Reviews (2)

Finally, the complete series is quickening to dvd
This show was sometimes great entertainment to me. Basically a dimestore romantic-adventure novel brought to life. I think the producers were mostly successful with providing something for everyone. The shows ranged from brilliantly written, to definitely a bit cheesey. The dvd collection is better than the vhs, however questions did arise quickly about it's quality. I think it was the 2nd episode on disc one, when the disc appeared to be sort of freezing up for a minute. I hit FF for a second, and it was fine again. ( This was with a brand new dvd player ) Since that occurance, I have not yet run into any other problems; although I've only watched 1/3 ofthe discs. I did have a couple other little gripes about these dvd's, but nothing too serious. I would have preferred more than three episodes on a disc...a typical season for ex. has NINE discs-three unfolding booklets of 3 discs, which all fit into this 1/2 box...I wasn't too crazy about that at all. There is however a lot of content within them if you like bloopers and interviews and watcher chronicles...I do and I don't.. I mean, it's tough enough to watch all 6 seasons..I really don't need boxes hoggin up all my shelf space just so studios get extra market value-which is also why it took em so long to go over to dvd's, and why it's off the air. Nevertheless, I do still appreciate the Highlander phenomenon. It's solidly entertaining while it also demonstrates virtues that I like. I can live without the Duncan Macleod boxer shorts though, and the pillows with kissy lips, and the rest of the merchandising extraveganza. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!

The Best series ever made
It's jam pack with everything a fan really wants, and the best part you can go form your favorite episode to another. 2 tumbs up!!!
... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great Comedy Fun
Martin Short's character Jiminy Glick of Primetime Glick can become rather addicting. Martin Short's spoof of talk show hosts is genuinely unique. This DVD will give any one needing a "Glick fix" the full treatment. I look forward to an all new seaon of Primetime Glick on Comedy Central.

some of the funniest stuff i've ever seen!
i ran out & picked it up the day it came out. if you are a fan of mr. short [or even if you've never even heard of him], you must own this dvd. unfortunately i don't get comedy central, so this has been my first opportunity seeing mr. glick in action. my only dissapointment was that this is not an entire season boxed in a set. it left me wanting more...much more!!

ps_just found out he's in development for a movie based on his character jiminy glick! this could become a trilogy that exceeds the funniest fat .... moments in austin powers! good luck martin & don't compromise with the script...keep it funny!

The Great Great Martin Short !
Those SCTV fanatics finally got something to cheer about when Martin Short was given this incredible show. He brought back the tradition of that crazy show. Moreover, he brought back the members of it. Levy, Thomas and Flaherty all appeared on season one of Glick. This show is just so intelligent, so many little subplots with Adrian VanVoorhees, Dixie, Mason, Morgan, Matthew and Modine. I have never laughed harder at a show. I cannot get enough of Jiminy and his pathetic nature. Sadly, this DVD is rather brief. It is a best of and not a collection of the whole season. However, the deleted scene with Julia Louise Dryfuss is INCREDIBLE! Here is hoping that Comedy Central will bring this show back and release an entire first season DVD. Great great stuff.

Glick OK, But Not His Best
I expected to see Glick's best stuff on this DVD, but apparently it is being saved for some other time. I had seen some shows on Comedy Central that were very funny, including an interview with Steven Speilberg, but again, not included.

I also liked watching one episode of Glick every two or three weeks. Watching two+ episodes in a row makes Glick's humor mundane and hardly worth the 6 episodes on the DVD.

I like Short, but Glick is Short-lived in this house. Sorry, Martin.

More, More More... How do you like it, how do you like it...
I'm writing this review to stress one main point: Comedy Central, release some more shows on DVD!!!

That said, this is a wonderful show. This may be the best "talk show" since Letterman was at NBC. And since the "real" talk shows have grown so oppresively stale, Glick is the best way to see celebrities. Primetime Glick is a very fresh, funny take on celebrity, and it rings oh so true. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You can chalk it up to good timing and a heavy dose of video-game synergy, but this 1990 hit remains the box-office champ of independent films, with a total gross of $135 million. Of course the Turtles began as a phenomenally successful Nintendo video game, so it was a given that the movie would be a hit with its target audience of rabid young video addicts. This is what comic books fans call "the origin story," in which we learn how a foursome of small turtles were mutated by a green radioactive goo and turned into human-sized turtle crime fighters. Their large rodent mentor, Splinter, teaches them to master the martial arts. They're also gifted pop musicians, by the way (think of them as amphibious Spice Guys), so they can rock the house while they're cracking a crime wave with the help of their cute friend and television reporter April O'Neil (Judith Hoag). The script is terrible, of course, but countless millions of children don't seem to care, as long as the Turtles keep ordering pizza and dispensing their wisecracking brand of justice. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (86)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Perfection.
Okay, ever since I was a kid, I loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle animated television series. My attention came to the show somewhere around 1992 or so since I was only a year old when the series aired, so I was kind of a late-bloomer among TMNT fans. But three of the four forms of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles don't please me: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series (okay, it's cool, but it still comes up short), the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle comic series (which was the beginning of TMNT; not some video game), and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation live-action television series that was on Fox in the fall of 1998. What form of TMNT does that leave us with? The movies.

My definite favorite of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movies is this one. The plot doesn't go just skin-deep. This movie isn't just about teenage turtle mutants fighting crime; its main theme is family. This film really goes into the brotherhood that the turtles share, and the father-son relationship that they share with their mentor and ninja master Splinter.

For those of you that are preparing to click the back button on your browsers, please just hold on one more second. Even if you're not the kind of person that goes for "chick flicks," don't fear; there's something in this film for everybody. There's great humor, (for the lack of a better word) awesome fighting, perfect drama, and wonderful characters brought to life by excellent acting. All of the turtles and Splinter have perfect-fitting voice-actors, the actress that did April O'Neil in this film did a great job, and whoever did the acting and voice-acting for Shredder should get big pats on the back. I'm sorry that not everybody who viewed this film enjoyed it, but I think that anyone who is reading this should check it out sometime. Even though we all have our own tastes, I think everyone should take a chance and see this film because it would be a shame if someone passed up the opportunity to view what would have been his or her new favorite movie.

Good
TMNT the Movie was pretty good. It had a lot of action and it was funny. You can't take that away from it because it was. America's most favorite Turtles made a huge impact in this film that was originally geared towards kids but turned out to be huge for fans of all types (action, martial arts, comedy and of course the TMNT fans).

I won't deny it, I did like this movie. It was pretty good. The action sequences were excellent and choreographed very well. No "one hit and go down" stuff. The fight scenes in this were very fluid. The turtles were well represented as well (from the comic) and made this movie a pretty good adaptation.

One thing that will forever bother me was that Hockey Mask toting psychopath Casey Jones was perceived as this little pretty boy with a mask on instead of his true comic book personality of a deranged, former athlete turned vigilante. In the comics, Casey Jones is very intimidating but in the movie, he was just another baby face which I could've done without.

If you were going to buy any of the Turtles movies, this would be the one because this one was more of a Martial Arts action film instead of what it turned into later in Secret of the Ooze, a cheap slapstick comedy with the occasional fight scene with let's not forget the horrid "Ninja Rap" song by everyone's favorite most chewed up, spit out and now washed up MC, Vanilla Ice.

Again, TMNT the Movie is good. It's not astonishing and it's not poor but it is good. I personally wouldn't give it anymore than that. If you're looking for any other comic book to movie DVD's, check out Brandon Lee's lasr movie THE CROW, SPIDERMAN and of course X-MEN.

Amazing Turtles film. Don't go near the DVD though
They just don't make movies (especially ones for children) like this anymore. I saw this in theaters fifteen years ago, and I loved it. I proudly paid only $5.00 for this during Wal-Mart's video liquidation sale last year. I've owned Turtles II and the sub-par III for ten years, but I never did have my favourite first one on tape until now. As for the DVD release: don't bother. DVDs scrath just as badly as CDs, and there's nothing that can protect you collection from careless younger siblings intent on taking your fragile CD and DVD collection. Plus, the street market allows you to find (on VHS) extra-violent fight scenes that originally earned the first Turtles movie a PG-13 rating. If you want information on this workprint you're missing out on, go to http://www.comics2film.com/StoryFrame.php?f_id=50

Great!
This movie is so good because everything in it is so well made and funny. It's just great! See it!

A classis and intriguing movie
This was the first movie I ever owned. I used to watch it at least three times a day. After going back and watching it now that I am 18 years old I think I like this movie even more than I did as a 5 year old kid.

This movie is dark and after watching it I dont understand why I liked it as a child, but as an adult it appeals to me in a whole new way.

This movie does have some pretty good acting and I cant figure out if the turtles are guys in costumes or completely puppeteered,(Can someone tell me please).

This movie is much more for the teenager/adult crowd and if you havn't seen it or its been a while give it a chance and I'm sure you'll find something you'll like about it. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

arguably the best season of this short-lived series
this is black comedy at its greatest. the first disc of this second season DVD collection houses, quite possibly, the most creative, hysterical episodes of the entire series. "yes you can't", "the blank page", "the goodbye guy", and "the virgin jerri" are my personal favorites. the only weak episode on in this collection is "a price higher than riches," although that episode still manages to be ruthlessly hilarious (as a shoe salesman, jerry asks a man in a wheel-chair "how he wore the last pair out")

in an age where the vast majority of non-sitcom comedy shows are parody humor (i.e. SNL, MadTV) it's a breathe of fresh air to see something so inventive, creative, and politically incorrect; the central theme to this show is the satiring of the "after-school special" mentality; where in the end, the protagonist discovers some new enlightening, cathartic revelation about life and everything is okay again, but it's much more complex than that. the writers toss in some of the most bizarre dialogue, often laced with double negatives and contradictions (such as "must be great to hope for the things you wish you wanted", etc ...)

all in all, this show is certainly not for everyone. as amy sedaris (jerri blank) said herself in an interview: "I'm glad everyone doesn't like it, that would mean i was doing something wrong." amen.

One star shies from perfect.
Strangers With Candy is one of my favorite show on air. I have no idea why Comedy Central stopped the show regardless comments and requests posted by angry fans on the website.
Anyway, previous reviews already reveal how good the show is. No need to address on that issue. One thing that I couldn't agree more is the about the DVD distributor. Like one of the previous previews points out that the distributor did poor job on making of the DVD. No special features, no subtitles, no delete scenes and no add-in values. Compare to those bootlegs DVDs sell on eBay, the only difference is one is legal and the other is not.
The season one I just sold is because that. And those poor executions downgrade the marvelous title from a collection to a common DVD. Hate to give an outstanding product 4 star preview. But those who made the DVD really ruined the value of it.
Enjoy it!

FANDANGO?
This DVD had me in tears laughing! This is a hill-air-ee-us program!! If your a fan of subversive humor, you will not be able to stop watching this!!! Cant wait for season 3.

Television classic
Thats right,A CLASSIC!I just loved the Strangers with Candy tv show and I own both season 1 and 2 on DVD.All that's left to say is,BRING ON SEASON THREE ON DVD!!!!!!

Bring on Season Three
This show is brilliant. It is a delightful twist on the heavy-handed ABC After School Specials of the 70's. The writers and actors perfectly capture the essence of the old programs, while skewering the "very special" issues at the same time.

The concept of a 46 year-old high school freshman, on its own, is hillarious. The execution in this delightful program, is outstanding.

I'm waiting (not so patiently) for season three.

Coach Wolf: Jerri, what does V-I-C-T-O-R-Y spell?

Jerri: Fandango, . . . Hobo-Hobocamp? ... Read more

Description

What starts as a chance meeting between a 30-something English woman Alice (Sarah Pratt) and a 16 year-old French boy (Gilles Guillan) quickly develops into much more on an overnight ferry ride.As the conversation progresses, it is clear that although the two have virtually nothing in common, the sexual tension is evident.When they finally act on their growing attraction, a surprise twist is thrown in that will leave you wondering who really seduced who. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Attractive (...)
On a ferry crossing the channela 30 year old English womans seduces a 16 years old French schoolboy,in graphic detailThe confusion of sex and love is just as thought provoking as the reversal of he usual 'older man -young woman'metaphor.My desire for gender equality would throw the Englishwoman in jail but was attenuated by the sexual philosophy expounded by the schoolboy, reflecting his generations disregard for crisis and trauma in sexual encounters.Catherine Breillats best movie so far,well worth seeing. ... Read more

Description

In WITHOUT A PADDLE, three friends from Philadelphia decide to go on a canoeing trip in Oregon after the death of a friend. While canoeing down the Columbia River, the trio soon finds themselves in trouble as the river turns dangerous and they encounter a crazy mountain man who lives nearby. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

LILLARD CANT COMMIT SETHS TIMID SHEPARD ISNT SCARED
This movie looks great-I've watched the trailer like 8 0r 10 times or something like that!

I'll for sure go see this at the theatre-since my idol Seth Green is in it!

All the guys in this movie are hott-especially Dax Shepard!

Yummy!

Hey look a deer!

growl!

Everything we've been through Im finally running out of things to be afraid of!

Who Would Have Guessed?
Look, I walked into this movie expecting a complete bomb, and I was being more than generous at the time. Having never heard of it before, this "action-comedy starring that guy from Scooby-Doo and Dr. Evil's son" seemed less than appealing to me. But once the film started rolling, I was amazed at how hilarious it was. It is a story about four childhood friends who are now in their late 20's. One of them dies and the other three set out on a childhood journey to find the treasure of DB, a man who was lost during a parachute-jump and never returned. On their journey they encounter many obstacles, including a bear, two pot-farmers, tree-hugging hippies and many other hilarities. Although the acting is not top-notch, the comedy is worth the ticket, it is so saturated with jokes that I'm sure that I missed a good third of them. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Robert Bresson always claimed his films are about hope and redemption,but so many end in death or suicide that it's a struggle to reconcile the statement with his films. His final film, based on Leo Tolstoy's story The Counterfeit Note, is no different. It's the harrowing tale of an innocent man, Yvon (Christian Patey), whose victimization at the hands of an arrogant upper-class delinquent and a greedy shop owner sends him on a downward spiral into a life of crime. The once-happy husband and father turns bitter, angry, self-pitying, and ultimately coldly brutal in the chilling conclusion. It's Bresson's most expansive film and biggest canvas, weaving the paths of numerous characters across Yvon's journey, but he edits with jackrabbit jumps, running headlong through the story with a painful feeling of inevitability. On its simplest level, Yvon's story is an elaborate chain of cause and effect, the ripples of a selfish act resulting in the fall of a proud man and the destruction of his soul, and Bresson presents every link in that chain with precise, cold clarity. There is little hope evidenced in L'Argent, but there is powerful sense of loss and sadness in this portrait of a society so obsessed with money that it loses its humanity. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Description

Everyone's favorite middle-aged high school student has finally come to DVD. Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris), a self-described "user, boozer and loser," takes on the perils and pratfalls of high school in these ten classic episodes. A critic and cult hit, Comedy Central(r)'s Strangers with Candy twists the conventions of the classic after-school special to create a completely original comedy series. ... Read more

Reviews (79)

Extremely Funny, Raunchy Show
I really loved "Strangers with Candy" and was sad when it was cancelled prematurely. The series ran for 30 some episodes, and the first 10 episodes (season 1) are included on this 2 DVD set. "Strangers" stars Amy Sedaris (sister of auther David Sedaris), Steven Colbert (seen on the "Daily Show"), and Paul Dinello. These three worked together for years (e.g., "Exit 57") before creating this series.

Amy Sedaris plays Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old loser who returns to high school after being a teenaged runaway for 32 years. Her father is immobile, and her step-mother and half-brother hate her. The series is patterned after an after-school episode, and each one ends in Jerri learning a "lesson" (as well as participating in funky dance sequences!). The humor is sometimes bizzare, often raunchy, and always politically incorrect!

Episode 1: Old Habits, New Beginnings. Jerri tries to fit in by mixing up some drugs (glint) for a popular cheerleader (Poppy), with tragic results. Jerri loses the first in a long series of pets and does her first "I got something to say!" bit.

Episode 2: A Burden's Burden. Jerri is given a 10-pound baby (whom she dubs "Dizzy") by her health teacher. She fails miserably and is paired up with Tammi Littlenut to complete the assignment. Teacher Noblet and Jellineck begin their unusual "relationship." This episode is hilarious and presents a new, more demented side of Jerri.

Episode 3: Dreams on the Rocks. Jerri get a leading role in the school production of "A Raisin in the Sun," beating out several African-American students! This acting success leads Jerri's step-mother on a "hilarious" alcolohic bender.

Episode 4: Who wants cake? Jerri is asked to determine whether her lockermate, Kimberly, is "[mentally challenged]." If she doesn't cooperate, she'll miss the school trip to Good Time Island.

Episode 5: Bogie Nights. Jerri falls for the new kid in school (Ricky, played by Chip from "Kate & Ally"), much to the consternation of her fellow students.

Episode 6: Jerri Is Only Skin Deep. Jerri runs for Homecoming Queen. She tries to increase her "inner beauty" by doing volunteer work, with tragic results for a chicken.

Episode 7: Let Freedom Ring. Jerri is suspected of writing a racial slur on a school wall, and she tries to seduce a student who supposedly witnessed the event. Jerri famously asserts that she likes the "pole and the hole."

Episode 8: Feather in the Storm: Jerri wants to try out for the debate team, but everyone tells her that she's too fat, leading her to develop an eating disorder.

Episode 9: To Be Young, Gifted and Blank. Mr. Noblet tries to turn Jerri into a violin prodigy, driving a wedge between himself and Mr. Jellineck.

Episode 10: The Trip Back. Jerri becomes attracted to a young female stoner and begins doing pot.

Extras: Sedaris, Colbert, and Dinello do audio commentary for four episodes. They are hilarious together, and the commentaries help shed some light on their bizarre senses of humor.

The original, unaired pilot is also included. The plot is similar to the "Who Wants Cake?" episode, but there are quite a few differences. Notably, Jerri has a volunteer job at a genertonology rehab center and Dinello and Colbert have dual roles. The pilot is not as good as the later episodes, but it's interesting to see how the series evolved.

Blank YOU!!!
Comedy Central's cult classic has finally made its way to dvd, something I pictured never happening. After being cancelled, with only three seasons to its credit, I was afraid that "Strangers With Candy" might fade into obscurity. Luckily, there were lots of fans out there who, like me, found it's dark, insane humor riotously funny. This dvd offering gives us the first 10 episodes, introducing us to Jerri Blank, a 46 yr old ex con, ex prostitute, ex drug user---ex you-name-it! as she struggles while returning to high school where she left off after running away 32 years ago. As a freshman, Jerri must deal with trying to fit in, wanting to make friends, be popular---all the things a typical freshman wants in school. Told in the format of the old afterschool specials that warned us of drugs, unwanted pregnancy, etc., this series worked brilliantly. Thanks mostly, of course, to Amy Sedaris who plays Jerri Blank to perfection. Add in Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello as teachers (and closeted lovers) and an array of other characters and the show always hits the mark. I love the relationship between Jerri and her step mother played by Deborah Rush, who plays this role to a tee. The dvd offers a few extras such as running commentary during episodes and a bonus unaired pilot. It was interesting watching this pilot, seeing how that changed Jerri and some of the situations she was in for the actual series. If you are a fan of this show, this dvd is a MUST!!! I've read that if this dvd sells well, the other two seasons will be released as well. I hope that is true because there were so many classic moments in seasons 2 and 3. Go out and buy this dvd now---run, don't walk! You won't regret it.

FUNNY!
I loved this comedy series. They should make as many seasons as possible. The actress that plays the main character is so funny, she should do stand up. LOVE THIS. ACTING AND WRITING ARE TOP NOTCH!

Forget Chappelle's Show, this beats it any day.
Strangers With Candy: one of the most offensive shows I've ever seen...and I love every bit of it. From "pin the tail on the retard" to the school's principal: Mr. Blackman (who just happens to be black), there wasn't a minute that I wasn't laughing while watching this set of episodes. I'm sure you know what the show's about by now: Jerri Blank, a 46 year old high school freshman. Her dad is stuck in one position every time he's shown, and seemingly never talks. Her mom couldn't care less about her, and her brother is a total frumpy jock loser. This family is hilarious, and it's a shame the show's ended after just 3 seasons. They're even more messed up than the Bundy's in Married With Children.

In the first episode, Jerri makes drugs for a girl just to gain popularity after nobody is interested in coming to her party. She ends up overdosing, and trying to cram herself head-first through a key hole. During her funeral at the school, when Principal Blackman is going on about how the culprit that gave her the drugs must be feeling horrible, Jerri stands up and screams, "I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SAY". Her message...is that she's throwing a party at her house for the girl. So Jerri finally gains temporary popularity in the end. In another episode, the drama class gets to do a play of Raisin in the Sun, which is a book/play about black people. Well, the first two people that get parts are Susan Cream and Craig Snow. Then, beating out someone perfect for the lead role, is Jerri. All the other students (and again, they're all black) get to play trees. I swear, I laughed at that one bit for at least 10 minutes. And it only took about 2 minutes to do that scene.

As you can see, the producers show no mercy, and everything is a target. Even "violent kids" are thrown in, left in padded rooms (the commentary about that episode is very strange). And yes, even babies show up. Jerri has to take care of a 10 pound baby for health class in order to learn a lesson. She ends up getting sick of him, and leaving it in the park in order to go "throw rocks at the Indian". It'll make sense once you watch the show. If you've seen the movie Bubble Boy, take that and make it 1.5 times worse as far as offending things go and that's what you get here with Strangers With Candy.

The only reason I'm not giving this dvd 5 stars (though it deserves it for how great the show is) is because of the lack of special features. We get 4 commentary tracks and then 2 Comedy Central shorts of South Park and Crank Yankers. That's it. The commentary tracks are ok, but there are too many long periods of silence. And the stars (Amy, Stephen and Paul) more or less just watch the show with you and laugh at things as it goes along. They had fun though, which was cool. They mention how the school the show was shot in was a real school that was going to be torn down, and they could do whatever they want with it. One room had padding on the walls, and nothing else, which was very strange. I would've loved to have seen some interviews with the cast (especially the dad) and what they thought when they first read the scripts. The audio quality isn't that great either...it's just barely better than how it was shown on tv.

I'm still glad I picked this up though. After seeing these 10 episodes, I can only imagine what they make fun of in the second and third seasons. If you like South Park's sense of humor, this is perfect for you. And at this price, you have no reason not to buy this.

BLANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!
I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! Can't wait for season three to get here. Tell those bone heads at Comedy Central to bring back the damn show!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on the beloved autobiographical novel by Elspeth Huxley, BBC miniseries The Flame Trees of Thika brings an eventful childhood in Eastern Africa to vivid life. In 1913, 11-year-old Elspeth Grant (Holly Aird) traveled with her mother, Tilly (Hayley Mills), from England to Kenya to help build a coffee plantation. (Born in 1907, Huxley was actually six at the time.) Her father, Robin (David Robb), who had preceded them, was waiting to greet his family in the arid town of Thika. Also waiting for them were lions, elephants, giraffes, and countless other creatures (the 18-week production was filmed on location in Kenya).

Directed by Roy Ward Baker (A Night To Remember) and written by John Hawkesworth (Upstairs, Downstairs), The Flame Trees of Thika isn't just about one girl, or one family, adrift in an occasionally hostile foreign land, but also about the dangers of colonialism. The Grants, their neighbors, the Palmers (Nicholas Jones and Sharon Maughan), and most of the other Europeans in Thika feel certain they're bringing culture to the uncivilized, without realizing what they're destroying in the process. Ian Crawford (Ben Cross from Chariots of Fire), is one possible exception to the rule, but he brings another kind of danger in his pursuit of Mrs. Palmer.

Since their actions are seen through the eyes of a child, The Flame Trees of Thika is never preachy, but the meddling of these adults--however well intentioned--in the affairs of the Masai, the Kikuyu, and other locals frequently creates tension. As Tilly notes, "It's like two whole separate circles revolving around each other--their world and ours--and only just touching occasionally." What began as Elspeth's coming-of-age story, becomes one for her parents, as well, in this sensitive and engaging series. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Description

Too many kooks spoil the comedy soup? Not when BARBRA STREISAND and RYAN O'NEAL lead a madcap cast (including screen-debuting MADELINE KAHN) on a zany quest that's like a classic screwball comedy - only screwier! ... Read more

Reviews (93)

As comfortable as cashmere...
When a comedy is done right on screen, it often has a very long life beyond its initial release. Such is the case with this wonderful movie. From the moment at the beginning when Streisand hums and sighs and launches into a blazing version of Cole Porter's "You're the Top", the film is a funny, frenetic, comfortable delight that is as cozy as a pair of flannel pajamas. Everyone here is working at the top of their form, and the fact that it looks effortless shows just how accomplished and talented they all are. Barbra looks slim, tan, loose, and very sexy; Ryan O'Neal is perfect as Cary Grant in "Bringing Up Baby", and Madeline Kahn is just perfect. There are so many moments that are memorable, it's hard to name them all. Peter Bogdanovich brought it all together so beautifully, with such style, verve, and loud-out-loud humor, you'll be in heaven for 90 minutes. Hollywood romantic comedy doesn't get any better than this. The DVD picture is bright, crisp, and letterboxed. What a treat for us all!

A gem of a film!!
I remember seeing "What's Up, Doc?" as a kid in a drive-in theatre and laughing uproariously. Later, as an adult, I bought the video and wore it out; the movie still hasn't lost it's charm. I've also introduced many of my friends to the film, but one consequence of that is that my tape is now faded and fuzzy. God bless whoever got this movie onto DVD!!

If you've somehow missed this film ... stop reading, turn off your computer, go to the store and buy it. (Don't rent it; you'll want to watch it more than once.) I mean it. Go now!

I'm not a Streisand fan, but I sure make an exception in this film. She's fantastic! Her zany energy just pours off the screen, her timing and delivery are top notch, and her chemistry with Ryan O'Neal is simply unbelievable. And O'Neal ... is awesome. You might not think of him as an actor who could so ably take on the role of the boring, distracted, absent-minded professor, but man! he owns the role. From his opening shot straight through to the end of the film, he's simply wonderful. And if Streisand's cheerful nuttiness and O'Neal's goofy, sweet seriousness aren't enough for you, there's the inimitable Madeline Kahn in her first role, owning every scene she's in ... 'til Liam Dunn shows up as the judge at the end, that is.

The dialogue sparkles; why aren't more people writing dialogue like this these days? There should be a law. The comedic timing is impeccable. The story is lunacy, but it's sold whole-heartedly ... and the lack of a score (other than Streisand's rendition of "You're the Top" to open and close the film, along with a brief snippet of "As Time Goes By" during the film) makes the whole thing seem almost believable, somehow.

This movie is a gem; I can watch it over and over. The DVD is crisp and clean, looking like it was filmed last week ... a rarity for some early '70's films. The sound quality is excellent; nuances that were lost on my video tape are restored here. Streisand's commentary is generally unilluminating, but Bogdanovich provides some wonderful thoughts and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. All in all, an excellent release.

One minor, tiny little flaw: at the very end of the film, with Howard and Judy on the plane, my VHS version shows Judy batting her eyes, then a cut to Howard ... a cut back to Judy for a lovely pregnant pause ... and finally the return to Howard, who delivers his deadly comeback. The timing on that, as with the rest of the movie, is perfection. But in my DVD, Judy batts her eyes, and we cut to Howard ... who delivers his line after only a short pause. There's a missing bit there in the middle. YES, it's a terribly minor quibble ... but when you monkey with a classic and throw off the comedic timing, a guy has to wonder who would do such a thing.

That's really my only quibble. 5 stars anyway. (Have you bought this DVD yet?! Get going!!)

Great Fireballs of Screwiness, Doc!
Genuine screwball comedy may be one of the toughest cinematic feats to pull off. Alot of directors, including Speilberg, have tried and screwed up, but very few have achieved genuine anarchic, screwball style; Bogdanovich does it ecstatically with Doc. Perhaps one of the reasons films of the seventies are considered so extraordinary is that titles such as Godfather, Exorcist and Chinatown, etc, achieved the high water mark for their respective genres. So it can be said of What's Up, Doc, which not only holds up beautifully but seems even funnier with the passage of years. Do we dare say classic? Yup.

"I can't breathe, is it possible to break a lung?"
The first screwball comedy to be a box office blockbuster since the early forties, WHAT'S UP, DOC? fills it's 94 minute runtime with so many terrific one-liners, double innuendoes, and visual puns that the average viewer will probably have to watch the film a couple of times before he or she catches all of the jokes! Apparently the film inspired repeat viewing even during it's initial release - Doc was the third-highest grossing film of 1972 (right behind THE GODFATHER and THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE). In all honesty, I think this film has a higher laugh-per-second ratio than any film before or since.

This film was the perfect (and surprising) way for director Peter Bogdanovich to follow-up his cinematic landmark THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, and he keeps the film's momentum running right at the perfect speed. He also knows how to cast a film flawlessly. Buck Henry's marvelous screenplay contains many scenes with overlapping dialogue and double reverses, and the entire cast never misses a beat. Barbra Streisand literally radiates with magnetism throughout the entire film! Anyone who still wonders why she was the highest grossing actress of the seventies definitely needs to see this film; Streisand's performance in DOC is what being a movie star is all about. Many critics complained that Ryan O'Neal was miscast when the film was originally released, and those critics obviously missed out on the joke. The fact that O'Neal was considered a heartthrob at the time was all part of the fun in seeing him cast as complete goof; and I don't think anyone can deny the fact that he throws himself into the role completely.

As most viewers already know, Madeline Kahn has her finest screen role in Doc, and steals nearly every scene she's in (and she wisely knows just how far to push the characterization without going over the edge). The rest DOC'S supporting cast also could not be improved upon, Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendlrton, and Liam Dunn give just three of the standout performances in this perfect supporting ensemble. As with most comedies, DOC was snubbed at the Academy Awards (Bogdanovich, Streisand, and Kahn all deserved nominations in the respective categories in my opinion), but time has been good to DOC and remains far more popular than many of the films that did get Oscar noms in 1972. Arguably, the best comedy of all time.

About the DVD: The picture quality is very good - a tad soft at times, but very natural and true to the film's original look. The sound is mono, but it's well-rendered. It's great to have the trailer and vintage featurette preserved on disc, and while Streisand's brief commentary isn't very illumenating, Bogdanovich's full-length track is very informative and entertaining.

Use Your Charm.....
This is unquestionably one of my all time favorite films. All of the actors are in top form. Streisand turns in a masterful comedic performance which I would describe as "understated zany". O'Neil is stoic yet endearing. Madeline Kahn (in her movie debut, which makes the film noteworthy if for NO other reason) gives a perfect performance as O'Neil's overbearing fiance. The supporting cast including Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendleton and Liam Dunn are top notch. Brilliant writing (Buck Henry, et.al.) and directing (Peter Bogdanovich) combine with the cast to make this film one of the rare Hollywood productions that appeals to young and old alike. Don't miss this one, it is truly a classic. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Two disparate worlds come together in thoroughly unexpected ways in this intriguing film directed by Academy Award winner Bernardo Bertolucci. The opening sequence, in an impoverished, unnamed African dictatorship, is painfully intense: we watch in horror as the movie's heroine, Shandurai (serenely beautiful Thandie Newton), witnesses the brutal arrest of her husband,a rebellious reformer. Then suddenly we are transported to Rome, where Shanduraiis studying medicine and cleaning house for a reclusive, wealthy pianist, Mr. Kinsky (David Thewlis). Knowing nothing of her past, Kinsky falls hopelessly in love with Shandurai. She finds his clumsy courtship insulting, especially in contrast to the heavy load she's borne in her life. But it gradually becomes clear Shandurai has sorely underestimated Mr. Kinsky.

This is a film by a true master of moviemaking craft, who refuses to spell things out or bludgeon the audience with a message. The story builds almost imperceptibly, with an accumulation of details, striking visual imagery, and a haunting soundtrack, in which classical piano, African music, and silence are all used to powerful effect. A tantalizing erotic undercurrent bubbles to the surface as the narrative takes the story in directions both unpredictable and captivating. --Laura Mirsky ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Master director outdoes previous marvels.
I purchased "Besieged" upon strong recommendations of trustworthy friends and my own appreciation of "Stealing Beauty" and "Sheltering Sky". I came to like that relatievly short (93 min.) movie with only two major characters more than the director's past films.
Bertolucci tells an extraordinary story with a compact outline with great skill and makes it believable. He was able to throw in great camera angles and little cinematographic inventions for a totally fresh feeling. That film is most probably among the best of the best representatives of the art of cinema. Great directing, photography, acting and music. A jewel.
Absence of a 5.1 ch. soundtrack is not felt at all, yet this film could benefit from stereo PCM sound since it is loaded with piano playing.

A truly intelligent love story
The title of Bertolucci's Besieged is a subtle reference to both main characters--Thandie Newton's Shandurai and David Thewlis' Mr. Kinsky. The former, an African emigre now living in Rome, is both a medical student and Mr. Kinsky's housekeeper. Her state of "besiegement" is the situation of living in Kinsky's confining environment--confining principally because of the owner's emotional isolation, and simultaneously of her husband having been arrested in her native country; she is besieged by exposure to a foreign culture, by forces previously unknown to her.

Kinsky's besiegement is, as mentioned above, his emotional isolation. He keeps himself inside his house and is rarely seen venturing outside. Only after he professes his passion for his housekeeper and realizes that he must do more than verbalize his feelings does he break the confines of his physical surroundings and leave the barriers he has besieged himself with.

Kinsky, a composer and pianist, is initially seen playing standard Western classical music, but as he becomes more enamored with Shandurai, the rhythms of her African music begin to influence his own compositions. In a beautiful scene, a session at his piano begins with a simple two-note structure and ultimately results in a piece that fervently echoes the hypnotic, percussive feel of the songs she listens to on her cassette player in her downstairs apartment.

Kinsky's intensity throughout, paralleled with Shandurai's combined intelligence and semi-bewilderment are what gives this work its resonance. This is a truly memorable film, one worth seeing repeatedly.

a perfect movie
IMPORTANT!!

Neither AMAZON nor the DVD box tellS you that there is a second COMMENTARY featuring the writer then more with the director and his wife. Both TRACKS 2 and TRACKS 3 are compelling.

Howard in Manchester UK

The Benevolent Master
I could not help but to watch this film with all of my African American female sensibilities. Despite the proficient acting, cinematography and directing, I found the content highly offensive and trite. Mr. Kinksy claimed to love Shanduri and was willing to do anything to possess her affections. He was put off to find out that Shanduri was married, but not deterred. Shanduri gave him what she believed was an unattainable challenge to have her husband, who was arrested for speaking out against the government, freed from an African prison. I recognize that it is possible for a servant to fall in love with her employer, however I know that it is extremely rare. (Ask any black woman who's cleaned a white person's house, 'how much love do you have for your boss.' The relationship between Shanduri and Mr. Kinksy was one of abuse of power and emotional manipulation. During the 'relationship' that I watched develop, not once did Shanduri refer to her employer by his first name. Clearly indicating an uneven balance of power and control...not much different from a slave owner offering to free his children born to his African concubine. So, Mr. Kinksy gave up some of his prized possessions; it was European influence that created the climate that allowed Shanduri's husband to be detained indefinitely. Though I am one among several with a different review about the film, I have no reason to forget the long history of abuse past and present that women of color experienced at the hands of white people, especially white men. To see such a film is an insult and another example of how Europeans do not understand the masses of African Americans.

a lyric tale of two exiles
Music is the center of Thewlis' world and it is the center of the movie. You'll appreciate your sound system during this film because it is made up of music rather than dialogue or stunning visuals. Although Thandie Newton is certainly a stunning visual.This movie stands out because it is so absolutely like no other, not even Bertolucci's previous efforts prepare you for it. Thewlis(you might remember from Naked)plays the decadent westerner(all Bertolucci lead roles are that)we are asked to pay attention to. Thewlis does not demand you pay attention like Brando does rather he is so quiet and mysterious you can't help but pay attention. Only when he plays piano do you find out how much is going on within him. And what music(the piano is the third major presence in this movie). Thewliss and Newton come from different sides of the world and neither is perhaps very satisfied with the place from whence they come, both exiles, and each is very curious about the other. Many times the camera is on one at a time while each wonders about the other in the next room. It doesn't sound like much but it is drama of a very peculiar sort. Two humans,two cultures perhaps, slowly coming into contact. Very strange and very powerful movie. You may as well order the soundtrack too. ... Read more

Reviews (77)

A psyhological study of female sexuality
I think some of the other reviewers who have written above were disappointed because they just didn't get the point of the film. The movie is clearly not supposed to be erotic, sexy, or exaltant of sexuality. This film is about some the dark, desperate, and cruel aspect of female sexuality. The sex in the film is not gratuitous, but neither does it stop at any boundaries. I felt like this movie showed all the scenes that are not shown in every other movie about sex but that one knows the director wanted to. This movie, is honest, and and insofar as it is honest, it also disturbing, because it's topic is not pleasant. Frankly, I don't think any male could every truly relate to the main character or the things she does, but I think it does us good to see a part of femininity that is often swept under the rug. You may not "enjoy" watching this film, but male or female, I reccomend it.

Very Erotic
I like talky movies. This was very talky. I like characters who are looking for something, and the main character was looking. I like the courage of a Director who is not afraid to show sex as it is - hot and "hard." (...) The scene where she and her lover are having sex, seems to be actaully happening, and is erotic in its simplicity. (...) I am glad this movie was made. It was very erotic.

Neither romantic nor pornographic
This movie definitely has nothing to do with romance. But it is also not pornographic, contrary to some viewers remarks here (and I am talking about director's cut that contains all explicit parts). Explicit scenes don't bother me as soon as it is used to accentuate the theme of the movie as I believe is the case here (For the example of total meaningless pornography gone mainstream look at 'Baise Moi'). The movie is about women sexuality. It has some interesting, if controversial, ideas. I just don't think it's well done. It's quite slow. Besides, some things the heroine says seem ridiculous to me but I am not an expert on this matter.

Watch it in French without the subtitles
I thought this was an excellent adventure in French filmmaking. However, it makes a lot more sense and is easier to comprehend in its native French (without the subtitles). I believe that the translation for the dub and the subtitles was written by a native French speaker because too much of the English translation is literal. I think that this is what subliminally is producing much of the poor reviews by American English speakers. As an example, in the first encounter between Marie and Paulo, in the car Paulo (Rocco Siffredi) says "Bl*w me, baby" in the English translation. I don't believe that Rocco ever said anything so crude in any of his xxx adult features. The translation thing goes on, and on. Overall, the movie treaded on ground seldom tilled in American film. How anybody could say that this movie is sny way degrading to women, would surely indicate that they missed the point, entirely. I would have given this movie 5 stars if the Paul character was more developed to compliment the female lead.

What the....?
Would a little French soft porn turn you on? Then this flick is NOT for you, unless of course you enjoy rape scenes, endless gynecological exam scene, extreme close-ups of a (...) birth, and the like. Maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough to get this type of "art". Kinda glad I'm not.

I feel dirty. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

An unsettling, yet human, masterpiece.
Tod Browning's Freaks is a prime example of what films used to be and a sad reminder that they will never quite be like this again. Based on the short story 'Spurs' by Tod Robbins, the movie tells the story of a circus midget who falls in love with a beautiful, 'normal' trapeze artist. When she and her strongman lover try to poison him for his money, the 'freaks' exact their revenge on them. Browning, a former circus performer himself, treats his unusual cast of real-life circus freaks with genuine sympathy. They are the true human element of the film. In most ways this is the first truely compassionate horror film ever made. But upon it's release, censors flipped, audiences ran in horror, and the film was yanked from the screen and banned in Europe for 40 years. A shame, indeed, as the film is a true triumph for Browning. A film that makes a convincing argument about our expectations of beauty and humanity. Sure, it's creepy and frightening. But it's also very sad. It shows you that it's not what we look like that makes us human or that we don't have to be beautiful to be respected. A strange argument for a 'horror' film to make. The only downside to this long-lost and vastly underappreciated film is that the sound can sometimes be rather muffled and a few of the actors have thick accents that sometimes make understanding the dialogue a chore. But it's a minor complaint and doesn't really distract from the wonder up on the screen. If you're in the mood for something a little... uh... different... definitely check this one out. You will be thankful you did.

A Must See Movie
Freaks will always be a unique film. The film is a mix of a fictional story brought to life with real life oddities. The story takes place with a traveling Circus. The Circus people are very much their own community. The "Freaks" of the circus stand out even from the other circus folk. They are still made fun of and lied to. Olga Baclanova plays Cleopatra, an evil trapeze artist. She takes advantage of a midget named Hans, stealing him away from his fiancé and taking his money. Unfortunately she did not consider the loyalty and capabilities of these abnormal people. She and her lover pay a great price for there ignorance. The "Freaks" of the circus eventually live happy and Cleopatra the fate of those she tormented. The Director Tod Browning has brought some the most famous sideshow attractions of that time, including Frances O'Connor (armless girl), Peter Robinson (human skeleton), Daisy and Violet Hilton (siamese twins), and Johnny Eck (boy with no legs), to name only a view. He brings this incredible cast of real-life sideshow freaks for this bizarre and fascinating film. The epilogue was clearly added to the film after its creation by its conflicting words. It made points that were later proven false by the story. It said that the oddities longed to become beautiful but this was never promoted in the film. The story was well based but not acted well, possibly due to the fact most of the cast where not professional film actors. The scenes were often over acted most of the time with more then enough enthusiasm from the characters. The visual scenes themselves where quite pleasing. The sets did a good job of bring out the conditions that the circus people lived in. There was also little make-up and special effects needed to show the audience how real these people are with their genuine flaws. Overall it is a movie that must be scene at least once. It brought to film the lives of the deformed and unwanted for the first time. It has a good point of not taking advantage of those that can not help who they are and the consequences you mite face.

You Will Never See Another Movie Quite Like Freaks
Creepy. Disturbing. Difficult to sit through. Compelling. Thought provoking. Touching. Maybe even a little bit brilliant. Only a simpleton could watch this movie and come away completely unaffected. The freaks are a clan and they stick together and look out for each other and woe to the person who harms one of them. The freaks know that, for a normal person, the greatest punishment is to be made a freak. They use this to their advantage in a climax both compelling and frightening. Will stay with you for days.

browning; an auteur of the most interesting order
todd browning's films too often get compared to james whale's films and, consequently, come up short.
while i am the first to agree that browning's 'dracula' artistically pales to whale's 'frankenstein', i think the point is rather mute.
the quintessential browning film is here in 'freaks' and it does indeed contain the blazing, unique, twisted visison of todd browning.
yes, the film also has his flaws, the main one beingt he stilted dialogue.
browning was a 'silent director' and this film's major flaw
(like 'dracula' )is the fact that it isn't a silent.
in only scene does the dialogue work and that is in the chorus like 'we accept her' scene; a scene to send chills down yuor spine even today.
but, to harp on the flaws, detracts from what this so obviousely is; a flawed masterpeice from a true auteur.
it's history is well knwon.
thalberg ordered browning to come up with a film to outdo frankenstein and dracula.
much to thalberg's chagrin, browning delivered freaks and mgm promptly shelved it.
i recall reading much about the film as a child. when the day of vcrs came round blackhawk films announced they were carrying this for a hundred dollars and i promptly ordered it.
it was one of those films that after reading about it for so long i was a little bit dissapointed and at the same time, floored, which i expected to be.
if you accept the flaws of the film you will be as well.

Holds up as a disturbing masterpiece...
Too bad there isn't an affordable way to own the DVD of this incredible film. It still manages to shock and disturb nearly a century after its release and has timeless lessons about human compassion, or the lack thereof. For anyone who has ever experienced rejection...for anyone who has ever rejectED, this brilliant "little" movie will haunt you always. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Relive one of the greatest journeys of all time
With trips to the summit of Everest now quite routine, there are no more places on the surface of the Earth left to explore. The greatest feat of exploration of the past century was the manned landing on the moon. However, it was more a feat of technology than a voyage of discovery. In the nineteenth century, the greatest feat of exploration in North America was the journey of the corps of discovery, where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led a small expedition up the Missouri river and over land to the Pacific ocean. Sent by President Jefferson shortly after the Louisiana Purchase, their mandate was to map, gather scientific data on the wildlife, search for a Northwest passage to the Pacific and to make contact with the native American inhabitants. Amazingly, they did all three, being more successful than even the greatest of optimists could have foreseen.
Retracing their journey and interspersed with dramatic reenactments, this tape is truly history in action. With no possibility of relief arriving for years, they were required to live on what they could carry as well as what they could find on the land or obtain from the natives. What was most interesting about the tape is the descriptions of their relationships with the various tribes they encountered. Truly, without the active assistance of several tribes, they would have starved to death or have been forced to turn back. In fact, a Shoshone woman named Sacagawea traveled with them for most of the journey, carrying her infant son every step of the way. It is a tribute to Lewis and Clark that they kept such accurate and honest journals. From them, we can learn what happened, and there is no hint of personal embellishment in their writings. In hearing these accounts, you cannot help but wonder if the native tribes understood that their world had changed forever, and of course not for the better.
I have traveled most of their route by vehicle, and when you move up the mountains, you cannot help but be impressed by how difficult it was for them to move over them by horseback. Keep in mind that they were also carrying extensive munitions, goods for trade and other miscellaneous necessities. Furthermore, there was only one fatality among the members of the corps, and that was most likely appendicitis, something that no medical person on the planet could have successfully treated.
The journey of Lewis & Clark irrevocably changed the social structure of half of what is now the continental United States. This tape is an accurate historical account of their adventure and should be a requirement for graduation from high school.

Ken Burns does it again!
I am a HUGE Ken Burns fan and absolutely love his other works that I've watched: Civil War and Thomas Jefferson. This one is top notch in bringing history alive and all its current signifigance in an enjoyable fashion.

I had read about Lewis and Clark in grade school...everyone has...but it's not until I'm 40 years of age watching these Ken Burns movies do I finally understand the context and the signifigance of the events.

Highlights in this movie for me include:
1) The portrayal of Sacagawea. I am going to have to biography of this strong and fascinating woman to learn more and satisfy my curiousity.
2) The comments by one of the historians named Duncan. At one point his lip is quivering and he is on the brink of tears as he describes Lewis' suicide several years after the journey. I am going to have to find a book or two by this historian on this topic.
3) The DVD extras. There are some interviews with Ken Burns and the making of this DVD that are excellent. After seeing several of his movies I had no idea what Ken Burns was like, his life, his motivation...and these shorts gave me some insight.
4) The beautiful scenery and music.

I watch one of these movies and I invigorates my enjoyment of history and I end up adding 2 or 3 related books to my reading list. If this is your first Ken Burns movie, you'll love it and this is a good one to start with. If you're already a Ken Burns fan, you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended.

I am watching this for the 10th time. At least.
Ken Burns has pulled me into this story like nothing else could have. This presentation combines stories told in a most compelling way, readings from the journals, pictures and paintings, and music in a way that makes the Lewis & Clark expedition come alive. It's an adventure story that transcends time. I was so blown away when I first saw it on PBS that I bought the book, the VHS video, and now the CD/book combo. I am watching it now for the 10th time, and I still cry when I get to Grinder's Stand. My son is now writing a report on Lewis and Clark for school, and he is using this DVD as his primary source. He chose the topic, and it's one of the few stories that has captured his attention other than Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. (Thank you, Ken Burns!) This is a real-life adventure story that is expertly told. (I would love to get the soundtrack that PBS used to sell, but they apparently no longer sell it.)

Visually beautiful with fine narration of an important story
The expedition of Lewis & Clark is one of the great events in American History and is all but unknown today. This wonderful program is a great way to become more familiar with this fascinating story and that great band of explorers (including the woman on our Golden Dollar: Sacagawea). Hal Holbrook is a great narrator and the writing is quite good. The visuals are even better. It is stunning to view and brings some real appreciation to what the Corps of Discovery accomplished. Just taking that boat upstream for so many miles is stunning, let alone all the cataloging they did in the face of a very real struggle for survival.

It is also amazing to see how many vistas Burns and crew were able to find in such a seemingly pristine state. One of the real shocks to me was to understand how nearly deadly the Great Plains were to the Corps because of the lack of wood. Growing up in Michigan with trees everywhere, we take wood for granted. On that expedition, its lack was a real hardship.

While not as dramatic as war and without and the lack of contemporary illustrations requires a different presentation style than Burns normally provides, this is still a visual feast and good solid food for the brain. Worth viewing many times for many reasons.

Don't forget to read Stephen Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" as well.

PBS Video has a quality control problem
I bought this video as a gift, and so far Amazon had sent me two defective copies. Neither copy will play all the way through on any DVD player we have tried. The problem on both is shortly before "The Portage" begins. I have never had a problem with any other DVD, so I was extremely surprised that PBS Video has failed twice. I would love to be able to give this gift permanently, as the narrative is interesting, and the scenery is beautiful, and I would otherwise give 5 stars. Amazon's customer service also deserves some of the star deductions. I've never had to test the return policies of any other DVD distributors. ... Read more

Reviews (64)

Best Film of the 80's
Screw "Raging Bull." This quiet little Disney film from the mid-80's will knock your socks off. Carroll Ballard works wonders with this exquisite movie based on Farley Mowat's tales of wilderness in the Arctic. BY FAR the best of the early Disney "attempts" at more adult storytelling. And BY FAR the best score Mark Isham has ever produced. I've seen the film a dozen times, and cannot WAIT to see the quality of the Anchor Bay widescreen release. Check out the Mark Isham Score (available on Amazon.com). The only thing missing is the cool music from the mouse eating scene...sorry for the spoiler!

Fine fictionalized documentary ahead of its time
This fictionalization of the Farley Mowat book about his Arctic adventures studying wolves is amazingly enough perhaps the most controversial film Disney studios ever made. How sad is that? The reasons for the controversy would seem minor: first, the movie is not entirely true to Mowat's book; two, it's lightly plotted; and three, a man is seen running around naked in the tundra. To which I say, so what? so what? and gee, how offensive. (Maybe they should have clothed the wolves.)

The latter complaint is the major reason for all the ranting by some "reviewers." To them a Disney film showing human nakedness seems a sacrilege and they want their bowdlerized world returned to them, and they want Disney censured and made to promise never to do anything like that again! The complaint that there wasn't enough tension in the film is also off base since this is a contemplative, even spiritual film, not a slick thriller. People with sound-bite attention spans who need to mainline exploding cars and ripped flesh to keep them interested need not apply.

The criticism that Director Carroll Ballard's film is not entirely true to the book is legitimate, but I would point out that movies are seldom if ever entirely true to their source material. A film is one kind of media with its particular demands while a book is another. It is impossible to completely translate a book into a movie. Something is always inevitably lost, but something is often gained. Here the cinematography and the beautiful musical score by Mark Isham are fine compensations.

The acting by Charles Martin Smith as "Tyler" (Farley Mowat) and Brian Dennehy as Rosie, the exploitive redneck bushpilot, and Samason Jorah as Mike the compromised Inuit (who sells wolf skins for dentures) and especially Zachary Ittimangnaq as Ootek, the quiet, wise man of the north are also pluses. Note how compactly the main issues of the film are exemplified in these four characters. Indeed, what this film is about is the dying of a way of life, not just that of the wolves, but of the Inuit people themselves who are losing their land and their resources while their young people are being seduced away from what is real and true and time-honored for the glittering trinkets of the postmodern world. This is a story of impending loss and it is as melancholy as the cold autumn wind that blows across the tundra.

What I think elevates this above most nature films is first the intense sense of what it would be like for a lower forty-eight kind of guy to survive in a most inhospitable wilderness, and second the witty presentation of some of the scenes. Ballard works hard to make sure we understand that it is cold, very cold and desolate and that there are dangers of exposure and weather and just plain loss of perspective that have killed many a would-be adventurer and might very well kill Tyler. I think it was entirely right that near the end of the film we get the sense that Tyler is going off the deep end emotionally, that the majestic and profoundly melancholy experience has been too much for him.

Tyler begins as a greenhorn biologist dropped alone onto a frozen lake amid snow covered mountains rising in the distance so that we can see immediately how puny he is within this incredibly harsh vastness. The following scene when Ootek finds him and leaves him and he chases Ootek until he drops, and then Ootek saves him, gives him shelter, and leaves again without a word, was just beautiful. And the scenes with the "mice" and running naked among the caribou and teaching Ootek to juggle were delightful. The territorial marking scene was apt and witty and tastefully done. (At least, I don't think the wolves were offended.)

This movie was not perfect, however. For one thing, those were not "mice" that Tyler found his tent infested with. I suspect they were lemmings posing for the cameras. Those who have seen the film about the making of this movie undoubtedly know what they were; please advise me if you do. Also the "interior" of Tyler's tent was way too big to fit into the tent as displayed. Also it would be important from a nutritional point of view for Tyler to eat the "mice" raw as the wolves did! (The actual creatures that Mowat ate I assume were mice.) If Tyler had to exist purely on roasted and boiled rodent for many months, he would encounter some nutritional deficiencies. Still, eating a diet of the whole, uncooked mouse would be sustaining whereas a diet of lean meat only would not. (Add blubber and internal organs for an all-meat diet to work.) Incidentally, the Inuit people get their vitamin C from blubber and the contents of the stomachs of the animals they kill.

Where were the mosquitos and the biting flies that the tundra is infamous for?

Since this movie appeared almost twenty years ago, the public image of the wolf has greatly improved and wolves have been reintroduced to Yellowstone Park. I think everybody in this fine production can take some credit for that.

Great movie and great book!
This was one of the first (and few) books I read for fun while I was growing up. Then when the movie came out, it was the icing on the cake. Today I'm ordering it for my dad for Father's Day in rememberance of "back then." I can't wait to watch it with him after all these years.

lol @ one star reviewers!
I find the one star reviews of this movie amusing.Its sad that people condemn this movie just because they are hyper and easily bored and entertained only by blood and violence.The same movie that bores the aforementioned fools will satisfy more intelligent and philosophical individuals that have more interest in the natural world.As an animal lover and animal welfare activist,I enjoyed this film and can recommend it to anyone thats ever had an interest in nature and wildlife.Remember to order the wide-screen version,you`ll see the film as it was meant to be seen.

proto "lost in translation"
Well, at least, I get the same sort of feeling from both films. I am biased--I love Alaska, the wilderness, and hate people. So the setting of this film works for me--something I picture in my mind when i am stuck in rush hour traffic. There is some slow moments in the plot. The movie has some feel-good undertones to it. However, the sound in most movies is merely a backdrop. In this, it really serves to move the film along, to connect on a different level. Sound plays into the plot. My favorite scene is when the scientist is sitting on a hill playing his oboe to a midnight Alaskan sun. There is something transcendent about that very scene. I almost see it as the connection of two worlds. Regardless, I would highly recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Advertised as "X-rated and Animated," Fritz the Cat earned an impressive $25 million in 1972. Screenwriter-director Ralph Bakshi based the film on three of Robert Crumb's stories about a superficial college student who tried to seduce anything in a skirt. The gritty, often gross film shocked U.S. audiences accustomed to innocent flirtations and slapstick comedy in cartoons. Thirty years later, Fritz looks less shocking than pueril