Reviews (71)

Hollywood Knights-A Hilarious "Cult-Classic".
This 20-year old film is not to be missed. This coming May, 2000 will be the first time it will be available, so make sure it's on your list of movies to check out! The film takes place in 1965 at "Tubby's" Drive-In. The central character is Newbomb Turk(Robert Wuhl)and his rambunctious gang of "Knights" running around their Town and playing funny pranks on themselves, the bumbling police and their school. Hollywood Knights is considered to be the clone of the many "Drive-In" type movies, most notably, "American Graffiti"(1973) but I guarantee you will laugh your socks off. This film is also notorious for featuring the debut performances of, Robert Wuhl, Fran Drescher and Michelle Pfeiffer. Tony Danza, Stuart Pankin, and Gary Graham also appear.

A little bit 'American Graffiti', a little bit 'Porky's.....
... This flick about a car-gang, the Hollywood Knights, having themselves a major blast on the final night before their main hangout, Tubby's Drive In (Home of the BIG ONE) gets closed down by some conservative Beverly Hills beauracracy - - - -, could very well be the funniest movie of all-time as well as the greatest CAR-movie ever (it's an absolute SIN that it isn't even in MSN's Top 10 car-movies). 'Graffiti', as classic and deservingly so as it is, is a bit too politically-correct, PG-rated, a la Ron Howard/Cindy Williams. 'Hollywood Knights', however, gets STRAIGHT-TO-THE-POINT comedically even if a bit crude at times although not quite as crude as 'Porky's. Though the movie does 'star' Tony Danza (perhaps to sell more tickets at the time being that 'Taxi' was a current hit in 1980) and a young up-and-coming Goddess, Michele Pfieffer, it's simply ROBERT WUHL's rendition of NEWBOMB TURK that far-and-away steals the show and then some. For me to tell you just how hysterical this character is throughout the movie, I would not be able to finish beneath the 1,000-word-limit. That is why you simply have to get this one and see it for yourself. Yes, and to think that in the director's narrative (very worth listening to, by the way) it is told that Wuhl (this being his first role) was actually 'shy' and 'nervous' during shooting; amazing. Let's not forget Fran Drescher's role in this as well. Apart from being easy on the eyes, she is also such a trip; a real funny lady ("Did you come?! You're so inmatuue!!") 'Knights' is practically non-stop laughs and pranks throughout with the exception of the movie every now and then shifting to the cheesy love-plot between Danza and Pfieffer's characters (perhaps installed just to give the viewer a short break from laughing to death). Other, but more forgiveable, 'breaks' from the ongoing tomfoolery in the movie also include focusing on one of the Knights (played by the one who ended up on 'Alien Nation' years later) going off to Vietnam the next day. This segment of the movie's plot is an example as to why this flick is more than just laughs-galore but also touches on the end of an era. Conviently taking place on Halloween 1965, the viewer can feel THE 60s creep in as the movie goes on, whether it be the fact that there are ONLY FOUR Hollywood Knight-pledges wanting to initiate themselves into the car-gang when in years past, as Danza's character put it, "when I was in junior high school, everyone wanted to be a Knight", or whether it be the 8-TRACK PLAYER put into one of the hot-rods playing 'California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas, or whether it be the young high-school street-surfer being told at Tubby's by his older peers to 'cut his hair', or whether it be the 'treat' that the street-corner do-woppers gave the four Knight-pledges while singing 'Under the Boardwalk', and simply the fact that A DRIVE-IN WAS CLOSING DOWN. Just like 'Fast Times' touches up on the 80s before the 80s BECAME the 80s (MTV) and just like 'Wayne's World' touched up on a time in the early 90s when metal-heads still had their thing going in the face of Nirvana and Pearl Jam (and Ugly Kid Joe??), 'Knights' focused on a fraternity of 60s high-schoolers that were still hanging onto the 50s just before finally having no choice but to drop (no pun intended) into the turbulent times of the day. 'Dudley', the 'nerd' of the flick ("Mother, I knooow! I knooow!), was a rather funny role as well and it was cool that the Knights ended up accepting him after putting him through an 'initiation' in itself. They allowed him the opportunity to have 'a life' well before the last day of school whereas the T-birds (in 'Grease') never accepted Eugene, even at the time of the carnival. This is definitely why...KNIGHTS RULE!

A riot and well-deserving of all of the praise
Can it really be nearly a quarter of a century since I first saw this riotous film during it's initial theatrical release in early 1980? For years afterwards I had to content myself with watching it on and taping it from HBO and Cinemax, all the while wondering why it had never been made available on home video. Now, I am quite happy to say that I own the film on both VHS and DVD. I am stunned but not surprised by all of the reviews raving about this wonderfully funny film. Although Tony Danza and Michelle Pfeiffer are given top-billing, they are overshadowed by the hilarious and talented Robert Wuhl as Newbomb Turk, the little-known at the time, Fran Drescher as Sally and Stuart Pankin as Dudley Laywicker. The two bumbling Laurel-and-Hardy-like Beverly Hills police officers are also extremely funny. It has a great soundtrack of classic 1960's music, some great-looking 1960's cars, some great-looking women and also well-captures the flavor and the spirit of the 1960's. It is for everyone who has ever hung-out at the local drive-in, gone cruising and longed to return to a simpler time. The DVD, while it does offer a great looking transfer of the film, in both fullscreen (pan-and-scan) and widescreen (letterbox) versions, it is surprisingly and unfortunately double-sided. Curiously, it also features "bonus" trailers of a few later Michelle Pfeiffer films, but absolutely no trailers whatsoever for The Hollywood Knights!! This is one of the funniest films I have ever seen, along with Smokey And The Bandit, The Odd Couple, Dragnet and Planes, Trains And Automobiles. If you love The Hollywood Knights, I wholeheartedly recommend checking out the 1982 film Losin' It (another one of my favorites), starring Tom Cruise, Jackie Earle Haley and Shelley Long. It is very similar in tone and humor. What a pity there were never any sequels made to The Hollywood Knights!!

Danza and Pfeiffer?
I find it ironic that Tony Danza and Michelle Pfeiffer grace the cover of this DVD. Hands down, that honor belonged to Robert Wuhl whose Newbomb Turk character made this movie the classic that it is. Danza and Pfeiffer have bit parts as the "love interest" and their story does little to move this flick along, but I guess they were the prettiest and most recognizable faces in the movie. (Well, Michelle's was.) I'm proud to say that I actually paid money to see this in it's original theatre run, and that for years one of my proudest posessions was a taped copy from Cinemax. To this day, my brother and I can still get a laugh from each other by simply saying "Lawrence......Lawrence of Arabia". This video release was long overdue.

Hilarious
The first time I saw this movie, my mother was watching it. She was laughing hysterically. She told me what the movie was about and I laughed along with her. This was about twenty years ago on HBO. Since then, my wife has purchased this movie for me as a Christmas gift. I still watch it occasionally. It is the funniest movie that I have ever seen. I feel it's much better than "American Graffiti", as that movie tends to be slow at times. ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Fantastic movie, intense.
This movie is one of the best movies I've ever seen. Michael Douglas and Glenn Close give life to this stylish, sexy and famous movie that was nominated for 6 Academy Awards.
The story is about a man named Dan (Douglas) who is happily married with a 6 year old son. And one day he meets Alex (Close) in a party and few days after when Michael's wife goes to the country with their son. Dan meats again Alex again in a meeting and they have an intense affair during those days.
It was all meant to finish there, as an affair but Alex falls helplessly in love with Dan and doesn't want to let him go.
Dan's wife returns from the country and he refuses to answer Alex's phone calls and messages but Alex is desperate to see him again and she even cut her veins to make him stay. The whole nightmare starts there and Alex won't stop until Dan belongs to her...
You will be watching this movie without closing your eyes beacuse it's full of suspence.

Almost
Except for the final scene (which I suspect was "borrowed" from Henri-Georges Clouzot's Diabolique), this is a solid film. In it, Director Adrian Lyne examines the consequences of a one-night affair involving two very attractive people, Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) who is single and Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) who is married and a parent of young children. While Beth Gallagher (Anne Archer, also "borrowed," from Jack Ryan) and the children are visiting her mother, Dan unexpectedly finds himself having drinks and then dinner with Alex. They feel an immediate and powerful sexual attraction to each other. Later, they spend the night in her loft apartment. Insofar as he's concerned, it was a memorable night, thanks ever so much, but that's it. Alex reacts differently, at first asking and then demanding that they continue the relationship. She even claims to be pregnant and at one point attempts suicide. Of course, all this is not what Dan had in mind but Alex forces him to recognize the significance of his adultery.

The acting is consistently strong but the screenplay allows for almost no character development, nor are the nature and extent of Alex's psychological problems ever revealed or even explored. Obviously, she is lonely and delusional as well as envious of the lifestyle Beth and Dan share. Only an actor possessed of Glenn Close's talents and temperament could reveal (albeit only in brief moments) Alex's tenderness which helps to explain her vulnerability to both real and perceived grievances. After seeing the film again, I still think the final scene in the upstairs bathroom doesn't work. In fact, I think it detracts from the narrative development which precedes it. On balance, however, Fatal Attraction offers solid entertainment even as it raises (at least in my mind) questions about the two main characters and their relationship which, for whatever reasons, Lyne and/or his screenwriters do not address in the film.

Hence my interest in the special features provided with the DVD version. They include a commentary by Lyne, "Forever Fatal: Remembering 'Fatal Attraction'" (which offers new, exclusive cast and crew interviews), "Social Attraction" (an analysis of the cultural phenomenon of a fatal attraction), "Visual Attraction" (a behind-the-scenes production featurette), rehearsal footage, and the alternate ending introduced by Lyne.

Delicious
A horrific account of of bipolar/borderline personality disorders, this film is guaranteed to chill the spines of men who've had to deal with crazy and obsessive women. Close is dead-on in her portrayal of an insane, clingy woman who will not leave her target alone. The dialogue is also not cliche-ridden, and is to the point and realistically simple. The other characters seem real enough, and we really do feel for the husband she's stalking.

The harrassment is also well done, with each unsettling
phone call, visit, and other annoyance just adding to the
tension.

This is one of Lyne's masterpieces, full of
rich color and controlled, careful direction. Fans of his intense artistic visions are also advised to get
Jacob's Ladder on DVD.

fatal attraction
This movie was well made. It had a good plot and story line. I was very dissapointed in Glenn Close. I used to like her as an actress, but she played a very terrible person. I just cant beleive she would star in a movie like that. Otherwise a good movie

What a DVD should be...
Inexpensive, awesome DVD package of the classic suspense drama. Attention, studios: Take a lesson from whoever put this one together for Paramount. It not only is a great screener of the 5 star film, but it has all the bonus features you want from a DVD, with ample participation from the talented cast and crew.

A definite must have for your movie collection. I bet you'll prefer the director's original ending, too....even as satisfying as the other one is! ... Read more

Reviews (54)

that "Little Bird" is going to leave you breathless!
Demi Moore came under intense public attention for those "pictures", little did they know she was going to star in a movie about going starkers...STRIPTEASE.

STRIPTEASE is one of those "guilty pleasure" movies that have a certain campy charm, it's certainly more enjoyable that it's bastard-sister-film; SHOWGIRLS.

Erin Grant (Demi Moore) loses the custody battle for her daughter when she is fired from her job. What's a girl to do? Go and shake her booty, what else?!!

Down at the Eager Beaver Club, where the beer isn't the only thing on the menu, Erin finds a job prancing around to such innocuous tunes as "Little Bird" and "Money Can't Buy It". Soon, a mysterious murder and a hilarious excuse for a congressman - Dilbeck (Burt Reynolds in an inspired performance) prove more of a hindrance than a help as Erin decides to expose her lousy ex-husband as the drug-pushing, slack-jawed yokel that he really is, all the while spinning around a pole in a G-string. Sound exhausting? Nah! We're only getting started!

Overall a pretty enjoyable caper. The DVD transfer is beautiful.

2 stars for Demi Moore
This movie is not a fully erotic movie as it might be expected.But it is not a clever and funny movie either.So what makes Striptease bad,I guess,is that it doesn't manage to satisfy any taste at all.

Erin Grant (Demi Moore) must strip for a living,and her biggest fight is against her ex-husband to get her little daughter back.Meanwhile a [physically excited] congressman (Burt Reynolds)gets fixated on her,a murder occurs and things get quite complicated.

Striptease has humor at times,but not much really happens.The plot,if there is any,is pretty weak.The only thing that makes this movie worth watching is probably Demi Moore and her dancing on beautiful Eurythmics songs.However other than those "music videos",there is nothing else to care about in the movie.I wish Eurythmics used Demi on their videos,which would make making a movie like Striptease unnecessary.

The DVD doesn't have a single extra as it suffers from being an old release,so I can not show any reason why you should buy this DVD,except if you are a hardcore Demi fan..

NATURALLY BAD CONGRESSMAN WAS REPUBLICAN
"Strip Tease" was typical. In it, Burt Reynolds was depicted as so many Republican politicians are depicted: Stupid, immoral, greedy, corrupt...am I leaving anything out?

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM

Stunningly Bad Movie
This is a stunningly bad movie. The plot is basically Demi Moore's character as a single mom who needs money so she works in a strip club (yes, stripping) and has men problems (crappy ex-husband, lecherous politician). While Demi Moore looks great in this movie that was not even worth the two hours or so I wasted watching it.

Best Movie Ever!!!
I love this movie... It is the best ever made and I love to watch it late at night, if you know what I mean. Demi Moore is the best when she starts stripping, I start stripping!

I watch this movie every night of the week! ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Preposterous, But Fun Jungle Adventure
In the tradition of H. Rider Haggard and "Indiana Jones" comes another blockbuster adaptation of a bestselling Michael Crichton novel. Up until now, this has not been one of his better known books, although it was a good enough read. The film is okay, but hopefully it will lead people to the even better book.

The story begins in the jungles of the Congo. An expedition of scientists has discovered an incredible find: a huge source of pure, blue diamonds. They communicate the good news back home, but before they can transmit their coordinates, they are suddenly attacked and killed. But by what?

Another scientist is sent in to find out. Dr. Karen Ross (Laura Linney), for reasons best left unexplained, attaches herself to a mission already bound for Zaire. A primatologist (Dylan Walsh) is returning his talking gorilla-she communicates through sign language-to her home in Africa. He is accompanied by a mysterious and very shady Romanian "philanthropist" with the unlikely name of Herkermer Homolka (Tim Curry). Karen comes along at a crucial time with a pile of money and is soon part of the gang.

Once in Africa, they meet up with Monroe Kelly (Ernie Hudson), their Great White Hunter "who happens to be black." That's when their adventure begins in earnest and it is a wild one. I won't give it away here-you probably wouldn't believe me anyway-but it is exciting and suspenseful, if never actually believable.

The screenplay for "Congo" was written by noted playwright John Patrick Shanley ("Moonstruck"). He has an odd sense of humor-witness his underrated "Joe Vs. the Volcano"-that is very much in evidence here. The story at times borders on the ludicrous and it is filled with all the delightful cliches that usually populate jungle adventure films (e.g. porters who go missing in the night, and a corpse with a diamond clutched in its hand).

Maybe the film wouldn't have worked any other way. I don't know. By making the story a pseudo-spoof, though, Shanley has removed the dramatic tension and suspense that made the novel work. Since everything is played for laughs-all too frequently unintentionally-then it is almost impossible for us to really get involved and care about what is happening.

Still, there is always pleasure to be had from a film that doesn't take itself too seriously and is not above poking fun at the customs of its genre. "Congo" has that, plus a few exciting scenes and some fun performances, particularly by Ernie Hudson. It is certainly not a great film, but it is a pleasant diversion on a hot summer day.

Why are these folks so critical, was the book so good?
I did not read the novel and while I won't say it's the best movie ever made (It's probably a four and a half in my opinion) I found it perfectly entertaining. Admittedly, I have read a lot of SF and like well made SF and adventure movies (Aliens 2, Matrix, even Bakshi's LOTR) but I also enjoy any genre of movie that is created with attention and art if possible and not with lowest-common-denominator formulaic design or for contract obligations. True, if your looking for dramatic acting, go watch "Boys Don't Cry", or "Men Don't Leave" (Movies, not a Four Seasons greatest hits compendium) Congo lacks the special effects of the newer Godzilla movie, but I enjoyed it more than the latest Star Wars movie (Phantom Menace) Congo, which I have watched twice on VHS and will most likely pick up on DVD, has, as one of the other reviewers noted, a Saturday morning adventure feel. It was tense and the gorillas were well done for monster movie make-up. The characters all unobtrusively played out their archetype roles. I recommend this movie to those who can keep thier minds open and who have a taste for adventure in a E. R. Burroughs vein.

EXCELLENT STORY-EXCELLENT MOVIE!!!
Definitely a great adventure and one of my personal favorites, Congo, brings to the screen a tale set in the African jungles involving an unlikely group that has banded together in search of a lost city and the rare diamonds that are rumored to exist there in abundance. The actors' performances are outstanding, especially Tim Curry whose "Romanian philanthropist" character steals the show. The plot, the jungle ruins, and the battles are all wonderful, making this film one of the best of its kind.
Congo is an action packed movie with strong elements of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, therefore, a "must see" for those with a passion for archaeology, mystery and adventure.

Before Python there was Congo
Made way back in 1995. A horror story about a lost city and killer gorillas. A research team is slaughtered by some unknown creature will locking for a dimon to power a laser. Design for communication. She goes on a quest across the africian border to retrive it.

What she things is an ancient legendary city and killer gorilas. Can the survive and get off the island. Before the volcano errupts.

If you like Congo I also recomend Raptor, Python, Phyton 2, Anadaconda.

Entertainment well done
I loved this movie, bought the DVD and watch it over and over the performance is so good. It is hard to single out any one thing. The musical score and songs are so good, I keep playing them over in my head. The scene where Dylan Walsh's character starts singing "California Dreaming" to Amy and everyone of the Africans join in the song shows the universality of music and song to people. As with any well executed movie, the details were done right letting the viewer enjoy the actors work. All of the priciple actors came accross as believable in their characters. The only mystery to me is the total lack of credit listing for Joe Pantoliano's participation and his character not even being listed in the ending credits! There must be some Hollywood Gossip behind that. Ernie Hudson really stole the show. The using of a British accent was genius. Since the English colonized and ruled most of Africa for years and set up most of the schools, an African guide would speak English with a British accent. The ending sequence with the volcano erupting and the land splitting brings back fond memories of 1940s "expedition" movies that always ended with such a scene.

"Congo" is entertaining, well directed, scored and acted. It is well worth the price of purchase and my only critcism (the devil is in the details) is the depiction of too few porters to haul the amount of equipment they kept coming up with for different scenes. Laura Linney's character was great! She had the best lines in the movie too.

Rent it or buy it, you will not regret it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This live-action feature follows the adventures of a golden retriever puppy who chafes under his given name of "Muffin" (much preferring his own choice of "Napoleon") and who travels through the Australian outback in search of his canine roots. Plopping, as puppies will do, into a basket suspended by balloons one day, Napoleon drifts from the home of his mother and human family, eventually landing on the rocky shore of Sydney Harbor. There he becomes acquainted with a chatty parrot named Birdo Lucci (say the name aloud, you film buffs) and encounters all manner of animals in the wild: a cagey koala, a maternal kangaroo, an irritated lizard, and the dingoes with whom he wants to bond. The film was produced with an eye toward pleasing young audiences practically anywhere on earth, and the sight gags and visual thrills have a broad, universal appeal, while the many creatures in this film are given human voices on the soundtrack (any language would do, but the English-language actors include Joan Rivers and Dame Edna). On the downside, the dialogue can be a bit coarse ("shut up," "stupid," that sort of thing), though it's never obscene. And while no animals were hurt during the making of the movie, some of them certainly look as if they're placed in stressful situations. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Our Toddler's favorite
Our son loves Pooh, and Tigger, and Elmo. But offer him Napoleon, and he'll drop anything and everything. Our 20 month old just adores this movie, and so do we. Of course it helps that we have two golden retrievers. Berdo the bird (voiced by Bronson Pinchot) definitely steals the show - our son just giggles uncontrollably whenever he's on the screen! Definitely a keeper for the little ones.

A cute, lovable, entertaining film for kids
This is the best animal movie I have ever seen..from a child's point of view. This has been our daughter's favorite movie for the last one year or so (she's 3 now) and after watching it almost every day (sometimes several times a day) she still enjoys it as much! We're surprised that even we are not tired of it. The animals are fun to watch, the story is interesting and the music is great. We've bought several other animal movies for our daughter and this surpasses all of them. The production is superb, the animals did a great job and it all seems so real. A must-by for everyone who has small kids.

Fabulous Family Flick
When our daughter was barely 2 years old, we rented Napoleon for 5 days. She talked about it for 3 months running! This is one movie we all love to watch over and over!

Animals and Music. What more could a kid want.
This is currently my 22 month old son's favorite movie. I haven't seen any other movies that combine talking animals, adventure and fun songs. The cat is a little scary as the villian, but he doesn't seem to be afraid. The entire film is shot in Australia with a lot of local animals and the voice overs are by american celebrities. ... Read more

Description

Get ready for king-sized laughs with Disney's brand-new sequel to the colossal movie hit, HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS. Rick Moranis returns as wacky, absent-minded inventor Wayne Szalinski, a scientific giant who gets into huge trouble when he decides to use his infamous shrink machine just one more time. A tiny glitch causes Wayne, his brother, and their wives to shrink big time! Soon, they must brave household insects the size of dinosaurs, a treacherous loop-the-loop track in a toy race car, dizzying "balloon" rides inside soap bubbles, and more! Meanwhile, thinking they have the house all to themselves, the kids get into mega-mischief -- never guessing their pint-sized parents are watching their every move! With amazing special effects and nonstop excitement, HONEY, WE SHRUNK OURSELVES is a hilarious, heartwarming, hugely entertaining adventure for the entire family! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

3rd (and final) in the series
Contrary to popular belief, this is not a new movie. Not at all. This is actually Disney's very first direct-to-video live action films, which was first released in 1997. It did not go over well and has long since been the hardest to find of the trio. Unlike the other two theatrical films, this movie was only ever released in full frame... so us widescreen enthusiasts have nothing to complain about here. What I can complain about is the overall cheap-feeling that this film has. Rick Moranis is the only original character, and the action does not have the epic, theatrical quality of the original films. This feels like a 2-day shoot soundstage production with a very closed-in feeling. It's kind of like taking the first five minutes of "Toy Story," with the army men on the staircase, etc. and extending that claustrophobic feeling for the 65-minute running time. All in all, this most compares to a typical Disney Channel Original Movie. In fact, it's been shown as one ever since its release!! Not exactly a Disney highpoint, collectors will want this third film to complete the collection... ... Read more

Reviews (13)

LIFE MAY STINK, BUT THIS MOVIE IS GREAT!
No, this is not your typical Mel Brooks comedy; loaded down with relentless slapstick comedy and sight-gags! IT'S TEN TIMES BETTER! Life Stinks, unlike other Mel Brooks movies, has real heart and soul. Yes, it's funny; but it's also very touching. In the movie, you get to "meet" some homeless people, who make you realize that; hey, they have real feelings and personalities too! I don't feel the movie pokes fun of the homeless; instead, it pokes fun at the rich guy who loses his cloak of money and then can't deal with the "realities" of life -(thus proclaiming, Life Stinks)! Again, this movie is NOT typical Mel Brooks, if that's what you're expecting. However, if you ARE expecting a movie that is wonderfully entertaining and worth viewing over and over again, then you definitely WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! BUY IT, AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF!

Moving and Hilarious
Mel Brooks is the greatest filmaker of all time. He's hilarious. LIFE STINKS is a charming, touching, warm, funny movie. I can't say enough good things about it. It's unlike any other movie because its daring and true. This movie is not fake. I HIGHLY RECCOMEND it!

Mel...What's the Point?
...the same premise was explored in the Landis/Ackroyd/Murphy piece "Trading Places" and that was hilarious. The Brooksian brand of humour was not working here because as the moovy went on
to things like being mugged and having shoes taken, they just could not be done funny...or at least not Mel Brooks funny. To the moovy's credit, it got Lesley Ann Warren in a bag lady drag that is quite funny at times, and touching at other times. (Elaine May could have gotten away with that role, not to take anything away from Lesley, though).

Irrelevant and not funny
Life Stinks was the first real stinker in Mel Brooks' catalog (and unfortunately it wasn't the last.) I think Brooks had by this time exhausted all the potential for his type of humor.

It [wasn't good]
It [wasn't good]. It's about a man walking on a roof fell off a roof. this man ate a piece of pie in a dream he had after he died and turned nto a ghoast. After that the pie came out of his dream,woke him up in real life,attacked him,and then killed him. Then his dead spirit which makes know sense because he's already dead sinks into the ground. Then the pie shoots it's self. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Most horror movies depend on giant monsters; Arachnophobia getsjust as many thrills out of creatures only a few inches long. A scientist(Julian Sands, Warlock, A Room with a View) who's hunting avicious new species of spider in Venezuela unknowingly ships one back tothe U.S. It ends up in a small town where a new doctor (Jeff Daniels,The Purple Rose of Cairo, Something Wild) is trying toestablish a practice. When his patients start suddenly dying, Danielssuspects spiders--but no one takes him seriously because he's had a phobia about spiders since childhood. Arachnophobia builds a slow butrelentless sense of menace and creepiness, mixed with a sneaky satire ofsmall town life. If you're squeamish about spiders, this will get underyour skin. Also featuring the ever-dependable John Goodman (The BigLebowski, Barton Fink) as a comically zealous exterminator.--Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (24)

One Bite And... Blleeaaagggcckk!!
ARACHNOPHOBIA takes a simple fear of spiders and magnifies it into monstrous proportions! While studying rare insects in deepest / darkest Venezuela, a scientist discovers a new, deadly, species of arachnid that is extremely aggressive. This eight-legged, super-pest is also resistant to the toxic fog that brought it down from the trees to be studied. It bites a photographer, killing him almost instantly. When his body is shipped back to the US, no one notices that there's a little hairy stowaway in the coffin! Thus begins our tale of terror in small town america. Dr. Ross Jennings (Jeff Daniels) has just moved into the same town with his wife and kids. Not only the same town, but the very house that is ground zero for the coming spider invasion! The south american mega-spider has mated with a common housespider, producing offspring even deadlier than itself. The brood fans out, going house to house, striking unwary citizens. The spiders themselves are the best bugs I've ever seen in a movie. They seem to be trained to act menacing. Whoever the "bug-wrangler" was, did a superb job of getting them to "act" smart. The camera work also adds to their appearance as both intelligent and scary. Can Jennings overcome his fear of spiders and stand up to this tiny army of death? Check out John Goodman as Delbert McClintock, exterminator extraordinaire! He's a riot! ARACHNOPHOBIA was an unexpected hit when it was released, and remains a solid example of horror / comedy. You'll never look at those webs in the attic / basement the same way again! Highly recommended...

One of the scariest movies ever made!
There stands Jeff Daniels, holding a shovel, ready to strike at the predators that would do his family harm. Only minutes before, his family is running up the stairs, as if trying to escape something massive and deadly. What's ironic about the situation in "Arachnophobia" is that there are no gruesome monsters or devilish people running amuck in the small town setting, but instead, a simple fear is given a whole new name as innumerable tiny spiders begin a rampage that makes for one of the best movies of 1990.

"Arachnophobia," which, appropriately defines a fear of spiders, presents us with a plotline that pits man again nature, calling attention to the horror movies of the old days while taking its title and creating an immense amount of tension and suspense with unique story twists and some nicely added comic relief. I did find the movie to be predictable in places, but that didn't stop me from having an enormous amount of fun with it.

The movie begins in Venezuela, where an expedition into the tropical forests leads to the discovery of a previously unknown species of arachnid. A photographer along for the ride is bitten by the spider and dies of convulsions, yet the cause of death remains unknown to everyone else, and so the body, along with the stowaway spider, is shipped back to his hometown of Canaima, where a new doctor is also moving in.

Having moved from San Francisco to begin a practice in the small town, Dr. Ross Jennings, with his wife and two children, is dismayed when he learns that the previous doctor has decided not to retire. Beginning a practice of his own, he starts out with one patient, who is bitten by a deadly spider which was spawned in the barn in the backyard of Jennings' house. This, along with many other deaths, raise questions about the circumstances of the deaths, and as the facts are slowly revealed, the tension becomes increasingly delicious as the arachnids begin taking over the town.

The mark of a truly good film is its ability to stay in touch with a certain message in its title in order for it to make sense. "Arachnophobia" is magnificent in its achievement of this goal, taking the minute fear of spiders and turning it into something quite suspenseful. This is done by placing a spider in almost every scene, and centering that specific part of the story around something that has to do with it, or them. One minute we see a lone creature, and the next there are thousands of them crawling across dry grass, up walls, and sometimes, on people.

And these aren't the textbook spiders who merely hunt their prey from their spun webs and await some unsuspecting insect to fly into their trap. These arachnids are hunters, out for a taste of any kind of blood they can lay their fangs on. They are fast and unrelenting, vicious and brutal, and altogether extremely scary.

The story is a well-spun (pardon the pun) piece of work which presents its elements well. The beginning takes things in stride by introducing us to the characters fluidly, and then slowly builds up to a heightened amount of suspense by placing those characters into extreme situations. We can care for what happens to the characters because we know who they are: Jennings' fear of spiders is presented, which comes into play with his confrontation with the spider.

The spider makes a truly marvelous enemy, and Ross Jennings is an equally engrossing hero in the final act. Played by Jeff Daniels, his stand-off with the queen spider is just as good as any modern-day action sequence you'll see. We have a slight idea of what is going to happen, but Daniels' acting not only brings out the immense fear in his character, but keeps us at bay, wanting more until the climax reaches its peak. And to allay some of the tension comes John Goodman as an extremely hilarious exterminator who jumps in to save the day in his own little way.

"Arachnophobia" does many different things for me: it certainly makes me think twice before reaching into my popcorn bowl, putting on my shoes or a football helmet. But, it also is a great ride, with lots of thrills and even more chills to please all. Fear will never be the same again!

Arachnophobia (1990)
Director: Frank Marshall
Cast: Jeff Daniels, John Goodman, Harley Jane Kozak.
Running Time: 110 minutes.
Rated PG-13 for arachnid violence and language.

In true Spielberg-formula fashion, director Frank Marshall (who produced many of Spielberg's works during the 1980's) creates a tense, atmospheric thriller that has enough scares and laughs for two movies. A deadly South American spider is accidentally braught to a small, country town--the spider proceeds to kill of many of the inhabitants and gives birth to hundreds of venomous spawn. Small-town doctor Jeff Daniels, who happens to be horrified of the eight-legged beasts, must conjure up enough strength to save his community, and more importantly his family from the threatening bugs.

John Goodman is down-right hilarious as the Rambo-esque terminator, using a splendid script to invoke many laughs throughout the picture. Daniels is equally good as the tormented M.D., running around like a petrified girl scout at the beginning of the film, but ultimately encounters the mother-spider for the showdown of all man vs. spider showdowns. A fun, exciting scare fare that is actually viewable for most of the family due to its fairly low amounts of violence and profanity.

lives up to its name
If ever a movie deserved the title arachnophobia, it is definitly this one. I saw this when I kid, and still have a huge fear of spiders, thanks to this movie. Although really fearful of spiders, I love this movie because it plays so beautifully into it. The last 15-30 minutes will make anyones skin crawl, and I definitly recommened this to anyone, even those with arachnophobia.

Terrifying movie!
I still get the heeby jeebies when watching this movie even after so many years after first seeing it and having horrific nightmares for days afterwards even though I've grown to appreciate spiders more nowadays. The reason this movie is so able to scare is because of it's suprisingly realistic nature of dangerous spiders with extremely toxic venom being able to be transported to different countries.

In this case, a species of spider from South America hitches a ride aboard a ship and ends up breeding with the domestic house spiders in the United States and the hatchling spiders start killing residents of a small California town and time is running out to stop the spiders from spreading and breeding with more domestic house spiders and enabling this dangerous species to spread all over the United States.

This is a really terrifying and very well thought-out movie of immense proportions. It truly demonstrates why it's a very bad idea to bring 'alien' species to other lands other than their own native habitats.

Go and get this movie if you want a scary but fun ride. Arachnophobes though should steer clear. For everyone else, welcome aboard! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Without question, 3-D technology has come a long way since the days ofred and green cardboard glasses, and Encounter in the ThirdDimension is ample proof. This half-hour feature--alsoavailable in The Ultimate3-D Collection, which includes two other films and the H3D"i-glasses" hardware needed to generate the 3-D imaging--tells the storyof three-dimensional cinema, in the process showing off a lot of what thetechnology can do. Elvira's presence is largely incidental; the bestsection by far is a dramatic tour through an otherworldly chasm. Thefilm's sense of depth is astoundingly convincing, especially during themany point-of-view sequences; crags and dinosaur limbs seem to juthalfway between the screen and your viewing position. The disc's imageand color resolution are not as good as we've come to expect from DVD,however.

Originally produced to showcase "large-format" 3-D (i.e., a towering IMAXscreen), Encounter features fun snippets of old films and even afew stereographic still photos. Sadly, none of these fills the screen orlasts very long, and the process reverts to standard 2-D imaging inpause mode. The sound is well above average, enhancing the sense ofdepth with a seamless DTS surround mix that works well even inheadphones. --Michael Mikesell ... Read more

Reviews (3)

BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3-D is WONDERFUL!!!!!I love Encounter In The Third Dimension!!!! I got it with the Ultimate 3-D Collection.

Yawn!
The obvious attitude of the producers of this mess was clearly one of superiority. I mean, "After all, we're shooting in IMAX 3D instead of the nefarious over/under format!" Well, whoopdeedoo! I'll take THE BUBBLE, METALSTORM, or AMITYVILLE 3D any day over this. There is some nice computer graphics work here, but there's really no story to speak of. And their so-called "history of 3D presentation" is superficial at best. While surely impressive in Imax, ENCOUNTER looks stupid on your TV screen 'cause everything is covered in a long shot or a medium long shot. Yes, that may work on the giant behemoth Imax screen, but reduce it in size to your TV (even my big 36-inch JVC) and it's pretty unimpressive. Not only that, but if you're watching it in alternating-field 3D with liquid crystal glasses, then you're watching it in half the normal resolution you normally see on your NTSC screen -- so there's next to NO picture detail. If you want a good 3D DVD movie, search the web for one of the alternating field DVD's of something like IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, HOUSE OF WAX, or DIAL M FOR MURDER (sadly only available in 3D via pirated editions because the US distributors don't care enough to bother -- so were only left with legit DVD's of crap like ENCOUNTERS and amatuer videos of murderous clowns on the rampage). I would have given this two stars because it features (very briefly) Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson -- BUT THEY COVERED HER ONLY IN LONG SHOT TOO! They were REALLY stooopid, so they get one star. Boo!

Almost a masterpiece
This video uses the style of Mystery Science Theater, in that your host interacts with a smart-aleck computer/robot. Elvira makes a guest appearance, but the flaws come in where examples of films shot in 3D are shown; there are wonderful examples of 3D films, i.e., the Creature Of The Black Lagoon, the 3 Stooges,
House of Wax.

Instead, we get Top Banana for goodness' sake. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Greatest Big Bully!
i personaly think the film is great. Not hard to understand. The main plot is that two school kids (rick moranis and tom arnold) dont get along with eachover at school and they grow up and both work at a school while rick is still scared of tom and then toms child is getting bullied by ben (ricks child) but of course, as you could imagine,........ it all ends hapily ever after!

Movie about nothing
This movie is about nothing. Awful movie. For idiots or degenerates only.

Atrocious
This movie is absolutely awful. Good lord. How do these scripts get MADE INTO FILM? An absolute waste of time, film, and money. Oh, so you mean Moranis got picked on by Arnold when they were kids, but now they're older, and he's not so bad a guy, but Moranis is still spooked? Oh, and Moranis' son is now picking on Arnold's son? Oh, brilliant! Greenlight! COME ON! THIS IS FILTH!

Funny Movie!!
This is a very funny movie. Rick Moranis is a great actor and is very funny in this movie. This is one of my favorite movies.

An Funny Comedy in the Spirit of the Grumpy Old Men Movies.
An Divorce Father (Rick Morains), who is a Professional Writer and Novelist has come to have back to his Child-Hood home for Teaching. But when he meets again his Much-Feared Childhood Bully (Tom Arnold), everything in the Past between Them are Back in a Whole New Way.

Directed by Steve Miner (House, Halloween:H20, Lake Placid) and Written by Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil) made a clever, often Misfired Satire of his Earlier Written Film-Grumpy Old Men. Morains and Arnold are Big Time Fun in this Underrated Comedy, even when the movie turns a Comedic Thriller at the last Third of the flick. This film was a Flop in Theaters but It did better on Video. Grade:B+. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Watergate + "2001" + "Close Encounters" = HANGAR 18
The Utah-based Schick Sunn Pictures corporation, known for churning out highly speculative documentaries, turns to science fiction for this interesting conspiracy sci-fi drama. The question: What would the U.S. government do if it suddenly had an alien spacecraft in its possession?

Two shuttle astronauts (Gary Collins, James Hampton) are in the process of launching a military satellite from the shuttle, when they encounter a UFO in orbit. When the satellite is launched, it hits the UFO with explosive results, killing a third man who was inside the shuttle's cargo bay watching the satellite's progress. The UFO, however, makes a controlled landing in the Arizona desert.

When they get back on the ground, Collins and Hampton soon find themselves the target of charges that the incident in orbit was their fault, and are forced to clear their names by finding the right evidence, all the while being tracked by government agents. Meanwhile, a team of scientists, led by Darren McGavin, are ensconsed at Hangar 18, located on the grounds of an Air Force base in Texas, trying to learn everything possible about the UFO and its occupants...whose appearances bear an all-too-uncanny resemblance to humans.

Thought I dock this film one star because its special effects aren't exactly up to snuff (a lowered budget is the reason), HANGAR 18 is otherwise a very good film. In basic terms, it combines a Watergate-style political scenario with elements from Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, and Steven Spielberg's CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. This is not to say that HANGAR 18 is a masterpiece like those two films are. But the combination of such elements manages to work in a fairly narrow framework. The cast is also quite good, with McGavin giving one of his most memorable and stimulating performances. Robert Vaughn is equally good as the President's devious chief-of-staff, who concots the cover-up to get his boss re-elected.

To sum it up, HANGAR 18 is a somewhat imperfect movie, but it still holds up well despite its flaws.

Pre-X Files, but only better and much more exciting!!
I remember when this classic movie came out in 1980. I really enjoyed seeing the previews and what the film was all about. Surprisingly, my parents took me to see the film, and all of us really enjoyed this science fiction/conspiracy thriller classic. All of us even jumped when that alien environment suit popped out of the UFO's closet by accident. Nevertheless, the movie was in a way like an earlier version of The X-Files. Only just as better and more exciting than the series that would come some 13 years later.

Hanger 18 tells the story of how a satellite, launched by a NASA space shuttle/orbiter, collides with an Unidentified Flying Object, causing the death of an American astronaut in the process. When the UFO crashes on Earth, the U.S. Air Force and NASA recover it, and take it to a manned lunar receiving station in Texas. There, they uncover some hidden secrets that soon take the scientists by surprise. And makes the Government nervous. At the same time, two of the shuttle astronauts who witnessed the incident in space, are "blamed" for the other astronaut's death, and try to clear up the situation, by hunting for the UFO. The government tries to prevent the two from locating the UFO, but to little or no avail. That situation leads to something even more drastic made by the CIA and The Department Of Defense.

Like the classic film Capricorn One, Hanger 18 does a remarkable job of playing on the government conspiracy angle, and at the same time, deals with the ancient astronaut theory. The subplot involving the two astronauts trying to clear their names is also good, as is the storyline about the scientists trying to unlock whatever secrets are in the flying saucer.

And it also had a wonderful cats of veterans. Darren McGavin, Gary Collins, James Hampton, Pamela Bellwood, Robert Vaughn, William Schallert, Joseph Campenella, and Bill Zuckert among others. Though one wishes that James Brolin, Roy Thinnes, or Tom Berenger had been in the role played by Collins. Collins did a good job, however, if I had been the casting director, I would have picked one of those three.

Overall, a very good and entertaining film. One of the best in the hall of science fiction. If you enjoy watching the X-Files and other films about flying saucers, then you will definately enjoy this film.

hanger 18
I love this movie its a must see. the starteling truth behind this could be so scary. I was a little girl when this movie was made in my home town. I remember getting to stay up and watch them film this movie. my father was an extra in this movie too. I always loved this movie and now that i am an adult i still love this movie

This is a must-see.
See this. It is self-explanatory. As far as reality is concerned, I place it right up there with the book "Psychic Warrior". If you don't think our government is capable of such deception, think again!

interesting
I liked it as with any movie you have to suspend reality and just sit back and enjoy the ride. I read Leonard Maltins review and do nort agree. Lets review Leonard Maltin he gets paid to watch movies then tell us what we should think this is a man with a beard that he can not trim straight and who wears crooked glasses. Make up your own minds. ... Read more

Description

An inept city slicker tries to impress his son by taking him on a camping trip. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Funny And Sweet...
I love this movie. I've watched it several times already and I'm eagerly awaiting a DVD version for my collection. I've generally found Bob Saget to be far more aggravating than humorous in the past, given his inane and incessant rambling on America's Funniest Home Videos. But he really surprised me in this movie, by being extraordinarily funny. This movie alone, has almost made me a fan of his. Saget plays the part of a somewhat inept father, when it comes to the more physical, outdoorsy things. The hilarity ensues, when Saget feels compelled to take his young son on a camping trip. Brian Bonsall does a wonderful job playing Saget's son and to boot he is absolutely one of the cutest young boy actors to ever grace the screen. An entertaining movie that all can enjoy, but perhaps especially great for fathers and sons.

KULDA BEEN A LOT BETTA!
I dunno, the only reason I'm gvin it this many stars is cuz Brian Bonsall, hes a great kid actor. But Bob sagget, not the greatest for the part, but umm, it wasn't THAT bad of a movie, pry kids will like it if they like nature camping and stuff.

Terrible!
Bob Saget is the star......What does that tell you?

Father and Scout
Father and Scout is a very funny family movie.It is about an artistic father who is to over protective of his son. He does not like him plaing sports or rough housing with his friends. One day they get invited to a weekend campout. At the campout they end up having to play different kinds of sports games. They end up losing except at the very end they find the treasure chest and save a boy and his son from falling down all the way in the hole. They get the hero medal and the dad from now on wants to take his son on adventures. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Awaiting Destiny
IF you are a hopeless romantic then this movie is definetly
for you. If you are just looking for a laugh, some emotion,
and a good time, check it out! I, for one, fit into both categories hence the 5 stars...

I love this movie!
I love this movie! I've watched it a couple of times now, and who'd have thought Roger Daltrey would turn out more sexy than Casper Van Dien! I just wish there had been more of the music. I played the ending over and over, listening to the songs. The love story was sweet, too.

An enjoyable movie!
This is a good-quality feel-good movie with excellent production, direction and performances from everybody. It's somewhat conservative--it has no (visible) sex or violence--but it still managed to hold my interest. The best thing about it is the Burning Prairie Band playing at the end: Roger Daltrey, Drake Bell, Carmine Appice, Kelly Keeling and Denny Laine. They sound great.

I'd recommend this for any of the gals--including young ones. It's interesting, unoffensive, and a great opportunity to watch some real musicians at work. The guys will like the guitar work there at the end.

Chasing Destiny
Moderately charming. Chasing Destiny is BY NO MEANS (maybe the worst movie ever made). With all of the bad movies that are allowed to be made, Chasing Destiny is a delightful excape from the norm. The cast alone is worth the purchase. Music icon THE WHO'S ROGER DALTRY-Nehemiah Peoples, DRAKE BELL-Walter (Nickelodeon's-The Amanda Show, Jerry Maguire, HBO's The Jack Bull), CASPER VAN DIEN-Bobby Moritz (Storm Troopers, Sleepy Hollow, Tarzan). CHRISTOPHER LLOYD-Jet James (Taxi, Back To The Future, My Favorite Martion), LAUREN GRAHAM-Jessee James (Gilmore Girls) and Music greats, Denny Lane, Spencer Davis and Carmine Appice. If you like music from the late 60's early 70's, this movie is a must.

Chasing Destiny
Heartwarming love story, laugh, cry and enjoy an absolutely wonderful movie. One of the very best I have seen in years. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

It pays to read other purchasers' reviews
This movie has turned out to be one of my favorites and I have the reviews and their authors to thank. These two "character actors", William Fichtner and John C. Reilly, have leading man potential. Wonder why no one in Hollywood gets it. We, the viewers, know. Oh, I forgot, William Fichtner WAS cast as one of the two male leads in "Passion of Mind", primarily to carry the movie and make Demi Moore look good - which he did, easily. I knew he was a fine comic actor. I saw "Drowning Mona" and he and Jamie Lee Curtis shine. John C. Reilly really came through in "Chicago". Thanks to all who recommended this gem.

A nice suprise for many reasons
I rented this movie on the strength of the story outline on the back of the box, and for the fact that it had John C. Reilly in it, who I think is the finest character actor in movies. I got much more than I expected. This movie has an excellent script and wonderful directing. The humor is dry, black and understated and very effective. To me the big suprises were the performances of William Fichtner as one of the partners in the insurance scam. Fichtner's performance brimmed with intelligence and depth, as well as a sure comic touch that was dead on the money. Also, Kelly McGillis turned in a job so full of savage sex and menace, I found myself wondering why she doesn't get more work. As for John C. Reilly - does this actor ever make a wrong move in front of a camera? No, he does not. This is his best work. A real gem.

Brilliant!!
This movie is far from the usual 'let's rent a movie tonight honey'. It is unique with an unpredictable plot, that has you guessing all along! Black comedy at its best and a movie like no other.

Get it! Watch it!
This is an undiscovered gem! I love the performances, the script, the mood, the way the plot develops...and of course, it has fichtner and reilly....please watch this...its what movies are all about.

Excellent, Hilarious Acting
Excellent perform by Actors. William Fichtner's performance was outstanding,while John C. Reilly was equally as good.This movie should have had domestic distribution. ... Read more