Reviews (217)

Amazing....but missing something
I eagerly bought this movie after finishing the novel. I know that a lot of movies based on books are different from the original story, but this really isn't one of them, at least not exactly. Almost all of the main and important aspects of the novel are included in the movie. The time constraints obviously play a part of the limited detail, at least compared to the novel, but what seems most annoying is the fact that different characters play the parts of characters in the book. For example, Susan Stern, who travelled in Stu Redman's group originally suddenly is part of Mother Abigail's group. It's small differences like this that get to me in this movie.

Other than that, the movie is awesome. The makeup effects used are amazing. The actors chosen to portray the characters seem perfect, especially Gary Sinise, Adam Storke, Ray Walston, Bill Fagerbakke, Jamey Sheridan and particularly Rob Lowe, who plays a wonderful Nick Andros. I've already watched this movie a number of times, and there are scenes I can't get enough of. I really like it, but I'm going to have to say, read the book first, because it will not only help you keep better track of what's going on in the movie, but it will you keep you informed on the characters as well. Plus, the book is definitely worth it's 1141 pages and you'll be really missing something without it!

Greatness Has a Name
First off, I'd like to say I have never read the book. But I will soon. Even though, I absolutely LOVED this movie. The acting was amazing, especially the performances by Gary Sinise (can that guy play a bad role? Knock on wood) and Rob Lowe, supposedly in a comeback role. It was probably very hard for poor Rob to play a deaf mute! Anyway, the story goes that a virus created by the Army gets loose at it's base and spreads through the United States. Only a few people survive, and the ones that do are separated into two groups. One group is called in dreams by Mother Abigail (played by Ruby Dee) and the other is called by Randall Flagg, the devil (played by Jamey Sheridan, who did an awesome job). Mother Abigail's group is led by Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, Adam Storke, and Rob Lowe (although he didn't lead the group, he played an incredibly important part as a retarded man named Tom Cullen. I'm talking about Bill Fagerbakke). The bad guys, led by Flagg, flock to Las Vegas (yes, Sin City itself) and the good guys go to Boulder, Colorado. I won't give away the ending, but it is truly a wonderful movie with many twists and surprises. It made me jump, scream, say aww, and at times cry ew! It is incredible!

It's not the book, but what movie is?
I was disappointed in the amount of changes in the mini-series; I found the book much more filled out. However, this movie brings about all my greatest fears about the end of our way of life. I have worked in the medical field for a number of years and I have often imagined this kind of scenario. Many people focus on the religious aura of this film, but I enjoyed the all encompassing nature. Stephen King did not write about religion, or how one faith survived while all other belivers died. He wrote a story about good versus evil. Don't look for a hinted meaning and enjoy the movie; it's well worth it.

Religious propaganda - cheap and blatant
I feel that I genuinely wasted my time watching this excessively long DVD (TV series).
It is a cheap production, proving how celebrity does not equate to talent.
Worse of all is the blatant religious "stand" which the story takes... It reminds me of the awful movie productions used by missionaries uninvitedly imposing their beliefs upon others.
Oh! And it is worth pointing out that Mr. King should stick to writing and NOT acting....
Although, it would probably appease many, and reinforce their monochrome ideas and perceptions of good and evil.....

Worth it
I am a relatively new fan of Mr. Kings work. My first exposure to his material was when The Stand miniseries aired. I recently read the book and find the movie adaptation to be just about as complete as you could hope for.

The performances are good, with some nice peaks into the early works of some now well known actors.

The only disappointment for me... in both the book and the miniseries.... is that ending. Won't spoil it here. For me it was a sort of "thats it?" moment. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Tuckered out.
Frenetically directed biopic of Preston Tucker, automobile entrepreneur, genius . . . dreamer. The most offensive thing about *Tucker: The Man and His Dream* is the explicit comparison between its subject and its director, Francis Ford Coppola. The Tucker automobile is evidently meant to be compared to Coppola's Zoetrope film studio, just as each man is meant to be compared to each other. (Both even have large, rambunctious families.) The great difference, of course, being that Tucker happened to be a visionary, whereas Coppola just made some decent movies in the 1970's. (Who wouldn't rather have a Tucker car than a copy of *Apocalypse Now Redux* on DVD or even the overpriced *Godfather* collection, in which Coppola -- that uncompromising "artist" -- forces one to actually bring that *Godfather Part 3* into his own home?) Notice I said the 1970's: *Tucker* was made in 1988, and Coppola's glory days had definitely passed. And no amount of flashy direction -- cut-aways, scene-blending, hyper-kinetic camera movement -- can bring them back. The cut-aways etc. don't really bring back the 1940's, either, probably because the spirit in which the movie was made belongs strictly to the excessive 80's. The visual style reflects the entrepreneurial icons of the Reagan Era -- Lee Iacocca, Michael Milkin, Donald Trump -- more often than it recalls Preston Tucker. Flash, splash, crash. Is the movie entertaining? Yes. Whatever else can be said about F.F.C., he doesn't make BORING movies. But ultimately the movie is as shallow as its basic form, which is the Old Hollywood-style worshiping, deifying hagiography (along the lines of *The Benny Goodman Story*, *Yankee Doodle Dandy*, etc.). Finally, it must be stressed again that Coppola's ego is terrifying: identifying himself with a visionary inventor like Preston Tucker is, given his own checkered career as a director, not merely offensive, but close to obscene.

Wonderful work by Jeff Bridges ...
One of his finest performances since "Starman" ... Here, Jeff gets to play a little bit of the good-natured kidder we've come to love ... as Tucker, the eternal optimist and dreamer, we experience the reality that all dreams are met with obstacles sometimes ...

The flashy style of the director has the look and feel of a Life magazine or Saturday Evening Post piece ... it's hype, sure, but it attempts to capture the entreprenurial spirit of post-war America with the swing music and stylish clothing ... Excellent performances by Bridges (both of them!), Martin Landau and even Christian Slater plays with much more subtlety than usual. Dean Stockwell does a pretty good Howard Hughes.

Get this movie and be prepared to simply sit back and enjoy it. Before the Big Three had serious competition from Germany and Japan they ruled with an iron fist. The cars we drive today are infinitely better because of competition. Should any criticize me for that statement I simply say these words: Pinto, Vega and Pacer. BTW, my new Ford Explorer is an excellent, well-designed and engineered vehicle.

Unfortunately the father-son team of Bridges didn't have nearly as much material to work with in "Blown Away", their only other movie pairing ... Lloyd Bridges plays the corrupt U.S. Senator so well that you'd like to see a full Congressional investigation on him ... Excellent sound track as well.

"It's the idea that counts, and the dream."
This 1988 movie, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas, has good acting from Jeff Bridges, Martin Landau, Frederic Forrest, and Joan Allen in the larger roles. Smaller supporting roles were also handled well by Christian Slater, Jay O. Sanders, Nina Siemaszko and Mako.

As reflected by the DVD cover, the movie is filmed in a splashy 1940's advertising style, and uses warm gold and sepia tones and some impressive camera work to tell the tale of the development of the "Tucker 48" automobile, also known as the "Torpedo" after its sleek lines (for the times), of which only about 50 were made. For its time, it had many innovative features, including a rear-mounted engine, seat belts and padded dash, push button controls, and a third central headlight that would turn when steering. The large, 4,800 pound behemoth got about 20 MPH.

In a somewhat dichotomous framework, the movie shows the result of American "Yankee ingenuity" coupled with the eventual demise of the Tucker due to pressure by the Big Three automaking competitors. Taken to court for fraud with the accusation that he would not deliver on the promise of producing a car, Tucker in fact is found not guilty, and had actually produced about 50 cars, though his business was effective ruined.

Tucker had other successes however. Just before World War II, he developed an armored car that was so fast at 80-plus MPH, the Army did not want it because they thought such vehicles should only go about 35 MPH. However, the rotating gun-turret used on top of the vehicle, the "Tucker turret", was used on American bombers, such as the B-17 and B-24, thoughout the war.

Although his business partner Abe Karatz (Landau) is quite upset that the car business folded, Tucker tells him..."It's the idea that counts, Abe, and the dream." Tucker died in 1956 from lung cancer at age 53.

The reasonably-priced DVD has the wide-screen movie, an excellent original 15-minute long 1948 promotional film made by the Tucker company (with or without commentary by FFC), a mediocre short "making of" collection of cast/crew interview clips mostly from 1988, a decent commentary by FFC, and the usual setup features.

Excellent Movie
This is an excellent movie I really like it. What I can also say is it was done in my hometown of Bay Point Ca. The scene where they are watching the movie of the car pulling into the garage and the gas man comes and opens the hood but now engine that is a block away from where I live. They also did some at the county seat and had to take down the state flags because they had to many stars on them for this time but I would recommend this movie to anyone.

A wonderful story set in a time when America was great
I first saw this movie when I was ten years old and loved it then as I do now. If you love the style of the 1940's and the incurable optimism of post-War America, then this flik is for you. Preston Tucker was true visionary who demonstrated the power and opportunities that each American has at their fingertips beginning with only a dream or two and Jeff Bridges captures the essence of this incredibly well. ... Read more

Description

As Nessip, Wesley Snipes free-falls into the daredevil world of sky-diving to track down a cadre of techno terrorists in Drop Zone, a chute-to-thrill adventure co-starring Gary Busey, Yancy Butler, Michael Jeter and more. Ready for excitement? You're in the zone with "the action movie of the year!" (Ron Brewington, American Urban Radio Network). Jailbreak... at 38,000 feet! U.S. Marshal Pete Nessip's prisoner parachutes out of a 747 and floats safely into the night with his daring, deadly cohorts. Nessip does his best to stop the bold escape. What does he get in return? Suspended. But being off the force doesn't mean Nessip is out of action. When it comes to stopping killers, he's taking the plunge. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Skydiving
If you're a skydiver, you'll love this movie. For everybody else, it's boring. It's not a typical action-packed Wesley Snipes movie. This one focuses on skydiving, and that's about it. Lots of skydiving, and then some more skydiving. They just threw in some token fight scenes at random to help tone it down, but it doesn't work. I gave it ** because Snipes is in it. Without him, it would get *.

Great Movie!
I loved this movie. The skydiving stunts are great, and it actually has a plot! Seems most action movies don't even bother with a plot anymore. Wesley Snipes and Yancy Butler did a great job. Their characters are believable, you feel like you're right there. I can't wait to try skydiving myself.

Not Very Real, But Good Fun
Let's face it, this was a fun movie and I liked it. I enjoy most flicks with Wesley Snipes in 'em. And, although a novice, I love skydiving. That was the fun part. From Yancy dumping Snipes from the Porter sans parachute to their makeshift tandem nighttime landing on a rooftop, it was ridiculously fun in a silly way. Imagine becoming skilled enough to jump in a major big-way in what, two weeks' time? Great. And the absurdity of the skydivers being anything but friendly and open to a "whuffo" (a ground-grabbing outsider) made for a top-order, unimagineable fight scene. Great stuff. I just hope that when my main canopy snivels and I can't break away, I make out as well as their jumping buddy... i.e., live through the experience. Blue Skies and Fair Winds! Watch the movie, then jump from a perfectly good airplane from 2 & 1/2 miles up.

People actually LIKE this movie?
Well for a weak plot, and inferior effects, I guess it's ok. Who am I kidding!? This movie was not good at all! Snipes has done much, MUCH better than this, although it wasn't all his fault. I believe the most entertaining part was with the photocopier, and if I had to pick one outstanding pathetic part, it would be the chick saving Snipes' rear end, without safety gear. (By the way, physics determines that little flying upwards stunt utterly impossible) Why one star? Because I had to put something! Anyway, if you liked this movie, all the power to you, but I did not find it that great.

A skydiving movie that really flies high
I haven't ever skydived before, but I do like watching movies about skydiving. I also liked "Terminal Velocity," but "Drop Zone" is a lot better. Wesley Snipes stars as a U.S. Marshal who tries to catch some terrorists that hijacked a plane that he was on and their actions resulted in the death of his brother. Snipes believes that it was a set up, but he's the only one that thinks that, so it's up to him to figure it out by himself. To do this, Wesley Snipes learns a new hobby and starts skydiving himself while trying to figure out and catch the terrorists in action.

"Drop Zone" is a good movie. Its plot might be choppy in parts, but that's about the only thing wrong with the movie. The skydiving sequences are the best and most exciting I've ever seen in any movie, and Wesley Snipes is hilarious in some parts such as when he skydives for the first time and screams the whole way down. The movie's soundtrack is another good thing about the movie.

Whether you like skydiving or not, if you like good action movies I recommend getting "Drop Zone." ... Read more

Description

This highly acclaimed motion picture stars Emilio Estevez (MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, ANOTHER STAKEOUT), Kathy Bates (Academy Award(R)-winning Best Actress, MISERY), and Martin Sheen (THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT). Estevez (who also directed) plays a returning Vietnam War hero whose haunting experiences leave him unable to adjust to the quiet realities of small town life. At odds with his domineering father (Sheen), his desperately cheerful mother (Bates), and free-spirited younger sister (Kimberly Williams -- FATHER OF THE BRIDE 1&2) -- tensions at home soon escalate, finally reaching the breaking point one fateful Thanksgiving Day. A timeles story of one family's struggle to overcome the past ... THE WAR AT HOME is unforgettable movie entertainment! ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Emilio Does His Vietnam Movie
Emilio Estevez does a fine job as both star and director of this overlooked film. His real father Martin Sheen plays his father, and watching the two together is remarkable. This movie really makes you think about what it must have been like for Vietnam vets coming home profoundly changed, to a world that didn't change along with them, and no one really understood post-traumatic stress syndrome at that time in history. And that is the legacy of Vietnam - making it home alive was not the end of the war for those who fought. If you're a vet, you'll want to see this, and you'll want your kids and parents to see it too.

The War At Home 1996 w/Martin Sheen & Emelio Esteves
I just watched The War At Home. This story is very well written, acted & directed. It makes you care for all the characters, and understand what each one is feeling and going through. Not just with what is said, but more importantly, what is not said. The movie gives us a small glimpse of what the Heroic and Brave men went through after returning from the Vietnam War. I myself do not care for war movies, but I could not stop watching. I gave this review five stars because it truly deserves it! I also love that the story is character driven, and does not for one minute rely on special effects. There are a few scenes that were VERY tastefully done, and I did not need to look away once. I highly recommend it. Rarely do I cry during movies, but this really touched my heart, as it will yours. Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Kathy Bates & Kimberly Williams really give great performances. Directed by Emilio Estevez.

This is awesome!
This movie blows me away! Martin Sheen and Kathy Bates, (my favorite actress,) both play roles totally unexpected and suprising as husband and wife.

The acting was believable of all characters, and it really makes you stop and think about the horrors that our soldiers had to endure in Vietnam, God bless them! This is a wake up call addressing our need to honor our vetrans and their families.

I highly reccommend this flick!!!

Great film (minor spoilers herein)
I first saw _The War At Home_ by accident on television. I was about 16 at the time. I loved it mainly because I thought it was a true story, since I had turned it on after the first 15 minutes & missed the opening voice-over. (Just to clarify: five million Americans served in Vietnam over the course of that long war, therefore a good chance exists the events in this movie happened to thousands of young vets--so I'm hesitant to call it FICTIONAL)

Watching it four years later, I felt very sad at the end. Which I actually DIDN'T feel the first time I saw it. The characters were both likeable & unlikeable; I love a movie where you can resent one character you've known all of two hours, or be on the verge of tears when another is facing a difficult time.

Bob seemingly acknowledges his son has changed for the worse when he gives his "draft card speech" at the Thanksgiving day table, but he does nothing to help Jeremy. At the same time, Karen is a psych student, but she can be a little too harsh on Jeremy in certain moments. But the characters are humans, they make mistakes.

The only real problem I had was with the ending voice-over. It gave too much away. I would have been happier wondering what became of Jeremy. (I wonder why they had Karen, of all the characters, doing the voice overs?) Still, it's worth 5 stars.

speechless
i am speechless.
this movie is definetly one of my favorites.
It might not be funny at all. But it is one of the best acted movies of the 90's.
that's all i have to say
i am speechless ... Read more

Reviews (217)

Amazing....but missing something
I eagerly bought this movie after finishing the novel. I know that a lot of movies based on books are different from the original story, but this really isn't one of them, at least not exactly. Almost all of the main and important aspects of the novel are included in the movie. The time constraints obviously play a part of the limited detail, at least compared to the novel, but what seems most annoying is the fact that different characters play the parts of characters in the book. For example, Susan Stern, who travelled in Stu Redman's group originally suddenly is part of Mother Abigail's group. It's small differences like this that get to me in this movie.

Other than that, the movie is awesome. The makeup effects used are amazing. The actors chosen to portray the characters seem perfect, especially Gary Sinise, Adam Storke, Ray Walston, Bill Fagerbakke, Jamey Sheridan and particularly Rob Lowe, who plays a wonderful Nick Andros. I've already watched this movie a number of times, and there are scenes I can't get enough of. I really like it, but I'm going to have to say, read the book first, because it will not only help you keep better track of what's going on in the movie, but it will you keep you informed on the characters as well. Plus, the book is definitely worth it's 1141 pages and you'll be really missing something without it!

Greatness Has a Name
First off, I'd like to say I have never read the book. But I will soon. Even though, I absolutely LOVED this movie. The acting was amazing, especially the performances by Gary Sinise (can that guy play a bad role? Knock on wood) and Rob Lowe, supposedly in a comeback role. It was probably very hard for poor Rob to play a deaf mute! Anyway, the story goes that a virus created by the Army gets loose at it's base and spreads through the United States. Only a few people survive, and the ones that do are separated into two groups. One group is called in dreams by Mother Abigail (played by Ruby Dee) and the other is called by Randall Flagg, the devil (played by Jamey Sheridan, who did an awesome job). Mother Abigail's group is led by Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, Adam Storke, and Rob Lowe (although he didn't lead the group, he played an incredibly important part as a retarded man named Tom Cullen. I'm talking about Bill Fagerbakke). The bad guys, led by Flagg, flock to Las Vegas (yes, Sin City itself) and the good guys go to Boulder, Colorado. I won't give away the ending, but it is truly a wonderful movie with many twists and surprises. It made me jump, scream, say aww, and at times cry ew! It is incredible!

It's not the book, but what movie is?
I was disappointed in the amount of changes in the mini-series; I found the book much more filled out. However, this movie brings about all my greatest fears about the end of our way of life. I have worked in the medical field for a number of years and I have often imagined this kind of scenario. Many people focus on the religious aura of this film, but I enjoyed the all encompassing nature. Stephen King did not write about religion, or how one faith survived while all other belivers died. He wrote a story about good versus evil. Don't look for a hinted meaning and enjoy the movie; it's well worth it.

Religious propaganda - cheap and blatant
I feel that I genuinely wasted my time watching this excessively long DVD (TV series).
It is a cheap production, proving how celebrity does not equate to talent.
Worse of all is the blatant religious "stand" which the story takes... It reminds me of the awful movie productions used by missionaries uninvitedly imposing their beliefs upon others.
Oh! And it is worth pointing out that Mr. King should stick to writing and NOT acting....
Although, it would probably appease many, and reinforce their monochrome ideas and perceptions of good and evil.....

Worth it
I am a relatively new fan of Mr. Kings work. My first exposure to his material was when The Stand miniseries aired. I recently read the book and find the movie adaptation to be just about as complete as you could hope for.

The performances are good, with some nice peaks into the early works of some now well known actors.

The only disappointment for me... in both the book and the miniseries.... is that ending. Won't spoil it here. For me it was a sort of "thats it?" moment. ... Read more

Description

An exciting comedy adventure of enormous proportions, OPERATION DUMBO DROP was cheered by critics and audiences across America! A savvy veteran army captain (Danny Glover, LETHAL WEAPON I-IV, ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD) is teamed with a by-the-book West Point officer (Ray Liotta -- NARC, HEARTBREAKERS) to lead the "weightiest" military maneuver ever. Their job: To secretly transport a full-grown elephant across 200 miles of rugged terrain -- fording rivers, scaling mountains, and crossing canyons -- to reach a remote jungle villlage! You'll discover laughter around every hilarious corner as these hardy Green Berets prove that with a little luck ... and tons of hard work ... no mission is impossible! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great adventure-comedy!
I first saw this at the movies when I was eight years old. I thought it was a good movie then and I think it's still a good movie. A small squad of US soldiers in Vietnam are ordered to escourt a young Vietnamese boy and his elephant to a village in a remote part of the country. After some failed attempts of getting the elepahnt there on foot, they finally decide to air-drop it near the village! While being filled with adventure(not that violent) and comedy, it will make almost everybody in the family happy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Finally, a Phil. movie about USA that is taken seriously
To my great surprise, this is actually one of the few Philippine based films I've seen where Americans aren't stereotyped as ridiculous-looking cowboys with broad-brimmed hats and cheesy western accents. Many Filipino movies unfortunately include American characters and poke fun at them, in a pathetically inaccurate and deeply misleading way. But this film didn't, and so I took it seriously. Based on the background of the plot regarding American soldiers stationed in Subic Naval Base, this is a fairly accurate portrayal of the characters and the real people whom they were loosely based on.

Nevertheless, the story and plot are entirely fictional. There's definitely some romantic drama involved in this movie, particularly concerning an interracial affair between an American soldier and a Filipina. On the other hand, there's also some action and a strange twist of events as one of the US soldiers turn psycho and try to blow everything up. So in terms of plot summary, I wouldn't call this movie as ingenuous. The story is rather predictable. So it is largely because of this that I gave the review 3 stars.

However, I do admire how Filipino filmmakers have done a wonderful collaboration to produce this piece which I may say could generate some serious pride in Philippine filmmaking. The cinematography rivals that of the big-budget US films, and I know from a fact that much effort was made to produce a truly porfessional and epic scale movie like this one. So this DVD would be okay to have in your collection, if you are interested in learning more about the Philippines and its foreign policy towards the US. It's not a historical documentary, but it's a good watch. Plus, where else could you see a movie with beautiful Filipino actors and actresses as well as acclaimed actors from the US put together?

Remembering the P.I.
As a former Navy Vet who spent more than 6 years in the philippines this movie brought back a lot of memories. I left just a couple years before the base closure. While this movie was not 100% accurate some of it was right on. Especially the blackmail attempt, and the semi-accidental killing of the filipino. While I was station-dito there were more than several instances of Filipine Marine or locals and Navy or marine sentries shooting each other and worse. The women were very enticing its true many of my friends including myself brought home Filipina brides (16 years and counting). I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and will definately buy it on DVD. BTW if you are reading this and remember me for P.I... drop me an email. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Reyes & Berkley My Cup Of Tea
Wild Wolves 11 is the latest addition ...to my ever- growing DVD collection. The storyline is above average & we getplenty of natural scenery & nature mixed in. But if you checkedout my review of The Ultimate Fight, you know I'm more into Er-nie Reyes's muscles than anything else & in WOLVES he doesn't disappoint. There's one memorable 'shirtless scene' & as usualit's a joy watchin' this 'gorgeous dude' flex up a storm. He's chosen a 'bulky, beefed-up' look for this flick. That's right-club-like arms & a thick upper chest for starters. And let's notforget the added bonus here of Elizabeth Berkley. Elizabethprovides us plenty of low-cut cleavage shots. A 'real tease'here, she obviously realized nudity down the road would be her saving grace. And remember guys & gals your ZOOM featureallows you freedom to explore everything 'upfront & personal'I say GO FOR IT!

Great
This movie show what happens when a group of teens come together and work as one to help there guide who fell off a cliff get to saftey. This is a great file I highly recommend it ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hurray! Muscles Galore
If you're into...martial arts this DVD is a MUST-HAVE!Me- I'm into gazing at magnificently 'scupted' bods & ErnieJr.'s definetly qualifies. Ever since I caught his 'muscular offerings' in SURF NINJAS I felt it mandatory to keep tabs on his physical maturing. For example, in WHITE WOLVES 11 he ditches his earlier 'cut & chiseled' look & parades 'round 'bulked up' 'specially in the upper body. Both 'looks' are real turn-ons. Here in ULTIMATE he seems to be somewhere 'tween the two tho most of the 'shirtless poses' are from adistance. No big deal- your ZOOM will allow you freedom to explore every inch of every muscle. What we have here gang isa noted martial artist who never could act choosing instead to offer up a dizzying display of awesome muscle. Oh yes- thestoryline is weak & the other actors CARDBOARD as well. The **** rating comes only 'cause the DVD gave me exactly what Iwanted & then some if you get my drift. Also hope this isn'tthe last I see of powerful & dynamic Ernie Reyes Jr.

Muscles Galore!
If you're into ... martial arts this DVD is a MUST-HAVE!Me- I'm into gazing at magnificently 'sculpted bods & Ernie Jr.'s definetly qualifies. Ever since I caught his 'muscular offerings' in SURF NINJAS I felt it mandatory to keep tabs on his physical maturing. For example, in WHITE WOLVES 11, he ditches the earlier 'cut & chiseled' look & parades 'round 'bulked up 'specially in the upper body. Both 'looks' are real turn-ons. Here in ULTIMATE he seems to be somewhere 'tween the two tho most of the 'shirtless poses' are from a distance. No big deal- your ZOOM will allow you to study every inch of every muscle. What we have here GANG is a noted martial artist who could never act choosing instead to offer up a dizzying display of awesome muscle. Oh yes, the story line is weak & the other actors quite cardboard as well. The ... rating is here 'cause the reasons for my buying it were more than satisfied if you get my drift.

Totally disappointing. A waste of my time and money.
I was an Ernie Reyes Jr fan back when I was little, from watching Sidekicks (TV series), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, and Surf Ninjas. Well I knew this was written/produced/action directed by Ernie, 'The Process' as it was originally called was hyped up by the fans to be a good movie. I, along with other fans were expecting a good showcase of martial arts, being the players included both Ernie's and the West Coast Demo Team. Boy was I totally wrong. I go rent this movie for $4.00 and got basically get 90 minutes of fluff. Bad acting. I mean, BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD. Incomprehensible plot, incomprehensible all-around. Everything about this movie was bad. I'm not joking. I'm sorry that they spent $50,000 on the production of the movie, according to Ernie Jr's website. What a horrible waste of money. I say Ernie should hook up with Yuen Woo Ping and do some Hong Kong Cinema. Showcase his skills the way it was meant to. Seriously. All in all, please save your money and do not, I repeat, DO NOT rent or buy this movie!

How can you see a kick coming from 150ft. and not dodge it!
I wasn't expecting much when I rented it at the video store (thank god I didn't buy it), but what I saw was worse than anyone could imagine. Bad editing, bad acting, horrible dialogue (some of it added in after the moviewas filmed) and a plot that made absolutely no sense. It seems like theywere attempting to make an action/comedy, but it ended up as lots ofpointless action and some comedy that didn't fit in (just to kill some timebetween fight scenes.)

Ernie Reyes Jr. and Sr. (as well as the West CoastDemo Team) do know how to move, but the fight scenes were barely anythingmore than finding an excuse for them to take turns showing off their bigspinning and jumping kicks or to spin some weapons around on camera. Theworst of all of the "show off" moves was a jump kick by ErnieReyes Sr.. He ran about 150 feet towards a guy (who knew he was coming andwas ready for him) before he was in range to kick and the guy didn't evenattempt to dodge it!

I would give this movie three stars as a horrorfilm. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Nothing's shocking
Shadow Hours tells that story of Michael (Balthazar Getty), a recovering alcoholic who has a pregnant girlfriend at home (Rebecca Gayheart and an uncredited pillow under her shirt) and a dreary night job working in a gas station in L.A. In the opening scenes, the film actually does do quite a good job of capturing both the monotony and the underlying menace of working nights though eventually the continual montages of crazy homeless guys and rising gas costs grows almost as monotonous as Michael's life -- it's as if the director stumbled across something that worked once and then couldn't stop himself from repeating it over and over again.

Anyway, the film picks up once Peter Weller drives his porche into Michael's life. Weller plays a guy named Stuart who claims to be a writer and who, in one of those scenes that seems to take place exclusively in movies like this, quickly befriends Michael and takes Michael on a journey into the seedy underside of L.A. -- a world of perversion and temptation and nothing you haven't seen before in films ranging from Blue Velvet to Fight Club to the Matrix Trilogy to whatever happens to playing on Cinemax right now. Indeed, the main weakness of Shadow Hours is that in today's world, nothing's shocking and simply using a whole lot of neat little film school tricks isn't going to make the mundane any more interesting.

Natrually, Getty's character must chose between a life of stable, boring stability with Gayheart or the life of self-destruction offered by Weller. However, since the film makes both choices look positively dull, who really cares? Since the film never really bothers to give any build-up to Getty's plunge into decadence, it's pretty much impossible to judge just exactly what it is he's rebelling against beyond working in a gas station and living with a Noxzema spokesmodel with a pillow under her blouse. It doesn't help that Getty sleepwalks through his role.

However, I would recommend seeing this film for one reason and one reason only and that is the brilliantly bemused performance that Peter Weller gives as the film's perverse version of Virgil. Smirking like an aneroxic Jack Nicholson and never giving into the temptation to take any of his overbaked dialogue too seriously, Weller manages to breathe new life into a familiar character and he even manages to bring a few moments of genuine menace into an otherwise dreadfully silly film. Eventually, the film lets Weller and his character down but Weller never lets the audience down. It's rare that one actor alone can redeem an entire film but that is what Weller manages to do in Shadow Hours.

Shadow Hours is a film that was obviously designed to be a "cult classic" but ultimately it only serves to highlight the difference between a well-made, unconventional film that might take a while to find its audience and a flashy, derivative con job that tries to hide its lack of depth behind a whole lot of flashy camera moves and sub-Intro. to Philosophy-style monologues. However, if the film doesn't deserve a cult, Peter Weller's performance definitely does. Nothing's shocking except that such a silly film could contain such a rare piece of genius.

A passable, mostly enjoyable drama...
Take note, I really give this movie ***1/2 out of *****. "Shadow Hours" is certainly one of the more notable films to come out of the vaults at City Heat Productions, the best DTV company in my opinion. It is about a young gas station clerk Michael (Balthazar Getty) who meets Stuart Chappell (Peter Weller) one dreary night in LA. Chappell is a writer, and takes to Michael because he reminds Chappell of his younger brother who supposedly died in a plane crash. He exposes Michael to an underworld with sights that stick in the mind for a while. The script is very engaging and moves quick, for the most part. The acting is mediocre except Peter Weller, who's fantastic as the scheming Chappell. It's interesting to me that the man is stuck making these DTVs when it's obvious he has Oscar-worthy talent. Maybe he'll get another big break. "Shadow Hours" is definitely good, if not painfully predictable. Director Isaac H. Eaton does a very commendable job weaving the story together with frightful images of night-life underground in LA. The Los Angeles of this movie is a far cry from the Hollywood glamour seen in movies like "L.A. Confidential" and "Get Shorty." This is a dark, bleak California. If you're looking for a great performance from Weller and a neat artistic feel, then I suppose this movie's not a bad decision. It's quickly becoming a cult hit.

An Obscure Gem
This film was entered into Sundance I believe and from there it went to the shelves of Blockbuster Video. Literally, that was the only place you could find it for nearly a year. It seems they declared it an exclusive rental or something. I was lucky enough to find a ten dollar copy in their previosly viewed section and immediately bought it. Amazon now seems to have it and I suggest if you have any interest in the film to buy it here and now because this movie has a weird tendency to be hard to find. The film itself was panned by critics but so were several of the great cult classics and I would love to see Shadow Hours become one. Despite the obvious low budget, the film has an excellent cast. Balthazar Getty, who plays the lead, was in David Lynch's film Lost Highway. People continually call him the poor man's Charlie Sheen but he really does have talent. And yes, Peter Weller was the guy who played Robocop. But forget that. In Shadow Hours, he is suave and convincing as the mysterious writer who is a bit more underground than, say, Bukowski. Rebecca Gayheart is here, too, in what might be the best performance in the film and she plays a woman in this movie, not some whiny high school ditz like in Jawbreaker. And Brad Douriff is, well, Brad Douriff. Peter Greene plays a police detective and is probably the best "tough guy" actor since James Caan or James Cagney. He played Ben Stiller's drug buddy in Permanent Midnight. As far as plot is concerned: Michael (Getty) meets Stuart Chapelle (Weller) while on the night shift at a 24 hour Los Angeles filling station. Stuart befriends Michael and, with Stuart as his guide, Michael is led straight into a private apocalypse with the strange LA underground as a backdrop. Gayheart is Michael's pregnant wife who is understandably concerned. But she never comes off as whiny like all other movie wives. And Greene gets involved because Chapelle may or may not be a murderer.
In all, Shadow Hours is close to the vein of David Lynch but without the intricate plot and excessive symbolism. And you have to love how the film uses the classic idea of the Devil as a debonaire.

Faust comes to the City
Great new take on the Faust legend. While Getty doesn't literally sell his soul, there's no doubt that Weller is playing a mephistopholian character. Many people don't even remember Weller from Robocop and the great work he has done since, but
he has matured into one heck of an actor, displaying poise and confidence that the role calls for. If the underbelly of L.A.
is not too harsh or weird or sick for you, do check out this film.

Shadow Hours- A Strange Pic
Actors: Peter Weller( Looks like James Woods ), Rebecca Gayheart.
Plot: A victim of the city( Michael )violence is turned around by leading a more moral life, sharing it with his wife that has a baby on the way. He struggles with finances, and works at the night shift of a small gas station in the middle of city havoc. One night he meets an elderly writer/friend Stuart. Stuart is smart and suspicious, and begins to show Michael the dark sides of the city. Micheal now has a moral choice to make; live the family life, or relive the evil city shadows.
Acting Comments/Insults: The acting is exceptionally well in this movie. Great preformances by the leading actors and actresses. The only big name in this movie was Rebecca Gayheart, a thumbs up actress. I cant decide which was better, Balthazar Getty or Peter Weller, they both did a fine job.
Famous lines: "Have I failed you, Michael?"
Music: The music went well with the city plot. The song at the end was cool.
Words: The pros of this movie are the acting, the plot, the character reactions, and the diolouge throughout.
The cons of this movie are that some of the dark sides of the city were defenately not for everyone, some worth turning away for.
Last Words: In all, this movie takes too many chances and takes too much from other movies, yet it is original in it's own ways and it maintains honesty through the expliotation scenes. Especially for those who could relate to the dark sides of the city, and struggles. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

donita rose is great in this picture
ok,
so we know what to expect from the knightrider/baywatch guy david hasselholf but there is a glimmer of hope here for american viewers. MTV VJ donita rose costars in this movie playing a young woman raised in america returning the philippines to meet her lost father.

donita rose was raised in america and went to MTV Asia to become a world wide sensation. the ending of the movie is a little much when donita's character smooches with knightrider but let's just say KITT would be jealous.

Bravo! A standing Ovation Hasselhoff's Best performance
I really wasn't sure on choosing a title for this review I didn't expect a box of tissues at the beginning of the movie. If you love children be prepared it's only a movie. Somehow David Hasselhoff chooses scripts where the character gets involved with a beautiful woman that equals to trouble ahead. After taking pictures he shouldn't have he winds up at the police station and a cop you know Jack (Hasselhoff)would love to belt. An excellent preformance by Rod Stieger as the bad guy chasing down lost money. I was really glued to this movie Hasselhoff gave a very strong performance as a dramatic actor before you know it the movie is over with. As with Layover the ending is very surprising not what I had expected. Rod Steiger as Sadler confronted Jack and Lana about the money...again both Hasselhoff and Steiger were excellent. Now I am waiting for a movie with David Hasselhoff, Pamela Bach and Steiger which I am sure would be a bigger hit. David keeps getting better.

David Hasselhof
This movie is in line with David Hasselfoot's previously reviewed music efforts. His long efforts with the series "Night Rider" created a personea that is indescribable. Time has only served to bring into focus his unique abilities, as is evidenced in this DVD. The commentary on this disc is particularily noteworthy.

One of the best movies of David Hasselhoff
This movie is one of the greatest movies of David Hasselhoff.
It is a really suspense-packed, with a lot of action and a really sexy David Hasselhoff. He is my favorite actor and singer. At the TV end titles sings David Hasselhoff a very good song. I can advisable this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A FLARE WITHOUT FLAIR
SOLAR CRISIS, a Japanese/American co-production, never seems to understand what it wants to be. The main plot concerns a solar flare that will decimate the earth and kill all living habitants; a secondary plot involves a young military academy student who goes AWOL to join his father on the mission to deflect the solar flare. Thats where the movie's problem lies; the movie could have survived without the subplot at all. Makes it appear as though the writers felt the solar mission couldn't sustain the entire movie, so they threw in this other plot to make it 90 minutes. The only good thing about the subplot is the inspired performance by the late Jack Palance as a seemingly demented "road warrior."
As for the solar mission, Tim Matheson again sabotages a role that could have been played by countless other actors; Annabel Schofield makes for a lovely saboteur; and Dorian Harewood is the token minority who tries to keep things going on board. Charlton Heston is wasted as Matheson's father and Peter Boyle is his usual surly self as the corporate wizard who will stop at nothing to make money. Brenda Bakke as his sidekick slithers around, smoking funky looking cigarettes.
For a 1992 movie, the effects are adequate, and there is some suspense in the final moments, but overall, SOLAR CRISIS burns out because it's too heavy.

Not a bad science fiction film, could have been better
I can see where some people say the FTL ending and Freddie The Bomb were influenced by 2001: A Space Odyssey. Nevertheless, the film had some good points to it. Charlton Heston did a remarkable job, as did Jack Palance, British actress Annabelle Scholfield, and some of the other actors. The character played by Tim Matheson could have been played by someone else though. Nevertheless, the Japanese filmmakers of this picture did a good job. Even the special effects and musical score by Maurice Jarre was good, too. Overall, not a bad picture. It could have been better.

'Entertainment Crisis' more like.
I saw this DVD on the shelf and thought "...wow, sci-fi...and look at the credits." Then I saw the actors...Charlton Heston, Tim Matheson...and the plot seemed somewhat plausible...for the future anyway, so I bought it. Then I watched it the first time, then a second, and a third. I came to the conclusion that this movie was composed entirely of what was on the cutting room floor. The plot was disjointed, the most of the characters were uninspired and unbelievable (especially Matheson who couldn't act his way out of a paper bag), and despite the great special effects (2001 was touted as a credit to the sfx crew) this turkey of a movie couldn't get off the ground...much less to the sun. I give it one because, as they say; 'zero wasn't an option'. If you buy it, play the sound track to 'Event Horizon'...it makes it so much more interesting.

I liked it, but not for the reason you think.
Obviously this is not a great piece of work, the Japanese producers wanted to make an American Science Fiction movie, they just didn't know how. All of the elements are present, they just didn't blend correctly. It is however one of those movies you can't resist stopping and watching when you are channel surfing. It may not be worth the 90 minutes you lose, but if you don't have anything better to do with them then you will enjoy this movie. It is a must however for anyone who wants to make movies. It had everything going for it and it failed.

Great for its time!
After I read the reviews about this film at Amazon.com, I decided to say something, that we (the people of the 21st century!) always forget! Check out the year this movie was produced in and compare it with what was done then. I think Solar Crisis has great animations and I value it, because it played its role in its time very well. The story is well built and supported by the perfect actor's performance. But, yeah, this is not one of those tip-top sci-fi's we saw in the future and will see ahead -- Solar Crisis is a classic and has in itself something naive, something not-of-our-time, indeed. Try to compare it with the newly releaced on DVD b/w Casablanca, huh? I know, it's a great challenge to understand the spirit of the past (o yes, 20 years back in time is already a "big" past!), but we have to be objective in our judgements and never judge art from our-time perspective and presenet cultural values. (Timeship.org) ... Read more

Description

An ex-cop discovers that her own brother is a serial killer that she failed to capture years earlier. Brother's Keeper will keep you guessing until the bitter end. A tense thriller mixing elements of Silence of The Lambs, Seven and "CSI". Jeanne Tripplehorn (Basic Instinct, The Firm, Mickey Blue Eyes, Waterworld) Evan Dexter Parke (Planet of the Apes, The Replacements, Cider House Rules) Leland Orser (Pearl Harbor, The Bone Collector, Saving Private Ryan) Corin Nemec (TV's "Parker Lewis", "Stargate SG-1") ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"a brother is born for adversity"
Stunningly bad drama that I suggest you do not bother to waste your time with.

Lucinda Pond had overcome an abusive childhood with her single parent father. She became a successful Police officer, and used no small amount of her time protecting her baby brother Ellis from the repercussions of his petty crime, a habit developed from her taking care of him during their childhood.

Lucinda's world came apart when she led a "ruby-ridge" style raid that leads to the death of an innocent man rather than the serial killer she was trying to capture. She leaves the force, takes up drinking, and abandons her husband and child.

Almost four years later some one is copycatting those murders and Lucinda is brought back onto the force against her will to help track down the killer. In no time it all she figures out that it is her wayward Brother, Ellis. She also realizes that this is another of the many games and puzzles that the two siblings shared growing up. He leaves her clues and she is to use their common history to decipher them and hunt him down. Ellis's goal is to "free" her from having to protect him by killing so very many people that Lucinda will be forced to kill him. A plan she does not intend to follow through on.

As the bodies and the clues mount, Lucida is forced into a confrontation with Ellis and a choice that only she can make.

Now, I like movies about siblings who are forced into murderous situations with each other as much as the next person, BUT this movie was just a waste of time.
There was NO suspense. There was no emotional involvement with any of the characters and honestly you could pretty much see exactly where everything was heading from about 15 minutes into the movie.

My only regret is that I didn't have enough sense to turn the VCR off at that moment and just take the tape back. My advice to you is to not even bother to get the tape in the first place.

Blame it on Dad...
Brother's Keeper is a made for cable TV production for the USA Network. Jeanne Tripplehorn is Lucinda Pond, a former member of the Portland Police, with a number of personal issues. An incident where an innocent man is killed by mistake, causes her leave the force. But she is drawn back to help in an investigation of a series of brutal murders, in which her brother is the prime suspect.

Tripplehorn is believable, as a ragged, close to burned out cop, forced back to reality by the need to bring her brother Ellis (Corin Nemec) to justice. The build up of Ellis, as a criminal mastermind, is a bit overdone, though there is no doubt that he is capable of some extremely gruesome acts. The violence is toned down for TV, and the mayhem is hardly shown, only the grim results. All this carnage, is the result of a troubled childhood, and an abusive father. Very convenient.

Using her insight, Detective Pond is convinced that her brother is "trying to tell her something" with his acts. She must operate with a FBI agent (Evan Dexter Parke) who is not quite convinced she belongs on the investigative team. He becomes her partner for a showdown in the woods with Ellis.

Veteran director, John Badham (Point of No Return) handles matters capably. Brother's Keeper does not have a lot of tension or suspense, and it saves what little action there is until the end. The cost may be a little steep, for a TV type thriller that does not rise very far above average. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

An interesting movie
Well there are two stories to this movie, that sort of tie together. As you may assume from the title, an underlying theme in this film involves letters. While this isn't addressed too much except for the first story, the theme is present durring the film.
The first story deals with a woman who has moved into an apartment and how she deals with what she finds out about it, and its previous occupant.
The second story is that of a man who is invited out from the UK to stay with a family in the US who is hosting a woman from Bosnia (I think it was Bosnia). Anyway, he is brought out in hopes of marrying her so she doesn't have to return home to a war torn country.
The acting is ok, the film is rather low budget, and there are no extras on the dvd (in fact there are no chapters as the movie in whole is 1 chapter). This stories are slow, and a bit depressing. So why 3 stars do you ask? Well I'm biased a bit. I'm one of the uncredited pool players in the second story. My little claim to cinematic fame. :)

If you like stories that tie together, or have an interest in seeing some seens from the bay area in a movie, or just want a inde sort of film, check this one out. Otherwise, it probably won't do much for your interests.

A Quiet, Compelling Drama
This quiet drama from first time filmmaker Mark Tapio Kines is intriguing and poignant. The film is separated into two stories: The first, "Dear Jenny", is about Melody (soft spoken and sweet voiced Melanie Lynskey), a young woman who has moved into a new apartment and begins receiving mail for its former occupant, Jenny. She is curious about the relationship Jenny had with Marcel, the man who keeps writing to her. Should she respond to Marcel's letters? Melody becomes increasingly compelled to get in touch with Marcel and unravel the story of the mysterious girl who once lived in her apartment. The question is, will she be able to deal with the information she'd uncover? It's not all wine and roses.

The second part is called "Love, Trevor", and is about a young man named Trevor (Corin Nemec with a not quite authentic British accent) who travels from England to the United States to visit his pen pal Mira (a refreshing performance from Yelena Danova) who is from Sarajevo but staying with a host family. The trouble is, she will be deported soon and the unsuspecting Trevor has been asked to visit for the purpose of marrying Mira to help her stay in the United States. The only kink in the set up is that Trevor really doesn't want to get married, even though he admits to his buddy Ian (the likable Steve Valentine, a true Brit with the dead on accent to back it up) that he's attracted to Mira, he's not in love with her. He does feel guilty, though. Ian tells him, "Lust and guilt won't last three years". Trevor ponders this moral question -- should he marry someone he loves as a friend but not as a life partner? And if he doesn't, will she be in mortal danger when she returns to her country?

Dear Jenny had a sense of mystery while Love Trevor had me intrigued. I HAD to know who this Jenny girl was and what happened to her and Marcel and I HAD to know which choice Trevor would make. Each story was very compelling and also had a hint of sadness as they mirrored broken relationships, loss, the frustration of indecision and the agony of guilt. In the end, both Melody and Trevor DO make their final choices and must live with the consequences.

The ending left me pondering my own choices in life. If you like introspection and quiet, thoughtful dramas, Foreign Correspondents will be perfect for you. Don't miss Wil Wheaton (Stand by Me, Star Trek TNG) as Jonas, a member of Melody's Neighborhood Watch group who develops a crush on her. He has a line that just makes one groan and grimace but at the same time it hits a nerve. You'll know which one I mean when you hear it.

Overall I enjoyed Foreign Correspondents -- especially the performances of Yelena Danova and Steve Valentine. My biggest complaint is Corin Nemec's hair, which never seems to look good no matter what movie or TV show he's in. His fake Brit accent was a bit distracting because I was so familiar with him as an American, but as the story unfolded I soon accepted him as a Brit. For a first film, this is an excellent piece of work and quite moving.

Unique, touching and thought-provoking
Mark Tapio Kines had side-stepped the cliches of the industry and made a movie that is thought-provoking, sensitive and a departure from the usual run-of-the mill fare. Starring New Zealand's Melanie Lynskey, Wil Wheaton (charmingly funny as the neighbour) and Corin Nemec, Foreign Correspondents wevaes two stories into one and gives us an insight into relationships and love lost and found.
Many elements of the film are subtle, indeed I had to watch it twice to pick up the nuances - I enjoy being required to think about what I am watching.
Mark's commentary is enlightening and entertaining and worth listening to after you've watched the feature.
I'm looking forward to Mark's new film project, (tentatively titled Claustrophobia) with great anticipation
The DVD is region-free, it'll play on any DVD player

Review for ¿Foreign Correspondences¿
There is something inherently romantic about receiving a hand written letter from a foreign country. This is all too enticing for each of the lead characters in "Foreign Correspondences". Director and writer Mark Tapio Kines explores the journey of two young individuals looking for love and acceptance only to have their pursuit complicated by their well-meant intentions going wrong. There are poignant performances by Melanie Lynskey and Corin Nemec as they portray characters that are both strong and completely fallible. Each of the stories are memorable and honest, you will be embrace by this sincere film.

Intelligent film about trying to find love in foreign places
This film is written by the director, which allows him to present his purpose in the way he intended it. It presents a world of misunderstandings, mistaken objectives, and rather ordinary characters trying to fit into a society not of their making. It's a story of lonely young people searching for love, but it could be about people of any age. Loneliness knows no age or gender. The film has a number of rather humorous scenes and the music is outstanding. The director's comments add to the interest in the story. ... Read more