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This inevitable sequel finds Jim Carrey reprising his role as the world's greatest pet detective. His latest case, the disappearance of a rare African white bat, draws him out of his spiritual retreat at a Tibetan monastery following the tragic outcome of his previous case. That traumatic experience, which makes for a hilarious opening-scene send-up of the Stallone thriller Cliffhanger, prompts Ace to venture to Africa, where he goes native with the tribe that hired him to find their symbolic bat. From that point anything goes, with Carrey pushing the boundaries of good taste (what, you were expecting good taste?) up to and including his now-infamous "birth" scene from the backside of a mechanical rhinoceros. Lighten up, and don't be ashamed if you find yourself laughing. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (75)

This movie is as good or better than Liar Liar.
I'm a huge Jim Carrey fan and I'd heard of the two Ace Ventura movies a couple of times in the past, but I never really went out to look for them. Then I saw "When Nature Calls" at a friend's house and I was laughing hysterically the whole time.

The most hilarious parts in this movie are the "rhino giving birth" scene, the fact that whenever someone says "Shikaka", the Wachati tribe members present will kneel and Ace uses it as a sort of "Simon Says" game, the Wachutu tests, and the beginning when Ace uses a Slinky on those hundreds of stone steps singing "Everyone loves a Slinky, you gotta get a Slinky! Slinky, Slinky, go Slinky, GO!"

Summary: It's a great movie that will make all Jim Carrey fans laugh out loud at least once.

Better than the first!
When Nature Calls is so much better than Pet Detective! Of course you know any Jim Carrey movie is going to be hillarious, but this one just surpasses them all. There are so many crack-up "quotable" scenes that will bring you to laughter every time you remember them for years to come. The Ace Ventura series and Dumb and Dumber are the funniest movies ever made. You will learn to love not only Ace but his faithful sidekick Spike, as well as all of Ace's hillariously funny habbits.

Although there is one quite innapropriate scene where Ace is...pleasuring himself that is uncalled for; this being a "children's movie" and all.

I don't go for "stupid" humor, but...
I admit it, I'm pretentious. I like intellectual artsy kind of films, and cult movies. My humor runs along the veins of movies like "Brazil" and "The Big Lebowski". Kubrick is my cinematic hero, and I run screaming from anything tainted by top 40 pop-culture homogeneity.

That said, I have a weakness. For slapstick comedy. And I think "Ace Ventura- When nature Calls" is one of the funniest movies ever made.

Unlike other reviewers, I love the fact that there are no attempts at a "plot" or "character devlopment". The only character developed is Jim Carrey, and that's all that's needed. The first Ace movie had a couple funny moments but was pretty painful, as it tried to show the character of Ace Ventura (Pet Detective) in an attempted "realistic" environment, with attempted "believable" characters. The persona of Ace was stuck between goofy slapstick and moments of awkward "realism", (a love interest, Courtney Cox, the whole Dolphins thing). In other words, it sucked.

This second movie dispenses with such extraneous distractions. You won't even know what the plot is, or care. Ace is pure 100% buffoon, never stopping to inject some ridiculous "drama" into the proceedings. Like a good Three Stooges short, this film's sets, costumes, supporting actors, etc. are all window-dressing for good ol' some fashioned numbskullery. The mechanical rhino scene is absolutely classic, and the fight scene between Ace and Tommy Davidson's character is just great comedy.

When I first saw this movie, I laughed almost to tears. Jim Carrey is a funny guy, there's no denying that, although he is often funnier in interviews than he is in his actual movies. His on-screen shtick gets old quick, mainly because his talent is as a pure clown and as I stated above, for some reason directors always want to put him in "serious" (read: painfully cornball) situations. In my opinion his true gift is for pure, unadulterated slapstick. He is a comedian, and should leave the "real" dramatic acting to others who don't have his gift for the absurd. For that reason, this movie and "Dumb and Dumber" (another pure slapstick classic) are really the only two Jim Carrey vehicles you need to see. Oh, and the entire In Living Color series ;)

Please go to a neutral corner.
It's hard to find a film where those who watch it are either disgusted by it, or are rolling on the floor with laughter. This is one of those films. Jim does not disappoint with his crazy antics, and the fact that he is willing to do anything for a laugh is admirable. He humiliates himself more than once in this film all for the sake of laughter. I won't slam this film for its deficiencies, nor will I praise it for some inspired comedy. Sufficed to say, I am going to remain neutral here. If you love Jim for his self-deprecating and crude humor then this film is for you. If you prefer cerebral wit to over-the-top slapstick, well, you probably wouldn't be concerning yourself with reading this review. Jim's fans should not be disappointed.

Not that great
I liked the first movie because it made Ace look very intelligent, and he has that "you can't mess with me cause I have a very witty come back attitude". Ace even had a serious personality on more than 2 occasions in the film.

But in When Nature Calls, he's completely idiotic. He's never serious and he doesn't have that "you can't mess with me attitude" That was my main beef with the film. The film's plot isn't that great and it's all about Ace makin an, excuse me for this, ass of himself.

It however does have some funny parts and you should watch it if you like Jim Carrey ... Read more

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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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Following Val Kilmer's portrayal of the caped crusader in Batman Forever, the fourth Batman feature stars George Clooney under the pointy-eared cowl, with Chris O'Donnell returning as Robin the Boy Wonder. This time the dynamic duo is up against the nefarious Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who is bent on turning the world into an iceberg, and the slyly seductive but highly toxic Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman), who wants to eliminate all animal life and turn the Earth into a gigantic greenhouse. Alicia Silverstone lends a hand as Batgirl, and Elle McPherson plays the thankless role of Batman/Bruce Wayne's fiancée. A sensory assault of dazzling colors, senseless action, and lavish sets run amok, this Batman & Robin offers an overdose of eye candy, but it is strictly for devoted Bat-o-philes. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (354)

This Movie Sucks
This movie should never had been made. Arnold Schwarzenegger should have never been in this movie. This is his worst film ever, well besides the whole terminateor trilogy. George Clooney absoulutely sucks as batman. Chris O'Donnell is the worst actor in hollywood history. The only good actress' in this movie are Uma Thurman and Alicia Silverstone.Dont waste your money if you are thinking about buying this movie.

What were they thinking?
I actually was not disappointed by this film. The Trailer made the movie look stupid and it was. However, I was actually surprised what I actually did like about it. Arnold, while still acting like every other Shumacher villain actually had some good scenes; the Sculpting of the Ice globe in Arkham, learning his wife was dead; and the only problem with Clooney was the script and direction. The same goes for Uma and Michael Gough. the biggest Problem, besides the script and director, was Alicia Silverstone as a really annoying person who thought she was Batgirl. Also Elliot Goldenthal's music is no match for Danny Elfman's contributions.

The lack of extras makes the DVD pretty boring.

Crapman and Slobin
The most entertaining part of this flick, was Clooney's rubber ariolas!!!!

Batman & Robin (1997)
Batman & Robin was a bit of a dissapointment; I had heard it was a dud, but since I love Batman I had to check it out.In a nut shell Batman & Robin is a movie that gives up a good story outline and decent dialogue for big special effects and expensive gadgets.Don't get me wrong the special effects are a major improvement from the others and the gadgets are awesome, but that's not what mad the first two so popular.I now there has been a new director for the last two films, but he should have gone back to the ethics of the first two by Burton.Another drawback is that the film doesn't have that good of acting and they don't have a solid Batman.I thought Val Kilmer sucked as Batman, but George Clooney makes Val Kilmer look like a good one.Uma Thurman does a great job, but sometimes it is a bit over the top at times.Arnold yet another problem.I liked the sickness with Alfred and how they tried to have a little heart in the film, but it was all covered up by the big effects and explosions.Batgirl was also a nice addition to the film and the conflict between Batman not trusting Robin with the fighting.Overall it just needed to tone down with all the major effects.If your a fan of the series you should probably check this one out.

The Caped Crusader returns to battle the abominable Mr. Freeze and green-thumbed Poison Ivy. To save his ailing wife, Dr. Victor Fries turns to a life of crime after a hideous accident makes him unable to tolerate even moderate temperatures, while Dr. Pamela Isley falls victim to mutated plant DNA when things go awry in a jungle laboratory funded by Wayne Industries. Of course, though their interests are diametrically opposed (Freeze wants another Ice Age; Ivy wants to make the world safe for plants), the two villains team up to defeat Gotham's dynamic duo of Batman and Robin, who are joined by butler Alfred's motorcycle-obsessed niece as Batgirl. And when Alfred is diagnosed as having the same terminal disease as Freeze's wife, the trio find themselves not only fighting an altruistic battle, but a personal one as well. A frenetic, colorful, and often overwhelming sequel to "Batman," "Batman Returns," and "Batman Forever."(5/10)

"Warner Bros, we got a problem."
-- Stefan Birgir Stefansson, SBS.IS

Shame On Them
Everyone who was even remotely involved in this mess should be ashamed of themselves. A complete and baldfaced sellout to the highest bidder results in lowest common denominator filmmaking. A live action cartoon. One of the most promising series in recent Hollywood is driven into a brick wall in this extravaganza of loud noises and garish colors. Just sad. ... Read more

Reviews (79)

Wolfmans Got Nards & I Can't Wait For The DVD To Be Released
This is a great scary movie for kids and adults alike...
This little-known GEM of a film & one of my favorites with mostly a cast of unknowns. Stephen Macht (Graveyard Shift& many other stephen King films) & Jason Hervey (older brother, Wayne on Wonder Years) are familiar faces. A great kids frightfest that has the Creature From The Black Lagoon, Mummy, Wolfman, Frankenstein & a really hot & sexy Dracula with his female coven!

A passel of oddball kids fight the dark forces of evil in their small neighborhood with the help of Frankenstein & Scary German Guy (an old Germanic man that is a neighbor). Great plot, cool special effects, some excellent one liners & some wonderful child acting all make for a terrifc family frightfest! Check out the teacher in the beginning of the movie. The kids call her "Meow Mix" because her head is shaped like a cat's head! Great oddball writing in this movie makes it scary & funny!

Wonderful story! I just can't wait for this to come out on DVD!

The movie i have loved since i was a kid!
Monster Squad has so many good things about it its hard to find things wrong with it. It brings many life lessons with it. Here are the ten lessons i learned:
1.German people are scary, especially the "scary german guy".
2.Wolfman has "nards".
3.The kid who smokes and wears a leather jacket is the coolest guy in the town.
4.Don't mess with the fat kid.
5.The Creature from the Black Lagoon is no match for a twelve gauge.
6.Make a clubhouse next to a house where a hot chick lives so you can spy on her when she undresses.
7.The mummy in your closet isn't real and even if he is your dad will never see him any ways.
8.The army is always late.
9.Free movies await the person who lives close enough to a drive in.
10.monster squad is a classic.
Well I think I've said enough, so buy it already and have fun laughin at crude 80's sayings and ridiculus fat jokes.

Monsteriffic!!!
Classic Monsters, Gang of Middle Schoolers fighting Evil, Great SPFX, One of my most favorite movies ever. Reminds me somewhat of the Goonies, (1 fat kid , 1 obsessive cumplusive kid, 1 young adult, and the rest is history)

wolfman gots nards!!!
this is the best movie ever. its funny the movie is older then me but its my favorite movie.

but its abut these group of kids who have to stop dracula from taking ova the world.

but it has all the monster classics. so if you like drac and the other creaures of the night, watch it!

Mummy Came In My House.
This is one of the best 80's movies ever. cleverly developed. The dialog in this film is also fantastic. "wolfmans got nards."
A must have movie. You'll love evey rsecond of it. ... Read more