Reviews (44)

A Loving Homage to Comic Books of My Youth
One of life's questions yet to be answered is "Who is better, Batman or Superman?" Well, the response sought for is not revealed in this well-made and tremendously entertaining film.

The story involves the uneasy first meeting between the two superheroes and a shared interest in one Lois Lane. Thus, the pair forms a strained alliance when forced to combat the team composed of their respective nemeses Lex Luthor and The Joker. Such a real-life quality adds realism to the highly fictional world of comic book endeavors.

Hey, superheroes have problems, too!

As far as the actors providing the exemplary voice work, each is superb in their roles. Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy give just the right balance for their animated counterparts' dual personalities. Clancy Brown's deep resonance has an aristocratic and arrogant air about it that makes him the perfect Lex Luthor. Dana Delaney as the very independent Lois Lane is quite good. Arleen Sorkin shines in her role as Harley Quinn, Joker's sidekick who is as "far off the deep end" as is The Clown Prince of Crime.

But it is Mark Hamill who really rises to the occasion in a truly over-the-top performance as the Joker. Forget Nicholson or even TV's Caesar Romero! Hamill is the Joker. His utterances and nuances in every line delivered are brilliant.

I can remember Tim Curry winning an Emmy several years ago for his work on the animated Peter Pan series.

Hamill has done no less. His mantle deserves some tangible reward.

Maybe, it will be our appreciation for his masterful performance in this film that will be recognition enough.

No Love Lost at First Meeting
Worthwhile use of the "World's Finest" title for this first animated meeting between the Bat and the Big Blue Cheese. (For many years, the comic titled "World's Finest"'s lead story every month was a Batman/Superman team-up, in an era when hero's team-ups were not common)

Batman and Superman's first meeting, herein portrayed, is rather nice, especially because they really just don't like each other a heck of a lot. Especially because Lois Lane falls hard for Bruce Wayne.

Their mutual discovery of secret identities plays nicely on the two characters' strong points, with Superman using his superpowers and Batman demonstrating why he's the world's greatest detective.

Harley Quinn's running feud with Luthor's female bodyguard/chauffeur, Mercy, is one of the high points.

The Joker's "Dance of Death" over the fallen Superman, adding shocks from his super-charged handbuzzer to Big Blue's suffering in his kryptonite death trap is rather chilling; in this and a few elements of violence this production (originally aired in prime-time, and then as three episodes of the television series) goes a bit beyond what the afternoon TV series can usually portray, and the Mark Hamill-voiced Joker is truly scary. The Joker's raving laughter as he (apparently) goes to his death as a result of one of his own traps gone wrong is both chilling and in character. (Harley Quinn, on the other hand, is just a *bit* too broadly portrayed.)

(There is, by the way a comicbook/"graphic novel" adaptation of this material -- now sadly out of print. While it doesn't bring much new, it's a good counterpoint to this film, as it gives alternate, slightly more "adult" views on some things -- if you have one, you really need the other.)

One question -- does Lois Lane have a trust fund or something? Otherwise, how does she afford that Simply Incredible apartment on a mere reporter's salary?

Also -- a couple of scenes, notably the lab where the robots are kept and where Superman fights them, and Superman straining to (just barely) prevent a huge aircraft from crashing into buildings strongly suggest deliberate homages to the old Fleischer Bros "Superman" cartoons, specifically to "Metal Monsters" and "Japoteurs".

Superman is the better hero....
I think over the years, Superman has become the better hero. he's the one who has a life outside of the cape. He's a good man with a big heart and you know you can trust him when he appears on the scene. I can not say that about the current take on Batman, after the over-rated Frank Miller got his hands on him. The one who appears in this movie, is basically a lunatic running around in a Bat costume, has nothing to do with the Bob Caine Batman that was created in 1939. Not at all. They have done tons of Batman live action/animation movies, and only one was ever any good. He is now the most over-rated comic book hero.

Nick's Review
I have been a huge Batman animated adventure fan for as long as I can remember. When the Superman series came out, it was just as fantastic. When you put the two greatest heros together, you get perfect. The greatest hero this universe has ever known, teamed up with the worlds greatest detective, you know its gonna be an awesome adventure. It is. Nick.

Bats And Blue...
The Joker has gotten a hold of 20 lbs. of kryptonite! He abducts Lex Luthor in Metropolis and offers to kill Superman for one billion dollars. Bruce Wayne is also in Metropolis for a business meeting with Luthor. Luthor has secretly made a deal with the Pentagon to use planetary exploration robots for military purposes. This ticks Bruce off, who nixes the whole thing. Meanwhile, Joker kidnaps Lois Lane, using her as bait for Big Blue, who flies to her rescue in an anti-kryptonite suit (Batman warned him of the Joker's scheme). Joker weakens Supes with the kryptonite, after destroying his protective suit with hydrochloric acid. Enter a gaggle of Luthor's giant killer robots sent to terminate both Bats and Blue! Can the Caped Crusader and the Man Of Steel overcome this metallic army of doom? Can they defeat the combined forces of The Joker, Harley Quinn, Lex Luthor and Mercy? Can they put aside their own personal differences as well as their rivalry over Lois Lane? I'm not tellin'! Tons of action! Great wisecracks! Romance! My son and I loved every second! Highly recommended... ... Read more

Reviews (87)

A lovely movie
I have watched The Object of My Affection numerous times (they're always running it on the ABC Family Channel), and I have yet to tire of it. It is sweet, touching, funny, and well performed.

Jennifer Aniston is perfectly cast as the lead character, Nina Borowski, and gives an excellent performance that making the viewer feel what she's feeling. Paul Rudd, as her roommate and eventual love interest, is very appealing too. (In my opinion, he doesn't really seem gay, but then again he doesn't really need to. As long as the viewer just accepts the fact that he IS, it works.) John Pankow is great as Nina's irritating boyfriend, Vince. And of course, Nigel Hawthorne does a wonderful job as Rodney. Big surprise.

The best scene in the film is a scene where Nina's overbearing sister, Constance (Allison Janney), descends on Nina and George along with her equally annoying husband (Alan Alda) and daughter (Lauren Pratt). It is so funny, and so well acted.

All in all, The Object Of My Affection rates five stars in my book. Granted, there are some clunky bits in the script (as mentioned in the editorial review), and some bits that require suspension of belief. But those things are easy to ignore, and more than likely, you'll want to watch this film over and over again.

About time The Object Of My Affection comes to DVD
The Object Of My Affection is a great Flick. I am so excited it's finally on DVD. This movie takes place in New York City with our former Twin Tower buildings as the beautiful backdrop. The movie is about a women named Nina (Jennifer Aniston) who falls in love with her roommate George (Paul Rudd), but there is one problem ... he is gay. George decides to move out and move in with Nina after his boyfriend Joley tells him he is seeing another guy. Nina who has a boyfriend finds herself falling in love with George and soon she finds out she is pregnant but decides she wants to raise the child with George instead. George finally starts to fall for Nina, but after a weekend trip with his x-boyfriend Joley, George soon finds himself falling for a guy named Paul, and soon there is a decision that forces George to decide between Nina and Paul. I know it sound like a too much drama, but this is a movie worth watching, I will not say anymore other than this is a Great movie that will make you laugh and bring tears to your eyes as well. Im glad to see The Object Of My Affection has made it to DVD. Buy it it is a great flick that breaks down the walls of sexuality as you can not choose who you can fall in love with, true love just happens. (...)

A must see
This is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I watched this one over and over again and I can't get enough of it. Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd are just adorable, the ( gay themed) story is magnificient,there is a great balance between comedy and tragedy, everything in this movie is worth the five stars.

Presents Some Moments of Affection
This movie starts as an hip romantic comedy, turns into a serious drama, becomes melodramatic and soap opera-ish, gets into comedy territory again for a while and finally delivers a contrived and slightly unrealistic Hollywood ending.

"The Object of My Affection" has as many twists and turns as a rollercoaster ride, switching and redefining the status quo a thousand times. Some moments are genuine and heartfeld, others have a sitcom humorous feel and at times it gets overboard with high levels of sugar and sappyness. The story is about the relationship between two young adults, a gay teacher (Paul Rudd) and a modern NY girl (Jennifer Aniston). Beginning as a tight friendship, their connection then appears to turn into something more deep, and from this point on the plot delivers a lot of subplots and new characters.

The acting is overall good and the movie tries to touch some serious issues, but unfortunately the story is so contrived that the result is just uneven and not very impressive. The pacing isn`t the best as well, delivering a lot of slow and dull moments that go nowhere. Despite these flaws, "The Object of My Affection" still has some entertainment value and a couple of interesting scenes, even if it`s just another average movie.
With a few improvements this material could rise a bit and become more remarkable, but as it is it`s not too good neither too bad.

Watchable enough.

Affects at Parts
This movie starts as an hip romantic comedy, turns into a serious drama, becomes melodramatic and soap opera-ish, gets into comedy territory again for a while and finally delivers a contrived and slightly unrealistic Hollywood ending. It has as many twists and turns as a rollercoaster ride, switching and redefining the status quo a thousand times. Some moments are genuine and heartfeld, others have a sitcom humorous feel and at times it gets overboard with high levels of sugar and sappyness. The story is about the relationship between two young adults, a gay teacher (Paul Rudd) and a modern NY girl (Jennifer Aniston). Beginning as a tight friendship, their connection then appears to turn into something more deep, and from this point on the plot delivers a lot of subplots and new characters. The acting is overall good and the movie tries to touch some serious issues, but unfortunately the story is so contrived that the result is just uneven and not very impressive. The pacing isn`t the best as well, delivering a lot of slow and dull moments that go nowhere. Despite these flaws, "The Object of My Affection" still has some entertainment value and a couple of interesting scenes, even if it`s just another average movie. With a few improvements this material could rise a bit and become more remarkable, but as it is it`s not too good neither too bad.

Watchable enough. ... Read more

Description

The film that launched successful careers for Kevin Bacon, Ellen Barkin, Paul Reiser, Mickey Rourke and more! It's a lively, poignant tale of friends trying to recapture their lost innocence in 1959 Baltimore. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Barry Levinson's first and best film
Barry Levinson has been hailed as a great director on the basis of such films as Rain Man, Good Morning Vietnam and Bugsy. Diner is where his career began and remains the best film in his entire catalogue.

Diner takes place in Baltimore in the 1950s and tells the story of five young men hanging onto their high school antics by the skins of their teeths while coming to terms with fast-approaching adult responsibilities.

College, work, marriage, and responsibility in general threaten the quality time they spend hanging out at the Diner, discussing "What's on the B-Side?" and "Who's better: Sinatra or Mathis?" (The answer, of course: "Presley").

The film's laughs originate from its good ear for dialogue and the fantastic acting, which at times appears to be improvised. The film's young actors include Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, and Steve Guttenberg in the collective high point of their careers.

A thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud masterpiece.

We'll always have "Diner," and hooray for that!
What is really interesting about Diner is that it came very early in the career of its director and actors, yet although most of them have had monster hits since then, they have never surpassed their achievement in this movie. In none of his other films has Barry Levinson made his slice-of-life Baltimore milieu seem so cohesive, so moving, or so hilarious; in no other films did Mickey Rourke and Steve Guttenberg--who looked like nascent superstars in 1982 but squandered their early promise--come across with such charisma and charm. Even the preponderance of actors from this movie who went on to huge success--Kevin Bacon, Ellen Barkin, Daniel Stern, Tim Daly, Paul Reiser--reached a personal best in "Diner." In a way this is the ultimate "guy flick"--concerned very much with the way guys talk, think, and react to each other and to women--yet there's enough humor, tenderness and humanity in Levinson's vision to make this an excellent choice for any audience. It's interesting to note that Stern also starred in "Breaking Away," another classic sleeper comedy about young guys hanging out and trying to forget the future. The two flicks would make a great rental double bill!

"Are you going to eat that?"
The first time I saw this film was as a teenager with my mother. Kids, learn from my mistake--DO NOT watch this film with your parents. I still have nightmares about the "Popcorn Scene."

I decided to watch Diner again recently, since I had little recollection of it. Given all of its critical acclaim and somewhat cult-status, I'd say I felt just a little let down. Really, I do mean a little:
--the storylines were interesting, but not fascinating;
--the "witty banter" at the diner was fun, but could have been better (think the coffee shop scene in Reservoir Dogs or the foot rub conversation in Pulp Fiction--now THAT's funny).

I think part of the reason for all of the accolades is that the film's "free-form" style was somewhat groundbreaking in 1982. It has been done better several times since then. Overall, I'd say this is a solid, entertaining film. Great? Nah.

As delicious as fries with brown gravy
DINER has been receiving a lot of unkind remarks in recent years, and much of it is undeserved. Time is really what has been unkind. In 1982, after years of hippie doldrums, disco ho-hum, and punk self-destruction, Barry Levinson reached back to a different era which seemed like a simpler one. But he did so without a nostalgic eye. He presented five young men at a point in life when hard decisions have to be made. To compound this, each of the five young men are facing critical issues at this critical time. (Notice I say five men, not six. Modell [Paul Reiser] doesn't have a plot line. He's there for comic effect mostly.)

Boogie (Micky Rourke), his gambling problems aside, struggles to keep his dreams but must learn to accept the responsibilities of life. The intellectual but alcohol-plagued Fenwick (Kevin Bacon) must face-down his crusty, aloof family once and for all. Shreevie (Daniel Stern) must learn to translate his love for love songs for love for his wife before his marriage completely evaporates. Mama's boy (with a twisted mama), Eddie, (Steve Guttenburg) who has no real excuse for treating his fiancee so badly, is the most desperate in need of growing up.

To me, Billy (Timothy Daly) has the most poignant of all problems. He's willing to face up to his responsibility; he's willing to do the right thing. In one scene, where he decks the last opposing player of a baseball team that had ganged up on him, he essentially has put his boyhood behind him. What's standing in his way is the woman carrying his child but won't marry him. (She has good reason, by the way, for being reluctant.)

But comedy is watching other people struggle with their problems, after all. To me, the more believeable the problems (and they are believeable) the more effective the comedy.

Levinson squeezes so much humor out of these characters, and the actors deliver beautifully. The ease with which the cast interacts makes the viewer wonder whether they had been friends for years before making this film. Unlike other comedies of the early 80s--the infamous one-liners strung together--DINER's tangle of plot lines grows logically; it progresses as a result of the characters, not the situation. And while the film ends, according to true comic convention, with a wedding, it is the only traditional aspect of the film. It was truly unique for its time. And perhaps the time will come again when people will appreciate the value of this movie.

Far from excellent
This is one of the top 100 comedies, according to the American Film Institute, but I hardly laughed at all. I enjoy many comedies, but this one had few funny moments. Plus, I could not stand Mickey Rourke; is he always this annoying? And the rest of the actors are far from great ones. Where did the idea of calling this a classic come from?

The only reason I'm giving this 2 stars is because the film itself was made fairly well. It did have a 1950's atmosphere, but other than that, I was highly disappointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Give me what I want and I'll go away," demands the black-eyed, stocking-capped stranger Linoge (Colm Feore), who appears in a quiet island community on the verge of the worst storm in decades and brutally bludgeons an old lady to death. Tim Daly, the town sheriff and voice of reason and moral strength, locks up the quiet madman, but the deaths pile up as Linoge acts them out from his cell like a murderous mime pulling psychic strings. Stephen King, whose original teleplay is his best work for thescreen since The Stand, transforms the sleepy burg into a Peyton Place of guilty secrets and criminal activity ripped from under a blanket of small town normality while the white-out of the snowstorm completely cuts them off from civilization. Director Craig R. Baxley nicely maintains an icy tension while the waiting game goes on, perhaps a little too long, before Linoge finally reveals "what he wants" and the drama turns into a struggle for man's soul in miniature. The more ambitious special effects and set pieces sometimes disappoint but are more than made up for in King's knack for turning the mundane into the macabre (the children's song "I'm a Little Teapot" has never sounded more sinister) and a few brilliantly realized sequences, the best of which occurs when townspeople are literally yanked out of existence while watching the storm. Storm of the Century is one of the most successful translations of King's brand of horror to the screen. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (132)

A Must For King Fans; For The Others, Read On...
At the outset I'd like to say that King's fans are gonna love this one. It's a bit slow, long, but it's spooky, scary, terrifying, nightmarish, and it delivers an unforgettable message at the end. Vintage King.

Now, for the rest...

A weird guy shows up in an island in Maine (King's favorite State), and kills an old lady for no real reason. But he doesn't go away - he waits to get arrested. In this case, however, the real prisoners are the residents, some of whom are murdered in vicious ways by the stranger, with the help of his ominous-looking cane.

Colm Feore is terrific in the role of the evil man, while Tim Daly does a decent job as the town grocer and Constable. The really cool thing about this film is that you never notice the length (close to 4 hours!), as scene after scene captures your imagination and tortures your soul.

Small town mentalities and moralities are exposed for what they are - cheap, narrow, selfish, and deadly. Each character has (or has had) a past (or present) that they'd never like the world to ever know. But the stranger (the Legion) knows EVERYTHING about everyone.

As secrets come out, and as hidden conflicts are brought out into the open, one can see the characters change faces. When the main objective of the stranger is revealed by him during a town meeting during the course of the storm, it's time for soul-searching and morals-testing. None emerges unscathed, except Tim Daly and his wife, though in completely opposite ways.

The ending is definitely not satisfactory, and seems forced to deliver some sort of closure to the viewer.

In summary- Positive things:

1. Good, strong character development.

2. Powerful storyline.

3. Intelligent, relevant screenplay.

4. Good photography.

5. Excellent acting by most.

6. Wonderful music score.

Negative things:

1. Length (some people will definitely groan!)

2. Unsatisfactory ending.

3. Colm Feore is not used very well.

4. Slow beginning, with a few scenes of really bad dialogue delivery and acting.

Finally A King Film You Can Watch ...
...without wanting to smash your tv-set.

This movie had to be good, because Stephen King himself wrote the screenplay - which was an original screenplay and no adaptation from one of his story. King wrote this sinister little tale especially for ABC television and I have to admit, that beside the fact that it is a good story for a cold night, snow piling up outside, it is a very good mvie as well. I loved the actors, the filming and just every minute of the 4-hour mini-series. I even watched the whole thing just listening to Stephen King's commentary (although I skipped the parts director Craig Baxley commented) - the commentary was as good as the movie itself, because it was not some poor strawhat talking about something, but Stephen King doing what he can do best: not commenting, but telling. Stephen King gives very delightful inside-information on the making of the movie and talks about works related to this movie, how he came across the idea for the story (it was partly influenced by a play by Friedrich Dürenmatt King had a part in when being in High School), how he tried to work it out, stuff like that. So this is a very interesting bonus for every Stephen King fan: you get a very good movie and a very fine commentary by Stephen King, with all the information and all the amusing details 'n' extras.

Story's Rough Cut: Small town off the coast of Maine, Little Tall Island, the setting of "Dolores Claiborne" - "life on the island is different from the life on the mainland." Stranger makes the small township aware of his evil presence by murdering an old woman, Martha Clarendon, and therefore arrested - "because I choose," as the stranger, André Linoge, claims. Linoge knows all the dirty little secrets of the clean-shirted islanders and he wants what he inevites, unless he will not go away. What exactly Linoge wants, you have to find out for yourselves, sorry. It is worth finding out, believe me, just this one time! ;-)

Let me finish with a praise for the movie by some newspaper I do not remember, "it is a high-voltage, spine-tingling shocker, which has been called one of the best King films ever!" It sure is.

Don't waste your time
I really like Stephen King, but this has got to be one of his worst works ever. EVER. The plot is intruiging, but the movie is sooooo long. It's like, what, five hours? The movie pulls you in with an interesting begining, and keeps you watching with a so-so middle, but there is really no point. There is so much unneccesary information and there are so many pointless scenes. Yeah, like, seven people or so die, but there isn't really anything all too exciting about it. After a while, this movie becomes quite annoying, and you just want to see what the guy wants, and what he wants is rather idiotic, and is very anti-climactic. So, in my opinion, don't waste your time watching this.

"Gimme what I want and I'll go away."
Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away.

Was that annoying? Now you know how I felt going through this film.

He wants a kid. That's what he wants. He wants a kid. There, I just saved you three hours of agonizing torture.

Good movie, loses it at the end
I watched Storm of the Century yesterday, with low expectations. However, it did exceed them. At 4 1/2 hours long, you need to have a lot of patience with it. The movie maintained a good element of mystery, but about two hours in the movie you'll want it to speed up. It has its quick gasps and scares, and the usual King twistedness. The movie also made some good Roanoke references. The most dissapointing part of the movie was the end. The solution to the problem was the one you expected so, it lost the element of mystery towards the end. The movie is not really scary as you watching it, but in the dark, some scenes of it come back to you. I would see it if you have a decent amount of time on your hands and nothing else to do. ... Read more

Reviews (109)

John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson back together at last!
John Travolta plays Tom Hardy, a ex-military Ranger now DEA agent brought in by an old friend to investigate the disappearances and/or deaths of several Army Ranger trainee's and their legendary drill instructor, Sgt. Nathan West (Jackson), during an exercise at a basic training camp, Fort Clayton, in Panama.
Once Hardy gets there a series of different storys are told and changed by the trainee's that he question's on the events that occurred at this training camp. Which starts to form a huge question in the audiencies mind, WHO'S TELLING THE TRUTH? However by the end there is a huge climax and everything is explained and leaves you in half shock, half amazement. I recommend this movie to anyone who liked 'A Few Good Men' or 'Mission:Impossible'.
'Basic' has terrific performances by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta although a shaky performance by Connie Nielson. It also has great supporting acts from Giovanni Ribisi, Taye Diggs, and Brian Van Holt.

MORE TWISTS THAN A PRETZEL
BASIC is one frustrating movie...I found myself wondering throughout the whole movie, what in the world is going on here? Who in the world is telling the truth? Who killed who? But, once it completes its rollercoaster ride, it leaves you snickering, come on, how can this be? And yet, I found myself riveted to the screen waiting for the "truth" to be told. John Travolta is at his smooth best in the role of an interrogator under investigation for bribery; Timothy Daly gives a good performance as his old buddy who lures him into the case; Connie Nielsen is pretty, but her performance is at times too wooden to be convincing; Brian van Holt is excellent as Ray, the stubborn soldier; Giovanni Ribisi (so good in "The Gift") is a little too "gay" in his role, but convincing; Samuel L. Jackson is Samuel L. Jackson, but certainly makes you hate him. John McTiernan's direction (he of the Die Hard fame) is crisp and shrouded in mystery. If you have a low frustration level, you may give up on "Basic"; but stick with it; it's ending comes out of nowhere, but it does have an impact.

Very intriguing and suspenseful
Besides Identity, Basic is probably one of the best, well-made drama/suspense films I've seen. Roles were well casted; Samuel L. Jackson always makes a good, hardened army soldier, and John Travolta makes a good investigator who is very quick, nimble, if not full of mystery. I will admit it has taken a few times to watch to fully understand everything this rich plot had to offer. I would say my only reason for a 4 was the language... I usually don't mind language, but please take note this film as language-ridden like none other before it. For me it was a bit too much than what the film really called for.

However, weighing everything, this is a good film worth it's money.

Highly underrated- a real brain-twister
If you don't like to think while you're watching a movie then stop reading this and go rent some overblown blockbuster. Basic is an incredible movie with more viable twists than I've seen in any other movie. It's fun to watch it multiple times simply to try to figure out how it all fits together (which, I assure you, it does). I can't help but like Travolta in this movie, and Jackson is always great. Critics panned the movie in theaters- more proof that critics actually don't think themselves- but everyone I've shown it to has enjoyed it. If you like suspense/mystery, then don't miss this one.

Trick or Treat?
One's enjoyment of this movie probably will be determined by one's tolerance for being somewhat "cheated" by the screenwriter and director. If you don't mind a certain degree of dishonesty in the service of plot and surprise (and don't mind John Travolta), you'll probably rate this higher than I did. On the other hand, if you believe that a well done thriller by definition has to play fair with its audience, you'll likely feel manipulated and, yes, cheated.

This is one of those films that are difficult to discuss without spoiling the plot. Suffice it to say that I found the production values first rate, and the sound and action sequences generally well done. I don't mind Travolta, like Connie Nielsen, and wasn't too put off by a fairly cliched performance by Samuel Jackson as the (usual) hard-bitten Sergeant.

However, the movie cannot stand up to close analysis of the plot and its various devices. Sins against the viewer are committed by the screenwiter and director--the principle one being that characters who are shown to have certain knowledge at the end do not act consistently with that knowledge throughout.

That's all I'm going to say except that having the DVD will enable you to replay some of the scenes sufficiently to see the extent to which the viewer has been manipulated. There is honest and clever manipulation that always takes place in good thrillers, but this movie, while clever in spots, isn't very honest. ... Read more

Description

Whoopi Goldberg (SISTER ACT I & II, EDDIE) handles business her own way in this outrageous comedy hit! Whoopi plays a fast-track executive who starts her own company after a back-stabbing co-worker (Tim Daly, TV's WINGS) nabs her promotion. But when she's locked out of the stuffy corporate world, she invents a dazzling male business partner to sell her ideas! Her wacky plan soon spins wildly out of control, however, when her bogus "associate" becomes Wall Street's hottest financial whiz -- and Whoopi herself must impersonate him! With Dianne Wiest (THE BIRDCAGE) in a hilarious supporting cast, THE ASSOCIATE is a comedy treat you're sure to love! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great Movie
Whoopi Goldberg stars in THE ASSOCIATE, a humorous movie about the stock market and a woman finding her way. She plays Laurel Ayers, a stock broker who is promised a promotion. When her co worker takes her promotion right from under her, she is determined to make it on her own. She quits and starts her own company. To her dismay she finds out that it's not easy making it in the world as a woman, doors are constantly slammed in her face because of her gender, so she sets out to take the world over by storm, by creating a fictional person, Robert Cutty. Yes she creates a man and even dresses up as one. Cutty takes the world by storm, but Laurel has to keep up with her charade. Eventually she realizes that Cutty has been nothing but trouble for her, no one cares about what SHE has been doing, and a man is still getting all the credit for her ideas. So she sets out to kill a fictional man that doesn't exist! She realizes she is no better than she was, because Cutty is getting credit for all her work and ideas. ...Overall a really humorous and well acted film, worth seeing many times.

Very Entertaining!
I truly love this movie! I have been trying to get it on DVD eversince I first watched it in March 1997 on my way to the UK. Whoopi Goldberg's acting is convincing but I liked Dianne Wiest's supporting role. A very entertainingly funny plot will keep you laughing most of the time through the whole movie.

He Look-a-Like-A-Man!
I must have seen this movie about twenty times or more! Each time I viewed it, I discovered something new in the movie!I loved
when Whoopi finally got a break-through and was given an account to prove her worth as a business woman! Women are still looked down in 2002 in many fields!The White Male is still given every thing over the Black woman and the white woman! Opray was the frist African American woman given close to a billion in revenue, we're cousins by the way Opray and I! No, really!!

viewing the movie helped me to make many successful deals without feeling like a helpless female!

Anyway Whoopi plays a guy as well as she does a girl! Five stars for you Whoopi!

Not a Great Comedy but Sometimes genuine humor film.
Wall street analyst (Oscar-Winner:Whoopi Goldberg) cannot survived in the World Business Men. So, she sets up with a Phony Fictitious business male partner and she decide to dress herself as a Man!

This Comedy is a Remake from a French 1982 film. Goldberg is Quite Good in the lead. Great suppoting cast:Including-Two Time Oscar Winner:Dianne Wiest, Eli Wallach, Timothy Daly, Bebe Neuworth, Austin Pendleton and Lainie kazan. Directed by Donald Pertie (Grumpier old men) has made a good comedy but he has made funnier films that this one. Grade:B.

Badly acted; not very entertaining
Any one who has the faintest inkling of how Wall St works will find this movie a joke. I can't believe the other reviews giving four or five stars. I was very disappointed with the whole thing. Whoopi seems very uninvolved in her acting. The movie just drags and drags. Many of the so called comic scenes are very contrived. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With so many romantic comedies revolving around eternally adolescent men with self-centered philosophies and terminal commitment problems, it's kind of nice to see one of them take stock of himself. Tim Daly, a chef with unconventional methods (try his dishwasher fish), embarks on a quest through past loves with sincere questions about why things didn't work out. Boyish Daly is charming as the rogue romantic, and his tour through broken affairs gives some fine actresses comic-showcase scenes--Jamie Gertz, Laura Leighton, Elizabeth Peña, Mimi Rogers, and Katy Selverstone among them. Olivia d'Abo is his current flame, a would-be psychic restaurateur who sets out after him, and Melora Hardin is an old gal pal who just may be his best chance at a fresh start. This isn't quite the High Fidelity thing--Daly's quest is a well-meaning attempt at personal growth, not a sour tour of self-justification--but then this is hardly as ambitious or revealing. He doesn't learn anything that a little serious self-examination would reveal just as well, but that's beside the point. It's a warm and winning little comedy about growing up, letting go, and opening up, with deftly played comedy and generous performances. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (8)

First introspection, then transcendance
Tim Daly's understated, warm, charming, womanizing veneer shines through in this richly entertaining indie. Paul Lazarus, director of many memorable "Friends" and "Mad About You" episodes, tackles his first feature film here, yet it never really feels like a TV movie. Although his tearful outburst on Mimi Rogers' doorstep was a bit painful to watch, few of Daly's acting limitations come to the surface in "Seven Girlfriends," partly because it's the perfect role for him. But, the real stars are the women he "revisits" on his path of self-discovery. First stop is his first girlfriend, played by Rogers, and all things are not as they first appear. As the uncomfortable discussion unfolds, you really begin to feel for the characters and the movie hooks you. I am a huge fan of "High Fidelity" and comparisons seem almost inevitable, but this film is not the same. It is far from acerbic, but far from sweet, too. My guess is that more guys can relate to Daly's understated charmer than to John Cusack's brooding slacker. Though "Girlfriends" is hardly brilliant like "Fidelity," it's still a nicely told little tale of soul-searching. While the story almost begs to be nothing more than a nonstop collection of cliches, the skillful dialogue and actors keep that from happening. I think that's what I like most about "Seven Girlfriends" - during my entire first viewing, I kept thinking I shouldn't like this movie, since it's not exactly loaded with original ideas, yet everything is executed here with a realistic, understated elegance that I just didn't expect. I'd call it a "guilty pleasure," but it deserves to be more. NOTE TO MOVIE BUFFS: The DVD has some interesting commentary by Daly and Lazarus that brings to light many interesting problems in making a low-budget movie.

Excellent movie!
I first saw Seven Girlfriends on HBO late at night while on a business trip - then rented it to watch with my wife as soon as I got home. Even better the 2nd time. A very funny yet insightful movie about relationships and why they work and why they don't.

The coolest thing was - about 1/2 through the movie, Melora Hardin and Tim Daly sit down at the piano and Melora plays and sings - no unseen strings or flutes or harps in the background - just Melora, the piano, and her wonderful voice. Absolutely a top-10 of all time scene in a movie - dynamite.

One of the best "Who am I?" movies to come out in a while.
We all know the drill. Person reaches time in his lifer where he must ponder on what goes wrong with his relations. That is where the commonality with other such movies stops. There are full rounded personalities and nothing weird with the exception of his imagination. The seven-girlfriend thing allows for different scenarios of which is relived in retrospect.

Each actor does not overwhelm the part with his or her personality. Yet their style is still recognizable. This adds another diminution to the movie. You do not see Elizabeth Peña much lately.

Going throughout the process is fun to watch and we may learn a little something ourselves. We may also learn a little bit about the object/s of his affection.

A winner, suitable for both of you
Paul Lazarus has brought together an outstanding ensemble of actors and given them three-dimensional characters and crisp dialog to work with, creating a film that feels like it's filled with your own friends and acquaintances. Spend an afternoon or evening with it, and you'll want your own copy so you can see it again with a friend.

Not Casablanca, but a nice little movie...
This movie list will never make an AFI list, but it is charming. The story of a man who is dumped and loses his greatest love (2 different women) within a few minutes, prompts our "hero" to hit the road and meet his exes and learn where he failed. Shades of High Fidelity, but a very different little film--it is not profound or wickedly funny. It is kind, sweet, and gentle. Sure, you can see how the story will turn out, but the journey is a nice way to spend 100 minutes.

Tim Daly, an actor I've never loved,(some one in America watched Wings for 8 seasons--not me) does a great job as Jesse. He is flawed but decent guy who you can't help but root for. I adored the cast, some biggish names, and many not so big, but faces you will remember. Laura Leighton is the true love and she shines. She is beautiful and makes you wonder where she has been (it seems she had child recently). The cast features nice and warm performances from Mimi Rogers, Lindsay Sloane (in the worst writen role in the movie--she is a much better actress than allowed to be here), Elizabeth Pena, Katy Selverstone (she has been Drew Carey), Jami Gertz (who is always a pleasure). Olivia D'Abo does a decent job (but continues her string mediocore films--will Kicking and Screaming be her high point? That outstadning film just might be). Arye Gross is solid as Roman, the best friend. Gross never hit it big, but fits his role well.

My favorite performance is by Melora Hardin. I recognize her from many things, but then looking at the filmography, I see movies like Labamda which I've never seen. No matter. She steals the film. The scene she shares with Daly at her apartment is gentle and sweet. Paul Lazarus, director, should have done more with this talented actress. You can't help but fall in love with her when she sings. I hope her career takes off. She deserves it.

Enjoy this little movie. It is sweet. Share it with someone you love or to give you a bit of hope if you are alone. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Why isn't this great movie on DVD?
I won't tell you the story because the other reviews already did. Just know that, though this isn't the best movie ever made, it's not that bad either. The other people who reviewed this movie as poor are way too critical. Relax and have fun. A wacky comedy that's enjoyable and weird. Hopefully, it will be released on DVD.

The Movie
I first saw this movie on cable and liked it. A friend of mine had this movie and we watched it. It was great. A remake of the original and ten times better. It starts off when Dr. J canges into Ms. H. Well lets just say she reveales some great parts of her body to us. This is a deffinate buy.

Delightfully campy spoof on the horror book
This 1995 spoof of the famous "Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde," is disappointing in its comedy, mostly focusing on body references and sexual humor to only produce chuckles and groans.

Tim Daly (Dr. Jacks) tries to find a potion to cure the source of human evil by adding estrogen to the potion. By doing this, he transforms into sexy (and annoying) seductress Helen Hyde (Sean Young) on occasions. Helpless to stop this process of man to woman and woman to man, Dr. Jacks tries to convince his fiancee, Sarah (sexy and always watchable Lysette Anthony) to help him find a cure for taking Helen out for good.

The movie is delightfully campy in the beginning, but in the last 15 to 30 minutes, suddenly turns somewhat suspenseful, hilarious, and romantic. A hilariously campy movie with a satisfying ending. Rated PG-13 for crude sex-related scenes and humor, sexual innueudo, nudity and language.

Poor, bad, horrible, painful to watch, take a pick
A young doctor transforms into a psychotic woman on a regular basis. If this plotline excites you, than you might find something you like in this movie. I didn't. I actually found it to be one of the worst movies I have ever watched. Sean Young is a strong contender for being the most annoying actress there ever was, back to back with Melanie Griffith. This film is unfunny to the extreme and I strongly suggest that people beware of it.

Not good
This movie is dumb, but it's worth it just to see Tim Daly in his white undies. What a sight. ... Read more

Description

Adapted by master playwright Arthur Miller from Henrik Ibsen's groundbreaking 1882 play, An Enemy of the People is a scathing indictment of a corrupt society. An idealistic doctor, played by 1966 Emmy-winner James Daly, discovers that the medicinal springs- source of a small Norwegian town's wealth and fame--are in fact poisoned. "Few dramas... clamor with as much present-day social relevance," declared Variety. Veteran Broadway, screen, and television actress Kate Reid plays the doctor's indomitable wife who stands by him in the face of the town's hostility to his findings, as he becomes "an enemy of the people." "Few dramas...clamor with as much present-day social relevance." --Variety ... Read more

Description

From the producers of The Emmy(R) award winning Batman: The Animated Series comes an all-new feature-length animated adventure starring the world's most celebrated superhero: Superman:The Last Son Of Krypton! Year: 1996Director: Curt Geda, Scott Jeralds, Dan Riba, Bruce TimmStarring:Tim Daly, Dana Delany, Clancy Brown, Malcolm McDowell ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Lightning CAN Strike Twice
Bruce Timm and Paul Dini prove that lightning can strike twice when they switched creative gears from the dark streets of Gotham City to the bright lights, big city look of Metropolis. This animated epic begins on Krypton but quickly travels to Earth, with the arrival of baby Kalel to the Kents. Eventually, Clark Kent's trials lead him to Metropolis, where a rival/love interest named Lois Lane fights for headlines while a greedy businessman named Lex Luther fights for control of the planet! Outstanding family entertainment about the man of steel! A must for any serious Super-fan!

It's 3 episodes, not a movie
Superman: The Last Son of Krypton is the first three episodes of the acclaimed animated series that ran on KidsWB! in the late 90's. As became par for the WB marketing department, rather than give fans fresh Superman material, they were content to edit and repackage episodes together into "movies". The resulting video is worth your attention and collection, but it's not a movie, and it's nowhere near the best that the series had to offer.

Superman: LSK was produced by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and the many talented people that created Batman: The Animated Series, and later, Batman Beyond and Justice League. While the group has had no problems with Batman, they never quite got the hang of Superman, and it's evident in these episodes. Like Richard Donner's 1978 Superman movie, the origin of Superman is told in three distinct parts: Starting on Krypton, we learn of the planet's demise and follow scientist Jor-El as he rockets his son to Earth. We see Clark grow up in Smallville and learn of his heritage, then we move on to Metropolis and the introduction of Lois Lane, the Daily Planet, and Lex Luthor. The scenes on Krypton are the best part of the "movie". In a wise move, the villain Brainiac is re-imagined as Krypton's supercomputer, and lets everyone die so it can save itself.

Kal-El is rocketed to Earth, and the "movie" starts going downhill. Too little time is spent on Clark finding out about his powers in Smallville. I would've liked to see more of Lana Lang, and more of Clark gradually accepting that he's different. The story skips by these important scenes too quickly as it moves us to Metropolis. Lex Luthor has designed a prototype battle suit that is appearantly stolen by terrorist John Corben. Too much time is spent on this plot thread, and at times it overwealms Superman's introduction to the citizens of Metropolis. I would've liked to see more of a shock among the bad guys when they find out they're being chased by a flying man, Superman's interview with Lois, and the scene of Superman finding acceptance after his final victory is too short. The fight sequences go on a tad too long, and Superman is knocked about repeatedly until he suddenly cuts loose and finishes the fights in a matter of seconds. Worst of all, the "movie" ends with the foreshadowing of the return of Brainiac. Nothing wrong with that, but it only makes sense in the context of the entire series. Fans who haven't seen the other episodes will be left hanging.

Despite all this, there are also many positives. All the characterization is dead on, from eager Jimmy Olsen to hardened Perry White, Lana Lang, Jor-El, and especially the three big stars, Clark, Luthor, and Lois. While actors Tim Daly and Clancy Brown are still struggling with their voices here, they find themselves by the third episode's end, and give great performances.

For those wanting to watch a "movie", try the "Batman-Superman Movie". It's the only other three episodes of the Superman series released, but its story is more self-contained and more enjoyable. Superman: The Last Son of Krypton is not the best introduction the character could've recieved, but it's still an important part of the series, and essential viewing.

A Legend Reborn
From the creators of the popular "Batman: The Animated Series", the legendary Man of Steel returns in the promising animated adventure "Superman: The Last Son of Krypton". The young survivor of the doomed Planet Krypton grows to manhood on Earth with extraordinary abilities. Moving to Metropolis, the kind-hearted alien visitor arouses the interest of rival star journalist Lois Lane and ruthless industrialist Lex Luthor. This latest adaptation of the classic super hero is certainly the most faithful and well-produced series in recent decades. It features a simple well paced storyline, interesting characters, engrossing comic book action and a rich music score. The animation is brighter and more colorful than the dark gothic style used in "Batman: TAS". The voice cast includes Tim Daly, Dana Delany, Clancy Brown and Malcolm McDowell.

For under $15, "Superman: The Last Son of Krypton" is a good bargain DVD. This animated feature is presented in its original full screen format. The DVD contains a simple but well done video transfer with some bits of dust and grain, and a good 2.0 Dolby Digital sound. Among supplemental extras, it includes "Portrait of a Hero" featurette, Character Bios with video clips and "Escape from Planet Krypton" game. In terms of presentation and extras, "Superman" is a worthy bargain purchase and receives a "B-".

Caped Wonder
Since The Man Of Steel made his debut in the pages of Action Comics during the month of June, in the year 1938, his origin has been told and retold many times. Each time those in charge of crafting the well known story, putting a new spin on how the last son of Krypton became Earth's greatest protector against the forces of evil. Following the success of the Emmy Award winning Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm and his fantastic team of collaborators, decided to launch Superman in 1996...in prime time, just as they did with the Caped Crusader.

The feature length "pilot" is animated in the same style as the Batman series, using sharp edges, ala'from the 1940s, giving the show a classic feel. Yet it still maintained a modern sensibility, with more adult storylines that kids could also enjoy.

The voice cast is a talented group, that helped bring very familiar characters to life, with much believability and authority. Playing Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent, Tim Daly (from the TV sit-com Wings), plays it straight. Dana Delany as Lois Lane, reminds me of the way Phylis Coates and Noel Neil played her in the classic 50's live action series. Character actor Clancy Brown voiced arch enemy Lex Luthor in a way that he made me forget the cheesy way the character came across in the now retro Superfriends incarnation. Anyone familiar with the way John Byrne retooled the mythology in 1988, will surely recognize his influences throughout, as well.

Essentially, The Last Son Of Kryton, is the first three episodes of the series, that aired as a 90 minute special, for its premiere. The DVD takes a look at the characters, with the feature called "Superman: Family, Friends & Foes". How To Draw Superman will give you a brieff look behind the scenes and "Escape From Planet Krypton" is a fairly easy game.

This release is recommended for any fan of the show. I do hope they decide to put the series in some type of DVD box sets at some point in the future

Excellent movie
This "movie" comprises the first three episodes of the superb Superman: The Animated Series. It is an excellent introduction to Superman, and one of the best of the first season. (...)If you're not a completist then don't buy this, because(...) there is a box set due out in the summer. I bought it for the sole purpose of having it in a movie format. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Raging Baloney
"Against the Ropes" is not merely the title of Meg Ryan's latest movie; that phrase must also describe how she feels these days, as she tries in vain to persuade her fanbase that she's more than just a cuddly blonde romantic comedy lead. Although she bared her body and her soul in director Jane Campion's seamy "In the Cut," audiences weren't interested, and it doesn't look likely that "Ropes" -- opening nearly a full year after it was scheduled to premiere -- will give anyone much to cheer about.

A heavy-duty fictionalization of the life story of Jackie Kallen, a former sportswriter and public relations specialist who hit it big as a boxing promoter, "Ropes" squanders rich source material, opting for cliches and stock situations instead. Worse still, screenwriter Cheryl Edwards has cooked up some real humdingers for Ryan's Jackie to deliver, such as "The world is not an oyster: It's a smelly tank, full of dirty water and sharks. It is not easy to swim."

That Ryan manages to get past that line without bringing down the house is a credit to her skill, and she does have a few effective moments as Jackie, who speaks in a rough-edged voice and maneuvers through stadiums and sports bars with a self-satisfied swagger in her step. "Ropes" also offers conclusive proof that whatever Ryan is paying her personal trainer is money well-spent. She looks sleek and shapely in a series of clingy, peek-a-boo outfits designed to highlight her legs, her figure and her cleavage.

Unfortunately, everything else in "Ropes" is considerably less impressive, from Omar Epps' wake-me-when-it's-over performance as Luther Shaw, the boxer Jackie pushes into the ring, to the unconvincingly conveyed atmosphere of downtown Cleveland, which features a slew of hard-boiled mugs who might have slithered out of "Guys and Dolls," as well as a few crack-crazed derelicts whose language and behavior remains within the boundaries of the PG-13 rating.

Forget "Raging Bull" -- this is Raging Baloney.

The movie's only real point of interest -- besides Ryan's imaginative wardrobe -- is its willingness to let Jackie look like an attention-starved fool when she finally begins to make a name for herself. Caught up in the fame game, she struts in front of HBO's cameras in a backless black leather gown and does her best to prove to everybody that she's her own biggest fan.

The rest of "Ropes" is as clueless about what Rubin "Hurricane" Carter once called "the sweetest sport" as that old Barbra Streisand/Ryan O'Neal farce "The Main Event." And at least in that one, you eventually got to hear Barbra belt out the oh-so-disco theme song ("Extra! Extra! I'm in lo-ooo-ve!"); "Against the Ropes" offers no such payoff in its final round.

A lot better than expected!
Okay, I heard that this movie wasn't so great, and like other Meg Ryan fans, I love to watch her in movies like "Sleepless In Seattle" and "You've Got Mail", but I think I was just really pleasantly surprised by this movie.

Meg Ryan plays Jackie Kallen, a woman who's been around the sport of boxing all of her life. And only until years later after being pushed around and stepped all over, Jackie Kallen began her journey to gain the respect of the other men in the business. See, the top-dogs of boxing, the managers and all, say it's a "man's world", but Jackie Kallen proves otherwise, as she hires Luther: a strong fighter, but weak minded man from the projects. Jackie Kallen takes Luther in to be trained by a very good friend of hers, and slowly but surely, Luther begins to become a better boxer and Jackie will soon find herself absorbing all of the attention they're about to get and will be blind to see the fact that it's her fighter who's now being walked all over. You'll just have to see how things turn out. And guess what? It may not be a romantic comedy, but there were moments throughout this movie that had me crying!

I was very surprised at everyones' performances. I think the acting was really good, and that this movie had very few flaws. I love Meg Ryan as an actress, and since I've liked every other movie she's in, I figured I'd give this one a shot. I'm glad I did, 'cause I plan on adding this onto my DVD collection!

This movie proves that Meg Ryan is capable of pulling off any role. She doesn't have to be "America's Sweetheart", but really, I don't care. I'll watch any movie with her in it, because she is so good of an actress.

RIveting and inspirational
Grab this DVD as quickly as you can. Here's why:
1. It tells the true story of a woman, Jackie Kallen, who broke into the male-dominated boxing world. Very inspirational and Meg Ryan's performance is strong and solid.
2. There's an interview with the real Jackie Kallen and a behind the scenes look at how and why the movie was made.
3. The movie is gripping to watch and Kallen isn't portrayed as a stereotype or saint but as a very real (and flawed) person. In short, this isn't a "fluffy" movie but one that tries to be relatively honest (by Hollywood standards).
Very riveting, great fight scenes, strong perfromances - what more is there to say?

Poor Meg
What happened? She looks like a dessicated scarecrow in this movie. I guess she's supposed to look tarty but it just looked appalling on her. Did this thing go straight to video? I certainly hope so for her sake. If you watch it, enjoy the flowered pants that make her thighs look 4 feet across.

Against the Ropes
When it works it works! Meg Ryans performemnce was good and the movie will make a great TNT flick. Recomemded! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Raging Baloney
"Against the Ropes" is not merely the title of Meg Ryan's latest movie; that phrase must also describe how she feels these days, as she tries in vain to persuade her fanbase that she's more than just a cuddly blonde romantic comedy lead. Although she bared her body and her soul in director Jane Campion's seamy "In the Cut," audiences weren't interested, and it doesn't look likely that "Ropes" -- opening nearly a full year after it was scheduled to premiere -- will give anyone much to cheer about.

A heavy-duty fictionalization of the life story of Jackie Kallen, a former sportswriter and public relations specialist who hit it big as a boxing promoter, "Ropes" squanders rich source material, opting for cliches and stock situations instead. Worse still, screenwriter Cheryl Edwards has cooked up some real humdingers for Ryan's Jackie to deliver, such as "The world is not an oyster: It's a smelly tank, full of dirty water and sharks. It is not easy to swim."

That Ryan manages to get past that line without bringing down the house is a credit to her skill, and she does have a few effective moments as Jackie, who speaks in a rough-edged voice and maneuvers through stadiums and sports bars with a self-satisfied swagger in her step. "Ropes" also offers conclusive proof that whatever Ryan is paying her personal trainer is money well-spent. She looks sleek and shapely in a series of clingy, peek-a-boo outfits designed to highlight her legs, her figure and her cleavage.

Unfortunately, everything else in "Ropes" is considerably less impressive, from Omar Epps' wake-me-when-it's-over performance as Luther Shaw, the boxer Jackie pushes into the ring, to the unconvincingly conveyed atmosphere of downtown Cleveland, which features a slew of hard-boiled mugs who might have slithered out of "Guys and Dolls," as well as a few crack-crazed derelicts whose language and behavior remains within the boundaries of the PG-13 rating.

Forget "Raging Bull" -- this is Raging Baloney.

The movie's only real point of interest -- besides Ryan's imaginative wardrobe -- is its willingness to let Jackie look like an attention-starved fool when she finally begins to make a name for herself. Caught up in the fame game, she struts in front of HBO's cameras in a backless black leather gown and does her best to prove to everybody that she's her own biggest fan.

The rest of "Ropes" is as clueless about what Rubin "Hurricane" Carter once called "the sweetest sport" as that old Barbra Streisand/Ryan O'Neal farce "The Main Event." And at least in that one, you eventually got to hear Barbra belt out the oh-so-disco theme song ("Extra! Extra! I'm in lo-ooo-ve!"); "Against the Ropes" offers no such payoff in its final round.

A lot better than expected!
Okay, I heard that this movie wasn't so great, and like other Meg Ryan fans, I love to watch her in movies like "Sleepless In Seattle" and "You've Got Mail", but I think I was just really pleasantly surprised by this movie.

Meg Ryan plays Jackie Kallen, a woman who's been around the sport of boxing all of her life. And only until years later after being pushed around and stepped all over, Jackie Kallen began her journey to gain the respect of the other men in the business. See, the top-dogs of boxing, the managers and all, say it's a "man's world", but Jackie Kallen proves otherwise, as she hires Luther: a strong fighter, but weak minded man from the projects. Jackie Kallen takes Luther in to be trained by a very good friend of hers, and slowly but surely, Luther begins to become a better boxer and Jackie will soon find herself absorbing all of the attention they're about to get and will be blind to see the fact that it's her fighter who's now being walked all over. You'll just have to see how things turn out. And guess what? It may not be a romantic comedy, but there were moments throughout this movie that had me crying!

I was very surprised at everyones' performances. I think the acting was really good, and that this movie had very few flaws. I love Meg Ryan as an actress, and since I've liked every other movie she's in, I figured I'd give this one a shot. I'm glad I did, 'cause I plan on adding this onto my DVD collection!

This movie proves that Meg Ryan is capable of pulling off any role. She doesn't have to be "America's Sweetheart", but really, I don't care. I'll watch any movie with her in it, because she is so good of an actress.

RIveting and inspirational
Grab this DVD as quickly as you can. Here's why:
1. It tells the true story of a woman, Jackie Kallen, who broke into the male-dominated boxing world. Very inspirational and Meg Ryan's performance is strong and solid.
2. There's an interview with the real Jackie Kallen and a behind the scenes look at how and why the movie was made.
3. The movie is gripping to watch and Kallen isn't portrayed as a stereotype or saint but as a very real (and flawed) person. In short, this isn't a "fluffy" movie but one that tries to be relatively honest (by Hollywood standards).
Very riveting, great fight scenes, strong perfromances - what more is there to say?

Poor Meg
What happened? She looks like a dessicated scarecrow in this movie. I guess she's supposed to look tarty but it just looked appalling on her. Did this thing go straight to video? I certainly hope so for her sake. If you watch it, enjoy the flowered pants that make her thighs look 4 feet across.

Against the Ropes
When it works it works! Meg Ryans performemnce was good and the movie will make a great TNT flick. Recomemded! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

will you pay to watch the guilty pay for their crimes?
This TVM about the evil lords of pay-for-view TV hooks into the bread and circuses level of entertainment, but taking us where Jerry Springer is yet to go - live coverage of the execution of death row criminals. That the company who forms an agreement with politicians is called Tycom may be a reference to Viacom, with Sean Young as the head of programming, Len Cariou as her boss, and Timothy Daly as the convicted killer chosen for his appeal to women, who we are told control the remote in American households. Although Daly's Sean Penn Dead Man Walking bouffant gives him a sociopathic suggestion, to Young he is a pussycat, which leads her to believe that he is innocent, so director Tommy Lee Wallace gives us a race against the "countdown to justice". The teleplay by Thomas Baum hasn't decided what we ultimately should believe about Daly. It has Young leaning towards his innocence which would make her want to pull the program, but the case it offers in his defense is hardly believable and represented by Dee Wallace Stone in a I'm making the most of my few scenes performance. This therefore works against Young's character, who has been previously established as cynical and savvy, and Wallace skimps on any romance between Young and Daly. Looking very beautiful, Young gives some surprising line readings, and provides a memorable howl. Wallace cuts between the film and video stock so that the TV coverage is striking, there is an amusing scene of an on-the-scene reporter being jostled by the crowd who she reports have been denied access to the event, and the climactic execution set reminded me of something from Triumph of the Will via Network, with the Big Brother/Big Business implications chillingly realised. ... Read more

Reviews (87)

A lovely movie
I have watched The Object of My Affection numerous times (they're always running it on the ABC Family Channel), and I have yet to tire of it. It is sweet, touching, funny, and well performed.

Jennifer Aniston is perfectly cast as the lead character, Nina Borowski, and gives an excellent performance that making the viewer feel what she's feeling. Paul Rudd, as her roommate and eventual love interest, is very appealing too. (In my opinion, he doesn't really seem gay, but then aga