Amazon.com

When you start watching Racing Stripes, you may not be prepared for how unbelievably cute a young zebra is. A travelling circus accidently abandons an adorably helpless zebra in the middle of Kentucky on a stormy night. Fortunately, the wee zebra is found by Nolan Walsh (Bruce Greenwood, The Sweet Hereafter), a brilliant horse trainer who's given up his calling after a riding accident that killed his wife. His daughter Channing (Hayden Panettiere, Raising Helen) names the zebra Stripes and, before you know it, Stripes has grown to young adulthood and is aching to race at a nearby track. Thus begins a fairly formulaic triumph-over-adversity tale combined with talking animals--but Racing Stripes understands its formula and executes it without any pretensions. It doesn't hit the bullseye struck by Babe (an earlier triumph-over-adversity tale combined with talking animals), and there are bad puns and gags aplenty, but Greenwood's solid presence gives the movie an unexpected emotional fullness. Featuring a bizarre assortment of voices for the animals, including Whoopi Goldberg, Dustin Hoffman, Frankie Muniz, Mandy Moore, Joe Pantoliano (as a Mafioso pelican), Steve Harvey, David Spade, and Snoop Dogg. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Perfect Family Entertainment!
Racing Stripes is actually a lot more entertaining and funny than I had expected. The story of a circus zebra(Stripes) adopted by a corn farmer/ex-race horse trainer Nolan Walsh(Bruce Greenwood), and eventually became a race horse when Channing Walsh(Hayden Panettiere) learned that it was a fast runner after riding it to work. At first, Nolan was reluctant to let his daughter to get into the race, because he feared that it was dangerous and that Stripes wasn't good enough. Soon the animals in the barn came up with a plan to convince him that Stripes was the perfect race horse, and deserved to be trained.

The talking animals featured the voices of some well-known stars including Mandy Moore(Sandy the horse), Frankie Muntz(Stripes), Whoopi Goldberg, and Dustin Hoffman.

It's a very good family film, and both Greenwood and Panettiere were wonderful and touching. The special feature has an alternative ending, and the Making Of that shows the voice-over and animation/special effects.

Fun, entertaining movie...
I went into this movie not expecting much out of it. I actually enjoyed it so much, that I watched it a second time with my boyfriend. Many reviews said that it's a movie only aimed at kids and doesn't really have much to offer for the older audiences, and this review is to tell you that it's not true. I watched it with four adults and we all enjoyed it immensely. Give it a shot!

Almost as Good as "Babe"
This is the story of a zebra named Stripes who is accidentally left behind by a traveling circus during a storm.He is raised by a former racing horse trainer and his daughter and grows up believing that he is a racing horse and has a strong desire to become one of the greatest.

Positives:
1)Talking animals.If you liked "Babe" and the talking animals in "Dr. Doolittle" (the Eddie Murphy version) then you'll love the talking animals in "Racing Stripes".They do a great job, even when trying to convey emotion.
2)Pulls at the Heart-Strings.This isn't just a story of a zebra who wants to be a racing horse.There are so many other plots and sub-plots.By the end, they all get resolved, everybody is happy, and those who deserve to be pooped upon are done so by a gangster pelican.
3)Good message.The overriding theme of the movie is one of my favorites: if you want something then work hard to get it.
4)Good acting.With the exception of Wendie Malick (was she supposed to be THAT way over-the-top?), the acting by the human characters was quite good and believable.The emotional range of Hayden Panettiere is pitch-perfect for every occasion of the film.

Negatives:
1)Far too many adult jokes.Some of the humor of this movie was too grown-up.And if they were trying to be subtle with it, they did a horrible job with it.It was one thing to imply a swear-word, but to actually use one is another matter.

If it weren't for the adult jokes, I would recommend this for the entire family.But I even felt uncomfortable having my eight year old watch it.I would recommend watching this with your family if all the children are pass their elementary school years.

A Great Flick For Kids!
Racing Stripes is a wonderfully, funny, family film. Children and adults will find themselves giggling at silly, comedic acts, while being drawn into the film through a heartwarming story about a girl and her pet zebra, Stripes.

They really could've tried a little harder.
Racing Stripes (Frederick Du Chau, 2005)

Watching Racing Stripes with me is rather like watching Jurassic Park with a paleontologist. It's probably not going to be a pleasant experience. I'm rather surprised the actual Turfway Park hasn't sued for defamation of character. (At least they put it in the correct state.) Don't get me started on jockey licensing, Thoroughbred breeding, and the hundred other little details overlooked by the movie, though I have to say none of them compared to turning the gorgeous Turfway Park, one of America's most beautiful racetracks (which, it should be noted, ironically doesn't have a turf course), into a county fair bullring. At least they didn't call it Keeneland.

Okay. Now put aside all the technical stuff that's wrong with the movie. Is it any good from a layman's point of view? Well, it's not bad, mostly because of the voice talent. Such actors as Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, Frankie Muniz, Fred Dalton Thompson, and a number of other big names lent their voices to animals here with lovely results. The human actors, on the other hand, are to a person bad. Even the normally enjoyable Bruce Greenwood and the normally fantastic M. Emmett Walsh are bland and insipid here.

But even if the voice talent is good, it's not running on much that's worthwhile. One reviewer called it "Babe in stripes," and that's pretty much what it comes down to-- fish (erm, pig-- no, wait, zebra) out of water has to try and fit in among those who are different from him. But where Babe approached the idea with freshness, originality, and an innocent sweetness that approached fairy tale-quality, Racing Stripes just seems like a slightly degenerated retread; it's probably serviceable, but don't go for long drives in the desert, or it might blow on you far, far away from civilization. ** ½ ... Read more

Amazon.com

When you start watching Racing Stripes, you may not be prepared for how unbelievably cute a young zebra is. A travelling circus accidently abandons an adorably helpless zebra in the middle of Kentucky on a stormy night. Fortunately, the wee zebra is found by Nolan Walsh (Bruce Greenwood, The Sweet Hereafter), a brilliant horse trainer who's given up his calling after a riding accident that killed his wife. His daughter Channing (Hayden Panettiere, Raising Helen) names the zebra Stripes and, before you know it, Stripes has grown to young adulthood and is aching to race at a nearby track. Thus begins a fairly formulaic triumph-over-adversity tale combined with talking animals--but Racing Stripes understands its formula and executes it without any pretensions. It doesn't hit the bullseye struck by Babe (an earlier triumph-over-adversity tale combined with talking animals), and there are bad puns and gags aplenty, but Greenwood's solid presence gives the movie an unexpected emotional fullness. Featuring a bizarre assortment of voices for the animals, including Whoopi Goldberg, Dustin Hoffman, Frankie Muniz, Mandy Moore, Joe Pantoliano (as a Mafioso pelican), Steve Harvey, David Spade, and Snoop Dogg. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Perfect Family Entertainment!
Racing Stripes is actually a lot more entertaining and funny than I had expected. The story of a circus zebra(Stripes) adopted by a corn farmer/ex-race horse trainer Nolan Walsh(Bruce Greenwood), and eventually became a race horse when Channing Walsh(Hayden Panettiere) learned that it was a fast runner after riding it to work. At first, Nolan was reluctant to let his daughter to get into the race, because he feared that it was dangerous and that Stripes wasn't good enough. Soon the animals in the barn came up with a plan to convince him that Stripes was the perfect race horse, and deserved to be trained.

The talking animals featured the voices of some well-known stars including Mandy Moore(Sandy the horse), Frankie Muntz(Stripes), Whoopi Goldberg, and Dustin Hoffman.

It's a very good family film, and both Greenwood and Panettiere were wonderful and touching. The special feature has an alternative ending, and the Making Of that shows the voice-over and animation/special effects.

Fun, entertaining movie...
I went into this movie not expecting much out of it. I actually enjoyed it so much, that I watched it a second time with my boyfriend. Many reviews said that it's a movie only aimed at kids and doesn't really have much to offer for the older audiences, and this review is to tell you that it's not true. I watched it with four adults and we all enjoyed it immensely. Give it a shot!

Almost as Good as "Babe"
This is the story of a zebra named Stripes who is accidentally left behind by a traveling circus during a storm.He is raised by a former racing horse trainer and his daughter and grows up believing that he is a racing horse and has a strong desire to become one of the greatest.

Positives:
1)Talking animals.If you liked "Babe" and the talking animals in "Dr. Doolittle" (the Eddie Murphy version) then you'll love the talking animals in "Racing Stripes".They do a great job, even when trying to convey emotion.
2)Pulls at the Heart-Strings.This isn't just a story of a zebra who wants to be a racing horse.There are so many other plots and sub-plots.By the end, they all get resolved, everybody is happy, and those who deserve to be pooped upon are done so by a gangster pelican.
3)Good message.The overriding theme of the movie is one of my favorites: if you want something then work hard to get it.
4)Good acting.With the exception of Wendie Malick (was she supposed to be THAT way over-the-top?), the acting by the human characters was quite good and believable.The emotional range of Hayden Panettiere is pitch-perfect for every occasion of the film.

Negatives:
1)Far too many adult jokes.Some of the humor of this movie was too grown-up.And if they were trying to be subtle with it, they did a horrible job with it.It was one thing to imply a swear-word, but to actually use one is another matter.

If it weren't for the adult jokes, I would recommend this for the entire family.But I even felt uncomfortable having my eight year old watch it.I would recommend watching this with your family if all the children are pass their elementary school years.

A Great Flick For Kids!
Racing Stripes is a wonderfully, funny, family film. Children and adults will find themselves giggling at silly, comedic acts, while being drawn into the film through a heartwarming story about a girl and her pet zebra, Stripes.

They really could've tried a little harder.
Racing Stripes (Frederick Du Chau, 2005)

Watching Racing Stripes with me is rather like watching Jurassic Park with a paleontologist. It's probably not going to be a pleasant experience. I'm rather surprised the actual Turfway Park hasn't sued for defamation of character. (At least they put it in the correct state.) Don't get me started on jockey licensing, Thoroughbred breeding, and the hundred other little details overlooked by the movie, though I have to say none of them compared to turning the gorgeous Turfway Park, one of America's most beautiful racetracks (which, it should be noted, ironically doesn't have a turf course), into a county fair bullring. At least they didn't call it Keeneland.

Okay. Now put aside all the technical stuff that's wrong with the movie. Is it any good from a layman's point of view? Well, it's not bad, mostly because of the voice talent. Such actors as Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, Frankie Muniz, Fred Dalton Thompson, and a number of other big names lent their voices to animals here with lovely results. The human actors, on the other hand, are to a person bad. Even the normally enjoyable Bruce Greenwood and the normally fantastic M. Emmett Walsh are bland and insipid here.

But even if the voice talent is good, it's not running on much that's worthwhile. One reviewer called it "Babe in stripes," and that's pretty much what it comes down to-- fish (erm, pig-- no, wait, zebra) out of water has to try and fit in among those who are different from him. But where Babe approached the idea with freshness, originality, and an innocent sweetness that approached fairy tale-quality, Racing Stripes just seems like a slightly degenerated retread; it's probably serviceable, but don't go for long drives in the desert, or it might blow on you far, far away from civilization. ** ½ ... Read more

Amazon.com

When you consider its unfortunate production history, Cursed turned out surprisingly well as a werewolf thriller that horror buffs will appreciate. It's hardly the disaster critics made it out to be, but extensive rewriting, reshooting, recasting, and lengthy delays in production and release (including the elimination of R-rated gore to earn a PG-13 rating) clearly took their toll. The result is a fun but flawed monster-show that begins when a young talk-show producer (Christina Ricci) and her teenaged brother (Jesse Eisenberg) are bitten by a werewolf, setting the stage for a horror-in-Hollywood scenario that reunites director Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson, creators of the Scream franchise. What could have been a classic horror comedy is instead a fairly solid, if unremarkable, exercise in Los Angeles lycanthropy, featuring werewolf makeup by Rick Baker (combined with CGI transformation effects, of course) and some of Williamson's snappy dialogue and trademark pop-culture references. The title of Cursed doubles as a description of this movie's ultimate fate, but in a market filled with straight-to-video horror fodder, it's anything but a lost cause. The supporting cast includes Shannon Elizabeth, Portia de Rossi and Joshua Jackson, so genre aficionados should definitely check it out. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Amazon.com

This modern-day teen update of Les Liaisons Dangereuses sufferedat the hands of both critics and moviegoers thanks to its sumptuous ad campaign, which hyped the film as an arch, highly sexual, faux-serious drama (not unlike the successful, Oscar-nominated Dangerous Liaisons). In fact, this intermittently successful sudser plays like high comedy for its first two-thirds, as its two evil heroes, rich stepsiblings Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe), blithely ruin lives and reputations with hearts as black as coal. Kathryn wants revenge on a boyfriend who dumped her, so she befriends his new intended, the gawky Cecile (Selma Blair), and gets Sebastian to deflower the innocent virgin. The meat of the game, though, lies in Sebastian's seduction of good girl Annette (a down-to-earth Reese Witherspoon), who's written a nationally published essay entitled "Why I Choose to Wait." If he fails, Kathryn gets his precious vintage convertible; if he wins, he gets Kathryn--in the sack. When the movie sticks to the merry ruination of Kathryn and Sebastian's pawns, it's highly enjoyable: Gellar in particular is a two-faced manipulator extraordinaire, and Phillippe, usually a black hole, manages some fun as a hipster Eurotrash stud. Most pleasantly surprising of all is Witherspoon, who puts a remarkably self-assured spin on a character usually considered vulnerable and tortured (see Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Liaisons). Unfortunately, writer-director Roger Kumble undermines everything he's built up with a false ending that's true to neither the reconceived characters nor the original story--revenge is a dish best served cold, not cooked up with unnecessary plot twists. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (428)

A tale of revenge, lies, secrets, and other stuff
I first saw Cruel Intentions on tv. I didn't see the whole thing but it looked pretty good so I decided to rent it. The movie is very good and takes many twists and turns. I sometimes felt as if I would be able to predict what would happen next, but of course it didn't.

The movie starts out showing Sebastien (Ryan Phillipe) with a therapist. Sebastian talks about his so called former life where all he thought about was sex. He says he has changed but that is not true. I'll skip some unimportant stuff and go on.

He goes home where his stepsister Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is talking to Cecile's mother. Cecile is a girl who will be attending Kathryn and Ryan's school next year. Afterwards, Kathryn wants to destroy Cecile's reputation because Cecile dated her ex-boyfriend. Kathryn wants Sebastian to seduce Cecile to enhance his reputation. Sebastian is known for sleeping with tons of girls.

Sebastian would rather sleep with the new headmaster's daughter, Annette (Reese Witherspoon) who writes articles about how she is a virgin and plans to wait. Kathryn and Sebastian make a bet. If Sebatian can't bed Annette, Kathryn gets his car. If Sebastian wins, he gets Kathryn.

The movie goes on from there with Sebastian falling for Annette and Kathryn trying hard to destroy Cecile. Overall, a very good movie worth watching but NOT for the kids. Trust me on that one.

Excellently Crafted
Cruel Intentions portrays a tale of seduction, betrayal, selfishness, and love in an excellently crafted manner that will leave you breathless after the film is completely over.

One thing that should also be noted about this film, is that it also supports a top notch cast. Sarah Michelle Gellar, who is my favorite actress, plays the selfish self-absorbed Kathyrn with great grace and talent. This character is a complete opposite from her television character Buffy Summers, and Gellar manages to play it off extremely well and convincingly. Ryan Phillipe plays the sex-driven scheming Sebastian who begins to fall in love with the sweet and charming Anette, played by Reese Witherspoon, who is supposed to be the target of his bet placed with Kathyrn. Selma Blair and Joshua Jackson also co-star in this well written, superbly directed film.

The DVD contains whopping extras such as music videos, trailers, featurettes, commentaries, and deleted scenes. I highly recommend this film for anyone's DVD collection because it contains something interesting for just about everyone.

A hate crime
This is the most viciously homophobic movie that I have ever seen. It's incredible. The director should be ashamed; obviously he hates gay people, but he should exercise a little responsibility. I can only imagine the number of gay teen suicides this movie has caused.

this rocks
i loved this movie and it's second best out of the trilogy.3 uis the best though no contest.

Cruel Intentions...
Cruel Intentions is a GREAT movie. It is sexy, witty, and thrilling. It is highly reccommended, and so is this Special Edition DVD (it has very good special feautires). If you liked this movie I would recommend "Dangerous Liaisons", which was made in 1988 and won 5 Academy Awards. Cruel Intentions is based on that movie, but they were all originally based on "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" which is a very popular classic book! ... Read more

Description

"If you loved Free Willy, you'll adore Andre" (Maggie Barron, Kids Today), a totally delightful family film. Here is the remarkable true story of a seal who each spring swam hundreds of miles to visit the human family that rescued him when he was an orphaned pup. Keith Carradine stars as a Maine harbor master who witnesses the playful and appreciative animal's impact on his hometown, his family and especially on his shy nine-year-old daughter (Tina Majorino of Corrina, Corrina). Her friendship with Andre helps bring her out of her shell, reinforcing this film's timeless message: a little love can have big results. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A great movie for kids who like seals
I remember watching this movie back when it first premiered on television, and now, years later, I watched it again. I enjoyed it both times. A family decides to take in a seal as a pet once they find it on the verge of death. Two people in the family, the father and the youngest kid, get attached to the seal, but they both know that the seal, named Andre, cannot stay there forever.

"Andre" is one of the best family movies that I've seen in awhile. Andre is a smart seal that can be both entertaining and hilarious at the same time. I'm not a kid anymore, but I can see where "Andre" is best suited for kids. A little girl is the one that mainly takes care of and hangs around Andre, so when kids watch it, they'll probably be imagining themselves raising a seal. As a matter of fact, you shouldn't be surprised if they ask for a seal or if they want to go to the zoo right after they watch this movie.

If you have any kids that like seals, or if you just need a great family movie that you can sit down and watch over and over with your kids, niece, nephew, etc., I recommend getting "Andre."

A great movie for kids who like seals
I remember watching this movie back when it first premiered on television, and now, years later, I watched it again. I enjoyed it both times. A family decides to take in a seal as a pet once they find it on the verge of death. Two people in the family, the father and the youngest kid, get attached to the seal, but they both know that the seal, named Andre, cannot stay there forever.

"Andre" is one of the best family movies that I've seen in awhile. Andre is a smart seal that can be both entertaining and hilarious at the same time. I'm not a kid anymore, but I can see where "Andre" is best suited for kids. A little girl is the one that mainly takes care of and hangs around Andre, so when kids watch it, they'll probably be imagining themselves raising a seal. As a matter of fact, you shouldn't be surprised if they ask for a seal or if they want to go to the zoo right after they watch this movie.

If you have any kids that like seals, or if you just need a great family movie that you can sit down and watch over and over with your kids, niece, nephew, etc., I recommend getting "Andre."

Wild about Harry
The movie is captivating, and the acting is good, but nobody seems to be able to imitate the coastal Maine accent right, and Andre was a wild Harbor seal, not a trained sea lion. I lived near Boston in the 70s, and Andre was quite the celebrity every October when he arrived at the New England Aquarium, and every TV news station tracked his progress when he left in the spring, based on eyewitness reports. He was a real charmer who knew how to work a crowd. He was a wild seal, but his heart belonged to Harry, and his love for Harry always took him back to Rockport year after year. I saw Andre perform 3 times, including his last performance, when he half-heartedly did a few tricks then raced out to sea for the last time. For me, the movie wasn't as good as the real thing. But if you never saw Andre, and you want a well-done, funny, heartwarming family movie, this is it. Enjoy!

Great Kids Film
Andre is the story of a girl and her pet SEAL! The story is fresh and alive, starring Tina Majorino(Alice In Wonderland,Waterworld) as Andre's owner...owner? More like friend. This film is reminiscient of Free Willy, but made for a younger audience. However, as a family film, if you watch it pass the kleenex, as the last third of the movie rolls. I like this movie, and so do my kids.

andre-i thought it would be good, but no
andre more like bad. i mean come on that scene where the cow flew that was totally fake. and that one part where the dog made that dunk, come on, and when the guy shot ghandi that was totally unfair

yes i realize these are parts from twister, air bud, and ghandi
but when rolled into one you get this movie, Andre, i would rather jump off of the grand canyon than watch this one. my recomendation----NO WAY ... Read more

Amazon.com

Think of the Skulls as a collegiate Freemason's society--an ultrasecret organization that opens the doors of power to a few lucky Ivy League students, including school rowing star Luke McNamara (Joshua Jackson), a poorkid with a misspent youth. "If it's secret and it's elite, it can't be good,"cautions his journalist roommate, but the lure of lavish gifts and cabal-like ceremonies in torch-lit stone chambers is too much to resist--until his roomie is murdered and his own Skull "soulmate" Caleb Mandrake (Paul Walker) isthe number one suspect.

There's a campy kick to the initiation ceremonies, ancient rituals in dungeonlike alcoves filled with haze and shadow, performed by enthralled frat boys, but as Jackson flounders at the center of a Skull conspiracy it spins into ludicrous melodrama. See the college president become a thug for the Skull godfather! See street punks become high-tech criminal masterminds! Seethe conspiracy collapse under its own absurdity!

Jackson is pretty much a dud as the well-meaning hero, but Walker, with flashing eyes under furrowed brow, is mesmerizing as a haunted rich kid torn between a ruthless, overbearing father (Craig T. Nelson) and his conscience. Director Rob Cohen drives the film at a galloping pace andfills it with foreboding images, but his humorless solemnity finally buries The Skulls in a heap of clichés. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (91)

Straight forward plot, very familiar actors
Joshua Jackson (Pacey from Dawson's Creek) turns in an interesting performance as a college senior trying to pay for Law School by joining a Secret Society (a la George Bush). The story holds up and Jackson teams with Leslie Bibb (from Popular) to try to get fellow Skull Paul Walker to tell the truth. Walker is the old money bad boy who can't live up to the expectations of Craig T. Nelson, but there are other machinations going on behind the scenes (be sure to see the outtakes for the possible relationship between Jackson and the distiguished gentleman from Virgina). This movie bears a similarity with The Firm, but Jackson is not Tom Cruise, so many won't remember it a year from now. As a WB young star vehicle it fails, as a thriller it is so so, but it was worth a look.

Noteworthy Thriller
The Skulls is a well-paced and well-acted thriller. Joshua Jackson is Luke McNamara. An Ivy League college student who isn't doing to well with paying his tuition. To certify his place in completing college and have a successful future, he wants in with the Skulls. An intermediate group of young men who are guaranteed anything they want in life. After getting in, Luke's life begins to fall apart as his best friend is murdered and his girlfriend is on the run. Should Luke trust the secret society and his new friend Caleb, or try to get out of the society alive?

The Skulls, for some reason, gives me an at-home feeling. I kind of relate to each character in a way, and that shows that each actor gave a pretty good performance. Joshua Jackson, Paul Walker, and Leslie Bibb shine as the leads. Craig T. Nelson also gives a nice performance. The plot and pacing of The Skulls is excellent. The scenes meant to be intense are just that, and scenes meant to be heartfelt and fun are just that too.

The DVD isn't loaded, but it's pretty note worthy to any fan of the movie. A commentary is given by director Bob Cohen. I actually found this quiet entertaining as Cohen explains concepts of the movie and other things. There are a few deleted scenes with commentary by Cohen. It is seen why these were cut. There's also a Making Of featurette that works mostly as a promo spot. To round it up are the theatrical trailer and some very interesting production notes.

For any fan of the movie or its stars, this DVD is a must have and a must keep.

Not what I expected.
I got this movie, expecting to see a thriller based on fact. What I got instead was a teen-flick that seemed more like Scream than a movie about the powerful elite that (purportedly) runs countries and continents. Don't get me wrong however, this movie is definitely a thriller but it isn't sinister enough. The Skulls seem more like a group of spoilt brats than a highly efficient secret organization filled with the best minds.

The story was not very credible, how do a group of teenagers bring down such a secretive society that is said to span the globe? Surely the Skulls are not so incompetent as to allow a teen-journalist to enter their most sacred chambers with such ease and steal all their secrets.

There must be better movies about the skulls out there because this one was a real disappointment. I can only recommend this movie to those who like thrillers, just don't get this movie if you are expecting an expose on the skulls.

There was one reviewer who said he would have liked to see Jackson and Walker more physically involved with each other. It amazes me that there are such deviants who watch these movies to fulfill their perverted fantasies. The movie was about the Skulls not about homoerotic fantasies.

It's no mystery
This film lacks any of the suspense or intensity that makes good thrillers memorable. Cohen claims it is a message film aimed at teenagers headed toward college. The message I took away from it is find a better script before you start making your movie or it will wind up like this -- hackneyed and predictable.

There are plenty of implausibilities and downright silliness, not to mention groaners in the dialogue and some serious over-acting.

But if you think this movie is bad, just check out the sequel...

Skull Shattering!
SKULLOVE IT! I love this movie! I watch this movie like every other day! A sort of complicated story, it does very well!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

At the top of his game, Stephen King has a real gift for miningmonsters--zero-at-the-bone horror--out of everyday faces and places. Adaptedfrom a novella in the 1982 collection that also spawned Stand by Me and TheShawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil looks at first as if it might drawauthentically enlightening terror from the soul-cancer that makes bloodrelations of a Southern California golden boy (Brad Renfro) and an aging Naziwar criminal (Sir Ian McKellen). Turned on by a high-school course about theHolocaust, Todd Bowden (such a bland handle for this top-of-his-classsociopath!) tracks down Kurt Dussander, a former Gestapo killer hiding in theshadows of sunny SoCal. Blackmailing the old man into sharing his firsthandstories of genocide, the teenager trips out on the virtual reality of themonster's memories. There's perverse play here on the way a kid hungry forknowledge can bring a long-retired teacher or grandparent back to life. Trulysuperb as James Whale in Gods and Monsters, McKellen brings subtlety to thisStephen King creepshow: his dessicated Dussander is like a mummy or vampire revivified by Todd's appetite for atrocity.

Considerable talent intersects in Apt Pupil: It's director Bryan Singer'sfirst film since The Usual Suspects, that enormously popular, ratherheartless thriller-machine. The outstanding cast also includes DavidSchwimmer as a Jewish guidance counselor pathetically impotent in the face ofTodd's talent for evil, and Bruce Davison as Todd's All-American Dad, lackingthe capacity to even imagine evil. And the story itself has the potential forgazing into the heart of darkness right here in Hometown, U.S.A. But Apt Pupiljust turns ugly and unclean when it trivializes its subject, equatingHolocaust horrors with slamming a cat into an oven or offing a nosy vagrant (Elias Koteas). Reducing the great spiritual abyss that lies at the center ofthe 20th century to cheap slasher-movie thrills and chills is reprehensible.Both Todd and the writers of Apt Pupil should have heeded the old saw: Whensupping with the devil, best use a long spoon. --Kathleen Murphy ... Read more

Reviews (94)

DISAPPOINTED
I gave this film two stars - one each for the great performances given by the actors. As far as the movie itself, it started out great but ended with not only a fizzle but left me scratching my head...

What was the point? An A student going bad? Where was the Stephen King in this picture? This could have been based on any old story.

While the storyline itself was fascinating and when the boy forced the old man into the Nazi uniform, I was right there. I invisioned all sorts of follow up but felt so let down with the dismal ending.

WARNING: Anybody who really wants to see the movie stop reading at this point. To sum it up the movie is boy finds old Nazi, boy tries to manipulates old Nazi, old Nazi comes back swinging, changes his minds, get found out, dies and boy becomes somebody not very nice. Blah, blah, blah. So what. I wanted the movie to make me care. It didn't.

Don't take that trip to the video store, save your money and wait for it to come out on cable or rent something really good because Apt Pupil simply wasn't.

Don't believe true evil exists? You have a lot to learn!
Director Bryan Singer seems fascinated by the dense blackness that comprises the unpleasant side of the human psyche, and he has built a reputation on creating films that explore those darker facets of mankind. Fans will not be disappointed, then, by APT PUPIL (1998). It is a riveting but disturbing fictional thriller that deals with the real-life subjects of evil and the Holocaust, the latter being a topic that is often regarded as too sensitive and controversial for all but non-fictional works. With APT PUPIL--which is based on a Stephen King novella--Singer actually uses the Holocaust as a backdrop for his exploration of the ease with which evil can take root in even the most prosaic of locations in the everyday world. And to a lesser degree, the film is also Singer's comment on the strong influence that an authority figure can have on shaping the worldview of a naïve and eager disciple.

In the film, an American high-school honor student (Brad Renfro) who is fascinated by the history of WWII--specifically the Holocaust--discovers that an elderly German émigré (Ian McKellen) living in the neighborhood is actually a hunted Nazi war criminal incognito, and the clever boy is able to gather enough evidence of this fact that he could easily expose the old man's true identity. But instead of turning his data over to the authorities, the boy uses it to muscle the elderly gent into sharing the details of the atrocities he committed during the war--details that "they're afraid to tell us about in school."

Of course, the old Nazi is outraged, but he also knows he's been trapped. So he ultimately resigns himself to the situation, and detailed stories of heinous actions he does tell. It isn't long before the recounting of his wartime atrocities awakens the old man's long-dormant fiendish and sadistic urges. And though the stories at first give the boy nightmares, it doesn't take too long for the boy's mind to start soaking up the vicious and perverse Nazi philosophy like a sponge soaks up water. The boy is an apt pupil indeed.

The acting in APT PUPIL is nothing short of superb. As the Nazi fugitive, the venerable Ian McKellen delivers a tour-de-force performance. He skillfully creates a convincing portrait of an utterly sadistic and amoral personality that is successfully kept hidden behind the façade of a subdued and affable persona. McKellen's performance is so realistic, in fact, that one is simultaneously awed by the actor's talent and disturbed by his characterization. Brad Renfro is also excellent--and frightening--as the white-bread everyboy whose minor inclination towards sadism is transformed into unfettered evil under the influence of the aging Nazi refugee. And though Renfro hasn't McKellen's range of skill or experience, he plays well against his mature colleague and does not come off as second-best.

David Schwimmer--better known from his role as Ross on TV's wildly popular FRIENDS--gives a believable and refreshingly somber performance in a supporting role as the boy's school counselor. And genre fans will surely recognize Bruce Davison, here playing the boy's father, from his break-out performance as the titular character in the original WILLARD (1971). Fans may also recognize genre regular James Karen, who here appears as the boy's grandfather.

As stated before, it is often considered a no-no to reference or address the Holocaust in fictional films. So it's not surprising that some critics decry APT PUPIL for trivializing the Holocaust and the suffering of Holocaust victims. But this criticism is unfounded, especially in light of the character treatment in this film. While it may be true that McKellen's interpretation of the fugitive Nazi is sometimes sympathetic, the actor never portrays the old man as repentant and therefore never assuages the repugnance or wickedness of the acts committed by such Nazis during WWII. And when the boy reveals what HE has become under the old Nazi's tutelage, his true nature is regarded as frightening and dangerous and NOT glamorous or alluring.

The DVD edition from Columbia/Tristar is a two-sided disc that offers an anamorphic widescreen version of the film in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio (side A), as well as a full-screen pan-and-scan version of the film (Side B). The widescreen version is pristine, with few, if any, visible digital or filmic artifacts. Also on the disc are the original theatrical trailer and a short making-of featurette. All in all, this is an impeccable, reasonably priced edition of a captivating film that belongs in the collections of all serious genre fans or lovers of good cinema.

"Well today I am going to tell you story about an old man.."
This movie was not a horror movie like the preview might stimulate it as being but it is more of a dark drama, until the middle when it starts going into the thriller genre. This movie was as good as it was because of one person, Ian Mckellen. He made the movie and put on a chilling performance as the Neighbor Nazi. The movie's ending I didnt expect it, but it did not have the huge twist like Usual Suspects, Singer's other movie, but I still thought it was neat. Overall for six dollars i felt that this movie was sure worth the price and i would have payed ten to see it.

Implausable.
'Apt Pupil' was half decent until the ending, where the resolution of the story was ridiculously implausable. Yes, the Germans did very terrible things during WWII, but how long will the media continue to hammer the Germans over and over again? Haven't we had enough of the German Holocaust Thing? How many more movies can they possibly make about the subject matter??

DILATED PUPIL
Buoyed by the marvelous performances of Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro, APT PUPIL, Stephen King's expose on the horrors of the Holocaust, manages to entertain and provoke thoughts of this horrible blight on mankind.
However, at the heart, I couldn't understand Renfro's obsession with the Holocaust, nor really understand where his cold heart came from. His cruelty in humiliating McKellen during the infamous uniform/march scene, is totally despicable in showing Renfro's callousness. Everything points to the fact that despite McKellen's evil, Renfro's is even worse in that he chooses it for pleasure, rather than the distorted duty of a Nazi soldier.
The movie seems a little long at times, but director Bryan Singer keeps things interesting and his evocation of the above mentioned performances, is to his obvious credit. ... Read more

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Cruel Intentions
This modern-day teen update of Les Liaisons Dangereuses suffered at the hands of both critics and moviegoers thanks to its sumptuous ad campaign, which hyped the film as an arch, highly sexual, faux-serious drama (not unlike the successful, Oscar-nominated Dangerous Liaisons). In fact, this intermittently successful sudser plays like high comedy for its first two-thirds, as its two evil heroes, rich stepsiblings Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe), blithely ruin lives and reputations with hearts as black as coal. Kathryn wants revenge on a boyfriend who dumped her, so she befriends his new intended, the gawky Cecile (Selma Blair), and gets Sebastian to deflower the innocent virgin. The meat of the game, though, lies in Sebastian's seduction of good girl Annette (a down-to-earth Reese Witherspoon), who's written a nationally published essay entitled "Why I Choose to Wait." If he fails, Kathryn gets his precious vintage convertible; if he wins, he gets Kathryn--in the sack. When the movie sticks to the merry ruination of Kathryn and Sebastian's pawns, it's highly enjoyable: Gellar in particular is a two-faced manipulator extraordinaire, and Phillippe, usually a black hole, manages some fun as a hipster Eurotrash stud. Most pleasantly surprising of all is Witherspoon, who puts a remarkably self-assured spin on a character usually considered vulnerable and tortured (see Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Liaisons). Unfortunately, writer-director Roger Kumble undermines everything he's built up with a false ending that's true to neither the reconceived characters nor the original story--revenge is a dish best served cold, not cooked up with unnecessary plot twists. --Mark Englehart

Cruel Intentions 2
There's a reason you haven't heard of this straight-to-video "sequel" to the seamy teen romp that had Ryan Phillippe baring his polished behind: it's twice as bad as the first one and is only worth a look to see just how embarrassing it can get. Writer-director Roger Kumble's original was no classic, Lord knows, but at least the game, nubile cast knew how to smack its lips--his follow-up (which, in tamer form, was to be the pilot for a proposed series called Manchester Prep) can't even pout properly. Phillippe's Sebastian character (here played by a bland, doughy Robin Dunne) is carted back out to be reintroduced to scheming stepsister Kathryn, enacted by a woefully unsexy Amy Adams (Sarah Michelle Gellar played Sebastian's ripe cousin in the first film). The two don't hit it off, and Sebastian--far more sentimental than his big-screen counterpart--immediately decides he's all for love, in the form of pristine deb Danielle (Sarah Thompson). It all amounts to a ponderously cartoonish nothing, including a twist ending that renders everything proceeding it completely incomprehensible. Kumble has the film spouting homilies on love and self-esteem, then randomly throws in bare breasts; it's like a horny Saved by the Bell, without the kick or pacing of good camp. --Steve Wiecking ... Read more

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Gossip is one of a spate of movies that owe a lot to Cruel Intentions. This time it's rich kids in college, but other than that Gossip stays well within the beautiful-young-people-doing-awful-things-to-each other formula. Lena Heady plays Jones, obviously the Smart Girl because she is briefly seen wearing glasses. Jones hangs out with Arty Guy Travis and Handsome Rich Guy Derrick, who finances their adventures and has a little bit of a lying habit. The three are all in the same journalism class (acidic monologist Eric Bogosian plays the acidic professor) and decide to start and track a rumor for their term papers. They pick rich and beautiful couple Beau and Naomi (Joshua Jackson and Kate Hudson) as the focus of the rumor, and before you know it their juicy story starts spinning out of control into ugly territory and a truly ludicrous climax. There are attempts at making sledgehammer points about the slippery task of finding Truth, but mostly Gossip is about the guilty pleasure of watching pretty young actors be mean to each other. You'll hate yourself in the morning, but watch it anyway. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (50)

** Gossip - Not the best **
"Gossip" is not the greatest movie. The actors were pretty good. However, Travis (Norman Reedus) didn't do too well at acting scared and serious, but did good acting drunk. Although, the average acting of the actors was quite benefic.

The film "Gossip" is about how one small rumor carries, into a homicide. If you are schooling now, I am sure there is a rumor going around. However, it isn't as twisted as this one. Rumor has it, that a girl named Naomi (Kate Hudson) had sex with a boy named Beau (Joshua Jackson). They really didn't, but three friends wanted to start a big rumor to help their journalism paper. Having sex wasn't a big deal, however, the rumor changed and said that it was a foursome. It changed again, and said that she had chains and the whole deal. It changed again, and said Naomi passed out because she was drinking and he STILL had sex with her. Then it took the final turn.

Beau was then charged for rape. This is all because one little rumor that three kids started. However, there is more to the story then just the rumor. It leads into a homicide. The three kids, Derrick (James Marsden), Cathy Jones (Lena Headey), and Travis feel very guilty. What should they do?

The ending was weak. It was very predictable, and when it happened, the whole movie went pointless. However, the moral of the movie was well laid. It's a movie all should see, but there are a lot better movies out there.

Gossip Gone Too Far: A Thriller
The 2000 film "Gossip" which was not mainstream or even that much publicized stars attractive young people- James Marsden, Joshua Jackson (from Dawson's Creek)and Kate Hudson. The movie is a bit of a thriller and teen angst drama about the negative consequences of gossip and the evil it can produce. Set in a college, three roomates decide to spread a vicious rumor about a rich girl (Kate Hudson) who gets drunk at a club party. The rumor is that she was date raped by her date. This results in dangerous problems for many of the characters as slowly the truth is developed. The movie may lack some substance as it attempts to be a serious drama about the evil nature of gossip. Like other reviewers have claimed, it's a bit of an intense and dark soap opera in which good looking people set out to harm others. In this case, it's a lot like Cruel Intentions which was in itself a modern take on the French series "Dangerous Liasions".

The movie is very dark. Some of the mystery is vague as we don't know what to believe is true and what is just gossip. Eventually we discover that James Marsden's character Derek Webb is the real villain and the cause of all the trouble. He had been the high school boyfriend of Kate Hudson's character "the poor little rich girl" as he described her. He raped her and again at the party. His lying and scheming comes to an end as he is caught red-handed in confession at the end of the film. The movie is a pretty adult film and not to be seen by too young an audience. I believe there is enough R rated material here to indicate that is intended to be viewed by a mature audience- violence, (...)and language. The college classroom scenes are by far what most attracted me to the story. It is proof that people do love gossip and rumor, as our society does today, but it dehumanizes and corrupts. The battle of the (...)discussion is also quite interesting. But the movie's heart lies in the fact that Derek Webb is a young man we know all too well exists out there and may be getting away with crimes. I hope this movie opens people's eyes about gossip and about lies and how to value the truth which is the greatest human gift of all.

Hot Gossip
This is one of my favorite movies, it's well directed and has a good message at the end and James Marsden is so hot. I'm wondering why people found it confusing because it was pretty straight forward... I'm in my 20's and don't get the comparison of it being a "12-17" crowd thing, it makes me wonder if people who say that even went to college...like drinking and partying doesn't happen..get real. I think the biggest problem is the touchy issue of the rumor being spread having to do with date rape. Overall the movie is worth seeing, the acting was great and I also liked watching the commentary.

Liar Liar
Oh well, another teen movie...This one, however, has an agenda and manages to deliver a message about the power of rumours and lies in today`s world (particularly in a US Campus). The plot focuses three college students, a pretty, arrogant and rich boy, a curious and smart girl and a reserved, shy artist-wannabe. These journalism students create a gossip just for fun (and also for a work they had to make), but its consequences end up being more serious than what they first thought.

Yes, the movie`s premise isn`t bad, yet its execution is not very interesting, delivering a contrived morality tale that, despite some attempts at being hip and surprising, doesn`t dare to go beyond a typical afterschool special. The direction is nothing special, the soundrack is decent and the acting is just a collection of cute faces that present flat and cardboard characters.

"Gossip" is watchable but unsubstancial, an average teen movie that lacks edge and a good script (the ending is particularly ridiculous and childish). Still, some highschool students out there may like this nonetheless, since they probably can relate to it. Anyway, spread the gossip: this flick is worth skipping.

Good...but not great 'gossip' to spread.
While the premise of the movie was interesting, and the cast was good looking, it's a movie you might want to see once but not again.

'Derek', 'Jones' (the only female) and 'Travis' live in Derek's overly lush apartment with rent that had to range in the high thousands every month ('Travis' doesn't even have the money to pay his side of the rent.). Though we're supposed to be convinced that everything is covered by Derek's trust fund.

They're college students (Freshmen even.) but old enough to drink. Derek has a full bar and the three go to clubs and bars more than twice in the movie. Derek seems to have a thing with saying "Let's all just have a drink."

The three decide to spread a rumor for a class and track it's progress and how much it's changed when they hear about it again. The rumor itself was, at a party all three and many other students attended; a rich girl named Naomi has sex with her date Beau in a bedroom upstairs. Naomi is supposed to be a sweet and celibate girl and as it turns out, she can't remember a thing anyway from the party.

Accusations, bad versions of the rumor and fights ensue because of this. Which leads to Jones starting to feel bad, especially because it was her idea to start a rumor for class. But the rumor itself was thought up by Derek. Travis...does all the work it seems. He's the artistic and loyal one of the three.

Travis is the only one we see recording any facts for the assignment from endlessly making graphics that show these events happening and putting them on his wall (Derek: "What are you going to do, turn in your room?") to recording students' thoughts, while Jones fights for 'the truth' behind events that take place or have taken place and while Derek revels in his lifestyle, bar and popularity with women.

There's many plotholes in this movie and you'll either be annoyed or draw your own conclusions. Norman Reedus (Travis) is really the most experienced and talented actor in this movie and it's too bad he did get a small part even if he did play it well. And I find it amusing that he was referred to also as a young new actor when he has done a good ten movies before this one and was 29/30 when filming 'Gossip'. (Even though he can still easily pass for mid twenties.) James Marsden was impressive to a degree as was Edward James Olmos, everyone else while attractive, I was only impressed by on a mediocre level.

The DVD was good for the special features including the full club scene with Poe singing "My Lips Are Sealed" and Tonic's video for the movie only including 'Travis' and clips from the movie.

The alternate ending on the DVD makes much more sense than the one they chose. The ending left us bored, questioning and frustrated because the movie was good and intriguing (Albeit not very realistic.) but the ending was a let down. See for yourself, like the DVD says; "'Gossip' can turn you on, or it can turn on you." ... Read more

Reviews (22)

The first movie of the "Mighty Ducks" trilogy! 5 STARS!
When he was young, Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) used to play hockey but when he blows a really big game, he quits. Now thirty, he's a lawyer who doesn't know anything about fair play or teamwork. When he gets arrested for drunken driving, he has to perform community service. And not just any community service, he has to coach hockey to kids! His team consists of Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson), Greg Goldberg (Shaun Weiss), Dave Averman (Matt Doherty), Peter (J.D. Daniels), Gee Germaine (Garette Ratliff Henson), Jesse Hall (Brandon Quintin Adams), Connie Moreau (Marguerite Moreau), Dave Karp (Aaron Schwartz), and Terry Hall (Jussie Smollett). And they are an AWFUL team! Bombay hates the kids and doesn't try hard to coach them, and so of course the kids don't respect or like him at all. Will they ever be able to work as a team with Coach Bombay acting like the good coach he should be? And will they have enough time to make it to the finals against unbeatable team, Hawks? Also starring is Hans (Joss Ackland), Mr. Ducksworth (Josef Sommer), Fulton Reed (Elden Henson), Tammy (Jane Plank), and Tommy (Danny Tamberelli), Coach Reilly (Lane Smith), and Adam Banks (Vincent Larusso).

Great movie entertainment! I just love the whole Mighty Ducks trilogy! They teach great values about trust, teamwork, fair play, and as Coach Bombay used to say, 'all that other junk'. It's also very, VERY hilarious! Some parts you can just die laughing, for example when the kids get in trouble from the principal and are put under detention. The hockey games are pretty suspenseful and fun, too!

But there is a reason for the PG rating for this movie. Mostly it's because of language which at times is pretty bad. Also the kids in the movie are pretty naughty at times. I think the movie is best aimed for kids maybe 10 and up, great for adults, too.

Then of course there are the other two "Mighty Ducks" films. "D2: The Mighty Ducks" have Bombay again coaching the Ducks, this time there are going up against the world as Team USA! Some of the hockey players aren't in this movie, but they get some new teammates. In my opinion (though it's a very hard choice), this movie is the best of all three. "D3: The Mighty Ducks" has the Ducks getting a scholarship for Eden Hall academy. Their main adversary are the Warriors, the varsity team of Eden Hall. If you liked the first "Mighty Ducks", I highly recommend the next two sequels! I sincerely hope that Disney will have the whole trilogy on DVD soon!

Great fun on the ice!
Emilio Estevez scores the winning goal as Gordon Bombay, a smug, smarmy lawyer who is arrested for drunken driving and is ordered to do community service as the coach of PeeWee hockey team "District 5," a ragtag group of kids with doubtful playing abilities. He expects it to be hell, but instead he faces his own demons and learns about the importance of teamwork and what REALLY makes a winner. Typical cliched Disney fare, with Bombay redeeming himself in the end and we know even before watching it for the first time which team wins the grand finale, but nonetheless a harmless and inoffensive movie which children and parents will undoubtedly enjoy.

GREAT MOVIE!
I love this movie! I would reccomend it to anyone who likes hockey. So buy it if you like hockey and you won't be dissapointed!

one of the best hockey movies ever
I love hockey and I loved hockey before I saw this movie. this movie did help bring a lot of people my age into hockey to abd a lot of them didn't stay on the Mighty Ducks are a bunch of great kids who will keep kids and adults laughing and even though a lot of the on ice action is corny it is still cool to watch

mighty ducks...
I think mighty ducks is a great movie and its really funny. ... ... Read more

Reviews (27)

The Ducks are back and tougher than ever!
D2: The Mighty Ducks reunites most of the cast members and some of the members (in the first movie) are missing like Hans and Charlie's mother. Gordon Bombay who coached Discrut 5 in the first movie (and chagned the name to Ducks) is now playing minor league hockey. Until one player gets in the boards and another player sends him down on the ice injuring his knee. So he heads back to his hometown and reunites with one Duck. And the player is Charlie (Joshua Jackson). But then this man named Tibbs (Michael Tucker) who works for Hendrix shows up and hires Gordon Bombay to coach Team USA in the goodwill games. And the team is the ducks memebers. And some new members are add to Team USA. The new players are Luis (Mike Vitar) who needs to learn how to stop skating, Dwayne (Ty O'Neal), Julie "The Cat" Daphne (Colomine Jacobson), Ken (Justin Wong) and Hormnes. Also know as Dean Portman (Aaron Lohr).

The Ducks Have Returned.....
The Mighty Ducks was a great movie put out by Disney, and this, the sequel, is no exception. D2 picks up a year after their initial season. In this movie, The Ducks are chosen to represent the USA at the Junior Goodwill Games. In been selected, the team must face off against the best that the world has to offer, and at the same time show the world what they have to offer. In the process of the tournament the Ducks face many challenges that need to be overcome and actually learn what it takes to be a team; all thanks to some "school-yard puck" masters. Typical Duck hyjinks are present throughout the flick, and it was nice to see a lot of the original cast again, from Coach Bombay to Charlie, and of course Goldberg. This movie is a nice family feature that a person of any age would enjoy. If you love hockey, this movie is a great watch, and if you're up for a great watch, this movie is for you. Just remember to watch out for "The Flying V."

american film classic
this movie rules cause it reminds me of my fun childhood where i did nothing but eat mcdonalds and watch disney movies like this. i like when they goto LA and they meet the new crew of badass 14 year old hockey players. and that one kid gets a friend and mr. bigglesworth ahhaha calls them the smash brothers. the icelands guys are scary but the assistant coach is hot. thats why gordon bombay AKA emilio estevez went to eat ice cream with her but the smash brothers saw him and they got mad. she was like greenland is full of ice and iceland is very nice. thats her line in the whole damn movie.
i like the cowboy kid from texas who has the rope on a DAMN HOCKEY RINK for some reason. and he doesnt know how to say rodeo drive in beverly hills. and then golberg says he's tori spellings cousin so he goes into this expensive store and gets all the models to wear clothes for him cause he says its for his mother. but then he says how about bikinis and the lady throws them out.
charlie is a downer in this movie. not like d1 where hes this cool kid, or liek in d3 where he meets the girl at his new school and hes like i love pizza and Slayer (yes the metal band) and i dont smoke. o my god thats so annoying give me more golberg scenes.
best part though is when team USA plays the ghetto kid from good burger and kenan n kel. and the goals are trash cans and they play on top of a building. i had no idea ghetto LA had a street hockey scene. and they he shows them the knuckle puck and all the team USA kids are like 'no way man!' and then some team USA kid tells kenan's bro that kenan has a big mouth and he looks at him and hes like 'ya he does have a big mouth doesnt he'.
this movie is a classic. i loved and still love every minute of it.

A Good Movie!
I never saw the first movie but I saw this sequel with my nephews when I was babysitting them when my sister and her husband went out. I didn't think I was going to like this movie but I wound up liking it and thinking it was a cute and enjoyable with with good acting from Emilio Estevez and the rest of the cast and I recommend this movie to fans of cute family movies and hockey movies.

GREAT MOVIE!
I love this movie! For all us girls there are hot guys in it. Well anyway, if you like hockey buy this movie and you won't be dissapinted! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Wickedly Entertaining!!!!
A delicious cast delivers terrific performances in this wonderfully upbeat and engrossing ensemble drama in which we quietly follow four neighboring suburban families in their overlapping journeys through loss and reconciliation. Although an ensemble effort, Glenn Close provides the emotional core of the film as Esther Gold, the mother of troubled teen Julie (Jessica Campbell) and comatose Paul (Joshua Jackson).

Paul's story is told in flashback, and it ties together the film's characters. The neighbors face their own trials, as Jim Train (Dermot Mulroney) faces a career crisis and Annette Jennings (Patricia Clarkson) copes with serial abandonment. More families and sub-stories bubble up, including a disturbingly hilarious romance between a boy (Alex House) and his sister's Barbie doll.

Like Robert Altman's "Short Cuts," which weaves together a selection of Raymond Carver stories, "The Safety of Objects" overlaps tales from A.M. Homes' short-story collection of the same name. "Objects" accomplishes the singular feat of adapting Homes' insular material while showcasing the director's own sense of intimacy and thematic structure.

Director Rose Troche has crafted a gothic suburban tale about how life affects us all. She presents it with such confidence and care, that we love all of the characters, even if we don't like them.

The movie is unsettling because it refuses to view its characters from a reassuring, judgmental distance, allowing us to see what we normally wouldn't, and shouldn't. It makes for a shocking and emotional journey, with only the ending being disappointing.

"The Safety of Objects" is brilliantly acted, beautifully written, and powerfully directed. If conventional Hollywood garbage isn't your cup of tea, this film is highly recommended.

The Wonders of Women, Working
THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS is a superb film directed by Rose Troche from an correlative collection of stories by AM Homes and delivered with touching dignity by a cast of some of our best actresses - Glenn Close, Mary Kay Place, Patricia Carlson, Moira Kelley - and supported by actors including Dermot Mulroney and Joshua Jackson and Timothy Olyphant. Just as in her book by the same name, there are many stories happening simultaneously and in the film adaptation they all interrelate even more closely than the book suggested. This is the suburbia madness Homes knows so well - four familties living adajacently and bonded in various degrees by the near fatal auto accident of Paul Gold, a youth in his prime who touched the lives of more people than he knew. In the film he continues in a vegetative state, binding his caregiving mother (Close), offering food for longing for his secret lover (Clarkson), and providing a seemingly endless search for normalcy by the one in the accident who wasn't physically injured (Olyphant). Secrets, longings, and fantasies play strong roles in the lives of all of the characters who are very realistically written and acted and it is to Rose Troche's credit that she keeps us involved and guessing until the final frame. A very fine, very challenging piece of film making.

A BOOK ADAPTATION GONE AWRY...
With a superlative ensemble cast giving note worthy performances, I expected this movie to be better than it actually was. Unfortunately, it was a sterile production, as none of the characters really grab the viewer emotionally. The normal rules of engagement seem to be lacking, leaving the viewer with the sense of having seen a shell of what was potentially a good film. Instead, the viewer gets a film with a few good hurrahs amidst a motley reel of celluloid. It is an ambitious film that does not see its ambitions realized.

Adapted from a book of short stories by A. H. Holmes, the film attempts to weave these short stories into a collective, cohesive narrative. It is a strained effort, at best. It gives an ostensible slice of suburban angst through the stories of four middle class families, neighbors in a suburban community. All have some connection to a car accident that severely injured the son of one of these families, causing him to remain in a vegetative state.

The film plods along, unraveling the accident in tortuous fashion as it takes the viewer to the final denouement. Some of the characters behave inexplicably without rhyme or reason as to why they would behave in such a fashion, leaving the viewer to wonder why. While the reasons may be of interest, there is not a clue as to such. It may simply be that the author's interrelated short stories simply did not adapt well to film, despite best efforts to make it into a cohesive entity.

Yet, a pre-pubescent boy talks to his sister's Barbie doll, believing that they have some kind of relationship, and he believes that Barbie talks back to him. A man whose marital relationship is on the brink of disaster leaves his wife and family at a critical juncture in order to help a neighbor try to win an SUV contest at a local mall. Why they act in this fashion is the question. The answer is entirely shrouded and obscure, so that the viewer is left puzzled and grasping at straws, in the end not really caring at all why.

So, despite excellent performances by the cast, the film is torpid at best, staying afloat simply because of the efforts of the cast not to go down with a sinking ship. The stories of the characters themselves simply cannot sustain the film sufficiently, despite the valiant efforts of the cast and the director. It is a somewhat depressing film that is unable to break away from its own inherent torpor. Still, it is worth a rental, if only for the fine performances of this stellar ensemble cast.

Brilliant!
The Safety of Objects (Rose Troche, 2001)

The first thing you're going to notice about this brilliant, completely overlooked littke gem is the quality of the cast. I mean, we're talking major starpower here, and Troche blended them together to achieve something close to perfection. The story centers on four star-studded suburban families, a mysterious auto accident, and a contest that involves keeping your hand on a car longer than anyone else. Oh, and it was all written by the sick, twisted, brilliant novelist A. M. Homes. How could you possibly go wrong?

The Golds-- mother Esther (Glenn Close, giving a career-best Brandoesque performance),father Howard (Robert Klein), daughter Julie (Election's delicious chanteuse Jessica Campbell), and son Paul (Dawson's Creek alum Joshua Jackson)-- are the cornerstone of the piece. Paul was a victim of the car accident, and now spends his life in a coma. His mother dotes on him, his father can't bear to look at him, and his sister, well, she's a completely different story. Their next door neighbors are the Jennings. Mom (indie darling Patricia Clarkson, who is never less than great) is still perilously close to the edge a year after her husband (TV staple Andrew Airlie) left, raising a delinquent (Panic Room's Kristen Stewart) and a girl (Haylee Wanstall, recently found in Sugar) who is in some way mentally challenged; it's never said, but it looks like autism. Also involved are the Trains-- father Jim (Dermot Mulroney), mother Susan (Moira Kelly), and their two kids, and the Christensens, notably mom Helen (Mary Kay Place). All the moms want to sleep with the gardener (Timothy Olyphant). Okay, can you see the starpower radiating yet?

As with most of Homes' work, the idea here is that modern suburbia is weird. Very, very weird. Little, normal incidents grow into crises of insane proportions. Assumptions are pushed to their logical conclusions and coincide with completely irrational behavior, so that everything looks normal when it is anything but. And eventually, of course, it all begins to break down. Troche keeps the viewer's interest by being extremely coy about the details surrounding the car accident that sets everything in the story into motion, revealing piece by piece in flashback what it is that everyone's hiding, or guilty about, or sick of seeing over and over again in their heads. Meanwhile, present-day life is going on, and it's just as strange. Eventually, it all makes sense, but you have so much fun getting there that by the end, you wouldn't be terribly peeved had some of the pieces never fallen into place.

This is fantastic stuff. Very highly recommended. And watch for Jessica Campbell, the girl is going places fast. **** ½

3 stars for the acting - 1/2 star for the plot = 2 1/2 stars
I really wanted to like this film. I really did. The theatrical trailer looked promising, the ensemble cast of excellent actors excited me and the surreal quality of the cinematography was stunning. However, the film falls apart halfway through, but not for a lack of trying. All the actors give excellent performances and the direction was interesting. It was the story that was a bit thin. After the first hour the movie becomes a bit contrived and collapsed under its over ambitious weight. If I had to hear Paul's Song one more time, I swear I was going to pull out what little bit of hair I have left on my head. In its attempt to be another American Beauty-esque slice of suburban life, The Safety of Objects becomes a caricature of itself. Even though the acting is top notch it's hard to care about the characters in this incestuous (not in the true sense of the word) suburban neighborhood. Who cares that Annette was sleeping with Paul? Who cares about Jim's unexplained reason for helping Esther win a car? I quickly lost interest with the exception of the kid in love with his sister's Barbie doll. Well needed comic relief in an otherwise drab film. The only jaw dropping revelation I experienced was Esther's guilt inducing reason for keeping her comatose son alive. The Safety of Objects probably was better as a collection of short stories than one cohesive film. One of the review blurbs on the cover says "Comical!" and I agree although not in a good way. See this film for great performances from Glenn Close, Patricia Clarkson, Dermot Mulroney and the like but check out the Ice Storm, American Beauty or Magnolia for excellent examples of suburbia slice-of-life films in the intertwined multi-character plotline vein. ... Read more

Description

Emilio Estevez and the original Ducks are back in this fast-moving comedy starring the most popular hockey team in movie history! After the Ducks win scholarships to a snooty private school, Coach Bombay (Estevez) announces that he's moving on to greener pastures with the Goodwill Games. Shortly after the team arrives at Eden Hall Academy, they inherit a new coach who turns out to be their worst nightmare when he strips Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson) of his position as captain! Then, with their scholarships on the line, they face their toughest rival -- the 10-time championship varsity team! The Ducks and their opponents engage in a series of hilarious pranks to warm up for their battle on the ice. And in a thrilling and climactic third-period battle, the Ducks must prove why they are called the Mighty Ducks! "The quack attack is back!" (USA Today) -- and D3 will have you and your family cheering! ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Even none-hockey lovers will love "D3: The Mighty Ducks"!
First off, I must say this, I've never seen the first two Mighty Ducks movies and I'm not especially a hockey lover. But I must confess I thought this movie was terrific and fun! Mostly aimed for teenagers, this is a great movie to watch!

The whole team "Mighty Ducks" have won scholarships to prestigious Eden Hall: Charlie (Joshua Jackson), Goldberg (Shaun Weiss), Fulton (Elden Henson), Averman (Matt Doherty), Julie 'the Cat' (Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine), Russ (Kenan Thompson), Dwayne (Ty O'Neal), Luis (Mike Vitar), Ken (Justin Wong), Guy Germaine (Garette Ratliff Henson), Connie (Marguerite Moreau), and Adam (Vincent Larusso). But there are some changes for the team. First of all, one of the 'Basher Brothers' Dean Portman (Aaron Lohr) is not going to join them. But most important, their coach Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) won't be coaching them anymore. Charlie can't accept that and even more can't accept their seemingly harsh new coach, Ted Orion (Jeffrey Nordling). The 'Mighty Ducks' have a big game ahead of them against the Varsity team 'Warriors' who are going to be hard to beat. Will they be able to beat them and show them who's the best?

With plenty of suspense and humor, "D3: The Mighty Ducks" is certainly worth the watch. Terrific acting done by the whole cast, including the notable actor Joss Ackland who plays Hans, the good friend and mentor to the 'Ducks'. The suspense during the hockey games were sometimes pretty intense, especially the last game between the 'Ducks' and the 'Warriors'. As for the humor, the movie was hilarious, I was laughing most of the time!

A few of my favorites parts are when the 'Ducks' play pranks on the Varsity team and when Bombay gives his little 'speech' to the board members of Eden Hall. And a few of my favorite lines is:

Cheerleader: Cheerleaders only. Are you a cheerleader?
Linda: Do I look like an idiot?

Connie: This ninja stuff makes you look, I don't know, how would you say...
Guy Germaine: Ruggedly handsome?
Connie: Amazingly stupid.

Dwayne (while swinging a lariat at one of the Varsity members): It would be more fun for me if you ran.

For parents, the movie is rated PG for the reason that there are some bad words sprinkled here and there. Other than that and the game of hockey being pretty rough, it's pretty good! I can't wait to watch the first two movies! I hope they're as good as the third one! If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it!

The Mighty Ducks are back
The Mighty Ducks return for a 3rd movie and now are in high school. But there are a couple of changes for the Mighty Ducks, even for Charlie (Joshua Jackson), who acts like he did in the first movie. The movie begins with short clips from the first two movies, and most of the Mighty Ducks has now entered high school and now are playing hockey for Elden Hall. But the big change is that Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) will not be coaching the Mighty Ducks that are now the school's junior varsity team, because the junior goodwill games has named him director of player personal. And the new coach is Ted Orion (Jeffrey Nordling) who will not let them do anything they done turning childhood. When a girl asks Charlie to sign a pention to changed the Warrior name, Charlie names the following teams, the Indians, the Braves, the Redskins, and the Blackhawks. But more trouble happens, when Orion posts the postions the players will play, moving Banks to varsity team, and making Julie (Colombe Jacobson) the head goalie and making Goldberg back up and Goldebrg complains "What am I, chopped liver?". So he gives her junk food, and she gets sick during pratice, and coach orion says "Julie the cat! What's the Matter, you ate a fur ball?". During the first two peroids of the first game, Charlie and the other Warriors score a lot of goals on the thier foe and makes Julie bored, so she starts complain "Come on guys, give me sommething to do". And even sings "Fulton scored, Fulton scores, I am really bored, Fulton's great, Fulton's great, a year ago he couldn't even skate", after Fulton scores a goal. The Nanny's Benjamin Salisbury plays the announcer of the Warriors, who is also a student at Elden Hall.

Broad implications; more than just a sequel
Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) and his underdog hockey team are back again in this third installment to the Mighty Ducks legacy. In "D3: Ducks Divided," Robert Lieberman takes a crack at reenvisioning the gang on an unforgettable scale never before attempted in a children's sports film. When the Ducks are killed in a bus accident in the Sierra Nevadas, the team finds itself suddenly split into separate factions: those Ducks who have lived a (sometimes surprisingly!) morally redeemable life, and those who have failed the grade due to particular unforgivable behaviors. Gordon and the righteous Ducks suddenly find themselves at the gates of a Paradise ruled by figure-skating angels and referees, but Heidi Kling and the other damned are thrown, after rewitnessing their transgressions, into the ice-melting wastelands of Hockey Hell. Here they meet the sympathetic Lucifer (Dustin Hoffman), who convinces them one by one to reali