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With dizzying cinematic tricks and astonishing performances, Francis Coppola's 1992 version of the oft-filmed Dracula story is one of the most exuberant, extravagant films of the 1990s. Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder, as the Count and Mina Murray, are quite a pair of star-crossed lovers. She's betrothed to another man; he can't kick the habit of feeding off the living. Anthony Hopkins plays Van Helsing, the vampire slayer, with tongue firmly in cheek. Tom Waits is great fun as Renfield, the hapless slave of Dracula who craves the blood of insects and cats. Sadie Frost is a sexy Lucy Westenra. And poor Keanu Reeves, as Jonathan Harker, has the misfortune to be seduced by Dracula's three half-naked wives. There's a little bit of everything in this version of Dracula: gore, high-speed horseback chases, passion, and longing. ... Read more

Reviews (345)

The Best Dracula Movie I've Ever Seen!
Francis Ford Coppola does an excellent job retelling the Dracula tale using actual history blended with legend. Gary Oldman is excellent as the Count. Oldman's portrayal of the Count as a tortured man longing for the lost love of his life acutally had me feel sorry for the man. When he observes the portrait of Mina(Winona Ryder) and remembers his lost bride it is truly an awesome scene. Oldman's Count can also be bloodthirsty as well! Sir Anthony Hopkins as Professor Van Helsing is very fun to watch. To say that Van Helsing is a little nuts is an understatement! The music is also classic and it really sets the mood during the entire film. Winona Ryder as Mina playing a woman torn between the Count and her intended husband(Kneau Reeves) is well done. The most awesome scene is when the Count receives Mina's letter saying that she'll never see him again. You can feel the heartache and pain in the Count and also feel his anger. Awesome! A must see for the true Dracula fan!

16:9 HDTV/480p DVD/5.1 sound = SUPERBIT DRACULA !!!
This review is about "SUPERBIT COLLECTION" an outstanding Home Theatre version of Bram Stokers Dracula, a Francis Ford Coppola film.

Columbia Pictures has raised the bar on DVD video and sound quality with the new "SUPERBIT" series movies. This feature improves the picture by doubling the bit rate digital transfer. Simply, twice the picture quality of existing DVD transfers. Also the sound has been enhanced equally in performance.

NOTE: GOODS NEWS - All this can be enjoyed on existing DVD players with noticeable improvements. BAD NEWS - Its not really bad news its really the "BOTTOM LINE NEWS" - the "SUPERBIT COLLECTION IS FOR YOU IF" you have; a Home Theatre, HDTV WideScreen (Enhanced 16:9)w/Component Video, Progressive Scan DVD (480p) w/Component Video & DTS or 5.1 Sound environment. IF you have this then the "SUPERBIT COLLECTION" Dracula explodes of the screen!!!!!!

Summary: SUPERBIT Dracula directed by Francis Ford Copplola is a very beautiful photographed eerie love story. With a story line more to the tragedy of Dracula (brillantly played by Gary Oldman)than the viciousness of vampires. The detailed scenes & colors explode off the screen with this "SUPERBIT" version film. The 5.1 sound is crystal clear and adds immensely to the eeriness of this dark gothic horror film. This SUPERBIT detailed film makes for an unbelievable visual experience. Coppola does a grand job providing us with an unsusual twist in the story of Dracula.

This is the best "SUPERBIT" transfer so far in the Columbia Pictures Collection. Just remember, "SUPERBIT" was developed to give the Home Theatre owner a new improved DVD experience and they have done this with "Bram Stokers, Dracula". Enjoy.

Bram's Stoker's best
You can't go wrong with Drakula, and this is the best translation to film of Bram Stoker's Masterpiece to date.

A classic telling of a classic tale
Francis Ford Coppola breathed new life in to the classic vampire story by Bram Stoker, keeping faith with much of the original novel while adding his own touches that made it an artistic wonder.

The best parts of the movie are those that remain true to the book: Jonathan Harker's travel to the castle and fateful meeting with the Count; Harker's confrontation with Dracula's three vampire lovers; the newly arisen Lucy Westenra confrontation as a vampire with her loved ones in the cemetery; and the exciting race with the sun and the gypsies taking the coffin-bound Dracula to his castle.

The script follows Dracula's strengths and vulnerabilities faithfully. The Dracula of this movie walks in the daylight -- just as in the novel.

Even when the movie departs from the original and the plot lags with the romance of Dracula and Mina, Coppola creates breathtaking images with their own potent spell that held me enchanted.

Overall the performances are well done with one or two notable exceptions. Sadie Frost, however, steals the movie in the role of Lucy Westenra.

The movie, in my opinion, would have been better with more emphasis on horror. Dracula should be more scary than sympathetic.

Still, this is one of my favorite vampire movies ever and well worth repeated viewings.

The best vampire movie ever!
Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse now) delivers the best vampire movie ever. "Dracula" has great performances from Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins and Monica Bellucci (!). The only bad performance comes from Keanu Reeves -- everytime time he's on screen he looks like a pale moron. Anthony Hopkins role is even shorter, yet, he's great, as always. "Dracula" is very well written and directed, it has great sound & visual effects, a haunting soundtrack and it is very scary and erotic(!), see Monica Bellucci (Irreversible, The Passion Of The Christ) as one of Dracula's sexy undead brides.

This version of "Dracula" is fascinating because it's so different from the Bram Stocker famous novel. In the novel there was no mentioning of a love story between Dracula and Mina. In this film exists a sad love story.
There is a scene where Dracula and Mina drink Absinthe. That scene is hypnotic. It proves the film's tagline to be right: love never dies. See it for yourself if you don't believe me. ... Read more

Reviews (69)

Fun Fantasy Tied With History
The Rocketeer had a very special memory for me. It was the opening movie to first be shown at the newly refurbished El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood; CA. Disney bought the old theatre and spent about 10 million dollars refurbishing it. It is a beautiful theatre and contains the original fixtures and décor - newly repainted - and the most sophisticated digital and THX movie theatre systems around.

Now, that aside, the film was a fantasy filled adventure set in the not so distant past (30's - 40's) about a secret device invented by Mr. Howard Hughes himself which was stolen by some gangster with the intentions of steeling it Hitler himself. The special effects are great and the Rocket is very cool. Even the costumes were very unique.

The device is a jet pack that when worn with a special helmet made by the character played by Alan Arkin, will allow the person to fly through the air (and water) at great speeds. With the villainous Timothy Dalton playing a Nazi spy and world famous actor chasing him. Paul Servino plays a great Mafioso.

The film stars relatively new comers at the time Bill Campbell and Jennifer Connolly as the boyfriend-girlfriend who end up having the mafia, Nazi's and the FBI chasing them! It got a lot of heart and a lot of humor and it is a great family film. I really enjoyed this. No real extras on this DVD but maybe later. I think you'll enjoy this too.

A Wonderful Ride!
The Rocketeer is one of the most enjoyable action-adventure movies ever made. Everything about this film is wonderful. Director Joe Johnson perfectly captures the look and feel of Hollywood (or what Hollywood should look and feel like) during the 1930s. Great casting with Bill Campbell right on target at Cliff Secord, Jennifer Connelly as his best girl, Jenny Blake, Alan Arkin as Cliff's mentor and mechanic/inventor friend, and Timothy Dalton as the evil Nazi spy-movie star Neville Sinclair. Like Raiders of the Lost Ark, it is a homage to the film serials of the period, but with a lot more spit and polish. The special effects are great, the set decoration, costumes, makeup, all evoke the time and place perfectly. A wonderful script adapted from the graphic novel of the same name sets this movie apart from others in this genre. The dialogue is funny, fast and at sometimes furious. Campbell plays the All-American boy with a real gee whiz, almost Jimmy Stewart kind of charm. The plot about a secret plan by the Nazis to build rocket packs for an army of "Rocketeers" to take over the world is added and abetted by Dalton as the Errol Flynn-like movie star. When a prototype rocket pack accidentally ends up in the hands of Campbell and Arkin, the action, and their troubles, really start. This film is filled with dozens of wonderful characterizations. Some of the best are Paul Sorvino as gangster Eddie Valentine, Terry O'Quinn as Howard Hughes, and Tiny Ron as Lothar. The musical score by James Horner is outstanding. It's heroic, quiet and inspiring. Why this film didn't turn out to be the big blockbuster it should have been is beyond me. I love Raiders of the Lost Ark, but this film matches it in almost every category. One of my favorite modern films, I never tire of watching it. Perfect entertainment and perfect for all ages. The Rocketeer is a real winner.

Top Notch Movie... So-So DVD
I ordered "The Rocketeer" over a year ago and finally had chance to watch it this past weekend. I haven't seen it in several years, and I must say, it's even better than I remembered it! Billy Campbell is terrific and Jennifer Connely glows. Alan Arkin is a reliable sidekick... and Timothy Dalton positively shines as the villain of the piece! The movie has a Saturday matinee feel to it, but with top-notch production values. It also has a great sense of humor. It's one of the best movies that no one saw. Too bad. I was disappointed with the picture quality of my dvd. Is this common for this particular release, or did I get a lemon? Also would have like to have seen some additional extra features. I know I saw a featurette on creating the rocket-pack scenes somewhere many years ago. Regardless... This is one movie I'm really glad to have. I'll be watching and re-watching it for years to come.

An AWESOME MOVIE!
This is one of the most coolest, fun filled movies I have ever seen because of everything that it has to make it a great movie. Simply GREAT!!!!!!

Nice!
THIS MOVIE IS SO COOL AND IS A MUST SEE FOR ALL COMIC BOOK FANS! TRULY TRULY GREAT! ... Read more

Reviews (181)

Review for GERM 241
Enough, directed by Michael Apted and starring Jennifer Lopez, was advertised as a movie about an abused woman's revenge on her evil husband. One would guess, then, that this movie would be inclined toward feminist principles; however, there is evidence of sexist representations of both men and women, and instances of the objectification of women. Before her husband is proved to be an unfaithful and abusive man, the film unfolds like a fairytale. Mitch, a wealthy contractor, meets Slim at her waitressing job and rescues her from her blue-collar world. They have the perfect wedding, the perfect house, the perfect daughter, and the perfect life. This first section of the film reinforces the stereotype that working-class women need a strong man to save them and give them the life they want.

The first dose of reality hits when Slim discovers Mitch is cheating on her; she protests, he hits her, and she determines to leave him. The fact that Slim is very strong in her decision to not wait for him to hit her again certainly sends a good message to women and girls about abuse. It seems for a moment that the stereotype of the fairytale romance will be subverted and that the woman will triumph. The reality of what happens next is just as questionable as the fairytale beginning to the story; Mitch becomes completely evil, like a villain from a comic book, while Slim becomes the self-sacrificing mother who would do anything for her child.

On the surface, Lopez's character appears to be a strong, independent woman who is capable of taking care of herself. However, throughout the film she proves to be dependent on men. Her adoptive father helps her escape from Mitch's house with her daughter and she turns to her biological father for financial help. She seeks shelter and support from her close friend, Joe, and she finally seeks training in fighting techniques from a man. Ginny, played by Juliette Lewis, is a female friend who does help her a great deal, but most of the people that helped to 'save' her were men. This reinforces the stereotype that women cannot really be strong on their own; they are never really safe without the help of men. Another stereotype of women supported in this film was that of the mother. Slim does absolutely everything for her daughter, Gracie. Never does she speak of leaving Mitch for her own good; Slim always speaks of the safety of her daughter. In other words, the filmmaker is essentially saying that women must remain mothers above all else.

In addition to the female stereotypes we see, the idea of a woman being surveyed by the male surveyor is seen several times in Enough. At the very beginning of the movie, Mitch sees Slim and finds her attractive; he is a wealthy man who observes a beautiful woman and wants her for his own, so he takes her. Later in the film, when Slim has changed her name and moved to the west coast, we see Mitch's henchman staring at her through the window, simply watching her sleep and get dressed. Then, when Mitch arrives to 'take back what is his,' he also observes her like someone watching a movie. He looks at her from afar like a man surveying his land; he clearly sees her as his property rather than an actual person.

ONE TOUGH COOKIE-
I am a fan of JLO , I never miss a new movie of hers, but this one left me wondering (?), after seeing the trailers. I realize now they were quite misleading and I pegged the film as a B rating. I had interpreted them as a typical "Sleeping with the Enemy" type of film. Husband beats wife, wife runs. Well, to a point that's the basic plot of "Enough". On the otherhand, Jennifer Lopez as "Slim" gives us another advantage point. We see her fall and bleed, we see her run for her life, we see her reach her limit. What we also see is the humanity. (And yes, she makes the Julia Robert's character seem terribly useless in "Sleeping with the Enemy")It's not all cat and mouse. The characters in this drama must play by the rules. The law is not really on anybody's side.

Slim leaves her abusive husband with her daughter Gracie in tow and with help from friends old and new, lives a life on the run. It's not her daughter who's in danger, it's her. If she is found her husband (played by Billy Campbell)he will kill her.

So what to do? Go to the police? He'll find her. Go to a friend? He'll find her. She decides to use the rules her own way...she spends one month traing heavily with a martial arts instructor and decides to make the fight fair.

Jennifer Lopez does a fabulous job, as usual, of never playing herself. She is Slim, the once submissive wife who wants to be happy. Be we watch her become much more...a tough cookie who knows how to play a man's game.

I enjoyed this movie very much. Lopez always surprises me with her characters. Some scenes were very difficult to watch. Many times heartfelt moments between Slim and Gracie were real tearjerkers. I am not sure how a movie like this would translate into the real world, but on-screen it seems quite convincing. My only problem with the movie...I wanted more from the ending. It left me a little dry. Otherwise, I would say most would enjoy "Enough" as a great night's rent. Kudos to Juliette Lewis, I haven't seen her in a film for years. She is an outstanding actress (remember "Cape Fear")?

I want a rematch.
Boy howdy, the fems are getting pretty rough these days. I suppose after generations of being dominated by the male sub-species that once the ladies decided to strike back they meant just that: strike back. A perfect example of estrogen TNT in a can is Jennifer Lopez swingin', sweatin', and kickin' in ENOUGH.

Let's face it, we all know where ENOUGH is headed. J-Lo plays a greasy spoon waitress (yeah, like that's believable) who happens to fall for a smooth-talking swell (Bill Campbell) who turns out not to be the nicest guy on the block. Er, the planet. And when J-Lo confronts Hubby about his flagrant infidelity, Hubby responds with some fisticuffs and then refuses to let his wife out of the marriage. Granted, Campbell is ultra-creepy to watch. . .he's so revolting and disgusting that even my dog knew he was going to get the ultimate comeuppance at the end of this flick.

With the help of friends, J-Lo and young daughter flee and relocate thousands of miles away, yet Hubby is relentless in his pursuit. Once it becomes obvious that a custody showdown is inevitable, J-Lo does the only logical thing: She enlists the aid of a martial arts dude and learns how to fight like a tiger. Tigress? Then, it's back to California to sneak into Hubby's new flat and extract a pound of posterior. And, of course, predictability reigns supreme as the film rolls to its conclusion.

I've had the luxury of viewing this film with other ladies, and their reaction has been somewhat universal. Not a one of them would have put up with the guff J-Lo did; in fact, the first time a punch was thrown Hubby would have first been looking at the floor to find his mountain oysters, just before he would feel the piercing pain of buckshot. But, perhaps justice is swifer in my neck of the woods. Anyway, in ENOUGH J-Lo kind of blindsides her husband during their kung fu match. Ain't fair. I demand a best two-out-of-three.
--D. Mikels

Female Empowerment
Jennifer Lopez stars as Slim in this thriller about an abused woman who flees her rich and well-connected husband Mitch (Bill Campbell). At stake is not only Slim's well-being but also the psychological and physical protection of their young daughter Gracie (played adorably by little Tessa Allen). Although this flick has the trappings of a feminist fight-back story with its theme of domestic violence and custody laws, make no mistake: this is a thriller through and through, with twists and violence and personal peril at every turn. Women will delight in the training scenes where J-Lo prepares to fight back, and men will hardly mind the sight of the buff actress learning to defend herself.

Yeah, the premise as it unfolds is a little ridiculous, especially as Mitch seems to have a GPS system to track his fleeing wife, but the escapism is pure adrenaline-rushing fun. Jennifer Lopez is naturally appealing and solid in her performance, although the emotional range of the role seems to demand only fierceness and fright. Still, the chemistry between her and young co-star Allen is unmistakable, even poignant. Noah Wylie does a fantastic turn as Robbie, a character I won't describe for fear of spoiling the plot. Juliette Lewis has her usual on-screen charisma even though she's not given much to work with.

This film was much better than I expected. Viewers hoping for something new or even substantial on the theme of domestic violence will be disappointed since it only serves as a plot device to put Lopez's character in danger. This would make a great date flick since men will appreciate the constant action (not to mention the lead actress) and women will be drawn to the subject matter.

Great Movie
Enough is one of Jennifer Lopez's best movies. The movie is great and the acting is great. This is just one great movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes suspense and Jennifer Lopez. If not rent, you'll still think this is a great movie! ... Read more

Description

ARMISTEAD MAUPIN’S FURTHER TALES OF THE CITY is the third installment of Maupin’s classic saga of San Francisco life.Set in 1981, the four-hour miniseries involves the residents of 28 Barbary Lane in a racy and rollicking adventure/mystery that leaps from Golden Gate Park to the home of a Hollywood icon to a remote island in the Alaskan wilderness.As usual in Maupin’s world, romantic entanglements abound. Landlady Anna Madrigal (OLYMPIA DUKAKIS) is stunned by her mother’s sudden arrival.Mother Mucca (JACKIE BURROUGHS) who runs a bordello in Nevada is in town to take care of personal business and meets a man from her past, Royal Reichenbach (JOHN MCMARTIN).When Mother Mucca introduces Anna to Royal, they find themselves in a rivalry over him. Madrigal’s tenants have their own stories from the past to unravel.Michael Tolliver (PAUL HOPKINS) is working at a nursery called "Best Laid Plants."He tries to get over being dumped by his former lover Dr. Jon Fielding (BILLY CAMPBELL) who went off to work on a cruise ship.

Exploring his sexuality full tilt, Michael embarks on a series of sexual escapades involving cowboys, cops and Cage Tyler (JOHN ROBINSON) a closeted movie star. Michael's friend and neighbor Mary Ann Singleton (LAURA LINNEY) is challenged with a relationship problem of a different kind.Her boyfriend and upstairs neighbor, Brian Hawkins (WHIP HUBLEY) who has spent most of his adult life as a womanizer, comes to the realization that he wants to marry her.She, however, is hesitant to take the next step as she is focused on her career.Longing to become a serious reporter, but not given a chance by her station manager, she is forced to work as a daytime host of the "Bargain Matinee" show. Mary Ann’s late boss’ widow, socialite Frannie Halcyon (DIANA LEBLANC) is tormented by her daughter DeDe’s (BARBARA GARRICK) apparent demise in the Jonestown Massacre.Living on Mai Tais and sleeping pills, she refuses to accept that DeDe and her children, Little Anna and Edgar were killed.She seeks advice from psychics to help her find her missing daughter.When a fortune-teller convinces her that DeDe is indeed alive, she asks for the support of society columnist Prue Giroux (MARY KAY PLACE) to make her story public. When Prue refuses to get involved, Frannie calls Mary Ann to share her secret. Since Mary Ann is always searching for a good story, she is eager to meet in hopes of finally getting a break on the evening news.

Meanwhile, Prue meets a mysterious homeless man, Luke (HENRY CZERNY) in Golden Gate Park.Immediately drawn to his intense charm, she falls madly in love with him.Little does she know that she’s opening Pandora’s Box when she attempts to bring him back to society with the help of flamboyant celebrity priest Father Paddy Star (BRUCE MCCULLOCH).Luke’s past is far more sinister than Prue could ever imagine. Then it’s revealed that DeDe Halcyon Day has spent three years in Cuba with her lover Dorothea (FRANÇOISE ROBERTSON) after escaping the massacre in Guyana.She ends up in a camp for gay Cuban refugees in Fort Chafee, Arkansas and finally calls her mother Frannie in San Francisco to tell her that she wants to come home. Through DeDe’s unexpected reappearance and a twist of fate, the storylines begin to intertwine and all of the characters in Maupin’s tales find themselves in the midst of an unpredictable adventure. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A wonderful miniseries in an excellent DVD set!
Further Tales Of The City continues on with the tradition of the 2 previous mini-series - wonderful characters and amazing storylines. To be truthful though the whole Jim Jones storyline didn't quite gel with me - I thought it could have been handled a little better. But what makes this series stand out is the way the subtle changes between the 70's and 80's are illustrated. Further Tales is set in that transition period from loving and caring attitudes towards each other to the greed and emotional corruption of the 80's. Great to see the character of Mother Mucca back as well - one of the best characters TV has ever seen!
This series has been lovingly created and it shows. The characters are all magically relatable in their way, though I did miss Mona.

A special mention needs to be made of the DVD - a whole disc packed with an outstanding set of extras. From interviews, to behind the scenes footage, and much more besides - you really get a indepth look at the making of the miniseries - all TV shows should be released on DVD like this!

Hopefully there will be 'Even Further Tales' for us to enjoy in the future....

"Magical" Ms Madrigal Invites You to 28 Barbary Lane, SF
Olympia Dukakis leads a cast of otherwise little-known actors in this very entertaining serial about life, lust and liasons surrounding the tennants at 28 Barbary Lane in San Francisco of the mid-1970s.

This set keeps going where the "2nd" set left off. A few casting changes were made (some for the better, other...oh, well!). A few facts worth knowing for those who are "jumping in" with this 3rd installment in the series:

The main character, Maryann Singleton, an innocent 20-something Ohio girl escapes the smothering arms of her over-protective parents and becomes the latest arrival at mysterious Ms Madrigal's house of sweet, odd and gorgeous young people. Not only is she (like everyone else) welcomed and accepted, but soon finds herself in a web of weird situations, corporate greed, sexual experimentation, suicide, and other shocking things.

The recurring central focus on homosexuality eventually becomes so nonchallante, that the viewer soon no longer sees this as anything worth talking about. It's almost like watching episodes of "Ellen", "Roseanne" or "Will & Grace", only that any "viewer advisories" seem redundant now (it's about time!).

Tales of the City is a look back at the 1970s decadence we saw in "Studio 54", but otherwise only 'heard rumors about'. This is an honest, unashamed view of the "San Francisco Scene" as experienced by the author/screen writer Amistad Mopin. Along with historically authentic facts and references (The "Jonestown Tragedy" of 1979 is briefly referenced at the end - if you blinked you missed it!) this otherwise mostly ficticious plot makes for fun viewing. The 6 part series nicely fits on this DVD. Have it piece meal or all at once. I think you're gonna like this picture!*****

So-so conclusion
I did enjoy seeing my favourite movie characters again, but the whole Jonestown story seemed to be a bit unconvincing. Still, the cast are brilliant and it was a good way to finish!

Badly mastered DVD
Four starts for the content. Zero stars for the DVD mastering.

Perhaps it's because they tried to stuff more than three hours worth of material onto 1 DVD, but like others, I too was unable to play this all the way through on my DVD player. The problems start right about at the start of episode 4, and just keep getting worse. But perhaps it's just bad mastering, because I had the same problem with the second, extras, DVD, which isn't nearly so full. It's a shame such a wonderful series is marred by a badly mastered disc.

technical difficulties as well
I also went through two copies of the DVD and returned both due to the tale end skipping and not reading on my player. One was purchased through Amazon, another through Borders, both had trouble in the same spot! I love the books, and enjoyed what I saw to the point it fritzed out. I had seen it on Showtime initially and went out and bought the books and the first two series...what a gem. Hopefully I will get lucky on the next purchase. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Excellent movie
This was an excellent must see movie. I enjoyed this more that Fried Green Tomatoes and highly recommend it. A must have.

Excellent Tale of the Times
Tom Rice and (the author of the original book) have captured a period, a place and a feeling that will take you back in time. A seemingly simpler place with the amazingly similar concerns of today. The relationship of two women portrays what is missing in all of us, and those too willing to judge our shortcomings.
With an amazing cast and wonderful period piece settings, the only thing lacking in this film was greater box office success. This movie shows that passion can more than offset a limited budget, with a resultingly wondrful postcard from the past.

Tyro Jones
One of the best movies I've seen in a long, long time. Very moving and beautifully filmed. Excellent. A must get and see.

Good but could have been better
I enjoyed this movie and particularly enjoyed that I could watch it with an elderly person without being embarassed.
Although the movie was good it could have been better. In watching the deleted scenes I think if those had been added we would have had a better picture of the father, played by Gary Cole. His part was largely cut out.
Music is good, too.
Watching the alternate ending, I feel the best ending was selected.

A reverie from the deep South
A RISING PLACE is a fine film, one that explores many aspects of adolescent America. By 'adolescent' I refer to the age of innocence in the 1940s when life in America moved slowly, emotions were tested by racism, the Pearl Harbor bombing alert and subsequent World War II, single motherhood, death of friends/loved ones, among other challenges. Director and screenwriter Rice has capably re-created the languid misty afternoons in Mississippi rural towns, finding actors who appear so natural in their roles that the film feels more like a memory that a story.

Through a series of flashbacks from the present to 1940 we are introduced to a beautiful young woman who falls in love with a pilot, becomes pregnant, is ostracized by the community for her indiscretion and finds solace in the strong friendship with a bright, knowledgeable African American woman unafraid of the racist slurs and 'enter through the back door' milieu of this town. The two girls align with another young male 'rebel' who is searching for his own identity in this stew pot of life. Slowly we discover that the story is that of one Aunt Millie who is failing and whose life comes floating to the surface to her niece as Millie approaches death. The background includes redneck white extremists, hatred of anything foreign (e.g. the Japanese invasion, whites mixing with blacks, unwed motherhood) and it is against this background that the three main characters search for and find the meaning of friendship, forgiveness, and equality.

Yes, stories such as this are familiar, but rarely has a director found a cast so strong, visuals so hauntingly beautiful, and a composer so in tune with the message of the movie. The members of the cast - all superb - include many well known actors as well as introducing some new faces whose presence is indelibly fine. Singling them out would be inappropriate in an ensemble effort as excellent as this.

The DVD includes an alternate ending and deleted scenes. View these, as it seems that the deleted scenes should have been included, so very fine are these moments. This is a beautifully touching film that deserves a wide audience. Perhaps that will come with the welcome release of this DVD. ... Read more

Description

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

Reviews (345)

Bram Stoker's Dracula
So often I find myself with an uncontrollable urge, an urge only silenced by the viewing of Francis Ford Coppola's gothic masterpiece, originally conceived in 1897 by Bram Stoker. I would like to point out that both these names scream artist and I'm filled with envy due to my rather plain name. I recently purchased this copy of Dracula so that the urge may be quelled more easily. The DVD features no special features and a pathetic excuse for a menu, but the widescreen presentation was worth the purchase.

I must mention Dangerous Liaisons as Keanu Reeves (Jonathan Harker) plays almost the same character with the same character story line. Simply replace Gary Oldman (Dracula) with John Malkovich and Winona Ryder (Mina Murray) with Uma Thurman; once again John Malkovich will take Keanu's coveted bride and then, just like in Dangerous Liaisons, taste Keanu's fiery blade of vengeance. John Malkovich (who was in Shadow of the Vampire) I think would have made a great Dracula, although it would be hard to surpass Gary Oldman's stunning portrayal of the famous Count. I suppose they picked Keanu for this role because of Dangerous Liaisons and I also suppose they picked Winona Ryder for her role in The Age of Innocence because of her role in Dracula. Having mentioned The Age of Innocence, I must note that Winona is not the only actor the two movies share as Richard E. Grant (Dr. Seward) is in both as well.

Perfection is what Francis Ford Coppola has accomplished here. 1992 must have been a real batty year with the theatre release of Dracula and Batman Returns. My favorite scene is near the end when the chariot is racing into the castle courtyard as the sun goes down, the music is so suspenseful and when Keanu steps up to that wooden crate and BLAM, now that is what movies are all about.

I loved once and I will love again
This is a gothic love story of sorts, but is different in that it spans an amazing four hundred years.
In the beginning we encounter Prince Vlad who is leaving to battle the invading Turkish army. Leaving behind his beautiful, if somewhat emotionally fragile bride Elisabeta. When she receives a forged note telling her that her husband is dead, she flings herself into the river. Prince Vlad vows to avenge her death, by selling his soul to the Devil.
Forward four hundred years, Prince Vlad is still alive and kicking. He has hired a lawyer by the name of Jonathan Harker, who has left behind his fiancee Mina Murray. Prince Dracula sees her picture, realising that his beloved wife has returned, he imprisons Jonathan in his castle and travels to London to meet and woo Mina/Elisabeta.
Gary Oldman shone in the role of the tormented lovesick Count Dracula, he was dark, dangerous, mysterious and [...] on legs. Which made me wonder why Mina went through with her marriage to the bland and unromantic Jonathan even after she had met the Count. Winona Ryder was spectacular as the woman torn between the man she died loving four hundred years ago, and the man she's stuck with in this life. Anthony Hopkins gave some much needed wit and humour in the role of Dr. Van Helsing.
But don't be surprised if you find yourself barracking for the Count to woo Mina away from Jonathan, or for the Count to defeat Van Helsing, or praying that Mina will come to her senses and realise that she belongs with the Count.
Love comes but once in your life, but I guess it depends which life you can remember!

"Bram Stoker's" Dracula?
While the story does follow the major events of Stoker's novel, it has been rewritten to the point that it is almost unrecognizable. I will admit that visually this film is impressive. The scenery and cinematography are quite good. As for the cast, Anthony Hopkins is a very enjoyable van Helsing, and Gary Oldman does very well as Count Dracula- but not Bram Stoker's vision of the vampire. The other performances are forgettable.

Mix of legend and novel
Francis Ford Copppola's adaption of Dracula is unique; Coppola combines legend and novel to create a visually striking tour de force. There are a number witty visual references to silent movies (particularly previous adaptions from 1929's Nosferatu to Hammer's Horror of Dracula)and the visual effects are quite stunning. The effects themselves borrow liberally from older film and stage techniques. They prove just as striking and effective as any CGI images that could have been used.

The literate script is more faithful to Stoker's novel than previous adaptions but there's still a considerable amount of liberaties taken with it. Calling this Stoker's Dracula is being generous;Coppola transforms anything he adapts and this is very much Coppola's Dracula.

The acting and casting is more problematic. The most glaring problem is Keanu Reeves as Harker. Yes, I realize that Reeves' wooden acting style is deliberate. It's a stylized reference to the acting of the 20's and 30's. Unfortunately, given the other performances, it doesn't work. Anthony Hopkins manages to chew just about every bit of scenery in sight. Still, he's an effective Van Helsing. He plays Van Helsing with as obsessed bordering on madness. It works within the context of the film and is a fine contrast to Gary Oldman's fine performance as Dracula. Cary Elwes and Bill Campbell round out a fine cast of performers (although I personally would have loved seeing the versatile Elwes play Campbell's role). Tom Waits makes the role of Renfield his own. Waits' take on Renfield is the strongest since Dwight Frye's in the 1931 Todd Browning version of Dracula.

The romantic element of the film is completely screenwriter James Hart's invention. It's a surprise and makes this something more than a run of the mill vampire movie. His script breathes life into a moribound subject that's been done to death. Coppola and his collaborator Hart have invented a tragic gothic Dracula mixing gore with the sensibility of a romance novel.

The film is well staged and the action sequences have a kinetic energy that only a thoughtful director like Copppola could create. The cinematography veers from beautiful to eerie within the same sequence. Coppola's Dracula takes the vestiage of Greek tragedy and grafts it to the horror film in a way that makes this a fresh and vital film.

The Superbit DVD has no extras to speak of (and the extras on Columbia's DVD pale compared to the original Laserdisc version). The picture quality and sound are both outstanding. Columbia/Sony have done an outstanding job with this transfer. It's one of the sharpest and best looking DVDs around.

A Perverted Lab Experiment
... You people that have rated this film 5 stars need your heads examined. Yes, I do agree with the fantastic color,the special effects, breathtaking costumes,the surround sound effects, but what else is there for peep sake!!. The story is twisted, girls are getting raped by Satan himself, Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves acting is out of place. The only person that fits in this movie is anthony Hopkins, at least his british accent is authentic. This movie is so twisted that even Count Dracul looks like he belongs in one of the Star War films and not to mention Dracula's slave who craves insects and cats.
Not only is this film offensive, but a tremendous dissapointment to all Dracula film lovers. ... Read more

Description

In an effort to remain neutral, Ireland made a deal to intern any soldier, German or Allied, captured on Irish soil. During a dogfight, Allied pilot Miles Keogh, and German pilot Rudolph von Stegenbek shoot each other down and are captured. The camp commandant tries to keep the peace between these sworn enemies. But, when both men fall in love with Mattie, their hatred becomes personal. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Jean`s Amazing Screen debut
I really loved this movie with very strong performances from the lead actors and the debut of dance star Jean Butler is truly fantastic and the dance gig she performs is worth 5 stars on its own and i am suprised Bill Campbell isnt a bigger star that he is, Angus maCfadden showing what a fine and underated actor he is as the German and the dvd is very good as it includes a decomentary of the real life camp of WWII,i highly reccomend this movie if you like real life ar stories as it has everything,action,comedy,romance ,fights etc and includes many excellent performances from UK Tv stars including Joe McGann and John Gordon Sinclair,but for me it is the astounding beauty of Jean Butler`s performance that lights up the screen and makes this movie a must.

Great Movie!
although there was not much fighting(killing) in this movie, i love it the way they showed more of the relationship between two different sides without actually killing each other. and plus wow that Jean Butler is beautiful, i love her in the riverdance! yeah go Jean go! hehe! good movie, get it! all i can say

Great true to life war story.
I've seen this film many times and love it, as a 20year old it just show's that war story's are not just for the old.

See it if you can.

Excellent and tear-jerking , worth seeing
The Brylcreem Boys slogon is "There's more to war than taking sides" , that is exactly what the movie is about . It is a touching love story set against the horrific background of the war. There are parts of it that made me cry and parts that made me laugh. Jean Butler sparkles in her debute appearance . Certainly worth seeing.

The Brylcreem Boys, a hidden gem
A rather serious movie that explores the nature of relationships between enemies and allies in the midst of a war, The Brylcreem Boys with its almost 'Hogan's Hero's' type feel to the underlying theme is truly one of the finest films I have seen in a long time. This film lacked the hype that many other films get, but in my opinion it leaves most of them in the dust. The tension begins when an American and a German pilot have managed to shoot each other down over neutral Ireland during World War II. To preserve its neutrality in the war, Ireland places all belligerents -Axis and Ally- into a POW camp, where the one intolerable action is to bring the outside war into Ireland. As a social scientist I found this movie to be thought prevoking regarding what it means to be gentlemen in a time of extreme conflict. This remarkable film gives fascinating insight into human behavior in a place far removed from the horrors of the war, and is a film that promises to satisfy a multitude of different tastes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Though Hill Street Blues got all the awards and Miami Vice got all the attention, for some viewers it's the short-lived Crime Story (the second series produced by Vice's Michael Mann) that stands as tall as the great cop show of the 1980s. Set to a gritty rock & roll beat--with Del Shannon's "Runaway" providing the perfect theme song--the series chronicled the early '60s rise of gangster Ray Luca (Anthony John Dennison) and his hounding by hard-boiled policeman Michael Torrello (Denis Farina, who will never have another part this good). Save for the show's eventual relocation to Las Vegas, the Chicago-based pilot, expertly helmed by cult director Abel Ferrara, lines up all the elements that made Crime Story a classic: vivid performances, slick photography, brutal violence, and a genuine sense of the moral murk cops can be sucked into when they feel that any method is justified. Indeed, it's often Torrello, given to back-alley beatings and possessive stares at his wife (Darlanne Fleugel), who seems the scarier of the two leads; Luca kills without compunction, but with an assassin's dispassionate celerity. Such complexity, combined with the exciting action scenes, makes for wonderful viewing, however much it hurt with the Nielsen ratings. --Bruce Reid ... Read more

Reviews (14)

As Good As TV Gets
It only took a couple of seconds to know that this was going to be great. By the opening credits, I was hooked by the characters, the action, and the style. (Speaking of the credits, it's too bad that the wonderful montage of stock footage from Chicago intercut with shots from the series was replaced with Torello and company "in formation.") It leaves Miami Vice in the dust. Allow me to add my voice to those above in urging whoever owns the rights to this gem to get both seasons on DVD as soon as possible. It's a keeper.

Television At It's Best
As with the other folks above, I remember watching Crime Story each week during it's two years on the air. It made TV bearable for a little while; remember, this show came in the days of such "classics" as Who's the Boss and The A-Team. The last couple of episodes of season one blew me away; a story arc that lasted a season with all the loose ends being tied up in an finale that was definitely unconventional.

I own the boxed VHS set from Starmaker. Although it is nice to have the entire run in one collection, the picture quality leaves something to be desired. Also, it is nearing the end of it's shelf life (the average for VHS is about 15 years) so a DVD set would be very welcome.

Thanks to Anchor Bay for taking the time to put this gem back on the market and here's hoping they release the rest of the series.

Awsome TV series
I love Crime Story. I grew up watching it as a kid and I'am glad I finally found it at Amazon. This pilot movie rock and rolls. Really gets you in the mood to watch the series coming out November 4, 2003.

Before the Soprano's there was...CRIME STORY!!!
Crime Story. It was Miami Vice but for Italians. If you don't know what I'm saying then forgedboudit!!! The only reason the Soprano's is good is because Crime Story paved the way. Every Italian household should have a poster of Crime Story next to their framed pictures of the Pope and Elvis Presley.

gritty Ellroy-esque crime show
Crime Story is a a lean, mean cop show drama that features politically incorrect police officers battling it out with nasty criminals.

It's a testimony to Michael Mann's reputation at the time that Crime Story was even greenlighted. NBC would have never gone for the casting of Dennis Farina, with his pockmarked face and lack of acting experience, had Mann been a neophyte producer with no proven track record. The choice of cult film director Abel Ferrara (pre-Bad Lieutenant) must have also freaked out network execs. His previous films included a deranged psycho gruesomely killing people with a power tool and a rape survivor viciously killing the men who attacked her with a .45 pistol.

And yet, the final product proves that Mann's instincts were right on the money. Farina delivers the hard-boiled dialogue with the perfect amount of intensity (at one point Farina says menacingly to one goon, "you hurt anybody else, when this is all over I'm gonna find what you love the most and I'm gonna kill it. Your mother, your father, your dog. Don't matter what it is -- it's dead."). You can see it in his eyes and the way he barks out orders that this a no-nonsense guy who isn't going to let anything get in the way of his job.

Ferrara directs with the same proficient skill of crime auteur, Don Siegel. Crime Story depicts a harsh world where life is cheap and characters will do anything -- even if it means bending or breaking the law -- to achieve their goals.

One of the most striking aspects about Crime Story is that it feels like it was ripped right from the pages of a James Ellroy novel. It is even more surprising that this show was done before Ellroy had written his famous L.A. Quartet of books that features L.A. Confidential, which Crime Story most closely resembles. The author claims that he hadn't seen the show until after he wrote these novels but he does admit to being a fan since then. This, of course, begs the question, when is someone going to reunite Farina and Ferrara to do a proper Ellroy adaptation?

The DVD disappoints in the extras department. No audio commentaries from Ferrara or Mann (both of whom have done them before), or even the show's creator, Chuck Adamson. A retrospective featurette would have been nice but instead we are left with nothing.

If you are willing to overlook the appalling lack of extras and are a fan of Michael Mann or James Ellroy's fiction then this is definitely worth checking out. Hopefully, the folks at Anchor Bay will redeem themselves with the first season of Crime Story that their website says is due out in July of this year with the second season coming out in December. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Adventure!!!!!!!
This movie is absolutely great. My parents recently bought it on DVD and we all watched it. It's a great movie which would deserve a higher rating. Many people said that it is boring. I think they have said that because in the first 20 minutes of the movie no one is talking plus Mowgli isn't talking. Well guess WHAT, Mowgli isn't supposed to talk because he was raised by wolves. DUH!! So I really think people should give this movie a higher rating.
This movie is the second jungle book movie where Mowgli finds himself wanted for a circus. Baloo and his other friends want to rescue him and save him. This is a good movie and demands our attention. I suggest that everyone should buy it or at least rent it. I am grateful my parents bought it for me. It's GREAT!!!!

quite boring..
the young actor is great in this movie, but the film itself is non-exciting and a bit boring.***

Good movie for whole family
When I saw this movie 1st time, I remember for my childhood, when I saw famous The NeverEnding Story first time. If you loved that movie, or E.T., or Indy Jones, then this movie is the right one for you. The only one thing I don't like on this movie is, it's too short. I'm glad that someone's making the movies, where the strong story and very talented actor is more than action superheroes with their blazing guns.

Jamie Williams (Mowgli) is very talented actor. It's very believable that he's real feral child in many scenes. His ability to play character's emotions and his body speech is exceptional. Althought he was 10 and half years old only, he performed all stunt scenes in the movie. In few scenes, he didn't show the fear, when he was about 5 feets far from the adult tiger, who was on thin lead only. Some review says that fake animals are used in some animal scenes. It's not true. They used blue screens and split scenes few times, but all animals in the movie are real.

I have to agree...
The effects were poor at times, and you could make out the stunt man in one or two shots. Even for a kids move the story line was very poor and did at times seem to come close to racism. They could have made up for the lack of action with more laughs. THE only thing good about this movie was the young actor, Jamie, who did a great, believable, job in his role. (Although my youngest did find it odd that a wild boy-living with wolves since he was a toddler was able to speak in one scene.)

the second jungle book mowgli and baloo
I think this movie is cool. jamie who stars as mowgli acts just like the real thing he's really good at acting,even if you hate this movie jamies performance is the best,they could of least make it longer but ir still is fun. If you like jamie alot visit www.jamie-williams.com this site doesnt belong to me but i,ve checked it out and it,s pretty cool. ... Read more

Reviews (181)

Review for GERM 241
Enough, directed by Michael Apted and starring Jennifer Lopez, was advertised as a movie about an abused woman's revenge on her evil husband. One would guess, then, that this movie would be inclined toward feminist principles; however, there is evidence of sexist representations of both men and women, and instances of the objectification of women. Before her husband is proved to be an unfaithful and abusive man, the film unfolds like a fairytale. Mitch, a wealthy contractor, meets Slim at her waitressing job and rescues her from her blue-collar world. They have the perfect wedding, the perfect house, the perfect daughter, and the perfect life. This first section of the film reinforces the stereotype that working-class women need a strong man to save them and give them the life they want.

The first dose of reality hits when Slim discovers Mitch is cheating on her; she protests, he hits her, and she determines to leave him. The fact that Slim is very strong in her decision to not wait for him to hit her again certainly sends a good message to women and girls about abuse. It seems for a moment that the stereotype of the fairytale romance will be subverted and that the woman will triumph. The reality of what happens next is just as questionable as the fairytale beginning to the story; Mitch becomes completely evil, like a villain from a comic book, while Slim becomes the self-sacrificing mother who would do anything for her child.

On the surface, Lopez's character appears to be a strong, independent woman who is capable of taking care of herself. However, throughout the film she proves to be dependent on men. Her adoptive father helps her escape from Mitch's house with her daughter and she turns to her biological father for financial help. She seeks shelter and support from her close friend, Joe, and she finally seeks training in fighting techniques from a man. Ginny, played by Juliette Lewis, is a female friend who does help her a great deal, but most of the people that helped to 'save' her were men. This reinforces the stereotype that women cannot really be strong on their own; they are never really safe without the help of men. Another stereotype of women supported in this film was that of the mother. Slim does absolutely everything for her daughter, Gracie. Never does she speak of leaving Mitch for her own good; Slim always speaks of the safety of her daughter. In other words, the filmmaker is essentially saying that women must remain mothers above all else.

In addition to the female stereotypes we see, the idea of a woman being surveyed by the male surveyor is seen several times in Enough. At the very beginning of the movie, Mitch sees Slim and finds her attractive; he is a wealthy man who observes a beautiful woman and wants her for his own, so he takes her. Later in the film, when Slim has changed her name and moved to the west coast, we see Mitch's henchman staring at her through the window, simply watching her sleep and get dressed. Then, when Mitch arrives to 'take back what is his,' he also observes her like someone watching a movie. He looks at her from afar like a man surveying his land; he clearly sees her as his property rather than an actual person.

ONE TOUGH COOKIE-
I am a fan of JLO , I never miss a new movie of hers, but this one left me wondering (?), after seeing the trailers. I realize now they were quite misleading and I pegged the film as a B rating. I had interpreted them as a typical "Sleeping with the Enemy" type of film. Husband beats wife, wife runs. Well, to a point that's the basic plot of "Enough". On the otherhand, Jennifer Lopez as "Slim" gives us another advantage point. We see her fall and bleed, we see her run for her life, we see her reach her limit. What we also see is the humanity. (And yes, she makes the Julia Robert's character seem terribly useless in "Sleeping with the Enemy")It's not all cat and mouse. The characters in this drama must play by the rules. The law is not really on anybody's side.

Slim leaves her abusive husband with her daughter Gracie in tow and with help from friends old and new, lives a life on the run. It's not her daughter who's in danger, it's her. If she is found her husband (played by Billy Campbell)he will kill her.

So what to do? Go to the police? He'll find her. Go to a friend? He'll find her. She decides to use the rules her own way...she spends one month traing heavily with a martial arts instructor and decides to make the fight fair.

Jennifer Lopez does a fabulous job, as usual, of never playing herself. She is Slim, the once submissive wife who wants to be happy. Be we watch her become much more...a tough cookie who knows how to play a man's game.

I enjoyed this movie very much. Lopez always surprises me with her characters. Some scenes were very difficult to watch. Many times heartfelt moments between Slim and Gracie were real tearjerkers. I am not sure how a movie like this would translate into the real world, but on-screen it seems quite convincing. My only problem with the movie...I wanted more from the ending. It left me a little dry. Otherwise, I would say most would enjoy "Enough" as a great night's rent. Kudos to Juliette Lewis, I haven't seen her in a film for years. She is an outstanding actress (remember "Cape Fear")?

I want a rematch.
Boy howdy, the fems are getting pretty rough these days. I suppose after generations of being dominated by the male sub-species that once the ladies decided to strike back they meant just that: strike back. A perfect example of estrogen TNT in a can is Jennifer Lopez swingin', sweatin', and kickin' in ENOUGH.

Let's face it, we all know where ENOUGH is headed. J-Lo plays a greasy spoon waitress (yeah, like that's believable) who happens to fall for a smooth-talking swell (Bill Campbell) who turns out not to be the nicest guy on the block. Er, the planet. And when J-Lo confronts Hubby about his flagrant infidelity, Hubby responds with some fisticuffs and then refuses to let his wife out of the marriage. Granted, Campbell is ultra-creepy to watch. . .he's so revolting and disgusting that even my dog knew he was going to get the ultimate comeuppance at the end of this flick.

With the help of friends, J-Lo and young daughter flee and relocate thousands of miles away, yet Hubby is relentless in his pursuit. Once it becomes obvious that a custody showdown is inevitable, J-Lo does the only logical thing: She enlists the aid of a martial arts dude and learns how to fight like a tiger. Tigress? Then, it's back to California to sneak into Hubby's new flat and extract a pound of posterior. And, of course, predictability reigns supreme as the film rolls to its conclusion.

I've had the luxury of viewing this film with other ladies, and their reaction has been somewhat universal. Not a one of them would have put up with the guff J-Lo did; in fact, the first time a punch was thrown Hubby would have first been looking at the floor to find his mountain oysters, just before he would feel the piercing pain of buckshot. But, perhaps justice is swifer in my neck of the woods. Anyway, in ENOUGH J-Lo kind of blindsides her husband during their kung fu match. Ain't fair. I demand a best two-out-of-three.
--D. Mikels

Female Empowerment
Jennifer Lopez stars as Slim in this thriller about an abused woman who flees her rich and well-connected husband Mitch (Bill Campbell). At stake is not only Slim's well-being but also the psychological and physical protection of their young daughter Gracie (played adorably by little Tessa Allen). Although this flick has the trappings of a feminist fight-back story with its theme of domestic violence and custody laws, make no mistake: this is a thriller through and through, with twists and violence and personal peril at every turn. Women will delight in the training scenes where J-Lo prepares to fight back, and men will hardly mind the sight of the buff actress learning to defend herself.

Yeah, the premise as it unfolds is a little ridiculous, especially as Mitch seems to have a GPS system to track his fleeing wife, but the escapism is pure adrenaline-rushing fun. Jennifer Lopez is naturally appealing and solid in her performance, although the emotional range of the role seems to demand only fierceness and fright. Still, the chemistry between her and young co-star Allen is unmistakable, even poignant. Noah Wylie does a fantastic turn as Robbie, a character I won't describe for fear of spoiling the plot. Juliette Lewis has her usual on-screen charisma even though she's not given much to work with.

This film was much better than I expected. Viewers hoping for something new or even substantial on the theme of domestic violence will be disappointed since it only serves as a plot device to put Lopez's character in danger. This would make a great date flick since men will appreciate the constant action (not to mention the lead actress) and women will be drawn to the subject matter.

Great Movie
Enough is one of Jennifer Lopez's best movies. The movie is great and the acting is great. This is just one great movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes suspense and Jennifer Lopez. If not rent, you'll still think this is a great movie! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Doing the low-budget best it can with a high-concept story, Menno's Mind postulates a sci-fi future in which your every fantasy can be indulgedin a state-run virtual-reality emporium called the Resort. Though no overt dictatorship seems to be in operation, this future environment comes complete with the obligatory band of armed rebels, led by Mick Dourif (Bruce Campbell). When Dourif learns of a sinister plot hatched by the government's chief security officer and dark-horse presidential candidate FelixMedina (Corbin Bernsen), he is fatally shot; but not, fortunately, before downloading his brain into a computer terminal, wherefrom it is subsequently placed into the mind of a computer programmer at the Resort, theendearingly cowardly techno-nerd Menno (Bill Campbell). With its oddconspiracies and illogical plot developments, the film owes less to Westworld than its far from equally beloved sequel Futureworld. Still, a nice sense of humor undercuts the clumsily stagedaction sequences, making Menno's Mind, though not really enjoyable, easyenough to sit through. And pairing up cult Campbells Bill (The Rocketeer)and Bruce (Evil Dead) was inspired, even though the mechanics of thesituation only allow the latter a few precious minutes of screentime. --Bruce Reid ... Read more

Reviews (5)

MENNO'S MINDLESS
This is another one of those future societies where man's quest for self satisfaction is the major motivator of daily living. Too bad director Jon Kroll didn't enliven it with some good acting or great action scenes. As it is, we get Bruce Campbell for a few minutes as an underground rebel leader who when fatally shot downloads his brain into a computer. Nerdy computer geek Bill Campbell is then forced by the tough Stephanie Romanov to download Bruce's brain into his own so he can find out what it is that Brucie knew about an impending computer disaster. Corbin Bernsen (gleefully vile as usual) is an evil guy who is running for President and has decided to use the Resort to influence votes.
The acting is negligible to say the least and the pace is snail-like at best.
Could have been better, but no cigar this time!

Too much Bill, not enough Bruce...
I got this movie for two reasons: 1. It's being sold in Russia on the black market as "The Matrix 2." 2. It has Bruce Campbell in it. Unfortunately, Bruce isn't in the movie for long, as he is killed off early in the picture. The rest of the film is pretty bad, being your typical DTV picture, but there are some good qualities to it. Michael Dorn is good as Menno's best friend, and there is some good humor. But most of the movie is very silly with terrible acting and pretty subpar action. I guess if you like "Johnny Mnemonic," you'll like this one.

good story and solid actors, but it is kinda low budget
there are some good qualities to this movie, it fits the genre of a futuristic sci-fi where a powerful G-man is vying for the presidency in a fascist/democratic America. But it does fail in many areas, like action and budget. The language and acting is really good though, and Corbin Bernsen made a great bad guy. The real reason to watch this movie though is Stephanie Romanov, no bouncing action, but what a fox.

Menno's Mind
I finally feel as though there are people out there making films for the sake of making a films and not trying to recreate film making history. Everyone seems to think that for a movie to be entertaining and good, it has to be a big-budget blockbuster type film. Fortunately, the maker's of Menno's Mind decided to make a film for the sake of making a film. I first rented this film and have since purchased it. It's fun to watch and enjoyable to watch again. Bravo to it's writer, director and all it's cast. Thanks for the entertainment!

disapointing
I got this video and was excited by the possible plot, and bruce cambell is usually good. To cut to the chase this is dissapointing. It has a relative good idea, but the script is one-dimensional at best. The acting it sub par, the director never even gave bruce a chance to be bruce. Not to say this was a horrible film, it was ok, for a late night showtime film, or something. I wouldn't recommend it unless it's on television, or a movie channel, and there's nothing else on. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Happily Surprised
I was a bit leary of this "mini-series" because I loved the books so much, and this production replaced a couple of the lead stars from the first series. Any disappointment I felt, though, was quickly lost as I fell in love with the characters all over again, and soon forgot about the changes. What a great story with deliciously satisfying surprise turns and twists! The actors obviously relished these roles and put everything into them. Especially terrific about the DVD is the commentary from the author and stars of the series. I found it captivating--couldn't pull myself away from their stories, and can't wait to sit down and listen to them again. There's nothing like this out there. It should be part of your library!

Fun & Exciting Plot Twists at "28 Barbary Lane"
"More Tales of the City" is a fictional, 6-part mini-series exploring the lives of gay and straight residents of a San Francisco apartment house at the address "28 Barbary Lane". A sequel to the original "Tales of the City" 6-part mini-series which aired several years earlier, both are based upon a newspaper serial started in 1976 by Armistead Maupin, who later coverted it into a set of novels. "Tales of the City" is based upon the first novel. "More Tales of the City" is based upon the second novel and continues the lives of the characters brought to life in the first installment.

Returning to the cast from the original "Tales of the City" mini-series are Olympia Dukakis as Anna Madrigal (the landlady of the 28 Barbary Lane apartment house), Laura Linney as Mary Ann Singleton (a career-minded secretary), Barbara Garrick as Deirdre 'DeDe' Ligon Halcyon Day, Bill Campbell as Dr. Jon Philip Fielding and Thomas Gibson as Beauchamp Talbot Day. Replacing former cast members are Nina Siemaszko as Mona Ramsey (searching for her identity), Paul Hopkins as Michael 'Mouse' Tolliver (searching for 'Mr. Right'), Diana Leblanc as Frances 'Frannie' Alicia Ligon Halcyon and Whip Hubley as Brian Hawkins. New to the cast are Colin Ferguson as Burke Christopher Andrew, Swoozie Kurtz as Betty Borg Ramsey and Jackie Burroghs as Mona 'Mother Mucca' Ramsey (a brothel owner).

In this segment, Mona Ramsey is searching for her self identity and doing everything she can to avoid her controlling mother, Betty Ramsey. She leaves San Francisco on a bus and meets 'Mother Mucca' and agrees to work at Mother Mucca's brothel in Neveda as a receptionist. There, she discovers some startling truths about herself, Mother Mucca and Anna Madrigal. In the meantime, Beauchamp is causing problems for his secretary, Mary Ann, and his wife, DeDe, who becomes impregnated by an Asian worker. DeDe's mother, Frances, ventures off to rediscover her sexuality at an exclusive club. While searching for 'Mr. Right', Michael becomes paralyzed and it rekindles his romance with Dr. Jon Philip Fielding. Several things that happen at the end of "More Tales of the City" lead into its sequel, "Further Tales of the City".

It may be true that Nina Siemaszko that Paul Hopkins don't play the roles of Mona and Michael as well as Chloe Webb and Marcus D'Amico from the original "Tales of the City", but the combination of the fun plot twists and other great acting makes "More Tales of the City" well worth watching and owning! I rate this set of DVD's 5 out of 5!

Get "More Tales" While You Can
A must have DVD for any fan of the "Tales of the City" books or mini-series...even if you do not have a DVD player yet! This DVD is hard to come by so grab a copy of it while you can. While some viewers might have some problems with the re-casting of some key roles from the original series (particularly Nina Siemasko replacing Chloe Webb as Mona Ramsey), Armistead Maupin's characters and twisting storylines make it a little easier to accept the new actors. "More Tales" also gives you a chance to see some current TV stars in very different roles -- Thomas Gibson from "Dharma & Greg" and Billy Campbell from "Once And Again." Key holdovers include Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis who, along with Maupin, provide insightful voice-over commentary on this 2-disc DVD set.

An important part to any DVD (or movie) purchase is whether it holds up after repeated viewing and this certainly passes the test. Unfortunately, the original PBS "Tales" is tied up in a legal mess and unavailable on DVD for the forseeable future. Looking forward to "Further Tales" set to air in Spring 2001. It is rare these days for an author to have such creative control over a movie/mini-series project. Maupin's love for these characters (and the actors who play them) is clearly evident. Hopefully, future "Tales" DVDs will have the caring treatment that was put into this set.

Entertaining "Soap Opera" about SF Tennament Life in the 70s
Olympia Dukakis leads a cast of otherwise little-known actors in this very entertaining serial about life, lust and liasons surrounding the tennants at 28 Barbary Lane in San Francisco of the mid-1970s. -- The main character, Maryann Singleton, an innocent 20-something Ohio girl escapes the smothering arms of her over-protective parents and becomes the latest arrival at mysterious Ms Madrigal's house of sweet, odd and gorgeous young people. Not only is she (like everyone else) welcomed and accepted, but soon finds herself in a web of weird situations, corporate greed, sexual experimentation, suicide, and other shocking things. -- The recurring central focus on homosexuality eventually becomes so nonchallante, that the viewer soon no longer sees this as anything worth talking about. It's almost like watching episodes of "Ellen", "Roseanne" or "Will & Grace", only that any "viewer advisories" seem redundant now (it's about time!). -- Tales of the City is a look back at the 1970s decadence we saw in "Studio 54", but otherwise only 'heard rumors about'. This is an honest, unashamed view of the "San Francisco Scene" as experienced by the author/screen writer Amistad Mopin. Along with historically authentic facts and references (The "Jonestown Tragedy" of 1979 is briefly referenced at the end - if you blinked you missed it!) this otherwise mostly ficticious plot makes for fun viewing. The 6 part series nicely fits on this DVD. Have it piece meal or all at once. I think you're gonna like this picture!*****

I wish I lived in the Building
Being a gay person I love this movie. The cast including Olypia Dukakis and Laura Linney among others who I can't remember their names are excellent. I just wish I lived on Barbary Lane. I loved the closeness of the cast (which appeared to be very sincere)The acting was excellent, its a series that you wish continued on after the final scene. Its an excellent series which I would proudly recommend this movie to anyone. I truly love being gay and this series made me even prouder of my sexual orientation. This movie isn't all about the homosexual lifestyle, Laura Linney plays a straight woman who found her love in the building Olympia Dukakis's character owns. There is intrigue, scandal, love and best of all nudity. Great series I wish it was a permanent series. ... Read more

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Great Underground movie
Its funny that I never met someone that have seen that movie but trust me.... it's a very good sci-fi and a must see. ... Read more