now" closely mirrors Joseph Conrad's novella "Heart of Darkness." Too, Coppola's film is so obviously an attempt to show how the war permanently altered America's self-perception that I don't need to spend time discussing that theme. What has always drawn me so deeply into this movie is the acting, of course, but also the "madness" of Colonel Kurtz. Is the rogue officer really insane? By what standards? According to what we saw on the journey up the river, can we call what Kurtz is doing insane? I don't think so. As much as we might cringe at the colonel's "horror and moral terror" speech, anyone with an ounce of sense should realize that that is exactly how a nation should fight a war. Rules and laws developed in civilization must automatically fly out the window when the soldiers march off to battle. Kurtz recognizes America will lose the war because his country burdens its soldiers with pointless rules-like not allowing pilots to paint an offensive word on the side of aircraft, for example. You see the same thing in Oliver Stone's "Platoon" when an officer rambles on about an "illegal killing," as though you can place an arbitrary value hierarchy on what goes on in a war zone and still think about winning. War is screaming, mind-shattering insanity, not a game with strictly defined parameters that any one side should follow. Kurtz is "mad" because his training prevents him from embracing the Vietnamese conception of the "moral" soldier.

If you haven't seen this movie, what are you waiting for? "Redux" adds nearly an hour to the film's original runtime, the picture quality looks great, and Coppola's beast contains the best dialogue in cinematic history. My favorite line in the film? Anything Kurtz utters, but especially the "moral terror" speech and his response to Willard's adamant claims about being a soldier instead of an assassin: "You're neither. You're an errand boy sent by grocery clerks to collect a bill." Moreover, you get to see plenty of actors show off their stuff, including Harrison Ford, G.D. Spradlin, Dennis Hopper, Laurence Fishburne, and Frederic Forrest. You need to move this one up to the top of your list immediately. ... Read more

Reviews (285)

The Best War Movie Of All-Time!
Francis Ford Coppola risked his career, his money and his sanity in making this Vietnam adaptation of 'Hearts Of Darkness'. The result is a large-scale war movie that ranks among the best movies of all-time. Martin Sheen has the role of a lifetime as Captain Willard, and he does deliver a credible performance. Marlon Brando is equally credible as the mysterious and possibly mad Colonel Kurtz. Robert Duvall creates a brilliant character; Colonel 'I love the smell of napalm in the morning' Kilgore. Grandly majestic war sequences are awe-inspiring. Thought provoking and filled with eerie chaotic imagery. Simply masterful filmmaking from Coppola. Extras: Laurence Fishburne and Harrison Ford in small roles, also spot Francis Ford Coppola in a cameo. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 10!

Dark and somewhat slow-paced, but excellent epic film
I saw this film for the first time on video, and was somewat surprised by its somewhat deliberate pacing and lack of straightforward action. For someone who is not a huge Coppola fan, nor a reader of "Heart of Darkness", I found the movie somewhat difficult to follow.

That is not to say that this isn't an excellent film. Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is an apparently unattached Airborne soldier who is "waiting - waiting for a mission" and is enlisted to find and "terminate the command" of the renegade Special Forces Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Along the way, we meet a motley crew of a Navy riverboat, including a very young Lawrence Fishburne as a 17-year-old machine-gunner. The plot takes an almost whimsical turn when we meet Lt. Col Kilgore (Robert Duvall) who is an Air Cavalry commander, and plays the immortal "Flight of the Valkyries" while systematically laying waste to a North Vietnamese village. While the fighting is still going on, he orders a couple of his soldiers to either "surf or fight", being that he is a huge fan of surfing. It is from Duvall's character that we get the immortal line, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It smells like --- it smells like victory!"

After this scene, Sheen and his crew of Navymen proceed further upriver, until they reach the last American outpost on the river. The outpost is under apparent heavy attack, and there are no officers to be found. This scene, which makes no sense in the context of a typical war movie, makes perfect sense in this film. The leaderless American soldiers seem to move about in a haze, apparently oblivious to anything outside their immediate surroundings, particularly the grenadier, who is either at far beyond the point of psychological exhaustion, or heavily drugged. Copolla never makes either clear, but rather leaves that to the imagination of the viewer.

When Sheen and his crew get further upriver, the plot takes stranger and stranger turns - the crew is attacked by an unseen enemy, in which Clean (Fishburne) is killed, and shortly thereafter, the boat's chief is killed in an attack by natives hurling, of all things, spears at the Americans!

However, the strangest part of the movie is the last half-hour or so. Sheen reaches his objective, but Col. Kurtz is heavily guarded by native warriors toting modern weaponry. There are bodies everywhere - hanging from trees, floating in the river, laying sprawled about on the ground. It is truly horrific, and speaks to the level of insanity to which Col. Kurtz has descended, but it also begs the question - "How could all those people stand being around all those rotting corpses?" In the climax, Sheen sneaks past Kurtz' guards, and hacks the colonel to death. As he lay dying, Kurtz whispers, "The horror - the horror..."

All in all, an extremely powerful and moving film, although rather slow-paced.

A True Masterpiece!
I watched this movie in 1978 when it first came out and was totally in awe! Francis Ford Coppola spent almost 3 years making this film and it was well worth it. The all star cast in this film rocks! Everytime I watch this film, I wind up mimicing the characters. The lines are memorable! (I love the smell of Napalm in the morning.) It is the greatest movie ever made!

A great adaptation
To write that this movie is a comment on war or the politics of the period is a gross misconception in my view. this movie like the book Heart of Darkness, which I suggest everyone who sees this movie reads, is a powerfull commentary on human nature. The line 'the horror, the horror' does not refer to the horrors of war or acts of violence commited but is a general judgement and condemnation of the darkness that resides in human nature.

Anyway this is a brilliant adaptation and well worth the few bucks it costs.

The horror, the horror.
The horror of war and what it does to teh mind of men is exposed beautifully here in this grande epic. Great performances, plot and cinematography. It doesnt get much better than this. ... Read more

Reviews (106)

If you love romantic comedies...run.
I am a connoisseur of romantic comedies, and I read and enjoyed the overdone fluff that was Animal Husbandry, so I must say that I was kind of looking forward to seeing Someone Like You. It stared the usually enjoyable Ashley Judd and The Delicious Hugh Jackman, so I couldn't pass it up, right?

The plot is fairly simple: Jane Goodale falls for Ray, Ray dumps Jane after telling her he loves her and wants to move in with here, leaving Jane brokenhearted and without an apartment. Desperate, Jane moves in with Eddie, a chain-smoking womanizer with a GREAT loft. Jane formulates a theory on why men leave women based on observed animal behaviors, called the New Cow Theory. Things with her theory get out of control, and Jane suddenly falls in love with Eddie.

And I do mean SUDDENLY. I'm going to rant a little about this movie's classification as romantic comedy. As anyone who is a fan of the romantic comedy knows, it's code for Modern Day Fairy Tale. It doesn't have to be something that would happen to real people. But if the characters in the movie believe it, it doesn't matter. Let's face it; romantic comedies are not about surprises. They are predictable. We know that the two main characters are going to fall in love and kiss at the end of the movie. This was a movie that was based on a non-romantic comedy, and it shows. Having two people kiss at the end doesn't automatically make it romantic. It's not about the kiss. It's about Everything That Leads to The Kiss. Getting there really is the fun. It's the First Commandment of the romantic comedy. Someone on this project forgot that.

Okay, I'm done.

That said, I should have passed it up. Someone Like You gets off to a bad start, featuring a voice over by Ms. Judd (I warn you, voice-overs are the main mode of plot movement in this flick). It was more than obvious that poor Ashley didn't believe a word she was saying, and that's pretty much what happened through the whole movie. No one was buying into the story, and the romantic leads were all wrong for each other. Judd and Greg Kinnear? Yuck. Of course, I don't like Greg anyway, but still, yuck.

Someone like you isn't ALL bad. It does have its moments. There was, of course, The Delicious Hugh Jackman.. While I am not a die-hard fan of Marisa Tomei (Jane's best friend), I must say that she was done up quite beautifully for her role, and she seems to have toned down her Rosie Perez-esque New Yorker attitude just a touch. There was also one particularly touching scene, following Jane's sister Alice's miscarriage, when Alice's husband came into the hospital room and told Alice that she was still the most beautiful woman in the world. The way they looked at each other...they bought it. And I got teary. To think, the one thing that got me teary was from a subplot that wasn't in the book at all.

So I'm giving Someone Like You three stars: one for The Delicious Hugh Jackman, who is always just plain fun to watch (on so many levels...X-men anyone?); one for Ms. Tomei's well done makeup and wardrobe; and one for the eternally romantic hospital scene. All in all, it's a skipper. I'm glad I rented it first. See Say Anything, When Harry Met Sally, or Notting Hill instead.

Great Movie !!
The film's fresh, funny dialogue packs enough power to keep things interesting. Ashley Judd plays a working woman (Jane Goodall) who falls for a co-worker Ray (Greg Kinnear). The story has been told before...he has a girlfriend and they're having problems. Jane and Ray date and decide to move in together but he starts to push her away and breaks her heart and gets back with his ex. After the devastating end to their relationship Jane begins to develop a thesis that male behavior is directly related to that of wildlife. She studies the tendency for animals to be noncommittal and compares men to bulls, dogs, and other creatures. To prove her theories, she enlists the help of her roommate Eddie (Hugh Jackman),a womanizer who falls into all of the patterns of her research, whom she moves in with after Ray and her breakup. Though the theories she comes up seem to make sense she finds there are real men out there who don't go for the "new cows" and that as Jackman says "Rays not the only man your ever going to love".

Can we say - Character & Relationship Development
I picked this because of Hugh and Ashley. Greg i figured would be the middle guy in this triangle. Ummmm ok next time more Hugh, less Greg and Ashley could be less shrewish. I hated seeing her like that. And how is she in love with Hugh all of a sudden? yes others have said that, glad to see I wasn't the only one thinking "hugh" where did that come from, even though we knew it would be there but come on! Even the obvious has some relationship development. And why did he get all mad at the end? Bizarre!

wasted talent on a wasted story
I thought this might be worth my time given the fact that it had Jackman, Judd, Kinnear and Tomei in the cast. I was wrong.
I found the story to be lame....just too dependable...I give them all credit for holding out for the entire film given the script that they were handed. I found it irritating to have to listen constantly to Judd's ranting about men.....She was involved with a married man HELLO!!!!!.....I find it extremely irritating that someone, like her character, who apparently cannot find someone who is unattached would call every man a waste because the one who she is currently sleeping with will not, for whatever reason, get a new life with her. She needs the reality check, not her dull and duller boyfriend.
Tomei was right when she tells Judd's character that it seems to be always about her. I would second that.
It became immediately apparent to me even before Tomei made the comment.
I am pleased that Jackman apparently has moved on to other things, e.g. SWORDFISH etc. where he can do some serious acting because this one, and KATE AND LEOPOLD, do not qualify in my book.....

Pleasant Romantic Comedy
I found this movie to be very pleasant to watch. I enjoyed the humour and romance that starts somewhere different than you would expect. The entire cast seemed to blend into a heart warming film. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

CLASSIC FUNNY MOVIE, DVD VERSION NOT WORTH THE EXTRA DOLLARS
Okay, so I sinned and purchased a film that isn't anamorphic, heck this DVD isn't even widescreen! But it didn't cost much more than the VHS tape. Unfortunately there aren't any extras on the disc, behold why so inexpensive, and the picture and sound quality make me wonder if I would have been just as well off purchasing the VHS version. The only problem would be that I don't pop in my VHS movies any more. This movie is very funny. Steve Martin plays a great italian mobster and Rick Morranis plays the perfect boring federal agent. If you don't find yourself quoting this movie then either you're too serious, or I'm too easily amused. The movie is a 4 star movie, if only this movie could get a quality DVD transfer some day.

A NY gangster in the witness protection program
Steve Martin is one of the worlds best known comics, and this is perhaps his best roll so far. The story is about Vinni, aka Todd Wilkensen, (Martin), a New York City gangster enrolled in the witness protection program. He is sent to a yuppy town near San Diego called Fryberg. The FBI agent (Rick Moranis) assigned to look after him is a systematic, recently dumped man named Barney. It isn't easy to break old habits, and so Vinni gets involved in any crime that he can, and always trying to talk his way out of persecution from the local D.A. (Joan Cussak). This is an incredibly funny movie that shows the difference between New Yorkers and the yuppies of Fryberg. This humor is characterized by a grocrey clerk saying "Have a nice day," and Vinni returing with "F*** you." The humor is smart and quick, all topped off by great acting from Martin, Moranis, and Cussak.

One Of The Funniest Movies I've Ever Seen
Released in 1990 to mixed reactions, the mobster comedy "My Blue Heaven" reteamed "Parenthood" stars Steve Martin and Rick Moranis for a hilarious slapstick comedy that is possibly their most underrated work.

Vinnie Antonelli (Martin) is an Italian mobster who is put in the witness protection agency after witnessing a murder. After his wife leaves him, he strikes up a friendship with Barney Coopersmith (Rick Moranis), an uptight FBI agent who is assigned to look after him. In addition to protecting him, Barney learns from Vinnie how to be loose and on the edge. He strikes up a romance with Assistant D.A. Hannah Stubbs (Joan Cusack), and Vinnie gets remarried... twice.

There a number of hilarious moments in this film. Like when Vinnie's family arrives in New York or the turtle death sequence or the climax at the courtroom or the supermaket sequence (it's a veg - a - table). This whole film is hysterically funny. Pick it up when you get the chance.

New York mobster in southwest paradise
Although slightly inferior to MY COUSIN VINNY, Steve Martin's MY BLUE HUSBAND is also a variation of the old city mouse/country mouse theme, and a terrifically funny one at that. Martin, Moranis, and Cusack are a great team and turn their usual solid performances.

Other reviewers have done a good job of giving you the basic plot outline, so I won't bog you down with that again. But I can't refrain from mentioning my favorite scene. Vinnie (Martin) hunts for arugala in a huge supermarket. Being far from Manhattan, this Italian vegetable is impossible to find in the white bread and mayo southwest. As his frustration mounts, and after countless "Have a nice days" from the clerks, Vinnie explodes with a resounding "F**k YOU!" It sounds crude but it is not gratuitous. Because we understand Vinnie's outrage, we understand his outburst.

Director Herbert Ross does an admirable job of pacing this film, as he does in drawing out the best possible performances from his cast. MY BLUE HEAVEN is one of those sleeper films that many people haven't heard of, but once they see it, they love it.

Hillariously funny, im many ways
Hillarious!! Steve Martin and Rick Moranis, what a pair! Not many people realize that in some movies, the fact that they aren't even close to what their character is supposed to be like is supposed to happen. The acting is wonderfull, the script, excellent, and everything just runs together nicely.

This movie is awesome, and if you don't start quoteing the movie, well, everyone thinks they have a sense of humor, even those who dont. You should watch it. ... Read more

Description

The series D.A.R.Y.L. explores the life of a young boy named Daryl who demonstrates profound talent in all areas of his life. From solving advanced mathematics to dominating difficult video games on his first try, Daryl continues to awe everyone in his town including his foster parents. Consequently, the government has a hidden interest in Daryl that threatens his very existence. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

EXCITING MOVIE FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS
This is an exciting and intelligent film for everyone. Do not let
the box cover art make you think this is a kiddie film only. It
is a neat little film that teaches many lessons. D.A.R.Y.L. is
actually a child robot that is too perfect a child and a scient
ist working with him wants him to have a life outside the gov
ernment lab. D.A.R.Y.L. winds up with a foster family, makes a
life long friend has an exciting finale. This is a uniformly
well-made and acted film with excellent special effects on what
was a shoe-string budget. This film is as enjoyable as most of
Disney's big budget offerings. Also it shows that a wonderful
film without gratuitous trash and language can be made.
The film works so well because of the performance of Barrett
Oliver as D.A.R.Y.L. He gives the presence of the perfect, loving child. He also was in The Neverending Story and Cocoon
parts one and two. Strangely he seems to have disappeared from
film in his teens. I would like to see him in more films

d.a.r.y.l.
from the first time i saw this film,i knew this was a great family movie.has a very good story line and excitement for all ages.paramount is brining this film out on dvd sometime in 2004.hope it will be in widescreen.check it out,you'll love it!

A Good Movie!!!
I remember watching D.A.R.Y.L in the 80's and thinking it was a cute movie that has humor mixed with drama and a great cast, Barrett Oliver (The Never Ending Story), Michael McKean (Laverne and Shirley) and Mary Beth Hurt (Chilly Scenes of Winter) and is about a robot made to look like a little boy who is set free by a scientist and sent to live with foster parents who at first have no clue that he isn't a real little boy. I don't want to give too much away but I think this is a cute movie and I recommend it but I wish they'd put it on DVD (Widescreen)!

One of the best movies of the 80s
Long before Steven Spielberg's A.I. came out in the summer of 2001,there was a film that came out in 1985 called D.A.R.Y.L.which is way better then A.I.I grew up on this film since the age of 4 years old and it's still wonderful to me even at the age of 22.While A.I. is a good film,it lacks the warmth,awe and the wonder that Daryl had.His name stands of Data Analyzing Robot Youth Lifeform and noone,not even Daryl himself knows he's a robot,they just think of him as a normal boy with extraordinary talents.Daryl is a warm and touching film not only for childern but for adults too.

miraculous
Barret Oliver, who plays DARYL, is one of the greatest child actors in my opinion. This movie is not only heartwarming, but intreaging. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Valley Girl is, like--Omigod!--one of the most "tubular" teen comedies of the early 1980s. This movie launched Nicolas Cage's career, and it's easy to see why: Following his tiny role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Cage is perfectly cast as a Hollywood punk who instantly falls for Julie (the irresistible Deborah Foreman), a San Fernando "Valley Girl"--a brighter variant of the stereotype immortalized in Moon Unit Zappa's 1982 novelty song--who must choose between wild-boy Nic and her preening jock boyfriend (Mark Bowen). Fortunately, Julie knows what's right for her (even if her "Val" friends don't), and in refreshing defiance of teen-flick tradition, her post-hippie parents (Frederic Forrest, Colleen Camp) are supportively cool. With sincere humor, a lively soundtrack of '80s hits, and a time-capsule cruise of Hollywood landmarks, Valley Girl is both timeless and nostalgic, owing much of its lasting appeal to Martha Coolidge's sensitive direction. Fer sure, y'know, it definitely won't gag you with a spoon. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Lots of Cool Extras
"Valley Girl" is one of my all time favorite movies and it has now come to DVD. This DVD edition of "Valley Girl" is worth the wait. The film includes a lot of neat extras like a featurette named "Valley Girl-20 Years Later." The featurette includes new video commentary from all of the cast members-except the star Deborah Foreman who is missing. In addition to the featurette, the DVD also includes 80's trivia, a site down talk with the director and Nicholas Cage, and a segment about "The Music from Valley Girl." The film itself was restored well. This is a fun movie that will take you back to the 80's and your high school days. It is definetly something that you should add to your DVD collection.

The Best 80's Teen Film Bar None!
Valley Girl is the greatest of the 1980's Teen films, and is second to none. John Hughes wishes he could have made a film this accurate, this genuine, and this sincere!
This movie is as much 80's as Easy Rider was 60's. It defined the times is what it did.
As silly as it sounds, Valley Girl is actually a very good film. It's put together extremely well, and is original, fresh, and personal all at the same time! They simply do not make teen films of this calibre anymore.
This DVD release is long overdue, but well worth the wait! There are a score of fabulous extras, a commentary track with the director, conversations between the director and Nicolas Cage today, two music videos and much much more!
The picture is high-quality with a tad bit of grain, but the sound is 5.1 surround, and is in widescreen. Valley Girl has never looked or sounded better.
If you only ever see one 80's Teen film, Valley Girl should be the one, and probably the only one you'd ever need to own.

Grotty to the Max
I'm writing a novel about young people and heard "Valley Girl" was the classic of its type. Made in 1983 with Nick Gage and Deb Foreman, I had hopes that the silly "Valley Talk" would entertain. I was wrong. This is a trite soft-porn movie. If your kid watches this movie, they'll be scarred for life. I recommend this one for desperate men that dig Internet teen-porn. Cage is sort-of-Elvis like as a bad-boy punk. He meets non-grody to the max Deb Foreman and a good girl-bad boy crush begins. The beach scene has bikinis and young bods, but then the camera shows teenager Cage in swim trunks. My gal and I started laughing. Cage has a V-shaped bush of hair on his upper chest that looks like it was from the Planet of the Apes wardrobe room. Notice that all actors shave their chest these days, but I guess body hair was in in 83. Thank goodness for director John Hughes. Later in the 80's, he showed Hollywood how to give real character and motivation to young people. Rent "Pretty in Pink" and pass on "Valley Girls."

Excellent Film of the 80's
I will not go into a long spiel about what this film is about since many have already chosen to do so (and I know that is what a review is somewhat about), however I do not want to ruin the plot for anyone. I will say that as a gal who grew up in the 80's, this is one of my FAVORITE 80's films. Even today if I were to watch it, it would take me back to my high school years...the cool tunes, the freaky styles (well, we saw ourselves as "cool" back then), and the lingo, ahhh the lingo. I will add this to my DVD collection so someday when my children are older (now 5 and 3), they can watch it and perhaps get a kick out of the 80's genre of when their mom grew up.

1 of My Favorite Films / 80's Classic
Modern day Romeo & Juliet cliche plot boy from the wrong side of the tracks falls for the preppy girl who's friends don't approve. But it's done with such style and a different twist in this 80's classic. Nic Cage's 1st major role as Randy a punk rocker from West Hollywood whos falls head over heels for a preppy valley girl Julie from Southern Cali. I was basically obsessed with Nic Cage's character ( Randy) in this movie for a while being into the punk scene. Everything about this film is so defining of the 80's when he brings her to the punk club and The Plimsouls are playing " A Million Miles Away" and he looks at her and says real quick when can I see you again and then turns his head quick back away. You can just see right there how much he was into her. At the end is amazing when there at the prom and Randy & Fred his best friend crash the prom when "Johnny are you queer" by Josie Cotton is playing and Randy & Julie hop in the limo and ride of into the night Modern English's classic " Melt with you" comes on. Did I mention what a great soundtrack this movie has every song is perfect for the scenes. One of the best 80's films of all time and & in my top 5 favorite movies of all time. Essential to collection for anyone who grew up in the 80's cinema. Story of opposites attracting and following there own path together regardless of what other people think. I own the special edition DVD and a must see movie. ... Read more

Reviews (205)

A solid, thought-provoking film.
I've watched this movie several times and must say that it's interesting, good, and involving. Election is a satire that's based on a novel. G. W. Carver High School (in Omaha, Nebraska) is holding an election for student council president. An ambitious student named Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is running unopposed for the position. Schoolteacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) decides to encourage student Paul Metzler (Chris Klein) to run against her. That's basically the gist of this unconventional and intricate satire. Election moves at a steady pace and never becomes tedious. The acting from the entire cast is exceptional. Broderick and Witherspoon are especially convincing in their roles. The story examines various human frailties (hypocrisy, adultery, lesbianism, etc.). I also find the movie's character development to be impressive. There are some funny scenes along with some unexpected and surprising ones, too. Repeated viewings have helped me to get more out of this film--it contains some subtleties. Election is a thought-provoking movie that's definitely worth a watch.

One of the Funniest Movies EVER...
With low expectations, I saw "Election" at my university's theater. I could not have been more pleasantly surprised. Matthew Broderick portrays the high school teacher pushed over the edge by the overly driven student, Reese Witherspoon. The best thing about this movie is that anyone can relate to nearly all of the characters. Matthew Broderick is that ideological teacher who really wanted to make a difference; Reese Witherspoon is the girl everybody hated because she always knew the answer. Chris Kline is that one super-jock, who manages to be an amazingly nice guy.

Most of the comedy comes from Broderick's hateful obsession with Witherspoon. This hate drives a good guy to do everything he can to keep Witherspoon from winning the high school Presidential election. This film thrives on the hilarious characters, all of who will undoubtedly remind you of your high school friends and enemies (one of them will undoubtedly remind you of yourself).

"Election" is more intelligent, funnier, and more creative than any of the more recent high school nostalgia flicks like "American Pie." I can't say enough positive things about this film, one of the funniest movies of the 90's.

Immoral Garbage
You're thinking, 'Matthew Broderick & Reese Witherspoon this ought to be a good movie.' WRONG. That's what I was thinking. The fact that MTV Films produced this movie should have been enough of a warning. Election is not funny, nor clever, nor interesting. All the major characters are immoral bad people doing immoral bad stuff. I am not a prude and if this movie was entertaining in anyway I could have set aside my judgement of the characters knowing that they are fictional. However, it is not entertaining, nor do any of the characters show remorse or grow in anyway. There is nothing redeming about this movie.
Please don't waste your time.

Great movie
This movie does an amazing job of incorporating the points of view of several different characters, allowing viewers to both laugh at and feel for their perspectives and situations. It's a journey through a high school election, a seemingly common event, but one that takes on special significance due to corruption, sexual improprieties, the pursuit and destruction of dreams, and the search for success and acceptance. A movie that is both serious and comedic, refreshing and thoughtful, engaging and fun. Witherspoon does an excellent job portraying the intensity of youthful overachiever and presidential candidate Tracy. A great movie for those who are looking for a fun movie with some depth.

The best of 99.
Only Fight Club came close to this movie when it comes to the best of 99. (Which had lots of great movies. Sadly one of my least favorites of 99 won Best Picture). But really, I love this movie. It reminds me of all those great days in high school (including rumors of a teacher sleeping with a student). The thing I loved the most was the location shooting. It didn't have that Hollywood feel; instead it had a mid-western look. The houses, the hotel, the Wallgreens, the school; nothing looked out of place for Nebraska.

But that's not the only thing to love. The acting is great all around. Even Chris Kline (who went on to star in masterpieces like "Rollerball") pulls off a good performance. However the real ace is Reese Witherspoon. She pulls of a perfect performance. It's a shame she's stuck in those silly Legally Blonde movies now; she can do so much better. Plus I loved Jessica Campbell. She reminds of the girl who broke my heart in high school.

The plotting is air tight. There is not one unneccesary scene and the film moves along briskly. The story is funny. The ending is great. I haven't read the book yet, but I plan to visit the Library to get it someday. Very, very highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Two Dreadful Films......Not!
Released in 1991 and 1993, these are probably the two best "Saturday Night Live" - based films ever created. The humor is dry and witty, the acting is splendid and great music (a little "Bohemian Rhapsody", gentlemen?).

"Wayne's World" is about two guys named Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth (the too underrated Dana Carvey) who host their own cable access show in Aurora, Illinois and enjoy rocking out to their favorite tunes. While at a club, Wayne catches a glimpse of the babelicious Cassandra (Tia Carrere - schwing!). Wayne and Cassandra hook up. Soon, a slimy tv executive (played deliciously by Rob Lowe) offer the two headbangers $ 5,000 and their own cable tv show. (Exsqueeze me, a baking powder?). Things seem to be alright. Wayne and Cassandra are in item, he and Garth meet Alice Cooper (we're not worthy, their perrenial line). But things start to go awry. Cassandra and Wayne break up, they blow the show, and Garth and Wayne throw away their friendship. Can the day be saved? Just watch and find out. And be on the look out for cameos by Chris Farley, Donna Dixon, Robert Patrick, Alice Cooper, and a diabollically funny Ed O'Neil as a disturbed (albeit disturbing) donut shop employee.

1993's "Wayne's World 2" makes a valiant effort to recapture the magic from part one, and it succeeds. This one takes place one year after the first film. Wayne is wondering what to do with his life once his show ends. One night, Jim Morrison and a naked Indian come to him in a dream, telling him to invent a concert and book big names. Meanwhile, Cassandra signs a contract with a sleazy record producer (Christopher Walken, devilish as always), and Garth has the hots for Honey Hornee (that's Horn-ay, and she's played by an incredibly hot Kim Basinger). Once again, things soon go askew. None of the acts show up (except for Rip Taylor), and Wayne gets dumped. Once again, can the day be saved? Watch and you'll find out. Also, try and spot appearances by Chris Farley, Aerosmith, Ed O'Neil, Chris Farley, Kevin Pollack, Olivia D'Abo, Charlton Heston, and Drew Barrymore.

These are two comedy classics that have been immortalized with this boxed set. Special features include and commentary and intervies with Myers, Carvey, Lorne Michaels and others involved in the making of the film. Excellent.

Excellent! It had to be mine. Oh yes. It had to be mine.
This is totally amazingly eccellent! A boxed set of both of the Wayne's World movies. What more could someone who enjoyed the movies wish for?

Who doesn't know the story of Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and his trustworthy sidekick Garth Algar (Dana Carvey)? As hosts of their very own local tv show, they're highly popular with the youngsters and the girls (though neither of them has much experience on that topic).

In the first movie, they're approached by Benjamin, a sleazy TV executive (Rob Lowe), who is intent on exploiting the show "Wayne's World" to make a quick buck. Wayne is forced to deal with various issues, including being fired from his own show, losing his girlfriend Cassandra (The gorgeous Kia Terrere), and losing his best friend Garth. Will he and his group of friends manage to take back their own show and land Cassandra a record deal at the same time?

The second one is about Wayne being visited in a dream by Jim Morrison. Wayne is looking for a goal in his life, and Jim provides him with one: Wayne is to organise WayneStock, a rock festival. Again, Wayne has to deal with numerous issues to fight his way through.

To me, the real charm of the movie is by the countless amounts of famous stars making an appearance in the movie. From Alice Cooper and Aerosmith to Rob Lowe and Christopher Walken, from Tia Carrere to Ed O'Neill, from Chris Farley to Kim Basinger, the movies are packed with celebrities who were all to keen to help Myers out with this project.

Even though the movies will never be a fallback for countless one-liners like (for instance) the Naked Gun series, they still make up for great amusement and a hysterical laugh.

Myers and Carvey manage to make sure the movie doesn't fall apart, though (in my opinion) Carvey is the real talent here. He's pure comedy genius, and sort of makes Myers look like the sidekick.

The only dissappointment is the lack of extra's on the DVD. Come on. No one out there will think 'Widescreen, Dolby Digital, English subtitles, Interactive menus or Scene selection' are "special features" anymore. Those are standard. Interviews are nice, but the real appeal with DVDs as a medium are goodies like Behind-the-scenes and Deleted scenes. It would have been nice to get a bit more for the buck. Still, for the true fan? The combo is a nice buy.

It's Excellent!
Wayne says it best. This film is by far the greatest comedy ever told. It has drama, suspense, laughter, and cheese. The films are golden and it really outshines anything Mike Myers does, even till today.

With rock and roll, the good stuff, taking a big chunk of the film, we follow the life of Wayne and Garth, Wayne primarily, as he goes from bringing his television show to fame, to starting a concert...in Aurora. Everyone wants to stay in Aurora, the City of Lights. But not the antagonists Rob Lowe and Christopher Walken, who, respectively try to bring the beloved Cassandra(Wayne's love interest), away from. With a story clouded in laughs and roars, you really can't fail.

Watching this now, it never really feels dated, and in fact, would love to see a third film. It'd be great to buy the Wayne's World trilogy and I think the time would be fine, still. Either way, and now awake from the dream world I was in, I recommend this DVD set. It's a must buy, it's not like mopping up soak suds and lung butter, it's like buying a totally, amazing, excellent discovery.

Dare you say, not?

Wayne's World
Wayne's World one and two have always been favorites of mine. The plot, even at its saddest point, never gets too serious to bear, and the jokes are always classic and hilarious. I can still remember the first time i saw them, a loong time ago, when my sister brought two movies home for her friends to see. Wayne's World 1 & 2. I saw and loved these movies and since then, I have seen them many many times. Mike Myers is awesome as always, and Dana Carvey is too, so I am planning on getting these DVD's soon. I recommend these movies to anyone who hasn't seen them, and is looking for a good laugh away from the boring redundant comedy of today.

AWESOME DVDS!!!!!!
these two movies are great. the interactive menus are sweet too. its like watching the tv guide channel and you can watch like a minute or 2 of i love lucy, or the brady bunch, seriously. the behind the scenes are good too, along with the commentary. these are my favorite mike myer movies. trust me these are funnier than auston powers i swear. dana carvey (garth) is funnier here than master of disguise i swear. these are god rock, punk, heavy metal comedy. kinda reminds me of spinal tap. these movies are hilarious. you got to get this. so uhhhhhhh..........yeah but just remember, BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kevin Bacon and Charlize Theron square off in a smarter-than-average kidnapping thriller. Joe (Bacon), Cheryl (Courtney Love), and Marvin (Pruitt Taylor Vince) are a kidnapping team with the perfect plan. Perfect, that is, until they pick on the wrong wholesome but incredibly feisty young family. There's the plot, and boom--you're off. Though it certainly hits all the right buttons, Trapped is far from a by-the-numbers suspense movie. There are a few genuinely surprising plot twists, and while many movies dull their villains' edges by cartoonishly over- or underplaying their evil, Trapped is refreshingly unafraid to make Joe realistically, skin-crawlingly vile. Even our heroes turn out to have surprising sadistic streaks. Toward the end, the movie takes a sharp right turn toward the ludicrous, with nearly every major character making at least one completely illogical decision, but by that point you're already strapped in, so you may as well just sit back and enjoy. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Traumatic transition from print to screen
After reading "The quiet game" and "24 hours", Greg Iles' books became constant on my "List of books to buy". Iles, to me, is like the earlier John Grisham , the good Grisham, who could write thrillers like "A time to kill" and "The firm".

"Trapped" is a movie based on Iles' "24 hours". It deals with a group of kidnappers who have devised the "perfect kidnapping plan", as Joey, the head of the gang, puts it: by separating the father, the mother, and the child, and by placing phone calls every thirty minutes, the kidnappers have total control of the situation. But this time it's not going to be that easy.

The book is gripping, thrilling and very well written in the sense that all characters' reactions are true to real life. When I knew that there was a movie based on "24 hours", featuring the beautiful Charlize Theron, the competent Kevin Bacon and with a screenplay written by the same author, I wanted to watch it right away. Unfortunately, the result is not the one I expected.

"Trapped" is one of those examples where the transition from print to screen is kind of traumatic. While the text makes the reader turn the pages faster, the movie scenes are rushed and make the viewers role their eyes. While the plot on text is believable, the plot on screen lacks elements so that the viewer fully understands what's going on. While reading the book, I could picture anyone I wanted as Joey, but watching the movie I had to put up with Bacon's worst acting in years. Once again, Charlize Theron is competent, and Pruett Taylor Vince is another good surprise.

Even so, with all these problems, "Trapped" is mildly entertaining and fast-paced, even if somewhat predictable. Greg Iles is an above average author, but needs polishment as a screenplay writer.

Grade 6.5/10

GREAT
With Kevin Bacon being one of my favorite actors and Charlize
Thron being a really talented up and coming actress not to mention how hot she is.Kevin Bacon goes to back to what he does
best and that is play the villan,and he is the villan with that
twisted grin,calm voice,and those killer tatoo's he play's his
best and slimiest villan since Sleepers and River Wild.Now to
the movie this as to be without a doubt the best and most enter-
taining kidnapper movie since Ransom.This movie has it all great
dialogue,character developement,action,and a twist that you really don't see coming.See this movie with in the first 8 -10
minutes of the movie you'll be drawn in to the best movie of it's
genre in recent years.Dont let the credit of the movie(and Kevin
Bacon)fool you he has more screen time in this than Wild Things
were his name is mentioned first in the credits.

Wow
Based upon a novel by Greg Iles, this movie absolutely Rocks!

Joe (Kevin Bacon) is a child kidnapper. He's done it before and he does it again. This time he choses Karen Jenning's family and in broad daylight he forces himself into her house and gets hold of Abigail, Karen's daughter.
But this time it is different. Abigail is asthmatic and she could die in kidnapper hands!

What'll happen next???
You better watch it yourself! :)

From the time Abigail gets kidnapped until the end of the movie you'll feel that you're sitting on thorns or you'll bite all your nails until "there's none".

Highly Recommended

What's wrong with this movie.
Boring and I mean boring.The actors were fine but it is the story that stinks.Why didn't Stuart Townsend's and Charlize Theron's characters who had weapons each took out the bad guys and call the authorities immediately.And the helicopter chase scene didn't make any sense.Why didn't the FBI arrest Courtney Love's character earlier and when Kevin Bacon's character was hit in the face with a tire iron,how did he quickly recovered and was then shot to death.I saw so many flaws in the movie I could list them in a ten minute span.

Predictable Kidnapping Drama...
The perfect kidnapping scheme is put into action by Joe Hickey (Kevin Bacon) for the fifth time as he and his companions kidnap Abby from the Jennings family. The plan consists of kidnapping Abby from the Jennings as Joe's brother, Marvin (Pruitt Taylor Vince), watches Abby for 24 hours. During this time Joe dictates to the mother what she should be doing to get the safe return of her daughter. While all of this is going on,, the father is self-contained as he is on a business trip. However, this time something goes wrong as Abby suffers from asthma. The cast performs well in this suspenseful action film, but it does not save the film as there is not much suspense in this predictable kidnapping drama. Trapped fails to convey a message as it jumps from scene to scene which ends up hurting the overall cinematic experience. ... Read more

Description

Whoopi Goldberg (SISTER ACT I & II, EDDIE) handles business her own way in this outrageous comedy hit! Whoopi plays a fast-track executive who starts her own company after a back-stabbing co-worker (Tim Daly, TV's WINGS) nabs her promotion. But when she's locked out of the stuffy corporate world, she invents a dazzling male business partner to sell her ideas! Her wacky plan soon spins wildly out of control, however, when her bogus "associate" becomes Wall Street's h