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Set 2 in The Avengers '67 includes more episodes of the long- running British television series at its creative peak of great writing, color filming (for the first time on the show), and flawless chemistry between actors Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg. This batch includes six episodes on two DVDs, including the unstoppable-corpse mystery "The Living Dead"; the cheeky, killer-feline story "The Hidden Tiger"; the finishing-school drama "The Correct Way to Die"; the scary "Epic"; the Agatha Christie-like "The Superlative Seven"; and "Never Never Say Die." --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (4)

New color era for Steed and Mrs. Peel
Following the huge success of the first filmed series of The Avengers, starring Patrick MacNee as debonair British agent John Steed and his cool, sophisticated partner Mrs. Emma Peel, the producers opted to make the next batch of 26 episodes in color, to be broadcast in 1967. In order to accomplish this, foreign backing was necessary, and the American networks were approached. The US had broadcast the black and white season four as a mid-season replacement, and were interested in moving forward with a color season in prime time, however they only provided enough backing for 16 episodes initially. Another challenge was that Diana Rigg was not particularly keen to film another season of the show, and demanded a huge salary increase in order to secure her participation. She got the money, but it was made clear it would be her second and last season with the show.

Apart from the use of color film, there were other subtle changes to the show for this fifth season. Both Steed and Emma were given new apartments and Mrs. Peel a much more stylized wardrobe. The device of ending each story with the two leads driving off in a variety of vehicles was abandoned and instead a tag scene was used to introduce each story, where Steed informed his partner that they were needed in a variety of humorous ways. Each story title was also given a two-line subtitle. After completion of the first batch of 16, the American backers did provide finance for a further 16 but asked for both the subtitles and tag scenes to be dropped, and also requested that Mrs. Peel's wardrobe became more recognizably en vogue.

After only 8 episodes were completed, producers Brian Clemens and Albert Fennell left the show after a disagreement and the new producers opted not to continue with Mrs. Peel and began their own interpretation of the show. It wasn't long before Clemens and Fennell were back in charge, but the 67 series ended with "Mission highly improbable," although Rigg was brought back in 1968 for the one-off "The forget me knot," to introduce her replacement Tara King. This episode is included in this release as a bonus episode.

In terms of storylines, acting and the wonderful interplay between the two leads, there is little difference between this color season and the preceding black and white stories and the show had really reached its zenith by this point. Certainly in terms of popularity and ratings, it was never as successful again. Interestingly, several of these stories are in fact remakes of earlier episodes from the Mrs. Gale era. "The joker," "The correct way to kill," and "The $50,000 breakfast," are all remakes, whereas "The return of the Cybernauts," is a sequel to an earlier Steed/Mrs. Peel adventure.

Fans of The Avengers will of course be delighted to have these discs, and I'd highly recommend them to any other fans of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, and indeed fans of the 60's spy format. If you've ever seen the dreadful movie featuring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman, don't let that put you off. These stories are the real McCoy!

Pretty good but not my favorite
This set starring Patrick Macnee as John Steed and Diana Rigg as Emma Peel is very funny and holds your attention. This is a classic set, but there is a problem. I find two of these episodes completely boring. The Living Dead and Never, Never Say Die are so boring. The Living Dead is an interesting plot, but the way it was made, they didn't do a good job(in my opinion). Never, Never Say Die has an interesting plot also. It's about substituting some certain people for robots in their place. It's neat, but for 20 minutes or something like that you just keep seeing this robot walking around. The Hidden Tiger, The Correct Way to Kill, Epic, and The Superlative Seven are all very well done. This is a pretty good set, but not my favorite!

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
If you fondly remember that great British import that we watched on TV way back in the 60s then you no doubt know about the content of what you are getting. You are more likely concerned about the quality of the product. Like John might say to Emma, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch your back. Just watch the hat please." John and Emma are back and are here to stay via DVD technology. Being on DVD, the aesthetics about the actual episodes are not in question here. More appropriately one may ask how they look. They look good, very good, excellent in fact. Still can't get that great theme out of my head.

the dvd is far superior than the vhs version
i have both the dvd and vhs version of avengers67 cause i am a big avengers fan...can't wait till vols. 3 & 4....(anybody know when that's coming out ???)..then hopefully the 65 & 66 season.. Diana Rigg...(my first love)....the chemistry of both Rigg & Macnee..is unsurpassed ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not one of the better films....
THE SETTLING OF THE SUN is not one of the better Morse films. The acting is stagy and overdone. The camera shots are bizarre and awkward. The hotch-potch use of elements from other more successful filmed versions of Colin Dexter's books, such as "Last Seen Wearing", "Last Bus to Woodstock" and "The Dead of Jericho" is insulting to the knowing fan.

I am not sure this film is based on a book. I don't remember reading a book with this title, nor did I find the plot familiar. (I thought I had read all of Colin Dexter's 'Morse' books.) If it is based on a book, the plot is certainly far inferior to those found other tales.

The tortured and unbelievable plot is overlaid with repetitious use of "Morse-isms" which are supposed to "wow" American audiences such as: Morse thinking over a pint in a friendly tavern; Morse driving his little red jaguar all over Oxford; Morse playing music and drinking at home; Morse unwilling to look at a body (three times with the same body). Morse's interest in the female "lead" is far from enthusiastic. It's almost as if he is going through the motions. Also, it's a bit hard to believe that this ditsy overwrought female has the least bit of attractiveness for Morse.

Don't get me wrong. I love the little "English" touches a much as the next Anglophile. I just hate being taken for a sucker. However,if you are devoted Morse fan you will probably want to buy it. Just can't get enough of the late John Thaw.

Possiby the Darkest of All the Inspector Morse Films
The undertones in "Setting of the Sun" deal with war and the moral repercussions thereof. Its direction is, along with "Service of All the Dead," among the most bleak and atmospheric of the Morse films. Another commonality which this film shares with the aforementioned film is its convoluted-yet-plausible plot, consisting of a rather intricate conspiracy theory. It may take a couple viewings for you to comprehend, it certainly did for me. Inspector Morse is asked to present a prize for a crossword competition at a summer school in Londsdale college for a group of overseas students. A murder conducted in a gruesome manner takes place while Morse is dining with the group. It turns out his presence was not incidental; he was meant to be a witness. Jane Robson's, Morse's love interest and the person who invited him to present the prize, feelings for Morse are not mutual in this episode. The uncertain long-term implications of war are beautifully presented at the end with the innocent view of Morse's love interest's daughter, when asked about her grandfather, whose suffering during the war was the impetus behind the conspiracy. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

not a msterpiece, but...
I watched this movie 3 times, all in cinemas. Now that it'a available in DVD, I'm going to buy it and watch it over and over again. We don't see this kind of asorbing narrative cinema anymore.

Fragmented boring movie
I found the movie very boring-not something I would want to watch again. (Unless I suffered insomnia-it's a great sleep inducer, especially if you seen it once before.) I wondered how on earth did it win any movie prize. Fragmented and terribly lengthy (now I seen other movies three hours long and the time went quickly), I found myself wondering what the story was about from time to time. I know overall it was about the oppressive landlord, but going from family to family was confusing to me. I felt sorry for the pig that got slaughtered in the beginning. And the scenes were gorgeous.

music of dignity
Exceptionally moving. Demonstrates that 'modesty' can communicate far, far more powerfully than most of those 'big' ambitious narratives do. 'Tree...' shares meanings by sensitively observing small things. Deserves to be far better known. Incidentally, Olmi (the director) has a superb talent for using the right music in the right places. 'The Legend of the Holy Drinker' (Olmi's film-adaptation from a story by Joseph Roth) is another superb example of the way in which music can (in Olmi's hands) tease out the most subtle of moods.

The Tree of Wooden Clogs
The tree of Wooden Clogs is an interesting film, which shows peasant life from the upper Po River Valley just before the end of the 19th Century. The 3 hour film tends to be a bit slow by today's expectations, but it graphically depicts life for the sharecropper family, and shows how life was at the mercy of the landlord. The filmmaker graphicly shows the slaughtering of several animals, so be prepared for this. Overall, I liked the film for its anthropological virtues.

Bittersweet past
The great glory of this film is its ability to make us feel both relief and longing - relief at the material hardships we have escaped by embracing the technological advances of modernity, and longing for all the spiritual treasures we have lost or damaged in the process: faith, solidarity, tradition, love, restraint and, yes, even dignity. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Morse in misery
This is certainly a highly unusual entry in the series, given the fact that Morse is the chief suspect in a murder investigation. Morse is subjected to all sorts of trials and tribulations--- some of which are designed to create a trail of evidence framing Morse for more than one crime. One of the more amusing aspects of the mystery involves Morse's helplessness when confronted with computer technology and its bearing on the case. However, Sgt. Lewis, who never doubts Morse's innocence, comes to the rescue by utilizing his computer skills to help rescue Morse from his predicament. The role of Inspector Bottomley, who is assigned to investigate Morse, offers some amusement value as well. Bottomley, who belongs to a Masonic lodge, ends up looking rather foolish; moreover, he also seems to have been genuinely chagrined when Morse's innocence is finally established. In any event, this mystery represents an interesting and entertaining role reversal for Morse.

When Life Imitates Art...
First thing to do is to ignore the "Part 1" above in the item title; you're getting the full-length (100 mins, approx.) episode of "Masonic Mysteries." In terms of the world of Inspector Morse, this is probably the Inspector Morse episode even people who wouldn't otherwise care for the series can enjoy (immensely, in most cases), as it's considerably different to any of the other 32 films in the series. Morse is "the hunted, instead of the hunter" for once, as he is being constantly framed (literally & figuratively) by someone whom he put away years ago and is trying to get his own back. The trials Morse is put through parallel the trials by fire & water in the Mozart opera, "The Magic Flute," which he is in rehearsals for at the beginning with his lady friend (played by Kevin Whately's real-life wife), who is subsequently found dead, before a dumbfounded Morse, knife-in-hand and covered in her blood. It's not based on a Colin Dexter novel and was written by Julian Mitchell, who has written/adapted more Morse screenplays than any other. Morse's close relationship with Lewis is manifested in this episode more than possibly any other. A great deal of humor is to be found in "Masonic Mysteries" (at the Masons' expense), especially from the brief exchanges between Chief Inspector Bottomley, who, working with Lewis, is put in charge of the case. Morse is uncharacteristically upbeat throughout most of the duration of the film, particularly especially given the circumstances he is put in. John Thaw regards this as among his three favorite Morse films (and cites its differing from the others as a factor in that), along with "The Dead of Jericho" ("for sentimental reasons") and "Promised Land". This is the first of two Morse films to be directed by Danny Boyle, the director of such cult hits as "Trainspotting" and "Shallow Grave". The incomparable Ian McDiarmid (who played "The Emperor" in the Star Wars films) stars as the evil-genius nemesis. The Inspector Morse series is widely regarded as the peak in televisual entertainment, and this is a prime example. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Driven to the Wrong Conclusion
Like a lot of the Inspector Morse films, a big clue to cracking the case is contained in the title. Including Morse and Lewis, there is a third person who plays an equally significant part in the investigations in this film: DS Maitland, an expert on crimes against women, of which this case is. She just happens to be one, too. This is perhaps the most straightforward storyline, with only a few twists and turns, one of which crops up at the very end, turning the investigation upside down, and also causing everything to fall into place and make sense. Morse is adamant he has his man from the very start and his contempt for the individual, not only an arrogant car salesman but a blackmailer and convicted wifebeater to boot, blinds his judgment. There are many red herrings in this case and the general rule in writing a "whodunit" - i.e. make the last person the viewer would expect to have done it, do it - is employed cunningly. Overall, this is another shining example of the classy series, brilliantly written by Academy Award Winner Anthony Minghella and directed by Sandy Johnson. It is not difficult to see why this is one of the Morse films Colin Dexter selected as his favorites. ... Read more

Description

Imagine if one day, out of the blue, your wildest dreams came true! That's exactly what happens to junior executive Larry Burrows (James Belushi -- TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS) when he bumps into a mysterious stranger (Michael Caine -- MISS CONGENIALITY, CIDER HOUSE RULES). Instantly, Larry's ho-hum life becomes his ultimate fantasy -- huge mansion, beautiful wife, cars galore. But before long, his new lifestyle isn't so enchanting. Ultimately, Larry discovers it's going to take a lot more than wishful thinking to get back to where he once belonged! Co-starring Linda Hamilton and comedian Jon Lovitz, MR. DESTINY is a delightful rags-to-riches comedy brimming with totally magical entertainment! ... Read more

Reviews (31)

See this movie!
With so many studios using the word "classic" quite liberally nowadays, it's hard to really know anymore. This movie really passes the test. It stars Michael Caine as Mr. Destiny, and Jim Belushi as Larry Burrows, who gets to experience what life could have been. He gets everything he dreamed of, but soon finds out it's not all it's cracked up to be. Linda Hamilton and Jon Lovitz give great supporting performances, this is movie is a gem!

Go forward with your life!
Mr. Destiny is not only fun entertainment, it deals with the question every person asks at some time in their life: How would my life be different now if only I had....? James Belushi charmingly plays the man who lost his job, and finds himself wishing he could change his past and start over. He finds his chance to do just that after a little magical intervention by Mr. Destiny (Michael Caine). With just one change in his past...from losing the big baseball game, to winning it, Belushi's life takes a different path. Suddenly plopped into his new life, with a different wife and a different job, he encounters many troublesome adventures...humorous for the viewer, but disastrous for Belushi. Just at the point of hopelessness, Mr. Destiny intervenes again, but I won't give away anymore of the plot here. I loved Belushi's character... in spite of his troubles, he confronts all situations with grace and humor. The movie is sweet, funny, and even carries an encouraging message: Don't regret the past, but go forward and make the best of what you've got!

sticky sweet
Interesting premise, gets bogged down in complete fantasy. Not even believable for what it is. Second half of the movie is out right ludicrous, with stale pollyannish dialogue. Belushi is one of the rare lights in this dim bulb of a film.

"Swung too late?"
Only James Belushi can take a formula story and turn it into a fun to watch script. Even when you know how it will turn out in the end, the details and how they evolve are fun to watch over and over. And there is a great supporting cast. You could tell where this movie was going when Jewel Jagger (Courteney Cox) threatens to fork Larry Burrows (James Belushi) to death.
Larry Burrows is unhappy with his life and pins most of it on the fact that he swung too late and misses t the ball in a game and in life. Michael Caine as Mr. Destiny gives Larry a new chance be the person he wanted to be. But will he like his new life?

The soundtrack is still available Mr. Destiny (1990 Film)

Don't Fight Your Destiny
Is this movie trying to implying that it's bad to be a greedy, maniacal corporate leader without conscience or empathy? C'mon, get outta here. They could not possibly think THAT up in Hollywood, could they? Well, Mr. Destiny, played by Michael Caine, offers James Belushi a chance to be a wealthy corporate hot shot instead of a regular James. As you can imagine, it does not work our well for James. You know, self-loathing, John Lovitz (a friend) almost commits suicide--the usual stuff. The movie has funny moments, and the pace is pretty good. The ending is somewhat predictable, James is happy to be a regular James (again). It's not all about the money. I don't blame him, I wouldn't wanna be a Kenneth Lay either. ... Read more

Description

"Turnabout," Ep.79 - A female scientist, jealous of Kirk's career, uses an ancient alien device to trade places with him and take command of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The series' final episode! "The Cage," Ep.99 (B&W and color) - The two versions of Star Trek's rarely seen pilot star Jeffrey Hunter as captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise. On an earlier voyage of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise, Kirk's predecessor Captain Christopher Pike tries to rescue an Earth crew that disappeared eighteen years earlier. But it's a trap! Pike is imprisoned in a zoo-like cage and studied by a mysterious higher life-form. "The Cage" Ep.99 was reconstructed with black-and-white footage from Gene Roddenberry's work print and color footage from "The Menagerie" Ep.16. "The Cage" Ep.1 (Color) - This episode includes the long-lost color footage (believed to have been destroyed) from Gene Roddenberry's pilot episode. 185 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Bowing In/Bowing Out
In 1964 Gene Roddenberry pitched his Star Trek idea to NBC executives as "Wagon Train to the Stars." Expecting a western set in space, they gave Roddenberry the go-ahead and set him to work. When they viewed The Cage in early 1965, they must have been surprised. After complaining it was "too cerebral," the suits issued a litany of other complaints: the female second in command (Number One) was unacceptable, and there were too many females in general on the ship ("people will think there's a lot of fooling around going on up there"); the presence of minorities would offend NBC affiliates in the South, who would refuse to air the program; and "that guy with the ears" had to go. Roddenberry was willing to concede the female second in command, but thereafter he dug in his heels: minorities and aliens continue to be a presence in Star Trek to this day.

Watching The Cage from a 21st Century perspective, one wonders what the NBC suits were in a ringer about. The episode is not appreciably higher in concept than many original series episodes, and the whole affair has an appealing "New Frontier" Kennedy-esque flavor.

Somewhat like an Ed Wood movie, Turnabout Intruder is unintentionally humorous. The story idea is ludicrous, the dialogue cringeworthy, and the acting has to be seen to be believed. William Shatner's realization of Kirk's body under the control of Janice Lester (which includes filing his nails and walking with a mincing gait) is the single most over the top performance in all of Trek. He comes across as Joan Crawford on Psilocybin. How his intensely homoerotic moments with guest actor Harry Landers got past the network censors will forever remain a mystery. This story is the greatest camp masterpiece since Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?.

How does this DVD look? The full color version of The Cage is a true restoration, not merely a remastering. The print has been carefully cleaned and color corrected, and various sound elements (dialogue, music, and sound effects) have been remixed from the original sources. Generally it wears its age well, although portions of the dialogue sound fuzzy. The Black & White/Color amalgamation of The Cage is also included. This version has had no rework done, which makes the restoration of the all-color version all the more stunning. Gene Roddenberry's introduction from 1986 is also included, a nice touch.

Saving the first and last for last... um, yeah.
As a final treat for the Trekkies, we see Shatner display Kirk's feminine side in the series swan song, 'Turnabout Intruder', as an old flame takes revenge-- and control of the Enterprise-- by trading bodies with our esteemed starship skipper! Granted, it's sortuva psycho 'Fatal Attraction'-style feminine side, but at least he finally got a role with some real acting range... heh. Sadly, Uhura's absent from the final go-round, and Nurse Chapel has suddenly become a brunette (which I believe is Majel Barrett's natural hair color)! Fortunately, Spock is as logical as ever in this not-half-bad third season eppie. True, it still has a certain degree of hokiness & cheese that makes Star Trek's final year so memorable, but I think it holds up fairly well. It's definitely worth a watch!

Then there's most-anticipated eppie on this platter: the original pilot that didn't quite make the cut. 'The Cage' features a crew of completely-different folks, save for a certain pointy-eared individual. In this adventure, retro-Spock displays a small bit of emotion-he cracks a smile when he touches some vibrating plants, and shouts in surprise when the Talosians steal the women away from the stranded landing party. Nimoy's Boston accent also pokes through on occasion-- listen for his pronunciation of "can't" at the beginning right after the opening credits. This little linguistic characteristic would pop up from time to time in the first season, but eventually waned as the series went on.

Both the black-and-white and full-color versions of 'The Cage' are available here. Although the full-color show is the one I prefer to view, the B/W eppie includes an intro by Gene Roddenberry. I found his anecdotes regarding his early struggles with the networks regarding the pilot to be amusing and informative. His spoken memories kinda reminded me of grampa tellin' the young'uns stories of the good ol' days. It's also interesting to see what 'Star Trek' might have been like had NBC given the series a green light with the first pilot. Oh, the unrealized possibilities...

'Late

STAR TREK THE ORIGINAL SERIES ENDS WITH A WHIMPER!
The final DVD of The 40 volume Star Trek DVD series contians the series incredibly weak and uneven finale and special treat: the unaired original pilot that NBC rejected which is what really sells this one.

It's a real shame that the Star Trek series couldn't have ended a little better than TURNABOUT INTRUDER but sadly it's this awful episode that ends a TV series that still had a ton of promising aspects left in it. Looking back it's easy to say that Star Trek should never been cancelled so early. It's also easy to say that an episode this bad should have never ended the series. TURNABOUT INTRUDER does have to be one of the worst Star Trek episodes to go into production. The plot is simply goofy and weak. A deranged woman swapping her soul into Kirk's body in order for her to fufill her dreams on running a starship is a bad enough idea. However having William Shatner act like a lady trapped inside a man's body is just a sad joke. Shatner (who at the time was suffering from a severe fever during the filming of this episode) turns in perhaps his worst acting performance ever in the series. It's so bad that it's laughable but this episode is downright boring and I wouldn't doubt that poor William Shatner (who I feel is generally a decent actor) begged for another episode of Star Trek to end the series on a stronger note. Unfortunetly this never happend.

The real reason to buy this DVD is of course the unaired pilot THE CAGE. It's not really available anywhere else and has never been included in the TV reruns. It's interesting to watch and see Jeffrey Hunter as Cpt.Pike and a younger more emotional Spock. The episode is pretty good but is ment more for historical or cult purposes. Still it what saves this DVD from being awful.

In conclusion this DVD is still a must despite the awful sad finale. The pilot is essential for Trekkies and is a must see anyways for fans of the Original series like me. This is classic Trek despite the depressing ending of the series so it's recommended but mainly for the Pilot.

*I can't believe I reviewed all forty volumes!*

Worth the Price of Admission for Historical Value!
I'm just gonna go ahead & skip any kind of review of "Turnabout Intruder". More eloquent slams of this episode have been made by others, so there's no need to go into it again.

The primary reson to buy this DVD (whether you're a die-hard Trek geek or just a casual sci-fi fan) is to see the unaired, uncut 1964 pilot, "THE CAGE", and Roddenberry really had it on the money with this one.

Jeffrey Hunter's turn as Captain Christopher Pike exudes the stern, stoic demeanour that would become such a trademark of Jean-Luc Picard, yet he does manage to showcase a glimpse into his humanity, which he keeps hidden from most of the crew, as every good captain must. There are moments in this pilot that act as harbingers of things that audiences would take for granted some thirty years hence on other incarnations of TREK, but they'll more than likely fail to remember or appreciate that it ALL began here. Without this pilot, there would be no Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, or Archer.

The SPFX in this show, while cheesy by today's ILM-on-Steroids standards, were surprisingly good & still manage to impress, even today. This pilot, which was ultimately refused by NBC (Shatner's "WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE" was what finally sold the suits on the show), is TREK at its most distilled. There was really no guideline to go by, no Prime Directive, no purists' / revisionists' history, no continuity to adhere to, no writers' staff to make sure everything fit in the box -- just plain ol', good character-driven science fiction TV.

It's a shame that there wasn't an opportunity to see where Jeffrey Hunter & HIS Enterprise crew would have gone, but thank goodness he was there at all.

Not too bad
I only give this one four stars because the final episode--"Turnabout Intruder"--was pretty lame. Bad way to end the series. The inclusion of two versions of "The Cage" makes the DVD worthwhile, however, along with Gene Roddenberry's little featurette. One point of contention with Jared's review: "The Cage" has, in fact, aired during reruns. While I still have my "all-colour collector's edition" VHS copy, it was played at least once on the Sci-Fi Channel, back when Sci-Fi ran sort of a 23rd-century two-hour program block (Star Trek the first hour, and Babylon 5 the second, which is when I actually got into J. Michael Straczynski's television gem).

I only watched the the B&W/Color version of "The Cage," once for the novelty of it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

More than just a who-done-it
The highlight of this episode is Phyllis Logan. She does a good job of being an ordinary person. You never "see" Lady Felsham in her character. One amusing part of the story is the ceaseless lampooning of academia using the theme of fund raising at Oxford. The basic detective story involves multiple murders and the ways the murderers use to escape justice or receive it themselves by what could be judged as divine guidance of the affairs of mortals.

Morse vs The Women
"The Daughters of Cain" is one of the most clever of all Inspector Morse's adventures. Not only is he up against three women with a deadly purpose, he is somewhat sidetracked by the seductive one of the trio, Ms. Kay Brooks. The mature Morse pitted against a gorgeous girl "on the game" who is half his age? We have lots of sidelines (all of which fit nicely with the plot) like the political correctness of university fundraising, a teenage hoodlum in love, drug dealing, a terminal illness, spousal abuse, and the Ashmolean in danger of being burglarized! This one is sexy and cool, expertly delivered. And no one can express disillusionment (and touch our hearts) like the forthright Sergeant Lewis.

Women Outsmart Morse
The beauty of this story is that Morse acknowledges he is being outwitted by three interesting women. The plot starts in such a simple way with an unlikely friendship between a cleaning lady and a teacher. When it progresses to include a high priced girl "on the game", Morse becomes entranced as well as baffled. Everything works here - the writing, the directing, the acting. Morse is intrigued and so are we. Our wonderfully honorable Sergeant Lewis struggles with the politics of police work, disillusioned and hurting. Thaw and Watley have excellence to work with in this episode and they pull it off with exceptional skill.

Daughters of Cain
A thoroughly well-crafted and intriguing mystery. Though the focus is on "payback" by women, the wonders of figuring out how and when the deadly deed was committed, make for a great film-watching journey for any Morse or mystery lover. Performances are especially well-given and the cast is a little larger than usual. I especially liked the Shakespearean themes interwoven. The Lady MacBeth touches are irresistible. If you like good plotting this is for you. There's always a side story going on about the lives of Morse and Lewis. In this one, Lewis faces some career challenges. ... Read more

Description

"For the World is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky," Ep. 65 - Oracle, an unrelenting computer, has control of the Yonada planet, which is really a spaceship. Kirk and crew must free up control or all Yondans will die. "Day of the Dove," Ep. 66 - The only episode with a female Klingon has the aliens battling Kirk's crew aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. Who is controlling this fight where even fatal wounds heal instantly? ... Read more

Reviews (8)

More amazing third-season Trek megacheese!
After finally seeing the "For The World Is Hollow..." for the first time ever, all I can say is: it's about time! After two-and-a-half seasons featuring either Captain Kirk baggin' the babe or Mister Spock playing 'hard to get', ignoring the advances of would-be love interests (the tease!), it's about time McCoy got a bit of romance thrown his way! Even Scotty got a few dates in before Bones' love connection! Unfortunately, I discovered the reason why Cupid hasn't been too kind to the good doctor: he's a cold fish when it comes to kissing! His two lip-locks with Natira were about as romantic as taking your date to see the latest 'Friday The 13th' sequel. But, on the bright side, his one brush with couplehood is one more than most Trekkies could ever hope to attain... heh.

Then there's "Day of The Dove", a showcase of Star Trek's third-season production budget cutback woes. This is especially apparent with the Klingon makeup- the swarthiness is uneven, and a bit too shiny. And the destruction of Kang's abandoned ship is cheesier-looking than the usual silly outer space FX one has come to know and love about the series. But, on the upside, if you're looking for some of that infamous over-the-top Kirkian halting dialogue full of heavy-handed moralizing, this particular eppie's got it in spades!

'Late!

One classic schmaltz, one classic action episode
For the World is Hollow and I have touched the sky-This episode, featuring an oracle and a McCoy romance, is fairly weak.
The episode has a schmaltzy, soap opera feel, and not much happens. The predictable, Oz-like ending doesn't help. Don't call me a hater, but one of the biggest problems-along with the dialogue and lack of action-is Deforest Kelley's passionless performance as a man in love. (2 stars)

Day of the Dove-This action-packed and creepily atmospheric episode concerns a fight to the death (and beyond?) aboard the Enterprise against the Klingons. We are dropped right into the episode, with immediate violence, which pulls us into the episode's urgency and ominousness. The parties really appear quite powerless to stop their decent into total warfare. We are given our richest depiction of Klingons here, most notably in the thoughtful Kang (played by Michael Ansara). The lighting and nervous score contributes to the sense of doom and insanity aboard the ship.

This episode also has a stronger moral foundation than many 3rd season shows. We see people forced to set aside their differences and mutual suspicion in order to break the cycle of violence. Also present are the ideas that some entities thrive on hate, hate corrupts absolutely, and that laughter is sometimes the best medicine. One of the few negatives to be said about this episode is that the conclusion is ho-hum, convenient, and rushed. Better handled, it could have been one of the few 3rd season episodes to end on an uplifting note. By this point in the show, however, momentum was starting to build, as opportunities were allowed to slip away. more on this in reviews of later episodes.

Tidbits: A fraction of the scene in the corridor between Chekov and Kang's daughter shows up in the movie Koyaniskatsi. (4 stars)

DECENT STAR TREK THIRD SEASON DVD!!!
Volume 33 of the Star Trek DVD series contains two of the third season's flawed yet decent episodes. Both episodes suffer from Star Trek's third season syndrome but nonetheless are classics.

FOR THE WORLD IS HOLLOW AND I HAVE TOUCHED THE SKY finds Kirk, Spock and McCoy venturing to the Yonada planet (which is really a space ship on a collision course with an asteroid). The oracle which is a relentless computer controls the ship and it must be stopped to save the good people of Yonada. Meanwhile McCoy discovers he's suffering from a disease and only has a year to live. Upon arrival on Yonada, McCoy meets up with Natira (Kate Woodville) and falls in love. This episode marks the first time McCoy ever brushed with romance really. You would think it would be more of a landmark episode but it isn't really. Mainly cause this plot was done before and way better on THE PARADISE SYNDROME. A nice enjoyable episode but nothing to special here. Average at best.

DAY OF THE DOVE probably should have been a terrible episode of Star Trek because of it was one of the cheapest Star Trek episodes ever produced. However strangely it ended up being one of the third season's most popular episodes. Probably cause of the presence of Klingons and the fact that most of the episode is packed with action and fighting scenes. The appearance of Mike Ansaras as Kang the Klingon Commander also boosts this episode's status. However DAY OF THE DOVE suffers from a weak plot line. The idea of a bizarre entity feeding off the hatred of Humans and Klingons is kinda far fetched and the ending of this episode is utterly weak. Although it is a classic and a enjoyable show with Klingons and action and all, but when you get down to the nitty gritty this is an average episode of Star Trek at best.

Overall a nice collection but not really classic. Both episodes are totally watchable though and DAY OF THE DOVE is actually a favourite of many. The appearance of Klingons almost always set the stage for a good Star Trek episode. Highly recommended!

Meanwhile, Unbeknownst to Our Principal Characters...
"For the World Is Hollow..." is a hackneyed plot - a Star Trek staple plot, for that matter - but well done. The Enterprise encounters an asteroid that isn't an asteroid - it's a hollow, artificial planet, carrying the descendants of a distant race to their eventual new home, run by a computer that overdoes its protective job of caring for them and has gone a little megalomaniacal. The high priestess of the artificial planet - who, like her people, does not know she is inside a hollowed out asteroid, or that her god is a computer - takes a fancy to Dr. McCoy, who has recently discovered (will the cliches never end?) he has only a few months left to live, and as a result accepts her proposal of marriage and retires from Starfleet service to spend his final days with her. Needless to say, Kirk and Spock have to rectify the entire situation. The episode is nicely produced, for how [inexpensive] it is - the entire third season was [inexpensive] - and Kate Woodville is endearingly naive and regal as Natira, the asteroid-planet's priestess/McCoy's new bride. The sets and costumes are quite attractive and colorful.

"Day of the Dove" is great fun, more for its cast and the gusto with which they perform their roles than for the story itself. Kirk and Co. find themselves lured by a fake distress signal to a planet where only a half dozen Klingons survive. The Klingons blame the Federation for having lured them to the same planet with a fake distress signal, and killing most of his crew. After Kirk gets them safely rounded-up and under guard aboard the Enterprise, all hell breaks loose: an unseen power hijacks the ship outside the solar system at Warp 9, in circles, and releases and arms the Klingons and the Enterprise crew with swords; the two rival races fight to the death, over and over again, since the same unseen third party seems also somehow to keep repairing their injured bodies. Kirk, one way or another, has to gain the trust of the Klingon leader to identify and eliminate the alien invader responsible for the carnage, before they are trapped in eternal warfare with each other.

"Dove" is a real scenery-chewer, and one of the [least expensive]-ever episodes of the series. Only the Enterprise core cast and a handful of Klingons are ever seen - everyone else, we are informed, has been sealed off (conveniently and cheaply) below decks - leaving them to roll their eyes and gnash their teeth in artificially induced fury for most of the hour. Michael Ansara, who never disappoints, is ideal as the Klingon captain, Kang, and Susan Howard - in one of her final performances before permanently retiring from acting - is appealing and interesting as his emotionally torn wife, Mara.

2 More great episodes from season 3
Those who exnay Star Trek's 3rd season obviously didn't watch all the episodes thoroughly. "World is Hollow..." is a great story with McCoy falling in love after being diagnosed with a fatal illness. "Day of the Dove" is one of the best Klingon related stories in Trekdom...with Michael Ansara as Kang. Great SFX thoughout the story, plus our first look at the Klingon women. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Typical excellence - and one extra feature
A painter dies mysteriously, and various interests including his father, his erstwhile model and a mysterious rich man all seem to have something to do with it. Typically excellent fare from the Morse team, with the great John Thaw (a national resource, and his death from cancer was a dreadful loss) in typically grumpy and expressive form as Morse, and gorgeous, sunlit English landscapes - in Morse's England it practically never rains (not that I mind). But I hope you don't mind my saying that it is something else that makes this one episode absolutely unforgettable for me: the mysterious model - a single mother living a life of squalor in one of Morse's few genuine slum dwellings - is Nicola Cowper, a little-known English actress who is probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. She simply burns on the screen like a flame. One does not wonder that one character is troubled by her almost to his death, and that another is willing to pay for her favours. But even if you do not share my taste for small, exquisite, intense women, you will still not regret buying this episode. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Love of His Life
How could any Inspector Morse fan resist this one for the ultimate in romantic poignancy? It begins with a startled look on Morse's face when he realizes the dead body belongs to the husband of his lover who broke his heart (and ruined his university career) by leaving him many years ago. It ends with Sergeant Lewis protecting his partner with a touching loyalty expressed through subtly phrased lines. Susan Fallon (Joanna David) is the lovely, accomplished blonde with whom we would imagine Morse falling in love (and surely never completely out of love.) Despite Morse's usual ill temper and irritation with the world, we forgive him his faults in those scenes when his blue eyes soften and tear with the pain of loving this woman. (Haven't we all loved and lost?) The script skillfully balances the dark side of human nature and its need for revenge with the hope that no matter how much we lose, love can still endure. This is a special episode to be savored many times for its intimate glimpses into our favorite detective's heart. And, yes, he wears it on his sleeve with a resonance only the late John Thaw could deliver.

Morse loves and loses... or does he?
This one, penned by the always reliable Daniel Boyle (who also wrote "Second Time Around" and "Deadly Slumber" among others), has to be one of the best Morse episodes. True, it would most certainly make Morse purists shudder because its plot developments are inconsistent with the Morse character as he is developed in the novels (in the novel "The Riddle of the Third Mile," which was later adapted for television as "The Last Enemy," refers to a character named Wendy who was Morse's lost love back at school; in "Dead on Time" this lost love of Morse's is named Susan). And true, the plot developments are at times illogical. But, this film's plot is only secondary; what is of primary importance is the character of Morse and the kind of sensitivity John Thaw gives this character when he is confronted with this, perhaps his most emotionally charged case. The plot: Morse is called to investigate the apparant suicide of Oxford don Henry Fallon. To make things complicated, the investigation leads Morse to suspect that the suicide was indeed murder set up to look like suicide. To make things more complicated, Henry Fallon was the husband of Susan Fallon, the woman Morse was engaged to so many years ago. To top off all these complications, there is a reemergence of feeling on the part of Morse, a rekindling of this love that he once had. You throw into the mix a bit of Shubert, some hard detective work by Lewis, an uneaten chocolate digestive in Strange's dest, and what you have is vintage Morse. Kudos to John Thaw, as always. He's a marvel and a skilled actor, capable of portraying a Morse that is both angry and tender. Buy this already. ... Read more

Description

Here's the edge-of-your-seat thriller that delivers unrelenting suspense and nonstop action! Donald Sutherland (DISCLOSURE, BACKDRAFT) leads a team of top-level government agents who make a chilling discovery: extraterrestrial beings have landed and are quickly taking control of the residents of a small midwestern town -- manipulating their bodies and minds like puppets! Faced with an escalating crisis as the creatures multiply and spread, the team must somehow eliminate the seemingly unstoppable aliens. With riveting special effects and heart-stopping action, THE PUPPET MASTERS is sure to thrill you! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Don't Overlook This "Recent Classic" Sci-Fi

Do NOT confuse this movie with the similarly titled, low-budget series of "Puppet Master" films about demonic marionettes!

"The Puppet Masters" (1994) DVD is definitely worth a viewing or two, and...you shouldn't pass up the opportunity to buy this DVD for your collection. If some of the material seems trite, keep in mind that this is a near-faithful adaptation of Robert Heinlein's book of the same title, as originally published in 1951. Many elements that are overly familiar to today's sci-fi fans originated here.

This film boasts good performances (Donald Sutherland, Eric Thal) and some creepy special effects. The first 30 minutes or so are especially well crafted. There are lulls but also surprises, including a convention center scene that is highly exciting, and some suspenseful military scenes, too. The last half-hour degenerates somewhat (in my opinion) with a fight that goes on for too long and the by now standard "It's over"/"Oh, it's not over" stuff, but all in all I have few reservations about recommending this underrated movie.

Within its genre, this film is really top notch!
The Puppet Masters is one of those films that most people will pass over, thinking it is similar to those murderous "puppet" movies made by one of those straight to video companies.

I'll admit that I watched this film not because I was aching to see it but because it had an interesting sounding premise for a sci-fi film - one that seemed very familiar. I'm not a huge sci-fi buff, but I'll give them their due when warranted.

I do like Donald Sutherland. He has truly been a venerable screen actor.

In this film, Sutherland plays a government operative charged with discovering the truth about an possible UFO landing in Iowa. Joining him is his secret service-like son, played very well by Eric Thal. Rounding out their investigative group is a NASA scientist played by Julie Warner. Thal and Warner are both very attractive and athletic looking. Thal has the looks of a fashion model and the body of a tri-athlete. When he peels off his shirt you can see every sinuey muscle in his chest and abdomen. This is not a guy that I would want to have to go up against. And that fact plays out as he and the team are forced to face a formidable foe in the aliens who have landed.

The Puppet Masters is supposedly the source material for the Invasion of the Body Snatchers films. Written by Robert Heinlien, the book (I've not read it) is supposedly very similar to this movie, but not to the Body Snatcher movies.

The aliens in this film don't envelope the humans as in the early films and then replicate them. They are parasitic and take over their human host's minds.

This movie has many exciting moments and will have you on the edge of your seat quite often. I found it refreshingly simplistic in its approach - lacking the early films' attempt to maintain Heinlien's supposed inferences to the McCarthyism of the 1950's. Instead, I saw a pure sci-fi film that really was believable but for one key point. Richard Belzer becomes infected with an alien and then has it removed. He goes through severe withdrawals when the creature is removed and ends up committing suicide. Subsequent removals of aliens from victims do not result in withdrawals Belzer experienced and certainly do not result in suicides. In fact, the freed victims seem to have a strong resolve to them. You might write this off to a stronger resolve than Belzer's character, except that he is a government agent who should have such a strong resolve.

That one point aside, the movie does maintain as much continuity as can be shown and maintains its "believability."

No - it's not great - but within its genre, this film aint too bad.

INTERESTING RETELLING OF CLASSIC STORY
Sci fi fans will know that PUPPET MASTERS, based on Robert Heinlein's book, has surfaced twice before in the two INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHER movies. Ironically, Donald Sutherland, who starred in the 80s remake, is in this one, as well. PUPPET MASTERS is different from the BODY SNATCHER in that the ultimate darkness of those two is defeated by an upbeat, man beats the alien ending. This movie also gives us some really frightening looking creatures and some breathtaking action sequences. Sutherland is his usual sturdy self; Eric Thal is quite good as his son; and Julie Warner is very good as the woman scientist. The movie has menace, and while it is not as atmospheric as the SNATCHER movies, it comes across more action oriented, and there's nothing wrong with that, when it is handled this well.

Heilnein On Screen
This is a movie of alien invasion through the control of humans. The aliens arrive in a flash of light that is witnessed by three boys (not two) who set off to see what is up.

Enter Donald Sutherland as the head of a team investigating the phenomenon. They find a curious setup. The three kids are charging people to see the space ship. This is obviously not a real space ship, so what is going on?

As we find out, we have been invaded by small aliens that attach themselves to the human nervous system and then control them. They are spreading quickly.

The aliens are working at spreading their numbers as well as their influence. They try to sabotage Sutherland's team as well as aim at government officials.

The aliens keep busy and the team keeps trying to contain and predict them. Witty lines and fast scenes keep the film moving to its surprising conclusion.

A must for sci-fi and Heinlein fans. Great effects, neat monsters and a good story. Check it out.

Starts well, falls flat
I'm not sure what happened here. The cast is great (especially the always dependable Donald Sutherland as the Old Man) and the script starts out well. But somewhere in the middle it falls flat and stays that way until the end.

The movie is based on Robert A. Heinlein's SF classic of the same name, which was written at around the same time as Jack Finney's similarly-themed _The Body Snatchers_ (one film adaptation of which, incidentally, also featured Sutherland). The book isn't Heinlein's best work but his worst is at least readable.

Likewise, the movie is mostly watchable. It just doesn't maintain its crackle all the way through. And at this late date, we really need something more impressive than the usual run of 'pod people' to justify making this movie, since Finney's book has already been done _three times_. (And yes, I _do_ want a movie -- and a book -- where somebody asks why the aliens 'hate' us. Was _The Day the Earth Stood Still_ filmed in vain?)

I really wanted to like it, and to some extent I do. I'm just disappointed that even an underwhelming Heinlein work got such a tame screen adaptation. ... Read more

Description

A rich and emotionally charged drama about the seductive anddestructive nature of passion. Socialite Madeleine invites her bohemian sister Dinah tostay with her and her husband, Rickie. Rickie and his sister-in-law find themselvesunable to control their desire for one another. What starts as a momentary affair spiralsinto decades of deception, ecstasy, and passion. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

If you liked this one...
If you enjoyed Heart of Me as I did, I would also suggest the movie "Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights" (with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche) and "Till Human Voices Wake Us" (also with Helena Bonham Carter and Guy Pearce). Wuthering Heights is chilling and the acting is superb. Till Human Voices is a powerful story with brilliant cinematography. Hope you enjoy.

disappointing audio commentary
The movie was great, but the commentary is pretty awful, as the director seems largely inarticulate and has little to say. while the movie continues in full sound without any commentary (we have already watched the movie), but, then, it seems that good commentary is rare.

Brilliantly acted drama
"The Heart of Me" is pure, unadulterated soap opera redeemed by the kind of high-toned, stiff-upper-lip seriousness of which the British seem uniquely capable. Set primarily in the 1930's, the film tells the story of two sisters caught in a passionate and quasi-incestuous love triangle. Madeline (Olivia Williams), the older of the two, is an uptight woman whose weak-willed husband, Rickie (Paul Bettany), falls in love with her younger and more free-spirited sibling, Dinah (Helena Bonham Carter). These two in-laws, soul mates for life, carry on a torrid love affair until Madeline discovers the truth - and even for a time thereafter.

Given the material, "The Heart of Me" could easily have devolved into a cheap, sensationalistic melodrama for the "Masterpiece Theatre" set. Instead, thanks to truly brilliant performances by the three principal actors and an intelligent, thoughtful screenplay, the film becomes a wholly absorbing drama that offers profound insights into the realities of the human heart. The pain each of these people experiences is so palpable in its intensity that it washes away all traces of artificiality and contrivance. The film becomes a fascinating study of what happens when clanging passions are hemmed in by the restrictions and proprieties of a strict, morally repressive upper class society. Rickie and Dinah choose to turn themselves into social pariahs, then must face the consequences of their convention-defying actions. Of most interest is the emotionally complex relationship between the two very different sisters. What makes the film special is the way in which it allows the seemingly cold-hearted Madeline to become as much a sympathetic figure as the two impassioned lovers. Thanks to Williams' impeccable performance (she played Penelope in the TV movie version of "The Odyssey"), Madeline is allowed to live and breathe and have her own say, making her, in many ways, the most intriguing of the three main characters.

"The Heart of Me," which is beautifully detailed in costumes and settings, transcends the limits of its genre to deliver a heartbreaking tale of love, loss, lament - and hope.

about the movie the heart of me.......
The storoy is basically about one of the actress Dinah whom got pregnant after sex with the actress's husband(Maldeleine) whom later try to tie down Maldeleine's husband by messing with their marriage. I am notgoing to say anything more to the story to make the movie boring to watch. There are two sex scenes inside and also for those whom are interested to watch this genre of movie. I watch this at Singapore theatre.

Amazing Movie
This movie strikes a deep emotional chord... two sisters, both very different, one an artist who follows her heart, which at times seems a bit impetuous, the other a reserved and proper wife and mother seeking seemingly unselfishly to maintain her status quo. The movie takes you deftly into their positions in life, and though you may have a favorite of the two by the end, it is surely not for lack of understanding the entirety of each character. Love and betrayal, candor and lies. Each loving the same man, for different reasons and purposes. It is an amazing journey that will take you through the spectrum of each emotion - longing, hope, despair, love, angst, pride, freedom, ultimate loss and again, hope. I highly recommend this movie.

If you enjoy the dynamics of this movie, you may also enjoy Possession, in which Jennifer Ehle and Jeremy Northam shine. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This affecting, bittersweet tale--adapted from Brian Friel's semi-autobiographical Tony Award-winning play--examines the emotional lives of the five unmarried Mundy sisters in 1936 rural Ireland. In their mutual care is 8-year-old Michael (sweetly understated Darrell Johnston), the illegitimate son of youngest sister Christina (Braveheart's Catherine McCormack). A voice-over from the adult Michael recalls that significant summer, in the month of August, during the feast of Lughnasa. The bolder townfolk dance around a fire to Lugh, an ancient god of light. Yes, this is fiercely Roman Catholic Ireland and Lugh a pagan god, but that irony is at the core of the film, the hypocrisy of tradition. The dramatic change in the richly metaphoric movie comes with the arrival of two men: eldest sibling--and only Mundy brother--Jack (Michael Gambon), a priest returning from many years in Africa, now addled, and Christine's long-absent lover and Michael's father, the charmingly flighty Gerry (Rhys Ifans). Beautiful music and excellent performances highlight the film, which also features gorgeous cinematography of the Irish countryside. Meryl Streep is stern eldest sister Kate; Kathy Burke is lively Maggie; Brid Brennan (who appeared in the stage play) is thoughtful caretaker Agnes; and Sophie Thompson is simple sweet Rose. It's a quiet film, but one filled with ironic and haunting meaning. Directed by Pat O'Connor (Circle of Friends). --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (22)

A quiet film, and hauntingly lovely
Dancing at Lughnasa, a movie adapted from an autobiography, delves into the lives of five women, unmarried sisters living in rural Ireland in the 30s. The youngest sister has given birth to an illegitimate son, and at the beginning of the movie Michael, the little boy, is 8 year old. There's a pagan ritual that the village observes every August, a night when they dance around a fire in honor of the god Lugh, the ancient god of light. But wait? Aren't these villagers good Catholics? It's Ireland, after all. The answer is yes...at least, sort of.
Tensions increase with the arrival of 2 men. One is the only brother in this family, an elderly priest returning from missionary work in Africa, where he apparently slowly lost his mind. The other is Gerry (Rhys Ifans), Michael's long-absent father who's still not about to commit to much of anything. Meryl Streep plays the eldest sister, often a shrew, but always riveting.
It's a good one, augmented with gorgeous music and stunning cinematography of the incomparable Irish countryside.

One Irish summer
A man fondly recalls the summer of 1936, when he was eight years old in this Irish slice-of-life drama. Young Michael lives with his unmarried mother and her four spinster sisters, including Kate (Meryl Streep). The women make a meager living by knitting gloves, until a knitting factory opens nearby. Into their quiet and ordered lives comes their older brother, a priest who spent his life in Africa and has suffered a kind of breakdown, and Michael's long-unseen father, an adventurer who's on his way to fight against Franco.

This is a very quiet and slow-paced film. It succeeds in capturing the lifestyle, character, and beauty of the Irish countryside, when all that mattered was your family and church. There is very little action - a motor cycle ride, listening to the radio, and on one special night, dancing in the yard - but that makes the film even more poignant. Based on an autobiographical play, Dancing at Lughnasa is a raw, no-frills look back in time, with an art-house-film feel. Fans of Meryl Streep will enjoy her fine performance as the strict and melancholy eldest sister. Michael Gambon gives a sympathetic performance as the confused priest who has come home to die.

Stellar cast and director can't save this turkey!
God, what a disappointment! I am a huge fan of both Meryl Streep and Michael Gambon, and I know Brian Friel has written some wonderful plays and screenplays -- so I couldn't believe what a dismal bore this turned out to be. As other reviewers have said, practically NOTHING happens, except that these five lonely, pathetic, spinster sisters sit around and bicker at each other. Streep's character is a priggish, joyless nag who makes her sisters even more depressed than they already have reason to be. At times the film seems to be building up to some climactic event (somebody will die or get knocked up), but then... nothing. And the sisters' big, exuberant dance scene near the end seemed totally fake and tacked-on to me -- I suspect they included that just so they could put it in the movie's trailer!

Not What I Expected
The only reason it even gets two stars is that Meryl Streep is in it!

When I saw this movie, I had just found Wicca. I pretty much said to anyone I met, "Hi, my name's Barb, nice to meet you. I'm a Witch." I was still in that first falling-in-love phase. As a matter of fact, I still thought that Wicca was "The Old Religion!"

Someone reccomended this movie to me as a movie that portrayed Pagans in a positive light and it had Meryl Streep in it! I fully expected a story about a Lughhnasa Rite. NOT!

This movie is actually quite boring and is the only movie with Meryl Streep in it that I've seen that I haven't liked! It's basically a story about three sisters that live in Ireland in the(I think)1950's.

There is only one brief part about Pagans in it, and they are definietely NOT PORTRAYED IN A POSITIVE LIGHT! There is a brief scene of drunken revelry where a group of people who identify themselves as Pagans appear to be engaging in orgiastic behavior.

Not only that, there is an intimation that they might possibly force the young woman who was brought to this not even knowing what it was, to join them!...

THEATER AND MOVIES
The old saying that says that a play can not become a satisfying movie is again the situation here.Although all the actors do play their roles convincigly,it's basically a play that can't be openned up.There is a feeling of mental distorsion throughout;two characters are affected by it.This convey a melancholic mood to the story.As it is ,i still enjoy the movie because of CATHERINE MCCORMACK and her fabulous ironic smile.I like the scene when she says to her son:come i'll put you to bed,perhaps because i envy the kid. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A Classic Star Trek Episode
"The Menagerie" has consistently scored as one of the top ten most popular episodes of the original series. Both the flashback and wraparound plotlines are among the best Star Trek had to offer. Spock is willing to sacrifice his career--and perhaps his life--to ensure that Christopher Pike, his former Captain--horribly disfigured by a recent space disaster--can spend his remaining years in comfort and happiness. If that is not an act of love, I don't know what is.

Paramount has simply outdone itself in the remastering of this episode. The flashback elements date back to 1964, yet they look so fresh they could have been filmed yesterday. It is also interesting to see the great care the original cinematographer took with lighting--most of the compositions are simply beautiful--and far superior to today's more flatly lit approach. The sound has been remarkably enhanced, with both the sound effects and score in stereo.

It is interesting to compare "The Cage" with the original series. Although it is very impressive as science fiction, there is very little chemistry between the characters (similar to "The Next Generation"). Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and the consistently underrated William Shater made a far more effective team in that respect.

This is a must for all Star Trek fans.

The Menagerie hasn't been Caged
The only two part episode of the original series. Takes place on Talos IV, recounts the mission of Captain Christopher Pike . 13 years later, Spock kidnaps the now crippled Pike and returns him to Talos IV. Spock is court martialed for his actions and faces the death penalty. (This episode is a remake of the original pilot "The Cage")

Illusions and Perceptions - two words that summarize this episdoe. When is a cage a