Amazon.com

When Ally McBeal premiered on the Fox network in 1997, the series was already riding high on critical praise, with its upscale mix of savvy humor and hot-topic legal drama. Created, produced, and written entirely by the amazingly prolific David E. Kelley, the show immediately found an appreciative audience of women drawn to the title character's frank perspectives on dating, sex, and career objectives, and men lured by a cast full of attractive, outspoken women with vibrant personalities and flattering wardrobes. (If you think that's a sexist observation, you haven't tuned in to the show's brilliant balance of male chauvinism, feminist attitude, and hilariously turbulent office politics.)

This two-disc compilation of episodes from the show's first season is aptly titled, because Ally McBeal--a Boston lawyer played by Calista Flockhart--is defined by her seemingly perpetual singlehood, her sexual and emotional yearnings, her professional passions, and--by one of Kelley's creative masterstrokes--her flights of imagination (often visualized via amusing computer-generated effects) that give the series a constant, unpredictable edge of humor and emotional depth.

These well-chosen episodes offer a comprehensive summary of the first season's major developments, including the emotional history shared by Ally and her now-married colleague Billy (Gil Bellows); the notorious "dancing baby" (in "Cro-Magnon") symbolizing the insistent ticking of Ally's biological clock; the amiable quirks of John "the Biscuit" Cage (Peter MacNicol); and the dubious pearls of wisdom known as "Fishisms." Here we witness the sublime chemistry of the ensemble cast, and each member is given ample time in the spotlight. Regular guest star Dyan Cannon is strongly featured in "Silver Bells," prior to the second-season addition of Nelle (Portia DeRossi) and Ling (Lucy Liu). That leaves plenty of room to establish Ally McBeal as the lively focus of the series--confused, opinionated, sexy, neurotic, frustrated, ecstatic, intelligent, emotional... and never, ever boring. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Do you want every bit of Ally? Come to the UK!!!
Ally McBeal is an American TV show so I do not understand why Americans have only been given this small bundle of episodes when over in my home country England we have ALL the seasons available with special features!

For you hardcore Ally fans I'll give you some handy advice. Save up for a multi-region dvd player or a computer that plays dvds. Go on over to amazon.co.uk and purchase the season box sets!

Good luck!!!

UPSET!
I love the show Ally Mcbeal, and I am upset that there is only one season released here in the US! I ordered three seasons from the UK website only to get them in the mail and find out that they are not compatible with the systems of the U.S. so either way I am still with out any of the episodes!It cost me $32.00 to send it back to the U.K., and I'm not even sure amazon.uk will refund the cost of the sets! So I am out of over $100.00 trying to buy the series of this wonderful show. I am upset at the entire situation!

What an insult!!
While I might be inclined to believe that the seris was a cult fav, it still was extremely popular. This DVD release is an insult to all the faithful followers and just a tease to those who are unfamiliar with the ironic yet hilarious humor. There is a bit of Ally in all of us. Does Fox even know how frustrating it is to know that Ally is available in just about every country but the U.S.? I had to buy season one off a jerk on ebay and it was burnt and it sucked! I did get season four from a fabulous person in another country. Expensive song rights or not, give your loyal fans what they deserve and make it good with deleted scenes and lots of special features!!!!

ally mcbeal boxed set PLEASE
i am a fan of ally mcbeal and would love to be able to buy the entire series of episodes on dvd. i see sex and the city, friends, buffy, etc...there are so many people that love ally mcbeal, i would LOVE to see this set put out.
becky

Where's the rest of the seasons???
I was planning on buying this cd as a gift for an Ally Mcbeal fan but after reading the reviews I changed my mind! This show was great, I cannot believe the entire collection is not out on DVD, I'm going on amazon.co.uk to see what I find? ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Despite its box-office failure in 1981, Dragonslayer was gradually recognized as one of the finest fantasies to emerge from the post-Star Wars boom in special effects. It's still one of the best adventures of its kind, featuring one of the most fearsome fire-breathing serpents in movie history. Ominously named Vermithrax Pejorative, this ill-tempered monster terrorizes the peasantry of sixth-century England, feeding on maidens sacrificed by a duplicitous king until a sorcerer's apprentice named Galen (Peter MacNicol, long before Ally McBeal) is recruited as a reluctant hero. Aided by a tenacious beauty (Caitlin Clarke) and his resurrected mentor (Ralph Richardson), Galen confronts the soaring beast in a breathtaking climax. Employing a then-innovative technique called Go-Motion to animate the dragon, the special effects are still dazzling, and stunning locations in Scotland and Wales allow director Matthew Robbins (cowriter of Steven Spielberg's feature debut, The Sugarland Express) to maintain a vivid atmosphere for the wealth of movie magic. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (67)

One of the best fantasy films I have seen
And face it, there just aren't all that many great fantasy films around; "Dragonslayer" stands out, especially in the 80s era, where fantasy films were often a silly sword-and-sorcery affair. It is a dark tale of a sorcerer and a dragon that he must destroy, a fantasy story in the most classical sense of the word. The special effects might look just a little out-dated, but they still hold well for audience today. The acting is just a little contrived (with the exception of the sorcerer, performed by the great British actor Richardson), but the focus is not as much on the characters as on the atmosphere and the tale itself. What I like best about this films is that it is not quirky or childish, but has an atmosphere that holds true to the darker world of old fairy tales. I would love to see this movie come to DVD.

Dragonslayer!!!
Wow, it's about time! Dragonslayer, man! Remember Dragonslayer? If you had HBO back in the good ol' days, you most likely saw this many, many times along with The Beastmaster. This is THE dragon flick. It's everything you could hope for in a fantasy film. This is no wimpy dragon flick. Hollywood loves to throw all these friendly dragons into their films anymore, which is extremely irritating. You won't see some human loving dragon with Sean Connery's voice in this one! It may be PG rated, but it is quite dark, serious, and very violent. Your kids won't be wishing with all their hearts to fly with this dragon in the Land of Art, I can tell ya that right now! She ain't white and fluffy and willing to take you beyond the boundaries of Fantasia either. This dragon is pissed. This dragon is burning the village virgins to a cinder, and letting her kids chomp away at the princess. This is the kind of dragon from fairy tales, this sucker is scary! This dragon is probably the scariest and best looking put on film. The effects were pretty good for 82 , and the dragon is still creepy and convincing. The dragon doesn't have much screen time, but that's fine considering a very good story is fed to us. There are some decent performances too, especially Ralph Richardson as the wizard. I have not seen an actor since that fits the role of a wizard the way Ralph does here. Sorry, Mr. McKellen. Now that it's here, get it. It's the perfect addition to your fantasy flick collection, and will easily find a spot between Krull and Conan The Destroyer.

Slayer
Yes, of course it is showing its age. It was made in 1981. This does not change the fact that this movie totally owns. This rocked back in the day and it continues to rock if for nothing but the pure nostalgia factor (showing this movie to my older brother will be sure to conjure memories). 1981 seemed to be a big year for movies about Knights, swords and sorcery. This was one of the best and remained the best for a long time to come. Only today, with slick computer graphics do we see the failures of the special effects here and there. However, they tried their best, really they did. It remains an impressive tale about magic, progress, advancement, and heroism. One of the more memorable lines from this movie was something like :

"Well, I'm glad that magic is fading from this world, the dragons are fading along with it."

Hmmm.

Good when it came out--and still good now!
This has been a favorite of mine over the years, and its stood the test of time--I still like it! I especially like the characters, the way it lets you understand their motives without asking you to accept them. It shows you peoples foibles as well as their strengths. It includes several horrific scenes, but doesn't bog down in explicit detailing of gore (for example, when the princess sacrifices herself to the dragon, you don't see her killed, but only see a glimpse of her body where the baby dragons are feeding). Or, the old servant is murdered, and before he dies he says, "Someone's shot me!" in a voice of surprise, like he can't understand why someone would do that. And the dragon was believable to me. I accepted its sadness at being at the end of an era and without having a place in the new one. Dragonslayer is a good story supported by special effects and not the other way around--a movie with loads of special effects and no story--that would be boring!

More of a Merchant-Ivory costume drama than swords & sorcery
Dragonslayer is very much like a Merchant-Ivory costume drama -only with a fire-breathing dragon! Like Merchant-Ivory films, Dragonslayer is well-written, beautifully photographed, designed with an amazing eye for authentic costumes, sets and props to the last detail and masterfully acted by all the supporting characters. Unfortunately, like other M-I films, there is little action and a very unsypathetic "hero".

The plot: For years, the kingdom of Urland has managed to avoid being incinerated by a dragon by offering up maidens as a twice-annual meal. Like the draft during Vietnam, the lottery by which the virgins are chosen is more or less rigged to guarantee that the children of the rich and/ or well-connected aren't conscripted as dragon bait. One thing the movie should have addressed is the question of why the virgins of Urland don't "dodge the draft" in a rather easy and obvious (and fun!) way.

Since there are no slots in the "champagne unit" of the Texas Air Guard available to a young commoner named Valerian, she has spent her youth dressed like a boy. However, she refuses to just sit by as other girls are devoured, so she and other peasants seek out a wizard to kill the dragon.

The only one they find is Ulric (played perfectly as an almost senile hermit by Ralph Richardson), an octogenarian who lives 300 miles away and appears to already have one foot in the grave. He doesn't even look like he can travel all the way to Urland, let alone fight a dragon. He is also handicapped by a a clumsy and dull-witted apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNicol).

Enter Tyrian (Jack Hallam) a wonderfull villain played by a wonderfull actor. He thinks the old magician is a fraud and a troublemaker and calls him out. When he goes into his harangue about how wizards are con-artists and says "But comes a doubter..." you realize it's a great performance. Like others in Urland, Tyrian actually benefits from the sacrifice of young girls to the dragon. Like any society beset by a scary enough menace, people will allow their "protector" to get away with anything -even murder- if it means keeping the beast at bay. Tyrian serves King Cassiodorus Rex (Peter Eyre), who came up with the lottery (the "tiles" look suspiciously like old-style Army dog tags -a clever touch) after his brother, King Gaiseric tried to kill the dragon but was himself killed.

The over-eager and under-intelligent Galen tries to kill the dragon himself. Between his bungling, the King's conniving and pressure from the villagers whose homes and crops get turned to ashes, Galen finds himself in a deeper and deeper pit.

At this point, the movie falters. The fight scene between Tyrian and Galen is almost humorously bad. The fight with the dragon is great, but suddenly stopped for no apparent reason -it just switches to dawn the next day. And the way the dragon is beaten lacks any kind of thrill or suspense whatsoever. Peter MacNicol is badly miscast and other reviewers are right in pointing out how conspicuous American accents in a movie with an almost entirely British cast kills the suspension of disbelief.

Another problem is the score by Alex North. It's just plain bad.

On the other hand, Caitlin Clarke (American accent notwithstanding) is pretty good. Other reviewers think of her as a bit of a Plain Jane, but they forget that she is pretty (though not by absurd movie standards) and she can't have Kate Beckinsale's cute little button nose and pass herself off as a boy. The rest of the cast is perfect.

Of all the sword & sorcery films ever made, Dragonslayer is the best scripted and by far the best acted. The costumes are 100% accurate for the 6th-7th centuries in northern Europe, contrary to some assertions made here. If it had more action and a more appealing hero with real chemistry with the female lead, this movie would be a classic.

Finally, the dragon (Vermithrax pejorative) is the best dragon ever on screen, with the ones from Reign of Fire a close second. Vermithrax actually has personality! The special effects guys must have had Lee Strasburg coach her! The fact that she is used sparingly helps, too.

This is a good, but not great movie and I recommend it. ... 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

Reviews (41)

Streep and Kline in a powerful depiction!!!
Where does one begin to talk about a topic which is portrayed in one of the most disturbing of movies ever made about the Holocaust. This was a long haul, this film which has Meryl Streep portraying Sophie, a woman with a hidden past, and her lover, Kevin Kline, who portrays "Nathan," and off the wall lunatic/poet/prodigy (you guess!) and then there is Peter MacNicol, who is befriended by these two sorts, and the movie progresses as we see Sophie and Nathan at their best loving one another, and at their worst when they hate each other. But through the film, we learn the "secret" of what Sophie's choice entailed, and the story enfolds itself around you until you are weeping with her and getting angry with her, and finally, at the end, getting so disappointed at the ultimate choice she makes, along with her lover. It's not an uplifting film at all, and I would recommend one keeps his or her wits about them when the film is watched. This is a true "thinking cap" movie, and it evokes many feelings. I hope yours are as intact as mine were, or I thought they were. But of course my wife hated the movie, much more for the choice Sophie had to face in Nazi Germany, than for anything else, and she cried and cried and cried - something she doesn't like to do, but it proved the movie really moved her. Highly recommended.

A shattering tale of sacrifice and survival
The incomparable Meryl Streep unleashes a devastating Academy Award performance (her second, but her only one as Best Actress to date) in this powerful and shattering tale of a Polish immigrant who survives the horrors of Hitler's Holocaust and the choice she is forced to make to her Nazi captors: which of her two children to sacrifice to the death camps. Setting out in post-war Brooklyn, the film introduces Sophie and an aspiring writer (a very young Peter McNicol) who live together with Sophie's tempestuous lover (Kevin Kline, in an amazing dramatic turn). Through flashbacks, director Alan J. Pakula guides us on an intelligent and probing but grippingly painful look at the horrors that War War II was to the millions of Hitler's victims and the extremes that his prisoners undertook to survive. Paluka's blend of Sophie's life in nostalgic Brooklyn and in the concentration camps of World War II is horrific in its effectiveness as it accentuates the absolute terror and inhumanity of the Holocaust. But that dramatic strategy might not have worked with any actress other than Streep. She is simply that devastating and wholly believeable with her perfect Polish accent and her decimated physical appearance because of her time in the custody of her Nazi victimizers. With that one performance, Streep managed to raise the level of leading actresses and likely earned her the distinction of being one of the industry's most respected performers ever. Her raw and honest emotional trauma makes "Sophie's Choice" a well-worthy watching, and the film's subject matters reminds us once again of the evil that man can do.

Agonizing - in more ways than one
This movie is simply agonizing in more ways than one. First, the bad. This movie is very lengthy - 2 hours and 30 minutes, and let me tell you, I could feel each and every minute sloooowly tick by. The story moves slowly as well, and it's hard to tell - what is real? What is false? Even when Sophie's "choice" is revealed at the end, are we, the audience, sure this is real or just a fabrication? As Sophie says somewhere in the movie, she has told so many lies it is hard to sort the truth from the falsehoods.

The movie paints a portait of Stingo (Peter MacNicol, lately of Ally McBeal), a Southern writer who makes the acquaintance of Sophie and Nathan, his upstairs neighbors, and then can't get rid of them. Sophie's a Polish immigrant who has spent time in the concentration camps during WWII, while Nathan is a medical researcher obsessed with the evils of the Holocaust. Why did Sophie survive while so many others died? This is the question that haunts Nathan, and haunts Sophie, whose entire family was murdered in the concentration camps.

Eventually, slowly, the story of Sophie emerges to Stingo, as we get some dramatic close-ups of Sophie telling us the story, making it feel more like a play than a movie. We flashback to life in the concentration camps, which has been prepared for us by the sadness which permeated the first half. Truths also begin to emerge about Nathan - and the tragic lives of Sophie and Nathan wind closer towards their end.

Meryl Streep? Is just amazing. This is an awe-inspiring piece of work for Streep. She masters different dialects and speaks different languages for much of the film. Her Sophie is simply a haunting image that will stay with you long after the end credits finish. Kevin Kline as Nathan is perfect as well. Peter MacNicol? Well, I can take him or leave him.

When the movie ends, you may have to wipe yourself off from the floor - not only from the tragic sadness and despair of the film, but from the mind-numbing length. This movie paints pictures of so much evil and grief it's hard to get over.

the most depressing movie ever
I agree with others that this is an excellent movie--Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, are wonderful, etc. I saw it first in a movie theatre when it first came out, and found it's tragedy very painful to watch, yet compelling due to the quality of the film (and actors). In later years I have tried to watch the movie several times on VHS or TV, and tried to read the book as well. I can watch and read hour after hour of true crime, but this story, either in book or movie form, is perhaps the most depressing piece of work I've ever encountered.

First of all, the tragedy of the holocaust is unspeakable except for the fact that it must be spoken about. That element of the film, displayed through Sophie's horrific experience unfolds slowly through painful flashbacks throughout. Second, the tragic personal choice she is forced to make--which of her children will be killed--speaks for itself. Thirdly, the tragedy of her lover's mental illness, so poingnant as we watch others with the same or similar illnesses today--homeless, untreated, misunderstood...so many perishing alone in our cold and drug-laden cities. Superior intelligence, it seems, fuels the tragedy by giving the false impression that the victim has the ability to have more control over the disease than he/she actually does. And finally, the ultimate depressing element of the film was the hope that both Sophie and her lover tried to cling to; displayed in bursts of reverie, joy, and engagement in life...like the final emergence of a hand grasping a slippery float, before it sinks.

Perhaps others can tolerate this movie better than I, but it struck a haunting chord that has never left since I first viewed the movie.

Meryl Streep is simply exceptional
Probably everyone has seen this movie, and probably everyone knows the premise, and probably everyone knows what Sophie's choice was and why it's slowly driving her crazy. But just in case there's a viewing population who is still clueless about this movie (based on the best-selling novel by William Styron), I'm not going to say too much so as not to give it away - because I was stunned with the enormity of it when I saw the movie for the first time and don't want to ruin that potential element of horrible surprise for new viewers.
Setting: Brooklyn, just after WWII.
Characters: Stingo (a young idealistic writer), Sophie (a Polish war survivor of the Holocaust), and Nathan (Sophie's lover, played in his movie debut by Kevin Klein)
Plot line: Something horrible happened to Sophie during her time in a Nazi concentration camp, and details are slowly revealed through a series of harrowing flashbacks.
Advice: See this movie. It's one of the best ever. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In 1995, it was promising to hear that Mel Brooks was creating "the companion piece to Young Frankenstein." He had also brought in the heavyweight of deadpan--Leslie Nielsen. As Lt. Frank Drebin in the Police Squad movies, Nielsen has no peer for silly stuff--just the player Brooks would seem to need for a strong movie, as any fan of Brooks perpetually hopes a new film may rekindle his madcap magic. Alas, the end results in Dracula: Dead and Loving It include a sprinkling of amusements and one big belly laugh. Brooks and his writers use a very tight adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel, but the spoofs can be spelled out as we go, as if they arepaint-by-number. Some are jabs at Coppola's version of Dracula, but most are attached to classic Dracula films. If any real pleasure comes from the movie it's thanks to the efforts of the cast. Peter MacNicol plays the crazed Renfield to the letter, Steven Weber has a good time as the tight British Harkin, and Lysette Anthony charms as the doomed Lucy. Brooks and Nielsen ham it up just fine. There's even a surprisingly controlled performance by Harvey Korman (a character spoofing Anthony Hopkins's role in the misfire The Road to Wellville). As with Brooks's period comedies, the film looks better than it needs to and includes a few tricky special effects for good measure. This has nothing to do with the audience laughing--we need bigger jokes. And when you double over laughing in one scene--involving a stake through the heart and a bucket of blood--you want the movie to achieve Brooks's days of glory, when hearty laughter was the norm, not an isolated moment. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (59)

It's Not The Best, But Also Not The Worst!!
It's not the best Mel Brooks movie and not a classic like Young Frankenstein but it's not as bad a movie as some have made it out to be, it was really enjoyable and I have been a fan of Leslie Nielsen since his Naked Gun TV show and movies and I have been a fan of Harvey Korman since first seeing him on The Carol Burnett Show when I was a kid. And though I like Dracula Dead And Loving It I really prefer Love At First Bite which starred George Hamilton as Dracula, though that movie might be kind of dated these days at least for younger viewers.

Made me P!$$ my pants.
Come on now, it's a Mel Brooks film so you know it's going to be funny. I'm a Dracula fan and love the original story so I was a little curious to see what Brooks would do to it. When I saw the film, my questions were answered and the laughter came in spades.

You'll see alot of Brooks' regular actors returning for this one including Harvey Korman, Megan Cavanaugh, Amy Yasbeck, Peter MacNicol, and even Ann Bancroft in a cameo in the beginning of the film. Steven Weber was great as Jonathan Harker as was Brooks as Van Helsing. Leslie Nielson mixed his "Naked Gun" character with Dracula and the results are definately pleasing. But the standout actor in this film is Peter MacNicol as Renfield, Dracula's slave under his power. MacNicol's performance is hands down the best of the film.

If you're looking for a good laugh, this film will deliver on every level possible. But this film comes second to Robin Hood: Men In Tights which is Brooks' best film of his career.

Very Funny
I thought this movie was absolutely hilarious, and it doesn't need to refernece almost everything to sex, like most of today's comedies do. It's just simple slapstick and great jokes and tons of funny scenes. I love it! I saw this movie a couple years ago, and have been searching for it since. Maybe this DVD will give me the chance I need.

Renfield You IDIOT!
This is an excellent movie, it's been one of my favourites for years. I believe that Mel Brooks is a true genius. However, reading the reviews for this movie, I hardly think that they do it justice. Everyone should watch this movie. And to those reviewers who listed great Mel Brooks movies, I DO agree with you, but HELLO! You are all forgetting his funniest movie ever-
ROBIN HOOD MEN IN TIGHTS!
There is no movie that can compare with this one in terms of comedy.
So, in conclusion, Dracula Dead and Loving It is excellent, you should buy it, Mel Brooks is a genius and you should all buy Robin Hood Men In Tights and watch it many, many times until you have learnt it all off by heart as I (and many of my good friends) have done.

HEY PAPERPLATER LEARN TO SPELL
You couldn't have comprehended Bram stokers novel very well considering twice you spelt it B.R.A.N. Not to mention all your other mispellings and atrocious grammar. As for Bram Stoker's Dracula. That was the worst Dracula movie ever made on a high budget.Like wow man... Keanu Reeves is like uh... totally convincing as an englishmen.Mel Brooks was totally in the right to blast that movie.Though he barely touched on that one.70% of it was a satire of the Bela Lugosi version,so chill out dude.The Wayan brothers? HA! The Wayan brothers say "When we grow up, we hope we'll have as much comedic genius in our entire bodies as Mel Brooks has in his little pinky. Amazons review section should have an indicator next to the reviews that are written by children 12 years or younger.Sometimes I feel a little guilty when I tell people off.BUT NOT IN YOUR CASE. On to the DVD.For itself it's a great movie. Picture dimensions compared to the VHS; the same at the top, a little more to the sides, but the bottom is cut off slightly.This only bothered me for one scene. On the VHS at the end of the autopsy you can catch a glimpse of the cadaver's face.(That's the dead body on the table,PAPERPLATER). On the DVD you can't see it at all.The commentary is good but not great(in the informative sense).Yet I've watched this 3 times with commentary,because it's fun to listen to.I would still like to know who composed that wonderful piece Dracula and Mina waltz to just when Dracula said "COME MISS MINA"at the ballroom dance.A music only track would have been nice.And a 20 minute behind the scenes with outakes and bloopers should have been included.If this dvd came out years ago,these things wouldn't bother me.But after such a long wait, my suggestions should have been included.The sound and picture quality is excellent.THIS ONE IS RECOMMENED as a keeper for the intelligent movie viewer. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Apocalypse Wow!
A chilling story of accidental nuclear war, By Dawn's Early light succeeds where other similar stories fail easily in terms of human drama and military accuracy. Reminiscent of the movie "Fail Safe," By Dawn's Early Light explores the horrors of nuclear war with an all-star cast of Powers Boothe, Rebecca DeMornay, James Earl Jones, and many more. Unlike 99% action/1% story movies of this genre that miss the mark by far (such as "Crimson Tide"), Bruce Gilbert's interpretation of "Trinity's Child" hits the nail on the head with a tour de force dramatic rollercoaster that culminates into a truly unforgettable ending. By Dawn's Early Light- A story of two nations in crisis. A tale of two lovers torn by war. Two worlds. One epic adventure of a lifetime.

"We're going with the Grand Tour. History can't wait."
"By Dawn's Early Light," an HBO film based on the novel "Trinity's Child" by William Prochnau, holds the honorable distinction of being the final cold war nuclear armageddon thriller. Released in 1990 a mere year before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the film clearly harkens back to such memorable thrillers as "Fail Safe," "Dr. Strangelove," "The Day After," and "Testament." Remember those halcyon days when we all lived under the threat of nuclear annihilation? When the Looking Glass plane flew over your house every twenty minutes or so? Well, I do. Nuclear doomsday thrillers really turn my stomach into knots because I lived, and still live, in Omaha, Nebraska. As you will see in the movie, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) sat in Bellevue, Nebraska, mere miles from my home. Those planes roaring overhead while I played in the yard were the aircraft responsible for keeping the national chain of command viable in the event of a Soviet missile attack. We always wondered what we would see first: the vapor trails of the incoming missiles or the flash. Either way it would have been the last thing we would see. Watching these movies now is sort of a trip down memory lane, albeit a horrific one. Films like "By Dawn's Early Light" still tie my stomach up in knots.

The nightmare here begins when the Soviet Union, wracked by internal dissolution, suddenly comes under attack by a group of rogue military officers hoping to force the high command to respond to internal threats. A nuclear missile wipes out a city near the Turkish border, and the Russian computer system orders up a limited launch on the United States before the leadership can stop it. Several missiles rain down on American military bases, including Andrews outside of Washington, D.C., SAC in Nebraska (See? I told you so), and a few other places around the country. The generals urge the president (Martin Landau) to reply with a full retaliatory response, but the chief executive hesitates. Then he receives a message from the Soviet premier expressing horror at the mistake and offering three options. The first is to simply ignore the attack. The second is to launch an assault on Russia similar to the one made on the United States. The third is to reply with overwhelming force, which will require the Soviets to do the same. Trusting the Russians is a tough decision, but the president wishes to avoid all out destruction. Perhaps global destruction will not occur when the president decides to follow the second option. Then, disaster strikes.

The president's chopper goes down somewhere over Maryland in the flash of a nuclear bomb. Our government, which cannot find the vice-president or many cabinet members, finally locates the Secretary of the Interior (Darrin McGavin) in Louisiana and declares him president as they load him on the E-4 plane. Known by the code name Condor, the new president is an unapologetic hawk that won't hesitate to escalate the war. Despite the advice of "Harpoon" (Jeffrey DeMunn), an admiral who always preaches restraint but who must ultimately give the president nuclear authorization codes if ordered, Condor falls in with Colonel Fargo's (Rip Torn) line of thinking. This guy advocates a "grand tour" of the Soviet Union, a plan that will use American bombers to vaporize Soviet leadership installations. Of course, this course of action will result in a massive strike on American cities. Also in the mix is the Looking Glass plane-helmed by "Alice" (James Earl Jones)-another back up command aircraft that must carry out the president's orders. Too, we follow the crew of a bomber as it prepares to sweep into the Soviet Union. Flown by Major Cassidy (Powers Boothe) and Captain Moreau (Rebecca DeMornay), the crew of this bomber undergoes several crises both physical and mental as they prepare to nuke their targets. "By Dawn's Early Light" exclusively focuses on the military and the national chain of command and how the two would work together to respond to a nuclear attack.

I first saw the film on cable when it originally aired. I thought it wonderful at the time, a taut, dramatic thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. A recent viewing allowed me to step back and analyze the finer points of the film. I still think it works, especially the hair raising conclusion, but there are numerous problems to contend with. I took exception with a map that showed SAC south of Plattsmouth, Nebraska when the base actually sits due north of that town. I also had difficulty believing the bomber crews sat on the ground for as long as they did. Harpoon even mentions later that most of the bombers were caught on the ground. Why? The head of SAC even says in the film that the nuke aimed at the base won't hit the ground for twenty some minutes. If we can't get our bombers in the air within half an hour, we are in big trouble. Too, other problems plague the film. Continuity errors, poor acting on the part of DeMornay, and mediocre editing brings the movie down a bit in my estimation. Still, the positives outweigh the negatives. The inclusion of James Earl Jones in the cast is probably a sly wink to "Dr. Strangelove," and Darren McGavin and Rip Torn do a great job as the dynamic duo willing to turn the world into a charcoal briquette.

The DVD is unfortunately a disappointment. The picture quality is flawed, there are no extras-not even a trailer-anywhere to be found, and the transfer is fullscreen. HBO discs, at least the ones I have seen, usually don't have much in the way of extras. Fortunately, the movie is good enough to overcome a dearth of goodies. Give this one a watch.

Will somebody give me a cigarette!
The James Earl Jones cigarette bit in "By Dawn's Early Light" is one of my all time favorite movie scenes--maybe second only to Tom Cruise's deathbed scene in "Magnolia." The scene is funny, but it makes sense, too, since he's in this unthinkable struggle to save the world with a best case senario that includes his own death.

My genius friend found the movie too chaotic a representaion of choas, which I don't see. I see a likely and well developted plot: the Secretary of interior seems to be rooted in any one of our current leaders (in 2004).

Oh, well. I was surpised at how much the movie still moved me when I tracked it down again 12 or so years after seeing it on HBO. I might have been 11 when I first saw it. It was part of my phase in which I was obsessed with the notion of nuclear war and was having frequent nightmares.

Unquestionably my favorite film !
I don't imagine for a second that everyone who's seen this film feels quite as strongly about it as I do and I'm usually far too complacent to write reviews but I felt I owed it to the film and to myself to state my blatantly biassed opinion of this film.

It was only by sheer chance that one evening whilst skipping channels randomly, I conviently stopped when I glimpsed the opening credits of this film and although initially I was sceptical, as the film progressed, any unfounded reservations I had swiftly dissipated.

The acting is superb throughout with James Earl Jones gracing us with his charismatic screen presence as always. The typecasting was perfection itself with no individual actor letting the side down with a poor performance. The musical score, although limited in variety only adds to the overall sense of doom with it's sinister bass notes resonating like a mushroom cloud.

The variety of sets and scenes are intentionally claustrephobic but not lacking in imagination and by no means insular. Lavish presidential and state quarters, hi-tech bomber cockpits and military bunkers embued with a sense of real purpose soon start to feel quite familiar as do the characters.

Since it's difficult to rent this title and since VHS tapes are so incredibly cheap now, I would be fool not to encourage anyone reading this review to have a stab in the dark and order it.. if you don't like it, just send it to me and I'll put it in my 'Dawn's early light' shrine ! :P

This is a grade B Movie at best.
Well I certainly hate to disagree with all the other glowing reviews of this movie but quite frankly I wasn't impressed. Granted the movie (and subject matter) are dated but I found the acting to be only average, at times almost mechanical - not very realistic. Not very good chemistry between De Mornay & Boothe. The special effects could have been done better. This movie probably had a low budget.

Sadly, I bought the movie based on the reviews posted here. Do yourself a favor and rent it (if you can find it). Had I rented it first I would have saved a few bucks.

Don't get me wrong, the movie will keep your attention but I found it to be fairly predictable. Finding two pilots willing to make the ultimate sacrifice at the same moment seems a little far fetched !!! ... Read more

Reviews (19)

GUARANTEED FUN
Forget what the uptight film critics had to say. If you enjoy Steve Martin at his best, and if you're a fan of Goldie Hawn, this movie's a keeper. Is it silly, goofy and a bit predictable? Yes. But who cares? It's a comedy, and that's what's comedies should be. Martin, Hawn, along with a wonderful supporting cast make for a memorable movie!...

One of My All Time Favorites
I remember being 14 and going to see this movie on opening weekend with my sister, I was a big Goldie Hawn fan at that point and I fell for her big time after seeing her in "Overboard", another underrated comedy from Goldie's cinema showcase. Even though this movie mostly got mixed reviews, I loved it instantly and ordered it constantly on PPV until I managed to get my hands on a tape of it. It is truly hilarious and the comedy team of Goldie Hawn & Steve Martin is absolutely magical perfection. This movie has so many laughs in it that one would be hard pressed to pick 1 certain defining moment but it is well worth the price and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to laugh. Also recommended is Goldie's other hit from the summer of '92, "Death Becomes Her".

Best Movie Ever!
You may think the only reason I like this movie is because I am a big fan of the writer. Although that is not true this is a great movie for the family. It's a must see.

Excellent screwball comedy vehicle for Steve & Goldie
I wish more projects were assembled for this tag-team of born screwball comedy geniuses, because "Housesitter" offers a great display of how well Martin and Hawn work together onscreen. Their senses of timing are tremendous and both have a gift for physical comedy and wringing the best out of every line of dialogue. I disagree with the Amazon staff reviewer, I think this movie is very well constructed, with a tight plotline and just the right balance of jokes and exposition. Not a word or scene is wasted. The humor is absurdist but good-natured, as in older-style films, and the supporting cast does standout service. This is a very underrated comedy, in my view, and I give it a high recommendation for fans of either of these fine actors or zany comedy in general. A very refreshing change from in-you-face gross-out jokes and sophomoric scatalogical/sexual put-down gags that pass as "comedy" in so many films today.

An almost Perfect comedy !!
This movie is one of my favorites. I originally seen this movie in 1992. Eleven years later I still think of this movie as being one of my favorites for comedy. Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin are fun to watch together and I think they compliment each other in this movie, unlike the other movie they recently did together. (I think the Out of Towners?) I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who wants to watch a "great(semi-romantic)comedy". ... Read more

Reviews (74)

Tom Keogh...SHOVE IT!!
OK, Tom's review is by far one of the worst that I have seen for this movie...I can't believe it was posted. He obviously is not a Ghostbuster fan, but if you are a fan of the first movie, you will definately love this flick. Ironically Dana Barrett(Sigorney Weever) is suckered in by the world of the supernatural again, and who else but the Ghostbusters to help her...and her baby, Oscar(yes, like the hotdog), out of a fix with Vigo the Carpathian. It's a great movie to sit down with the family and eat popcorn on a Friday night with or to sit and watch by yourself. Very entertaining, and the comedic chemistry of Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Akroyd, and Ernie Hudson add together to make one of the best films of the 89 year. Loads of fun! This one goes a little further, because it has a massive river of slime, and the bathtub tries to eat Dana and her baby. Great stuff. I hope you enjoy this movie as much as I have over the past few years that I have owned it. So, if you have a night with the family, make it a GB night. :^)

Ghostbusters II
So, after risking their lives by crossing the streams and barely averting NYC from a disaster of biblical proportions, the guys in grey are sued out of business and shunted off into their own stupid little jobs. Even Dana Barett, the love interest from the first movie, has a baby, but w/o Venkman, who now runs a shoddy psychic talk show.
But when the guys are called into court over charges of Ray's causing a power outage, two dead killers return from the grave to menace the judge and jury. Reluctantly, the recalcitrant judge rescinds the previous sentence and the guys are back, blasting away and having a whole new car.
Unfortunately, while it has a strong start and good performances, the plot holds up like a wet paper bag. Never boring, but a bit of an anticlimax, especially with the end villain. Zhuul and Vinz Clortho are far superior to Vigo's half-possessing of Ray and a museum clerk, and the end battle doesn't make much use of his supposedly wizard-like abilities.
Final Analysis: While have a good start and entertaining performances, Ghostbusters II, unlike its predecessor, is a film that doesn't really pull you in (if you'll pardon the pun).

'Busting Makes Me Feel Good! (A lot Less In This Movie)
One of the main problems with GHOSTBUSTERS II is that it came out five years too late and that everything from the first film was invalid. In the first film the Ghostbusters literally save New York City and were heroes. In the sequel, we find out that that they are prohibited from "ghostbusting" and owe the city a hefty bill for the destruction incurred at "spook central" (Dana Barrett's /Sigourney Weaver apartment building near Central Park from the first movie). In the sequel, they have to literally start from scratch to re-establish themselves along with a new Ghostbusters logo. The rest of the plot is interestingly inventive but not as thrilling or memorable as from the original Ghostbusters (who can forget Gozer, Zhule, the Stay Puft Marshmellow Man). The heroes have to stop an evil spirit from the 16th Century, Vigo the Carpathian (currently inhabiting a painting of his own image being restored at a museum by Dana Barrett). He wants to come back to life by taking over Dana Barrett's baby boy, Oscar while "enlisting" the aid of Dana's boss,Janosz (an annoying Peter MacNicol with a european accent). At the same time his evil presence is oozing pink ectoplasmic slime (the first movie had green slime) being fed by all the negative vibes in New York City. Also,as in the first movie, the antagonizer against the Ghostbusters business was a man from the EPA (which was hilariously original and inventive), in this film it's the the mayor's campaign manager (Kurt Fuller). GHOSTBUSTERS II's production values and special effects are excellent along with the chemistry and comraderie among the cast and characters. However, it feels like it could have been a preliminary draft of ideas for it's characters instead of a sequel (i.e. The Statue of Liberty compared to the Stay-Puft Marshmellow Man). The filmmakers should have taken out the "trying to re-establish themselves" plot from the script, and concentrate on a more inventive and earth-shattering storyline which is the point of any sequel. The hype on the first GHOSTBUSTERS poster states "Coming This Summer To Save The World" and the film lived up to that hype. GHOSTBUSTERS II did not have that kind of atmosphere. Lastly, as stated earlier, the film came out five years too late. To show what five year can do, in the first film, there was a catchy pop tune by Ray Parker, Jr. In this film, it is replaced by an unmemorable rap song...rap had become contemporary by the time the film was released.

The Funniest Movie Ever!
The funniest part of this movie was when a lady's mink coat came alive. I liked the way the ghostbusters sucked up ghosts.
If you liked the Gremlins, you'll enjoy this movie.

Good...
Being such a huge fan of this film's predecessor, I was bound to be somewhat overtly critical of the sequel. Ghostbusters 2 is by far not a bad movie, but it could've been a lot better. On a creative level, the script/plot is basically the same as the first movie... It's kinda like watching the first one, just throw a baby into the mix. A rehash, you could say. Anyway, it isn't all that bad. The jokes are funny, performances are strong... More could've been done with the script and plot basically to make it more unique and original. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Balto II An Enjoyable Wolf Quest
What with the popularity of their numerous direct-to-video sequels to The Land Before Time and An American Tail, it's not surprising that Universal's latest video offering is a sequel to their 1995 Balto. The original is based on the true story of a dog who, facing unbelievable dangers, brought medicine to those of Nome, Alaska when many children were suffering a life-threatening sickness. This one finds Balto father to some adorable pups, all of whom are adopted by a human eight weeks after birth - except Aleu, who looks more like a wolf then her half-wolf father. When a hunter mistakes her for one, Balto reveals the truth about her mixed heritage, and she runs - with Dad hot on her trail, thanks to a mysterious raven from a reoccurring nightmare. The result is an enjoyable Wolf Quest, which surprisingly doesn't do harm to the original. While the animation here isn't top-notch - more Cartoon Network-ish -- that's to be expected from a direct-to-video sequel. Indeed, the film's main fault is being a musical - featuring a singing rat - something the first movie never was designed to be. The songs are good, and fit well, but longtime fans of the original might be a bit disappointed. On a nicer note, the villains from within the wolf pack pleasantly resemble Steele and his gang of bully dogs from the first movie, and the bear sequence would have been just as brilliant as the one in the original if not for the cheesy "inner knowing" ending to the scene. By far not as good as the first, but a wonderful movie nonetheless, and one I'll definitely watch again. Movie: ***** (5/5).

The DVD, however, isn't as great as the movie itself. Obviously designed for the littlest children, the game is VERY easy and extremely boring. It involves walking Balto across the ice to save Aleu, and deals with his paw prints rather then movie trivia. There's a DVD-ROM preview of a CD-ROM game, which doesn't look too interesting; the trailer is here along with trailers for the original "Balto," "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: The 20th Anniversary," and the latest movies in the "Land Before Time" and "Beethoven" video franchises. DVD extras: ** (2/5), and that's being generous for the "E.T." trailer.

Technically this DVD is great, with perfect picture and good sound. The French and Spanish language tracks provide a good opportunity to help learn a forigen language, as they always do on DVDs. The movie is presented in 1:33:1 full frame, which is the original aspect ratio; don't complain about the lack of widescreen here. Since Universal produced this directly for video, it was originally filmed to fit TV screens, not reformatted from a widescreen version. The original BALTO was produced in widescreen but presented in full frame on the DVD (why??), however that is not the case here. Technicals: ***** (5/5.)

All in all, this movie is an enjoyable Wolf Quest you'll want to be sure to add to your collection -- but don't expect much other then a great movie from the DVD edition.

Review Text Copyright ©Jake Lipson, 2002.

Better than the first Balto movie!
My children and I all enjoyed the first Balto (even though it's not entirely "accurate" but then again most movies that are based on a true story aren't!) but Balto II- Wolf Quest was much much better! We just gave it to my preschool age daughter and she is totally fascinated by it.

The Native American singing/flutes/music throughout it is beautiful with only a couple of musical parts feeling a little awkward. One part I did especially appreciate was that when Balto and Jenna sent their pups to live with new humans, they didn't make it look like a horribly gross injustice that was heartwrenching and agonizing. Babies being separated from their mommies is always hard for children to understand but they did that part very well.

This is not made for adults so keep that in mind but it IS wonderful for children and adults who like cartoons, getting down on a childs level and aren't too stuffy about watching shows made for them. =)

You'll probably recognize quite a few of the voices but not be able to *place* them. Read the credits for a walk down memory lane! =) (probably for those over 30)

why
Ok. First lemme say Im 17 I just didnt wanna fill out all that crap. :P Also firstly i'd like to say I LOVED the first one,
but this one...why? WAYY too much humanism and naturism and as a Christian, I was completely offended.

But yes...no.

Yuck
If you liked the first movie (or even if you didn't) then you'll hate this one. The script, plot, and music are all terrible. About the only thing you'll enjoy is Disney's classic animation.

It looks like the storywriters were trying to write the "New Age Gospel" for kids and decided to use Balto and his daughter as the missionaries. If you're gonna do that at least give it a decent plot. Example: That little mouse that sings a song -- and a poorly-written song at that. It's entirely new-age-ish and doesn't really help the plot along at all.

Where the first movie was based on a true story, this one doesn't contain one scrap of truth. While that's okay for a film, it sure is a disappointment to those of us expecting a true extension to the story.

If your local library has a copy, maybe that's worth looking it, but don't waste your money. Buy the first movie instead.

and the winner for worst movie of 1998 is...
wow this movie sucked! along with thumbelina and pebble and the penguin its just so freakin retarded. i think they should make a 3rd balto: balto 3: dog gone retarded----wait wasnt that the first and 2nd one too?? here are some words to describe it: suck suck suck suck suck suck suck...had enough? wake up, get a life, and agree with me that this movie sucks the big one! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

WOW! A simply stunning DVD Set!
I've always loved the Ghostbusters movies, and these DVD really deliver! The first CD is loaded--and I mean packed--with goodies about the first movie. Everything from Director/Actor commentary to story boards to scenes with and without the effects for comparrison... it's all there! This set is worth the first DVD alone.

Enough about what features come with the DVD (like a couple of documentaries on the movie), and more about the movies themselves!

Who couldn't enjoy the laughter and the magic surrounding these two movies? Both are great fun and laughs. Some guys go into business catching ghosts... wouldn't we all love to do that?

How can I say more about an american classic? These movies are easily some of the best movies of all time. Any fan of the Ghostbusters should buy this DVD--trust me--it's worth every last penny.

Who you gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS!
The Movies

The Original *****

Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Harold Remis play three scientists studying supernatural phenoema. But when they are kicked out of the university, they must find a way to still study the paranormal, thus the form the Ghostbusters. At first they are low on money and business is very slow, but they soon earn their fame and success. But when all hell breaks loose across New York City, the major and law enforcement turn to their only hope- the Ghostbusters.

The Sequel *****

Ghostbusters 2 was an excellent, faithful sequel that lived up to the standards of the original. Incorporating all of the original cast five years later; mostly all separated doing different jobs that correlate to their personality. Once again supernatural occurrences start to surpass the law enforcements comprehension, therefore they turn to the professionals- the Ghostbusters. This sequel is well worth watching and very enjoyable. Actually, this film is quite scary in some parts and aspects that add to it's features of comedy, suspense, and action. This sequel is definitely one you won't want to miss!

The DVD- Ghostbusters 1 *****

At first there were a large batch of defective Ghostbusters 1&2 DVDs released that had many glitches including one major problem: the inability for the DVD player to detect the second half of the film. ... The Ghostbusters DVD is impressive for it's release date: 1999. The features include:
Scene Selection
Subtitles
5.1 Dolby Digital
1999 Feaurette and Original Feaurette
Deleted scenes
Storyboards
Trailers
Production Photos/Conceptual Drawings
SFX Team Documentary
SFX Before and After (Multi-Angle)
Digitally Remastered
Widescreen Format
Many films released to present day don't even have the plethora of features Ghostbusters has! Any enthusiast of Ghostbusters will adore the special features and layout of the DVD!

The DVD- Ghostbusters 2 **

Limited features accompany this spectacular sequel that really deserved more than this vague DVD. Fans will be disappointed with the DVD's limited amount of features that only include:
5.1 Dolby Digital
Widescreen/Full Screen Formats
Productions Notes
Talent & Filmographies
Subtitles
The DVD is mostly giving the viewer the prerequisite features being: 5.1 Dolby Digital and Widescreen. One can infer that great amount of time and effort put into 1st movie and the short, vague DVD of the sequel.

Pros: 1. Ghostbusters is a great classic that one will want to see again and again.
2. Ghostbusters 2 surpasses a sequels stereotype (cheap and repetitive) it's exciting, funny, and even scary.
3. Ghostbusters DVD will fulfill fans expectations of the genre; numerous special features and an animated menu.

Cons: 1. Ghostbusters 2 DVD was vague, despicable, ... but it did include prerequisites. Fans will be disappointed with this DVD.

Pick Em Both Up!
Ghostbusters has always been one of my favs! And this DVD release has a been difitally remastered and includes a few newly done scenes! There not brand new scenes or redone completly, the scene is still there, it just has a bit of addition to the end battle with Goza and shows the building a bit more! You wont notcie it really!

Ghostbusters 1 is a great comedy that changed the way people looked at ghosts and ghost effects! These days the FX might look a bit dodgy compared to what they can do these days, but remember they didnt have the tech we have now back then, and this was breaking FX when these movies came out, and they defnitly did a great job with it!

On the first disc you get a few bonus features of trailers , deleted scenes, and a few extras, and of coarse your usualy auiod commentry!

The disapointing bit was I never heard the story of how Ghostbusters came about! Dan Akroyds brother really is an actualy Ghostbuster! They dont catch ghosts or do anything like in this film, but his brother is a paranormal investigator and thats were the idea for this movie began!

Part 2 is a movie that wasnt too bad. but it was not as good as the first! Far from it! But at least the same cast returned and there are far worse movies out there to say it was a bad movie! It may not contain any bonus features on that disc, but its still good to have the collection of both films!

Its a shame when in 1998 the go ahead for Ghostbusters 3 was cancelled. Bill Murry did not want to take place in it, at least they know that a sequll wont work without the original cast!

But these 2 movies are worth getting for your collection if you enjoy paronormal comedies!

Ghostbusting
These two movies are both, very funny. Peter, Ray, and Eagan both are scientists/doctors who seek out ghost. In none other then New York City but when the ghost start finding them. They get more then what they bargain for.

A box set so good it's spooky
Ghostbusters is just one of those movies that leaves it's footprint on our culture's collective consciousness. "Who ya gonna call" brings out an automatic response to anyone who lived during the 80s and even for many of those who were born after the 1984 debut of Mr. Stay-Puft and Slimer. The Ghostbusters (1984) disk has everything a die hard fan would want, yet has interesting info on the filmmaking process to keep the casual movie watcher occupied. It has several documentaries made during filming and a 15 year retrospective with cast and crew. The director/star commentary provides amusing anecdoetes with Reitman and Ramis' silhouettes a la MST3K. There are oodles of production photos, concept sketches and even before and after SFX shots. The only thing I regret it doesn't have is the music video performed by Ray Parker Jr.
Ghostbusters II certainly doesn't equal or surpass the original, but it is still an entertaining film in its own right. Definately worth buying for the film, but unfortunately, the second disk doesn't offer hardly any of the special features that the original has. Cast biographies and 3 trailers make up all this disk has to offer.
Both disks have a crystal clear picture and while the sound may not be up to par with more modern films, you can still hear the thrum of the proton packs and the rumble of the Marshmallow Man's footsteps with excellent clairity. ... Read more

Description

A hysterical comedy about a man who, after being unceremoniously dumped by his fiancée, pens a "how to" book on breaking up and becomes a best-selling author on the subject. Not wanting his male friends to suffer the same fate, he gives them advice on dumping their mates. What ensues is a hilarious comedy of errors and mistaken identities. Starring: Jamie Foxx (Ali, Any Given Sunday, Booty Call), Morris Chestnut (Half Past Dead, Two Can Play That Game, The Brothers), Gabrielle Union (Bad Boys II, Bring It On), Jennifer Esposito (Welcome to Collingwood, Master of Disguise), Peter MacNicol (TV’s "Ally McBeal"). ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Breaking All the Rules Comedy!
To tell the truth, I enjoyed "Breakin' All the Rules." It is one of those romantic comedy where nobody knows who anybody else is, and you know that everything is going to be alright at the end. But sometimes that could be alright in the plot is good. That is exactly why this is a good movie. It has a good story, and it has alot of witty dialouge. It isn't a masterpiece, and it's not going to be on my Top 25 of 2004 list at the end of the year, but it is pretty good. Jamie Foxx is the star of the movie, and I never really saw him act before. I never saw his television show, or any of the movies that he made. He was good in this, and that could be a good sign for his next movie "Collateral" starring Tom Cruise.

Jamie Foxx plays Quincy Watson. He works with his cousin Evan at spoil magazine. Quincy gets a new job from his boss Philip, where he has to fire people. He gets dumped by his girlfriend on that night that he was going to propose to her, and that causes him to quit his job, because he realizes that getting dumped and firing people are one of the same. He insteads writes a book. A break-up handbook on how to do it, when to do it, where to do it, why to do it, etc. It is a bestseller, number one of the list, and soon he is being asked by Philip on how to break up with his girlfriend Rita, who married people for their money. Even then gets the idea that his girlfriend Nicky is about to break up with him, so he decides to have Quincy go to a specific place, and talk to her about him. He has never met her, and she got a haircut from the last time Even saw her, making her look like Halle Berry. Quincy talks to her, thinking she's somebody else, and the two start a relationship of some sort. Rita then finds out that Quincy is helping Philip break up with her, and she goes to his house, but finds Even there. She sleeps with Even thinking he's Quincy, in order to have him stop helping Philip, and the case of mistaken identies grows deeper.

There are so many movies that have the case of mistaken identity, but some how "Breakin' All the Rules" pulls it off. In the beginning, once Quincy writes his book, you get to hear lines from it, and advice from him. It is interesting to hear things like this, and the movie is filled with witty dialouge like this from start to end. "Breakin' All the Rules" was not a big hit at the box office, and it is just about out of theatres, but it is a sure fire hit on DVD. It was better seeing it in a movie theatre in front of an audience, but I wish that more formula comedies that come out are half as good as this was. This is the perfect kick off to the summer comedies after the terrible "New York Minute" and it is a remedy for those who aren't fans of action movies like "Van Helsing" "Troy" and "The Day After Tomorrow."

ENJOY!

Rated PG-13 for sexual material/humor and language.

Fun movie to kick off the summer...
This was a cute romantic flick with some laughs here and there. Overall I'd recommend it to those who are not ultra critical of their movie choices... just go, relax, and enjoy the light-heartedness of the movie.

Step Away From this Movie
I was greatly disappointed by this movie. It waste the talent of it's brightest stars such as Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut. The plot of this movie started great when the character Quincy played by Jamie Foxx is dumped by his girlfriend on the night he plans to announce their engagement. But from there The plot turns into a convulted mess. Gabrielle Union was the save of this movie. Which is sad really! She is such a amazing actress but Hollywood has yet to utilized her potential. Morris Chestnut plays Quincy cousin a player Who uses women for own selfish reasons. But here again an actor who was funny and wonderful in such movies as the Brothers and Two Can Play at This Game. Just was hanging by a slender thread. Jamie Foxx was very funny and clever but not enough to save this movie.

gratest movie evar
this was the best movie i watched this year or maybe even my entire life. it was a good movie if you like action and movies. before this movie i wasn't very happy with any of the moives that were out there. this movie is well worth watching!

-w00+ peace to the broken crew ... Read more

Reviews (67)

One Man. One Masterpiece. One Very Big Mistake.
Mr. Bean makes it to the USA in this movie and, just like he does back home in England, he causes absolute chaos. He works as security guard in a London art museum and is assigned to escort the famous "Whistler's Mother" painting to an LA museum. When Mr. Bean arrives there, the museum owner and the curator mistake him to be an art expert and from then on the disasters begin. "Bean" had some very funny moments in it, however I don't think the Mr. Bean character was well -suited to this type of film. It's nothing more than a typical comedy with Mr. Bean thrown in it to generate some laughs (most of which are Americanized). Not only that but Mr. Bean is forced to interact with a lot of characters and stay in the confines a plot, which is not like him. Bean is at his best in the TV series, not an American comedy. But as I said, there were some hilarious scenes here. The part where Mr. Bean spikes a security guards coffee with laxative (and then takes the bathroom key with him!) was great and so was the scene when he wrecks up the painting. If you happen to be a Bean purist or a nonfan, you might not appreciate this movie. However, if you are a fan of Rowan Atkinson then do try this out.

Not for everyone
I suggest watching one of the tv episodes before taking this one in; if it doesn't appeal to you, don't bother. The humour here is somewhat different than the typical American humour. Actually, the biggest problem I had with this movie is how much they catered to the north american audience. They altered one of the best aspects of the tv show by giving Bean moral character. He's funniest when he has no regard for the chaos he creates; the viewer laughs at the consequences while Bean just carries on. Sure, that would have meant less of a plot line, but it would have been more daring film-making. Also annoying was the recycling of some skits from the show (again catering to NA audiences). I should note at this point that the version released in Canada was different than the one released in the US; the US version has more recycled skits from the show, I guess because they figured no one in the US had seen them. All that aside, there are some hilarious sequences. You'll either love it, hate it, or just not get it at all.

The art of a comedy.
I saw this film at the local theater when I was but a boy in 1997. Batman and Robin was a complete f***ing failure that year but I had something to bounce back on. And that was Bean. This movie was too hillarious for words. Rowan Atkinson is one of the greatest comedic masterminds of all time. He can take one simple mistake such as for example, sneezing on an important piece of American history like the "Whistler's Mother" painting and turning it into a full scale disaster involving paint thinner, breaking and entering, bathroom humor, and an incredibly moving speech and make it so frickin funny that you have to see it again. I must admit, I saw Bean 3 times that year and it got funnier every time. It's like a classic film such as Forrest Gump or Star Wars. Films like that get better and better everytime because you notice something new and it feels like watching a brand new movie. That's what makes movie watching so worthwhile. It starts to grow on you. But anyhow, Bean is probably one of the greatest comedies of all time and it only gets better because behind this great comedy there was an even greater television series. In 1998, the Fox family channel which is now ABC family swept into my cable company's channel list and Mr Bean was one of the shows that came on all the time. And it's even funnier that the movie. Some of the movie's bits came from the show such as Bean getting the turkey stuck to his head. If you buy this dvd which you should, buy the dvd sets of the tv series. But on a final note, this is one of the most hillarious films ever, so buy it.

Wow
Rowan Atkinson talks in this movie for a change!
It's one of the best comedies ever.
This time, mr.Bean is a caretaker at Royal National Gallery. As a matter of fact he's a sleeper as he sleeps all day long at his work place.
Since the chairman adores mr.Bean instead of getting him fired he sends mr.Bean to U.S.A.
This is where the trouble begins...:)

A must see movie

YOU WON'T STOP THE LAUGHTER!!
It seems that nationality has somethin