Reviews (25)

A Worthwhile Film
This movie was filmed in my hometown--Fort Bragg/Mendocino, California--during the summer of 1971 as I was about to enter my senior year of high school. At the time, 60's idealism was fast transforming into the cynicism that was the 70's, and movies in particular seemed to embrace this mood. But not this one. This is a rather poignant film about one lads journey into adulthood, set amid the beauty of the Mendocino Coast (although is supposed to be an island) and the early troubled days of the Second World War. I related to this film on several levels, being about the same age as the protagonists at the time, the son of a WWII veteran, and concerned I would be sent to war (Vietnam was still a reality). And I was in love with Jennifer O’Neill, too! I was lucky enough to witness some of the scenes as they were being filmed, the funny losing-ones-virginity-on-the-beach scene comes immediately to mind. Is this a great movie? No, Gary Grimes and Jerry Hauser were just mediocre young actors and pretty much disappeared off the face of the earth after this movie. But it is a good movie, driven by a wonderful script and superb cinematography. And an Oscar-winning soundtrack. I’ll definitely buy it, and so should you. A four-star film.

Nine stars, please?
Damn, this is such a great movie, timeless, beautiful, heartbreaking, funny as all get out... It's got everything, including wonderful acting.
Semi-autobiographical, Summer of '42 is an elegiac coming-of-age tale set amid the sand dunes at a small coastal town. Hermie, the protagonist, is just a kid trying to figure out what it means to grow up, how to act around girls, how to lose his virginity (which requires, first, a condom, and gives rise to one of the movie's many hilarious scenes). Then the beautiful woman in one of the summer cottages receives a 'We regret to inform you' letter and seeks comfort in her grief with....Hermie.
Beautiful setting, beautiful drama, beautiful movie. Watch it with your teenage son, watch it alone, watch it with a life-long lover. It's a winner and will stand the test of time.

Nine stars? You've got to be joking.
After reading all the rave reviews here, I expected to love this film. No such luck.

The Summer of '42 has its moments. The final love scene is beautifully done and the "making love" between Hermie and Dorothy is effectively contrasted with the "making out" between Oscy and Miriam.

But the script is stilted, and the acting is wooden. I could have forgiven stilted dialogue between Hermie and Dorothy as a sign of Hermie's nervousness and uncertainty, but the dialogue between the three boys also seemed completely unnatural. There are a few effective reaction shots of Gary Grimes (Hermie) that do a good job of letting us see his longing and innocence, but he destroys this effect each time he opens his mouth. I think it is no surprise that we have seen nothing of Gary Grimes since he grew up and lost his youthful beauty.

The voice-over narration and final letter seemed like cheap tricks. The gauzy atmospheric camera work was as cloying as the swelling strings. There were obvious continuity problems. For example, Hermie and Oscy have very short shadows when Hermie leaves his house to meet Dorothy, so it is clearly the middle of the day. But it is dusk when he arrives at the cabin, which makes no sense unless it is a six hour walk.

I'd suggest renting rather than buying. If you like romantic coming of age stories, the love scene will scratch that itch. Unfortunately, it comes after 90 minutes of terrible acting.

Summer of '42 is a timeless, haunting love story........
It is the summer after Pearl Harbor. The world is at war, and America is sending her best, strongest and healthiest men to fight overseas. Meanwhile, those too young, old, or physically disabled to serve stay behind, as well as wives and sweethearts. Among these are Hermie, Oscy, and Benjie (Gary Grimes, Jerry Houser and Oliver Conant). Together, this "terrible trio" raids the Coast Guard station, frolics on the beach on Packett Island, and sneaks looks at "dirty pictures" from a medical book.

But even as the three friends goof around on lazy summer days, the war's effects will soon touch the more serious and sensitive 15-year-old Hermie. He finds himself falling in love with the beautiful Dorothy (Jennifer O'Neill), who is seven years older and married. He worships her from afar, enduring both his friends' merciless teasing and his own confusion about his feelings.

But when Dorothy's husband Pete goes overseas to enter the fray, Hermie befriends Dorothy, helping her with chores such as carrying her groceries to her house on the beach and placing boxes in the attic.

At the same time, the more rambunctious Oscy (and Hermie's best friend) is trying very hard to pick up girls and lose his virginity, and he makes it his mission in life to help Hermie do the same. So he copies information from a medical book that Benjie says "belongs to the house" where he spends the summer. Oscy also attempts to set up a date for the "terrible trio" at the movies, but that almost falls apart when Benjie and the third girl don't want to go. I don't want to give away what happens next, but it's pretty funny.

But the heart of the movie revolves, as many reviewers have said, around Hermie's love for Dorothy, and how he comes to manhood unexpectedly when Dorothy finds out that her husband has been killed in action. It's a beautiful, discreet and bittersweet sequence, and will leave the viewer with indelible memories of a haunting, timeless experience.

I like Summer of '42 because it is sweet and gentle, hilarious at times, and always very touching. Michel Legrand's Oscar-winning score is simple yet evocative, and Herman Raucher's screenplay was later adapted by the writer into a best selling novel. I recommend this film to young and old alike as a fine example of what a coming-of-age movie should be like.

One of the Great Romantic Films of the 1970's
When your asked to name the great romantic films of the '70s inevitably titles such as the "The Way We Were" and the much maligned "Love Story" come to mind. But most lists always seem to unfairly leave off the wonderful, Robert Mulligan film, "The Summer of '42"."The Summer of '42" was a big box office hit, way back in '71, but now seems to be rarely mentioned or even remembered.Well, I've always loved this somewhat, overly sentimental,'coming of age' story and was overjoyed to find it had come out on DVD.The story takes place during the WWII era on a wind swept, U.S. island, where families go to the beach to escape the summer heat. The episodic film focuses on some fifteen year old boys, who are basically dying of boredom and behaving like average teenagers.The pushy and rather obnoxious, Oscy (Jerry Houser) spends most of the movie try to figure out 'how' and 'when' he'll get sex.Romance dosn't exactly figure too much into his carnal plans.Then there is Hermie (Garry Grimes), who is the exact opposite. He honestly falls in love with a beautiful (but older) warbride named Dorothy (Jennifer O'Neill), who dosn't seem to realize how deep his infatuation is. Eventually the war comes home and tragedy strikes the young women.Hermie is there for Dorothy in her time of need and in the process loses both his virginity and a bit of innocence. Yes, I know this all sounds pretty smaltzy and something out of a pulp romance novel.But to tell you the truth the film really works! Director, Robert Mulligan and screen writer Herman Raucher have combined thier talents to create a movie, which is equal parts nostalgia, romance and in some scenes even humorus (I love the drugstore/condom scene!).The sexual denouement of the film is handled beautifully and with discretion. I love the fact that during the almost silent 5 minute scene you hear nothing on the soundtrack, but an old scratchy record that plays out to it's end groove.What atmosphere!The rest of the film actually has a classic, Oscar winning, romantic score by Michael Legrande, which just sticks in your head and won't let go.If you are interested in seeing a wonderful 'coming of age' story then I highly recommend "The Summer of '42". ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Rio Lobo es fantastico!
This is a classic western. Wayne and Hawks show again why they rank as the best actor/director duos in cinema. The villians are scary as hell, the dialogue is crisp and sharp, and the plot is everything you'd want in a western. Jack Elam is hilarious. Jennifer O'Neil and Sherry Lansing are beatiful and sexy (look for a nearly nude scene with Lansing and you'll be wishing she'd never left the silver screen), and John Wayne is at his best! A must for all fans of westerns, John Wayne, and lovers of entertainment cinema. It doesn't get any better than Rio Lobo!

Hawks' Cinematic Farewell
Though cut from the same narrative cloth as "Rio Bravo" and "El Dorado," Howard Hawks' "Rio Lobo" (1970) remains a solid Western and a fitting end to the veteran director's career. With a "comfortable" John Wayne back in the saddle, the film is highlighted by impressive action sequences and splendid comic relief from Jack Elam. Admittedly, the younger actors are a bit weak -- and it's a shame that Robert Mitchum was unable to co-star with Wayne as originally planned. "Rio Lobo" may not represent Hawks' best work, but it's a lot of fun.

Not the best, but entertaining
OK, it's not the best western ever produced. It's more of a full color film in the style of the old Republic westerns of the 30s and 40s. What it does have is a pretty fast moving story line, scene stealing character actors, and very pretty music (except for Jack Elam's mouth harp...).

John Wayne is moving from leading man with love interest to lovable old coot. Jorge Rivera takes over as the hunk. This is early in his acting career and very early in his English, but he's a doll to look at and OBTW, he does an outstanding leap over a fence. Christopher Mitchum looks very much like his father, and the chemistry between him and Wayne is similar to that of his father and Wayne (see Bob in El Dorado and Chris later in Big Jake).

This was Jennifer O'Neal's first movie, and it shows. But Wayne was famous for introducing new actors, even when it was clear they needed practice. Must have been because of the way Wayne himself was mentored in the 30s by John Ford, et. al. Watch his early work and see his own improvement.

Sherry Lansing was sexy and later vengeful. In the latter role, she, too, chewed up the scenery. She could have had a respectable acting career, but chose to shatter the movie mogul glass ceiling instead, and more power to her.

Then there's the scene stealers. David Huddleston can steal one just by being in it. Victor French is both scary and a coward simultaneously, a hard combination, but he can certainly pull it off. Hank Worden only had one scene, but he's as neat as ever. And finally, Jack Elam was a scenery chewing, crazy eyed loonie, with some of the funniest lines in the whole movie.

No, it's not the best, but I like it. It will always be in my personal movie stash.

Haven't we seen this story before?
Rio Lobo is a good John Wayne western that borrows from several of his previous movies. The story is about a Union colonel trying to find out who the traitor was in his unit that sold information about gold shipments to Confederate guerillas. Along the way he helps a town escape the wrath of a rich landowner and a corrupt sheriff. The story may seem similar, but this still is a very entertaining movie. What John Wayne movie isn't? The story blends action and story together in this exciting western.

The Duke is great once again as Cord McNally, the Union colonel in pursuit of traitors. Jorge Rivero is awkward as Pierre "Frenchy" Cordona, the Confederate guerilla who helps Wayne. I don't know whether it is actually Rivero talking or someone dubbing his lines in, but it just sounds funny. Joining them are Jennifer O'Neill, Christopher Mitchum, Jack Elam, and Victor French. Elam is great as usual in his role as the eccentric old man in the town. The DVD has a good widescreen presentation that looks cleaned up compared to the one shown on TBS. Otherwise, there isn't any extras added on. This was Howard Hawks last western, and he made a good one. Good story and exciting action. Deserves a watch if nothing else for those who haven't seen this late Duke western!

Good movie!
Howard Hawk's swansong is a good one. The train robbery at the beginning of the movie is exceptionally done, and it gets this film off to a fast start. It sags a bit in the middle, but is bolstered by the comic performance of Jack Elam, who is downright hilarious. Great gunfight at the end. Supporting actors are OK, but could have been a whole lot better. You couldn't find two more beautiful women than Jennifer O'Neill and Sherry Lansing, and they certainly add to the dynamics of the movie.

Duke, as usual, delivers a fine performance. The similarities in plot line to El Dorado and Rio Bravo are obvious, but Hawks again does a very nice job. Jack Elam's character really saves this movie, though, because the middle is downright slow. Overall, not John Wayne's best, but good. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Time Changer may be a little strident in its core message (i.e., ethics don't count unless they're backed by the force of Christ), but as an above-average feature for the Christian market, it's pretty agreeable. D. David Morin stars as a late-19th-century Bible professor named Carlisle, whose efforts to publish a book arguing that morals can be taught independent of Christ's teachings is denounced by one Dr. Anderson (Gavin Macleod), a board member at Carlisle's seminary. Anderson, who happens to be in possession of a time machine, sends Carlisle to the year 2001, where the latter quickly discovers the pitfalls of a secular world with relative morality and no absolute (i.e., Christian) standards. Time Changer's seasoned supporting cast, including Paul Rodriguez, Jennifer O'Neill, and Hal Linden, bring a professional gloss to the film that helps counter its thematic single-mindedness, while director Rich Christiano serves up some passable science fiction to go with all the preaching. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Entertaining, but a little awkward
The "Time Changer" is one of the better Christian-based movies produced recently. But it's not the best.

The basic device of the movie is a little silly, that someone in the 19th century could develop a time machine, but we've seen a lot worse in sci-fi before.

A seminarian, Dr. Russell Carlisle, is sent forward in time by his friend to show him the dangers of his upcoming book's message: that ethics can be separated from Christ. Carlisle, played by D. David Morin, discovers a moral-relative world, much to his shock.

Theologically speaking, the movie lacks any sublety. You know exactly what the theme of the movie is, and it's often hammered down hard. That tends to distract from the other aspects of the movie, but it does parallel with the plot of Dr. Carlisle's book.

I have to add Morin's acting is a little wooden at times. (My wife likened him to Mr. Data from "Star Trek.") He does a much better job with his facial expressions and gestures, as he adapts to the modern world, in what is often quite amusing misadventures.

So, while it's not the absolute best Christian movie made in recent years (I'd give "The Omega Code" that distinction), it's not the worst, and worthy of watching.

Timely message can no longer be ignored
Time Changer is a Christian time travel story, but it's more than that-much more. It deals with two primary topics: 1-it deals with the authority of Jesus Christ and 2: Eternity. These two issues are extremely important and cannot be ignored.

Plot: A bible professor-Dr. Russell Carslie has written a book called "The changing times" and he is seeking endorsement from the Grace Bible Seminary board of directors where he teaches before the book is published. Since everyone must give their approval of the manuscript-or no endearment by the board. All is well until Dr. Norris Anderson shows up and raises an objection to one item in the book. He believes that teaching morals alone-without the authority of Jesus Christ will lead many astray.

At first, Dr. Carlisle is as bull headed as they come-refusing to understand or accept what Dr. Anderson's is trying to say. Eventually, he goes to Norrris' Home where he shows Carlisle a time machine that his father built before he died. Carlisle laughs at first-but he realizes that they need to settle the issue. He is then transported in to the future-110 years to be exact.

He then sees the folly of his beliefs. He meets several people. Most of them have a shallow view of life. Even those in the church are ignorant of the truth of Christ. For example, he goes to a movie with a group from the church-and he is the only one who is bothered by the fact that a character on the screen is using the name of Christ in Vain. Every one else just say that "It's only a movie"

This movie DOES NOT paint a rosy picture of the past. At the board meeting, Norris points out that over 5% of marriages end in divorce(1890 numbers). When Carlisle is in the future-he learns that 50% of all marriages end in divorce. This is only one example.

Another reviewer accuses the producers of deceiving him for not informing him that this is a Christian film. If you look on the back of the case-there's a description of the film. It says plainly that it's about a bible professor who is sent into more than 100 years into the future. If that does not tell you that that this is a Christian film-then I don't know what will. There was no attempt by the producers to deceive anyone.

This is a timely film with an important message. Buy or rent this film today.

God Bless,
Jay

What if you could get offended by everything you see?
ONE MAN WILL! Ok this is such a baptist movie. All it is is watching a rule loving freak geting offended by everything in the future. I think this movie is funny, but I still hate it. If you watch this movie and enjoy it...FORSHAME!

Time Changer
This movie is bad. Almost bad beyond belief.

It's not a science-fiction movie, for those of you who were led to believe it is. It has sci-fi-elements but that's not the point of the movie. This is a Christian propaganda movie. It tells us that the reason there is so much bad morals in today's society is because we have separated Jesus from the morals and therefore don't know why we should act morally. It also tells us that we're living in the last days of the world.

The movie is extremely moralizing and preachy. One of the most (unintentionally) funny lines in the movie is "I believe that secular entertainment is one of the biggest tools that Satan uses to mislead people". Some of the supporting actors are decent, Jennifer O'Neal for example, but D David Morin who plays the lead part is unbelievably bad, but in a funny way. But then, I don't think any actor could play his part and say his lines and make it believable.

If you think this sounds like a good movie, you might enjoy this it. I guess this was made by, and for, Christian fundamentalist. Others, like me, might get some laughs out of it, but nothing more (except realizing the sad fact that there are people out there who make movies like these, and those who honestly thing they're good).

It seems like the Christians in America have millions to spend, making dozens of movies like this. I guess that's why they ask for donations all the time.

THE BEST!!
Not only is Time Changer one of the best christian movies I've seen, it's one of the best movies I've ever seen. Great story, wonderful screenplay and a strong message.

Time Changer is about a 1800's preacher who travels through time to today and is amazed by the lack of morality. With today's reality tv polluting our screens and total disregard for God and morality, this is an important film.

Thanks for reading and please buy this and show it to your friends. ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Try not to think about it
As is the case of most of Cronenberg's work, the plot of Scanners begins in a straight line, becomes murky, and then almost nonsensical, The Fly remake being the exception, but barely. That's not to say that Scanners wasn't enjoyable. The special effects really are what make the movie; the exploding head in the beginning has since become one of horror's greatest movie moments-it's that priceless. The acting, with the exception of Patrick McGoohan, is non-plussed and wooden, oftentimes just downright uninspired. Steven Lack has to be one of the most ironic and appropriate names for an actor that ever existed. At it's heart, Scanners is an action movie, there are plenty of scenes of tension that move the story forward; at no point will you feel very bogged down by exposition until you get to the ending, and then you will have whiplash from having had the whole story laid on you so fast. Many Cronenberg elements can be seen in this film: excessive violence, fatalistic outlooks from many of the characters, and Cronenberg's own patented pessimism, which seems to hover over every one of his films like a specter. Cronenberg is a marginal director, by that I mean that he doesn't take the easy road to get his message across to you. Many of his films are a lesson in hubris coupled with excessive power. Just don't try to take any of this with you when you watch Crash. There just was no excuse for that one. Enjoy.

Effemerol The Scanner Drug of Choice
Movie Summary: Cameron Vale is jerked from his life as a mentally ill homeless man and whisked away to a corporate building. There he is given a drug that stops the voices in his head. He is told that he is not insane but he is one of only a few people with special mental powers. He is a Scanner. The corporation and its head scientist Doctor Paul Ruth clean up and attempt to train Cameron. They then send out an under prepared Cameron into the middle of a scanner war to track down a very powerful scanner who has plans to conquer the world.

My Opinion: Almost all the reviews for Scanners call it a Horror movie. I don't agree. To me Horror suggests movies like "Friday the 13th" and "A Nightmare on Elm Street". Scanners has some gore which more than likely is what gets it the horror label. I found it to be an Action Thriller with major SciFi elements. It's also a detective/spy type mystery film. It's all these elements together that make Scanners interesting and entertaining. The plot gets a little confusing in the middle as Cameron searches for other scanners, but our confusion mirrors Cameron's and is intentional. As things progress everything becomes clear. Stephen Lack is excellent as the weird scanner hero. I liked him enough to go look up what other films he has been in. Patrick McGoohan and Michael Ironside also give great performances. Overall this is a very entertaining movie that I will watch more than once and recommend to others.

DVD Quality: Video: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Sound: DD 2.0 Mono. For at least the last quarter of the movie the sound does not sync up with the video. Extras: Trailer only. This is a bare bones DVD with Audio problems, but it is offered at a VHS price.

What You Should Do: Buy the DVD if you are a fan of this movie or of Horror/ScFi movies in general. It's not a high quality DVD release, but the price isn't going to make your head explode.

Related Movies To Check Out: Three Days of the Condor, Reanimator, Bride of Reanimator

"I'm gonna suck your brain dry!"
From writer/director/auteur David Cronenberg comes another intelligent and visceral sci-fi/horror classic in the form of Scanners (1981), a film that takes a disturbing look at potential of the human mind within all of us, but only a few may actually possess. The questions posed are what if there were those out there who had the ability to read minds and control people actions just by thought? And what if those same individuals, scanners, as called within the film, also had not only the ability to read minds and control the actions of others with their mind, but also had the power to kill with the same means? The film stars Jennifer O'Neill (Summer of '42), the eccentric Patrick McGoohan (The Prisoner, Silver Streak), Michael Ironside (Total Recall), and Stephen Lack, who, by the way, is not only an actor, but also a world-renowned artist, having garnered much acclaim for his paintings.

As the film begins, we see a homeless man (Lack) wandering a mall, getting dirty looks from all the people he sees (hey hey we're the Monkees...whatever)...anywho, one woman in particular, in the food court, seems exceptionally offended by his presence, but she soon has other things to worry about as she suffers from some sort of brain freeze, like the kind you get when you drink something cold too fast, brought on by the homeless man...turns out our homeless man (in my day, they were called bums, but whatever), whose name is Cameron Vale, has psychic powers of some sort, and has garnered the attention of CONSEC (whose chairman looks a helleva lot like Ed Asner), a company that specializes in weapons, specifically Dr. Paul Ruth (McGoohan), who describes himself as a 'psycho pharmacist', whatever that means (I bet he's a lot of fun to hang out with on the weekends). Dr. Ruth basically recruits Vale in a effort to track a particularly dangerous and powerful scanner by the name Darryl Revok, who's supposedly head of an underground movement of scanners and who has also basically decimated CONSEC's program of exploring the weapons potential of scanners, as he seems to subscribe to a policy of if you have special mind powers, then you either join up with him or you get your head exploded. Along the way Vale meets with Kim Obrist (O'Neill), a sort of leader of a fringe group of scanners outside of CONSEC and Revok's control (not for long), and they soon find themselves fighting for their lives as conspiracies unfold, traitorous scoundrels exposed, and secrets reveals. What's Revok's ultimate goal? It's not that far-fetched, considering his abilities...

I enjoyed this film...there really wasn't too many lengthy visceral scenes, but what there was contained very graphic gore (s'ploding heads) that imprinted on your mind, and tended to stay with you long after the scene was over. One scene, in particular, when Revok deals with the scanner at CONSEC, the tension was thick as the pressure, on and off the screen, built up quickly, and resulted in the film's most spectacular and memorable sequence. Jennifer O'Neill is good (and very easy on the eyes, shabba doo), but I didn't quite understand her character's connections to the other characters in the film, other than her being a scanner. It almost seemed like a plot contrivance if only to incorporate an attractive female, not that I mind attractive females, but her scenes could have pretty much been removed without much loss to the plot. Patrick McGoohan is one of my more favorite actors and he plays his part very well as the mentor/trainer to Lack's character, sort of a Professor X, if you are familiar with the X-Men comics or movies. Lack provides a sort of disjointed performance, but I felt as if it was intentional, as it seemed to work really well within the movie and fit his character, one who's spent most of his life trying to deal with the problems associated with his special abilities. I thought Michael Ironside's character was great, as he plays the role of the sadistic heavy with a God complex so very well (except, maybe for his role in Highlander II: The Quickening...ugh, what a complete dog that movie was...). He reminds me a lot of Lance Henriksen, both good actors but rarely ever emerging from B-movie limbo. Maybe they need better agents. There was a certain amount of symbolism throughout the movie, the most noticeable being when Lack's character is following up on lead by contacting a reclusive scanner who is an artist living in a barn. One of his pieces is a giant, hollow head, and there's a scene where the two men are actually sitting in the head, talking about Revok. There seems to be some confusion about the ending, after the final confrontation, but I thought it was pretty clear, and provided a nice eerie touch.

MGM presents a nice wide screen anamorphic transfer, but some have commented on the certain parts of the film being out of sync, but I didn't notice. I was a little surprised there was so little in the way of special features given the cult following of the film and that of Cronenberg in general, with only a theatrical trailer available, but I suppose someday they will produce a special edition of sorts. I would have liked to have seen a director's commentary, or some production notes, but I am pleased with what's here.

Cookieman108

David Cronenberg's Scanners
The Scanners are a group of beings who have a power that they can bend,twist,mutilate,and explode other human beings,using the powers of their minds. There are two groups of scanners good and bad.One of the scanners Revok wants the scanners to band together for his evil purposes, he spends his time trying to locate his brother, a good scanner, Cameron and finds him for the ultimate showdown between the good and evil scanners. In between all this we get to see a couple heads explode.Not really among Cronenberg's best, but it's ok.

Let the Scanners scan you....!
This film is one of my personal new 'classics' of horror, although it's also a sci-fi film. The plot centers around a small group of 'mutants,' long before the 'X-Men' made them cool, who have the unique ability to scan the thought patterns of others, thus knowing what people are thinking. However, as always, not all mutants play nice, as actor, Michael Ironside, has a great role as the demented Revok, who likes to scan people's minds just a bit too long, leading one to lose one's head, as in the infamous exploding head scene! Revok leads his bands of rebel mutuants against the establishment, and only another Scanner with equal ability can stand in his way. Even though this film is dated somewhat and campy in parts, it's definitely entriguing and fans of gross-out effects will eat this film up! ... Read more

Description

From the writer of "The French Connection" comes a martial arts battle of vengeance and honor.When a team of undercover narcotics officers comes under attack by a mysterious serial killer, the police enlist the help of karate champion Matt Logan (Chuck Norris), who must bring the terror to an end. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Absolutely Great
This movie spoke so loudly to me. I have purchased it to show the Youth at our church. Beautiful. Touched my heart.

Escape to Reality
While much of cineamotography leaves out reality, or even worse highlights the very worse and dispicalble of mankind, this film produced by Billy Graham Ministries is the opposite.

It shows a man who is without God, and when his whole world crumbles in a declining profession, the bottom in inevitable. As God so often does, he takes this individual to a place where as Gomer of Hosea fame, the choice becomes obvious: back to the first love, God, or else.

I show this to my confirmation kids (age 13-14) and they just love it, and get so much out of it.

I believe you will to, and will profit much from this well done and touching story.

A modern classic for the entire family
Not often have I come across such an outstanding film. First of all Michael Biehn is my favorite actor & this film is one reason. His flawless portrayel of a washed up rodeo star trying to set his life straight is reason enough but this film also carries with it an important message of love. With it's Christian overtone it brings such a great feeling to heart & the scenery is breath taking. The dvd also contains a great behind the scenes documentary. It's one of those great movies that you laugh, cry, & cheer over and over again throughout the movie. A movie that just gets better with each viewing. Give it a chance, even if you're not religious, not into rodeos--it doesn't matter. It's so thoroughly enjoyable for everyone.

One of the stupidest, most cliched movies ever
Christian movies are such bores. They are cliched, middle of the road films that only the converted would watch and enjoy. Here of course you have the bald cancer patient kid, the sinful rancher who no longer rides, and the sweet Christians. Always funny--the Christians are always good natured and great, but the sinners are judgemental. Of course the kid wins a great victory and dies; the rancher will come to Christ after he struggles with his own nature (he doesn't want to help that kid because he is not a Christian and the kid is bald). There is the moment of course where everyone will shave their heads to make the cancer kid feel good. A heart-warming moment every 5 minutes or so, and it make me sick. THe Christian world view is so romanticized--no life is not like this, and it would be boring if it was. Avoid like a Christian crusade.

The Ride... a great family film!
My son really loved this movie,I love it too...it is one of the family film genre that I will actually watch again and again...Michael Biehn...(Terminator,Aliens,Navy Seals) is fabulous as the "What is your definition of bottom...?" down and busted rodeo rider. He gives a right on the money performance without pulling punches from his nasty side,and neither does the rest of the cast get in to the too sickly sweet family film goo that we adults are want to avoid. You will recognise a number of faces (Jennifer O'Neill for one)and feel the filmm rates an "A" even though it was made in 25 days on a B budget...it doesn't show...give it a try...you'll love it too... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Little style, less substance.
A made-for-TV "Thomas Crown Affair (1968)" tries hard to duplicate the Steve McQueen-Faye Dunaway chemistry, using Donald Sutherland and Jennifer O'Neill in this watery version.

Role reversal sets O'Neill as the wealthy jewel thief, hunted seductively by insurance investigator Sutherland..who works most of the film in shirts open to the navel...Ahh, the 70's!

O'Neill is beautiful and stylish, drives fast cars, swims unclothed and stays away from complex sentences, while Sutherland smokes those little thin cigars and from time to time falls back on his 'Hawkeye' grin. There is a nice turn by Jon Cypher as the heavy. Soap opera vet Eric Braeden gets some on-screen time as does, of all people Robert Duvall as the straight-arrow cop.

Fun for a lark. Connoisseurs of the genre only please. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Way cool fun!
I rented this movie for my whole family to watch, because there aren't too many opportunities for some wholesome family fun anymore in this crazy, violent world. I gotta say, it was hilarious! Mark Twain would be prouder than a peach! My two little girls thought the star was quite a hunk, and little Donnie talked like a prince for a week. I hope the star takes up a modern send-up of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" next! In two words, this movie was "Toooootally rad!" Surfers definitely rule!

Real California Teens, with a touch of classic
As the guardian of a California Teen Age Boy, I found this movie fun with a lot of positive overtones. Arye Gross is listed as director in the actual movie 'credits' and I saw him directing on the beach scenes I am curious how Gregory Gieras came to be listed, as director, here on Amazon?

A wickedly entertaining update of Twain's classic story!!!
Went to a screening of the movie with my two kids (my daughter(age 7) and my son (age 11) and we all loved it!!! It is funny, touching and reminded me of the kind of movies I loved as a child. Robert Englund is excellent as the bad guy and former screen icon, Jennifer O'Neal is touching as a queen from a magical country. After the movie, I told my children about the original Twain classic and they immediately wanted to read it themselves. Let me say that anytime a movie makes children want to read the source material, it makes a movie worth watching. Go see it!!!

Fantastic entertainment for the whole family!
For those who are looking for classy family entertainment that still includes fun, adventure, and a healthy dose of romance, this is the movie for you! This is so much more than a simple "remake" of the Twain classic. In this story, the expected switch between the Prince (a teenaged visitor from the country of Gelfland) and the Surfer (Cash Canty, a rambunctious yet thoroughly modern Southern California kid) is just the beginning. Director Arye Gross and writer Gregory Poppen then thrust our heroes even deeper into the other's world by adding two key characters: Lady Galina, the spoiled young woman betrothed to Prince Edward, and Melissa "Mel" Hendon, Cash Canty's beautiful but tough-as-nails friend on the boardwalk. In addition, there is a "Roman Holiday"-like romance that blossoms between Cash Canty's father Johnny (Timothy Bottoms), and Edward's mother Queen Albertina (Jennifer O'Neill). And finally, an insidious traitor (Minister Kratski, played with manipulative glee by Robert Englund) throws even more turmoil and confusion into the mix.

Whatever you do... don't miss this movie! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Murder Mystery!!
This movie is a great murder mystery when a high priced call girl is murdered with a revealing video tape of her affluent clients.It's a must see!! ... Read more

Description

Even true love can be bad. Eloise (Gidley) works long hours in a dead-end job, then catches passionless quickies in cheap motels. Lenny (Sizemore) is a down and out loner who moves from one menial job to the next. Fate steps in and lust and passion take over as their romance sends them down a destructive road to porn, violence and crime. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Rather Dissapointing
I bought this video because I wanted to see Tom Sizemore in a starring role (apart from the "Relic"). Though both stars are known for their abilities, they seemed like guests in the film. Awkward acting, and poor directing. The ending is very good, at least we have some reactions from the cast, bun in conclusion, I wouldn't judge TS by this movie. He is a lot more than he seems to be in this one. Definitely recommended for his fans, truly handsome and with lots of sensual scenes.

Nice to see TOM SIZEMORE in the spotlight...
Pamela Gidley plays Eloise, a down and out chick who is looking for a job, can't keep a boyfriend, has a crappy apartment and has really bad luck. Tom Sizemore plays Lenny, a sweet but annoying guy who can't get a decent job w/out screwing it up. When they meet it, they fall for each other and start a hot-and-heavy, ill-fated romance. After going through a LOT of trouble, Lenny thinks of a plan to make some money...but of course things don't go as planned. Its nice to see Tom Sizemore (Heat, Saving Private Ryan, True Romance, Natural Born Killers) get a lot of screen time and play just a regular guy instead of his usual roles ~ He is a wonderful and underated actor who played the part of Lenny well. I don't know much about model/actress Pamela Gidley, but she pulled her role off well also. She has a certain spunk and charisma that works for her. Although the acting wasn't "Academy Award" winning, it has poor direction, a semi~bad script, and its cheaply made ~ its a good movie to watch late night when your flipping through channels. Die hard Tom Sizemore fans will love it, although it may dissapoint your average movie buff (the sex and nudity seems to subsitute for a good script) Watch out for a small role played by Debi Mazar & Margaux Hemingway! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Way cool fun!
I rented this movie for my whole family to watch, because there aren't too many opportunities for some wholesome family fun anymore in this crazy, violent world. I gotta say, it was hilarious! Mark Twain would be prouder than a peach! My two little girls thought the star was quite a hunk, and little Donnie talked like a prince for a week. I hope the star takes up a modern send-up of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" next! In two words, this movie was "Toooootally rad!" Surfers definitely rule!

Real California Teens, with a touch of classic
As the guardian of a California Teen Age Boy, I found this movie fun with a lot of positive overtones. Arye Gross is listed as director in the actual movie 'credits' and I saw him directing on the beach scenes I am curious how Gregory Gieras came to be listed, as director, here on Amazon?

A wickedly entertaining update of Twain's classic story!!!
Went to a screening of the movie with my two kids (my daughter(age 7) and my son (age 11) and we all loved it!!! It is funny, touching and reminded me of the kind of movies I loved as a child. Robert Englund is excellent as the bad guy and former screen icon, Jennifer O'Neal is touching as a queen from a magical country. After the movie, I told my children about the original Twain classic and they immediately wanted to read it themselves. Let me say that anytime a movie makes children want to read the source material, it makes a movie worth watching. Go see it!!!

Fantastic entertainment for the whole family!
For those who are looking for classy family entertainment that still includes fun, adventure, and a healthy dose of romance, this is the movie for you! This is so much more than a simple "remake" of the Twain classic. In this story, the expected switch between the Prince (a teenaged visitor from the country of Gelfland) and the Surfer (Cash Canty, a rambunctious yet thoroughly modern Southern California kid) is just the beginning. Director Arye Gross and writer Gregory Poppen then thrust our heroes even deeper into the other's world by adding two key characters: Lady Galina, the spoiled young woman betrothed to Prince Edward, and Melissa "Mel" Hendon, Cash Canty's beautiful but tough-as-nails friend on the boardwalk. In addition, there is a "Roman Holiday"-like romance that blossoms between Cash Canty's father Johnny (Timothy Bottoms), and Edward's mother Queen Albertina (Jennifer O'Neill). And finally, an insidious traitor (Minister Kratski, played with manipulative glee by Robert Englund) throws even more turmoil and confusion into the mix.

Whatever you do... don't miss this movie! ... Read more

Description

Mark Twain's classic tale is remade in the '90s world as two modern teenagers switch places for fun and freedom. Prince Edward of Gelfland and American Tom "Cash" Canty couldn't be more different. Edward has money, clothes and servants who cater to his every whim. But his duties as Prince prevent him from experiencing the freedom he so desires. Cash Canty has no responsibilities and spends most of his time surfing and skateboarding with his friends in the beach town of Palm Bay. But Cash longs for something better, to live a life of privilege, to see the world. Neither of them could imagine how much their worlds would change when the identical-looking teens meet and change places, leaving everybody wondering who's who and what's what until the very end. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Way cool fun!
I rented this movie for my whole family to watch, because there aren't too many opportunities for some wholesome family fun anymore in this crazy, violent world. I gotta say, it was hilarious! Mark Twain would be prouder than a peach! My two little girls thought the star was quite a hunk, and little Donnie talked like a prince for a week. I hope the star takes up a modern send-up of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" next! In two words, this movie was "Toooootally rad!" Surfers definitely rule!

Real California Teens, with a touch of classic
As the guardian of a California Teen Age Boy, I found this movie fun with a lot of positive overtones. Arye Gross is listed as director in the actual movie 'credits' and I saw him directing on the beach scenes I am curious how Gregory Gieras came to be listed, as director, here on Amazon?

A wickedly entertaining update of Twain's classic story!!!
Went to a screening of the movie with my two kids (my daughter(age 7) and my son (age 11) and we all loved it!!! It is funny, touching and reminded me of the kind of movies I loved as a child. Robert Englund is excellent as the bad guy and former screen icon, Jennifer O'Neal is touching as a queen from a magical country. After the movie, I told my children about the original Twain classic and they immediately wanted to read it themselves. Let me say that anytime a movie makes children want to read the source material, it makes a movie worth watching. Go see it!!!

Fantastic entertainment for the whole family!
For those who are looking for classy family entertainment that still includes fun, adventure, and a healthy dose of romance, this is the movie for you! This is so much more than a simple "remake" of the Twain classic. In this story, the expected switch between the Prince (a teenaged visitor from the country of Gelfland) and the Surfer (Cash Canty, a rambunctious yet thoroughly modern Southern California kid) is just the beginning. Director Arye Gross and writer Gregory Poppen then thrust our heroes even deeper into the other's world by adding two key characters: Lady Galina, the spoiled young woman betrothed to Prince Edward, and Melissa "Mel" Hendon, Cash Canty's beautiful but tough-as-nails friend on the boardwalk. In addition, there is a "Roman Holiday"-like romance that blossoms between Cash Canty's father Johnny (Timothy Bottoms), and Edward's mother Queen Albertina (Jennifer O'Neill). And finally, an insidious traitor (Minister Kratski, played with manipulative glee by Robert Englund) throws even more turmoil and confusion into the mix.

Whatever you do... don't miss this movie! ... Read more