Amazon.com

Director John Kent Harrison's imaginative film adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's 1963 A Wrinkle in Time may not be able to fully satisfy the immense expectations of those decidedly loyal to L'Engle's book, yet delivers a family thriller impressive enough to stand on its own merits. Katie Stuart plays Meg Murry, the introverted, intelligent oldest child of Dr. Jack Murry, an astrophysicist who has suddenly disappeared without a trace. As Meg struggles with her father's absence and her own coming-of-age awkwardness, she tightens her bond with Charles Wallace (David Dorfman), her brilliant, eccentric 6-year-old brother. When a trio of celestial beings summons them to find their father, the children are joined by neighbor Calvin O'Keefe (Gregory Smith) to embark on a dangerous journey of time travel. They "tesseract" onto the planet Camazotz where Dr. Murry is being held prisoner by an evil force. The film retains the essence of the novel, and deftly employs its 128-minute running time to build viewer affinity for the heroic children. The special effects will not disappoint, though the climatic last battle should have held closer to the book. Stuart is exemplary as the understated and deeply reflective Meg, while Dorfman dazzles as conflicted Charles Wallace. (Ages 8 and older) --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (23)

"For this particular quilt the theme is: where love resides"
How to Make an American Quilt is a nice comfortable movie, and unlike so many other films belonging to the 'coming of age' genre, it doesn't leave the viewer feeling emotionally drained. It is also unusual in that it attempts to breach the generation divide in its appeal; however its success in this respect is debatable.

Finn is 26 and, hoping for some peace and quiet in which to complete her Master's thesis, she heads for her great-aunt's house in small-town Grasse, California. She also needs time to mull over a marriage proposal from her boyfriend. This is an entrance cue for a smoulderingly handsome strawberry farmer (in an unnecessary plot complication) to hinder Finn's contemplations.

Great-aunt Glady-Joe lives with her sister, Hy, and their constant bickering is portrayed with sensitivity and humour by Anne Bancroft and Ellen Burstyn. The two sisters belong to a quilting group, who are in the process of creating Finn's wedding quilt - thematically titled 'where love resides'. This evokes something different for each of the women, all of whom - in artificially contrived tete-a-tetes - explain to Finn the story behind their contributions to the quilt. The viewer is transported to a time when these elderly women were young, and through them we (along with Finn) learn that times may change, but affairs of the heart will always be unpredictable.

These dalliances in the past are refreshingly piquant; unfortunately this is countered by the film's occasional heavy-handedness. The symbolic crow that leads the women to their true love has all the subtlety of a flashing neon sign. Ultimately however, even if it does perhaps tie up the loose ends too thoroughly, the film will leave the viewer pleasantly satisfied.

Wonderful Tear Jerker with an All-Star Cast
"How to Make an American Quilt" is one of my favorite "chick flicks." And hopefully labeling a movie as a "chick flick" doesn't immediately damn it into some lesser category. When I want to curl up in a quilt on a rainy day and sip hot cocoa and watch a movie, "American Quilt" would be a perfect choice. This is one of the few times when I liked the movie far better than the book--which I read second.

In "American Quilt," Finn (Winona Ryder) comes to spend the summer with her grandmother Hy (Ellen Burstyn) and great aunt Glady Jo (Anne Bancroft) in Grasse, California. Her plan is to finish her master's thesis while considering the marriage proposal of her long-time sweetheart, Sam. Finn's inability to stick with a project--she's changed thesis topics countless times--seems about to derail her relationship with Sam. Amazon.com's main review criticizes the movie adaptation of the Whitney Otto novel for focusing too much on Finn. I thought that Finn's attempt to sort out her feelings about relationships, while talking to the other women in Hy and Glady Jo's quilting group, sewed the story together quite well. As Finn is pondering whether a modern, intelligent woman can preserve a sense of self within a marriage, one by one, her grandmother, aunt, and their friends share the stories of their marriages or their most significant relationships. Older women sharing their life experiences to help guide a younger woman rang very true to life.

Poet Maya Angelou turns in a surprisingly powerful performance as the leader of the quilting group. Her story of how, as an unwed mother, she came to work for Hy and Glady Jo's mother, is one of my favorites. She holds her own with this great actresses. Bancroft and Burstyn are wonderful as sisters whose love for each other has endured, despite betrayal. Samantha Mathis, as the young Sophia Darling, is stellar as the diver who can't wait to shake off the dust of her small town and explore the world, and who discovers that realizing such dreams aren't so easy.

As a quilter, I absolutely loved the various quilts seen in the movie. I appreciated the detail of including fabrics seen in the flashback scenes into the blocks that each woman contributes to the friendship quilt.

--Delightful film--
Starting with the title, which is terrific, I also liked the great cast of actors who were chosen for the film. The story begins when Finn (Winona Ryder) comes to spend the summer with her grandmother (Ellen Burstyn) and her aunt (Anne Bancroft) at a grand old house in California. Finn is a graduate student who wants to spend the summer working on her thesis. She also needs a break from her boyfriend who wants to marry her. She's very indecisive about everything in her life, and I honestly found her part to be a little boring. The best parts of the story are about the friends that her grandmother and aunt share and their involvement in a quilting circle. The quilting ladies are all quite different and through flashbacks we're given a glimpse of them as young women and the love or lack of love in their lives. Jean Simmons plays one of the women, and I was delighted to see her acting again. I loved the scenes where the quilters, are working around a table in the lovely old house. The set designs were beautiful and perfect for the story.

At a certain point in the film, we come to find out that the theme of the quilt is "where love resides." Every quilter is making a block from her own experience in life. Finn also learns that the quilt is her wedding gift.

HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT is an enjoyable movie. I think that the individual stories could have been a little more informative, but all things considered it's a wonderful movie and worth seeing.

sensitive and human
I quilt, my other half is an artist. We both viewed this " simple film " and both found a true delight about the emotions and sometimes confusions of the complexity of love. A finefilm for those that can understand love is delightful but at times so complex. A lovely movie that shrares hope beyond love, love beyond dreams!!

FANTABULOUS
This movie is phenomenal. It stars Winnona Ryder as Finn, a young woman about to be married, who is writing a thesis on the interpersonal relationships that are intertwined with in the making of an American quilt. The people that she is writing about are a group of women who have been quilting together for many, many years. They have assembled with the goal of creating a wedding quilt for Finn. The group is comprised of her grandmother, her aunt, and several of their oldest and closest friends. Each woman is charged with designing a single square of the quilt that represents for them "where love resides". As the women work on the quilt they use the opportunity to counsel Finn about her upcoming marriage. They give their own views on what is important in life; on what their experiences have taught them, and why they have made the choices in life that they have made. While they are together, working on the quilt you learn about the relationships and experiences that represent love for these women. At the same time you learn about the hardships and the tribulations that they have experienced both individually and within relationships with one another. This is a movie that explores the nuances of family, love, birth, death, marriage and friendship. This exploration is handled beautifully. The separate stories are woven together, as their lives are, and as the pieces of the quilt are. The movie on the surface is a simple story of several women's lives and their experiences. As you watch, and look deeper you begin to understand that there is profound meaning and an explicit symbolism in each scene and every moment. Each part of this movie was thought out and carefully considered. It is a pleasure to watch and you find your self deeply involved with these women as you travel full circle in their lives. If you have not seen How to Make an American Quilt you must, it should not be missed. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Eye of the Needle is a superbly effective World War II spythriller from the Ken Follettbestseller of the same name. Donald Sutherland is "the Needle," a German spy in England bearing critical information on Allied invasion plans that he must deliver personally to the Führer. He's so named because of his preferred method of assassination, the stiletto. As played by Sutherland, he's a coldly calculating psychopath, emotionlessly focused on the task at hand, whether the task is to signal a U-boat or to gut a witness to avoid exposure. On his way back to Germany, a fierce storm strands him on an island, occupied only by a woman (Kate Nelligan), her disabled husband, and the lighthouse keeper. A romance of sorts develops between the woman and the spy, due to an estrangement of affections between the woman and her husband, whose accident has rendered him emotionally crippled as well. Much of the suspense of the latter half of the movie has to do with this romance, and the way it begins to reveal the Needle's motivations and whether there's a sympathetic personality buried somewhere inside him, though he remains by-and-large tantalizingly enigmatic. Early on, we discover that he may not enjoy the hand life has dealt him. When a courier asks him about the way he lives, and "What else can one do?" the Needle answers, "One can just stop." But as the film makes amply clear in its final third, one doesn't stop, does one? The direction by Richard Marquand (known primarily for thrillers such as this one and Jagged Edge, although he also did Return of the Jedi) is crisply done, boasting numerous suspenseful episodes, including a deadly encounter between Sutherland and the disabled husband, which is jaw-droppingly surprising. --Jim Gay ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Marvellous.
Sutherland and Nelligan are brilliant, in this old favorite of mine. It's the kind of classic spy movie you never get tired of. However, I think you probably need to be familiar with the movie already, in order to really appreciate it. -By that I mean, its pace might actually be a little too slow for someone watching it now for the first time. But this of course happens to be one of the many good things about it; it takes the time it needs to tell the story, establish the mood and the cold persona of the ruthless "Needle". (It's quite sad to think just how much most certainly would've been considered a waste of time, and ended up on the cutting-room floor if made today.) The picture on the DVD is quite good and sharp most of the time, especially the outdoor-scenes at daytime. By the way, there's an aternative ending of the movie in existence (with cop Bannen arriving by helicopter), and it would've been nice if MGM had included it as an extra bonus treat. Still, this simple tale is a true classic and well-worth getting.

Finding a needle in a hay stack
There are not enough stars to describe this movie. As with any movie, if the entire book " ISBN: 0451163486" were portrayed, the movie would take eight hours "Audio Cassette ISBN: 1561000116." Therefor they could only show the relevant parts and had to do some voice over action to explain the missing logic. But they did not change the plot or the essence of the plot. And I would not think in a million years that Donald Sutherland would be picked to play Henry Faber. Yet now that I see the movie, He is the only person that could be believable as an attractive aloof German spy. Where did they find Kate Nelligan, who played Lucy so well? The island "Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK" looked just like the book. I am glad this is on DVD, as the as tapes tend to ware out.

A PIERCING NEEDLE
Donald Sutherland has tended to be one of our finest actors, overlooked and dismissed by many critics. Sure, he's done some floppers (e.g. Virus), but in this movie he shows why he's such a riveting performer. He plays the Needle, a cold, psychotic killer, who is a German spy and holds the key to knowledge of the D-Day invasion. He ends up shipwrecked on a lonely island, inhabited only by a reclusive cripple and his devoted, if lonely, wife. Kate Nelligan (so good in "Dracula" with Frank Langella) is perfect as Lucy, the woman whose need for love leads to an affair with the Needle. Christopher Cazenove turns in a good performance as her husband, whose bitterness over his auto accident, has turned him into an uncaring, selfish man. Director Richard Marquand keeps the movie moving at a leisurely pace, but packs some powerful suspense scenes; the score by Miklos Roza is admirable, and the scenery is lush and beautiful. I havent' read Ken Follett's novel, but this is a great movie and hopefully did it justice.

Happy Petersen
MARVELOUS, keeps you rivitrd to the story. One of my favorite Follrt works. ZThe book is sensational. I edon't have a DVD

Magnificent.
This saga of a German WWII spy is absolutely fantastic. Donald Sutherland turns in a wonderful performance as Faber ( a great performance is not always given by Sutherland).

The use of the stiletto to enforce Faber's secrets is truly an inspired touch by the director.

This movie is tragic, yet cunningly directed and acted. All of this while starring relative unknowns (excepting Sutherland).

This is definitely the best spy movie of all time. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Barbra Streisand -- Queen of Tides
Actually, the sentence in the title is not mine; the author of the book Pat Conroy was so grateful for the film that he gave the director such a name...

Conroy must have realised limitations of a film in comparison with the book. "The Prince of Tides" book is rather thick and to make a two-hour movie out of it is difficult. The film "Cider House Rules" was also criticised of being too thin in comparison with the book -- and, in fact, the author John Irving himself wrote the script.

Romantic side is highlighted over a complex, dark family story, with Streisand enjoying the starring female role to the full. She does so alongside the great performance by Nick Nolte, who plays Tom Wingo, a teacher from American South hiding much of his painful past until he gets familiar with New York psychiatrist Susan Lowenstein (Streisand).

The film love story between Wingo and Lowenstein is one of the most memorable of the past decades, yet the picture also encompasses deep social undertones -- suicide, hypocrisy, lack of family understanding. There is a couple of memorable scenes; the most special one comes when Wingo finally lets the demons of the past out -- this is acting at its best on both Nolte's and Streisand's part. Although some other films also attempted something similar (e.g. "Good Will Hunting", with Matt Damon and Robin Williams), it never was so powerful as here. The ending is bittersweet, not typically romantic but ultimately inevitable and logical for the story.

Beautiful cinematography and great musical score to a large extent made this film to achieve five stars in my book. I know I will keep on returning to "The Prince of Tides" video.

GOOD EFFORT
Though Barbra Streisand kind of gets in the way of her own movie, The Prince of Tides does have some expertly compelling sequences, most chillingly the flashbacks that seriously do justice to Pat Conroy's epic novel. Dealing most significantly with the inner child, and the revelations that can free us, the book and the film successfully engage you with a rich sense of time and place. The characters who populate the film sometimes seem from two different worlds, but I think that is part of the point. Kate Nelligan and Jason Gould will surprise you with unusually good performances, and of course, Nick Nolte does some of his best acting ever in this film -- the role suits him; even its grander touches seem so - so - Tom. The score, by James Newton Howard, swirls symphonically around the action of this movie, and is achingly beautiful.

This movie made me want to commit suicide
This was one of the worst films I have ever seen. I watched it because my girlfriend made me. This was depressing and boring. I guess the message of this movie is if your sister tries to commit suicide and you come from a screwed up family, have sex with your sister's unattractive shrink and you will open up and live happily ever after! This is definitely a movie for the Oprah crowd or Doctor Phil fans. If you are a regular red-blodded American heterosexual you will despise this inane nonsense. The acting is terrible. This movie perpetuates the worst stereotypes of southerners as well as New Yorkers. As far as Nick Nolte, all he does is grunt and make bad self-deprecating jokes the whole movie. Why would any woman be attracted to this loser? Avoid this movie!!!!

"You did, Mama. You did."
I would give this film four-and-a-half stars. Streisand's semi-controversial adaptation of THE PRINCE OF TIDES may not have completely satisfied fans of the book, however, the general public fell instantly under the film's hypnotic spell - and turned it into a surprise box office smash! The decision to keep the film's focus in the present rather than the past results in the elimination of most of the novel's lengthy backstory. However, the well-condensed script (written by Conroy himself and Becky Johnson) manages to seamlessly fill in the missing information, and allows all central characters to reach a level of character development that is unusually high for a mainstream Hollywood film. As the film progresses, these characters seem especially real, and they are embodied by an absolutely flawless cast.

As anyone who has read the book can attest, the characters of Tom and Lila Wingo would seem to be extremely challenging (if not almost unplayable) roles, both of which are brimming with contradictions and hidden emotions. However, Nick Nolte and Kate Neligan find the perfect balance in their portrayals, which earned them both well-dissevered Oscar nominations. Blythe Danner, Jason Gould, and Melinda Dillion all also turn in memorable performances, even though Dillion's Savannah (a lead character in the novel) has precious little screentime due to the film's structure. Barbra also gives an affecting portrayal, however, the director's chair is where she really shines this time. With it's moving storyline, compelling characters, and breathtakingly beautiful cinematography, THE PRINCE OF TIDES is film that will continue enchant audiences for years to come.

About the DVD: The picture quality and sound are excellent, although it's disappointing that the many extras (which included a featurette, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and Streisand's full-length commentary track) that were included on Criterion's special edition laserdisc release are not found on this DVD. The film's original trailer and teaser are included, but I hope that all of the extras from the laserdisc will someday make their way to DVD.

Memories not so beautiful -- an awful movie.
Having just a read a book that reminded me of Prince of Tides, I was shocked to see how popular this movie is on Amazon! I saw this movie back in 1991 and it still haunts me.

In 1991, I was appalled by Ms. Streisand's miniskirts and in particular her pink sweater cut SO low in the back. The wardrobe wasn't appropriate for one Dr. Lowenstein. The wardrobe was clearly a vehicle for one reluctantly aging pop star.

Also, the music was so loud, so epic at times that I literally had to cover my ears. In one scene Blythe Danner left the room, but you could still see her reflection in a picture on a wall, waiting for her cue.

I loved the first half of the book, hated the second. The movie was like fingernails scraping down a chalk board from the time I entered the theater. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

"We're expecting another call from you any minute"
Surprisingly subtle love story from director Garry Marshall. I think it tanked in theaters for the same reason I didn't see it until it went to video--I wasn't ready to accept Michelle Pfeiffer as a greasy-spoon waitress (or Al Pacino as a short-order cook). But I forgot that they can both act, and they do a wonderful job here. Nathan Lane is hilarious in a supporting role; he provides what might be the single funniest line that movie year.

Best Romantic Movie Ever Made!
This movie is one of the best!! You have to own it. If you are a hopeless romantic, then you MUST have it!!!! Not a movie for the kiddies. Just you and with someone you love or want to love...

I wish I could live in that Universe.
The dialogs are a dream come true.

I heard some people were upset that Michelle Pfeiffer was cast as Frankie. Apparently the actress who played that character on stage was Kathy Bates and came to be regarded by many as definitive in that role. I'm sure she was terrific, and I loved her in "Dolores Claiborne", but as much as I sympathize with those who claim that it's all part of Hollywood's conspiracy to make ordinary women feel dissatisfied with their "real", ordinary bodies and faces, Michelle Pfeiffer - gorgeous as she is - is a sensitive, real performer, not a Barbie doll in any way, and though I couldn't be more different from her physically, I find it very easy to relate to her thanks to her talent.

The movie is a gem, though every time I watch anything with Al Pacino in it I'm always counting the seconds for the "scream scene". I'm not sure I ever watched a movie in which he starred, that he didn't scream his head off at some point, and this one's no exception. One love scene is basically spoiled by it, although die hard fans can always make the case that the script was asking for it. No minor problems like this one can spoil the movie as a whole though, that's what's important.

A true love story
The way it really is. two people who aren't anything special at all. And they find one another and make it work despite everything else. because they have to. because they need something in their lives and this is the best thing coming around. Nice.

Beautiful Love Story!
I saw this in 1991 when I was in middle school and I instantly fell in love with the movie. This film introduced me to romantic comedies and though I am not a fan of most films of this genre this one has a lot of heart and soul.

Al Pacino took a break from his usual cop/crook roles to play Johnny, a sweet ex-con with a bruised heart. He's a kindred spirit looking for someone else to share his lonely life with. Michelle Pheiffer is the same kindred spirit except Frankie has been so bruised she can not get back. Frankie and Johnny go through twists and turns before Frankie agrees to go out on a date. The more Frankie sees into Johnny's world she realizes he's the one person who can help her move past her former relationship with a man who beat her. This actually scares Frankie even more and she does her best to fight Johnny's advances but ultimately cannot fight her own heart.

This movie is the perfect date movie all rolled into one. It would have been a great family movie except for the thrown in sex scene between Johnny and Cora. I didn't agree with that because it didn't belong in a wholesome movie like this. The set up of the diner was refreshing and it was good to see a film where everyone was struggling for paychecks and not living in mansions and driving fancy cars. I am not from New York but I got a true sense of New York life after seeing this movie. The director ( Garry Marshall) had just come off of his super hit with Pretty Woman and proved he still had the touch of gold when it came to romantic movies.

The cast was wonderful. I enjoyed Al Pacino's innocent betrayal of Johnny and he brought in a lot of himself into the character. Michelle Pfeiffer was good as well. I just wished Frankie hadn't have been so grumpy because it was hard for me to warm up to her at first. But I realized Frankie was the way she was because of the hardships in her life. This is a movie for anyone to enjoy: young, middle-aged, senior, black, white, asian. It's one of those movies that doesn't provide any culture gaps or society gaps. It's just a nice love story where anyone can relate.

Everyone has had to struggle with emotions or money and everyone has fallen in love some time or another. This film combines all those elements into a breathtaking movie. If that's not enough for you to see it, check it out for the supporting characters. Nathan Lane is a hoot. Everyone should see this film at least once. ... Read more

Reviews (201)

The most poignant film of 1999
In 1985, John Irving penned an American classic about a young man's quest for belonging in the world besieged by World War II and self-doubt. The first script adaptations of the novel would have made for a nine-hour movie but being a daring writer, Irving trimmed it down to two hours of human heart and true nature. The result was one of 1999's biggest hits and a Best Picture Oscar nominee. Tobey Maguire stars as Homer Wells, the central character, who has been reared in an orphanage in rural Maine from infancy by a caring doctor named Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine in his superb Oscar-winning performance). For years, Homer has watched and studied the practices of Dr. Larch on pregnant women who either wanted an abortion or refused their babies. When he sees a chance to leave and explore the world on his own, he takes it and begins a self-quest for his true place in the world. Where he finds it is in the last place one would think, but it makes perfect sense once he discovers the true nature behind it. This touching film made me cry in the theater and it's a shame that not more people were willing to see this picture. It only stayed in theaters for about two weeks at a time. The children will steal your hearts and it is the loving performance from Caine that drives the film to its tearful and redeeming finale. Kathy Baker and Jane Alexander are well-cast as the nurses at the orphanage who stand by Dr. Larch no matter how hard things can get for him and his illegal practices. The film does not promote or demote the act of abortion but rather treats it as just a part of the story...and as a fact of life, that it is a woman's choice. Rachel Portman's beautiful and touching music score will move you to tears. Even though it was nominated for an Oscar, it still should have won. The heart of a film can be in its music and that applies here in every way possible. Caine received a standing ovation at the Oscar show when he won for Best Supporting Actor and spent over half his speech time acknowledging the work of his fellow nominees. John Irving also won for his screenplay adaptation of his own novel, the first time a novelist had ever won for adapting his own work for the silver screen since "Dances With Wolves" won for 1990. Outstanding on every level, this film is the pinnacle of the moviemaking industry for the 20th century, as if to offer hope on life and love and the lessons we need for the future, which would start with the 21st century. Don't pass up on this film. It is one of the greatest achievements from Hollywood in recent years.

A Heavy Subject But Great Acting
THE CIDER HOUSE RULES is a movie that deals with tough questions but does not provide any easy answers. It is based on a novel by John Irving and adapted for the screen by the author.

The story is mostly about life and death at an orphanage in Maine called St. Cloud's before and during World war II. In particular it is about a boy (Tobey Maguire) who is twice rejected by prospective parents and returned to the orphanage. He is then trained by the director (Michael Caine) of St. Cloud's to be his assistant as an obstetrician and gynocologist. With great sadness Maguire leaves St. Cloud's as a young man to see the world and ends up on the Maine coast where he works on an apple farm with migrant workers.

Because of the heavy subject matter the mood is often sombre and some of the incidents involving the orphans seem especially heartbreaking. Tobey Maguire is superb in the leading role as Homer Wells. Michael Caine is excellent as Dr. Wilbur Larch. The rest of the strong supporting cast includes Charlize Theron, Delroy Lindo, Paul Rudd, Erykah Badu and Kate Nelligan. Lasse Hallstrom is known as the director of several other fine films including CHOCOLAT and MY LIFE AS A DOG.

THE CIDER HOUSE RULES won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) and Adapted screenplay. It also received Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Director (Lasse Hallstrom), Editing, Original Score and Art Direction.

Impersonal. Not what you'd expect.
Roger Ebert said it best:

"A larger question remains: Why is there such a muddle about the movie's subject? I left the theater wondering what the movie thought it was about and was unable to say. It's almost deliberately unfocused; it shows us many events without guiding them to add up to anything definite."

I got up from my bed wondering the exact same thing. A movie should never leave you with that big of a question. If it does, it did not accomplish anything, because it is as if it felt it had nothing to accomplish.

I was highly disappointed with this film. It just didn't work on so many levels. Lasse Hallstrome is probably my least favorite major director at the moment. It seems he exists solely for Miramax to hire him so they can produce another accessible --no matter how impersonal-- piece of crap such as this in order to garner Oscars and, in the end, more money.

Many have said it is an important film because it approaches family and abortion. But the family aspect was so sparse it felt non-existent for about 75% of the running time. And the issue of abortion is left at an unfortunately impersonal level, exploring whether or not Tobey McGuire's character Homer finds it moral to use the medical skills his confident Dr. Larch (Michael Caine) has taught him in order to help women with abortion without bringing the issue past Homer himself. It does not ever leave the television screen. You aren't left thinking about whether it is right or wrong, or whether it should be legal or illegal, the woman or man's choice. I would further my point, but I would risk spoiling the film.

I think the only thing I truly enjoyed about the film was Charlize Theron. Otherwise, 'The Cider House Rules' was bland and confused.

Excellent movie, well acted, great story, sad in places.
This adaptation of John Irving's book, features a terrific mix of younger and veteran actors; lead by Michael Caine, Jane Alexander, and Kathy Baker. With Tobey Maguire and Charlize Theron; among others, this movie has a perfect mix of drama, tearjerking emotions, and some very intense moments. While I originally bought the movie for Michael Caine, and to see the lovely Ms. Theron, the story was told well enough and acted well enough to sustain the movie. It is a first rate movie and I'd highly recommend it. I look forward to reading the book (I know it should have been the other way around). The "making of" feature helps to convey what emotions the actors, the director, and others; including Stephen King, of all people, felt in making and seeing the movie. Definitely worth looking at [refers to vhs; but I'm likely to be buying the DVD in future].

Not as good as the book
The book the Cider House rules is one of my favorite books. The movie didn't quite do it justice. Many of the sub plots are missing and the whole general plot is condensed into just one generation. Because of this many of the important themes are lost and Homer's ultimate decision doesn't seem as important or meaningful. Also, it only seems to skim over the love between Dr. larch and Homer; it is much more profound in written words. It would be a good movie if you have never read the book because then you don't realize what you are missing, but I would recommend reading the book instead of watching the movie. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

TOP DRAWER WEREWOLF MOVIE...
This is a thinking person's werewolf movie. Well directed by Mike Nichols, it features a stellar cast who give excellent performances. Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Plummer, James Spader, Kate Nelligan, and David Hyde Pierce all contribute to the successful execution of this sophisticated and subtle horror film. As an added bonus, those of you who are devotees of the TV series, "Friends", should look for David Schwimmer's cameo appearance in the film.

Jack Nicholson plays a middle aged, married, senior book editor for a publishing company. Driving home at night from a business trip in New England, he hits an animal on the road. When he gets out of his car to check on the condition of the animal, he discovers it to be a wolf. What happens next will change the course of his life forever.

When Jack gets back to his office, he is feeling the after effects of his interaction with the wolf. He is also concerned about his job, as his publishing house has been taken over by Christopher Plummer. Jack initially plays his character as a somewhat laid back, nice guy, a good man who doesn't see the knife being plunged into his back by his young, ambition driven underling, played with obsequious perfection by James Spader, until it is too late. Publishing is, indeed, a dog eat dog world.

Betrayed by his underling who has been given his job, Jack finds himself undergoing a subtle, physical metamorphosis. He no longer needs reading glasses, his hearing is extremely acute, and he has a keen, very keen, sense of smell. It is these enhanced senses that lead him to discover that his wife, well played by Kate Nelligan, has shockingly betrayed his love and devotion, causing him to leave her. It is a betrayal that is to have dire consequences for her.

Finding himself more robust and aggressive, literally a new man, Jack goes on the attack and, and with the aid of his loyal underling, played to perfection by David Hyde Pierce, gets his job back. He aggressively asserts himself with Spader and lets him know, in no uncertain terms, who is top dog. There is a memorable scene to this effect. In the process of regaining his life, Jack falls in love with the boss's beautiful daughter, played with gritty charm by Michelle Pfeiffer, and she with him.

Still, Jack finds himself battling his inner demons over his change. The transformation of Jack is subtle, and there is very lttle use of special effects to enhance his metamorphosis. Jack is often able to convey to the viewer what he is undergoing with a flick of the eyebrow, a twitch of the nose, a curl of the lips. It is a wonderful piece of acting and a tribute to the power of suggestion.

Certain events transpire that make Jack fear that his transformation will result in injury to Michelle. She eventually buys into his fear, misinterpreting certain events that take place. What he and she ultimately discover is that they both, in fact, have a great deal to fear, but that their initial fear was misplaced. Look to a great finale.

If you are the type of horror film fan who likes excessive gore, as well as many high tech, special effects, this is not the film for you, as there is very little of that in this film. This is a subtle, multi-layered, symbolic type of horror film that will leave the viewer analyzing what they just saw. It is simply a great werewolf film.

A movie with a modest bite
Will Randall (Jack Nicholson) is the senior editor of a big book company and his life isn't as great as he would like it to be. However, things drastically change, and mostly improve, for Will after he is bitten by a mean looking wolf. Will soon finds out that he is changing more and more every day and that he is becoming like a wolf. Before long, he has better vision, hearing, and a spectacular sense of smell, but not everything has improved for Mr. Randall. Since he is now a lot more like a wolf, animals are now afraid of him and he becomes a murderer, just by following his wolf instincts. Will Mr. Randall find out what he's becoming, and is there a way to stop it?

"Wolf" is a pretty good movie. The makeup and the special effects in the movie aren't some of the best, but they get the job done. Jack Nicholson does a good job of acting and so does Michelle Pfeiffer as Will's new love interest. "Wolf" is a moderately exciting movie, it doesn't have as much blood and gore as you would expect it to have. It also doesn't have as much action as I would've liked to have seen, but it was still an entertaining movie and I recommend anybody who likes horror movies to at least watch "Wolf."

Intelligent horror film/character study
This is an interesting film, because it's partly a character study of a tired, middle aged publisher and partly a horror film about werewolves. Jack Nicholson plays a publisher about to lose his job to his friend and protege, who also happens to be sleeping with his wife. He seems too worn out to put up much of a fight, until he is bitten by a dying wolf, and begins to feel as if he has taken on its spirit. He also falls for the incredibly beautiful daughter of his boss (Michelle Pfeiffer). This movie has top notch acting, an intriuging story and a cool ending. I recommend it.

JACK NICHOLSON was made for this role of strange WOLF
This movie can demonstrate that the talents of JACK NICHOLSON are immenses, ernormous ! This is a film which i 've seen many time and i ave not lassitude ! The scenario is structured as much as a jewel ! Sure i like this film !

Wicked good fun!
Imaging the weirdest of all actor getting even weirder. That's what happenes when Jack Nicholson hits a large black animal and is bitten when he attempts to remove it from the road.
I love this movie as it shows the strength and rejuvination which comes with the werewolf's bite. Jack Nicholson is old but has an OK job, he has a cheating wife, and a new nose which smells a drop of tequilla in a cup of coffee on your breath.
He learns more of his internal demon wolf as the moon cycles. He also finds a way of controling his complete change, but when a new woman in his life is in danger from a rival wolf he must decide if he really wants to. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A must for all Pfeiffer fans.
Up Close and Personal does the impossible: it manages to jump from different settings within two hours and shift its plot while keeping the audience wanting more and more. Pfeiffer stars as a reporter, Tally, who has always aspired to make it to the top in television news. Along the way, she meets a veteran newsman, Warren Justice (Robert Redford), who gives her a chance at a reporter. As she begins to mature in her stories and her thirst for knowledge heightens, she begins to turn heads in the news business, and ends up moving from a station in Miami to a station in Philadelphia. All the while, Tally and Warren struggle to keep alive a relationship that both know is inevitable. Performances from all actors are very original and heartfelt, under Jon Avnet's wonderful direction. Thomas Newman's score is brilliant, and fits in at every moment to add to the emotional appeal of the movie. A storyline that never stops moving at times keeps the energy alive, which makes this movie one that will please most people.

SURPRISING
I recently happened to see (quite by accident, which I guess is what "happened to" implies) Up Close and Personal starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer. I was completely against seeing it. It looked positively ridiculous and asinine from commercials, making it seem like a wholly sappy love story between an older man and an up and coming woman (who would of course be nowhere if it weren't for his benevolence and patience). Not to add the terrible Celine Dion theme song. After watching it, however, I realised that while it was not great by any means-a bit better than mediocre entertainment perhaps-it was much better than I expected. Much different from what I expected as well. It was entirely mismarketed. Not to add that STUPID title. Really should be seen to understand what I mean. I don't want to hash out all the plot details because it would just waste your time and mine when you could just watch the movie and find out for yourself. It does have a sad ending, which was also a pleasant surprise. You kind of expect a movie like this to end happily ever after.

Not all that, but Pfieffer and Redford make it worth it
Both actors deliver fine performances. Even though the plot is ho-hum, the movie is still interesting to watch. Sad, of course, as all fine love stories are. But worth a peek.

emotional
This is one of the first movies I can say that I made me cry at the end that I love. Redford and Pfeiffer are AWESOME and it had all the things a movie must have; action, romance, and humor.

Get out your suspension of disbelief!
This movie was interesting enough to keep me watching to the end but I was disappointed. Maybe I missed the point, but it seemed to me that almost nothing about this movie was real. Robert Redford's character wore clothes and had furniture that seemed mostly lifted from the Sundance Catalog. Michelle Pfeiffer's character never seemed to be doing any research but rather staying late at work to play solitaire on her computer. And we later are expected to believe that she gets up from her wedding bed to work at her laptop on a news story. I found it a sad reflection on Hollywood's take on American values and an insult to the viewer's intelligence. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Rip-roaring Gothic melodrama
The first thing you'll notice about the DVD version of John Badham's "Dracula" is the almost total absence of color. In fact, to all intents and purposes, this Technicolor film is now a black and white production! Apparently, the director felt his movie would play better this way on TV. Go figure. Anyway, the film itself is a rip-roaring Gothic melodrama, designed and photographed with a visual flourish that may seem old-fashioned and melodramatic, but it compels attention in a way that almost completely eluded Francis Ford Coppola's take on the legend thirteen years later. The script retains the basic structure of Stoker's novel whilst adding enough fresh ideas of its own to keep boredom (bred of familiarity) firmly at bay. For instance, Dracula's comeuppance during the climax is a million miles from his fate in the book, but it works here on purely cinematic terms. Frank Langella's rather unfortunate pompadour hairdo detracts from the power of his performance as the Count, but his deceptively romantic interpretation is fully in keeping with the film's approach. Lovely score by John Williams, too.

Though the DVD packaging promises the film has been "Formatted for 16x9 TVs", don't be fooled - the disc is simply letterboxed at 2.15:1. It looks OK (except for that irritating lack of color, of course) and Gilbert Taylor's rich Gothic compositions are preserved with crystal clarity. Sound is Dolby Digital Surround. Be advised that Universal/Image STILL haven't sorted out legal wrangles over some of the incidental music in the original film. As a consequence, this is the same "home video version" as all the others, with some music rescored.

I Beg To Differ....
Ignore all the folks vetching and GET the DVD if you can find it...

I've seen every version of this thing from it's incarnation as a Bway play, it's airing as a film in the theatre, on cable, the VHS, and DVD, and there is NO difference in color or quality from the way it was done on screen. Yes, there was some BRIGHT color on screen but it was NOT throughout the whole film.

The b&w thing was done INTENTIONALLY and it was that way in the original cut. The revamped Hamilton-Deane stage play upon which the film is based had Edward Gorey type sets in B&W with touches of brilliant red. The film follows this in a smaller way with a more downplayed coloring scheme. The reason you see the brighter colors only part of the time is because it was the director's way of getting the same effect as the stage sets. Misty B&W period look for most part, then a sudden change to bright color...

IMHO, it WORKS. It's eerie, and it's effective...

As for Langella, I think perhaps of all his fine performances this is the one for which he will be most remembered and justifiably so. His was a unique Dracula, a passionate Dracula, and yes, IMHO,one of the BEST Dracula's I've ever seen, and I've seen them ALL. I like a lot of them, Lugosi, Lee, Jourdan, and Oldman in particular.

For Pre-CGI the effects are excellent and for once they do harken back to the folklore which inspires the vampire legend besides. The horse in the graveyard for instance is straight out of Rumanian myth...

(Mina's being a moldering corpse is intentional I think too. The director is making a distinction between "prey" and "love interest" here. Mina is basically FOOD, whereas Lucy, Dracula wants to make his bride. The inference here is that there is a difference and the blood exchanged between Lucy and Dracula makes her more like him. Mina, poor thing is simply destined to rot until someone stakes her....She's the "tradtional" vampire of folklore, and I was truly creeped out by her makeup job actually...It was unusually horrific for the time period in which this film was made...)

There are some nice touches in this film, and I honestly feel it holds up well some 25 years later. It's still a favorite, and justifiably so...In terms of acting it far surpasses the FFC 92" Dracula, and though it's not as showy it's still every bit as enjoyable to watch now as it was when I first saw it in the theatre.

It's a bit grainy in DVD, and I'd surely like to see a better transfer and maybe a cleaned up and completely restored soundtrack, but otherwise? I wouldn't change a thing, and I certainly would NOT want it colorized to make it all perfectly even.

It just wouldn't be the same "Dracula" at all...

Morrighan

Sensual, quintessential version of the lover Dracula
Yes, the umpteenth Dracula remake/vampire film, and I stumbled upon it one morning on a movie channel, and was taken by the title character...Frank Langella's Dracula is sexy and charming and it's easy to see how the undead keeps winning so many wives.

Pre-computer special effects don't really bother me: the bats are stock. The fog creeping under the door of Mina's room looks like film rewound. I DO think the mirror uses were clever, in scenes without the vampire reflections. The scene where Mina becomes herself a vampire is an ounce campy with some seventies stock film. I'm not sure if it's a volcano erruption, a lava lamp, or what, but the scene feels like the credits of James Bond movies past...aside from this there are so many romantic moments. The lava-love sequence and the vampire's seventies hair date the film a little but so what...it's a pleasure to watch and get taken in.

This movie is amour fou, as Lucy and the people in her life become aware of the danger that is the Count. Lucy is captivated by the vampire until the end, where she grieves for her dying lover (or-does-he-die), and she moans for him like a substance abuse addict in withdrawl. As for her father, fiancee, and friends are wounded and dying to get rid of the vampire Lucy is aware but has already accepted a new life (new lifetime, i suppose, as an undead life) and she doesn't care anymore. Lucy greives as the sun shines down, but her rescuers do not notice what she does, the figure of Dracula as a speck flying off into the horizon. The credits end in the sunny sea air-a new beginning for Mina and Jonathan, although we imagine it woun't be long until the vampire comes back to retrieve his new bride.

I think Frank Langella made his the quintessential Dracula, tall dark handsome stranger. His character is never frail, but tender as the lover. He's handsome still as he sneers and spews bile at Van Helsing and his crucifix. It reminds me of Marlon Brando's Stanley Kowalski: who knows why you find him, a gorilla of a man, sexy? The scenes of an angry monster shine but the love scenes radiate.

This film was made about the time I was born; the films from my vampire phase featured Gary Oldman and Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise (no wonder I fell into a vampire phase) but this vampire has me. I stumbled onto it and too bad the films's not in print and too bad I wasn't around for the seventies stage version. Maybe Frank Langella would think about reprising the role of Dracula with another stage company...

A fresh interpretation of the classic story of the Nosferatu
I have always believed that at least part of the reason this movie isn't better known is because it is confused just as much now as it was in 1979 with the comedy "Love at First Bite" featuring supertan George Hamilton as Dracula released at the same time. It is a dreadful misconception as "...First Bite" was a cross between horror spoof and Disco exploitation flick...which was and is absolute torture to watch.

This addition to the "Dracula" franchise is my personal favorite of all that have been attempted. I don't rate it as being the most faithful interpretation of Bram Stoker's classic novel (Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" holds that distinction, obviously enough...though Coppola also added more of the real history of "Vlad the Impaler" to his movie for additional background; nice touch), but for the sheer gothic style that the novel used to shock and horrify Victorian England upon its first publication, this movie comes as close to Stoker's original intent without necessarily following his novel on a word-for-word basis.

Frank Langella's performance onstage had to be one for the ages if it at all approached the level of his portrayal as the Count in this movie. Ultimately he has never delivered a performance quite like it...and of course with opposing roles filled by Sir Laurence Olivier and veteran character actor (and overperformer of Shatneresque proportions) Donald Pleasance were definitely sufficent to insure that Langella brought his "A" game to the set for every shoot. All performances are superb.

Additionally, the originality surrounding the climax of the movie alone makes it worth a viewing; the old Hammer films had interesting ways for the Count to meet his ultimate demise, and the manner in which this movie ends is very reminiscent of those latter day classics. You almost wish Christopher Lee could have had a guest appearance in this movie a la Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck in the 1991 remake of "Cape Fear".

Regarding the widescreen DVD's color transfer (or lack thereof), I do think that the washed out tones (which are nearly black and white, as noted in a previous review) actually adds to the movie's atmosphere. This is, basically, the second great gothic love story of all time (with E. Bronte's "Wuthering Heights" being the first); the blacks and the whites SHOULD be more pronounced, the funereal elements of Carfax Abbey should be brought out (the dinner scene with the Count and Mina is one of the most beautifully shot scenes from any movie...romance just isn't done that way anymore), and washing the colors from a movie as easily as blood from a vein leaves the correct pallor for both a vampire's victim and a terrific retelling of the "Dracula" story. You can hold out hope that a remastered DVD will be released (as this version seems to be out-of-print presently) that will feature a better color transfer, but as this movie approaches its 25th year, hope for any such treatment fades.

The King of his kind
Ok, this version doesn't go along with the book, but it is worth while.
First of all Langella, Langella, Langella. He is 6'4" and has a voice to match. He is the only man I have seen that can place his hands on his hips and still make it look sexy! Langella had to tone his version of Dracula down (i.e. the R rating)...I had a teacher tell me how powerfull, sexy, and forcefull he was during the stage version...all I have to say is...WOW!!!

Second, he took Dracula to a new level. Before Dracula was this crude creature, who was loveless, mean, and wanted some blood. When Langella hit the scene, it all changed. Notice how each Dracula or vampire film has a sexy male lead? He broke the mold (thank you Mr. Langella)

Third, Langella didn't need red eyes, blood, fangs, and all the other stuff to make you think he was Dracula...you know by looking at him. One sceen which shows in hunger of blood is when they are at the Steward's house and the butler cuts himself with the knife. Dracula is telling a story, then he looks up and notices the butler sucking his cut finger. He was this look of hunger. His eyes widen with hunger.

The last is the famous sex scene. Just how he enters the room, the colors, and the music brings you closer to realizing he is not just a regular vampire, he is truly the king of his kind. ... Read more

Amazon.com

An ultimately futile attempt to make lightning strike twice, this so-called spinoff from 1993's blockbuster The Fugitive avoids the label of "sequel" by forging ahead without the first film's star, Harrison Ford. The idea is to showcase the return of Tommy Lee Jones in his Oscar-winning role as tenacious U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard, this time testing his mettle against a covert government operative (Wesley Snipes) accused of murdering two secret service attachés. Unfortunately, Jones and the entire cast have been trapped in a rambling plot, and the underdog status that made Ford such a compelling hero is sacrificed to an evenly matched and eventually tiresome game of cat and mouse, with a villain whose identity is far too predictable. With no dramatic buildup and several superfluous characters to distract its focus, the film's momentum plays out like a rote exercise compared to the high stakes of the earlier film. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (56)

"U.S. Marshals" has its moments but ultimately unsatisfying
The idea of making "U.S. Marshals" was not a bad idea. After all, Tommy Lee Jones had won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Chief Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in "The Fugitive," basically because he stole every scene he was in, whether it was with Harrison Ford or somebody else. Not only was this was one of those "roles of a lifetime" for Jones, there was also the fascinating dynamic between Gerard and his eccentric cadre of assistants. So putting together a sort of "sequel" around these characters made sense, as well as giving the film its title. The only question them would be coming up with a script.

The screenplay by first time screenwriter John Pogue follows the lead of "The Fugitive" by having Gerard suddenly find himself in the pursuit again of an innocent man (not that this becomes clear to Gerard until late in the film). The key differences from the first film is that the character being pursued, played by Wesley Snipes, is some sort of government super spy instead of a naive doctor, and Gerard is saddled with a government special agent, played by Robert Downey, Jr. The story line has to do with an international intrigue where not only Gerard does not know what is going on, but the audience is left in the dark as well. Then, to add insult to injury, this time it is Snipes that is doing the scene stealing.

Ultimately, I think it is the convoluted plot that gets in the way of this film working as well as "The Fugitive." This is a film that should be about the characters, especially the rest of Gerard's groups, but instead you keep trying to figure out what is really going on. In fact, this time around that question ends up overwhelming Gerard's attempts to track down people. Besides, "U.S. Marshals" is one of those films where the big surprise twist does not surprise anybody. This is why the film ends up being so unsatisfying, which is unfortunate because if this film had clicked it could have been a decent little franchise. But instead of focusing on the characters there was a concerted effort to try and top "The Fugitive" which only ends up making it something of a mess, which is why this movie ends up being so unsatisfying, Besides, we had such high expectations for these characters and cast.

...Ive Never Seen the Fugitive...
After I saw "The Client" w/Tommy Lee Jones in 1994, U.S. Marshals appealed to me as it did to probably anyone else watching it...Tommy Lee Jones WAS the star. The good thing about this sequal is that it takes off from it's own feet, without relying on events that took place during the first movie. Jones and his all-star team are out to get a Federal fugitive (Wesley Snipes) who is accused of killing two agents in cold blood. Snipes, proclaiming his innocents, runs from the Marshals while chasing yet another focus of the manhunt to clear his name. Ironically, the one man responsible for this whole scenerio is harbored unknowingly under the wing of the law. The plot is easy to follow, unlike puzzle movies like "The Saint" (which a friend made me suffer through years ago), which was so overdone in this 'spy' kinda thing that you couldn't even follow the plot line at all. Robert Downey Jr. makes a guest appearance on the Marshals squad, the star-packed cast is like an insurance policy for the movie which relys on the award-winning talents of the actors if the plot fails with some people. Up-to-date and smart 'cowboys and Indians' flick, plenty of great acting and one hell of a cast.

Falls a bit short...
Supposed to be a sequal to the amazing movie 'The Fugitive'...it falls a bit short in comparison.
Tommy Lee Jones is still as sassy as ever in U.S. Marshals - but it's a bit too predicable.
Still has some good suspense - which I do enjoy.

good sequel to a great movie
though it doesnt have the title The Fugitive 2...it takes another look at a wanted man who is framed for a murder he didnt committ...good and solid performances by Tommy Lee Jones(The Fugitive, The Hunted), Robert Downey, Jr.(Gothika, In Dreams) and the awesome Wesley Snipes(Blade 1 and II, ZigZag)...this came out in the same year his smash Blade did....and I always say..hey, thats the movie Snipes did before he did Blade...cool..anyway. the plane crash is good, chase scenes are good and the finale is down right Downey deadly..though lacking in some parts it picks it up with energy..for the fans of the stars or for whoever like The Fugitive with Harrison Ford. also starring Irene Jacobi(1995's Othello remake), Tom Wood(The Fugitive and Under Siege), Joe Pantoliano(The MAtrix, The Fugitive, Memento), Daniel Roebuck(Money Talks, Final Destination), Kate Nelligan(The Cider House Rules, Wolf), LaTanya Richardson(Lone Star,The Super), Michael Paul Chan(Spy Game, Batman Forever), Patrick Malahide(The Long Kiss Goodnight, The World Is Not Enough) and Rick Snyder(The Generals Daughter, The NEt)

So Much Like the Fugitive
They could have named this one the Fugitive II and gotten away with it. There was a slight lack of originality, but the spectacular cast pulls it off. Overall the movie was good. Tommy Lee Jones does a wonderful job and Robert Downey, Jr. was memorable as well. The comic relief was a must and was appreciated as it helped counterract the amazing suspense level present. I think I will add this one to my collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Unlike The Living Sea, its Oscar^®-nominated predecessor, IMAX's Into the Deep confines itself to one location--the Channel Islands off the coast of California. But what a location it is! Directed by Howard Hall (Island of the Sharks) and narrated by actress Kate Nelligan, this exquisitely shot feature follows a number of the colorful creatures who live among the area's kelp beds as they build their living quarters, fight to protect them, mate, and die. Some of the more notable sequences include the aggressive mating dance of the fiery Garibaldi fish, the arduous molting of a lobster (captured with time-lapse photography), and the sophisticated synchronized movements of a school of silvery Spanish mackerel that sparkle and shine in the sunlight streaming in from above. Colors (especially reds and blues) that really pop, spare and unobtrusive narration, and a playful soundtrack make this fascinating film ideal for repeat viewing. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Like a runway model...
...this DVD may be beautiful, but it is utterly lacking in substance. With not nearly enough meat to warrant a DVD, Into the Deep runs like a long teaser for a much more in-depth and expansive exploration of underwater life, deep sea exploration, particular species of sea life...just about anything except what you might see in your first scuba lesson, if you were lucky enough to go on that lesson in these particular California depths. Leave this one on the proverbial shelf.

soothing deep
Into the deep is a nice soothing film with a gentle score. The opening sequence of the Califonian kelps is breathtaking. The rest of the film comprises a wide range of colourful species, a damaged shark, fish, squid, crabs, seals and more fish. The film moves at a slow pace and you do feel like skipping a few scenes to more action-oreintated sequemces. But it never happens, and the film just sildes gradually from one species to another. The music and the tender feminine voiceover might make you go to sleep half way through. It's that soothing! Also, some of you might find it uninvolving mid-way through because of the slow -pace, and the music. Overall, a nice film for those who like to chill and observe the beauty of underwater life, with gentle music and a cute voiceover. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Fatally Funny: A Parody Of The 90's Classic Thrillers
This movie was on tv about a week ago. I could not stop laughing. The comedy is top notch in much the same lines of The Naked Gun/Leslie Nielson movies. On DVD, the experience must be as hilarious as its original release in 1993. Armand Assante (yes a serious actor in a comic role really works although they could have easily used Leslie Nielson for the part) stars as the victim of the scheming Lola (Sean Young) who will stop at nothing to see his marriage ruined. Like the title suggests, the movie is a cross between Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct. Those were the two most standard thrillers during the early 90's period. Both films starred Michael Douglas as the target of a scheming and obscessed woman. The laughs keep on coming as the obvious parodies are executed. I.E. the famous Interrogation Scene in Basic Instict, the murder in the bath tub and the cooked rabbit in Fatal Attraction. Also on here are parodies of Sleeping With The Enemy starring Julia Roberts and Patrick Bergin, a 1991 thriller about a husband who is obscessed with his own wife and who likes to have his own things in the house arranged his way. This movie is really great comedy and really will take you to the 90's. The 90's is long gone and many were too little to remember everything in detail. But it was a time in which movies were full of thrillers. I wish they had made a spoof of "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" on this film too. It was a time of laughing at criminals and their schocking crimes. Remember the Melendez Brothers ? Remember Lorena Bobbit ? And let's not forget the secret plotting of Tonya Harding against Nancy Carrigan. All this happened in the 90's. This was the time of the O.J. Simpson trial after all. I really recommend this movie. Many can easily dismiss it as cheap comedy but there are some genuinely comic moments, such as Armand Assante and Sean Young's lovemaking scene, the final part of the movie is funny too. A must have for fans of comedies of the 90's.

Bad Reviews? I Don't Know Why...
This movie was slammed by critics. The most common review of this said that there was 'just too many jokes' in it. I watched it with a critical eye, and thought it was a really fun movie.

I didn't laugh out loud with tears running down my face, but did spend the entire run time giggling at the antics of all the characters. The cast consists of several Serious Actors (Kate Nelligan, Armand Assante) who play their parts as though they were in a drama. To me, those are excellent comedic acting skills. It's when actors play for laughs that they are not funny.

You might not be tickled by this one if you aren't familiar with the 'film noir' and detective film genre. If you are a fan of those, you will laugh as you recognize all the devices in those films over-used to good effect in this one.

I had a good time watching it...give it a try!

Wonderfully funny movie
Love this movie! After watching it on TV for the umptenth time, have decided to buy the DVD. It will be great to pull off the shelf for a good time! It's a humorous compilation of several good thriller/suspense movies, with a 1950-60s backdrop. Love the scene where they call recess during the courtroom trial.

If you like Airplane, you'll howl at this gem of a movie
This brand of comedy is not for all, but if you like Airplane, Naked Gun, etc., then you'll love this movie. Some like this type of humor only with Leslie Nielson as the lead, but Armand Assante pulls this one off superbly as the dragnet-type of detective who happens to be a lawyer. Sean Young is terrific in her role as Lola, a scheming femme fatale. The movie spoofs other movies, but even if you don't catch them all, the humor is nonstop and, in some cases, hilarious enough to chuck your popcorn all over the floor...

Good film, finally on DVD, but... in full screen?!?
No, thanks. The commentary and outtakes are a perfect addition, but the film's being in awful full screen format ruins it immediately. I'll wait for a real, widescreen version, even if it's without the extras. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is every parent's nightmare: Your kid goes off to school one morning--and never comes back. Based on the case of young New Yorker Etan Patz, who disappeared in the early 1980s, this film casts Kate Nelligan as the distraught mother who lashes out at the police (in the person of a relentless detective played by Judd Hirsch), who make her and her husband suspects, even as she hounds them to find her child and drives away her husband (David Dukes) and friends (including Stockard Channing) with her intensity and single-mindedness. The first film by producer Stanley Jaffe, all of the goodwill he earns two-thirds of the way through is squandered on a Hollywood ending that doesn't square with the real case: Etan Patz was never found. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Excellent film!
This is an excellent film with a wonderful performance by Kate Nelligan as a resolute and determined mother who's son is missing.Judd Hirsch stars as the congenial detective investigating the case. A real tearjerker at times with a great ending, at least when the detective discovers the truth about young Alex' disappearance.Sadly, the final few minutes are totally unbelievable and contrived. So ignore about 2 minutes towards the end and just enjoy!This movie is worthy of anyones collection.

ALL TIME FAVE!!
THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIES!! MY 6FT, 250LB FRIEND CRIES LIKE A BABY EVERYTIME HE SEES IT. FOR MYSELF, I'M MOVED BY THE TOUCHING STORY AND THE UNBELIEVABLE PERFORMANCES OF THE ACTORS.I'M ALWAYS LEFT WITH A SENSE OF HOPE ESPECIALLY LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE INNOCENT CHILDREN DISAPPEAR EVERYDAY. UNFORTUNATELY, I NO LONGER HAVE A VHS PLAYER (SINCE IT IS THE AGE OF THE DVD!)SO HOPEFULLY, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SOMEONE WILL HERE MY PLEA AND MAKE THIS ONE OF A KIND MASTERPIECE COME ALIVE ONCE AGAIN IN OUR NEW WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY!!NEED THE DVD!!

One of the best movies I've ever seen
I have watched this movie at least 10 times over the years. This movie never fails to draw me in with it's magnificent story and superb acting. I recommend this movie to anyone and especially to anyone who has children. This movie is near the top of my ten favorite movies of all time.

We need flicks like this once in a while
... Movies like this, and true stories like the finding of Elizabeth Smart, help people find hope when it is hard to find.

What others have written about the tear-jerking content of the last bit of this movie is especially true for me, because I have friends in law enforcement and Iknow that the escort scene at the end could really happen. I can imagine how all the LEOs involved would feel, having seen big, tough, cops turn into big, sentimental, softies when kids are involved.

I'm buying it, and will buy it again if and when it comes out on DVD.

Loved it - But where is the DVD????
I first saw this movie back in the 80's and after all this time it doesn't lose it's appeal. The characters are very believable, and well acted. Stockard Channing gives a great performance as Susan's (Kate Nelligan) best friend. Many of the reviewer's state that this movie is a tear jerker, and it is! Even if you just watch the last ten minutes and nothing else you will need a full box of Kleenex! My only complaint is that it is not out on DVD yet, but this film is SO good that it's worth watching/owning on VHS - and that's comming from someone who won't buy anything on VHS anymore!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent family film!
This is one of those movies that will warm your heart and stay with you for a long-time. Great story! ... Read more