Amazon.com

TV detective fans rejoice: Peter Falk's rumpled and infallible Lt. Columbo joins the DVD precinct with a five-disc set that features the detective's first nine appearances for NBC. Though Falk as Columbo (no first name) made his TV debut in 1967, the detective had actually first appeared on an episode of the 1960-61 Chevy Mystery Show (Bert Freed played the role) written by veteran TV scribes Richard Levinson and William Link (The Fugitive, Alfred Hitchcock Presents). The pair turned the episode into a stage play titled Prescription: Murder, which was adapted into a TV movie in 1967 with Falk in the lead. NBC greenlit a two-hour Columbo pilot (Ransom for a Dead Man) in 1971, and the series was launched that fall as part of the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie, a rotating 90-minute program that alternated Columbo with episodes of MacMillan and Wife and McCloud (another Levinson/Link creation). Viewers were quickly won over by Falk's shrewd performance as he matched wits with a host of exceptional guest stars (including Gene Barry, Patrick McGoohan, and others), all of whom assumed that the disheveled detective would never figure out their "perfect crimes"; the popularity and quality of the original series allows Falk to continue to don the trenchcoat some 30 years later for occasional Columbo TV movies.

All seven 90-minute episodes of the 1971-72 debut season are included here, along with Prescription: Murder and Ransom for a Dead Man; unfortunately, as the lieutenant himself would say, "Oh, just one more thing"--no extras are included in the set, but having these fine TV mysteries in one set should be reward enough for armchair sleuths. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Just one more thing: Thanks, Universal
Finally, my dream come true. I've been expecting this release for a long time. I keep all the Columbo episodes on VHS and now it's great to know they're being released on DVD, hope it'll continue with all the seasons ahead. Robert Culp (Death lends a hand), Ross Martin (Suitable for framing), Jack Cassidy (Murder by the book),Roddy McDowell (Short fuse) and even Leslie Nielsen (Lady in waiting) are among the great actors that share the credits with Mr. Peter Falk (tip of the hat to him). Go for it, you won't regret it.

There IS Just One More Thing...
Peter Falk's Columbo ranks as one of the greatest TV detective characters ever created. His ability to capture the kirky Los Angeles Lieutenant has captivated decades of viewers and is sure to also capture younger fans with this long-awaited DVD release.

Created by Richard Levinson and William Link, the series debuted in 1971 with "Murder by the Book," which was actually the third appearance of Falk's Columbo (there had been two previous two-hour NBC World Premiere Movies prior to the series launch.) Interestingly, "Murder by the Book" was directed by a then unknown talent: Steven Spielberg.

Columbo was unique in so many ways, the first was that the viewer learned the killer's identity in the first few minutes of every episode. Up until then, detective shows and mysteries had tried to keep the audience guessing "Who Done It?" until the very final scene. Levinson and Link turned that formula upside down, letting viewers in on the intracacies of the crime from the killer's viewpoint, their motivation, and what they did to cover their tracks to avoid discovery.

Often, Columbo was not even introduced until 20 minutes or more into the episodes (which ran a network 90 minutes with commercials instead of the usual 60 minutes for dramas.)

However, as soon as the audience caught a glimpse of the short, rumpled, cigar-smoking detective with the tan rain coat, they knew that they were watching something really special. Columbo feigned a scatter-brained approach, but it was soon obvious to viewers and the episode's killer that beneath his step-and-fetch-it manner lay the cooly brilliant mind of a master detective. And, it was the cat-and-mouse interplay and dialog between Columbo and the criminal that was at the heart of this brilliant series.

Smartly written and tightly crafted, the dramatic tension was created as Columbo slowly chipped away the layers of subterfuge left by the killer to reveal the mechanics of the crime and the killer.

Throughout the series, which spanned three decades after several relaunches as specials, Falk's black hair turned gray, but he wore the exact same rain coat while pursuing some of the best actors and actresses on TV or in the movies who portrayed various extremes of melevolent killers. A virtual "who's who" of the acting profession did a turn on Columbo.

To say that Columbo affected the TV mystery genre is to give it far too little credit: it changed it forever and produced a detective from which his alter ego, the vastly talented Falk, will also never be able to escape.

Let's hope the studio takes a clue from Colombo and quickly releases the rest of these outstanding episodes!

Why is there no remastering of Columbo?
Universal has done the same thing to Columbo that they did to The Night Gallery series-no interviews,no documentaries and no remastering of the print. This is not good enough.
If other studios can remaster everything from Star Trek to such average fare as Wonder Woman and The Dukes Of Hazzard,then Universal should have remastered the classic Columbo dramas and given us a new print of the series.
It would be so nice to have an interview with Peter Falk and have him tell us about his movie career and his 30 year association with Columbo,which is one of the longest acting experiences in media history. Peter filmed his first Columbo in 1972 and his latest in 2003. Quite an effort and it would have been great to hear some stories,but fans get nothing.
It would also be nice to see an interview with actor Patrick McGoogan and to hear how he got involved with acting and then writing,directing and producing some Columbo tele-movies,but again fans get left with nothing.
Altough the print of Columbo will be an acceptable standard comparable with video tapes,with such new technology as plasma and high definition television,viewers deserve better these days.
Other studios recognise this and Universal needs to wake up and join the new century. Perhaps when Vol 2 gets released,they might recognise this and give us a remastered set with some interviews.

I'm in heaven! YES!!!!!!
My heart sank to the floor when I saw that Columbo is on DVD. What I like best about this, is that it will be in broadcast order.
Just the fact that it's on DVD, in broadcast order or mixed up, is simply WONDERFUL.
How I long loved Columbo. It's a great detective show!!! Simply the best!

Well, it looks like the set will contain...
All 7 first season episodes, as well as the pilot "Prescription: Murder" and the "Ransom for a Dead Man" episode/movie as well for 9 total episodes/movies. YEAH!!! ... Read more

Reviews (664)

Rob Reiner Weaves His Best In Fanatsy!
THE PRINCESS BRIDE is directors Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men, Stand By Me) third feature film ever. It was based on a book written by Academy Award Winner William Goldwin (Misery, Maverick, Chaplin) who wrote this book for his children in 1973. After almost 15 years, and several studios, MGM decided to back it up and make the finished film.

It fun, it's funny and has adventure and romance, monsters and villains. It also has some of the best performances of an ensemble cast in a fairy tale ever. Robin Write-Penn (Then Robin Write at 19 years old) (Forrest Gump, Unbreakable) starring as Princess Buttercup who has fallen in love with a farm boy-turned Pirate, Cary Elwes (Twister, Robin Hood: Men In Tights, Quest For Camelot) and is seeking the kidnapped Princess from three renegades played by Wallace Shawn (Toy Story, Star Trek Deep Space Nine). The late Andre The Giant (Trading Mom) and an astounding performance by Mandy Patikin (Yentel, Alien Nation, Chicago Hope-TV ). Christopher Sarandon (Nightmare Before Christmas, Fright Night, Just Cause) and Christopher Guest (This Is Spinal Tap, Best In Show) head up the evil King and sidekick roles. The chemistry between Cary and Mandy is phenomenal. They are seriously funny in a sarcastic and monotoned way. The swordplay is the best I have seen since Errol Flynn.

What makes this movie special and energetic is the magic of fantasy with a splash of you have to believe in True Love for all this to work and for your happiness to be real. Shot entirely on location and with a minimum of a budget the movie is wonderful to watch and look at. A GEM for all the family - literally.

The DVD extras include three behind the scenes documentaries and lots of production photos. Very well put together and filled with interesting comments and antique dotes from all the cast and crew. There's even a behind the scenes home movie view of the production thanks to Carry Elwis himself. Of the trailers and production posters show you more of movie making and what it takes. The audio commentary by Rob Reiner is comical and very interesting. There is also a commentary by William Goldwin which gives you a lot of insighjt to the production. This is a great addition to the family film collection. (10-27-02)

"My name is Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!"

Director: Rob Reiner
Format: Color
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: March 7, 2000

Cast:

Cary Elwes ... Westley
Mandy Patinkin ... Inigo Montoya
Chris Sarandon ... Prince Humperdinck
Christopher Guest ... Count Tyrone Rugen
Wallace Shawn ... Vizzini
André the Giant ... Fezzik
Fred Savage ... The Grandson
Robin Wright Penn ... Buttercup/The Princess Bride
Peter Falk ... The Grandfather
Peter Cook ... The Impressive Clergyman
Mel Smith ... The Albino

Carol Kane ... Valerie
Billy Crystal ... Miracle Max
Anne Dyson ... The Queen
Margery Mason ... The Ancient Booer
Malcolm Storry ... Yellin
Willoughby Gray ... The King
Betsy Brantley ... The Mother
Paul Badger ... The Assistant Brute
Sallie McLaughlin

A storybook stable boy turns pirate and rescues his beloved who is about to marry a dreadful prince.

The story is told by the Grandfather (Peter Falk) to his cynical (at first) Grandson (Fred Savage).

The story is a love story with all of the elements of a fantasy fairy tale. Westley (Cary Elwes), the good guy, is opposed by Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin--"My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father. Be prepared to die!"), at first, and then wins Westley's admiration. Another opponent who becomes a co-conspirator, is Fezzick (Andre the Giant). Buttercup/The Princess Bride (Robin Wright Penn) is the princess who needs rescuing.

There is a lot of good tongue-in-cheek humor involved, and even though it is understood that this is a story told to a young boy, there is nevertheless a good level of tension involved.

This is a fun movie.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

What a marvelous movie... I waited too....
long to buy this movie -- my boys loved it the first time they watched it. It is timeless, a great comedy, wonderful lines.....
A great addition to our movie selection!

A family comedy funnier than this? Inconceivable!
For millions of television viewers who grew up during All in the Family's groundbreaking run (before it became stale in the post-1977 seasons), Rob Reiner will always be remembered as the Meathead, a.k.a. Archie Bunker's ultra-liberal, atheistic, and argumentative son-in-law, Mike Stivic. But Reiner, whose father Carl is one of America's best comedic writer-actor-directors (The Dick Van Dyke Show, Your Show of Shows, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid), is far more than just a good actor with one famous role, for after he left Norman Lear's flagship comedy series after six seasons, Reiner the Younger followed in his father's footsteps to become a well-known and well-regarded actor, writer, producer, and director.

One of Reiner's best films is 1987's The Princess Bride, a witty-yet-sweet comedy/fantasy written by two-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter William Goldman, who adapted his own novel about the beautiful maiden Buttercup (Robin Wright), whose true love, a young farmboy named Westley (Cary Elwes), goes off to sea to seek his fortune, telling Buttercup that he would come back for her.

But when Buttercup learns that Westley's ship has been attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts she swears she will never love anyone again, an oath she keeps even when she accepts a marriage proposal from Florin's Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), a handsome yet somewhat shady fellow who probably could give Machiavelli some lessons in, well, Machiavellian diplomacy. His plan is simple: take over as King of Florin as soon as his father passes away, get bethroded to a beautiful engaging commoner, then stage her kidnapping and demise to incriminate the neighboring rival kingdom Guilder and start a war.

Aided by the equally heinous Count Rugen (Christopher Guest), Humperdinck hires a trio led by the too-clever-for-his-own-good schemer Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), the revenge-obsessed Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), and Fezzik (Andre the Giant), a brawny hulk with a heart of gold and a fondness for rhymes. The three manage to kidnap Princess Buttercup, but before they reach the Guilder-Florin border they run into an unforeseen obstacle: a dashing swordsman dressed in black.

Goldman's clever way of grabbing the audience's heart and funny bone is to present this fairy tale with a framing story of a 1980s grandfather (Peter Falk) who visits his sick grandson (a pre-Wonder Years Fred Savage) and reads the tale of The Princess Bride to him, following a long family tradition.

Reiner gets wonderful performances not only from the major cast members, but also from Billy Crystal and Carol Kane, who play Miracle Max and his wife Valerie in a short but hilarious scene. He approaches the fractured fairy tale as a comedy/romance/swashbuckling adventure, poking gentle fun at the conventions of all the fantasy/medieval adventure films of the 1930s and '40s without being obnoxious or too sardonic. The result: a film that overcame box-office failure (it had a brief and unprofitable theatrical run in the summer of 1987) by becoming a home video success. (This is not unique to The Princess Bride, either. 1939's The Wizard of Oz was no box office champ when it premiered; only when it became an annual TV staple in the mid-1950s did Oz become a family classic.)

The 2001 MGM Special Edition DVD presents The Princess Bride in its original widescreen format, and features a director's commentary track by Reiner, a writer's commentary by Goldman, English and Spanish audio tracks, a new documentary on the making of the film ("As You Wish"), plus theatrical trailers and two original featurettes.

As Vizzini might have added, to try and find a funnier family film is absolutely inconceivable.

An Awesome Movie (Review by Jennifer Baker)
The Princess Bride is an excellent movie, and though at first viewing may seem pretty simple, it has much deeper meeting, but it may take more than one viewing to see this. First of all, it teaches the all-too-true, and sometimes overused lesson that good will prevail over evil. This is shown in Inigo's avenging of his father's death and Westley's rescuing of his true love, escaping his encounter with death, surviving "The Machine", making it through the fire swamp, battling the ROUS's, wrestling a giant, swordfighting with a Spaniard, and out-witting a Sicilian. (whew!) However, if you look closely, and watch this movie at least 100 times (which I have), then you will come to see that there is a lot of symbolism in The Princess Bride. Whether Buttercup is wearing blue (sadness) when she is getting married or red (danger) when she is kidnapped,the symbolism in this movie shows just how detailed this movie really is, which in turn makes it all the more fun to look for and watch. So in conclusion, The Princess Bride is a swashbuckling fun time for the whole family!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (97)

Nostalgic Comfort Viewing Perfect for a Family Night
THE GREAT RACE may not be a masterpiece--but it is a perfect choice for a cold and rainy night: stylish, frothy, and often flatly hilarious, it makes for "comfort viewing" at its best.

One of the movie's several charms is that it draws heavily from Victorian cliches that still linger in the public mind, gives them a gentle comic spin, and then drops them into the tale of an early 1900s auto race from New York to Paris by way of Siberia. Add to this a heap of favorite character actors, a big budget, flamboyant period costumes, and the biggest pie fight ever filmed, and you have a movie where there is always something to enjoy on the screen.

The great thing about THE GREAT RACE are the performances, which are very broad but endowed with a sly humor. The comedy accolades here go to Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk as the notorious Dr. Fate and his bumbling sidekick Max--wonderful bits of acting that will have you hooting with laughter in every scene--and Dorothy Provine scores memorably in a cameo as Lily Olay, the bombshell singer who presides over the most rootin'-tootin' saloon this side of the Pecos.

But every one, from Tony Curtis and the lovely Natalie Wood down to such cameo performers as Vivian Vance, get in plenty of comic chops as the film drifts from one outrageous episode to another: suffergettes crowding a newspaper, the biggest western brawl imaginable, polar bears, explosions, daredevil antics, and a subplot lifted from THE PRISONER OF ZENDA agreeably crowd in upon each other. True, the film does seem over-long and may drag a bit in spots, but it never drags for very long, and it's all in good fun--and the production values and memorable score easily tide over the bare spots.

The DVD bonuses aren't anything to write home about, and the film has not been restored per se--the color seems a bit faded here and there--but the print is remarkably clean and the widescreen format is an essential. This would be an excellent selection for a family movie night--or for any evening when you're alone and feeling a bit blue. Break out the popcorn, curl up on you sofa, and... as Dr. Fate would say... "Push the button, Max!"

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Great Race DVD -It's about time!!!
I have been waiting for this movie to come out on DVD. I've even written to Blake Edwards asking, "What is the hold up?"
Get ready, citizens of Boracho! Finally it's coming out!
Every time I saw Jack Lemmon in interviews I was always curious and disappointed that 'The Great Race' was never mentioned among his favorite films. Of course he made many other wonderful classic movies and I enjoyed his performance in all of them...but 'The Great Race' has been my favorite comedy for a long time. I practically can recite it along with the characters. I enjoyed some of the other reviewer's (here) favorite lines from the movie. They are my favorites too.
If you haven't seen this movie or if you haven't seen it in a long time...do yourself a favor and grab it. The laughs never stop. The casting is perfect...Tony Curtis with Keenan Wynn as his sidekick...Jack Lemmon with Peter Falk as his...Natalie Wood...Ross Martin...Vivian Vance...Larry Storch ("Now will you give me some fightin' room?!")...and many others. It doesn't get any better or funnier than this.
Hurray for the DVD. Believe me, you'll enjoy it.

A Big Ole Moose Butt
A classically structured old time villian vs the good guy film, with the obligatory sidekicks and the beautiful love interest, who will eventually succumb to the charms of The hero. More about that later. OK, the stereotypes are there, but that's what the movie was about. Charging from the gate with the player piano, boos and hiss when the cast boards are shown, the movie brings the viewer up to speed very fast with humor and great slapstick. Following a PR auto race in the early days of the 20th century, the film follows the main characters through the landscape of the US and Europe. Sight gags abound and the scenery is often breathtaking. The plot is easy to floow and it's good fun. For the movie fan who doesn't want to disect a movies' every nuance, this is especially fun and worth seeing time and again. The characters will keep you laughing long after the soundtrack has ended,. I would comment more on the plot, but nearly 100 people already handled that - look, just take a chance on it. It's great fun.

A lot of fun, but not what it should have been.
Epics were in vogue in the Sixties, and even the early Seventies(although I can't really see a hippie watching any of them), and it was only natural that comedies would get the "big" bug. IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD and THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL make up two of the big three. The other is THE GREAT RACE, Blake Edward's 159 minute slapstick excursion, restored on DVD in complete roadshow fashion, with overture, intermission, entr'acte, and exit music. And yet, for a film of this type, it is less about the race than about the rivalry between Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon) and the Great Leslie (Tony Curtis). There is precious little racing, and though the film is far from boring and has much going for it (the finale to Part One is brilliant) one can't help but wonder what it would have been like if the other entries in the race regrouped after being snuffed out and made their mad dashes for the forefront. That would make it THE GREAT RACE. Also, the lack of other challenge leaves a depressing side effect; the film seems mildly unfinished and undernourished, like 2 hours and 40 minutes of a 3 plus hour movie. And yet, the film has so much going for it that to ignore it is rather unfair. What there is (I should note that due to the previously noted flaws, the chapters on the disc make it a more pleasing experience) is very well made, and one can appreciate what they put into it.

If only they put more.

Jamie Teller

DVD version is fullscreen not widescreen
The movie is spectacular. This DVD version is a bomb. Shame on Warner Brothers for their greediness and lack of effort to bring widescreen versions to the masses including updated soundtracks and clean film reels! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Armchair sleuths, get out your trenchcoats: Universal has released the sophomore season (1972-73) of the classic detective series Columbo, starring Peter Falk as the sage but rumpled police lieutenant. As with the first season, there's plenty of star power in front of and behind the camera to abet Falk in these eight 90- and 120-minute episodes: John Cassavetes stars in the season premiere, Etude in Black, as a philandering symphony conductor, with Blythe Danner and Hollywood legend Myrna Loy in support; Oscar winner Ray Milland is a scheming orchid grower in "The Greenhouse Jungle," co-starring Bradford Dillman and William Smith; Robert Culp and Dean Stockwell are a football team manager and owner, respectively, whose disagreements blossom into murder in "The Most Crucial Game"; and Jeanette Nolan offers stellar comic relief in "Double Shock," which features Martin Landau as identical twins--one of whom has murdered their uncle.Performances by Richard Basehart, Laurence Harvey, Leonard Nimoy, Anne Francis, Anne Baxter, and Mel Ferrer also highlight the season; direction by small-screen stalwarts like Boris Sagal, Jeremy Paul Kagan, and Nicholas Colasanto ("Coach" on Cheers) and scripts by Stephen Bochco also bring quality and style to the proceedings. Sadly, no extras are available in this five-disc set, but the stellar image and sound quality (and lack of commercials) should appeal to series fans and newcomers alike. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Unsolved Mystery--Most Dangerous Match
Thanks to "energetic" (ie, scenery-chewing) performances from some top actors, a highly entertaining series, even if the over-the-top plots haven't aged particularly well. (Today, some of this stuff plays more like Batman than it does a serious crime drama--and what's with those Ross Hunter-like sets???) But it looks like even Columbo missed a big clue in the Laurence Harvey "Most Dangerous Match" episode: When Harvey sneaks into his chess opponent's hotel room to switch drugs, keep an eye on the first mirror he passes. There's a man sitting on a couch even though the room is supposed to be vacant.

More, more, more!
Some people have too much time on their hands! See the LONG reviews below. If you are a Peter Falk / Columbo fan, you'll love the DVD. We just need more in the series! Enough said!

Cheers to Columbo!
There were few happier sights on 1970s network television than that of a short, stocky, cigar-chomping policeman named Columbo. Always absentminded (and never without his raincoat, even in sunny weather), Peter Falk's Columbo character was a perfect Americanization of several eccentric British detectives. In each episode, Columbo would steadfastly wear down the alibis of high society murderers. Usually he worked only with simple, unfailing logic but Columbo never failed to unmask the murderers in any of the Agatha Christie-inspired adventures of his 1970s TV series. These episodes aren't perfect, but we can always count on Falk to carry us through the weaker scripted moments.

Season Two is arguably the strongest of the seasons. The writers had settled into a comfortable formula for the detective, yet were not so comfortable that the formula seemed tired or obvious. Falk had hammered out most of the details of his portrayal, yet was still new enough to the character that his performances always seemed fresh. And, while the series always boasted high quality guest stars and gifted character actors, Season Two had an unusually high concentration of them. Myrna Loy, Ray Milland, Martin Landau, Leonard Nimoy, Julie Newmar, and Anne Francis are here in all their glory, happily chewing up the scenery.

In addition, we get brief looks at a Los Angeles that has largely fallen to the wrecking ball, and an extended look at mainstream 1970s fashion for the retro-minded!

The picture and sound are about as good as you can expect from a 1970s TV program. Columbo was filmed, not videotaped, so while the image is still rich it's also grainy at times. There are no extras, which will irk many. Given the relatively low price of this set and lack of goodies, I was happy to see that Universal at least gave us subtitles. An interview with Peter Falk would have been nice; I hope one is included in a future set, but I doubt it.

No one ever claimed that Columbo was a realistic documentary-style police drama. If you enjoy Agatha Christie whodunits, or the PBS "Mystery!" series, you will find much to enjoy in this charming boxed set.

NBC/Universal is making it cheap....
I'm getting tierd of them releasing these classic Tele-films starring peter falk in cheap package DVD cases with no bonus features and the TV films themselves are older film prints that have dimished picture and sound quality.This seems to becoming standard practice for other classic Tv shows released on DVD.I say "Stop it Right Now" and give these shows a better fitting DVD release, NOW.

Keep them coming...
The series is brilliant, falk is a joy to watch in action!A genious as columbo, a subtle giant as an actor,who portrays convincingly, one of the funnier antiheroes ever conceived. Season two contains some classic episodes with some fine co stars and clever plot.I fully endorse the praise of all the fans who allready own the first two boxsets like myself. I only have this to say: When is season three due for release? i can't wait! ... Read more

Description

Their crimes included assault and battery, arson, auto theft, breaking and entering, and possession and distribution of narcotics. Although they were still minors, these juvenile delinquents were already on a one-way path to doing hard time.

Hosted by Pe ... Read more

Description

Comedy about a dentist who gets mired in the bizarre intrigues of his daughter's soon-to-be father-in-law, who claims to be a CIA agent. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

Couldn't stop laughing
I watched this movie a few years ago with a 13-year-old boy and a 65-year-old man--and neither could stop laughing. Neither could I. So you can see it appeals to all ages. The chemistry between Falk and Arkin is something that doesn't happen much in movies. Arkin's expressions are priceless. You can tell what he is thinking: is Falk crazy, or is it just an act? Arkin crawling around on his knees, begging not to be killed because he's only slept with three women...a straight-face Falk telling stories about giant bugs carrying little brown children off into the sunset...this is one hilarious film.

If You Like Comedy And You Don't Own This, You're Missing..
...One Of The Funniest Movies Ever, Period. Alan Arkin Can Be One Of The Comedic Expressionist Of Our Time, Or Of All Time! His Ability To Convey Humor So Effortlessly With Just His Facial Expressions Is One Of The Reasons Why This Is A Must Buy For Every Fan Of Comedy. (Check His Bit Part Out In America's Sweethearts For An Example Of His Genius And How Another Director Recognized This Rare Talent!). Who Could Ever Forget His Role In Catch 22?

Peter Falk's Ability To Play To His Strength (Deeper/More Involved Than He Superficially Appears - Sounds Like Columbo Doesn't It?) Is Just Another Reason For Owning This Great Work Of Comedic Art. Falk Said Of This Role That He Plays, "The Wacko Of The Century". And He Plays It To The Tee, Deep But Wacky! The Script Is Perfect, The Supporting Cast Is Truly Superb (The El Presidente Meeting Is Priceless, As Is The Firing Squad Piece!).

Don't Delay, Buy It And Show It To Friends Who Are Fans Of Comedy! They'll Appreciate You For It! Also, After You Buy It, Request It On DVD. The Studio (WB) Hasn't Made It Available Yet On DVD!

My Citizen Cane
I am amazed that this film isn't part of the canon of cinema. It is as flawless a zany wacko comedy as can be constructed. It's as a targeted and flawlessly timed as anything else you'll ever see, in any genre.

One of the best comedies of all time
One of the best comedies ever! Anyone who even tries to give this movie 4 stars should be sent to work with Vince Ricardo for a week.

In the 1970s some movie makers still took the time to build an audience's interest in the characters and the film. In this case the action moves oh so slowly at the beginning as you have absolutely no idea what is going to happen. And when the action does get going, it's one of the most originally scripted movies you will ever see. And one of the best car chase scenes you will ever see. If you haven't seen it, watch it!

If you have seen it:

"I don't know why they took away my drivers license Shel."

"Serpentine Shel, serpentine!"

"Flames! My car has flames!"

An all-time classic!
Finally! This is available on DVD. I doubt there will be more than one pressing of this classic original since most people gravitate toward the new version for some inexplicable reason, so I'd snap this one up as soon as possible. I laughed my hind-end off years ago when I first saw this. It was an understated example of comedic timing and brilliant acting, and to my mind (though I haven't seen the remake, since I can't figure out why anybody would remake something that's already perfect, much like the new "Psycho") this is the only version worth owning. This is shown in widescreen format, thus preserving the entire picture you'd see in the theater, with nothing cropped off the sides to magnify the center part to fill the entire TV screen. For any widescreen 'newbies' out there, this is the only way to see a film. You don't know what you're missing until you compare a full-screen film to a widescreen version. With full-screen sure you get a bigger picture, but the sides are cut off in order to do it. There, I got that off my chest. Anyway, I was glad to see this release is in fact widescreen. There's also a commentary track featuring Peter Falk, Alan Arkin, Director Anthony Hiller and Writer Andrew Bergman. This feature alone is worth the (very reasonable) cost of admission and provides tons of insight behind the scenes. Truly a must have for any collection! ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Not as good as "Wings of Desire", but still has charm
"Faraway, So Close" is a sequel to a perfect movie so perfect that perhaps should have been left untainted by a sequel, however, it still captures the magical feel of "Wings of Desire", but this time with a pop-thriller feel.

It cruises along the border of body and mind, and follows the two intellectual angels that have been tackled with the dillema of reality versus eternity.

The film is lengthy and at times moves slow, but offers many interesting and thoughtfull moments, and it generally provokes many thoughts long after the movie's end. A must for Wenders fans. Since a sequel has already been made to WoD, perhaps master director Wenders can cook yet another chapter in the story, but one that captures the essence of Wings of Desire.

An excellent sequel
This is much lighter and easier to follow than its progenitor, "Wings of Desire".

This movie follows Cassiel's desire to be human. While Tariel may have hade a more ideal life (family, child, job, simple pleasures), Cassiel's story is one more of what happens when humans screw up, make bad choices, or live in denial.

Can't forget Peter Falk. He reprises the best role I have ever seen him in. Also, William Defoe the Fallen Angel is something to be remembered.

A truly wonderful companion movie and also wonderful on its own. I wholly recomment buying it today.

Void of meaning; boring enough to put you to sleep
Starts out great, then descends into a horrifying hell of boredom and ambiguity and mixed up wastelands of celluloid. There was no point to this movie and it literally put me out; yep, it put me to sleep. I thought the beginning looked promising but then it turned into one of the most enigmatic wastes of time I have ever watched.

faraway
airheaded new age schtick. feel-good gobbledygook mixing philosophy, social consciousness, art cinema fetishes, international stars, history, noir, and whatnot. it tries to teach, illume, entertain, humor, and inspire. it also tries to be very hip. it just made me wanna puke.

The Berlin Ground.
The success of 'Wings Of Desire' must have prompted Wenders to come up with a sequel. It certainly makes a greater effort at garnishing a wider audience, with the addition of Natassja Kinski, Willem Dafoe & Horst Buchholz to the previous cast. The script also has the novelty of being in 4 different languages.

In 'Wings Of Desire' Bruno Ganz's transformation from angel to human could be seen as a desire by Berliners each side of the wall to overcome their imprisonment from each other. In 'Faraway, So Close', the moral confusion that Otto Sander witnesses when he crashes down from above, mirrors the uneasy turmoil of the new united Berlin. Like an East Berliner untutored in the ways of the West, he stumbles about in an unsophisticated way until his new freedoms begin to overwhelm him and he finds his only refuge in a bottle. Despite all this, he tries to find meaning and do good, but finds that in the new Germany, the only options open to an ex-angel (or an ex-communist) is the criminal underworld.

Although the film starts to lose its way in the final farcical half hour, there are some impressive performances here, especially Horst Buchholz (last seen in 'The Magnificent Seven').

Wenders last great film, his talent has since floundered in making movies with the likes of Mel Gibson. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

Falls Short....
A mob movie for non-mobsters, this film involves two amateurs sent to NYC to do a money 'drop'. Written and Directed by Jon Farveau (Swingers) and also strarring Vince Vaughn, Peter Falk and Famke Janssen. Things get complicated when Vaughn's character flaws 'kick in' and piss everybody off. The best part of the film is Vaughn. Athough Farveau and the rest of the cast play their parts well, Vaughn is right on target. You can't help but want to bound and gag him all through the film. Production value is good but there isn't anything particular that would shoot this film through the top. It's a well written story and decently acted. Made is entertaining for those who like 'fish out of water' pictures.

Vaughn is hilarious
this is about Bobby(Jon Favreau) and he is a wanna be boxer who also does construction work..so is his friend Ricky(Vince Vaughn)..Bobby has a girlfriend who is a stripper named Jessica(a sexy Famke Janssen)....Favreau and Vaughn are assigned a job by Max(Peter Falk)...so he sends the 2 away with the help of Ruis(SEan Combs), his right hand man (Faison Love) and a limo driver(Vincent Pastore)....very funny due to teh chemistry of Favreau and Vaughn...bringing their Swingers chemistry to the picture..especially Vaughn..he gets all the highlights..beeping the stewardess on the plane...annoying Falk and Combs..and the chuckie cheese part at the end...very good and worth it if your fans of the Swingers cast

Not a forgone conclusion
I assumed that just because I loved "Swingers" I would love "Made." Not so. And don't believe the reviews you read telling you that if you like one you'll like the other.

"Made" is John Farvreau's attempt at a crime film, not exactly a spoof on one. The only spoof aspect of it is Ricky, played by Vince Vaughn. Otherwise it seems like a pretty straightforward, somewhat realistic crime movie.

Bobby (Favreau) and Ricky are amateur boxers, pretty bad ones at that, who end up doing a job for their boss (played by Peter Falk) which takes them from their native LA to New York. There they meet Ruiz who is, believe it or not, played by P. Diddy. They bumble their way through the operation, finally returning to LA where Bobby wraps things up with his girlfriend and her child.

The main problem to me was Vince Vaughn. His character (Ricky) has absolutely no redeeming qualities. He is one of the most irritating, idiotic, annoying characters I've ever seen portrayed on film. The character he played in "Swingers" was similar - a loud-mouth know-it-all - but he had some redeeming qualities. He obviously cared about his friends, he did know when to draw the line, he wasn't all talk - women did like him, etc. In "Made" none of these qualities exist. He's just the self-centered loud-mouth who doesn't know when to quit and seems intent on getting himself and everyone around him killed.

While this is funny at times, it ends up just getting old and almost uncomfortable to watch. It's not entirely fair to compare this movie to "Swingers," but that seems unavoidable and its only saving grace. I don't think this movie would have had any success at all were it not for its predecessor, because it's just not that fun watching Vince Vaughn be an idiot in this one because there's nothing to redeem him. I'd say rent it before buying to make sure you like it - don't assume you'll like it because you liked "Swingers." They are two totally different films.

I Liked The Movie But It Is Not For Everyone
Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn don't make your standard cookie-cutter type movies like a Clint Eastwood. The movie, "Made", will not be enjoyed by everyone and it will never gross 200 million. It's an off-beat, quirky kind of movie about two friends hired by a 'wise guy' to do some funny business. Vince Vaughn plays Ricky, an eccentric screw-up that can't keep his mouth shut. Jon Favreau's character, Bobby is a boxer who is in love with a prostitute. She has a wonderful little girl who becomes attached to Bobby. He takes this job with Ricky in order to score some cash so he can secure his girl friend's future and get her off of prostitution. Ricky's over-the-top behavior almost screws up the 'drop' but he pulls off a surprise. The movie is funny, interesting and entertaining. However, it's is not as good as the one that made Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn famous, i.e. "Swingers". As a big fan of Favreau and Vaughn my opinion is biased. I loved this movie but it is not for everyone!

not my favorite
i like vince vaughn and jon favreau, which makes this hard to do. i'll try to be objective in pointing out the strong points and the weak points, but we'll see. the first thing i have to say is that this is the first movie i've watched in a long, long time that i almost turned off in the middle. i understand that vaughn's character is supposed to be a total irritating moron, but after a while i could hardly bare it. there didn't seem to be many (if any) funny parts in my opinion, and i also thought the plot was rather weak. however, i thought that the acting was pretty good. it would be hard for me to believe that anyone could do an annoying person better than vaughn did in this film. and puffy got ripped on plenty in the reviews i saw, but in my opinion, he did pretty well. i'm not sure he was terribly convincing, but he certainly didn't embarrass himself. the ending was more bearable than most of the movie, but it seemed out of place. overall, this is my recommendation: i think most people will not like this movie, so i think you should avoid it (especially if you don't like irritating, dumb-head characters). however, if you really like vaughn and favreau AND aren't too turned off by a character that does some ridiculously dumb things, then maybe it's worth seeing for you. ... Read more

Description

A comic catch from the studio that brought you Shrek, Shark Tale is a hilarious hit and "a wonderful under-the-sea adventure for movie lovers of all ages!" (Clay Smith, Access Hollywood)

Oscar (Will Smith), a lowly tongue-scrubber at the local Whale Wash, becomes an improbable hero when he tells a great white lie.To keep his secret, Oscar teams up with an outcast vegetarian shark, Lenny (Jack Black), and the two become the most unlikely of friends.When his lie begins to unravel, it’s up to Oscar’s loyal friend Angie (Renée Zellweger) and Lenny to help him stand up to the most feared shark in the water (Robert De Niro) and find his true place in the reef. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Screenwriter William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride earnedits own loyal audience on the strength of its narrative voice and its gently satirical, hyperbolic spin on swashbuckled adventure that seemed almost purely literary. For all its derring-do and vivid over-the-top characters, the book's joy was dictated as much by the deadpan tone of its narrator and a winking acknowledgement of the clichés being sent up. Miraculously, director Rob Reiner and Goldman himself managed to visualize this romantic fable while keeping that external voice largely intact: using a storytelling framework, avuncular Grandpa (Peter Falk) gradually seduces his skeptical grandson (Fred Savage) into the absurd, irresistible melodrama of the title story.

And what a story: a lowly stable boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), pledges his love to the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), only to be abducted and reportedly killed by pirates while Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Even as Buttercup herself is kidnapped by a giant, a scheming criminal mastermind, and a master Spanish swordsman, a mysterious masked pirate (could it be Westley?) follows in pursuit. As they sail toward the Cliffs of Insanity...

The wild and woolly arcs of the story, the sudden twists of fate, and, above all, the cartoon-scaled characters all work because of Goldman's very funny script, Reiner's confident direction, and a terrific cast. Elwes and Wright, both sporting their best English accents, juggle romantic fervor and physical slapstick effortlessly, while supporting roles boast Mandy Patinkin (the swordsman Inigo Montoya), Wallace Shawn (the incredulous schemer Vizzini), and Christopher Guest (evil Count Rugen) with brief but funny cameos from Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Peter Cook. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (664)

Wonderfully funny movie
What a funny movie!! This movie will have you laughing all the time. I'm not a fan of fantasy type films but this one is the exception. You'll catch yourself repeating a lot of the sayings even after the movie is finished. This movie is suitable for all ages.

A lot of fun, a great movie to watch at sleepovers.
Do not take this movie too seriously, or the plot will totally reach you as being sexist, sappy, and lame. However, when you watch it with a light heart, you appriciate the humor and quirky characters. Princess Buttercup is being forced to wed the totally creepy Prince Humperdink, and must trust two eccentric characters ( a giant and a Spanish swordsman) and her true lover, Westley to her rescue. If you think that sound sexist, just relax, because this is just a fun movie that you're not supposed base your life on. The characters are hilarious, and you will find yourself mouthing lines from it days afterwards.

One of the best movies of all time!
Rob Reiner has created a masterpiece of fantasy and comedy, it tells the story of a boy meets girl then the girl becomes a princess for a cruel prince while her boyfriend must come to her rescue in a magical land filled with large brutes, monsters, theives and miracle-workers.

A perfect movie every age will enjoy, the DVD Special Edition is great, it's got better picture and sound quality, not to mention a handful of great extras.

Also recommended: The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Wizard of Oz, Return to Oz, The Neverending Story, Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, Black Cauldron, Sleeping Beauty, Legend, Matrix, Making Contact and Star Trek II.

"You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you"
The Princess Bride (as of 31 October 2002) commands 86th place on the Internet Movie Database's 'Top 250 Films' list, which rather begs the question: WHY??? It is a somewhat alarming thought that there are only 85 films in the world considered to be superior to this mish-mash of action and syrupy sentiment held together by cheesy acting and wobbly scenery. Admittedly, there are some elements of the story which are really rather good, including the large variety of perils our hero (Westley) and heroine (Buttercup) must face; the shrieking eels, cliffs of insanity and fire-swamp are original and nasty pitfalls awaiting the unwary.

Unfortunately viewers must wade through a lot of dross for these occasional rewards and the plot is a perfect example of this. A grandfather is reading his rather peevish grandson a story about two young lovers with somewhat unlikely names. Buttercup's sweetheart (supposedly killed by pirates five years ago) is in fact still alive, cleverly "disguised" with a black blindfold and an incredibly silly little moustache and pigtail. But Buttercup has become engaged (against her will) to the nasty Prince Humperdinck. This of course is a cue for multiple sword fights and near death experiences as the soulmates prove that true love will conquer all.

Apart from the notable exception of Christopher Guest who plays Humperdinck's sidekick Count Rugen with a deliciously understated sadistic malice, the acting is largely overcooked. Perhaps this is just as well; if the viewer's attention is monopolised by the actors, they will be less likely to notice the bendable swords and polystyrene rocks. This is not to say that the film isn't entertaining - it would certainly while away a rainy Saturday afternoon - but to accord it the status of a classic is inconceivable.

A classic favorite!
"The Princess Bride" is definitely one of my all-time favorite films. I used to watch it all the time as a child, and to this very day I still love it. "The Princess Bride" is about a grandfather from the modern days (Peter Falk), who tells a bedtime fairytale to his grandson (Fred Savage) about a young peasant man from the Middle Ages, Westley (Cary Elwes), who falls in love with a young woman named Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn), just as she is about to be bethrolled to the prince of her kingdom, Prince Humperdinck (Chris Saradon). To keep Buttercup from falling in love with Westley, Humperdinck, along with two dimwitted sidekicks, plot to kill Westley. When he is banished from the kingdom and totured by orders of the prince, Buttercup thinks he is dead so she ends up marrying Prince Humperdinck. But then Westley escapes the torture and comes back to save Buttercup from the evil Prince Humperdinck. Now, Westley and Buttercup are off on a journey to free themselves from Humperdinck's power.

The acting from the entire cast is absolutely superb. The storyline is funny, light, and excellent. The special effects are top-notch (as far as the late 80's technology goes), and it's just a wonderful film for all ages. It has everything a good fantasy film should: comedy, romance, action, and drama. The special edition DVD is okay, with extras that include commentary by the film's director, Rob Reiner, and the author of the book the film is based on, William Goldman. Other DVD extras are interviews from the cast, exclusive footage during the shooting of the film, and two original featurettes. The DVD is available in wide screen format.

I highly recommend "The Princess Bride"... ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Robin and the Seven Hoods a Classic
Robin and the Seven Hoods is a great story, with Bing Crosby upstaging both Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Frank's singing of "Chicago My Kind of Town" at the movie's end is a tribute to mob boss Sam Giancanna, and the entire movie shows that crime CAN pay if you share the proceeds with the less fortunate. It's campy, but good viewing and the music brings back feelings of the good old days.

Off to a very slow start... but improves
Not long before this started shooting, there was a major rift in the rat pack, and because of that, only three members (Martin, Davis, and Sinatra, of course) show up here. The other two roles were filled in, and quite ably, by Peter Falk and Bing Crosby. And if you like rat pack-style music, having ensemble numbers with Frank, Dean, and Bing is something you're gonna love.

The last half of this movie is good. It ain't Oceans Eleven, but it's good. Too bad the first half moves slower than a snail on ludes. Crosby doesn't show up until an hour into the film, and the action starts right there; before that, what the movie needs most is an editor who isn't afraid of Sinatra. It does, however, have some fine music (Sinatra debuted "My Kind of Town" here), and once it picks up, it's a lot of fun. Watch it when it comes on AMC, but spend the first half hour or so going to the store to get munchies.

Marvelous
This was a fabulous movie, and deserves much more credit than it is usually given. It's hilarious and smart, and besides the given that the Rat Pack was great in it, Peter Falk was also very funny. The movie is full of great one-liners ("Anybody got beef with that, I got a special complaint box 6 feet long, 3 feet wide."), as well as great songs, sung by the greatest singers who ever lived. Isn't that in itself reason enough to buy this?

An underrated classic.
Why this musical isn't more popular is beyond me. It features the essential core of the Rat Pack, Frank, Dean and Sam, in a great plot, unlike the fun but unfocused "Ocean's Eleven" with the whole gang. It has fabulous songs by that legendary duo Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, including the classic "My Kind of Town." The music is arranged by Nelson Riddle and all the numbers grow out of the plot very naturally, unlike "Guys and Dolls" (plus these guys can sing, unlike Brando). And how about throwing in Bing Crosby and Barbara Rush and Peter Falk for good measure? This is a tough-guy musical with a lot of funny parodies of Chicago gangsters and crooked cops. We've got Prohibition-era gambling joints with bootleggers and booze and Sammy serenading the sound of a machine gun. Dean sings how he loves his mother as he hustles Frank in pool. One hood has a weakness for "knittin'" and another is always making a motion that somebody open a "windah." This is funny stuff, and fast-paced. It has more edge than most musicals, thanks in large part to the world of Sinatra & Co. in the mid-1960s. It may not be the best, but I find it to be the most entertaining musical I've ever seen. There's Bing doing a kind of "Swinging on a Star" thing in "Don't Be a Do-Badder," but-- look out-- there's a lot more to this guy who ain't got style than you think. And there's Edward G. Robinson-- the original gangster-- standing up and making a smiling toast at the beginning, like he did in "Little Caesar," right before . . . well, you'll get the picture if you get this picture, so to speak. Maybe I'm nuts, but I say it doesn't get any better than these guys and these songs in this hip, sly, hard-hitting but fun-as-Christmas beauty of a movie.

My Kind of Movie
Dismissed by many as overly-long, poorly-scripted Rat Pack self-indulgence with inferior musical material, "Robin and the 7 Hoods" is a wacky mafia musical in the fun-loving style of pre-Hammerstein Broadway variety shows, and with a pretty snappy collection of Cahn-Van Heusen tunes. Remember, it's this musical, not "Chicago," that gave the Windy City its proudest anthem. But as solid as the Chairman's performance is, it can't match Crosby's, in the venerable crooner's next-to-last film appearance.

Once Bing appears mid-way through the film, the rest of the picture--with the exception of the"My Kind of Town" gala number--belongs to Crosby. His acting, singing, and dancing not only outshine his on-screen companions but in many respects make the Rat Pack appear like a coherent musical comedy team. At five foot seven inches, Bing was usually the shortest member on the set, but in both this film and "High Society" his crisp, economical body movements and quick, graceful feet make him "play" taller than his actual height.

The dubbing is, as others have observed, pretty unconvincing. On the other hand, most of the dance and music scenes are shot continuously in a single take or two, like an Astaire film. Others may prefer the frenetic and manipulative MTV editing style of films like "Chicago," which permit the filmmaker to "construct" a reality while transforming bozos into Baryshnikovs. I'll take these bozos just as they are. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Not the Steven Spielberg blockbuster, this Lost World is a splendid 2001 BBC TV dramatization of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous adventure story. Bob Hoskins makes an unusually genial Professor Challenger, far less of a bully than Doyle's character, but his slightly stereotyped companions are nicely filled out by a solid cast. James Fox is Challenger's more timid but still covertly adventurous rival, Tom Ward is the mustachioed big-game hunter who faces an allosaur with an elephant gun, and Matthew Rhys plays the tagalong reporter hoping to impress his faithless fiancée.

As usual, the adaptation adds a woman--orphaned jungle girl Elaine Cassidy--to the expedition, and an interesting villain (religious fanatic Peter Falk) beefs up the travelogue by marooning Challenger's gang on the South American plateau where dinosaurs, cavemen, and Indians coexist eventfully. The Walking with Dinosaurs-style effects work well for the TV frame, but the real success is in integrating the adventuring with subtle eco-awareness, complex character interplay, and the reliable wonder of soaring pteranodons and carnosaur attacks. --Kim Newman ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Top quality tv movie
The Lost World (2001) is high quality. I spent four hours over two days watching this on tv with all the commercials in between. Of all the movies I've seen on tv in the past few years this is probably the most memorable.

This version of The Lost World reminds me of the 1960 version, obviously due to it being based on the same book, and I knew some major points of the story and seeing them redone with a contemporary style was very rewarding. I love this movie.
It is quite modest and not full of in-your-face visual effects.
The length (given by IMDB at 2 and a half hours) is well used to develop characters and all that stuff. I just watched it for interest and because Bob Hoskins is a cool actor, and all this is my review.

The besf film adaptation ever of Doyle's novel!
If you didn't see this wonderful Lost World minseries A&E did, buy the DVD or video. Or do like I did-buy it after having seen it on A&E. It was spectacular, by far the best film adaptation I have seen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel. No, it doesn't stay true to the novel (face it, few films ever stay true to the novels they are based on), but the differences actually make the story enjoyable and interesting in its own right separate from the novel.

The changes from the novel include the following:

1) Professor Challenger-in the book, he is not at all a likeable character, and is not meant to be, but in the film, they made him more amenable, yet still kept much of his stubborness and self-righteousness. It was a good compromise for the purpose of viewer accetability of a main character.

2) Agnes Clooney-the female member of the team in the film was not in the novel, but is still a welcomed addition. She is a more liberated woman in some ways, but it isn't done over the top so she is beating up savages and shooting up things (she isn't Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, and that type of character wouldn't have fit in this story). Rather, Agnes as a character does fit a woman living in her circumstances in that time.

4) The Demented Reverend-He wasn't in the book either, but I actually think he wasn't a very good addition. I'm kind of sick and tired of this cliched evil missionary character who kills in the name of the lord. Its been done to death. Thought, admittedly, Peter Faulk played this character very well, and did instill in him more soul and complexity than most of these evil missionary stereotypical characters get in most films.

One thing I really liked about this film was how it was an action/adventure story, but it also made you think about what was going on in the story. It had some really good things to say about man's interaction with nature, and preservation of the environment against exploitation. Challenger, towards the end of the film, makes a comment about science often not being accessible to the public at large without it being dressed up a bit as entertainment. This is exactly what this film does in some ways. It presents and entertaining, engrossing adventure, but also presents interesting scientific thoughts about ecology. Just what can happen when man starts mucking about and disturbing the balance of nature?

And the answer to that question wasn't entirely clear in one circumstance. The dispute between Challenger's point of view versus Lord Roxton's view on what to do with the Ape Men in the film. They were both right and both wrong from my view. This really points to the difficult balance between how much we should interfere in nature and how much we should just leave things alone.

I recommend this film very highly to anyone who loves the original novel, or action/adventure stories in general. This film continues A&E's record of excellence in creating film adaptations of classic stories.

Slick, Better-Than-Average Version of Doyle's Classic Tale
The BBC/A&E production of "The Lost World" tunred out much better than I expected, giving us slick storytelling and solid characters with good acting.

THE STORY is 'basically' the same. Well, at first I was worried looking at the cover -- six people apparently looking at the dinosaurs. Six? Yes, the film, based on Conan Doyle's 1912 novel, added TWO extra characters to the original expedition team (misunderstood genius Prof. Challenger, natural-born cynic Prof. Summerlee, newsreporter Edward Malone, adventure-loving hunter Lord Roxton), which are about to reveal the secret of the plateau in the Amazon, and to prove that dinosaurs are still living there.

THE NEW CHARACTERS are one zealous priest and his niece, played by Peter Falk and Elaine Cassidy respectively. They join in Professor Challenger (Bob Hoskins) and his team in the jungle, only to complicate the situation -- deadly dinosaurs, the more dangerous apemen (or the Missing Link) and the "Indians" (so they say).

The addition, in fact, works for the better, getting rid of the annoying elements in the original book, like the patronizing way Doyle treated the natives in the book. And other changes done to the story are justified, but some might find the different tone in the ending (or the modernized answer to Challenger's expedition) slightly anti-climax, compared with the slient version, or Spielberg's "Lost World."

SPECIAL EFFECTS are first-rate, with the convincing images of dinosaurs walking in the jungle. The fierce fight between the humans and the allosaurs is the highlight of the film though some kids find it too horrible. (And parents should be warned that there is a suggested scene of cannibalism). The location is fantastic, showing some of the scenes (like the entrance to the plateau) almost exactly as the book tells us.

In spite of its length (more than 2hrs 30 mins), "The Lost World" keeps on rolling as smooth as "The Jurassic Park," and it makes you think a little about the way we meddle with the nature. It aspires to be more than just a dinosaur movie, and it succeeds well.

Hit and Miss
I was pleased to see a version of this story that had the special effects to back up the concept. However, I think I almost would have rather had a "special edition" of the version with the perfectly-cast John Rhys-Davies than this creationist-basher. The writers used just enough of the standard Creationist arguments to make them sound like legit, but then showed the character (not in the book) as having no answer to the "problems" posed by the staunchly evolutionist scientist. What I'm wondering is why the filmmakers chose a perfectly good (if Darwin-inspired) story to make a pedestal for evolutionist propaganda. It makes it difficult to watch for me, because I am tired of movies and TV portraying preachers as ignorant and uneducated in the way of science, and to use half-hearted attempts at "legitimate" creationist positions in order to make them look even more foolish strikes me as particularly vindictive.

Pros: Good look to the story; great effects. Good cast.
Cons: One of many unfaithful adaptations of the book, NOT widescreen, and certainly the writers had a malicious agenda (as opposed to a simple erroneous worldview). Also, the ape-scat scene was pretty nasty.

The REAL Lost World
This is the Ultimate 'Lost World' Dinosaur movie experience. Had this been released in the theaters it may have been just as big, if not bigger, than the Jurassic Park Lost World. It sets around the much more believable theory, unlike Jurassic Park where the Dinosaurs we're magically recreated by a few droplets of DNA from a Mosquito, something Scientists still admit is physically not possible, And set the Dinosaurs as always living, from the time of their origin, in a remote Plateau deep in the South American Rain Forests, land where No man has lived to see, especially since it takes place in the early 1900's when Planes and Helicopters we're not exaclty accessible. All in all, one of the Best movies I've personally ever watched, and the fact that it was never in theaters makes it even more incredible. Well worth the x amount of dolalrs it costs for the DVD, no matter what format it is in. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The setup is promising: The Romano mob family know that they're being betrayed by a hidden FBI informant in their ranks, so they decide to send a family member under cover to destroy the evidence against them--but the only family member the FBI won't recognize is the family black sheep, Corky (Chris Kattan), a touchy-feely aspiring veterinarian. But once Corky goes undercover, his klutzy ways accidentally make him the star of the FBI, sparking envy from his fellow agents and arousing suspicion in the mob. Though the script of Corky Romano declines as the movie goes on, Kattan actually keeps the picture going; his spastic, sniveling, childish energy is engaging, and at its best the production bubbles over with silliness. It only falls flat when Kattan has to behave in a remotely adult manner, which fortunately doesn't happen very often. Cheerful dopiness. Featuring Peter Falk, Peter Berg, and Chris Penn as mobsters. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (44)

SNL diehards beware
In a movie that combines unintelligent comedy with the FBI, Chris Kattan gives a performance that you'll either love or hate. Most popular for his roles on SNL (Mango, Mr. Peepers), Kattan might just wear out his welcome midway into the movie. 'Corky Romano' seemed to be a theater blockbuster back in 2001, though it is really nothing we haven't seen before. The cast is pretty limited as Kattan is really the only one who shines; but Peter Falk and Chris Penn do allow for some good laughs in their supporting roles. I was not very impressed with the film as a whole. I found it to be reminiscent of a 'Naked Gun' movie, but with more seriousness. Playing the title character, Kattan fumbles around for 85 minutes of supposed-to-be comedy. Some parts were hilarious, while others were down-right dumb. Still, it's the few amusing parts that make this movie watch-able.

The story is based on the character of Corky, who is a forgotten son in a infamous mafia family. When the family comes upon hard times, with their father (Peter Falk) set up for jail, they ask Corky to go undercover and steal the evidence that would convict him. The entire script is weakly developed; as Corky, who is an assistant veterinarian, is allowed to become an FBI agent with, seemingly, no questions asked. As I said, all Kattan does is fumble around and act stupid; while somehow becoming famous for solving cases and catching criminals. Even with a dismal story and poor casting, Kattan does manage to bring some laughs to the screen. His fake FBI name is Agent Pissante (it's French, but everyone likes to pronounce it pxss-ant). The fact that one of his brothers is gay and the other can't read is also silly, but I did enjoy the part where Corky tried to compare his [gay] brother to Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. As you probably know from watching Kattan on TV's Saturday Night Live, he brings his own blend of comedy to the screen. That comedy is certainly an acquired taste, and it's very hard to attain a liking here. If you find his SNL characters Mr. Peepers or Mango to be stupid, you won't like this movie. It almost seems like 'Corky Romano' is aimed at teenage girls who smirk and snicker over anything. In spite of everything bad I've said about this movie, it's still somewhat enjoyable. If you like those 'Dumb & Dumber' (but dumber) or SNL-type movies, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this one.

I gave this movie 3 stars because I think it was worth my time. However, I probably won't watch it again (any time soon). There were some good one-liners (i.e. the groovy tie club excerpt, the Matthew Perry poster, the "we could all take a page out of Pissante's book" quote), but overall the humor was rather one-dimensional. The music put the movie was also daft and cliché; "We're Not Gonna Take It" was playing when the family comes to rescue Corky. I don't know if there's a soundtrack, but if there is don't buy it. As for the ending, I think it was fitting. I won't ruin it for you. Anyways, 'Corky Romano' is not all it's cracked up to be. It's a bad twist on FBI-related films and not as good as 'A Night At The Roxbury' or even the 'Naked Gun' series. This film is the epitome of helpless, slapstick comedy and is definitely not for everyone. SNL fans will probably enjoy it, but if you flip the channel when Mango appears, you'll almost certainly dislike this movie.

FUNNY SLAPSTICK COMEDY WITH FUNNY MOMENTS & TWISTS
Corky Romano is a friendly but very clumsy assistant vetenarian, as his father and two brothers a mobsters and need someone to go undercover as a FBI agent to steal evidence to keep his father out of prison, so they pick Corky as no one will suspect him of being part of the Romano family.

With his FBI resume being so good as it says he can speak in different languages, a black belt, bravery awards, any way you get the hint.Everyone looks up to him to be a super agent.Corky knowing nothing at all manages to get everything write.This so called super agent who is named agent "Pissant" brings down some of the toughest gangs and Drug dealers and the way he does it is Hilarious.

It is all fun and laughs in this movie with some familiar actors, Chris Kattan (TV's SNL, Any Given Sunday), Vinessa Shaw (TV's Chicago Hope, Cop Land), Chris penn (Rush Hour, True Romance, Reservoir Dogs) & Fred Ward (Joe Dirt, Road Trip).

The movie will remind you of Blue Streak, but dont get me wrong its not like a rip off of it.From the Produces of "Big Daddy" & "The Waterboy" brings a Comedy that delivers and is a must see, although i suggest hire before buy, but either way you shouldnt be dissapionted.

Very disappointing
I almost turned this one off after the tired shtick Kattan played out in the vet's office. But I must say the part with the accidental cocaine buzz right before speaking in front of a bunch of kids was pretty damn funny. Aside from this, I could barely stand it. Some might call this mindless entertainment. Mindless? Very. Entertainment? Not really.

Corky Romano!
Corky Romano has got to be one of the best movies EVER!!! It is doesn't drrraaaagggg on like other movies do, so it's easy to watch over and over again without getting bored. Plus, it's hilarious without being crude like you may find in other comedies. I've seen this movie 4 complete times being said on 3/22/2004, but by the time you're reading this, it may be twice as many! I've memorized entire scenes, even a chapter! Corky is relativly family friendly, though some things some people might find inappropriate for younger people, primarily the swear words. Pops Romano, a mafia father is having charges pressed against him, so he sends his son, Corky, to go undercover as an FBI Agent and destroy all evidence against him. His new fake name is Corky Pissant, which he claims is pronounced "pea-sont," and his fake resumé says he knows five different languages, has an olympic gold medal for sharpshooting, and is a black belt in some fighting style. Now Corky has to try and get the evidence while trying to live up to his fake resumé. The movie takes place over only 3 days or so, so it is fast-paced. Overall, "Corky Romano" is a fun movie to watch and I would recommend it to anyone.

Product Guide
Note: This review is intended as a product guide to help you decide whether you should make a purchase, and if applicable, whether a particular version of a product is worth purchasing. My star rating is an assessment of the product overall, which may not reflect my personal enjoyment of the main content.

Version of Corky Romano Reviewed: Touchstone Entertainment Widescreen DVD, 2003

ABOUT THE FILM

The Premise: Corky Romano (Chris Kattan) is the black sheep son in a dysfunctional, quirky mafia family. He's not a fan of the family business--he's much more concerned with animals (he's an assistant veterinarian), helping people, and spreading good cheer and hugs (think of a less "flamboyant" version of Richard Simmons). Because of this, after his mother passed away, his father (Peter Falk) and brothers (Peter Berg and Chris Penn) disowned him. However, when the family business is threatened by an informant working with the FBI, they need someone whom they can trust, but who isn't a known link to the family, to pose as an FBI agent and find out what they know and how they know it. Corky is unwillingly recruited for the job.

Facts And Assessments To Help You Decide Whether You Might Like This Film:
This is a fish-out-of-water comedy, and more specifically, would fit into a "Saturday Night Live comedy" genre. The Saturday Night Live comedy genre, with Kattan being the formal link to Saturday Night Live here, usually plays something like a film-length skit from the show, with more expensive production values, and a more formally structured plot. Although a lot of the humor can be sophomoric (which isn't meant as a value judgment--a lot of people, including me, enjoy sophomoric humor), Saturday Night Live comedies often have more sophisticated comedic subtexts, too. Corky Romano is heavier on the sophomoric and slapstick side.

Fans of the genre, and especially Chris Kattan fans, are most likely to enjoy the film. If some of Kattan's work on Saturday Night Live could get on your nerves, you may quickly grow tired of him in the film. If you're primarily interested in Corky Romano because you like other actors in the film, such as Peter Falk, be aware that besides Kattan, most of the othe