Amazon.com

"Give me what I want and I'll go away," demands the black-eyed, stocking-capped stranger Linoge (Colm Feore), who appears in a quiet island community on the verge of the worst storm in decades and brutally bludgeons an old lady to death. Tim Daly, the town sheriff and voice of reason and moral strength, locks up the quiet madman, but the deaths pile up as Linoge acts them out from his cell like a murderous mime pulling psychic strings. Stephen King, whose original teleplay is his best work for thescreen since The Stand, transforms the sleepy burg into a Peyton Place of guilty secrets and criminal activity ripped from under a blanket of small town normality while the white-out of the snowstorm completely cuts them off from civilization. Director Craig R. Baxley nicely maintains an icy tension while the waiting game goes on, perhaps a little too long, before Linoge finally reveals "what he wants" and the drama turns into a struggle for man's soul in miniature. The more ambitious special effects and set pieces sometimes disappoint but are more than made up for in King's knack for turning the mundane into the macabre (the children's song "I'm a Little Teapot" has never sounded more sinister) and a few brilliantly realized sequences, the best of which occurs when townspeople are literally yanked out of existence while watching the storm. Storm of the Century is one of the most successful translations of King's brand of horror to the screen. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (132)

A Must For King Fans; For The Others, Read On...
At the outset I'd like to say that King's fans are gonna love this one. It's a bit slow, long, but it's spooky, scary, terrifying, nightmarish, and it delivers an unforgettable message at the end. Vintage King.

Now, for the rest...

A weird guy shows up in an island in Maine (King's favorite State), and kills an old lady for no real reason. But he doesn't go away - he waits to get arrested. In this case, however, the real prisoners are the residents, some of whom are murdered in vicious ways by the stranger, with the help of his ominous-looking cane.

Colm Feore is terrific in the role of the evil man, while Tim Daly does a decent job as the town grocer and Constable. The really cool thing about this film is that you never notice the length (close to 4 hours!), as scene after scene captures your imagination and tortures your soul.

Small town mentalities and moralities are exposed for what they are - cheap, narrow, selfish, and deadly. Each character has (or has had) a past (or present) that they'd never like the world to ever know. But the stranger (the Legion) knows EVERYTHING about everyone.

As secrets come out, and as hidden conflicts are brought out into the open, one can see the characters change faces. When the main objective of the stranger is revealed by him during a town meeting during the course of the storm, it's time for soul-searching and morals-testing. None emerges unscathed, except Tim Daly and his wife, though in completely opposite ways.

The ending is definitely not satisfactory, and seems forced to deliver some sort of closure to the viewer.

In summary- Positive things:

1. Good, strong character development.

2. Powerful storyline.

3. Intelligent, relevant screenplay.

4. Good photography.

5. Excellent acting by most.

6. Wonderful music score.

Negative things:

1. Length (some people will definitely groan!)

2. Unsatisfactory ending.

3. Colm Feore is not used very well.

4. Slow beginning, with a few scenes of really bad dialogue delivery and acting.

Finally A King Film You Can Watch ...
...without wanting to smash your tv-set.

This movie had to be good, because Stephen King himself wrote the screenplay - which was an original screenplay and no adaptation from one of his story. King wrote this sinister little tale especially for ABC television and I have to admit, that beside the fact that it is a good story for a cold night, snow piling up outside, it is a very good mvie as well. I loved the actors, the filming and just every minute of the 4-hour mini-series. I even watched the whole thing just listening to Stephen King's commentary (although I skipped the parts director Craig Baxley commented) - the commentary was as good as the movie itself, because it was not some poor strawhat talking about something, but Stephen King doing what he can do best: not commenting, but telling. Stephen King gives very delightful inside-information on the making of the movie and talks about works related to this movie, how he came across the idea for the story (it was partly influenced by a play by Friedrich Dürenmatt King had a part in when being in High School), how he tried to work it out, stuff like that. So this is a very interesting bonus for every Stephen King fan: you get a very good movie and a very fine commentary by Stephen King, with all the information and all the amusing details 'n' extras.

Story's Rough Cut: Small town off the coast of Maine, Little Tall Island, the setting of "Dolores Claiborne" - "life on the island is different from the life on the mainland." Stranger makes the small township aware of his evil presence by murdering an old woman, Martha Clarendon, and therefore arrested - "because I choose," as the stranger, André Linoge, claims. Linoge knows all the dirty little secrets of the clean-shirted islanders and he wants what he inevites, unless he will not go away. What exactly Linoge wants, you have to find out for yourselves, sorry. It is worth finding out, believe me, just this one time! ;-)

Let me finish with a praise for the movie by some newspaper I do not remember, "it is a high-voltage, spine-tingling shocker, which has been called one of the best King films ever!" It sure is.

Don't waste your time
I really like Stephen King, but this has got to be one of his worst works ever. EVER. The plot is intruiging, but the movie is sooooo long. It's like, what, five hours? The movie pulls you in with an interesting begining, and keeps you watching with a so-so middle, but there is really no point. There is so much unneccesary information and there are so many pointless scenes. Yeah, like, seven people or so die, but there isn't really anything all too exciting about it. After a while, this movie becomes quite annoying, and you just want to see what the guy wants, and what he wants is rather idiotic, and is very anti-climactic. So, in my opinion, don't waste your time watching this.

"Gimme what I want and I'll go away."
Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away.

Was that annoying? Now you know how I felt going through this film.

He wants a kid. That's what he wants. He wants a kid. There, I just saved you three hours of agonizing torture.

Good movie, loses it at the end
I watched Storm of the Century yesterday, with low expectations. However, it did exceed them. At 4 1/2 hours long, you need to have a lot of patience with it. The movie maintained a good element of mystery, but about two hours in the movie you'll want it to speed up. It has its quick gasps and scares, and the usual King twistedness. The movie also made some good Roanoke references. The most dissapointing part of the movie was the end. The solution to the problem was the one you expected so, it lost the element of mystery towards the end. The movie is not really scary as you watching it, but in the dark, some scenes of it come back to you. I would see it if you have a decent amount of time on your hands and nothing else to do. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Jack hits close to home
A: 4/5 Stars

Robin Williams gives an outstanding performance in "Jack", a movie about a boy with an extreme growing disorder.
We first see Mrs. Powell dressed as a witch at a costume party from which she is rushed to a hospital where she gives birth to Jack Powell after being pregnant for only ten weeks. We learn that Jack has a disorder that causes him to grow four times the normal human rate.
We then see Jack spending his days lonely and holed up in his home, a ten year-old boy that has the physical body of a forty year-old man. Bill Cosby plays Jack's private instructor, who homeschools him.
Finally, after prodding from his instructor, Jack's parents allow him to go to school.
Jack is at first shunned and ridiculed by his fellow fifth-graders, but slowly earns their friendship by proving that you can't judge a book by its cover.
The movie ends at Jack's high school graduation. Jack was valedictorian and gives a powerful speech. By this time Jack appears to be an elderly man, but is really 18.
Jack is a heart warming and laughter provoking movie about enjoying life while you have it, and I highly recommend it.

J: 4/5 Stars

"When a shooting star streaks through the blackness turning night into day, make a wish and think of me and make your life spectacular. I know I did." -Robin Willliams as Jack
Jack is a bittersweet tale about a boy who, despite certain setbacks, is determined to live and enjoy his childhood.
The movie begins after an odd premature birth, where we learn that Jack ages at four times the average rate. Because of this he is kept out of society for ten years. Jack is visited by a tutor (Bill Cosby) every day. Although the tutor likes teaching Jack, he realizes that he is lonely and convinces Jack's parents to insert him into the public education system. At first he isn't too popular, but finally he wins over the class by using his condition to his advantage. The ways he gets them to accept him are refreshingly true: he can buy porno magazines and dominate the basketball courts. However, Jack has several confrontations with the adult world. His attempts of getting together with his school teacher fails and ends up getting in a brawl at at the local bar. It doesn't help when he recieves a "what I want to be when I grow up" assignment that truly affects him. When his friends are twenty he will probably be dead. The movie ends with a speech of triumph that is both tear jerking and heart warming.
Robin Williams definitely wins the best perfomance award. Here, he is able to bring a poignancy to the role while capturing the youthfulness of being a kid. Francois Ford Coppolay who is usually the director of hard, serious dramas, (see the Godfather) has taken a different route by making a human drama enclosed by comedy. Because of this, he has made one of the most honest movies in recent years. Jack is a joy to watch and a movie to treasure.

very funny
This plot is so original, and you know if Robin Williams is in the movie its gonna be hilarious. It was ! Boy that rapidly grows as he ages. Ha too funny. Great to watch with the whole family. Very light hearted film.

Amazing cast includes Robin Williams, Diane Lane & J-Lo
This very funny and touching film has an amazing cast... ROBIN WILLIAMS (Mrs Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting), DIANE LANE (Unfaithful, Perfect Storm), BILL COSBY (The Cosby Show), and JENNIFER LOPEZ (Out of Sight, Maid in Manhatten).

The story is cool and the directing by FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA is very good. Worth checking out for the excellent performances by the all-star cast.

Jennifer Lopez in "Jack"
10-year-old Jack is a boy with a unique condition that makes his body age four times faster than normal. He convinces his parents to let him attend fifth grade in a public school, but his 40-year old appearance creates all sorts of havoc for him!

Awesome!!
Well, I saw this movie a long while ago, but I still would love to watch it again (even though I don't own it, poo)..."Jack" is the cutest movie I have seen! Robin Williams is the all-time greatest comedian, and I especially love how they put Bill Cosby in it! This movie is funny, sad, and very touching, especially twoards the end. Everyone who is a child at heart should go out and buy this movie! Who can turn down a great Robin Williams film? ... Read more

Amazon.com

You might think that this 1997 comedy based on the popular late-'50s TV series would be little more than a pointless clone of its small-screen predecessor, but as a harmless slice of family entertainment it's surprisingly easy to take. Of course nobody could ever hope to match the original Cleaver family for Eisenhower-era charm, but there's cleverness afoot in the notion of presenting the Clinton-era Cleavers with just a hint of dysfunction beneath all that domestic bliss and innocence. While Ward (Christopher McDonald) pushes his son Beaver (Cameron Finley) onto the football team to compensate for the lost glories of his bygone youth, Beaver's grades suffer along with his self-esteem. When a teacher suggests that the Cleavers seek family counseling, June (Janine Turner) has visions of Beaver in the loony bin.Meanwhile, brother Wally is wracked with guilt over dating his friend Eddie Haskell's object of affection, but eventually these various plot lines (borrowed from the TV show) converge for the requisite happy ending. What--you were expecting Beaver to become a Prozac kid?--Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Leave it to Beaver
Leave it to Beaver. I think everyone has seen that television show at least once, and I know that I, for one, loved it... even though it was completely unrealistic. But who cares? It was a cute little show.

The movie is the exact same way; don't expect something COMPLETELY lifelike... but DO expect something a bit different from the original show. The Cleavers have been updated... and I think my favorite part was when Mrs. Cleaver told Eddie Haskill off... that was great.

The characters have a great performance, too... Adam Zolotin was a great Eddie Haskill, and Christopher McDonald was the perfect Ward.

And watch out for cameo appearances from a couple of the original stars of the series. Those were great to see.

All in all, if you want to see a movie that makes you think, don't get it. It isn't that kind of a thing... but for a family movie, I don't think that there's a better one.

Meta-Beav?
It's interesting to compare this film with "The Brady Bunch Movie", another big-screen adaptation of a ubiquitous old TV sitcom that appeared in theaters a year or two earlier.

Both movies take a postmodern approach, self-consciously referencing the period origins of the source material. But whereas "Brady" used this to a comically dichotomous effect (placing the literally-stuck-in-the-'70s clan inside a dysfunctional '90s Los Angeles), "Beaver" attempts a synthesis in which '50s cultural mores and aesthetic values still hold sway in the present day. Thus, we're treated on the one hand to such contemporary accoutrements as home PCs, cell phones, and flat-screen televisions--at one point Ward and a miniskirted(?!) June are seen watching a "Home Improvement" episode--and on the other hand to such iconic '50s paraphernalia as white picket fences, soda shops, pigtailed little girls, teenage guys in letterman sweaters, and women in ever-present pearls and high heels.

While the overall tone of this film is sweetly nostalgic rather than abrasively ironic a la the "Brady" movie, one can't help feeling that at some level we're being winked at; viewed in a certain light, this "Beaver" could almost be taken as a sly satire of Republican family values posturing and '50s fetishism. There's a decidedly Stepfordian quality to much of the film, particularly in Janine Turner's portrayal of June. On the other hand, it's difficult to imagine a "straight" update of the show that wouldn't in some way have sacrificed either plausibility or the spirit of the original.

Nonetheless, on a less critical level this movie works as serviceable family entertainment. Parents, especially those put off by the aforementioned "Brady Bunch" film, will be relieved at "Beaver"'s gentle, kid-friendly quality; and fans of the original will delight in some well-placed cameo appearances.

Definitely a winner!;)
Well, I definitely liked this movie! I know many of the reviews on this page seem to think it was terrible, and perhaps if I had grown up with the TV show, I would agree. However, I didn't, and so I don't! I really enjoyed this movie. I thought it was just a fun, heartwarming movie that will make anyone laugh, if only a little bit. At the end of watching this movie, I was happy. That's all I can say. I didn't try comparing it to the TV show, I just decided to watch a movie, and I have no regrets. It was fun, and it would always be what I would recommend to relieve some stress at the end of a long day.

"Hey, Wally,I Think We Got Tooken"
"Yeah,Beav, this is a real gyp." This sad effort resembles the original in name only; the cast, script, and direction all reek of pure incompetence, and the ineptitude of all those connected with this film is clearly demonstrated at every turn. This horrific mess is nothing less than a travesty.

No, Beaver, Just Leave It!
Fans of the original sitcom will find this sorry little film to be an outright travesty. The premise is silly, the script is dreadful, the acting is deplorable, and director Andy Cadiff clearly does not know what he is doing. Stick with the original series, which is light-years ahead of this piece of junk. "Hey, Gilbert, let's take this crummy movie over to Metzger's Field and bury it." "I don't know, Beav - I don't think it's worth burying - let's burn it." ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Leave it to Beaver
Leave it to Beaver. I think everyone has seen that television show at least once, and I know that I, for one, loved it... even though it was completely unrealistic. But who cares? It was a cute little show.

The movie is the exact same way; don't expect something COMPLETELY lifelike... but DO expect something a bit different from the original show. The Cleavers have been updated... and I think my favorite part was when Mrs. Cleaver told Eddie Haskill off... that was great.

The characters have a great performance, too... Adam Zolotin was a great Eddie Haskill, and Christopher McDonald was the perfect Ward.

And watch out for cameo appearances from a couple of the original stars of the series. Those were great to see.

All in all, if you want to see a movie that makes you think, don't get it. It isn't that kind of a thing... but for a family movie, I don't think that there's a better one.

Meta-Beav?
It's interesting to compare this film with "The Brady Bunch Movie", another big-screen adaptation of a ubiquitous old TV sitcom that appeared in theaters a year or two earlier.

Both movies take a postmodern approach, self-consciously referencing the period origins of the source material. But whereas "Brady" used this to a comically dichotomous effect (placing the literally-stuck-in-the-'70s clan inside a dysfunctional '90s Los Angeles), "Beaver" attempts a synthesis in which '50s cultural mores and aesthetic values still hold sway in the present day. Thus, we're treated on the one hand to such contemporary accoutrements as home PCs, cell phones, and flat-screen televisions--at one point Ward and a miniskirted(?!) June are seen watching a "Home Improvement" episode--and on the other hand to such iconic '50s paraphernalia as white picket fences, soda shops, pigtailed little girls, teenage guys in letterman sweaters, and women in ever-present pearls and high heels.

While the overall tone of this film is sweetly nostalgic rather than abrasively ironic a la the "Brady" movie, one can't help feeling that at some level we're being winked at; viewed in a certain light, this "Beaver" could almost be taken as a sly satire of Republican family values posturing and '50s fetishism. There's a decidedly Stepfordian quality to much of the film, particularly in Janine Turner's portrayal of June. On the other hand, it's difficult to imagine a "straight" update of the show that wouldn't in some way have sacrificed either plausibility or the spirit of the original.

Nonetheless, on a less critical level this movie works as serviceable family entertainment. Parents, especially those put off by the aforementioned "Brady Bunch" film, will be relieved at "Beaver"'s gentle, kid-friendly quality; and fans of the original will delight in some well-placed cameo appearances.

Definitely a winner!;)
Well, I definitely liked this movie! I know many of the reviews on this page seem to think it was terrible, and perhaps if I had grown up with the TV show, I would agree. However, I didn't, and so I don't! I really enjoyed this movie. I thought it was just a fun, heartwarming movie that will make anyone laugh, if only a little bit. At the end of watching this movie, I was happy. That's all I can say. I didn't try comparing it to the TV show, I just decided to watch a movie, and I have no regrets. It was fun, and it would always be what I would recommend to relieve some stress at the end of a long day.

"Hey, Wally,I Think We Got Tooken"
"Yeah,Beav, this is a real gyp." This sad effort resembles the original in name only; the cast, script, and direction all reek of pure incompetence, and the ineptitude of all those connected with this film is clearly demonstrated at every turn. This horrific mess is nothing less than a travesty.

No, Beaver, Just Leave It!
Fans of the original sitcom will find this sorry little film to be an outright travesty. The premise is silly, the script is dreadful, the acting is deplorable, and director Andy Cadiff clearly does not know what he is doing. Stick with the original series, which is light-years ahead of this piece of junk. "Hey, Gilbert, let's take this crummy movie over to Metzger's Field and bury it." "I don't know, Beav - I don't think it's worth burying - let's burn it." ... Read more