Reviews (64)

A wickedly funny film!
Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn make a perfect comedic pair in this great comedy/fantasy from director Robert Zemeckis.

Streep plays Madeline Ashton, a has-been actress, who tries to re-invent herself as a musical star. The hilarious opening sees Streep in a musical version of "Sweet Bird Of Youth" that has been titled 'Songbird'. It is at the first (and last) performance of the show that Madeline's old friend (and enemy) Helen Sharp (Hawn) and her fiancee Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis) become re-acquaninted. Madeline then proceeds to seduce Ernest and marries him herself. Ernest is a plastic-surgeon and the idea of free face-work is irresistable to the shallow Madeline.

Ten years later, a new svelte Helen is having a book-signing party for the novel she has just published. By this time Madeline has turned into the 4th Gabor, and is completely paranoid about her complexion and her age. Madeline is completely unaware that the reason why Helen looks so God-damn fabulous is because she has a potion that will let her stay young forever.

A lovely 'young' enchantress Listl von Ruman (Isabella Rossellini) is the woman behind the potion, and Madeline will do anything to get it.......

This film is a delight, and features a great performance by Streep, who has mostly stuck to dramatic roles, and it is very refreshing to see her letting her hair down here.

Hawn is as wonderful as always, although the restrained performance of Willis is at times very annoying.

a strange, quirky, and entertaining movie
A film by Robert Zemeckis

I think that it is fair to say that this is a strange movie. Helen (Goldie Hawn) is engaged to be married to Dr Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis), a famous plastic surgeon. They watch a rather awful show at the theatre and go backstage to meet the star, Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep). Madeline and Helen knew each other in high school, and Helen believes that Madeline intentionally steals every boyfriend Helen has. This is the final test before the wedding. Naturally, Madeline, who is vain about her appearance and worried about aging, does steel Ernest away and ends up marrying him herself. This drives Helen crazy, literally. We flash forward seven years to get an update on the characters, then another seven years to bring us to the main section of our story. Madeline is aging and she hates it. She meets up with Helen again, and Helen looks fantastic, as if she hasn't aged a day in the past 14 years. Helen is all glammed up and looks like a star. Madeline is starting to look frumpy. It is all starting to come full circle and Madeline's jealousy is driving her to do something rash.

Rather than do something predictable (in the movies, anyway) like start killing people, Madeline goes to a strange woman named Lisle (Isabella Rossellini) and gets a potion that halts the aging process and returns the body to its youthful, more perfect image. It also bestows immortality. Now Madeline can compete with Helen again! This rivalry and this fight will continue on through life and even into death.

"Death Becomes Her" is a comedy. It is a very strange comedy, and has something of a dark humor, but it is without question an original movie. It is one of the more overlooked movies in Robert Zemeckis's filmography. He is better known for "Back to the Future", "Forrest Gump" and "Cast Away". This isn't a perfect movie, but it is entertaining, creative, and interesting. One important thing that I can say is that I did not find this movie predictable at all. I had no idea where Zemeckis was going with "Death Becomes Her" until the end.

-Joe Sherry

Siempre Viva!
The passage of time weighs upon us all: the loss of youth's energy, agility, beauty. But let us say there is a potion, an elixir, "a touch of magic in a world obsessed with science." Drink it and you will be forever young. Do not drink it and watch yourself rot away with old age. Just such a potion falls into the hands of two women who are not only consumed with vanity but fierce rivals, determined to best each other no matter the cost. Siempre Viva: Live Forever! Whether you like it or not!

With excellent performances, an invective-laced script, and remarkable special effects, DEATH BECOMES HER takes on several great philosophical and literary concepts--and subverts them into one of the most wickedly funny black comedies in recent memory, dishy, bitchy, mean spirited, and a tremendous amount of fun. Film buffs will particularly relish this film, which references everything from THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW to THE WIZARD OF OZ and a host of classic horror films such as FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, and CAT PEOPLE--and also tacks in everything from Tennessee Williams plays to rock legend Jim Morrison for good measure.

Unfortunately, the DVD release is commonplace, offering the film in pan-and-scan only. To give the release its due, the shift from widescreen to pan-and-scan is expertly done and not in the least distracting--but still, a widescreen option for such a special effects heavy film would be preferred. And while this would seem to be an ideal film for a making-of documentary, the DVD offers only a handful of production notes as bonus. Even so, the film is so extremely well done that I wouldn't miss it on that account! Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

great farce of female issues
Mainly the issues of jealousy and not losing one's looks.

Helen (Goldie Hawn) is the mousy pal of glamourous Madeline (Streep.) Madeline constantly has to one-up Helen, who believes the trip ethat comes out of the mouth of her 'friend'. When Madeline successfully steals and marries Helen's boyfriend Ernest(Willis), Helen becomes obese and obsessed, ending up in a mental home where she bores the other patients by talking about Madeline, who knows of and delights in Helen's plight (the witch).

A few years later, though, Madeline sees Helen at a party looking slim, young and happy. Turns out Helen has the secret to immortality and Madeline wants in on it. When she gets it, the fight really begins -- with incredible special effects -- and poor Ernest caught in the middle of it all.

This is a great comedy on some real issues women face as they get older -- it's nice to see it in an exaggerated humorous light.

failed black comedy falls flat
A big effects thriller and that turns into a flat joke - that's how I typify this flick. Goldie Hawn is Helen, a premature frump who wasted her life in the shadow of the more glamorous Madeline (Streep). A painfully untalented and hated actress, Madeline managed to get by on her good looks with the help of a lifetime of plastic surgery - but even that is nearing its end by the start of "Death". Though cozily enconsed in a tony Beverly Hills mansion, Mad's looks and her career are history. Bruce Willis is Ernest, the plastic surgeon they seem to be fighting over without actually loving him. When given the chance to experience immortality, the two still find themselves fighting over Ernest and everything else that's gone wrong with their lives. "Death" introduces us to this unfortunate trio during the disco era - when an already aging Madeleine stars in a reviled "Studio-54" version of "Sweet Bird of Youth", and Ernst is both a highly sought plastic surgeon and Helen's fiancée. Though Eernest loves the mild-mannered Helen, it's clear that he's falling under Madeleine's spell, and will be one more of the many men Helen lost to her friend. The plot jumps ahead decades later - Helen is a bloated version of herself, having never gotten past losing Ernst to Madeleine. Madeleine hasn't weathered the years any better - unable to handle losing her youth, she's become a crone who embittered her own life and Ernst's. Ernst by then is shriveled version of his younger self - a self-deprecating alcoholic who's long since learned of Madeleine's dark side (in his home-office, he tosses scalpels like darts at pictures of his hated wife, and refers to her as "it") but can no longer escape. No longer trusted to work on the living, he's become a designer mortician (the dead can't sue for malpractice). And then there's Lisle (Isabella Rosellini) - a reclusive silent-film era star who may have discovered the secret of eternal life...maybe.

What starts off as a bundle of preachy ideas (potshots at a culture obsessed with looks and youth) quickly turns into a string of special-effects fueled sight-gags. Helen and Madeleine use Lisle's secret formula to remake themselves, but find that not even the youth it offers can survive their mutual hate, and the two poke CGI holes in each other. Both learn the hard way that Lisle's formula gives both life and youth, but not in equal portions (i.e. - you can live forever, but your new youth remains as fragile as the one you lost in your 30's). It's supposed to be ironic that in fighting each other, both "Mad" & "Hel" lose what they really wanted - to be "girls" again. Unfortunately it doesn't really work because Lisle's formula never really offers them that - neither wanted immortality, it's that fragile youth they wanted to keep, not their lives. It's a forced irony that doesn't work, and the plot wastes without something meatier to chew on than Mad & Hel's catfighting. While Streep & Hawn try to get some gags out of the script, the flick really belongs to Willis, proving again he can do just about anything. The story also gets some good action in the seductive form of Rosellini as Lisle - "keep your ass handy" she tells her buff entourage. If only they kept her handy as well, but her loss hits this movie once she disappears. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

My 3 year old loves it! and so do I, kinda.
I would never have, by any measure, thought these movies would be worthwhile. But my 3 year old loves all of them. He has his favorites . . . going back to The Great Adventure and the Big Freeze. But he wanted Journey to Big Water as soon as he saw it advertised. And as he watched it the first time, he got the threat of danger and suspense involved which, of course, went right past me. He had many comments and breath-taking moments and has watched it at least once a day since. He is very involved with the adventures of his favorite characters once again. Plus he really liked the new characters, Mo and the menacing Sharp Tooth Swimmer.

I'm happy to be able to give my son cheap entertainment like that. If only he could watch Land Before Time Live, his life would be complete! Seriously though, he was just as or even more fascinated with the movie as he was with The Lion King on Broadway show, and that trip cost a small fortune. He loves the TV games included, the sing-a-long songs, the JumpStart Video . . . everything! Sooooo ... I give it 5 stars because he is totally engaged and entertained.

The music isn't that drippy and inferior, either. I mean, you would think that the 9th in the series would be BAD, but it's really not. I guess I'm easy to please too, but the music is alright. Plus, I like the Donny Osmond song at the end so much that I am considering buying his CD. And that is amazing, considering I'm not an Osmond fan by any stretch of the imagination. So there you have it. Buy the DVD for your preschooler and let him have a ball, and know that there are a few touches for adults too.

Another Great Land Before Time Movie!
My girls are ages 3 & 4 and Love this movie, along with all of the other LBT movies. I like it too! They meet a new friend and the songs are so catchy. As always, there is a lesson to be learned here & kids will enjoy watching it over & over, not realizing they are learning something! If you've liked any of the others, you'll like this one!

Great series!
This is just one of a great series of movies...My 3 year old daughter wanted The Great Longneck Migration and from there it was history...I have been buying her every one I can in the series...This one in particular seems to be one of her favorites...She's been watching each of the 4 we have so far over and over(with 3 more on the way from Amazon)...Although the the issue of 'bad grammar' could be irritating to some adults, I think it is nothing compared to what some TV programs "teach" our kids...Better than sponge bob thats for sure!...Great movie...

The English Issues.
Personally, I would love it if the characters spoke in a correct grammatical manner, but in real life there are many adults who cannot do that, so it would be unreasonable to expect child characters to do so. ( Besides, children watching the film probably would not notice, or be bothered if they did .)
Also, correct me if I am wrong, but I always thought that Ducky was female, so Cera is not the only girl in the group.
I enjoyed the film, but I think my favorite so far is " The Big Freeze " : I have a soft spot for Spike.
I am looking forward to number ten " The Great Migration " coming out in this country, though I do not know when that will be.

Great Movie
My 2 yr old son loved this movie. It is his favorite and we have about 5 out of the series so far (don't waste your money on Through the Mists). He especially loves Moe and was thrilled when he went to the beach for the first time and got to see dolphins playing in the surf. It really connected for him the "big water" and Moe the dolphin-like swimmer. Yes Cera, as usual, is bratty and ugly but who doesn't have one of those kind of kids in their acquaintance. In the end she figures out it was really her insecurity causing her jealousy for no reason. Unfortunately our dvd has developed a spot where it freezes and I will have to purchase another one but it is worth it for the joy it brings my little man. This is a great video despite some of the other reviews and worth the money. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Not as funny as I thought it would be, but funny
When I first saw the previews to "Senseless" a couple of years ago, I thought it was gonna be hilarious and I knew I had to see it. I finally saw it about 2 weeks ago and it is funny, but not hilarious. Marlon Wayans tries out an experiment that some scientists have made, not really knowing what it could do to him. One day he takes an overdose and things really get out of the ordinary. He starts to see double and gets numb all over, (in other words, senseless). That's when the movie gets good and it stays that way almost through the rest of the movie.

If you like good comedy movies, I recommend seeing "Senseless." My only complaints were that the movie wasn't as funny as I first thought it would be and it's a little slow getting to the funny parts. Other than that, it's worth seeing.

If You Want To Laugh..
This movie has nothing but comedy written all over it. Fast moving plot with the right recipe of characters. Hilarious to the bone and excellent set up. If you are looking for a great laugh and enjoy the humor only David Spade and Marlon Wayans can bring, pick this one up. An excellent addition to any DVD collection. Fun for all to watch!

1st part: great, really funny. 2nd part: so-so.
Well, well, well, in the beginning it was cool comedy. No, not just cool but REALLY COOL comedy about black guy who took part in some experiment which upgraded his senses. Kind of super-power. A lot of funny (REALLY FUNNY) situations, dumb, but great jokes etc. etc. Cool movie. I hadn't laughed in such a way for a long time.

But then... Oops! The movie became less funny, some kind of soap appeared there, the authors seemed to remember about correctness and that's why the ending wasn't as cool and funny as beginning.

I'm so sorry. But only 3 stars.

boring comedy
This movie isnt very good or funny and it is so predictable I am not a big fan of comedy movies but I always watch them. This movie was just too chezzy.Marlon Wayans just isnt funny he's too silly.dont buy this movie!

Funny Funky Flick
Marlon Wayans gets forced into the role of "the stupid slapstick guy" thankfully he doesn't play that part in this very underatted classic. This movie had me laughing and feeling great! With a hillarious performance by Matthew Lillard and a great evil characted portrayal from David Spade you have to check this one out... Cheap and above all fun! ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Not bad for a movie sequel
Most sequels to great movies aren't very good, but "Robocop 2" is an exception. Robocop (Peter Weller) returns to rid the city of criminals. In this sequel, he's ultimately after the drug lord of the city, Cain (Tom Noonan). But the road to finding Cain won't come easy, especially not after Robocop gets torn to pieces by some of Cain's people. However, Robocop does finally meet Cain face to face, except that Cain isn't human anymore, he's a cyborg just like Robocop himself, and an evil one at that.

I don't see how anybody could give "Robocop 2" a bad rating because it's a great sequel. It has a little bit of dark humor such as a commercial where a woman puts on blue suntan lotion that has a caution reading: "Using this too much can cause cancer." And best of all it has spectacular action sequences, especially after Robocop and Cain finally meet and start fighting each other. The special effects are great, and Robocop 2 (Cain as a robot) is especially well done with all his weapons and the computer that acts as Cain's brain.

If you like great action movies or if you liked the first "Robocop," I recommend getting "Robocop 2" without thinking twice.

Classic sequel.
Many people hate this movie. I didn't. It is just as good as the original and 1000 times better than #3. Set about one year after the first one (listen to the Old Man"s speech before he introduces Robocop 2), RoboCop is back and this time he's up against druglord Cain (Tom Noonan) and the young Hod (Gabriel Damon). The cops won't do anything because they are still on strike, but RoboCop and his partner Lewis (Nancy Allen) are still in business. RoboCop captures Cain eventually, but OCP, who created RoboCop, creates RoboCop 2 and puts Cain's brain in the machine. Now RoboCop must fight Cain one last time in the building OCP gave to Detroit as "a gift."

This was a good movie, not as bad as some people give it credit for. Peter Weller did a fantastic job as RoboCop. Tom Noonan and Gabriel Damon did just as good. This is one of the best sequels of all time. So remember to buy this and the original and avoid #3 at all costs.

Robocop 2 REVIEW
Worthwhile sequel to Verhoven's smash hit, "Robocop" has Weller reprising his role of Alex Murphy, a deceased cop brought back as a machine to fight crime in futuristic Detriot. This time around, Motor City is at war as a dictator-like drug dealer is using his new designer drug, "Nuke" to gather a group of followers. Meanwhile, most of the police force is on strike while Robo's manufacturing company, OCP, wants to take over the bankrupt city. OCP decides to create a newer more stronger "Robocop" but rather than use an actual field officer like they did with Murphy, they turn to the very drug dealer who has turned the city into a war zone. The usual violent mayhem ensues before the two Robocops battle their way through the city in an anti-climatic grudge match. "Robocop 2" is even more violent than the original but it does still feature a lot of the over-the-top humor displayed in its predecessor as well. Fans of the first will enjoy but most others will proably be unimpressed.

Robocop 2
A fun movie see this if you like the 1st movie and see the thrid!

Fun movie...until it starts taking itself seriously
The first hour of this film was actually kind of fun, but in the middle of the second act the dark humor and self-satire soon gets replaced by violence. And lots of violence. And that means loads o' killing. So if you like bodies getting flung around all over the place, this might be your kind of movie. I think even Joe Bob Briggs would lose count on how mean "dead bodies" this movie has. I don't know if it's action so much as a string of massacres put before the viewer.

And hey...what does every one see in Peter Weller? Saying he's a great actor and all - how can you tell? Most of the time his face is covered save the mouth, and his role calls for no expression in his voice. (...)

And were we supposed to feel bad the bratty kid got killed? You know...the kid who tried to strangle the female lead with wire, killed a few policemen, and then tried to start a drug ring. I don't care if he's 12, you live by the sword you die by sword. Don't play that sad music and have Robocop be all sympathetic! Blech. Puuuuuh-leez.

You know we need more movies where kids die...especially the annoying ones. I'll give this movie that. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The small-fry dinosaur friends are back for their ninth outing in this 77-minute movie, but this time they're not the littlest creatures in the Great Valley. A herd of miniature dinos is discovered when Little Foot tries to sneak some "tree sweets," but falls into the tree instead, knocking down all the blossoms. This gives the tiny herd easy access to the food, which they quickly devour and disappear. But instead of taking the blame, Little Foot inadvertently sends the prehistoric adults into a "get Frankenstein" kind of frenzy by blaming the little ones entirely for the loss of the harvest. The kids find the herd first, of course, and protect it from the adults until everyone settles down and accepts each other's differences. A subplot spotlights Cera and her adjustment to Dad dating Tria, a lady Triceratops friend from Dad's past come back to reignite old passions. (Ages 3 to 7)--Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The best Land Before Time of them all
Journey into the Mists captivated both my children (3 and 5 years old), my wife and me. It is a story of courage, acceptance of others (hence the song "It takes all kinds"), and family ties. This movie is based upon the original Land Before Time video and is yet another sequel in this very popular series.

In this story, Little Foot meets another small long neck named Allie. Allie is afraid of other dinosaurs because she has only been among other long necks. As part of a band of migrating long necks, she and her family come into the Great Valley while fleeing their former home, which has become a misty swamp that they now derisively call "The Land of Mists." After their arrival, Grandpa Longneck faill mysteriously ill and the migratory long necks identify his malady and proscribe a cure - a plant that only grows in the Land of Mists. Little Foot wants to go to find the mysterious plant, and he needs Allie's help. Allie refuses, however, to go unless Little Foot's friends do not come along.

Herein lies the most positive part of this tale - Allie must get over her fear of other dinosaurs if she is to be of help to Little Foot and the others. She has to learn that accept and work with those who are different from herself.

The story resolves, and the children learn valuable lessons. This story also includes a couple of very funny villians who are constantly telling each how worthless they are. These two cracked us up, but their constant bantering and bickering might be a little over the top for very small children. My two laughed and laughed for hours on end. We found that it was important to explain that this behavior is inappropriate and this is why it is funny. This was easily done, since the story shows that these two end up working against each other most of the time and not with each other.

I highly recommend this video. There are some tender moments in this video and some great songs. I would however caution parents with very small children, since there are two villians who are not very nice to anyone. My three and five year old really liked it, but for children younger than that, I would exercise caution.

Obnoxious, mean characters ruin this episode
I have really like the first 3 episodes in this series, and my young kids have, too. Our viewing has coincided with an interest in dinosaurs by my 4 year-old son. So, he's learned a lot about dinosaurs from them. And the movies are wholesome and promote friendship and good behavior.

THIS EPISODE WAS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT BECAUSE OF THE MEAN-SPIRITED BANTERING OF THE TWO VILLAINS. The prehistoric crocodile and pterasaur (dinosaur bird) are constantly telling each other how much they "hate" each other. There is a song they sing back and forth about how "I need you like a hold in the head" and that type of thing. And their voices are terribly annoying.

I was immediately uncomfortable, but then I heard my son starting to say this stuff to his sister...

HEY, I KNOW THE KIDS ARE GOING TO PICK UP MEAN LANGUAGE SOMEWHERE, BUT WHY ENCOURAGE IT?

MY ADVICE: LAND BEFORE TIME I-III DO NOT SUFFER FROM THIS LOW LANGUAGE.

Not my favorite, but good overall...
In this film, Littlefoot's grandpa gets sick with a fever. The only cure is for him to eat a golden nightflower. But there's a problem; it grows in "The Land of Mists", a place off limits to all dinos. Of course, dear old grandpa can't die can he? So Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, Spike, and their new friend Ali, set off to find the golden flower. Which they do (while dodging a few obstacles along the way). Nightflower found? Check. Grandpa lives? Check. Overall, it's a cute, fun little movie that the kids will probably enjoy. Ignore those two bad guys though...

Journey Through the Mists
My 2 yr old absolutely loves The Land Before Time series but this is one we could have done without. The bad guys are really bad and Ducky's voice is different and more irritating. We usually love Ducky's little voice but not on this one. Normally my son loves the songs and sings along with them but on this one he just fusses for me to skip past the singing.

My kids loved it!
We had a great time watching this one. My kids are always asking to see it again. I appreciate the positive messages too! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Very cute little movie
For every Land Before Time video I buy, it seems to appeal to me every time, and this one is no exception. In this film, "swarming leaf gobblers" (grasshoppers) eat up all the food in the Great Valley. This means that all the dinosaurs will have to move. :( Soon, the grown-ups start fighting (again) about where they should go to find more food. Of course, Littlefoot and his friends try and solve the problem by setting of on another journey to find food themselves. And they find it, on an island. The rest of the story follows up with a "return of Chomper" part in it, a t-rex chase (of course), and "peace on dino earth" (a happy ending). Over-all, it's a cute movie that kids of all ages are sure to love.

Kids (of all ages) love this movie!
My girls are 3 & 4 years old. My 3 year old asks to watch a movie from this series at least once every other day! This one has catchy tunes "Big Water" and "Friends for Dinner" that even my husband and I sing along with! My husband & I don't mind watching this one with the girls, it's entertaining! It teaches kids how to work together...and a few other life lessons. It's a keeper! I recommend it, and all of the movies in this series.

A tasty animated delight
I was introduced to "The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island" by my 5-year old nephew, and it's one of our favorite films to watch together. This animated tale, the fifth in the series, takes the viewer on an adventure with Littlefoot and his mixed-species group of young dinosaur friends. Separated from their parents after an invasion by locusts, Littlefoot and pals wind up on the "mysterious island" of the title, where they are re-united with the friendly little Tyrannosaur named Chomper. The story concerns the young dinos' effort to survive dangers and to find their way back to their families.

"LBT5" has likeable characters, fun songs (especially the catchy "Friends for Dinner"), and some good humorous moments.

I felt that the movie's one weak link was its unsettling portrayal of relations between predator and prey species. Granted, this is a fantasy about talking dinosaurs, but it's still unnerving to know that Chomper and his family eat members of the other characters' species. The film's attempts to mine humor out of this grisly situation (thankfully, no successful predation occurs in the film) left me uneasy. (You may get the same queasy feeling from the way the same theme is addressed in "The Lion King"). This aspect of the film didn't bother my nephew at all, but it left me wondering if the filmmakers were unconsciously putting messages about social Darwinism into the film.

Oh, well--I may be reading too much into a kid film. Bottom line: LBT5 is good fun, as long as the adults in the family don't think too much about the film.

3-year old review
My three-year-old daughter loves this movie. She repeatly watches it and even sings along with all of the songs. I sometimes even find my nine-year-old son watching the movie with her. We all love this movie because it teaches morals and lessons to the children without lecturing them. This is an overall wonderful movie and my daughter and I would recommend it to everyone, but I still think the 1st movie is the best of them all.

Prodigious! Amazing! But...
Prodigious! Amazing! But some songs always make me cry like "Always There." It always makes me cry. In that song, LittleFoot and his friends reflect on their parents. Hinting from the first movie when LittleFoot reflects about his mother. I have seen all 6 movies and I like all of them except the first one. It's the saddest of them all. When I mean sad, I mean crying sad. Once I saw that movie, BAM! The waterworks were on! I want a seventh movie! My little brother imagines that the last movie will be when the asteroid hits the earth and sometime cavemen come! He has a nice imagination. The land before time is appearing in commercials. Hinting on the next movie... ... Read more

Reviews (12)

6 yr old rates this the best
We have all The Land Before Time videos, and I asked the 6 yearold critic which was the best. He said this one, without hesitation,and it is certainly the one that has been played most often. He particularly likes the songs in this one, and I think the concept of being scared (within the safety of the living room, with mum and dad nearby) is very tantalising.

Each of the movies has a "message" and while it can be a bit cloying for adult viewers, they do seem to strike a chord with the kids. In this one the kids are alone facing danger, and they "learn just how hard it is to be a grown-up - and how nice it is to be a kid! - in this captivating story of hope, love and trust." (from box notes).

Mesmerizingly bad, but hilarious.
These four stars are there both for levels of hilarty. One, mind numbingly awful songs. Two, bad voice work. Three, the sappy cornyness. Four, a few good intese scenes. I guess I should expect this since I'm not a 6 year old who loves all animated films. This could be for people who love a good laugh. Think of it as a well animated PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE eithout the plot meets musicals about dinosaurs. For those who don't understand, I am talking about it's direct to video quality. Peace out!

#2
IT MAY BE #2 IN THE SERIES BUT THIS VIDEO IS #1 TO ME

poor piece of crap
One of my favorite movies is Land Before time. The story is great, the characters are cool, and the sequals...........well, are poor. A sequal might seem like a good idea. But, they were poor. The music on the video is terrible. sounds like my friend who can't sing a note. And the story is horrible. It's not good. Avoid every sequal, if you can help it.

Oh my god...
This sequal is a disgrace. The fact its a nonsensical, wimpified sequal to a powerful movie like "The Land Before Time" is even more of a disgrace. Its like making a sequal to "Schindler's List" and having it be a slapstick comedy.

Ducky's character is made annoying and I wanted her to die several times in the movie. Peetwee now speaks in the third person and is almost similar to Ducky's personality, and...gaaah! Just thinking about this movie gives me a tumor!

Don't watch it. No, not even with kids. I watched this as a little kid and I hated it. That's when you know a movie is sad. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

One of my daughter's favorite movies...
My daughter Elise -- now 3 1/2 years old -- loves this movie. It's often the movie she picks to watch just before bedtime. She loves the characters...Little Foot, Sarah, the Twins, Spike, Ducky...and I have to admit I'm starting to like them too.

We have about 5 movies in the Land Before Time series, but this is perhaps the best of all. There's Doc, an old Long Neck, who is a great character.

The songs are great too...you should see my daughter sing "The Lone Dinosaur". She loves the song, although she thinks it's the "long" dinosaur. I've tried to tell here it's the "lone" dinosaur, but she won't listen to me!

This is a good one.

Perfect for little boys ages 3-6
Okay, if you have small boys like me. This dvd, actually-- the whole Land Before Time series is what you will want for rainy-indoor days. My boys absolutley love all the characters & sings along to the songs.. "..he's the.. LONE DINOSAUR.., dinosaur, whenever you may need him.."

What an Adventure!
Yet another winner from The Land Before Time series! This is no different from all of the others in that your kids will love it! As in all, the young ones go on an adventure that makes them work together & count on each other for safety. I haven't met a kid yet that doesn't sit through the whole movie from beginning to end - singing as they go! Worth the money!

Our children loved it!
My youngest daughter just received this for her 5th birthday. Both my 5 year old and my 6 1/2 year old love this movie. They currently own five of the LBT dvd's and want the remaining ones.

They also own the original, The Big Freeze, Journey to Big Water, and The Mysterious Island. They love all of them. However, my youngest likes the original the best and my oldest likes the Stone of Cold Fire the best (which we have only rented and have to still purchase). The Secret of Saurus Rock is their second favorite, but they just received it so it could still just be that its new!

Sorry to rain on the children's parade
Children's videos and stories don't have to be this dumbed-down. As the editorial review says, this story is much like the others - and that's my big problem with the whole series.

Sarah screams as often in this movie as she does in the first one. Spike still can't talk (except when he's particularly moved, say, by the thought of losing a friend). Ducky is still helpless, and hasn't advanced with her speech pathology therapy. I don't have the sense that the characters learn anything they don't know when they start; these characters don't develop. Come on, doesn't Little Foot ever get testy with his grandpa when he has flashbacks of his mother dying?

The contrast with Disney movies is tremendous. Not only are the Disney songs listenable (I can't believe an adult can listen to "The Lone Dinosaur" and not cringe), but the characters there *learn* something during their adventure. This is probably why Disney movies don't lend themselves to good sequels - the character's development is all played out in the original movie, so what more does Simba or Ariel have to learn? Here, the sequels are naturals, because all the characters stay the same.

Perhaps this is comforting for young folks, but I don't think so. I asked my six-year-old whether she liked these movies as much as Lion King or Lilo and Stitch; she said no, she found them boring.

Another quibble with this movie: there is a dumb (I can't think of a better word) subplot about "bad luck." Did Doc bring "Bad Luck" to the Great Valley? Do you believe in "Bad Luck?" What if "Bad Luck" really exists? I've seen the movie several times, and I have no idea what this subplot is supposed to be teaching children, except that sometimes Stephen Spielberg funds movies that raise nonsensical questions. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Truly quirky, this mock documentary is part musical, part farce, and completely, oddly innocent.This is a one-man-band job for David Byrne (lead singer of theTalkingHeads), who writes, stars, and directs, It's ostensibly about the sesquicentennial celebration of a small Texas town, but it's really about strange characters and strange attitudes. Byrne is our guide, driving us around and giving tour information about Texas in an innocuous patter, frequently running into Louis Fyne (John Goodman), a lonely man looking for love. At various times, and with little provocation, the film swoons into a Talking Heads number with preachers and bar patrons belting out tunes. If you make room for it, however, True Stories can surprise and delight with its inventiveness and its unconventional treatment of the residents.A scene in which a construction worker launches into an aria, on a makeshift stage when no one else is around, is but one example of numerous such moments in this bizarre, delightful, and benign film.Any Talking Heads fan who doesn't own it should. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Excellent, Quirky, Unique, Entertaining Film
I loved this movie when it came out and I still do. At this point, it's almost a document of its time, when the punk/new wave explosion of the late 70's & early 80's had successfully filtered throghout the culture and people like David Byrne were given the respect they deserved and the result was films like True Stories. Using bizarre stories he'd read in supermarket tabloids as his base, Byrne took the kooks and special people he'd read about and placed them all in one small Texas town. A tribute to individualism and self-invention, True Stories also successfully evokes the weird, rootless, surrealism one encounters once you get outside the bounds of congested cities and finds oneself stuck out in the middle of nowheresville, USA. Featuring a great cast who all give wonderful performances, even if they sometimes don't seem to "get" what Byrne was doing, Stories also boasts an excellent Byrne composed score, which at the time of the films release could be purchased in two versions - one where the cast performed their own songs and another where Talking Heads performed them. True Stories also probably marks the demise of the band, Talking Heads. Though they went on to record a couple more records (three more? I can't really remember), after True Stories it seemed they were no longer so much a band as slaves to Byrne's vision. As a tribute to the band, one he was on his own, Byrne's work lost a certain humanity, I guess you could say, an urgency or immediacy and his work took on the air of just more "art product". I still like it, mind you, just not as much. Anyway, True Stories stands alongside the Head records, Lauries Anderson's output (including the film of her United States concert), the filmed monologue(s) of Spauling Gray (Swimming to Cambodia), certain music videos, and other key works as essential artifacts of the 80's. And one more thing - I swear to GOD that a few years ago I saw widescreen versions of this filmd on DVD at various retail outlets, a little more expensive than the pan & scan. Where the heck is this release?

Ahead of itsTime...
When David Byrne conceived of this movie idea he was probably believing that he was only slightly ahead of his audience. Unfortunatrly, he was years ahead of them in terms of technology, music, and ideology. It's a wonderful film, a scathing indictment of the negative changes rampent technology was bringing on simple people... and a study on the price of loneliness on everyone. But, it no doubt did not catch on to an audience that was overpowered by the visuals and ideas in this movie.

The music is simply wonderful, the children singing "Hey Now" in a field that is being taken over by urban sprawl is worth the price of the movie alone. Talking heads interject several times with shameless music videos. And characters in the movie sing Talking Heads songs... in voices that were made from you and me.

This movie, in which David Byrne makes his directorial debut Byrne tours us around the town of Virgil, Texas, and introduces us to the citizens of that town, their interests, their industry, and their shopping mall. John Goodman's character looks for a love.. and it all ends in a talent show that was wonderfully edited and gave it a sense of excitment. Goodman doesn't sing too bad, either.

In my opinion this was one of the top Rock and Roll movies ever made (it should be noted that the best Rock and Roll Concert Documentry is "Stop Making Sense" also by the Talking Heads.

Excellent casting of David Byrne/Spalding Gray fantasy
Who would have thought that Byrne and the Talking Heads would make such a sweet movie? It's a satire, of course, but the characters, rather than being ridiculed, are adorable. The perfect casting and relaxed pace give it just the right documentary feel, Byrne's reedy narration gives it just the right edge, and the story line plays out nicely. It's very watchable.

Listenable, too. The songs are a blast, whether lip-synched by the 'locals' hilariously or sung by the cast. The Talking Heads as the backing band for the songs are terrific, with some gorgeous pedal steel guitar thrown in.

For Spalding Gray fans, it is a classic performance, if brief.

Worth buying, even though it's not widescreen and has no special features, because you will play it again and again.

Funny absurdist view of American life
I saw this movie in the theater while living in Germany in 1986-87, and recall it as a sort of pseudo-documentary of life in America mixed with some Salvador Dali-esque fantasy scenes. The funny thing was, the Germans couldn't tell the fantasy from the reality. They thought the Shriners riding their little motorbikes around in a parade was something out of David Byrne's imagination!

It recalled to me a line from Allen Ginsberg to the effect of "America, I love you like I love my crazy uncle who sits in the corner, drooling and eating flies."

If you appreciate bonafide American craziness, such as the First Church of Elvis, Mount Rushmore, or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, you will get a kick out of this movie.

Deep in the heart of Irony
Talking Heads frontman David Byrne follows trailblazer Kinky Friedman (the original New Yawk musician/raconteur to enter the Lone Star state of mind) with this subtly satirical Texas travelogue from 1986. It is no easy task to pigeonhole "True Stories"- part social satire, part long-form music video, part mockumentary. Fans of droll humor (and Byrne's art-school sensibilities) will enjoy the film. The episodic vignettes about the quirky but generally likable inhabitants of sleepy Virgil, Texas should hold your fascination once you buy into "tour-guide" Byrne's bemused anthropological detachment (some might say, "conceit", but there is no detectable mean-spiritedness here). The pseudo-documentary approach and low-ley ensemble performances presages (by a good 10-15 years) the gently satirical "mockumentaries" Christopher Guest & Co. have become so synonymous with. The excellent cinematography seems to get overlooked by reviewers and is worth a mention. The DVD transfer is not as dismal as some would lead you to believe, although I would agree that it is a shame that "pan and scan" is the only format currently offered (but for such a low list price, there is not much room for complaint). The audio is quite adequate. Fans of the obscure and offbeat will rejoice. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Better...but not good...sequel...
The second sequal is...marginally good on account of one good song (yes I know that sounds impossible). However, it doesn't make up for the fact that the rest of the movie stinks.

Especially Sarah...my god she does nothing but scream for five minutes in one scene!! It makes you irritated beyond belief! Oh sure, you may think I'm overreacting, but you listen to some one give a girly high-pitched scream every two seconds for five minuntes and then tell me how you feel. Sarah should have been killed off and saved us all a lot of mercy. She probably should have been killed by Sharptooth in the first movie!

This sequel could be enjoyable for some. Could be.

Fun way to learn about working together
Even though words like "dumb" were used, this is a reality for children. It gives parents an opportunity to talk to children about how it feels to be called names and to be sensitive to others feelings. My kids love all the movies and pretend play the characters. They see what being a good friend is all about. I can refer back to the movie to make a point.

Warning, Warning! Not suitable for children!!!! 0 stars!
"Hip" the young bully dinosaur refers to Littlefoot, Cera and the other young dinosaurs as big babies. He also uses the words stupid and dumb. This is very unfortunate for an otherwise wonderfully creative concept. I now find myself trying to explain to a 2 year old that these are unacceptable things to say.......

Great fun with Great morals!!
My 3 1/2 year old son can not get enough of this whole series. He wants to watch them over and over. The stories & characters are fun and the songs are wonderful. The best part is they all have great lessons and messages for kids to learn. They are all about caring and good morals without preaching to the children. My son loves to talk about the story after watching them and doesn't even realize he has learned whatever message they were trying to get across. Kids seem to identify with the little dinosaurs and their relationships with the adults. A great video collection that makes both children and adults happy.

One of the best of this series.
Excellent film, with interesting characters and well-chosen topics ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dreams--or "sleep stories," as these talking dinosaurs dub them--inspire Little Foot and his grandparents to begin a journey to see a climactic event in the 10th installment of this consistently high-quality series. Along the way, they discover that other longnecks have been having similar dreams, thus providing the opportunity for guest voices (Bernadette Peters as "Sue" and James Garner as "Pat") and Little Foot's reunion with his long-lost father (voiced by Kiefer Sutherland). In a subplot, Little Foot's other dino friends decide to follow him, but this story really belongs to the young longneck. He gets to view a solar eclipse--and take credit for saving his species--but has to make a decision between traveling with his newfound dad and returning with the grandparents who raised him. It's a tough decision for a little one, but children who have gone through divorce will identify. (Ages 2 to 7) --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Does a repetitiveness really make a child happy?
It's amazing that this series has last as long as it has. Kids seems to adore it and look forward to each video. My newphews, who are 6 and 7, grew very tired of it after the third movie (My sister was very relieved) They love the first one and watch it frequently and often play act it out. Its true that is much more scary and dark next to the cute and tame sequels. The first movie not only has a bit of violence and it deals with the loss of a parent (which my newphews had to deal with in real life) and the ever present bully everyone had to deal with in school. In the end the characters put aside their differences as they fight against the odds to find true happiness. Even though some parents think the first movie is too intense, it will grow on kids as they get older and stays with them. That's why I actually rented on the first sequel when it came out when I was twelve because I loved the first one so much since I since I was in third grade. I'm twenty-one now and they're still coming out, man! The sequels are great for kids under seven. If you don't want to give them repetitive, low luster stories to demand over and over when they are at such an influential age, give them something that might stick and interest their minds a bit.

Littlefoot Returns....
Ahhh yes, the Land Before Time saga will never seem to cease. But I have to admit, this latest movie had me and my sis clapping, singing, and jumping along with Littlefoot and his friends!! In The Land Before Time:The Great Longneck Migration, longnecks all around the world (including Littlefoot and his grandparents) are having similar "sleep-stories". So they set off to supposedly "save the world". Alas, it turns out to be a solar eclipse, which was a beautiful scene in my opinion. Our hero finally finds his father, Bron (who sounds alot like HAL the computer in "2001:A Space Odysey"). Overall, it's a very heart-warming, sweet little story. And don't worry, no dinosaurs where harmed in the making of this video.

Whyyy..
How could you, Don; Stephen? HOW could you slaughter something so beautiful as the first Land Before Time? I, alike many, own the original on DVD. It was honestly the only one I would buy regardless of the many chapters that surrounded me from all sides, all because they are painful to watch. Why are they painful? SONGS.EVERY.THREE.SECONDS. I honestly cannot stand it and as far as the chapters go, I watched up until The Mysterious Island before I finally lost my faith - but not my love. Fully aware that the rest are meant for children to aide them to grow and to share and to cherish life with every waking morning but why did they slaughter each and every individual character? Sharp-tooth was my ultimate favorite until suddenly one day: "Lets Hug the Carnivore! - Don't Worry, He's Friendly!" I almost fainted, not with relief but shock. He (in speaking of the rex) had always been viewed as an evil and somehow, suddenly, he's friendly!? Someone, aside pointing the obvious of 'its for children!' please explain this... I am in dire need. But aside the point of how the series is dying, I want to both buy this and at the same time - ignore it. A) When I was a child, I always wondered about Little foot's father. What happened to him? Was he killed, did he abandon his mate? WHAT!? Buying this, may answer my questions but I at the same time, do not want to be disappointed. B) Reasons stated above of its obnoxious stature that it had somehow fell victim to.

Why aren't there any characters available?
My daughter loved this movie (along with the other 9) and all she wanted for Christmas was a "Littlefoot". As big a money making machine as this series has been, why on earth aren't any of the characters available for purchase (stuffed, plastic, or otherwise)? Granted, it is annyoing that the characters don't evolve, but the movies fulfill the purpose they were created for and occasionally throw in a moral lesson along the way. The creators just need to take the next logical step to making more $ for themselves and more children happy.

Oh please
In case you hadn't noticed, you weren't the only one who reviewed the movie. I wasn't just replying to you when I wrote my review. You're young-don't you have anything better to do than hassle us "old hags"? (That is, if 28 is an "old hag"). Too funny. At least when I was in high school I had a life. Get a friend, get a hobby, get an education... ... Read more

Amazon.com

If Robert Zemeckis's mega-hit Forrest Gump was too sweet for your taste, you may enjoy the undiluted bitterness of his previous movie, a cynical black comedy that was ahead of its time. Death Becomes Her, an outlandish parable about America's obsession with youth and vanity, exposes the corrosive side of Zemeckis's comic sensibility, the sort of scathing satirical edge he gleefully flourished in his overlooked 1980 Used Cars, which has developed a cult following. Meryl Streep has a ball as the deliciously vicious Madeline Ashton, a flamboyantly mannered actress who makes Bette Davis's formidable Margo Channing in All About Eve look like a wallflower. Goldie Hawn is also in razor-sharp comedic form as Madeline's long-time "best friend," Helen. Sensing a bargain she just can't resist, Madeline steals Helen's meek, plastic-surgeon husband Ernest (Bruce Willis) for her own convenience, and the two women become sworn enemies. But the real complications arise when the two are introduced to a secret anti-aging formula by a mysterious and exotic woman (Isabella Rossellini, delightfully ridiculous) that not only smoothes away wrinkles but actually guarantees immortality. As their undying bodies are twisted and mutilated by violent attacks on each other, both women grow increasingly dependent on Ernest for cosmetic repair. The pioneering digital effects inflicted on Streep and Hawn are as grotesque as they are imaginative and hilarious. Like James Cameron (The Abyss, Titanic), Zemeckis loves a technical challenge, and the new visual tools developed for this movie made his later work (in Forrest Gump and Contact) possible.The digital video disc includes a short feature on the movie's production. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (64)

A wickedly funny film!
Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn make a perfect comedic pair in this great comedy/fantasy from director Robert Zemeckis.

Streep plays Madeline Ashton, a has-been actress, who tries to re-invent herself as a musical star. The hilarious opening sees Streep in a musical version of "Sweet Bird Of Youth" that has been titled 'Songbird'. It is at the first (and last) performance of the show that Madeline's old friend (and enemy) Helen Sharp (Hawn) and her fiancee Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis) become re-acquaninted. Madeline then proceeds to seduce Ernest and marries him herself. Ernest is a plastic-surgeon and the idea of free face-work is irresistable to the shallow Madeline.

Ten years later, a new svelte Helen is having a book-signing party for the novel she has just published. By this time Madeline has turned into the 4th Gabor, and is completely paranoid about her complexion and her age. Madeline is completely unaware that the reason why Helen looks so God-damn fabulous is because she has a potion that will let her stay young forever.

A lovely 'young' enchantress Listl von Ruman (Isabella Rossellini) is the woman behind the potion, and Madeline will do anything to get it.......

This film is a delight, and features a great performance by Streep, who has mostly stuck to dramatic roles, and it is very refreshing to see her letting her hair down here.

Hawn is as wonderful as always, although the restrained performance of Willis is at times very annoying.

a strange, quirky, and entertaining movie
A film by Robert Zemeckis

I think that it is fair to say that this is a strange movie. Helen (Goldie Hawn) is engaged to be married to Dr Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis), a famous plastic surgeon. They watch a rather awful show at the theatre and go backstage to meet the star, Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep). Madeline and Helen knew each other in high school, and Helen believes that Madeline intentionally steals every boyfriend Helen has. This is the final test before the wedding. Naturally, Madeline, who is vain about her appearance and worried about aging, does steel Ernest away and ends up marrying him herself. This drives Helen crazy, literally. We flash forward seven years to get an update on the characters, then another seven years to bring us to the main section of our story. Madeline is aging and she hates it. She meets up with Helen again, and Helen looks fantastic, as if she hasn't aged a day in the past 14 years. Helen is all glammed up and looks like a star. Madeline is starting to look frumpy. It is all starting to come full circle and Madeline's jealousy is driving her to do something rash.

Rather than do something predictable (in the movies, anyway) like start killing people, Madeline goes to a strange woman named Lisle (Isabella Rossellini) and gets a potion that halts the aging process and returns the body to its youthful, more perfect image. It also bestows immortality. Now Madeline can compete with Helen again! This rivalry and this fight will continue on through life and even into death.

"Death Becomes Her" is a comedy. It is a very strange comedy, and has something of a dark humor, but it is without question an original movie. It is one of the more overlooked movies in Robert Zemeckis's filmography. He is better known for "Back to the Future", "Forrest Gump" and "Cast Away". This isn't a perfect movie, but it is entertaining, creative, and interesting. One important thing that I can say is that I did not find this movie predictable at all. I had no idea where Zemeckis was going with "Death Becomes Her" until the end.

-Joe Sherry

Siempre Viva!
The passage of time weighs upon us all: the loss of youth's energy, agility, beauty. But let us say there is a potion, an elixir, "a touch of magic in a world obsessed with science." Drink it and you will be forever young. Do not drink it and watch yourself rot away with old age. Just such a potion falls into the hands of two women who are not only consumed with vanity but fierce rivals, determined to best each other no matter the cost. Siempre Viva: Live Forever! Whether you like it or not!

With excellent performances, an invective-laced script, and remarkable special effects, DEATH BECOMES HER takes on several great philosophical and literary concepts--and subverts them into one of the most wickedly funny black comedies in recent memory, dishy, bitchy, mean spirited, and a tremendous amount of fun. Film buffs will particularly relish this film, which references everything from THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW to THE WIZARD OF OZ and a host of classic horror films such as FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, and CAT PEOPLE--and also tacks in everything from Tennessee Williams plays to rock legend Jim Morrison for good measure.

Unfortunately, the DVD release is commonplace, offering the film in pan-and-scan only. To give the release its due, the shift from widescreen to pan-and-scan is expertly done and not in the least distracting--but still, a widescreen option for such a special effects heavy film would be preferred. And while this would seem to be an ideal film for a making-of documentary, the DVD offers only a handful of production notes as bonus. Even so, the film is so extremely well done that I wouldn't miss it on that account! Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

great farce of female issues
Mainly the issues of jealousy and not losing one's looks.

Helen (Goldie Hawn) is the mousy pal of glamourous Madeline (Streep.) Madeline constantly has to one-up Helen, who believes the trip ethat comes out of the mouth of her 'friend'. When Madeline successfully steals and marries Helen's boyfriend Ernest(Willis), Helen becomes obese and obsessed, ending up in a mental home where she bores the other patients by talking about Madeline, who knows of and delights in Helen's plight (the witch).

A few years later, though, Madeline sees Helen at a party looking slim, young and happy. Turns out Helen has the secret to immortality and Madeline wants in on it. When she gets it, the fight really begins -- with incredible special effects -- and poor Ernest caught in the middle of it all.

This is a great comedy on some real issues women face as they get older -- it's nice to see it in an exaggerated humorous light.

failed black comedy falls flat
A big effects thriller and that turns into a flat joke - that's how I typify this flick. Goldie Hawn is Helen, a premature frump who wasted her life in the shadow of the more glamorous Madeline (Streep). A painfully untalented and hated actress, Madeline managed to get by on her good looks with the help of a lifetime of plastic surgery - but even that is nearing its end by the start of "Death". Though cozily enconsed in a tony Beverly Hills mansion, Mad's looks and her career are history. Bruce Willis is Ernest, the plastic surgeon they seem to be fighting over without actually loving him. When given the chance to experience immortality, the two still find themselves fighting over Ernest and everything else that's gone wrong with their lives. "Death" introduces us to this unfortunate trio during the disco era - when an already aging Madeleine stars in a reviled "Studio-54" version of "Sweet Bird of Youth", and Ernst is both a highly sought plastic surgeon and Helen's fiancée. Though Eernest loves the mild-mannered Helen, it's clear that he's falling under Madeleine's spell, and will be one more of the many men Helen lost to her friend. The plot jumps ahead decades later - Helen is a bloated version of herself, having never gotten past losing Ernst to Madeleine. Madeleine hasn't weathered the years any better - unable to handle losing her youth, she's become a crone who embittered her own life and Ernst's. Ernst by then is shriveled version of his younger self - a self-deprecating alcoholic who's long since learned of Madeleine's dark side (in his home-office, he tosses scalpels like darts at pictures of his hated wife, and refers to her as "it") but can no longer escape. No longer trusted to work on the living, he's become a designer mortician (the dead can't sue for malpractice). And then there's Lisle (Isabella Rosellini) - a reclusive silent-film era star who may have discovered the secret of eternal life...maybe.

What starts off as a bundle of preachy ideas (potshots at a culture obsessed with looks and youth) quickly turns into a string of special-effects fueled sight-gags. Helen and Madeleine use Lisle's secret formula to remake themselves, but find that not even the youth it offers can survive their mutual hate, and the two poke CGI holes in each other. Both learn the hard way that Lisle's formula gives both life and youth, but not in equal portions (i.e. - you can live forever, but your new youth remains as fragile as the one you lost in your 30's). It's supposed to be ironic that in fighting each other, both "Mad" & "Hel" lose what they really wanted - to be "girls" again. Unfortunately it doesn't really work because Lisle's formula never really offers them that - neither wanted immortality, it's that fragile youth they wanted to keep, not their lives. It's a forced irony that doesn't work, and the plot wastes without something meatier to chew on than Mad & Hel's catfighting. While Streep & Hawn try to get some gags out of the script, the flick really belongs to Willis, proving again he can do just about anything. The story also gets some good action in the seductive form of Rosellini as Lisle - "keep your ass handy" she tells her buff entourage. If only they kept her handy as well, but her loss hits this movie once she disappears. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Perhaps the best of the 4 Prime Directives series
As a huge Robocop fan, it is easy for me to overlook the flaws and cosmetic blunders and enjoy the meat of the movie: Action. There is lots of good action featuring my favorite character, Robo himself.

In this movie he faces "Robocable," his replacement, and the ensuing battles and chases are excellent.

Don't set hopes too high, but this is worth a look.

Tech specs update
It seems that everywhere you look on-line to fine the DVD tech specs you get different answers. Well, I'm here to set things straight.

This R1 release is issued in Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) with English Dolby 2.0 Surround. Surprisingly it's a good strong surround mix. Dialogue, despite some negetive reviews of the broadcase version, is strong and easily understandable.

The R2 release however appears to be in Dolby 5.1, which is ashame because the R1 could have benefitted from a 5.1 mix. But anyway...

Picture quality? Pretty good for a TV show. The only issue is with out-of-focus background lights. They have that digital compression "dot crawl". But other than that, all live action and special f/x look extremely sharp and clear.

Just recently bought this series in geer up for the new release of the Robocop Trilogy. Now, I'd like to see the mid-'90s Robocop series released on DVD. The only thing lacking in this series is the lack of use of Robo's automated targeting grid system. I always found that aspect very cool about the theatrical movies.

This is NOT Robocop 2!!!!
This is the third of the three made and it is just AWFUL.

Not vintage...
Since there were three of these Robocop things and the first one was great and the last one was bloody awful, one might be forgiven for assuming that the second one might not be that bad. But one would be wrong. Avoid.

IT'S SAD TO SEE HOW LOW THE ROBOCOP MOVIES HAVE REALLY GONE
IN THE 2ND INSTALLMENT IN THE PRIME DIRECTIVES SERIES, ROBOCOP GOES CRAZY AND STARTS TO WREAK HAVOC ON DETROIT. BUT TROUBLE FOR ROBOCOP SOON COMES WHEN HIS SYSTEM STARTS TO BREAK DOWN ON HIM AND EVEN WORSE IS THE FACT THAT OCP HAS MADE A NEW ROBOCOP TO STOP HIM, WHICH IS MODELED AFTER ROBO'S MURDERED PARTNER, JOHN CABLE. THIS IS VERY VERY BORING AND IT'S VERY VERY POINTLESS. I MUST SAY THAT PAGE FLETCHER IS BY FAR THE WORST ROBOCOP TO EVER APPEAR ON SCREEN. HE MAKES ROBERT JOHN BURKE SEEM LIKE PETER WELLER. WELL, SO FAR, THE 1ST 2 MOVIES IN THE PRIME DIRECTIVES SERIES HAVE BEEN BOTH EQUALLY BORING, I STUTTER TO THINK WHAT PART 3 IS GONNA BE LIKE. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With the surprise success--both critical and commercial--of Robocop, it was inevitable that a sequel would emerge (actually, two sequels). But this follow-up lacked the dyspeptically funny vision of filmmaker Paul Verhoeven and wound up skimming the surface to repeat only the most superficial elements of the original: the big, clunky hero (played by Peter Weller), the ultra-violence (minus a dark sense of humor), and the plethora of action sequences. What plot there is deals with the corporation that runs the cops and its two-pronged attempt to squeeze every dime out of the populace and the city: create a new drug crisis (with an incredibly addictive synthetic drug the corporation manufactures, spread by a charismatic drug lord) and then attack with a bigger robot, one that eliminates Robocop at the same time. Would that they had. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Not bad for a movie sequel
Most sequels to great movies aren't very good, but "Robocop 2" is an exception. Robocop (Peter Weller) returns to rid the city of criminals. In this sequel, he's ultimately after the drug lord of the city, Cain (Tom Noonan). But the road to finding Cain won't come easy, especially not after Robocop gets torn to pieces by some of Cain's people. However, Robocop does finally meet Cain face to face, except that Cain isn't human anymore, he's a cyborg just like Robocop himself, and an evil one at that.

I don't see how anybody could give "Robocop 2" a bad rating because it's a great sequel. It has a little bit of dark humor such as a commercial where a woman puts on blue suntan lotion that has a caution reading: "Using this too much can cause cancer." And best of all it has spectacular action sequences, especially after Robocop and Cain finally meet and start fighting each other. The special effects are great, and Robocop 2 (Cain as a robot) is especially well done with all his weapons and the comp