Reviews (127)

Very Disappointing
This was very disappointing. For many kids that have not experienced 3-D, it will be good to see for its novelty. However, the effects are typical 3-D for almost all cases, which is disappointing. The only good part was the 3-D chase scene much like the speeder race in "Star Wars Episode 1". In fact, almost all of the effects are copies of the recent "Star Wars" episodes or of "The Matrix". The plot really suffers, but is similar to a modern rendition of "Tron", "Lawnmower Man" or "Max Headroom". We own SK1 and SK2, but almost certainly will not keep SK3.

Ugh...could not wait til it ended.
Although my five year old thought it was "kind of" cool, as a woman and movie lover, I suffered through every minute. The 3-D was ok for the first 15 minutes my eyes could take wearing the glasses, Sylvester Stallone's acting was atrocious and so were all the rest of the actors, the plot was...well...what was the plot? Ugh....I just could not wait for this movie to end. Parents beware...send the kids by themselves if they must go see this one.

The gang's all here
If you liked all the Spy Kids movies, then you will kind of like Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. Well, here's one thing, the 3-D glasses will give you a headache.

Doesn't deserve even one star !
I have brought my daughter to so many movies and enjoyed many more than I thought, but this one is nearly unwatchable and I would have walked out if she would have come too. While my daugher saw some enjoyment in it - primarily seeing "big stars" in it, we all had eye strain from the long 3D portions and yet were mightily disappointed in the quality of the 3D. It seemed to be no plot, no character development - I didn't care about any of the characters. There are many plot defects as mentioned in other reviews. My husband pushed up the arms on several seats in the theater and actually laid down to sleep.

The movie was made just to show off effects - and they were poorly done - don't bother with this movie! - Exit - before it's too late!

Waste of time
First of all, my 6 year old son loved it and can't wait for it to come to video. I personally hope that he doesn't notice it sitting on shelves when it goes to DVD.

Also, I quite enjoyed the first Spy Kids. It was original, pure story telling, imaginative, different, and had a message that I really appreciated (family is the most important thing in the world). The second one followed this theme a bit, but seemed more interested in special effects, advanced gadgetry, and bitter rivalry. But in the end, it was family that mattered.

Then there is the third movie.

Okay, let's bring up the fact that this was done in 3D. First of all, this gave me a headache and I had to keep taking off my glasses to rest my eyes. One time, this unfortunately woke up my wife who was using my arm as a pillow. In the end, this was a major eye strain. I've seen better 3D, primarily at Disneyland. The technology exists, why not use it?

Another problem with 3D is that the director focused too much on it. It seems to me that the director focused more on what he thought would look good in 3D and not what would make a good story.

As far as character development goes, the story starts off with Juni feeling betrayed by the OSS and not wanting to be part of the organization. The only thing that brings him "back" (temporarily) is his kidnapped sister. I thought that this was a good sub-plot, but unfortunately it fizzled away as soon as Juni entered the video game. But in the end, I found myself having problems identifying with the characters or finding them believable.

Then there is plot. Oh my!! I'm only limited to 1,000 words so I won't get started because there wouldn't be any end to it. But I'll say this again, Rodriquez seemed more interested in what would make a good effect, not a good story.

And then the story. There are so many questions. For instance, who is the programmer of this game because it seemed that the OSS had the ability to reprogram the game at will, especially when they feel they needed to sabotage Juni and Carmen's mission. Why couldn't have they used this more often, or why couldn't they have used this ability to save Carmen or to destroy the game in the first place.

The first two movies focused on the importance of family. But while Carmen is having her brain fried by a computer, family is nowhere to be found. The father is working on past experiments (he apparently didn't learn much from the first movie regarding the type of experiment) and the mother is... who knows where. Where was everybody??!!? They didn't show up until the end of the movie.

Which brings me to the end of the movie. I just sat there with my jaw opened wondering, "What the heck is the point of this scene?" as every past character from the other movies appeared as superheros coming in on flying shoes, flying pigs, flying wheelchairs. Come on, these are spies and old criminals not punished for their crimes, not the Justice League of America. The last scene was horrific and made absolutely no sense. Even less sense than the two minutes Elijah Wood appeared as the Deceiver. For a deceiver, he was't too convincing since he got kicked out of the game before he could do any harm.

The only reason I gave one extra star was that there appeared, at the end of the movie, a scene where my son might learn something. The power of forgiving others. However, it was really brief and probably went over most kids' heads.

I would not suggest taking your children to this movie, or seeing it yourself (though my wife did have a nice nap). The original is the only one worth watching, in my opinion. This one is just mind-numbing stupidity. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The whole world is watching--literally--every time Truman Burbank makes the slightest move. Unbeknownst to him, in this hauntingly funny film by Peter Weir, his entire life has been an unending soap opera for consumption by the rest of the world. And everyone he knows--including his mother, his wife, and his best friend--is really an actor, paid to be part of his life. In this intriguing and surprisingly touching 1998 film, writer Andrew Niccol imagines an ultimate kind of celebrity, then sees it brought to life with comic intensity and emotional honesty by Jim Carrey in what may be the performance of his career. Carrey has exceptional support from Laura Linney and Ed Harris, but it's his show, in a portrayal that demonstrates just what kind of range Carrey is capable of. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (401)

Best Film of 1998-Forget Shakespeare in Love!
Nobody will ever accuse the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of having common sense or good taste. I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out why this film was beat out by "Shakespeare in Love", and why Jim Carey, who turned in the best performance of his career in "The Truman Show", wasn't even nominated for best actor.

The plot of this movie is simple enough-Jim Carey plays a young man whose entire life has been entertainment for the rest of the world. He dares to reach beyond the giant bubble which is his universe to see what's out there, only to be foiled.

Of particular note is the scene toward the end of the film where Truman reaches the end of the dome shaped studio and is told by Christoph (Ed Harris) about his world. This stands out as one of the most magical scenes in an extraordinary motion picture.

I realize that this movie isn't for everyone (my wife, for one, didn't particularly like it), but Carey's performance alone justifies the purchase of this video. He displays a vulnerability and childlike fascination that is unlike anything I've ever seen. A very good supporting cast includes the shamefully overlooked Ed Harris, as well as Laura Linney.

"The Truman Show" is one of the most brilliant and overlooked motion pictures ever made. The ersatz "Ed TV", which followed a similar plot, doesn't begin to approach the craftsmanship of "The Truman Show". Hopefully, the Academy will make up for their slight of Jim Carey with "Man on the Moon, which appears to be his second acting tour de force.

oustanding!
Imagine that your whole life is a lie, everyone is watching you everywhere, and the people who you love and with whom you've been sharing your life, including your best friend and your beloved and always funny wife are just actors. The Truman Show's basic idea carries an undoubtful cruel and sad felling, but in the hands of Peter Weir, a talented filmmaker who believes in the humanity and in hope, the film turns out to be an interesting, funny, and entertaining masterpiece, although it has an undeniable sad context. Truman is played to perfection by an actor who I've never thought that he could actually act, Jim Carrey. In this dramatic, powerful and blessed hole, Carrey delivers an excellent job! certainly he deserved the Golden Globe for this breakthrough performance. Carrey builds an ingenuous, good and honest man, making impossible for the audience stop caring and loving him. And during the whole running time of the film, you will find yourself laughing, having a great time and sometimes crying for Truman at each curve his fate takes. The supporting performances stand out for their quality, Laura Linney (from Congo, a great flick about explorers who are hunted down by killer gorillas in a mountain, available at Amazon) offers an unforgetable interpretation, playing with ear-to-ear smiles a cold and cruel actress. It's beyond me the reason why she didn't receive any Oscar nomination, but it's said that Paramount, Truman's studio, tried to nominate her in the Best Actresses Category but the year's other main performances (Cate Blanchet, Fernanda Montenegro) were more applauded, but had they took the Supporting Category, she would be a tough contestant for the Oscar. Ed Harris' Christof is one of those characters that will live forever in the hearts of the audience, and Truman, well, Truman is perhaps the most upright, honest and sweet hero that Hollywood ever conceived. The technical aspects count with curious, never-seen-before camera movements, intelligent and different ways of shooting the scenes and a strong direction by Weir. The Truman Show is available at Amazon, the DVD and VHS include the original trailers and interviews with the cast and director. Own this masterpiece! And don't forget to take a look at Congo.

My expectations were too high
I really like Jim Carey and the word of mouth about this movie was very good. It sounded like such an interesting premise. I watched it and was not entertained.

1984, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, Truman Show!
Who would have thought that 'The Truman Show' would be entered among the great literary and movie classics ever made. Where 1984 gives a bleak look at a government who looks at everything and Brave New World about cloning, The Truman show is the premierve movie about the most horrible of all television rages in the last 10 years: Reality-TV.

But in this case Truman does not it. The awful outside world has made him into an item of fun, a person used for the amusement of others.

Are we all watchers or maybe in a way all Trumans? Trying to get out if this spectacle called life?

Deep, great, wonderfullly acted and a seminal movie.

Hollywood's view of the fall of man
It amazes me that so few people notice that this is a religious allegory. Sure, on the surface this is about how the media have invaded every square inch of our lives, and it is a prescient take on reality television, but more than that, the story is about the fall of man and the end of innocence. If you've seen this before, watch it again and notice the parallels to Genesis, especially near the end where Christof (How obvious the name!) talks to Truman (true man) from the clouds. He even addresses himself as "the creator."

Jim Carrey gives what is still his best performance to date. And the screenplay gives you a great deal to think about. Watch this and "Pleasantville" back to back and notice the theological similarities. The Truman Show is definitely one of the best movies of the decade. And I think years from now, when people really begin to appreciate the depth of the screenplay, they will come to recognize it as the masterpiece that it is. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

Spy Kids 2, better that the 1st
As a teenager I usually don't have a thing for movies like this but I definetly liked this one. I ended up taking my little sister to see it but I ended up liking it more than her. Yes, some parts are cheesy (like when the little spy boy ballet dances with the presidents daughter), but there aren't that many moments like that. They also have 2 new characters. Gerti (who is played by Haley Joel Osments sister) is a cool gal and her brother Gary (Matt O'Leary) is gorgeous! I think that's why I liked the movie so much. He's a great actor and a major hottie! The movie itself is WAY better that the first too. The islands got some cool animals too, the "catfish" is cute but i found the "spider monkey" a little disturbing looking. If that thing was my pet I'd be a little scared! I don't want to give the movie away but DEFINETLY WATCH IT!

We¿ve Got A Franchise!!
"Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams" is another in a line of great sequels to great movies. Overall, if you enjoyed the first film you'll be very pleased in the next installment in this "Bond for Kids" comedy/adventure series!!

THE STORY:

Carmen and Juni Cortez (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara) are back in a bigger and wilder adventure than before. This time the Cortez siblings are locked in a dead heat to get to the bottom of a mystery concealed by a remote and mysterious island before a rival team of Spy Kids beat them to the punch.

THE COOL THINGS:

The "Island of Lost Dreams" expands upon the Spy Kids world tenfold as we are introduced to the entire Spy Kids organization including its hierarchies and ultra-cool weapons. The "monsters" in this installment are also more formidable looking (mutated/spliced animals) as compared to the comical mutated humans from the first movie. We also get introduced to the extended Cortez family tree as Ingrid's parents gain a supporting role. In all, seeing the competing Spy Kids and the newer and cooler weapons made this movie more enjoyable.

BEST SCENES:

1. The Monster Duel

2. Popstars Carmen and Juni!!! (HILARIOUS!!!)

3. Battle at OSS

THE VERDICT:

Spy Kids was generally regarded as a good, solid movie not only for kids and families, but anyone in general. It was fun, entertaining and all around enjoyable. Summed in a nutshell, Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams is even better!!!

Highly Recommended

A PRETTY GOOD MOVIE!
IT WAS PRETTY GOOD!I LIKED THE FIRST ONE BETTER,BUT THIS ONE WAS REAL COOL TOO!THE ACTORS ARE REAL GOOD WHEN THE`RE PLAYING AS THESE PEOPLE!

Great Movie
I enjoyed Spy Kids 2 a lot. I have Spy Kids and it was alright. I watched 3-D in theatres and thought it was crappy. Today I watched Spy Kids 2 and I loved it it's a funny movie full of action. I highly recommend it.

Better than the original but much less like 007
Spy Kids was a lot like James Bond, only for kids. Sure, the gadgets were a little wacky, as was the plot, and the lines weren't super (they should have included some double entendres, that would have been a laugh), but it was good. This, however, shows the franchise is veering into fantasy. And from what I hear about Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, the James Bond similarity seems to be over. If you want James Bond, see Agent Cody Banks, XXX, or the real thing, Die Another Day.
Kids, however, will not make a Venn diagram between Bond and Spy Kids, primarily because they've never watched 007 ask for a vodka martini, shaken not stirred. This movie is heavy on stars ( Antonio Banderas, Ricardo Montalban) but it never feels like, say, Hook.
Two spies have no choice but to let their children, Carmen and Juni, become junior agents. The movie starts out, oddly enough, with a not-so-irrelevant action sequence.
At an OSS meeting, something fishy is going on already. The President, whose daughter was rescued by Juni, is carrying some sort of technological wonder called the Transmooker device (nice name, what's it mean?). It is promptly stolen by the champagne waiters, who disappear by being magnetically sucked to a UFO. Juni is claimed responsible by Gary, the snobby son of the president of the OSS. Gary also has a relationship with Carmen.
Gary and his younger sister Gerti are sent on a mission to recover the Transmooker device, but Juni and Carmen beat them to it. When they get to the island, however, their gadgets do not work... Poor Carmen without her cell phone. Soon they find out about the genetic experiments of a scientist that roam the island, which are pretty big. Picture a lizard with a twenty-foot neck. Yep, they're big. The president of the OSS, however, soon wants the Transmooker device for himself, and things get complicated fast.
The casting could use a little change. Alan Cummings, although his role is tiny in this movie, should have been replaced by Jim Carrey, Jim Carrey played a (kinda) normal guy in Batman Forever, and as a scientist and entrepreneur he wasn't completely wacky. It would take some work, but Robin Williams could do the scientist. That might need a bigger budget, though, so scratch Robin Williams.
This movie doesn't feel so much like a Nickolodeon flick, though, which is an accomplishment. Still, if your child likes the show, they'll like this. Heck, your child will like this no matter what. Take 'em to it. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Neither Good Nor Bad
ROMANCING THE STONE could be seen as the poor man's Indiana Jones movie. It's short on snappy dialogue, coherent plot and memorable characters.

Essentially this is a vehicle for Douglas as rough and ready Jack Colton, and Turner to show her versatility as Joan Wilder, the novelist who sheds her loner image and eventually becomes a heroine. Danny DeVito crops up as a slimy rival to the duo's quest, but his part is overplayed and underwritten.

The story as it is revolves around Wilder going to Columbia to rescue her kidnapped sister. This leads her into a journey of adventure to recover a fabled jewel with adventurer Colton. An almost sinister kidnapping becomes a farcical adventure comedy: I found the switching in tone of this movie at times confusing, and at other times far too blunt.

Whilst ROMANCING THE STONE is not a movie that will leave any lasting impression on you, it is passable as entertainment - saved as it is by the one thing that causes it so many problems: the reliance on the Turner-Douglas on-screen relationship to carry it through.

On A Par With Indiana Jones Movies
Without even looking at other reviews, I'm sure I'm the first to draw this parallel.

*uses pliers to remove tongue from cheek*

Romancing the Stone jumped in to ride the wave of adventure movie semi-fanaticism spawned by the Indiana Jones movies, but gave us a more comedic villain in Danny DeVito; a less indomitable and less scrupulous hero in Michael Douglas; more pratfalls, and a stronger, less nice, more sultry heroine in Kathleen Turner.

There are several things that make this a five-star adventure movie. The action and the pace are great; there is a moderately complex plot; the special effects, while less than what you see in an Indy movie, are well-done; the music is rousing, and the scenery/setting is gorgeous. But, what I see as setting this film apart is the same factor I've noticed in most of my favorite films: the actors appear to be having the times of their lives playing their parts to the utmost. They seem to be enjoying being their absolute most in their parts, and their enthusiatic spills off the screen and flows through the room.

If you are a fan of adventure movies, you should see this one.

Romantic Comedy Adventure: Turner And Douglas
This 1984 film was the first that brought together the incredible on-screen chemistry of Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. The film, a romantic and comic version of the Indiana Jones films, involves a romance novelist (Kathleen T) and how she gets wrapped up in a hunt for a rare and valuable diamond. As her love interest and her partner in the search is Michael Douglas. At first, the two don't get along very well. Their fighting and bickering as well as game-playing (they each plan to dump the other and take the diamond for themselves) is only an overture to the subsequent romance and passion that overwhelms them. At the end of the movie, they are on a boat on top of a car in New York City headed for a romantic world travel adventure.

This movie also stars Danny Devito (this team- Turner, Douglas and Da Vito would later make War Of The Roses which was a darker comedy about a nightmare divorce). Danny DeVito is hilarious as he is a shlemiel. The location was shot in South America, specifically Columbia, and the lush scenes of photographic landscapes - jungles, rivers, waterfalls, rapids and villages, make this a very engaging adventure story. Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas are really great together and it is the real salvation of the movie. For Turner's character, her life becomes an adventure and a romance as any of the novels she has written. Highly enjoyable, very comedic and never aging, this movie is a welcome fill for any space in your DVD collection. On DVD, it's even better. Greater color and sound, picture quality and bonus feature such as insight on the film, the actors and commentary.

Jewls For Romance
This is the story of a romance writer, who needs a romance. It's a silly story but fun none the less. It's a chick flick I guess but it's fun.

Great casting
Who knew that Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas would turn out to be such a super casting duo? And then add Danny DeVito to the mix as the inept, addled wannabe villain, and you've got an instant winner. The story line revolves around a romance novelist (Turner) accidentally gone astray in Colombia. Douglas is her opportunistic rescuer/ally, and the pratfalls and plot twists keep coming fast enough to keep an audience on the edge of their seats. ... Read more

Reviews (132)

The very best...
I loved this film. I loved the humour. I loved the poignancy. I loved the relationships. I loved the genuine and real atmosphere created and maintained throughout. I loved the emotional reality the characters portrayed. I loved the laughter. I loved the tears.

I loved this film - in every single way.

Definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys comedy, to anyone who enjoys drama, to anyone who enjoys romance, to anyone who enjoys in-depth characterization, to anyone who enjoys a good escapist flick.

Loved, loved, loved this movie. ;-)

not a collection of dated priest and rabbi jokes
one of the best "date" movies in recent years. elfman is good in her role as corporate superstar. stiller is very credible as the rabbi juggling religion and issues of dating and marriage within the faith.

edward norton really hits it out of the park portraying the priest who loses his heart but not his vocation to elfman. the characters have believable personalities that mesh well, and the fine touch of norton's directorial debut is obvious.

this is one movie you will enjoy seeing several times, we certainly did.

Is NOW one of my FAVORITE MOVIES!
Ben Stiller, Jenna Elfman (hot), and Edward Norton. Three wonderful actors and a great directorial debut for NORTON.

This movie is about three friends, a Priest(norton) and a RABBI (STiLLER) who meet up when they're adults with old friend (elfman) BOth find her very attractive, but Norton (priest) has to be celebit, while Stiller (rabbi) needs to find a wife. This is an emotional, yet VERY FUNNY story about two friends fighting over another for love and affection. It made me laugh, cry, and cheer!

A crowd pleasing movie that is now one of my favorites of all time. Please see it!

A Chick Flick for Dudes
i don't usually go for chick flicks, so i bumbled into this one and i have to say it's one of the best romantic comedies i've ever seen in my life. what gives?

'keeping the faith' had me howling with laughter. i liked this one even better than that wedding movie with hugh grant. absolutely slamming dialog is what kept this one so very good. this movie was as close to perfect as i can imagine something in this genre gets, i was completely sucked in.

it is making me wonder if perhaps this is a type of film that i can actually look forward to enjoying on a regular basis. it had a complete lack of irony that i found very refreshing. it was *real*, which is probably the highest complement i could pay a romantic comedy. the relationship between the two male stars is very true to life - even though movie dialog makes people say in one sentence what it usually takes ten minutes for real guys to say - this was completely believable.

much of the authenticity streams, i imagine, from a level of jewish cultural exposition previously unseen on the big screen. not even my old bud michael benben got quite this deep. the shiksa question is always played for a joke in film, and even though this was lightly done, the weight of stiller's decision worked very well.

of all stiller's work (not that i have been a study) this one makes him shine without the complicated pretense with which i had previously associated him and that short babe, garafolo.

Hope for Generation X
I saw this movie because I'm a fan of Edward Norton and I wanted to see his directorial debut. I left the theater feeling uplifted and I was proud of Norton's positive and humorous look at life. I was proud of my generation, glad that we're not all slacker pessimists like Newsweek wants us to believe.

Back to the movie: humorous, entertaining portrayal of the friendship between a rabbi and a priest, and the girl from grade school who walks back into their lives more than a decade later. What ensues is a love triangle and some semi-serious semi-humorous dealing with issues like religion, family, and love.

Edward Norton's directing is straightforward, but he coaxes a lot out of the script. The performances by Norton, Stiller, and Elfman are great and the product is a warm feel-good romantic comedy. I enjoyed this movie more than most other movies I saw this summer, and would definitely see it again. ... Read more

Description

The magical story of Cinderella continues in an all-new movie brimming with irresistible music, lush animation and all your favorite characters from the original Disney classic. When Cinderella and her prince return to the palace from their honeymoon, the new princess suddenly finds herself cast in the role of Royal Hostess. But the traditional rules of the Royal Court don't allow her to entertain in her own warm and wonderful way. With the help of everyone's favorite Fairy Godmother and a band of mischievous mice, Cinderella and her friends find that the only true way to succeed is to be yourself. You'll find dreams really do come true in the enchanting tale of Cinderella II. ... Read more

Reviews (132)

What an insult. Can you give less than 1 Star?
Usually, we pre-purchase Disney DVDs, but for some reason I did not pre-purchase this one... and I am glad I did not. We instead decided to rent this DVD to see if it would be a keeper. What we found was simply minute after minute after minute of the single worst animated Disney movie myself and the rest of my family have ever seen. This movie actually makes Lion King 2 look like an Oscar winner.

Mr. Eisner? Did you really view this project before allowing the Disney name on it? I simply cannot believe you did. Peter Pan 2 was well done, Little Mermaid 2 was well done, Lady and Tramp 2 was well done, but this movie, a sequel to a timeless classic, is end to end mush. The animation is second rate; especially Cinderella although the wicked stepmother is excellent. The plot is nonexistent. The music is uninspiring.

About 20 minutes into the movie, my daughter, who by-the-way owns ever single princess item available from bed sheets to headboard to wallpaper to every DVD and doll and clothes..., took the remote and turned it off herself! I turned it back on and we struggled through the rest of the movie.

Mr. Eisner, for goodness sakes, if you are going to put out trash at least make sure does not involve one of the very classics that made you the success you are today.

Dreams Really Do Come True!!!!
This had to be the best Disney sequel of 2002 this year the sequels better than the original with great animation and great songs like "Put It Together" by pop singing sensation Brooke allison that was my favorite she sings four songs in the movie and she's very talented at it go buy this for me I'm telling you it is the best sequel ever. 14 yr. old veiwer

Cinderella II So-So good!
If Michael Eisner wants to re-introduce Cinderella to future generations he should re-release it, and other original animations, every 10 years in movie theaters to maintain interest. Snow White & the 7 Dwarves was re-released about 10 years ago. I was truly exited to see it in theater even though I owned a vhs copy at the time. So I ask you this question: If Cinderella already lives "happily ever after" then why does she need "dreams come true"? I recommend you rent Cinderella II before buying it. Cinderella II is cute but is not a quality full-length movie like the Beauty and the Beast Christmas sequel.

Cinderella II Shames Cinderella I...
Mr. Walt Disney would NEVER approve of Cinderella II. Michael Eisner has ruined Disney forever. Cinderella II is disappointing with its pop-like music, flat storyline, lack of drama/depth, animation quality--nothing like original, etc.
Walt's original classics were meant to allow viewers to continue the "happily ever after" in their imaginations. I suggest you rent this movie before buying it. You will save yourself a lot of grief.
It is also a shame Eisner has turned Disney into a mass-market mess. Within a year many original animation classics will have been released: 101 Dalmations 2, Peter Pan 2, Tarzan 2, Hunchback of Notre Dame 2, Lady and the Tramp 2, Cinderella 2, and who knows what else we missed.
Cinderella II is a "cute" story, but for those of us who grew up with the original as a timely classic this sequel will ruin all your fantasies/imaginations about Cinderella's "happily ever after". My dreams will never come true for Cinderella now that Eisner has basically "told" me what happens "after" ever after.

Disney is Garbage
Disney should be required by law to change it's name...it's not the same company it used to be. Disney releases one good (by today's standards, I guess) movie every few years and pumps out utter garbage the rest of the time. Does anyone really not see this? If they didn't have their name to keep them in business, they would have died a long time ago. ... Read more

Reviews (482)

Gentlemen prefer blondes
If there were 1/2 ratings, I would have granted an extra half-star if only for the moxie and flair for fun acting that Reese Witherspoon displays in Legally Blonde. An absurd storyline is carried by the actress in a script that fits Ms. Reese tighter than the designer outfits made into a running joke in the film.

Though ably directed and acted by a supporting cast including Luke Wilson and a chihuahua, 5 star storyline it is not. This movie is for fun, not for keeps. Yet, as weak as the foundation may be in Legally Blonde, I found myself smiling at the antics of Elle Woods (Reese W.), a grown up version of Alicia Silverstone's Clueless character. The sorority depictions were frightenly parallel to the one's I recall in college, which only made the stereotype more humourous. And Elle's college entrance video submitted to the Harvard Admission Committee makes the film almost worthwhile on its own.

Men, be not afraid to rent this film with your girlfriend, wife, or boyfriend. Whatever your fancy, Legally Blonde has enough tom-foolery of the collegiate level to keep you laughing. Women, you will only solidify your stature as the significant other who can pick out a movie even your Marine Corp. boytoy will enjoy.

fun despite the weak idea
Reese Witherspoon is Elle Woods, a blonde and beautiful if slightly ditzy college senior whose life is turned upside-down when her rich boyfriend Warner Kensington the Third (Matt Davis) dumps her. With her daddy's plastic, a bottomless wardrobe and a college career based on "Fashion History" Elle is something of a Barbie Doll come to cruel life. Getting into Harvard Law School, and having a promising future ahead of him, Warner sees himself as a future JFK, and JFK isn't supposed to choose Marilyn over Jackie O. Convinced that she still has a chance, Elle pulls out all the stops and manages to crack into the freshman class at school where she sticks out like a sore (and poorly accessorized thumb). Making no friends, and confirming every dumb blonde stereotype ever conceived, Elle is ruthlessly victimized by her seemingly smarter and insecure classmates. Elle wouldn't make it past her first day if not for her inexplicable capacity to dig out the common sense buried under the heady legal theory. Instead, she sort of prospers becoming a success story and more mature person while still being the same cute Elle that only Reese Witherspoon can create.

It's a thin plot, and the tacked criminal trial added at the end seems an excuse to keep a lame idea going, but it works because, like Elle, the script has an endless reservoir of pluck and manages some cute tricks of its own. The dim homilies guiding Elle's sorority lifestyle are bound by a fierce sense of loyalty (people who exercise can't kill people - the endorphins make them too happy), one that the script remains true to. In the end, Elle wins her case because of her loyalty to an accused killer and former sorority sister, one that you'd never think twice about doubting. Neither seem to deserve the attention or loyalty, but manage to win the case anyway. See it if only for Reese Witherspoon.

A film for girls everywhere
I was expecting this movie to be full of dumb blonde jokes, but was pleasantly surprised. Considering I'm naturally dark, and dye my hair as dark as possible, I'm never gonna be blonde, and it probably wouldn't suit me. But I do have what people would call my "blonde moments" where I say/do something stupid. I don't see why brunettes can't be labelled a bit daft at times too! Cos I definitely am!

This movie is carried by a strong cast: Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Stifler's Mom from American Pie, Ali Larter, Thomas Andrews from Titanic, and many more! My faves out of the cast have to be Ali Larter and Stifler's Mom! They stole the movie out from underneath Reese Witherspoon.

What is amazing about this movie, is the sheer amount of time spent on Reese's hair (which looks suspiciously like extensions). Throughout the movie, she has a mere 40 different hairstyles, which sometimes feels like a different hairstyle for each scene of the movie. Reese also wears a lot of different clothes for each scene, a lot of them with something pink in them, which she all got to KEEP after this was finished shooting! Free clothes, alright for some!

Once again, Selma Blair comes across as a bit of an ice queen in her role as Vivian, but you'll be glad to hear, the ice melts before the end of the movie!

What didn't I see coming in this movie? What Victor Garber's character really turns out to be. And trust me, he's not as nice in this, as he was in Titanic.

There is a sequel too, which I'm sure I'll manage to get my hands on eventually. And Stifler's Mom comes back for that too! That's how good her role is! But this is basically a feel good movie, which shows you don't need to change for anybody.

Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde DVD ~ Reese Witherspoon is a funny movie without any real social pretense. Witherspoon is awesome in her depiction of the felmale lawyer in stiletto heals and super feminine approach to life. More women should be like her...

Hilarious comedy!
This movie is one of my favorites. It's a fish-out-of-water comedy about a feminine, ditzy (but actually quite smart) sorority girl, Elle Woods (Witherspoon), who goes to Harvard Law School to get her boyfriend back. She ends up realizing that she's a lot smarter than people give her credit for, and succeeding beyond everyone's expectations including her own. The movie is hilarious the whole way through, and Witherspoon plays her part just perfectly. This is also one of those movies, at least for me, that you can watch over and over again and not get tired of it. I recommend everyone who enjoys comedy to watch this! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Not even the executives at Disney could have predicted the runaway success of this live-action movie inspired by Jay Ward's goofy 1960s cartoon character. Not only did George make a killing at the box office, but Disney's marketing wizards turned it into one of their best-selling videos. It's hard to begrudge the movie's success, even if this is the kind of mindless entertainment that caters to the lowest common denominator. In any case, it's obvious that kids love this movie, in which the idiotic George (Brendan Fraser) repeatedly swings into trees and attracts the attention of a lovely jungle explorer (Leslie Mann) who decides to call off her engagement to a wealthy snob (Thomas Hayden Church) in favor of the vine-swinging hunk with an elephant named Shep (that thinks it's a dog) and an ape named Ape (with a proper Brit voice provided by John Cleese). Filled with slapstick gags and some funny special effects, the movie can be a bit of a trial for adults, but it's a hilarious treat for its intended audience. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (76)

A review from Mr. Entertainment Lover
Hee Hee Hee.... What a silly movie! Yes it's dumb and stupid! Still that's what makes it so funny. I have it in my video collection to watch on a day I'm bored. In this film George falls in love with a beautiful women named Ursala. However her nasty mother and her mean boyfriend won't allow it. From then on it's madness and comedy that will keep you laughing. John Cleese does an excellent job as an ape named Ape and Bredon Frasier is good as the bumbling George. This is a movie for the whole family!

Pretty good for a kid flick...The Review...
Well, first off I would like to "admit", the first viewing of this film did not go over well with my friend and myself. I thought it was boring and just plain dumb. It lacked something I like to call, PLOT! Well, those times have changed and I have sort of soled-out! Just kidding, it is better than before, though weak in thought. I first saw the film when it was on television and now I rented it on DVD.

The movie stars Brendan Fraser who plays the title role, George of the Jungle. He is not really musculer but I guess neither was the original character. This film is like Dudley Do Right, but this is MUCH, MUCH better! If you are stuck having to pick which of the two to watch, see this w-a-y before you see Dudley Do Right. The film is about George of the Jungle, he looks for love in a girl named Ursilla, a woman from America and George just can not understand why he starts having all of these feelings for another person. His mate. John Clease does an OK job of playing the voice for the character An Ape Named Ape. Ape is George's mentor and guide through his life until he leaves the "Heart of the Jungle."

This is an over all good film, GREAT for kids. If I was a little youger when this film came out, I would of loved it. If you liked this movie I would suggest the following movies, Dudley Do Right also starring Brendan Fraser, 101 Dalamations both the original and the remake and a host of others.

Hoped I helped, Have a good one!

Ryan

This is so stupid you have to buy it
If you have labeled movie shelves at home, you'll have to cut this DVD into thirds. One 3rd would go in stupid, another in funny and another in classics. This movie is so stupid its funny and its extreme stupidity makes it a classic! Ha! Ha!

So stupid it's funny.
George, who I'm assuming was raised by apes, is the king of the jungle (lol, NOT). Somehow he manages to meet Ursula, who has a wierdo for a fiance, and George falls in love with her. She takes him back to the city and he does all kind of wild stuff.

Meanwhile, two poachers in the jungle run across Ape the talking ape and manage to capture him. So this brings George and Ursula back to the jungle so George can save his best friend.

So stupid that it's hilarious, but I'm sorry, I can never take Brenden Fraser seriously again.

where is the widescreen version???
I love this movie - the wit is funny, the sight gags are funny and the characters are endearing - very hard to do when you are creating a movie from cartoon characters. But where is the widescreen version?? The whole reason for buying a DVD is having the chance to see the movie as it was originally envisioned. If I want to watch full frame, I'll watch television. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Funny & Honest!
This film is told mostly from Kevin Bacon's (Jake)perspective through narration, a funny & pretty honest look at early married life. Many subtle jokes here, along with laugh out loud sight gags. It isn't just a comedy it works on different levels. Elizabeth McGovern(Cristy)is an attractive, yet reserved wife who is grounded, unlike her husband. Jake has questions..many questions, trying to figure out his life..and his wife. There is a genuine chemistry between them. Alec Baldwin is very good as Jake's bachelor friend. John Ashton is hilarious talking about garden hoses & lawnmowers! I am surprised so many people missed or skipped this film. The music ranges from Gene Loves Jezebel's "Desire" to Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work". The ending credit sequence has cameos from: Cast of Cheers & Ferris Bueller, Ally Sheedy, Magic Johnson & Dan Ackroyd.

The DVD: It is 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen, with 5.1 Dolby sound. I would rank the picture quality a Solid 4 and the sound a 5. Unfortunatly no extras, a Trailer. (Would have loved to hear a Bacon/McGovern or John Hughes commentary!) If you are a fan, don't hesitate picking up this DVD.(Plastic Keepcase)

Good Romantic Comedy Plus Early Alec Baldwin
This is a funny, enjoyable romantic comedy, with Elizabeth McGovern and Kevin Bacon both providing a rich look at a young married couple and their struggles.

This movie's true bonus, though, is an early look at Alec Baldwin. I read somewhere that Barbra Streisand, way back long ago when she was in her prime, maintained two complete wardrobes -- one for when she was thin ("What's Up Doc?") and one for when she was chubby ("Hello Dolly!"). "She's Having A Baby" is definitely from young Alec Baldwin's thin days, when he displayed tremendous potential for being a handsome leading man of the cinema. Alec, however, never had to maintain two wardrobes as his film career progressed -- he simply bought larger clothes for each new movie, packing on a little more for "Glengarry Glen Ross" and then really porking up for "Pearl Harbor," and in all likelihood giving away his thin clothes because he certainly didn't need them any more. Soon, Alec will be able to play "Big Daddy" in a remake of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof."

She's Having A Baby
This movie was and has been one of my favorites from the 80's. It is a true classic... I love all of the classic 80's movies and now that I am at the age of being in a marriage and babies a part of my life... every time I watch it brings great joy of what I always wanted. This movie I can watch over and over when there is a down time and it brings me back to my growing years.

My all time favorite romantic movie
This is the the sweetest, most touching romance movie that I personally have ever seen. Contained within this comedy-romance are some profound truths about men, women and relationships that I have never seen talked about in any other movie in such a dead-on way.

Christie's 3 or 4 sentence explination of why she won't cheat on her husband contains more truth than I have ever seen in a movie about why you don't cheat on your mate. Many marriages would not end in divorce if the people in them understood what Christy demonstrates in this film.

This is a movie which I feel does a near-perfect job of conveying what is really important in life. I think every married couple should see it. This video could be better marriage therapy than counseling. While there are a few corny jokes in the movie, they don't get in the way of what is really trying to be conveyed: That when you find that one special person, you hold on and never let go. That there is more satisfaction than many people imagine in an 'ordinary life,' and that true love really is worth it.

The most wonderful romance movie I have ever seen.

Finally on DVD! (Soundtrack Information Below)
She's Having A Baby has always been a favorite movie of mine. Alas, I didn't see it in theaters but got it on video and wore my copy out from repeat viewings. Finally the DVD has arrived, but with the exception of a trailer there's nothing as far as Special Features, which is pretty disappointing. The film is letterboxed to it's proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio and looks just great. The sound is also good. Would've liked a John Hughes audio commentary like the one he did for the Ferris Bueller's Day Off DVD, but no such luck.

As for the movie itself, I think it's wonderful. A sweet and honest interpretation of growing up into adulthood and living with the decisions that you make. Since Kevin Bacon plays a writer named Jefforson (Jake) Briggs, we get to view his imagination thru certain scenes when he's sort of daydreaming, that come across very comically (like the lawnmower ballet). My favorite is when Kristi (Elizabeth McGovern) tells him "I stopped taking the pill three months ago", to which he sits up and starts screaming, imagining himself on a fastmoving traincar in a straitjacket, crashing into a brick wall. If those visuals don't explain his anxiety I don't know what would. That's the fun of the movie.

Everyone's talking about the wonderful Soundtrack that is out of print. This is because it was owned by I.R.S. Records and they went out of business many years ago and no one has bothered to pick up the rights to reissue it. I feel lucky, since I bought it on cassette and CD back in the early 90s. But if you really want to find one I suggest you try an online auction house such as ebay. They always have copies of the soundtrack to sell.

I always feel cheated when I buy a Paramount DVD because they are so expensive and usually only have a trailer as a bonus. Luckily I got this one dirt cheap at an auction, but even so they should'nt be charging us an arm and a leg for "movie only" DVDs when other studios (like Warner Bros.) sell "Special Edition" DVDs at cheaper prices. If you feel the same way as me I hope you'll write to Paramount and share your disappointment.

I hope these remarks were helpful. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Americana Romantic Comedy
"One Fine Day" is a very light comedy with romantic overtones and as such it is indeed excellent - it is short enough, relaxing enough and funny enough to provide much needed entertainment. At the same time humor displayed in the film is not of the "thrown-in-your-face" variety, as is so common in American comedies. Most of the time, you will stay slightly smiling throughout, and that does feel good.

The character portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer is a typical modern woman, who obviously has the good side of her, but takes care to hide it deep enough for no one to discover. Independent to the point of absurd, a "control-freak", as her movie partner calls her, attractive, thirtyish, working all the time, and divorced, super-peeved about men - yes, she is indeed an adequate portrait of a modern American woman. Clooney on the other hand is a nonchalant, also divorced man who is not as modern as one might expect. In this highly improbably light comedy, these two different people find the way to each other's hearts. The hostile kevlar suit each of them wears falls off, or rather - dissolves, and of course... they lived happily ever after. "Almost", as Bob Reiner might add.

A Great Feel-Good Movie
I think I must have been one of the 2 or 3 people in the country who hadn't seen ER when I first caught this movie on one of the premium movie channels. I wasn't a major George Clooney fan--it's not that I didn't like him, I just didn't know much about him.

All of that changed after seeing this movie. I hadn't even been looking for it. I was just channel surfing one Saturday afternoon and caught it by accident. However, the other 99 times I've watched the movie have been quite on purpose, thank you!

Granted, it's not the most intricate of plots, but it is very well acted by 4 gifted professionals. Clooney and Pfeiffer as the single parents are quite believable and endearing, and the 2 kids are very skilled, even at their young ages. The movie has some of that Cary Grant/Jimmy Stewart sort of charm and the approach/avoidance of the developing love affair between the two parents is engaging. By the time George Clooney finally plants a kiss on Michelle Pfeiffer's lips, my toes were curling!

If you want a movie that will leave you with a little smile on your face, you can't go wrong with this one.

BETTER THEN I REMEMBERED
I remember watching this movie when it first came out on VHS and being a little disappointed with it. I was excited to find a film starring Clooney and Pfeiffer but was feeling a little let down when it was over. Having recently seen George in ER reruns, I saw this DVD on the shelf and decided to give it another shot. I'm sure glad that I did as I thoroughly enjoyed watching it today. This will make a great addition to my DVD collection as it will for yours. A nice, lighthearted romance movie that doesn't star either Hanks or Ryan. Who would have thought that could have happened?

One Fine Day
My husband and I both watched "One Fine Day" and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of acting and plot. This movie had more depth than most people probably notice. There was the superficial romance, and comedy. Then the underlying story of the career chase at the expense of family.
I wasn't sure just how it would be resolved and was happy to see that in the end family won out. This is a must see in this day and age when parents of both sexes tend to put everything else before their home commitments. The consequences of power grabs was shown in a very realistic way. I know. I've seen it close up with people I know and maybe this movie would be a good gift, subtle hint, to someone you know who could use a little push to make wiser decisions of their own. Who knows, it might just be the impetus needed to save a family from the problems that happen when career trumps home life.
One of the best movies that I've seen George Clooney in, next to Perfect Storm. He can actually act. Michelle Pfeiffer brought more talent to this film than I've usually seen from her also. The best plots seem to bring out the best in actors. What a great vehicle for actors, and the improvement of family life in this day and age. It deserved a PG rating and will be part of my home collection.

One Fine Movie and One Fine Soundtrack!
Usually Amazon has the movies and the soundtracks seperate but for some reason they have combined the reviews for the DVD and video for One Fine Day with the movie's music soundtrack which has several reviewers confused and assuming that reviewers mistakenly reviewed the wrong thing. In my opinion Amazon should keep the soundtrack and movie reviews seperate. The movie is good, a charming romantic comedy starring George Clooney and Michelle Pheiffer who both do a great job and Mae Whitman and Alex Linz who play his daughter and her son are great too and adorable. I remember first seeing Alex Linz in a series of McDonalds commercials and thinking that he was quite good for a child actor. I recommend the movie and also the soundtrack, the music is very good! ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Not Too Bad For A Sequel
THE JEWEL OF THE NILE is a sequel to ROMANCING THE STONE. The director and the screenwriters are new but Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito are back in their old familiar roles. The cast also includes Spiros Focas and Avner Eisenberg.

This time the adventure takes place in North Africa where Turner is invited to accompany a wealthy Arab to his own country. She soon finds herself caught in another big mess in a very strange land. Naturally Douglas has to rescue her as he did before in ROMANCING THE STONE.

Danny DeVito's best scene comes near the beginning of the film when he suddenly emerges from a barrel on a dock with a rapid-fire description of his experiences in a Columbian jail. On balance JEWEL OF THE NILE is an entertaining movie but it does not quite recapture the magic of ROMANCING THE STONE.

A sequel that mostly makes the grade
Rarely does a sequel to a smash movie rise to the same level as its predecessor - but perhaps Jewel of the Nile is the exception (along with some of the Indiana Jones follow-ups).
This sequel to Romancing the Stone, a rip-snorter adventure/romance with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas, set the stage for this 2nd one. They've been together since the end of the 1st movie, living on his yacht. She is on assignment in the Middle East when she's abducted, and it's up to Douglas and of course Danny DeVito, to rescue her.
Good stuff, but not quite 5-star.

Very Well Done
Jewel of the Niel is the sequel to Romancing the Stone also with Michael Douglas,Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. The Movie stars off kind of slow but once the movie goes over seas to the Middle-East it gets alot better I don't want to give away to much but this movie should not be missed. Also to readers of this review if you like these two movies you the actors in it you should check out WAR OF THE ROSES

Skip this one. Just watch "Romancing the Stone" again.
Not too bad for a sequel, but this film has absolutely none of the "magic" of the original. Everything seems forced, contrived, and artificial by comparison. As others have noted, the story ended precisely where it should have at the close of "Romancing the Stone." Too bad they did not leave well enough alone.

Good Sequel But Not A Contender
"Jewel of the Nile" is the sequel to "Romancing the Stone" and reunites Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito in another adventure involving treasure, mystery, and danger in a foreign land.

It feels very much like a sequel, as in, "This all worked the first time, so let's do it again." The result is a somewhat formulaic and predictable film, with less magic. Without it's predecessor, viewers would be confused about what was going on with the characters. But, without it's predecessor, it would have stood out more. Or, it might have flopped. A definite case of sequelitis, but a much milder case than the awful "Jurassic Park: The Lost World" which completely went awry, in my opinion.

All that said, "Jewel of the Nile" is still an above-average, fast-paced action/adventure film with enough of a plot and enough good acting to make it worth watching. It has an exotic setting, a good, if not memorable, musical score, and plenty of action. "Romancing the Stone" is a keeper; this one is a good rental (or to buy a used one cheap). ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

If anyone ever doubts whether Nicole Kidman is a good actress, they should immediately be required to watch this outrageously wicked comedy from 1995, for which Kidman deservedly won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Leading Role. While director Gus Van Sant handles the fact-based satire with razor-sharp precision, Kidman delivers a deliciously devious performance as Suzanne Stone, a small-town New Hampshire housewife who fancies herself the next Barbara Walters, Jane Pauley, Diane Sawyer, and Maria Shriver all rolled up into one meticulously coiffed package. So determined is she to have a successful career on TV that she'll stop at nothing--even the calculated murder of her husband (Matt Dillon)--to get the attention she feels entitled to. To carry out her scheme she recruits some unwitting local teenagers including one boy (Joaquin Phoenix, matching Kidman's excellence) whose infatuation with Suzanne leads to sexual escapades and predictably troublesome consequences. It's a satirical comedy in Van Sant's capable hands, but it's so close to tabloid reality that the film never seems implausible--which only gives it a funnier, more blood-chilling quality of humor. Featuring Illeanna Douglas, George Segal, and Seinfeld alumnus Wayne Knight in memorable supporting roles, this is one of the best comedies of the '90s--especially if you prefer comedies with a decidedly darker edge. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Sublime and Vastly Underrated
The fact that To Do For is not more highly regarded is a mystery to me. It only garners a 6.7 on IMDB.com. All of the ingredients were there, an incredible and gifted director in Gus Van Sant, what I consider to be Nicole Kidman's finest performance, a wicked and not just satirical script and an excellent supporting cast.

Of particular note is Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Jimmy Emmet, the typical high school metal head loser who becomes obsessed with Kidman's evil character, Suzanne Stone-Maretto. Phoenix is a gifted actor with a wide pallet to choose from. Contrast this performance with the job he does of playing The Abbe in Quills. It makes his role in To Die For all the stronger. Allison Folland is also a standout in her debut performance as Jimmy's pathetic friend Lydia Mertz. Together with Casey Affleck as Russel, the three unwittingly become assassins for the callous Mrs. Stone. The story is built up very effectively, and as a viewer there is never any doubt that these three "dorky" kids will pull the murder off.

Also magnificent and lending strong supporting roles are Dan Hedaya and Illeana Douglas who play Larry Maretto's father and sister, respectively. The part of Larry is played with near perfect un-bravado by Matt Dillon, who does so without his usual pomp and bluster. Basically, Larry is the perfect everyman trying to do right by his new wife and family [....]Hedaya is perfectly cast and uses his natural menacing qualities quite well. My favorite though, is Janice Moretto, Larry's sister played by Douglas, who is the only character who sees Suzanne for what she really is. The dancing on the grave ice-skating bit at the end is also really well done. Douglas doesn't fall once.

Hats off to Van Sant for a creating a satirical masterpiece that contains enough side elements to hold the viewers attention through more than one viewing. For instance, what exactly is Suzanne's relationship with her father? Also, the fact that Janice is most likely gay and this might be why she understands Suzanne so well. Cudos as well to the director for the style he employed, blurring the line between film and documentary. Some people have argued to me that To Die For contains too many cuts and flashbacks and consequently the viewer has a difficult time following the action. I do not find that to be true. Quite the opposite, I find the film to be compelling. Even after at least five viewings, To Die For firmly holds my attention throughout.

The Perfect Film for a Celebrity-Obsessed Culture
"To Die For" is a great little gem of a movie that, in my opinion, ranks as one of the best dark comedies of the last decade. Nicole Kidman, in what is probably her finest performance to date, is stunning as Suzanne "Stone" - her real name is Maretto - a completely self-absorbed, amoral, and utterly ruthless young woman who will let nothing stand in the way of her obtaining her goal of being a "television star". The film is shot in the style of a slightly wacky TV documentary, which only adds to the fun, as we see the "post-tragedy" interviews with those who were involved with the late Miss Stone. Stone is an attractive but cold-blooded blonde in a small New England town who is desperate to become a national celebrity on a national TV News Network. As proof of her warped psyche, she tells the audience "You're a nobody if you're not on TV" - which unfortunately does seem to accurately describe the feelings of many people these days. She's also determined to move up the social ladder in her little town, and so as the film begins she seduces and marries the handsome quarterback of the high school football team (Matt Dillon), the most popular boy in town. Dillon's sister despises Suzanne and sees right through her facade, but Dillon is so entranced he doesn't listen. Dillon goes on to work in his father's pizzeria, but Suzanne obtains a job as the weather forecaster for the local rinky-dink TV station, and begins to have dreams of glory. One of the darkly funny aspects of this film is that for all of Suzanne's scheming and ruthlessness she's not very bright, and her attempts to sound and act "sophisticated" are often hilariously inept. When her faithful but old-fashioned hubby tells her to quit her job and help him with the family business, she decides he's "impeding" her career and that she'll have to kill him. So she seduces an underage teenage geek (hilariously played by a very young Joaquin Phoenix), has a torrid sexual affair with him, and then convinces him to murder her hubby. At first she uses the shock of the murder to obtain further publicity - "you've got to think of your career first" - from the local and state media. Unfortunately, her underage love affair is discovered and she is ruined. Ever undaunted, she begins plotting her comeback, but Dillon's family (they are Italian), has a little surprise planned for their murderous in-law. Kidman's performance is dead-on - she plays Stone as a parody of the type of person who will do ANYTHING - even murder - to get on TV and become "somebody". The supporting cast is also excellent. The most troubling part of this film is that it was loosely based on a real story - an attractive New Hampshire schoolteacher who by most appearances had everything seduced a fifteen-year-old student and convinced him to kill her husband - apparently so she could leave her hometown and try to become "famous" in the big city. "To Die For" may seem like a delicious but improbable story - but it's really not all that far from today's news headlines. Ouch!

Not bad because of Joaquin
This movie is not bad but it's not that great either. I always like Nicole Kidman, with or without Tom Cruise. But what I really like about this movie is Joaquin Phoenix' acting. Call me at 156-38-3461.

not the worse film or acting...
but definately not the best or even above average. why does kidman have to inhale rapidly like that after she finishes a sentence (referring her private video segments)? isn't she a trained actress that has learned breath control? i understand she wanted to protray a psycho-ditz, but... anyway, i watched it to the end, i guess mostly because it was based on a true story.

A Train Wreck
This film really misses its mark. Billed as a black comedy, it fails to deliver any satirical bite whatsoever. Suzanne Stone's frequent video segments where she speaks directly to the camera and the flashforwards to some sort of Jerry Springer-like show are painful to watch. Yeah, Nicole Kidman is extremely sexy (duh), but it's not nearly enough to overcome her marginal acting, the clumsy dialog and the amateurish direction.

See this movie for all the humor of "Dying Young" coupled with the social commentary of a SpongeBob episode. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This unusual but strikingly affecting movie stars Marisa Tomei as Ruby,a young woman with a string of bad relationships behind her, who falls inlove with a guy named Sam (Vincent D'Onofrio, Full Metal Jacket,The Whole Wide World). Initially, Sam just seems quirky, buteventually he tells her his secret: he's a time traveler from 400 years inthe future. Happy Accidents walks a delicate line between genres,never making it clear whether Sam is delusional or telling the truth untilthe end. The strange blend of genres (which plays like romantic comedy,not like science fiction) may make some viewers balk, but writer-directorBrad Anderson (Next Stop Wonderland) has a gift for both revealingpsychological insights and sensual moments--like when Sam explainsprincipals of time travel by running his hands up Ruby's leg--that,combined with the superb cast, are constantly engaging and sincerelytouching. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Quirky story with great acting!
Happy Accidents is a great film because it deviates from the norm. It successfully mixes a bit of science fiction with a bit of romantic comedy to produce a great off-beat film. Vincent D'onofrio once again does a smashing job portraying his character. The quirky guy from the future with his lovable and lamentable idiosyncrasies comes off perfectly. Marisa Tomei does a fine job as well, though I cringe everytime she screams.
The film is laced with laughs, but at the same time is very touching and convincing. I especially like the scene where d'onofrio's character explains how time travel works. "Do you know how a combustion engine works?"
I'll admit, the film probably isn't everyone's taste, but it's great for a few laughs, some touching moments and another magnificent performance by Vincent D'onofrio.

Keeping the future safe for love and codependency
It turns out that lovestruck kooks from the future are much less entertaining than killer cyborgs from the future. That's one of the ways that HAPPY ACCIDENTS, a boy-travels-through-time-to-get-girl romance, suffers by comparison with such genre greats as James Cameron's 1984 masterpiece THE TERMINATOR, Terry Gilliam's macabre TWELVE MONKEYS, and Robert Zemeckis' BACK TO THE FUTURE franchise. If you haven't seen these or the more recent MEMENTO (which uses time in other, equally fresh ways), HAPPY ACCIDENTS is a harmless enough knock-off.

Child-like Sam Deed (Vincent D'Onofrio) "back travels" from the year 2460 to prevent an unhappy accident from befalling serial romantic Ruby Weaver (Marisa Tomei). Ms. Tomei brings a novel appeal - call it whiny eroticism - to Ruby's too-caring bachelorette. But Mr. D'Onofrio's Sam, afflicted with time-travel jet lag and repeatedly caught in the lies his secret mission demands, comes off as more pathological than quirky, unappealing even by Ruby's low standards. Their chemistry peaks early, and Sam is reduced to spouting the hackneyed pseudo-science of time travel fiction while Ruby frets about her taste in men. Fortunately, a great supporting cast adds texture, led by Nadia Dajani as Ruby's SJF best friend, and Ruby's therapist (Holland Taylor), a wise comic voice with a few surprises of her own. These small delights, rather than its central characters or plot, make HAPPY ACCIDENTS worthy of the name.

Cheeseman's Theory of Emotional Energy
Rarely do I find a movie that I can watch twice, let alone in a week's time. But having seen it on the Independent Film Channel I subsequently bought a copy online and watched it again with the same delight as the first go around.

Vincent D'onofrio plays Sam, a man from the future (Dubuque, Iowa on the Atlantic Coast to be specific) who after some tragic events in the future has broken the time-space continuum and traveled back some 400 years to find his one true love Ruby, whose picture he found in a curio shop. After a "chance encounter" in a park in NYC where they strike up a conversation and Sam entertains her, he seeks to find where she lives to return a book that she has forgotten on the park bench. The love-shy Ruby, who has had her share of "losers" in the past, is aloof when he approaches her but all the same curious of who this strange man is. To skip giving away any of the plot-line and formation, they begin a romantic relationship. But as the eccentric time-traveller starts to display odd and suspicious physical and personality traits, the neurotic Ruby begins to think that he is playing her for a fool. She confides finally in a therapist and after many see-saw episodes between the couple she believes that she must leave him. To keep her love he slowly uncovers the truth about who he really is. From this the main thrust of the movie becomes encapsuled in a simple futuristic ideal: Cheeseman's Emotional Energy Theory, which holds that if you can concentrate enough emotional energy on a particular moment in time you can alter the past and create a new future. Thus Sam has come back to save Ruby and himself from their tragic lots in life.

The strange sci-fi aspect of this romantic comedy is what fuels it to excellence and keeps it from becoming the prototypical toothy-actor "loser" meets the Hollywood starlett "princess" which normally plagues the genre. D'onofrio, though sometimes an over-actor, is always believable and sincere in his performances unlike a Tom Cruise or Harrison Ford, who no matter what they do, we are cognizant of the fact that they are mega-stars playing a part. Sam is real and likeable and thus the storyline becomes engrossing and brilliantly devised. Marisa Tomei, who I have never really thought twice about, is equally supportive and performs well and to the extreme which obliterates anything hackneyed or cliched about the film. A must have movie.

A real sleeper
Why didn't this movie click at the box office? The characters played by Tomei and D'Onofrio are people you actually care about; that alone makes the movie superior to 99% of what passes as romantic comedy these days. Tomei especially sells her part (a difficult one) with touching credibility. A nice bonus is the believable relationship Tomei has with her parents, especially her Mom (who gives her daughter a pep talk about love that is one of the best scenes in the movie). Finally, a special nod to Holland Taylor, who just gets more terrific with the years, in a crucial supporting role.

(One word of warning: if you ever do get a chance to see this in the movie theaters, don't. Nothing will kill the magic of the film's ending faster than having some lamebrain behind you wailing to his/her date: "But I don't UNDERSTAND -- what did she see in that photograph, anyway?"

Fun and holds your attention
It was a happy accident that I saw this movie. It is like all the time travel clichés wrapped up in one. However they picked just the right actors for the parts. You of course recognize Marisa Tomei from the movie "Oscar" (1991); however it may take you a second to recognize Vincent D'Onofrio as the bug in the Edgar suit in the movie "Men in Black" (1997). There is never a dull moment following all the twists and turns.

Sam and Ruby run cross paths and immediately know they have met before. She says déjà vu; he says time travel. And as they get to know each other he comes clean about being from the year 2472 and she figures out where he is really from. Checking out the pictures in his wallet really help tie the movie together and is a nice added touch to most "K-Pax" type "are you or aren't you" movies.
However do not let this fact or physics get in the way of a story that is in truth about people.
So sit back kibitz a little and enjoy ... Read more

Description

A tour bus driver pretends to be a screenwriter to win the love of a beautiful movie star.Interactive Menus, Scene Access, Filmographies ... Read more

Reviews (6)

What happens when your way in over your head
This movie is a hidden treasure. I picked this movie up at a video store when it was the new release that they only have one copy of, so you can see what I mean that it went unseen by the public. This is a movie for everyone who has every dreamed of dating an actor or actress and knew they would make a bumbling fool of themselves if they even tried to ask the actor/actress out. It is a light hearted comedy about the plight of a slightly dopey but lovable tour bus driver(Jason Pivens) when he falls in love with a very famous actress and gets himself way in over his head. A definite must see.