Amazon.com

On regular television, punctuated by frenetic commercials, the leisurely pace of the horror miniseries Rose Red probably felt grueling; but on its own terms, the effect is like settling into a long book full of detail--a book not unlike those of Stephen King, who wrote the script. The story (about a researcher into the paranormal who takes a team of psychics into a haunted house) recycles themes that King has used before--a telekinetic girl, a house with its own consciousness--but for his fans, the familiarity is probably comfortable and even enjoyable. The cast (including Nancy Travis, Julian Sands, and Melanie Lynsky from Heavenly Creatures) give committed performances, and the special effects are television-grade but used pretty well. Most of it doesn't make much sense, but at its best Rose Red is absurd and creepy at the same time. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (119)

"Some Houses Are Born Bad"
Rose Red was N Xcellent piece of work by the master of horror, Stephen King. When I found about the movie's premier last year, U would not believe how Xcited I was 2 C it. It was worth getting Xcited over. The special effects R amazing and the ghost make-up is stunningly scary. In fact, the whole story-line was incredibly horrifying.

Nancy Travis was absolutely fantastic in her role of Joyce Reardon. Matt Keeslar was pretty good in his role of Steven Rimbaeur, only because his acting was a little dry. Matt Ross was really agitating in his role of the Post Cognitive, Emery Waterman. I thought that Julian Sands was awesome in the role of telepathic Nick Hardaway. Kimberly J. Brown was really wonderful as the autistic, yet telekentic Annie Wheaton. Judith Ivey (one of my favorite actors inth film) was incredible in role of the automatic writer, Cathy.

If N E body is looking 4 a good Stephen King horror flick, check out Rose Red. It's a real Scream.

Stephen Kings Haunted Abode.
The Chilling Tale of Dr. Joyce Reardon an obsessed psychology professor who commissions a team of psychics and a gifted 15 year old autsitic girl, Annie Wheaten, to literally wake up a supposedly dormant haunted mansion.....ROSE RED. Thier efforts unleash a myriad of spirites and uncover horrifying secrets of the generations whom have lived and died there.
This movie has lots of extras from a complete abc documentary, to design artwork, to a diary, a making of documentary, and production commentary. Dolby Digital 5.1
Not the best stephen King Movie.....yet not the worst.

was expecting MUCH better
If you're looking for a good haunted house movie, pass this one up. Its overly long and totally disjointed. The obvious places for commercial breaks don't help. None of the characters are sympathetic in any way. And the ending is neither satisfying nor cathartic. It just ends.

Again, if you want a GOOD haunted house movie, watch 'The Haunting' (1963) with Julie Harris or 'The Legend of Hell House' with Roddy McDowall.

Fantastic movie...Stephen King strikes again!
Well, Stephen King did an absolutely fantastic job writing this story for the production of this movie. Even though the movie is 4 hours long, the movie didn't bore me for one second. I really enjoyed this, especially Annie, the little autistic girl. I thought she was a very good touch to the story line. I would recommend this movie to anyone who's out for a good thrill.

Scared the s**t outta me!
I thought I had seen so many horror movies that I had desensitised myself to fear and shock. I can honestly count on a single hand the number of movies that have actually frightened me, and none have done it as thoroughly as Rose Red. Let's face it, the storyline is flimsy, and the acting is atrocious but it has such a powerful aura of suspense that even a shot of trees seems scary. For four hours I sat sweating and white-knuckled, gripping my seat. Don't think I could do it again but it was worth it. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Too old for Hamlet and too young for Lear--what's an ambitious actor to do? Play the Devil, of course. Jack Nicholson did it in The Witches of Eastwick; Robert De Niro did it in Angel Heart (as Louis Cyphre--get it?). In The Devil's Advocate Al Pacino takes his turn as the great Satan, and clearly relishes his chance to raise hell. He's a New York lawyer, of course, by the name of John Milton, who recruits a hotshot young Florida attorney (Keanu Reeves) to his firm and seduces him with tempting offers of power, sex, and money. Think of the story as a twist on John Grisham's The Firm, with the corporate evil made even more explicit. Reeves is wooden, and therefore doesn't seem to have much of a soul to lose, but he's really just our excuse to meet the devil. Pacino's the main attraction, gleefully showing off his--and the Antichrist's--chops at perpetrating menace and mayhem. The film was directed by Taylor Hackford (Against All Odds, Dolores Claiborne), who provides alternate-track commentary for the movie itself, plus a dozen deleted scenes. Also note: due to a settlement with artist Frederick Hart over the movie's use of a sculpture resembling his Ex Nihilo in Washington's National Cathedral, future releases of the film will be altered. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (174)

Is it just me?
The plain and simple truth is that Keanu Reeves can't act. Never could, but somehow this inability was disguised until "Devil's advocate". But Reeves' characterization of a southerner lawyer turn into a hotshot in one of the most preeminent firms in New York (was it NY? Don't remember) is, to say the least, pitiable. There's one scene in special that embarrassed me, and I kept thinking that this guy is in fact being paid millions to do that. Well, the blame should be divided with the director, the person responsible for the casting and with millions of spectators that still think he's an actor.

Aside from that, "Devil's advocate has many other flaws. Al Pacino as John Milton/The Evil One is laughable. And I like Pacino. If Satan was half as idiotic as Pacino portraits it, the world would be an eternal rainbow-sunshine scene. The plot of this movie is so thin I already forgot it. All other characters (with the exception of the two women) are just ridiculous sidekicks in the unfinishable story of the battle of Good against evil. I can't remember one single actor in this movie other than Reeves, Pacino, Theron and Nielsen. The final confrontation scene and the whole situation it involves is so grotesquely scripted that the movie looses even the aura of "fable", something that could save parts of the story.

I give "Devil's advocate" two stars because of Charlize Theron and Connie Nielsen. The south african is extremely beautiful, and a competent actress that draws attention whenever she's on screen. The dane , though barely opening her mouth, has an unforgettable facial expression, and is also very beautiful.

Watch this only if it runs on TV on Wednesday night and you have absolutely nothing else to do.

Sensational!
I loved this movie. Outstanding in practically every way. Al Pacino's portrayal of Lucifer is exactly how I have always perceived the dark angel to be. The devil does not have horns or a tail, he has the face of man himself. I am always amazed at how the religious zealots seem to conveniently forget that Lucifer was the highest angel, an archangel, thrown out of heaven because of his arrogance and rebelliousness, not because he was a mad demon.

Pacino plays this character beautifully - he is sly, charismatic, chilling, and seductive all at once. One of my favorite scenes was the elevator scene where Milton bates Kevin's mother by calling her "Mrs. Lomax" and asking her slyly that "surely this wasn't her first trip to New York". Absolutely wicked! Then, as Milton casually wisks Kevin off to a night on the town at the Flamingo club and the boxing match (naturally Don King would have an alliance with Satan), I was mezmerized watching Milton weave his spell and reel Kevin smoothly into his web. Pacino's climaxtic argument is brilliant as he exclaims that he's a fan of man and why. As I watched Kevin's descent from Maryann,(Charlize Theron and Keanu had wonderful chemistry as a married couple),I was reminded of how we all make certain decisions then try to justify our actions later, usually with the precursor that, "It wasn't MY fault, it was the work of Satan... then, like Kevin, we make the same decisions over and over.

I thought Keanu Reeves was perfect as the cool, arrogant, hotshot attorney who knows that he is so...good. I am completely baffled by all the haters panning Keanu's acting, he did a great job. I thought the casting of all the actors were on point in this movie, everyone connected with each other and with their characters.

My only complaint is that the deleted scenes cannot not be viewed without the director's commentary. The sub-titles can't even be displayed. While this DVD has one of the best director's commentary's, it would be nice to have the option of watching the deleted scenes on their own since these scenes contribute to the continuity of the story and clear up questions a viewer may have. Overall, this movie is just outstanding!

A Guilty Pleasure
The story a lawyer who works for the devil, not as dumb as it sounds, in fact a surprisingly great movie. Both Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino in great roles.

It makes your stomach churn in two different ways.
"The Devil's Advocate" is one of those movies that you can't stop thinking about after it's finished. Scenes keep replaying through your head. It's a movie that makes you think, despite it's strange, fantasy-like plot-line. Al Pacino, without a doubt, delivers one of the best and most potent performances of his career. Keanu Reeves isn't up to his usual standard of acting, but he plays wooden characters very well. Once again, in "The Devil's Advocate", Keanu is wooden. That's alright though, it really doesn't take anything away from the story line. It doesn't matter who the director intended to be the movies main character; Pacino steals the show, but don't get me wrong. He has his competition.

Charlize Theron delivers a performance the caliber of which I didn't think she was capable. She portrays the stages of madness through which her character stumbles through very accurately, cryptically, and passionately. Her character (Keanu Reeves' wife) is slowly isolated and cut off from her husband through the doing Pacino, who uses the seven deadly sins to manipulate Keanu and keep him as far away from his wife as possible while at the same time manipulating her with a various assortment of devilish tricks.

The dialogue in this movie is incredible. The conversations in this movie alone are worth watching. Pacino generally has the most thought-provoking lines in the film, though Keanu's mother and Theron have their moments. I can't think of a single flaw in the character chemistry and interactions within this movie. It's perfect. Half the movie you feel your stomach writhing and twisting as you find yourself thinking and re-evaluating issues and aspects of your life you'd either forgotten about or taken for granted. These aren't the only time in which you'll feel your stomach doing helixes in your bowels, however.

For the other half of the movie, your insides will squirm with discomfort. This movie is one of the most R rated movies I've ever seen. Chalked full with graphic images including nudity, horror, blood/guts, violence and dialogue that includes some seriously disturbing topics, this movie becomes increasingly difficult to sit through as you go on. The director makes it very clear he's not sparing the viewer for anything. The camera rarely ever cuts or zooms in during the appropriate moments. Instead, he captures everything in startling detail. For instance, a suicide scene in which a character slits their throat is very, very graphic and terrifyingly realistic. Another scene of sequence of violence goes back and forth between Pacino talking about humans greed and a character in the movie being beaten to death by two demons (supposedly sent by Al Pacino). Other examples of disturbing images would be a series of scenes that feature Charlize Theron, one in which you see her completely nude with large gashes and slashes across her body, and another scene which could easily be classified as horror and is too difficult to really describe. It suffices to say that it involves Charlize Theron and a baby child within a conjured halucination of Pacino's; yet another way of driving Theron's character mad.

When these two elements combine, it makes for a compelling and thought provoking film pot-holed with graphic imagery and disturbing themes. Even the climax of the movie includes an impressive amount of nudity, sexual content and violence. Despite all of this though, "The Devil's Advocate" is a very worth-while and ultimately poweful film, if not completely comfortable to watch all the way through. I don't recommend this movie for family viewing or young children. It's a movie that you need to mentally prepare for, and perhaps have an "antidote" movie lined up, perhaps a good-hearted comedy. There is one more good thing I can say for this movie; it has a satisfying ending. It's a film where the ending could make or break the entire feel of the movie. If you're going to sit through a movie that feels twice as long as it is with the constant assaults on your senses and comfort with controversy, adult themes and disturbing images, you're holding out for a good ending. Well, without a doubt, "The Devil's Advocate" delivers. In short, this movie is worth seeing simply for it's thought-provoking dialogue and plot-line.

Will You Play The Expression?
Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) is a success in the courtroom and out of it. He's a young Florida defense attorney who has never lost a case. No matter how repugnant the crime, no matter how guilty the defendant, Kevin Lomax has the power to mesmerize the jury into accepting his arguments, buying into his logic, being convinced by his charisma; and freeing his clients. Soon after he has successfully won the case, where he defended an obviously guilty child molester, Lomax is invited to New York, where a powerful law firm has become aware of the Florida hotshot's acquittal record. Here he meets John Milton (Al Pacino), the founder and head of "Milton, Chadewick, Waters", a mysterious and powerful law firm with contacts and clients all over the world. It is this charismatic and charming man that opens the door to a completely different world; a world of luxury and pleasure, wealth and power; a world of endless possibilities. This is heaven on earth. But as Lomax tastes the power of being a wealthy New York attorney, something in him changes. Winning is no longer just a goal; it becomes an obsession. Soon he starts to realize that things are not what they seem to be; and all the things he once had and cared about -a happy marriage with Mary Ann (Charlize Theron), his relationship with his mother, all his happiness - everything disappear amidst the sparkling illusion of paradise. He suddenly realizes that Heaven and Hell can co-exist at the same place and at the same time.

I do not intend to reveal anything else, since all of the interesting surprises will be presented in the intense and inspiring climax. This is probably Reeves' best performance. He manages to create a believable character - a kind of example, a role model for the American way of life. Kevin's wife, Mary Ann, is most likely the hardest character to play, since she goes through a complex and difficult emotional evolution. From being strong, devoted and ambitious (a female copy of her husband) to vulnerable, hurt and on the verge of madness. Charlize Theron gracefully floats into this character. The most interesting of performances and characters is John Milton - the essence of Kevin Lomax's temptation. Al Pacino is nothing less than astonishing, an award worthy performance that is as good as anything seen this year.

An inspiring thriller, visually stunning as well as thought provoking, 'The Devil's Advocate' should be viewed with an open mind. ... Read more

Description

Housewife Lucy Chadman (Shelley Long of OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE and TV's CHEERS) comes to an untimely end while nibbling on an oriental chicken ball ... but says HELLO AGAIN when her wacky, mystical sister Zelda (Judith Ivey) brings her back from the great beyond! Only one year has passed but oh, how things have changed. Lucy's miraculous return creates laugh-filled pandemonium with everyone she re-encounters ... especially with her upwardly mobile husband (Corbin Bernsen, L.A. LAW) who is now wed to her "former" best friend!Suddenly solo, Lucy must piece together a new life -- in a riotous odyssey that bewitches her handsome doctor... bewilders her ex-husband ... and bedazzles both press and public alike! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Worth adding to your collection!
As a mother of two young children my husband and I often rely on our DVD collection for a night "at" the movies. Hello Again is just a cute film that the whole family can pile up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy.This movie may seem silly to some but hey sometimes a good movie is just that...silly. I love this film and have seen it many times over without growing tired of it. I am anxiously awaiting its release on DVD.

I love Hello Again!
This is one of my all-time favorites! Yeah it's cheesy, but it's so funny... you really can't take it seriously. I can practically recite the dialogue with the movie, I've seen it so many times... it's great! Shelley Long is hilarious in this role.

VERY cute and funny
I thought this movie was VERY funny. Shelley's death scene is quite a laugh. And of course the story premise is very fun. Not a bad film at all. What can I say! It's just very cute and funny. Very good for a Saturday/Sunday afternoon movie.

If I could give it less, I think I would
This has to be just about the worst movie I've ever sat through. I watched it because I couldn't take my eyes off Gabriel Byrne, who has beautiful eyes and a beautiful accent, but otherwise it was just terrible. It wasn't even bad in a funny way; I just felt embarassed.
The story was completely ridiculous. I'm generally willing to suspend disbelief, but the whole back-from-the-dead thing seemed singularly pointless. Implausibilities mounted like cars in a pile-up. The dialogue was so banal it was almost unbelievable. The problems facing our pair of lovers were so manufactured I expcted the seams of the film to tear every moment. You don't fire a good doctor because reporters are crowding the operating room. You ban the reporters from the hospital. And why did they have to tie up all loose ends by hooking up the protagonists sister with that millionaire?
Among the many bad performances, the sister had to be the most annoying of the lot, but Shelley Long was pretty awful too. Even Byrne wasn't great (how could he be, with those god-awful lines to say) but at least he wasn't embarrassing like the rest.

Hello Again
One of the funniest movies ever produced. Good for families as well as adult viewing. Did not get enough notice in the theatre when first released. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Since audiences are inclined to F/X spectacle, it was easy to understand the 1998 box-office battle between Armageddon and Deep Impact, which shared almost exactly the same premise. But two films about the now-obscure long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine? Without Limits and Prefontaine were in production at the same time, with the cheaper Prefontaine rushed into theaters in 1997 while Without Limits was held back until the fall of '98. As it turned out, neither movie scored a deep impact at the box office, but Without Limits is much more satisfying as a competent, heartfelt slice of sports history. Billy Crudup (a rising star who strongly resembles the film's producer, Tom Cruise, in both looks and intensity) plays Prefontaine, or "Pre," the mustachioed runner who blazed out of Coos Bay, Oregon, in the late 1960s. The movie grazes across the major events of Pre's career at the University of Oregon, where he blew away the competition and positioned himself as the leading American runner (and a charismatic hunk) going into the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich--that star-crossed competition at which Arab terrorists kidnapped and killed members of the Israeli team. Though the film suffers from some of the built-in problems of the true-life biopic, director Robert Towne (who earlier made a remarkable track-and-field picture, Personal Best) captures the texture of the athletes' world. Acting honors go to Donald Sutherland, turning in an emotional performance as coach Bill Bowerman; while tutoring Pre, Bowerman was tinkering with some waffle-soled running shoes, a hobby that later became a little company called Nike. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (75)

I wished this had better Box Office

It's a shame this movie didn't have wider exposure. It didn't even come to a theatre close to us...I think it played in Dallas, but that's 120 miles one way.

I am a fan of middle distance running...and I'm from the 60's so I remember the impact Steve Prefontaine had on the sport...and I mourned his passing like many others.

This movie is worth watching even if you're not really into track and field...it's a story about a man with a gift. He was talented, difficult, and most of all, true to himself at all times. I wish I had know Pre...I know I would have liked him a lot!

Hat off to Tom Cruise, who produced this tribute to the elusive "Pre."

I am going to purchase this movie and put it up there with my copy of "Running Brave." It's that good. Enjoy!

Take two, a little smoother
I give this movie four stars for general moviegoers, most of whom did not bother to see either this version or the earlier "Prefontaine" the first time in theaters -- probably for reasons sufficient to them.

People who run long distance, who love Steve Prefontaine and/or what he stood for, are throwing stars at both of these movies for those reasons, I suspect, not for the movies as artifacts in themselves. Since I attended Prefontaine's high school a number of years later, I met him my first week of school, I ran long distance and even posted faster two-mile times then Pre as a freshman and sophomore, and I was in the Marshfield stadium when his running colleagues carried the coffin onto the field for a memorial service before the body was taken to its final resting place south of town, I fight to retain some objectivity myself.

"Without Limits" is coach Bill Bowerman's, fellow runner Kenny Moore's, and a particular Pre girlfriend's version of the story, gussied up by screenwriter Robert Towne. Towne has done incredible work in the past ("Chinatown," for instance), but I thought his other Eugene, Oregon/distance running story, "Personal Best," stunk. This one is better.

Crudup does a good job of playing Pre; I think "Prefontaine"'s Leto barely edges him for looks. "Without Limits" does a slicker, big screen presentation compared to the earlier film's home movie/documentary style, which is why I think it might appeal more to the average moviegoer who doesn't know anything about Pre or doesn't care about distance running. They're just different approaches to the same basic story ... and probably equally wrong in many of the details. (Prefontaine's parents were in on the earlier film, and supplied the makers with actual home movie footage of Pre as a child.)

I'm delighted that any film got made about this man, let alone two; I'm gratified if either movie has served to inspire younger runners; but I think it's ridiculous to argue that one or the other "really" captures the man. Just enjoy them for what they are, and cherish the memory of an incredible athlete.

Stupendous movie, uninspired DVD
"Without Limits" does indeed go beyond a typical sports movie by being both an inspirational story and a character study. All of the acting is superb, especially Crudup and Sutherland. The scene in which Pre blatantly ignores Bowerman's mandate to sit back during most of the race and let the front runner wear himself out is especially good. It's funny, revealing of both characters, and just has that right level of inspiration (you can ignore the rules and win out of sheer guts) without being sappy.

I've seen "Prefontaine," the other movie about Pre's life, and I can't say that I was impressed. Some reviewers claim that it is more factual. Perhaps that is the case, but "Prefontaine" is not a well made movie. It also takes on extra baggage that distracts from the story. For example, in one scene they show Pre making snide comments about anti-war protesters. Was Pre a hawk? Did he ever express an opinion about war? I have no idea. But as a college athlete it would have been exceptionally hypocritical to have such an opinion when his status as an athlete allowed him to stay out of the military.

"Without LImits" doesn't get bogged down in these unimportant side issues. Instead, it focuses on Pre's fight against the AAU, the governing track and field organization which was so obviously taking advantage of athletes at the time.

Prefontaine once said, "Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts." That about sums up the spirit of this movie.

While the movie is great, the DVD is nothing special. I can't figure out why movie studios make great movies like this and then slap them on a DVD with "extras" that include sub-titles at that's it. If there was ever a DVD that should have had extras this one was it - short documentaries on the real Prefontaine, how the movie was filmed, interviews with people who knew Pre, those who were fans at the time, archival footage. This could have been a stupendous DVD with lots of entertaining, educational and inspirational extras. Maybe they'll release an updated version - because this movie deserves it.

THIS IS THE GREATEST MOVIES EVER
I think that is the greatest movies ever the actor looks almost the same as Pre i would have never became such a big Pre fan as i am now i watch this movie before all of my running races and it really motvates me to do my best and because of this movie i ran my hardest and my team on the Championship and i got fourth nothing compared to Pre but it is a start i have to say he is my biggest role model and I give this movies millions of thumbs up

Sean McClory
#1 Steve Prefontaine fan

Without Limits
This is a must-have movie for all middle and long-distance runners. It's history of a legend that every runner should know about. Absolutely and sublimely awe-inspiring.
After the ordinary person has seen this film it WILL make then want to go out and and start running!
And after a runner has seen this movie they will want to be like 'Pre' and win the Olympics!!!
It also shows us the origins of the sports brand Nike and the superb knowledge and class of a legendary coach in Bill Bowerman.

BUY IT! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Hilariously Funny!!!!
This is a funny movie from start to finish it is about Gene Wilder and his friends as they cheat on their mates and the consequences that they pay for doing this it stars Gene Wilder, Kelly LeBrock, and Gene's wife Gilda Radner this movie is good from start to finish I love this whole movie this is a hilariously funny I love it and I enjoy it so therefore I would reccommend anyone who likes Gene Wilder to buy this video because it is so funny and you will enjoy it is so very funny and I would reccommend anyone who likes comedy to purchase it this movie will make you laugh from beginning to end!!!!

Still Entertaining
I have seen "The Woman In Red" back in the 80's, and I just bought the DVD recently when it came out. Watching it again did not seem as joyful as it did 15 years ago. Anyway, it was worth watching.

Special Treat
There is a cool little thing that happens in this movie and you won't want to miss it. They show Kelly LeBrock's bush.

Magical, Musical Mayhem......
LeBrock & Wilder, the most unlikely of couples are thrown together through a tram-re-launch advertising campaign, run by Wilder. Wilder with his spark of romance long extinguished through his 'very ordinary' marriage to Judith Ivey and his fashion sense lodged 10 years in the past embarks on a comedy of errors as he attempts to woo the sparkling LeBrock. The supporting cast are superb as a constant supply of fuel for Wilders amazing comedic skills. His observation of the male ego when it comes into contact with a beautiful woman is incisive and uncomfortably familiar. With an accompanying soundtrack by the legendary Stevie Wonder, this movie stands out as one of the unsung heroes of the eighties, the irony being that 'I just called to say I love you' was one of the most sung hits of the decade. A valued addition to any Video collection, which should be visited on regular basis.

Bright, breeezy, BEAUTIFUL!
An excellent comedy which makes the most out of Gene Wilder's considerable comic talent. THE WOMAN IN RED is a charming, simple romp following the adventures of shy Teddy who is infatuated with a beautiful model (Le Brock - so who can blame him! )Wilder is just so funny from when he shows himself as the world's worst horserider (who used to teach it to earn pocket money, of course!), to throwing a mock tantrum in his bath or verbalising his pseudonym (Irving...Julius Irving) to a hotel keeper. The picture remains a treasure with fine visual gags and Stevie Wonder's fabulous theme song "I Just Called To Say I Love You." So, if you need an added sparkle in your day see it...or see it again! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Racey topics aside
This is rated PG 13 but I would advise against having your 12/13 year old daughter watch it. There is much talk of male masturbation. If you let her watch be prepared for a LONG talk afterwards! :-)

Aside from that, it is a great movie that exudes love, desire and real life. The acting is superb. This is one of the best Neal Simon movies ever, I think.

From Stag to Screen
If this was the first time I had ever seen "Brighton Beach Memoirs" I might be impressed, but it's not so I'm not. I saw the play on stag and I have to say that is so much better in real life. The movie really wasn't that bad, but the stag will always be my first love.

so good to see this back!
I have seen BOTH vhs and dvd versions of this classic and i pick the vhs version hands down. the audio on the dvd is pathetic! I bought the dvd and the color is sepia-like. Tell universal to keep vhs alive. It IS superior.

Threre's no choice better than jon silverman for eugene.
He really made it a COMEDY.

A Comedy-Drama Masterpiece
Five stars for the story; four stars for the DVD only because I cannot fathom why - with all the advancing technology and options available - any DVD theatrical release would not be offered in a wide-screen format. Otherwise this has to be the best Neil Simon work I have ever seen. Although I am from a much newer generation, I could identify easily with many of the characters, both from similar personal experiences, and from the culture within which I was raised. I would highly recommend this film, but only to true drama fans (of any age) and to older generations who have lived the times portrayed in this delightful romp. There is mild adult content, so be wary if you allow your young teens to watch. This is one of those rare classics that never received the publicity it deserved on the big screen; but then it can only appeal to a certain audience. If you feel like going out on a limb and watching something different or you want to conjure up old memories of yester-year, then by all means watch this film and enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Yow!
This film is supposed to be comedy, but Martin's character comes across as just plain creepy... I was hoping that a ten-ton safe would fall on the Larry Hubbard character, or that Godzilla would suddenly appear and turn him into a pile of smoking cinders with a jetlike column of fire. That way, he would be put out of his misery and it would be easier to sympathize with him.

As it were, the Hubbard character comes across like a sexless zombie in a double-knit suit. Watching this film was as frustrating as watching a three week schedule of Roadrunner cartoons 24/7. Even "Dumb and Dumber" had at least a few redeeming qualities.

As of this writing, you can get a used dvd copy of this on amazon for about $9.00. My suggestion would be to throw your money into the gutter instead, because it will be a lot more entertaining and a lot less waste of time.

The Lonely Guy a great rare unseen comedy with Steve Martin
Steve Martin , the great comedian who has starred
in a dozen or so great comedies, stars as Larry Hubbard,
an aspiring writer, who after finding his girl in bed
with another guy becomes "The Lonely Guy".

Hubbard, then goes out on his own in New York City, and
find the right place for himself to live in , along
with trying to find the right girl for him. However,
comic mishaps prevent Larry from doing this, all the while
though, Larry from his experiences as a lonely guy in
New York, will use this for a best seller he is writing
revolving around lonely guys.

"The Lonely Guy" is both a laughfest, and a charming,
sentimental movie about love.

The laughs come in when we see Larry trying to find
an apartment in New York.

He first sees a high class apartment, but then narrates
that looks can be deceiving as, these kind
of apartment have a high crime rate. Then seconds
a guy gets shot and tells Larry: "Don't move
in bad neighboorhood". LOL

Then when Larry starts looking for an apartment, he
decides he wants one with a view of the river.
However, when he looks out of the window of one
of the apartments, he sees that windows is the river!!!
As he sees goldfish, and other fish, swim across
the window!!! LOL

When Larry finally gets settled he meets a man
named Warren Evans (Charles Grodin) a lonely
guy who is contemplating suicide. Larry prevents
Warren from doing this and the 2 become good
friends.

Seeing his skill in dealing with lonely guys, Larry
plans his book based on the subject. However, he
himself feels depressed while writing it, since
he doesn't have a woman.

Larry then goes on a mission (with both comical
and good results) to find the right woman.

He meets Iris (Judith Ivey) a great woman, but
with a troubled past. Will Larry , the lonely guy, find the right woman? See it to find out. There are great funny cameos by Dr. Joyce Brothers, and Merv Griffin, who take a great interest in the writer/ lonely guy.

Other comical scenes involved Larry trying to find
the right dog, to past those lonely nights.

The movie is hard to find, and out of print, but
it's worth searching for.
Overall it's a great comedy, Martin and Grodin,
give exceptional performances, again showing their
comedic talents.

love this movie!
I laugh my ass off at the scene where grodin and martin hold a dinner party with cardboard cutouts! funny! This is a great film if you're a steve martin fan,and charles grodin`s deadpan delivery is funny too.

Steve Martin at his finest.
This is right up there with The Jerk and dead men don't wear Plaid as one of Steve Martins best ever films. Steve along with Charles Grodin tell an exadurated and hillarious story of what it's like to be a "single guy" it's funny it's romantic... it's everything a movie should be!!

Most box sets are like a box of chocolates (not here)!
There is usually one that is ether exceptional or the one that won't sell. Well you are in luck as none of these movies are the exceptional type. Steve Martin has done some outstanding work. None of which is in this set. There are moments that are worth watching. However the moments are not worth wading through the rest of these films. My guess is that you may appreciate this set if you like stand-alone comics. They are more like long skits than movies.
This set includes "The Jerk", " The Lonely Guy", and " Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" If you like " Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" you may like "What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966) - Dubbed in English" ASIN: 6304785801 ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great Story, Great Actors
I was wonderfully surprised with this movie. It ran the gambit of emotions for me: laughing, crying... Frankie Muniz and Mathew Modine were EXCELLENT in their roles. The rest of the cast was great as well. The story was interesting all along and you felt warmth and compassion for the 'deaf man' as he grew in stature.

I've recommended this to anyone who'd listen. Good job!!!!!

VHS Much Better
I was waiting for the DVD format to become available as I loved this movie and was wearing out my tape from rewinding and fast forwarding to my favorite scenes.

The VHS version contains interviews with the actors and behind the scenes making of the movie footage. I guess I expected that if footage was on the video, then it would be in the DVD. Boy was I wrong.

The DVD version was good quality, but contained no extras whatsoever. So if you are like me and hoping to replace your VHS with the DVD, you'll be disappointed. Now I have two copies of this movie depending on if I just want to see a particular scene or the behind the scenes footage. I guess the VCR is sticking around a little while longer.

Not a good representative of the Deaf population
Even though the movie is touching, it doesn't represent the Deaf population. Many of them have told me that it is a good movie and wants me to watch it but they do not understand that it is not anything to do with the culture of the Deaf. If you want to understand the Deaf culture, watch the appropriate videotape such as "Children of a Lesser God" or "Love is Never Silent." I would heartily recommended this movie.

Charming, funny, and touching
What the Deaf Man Heard is a poignantly funny story about a boy abandoned on a bus by his mother (telling you why spoils part of the plot), who tells him not to talk to anyone. When he reaches the end of the bus line, he doesn't talk, so the everyone in the town assumes that he is deaf and dumb. The bus station manager (Tom Skerrit) allows him to live at the bus station and becomes his surrogate father. There are too many funny parts to mention here, but as the events leading up to the boy, now a man (Matthew Modine), revealing that he really can hear and talk are funny and touching. James Earl Jones is fantastic (as always) as the only person in town to figure out the truth, though he keeps the secret for his own purposes. You'll laugh, you'll cry. It's better than Cats. You'll want to see it again and again.

Outstanding!
This is a show to be viewed by all, both young and old, big and small. It accentuates on kindness, hidden secrets, love, loyalty and don't forget, determination. I was impressed with it's quality and with it's humor and sentiment. I have only seen it once, when it was shown on television, but it has stayed with me for years, and will continue to be a desired DVD to add to our library. ... Read more

Description

Fed up with her small-town New England life in a dead-end job and an embarrassing mother, nineteen-year-old Alice (Emily Grace) takes off in her car and heads down to Florida.Not long into her escape, things go horribly wrong and her car eventually breaks down on the highway.Two Good Samaritans (Judith Ivey, Bill Raymond) seem to appear out of nowhere and offer to drive Alice the rest of the way.Bill and Sandra are two middle-aged retirees traveling the country in their RV.Sandra takes Alice in, as if she were her own daughter, and Alice happily accepts this surrogate family. But as the highway miles slowly pass, Alice begins noticing some strange things.She soon figures out that things aren't always what they seem to be. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Directors Sidney Lumet, Alan J. Pakula, Sydney Pollack, and NormanJewison astutely documented the political pulse ofthe '60s and '70s with such films as Prince of the City, The Parallax View,Three Days of the Condor, and In the Heat of the Night. Lumet and Jewison havecarried their cinematic social consciousness into their past two decades of filmmaking as well. In Country (1989) is Jewison's mournful look at oneAmerican family's struggle to survive the aftermath of Vietnam. The film is based on Bobbie Ann Mason's bookand it was Bruce Willis's first effort tobreak out of his Moonlighting and Die Hard mold by tackling the dramaticallydark role of Emmett, a Vietnam veteran whose flashbacks of battle horrorhave pushed him into isolation from the world. His niece, Samantha (Emily Lloyd),lost her dad in the war, and these two unlikely people form a bond based on apast Emmett can't escape and a future that looms bright and beautiful forSamantha. What Jewison does best is evoke the sense of hope that was once held by theforgotten survivors of that terrible war. InCountry ambitiously struggles to pull all of its threads together, and while this is a wonderful character study, it has a messy, meanderingstructure that never quite gels or answers thequestions it poses. Yet there's no denying that the climactic closing sceneshave a poignancy and power that will bring tears to anyone watching. --Paula Nechak ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A Simple Movie With a Powerful Message
In Country is one of my all-time favorite movies. The plot to the movie is simple enough--a teenage girl who's just graduated from high school is wanting to find out more about the Vietnam War and about her father who died in the war before she was born. The movie quickly becomes so much more. You find yourself truly caring about these characters and what they went through in Vietnam. Bruce Willis does an exceptional job playing the young girl's "mentally alienated" uncle. The movie is really about the importance of family and the bonds that last beyond the grave. The ending is so powerful that it leaves me in tears every time.

bruce willis hogs the movie...give emily some movie time
A good attempt at post war but failed in many ways. the past faze shots are so fake its unbelieveable. ...the best post vietnam is 'born on the forth'. NOT this movie. Bruce Willis plays a Vet but the acting was overdone that it look fake. It works for DIEHARD, but not here. The part is beyond him as he tries to get all the attention, as well as screen shots. Emily Lloyd didnt get enough time thanks to the almighty bruce demand to be the center of attention. The ending is somewhat touching but the rest is boring and a waste of time. Save ur time and money by watching Born on the Forth.

take care all

Tough for Viet Nam Vets
While I agree with other reviewers that this movie has some serious structural and dramatic defects, Willis' performance and character effectively capture much of the discomfort, ambiguity, sadness and displacement of returning Viet Nam veterans. I am one, and this movie is one of the few which accurately captures those feelings without apology, caraciture or political agenda. If only for this, it's an important movie, although not really "enjoyable" to watch or comfortable for Viet vets.

Good movie, lackluster DVD
This is one of those movies best seen on a lazy Sunday afternoon with nothing else to do. It is a thoughtful character study that creeps up on you and really gets under the skin.

Bruce Willis wisely downplays all of his usual acting schtick (much like he did in Terry Gilliam's Twelve Monkeys). He delivers a truly heartfelt performance as an emotionally damaged Vietnam veteran. Pay close attention to what he does in this movie -- he uses his very expressive face to convey a wide spectrum of emotions that brings across the inner turmoil that is going on in his character.

In Country is told from the perspective of Emily Lloyd's character. She is a naive, young girl who wants to know more about the war that took her father away from her and can't understand why her father's friends are so unwilling to talk about their experiences. This is her best performance of her, so-far, short career.

But, let's be honest, this film belongs to Willis and deservedly so. He's the kind of actor who needs a strong director to reign him in and Norman Jewison is that kind of a filmmaker. He really gets a wonderful performance out of Willis that is wrenching, funny, sad and everything in between.

This an excellent character-driven film set in small-town America much like the equally underappreciated Robert De Niro-Ed Harris drama, Jacknife. In Country examines how war not only effects those who fought in it but also the people around them after they return home.

Sadly, the DVD has nothing in the way of extras (a commentary track by Jewison or the book's author, Bobbie Ann Mason, would have been nice) and is also presented in pan and scanned mode. Too bad.

worst movie about vietnam ever
this movie is so full of horrible acting, idiotic writing, and pathetic southern accents that I forgot I was watching a movie about vietnam veterans. the movie bastardizes what should be a solemn moment- when the hillbilly family visits The Wall while discussing barbeque for lunch. I am from Kentucky and I do not know anyone who speaks the ways these idiots do; i noticed in the credits that they had a dialect coach whom I hope is out of a job! Samantha is so full of annoying energy you don't even get the feeling that she is affected by her dad's death- she speaks about it at the dinner table with her grandparents while smiling and passing the mashed potatoes and gravy! did this actress have any clue what the movie was about? the battle scenes look like they took place at someone's lake house, not the in the jungle. to say the movie is oversentimental and trite is an understatement. bruce willis serves no purpose in this movie except to remind you it's about a veteran, not just about his hick niece who jogs all over town and dreams about going to the mall someday. to sum it all up, this movie is not about the pain left from the vietnam war. it is about who can do the worst accent, yell "woo hoo" the most times, and make the most obvious stereotypical references to southern culture. this movie is an utter joke. i threw it in the trash after i saw it, and have resumed my pledge to never watch another bruce willis movie again- or any movie with the other actors/writers/directors. I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to watch and make fun of one of the most hideous movies ever made, if it were not for the fact that it is about supposed to be about such a serious topic-vietnam. ... Read more

Description

15-year-old Eugene Jerome is desperately trying to uncover life's mysteries, but his family keeps hiding the clues. Even so, he manages to keep his priorities--baseball and girls--firmly in order throughout Neil Simon's hilarious adaptation of his Broadway hit about growing up in Brooklyn during the late 1930's. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Racey topics aside
This is rated PG 13 but I would advise against having your 12/13 year old daughter watch it. There is much talk of male masturbation. If you let her watch be prepared for a LONG talk afterwards! :-)

Aside from that, it is a great movie that exudes love, desire and real life. The acting is superb. This is one of the best Neal Simon movies ever, I think.

From Stag to Screen
If this was the first time I had ever seen "Brighton Beach Memoirs" I might be impressed, but it's not so I'm not. I saw the play on stag and I have to say that is so much better in real life. The movie really wasn't that bad, but the stag will always be my first love.

so good to see this back!
I have seen BOTH vhs and dvd versions of this classic and i pick the vhs version hands down. the audio on the dvd is pathetic! I bought the dvd and the color is sepia-like. Tell universal to keep vhs alive. It IS superior.

Threre's no choice better than jon silverman for eugene.
He really made it a COMEDY.

A Comedy-Drama Masterpiece
Five stars for the story; four stars for the DVD only because I cannot fathom why - with all the advancing technology and options available - any DVD theatrical release would not be offered in a wide-screen format. Otherwise this has to be the best Neil Simon work I have ever seen. Although I am from a much newer generation, I could identify easily with many of the characters, both from similar personal experiences, and from the culture within which I was raised. I would highly recommend this film, but only to true drama fans (of any age) and to older generations who have lived the times portrayed in this delightful romp. There is mild adult content, so be wary if you allow your young teens to watch. This is one of those rare classics that never received the publicity it deserved on the big screen; but then it can only appeal to a certain audience. If you feel like going out on a limb and watching something different or you want to conjure up old memories of yester-year, then by all means watch this film and enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Huge Stoltz fan
He played the killer part well enough to keep me In suspense the whole time.

SHE SEES DEAD PEOPLE...
This is a spooky, southern gothic film about two sisters, both haunted by their pasts. Living together in an exquisite, antebellum mansion in the bayou of Louisiana, the Bonnard sisters struggle to meet each day as it comes, running a bed and breakfast. One sister, Lucy (Jennifer Jason Leigh), is somewhat fey and seems to need a reality check. The older of the two, Charlotte (Judith Ivey) is the more grounded sister. Or is she?

Together, they run the bed and breakfast with the help of a hunky handyman and childhood friend, Etienne (Benjamin Mouton), who is sweet on Lucy, despite Charlotte's watchful eye. Charlotte also has someone sweet on her, the local sheriff, Cleve Doucet (Dennis Lipscomb), whom she is on the verge of losing, because for some inexplicable reason she refuses to marry him. One day, Matt Rutledge (Eric Stolz) arrives at the Bonnard bed and breakfast, where he is to be a guest. He, too, seems smitten by the lovely, ethereal Lucy, much to Charlotte's consternation and Etienne's annoyance.

What follows is a series of macabre events, fueled by secrets of the past and misguided perceptions. While the plot is engaging, parts of it are a little over the top. Still, it is so well done that it keeps the viewer riveted to the screen. Terrific performances are given by all, with those of Jennifer Jason Leigh and Benjamin Mouton being especially fine. The ending is also particularly memorable. Shrouded in the mists of the Louisiana bayou, it is a vindication of Lucy's visions and a fitting memoriam to love everlasting. This is a film well worth viewing. Those who enjoyed that other southern gothic, "The Gift", will, undoubtedly, enjoy this one, as well.

review of sister sister
this is one of my favorite movies growing up, and i cant find this movie anywhere. since the movie is based in the south, and i'm from the south i just love it.

Haunting
Very pleased with this movie Sound and picture quality are very good. It cost me a fortune to purchase but it is rare and out of print at the moment.

Excellent Southern Gothic
Long before he won an Oscar for writing Gods and Monsters, Bill Condon showed his talent with Sister, Sister -- an atmospheric slice of Southern Gothic suspense that deals with two sisters who run a hotel, a swamp that holds many ghosts, and the prerequisite deep dark secrets of the past. If you really waste your time deeply analyzing the plot, it won't make a bit of sense by waste your time doing something as silly as that? With excellent performances from Judith Ivey, Dennis Burkley, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Eric Stoltz, this is one of the most entertaining, low budget horror films that I have ever seen. This movie was made before Leigh and Stoltz achieved their current levels of fame and is recommended to anyone who knows them only from their more recent, more commercial films. ... Read more

Description

Child Safety is a timely and informative one-hour home-videocassette that provides new and useful information for parents, children and their caregivers about keeping children safe. More American children die each year from accidental injuries than from all childhood illnesses combined.

Child Safety, hosted and narrated by award-winning Broadway, film and television actress Judith Ivey, allows adults to view unsafe situations from the child's point-of-view. The program uses state-of-the-art electronic graphics to illustrate and reinforce important points for children to remember in a variety of potentially dangerous situations – staying home alone, riding on bikes or in cars, playing at home or in school, connecting to strangers on the computer, and living in homes with guns.

Child Safety shares with families the latest research on keeping safe, the real-life stories of three families whose children survived life-threatening injuries, and the experience of experts who work with children of all ages from infants to teens. Each segment also offers a safety checklist for parents. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It doesn't do it for me
This film doesn't do it for me. Except for Kelly Ripa who was wonderful in her role. The film was very self indulgent.

A sweet movie about following your dreams
Bought this film because I am a fan of Kelly ripa's and she is very good, but I was touched by the dear little film that shows the very difficult aspect of trying to make it as an actor.

I REALLY enjoyed the subplot including the wonderful performance of A Differnt World's Lou Myers, as the former Negro League baseall player that the main character befriends in the nursing home. He was funny brash and poignant.

Photography was nothing special, many medium shots, but just a sweet tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. ... Read more

Description

In this finely crafted comedy of errors, the life of upper-middle-class suburbanites is portrayed with humor and poignancy. John Cheever's The Shady Hill Kidnapping revolves around the alleged abduction of young Toby Wooster; an event that jolts the complacent and well-fed suburb of Shady Hill into surprising action. A fake kidnappers’ note, a community fundraising campaign to raise the ransom money, a police stakeout at the railroad station, and George Wooster’s reluctant decision to build the town’s 34th kidney-shaped swimming pool are some of the outlandish events found in this "hilarious and touching satire" (Time Magazine). A superb cast includes Emmy®-winners George Grizzard (Wonder Boys) and Polly Holliday ("Alice") and Oscar®-winner Celeste Holm (All About Eve). ... Read more

Description

Brian Roberts (Robbie Bryan) has it all... a beautiful girlfriend (Kelly Ripa), a promising law career, and a loving family. There is just one problem: his lifelong dream of becoming an actor. When a college professor convinces Brian to follow his dreams, he risks everything and moves to New York. Can Brian capture his dream and win back the love of his life? The Stand-In is based on the true story of a struggling actor, Robbie Brian ("Brian Roberts" in the film ) who found a living as a stand-in for Michael J. Fox ("Mitchell K. Wolf" in the film). ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It doesn't do it for me
This film doesn't do it for me. Except for Kelly Ripa who was wonderful in her role. The film was very self indulgent.

A sweet movie about following your dreams
Bought this film because I am a fan of Kelly ripa's and she is very good, but I was touched by the dear little film that shows the very difficult aspect of trying to make it as an actor.

I REALLY enjoyed the subplot including the wonderful performance of A Differnt World's Lou Myers, as the former Negro League baseall player that the main character befriends in the nursing home. He was funny brash and poignant.

Photography was nothing special, many medium shots, but just a sweet tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. ... Read more