Reviews (4)

My favorite SET of Poirots So Far!!
I have all the DVD sets of Poirot - except for #6 which I am fixing to order! I LOVED this DVD the best so far!! Number #5 was so intertaining - and I highly recommend it.

It's great to have "Poirot" on video!
I so enjoyed the "Poirot" series when it was shown on PBS during the 1990's. David Suchet is for me the definitive Hercule Poirot, while Hugh Fraser and Philip Jackson are exactly how I always picture the characters of Captain Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp to be. This "Poirot" Box Set #5 contains three outstanding one-hour episodes. "The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor" is a haunting tale of the supernatural. Young and beautiful Susan Maltravers, mistress of Marsdon Manor, is being tormented by visions of a girl who killed herself years ago on the Manor grounds. I wouldn't like to reveal any more of the plot that, but I would like to mention that in the episode the camera work is a remarkable feature and the denouement is terrifying. "The Double Clue" is a clever story about a theft that occurs during an elegant garden party. Even his romantic feelings for a Russian countess cannot distract Poirot from his first duty, to track down the thief. "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" is my personal favorite of the three episodes, an OTHELLO-like tale of jealous lovers. In addition to fine acting from each cast member and delightful period sets and costumes, each episode features a musical score that perfectly evokes the mood of the story. Anyone who loves the "Poirot" series will thoroughly enjoy this box set. Check out the other sets and the many full-length (103 minute) "Poirot" features, as well.

Still top notch entertainment
Thanks to Acorn Media, we may very well soon have all the Hercule Poirot episodes available for easy watching, the shorter ones on tape and the longer on DVD. With the arrival of Set 5, we have cases 13-15 from the classic BBC series that was once shown on PBS and currently in shamefully abbreviated forms on a commercial channel.

I have already posted my general comments about this series on the webpages for the first four sets, so let me cut to the chase.

"The Tragedy of Marsdon Manor" begins comically enough with a would-be mystery writer of an inn owner summoning Poirot to solve a baffling case that happens to be fictional. Naturally a real death takes place under what seems to be supernatural circumstances; and the production does indeed create a wonderfully English country manor spooky-ness that makes this worth watching. Never mind that the solution involves all sorts of twists that verge on the incredible; but to invert the aphorism in "Sleuth," this is Inspector Fiction, not Inspector Fact.

"The Double Clue" is exceptional in that it shows Poirot emotionally involved with a suspect, a fascinating (at least to him) Russian countess who might or might not be involved in a series of jewel thefts. Japp is honestly in fear of losing his job unless the thefts are stopped, while Miss Lemon and Hastings do their own sleuthing as Poirot spends time with the countess. "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" has a plot within the plot, so to speak, rather far-fetched. However, the presence of actor John McEnery and the opening surreally filmed dueling sequence more than make up for any storyline inconsistencies.

Again, it is always instructive to compare these dramatizations with the originals; but the former stand up very nicely on their own.

More gorgeous Poirot adventures
The neat-freak Belgian Hercule Poirot returns, along with the faithful Captain Hastings, blunt Scotland Yard Inspector Japp, and hyper-efficient Miss Lemon.

"The Double Clue" is a bit of a tearjerker--jewels vanish, Japp's job is on the line, and Poirot is beginning to fall for one of the suspects, neglecting his job. Hastings and Miss Lemon attempt to salvage the investigation, but without Poirot they are going to have trouble. The end is sad, and this is the first of the Poirot shows to indicate that Miss Lemon might have more than professional feelings for her employer.

"The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" is a strange story about love, deceit, jealousy, honor, and lots of swords. A man is found stabbed in a "Spanish Chest"--and even Poirot is being checked out. This includes the excellent scene where Poirot, along with a friend, end up dancing the Charleston (with very bad grace)

"The Tragedy of Marsden Manor" is a particular favorite, with an elderly man dying unexpectedly and leaving a beautiful young widow who is being attacked by a ghost. The actress playing Lady Marsden is downright chilling at times, such as when she is staring up at the trees, and this story includes a man asking Poirot to proofread his mystery novel. ... Read more

Reviews (292)

Truly a cult classic!!!!!!!!!
When I first saw this film it scared the Hell outa me. George A Remero is a genuis. this film spawned a new genre of horror movies like "Halloween," and The "Evil Dead" series. This film is definately the best horror movie of all time. Although Black and White films are mostly corney and dull, this is one of those films that set the standards for future movies to come.
Anyway, A satalite from outerspace let out radiation from the planet Venus and is causing the dead to walk. Barbara (Judth O'dea) and her brother Johnny (Russel Streiner) go to visit a deseaced family member to pay respects.
Barbara and Johnny were attacked by the famous cemetary ghoul (Bill Heinzman). Barbara Escapes to the car and makes it to a nearby farmhouse only to meet her hero Ben (Duane Jones) who helps her through this incredible ordeal. later they find out five people are in the basement hiding out. Ben and the others must come together to defeat these terrible flesheating creatures outside. This is my favorite film of all time and I defenitally recommend it. I give it two thumbs up. I also liked the remake in 1990 by Tom Savini. He did an exellent job of bringing back the characters although it was missing the erie atmosphere the original had. Savini's good, but he'll never be a George Remero.

The original is always best!!!!!!!!!
Night of the living Dead is the best horror movie picture of all time in my eyes. I give it 5 stars for its creepy soundtrack and its great one of a kind feel. It starts with Barbara(Judith O'dea) and her brother Johnny going to visit thier mothers grave to pay thier respects, when all of a sudden "Ther're comming to get you Barbara" says Johnny just fooling around. and it actually turns out to be the creepiest Zombie of the film. Anyway Johnny gets what was coming to him and Barbara gets away and runs to a nearby farmhouse where Ben(Duane Jones)helps board down the doors and windows to keep the flesh eaters out. later on they find out there were five people in the basement hiding. The whole plot is seven people in an isolated farmhouse trying to stay out of reach of the flesh eating ghouls outside the house for the night. The film that started the best and coolest Dead series of all-time, thanks to George A. Remero.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
BY FAR THE ABSOLUTE BEST ZOMBIE MOVIE EVER!!! BEING IN BLACK AND WHITE ONLY MAKES THIS CLASSIC SCARIER.THE MOOD OF THIS FILM IS INCREDIBLE. JUDITH ODEA DESERVES AN AWARD FOR HER ACTING!!SHE GAVE AN EXTREMELY CONVINCING PERFORMANCE.NOT VERY GORY BUT DEFINITELY SCARY!!!!THE SOUNDTRACK IS AWESOME AND IS A BIG PART OF WHY THIS FILM IS SO FRIGHTENING.A DEFINITE TRUE HORROR MOVIE THAT SHOULD BE SEEN AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE OR MANY, MANY TIMES LIKE MYSELF.A+++++ ALL AROUND!!!! GET THIS MOVIE.

Piece of Crap.
Another terrible movie from that terrible Director George A. Romero. This time, there are only about twenty zombies waiting outside.

The zombies in this look better than those in Dawn of the Dead (1978)but are still very boring and unrealistic. Like i've said before, zombies wouldn't be able to move without certain orgains opertating properly in their bodies. Another thing I have just discovered is the fact that if the heart and lungs were operating and moving the body, then the rest of the organs in the body would be recieving blood, so they would be operating too. Meaning the body would be alive. ALIVE!!!!

The story is terrible. A group of people seek shelter in some house and, for some reason, are afraid to leave. There are about 15-20 zombies waiting outside. Why don't they just brake in the house? Because the man sets a chair on fire and throws it outside. Wait a minute. Why are they afraid of fire? They're dead. They don't know what fire is and they don't get hurt by the flames. Why does it scare them so? Romero never answered that question. It sounds to me like Romero just needed an answer.

Another question not answered. Why are zombies walking around the earth? They put out the idea of radiation from Venus, but never confirmed it. In Dawn of the Dead (1978) they said that there was a possibility of a viral outbreak. So , they still haven't found the answer. I wonder when Romero will tell the answer. If Romero doesn't need to answer the question, why does James Gunn's and Zack Snyder's obviousley superior version of Dawn need an explanation. They set out the idea of a virus, just like the original Dawn. Who knows? It sounds to me like the people are just trying find away to make an argument between which version of Dawn was better. The answer to that is obvious. The new Dawn.

The acting is terrible. I know it was low-budget, but you could get better women performances from the lady serving you at the resteraunt. The women in the movie were just terrible. The men were good, but the women were terrible. I couldn't stand them.

This is a comedy that was poorly done. It wasn't very funny and...What? It's not a comedy? It looked like a comedy. It wasn't scary, or entertaining as a matter of fact. I thought they were trying to be funny. The way the zombies acted, the acting, the lines, the pathetic attempt to gas up the truck. I thought this was supposed to be a comedy.

This is a terrible movie and a terrible DVD. I think it's about time George Romero died. He's just not a good director.

Thank god they fired him from Resident Evil. I can't stand thinking of the name. George A. Romero's Resident Evil. It's the George A. Romero's part that I don't like. Paul Anderson did a better job than Romero would have ever done.

A Classic That Worms Its Way Into Your Dreams
"Night of the Living Dead" is a classic that worms its way into your dreams. Truly amazing stuff. Back when Romero and Russo wrote and films this, they did not yet realize they were created a whole new subgenre of horror. Much as I like the remake, the undead are creepiest in the shadows of black and white film.

I'm writing to respond to one reviewer's nitpick and another reviewer's well-intentioned mistake. Complaining that most of it is in mono is like complaining that it's in black and white. That's how the original was made, plain and simple. Another reviewer complained about how horrible the version with added footage is. That individual is right about that version, but that's the 30th Anniversary Edition and NOT the Millenium Edition. The 30th Anniversary Edition with added scenes and weird, distracting music is too horrible for words, and not even in a "Plan 9 From Outer Space" so-bad-it's-funny way. The Millenium Edition is simply an official DVD made from a cleaned up print, with extras like the interviews. If you want to see the real "Night of the Living Dead" and get some cool extras for your money, this is the way to go. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Passable
If you like softcore this is not bad. Unfortunately, there is too little of Jacqueline Lovell, who is the only real standout in the whole video. If you are bored by most softcore, this one will not do anything for you.

Another one of the early Surrender Cinema must have videos.
Lolida 2000 ranks up there with Virtual Encounters 1, Virtual Encounters 2, and Femalien as one of the "must have" softcore videos that they released in the last half of the 1990's.

This is what softcore is supposed to be. The women are beautiful, the [physical] scenes are plentiful, and the action stops just short of actual hardcore. My favorites scenes were the prison cell lesbians and the totally gratuitous encounter between the 1950's lovers in the diner.

This is an easy recommendation.

Now if only someone would do DVD releases of Surrender's two other A-list titles ("Exotic House of Wax" and "Hotel Exotica") all would be right in the world.

T&A which by me is okay!
Awful everything, but the girls are hot (especially the blonde that always gets tied up... and gets all hot bothered when she's with some guy who's also in the movie and she takes it out in him in a rather satisfying way) and the scenes are energetic and tops for the softcore genre.
If you're watching this for other than a cheap thrill, you might as well look somewhere else. This movie has only one thing to offer, big-breasted bimbo's itching to have their shirts and other clothing items torn off.

Erotic science fiction at its best
In this erotic science fiction film from the folks at Surrender Cinema, fan favorite Jacqueline Lovell plays Lolida, a former employee of an organization dedicated to finding and destroying anything possessing the least bit of sexual content. Now, she is on the run from her former employers, carrying with her a number of video "stories" that touched her (and caused her to touch herself) and made her realize that the very knowledge she was destroying should actually be spread far and wide. To that effect, she produces three of these stories for the benefit of whoever may be receiving her transmission. The three individual stories are quite strange, involving alien abduction, a female pilot's imprisonment on a distant planet, and a man caught in a "time slip." Featuring a significant number of impressive softcore scenes, these three stories manage to be interesting as well as provocative. It is unfortunate that Jacqueline Lovell serves as little more than lovely narrator herein, but some scintillating performances from the likes of Gabriella Hall do much to assuage one's disappointment. Lolida 2000 is yet further proof that Surrender Cinema makes the best erotic movies in the business.

Lolida 2000
I saw this movie under a different title "O Lita 2000" Same story. Jacqueline Lovell is beautiful as always. She hosts this movie with viginettes throughout. One is of a woman (Gabriella Hall) who was kidnapped by aliens and her memory returns about what happened onboard the spaceship. A man travels through time and has sex in each time period. My favorite was the Female Space Traveller (Chandra) who gets caught by a xenophobic race and put through sexual torment of the brain.

Ms. Lovell has a solo pleasure scene to round out the film. Seeing Jackie's body is always a treat for this fan! ... Read more

Description

"Glorious" was recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon during his sell-out tour in 1997 after Izzard debuted the show in New York. He also went onto Paris to do the show in French.Topics contained in "Glorious" include, NEW TESTAMENT: "A Play on Nativity," "Crazy St. Peter," "Swiss Protection," "The Nottingham Twang," "My Name is Tracy," "Deus Ex Machina," "They Lie To Us," "Hell in a Shower," "The Flight of the Volkswagen," "Birdsuck," "I've Got a Bad Feeling," "Death By Chocolate," and "Armageddon." OLD TESTAMENT: "Glorious," "In Bed with God," "Noah On Speed," "The Tyranny of Ducks," "The River Styx," "Mystic Hopscotch," "Fill Me with the Gobi Desert," Six Million Dollar Queen," "Do You Think I'm Sexy," "Helen of Troy," "Achilles Footwear" and "A Huge Fuck-Off Horse." EXTRAS: Lust For Glorious documentary/Audio commentary/trivia track/Subtitled in French, German, Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, Italian, Danish/Photo gallery/Bleeped audio track. ... Read more

Reviews (110)

A Gem
I first saw Eddie Izzard while watching HBO one Saturday night. The concert was entitled "Dressed to Kill". I had never heard of Eddie before, and by the time it was over, I was wondering what rock I had been dwelling under to have never seen this brilliant comic.

"Glorious", while not quite as even as "Dressed", still left me in tears. The show begins with a Eddie's take on the book of Genesis, then travels on towards the Trojan horse ("Bye! Well done! Here's a horse for you..per usual..Bye!"), takes a hard left into the British Monarchy, shower water temperature and baboons in mime, before ending up in the book of Revelations. And, as a previous reviewer noted, the encore is probably the funniest 8 minutes of comedy I have seen in a long while.

I ordered this video last weekend, received it Friday and have watched it twice so far. It is well worth the money for the newer fan (like myself), and I'm sure that seasoned Izzard fans will love it even more.

Atypical
One night I was flipping through the channels and I saw this bizarre make up wearing Englishmen waltzing across a stage on HBO. Being a fan of British humor, I stopped to have a listen, which is a rather strange occurance for me being as I despise stand-up comedy. I ended up watching the entire performance, laughing out loud in my house through the majority of the show. The show I caught however was Eddie Izzard's Dress to Kill, which is a more recent performance than Glorious. It was so funny that it made me go online and buy Glorious because I had to have more Eddie Izzard. In fact, Dress to Kill is the reason that Glorious only got 4 stars instead of 5. If Dress to Kill ever comes out for sale, get it...it is riotous.
Nonetheles, Glorious is hilarious too. The thing bout Eddie Izzard is that he is not your typical stand-up comedian joking about sex, race, or in-laws. Glorious is Eddie's telling of the Bible story (not blasphemous for those of you concerned Christians, rather a well-informed yet humorous rendition, if you will). Of course he gets off the subject, and somehow ends up talking about giraffes and hovercraft vaccuum cleaners, which makes for a really entertaining show.
God:"Oh Jesus Christ!"
Jesus:"Dad, stop taking my name in vain."
God:"...oh, Jeezy Chreezy"
Not exact, but one tidbit I can remember.Anyway, Eddie Izzard is a great entertainer amd is definitely worth your time. ONE THING WORTH MENTIONING HOWEVER. If you have a family with young children, or have a problem with cursing or swearing, then Eddie may not be the comedian for you. The subject matter of his shows is quite appropriate but, he being a crazy European, his language is right up there with an Osbourne's. Personally I find it humorous, but I know that there are some people who prefer not to hear the "F word" used as a noun, a verb, an adjective,...you get the idea.
(For those of you interested, Dress to Kill is Eddie's verson of World History and it is hilarious)

Dressed to Kill
It is amazing how talented this man is. He is a genius! The words flow in rythmic pattern of excellence from his lips in this historical journey through the age of Indian warfare to the physicallity of the royal family being a bit "frumpy" in the ages passed by.

I'm Covered In Beeees!
I must say, this is my second favorite performance that I have seen Eddie Izzard master ('Definite Article' in my pick for number one). I highly recommend that all people that are just starting to get into his comedy tapes and DVDs start out with this tape, just to get a taste of the type of humor he produces.

Unstoppable, incomparable, absolute genius
Hilarious, brilliantly structured, mind-blowingly precise, and the best physical/mime work/comedy in any of his tapes. I have seen Eddie Izzard perform twice (once in French) and own all of his videos and one audio of the closing night of his Definite Article tour in London. Glorious is by far and away the best of the lot. This is the one that got me hooked on Izzard. He's still funny, but he's gotten less so, for reasons perhaps not so interesting to discuss here.

However, this tape is total genius. Unlike any stand-up I've ever seen, Glorious is like having the funniest, wittiest, smartest person possible entertain you at a cocktail party for an hour and a half. Do not miss out! ... Read more

Amazon.com

After the Sunset may not be the greatest jewel-heist caper comedy ever made, but it sure is easy on the eyes. Shifting back into his crowd-pleasing Rush Hour mode, director Brett Ratner kicks off the action with a rousing chase scene that pretty much describes the entire film: utter nonsense, but adequately enjoyable. Things get very sunny thereafter, when FBI agent Woody Harrelson lands in the Bahamas to track down ace diamond thief Pierce Brosnan and his lovely accomplice Salma Hayek, whom he suspects of planning their next big heist on a cruise ship. A Bahamian gangster (Don Cheadle) wants in on the action, and the whole thing's about as fluffy as an Elmo doll and just as harmless, especially when you consider Hayek's revealing wardrobe (which, thankfully, distracts from Brosnan's less-than-Bond-like physique). There's an abundance of witty banter between everyone, and the tropical locations make After the Sunset a balmy, vicarious vacation. Critics weren't exactly kind to this breezy dose of popcorn entertainment, but it's an agreeable time-killer and an instant cure for seasonal affective disorder, even if the comedic chemistry leaves something to be desired. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Better Than I Expected
This isn't really a caper film, which is one reason I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.Sure, it has some of the elements of the Hollywood caper movie--the debonaire, super-clever and super-successful thief, the cop out to thwart him, exotic locations--but the movie isn't really about will-he-pull-it-off-or-won't-he.It's more of a cat-and-mouse buddy movie.That the heists are utterly implausible, to the point of being ridiculous (as they are in most caper movies, like Oceans's Eleven and Ocean's 12) doesn't matter as much, because it's not what the movie focuses on.

Instead, we get a lot of cute banter and bonding between Harrelson and Brosnan, who are fun to watch.There are some good, low-brow laughs in this movie--they are enough for me.I laughed out loud, for instance, when during the fishing scene Harrelson is putting tanning lotion on Brosnan's back, and Brosnan says, "My pole!" and Harrelson pulls back with disgust and says, "No way, I'm only doing your back!" (Of course, Brosnan meant, Look at the pole; I caught something.)There are other, similar crude jokes and sight gags.

Both men are good in their roles, and fun to watch.The female roles in the movie seem incidental, a formulaic requirement of Hollywood movies, and are never really developed beyond that basic requirement.And what is Don Cheadle, a great actor, doing in such a miniscule role?Anyone could have done his rolel he's sadly wasted.Chris Penn has an amusing cameo...but my goodness, has he gotten fat.I remember seeing him in movies in the 80's, before he starting hitting the Big Macs.You don't often see an actor let himself go like that.

Commercial for Bahama Tourism Starring...
After the Sunset is a fluffy piffle that is almost always beautiful to look at, but emptier than the nutritional content of cotton candy.

Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek make a good-looking couple, and the movie actually TRIES to address a theoretical dilemma that is infrequently brought up in movies.If a rich and successful criminal retires, what do they do?If, presumably, part of why they were a criminal in the first place is for the thrill of it, how can they be content simply retiring?If being a thief is both your job AND your hobby, what do you do after the last "big one"?The only film I can think of that showed the boring lethargy that sets in on a successful criminal is the end of "Scarface" when Al Pacino is lying around in the marble tub of his palatial bathroom, smoking a cigar and cursing at his wife and buddy.

But I digress.After the Sunset would be familiar territory if the only movies you had seen were the "Ocean's 11" remake(s).It's a "steal the jewel" caper.It tries to be a comedy, but Brosnan and Woody Harrelson don't have the comic chemistry we've seen both of them have in other work. Harrelson appears as the FBI agent who has been repeatedly burned by Brosnan, and wants to get his revenge.It follows the film cliche where the lawman is "hot on the trail" of the criminal - a la "Heat", etc., but instead of an edgy relationship between the Thief and the Lawman we get a bumbling comic relationship between Brosnan and Harrelson.

The "star" of the film is the way it looks, and much of that is owed to the Bahamanian resort standing in for paradise.The movie made me want to go there - but it didn't make me want to ever see this film again.

Our family has been in manure for three generations!
Did I miss something?Was there a contest going through all the Grade Schools of America to find the best story for acclaimed director Bret Ratner to bring to the silver screen?If so, why wasn't there a calendar made for those who didn't make the final cut?Oh, wait, apparently children did not write this film, but instead a guy that wrote for the TELEVISION SERIES the Weakest Link.That surely makes him ready by all means to tackle the caper genre and inherit a big payday ... right?You are the weakest link ... good-bye.This movie was a disaster from the beginning.With cardboard acting, an aging (and girth growing) sex symbol, and a corny ending that incorporated nothing that we were shown through the entire film, it is a big wonder how After the Sunset ever saw the illustrious "green-light".Perhaps it was the size of Salma's boo ... name, or perhaps the fact that Pierce Brosnan's The Thomas Crown Affair was such a cult film, or maybe because Don Cheadle was in it, because it had really no pull with just Woody headlining.So, how did this film get made?This film targeted pre-teen boys and retirement communities, and with their great pull, the financing behind this film became very easy.

This was a caper film right?We are supposed to go on this roller coaster ride of who's conning whom, coupled with lies, deceit, and a surprise ending that will make you want to rewatch from the beginning to experience anything that you missed.That is the focus, goal, and overall tone that a film like this should have followed.Instead, Ratner decided to just make a movie without any sort of excitement or drive.As I watched this film, I never once felt excited about the plot.Why?Because there was nobody getting me excited.The acting in this film was well below par for anything that Hollywood has released.Pierce tries, but just can't seem to capture the essence of the film.There is no little demon inside you rooting for anything.Salma's role was basically for eye-candy.She provided nothing spectacular either.I can literally say the same for Woody and Cheadle as well.Here we have strong actors doing absolutely nothing during the course of about two hours.These characters never drive the plot, they bring nothing but clichés to the table, and by the end we really don't have any true grasp as to whom they are.Honestly, cardboard cutouts could have replaced the actual actors and After the Sunset would have been a better film.There was no depth to the characters, no emotion, no structure, just the simple direction of "step here, say your line, step here, look surprised".It was embarrassing for all that were involved.

I think a major flaw to this film was that Ratner did not fully understand, or was prepared, for the caper genre.From the opening moments until the end of the film, you can tell that Ratner is just trying to use his friends in the industry and show the world that he has some power as well.I say this because I saw no true direction or moment of impressiveness where he defines himself as a director.He reuses the same ideas throughout the entire film, he doesn't give anything strong to his players, and nothing stood out in this movie.Sure, it was a beautiful location, but am I to believe that Salma spend a majority of the film building a deck for them to sit on?Am I to believe that Pierce is still a sex symbol even with a HUGE gut sticking out?Am I to believe that Cheadle is a bad guy/imported American who is at the top of the community?Finally, am I to believe that Pierce could still move as quickly as Ratner defined?I swear that in the final unclimactic moments of this film, I could hear Pierce doing some heavy breathing to get from point A to point B.Maybe he isn't ready for the next Bond role.

So, without a good story, or decent characters, maybe there was some humor in it that could pull us away from the sour sensation cultivating in your mouth.Well, guess who is placed in to do the humor element? Woody Harrelson.Now, I don't mind Woody, but in this role, he just wasn't believable and his humor was so cliché that I had trouble believing that he brought anything to this character.He literally plagiarized his entire role.Teachers, and film viewers of the world, should be very upset with him.Instead of bringing a new twist to his character, he resorted to weird sex humor, skimpy bully humor, and that ever-popular drunken humor while fishing that is sure to make that senile woman in the front burst out with laughter. To me it was pathetic and a worthless attempt to make a joke out of already dead film.

Overall, this was a massive disappointment.Here you had a decent director, some strong players, but the worst story ever written by a man who wrote for a game show.Which piece does not fit?There was this huge sense of apathy throughout this entire film and clichés riddled it that I just couldn't get past.Brosnan had trouble with this film, and I couldn't tell if it was because he just didn't care, or because he was working with such low-talent that his heart just wasn't in it.The ending hurt as well.There was no excitement or intensity, just plain ... "here it is ... like it or not".I personally couldn't digest this film with its poor acting and below-par story.This may be a good film for some that are not familiar with the caper genre, but for me it was just hogwash.

Grade: * out of *****

I Liked It
I liked this movie alot. I watched it twice. I really enjoyed the little twist it had at the end.

AFTER THE BOREDOM! (21/2 ) STARS
Where the hell was the action in this movie! It started off
decent, then went down hill from there. The only thing that
kept me watching this lame script, was Salma Hayek! I gave the
movie 1 1/2 stars, and Salmas body 1 extra diserved star! ... Read more

Reviews (352)

Not As Good As The First Two
The first Austin Powers movie was hilarious. The second movie basically recycled the same jokes, but I laughed anyway, probably because I was reminded at how good the first movie was. It was comedy by association. I'm sorry, but I can't give this third movie, Goldmember, the same sort of pity laugh. There were a few mild chuckles here and there, but it doesn't even come close to reaching the bar set by its two predecessors.

I'd tell you about the plot of the movie, but I couldn't remember what it was even when I walked out of the theater. Beyonce Knowles did a solid acting job, but it was fairly easy to tell that she was acting in her first movie. Unlike Elizabeth Hurley and Heather Graham in the previous movies, Beyonce doesn't serve as Austin's love interest, so there isn't any of the playing hard-to-get that viewers found so funny in the first two. She's strictly business, which isn't very funny. There's also a new character added to this movie called Goldmember. He's a disco-dancing rollerskater who peels off and eats pieces of his own dry skin. Disgusting? Yes. Funny? No. And, of course, there's Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard, Mini-Me, and all the rest of the usual supporting cast. They each have their funny moments, but not many.

I know several screen writers, and they all say that every scene in a movie is supposed to mean something. In this case, every scene should either provide some sort of comedy or advance the plot of the story. There were several scenes in the movie that didn't do either of these. They were just there holding the movie and its audience in limbo. Everyone in Hollywood is under pressure to meet deadlines and cut costs, and it was very evident that this pressure played a major part in the making of this movie. I'm sure the movie studio knew that people were going to see this movie regardless of quality just because the previous movies were successful, so there was no incentive to make a good movie.

I have to admit that I'm a big Austin Powers fan, and if they make a fourth movie I'll definitely go see it no matter how good or bad it is. Unfortunately, there are alot of other people just like me, and the movie studios know it.

Beyonce can really work it out!
I was so excited to see Beyonce as Foxxy Cleopatra. The movie is extremely funny! The opening scene was extremely funny! The dialogue, the casting and the usual Austin Power pranks are really enjoyable. The movie is basically a trip back in time- a modern day type past? Myers is back but this time he's actually funny. Maybe Knowles helped his performance? Probably! Knowles is the latest in the series, we've loved Liz Hurley, loved Graham, now it's time for Beyonce. The enjoyable part was the usual the dirty jokes, the pranks, and the overacted cast! But you'd probably only enjoy this if you enjoyed the others in the series. If you thought the others were fake and unrealistic, you'd probably hate this! The feature is hilarious!

After quite a lot of years Myers finally once again meets Dr. Evil. Teaming up with the unexplained Goldmember, Dr. Evil comes up with a time-traveling plan to take over the earth, one that includes the capturing of Nigel Powers, Austin's darling dad. In 1975, Myers meets his lovely Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyonce) who plays a sexy detective. It's up to Foxxy and Austin to save the day and to stop Dr. Evil from his evil plans. The movie is great!

Written by Myers himself, the movie is yet another creative weird James Bond movie. The soundtrack includes Beyonce's solo performance in "work it out" as well as two songs written by Myers! Myers was eager to make the third film in the series interesting and just as funny, and he has succeeded! Way to go Myers and Knowles!

----Ahmed Mashhood

Same Old, Same Old...
I won't hesitate a second longer - 'Goldmember' was terrible. The first sequel,' The Spy Who Shagged Me', was bad enough but this really stretches the franchise way too far and over the top.

I would have thought that the writers would have come up with some new material but no, its still the same 'Yeeeah Baby' and 'Very Shagadelic' one liners which bring down this films' credibility even more. It's only saving grace are the vast amount of cameos near the beginning, from then on; its trash. The overused 'mole' joke really gets on your nerves after a while and is just another blatant lack of fresh ideas for this third instalment. Even the appearance of Destiny's Child beauty Beyonce Knowles isn't enough to keep you interested. For real comedy, just stick to the first film.

Funnier Than #2
I found this movie to be more entertaining than the 2nd installment so in that sense it was an improvement, however I would like to know why Beyonce was cast in this film? She is atractive, yes, but so is a good portion of Hollywood women and believe it or not-- Black Hollywood women if that is what their aim was. But alas, I have chalked it up to some good dealing with through her management and tried to look beyond her role at the overall movie. It was decent and I did laugh enough to say it is worth renting. Owning the DVD, on the other hand, is for those who want the deleted scenes which they did a god job of packaging.

Just as Funny as the Other Two Austin Powers Movies
I like all of the Movies in The Austin Powers movie trilogy and Austen Powers - in Goldmember didn't disappoint me at all. Yeah sure, they copied some of the gags from the first two movies but they were still funny and I think Mike Myers was great as always as Austin Powers and Dr. Evil and the rest of the cast was pretty good too, Michael Caine and Seth Green were great and Beyonce Knowles was good too. I have watched this movie two times and each time I watched it on DVD in widescreen and I highly recommend the widescreen because it allows you to see the whole movie while the Fullscreen DVD is just an edited pan & scan with the sides cropped. ... Read more

Reviews (66)

A Film That Will Make You Want To Write Metafore
The other day I had to watch this movie for my Italian class. The movie was fabulous. In the beginning of the film I felt bad for Mario (brilliantly acted by Massimo Troisi), he just seemed so awkward, and because he didn't like fishing, it seemed like he was a failure to his father and the rest of the village. This begins to change when Mario becomes a postman, delivering mail to the Chilean love poet Pablo Neruda. Mario and Neruda develop a great friendship + Mario becomes more confident and falls in love. I had heard very good things about this movie, but watching it was a fabulous experience + it was better than I expected.

Today in Italian, we watched an interview with the director and the TV special about Neruda that are included on the DVD. I didn't know, while watching the film, that the star Massimo Troisi was dying during filming. Learning that he was holding on to life just to complete this film, made it all the more special and sad. I also learned that the actor who played Neruda (Philippe Noiret) acted in French and was later dubbed into Italian. I thought that was a really interesting fact.

All in all this is a great film. It will make you cry. It will make you want to read Neruda's poetry, and even more so, it will make you want to write poetry of your own.

Beautiful, Enchanting, Understated...a Masterpiece
This is definitely one of my all time favorite films and one I just had to own. It's so beautifully understated and so deeply human that I don't know how anyone could fail to fall in love with it and remain in love with it, always. IL POSTINO is a film with everything: comedy, pathos, beauty, love, loss, poetry, beautifully understated performances by all the actors, gorgeous cinematography. I don't know who could ask for more.

IL POSTINO takes place in 1953 and centers around an unlikely friendship of sorts between a shy, backward postman, Mario, and the great Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. It takes place on a little island off the coast of Italy where Mario (Massimo Troisi) has just been given the job of delivering mail to the island's newest inhabitant, Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret). Mario, who has the soul of a poet, though he doesn't realize it yet, can't help but notice that Neruda, a very unlikely Casanova, receives many letters that seem to be from women. In fact, there is a woman who lives with him (probably his wife) and Mario can see how deeply in love they are.

Mario knows there's something special about Neruda, even if he can't articulate exactly what it is, and he decides to get to know him better, no matter what. His first attempts are almost akin to stalking (and probably would be if he weren't Neruda's postman), but Mario perseveres and the friendship between the two men eventually flourishes. Initially, Mario wants to get to know Neruda so he can learn how to pick up girls (not a bad reason), but, as the men get to know each other, Mario learns that there is so much more to life, and so much more to his own soul, than simply "picking up girls."

One of the things that makes IL POSTINO a masterpiece is the fact that all of the actors, and especially Troisi and Noiret, give very gracefully nuanced, very understated performances. There is no glitz and glamour here, thankfully, and none is needed. This film is so "real" and so "human" that it weaves a web of magic around the viewer before the viewer is even aware of what is happening. One of the most telling, and heartbreaking, moments comes near the film's end after Neruda has departed the island. Mario is reading a newspaper clipping in which Neruda is quoted as saying of his time on the island, "I lived in complete solitude with the most simple people in the world." Although Mario doesn't comment on this, his facial expression, which barely changes, reveals just how deeply hurt (and complex) he is. Philippe Noiret's very understand performance is lovely as well, and he and Troisi play off of each other wonderfully.

IL POSTINO was Massimo Troisi's "dream project" and, sadly, he died the day the film wrapped production. With IL POSTINO, however, he left us a wonderful legacy. This film is quiet and understated, but it is also charming, endearing, beguiling and enchanting. It says more about "life" than any mega blockbuster ever could. IL POSTINO is a film made with love, about love. It is a masterpiece of life that most viewers will treasure.

Enjoyable and delightful film!
Massimo Troisi's last work as Il postino became his undesired cinema testament. His acting became in one of the most expressive performings ever given : amazing, charming, overwhelming , powerful and sincere.
Noiret is a multiple skill gifted actor ; his presence literally invades the whole screen and his performance as Neruda is top notch.
The landscapes are arresting : the plot is full inspired and the direction is towering . Radford got a sublime work : an unforgettable artistic work. Besides the music is another brilliant actor: even there is a jazz version of the Yellowjackets.
And don't forget the funny and clever statement of il postino : "The poem doesn't own to the poet but whom needs it*

"MAN HAS NO BUSINESS WITH THE SIMPLICITY OF COMPLEXITY"...
What a poignant and bittersweet Italian comedy about the friendship between exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and his shy postman (played by Troisi), made so in no small measure by Troisi's quietly contained but gripping performance.

The lyrical screenplay perfectly balances the intimate story of a local postman with the social and political realties of 1950s Italy, suggesting that the backwater, impoverished Italian "Mezzogiorno" could find new potentials just like the movie's protagonist.

In weaving its leisurely unfolding tapestry (hint: the movie may feel slow to people who're used to Hollywood's wham-bam), the film works on many different levels -- a tribute to the power and beauty of poetry; a tale of brotherhood; a charmingly quirky romance (between Troisi and barmaid Maria Grazia Cucinotta).

Unfortunately, the ending of the film is somewhat mishandled with couple of unnecessary scenes, but it is this very ending that I found the most memorable because it eerily corresponds with the tragedy of real life behind cameras.

Couldn't recommend this lyrical gem highly enough.

Glorification of collaborator in mass murder
If this movie used a mythical accomplished poet to build the story around, I would find it a pleasant if light diversion. But it not only gives us Neruda, it is unabashedly enthusiastic about Neruda's remorseless support for Stalinist mass murder. He may have created interesting metaphors, but he was unable to comprehend morality. It wasn't that Soviet crimes were unknown in Neruda's time, it was that he chose to support them. His career was devoted to extolling Marxism, and he accepted the Stalin prize from the Soviet murderers.

It is impossible to imagine a film made today that glorified an artist who was a Nazi, but we are still subjected to the mythmaking that, at once, conceals and implicitely justifies communist mass slaughter. The movie does not merely place the characters in the time of Soviet brutality, and refer in passing it, it shamelessly revels in communism. It is thin and evil propaganda. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

An Epic As Big As The West Continues!
I have seen all the Lonesome Dove movies and although this one is a spin-off from the others, it's still is a great story. Jon Voight plays a very convincing Capt. Call considering what he had to follow up to. I still would have liked to seen him lose his temper and beat somebody up who acted rude. (I mean who can top Tommy Lee Jones's performance?) This film like the others, really portrayed the harshness of the western frontier and the tough men who had to shape it. Although Barbara Hershey wasn't the plainswomen that Anjelica Houston was, her role was admirable as well. I found it fitting that in the end, Call did reveal his paternity to Newt and Newt had to go off on his own to find his dream. Great plot, good bad guys, and a fitting ending make Return To Lonesome Dove a must see for any Lonesome Dove fan.

Following the Impossible
I will admit that it would have been very hard to follow the original Lonesome Dove as a sequel. But to try and do it with mostly all new actors and with a script written by a different person is practicaly impossible. This movie would have been a fine western had it been released first or on its own. But as a follow up to Lonesome Dove it does not cut the mustard. Jon Voight is a fine actor but his portrayal of Cpt. Woodrow F. Call is not on par with Tommy Lee Jones's. With Gus (Robert Duvall) gone the banter and friendship between the two, part of the initial movies appeal, is also gone. So many of the original characters are gone and much of the feeling was lost.

This movie is decent but the original was a hard act to follow.

Not as great as Lonesome Dove but still very good.
Even though it was a big dissapointment not to have Tommy Lee Jones and Anjelica Houston reprise their roles this movie still ranks in my top 5 favorite movies of all time. The other thing I noticed was the location in Montana did not look like the same place they set up their cabins at the end of the first movie. In the first movie there was a big pond by where Captin Call said this is it and in the second movie you never see the pond. Other then those little trival things this movie was good because you did have some returning folks like Rick Schroder, Tim Scott as Pea Eye, Barry Tubb as Jasper Fant. There was also some of the other originals from the first movie plus Jon Voight looked almost just like Tommy Lee Jones did in the first movie. That really helped the movie. I don't care it Larry McMurty had anything to do with this movie because it still gives the viewer a great story line. I say just because of the few little things that doesn't make it seem like a real carry over from the original I give it 4 stars.

Return to Lonesome Dove
Don't overlook this simply because Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones aren't "in the picture." This is a wonderful depiction of the magic of Larry McMurtry and Jon Voight does a great job as Captain Call.
I bought this about one year ago and I'd recommend it to any "Lonesome Dove" fans.

Lonesome Dove
I have watched Lonesome dove about a hundred times, and i still can,t get enough of it. Lonesome Dove is a clean wholesome movie with a story to boot, not just a shoot em up movie but a superb movie
All the actors in the movie to my mind are the best in the world and i don't think that any other actors could play those parts better than Duvall or Jones. I can't wait to view the return to Lonesome Dove, i have allready seen streets of Laredo and could not understand for the life of me how could Lorena be married to Pea !!! what happened to Dish? its like chalk and cheese so untill I view the return to Lonsome Dove all I can say is good work.! Good work!. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Among the bounteous literary and cinematic legacy of Marcel Pagnol, poet laureate of Provence, is a two-volume memoir, My Father's Glory and My Mother's Castle. The enormous success of Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring (Claude Berri's 1986 remakes of two Pagnol films from the '50s) encouraged Yves Robert to shoot another Pagnol diptych. Like Garlaban, the great bluff overhanging Pagnol's childhood home, the result is "less than a mountain, much more than a hill." The first part, My Father's Glory, spans Marcel's early years from infancy to preteen. The film keeps faith with its juvenile subject, leaping from one quirky detail of landscape, character, or biography to the next--whatever has caught the child's fancy and lingered in the adult narrator's memory. This makes for episodic storytelling, but it's an appropriate way to reflect childhood experience, and it doesn't prevent Robert from developing loving portraits of Pagnol's nearest and dearest, or paying luminous tribute to the Provençal countryside Pagnol loved. You can almost feel the sunshine, smell the wild thyme. --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Idyll of Boyhood
This film is one of the most honest and beautiful accounts of family life and boyhood in the Auvergne and in Marseilles. The warmth of the Langudoc shimmers through the colours of the film as also through the lives of this happy family drenched in the browning sunlight in the last few years of the nineteenth and the first few of the twentieth century. This warmth is reflected also in the son Marcel's friendship with the young peasant boy, Lili, who modestly asks if he may keep the sailor suit which fits him. In a sense, this is a 'lower professional' childhood rather than the aristocratic one of the Tadzio in 'Death in Venice'. It is completed by a continuation film, equally wonderful, called 'Le Chateau de ma Mere' - and this, too is a must. The two together make for a wonderful winter evening and make you realise just what dross we are generally offered on the television.

Lavish, Beautiful, and Sentimental
My Father's Glory is the first of two films dealing with the novelist/filmmaker Marcel Pagnol's childhood. The film really does not have a plot. Marcel's parents Joseph, a beloved school teacher, and his mother Augustine, a dressmaker meet, fall in love, and get married. Soon afterward Marcel is born, as is his brother and sister. Marcel's family, along with his Uncle Jules and Aunt Rose, vacation in the South of France, and his father wins a hunting contest. On the surface there is not much to hold the film together. Yet the plot of the film is not what makes it so worthwhile. The film's chief strength is the way that each character is developed. We can see that Joseph is a good and descent man, a masterful teacher, and most especially a devoted father and husband. Young Marcel idolizes his father, and wants all others to realize the father's great qualities. The father is not perfect, and Marcel has questions about his doubt of all things religious. Marcel admires his mother as well, who is a nurturing and caring soul. The other major characters are both richly developed and varied.

The setting of the film is sumptuous. The small French town where Marcel and his family hail from seems realistic and the viewer can feel as if he/she has stepped back in time. The music adds to the film and perfectly blends with the scenes and characters.

Some may feel that the film is too saccharinely sweet. This can be an easy dismissal of a film that is unashamedly lavish, nostalgic, and sentimental. Such critics are wrong, however. The film shows Pagnol's appreciation for his parents, and how their good qualities played such a significant role in the man he would later be.

One of the best childhood films ever
This is, quite simply, one of the best films about childhood ever made. But then again, to write this film off as a film about childhood is too easy. This is a gorgeously filmed adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's memoirs of growing up and vacationing in Provence with his family. The cinematography is beautiful, and the cast is uniformly excellent. And as a real treat to film viewers, there are no sentimental or treacly moments that can often bog a film down. A friend noted that while I watched this film, I had a smile on my face the entire time. That's the best kind of film. This is followed by the equally stellar but more somber "My Mother's Castle."

"Le Gloire de Mon Pere". C'est bonne filme
"Le Gloire de Mon Pere" is one of the best films I have seen in a long time. The first time I saw it was in my french class. I thought it was cute and decided to see if the library had it, they did. After I saw it the second time I realised how good it is. The true story of Marcel and his father is unique for the 90's. I highly reccomend this film and its sequel "La Chateau de Ma Mere", the rest of the story of Marcel and his family. It has a sad ending but is worth it.

charming and uplifting
What a beautiful film! This is one of those films where everything works. The visuals are beautiful, the script spare and heartfelt, and the characterizations profound. Can Americans make films like this; where there is warmth and nostalgia but where the humor and the modesty keep sentimentality under control? Forget irony and cliches...this is wonderfully real and exciting. ... Read more

Reviews (90)

"The New Phone Book Is Here!!, The New Phone Books Is Here!"
This 1979 debut for Steve Martin is one of comedy's greatest classics. This film definitley opened the door for people like Jim Carrey and all those types of comedies. This one will forever be the granddaddy of them all. Steve plays Navin Johnson, a white man who was brought up by a backwoods family who are black. Navin realizes he's not and sets out on his own to find his own life. It's one misadventure after the next. It's also one hilarious joke after another. Along the way he meets and falls in love with Bernadette Peters. There are also appearences by Carl Reiner, Jackie Mason, and M. Emmett Walsh. The movie is so slapsticky silly that it's hilarious fun to watch from beginning to end. I won't say what happens to our good old friend Navin. You'll have to see for yourself. If only the brilliant Steve Martin would return to this type of comedy. This film is pure comedy gold sent from comedy heaven. A definite must!!.

Too Funny
The Jerk is one of the most hilarious movies I've seen. The movie is about Navin Johnson (Steve Martin) who is a white boy adopted into a poor black family. He's a little "slow" and doesn't even realize he's white. The movie opens at his birthday where he's having his favorite "tuna on a white bread sandwich and a twinkie for dessert" dinner.
His problem is that he doesn't have rythmn, and late that night, he's listening to the radio when he hears "white" music, and finds that yes! he has rythmn!
So, Navin sets off to see the world, and a hilarous journey ensues - everything from a dog named sh*thead, assasination attempts to love to riches to insanity happens to poor Navin, but it's a great journey!
***** 5 stars for this classic Steve Martin comedy

If You Ever Need Cheering Up
Then this is the movie for you. That is, if you have any sense of humor whatsoever. There are so many funny, memorable scenes in this movie - like when he's standing right outside his parents' fence hitchhiking or when the guy is shooting at him - "These cans! He hates these cans!" "The new phone book is here!" "I'm somebody now!" The Jerk is one of the best comedies ever made. If you want to laugh, if you can laugh, buy or rent this movie!

Where's the widescreen version?
A classic but demand a widescreen version.

weirdly funny
Steve Martin shows a lot of comedic flair in this, one of his first films (he later tones it down and hones it in later works, which is all I had seen up to this point, so this was very strange in how over-the-top he is.)

Steve plaves Navin, a white boy adopted by a large loving African-American family, who honestly believed he would turn black on his 18th birthday (which is when his family reveals to him that he is adopted, although they had hoped he would figure it out beforehand.)

Determined to make his way out in the world, Navin takes on a series of unrelated jobs that turn out poorly --- gas station attendant (in which he demolishes a church), carnival employee (where he has his first carnal knowledge and his first romantic love -- with two very different women), and later becomes a billionaire through some very odd means.

But at heart, he's just a simple country boy who wants to fit in back where he came from. He's not a bum, he's a jerk! All he has are his friends and a thermos. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

On Golden Pond is GOLD!
What a great film! I've purchased several DVD movies that ended up just sitting on my shelf collecting dust after 1 or 2 viewings. ON GOLDEN POND is not one of them. This film is a classic that I could watch over and over. I feel the story has some important things to say. It makes you look good and hard at your own life, your own family relationships, and your own fears concerning growing older and death. I like to think I have a deeper understanding and respect for seniors each time I see this picture. Henry Fonda and Kate Hepburn are wonderful and perfectly cast. Great chemistry! Jane Fonda is great too. (I wish she'd start making movies again!) Jane wanted this film made so that she and her Father could act in a picture together before his death. This film is a perfect blend of comedy and serious subjects all rolled into one. If your heart isn't touched by this one, there is no hope for you! I really enjoyed the DVD documentary on the making of the movie. Mark Rydell has a lot of interesting things to say in the director's commentary also. There are interviews with Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman, Doug McKeon, Mark Rydell, and Ernest Thompson, the author and screenplay writer of ON GOLDEN POND. I wish there had been some sort of interviews with Henry and Kate. I believe the documentary was probably done fairly recently. Everyone looks a little older than they appeared in the movie. Doug McKeon(played 13 year old Billy Ray Jr.) looks to be in his early 30's during his interview. Well... If you are still reading, here is my recommendation.... BUY THIS MOVIE! I really feel I got my money's worth from this DVD.

One Of The True Classics.
This film goes beyond description. A feel good movie.....a drama.....a comedy.......call it what you will, but nothing changes the fact that "On Golden Pond" is one of the graetest films of all time. It's undeniably hillarious, but at the same time it's terribly heartbreaking/heartwarming. The whole thing rolls out as nothing short of a work of art. Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda were never better, ESPECIALLY Henry Fonda. As Norman, he evokes the most laughs, the best scenes, and gives a truly magnificent performance. Both esteemed actors won worthy Oscars.

The DVD is pretty good. The picture and sound quality aren't much better than a VHS copy, but it's satisfactory. The making-of documentary is great, and very involving. But, hey, it's pretty good for an Artisan non-special edition release!

Buy it now....you won't regret it!

P.S. I'm not really Chris; I'm his friend, Erik Morton, and have a large collection of reviews myself.

Great Family Movie
Hepburn, Fonda and Fonda are fabulous!!
This movie will viewed by families for generations to come.
There are a lot of messages about life and family in this picture.

Wonderful movie...but
Such a wonderful movie package--beautiful music, locations, and acting--of a wonderful story. It could have been made even more special WITHOUT the profanity--GDs and BSs especially. Such language may be common place in the 80's but some people such as I prefer not to listen to it--especially in the presence of children.

Gack!
I have tried to watch this movie more times than I can count and every time I fall asleep. It would have kept my attention better if an angry bear broke in the house and mauled a few of them. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Gerard Depardieu stunning as Cyrano
I've always deeply loved the character of Cyrano de Bergerac and was already familiar with Edmond Rostand's play before I watched this wonderful movie. This superb version directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau brings to the screen the story of Cyrano's unrequited love for his lovely cousin Roxane with all its tragedy and depth. In a certain way one could say that with Cyrano another version of the Beauty and the Beast story is played out, but a truly great one.

Gerard Depardieu is one of my favourite actors and he absolutely rises to the challenge of playing Cyrano's character. Which is an eerie sensation for the viewer, because Depardieu completely becomes Cyrano! He brilliantly portrays the complexity and many facets of this character thus giving us an unforgettable cinematic experience. I also loved Anne Brochet's witty and tender performance as Roxane, the lady of Cyrano's heart. Further an excellent supporting cast here as well.

A truly fast paced, excellent, poignant movie, with great costumes and a beautiful music score. Directed with intelligence, filled with many unforgettable scenes and sparkling wit.

But first and foremost of all, it's Gerard Depardieu's superlative performance which carries this version of Cyrano for me!

The definitve version of the Edmond Rostand play.
Cyrano De Bergerac has been performed countless times on film and stage, but no actor brings the character to life more so than Gerard Depardieu. All the things I loved about the play since I read it in junior high, have been transformed into movie magic. Cyrano is a heroic tale of a man who has been cursed with a large nose, but blessed with the wit and sensitivity of a poet. More importantly though, its a love story. A story about a 17th century Gascony cadet, who cherishes words and wit, excells to be the best at everything, and strikes fear into the hearts of men who dare stare at his nose. He is in love with his cousin Roxanne, who to has a great love for words and wit. However, she is in love with another cadet named Christian, who is handsome, also in love with Roxanne, yet tongue-tied. Cyrano, feeling fate is against him, decides to help Christian become a mighty hero of romance. With Cyrano's words Roxanne falls deeper in love with Christian. So in love that she forgets how handsome he is and now loves him for his soul. Cyrano, knowing this, and Christian also knowing that Cyrano is madly in love with Roxanne, decides to tell all to Roxanne. But again fate denies Cyrano the chance, for Christian dies during a siege by the Spanish army. With Christian dead how can Roxanne believe Cyrano? Roxanne goes into mouring and not until 14 years later, she finally realizes that it was Cyrano's words and soul that captivated her. She passionatley confesses her love to him, but alas fate mocks Cyrano again for death is but a moment away. The film is acted with such grace, that you feel the characters words in your heart. Filmed in beautifull 17th century French settings with great attention to detail and a score that would make John Williams envy. Its easy to see why this version is the definitive version of the famous play. It would be a 5 star DVD if it were not for the lack of special features.

Magnifique!
This film was absolutely brilliant; it was beautifully shot, superbly cast, and the acting . . . suffice it to say that if you've only seen Depardieu in garbage like Green Card, you've no idea how gifted this man is. He is amazing, and the final scene is just something that has to be seen; it can't be described. For my money, you can never get too much Vincent Perez (again, stick to his French films), and Jean-Claude Petit's score is breathtaking; it's available on CD, but only as an import.

"my elegance is interior"
Sumptuous and poetic, this is a fabulous telling of Edmond Rostand's blank verse play, adapted for the screen by director Jean-Paul Rappeneau, with English subtitles by Anthony Burgess that are superb; This is not only a great film to watch, but a great one to read.
Gerard Depardieu is perfect as Cyrano. One of the most versatile actors alive, here he gives a many-layered, robust performance, with lots of sword fights, lots of wit, and lots of heart.
A winner of numerous international awards, "Cyrano" was a lavish production by French filmmaking standards, and we get authentic looking costumes and sets depicting 17th century Paris (the theater, with its chandeliers full of candles, is an amazing re-creation), cinematography that is a visual delight by Pierre Lhomme, and a lovely score by Jean-Claude Petit.

Roxane, played by the stunning Anne Brochet, is in love with Christian's form and Cyrano's soul, so typical of women throughout the ages, ever yearning for "the perfect man", both sensitive poet, as well as impetuous lover; she goads Christian into speaking and writing his love for her, and does not realize it is Cyrano who is responding. Vincent Perez is excellent as Christian...this part was what put him on the cinematic map, which he cemented two years later as the romantic lead in the extraordinary "Indochine", another film that should not be missed.
This is a film that has many marvelous aspects, but two that tower over everything, the language, and Depardieu. Total running time is 2 hours and 17 minutes.

Disappointment in long-awaited release.
I'd been waiting years for this to be released on DVD, it's a fabulous movie, my absolute favorite adaptation of the original play - however, MGM messed up.

This edition is a matted letterbox, which means that it's actually a 4:3 TV image with the full image reduced to fit on the screen of a traditional TV screen and has black mattes on the top and bottom.

However, it should have been presented in anamorphic widescreen - which gives the same presentation on a 4:3 TV but also fits a widescreen television set.

As it is, it will not display properly on a widescreen tv - the image is either stretched out (so that everyone and everything is flat) or is enlarged beyond the border of the tv screen - thus cutting off the subtitles! My wide television has 6 separate display formats but I cannot format a full image on my screen that is not warped or severely cropped. Extremely disappointing.

I'm hoping for a new true anamorphic widescreen edition to be released eventually, but at least I have the film for now. ... Read more

Description

Rita Lee Lance and Chris Lorenzo solve high-profile crimes of passion for the Palm Beach Police Department.They'll stop at nothing in their pursuit of those who, due to their power or fame, feel that they are above the law of the land. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

This groundbreaking comedy series is Dyn-O-Mite!
When I was a kid, Good Times was one of those TV shows I simply would not miss each week. Even after its hilarious run ended, it was a constant companion of my youth in the form of syndicated reruns. Eventually, it faded away from the airwaves, and that is why I am so happy to see the release of this complete Season One DVD collection. The trials and joys of the Evans family have always been an indelible part of my memory, but watching these early episodes again is in many ways like seeing the show for the very first time. I used to just laugh at the crazy antics of J.J. and enjoy the show only for its comedy, but now I can more clearly understand the deeper meaning behind it all. While the Evans family life is far from typical, it does nobly reflect the struggles, pride, and humanity of families trying to survive and make a good life for their children in ghetto conditions. This truly was a groundbreaking television show, the first to feature a realistic African-American family trying to overcome life's great adversities together. However much they bickered and argued, the Evans family members supported and loved one another a great deal, and I believe it is this facet of the show as much as its unsurpassed comedy that explains its appeal to viewers of all races then and now.

Almost thirty years later, Good Times is still funnier than almost every other television show ever produced. What impressed me is the way the show began; the look and feel of the series was already firmly established in the very first episode, as James struggles to pay the rent and keep his family off the streets. When I was little, I didn't particularly like James because he seemed mean to me with his constant yelling. As an adult, I am a tremendous fan of John Amos' portrayal of the proud, hardworking family patriarch. This man worked like a dog in order to provide for his family, and the constant problems he faced getting and then keeping jobs is more than enough reason to explain his sometimes heated words and deeds. I no longer look at Good Times as the J.J. show; this first season seems to me to built around James Evans, Sr., although Esther Rolle, Jimmie Walker, Ralph Carter, Bernnadette Stanis, John Amos, and Ja'net Du Bois all delivered truly wonderful performances. Toward the end of these first 13 episodes, J.J. does begin to emerge as the prominent comedic talent, having served earlier as dependable but not yet featured comic relief. Jimmie Walker really comes into his own on the final episode included here, "My Son the Lover," setting the stage for great and equally hilarious things to come in later seasons.

I won't go into an episode by episode discussion, but I will mention a few of the really significant storylines that appeared. The struggle James has bringing home the bacon is a constant, but the burdens caused by his lack of education deliver a strong message to both J.J. and the viewing audience in "Junior the Senior." Teenage sexuality is addressed in "Sex and the Evans Family," a story featuring a classic display of the double standard that exists between males and females. Racism is constantly at the fore, personified in young Michael (or as James often calls him, "the militant midget"). The importance Florida places on religion and always doing what is right, no matter the costs incurred by your decision, is another strong element of the show, one given a brilliant exposition in the very second episode, "Black Jesus." Every episode imparts a meaning to the audience, one never lost amidst all of the comedy - and I do mean comedy. Good Times is still laugh-out-loud funny; it actually seems funnier now than it did years ago. While young viewers may not "get" some of the jokes based on 1970s pop culture, there is more than enough comedy spread around to guarantee a fun time will be had by all. There are no frills to this DVD package, though. I would have liked to see at least some sort of special feature, be it interviews with cast members or some kind of feature relating the story of how Good Times made it on to CBS as a somewhat controversial spin-off of a spin-off (All in the Family begat Maude, and Maude begat Good Times). You do get a little promo advertising the other vintage television shows already released by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, but this