Reviews (664)

Rob Reiner Weaves His Best In Fanatsy!
THE PRINCESS BRIDE is directors Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men, Stand By Me) third feature film ever. It was based on a book written by Academy Award Winner William Goldwin (Misery, Maverick, Chaplin) who wrote this book for his children in 1973. After almost 15 years, and several studios, MGM decided to back it up and make the finished film.

It fun, it's funny and has adventure and romance, monsters and villains. It also has some of the best performances of an ensemble cast in a fairy tale ever. Robin Write-Penn (Then Robin Write at 19 years old) (Forrest Gump, Unbreakable) starring as Princess Buttercup who has fallen in love with a farm boy-turned Pirate, Cary Elwes (Twister, Robin Hood: Men In Tights, Quest For Camelot) and is seeking the kidnapped Princess from three renegades played by Wallace Shawn (Toy Story, Star Trek Deep Space Nine). The late Andre The Giant (Trading Mom) and an astounding performance by Mandy Patikin (Yentel, Alien Nation, Chicago Hope-TV ). Christopher Sarandon (Nightmare Before Christmas, Fright Night, Just Cause) and Christopher Guest (This Is Spinal Tap, Best In Show) head up the evil King and sidekick roles. The chemistry between Cary and Mandy is phenomenal. They are seriously funny in a sarcastic and monotoned way. The swordplay is the best I have seen since Errol Flynn.

What makes this movie special and energetic is the magic of fantasy with a splash of you have to believe in True Love for all this to work and for your happiness to be real. Shot entirely on location and with a minimum of a budget the movie is wonderful to watch and look at. A GEM for all the family - literally.

The DVD extras include three behind the scenes documentaries and lots of production photos. Very well put together and filled with interesting comments and antique dotes from all the cast and crew. There's even a behind the scenes home movie view of the production thanks to Carry Elwis himself. Of the trailers and production posters show you more of movie making and what it takes. The audio commentary by Rob Reiner is comical and very interesting. There is also a commentary by William Goldwin which gives you a lot of insighjt to the production. This is a great addition to the family film collection. (10-27-02)

"My name is Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!"

Director: Rob Reiner
Format: Color
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: March 7, 2000

Cast:

Cary Elwes ... Westley
Mandy Patinkin ... Inigo Montoya
Chris Sarandon ... Prince Humperdinck
Christopher Guest ... Count Tyrone Rugen
Wallace Shawn ... Vizzini
André the Giant ... Fezzik
Fred Savage ... The Grandson
Robin Wright Penn ... Buttercup/The Princess Bride
Peter Falk ... The Grandfather
Peter Cook ... The Impressive Clergyman
Mel Smith ... The Albino

Carol Kane ... Valerie
Billy Crystal ... Miracle Max
Anne Dyson ... The Queen
Margery Mason ... The Ancient Booer
Malcolm Storry ... Yellin
Willoughby Gray ... The King
Betsy Brantley ... The Mother
Paul Badger ... The Assistant Brute
Sallie McLaughlin

A storybook stable boy turns pirate and rescues his beloved who is about to marry a dreadful prince.

The story is told by the Grandfather (Peter Falk) to his cynical (at first) Grandson (Fred Savage).

The story is a love story with all of the elements of a fantasy fairy tale. Westley (Cary Elwes), the good guy, is opposed by Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin--"My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father. Be prepared to die!"), at first, and then wins Westley's admiration. Another opponent who becomes a co-conspirator, is Fezzick (Andre the Giant). Buttercup/The Princess Bride (Robin Wright Penn) is the princess who needs rescuing.

There is a lot of good tongue-in-cheek humor involved, and even though it is understood that this is a story told to a young boy, there is nevertheless a good level of tension involved.

This is a fun movie.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

What a marvelous movie... I waited too....
long to buy this movie -- my boys loved it the first time they watched it. It is timeless, a great comedy, wonderful lines.....
A great addition to our movie selection!

A family comedy funnier than this? Inconceivable!
For millions of television viewers who grew up during All in the Family's groundbreaking run (before it became stale in the post-1977 seasons), Rob Reiner will always be remembered as the Meathead, a.k.a. Archie Bunker's ultra-liberal, atheistic, and argumentative son-in-law, Mike Stivic. But Reiner, whose father Carl is one of America's best comedic writer-actor-directors (The Dick Van Dyke Show, Your Show of Shows, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid), is far more than just a good actor with one famous role, for after he left Norman Lear's flagship comedy series after six seasons, Reiner the Younger followed in his father's footsteps to become a well-known and well-regarded actor, writer, producer, and director.

One of Reiner's best films is 1987's The Princess Bride, a witty-yet-sweet comedy/fantasy written by two-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter William Goldman, who adapted his own novel about the beautiful maiden Buttercup (Robin Wright), whose true love, a young farmboy named Westley (Cary Elwes), goes off to sea to seek his fortune, telling Buttercup that he would come back for her.

But when Buttercup learns that Westley's ship has been attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts she swears she will never love anyone again, an oath she keeps even when she accepts a marriage proposal from Florin's Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), a handsome yet somewhat shady fellow who probably could give Machiavelli some lessons in, well, Machiavellian diplomacy. His plan is simple: take over as King of Florin as soon as his father passes away, get bethroded to a beautiful engaging commoner, then stage her kidnapping and demise to incriminate the neighboring rival kingdom Guilder and start a war.

Aided by the equally heinous Count Rugen (Christopher Guest), Humperdinck hires a trio led by the too-clever-for-his-own-good schemer Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), the revenge-obsessed Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), and Fezzik (Andre the Giant), a brawny hulk with a heart of gold and a fondness for rhymes. The three manage to kidnap Princess Buttercup, but before they reach the Guilder-Florin border they run into an unforeseen obstacle: a dashing swordsman dressed in black.

Goldman's clever way of grabbing the audience's heart and funny bone is to present this fairy tale with a framing story of a 1980s grandfather (Peter Falk) who visits his sick grandson (a pre-Wonder Years Fred Savage) and reads the tale of The Princess Bride to him, following a long family tradition.

Reiner gets wonderful performances not only from the major cast members, but also from Billy Crystal and Carol Kane, who play Miracle Max and his wife Valerie in a short but hilarious scene. He approaches the fractured fairy tale as a comedy/romance/swashbuckling adventure, poking gentle fun at the conventions of all the fantasy/medieval adventure films of the 1930s and '40s without being obnoxious or too sardonic. The result: a film that overcame box-office failure (it had a brief and unprofitable theatrical run in the summer of 1987) by becoming a home video success. (This is not unique to The Princess Bride, either. 1939's The Wizard of Oz was no box office champ when it premiered; only when it became an annual TV staple in the mid-1950s did Oz become a family classic.)

The 2001 MGM Special Edition DVD presents The Princess Bride in its original widescreen format, and features a director's commentary track by Reiner, a writer's commentary by Goldman, English and Spanish audio tracks, a new documentary on the making of the film ("As You Wish"), plus theatrical trailers and two original featurettes.

As Vizzini might have added, to try and find a funnier family film is absolutely inconceivable.

An Awesome Movie (Review by Jennifer Baker)
The Princess Bride is an excellent movie, and though at first viewing may seem pretty simple, it has much deeper meeting, but it may take more than one viewing to see this. First of all, it teaches the all-too-true, and sometimes overused lesson that good will prevail over evil. This is shown in Inigo's avenging of his father's death and Westley's rescuing of his true love, escaping his encounter with death, surviving "The Machine", making it through the fire swamp, battling the ROUS's, wrestling a giant, swordfighting with a Spaniard, and out-witting a Sicilian. (whew!) However, if you look closely, and watch this movie at least 100 times (which I have), then you will come to see that there is a lot of symbolism in The Princess Bride. Whether Buttercup is wearing blue (sadness) when she is getting married or red (danger) when she is kidnapped,the symbolism in this movie shows just how detailed this movie really is, which in turn makes it all the more fun to look for and watch. So in conclusion, The Princess Bride is a swashbuckling fun time for the whole family!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The brief 1980s mania surrounding "the Coreys" peaked with License to Drive, a modest but surprisingly still enjoyable adventure comedy. Les (Corey Haim, Lucas) has a chance to date his dream girl, Mercedes (Heather Graham, Boogie Nights, in her first significant movie role)--but he's just failed his driving exam. Motivated by a mixture of pride and hormones, he steals his grandfather's Cadillac and heads out on the town with Mercedes for a night that swiftly becomes an escalating series of disasters, made worse by the foolhardy antics of Les' best friend Dean (Corey Feldman, Stand by Me). Despite some egregious '80s fashion disasters (Graham gets the worst of them), License to Drive holds up surprisingly well--it's no work of genius, but it is a solidly made and entertaining teen comedy that's more coherent than most.The depiction of parent-teen relations is fairly honest and particularly well-played by Richard Masur (Risky Business) and Carol Kane (In the Soup) as the parents. The DVD includes a very funny and rambunctious audio commentary track by the screenwriter and director, as well as interviews with the grown-up Coreys. A must-have for fans of '80s nostalgia. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (37)

License to Drive - my all time favorite!
Being a child of the 80's - this movie was great! I watched it as a teenager over and over (probably more than 50 times) and laughed every single time! If you are a fan of 80's movies, you'll love this one! I've been waiting for it to make it to DVD - I'm so glad it has finally happened. It's a movie that brings back great memories for me.
Enjoy!

What more could you ask for?
I waited patiently for this DVD to come out.Ok, maybe not so patiently. Buuuut, I finally got my copy of License To Drive.I couldn't be more excited.Corey Haim, Corey Feldman and Heather Graham drunk and locked in the trunk of a hot car- what else could you possibly want in a light-hearted 80's teen movie!?This movie is an 80's classic! I would say it's even better than most of the Brat Pack stuff... This DVD is top notch. The extras are very cool. Interviews with both the Coreys! I've already watched the DVD start to finish twice this weekend!!!

License To Drive is Pure 80's fun.A must have...

A Cool Movie, Nice Extras
In License to Drive Corey Haim stars as Les Anderson. He has a problem. He has no license. He is too cool to be seen on the school bus and it's totally not cool to have your friends mom drop you off at parties. Plus, Wes has a crush on a hot blonde who just happens to be named Mercedes.

The time arrives when Les finally has his opportunity to go out on a date with Mercedes--but his parents discovered that he really failed his driving test. Les has got to make it happen and he takes the car anyway. Heck, Mercedes called him and expected to see him in 20 minutes, what's a teenage boy to do? The night becomes filled with misadventures and Mercedes gets so smashed she spends part of the night in the trunk of the car. The excitement only continues when Les' mother, played by Carol Kane needs to get to the hospital.

If you haven't seen this film in a while, it's just as great as it was when it was first released. The two Coreys followed up License to Drive with the movie Dream a Little Dream. Dream a Little Dream didn't have the commercial appeal as License to Drive. Although both Corey's appear on the cover, this was another film in which Corey Haim was definitly doing most of the driving considering the majority of the storyline revolved around him, his circumstance and his family, but Corey Feldman is a good sidekick as his buddy Dean.

There is also some cool music featured in License to Drive. While watching the movie keep your ears peeled for "Rush Hour," by Go Go's member Jane Wiedlin, "Mercedes Boy," by Pebbles, "Trouble," by Nia Peeples, "I Feel Free," by Belinda Carlisle, and "Get Out of My Dreams and Into My Car," by Billy Ocean.

The DVD itself does have some cool features which makes up for the wait in having this cool film on DVD. Extra's include interviews with Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, audio commentary with director Greg Beeman and writer Neil Tolkin, deleted scene, TV spots and theatrical trailers. The DVD-Rom portion of extras include the films screenplay.

The best extra's are the interviews with Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. Both actors look much better than they have in years. Corey Feldman has cut his hair since he appeared on The Surreal Life. Corey Haim has lost some weight and is sporting a spiky blond haircut. Both actors discuss how they got involved with the film, how they met and their experience of working together. The interviews are not real short, which is sweet.

Funny As 80's Comedy
Licence To Drive is one of those movies we can all relate to, wanting to get our licence, wanting the hottest babe in school. About certain scenes in the movie, the scenes i laugh at the most is where Dean is testing Les on driving licence questions & he goes up to the intercom & talks to les's sister & burps into it, another scene is where he is on the hill & the elderly driver behind him says "C'mon you little moron!" also the scene where the driver says to Les, "What am i speaking greek"? there are a lot more funny scenes too much to mention here, i just can't wait to buy it on DVD. One revealing scene you see is where charles is trying to pickup a passed out mercedes & take her into the resturant for a soda, in the next scene you can see a shadow of her hair moving back & forth. All in all a very funny 80's comedy that rates a high 5 for me.

Two Coreys, Fully Loaded with options and LOW sticker price!
LICENSE TO DRIVE is a fast-moving teen comedy from the 80s starring the comic duo of the two Coreys - Haim and Feldman.Anyone who remembers a time when all our idols were named COREY will love this trip back down memory lane. First off - great cast with Heather Graham in an early role as dream girl Mercedes Lane and Carol Kane as the pregnant mom.It's a typical comedy, but the director provided enough style and zip to make it all work well.The driving exam scene is classic, and there a lot of good one liners "Who would have thought a Mercedes could fit in the trunk of a Cadillac?".The DVD includes a deleted sequence with an ALTERNATE CLIMAX.The whole thing runs about 20 minutes, and shows you how the movie could have ended.Also you get a funny commentary with the director and writer, and some current intereviews with each Corey separately.The transfers and audio are top-notch as well!Great price for a great DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Vin Diesel is game to soften his tough-guy image in The Pacifier, in which he plays hot-shot Navy S.E.A.L. Shane Wolfe, whose latest mission goes awry when the scientist he's sent to rescue is popped off before he can tell Wolfe where he's hidden some Top Secret software something-or-other. Before you can say Kindergarten Cop, Wolfe is assigned guard duty at the scientist's family home, where he's left with some unruly kids when the widow (Faith Ford) takes off to Switzerland to claim her hubby's safety deposit box under the guidance of Wolfe's superior officer. The trouble with this paint-by-numbers fish-out-of-water kiddie comedy is that Diesel himself is a fish out of water in the movie--he's no comic and is far funnier when he's unintentionally spoofing macho heroics in The Chronicles of Riddick. The film limply throws everything it can at you, including the idea of Wolfe directing a community theater production of The Sound of Music, but is just biding its time until the predictable action climax and hugs-all-around denouement. Vin doesn't look embarrassed, but the supporting cast sure does, especially Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett as a bombastic vice principal and Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham as Garrett's boss and Diesel's sudden love interest.--Steve Wiecking ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Best Movie of the year (tied with The Incredibles)
Okey 1 star folks,let me ask you why,why do you want van diesel in another action movie when he's almost in his 50's!? That's a joke! They need him in a family movie with comedy and a little bit of action. The Camra person did excellent for this movie. They chose the right kids,right principle,right main character,right everything. There's great suprises in this movie as well. It's about a Navy or something guy and he's to take care of these kids. For once the characters are funny. Buy it when it comes or you will be sorry

Good movie for the whole family.
This movie is just good. Vin Diesel was hilarious. I gotta getit when it come out. That`s all i have to say. Peace

Review from Hong Kong - The Pacifier
Some people like it, some people don't.

Ithink that it was quite a big move for Vin.From the upcoming films that he had chosen, I can see he's looking for different characters instead of action hero.Just like what he said, you can't be Riddick forever at the age of 50.A real actor will try a different characters and plays..

Personally, I have seen almost all Vin's movies (apart from multi-face) but it's all violence and sex things, therefore really can't imagine that he's playing well in Disney Movie... I'm not the fans of Vin but the Pacifier had draw my attention.Surprisingly there was no premiere / promotion for the Pacifier in Hong Kong but the result was quiet good. Beside, I've heard the kids and adult laughing and they are really enjoying the movies.

An action adventure for the family
Vin Diesel is a top notch Navy Seal whose new job is to protect the family of a scientist who has created the ultimate secret weapon. Going from the military life to babysitting a family of four is a hard task, but he adapts and even begins to care for the 'brats' he has been placed to protect.

A fun movie for parents to watch with the kids (suitable to watch PG movies) that are into spy and action movies! Or to see the comic side of Vin Diesel.

Enjoy the show!

The Diesel Xperience for children
The funniest scene in this movie was where the little girl asks Vin if "My chest will get as big as yours?" The dumbstricken look on his face, and the wild desire to hide is quite apparent on Vin. Other than that, there's not much here to keep adults laughing, but the younger generation should be pleased with their taste of Vin. Even the towel scene was designed for children in mind, and while being amusing to them, its going to leave us rather disappointed.

Disney certainly did all they could to turn the heat off in this movie, making the sexy lug from the hits such as Pitch Black, Riddick and the fast and the furius turning into a complete nurse maid. Even learing the 'Panda Dance' where we get to hear and see Vin show us that he certainly didn't become famous for his ability to sing and dance. But like I said, its a moment for children, and they seem to enjoy it.

Armed with Diapers, bottles and germ infectants, Vin carries his S.W.A.T habits into the real world, and contrives to look undercover and tough even when hoisting a baby on his hip, and cleaning up after a duck that thinks its a dog. He's every mothers dream ,and every babies nightmare.

The romance in this movie is also toned down as he falls in love with the high school principle, and becomes a stage director. Its rather funny to think of after seeing the steamy scenes from The Fast and the Furious that it becomes quite comical to Vin's character and style. He just doesn't seem the type to date someone so mild. But this is Disney, and there are rules to follow. (Sigh)

On summing up, don't look for anything wild or exciting, unless its evading a laser field or teaching a teen to drive a van. However if you're looking for a pretty decent family film this is a winner.

For Riddick was finally tamed.

... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Annie Hall is one of the truest, most bittersweet romances on film. In it, Allen plays a thinly disguised version of himself: Alvy Singer, a successful--if neurotic--television comedian living in Manhattan. Annie (the wholesomely luminous Dianne Keaton) is a Midwestern transplant who dabbles in photography and sings in small clubs. When the two meet, the sparks are immediate--if repressed. Alone in her apartment for the first time, Alvy and Annie navigate a minefield of self-conscious"is-this-person-someone-I'd-want-to-get-involved-with?" conversation. As they speak, subtitles flash their unspoken thoughts: the likes of "I'm not smart enough for him" and "I sound like a jerk." Despite all their caution, they connect, and we're swept up in the flush of their new romance. Allen's antic sensibility shines here in a series of flashbacks to Alvy's childhood, growing up, quite literally, under a rumbling roller coaster. His boisterous Jewish family's dinner table shares a split screen with the WASP-y Hall's tight-lipped holiday table, one Alvy has joined for the first time. His position as outsider is uncontestable he looks down the table and sizes up Annie's "Grammy Hall" as "a classic Jew-hater."

The relationship arcs, as does Annie's growing desire for independence. It quickly becomes clear that the two are on separate tracks, as what was once endearing becomes annoying. Annie Hall embraces Allen's central themes--his love affair with New York (and hatred of Los Angeles), how impossible relationships are, and his fear of death. But their balance is just right, the chemistry between Allen's worry-wart Alvy and Keaton's gangly, loopy Annie is one of the screen's best pairings. It couldn't be more engaging. --Susan Benson ... Read more

Reviews (115)

Annie Hall has truly stood the test of time. And I loved it
I have a confession to make.

Until now, I've never seen a Woody Allen movie.

Boy, I sure was a "miss out".

Annie Hall, made in 1977, is a classic. Why, oh why, did I wait so long?

First of all it's a story, and a very funny story at that, about a New York Jewish comedian, played by Woody Allen and his WASP girlfriend, played by Diane Keaton. It pokes fun at many social mores that we take for granted and I found myself laughing throughout. There's the New Yorker who never learns to drive, the mid-westerner who orders a pastrami sandwich on white bread with mayonnaise (which seems almost grotesque to a New Yorker like me), the pretentious movie critic, the neuroses of modern romances, and the differences between the New York and Los Angeles way of life.

The film runs along at such a fast pace that there is almost no time at all between funny moments. And, to make it even better, there are some wonderful film techniques. For example, while Diane Keaton and Woody Allen are talking about photography, there are subtitles on the screen about the physical relationship that they are really thinking about.

If the film were made today the phone calls would have been made on cell phones. But surprisingly, that is the only detail that might be changed. Annie Hall has really truly stood the test of time. And I loved it.

Quintessential Woody, in arguably his best form..
Plenty of reviews here claim this is Woody's best and I'm hard-pressed to differ: chronic New York neurotic/comedy writer Alvy Singer can't commit to anything except his own misery and falls in love (and meets his match in psychoses) with Annie Hall (Diane Keaton in her Oscar-winning role), the Waspy flibbertigibbet who wants more out of life but she's not sure what. Oscars also for Allen's direction, his screenplay (co-written by Marshall Brickman) and Best Picture. Look quickly for Jeff Goldblum's cameo ("I forgot my mantra") at Paul Simon's So. Cal. Party, John Glover in a flashback party scene with Annie, Shelley Hack in a sidewalk scene, veteran character actor Tracey Walter and Beverly D'Angelo in the sitcom tape Roberts is sweetening with a laugh track in an edit bay, Woody's longtime friend and future producer Jean Doumanian in the coke scene, and at the film's end Sigourney Weaver (trust me it's her, but it is in a long shot and no dialogue) as Alvy's latest girlfriend. Best reaction shot: Allen with Keaton and Walken in a car after Walken has proclaimed his sudden urges of death. Also, I too wish I could do what Allen does in shutting up a movie-line pontificator like he does with media expert Marashall McLuhan.

A superb and passionately funny film between the hot cold relationship between two people. Woody Allen delivers the goods in this terribly witty and romantic film, Diane Keaton matches his quality too. Expect to see neurotic behaviour from Allen as we get a firm grasp of the two main characters as their relationship develops. For me, this is an absolute pinnacle film of it's genre and should not be missed.

Brilliant!
Woody's self searching and unique form of humor make this a brilliant movie. Diane Keaton is the perfect co-star.

I saw this last year after not seeing it since it came out in the late 1970's...still just as fresh and wonderful. I just wish my wife liked Woody Allen humor as much as I do.

Not His Best but Still Very Good
People just adore Annie Hall. I like Annie Hall. Manhattan and Hannah and Her Sisters work better for me but I can think of about a billion worse ways to spend 90 minutes than watching Annie Hall. Even though I'm not particularly charmed by it, I freely admit Annie Hall is better than 98% of all American movies ever. Funny, smart and endearingly offbeat. Certainly worth the going price.

Because we need the eggs
Ok, let me get this one thing out of the way: when I was 12, Annie Hall beat Star Wars for the Best Picture Academy Award, and I was not a happy kid. However, time can do funny things...

I first saw this picture a few years later, with my first real girlfriend (hi, Lisa!) on the revival circuit. I found it witty and intelligent, as I have with most of Woody Allen's films. I have to say that, to my 16-year-old mind, it still didn't make a huge impression. Twenty years and a failed marriage later, however, I think I can honestly say that I now get it.

Annie Hall is, to me, Woody Allen's greatest triumph as a filmmaker and a storyteller. It's a bittersweet, often hilarious recounting of a relationship from its start to its inevitable end. We see Allen at his most honest, at times brutal examination of himself and his destructive approach to relationships as he plays Alvy Singer, a funny, neurotic comedian (not a great stretch for Woody, granted). All the angst, the neuroses, and manic phobias that at first seem so idiosyncratic and charming, eventually become tiring and sad. Here is a man who is so attached to his psychoses that he would be an empty shell without them, and we see the painful fact of this in his reflections of previous relationships and marriages throughout the course of his adult life. Ultimately, this is a character so galvanized by his fears and phobias that he is simply incapable of managing a complex adult relationship, one free of paranoia and anxiety and this is his tragic downfall. In short, he is a small child trapped in the body of a small man.

This is not, however, one of Allen's Bergmanesque forays into introspection. The knee-slapping hilarity of many of the scenes help draw us into his world and the relationship he has with Annie (Diane Keaton, marvelous as always), his friends, his family, and the world around him. A particular favorite is when, on their first meeting, Alvy and Annie exchange basic getting-to-know-you small talk, and their hidden meanings and anxieties are shown to us in subtitles. Other scenes involving a movie-line blowhard, a lost mantra, and Annie's decidedly white-bread family are the stuff of legend, and they never fail to bring a smile to my face.

Though this film is nearing thirty-years old, it shows no sign of aging. The themes are familiar and universal; who hasn't fallen desperately in love, only to feel the painful tentacles of fear come creeping in the moment they've opened their heart for all the world to see? This film will never lose its place in my heart as one of the best films I've ever seen. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Best Ever!
Jumping Jack Flash must be my all-time favourite film - it is the only one I can watch over and over again without getting bored. Whoopi Goldberg was hilarious in this film (but then she is a wonderful, natural comedian who can also bring tears to the eyes when needed). Whatever she does, she does well and puts so much feeling into her work. Needless to say she is also my favourite actress. Keep up the good work, Cheers, Blue Wren.

Outrageously hilarious comedy
Whoopi Goldberg shined in this film. The plot, characters and laughs all worked together to create a truly remarkable and fun movie. Lots of very hilarious scenes and sticky situations. The perfect balance of comedy, action, drama, supsense and romance. Recommended for late nights and rainy afternoons.

PLEASE put this on DVD!!!
PLEASE read the other reviews of this movie because they express everything in my heart about this film. Whoopi...you are just totally incredible in this movie. Your timing...your delivery of lines, your "aura" in the role, it's impecible I can't believe that this film is not on DVD yet, AND I hope when they DO release it that there are OUTTAKES and special features galore. This is truly my FAVORITE comedy of ALL times. You, Whoopi, have captured the best of all of the comedians of our time in this film. I loved this from the first because I am a bigtime computer fanatic. I started on mainframes and sent messages to friends and co-workers LIVE and it's SO real it's scary. SOMEONE at the top is missing it (or they are holding out on us and hopefully preparing a DVD with lots of special features).

Dogs barking can't fly without umbrella!
I am so excited one of my all-time favorites has finally been released on DVD. "Jumpin' Jack Flash", along with "Ruthless People" are my two favorite 80's movies. I must respectfully correct one reviewer and report that there is a theatrical trailer on the DVD. But some of the scenes were cut out of the film, and that was a bit of a disappointment because they looked real funny. Full screen & wide screen are available. Everyone has seen this movie so I won't detail it, just wanted to say it is great!

DVD at last!
JJF is one of those excellent 80's comedies that has begged for a DVD release for some time. I presumed the delay was because Fox were preparing a bunch of extras to add to the DVD, but not so. JJF has finally arrived on DVD, and despite there not being a single special feature (not even the trailer), it is still worth owning! Would have been nice for Whoopi to do an audio-commentary. A nice 5.1 surround sound has been given to the soundtrack, and the widescreen anamorphic is nice to have after years of watching the video cropped version. I will say that the DVD transfer is not sharp, but acceptable considering the film's age. JJF is Whoopi at her finest. She plays a bank computer operator who starts receiving help messages on her screen from a spy. It's one adventure after another from then on. Please remember .... it's a gas, gas, gas! ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Better Than The Book, And That Says A Lot!
I am a huge fan of the book, however, I always hated the ending. The story is about Lola, an aspiring young actress who moves from New York, where it is possible for all of her dreams to come true, to New Jersey. She auditions for the school play against the most popular girl in school, Carla, causing a feud. Lola ends up telling lies to Carla, so Carla tries to expose Lola as a fraud. In the end of the book, Carla dosen't get what she has coming to her. Disney's take on the film gives the audience the satisfaction that you end up wanting to see. The rest of the film remains completeley true to the book, but ends up being more funny due to a lot of physical comedy. Lindsay Lohan is a great actor and the charactor she plays in this film is very different from Anna in "Freaky Friday." Another great part of the film is Lola's visions of the lies she tells. They are hilarious and hard to describe because I have never seen anything like them in a film before. You will love "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" is you liked "The Princess Diaries" and "The Lizzie McGuire Movie." The storylines aren't that similar, but it plays like those kinds of movies.

Lizzie McGuire meets MK&A
What can I say? When I was 12, I read the book and loved it. I leant it to my friends and they loved it. We were glad when we heard the movie came out. But we were dissapointed. What could have been an excellent movie was wreaked by the animated scenes, and the focus on the rock concert because she has a crush on the lead singer. Carla Santini was portrayed as being just a little mean when in the book she's much more.
The book, had the movie been faithful to it, could have been as good as Mean Girls but right now it's just the Lizzie McGuire movie meets New York Minute, all played by Lindsay Lohan wearing feathers and a head scarf. I though that the girl who played Ella did a good job but Lindsay Lohan was just somehow out of sync when everything was going on. Hey, maybe I got so attached to the book that I just expected to much. But I recomend the book far more highly, if you're over 11. Happy viewing.

If the title intrigues you...
So there are these two 15-year-old girls who've wandered into the bedroom of a party-hearty rock star, right? And they've just come in from the rain and their clothes are soaking wet, so they have to change. And there's a big party going on downstairs.

What do you think happens next?

That's right: The girls, giddy with delight, jump into the musician's bed -- and jump up and down on the mattress. Then they fool around with his... guitar collection! And when they change their outfits... well, it happens off-screen and the rocker is nowhere in the vicinity.

That's a taste of the thoroughly wholesome flavor of "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen," a perky vehicle for Lindsay Lohan of "Freaky Friday" fame. It's set in a world where the streets of New York's Soho neighborhood are startlingly kid-friendly, police stations are squeaky-clean, and even garbage bags come in pastel shades.

A word to the wise: If you find the title tantalizing, you'll probably love the film.

Gail Parent's screenplay at least offers a few witty lines and some fresh twists on some standard situations, and the irresistibly lively Lohan gives her fans their money's worth, singing, dancing and clowning around cheerfully. She's nicely teamed with Alison Pill ("Pieces of April"), who puts her own distinctive spin on the timeworn wallflower-waiting-to-bloom role.

Lohan plays aspiring actress Lola -- her real name is Mary, but that's not exotic enough to suit her -- who is mortified when her mom (Glenne Headly) decides to transplant the family from Manhattan to Dellwood, N.J. A shared love of the band Sidarthur brings Lola together with Ella (Pill), a kind but socially awkward type. Lola and Ella scheme to crash Sidarthur's farewell concert in New York and the exclusive after-show bash, for which their archrival Carla (Megan Fox) already has secured an invitation.

What sets "Drama" apart from the run-of-the-mill teen tale is its surprisingly even-handed approach to its characters. Instead of being forced to sneak into the city to see the show, Lola and Ella actually work out a mutually acceptable compromise with their parents, who are not portrayed as useless neurotics or stern disciplinarians. Even Stu Wolff (Adam Garcia), the hard-drinking Liam Gallagher type Lola idolizes, is not drawn as an egomaniac or a louse -- and, aside from throwing donuts at the police, he's certainly a perfect gentlemen around the girls, even when he's sauced.

Lola's obsession with Stu is also very PG and pretty amusing as well. Stalking him through the streets of New York, she tells Ella, "Except for the garbage and the cars, it's just like following Heathcliff out on the moors!" Later on, an incident will drive our heroine into what she calls "a depression only Hamlet would recognize."

Like the Hayley Mills films of the 1960s or the Jodie Foster comedies of the 1970s, "Drama" continues Disney's tradition of creating silly yet endearing movies with immensely likable female stars. Just as previous generations embraced "That Darn Cat" and "Candleshoe," you can bet that 20 years from now a lot of moms in their mid-30s will see "Confessions" in the video store and tell their kids, "I remember seeing that one a long time ago -- it was soooo good!"

Mood Lifter that is good to eat food and lounge too.
Oh yes, when you are tired and feeling particularly lazy on a Sunday afternoon this movie is an instant mood lifter that lends itself to eating ice cream Sundays and talking on the phone while you are watching because you don't have to pay particular attention to plot or character development in order to enjoy the pretty outfits, hilarious scenes and absolute truth of this glaringly brilliant psychodrama about a 15-17 year old girl who recently changed high schools.

First off, Lindsay Lohans confidence and pretty outfits ease the audience by reminding them that her family will never come under financial straights (note the extreme fortune one would have to possess in order to carry on such an imense wardrobe) during the movie so you don't have to worry about a tedious commentary on class structure.

Second, the physical maturity and the borderline R rated behavior and theme of the movie coupled with the simultaneous innocence and clandestine sexuality of the main characters put the teenage characters in a chronological limbo whereby the audience cannot dicern and give evidence to support the exact age of said characters. This allows male members of the audience to oggle the preponderance of mammary tissue exhibited by the protagonists with impunity because the characters are sexually mature(17) while the female audience can right off the innocence and naivete of the protagonists as being the result of young age (15).

Thirdly, the relaitionship of the protagonists as portrayed by allison pill and lindsey lohan is absolutely entertaining, right on, pitch perfect and brilliantly scripted. In effect this becomes a buddy movie which preaches that no one in the high school hiearchy is down-trodden or abused if they have their own group of friends who support them and interact with them in a respectful manner. Lindsay lies to Allison, but when Allison confronts Lindsay about her trespass in verity Lindsay respectfully apologizes and they become stronger friends as a result which is what happens in real life.

Fourth, Adam Garcia is absolutely awesome as the lead singer for Sidarther, because he is a really funny dudley mooresque drunk who deserves more wide acclaim.

Fifth, the bright colors, hot outfits, fit girls and healthy complexions make this a great movie in which to forget the dark colors of the night, your drabby clothes, sagging waistline and aging skin so you can just munch the night away and bask in the glow of a well made trip back into the carefree wold of adolescent teenage girls.

Decent family-oriented fare, could have been better
This is the type of movie that belongs on TV. Lindsay Lohan is multi-talented and charismatic as "Lola" who feels like a fish out of water when her mom moves from NY to NJ. She wants to be the drama queen in more ways than one, and engages in making up stories to impress peers in her new town. The drama instructor character is a bit annoying, and the battle for acceptance among teenage girls is becoming a cliche. The music in the film is OK (Lohan sings multiple songs, and this movie features another cover version of Bowie's "Changes," recently included in Shrek 2) while the whole storyline about Lola and her not-dead dad and the Sid-Arthur concert are like something from a TV comedy show or TV movie. This movie is aimed at a young audience and it shows. That said, this movie is fine for what it is, but it could have aspired to more, especially at the end where things are wrapped up too quickly. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great early Nichols
Another great early Nichols. He was on one mean ... streak I tell ya. Virgina Wolf, the The Graduate, Catch 22, and then this film. Which is: Very well done, Very mature, extremely confident in it's telling, thought provoking, well acted, well written, etc.

Jack Nicholson and Art Garfunkle star as best buds in this story that follows their sexual encounters from college to middle age. That's really it. No other action takes place in this movie that doesn't have something to do with, yup, Carnal Knowledge. Good title too. Don't you think? Just grabs you.

Like Catch 22, which I just saw, this movie is all about great framing and long one takes. Even though this movie takes place almost completely inside and is very much like a play, it is very cinematic. Nichols always has the camera in the right place, or at least an interesting place. The structure of the film is also so interesting. It just pops around from sexaul encounter to sexual encounter. And it addresses the whole spectrum...: first love, to marriage, to adultery, to apathy, to..well, it covers a lot. And though it tends to focus mainly on the negative, which can be a little bleak, it sure is real.

At times it can be a little slow and a little tedious (you sort of feel Nichols getting a little TOO into some of these long takes), but this remains a very good, intelligent, unflinching movie. Check it out.

B, B+

This film tells the truth. Controversial at its time.
This film tells the truth. Not such an old film, the mature adult situations are still happening today even in this decade. Very controversial film of its time. Almost was not released and could not be shown on Network TV at all. Finally in the mid-1980's it was finally allowed to be shown on the then-independent KTLA Channel 5 Los Angeles tv station. Hard-hitting drama about two male roomates. One man (played by Art Gurfunkel as "Sandy") is more sensitive to woman while the other man played by Jack Nicholson feels so macho he must have more than tweleve women a year. When Art falls in love with Candice Bergen (she plays a virgin) it starts as a good friendship until Jack Nicholson buds in. He secretly makes a phone call to her without Art knowing. Jack dates Candice and she loses her virginity by the macho man who can get any woman he wants anywhere, anyway. (So why, Candice?) When Jack talks about his "girlfriend", Art dos not know it's the same woman he loves. When Candice decides to break it off with Jack, Jack becomes a cad and thinks he can break it off first. Well, Jack now has to keep his mouth shut whenever Art and Candice are in the same room together with him. Jack finally comes to the realization that he is getting older and can't get as many woman as he used to. He feels bad when he sees Candice and Art together (metal break-through finally!) Then, the sizzling Ann-Margret enters the picture. Who becomes the more mature man? Who is given LOVE, not just LUST & LEAVE. Some men will find this film a bit hard to swallow. Some women who see this film will say "AMEN!" by the end of it. There is a lesson to be learned here. Get the message of the film. Carol Kane and Rita Moreno are also in the cast. No special features on this DVD. Wide-Screen and Full-Screen available on either side of DVD.

Coming to the screens of film schools everywhere...
What I found so impressive about this in the early 70's is a mystery--unless it's Ann-Margret's statuesque figure. Most of the dialog is better suited for writer Jules Feiffer's stylish cartoon characters. Even Jack Nicholson can't keep this tub afloat, although it's fun to see mannerisms and intonations which were used to perfection only 3 years later in the incomparable "Chinatown."

Hard to believe this film is more than 30 yrs old
Carnal Knowledge spans 30 years in the lives of two college friends, guys played by Jack Nicholson (you won't believe how young he looks) and Art Garfunkel (yes, one and the same). Jack Nicholson plays a tax lawyer with the hots for women who are, shall we say, well-endowed. Garfunkel plays the more temperate guy, a doctor who has quiet affairs. As they go from youth to middle age, the movie, revolutionary at the time and wonderfully directed by Mike Nichols, follows their paths, examining how their attitudes toward women and sex are a reflection of their life values. It's not a pretty picture, and despite the titillation of the title, it's not even particularly sexy. But it's worth seeing, even if only for the way in which it is viewed as a pioneer film of the early 70s, a time in which long-held Hollywood traditions were giving way to more adult-style movies.

Excellent
Mike Nichols was on a roll after "The Graduate" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" "Carnal Knowledge" is his most intimate film, and one of the most daring of the 1970s. Its frankness in dealing with young men's sexual psychology has not lost its edge after thirty years. On top of it all, it gives us Nicholson's first truly great performance. The early scenes between him and Garfunkel are fresh and sincere. Spanning some three decades of their friendship, we see how their attitudes towards sex, and women in general, shape their lives. Both actors do a fine job of communicating the gravity of those years, and the most devastating scene is the one where Jack delivers a long and furious tirade at Ann-Margret. "I don't want a job, I want you," she says, to which he replies, "I'm taken...by me!" Brutally honest, yes, but because we've seen what comes before, it's perfectly logical. These men are still affected by the innocence of their younger years, but that innocence is violently clashing with their adult understanding (or lack thereof)--the understanding that the personality is in perpetual motion, and that it becomes difficult to keep up. The movie is often bleak in its settings and its subject matter, but the characters are very real--they challenge you to challenge them. Their dysfunctions may enlighten you, and there is nothing bleak about being enlightened. Oh, and Ann-Margret achieves bombshell status with this movie, playing a woman who at first seems to be the answer to all of Nicholson's fantasies. "Bye Bye Birdie" it ain't. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Vin Diesel is game to soften his tough-guy image in The Pacifier, in which he plays hot-shot Navy S.E.A.L. Shane Wolfe, whose latest mission goes awry when the scientist he's sent to rescue is popped off before he can tell Wolfe where he's hidden some Top Secret software something-or-other. Before you can say Kindergarten Cop, Wolfe is assigned guard duty at the scientist's family home, where he's left with some unruly kids when the widow (Faith Ford) takes off to Switzerland to claim her hubby's safety deposit box under the guidance of Wolfe's superior officer. The trouble with this paint-by-numbers fish-out-of-water kiddie comedy is that Diesel himself is a fish out of water in the movie--he's no comic and is far funnier when he's unintentionally spoofing macho heroics in The Chronicles of Riddick. The film limply throws everything it can at you, including the idea of Wolfe directing a community theater production of The Sound of Music, but is just biding its time until the predictable action climax and hugs-all-around denouement. Vin doesn't look embarrassed, but the supporting cast sure does, especially Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett as a bombastic vice principal and Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham as Garrett's boss and Diesel's sudden love interest.--Steve Wiecking ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Best Movie of the year (tied with The Incredibles)
Okey 1 star folks,let me ask you why,why do you want van diesel in another action movie when he's almost in his 50's!? That's a joke! They need him in a family movie with comedy and a little bit of action. The Camra person did excellent for this movie. They chose the right kids,right principle,right main character,right everything. There's great suprises in this movie as well. It's about a Navy or something guy and he's to take care of these kids. For once the characters are funny. Buy it when it comes or you will be sorry

Good movie for the whole family.
This movie is just good. Vin Diesel was hilarious. I gotta getit when it come out. That`s all i have to say. Peace

Review from Hong Kong - The Pacifier
Some people like it, some people don't.

Ithink that it was quite a big move for Vin.From the upcoming films that he had chosen, I can see he's looking for different characters instead of action hero.Just like what he said, you can't be Riddick forever at the age of 50.A real actor will try a different characters and plays..

Personally, I have seen almost all Vin's movies (apart from multi-face) but it's all violence and sex things, therefore really can't imagine that he's playing well in Disney Movie... I'm not the fans of Vin but the Pacifier had draw my attention.Surprisingly there was no premiere / promotion for the Pacifier in Hong Kong but the result was quiet good. Beside, I've heard the kids and adult laughing and they are really enjoying the movies.

An action adventure for the family
Vin Diesel is a top notch Navy Seal whose new job is to protect the family of a scientist who has created the ultimate secret weapon. Going from the military life to babysitting a family of four is a hard task, but he adapts and even begins to care for the 'brats' he has been placed to protect.

A fun movie for parents to watch with the kids (suitable to watch PG movies) that are into spy and action movies! Or to see the comic side of Vin Diesel.

Enjoy the show!

The Diesel Xperience for children
The funniest scene in this movie was where the little girl asks Vin if "My chest will get as big as yours?" The dumbstricken look on his face, and the wild desire to hide is quite apparent on Vin. Other than that, there's not much here to keep adults laughing, but the younger generation should be pleased with their taste of Vin. Even the towel scene was designed for children in mind, and while being amusing to them, its going to leave us rather disappointed.

Disney certainly did all they could to turn the heat off in this movie, making the sexy lug from the hits such as Pitch Black, Riddick and the fast and the furius turning into a complete nurse maid. Even learing the 'Panda Dance' where we get to hear and see Vin show us that he certainly didn't become famous for his ability to sing and dance. But like I said, its a moment for children, and they seem to enjoy it.

Armed with Diapers, bottles and germ infectants, Vin carries his S.W.A.T habits into the real world, and contrives to look undercover and tough even when hoisting a baby on his hip, and cleaning up after a duck that thinks its a dog. He's every mothers dream ,and every babies nightmare.

The romance in this movie is also toned down as he falls in love with the high school principle, and becomes a stage director. Its rather funny to think of after seeing the steamy scenes from The Fast and the Furious that it becomes quite comical to Vin's character and style. He just doesn't seem the type to date someone so mild. But this is Disney, and there are rules to follow. (Sigh)

On summing up, don't look for anything wild or exciting, unless its evading a laser field or teaching a teen to drive a van. However if you're looking for a pretty decent family film this is a winner.

For Riddick was finally tamed.

... Read more

Reviews (36)

Perfectly hilarious sequel!
In "Addams Family Values," the jokes are funnier, the story is much more enjoyable, and the characters are more developed and easy to follow. The original cast is back for another round of gags and comedy, while the writers and director Barry Sonnenfield have chosen to stick with a story that works with the gags and laughs instead of just providing an outlet for them. This is one of the rare sequels that surpasses the original; I loved this movie!

The movie begins with the arrival of baby Pubert, in a hilarious send-up of birth scenes with a twist: the mother-to-be enjoys the labor pains. From this point on, the movie goes into three different stories which lead into one another. One dives into the children reacting to the new baby, doing everything from dropping him from the roof to placing him under the guillotine. Their antics are relentless, which leads into the second story as Gomez and Morticia decide to hire a nanny, picking the good-natured Debbie Jilinsky to care for their infant son. Fester falls head over heels in love with the new nanny, who is actually a murderess out for his wealth and fortune.

Debbie's suspicions that Wednesday and Pugsley know too much leads into the third story, as she has them shipped off to summer camp, where the sun and cheery attitudes of the campers and counselors are enough to make even the audience cringe in fear. As Debbie carries out her devious plans, the children are put through the hells of the camp until they can take it no longer, rounding out the movie's comedic climax with laughs galore.

Like the previous film, the original cast remains intact, with the exception of Grandmother Addams. Raul Julia and Anjelica Houston reprise the roles of Gomez and Morticia, whose romance is put on a back burner from its vivacity in the first film, allowing most of the story to rest on the shoulders of Wednesday and Pugsley, once again played by Christina Ricci and Jimmy Workman. There is a lot more to their characters as they make their way through the treacheries of camp: Wednesday has matured into a much fuller character, while Pugsley remains childlike and naive. Fester, played by Christopher Lloyd, is shown as a hopeless romantic who honestly thinks his appearance has nothing to do with his inability to attain a female partner, while Debbie is played excellently by Joan Cusack, who knack for comedy and colorful phrases make her a uniquely comedic villain.

The contrasts abide within the story of Fester and Debbie and the trysts at summer camp. Fester's unconventional ways become trying for Debbie to live with; try as she might, she's still a "normal" human being. Wednesday and Pugsley's camp experience provides a sharp contrast: their refusal to take part in the events at camp bring the counselors, who are complete airheads that reminded me of the ditzy girls in high school, to the edge of losing it, but instead, they are forced into a place known as the Harmony Hut, where they are subjected to Disney films and Brady Bunch reruns.

In some ways, these contrasts could make the movie a social satire of sorts. The ways in which one character's lifestyle is compared to that of another are fascinating, and while the Addams are highly unconventional, the remaining characters from the real world are in no way considered normal. So the movie poses us that very question: "Who's to say what is normal?"

That said, let's move on to the story, which is highly better than that of the original movie. This one actually produces the gags, having the feel that the story was written before the laughs were. The original had the feel that all the laughs were tossed into the air and placed in random spots, which would work because the gags never seemed attached to any specific storyline. Here, the comedy comes from the story, and the two work together marvelously at producing side-splitting laughs and subtle humor.

I couldn't help but enjoy myself while watching this movie. It made me laugh like I haven't laughed in a long time, while also keeping the characters intact and convincing. Sonnenfield has done a terrific job in creating this sequel, which is definitely the better of the two films.

Better than the Original.
After when Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) finds back his memory from the end of the first film. When an mysterious nanny (Joan Cusack) comes into the lives of the Addams Family. When Mortica (Angelina Huston) and Gomez (Raul Julia) has thier thrid child. When Wesnesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugisy (Jimmy Workman) wants to get rib of thier new born baby brother. While the childern are sent to Summer Camp. When the nanny used Uncle Fester to marry him and kill him for his money. But she is having a hard time to kill Uncle Fester.

This film feature a over the top Comic Performance by Cusack and Ricci, which they steal every scene, when they are On-Screen. One of the most underrated films of 1993. One of the best Comic Sequel around too. Director:Barry Sonnerfield (The Addams Family, Men in Black 1 & 2) give a better engery in this one than the Original. Grade:A-.

wensday ricci nuff said
this is a quickie sorry my computer went on me and @ the library here in dallas pa.this is great.ricci as wednesday priceless watch for mercades mcnab aka harmony of buffy and angel cya on the flipside and bloody kisses wedneday.

Even more altogether ooky than the original!
The other night the first "Addams Family" film was on local television, and in watching it I was reminded of how much I liked the show, and the films made from it - but as much as I loved the first, "Addams Family Values" surpasses it.

The storylines here are fuller; none of that a Fester who isn't Fester is really Fester stuff that seemed too scripted. Here, the 3 ongoing plots are more naturally-born from there characters:

Morticia and Gomez (Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia, the most perfect casting seen in film in some time) have just had a new baby. Dealing with new parenthood is bad enough, but when your two older children are doing their best to do away with their new baby brother ... well, even though he's pretty capable of taking care of himself, Morticia and Gomez have their hands full;

Then there's Debbie, played BRILLIANTLY by the underrated Joan Cusack, who comes to help with the children but instead is a notorious Black Widow-style murderess bent on marrying Fester and getting her hands on the Addams's fortune. Part of her plan in doing so is to get rid of the two older children, Pugsley and Wednesday, by sending them to a summer camp;

Pugsley and Wednesday are horrified by the cheery atmosphere at camp -- not to mention the caffeinated perkiness of the camp counselors, who are at times both revolted and ticked off by the 'weirdness' of the Addams kids.

All plotlines come together in a hilarious ending that remains true to the characters, and seems to come naturally from the story.

Christina Ricci (another of Hollywood's great underrated performers), as Wednesday Addams, again steals every scene she's in with ease -- her deadpan playing of Wednesday could not be more perfect. Watch for the segment where Wednesday and Pugsley perform their little scene from a play at camp; you'll wet your pants laughing! Joan Cusack is, again, brilliant in her portrayal of Debbie, the killer with a heart of stone.

In fact, the whole cast works perfectly together for this superior sequel, with enough one-liners and sight gags and twisted humor to keep you laughing from beginning to end. I didn't own either movie on DVD when I saw the first one on tv the other night (though had seen them both in theaters), but have since bought both ... though got this one first. So gather with your shawl on, find a roost that you can crawl on, and catch this great comedy -- a must-see for anyone in need of some good belly laughs!

I Thought My Family Was Weird
This movie is pretty much perfect. Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, and Christopher Lloyd excel in their performances as the most noticable of the family members. They know how to act in a dark comedy like this, where a mother might have to take away the knife her daughter is chasing the younger brother around with. And hand her an axe in replacement.
The movie has about three sub-plots. The first involves Morticia and Gomez, the parents, who just had a baby and are having to deal with all three of their children at once ( Wednesday and Pugsley, the children, are infatuated with disposing of the infant ).
While the children are plotting away, a nanny is hired. Her name is Debbie, played very well by Joan Cusack. Unbeknownst to the family, she is a criminal who marries rich men and then kills them, earning her a famous black-widow reputation. The second sub-plot involves her advances towards a relationship with Uncle Fester, one of the world's richest men.
The third sub-plot is Debbie's decision that Wednesday and Pugsley be sent to summer camp, which is basically the Addams's vision of Hell. Or Heaven. Whichever they like the least.
The movie is filled with hilarious one-liners and events, and the Addamses will charm almost anyone with their twisted, morbid lives. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Released a year after John Carpenter's 1978 Halloween, this thriller by longtime actor-turned-director Fred Walton has held a strong following of its own. In an exemplary piece of suspense, the film begins with a babysitter (Carol Kane) fielding threatening phone calls while on the job. She soon finds that a pair of children in her charge have been murdered in their beds; she is nearly killed herself by the homicidal maniac before police arrive. As with Halloween, the action jumps some years ahead, when Kane's character is herself a wife and mother--and the monster escapes from a mental institution to re-create his original carnage in the heroine's own home. Between these exciting bookends, the film loses its way and becomes dissatisfying and obscure. But Walton compensates by engineering a couple of great horror moments worth savoring. Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (48)

have you checked... the children?
I saw this with my parents when I was in 6th grade... I can't believe they took me to see this disturbing film! I just stopped having nightmares last year. It was such a popular film, however, that about every kid in my school had seen it and before such phrases as "Where's the Beef?" and "Show me the money!" became part of pop culture, everyone was saying, "have you checked the children?"

Seriously though, this film isn't for children. It's true life horror and even more true to home in these violent days we live in. When this film came out, no one ever heard stories about Polly Klaas or other children abuducted from their own bedrooms, or intruders entering a home for any purpose other than burglary. Sure, it happened... but it wasn't as prevalent as it is today.

Not contented enough to kill two young children with his bare hands, the antagonist intends to finish off the babysitter as well. Carol Kane is superbly convincing as the terrorized babysitter and Charles Durning does a stunning job as the police detective that won't rest until he can get rid of this guy for good. Slow in some places, but they're really just getting you calm enough so that scare the wits out of you when you least expect it.

The film is most focused on psychological terror... you really don't see much violence, you just hear about it and expect it. It may seem a little unsophisticated by today's standards, but it will scare the willies out of you.

When a Stranger Calls
I read all the reviews of this film, on this site, before actually buying it, so I knew what to expect, and most of the time, when to expect it! As every other reviewer says, the first 20 minutes are exceptional, and the last 20 minutes not too far behind. The problem is the bit in the middle, which provides neither direction, nor suspense. I'm not saying this film should have been full of murder from start to finish, but it lacks that little something that I don't think I've seen anywhere other than Black Christmas which, for me anyway, is the "daddy" of all "he's in the house" films. This is in my top ten scary movies, and is worth buying for the 40 minutes referred to alone. I just worry that, on those dark winter nights, when I love watching these films so much, the gap between the first and last 20 minutes is so bereft of anything interesting or suspenseful, I may well fall asleep!

When a viewer yawns
Despite a raging indifference to the acting chops of Carol Kane--I still can barely stand to watch "Taxi" largely due to her annoying grate--I decided to give "When A Stranger Calls" a chance. After all, who hasn't heard about the opening segment of this film, where babysitter Jill Johnson (Carol Kane) fields an increasingly sinister series of phone calls imploring her to "check on the children"? Lingering camera shots showing the dark, silent parts of the house highlight the growing sense of fear and despair felt by Kane's character as she bravely stands her ground for the benefit of her employer's children. Several phone calls to the police bring the men in blue into the picture, but will they get there in time if the caller materializes? The ominous shadow on the staircase signals trouble of a most horrific nature, Kane reacts, and the scene plays out to its grim conclusion. And then the real horror starts, the stark, soul shattering horror of watching a movie with a memorable beginning sink into a morass of banality. "When A Stranger Calls" would have worked better as a short, independent film strongly emphasizing its bravura opening instead of plunging into the sprawling mess we get here. Too bad.

Years after that horrible night Curt Duncan, the crazed caller, is back out on the streets after a lengthy stint in an insane asylum. Unfortunately, no one told retired detective and now private eye John Gifford (Charles Durning), the cop who was there the night the caller terrorized Jill Johnson. The father of the children brutalized by Duncan hires Gifford to bring the psycho down anyway he can, if for no other reason than to prevent a repeat performance in some other person's family. Gifford agrees to take the case and begins looking for Duncan. "When A Stranger Calls" rapidly descends into boredom from this point forward, as we see Duncan attempting to rejoin society and utterly failing. He ends up in a bar where he meets Tracy (Colleen Dewhurst) and promptly receives a heck of a beating after attempts to ingratiate himself with Tracy brings on the wrath of a beefy bystander. Why Duncan expresses so much interest in a cranky barfly is just one of the many inexplicable questions that arise frequently during the film. You have a better chance of discovering the origins of the Sphinx or learning quantum physics at the age of three than understanding why this movie takes the turn that it does here.

As Duncan takes a beating at the bar, Gifford enlists the aid of one of his cop friends, Charlie Garber (Ron O'Neal), now a lieutenant on the force who remembers the bloody horror of that night but hesitates in helping his buddy. This part of the film is interminable, with lots of shots of Tracy strolling through the blasted landscapes of her city in the middle of the night, Gifford pounding the pavement around town trying to track down Duncan, and the former caller's inept attempts to evade capture. Seeing Charles Durning run, although highly amusing and slightly worrisome from a coronary angle, is not enough to elevate this segment of the film. Thankfully, the film returns to its frightening pace at the end, when the now married Jill Johnson once again encounters Curt Duncan. And this time she has here own children to worry about. The scene where she takes a phone call at a restaurant is worth slogging through the preceding sixty minutes, as is the final showdown shortly thereafter.

Another let down with "When A Stranger Calls" comes when we finally see Curt Duncan face to face. The guy simply isn't that scary in person. He's older, sort of thin, and looks like your average, every day type of guy and not anything like some former sailor with an insatiable lust for blood. Apparently, the actor who played Duncan, Tony Beckley, died shortly after making the movie. As for Carol Kane, she does a good job playing the eternally frightened Jill Johnson but then promptly disappears for a large part of the movie. Durning sleepwalks through the role of the determined cop John Gifford and Colleen Dewhurst is largely wasted in the meaningless role of Tracy. The performances on the whole aren't bad, but the wooden pacing and uninteresting middle part of the film insured that no performer, no matter how good, could have saved this movie from the doldrums.

The DVD doesn't offer much in the way of extras, but it does give you the option of watching the film in either fullscreen or widescreen. "When A Stranger Calls" really is worth watching in its entirety due to the beginning and the conclusion; just don't expect to find a high level of dramatic tension throughout. I see that many, many reviewers present a united front about this film, something that rarely happens with most movies out there. They are not lying. Go ahead and watch the picture, but prepare yourself for some serious tedium in the process. Perhaps you can take a short nap while you wait for the conclusion?

The scarest opening ever!
The first 20 somethin minutes of the movie is so scary I can't describe it, and I mean it's scary up untill the veary last shoot of the first scene( my heart jumped out of my chest ), the movie is worth it for the first scene on it's own.
The movie sorta slows down for awhile after the oening scene some scary stuff hear and there but nothing even close to the opening( I think the writer was trying to make it suspenceful, but it was just stupid to me ).
The movie get interesting and scary again when we meat up with the girl from the opening scene and her family 7 years latter, then it slowly gets scary again, and it's scary up until the last shoot, I mean when I saw the last shoot I couldn't get the shoot out of my head and had a hard time sleeping.
Overall the movie is a classic, and a must see some slow parts hear and there but really scary, a must see( if you have the guts to see it ).

Why haven't you checked the children?
Wow, this movie was terrific. I just watched it, like five minutes ago and my heart is still beating quickly. The beginning scenes had me covering myself (except one eye) with a blanket as did the ending moments. The middle is a bit slow, but you are getting introduced to the killer. I actually ended up feeling bad for Kirk Duncan, because he didn't seem to know what he was doing. A real thriller. Save for a time where you can scream as much as you want! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A gripping true crime yarn, a juicy slice of overheated New York atmosphere, and a splendid showcase for its young actors, Dog Day Afternoon is a minor classic of the 1970s. The opening montage of New York street life (set to Elton John's lazy "Amoreena") establishes the oppressive mood of a scorching afternoon in the city with such immediacy that you can almost smell the garbage baking in the sun and the water from the hydrants evaporating from the sizzling pavement. Al Pacino plays Sonny, who, along with his rather slow-witted accomplice Sal (John Cazale, familiar as Pacino's Godfather brother Fredo), holds hostages after a botched a bank robbery. Sonny finds himself transformed into a rebel celebrity when his standoff with police (including lead negotiator Charles Durning) is covered live on local television. The movie doesn't appear to be about anything in particular, but it really conveys the feel of wild and unpredictable events unfolding before your eyes, and the whole picture is so convincing and involving that you're glued to the screen. An Oscar winner for original screenplay, Dog Day Afternoon was also nominated for best picture, actor, supporting actor (Chris Sarandon, as a surprise figure from Sonny's past), editing, and director (Sidney Lumet of Serpico, Prince of the City, The Verdict, and Running on Empty). --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Entertaining - An Improvement From Lumet's 'Serpico'
Well-done, tense drama of a botched bank robbery in Brooklyn in which two misfits commit one absurd blunder after another and turn a criminal act into a three-ring circus, what with the police, crowds and the media swarming upon the bank to observe the comedy of errors.

Al Pacino is superb as Sonny who wants the money to finance a sex-change operation for his transsexual lover (well done by Chris Sarandon). Aiding and abetting Sonny is half-wit Sal (John Cazale in a solid characterization) who chooses Wyoming as a foreign country destination for a safe haven. Charles Durning scores as Detective Moretti who spars with Sonny throughout the afternoon and arranges "safe" passage for him and Sal to JFK and their would-be flight to freedom. There are snippets of dialogue from the 1956 feature film, "The Lone Ranger", that is heard in the background during the hostage standoff inside the bank. Ironic because the Ranger's law-and-order message falls on deaf criminal ears during the commission of the felony.

Sidney Lumet's Oscar-nominated direction is sharp throughout. Based on actual events, "Dog Day Afternoon" is another great winner from the 1970s, Hollywood's second Golden Age. 5 stars out of 5.

Exhausted
Al Pacino plays a bisexual bank robber in love with a man who needs a sex change. Al is in his twenties for this film, at the beginning of his career, around his first Godfather film. He is not the stoic mobster in this flick. He is sensitive, screwed up, and angry. I've never seen Pacino this vulnerable. Brooklyn is exploding with post-Vietnam trauma. The cops are stupid and clumsy. The neighborhood kids are high and bored. The new TV culture is on the street making the botched robbery a classic hostage study, a Stockholm Syndrome of American stupidity. The acting is so good; you swear you're watching a documentary. The fat wife is screaming. The idiot mother is crying. The gay lover is sprung from a mental hospital. America is at war with itself in 1972, panic in the streets. Sidney Lument has created a flawed masterpiece of suspense with the Oscar winning script by Frank Pierson. My two complaints: not sure why the wonderful character actor John Cazale (he died so young in real life) was considered so dangerous. The film was forty minutes too long with screaming phone conversations.

ONE OF THE GREATEST MOVIES EVER MADE!
This has got to be one of the greatest films ever. The story, the plot, the acting is just amazing. Al Pacino is an original in this film. Once you watch it once, you will want to watch it over and over again. Great movie to watch on a hot weekend, summer afternoon.

+1/2
"Dog Day Afternoon" is the true story of Sonny and Sal, two first-time bank robbers whose failed hold-up suddenly becomes a massive media event and hostage situation. These men, both veterans of the Vietnam War and open homosexuals (though not extrafilially involved), must face a war zone of life-threatening obstacles in their spontaneous decision to flee the country. Fantastic, yes, but excellent acting by Al Pacino, Charles Durning, and James Broderick makes this narrative startlingly real. Accessible to the average viewer, "Dog Day Afternoon" will find particular interest to ex-convicts, bank tellers, and all seeking a military burial.

Classic Film--Lousy Transfer
As usual, another major studio has done a lazy job of transferring to dvd with "less-than-optimum" elements. Warner is known for bad transfers, a problem which they also had when they were in the laserdisc (another "hi-end" format) business. I am amazed they didn't even bother to include the "making of" which is included on the VHS TAPE--FOR GOSH SAKES, GET WITH THE PROGRAM! ... Read more

Reviews (46)

CLASSIC FUNNY MOVIE, DVD VERSION NOT WORTH THE EXTRA DOLLARS
Okay, so I sinned and purchased a film that isn't anamorphic, heck this DVD isn't even widescreen! But it didn't cost much more than the VHS tape. Unfortunately there aren't any extras on the disc, behold why so inexpensive, and the picture and sound quality make me wonder if I would have been just as well off purchasing the VHS version. The only problem would be that I don't pop in my VHS movies any more. This movie is very funny. Steve Martin plays a great italian mobster and Rick Morranis plays the perfect boring federal agent. If you don't find yourse