Amazon.com

Real-life couple Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn star in this enjoyable 1987 comedy by Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman) about an imperious heiress (Hawn) who loses her memory after a boating accident and is identified as the wife of a handyman (Russell). Russell's character brings her "home" to his messy house and unruly kids, and the laughs follow as the aristocratic Hawn tries fitting in. Marshall delivers the comic goods, the leads are entertaining (Russell needs to do more comedy), and the supporting cast is made up of happily familiar faces, including Roddy McDowall, Edward Herrmann, and Marshall favorite Hector Elizondo in an unbilled bit. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Fall overboard w/ laughter at this 5 star funfest of a film
Probably my favorite comedy movie of all time (starring Goldie Hawn & Kurt Russell), Overboard has it all!

A five star cast, hilarious dialogue, great comedic timing, and marvelous chemistry between Hawn & Russell easily adds up to more than five stars worth of fun. Supporting cast members like Roddy McDowell, Katherine Helmond, and Edward Herrmann make more than the most from their roles, and really shine. The actors who portray Mrs. Berberich, the school principal, and Dr. Korman, the psychiatrist, really do their part to add comedic punch as well.

The movie opens with Goldie Hawn as JoAnna Stayton, a bored, pampered, demanding and imperious heiress--husband Grant is an equally shallow and pompous aristocrat. They openly despise each other, treat the help like servants, are enamored with possessions over people, and are proof positive that money does not buy happiness.

Enter Kurt Russell as carpenter Dean Profitt, hired to build a new closet on the Stayton yacht. When petualnt Hawn refuses to pay him for his work and knocks him overboard, Russell vows he will make her pay. He soon gets his chance when JoAnna falls overboard herself and husband Grant is too preoccupied watching Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous (ostensibly to see if he made it onto a list of the top ten yacht owners!) to hear her cries for help and save her.

Once rescued and suffering from amnesia, JoAnna is taken to the mental ward of a local hospital where she terrorizes staff members with her fits and vicious snits. Only too glad to be rid of her, they fall for Dean Profitt's story that this is his missing wife, Annie, and he is permitted to take her "home."

The Profitt "residence" turns out to be a down-and-out homestead reminiscent of the farm from Green Acres, complete with car parts and debris all over the yard, a limping dog in a cast, and four unruly boys demolishing everything in sight. Watching Hawn acclimate to this nightmare is totally hilarious. At one point she sighs..."So, this is my life....I didn't marry very well, did I?" Too, too funny!

By movie's end, Hawn has transformed the unruly household into a happy family home, fallen in love with Russell and his children, and morphed into a real human being. A funny, funny movie with a feel good ending, Overboard is highly underrated. I urge you to watch it and share the humor!

Old Silly Fun
This ludicrous comedy starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn is great. Wealthy and thoroughly unpleasant heiress Joanna Stayton (Hawn) suffers from severe amnesia and the carpenter she stiffs out of 600 bucks, Dean Proffitt (Russell), takes advantage of the situation to take her home to his seedy hovel and 4 unruly kids. There he convinces her that she's his wife, with the ensuing misadventures as amusing as you'd expect. Throughout the movie they fall madly in love (of course), and Proffitt is then left with the unenviable task of explaining his actions to his lovely guest when her memory eventually returns.

It's a the hokiest, silliest movie that you'll ever love, with both Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell turning in great performances. Laughs are just about guaranteed, and it's one of those movies that just gets better with repeated showings. Reccomended.

very entertaining and enjoyable, a terrific movie!!
easily ,the best movie goldie or kurt have made together or apart, period. its for anyone who is down to earth and enjoys a good practical joke. its a funny movie yet heartwarming and will make you feel good. Part of the magic comes from goldie and kurt being a couple in real life as they have this certain chemistry. This movie I enjoy over and over and it will have a permanent place in my collection. It's just too bad there's not a sequel because you don't want the fun to end.

This was a job for Dr. Death
I don't know how many Kurt Russell fans are out there, but I am one of them. This is the first movie with Russell that I can remember seeing but none the less, I laugh harder and harder every time I watch it. Russell plays a hard working carpenter who goes by the name of Dean Proffit. Though he tries to raise a good family on his own, he can't help it, they are the white trash rednecks that no body wants to be. Then he sees in the news that a women had been found in the ocean who had harsh memory loss and did'nt know her name. Proffit recognized her as a former client. She was the very snobby, yet pretty hot Joanna Staton. So, in order to save his family, Proffit take Staton from the hospitol she was submitted to. He told her she was his wife and her name was Anne, maiden name Goolahee. In the end she regains her memory but yet can not fall out of love with Proffit. A good movie for anyone who wants to see a good movie.

Very Underrated Movie!
When ever I see Filmographys of Goldie Hawn or Kurt Russel, I rarely see this great movie mentioned! And I dont know why? I'm not into those love story kind of things, but this movie has a speichel place in my heart for some reason!

By now youve read the reveiws of what its about, so i need not bore you with another one! All I can sau is this is a very good sweet romantic comedy, and it deserves more credit then it has recieved! As you can see already, other people rated it high! They rate it high because its a finly made movie!

There no cheesyness or stupidity to it, and you will really enjoy this if you want a nice familly movie with only a tiny bit of cruedness in some areas, but i dont think its anything your grandparents would have there mouths open over!

If you have never seen this, and your into romantic comedys, then this is the one to get! Dont think its some lovey dovey sloppy stroppy kissey wussy mushy film tho! Its not.... its defnitly a feel good love flick that even the guys will probably be able to enjoy and not just rate this as a chick flick...far from it!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Two Dreadful Films......Not!
Released in 1991 and 1993, these are probably the two best "Saturday Night Live" - based films ever created. The humor is dry and witty, the acting is splendid and great music (a little "Bohemian Rhapsody", gentlemen?).

"Wayne's World" is about two guys named Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth (the too underrated Dana Carvey) who host their own cable access show in Aurora, Illinois and enjoy rocking out to their favorite tunes. While at a club, Wayne catches a glimpse of the babelicious Cassandra (Tia Carrere - schwing!). Wayne and Cassandra hook up. Soon, a slimy tv executive (played deliciously by Rob Lowe) offer the two headbangers $ 5,000 and their own cable tv show. (Exsqueeze me, a baking powder?). Things seem to be alright. Wayne and Cassandra are in item, he and Garth meet Alice Cooper (we're not worthy, their perrenial line). But things start to go awry. Cassandra and Wayne break up, they blow the show, and Garth and Wayne throw away their friendship. Can the day be saved? Just watch and find out. And be on the look out for cameos by Chris Farley, Donna Dixon, Robert Patrick, Alice Cooper, and a diabollically funny Ed O'Neil as a disturbed (albeit disturbing) donut shop employee.

1993's "Wayne's World 2" makes a valiant effort to recapture the magic from part one, and it succeeds. This one takes place one year after the first film. Wayne is wondering what to do with his life once his show ends. One night, Jim Morrison and a naked Indian come to him in a dream, telling him to invent a concert and book big names. Meanwhile, Cassandra signs a contract with a sleazy record producer (Christopher Walken, devilish as always), and Garth has the hots for Honey Hornee (that's Horn-ay, and she's played by an incredibly hot Kim Basinger). Once again, things soon go askew. None of the acts show up (except for Rip Taylor), and Wayne gets dumped. Once again, can the day be saved? Watch and you'll find out. Also, try and spot appearances by Chris Farley, Aerosmith, Ed O'Neil, Chris Farley, Kevin Pollack, Olivia D'Abo, Charlton Heston, and Drew Barrymore.

These are two comedy classics that have been immortalized with this boxed set. Special features include and commentary and intervies with Myers, Carvey, Lorne Michaels and others involved in the making of the film. Excellent.

Excellent! It had to be mine. Oh yes. It had to be mine.
This is totally amazingly eccellent! A boxed set of both of the Wayne's World movies. What more could someone who enjoyed the movies wish for?

Who doesn't know the story of Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and his trustworthy sidekick Garth Algar (Dana Carvey)? As hosts of their very own local tv show, they're highly popular with the youngsters and the girls (though neither of them has much experience on that topic).

In the first movie, they're approached by Benjamin, a sleazy TV executive (Rob Lowe), who is intent on exploiting the show "Wayne's World" to make a quick buck. Wayne is forced to deal with various issues, including being fired from his own show, losing his girlfriend Cassandra (The gorgeous Kia Terrere), and losing his best friend Garth. Will he and his group of friends manage to take back their own show and land Cassandra a record deal at the same time?

The second one is about Wayne being visited in a dream by Jim Morrison. Wayne is looking for a goal in his life, and Jim provides him with one: Wayne is to organise WayneStock, a rock festival. Again, Wayne has to deal with numerous issues to fight his way through.

To me, the real charm of the movie is by the countless amounts of famous stars making an appearance in the movie. From Alice Cooper and Aerosmith to Rob Lowe and Christopher Walken, from Tia Carrere to Ed O'Neill, from Chris Farley to Kim Basinger, the movies are packed with celebrities who were all to keen to help Myers out with this project.

Even though the movies will never be a fallback for countless one-liners like (for instance) the Naked Gun series, they still make up for great amusement and a hysterical laugh.

Myers and Carvey manage to make sure the movie doesn't fall apart, though (in my opinion) Carvey is the real talent here. He's pure comedy genius, and sort of makes Myers look like the sidekick.

The only dissappointment is the lack of extra's on the DVD. Come on. No one out there will think 'Widescreen, Dolby Digital, English subtitles, Interactive menus or Scene selection' are "special features" anymore. Those are standard. Interviews are nice, but the real appeal with DVDs as a medium are goodies like Behind-the-scenes and Deleted scenes. It would have been nice to get a bit more for the buck. Still, for the true fan? The combo is a nice buy.

It's Excellent!
Wayne says it best. This film is by far the greatest comedy ever told. It has drama, suspense, laughter, and cheese. The films are golden and it really outshines anything Mike Myers does, even till today.

With rock and roll, the good stuff, taking a big chunk of the film, we follow the life of Wayne and Garth, Wayne primarily, as he goes from bringing his television show to fame, to starting a concert...in Aurora. Everyone wants to stay in Aurora, the City of Lights. But not the antagonists Rob Lowe and Christopher Walken, who, respectively try to bring the beloved Cassandra(Wayne's love interest), away from. With a story clouded in laughs and roars, you really can't fail.

Watching this now, it never really feels dated, and in fact, would love to see a third film. It'd be great to buy the Wayne's World trilogy and I think the time would be fine, still. Either way, and now awake from the dream world I was in, I recommend this DVD set. It's a must buy, it's not like mopping up soak suds and lung butter, it's like buying a totally, amazing, excellent discovery.

Dare you say, not?

Wayne's World
Wayne's World one and two have always been favorites of mine. The plot, even at its saddest point, never gets too serious to bear, and the jokes are always classic and hilarious. I can still remember the first time i saw them, a loong time ago, when my sister brought two movies home for her friends to see. Wayne's World 1 & 2. I saw and loved these movies and since then, I have seen them many many times. Mike Myers is awesome as always, and Dana Carvey is too, so I am planning on getting these DVD's soon. I recommend these movies to anyone who hasn't seen them, and is looking for a good laugh away from the boring redundant comedy of today.

AWESOME DVDS!!!!!!
these two movies are great. the interactive menus are sweet too. its like watching the tv guide channel and you can watch like a minute or 2 of i love lucy, or the brady bunch, seriously. the behind the scenes are good too, along with the commentary. these are my favorite mike myer movies. trust me these are funnier than auston powers i swear. dana carvey (garth) is funnier here than master of disguise i swear. these are god rock, punk, heavy metal comedy. kinda reminds me of spinal tap. these movies are hilarious. you got to get this. so uhhhhhhh..........yeah but just remember, BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (94)

What was so wrong with it?
My mother and I were the only two people in the theater the day that we saw Speed 2: Cruise Control. After watching the movie, I couldn't understand why so many people hated this movie. It was not a bad movie by any account, except for some discrepancies in the destruction of the cruise ship. The movie made me laugh while also giving me a dosage of suspense, thrills, and great special effects. Sandra Bullock is always a joy to watch on screen, giving each of her movies a comic, light and happy feel. The absence of Keanu Reeves is nothing to worry about, seeing as how he didn't really bring much adventure to the first movie either. Jason Patric delivers a terrific performance, and it is Willem Dafoe's character who is the epitome of insanity and hunger for revenge. I wouldn't really listen to a lot of what people had to say: this is a comical, thrill-ride movie that will have you laughing and holding your breath.

Fast Bus 2: Big Slow Ship
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1998)
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, Willem Dafoe
Directed By: Jan de Bont
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 121 minutes
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On One Hand...
"Thumps up!"
-Roger Ebert

...on the Other.
"A waterlogged sequel that'll soon be bottom-feeding with Beyond the Poseidon Adventure."
-Mike Clark, USA Today
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The Love Boat meets Air Force One

Speed 2: Cruise Control was one whacked-out movie. Throwing the thrilling dramatic elements of the first film overboard, all it has left is the action...and some dude called Jason Patric.

One sure thing that can be said about this movie is its special effects are fabulous. We're talking big money effects, including that oh-so-cool finale where the Seabourn Legend (the ship) crashes into a resort town.

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The Plot

Trouble continues to follow LA citizen Annie Porter when she and her new hubby (a stone-faced Jason Patric) book a tropical cruise on the Seabourn Legend cruise ship. A crazed computer hacker (Willem Dafoe) has taken over the ship and is setting on a course to destruction...to some sort of some tanker, I guess, that would've exploded (and ends up exploding anyway, but the ship is safe, of course). So, of course, Annie and her beau attempt (meaning they will of course succeed) to save the ship and its passengers.

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The Cast

Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter
(Speed, 28 Days, Two Weeks Notice)
Ms. Bullock, easily my favorite actress, gives a good, if not great, performance, in an iffy-at-best action movie. Speed was outstanding, and it's hard to live up to that, but Sandra OWNS this movie, pretty much.

Jason Patric as Officer Alex Shaw
(Your Friends and Neighbours, Sleepers, Narc)
For one, I have no idea who this actor is, he's new to me. And I'm not likely to see any more of his movies based on his performance in this movie. Instead of Keanu Reeve's more human performance as an LAPD cop in the first movie, Patric plays his Alex Shaw (also in the LAPD) as a traditional action hero, always stone-faced and heroic. In fact, Alex Shaw is not the most interesting character in the world. Well as long as Annie's happy...

Willem Dafoe as John Geiger
(The English Patient, eXistenZ, Spider-Man)
Dafoe takes over the psycho role, vacated (and beheaded) by Dennis Hopper in the first film. He's didn't seem evil (maybe crazy) but he is rather cool, and his plot to destroy the Seabourn Legend cruise ship was inspired. Willem Dafoe is a very talented man.

Another very good performance comes comes from deaf actress Christine Firkins, who plays a deaf teenager named Drew. This movie is notable for the fact that there's not only a deaf character, but the fact that they hired a deaf actress for the part.
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So, About the Special Effects...

The effects in this movie are very, very good (they better have been, considering its supposed $110-$150 million price tag). The ship is jaw-droppingly cool, as good as the titular vessel in Titanic...unlike that movie though, Speed 2 employed an actual cruise ship (the real Seabourn Legend) in some shots (most shots of it are computer graphics). The finale in the resort town was very, very neat (I talked about this part in the first part of this review).
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So What Did I Think?

Aside from the effects, this a pretty average action movie with pretty average performances. While nowhere near as good as the first Speed movie, this sequel is glossy, silly movie-night fun (even though it thinks its a seriously heavyweight action movie).

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not bad
ok, this sequel does not live up to the standards of the first but it is very enjoyable. Sure there can be the occasional stupid dialogue here and there, but only really by one person, Willem defoe, but he did an ok job but i didnt see it for him, i saw it for the action. The action sequences really picked up when daylight came. They are good but they should have cut them shorter a bit, only because i really wanted to feel the rush like in the first, but i love the ship running into the town and the boat blowing up in the end. I think this film would have been great if Keanu had accepted to come back and they should have kept the MA rating. sandra Bullock, good as usual, Jason Patrik, well they needed somebody to fill in and he did a good job. This film does not take itself too seriously, they made it for the fans, and i liked it, just enjoy it for what it is, a pretty decent sequel.

Speed 2 needs to slow down!
The original Speed was a different kind of movie (Who would have thought a movie that took place mainly on a bus would be so good?) that for one reason or another MANY people enjoyed. Speed 2 seems to be one of those "We liked the first one so we want a sequel!" Kind of movies, and it turned out to be pretty bad. Speed 2 actually makes a Disney sequel look GOOD.

The movie centers around our heroine Annie (her role reprised by Sandra Bullock) who is taking a driving test in the beginning of the movie to get her license back for (gasp!) speeding! She has just gotten herself out of a relationship with Jack (Who was in the first one) and is now with Alex (Jason Patric). When she finds out that Alex works for the same squad that Jack works for she isn't too happy with that.

Later Alex decides to take Annie on a cruise and when they do things start off fine and dandy until a mad bomber (William Dafoe) by the name of Geiger takes over the cruise ship trapping a few passengers on board.

Let's put this one thing aside, Keanu Reeves didn't show up in this film. Surprisingly enough this one thing is what starts the film slide into ruin. Jason Patric and Sandra Bullock don't really have a whole lot of chemistry. It isn't as well developed as it was in the first Speed movie. I'm sure that even if Keanu Reeves had appeared in this movie it wouldn't have saved it from becoming a mess anyhow.

William Dafoe doesn't make for the greatest villian either (who would've thought that five years later he'd be the Green Goblin in the blockbuster hit: Spider Man?). He has the potential to be a great mad bomber but somehow he misses what the bomber in the first movie had. That would be his lack of remorse and intelligence.

Speed 2 doesn't keep on the edge of your seat like the first movie did. Speed 2 is like a Disney Sequel, not good enough for the theater. Speed 2 I can honestly say was a bad movie. An under developed plot put along with some pretty under developed characters make this movie seem like garbage.

I don't recommend this movie to anyone who liked the first one. Those who enjoyed the first movie probably won't like this one.

Defiantly not as Good as the first
it was alright, but i can't say it was better or as good as the first. i strongly recommend watching the first, then watching the second. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tom Hanks wanted to prove his dramatic talent in the mid-1980s, and Nothing in Common gave him a ripe opportunity. Playing an emotionally immature Chicago advertising executive, Hanks offers a prototype of his later, better role in Big--the joking man-child with seemingly limitless reserves of energetic humor, perfectly suited to director Garry Marshall's trademark blend of featherweight comedy and sentiment. The movie wanders aimlessly before settling into its dramatic groove, involving Hanks caring for his aging, diabetic father (Jackie Gleason, well cast in his final screen role) after his mother (Eva Marie Saint) files for divorce and strikes out on her own. Like Marshall's Pretty Woman, the movie hits several grace notes and finds unexpected depth in its characters and their need for loving connections. Meanwhile, there's cheesy nostalgia in the '80s trappings, including songs by Carly Simon and Christopher Cross, and Once and Again TV star Sela Ward in an early supporting role. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Donna Mildred Martin


I've watched this movie dozens of times, and was overjoyed to find it on DVD at last. This was (I believe) The Great One Jackie Gleason's final screen performance, and it showed the way of the future for Tom Hanks. Sela Ward also appears as a love interest, along with Hector Elizondo as his boss, and Eva Marie Saint as Hanks' mom.

The only thing that gets on my nerves just a little is the soundtrack. I think it's Christopher Cross, surely one of the most annoying alleged musicians ever to hit the big time.

The transfer to disk is good. The cast is excellent. The plot makes sense, and the script is near perfect. The story is about the relationship between Tom Hanks' character, David Basner, and his father, Max Basner. Its a wonder that anyone comes out right as an adult, and Hanks had no idea how screwed up his childhood had been until the night his father told him his mother had split. And soon thereafter his secretary gave him a message that his mother had called, and added "I had no idea you had parents."

Wonderful. Buy it, enjoy it.

A film of compassion and comedy
I found Nothing in Common to have all the attributes of a wonderful film. From its soundtrack to its cast. The subject, a selfish advertising executive, thinks only of himself, but finally learns that family is important, and old friends are the best.

It is my most favourite Tom Hanks movie.

A MUST SEE!!!
This is one of my most treasured films of all time and I can't understand why it receives so little attention. This is the story of an immature but successful bachelor whose world is disrupted when he gets an unexpected call from his estranged father, telling him his mother left him. Tom Hanks gives one of his BEST performances (comedically AND dramatically) as the carefree fellow who is forced to get to know his parents all over again while supporting them emotionally.
While many label this a comedy--and it IS pretty funny-- I find it one of the most heartfelt and touching films ever thanks to a brilliant director, soppy but appropriate music, and an extraordinary cast. There've been so many films made concerning father-son relationships but if you're looking for the most genuinely realistic one, this is it. The final line of dialogue spoken by father to son ("You're the last person on earth I would've ever expected to come through for me") never fails to choke me up.

Hanks and Gleason are a winning team
Once in a while you find a movie that mirrors your own actual relationship with someone. For me, Nothing In Common sums up my relationship with my father. Even though I do have a lot in common with my dad, I could definitely relate to the fights that father(Gleason) and son(Hanks) had in the movie.

I think that we were raised on thinking that Father Knows Best, but what happens when the father starts to lose it. Nothing In Common answers that question. This movie would make a great Father's Day gift.

Hanks starts out the movie as a grown-up child without a care in the world other than pleasing his every whim. He evolves into this mature adult who realizes that he owes more to his parents than just the occasional visit once every six months or a gift for Mother's and Father's Day.

Gleason starts out as an angry man who reluctantly asks his son for help. He becomes an enlightened father who is truly proud of his son.

I don't believe I'm giving to much away. I think that if you are a fan of Hanks, Gleason, and Garry Marshall. Enjoying this movie will not be difficult.

This movie is one of my favorites. I have lost count as to how many times that I've seen it.

Hanks' Gem
This is one of Tom Hanks' (and director Garry Marshall's) best films, yet it has received little publicity.

Among Hanks' fans I know who have seen this film, all hold it in very high regard. It's classic Tom Hanks - funny and serious at the same time. As it's promoters said, "It's a comedy and a drama, just like life." You will surely love it.

Jackie Gleason, Eva Marie Saint, Hector Elizondo, and the rest of the cast do wonderful jobs.

I only wish it was on DVD, but hopefully in time it will be. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Mayhem and Carnage and Arnold!
Arnold Schwartzenegger in the role of humorless, ultra-disciplined Soviet police-captain Vanya Danko, teamed with Chicago PD screw-up Art Ritsek (Jim Belushi), to track a Georgean drug kingpin... this is one of Arnold's greatest, but least-appreciated, action-films. The best scenes take place in Russia, in the banya (public bath), over the rooftops around Red Square, in the mafiya cafe. Arnold's Russian, spoken with his Austrian accent, is pretty terrific! What impressed me was the film's close attention to detail: Even Danko's handwriting and numbers were authentically Russian-style. The machismo of the personal battle between Ivan Danko and the smuggler was intensely Russian, as was Danko's unswerving conviction of Soviet superiority. His terse correction of the hotel clerk's question "Is [Viktor] another Russian, like you?" Danko: "Soviet.", is right-on -- Georgeans are not Russians, although many Americans don't know that. The scripting of a Georgean as the loathesome criminal is actually quite revealing, and surely a reflection of the film's "official" Russian input . Despite the grimness of the plot and Arnold's character, there is plenty of dark humor, mainly provided by Belushi's portrayal of undisciplined officer Ritsek. The humor frequently contrasts the strictly indoctrinated Soviet structure with the (to Danko) near-anarchy of American freedom. Much of the mayhem and carnage wrought during the process of Danko's personal war defies credibility; as Ritsek puts it: "Why aren't there any cops around when you need one!" The action genre's obligatory high-speed chase scene was ludicrous, yet appropriately Russian (everything Russian always seems so much "bigger"...). And the protagonists' exchange in the end, in which Vanya gets the better deal, is also typically Russian -- and proves that Danko is not so humorless after all. By the way, this movie (like all of Arnold's action-films) is extremely popular here, where it has been dubbed into the Russian language. Ironically, in the russkiy version, all the obscenities have been deleted from the dialogue.

Not the Team I would have Picked, but....
Not a team I would have chosen, but that is why I am not the casting director. Arnold Schwartzenegger plays the role of a humorless, over-disciplined Soviet police officer Vanya Danko. He is teamed with a Chicago Police Department screw-up Art Ritsek (Jim Belushi). Together the must track a Georgean drug kingpin. This is probably one of Arnold's greatest films even if it may be one of his least talked about.

This movie has it all. Humor, action, and what seems to be a budding romance. It won't dissapoint.

But it's a FUN "Heat"...
Ahh... nothin' like an over-the-top Schwarzenegger vehicle to get me over my 80s action flick D.T.s! And ya gotta admit, 'Red Heat' can be pretty hokey at times. Take Arnie's weird attempt at a Russian accent, for example. Except for switchin' his Vs with Ws like Chekov from 'Star Trek' (bet'cha ten-to-one Walter Koenig actually helped him out with his "accent"), he sounds pretty much the same as he always did... only with more of a monotone, if such a thing is possible. And his emoting of anger (the only emotion most of his characters seem capable of doing) is just as bad as ever. Needless to say, I love every campy moment of it!

Then there's Jim Belushi, the comedic side of this preposterous fish-out-of-water buddy-cop story as he plays the kinda character he does better than almost anybody: a wise-@$$ who's always got some kinda smart-aleck comeback for everything. Ya know, kinda like Bill Murray, except a bit beefier, thereby making him a more suitable action-film sidekick. Not only does he help the main man out by tracking down a Soviet drug dealer through the mean streets of Chicago, he also helps set up the smattering of culture-clash gags going throughout the movie for his stoic partner to knock down... and vice-versa. And just when ya thought all that 'glastnost' and 'perestroika' stuff wasn't gonna work out...

And what's an Arnie flick without a few hilariously implausible action scenes? They save the best for last here as both the bad guy and the good guys do a charter bus chase & game of 'chicken' through a seedy area of the windy city, with one of the buses meetin' up with a train. Warner Bros. would lift the latter part of this action sequence from this flick and do it a lot better in "The Fugitive" movie several years later. Which I'm sure was their revenge for 'Red Heat' lifting the infamous 'back-lit Dirty Harry emerging from the shadows to take on the bad guys at the amusement park' climax from "Sudden Impact" and using it as part of Arnie's one-on-one "High Noon"-type shootout with the main heavy. Adding to this amusing development was the fact that our Austrian hero used a .44 Magnum revolver to mete out final justice. Coincidence? I think NOT...

Speakin' of the .44 Magnum: there was one shootout scene where Arnie fired off more than six shots with the gun without reloading once! Even Dirty Harry hadda reload every once in a while! How d'ya think he came up with that "Did I fire six shots... or only five?" routine?! Sheesh-- whatever happened to realism in action flicks, huh?! I swear...

BTW this DVD includes the movie both in widescreen and pan-&-scan aspect ratios. Personally, I could care less whether or not I watch this in one format or the other, but at least the disc's producers had the common courtesy to give you, the Arnie-action-movie-loving DVDphile, a choice in the matter. And if you're deaf or hard of hearing, here's a bit of warning: the subtitles don't always completely match the spoken dialogue. So if ya really wanna know what's bein' said, you'd better have the screenplay handy, or learn to read lips...

'Late

An excellent action comedy.
In "Red Heat", Arnold Schwarzenegger plays an iron-man Russian police officer who chases a rather nasty drug czar to Chicago. There he is partenered with James Belushi, a good, but sloppy cop. The two shoot up half the city as they close in on Vicktor Roskov. This movie is pretty much what you'd expect out of an '80s action comedy, vulger and bloody. Walter Hill basicly reworks the same formula from "48 Hours", but he knows what he's doing. I think that it is funnier and more excellerating. There is even an air of mystery and clues that have to be figured out, so it's marginally smarter than your average action thriller. It also has a few future stars, Gina Gershon and Laurance Fishburne. But it is definatly Arnold and Jim's show all the way. It will not change your world, but it is good (not clean, though) entertainment

This is an awsome movie
This is an awsome movie. It stars Jim Bekushi and Arnold Schwarenegger. I like the part where they chicken with a bus and almost kill the bad guy. ... Read more

Reviews (73)

Awful... Not
Based on the popular "Saturday Night Live" sketch, 1991's "Wayne's World" is the funniest movie I've ever seen. I don't remember going longer than 20 seconds without even smirking. The "Bohemian Rhapsody" sequence is worth the price of the film alone, but it's an altogether hilarious effort.

Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers in his breakthrough film role) and Garth (Dana Carvey) host their own cabel access show in Aurora, Illinois. One night, a sleazy tv exec Benjamin (Rob Lowe) catches their show and gets video arcade honcho Noah Vanderhoff (Brian Doyle Murray) to sponsor it. Wayne and Garth agree to sign the contracts and broadcast the show nationally. They indeed reap the pleasures of fame - baxkstage passes to meet Alice Cooper, $5, 000, 000 plus Wayne winning the affections of robobabe Cassandra (Tia Carrerre). But soon, things go awry. Wayne loses Garth and Cassandra, and his show's cancelled. What could possibly make it worse? Find out in this hilarious comedy romp.

This has proved to be the only good movie based on an "SNL" sketch. It's sad to se that so much of Dana Carvey's talent is in this film, because it's a shame that all of his subsequent efforts tanked ("Master Of Disguise", anyone?). The extras included trailer and a nice documnetary.

Schawing
"Wayne's World" is a movie that shouldn't be funny but is. It shouldn't be funny because its plot is so ridiculous and pointless as to render the story almost meaningless. The basis of the plot is that two guys named Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) have a cable-access show in Wayne's basement in Aurora, Illinois. The show, which is just Wayne and Garth goofing on stuff, catches the eye of Benjamin Kane (Rob Lowe), a smarmy television producer who wants to buy and remake it into a cash cow. Meanwhile, Wayne falls in love with a local musician named Cassandra Wong (Tia Carrere). After Benjamin comes into the picture, Wayne is afraid of losing Cassandra to him because of his music industry connections, good looks, money, and fancy car.

What saves "Wayne's World" from the purgatory of its plot is Wayne or, more specifically, Mike Myers. Myers was still an unknown in 1992. For those of us who had seen him on "Saturday Night Live" we already knew he could be stomach-hurting funny. However, until "Wayne's World" you just didn't know if he coud keep it going for a whole movie. As everyone knows now, he can.

Myers comic timing created gold out of lead. "Wayne's World" is a movie more memorable for its lines than its story. That can be a dangerous way to make a good movie as the lines can grow tired with age (see "Spaceballs"). That's not the case with "Wayne's World" though. It's still as good today as it was ten years ago.

It makes me feel kinda funny
Long before the world ever heard of Austin Powers, Mike Myers was infusing pop culture with the catch phrases and wild doings of Wayne Campbell and hastening the move of multiple Saturday Night Live characters to the big screen over the course of succeeding years. Wayne and his trusty sidekick Garth raked up at the box office and left us with a classic comedy that will be making people laugh for years to come. Aside from all the Wayne-isms and Garth-isms, this movie changed forever the way we listen to a number of classic rock songs.

Okay - let's review. Wayne lives in his parents' basement, but it's okay because he and his buddy Garth have their very own public access show on their local cable station in Aurora, Illinois. Wayne thinks his dream of doing Wayne's World for a living (and thus escaping from the world of name tags and hair nets) has come true when he gets an offer to do the show on a Chicago TV station, but there's a certain matter with the fine print. Will Wayne sell out? Yeah. And monkeys might fly out of my butt.

Myers and Carvey take their SNL trademark routines as far as they can, going a little too far once or twice (as with the Scooby Doo and Mega-happy endings - although they did make possible the much-appreciated Tia Carrere bikini scene), and it's not hard to see why: Wayne's World was the most popular SNL skit for a good two to three years running. The film has a surprising number of familiar faces: besides the aforementioned Tia Carrere, you get Rob Lowe (fresh off a certain little infamous home movie), Brian Doyle-Murray, Ed O'Neill, Lara Flynn Boyle, Donna Dixon, and - making cameo appearances - Chris Farley, Meatloaf, and Alice Cooper. Of course, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey take center stage at all times. They satirize everything, from Grey Poupon commercials to the entertainment industry, to themselves.

There are a number of memorable scenes: the Bohemian Rhapsody bit as the guys cruise town in the Mirth-mobile, Garth's Foxy Lady dance number (many of us will never be able to listen to that classic Jimi Hendrix tune the same way again), all of the Dreamweaver moments, the Laverne & Shirley take-off trip to Milwaukee, Wayne's Marilyn Monroe impersonation, and others. Whether you knew it or not, you were exposed to Wayne's World lingo throughout the 90s, so if you haven't seen the movie, isn't it time you learn why you should have laughed at all those jokes you didn't understand way back then?

Mike's Best
Wayne's World takes you through the world of Rock'n Roll, through the lives of two friends, Wayne and Garth, who own their own television sitcom. Wayne and Garth's friendship, along witht he show, is threatened when a bigtime producer, Benjamin, tries to takeover the show.

Good movie
This movie is very funny. If you liked Dumb and Dumber you would like this movie. Mike Myers is hilarious. And also the chinese man is hilarious. Anyway you should definately buy this movie. Its worth spending the money. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Will Grow In Stature Over Time
It was easy not to notice this in theaters a decade ago, but time has been exceedingly kind to AFTER DARK & likely will continue to be. Already it stands as one of the 90s best films.
Though its Southwestern locations (Indio, California was used) are both a bit too sparse and modern, in every other way this captures the ineffable aura of Jim Thompson's prose (and anyone who's actually READ "The Getaway" knows how utterly impossible a task translating his best effects to film really is). Director Foley has done a splendid job in setting a tone of dreamlike, sunburned melancholy and maintaining it throughout, aided immeasurably by fine performances by Rachel Ward & Bruce Dern and an absolutely riveting one by Jason Patric. I had faint hopes for this film before seeing it, due mostly to Patric in the lead; I was floored watching it, and all DUE to Patric's performance. Though a little young for the part, he captures perfectly the likable ambivalence and roiling inner pathology of the Jim Thompson Hero: you never stop feeling for the guy even as you know he will inevitably be compelled by his inner torments to do monstrous things before the story ends. Patric's complete immersion into "Kid Collins" steals a little thunder from one of Bruce Dern's most chillingly indelible portrayals of slime personified, "Uncle Bud". (Fans of Dennis Hopper's "Frank Booth" from BLUE VELVET would take to Uncle Bud immediately, I think.)
More than any other film adaptation of Thompson, AFTER DARK -even more than THE GRIFTERS - embodies that peculiar cowtown existentialism of his that tells us we're each of us alone in a world where things start bad and only get worse, pretending we're sane the way kids pretend there's a Santa Claus. A film without an audience in 1990, but little by little, year by year, a growing and appreciative audience is building. See this movie.

Great Movie, Nice DVD
Great neo-noir set in rural California. I saw this movie in the theater with about 5 other people. Most of you missed it then, don't miss it now. After Dark, My Sweet is great on all counts. The acting, plot, script -- all are superb.

Jason Patric terrific in modern film noir
it seems like you don't see too much of Jason Patric in movies, which is a shame because he is one fine actor. [Another little- seem indie film he's wonderful in is 'Incognoto']. He takes 'After Dark, my Sweet' from just another movie about down and dirty people doing down and dirty things to something more meaningful and artistically satisfying.

This is a dark, dark tale about a once promising boxer [Patric] who has become an aimless drifter. He's one of those lost souls that no one on earth cares about. In the California desert,he drifts into the life of a sad, boozy widow [Rachel Ward]. He begins to feel that someone might actually need him, but it turns out that she and a friend named Uncle Bud [Bruce Dern] are up to no good. It starts to look like the boxer is just someone they can use in a criminal plan they have cooked up. Maybe. Maybe not. No one here is what they appear to be.

I thought the film was very well constructed, with all the elements gradually building up to the ominous [and inevitable] conclusion. Others, however, will find it to be too slow. This is an old-school thriller with more emphasis on studying the characters than on the actions of the characters.

An intense dark drama.
When a moody, wandering Ex-Boxer (Jason Partic) who may or may not be as punch drunk as he seems. When he meets a beguiling widow (Rachel Ward) and ex-detective turned Con Man (Bruce Dern) and then they get mixed-up in a Kidnap-Ransom scheme that turns soon into a living hell.

Directed by James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross) has made a stylish thriller with atmosphere dominate this gritty adaptation of Jim Thompson`s hardboiled novel. Jason Partic gives a terrific outstanding performance in this one. Fine Performances by Ward and Dern. Super 35. Grade:A-.

Will Grow In Stature Over Time
It was easy not to notice this in theaters a decade ago, but time has been exceedingly kind to AFTER DARK & likely will continue to be. Already it stands as one of the 90s best films.
Though its Southwestern locations (Indio, California was used) are both a bit too sparse and modern, in every other way this captures the ineffable aura of Jim Thompson's prose (and anyone who's actually READ "The Getaway" knows how utterly impossible a task translating his best effects to film really is). Director Foley has done a splendid job in setting a tone of dreamlike, sunburned melancholy and maintaining it throughout, aided immeasurably by fine performances by Rachel Ward & Bruce Dern and an absolutely riveting one by Jason Patric. I had faint hopes for this film before seeing it, due mostly to Patric in the lead; I was floored watching it, and all DUE to Patric's performance. Though a little young for the part, he captures perfectly the likable ambivalence and roiling inner pathology of the Jim Thompson Hero: you never stop feeling for the guy even as you know he will inevitably be compelled by his inner torments to do monstrous things before the story ends. Patric's complete immersion into "Kid Collins" steals a little thunder from one of Bruce Dern's most chillingly indelible portrayals of slime personified, "Uncle Bud". (Fans of Dennis Hopper's "Frank Booth" from BLUE VELVET would take to Uncle Bud immediately, I think.)
More than any other film adaptation of Thompson, AFTER DARK -even more than THE GRIFTERS - embodies that peculiar cowtown existentialism of his that tells us we're each of us alone in a world where things start bad and only get worse, pretending we're sane the way kids pretend there's a Santa Claus. A film without an audience in 1990, but little by little, year by year, a growing and appreciative audience is building. See this movie. ... Read more

Description

Michael Keaton (BATMAN) delivers a critically acclaimed performance as Artie Lewis, an honest and dedicated police detective in this suspenseful, action-filled movie. Keaton becomes the legal guardian of three orphaned girls when his partner (Anthony LaPaglia, BETSY'S WEDDING) is killed in a drug raid. During his investigation of the vicious drug ring responsible, Keaton finds his life -- and that of his family -- on the line! He's determined to protect them at all costs, and in a fiery climax, he learns what it takes to be ONE GOOD COP! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Chance, circumstance, compassion, loss - a journey.
This is an interesting psychological journey of One Good Cop (Michael Keaton) who makes a decision to do something wrong. One thought stands out in the movie, and will probably stay with me for a long time: People make millions in drug money while law abiding, honest people can barely afford to keep a roof over their heads. That truth is relevant.

Keaton was excellent in showing the honesty of a cop who loses his partner of eight years. It is easy to see how deep the bond of friendship is between shield carrying brothers or sisters. They can't really share their day at home with family and loved ones because it would drag their family through the underworld garbage as well. That barrier, however, is hard on a marriage, but remains in place because cops do want to protect the good guys.

Keaton is given the guardianship of his partner's children. Rene Russo is beautiful in her role as Keaton's wife; always wanting children, but unable to bear them. Suddenly life gives her a family -- and these children need two loving guardians to have a healthy survival of the loss of both of their parents. They do not need to be separated into three foster homes or adopted by different families.

However, there is simply not enough money to take care of them. Neither Keaton nor Russo want to lose these three little girls who brought a new kind of love and laughter into their tiny home. And tiny it is -- one bedroom, where the girls now sleep together, a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. The significance of the lodgings is the impetus for the crime.

The question arises: is stealing from criminals, in order to take care of the children they turned into orphans, sactioned?

Benjamin Bratt is filled with his usual bravado, and he is also a good cop. In fact, the entire supporting cast is well chosen. Even Bratt agrees with the police captain's decision when ultimately the crime is exposed.

This is good drama, a strong story, and the psychological journey is worth the trip. I give is four stars.

Victoria Tarrani

one good movie
Michael Keaton has been in some good movies and this is one of them. One Good Cop is more of an action drama than a "shoot em/kill em" type movie. It has a good story and you care about what happens to the characters. If you are a Michael Keaton fan or just like entertaining cop stories then this movie is one to see.

A sentimental action drama... go figure
Widowed cop Stevie Diroma (Anthony LaPaglia) dies on the job. His partner Artie Lewis (Michael Keaton) decides to take care of his three daughters for a while. Artie's infertile wife (Rene Russo) would like to adopt them, but given his salary they live in a small apartment, so the kids will end up in adopting agency. Therefore Artie decides to stick up the drug dealer responsible for Diroma's death and use the money to buy a big house where he can live with the children.

Is he supposed to be a 'good' cop? A bad cop isn't necessarily Harvey Keitel in Ferrara's 'Bad Lieutenant'. Innocent people get killed due to his smart idea but he gets away with it because his colleagues cover some things up. In a world where the Internal Affairs DO exist this movie makes no sense.

An overlong and unfocused sentimental cop drama that ends with an ordinary shoot-out. Won't go down well with neither action nor drama fans. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You couldn't do better than Kathleen Turner to bring Sara Peretsky’s tough but tender Chicago PI (who goes by her initials "because it makes it harder for people to patronize [her]") to the big screen. Too bad her vehicle is such routine murder mystery. The story of an insolent teenager (Angela Goethals) who hires Warshawski to investigate her father’s suspicious death never rises above TV detective show melodrama, and Jeff Kanew’s generic direction is less hardboiled than over-easy. The film’s pleasures are all in the performances: smart, stylish, and sassy, Turner can toss off a tart retort with the best of them and her chemistry with Goethals’s foul-mouthed wharf rat is as much mentor as maternal protector. Given a better script, Turner could have hung her shingle on this character for years to come. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Marvelous detective movie!
Fans of Sara Paretsky's heroine, V.I. Warshawski will enjoy the clever one-liners tossed off so well by Kathleen Turner. The character's wise-girl bravura is sometimes at odds with Turner's soft beauty, but the actor does some very convincing martial arts moves not usually associated with her past performances. It's fascinating to watch how fast and furious Ms. Turner can be in these scenes!

The plot features a 13 old kid whose father is murdered. Warshawski reluctantly allows the girl to accompany her on the investigation, but be rest assured that the young actress playing the daughter wins over both you and Warshwaski without resorting to being cutesy or phony.

Readers of the detective series will spot most of the recurring characters in the books, most notably Lottie and Murray. There is the disappointing exception of Mr. Contreras, whose paternal advice and counsel is handled instead by Charles Durning's police investigator character.

I liked the movie and highly recommend it, mostly for Turner's shining screen presence. She may not be the most obvious choice for portraying V.I., but she keeps you enthralled with her great sense of humor and tough woman tenacity. I would have loved to see this movie turned into a series. After the movie ended, I wanted to see more!

The video quality is very good and was taken from an outstanding print, so you get your money's worth with the DVD version.

What's not to like?
This likeable, harmless Kathleen Turner vehicle is one of those films that most "name" critics have viciously attacked for no logical reasons (critics seem to be as frequently susceptible amongst themselves to "herd mentality" as the rest of us po' ignorant movin' pitcher watchin' folk). Turner's "V.I. Warshawski" is a very credible "tough broad" character,treading the fine line between sexiness and surliness with skill and style. Granted, the predictable, standard-issue plot of this detective thriller is a minus, but the appealing cast and Turner's charisma carry the day. If you are a fan of the Warshawski books (or J.A. Jance and Sue Grafton's female detective stories)you'll find the mood and atmosphere of the film quite true to the genre.If your name is Leonard Maltin, take a pill and just relax.

Leonard Maltin strikes out.
I have no idea what movie Maltin saw, but I enjoyed every moment of this film. I am a Turner fan, and a V.I. fan but do not enjoy truely bad movies. This was not a truely bad movie or a "boo-boo". It was funny and presented the characters well. Read the books, Maltin. I wish they had continued the series, I would buy them all.

v.i. greatly portrayed byTurner!
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOVIES THAT WITH A LITTLE HELP COULD OFFER LOTS OF SEQUELS OR TURNED TO A SUCCESSFUL SERIES WITH KATHLEEN.KATHLEEN IF YOU READ THIS YOU DID A GREAT JOB!ANOTHER GOOD THING ABOUT THIS MOVIE IS THAT A WOMAN IS ON THE MAIN ROLE AND SHE CAN BE HOT AND TOUGH ALL IN ONE PERSON.HIGLY RECOMMENDED TO THOSE WHO LOVE KATHLEEN AND BELIEVE IN WOMAN'S POWER AND SUPERIORITY!

A great mystery, with delicious one-liners and a great cast.
I LOVE this movie. I can't say that enough. I fell in love with this movie first time I saw it. The soundtrack was great, the cast was great, everything about this movie was just great!

Especially the nutcracker scene (which, if you've seen the film, doesn't need describing). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anybody seen Keanu? The action star of Speed opted outof this overbearing sequel, which finds costar Sandra Bullock in love withanother guy (Jason Patric) and in trouble aboard a cruise ship underthe control ofa mad extortionist (Willem Dafoe). Speed director Jan de Bontis back at the helm for part 2, but even he seems to have forgottenthat what made the first film work was the simplicity of its hook(the bomb, the bus that can'tdrive below 50 mph, the handful of sympathetic passengers, etc.).Speed 2 isall about hugeness: big ship, lots of places to get into trouble, and so on.Even with an eye-popping, endless finale of the vessel crashing into port (andcausing mondo destruction), there is nothing about this movie that is remotelyas involving as its predecessor. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (94)

What was so wrong with it?
My mother and I were the only two people in the theater the day that we saw Speed 2: Cruise Control. After watching the movie, I couldn't understand why so many people hated this movie. It was not a bad movie by any account, except for some discrepancies in the destruction of the cruise ship. The movie made me laugh while also giving me a dosage of suspense, thrills, and great special effects. Sandra Bullock is always a joy to watch on screen, giving each of her movies a comic, light and happy feel. The absence of Keanu Reeves is nothing to worry about, seeing as how he didn't really bring much adventure to the first movie either. Jason Patric delivers a terrific performance, and it is Willem Dafoe's character who is the epitome of insanity and hunger for revenge. I wouldn't really listen to a lot of what people had to say: this is a comical, thrill-ride movie that will have you laughing and holding your breath.

Fast Bus 2: Big Slow Ship
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1998)
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, Willem Dafoe
Directed By: Jan de Bont
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 121 minutes
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On One Hand...
"Thumps up!"
-Roger Ebert

...on the Other.
"A waterlogged sequel that'll soon be bottom-feeding with Beyond the Poseidon Adventure."
-Mike Clark, USA Today
___________________________________________________________

The Love Boat meets Air Force One

Speed 2: Cruise Control was one whacked-out movie. Throwing the thrilling dramatic elements of the first film overboard, all it has left is the action...and some dude called Jason Patric.

One sure thing that can be said about this movie is its special effects are fabulous. We're talking big money effects, including that oh-so-cool finale where the Seabourn Legend (the ship) crashes into a resort town.

___________________________________________________________

The Plot

Trouble continues to follow LA citizen Annie Porter when she and her new hubby (a stone-faced Jason Patric) book a tropical cruise on the Seabourn Legend cruise ship. A crazed computer hacker (Willem Dafoe) has taken over the ship and is setting on a course to destruction...to some sort of some tanker, I guess, that would've exploded (and ends up exploding anyway, but the ship is safe, of course). So, of course, Annie and her beau attempt (meaning they will of course succeed) to save the ship and its passengers.

__________________________________________________________

The Cast

Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter
(Speed, 28 Days, Two Weeks Notice)
Ms. Bullock, easily my favorite actress, gives a good, if not great, performance, in an iffy-at-best action movie. Speed was outstanding, and it's hard to live up to that, but Sandra OWNS this movie, pretty much.

Jason Patric as Officer Alex Shaw
(Your Friends and Neighbours, Sleepers, Narc)
For one, I have no idea who this actor is, he's new to me. And I'm not likely to see any more of his movies based on his performance in this movie. Instead of Keanu Reeve's more human performance as an LAPD cop in the first movie, Patric plays his Alex Shaw (also in the LAPD) as a traditional action hero, always stone-faced and heroic. In fact, Alex Shaw is not the most interesting character in the world. Well as long as Annie's happy...

Willem Dafoe as John Geiger
(The English Patient, eXistenZ, Spider-Man)
Dafoe takes over the psycho role, vacated (and beheaded) by Dennis Hopper in the first film. He's didn't seem evil (maybe crazy) but he is rather cool, and his plot to destroy the Seabourn Legend cruise ship was inspired. Willem Dafoe is a very talented man.

Another very good performance comes comes from deaf actress Christine Firkins, who plays a deaf teenager named Drew. This movie is notable for the fact that there's not only a deaf character, but the fact that they hired a deaf actress for the part.
___________________________________________________________

So, About the Special Effects...

The effects in this movie are very, very good (they better have been, considering its supposed $110-$150 million price tag). The ship is jaw-droppingly cool, as good as the titular vessel in Titanic...unlike that movie though, Speed 2 employed an actual cruise ship (the real Seabourn Legend) in some shots (most shots of it are computer graphics). The finale in the resort town was very, very neat (I talked about this part in the first part of this review).
___________________________________________________________

So What Did I Think?

Aside from the effects, this a pretty average action movie with pretty average performances. While nowhere near as good as the first Speed movie, this sequel is glossy, silly movie-night fun (even though it thinks its a seriously heavyweight action movie).

___________________________________________________________

not bad
ok, this sequel does not live up to the standards of the first but it is very enjoyable. Sure there can be the occasional stupid dialogue here and there, but only really by one person, Willem defoe, but he did an ok job but i didnt see it for him, i saw it for the action. The action sequences really picked up when daylight came. They are good but they should have cut them shorter a bit, only because i really wanted to feel the rush like in the first, but i love the ship running into the town and the boat blowing up in the end. I think this film would have been great if Keanu had accepted to come back and they should have kept the MA rating. sandra Bullock, good as usual, Jason Patrik, well they needed somebody to fill in and he did a good job. This film does not take itself too seriously, they made it for the fans, and i liked it, just enjoy it for what it is, a pretty decent sequel.

Speed 2 needs to slow down!
The original Speed was a different kind of movie (Who would have thought a movie that took place mainly on a bus would be so good?) that for one reason or another MANY people enjoyed. Speed 2 seems to be one of those "We liked the first one so we want a sequel!" Kind of movies, and it turned out to be pretty bad. Speed 2 actually makes a Disney sequel look GOOD.

The movie centers around our heroine Annie (her role reprised by Sandra Bullock) who is taking a driving test in the beginning of the movie to get her license back for (gasp!) speeding! She has just gotten herself out of a relationship with Jack (Who was in the first one) and is now with Alex (Jason Patric). When she finds out that Alex works for the same squad that Jack works for she isn't too happy with that.

Later Alex decides to take Annie on a cruise and when they do things start off fine and dandy until a mad bomber (William Dafoe) by the name of Geiger takes over the cruise ship trapping a few passengers on board.

Let's put this one thing aside, Keanu Reeves didn't show up in this film. Surprisingly enough this one thing is what starts the film slide into ruin. Jason Patric and Sandra Bullock don't really have a whole lot of chemistry. It isn't as well developed as it was in the first Speed movie. I'm sure that even if Keanu Reeves had appeared in this movie it wouldn't have saved it from becoming a mess anyhow.

William Dafoe doesn't make for the greatest villian either (who would've thought that five years later he'd be the Green Goblin in the blockbuster hit: Spider Man?). He has the potential to be a great mad bomber but somehow he misses what the bomber in the first movie had. That would be his lack of remorse and intelligence.

Speed 2 doesn't keep on the edge of your seat like the first movie did. Speed 2 is like a Disney Sequel, not good enough for the theater. Speed 2 I can honestly say was a bad movie. An under developed plot put along with some pretty under developed characters make this movie seem like garbage.

I don't recommend this movie to anyone who liked the first one. Those who enjoyed the first movie probably won't like this one.

Defiantly not as Good as the first
it was alright, but i can't say it was better or as good as the first. i strongly recommend watching the first, then watching the second. ... Read more

Description

Bridget Fonda (JACKIE BROWN, LITTLE BUDDHA) and Kiefer Sutherland (DARK CITY, A TIME TO KILL) head an all-star cast in this edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller! After blacking out in a violent domestic battle, Jimmy (Fonda) awakens in the hospital to learn that her abusive husband, Frank, has died in a fiery crash ... and that she is the prime suspect! As the police focus on building their case against Jimmy, she uncovers evidence indicating that Frank may not only still be alive, but getting away with murder! With Penelope Ann Miller (AWAKENINGS, CARLITO'S WAY) and Steven Weber (T.V.'s WINGS, LEAVING LAS VEGAS) adding memorable performances, you'll be riveted to the growing suspense as Jimmy, in a daring escape from police custody, races toward a final confrontation with justice and revenge! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Fonda is great and Sutherland is mostly silent
this is about Bridget Fonda..she loses her memory because of her abusive husband..Kiefer is the cop trying to protect her..not a bad movie.. I liked it because of the leads..though can you say that Kiefer was mostly silent in this one...and the guy whos the wife beater should burn in eternal hell..first saw this on Fox because they always..mostly air movies on the weekends and this was one of them.

C'mon people! It's not THAT bad.
Let's get something out of the way first. Is this a really good movie? Well, uh, no. It's a potboiler with plenty of cliches and lots of implausible plot turns. But then, I didn't think I was getting Hitchcock when I rented it. This is a B movie, and like cheap wine and seedy beach motels, B movies have an honest job to perform. The job of a B movie, far as I'm concerned, is to hold my interest and keep me entertained without making me groan or roll my eyes too often. That's what I needed when I watched this (long day at work) and that's what I got. And I've been much more bored by (and put off by the pretensions of) movies with much higher ratings.

As for Bridget Fonda's performance, seems to me there's another way to read it. Abuse makes some people numb. Bridget Fonda's Jimmy seemed to me to be a fairly plausible depiction of a certain kind of abuse victim. Seemed to me that there were a few nice touches -- the scene in the kitchen after she's missed picking Frank up; the scene in the motel room just before the end.

No one's likely to nominate this film for any awards. But as far as I'm concerned, I got my $... worth. That doesn't always happen went I rent a movie.

Worse than mediocre
Worse than mediocre thriller about an abused wife who goes on the lam after she is linked circumstantially to the death of her husband and sister. Determined to prove that her husband is alive she follows leads across the state, her peril increasing at each stop. Chasing after her are the traditional 'good-cop' and 'bad-cop' pair of partners. One is convinced of her innocence the other more interested in closing the case and getting home. This pair is often able to corner their suspect but never quite to capture her. All the main players meet up in a remote town in the desert and the truth begins to unfold with deadly consequences for some.

Wow! This was a bad movie. The lead acted as if she was tranquilized, The cops couldn't find a suspect if he or she is in the police station (this happens twice) and everyone else is as one-dimensional as can be. Avoid this one at all costs.

DUMB PERFORMANCES
Everything is this movie seems out of place. The old cliche "good cop-bad cop", lived by Sutherland and his pal doesn't work at all! Dridget is in an awkward performance, totally unconvincing, unreal, flat. ANyway, it serves to study how a movie with so good cast can be a tremendous waste of time..

ILLTEPHILL is wrong!
Bridget FOnda at her best performance? Guy, this is a lousy picture, where everything is wrong: the director seems to don't know what to do with the weak script he had in its hands; Sutherland and Ann-Miller seems to be working to pay their bills, only; and Bridget confused the order to act like a deaf woman and acted as a sleepy girl all movie long ! Every minute watching this pocture was wasted, but I rented it because of the cast. Sad mistake... ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Worth watching for the little details
Space Truckers is not a good movie. The story is ludicrous, the plotline isn't so hot, the special effects are cheap, and the acting is mediocre. Still, when I watch a movie like this, one that's supposed to be bad, I can't help but wish I could have been in it. Everyone looks like they're having an absolute blast! This is a good thing for Dennis Hopper, because I don't think he's been in a decent movie since Easy Rider. If he can't be in a good movie, he deserves to, at least, be in a fun movie.

As I said, the story is awful, but what is good are all the small details. A lot of thought went into things like posters on the walls, billboards, trucks, and highways. But, as the other reviewers have mentioned, the best part of the movie is the first ten minutes. After that, inspiration seems to have fizzled.

Still, the movie is worth watching if only for the "square pigs for a square meal," "Liquid beef: From a cow! From a cow!", and the evil pirate lord's pull-start crotch engine.

OK film
Space Truckers is a lot of fun to watch, but it is very dumb. Maybe that is part of its charm. This movie is fun to watch and is very funny in spots. Most of the reviewers of this film are correct in giving Space Truckers 3 stars.

ZERO STARS: I'll make this short and unsweet.
This is Barb Wire-Battlefield Earth BAD! Why do I subject myself to such BAD filmmaking? Considering the talent involved this is pathetic. If you have a choice whether to see this movie or have a finger removed, I guess see the movie. Otherwise avoid this at any cost ..I must say one last thing, Stephen Dork is overrated.

Square pigs, killer robots, and crotch engines oh my.....
Okay, this wasn't a bad movie, but it wasn't a great one, either. I think the biggest problem this movie had was the script. It just seemed pretty weak. I did like the characters, the special effects, and the actors, but I don't think they had enough to work with.

The story involves the last of the independant space truckers, Dennis Hopper, and how he's hired to take a shipment of supicious cargo to Earth which turns out to be ultra high tech killer robots that someone is planning to use to overthrow Earth's government.

Anyway, there's some mildy amusing scenes, and stuff happens which all lead up to the climatic scene at the end involving the killer robots. As I said before, the special effects look really good and it's obvious that a lot of time and effort was spent in this area. The pirate ship was really well done. And, in Stuart Gordon fashion, the pirate captain looked like something out of Re-animator or From Beyond, from his half flesh, half metal head to his pull start groin.

The script wasn't really that strong, and some of the actors almost seem embarassed to be in the movie at times, but they perform adequately with what they are given. I thought Charles Dance (Alien 3, The Golden Child, Gosford Park) played his role quite well. And it was nice to see Dennis Hopper play something other that a deranged lunatic for a change.

All in all, fun, light entertainment, just don't expect too much from this movie in terms of a good script or decent character development.

question ?
who sang and wrote the ending theme song for space truckers ? ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Inspector Gadget - a movie that your family will enjoy!
I know that the movie didn't do as well in the box office and that critics bashed it. The question is why I bought this DVD. I have a few reasons actually. #1) I was a big fan of the animated series as a child. #2) I like Disney films #3) It was on sale. Three major reasons and yet I even struggled to watch it because it was bashed on so much and it was only 78 minutes long.

So, I was expecting a bad film but you know what. I enjoyed it. I actually liked the movie. It's definitely not below average.

Matthew Broderick is actually a good Inspector Gadget. I think with the way movies are, many people tend to want to see a different Inspector Gadget, perhaps someone more violent. Well, if that's the case...there is the Criterion edition of Robocop with the added gory scenes that you can buy. This movie was made for kids as was the cartoon and I'm a kid at heart because I grew up with the show.

One of the things you'll notice is that it's a Disney DVD with extra's. Yes, it's a miracle isn't it. The majority of all Disney DVD's don't have squat in them. This one has a 30 minute featurette on "Go Inside Inspector Gadget". It also has a music video from Youngstown and the trailer. Not bad Disney...keep adding more! Also, the sound is well done with the 5.1. Good use of the rear channels!

One negative was the layer change. It was during a so-so important scene and that was not good to place it in that area of the movie. They could of put it somewhere else.

Otherwise a good movie for the young ones. Just a little warning for parents with younger children: Seeing Broderick with his head backwards or seeing him get blown up may frighten your child.

So, all in all an enjoyable movie for the family.

Inspector Gadget DVD Review: It's actually not that bad
I was expecting a bad film but you know what. I enjoyed it. I actually liked the movie. It's definitely not below average.

Matthew Broderick is actually a good Inspector Gadget. I think with the way movies are, many people tend to want to see a different Inspector Gadget, perhaps someone more violent. Well, if that's the case...there is the Criterion edition of Robocop with the added gory scenes that you can buy. This movie was made for kids as was the cartoon and I'm a kid at heart because I grew up with the show.

One of the things you'll notice is that it's a Disney DVD with extra's. Yes, it's a miracle isn't it. The majority of all Disney DVD's don't have squat in them. This one has a 30 minute featurette on "Go Inside Inspector Gadget". It also has a music video from Youngstown and the trailer. Not bad Disney...keep adding more! Also, the sound is well done with the 5.1. Good use of the rear channels!

One negative was the layer change. It was during a so-so important scene and that was not good to place it in that area of the movie. They could of put it somewhere else.

Otherwise a good movie for the young teens. As for little children, not sure...seeing Broderick with his head backwards or seeing him get blown up may frighten the little children.

Otherwise, this DVD is worth purchasing.

Awesome movie!
This is a great movie-I at first watched it for Matthew Broderick, then I decided that it was a fun movie! Penny and Brain are also cool, played by Michelle Trachtenburg(Buffy and Harriet the Spy fame) and a cute little dog. The movie might be frightening to younger viewers, but overall its a great movie that the whole family will love! One other cool thing is that it takes place in Riverdale, Ohio(my home state) looks like it was even shot here but was really shot in pittsburgh

The Best Of The Inspector
Unlike Many, I KIND OF liked the show. I would give it at least a 3/5. This, however, is better than I expected. It has laughs for adults as well as children. I liked it when the fake Inspector Gadget scared that kid, everyone in the theater laughed their hearts out. Out of the origenal cartoon, the stupid Inspector Gadget Kid and the film you thought it COULDN'T be a sequel to this Inspector Gadget 2, this is definately the best.

A little chessy but 6 and under should not watch
Well, I'm 10 right now buy when I was 6, the trailer scared me to death. Like the part when Gadget got captured by claw and took of his shirt and it just looked scary when I was 6. Well, after 4 years, we rented the DVD and watched it. Not as inte