Description

The life of Jesus Christ is powerfully chronicled in this intelligent, gripping epic starring JEFFREY HUNTER, ROBERT RYAN, RIP TORN and a cast of thousands. From the producer of the epic spectaculars El Cid and The Fall of the Roman Empire and the director of Rebel Without a Cause and 55 Days at Peking comes a vivid retelling of the world's greatest story. ... Read more

Reviews (66)

An intelligent, inspiring life of Christ.
"King of Kings" was my favorite religious motion picture when growing up, and I believe it still is. When MGM first released it in 1961, movie critics irreverently dubbed it "I Was a Teenage Jesus", since the role of Christ was given to teen idol Jeffrey Hunter. In hindsight, it was an unfair appraisal. Unlike other actors who have played Jesus in the more sublime, "stained-glass" manner that appears to be the norm, Hunter's portrayal showed a very human, energetic Messiah whose divinity still could not be denied. Interestingly enough, "King of Kings" was directed by Nicholas Ray, who six years earlier had directed James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause". This time around, our "Rebel" has a well-defined Cause which places Him at odds with the religious and civil authorities of His day. The film's international supporting cast consists mainly of lesser-known character actors whose performances are mostly able. The great actor/filmmaker Orson Welles gives an uncredited performance as the film's narrator; curiously, the narration was written by science fiction author Ray Bradbury, who is also uncredited. The film's stirring music was composed by Miklos Rozsa, who was no stranger to religious epics (the soundtracks to "Quo Vadis?" and "Ben-Hur" stand out among his other works). Beautifully filmed in Spain, "King of Kings" is an intelligent and reverent profile of He who has been the Way, the Truth, and the Life to hundreds of millions for almost 2000 years. END

Hunter as Jesus Shines!
'King of Kings' features Jeffrey Hunter's finest performance, as a young, dynamic Jesus of Nazareth, and his intrerpretation, open and earnest, is the best part of a movie both uneven and flawed.

Produced by many of the people responsible for 'Ben Hur', the film utilizes some of the same sets, actors (Frank Thring appears in major roles in both films), and composer (Miklos Rozsa, whose score for 'King of Kings' was one of his finest). The cast was fleshed out by respected actors (Robert Ryan is too old but charismatic as John the Baptist, Siobhan McKenna is a glowing Mary, Brigid Bazlen, a deliciously wicked and oversexed Salome, Harry Guardino, an 'over-the-top' Barabbas, a VERY young Rip Torn scores as Judas). While the cast didn't have the 'star power' of 'Ben Hur', or many other Christian epics, the actors, by and large, perform credibly in their roles, particularly Hurd Hatfield and Viveca Lindfors, as Pilate and his wife, Claudia, and Ron Randell as Tribune Lucius.

The film was a MUCH less expensive project than 'Ben Hur'; the budget restraints show most glaringly in recreating Jesus' ministry (most of Christ's miracles are only referred to, not shown), and extras casting (Spanish townspeople, overdubbed with some truly RIPE dialogue!).

The film works best when focusing on Jesus; unfortunately, it veers off into distracting subplots about Barabbas and the zealots, and the decadence of Herod's court. These stories consume a LOT of screen time, and damage the overall impact of the film.

Yet rising above all this is Jeffrey Hunter's interpretation of the Savior. Easily the most audience-friendly of all the actors who have assailed the role, Hunter took a lot of flack for his 'matinee idol' good looks, and piercing blue eyes, but his kindness, his sincerity, and the complete believability with which he delivers Christ's words overcome any qualms about his appearance! The Sermon on the Mount is a film high point, and magnificent; the Crucifixion and Resurrection have the kind of power that can bring a lump to your throat, even after repeated viewings!

While 'King of Kings' lacks the big names and budget of 'The Greatest Story Ever Told', or the emotional core of 'Jesus of Nazareth' or 'The Last Temptation of Christ', in Jeffrey Hunter, the film presents possibly the most compassionate of all screen Messiahs, and makes this film a MUST for the holidays, and your collection!

Jesus Christ Never Existed.
'King of Kings' made in 1961 is a famous film some people have seen or at least heard about. Most people fail to realize all of that doesn't matter because Jesus Christ never existed!! Jesus Christ is a mythological figure the church has exploited for hundreds of years and now the film industry has for almost a hundred years. There is absolutely no archeological or historical evidence that Jesus Christ existed. Even if he did exist, it would be highly unlikely he would have received that kind of punishment.
It is a shame that con artists like these filmmakers are using this mythological figure to make millions of dollars. People have to start swaying away from the manipulations of the church and the filmmaking industry and start looking at the hard facts. Jesus Christ and his crucifixion never happened.

The best one in its genre.
I'm positive that a lot of people have turned back their gazes to former versions of Jesus's life and death in view of the huge acceptance of Mel Gibson's recent film. Revisiting some of the classic titles is a good exercise in hindsight. How things have changed? To the worse, to be sure.

"King of Kings" is an excellent film, one of the best epics ever -alongside the also painfully underrated "The Fall of the Roman Empire"-. The film tells the story straightforwardly, mixing in it a little of historic and political speculation. It has a good rhythm, high visual artistry, admirable sets, genuine multitudes... Of course, Jesus is the wisest and most benevolent of men, and it is but right that he be also the most handsome of all: Jeffrey Hunter at his physical best and with bizarre -but culturally right- characterization.

Miklos Rosza's score is precisely one of its major assets. I think that he hit the target when it came to produce grandiloquent but available music, apt to bring up a sense of the religious or the military, not forgetting some passages of a sweet beauty, like that one with the Wise men in Bethelem.

The film treats Jesus as an all-out hero, on the terms set by his followers: he is a superman, compassionate, able of working miracles, godlike as God's son should be. He delivers his teachings unashamedly and boldly. We are spared ridiculous moments that could issue from clinging too close to the letter of the Gospels. Nicholas Ray is clever enough to offer tactfully the blind man's recovery of sight, the lame walking again, etc

Most of the cast is ideally suited, although I find Hurd Hartfield too strained and joyless as Pilate.

The battle scenes are amazing, and so are the initial images with Pompey breaking into the Sanctum of the Temple.

Whatever your actual feelings about Christianity and Jesus be, you can go back happily to a world of certainties and security ("suspension of disbelief") with a fine work of arte like "King of Kings", very enjoyable. After all, and in the worst of cases, you'll get back your childhood's hero in style.

And praise Samuel Bronston, the producer and the man behind half a dozen of the last and best epics from the sixties. He got the money and contributed much more than that. Gen. Franco, by the way, contributed the masses, since the film was shot in Spain and the Spanish Army was put at the team's disposal.

YOU FUNDAMENTALISTS MAKE ME SICK
I just got done watching my newly acquired dvd of KING OF KINGS.So I decided to go online to write a review.And like always I read other reviews as not to repeat what others have already said.To my shock and disgust I'm hit with one berating after another.READ THE NEXT SECTION LIKE A WHINEY FIRST GRADER: ("That didn't happen in the bible" "This didn't happen in the bible"I'm gonna tell!) That's what you fundamentally retarded people sound like.I can care less about SO CALLED SCRIPTURAL ACCURACIES.If that's so important to you watch your lame copy of JESUS W/Brian Deacon.Wow! badly portraying word for word what's in the bible. You're absolutely right! That is the way to go. Conveying a message and emotional connection are far more important to me.All 4 gospels total approximately 200 pages (give or take the size of the print).Hardly a dent in the life of a 33 year old man.I sure am glad you stopped the movie as not ruin your childrens' thinking. They'll make great document lawyers.I'm done with likes of you. NOW I WRITE TO THE TRUE CHRISTIANS,The ones that believe with their hearts, not a KING JAMES six gun.I bought this disc about a week ago.While (Jesus of Nazareth) is my favorite and (The Greatest Story Ever Told) is a close second,this movie has an untouchable magic of it's own.Sure they spent a little too much time on Barabbas,and Robert Ryan's portrayal of John the baptist is no better than a cold reading, as if he's seen the script for the first time.Or any thing else you want to nitpik about.But the score is wonderful and so many moments will force tears from your eyes,if you only relax yourself into movie.If you contemplate getting this DVD I strongly suggest that you do.The picture is remastered nicely and the sound is very fulfilling,bonus features;not much, total less than 10 minues.Even if you have a personal recording from TCM like I do. Get the disc.It offers you an even more panoramic view not shown on Turner Classic Movies. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now once seemed radically new with its kaleidoscopic imagery, dreamlike editing, and willingness to let mystery be mysterious on several levels of reality/illusion--plus art-house darling Julie Christie in a long, nude love scene! Nowadays, this 1974 adaptation of a Daphne du Maurier ghost story looks almost classical. Following the drowning of their child in England, Laura (Christie) and John Baxter (Donald Sutherland) have come to dank, eternally dying Venice, where he is supervising the restoration of a moldering church and she is either slipping into or climbing out of madness with the help of a pair of creepy spinster sisters, one of whom can "see" even though blind. John may share this psychic power, though he resists accepting it as the canals fill with murder victims, surface realities turn shimmery as water, and a red-coated figure--the daughter's ghost?--keeps flickering in the corner of our vision. Though surreal and perplexing, the film does eventually add up, and the ending remains a real throat-grabber. --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Blind Venetian Channels............
The senseless and [accidental?] death of a child. Guilt?
Dim, underlit streets and waterways of Venice. Visions of a small child wearing a hooded red raincoat....... Steamy sex.....A serial killer........A blind psychic.....warnings....and a very sharp straight razor, or two.....and lover's do learn.....

A deliciously dark and brooding concept by auteur Nicholas Roeg ["Bad Timing"]of Daphne Du Maurier's vision of grieving parents Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland, recovering in Venice after the death of their only daughter. AND this movie has one of the best love-scenes ever recorded on film - excellent - not gratuitous or offensive.

VENICE, though, is the Star of this work. Forget any Summer Holiday memories you might still have of this wonderous dreamcity, she really comes to life during the winter! To say more about the plot would be to betray the work, but if you like experiences along the lines of "The Innocents", perhaps even the original "Haunting" - see this one. "Don't Look Now" is kind of the flip-side of Kate Hepburn's "Sunmmertime", even "Lover's Must Learn". It's an odd kaleidoscopic view of the city and its post midnight pulse - but be warned - stay in your hotel room - don't venture out on your own, especially after dark...........those Venetian walkways are still so dimly lit, never quite know what you might find in a doorway, or in the canals for that matter].

A companion-piece? The later "Comfort of Strangers" - equally disturbing, but a great double-bill!

A landmark in film editing!
Dont look now is a very important film because it changed the way films would be edited forever. There are several key sequences where the editing is beautifully mastered to create wonderful montages not seen since Tarkovsky - the initial child drowning accident, the love making scene shot in reverse and the shock ending. This is a wholly creative film from start to finish. The director has paid remarkable attention to the direction of colors. If you think that Spielberg was original with his girl in the red coat, then you are mistaken. This is where that vision began. The majority of the film takes place in Venice but the director has chosen to roam the more obscure and backward waterways and tunnels. The film is layered with such beautiful simplicity that is should be the goal of every film student to study this material to no end.

The premise basically revolves around a personal family tragedy of a young couple, John and Laura Baxters, played by Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie, (a magnificent match) who are trying to come to terms with the death of their daughter. Laura finds a blind clairvoyant and her sister by accident in a restaurant who claim that the dead daughter is trying to warn them of some great danger. Slowly Laura starts to crackup as John becomes increasingly angered by her belief in an supernatural afterlife and the warnings given by the medium. The ending manages to shock every time.

This film is not for everybody. The production values are minimal and most of the film was shot from the hip on a shoe-string budget. However the realism that this film conjures up is steaks and bounds ahead of most psychological horror films of its kind. The story is somewhat slow, but emotionally it packs a hell of punch. There are several background elements to the film including a bizarre series of multiple murders, missing persons and events back in England that seem almost connected to the couples genuinely heartfelt struggle to come to terms with bereavement. Essentially this film is every parents nightmare come true and the horror of the loss of a child is very strongly presented and does disturb.

This is a bleak, raw and alarming art house film with many moments that will cause the viewer some distress. The connection between the onlooker and the leading protagonists has an impact that will leave you reeling emotionally long after the film has ended.

A classic masterpiece of emotional and psychological horror.

Do Look At This Movie Now
This film certainly rises above the genre of horrow movies and remains a classic after 30 years. Based on a story by Daphne du Maurier, the movie is set for the most part in Venice, the most mysterious of cities that is so conducive to horror, suspense and intrigue. (DEATH IN VENICE, THE COMFORT OF STRANGERS and THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY are just three other movies set in Venice that have some of the same eerie feel to them as this one does.)Two of the reasons for the success of this movie are Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland, two of my favorite actors. I didn't remember Sutherland having that much hair if it's his; also, I never thought Julie Christie resembled Michael York before. (Someone should play with a computer and juxtapose their portraits, one over the other. The likeness would be striking.)

Sutherland and Christie have just lost a daughter by drowning. While in Venice they meet spinster sisters, one who is blind, who tells the grieving Christie that she has "seen" her daughter. The plot gets scarier by the minute. There is a wonderful sense of forboding that builds into a horrific climax. The film is beautifully shot with images-- blood, water, Christie and the two sisters riding in a water taxi-- repeated.

The sex scene between Christie and Sutherland has to be one of the most erotic ever shot and remains so after 30 years. The director intersperses their sex romp with scenes of their getting dressed to leave their hotel, a great touch.

Certainly the movie is not as frightening the second time around since we know the outcome; that is certainly not a criticism, however.

DON'T LOOK NOW remains one of the best of the genre.

Spelling atmosphere
The gothic and sinister atmosphere you breathe since the first rapture images where the tragedy is announced , the painful fact will lead this marriage (with Venecia as beautiful background) to unthinkable consequences for both of them and will allow Roeg telling us a script filled with imagination , exceptional and skillful camera resources , based on a novel of Daphne du Maurier who inspired Hitchcock for The birds and Rebecca.
Sutherland and Christie established an inmediat *chemical rapport* , a script with several twist of fate and prodigious color employement to create nightmares.
This is a true gem : one of the most remarkable pictures of that decade.

Beware if nudgets ub red raubciats!
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This film will give you reason to be afraid of midgets in red raincoats for the rest of your life!

For reference to the above, I recommend the film "Unconditional Love", which revisits the "midget in a red raincoat" for yet another scary thrill! ... Read more

Reviews (50)

6 out of 5 Stars!!!
What can I say. This is the Godfather of dancing movies. You got served, Save the Last Dance, and Dirty Dancing 2 would not exist without Footloose. Kevin Bacon is sensational, that kid has a few moves!

Based on a true story (According to E!), Footloose is about a pack of high school kids fighting for their right to DANCE. "There is a time to laugh, and THERE IS A TIME TO DANCE," quote Kevin Bacon. You see, these kids live in a redneck town where people wear cowboy boots don't want kids to dance. Dancing was thought of as dangerous, and the leading cause of teenage pregnancy. So they want to ban dancing... but when the kid from Chicago (Kevin Bacon) showed up, he taught his redneck friends how to dance and decided to fight the resistance and want to be freed from the
anti-dancing act.

As with any movie, there has got to be antagonists. Besides crazy dancing and tight 80's style jeans, this movie is loaded with action scenes. There is a scene where Lori Singer's ex-boyfriend shows America how to beat up Lori Singer, and there is a scene where Kevin Bacon drop kicks Lor Singer's ex-boyfriend and helps young Chris Penn (when he wasn't all fat) kick 5 people's @SS. This movie is also loaded with testosterones: scenes of pickup trucks, roll bars and dancing on football field bleachers proves me right!

In many ways, this movie reminds me of the importance of Freedom. The need for Americans to fight for the right to party! Some people may laugh at the cheesy lines, lame outfits and the fact that Kevin Bacon's choreography is entertaining, but it should be taken just as serious as movies like T2 and Matrix in which the protagonist fight for the FREEDOM of fellow mankind.

If you are looking for a lighthearted film with plenty of action and laughter, you do not want to miss this great film. Kevin Bacon, I always knew you are a talent... Superb Cast and Excellent Film!

Fun and entertaining movie, but rated PG? I don't think so..
Teenager Ren MacCormack (Kevin Bacon) moves with his mom from big city Chicago to a small town in the Midwest after his parent's divorce. Ren is suprised to find that it's against the law to listen to rock 'n' roll and the law also prohibits dancing! Ren can't understand why these laws were brought about but tries his hardest to fit in with the town people. Unfortunately, though he's accepted as a friend by fellow student Willard (Chris Penn), no one else seems to like him, calling him a 'big-city kid' and a trouble-maker. After a while, he comes up with a plan to try to make it possible for the Senior students to be able to have a prom dance. He'll be going against the whole town, most specifically the Reverend Shaw Moore (John Lithgow) and the town council. Will Ren be able to change the stiff necked town people's minds? At the same time, Ren begins to fall in love with the Reverend's wild and unpredictable daughter Ariel (Lori Singer) while trying to keep his distance from her boyfriend Chuck (Jim Youngs). Also starring is Sarah Jessica Parker as Ariel's best friend Rusty, Dianne Wiest as the Reverend's wife Vi, and John Laughlin and Timothy Scott play Woody and Andy Beami, two of Ren's allies.

*PLOT* - This is my first and only 80's dance movie to watch and I must say that I very much enjoyed it. The plot was interesting though of course some points were a bit unrealistic. Basically the movie is in a way a 'coming-of-age' film. I loved the way each of the characters are portrayed. Kevin Bacon's character Ren represents the 'hero' of the movie. At first when I read the reviews I thought Ren would be your typical rebellious teenager. A bit on the contraire, he is responsible and you can't help but feel proud of him when he brings his case up to the council. It's hard to explain and I can't tell you much since this is only a review, but I must say that Ren's character was extremely well-done. Ariel on the other hand is very rebellious, and flaunts it to her father. I loved how she and her father were able to resolve their problems at the end.

*ACTING* - Kevin Bacon definitely steals the whole movie with his acting. He plays the part of a teenager perfectly, even the way he walks. His dancing was also spectacular, most notably his solo dance at the warehouse to the music, "Never" by Moving Pictures. If he was doing only half of what we see on screen, I'd still be impressed. John Lithgow is also outstanding, it was interesting to see his dramatic abilities after watching him on goofball comedy tv series, "3rd Rock from the Sun". He certainly can put power in his 'sermons'! Lori Singer beautifully stunning as Ariel, a perfect example of the category of 'wild and beautiful'. Besides the character of her father, Singer's character of Ariel has the most development in the movie.

*DANCING* - The dancing is just pure fun to watch, especially for people who loves 80's dancing. The last dance was not only the best dance, but the best part of the whole movie. If by chance somebody didn't enjoy the movie, I'm sure the end will make up for it. I loved it so much, I downloaded that segment onto my computer so I can watch it any time.

*SOUNDTRACK* - The soundtrack is another plus side to the movie. Besides the "Top Gun" soundtrack, "Footloose" is on my top list of favorite movie soundtracks. Great songs include two by Kenny Loggins, "Footloose" and "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man". Other of my favorites include "Let's Hear It For the Boy" (Denise Williams), "Almost Paradise" (Ann Wilson/Mike Reno), "Somebody's Eyes" (Karla Bonoff), and "Hurts So Good" (John Cougar Mellencamp). Plus there's plenty more!

*PG Rating* - From here I will be giving you the downside to the movie "Footloose". I was extremely disappointed that the movie does not hold true to what a real PG movie should be. There are many reasons as to why this movie should be changed to a PG-13 rating. Though the movie is about a small town which has a dislike for rock music and dancing, the movie portrays some of the teenagers there as being very immoral. Besides having sexual innuendo, some violence, and drugs scattered all over the movie, the language is also pretty strong. I strongly recommend parents not to have younger children watching this movie. Best for kids 15 and older.

Overall, "Footloose" has the great elements to make a good movie; great story, terrific acting, nice music, and cool dancing. But it also shows some of the immoralities of teenagers so parents should be cautioned. The movie is more aimed towards teenage viewers and adults might not find this movie terribly entertaining. But then again, adults might enjoy the movie for they might be able to relate to John Lithgow's character as the father who does not want to let go of his daughter because of his love for her.

Very classic movie and soundtrack
As I said in the title, great nostalgic movie, story, acting, etc. I enjoy watching the movie over and over. I would give this 5 stars but I will give the DVD tech guys an F for not putting any features (besides ws format) on this. I think some trailers, interviews, and other stuff would have fit. They could have done a little segment on all of the songs featured here. Aside from this, great DVD.

One of my personal favorite movies from the '80s
I was watching VH1 over the holiday weekend and came across a showing of "Footloose". "Footloose" is one of my favorite movies from the '80s. I actually saw the film in the theater with some friends. We wanted to see "Splash" but tickets for that movie was out so we settled on "Footloose". At the time I thought the premise of the film of a hip teenager rebelling against an ultra conservative town with its anti-rock music and dancing rules, was a bit farfetched, if not silly. I still do to this very day but I like this movie more now than I did back twenty years ago. It's amazing how much Christopher Penn has changed since then. Not to mention Sarah Jessica Parker (still with her "Square Pegs" look), and Lori Singer. Kevin Bacon remains the same today. John Lithgow gave me one of his best performances I had ever seen before that godawful sitcom he starred in years later. Dianne Wiest was also good in the movie. The stars of the film I thought were Kevin, Lori, Sarah, and Christopher. The music was great. I love Bonnie Tyler's "I Need a Hero" and John (Cougar) Mellencamp's "Hurt So Good". "Footloose" was one of those movies where music and film went well together. To the reviewer who thought this film deserved a PG-13 rating...um? Hello? There was no PG-13 back in 1984. It was either PG or R. I would hardly qualify "Footloose" as being R-rated material. Compare "Footloose" by today's movies, it is a tame comparison. Despite being cheesy at times, "Footloose" remains a blast to watch.

Nostaligia
I grew up in a rural, religous community on the edge of the Appalachia. We were not allowed to dance. It didn't strick me at all odd at the time, and it doesn't now, that a town council could make dances illegal or that the local pastor could almost single handedly control the town council. And yes, a small town police officer could, without getting into any legal trouble, in that part of the world in the 1980s confiscate a rock and roll cassette tape (Remember those things?) for being played too loudly or simply because he didn't like the attitude of the driver.

Having said that, the movie is extremely dated and so some parts of it look and sound a little silly today. Just like today's hip teen movies will look and sound silly two decades from now. But I still like this movie. Probably because some of these seens could be right out of my life. I too went to church and looked at girls acrossed the aisle. And after church we really did ride around in cars and pickups and hang out on family farms on Sunday afternoons doing really stupid teenage stuff with farm equipment. All of these seens are caught pretty realisticly and are done very sympatheticly. People with simple value systems are not mocked here, as they so often are in Hollywood. And the story line isn't all silly. The pastor character is especially well written and well played. And I should point out that girls really did wear their hair like that back then and really did wear tight sweaters and even tighter designer jeans. Youngsters now days don't know what they are missing. Buy this movie and watch Ariel move around the screen and you'll see what I mean. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nominated for nine Academy Awards in 1957, Peyton Place has becomesynonymous with torrid soap opera. Though the novel by Grace Metalious iseven more sensational, the movie provides plenty of tantalizing storyturns--secrets, adultery, rape, bitter parents, frustrated teenagers,suicide, and murder. Multiple storylines deftly interweave: AllisonMacKenzie (Diane Varsi), an ambitious young girl struggling with theneurotic fears of her mother (Lana Turner, in a career-revivingperformance) and the neurotic fears of the boy she loves (Russ Tamblyn),while her best friend Selena Cross (Hope Lange) fights off the brutaladvances of her drunken stepfather. The movie had to sanitize the novel'sNew England town in order to get some of the more unsavory plot turns pastthe censors; ironically, the glossy "normal" surface makes these eventsall the more shocking, paving the way for David Lynch's Blue Velvetand Twin Peaks. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (30)

The secrets and scandals of a small New England town
Based the bestselling novel by Grace Metalious, Peyton Place is a hallmark of mid-20th century American culture and remains powerful melodrama to this day. Modern audiences in particular might notice similarities with the currently popular Dawson's Creek.

The story centers around shopowner Constance MacKenzie (Lana Turner), hiding a secret from her past; her daughter Allison (Diane Varsi), who dreams of escaping from Peyton Place and becoming a writer; Allison's best friend Selena Cross (Hope Lange), who lives literally on the other side of the tracks and suffers abuse at the hands of her drunken stepfather (Arthur Kennedy); Norman Page (Russ Tamblyn), a shy, quiet student yearning to break away from his domineering mother; Rodney Harrington (Barry Coe), the playboy son of millowner Leslie Harrington (Leon Ames), who disapproves of his son's relationship with the flashy Betty Anderson (Terry Moore); and Mike Rossi (Lee Phillips), the new high school principal smitten with Constance.

Screenwriter John Michael Hayes did a magnificent job of distilling Metalious's occasionally crude story, making it acceptable to film audiences, though it can be argued that Metalious's feminist slant was lost in the process. The film was beautifully directed by Mark Robson, who's never gotten enough respect, perhaps due to his reputation as a craftsman; well, Peyton Place is a finely crafted work, solid entertainment, with majestic location work in Camden, ME, much of which will be lost in the transfer to the small screen. The cinematography is by William C. Mellor and the wonderful score is by Franz Waxman.

Peyton Place received 9 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay-Adapted, Best Cinematography, Best Actress (Lana Turner--her only nomination), Best Supporting Actress (Hope Lange, Diane Varsi), and Best Supporting Actor (Arthur Kennedy, Russ Tamblyn). 1957 was the year of The Bridge on the River Kwai, so Peyton Place lost in every category.

Get this DVD-Peyton Place the classic soap opera
Peyton Place is one of my favorite books and one of my favorite movies. The filming and score are beautiful. The scenery of coastal Maine is fantastic. This is one of the most popular soap operas...the term "Peyton Place" has come to mean a gossipy community.

Most of the acting is great... the only actor that does not seem right for the role is Lee Philips. He is does not see the type of guy Lana Turner would go for.

Lana Turner and Diane Varsi have some great mother daughter conflicts. Lloyd Nolan is great as the doctor caught in the moral dilemma of covering up a miscarriage (which was an abortion in the book)

The DVD adds an interesting commentary by Russ Tamblyn and Terry Moore. You feel as if you are sitting with them as the watch the film. They give share stories of what it was like to be a young actor in the 1950s.

This is a great film and even better DVD. My wife and I liked the book and movie so much we named our daughter Allison after Peyton Place's main character.

The Darkside of Small Town Life
1957's Peyton Place was based on the tawdry best seller by Grace Metalious that depicts the sorted lives of the residents of the titular small New England town. The film was quite controversial at the time as it contains frank talk about sex, an incestuous rape, a hinted at abortion and murder. The film helped paved the way for the abandoning of the Hollywood moral codes. Everyone in Peyton Place, it seems, has something to Hide. Constance MacKenzie (Lana Turner) is an uptight single mother to Allison MacKenzie (Diane Varsi). She is fearful of scandal and rebuffs the advances of new high school principle Michael Rossi (Lee Phillips). Constance is hiding a secret from Allison and after Allison is wrongful accused of swimming naked with Norman Page (Russ Tamblyn) she reveals that Allison was born illegitimately as her father was living with Constance but was married. Allison leaves Peyton Place to go to New York City. Allison's best friend Selena Cross (Hope Lange) lives in a shack with her drunken stepfather Lucas Cross (Arthur Kennedy). Lucas is abusive and beats Selena and eventually rapes and impregnates her. Confronted by Dr. Swain (Lloyd Nolan), Lucas leaves town. He eventually returns and tries to take advantage of her again and Selena kills him. This leads to trial where Allison returns to town to speak on her Selena's behalf. She avoids her mother and in a bitter meeting tells her of her feelings towards her. At the trial, Selena refuses to let Dr. Swain speak about the rape. Dr. Swain's conscious gets the best of him and in an impassioned statement on the stand he reveals Selena's secret and chides the townspeople for their gossiping ways that led Selena to this position. Selena is acquitted and Allison reunites with Constance. The film was a huge hit and ironically Ms. Turner was embroiled in her our murder trial when her fourteen daughter stabbed her mobster boyfriend to death. It spawned a sequel and a popular television series. The film garnered nine Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director (Mark Robson), Best Actress for Ms. Turner (her only nomination) and two Best Supporting Actor & Actress nomination for Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Tamblyn, Ms. Lange & Ms. Varsi. The film holds the ignominy of having the most nomination without a single win.

Colorful soap classic/less than perfect DVD
Lana Turner and a terrific cast make this toned down version of Grace Metalious's steamy, sensational novel a real potboiling delight! The music, the cinematography, everything...it all evokes a long ago time and place and here it is all beautifully preserved for posterity! Fans will also enjoy its sequel, RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE with luscious Carol Lynley and another good looking cast of youngsters and scenery-chewing veterans.

Unfortunately, this DVD has a few jumps and glitches which disrupt perfect viewing. The AMC Backstory documentary isn't all that informative, and you'd think they'd at least have edited out the commercial bumpers. The commentary track by Tamblyn and Moore is one of the most boring ever...nearly impossible to sit through. Neither actor offers much insight into the film they are watching, instead rattling off alot of their own movie credits and misinformation (ie. Dick Sargent was never in "that genie show," Ms. Moore). Who was producing this!?

The commentaries make this DVD a must-have
I already had a beautiful copy of this movie--the outrageously priced ($49.95) laserdisc set put out by Fox Home Video sometime in the 90s--but the selling point for me this time around was the promised audio commentaries by Russ Tamblyn and Terry Moore. I wasn't disappointed! I've always considered Tamblyn one of the unsung heroes of moviedom (his credits read like a list of the best films ever made--"Gun Crazy," "Father of the Bride," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "West Side Story," and this gem among others) and I'm certain that those viewers only familiar with his remarkable dancing and acrobatics in musicals would be surprised by his sure handling of a complex character in this film. The performance earned him a well-deserved Oscar nomination--a feat not shared by the majority of his musical colleagues. Tamblyn comes off as a very likable, unassuming guy in his audio commentary, and his memory of the long-ago events is pretty sharp--even to the point of remembering that a double for Lana Turner did a couple of the shots in the last scene rather than the actress herself. Along the way he has plenty of interesting stories about the other actors, the location shoot, and what was going on in his life at the time. Terry Moore is also very engaging in her commentary, although she's clearly less familiar with the movie itself--e.g., she registers surprise at the fate of Betty Field's character the same way a first-time viewer would. But Ms. Moore also has some intersting recollections, such as roasting in her winter coat while surrounded by fake snow in the blazing California sunshine. And her obvious respect for the story's themes and its characters (as significantly altered and arguably improved for the film adaptation) is very endearing, particularly if you're as enamored of the film as this viewer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is the most popular opera production so far on DVD, surpassing evenFranco Zeffirelli's lavish, symbol-laden La Traviata. It is an excitingCarmen, with a young-looking Placido Domingo in top form for a role hehas sung hundreds of times. For Julia Migenes, it was her first performance in arole she would have trouble performing in an opera house. Her voice does not fiteasily into Carmen's range, and she spent months training it, very successfully,before singing the role in a recording studio where the soundtrack was tapedbefore the film was shot. Casting her in the role was a gamble, but it worked;she is a convincing actress--even better than Maria Ewing in the competing DVD edition from CoventGarden, though Ewing acts very well and has a more appropriate voice.

This movie version was filmed on location, conveying a kind of atmosphere, asense of space, movement, and presence hard to achieve in a staged performanceshot for television. It takes the action out of doors for many scenes. Theopening titles are superimposed on the bloody conclusion of a bullfight. Thechanging of the guard in the opening scene, with the boys' chorus playingsoldier, the crowd scenes, the dance number that opens Act II, the panoramicscenery of the smugglers' mountain hideout, all benefit from the freedom grantedby movie cameras. But the music is, on the whole, more effectively performed inthe Covent Garden production, which also handles close-up shots better, perhapsbecause it was directed with a small screen in mind. The opera house atmospherewill make hard-core opera fans feel more at home. The movie version uses theopera's original opera comique form with some spoken dialogue rather thanrecitatives. --Joe McLellan ... Read more

Reviews (58)

fantastic
This in one of the most delightful (in fact the most delightful) opera movies I have ever seen. The first amazing thing is that there are no cuts in the score.

About the cast...well...incredible...
Domingo sings Don Jose incredibly. No contemporary tenor is his equal. Carreras and Lima (the other 2 don jose on DVD) are just not as good as him. Domingo also has a good french accent...which is a must in this opera.

Migenes: well I can't understand some other reviewers who accused her of ruining the performance. I thought she was incredible. She is an amazing actress. Although she never sang carmen on stage, she has however a very deep understanding in the role...perfectly reflected in this movie.

The toreador (raimondi) and micaella are also good. Well..overall the cast is great ...and the decor is AMAZING...the opening scene is a bit brutal...but also...what can i say...the music in the prelude IS brutal and the sets are just following the music..isn't that opera???

I highly recommend this DVD.

I don't get the hype.
I guess all other opera movies are laughably bad, so when this halfway decent production of Carmen comes along it's suddenly a masterpiece. Let's not be too quick to give it a standing ovation. Don Jose is one of Domingo's signature roles and he sings it beautifully, but the horrendous camera work of this film makes him appear too stiff and cold, especially during scenes with Micaela. The beginning is way too gross and way too long, and the big scenes like the "Tor-ee-a-dor" seem sort of worthless after sitting through the slow sections. My big problem with this movie is Migenes. She can't do anything except dance and wiggle in a sexy manner which seems to fulfill the role at first but, by the end, makes her effort less satisfying because it's really all she knows how to do. She just couldn't sing it and she needs to shave under her arms. A really over-rated film. Yes, it's hard not to enjoy Carmen, but in my opinion even the beautifully lavish scenery couldn't save this. An average attempt at best.

Busty, Lusty and Dusty
One of the best Opera Movies.
Oh sure Opera purists will quibble with the choice of Julia Migenes Johnson because she is not a "classic" Carmen.
But believe me, when she seduces Don Jose while she is being detained, I too was seduced. In some other operatic productions on film the only way you could tell the leading lady was beautiful or seductive was because the characters told you, despite the obvious proof to the contrary.
In this beautifully shot film Carmen is not a ravishing beauty, if anything Micaela (Faith Esham, who is, by contrast, lovely and whose voice in both the duet with Don Jose and her solo later on, soars as high as the mountains in the background) is a doll. She's a good girl and his mama's choice for his future.
Don Jose's career path is also set. He's a good soldier and due for promotion. Yet he'll throw it all away on a promise of Manzanilla and some hot lovin' and we believe it because Julia Johnson sells it.
The film portrays Carmen as a 21st Century woman stuck in a dusty backwater world, where strict formalities are mocked by the common folk (witness the children mocking the soldiers in the beginning). She's not a slut, she's a playful flirt who doesn't recognize Jose's seriousness.
I can quibble with some things myself, for example the aforementioned duet between Jose and Micaela is shown in a long shot that feels like it goes on forever. Give me a couple of close ups, please. I understand their wanting to show the stiffness and formality (and distance?) between the two, but there's no need to bore us; and there maybe too much dust swirling about as the peasants dance about, but you do get a sense of reality often missing in operas (or even movie musicals when shot on location, like West Side Story, though shot in Manhattan, where was the garbage?)
This movie works on the two levels it strives for. The opera is wonderfully performed by both singers and orchestra. The story is timeless and the plot easy to swallow. Cinematography is top notch, and though the direction could have been more imaginative
this is more than a good opera movie, this is a good movie.

The best of Domingo's !
It is wonderfully singed, gloriously staged and unbelievably truthful opera. One may dislike the film -like settings but they do work as intended. It is dynamic, south -France flavored, sunny and tragic Carmen. I know only another Domingo's DVD that may pair with this one, the "Cavaleria rusticana".

Carmen singing not too good
The visuals of the film is very good and atmospheric, except for the bullfighting scenes which are too gory. As for the singings, Placido Domingo does an excellent job, but not so Julia Migenes. Sometimes I can't tell whether it is just her singing style or she is out of breath. She may not ruin the film but she is not very pleasant to hear. Having a sexing acting Carmen may appeal to a lot of people, but this is not the reason I listen to opera. ... Read more

Reviews (189)

A Very Funny Sci-Fi Movie
"Evolution" isn't the best sci-fi comedy ever, but it's certainly very good. It's one of those guilty pleasure films that you enjoy over and over again.

The plot is nothing special. Two community college professors (played by David Duchovny and Orlando Jones) discover that a meteor that crashed in the desert is teeming with life that is rapidly evolving. The military comes in and screws things up, leaving the two profs, a government scientist (Julianne Moore), and a wannabe firefighter (Seann William Scott) to stop the alien menace before it takes over the world. There's also a funny cameo by Dan Akroyd as the governor of Arizona.

The acting is good. Duchovny and Jones have excellent chemistry together, really playing off each other well. Duchovny plays more the sarcastic, cynical scientist, while Jones is more manic, particularly in a scene where they're in the cavern. Moore is decent as a very clumsy and socially inept scientist. Scott's a little flat as Wayne, but that's part of being a character who's dumb but trying to look smart. There's also other bit players that are really funny, including two fat guys who are hysterical.

The story and script move along briskly, with only a few really unnecessary scenes. The jokes comes at a similarly brisk pace and are very funny for the most part. It's not a very realistic movie, as some of the things that are said and done are things most normal people wouldn't do, but that's part of the charm of this movie.

The effects are also very good for a movie that's more comedy than anything else. Things really look very realistic and are on-par with a movie like "Men in Black" and "Harry Potter".

As far as extra go, there's not a whole lot. Most of it has to do with the special effects, although you do get some funny deleted scenes. The commentary track is the biggest treat, with Ivan Reitman, Duchovny, Jones, and Scott all in a room at once. It's really funny.

Overall, this is a good film if you're just looking for some laughs. It sort of has the charm of "Ghostbusters" and "Men in Black" with some great interplay between Jones and Duchovny. Definitely a must-see if you're a "Men in Black" fan.

Evolution Has Far to Go (but it's still funny!)
I went into Evolution expecting another MiB. By that standard, I was severely disappointed. Despite that, I did laugh through much of the movie. Between the dumb-but-servicable humor and the superb special effects, I'd have to say that my 8 bucks were money well spent.

Much of the dialog appears to have been written as a Jr. High drama class project. Sorry, but bathroom humor just doesn't do much for me anymore. Orlando Jones's character was simply too stupid for belief and David Duchovny looked as if he didn't expect half the audience to get the joke.

That said, there were some fine moments. I particularly enjoyed the sly poke at films contrived for product placement purposes. Despite the cardboard character, Orlando does have some fine one-liners and, as I've come to expect, he makes the most of them.

Then, there are the special effects. I can't say enough, so I won't even try. Much. I've become jaded in the past couple of years, but these really do stand out. The sequence in the shopping mall alone was worth the price of admission (I won't spoil it for you with details).

Overall, I'd call it worth the trip . . . so long as you don't expect too much.

Better the 2nd time around
The first time I watched this movie, I though it was terrible. However, after watching a 2nd and 3rd time, I've learned to appreciate the humor. It's a fun and lighthearted movie. The special effects are quite good, the monsters are impressive and the acting is not bad. David Duchovny isn't a great commedian, and some of his lines are terrible, but overall, he does a good job.

It's the kind of movie you put on when you are depressed and just want to drink a beer and be amused. In the same league as Caddyshack and Stripes. Great mindless fun.

BUGBUSTERS
Perhaps David Duchovny is doomed to follow in the steps of many tv stars who just can't make it "big" on the big screen. The X-FILES star did well enough in the feature-length film of that series, but other than that, he's floundered. EVOLUTION does have some wonderfully wacky moments, and some brilliant special effects. What it lacks is a consistency in tone and a good team of actors. Julianne Moore is hilarious as the clumsy CDC rep; Orlando Jones is as effective as Ernie Hudson has been; and Seann William Scott does his usual goofus stint. Ted Levine is very good as the greedy general, and Dan Akroyd is wasted in his role as the governor.
There are funny sequences, but there seems to be a lot of time when you're waiting for something to make you laugh again.
Inventive, but not the movie it should have been.

Good effects, good cast, good fun
Let's be entirely honest here, "Evolution" is a silly movie based upon a barely palpable grasp on science. However, it doesn't matter because it is genuinely entertaining. The plot is just plausible enough to allow the viewer to enjoy a great cast offering up some genuinely funny lines amidst some very good CGI (and I write this two years after the film was released).

The story revolves around rapidly evolving alien life forms that arrive in Arizona via a meteorite. This nod to the theory of Panspermia shows that while the link to real science may be tenuous, it won't be severed altogether. This is an element that the viewer comes to appreciate as it allows a reasonable suspension of disbelief, which adds to the movie's appeal.

As these "aliens" become more sophisticated they wreak a rapidly escalating amount of havoc on a nearby medium sized city. It is here that our rag-tag band of heroes, David Duchovny as a disgraced biologist, Orlando Jones as a geologist who is more interested in anatomy than rocks, Julianne Moore as a hard driving CDC researcher and Seann William Scott as...well, Seann William Scott, come to the rescue. OF course, along the way they face the requisite bone-headed general, not to mention the rigors of a Division III women's volleyball schedule. Nonetheless, they rally together and triumph in fine style. The reason why this journey is fun to watch is simple: while each one of these actors offers up an excellent performance (particularly impressive given Moore and Duchovny aren't known for comedy), it is as an ensemble that they really shine. In particular, the exchanges between the three men are always hilarious as Duchovny plays a perfect straight-man for Jones and Scott. Moreover, Moore shows a remarkable ability for prat-falls that are the highlight of some strong physical acting.

As the film progresses to an inevitable showdown with the aliens, the viewer is treated to more great performances from the supporting cast, including a cameo from Dan Akroyd that is perfectly delivered. At the same time, the effects, which are contemporaneous with "Jurassic Park II" still view well, even if they aren't cutting edge. In particular, there is a dragon -type creature that ranks among the best CGI creations I have encountered (pre-Gollum of LOTR, of course).

Finally, unlike far too many DVD's, "Evolution" offers a great value in terms of quality and extras. The sound and picture are both excellent, but that is becoming more of the norm than the exception. Where the disc really shines is in the bonus features. The deleted scenes are well chosen and include commentary that offers an interesting look at the film making process. Moreover, storyboards, commentary and visual effects features all make for an entertaining, interesting viewing experience.

What this review really comes down to is this: if you don't appreciate silly humor, if you pick apart movies for the slightest flaws, skip "Evolution", you won't like it. Conversely, if you enjoy the give and take that comes from a cast that obviously enjoys working together, if you appreciate good special effects, and if a good "popcorn" movie is what you crave, "Evolution" is right up your alley. I've watched it literally dozens of times and I never get tired of it. It's eminently quotable, fun to watch, and makes great use of its cast, and silly or not, is a movie I never get tired of.

Enjoy!

Jake Mohlman ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Despite its box-office failure in 1981, Dragonslayer was gradually recognized as one of the finest fantasies to emerge from the post-Star Wars boom in special effects. It's still one of the best adventures of its kind, featuring one of the most fearsome fire-breathing serpents in movie history. Ominously named Vermithrax Pejorative, this ill-tempered monster terrorizes the peasantry of sixth-century England, feeding on maidens sacrificed by a duplicitous king until a sorcerer's apprentice named Galen (Peter MacNicol, long before Ally McBeal) is recruited as a reluctant hero. Aided by a tenacious beauty (Caitlin Clarke) and his resurrected mentor (Ralph Richardson), Galen confronts the soaring beast in a breathtaking climax. Employing a then-innovative technique called Go-Motion to animate the dragon, the special effects are still dazzling, and stunning locations in Scotland and Wales allow director Matthew Robbins (cowriter of Steven Spielberg's feature debut, The Sugarland Express) to maintain a vivid atmosphere for the wealth of movie magic. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (67)

One of the best fantasy films I have seen
And face it, there just aren't all that many great fantasy films around; "Dragonslayer" stands out, especially in the 80s era, where fantasy films were often a silly sword-and-sorcery affair. It is a dark tale of a sorcerer and a dragon that he must destroy, a fantasy story in the most classical sense of the word. The special effects might look just a little out-dated, but they still hold well for audience today. The acting is just a little contrived (with the exception of the sorcerer, performed by the great British actor Richardson), but the focus is not as much on the characters as on the atmosphere and the tale itself. What I like best about this films is that it is not quirky or childish, but has an atmosphere that holds true to the darker world of old fairy tales. I would love to see this movie come to DVD.

Dragonslayer!!!
Wow, it's about time! Dragonslayer, man! Remember Dragonslayer? If you had HBO back in the good ol' days, you most likely saw this many, many times along with The Beastmaster. This is THE dragon flick. It's everything you could hope for in a fantasy film. This is no wimpy dragon flick. Hollywood loves to throw all these friendly dragons into their films anymore, which is extremely irritating. You won't see some human loving dragon with Sean Connery's voice in this one! It may be PG rated, but it is quite dark, serious, and very violent. Your kids won't be wishing with all their hearts to fly with this dragon in the Land of Art, I can tell ya that right now! She ain't white and fluffy and willing to take you beyond the boundaries of Fantasia either. This dragon is pissed. This dragon is burning the village virgins to a cinder, and letting her kids chomp away at the princess. This is the kind of dragon from fairy tales, this sucker is scary! This dragon is probably the scariest and best looking put on film. The effects were pretty good for 82 , and the dragon is still creepy and convincing. The dragon doesn't have much screen time, but that's fine considering a very good story is fed to us. There are some decent performances too, especially Ralph Richardson as the wizard. I have not seen an actor since that fits the role of a wizard the way Ralph does here. Sorry, Mr. McKellen. Now that it's here, get it. It's the perfect addition to your fantasy flick collection, and will easily find a spot between Krull and Conan The Destroyer.

Slayer
Yes, of course it is showing its age. It was made in 1981. This does not change the fact that this movie totally owns. This rocked back in the day and it continues to rock if for nothing but the pure nostalgia factor (showing this movie to my older brother will be sure to conjure memories). 1981 seemed to be a big year for movies about Knights, swords and sorcery. This was one of the best and remained the best for a long time to come. Only today, with slick computer graphics do we see the failures of the special effects here and there. However, they tried their best, really they did. It remains an impressive tale about magic, progress, advancement, and heroism. One of the more memorable lines from this movie was something like :

"Well, I'm glad that magic is fading from this world, the dragons are fading along with it."

Hmmm.

Good when it came out--and still good now!
This has been a favorite of mine over the years, and its stood the test of time--I still like it! I especially like the characters, the way it lets you understand their motives without asking you to accept them. It shows you peoples foibles as well as their strengths. It includes several horrific scenes, but doesn't bog down in explicit detailing of gore (for example, when the princess sacrifices herself to the dragon, you don't see her killed, but only see a glimpse of her body where the baby dragons are feeding). Or, the old servant is murdered, and before he dies he says, "Someone's shot me!" in a voice of surprise, like he can't understand why someone would do that. And the dragon was believable to me. I accepted its sadness at being at the end of an era and without having a place in the new one. Dragonslayer is a good story supported by special effects and not the other way around--a movie with loads of special effects and no story--that would be boring!

More of a Merchant-Ivory costume drama than swords & sorcery
Dragonslayer is very much like a Merchant-Ivory costume drama -only with a fire-breathing dragon! Like Merchant-Ivory films, Dragonslayer is well-written, beautifully photographed, designed with an amazing eye for authentic costumes, sets and props to the last detail and masterfully acted by all the supporting characters. Unfortunately, like other M-I films, there is little action and a very unsypathetic "hero".

The plot: For years, the kingdom of Urland has managed to avoid being incinerated by a dragon by offering up maidens as a twice-annual meal. Like the draft during Vietnam, the lottery by which the virgins are chosen is more or less rigged to guarantee that the children of the rich and/ or well-connected aren't conscripted as dragon bait. One thing the movie should have addressed is the question of why the virgins of Urland don't "dodge the draft" in a rather easy and obvious (and fun!) way.

Since there are no slots in the "champagne unit" of the Texas Air Guard available to a young commoner named Valerian, she has spent her youth dressed like a boy. However, she refuses to just sit by as other girls are devoured, so she and other peasants seek out a wizard to kill the dragon.

The only one they find is Ulric (played perfectly as an almost senile hermit by Ralph Richardson), an octogenarian who lives 300 miles away and appears to already have one foot in the grave. He doesn't even look like he can travel all the way to Urland, let alone fight a dragon. He is also handicapped by a a clumsy and dull-witted apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNicol).

Enter Tyrian (Jack Hallam) a wonderfull villain played by a wonderfull actor. He thinks the old magician is a fraud and a troublemaker and calls him out. When he goes into his harangue about how wizards are con-artists and says "But comes a doubter..." you realize it's a great performance. Like others in Urland, Tyrian actually benefits from the sacrifice of young girls to the dragon. Like any society beset by a scary enough menace, people will allow their "protector" to get away with anything -even murder- if it means keeping the beast at bay. Tyrian serves King Cassiodorus Rex (Peter Eyre), who came up with the lottery (the "tiles" look suspiciously like old-style Army dog tags -a clever touch) after his brother, King Gaiseric tried to kill the dragon but was himself killed.

The over-eager and under-intelligent Galen tries to kill the dragon himself. Between his bungling, the King's conniving and pressure from the villagers whose homes and crops get turned to ashes, Galen finds himself in a deeper and deeper pit.

At this point, the movie falters. The fight scene between Tyrian and Galen is almost humorously bad. The fight with the dragon is great, but suddenly stopped for no apparent reason -it just switches to dawn the next day. And the way the dragon is beaten lacks any kind of thrill or suspense whatsoever. Peter MacNicol is badly miscast and other reviewers are right in pointing out how conspicuous American accents in a movie with an almost entirely British cast kills the suspension of disbelief.

Another problem is the score by Alex North. It's just plain bad.

On the other hand, Caitlin Clarke (American accent notwithstanding) is pretty good. Other reviewers think of her as a bit of a Plain Jane, but they forget that she is pretty (though not by absurd movie standards) and she can't have Kate Beckinsale's cute little button nose and pass herself off as a boy. The rest of the cast is perfect.

Of all the sword & sorcery films ever made, Dragonslayer is the best scripted and by far the best acted. The costumes are 100% accurate for the 6th-7th centuries in northern Europe, contrary to some assertions made here. If it had more action and a more appealing hero with real chemistry with the female lead, this movie would be a classic.

Finally, the dragon (Vermithrax pejorative) is the best dragon ever on screen, with the ones from Reign of Fire a close second. Vermithrax actually has personality! The special effects guys must have had Lee Strasburg coach her! The fact that she is used sparingly helps, too.

This is a good, but not great movie and I recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (100)

The Best Steven King Movie Ever
One of the best psychological thrillers ever made, "Misery" is a tride and true adaption of the classic Steven King bestseller, white - knuckle tale filled with suspense that only someone as brilliant as King himself could ever provide

Paul Sheldon (played flawlessly by James Caan) is the author of a very successful book series called "Misery". But after years of success, he decides to kill the character once and for all and get on with his life. He finishes his book, but disaster strikes on his way back to New York. He gets caught in a snow storm and crashes his car. He is on the verge of death when a seemingly harmless nurse named Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates in an Oscar - winning role), who claims she's his number one fan. At first, Paul really enjoys Annie's company. Then Annie has several outbursts (including the now infamous ankle - breaking sequence), and Paul becomes suspicous of her past. From here on it's a tense battle between cat and mouse. And if you've never read the book before, then you're in for one of the creepiest endings in your life.

No movie fan should be without "Misery". It is in a class of its own, different from other King classics like "Carrie", "Cuju" and "The Shining". If those films didn't do it for you, then "Misery" will get your blood pumping, your palms sweating and your heart racing in no time.

I Feel Your Pain!
I Feel Your Pain!

Misery is a 1990 suspense drama released by Castle Rock Entertainment, directed by Rob Reiner, with a running time of 107 minutes. Based on a Stephen King novel, this drama is considerably enhanced by the performance of its leads, James Caan (Paul Sheldon) and Kathy Bates (Annie Wilkes).
The tale is really very simple. Paul Sheldon is a successful writer whose career has been made on the back of a series of novels about a 19th century heroine that he is growing weary of, called "Misery." Although she has been the focus of a hugely popular series of novels, Paul wishes to 'retire' the character and focus on writing something more personal. After finishing his latest book, Paul sets out from a Colorado lodge nestled in the Rocky Mountains and begins his drive back to the city during a horrible snowstorm. Let's just say he doesn't make it.
As luck would have it, former nurse Annie Wilkes is passing by and drags him from the wreck. When he comes to, he is in bed being tended to by his 'number one fan' (Annie) in her home. Annie assists Paul in his recuperation, as both legs and an arm are broken as a result of his accident. His gratitude soon turns to concern though, as it become increasingly clear that her love of his Misery novels is far from normal. This unhealthy obsession is only too apparent as she finishes his latest manuscript where Misery dies. To say she becomes outraged would be an understatement. Her rage and insistence that he should rewrite the book leads him to becoming a prisoner in her home.
You would think that a movie centered on two characters in one room wouldn't offer much in the way of excitement, but you need to see this movie! As it becomes quite clear to Paul that help is not on the way, the movie takes on claustrophobic urgency. You find yourself yelling at him, trying to help him escape. As Annie spirals slowly into insanity, things begin to look even bleaker for Paul.
Kathy Bates deservedly took home an Oscar and Golden Globe award for her performance as Annie, and James Caan is wonderful in what must have been a difficult role to play, since he spends most of his time in casts lying in a bed.
Misery is not your typical dramatic movie. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you second-guess whether you would really like to be rescued, in a snowstorm, by a "good Samaritan." I give the movie a 4-star rating and recommend it for all viewers, especially Stephen King fans.

Fantastic
The scary thing about Steven King's novels is that they're not that ridiculous. This one in particular, could very well happen. Just remember the penguin always looks south.

Intense and very original.
Misery is by far one of my favorite movies. A writer gets in a car accident and ends up being held at this crazy nurse's home.Excellent plot & fantastic ending---A must've for any one into suspense and who loves S. king's books & movies.

"She can't be dead, MISERY CHASTAIN CANNOT BE DEAD!"
By now pretty much everybody knows the rule that the best movies made from Stephen King novels do not put his name above the title and do not trumpet the fact in the trailer. This would be film's like "Stand By Me," "The Shawshank Redemption," "The Green Mile," and, of course, "Misery." Director Rob Reiner did the first and last films on that list, so he would know. The idea in this 1990 film is fairly simple and one that obviously would send shivers up and down King's own spine: what if an author became the captive of his "number one fan," who, needless to say, is a psychotic maniac?

Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is a famous writer, who has been turning out historical bodice rippers about a heroine named Misery Chastain. As was the case with Arthur Conan Doyle, who killed off Sherlock Holmes at one point, and Edgar Rice Burroughs, who tried to kill off Tarzan's Jane, Sheldon has enough of his fictional creation and has killed her off in a book about to hit the stands. Meanwhile he has just finished a new novel about the slums in which he grew up that he hopes will establish his reputation as a serious writer. However, after he leaves the secluded Colorado Hotel where he goes to write his books his car crashes during a snowstorm and he is horribly hurt. But before he dies he is taken from his car and when he awakes he finds himself in a bed, both of his legs broken, and in the care of Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), a nurse who gleefully informs Paul that she is his "number one fan."

Grateful to be alive and believing Annie's story that they are snowed in and that the phone lines are down because of the storm, Paul recuperates. He even lets Annie read his new manuscript, a privilege reserved for his editor, agent, and anybody who saves his life. But Annie does not like Paul's new novel and when she discovers he has killed off Misery she goes off the deep end. It becomes clear to Paul that if he has any hope of getting out of there alive, he is going to have to bow to dictates of his "number one fan" and bring Misery Chastain back from the grave.

Meanwhile, Paul's agent (Lauren Bacall) has called up the local sheriff (Richard Farnsworth) and alerted him to the fact that the writer, on his way to New York with a new manuscript, has disappeared. With the help of his plucky wife (Frances Sternhagen), the sheriff starts to search for Paul, who is trying to find some way of getting away from Annie, even in his hobbled condition. Unfortunately, the more he learns about Annie, the less he likes his prospects and the more desperate his condition becomes.

The original novel had a great irony in that under Annie's stern editorial guidance Paul is rather mortified to find the new Misery novel he is writing is the best thing he has ever done. But with William Goldman's script the novel he is writing is but a small part of the game of cat and mouse between Annie and Paul. Once it becomes clear Annie is insane Paul faces the daunting task of keeping on the slippery slope of her good side. Besides, Goldman knows that the whole bit that King did in the novel with Paul's typewriter, which keeps losing keys as his work goes along, would not translate to the film, so he did not even try.

This film represented the second time King created a female character who would be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, the difference being that Kathy Bates won for "Misery" whereas Sissy Spacek did not for "Carrie." While Caan turns in a solid performance as a character bound to a bed or wheelchair for most of the film, ultimately it is Bates who makes this film work with the way that she goes from sweet to sour on the drop of a pin. Annie's is a many faceted lunacy and part of the terror is that Paul never knows which one will come walking through the door or back out of it again. "Misery" struck me as being a flip on "The Exorcist" in that instead of being afraid of what we would find when we walked through the door, this time we were afraid of what was going to open the door and walk through.

"Misery" is a relatively simple and rather intimate horror film. This time King's monster is a human being and that makes Annie Wilkes one of the scariest, especially as she is played by Bates. When you think of all the fine cinematic performances Bates has turned in since then, especially in "Dolores Claiborne" and "Primary Colors," you have to be glad that Bette Midler turned down the role of Annie when it was offered to her. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Chapter three of George Romero's mighty zombie trilogy has big footsteps to follow. Night of the Living Dead was a classic that revitalized a certain corner of the cinema, and Dawn of the Dead was nothing short of epic. Day of the Dead, however, has always been regarded as a comedown compared to those twin peaks--and perhaps it is. But on its own terms, this is an awfully effective horror movie, made with Romero's customary social satire and cinematic vigor--when a "retrained" zombie responds to the "Ode to Joy," the film is in genuinely haunting territory. The story is set inside a sunken military complex, where Army and medical staff, supposedly working on a solution to the zombie problem, are going crazy (strongly foreshadowing the final act of 28 Days Later). Tom Savini's makeup effects could make even hardcore gore fans tear off their own heads in amazement. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (217)

Well made flim to the last Romero zombie trilogy.
I review this film before and the only reason, what i the film again. Because of the DVD. The picture quatily is Above Average but I thought some of the darker scenes, it`s looks digital, would be Better than the VHS. But again it`s all right. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is pretty good. Anyway John Harrison music, he compose for the film is Above Average. Some excellent Make-Up work from Tom Savini(He directed the fine remake of Night Of The Living Dead.) Writer and Director-George A. Romero is most underrated film to Date. Good Cast for the unknown actors, I did like Lori Cardille(Her Father played The T.V interviewer in Night Of The Living Dead and the Remake.), John Amplas(His Excellent Performance in George A. Romero`s Martin). Joe Pilato(Little Known for playing a Cop in U.S. theartical cut of Dawn of the Dead.Terry Alexander, Joseph Conroy, Antone Dileo and Gary Howard Klar and again Richard Liberty.

Am sure Anchor Bay Entertainment are planning to resorted the picture to be much brighter and also the sound. Also an commentary track from the director:Geroge A. Romero and Tom Savini. One of Romero`s best films and also the most underrated one. Grade:A-.

Mmmmm.....apocalicious!
A fine horror film in its own right, but it suffers in comparison to "Dawn of the Dead". Where "Dawn" thematically succeeds on its criticism of consumerism, it's hard to find where "Day" fits in the trilogy. And George Romero himself has stated that this was only a shadow of the original "dead" grand finale he envisioned. But the good news is that maybe we'll see a another sequel some day? It's time...the world needs another Zombie film!

But no matter...it's creepy, apocalyptic nightmare that probes a primal fear, i.e. being eaten. It's quite well-acted (in a yelling and screaming sort of way) in spite of its other shortcomings. Lori Cardille and Jarlath Conroy stand out; too bad they haven't done more film work (both are very active in indie/theater work). Josef Pilato has gone on to character roles, including Dean Martin in "Pulp Fiction".

One note regarding the special effects...they're *really* disturbing, especially Sarah's field surgery upon Miguel. But people don't pull apart or break quite so easily.

It's well worth seeing. If you can still find it, buy it. The extras (including a home video "making of" documentary) are compelling.

Divimax delivers the best edition ever
This is one of the best DVD re-releases I have ever purchased. I have always been a fan of the George A. Romero films, and Day of the Dead has always been one of his best. This DVD is loaded with bonus features. 2 featurettes, Trailers, Commentary, and photo galleries. An absolute must for all fans.

The best of the trilogy
I loved 'Night' and 'Dawn,' but 'Day of the Dead' is the ultimate zombie flick and George Romero's masterpiece. It was ridiculously underrated upon its release, but I'm sure its audience grows by the day. It's bleak, ugly, gory, and funny. Love the post-apocalyptic plotline, love the scenes of amateur actors screaming at each other until their temples protrude, love Bub, and love his zombie brethren staggering around moaning and ripping people's faces off. This is what zombie movies are all about.

DAY OF THE DEAD
NOT AS GOOD AS ROMEROS OTHER ZOMBIE FILMS.A LITTLE DRAGGED OUT AND TIRING AT TIMES. BUT,STILL WORTH CHECKING OUT THE ZOMBIES.THIS FILM DOES HAVE ITS MOMENTS AND HAS A CLAUSTROPHOBIC FEEL TO IT. HAVE TO ADD TO YOUR GHOUL COLLECTION!!! ... Read more

Description

Nicolas Roeg's mystical masterpiece chronicles the physical, spiritual, and emotional journey of a sister and brother abandoned in the harsh Australian outback. Joining an Aborigine boy on his walkabout-a tribal initiation into manhood-these modern children pass from innocence into experience as they are thrust from the comforts of civilization into the savagery of the natural world. ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Intricate Beauty
For some reasons I had reservations about seeing this film when I first heard about it; maybe because what I heard and the advertising I saw didn't begin to hint at its depth. Ostensibly its the story of two WASPs who get stranded in the Australian outback and meet an aborigine boy who helps them to surive their journey back to civilization. Most noticeably, for me, the movie criticizes the spiritual emptiness of civilized society and lets the viewer glimpse at some of uncharted territory's secret beauty. The movie works fine on this level. But its brilliance lies in how many different levels it does work, and its subtlety.

It is a tragic story of two people who fail to communicate. The blindess of the girl (presented in quite a harsh light, and a symbolic big slap in the face to whitey now that I rethink it) despite huge language and cultural differences is inept or unwilling to understand the aborigine boy's perspective. Indeed she is deeply rooted in Anglo-Saxon values -- only the young boy, her companion, is able to break down the barrier and communicate simple ideas.

There are points in the film that expose sexual tension as brilliantly and as subtley as I have ever seen. It is vastly important that the boy is not dramatized or stylized in any way, he seems really to have been picked out of the outback and cast directly in the movie. His behavior should seem at least somewhat bewildering to the audience, it was to me, particularly in the haunting mating dance scene. The girl rejects him out of a lack of understanding and fear, and he sheds tears of failure. Was sexual consumation a part of his walkabout or did he fall deeply for this girl. What are the cues to suggest the latter? I'd have to watch the movie again.

Walkabout is delicate and complex but doesn't spoil itself by becoming overambitious. There are many, many internal psychological and emotional aspects of the two children that remain rightfully unexplored. Suffice to say being shot at by your dad and stranded in the wilderness might create some wrenching immediate -- nevermind longterm -- consequences. The film could easily have veered off into myriad branches and lost track of itself. Roeg decides to focus on particular elements and does so meticulously and with grace.

And for the film's obvious disdain for civilized society, it doesn't necessarily suggest that the boy has an easier or more satisfying life. It merely presents a different angle -- though that angle is shot in breathtaking, but unsentimental, beauty. There is no sap in this film; the score is moving but does not grab forcefully at one's heartstrings. The shots of the outback are gorgeous, but they do not imply any false notions of peace in nature. And for these very reasons, the film, I would imagine, would be great at exposing both beauty and the harsh face of reality to kids despite all the complexity that wouldn't be understood.

ANOTHER LITTLE GEM FROM CRITERION
Second movie of director Nicolas Roeg, WALKABOUT is a rather pessimistic description of the cultural gaps created by our civilization. In order to illustrate his ideas, Roeg and writer Edward Bond imagine the encounter between two young australians lost in the outback and an aborigenes who will help them to come back to a more civilized world.

This encounter which could have produced a lifelong friendship will end in a dramatic manner. Because cultural differences are far more powerful than love or the desire to understand each other. Simple story, simple theme but universal.

Breath-taking cinematography, admirable young actors and a light poetic touch are sufficient reasons to see at least once WALKABOUT. It is also really amazing to observe how Nicolas Roeg has been able to convert this trip in the wilderness in a symbolic sexual initiation in the heart of a Nature that can only show the way to these young adults.

Terrific video transfer and above-average extra-features.

A DVD for the child in you.

walkabout
DONT LET THE OTHER REVIEWS THROW YOU> I honestly thought that the end credits were the best part of this movie. I thought that the acting was bad, the sound was horrible,there was no plot and there were quite a few tasteless scenes.I felt ripped off as the Criterion Collection usually has GOOD movies. Im sorry to say but someone goofed in picking this movie for the collection.

One of the Great Films
Walkabout is simply one of the best films ever made. The photography and editing are exceptional. The sound editing is better than in any other film I have seen.
However I disagree with SOME of the reviews which seem to indicate that the film is some kind of hymn of praise direted towards the primitive aboriginals and a condemnation of modern society. Roeg seems to be saying there are problems in both. After all, both the girl's father and the aborigine kill themselves, though more criticism is naturally reserved for civilization. There is plenty of animal killing here, but except for the white hunters, it is done for food so I don't see what the problem is. People who buy food from supermarkets really just want to mentaly distance themseselves from the foodchain process.
Still, the story, the scenery, the acting, and the direction make this a movie not to miss. The failed courtship scenes before the second suicide are some of the best sequences on film.

Coming of age in the outback of Australia
A very unusual film for its time, Walkabout combines many themes in what is ostensibly a tale of survival in the Australian outback. I suppose it was a bit too racy for American audiences as Roeg focuses lovingly on a young nubile Jenny Augutter but that would be missing the point of this movie which contrasts the sterile life of a young British girl and boy with an Aborigine man-child.

The film depicts the initial bleakness of the Australian desert which the two children find themselves thrust into after the father mysteriously chooses to commit suicide, but eventually shows the immense diversity of the outback as the young Aborigine leads the lost children back to civilization. Roeg uses a variety of cinematic techniques to paste together his poetic vision, ultimately developing the sexual tension between Agutter and the Aborigine, culminating in a fateful courting ritual which Agutter appears oblivious too. However, the star of the movie is the little boy, Luc Roeg, who forms a very special bond with the Aborigine.

The film may be too much to handle for small children, but it is ideal for teenagers, as it will give them a very different experience from the run-of-the-mill teen movies that proliferate in the video stores. Don't fret over the R rating, as the nudity is fleeting and treated in a very respectful way. In Britain, the rating is 12 for young teenagers. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

"Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey," for appliances!
"The Brave Little Toaster" is a treasure of a family classic. My family's been watching it for years. It was made the year I was born, so I grew up with it and still adore it to this day. Even my father adores it. In fact, it's usually his idea to watch it!

A truly unique film, "The Brave Little Toaster" centers on the determined voyage of five totally lovable appliances (the meek electric Blanky, the droll Lampy, the vociferous Radio, the austere vacuum Kirby, and the compassionate Brave Little Toaster). Their trip home to their beloved master involves an office chair and a battery. Seeing the world from the point of view of an electrical appliance makes for one thoroughly interesting, enjoyable movie. Instead of the problems that would be encountered by traditional flesh-and-blood characters, we glimpse into the perspective of machines, each in possession of a soul. And what a wonderful glimpse it is.

We meet a great number of these sentient beings throughout the movie. Among its finest features is the music; three of the songs stand out for me because they're performed by a fascinating 'company' of various appliances. The first song in the film is "City of Lights," which is a catchy tune about the optimistic beginning of their journey. My father loves this song. The second song is performed in a parts shop, by deranged and mutilated appliances who've resigned themselves to an awful death. The sequence is ominous and deliberately frightening, but not too scary for children. The point is not that these characters are evil; on the contrary, they're quite pleasant to their own kind. Who can blame them for being creepy? For them, life is a horror movie, complete with a Peter Lorre ceiling lamp.

The tone of the movie is, on the whole, much darker than most animated children's films. But this should not deter audiences. It's a shame that movies like this are not more popular. Certain scary moments include Toaster's clown nightmare, the Jack Nicholson air conditioner exploding (rest assured, he's repaired later), and the final scene in the junkyard. Fear not this amazing film, however; you'll be glad you saw it.

The interactions of the main characters make them come across as very 'real'; audiences feel for them as for a main character who's a human, or a dog, or any other kind of animal. The characters are very funny and, despite their constant quarrels, very attached. The attachment clearly shows when disaster strikes (ie, at the waterfall, in the quicksand, in the junkyard, in the parts shop.)

To further the comparison to animal characters, the 'house pets,' if you will, during the majority of the film are then certainly the high-tech appliances. The colorful, futuristic scene in the master's apartment is flooded with various modern characters, seemingly led by a new-looking purple lamp cleverly named Plugsy. His proud demeanor belies the fact that he serves essentially the same purpose as old Lampy. A telephone, computer, boom box, toaster oven, green bagless vacuum, two-faced sewing machine, and entertainment center are among those who sing to their 'inferior' counterparts that they are 'on the cutting edge' and offer 'everything you wanted and more.' Except for the friendly black-and-white television (who is really a human onscreen), these appliances are seemingly insecure and nasty, packing our five heroes off to the dump in the master's absence. Somehow, they remain likable. The TV even seems to coexist peacefully with them; Blanky asks where the master is, and a surprised TV asks, "Didn't anyone tell you?" Of course no one told them. The cutting edge appliances aren't the nicest guys in the world.

The junkyard scene is sad because, unlike the parts shop appliances who escape, these worn-out cars are crushed. Their song, "Worthless," tells the tale of several cars who've accepted their fate. Naturally, in the end, the brave appliances wind up safe and happy with the Master; who's now off to college.

The variety of characters is what I really love, among many other things, in this movie. The woodland creatures who first entertain, then irritate, the appliances are not intended to make kids dislike them. How often do they see appliances in the wild?! They're just reacting to the new stimulus in the environment with curiosity. Also, be sure to listen for subtle humor; my dad cracks up when the customer says, "Heaven sent you to me" with very flat emotion to Elmo St. Peters. Aside from that, this unusual movie has no love story in it except for the obvious relationship between the Master and Chris, but even that is not stressed. There aren't too many girls in it anyway, save for the toaster oven, phone, some of the cars, sewing machine, and two parts-shop characters, including the Joan Rivers 'mish-mosh.' She's a can opener, a lamp, and a shaver. But these little points really don't make much difference, when the movie on the whole is so delightfully appealing.

The old-fashioned brave little toaster and all his friends will toast their way right into your family.

Excellent
This film is Excellent for all ages! I remember seeing this when I was younger and for a film that came out in 1987 it holds up well on dvd. The dvd won't win any awards with fans but its enough to NOT hamper the film. Kids wouldn't know anyway! The story is a good one and one that is a timeless classic. New cartoon films don't seem to have all of the heart that this one does. Its nostalgic, its fun and its a classic.

Greatest Movie Ever!
This was one of my three favorite animated movies when I was a kid and it still is (the other 2 were Rankin/Bass's "The Hobbit" and "Return of the King")! The songs are wonderful and should've won the Oscar (I don't know if it did or not). This should've won the "Best Animated Feature" Oscar of 1987 (again, I don;t know if it did or not). Overall, a great movie!

A Childhood Favorite
I still remember watching this charming, quite teary-eyed movie as a kid. I adore the film even though I'm older and mature now, but I still find that THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER can still hold up to today's animated movies.

When five household appliances- a brave toaster, a scared electric blanket, a talkative radio, a comical lamp, and a mean vaccum cleaner- learn that they're beloved master is nowhere to be seen, they decide to go on a journey to find the owner who mysteriously left them.

Of course, the film delightfully has the appliances have a grand old adventure, singing songs, encounter foes and obstacles and a sad and emontional return to their owner.

Although I haven't seen this movie in a while, I still like this film. Recommended mostly for the kiddies, it's also fun for the parents. THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER also sends a good message about courage, friendship and redemption.

The Brave Little Toaster
My daughter and I love The Brave Little Toaster, The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars and The Brave Little Toaster To The Rescue. These films are not only entertaining, but they also have a message. We all have things from our past that bring us joy and comfort(i.e. toaster, vacuum, light, etc.). It was cute that the Master and his appliances were in search of each other. The Brave Little Toaster To The Rescue reminds all of us how animals are used for experiments whether good or bad. I can't imagine someone not enjoying these films. They are all well done. My daughter's favorite is The Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars. She enjoys the appliances helping the little master. This particular film is my least favorite, but as I said I like them all very much. ... Read more

Description

Ten years after the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, filmmaker Alain Resnais documented the abandoned grounds of Auschwitz. One of the first cinematic reflections on the horrors of the Holocaust, Night and Fog (Nuit et Brouillard) contrasts the stillness of the abandoned camps' quiet, empty buildings with haunting wartime footage. With Night and Fog, Resnais investigates the cyclical nature of man's violence toward man and presents the unsettling suggestion that such horrors could come again. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Beautiful horror
I watched Night and Fog this morning.
It's about the Holocaust and was filmed only ten years after liberations of the camps.
It mixes black and white film recorded during the war with color film showing the empty camps.
The one shot that stays with me is the room full of hair.
For a film that is only 31 minutes it's very powerful.
This is not a film for the squimish.... It shows the truth of the Nazi horror.

Affecting, but somewhat disappointing as well
Let me start by saying that this documentary will have an effect on the viewer. I would not recommend it to young children or those that are hyper-sensitive to photos of the results of atrocities. There are a number of photos that are a bit shocking to see. For someone who is not familiar with the Holocaust, this film will be an eye opener.

However, it's not the documentary that my father remembers. I am wondering if there is a different version of the documentary out there? From conversations with my father, this film - in comparison to the one he viewed - almost sugar coats the camps and what happened in them, using film shot by the S.S. guards that almost seems innocuous in comparison to reality. The version my father remembers contains more S.S. film clips, including one of a train coming into the station, and continuing through the entire sorting process, up to and into the gas chambers. I am interested in locating this film in order to further my own studies of this horrible period in our history.

My father saw a version that was in German, not French. Perhaps someone out there can help me locate the other version, if it exists?

Gruesome Images
This was a great documentary. I will never forget the images that were shown in this documentary. The style the director used with the archive was great; I felt a huge amount of sadness for the lives lost while watching the present day archive. The technique and style of how he put everything together kept my eyes glued to the television the entire time. The reality of what happened at those camps was so gruesome that it made me want to cry.

Moving
I was in a Holocaust literature class in college this past semester, and this film was shown. It was so powerful and moving. I will never forget the piles of hair or the bodies being shoveled into large pits by bulldozers.

Powerful Documentary
Resnais' Night and Fog is an example of the pure power of image. There is no comfort zone of actors and special effects between the viewer and the movie, it is all real. Life as it truly happened, in all its horrific reality. Although uncomfortable to watch, it is essential. The power of the documentary has been neglected over the past few years by the mainstream. The public wishes to suspend reality when viewing movies, not be confronted by it. Hopefully more directors will take a cue from Resnais and provide us with cinematic mirrors by which to judge ourselves. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Possibly Robert Mitchum's finest; a must!
This black-and-white movie appeared in countless drive-in theatres in the south during the late 1950's and achieved a cult following as the definite favorite of the good old boy set. In fact, any understanding of southern males who are today between the ages of 45 and 60 is incomplete without considering this movie. Robert Mitchum is a moonshine runner, using souped-up Fords as tankers and fighting both the feds (Gene Barry plays the head fed) and organized crime. The attitude conveyed is that a man should be able to do what he wants on his own land, including make alcohol. Mitchum's movie makes a compelling case for this, one especially receptive to southerners and those who were then between ages 15 and 25.

Thunder Road has thrilling car chase scenes and fine acting performances by Mitchum, Keely Smith, Gene Barry, and Jim Mitchum (Robert's son). A big song was also composed by Mitchum: "The Ballad of Thunder Road." This is one to get and watch over and over again, especially with a six=pack of beer, hot dogs, barbecue, and lots of serious drive-in grade junk (fun) food,

This is for a good old time, so grab it and enjoy!

My All-Time Favorite Movie!
Robert Mitchum is a cool moonshine runner in Thunder Road. It's my all-time favorite movie in a campy way. This is the first movie that had great car chases that I remember, although, of course, the special effects are nowhere up to today's standards. The dialog is corny: (upon viewing the reluctant moonshiner Jeb's funeral procession), (sappily) "They're bringing him back to the valley he never wanted to leave." The acting is corny too - see Keely Smith's open-mouthed expression in the resturant when she turns around to find Robert Mitchum gone. Anyway the story holds together, the characters are interesting, the action is good, and so is the song. Gene Barry is good as the BATF agent. Jim Mitchum (Robert's son who played his younger brother here) was corny. But Robert Mitchum was the coolest!

Moonshine, moonshine, to quench the devil's thirst
IF you're a Robert Mitchum fan, it's almost impossible not to give THUNDER ROAD five stars. Heck, he even wrote and sang the title song.
Mitchum plays Lucas Doolin, a Korean War vet turned Kentucky moonshine runner, a man with "a machine gunner's outlook and death don't faze him much." Times are hard along Thunder Road, the revenuers from Alcohol and Tobacco are stepping up the pressure and a big city operator, Carl Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon), is trying to buy out all the local moonshiners. Luke Doolin is the best runner out there, and when the revenuers & Kogan push, he pushes back.
The revenuers, personified by Troy Barrett (Gene Barry), want to shut down things and especially want help in capturing the big fish Kogan. At one point he even (mistakenly) tries to intimate Luke into cooperating. "I reckon you can do all you say," the sleepy-eyed Luke says after listening to Barrett's threats. "But first you got to catch me. If you can." Kogan's threat is more direct and lethal. He wants to buy out and build his empire. In other words, the moonshiners belong to a loose cooperative and Kogan is threatening a hostile takeover. Barrett tries to win through persuasion; Kogan's goons use guns.
THUNDER ROAD loves cars and driving. When we aren't underneath the souped-up '51 Ford's hood admiring the curves of its engine, we're speeding and chasing and crashing along the rural backroads. The chase scenes were probably pretty exciting for the time, although today they just look quaint and hokey.
Mitchum is, as always, excellent. In an interesting bit of casting, and perhaps as a nod to the dubious paternity in some areas of rural America, Mitchum's son James is cast as his brother Robin Doolin. The less said about his acting the better, but they do look an awful lot alike. Another interesting and somewhat wooden choice is the golden-throated Keely Smith as Mitchum's big city's girlfriend Francie Wymore. As a bonus to her fans, she sings a couple of songs.
THUNDER ROAD is a minor cult classic, most popular in the Appalachia region. I read an interesting bit of trivia from the IMDB site: Elvis Presley was originally offered the part of Robin Doolin, but Tom Parker put the kabosh on it. Now THAT would have been interesting.

Moonrunners Is Better
I Love This Movie So Much but in my opinion the sort of remake ala Thunder Road for the next generation is better entitled Moonrunners its the film The Dukes Of Hazzard was based on and it stars Jim Mitchum Robert Mitchuns son anyway you'll love both movie full of good old crash'em up chases and real good acting so check'em out you won't be dissapointed

Couldn't Get Into It!
(...). This movie plods along at a snail's pace. I haven't been able to watch "Thunder Road" in one sitting EVER, simply because it is so boring. I love Robert Mitchum and the movie looks cool with the 1950s cars and the black & white photography. I really, really wanted to like this film. I even bought the dvd to replace a taped version I had, hoping that a superior picture would do the trick....it didn't. Apart from the car chases, it just drags. No kidding. This movie has a cult following (each to their own) but in my humble opinion, it's a complete yawner. (...) Sorry "Mitch." ... Read more

Amazon.com

Occupied France the subject of a deft, breezy comedy? Believe it. Bon Voyage gathers a collection of romantics, fools, and survivors, and puts them together in Bordeaux in 1940. Loosely arranged around the ditzy figure of a famous grand-dame actress (Isabelle Adjani), these hapless creatures trip over each other very amusingly during the course of a couple of frantic days. The central character is actually a young writer (the winning Gregori Derangere), who's torn between panting after the actress or aiding the pretty daughter (Virginie Ledoyen, 8 Women) of an important scientist trying to escape to England. It would be hard to say that any of this amounts to anything substantial, but director Jean-Paul Rappeneau whips it together very attractively, and the Bordeaux location offers luscious views of a pre-war city. Rappeneau's delightful 1966 comedy La Vie de Chateau, set in Normandy just before D-Day, treads some of the same turf. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (8)

entertaining movie
this is one of the best movies i've seen so far this year. i hope ebert & roeper don't forget about it. has some of the best cinematography i've seen in a movie in a while. this is a really funny well-made movie.

enjoyed it
i was pleasantly surprised when i saw this film. it's a world war 2 comedy\drama in french that really entertains its audience. one of the better films i've seen so far this year. i hope ebert & roeper don't forget it.

Screwball romance worried by the rumble of approaching Nazis
An early, typical scene in "Bon Voyage" takes place in a Parisian jail in June, 1940.

A public defender has been called up for military service but tells his client it's no biggie, he'll be back on the case in three weeks.

"Not even Hitler wants war," the lawyer says. "He'll make peace. You'll see."

Ahh, nothing like the sound of famous last words, which happens to be one of this movie's many specialties.

But at least the onset of World War II helps the client, Frederic (Gregori Derangere), escape from prison. Fred's a hapless but occasionally dashing writer who's been falsely accused of murder, thanks to his ex, the silky, crystal-eyed gold-digger Viviane (Isabelle Adjani). Viviane hitchhikes from one sugar daddy to the next and has fled to Bordeaux with a cabinet minister (Gerard Depardieu), and with Frederic not far behind.

Once they reach the city, which is in chaos, they become entangled in a plot involving a rickety physicist, his endlessly resourceful assistant, an amiable ex-con, a shady reporter and several bottles of heavy water that absolutely, positively must not fall into the hands of the Germans.

Despite an obvious debt to "The Third Man," "Casablanca" and Tintin comics, "Bon Voyage" is actually more like a vintage screwball comedy that grows increasingly worried by the rumble of approaching Nazis. At times, the movie has maybe a few too many spies, politicians and scientists running in and out of the plot, but that's also part of its charm, especially when the heroes rise above their own concerns and work toward a greater good.

The movie was directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau, whose previous film was 1995's fantastic "The Horseman on the Roof." That, too, was a love story set against the sprawling backdrop of war, with characters leaping from one tense situation right into another. "Bon Voyage" operates in more of a minor key but still offers a nostalgic ode to movies, and wars, that were seen in black and white.

Mildly amusing
The story features a large cast of intriguing characters representing multiple walks of life in France before and during the occupation, whose lives intersect in sometimes comical, and sometimes lethal ways.

The film's recipe tosses together a film starlet, an aspiring novelist, a government minister, a sexual predator, a band of thieves, an elderly nuclear physicist, his young and beautiful assistant, and a traitor who is spying for the Germans. Each of these characters brings a different story plot, resulting in a mix that touches on romance, comedy, intrigue, politics, suspence, and farce.

The result contains some mildly amusing scenes and some mildly suspenseful scenes. The film maintains an entertaining, driving pace, simply because so much is happening. The actors are consistently delightful, and their characters intriguing. However, I found it difficult to care much for any character, as the film did not spend enough time with any one of them for us to learn what drove them. It seemed as though the director intended them to be cardboard cutouts set in a toy theater.

The production quality is outstanding, with gorgeous period sets, costumes and lighting.

Resistance
It is a distinct pleasure to see Isabelle Adjani and Gerard Depardieu in a romantic film once again in which neither is forced to chase an Ex around the world or discover America. All they have to do here is look good and be themselves: which is quite a lot if you are Adjani (looking radiant) and Depardieu (looking slim and handsome in his rugged way).
Unfortunately they are stuck in Jean-Paul Rappeneau's "Bon Voyage," a beautiful though mindless enterprise, if there ever was one.
Beautiful and mindless is ok if it is well written and well thought out neither of which "Bon Voyage" is. (think "Two Week's Notice," "The Banger Sisters" or "The Matrix Reloaded" for that matter)
The film is set in the 1940's German occupied France and the design is flawless but ultimately "Bon Voyage" is a big, beautifully wrapped gift with a giant satin bow that when opened up and examined reveals nothing of substance. In fact it reveals nothing at all. ... Read more

Reviews (114)

The movie is great but the DVD falls short
I love the National Lampoon's Vacation movie with Chevy Chase and the movie is wonderful and we all know that. My problem here is this 20th anniversary DVD Warner Bros put out First O.K the movie looks great the picture is wonderful and everything that's not the problem it is the real lack of special features that makes me rather dissapointed the best special feature the the commentary it is pretty entertaining there is alot of information that is useful but Harold Ramis who as you hear recorded his away from everyone else probably has the most useful information the others like Chevy Chase Dana Barron Anthony Michael Hall who is basically mute through out the whole darn thing and Randy Quaid and Matty Simmons once in a while come out with some good tidbits but they joke around too much. They talk about that alternate ending when they go to Roy Wally's Mansion instead make him and some people sing and dance for there dime's worth of entertainment and that is how the movie originally ended with no trip ever to Wally World with the Roller Coasters and such and no John Candy in the original ending and they tested the ending with a test audience and they laughed through out the whole film but got Strangly Quiet and never laughed again and just walked out sad. Guess What that alternate ending never made it on the DVD! You think after 20 years with so many loyal fans of this film they would release that ending for at least for interest just to see rare footage of this film. They just drive you nuts here on this DVD all of the special features except the Commentary which is cool everything else stinks. Where is the FEATURETTE? Where is the Making of...? Maybe some outtakes would have made this a bit more cooler and most of all for crying out loud release the alternate ending! What does Warner Bros got to lose! You also get on this DVD this family truckster gallery thing I don't know what else to call it you get this map of that ugly station wagon from the film and you pick highlighted things off of this picture of this wagon and just kind of guess what there going to talk about and it's not that great. I laugh because on that gallery they talk about 10 minutes in different galleries to Christie Brinkley? about her big scene and what she did on her SUMMER VACATION! Also talks to Dana Barron about "Why the heck she was missing from the other films"? also talks to the stunt guy who jumped that ugly station wagon in the desert and there some other stuff like the Theatrical Trailer OOH! and basically that's the movie your best here is the film itself and the commentary other than that it could have been a HECK of alot better maybe they redo the DVD and add better things because what is up with those bits of Chevy Chase Randy Quaid and Matty Simmons sitting with Atari sticks on the couch they act like they had to much to drink they don't make any sense.

The Holiday Road...
It's hard to imagine now, but there was a time when Chevy Chase was cool and funny. In "National Lampoon's Vacation," Chase stars as Clark Griswold, a man determined to drive his family cross-country to see Wally World, "America's Number One Family Theme Park." In the opening scene, Griswold gets stuck with a monstrous (and monstrously ugly) automobile-like contraption dubbed the "Family Truckster."

Unfortunately for him, that's the highpoint of his trip down the holiday road.

Everything that can go wrong does so as the Griswold clan weathers hubcap theft, a sportscar-driving temptress, two deaths and an endless variety of indignities heaped upon Clark himself as the result of his obsessive need to be the perfect husband and father. Chase's wild-eyed expressions as he approaches the brink of insanity are hilarious.

Harold Ramis directs a script by John Hughes (who would later team-up with costar Anthony Michael Hall for a few 80s teen comedies). Beverly D'Angelo tags along as Griswold's long-suffering wife. In-laws and outlaws sharing in the misfortune include Imogene Coca (as cranky Aunt Edna),a hilarious Randy Quaid (they had to bring him back for the last two sequels), a briefly seen Brian Doyle-Murray and swimsuit superstar Christie Brinkley.

This is one of those classic American comedies you really need to have seen by now. It's worth owning inany format. Also watch for John Candy in a brief role near the end... and listen for Harold Ramis' distinct voice (he has one line).All that, and a nude D'Angelo, too; after all, this was the 80s.

The family vacation series of all time
This is one great movie the 1st from the Griswalds all 4 were funny they took a road trip to California.Blah Blah Blah
Yada Yada Yada this was a great movie to see funny Chedder.
Story 10 Acting 10 Directing 9 Action 10 Entertainment 10
Overall=49/50 wich is 98% a lot of laughs in this one

Buy if you like movies this is pretty insane for you.

4.5 stars - a comedy classic
INTRODUCTION:
National Lampoon's Vacation was the first film in the Vacation series of films. For many years, the film has been hailed as a comedy classic. And according to most viewers of this series, the first film is the best one of all. Are they right? And is this twentieth anniversary edition of the DVD a worthwhile buy if you already got the original DVD issue? Read on for my review.

BASIC PLOT:
The storyline of the film goes something like this. A middle-aged man working in the food preservation industry (Chevy Chase) wants to take his wife (Beverly D'Angelo) and children on a road trip to Walley World, one of the nation's biggest and best amusement parks. And he wants to do this in the new car he has ordered. But the vacation turns into a disaster almost instantly - the car company sends him the wrong car, and even once the vacation is in progress, one thing after another goes wrong - with each experience being even more devastating than the last.

FILM OPINIONS:

Anyone who calls this film a comedy classic is right. It's very rare that a film this funny comes along. The acting (Chevy Chase's in particular) is great, and the simplistic storyline prevents things from getting confusing. As has been previously stated, this film predated the Motion Picture Industry of America's PG-13 rating, so even though it's an R rating, it's really not much worse that a modern PG-13 is. If you haven't seen this movie yet, and you're a fan of comedies, what are you waiting for?

DVD:
The so-called "special edition" version of the DVD is a huge disappointment - this is why this set loses half a star. The commentary track is pretty bland, and the "new extras" are pretty much worthless. I recommend getting the original DVD release of the movie, as it is generally priced lower, and NO, you won't be missing anything if you get that version.

OVERALL:
Overall this film is a comedy masterpiece. Sure, the DVD could have been WAY better, but the movie itself more than makes up for this. Movies don't get a whole lot funnier than this one - so what are you waiting for? See it if you haven't yet!

Enjoyable, funny comedy
"Vacation" is an enjoyable, funny comedy that has spawned several sequels, but none have been as good as this one, the original. Chevy Chase is perfectly cast as "Clark Griswald," the determined father who leads his family from Illinios to see an amusement park in California. Along the way they encounter hilarious and sometimes truly bizarre situations. The remainder of the cast, with the exception of Christie Brinkley, are also excellent. I felt Brinkley's appearances in the movie were a distraction from the story, rather than adding to it. One cameo would have been okay, but not more than that.

Despite what you might think, "Vacation" is really not suited for little kids. The film is rated "R" because it has a fair amount of profanity, some of it quite strong, some nudity, and mature themes. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Hilary Duff Shines as Cinderella
Hilary Duff stars in this movie as a girl whose father dies in an earthquake. Because there is no will left her stepmother gets everything, including Sam (Hilary).

The movie picks up 8 years later where Sam is a senior in high school preparing to go to college at Princeton (that is, if she gets accepted). High school isn't exactly a happy experience for Sam as she has only two friends. One real, one an email friend that texts her constantly. To everyone else in the school she's know as Diner Girl.
Home isn't any better, as she is forced to live in the attic, do all of the chores, wait on her stepmother and sisters constantly, and work seven days a week at the diner owned by her stepmother.

Since I saw the previews of this movie I thought it looked funny. I've been looking forward to it since the first preview. However, now that it's out and I read the reviews I was nervous. Luckily my fears weren't realized. This movie ended up being a sweet, family friendly, romantic comedy. Duff does an excellent job of portraying Sam. She truly is an excellent young actress, the pep rally scene is proof of this.

While this movie wasn't really laugh out loud funny, it was funny at times, but more than that it was sweet and, for lack of a better word, cute. The direction was really nice. It wasn't super artsy, but it was well done and added a certain beauty to the film.

Cinderella Story ended up being a really sweet movie that deserves a better reaction than it recieved. Great acting, a clever update of an old fairy tale, an awesome soundtrack, and a likeable cast makes for a great afternoon at the movies.

Cinderella Story Is Better Than Expected
Cinerella Story is about a not-so-popular girl finding love online and meeting her prince charming who turns out to be the school's most popular guy.

While it is a simple story, the movie turns out to be hilariously funny and immensly entertaining. It is by no means Oscar-worthy, but it is a great movie nonetheless.

Hilary Duff delivers a good performance as Sam, our Cinerella, and her football playing prince, Chad Michael Murray also does well. Jennifer Coolidge brings in the laughs as the evil stepmother and Regina King delivers a strong performance as always as Sam's co-worker and her 'fairy godmother'.

Overall this is a great movie and I'd recommend it to all, especially fans of Hilary's or the other stars and those of you who want to see a comedy or a feel-good movie now. So, go see it!

Exellent
A cinderella story was the best movie in the world,and better then any of the other movies hilary duff played in. I love hilary duff so i see all of the movies and buy all the movies she is in!! If you buy this movie you WON'T regret it!! I am a 12 year old girl that is very critical about judging movies so take my advice!!

Fabulouse
i dragged my boyfriend to see this film because i just love hilary duff and have to see any film she is in and we BOTH really enjoyed it! i thought it was fantastic how they acted out the story of cinderella and gave it the perfect modern day teenage twist. As usual Hilary looks absolutley gorgeous expecially with her sparkling dress on. Prince charming is also gorgeous and and girl my age would die for him and i just think its the perfect file for any teenager who doesnt want to admit shes loves a good fairy tale and all the children will love it too! Get it and believe me u will love it!

A Cinderella Story
I really think that this movie was really really good! I give it 5 stars, but some parts were kinda cheesy. Some parts of this movie are kind of inappropriate for younger children eyes, as in the end at the football game. (Yo, Hilary, let someone else have Chad, will ya?)Laugh out loud.
The movie is really about a girl named Sam who dad dies in a earthquake. Her meanie-mo step-mom name is Fiona, and Sam has to do everything Fiona tells her. Then there is Sam's "Fairy God mother" whos name is Rhonda. Rhondas name for Fiona is PotatoHead. Then Sam gets all these Text messages and e-mails. Oops! You have to watch the movie to know the rest! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Things started going downhill for Eddie Murphy around the time of this 1986 clunker, in which the comic actor plays a social worker predicted to be the savior of a kidnapped child, who has special powers to heal the Earth. Dennis Feldman's script and director Michael Ritchie (The Candidate), a once-thoughtful satirist, stumble over every link in a chain of fantasy-fueled sequences. Murphy phones it in, and Charles Dance (Pascali's Island) looks foolish in retrospect. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (27)

The Bald Magical Child
Perhaps the success of GHOSTBUSTERS was the inspiration for THE GOLDEN CHILD to mix comedy and horror fantasy. GHOSTBUSTERS had all the elements in perfect sync and THE GOLDEN CHILD is very uneven. Many of reviewers and moviegoers reaction to the movie was basically, to paraphrase many quotes, "Eddie Murphy was great and funny...but the story and plot was stupid!" It was reported that Eddie Murphy hated the out-of-country location shoots and it shows. His character, Chandler Jarrell is the reluctant hero who is a social worker and part time finder of missing children. Chandler is chosen (by divine providence) to find and save a magical child from kidnappers who are in the league with evil. There is an uncomfortable fantasy-supernatural, dream sequence that makes no sense in the context of the story. Also, in the final leg of the film, the stop-motion animated effects of a bat-winged demon and an actual "dragon lady" seems to be out of place and unexpected. The film takes its subject too seriously with Eddie Murphy winking at the audience. With his character's disbelief of the whole absurdity of the situation, maybe it was a tough sell for the audiences. Overall, a movie that showcases the early brilliance of Eddie Murphy but his comedy does not gel wit the rest of the film.

Hmmm
What an odd movie. Its a fantasy children's movie that thinks its a fantasy comedy. Murphy is completely lost at sea in this flick. As if he isn't entirely aware of what's going on or is trying to push the movie in a direction it just won't go in. His character and the movie seem to exist separately of each other. He plays his usual silly harmless likable guy and the rest of the movie is earnest kiddie sci-fi action.

Eddie Murphy shines
When this movie first came out, from what the critics had to say, and the trailors for it, I was not that impressed with the idea of spending money to see it. I was truly surprised when I finally did see it. It is not a visually enhanced movie, but you see a side of Eddie Murphy that is surprising and refreshing, his character is fairly polite, not too much on the 4 letter word band wagon, and actually shows compassion. I would say that he shows these same qualities in the Dr. Dolittle movies, but really... talking animals??? It is a heart warming story, protection of a childs life... see it and judge for yourself. I think you will be surprised and want to add this one to your collection!

for its time
for its time it was a great movie but it was just so cheesy compared to now it sucked.. lol so idk if u can watch the movie realizing they didnt have all the stuff then they do now it was a okay movie

Golden Balls
This film made a lot of money on its release, and i was not surprised: there was action comedy, and Charles Dance not pronouncing his "j"'s coupled with some special effects circa 1978. what more could it need?

And yet...for some reason, after watching this film, i felt somehow unfulfilled. Perhaps it was not explaining who the real bad guy was(i'm sorry, Forces Of Evil is not enough for me). Maybe it was the low low grade action. Maybe it was just the Forces of Evil surrounding me, but the truth is, i just couldn't bring myself to be able to like this film.

It is however not all bad, This is Eddie Murphy on vintage "Trading Places" style form, which is always worth the laugh, and there is one dream sequence which is so surreal its...well, surreal.

Despite this however, my suggestion would be to watch it on TV rather than buy it. it just aint worth the nuggets. ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Absorbing! Realistic! Riveting! Fantastic!
1961's "The Hustler" is a picture that will truly "suck you in". It totally absorbed my attention throughout. Making this in black-and-white was a wise choice by the movie-makers too. It sets the mood of the drab surroundings we experience during the film.

A perfect cast has been assembled here, with Paul Newman a knockout in the lead role of pool shark "Fast Eddie" Felson. Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Murray Hamilton, and Myron McCormick give strong support to Newman. And there's a very controlled and somewhat subdued Jackie Gleason as "Minnesota Fats". Jackie doesn't have a huge part here, but he pulls off his role as "Fats" with style.

There are a lot of quiet moments in this picture ... when just visuals propel the story. I like that in movies! Sometimes there's too much dialogue in a film, in places where nothing needs to be said at all. It just seemed to me that the producer/director (Robert Rossen) knew when to keep the actors quiet here.

The Hustler will forever remain a Classic to me!!

Some Hustler stats:
-------------------------------------
Running Time: 135 minutes.
Debut in theatres: September 25, 1961.
Nominated for Best Picture of 1961. (Beaten out by "West Side Story".)
Paul Newman nominated for Best Actor of 1961. (Beaten out by Maximilian Schell--Judgment at Nuremburg.)
Both George C. Scott and Jackie Gleason were nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1961 for this film. (Both beaten out by George Chakiris--West Side Story.)
Piper Laurie nominated for Best Actress in '61. (Beaten out by Sophia Loren--Two Women.)
Film won two 1961 Oscars --- Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (B&W).
Billiard champ Willie Mosconi, 14-time world champion from 1941-1957, was a key technical adviser on the set of The Hustler, literally teaching Mr. Newman how to play the game of pocket billiards, right down to his grip on the cue stick. Newman became quite proficient by the end of the shooting of the picture.
Newman reprised his role as Fast Eddie in 1986's sequel, "The Color of Money", co-starring Tom Cruise. Newman DID win the Oscar for Best Actor that year.

Newman's Own...
It is a real shame that not one of the actors, nominated for their work in THE HUSTLER, took home the Oscar. Now, a true classic in every sense of the word, the film is still one of the coolest motion pictures ever made. Originally released in 1961, the film is flawless. "Fast" Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) is an arrogant pool hustler, who seems unbeatable, that is until he meets his match. When his desire and ambition for perfection lead him to challenge legendary pool king, "Minnesota Fats" (Jackie Gleason), things heat as Felson may have bitten off more than he can chew. He risks everything good in his life for a shot at glory. Piper Laurie as Sarah Packard, has great chemistry with Newman, and George C. Scott as Bert Gordon is tops too.

Based on the book by Walter S. Tevis, the movie was directed by Robert Rossen, and shows off his real talent as a filmmaker. Desperate to put his "Ralph Kramden" character behind him, Gleason delivers a fine dramatic performance, that is sure to surprise you, if you only know him from "The Honeymooners". The pool room action is put together very well. The fact that the film was shot in black and white, only enhanced the action on screen, and makes it give off an almost cooler aura.

It's great to finally see the movie on DVD. The special features are great. The most interesting of which, is the "picture-in picture" commentary, that explains how all of the trick shots were done in the film. This innovative feature is "way cool" The commentary track is pretty good too. However, I enjoyed the retrospective documentary, "the inside story", a bit more. It was also neat to see the vintage theatrical trailer.

The DVD is Highly Recommended and is a must have in anyone's movie collection

One of the greatest American films ever made. MUST SEE!!!
With or without the Oscar, this is one of the greatest American films ever made in any genre. George C. Scott refused to take part in the Oscar ceremonies when "The Hustler" was nominated, calling them "a self-serving orgy" if my memory serves me right. Perhaps that stand contributed to the movie not being recognized in its own time. Whatever the reason, this film shows you that recognition is unnecessary for true art. The cream always rises to the top.

People may not realize that Paul Newman was an unknown when this movie was made. His youthful brashness and emotion laden performance show him as an actor beyond his years.

One can never say too much about George C. Scott. He's old reliable, in this movie as in his others. He does an excellent job. He's just so good that we are numb to his mastery.

Piper Laurie also turns in an amazing performance. Her acting is subtle but her method is steady.

The real standout in this film is Jackie Gleason. He shows why he was called "The Great One." I personally feel that this movie shows him as the greatest method actor of his generation, and perhaps one of the greatest ever.

But unbelievable acting is only one part of this gem. The cinematography is clear and artistic. The script is expertly written and the scenery couldn't be more authentic.

This is the only pool movie I know of that you can enjoy as a pool player. The pool scenes are unbelievable. They used the greatest pool players of the day in shooting and it shows. The Color of Money is a nicely shot movie but there is not really a lot of pool in it. This is a pool movie that transcends pool.

Please do yourself a favor and add this to your collection.

The Hustler is simply amazing.
The Hustler is a 1961 20th Century Fox release about the game of billiards. It features an amazing cast; Paul Newman as Fast Eddie, Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats, Piper Laurie as Sarah Packard, and George C. Scott as Bert Gordon. Robert Rossen directs the 134-minute film, with outstanding cinematography, for which it won an academy award, but it was hard not to just watch the amazing acting displayed.

The most interesting things I found in the movie are the lighting and the camera angles. The pool halls are just as most people picture them, dark, dingy and full of smoke. This is visible at the beginning of the movie when Fast Eddie and Minnesota Fats play their first game of pool. The players are lit when playing at the table, but when the rest of the hall is shown, it is dark with almost no lighting whatsoever. I find it interesting that the actors are kept in the shadows, even when delivering dialogue, until they lean to the table to shoot. I feel this is to emphasize the game played, and the players, but only when they are doing what is important to them. This also pushes the spectators almost out of view, to become the same as the viewers in the theatre and at home. This leads to a somewhat humorous scene. Fast Eddie and Minnesota Fats are playing a marathon set of games for high stakes. The favorite is Fats, but he is down about $10,000. While Fats is making a shot, an employee of the pool hall starts to raise the blinds, and he complains telling the employee to "cut that sunshine out", to accentuate the mood I feel the director was trying to set. After 25 hours of playing, Minnesota Fats wins back $13,000 dollars, leaving Eddie with only $200 in his pocket.

The lighting changes when Eddie is not in the pool hall, and is almost blinding to the viewer. There are many scenes with Eddie and Sarah in her apartment, and it is usually very bright, but when the mood is depressing or dreary, it gets darker, helping to convey the mood displayed. When they travel out of the apartment, the mood is usually light, and the scenery also brightens showing the actors more dramatically.

The camera angles used in the movie are very interesting to the viewer. There are many shots inside of doorways, usually featuring Fast Eddie. Those scenes are usually more personal parts of the movie, away from the pool halls. The actors are almost never featured in the center of the screen, but offset to the side. I feel this is to allow the lighting to enter more into the viewing experience. When scenes are shown featuring two actors, the camera takes a side view, making the space between them seems greater. The camera also often shifts in between characters, even when separated by just a table. This allows the spectator to concentrate more on the speaker, or to view emotion conveyed by the other actors. When the actors are playing pool, the camera often pans up to the character leaning down to the table. I feel this angle allows us to focus more on the action of shooting, and on facial expressions, instead of the actual shot. When at the pool hall, there are also many angled shots from above and over, allowing the background and lighting to display more prominently.

I would rate this movie five stars. While I have not concentrated on the acting, it is tremendous. Paul Newman displays amazing emotion, and mix of desperation and cockiness of Fast Eddie conveys through almost every small thing he does. The story line is unique and builds the characters into people that the viewer can become very interested. However, I find that what the audience usually does not notice is what truly makes this movie great.

A Breath-taking Cinematic Experience...
A small-time pool hustler, Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) also called Fast-Eddie, is feeling that he is on his way up as he wants to take on the reputable Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason). However, Eddie is young and boastful with poor self-control and after several drinks he loses a very large amount of money to Minnesota Fats in a lengthy pool game. Penniless and embarrassed Eddie runs off like a dog with his tail between his legs from his manager and friend. As Eddie leaves he meets Sarah (Piper Laurie) with whom he begins to form a relationship with. As Eddie then attempts to rebound from his financial set back he meets Bert Gordon, a ruthless and wealthy gambler. Gordon offers Eddie a tough deal, but it might be a new beginning for Eddie depending on what price he might have to pay in order to get back on his feet. Hustler is a remarkable film about self-discovery, greed, love, and billiards that captivates the audience through an intriguing story. The story's genuine feeling of how people struggle through difficulties is brought out by a terrific cast as well as cinematography that lends support to the emotions that the characters feel. In the end, Rossen creates a breath-taking cinematic experience. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

A Presidential Comedy!
Dave Kovic runs a job placement agency. On the side, he does Presidential Impersonations since he bares a strong resemblance to President Mitchell. But when Mitchell suffers a life-threatening stroke, Dave is asked to step in to temporarily fill his shoes. After testing the waters, Dave begins to enjoy the job and eventually tries to get something done...

DAVE is a sturdy comedy that gets a lot of mileage out of Washington DC. Kevin Kline is just perfect as the everyman Dave and even better as President Dave. When he throws out the first pitch at a professional game, the reaction is happy and real. He becomes the President we would like to see, one that puts the country above all else. That's something I've never seen in my lifetime. Sigourney Weaver is the hard-edged First Lady who Dave is soon allied. Charles Grodin is very funny in a supporting role as a DC accountant with a fear of the government. Frank Langella is the villainous Bob Alexander, puppet master for the 'acting' President. He sneers here as much as he did in DRACULA. But, much of the fun in Dave comes from the many Washington insider cameos. These, in addition to appearances by Larry King, Jay Leno, Leon Harris and Oliver Stone make the story seem feasible. (And for once, Oliver Stone's conspiracy just might be right...)

Ivan Reitman handles this comedy masterfully and the story is filled with heart and a couple nice twists. The DVD has a pretty good video transfer and a standard audio transfer. But, this was an early DVD release so it offers little extra (There is a mightily short making of doc). Dave itself is a fun film that might ironically restore some trust in our government.

Whimsy & Intrigue in the White House
This movie is one of those gems that quietly grows on you -- each viewing creating anticipation and appreciation for its wit and style. The casting is superb. Kevin Kline doesn't know how to give a bad performance. Frank Langella's brilliant characterization of the ambitious, power-hungry 'man behind the throne' is perfect, and a wonderful contrast to his long-ago role as the cad/seducer in Diary of a Mad Housewife.

This is definitely a movie to buy because it needs to be seen many times. The innumerable funny pearls in this movie alone are worth the price of the DVD. For Minnesotans, one of the slyest gags was Dave's gig early in the moview, imitating the President at the grand opening of Durenberger Motors in his home town. The movie was released around the time that David Durenberger (Minnesota's senior senator) was embroiled in an ethics scandal. A personal favorite moment was the scene where Dave (with the help of his accountant buddy played by Charles Grodin) pares the federal budget to save a homeless shelter for children -- the cabinet members bemusedly participating just like a family sitting around the kitchen table wrestling with its own budget. Priceless.

GOOD DEMOCRATS, BAD REPUBLICANS, SAME OLD STORY
The film "Dave" went through a script change. The story of a Presidential look-alike (Kevin Kline) who fills in for the secretly deceased real thing, the original story featured a Republican who brought his skills as a small entrepreneur to the job. Hollywood turned him into a Democrat, but kept his G.O.P common sense, such as when he and his partner look at the Federal budget and balance it by using the methods any small businessman would use. Naturally, pet liberal projects are all interjected while "Republican priorities" are given the heave-ho. You can search far and wide, and you will not find Hollywood films that openly portray a Democrat as the bad guy. I wrote a screenplay a few years ago called "A Murderous Campaign". It had all the elements of a great script. A beautiful porn star has an affair with a Democrat Louisiana Senator. She overhears him plotting the assassination of a political rival, but they find out she heard the plan. They try to kill her, so she goes into hiding and hooks up with a crusty old Washington reporter who is considered kooky because he has been accusing this Democrat of these crimes for years. A retired FBI friend of the reporter helps them. The Democrat announces a Presidential bid. The porn star uses her considerable charms and discovers that the Governor of New Jersey is the assassination target at a Statue of Liberty rally. She saves the Governor, and the plot is revealed, but the Democrat candidate goes into spin control. Nobody can really prove the plan. It looks like he will win the nomination, having weathered the politics of personal destruction. Finally, the porn girl and the reporter find the old father of the Democrat's chief of staff, a former Ku Klux Klansman who wants to get what he knows off his chest before passing from this mortal coil. He tells them about the drug smuggling operation the candidate has been running in the Louisiana Bayou. The reporter's FBI pal arranges a raid. They discover all the "smoking gun" evidence of a series of political murders going back years. The girl is re-united with her family, gets out of the porn business, the reporter wins the Pulitzer, and it is jail time for the Democrat. The end.
Creative execs who loved the verbal pitch when I simply described the Democrat as a "politician," a "candidate" or the "Senator" all passed when they read the part in the script that identifies him as an actual Democrat. Pamela Anderson would be perfect as the porn chick. I could see Denzel Washington as the reporter, and Gary Busey as the Democrat Senator. I was asked if I would change him to a Republican. My answer was that I wanted to maintain the realism of the story. See ya.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM

Light romantic comedy.
President Bill Mitchell is not exactly an ideal President. He looks after those who helped get him into office than the people and he is a philanderer. One of the ways that he keeps his amorous play a secret is to hire a lookalike to impersonate him. Now the man whom they have hired is Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline), a goodhearted man who likes to help people find jobs. After making his little exit, the real President suffers a stroke and is completely incapacitated. The corrupt and manipulative Chief of Staff, Bob Alexander, plans to use Dave to elevate himself to the White House. Unfortunately, he doesn't count on Dave enjoying himself in office, using his luck to make the country a better place and falling in love with the beautiful First Lady.

A fun Political Drama/Comedy!
DAVE is a great movie. It's fun to watch and is family friendly. At the same time, though, it has plenty of political jargon and Oval Office scenes to keep the political drama lover happy. DAVE follows a man who could pass as a twin of the President. He is recruited as a double for the Prez. for public appearances, but quite unexpectedly, gets a big promotion! Definately see this one. ... Read more

Description

The first in a popular trilogy of Indian films! Pather Panchali is a moving story of a rural family cursed with bad luck. The father is a dreamer, while his wife struggles to feed the family, including son Apu. When a petty thief brings tragedy to them, they must find a way to survive.Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Multiple film festival awards. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Song of the Little Road
Delicate, almost lyrical black-and-white images, offer insight into the harshness of life in a rural Bengali village. Panther Panchali is the first movie in Satyajit Ray's (1921-1992) compelling Apu Trilogy. Ravi Shankar's hauntingly beautiful music takes this movie to a mythical level.

Satyajit Ray's ability to reveal this story at a leisurely pace, all while intriguing you with the details of Indian life, keeps you captive to the last minute. Even the old stone buildings of the ancestral home seem artistic.

In the first story we find Durga stealing guavas and Apu is not yet born. As Durga's mother, Sarbajaya (Karuna Bannerjee), struggles to look after family members she is already responsible for, her relatives criticize her for her lack of leadership in the family. The auntie Indir (Chunibala Devi) takes delight in Durga's adventures and loves the gifts of bananas and guavas.

There is a comforting scene where she is seen sitting against an ancient wall while she rocks Apu in a basket hanging from the ceiling. As she sings there is a moment of serenity in this world where each day seems to be a fight for survival. Her optimistic attitude is almost heroic in the light of how she is often treated. She has much to offer her community and excels at story telling. Watch for the scene where her face is silhouetted against the wall late at night. This movie has many cinematic moments that border on enlightened creativity.

For some reason, this movie reminded me of living in Africa on a campsite/farm where we would borrow a cup of sugar from the neighbors house or wander down a path to the river. Here we find the comical "Indir" stealing chilies or other cooking supplies from Sarbajaya. Sarbajaya is overwhelmed by her own life and yet later she is faced with her own loneliness as she sinks into depression.

Apu's father, Harihar, struggles to find work although he has dreams of seeing his plays performed. He is truly an example of a beautiful soul vibrating at a higher level of creativity than those around him and yet he is forced to take on menial work just to survive.

As the story progresses Apu grows into an adorable whisp of a child and I love the scene where he and his sister walk down the well-worn path. There are scenes of dancing in the monsoon rains and while all the characters seem to be living in their own worlds, they somehow function in their community in a meaningful way. As the rains bring life back to the land, nothing can prepare you for the emotional impact of the scenes that follow.

Overall, I was impressed with the brilliance of the storytelling and how each story weaves almost effortlessly into the next. Pather Panchali is one of the rare film experiences no one should miss. Not only does it address the basics of survival in a community, it makes you think about your own role and how your choices affect everyone around you.

If you can watch Aparajito and The World of Apu in the next few days following your first viewing of Panther Panchali, your experience will turn into a complete immersion in the intriguing and exotic world of Apu. After watching the first movie, I could hardly wait to watch the second and within a day I had watched the third. These movies will leave you in the deepest of contemplation for days and not only will you find yourself lost within the minds of the characters, you will enjoy all the connections between the movies.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Beautiful and Unforgettable
Pather Panchali, a simple, moving, story of a family struggling to survive the harshness of poverty in a village in Bengal. Nothing magical, nothing remarkable, and yet their lives encompass all the varied emotions that is within us all. That is the greatness of this film. It is ageless and universal. The bond between the girl Durga and Auntie,the old old lady is sweet and moving. So is the love between the little brother Apu and elder sister Durga. The simple things that fill these children with happiness, like a passing train, transport us to the simplicity of our childhood. The song when old Auntie calls to God in the gloomy dusk, to relieve her from the burden of this earth is haunting and sad, in that we feel the utter loneliness of the old woman. Each scene, is filled with meaning and there are no artificial sounds. In one of the scenes, with Durga and Apu roaming in the fields, there is just a heavy stillness, broken just by the sound of a sighing wind. The sitar recital by Ravi Shankar when the monsoon breaks and the first drops of rain fall, with the insects dancing over the rippling lake is magical and poetic. This movie, considered the best of Satyajit's work, remains one of the best and unforgettable movies, for me.

Sony DVD of Poor Quality
This cinematic masterpiece has been brought out on DVD by "Sony Pictures Classics" and is, unfortunately, of poor quality. While I've not seen the "Criterion Collection" version being offered here, I certainly hope it's better than the Sony. What it looks like the latter has done is merely transfer the VHS version onto DVD without any digital enhancements. What a pity to do this to so fine a film. Yes, one can still get a feel for the work's quality, but it certainly doesn't help viewing a diffuse, aged print.

Still next best to the original movie
No question about the fact that the effort that went into restoring the film is laudable. The DVD disappoints somewhat on a couple of counts. Firstly, if you want to watch it again with subtitles off, just to admire the visual compositions (in Ray's own words, there's no beautiful or ugly shots...only the right and wrong ones) that went into the storytelling, it doesn't let you do so. The subtitles, can, therefore be distracting. Secondly, there are loads of material written (a lot of it by Ray himself) and filmed (like interviews, especially the ones by Lindsay Anderson, and by Shyam Benegal/Govind Nihalani) with anecdotes of how the film was shot, and which could have been included in the DVD; such are material which make a DVD a truly collectible item. But really can't complain too much ... better something than nothing.

Essential
Outstanding movie. DVD release not up to Criterion standards but the print quality is good. ... Read more