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Steve Buscemi subtly refines the prison drama in his second film, a rich character piece set in a ramshackle state penitentiary. Edward Furlong is a glum, drug-dealing, middle-class bad boy suddenly drop-kicked into a world in which his sneering defiance just makes him more attractive prey to hardened convicts. Willem Dafoe, a career felon who runs the prison's contraband network, takes the kid under his wing and his protection. He's obviously attracted to the pretty boy and that sexual tension buzzes throughout the film, but their friendship, which is much more complicated, becomes the center of the film.

Buscemi allows the story to trickle along, downplaying the usual prison clichés to delve into the often murky relationships between prisoners, the predatory pecking order, and the undercurrent of racial divisions. He suggests everything in glances, threats, and tensions that only rarely erupt into violence. The film lacks a strong narrative line, but Buscemi's sensitivity to his characters and his sharp ensemble direction provide generous compensation. Dafoe is brilliant as the smiling smooth operator, his shaved head and jagged-toothed grin suggesting both a threatening confidence, and Furlong ably registers the fear of his sheer defenselessness in this dangerous world. Tom Arnold shines as a terrifying bully and Mickey Rourke is almost unrecognizable as Furlong's cross-dressing cellmate with a honeyed Southern lilt and makeup that would make Tammy Faye Bakker proud. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Nothing Special!!!!
This movie was o.k I guess after all, I have definitely seen worse. However, I really didn't feel like this was a real enough depiction of a prison drama. I thought it was too watered down. Come on, everybody knows that prison is no playground like they tried to make it seem. And, there certainly is no veteran inmate waiting there to take you up under his wing like Willem Dafoe did Edward Furlong. Prison is a lot more brutal than they showed me in this movie. Willem Dafoe is the only reason I took the time out to entertain the thought of watching this movie (nothing against Edward Furlong). I couldn't even recognize Mickey Rourke, and Tom Arnold was weak. At some points in this movie I actually wondered were they intentionally making a mockery out of prison films in general because it just seemed so false. To top it off, towards the middle to the end I kinda got bored with it to be honest.

Interesting Movie
This is a very interesting movie, not to mention Steve Buscemi directed it. I disagree and agree with Kenecia; prison is a miserable experience - BUT this movie is based off a novel, it's not a docmuntary, so ofcourse is going to be "watered down" and have some unexplaineble weird twist of an ending. Kenecia, you remind of those people who watch cartoons and say " WHAT?! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!"
But for others, i recomend this movie. It's worth the time.

Good performances (with the exception of you-know-who)
Yet another prison movie with a very basic "plot": Eddie Furlong is jailed on marijuana charges and is taken under the wing of fellow inmate Willem Dafoe (in another excellent performance) as his protege. The movie is directed by actor Steve Buscemi; who also has a cameo. ANIMAL FACTORY is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Buscemi's RESERVOIR DOGS costar Eddie Bunker. As with almost all prison movies the objective is to escape from the place. One famous sequence from Peckinpah's THE GETAWAY is even ripped off at the movie's climax- and undermines what is otherwise a first class prison flick. Yet another seemingly tacked-on ending.
There were a couple of inspired scenes which appealed to my warped sensibilities: Dafoe and Furlong having a conversation via toilet during their placement in solitary confinement; and the tasteful scene where Dafoe slits his wrists, sprays blood all over himself and eats his own doodoo. Nice.
Tom Arnold also stands out as a hillbilly who wants to get chummy with Eddie, and scariest of all, Mickey Rourke "as you've never seen him before" as Jan The Transexual. It would be better for most film fans if we never see him again, and yup, Mickster gets to say his favourite compound word. His mother must be very proud of him.

Nothing Special
This movie was o.k I guess after all, I have definitely seen worse. However, I really didn't feel like this was a real enough depiction of a prison drama. I thought it was too watered down. Come on, everybody knows that prison is no playground like they tried to make it seem. And, there certainly is no veteran inmate waiting there to take you up under his wing like Willem Dafoe did Edward Furlong. Prison is a lot more brutal than they showed me in this movie. Willem Dafoe is the only reason I took the time out to entertain the thought of watching this movie (nothing against Edward Furlong). I couldn't even recognize Mickey Rourke, and Tom Arnold was pathetic. At some points in this movie I actually wondered were they intentionally making a mockery out of prison films in general because it just seemed so false. To top it off, towards the middle to the end I kinda got bored with it to be honest.

Quality prison movie...
A compelling film simply because in essence it is the love story of two convicts...Willem Dafoe is both brutal and gentle as a prison lord who befriends the young and naive Ed Furlong. Throughout the movie, I was silent with fear...Bravo Buscemi for creating such a raw and human prison film without gratuitous violence and sex. In fact, more violence would've ruined the intensity of the film as a whole. And thank god for the few moments of comic relief'some of the only chances a viewer gets to release some of the pent up tension carried throughout the film. My only warning to possible viewers is this...be certain you are in the mood for a serious prison film when you watch, this is not a user-friendly piece of art. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Wars Abroad, Wars At Home
Clear And Present Danger is the third Tom Clancy novel, featuring hero Jack Ryan, to be made into a movie. The story deals with the war on drugs and corruption in the government. The end result is a better film than Patriot Games, taking its cues more from the original novel, than that film did.

Former CIA analyst Jack Ryan, (Harrison Ford) is asked by his mentor and friend, Admiral Greer (James Earl Jones) to take over for him, while he battles cancer. Ryan reluctantly accepts. When a friend of the President's (Donald Moffatt) is killed, Ryan learns that a drug kingpin (Miguel Sandoval) may be responsible, for the crime. As he briefs the President, forces inside the administration, are working to take the cartel out, even without any proof. Ryan must discover the truth, about who is working against him before it's too late

The cast also includes the great Henry Czerny as Ritter, a smarmy guy at the CIA who butts heads with Ryan, Harris Yullin as the National Security Advisor, and Anne Archer returns as Cathy, Jack's wife. Directed by Philip Noyce, who also directed Patriot Games, the film stays within the framework of the book. The movie also is detailed enough to keep fans of the book happy, while at the same time it is nicely paced Ford proves once again why he's so right for roles like this. He wears his hero hat so well. It is Czerny though, that makes things really interesting for Ryan and, he gives the film an extra spark or two.

As part of the reissued "Jack Ryan" series on DVD, Clear And Present Danger, contains a retrospective featurette on how the film was made. It's pretty good and does a decent job taking you back, to what it was like on the set. The standard theatrical trailer tops off the extras. I wish there was a commentary track to go along with the other stuff--or maybe some deleted footage-that would have helped.

Still the DVD is recommended over the "movie only" edition from a few years ago

Ryan, The Drug Cartels, And CIA Abuse
The third installment in the cinematic series based on Tom Clancy's CIA analyst Jack Ryan, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER is a long but engrossing political action thriller that once again puts Harrison Ford, the thinking man's action film actor, in the role of Ryan.

This time around, Ford investigates the murder of a close friend of the President (Donald Moffatt) by Colombian drug cartel hitmen. When his mentor (James Earl Jones) falls ill due to pancreatic cancer, Ford is suddenly put in charge as deputy director of the CIA. He continues his investigation of the murders and ties them in with one particular drug cartel leader (Miguel Sandoval) with whom the murdered man had a little issue with ill-gotten money,....

But what Ford doesn't know is that, on orders from the revenge-minded Moffatt, his second deputy (Henry Czerny) and the president's national security advisor (Harris Yulin) have ordered a rogue officer named Clark (Willem Dafoe) in with a covert military team to put a huge dent in the cartel's activities. Dafoe and his team are successful at what they do, but the cartels retaliate with deadly results on Ford's friends in the FBI during a visit to Bogota. And when Ford finds out about the operation, he finds himself going down to Colombia a second time to help spirit Dafoe and the covert team out of harm's way.

Ably directed, once more, by Phillip Noyce (DEAD CALM; PATRIOT GAMES), CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER gives Ford another chance to prove his mettle in the action genre. The suspense and CIA intrigue are all laid out exceptionally well by Noyce and his first-rate cadre of screenwriters, Donald Stewart, Steven Zaillian, and John Milius. Jones is at his usual best as the now-dying Admiral Greer, and Anne Archer returns as Ford's wife.

But a performance really worth noting here is Czerny's as the unconsciously corrupt CIA deputy director Robert Ritter. About as uncouth and conniving a heavy as there has ever been in the movies, his performance is absolutely chilling and believable. It makes the whole notion of our government going beyong reasonable bounds even more credible than it already is.

Some will object to the film not pandering to Clancy's right-wing political points of view or his gung-ho pro-military stance, but that isn't necessarily what this movie is about. It does not condemn covert military action, but it does question the wisdom of sending men into a war zone where the risks are extreme, the reasons for such actions are vague at best, and there is no clear exit strategy. Such points are made extremely well in this film's action format; and for those reasons, it gets the highest marks.

Best Clancy Movie
Out of the four Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan movies, I think Clear and Present Danger is easily the best. Harrison Ford is one of my favorite actors, and even though he's made some dreck in recent years, his string of successes post-Star Wars and Indiana Jones reached their peak around this time.
The story of the film revolves around the U.S. war on drugs, attempting to stop the flow at the source of production in Colombia. To this end, Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan becomes caught up in the action along with the always-great Willem DaFoe as CIA agent Clark. Just about all of the actors in this movie are great, including Joaquim de Almeida, Donald Moffat, Henry Czerny (the slime dripping off his character might damage your TV), and Raymond Cruz.
Not only is this one of my favorite spy/government intrigue movies, but it's just flat-out one of my favorite movies. Great story, great actors, great movie. Highly recommended.

Not even close
Once there was a man named Jack Ryan. That's about where the similarities to the book end.

For what it's worth, I'm not a picky movie viewer. I'll watch nearly anything. So for me to complain about this movie means that something was really off-base.

As far as an action movie goes, it was passable. As far as the technological thriller that the book was, it doesn't even come close. There is no character development (never felt anything towards Ding), random changes in a character's persona (Clark goes from wanting to kill Ryan to making the chopper go back), thing missing that are important to the plot (downing of drug running planes), and things that were never in the book (yacht owner tied to the President).

To make what could be an extremely long review somewhat shorter, if you've read the book and are a fan of Tom Clancy, don't bother. If you're just looking for a film with " 'splosions," this might work.

The Best Jack Ryan on the Screen, and with Good Reason!
Harrison Ford isn't the person who wrote this story, Tom Clancy is. But, Harrison Ford is the perfect Jack Ryan, a spy with a conscience and a man who does the right thing not the expeditious thing. While this is not close to his biggest role or hit, he plays the character, Jack Ryan, as perfectly as he can be portrayed in a movie. He gives the right feeling to his character, the right indignation to wrongs done in the name of Patriotism and Justice, and portrays the right kind of patriotism to the fullest. But, the rest of the cast is also well played, including the good guys, Clark, Chavez, and James Earl Jones' character, and the bad guys, the President and his sleazy administration, as well as the drug dealers. Tom Clancy wrote a great book with this one and the book is well served by the overall excellence of the movie. I strongly recommend the movie to fans of Harrison Ford, Tom Clancy, and William Dafoe. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Loads Of Fun Along Route 66!
After he gets his radiator shot at by three local toughs, Beckman(Reinhold) and hitchhiker Johnny(Dafoe) find themselves stranded in a small Arizona town over Labor Day weekend. Soon, they meet Jesse, the owner of the local auto parts store,(played by Lee) and her just home from college sister, Melissa, (played by Vernon). After getting the radiator fixed, they spend time hanging in the local tavern (The 66), where they meet up again with the trouble-making trio. Aggression builds between the two sides, as does attractions between Beckman and Melissa, and Johnny and Jesse. Beckman, who is driving a 1955 Thunderbird, decides to enter the local Labor Day race (Open only to cars made before 1966), pitting him directly against the three (or so it would seem). Great drama and action follows as does excellent rockabilly music provided by a powerful and driving soundtrack. Just a fun and very entertaining movie. -Skeets. ... Read more

Reviews (161)

Smart, scary, and unforgettable.
SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE is an amazing film. It operates on three separate levels. On one level it is a story of a filmmaker, F.W. Murnau (John Malkovich), obsessed with his own ambition and vision. He is remaking the Dracula legend, changing the name of the vampire to Count Orlock. His film will be called 'Nosferatu'. He has hired the 'ultimate method actor' named Max Schreck to play his vampire. Schreck is said to get into character and stay there, only wanting to be filmed at night and only responding to the name 'Count Orlock'. But as filming progresses, the truth becomes clearer and clearer... Schreck really IS a vampire, agreeing to star in Murnau's film in exchange for the chance to dine on the leading lady. It's a delicious concept, even more so after you've seen the classic, silent original. It's easier to believe that Schreck was some kind of monster then it was to believe he was simply an actor in makeup. That's how effective Schreck's performance in the 1922 German film is. The second level of the film is more familiar. It is a horror film. It has all the elements of a vampire film and it acts on all of them, actually reaching a degree of creepiness that you wouldn't expect from a film this (excuse the phrase) 'artsy'. And finally, SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE is a seething satire, one where the lead actor cannabalizes the cast and crew to get what he wants and the director is so focused on his vision that he ignores the fact that the people around him are falling ill, they are merely meat puppets (Hitchcock and Kubrick would have been proud). This is a fun little film, with aspirations towards greatness that it all but reaches. The production design and brilliant cinematography allow for an accurate reproduction of the settings of the 1922 film. So dead-on, in fact, that when actual footage of the silent film is inserted into the film, we can't tell the difference. Director E. Elias Merhige work beautifully with an amazing casy which includes Malkovich, Udo Kier (of 'Andy Warhol's Dracula' fame). Eddie Izzard, Catherine McCormack, Cary Elwes, and Aden Gillett. But the real star here is Willem Dafoe, whose performance of Max Schreck as long suffering and desperate monster is so accutely creepy and inventive that it'll make your skin crawl.

Not as good as it should have been but not bad either
As a couple of others have bravely stated, this movie is just not as good as it should have been. Somewhere during the film, the story gets lost in a big way. I understand what they were trying to say with the ending but the film should have built up to it. As it stands, the ending feels very tacked on and is, therefore, unenjoyable for me.

Having said that, there *are* plenty of enjoyable moments in this film. Willem Dafoe is exquisite. His portrayal of Max Shrek is both comic and very moving. It makes me think of a photograph of the real Max (taken during shooting of "Nosferatu") sitting on a hillside, looking very alone. If you're at all familiar with comedian Eddie Izzard, you'll love his performance as well. He had me in giggling fits (more often than I should have been, I warrant). John Malkovich is John Malkovich, as always. He's very charismatic so I can't say if I was entranced by his performance or by the man himself. I don't think he can be anything other than brillliant, even though I don't think his role was very well written. I don't feel Murnau's character was properly built up. You're left making too many assumptions. There were several times when I couldn't stop wondering what had been left on the editing room floor, and why? I felt that way quite often actually, and not just in regards to Murnau.

The best parts, for me, came when the crew was filming "Nosferatu." Malkovich was most amusing when giving directions to his actors. And it was interesting to watch the actors improvise those moments. But my favourite scene is the one in which Max (Willem) explains to Albin (Udo Kier) & Heinrick (Aden Gillett) why the book "Dracula" made him sad. It starts out very funny but quickly becomes very moving. There's quite a bit of that in the film: comedy to tragedy. Those moments kept me interested but left me desperately wanting a much better written/edited film. I can't help but wonder what got left out due to the project running out of filming time. If more attention had been paid, this could have been a masterpiece.

A film you can't miss.
Before we start, let's talk about the film's plot. This film takes place in 1929, were there filming the classic film, Notferatu(I think that's spelled wrong). The gut has hired a REAL vampire to play the part. What he doesn't know is that the Vampire is really evil and planning to kill the entire cast. I thought this was a great film because it makes you think that this actully happend. Yep not joking, you forget this is just a film some times. I thought Notrferatu was cool in this film. If you liked the classic film Notferatu, you'll like this film!

Why?
Willem Dafoe was great in this film, but that's as far as this good review goes. Maybe, I just didn't "get" what they were trying to do with this film. The story seemed extremely underdeveloped and was very rushed toward the end. Like the entire film crew suddenly realized that they had drug their feet during filming and had 10 minutes to tie it all up. Nosferatu was brilliant, and this almost downplays it's brilliance.

Definitely my Favorite vampire movie!
First of all I must admit I don't much care for most vampire movies -- different reasons for different ones. But this one I just loved! Willem Dafoe was SO camp as the very creepy looking vamp, and you could tell he was enjoying the heck out of his role. That makes it really good, when the actor is really enjoying playing a Creep. Also, the whole storyline and cinematography, other actors, screenplay, everything was just Excellent. I don't give many movies (of any genre) 5 stars, but this one I do. Awesome!! ... Read more

Reviews (1047)

GREAT SOUNDTRACK GREAT MOVIE
I HAVE THE SOUNDTRACK PLUS I HAVE THE MOVIE I THINK TOBEY MCGUIRE AND KIRSTEN DUNST BOTH DID A GREAT PROFOMENCE IN THE MOVIE I HAVE THE MOVIE ON DVD

A cool, cool, COOL movie!!
Spiderman is my favorite movie and it's really *as you can tell from the title* cool! Okay, here goes the plot:
Peter Parker, (Tobey MacGuire) was an ordinary high school boy who got bullied by everyone all the time. He lived with his uncle and aunt because his parents were dead. However, everything changed for him when his school go to a museum about spiders for a field trip, he gets bitten by a spider that got loose. When he came back home, he feels dizzy and tired and anyway, he faint/sleeps. When he wakes up the next morning, he realizes that his eyesight is perfect, and he could see even without his glasses. He also finds out that he can climb walls because there's something on his fingers that makes him able to stick to the walls.
But meanwhile, Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) who is a scientist tries out a machine that makes a human extremely powerful. When he comes out of the machine, he becomes insane and kills his assistant.
Okay, back to Spiderman. He starts saving people and uses his ability, but he had lots of responsibility after his uncle was shot by a man. Finally at the end, he saves Mary Jane, a girl who lives next door to him (Kirsten Dunst) from the Green Goblin, who is actually Norman Osborn.
Well, it's up to you to see the movie whether Spiderman kills the Green Goblin or not! But anyway, this movie was really cool, and I loved it!

Icing, but no cake.
This was a very visually engossing film, and on the whole, enjoyable. I would have preferred to have seen some more plot and character developement though as this would have really made this movie come 'alive'!

There'll be a hero to save us... BUT NOT HERE!!!!
Spider-man, Spider-man, does whatever a spider can..... no doubt you've heard that (in)famous little ditty somewhere, which belongs from Peter Parker's infamous little campy 60's cartoon series. So at least some of you know who Spider-man is. Now, the show was based on a character who had his own comic series, and he first appeared in a final issue of a short-lived fantasy series called, "Amazing Fantasy." 40 years after that issue saw print, that same character has finally made his first ever appearance on the big screen(excluding cameos in other movies). And what can I say? It SUCKS. The acting is bad, the plot is messed up(okay, so Uncle Ben dies around June, since it's shortly before Peter's graduation, and then only an hour later, it's THANKSGIVING?! WHEN DID ALL THIS TIME PASS?!), there is no chemistry between any of the actors, the SFX are lame, and the score by Danny Elfman is forgettable(when did he fall from grace?) All in all, Spider-man is one of the worst movies ever made. Avoid it and this horrid DVD like the plague.

i liked it
I liked the movie and I think if not the best, one of the best comic adaptions ever made. The only thing I disliked about the movie was that the green goblin was an evil power ranger character. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

ENGLISH PATIENT
Movie was very well made. It has excellent cast. Ralph Fiennes should have won an Oscar for best actor as he is as deserving as the winners best supporting acrtess J. Binoche and director A. Mighella. Ralph Fiennes is perfect for the role of Almazy, who did a truly fantastic acting. He is outstanding when he was ailing and almost ready to die upon recalling the death of his lover insde the cave. The scenes at the desert --- awesome, especially the sandstorm. I did not see the other 2 DVDs inthis package so I can't rate it.

Package incorrectly identifies all movies as anamorphic
I purchased both this volume and Volume I from a local bricks and mortar store after I saw the labels indicating that the packaged DVDs contained widescreen anamorphic (a.k.a. "Enhanced for 16x9 televisions") and Dolby Digital 5.1 versions of The English Patient, Il Postino, and Shakespeare in Love. Sadly, 'tis not true. I don't know whether the false labeling on the packaging was accidental or intentional but it appears that Miramax has simply packaged the same crappy widescreen (non anamorphic) DVD versions of these movies that I've been refusing to buy for several years now. Needless to say, all of the movies are going back tomorrow. As far as I know, Il Postino and The English Patient are STILL only available in a matted widescreen format. Only Shakespeare in Love is available in an anamorphic widescreen format. If you only own a 4x3 format T.V. you probably won't notice a difference - until you upgrade to a 16x9 set. Then, like me, you'll never buy a "fullscreen" or matted/widescreen DVD again. ... 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 (9)

Humane
Unusual in the usual world of American movie theater. Thought provoking and very consequential, certainly not unpredictable but somehow enriching and very humane. The characters of drug dealers turn out to be very likeable and egzistential.
There are many weaknesses in this plot - violent end seems to be repeating "Taxi Driver" but it is more like "Crime And Punishment," nevertheless it is very simplistic. Drug dealer is apparently more of a character of Paul Schreader than a realistic immersion into the psyche of a drug dealer. Main characters narates too much as if we have a problem to understand his actions, unneccessary in my view. And there is a genuine bad guy to create the vent for the eventual explosion at the end. He is reduced, reduced to inhumanity as if to underline the humanity of others that some of us would have a trouble accepting. All in all a lot of weak places and yet because these types of intelligent movies are so rare, it is so much beyond the usual Holywood entertainment sewer.

Perennial
I can watch this film at the drop of a hat and not mind that I've seen it a million times. It's not my favourite film, and I have more than a few criticisms of it, but overall, it's one that I'm glad I own.

The acting is fine--Susan Sarandon and Willem Dafoe always are--and Dany Delany does a credible job, but the real star is the screenplay, which was written by the director Paul Schrader. It's endlessly quotable, realistic, funny, and at times thought-provoking.

The soundtrack is marred by having the same no-name singer (who's trying so desperately to ape Bryan Ferry) all throughout--and I thought Vonda Sheppard was lousy--but the incidental music is nice.

Completely overlooked, and well worth the rental.

Fascinating Nocturnal Urban Desperation
Willem Dafoe (John) is a reformed junky with a conscience, delivering drugs for an upscale dealer played superbly by Susan Sarandon (Ann). John works dispassionately during the night and without anything to believe in, visits psychics, to try to give meaning to the life he sees changing as Ann trys to go legit with a cosmetics business. Not having saved much and not having another trade, John senses a climax coming; he doesn't know in what form it will appear, but he's not backing away from it.

Women associated with the main drug buying client are dying, apparent suicides and when the last one has a very personal connection to John (Dana Delany - very well acted although the character isn't developed sufficiently), it sets up the violent climax to the movie. John almost welcomes the outcome as his dispair worsens and jail or death wouldn't be an unwelcome change.

The direction is uniquely Shrader. The characters are very well actualized (with the noted excption above). The performances are amazing which should come as no surprise considering the professional abilities of all. The mood remains constant while the soundtrack suits the movie without appealing excessively to only one generation as many do. The visuals as shown in the subdued and grainy colors enhance the overall impact this movie has. This movie is more about a life style than plot driven. The characters are all in denial about the changes in the world to which they need to adapt if they want to survive. It addresses survivorship of those who didn't plan the next phase of their life very well, have been getting by on their wits, but are finding a changing world no longer respects the decreasingly marketable skills those wits once represented.

While not an uplifting movie, it stays with you and is definitely recommended.

Willem Dafoe: Major Romantic & Erotic Dream Figure
Writer-director Paul Schrader delivers his most satisfying film for me. He is even better known for his work when he solely screenwriters, such as for his unsurpassed "Taxi Driver," directed by his frequent collaborator, Marty Scorsese. For his own solo film though, this is my favorite. Schrader's film work is frequently compared to the late Robert Bresson's films. However, Bresson has always been a little too painterly for me. Schrader is painterly enough and to make it any more so evokes that dreaded word in film: slow. I frankly prefer this film to the Bresson films I've seen, which makes me a film heretic I realize. Urban alienation is at the core of this film, which is true of all Schrader's work, and Willem Dafoe plays a nocturnal drug dealer who doesn't get much sleep (hence the title), probably because his dreams remain so elusive from his grasp, as a metaphor for the overall film. Two women present the immediate conflict in the film. Susan Sarandon plays a drug dealer who Dafoe works for and she tells him that they both need to get out of dealing. She plans to open a legitimate cosmetics business and seems capable of following through on the idea. She is the most in control of her life of the three main characters. Dana Delany plays Dafoe's former lover, who doesn't want anything to do with him because they were substance abusers together in the past. Although he's clean now, he still deals. But is her character as squeaky clean as she now proclaims to be? Dafoe needs to figure that out. Further tension comes about from the eroticism between Dafoe and Delany plus the growing potential for eroticism between Dafoe and Sarandon. Dafoe is absolutely wonderful in this film and becomes a major romantic and erotic dream figure for the viewer regardless of what the viewer thinks of him vis a vis the two women.

Good flick, great acting from Willem Dafoe
This is a pretty good movie about a drug dealer with a conscience. I enjoyed the look and feel of the film, but felt that the script and storyline struggled at points. In one instance, Dafoe's character relates "White drugs for white people". Also, Dana Delaney puts in a good performance but definitely second to Dafoe's - her performance is not quite complete, and I was left feeling as though the film just had that extra something missing. Still, Dafoe does enough subtle things with his character to make the movie worth watching. ... Read more

Album Description

Canadian DVD release for 'Reservoir Dogs'-style vigilante thriller starring Willem Dafoe. 97 mins.. 2000 release. ... Read more

Reviews (336)

The Quintessential Cult Action Movie
The Boondock Saints is one of the quintessential cult classic movies of this decade. When Russian mob bosses try to take the neighborhood bar, Irish Catholic Vigilants Conner and Murphy, Sean Flannery and Norman Reedus, fight back for the little guy and thwart the diabolical plot along with life long mate Rocco, David Della Rocco. But what do they do now? The answer is simple: make retribution a career. But when the FBI sends their best investigator, William DaFoe, to join the hunt along with two other mob families, our angels of retribution are in for the fight of their lives but without of course taking it too seriously. Lock and load for this light hearted, thought provoking, high action feature.

I really liked this movie because of the good story and the amusing characters/ dialogue not to mention the unbelievable action sequences. It truly does use all of the stereotypes of the traditional action movie to its advantage by making fun of them yet at the same time performing them. The two-narrator style works very well as well and I think that the whole thing is a blast because of it. The characters rule! The action is awesome! And I spent 25 bucks for the DVD willingly. Years later and I do not regret my purchase in the least. I would definitely say that this is a must own movie.

Independent Ideas
The film "Boondock Saints" far surpasses most Hollywood productions from the outset simply by incorporating a plot different from the mainstream. Although the film contains the usual amount of violence and killing for an action movie, this film has the merit that the motive for the murders is very clear, and quite possibly justifiable. The social and moral questions raised throughout the film cannot help but elicit at least some critical thought. But don't worry about being forced to think too hard; the film is routinely punctuated by witty dialogue and amusing circumstances. The main characters, two selfless Irish brothers and a stray Italian, have delightfully good hearts and are endearing from the start. Willem DeFoe puts forth one of his best performances ever, adding creativity to his rough and tough character by portraying an extremely self-assured gay FBI agent who doesn't quite admit his sexual orientation to himself. His character is an excellent addition to the underlying religious theme of the movie as it pronounces the question of what purpose religion should serve, other than to provide moral direction. The film is a must see for anyone who wants to determine what is truly morally correct, as well as anyone who just likes to watch a couple of nice Irish lads following their calling.

Don't be dazzled by all the stars - no good.
I'm shocked that people have consistently given this movie 5 stars! It Does nothing for my faith in human discrepency. This film was reccomended to me by the bottle nose in the video store. It's my fault because I should have immediately taken that as a sign that this would be just as annoying as he is, and it was! However, I'm not that hard to please, but this movie failed on all accounts - avoid this trash like diptheria. It attempts to be sharp action flic laced with witty lines, simultaneously action and comedy, but fails to be either and falls miserably between the two gernres into a rip-off/gay abyss of boring viewing. Dufoe's performance is cringe-worthy, and the rest of the acting is no better than B-grade. The renegade vigilante premise of the film has been done before, and to much better effect. If I had seen Billy Connoly's name on the box I would have dropped it like a hot-cake, am I the only one who finds this 'quirky' fool comedically inept? Luckily his role is a essentially a cameo, don't worry, the rest of the script more than makes up for his brand of NOT-FUNNY humour. I wonder why in God's name people reccomend films like this, but then I see all these 5 stars and I realise just how rotten and depraved the taste of the common man is. The film doesn't even stick to it's terrible plot and crumbles half way through like a stale cookie - it uses some extra violence as a crutch for it's weak style - And he only laugh I got was a series of hearty guffaws at the folly of my rental - give me back my 4$!

BEST MOVIE EVER
This is the greatest movie ever. The plot is good but the thing that makes this movie great is the dialoge. Every single line is a classic. The actors all do a great job and Willem Dafoe is on the top of his game. If you are into Guy Ritche or Quentin Terantino than this Troy Duffy masterpiece is for you.

An undeserving cult classic
There's something about this movie that makes me physically ill. It's not the violence. I can handle as much violence as you can throw at me. Instead, it's the puppydog adoration that people follow this movie around with. It just isn't very good. It isn't horrible, but there are much MUCH better Tarantino knockoffs out there. Way of the Gun has better writing, a better soundtrack, and better fight scenes. Things to do in Denver When You're Dead is a much moodier film with a better atmosphere and far superior performances. I mean, you can always go and watch GOOD movies, but if you want an action movie, these are the ones to watch. This film basically has Willem Dafoe playing the same character he's played in every movie, no storyline, and depressingly cheasy plot developments. And there's a sequel coming out. I hate everyone who loves this movie. Screw you all. Hell, even Killing Zoe's better than this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Under the slick, professional direction of Alan Parker, Mississippi Burning is the kind of film that will either draw you into its emotionally volatile sphere of influence or outrage you with its repugnant, manipulative revision of American civil rights history. The fact-based story brings two highly different FBI agents (Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe) to Mississippi to investigate the murders of three young black men who had been promoting black voter registration. The key to solving the murders is the testimony of a local deputy's wife (Frances McDormand) who is struggling to break free of her husband's racist influence. As critic Pauline Kael argued, "...the movie hinges on the ploy that the FBI men can't stop the Ku Klux Klan from its terrorism against blacks until they swing over to vigilante tactics. And we're put in the position of applauding the FBI's dirtiest forms of intimidation. This cheap gimmick undercuts the whole civil rights subject; it validates the terrorist methods of the Klan." Or you can take the view of Roger Ebert, who named Mississippi Burning "the best film of 1988"; it would earn seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Actor (Hackman), Supporting Actress (McDormand), and Director. Which reaction is most appropriate? Both are, depending on your particular point of view. At the very least the performances are dynamic, but there's more to this provocative film than fine acting. We suggest you check it out and form your own opinion. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (36)

SCINTILLATING HISTORY LESSON (AND A GREAT SUSPENSE THRILLER)
A gut-wrenching thriller from start to finish, the movie's breakneck pace is akin to any topnotch suspense movie of our time, while managing an excellent depiction of the 1960's civil rights struggle in the US as well.

Despite its theme's sombre contours the film never gets all preachy about the subject. Gene Hackman is picture perfect although his vigilante FBI loose-cannon role occasionally gets a bit far-fetched. A salon scene between him and one of the rogue cops who moonlight as members of Ku-Klux-Klan will remain in your memory for a long time.

The racism theme may appear a bit dated to viewers of this generation, but it is integral to the theme (as it was to the actual civil war.) Plus, let's not forget that the movie was made in 1988, and watching it now I still couldn't help getting touched by the identifiable theme. Frankly, I don't really understand what racially oriented quibbles reviewers have with the movie -- this is not some drummed up theme, this is ACTUALLY what happened in Mississippi.

A taut, absorbing, and worthwhile film that you must watch if you haven't already.

Powerful Drama
Mississippi Burning is griping and powerful civil rights era drama that is based on real life events. Three civil rights workers (two white, one black) are missing and feared dead. They were last sceen in a small Mississippi town. The FBI sends down a team of agents led by Willem Dafoe and Gene Hackman. Mr. Dafoe is a young, idealistic agent while Mr. Hackman is one time small town Mississippi sheriff with alot views on how the case should be handled. The two bang heads, before they eventually come to a common ground. The town is segregated and the Ku Klux Klan runs rampant. The film's graphic depiction of racism and hatred is disturbing. It is difficult to image that something this grotesque and reviling could happen in this country, but it unfortunately did. Francis McDormand is the wife of Brad Dourif who is town's deputy sheriff. Despite the fact her husband is knee deep in the missing kids situation and is a hateful and violent man, she rises above it and shows compassion to her fellow man. There is alot of sexual tension between her and Mr. Hackman and it adds a calming touch to the turbulent surroundings. Mississippi Burning is a film that is movie making at it's best. It comments on society, makes you think, educates you and in the end entertains.

The Racial Divide
The filmography of director Alan Parker is an eclectic one. His work covers a large spectrum of genres and themes. This diversity allows Parker to keep his career fresh and invigorated Of course, lots of directors do the same thing, but, Parker is truly diverse. One minute he can do the controversial and very complex Angel Heart, then switch gears to do a lighthearted film, like The Commitments. In 1988's Mississippi Burning, Parker was lucky enough to get a superb cast, willing to tackle some tough material.

When three civil rights activists 2 whites and one black, are murdered in the middle of the night, the small Mississippi town becames a cauldron of racial tension. Two FBI agents are soon dispatched to investigate. Soon the veteran Anderson (Gene Hackman) and his green around the gills by the book partner Ward (Willem Dafoe), find themselves at odds with many of the town's citizens and each other. As the case boils over, the two agents must overcome their differences to solve the case before the town is torn apart.

Parker sucessfully recreates the look and feel, of a small town in 1964, gripped in the throws of a turbulent time in U.S. history. You get a real sense of what it must have been like at that time. Once again Hackman proves why he is a master at his craft. As Anderson, he gives one of his most complex performances, offerng a multifaceted character study. Like in so maany of Hackman's films, he can turn on a dime, portraying a guy that's charming but with a darker side...Da Foe is nicely matched against Hackman in the film. He gives one of his best performances as well. The supporting players, R. Lee Ermy, Brad Dourif, and Frances McDormaand, really shine too. I don't think there's a rotten apple in the entire film

The latest DVD improves only slightly, over the movie only disc, as far as the extras are concerned. While I really enjoyed Parker's audio commentary, aside from the theatrical trailer, I found myself really curious to hear from others who worked on the film. Those ommisions really gnawed at me. Still, Mississippi Burning shows us just how far we have come when dealing with racism...and reminds how far both sides still need to go before it is defeated.

It's worth it to see Hackman do his thing on that alone. All the other good stuff about the movie appears as icing on the cake.

A powerful indictment of Democratic Party's past sins
This film reminds us of the horrors that the Southern Democrats inflicted upon African Americans. As Wayne Perryman reminds us in his book, "Unfounded Loyalties",

"One party and their abolitionist supporters believed the Bible instructed them to lay down their lives for the slaves, the other party and their supporters believed the Bible gave them the right to take the lives of blacks if they rebelled against being slaves.

"On the issue of slavery, one party and its supporters gave their lives to expand it (to Northern states) and the other party and their supporters gave their lives to ban it.

"One party was heavily influenced by the Abolitionists and the radical wing of their party ... and the other party was influenced by the Ku Klux Klan and other terrorist groups.

"One party and its supporters started the Freedman's Bureau and other programs to help build communities for blacks, the other party and their supporters engaged in practices to hinder those efforts and to destroy those communities (Wilmington, North Carolina).

"One party and its supporters established quality schools and colleges for blacks, the other party and their supporters engaged in practices that attempted to close some of those schools or diminish their quality.

"One party passed laws and Constitutional Amendments (13th , 14th , 15th) to include blacks as part of mainstream society, the other party passed laws to exclude them from the mainstream (Jim Crow Laws and Black Codes). ..."

Sadly, many do not know that that "one party" was the Republican Party, while the "other party" was the Democratic Party. I myself didn't know at the time I watched this stirring film. I suppose burning crosses make us assume the bad guys are aligned with the religious right. Unfortunately, the "other party" used a nonsensical interpretation of the "curse of Ham" to justify slavery; fortunately, "one party" saw through it.

This film is also a great example of how history is being rewritten or dumbed down. While many films have shown lynchings and other abuse of African Americans, they usually leave you with the impression that the bigots were "Bible bashers" ... as you can see, this is only half the truth. Very rarely are we reminded that it was Republicans who laid their lives on the line to defend blacks, based on their Christian faith.

Willem Dafoe is, as always, fascinating to watch. His gesture of futility during Hackman's interrogation of a suspect is priceless. Perhaps the shameful past that the Democrats are trying to forget - indeed, most youngsters today do not need to forget, they haven't even been taught - will spur them onto greater deeds that may even outshine the "one party".

Insidious, particuarly if this is the only source
"[A]n excellent depiction of the 1960's civil rights struggle in the US," a reviewer called this. Read Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody, see Eyes on the Prize, get it from the library. While it may be "based on a true story", the story is very unrepresentative and the story here historically was insignificant compared to what blacks themselves--and _other_ whites--did as far as voter registration, the "Freedom Summer," etc. As critic Pauline Kael argued, "...the movie hinges on the ploy that the FBI men can't stop the Ku Klux Klan from its terrorism against blacks until they swing over to vigilante tactics.

Amazon.com writes:

As critic Pauline Kael argued, "...the movie hinges on the ploy that the FBI men can't stop the Ku Klux Klan from its terrorism against blacks until they swing over to vigilante tactics. And we're put in the position of applauding the FBI's dirtiest forms of intimidation. This cheap gimmick undercuts the whole civil rights subject; it validates the terrorist methods of the Klan."

This becomes irrelevant to more informed readers when they realize that FBI men usually were one of the major obstacles of the civil rights movement.

Once again, Anne Moody's book is the place to start on Mississippi specifically. It's a story at least as gripping. It makes more sense in the context of the rest of the movement and the 60s, so these are other places to look:

Eyes on the Prize (Eyes on the Prize II gives how and why the civil rights movement ended/disintegrated) videos, companion book, and document reader.

Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch--Martin Luther King, but we really don't know much about him and this also deals with the movement in general. Sweeping, along with Eyes on the Prize, frames much of the movement.

The Children by David Halberstam--Black students taking on Nashville.

Making Sense of the Sixties--A PBS video series on the sixties. Try to find it at your library.

These all are only a few of the books/videos that I think everybody should read and watch to be familiar with this very relevant, passionate, and tragically forgotten part of history. A true understanding of the civil rights movement destroys the audience for this kind of film--though the bias may be unintentional, it reflects ignorance--and gets us focused on major questions of life in America today.

Some of you may be surprised to find that these books are at least as gripping as this movie. But if you'd rather watch something, Eyes on the Prize is the ideal place to start. The violence there is real, there are civil rights workers who happen to be victims of violence (that is, drawn out as real people through interviews), and the violence on the blacks is not absurd (again, realistic as it may be, the framing makes it absurd), reminiscent of Birth of a Nation. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Pure Cronenberg.
Those who love "sci-fi" (i.e. puerile George Lucas ray-guns CGI bulls**t) should stay away from this film. It has an intelligent script, good acting (not wooden Hollywood posturing), clever dialogue, captivating visuals (not facile CGI effects), and a truly mindbending narrative that plays with our perceptions of reality and provides a great deal of cerebral entertainment. As one critic noted, eXistenZ "pulsates with a furtive fury that's pure Cronenberg." In other words, not to be missed.

it's like... clapping... fireword... elves...
sci-fi is a good vehicle to make a movie about something most people 'haven't' experienced. in the context of a simple story that has nothing to do with the reader, an author can hide a lot of clues, words and metaphors that trick the user into remembering something he forgot when he was born. everything, EVERYTHING, about eXistenZ, from the way the actors talk to the lines to the fleshy living portals to the fast cuts, it's all reminder text. if you can trace back half of it, you remember more than i do. this movie is destined to go WAY over most people's radar, like naked lunch, because they've never played with anyone in this life and they don't know how to trace back a metaphor until it becomes relevant. this movie is a serious trip for serious explorers, it has a lot of -info- packed into it, it's medicinal. do you know what i mean? this reality is only a practice round! love each other and shine your eyes!

here's a riddle: what lasts for 'twenty minutes' and causes you to completely leave this body?

Reality, Reality...whos' got the True Reality?
If you thought "Dark City", "The Matrix", "The Thirteenth Floor", and "The Game" were the ultimate Gnostic examinations of what True Reality is and which life...or lives...or reincarnation...or half remembered-half forgotten former life you might be accessing again...then move over... "ExistenZ" is the FAR OUT experience of a lifetime... actually of several lifetimes...or of two different lifetimes...at the same time. These films all "appear" to be science-fantasy or suspense...but don't let that fool you... actually Gnosticism attempts to do that very thing...fool you...but for you own good...so you will see the Truth, but not KNOW it immediately for what it actually is...for in the phoney world that most people call "real," appearances themselves are deceiving! Who is the "enemy" of life and the world? Is it "corporate" buyers and sellers -- or is it the demonic nature of the whole "world system" of matter and materialism itself that is ultimately seeking to do us in? Do you have free will -- or are you a manipulated puppet and slave? And WHO is manipulating you ...and giving the orders? All of these questions pop up and down and up again...rearranged in multiple guises and different lives; and different identities are switched at the drop of a consciousness in this fantastic film! Nothing is always what it seems...and he who is friend one moment, may very well turn out to be he who is enemy is just a split second of soul/mind switching. There aren't many films like this one (even though "Dark City" is still the most poetic and allegorically/symbolically stylish)! Buy this...experience this...scratch you head over it for an eternity...or maybe two...or three. It's worth every penny!

Warning may give way ending and misunderstanging for 1stares
I saw thirty minutes of this movie and at the end of this movie the two main characters kill the creators. I found this movie a great film that shows how violence in video games may influenced people to use violence in real life.

Just Dumb
I saw half of this movie before we decided to burn it. I can't speak for the whole thing, but the half I saw deffinately ranks as the lowest, dumbest, worst film I've ever come across. The acting, props, dialogue, and drama are horrible. I love sci fi, fantasy and think this is an absolute disgrace to my favorite genres. I would have given this negative stars if it were possible. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Spectacular "Where's he going? No where!"
The Boondock Saints was honestly the best investment I have ever made on impulse. Within 10 minutes of having started the movie, I knew I was in for something special, I was excited and on the edge of my seat. I wish I could claim to have done something for the first time that was this amazing. For a first script, and a directorial debut on an independent film budget, Troy Duffy started at the sky and worked his way up. The story itself, revolving around two Irish Bostonian brothers and there "quest" to rid the streets of Mafia bosses, druglords, and other street scum is wonderful. I don't want to go too heavily into the plot, because seeing it unfold before me was part of the pleasure I gained from watching this movie. This movie is filled with questions to the viewer as to what is morally acceptable, what stereotypes are held in society, and how much we, as humans, WANT to believe in what is going on, and are willing to keep watching wether we agree with it or not. The acting perfomances are solid across the board. I was already a big fan of Sean Patrick Flannery for his role as the Young Indiana Jones, and liked Willem Dafoe's work from Platoon and other movies. Norman Reedus was someone whom I had never heard of, but I am out looking currently to see more of his movies. The bond between Sean and Norm who play brothers was wonderful, and translated beautifully on screen. The movie is a wonderful mix of action, comedy, drama, and presents a real "thinker" movie that leaves your brain on way after the movie is cold in the player. I highly recommend this movie to everyone. Wether you like it or not at the end, its a movie worth seeing to find out. As for the DVD, as a DVD fan and collector, I have to say I was highly surprised by the extras. Deleted scenes for wonderful, and as I failed to mention earlier, show scenes differently from the movie. The movie was magicly directed, the editing was wonderful, big thumbs up to Troy Duffy just for the way he shot this film. The extra's on the DVD also include a commentary which I highly enjoyed watching and will do again. This is truly (and one of the very few in my experiences) a MUST SEE movie. I know the cult fan base is high, and I hope the movie gains more and more ground, because it is truly deserving. Can't wait to see what Troy Duffy presents us with next.

A Sleeper Fan's Opinion
If you are a big fan of sleeper films, then this should be #1 on your movies to rent list. After you watch it, it will be #1 on your movies to buy list. This movie will really toy with you from the very beginning. As an action movie, you see the results of the action sequence before you see the actual scene. By doing this, the director keeps you on the edge of your seat, dying to know what happened and how. After the first sequence like this, you will be glued to your TV. Personally, I enjoyed this style of storytelling immensly because it was very fresh. This movie has an original plot, great character development, fantastic dialogue and several extremely humorous scenes. Oh, and great action too. For the DVD fan, there are great special features. The deleted scenes are some of the best I have ever seen, and I wish that they had been left in the theatrical release. I can only hope for a directors cut somewhere down the line. Willem Dafoe and Sean Patrick Flannery put forth a fantastic performance
in this quirky, perfectly paced and very slickly directed sleeper. In the universe of sleeper movies, Boondock Saints is one of the best ever.

"Snatch" with a soul
Did you ever have one of those moments when your lower lip quivered, your eyes filled with tears almost to the point of overflowing, and your heart swelled with pride or pure joy? This happened to me several times while watching BOONDOCK SAINTS. It is an overwhelming tour de force.

In today's world of moral relativism, nihilism, and hedonism, BOONDOCK SAINTS is an extremely refreshing change. It chronicles the lives of two Irish brothers in Boston who have been charged by God to cleanse the city of evil men, and the savvy and worldly FBI agent on their case. It is the story of real men, men who plant their sword in the ground and would die for the cause in which they believe. Some might call this dangerous fanaticism. They just might be right. The beauty of this film is that, in the spirit of intellectual honesty, it even questions its heroes. This fact is another refreshing change from standard Hollywood films in which the "good" guy kills a bunch of people, gets the girl, and no one asks any questions.

Stylistically, freshman Troy Duffy attempts to imitate Guy Ritchie. Even the box says "in the tradition of Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels." Yet Duffy fails in this regard on two counts. First, he isn't nearly as stylish as Ritchie; and second, he is far better than him. Whereas Ritchie's films are mostly enjoyable, but essentially empty, Duffy's BOONDOCK SAINTS tackles very serious intellectual and spiritual issues in a very satisfying manner. Please watch this great work. It will move and stimulate you. Especially recommended for the intellectual Catholic.

The Best Movie You've Never Seen!
If I could have rated this movie higher, I would have. This is one of the all time greats. Action, adventure, black comedy, bitter, lovely, and haunting. The characters and dialogue hit you with the force of a nuclear blast. You are immediately sucked into their universe and you never want to leave it. They are Everyman and no man at the same time. The writing is first rate, the acting is absolutely delicious. What entrancing rogues they are. Did I love them? And how! Flanery and Reedus are delightful and well cast as the brothers; David Della Rocco is absolutely brilliant as the engaging half wit, Rocco. I don't know anyone other than my children, and a few of their friends, who have seen it. Age doesn't matter with this film, as it does with some indies. My kids are twenty something, and I am considerably older! But we all loved it. Dafoe does a stellar turn as a gay FBI agent. I could go on and on. Wish I could remember everyone's names, but I can't. Suffice it to say, that the actors playing the detectives are very good as well. And Billy Connelly is fabulous as the brother's psychopathic father. Ah, you knew they had to get it somewhere, didn't you? Do yourself a favor, and buy this movie. I have seen it probably 50 times or more since owning it. It's a real treasure: take it out and savor it often. 5 stars out of 5, but worth a constellation. If you liked Snatch, you will love this. If you haven't seen Snatch, you will love it anyway.

The Boondock Saints
The movie was great. I loved it from begining to end. My friend currently bought it off Amazon and since I loved it I wanted to buy it. ... 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

Amazon.com

Platoon put writer-turned-director Oliver Stone on the Hollywood map; it is still his most acclaimed and effective film, probably because it is based on Stone's firsthand experience as an American soldier in Vietnam.Chris (Charlie Sheen) is an infantryman whose loyalty is tested by two superior officers: Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe), a former hippie humanist who really cares about his men (this was a few years before he played Jesus in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ), and Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger), a moody, macho soldier who may have gone over to the dark side.The personalities of the two sergeants correspond to their combat drugs of choice--pot for Elias and booze for Barnes.Stone has become known for his sledgehammer visual style, but in this film it seems perfectly appropriate. His violent and disorienting images have a terrifying immediacy, a you-are-there quality that gives you a sense of how things may have felt to an infantryman in the jungles of Vietnam. Platoon won Oscars for best picture and director. The digital video disc transfer was supervised by cinematographer Robert Richardson, and includes two commentary tracks (one by Stone and one by military technical advisor Dale Dye) and a 50-minute documentary about the making of Platoon called A Tour of the Inferno: Revisiting Platoon. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (231)

The Greatest Vietnam Movie, In my opinon.
Oliver Stone's "Platoon" is one of the best and most powerful of all war pictures. It is the best movie ever made about the Vietnam war. Stone's film is gritty, frighteningly realistic and incredibly powerful. Stone doesn't just show us the Vietnam war, he takes into the Vietnam war. The screenplay is brilliant and doesn't fall into the trap that other war films fall into, where the violence turns into a fun experience and fighting seems "cool." This is a movie that truly shows the horrors of war realistically and with great effect. The cinematography by Robert Richardson (JFK, Natural Born Killers) is rich and gritty, giving more feeling to already great material. The characters are believable and convincing. It's great work because Stone himself went to Vietnam, so he has a better idea of what happened than Francis Ford Coppola when he made "Apocalypse Now" (which is also a great movie). "Platoon" is mesmerizing, powerful, effective, disturbing and even philosophical. It is one of Stone's greatest works. He ignites the screen with passion. The music is incredibly moving. No other director has made better films about Vietnam than Stone, who's "Born On The Fourth Of July" and "Heaven And Earth" followed "Platoon," and opened our eyes to greater clarity. I was never less than spellbound by this work. "Platoon" vibrates with realism and energy. A very special motion picture

The Nam
Oliver Stone's Vietnam War film, PLATOON, remains a very intense film, even some 15 years after its theatrical release.
As seen through the eyes of Private Chris Taylor, (Charlie Sheen), the film focuses on the experiences of this naive young man and the other soldiers in his unit. As tensions mount and fears of the enemy threaten to overtake the men, a sick rivalry develops between Sgt. Barnes (Tom Berenger) and Sgt. Elias (Willem DaFoe) that sets soldier against soldier. The entire film takes you inside the minds of these 3 men for different views on the war and what it was like for the men that were there. Of course some of it seems tamer now, especially after, more recent war films. But PLATOON still is an intense look at the war, that, even today, no one really understands. Stone puts his real life experiences as a "Nam" vet, to direct to perfection. The performances by the cast are superb...

The Special Edition DVD has an excellent retrospective documentary on the film that is quite comprehensive. Of equal interest, were the 2 audio commentaries The first by Stone, the second by millitary advisor Dale Dye---both men put the actors through their paces. The photo gallery, theatrical trailer, t.v. spots and "collectible" booklet round out the disc's extras. This edition is vastly improved over the movie only edition and comes highly recommended

not God as some people praise it at but pretty damn good
very very enjoyable flick, mainly because it reminded me of FMJ(full metal jacket) and the humor was pretty good too. i might have preferred this film a little better if charlie s. wasnt in it but he actualy didnt do that bad of a job one part i found hysterical was that johnny depp has a part in it. with short blonde hair and he just is walking by then gets blown up. this film should deffinalty be in a war collects colection.

way too isolated and without emotions
Oliver Stone's was a veteran of Vietnam himself and he appears late in this movie, which is unfortunate for his own sake, because if I were him, I'd want to be hiding from this movie, pretending to have nothing to do with it. The three main soldiers (Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger) hate each other from the very beginning and everyone knows before it begins that it is about the loss of innocence because war is hell, so the things that happen to the three of them are pretty predictable. In some of his better work, mainly The Doors and Natural Born Killers, Oliver Stone uses a lot of effort to show the effect that the plot is having on the rest of the world. In The Doors, we see footage of Vietnam because it was transpiring at the same time. Likewise for Nixon. However, in this movie, we just see the war itself without seeing the outside world reacting to it as it unfolds. Oliver Stone does better work in the 90's.

Favorite Vietnam Piece
This is my personal favorite vietnam film. It blew away the others for me (ie..Hamburger Hill, Full metal jacket etc) The story, acting and gritty take of the war made this film VERY important. It asks some pointed questions and is a breathtaking film. Not to be missed! This should be in EVERY war film fan's library. plain and simple. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The BEST!
Speed is my favorite Sandra Bullock movie. She is just...phenominal in it. And Keanu Reeves...what a hunk!!
The way they put this film together was great: the stunts, the action, the suspense and thrill of it all! Jan DeBont needs to get back together with Sandra to do another action movie. That would be cool!! I CANNOT think of another movie that is better that Speed! It's definitely #1 on my list.

Depends on which one you want!
Let's face it, Speed(5 stars) is a wonderful Action movie, problably the best Action movie of the year, but Speed 2(3 stars) doesn't live up to the original as well as I thought it would. The movie would be so much better if Keanu Reeves reprised his role as Jack Traven. Dennis Hopper was a great villian in the original.

Best Action of the 90's.
Despite what some may say, these two films offer an endless supply of edge-of-your-seat action, some of the most amazing stunts, and very good special effects. THE ACTION FILMS OF THE 90's!

What is it with the people?
Ok, let me guess ... You saw Speed and thought it was a great movie? Or at least you heard it was great movie. Well, it is - bet ya! And now you heard people talking - Speed 2 is a terrible movie, the winner of the golden raspberry (the worst movie of the year). So, why buy it, especially when it is a set?

Ok, let me set it straight. Speed 2 isn't a bad movie - it just isn't as good as Speed 1. The story of Speed 2 is dumb (as in every other action movie - take Eraser, or M:I-2), but it makes a nice background for the action and nobody ever goes to see an action-flick for the story. And if we are honest than even Speed 1 didn't have that much of a great story - it isn't so much better than the stroy of the second movie.

What counts is action, and you get plenty of it here. It's the same class of action as in Speed, with a different playground. You get even the cute Sandra Bullock and a cute Jason Patrick (instead of Keanu Reeves). In addition you get a little bit of romance, 'cause the character of Jason Patrick wants to marry the character of Sandra Bullock ...

Ok, so, are missing anything for an action movie? I am not! Just 'cause Speed was such a surprise and a overaverage action-flick, was everybody expecting the same from Speed 2 ... And it was impossible to fulfill, or at least it didn't work out. So in this packet, we have a great action movies on DVD (Speed = 5 stars) and an average action movie (Speed 2 = 4 stars). And 'cause it's just the two normal DVDs you can buy separately in one box, the rating is 4 stars! Buy it, if you love Sandra Bullock/Jason Patrick and if you love good action!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

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