Amazon.com

Timothy Dalton made his 007 debut in the lean, mean mode ofSean Connery, doing away with the pun-filled camp of Roger Moore'sfinal outings. He establishes his persona right from the gritty pre-credits sequence, in which he hangs from a speeding truck as it barrelsdown narrow cobblestone streets, battles an assassin mano a mano, andlands in the arms of a bikinied babe. This James Bond is ruthless,tough, and romantic. The Living Daylights, set during the thawof the cold war, begins with the defection of Russian KGB GeneralKoskov (Jeroen Krabbé) and his revelation of a Soviet plot toeliminate Britain's secret agent force. Assigned to eliminate Koskov'sSoviet boss (John Rhys-Davies, cutting a memorable figure in his briefappearance), Bond uncovers a conspiracy involving Koskov and anAmerican arms dealer (Joe Don Baker). Maryam d'Abo makes a fine Bondgirl as Koskov's beautiful cellist girlfriend, a classyinnocent who soon loses her naive blush and shows her pluck. Thevillains are lackluster--Krabbé is a clown and Baker a blowhard--and Dalton hadn't yet mastered the delivery of the trademark quips,but it's a sleek script with a no-nonsense attitude. Veteran seriesdirector John Glen's action scenes have never been better--especiallythe show-stopping mid-air battle on the net of a speeding cargo plane--and he returns the series to the smart, rough, high-energy adventuresthat made the Bond reputation. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (97)

"The Living Daylights": Nobody does it better!
With the release of "The Living Daylights", Bond fans finally saw another "Golden Bond Film" in the classic tradition of "Goldfinger". This film was, hands down, the best of the Dalton era films - the only other Bond movie with Dalton being the mildly disappointing "License to Kill". Timothy Dalton replaced Roger Moore as agent 007 when the gray haired Moore decided to call it quits after the release of "A View to a Kill" in the mid-eighties. Naturally, with a new Bond came a new style. I believe that Dalton's style was the most compensating to Ian Flemming's Bond; he wasn't a super man all of the time. He has moments when doubt or fears enter his mind. In other words, Dalton is a much more realistic Bond than Connery or Moore ever were. Unfortunately for Dalton, however, it seems many people like the unrealistic Bond better than the realistic.

"The Living Daylights" has a classic story and action. It's one for all Bond fans to definitely see, while being good enough to warrant the attention of first time viewers. No film (except perhaps "Goldfinger") has done it better than "The Living Daylights".

Timothy Dalton as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007
As a child of the 70's and 80's,The Roger Moore-era movies defined the tone of the entire James Bond 007 series.When Moore left the series after A View To A Kill,Timothy Dalton took over and put Bond in a direction that was familier to readers of Ian Fleming's novels, yet confusing to moivegoers.
The Living Daylights (1987)brought an end to the tongue and cheek tone of Moore's movies.Instead,Dalton becomes the 007 of the original novels,Tough,ruthless ,yet still refined. Dalton read the original novels and redefined the roll.
Unfortunately,movie goers were a bit uneasy with a James Bond who didn't crack cheesy one liners,jump into bed with an average of three women per movie and was harder edged than any other Bond on the screen.
The movie itself is a fine, yet slow-paced, involving a latter-day cold war defection of a Soviet soldier, only to be turn into a plot involving the elimination of British spies.Great scenes include an escape from the iron curtain in an updated Aston Marten, and an airplane cargo fight in mid air.
Dalton only portrayed Bond one more time (License to Kill) before the series was in limbo for six years (until Goldeneye with Pierce Brosnan in 1995).Since then, Dalton's portrayal of Bond has been praised in it's approach to bring Bond back to where it all began.

Dangerous Bond
The taglines for this, the 15th Bond entry, promised- "The most dangerous Bond ever," and right there beyond the flippant fun that Roger Moore had brought, THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS came and made good on that vow. In a cool, totally decked-out Aston Martin, our favorite spy propels himself into this, the last of the series' Cold War intrigues (furthermore being the final title penned by its creator, Ian Fleming). And herein, the flavour of Fleming is found everywhere-

Having been a child of 007's Roger Moore era, I had- on some seven different occasions during the course of his 14-year reign as Bond- looked forward with great anticipation to the very heights of fun and adventure. Moore, with his infectious charm and cheeky wit, was absolutely and completely entertaining as Bond. So I was naturally a little edgy when, in 1987, he retired, to pass the torch to another actor.

I was in college, studying English literature when I heard Timothy Dalton would be the next James Bond. To me, this seemed an exceedingly interesting choice- for here was a classically trained Welsh actor, who at that time had been fairly unknown. Yet I already knew him, of course: not only had he made his impression in some of the Shakespeare plays I'd been studying, but this ardent, sensitive actor had actually won my heart with his perfect portrayals of two beloved Bronte heroes- (Charlotte's "Rochester" and Emily's "Heathcliff.") Needless to say, I just couldn't wait for this one~~

THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS is a spy thriller in every classical sense. From the get-go, it's exciting: the gun-barrel sequence, where John Barry's arrangement pulses more quickly to keep in tempo with the motion of a more youthful 007- the exhilarating pre-credits: where, after a parachute jump onto the Rock of Gibraltar, a double-0 agent gets murdered and Bond jumps onto the roof of a speeding jeep as it hurtles down the cliff, and requites the assassin in like. He then lands emergently onto a yacht- where, by sheer coincidence, the bikini-clad babe onboard has been lamenting her failure to find any "real men" anywhere. Bond grabs her phone to call headquarters, introducing himself with a brisk offhand, "Bond, James Bond". She offers him champagne and, as a consequence, he's an hour late reporting back........

After opening credits - Maurice Binder's flowing artwork gracing John Barry's title song- (a colorful pop number performed by Ah-Ha that won't ever let you forget it's the 80's), Bond reports to Bratislava for a seemingly unrelated assignment. Saunders, of section V, Vienna (Thomas Wheatley) has arranged the defection of a top KGB agent, Georgi Koskov (Jeroen Krabbé). Bond is called in to kill the sniper assigned to assassinate Koskov if he should try to bolt. -This scene makes up the whole of Fleming's short story, wherein our hero turns over in his mind the conflicting implications of his work. Well, it's apparent that this James Bond is definitely a man who, though despising certain aspects of his profession, is quite capable of killing an enemy sniper in cold blood. The sniper, however, turns out being the lovely woman cellist that Bond had only moments before been admiring. And Bond, who follows instincts before orders, observes, "that girl didn't know one end of a rifle from the other," and instead of killing her, shoots the weapon from her hand.

Nevertheless, the coup is a grand success. Hours later, in a safe house on the English countryside- (wherein Bond shows himself to be a connoisseur of good food: "The foie gras is excellent," and champagne: "The brand on the list was questionable, so I took the liberty of choosing something different.") -Koskov reveals a sinister plot by General Pushkin (John Rhys-Davies), the head of the KGB, to kill foreign spies- ("Smiert Spionen," Fleming's SMERSH term meaning death to spies). Bond is immediately a little skeptical of Koskov's story, and his suspicions are further enhanced when, shortly thereafter, Koskov gets snatched out of Britain by forces unknown -pulled off by henchman Necros (Andreas Wisniewski), disguised as the most menacing milkman one could ever imagine. For answers, Bond returns to Czechoslovakia to investigate that female "sniper," and discovers she's Kara Milovy (Maryam d'Abo), Koskov's girlfriend. He then poses as Koskov's friend in the hope that she'll be able to locate him.

The inertia of this complex plot carries Bond further, through a number of beautiful locales in the world- London, Vienna, Tangier, Afghanistan, and New York. His mission involves drugs, deceit, diamonds, eccentric American arms dealer Brad Whitaker (Joe Don Baker), and the Afghan resistance, Mujahadin. There's action aplenty - highlights being a car chase in the Aston Martin fully armed, a ski chase downslope in a cello case, and a seat-gripping airplane ride I'd never in a million years want to ride!

The late 80's had safe-sex everywhere afoot - even in Bond. Kara's certainly endearing as the Bond girl, but she doesn't hold the screen next to Bond so well as many of her predecessors. The villains are undeniably wonderful: a swarthy combination of the fearsome and the ludicrous. And Dalton's tough, gritty Bond is as close to Ian Fleming's creation that any actor has come- yet whether or not that's a good thing is a matter of infinite debate. The cinematic Bond had already been well established by then. Like Connery, though, Dalton has a certain cat-like grace, albeit minus the twinkle in his eye. And though he brings an intensity to the character that even Connery could not own, he never really does let loose - never hams it up or has the famous fun that every other Bond has had! But notwithstanding all that, I'm forever disposed to find him perfect.

first good bond in a long time and daltons great
the last decent bond movie before this was for your eyes only.
then came dalton.
despite what the brosnan fans like to believe dalton was asked twice to be bond, several years before brosnan was even considered.
and when dalton finally took his turn at bond, he delivered.
this one is a bit better than the follow up, which, though featuring a very fine performance from dalton, was a bit too much like a miami vice episode.
dalton gives us his bond which is different than either connery or moore and its a valid and etertaining one.
the first three major bonds all had their own take and all three are enjoyable.
actually, it is brosnan who really delivers nothing new.
dalton's bond is an assassin, albeit one with morales
and for the first and last time bond is NOT a [prostitute]. he has one girlfriend in this and his lack of bed jumping is refreshing.
the quiet intensity dalton gives the character is unequaled by the actors who played the role before and since.
actually he is the best 'actor' to play the character, though connery is the best bond of course.
though living daylights is a bit too long and sags at times and joe don baker is badly miscast, its a succesful entry in the franchise.
grab a beer and some popcorn.

a decent entry with a great bond
the brosnan fans have it wrong. dead wrong.
and the facts are there in print!
dalton was asked twice. long BEFORE brosnan.
dalton turned it down twice before accepting ONLY AFTER brosnan couldnt commit.
for a very long time (way back when moore was even still fresh into it) the original producers both felt dalton would be the quintessential bond.
and, while this movie and it's sequal are decent (not great) they do contain an original performance from dalton.
far more original than brosnan, who is a mix of connery, moore AND dalton.
as a matter of fact, if one has ever even read the original books, dalton is much closer to fleming's bond than connery even was.
and dalton is undoubtedly the best ACTOR that has played bond.
check out the inner intensity in many of his scenes here (popping the balloon after his fellow agent has been killed) and for once, bond isnt (...) his way through the movie. he has one girlfriend and the film does benefit from not going overboard on the bordello activities.
that said, the movie is tooooo long and joe don baker is god awful in an campy, over the top performance.
still, we do have dalton and, sorry pierce, you dont hold a candle to this actor. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The miniseries treatment is suited to Doctor Zhivago, the sprawling Boris Pasternak novel of a Russian physician-poet whose comfortable life is upended by the Revolution. And this near-four-hour British production lucidly demonstrates that Pasternak was one heck of a storyteller:the torment of Zhivago (Hans Matheson) as he must choose between his well-bred childhood sweetheart (Alexandra Maria Lara, real comer) and the tragically beautiful Lara (Keira Knightley, from Pirates of the Caribbean) remains compelling. The TV treatment can't match the epic sweep of David Lean's feature film, of course, with its cast of thousands and astonishing production design. Devotees of that 1965 version will undoubtedly yearn for Maurice Jarre's tinkly hit "Lara's Theme," too; here, Ludovico Einaudi's score is serviceable by comparison. Matheson never gets untracked in the title role, but the uncannily gorgeous Knightley and a supremely decadent Sam Neill (as her dreadful seducer) keep their characters vital. The limitations of the small screen duly noted, the frosty location shooting is handsome. Given the choice, see the Lean film on the big screen every time; but this is sturdy introduction to a classic story. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Well worth Owning
Very impressive remake. Bravo Mr. Campiotti and production crew! I was more than skeptical about his new version of Doctor Zhivago, a remake of David Lean's Classic? But then why not! And thank goodness! Hans Matheson and Keira Knightly add new demensions to the characters of Zhivago and Lara. I liked Lara much better this time around than in Lean's film and have a much better understanding of her motivation, who she is, and why Zhivago would venture into a love affair with her. Poor Tonya! In many ways I prefer this small screen version to Lean's great epic. My only complaint...and not much of that...is the score's musical cues...which remind this is a tv production. I had to keep reminding myself this version was written and shot for the tv screen as opposed to a theater. But there are some lovely musical themes. The interviews in special features with the director, writer, producer, and actors is well worth viewing. I am going to make a concentrated effort as result to read the book. What is extraodinary about this story is Zhivago's ability to find beauty in life, and love, in a particualry ugly time in history,a time of great suffering. To have awareness you are alive in your own liftetime, that life is both remarkable and wonderful! Zhivago's sensitivity comes across but was always aloof in David Lean's version. Sam Neill is a great Kamarvosky. What a delicious role! The sex scenes are filmed with taste and are in no way sensationalized. I give this version 5 stars. It was a difficult task bringing this concept to reality having Lean's version hanging over the production.

A Remarkable Remake
This exceptional remake of Doctor Zhiavgo was filmed for the BBC (British television) and presented in the US on PBS KCET channel 28's "Exxonmobil Masterpiece Theatre". This is a very well done adaptation of the original. I was quite impressed, thinking that a classic masterpiece like David Lean's 1965 version starring Julie Christie and Omar Shariff could not be matched. I think this film is worth watching and is a worthy re-make. Although the 1965 version will always be superior, this is not a disposible film. Keira Knightley (British actress from such films as Pirates Of The Caribbean and most recently the romantic comedy Love Actually) stars as the elusive and elegant Lara, Doctor Zhivago's love interest. Keira Knightley's pale looks and vulnerable but passionate nature is true to Lara's character but I much prefer the healthier-looking and more vibrant Julie Christie in the role of Lara. Julie Christie is Lara and will always be. Keira is only second best. The same applies for Hans Matheson, who is directly under the great shadow of Omar Shariff's superior performance. Zhivago is played by the very young and handsome Hans Matheson, Sam Neill portrays the wicked Komarovsky. Following Boris Pasternak's novel set against the Russian Revolution of 1918, the lives of Doctor Zhivago, Lara and Tonya are forever changed. In Imperial Russia, the decadent wealthy are oppressing the poor. Such powerful people as Komarovsky engage in numerous love affairs with poor and needy young women (like Lara). Sam Neil is exceptionally corrupt in this version. He was the lawyer responsible for Zhivago's father's death and completely obcesses over claiming Lara only for himself. He is abusive to her, he rapes her and is completely controlling. Hans Matheson's Zhivago is fresh and a stray from Omar Shariff's performance. Omar Shariff was Middle Eastern and much older and it's quite refreshing to see a youthful and passionate Hans Matheson in the role of the idealistic poet doctor.

The film focuses mostly on the internal and external conflict. Externally, the world of Imperial Russia is falling apart. The Revolution has turned things around and Communism has dominated the Soviet Union after a bloody and terrifying war. The battle scenes are along the lines of "Saving Private Ryan", with that much violence, shock and graphic reality. Man's inhumanity to man is clearly presented. In addition, the film features some real silent film footage from the actual Russian Revolution at the turn of the century. The internal conflict is that of a love triangle- Doctor Zhivago is torn between two women he deeply loves, his wife and childhood sweetheart Tonya with whom he has a son Sasha and his mistress the passionate Lara. At the same time, we are able to get more of Tonya's feelings than we did in the 1965 version (Geraldine Chaplin played Tonya in that version and we did'nt get as much character for her as we do in this version). Tonya is betrayed and hurt. Zhivago is guilty he has committed adultery and cheated on his wife. Lara, on the other hand, although she is evidentially in love with Zhivago, feels obligated to fulfill her own duty to her own adolescent sweetheart whom she has married and had a son with. These marital, societal, public personas come into real conflict in the light of their private, extramarital affairs.

This is a well done two part "miniseries" and highly recommendable if you've read Boris Pasternak's epic and poetic novel as well as if you have seen the original 1965 David Lean version. The only disappointment of this production is the music. Although there are some portions of music that are pleasing - like authentic Russian balalaika instruments and folk music during Zhivago and Tonya's wedding and in the Moscow ballrooms where Komarovsky seduces Lara, the rest of the music is too generic, subtle and lacking the vitality of drama and the gorgeous romanticism of the original score by Maurice Jarre in 1965. Of course, I'm upset they did'nt even remake "Lara's Theme" the definitive romantic love theme of cinematic history right along with the Tara Theme in Gone With The Wind. They could have at least composed music that sounds more like Maurice Jarre's original or they could have contracted the now elderly Jarre to re-write music for this new adaptation. Kudos nonetheless for a supremely engrossing film that should win Best TV miniseries in the next Emmys. If not, British television ought to reward the makers of this film, as well as Hans Matheson and Keira Knightley for well- delivered performances.

Completelly true romance
I recorded Dr. Zivago when it came out on KCET...and this movie is completely romantic for the people who truely look at the hearth of love... I really recomand this movie for the people who believe that their is always a chance in life to be together with your true love... even if society and time separate you...

Beautiful.
I never thought they could re-make one of the most wonderful love stories of all time and have it be credible, but it was done--I was blown away. I intended just to watch the first hour on TV but ended up staying for all four! Incredibly moving, and i am so glad its on DVD.

Is something wrong with my TV?
I would be only too happy to give this adaptation 4 stars, maybe even 4 1/2, but there seems to be a slight problem. My dvd displays the film in an anamorphic shape, making it vital for me to have a widescreen TV. The image is stretched so everyone is tall and skinny. Hard to watch for long.

Okay, now that that rant is out of the way I will say this: The David Lean version of Zhivago is my favorite movie. As a filmmaker I enjoy it for it's richness. The morality of the story leaves much to be desired, but can be explained by the desperate times that it takes place. I watched this version with certain expectations which were both too high and too low. Despite that I still enjoyed it very much. The cast was solid and the production value high. I even enjoyed the music though it was SO different from Maurice Jarre's brilliant score. That was actually a good point.

If you have to make a choice (and you don't right now) between the two films I recommend the first, but the new one is an admirable effort... that sounds demeaning. It's quite good. And Keira is beautiful.

Now what's with that anamorphic image?! ... Read more

Description

One of the most epic adventure stories of all time comespowerfully to life in this original four-hour epic-series. Filmed inexotic locales with an international cast and featuring state-of-the-artspecial effects, Helen of Troy depicts one of the greatest battles everfought to win the love of the world's most beautiful woman. Though married to Menelaus, King of Sparta, Helen (Sienna Guillory) falls madly in love with Paris (Matthew Marsden) a handsome Trojan prince. Together, the lovers flee to Troy, where they are given safehaven by Paris' father, King Priam (John Rhys-Davies). Bent on bringingHelen back, the king's ruthless brother Agememnon (Rufus Sewell) leadsthe skilled Spartan army to the shores of the fabled city. There theGreeks lay siege to Troy, thus beginning one of history's most legendarywars which would ultimately decide the destinies of two empires. ... Read more

Reviews (73)

"The Face that Launched a Thousand Ships"
Homer's "Iliad" is perhaps the most famous piece of epic poetry in the world, chronicling the ten year siege of Troy and the actions taken by the brothers Menelaus and Agamemnon to win back Menelaus' wife Helen, stolen from her home by Paris, a prince of Troy.

In recreating the tale, the people at Hallmark have taken some liberties in presenting the story, some small and understandable, some large and baffling. Basically, if you're hoping for a loyal representation to Homer's text, this is not the movie to watch: despite the four hour running time a lot of material is omitted, the personalities of some characters are utterly changed, and fabricated events seem to have no real importance.

The story actually begins with Paris - his birth and his abandonment, leading up to the famous choice between the three goddesses: with Aphrodite promising the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, and to his reinstating as prince in Troy. In fact, he is given so much attention, that its a little confusing when his character drops somewhat from the action later on. Helen at this time is a reasonably young child (at least that's what everyone around her says - she looks pretty old to me), and is kidnapped by King Theseus, which eventually leads to his and her brother's death. Deemed cursed by her father, she is offered to the kings of neighbouring lands. Through a game of chance, she is given to Menelaus, though the timing could not be worse: soon after arrives a delegation from Troy, bearing with them Prince Paris...

In recreating the citadel of Troy and the landscapes of Greece, the film-makers triumph wonderfully: most of the special effects are just as good as one would expect on the big screen, and the scale of the movie is as huge as one would expect. Nifty camera movements, such as the vertical circling of the Trojan Horse to present its collosal size, are amazing, as are the shots of the armies and fleets moving toward Troy.

Characterisation suffers a bit, however. Out of everyone, Agamemnon goes from what could potentially be the most sympathetic hero out of everyone, to a mere brute. Through him, the siege does not become a war of pride to retrieve Helen, but to conquer for power and spoils. I love Rufus Sewell, and his grief in sacrificing his daughter is portrayed excellently by the actor (he admits to Helen that she and the city are not worth what he had to do), but the rape of Helen in front of the burning city took things a little too far. Scholars will be disguisted.

Paris also, goes from a rather cowardly youth, to every girl's dream: loving, romantic, protective of Helen, and so on. Achilles, Odysseus and Hector's roles are too short to be interesting. Menelaus is perhaps a bit young, rather than an imposing king in his own right, but his character is an intriging one, who is perhaps genuinely in love with Helen, but unable to show it. Two excellently portrayed characters are King Priam (John Rhys-Davis - could you expect anything less from him?) and Cassandra (who "Pride and Prejudice" fans will recognise as Georgiana) - her hysteria and terror are perfectly portrayed, as are her horrific visions.

But as the title suggests, it is Helen that the movie centres on, and I actually thought a rather good attempt was made to untangle her motivations and character. Tired of being a trophy bride, she seeks out true love, she tries to put an end to the war, she suffers guilt at the deaths of those around her, and seems reasonably perseptive. However, a more accomplished actress was needed to pull off this difficult role, something that new-comer Sienna Guillroy just can't do. Instead the director takes every oppurtunity he can to show off her bare bottom, even if its to the extreme of parading naked in front of an entire room full of soldiers.

It almost comes across as a preview to Wolfgang Peterson's epic movie "Troy", and so it would have been nice to have included some of the more mystical aspects of the god's involvement in the war, as "Troy" is also apparently stripped of their presence. All in all, a good production, but I have no wish to see it a second time.

Better than TROY !
This movie, although its less glamorous than the new Troy with Brad Pitt, is closer to the truth story. Menelaus and Agamemnon don't die in Troy just because they are the bad guys!!! Hello!!! Who wrote the script to the movie called TROY anyway? He was having a bad trip, I can tell you that! The only negative point in HELEN OF TROY is the almost bad acting and Achiles was bald??? C'mon give me a break! Better shoot some nice horror b-movies guys! You should better read the real thing!

Very well put together
I quite like this TV-Movie version of the story of Troy, and I'm glad I viewed it before watching the blockbuster version with Brad Pitt. Apparently this version is far more accurate and more closely aligned with Homer's Iliad and it gives a much better background in the story of Paris and Helen. Significant changes were made in the Brad Pitt version of the battle of Troy which made it hard for me to accept. However, since the actors are all good loking and the costumes are historically accurate, I'm willing to forgive this minor slight.

Watch this version as well to compare the difference. The battle scenes and special effects are B-rated compared to Peterson's version of Troy, but the story is more accurate and the acting is much better.

This Trash Departs From Homer to Depict Graphic Rape.
Boring, sadistic, exploitative version of story, altered to include graphic nudity and graphic rape of Helen. Disgusting!

prior reviews lack perception
I am sick and tired of these two-bit movie watchers that know nothing about good acting pretending to review a performance. In the process of reviewing this 3rd rate movie some people have seemed inclined to put down the theatrical release of "Troy". Wrong ! To the point: Brad Pitt. I have watched him give silly and idiotic performances and I have watched him give great performances the result of great focus. Troy is a great performance - period !!!. The problem that occurs is that just because people consider him good-looking they automatically feel that he can't act. To be honest, this time around Pitt looks much older than usual. The point is that once you get past the looks factor you have a deep, well-focused performance. Period ! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

HOPED AND HOPED BUT NO
this movie is just about borderline sucking. it reminds me of that movie with mario lopez in it called "a crack in the floor" i love and look forward to low budget straight to video flicks but this isnt one of the winners.

Barely a rental
I cant believe some clown from Tennessee gave this movie 5 stars (maybe he helped produce it). We are talking 5 stars? "best movie you ever seen"!! Phfft! stick to the Jack Daniels dude!
Let me summarize: Low budget, bad acting, picture quality was better than most B horror movies, even though it was a dark picture (even in the sunlight), stupid, and unoriginal. How was it unoriginal? Most horror movies are ripped off ideas of others, but this one steals almost everything from `wrong turn' and `blair witch'. How was it stupid? Add the bad acting on top of the terrible lines and you have the recipe for vomit. One point I should add, I think this movie was going for the record of saying the F word (which I'm not an old prude by any means) I just thought it was out of place, and actually stated getting retard. (especially when you have managed to fit the F word 3 times in the same sentence, as a verb, noun, and adjective) I'm all for profanity, it makes me laugh, but I wasn't laughing, it just didn't fit in when it was being said. Very poor writing. Next, My biggest complaint of all was IT IS BORING!!!!!!!!! The girls go for a walk in a mind field of bear traps that last for ¼ of the movie. The guys hunt the inside of the house for 2/4 of the movie. You will be bored out of your brain just waiting for these people to become the obvious victims they were meant to be.
Summary: its defecation, however I gave it an extra star for what minimal blood it did have, especially what he does to his mother. Plus the extra star is for the picture quality (usually on movies with this low budget you tend to get a grainy picture).
P.S. I can't believe how much they are trying to sell the piece of garbage for. I laugh at all who buy it.

a horror film that delivers
"Evil Remains" is a haunted house slasher film written and directed by James Merendino, creative mind behind the acclaimed movie "SLC Punk." Despite a modest budget, it has superb camera work and eerie sound effects that effectively accentuate the film's terrifying moments. The plot is familiar: a group of friends trespass into an abandoned rural house with an unsavory history, and, one by one, they pay the price for their curiosity. After a suspenseful buildup, "Evil Remains" delivers quite a scare with in a string of gruesome scenes that will undoubtedly satisfy fans of this genre.

Estella Warren is the only reason to watch this
I love slasher movies but I admit that the hokey cover box of this movie scared me off a little bit.Then I found out the film was directed by James Merendino and picked it up right away.Merendino is the stylish director behind SLC Punk, a heartfelt indie film about the Salt Lake City punk scene in the mid-80's and one of my favourite movies of all time.Sadly, none of the director's trademark originality or unique style are present here.Evil Remains, sadly, is a derivative and mediocre slasher.

The first scene takes place on a New Orleans plantation in 1982 where a young boy inexplicably murders both of his parents, Michael Myers-style.Flash forward to 20 years later where a graduate student decides to write his thesis on this very same plantation that has been abandoned for so many years and rumored to be haunted.So he brings a notebook, a camera and 4 of his friends to spend a couple of days on the plantation grounds in the hopes of writing a killer thesis.Surprise surprise the plantation grounds are not deserted and the boy who many believed died 20 years ago is there to slice and dice anyone who dares venture into his home.

One thing I'd like to mention is that you should not let the horrible cover scare you away, as it seems to imply that this would be a slasher film for the pre-teen set.This is actually a very dark, scary and sometimes gory film that does have a few things working for it.The plantation grounds and its surrounding woods make for a creepy setting and the film maintains a high level of intensity throughout.But whatever "Evil remains" has going for it soon gets eclipsed by the fact that the cast are annoying characters who yell all the time and get killed off way too quickly.Only the Estella Warren character has a backbone to her.

I also would have liked the villain to be developed in more detail.In the prologue of twenty years back he was introduced in an intriguing way but as the film progresses we never actually uncover any secrets about him nor do we catch a glimpse of him as he just keeps running around with that stupid goat's mask on his face.What had the potential to be a great new villain in horror lore ends up being nothing more than a bland shape in a goofy suit.Another disappointment was the absence of any nudity in the film, especially considering that the two lead characters are lesbians.Such wasted potential.I kept expecting Merendino to inject his film with a twist or surprise but it never happened and this ended up being predictable and derivative.I still think he's a great director however "Evil Remains" has convinced me that horror movies just aren't his specialty.

Real Creepy Camera work and Music good movie i thought!
i just rented this movie the other day from blockbuster. to be honest after watching the movie the cover art on the dvd package sucks! it makes it look like a total b movie with the evil little face and estella warren with her boobs almost hanging out and why is the girl behine her in the cover blond in the movie shes brown haired and has dreds! oook lol. BUT i was wrong the movie itself is great. it has very creepy camera work as in shots of scenes and how they were taken by angles and such.the movies color is great! a little dark at times but for a low budget movies its looks like one of those biggerbudgeted studio financed "in theatre" cameras used.

the music was very creepy it was like light errie ghostly whispers! and was put out more on the scenes when needed.
the original sound on the dvd is in dolby digital stereo wich is only the two front speakers
but I RECOMMED if you got a dolby digital 5:1 or 6:1 surround sound to set it at
dolby prologic 2 decoding.
set it on that when watching it the sounds ALL come out thru all front and back speakers brings the movie more to life! trust me just set ur surround reciever to prologic 2 sourround sound format on your reciever
and wow better then what they use on the disc LOL.

as for the story its was nothing new really boy is nuts.
kills parents and then is there really a
"haunting"
at the plantation or a curse?. and then these young look like college kids to me go investigate and then chaos begins sorry im not gona say what cuz i dont wana ruin it for you haha.

but the acting is VERY good all are above b actors. kinda almost seems like they should be doing bigger movies then this but hey you gota go where the money is i guess.
but the actors bring this movie to life more BESIDES THE MUSIC and the creepy cinamatography.

the thing that made me laugh was that old man RED from that 70's show is in this movie for like a cameo but i was like oook whyis he in a horror movie?.

BUT ANYHOW go watch this movie turn off the lights raise up the dolby prologic 2 surround sound "recommended" and get ready for the heebie jeebies!. ... Read more

Description

Directed by Mike Figgis, THE BROWNING VERSION is based on the 1948 play by Terence Rattigan about an English schoolteacher who is forced into retirement by a series of life complications.Albert Finney stars as Andrew Crocker-Harris, a professor who is at crossroads in his life.Not only is he hated by almost every student at school and asked to retire, but his seemingly lovely wife is also found to be having an affair.Coming to grips with his failed life, now Andrew must struggle to regain his own self-respect. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Sliver of Hope Shines Among the Ashes of Despair
This movie deserves a just review, if only to debunk the notion that the film bears any resemblance to the 'The Dead Poets Society.' It is a uniquely English work that illustrates what it is to keep a stiff upper lip -- after a fair amount of quivering.

Albert Finney is masterful as Andrew Crocker-Harris, the stern and unyielding teacher of classics who has, rather suddenly, found himself at the end of his career. With modernity regnant in society, Crocker-Harris faces students uninterested in the great literary works of antiquity and a successor who intends to abolish the tenets of a curriculum that once produced the most learned citizens of any nation. Crocker-Harris can clearly see that his time is passing. But unlike 'Dead Poets,' which sends the unacceptable message that suicide offers an exit from seemingly intractable problems, 'The Browning Version' finds its main character clinging to hope in the face of despair. The vehicle by which this occurs is a student's kind gesture.

There are several excellent moments in this film, but perhaps the finest was a scene in which Crocker-Harris -- teaching his final class in the Classics -- attempts to convey depth and feeling in translating Aeshylus' Agamemnon. It's hard not to get caught up in it. For the first time, the staid old teacher conjures up meaning from across the ages in a work that, for the students, is only a dusty tome better kept on a library shelf.

My chief complaint about this film centers on development: it needed more character development and a more studied consideration of the literary content, to which only allusions are given.

As the French would say, 'The Browning Version' is a voir-absolument.

Brilliant central performance
Albert Finney is the most compelling reason for watching this adaption of Terence Rattigan's stage play. His performance is moving as a classics teacher in a British public school, despised by his pupils and rejected by his unfaithful wife. He plays the role of Andrew Crocker-Harris with real pathos. In particular, the scene in which the young Taplow gives him a book (the Browning version of the title) as a parting gift after he is forced into early retirement, is an incredible moment, the force of which makes Harris' wife's subsequent cruelty all the more hard-hitting. For all his self-confessed flaws, Harris emerges (thanks to Finney, who rarely disappoints) as a genuinely sympathetic character whom the viewer can come to identify with, much as young Taplow came to identify with this tragic character.

I am not familiar with Rattigan's original stage play, so I am not in a place to make comparisons. The 'Figgis version' certainly did it for me. The beautiful location filming, the score, and the excellent supporting cast are all worthy of recommendation. Overall, the film is executed without fanfare or overstatement, relying on an affecting story told persuasively by a superb ensemble of actors.

A Superb Film
Albert Finney's portrayal of retiring classics teacher, Andrew Crocker Harris, in "The Browning Version" is a marvelous and understated performance that you will not forget. While I rarely review movies on this site and I cannot fathom why I missed this film when it was released in 1994, I recommend that everyone see it. The title refers to a translation of Aeschylus' Agamemnon; a play that many students will recall from high school. A play that resounds within this story too.

Crocker Harris is mocked and ridiculed by the students as a classics teacher of Latin and Greek. His popularity pales when compared to a physical education teacher who is also departing the school. His position at the prestigious English boarding school is being eliminated for one that emphasizes the study of modern languages. His wife is unfaithful with Matthew Modine's character, an American chemistry teacher. The students often cite Crocker Harris' refrain about grading " You have obtained exactly what you deserve- no less and certainly no more." A line that unfortunately also describes Crocker Harris' teaching career and life.

In line with films like Dead Poets Society and The Emperor's Club, The Browning Version will keep your interest and not disappoint.

Thoroughly superb movie!
Of course, Finney needs no intro- especially with his recent BAFTA. As remakes go, this one is exceptionally good (compared to the 1951 original with Michael Redgrave). Acclaimed director Mike Figgis took an old fashioned setting & brilliantly updated it so that the story occurs in the present. The scenes were beautifully shot too. The key scene where the boy, Taplow gave Andrew Crocker-Harris (Finney) the gift of the book was actually a great improvement compared to the original. Thought provoking, truly 1st class acting & totally enjoyable. Well done Mike Figgis- another excellent example of skillful direction. Praise to Albert Finney too- few films these days carry such a dignified performance.

the best film I have ever seen
Albert Finney's Andrew Crocker-Harris is the best acting performance I have ever seen. It is beyond me how anybody could criticize him. No other film I have seen has generated anything like the emotional response that this one did, for which Finney is largely responsible. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

TIMELOCK WHAT???
OK, I read the reviews and still bought this movie...
Maryam D'abo is starting to show her age in this low budget Sci-fi Non-thriller. I had remembered seeing this movie somewhere but mainly bought it because I liked D'abo in some other flicks.
The best parts of the movie are the moments of 20th century comic relief provided by Ayre Gross (a Cyber thief sent to the wrong prison). Not much more I can say except wait to see it on [tv].
P.S. What the title of the movie has to do WITH the movie I am still trying to figure out(maybe I snoozed thru that part).
Happy viewing................

A big pile of stinky cheez, Yes...this is a stinky [item]!
Well, I went in to this film knowing full well it was no "Star wars" but this was extra cheezy. First of all there was no time travil, time warping...nothing to do with time but wasting it. This was not even a B-movie. Saddly, the acting and FX were not so great ether.(they [stunk]) It looks like they filmed it in an old wearhouse. If you like bombs, or hate your self, then this for you, if not stay away...far away. Run if you have to.

THE WORST MOVIE EVER!!!!!
This movie is terrible!!! If it were possible, I would give this movie no stars at all. It's an extremely low-budget sci-fi movie. The thin plot is about a prison in space that gets taken over by its prisoners. One of the prisoners who accidentally ended up in the wrong prison, and the only remaining security guard, team up in order to escape. Everything about this movie is bad. The acting, direction, action, plot, and everything else I can possibly think of is just plain horrible. I taped this off of television for free, and I still felt [....] There is no reason to see this film at all. I truly think it is the worst movie that was ever made.

Cheesy but fun!
First let me say that I wish they'd allow us to rate half-star intervals here; I'd have given this another half-star, mostly due to the great lines given to Arye Gross. I never heard of the guy before, but he's hilarious here in the role of unlikely hero (that also doesn't want to be hero). Reminds me just a little of the Ash character in "Army of Darkness" or the Jack Burton character in "Big Trouble in Little China". It's Arye Gross' performance that raises this film above mediocrity. Without his character, the movie would be a plain-jane sci-fi movie with nothing special about it.... ....Except Maryam D'Abo, whose sexiness could almost carry the whole thing by itself. Mind you, the character she plays isn't a particularly sexy character, but her subtle beauty shows through anyway, and between her and Gross, there is always something worth watching going on. The supporting cast, Jeff Speakman, etc., perform quite well also, and the bad guys are convincingly evil-looking. The production standards are strictly B-movie however. Special effects are okay but not great, and the settings are sort of cliched. There are several close-up shots of an asteroid that is pretty obviously a miniature, but it adds a little charm to it that way--kind of like watching an old sci-fi movie from the 50's. But understand that I don't think this movie is trying to be anything but a B-movie. All in all a standard sci-fi movie with great humor sprinkled throughout. I laughed out loud many times while watching it. It's worth spending money on, but just don't expect Oscar-winning stuff here. And now I have to go see what other movies Arye Gross has been in. Mark Lahren (goopah@btigate.com) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

B-Action Starring Lambert and Kerry Fox ("Shallow Grave")
Just another B-action flick starring Christopher Lambert. I didn't expect much, but some names on the cover interested me; they were co-starring Kerry Fox ("Shallow Grave" and "Intimacy"), and the director John Glen, who is behind the camera of James Bond films made in the 1980s (from "For Your Eyes Only" to "Licence to Kill"). Not that I mean his works are great -- Roger Moore played Bond at that time, and good as he was, the actions were not particulary great. But Kerry Fox is another matter.

The result is just what I expected, and I don't blame anybody for spending 90 minutes on my life for this ... one. Lambert is a kind of member of secret team who seem to deal with assassination of terrorists. But the team, though apparently successful in killing the target, made a botched job afterwards, losing some of the members, and then they are forced to disband themselves. However, Christopher Lambert's character is not convinced that their target is dead, and the ex-members of his team, now hiding with another identity, get bumped off one after another.

The story is so-so, and the acting is not bad. Kerry Fox is called even fabulous among them, raising the below-average action flick to a little higher place. But the cheap action scenes and tedious development of story kill every good thing in the film. The relation between Lambert and Fox -- they were once lovers, and Fox is pregnant even though she is hired by the secret agency -- is very interesting, but the film throws away any potential thrills coming from the characters so easily that I wondered how the original book deals with those elements. Perhaps, the original book (which I haven't seen) is better than this film.

Christopher Lambert made a satisfactory films in the past, like "Knight Moves" and others, but around the time of "Highlander 2" or "The Hunted", I began to lose interest in his films, and I'm sorry to say this, but things don't change after watching this awful flick. This film is far better than "Fortress 2", but like Pam Grier in that dreadful film, Kerry Fox is wasted.

Lambert really can act...
If you are a Lambert fan (like me), then you'll be surprised by his performance in this movie. It ranks up with Mortal Kombat in films he actually pulls off well.

However, if you're looking for a good story, stick with Highlander.

"I might be stupid, but I'm not crazy"
Fans of Christopher Lambert will be willing to see any movie he is in, regardless of the apparent quality of the feature. If you are not a fanatic of his films, more likely than not you might remember him from the Highlander moviess, his most mainstream work. The rest of us know him from such B grade action thrillers as Resurrection, Gunmen, Knight Moves, and Beowulf. Fear not, as The Point Men has a much higher quality level than most of his features, and this can be likely attributed to having a seasoned director such as John Glen at the helm. The story itself is nothing new; in fact it has been done so many times one has to wonder if there are any new paths one could take with it anymore. Think of how many films you have seen about an elite team working for a government doing things that no one would ever want to know about. Yet these films continue to be made because the formula, though worn, can still produce an entertaining feature given the right direction and stars. Also, the script makes an effort, albeit a small one, to not lay everything out in the open right away, and instead let it come out in layers.

There are some elements of the story that keep this one down, and they do so because they simply make no sense. With B grade films, even higher quality ones such as this, you do need to let things go, but in this case, several of them are difficult. Such as the fact that it is never really explained who the person was in the beginning who they all thought was the real Amar. Then there is the ease in which Amar travels to one country one day and back the next before sundown. If you can manage to let that and a few other tiny flubs go, it is easy sailing, and if you then consider other Lambert films, it gets even easier. The problems are simple sloppiness, perhaps laziness in not wanting to explain something and just pushing the story along instead.

Christopher Lambert here is, well, Christopher Lambert, and just about the same as he is in any movie on a more toned down level. He is a lot more restrained here, which suits his character very well. It is Vincent Regan who plays the evil Amar that is given the over the top role to play this time, and he does so with much glee. While in the beginning he came off a little on the goofy side, when his true motivations are put out into the open, he does manage to become much more menacing. Also, Regan is great in Amar's many attempts to change his personality to get closer to people in order to eventually kill them. This is one of the best aspects to the movie: a villain who seems capable of doing the things he does. All to often in these kinds of movies (such as the ultimate villain in Ronin being a disappointment) the villain is weak or turns out to be a disappointment. Kerry Fox (from Shallow Grave), who plays Lambert's love interest and fellow agent, Maddy, is also very good in her role as a seasoned veteran of her craft.

Essentially, as it has already been stated, if you are a fan of the "Christopher Lambert Genre" then you must rent this one as soon as possible. If you are just getting into his movies, this is a good one to start off with to ease yourself into it gently.

Subpar, hasty adaptation of a decent novel
The Heat of Ramadan, Steven Hartov's first novel, deserved a better film adaptation than this low budget, poorly edited disappointment. The plot was very promising and you could sense the potential. Perhaps veteran action film director John Glen (The Wild Geese, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker) ran short of time, money, or talent.

For a better film on international terrorism, try instead The Little Drummer Girl, directed by George Roy Hill in 1984 and based on the novel by John Le Carre. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Waste of 100 minutes
Wow. Hard to find words to describe this movie. Wow. It was bad. Off the wall plot. Just a little bit far-fetched. The camera man forgot to come in when they filmed this. Seems like they threw up a camera and hoped to catch as much of the movie as possible. Everyone else was grasping but not touching anything, except for eachother. I have to say though, it was bad enough to laugh about.

Don't get your hopes up
I took a chance on this because I enjoy Jayne Heitmeyer in Earth: Final Conflict. She, Robert Vaughn, and Maryam D'Abo all do credible jobs acting in this movie, but their acting and some gorgeous outdoor shots are not enough to save it. (Note that Corbin Bernsen as the main character did not make the "credible acting" list--I haven't seen one man hit himself about the face and head so much since the Three Stooges, but I digress.)

The story is set in Boston. You can tell this if you watch closely because there's a half-hidden Boston Police patch and one Massachusetts license plate. Otherwise, it seems pretty clear that everything takes place in Canada. No offense to our friends to the North, but the film comes off as, well, Canadian--which is to say that several scenes are reminiscent of a "Kids in the Hall" episode, only not funny.

For a film described as a sexual thriller, there is a startling lack of thrill or sexuality--no nudity except for a brief and obvious glimpse of a body double. I'm not sure how it earned its "R" rating. Interestingly, the DVD box shows a helicopter and the White House (?) but I don't recall seeing a chopper or *any* American building in the entire movie.

To sum up, a weak story, bad acting except the three aforementioned, and questionable direction make this a sophomoric attempt at a film. I can't recommend it unless you're a *really* big Jayne Heitmeyer fan.

Waste of time and money.
We rented this movie, it was horrible. The best part of the movie was the ending. Too bad Corbin Bernsen continues to be like Arnie Becker on LA Law, a cheap,lying man with only one thing on his mind only in this movie there is no side of him with a conscience. There was no plot and the acting was awful. Don't waste your time or money.

Forget about it!
I'm a devoted fan of beautiful Maryam D'Abo but this bomb is truly awful. There's no dead guy at the White House, no helicopters flying around, no suspense, no believable premise, no coherent plot, no script at all and, needless to say, no need for you to spend your dough on this cr@p.

...unless you are a true devoted fan of Maryam D'Abo. GOD, I NEED HELP! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

some honest dialogue
... It exceeded expectations with some nice dialogue between John Hannah's character and the lead male (can't remember his name); nice performances by both. Many things they said, I've actually said to friends, all about wanting to be in a relationship and afraid to be. If any women want to know how ..men can be (if you didn't know already) check the film out. Shows that perhaps we're not that bad and, like you, we're trying; and, yes, we obsess too. Only part of the film I wasn't wild about is the ending, a little too nicely tied up. All in all, a passing grade. ... Read more

Description

Running for his life in a town out for blood... After escaping the atrocities of the Bosnian Civil War, Aleksandar (Jorgo Ognenovski) treks stateside to pursue the American dream. With the help of his friend, Ben (Nick Hill), Aleksandar begins a new life which includes a romantic encounter with Ben's beautiful sister Jillian. But for Aleksandar, the dream soon turns into a deadly nightmare when the town's corrupt mayor frames Aleksandar for murder. Now, he must expose the mayor and clear his name before the revenge-seeking townsfolk silence Aleksandar--forever. ... Read more