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The first of 1997's volcano disaster movies (the second being Volcano) was arguably the better of the two, but both of them made for passable entertainment with some spectacular special effects to serve as icing on the stale cake. After all, Dante's Peak doesn't pretend to be anything more than an updated variation on a whole catalog of disaster movie clichés. Despite all that, it's reasonably enjoyable. It's an added bonus that the script is just smart enough to allow Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton to play their roles with straight faces, never condescending to the audience of the formulaic story. He's a volcano expert from the U.S. Geological Survey, and she's the mayor of a cozy Washington State town perched beneath a volcano that's about to blow. Telltale signs are everywhere, so evacuation must be carried out immediately. Of course, not everybody's eager to leave, and even some of Brosnan's colleagues think his alarm is premature. This sets the stage for massive ash clouds, rivers of raging mud and molten rock, flattened forests, and death-defying escapes by Brosnan, Hamilton, and some (but not all) of her family, friends, and townsfolk. So what if it's all pretty flaky... and can a four-wheel-drive vehicle travel over fire and molten lava without bursting its tires? Don't ask too many questions, and you'll find Dante's Peak to be (if you'll pardon the pun) a total blast. The Collector's Edition DVD includes a documentary about volcanoes, Getting Close to the Show, in addition to behind-the-scenes footage, exclusive coverage of the creation of special effects, and audio commentary with director Roger Donaldson. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (99)

An explosive treat!
Dante's Peak seems like the ideal place to live... the serenity of the mountainous landscape and the friendly atmosphere seems to wipe out the fact that the town is nestled at the base of a dormant volcano. However, when the U.S.G.S. begins to pick up signals from the volcano that indicate a possible eruption, they send Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan) to investigate. While there, he befriends town mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton) and informs her of the risks. When he begins to get the city council into an uproar, his advisor shows up to cool things down and wards off any ideas of an eruption. But the symptoms begin to grow, and soon, ash and rock are flying in the sky as the mountain explodes upon the small township. It's a race for survival for Dalton and Wando, as they must search for Wando's children and get them out before the impending final showdown with the volcano. Digital Domain's special effects contribute so much to the story, making it real and placing its characters in real peril. Suspense, action, romance and a terrific cast make this disaster movie a winner. The DTS version is remarkable, and it is recommended that this be the version you buy.

Fun and intense action!
Action, suspense, and intensity abide in the effects-driven disaster film "Dante's Peak," a movie that will leave you awestruck and numb. I was completely enamored by almost everything the movie had to offer, even if some of the scientific information was a bit far-fetched to make room for the plot's twists and turns. Actors bring life and a human factor to the movie, but the real action lies with the astounding special effects used to bring a volcanic eruption to vivid and detailed life.

When seismic readings and graphs point to some geologic activity going on around the small town of Dante's Peak, the United States Geological Survey sends volcanologist Harry Dalton to investigate the possibilities. His arrival brings a silent tension on the town, which becomes voiced when he, along with Mayor Rachel Wando, come across two badly scorched bodies in the local hot springs. Dalton believes that the volcano may be "waking up" from a dormant period, but his boss shows up to calm his theories and instill calm back into the town council. Of course, the movie points in all directions to the impending eruption, in subtle ways that the characters have no interaction with.

From here, the group of scientists begin taking samples, surveying the landscape as well as taking helicopter trips into the volcano to determine if the recorded activity is of any consequence for worry. Meanwhile, Harry and Rachel get close, and their delicate relationship is put in the balance when the warning signs become more fervent, forcing them to call an evacuation of the entire town. But it comes too late, and soon everyone is fleeing for their lives as the mountainous volcano begins to spew hellfire and ash into the air, destroying the landscape and casusing massive destruction that stands in the way of Harry and Rachel's escape.

"Dante's Peak" follows a very well-known pattern for the duration of its plot: a situation that has implications of disaster is presented, one person knows what it going to happen but no one listens, and then all hell breaks loose. This movie carries off this particular structure quite well: it starts out slow and then speeds up to full speed, never slowing down and heightening the suspense given us by the incredible action sequences, smart dialogue and intense and vivid special effects that are the showcase of the movie. I found myself cheering it on in places, becoming completely enamored with what was going on, and satisfied with the final outcome of the movie.

The special effects for this movie are stupendous, and add a lot to the atmosphere the movie portrays. From the moment the mountain begins erupting, the effects give us the feel that everything is larger that life, from the volcano itself to the large, expansive cloud of ash that spreads across the sky and keeps the sun from penetrating. The nice thing about this film is that most of the effects are done with miniatures, giving it a mucher richer look than if it were only done with computerized effects. The sound is incredible, bass-heavy and prominent in wrapping us up in the action. All of these elements at work put us right in the middle of the film, bringing us into the experience as we hold our breath for the next new twist.

The scientific aspect for this movie is, for the most part, authentic, and while there are certain liberties taken, it is evident that the filmmakers wished for it to be as true to life as possible. Dalton throws out a lot of technical terms and phrases, making the sincere and believable. Allusions to eruptions and catastrophes of the past give the movie a sense of foreshadowed doom, while also keeping the suspense building. The overall effect this portion of the plot will have on you is overall intellectually backed up by facts and data, which keeps the movie real to life while keeping it moving.

The two main leads for the film are excellent in their roles, adding a lot to the experience. Pierce Brosnan is the ideal Harry Dalton: rough, rugged, and totally charming. He has the image of a loner who is looking for the right person. He also has a starkly emotional human side to his personality, as is shown in the beginning sequence when he loses his fiancee in a volcanic disaster. Linda Hamilton, playing Rachel, has a complex role of leader, damsel and mother. She does all three of them at different points, and her ability to combine her performance into all of them makes her performance the best of the film.

"Dante's Peak" is the kind of movie you watch with eagerness for the next scene, and then when it's over, all you want is more. The action comes to a screeching halt, and you've been throttled with so much of it already that to have it stop is murder. The movie is one that shakes the senses, and makes us believe in movies that have romance, suspense, intense action and rousing suspense.

Excellent movie with a realistic twist.
Many seem to have hashed "Volcano" which came out around the same time as "Dante's Peak" and it's a shame because both of them are highly realistic and te things that happen in them could literally happen in real life. Both of them are really excellent disaster flicks and are enough to really make you 'think' but even then they deliver incredible amounts of entertainment. In all honesty though, "Dante's Peak" is more realistic and has a more compelling twist to it due to the volcano's more destructive power.

In this case, a small town is thriving in the mountains of Washington state and has recently been declared one of the best places to live in in the United States. Dr. Harry Dalton, a scientist is sent to the vicinity to survey unusually high geological activity but one day he makes an alarming discovery that the volcano that the town sits on the base of, has come back to life and geological surveys have cofirmed that Dante's Peak is about to erupt in a cataclysmic eruption and wipe out the town and it's people. Rachel Wando, the town's mayor along with Dalton now must try to evacuate the town before the volcano erupts but their safety is stifled by their economic interests.

This is a really excellent and highly compelling movie. The special effects are absolutely thrilling and highly realistic and the movie's plot and script are very good. The lava and plumes of ash and dust are highly realistic looking and scary to watch as the volcano starts spewing out it's contents into the atmosphere and surrounding vicinity. The characters are excellent even though the acting could've been a little better but the acting for the most part is excellent by almost if not the entire cast.

I was thrilled to see this on the big screen because I have had a longtime fascination with volcanoes for almost my entire life and "Dante's Peak" succeeds in delivering a thrilling tone and is very enjoyable for most of its length. The DTS edition is absolutely incredible because the sound quality is a gargantuan improvement on both the VHS and older DVD editions and if you have a stereo system with speakers all around you, then hook them up and the surround audio speakers will make you feel almost like you're back at the movie theatre with the awesome sound quality.

If you can, get this movie whenever possible because it is a really excellent natural disaster thriller and delivers far more scares than these so called 'horror' movies because most of them are just mindless gorefests that are more gross than scary but "Dante's Peak" is scary because it is so realistic and such things could happen and could turn out much worse. For example Mt. Rainier near Seattle could erupt at any time and cause a lot of damage nearby and Seattle may be choked with dust if a full blown eruption occurs even though the city and most of its suburbs would pull through relatively unscathed apart from having a snow of volcanic ashes but it could cause social instability. Even Mt. St. Helen's caused a great deal of destruction and wiped out a large amount of forests around it. "Dante's Peak" is an excellent movie that should not be passed up. End of story.

Thar She Blows
Ever since seeing the preview, I have wanted to see Dante's Peak. While waiting for it to be released, a second film called Volcano suddenly popped up. Dante's Peak had Pierce Brosnan (playing a character named Dalton) and Volcano had Tommy Lee Jones. Peak also had the creative talents of Michael Crichton. Volcano had none. But, having finally seen Dante's Peak I have to say that Volcano was the better movie.

Brosnan is part of a national team that keeps an eye on volcanic activity. He is sent to the town of Dante's Peak to see if there is reason for further testing. He goes, he looks and he becomes convinced that the sleeping volcano will blow sometime soon. Unfortunately he has no real evidence. The rest of the team arrives and they can find no justifiable evidence. Guess what? Brosnan is right and the volcano blows. There is a rather amusing scene where in order to survive the shockwave, Brosnan and the town's mayor must seek shelter in some unstable mines (an idea that only works when the alternative is certain death). In the end there is no town but almost no casualties thanks to Brosnan and the rest of the team.

The scenes with the volcano erupting were quite spectacular but they were not enough to carry the film. It is an almost intellectual endeavor as opposed to the pulse-pounding of Crichton's previous film Twister. Obviously meant to ride the wave of Twister's success, Dante's Peak fails to make the grade. In Twister we cared about the research team and their work. In Peak all we are concerned with is how soon everyone will be convinced the volcano is unstable. Plus, several twisters buoy up a film better than one volcano (unless handled as it was in Volcano). So go ahead and see Dante's Peak if you want but you will probably agree that there is something just not right.

Gripping!
While it contains remarkably realistic special effects, those who have been told that "Dante's Peak" is merely a piece of "eye candy" can consider themselves among the woefully misinformed. It isn't a simple sugar-coated snack to be consumed and hastily digested; it is an elaborately composed symphony of a film. It contains riveting performances, breathtaking locales, a captivating love story and an extremely agile dog. Thus, the "eye candy" label would be ill-suited for this particularly film and more properly directed at other assembly-line disaster movies. Reader, I assure you, after one viewing you will understand: to watch "Dante's Peak" is to have your retinas treated to 109 minutes of cinematic fillet mignon.

The story involves the charmingly quaint town of Dante's Peak and its charmingly quaint inhabitants. While the town is the embodiment of peace and tranquility, there is trouble brewing beneath the surface. Geologist Harry Dalton (played with unwavering masculinity by Pierce Brosnan) and Mayor Rachel Wando (played with unwavering masculinity by Linda Hamilton) believe the town in danger of being destroyed by an unexpected eruption from the presumed-dormant neighboring volcano. Their quest to rescue the town meets resistance in the form of a stubborn city counsel, Dalton's ignorant boss and, of course, an enormous volcano.

It should be noted that "Dante's Peak" is the perfect star-vehicle for Pierce Brosnan. He is pitch-perfect as the resolute Dalton. In fact, it occurred to me while watching the film that nobody other than Brosnan could have played the role (he just looks like a "Harry Dalton," doesn't he?). In the face of Mother Nature's wrath, Brosnan provides the searing rivers of magma with a worthy human adversary. Early in the movie, his character is introduced vigorously doing a grueling set of pushups. Seeing this, we immediately think, 'The volcano doesn't stand a chance.' Indeed, Brosnan is a force of nature all his own.

The film itself is an uplifting one; a tribute to the human spirit. The only thing which disappoints me is that a sequel has yet to materialize. Years have passed since the film's initial release and it has failed to escape the consciousness of movie-goers. "Dante's Peak" has given us such rich characters and wonderfully-realized scenarios, who wouldn't want to witness the further exploits of Harry Dalton & Friends? Personally, upon first viewing the film, I envisioned a trilogy. I could imagine a sequel where the U.S. government calls Dalton out of retirement to stop the potential volcanic eruption of Mount Rushmore. Perhaps in the third installment Dalton & Co. could be thrust into the deep unknown of outer space as they investigate the unusual seismic activity of a dormant volcano on Mars. These sequels, I believe, would prove to be lucrative for the studio while also satiating the overwhelming public thirst for more "Dante's Peak."

Regardless of how many sequels are made, the original film will always remain a classic. A skillfully-crafted spectacle filled with wonderful performances and indelible images, you don't have to be a geologist to realize that "Dante's Peak" is a gem. ... Read more

Reviews (64)

It's official! The Pest is a non-stop laugh riot.
Comedian John Leguizamo stars in the funniest film ever made as a scam artist named Pest who lets a group of neo-Nazis hunt him so he can gain $50,000 to pay off bets he placed with the fictional Scottish mob.

Jeffery Jones co-stars as a native of Germany who has succesfully hunted all races of human beings except for one: Latino. His son, Himmell, (Eduardo Ballini) is the exact opposite of what his father is as evidented in his outragously funny one-liners (e.g. "I want to grow up to be a hair dresser and write musicals.").

Pest is helped out often in the film by his two nutty friends, Ninja (Freddy Rodriguez) and Chubby (Aries Spears). They provide their own brand of slapstick humor into the bubbling brew of comedy which every character provides ingredients to.

It's very sad to see how underrated The Pest is, seeing how hundreds of people (including myself) believe this film to be the funniest movie ever made. It has everything a comedy needs and so much more. I strongly to encourage everyone to go out and rent "The Pest." You'll lose your voice laughing...

It's official! The Pest is a non-stop laugh riot.
Comedian John Leguizamo stars in the funniest film ever made as a scam artist who lets a group of neo-Nazis hunt him so he can gain $50,000 to pay off bets he placed with the fictional Scottish mob. Jeffery Jones co-stars as a native of Germany who has succesfully hunted all races of human beings except for one: Latino. His son, Himmell, (Eduardo Ballini) is the exact opposite of what his father is as evidented in his outragously funny one-liners (e.g. "I want to grow up to be a hair dresser and write musicals."). The Pest is helped out often in the film by his two nutty friends, Ninja (Freddy Rodriguez) and Chubby (Aries Spears). They provide their own brand of slapstick humor into the bubbling brew of comedy which every character provides ingredients to. It's very sad to see how underrated The Pest is, seeing how thousands of people (including myslef) believe this film to be the funniest movie ever made. It has everything a comedy needs and so much more. I strongly to encourage everyone to go out and rent "The Pest." You'll lose your voice laughing.

WARNING, THIS MOVIE WILL CAUSE NONSTOP LAUGHTER!
John Leguizamo in this movie is outragiously hilarious. I would reccomend this movie to any comedy fan. I suggest you go and buy this movie immediatly.

OMG its been ages and i got to still love this movie
This is one of the worlds greatest comedy movies.
I watched it once in 97 and now i just cant stop thinking about all the jokes which still make me laugh

god if you have any sence of humor.... get this movie

more than 5
this is a great movie,i don't even think it deserves 5 starts i think it deserves way more than just 5 because this movie is one of the funniest movies i have ever seen. it has a funny story,funny scences,and John Leguizamo is one funny guy in this movie. you have to watch it if you haven't seen it. it's the best. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

A Presidential Comedy!
Dave Kovic runs a job placement agency. On the side, he does Presidential Impersonations since he bares a strong resemblance to President Mitchell. But when Mitchell suffers a life-threatening stroke, Dave is asked to step in to temporarily fill his shoes. After testing the waters, Dave begins to enjoy the job and eventually tries to get something done...

DAVE is a sturdy comedy that gets a lot of mileage out of Washington DC. Kevin Kline is just perfect as the everyman Dave and even better as President Dave. When he throws out the first pitch at a professional game, the reaction is happy and real. He becomes the President we would like to see, one that puts the country above all else. That's something I've never seen in my lifetime. Sigourney Weaver is the hard-edged First Lady who Dave is soon allied. Charles Grodin is very funny in a supporting role as a DC accountant with a fear of the government. Frank Langella is the villainous Bob Alexander, puppet master for the 'acting' President. He sneers here as much as he did in DRACULA. But, much of the fun in Dave comes from the many Washington insider cameos. These, in addition to appearances by Larry King, Jay Leno, Leon Harris and Oliver Stone make the story seem feasible. (And for once, Oliver Stone's conspiracy just might be right...)

Ivan Reitman handles this comedy masterfully and the story is filled with heart and a couple nice twists. The DVD has a pretty good video transfer and a standard audio transfer. But, this was an early DVD release so it offers little extra (There is a mightily short making of doc). Dave itself is a fun film that might ironically restore some trust in our government.

Whimsy & Intrigue in the White House
This movie is one of those gems that quietly grows on you -- each viewing creating anticipation and appreciation for its wit and style. The casting is superb. Kevin Kline doesn't know how to give a bad performance. Frank Langella's brilliant characterization of the ambitious, power-hungry 'man behind the throne' is perfect, and a wonderful contrast to his long-ago role as the cad/seducer in Diary of a Mad Housewife.

This is definitely a movie to buy because it needs to be seen many times. The innumerable funny pearls in this movie alone are worth the price of the DVD. For Minnesotans, one of the slyest gags was Dave's gig early in the moview, imitating the President at the grand opening of Durenberger Motors in his home town. The movie was released around the time that David Durenberger (Minnesota's senior senator) was embroiled in an ethics scandal. A personal favorite moment was the scene where Dave (with the help of his accountant buddy played by Charles Grodin) pares the federal budget to save a homeless shelter for children -- the cabinet members bemusedly participating just like a family sitting around the kitchen table wrestling with its own budget. Priceless.

GOOD DEMOCRATS, BAD REPUBLICANS, SAME OLD STORY
The film "Dave" went through a script change. The story of a Presidential look-alike (Kevin Kline) who fills in for the secretly deceased real thing, the original story featured a Republican who brought his skills as a small entrepreneur to the job. Hollywood turned him into a Democrat, but kept his G.O.P common sense, such as when he and his partner look at the Federal budget and balance it by using the methods any small businessman would use. Naturally, pet liberal projects are all interjected while "Republican priorities" are given the heave-ho. You can search far and wide, and you will not find Hollywood films that openly portray a Democrat as the bad guy. I wrote a screenplay a few years ago called "A Murderous Campaign". It had all the elements of a great script. A beautiful porn star has an affair with a Democrat Louisiana Senator. She overhears him plotting the assassination of a political rival, but they find out she heard the plan. They try to kill her, so she goes into hiding and hooks up with a crusty old Washington reporter who is considered kooky because he has been accusing this Democrat of these crimes for years. A retired FBI friend of the reporter helps them. The Democrat announces a Presidential bid. The porn star uses her considerable charms and discovers that the Governor of New Jersey is the assassination target at a Statue of Liberty rally. She saves the Governor, and the plot is revealed, but the Democrat candidate goes into spin control. Nobody can really prove the plan. It looks like he will win the nomination, having weathered the politics of personal destruction. Finally, the porn girl and the reporter find the old father of the Democrat's chief of staff, a former Ku Klux Klansman who wants to get what he knows off his chest before passing from this mortal coil. He tells them about the drug smuggling operation the candidate has been running in the Louisiana Bayou. The reporter's FBI pal arranges a raid. They discover all the "smoking gun" evidence of a series of political murders going back years. The girl is re-united with her family, gets out of the porn business, the reporter wins the Pulitzer, and it is jail time for the Democrat. The end.
Creative execs who loved the verbal pitch when I simply described the Democrat as a "politician," a "candidate" or the "Senator" all passed when they read the part in the script that identifies him as an actual Democrat. Pamela Anderson would be perfect as the porn chick. I could see Denzel Washington as the reporter, and Gary Busey as the Democrat Senator. I was asked if I would change him to a Republican. My answer was that I wanted to maintain the realism of the story. See ya.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM

Light romantic comedy.
President Bill Mitchell is not exactly an ideal President. He looks after those who helped get him into office than the people and he is a philanderer. One of the ways that he keeps his amorous play a secret is to hire a lookalike to impersonate him. Now the man whom they have hired is Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline), a goodhearted man who likes to help people find jobs. After making his little exit, the real President suffers a stroke and is completely incapacitated. The corrupt and manipulative Chief of Staff, Bob Alexander, plans to use Dave to elevate himself to the White House. Unfortunately, he doesn't count on Dave enjoying himself in office, using his luck to make the country a better place and falling in love with the beautiful First Lady.

A fun Political Drama/Comedy!
DAVE is a great movie. It's fun to watch and is family friendly. At the same time, though, it has plenty of political jargon and Oval Office scenes to keep the political drama lover happy. DAVE follows a man who could pass as a twin of the President. He is recruited as a double for the Prez. for public appearances, but quite unexpectedly, gets a big promotion! Definately see this one. ... Read more

Reviews (326)

Who (or what) Goes There?
When John Carpenter decided to remake the 1951 classic Howard Hawks' The Thing from Another World, he went back to the original John W. Campbell Jr. short story Who Goes There instead of the first movie for inspiration. Hawks' version was a very fine depiction of an alien creature loose among an arctic group of scientists and military men, who must fight for their lives against the unknown horror from outer space. Despite their peril, they have only one "thing" to deal with, easily recognizable, and whose movements are easily tracked with a Geiger counter. Still, the battle is a desperate one, with several casualties.

Campbell's story was essentially asking the question: what is human, and how do you know? What is a test for humanity? His "thing" could assume a perfect human shape and move among others without detection. How could such a powerful being be discovered and destroyed? Carpenter's film asks the same questions, and how they are answered makes for a gripping suspense thriller, with state-of-the-art visual effects, an eerie music score, and a great ensemble cast.

The special effects were so shocking that most mainstream critics were put off by them and their reviews showed it. One in particular, Gary Franklin, said in his TV review that he was "disgusted and outraged" by the movie! Another TV critic, David Sheehan, was more moderate and even-handed, giving it a lukewarm acknowledgment for its suspense. Because of the poor reviews and the fact that it was competing with E.T., The Thing was a box-office failure.

But it's not a failure as a sci-fi/horror movie, despite some flaws in the story and the editing, and the unsatisfactory, unresolved ending. Why, for instance, is a scientific research group in Antarctica so well-armed? The Americans have revolvers, shotguns, switchblade knives, dynamite, and flame-throwers! The Norwegians have AK-47s, thermite bombs, and hand-grenades! All this hardware in a place where the predominant lifeform is penguins! What's the rationale for so much weaponry? (In the first movie the Air Force guys had side-arms, thermite, and a carbine, but they were military men.)

This DVD edition features a commentary by Carpenter and Kurt Russell, which sounds just like two good buddies sitting around with a six-pack of beer and discussing old times. It's very interesting and amusing. The disk is packed with plenty of interesting stuff and worth its price. I recommend it to all fans of the sci-fi/horror genre and all John Carpenter fans in particular. A class act--don't miss it!

An amazing DVD title
I still remember seeing John Carpenter's "The Thing" on the widescreen during it's theatrical run, and the memory of the audience's reaction to this film still makes me grin. People were shrieking and jumping; it was WONDERFUL. This film did not receive the recognition it deserves during its run, and I am one happy camper that Universal decided to give it the Collector's Edition treatment. If not THE best, it is certainly ONE of the best films by John Carpenter. The setting, mood, music and acting are great. Although the horrific elements are there in full force thanks to Bottin's excellent F/X work, it is the sense of psychological horror that makes this one work; that feeling of dread, isolation, being trapped in a situation from which there is no escape. HOO BOY. I still consider this one of my all time favorites. This DVD is beautiful. The picture and sound are top-notch and the DVD extras are a sterling example of what others should strive for. It will take you quite a while to dig through all the treasure contained on this disc, and it is well worth the effort. I cannot recommend this one highly enough, and if I could give it 10 stars, I wouldn't hesitate.

Classic horror from John Carpenter
The Thing is one of the great horror movies of the 1980's. Set in Antarctica in 1982, it circles around a group of researchers who uncover an alien buried under the ice that then proceeds to wreak havoc on the crew. Awsome effects by Rob Bottin (The Howling) and a terrific story make "The Thing" a rare horror treat. If you are still interested in learning more about it, read the book "Who Goes There?", which is the novella which they based the movie.

THE THING
Rated R: Strong violence and gore, and brief language.

Not Anything New
Same DVD As The Last One. Only A New "Welcomed" Transfer. So Hopefully It'll Look Nice And Crisp. But Still A Great Movie. Number One On My List Of Horror Movies.

perfection
My all time,number one favorite film,"The thing" is a hell of a ride. From the classic opening credits to the suprising ending "the thing" burns into the mind with its chilling mood @ atmosphere.It also has the best movie monster ever seen,no weak cgi,old fashioned blood @ tears created this horrific beast.It takes the the viewer from one tense situation to another,giving you the feeling it wont be a happy ending for the 12 men trapped in the middle of nowhere.If you couldnt tell I highly recommened "The thing". ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A Fine Whistle Blower Movie!
This 1983 film has everything going for it. It is directed by Mike Nichols; written by Nora Ephron and Alice Arlen; and stars Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell and Cher. The movie is based on the true story of Karen Silkwood and brings to mind NORMA RAE, ERIN BROKOVICH and THE INSIDER, as it is about efforts to unionize a plant (Sally Field in NORMA RAE) and whistle blowers' activities where the public's health is at risk.

Meryl Streep with her shag haircut and mini-skirts is perfect as the worker who becomes exposed to lethal doses of radioactive plutonium in a plant in Oklahoma. Apparently there is no role too difficult for her. Cher also gives a great performance and comes into her own as a serious actress here, playing Streep's gay housemate.

This movie will scare your socks off, particularly when the alarm goes off in the plant, indicating that radioactive plutonium has been released and that someone has been exposed to this deadly agent. The film makes a powerful statement about corporate greed versus the safety of workers. Very, very scary.

An average flick about a fascinating subject.
I found the film entertaining only because I find the topic absolutely compelling. Streep, Russell and Cher turn in very average performances, but in all fairness they were portraying very average people. The big mystery is not who killed Karen Silkwood but how did Meryl Streep get an Oscar nomination for this? Musta been a slow year the the movies. I found it ironic that the lead character in the film was so concerned about the carcinogenic dangers of plutonium while she chain smoked through the entirety of the film. As I have said, the story is compelling. The movie doesn't parallel the events very closely as they really took place, and when it does follow fact it barely scrapes the surface. I have just finished the *excellent* book "The Killing Of Karen Silkwood" by Richard Rashke and I heartily recommend it to any Silkwood buff who is interested in the whole story. It'll scare the daylights out of you.

thought provoking
Silkwood was fantastic. Streep's performance of Karen Silkwood accompanied by Russell was supurb. This film was thought provoking whilst tear jerking in its realism of capitalism over-riding human natures passion for a better world.
And how can you forget the films rendition of "Amazing Grace".

Radioactive Thriller!
Meyrl Streep's performance as Karen Silkwood was excellent. She is just a worker at a neucular power plant who is exposed to plutonium and goes to the press to report unsafe working conditions. Cher and Kurt Russell play Silkwood's room-mate and boyfriend who also work at the plant and are exposed to the radiation and plutonium leak. They are told that they will develop cancer and other life-long heath problems. I couldn't imagine working in a neucular power plant. The extreme dangers on top of the risk of being contaminated would be too scary! Plus, if you were contaminated they sprayed you down with scalding hot water and vigerously scrubbed you until your skin was beet red! All against your own will! You were forced. Nope, I couldn't imagine it.

NEVER work in a plutonium plant!
This movie blew me away when I saw it the theater when it first came out...Cher is amazing, and you never think, while you watch the movie, that this IS Cher. Kurt Russell and of course, Meryl Streep, are fantastic, very high caliber performances. The setting, the plant and the other workers, all lend an air of depression and danger, the plant is a place no one in their right mind would ever want to work, no matter how high the salary. As Drew (Russell) explains to Karen (Streep) those aren't Post Toasties you're workin' with..." underlining the extreme danger of working with these substances. When they go to see Karen's children, living with their father and his new wife, it is SO depressing I could hardly watch; I cannot imagine living in such a place and under such conditions...I once went to a place in California called the City of Industry, and it reminded me of that. A real nightmare of industry, right in your front, back and side yards. The workers try hard to have an air of normality, but really, under such hazardous conditions, it is not possible. The gradual, increasing deliberate contamination of Silkwood is so vile, so insidious and so tragic, it is horrifying...better to shoot someone to death, than that prolonged agony and horror she must have endured before they finally succeeded in killing her. Streep's singing, a capella, of "Amazing Grace" over the end credits is heartbreaking, and she does a great job with it...it is an evocative song to begin with; under these circumstances it is dreadfully sad to hear. It is a true nightmare journey into a world where people earn a living exposing themselves to contamination every day, and those who work in nuclear plants, I take my hat off to you...you are truly brave souls. Excellent story, partly because it is true and partly due to the excellent acting, and a real emotional experience and window into another world... ... Read more

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After a nine-year break from the genre that made him an international star (the Western just before this one was The Outlaw Josey Wales, from 1976), Clint Eastwood returned in this gritty Western, crafted in the tradition of Shane and High Noon. Eastwood directed and stars as the nameless stranger known only as "Preacher," because he rides into a beleaguered mining town wearing a clerical collar. He's either an agent of death or an angel of mercy, and the echoes of Shane ring loud and clear when he comes to the aid of independent miners who are being terrorized by a local tycoon (Richard Dysart) and his ruthless band of hired guns.Befriended by a miner (Michael Moriarty) and idolized by the miner's wife and daughter (played by Carrie Snodgress and Sydney Penny, respectively), the "Pale Rider" sparks the defiant spirit of the underdog miners and takes after the bad guys with single-minded purpose. Digital video disc offers standard and widescreen formats and a remastered soundtrack. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Pale Western
CLINT EASTWOOD returned to the saddle after almost a decade with the film PALE RIDER. He alternated duties between acting the mysterious dark hero only known as "Preacher" and as the films director. And in the end, PALE RIDER is a sturdy Western. It also tends to be predictable as most Western's are, since they travel by such strict mythic guidelines.

Land hungry villains relentlessly harass some prospectors. Just when their spirit is about to break, The Preacher arrives and revitalizes the village, giving them the desire to fight. Of course the powerful villainous leader, Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart) wants their inspiration wiped out so he brings in some hired guns to eliminate the Preacher. And, like so many other Westerns, it will all be sorted out by a gunfight in the middle of town.

PALE RIDER is a simple story with the exception of an awkward love triangle involving a mother and daughter. That alone is the only drawback to the solid storytelling. Clint himself emits extreme star power over the film, even with a minimum of dialogue. And of course, this is a must for his core fans and those who love westerns.

The DVD offers both a widescreen and pan and scan transfer which loses much of the beautiful expansive scenery. But in both transfers, there are problems in the dark end signaling a standard transfer. The audio is only sufficient for a DVD. But, the film doesn't play like a spectacle so none of that matters. There is nothing of major note in the arena of extra features except a text discussion of Clint on Directing and trailers for the film as well as Eastwood's next Western, the Oscar Winning UNFORGIVEN.

A Good, Though Cliched, Western. 3.5 Stars
The late 70's-early 80's were not very kind towards westerns, and it was feared that the genre might be gone forever. But then, in 1985, Lawrence Kasdan's masterpiece "Silverado" blazed across the screen, and westerns were back again, unfortuanately for a rather short-lived comeback (until 1994, with the last great western: "Tombstone"). "Silverado" was not alone, however, because that same year Clint Eastwood also returned to the saddle after a nine-year period (his last, "The Outlaw Josey Wales", was back in 1976). And though not among his best, "Plae Rider" makes for worthy entertainment. The story concerns a group of prospectors who are constantly harassed by the neighboring millionare and his thugs, warning the miners to clear out or else. But the prospectors have held strong, though none of them are sure how long they can keep it up. One day, however, a mysterious stranger rides into town (sound familiar?) and decides to help them out. The whole film is basically nothing more than a rehash/merging of "Shane" and "High Plains Drifter" (Eastwood's first directorial western), with Eastwood repeating his signature role (no, not Dirty Harry) of the mysterious gunman without a name. I know that critics have declared Clint Eastwood one of the greatest actors who has ever lived (and I fondly agree), this is getting a little old, isn't think?! I mean, the man has played the part a hundred times over! "A Fistful of Dollars", "For A Few Dollars More", "The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly", "Two Mules For Sister Sara", "High Plains Drifter". . . . . . . the list goes on and on.

Okay, those were the cons, and now for the pros. However unoriginal the plot is, it has little sprinkles of the supernatural here and there, and the film possesses the dark, errie atmosphere that was found in "High Plains Drifter". And this time, the stranger is a preacher (or claims to be). And, like Eastwood's first western, you never really can tell: is the stranger just an ordinary man out for revenge, or is he a shadow of the past from beyond the grave? Whatever your opinion on it, the whole feel of it is really cool. As usual, Clint is at his squint-eyed best, and the rest of the cast does an overall great job as well. It's really nice to see John Russell ("Rio Bravo") back in a western again. Just that whole thing with the Preacher and the teenage girl I found weird, out of place, and simply pointless. The climactic showdown holds some suspense, but it's nothing to get excited about.

"Pale Rider" has been placed under the awesome Clint Eastwood Collection brand of DVD's. But it's a bit of a disappointment, especially after buying/viewing the CEC of "The Outlaw Josey Wales". While that western received a seamless remastering job as well as special features worthy of the title Special or Collector's Edition, this DVD's picture and sound quality are only passable. It's a bit blury, and the darks (especially during the night scenes) seem more blue than black. And all you get is production notes and a trailer. Oh well; I guess the better the movie, the better the DVD treatment.

Conclusion: If you're an Eastwood fan, buy it. If you're partial to originality, go get "Shane" or "High Plains Drifter" instead.

an homage to clint westerns
yes the story is similar to shane (although the preacher was
(likely) dead before the film starts, compared to shane who
was (likely) dead as the film ends)

but if anything this was more like a retrospective of clint's
western characters, with a hint of Dirty Harry thrown in
for good measure

the parallel with High Plains Drifter is obvious; the ending
where LaHood gets shot is straight out of Joe Kidd. the character
of the preacher is a pastiche of the man-with-no-name; the way

the last deputy is dispatched looks like a scene from Hang 'Em
High (and after all, by then he had fired 6 shots -- or was it
only 5?)

High Non redux
Clint Eastwood appears - looms - in this gritty Western in the cowboy tradition of High Noon and Shane. Eastwood also directed Pale Rider, a movie in which he's known only as Preacher, because when he appears in town, he's wearing a clerical collar. Hard for the beleaguered miners (who are being terrorized by a smarmy land-grabbing tycoon and his band of local baddies) to figure out at first is whether Eastwood is a good guy or a bad guy. There's the requisite pretty woman and adoring child who belong to one of the miners, and it gives Eastwood to prove his intensions are high-minded.
Classic Eastwood, classic cowboy, classic classic.

Decent Eastwood Western is hurt in comparison to Shane
Pale Rider is worth watching, but unfortunately, it draws too heavily on George Stevens's classic western Shane, which just might be the greatest western ever made. It is well-acted and nicely shot, but it really can't hold a candle to Shane.

Three stars. ... Read more

Reviews (51)

themes counter mediocre acting to produce excellence
Since most of the people submitting reviews here are wrestlers, ex-wrestlers, or are associated with wrestling, it is very easy to have a biased point of view towards this movie. While some people critique the screenplay or acting, those that enjoy it are looking past the acting and into the theme of the movie.

After reading the book, it becomes evident that the movie is quite different. While the book focuses on growing up ("coming of age") and life, the movie focuses more on the wrestling aspect, obviously to appeal to the masses. I'd say the book was more award-winning material, while the movie was more inspirational. Wrestling, although a big part of Louden Swain's life, was not as overpowering in the book. The book was not about wrestling per se, but about life and growing up. The movie concentrated on the wrestling aspect more which makes it an excellent motivator. Despite the sometimes mediocre screenplay, this movie is a classic to wrestlers because it shows that the human spirit will overcome all. It accurately portrays the blood, guts, and tears that accompany an athlete involved in the sport. As another reviewer commented, the "Rocky" for wrestlers. A definite recommendation to all wrestlers.

good movie, bad DVD
I'm really hoping that they re-release this movie soon. In terms of the Rocky-esque movies, this is one of the better ones. I liked it even better the second time around because I noticed just how realistic Modine's performance is not only as a wrestler, but also as a highschooler.

The problem with the DVD is that (1) the transfer is positively awful, (2)it's standard as opposed to widescreen (not a big issue in this case), and (3) there are no features. The main problem, of course, is with the quality of the transfer, which probably looks better on some VHS versions of the film.

Re-release this into a more non-hurried DVD format and this rating will go from 3 stars to at least 4.

"You ever hear of Pele?"
There are a lot of reasons to love this movie - It's a great coming of age tale, a solid 80's high school film - and all the reasons that other reviewers have already shared... but it stands out, in my opinion, for providing the most elegant argument for why we as a society love sports and athletes Towards the end of the movie one of the charachters gives a little pep talk about watching Pele play soccer... "and I tell you I started crying... yeah that's right I started cryin..."

Vision Quest
I absolutely love this movie, despite the wrestling. This movie isn't only about wrestling, it's about coming of age, and the human spirit.

DVD version is much better than VHS
I have looked at some of the reviews on the suggested
bad quality of the picture of the DVD version, but I
feel this current full-screen DVD version of Vision
Quest is still very good and a heck of a lot better than my
VHS store bought version. Yes, a wide-screen and special
edition DVD packed with features and with some restoration
of the original film would be great, but this DVD version
will do until then. Also, for those people who do want
a choice of having the full-screen format you may want to
buy this DVD now because if Vision Quest is ever released
in a new special edition it may be released in wide-screen
only format so this full-screen version may be hard to get
at some point in the future. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good Action With goldberg;s sense of humor is a good combo
A fast talking smart mouth cop investigates a cocaine ring who specalizes in a lethal form of cocaine and sells it to the highest bidder. Basically what the viewer has here is the female version of BEVERLY HILLS COP With Goldberg having the same dialouge Eddie Murphy had. The violence and bloodflow never stops from the opening scene right to the climatic finale. The best part was the massive shoot out in the mall. The film has one weak point Sam Elliot, wasn;t really convincing as a bodyguard who ends up falling for Goldberg. Whoopi Goldberg pulled off a very funny genuine performance. The film is worth seeing and is much,much better than BURGLER realased the same year.

One of my favorite Whoopi films
I'm surprised at the bad review Amazon gave this. I really enjoy watching the film over and over. Whoopi is as funny as ever in her "character" rolls and the drama adds another dimension. There is profanity, but not inappropiate to the movie. I think she did a great job and if you liked Jumpin' Jack Flash, I think you'll like this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Madonna isn't merely the prime suspect in the scandalous murder of a millionaire with kinky appetites; she's the murder weapon itself in this erotic thriller in the Basic Instinct mode. The art gallery owner by day and icy-blond dominatrix by night is accused of, shall we say, "loving" her victim to death, and Willem Dafoe is the happily married lawyer she lures into the dark thrills of pleasure and pain. The actual mystery is perfunctory at best and the absurd courtroom theatrics a mere formality in a film far more fascinated with sweaty sex, hot wax, and broken glass. Madonna isn't shy about her body and seems to enjoy the games her character plays, but she's no Sharon Stone; there's no danger smoldering behind her seduction. Like her notorious book Sex, this is a handsomely shot work of pure exhibitionism. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (70)

An outstandingly brilliant movie
This is definitely first class thriller. Body Of Evidence takes U 2 a world where no other movie has taken U B4.

Madonna is in the lead role of Rebecca Carlson, a beautiful woman charged 4 the murder of her much older, but wealthy boyfriend, with a bad heart condition. Willem DaFoe plays Frank DeLaney, the lawyer who must defend Rebecca. But Frank is suddenly drawn 2 Rebecca and after a steamy seduction, Frank becomes another one of Rebecca's dominated puppets.

Other stars include Joe Montegna who plays Garrett, the Lawyer who is up against Rebecca. Anne Archer, who playes Joanne, the wealthy guy's secretary, and Julianne Moore who plays Sharon, Frank's attractive, but naive wife.

Madonna may have been great in films like Desperatey Seeking Susan, Shanghai Surprise, Who's That Girl, The Bloodhounds Of Broadway, Dick Tracy, and A League Of Their Own but Madonna delivers N outstanding, steamy performance in this classic thriller. I urge all of U 2 buy this movie. U will all B deeply surprised.

A poor mans Basic Instinct
Firstly, I didn't think this was a bad film at all.
Its has an interesting storyline (see above), the acting is acceptable (its a shame we have to mention this when talking about Madonna's movies), and the sex scenes are definately raunchy (actually, more explicit than I would have expected - however this was during Madonna's SEX / rebellious period).
The problem is that it came AFTER Basic Instinct which is a far superior film, more stylish, more dramatic and more enjoyable. The script let the film down at times too, giving Madonna some silly one-liners "Have you ever seen animals make love Frank? Its brutal".
Enjoyable and definately worth a viewing.

Quite sexy, suspensful, provocative!!!
I sincerely found this movie provocative, sexy, and quite entertaining. Madonna was more than acceptable and convincing in her role as a manipulating, calculating gold digging sultress. I find the problem so many have w/ her acting, is just her mere presence. Right from the first scene shes in, the director blatantly was trying not to show her face to keep the suspense cause you "knew" it was Madonna, but waits until a sudden close up of her face. Once you see its her, here mere presence seems to cause more of a distraction cause its "Madonna". Therefore, once she speaks her 1st line she probably loses credability from most viewers. But I thought the dialogue, plot, sex/ nude scenes were extremely hot, climatic and natural. Some say there was no chemistry between Madonna and Defoe, I totally disagree, they were blended VERY well together, and Madonna clearly "taught" him a thing or two ;). Madonnas high point in the movie was the court scene where she really display some amazing acting chops!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Oh my God
Oh dear. this is an abysmal movie. So abysmal that after twenty minutes I found myself fast-forwarding through the movie, admittedly pausing to view the dirty bits involving Madonna and Defoe. The trouble is that Defoe is just about the most unnattractive actor in Hollywood, and Madonna, whilst both beautiful AND sexy, is somehow portrayed in this movie as an utterly sexless thing, almost like one of those blow-up dolls with '3 working orifices'. Or is that orifi? Anyway, the whole film sucked. Mind you, that Willen Defoe is a lucky S.O.B. The muff-munching scene in the carpark was obviously real.

Madonna, you are not Monroe
Madonna, you are not, was never, and never will be Marilyn Monroe. This is a BAD movie, but the best scene is when Madonna is put on trial. When she is on the stand, she gives the movie's best line. You'll know when you see it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lurid thrillers don't get much more shameless than this movie, in which Robert De Niro plays a pathological baseball fan whose obsession is focused on a San Francisco Giants all-star outfielder (Wesley Snipes). While the newly signed baseball star is having trouble getting his favorite uniform number from a competitive teammate (Benicio Del Toro), De Niro is having career troubles at the knife company his father founded, and you can bet that his proximity to high-quality stainless-steel blades will be a factor in the suspenseful plot. Recycling parts of his maniacal roles in Taxi Driver, The King of Comedy, and Cape Fear, De Niro takes his idolatry to violent extremes, eliminating any obstacle to Snipes's stardom until the baseball hero is forced to confront his most terrifying devotee. Directed with brutal excess and souped-up style by Tony Scott (Top Gun, Crimson Tide), this manipulative nail-biter pulls all the right strings in predictable fashion, but it does have moments that are effectively intense. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (39)

the best of 96 :)
This is the movie that made me start to love DeNiro movies. This movie is so realistic because of it's first-rate script, explosive acting talents, and the atmosphere of the movie is just so common. The film is about an avid baseball fan named Gil Renard who is also a knife-salesman for a local firm. He lives in San Francisco so his favorite team is obviously the Giants. When baseball superstar Bobby Rayburn (played by the very talented Wesley Snipes) is traded to the Giants, Gil gets a little excited. Soon, his loyalty to his favorite player becomes a dangerous obsession, and soon Gil just becomes a total psychopath. The direction is stylish, the camera angles are so cool, the script is so real and provocative, and the score is one of the best ever. And the following I can promise you: you will NEVER forget the disturbing ending which ironically takes place in Candlestick Park (home of the San Francisco Giants).

A baseball thriller than does not go the whole nine innings
Robert De Niro playing a character out of his mind is still something to see, as this 1996 film amply proves. This time around he plays Gil Renard, who sells just about every type of knife under the sun in the San Francisco Bay area, but not as well as he did in former days. Divorced, his wife is giving him one last chance with his son, Richie (Andrew J. Ferchland). Gil wants to take the boy to opening day at Candlestick Park, but he has also been given an ultimatum by his boss and he has a key appointment that same afternoon. Of course, Gil blows both opportunities and all he has left in the world is his love of baseball in general and the Giants new $40 million centerfielder, Bobby Rayburn (Wesley Snipes). Gil even calls up the radio sports talk show of the emasculating Jewel Stern (Ellen Barkin) to talk to Bobby and praise him to high heavens.

However, Bobby gets off to a very bad start with the Giants. As the new big gun in town he has displaced the teams centerfielder Juan Primo (Benicio Del Toro). In the first game neither backs off on a fly ball and they collide. Bobby is hurt, but refuses to leave the game. To add insult to injury, Juan wears number 11, which has always been Bobby's number, and Primo refuses to give it up. Freaked by a visit to a young boy in a hospital who is not only dying but has the same name as his son, Bobby had promised to hit a home run and is feeling the pressure of that obligation. The result is that while Primo plays like an All-Star, Bobby's average dips below the Mendoza line and becomes the constant target of the local media. The only friend he has town might just be Gil.

Without a job and under a restraining order to stay away from his son, Gil has nothing else to do but go to the ballpark and follow Bobby around town. When he learns that Bobby wants to wear number 11, Gil decides that maybe there is something he can do about that. Actually, nobody wears 11 for the Giants because the number was retired for the Hall of Fame screwball pitcher Carl Hubbell, but this movie has less to do with the real world as it goes merrily along. What matters is that Gil feels that he has helped Bobby, who is back to his All-Star form, and is rather upset that his efforts have gone without notice. As he says, "A simple thank you would have been nice." At that point we know that something very, very bad is going to happen to Bobby.

The film's climax, of course, takes place at a baseball game with Bobby having to hit a home run in an at bat under more pressure than anybody else in the history of the game. Casey at the bat? Meaningless. Bobby Thompson in the 1951 National League Playoffs? Nothing. Roy Hobbs trying to hit one out for his son in "The Natural" is close to the mark, but Roy did not have to do it in the pouring rain and if he struck out his son was only going to be disappointed and not killed. Besides the complete downpour he also has to hit off the pitcher while the jumbo-tron shows the pitcher pitching. Now, major league baseball stadiums do not show live pictures while there is any action on the field, but that is why the end of "The Fan" is where the story is abandoned in favor of a big cinematic finish.

The early part of the film, as Gil descends into madness and Bobby's batting average takes a nosedive, is the most interesting part of "The Fan," because at that point it is primarily a case of parallel character studies. There is a sense in which the character played by Snipes is actually more interesting than De Niro's because we get some insights into the peculiar psychoses of a major league baseball player. At the end of the film we are surprised to learn that what distinguishes the two men most of all is their very different explanations for why Bobby has started hitting.

However, in the end the psychology gives way to the action in a scene that scene that uncomfortably reminds us of the climax of "The Naked Gun." It is impossible to accuse either star of going over the top in this film because "The Fan" does that all by itself at the end. Given the character foundations that were established in the first parts of the film, this is one instance where less at the end would have been more.

Where to begin
I truthfully for some reason liked this movie when it came out years ago. I recently rented it again and thought, what was I thinking? The story is incredibly unbelievable (no way the murder of Primo would have gone without being solved for more than a few hours) and the script is just poorly written. I found myself getting confused with what was going on do to random jumps from one thing to another. There were many things that could have been left out or shown more of to make the story flow better. The acting was pretty good (though not the best work from anyone) for what was written. Now, when I first saw this movie I liked the soundtrack to it. Watching it again, I realize that the Nine Inch Nails song Closer, which I am a fan of all versions, was used so often it was ridiculous. It seemed like they were trying to go for Darth Vader like theme from Star Wars but failed miserably.

All around, it wasn't horrible but its not in my top hundred. DeNiro has played this character way too many times and because of that it was slightly boring. Give it a try if you've seen everything else more than once. I wouldn't pay for it though if I were you.

The Fan ...Fans Out!
Robert DiNiro completes a quintent of bad guy/psycho roles for the 1990's (AWAKENINGS, THIS BOY'S LIFE, CAPE FEAR,JACKIE BROWN) with THE FAN. With a resurgence of Baseball movies beginning in the late 1980's, this has got to be one of the worst of the bunch and the worst of the five DiNiro pictures. The pairing of DiNiro (who literally phones in his performance here)and Wesley Snipes (Is actually convincing as a baseball player. Remmeber his Willie Mays Hays in MAJOR LEAGUE?)in what could have been an interesting thriller turns into another predictable slasher-type film. DiNiro (Gil Renard) becomes an obsessed fan to Wesley Snipes superstar Baseball Player(Bobby Rayburn). There is some social commentary about modern sports and the responsibility of overpaid athletes but all commentary is drowned out by a weak script and weak direction. Also, there is a scene that most baseball purists have been complaining about in this film. This is the sequence where the umpires let a baseball game keep going and it is pouring rain. Director Tony Scott in his own directorial style shows the sequence in slow-motion with players slipping and sliding, with water and mud flying all over the place, all for dramatic purposes and creative license. Overall, a weak sports film, a weak thriller, and wasted talent makes THE FAN a very forgettable film.

Promising, But Ultimately Disappointing
Despite some style, rythm and a couple of intriguing ideas, this Tony Scott`s movie soon falls into most of the cliches that trap a typical Hollywood blockbuster.
Wesley Snipes plays a baseball star that ends up being the object of devotion and obsession of a lonely, convulted man (Robert DeNiro). The picture builds a growing tension, yet the second part lives on the strenght of chases, kidnappings and tiresome predictability. Nine Inch Nails are a fine addition to the soundtrack, helping the development of the paranoid plot, but the movie is still too flawed and unsurprising to truly engage.
Not too good not too bad. Watchable. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This follow-up to Warlock boasts more sophisticated visualeffects, slicker production values, and bigger (and bloodier) action, but fans of the original's dry wit and tight story may be disappointed.It's really more a rehash than a sequel.The Devil is up to his old tricks again, sending his favorite son (the title character) on a mission to recover six runes--ancient stones that will allow His Satanic Majesty to escape Hell and once again walk the Earth.Leading the forces of good are a group of modern-day druids and a pair of teenage lovers who have no idea they've been selected to save the world.There are some genuinely spooky moments, a few laughs, and some nice visual touches, but the scattershot script keeps throwing out one cool idea after another, hoping something sticks.On the other hand, if watching Julian Sands writhe on the ground spewing black blood sounds like a good time, this may be just the ticket.Gremlinsstar Zach Galligan has a cameo (as the boyfriend of the Warlock's mom!) --Geof Miller ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Middle of the road. That's it, and that's all!
This movie is nothing more than an attempt to cash in on the first one's success. Julian Sands once again returns as Satan's son, but he seems to be sleepwalking this go-round. Two disposable teenage actors (Paula Marshall and Christopher Young), play two descendants of Druid warriors who are the ONLY people who can fight the Warlock and prevent him from releasing Satan into Earth. Oh, and there are six rune stones or something he has to possess to unlock Satan from the bowels of the Earth (etc.etc.). You get the idea.

Anyway, this has some pretty decent effects, and some pioneering computer animations, but all in all, it's a very weak film, and, putting the special effects aside, there's not much left but incompetent acting and cheap thrills. If you like the Warlock films or love Julian Sands, buy this one, or if you're curious, buy it, but overall, you could skip it without really missing anything.

ANTHONY HICKOX DOES IT AGAIN!
Warlock:The Armageddon is an enjoyable watch. I bought this DVD because 1.Anthony Hickox directed it. 2.Monika Schnarre has a small part in it. I hadn't seen it before when I purchased this film, but I enjoyed it. I love what Anthony Hickox did with this sequel. The special effects, a good cast. I love Paula Marshall (from 'Hellrasier 3)- what a talented and likeable actress. I got a thrill seeing Monika Schnarre again in a small part as a runway model.

I hope that anthony Hickox would make more films like this.

Druidism and Satanism?
I have to say, that I am really into Horror-Films, also if they have a satanic touch; but when I saw, that this film is a mixing of old pagan-rites with satanic rites I came into rage. For myself Wicca and celtic Rites of Paganism are wonderful Ways and I learned, that Pagans do not believe in Satan! So, this story is one of the worst, I've ever seen! If the producer would describe kabbala-rites, which would be more suitable than pagan-rites, this film would be a little bit more interesting...

But sorry, Paganism and Satanism... nothing has to do with each other...

Blessed be

If you love Julian Sands this is a great movie.
If you love Julian Sands this is a great movie. He looks wonderful in this film. It also has lots of action and a good story line.

HE'S BACK!
This is a thrilling sequal to the classic "Warlock".You will love it!It is just as good as the first!If the first one made you jump,you will fly out of your seat watching this one!The Warlock is reborn and has to collect 6 sacred stones for the rise of satan.Now two warriors must stop him before it's too late.With a trail of blood in their way,can the warriors stop him?This thriller also stars Joanna Pacula.The dvd features include the theatrical trailer,interactive scene selection and set up.It's agreat buy so get it now! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Director John Carpenter and special makeup effects master Rob Bottin teamed up for this 1982 remake of the 1951 science fiction classic The Thing from Another World, and the result is a mixed blessing. It's got moments of highly effective terror and spine-tingling suspense, but it's mostly a showcase for some of the goriest and most horrifically grotesque makeup effects ever created for a movie. With such highlights as a dog that splits open and blossoms into something indescribably gruesome, this is the kind of movie for die-hard horror fans and anyone who slows down to stare at fatal traffic accidents. On those terms, however, it's hard not to be impressed by the movie's wild and wacky freak show. It all begins when scientists at an arctic research station discover an alien spacecraft under the thick ice, and thaw out the alien body found aboard. What they don't know is that the alien can assume any human form, and before long the scientists can't tell who's real and who's a deadly alien threat. Kurt Russell leads the battle against the terrifying intruder, and the supporting cast includes Richard Masur, Richard Dysart, Donald Moffat, and Wilford Brimley. They're all playing standard characters who are neglected by the mechanistic screenplay (based on the classic sci-fi story "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell), but Carpenter's emphasis is clearly on the gross-out effects and escalating tension. If you've got the stomach for it (and let's face it, there's a big audience for eerie gore), this is a thrill ride you won't want to miss. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (326)

excellent special effects!
this is my favriote movie ever! it ha superior special effects by rob bottin, a great plot, plenty of gore and great sets. this is a monster movie that no monster fan like myself can miss.
see this special effects extrazaganza today!

Mature effort from director of Halloween
This is an interesting sci-fi horror film, from one of the greatest horror directors of all time, and his greatness shows throughout.

A UFO has landed in Antarctica 100,000 years ago and is buried under the snow. An American team is located there, and when the alien life form is uncovered by a fellow research team it infects their dog unknowing to them. Soon the dog rips open, and The Thing is now "imitating" the dog, so it can go on killing disguised. This alien, The Thing, is found out to absorb living things, mutate into an exact copy of it, and then go to kill. The American team is stranded there, and isolated, soon growing more and more paranoid one of their fellow team members is infected by The Thing.

The effects are not very realistic, some of the acting is bad, as is the dialog, but that does not take away from the overall experience. The tension is built up slowly, as each new member is infected, discovered, and killed. The pace can be somewhat slow, but is the film is always interesting. This is a must see for fans of either sci-fi or horror. But to others this may be a little to B level for them. Anyway, I enjoyed it, and the DVD has a ton of extras, so this should at least be rented. 4 stars, check it out.

The Master of Creep!
OK. All you squeemish woosies can leave the room. It's dark out. The lights are turned down. I've got the surround sound cranked up and the widescreen is ready. A mixed drink in one hand and the remote in the other. It's time to start one of "The Master of Creep's" best horror flicks.

THE THING is an orgy of terror. Just imagine spending an entire Antarctic Winter with a motley crew of researchers: The isolation, the bitter cold, the low morale, the paranoia, the...THING! These guys never had a chance. John Carpenter grabs you out of your seat and plants you smack-dab in the middle of it all. Another fantastic music score completes the apocalyptic mood of this desolate and doomed Outpost.

The entire cast is excellent. I cant pick out a favorite because they all play their respective parts so well. I cant believe this movie only got so-so ratings when it first came out. Seems the critics were more taken by the friendly 'E.T.' But THE THING doesn't play warm and fuzzy, so grab a blanket and keep that drink topped off because you're in for a chilling experience!

You'll enjoy the commentary by John Carpenter and Kurt Russell. They reveal some interesting facts about the making of the movie and it sounds like the cast and crew had a good time on the set (it sounds like they're having a good time during the commentary, too. You can hear drinks being filled and lighters flicking. Pure speculation!)

Other John Carpenter notables:

The Fog: Awesome ghost story set in a sleepy coastal town.

Halloween: Needs no introduction.

Escape From New York: Apocalyptic Sci-Fi at its best!

Maybe not the ultimate in terror, but pretty darn close
Ooh boy, what is there to be said about this modern horror classic that hasn't been said before. Yes, it is closer to the original story than the Howard Hawks version, and yes, it might very well be the most violent major studio production ever made. But if you disregard all that, what do you have?
To be quite blunt, one of the most effective and horrific monster movies ever made. John Carpenter manages to establish a kind of feeling of paranoia and dread that simply has to grab almost anybody by the throat, and it doesn't let go easily. The extremely graphic monster effects by Rob Bottin and his crew are unbelievable and realistic at the same time. Many of the monster effects are definately not appropriate for the squeamish. But in the end, above average acting from the cast (especially a stoic performance from Kurt Russell) and the impeccable pacing from director Carpenter lead to an almost oppressive atmosphere of distrust and alienation that really fuels the movie.
Lastly, I just want to comment on the music, which I honestly have to say doesn't pull me one way or the other in the debate on it's merits.
On to the DVD. Basically, this is as good a DVD as you are likely to find, with one problem. The good things include a commentary by carpenter and russell which is a good and entertaining listen, a great documentary and a bunch of other extras. The one big problem (for the enthusiasts at least) is the lack of an anamorphic presentation. But don't let that stop you, it's one of the best letterboxed presentations I have ever seen.
In conclusion, all I can say is, buy this movie now, unless you have problems with the violence level.

this thing likes to hide in an imatation
Well this is a great horror movie, no wait, this is THE best alien infestation movie I have seen. This movie has a certain aoura about it. This makes Pennywise look like Ronald McDonald. This is the movie I have been waiting for, for a long time. There is no holding back, there is mutations everywhere.
This is set in an Anartic research station and stars a very young ( and bearded ) Kurt Russel. Now this starts out when they find a charred thing outside the ruins of an other research station they bring it back to study. The rest of the movie is a phsycological horror fest with some pretty good eye-candy for 1982.
My only gripe is a sequil that is a video game which is to frickin' hard to complete.The good side is that there is no movie sequil so then we can use our own thinking power to see what happens to Mcready and Childs... a.k.a. fan fiction at outpost31.com ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A winner film
James Woods has been one of the best actors in the screen. He is outstanding and always he commits in just five hundred per cent in all his performances. Powerful and expressive, but in Hollywood he has had just isolated opportunities. It's missunderstable.
Earl Dodd is very special lawyer, he isn't a typical image of lucky lawyer. and obviously our character lived with too much passion those singular decades from the sixties and seventies.
From this perpective a singular case challenges him; to assume the defense of a chinese acussed of murder, being not guilty. This movie will tell about all the resources and special methods of our antihero for winning this dark case.
Robert Downey Jr. plays the typical role of the rookie naif lawyer who thinks the world is fair and clean. Soon he'll learn too many issues about how to deal with the life and specaiily in this business.
A well built script allows Woods to release all his stamina and skills, specially in front the Court in the first half of the film.
Solid film , with smart situations and a fine sense of humor. Worthy work.

Boring
I'm a big James Woods fan and came across this movie here. I have never heard of it and it is not available at any of the video stores in my area. So I ordered it because of all the positive reviews here, but wound up turning it off in the middle. It was real long, uninteresting, and was taking too long for anything to happen. If you haven't seen this movie before, I would recommend you not buy this yet, like I did. Try checking out "Indictment" or "Dirty Pictures", two of Woods's best movies.