Amazon.com

The first season of Profiler gives fans and newcomers a fresh opportunity to view this popular TV series at its best. Premiering on September 21, 1996, the series lasted four seasons as part of NBC's Saturday-night "Thrillogy" lineup, attracting a predominantly female audience drawn to its lead character, FBI profiler and single mother Samantha "Sam" Waters, played by Ally Walker. As the pilot begins, Sam's living with her daughter (Caitlin Wachs) and roommate (a thankless role for Erica Gimpel), still traumatized by her encounter with Jack (a.k.a. "Jack of all Trades"), a psychotic genius who killed Sam's husband three years earlier. Sam's mentor and leader of the Atlanta-based Violent Crime Task Force, Bailey Malone (Robert Davi), convinces Sam to rejoin the Bureau, where her VCTF colleagues include former cop John (Julian McMahon), computer ace George (Peter Frechette), and forensics expert Grace (Roma Maffia). Taking a cue from The X-Files' "mythology," Profiler tracked Jack's killing spree for two seasons, challenging Sam in an extended subplot as the VCTF pursued weekly cases of murder and mystery, aided by Sam's uncanny ability to "profile" unidentified killers.

Profiler borrowed heavily from The Silence of the Lambs and The X-Files while cribbing its title sequence from Seven, but the series established its own dark identity through slick production values and gruesomely plausible plots. The miscasting of Walker reportedly troubled NBC executives despite her growing fan base, but Profiler earned respectable ratings, building its popularity on a compelling escalation of tension and terror. Walker's DVD commentary on the pilot episode repeats the official reason for her departure after two seasons (she'd grown weary of the show's humorless tone), while Davi's is refreshingly frank, citing on-set squabbles and network mismanagement as reasons for first-season hardship. Still, he's quite correct in stating that later, more successful shows (C.S.I., Without a Trace, and others) would not have existed without Profiler's stylishly trendsetting example. (Note: episode #4, "I'll Be Watching You," was omitted from this set due to prohibitively expensive music rights for the Police hit "Every Breath You Take," which featured prominently in that episode's plot.) --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Fantastic crime series with a fantastic cast.
Profiler is truly a magnificent series. Starring Ally Walker as Samantha Waters, a brilliant forensic psychologist with a unique gift for understanding the criminal mind, the show focuses on the Violent Crimes Task Force, an elite unit of the FBI that investigates the most violent of crimes, including those perpetrated by the infamous serial killer, Jack of All Trades.

The storylines in this show constantly surprise and delight and the on-going cat and mouse game between Sam and Jack is handled with great aplomb. The first season finale, 'Venom', is perhaps one of the show's best episodes, with an intriguing storyline and a shocking cliffhanger.

The cast always turns in stellar performances. Ally is superb and flawless in her portrayal of the tormented but strong Sam. Julian McMahon and Robert Davi are equally good, but mention must be made of the fantastic Peter Frechette and Roma Maffia, who may not be featured as much in the spotlight, but turn in some wonderful performances each week, anyway.

I'm really looking forward to picking up this set, as I've only ever seen "Into the Abyss" and "Venom", the last few episodes of season one. I also really look forward to season two.

The cover art for this set is gorgeous, and keeps very much in with the dark nature of the show.

Highly recommended. You won't be disappointed.

Sam Waters, trend setter/buttkicker
I'm so glad to find out this gem of a show is out on DVD (and season 2 is coming soon). When this show premiered, I was only 13, but loved it...I really loved the way a woman was portrayed as not just a damsel in distress. The 90s brought about great female characters like Dana Scully, Buffy, Xena, and Sam Waters...which were great role models for me as a pre teen. Before shows like theirs, men ruled everything, and women were relegated to partners being raped or shot or mamed (like on Hunter), but these women started a new trend, that shows like Alias and Dark Angel took a page from. Kudos for recognizing true genius in ground breaking shows like Profiler.

Review & Clearing-up Errors in Amazon's Staff Review
I have to take issue with Amazon's Editorial reviewer Jeff Shannon, and his review of Profiler Season I.

Mr. Shannon attempts to review not the DVD itself, but what he *thinks* are the behind-the-scenes truths of the Profiler production. One, he refers to the DVD commentary of Ally Walker - suggesting that she is in fact giving the reason why she left after only "two" seasons. (Psssst, Jeff... it was after THREE seasons - not to mention she headlines the opener of the fourth season).

Then he gives more of his "insight" when he suggests that NBC was troubled by the "miscasting" of Ally Walker. Well, not that I believe Mr. Shannon has any reliable inside information, but what does that have to do with reviewing this DVD? I tend to think that Shannon was insinuating his own feelings about Walker, and trying to use the NBC network - based on rumor - as a way to reinforce them. A more candid review would have read, "I wasn't terribly impressed with Walker, and felt she was miscast in the role."

But that probably wouldn't have held-up against the enormous fan-following of Walker on this show (or as Shannon understated in his review, "growing popularity"), nor would it have stood up well against the fact that after Walker left and was replaced by Jamie Luner, the ratings pretty much tanked.

Make no mistake about it: this is a GREAT show. You will esecially enjoy this Season I DVD. The isolated, episodic stories are each fantastic in their own right, and the Jack thread is very addictive. Ally Walker's performance is compelling, and she leads a solid cast - notably Robert Davi, Peter Frechette, Julian McMahon, and Roma Maffia. You'll watch Season I, and you will RUN to grab Season II.

Some Good Some Bad
I was not a viewer when Profiler was first run on network television but now I've seen the first season and I can see both strengths and weaknesses.

Things I liked:

1. Samantha's character and her relationship with her friend Angel in the first couple of episodes. Ally Walker did a great job with this character.

2. Some of the cinematography-- the way the pilot was shot was very good.

3. The way Samantha's flashes of insight where dealt with in the story.

4. The sexual zing between Samantha and Coop, especially when they first met on the series.

Things I found distracting or unfortunate:

1. A lot of scenes are played out in the dark but with glints of light off eyeballs and teeth. The watcher may not know what else is going on but is never in doubt as to where the eyeballs and teeth are in these scenes.

2. Angel was shoved from an artist who created metal sculpture with a blow torch to a baby sitter-- ok, she was teaching art to inner city kids or something, but she was seen most of th time watching Samantha's kid. Really a waste of a good character.

3. Icky saliva sounds that went with all of the love scenes.

Just as a side note the commentaries from Ally Walker and Robert Davi on the pilot are unintentionally hilarious. Unlike a lot of these tracks, these were recorded separately so there is no intereaction between the commentors. Ally tells us things like Robert Davi's infatuation with hair spray and a stetson hat. Robert Davi seems really upset that the series didn't last longer or at least that they didn't do a made for TV movie spin off because NBC owned the whole package.

My final impression was that this was a good idea, that it had some good characters involved but all of the really good ideas were used early or muted down for one reason or another.

Absolutely a must have
Very good if you liked the series, and a must have for anyone who wishes the series still played. I Can't wait for the rest of the seasons to complete my collection. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Excellent show!
I watched Profiler when it aired on NBC, and always loved the show. I am so glad the DVDs are available; I miss the reruns on Court TV now! Highly recommend to Law and Order and CSI enthusiasts like myself!

Rave
If you haven't caught onto this show, please, do it now! It's one of the rare TV shows that draws you in and keeps you wanting more! Every episode is like watching your favorite suspense movie.

Profiler Season 2
Great to finally have at home and not have to wait for Court TV. Can't wait for season 3.

Finally I can buy one of my favorite shows.
A fresh inventive, yet dark and suspenseful show much better than the x-files, One of my all time favorite shows.

felt like i had to write a review
season 2 of this amazing series was without a doubt one of the best on television. Ally Walker's portrayal of Sam Waters was uplifting as well as heartbreaking at times. . . making this one of the most heartfelt things I have ever seen. The serial killer jack-of-all-trades can still send shivers down my spine, and will to most people. many people i know can and have been addicted to this show from watching one episode...and so will you ... Read more

Description

Agent Rachel Burke is the newest Profiler to join the elite Violent Crimes Task Force. Their mission is simple but dangerous--investigate high-profile crimes throughout the country. Serial killers, arsonists, assassins, bombers, and perpetrators of hate c ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you don't mind a heavy dose of schmaltz and sentiment, this romantic comedy has a gentle way of seducing you with its charms. While You Were Sleeping was the first starring role for Sandra Bullock after her blockbuster success in Speed. In a role that nicely emphasizes her easygoing appeal, Bullock is the reason the movie works at all. She plays Lucy Eleanor Moderatz, a Chicago Transit tollbooth clerk who's hopelessly smitten with a daily commuter, Peter Callaghan (Peter Gallagher). She saves the object of her affection from certain death after he's mugged and falls onto the train tracks. While Peter is in a coma, she lets his family believe that she is his fiancée, and surprisingly finds herself drawn to his brother (Bill Pullman), for whom the attraction is definitely mutual.How Lucy gets out of this amorous predicament is what makes this pleasant movie less predictable than its familiar ingredients would initially indicate. It's feel-good fluff, with characters and performances that keep you smiling through the drippy plot mechanics. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (143)

Thoroughly Likable Romantic Comedy With Some Complexity
A lonely subway ticket-booth worker, Sandra Bullock, has a crush on a daily commuter, Peter Gallagher. When suave Gallagher is mugged and almost killed, Bullock saves the day. At the hospital, she is mistaken for Gallagher's fiancee, which feels so good that Bullock goes for it. Gallagher's slightly eccentric but very warm and likable family instantly adopts her. Meanwhile, Bullock finds out that the comatose Gallagher was not really very charming, but was actually shallow, materialistic, and snobbish, as is his real fiancee. However, Gallagher's brother, Bill Pullman, is what Bullock thought Gallagher was, and . . . well, nature takes its course.

Sandra Bullock is completely charming in her first starring role, and you want to either take her home or have her move in next door. Her "fiancee's" family consists of a very likable and somewhat eccentric group, played by a veteran cast including Glynis Johns, Jack Warden, and Peter Boyle.

This is a very nice movie filled with nice people. For my money, it's better than "Sleepless in Seattle". It has a little more depth, more realism, and less perfection. "While You Were Sleeping" is not completely predictable, like "Sleepless" is. For what it is, few movies do it better.

Perfect Romance for the Holidays!
In the overfed, overtired stupor that was my Christmas Day 2000, I decided to watch this movie again, having seen it maybe five times before. I never realized before what a perfect holiday movie it is! Of course, it's funny and romantic, and Sandra Bullock is perfect in her role as the lonely toll booth worker (though she may be just a tad too beautiful to be entirely believable as a single woman) and Bill Pullman-funny, smart, boyishly handsome Bill Pullman-finally gets the girl in a film.

But the movie also makes one realize the importance of family and people to love and be loved by, especially around those Major Holidays when we're usually too stressed out with gift-buying and feast-cooking to notice the really important thing-people. Watch this film some cold winter day, either alone or with loved ones, and you'll realize the same thing, along with being warmed from the inside out.

SWEET MOVIE!!
While You Were Sleeping is endearingly sweet and laugh-out-loud funny. Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman, the romantic leads, are excellently cast and have an even more excellent chemistry between each other. This movie will have you awwwing at the love between Lucy and Jack, and laughing at the family and situation. Highlight to look out for is the icy sidewalk scene- very very well done!! This movie is also very appropriate. In all, great movie, a little predictable but cute!

Sweet but not (too) overdone
While You Were Sleeping represents the pinnacle in chick flicks. Girls, you already know what I'm talking about. But guys, if you're looking to score with the ladies as a sensitive, caring man, watch this movie with your girl. It's guaranteed to promote feelings of goodwill, kindness, and heartfelt gratitude on their part.

Like virtually all those movies in this genre, Sleeping one doesn't really deserve a review for its dramatic value. The entire plot hinges on a few engineered coincidences while the story, cute and engaging, wins no awards for its daring portrayal of real life. But as I said before, that's not what we're looking for. Lucy, a sweet, lonely young thing who works in a Chicago tollbooth, is ably played by Sandra Bullock. The love of her life, to whom she has never spoken, is Peter Callahan, a rich young playboy who rides the train to and from work every day. It all comes to head when his not so understanding friends push him into the tracks, necessitating his resuce (by Lucy, of course) and his subsequent move to the hospital. Here's where it gets interesting--Peter's family rushes in and in the confusion mistakes Lucy for Peter's fiance. Hilarity ensues as virtually all the family welcomes her with open arms without any idea of the mistake. It's only the younger son, Jack (Bill Pullman), who is suspicious, and in his search for the truth finds more than he bargined for.

The power of the movie is found in its two stars. Tension between Sandra Bullock (in her signature role, to be reprised in countless movies afterwards) and Bill Pullman are palpable, moving the silly plot along with their realisic chemistry. In the end, While You Were Sleeping is a lovely story about family, friends and love, and I highly reccommend it for anyone who needs a pick-me-up and have already seen Amelie.

Lucy and jack. 16th april 2004.
Lucy[sandra bullock], see A man peter[peter gallagher] again even though i don't think she even knows him, she fancies him. He is pushed onto a train track, she saves him by moving him away before he gets killed. Peter is in a comber, and all his relatives think that she is his fiancee. Peters brother jack meets her and while he is still in hospital, they both fall in love, but when peter is finally out of hospital, he wants her too. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, EVERYTHING WENT ON WHEN HE WAS IN THAT HOSPITAL BED. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A truly wonderful and dark series.
Much darker than almost any series you'll ever watch and Ally walker, robert davi, and the rest of the cast are perfectly cast. I just wish it would have stayed on longer than it did.

Without a clue
I ordered this DVD set with great excitement. I waited VERY impatiently for it to arrive. When it finally did I tore open the box and happily placed the first disc into my DVD player. That's when my emotions hit rock bottom. None of the episodes are captioned, that's bad news to a deaf t.v. junkie. The fact had not even entered my mind that they wouldn't be captioned so it was a great shock to me. The television shows are all captioned, all the several t.v. shows I own on DVD are all captioned. Why would such a well know distributor of fine shows like A&E release a show without captioning it? They are the final losers though. Take a look at the percentage of deaf and hearing impaired in our nation. A&E are shooting themselves in the foot by not making it available to those hundreds of thousands. Yes, not just a few, a multitude.

FROM A GREAT SHOW TO ...
BACKGROUND: Dr. Samantha ("Sam") Waters (played by Ally Walker) used to be a forensic psychologist/profiler for the FBI until a serial killer obsessed with her, called "Jack-of-all Trades" ("Jack"), killed her husband. She quit the Bureau & went into hiding. Sam & her daughter, Chloe (played by Caitlin Wachs), had been living with Angel (Sam's best friend; played by Erica Gimpel), an artist. Sam made ends meet as a photographer until her mentor & friend, Bailey Malone (played by Robert Davi), asked her to help the FBI solve a series of murders at the same time when "Jack" resurfaces. After the suspect of the murders had been caught, Bailey asked Sam to rejoin the FBI on a full-time basis. Sam agreed but she set certain conditions. The new FBI unit, headed by Bailey Malone, was called the Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF). The VCTF was in charge of investigating & solving violent crimes all over the US - this included tracking down the elusive "Jack" who continually taunted Sam.

SESASON 3 (some spoilers): In the end of Season 2, the audience was left with a cliffhanger - in the jail where Sam eventually kills Jill (played by Traci Lords). The third season picks up from where Season 2 ended but it takes on a different route (which was weak compared to the previous two seasons). The storylines were not very interesting especially that "Jack" was caught in the first episode of Season 3.

Furthermore, there were a number of major inconsistencies: (1) Marcus Payton (played by Shiek Mahmud-Bey), who had a significant part in the final episodes of Season 2, was nonexistent (the character's departure was never explained), (2) Chloe's age was moved up 3 years (from 8 years old to 11 years old) even though in the timeline of the show, there was no 3-year interval (the season begins right where Season 2 ended), & (3) Sam's religion was suddenly changed from Catholic (emphasized in Season 1 - the episodes "Unholy Alliance" & "I'll Be Watching You") to Baptist (shown in the first episode of Season 3 - "Coronation").

Since "Jack" was caught, Sam, Chloe, & Angel moved out of the safe house. Sam bought a house where she & Chloe lived while Angel moved someplace else. Hence, there were only a few episodes that included Angel (compared to the first two seasons).

Sam had a love interest (with someone from the District Attorney's office prosecuting "Jack's" case) in Season 3 but the chemistry just wasn't there (not like in Season 1 - with Sam & Coop (played by A Martinez)).

In my opinion, the two good episodes in Season 3 were "Otis, California" (where there is a "surprise" involving "Jack") & "Burnt Offerings".

Season 3 ended with Sam being kidnapped by "Jack" & Bailey being shot by "Jack".

The 3rd Season was a disappointment especially if you had watched the first two seasons. A great show became an average show - a show that one would watch because of being a fan from the start of the series &/or in the hope that the storyline would improve.

OTHER COMMENTS: In the beginning, "Profiler" was an exceptional series. It had a female lead: an FBI agent working as a profiler that was BRILLIANTLY played by Ally Walker. Ms. Walker was able to portray Samantha Waters as a strong & intelligent woman without sacrificing the character's femininity. She convincingly played a mother (to Chloe) & friend (to those around her). Samantha Waters was one of the best female characters that have ever appeared on TV. I loved the fact that "Sam", with all her problems, still had a good sense of humor (especially around Bailey). While watching the series, one could really feel for what "Sam" was going through. As for the other characters in the show, a viewer could sense that the core VCTF team (Sam, Bailey, Grace, John, & George) was like family. This could only happen with a great supporting cast. The series was very successful in integrating a short plot (good for a 1 hour show) & a long sub-plot (the "Jack" storyline). I don't know why so many changes were made during Season 3.

The show lasted for 4 seasons on NBC but Ally Walker only stayed on until the 1st 2 episodes of the 4th Season. The new profiler for the remainder of the 4th Season was played by Jamie Luner. With all due respect to Ms. Luner, in my opinion, Ally Walker was the one & only profiler.

Even if Season 3 is weaker than Seasons 1 & 2, I'm happy that "Profiler" Season 3 is now available to pre-order on DVD. I hope that the last season of the show will also be made available in DVD format so I can complete my collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A romantic comedy set against the background of the Seattle grunge scene of the late '80s and early '90s, Singles contains music and/or cameo appearances by the music groups who defined the movement, including Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Mudhoney, Screaming Trees, Mother Love Bone, and others. (For a definitive documentary treatment of the same pop-music phenomenon, see Hype!) The plot is really a series of interconnected stories about various Seattle singles--some of who are part of a couple, at least temporarily. Matt Dillon plays a longhaired rocker whose girlfriend (Bridget Fonda) is considering breast enlargement surgery. As Steve and Linda, Campbell Scott and Kyra Sedgwick are going through the awkward stages of a relationship--that point when quirky little traits that may have seemed attractive initially can evolve into major annoyances. It's a funny, sweet, enjoyable picture that captures some of the flavor of the Northwest, where writer-director Cameron Crowe relocated after marrying Seattle native Nancy Wilson of Heart. (The Wilson sisters also appear on the soundtrack as members of The Lovemongers.) Ten years before the release of Singles in 1992, Crowe was the "boy wonder" reporter for Rolling Stone magazine who went back to high school in order to research and write what became Fast Times at Ridgemont High. His other work includes Jerry Maguire (1996) and Say Anything (1989). --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (38)

A snapshot of the early 90s with a universal theme
I was in college in '92, when the grunge scene really took off, and this movie brings those days back perfectly. Somehow it doesn't seem dated either, like many 80s movies do. It's probably because of the engaging storyline and familar, "hey-that-could-be-me" characters that Cameron Crowe is known for. The Campbell Scott character, Steve (and by the way, where IS Campbell Scott these days?) is like so many of us - obsessed with work, trying to make sense of the whole dating and relationship scene, wishing for simplicity. Bridget Fonda's Janet is anyone who ever woke up from codependency and realized his/her own self-worth. And Kyra Sedgwick's Linda is everyone who ever got their heart broken and put up barriers to protect themselves, only to find that not all people are as bad as you think. Great cast, great setting, incredible soundtrack. The DVD adds some deleted scenes which I think are also on the VHS version, as well as cast bios. Check out cameos by Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam (the musicians in Matt Dillon's band), Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, and a performance by Alice in Chains. And don't miss Jeremy Piven as the checkout guy, and the eldest son from "Malcolm in the Middle" as the young Steve.

Good Movie
Cameron Crowe's "Singles" portrays the lives of single men and women living in Seattle, Washington in the 1990s. Like previous generations, the youth are seeking independence and identity. The movie centers around a couple Steve and Linda, played by Kyra Segwick and Campbell Scott. They first meet at a concert and she, Linda, rejects him on the spot. Then they meet again the second time and she accepts him. They both start off awkwardly and then they grow on one another. But things take a turn which makes one question the other where the relationship is going.
The supporting actors Briget Fonda and Matt Dillon make the movie are just as good as the center characters. Fonda, who plays a waitress, tries to get Dillon's attention. He is more focused on his music career while working as a delivery truck guy for a florist shop. She attempts to get a boob job to get his attention.
Then there is a neighbor who is an advertising exec that is searching for her "prince". She goes through a dating service hoping to get her man. Despite her schemes, she is optimistic.
This movie is a good watch as the couples are going through some odds and ends in the relationships and creating lifetime of friendships.

I Can Totally Relate
Even though I wasn't a part of the early 90s grunge scene, I can really relate to the theme in this movie, a theme that explores the ups and downs of the single life. As a matter of fact, I believe that anyone who has ever been single can relate to what's shown in the movie. For example, how many of us have gotten involved with someone we think is "The One", only to find out that he/she is a jerk? How many of us have pined away for a boyfriend or girlfriend who doesn't seem to notice that we exist? How many of us have gone to great lengths to find Mr. or Ms. Right? And how many of us have been hesitant to get into another relationship because we've been burned by previous ones? Answer: most of us. The above-mentioned scenarios are ones that we see not only in the movie, but also in our real lives. And as a previous reviewer mentioned, the movie takes place in the Northwest, but it could happen anywhere.

crowe does dating
some part of me wants to agree with general opinion that this is a bit of a 'period-piece'. oh, go on then, this IS a bit of a period-piece, but none the worse for that. the irony is that crowe took a peculiar cultural phenomenon in grunge, went to the heart of it all and made the film in Seattle (with some nice coffee shop moments thrown in for good measure) and then made a film about life that could have been set anywhere. i mean, instead of matt dillon's character having long hair, wearing jams and being into rock, give him a mohican, baggy trousers and have him into punk and you have a skateboard movie (not sure why you would, but still...).

the film is about love, life, relationships, the difficulties of being a twentysomething in modern society and making difficult decisions but not really knowing who you are, where you are going or why you happen to be where you are right now. it is that disaffection with life that, i suppose, endeared us all to troubled musicians with long hair and scruffy t-shirts in the first place..?

the idea that our central characters live in a duplex apartment block is key to the film. these are people with temporary lives, temporary relationships, dreams of something better and something bigger and no one to help them get there (to paraphrase michael chabon's wonder boys).

the film isn't out-and-out funny, or romantic or anything particularly mainstream, its downright quirky and unconventional and makes a bold observation on life and living it. campbell scott has only just recovered from the critical slamming he took because of this film, by all accounts, and bridget fonda and matt dillon have remained relatively low key (but probably not unsuccessful) and kyra sedgwick has had a reasonable career (and a marriage to the man of many degrees, kevin bacon). the only person that really flourished here is crowe, who can probably look at almost famous as his most acconmplished piece to date. this has similar charms and perhaps when we are further away from the early 90's this film can be appreciated by a new audience.

im inclined to agree that my so called life did do a better job with representing the grunge era, but then, this is aiming at higher fruits and, i think, comes across as a prelude to better things from its director (but maybe thats just hindsight speaking....?).

Seattle Blues
I loved this movie and have watched it over and over again. I am what you'd call an old-age rocker, but so what it! The movie makes me laugh and feel good about the characters and of myself at age 51! All the characters were so real and down to earth. After renting it for the 10th time I finally decided to purchase it today and add it to my library of most beloved movies. This movie will never collect dust. Why haven't these wonderful characters played in other movies?

MISS CALLADINE ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Macy Makes Happy!!!!!!!!
Happy Texas is one GREAT movie!!!!
I remember standing in line for HOURS to see it at Sundance!!!

Happy is a wonderfully sweet, totally odd little ditty of a film. A FIRST rate cast with an easy directing style filled with very real, funny, quirky and off the cuff characters that well ALL know. Just look around your own hometown....You know people just like those in Happy....We all do!!
Macy really makes Happy, TX-------William H. Macy is one of our most talented actors working today. I was really hoping for an Oscar nod for his work. Macy's character "Chappy" is his finest to date. As you watch his character, one tends to forget that you are watching "an actor". "Chappy" becomes totally real!!! Witness the "Proper Date" and the " Rejection" scenes if you have any doubts.

Happy is really much better after 2 or 3 watchings. Small little details surface that are easily missed the first time. Example: Check out the photo on Sheriff Dent's desk!!!
Also some of the characters odder than normal mannerism become more visible and more funny!!!

Happy is a quiet, gentle little movie------It doesn't shout at you. It makes you laugh---BUT---It REALLY makes you smile. Which is PRETTY cool!!!!

A Ming Vase - that is a WyoMing Vase
What a delightful movie. I heard about this when it was released at the theatre and I was expecting something quirky and zany. It is testament to the direction of Illsley and to the great acting that the story is really brought to life.

A simple story: prison breakout, the fugitives are mistaken for gay children's pageant organisers, they plan a bank robbery but are changed by the charm of the inhabitants of Happy, Texas.

This is real laugh out loud stuff: Steve Zahn trying to teach kids to dance (based on an MTv video), Jeremy Northam (in a character that is a million miles from An Ideal Husband) as the subject of the local sherrif's affections (played by an always brilliant William H Macy), the theft of the RV (which gets the main characters into the fix in the first place) and the car chase (with a tow truck).

The DVD allows you to see the scenes Illsley deleted and listen to his reasoning. It is easy to see just from this how much effort went into story and character development. It has certainly paid off. These are people you meet for 98 minutes but they are formed well enough for you want to meet them in real life.

I highly recommend watching this movie and I guarantee you will get one of the best renditions of Bjork's "Its so quiet" you are likely to see.

Good Behavior
Hollywood can't resist making rural southern folks, Texans, appear dumb, religious, and oversexed. The Cohn brothers did a better job with Raising Arizona, but I'll give enough praise here to recommend a daft copy. Steve Zahn certainly has mastered the prison-bird-dysfunctional. He barely can express himself in southern drawl so thick, 'how ya doin' sounds like 'hdauon.' Zahn and Jeremy Northam take the identities of two beauty pageant twits and set up shop in Happy, Texas. William H. Macy as the local sheriff is fascinating, brilliant, again. He's a lawman and he's in love with Northam, a 'homoasexual.' Naturally, the in fact straight Northam falls for the blonde clerk of the local bank while Zahn teaches little girls how to win a beauty contest. Zahn finds new sensitivities in dance, song, and Junior Misses. Then the bank robbery goes wrong. Don't worry; they'll be out in 22 months for good behavior. A little slow, but nice try.

hilarious
this is hilarious, theres no denying its story about a couple of convicts who escape and then go to Happy,Texas where they pose as a couple of gay/talent show teachers. Zahn is hilarious as Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. and his moments include where he helps the kids rehease for their talent show. though the violence and gunplay shorta warp it alittle bit and the bit at the end with the 2 gay guys stuck at a beach resort is just uproarous

A little bit cheesy, but still side-splitting hilarious
The small town of Happy, Texas is a quiet little place. It's more like a big family than a town, really. For the past seven years, they've been shamed at the annual Little Miss Fresh Squeezed beauty pageant. This year, however, it's their turn. They're going to make Happy proud. To aid in their efforts, they hired Steven and David, a pair of traveling pageant professionals, who drive from town to town in their dilapidated motor home, teaching little girls to be beauty queens.

Little do the town's residents realize, though, that instead of the homosexual couple they were expecting, they got a pair of escaped convicts (Jeremy Northam and Steve Zahn), who stole the motor home -- and its owners' identities.

The cons, too, have no idea what they've gotten themselves into. So while they try to keep their cover, David (whose name is really Wayne Wayne Wayne, Jr.) teaches a handful of little girls to sing and dance. And Steven (actually Harry Sawyer), tries to figure out how they can rob the local bank -- all the while falling in love with the banker (Ally Walker) and attempting to escape the advances of the town's sherrif, Chappy (William H. Macy).

Happy, Texas is a little-known film, but it's definitely worth seeing. It's absolutely side-splittingly hilarious. Sure, it's a little cheesy sometimes, but what do you expect? It's a comedy. ... Read more

Description

A workaholic with unresolved issues of abandonment and trust falls in love with a widower who wants her to become a part of his family. Starring Mary Stuart Masterson and Christian Slater. ... Read more

Reviews (48)

A GREAT LOVE STORY THAT WILL LIVE ON AND ON.
A very wholesome story that I can't stop watching. I bought two copies yesterday. One for me and one for my daughter. I fell madly in love with Mary and Lewis. Such a sweet love story-I loved the way Lewis allowed her to do the kissing and didn't demand to much of her. It was refreshing to see a man who respected a woman, who was close to his family. It's such a uplifting movie that anytime that I'm down I put it on. this is the first time I've ever watch anything over 3 times and I've lost count how many times I've watch this. I've rented UNTAMED HEART today and it's excellent but BED OF ROSES is way above it. I got on internet and have read all I could find about Christian and plan to watch all his work except the violent movies. I was just thrilled to see that he has become a christian and I for one will be praying for him.

Absolutely Wonderful - Can't Stop Watching It!!
Bed of Roses is the best movie I have seen in a long, long time. On a scale of 1-10, Christian Slater is a 30!!! This is just a great romantic movie, without the violence, sex and swearing that most movies have. I have watched it 4 times and plan to watch it again. Mary Stuart Masterson is also great. I would love to see both of them do another movie. They are great together - like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The music was also great. I love the songs that are sung and would love to know where I can get the soundtrack. I can't rave enough about this movie. Thanks for the GREAT entertainment!!

~Beautiful~
This is one of my favorite movie of Christian Slater, very sweet, soft & gentle, romantic heart-warming film. Christian plays as a florist. His passion, honest, and true love rescues a cold-hearted business-oriented New Yorker lady Lisa (played by Mary Stuart Masterson). They fall in love together quite fast, but some imprefect childhood and psychological barriers separate them apart. Unlike the other great movie 'Untamed Heart', this one has a good happy ending. This is truely indeed a beautiful story.

Sweet Story of Love
Lisa is a workaholic basically feeding her [adult] drive with promotions and accolades from her boss. She eats and breathes her work trying to cover up her pain. But one night it breaks through and a young man, Slater, sees her. He is a man who I would love to meet. Very sensitive, he gives her flowers, hiding the fact he sent them. He is so child like and sweet, Lisa can't help but fall for him. The scenery is rich with flowers and plants and pretty buildings. Lisa holds a terrible secret, the film doesn't delve into it to much just playing out Lisa's boderline behavior. Slater works to keep the relationship real. The movie works because of the sweetness. The plot is not unusual, but Slater's character is a nice touch.

Lisa Nary

Enjoyed this one.
The film, while it has some minor shortcommings, overall was very likeable. Both Christian and Mary played the parts with genuine feeling. And Kate Seagull ( I think!) almost stole the show with her performance as the best friend. One thing I noticed on the dvd was that the theatrical trailer carried some scenes that were not in the film, and I am wondering how to find (if there is) this film with those deleted scenes. The film was a little short and those scenes may elaborate the story line. Also add to an entertaining film. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Great flick!!!
I don't understand why people keep giving this movie bad reviews! Kazaam is pure fun!!!

The story is very well-written - it's about a genie, a very large genie. This movie would have been good even without Shaq. However, with him as the star, Kazaam is a fantastic movie.

This is the movie that made Shaquille O'Neal a huge movie star. The script is very well-written, and accentuates Shaq's acting abilities. Every time Shaq speaks, you'll realize just how intelligent he is - it's kind of like listening to Einstein lecture.

Also, I think it is hilarious (you will too!) that he's so much bigger than the kid who rubbed the lamp! Everytime they are both standing, I almost lose it - it's gut-bustingly funny!

My only complaint is the lack of a DVD! Why isn't this already out on DVD? The studio could make so much money!

ok...
if shaq didn't try and rap, this movie would get one more star! haha im serious... his singing is atrocious! anyway's the kid in this movie is precious! i feel soo bad for him that his dad is a jerk ball! it's a cute movies im sure the kids will love. i would only buy this on video not dvd. or rent it. i don't have any little kids in my house, but this would be a perfect movie for 9-14 ages. i liked it when i was that age

Action Packed Thriller of the Season!
For years the pundits said he would never make it. "go home" they said, "your finished in this buisness."

But being the fighter he was, Shaq carried on.

When he announced to the world he would begin a career in acting, the world thought he could never make it. But make it he did. His debut movie, Kazaam, proved once and for all that Basketball players can act.

His star performance in Kazaam was topped only by his rap career.

Silencing his critics, Shaquille went on to perform in many great commercials, such as Burger King and Radio Shack.

Shaq is such a great actor and Basket ball player. I am glad he is my friend.

This movie rocks
Shaq is a genius. I've seen him play basketball and his acting skills are far superior. If he's a method actor, he has successfully demonstrated a new method that no one has ever seen before. I also went to NYU film school and this movie was used in class as an inspirational tool. Forget about the whole genie aspect. I mean, a seven-foot black dude comes out of a bottle and grants wishes! This movie deserves 30,000 stars. If I had a genie I would wish for Kazaam II.

KAZAAM IS OFF THE FASHIZZLE DIZZLE
this is cleary the best movie ever created, by humans (that would exclude good burger, which of course was made by kaola bears). Shaquille O'Neal is a very talented actor and rapper, plus i heard he plays a little basketball. I wonder if he's any good. There are many hilarious scenes in this instant classic. My favorite part is when shaq makes it rain candy. I LOVE IT!!!
i own 13 copies (no joking here) in short its a hilarious tale of a genie played by shaq. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Double the pleasure... double the fun!
From the man who brought us "The Fugitive" and "Under Siege" (the good one), comes an original comedic tale of two brothers fighting over the same inheritance.

Starring Andy Garcia... and Andy Garcia, "Steal Big, Steal Little" succeeds in every way that "Multiplicity", "Dead Ringers" and a few of the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movies have failed. The twin brothers, both played BRILLIANTLY by Garcia, couldn't be more dissimilar (one is good and one is bad). So when their adoptive mother leaves her fortune and estate to only one of the brothers -- the fun begins!

Clever camera tricks and a fast-paced script make "Steal Big, Steal Little" the perfect movie for anyone who has ever been caught in the middle of a battle for family inheritance.

Andy Garcia's finest work.

Enjoyed Big, Seen Little...
One of Andrew "The Fugitive" Davis' few non-suspense movies, this comedy recieved terrible reviews and zero box office upon its theatrical release--but it would be well worth seeing for many. Full of terrific character actors and sporting a jumbled chronology, the film tells the story of identical twin brothers (Andy Garcia, once again a naturally joyful presence) at war with each other over their adoptive mother's bountiful estate. The more selfish of the two siblings may have a lot of politicans in his pocket, but his generous opponent has a few tricks up his sleeve as well. Though essentially a "dramedy" in tone, there are occasional detours into slapstick that treaten to tip the balance. On the whole, however, this is the kind of fresh and highly moral piece of entertainment that comes out of Hollywood pretty rarely. It's so much more popular, it seems, to be smug and ironic. "Steal Big, Steal Little" doesn't go that route and leaves me feeling positive and optomistic.

An excellent movie
I have been waiting for the release of this movie on DVD for years and finally my dream came true. It is a very enjoyable movie talking about love, money and greed. Andy Garcia is a wonderful actor and it is a double pleasure to see him acting as twin brothers. Own this DVD and you won't be disappointed.

One of Andy's Best
As with many of his other movies, Andy Garcia pulls out another great performace in Steal Big Steal Little. In this movie Garcia plays identical twins that are on opposite sides when their step mother dies and leaves thousands of acres up for grabs, in the lush valleys of California. Filled with great suppporting roles from very familiar faces this movie is a must see especially if you are an Andy Garcia fan.

TWICE AS NICE!
The only improvement they could have made to the film is to have Andy Garcia playing triplets. He is SO AMAZING. I love the way it jumps back and forth. Okay, one teeny tiny little detail. They could have done a better job super-imposing him on the horse at the end. A very nice story, especially with Ruth Dunbar. This film didn't get near the attention it deserved. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Christmas Romance for all us Workaholics
I loved this movie when it first aired, and taped it when it played again last year. Imagine my surprise when I saw it was finally for sale on DVD. This is a great movie about being yourself and not forgetting what made you special in the first place. I ordered this on 11/30/03 and it was shipped airborne on 12/05/03. Now I can play it anytime I want. I encourage you to do the same.

Give yourself a gift...
of watching this movie; it's unlike any other. The whole inner child idea is such a clever way to get the main character to find out what she's really about. Hayden Panieterre is excellent as the inner child - she's so feisty! I too have tried to purchase this movie for a couple of years - am keeping my fingers crossed!

Wonderful Movie
Honestly, I am not usually into feel-good Christmas movies but this one is WONDERFUL! I have actually tried to buy the movie for the last couple of years and have finally found a way to order it (hopefully they're not "out of stock"). It's not a typical Christmas movie - it can be seen any time throughout the year. It's so fantastic and so "real" that you can't help but wonder why this was a made-for-Lifetime TV movie and not on the big screen. Watch it, it's a treasure!

CUTIEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE
This is such a great Christmas movie. It brings all the wonder of Christmas back I had when I was a child. See it now, it's one Christmas movie you'll want to watch all year!!!!

A Christmas Classic
After having a fight with her brother during Thanksgiving, a divorced, bitter, & cynical book editor on the verge of losing her job, Susan Stone (called "Suzie" when she was a child) played by Ally Walker, gets to see her old self through her inner child (played by Hayden Panettiere) after she bumps her head on the pavement during the holiday rush. Little Suzie is not pleased with the way Susan has been living her life & is determined to turn Susan into the person she used to be. The catch is that it is only Susan who could see Suzie & this causes Susan some awkward moments. Nevertheless, it is Suzie's persistence that makes Susan realize that she has been missing out on life.

This is a Christmas Classic that would be enjoyed for years to come. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before they made a mountain of money as the creators of Independence Day and Godzilla, director Roland Emmerich and screenwriter Dean Devlin teamed up for this action flick disguised as a science fiction thriller. Muscle hunks Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren play embattled Vietnam soldiers who killed each other in combat and are revived 25 years later as semi-android "UniSols" in a high-tech army of the near future. Their memories were supposedly wiped clean, but flashbacks occur to remind them of their bitter hatred (Lundgren committed wartime atrocities; Van Damme had tried to stop him), and the warriors resume their tenacious battle while a journalist (Ally Walker) uncovers the truth about the secret UniSol program. With energy to spare, the standard action sequences are adequate for anyone with a short attention span. And besides, with Van Damme and Lundgren in the lead roles, who needs dialogue? --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Universal Soldier with Van Damme
Universal Soldier realeased in 1993 is one of the best action flicks from Jean Claude Van Damme.

In fact, this film was done during Van Damme's increasing popularity.

Van Damme and Dolph play two 2 vietnam Vets who kill each other during the Vietnam War.

Actually the scene in Vietnam are intense and well directed.

Dolph, plays the psychotic and vindictive Staff Seargeant from the Army who wants to kill any Vietnamese (guilty or innocent) in path.

When Van Damme, tells the Sergeant that it's time to pull out , the crazy Sergeant sees him as a traitor and proceeds to beat up his comrade while Lungren tries to save the innocent Vietnam girl the Sergeant is holding hostage.

Eventually all of them die, or so we think.

The military eventuallys finds the dead bodies, but instead sends the Sergeant and Damme into a secret biochemical, regenerative expirement in which dead military soldiers are being revived as security soldiers known as the "Universal Soldiers".

The project at first is a success, but when Van Damme, starts recalling memories from his past, he remembers how his bloodthirsty Sergeant kills and all hell breaks loose.

It also reminds of the Robocop movie with Peter Weller, in which a dead cop is resurrected as a crime busting machine, but as the machine stars recollecting his past memories, the machine starts becoming more human.

The film has so many big budget stunts and fist fights and kickboxing action that you'll have to watch it a couple of times to appreciate the full value of this great sci fi film.

The other's film stars is the beautiful and sexy Alley Walker, who plays the reporter who joins Van Damne on his fight against the Universal Soldier.

Great critics like myself, remember Alley Walker from the great crime drama show "Profiler" on Nbc which lasted about 5 years.

Alley's character is great to watch, here character is very beautiful and has alot of humor and pizazz.

Lundgren, Van Damme Shine in Action Confrontation
Pitting two of the action genre's superstars against one another, Universal Soldier is surprisingly entertaining in its delivery of non-stop action and intensity.

Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as Luc Deveraux, an American solider who is murdered in the line of duty during the Vietnam War by his deranged commanding officer, Sgt. Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren). Three decades later, Deveraux resurfaces as a Unisol, a human being that has been genetically juiced for combat by the U.S. armed forces. When his memory returns, Deveraux deserts the Universal Solider program with the psychotic Scott in hot pursuit.

Lundgren returns as the "antagonist," a role he successfully played earlier in his career as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV and would later undertake in Johnny Nmemonic. Here, he plays it to he hilt, playfully shouting typical action movie dialogue - "Are we having fun yet?" - and reveling in his character's sinister plunge into post-traumatic stress disorder.

From the outset, director Roland Emmerich builds the tension that is so often lacking in today's action films. Lundgren is sinister and proves himself in the opening scene as a formidable match for Van Damme. As the film progresses, his descent into evil becomes more and more entertaining. Emmerich's approach succeeds at building the tension for the ultimate showdown. The audience wants to see this confrontation by film's end -- and it's worth the wait.

The DVD has few extra features, but what options that are present -- theatrical trailer, production notes, etc. -- are more than satisfying for an action film more than a decade old.

A good idea pretty well executed
I like this movie. Roland Emmerich turns out decent work when he starts with a decent idea.

And this movie is based on an extremely cool idea: a secret government project to use the reanimated corpses of dead soldiers as 'UniSols' ('UNIversal SOLdiers'). They're like killer combat zombies -- equipped to receive commands remotely, impervious to pain, quick to heal, and pretty much unstoppable although they tend to overheat if they stay active for too long.

The plot: Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren were in Viet Nam together, Lundgren wacked out and started killing innocent civilians, Van Damme tried to stop him, and they wound up killing each other. (This is all in the first five minutes of the film.) Their corpses were packed in ice and shipped off to the UniSol project, and after the opening credits roll, they're on an antiterrorist mission as part of a S.W.A.T. team from hell. But a few things start to jog their memories, and it isn't long before the two of them are at it again . . .

You don't have to be a particular fan of the Muscles from Brussels to enjoy the concept here, but Van Damme is actually pretty effective in his role. At any rate the story is briskly paced and about as believable as stuff like this ever gets. It's nicely done if you like this sort of thing (which I do).

Ally Walker does nicely here too, as a newswoman who winds up accompanying Van Damme in his, um, travels. If you enjoyed her in _Profiler_ (as I did, and I stopped watching the show after she left), you'll like her in this.

An entertaining action-SF flick, then, and a cut above the usual 'B-movie' fare. This probably isn't Emmerich's best work (it seems to me to try a little too hard to be _The Terminator_), but it's well done.

off the FN' hook awesome !!!!
Universal Soldier is one of the most awesome movies i've ever seen about 2 soldiers in the vietnam war played brilliantly by jean claude van damme and dolph lungren who both kill eachother but are bought back to life years later as UNI SOLS who are programmed to deal with hostage situations, any way after a while van damme starts to regain his memory of who he was when he was human and leaves the UNI SOL camp, the head of the UNI SOL corporation sends all the UNI SOLS out to find van damme, after a while dolph lungren starts to regain his memory as well and takes over the command of the project and commands the UNI SOLS to seek and destroy Van Damme.
With awesome fight scenes and many memorablelines and good special effects Universal Soldier is an explosive action packed ride thats enjoyable from start to the awesome climax of the film. Dolph Lungren is awesome as the evil psychotic sergent.
highly reccomended to buy on DVD with a few extra features like trailers, multiple sound options and a bonus music clip entitled 'body count's in the house' , great song played at the end of the movie.

Better than I expected...
It came as no suprise that the critics panned "Universal Soldier" upon it's original theatrical release. I always have hated Roland Emmerich films, this being the only one that I hadn't seen in theaters. But I did want to see it now, and the reson was Ally Walker.
I always liked the television show "The Profiler", which aired for sveral years in the mid 90s, and it's re-runs are on today. I always liked the actress who played "Sam", the main character.
Her name is Ally Walker. She hasn't been in many films, but "Universal Soldier" was one of her first, and most well-known.
... For some reason, the huge movie store in my nieborhood had lost thier copy of it, so I bought it on Amazon.com. I was pleasently suprised by the film, and I wish I would have reserved my judjement.
I give it a solid 3 out of 5 stars. This is because not only is Ally Walker great in it, but Van Damme and especially Lundgren are, too. Dolph Lundgren isn't exactly a great actor, but he does well here. For me, Lundgren's bad guy is the most memorable aspect of this film.
The action scenes are solid, and at times quite unique. The main problem with the film is that there is no real explanation of how or why these UniSols were created. How exactly did they do this (bring the dead back to life)? The answer in the film was too brief and simple.
This film will never be a favorite of any film critic. But, if you are looking for a fun Action-Adventure film with three good performances, look no further than "Universal Soldier". ... Read more

Amazon.com

Replicant
Jean-Claude Van Damme (star of Timecop and Universal Soldier) plays two roles in this surprisingly good action thriller. Replicant also stars Michael Rooker (of Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer, The Replacement Killers) as Jake Riley, a cop who's been tracking a serial killer called "The Torch" (Van Damme). Frustrated, Riley decides to retire--and the National Security Department makes him an offer: they've cloned "The Torch" as part of a program to track down terrorists; they'll turn this replicant (Van Damme again, of course) over to Riley as a sort of test run for the program. The idea is that the replicant will slowly recall the original person's memories and lead the cops to the original. It's ridiculous, but no more ridiculous than the setup for the highly successful Face/Off, and it works just as well as the engine for an effective action flick. What makes Replicant more unusual is that the writers actually put some thought into the relationship between Riley and the replicant, which starts to mirror parent-child relationships in emotionally complex ways. Furthermore, while it's no surprise that Rooker gives a solid performance, it is surprising that Van Damme does just as good a job in both of his roles--he's perfectly creepy as the serial killer and genuinely affecting as the quickly developing replicant, projecting a mixture of innocence and turmoil. Replicant was directed by Hong Kong director Ringo Lam, the man behind Full Contact and City on Fire. He was clearly working on a limited budget, but the movie looks good, moves with lean efficiency, and has some riveting action sequences and good quality effects--the scenes where Van Damme (inevitably!) fights himself are completely convincing. A satisfying movie. --Bret Fetzer

Universal Soldier
Before they made a mountain of money as the creators of Independence Day and Godzilla, director Roland Emmerich and screenwriter Dean Devlin teamed up for this action flick disguised as a science fiction thriller. Muscle hunks Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren play embattled Vietnam soldiers who killed each other in combat and are revived 25 years later as semi-android "UniSols" in a high-tech army of the near future. Their memories were supposedly wiped clean, but flashbacks occur to remind them of their bitter hatred (Lundgren committed wartime atrocities; Van Damme had tried to stop him), and the warriors resume their tenacious battle while a journalist (Ally Walker) uncovers the truth about the secret UniSol program. With energy to spare, the standard action sequences are adequate for anyone with a short attention span. And besides, with Van Damme and Lundgren in the lead roles, who needs dialogue? --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great 80's cheese
I watched this movie when it was first on tv and later taped off the tv. I loved the schmaltzy-ness of it and was overjoyed to find that I could buy a good copy. My younger brother used to watch it over and over too even years later. It is a funny, silly movie just right for when you want some fluff to watch. I recommend it!

A pathetic T&A TV movie that fails at every turn
This lame attempt to cash in on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit craze is neither a comedy nor a drama. It is not sexy enough to attract jiggle fans and it is not barbed enough satire to actually explore this "genre" of cultural exploitation. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

'Silence of the Lambs', it's not
I watched "When the Bough Breaks" last night as an uncut, no commercials, cable TV movie.

Up front, to give the movie credit, it was entertaining enough. No boredom. Just nagging thoughts.

Too early in the movie, the parallels to "Silence of the Lambs" become very apparent. That started with the isolated underground captivity of the key informant/psych patient and continued all the way through the confrontation with the villain in the basement.

But even before that comes the nagging impression that police department had simply not done a competent investigation. Does it really take a profiler from the state to see all these July 16 connections?

Then comes the prosecutor's nightmare. Ali simply breaks into the house without a search warrant. With all the things she sees, there goes any hope of a conviction. And this is a trained law enforcement officer?

Does a trained law enforcement officer go into as dangerous an environment as that basement without notifying a dispatcher and asking for some backup? Of course, having backup arrive from two miles away would have ruined the climax of the film.

And so many loose ends....

--The predominace of smoking, even extending to the child patient.
--Unexplained scratch-mauling of the profiler's back.
--The disappearance of the police captain in the middle of the plot.
--The ability of a cop to so effectively hypnotize an autistic child.
--The question of the patient's Jordan/Jennifer identity and reason for the wrist markings when the identity of the other twin seems so apparent.

None of these mar the film's entertainment value. It's only afterwards that one feels diminished by a badly written screenplay.

Ally Walker movies
I just wanted to comment on the review given by the person From the Phillipines. I have done several querys to find The Profiler tv series on DVD. Will that be coming anytime soon? I would love to see it. Thanks.

ALLY WALKER IS A GREAT PROFILER!!!!!
Ally Walker stars as Audrey MacLeah, a profiler from the Texas Rangers helping the Houston Police investigate severed human hands that showed up during a flash-flood. Her lead to the case is a child with psychic abilities locked up in a mental institution. The story also has a sub-plot on how the local police resent MacLeah for being a State Law Enforcer helping them solve the case. The movie is a very good suspense thriller & Ally Walker's acting is terrific. The movie was released in 1993. I only have the video on VHS but would gladly buy the DVD version in an instant!

Interestingly though, Ally Walker later went on to star in the TV series "Profiler" (she played a profiler/forensic psychologist working for the FBI) from 1996 to 1999.

On a personal note, I watched & bought the video of "When The Bough Breaks" because I was so impressed with her performance on "Profiler" (I just had to see all the projects that she's done). I just wish that "Profiler" would be available on video, preferrably in DVD format (with cast & crew commentaries as well as other behind-the-scenes materials)! ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Universal Soldier with Van Damme
Universal Soldier realeased in 1993 is one of the best action flicks from Jean Claude Van Damme.

In fact, this film was done during Van Damme's increasing popularity.

Van Damme and Dolph play two 2 vietnam Vets who kill each other during the Vietnam War.

Actually the scene in Vietnam are intense and well directed.

Dolph, plays the psychotic and vindictive Staff Seargeant from the Army who wants to kill any Vietnamese (guilty or innocent) in path.

When Van Damme, tells the Sergeant that it's time to pull out , the crazy Sergeant sees him as a traitor and proceeds to beat up his comrade while Lungren tries to save the innocent Vietnam girl the Sergeant is holding hostage.

Eventually all of them die, or so we think.

The military eventuallys finds the dead bodies, but instead sends the Sergeant and Damme into a secret biochemical, regenerative expirement in which dead military soldiers are being revived as security soldiers known as the "Universal Soldiers".

The project at first is a success, but when Van Damme, starts recalling memories from his past, he remembers how his bloodthirsty Sergeant kills and all hell breaks loose.

It also reminds of the Robocop movie with Peter Weller, in which a dead cop is resurrected as a crime busting machine, but as the machine stars recollecting his past memories, the machine starts becoming more human.

The film has so many big budget stunts and fist fights and kickboxing action that you'll have to watch it a couple of times to appreciate the full value of this great sci fi film.

The other's film stars is the beautiful and sexy Alley Walker, who plays the reporter who joins Van Damne on his fight against the Universal Soldier.

Great critics like myself, remember Alley Walker from the great crime drama show "Profiler" on Nbc which lasted about 5 years.

Alley's character is great to watch, here character is very beautiful and has alot of humor and pizazz.

Lundgren, Van Damme Shine in Action Confrontation
Pitting two of the action genre's superstars against one another, Universal Soldier is surprisingly entertaining in its delivery of non-stop action and intensity.

Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as Luc Deveraux, an American solider who is murdered in the line of duty during the Vietnam War by his deranged commanding officer, Sgt. Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren). Three decades later, Deveraux resurfaces as a Unisol, a human being that has been genetically juiced for combat by the U.S. armed forces. When his memory returns, Deveraux deserts the Universal Solider program with the psychotic Scott in hot pursuit.

Lundgren returns as the "antagonist," a role he successfully played earlier in his career as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV and would later undertake in Johnny Nmemonic. Here, he plays it to he hilt, playfully shouting typical action movie dialogue - "Are we having fun yet?" - and reveling in his character's sinister plunge into post-traumatic stress disorder.

From the outset, director Roland Emmerich builds the tension that is so often lacking in today's action films. Lundgren is sinister and proves himself in the opening scene as a formidable match for Van Damme. As the film progresses, his descent into evil becomes more and more entertaining. Emmerich's approach succeeds at building the tension for the ultimate showdown. The audience wants to see this confrontation by film's end -- and it's worth the wait.

The DVD has few extra features, but what options that are present -- theatrical trailer, production notes, etc. -- are more than satisfying for an action film more than a decade old.

A good idea pretty well executed
I like this movie. Roland Emmerich turns out decent work when he starts with a decent idea.

And this movie is based on an extremely cool idea: a secret government project to use the reanimated corpses of dead soldiers as 'UniSols' ('UNIversal SOLdiers'). They're like killer combat zombies -- equipped to receive commands remotely, impervious to pain, quick to heal, and pretty much unstoppable although they tend to overheat if they stay active for too long.

The plot: Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren were in Viet Nam together, Lundgren wacked out and started killing innocent civilians, Van Damme tried to stop him, and they wound up killi