Amazon.com

Disney's 1986 Flight of the Navigator combines a strong ensemble cast and classic '80s soundtrack with dazzling special effects for a high-flying sci-fi adventure. While searching for his little brother in the woods, 12-year-old David Freeman (Joey Cramer) falls down a ravine and is knocked unconscious. After what seems like minutes, he returns home, only to discover that eight years have passed since he was declared missing and presumed dead. Even more mystifying is that David hasn't aged, nor can he account for the time lapse. Meanwhile, NASA officials stumble upon a futuristic spacecraft and are determined to assess what David knows about it by locking him in a top-secret lab for scanning and testing. His only chance of escape is in the spacecraft manned by Max, a wisecracking robot. Cramer gives an earnest performance, which overcomes an imperfect script, while enough one-liners and imaginative animation will keep families engaged. Watch for Sarah Jessica Parker in one of her first film appearances. Rated PG for language. (Ages 6 and older) --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (53)

One of my favorites as a kid
I waited a long time for this to come out on dvd. Bugs me that the companies don't get it right the first time though. They release the dvd with no extras what so ever just so they can release a special edition a few months later. Disney did the same thing with Tron. I'm sure they have a lot of stuff they could've put on this dvd but they chose otherwise. I would've liked to see some trailers at least and it doesn't even look like it has any.

Anyway Flight of the Navigator is a great movie for the whole family. It's under-rated and a lot of people might not even have heard of it. It's about a boy who's accidently sent to the future by an alien space ship. When he finds his family they wonder why he hasn't aged a day. Scientists then run tests on him to find out where he was. He decides to escape and find a way back to the past and getting a ride on the space ship is the only way back. Once he gets on the ship is when the movie turns more goofy as the alien is voiced by Paul Reubens (Pee Herman) after all. The movie is still tons of fun and it does have some clever science fiction in it too for a kids movie. So eventhough the dvd has no extras what so ever the movie itself is worth checking out.

Reminiscent of the best of the Heinlein young adult novels..
Flight of the Navigator is a far better movie than we'd have a right to suspect.

Plot spoiler if you read further:

A few minutes into this film, 12-year-old David Freeman (Joey Cramer) is on an
errand to retrieve his 8-year-old brother, Jeff, when he falls into a gulley and is
knocked out. Regaining consciousness, David returns to his house, thinking only a
few minutes have passed, and instead of his parents and brother finds a locked
door and an elderly couple living there.

Taken to the police station, David is identified by computer records as a boy
reported missing eight years before. Despite the fact that he hasn't aged, he's taken
to the Freeman's at a different house nearby, and when he sees his parents
obviously older, he faints. He returns to consciousness again on a gurney on his
way to a hospital bed. A few minutes later, while his parents are called out of the
room by a somber-faced doctor, David is left alone with his brother Jeff -- who is
now 16.

This is ostensibly a Disney movie for kids -- and later on there is a lot of comedic
Disney hijinks -- but the first half hour of the movie, as David and his family deal
with the trauma of his time relocation, are some of the most heart-rending and
chilling sequences I've seen in any film.

Spoiler over.

This movie reminded me of some of the time-relativity sequences in Robert A.
Heinlein's novel, Time for the Stars. The characters are well written and the actors
do an excellent job, particularly in the scenes between Joey Cramer and Matt
Adler, as 16-year-old Jeff. The distraught parents, Cliff de Young and Veronica
Cartwright, are also excellent -- and Howard Hesseman and Sarah Jessica Parker
round out a great supporting cast.

Special kudos are due to Paul Reubens (best known for his character Pee Wee
Herman) who was originally credited under his own name for lending his voice to a
major character in this film, but had his name removed from the credits, replaced
by the pseudonym "Pall Mall," after Reubens was arrested for alleged indecent
exposure committed in a movie theater seat. (I've never understood how Reubens
was convinced to plead "no contest" to the charge, after theater security cameras
showed him in the lobby buying popcorn at the time of the alleged offense.)
Considering that Disney's Hollywood Pictures division released Powder, directed
by a convicted and confessed child molester, Disney should show some backbone
and restore Reubens real name to the credits.

If you can get ahold of this movie, see it -- and maybe Disney will see fit to release
it again -- on DVD, I hope.

One of the Greatest Family Movies of all time!
This is one of the greatest family movies I have ever seen. I saw it in the theatre in 1986 (twice). I purchased the video as soon as it was released and will now purchase the DVD. I'm so glad it is finally available. If you are looking for a wonderful movie to watch with your family...this is the one to buy!

wtf!!!
get this strictly for the boy's trippy,lsd addicted little buddy that rides on his shoulder!what a little tripper!!!

One of My Favorites as a Child, now on DVD!!!
Flight of the Navigator certainly brings back wonderful memories, of childhood in the summertime eating hotdogs and drinking soda on a sunday night. This Disney flick about a boy's journey mysterious journey through time was long overdue on DVD!! Ofcourse we cannot forget that Sarah Jessica Parker has a prominent role! And isn't Paul Reubens, (aka Pee Wee Herman) the voice of the alien navigator??

The Picture and Sound quality are excellent, as compared to that old VHS copy we all have! Presented in 1:85:1 Aspect Ratio Widescreen. The DVD is lacking any real special features, like "The Making of" or "Commentaries" but it is a wonderful addition to that nostalgic childhood collection. ... Read more

Reviews (279)

Honor and Horror
The story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry is told in a solid and entertaining movie. The casting is brilliant, including the surprisingly good choice of Matthew Broderick, an actor I'm normally indifferent to, who is utterly believable as the scion of a wealthy Boston family who accepts a commission as Colonel in command of the first black regiment in the Civil War. Rounding out the cast are Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, the two finest actors of ANY color working in Hollywood these days, and Cary Elwes in easily his best performance since The Princess Bride. If there is anything negative to say about this film, it is in the archetypical nature of several of the characters (I do not know how "fictionalized" the indivdual soldiers are) and a bit of, yes, "glorification" of what ultimately was one of the most horrific and wasteful events in history. But ultimately that is what makes honor and glory: sacrifice for the future. The tragedy should not be forgotten in the glory. So when you see this movie, let your heart swell for the glory and honor, and let your eye weep at the waste of human life.

A Movie for Warmongers and Pacifists alike
The Academy Award winner from 1989 stands out as a monumental film with stunning acting, crisp cinematography and one of the most realistic depictions of the horrors of war ever filmed.

Matthew Broderick is compelling as Robert Gould Shaw, the young and inexperienced commander of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts, an all-black unit initially deprived of the right to fight but eventually allowed to prove its mettle in a pivotal battle of the Civil War. Morgan Freeman exudes paternal strength and wisdom as the eldest member of the platoon. Andre Braugher, Cary Elwes, Jihmi Kennedy, and a brilliant Denzel Washington (winner of "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar) make this film a genuine classic.

Making small but significant contributions to the film are Jane Alexander as Shaw's mother and veteran Raymond St. Jacques (his last role) as Frederick Douglas.

A further nod of praise goes to James Horner's masterful score. His music, along with the harmonies of the Boys Choir Of Harlem provides as glorious a background as is the inspirational story itself.

A Great American Movie!
This is one of the most historically acurate films about the Civil War. Not only that, it's one of the best acted and best shot movie in many years. Denzel Washington's performance is worth the Oscar he recieved. Matthew Broderick and Morgan Freeman are also exceptional. It's an unforgetable film about an event that changed the course of history.

HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES I HAVE EVER SEEN!
Matthew Broderick is AMAZING buy it and you won't be disapointed.

American tragedy
For so long, the image of the Civil War has existed in the collective American mind as a series of sepia-tone Matthew Brady photographs: ghoulish and nightmarish landscapes littered with bodies and body parts. However, with the notable exceptions of his portraits of the field generals, there is a sort of anonymity to the corpses in Brady's works. In one of GONE WITH THE WIND's most powerful scenes, scores upon scores of wounded soldiers lie in the streets, until they appear to be one large, unidentifiable mass of pain--which was the filmmaker's point. Edward Zwick's GLORY was one of the first films to put a human face and individuality to those who fought and died in America's most brutal years. Based upon the true story of Boston's young colonel, Robert Shaw, and his efforts to allow his all African-American outfit (the "54th") to fight on the side of the Union, GLORY is one of those rare films that successfully combines history with movie-making.

Wonderful performances abound in this powerful film: Washington, Broderick, Freeman and Elwes all give their best efforts. But the real star of the show is the camera. The battle sequences, as other reviewers have mentioned, are horrific, as is the scene in the triage tent. (THIS MOVIE IS NOT FOR PEOPLE WITH WEAK STOMACHS.) But the scenes in between, the relatively quiet ones, have as great an impact. I especially have in mind the training sequences. In another director's hands, the scenes in which the troops begin understanding each other, and as the officers begin understanding their troops could have wound up a syrupy mess. Instead, their horrible predicament unites them in an unsentimental, yet sensitive manner. Zwick's camera-work throughout is exemplary, making GLORY one of the best films about America's most tragic episodes. ... Read more

Reviews (94)

Mystery and Suspense Without Sherlock Holmes
One of the finest suspense movies that I have seen in long time. Avery has had the unfortunate luck to have his sister kidnapped and ransomed for $2,000,000. Unfortunately, neither he nor his father have that kind of money. So he and his friends kidnap retired mob boss Charlie Bartolucci (expertly played by Christopher Walken) so that he can use his contacts to find the girl and pay the ransom. Shocked, angered, and ultimately amused by his novice captors, Bartolucci agrees to help with Avery's sister. While doing so, one of his contacts lets him know that the kidnapping had help from an inside party. Slyly playing the friends against each other with this information, the tension slowly continues to boil until the movie's explosive climax. With an underrated but excellent supporting cast (including Jay Mohr, Sean Patrick Flanery, and Denis Leary), this movie keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time because you're never sure who to trust. Perhaps the most brilliant aspect of Josh McKinney's script is the unending depth of the characters. Denis Leary's role is a perfect example: as Bartolucci's lieutenaant he posesses an expected viciousness and sarcasm. However, he allows a good soul to shine through at odd moments: like when he shows up to question a friend of the boys and instead protects her from the forced advances of her stepfather. Filled with tension that is only heightened by the film's biting humor and its complex characters, this is a great flick to watch with a bunch of friends so you can all guess whodunnit and be shocked by the ending.

Very Funny and Dark
"Suicide Kings" is a very good movie with a great ensemble cast. Different viewers will chose their particular favorites, but if you are an admirer of Christopher Walken you have all the reason you need to see this film. Denis Leary is the second best aspect of this film, and that is largely due to his smaller, but critical role. His defensive riffs on justifying his $1500.00 Stingray boots that others acknowledge as, "fish-boots", is quality stand up material.

Four prep-school, rich kid, lifelong friends, and a fifth that they mislead as only friends can do, decide they need to kidnap Christopher Walken for his diplomatic skills. His character is a modern version of Don Corleone so a decision to detain him against his will is poor judgment at best and lethal at worst. When Walken contacts his attorney to unravel this mess his first comments include, "don't send your kids to boarding school". The unwitting friend Ira, as played by Johnny Galecki is a riot as he frets over his parents newly finished floors and marked liquor labels, while, "The Godfather", is duct-taped to his father's favorite chair.

Christopher Walken is an amazing actor that deserves more recognition than he has been given. If there is an actor who can play a more sinister, purely evil character, without raising his voice, I have never seen him. This role is comparable to the part he played in another film when he introduced himself as the Anti-Christ. As brilliant a, "Player", as his character is, there is also a pair of low level goons that are the mob's equivalent of Laurel and Hardy.

The R rating is appropriate for the violence, and language that may or may not offend some viewers. There are no, "adult situations".

A movie to watch time after time
I don't exactally know what made me watch this movie. I think my dad picked it up from some $5 bin and one day while bored out of my mind I picked it up a random movie and decided to watch it. But I am glad that I watched it for sure. It is a movie that I have literally watched twice in the last week (well that could be due to the fact that I have nothing better to do...) and cracked up thru both times. and everytime i watch this movie knowing the ending I am still questioning who the inside player is and how everything is going to end. basically it is in my top 5 favorite movies of all time and it is a movie tht i recommend to everyone who likes dar comedies and doesnt mind blood and cussing.

Christopher Walken the Great.
Great script, great directing, great acting, great movie. it is a blend of crime drama and thin satire. it combines very smoothly the abilities of great actors (Christopher Walken)with the exuberance of young prospects. and Dennis Leary was born for his role in this motion picture.
this is a must have for any christopher walken fan, and movie lovers in general. you will not be dissapointed, especially with the deleted scenes and alternate endings extras. enjoy.

1 of my favs
christopher walken is a mob boss kidnapped for ransom by a bunch of college kids who didnt plan well dennis leary is the mob boss hitmen coming to find the kids who kidnapped his boss to compound the problem the kids cutoff the mob boss fingers then regret it and panic a dark comedy/thriller many people have not seen cause its an independent film buy this killer dvd today ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the very best films about the Civil War, this instant classic from 1989 is also one of the few films to depict the participation of African American soldiers in Civil War combat. Based in part on the books Lay This Laurel by Lincoln Kirstein and One Gallant Rush by Peter Burchard, the film also draws from the letters of Robert Gould Shaw (played by Matthew Broderick), the 25-year-old son of Boston abolitionists who volunteered to command the all-black 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Their training and battle experience leads them to their final assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina, where their heroic bravery turned bitter defeat into a symbolic victory that brought recognition to black soldiers and turned the tide of the war. With painstaking attention to historical detail and richness of character, the film boasts superior performances by Denzel Washington (who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor), Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, and Andre Braugher. Directed by Edward Zwick (co-creator of the TV series thirtysomething), this unforgettable drama is as important as Schindler's List in its treatment of a noble yet little-known episode of history. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (279)

Honor and Horror
The story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry is told in a solid and entertaining movie. The casting is brilliant, including the surprisingly good choice of Matthew Broderick, an actor I'm normally indifferent to, who is utterly believable as the scion of a wealthy Boston family who accepts a commission as Colonel in command of the first black regiment in the Civil War. Rounding out the cast are Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, the two finest actors of ANY color working in Hollywood these days, and Cary Elwes in easily his best performance since The Princess Bride. If there is anything negative to say about this film, it is in the archetypical nature of several of the characters (I do not know how "fictionalized" the indivdual soldiers are) and a bit of, yes, "glorification" of what ultimately was one of the most horrific and wasteful events in history. But ultimately that is what makes honor and glory: sacrifice for the future. The tragedy should not be forgotten in the glory. So when you see this movie, let your heart swell for the glory and honor, and let your eye weep at the waste of human life.

A Movie for Warmongers and Pacifists alike
The Academy Award winner from 1989 stands out as a monumental film with stunning acting, crisp cinematography and one of the most realistic depictions of the horrors of war ever filmed.

Matthew Broderick is compelling as Robert Gould Shaw, the young and inexperienced commander of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts, an all-black unit initially deprived of the right to fight but eventually allowed to prove its mettle in a pivotal battle of the Civil War. Morgan Freeman exudes paternal strength and wisdom as the eldest member of the platoon. Andre Braugher, Cary Elwes, Jihmi Kennedy, and a brilliant Denzel Washington (winner of "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar) make this film a genuine classic.

Making small but significant contributions to the film are Jane Alexander as Shaw's mother and veteran Raymond St. Jacques (his last role) as Frederick Douglas.

A further nod of praise goes to James Horner's masterful score. His music, along with the harmonies of the Boys Choir Of Harlem provides as glorious a background as is the inspirational story itself.

A Great American Movie!
This is one of the most historically acurate films about the Civil War. Not only that, it's one of the best acted and best shot movie in many years. Denzel Washington's performance is worth the Oscar he recieved. Matthew Broderick and Morgan Freeman are also exceptional. It's an unforgetable film about an event that changed the course of history.

HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES I HAVE EVER SEEN!
Matthew Broderick is AMAZING buy it and you won't be disapointed.

American tragedy
For so long, the image of the Civil War has existed in the collective American mind as a series of sepia-tone Matthew Brady photographs: ghoulish and nightmarish landscapes littered with bodies and body parts. However, with the notable exceptions of his portraits of the field generals, there is a sort of anonymity to the corpses in Brady's works. In one of GONE WITH THE WIND's most powerful scenes, scores upon scores of wounded soldiers lie in the streets, until they appear to be one large, unidentifiable mass of pain--which was the filmmaker's point. Edward Zwick's GLORY was one of the first films to put a human face and individuality to those who fought and died in America's most brutal years. Based upon the true story of Boston's young colonel, Robert Shaw, and his efforts to allow his all African-American outfit (the "54th") to fight on the side of the Union, GLORY is one of those rare films that successfully combines history with movie-making.

Wonderful performances abound in this powerful film: Washington, Broderick, Freeman and Elwes all give their best efforts. But the real star of the show is the camera. The battle sequences, as other reviewers have mentioned, are horrific, as is the scene in the triage tent. (THIS MOVIE IS NOT FOR PEOPLE WITH WEAK STOMACHS.) But the scenes in between, the relatively quiet ones, have as great an impact. I especially have in mind the training sequences. In another director's hands, the scenes in which the troops begin understanding each other, and as the officers begin understanding their troops could have wound up a syrupy mess. Instead, their horrible predicament unites them in an unsentimental, yet sensitive manner. Zwick's camera-work throughout is exemplary, making GLORY one of the best films about America's most tragic episodes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the brief flower of his teen idolhood, C. Thomas Howell starred inthis unexpectedly mature teen comedy. High school loser Michael (Howell)receives an unsigned love note and hopes it's from the queen of the socialscene, Debbie (Kelly Preston). When Debbie brushes him off, his best friend Toni(Lori Loughlin) convinces him to send her an anonymous note of his own--onlyToni, who's so in love with Michael that she wants him to be happy, rewrites hisclumsy fumblings into romantic prose, and Debbie swoons. Meanwhile, the firstnote has fallen into other hands, setting off misguided passion among the kids'parents. Secret Admirer could have been familiar fluff, but the plotkeeps taking unexpected turns, tweaking the clichés of the teen genre with adose of reality. The characters reveal surprising sides, resulting in aunusually rich story that earns its happy ending. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (15)

FINALLY ON DVD-YEAH!!
After hiring the movie'Perfect' so many times, after the film I would always see this trailer for the movie 'Secret Admirer'. So for many years I always wanted to see it until finally a couple of years ago I got my wish, it got played on TV. Since then it's been played a couple more times and I must say, I dig this film. Sure it's not the absolute best film you will ever see, but there's something about it that charms me to love it. C.Thomas Howell, Lori Loughlin and Kelly Preston are good in their roles. It ones of those movies that will always be in my collection of favourite films. Plus I love watching the trailer

My favorite 80s movie
Yes.Its a trully great loveable teen movie from the 80s.The best in the movie are following ,not necesserelly on this order:

-Lori Laughlin-in my oppinion shes the most sweet and loveable actress in a movies like that.Unforgettable.Its gonna stay in my memmorie forever and ever.the sweetness on her face and acting way is very welcomed in a time like this:cold and filled with uncertainty.

-The jann hammer sacore:I didnt know that was the name of the score composer but I always loved it and every time i go to USA i look for it hopefull for find the cd but i never suceeded.Im still looking for it like someone who is looking for a reason to fall in love again or better for an inspiration.MY first true love I watched this movie in an afternoon tv exhibition.
-the sexy kelly preston-shes really nice but doesnt even get closer to what Lori is in the movie.

I guess I should stop know since im getting to prsonal in this review.I want to say sorry for any mistake.I wrote it quickly and my first language is portuguese(im from Brasil)...Thank u very much for reading this...
Bye,Lucas.

start the car ! open the back ! start the car ! open the bak
this movie is classic, reminds me of the stuff me and my buddies used to get into, especially the scene when the frat boys are chasing their van ! i had a friend who used to drive us around in his van, and a similar incident happened to us !!! i fell in love with lori loughlin when i saw this movie!

Pedictable and Perfect
This was the first DVD I purchased after I bought my DVD player (I know, it took me a while to get one). I had never seen the movie before, but amazon[.com] reccomended it so I took the chance. It had the perfect amount of predictability and comedie and romance. It's the same story line that gets used a million times and never grows old. Boy and girl are best friends. Girl likes boy, but boy likes a different girl. Boy asks for help from girl to get the other girl. Boy realizes he's in love with friend girl just in time to stop her from leaving.

Nice '80s Movie Fluff
Nice little '80s "cable" movie. The cast is great and especially Kelly Preston's gifts. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Cool Vampire Flick
Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie were cast well as an evil vampire couple. Susan Sarandon was also good in her role as a scientist. The film is about a vampire couple, Miriam(Deneuve) and John(Bowie). John, out of nowhere, starts aging very rapidly and has no idea why. So, he seeks the help of Sarah Roberts. Sarah Roberts (Sarandon) is a scientist who is studying the aging process. However, Sarah is unable to help John and he eventually dies.

Sarah is very interested about John's aging problem. So, out of curiosity, she visits Miriam (John's wife), and they form a sexual relationship. Immediately after Sarah and Miriam make love, Sarah feels very ill and has these weird urges. The movie was pretty entertaining for the most part, and I gave it three stars because I had a hard time understanding what was going on by the middle of the movie. You'll like this one if you like sexy horror movies.

Underrated and refreshing vampire flick
Director Tony Scott's (in his directorial debut) unique visual flair is the highlight of this early 80's film which takes a different look at vampires. David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve play John and Miriam; a luxurious vampire couple who prey upon young club-goers for blood, but when John begins to age rapidly (yes, vampires can age as well as walk in the sunlight in this film), Miriam finds a new mate in a scientist John had met who is studying the aging process (Susan Sarandon). The Hunger isn't your usual vampire flick, but that is quite a good thing here and is part of what makes The Hunger so unique. The film is horrifying, erotic, tragic, and darkly humerous sometimes all at once, and those looking for a different kind of horror or vampire film should definitely check this film out.

Sensual Feast Not to be Missed
This movie evokes sensuality, not just from the sexual scenes, in fact those are incidental to the haunting music, the flapping of dove's wings in the attic, the crumbling of aged bodies - all this behind the veil of the music. Then there is the poinancy of the lifestyle the characters are seduced into and the inevitability of that lifestyle. This is my favorite vampire movie of all time and on my top 10 movies of all time. Once you have seen the movie, you will understand my review.

Vampire Vogue
This is director Tony Scott's treatise on style. From the opening in a "new wave" club (featuring Bauhaus' "Bela Lugosi Is Dead") to the closing shot on a balcony overlooking Manhattan, appearance is everything. This is an observation, not a complaint.

The cast is uniformly good. Catherine Deneuve is hard and glamorous. Susan Sarandon is open and, um, hungry. David Bowie is, well I won't spoil it for you but the performance is fine.

Music is deftly used throughout the film. The Bauhaus sets a tone of dread and anticipation. The Shubert piece is haunting and sorrowful and used so well it suggests more depth than the movie possesses.

The "Flower Duet" from "Lakme" was used here before it became a cliche and it's used well--Deneuve uses it to seduce Sarandon in a scene that is probably the most erotic that I have ever seen (coming from a gay man that is quite a compliment).

The themes of aging love and the quest for more life (Harold Bloom would be proud) still work. The cult of "Donnie Darko" would do well with this one. Also fans of both sitcom TV and performance art will enjoy the cameo from Ann Magnuson.

Not quite a classic but well worth your time.

FEAST!
FINALLY ON DVD ! ONE OF THE MOST ELEGANT AND startling movies ever made about 'Vampires' rivalled perhaps by 'Interview with a Vampire'?

DENEUVE, BOWIE, SARANDON trio in this forbidden tale of superior elegance and [give or take] possibly one of the most sensual scenes on screen ever seen [between Deneuve and Sarandon].

Trouble is Deneuve is this ancient vampire - the embodyment of elegance and culture - she takes a lover every two hundred years - seems they last briefly - like cut flowers - then age rapidly but don't die. So into the coffin with the remains .... so she has quite an entourage of sarcophogi stashed upstairs in her New York pad. She also selectively teaches music - perhaps selecting another mate?

Bowie is the current companion - suddenly stricked by 'the age' -Sarandon is the doc. specilizing in the 'reason behind age' .... Sarandon slowly discovers the secret ......

This one's a guilty pleasure - worth watching over and over again - splendid cinematopgraphy [very hazy], artsy costumes, and a great classical score to boot.

Rivalled only by DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS - another super elegant piece of wit with Delphine Seyrige [could be Deneuve's double!]

Watch out for those ANKH's though! ... 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

Reviews (170)

This movie was great, despite it's fictional entities
When I first saw this movie I was blown away buy it. Since then it has become one of my favorite movies of all time. Like many other people this movie gave me false ideas about Witchcraft, which I found otherwise as fictional. Even now as a practitioner of Wicca I still find it to be a great movie. This movie was made for entertainment purposes and not to persuade or disuade anyone one way or the other.

Fairuza Balk as Nancy was awesome. She played and looked the part so well and I don't think anyone could have done a better job. The movie is based around three teenage girls classified as the misfits of the school. They come together to form a small coven and cast spells one themselves and other people. Sarah is the newcomer who is quickly accepted into their circle. As the movie progresses things get out of hand and Nancy ends up way in over her head and it's up to Sarah to use her powerful inheritated gift of magick to stop her. I suggest this movie for anyone who wants to be thrilled.

Craft Services
The Craft is a solid, yet still somewhat predictable thriller, that tried to ride the surging horror wave started by Scream.

Sarah Baily (Robin Tunney) has always felt like an outsider all her life. So, when she and her Dad (Cliff De Young) move to a new town, she finds herself having to start fresh. As the new gal at St. Benedict's Academy, she immediately falls in with the high school's female misfits. But, this group of girls won't settle for being just powerless outcasts, that nobody wants to hang out with. Indeed, Nancy, (Fairuza Balk) Bonnie, (Neve Campbell), and Rochelle (Rachel True) have discovered just how much fun school can be if you have the skills to use "The Craft" and they plan to show Sarah the way.

Director and co scripter Andrew Fleming plays things pretty safe throughout the film. The tried and true horror formula isn't tested that much. Young and trendy stars populate the cast, with moments of humor and a few jolts, thrown in for good measure. The breakout performance for me here is Balk's sassy Nancy. She is one tough witch you don't want to mess with. She helps make the film better than it would be otherwise. As with any film about the wicken way, there's also a certain female "bonding" subtext that has to play itself out, as well.

The special edition DVD substitutes for the movie only edition from awhile back. The audio commentary from Fleming is a nice mix of the tecnical and on set trivia about the film. There are two making Of featurettes on the disc. The first,is a six minute EPK style prepublicity kind of thing, while the second is a 24 minute retrospective, produced for the DVD. Conjuring THE CRAFT features "new" interviews with Fleming, Robin Tunny, Rachel True among others, intermixed with on set comments from Balk and Campbell. This is well produced. Fleming provides commentary for the deleted footage that, doesn't really amount to much as far as the final version is concerned The entire film score from Greame Revell is preserved and given its due as an isolated music track. Talent files, as well as, theatrical trailers for The Craft, among other films top off the bonus material on the disc. Addtional production notes can be found inside the keep case.

The Craft is worth a dabble, with a *** and a half star rating, as long as your expectations are kept in check.

These Girls Know Their Rites!
Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) is the new kid in town, but even under the best of circumstances she has never been accepted by the popular crowd. At her new school, she falls in with a trio of other female misfits (Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True) who, it so happens, are trying to learn witchcraft and form their own little coven. When Sarah joins them to make it a quartet, they slowly develop multifold preternatural powers and learn how to focus and use them. With such abilities literally at their fingertips, it's not too long until the little coven, initially formed for self-protection and companionship, becomes an instrument for personal gain and revenge. Sarah soon realizes that one of her friends is evil to the core, and fearful of what THAT one may do with the group's newfound powers, she decides it's best to resign from the coven and thereby weaken the magic abilities of the others. But the coven has different plans, particularly regarding Sarah....

The sleeper hit THE CRAFT (1996) could've easily been played for camp, but it is instead a story of modern urban witchcraft that is both literate and emotionally powerful. The success of the film is due to Peter Filardi and Andrew Fleming's tight, well-written script, excellent direction from Fleming, and outstanding acting from principals Tunney, Balk, Campbell, and True. The supernatural elements of the story are handled carefully and earnestly, and witchcraft or the belief in it is never ridiculed or treated derisively. This keeps the tone of the film somewhat dark and edgy, which in turn creates an uneasy, spooky atmosphere that cues the audience to the fact that this is a serious horror film. Fleming wisely keeps the special FX to a minimum until the story's climax on the final reel, and he instead emphasizes the relationships in this group of dysfunctional, angst-ridden girls, well knowing that the primary target audience--to wit, teenagers--will easily relate to these characters and their normal desires and fears.

The Special Edition DVD from Columbia/Tri-Star offers THE CRAFT in anamorphic widescreen at its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The digital transfer is very good, with minimal filmic or digital artifacts. The disc also features an informative commentary with director Andrew Fleming, 2 featurettes, deleted scenes, and more. THE CRAFT is a cool horror film that most fans of the genre will enjoy, and the very reasonable price makes it easy for fans to add this DVD to their collections.

Darkly peculiar, yet entertaining all the same
I was looking for entertainment and I found it in THE CRAFT.

So maybe it was filled with holes. Maybe it's a tad unrealistic. Maybe it doesn't portray Wicca with fair accuracy (not that I care about that). So it's flawed. So what?

That said, THE CRAFT is awfully entertaining and worth more than one watch - hence my umpteenth watch a few weekends ago. I especially appreciated Fairuza Balk's performance - just as much as gorgeous Robin Tunney's. It's a shame she's no Hollywood starlet today. A year or more ago I saw her in this dreadful movie called CHERISH, a truly tedious indie flick.

Tunney plays Sarah, newcomer to the neighborhood. After being shunned by the popular girls, a circle of peculiar witches take her beneath their collective wings. Nancy, Bonnie, and Rochelle all have supernatural powers and the rumor mongers have always been spreading gossip about them. (They are played by Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True, respectively.) Now, it is time to get revenge on those who have wronged them - yes, revenge is the only remedy to their teenage angst and turmoil.

Each girl has a different situation. Rumors have been churning through the mill that Sarah Bailey slept with popular jock Chris Hooker (played by Skeet Ulrich, who later appeared with Campbell in SCREAM). Not only that, but he claims she sucked in bed, according to Nancy. Sarah had really been into Chris during their first date and after one kiss on a rooftop, he'd tried to take her back home with him. She'd declined and Chris had seemed a little disappointed. Still, Sarah never guessed he'd begin spreading lies about her. Now, she will get Chris, who snubs her in the halls, to fall truly, madly, and deeply head-over-heels in love with her. In fact, with Sarah's powers, he develops humorous stalker-esque tendencies.

Nancy Down's troubles mainly concern her homelife. Her father is a bum. She and her two parents live the stereotypical white trash lifestyle. Nancy uses her powers to give her father a heart attack (odd, yes...I know) and because of his death, she and Mrs. Down are left with a big 'ole sum of money. They move into a very nice apartment and are able to live quite comfortably.

Bonnie was involved in a terrible accident that left her permanently scarred - much of the high school knows about the disfiguring scars. She has a beautiful face but her scars inable her to wear certain clothes and she's oh-so self-concious about it. She undergoes a painful hospital operation that may or may not improve her condition - it does, thanks to her supernatural powers. :) Because of the operation, her mother and the doctors aren't all that suspicious. They just assume it to be the goodness of medical technology.

Rochelle's dilemma concerns racist Laura Lizzie (Christine Taylor), who is on the school's swim team with her. Laura makes it crystal clear that she can't stand Rochelle because she's black. Whenever Rochelle is at work perfecting her dives, Laura shouts out cruel remarks to distract her and she also calls her racial slurs in the locker room. Rochelle's spell causes Laura's hair to begin to fall out in huge clumps that leave bald patches all over her blonde head. Within days, she's totally bald.

But what you do to others in your spells comes back to haunt you. Times three. So now, the girls will have to deal with the consequences of their actions. Sarah must also deal with the fact that her three friends are turning on her and she must face the harrowing battle all on her own.

That is, if they don't kill her first.

With good performances and an exciting plot, this movie may appeal to fans of HEATHERS, MEAN GIRLS, and other movies in which the theme of all-girl friendships are stressed. Many critics took an intense disliking to this film, but it has been rather popular with many audiences, doing mildly well in the box office and on video.

Awesome movie
On her first day of school, Sarah is snubbed by the more popular girls and ends up becoming part of a circle of girls who are witches.

One by one, it goes through and shows each one of the girls problem. Bonnie was in a fire and left with horrible burn marks, Rochelle is the target of a racist clique, Nancy comes from a broken home, and Sarah is still haunted by memories of a suicide attempt. They all cast spells to improve their lives, and they work. Sarah makes a guy fall in love with her, Rochelle causes her harasser's hair to fall out, Bonnie overcomes her scars and Nancy ends up killing her jerk stepfather, resulting in her mother and her to inherit a bunch of money from him.

As the girls get deeper and deeper into the craft, Sarah realizes that they are taking everything too far. Bonnie has turned into a total snob, Rochelle's tormentor goes completely bald, Sarah's love spell has turned into dangerous obsession, and Nancy has completely turned power hungry. When Sarah makes her desire to leave the circle known, they will not hear of it. Nancy ends up trying to kill Sarah, resulting in one of the best fight scenes EVER.

Overall, some of the stuff referring to the craft in this movie is true. The quarter calls made by the group are actual Gardnarian Tradition quarter calls, and the threefold law is TRUE (I know from experience, lol) ... Read more

Description

They left the nightmare...and entered Hell. Captured Union soilders cope with life inside the Civil War's most notorious prisoner-of-war camp. A powerful, compeling tale of war and will, with Emmy Award-winning direction by John Frankenheimer and a cast including Frederic Forrest (Apocalypse Now) and William H. Macy (ER, Fargo) Year: 1996 Director: John Frankenheimer Starring: Jarrod Emick, Frederic Forrest, Ted Marcoux ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Humanity at it's worst
If you are looking for a feel good movie,well,this isn't it.This film shows the horrors and despair of one of the most infamous POW camps in the Civil War,Andersonville. Once again Ted Turner has the insight to bring the personalities of the soldiers into play. This is the same formula that made "Gettysburg" such a great film. If you want "light & breezy" don't watch this film. If you don't mind a hard dose of cruel reality that war brings,this flicks for you.

Puts chills in my spine
Another great Civil War movie. Andersonville is a great historical and factual piece of work. It reveals how cruel men were back in the 1860's. I believe that the acting done by the cast was the finest i have ever seen. They truely made it feel like you were there in the prison

Worst of the Worst.......
After watching most movies, you absorb it and a day later it is more or less forgotten. NOT ANDERSONVILLE! This movie stuck with me for a solid week after viewing. Very similar to the way I felt after watching Schindlers List......

However, I think this movie should be viewed as a look into what all of the Civil War camps were like. The Union obviously had prison war camps also. Such as Fort Jefferson, Fort Delaware & Camp Chase to name a few. Many of the conditions in these camps were just as bad.......

However, Andersonville was the worst of the worst of all prison camps North & South. And this movie depicts the conditions extremely well. Great movie!!!!!!

Excellent Civil War Drama
This fine movie focuses on one aspect of the war; namely, prisoners of war, and, therefore has considerably more substance than most Civil War dramas. The fact that I've viewed this more than once should speak for itself. The fine ensemble cast makes it work with support from hundreds of civil war re-enactors. As with any historical drama, it sometimes is loose with the facts as pointed out by other reviewers. If you want accuracy, you should consult as many sources as possible to negate bias. I do take issue with the idea that conditions at Andersonville were related to the southern war shortages. This same excuse has been used to explain away the treatment of allied POWs by the Japanese and also the holocaust. That part of Georgia had an abundance of corn and rice so there was no excuse for the starvation. As for Ted Turner's "yankee bias", in "Gettysburg" he was wearing a Confederate uniform.

Great Movie
This is a great movie for teachers to show for a U.S. History class. I am a student that has recently watched this movie and has thouroughly enjoied it. It was very informational and entertaining. It tugs at your heart a little bit too. By showing how Prisoners Of War had to live like animals really made me more thankful of the things I have today. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Tommyknockers is a TV miniseries based on Stephen King's 1987novel.An alien spacecraft has been buried beneath the Burning Woods near the small rural New England community of Haven for millions of years, but has now by chance been unearthed by Bobbi (Marg Helgenberger) while digging around in the woods behind her house.The structure in the woods begins to exert a glowing-green influence on the town, causing the people to invent Rube Goldberg-like gizmos, develop the gift of telepathy, lose their teeth, and form a hive-mind mentality bent on digging up the ship and revivifying the desiccated aliens within.Luckily, Bobbi's significant other is an alcoholic poet (Jimmy Smits) who needs to learn to face his fears.He also has a metal plate in his head that prevents the hive-minders from reading his thoughts and makes him immune to the neon-green influence of the aliens. Ultimately, it's up to him to save the day.Although the acting is topnotch, especially from Smits and Helgenberger, and there are plenty of gooseflesh moments, there are also enough plot holes here to fuel a very long and enjoyable evening's conversation.Why do the aliens start in at this time, when they've been causing legends in the woods for ages?Where does an alien ship buried for ages get all that dry ice?How does the Smits character make a living as a poet?One suspects that King's fine sense of New England characterizations is given short shrift here, and that the woods in his mind teem with more alien thoughts than the TV miniseries form could embody.Welcome appearances by congenial actors abound, notably Joanna Cassidy, E.G. Marshall and Robert Carradine.And there's a slutty postal letter-carrier played authentically by Traci Lords.--Jim Gay ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Tommyknockers knocking at the door
I am a fan of Stephen King and recently it seems that all of his work is been addited for movies. The Tommyknockers or De Gloed (the glow) in dutch is a very good book, as I like SF as well. So when I bought the video I was a little bit chocked. It started well but you will never know why Gardener wasn't affected by the alien influence and later on it seems they run out of time to show the book properly. Nevertheless a average Stephen King movie in the same categorie as movies like the Sphere or Event Horizon. Nice movies but still missing the juice that combines all the ingredients.

The Tommyknockers (1993)
Above-average Stephen King telechiller adapted from his novel by Lawrence D. Cohen, about a town whose people become alien mutates who are possessed by aliens still in a buried spaceship, who force the townspeople on a mission to uncover the ship from the ground in the woods surrounding the town. The acting in this film is excellent, most notably from Marg Helgenberger and Jimmy Smits. The special effects (for a TV movie) are superb and the aliens look unbelievably eerie, and the usage of the green light is often effective too. The plot is not exactly the most original, but the way it's captured in this miniseries is most refreshing and riveting. The music score is standard horror movie fare, but it is quite suitable for the film and adds tension and atmosphere. There isn't really anything wrong with this movie except that the story is, like I said, not the most highly original and the narrative is kind of slow. However, it is a spine-tingling tale of horror and shouldn't be missed by serious Stephen King fans, or sci-fi/horror fans for that matter. THE TOMMYKNOCKERS is also home to one of the most chilling shots in horror history (which plays just after the opening credits end) when Helgenberger turns around in the woods with the hood up and we see her as one of the mutates. *shivers*

If I hadn't read the book . . .
"The Tommyknockers" was not Stephen King's best work, but it was a pretty good story with believable characters, plenty of suspense, and lots of creepiness. I liked it. This movie, however, was definitely missing something. It seemed watery, like watching a dress rehearsal, with everyone saying their lines and going through the motions, but not really doing the movie. And, there were too many variations from the book, and some of the changes seemed nonsensical and pointless. I thought Jimmy Smits could have filled this role well, but the film came out weak and boring.

what the hell?
I saw the end of this movie when i was a little kid and it scared me, but a few months ago i rented it and sat threw the hole thing (nearly 3 hours) and the only thing it encouraged me to do was go get some Advile! It gave me the worst headach! it is so lame! don't watch it! it is piecie of crap!

Pretty Bad Stuff, Folks
"Tommyknockers" is a bad made-for-TV movie based on one of Stephen King's worse books. The book was long, long, very long, and the movie is too. (There are two versions of the movie; the 2hr version that has huge gaps missing, and feels rushed and incomplete; and the 3 1/2hr one, that is slow and meandering) The movie is as long as "It" was, but it felt longer and dumber. Anyway, the plot is that Bobbie Anderson (Marg Helenburger) uncovers a spaceship in the woods on her property. Her poet alcoholic boyfriend Jim Gardener (Jimmy Smits) showes up agin in time to watch her degenerateing health as her obsession of digging it up grows. The alians are not dead, but asleep, and are giving the folks of Haven, Maine some extrodianry mind powers, but eventually these powers start taking a toll on the citizens as well. The movie was just bad; bad script, goofy story concepts, hokey special effects, acting that is un-inspirered at best (which is a shame, I like Smits), and what is Traci Lords doing (if you wanted to get away from your T and A reputation, this isn't the way to do it). I would recomend just reading the book, but I'd just go and read or watch "It" again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The quagmire that was the Vietnam War comes to vivid life in this HBO film--not in the jungles of Southeast Asia, but in the offices of the White House, where a disastrous U.S. policy was forged. From Lyndon Johnson's landslide 1964 victory to his weary withdrawal from the 1968 race, Path to War charts the disappearance of LBJ's "Great Society" domestic dreams into the bramble patch of war. The bungled decisions are forcefully directed by John Frankenheimer, whose expertise at political intrigue shines in his final film. Donald Sutherland and Alec Baldwin do some of their best work in years (as Clark Clifford and Robert McNamara), although the great actor Michael Gambon, while impressive, doesn't quite capture the honey lilt of LBJ's beguiling style. Among the many superb scenes: Johnson intimidating an outmatched George Wallace (an unbilled Gary Sinise, re-creating a role from another Frankenheimer HBO film) on civil rights. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Re: Very very good
Its always fascinating when a movie comes out that shows the inner workings of Government and/or the White House....to get a sense of how our elected officials tick. To be honest I was not all that familiar with the Vietnam War so this movie provided me with some fascinating insight. All the performances are terrific,
very highly recommended.

Great Movie
We could not stop watching, a great movie.

The Forgotten Society
I highly recommend this movie for two very good reasons.

First, the acting and the dialogue involved with this project are great. I can still hear Lady Bird Johnson telling a frightened and fatigued LBJ "When eloquence of words are no longer effective, then perhaps it is time for eloquence of action..." And with these words, LBJ decides to retire the presidency and public life.

Second, I recommend "Path to War" because of the subject of this impressive movie is Lyndon Baines Johnson. Arguably one of the most controversial figures of American history, it is easy to forget all the good he has done for our country in the hell of Vietnam. This movie finally reminds the viewer that although President Kennedy had such wonderful dreams and ideas for our society, it was President Johnson who made those dreams a reality by maneuvering the congress to enact the "Great Society" laws. The audience can feel his joy and elation as he sees his vision of an America that has beaten poverty, racial discrimination, and the host of other social ills present in America during the 1960s. Then, we see his dreams transformed into nightmares as the American public become increasingly angry and hostile with his policy towards Vietnam. The audience is shown the private torture inflicted by decisions president Johnson makes in regards to Vietnam and the anger he knew they would generate...In conclusion, "Path to War" reminds me of a Greek tragety; riveting and enjoyable to watch and experience in the comfort of ones own home.

The last great film of John Frankenheimer
Being a huge John Frankenheimer fan, this movie was on my list to see for some time since I don't have HBO. Overall, I wasn't expecting too much from this movie, somehow I have that perception with all made-for-tv movies. The movie certainly has that feel in the first few minutes, with acting that seems a bit forced and wooden. But as the story progressed, I slowly got pulled into the situation and characters of all involved. By the time the movie was over, I was impressed with the portrait provided of LBJ as a troubled man who wanted to do so much for the country, but was held back with a stalemate war. It's expertly directed by Frankenheimer, with his classic visual style that exudes tension with facial close-ups. Gambon does a pretty good job too, although most of his acting in this movie falls into the 'concerned man' and the 'screaming and yelling man' episodes; it still shows the bi-polar sources pulling at him.

It resonates a bit with the current tensions and war in Iraq (some of this is mentioned in the bonus features), but it still carves out its own identity; when was the last time a President talked about a Great Society? It makes me wonder how significant of a President Johnson could have been (many books defer to this position as well, almost worthy of a place on Mt. Rushmore). But as a youngster, most of the Presidents I've been alive to experience are focused more on cautious outlooks than on civil progression and visionary goals. Of course its all easier said than done, but it seems to me the era visionaries has ceased with Johnson's statement not run for a second term in office.

I know very little of the historic values of past Presidents, but it's a genre I enjoy experiencing in the movies and television. If you watch the West Wing on a regular basis, or just enjoy movies with historical facts and situations (13 days, JFK, All the Presidents Men), then you'll enjoy this movie. I expected little, and I got a home run in return. I think it's a great movie that concludes Frankenheimer's career. I like his work a lot, and he will be missed.

It should be noted that the movie is not 4x3 full frame format. Instead it's in 16x9, anamorphic format; and the transfer I would rate as 'good' but not exceptional.

Path to War
Path to War is a great movie for several reasons. For one, it is a movie about LBJ, which is rare. In most movies he is a background figure, perhaps because it is hard for an actor to capture his personality. Secondly, it is a Vietnam movie that shows a different side of the war: the political side. Movies like Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, and The Deer Hunter have done a superb job of showing the side of the common soldier in Vietnam, but what went on in the corridors of power in Washington is rarely shown. And, finally, the filmmakers have assembled a great team of actors and historians to bring this film to life. Michael Gambon, who portrays LBJ, does a commendable job, as does Alec Baldwin as Robert McNamara, but the best is Donald Sutherland as Washington insider Clark Clifford. As an added bonus, the DVD version of the film is loaded with extras including cast interviews and commentary by historian Michael Beschloss. Despite its length, it goes by fairly fast, and it is easy to get caught up in the tension and paranoia that plagued LBJ during his presidency. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Inspired casting puts sparks in this comedy of counterculture clash between an aging 1960s radical and a buttoned-down FBI agent. Dennis Hopper plays an Abbie Hoffman-esque sixties activist and prankster who lands in the custody of a conservative young agent (a suitably uptight Kiefer Sutherland) and proceeds to literally unravel the agent's carefully constructed front through a series of slippery mind games. Hopper has a blast as the unreformed sixties relic, and Carol Kane is delightful as a hippie holdout who puts both men back in touch with their identities. There are few surprises, plenty of heart, and even a little sentiment in this story of rebellion and the legacy of the counterculture. The soundtrack is gilded with well-chosen 1960s anthems. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (10)

I may be young, but I've got good tastes.
This is the movie that made me a huge Kiefer Sutherland fan. I saw it when I was young (age 12 or so) and it's been one my absolute favorites ever since. A lot of talent and heart went into this film and it always puts me in a good mood. Dennis Hopper is awesome as always and he and Kiefer made a great screen team. A must see, especially for any Kiefer fans out there. I'm so excited to finally have this movie in my film library.

Hopper and the Sutherland Kid
Hey, all you Hopper cultists--don't tell me you missed this one. It's delightful + there's Carol Kane and she's always nutzoid chic. Briefly, Kiefer Sutherland is an FBI agent taking Hopper, an refugee from justice as a result of some infractions in the 60s. Whilest traveling together, they becoming truly caring of one another; save one another's life and Hopper walks away in a great white suit. A fab movie!

Call me deprived, but I found the movie AWESOME!
As an "at the edge-baby boomer" I wasn't quite old enough or precocious enough to appreciate the "labeled" hippie era. However, having, within the past 4 years, gone thru my "requisite" "mid-life-crisis" with accompanying chaos/change it demanded of me, I found the movie totally entertaining and resonant for me. I LOVED the personification of the free spirit of love and life that the movie portrayed the 60's as. The scenes with Carol Kane and her "reclusive, hippiesque, keeper of the flame" character touched a deep chord within my 46 year old psyche. My "old soul" resonated with the archetypal emotions and images that the film engendered. When we enter the old barn thru the camera's lens, I found my deepest yearnings stirred, and I was moved beyond words by the scene when she opens the door to display the images that most resonated with that time period. I'm sure I'm not the only "wanna-be-hippie" who was thus moved. I would love to see more of these souls post their thoughts about this movie!

Fun Film
I first saw this movie expecting it to be a moderate diversion. Being a Hopper and Sutherland fan, I figured both actors would be cast in somewhat two dimensional characters, as they have in many movies. I was extremely surprised and pleased to see both roles, while light comedy, to be better fleshed out, and both actors make the most of it. It's a fun flick, worth repeat viewing.

Not a knock on the film or on Hopper (who is great), but one wonders how the film would have turned out with Donald Sutherland in the role of Huey Walker...

I love this movie
This is a great movie with an above average soundtrack. If you have any counter-culture leanings, you will love this movie too. ... Read more

Description

In this riveting, high-energy suspense thriller, special effects wizard Rollie Tyler (Brian Brown) is enlisted by the Justice Department to stage what will be the most elaborate assignment of his lifetime--if it doesn't kill him first! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Refreshing Suspense Movie
F/X is an abbreviation for movie "special effects." Bryan Brown plays a special effects creator who unwittingly becomes part of a conspiracy. He is supposed to be a pawn who is to be eliminated. Instead of despairing and panicking, he uses his wits and his effects to elude his pursuers, who are not even identified until the end. F/X was produced in 1986, long before the sophisticated computer generated effects ubiquitous today. Yet the movie is not outdated. Rather, it is a classic that will leave you smiling. The clever, maze-like plot, and the great team of Bryan Brown and Bryan Dennehy add up to a refreshing, surprising classic of the 80's.

Sadly, the sequel - FX2 - is a big letdown.

Good Low Budget Fun!
Me and my brother were flipping through the TV channels, and nothing was on, I mean nothing. Anyway we got to the Movie Channel (STAR Movies) and saw what looked like the opening credits, and then big blue words came across the screen reading "F/X." So we watched it, saw if it was any good. Let me say we were pretty surprised! It was pretty obvious that it was shot on a low budget. That made me like it all the more! Becuase you usually get a famous rich director and writers to put together a good action/suspense movie. But those movies, sience the director has alot of money he just figures he'll blow the hell out of everything. It gets pretty annoying. But that is what I love about this movie. Sense they didn't have a lot of money they kept the movie good was the writing and directing. Dispite the name (F/X) it is not what the movie reliys on. It relies on a smart plot and even smarter plot twists. You never know who the villian is. Plus the well mantled suspense is a plus. I cant say the biggest part of the plot, but I can sya what it starts with. This aussie dude who makes special FX for movies (hense the name) is assigned to stage an assination on a gang member (but not really kill him, just make it look like he got killed with his special effect tricks. But after that it just takes so many turns, it makes it into a fantastic whodunit. I reccomend this for anyone who enjoys a well written and directed whodunit that will keep you thinking and guesing till the last bullet is shot.

F/X is a great movie with clever ideas in plot and action!
F/X starring Brian Brown and Brian Dennehy is a great Action/ Suspense thriller! This is about a special effects man who is hired by the Witness Protection program to stage an assination of a crime lord. Rollie Tyler(Brian Brown) was baited to take the blame for the assination and now he must prove his inoccents and must confront the man who framed him. Mason is the guy who hired Rollie Tyler (Brian Brown) to take the fall. Leo McCarthy(Brian Dennehy) is the tough Cop who must find Rollie and figure out who resposible for these deaths. A very ingenious movie! Clever plot with suprises and tricks! Highly Recommended!

A lot of fun
F/X was one of my favorite thriller of the '80s, a genuinely fun action film that takes itself just seriously enough to make its story credible but at the same time remains blissfully free of the delusions of grandeur that have led to so many overproduced, ultimately empty headed and painfully dull "thrillers" over the past couple of years. In short, F/X is the type of unpretentious, engaging film that could never be made by a Michael Bay or most of the other directors produced out of the Jerry Bruckhiemer School For Technocrats Who Like To Blow Things Up Real Good.

The always underrated australian actor, Bryan Brown, plays Rollie -- an independent special effects artist who specializes in creating gore effects for cheap horror and action films. Indeed, when we first meet him, he is working on a film that bares a hilarious resemblance to Brian DePalma's Scarface which, whatever its qualities, is most definitely represenative of the type of film that F/X strives not to become. Brown is recruited by an uptight but reassuringly paternal federal agent (Mason Adams) to help fake the death of a mobster (Jerry Orbach) about to go into the federal witness protection program. Once Brown agrees to help, he finds himself being targeted and pursued by mysterious killers who might be the government, might be the mob, or might be something else.

The film's main selling point is that, in order to protect his own life and clear his name once the police become convinced that he's a murderer, Brown is forced to rely on his expertise in hollywood special effects. While that certainly is true, it also makes the film sound a lot more gimmicky than it actually is. As opposed to its sequel, F/X never allows itself to become reliant solely on that gimmick. Instead, the film concentrates on presenting its fast-paced plot which, over the course of many twists and turns, avoids the common action film fate of collapsing on the wieght of its own complications. That said, the F/X sequences are pretty cool and the film's conclusion provides perhaps the wittiest advertisement for superglue that I've ever seen.

The film's main strength comes from the cast who all seem to be having a good time on screen and bring a surprising sense of conviction to roles that could easily have been played as B-movie stereotypes. Bryan Brown is one of those charismatic, obviously talented leading men who rarely gives a bad performance yet for whatever reason (though making movies like Cocktail probably didn't help) has never become a bona fide star. Playing the lead in this film, he proves that