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If you're a lifetime member of the Jennifer Connelly fan club, you'll be in the passionate minority of people (100% male) who won't care that this 1991 comedy is wallowing in its own oily puddle of lameness. The gorgeous Ms. Connelly is conspicuously put on display in this typically lightweight fluff from writer-producer John Hughes. Frank Whaley does his best to liven up the male-fantasy plot about a semi-nerdy teen who gets a night-watchman job in a variety store, only to find himself locked in overnight with the local knockout (Connelly), who's as rich as she is beautiful. She's also really unhappy with her home life and her bully boyfriend (Dermot Mulroney), so it's Frank's big opportunity to make his move as a sympathetic Romeo. Shallow and contrived, the movie does have its standard moments of John Hughes delicacy, and a cameo by the late John Candy scores bonus points for comedy. Still, it's clear that the movie exists primarily to satisfy adolescent lust--and with Connelly as the object of desire, this otherwise tiresome comedy is a triumph of wish-fulfillment casting. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (30)

A movie for all of us who were "outcasts" in High School!!!
I loved this movie!!!! Frank Whaley is an underated actor who gives a very energetic perfomance, and Jennifer Connoly, well...'nuff said. I guess I'm a little biased in this review because I was one of those labeled in high school "Outcast", and I identify with the main character. It's about damn time one of us got the most girl popular girl in high school!!! Sorry that's the pain from High School talking. And which one of wouldn't imitate Jim Dodge's antic's if we were locked in Target for one night!?!?!?!?!

The amazon.com reviewer needs to get his facts straight!
This is a great movie...I think I have a review here or the VHS version...anyhow, I wanted to point out, the movie is not really about Whaley's character lusting after Jennifer. It's more focused on the comedy of it all. Also..Dermot Mulroney does NOT play Connely's boyfriend, he plays the robber/murderer who breaks into Target to rob the place, and runs into Whaley and Connely! You can't write a bad review basically trashing the movie, if you clearly haven't even seen it!

I like it for what it could have been.....
I absolutely love this film- it's strangely endearing. and the best part is, it is most endearing for what it COULD have been. i think that's why i like watching it so much. the film was made during john hughes' fall from grace (his deal with the devil had to run out sometime) and the early 90's weren't as kind or interested in his fantastic dissections of 80's class conflicts and teenagers know best philosophy. career ops does run a tad thin but there was a great deal of potential. i think whaley's performance was really underrated. if the film had kept some of the scenes shown in the teaser trailer in 1991, he would have been even more likable. the problem is, hughes wants whaley to be a cross between Duckie in 'pretty in pink', ferris bueller and even the anthony michael hall char. in 'weird science'. this amalgamation doesn't do Whaley justice in what was probably a sincere attempt to create an original character of his own. His Jim Dodge is actually really interesting- a cool guy that doesn't trust his own coolness, a lower middle class son who doesn't know how to do well in his parent's eyes and an imaginative, articulate guy who can't quite escape midwest america. if the film would have been less about slapstick (please please please shoot whoever decided bringing in the mulroney brothers for their unecessary subplot that just ruins the film) and more about the dynamic between whaley and connelly, it could have been fantastic. connelly, meanwhile, is also let down by someone- the editor. she is fantastic- beautiful, articulate, classy, and graceful, but appears to be acting in a totally different movie than whaley. the scenes both about and with her father border on the uneasy. i have a feeling that in the original script she was really abused by the bullying dad, perhaps both physically and sexually. i could see it as a possibility with that character. we get a hint of this but then the movie shies away from it completely and we never quite get if its a joke or not (although the scene of connelly in profile with the father outside her door always made me nervous.) i really do like she and whaley together but both hughes and the editors don't seem to know what kind of movie they wanted to make- a slapdash comedy in a newly popular chain store, or a character study of a 'much cooler than his town gives him credit for' guy and the genuinely kind and rich girl who befriends him under strange circumstances. for this matter, we also (b/c of the editing) are never quite sure where connelly's afections lie- in liking jim dodge, or in getting the hell out of town. i just have a soft spot for this film and what it could have been if everyone involved in the production had agreed on what they wanted to make. the ending is atrocious and corny but the rest has promise. this is a great film for aspring filmakers and especially WRITERS to watch both for its good points but mostly for its wrong turns. A great deal can be learned from it.

Yes, It Definitely Has Jennifer Connelly In It
I watched this movie for the first time in many years the other day and had to come to this board to see the comments. Just as I thought, a lot of guys oogling Jennifer Connelly. And with very good reason. This movie was the worst in the John Hughes collection, but I can't tell you why because I didn't care a thing about the plot or the lead male character or the robbers or even John Candy, of whom I was a very big fan. I just know that Jennifer Connelly is an absolute doll in this movie, whether it be on roller skates or on a mechanical dime-store horse (especially a mechanical dime-store horse). In fact I think she comes across sexier here than she does in The Hot Spot, where she shows even more of her assets.

Alas, today Jennifer Connelly has gone the way of Calista Flockhart and lost the babyfat and become a serious actress, even carting home an Oscar, but her role in Career Opportunities will be the one remembered by fans years from now.

Ugh!
Little did I know as I watched this movie that Jennifer Connelly would be a huge star or that a Target would acutally open in my neighborhood in the years to come. But even that doesn't mitigate the bad taste I still have in my mouth from this movie.Try not to watch it if you're in a career slump or in between jobs or depressed! I was all of the above at the time, and watching this was the worst punishment I could have inflicted upon myself.This was surely the last hurrah of 20something-bashing, you know, the kind of uneducated diatribes in which this demographic was perceived as lazy, unambitious, boring, and jaded. In reality the 20somethings were in a slump in the early 90's because of a recession and a poor job market, not because of any lack of ambition on their part. But you wouldn't know it to watch this movie. It does great injustice to GenX. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

The greatest show on Earth
This 1998 Rolling Stones dvd is probably the best " live " dvd ever issued. The tape joins my other concert dvds on the shelf.
The sounds are crystal clear. The dvd opens up with shots of the
band's limo pulling up to the concert location. The show kicks off with Keith Richards leading the band out on stage with the powerful opening chords of " Satisfaction ". The show continues at a pace that never slows down. The dvd features enthusiastic
versions of " Let's Spend The Night Together " and " Honky Tonk
Women ", a great cover of Bob Dylan's " Like A Rolling Stone ",
and a song sung by Keith ( " I Wanna Hold You " ). Also, " Start
Me Up ", " Jumping Jack Flash ", " Miss You ", " It's Only Rock
'N' Roll ", " You Can't Always Get What You Want ", and " Tumbl-
ing Dice " are all thrown in. The dvd also features Dave Matthews
sharing the stage ( and microphone ) with Mick on a heartbreaking
" Wild Horses ", and saxophonist Joshua Redman plays a solo on
" Waiting On A Friend ". The highlight to me, however, is a
" haunting " performance of " Gimmie Shelter ". The only thing bad about the show is the three new songs " Flip The Switch ",
" Saint Of Me ", and " Out Of Control ". Also, when the Stones visit their website to see which song their fans want to see them
perform ( the winner was " Waiting On A Friend " ), we realized that there were many great songs they could have done ( " She's A
Rainbow ", " Under My Thumb ", " When The Whip Comes Down ",
" Love In Vain ", " Respectable ", " Fool To Cry " ). The dvd's final number is a great " Brown Sugar ". This show is perfect.

Still the best live band in the world
This 1998 dvd of the Stones' 1997 tour to promote the " Bridges To Babylon " album is the best thing to happen since " sliced
bread ". The dvd opens up with the Stones walking out on the
stage as Keith Richards blasts out the opening chords of
" Satisfaction ". Just make yourself a big bowl of popcorn, and
it's almost like you're there. The evening commences with delightful versions of " Let's Spend The Night Together " and
" Honky Tonk Women ", a showstopping " Sympathy For The Devil ",
and a chilling " Gimmie Shelter ", with Keith still playing the
tremelo rhythm on guitar. The album is features a lead vocal by
Keith ( I Wanna Hold You ) and a cover of a Bob Dylan song
( " Like A Rolling Stone " ). It also features guest appearances by Dave Matthews, who shares the mic with Mick on a beautiful
" Wild Horses ", and saxophnist Joshua Redman, who solos on
" Waiting On A Friend ". We also get songs like " It's Only
Rock 'N' Roll ", " Miss You ", " You Can't Always Get What You
Want ", " Jumpin' Jack Flash ", " Start Me Up ", and " Tumbling
Dice " thrown in the mix. After we see the Stones bow out at the
end, it almost makes you wish that Bill Wyman, Brian Jones and
Mick Taylor were there. But even if it's only Keith, Mick and
Charlie there, it's still a great show. The show has great sound.
The screams are loud and clear. This a perfect album for any
Stones lover

Stones live 1998
Excellent Stones concert. IMO Gimmie Shelter, It's Only Rock and Roll, Waiting on a Friend and Flip The Switch are the highlights. Keith is very strong thoughout. I don't have the other Stones DVDs- so I can't compare. Having said that, I've seen the Stones in concert many times (starting in 78). This is an excellent show.

Very enjoyable
Great sound, great picture, excellent performance. Jagger is in fine form, and his vocals are very good.
Sometimes a singer will sound less than enthusiastic when doing a song for the 1000th time, but that is never the case here (well, almost never).

This two-hour concert recording includes Keith Richards doing a wonderful "I Wanna Hold You" (a non-album track) in a surprisingly strong voice, and a fine set list with "Satisfaction" as an energetic opener, as well as several well-executed classics.
The band is excellent; Richards' guitar work is tight, and bass guitarist Darryl Jones and the other backing musicians help drummer Charlie Watts keep things in place.

A very enjoyable performance. 4 1/2 stars.

A MUST HAVE
This is a MUST HAVE if you like the Rolling Stones. This DVD has excellent sound quality and visual quality. This is the best Rolling Stones DVD on the market. This covers 40 years of hits with today's dvd technology. ... Read more

Reviews (113)

Gilliam achieves much with little
Worth it for Gilliam and indie film fans. A group of renegade shrubbery-designers on the lam from the Supreme Being stumble through a hole in space-time into the bedroom of a small boy, whom they abduct to help them steal the treasures of history. Okay, Gilliam fans, rejoice. Python fans, rent it first. Indie filmmakers - here's how to make a plausible looking fantasy film on a (still big) budget. The executive summary: 1. Acting - well done and believable. Appropriately over-the top in places. 2. Plot - fun fun fun and I want that map! Touching in places, and the non-Hollywood ending is perfect. 3. Production design / special effects - good enough. On par with Monty Python episodes / Holy Grail film. Notable exception - everything to do with "Evil". Bonus: see the origins of the "insidiously cheesy machinery" look Gilliam later perfected in "Brazil" and "12 Monkeys". Sets and props are extremely well-used (pay attention to the kids' room at the beginning!)and add richness to the film. The DVD has commentary by the now-grown child lead, as well as some Gilliam miscellany. For fans, well worth the extra investment, even if you already own the VHS edition. Key issue - this is only a date movie if your date can handle "silly." Most American ladies (in my experience) find Monty Python really unfunny. This film is not true Python when taken as a whole, but anything with a little slapstick and cockney accents seems to get painted as such. Warning: I thought that since one lady friend of mine liked Adam Sandler, she'd like TB - I was wrong! Be warned! Overall - fans, buy it. Others - rent it or ask for it for a gift.

PYTHONESQUE ADVENTURE
From a script written with fellow Python Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam's TIME BANDITS Divimax Special Edition (Anchor Bay) is a certified cult fave of wonder, wit and unbridled imagination. A school boy is sucked into a crime spree by a time travelling gang of dwarves who have a map to the holes in the space-time continuum. Along the way, they encounter Napoleon (Ian Holm), Robin Hood (John Cleese), King Agamemnon (Sean Connery), Evil Genius (David Warner) and God (Sir Ralph Richardson) -- who almost answers one of the supreme theological questions.

This new two-disc edition in Divimax is a state of the art hi-def transfer. The bonus disc features interviews with Gilliam and Palin and a career retrospective that includes Brad Pitt, Shelley Duvall, David Warner among others.

Pretentious junk
Save your dough.

A british kid goes on adventures with a bunch of hammy-acting little people. At the end, his parents die for no apparant reason. (Before some film school moron e-mails me with the reason, I got it. It was just dumb.)

Get "Brazil" or "Munchausen" instead. Gilliam's off his game here. Or try "12 monkeys." That's a great film

A Concept Film that Doesn't Know When to Quit
Like a big candy bar. Eye-popping but unfulfilling. Momentarily pleasing but undernourishing. Couldn't help but think this could have been so much better. It's kind of a Monty Python reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. More mature and cleverer. A plucky resourceful child is transported to a parallel world where the child must make things right before he/she is allowed to go home. The Munchkins are the stars this time. The Supreme Being is, of course, Oz. Evil is the Wicked Witch. Instead of the fantasy world sing-a-long; Gilliam goes with Sci-Fi time travel. Either the movie should have been longer to allow for more story & character development or some of the great ideas should have been shelved for other projects. There's a certain episodic feel to the proceedings as the time travelers jump from time to time but don't really get anywhere; much like the film itself.

an interesting film for older mature children.
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

This film was marketed as being for children. I thought that this film is too morbid for small children and recommend that children be at least 8 years old to watch it.

In this film, a young boy joins a troupe of dwarves who travel through 'holes' in time with the aid of a time map stolen from a deity. They rob famous historical figures such as Napoleon and Agamemnon. Later they are captured by an evil sorceror who takes the map from them.

This film has several creatures in it that I think would frighten younger children I urge parents to watch the film by themselves before showing it to their children.

The Criterion Collection has special features including a theatrical trailer, a slide show of production photos and a video, and full-length audio commentary by selected cast & crew. ... Read more

Reviews (970)

Best movie ever by far
This film breaks the ceiling of amazon.com's five star limit. Regardless of your religion, loyalties, or personal beliefs, to remain unmoved by this film means you're Satan himself.

The film revolves around the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life on Earth. As a viewer who's actually read the New Testament before laying judgement on the film's accuracy, I'd say there was extremely little deviation from the original Gospels. The film is an overwhelmingly emotional roller coaster ride beginning at Jesus' mock trial under Pontius Pilate to His crucifixion and resurrection. The fact that the entire script was spoken in Aramaic and Latin lends credit to director Mel Gibson's seriousness in portraying the events as accurately as possible.

The film was violent and bloody, but no more than the average reel spewing forth from Hollywood nowadays, none of which receive so much as a blink for their levels of gratuitous violence. But then again, none of those films promote Christianity. Hmm....

The film was no more anti-Semetic than "Schindler's List" was anti-German or "Seven Years in Tibet" was anti-Chinese. This film simply portrayed events as we know them historically. The Jewish high priests happened to be one group of people who wanted Jesus dead. The Romans and Pharisees were the true villians of the movie, nor was Jesus spared betrayal by even his own Apostles. The movie does, on the other hand, show two Jewish high priests defending Jesus' innocence at his trial, and it shows Simon being mocked by a Roman guard for being Jewish. These two events I do not recall reading in the New Testament, lending creedence to Mel Gibson's effort to make the film NOT anti-Semetic. The high priests condemned Jesus to death, but it was the Roman guards who took true sadistic pleasure in His suffering.

The violence and bloodshed served a purpose. It was to show what Jesus went through, the amount of pain He suffered, for mankind. Reading it in a few Biblical passages is one thing, viewing it on the big screen for two hours straight puts a different perspective on it. The entire movie intertwined scenes of Christ's suffering with scenes of Him earlier in time giving sermons on love and forgiveness. This served to cement the fact that Jesus did not just practice what He preached. The most emotional scene was probably when Jesus was being nailed to the cross, the whole time praying for God to forgive His persecutors.

I've seen the film three times since it premiered five days ago, and I plan to see it many more times before it comes out on DVD. To warn you, the film makes you feel about an inch tall, but it is a much needed reminder of just what sacrifices were made by Him on our behalf. The closing scene was my favorite, and I hope you watch to see what it is. Amen and Hallelujah!

Deeply moving cinema with epic feel
Assuming you know the story (and one hopes most of us do) I felt you had to be neither religiously inclined, or interested in historical theology to take a lot away with you after seeing this picture. Heavily criticized for it's brutal depiction of the last 12 hours of the life of Christ, and maligned by some for encouraging anti semetism, I found it powerful and very moving, if disturbing. It is a testament to Mel Gibson's vision, and perseverance that NO major Hollywood studio picked up this picture, which was self funded by Mr Gibson at a cost of around $30 million. The fact that the dialogue is chiefly aramaic (the movie is subtitled throughout) could also be seen as enough to discourage a lot of viewers, but there is no doubt that this is powerful film making at it's best. Perhaps "enjoy" is the wrong word to use in how I felt after the movie which is violent and unforgiving in showing Christ's persecution and eventual execution on the cross, but it is compelling, absorbing and emotionally charged. The success of the picture (I feel) lies in the what has been the chief subject of critisicm, the blow by blow punishment and torture the viewer cannot help but share with the main character. However, perhaps this is the strength of the movie, and I believe Gibson's aim, in showing what has always been hinted at, or happened "off screen" in other films of the genre. Put simply, it is saying that knowing or saying that Christ suffered and died for our sins is not enough, this is how, and why, open, graphic and painful. Not a movie I would recommend for the squeamish or sensitive, and certainly NOT for children (of any age). James Caveziel is believable and strong in the lead role, and more than ably supported by a cast of almost unknowns. Top marks all round, a film that will live in the memory long after you have seen it. Go see it for yourself, you may found out a lot you didn't know

Praise God! For He is Risen!
I have been a Christian since I was 7 yrs old, however I like many strayed from Gods chosen path. When I saw this movie I was not only moved to tears but found my life changing in the most wonderful of ways! I prayed for forgiveness of my sins again because all of what Jesus endured, he endured for us. He didn't have to, ya know? And I now have the blessed assurance that I will go to Heaven! Amen! This movie is very graphic but the graphics are uterly necessary if we are to grasp the truth of what Christ endured for all of us. I hope that you will see this film and that Christ's journey will have a profound impact in your life as well! God Bless!

As accurate as possible...
Mel Gibson did a stellar job portraying the final days of Jesus Christ's last days. Some may protest that it was overly violent; however, Gibson did not put in as much as what really happened. I doubt the American (or European) market is ready to see how truly brutal Christ's death really was. Yes, it was violent, but did you want to see the candy coated version of his death? I think not. Props to Mel for his sensitivity to the matter. I believe it could have been more graphic, but Mr. Gibson wouldn't have wanted his entire audience vomiting in the aisles. A+

This movie is awesome!
This movie was the best movie ever made, im a 16 year old catholic and i dont go much to church but i felt everything that jesus went through deep inside of me. Some people might not like the movie but thats their problem, God knows what evil spirit was toying with their mind. This movie was very well directed and left me speechless in the theatre. Mel Gibson is an awesome actor and he has now proven to be an awesome director also! Much love to all my peeps in the Bx baby~peace ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good, but pales in comparison to "The Best of Will Ferrell"!
Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon were like two peas in a pod on "Saturday Night Live." They had good chemistry and when they combined forces they could induce plenty of laughs. Of course, Will Ferrell is equally funny without Molly Shannon. "The Best of Molly Shannon" proves it is exactly the opposite for her.

Yeah, she's a funny lady, but she pales in comparison to such "SNL" comediennes as Gilda Radner, Jane Curtain, and even Chery Oteri, who is very goofy. Molly Shannon's "Best Of" collection is fine, I suppose, but I didn't laugh that much -- and not nearly as often as I did with Will Ferrell's "Best Of" DVD.

Here she plays her most famous (and mostly original) characters: Salley O'Malley, Mary Katherine Gallagher, Courtney Love and Anna Nicole Smith (in a disgusting but funny segment with Ben Affleck), among others. But they're never exactly laugh-out-loud funny; I smiled a few times. I enjoyed some of the gags. But I was only really laughing when Will Ferrell was interacting with Molly.

Whether or not they are good films is definitely arguable, but there's a reason that Will Ferrell has been cast in virtually every mainstream Molly Shannon film. They go together. She cameos in his movies, he cameos and/or stars in hers. Remember "Superstar"? Remember "A Night at the Roxbury"? Maybe they're not good, but at least Lorne Michaels was smart enough to realize that the two have some sort of chemistry.

I noticed that Molly Shannon likes to move around a lot. I watched the Conan O'Brian interview with her (included on the DVD), and she absolutely could not sit still at all, just like her "Joyologist" character, who, in the DVD's outtakes, flipped over her chair from moving around so much.

She's good as Courtney Love, and Molly Shannon is undoubtedly a good comedic actress, but to say that she deserves her own collection of best moments at this point in time is a bit presumptuous, especially considering the fact that classic "SNL" actors have yet to appear in any sort of "Best Of" DVD collections. (Or am I just not finding them on Amazon and in the stores?) Besides, most of the compiles sketches aren't even that great -- or is it just that Molly Shannon herself isn't that great? I hope it's the former.

If you're a fan of Molly Shannon and/or "Saturday Night Live," I would definitely pick up this DVD. I bought it for fourteen dollars, and I've got to say that I'll probably return to it once and a while for some good grins. But not nearly as often as I am already returning to "The Best of Will Ferrell," which still stands as the best "Saturday Night Live" DVD I own at the current time (only three, but I'm getting there).

"Saturday Night Live: The Best of Molly Shannon" runs 76 minutes. It contains outtakes, a deleted dress rehearsal scene, a picture gallery, two TV interviews with Conan, and so on. It is not rated, but contains some language and sexual content/partial nudity. The feature's guest stars include, among others: Val Kilmer, Matthew Broderick, Gabriel Byrne, Tina Turner, Alex Baldwin, et al. It is now available on video and DVD.

Molly: One of the all time GREAT TV ladies of comedy!
Molly Shannon's presence is sorely missed on "Saturday Night Live" but not you can relive some of her finest moments with this DVD. Although I personally would have chosen some different sketches , this DVD is sure to put a big smile on even the grumpiest of faces.

Included are:

"Mary Katherine Gallagher"- Mary auditions for the school variety show and sings "Sometimes When We Touch" and does a Meredith Baxter Birney tv movie monologue. (with Gabriel Byrne)

"Helen Madden, Licensed Joyologist"- "I love it! I love it!" Helen appears on "Pretty Living", hosted by Ana Gasteyer. (with Matthew Broderick)

"The Courtney Love Show"- Courtney's got a talk show, and she interviews Julie Andrews (played by Christine Baranski)

"Elizabeth Taylor"- Elizabeth picks the winning lottery numbers on Weekend Update ("Gladiator!")

"Jeanne Darcy"- the very unspontaneous and over rehearsed comedienne makes an inappropriate appearance at a nursing home.

"Monica Lewinsky"- Monica addresses court, with Hillary watching.

"Sally O'Malley"- Sally auditions to be a Rockette! "I'm 50 years old! And I like to kick! Stretch! And kick!" (with Danny DeVito).

"Veronica & Co."- The European supermodel has a talk show whose set is located in the middle of a fashion show runway (with Val Kilmer).

"Delicious Dish On NPR"- Molly & Ana Gasteyer as the very low-key hosts of a radio cooking show. This is the famous "Schweaty Balls" episode (with Alec Baldwin).

"Leg Up!"- Molly as Ann Miller, and Cheri Oteri as Debbie Reynolds. (with Phil Hartman as a very cranky Frank Sinatra)

"MTV FANatic"- Molly as Anna Nicole Smith (with Ben Affleck as an obsessed fan who looks to Anna Nicole for a mother figure).

"Mary Katherine Gallagher"- Mary meets the real Tina Turner by hiding in her dressing room. (with Alec Baldwin)

"Rae Murphy"- an awkward blind date at an airport bar goes horribly wrong (with Will Ferrel and Chris Kattan).

"Dress Rehearsal Sketch"- that was cut from the final broadcast features Molly as an odd, accent loving girl who brings home date Bill Paxton to meet her parents (with Ana Gasteyer and Horatio Sanz).

Also features a photo gallery of Molly in different costumes, outtakes: Molly as Xena, Princess Warrior (with Brendan Frasier), as Helen Madden (with Ben Stiller), NPR's Delicious Dish (with Alec Baldwin), 70's Ladies In Bar (with Calista Flockhart), Dog Show! (with Will Ferrell- it's just a teeny blooper clip), and Jeanne Darcy on Weekend Update.

Two more goodies: two appearances on Conan O'Brien. On the first one she discusses how Courtney Love didn't seem pleased to be parodied and how Gary Coleman once trapped her in his hotel bathroom and tried to put the moves on her; the other appearance is with Will Ferrell and she talks about dating and a new sketch she was working on called "Hot Cocoa Girls."

Great collection! I would have given it five stars had it included some "Goth Talk" and "Dog Show" sketches on it. My absolute favorite Mary Katherine Gallagher sketch isn't here either (Gwenyth Paltrow was the host that week)- but it'd be nearly impossible to include everyone's favorites. I'd say that Molly Shannon definitely deserves a second "Best Of" DVD!

Good, but brief.
I believe that most people buy a "Best of" title mainly to see some of their favorite skits. Don't set your expectations too high here. This is just 76 minutes long, which includes outtakes, tv interviews, a dress rehearsal, and some recognizable skits. One can always argue about what should be on a "Best of", but this is so limited as to leave one convinced that this was made short to allow for other "Favorites" to be bundled up by producers for other DVD's to be released later. Disappointing.

Query about review
What happened to the review I wrote two weeks ago?

Molly Shannon at her most hilarious!
Out of all the Saturday Night Live collections that I have viewed, this one is the most consistently funny. Like some of her fellow SNL alumni, she may not have carved out a film career for herself, but she still does some of the most side-splitting routines. This DVD contains two Mary Katherine Gallagher sketches, her Betty Broderick monologue and her meeting Tina Turner; her Sally O'Malley "I'm 50 years old" bit with Danny De Vito; her spot-on impression of Courtney Love; the giddily over-the-top sketch about "joyologist" Helen Madden; her impression of a spaced-out Elizabeth Taylor randomly spewing out lottery numbers; her Jeannie Darcy bit in the elderly ward ("Don't get me started"); and the "Schweaty Balls" sketch with Alec Baldwin. Some of the other routines, such as the Veronica & Co. clip, the Anna Nicole Smith scene (poorly developed) and the airport bar scene with Will Ferrell, are less consistently funny. However, the first 45 minutes or so of this DVD more than compensate for the last 20 minutes. If I wanted to cheer up a friend, I would give him or her this DVD. In fact, I know that I will give it to some of my colleagues in the future. This DVD is heads above my Dana Carvey, Steve Martin, and Will Ferrell DVDs. How much do I like this Molly Shannon? Don't get me started! ... Read more

Reviews (93)

A true-life account...NOT an attempt at defamation.
I own the film "Not Without My Daughter," and have viewed it many times. I've also read both of Betty Mahmoody's books. Frankly, I'm amazed at the terrible reviews of the movie by those who obviously feel the movie was a blanket attack on Islam. Without having visited Iran myself, I can't say whether the scenes of Tehran are likelife. But the story itself was based on a true-life account of a woman who escaped her husband who held her hostage in a country she didn't want to live in. THAT'S ALL. It was not an attempt at blaming all of Islam for this woman's bad marriage, but rather her husband ONLY, as an individual man. Moreover, many or even most of the characters in the movie are portrayed as sympathetic and caring. The only "bad" characters are those who attempt to hold a woman and child in a country against their wills.

If you read Betty Mahmoody's books, you will see she has wonderful things to say about the value and beauty of Islam, and encouraged her daughter to celebrate her Islamic heritage back in America. Betty apparently had and maintained many Arab friends in the US after her return from Iran. I don't know what more she could do to get the point across that she appreciated Islamic culture and its people, and was only against people of any country or culture who try to abuse the rights of others.

The point of the movie, to those who obviously refuse to "get it," is that Betty Mahmoody and her daughter were forced to stay in a country against their wills. They were kept there by threats of violence or real acts of real violence. The movie is NOT about Islam. It's about an abusive man who happens to be a Muslim. And it depicts that the consequences of that man's actions on his wife and daughter.

Superb movie, and completely TRUE!!
This is one of my favorite movies. This fact based story is as close to the real thing as possible, I can personally vouch for that.

I was in Iran for almost 2 years before the Shah was kicked out in 1979 and I can tell you that every aspect of Iranian life you see in the film is absolutely true. Anyone who thinks otherwise is really full of BS, and I got a few other words for you.

This is a heart felt story of escaping evil for a mother's love of her daughter. There is nothing wrong with thie movie at all. I would recommend it to everyone, it's a real tearjerker. And the most telling part is that the whole thing actually happened.

racist attack on Iranians and Muslims generally
This film is a real low. A complete racist attack on Iranian people and Muslims generally, and part of the propaganda that has been used to justify the West's new crusade and assault against the people of the Middle East. Sally Field should be ashamed to have been associated with this film. They might as well have commercials for the Pentagon and big oil companies throughout the movie. Full of stereotypes and total lies, it glorifies a woman who kidnaps her daughter and takes her out of Iran illegally, depriving her husband of custody unlawfully and unjustly. Unbelievable!

One of my favorites!
Don't get me wrong, this is not a "feel-good" movie of any kind, as a matter of fact it is downright disturbing and horrific, especially taking into account that it is a true story, and that many other women and children are probably in the same condition right now. I have read several reviews and I'm a little disappointed by all of the "I want to hear Dr. M's side of the story" and "she must have made this up--it couldn't have really happened" and "this movie is anti-Islamic" sentiments. Whether you like it or not, whether you agree with it or not, this is one woman's true story of being held against her will by her outrageously domineering and abusive husband in a country she does not want to be in. It has little to do with Iran or Islam, except for the fact that fundamental Muslims believe in and savagely defend that a woman has no rights without her husband. I applaud Betty for doing what is right when she got back here to the US, which is speak out about her traumatic experience, and try to help those in similar situations. Otherwise, how would we even know that such horrors exist? I guarantee that with all of the post-9/11 Koran-kissing going on, a movie such as this would never be made today. I'm thankful that it was made at a time when people weren't afraid to hear the truth. For some reason this movie regularly comes to mind when I hear someone complaining about women's rights in this country...unfortunately sometimes we don't realize how good we have it. If you choose to read Betty's books, do so only after seeing this movie...then you won't be able to whine that "the movie isn't as good as the book"...

Neat movie but a letdown for fans of the book
I originally saw the last three quarters or so of the movie on TV. I enjoyed it a lot and was more excited when I found out it was based on a true story and a book. I read the book and loved it. It is now one of my favorites. I then saw the movie again but in its entirety, on the DVD. It is a good movie overall. However, it falls short compared to the book in several areas:
The trailer-The trailer showed on the DVD is one of the most attention grabbing I have ever seen. If I had seen it in the theatre without knowing anything about the book, I would have been one of the first in line to go see it. However, trailers are made simply for publicity and I might be disappointed since I had already read the book when I saw it. The movie was less exciting than the trailer made it out to be.

Length-This movie was way too short. I know the movie could not have included all the details of the book, but even an extra 50 minutes bring it in at two and a half hours could have filled in plenty of holes without making the plot drag.

Details-Again, some stuff had to be truncated but I think they could have done a better job. For me to elaborate on every detail would take up too much space and would be of little interest to those who haven't read the book. The biggest hole was the evolution of Moody's character. In the book, Betty spends much time giving flashbacks on how they met and how such a loving husband and father could have turned into the man he did when they arrived in Iran. I found that in the movie, Moody seemed to evolve without any explanation. The book starts the flashbacks in 1974 whereas the movie starts immediately in 1984. There are aloso minor holes such as how Betty and Mahtob had passports when they escaped since Moody had taken them. In the book this makes perfect sense as the Swiss Embassy re-issued new passports to Betty and Mahtob unbeknownst to Moody. I know this may seem like a minor detail but I am sure it annoyed more than one movie buff and this was one oversight that could have easily been corrected. There are other things such as characters' roles and even names from the book being changed for the movie.

Don't get me wrong. This was a good movie. But being a huge fan of such a rich and detailed book, I guess I feel that no movie version could have properly chosen exactly which details to include in the movie. If they had to make a film version of the book, it might have been a better idea to make a mini-series that could have elaborated more on plot details.

But in any case, read the book!!! It may look long but you will get through it fast and not be able to put it down in the process.

By the way, to respond to the criticisms of both the movie and the book being biased, she was held against her will in a foreign country for no justifiable reason. End of discussion. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Love & Tragedy & All That Jazz. . .
This early vehicle for a young Catherine Zeta-Jones does justice to the complex Hardy novel despite the constraints of the television movie format. 'La Zeta' is perfectly cast as Eustacia Vye, a mysterious beauty with 'black hair and pagan eyes' who captivates the young men of the vicinity while the older country people regard her with suspicion as a witch who is not to be trusted. Eustacia has a reputation as a loose woman in the neighborhood--she dallies with another woman's fiance out of sheer boredom, even though she is tired of him. When dashing Clym Yeobright returns home after many years abroad in Paris, Eustacia sets her cap for him, with tragic results.

Fans who have followed Zeta-Jones' high-profile career in movies such as 'Entrapment', 'Traffic' & 'Chicago' will be interested to see her here, long before Michael Douglas and Oscar came calling, in her debut role outside of her native UK. She displays all the beauty and cool self-possession of the star she would later become. She's had her teeth capped since, and been otherwise glammed up, Hollywood-style, but all the fundamentals are there. The setting is breathtaking (shot on location in Northern England), and the simple yet vivid costumes Eustacia wears add to her characterization. Eustacia/Catherine is dressed simply but vividly in tones of scarlet, yellow and turquoise blue, setting her in sharp relief to the browns and grays of the landscape, and the dull clothes worn by the other characters.

The entire cast does a superb job, but this is really Zeta-Jones' show. Whether you're a Zeta fan, or a student of Thomas Hardy, this production should be on your shelf.

Attempt at Thomas Hardy almost reaches it.
Anyone who has read the novel will see that this movie is far truer to the storyline than average. Where the movie "almost" reaches success is in its portrayal of the characters. The egocentric nature of Eustachia is portrayed well until the death scene, when, from that point, she comes off as too much of the unforgiven, tragic, heroine. Wildeve's passion never quite attains to the pinnacle reached in the Hardy novel, Venn's homespun nobility isn't as evident, nor does Clym's "martyr complex" ever really emerge. The flick has much to recommend it however, especially in the first 2/3 of it. The setting is magnificent and appropriately stark, the subordinate characters (Grandfer Cantle, Susan Nunsuch, Mrs. Yeobright, etc.) are accurately displayed. This is one film in which I would recommend for the viewer to see the movie first before reading the novel. This would eliminate some of the sense of loss in the character displays and help one appreciate the "love-never-dies, beyond-the grave" finale.

Great
Ok i dont get the 007 thing but whatever. this movie was awesome!!! it was so sad!!!!! Catherine alone on that bridge will break your heart! i really felt bad 4 her throughout this movie, just because they "THOUGHT" she was a witch didnt mean they need to go and stab her in church! how mean! lol sry i love catherine zeta jones! lol well the movie was great, it was sad, and in the first minute a lil confusing but then you catch on after like 2 seconds.

Clive Owen could become the next "James Bond 007".
I saw this Hallmark television movie when it originally aired. I lost interest in the story because a character was said to be a witch. I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to watch this film. But Hallmark is a name the presents the best, quality films. Now, there is a reason to give this film a second look. Clive Owen who plays "Damon Wildeve" just might have a chance to be selected as the next James Bond 007 when Pierce Brosnan passes it on. Clive Owen might have to wait until the year 2008. The other reason is the female lead is Catherine Zeta-Jones is now a celebrity (she was unknown at the time) and became an Academy Award winner for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2003. Joan Plowright as "Mrs. Yeobright" is also in this film. I like the opening line in the film: "Deliver my heart from this fearful, lonely place. Send me a great love from somewhere or else I shall die, truly I shall die".

great for catherine fans
i only liked this movie because of zeta-she is great in it and young-24 yrs old ... Read more

Amazon.com

Though it bears little resemblance to the original 1969 thriller starring Michael Caine, the 2003 remake of The Italian Job stands on its own as a caper comedy that's well above average. The title's a misnomer--this time it's actually a Los Angeles job--but the action's just as exciting as it propels a breezy tale of honor and dishonor among competing thieves. Inheriting Caine's role as ace heist-planner Charlie Croker, Mark Wahlberg plays straight-man to a well-cast team of accomplices, including Mos Def, Jason Statham, and scene-stealer Seth Green in a variation of the role originally played by Noel Coward. As the daughter of Croker's ill-fated mentor (Donald Sutherland), Charlize Theron is recruited to double-cross a double-crosser (Edward Norton in oily villain mode), and once again, speedily versatile Mini Coopers play a pivotal role in director F. Gary Gray's exhilarating car-chase climax. It's perhaps the greatest product placement in movie history, and just as fun the second time around. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (204)

"I liked him, right up until the moment I shot him."
Well done! Now THIS is what I call a popcorn movie. No big drama, no great life issues; just a fun plot, great action, and good looking people packing the screen. "The Italian Job", a remake of the 1969 Michael Caine flick, is cinema escapism at its best and a great bet for a Friday night date.

Mark Wahlberg stars as Charlie, acting head of a gang of high-tech, high class thieves. He's taking over for his mentor (played by the always welcome Donald Sutherland) as his team sets up a brilliant scheme for $35,000,000 in gold bars (the "Italian Job" of the title).
But things don't go quite as planned, and one year later Charlie reassembles his mates, plus his mentor's daughter (Charlize Theron) to take revenge on the man who betrayed them and set things right once and for all.

The action here is splendid, imaginative and well filmed. The script is tight, with plenty of snappy lines to go around (including a great running gag about just who invented Napster) and the musical score is surprisingly nice. All the actors have fun with their roles, especially Seth Green as a computer geek and Edward Norton as the slimy bad guy. And of course there's Wahlberg.

I like Mark Wahlberg. I can't help it. I like him more with every movie he makes. I like his quiet, confident walk, his little boy smile, and the way his forehead crinkles whenever somebody yells at him. He seems to actually get better looking as the movie goes along, and his chemistry with Theron is low-key but sexy.

I give "The Italian Job" five stars not because it was a masterpiece, but because I had a great time and know the film will hold up well with future viewings (it was a lot like "Ocean's Eleven" in this regard). Go on and see it; you'll like it. And probably want a Mini when you get out.

GRADE: A-

(By the way, I LOVED the way our heroes never carried guns or shot anybody. Old school baby!)

A slick, and brilliantly done caper.
A group of expert thieves led by mastermind Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) and his father figure mentor, John Bridger (Donald Sutherland), successfully steals 35 million dollars worth of gold from a Venetian safe. But they are quickly double-crossed by one of their own partners in crime, who kills Bridger and forces the others to plummet into an icy river, leaving them for dead.
A year goes by and Croker contacts Stella (Charlize Theron), Bridger's daughter and a safe-cracking expert, and tells her that he has picked up the trail of the man who killed her father. He invites her to join his team and help reclaim their gold and avenge John Bridger's death.
Don't be discouraged from watching this movie by believing it to be a modernized remake of the 1969 classic. While there are definitely some connections between them (a plot-driving gold heist, car chases involving mini coopers and the movies' titles), this one is an excellently executed, Gary Gray film that shines on its own.
In a tight, solid plot it combines fast-paced action, thrilling suspense, clever and daring heists, great locales, state-of-the-art technology, engaging and witty characters, and a healthy dose of comedy skillfully added in all the right places. And the fact that it leaves out any unnecessary dramatic, life-altering issues makes it even more fun to watch.
The enjoyable mix of characters flawlessly portrayed by the actors, come alive through smart, snappy dialogues and believable characterizations. The choice of good, old-fashioned stunts that lend authenticity to the action over the not always effective CGI special effects, and the surprisingly pleasant musical score, give this movie the perfect finishing touch.
Sit back and enjoy the ride!

cute movie.....
cute movie, but there was a bit too much mini-cooper in it.

come on, is this a movie or commerical?

Fast paced suspenseful action...
Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) has planned a gold heist with a group of professionals in Venice, Italy, that displays his sophisticated style without using violence. In order to accomplish the heist Croker has asked the old-timer John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) to help crack the safe in which the gold is located. They get safely away with a large amount of gold, however, Steve (Edward Norton) has decided to keep all the gold for himself and kill the rest of the group. Steve shoots John while the rest of the group escapes, but they decide on settling the score with Steve as they decide to take the gold back with the help of John's daughter Stella (Charlize Theron). The Italian Job is a fun and suspenseful action film with car chases and dubious schemes, which leaves the audience with a good cinematic experience.

Kinetic script!
This is a movie plenty of action. The script runs about an old thief who decides make the las robery. Thirty five millions in gold is a great temptation . But suddenly there will be a twist of fate.
Wonderful locations and excellent special effects. Shuterland as always, steals the show. Walberg is OK and the cosmic beauty of Charlize Theron plays a convincing role.
There are many hair raising sequences.
A good entertainment but without the punch of the previous version from the sixties. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A number one child's movie
I've seen this movie a million times and it never gets boring. Lovable characters for most ages, first class animation, great sing-a-long tunes and much, much more. A Troll named (Stanley) a good troll who wants to grow flowers is banished from his flower hating kingdom to Central Park. Here Stanley meets two young kids who's parents never spends enough time with them. Meanwhile Gornorga the Queeen of the evil troll, is trying to turn Stanley into stone. To learn more watch the movie.

NOT FOR THE CYNICAL-OPTIMISTS ONLY
I rented this for my daughter, not expecting much, but I was very impressed. The little troll Stanley is adorable and very lovable-isn't that what we want to see in a children's movie? He is an excellent role model for kindness and positive thinking-something lacking in some adults, I might add. The children were very believable, and I found myself getting very absorbed in the story, and rooting for the "good" characters.
The evil trolls were perfectly evil, and the heros find clever ways to deal with them while having a wonderful adventure. I think there are great messages here.1.)Pay attention to the children in your life, make time for them. 2.)You're never too old to think" young" and have fun. Give this movie a chance. I intend to buy it A.S.A.P. The animation was beautiful and the voices perfectly suited to the characters, in my opinion. Great job, Mr. Bluth!

Hey, it's cute.
There seem to be several negative reviews. I admit, Don Bluth as made some crap in the past few years. Titan AE, Anastasia. But you have to admit, this wasn't all that bad. The fact of the matter is, it's for kids. Bluth's movies typically had content that was a quite intense for G-rated movies, this was probably just his break from that. I'll admit, this isn't the best movie ever made, but it did what it set out to do. It made a cute kid movie. And I think they did a good job. Recomended for people who just want to see all of Don Bluth's movies.

GREAT MOVIE!
Ithink this was a great movie for families to share together.It has alot of emotions expressed and I personally think that it helps to remind us, that goodness still exsists and in the end,goodness always prevails!

Hated it
My opinon on this movie believes that it shouldn't be a movie. The character design was very blah- although I did enjoy Gnorga The evil Queen of the trolls. The character that got on my nerves the most was Gus. (The little, fussy kid that was spoiled rotten to the core.) I usually like watching movies where i enjoy the main character- but this movie only made me hate him. I was actually glad at the near end when something bad happens to him- too bad it didn't last. The songs didn't appeal to me either. The little kids I know aren't fans of Don Bluth- and obviously- neither am I. If I were recommend a Don Bluth, The Secret of Nimh was pretty well done. It could be that I saw the wrong Bluth movies, but i'm tellin ya this isn't a 5 star, 4 star, or 3 star movie. Show your kids, or watch a a movie worth your while! I recommend not wasting your money on this one. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Can Scooby-Doo rebound?
Since I was a kid, I loved the 1970's "Scooby-Doo" animated series. Every entertaining episode had Fred, Daphne, Velma, and funny duo Shaggy and Scooby-Doo unmasking a villian. I loved that series.

As for the "Scooby-Doo" film, I was hugely dissapointed and mad. Where were the lovable characters I cherished? Aside from a enjoyable performance from Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, every cast member was either miscast or was a dead pan. Freddie Prinze, Jr. was terrible as Fred. Part of the reason he was cast was because his wife Sarah Michelle Gellar(Daphne) told the producers to cast him or she'll leave the role. The producers made a mistake. At least my family enjoyed it.

As for the computer animated Scooby-Doo, he was lukewarm at best. I just love the cartoon version dog who munched on scooby snacks.

Ok, so there's SCOOBY DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED. Hopefully something good will come out this blated and unexcusable sequel(and that's just made up). Wow, Seth Green is in this picture! I wait in line for the movie right now! (I was being sarcastic by the way.)

This time around, more Scooby and less Doo
When the first Scooby-Doo came out, it was pleasant enough, but the film was hobbled under both the usual gross-out "humor" needed to attract the twentysomething crowd and the constant legends that have plagued the original series (Fred and Daphne always make out when the gang splits up, Velma's a lesbian, Scoooby and Shaggy are potheads, etc.). In this new outing, the screenwriters eschew this nonsense for a plotline that delves into the Scooby mythos, creating a situation that is classic Scooby-Doo: Mystery, Inc.'s hometown of Coolsville is threatened by an evil masked madman who steals the costumes of the classic monsters that MI have exposed as fakes from a recent museum exhibit, and used them to create REAL versions of same.

All the original cast has returned, and everyone shines in stellar performances, bringing their characters to life. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. make dynamic improvements in their roles as Daphne and Fred; Gellar brings a sweetness and kindliness to Daphne that she wasn't able to with Buffy, and Prinze gives Fred a sense of depth, humor and leadership.

(...)

Matthew Lillard returns with another explosive performance as Shaggy, channeling this character from somewhere deep within his psyche. Lillard has developed a reputation for intense performances (witness 13 Ghosts or SLC Punk), but with his portrayal of Shaggy, those performances are not so much eclipsed as erased. Eyes bugging, howling, screaming, limbs flailing, with the trademark cry of "[GHOST]!!!", at once terrified and RESIGNED TO the inevitable chase, Lillard nails Shaggy again and again throughout the film.

The CGI Scooby, voiced deftly by Neil Fanning, seems much improved, and this time it's a proper mix of cartoon and real canine that displays the lovability and goofiness of Scooby Doo. Much, much better.

The supporting cast includes a sympathetic Peter Boyle as former villain Old Man Wickles, and a devious Alicia Silverstone redeems her genre-film rep from the horror that was Batman And Robin as a two-faced TV reporter who seems to be out to deface the gang's track record. All in all, this second effort is well-made and worth the time spent. Four stars all round.

So Much Better Then The First!
As big of a fan as i was for the first one, i was excited to see this one. This one is so much better because it revisits some of the classic monsters from several of the shows. Such as the Pterodactyl Ghost, 10,000 Volt Ghost, Miner 49er, and the list goes on and on. If you were a fan of the first and even if you weren't give this one a try, it is definately one of the better sequels out there.

SCOOBY DOO 2
GREAT MOVIE. MY 4TH FAV. MOVIE. LOVED IT. MUCH BETTER TAN THE ORIGINAL. UNLIKE THE FIRST THIS KEYS TOGETHER THEMES FROM THEORIGINAL TV SHOW WHICH IS REALLY GOOD AND MAKES MUCH MORE ORIGINAL AND FUNNY. ITS ABOUT A MASKED FIGURE THAT BRINGS MOST OF THE MONSTERS THAT MYSTERY INC. HAS UNMASKED TO LIFE. ONCE THIS HAPPENS MYSTERY INC. IS BLAMED FOR ALL OF IT ANDF MUST FIND A WAY TO SAVE COOLSVILLE AND HAVE EVERYONE LIKING THEM AGAIN. YOU'LL LOVE IT.

scooby-doo 2:monsters unleashed-the best movie of all time!!
this movie is the best movie of all time.it's way better than the first one.sarah michelle gellar is the best actor in the film.freddie prinze jr.,matthew lillard,and linda cardellini were great as fred,shaggy,and velma.the people who made scooby(r&h)did a way better job than they did in the first.sarah m.gellar(s.m.g.)was the best actor though,she portrayed the role of daphne.alicia silverstone was faboulous,even though her character was the bad person,and she turned out to be a man in a mask.the film has a very good plot.all the monsters from the past come back because of shaggy & scooby-doo.so they have to make everything better again in coolsville.daphne,fred,& velma help them out a lot.this movie is the best i've ever seen.whenever this movie came out in theaters,the first few weekends it was out it was # 1 at the box office.but then that dang "hellboy" movie came out and knocked it down to # 2.at the end of may,scooby-doo 2 was down at #10,the lowest you can go.the movie did very well though.i saw it the day it came out.whenever it comes out to buy(september 14,2004)i'll buy it.this movie is fantastic.it should win an award.i am scooby's #1 fan & s.m.g.'s # 1 fan.well,GOODBYE!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Though marketed as a raunchy teen sex comedy à la Porky's, Just One of the Guys is an amusing and well-acted comic riff on gender roles. Believing that she's lost a journalism contest because she's a woman, high school student Joyce Hyser disguises herself as a boy in order to see how the other half lives. Her investigation leads her to discover some interesting truths about how men and women treat each other in social and romantic situations. The screenplay by coproducers Jeff Franklin (a veteran TV scribe) and Dennis Feldman nicely balances the sex-driven gags with more character-driven material, which is well delivered by Hyser, Clayton Rohner as her eccentric pal, and especially Billy Jacoby as her perpetually aroused brother; the capable cast also includes Sherilyn Fenn and Arye Gross. Eighties music fans should also appreciate the soundtrack, which features tracks by Berlin, Lindsay Buckingham, and the Stooges. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Haven't we seen this before?
I just saw this movie and found it quite hysterical. There are some movies where the exact same thing happens, just different details. For anyone who has young children or siblings, the have heard of the Disney Original movie "Motorcrossed". In "Motorcrossed" a girl disguises as boy (cuts off her hair, wears baggy clothes, etc...)So she can race in a tournament. At the end of the movie her identity is revealed and the boy who's been helping her and who she's been falling in love with hates her.

Wait, where did we see this? Oh yes, In "Just one of the guys" it seems like "Motorcrossed" is a direct replica of "Just one of the Guys" with a few trivial differences. And what is even more surprising is that both Terry (Just one of the guys) and Andy (Motorcrossed) get the guy in the end. Isn't this just too good to be true?!

Without sarcasm now, I personally think this a although a little John Hughes-y, it is never the less funny and romantic. For any person who loves teenage romance movies (i.e.: Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Can't buy me love) I am telling you see this movie. I promise you will fall in love with Terry (as a girl or a boy).

Just one of the best
I'll skip the "over-the-top" superlatives of some of the other reviewers in this group, but "Just One of the Guys" is a fun, intelligent comedy with a host of well-drawn characters large and small. It follows the formula -- but it doesn't. Its comedy is three-dimensional. Although it has much to say about teen angst and growing up, it never takes itself too seriously, so we can laugh along the way. Even the class bully is handled with a sense of humor. You hate him, but that's okay because so does everyone else.
Is the movie dated? Yes, in many respects it represents its decade -- the 80s. But its humor and its message have not dimmed with the years. It's not just a kid's movie, either. I've watched it many times, and at well over 40, I'm no kid. As for Joyce Hyser, she carries the film with grace and humor and a range that would make most of the "big stars" of the movies today jealous (if they understood what she was doing). And -- as has been noted by another reviewer -- only Leonard Maltin among the "official" critics gives this movie a chance. I hope it comes out on DVD, and that it includes an interview with its star and some of the other principals. A real sleeper. Enjoy!!

Just One More 80's Teen Comedy
1985's Just One Of The Guys is an implausible, but amusing tale of an aspiring journalist, Terry (Joyce Hyser), who writes an essay about a female disguising herself as a male jock. The essay is rejected and to rebuke the bias she believes was the cause the rejection, tries to live out her premises. Getting a short haircut, wearing baggy clothes and deepening her voice, Terry goes undercover at high school. Since Ms. Hyser hardly has a boyish body, much of the plot revolves around her trying to hide this fact, especially in the boys locker room. Terry has a boyfriend, but she ends up falling for a quiet loner type guy Rick (Clayton Rohner). Finally Terry can't hide her feelings for Rick and the prom, she reveals her true identity by flashing Rick. The best part of the film is the interaction between Terry and her brother Buddy (Billy Jayne). Buddy is a complete pervert with Playboy centerfolds plastered all over his bedroom walls and his lines are the funniest in the film.

Great flick must see comedy film.
This movie was one of my favorites. She does the one thing she has to do to become a noticed writer. Which was being a guy!!! Before she was a portrayed as a male, everyone assumed she was nothing but all good looks and no brains. She proves them all to be wrong when she comes up with greatest article in the end. A must see for 80's movie fans.

Can You Put a Price on Dignity?
This is the question I constantly ask myself while watching this masterpiece. Rick Morehouse, played by the legendary Clayton Rohner, commands respect when on screen. Rick is a true James Brown enthusiast who feels an impulsive need to dance like a fruit anytime he hears the Godfather of Soul. This movie really has so much to offer but the dignified performance given by Clayton Rohner is what truly captivates me and steals my heart, my mind, and my tears. A true epic. To not buy this movie would be a disservice to you, your family, and the American film industry. Thank you Clayton Rohner. You give me hope, strength, and most of all dignity. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As sequels go, Poltergeist II has the advantage of retaining most of the original film's cast (although the absence of the actress Dominique Dunne, a murder victim, is not explained). It's still not enough to turn this dreary outing into a passable horror movie. The terrorized Freeling family has moved from their haunted house, but the bothersome ghosties are not finished with them yet. The lame scares include a sequence built around Craig T. Nelson swallowing a demon worm from a tequila bottle and then regurgitating it. Far more frightening is the wizened face of theater legend Julian Beck, who appears as a foreboding old guy with bad news for the Freelings:"Yer all gonna die!"

Poltergeist III recruits only blond cherub Heather O'Rourke (who died before the film's release) and dwarf psychic Zelda Rubinstein from the first movies. The action has shifted to a Chicago high-rise, where little Carol Anne's otherworldly gift is being studied (Tom Skerritt and Nancy Allen play the uncle and aunt she boards with). Director Gary Sherman tries to get some ideas going with mirror images, but the bargain-basement atmosphere and the limited special effects undercut the movie at every turn. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Buy this set, if anything, just to see Julian Beck!!!
Ok, I'll be the first to admit that in and of itself, Poltergeist II is one of the most well-plotted but weakly executed horror films ever. The abrupt and tacked-on ending seems to be just an excuse to throw in some fancy pseudo-CGI effects, and the end scene leaves you feeling dissatisfied if not completely cheated. But, to the infinite good fortune of the producers, a staff-employed psychic who had a hand in casting the film chose for the role of the evil Reverend Kane an actor whose bone-chilling countenance and blood-curdling voice will linger with you long after the end credits have ceased. The masterful two to three-minutes total screen time that Julian Beck was allotted is worth the ENTIRE price tag all by itself!!! He OWNS the screen. As soon as he walks into frame, you can actually FEEL the impending doom and death wafting off of him in thick, smoky waves. Reverend Kane IS death, in the flesh. He's also my personal pick for Scariest Movie Villain Of All Time! Oh, and Poltergeist III is pretty cool also!

One good, one bad
I'm glad to have Poltergeist 2 on DVD, as it's one of the better horror sequels. Most of the cast is reunited, and it somewhat succeeds at taking a minor point from the first film (the Native American burial ground) and creating the interesting character of Taylor, played by the late Will Sampson.

But it's Julian Beck as the super-creepy Kane that makes this one worth seeing. You just might have nightmares after watching him do his best to cajole Carole Anne to the "other side."

On the flip side, the whole clairvoyant thing is overdone (Carole Anne has a connection to the spirit world, so her mother AND grandmother must have one too? Yeah...), and the ending is a pretty big letdown.

And speaking of letdowns, just try to get thru Poltergeist 3. Poor little Carol Anne has been shipped off to Chicago to live with relatives (Nancy Allen and Tom Skeritt. Yawn.) but Kane (played by another actor since Beck had passed away) finds her. What then ensues are a bunch of cheap effects and ridiculous plot turns that insult rather than frighten. As you're popping the disc out after watching (or abandoning) the film, just remember: you got the infinitely superior Poltergeist 2 for a great price!

"THEY'VE FOUND HER..."
After the success of the original 1982 blockbuster hit, "Poltergeist" (Directed and produced marvelously by Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg) Brian Gibson went on to direct the sequel which turned out to be just as good as the first film carrying some of the same special effects and similarities. "Poltergeist III" on the other hand was a decent entry, though not the best and sadly, Heather O' Rourke died before the films release. It's really a shame, because I'm sure she would've grown up to be very beautiful, considering her act is still adorable and she hasn't lost her touch at all.

These two films which were released by MGM are on this special DOUBLE FEATURE disk and it is truly the best edition for anyone to complete the horrifying trilogy. Here's a complete description and details for both films:

"POLTERGEIST II: The Other Side" (1986)
RATING: ****

Once again, the Freeling family faces the supernatural of their new home after their first one was destroyed in the original. An evil demon named Kane takes the form of a church preacher who's out to capture Carol-Anne in order to bring her back to 'the Other Side' and get rid of her family in the process. With the help of a new character, the Indian Taylor (performed excellently by Will Sampson) they must return to the ruins of their old home (an underground tomb) and defeat Kain in a climatic battle where only love and hope can keep them together.

OVERALL: Almost as good as the original was! Zelda Rubinstein also returns in this one as the psychic, Tangina and is just as good as she was in the first. One of the main reasons I enjoyed this a lot was because of Julian Beck's wonderful and convincing performance as Kane. His image truly haunts you even after you watch him on the screen.
The acting was also very well done by JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson and the storyline, while being a bit farfetched at times, was executed well. Fans of the first will especially enjoy this one. RATED: PG-13 for disturbing imagery, some scary moments, and mild language.

"POLTERGEIST III" (1988)
RATING: ***

The third and final installment to the "Poltergeist" trilogy, where young Carol-Anne (Heather O' Rourke's last role) is shipped off to Chicago to spend the summer with her aunt (Nancy Allen) and uncle (Tom Skerrit) and also to be examined and tested on by professionals who are studying her "gift". Living on the top floor of a skyscraper, everything seems to have returned to normal for our heroine. However, the evil demon Kane (This time played by both Nathan Davis & Corey Burton) is ressurected from his hellish grave after Dr. Seaton (Richard Fire) revives Carol-Anne's long forgotten nightmarish past. From there, all hell breaks loose as the ghosts from the previous films plot to pull Carol-Anne back over to the other side yet again along with her cousin (Laura Flynn Boyle) and eliminate all who stand in their way. Now, it's up to her uncle Bruce & her aunt Patricia to take a scary journey through the many hidden corriders and passageways of this tall urban funhouse and rescue both their children before the supernatural takes over the ENTIRE skyscraper! If you thought the first two films were scary enough for them to take over a house, wait until you see them move to the big city!

OVERALL: Not bad. Many people do not like this one as much, but I thought it was pretty good even though it's the weakest in the whole trilogy. I'm guessing the main reason it's not as popular is because of the REALLY cheesy special effects (which is still fun to watch) and the so-so acting. I wouldn't consider this as much of a high-budget (as was with the first two films) but low-budget flick that carries some of the B movie elements. I don't really understand why they couldn't have made the ghastly spirits effects or the objects moving on their own like they did in the prequels. I think Zelda Rubinstein who plays the role of Tangina saves the film and she still hasn't lost her touch to play her role. I know it's not the best, but it's still worth a watch to see the final chapter in the legacy come to an end and complete the trilogy. RATED: PG-13 for disturbing imagery, some scary moments, strong language, and a bit of blood and gore. To be honest, if I'd been directing this one, I would've given it an R rating because it's the most intense and crazy entry in the whole series!

Both of these films are in their WIDESCREEN anamorphic formats and the Special Features include the original theatrical trailers. They make a good bundle to watch whenever you're bored and goes good with some soda (or beer) and popcorn! Again though as far as Special Features are, there could've been more. As I explained before, there are no BTS footage, let alone cast interviews or director commentaries. But don't let that keep you from buying these two great films for one low price! The picture quality is excellent and the sound is also excellent. BUY TODAY! I also reccomend the original (and still the BEST) "Poltergeist" on DVD. It is one of the best horror series ever made and Kane's villain rules up there with that of Jason Voorhees and Freddy Kruegar. Don't miss it!!

Reverend Kane is Awesome!!
Reverend Kane was great in Poltergeist II. Poltergeist II was my favorite of the 3 and definitely one of the best of all time. If you have not seen it, you definitely need to buy this DVD...

"God is in his holy temple...earthly thoughts are silent now..."-Reverend Kane.

Review
Poltergeist has scared me since I was a small child, and Poltergeist II is definitely as good as the original, if not better. I'll admit that the ending is kind of cheesy and has poor special effects (i.e. the whole family floating around in some weird disco-lighted other dimension) but overall the movie is awesome! Beck is very believable as the evil and insane Reverend Kane, and the by the end you really feel for the whole family who are just trying to live normal lives and never asked for any of this to happen to them.

Poltergeist III on the other hand made me want to vomit. What was MGM thinking when they made this movie? How sad that it had to be this terrible piece of garbage that is dedicated to the memory of Heather O'Rourke. This movie seems very slapped together, almost like the producers wanted to get it done as fast as possible and didn't care what the end result looked like. From very, very, VERY poor acting on the part of ALL the actors, to horrible special effects which basically only consisted of flashing lights, fake snow and ice, and a fog machine, to barely any coherent plotlines, this movie is a big fat 0 out of 5 stars. It is cheesy (and not in the good cheesy horror movie kind of way) and boring and leaves the viewer with a sick feeling at the end not because the movie itself is scary and disturbing, but because they can't believe how bad Poltergeist III actually was!

My advice...buy this DVD only because it has Poltergeist II on it. Remember...there aren't any evil spirits who would FORCE you to watch Poltergeist III. I don't think anyone or anything could be that crazy. : ) ... Read more