Reviews (62)

Great 70's movie
I used to watch Convoy over and over as a kid. It is unfortunate that it is not being produced on DVD or VHS considering how many movies not nearly as entertaining are being marketed. I think if you didn't see it when it first came out you'd find it silly and dated today, but I feel to those of us who saw it initially growing up, it is a classic. Modeled after a catchy country western song by C.W. McCall and with stars such as Kris Kristofferson, Ali McGraw, Burt Young and Ernest Borgnine, I'm surprised it is so obscure. It has some great 70's car/truck chase and crash scenes and a good soundtrack. Hopefully it will come out of moratorium soon and be available.

Breaker-19
CONVOY is the best trucker movie of all time. I've watched this movie 1000's of times when I was a kid and I enjoy it even more now. This movie has action, comedy and romance. Kris Kristofferson was great in this movie, he really brought out the excitement of being a truck driver. As for Ali MacGraw, she was also great and beautiful co-star. The director, Sam Peckinpah did an excellent job capturing the essence of truck driving. After so many years of searching for this movie I finally have a copy of my own thanks to Amazon.com. I'm impatiently waiting for it to come out on DVD(extended verison)....

Convoy
I bought the VHS version of the movie going off the other reviews listed.I received it yesterday and watched it twice.The quality is excellent.No fuzzy picture or sound.If you want a copy of this old classic movie,get one on video.

CONVOY
i havn't played my copy yet. the dvd i got, came from half.com which is a letterbox version, not digitally remastered and released by PACIFIC FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. i paid less than $5.00 brand new.

The old days
When you seee this movie, you will realinze how life in America was not anoying. ... Read more

Reviews (222)

It is about time!! GREAT MOVIE
Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America" was released almost 20 years ago, and it is still one of my all time favorite films. The film spans over a period of 20 years. The characters - Max, Noodles, Cockeye, Patsy, and Fat Moe, all grew up in the violent immigrant ghetto of New York's lower east side. The tough streets forced the group of friends to grow up fast, which in turn forces them to fight their way to the top. All of them vow to stick together. The story fastforwards 20 years into the future where childhood friends Max ( James Woods) and Noodles (Robert De Niro) form a partnership to run a powerful crime organization along with the rest of their childhood buddies -Cockeye (William Forsythe), Patsy ( James Hayden), and Fat Moe(Larry Rapp). However as time passes, things start to spin out of control, and the partnership between Max and Noodles unravels in death and mystery...

"Once Upon a Time in America" utilizes the four basic traits of human nature - friendship, crime, love, and betrayal, to create one of the most dramatic and rich stories ever captured on screen. The entire cast - Robert De Niro, James Woods, William Forsythe, Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, Larry Rapp, James Hayden, Joe Pesci, and Danny Aiello were all unbelieveable and each helped to bring the story to life. However, the best performances given in my opinion were by the young actors that were chosen to play the characters as children. Their performances meant the most to the film, because that was the age when the tragic pattern of the characters lives were set. This film marked the first time appearance of Jennifer Connely, and even then at the age of 14, you could tell that she was a fantastic actress. Sergio Leone drew inspiration from the New York ghetto photographs of Jacob Riis. The authenticity that the photos provided to the settings was absolutely outstanding, and were the film's best feature.

The actors, well developed story, and stunning authenticity really provide for a wonderful film. "Once Upon A Time in America" offers a look at the dark side of the American dream that you can watch time and time again. Not to mention the fact, that this film finally came out on DVD!! If there was ever a film that deserved the special treatment of a DVD, it was this one. The movie is finally available with the best picture and sound quality available and we don't have to sit through the grainy picture of a videocasette either. This 2 Disc DVD set truly is a must buy!!

Great Film,VERY Dissapointing DVD!!!!
Sergio Leone's final masterpiece ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA is by far a unique and amazing piece of filmmaking by one of the cinema's greatest Italian directors since Fellini and De Sica.The story involves a ruthless gangster David 'Noodles' Aronson (played brilliantly by Robert DeNiro) who ends up fleeding away from his friends in the 1940's and returns back to them in the late '60's through many years of hardships as young kids growing up on the wrong side of the tracks to being successful in crime during the prohibition era of the '30's.Prior to its original U.S. release in 1984,this film recieved many great reviews and audience praise when it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and The New York Film Festival.The film's distributor,Warner Bros/The Ladd Company,uncerimoniously cut out 90 minutes out of the original running time fearing that the movie would run too long and that they wouldn't get as many showings in a single day.The edited version totally changes the complete story continuity of the original film and therefore isn't even as good to watch ,even if you have already seen the longer version.In fact,this edited version of the movie has already been shown once on cable network television on the TNN network (now called SPIKE TV) in April,2003 and believe me,it isn't even worth watching! Warner's 2-disc Special Edition of the film is perhaps,in my opinion,one of the worst special edition DVD's I have ever purchased so far!!! Although the film is presented in its original 229-minute uncut version and in a beautifully preserved 1:85.1 aspect ratio,Disc one innapropriately stops in the middle of the Diamond Robbery scene,even though the disc jacket says it ends directly at the intermission title card!! But on Disc two,the intermission takes place nearly ten chapters into the second disc!! What a real travesty!!! Plus,there are no really great bonus features other than a terrific audio commentary by film critic/historian Richard Schickel,trailer,an excerpt from the hour-long documentary "Once Upon A Time:Sergio Leone" on the making of the film itself,and nothing else!!! However,the movie appears on HBO from time to time and is actually the same version that's on the DVD in which this version includes the Ladd Company credits and no intermission title card!!! I taped that version not too long ago and trust me,it's a lot better than this DVD mess,plus,I got the entire movie on one tape!!! Tape this longer version off of HBO and you won't be dissapointed and enjoy and appreciate this true masterpiece of Sergio Leone in its entirety!! Warner Bros could've done a lot better and nicer job on this DVD,but thankfully learned their lesson with better-selling DVD's after this fiasco!!!

be warned.........
If you're like me and you are thinking of buying this film because it's a Deniro/gangster movie, think twice. Despite some of reviews, this is NOT a materpiece. It is true that the cinematography is brilliant and the production design is top-notch. It is a very authentic-looking, well-made made film. However, those things do not make a masterpiece. The story is so convoluted and moves at such a glacial pace you lose interest. The climactic scene is anything but climactic. Nothing happens. Literally. Deniro and Woods' characters have a conversation and just walk away. Whatever emotional impact thier words are supposed to have has long been drained away by the four-hour running time. The packaging declares that Deniro "smolders" and a New York Times review anoints it as "the definitive gangster picture". Neither is true. You can count on two fingers the number of times Deniro changes facial expressions. He practically sleepwalks through the film. The worst flaw of the movie is that you cant identify with, or even remotely like any of the characters. At the end we are supposed to be moved by the tragic turn of events between two life-long friends, but after witnessing four hours of sexual perversion, graphic murder, etc., you end up having no sympathy at all for them. It has all the emotional impact of seeing Saddam Hussien and Adolf Hitler holding hands and running down the beach in slow motion. As a Deniro fan I really wanted to like this movie, but his character is repulsive. He's a serial rapist who takes his one true love out on a long awaited date and then forcefully rapes her in the back of a car. That scene alone is hard to watch. The Godfather films triumph because the characters have redeeming qualities that balance out thier evil deeds. This film wallows in dirt and excess from the very beginning and gives you no reason to care about these people. Almost the entire first disc is taken up by child actors who arent believable. When you see scenes of them walking around in fedoras and zoot suits acting like pint-size gangsters who intimidate the local cop and make deals with adult mobsters its almost comical. If they were'nt trying to trade cup-cakes for sex it would almost be Disney-ish. By the way, the four scenes that have been "restored" to this director's cut include the two rape scenes and two dialouge extensions. The added dialouge does flesh out the characters a bit, but it slows down an already slow pace. I wish that I had not seen the rape scenes. I hate to be so negative, but I wish I could get my money back. If you have an interest in seeing this movie, rent it- dont buy it. Dont believe the hype and the gushing declarations of being a masterpiece. Its altogether forgetable. The scenes that do stick in your mind do so because they are disturbing, not because of any great acting or artistic reasons.

A masterpiece no matter what anyone says
Yes, the film is four hours long, and yes, there is an hour and a half flashback sequence. But don't let this ward you way from what is truly a masterpiece of a gangster flick. The flashback itself is engrossing and endearing. If you love movies, if you love great acting, if you love history, this is the epic for you.

'Once Upon a Time in America' is a film about a group of four friends who have grown up together in New York City since the turn of the century. They grew up around crime and took part in it themselves. 'America' doesn't focus on the truly criminal aspects of the tale, though; nor does it glorify violence in any way. In a genius move, director Sergio Leone portrays how crime influences this tough, beautiful, but delicate friendship.

This brings me to the famously long flashback. Anyone who tells you it is boring, unimportant and relentless was obviously not paying attention. They must also have a short attention span, for the portrayel of the four main characters' childhood is at times beautiful, elegiac and hilarious. It tells a timeless tale of the central character in the film, Noodles (later played by Robert DeNiro), and his obsession with the local beauty (a young Jennifer Conally, later played by Elizabeth McGovern) who refuses to love him because he'll "always be a two-bit punk." It reminisces on the constant loss of virginities to the town prostitute who makes love for the price of one pastry (what accompanies this story line is a legendary scene where a young teenager succumbs to the temptation of his pastry gift). And it ends in one of the film's most emotional moments that proves you must have a strong stomach to really pay attention and/or appreciate the film to full extent. It is quite hard to watch not because of any sort of violence, but because of its emotional rawness ending in a near cataclysmic incident.

This carries over into the rest of the film, dotted with modern day looks at Noodles and his three friends who are dead at the beginning of the film. After his mental journey through the past, he searches in real life for the love of his life, played by Elizabeth McGovern. What ensues is a twist, one of the best in cinematic history (that I've seen, anyway). You won't be disappointed.

What is masterful about all of these storylines, flashbacks and flashforwards is the extent of their depth. Leone accompanies each detail with an unforgettable emotional truth that extends deep into each character's (and our own) psyche. And for those who love history, Leone sets this saga in the days of prohibition, which offers the four friends an occupation, of sorts.

Apart from the amazing depth in character and story, the production values are top notch, with glorious sets, cinematography and editing. And don't forget the delicacy of the writing and direction. It all works together so well on so many levels.

So to those who have strong stomachs (there are bouts of intense violence) and those who are not too young (this is definitely not a family film, as it portrays some graphic sexuality) and also those who are in love with cinema, I recommend 'Once Upon a Time in America.' Oh, and make sure you have a good attention span. This is not a short movie by any means, although it zips by in the best sense.

Why this "director's cut" is still a muddled mess
One thing that you should know about this movie, according to the running commentary on this DVD set, is that Leone originally shot 10 hours of film. Then from this 10 hours of film he apparently did an original 6 hour film cut. Realizing this length was not practical for a single movie release, and opting not to split his work into 2 seperate films, Leone then got out his scissors once again and cut his film down to this 3 hour 49 minute version. This, I think, is where the problems begin. For instance, Leone chose to leave in the now legendary 5 minute scene of a kid eating a piece of cake. However, Noodles' girlfriend Eve who gets wacked at the start of the movie, never gets properly introduced into the story after the film goes back in time, she just is suddenly there with Noodles in Florida. Even at almost four hours I got the feeling that the movie was over edited like the original US release. A lot of times in the second half of the movie I felt like I had to try and catch up with the story and figure out what had happened- i.e., suddenly the gang is backing up the trucking union, and we're thrust right in the middle of this intense situation.
And then there's the part of the movie where it's supposed to be 1968. The film critic doing the running commentary says that the film "works best" if you assume that the 1968 scenes are just Noodles' opium dreams in 1935. To me this just seems to be a cop-out to excuse the holes and confusing story telling. I don't see how Noodles in the 1930's could have a dream about watching a TV in 1968 when the television hasn't been invented yet at the time he was "opium dreaming".
Then there's the business of Mr. Bailey and the garbage truck at the end. I'll not spoil it for you, but James Wood says himself in the included documentary that he doesn't know what happened at this point and that was Leone's intention. I can accept what Lennon and MacCartney said about their song lyrics meaning whatever you interperate them to be, but in my own opinion this style doesn't translate for me when I'm watching a movie. I like a definate outcome to be evident, but if this is okay with you, well, I warned you. And if you don't mind being irritated by 20 loud rings of a telephone for artistic style, same thing applies.
I could go on and on but, hey, I already wasted 3 hours and 49 minutes of my life. Don't get me wrong. I've got all of Leone's spaghetti western's and I'd give them all 5 stars. There is some good stuff in this movie like the acting of the leads and cinematography but they don't make up for the other problems I mentioned. Like the Beach Boys ill-fated Smile album Once Upon A Time In America seems to be a project that "sank under the weight of it's own lofty ambitions". Maybe Leone was just ahead of his time. If he had filmed this story today perhaps it would have been a success as a one-season HBO series. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you have an appetite for Sicilian soapers, then you're like all those other people who made Mario Puzo's The Last Don the highest Nielsen-rated show for the week in mid-May 1997 when it originally aired.And who could blame you, since the story line of this TV miniseries is chock-full of all the familiar elements that make up a bestseller--power, money, sex, murder, gambling, madness, fame, Hollywood, loyalties made and broken. The story proper begins with a little Romeo and Juliet when Rose Marie, daughter of Don Domenico Clericuzio (Danny Aiello), falls for the youngest son of the warring Santadio family.On their wedding night, Rose Marie's new husband and the entire Santadio family are slaughtered by the Clericuzios to avoid further conflict between the two families, and Rose Marie goes completely insane and grows up to be Kirstie Alley.But not before she gives birth to another Santadio, Dante (so named because he has to live in Hell), in whom she invests all her hatred for her own family. So he grows up to be a psychotic hitman, played with sly and sadistic ingenuity by Rory Cochrane. TheClericuzios' chief executioner, Pippi (played with smooth aplomb by JoeMantegna), is responsible for killing Rose Marie's husband, and wants his own son, metaphorically overburdened with the name "Cross," to follow in his footsteps. The sins of the fathers are visiting all over the sons in this picture, and naturally the two kids will have to resolve this inheritance. The acting is the main attraction here.Aiello in particular invests The Don with a stately grace that is just right. --Jim Gay ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The Last Don You'll Ever Need
Every customer reviewer ahead of me has given this movie five stars! They must be confusing it with THE GODFATHER Parts 1 and 2. Either that, or they would give THE GODFATHER PART 3 five stars! Danny Aiello sleepwalks through his part. Joe Mantagna is inconsistent from scene to scene. The movie as a whole is extremely inconsistent, but it doesn't matter, because the people who saw it as a mini-series were seeing blaring ads intersperced throughout and were watching it over several nights (or even missing a night in between, without noticing anything missing!) A miniseries on TV is a hit if every seven-minute episode packs a punch, and this one does, except that if you remember the earlier punches, the later ones fizzle out. For example, Aiello doesn't mind if his own mob kills his own daughter, even though she posed no threat to him (it turns out she wasn't shot because Mantegna has one of his inconsistent changes of heart). But when it comes to Aiello's grandson, who Aiello knows is posing a lethal threat to the entire family, Aiello can't bring himself to order the hit, because "well, he's my grandson." Great sir, but what about your daughter? The interesting thing here is that it doesn't matter to those who saw the show on TV; they will have forgotten the beginning by the time of the end. But if you see it all at once, as I did, then you'll have these problems. I do want to say that the movie has its entertainment value if you suspend disbelief in the characters and the plot. I think it's a very solid two star attraction. Any more stars than that? Well, maybe if you're awarding bullets instead of stars.

The Last Don
This is one of the best scripts ever penned by the great author of the Godfather and Omerta. As far as this movie is concerned as a film then again it must score very highly. Although it is not the epic marathon of the Godfather and because of this is more accesible. The screen photography is great while the acting is as good as youd expect from actors commisioned by Puzo
The godfather was a very hard act to follow and this is the one film in an increasingly popular genre that can match the great epic.

Mafia Drama, good in its own right
I believe that, for a smaller production ( ie less expensive ) this is actually a Great movie. However, it doesnt compare to Godfather for example. Still I almost loved this film. But I believe that This movie , unlike other gangster movies, could have a bit more of cruelty and extreme violence ( who saw Casino and Goodfellas know what I am talking about ) which are an indispensable *sauce* for any gangsta movs. still a good Mafia production, alutought, not 5 stars ( Id actually rate it 3 and a half stars if it was possible ).

amazing
the last don is one of the most amazing gangster film's ever made it is on the same ratings as The Godfather. the acting is outstanding especially by the lovely Jason Gedrick. if you have not seen this film i suggest you do so, otherwise you will be missing out on one of the greatest movies ever made.

A MUST FOR THE TRUE MAFIA FAN
I JUST LOVE THIS MOVIE, YOU MUST ADD THIS TO YOUR OTHER DVD'S, I PURCHASED IT ON DVD OVER A YEAR AGO, THERE MUST BE A SPECIAL ADDITION COMING NEXT YEAR, CAN'T WAIT FOR BELLA MAFIA, AND LOVE HONOR AND OBEY THE LAST MAFIA WEDDING, WHICH IS THE BONANO FAMILY STORY, ... Read more

Amazon.com

The only remaining evidence that Sylvester Stallone might have had a respectable career, this 1976 Oscar^® winner (for Best Picture, Director, and Editing) is still the quintessential ode to an underdog and one of the best boxing movies ever made. After writing the script about a two-bit boxer who gets a "million-to-one shot" against the world heavyweight champion, Stallone insisted that he star in the title role, and his equally unknown status helped to catapult him (and this rousing film) to overnight success. The story is familiar, but it's handled with such vitality and emotional honesty that you can't help but leap and cheer for Rocky Balboa, the chump-turned-champ who stuns the boxing world with the support of his timid girlfriend Adrian (Talia Shire) and grizzled trainer Gus (Burgess Meredith). Oscar nominations went to all the lead actors (including Burt Young as Adrian's hot-tempered brother), but four sequels could never top the universal appeal of this low-budget crowd pleaser. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (133)

Rocky
This is one of my favorite films. Rocky is a great story about a Philadelphia club fighter who gets the chance of a lifetime. Rocky Balboa is this character, played by Sylvester Stallone. His apartment is a wreck, he does not have much of a social life, and his no. 1 job is as a muscle man for a loan shark. But, when heavyweight champion of the world Apollo Creed has his opponent for "The Bicentennial Fight" injured in training, he decides to give an unknown fighter a chance. Rocky's nickname,"The Italian Stallion" catches Creed's eye. From here on in, the film is fantastic. The acting is outstanding, especially by Brgess Meredith, who plays Mickey, Rocky's trainer. A fantastic story, great music, good romance between Rocky and Adrian(Talia Shire), great antics from Paulie(Burt Young),Adrian's brother, and, of course, the great training montage highlight the movie. The fight scenes are also amazing. Rocky is simply and plainly a great movie. Th sequels are ok, but nothng beats the original.If you have'nt seen it, SEE IT.

Great Movie
Rocky is,plain and simple,a great movie.The story(which everyone knows by now)is wonderful,about a two-bit prize fighter from Philadelphia,who gets a shot at the heavyweight title,and ends up going the distance with the champ. Sylvester Stallone is magnificent in the role of Rocky,and all the supporting players(Talia Shire as Rocky's very shy girlfriend Adrian,Burt Young as her brother Paulie,Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed,and of course Burgess Meredith as Rocky's manager Mickey just to name a few)are equally as good.John G.Avildsen's direction is right on as is Sly Stallones writing. The musical score by Bill Conti is fantastic as well.

The 25th aniversary DVD is very good,and priced reasonably.There are some nice special features including trailers(from all five movies)and TV spots.

Before Sly was stupid
They just don't make 'em like they used to. Sylvester Stallone had to learn that the hard way, after making countless, subpar action movies for twenty years. He went down a spiriling escalator to become a watered-down, Hollywood celebrity. However, that's not what people were saying back in 1976, and rightfully so. "Rocky" is Sly's crowning achievement, and ranks as one of, if not the best, sports movie ever made, and one of the greatest motion pictures of the last three decades. The story is nothing short of compelling. Based loosely on the fifteen-round fight between Chuck Wepner and Muhammad Ali (as the DVD will tell you if you don't know), "Rocky" weaves a perfect storyweb centering around the title character Rocky Balboa (Stallone). One of the most beloved characters in movie history, Rocky is a tough but good-natured man from the mean streets of Philadelphia; a loan shark goon by day, and boxer by night, under the moniker of The Italian Stallion. Despite working two jobs, he's on the brink of bumhood, and has no luck impressing his belligerent boxing trainer Mickey (played magnificently by Burgess Meredith) nor impressing the local pet shop girl Adrian (Talia Shire). However, when World Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) gives him a shot at the title for the Bicentennial Match to be held in Philadelphia, it gives Rocky a glimmer of hope, to rise above the odds and go the distance.

The story alone is incredibly gripping, but so is the acting. Stallone is in top form as The Italian Stallion. Immensely likable, melancholy, and incredibly human, the Rocky of this movie sadly disappears as the sequels go on. Burt Young also does a great job as disgruntled butcher Paulie, who is jealous of Rocky's offer at redemption. And who can forget the training montage? No one. "Gonna Fly Now" is a classic, through and through.

Overall, owe it to yourself to at least RENT "Rocky". If you haven't seen any of them, start with this one, because its sequels cannot hold a candle to it. It's a gritty, rousing, realistic, touching collage of romance, comedy, drama, allegory, action, and sports. Watch it ASAP.

MOVIE-10/10
DVD EXTRAS-5/10

"Cut me, Mick. . ."
All of us love to pull for the underdog, especially if the dog's odds are seemingly insurmountable. Of all the thrilling, inspiring, "feel good" underdog movies out there, ROCKY rates as one of the best. The movie that put Sylvester Stallone on the celebrity map (unfortunately), ROCKY still entertains some three decades after its initial, Academy Award-winning run.

We all know the story: Rocky Balboa, an undisciplined club brawler and strong-arm collection man from the slums of Philadelphia, gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot at boxing's heavyweight title. Yet the upcoming fight is merely the trimming surrounding the story; ROCKY is about a humble man with a heart of gold--a man who confronts his shortcomings and insecurities to evolve into a remarkable human being. To assist him on his journey, Rocky develops a timid relationship with an equally insecure girl, a pet shop worker named Adrian (played wonderfully by Talia Shire). To see the two of them together on their first date is one of the film's most entertaining, bittersweet moments; Rocky's small talk is hilarious yet mundane--Adrian looks terrified, yet finally begins to relax, to come out of her shell. Once two lost souls, Rocky and Adrian become indispensable to one another; their growing love transcends the pending fight--the exciting showdown.

The fight itself is cinematic brilliance: a thrilling, totally believable match that will have the viewer cheering from his chair. Carl Weathers looks, moves, talks, and fights like an egotistical heavyweight champ, while Burgess Meredith captures one of film's most memorable roles as Mickey, Rocky's gnarled, battle-tested trainer. Few movies universally touch a collective nerve that has the viewer spontaneously smiling while wiping a tear from the eye. ROCKY is one of them.
--D. Mikels

Inspiring
I sometimes wonder how many people under the age of twenty-five have never taken the time to view this film. I would hope the number is low. This is a movie that can inspire anyone, not just boxers or athletes. This movie is about taking that "one" shot, many of us sometimes get, and doing something with it - really using that chance.

Rocky is a film about overcoming what seems to be impossible odds with sheer character; a simple mind does not equal a simple soul, and as Rocky Balboa clearly demonstrates - when you get the shot you've always dreamed of, make it worth every second. Sylvester Stallone did just that - he wrote a novel about getting that one big shot, and it became his one big shot. The actor, director, and producer takes a lot of ridicule from the artsy-fartsy crowd but most of that is just plain jealousy; a forceps delivery left Stallone with a speech impediment, but his brain is just fine.

As another reviewer stated recently, if by some chance a person has not seen this film, they need to - it is in a class by itself.

See ya next review

www.therunnninggirl.com ... Read more

Amazon.com

Picture if you will two cousins, Charlie (Mickey Rourke) and Paulie (Eric Roberts), prowling the mean streets of New York's Little Italy. Charlie is reasonably put-together, a maitre d' at a chic café who aspires to running his own restaurant someday. Paulie is an incurable flake who can't resist a temptation or a goofball scheme, couldn't tell the truth to save his soul, and keeps splashing Charlie with the street slop of his slewing trajectory through life. This includes drawing him into the circles of Mob crime, most especially Paulie's boss, that supreme sleazebag "Bedbug Eddie" (Burt Young).

Michael Cimino is said to have had a hand in this movie, though the credited director is Stuart Rosenberg--an impersonal craftsman often hired in midshoot after the star and a more volatile director had parted company. This helps account for the picture's overall lack of rhythm and its wavering between overemphatic, Ethnic-with-a-capital-E idiosyncrasy, and low-key befuddlement. Still, it has its charms, most of them deriving from a terrific cast. At the time it came out, in the summer of 1984, Rourke and Roberts were both exciting, unpredictable talents; Roberts in particular had an amazing talent for being somebody brand new--psychologically, even physically--in every film he made. But even though they're hitting on all cylinders, the boys are quietly upstaged by some redoubtable old pros: the great Kenneth McMillan, the ineffable M. Emmet Walsh, and--scoring her umpteenth Oscar® nomination as the mother of an ill-fated cop--Miss Geraldine Page. --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A Little Swagger with your Pasta
"Chimes, Charlie, chimes..." The Pope of Greenwich Village was one of the great films of 1984 and offers a visually and thematically telling portrait of two small-time hustlers in Little Italy. Charlie, portrayed brilliantly by Mickey Rourke in his finest performance, is wed, in a brotherly sense, to his second cousin, Paulie, played with equal bravado by Eric Roberts. It is an Italian/NYC version of Of Mice and Men and proves that blood is thicker than water, and even a little thicker than a nice hot cup of laced espresso. Pay particular attention to the wonderful work of Burt Young as Bedbug Eddy -- a local boss that causes Charile and Paulie (not to mention Paulie's "thummmmb") a great deal of grief. Certain lines by Eric Roberts are unforgettable, Rourke's swagger is unparalleled, and great tracks ranging from Frank Sinatra to Mink deVille offer the wonderful back drop of the Village and equal dose of acoustic power. It is a New York movie, it is an Italian-American morality tale -- it's tough and gritty and damn good. Leave the gun, take the canolis...and the movie. -- Mr. Zelig

So Cool
How cool was Mickey Roarke? Check this film out and see for yourself. I love this movie. Micky plays Charlie a small time hood tryin to go straight in New Yorks little Italy, No matter how hard he tries he just can't escape the neighborhood or his Lowlife cousin Paulie,wonderfully acted by Eric Roberts. Yes at one time he could act too (See Star 80). Rounding out the cast are Geraldine Paige, Daryl Hannah and Kenneth McMillon, But the movie belongs to Rourke it was a springboard to things that never were to be. To bad.

one of the best mob flicks
This movie is chock full of stars. The one who is amazing is Tony Musante, Paulie's uncle. Take a look at a 1967 flick called the incident and he will show you what method acting is all about. His character in that flick is better than any in "the POPE" not to put down "the POPE" of course. Too bad they gave him this small role, cauz he was the original bad boy. Anyway, the pope is awesome, Roberts and Rourke are incedible and the flick is a classic. DONT FORGET MUSANTE IN THE INCIDENT.

An overlooked gem
Released at a time when comedies were measured by the number of exposed women's breasts or the quality of vomiting scenes, THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE was a refreshing movie that had actual character development and humor based on wit, not bodily functions. Paulie and Charlie (Rourke and Roberts) play two citizens of Little Italy that are on the criminal fringe, although they themselves are not criminals. But as they look around them, the criminals of the street are getting richer and the yuppies of the 80s even richer than that. When they are approached by Barney, a locksmith losing his sight (wonderfully portrayed by Kenneth McMillan) who has a plan for a quick score, the two fall in. Once they do, the pasta goes flying.

I won't go further into the plot. There are some great supporting performances here: Geraldine Page, Burt Young, Tony Musante, Phillip Bosco, and even Daryl Hannah. The direction is top notch. Check out this little period piece of a neighborhood that is rapidly disappearing.

Rourke's breakthrough performance!
"The Pope of Greenwich Village" could be considered Mickey Rourke's Swan Song. Rourke delivers a stellar performance laced with a brooding subtlety that prompts comparisons with Brando and McQueen. Eric Roberts, who is a seriously underrated talent of film, also offers an admirable performance. In contrast to Rourke, Roberts brings a comic element to the film. As a result, some scenes oscillate between compelling drama and off-beat comedy. There is an undeniable chemistry between these two actors and, hopefully, their work will be recognized in the future. Given their ostracism from the elitist enclaves of Hollywood, however, that does not seem likely. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

You Are About To Enter A Danger Zone
Aside from the comedy classic ensemble Caddyshack, Back To School is my favorite Rodney Dangerfield film.

Self-made millionaire Thorton Melon (Dangerfield) decides to join his only son, Jason (Keith Gordon), who is having difficulty fitting in, as a freshman in college. This impulse gesture drives Jason a little nuts, while setting Thorton on a path to a little romance with an English professor (Sally Kellerman). He also learns that there are things in life money can't buy, and in the process, somehow becomes the most popular man on campus.

Director Alan Metter allows Dangerfield to do his thing. But also allows him to show a softer side that doesn't seem at all out of place. Don't let that deter you though, there are still plenty of laughs to be had. Gordon is pitch perfect as Jason and provides plenty of grounding as well. The film also boasts solid support from actor Burt Young as Lou, and early performances by Robert Downey Jr. as Derek, Jason's roomie, as well as former Star Trek beauty, Terry Farrell.

Sadly, the DVD doesn't have any "real" extras, save of course, for the film's theatrical trailer. Typical for most MGM releases, the package also includes a "collectible" production trivia booklet. An audio commentary or a few deleted scenes, would have put this disc over the top. Still, this film is a must see, for comedy and Dangerfield fans. It's a very funny movie.

Rodney's All Time Best Comedy Get's Straight A's!
Don't you just miss 80's movies like Back To School? A film starring one of the funniest men on the planet (Mr. Rodney Dangerfield) with an ensemble cast of famous names unto themselves, has got to have SMASH MOVIE written all over it, and it does! A simple premise: Thornton Melon (Dangerfield) has become a wealthy millionaire even though he dropped out of high school, and now his son, Jason (Keith Gordon) wants to drop out of college, so in order to keep him from leaving, Thornton decides to go to college too! There are so many hysterical moments I just can't print them all. But some favorites are the big scene with Sam Kinison as the crazed history teacher, Professor Terguson ("Good teacher. He really seems to care. About what I have no idea".), Thornton doing the Triple Lindey swimming dive (with Derek[Robert Downey Jr.]distracting the rival diving team with loud noise and reflecting light to the face), Thornton's rendition of "Twist And Shout" at a local bar, and of course, the party in Thornton's dorm room, with Danny Elfman's band, Oingo Boingo and a killer hot tub, complete with BUBBLES! ("Now that's what I call marine biology".) But a truly winning comedy can't be completely great without heart, which is what this film has. Keith Gordon (John Carpenter's Christine), who is sorely missed in the acting world since he changed his profession to directing, is great as Thornton's son, Jason, who loves his father a lot but feels like Dad's always trying to do too much to make him happy when all he wants to do is live his own life. Terry Farrell (TVs Star Trek: DS9 & Becker) makes a good love interest for him too. I always knew she'd make a name for herself one day. Of course you can't make this sort of film without the bad guys and both father and son have each of their own: William Zabka (who we all should remember as bad boy Johnnie from The Karate Kid) as Chas, the snotty swim diver, and Paxton Whitehead as Philip Barbay, Thornton's economics professor are both out to give our duo a not so sweet time at college. But with Sally Kellerman as the funloving literature teacher, Diane, helping Thornton with reading (and biology) just made things a whole lot more fun. This film has such a great mix of comic chemistry and one-liners that you may miss after the first viewing from laughing so hard. But it's also a movie that just makes you feel good when it's all over.

The DVD isn't much on special features, only a trailer, which has a scene not in the film of Thornton and his bodyguard, Lou (Burt Young of the "Rocky" movies as Paulie) looking at a college sex book ("Well, they left out the most important thing...where to get it"). But at least they give you a letterboxed version (1.85:1) as well as a full framed version. But for the asking price, this disc is worth it. Maybe someday they'll get the gang together and make a documentary and audio commentary. Until then get this DVD. I haven't seen the picture look this good in years. The VHS pales in comparison.

So, if you're tired of all the bland humor that seems to be coming out of the Hollywood machine these days, go Back To School with Rodney Dangerfield, who will show you just how funny Comedies should be. "Ooh, I'd love to tame your shrew!"

Nothing to recommend
A syrupy sweet story of a dad and his semi-estranged son, this film feels like a low-rated sitcom. Other than a handful of smile moments, it's neither funny or remarkable at all. I'm not sure which of the film's premises are more frightening: Dangerfield the smart, confident, self-made businessman, or Dangerfield the expert diver. It's not that you should avoid it, but there are so many better films to see.

Funny, but make sure you get the NEWER DVD release!
After his appearance on Leno recently, it seems Rodney Dangerfield is losing his touch due to age and his admitted pot smoking. He still had it in Back to School, however. This has always been a good way to spend 90 minutes or so to get some laughs. Along with Caddyshack and Easy Money, it's his best work.

Be careful of which DVD version you buy. There are two floating around out there and they both look the same until you make a close inspection of the back cover. MGM quietly slipped this new transfer out there with the same cover without as much as a peep. The original copy was non-anamorphic widescreen and was a poor transfer with some framing issues. The new one is a great improvement with anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 Surround Sound. You have to look at the bottom left of the back cover. You will see 16:9 Widescreen 1.85:1 versus the old one which did not have the '16:9' printed above the word Widescreen. The free booklet with the older copy was nice but the new anamorphic transfer and 5.1 trump the importance of the little booklet included in the older DVD release. I don't know why they didn't throw in the old booklet but its importance is negligible. You don't buy DVDs for booklets anyway.

One more thing. Always buy DVD releases of films in their OAR(Original Aspect Ratio). Don't buy Fullscreen copies if the movie was originally released in Widescreen to theaters. The only time you should buy (Fullscreen, 1.33:1, 4X3) is if that was the OAR, which is usually only television these days and much older films from the early 50's and beyond. Why would you want to watch a film with the sides chopped off? You'll learn to live with the 'black bars' and realize that you're not losing any picture on the top or bottom.

This film stinks
This "comedy" isnt so funny because the acting reeks- Both Keith Gordon (Rodney's son in this film) and Sally Kellerman (the teacher) cannot act, will not act, or refused to do alternate takes, because they are the worst most unconvincing performances ever put on film. Try Easy Money 1983 instead. This is better than Animal House which says absolutely nothing since Animal House is the worst film ever released to the public since motion pictures with sound were invented back in 1929. ... Read more

Reviews (222)

It is about time!! GREAT MOVIE
Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America" was released almost 20 years ago, and it is still one of my all time favorite films. The film spans over a period of 20 years. The characters - Max, Noodles, Cockeye, Patsy, and Fat Moe, all grew up in the violent immigrant ghetto of New York's lower east side. The tough streets forced the group of friends to grow up fast, which in turn forces them to fight their way to the top. All of them vow to stick together. The story fastforwards 20 years into the future where childhood friends Max ( James Woods) and Noodles (Robert De Niro) form a partnership to run a powerful crime organization along with the rest of their childhood buddies -Cockeye (William Forsythe), Patsy ( James Hayden), and Fat Moe(Larry Rapp). However as time passes, things start to spin out of control, and the partnership between Max and Noodles unravels in death and mystery...

"Once Upon a Time in America" utilizes the four basic traits of human nature - friendship, crime, love, and betrayal, to create one of the most dramatic and rich stories ever captured on screen. The entire cast - Robert De Niro, James Woods, William Forsythe, Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, Larry Rapp, James Hayden, Joe Pesci, and Danny Aiello were all unbelieveable and each helped to bring the story to life. However, the best performances given in my opinion were by the young actors that were chosen to play the characters as children. Their performances meant the most to the film, because that was the age when the tragic pattern of the characters lives were set. This film marked the first time appearance of Jennifer Connely, and even then at the age of 14, you could tell that she was a fantastic actress. Sergio Leone drew inspiration from the New York ghetto photographs of Jacob Riis. The authenticity that the photos provided to the settings was absolutely outstanding, and were the film's best feature.

The actors, well developed story, and stunning authenticity really provide for a wonderful film. "Once Upon A Time in America" offers a look at the dark side of the American dream that you can watch time and time again. Not to mention the fact, that this film finally came out on DVD!! If there was ever a film that deserved the special treatment of a DVD, it was this one. The movie is finally available with the best picture and sound quality available and we don't have to sit through the grainy picture of a videocasette either. This 2 Disc DVD set truly is a must buy!!

Great Film,VERY Dissapointing DVD!!!!
Sergio Leone's final masterpiece ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA is by far a unique and amazing piece of filmmaking by one of the cinema's greatest Italian directors since Fellini and De Sica.The story involves a ruthless gangster David 'Noodles' Aronson (played brilliantly by Robert DeNiro) who ends up fleeding away from his friends in the 1940's and returns back to them in the late '60's through many years of hardships as young kids growing up on the wrong side of the tracks to being successful in crime during the prohibition era of the '30's.Prior to its original U.S. release in 1984,this film recieved many great reviews and audience praise when it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and The New York Film Festival.The film's distributor,Warner Bros/The Ladd Company,uncerimoniously cut out 90 minutes out of the original running time fearing that the movie would run too long and that they wouldn't get as many showings in a single day.The edited version totally changes the complete story continuity of the original film and therefore isn't even as good to watch ,even if you have already seen the longer version.In fact,this edited version of the movie has already been shown once on cable network television on the TNN network (now called SPIKE TV) in April,2003 and believe me,it isn't even worth watching! Warner's 2-disc Special Edition of the film is perhaps,in my opinion,one of the worst special edition DVD's I have ever purchased so far!!! Although the film is presented in its original 229-minute uncut version and in a beautifully preserved 1:85.1 aspect ratio,Disc one innapropriately stops in the middle of the Diamond Robbery scene,even though the disc jacket says it ends directly at the intermission title card!! But on Disc two,the intermission takes place nearly ten chapters into the second disc!! What a real travesty!!! Plus,there are no really great bonus features other than a terrific audio commentary by film critic/historian Richard Schickel,trailer,an excerpt from the hour-long documentary "Once Upon A Time:Sergio Leone" on the making of the film itself,and nothing else!!! However,the movie appears on HBO from time to time and is actually the same version that's on the DVD in which this version includes the Ladd Company credits and no intermission title card!!! I taped that version not too long ago and trust me,it's a lot better than this DVD mess,plus,I got the entire movie on one tape!!! Tape this longer version off of HBO and you won't be dissapointed and enjoy and appreciate this true masterpiece of Sergio Leone in its entirety!! Warner Bros could've done a lot better and nicer job on this DVD,but thankfully learned their lesson with better-selling DVD's after this fiasco!!!

be warned.........
If you're like me and you are thinking of buying this film because it's a Deniro/gangster movie, think twice. Despite some of reviews, this is NOT a materpiece. It is true that the cinematography is brilliant and the production design is top-notch. It is a very authentic-looking, well-made made film. However, those things do not make a masterpiece. The story is so convoluted and moves at such a glacial pace you lose interest. The climactic scene is anything but climactic. Nothing happens. Literally. Deniro and Woods' characters have a conversation and just walk away. Whatever emotional impact thier words are supposed to have has long been drained away by the four-hour running time. The packaging declares that Deniro "smolders" and a New York Times review anoints it as "the definitive gangster picture". Neither is true. You can count on two fingers the number of times Deniro changes facial expressions. He practically sleepwalks through the film. The worst flaw of the movie is that you cant identify with, or even remotely like any of the characters. At the end we are supposed to be moved by the tragic turn of events between two life-long friends, but after witnessing four hours of sexual perversion, graphic murder, etc., you end up having no sympathy at all for them. It has all the emotional impact of seeing Saddam Hussien and Adolf Hitler holding hands and running down the beach in slow motion. As a Deniro fan I really wanted to like this movie, but his character is repulsive. He's a serial rapist who takes his one true love out on a long awaited date and then forcefully rapes her in the back of a car. That scene alone is hard to watch. The Godfather films triumph because the characters have redeeming qualities that balance out thier evil deeds. This film wallows in dirt and excess from the very beginning and gives you no reason to care about these people. Almost the entire first disc is taken up by child actors who arent believable. When you see scenes of them walking around in fedoras and zoot suits acting like pint-size gangsters who intimidate the local cop and make deals with adult mobsters its almost comical. If they were'nt trying to trade cup-cakes for sex it would almost be Disney-ish. By the way, the four scenes that have been "restored" to this director's cut include the two rape scenes and two dialouge extensions. The added dialouge does flesh out the characters a bit, but it slows down an already slow pace. I wish that I had not seen the rape scenes. I hate to be so negative, but I wish I could get my money back. If you have an interest in seeing this movie, rent it- dont buy it. Dont believe the hype and the gushing declarations of being a masterpiece. Its altogether forgetable. The scenes that do stick in your mind do so because they are disturbing, not because of any great acting or artistic reasons.

A masterpiece no matter what anyone says
Yes, the film is four hours long, and yes, there is an hour and a half flashback sequence. But don't let this ward you way from what is truly a masterpiece of a gangster flick. The flashback itself is engrossing and endearing. If you love movies, if you love great acting, if you love history, this is the epic for you.

'Once Upon a Time in America' is a film about a group of four friends who have grown up together in New York City since the turn of the century. They grew up around crime and took part in it themselves. 'America' doesn't focus on the truly criminal aspects of the tale, though; nor does it glorify violence in any way. In a genius move, director Sergio Leone portrays how crime influences this tough, beautiful, but delicate friendship.

This brings me to the famously long flashback. Anyone who tells you it is boring, unimportant and relentless was obviously not paying attention. They must also have a short attention span, for the portrayel of the four main characters' childhood is at times beautiful, elegiac and hilarious. It tells a timeless tale of the central character in the film, Noodles (later played by Robert DeNiro), and his obsession with the local beauty (a young Jennifer Conally, later played by Elizabeth McGovern) who refuses to love him because he'll "always be a two-bit punk." It reminisces on the constant loss of virginities to the town prostitute who makes love for the price of one pastry (what accompanies this story line is a legendary scene where a young teenager succumbs to the temptation of his pastry gift). And it ends in one of the film's most emotional moments that proves you must have a strong stomach to really pay attention and/or appreciate the film to full extent. It is quite hard to watch not because of any sort of violence, but because of its emotional rawness ending in a near cataclysmic incident.

This carries over into the rest of the film, dotted with modern day looks at Noodles and his three friends who are dead at the beginning of the film. After his mental journey through the past, he searches in real life for the love of his life, played by Elizabeth McGovern. What ensues is a twist, one of the best in cinematic history (that I've seen, anyway). You won't be disappointed.

What is masterful about all of these storylines, flashbacks and flashforwards is the extent of their depth. Leone accompanies each detail with an unforgettable emotional truth that extends deep into each character's (and our own) psyche. And for those who love history, Leone sets this saga in the days of prohibition, which offers the four friends an occupation, of sorts.

Apart from the amazing depth in character and story, the production values are top notch, with glorious sets, cinematography and editing. And don't forget the delicacy of the writing and direction. It all works together so well on so many levels.

So to those who have strong stomachs (there are bouts of intense violence) and those who are not too young (this is definitely not a family film, as it portrays some graphic sexuality) and also those who are in love with cinema, I recommend 'Once Upon a Time in America.' Oh, and make sure you have a good attention span. This is not a short movie by any means, although it zips by in the best sense.

Why this "director's cut" is still a muddled mess
One thing that you should know about this movie, according to the running commentary on this DVD set, is that Leone originally shot 10 hours of film. Then from this 10 hours of film he apparently did an original 6 hour film cut. Realizing this length was not practical for a single movie release, and opting not to split his work into 2 seperate films, Leone then got out his scissors once again and cut his film down to this 3 hour 49 minute version. This, I think, is where the problems begin. For instance, Leone chose to leave in the now legendary 5 minute scene of a kid eating a piece of cake. However, Noodles' girlfriend Eve who gets wacked at the start of the movie, never gets properly introduced into the story after the film goes back in time, she just is suddenly there with Noodles in Florida. Even at almost four hours I got the feeling that the movie was over edited like the original US release. A lot of times in the second half of the movie I felt like I had to try and catch up with the story and figure out what had happened- i.e., suddenly the gang is backing up the trucking union, and we're thrust right in the middle of this intense situation.
And then there's the part of the movie where it's supposed to be 1968. The film critic doing the running commentary says that the film "works best" if you assume that the 1968 scenes are just Noodles' opium dreams in 1935. To me this just seems to be a cop-out to excuse the holes and confusing story telling. I don't see how Noodles in the 1930's could have a dream about watching a TV in 1968 when the television hasn't been invented yet at the time he was "opium dreaming".
Then there's the business of Mr. Bailey and the garbage truck at the end. I'll not spoil it for you, but James Wood says himself in the included documentary that he doesn't know what happened at this point and that was Leone's intention. I can accept what Lennon and MacCartney said about their song lyrics meaning whatever you interperate them to be, but in my own opinion this style doesn't translate for me when I'm watching a movie. I like a definate outcome to be evident, but if this is okay with you, well, I warned you. And if you don't mind being irritated by 20 loud rings of a telephone for artistic style, same thing applies.
I could go on and on but, hey, I already wasted 3 hours and 49 minutes of my life. Don't get me wrong. I've got all of Leone's spaghetti western's and I'd give them all 5 stars. There is some good stuff in this movie like the acting of the leads and cinematography but they don't make up for the other problems I mentioned. Like the Beach Boys ill-fated Smile album Once Upon A Time In America seems to be a project that "sank under the weight of it's own lofty ambitions". Maybe Leone was just ahead of his time. If he had filmed this story today perhaps it would have been a success as a one-season HBO series. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A Pretty Fair Sequel
While not nearly as brilliant as the original, this movie is still pretty entertaining and is probably the most humorous of the series. The "chase that chicken" scene is hysterical and Apollo Creed is an even better character in this installment than he was in the first. Still, this movie does drag at times as Rocky falls from grace and is forced to take jobs that most people wouldn't want. By the time a pregnant Adrain slips into a coma, some of the viewers will have done the same. Nevertheless, Rocky II is a worthy successor to the original.

A VERY AMUSING SEQUEL.
"Rocky II" is a very entertaining sequel, it has all the elements to make it a very pleasant film, it's not as transcendent as the original movie, but the characters and the plot are good enough to keep the audience interested in the life of Rocky Balboa and his family, friends and enemies.

"Rocky II" is the story of a man that puts his family in first priority, also in second priority and he is the one that counts the least, Rocky prefers to jeopardize his future in order to assure a good life for his wife and his son.

Perhaps the final battle between Rocky and Apollo Creed is even more emotional, exciting and better choreographed than the fight in the original "Rocky", so the fans of the "Rocky" saga won't feel disappointed with this sequel.

Great Sequel
First, please see my review for Rocky I:

"I sometimes wonder how many people under the age of twenty-five have never taken the time to view this film. I would hope the number is low. This is a movie that can inspire anyone, not just boxers or athletes. This movie is about taking that "one" shot, many of us sometimes get, and doing something with it - really using that chance.

Rocky is a film about overcoming what seems to be impossible odds with sheer character; a simple mind does not equal a simple soul, and as Rocky Balboa clearly demonstrates - when you get the shot you've always dreamed of, make it worth every second. Sylvester Stallone did just that - he wrote a novel about getting that one big shot, and it became his one big shot. The actor, director, and producer takes a lot of ridicule from the artsy-fartsy crowd but most of that is just plain jealousy; a forceps delivery left Stallone with a speech impediment, but his brain is just fine.

As another reviewer stated recently, if by some chance a person has not seen this film, they need to - it is in a class by itself."

Okay, now make all of that ditto for Rocky II. This sequel is just as good as the first installment. Apollo Creed feels that Rocky just got lucky in their first bout, and after a ton of hate-mail arrives on the champ's doorstep, he decides he wants a rematch with Rocky Balboa. But Rocky's wife, Adrian, wants him to live a normal non-boxing life. This movie is a little deeper than the first one. My favorite part is when Mick (Rocky's trainer) tells Rocky they should go knock Apollo's "block" (head) off, and Rocky agrees, and they set out to start training again.

After you've see the first one, the second installment is a must!

See ya next review.

www.therunninggirl.com

SEQUEL IS REALLY AN UNOFFICIAL REMAKE OF THE FIRST MOVIE
ROCKY RETIRES FROM THE WORLD OF BOXING. BUT AFTER HE FINDS THAT HE CAN'T GET A REGULAR JOB, HE EVENTUALLY RETURNS TO BOXING TO FIGHT APOLLO CREED IN A REMATCH. SOAP OPERA-TYPE STORY KINDA BOGS IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE CLIMATIC REMATCH BRINGS IT BACK ON TRACK. REALLY AIN'T NO DIFFERENT FROM THE 1ST MOVIE, BUT, IT'S STILL AN OK MOVIE TO LOOK AT.

Interesting , But Not Engrossing
I hadn't seen any Rocky films since I was a kid (which was many years ago now) but lately I've been going back and watching them after being compelled to buy the original film on DVD. It can be interesting to see if you can still get the same thrill from a movie after you've grown up and developed more sophisticated tastes.

My verdict for ROCKY II is unfortunately different than what it was twentysome years ago. From the very start of the film as we watch the ambulances rush our two contenders to the hospital, what we hear is a totally dreadful 70's style soundtrack which was horribly inappropriate!... and the music didn't get much better from there! As I was watching the film, even though I felt it was interesting to see the changes in Balboa's life after his bout with Creed, this movie just seemed to go through the motions without truly drawing you in the way the original did. And what happened to Apollo Creed? We all saw Apollo as an honorable opponent in the first film, but there seems to be a personality shift. In ROCKY II, we don't know him or even care about him anymore because he was made out to be a villian this time around. Why? And as for the training segment and the rematch itself, it was like a rehash of the first film, but without really absorbing us or inspiring us the way the original did.

By no means would I discourage anyone from watching this movie because it is after all a continuation of the first film, which left us with a lot of unanswered questions. My simple advice is this: Don't compare it to the original like I did and maybe you'll like it much better. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The third installment in the Rocky saga is the last one to matter, and in this case only marginally. The now rich and famous Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) triumphantly pummels a succession of boxing challengers until he encounters Clubber Lang (Mr. T), a human wall of brick who wants a piece of Rocky's action. The Rock's loyal trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith) has taken ill and dies, so Rocky recruits retired opponent Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) to whip him into fighting shape after his embarrassing defeat to Clubber. Time for another rematch, mixed in with some family matters involving Rocky's brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young), who's feeling neglected amid all the hoopla. Not bad as sequels go, boosted by Mr. T.'s taunting presence and yet another rousing finale. For those with a bad case of '80s nostalgia, the hit theme song "Eye of the Tiger" is sure to bring back memories. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Rocky III
Rocky III is one of the best films of the whole saga. It's to me the best only behind "Rocky IV", my personal favorite. The suspense starts when heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is suddenly defeated by a boastful contender, the brutish Clubber Lang (Mr. T). During the bloody defeat, his trainer and close friend, Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), passes away. Now clear that he has lost his edge, his only hope is when his old foe and nemesis, ex-champ Apollo Creed, comes to help him get back the "eye of the tiger" in Los Angeles. Training in L.A. with Creed and his former trainer, Tony Duke, Rocky attempts to triumph in a comeback rematch at Madison Square Garden in the Big Apple with the cocky Lang. A must-see hit from United Artists and writer, director, and star Sylvester Stallone.

Sylvester Stallone's Rocky III
This was the best sequel to Rocky for my opinion. After winning the title from Apollo Creed(Carl Weathers), Rocky Balboa(Sylvester Stallone) has defended his title several times. Then, Clubber Lang(Mr. T) challenges Rocky to a match and Rocky accepts. Before the fight, Mickey(Burgess Merideth), Rocky's trainer, has a heart attack and can't watch the fight. Rocky looses the match inside of three rounds. After the fight, Mickey dies in the locker room. Apollo Creed offers to train Rocky to get his title back in a rematch. This was a great sequel and it had great acting. Watch this movie, you won't be disapointed.

The saga continues
The saga continues - and I couldn't be happier. I believe each Rocky movie had its own appeal, and this one appeals to the 80's and to slacking. Rocky III is about resting on your laurels, and Rocky learns the failure in this when Clubber Lang (Mr. Midget throwing bouncer champ T.) shows up on the scene. I don't want to give it away that Mick dies...oops, and that Apollo trains Rocky to find the "eye of the tiger" again (apparently Rocky lost it when he became civilized).

This is a great film. Yeah, I know, the artsy-fartsy fans didn't like it. But they should stick to their abstract art shows and leave the movie reviews to us real-men.

Rocky III is action packed, movie making at its best. Buy it, even if its just to see Hulk Hogan throw Stallone out of the ring and into the audience. They should have made that a 3D scene!

See ya next review.

www.therunninggirl.com

I enjoyed it a lot
Yes yes I know....the first Rocky is the best....not going to front on that. But the sequels were very good and Stallone is not a bad director either!! He puts in plenty of action, good camera work, and once in a while a VERY hilarious comment hehe.

So if youre a fan of the Rocky movies, check this one out, its great entertainment!!

BETTER THAN THE FIRST SEQUEL
THIS TIME, ROCKY DEFENDS HIS WORLD TITLE AGAINST CLUBBER LANG [MR. T]. MORE ENTERTAINING THAN THE LAST SEQUEL. HAS MORE FIGHTS AND A BETTER PLOT THAN THE SECOND MOVIE. WATCH FOR AN APPEARANCE BY HULK HOGAN IN A BOXER VS. WRESTLER MATCH AGAINST ROCKY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS SEQUEL. I'D SAY THIS IS WORTH OWNING. FEATURES THE CLASSIC ''EYE OF THE TIGER'' SONG. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It was time for Sylvester Stallone to say "enough, already" to the boxing hero he plays in the popular Rocky film series, but instead Stallone kept the saga going by pushing Rocky into Rambo territory. The 1985 Rocky IV finds the Italian stallion pitted against a seemingly unbeatable Russian monster named Drago (Dolph Lundgren) who lets his wife (Stallone's then-wife, Brigitte Nielsen) do all the talking. With a mighty punch, Drago has sent Rocky's former opponent and trainer Apollo Creed to an early grave, and the boxer responds with the ultimate challenge. Even the Russians are rooting for Rocky, so it's not hard to guess how the film ends. Despite Stallone's claims to the contrary, this installment was followed by Rocky V in 1990. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (72)

ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITES!
This is my favorite out of the Rocky movies. I would give this movie SIX STARS if I could! I have seen this movie over and over and over again... maybe a couple dozen times.. at least. This movie was soooooo awesome. It is one of those few movies that you can see over and over again without getting tired of it. A true classic.

I liked this the best because I felt the most inspiration out of this film. I felt a lot of inspiration and emotion for Rocky to beat the heck out of Drago. In addition, unlike the original Rocky, this movie was fast-moving and there were not dull points. The story kept building as time went on which resulted in my getting riveted throughout this movie.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE SOUNDTRACK TO THIS MOVIE!! This is probably my favorite movie soundtrack ever. I really adore "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor and "Heart's on Fire." The combination of the awesome soundtrack cues along with Rocky's training and fight scenes just made those moments even more emotional. I really sided with Rocky and "felt like I was him" training for the final fight with Drago.

As for the final fight with Drago.. WOW!!! My favorite fight scene out of the 5 movies! It was without a doubt the best fight! I still feel inspired whenever I watch this fight... I love the combination of an awesome soundtrack along with the awesome, bloody, and emotional fight to go to the finish.

I LOVED this movie. It REALLY shows how perseverant Rocky is. Even more so than any of the other 4 Rocky movies, this movie helped congeal in my mind the idea of never giving up and achieving your goals. Throughout the series Rocky was an underdog and learned to overcome all the odds against him. "Rocky 4" is VERY CLOSE to being my favorite movie ever. It is JUST barely by an electron below "Return of the Jedi." "Rocky 4" was just sheer excellence. Spectacular!

Rocky & The Cold War
I remember seeing this on the big screen in its premier when I was 16, and that was the good ol cold war era when the Russians were the bad guys. I remember I enjoyed seeing our hero beat the tar out of this huge mindless Soviet machine!It was a very patriotic and Xenophobic film that aroused U.S. nationalism in audiences here. Now, the film seems dated as the world situation as changed(If Rocky IV were made now, maybe the Rock would go 15 against an Iraqi backed by the Hamass!), and it is a good piece of film nostalgia. The movie plays much like ROCKY III with a reliance on a lot of MTVesque sequences that are nothing more than music videos(for example, after Apollo's funeral Rocky climbs into sportscar and speeds away into the night as we are treated to a montage of flashbacks from earlier films while rock music blares on the soundtrack). It is another example of how pop & bubble gum the films got, but ROCKY IV is still good entertainment!

Drago!
This Rocky sequel isnt quite up to the standards of the previous films,but watching Dolph Lundgren as the russian boxer Drago is impressive.Dolph`s physique in this 1985 film is marvelous,6'6" 260 lbs and rock solid.It would take a bulldozer to knock this guy over! As a Bob Denver look-alike myself,I greatly admire Lundgren`s wide-jawed example of genetic perfection in this film.

The Cold War Rocky
Having lived through the period of time when, as a child, I worried about nuclear war, I really enjoyed this Rocky installment. Russia and America were at a stalemate for so many years, this movie did an excellent job of showing that people are just people, no matter what form of government they live under. Don't get me wrong, the movie was a bit corny, but the mere fact that Stallone pulled this off is amazing. He made Rocky movie that aimed as high as demonstrating the tension of the Cold War and the simplicity of what it might take to end that war. Stallone and Reagan may have made my fear of nuclear weapons go away. Thanks, gentlemen!

After Apollo Creed is killed in the ring by a massive new Russian boxer (Dolph Lundgren), Rocky steps up to the plate (ring) and serves the Russian a case of the Philadelphia two-step (you hit me two times, I hit you one). The Russian gets so wore out from beating on Rocky that he just about collapses. That's when Rocky releases a few nuclear bombs of his own! Great action and training sequences in this one; a really cool sports car and music video too.

Buy this movie, it is worth every penny!

See ya next review.

www.therunninggirl.com

BEST OF THE ROCKY SEQUELS
THIS TIME, ROCKY TRAVELS TO RUSSIA TO FIGHT A SUPER FIGHTER [DOLPH LUNDGREN] WHO KILLED APOLLO CREED IN A BOXING MATCH. IT'S BASCIALLY A REVENGE MOVIE, BUT THIS IS THE BEST OF THE ROCKY SEQUELS. THIS IS WHERE DOLPH LUNDGREN GOT HIS 1ST BIG BREAK. YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY ADD THIS TO YOUR DVD COLLECTION. ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Great 70's movie
I used to watch Convoy over and over as a kid. It is unfortunate that it is not being produced on DVD or VHS considering how many movies not nearly as entertaining are being marketed. I think if you didn't see it when it first came out you'd find it silly and dated today, but I feel to those of us who saw it initially growing up, it is a classic. Modeled after a catchy country western song by C.W. McCall and with stars such as Kris Kristofferson, Ali McGraw, Burt Young and Ernest Borgnine, I'm surprised it is so obscure. It has some great 70's car/truck chase and crash scenes and a good soundtrack. Hopefully it will come out of moratorium soon and be available.

Breaker-19
CONVOY is the best trucker movie of all time. I've watched this movie 1000's of times when I was a kid and I enjoy it even more now. This movie has action, comedy and romance. Kris Kristofferson was great in this movie, he really brought out the excitement of being a truck driver. As for Ali MacGraw, she was also great and beautiful co-star. The director, Sam Peckinpah did an excellent job capturing the essence of truck driving. After so many years of searching for this movie I finally have a copy of my own thanks to Amazon.com. I'm impatiently waiting for it to come out on DVD(extended verison)....

Convoy
I bought the VHS version of the movie going off the other reviews listed.I received it yesterday and watched it twice.The quality is excellent.No fuzzy picture or sound.If you want a copy of this old classic movie,get one on video.

CONVOY
i havn't played my copy yet. the dvd i got, came from half.com which is a letterbox version, not digitally remastered and released by PACIFIC FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. i paid less than $5.00 brand new.

The old days
When you seee this movie, you will realinze how life in America was not anoying. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

It was okay
It's worth watching for Johnny Whitworth and his interview in the bonus section. *swoon*

Get it!
Sibling rivalry. An overbearing father. Great Italian food. Small town versus big city life. Family bonds. Life choices. Handsome men. Four beautiful sisters. So much to relate to. Emotional, fun and definitely worth buying.

we need more movies like this!
I laughed, I cried.So entertaining -- loved it.We need more movies like this one.I want to see it on the big screen.

not your ordinary chick flick
I thought this was a chick flick but i actually really liked it!

Kiss this movie
Kiss the Bride delivers!I recommend this film. Check it out--you won't be disappointed.

... Read more

Reviews (13)

"FOR $10000.00 THEY BREAK YOUR ARMS...
For $20,000.00 they break your legs. Axel Freed owes $44,000." I was captivated by the tag line of this lost jewell of the '70's, which stands alongside Karl Reisz' other forgotten masterwork of the decade (WHO'LL STOP THE RAIN?). James Caan radiates a brilliant character study of a degenerate gambler hellbent on self destruction, not only at the tables and back rooms, but in life. He throws away his birth rite to riches, his family, a beauty (Lauren Hutton in her first significant screen role). It's a road well traveled by the lost and Caan has it mastered. Great screenplay by James Toback, written immediately prior to his own lost marvel of the 1970's, FINGERS (1979).

Why not quit while you¿re ahead?
I grew up amongst gamblers, spending much of my time hustling bowling and gin rummy throughout the Midwest, until, at 17, I shuffled off to the Ivy-covered walls of a prestigious Eastern College.

This g