Reviews (108)

What are Steel Magnolias?
A pleasant mix of comedy and tear-jerking drama, Steel Magnolias is a heartwarming movie with a strong message, no matter what happens life goes on and the strong can survive almost anything. This movie takes place 1980s Louisiana and features a small town gaggle of women who congregate at Truvy's Beauty Spot to laugh, cry gossip and generally experience life. Each women has their own strong personality and brings something unique to the film. Steel Magnolias is adapted from the play of the same name by Robert Harling. The movie flashes through several milestones in the lives of six women. M'lynn Eatenton played by Sally Field is the mother of Shelby Eatenton (Julia Roberts). And the two seem to be the main focus of the movie. Strong M'lynn and caring but naive Shelby make the perfect mother-daughter team. The movie begins with the wedding day of Shelby, and after a nail polish crisis the two head to Truvy's beauty parlor to gossip and laugh. Dolly Parton plays a caring and hopelessly romantic "southern belle," named Truvy Jones; who is constantly trying to elicit some romance from her husband, Spud (Sam Shepard). Providing a scapegoat of sorts is nervous newcomer, Annelle (Daryl Hannah) who soon finds out the gossipy nature of the group when she announces she "isn't sure" if she is married or not. And of course, no clique would be complete without the sarcastic pessimist. Shirley MacClaine slips artfully into the role of Ouiser Boudreaux. The rich seemingly nasty woman who is rarely seen without a floppy straw hat and a huge slobbering dog. Providing the perfect compliment to Ouisers acrid personality is best friend Clariee (Olympia Dukasis). Miss Clairee is always ready with gossip or a playful insult of Ouiser. Ouiser, Truvy and Clairee are the main suppliers of the quirky, well timed one-liners that add spice to the movie as a whole. Being a real "chick flick" Steel Magnolias contains a few, underdeveloped male characters who are regarded more as scenery than actual characters. Drum Eatenton, played by Tom Skerritt is M'lynns husband who spends half of his screen time shooting pigeons from trees and the other half grinning blankly or snarling at Ouiser. Shelby's husband, Jackson Latcherie (Dylan McDermott) is upstaged in most of his scenes and then forgotten about completely. Annelle's boyfriend, Sammy Desoto (Kevin J. O'Connor) really only has one poorly executed, pointless scene before he too is forgotten; only to reappear at the end wearing a bunny suit. And who could forget Truvy's Husband Spud, probably everyone as his few scenes involve him reclining on a bed, drinking beer, watching television and being grumpy. Despite the appearance that these women are dippy southern women, several tragedies call them all to action, where each shows they are more than meets the eye. The character and will of the six is gradually introduced as the viewer moves from one milestone to another. The true acting brilliance of Sally Field is presented in one poignant scene, where M'lynn, hysterically asks God why. The captivating tear-jerking scene complete with Fields signature locked jaw distant eyes is broken only by a lame attempt at comedic relief. In which M'lynn switches from pissed to amused in a matter of seconds. With one motion the scene goes from classically emotional to pathetic and back again. Steel Magnolias is quite possibly the funniest movie that will also make you cry. These six witty southern belles show their strength and character time and again, proving they are true Steel Magnolias. Steel Magnolias was directed by Herbert Ross, written by Robert Harling is a TriStar Pictures production. Steel Magnolias received a 1990 Oscar nomination for Julia Roberts as best supporting actress and a 1990 Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Sally Field. And in 1990 Julia Roberts won a Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her work in Steel Magnolias. With an award like 1990s Peoples Choice Awards-Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture is it any wonder that Steel Magnolias comes highly recommended.

#1 favorite movie of all time!...
Steel Magnolias, which is based on the play by Robert Harling (who plays the pastor) revolves around a group of friends down in Louisiana. Julia Roberts plays Shelby, the center character. Shelby is a diabetic determined to have a baby, despite doctor's warnings that she "shouldn't." Even though this plot line would seem emotional, this movie is actually charming and witty without getting too sappy.

My favorite character is the caring and stylish Truvy Jones (played by Dolly Parton). Her beauty salon, known as The Beauty Spot serves as the gathering place for their gossip. Well, that and the local Presbyterian church. Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine and Sally Field all have terrific roles as well. The whole cast is extraordinary.

Read the play too. Unlike the movie, every scene takes place in Truvy's beauty salon, and it gives the movie a new perspective.

Usually worried
I'm usually worried when I hear that Hollywood is going to make a movie out of some great book or play. So many have been botched in the process and few have been made better. My current fear is what they'll do to "A Confederacy of Dunces" or "The Bark of the Dogwood" when those books go into script form. But for some reason, seeing "Steel Magnolias" when I did in New York all these many years ago, I had no fear. The play lends itself expertly to a movie script (This is actually a good thing), and of course, the cast they chose was/is stellar. This is one of my favorite all-time movies and if you're not moved by it, please, get yourself to an emergency room so they can check your pulse.

One of the best stage to screen movies I have ever seen.
Steel Magnolias is a movie that is timeless. You cannot beat it. I know I am in a minority in saying that it is better than Terms of Endearment and Fried Green Tomatoes but in my opinion it really is. The love between the characters is more real and heartfelt and isn't as dismal to watch as in the previous two films. The acting is awesome, as well as the score and plot. The movie will rip your heart out. I highly reccomend it.

Shut Up You Old Bag
So let me get this straight - a bunch of old ladies and Julia Roberts in the south trying to be funny, heartwarming, poignant, dramatic and important? I'm out. ... Read more

Reviews (59)

'Not One of Bruce's Best Work'
I rented this movie because it was supposed to be a suspensful thriller with a shocking twist to it. PLEASE, the only reason- and I do mean reason that I got thru this movie is the fact that I love Bruce Willis and will pretty much watch anything that he does. This movie plot is sooo bad that in this case the word BAD actually means BAD!! I figured out the whole plot within 20 minutes flat. That wasn't even worth the money that I paid. Bruce Willis playing a psychiatrist was different and interesting considering he's always playing tough-guys. I certainly don't know how Jane March got the female lead in this movie. Her acting was very laughable. There are alot of sex scenes in this movie-a first for Bruce. His body looked pretty good. I know he got slammed in this movie for his body and his sex scenes, but I mean if his wife can do it and be successful why can't he? However in the future, the public would rather see him with his clothes on or at least with a sheet around his body.

I'm A Naked Psychopath Schizo - Check Me Out
So here's the deal - Mr. Willis shows up at his buddy's house who is the dude from Quantum Leap. That dude gets aced. Then Willis goes to town on this chick, who's got a sweet ass body, but is kind of weird in the face. Don't get me wrong - I'd tear it up - I'm just saying her face is a little wrecked. Then in the end she's wearing some make-up to make her look like a dude. There was a dude in my junior high that we thought was a chick (...).

Worse than a low budget erotic flick
This movie has everything that any bad movie usually has: bad plot, poor acting, absolutely no chemistry between Willis and March, bad make-up, dissappointing sex scenes, and a primitive dialog.

The ONLY reason to watch this movie is if you absolutely must see Jane March naked. But I think you'd be better off with "The Lover."

It's a guilty pleasure not a great film
I watched this film originally because of Jane March, who I think is a real cutie. (Full disclosure: my wife thinks she looks like a chipmunk but she likes Bruce Willis so she tolerates this film.) It's all I expected: lots of Ms. March, wearing very little when she wears anything at all, and smiling a lot; Bruce Willis ('nuff said), and some really lame "suspense" plot that does little more than provide excuses for more nudity and sexual antics. Do you care? Well, it's no Pulp Fiction! Depends what you want to see, and at least it's a lot easier on the eyes than some of her other turkeys (Provocateur, Tarzan).

Honestly, if you're looking for a film with a story, go elsewhere -- even March's first hit, "The Lover" -- is a good alternative. If you're looking for some guilty pleasure, look no further. Fast-forward through the non-nude scenes and you'll be watching this one over and over. It's a guilty pleasure, but sometimes you just gotta give in.

Color of Night---WOW!!!!!!
I saw this movie as soon as it came out on video and again when it was released on DVD last March 2003. I liked this movie a lot, but was disappointed that the cover on both the VHS and DVD stated (15 extra steamy minutes not shown in theatres). Well, I didn't get a chance to see it in the theatre and finally saw it on DVD and VHS and counted only 5 minutes total and that is all the love scenes combined. I heard that there was a lesbian love scene cut out and probably some more cut out, but who knows. If there is anyone out there who knows where to get the unrated version with NOTHING cut out, let me know. I did like this movie. It kept me on my toes and at the edge of my seat. ... Read more

Reviews (265)

See the Movie Before Reviewing It
Why do people pan a movie so harshly when they haven't even seen it yet? I have seen VAN HELSING in an audience preview, and I will tell you that the trailer doesn't come close to describing the film. As the Universal folks said, the special effects weren't finished in time for the trailer... but the final product is absolutely stunning.

No, critics will probably not like this fun romp through Van Helsing's monster adventures. It might not win an Academy Award for its script. But if you liked The Mummy or other epic adventures of its type, you ARE going to be the right audience for VAN HELSING.

This movie is just plain fun. The story pays homage to the classic monster legacy films in Universal's vault, as well as many modern day adventures. Van Helsing is a James Bond character of dark Transylvania. And his battles against Dracula are a roller coaster ride with non-stop action and vivid, beautiful scenery.

If you're an art film snob or the type who overanalyzes everything, forget about VAN HELSING. You've missed the entire point -- badly -- and you'll spoil all the fun. If you like the occasional mindless, delicious, sit-back-and-hold-on entertainment, this is your kind of movie.

Laughably bad summer monster
Before I completely devour this horrible movie, let me say that I was a fan of both Mummy films by director Sommers. That being said, I almost walked out of this movie. Poor Hugh Jackman can't save this wreck. His performance and Kate Beckinsale's looks are the only redeeming elements of this otherwise terrible outing. The effects are very sub-par by today's standards, especially in the fake-looking warewolves and annoying brides. Gollum and even Dobby put them to shame. For that matter, so does Shrek (who makes a cameo in the beginning as Mr. Hyde, it seems). Everything about this movie is over-the-top in the worst of ways. The dialogue in particular. Richard Roxburgh's portrayal of Dracula couldn't help but make me think of the count from Sesame Street. Also, the shameless rip-offs from completely unrelated movies like James Bond and Jackman's claim-to-fame X-men only cheapened it more. In short, I'll always remember Van Helsing as a two-hour viewing of my watch that couldn't go by fast enough.

It's cool.. if you like all that stuff of vampires
i think thats is a great movie. the people who likes to see movies like "queen of the damned" and that kind of stuff you will love it but isn't similar. when i saw it i fell in love with that movie. but you have to watch it and understand it.

Helsing is HELLISH
This is probably one of the greatest action films of all time. With all of your favorite characters such as Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolfman, and Mr. Hyde, this movie is a blast. Van Helsing is a monster killer packed with the most advanced weapons of his time. I guarentee that you will enjoy watching Helsing match all of you favorite monsters and I urge you to rent it. It will be worth the money.

Van Helsing Kicks Butt!
A horror movie freak's DVD collection is not complete with out this wonderful movie. This genera-blending flick brings together some of the greatest horror characters in movie history. Imagine this: The wolfman, Frankenstien and Dracula all smushed into one action packed movie. This movie stars Hugh Jackman as the famous Van Helsing. Many people may think that this is just a stupid plotless movie that just throws these monsters together but it all really connects beautifully. Comedy, romance, horror and action: this movie has it all! Plus the very good looking Hugh Jackman beating up some of the most famous monsters ever! A great sound track, stunning special effects and a very well thought out story line adds to it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're expecting bandaged-wrapped corpses and a lurching Boris Karloff-type villain, then you've come to the wrong movie. But if outrageous effects, a hunky hero, and some hearty laughs are what you're looking for, the 1999 version of The Mummy is spectacularly good fun.Yes, the critics called it "hokey," "cheesy," and "pallid." Well, the critics are unjust. Granted, the plot tends to stray, the acting is a bit of a stretch, and the characters occasionally slip into cliché, but who cares? When that action gets going, hold tight--those two hours just fly by.

The premise of the movie isn't that far off from the original. Egyptologist and general mess Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) discovers a map to the lost city of Hamunaptra, and so she hires rogue Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) to lead her there. Once there, Evelyn accidentally unlocks the tomb of Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), a man who had been buried alive a couple of millennia ago with flesh-eating bugs as punishment for sleeping with the pharaoh's girlfriend. The ancient mummy is revived, and he is determined to bring his old love back to life, which of course means much mayhem (including the unleashing of the 10 plagues) and human sacrifice. Despite the rather gory premise, this movie is fairly tame in terms of violence; most of the magic and surprise come from the special effects, which are glorious to watch, although Imhotep, before being fully reconstituted, is, as one explorer puts it, rather "juicy." Keep in mind this film is as much comedy as it is adventure--those looking for a straightforward horror pic will be disappointed. But for those who want good old-fashioned eye-candy kind of fun, The Mummy ranks as one of choicest flicks of 1999. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (749)

The Greatest Mummy Film, a True Classic ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Director/Screenwriter Stephen Sommers delivers this new take on the mummy legend. His mix of humor and horror is terrific! The casting was very, very worthy, and the plot was downright exciting! This film begins with a prolouge in ancient Egypt, where the priest Imhotep and the Pharoah's mistress Anck-Su-Namun murder pharoah Seti the 1st. He is condemed to be buried alive with flesh eating scarab beetles, and an eternity as one of the undead. Flash forwrd to 1926, were librarian Evelyn (Rachel Wiesz) and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah) recruit legionarre Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) to lead them to the ancient city of Hamunaptra. In route they meet up with a group of American cowboys out to plunder the same site. The general bickering ends when they accidentally revive Imhotep's corpse, who needs the flesh of his desecrators in order to regenerate! More over, he unleashes the biblical ten plauges of Egypt. Before you can scream "Mummy!", Rick and everyone else are fighting for their lives and trying to save the world! Harrowing thrills and spectacular visual effects by Industrial Light and Magic, make "The Mummy", one of the most draw droppingly spectacular films of the year. Right up there with "The Matrix" and the highly over rated "Star Wars: Episode One: The Phantom Menace". See this film, you won't regrete it!

Mummy Dearest
This 1999 blockbuster harks back to the old 40's and 50's Saturday morning matinee serials. It also, and not too discretely, does the Indiana Jones thing too. The movie is totally cartoonish. Is that bad?. Of course not. The movie was meant to be a fun, entertaining ride, and it's just that. Brendan Fraser stars as our hero who is propositioned by Egyptologist Evelyn(played by the lovely Rachel Weisz), to guide her to the lost city of Hamunaptra. The City Of The Dead. It sounds charming. Once they start digging there, they find the mummified corpse of Imhotep. He was a man who was buried alive millions of years ago because he was sleeping with the pharaoh's daughter. Even back then men didn't know better. Anywho, he is revived by a spell Evelyn accidentally reads and all hell breaks loose. He plans on resurrecting his love, which includes a lot of gore and violence. He sucks the life out of the people who were there at the dig in order to be regenerated. Oh boy, there's always a catch!. The action scenes are fun and campy. There is a nice, quirky touch of humor throughout the film that is quite funny. The effects and make-up are all good. The cast is pretty solid, if not a tad mediocre. The sets are truly wonderful and are filmed wonderfully by director Stephen Sommers. It's a highly enjoyable and entertaining 'popcorn' flick that is only to be as such. The fun was sort of lost on the overstuffed sequel. Still, this is a entertaining movie.

This is a Indiana Jones of it's time!!
This movie is an Indiana Jones of it's time. It has romance, action, horror, and some drama to it in the beginning. It all starts with a sort of affair between Imhotep and the pharhoa's mistress Anck Su Namun. The pharohoa comes in on the while they make out. So, Imhotep hides. Then, Anck Su Namun and Imhotep kill the pharoh. The rest you much watch it's all very interesting and exciting. With the mummy sucking the fluids out of people and man eating bugs that devour people in second's, it all adds up to be very, on the edge of your seat type of movie. But, that's what make's it great and it's why it get's 5 golden star's!!

The Story of Imhotep and Anck Su Namun overshadows all!!!
The Mummy is a WONDERFUL movie, set during the interwar period in Egypt, dealing with the adventures of an unlikely group that has banded together for a variety of reasons in exploring the lost City of the Dead-Hamunaptra.
The acting is very good, the costumes are extraordinary, and the plot is GREAT! The Mummy successfully combines adventure, horror, humour and romance, but what really steals the show is the "villains" who had me rooting for them throughout the whole movie.
There is a very strong element of archaeology and mythology; what with the lost City of the Dead, the Gold Book of Life and the Black book of death, the gods Anubis and Horus etc.
Deserts, Pyramids, Heroes, and Villains are all about...
Strongly recommended to those who are fascinated with archaeology and history, especially those with a keen interest in Ancient Egypt. It is a definite "must see" together with the sequel The Mummy Returns, as well as the Scorpion King and Stargate, which also fall into the same category of movies, theme-wise.

A Nice Remake.
The Mummy is full of action and adventure as well as good acting. Usually I find when films are shot in the desert the plot gets old and boring (ex. Hidalgo) but not this film. This has a little Indiana Jones and a little bit of Alien mixed in. It is a really good popcorn movie. One thing I have to say is that I think they could've got a better actor for the lead role instead of Brenden Frazier. The british girl played a good role. The special effects were awesome and the story really grabs you. See this or rent it. I highly reccomend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Francis Ford Coppola's passable 1986 comedy stars Kathleen Turner as an unhappy, middle-aged woman who goes back in time to her high school years and meets her future husband (Nicolas Cage) all over again. A lightweight entry from Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now), the film has some clever, backward-looking jokes (Turner's character laughs incredulously when someone turns up with a brand-new Edsel); and the lead actress does bring intelligence and searching emotions to her role. Cage (Coppola's nephew), who specialized in these dumb-guy roles back then (see Raising Arizona), is in sharp, raw form. Worth a visit, but don't expect to be bowled over this time by the legendary director. The DVD release has optional full-screen and widescreen presentations, theatrical trailer, optional Spanish soundtrack and optional Spanish and French subtitles. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Why this movie is great
William Butler Yeats:

When You Are Old

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim Soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

That comes from a scene where Peggy Sue (Kathleen Turner) is talking to a poet Michael Fitzsimmons (Kevin J. O'Connor) while she is visiting her high school years. The scene is one of my favorite movie scenes ever and I feel that the movie itself is a timeless piece of cinema. Look out for performances from Jim Carrey, Nicholas Cage, Hellen Hunt, and a young Sofia Copola (director of Lost in Translation, Virgin Suicides) as Peggy's bratty kid sister (is there another kind?) Great musical score. And this is the one flick guranteed to make me tear up everytime.

Different Kind of Master Piece
This an excellent film to watch primarily bacause all the cast members, including Coppola's daughter who plays Sue's sister in the movie, did a super job of acting their parts. I understand that Miss Kathleen Turner did not want Mr. Cage to be her co-star; however, Coppola wisely insisted that his nephew play the roll Some reviews are critical of Mr. Cage's performance; on the contrary, he does capture the part of that type of kid. I knew several fellas like him when I went to high school in the 40's. With the exception of one scene in which Miss Turner sexually get's involved with the student poet, the entire family can watch the film without being embarrassed. I feel Peggy Sue Got Married will be appreciated in the future like many of us now appreciate "It Happened One Night" with Cable and Colbert. "It Happened One Night," with Cable and Colbert.

A Fun Film to Watch!
In this time travel spin a woman (Peggy Sue) at her high school reunion has a heart attack and while lingering between life and death, is transported back in time to her high school days. Peggy Sue knowing that her boyfriend Charlie will turn out rotten after she marries him, is determined not to repeat the same mistakes of the past.

Peggy Sue tries to distance herself from Charlie and has an affair with a rebel/philospher student to try to change things. While doing this she learns about Charlie that she never knew and ends up falling in love with him all over again.

I really enjoyed this film and it shows that Peggy Sue with all her future knowledge and superior attitude is still unable to change what originally occurred.

Not worth a second look.....
When DVD production started to really take off, no one knew just how it would change the way you look at movies. In many cases, you can have a good movie, but if it's on a bad DVD, it can ruin the movie for the watching person. Such has been the case with Colombia/Tri-Star DVDs. This was a pretty good movie, but I saw the DVD of it, and it ruined the film. There are no bonus features and the film print is rather poor. I have now bought ten movies that were made by Colombia/Tri-Star DVD video, and only three of the movies had a good DVD made on them. The rest have been a waste of money and this regretfully is another of them.

Great classic movie
I love this movie, always have,, took my watching and waiting for to to come back in stock !! good quality, and amazingly a good "family" movie,, no bad language, and average situiations for teens, very good "flashback" movie ! ... Read more

Reviews (27)

The Mummy and The Mummy Returns
The popular 1999 remake of the Boris Karlof original THE MUMMY and it's sequel THE MUMMY RETURNS are put together in a nice 2-Disc set that has enough DVD extras to satisfy fans.

Directed by Stephen Sommers (Deep Rising) THE MUMMY is a good-natured adventure in the spirit of Indiana Jones, albeit with a very angry mummy. The story is simalar to that of the original Hammer Horror Mummy movies of the 50's. A team of explorers searching for treasure in the hidden city of Hamunaptra unleash Imhotep, a high priest who goes about consumating a curse on all the people who have desicrated his tomb. It's great fun, and while there are some spooky moments, the general tone is humourous, and Brendan Fraser does the goofy hero thing, which makes it even more light-hearted. That said, it's very silly, but in the Summer when we got THE MATRIX and THE PHANTOM MENACE, this one held it's own to become a big box-office sucess and proved to be popular enough with audiences to warrant a sequel.

The old "Bigger is better" rule was inevitable for the loud, nonsensical sequel THE MUMMY RETURNS. Set 10 years after the first one, this is one of the many sequels that tries to outdo it's predecessor with bigger bad guys and bigger SFX. This one, however is not nearly as fun as THE MUMMY. The characters are good, there are some impressive battle sequences, but the plot is predictable as they come, the special effects range from good to ropey (Scorpion King?) and the inane dialouge gets really tiresome after a while. In short, bigger isn't always better. In fact, it rarely ever is.

Not Ingmar Bergman, and thank Anubis for that!
Let me say this right now: if you want a film about disaffected, angst-ridden French intellectuals whispering in seedy hotel rooms about the oppressiveness of their lives, then The Mummy & its brother-in-wrappings The Mummy Returns are not for you. On the other hand, if you're up for two frenetic hours of eye-popping special effects, occasionally breath-taking cinematography, a fast-paced and relentless story that doesn't drag, brilliantly choreagraphed action and melee scenes, and the lovely Rachel Weisz, then you could do far worse than buy this handsomely bound and bonus-stuffed Collectors Edition.

In General: The stories in both films are fast-paced, frenetic, and mercifully concise; the reborn evil sorceror Imhotep's race against the Scorpion King to command the armies of Anubis the second film is slightly more engaging than the first movie, which is basically an effects-pumped retread of the classic 1930's Boris Karloff vehicle. Both movies are charmingly ghoulish and appropriately grotesque: scarab beetles devour their screaming victims, Egyptian sealed tomb death traps scald their victims to jelly, and the putrefying mummy, face bulging with grubs and maggots, proffers kisses to a cringing heroine!

All of this is shot with cinematic aplomb and a complete suspension of disbelief that nonetheless takes itself not a whit seriously---and the result is that both films manage to out-swashbuckle the last two Indiana Jones films, and equal the thrills of the original.

High-points: Director Stephen Sommers is a master at directing action scenes, a talent which cannot be praised too highly; if only Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson had Sommers to restore order to LOTR's muddled and uninspired melee sequences. Sommers, like George Lucas, keeps the audience apprised of where the action is and where the next blow is coming from, which enhances the suspense of the fight sequences. The climactic battle scene of Mummy Returns, where bedouins are pitted against an army of jackal-headed undead, is one of the more horrific battle sequences in cinematic history.

The acting is competent all around, with Rachel Weisz consummately fetching, Brendan Fraser hamming it up, Arnold Vasloo menacing as the reborn Imhotep, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson pulling off a final thrilling fight sequence with a warrior-scorpion body he might want to borrow for the WWF ring.

Both films are offered up with ambience, panache, thrills, and enough Egyptian exotica to sate Ramses himself. The films have all the staples of Saturday cinema and then some: zombie pygmies, dastardly red-robed villains, a fog-shrouded Victorian London teeming with the unquiet, the smouldering confines of the Scorpion King's temple chamber, a well-choreagraphed cat-fight between the heroine and Imhotep's lost love, and scarab beetles, mummies, ghouls, and king cobras galore!

The Mummy films rank as two of the most satisfying horror/adventure movies ever made, perfect for imaginative 10-year olds (in spirit and body) the world over.

Adventure is Reborn
"Oh, I REALLY hate mummies."
- Rick O'Connell

After cutting his teeth on family friendly adventures like Disney's Huck Finn and The Jungle Book, writer/director Steven Sommers was given the task of remaking The Mummy for a new generation of moviegoers. Taking pages from Raiders of the Lost Ark and drawing on his own experience from previous movies, Sommers crafted a fun supernatural adventure that plays like a true matinee. And it is a true wonder.

It is the 1920's. Rick O'Connell, adventurer and mercanary, is sprung from jail by a beautiful British librarian and her questionable brother in the hopes that he will lead them to the lost city of Hamunaptra, City of the Dead, said to contain the wealth of Egypt. However, there is a twist. 3000 years ago, the High Priest Imhotep was imprisoned in the Hamunaptra for his part in murdering the Pharoh. Cursed with the Hom-dai, he would become incredibly powerful should he ever be awakened. Guess what happens.

The plot is fairly cliched and predictable, but enjoyable nontheless. Imhotep is, while rather evil, a person whose actions can be at least understood as he tries to ressurect his true love. The main cast is equally entertaining and impressive, with Brendan Frasier doing a fantastic Harrison Ford impersonation as O'Connell, Racheal Weis showing depth in her female lead character, and John Hannah providing some great physical comedy. Special note goes to Oded Fehr as the Med-jai warrior, Ardeth Bay. There are some great one-liners and some fantastic banter.

Like Raiders, The Mummy is an action movie, and the action delivers. Sommers has a specific style of directing that is equally reminiscent of Spielberg and Micheal Curtiz, and he knows how to do GOOD adventure. The action pieces are just as tense and enjoyable as anything from Dr. Jones's exploits, but it never feels recycled or tired. From the opening confrontation between the French Foriegn Legion and the bandit Tuaregs (which is reminiscent of Van Damme's Legionaire, only not bad) to the final fight and escape from the City of the Dead, Sommers keeps the pace tight and exciting, and the characters impressive, entertaining, and funny.

This movie does NOT take itself seriously, it's honest about it, and it is does so for a reason. It only asks that we have fun while watching. And this is a very easy thing to do. 5/5

2001 saw a sequel to The Mummy hit theaters, featuring the return of the entire principal cast from the first movie, and adding Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to the mix as the evil Scorpion King.

Eight years after the events of the first movie, Rick O'Connell and Evylyn Carnahan have settled down, married, and have a son. A son who takes after his parents FAR too much. After accidentally beginning a countdown to Armageddon by opening the bracelet of the Scorpion King, young Alex is kidnapped. Imhotep has been awakened once again, and it's up to the adventurous parents to rescue him.

Aided by the super-cool Arab ninja, Ardeth Bay, the pair set off on a race across Egypt to reach the Oasis of Am Sher before the Scorpion King's army of Anubis Warriors is used to enslave the world. The audience gets more background about each of the main charcters, from a strange tatoo that could signal Rick as a sacred warrior, to strange visions of the ancient world that show Evy as an Egyptian princess. It all ties into the story cohesively and systematically, but it is nice to get a fresh view of the characters that worked so well in the first film.

Just like its predecessor, The Mummy Returns is a saturday matinee style adventure movie where the fate of the main characters, and often the world, hang in the balance again and again. There are more set pieces, bigger special effects, nastier monsters, and generally more of EVERYTHING. However, it never feels like it's only "more of the same," because Sommers always manages to make it fresh, like the chase through London on a double-decker bus, or the skirmish in Am Sher with a savage tribe of Pygmy mummies. Additionally, in the pre-Lord of the Rings era of early 2001, The Mummy Returns featured two of the biggest and most impressive battles scenes on screen, reminiscent of Spartacus and Braveheart in their scope.

Most importantly, however, The Mummy Returns does not suffer from sequelitis. The story and characters translate so seamlessly from the first film that it feels as though is is merely a continuation of the first movie, rather than a sequel made to make some extra cash. The relationships have evolved, the characters, though wiser, are still just as endearing, and the story ties in more with the first movie than you would think. Additionally, it's nice to see an adventurer stick with his love interest, rather than finding new hubbies each movie, ala Indiana Jones and James Bond.

All the acting in the second film is equally solid as the first, with the same tongue-in-cheek situational humor that makes the movie subtely poke fun at itserlf even as the characters are in dire peril. This kind of attitude toward the adventure movie keeps the mood light, even through some of the darker twists the plot takes. We know how it's going to end, and it's a heck of a lot of fun to watch this movie get there. Like its predecessor, The Mummy Returns is a case study in great matinee adventure, adding a modern twist to the genre. 5/5

The extras on the DVDs are worth the price of admission and then some. Along with the falleries and trailers, the "Making of" segments on both movies are comprehensive and informative, with behind-the-scenes looks at the cast, locations, and visual effects. However, the commentary tracks on both Mummy movies are the best segment. Steven Sommers and editor Ducsay share experiences about the shoot, stories about the actors, and keep the back and forth both entertaining and interesting, and they seem to be having a generally good time all the way through.

The complete package is one of the best adventure sagas in Hollywood today. The DVD quality is fantastic, and the extras are some of the best available. It's not going to become a timeless classic, but The Mummy Collection is the best way to kill an afternoon since Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Fun and fabulous
I'm certainly no fan of Brendan Frasier, but in these two movies, well, he sort of grew on me. I actually didn't like the first movie originally, but after seeing the second one I gave the first another try, and now I almost like it better than the sequel. What draws me to these is the atmosphere - everything dealing with the ancient Egyptian ruins is wonderfully portrayed. I really felt as if I was in some fabulous, lost civilization. And when they do flashbacks to ancient times, the imagery is breathtaking. The special effects - which are either as subtle or spectacular as the scene calls for - are blended so seamlessly with the live-action stuff that you don't even notice they're special effects.

The action in both movies moves along nicely, and the characters are likable and sympathetic. I found myself rooting for them - yes, even Frasier's character. In the second movie the bad guys (Imhotep and Anck Su Namun) steal the show, but it's just the sort of release from the goody-goody lead characters that is needed to keep the movie from getting too sugary sweet.

I've watched these movies every time they'e been on TV, so I've seen both probably five times, but still feel the need to buy the DVD's. They're just that good. If you want to forget all about reality for a couple of hours and travel to an exotic place for an exciting adventure, check these out.

Lots of good stuff here, almost as good as the first
Okay, lot of comments on this movie from others. Let me just say that one of the things I'll give them credit for is taking a lot of chances with stuff in this movie, many of which succeed, and some fail. Yes, I agree some of the special effects are downright distracting. I really dis-liked the hot-rodded air balloon. But, weigh those annoyances against the absolutely awesome dueling scene between the two woman in ancient Egypt. Buy the DVD just to watch that scene over and over. Nice to have some talented action females, not just poseurs (Charlies Angels, ugh). Also, there is some really decent non-action stuff going on - a kid actor that does a nice job, especially interacting with his captors. Lots of positives with this flic, so don't let some glaring special effect errors ruin having a good time. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Following in the reptilian slime trail of Anaconda, this derivative monster movie from early 1998 plays like a cross between Titanic and Tremors, with parts of Aliens tossed in for good measure. Director Stephen Sommers couldn't recognize an original idea if it swallowed him whole--which, by the way, is exactly what happens to a lot of passengers on a luxury ship that is attacked by a giant serpent-like sea creature with a voracious appetite for human flesh. Treat Williams plays the leader of a mercenary crew whose members discover the ravaged ship and wage war on the creature; Famke Janssen joins him as an onboard thief and con artist who just happens to be highly skilled with automatic weapons. Of course, the action grows more intense as the body count rises and along the way the monster is gradually revealed in all of its gruesome glory. A guilty pleasure if ever there was one, Deep Rising arrived in theaters shortly after another waterlogged thriller, Hard Rain, and if nothing else it provides proof that the B-movie monsters of the 1950s are alive and well and as cheesy as ever in the age of digital special effects. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Good graphics and not much else
This was a pathetic attempt of a horror flick. The plot was awful and the monster okay. Save your $$$$ for something else.

Titanic Is Invaded evil worm-like aliens
You must see Deep Rising. If you are a Sci-FI fan this is the hot tamale(though if you did not like Alien the movie I do not recommend this movie). The blood and gore is throughout the whole movie, so if your stomach is uneasy Deep Rising is not for you. A great action thriller about a boat driver who drives a bunch of theives to a Titanic like boat. But when the convicts arrive the find thal all the passengers had allready been robbed....of their lives. The rest is for you to find out. A must see Sci- Fi thriller.

There Should Be One More Star Reserved For This Movie (#6)
Deep Rising was a creepy-crawly, slithering, edge of your seat, hellatious ride all packed into one movie that holds your eyes to the screen until all is said and done!

Great Indiana Jonse type action and story.
Action is fast paced and special effects are excellent. Has the feel of an Indiana Jones adventure with likeble hero and sidekick. Well worth the price of the DVD

A MONSTER FROM THE DEEP ATTACKS THE "NEW TITANIC!"
BLOODY, GORY, AND EXTREMELY INTENSE, DEEP RISING REALLY DELIVERS THE ACTION! THE SEA MONSTER IN THE FILM CONSUMES EVERYONE ON BOARD THE "TITANIC-LIKE SHIP" WITH ITS NUMBEROUS TENTICLE FEEDERS AND LEAVES NO ONE ALIVE ONBOARD. BUT AT THE END THE CREATURE GETS WHATS COMING TO HIM. IT'S A MUST SEE IF YOU LIKE GORY SCI-FI ACTION MOVIES! ... Read more

Amazon.com

It still looks like one of the most adventurous projects ever undertaken for television:to concoct a fictional presidential candidate and follow him as he mingles (often improvising) amongst the real-life candidates on the campaign trail. Tanner '88 was the brainchild of director Robert Altman and "Doonesbury" cartoonist Garry Trudeau, who executed this on-the-fly series for HBO during the 1988 primary season. Thus we get "former Michigan congressman" Jack Tanner (Altman regular Michael Murphy) sorting out his messy professional and personal life as he hobnobs with the likes of Bob Dole, Pat Robertson, Kitty Dukakis, and real-life journalists. Some of these meta-fictional encounters are cameos, but some are remarkable full-blown sequences, such as Tanner's heart-to-heart with Bruce Babbitt as they stroll beneath Washington's cherry trees. (But then you always knew politicians were basically actors.) The deft supporting cast includes Pamela Reed and Cynthia Nixon. For fans of satire, Tanner is smart and sometimes mind-bending; for fans of Altman, it's the director at the top of his characteristic game:a multi-layered, many-sided ensemble picture that happens to be all about America. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Ahead of it's time
Script by Gary Trudeau, directed by Robert Altman, shot on video with a small crew, improvising around real life Democratic Convention, bringing in real people from media and politics. And with a candidate, Jack Tanner, who was remarkably prescient of Clinton. The campaign slogan "For Real" had it's tongue firmly in it's cheek. All well ahead of the pack in terms of reality tv, dogme films and it's undertanding of the media.

Truly Excellent. I hope they do it justice in the DVD release. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

EXCELLANT COMEDY, ONE OF CANDY'S BEST!
In this satire on the Cold War mentality, the President of the United States and an arms manufacturer find it in their best economic interests to plant rumors of a potential nuclear attack--by our neighbors in Canada! Then, following a cross-border incident at a hockey tournament, a patriotic sheriff, Bud B. Boomer, and his deputy, Honey , and suicidal friend, Roy Boy, plan a counter-offensive... with hilarious results. John Candy plays Bud Boomer, a Niagara County, N.Y., sheriff who spends much of his day fishing for laid-off, suicidal defense-plant workers at the foot of the Niagra falls. His sidekick, Honey (Rhea Perlman), is psychotic; his buddies Roy Boy and Kabral (Kevin J. O'Connor and Bill Nunn) are thickheaded and unemployed. The plant, owned by R.J. Hacker (G.D. Spradlin), has become the victim of the pro-peace policies of a President (Alan Alda) whose approval ratings are on a slide; he needs a war in order to give people jobs and keep his own. With most of the world's major villains dead or imprisoned, the President's oily national security adviser, Stu Smiley (Kevin Pollack)--who is also in Hacker's pocket--suggests Canada. The smear campaign is under way. This movie is a perfect example of how great character casting can be the movie all in its self. In my opinion all the characters were cast greatly. Their terrific acting only added to an already hilarious movie. The acting in itself was also excellent, very believable and in no way were the actors simply 'reading the lines'. John Candy added great humor to this movie as his portrayal of Bud Boomer. The acting of the supporting roles was no less impressive, especially by the witty psychopath female deputy, Honey. Then you have the desperate President who would do anything for a thirty point raise in his approval rating. The description of the characters is indirect but very well shown through the movie's events. Their development is also gradual and flows very well. The plot is like the acting, excellent. It hooks the audience from the very beginning keeping the audience wanting more and more as they sit on the edge of their seats, or while they're rolling on the floor laughing. The plot definitely flows well, it sticks to the same event not leaving any 'holes' or any skipping around and leaving the audience lost. Although "Canadian Bacon" is a hilarious comedy, the validity of the events is to be debated. A war with Canada? Canada is a valuable trade partner with America, and a war, even a cold war would set both the nations into a depression. And compared with other films by the director, Micheal Moore, this movie does well to his reputation. As well as setting the reputation for the director, John Candy does honor to his long list of comedy films as his role in "Canadian Bacon", one of his best films done, as well as his last. The ratings this film has been given are extremely varied. They range from completely devastating to extremely praising. It depends on how much you expect in the beginning. But in my opinion, this is by far one of the funniest films I have viewed in a very long time, and will stay in my memory for a time to come. I recommend this movie to everyone and anyone interested in having a great laugh!

It's a burlesque, folks!
Like all burlesques, what people take out of it has a lot to do with what they bring in. What I saw was a light burlesque that even-handedly skewered both American stereotypes of Canadians and Canadian stereotypes of Americans.

It doesn't get five stars, because it's a little rough, but it's an excellent sleeper comedy that deserved a much longer theatrical run than it did. It's quirky, bizarre, and very funny.

However, there are a lot of people who just don't get burlesque. This is not a nice thing to say, but it has to be said: there's a reason that John Candy and most of the rest of the Toronto Second City troop left Canada so that they could have careers. For people who get burlesque, the offended reviews of this movie, all of which seem to reduce to classify it as this or that, will just appear as more burlesque.

But seriously. People who think that Goldie Hawn is a dumb blonde or that Andrew Dice Clay is a misogynist or rhat Repo Man failed as a documentary of the reposessing trade or that Dr. Strangelove offensively made light of nuclear holocaust would do best to stay well away from this movie. It will only bore you or raise your blood pressure. People who want another Michael Moore docutainment or want to pick apart a Michael Moore docutainment are also advised to stay away. Those who think that the best thing to do with a prejudice is angrily to deny that it's a prejudice or bloodlessly denounce it rather than bring it out in the open and laugh at it won't have much fun, either.

However, if you want a light, sleeper burlesque on the order of _Serial_, _L.A. Story,_ or _True Stories_, you will probably enjoy it.

It's not about Canada, stupid!
In 2004 it seems impossible to see this film without Iraq in mind.

Haven't we been looking for "the enemy" since the end of the cold war?

There has to be an evil empire....How could we sustain all the
"military industrial" complex ( Eisenhower) without an enemy
and without regime change?

Michael Moore has really proved how right he is ---even without
the Cannes Film Festival!

Honestly
You all take yourselves way too seriously. Live a little, will you?

Offended me as a Canadian.
This film is Michael Moore's attempt at political satire. Canadian Bacon is an un-funny borefest that really says nothing about relations between Canada and the U.S. That said, the thing that really bothered me was the urbanite Toronto hipsters that sat in front of me during a screening of the film. They rolled thier eyes, made obvious anti-American comments and congradulated themselves on being saintly, right thinking people.

This film will appeal to members of "the cult of Moore" as Canadian Bacon reflects Mr Moore's twisted view of Canadians as innocent and dull saints. Moore also shows a shocking contempt for working class Americans. The main characters are ignorant hicks who bungle thier way through an attempted invasion of Canada. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

The Mummy and The Mummy Returns
The popular 1999 remake of the Boris Karlof original THE MUMMY and it's sequel THE MUMMY RETURNS are put together in a nice 2-Disc set that has enough DVD extras to satisfy fans.

Directed by Stephen Sommers (Deep Rising) THE MUMMY is a good-natured adventure in the spirit of Indiana Jones, albeit with a very angry mummy. The story is simalar to that of the original Hammer Horror Mummy movies of the 50's. A team of explorers searching for treasure in the hidden city of Hamunaptra unleash Imhotep, a high priest who goes about consumating a curse on all the people who have desicrated his tomb. It's great fun, and while there are some spooky moments, the general tone is humourous, and Brendan Fraser does the goofy hero thing, which makes it even more light-hearted. That said, it's very silly, but in the Summer when we got THE MATRIX and THE PHANTOM MENACE, this one held it's own to become a big box-office sucess and proved to be popular enough with audiences to warrant a sequel.

The old "Bigger is better" rule was inevitable for the loud, nonsensical sequel THE MUMMY RETURNS. Set 10 years after the first one, this is one of the many sequels that tries to outdo it's predecessor with bigger bad guys and bigger SFX. This one, however is not nearly as fun as THE MUMMY. The characters are good, there are some impressive battle sequences, but the plot is predictable as they come, the special effects range from good to ropey (Scorpion King?) and the inane dialouge gets really tiresome after a while. In short, bigger isn't always better. In fact, it rarely ever is.

Not Ingmar Bergman, and thank Anubis for that!
Let me say this right now: if you want a film about disaffected, angst-ridden French intellectuals whispering in seedy hotel rooms about the oppressiveness of their lives, then The Mummy & its brother-in-wrappings The Mummy Returns are not for you. On the other hand, if you're up for two frenetic hours of eye-popping special effects, occasionally breath-taking cinematography, a fast-paced and relentless story that doesn't drag, brilliantly choreagraphed action and melee scenes, and the lovely Rachel Weisz, then you could do far worse than buy this handsomely bound and bonus-stuffed Collectors Edition.

In General: The stories in both films are fast-paced, frenetic, and mercifully concise; the reborn evil sorceror Imhotep's race against the Scorpion King to command the armies of Anubis the second film is slightly more engaging than the first movie, which is basically an effects-pumped retread of the classic 1930's Boris Karloff vehicle. Both movies are charmingly ghoulish and appropriately grotesque: scarab beetles devour their screaming victims, Egyptian sealed tomb death traps scald their victims to jelly, and the putrefying mummy, face bulging with grubs and maggots, proffers kisses to a cringing heroine!

All of this is shot with cinematic aplomb and a complete suspension of disbelief that nonetheless takes itself not a whit seriously---and the result is that both films manage to out-swashbuckle the last two Indiana Jones films, and equal the thrills of the original.

High-points: Director Stephen Sommers is a master at directing action scenes, a talent which cannot be praised too highly; if only Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson had Sommers to restore order to LOTR's muddled and uninspired melee sequences. Sommers, like George Lucas, keeps the audience apprised of where the action is and where the next blow is coming from, which enhances the suspense of the fight sequences. The climactic battle scene of Mummy Returns, where bedouins are pitted against an army of jackal-headed undead, is one of the more horrific battle sequences in cinematic history.

The acting is competent all around, with Rachel Weisz consummately fetching, Brendan Fraser hamming it up, Arnold Vasloo menacing as the reborn Imhotep, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson pulling off a final thrilling fight sequence with a warrior-scorpion body he might want to borrow for the WWF ring.

Both films are offered up with ambience, panache, thrills, and enough Egyptian exotica to sate Ramses himself. The films have all the staples of Saturday cinema and then some: zombie pygmies, dastardly red-robed villains, a fog-shrouded Victorian London teeming with the unquiet, the smouldering confines of the Scorpion King's temple chamber, a well-choreagraphed cat-fight between the heroine and Imhotep's lost love, and scarab beetles, mummies, ghouls, and king cobras galore!

The Mummy films rank as two of the most satisfying horror/adventure movies ever made, perfect for imaginative 10-year olds (in spirit and body) the world over.

Adventure is Reborn
"Oh, I REALLY hate mummies."
- Rick O'Connell

After cutting his teeth on family friendly adventures like Disney's Huck Finn and The Jungle Book, writer/director Steven Sommers was given the task of remaking The Mummy for a new generation of moviegoers. Taking pages from Raiders of the Lost Ark and drawing on his own experience from previous movies, Sommers crafted a fun supernatural adventure that plays like a true matinee. And it is a true wonder.

It is the 1920's. Rick O'Connell, adventurer and mercanary, is sprung from jail by a beautiful British librarian and her questionable brother in the hopes that he will lead them to the lost city of Hamunaptra, City of the Dead, said to contain the wealth of Egypt. However, there is a twist. 3000 years ago, the High Priest Imhotep was imprisoned in the Hamunaptra for his part in murdering the Pharoh. Cursed with the Hom-dai, he would become incredibly powerful should he ever be awakened. Guess what happens.

The plot is fairly cliched and predictable, but enjoyable nontheless. Imhotep is, while rather evil, a person whose actions can be at least understood as he tries to ressurect his true love. The main cast is equally entertaining and impressive, with Brendan Frasier doing a fantastic Harrison Ford impersonation as O'Connell, Racheal Weis showing depth in her female lead character, and John Hannah providing some great physical comedy. Special note goes to Oded Fehr as the Med-jai warrior, Ardeth Bay. There are some great one-liners and some fantastic banter.

Like Raiders, The Mummy is an action movie, and the action delivers. Sommers has a specific style of directing that is equally reminiscent of Spielberg and Micheal Curtiz, and he knows how to do GOOD adventure. The action pieces are just as tense and enjoyable as anything from Dr. Jones's exploits, but it never feels recycled or tired. From the opening confrontation between the French Foriegn Legion and the bandit Tuaregs (which is reminiscent of Van Damme's Legionaire, only not bad) to the final fight and escape from the City of the Dead, Sommers keeps the pace tight and exciting, and the characters impressive, entertaining, and funny.

This movie does NOT take itself seriously, it's honest about it, and it is does so for a reason. It only asks that we have fun while watching. And this is a very easy thing to do. 5/5

2001 saw a sequel to The Mummy hit theaters, featuring the return of the entire principal cast from the first movie, and adding Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to the mix as the evil Scorpion King.

Eight years after the events of the first movie, Rick O'Connell and Evylyn Carnahan have settled down, married, and have a son. A son who takes after his parents FAR too much. After accidentally beginning a countdown to Armageddon by opening the bracelet of the Scorpion King, young Alex is kidnapped. Imhotep has been awakened once again, and it's up to the adventurous parents to rescue him.

Aided by the super-cool Arab ninja, Ardeth Bay, the pair set off on a race across Egypt to reach the Oasis of Am Sher before the Scorpion King's army of Anubis Warriors is used to enslave the world. The audience gets more background about each of the main charcters, from a strange tatoo that could signal Rick as a sacred warrior, to strange visions of the ancient world that show Evy as an Egyptian princess. It all ties into the story cohesively and systematically, but it is nice to get a fresh view of the characters that worked so well in the first film.

Just like its predecessor, The Mummy Returns is a saturday matinee style adventure movie where the fate of the main characters, and often the world, hang in the balance again and again. There are more set pieces, bigger special effects, nastier monsters, and generally more of EVERYTHING. However, it never feels like it's only "more of the same," because Sommers always manages to make it fresh, like the chase through London on a double-decker bus, or the skirmish in Am Sher with a savage tribe of Pygmy mummies. Additionally, in the pre-Lord of the Rings era of early 2001, The Mummy Returns featured two of the biggest and most impressive battles scenes on screen, reminiscent of Spartacus and Braveheart in their scope.

Most importantly, however, The Mummy Returns does not suffer from sequelitis. The story and characters translate so seamlessly from the first film that it feels as though is is merely a continuation of the first movie, rather than a sequel made to make some extra cash. The relationships have evolved, the characters, though wiser, are still just as endearing, and the story ties in more with the first movie than you would think. Additionally, it's nice to see an adventurer stick with his love interest, rather than finding new hubbies each movie, ala Indiana Jones and James Bond.

All the acting in the second film is equally solid as the first, with the same tongue-in-cheek situational humor that makes the movie subtely poke fun at itserlf even as the characters are in dire peril. This kind of attitude toward the adventure movie keeps the mood light, even through some of the darker twists the plot takes. We know how it's going to end, and it's a heck of a lot of fun to watch this movie get there. Like its predecessor, The Mummy Returns is a case study in great matinee adventure, adding a modern twist to the genre. 5/5

The extras on the DVDs are worth the price of admission and then some. Along with the falleries and trailers, the "Making of" segments on both movies are comprehensive and informative, with behind-the-scenes looks at the cast, locations, and visual effects. However, the commentary tracks on both Mummy movies are the best segment. Steven Sommers and editor Ducsay share experiences about the shoot, stories about the actors, and keep the back and forth both entertaining and interesting, and they seem to be having a generally good time all the way through.

The complete package is one of the best adventure sagas in Hollywood today. The DVD quality is fantastic, and the extras are some of the best available. It's not going to become a timeless classic, but The Mummy Collection is the best way to kill an afternoon since Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Fun and fabulous
I'm certainly no fan of Brendan Frasier, but in these two movies, well, he sort of grew on me. I actually didn't like the first movie originally, but after seeing the second one I gave the first another try, and now I almost like it better than the sequel. What draws me to these is the atmosphere - everything dealing with the ancient Egyptian ruins is wonderfully portrayed. I really felt as if I was in some fabulous, lost civilization. And when they do flashbacks to ancient times, the imagery is breathtaking. The special effects - which are either as subtle or spectacular as the scene calls for - are blended so seamlessly with the live-action stuff that you don't even notice they're special effects.

The action in both movies moves along nicely, and the characters are likable and sympathetic. I found myself rooting for them - yes, even Frasier's character. In the second movie the bad guys (Imhotep and Anck Su Namun) steal the show, but it's just the sort of release from the goody-goody lead characters that is needed to keep the movie from getting too sugary sweet.

I've watched these movies every time they'e been on TV, so I've seen both probably five times, but still feel the need to buy the DVD's. They're just that good. If you want to forget all about reality for a couple of hours and travel to an exotic place for an exciting adventure, check these out.

Lots of good stuff here, almost as good as the first
Okay, lot of comments on this movie from others. Let me just say that one of the things I'll give them credit for is taking a lot of chances with stuff in this movie, many of which succeed, and some fail. Yes, I agree some of the special effects are downright distracting. I really dis-liked the hot-rodded air balloon. But, weigh those annoyances against the absolutely awesome dueling scene between the two woman in ancient Egypt. Buy the DVD just to watch that scene over and over. Nice to have some talented action females, not just poseurs (Charlies Angels, ugh). Also, there is some really decent non-action stuff going on - a kid actor that does a nice job, especially interacting with his captors. Lots of positives with this flic, so don't let some glaring special effect errors ruin having a good time. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

F/X 2 is a great ingenious movie with plot and action!
F/X 2 is a great ingenious film with plot and action! F/X 2 stars Brian Brown and Brian Dennehy as Rollie Tyler and Leo McCarthy and they are together for one last adventure to stop Mob from stealing gold Medilians from Vadican embassy in intaly!Great film! Very inventive and well thought out! I Like this movie despite what the movie critics thought about this fim in 1991! I wish there was an F/X 3 but unfortunatly that didn't happen. Despite what others say the movie great and is better then the original movie from 1986. Go find it! It's great movie!

todavía resulta original
Todo y que pueda resultar un remake de su predecesora,FX2 logra aprovechar de una forma notable el hecho de que el protagonista utilice su experiencia cinematográfica, y concretamente en el asunto de efectos especiales, para conseguir desarticular a un gang terrorista.De las multiples secuencias de acción, cabe a destacar el payaso robot,que comparte protagonismo con la pareja principal, y las persecuciones en el supermercado y a posteriori, en la residencia de los "malos".Buenas actuaciones y bastante imaginación para un film que vale la pena.

A memorable sequel
It's not often we see a sequel that excels the original, but F/X 2 is impressive in accomplishing just that. In this version, Brown has left the film world to work on special effects for himself. He's into toys this time, and Bluey, his remote robot is a prize! Again, the Mafia is involved in the story development, this time over a set of gold coins stolen from a Vatican art exhibit years ago. Brown's again co-opted by corrupt cops [what an enduring theme!] and again he's on the run. This time, Dennehy extends his 'good cop' role from the first F/X in coming to Rollie's aid.

Unlike the first film, F/X 2 raises Brian Dennehy's participation significantly, giving him many opportunities to engage in droll wit. He manages the role with style and honesty. The exchanges with Joanna Gleason as the Ass't DA are quality Dennehy. Gleason herself adds a lustre to the film, providing an engaging contrast to Rachel Ticotin's role as Tyler's girl friend.

F/X 2, likes it predecessor, is a timeless film. The repeated themes of corrupt cops and Mafia intrigues doesn't make this film boring. Quite the opposite, showing how prevalent and wide ranging their activities can be, both for good as well as sinister reasons. This film is worth a place in your inventory, if for no other reason than Brown's performance. He's a quality actor when given the opportunity - and this film was an even better expression of his worth than the original.

Better Than I Remembered
I watched both "F/X" films at the same time and was surprised that the second one holds up better than the first. This movie has a raffish charm, like Hitchcock in his playful "To Catch a Thief" mode. Highly recommended.

Excellent Sequel
This movie's villian, Cylack, was brilliant. Also, who can forget the moving scene where Neely elicits the location of the medalions from the dying con? This scene was brilliantly acted, full of emotion and pathos. In short, the villians Cylack and Neely made this movie superb. ... Read more

Reviews (120)

Powerfully acted, psychologically mesmerizing.
At one point in "Gods and Monsters," Ian McKellan's character, James Whale, gestures to his head and remarks, "The real monsters are up here." The film spends its entire creating a way of life around this observation, portraying the last days of the well-known film director in ways that evoke humor, touching emotion, and above all else, emotionally haunting reflection on one's life.

It's a most unusual film, not completely a biopic, yet not entirely fictional; it's more of a speculation on his latter days, based on the novel "Father of Frankenstein," written by Christopher Bram. The reality of Whale's life, from his superior and delectable wit to the memories of war and Hollywood that delight and haunt him, is the basis of the novel and the film, as Whale relates them to a young gardener in whom he takes an emotional and physical interest.

The story begins by introducing us to Whale's way of life, from his slowly deteriorating health and mental state, to his luxurious home, where he lives with his maid, Hanna (Lynn Redgrave), who is caring yet keeps up a stern demeanor when it comes to his dealings in homosexuality. The presence of the new gardener, Clay Boone (Brendan Fraser), strikes a chord within Whale, who resumes his sketching by asking the young ex-Marine to pose for his drawing, offering a face-only clause as a way of quelling Clay's obvious insecurities.

The film's own openness with the issues of sexuality effectively portrays the flamboyance of its main character, who apparently saw no shame in his ways despite the resentment of homosexuality in the 1950's. The movie embodies this ignorance in Clay, who, at first, is unaware of his newfound friend's orientation. Once he discovers the truth from Hanna, his discomfort becomes even more unstable, to the point where he storms out in a rage of fury over the old man's excessive way with discomforting words. And yet, he returns to act as Whale's model, intrigued by the heartwarming and heartbreaking stories he offers as he sketches.

This is a most fragile and unsteady friendship, yet in spite of the discomfort that surrounds their bond, their is a certain degree of comfort to be found within it. This stems from director Bill Condon's avoidance of character glorification: in "Gods and Monsters," everyone has flaws. We see Whale's mood swings, his obsession with young boys in his old age, and his reluctance to recall his past; Clay also spends his time running, from his family, commitment, and stability. Ultimately, this makes their friendship mutually beneficial, allowing Clay a broader, richer view of life while allotting Whale the chance to face memories he would otherwise hide away forever.

All of this is painted in broad strokes by Condon, who employs humor, wit, and sadness into his stunning adaptation. The discomfort that arises as a result of Clay's discovery of his friend's sexuality is handled lightly in earlier scenes, slowly gaining resonance and meaning as the plot moves along its dreamlike path. Whale's memories of filming the "Frankenstein" movies are realistic in their approach, while his recollections of war and his lost love are emotionally charged. All of this is given a slow yet mesmerizing pace that allows us into the deepest subconscious of the characters, so that we not only see what is going on in their minds, but can feel it as well.

In the film's favor is its credible casting choices, most notably McKellan, who employs wit and real emotional range as Whale. Making sudden and drastic jumps from jubilant to unstable, McKellan's Whale is portrayed as someone whom we feel for, a man whose life is put into perspective in a manner that calls us to look at it with unblinking eyes. Fraser evokes a subtle sexual tension and eroticism as Clay, whose resemblance of Frankenstein's monster is the focal point of Whale's fascination. Redgrave makes a wonderful turn as Hanna, putting her wit and sarcasm to good use as the woman who embodies a maid, a wife, and a mother all at the same time.

Above all else, the most perplexing aspect of "Gods and Monsters" is its connection to Whale's film, "Frankenstein." Clay's resemblance and sense of naivety when in the presence of Whale is very much like the scene from that earlier film that this film's final scene. Seeing that final scene is to finally realize and acknowledge the film's purpose; it's one of those forceful moments in cinema that only come once in a blue moon. The film itself is a most touching achievement, deriving its success from its examination of Whale's life in a manner that makes it compelling rather than interesting.

The best acting since Fonda in "Ulee's Gold"

I see a lot of movies. I see very few outstanding performances.

"Gods and Monsters" is that rare combination of a good story, well-told and brilliantly acted by Ian McKellen.

I was nailed to the couch during the entire video and plan to rent it again.

It's not light, air-head entertainment. It's strong in subject and substance.

For my money, McKellen has turned in one of the most astonishing performances of his (or any) career.

Brendon Fraser will surprise you, too.

I saw Judy Dench's performances in both "Mrs. Brown" and "Shakespeare in Love". She deserved the Oscar for "Mrs. Brown". She did not deserve it for "Shakespeare in Love".

Perhaps too few Academy members actually saw Lynn Redgrave's perfect portrayal of the loyal maid....or perhaps Dench's win was a kind of consolation prize for losing with "Mrs. Brown". Whatever it was, the Academy made a big mistake...huge mistake.... Redgrave was hands down the most obvious choice for Best Supporting Actress this year and her in-nearly-every-scene certainly beats the devil out of Dench's 8-9 minutes on film.

When the price goes down, this movie will be on my shelf at home and it has already made my "All-time Top Ten" list....it's that good.

Good movie but slim on the extras
Without a doubt, those who appreciate fine, character-driven films will find much to like in Bill Condon's 1988 critically acclaimed biopic on legendary horror director James Whale. Ian McKellen delivers his finest performance to date as the charming, charismatic director whose best days are behind him along with Lynn Redgrave as the doting maid and Brendan Fraser as a young gardener who strikes up a quick and quirky friendship with Whale. The beauty of this film lies in its narrow scope with its very small palette of locations and supporting characters, giving the film a very intimate feel in the close confines of the three major players along with the subtlety of their interaction.

On the disc itself all you'll get is a poorly transferred trailer and a ho-hum 30 minute featurette that offers little in the way of further value. Also disappointing is the lack of a proper Dolby 5.1 audio track - all you'll get on this shiny disc is a paltry 2.0 mono job.

A modern classic about the classics
Forget the dreadful "Shadow of a Vampire". This is the one to watch.

Here Ian McKellen possibly does his best performance to date (Yes, it is better than Gandalf but not by much!) and so does Brendan Fraser. So two actors have their best roles ever in this movie and that says a lot about the quality of this film. This one has also got a few Oscars, even though that might not say much, it is still quite an achievement given that this film is pretty much a medium budget movie with limited locations and sets.

The story is about the director James Whale who was primarily a horror director in the 1930s and 1940s. This is the story about the perils of old age, sexual discrimination, lust, anger, manipulation and love - all played out to the tune of a film that documents the reasons for this director's status as one of the all time greats.

McKellen is frighteningly real at times. He has an old-age seizure on camera that looks stunningly realistic. The man is an impeccable performer and takes on his role here like a bull by the horns. You feel sadness and grossness for him at the same time. He is a manipulator, a conman, a sexual deviant- but also a great heart. Strangely enough this film has similar themes as Lord of the Rings. Tolken wrote many of the battle scenes, especially the Dead Marshes, because of his real experiences during the war. Whale is also attributing much of his own personal horrors that he paints on his canvas (both films and portrait artwork that he makes) to these artefacts of battle. There is a lot of depth to Gods and Monsters and plenty of emotion to boot. It spans across nearly every era between the early 1900s and the 1940s. Much of it is told in flashbacks especially the making of Whale's horror films.

The plot is basically about Whale and his gardener (Fraser) and their relationship. It is a bit like asking questions and getting answers and showing a bit of skin in-between. Not only do both these actors stand out but Lynn Redgrave plays Whale's housekeeper in her best role to date too! She is an absolute side-splitting hoot and her cynicism is second to none.

It would be hard to tell you much more about the plot without giving lots of it away but let's just say that you will learn a lot about everyone in this delightful film and it does come with a shock attached towards the end as the characters move a little closer to one another. The ending is moving and filled with sadness and loss with the passing of time. You can bring a lot to this movie and take a lot of it away with you too.

This is an inspiring movie about talent, friendship and filmmaking. It is hard to find dramas much better than Gods and Monsters...

Interesting DVD of an interesting film...
The film is so interesting that the DVD capitalizes on the opportunity of further informing the viewer about the real facts behind the "fact-tion" story of director James Whale. Unfortunately the production of the special features seemed a bit rushed and "unproduced," apparently (according to the director) much the same way as the film itself. Interesting insight into the world of indie film and leaves the audience wondering what glorious heights this one might have reached had the filmmakers had ample time and resources to recognize their vision. Nonetheless, it is a beautifully acted and packaged piece...well worth the time and attention! ... Read more