Reviews (27)

A pleasure to watch
A beautifully shot, low-key noir flick, MULHOLLAND FALLS is a pleasure to watch, despite a too predictable plot and sleepy pacing. I guess we're supposed to be more occupied by "mood" which is okay with me. This is the only film I've seen where Melanie Griffith gives a more than tolerable performance, and Nick Nolte is excellent as your grim, conflicted noir hero guy. Not nearly as emotionally wrenching or as well-written as CHINATOWN, and nowhere near the interesting, subtle and exciting LA CONFIDENTIAL, this is still a classy movie worth watching. The 1940s setting is almost too perfect, and oh my, what a car! Chazz Palminteri is excellent, despite the writers not giving us enough depth. The rest of the supporting cast is superb. A mellow murder mystery making for a great late-night watch, in the tradition of the film noir. Cheers.

A Cops vs. Federal Government story of murder

Format: Color
Not for sale to persons under age 18.
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: June 23, 1998

Cast:

Nick Nolte ... Max Hoover
Melanie Griffith ... Katherine Hoover
Chazz Palminteri ... Elleroy Coolidge
Michael Madsen ... Eddie Hall
Chris Penn ... Arthur Relyea
Treat Williams ... Colonel Nathan Fitzgerald
Jennifer Connelly ... Allison Pond
Daniel Baldwin ... McCafferty
Andrew McCarthy ... Jimmy Fields
John Malkovich ... General Thomas Timms

Kyle Chandler ... Captain
Ed Lauter ... Earl
Larry Garrison ... Perino's Maitre d'
Chelsea Harrington ... Lolita
Johnna Johnson ... Bar Woman
Rick Johnson ... Staff Car Sergeant
Britt Burr ... Staff Car Driver
Melinda Clarke ... Cigarette Girl
Ernie Lively ... Foreman
Richard Sylbert ... Coroner
Michael Krawic ... Assistant Coroner
Titus Welliver ... Kenny Kamins
Robert Peters ... Cop #1
Father William M. Thigpen ... Priest
Drew Pillsbury ... Chief's Assistant
Brad Hunt ... Guard
Aaron Neville ... Nite Spot Singer
Buddy Joe Hooker ... DC-3 Pilot
Eddie Caicedo ... Gasping Patient
Price Carson ... Honor Guard
Azalea Davila ... Perino's Girl
Sky Solari ... Perino's Girl
Alisa Christensen ... Spaghetti Girl
Bruce Dern ... The Chief
Rob Lowe ... Hoodlum
Johnny Martin ... Mafia Hitman
William L. Petersen ... Jack, Mafia Mobster
Sharmagne Leland-St. John ... Woman in Night Club
Louise Fletcher ... Esther

Max Hoover (Nick Nolte) is the head of a special police squad that is given carte blanche when it come to methods of running bad guys out of L.A., including throwing them off cliffs; hence the title: as one of the bad guys observed, "There are no falls on Mulholland Drive," Until of course, he discovers them as he falls down the cliff.

The instant crime which the story centers around is the death of a young woman, whose body, it turns out, is discovered to be radioactive, and was a paramour of General Thomas Timms (John Malkovich), who is in command of an Atomic Energy Commission base. The AEC and the FBI, on the one hand, and the LAPD on the other, head for an inevitable jurisdictional clash, in spades.

I will not divulge further details of the plot, except to say that it is rated "R" for language and violence--deservedly.

But, unlike several other reviewers, I found the film interesting and am watching it for the second or third time.

Perhaps not a "great" film, but certainly entertaining within its genre, and well acted and directed.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

Mulholland...FALLS--Oh, NOW I get it!
Let's get to the good stuff about this movie before the real fun of dissecting it. For Nick Nolte fans, you'll enjoy it because he's good in it and cuts a swaggering figure in a fedora. For Jennifer Connally fans, this is a must have (you naughty boys) and you'll want to keep your finger hovering over the pause button. In the meantime, you'll be cursing the director for editing the heck out of that really good 8mm B&W movie starring the impressive Miss Connally and spending most of the film on something about radiation and men with hats in a shiny Buick. Even though this impenetrable storyline features the additional treat of one of the Baldwin brothers (Adam? Stephen??) getting the crap beat out of him, I still found it lacking since the complete footage of Miss Connally's kinky films were never found and fully displayed to their archival stature. Talk about an extra for your DVD edition!

Now for the bad stuff. The film tries for atmosphere, but only occasionally succeeds. The shot out at the A-bomb crater is impressive, but on the whole, the movie spends too long doing too little. Of the cast, only Nolte is given enough meat to excel. This is a strong cast, but with the exception of Nolte, they have little to do. Melanie Griffith looks fresh off collagen injections to enlarge her upper lip, sadly ruining her beautiful face. Lord help me, but I kept expecting her to go "quack!" Why is it some gorgeous women keep obsessing about their bodies-tattooes, piercing, injections, etc.? They are like masterpieces that continue to have work done to them and hence ruin their natural beauty (ahem, end soliloquy). And miscasting reaches new heights with uber-quirky John Malkovich as an Army General! Apparently they offered him the part in the B&W porno flick and he was theirs for whatever role nobody else wanted.

Well, I don't want to give away the ending, but for me , the whole movie FELL FLAT. My interest PLUMMETED in the climactic scene. So don't feel you should DROP EVERYTHING to go out and rent this movie.

entertaining
with a early 1950's flair, this los angeles police drama and suspense movie is no oscar winner, however a saturday afternoon a the movies would be good.
also after seeing the cast;

nick nolte
chazz palmenteri
bruce dern
kyle chandler
treat williams
william petersen
rob lowe

they could have had more of a movie, such as l.a.confidential
than this mess.

i liked it, up to a certain point.

Modern Film Noir... a classic!
This movie is NOT on the level of Chinatown, LA Confidential or some of the genuine film noir made in the late 40s.... however... if you enjoyed them, you will enjoy this one, and I give it 5 stars for the atmosphere, music, style, costumes, and story so typical of those other great films. ESPECIALLY interesting is Jennifer's portrayal of a "Black Dahlia" type character, pale blue eyes and all.... and Treat Williams role as a military thug, which he plays beautifully. The score by Dave Grusin is absolutely gorgeous and brings the perfectly beautiful shots of period Los Angeles and matching sets to life. Cinematography and sound is first rate. I can hardly wait to own this on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (101)

Heartbreaking, Soulful Science Fiction
Andrei Tarkovsky's "Solaris," offered in an absolutely stunning digital transfer from the talented folks at Criterion, is an acquired taste. It's long, incredibly slow in its pacing, and oddly moderate in tone despite its subject matter (the main character, Kris, played by Donatas Banionis, seems too restrained at times, given what he experiences). It contains some idiosyncratic, perhaps even questionable, narrative and aesthetic choices. And it balances the intellectual and the emotional very precariously; even though Tarkovsky wanted to make a film that was more humane and emotional than Kubrick's "2001" (which he found to be cold and sterile), "Solaris" is still a film about abstract ideas, making one wonder if Tarkosvky succeeded in his aims. These elements can get in the way of the film's wonder and beauty if viewers aren't deliberately open to its possibilities.

For all of its techno-scienctific and philosophical approach to its themes of love, life, memory, grief, humanity, reality, and perception, "Solaris" is, at its core, a heartbreaking, soulful mystery that renders its deepest meanings not through space travel or planetary exploration or battles between good and evil, but through a touching, mystical relationship between a grieving widower and the dream-like, tangible apparition of his dead wife. Kris Kelvin, a psychologist, travels to a Russian space station hovering above the planet Solaris to investigate trouble and determine if the station should remain operational. In the process, he gets trapped by Solaris's mystery, the ability of its conscious, sentient life force to probe his memories and consciousness. His late wife Hari (magnificently played by Natalya Bondarchuk) appears and reappears and struggles to understand who (or what) she is, while Kelvin must struggle to understand his grief, his memory, and the proper uses of science and technology.

The remarkability of "Solaris" as a cinematic experience lies not only in the intrigue of its central event, but also in Tarkosvky's subtle, respectful, and appropriate emotional touch. If it takes a seemingly lengthy amount of time before Kelvin (and we) experience Solaris and its mysteries, the methodical pace makes the emotional impact all the more significant. Hari's and Kelvin's struggles are heartbreaking, and precisely because Tarkovsky needn't spell them out; he gives them the time and space they require. In addition, Tarkovsky's visuals are perfectly attuned to his intelletcual and emotional themes. In that stunningly beautiful, dreamlike, famous brief moment when Hari and Kris experience weightlessness in the space station, the film becomes viscerally alive, and you momentarily wonder if you have ever seen anything more beautiful.

"Solaris" is demanding, no doubt, and just when it seems that you have come to understand what it means, Tarkovsky makes it more mysterious by offering an ending that will force you to rethink the entire film. It's also a unique cinematic experience, a testament to Tarkovsky's powerful artistry, and proof that the most demanding of works tend to offer the most lasting rewards.

2001 Anti-Matter...A Different Vision
Made in the Soviet Union a few years after Kubrick's 2001, Solaris is maddening, enigmatic, sometimes illogical and frustrating, but in the end an engrossing, moody, eliptical meditation on science and morality, conscience and guilt, love and indifference.

The director, Andrei Tarkovsky, had seen 2001 prior to filming Solaris, and was determined to go in a different direction from the meticulous & detailed technologic bent of Kubrick's masterpiece. Special effects here are minimal, but adequate for Tarkovsky to tell his story. His is a messy, humanistic affair, with a trashed and lived-in space station as its setting, quite the oppposite of the coldly logical, icy brilliance of Kubrick's vision. Both films are concerned with the reason and meaning of being and mankind's fate or destiny, but while Kubrick's is related with minimal dialogue, Tarkovsky's people talk and talk.

I found the Solaris dialogue at times intriguing, often ungraspable and opague, enigmatic in interesting ways, and sometimes unnecessarily enigmatic at other times. The great similarity between the two films is the fantastic visual feast both directors bring to their very different stories. Kubrick's film captures the cold emptiness and vast isolation of space, and the tremendous amount of technology required to put fragile humans in that hostile environment. Tarkovky's space station is messy, used, lived-in and familiar, i.e., a human habitat.

The two films have a couple of other things in common: in both films the most "human" character in the story is "non-human", HAL in 2001, and Hari in Solaris; and, both the central characters eventually are taken on a mind-bending journey within themselves and without to a somewhere other than the world they know.

The Tarkovsky film is a 70's film. That means long takes and tracking shots, with a slow narrative that doesn't have jump cuts and the razzle-dazzle of today's editing. It requires patience and probably more than one viewing to absorb. Even at that, it will be open to interpretation, because for all the dialogue, Tarkovsky doesn't explain a lot, and in some instances, refutes the inner logic of this own story. This won't matter to many viewers who will be content with the visual treats and the wonderful evocation of mood and mystery, and a story of the emphemeral nature of love and existence, so easily slipping from one's grasp. Others may find it too confusing and slow and lose patience.

Considering the conditions and restrictions Andrei Tarkovsky was working under , both financially and politically, his achievement here is as impressive as Kubrick's daring and innovative film. Except for a few scenes that may be oblique comments on the Soviet system, you would not know this film had arisen from under the weight of that regime. Although sometimes a bit heavy-handed, Solaris is a film about the nature and meaning of being human, and how that fits in an increasingly cold and technological world. If you aren't in a hurry, it may be worth your while. 4-1/2 stars.

Learning one's place
We find a creature who seems far more advanced than we are. Who we might like to destroy but hardly know if we can. Who can seemingly turn our minds against us. For whom we don't seem to be a priority at all. Of whom our best minds manage only feeble speculations.

I saw this movie first and only recently read Lem's story. Tarkovsky got a great start from Lem. It's difficult to compare text and movie. Tarkovsky seemed to have been reasonably faithful to the contents of the book, but added a long introduction as well as his own ending. Both works are impressive. Tarkovsky seems to linger often so a good deal of patience is a prerequisite for enjoying this film.

Now that I've read Lem's "Solaris", I'm less satisfied with Tarkovsky's "Solaris". Lem's book moved along well. Tarkovskky's added introduction (including moving up the inquiry of Burton) accomplishes little and the ending may be more explicit than is needed: hasn't Solaris already done enough to impress? On the other hand, Tarkovsky's cast is excellent (I especially enjoyed Hari and Snow) and visually the movie is a treat.

A movie of Promethean scope
Tarkvosky's "Solaris" takes on so many deep seated philosophical questions at once that by the end of the film, the casual viewer may feel overwhelmed. It is a madness trip, an intellectual exercise, a visual piece, absurdism, a dramatic catharsis and an uncomfortable probing of the human self all at once. This is not "shut off your mind" stuff. The long and short of it: three scientists visit Solaris, a planet which seems to be an alternate reality, and suffer the consequences. Chris (really the main focus of the film), a scientist, is warned repeatedly by a colleague who suffered a mental breakdown on the station about how dangerous it is, but pays no heed. One commits suicide before the unfortunate Chris arrives. Hari, his wife who committed suicide when he left her years ago, appears and despite Chris' initial attempt to blast her in the space, is seemingly there to stay. Chris is warned by both men (a ruthless scientist and a drunk) that he is being deceived, and that she is not his real wife, but Hari seems to have feelings which are genuinely human despite being an illusion. There are awful scenes in which she splits apart, re-emerges painfully back into 'life', etc. All the while Chris engages in philosophical discussions about the worthy or unworthy nature of mankind, quoting Tolstoy and, of course, Dostoevsky. Some of it is drop dead funny, perhaps without intending to be: an air of absurdity overshadows everything taking place. When the two men on the ship with him decide that itss time Chris gave up the ghost and destroy Hari, he returns home and still seems to be a million miles away. We are not sure if he is sane in the last scene, which is frighteningly reminiscent. He is in slow motion, behaving like a man high on LSD. Will he ever regain his sanity? Was a part, at least, of Hari real? When she viewed his home videos with the 'original' Hari (among the scariest sequences in the film), why did she respond as if she knew? Tarkovsky skillfully keeps us dangling from his parapet. This is a kickass, disturbing movie.

Its Strengths Far Outweigh its Weaknesses
Though it suffers from a maudlin and morbid fascination with negative emotions, Solaris is a tremendous achievement. The achievement is in the extreme physical beauty of the film itself and the challenging intelligence of the ideas raised but not always explored. At issue is nothing less than the nature of humanity. Is a human defined by its conciousness, its memories, its emotions, its senses, its history, its origin, its desire to live or some combination of all or some of those traits. Be forewarned, the film is extremely slow and deliberate & its lacks any real plot. We americans tend to like our movies with plots. It many cultures, the ideas are more important than the plots but in America the plot is generally more important than the ideas. Consequently, idea driven movies like Solaris are seen as dull and boring because there is no forward momentum. Here in America, it is considered acceptable to respond to movies like Solaris by saying, "I don't watch movies to think. If I want to think, I'll read a book." This is what happens when you raise millions of people on television and fast food. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Superior dancing
Durante is a pleasure to watch and has the requisite skills for Aurora - security on pointe. Her Rose Adagio is superb, and clearly superior to Asylmuratovna. The latter is a lovely dancer, but falters in this most challenging part of the ballet.

The production is not as lovely as ABT's, but this DVD is worth buying just for the dancing.

Ballet at its best
Surviving four acts of classical ballet and Tchaikovski in the days of Pina Bausch takes... a lot. In this case it is easy thank's to the quality of every soul involved in the production. It is difficult to think of a better Aurora for Dowell's version. Durante is magnificent. Solymosi knows he is not a great soloist, and dedicates himself to be a good "partenaire" (smart move!) and a handsome prince (yes, that is called "danseur noble" and seems to be rare today with so many male ballet divas in New York and Paris). Of course the greatest "thing" is Dowell's Carabosse: That's acting-dancin Ms. Pina Bausch! Costumes, lighting, orchestra, the whole company. I cannot think of anything dissapointing except, maybe, the need of a strongest Lilac Fairy. Thank you Royal Ballet!

Excellent dancing, dim production
I agree with other reviewers - the dancing in this production is absolutely superb. However, I did not care for the design at all. Almost everything is executed in silvery-grey shades that look more monotonous than delicate on VHS, and some of the backdrops have a huge scale and weird perspective that are very distracting. That said, and somewhat to my surprise, my 4-year-old is clearly charmed by the video and will watch as much of it as I will allow at one sitting.

A Good Performance but a Travesty on DVD
Only if you have a TV screen of about nine inches will this DVD look sharp. On a normal size TV it is very fuzzy. On a big screen TV it is essentially unwatchable. It's hard to believe this performance is on the market in a DVD format. Most of the good reviews seem to have been from VHS tape watchers, where the picture quality expectations are low. But I have never even seen a commercial VHS tape with picture quality this poor. How can I get my money back?

Great Dancing, Scenery Could be Better
This video was a lot of fun to watch, but it lacked some elements of elegance. There's no doubt that the choreography and dancing was great, but the costumes and scenery could have used a little work. I recomend this video to anyone who love ballet, but if possible, try to look for another version with better scenery. Good luck! ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Not Too Bad For A Sequel
THE JEWEL OF THE NILE is a sequel to ROMANCING THE STONE. The director and the screenwriters are new but Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito are back in their old familiar roles. The cast also includes Spiros Focas and Avner Eisenberg.

This time the adventure takes place in North Africa where Turner is invited to accompany a wealthy Arab to his own country. She soon finds herself caught in another big mess in a very strange land. Naturally Douglas has to rescue her as he did before in ROMANCING THE STONE.

Danny DeVito's best scene comes near the beginning of the film when he suddenly emerges from a barrel on a dock with a rapid-fire description of his experiences in a Columbian jail. On balance JEWEL OF THE NILE is an entertaining movie but it does not quite recapture the magic of ROMANCING THE STONE.

A sequel that mostly makes the grade
Rarely does a sequel to a smash movie rise to the same level as its predecessor - but perhaps Jewel of the Nile is the exception (along with some of the Indiana Jones follow-ups).
This sequel to Romancing the Stone, a rip-snorter adventure/romance with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas, set the stage for this 2nd one. They've been together since the end of the 1st movie, living on his yacht. She is on assignment in the Middle East when she's abducted, and it's up to Douglas and of course Danny DeVito, to rescue her.
Good stuff, but not quite 5-star.

Very Well Done
Jewel of the Niel is the sequel to Romancing the Stone also with Michael Douglas,Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. The Movie stars off kind of slow but once the movie goes over seas to the Middle-East it gets alot better I don't want to give away to much but this movie should not be missed. Also to readers of this review if you like these two movies you the actors in it you should check out WAR OF THE ROSES

Skip this one. Just watch "Romancing the Stone" again.
Not too bad for a sequel, but this film has absolutely none of the "magic" of the original. Everything seems forced, contrived, and artificial by comparison. As others have noted, the story ended precisely where it should have at the close of "Romancing the Stone." Too bad they did not leave well enough alone.

Good Sequel But Not A Contender
"Jewel of the Nile" is the sequel to "Romancing the Stone" and reunites Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito in another adventure involving treasure, mystery, and danger in a foreign land.

It feels very much like a sequel, as in, "This all worked the first time, so let's do it again." The result is a somewhat formulaic and predictable film, with less magic. Without it's predecessor, viewers would be confused about what was going on with the characters. But, without it's predecessor, it would have stood out more. Or, it might have flopped. A definite case of sequelitis, but a much milder case than the awful "Jurassic Park: The Lost World" which completely went awry, in my opinion.

All that said, "Jewel of the Nile" is still an above-average, fast-paced action/adventure film with enough of a plot and enough good acting to make it worth watching. It has an exotic setting, a good, if not memorable, musical score, and plenty of action. "Romancing the Stone" is a keeper; this one is a good rental (or to buy a used one cheap). ... Read more

Amazon.com

The alumni of Hollywood Shuffle are spread across dozens of current comedies and TV sitcoms--this is the movie that introduced Robert Townsend and the Wayans Brothers to the world. Townsend plays a young actor who struggles with being offered stereotyped street hustler roles while trying to maintain his self-respect and the approval of his family. Between scenes of comically humiliating auditions, Bobby has satirical fantasies about the plight of black actors, including the classic "Black Acting School" sketch, in which white teachers demonstrate jive talk and street moves for the befuddled black students. Townsend has a charming, low-key comic style, one considerably more subtle than that of some of the black comics who have risen to success with supposedly self-aware renditions of the stereotypes Townsend mocks. Townsend made this movie on his credit cards and it is clearly a heartfelt labor of love. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Still Robert Townsend's best movie
Even though I really enjoyed THE NATALIE COLE STORY and THE FIVE HEARTBEATS, HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE is still my favorite film by Robert Townsend. It takes a humorous but and oh, so true look at the struggles Blacks have to go through in the film industry to get decent roles, which are still scarce for Blacks in Hollywood today. Townsend plays a struggling young actor who refuses to compromise his self-respect by playing demeaning roles. Just like it was back in the early days of film when Blacks only played mammies, ignorant and shiftless Uncle Toms, Blacks today are mostly regulated to roles as gang bangers, drug dealers, hookers, golddiggers, the asexual best friend of the white hero, etc. unless your name happens to be Denzel Washington. This movie is hilarious. For anyone considering film as a career, or just anyone who loves to laugh, this is the movie for you!

hilarious comedy
Hollywood Shuffle is a spoof of many of the 'blaxploitation' films of the seventies. This was hollywood's introduction to Robert Townsend, as he wrote and starred in the film, reportedly financing it with credit cards.

Townsend stars as an actor trying to break into the bigtime. He finds it tough to break out of the hollywood ideas for black actors. The movie sends up several popular films, including Dirty Harry and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Be sure to look for the Siskel and Ebert parody.

Not very deep, and probably not for those who can't laugh at themselves. Some of the humor might be considered insensitive. I consider it hilarious.

Satire and the Establishment
Most of the reviews have touched most facets of the movie and even mentioned allusions. But I enjoyed the film and will say a few things as well. I think this movie could be used to describe the current situation in Hip-Hop. The "sell-outs", stereotypical roles, and perpetuation of amorality is rampant in most Hip-Hop acts. Townsend is talking about the lack of equality and degeneration of black probity in this film, which is currently at an all-time high in modern music. This movie not only commentates about prejudice in Hollywood, but the ignorance of the people who consume the stereotypical garbage. This movie is hilarious and disheartening. The absurdity strikes home when you realize that these formulated characters and shows appear on your television today. This film did remind me of Bamboozled as well, but Hollywood Shuffle is nowhere near as caustic toward [stereo]type-casting. There is intelligence in the black community and this film blasts the one-dimensional depiction of black people.

Robert Townsend's best film. A must see for all.
Robert Townsend's first film Hollywood Shuffle is a hilarious satire that cleverly condemns the way Blacks are treated in the entertainment industry. It's clear that Townsend knows his material and uses that insider knowledge to poke fun at the sterotypical way blacks are portrayed on TV and in film. Through satire Townsend makes fun of Hollywood while telling everyone the truth about how hard it is for black actors.

Desperate to get the lead role in "Jivetime Jimmy's revenge" struggling actor Bobby aspires to become a superstar while working at a dead end job at Winky Dinky Dog. During Bobby's journey, we learn that and the road to stardom for African-Americans is full of compromises that force intelligent hardworking black actors to degrade and humiliate themselves in order to get a break. As he gets the lead role in Jivetime Jimmy's Revenge, Bobby must wonder if his dignity and self-respect are worth sacrificing to achieve his dream.

Robert Townsend makes a groundbreaking film and his cast of then unknowns gives great performances. After this film was produced most of the cast of this film went on to successful careers John Witherspoon, Keenan Ivory Wayans and Rusty Cundieff are just a few of the people who became stars as a result of this film I think every African-American who wants to work in the entertainment industry or any African American who already is and actor needs to watch this film. I also think a certain Black actress who just compromised herself to win an Oscar really needs to watch this film. It will make you think about the way they portray people of color in media.

"Winky...dinky...daaaaawwwwg!!!"
This movie is absolutely hilarious. Mixed with biting satire and an all-star cast of then-unknowns this was easily one of the funniest films of the 1980s. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars is the dated feel and the obvious low-budget look. However, at times there is a charming independent look to the movie that helps to ignore the cheesiness. There are plenty of memorable scenes, quotable dialogue, and gallons of Jerry-Curl!!! This is a noteworthy comedy and should be seen by anyone with a passion for social satire. Great fun. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

There is which character is David Niven?
This is one of those cute films that are safe for kids. It has the Disney signature all over it.
Casey Brown (Jodie Foster) is recruited and in cahoots with a con man and his wife. The wife used to work for the family of a castle and can teach Casey how to fool her way in as a long lost relative. Once inside she is to find the alleged treasure of a pirate captain. In the process of searching she is forced to cooperate with the family which is trying to scrape up enough money to save the castle. She appears to be softening up. Where will her loyalties lie? Is there really treasure or is it just a story? And why is the butler never seen with the gardener?

Excellent family fun
David Niven gives it his all as a butler trying to protect his Mistress played superbly by Helen Hayes from the harsh realities of the present. He takes on various guises of people long dead so that Hayes can pretend her life in the crumbling English mansion Candleshoe has not changed in forty years. A youthful Jodie Foster is a street-wise young con artist who agrees to impersonate Hayes long-lost granddaughter in order to make a fast buck. What follows is a barrel of laughs as Jodie, an assortment of orphan children, Niven, Hayes and a band of hilariously inept baddies, one of whom is the fabulous Leo McKern, find themselves on the hunt for a lost English treasure. A treasure that Niven wants to find so that his Mistress will not have to leave Candleshoe which is about to fall into the hands of debtors. Slowly Jodie finds herself at odds with the task she has been paid to do, and she changes sides, helping Niven and the children save Candleshoe for the old woman she has grown to love. Disney has created a cast of colorful characters that have you laughing and crying in the same breath and Jodie Foster is brilliant as the cynical young American girl who just might be the real heir to Candleshoe. Delightful, and wonderfully harmless fun. Well worth buying just for the innocent it exudes from every single frame.

Candleshoe
An interesting mystery where a couple hires a young woman to poise as the missing hierest to a estate fortune to get the money for them. Only she come to care for the family who thinks she's a member of and decide to do the right thing and get the treasure to save the estate from going under. A heart warming disney classic with comic hi-jinx.

a GEM
I first saw the film twelve years ago as a child and since then 40 times. I love it. It's a perfect family film without any violance and with pretty good actors.
I must admit, that Jodie Foster now is not one of my favorite actresses but in this film (and in the Freaky Friday of course) she is perfect for the role as well certainly Helen Hayes, David Niven and Leo McKern.

Interesting plot, humour, no blood, sensational actors: do you need more?!

One of My All-Time Disney Favorites...
... and trust me, I am not a Disney groupie.

From a 1970's kids'-eye view, this movie has it all:

• Sassy and savvy lead character Casey Brown (Jodie Foster) is the kind of brash, street-smart survivor every kid imagines he would be if left to his own devices.
• The majority of the action takes place on a huge English estate, in a decrepit castle. Secrets abound!
• There is the thrilling hope of finding a pirate treasure.
• Clues to the treasure are revealed and solved one by one, allowing the viewer to actually feel a part of the search.
• David Niven is delightfully funny, playing four different characters, and leaving the viewer wondering just who he will become next.
• Although tame by today's standards, there is tension, and suspense... Can Priory (Niven) change clothes fast enough to continue his charade? Will the con-men be successful? Can Candleshoe survive its financial woes? Is Casey really Lady St. Edmund's (Helen Hayes) long-lost granddaughter? Will there be betrayal?
• The finale features a hilariously satisfying kids-triumph-against-bad-guy-adults melee.

It may not be the '70s anymore, and I am certainly no longer a kid, but I still love this movie. Given the chance, I think kids of today will love it as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

At last, the complete version of Andrei Tarkovski's 1966 masterpieceabout the great 15th century Russian icon painter (a film suppressed by the Soviet Union and unseen until 1971) is available. It's a complex and demandingnarrative about the responsibility of the artist to participate in history rather than documenting it from a safe distance. A landmark in Russian cinema, AndreiRublev is a beautifully lyrical black-and-white film about harmony andsoulful expression. As the late filmmaker says in a supplementary interview, each generation must experience life for itself; it cannot simply absorb what has preceded it. In fact, a whole host of supplements accompanies the film in this Criterion Collection release. Stick with it; it's worth the effort. --Bill Desowitz ... Read more

Reviews (63)

The epic sense of the life
Andrei Rubliov is the masterpiece of Andrei Tarkovsky. I 've watched very carefullly all his works, and Andrei contains the quintessential thought of this unique film maker.
What Tarkovsky made with this film may be one the most overwhelming and haunting achievemnts in all the story of the world cinema.
Rubliov is a icon painter who after an important fac, decides not continue in that office.
The powerful of the barbarian invassion into a church, where he acquires the human experience gets far away the world, he isolates and becomes in a wanderer.
The unforgettable images that appear before the viewer are of a trascendental poetic beauty never seen before and even now.
All the journey along the Russia of XVI century is a reflexive gaze of the human condition , the sense of the life and how dealing with it, the unsaid code of one must behavior humanly, even in inhuman conditions, facing the world, with his singleness, its little moments of joy, his infinite sadness and its miseries.
The opening sequence in which the fall is shown before us, is a original metaphor of how facing with the failure; and is depicted with such kind of beautiness that mesmerizes you. No other film n the story, with the exception of the ending of A man escapes from Robert Bresson reveals with so frehness and vitality the epic sense before the life.
When Rubliov knows this teenager, in the final chapter, and faces with him the huge challenge that implies to make the asgned mission, turns back çRubliov and it invites him to keep on going in his mission or the moira term greek, his place in the universe, his meaning in this brief stage in the world.
This superb masterpiece, has countless remarkable sequences, the dialogues are feed of a blissness and poetic raprure without a drop of effectism.
When the mission is completed, and everybody celebrates the fact our young hero remains alone and Rubliov will gather with him and will tell wisdom words that I must not tell.
This is the goal of the artist; he must go to the forrest and seek the mushrooms; the people will be just waiting from the safe place for him; and no matter how dangerous or hazardous be the journey; they only expect for your bag. They will consume these gifts; but the creator must seek them.
Tarkovsky was in the middle of the creative universe (remeber his father Arseni Tarkovsky was a poet)in 1966; the script has an inner mytical force ; and every bit of this film is sublime, perfect.
Tarkovsky showed what many film makers haven't been able to do; express with a camera such landscape of images, in all his whole meaning.
Andrei Rubliov will be always a landmark ; an eternal triumph ; a epic statement that will be with all of us till the end of our lives.
And even more.

Revelation in Contemplation
I had never seen a Tarkovsky film before "Andrei Rublev", but I intend to see more. This film was *very* different, but very good, and I was moved by it on many different levels.

Set in Russia in the early 15th century, this film is based on the life of Andrei Rublev, an icon painter and arguably Russia's first great artist. It's told in a series of vignettes that don't always focus on Rublev; many times he is either a background observer or not involved at all. He is a device that Tarkovsky uses to tell a grander tale, a tale about art, life, humanity, history, faith, good, evil and other philosophical ideas that most filmmakers fear like the plague. This film is much more than a historical epic, it is a work of art, and possibly more than that a path to enlightenment.

Like many of the greatest directors, Tarkovsky is more than just a filmmaker. He is an ARTIST, possibly more so than any director I've ever encountered. For example, most directors use techniques like music and editing to elicit specific emotions from the audience, but Tarkovsky uses few to no manipulative devices. Scenes are typically wide, sweeping, epic shots, which often linger for up to several minutes. The viewer is allowed to absorb the situation and the imagery, to internalize them and let them sink into the subconscious. If one is still and contemplative, one will enter into a dialogue with the film and begin to experience it on a higher level.

The film lacks a tightly knit plot, and there's no pat morality tale. Rather it is LIFE, boiled down to its essence. Scenes feel real, and often play out in real time according to the rhythm of life. Characters will sit and wait, and we wait with them. Incidents unfold in real time, with no cuts and nothing edited. Tarkovsky uses the natural world a great deal. For instance, a character will chance upon the carcass of a snow-white egret mired in the swamp, or a somber procession will scale a snowy embankment where the mud has bled through like a pair of weeping eyes.

It's a work of art, I've established that, but I also love the historical setting. Fifteenth century Russia was grim and unforgiving. Orthodox Christianity was the official religion, but paganism was still commonplace. Boyars, kings and princes frequently skirmished with one another. Tartars from the south took advantage of the regional instability to sack villages and cities. Plague and sickness were rampant, and the vast majority of people lived in abject poverty. But the so-called "Dark Ages" were nearly at an end. Art and ideas from West were steadily infiltrating the East. Rublev himself was inspired by a Greek painter named Theophanes, a relationship depicted in the film. Tarkovsky captures the period perfectly in "Andrei Rublev", and to me it seems like the next thing to being there.

Having said ALL that, I cannot in good conscience recommend this film to most people. Here are all the reasons a modern filmgoer probably would not like "Andrei Rublev": it was filmed in black and white; it's old (originally released in 1966); it's long (the unedited Criterion release is nearly 3 and a 1/2 hours); it's in Russian with subtitles; at least one animal was brutally killed during the filming (for which there is NO excuse - shame on Tarkovsky); scenes linger for several minutes without cuts or editing; it's arty (though not pretentious); it's very difficult to understand; it requires repeated viewings and you may never fully "get it"; it's told in a series of vignettes with only a loose overarching narrative; etc., etc. If none of that scares you off, you should definitely check it out, because it's a real gem.

RUINED BY ANIMAL CRUELITY
I was really looking foward to this film as i have enjoyed SOLARIS, THE MIRROR and many other russian films so much. Everything you,ve read about the magnificents of this film is true,it is one of the most striking,poetic and beautiful looking films ive seen period, however i must say thatiam utterly repulsed by the three barbaric acts of animal torture , Seeing a cow running around its enclosure after being set on fire, a horse fall down some steps , breaking its leg and then have a spear shoved through its throat
and a dog being beaten to death and watching its final twitching
make this film ultimi unwatchable ..is this art??is this excusable??Do you think this is okay? these are the most repulsive and distrurbing scenes i have ever seen in a movie. I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS I DETEST ANIMAL CRUELTY/TORTURE, ESPECIALLY SIMPLY TO MAKE A FILM.....im shocked that so many of your reveiwers did not mention this..Please , someone tell me i wrong and that these scenes did not really happen for real
and its all trickery..

THE Russian epic with striking imagery (1966)
Andrei Rublev is probably the greatest looking film of all time. It was shot on a Konvas (you can pick one up on Ebay for $1000) and film students will be stunned by what has been achieved in terms of cinematography with such an old and dated 35mm motion picture camera. It is inspirational in terms of film-making and this is the core reason why you should watch the film. If you are interested in Kino Art then Andrei Rublev can probably lay claim to the greatest art film ever made. If you are looking to experiment with Tarvoksky, then Andrei Rublev is not a bad place to start.

Like most of Tarkovsky's films, Andrei Rublev is extremely artistic, conjectures much on the human condition, metaphysics and Russian life - that all seem to have some hidden meanings that contains the film's truth that Tarkovsky expounds on - namely the wickedness of men and the temptations that they face. It is also about triumph of the will and the nature of man. This is all done via the "narrative" and the look of the film. Tarkovsky mixes moments of dialogue about the metaphysical (a doctrine that would continue to be a theme in all of this other films giving a sense of what was to come - especially the intricateness of Stalker, Solaris), arrestingly simple and slow cinematography (his trademark water shots), complex action sequences (there are full scale battles like from a Kurosawa movie) and visionary set designs (15th century villages, towns and cities). This is Tarkovsky's biggest film ever (and quite possibly the biggest Russian film ever).

The premise is complex. Andrei Rublev, a monk with the gift of painting, is invited to paint churches around the country and in Moscow. Between travelling from job to job he encounters - monks who have lost their faith, monks with too much faith in themselves, fools who are imprisoned for their beliefs, Wicca festivals (the pagan ceremonies of St. John's night), murder, torture (the Russian crucifixion), death, error, the sacking of towns by the Tartars (the sacking of Vladimir), vows of silence and of course the most striking final piece of the film - the making of the bell (the casting of the bell). Characters appear and disappear (a cinematic technique found in The Thin Red Line), but there is also a lot of hidden imagery (every time you watch it you find something new), in particular scenes of novice monks putting dirt on their cheeks which makes no sense at the time yet later on we seen Andrei put the same dirt as a stain on a church he has painted because of the bureaucratic blinding of artists (an extremely violent scene of which there are many. As a note: Andrei Rublev happens to be an extremely violent film and there are several disturbing scenes. Also a scene where a horse falls down a stairs was cut because of animal cruelty but this has been restored for the DVD). All of these scenes are done via several chapters that each tells a story in which Andrei Rublev is present either as the central character of focus, a participant or an observer. If you pay close attention to the chapters you will realize that the themes of each chapter are contained in all the chapters. Tarvoksky plays with the audience in so many ways that you can only hope to watch the film again and again until you make ALL of the connections. You will likely not see a more striking film for imagery. The ending is obviously what got Kubrick working on his trip scene in 2001. Tarkovsky returned a nod by filming Solaris.

Andrei Rublev is shot in monochrome although the ending does a little Wizard of Oz for us. The story is divided between two discs. You have 86 minutes in the first disc and 99 in the second for a grand running time of 185 minutes. This DVD is PRICEY but this is Kino Art at its finest and worth every penny. The extras are many and there are some very important historical interviews about Tarkovsky. However I will say that DVD is totally unsuitable for Tarkovsky's films and possibly you will do better to watch a widescreen video or even better a 35mm print of the film in the cinema next time it comes to town. Even though the transfer is sublime for a 1966 picture (a Russian one at that) and there has been a lot of digital correction, the DVD produces artefacts on nearly all of Tarkovsky's films because of his complex imagery, but this is just quibbling and is not the fault of the DVD producers. Tarkovsky has simply exceeded the limits of what DVD mpeg compression can handle, even after this film is spanned over 2 discs... and that says a lot about the quality of this man's vision.

Kino Art does not come much better than Andrei Rublev.

Excellent, but slow paced and not for everybody.
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. This film, like many of Tarkovsky's movies are slow-paced. This may bore some, but Tarkovsky viewed many his films as a form of art as opposed to entertainment.

Most people like movies that entertain, but not all films do that. I am a longtime fan of Russian cinema and find this to be a good example of "art house" cinema.

This movie contains some scenes that some persons may find unsettling. There is a scene where a man kicks a dog to death, a scene of a horse falling down a set of stairs breaking its leg, and another where a cow is on fire. There is also nudity.

The film itself was banned in the Soviet Union, but later released in a heavily cut version. The film has many religious references and quotes from the Bible. (The subtitles on the Criterion Collection DVD use the King James Version for translation of the Bible which is my favorite.)

The film follows the story of real life 14th-15th century icon painter Andrei Rublev. Not knowing too much about him, I cannot give a clear comparison between the film and his life. The movie is well photographed and has an excellend full color sequence at the end of the film showing his acutal paintings.

The Criterion Collection DVD has numerous special features.
Interview with director Andrei Tarkovsky, Improved Subtitles, A timeline showing events of Russian history, and the works and life events of Andrei Rublev and Tarkovsky. There is also a partial length audio essay during certain chapters on the DVD track that conform with the scenes the narrator is talking about.
The booklet lists these tracks so one would not need to view the whole film to search for the commentary. ... Read more

Description

A police inspector, investigating a string of sex crimes, succumbsto the wiles of some of the prostitues he questions. He finds that he has much in common with the murderer he's pursuing. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Be prepared for some X-rated Clint!!!
"Tightrope" contains some of the most graphic material ever seen in a Clint Eastwood film (eg: bondage scenes, homosexuality, sadomasochism). Definitely not for viewers under 16, even though I've had the movie since I was 11!!! Don't let the graphic material turn you off though because this film contains one of Clint's few great performances. His character's vulnerability has only been matched in two other movies that I know of (eg: In The Line of Fire, The Outlaw Josey Wales) and he should have at least been nominated for an Academy Award. Clint Eastwood plays Wes Block, a New Orleans detective who has been assigned to catch a serial sex killer. While on the trail, he finds himself sinking into the world of prostitution and other weird sexual fetishes. When the killer strikes too close to home (literally), Block forces himself out of his hole and the final battle between the cop and the killer has some very shocking and extremely violent scenes. "Tightrope" is indeed one of Clint's finer movies, even better than most in his "Dirty Harry" series. Warning: This film is strictly for adults.

Class: Thriller, Species : Coitus Kinky
Tightrope opens with the familiar credits that mark most of Clint Eastwood's films : Malpaso films presents...over an arial shot of car crossing a bridge. What is most surprising about this film is that writer/director Richard Tuggle uses the familiar framework of the "serial killer" movie to explore themes of guilt, sadomasochism, sexism and paranoia. Even more surprising is the fact that he explores those qualties in his hero, not the killer.

Eastwood stars as Wes Block, a New Orleans cop investigating the murders of several prostitutes who were tortured, raped and strangled. On his journey through the brothels of the city we sense that he has been there before, not as cop, but as a customer. Eastwood has the usual throwaway lines that have made his Harry Callahan character so famous, as when a prostitute apporches him "Want some honey?", "I don't eat sweets" he replies. But where Callahan draws knowing smirks from the audience, Block only draws gasps. Eastwood lets us know that any outward confidence he projects is merely a mask over his guilt. This leads to an early riveting scene where he interviews a hooker about her murdered friend "Did she mention anybody using handcuffs?" he asks. "I think it was a cop, maybe it was you" she jokes. The look on Eastwood's is face is one of such anguish, that he may even suspect himself. This one of Eastwood's best and bravest performances.

The scenes in the brothels and over the corpses are contrasted with surprisingly warm domestic scenes of Block the single parent raising his two daughters. The contrast is alarming, and the children are perhaps the only reason why he hasn't gone over the edge just yet. There is a particularly chilling suggestion in Tightrope that Block maybe vicariously living his fantasies through the killer.

On a physcological level the film is an original, where it falters is the plot. Perhaps inorder to get the film made, Tuggle was forced to add all the well worn cliches, such as the obligatory chase climax and the unmasking of the killer. He also has a tendancy to hammer home his points, as in the unnessecary dream sequence where Eastwood imagines he is the killer.

Some could persuasively argue the film wallows in excesses of depravity. I would disagree, an exploitation film tries to find a token story to hold acres of naked flesh and gore. A real film is driven to these taboo places BY its story. Tightrope is a real film. In its moody and intelligent way it suggests an innate depravity within the mildest of men.

Kinky,Kinky, Kinky Clint...
Man, what can be said about a southern detective walking the thin line between deviance and virtue, honor and sluttiness, father and "Whose your Daddy?", well, Clint does it well.
Great story of Clint as a detective hot on the trail of a killer who may be hot on Clint's trail. Some great one-liners, plenty o' nakedness, action, and cute kids. This movie actually makes you feel dirty, but in a good way. I saw rent it, buy it, put it under your pillow, drop it off on your co-workers desk and tell them that a good time awaits them. Hopefuly you won't get fired.

late.

Dark, Menacing, and Ambiguous
To me, this film is even more impressive today than it was when I first saw it. Frankly, when seeing it 20 years ago, I was thrown off-balance by the character whom Eastwood plays, Wes Block, a police detective in New Orleans. He pursues a serial killer of prostitutes, a psychopath with whom he seems to share similar psycho-sexual preoccupations. Presumably this was a risky part for Eastwood to take on. Under skillful but deferential direction by Richard Tuggle, he explores with great skill certain depraved tendencies within himself which were much more shocking in 1984 than they seem to be, unfortunately, two decades later. Block's personal situation is complicated even more by the fact that he a single parent, raising two daughters. It is also important to remember that his personal conduct creates the risk of compromising his professional integrity as a law enforcement officer. For these and other reasons, Block is a much more enigmatic character than, for example, Harry ("what you see is what you get") Callahan.

In the role of Beryl Thibodeaux, Genevieve Bujold portrays a criminal psychologist who is attracted to Block as they work together even as she begins to sense and then contend with at least some of the demons which torment him. So much of this film occurs (both literally and symbolically) in darkness. Even a trained professional such as Thibodeaux is frustrated in her attempts to understand someone for whom she feels sincere affection. Special credit should be given to Bruce Surtees for superb cinematography which is coordinated seamlessly with the often depressing storyline. He had worked with Eastwood in previous films which include Dirty Harry (1971), Play Misty for Me (also 1971), Pale Rider (1975), and The Outlaw Josie Wales (1976). The supporting cast is excellent, notably Eastwood's daughter Alison who plays his older Amanda in the film, and Dan Hadeya as Detective Molinari. Eventually, after the serial killer kidnaps Amanda Block, her distraught and enraged father pursues her to a riveting conclusion when....

Others are much better qualified than I to express this opinion but I think Wes Block is a character which begins a new transition for Eastwood the actor. Thereafter, the characters he plays tend to be of the "sadder but wiser" variety, much less self-assured, more fatalistic in their view of the world, skeptical and sometimes cynical, reluctant to trust anyone or anything, and are -- for me, therefore -- much more interesting. This is an especially upsetting film which has lost little (if any) of its dramatic impact. Twenty years after its initial release and probably because I have become a grandfather, there are certain situations in Tightrope which are even more upsetting now than ever before.

Eastwood as ghost director
Eastwood replaced Tuggle as director after, I believe, one day of torpid self-doubting direction. Tuggle maintained directorial credit, though this film is directed by Eastwood himself. And it shows. ... Read more

Description

DISC 1 Episode 1-Answers Given to Questions Never Asked:Dylan and the crew face an enemy of great and terrible power as they battle to rescue a kidnapped member of the Commonwealth Triumvirate.Episode 2-Pieces of Eight-The power to see the future is in the hands of a madman called Citizen Eight. He claims to be a friend to the Commonwealth… but his real goal is to get rid of Dylan.Episode 3-Waking the Tyrant's Device:Dylan and the Andromeda crew must stop Kroton, the half-android, half-human creator of the Magog Worldship, who seeks to destroy all things organic. His weapon? An android army.DISC 2 Episode 1-Double or Nothingness:Dylan is caught in a virtual reality game of death controlled by two cruel gamblers who wager on the outcome. When Dylan can’t tell the difference between illusion and reality, he has no choice… but to play the game.Episode 2-Harper/Delete:File/D is the most powerful weapon in the universe, capable of deleting the mind, while leaving the body – on a planetary scale. When Harper finds the device, he works hard to deactivate it. But there are evil forces who want the weapon… and want it working. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A very entertaining, feel good comedy/musical starring Elvis
This is one of Elvis's earlier films and it was filmed just right after his honorable discharge from the Army and believe me...it's one of his best work in Hollywood! The soundtrack is equally special as Elvis and the rest of the cast deliver excellent performances. Sure it's another love story of how Elvis's character falls for Juliet Prowse's character but having the story involve the U.S.Army and Germany as the backdrops add a special touch to this "Elvis Flick". It's a great ensemble cast as other characters are well written in the plot. The music is of Elvis at his best in Hollywood and the songs flow perfectly with the story (not cheesy or korny as in many musicals!). Note a special moment in the movie is when Elvis sings "Wooden Heart" to a puppet at a puppet show. Anyways, I've watched G.I.Blues many many times and it definately is an entertaining movie for the whole family. I'm in the military and this is a top 10 favorite movie of all time in my list!!!

Elvis Presley's first film after the army
G.I. Blues has to be the only Elvis Presley film that his name appears more than the opening and end credits (if there are any). And that happens when a man who during Elvis Presley's 2nd song in the movie decides to play an Elvis Presley song on the jukebox. Tulsa McCauley (Elvis Presley) dreams of opening his own nightclub in America with his two army buddies Cookey (Robert Ivers) and Rick (James Douglas). The songs that Elvis Presley sings include G.I. Blues, Tonight is So Right For Love, Wooden Heart, and Blue Suede Shoes. Even though, he got out of the army, a few months before filming this movie. And he had to get back into an army uniform. This was the first of 9 movies that Elvis was directed by

G. I Blues
Fantastic movie if you are an Elvis fan.
If you are not an Elvis fan, why bother?
I'm not really sure why so many people insist on giving a synopsis of the film since we all know the plot, we just want to know what people think of it.
I think the female role could have gone to someone else, as I never rated Juliet Prowse, no sparks there at all (the woman could dance, though, I'll give her that!) Ann Margret and Elvis were wonderful together, for obvious reasons and were a joy to watch. Nevertheless, GI Blues remains my favourite Elvis film, nonsense though it may be!

G.I. King
I enjoyed this film. Sure Elvis sings a number of songs, some good, some just plan silly. He plays the same good-hearted character after the girl. His buddies help him along the way. He gets the girl. If you love Elvis it's worth the rent, if you only want to watch a story with fewer songs I would recommend Change of Habit.

First post-Army film was a box-office smash!
"G.I. Blues" was #2 on the top grossing films at the box office when it was released. The storyline is Elvis plays Tulsa MacLean. Him and his Army buddies are about to get out of the army and look forward to opening up their own nightclub back in Oklahoma. Along the way, Tulsa is caught up in a bet that sees if he can date the enticing and cold-as-ice Cafe Europa dancer Lili (Juliet Prowse). Tulsa and Lili go further than that: they take a modest cruise to across the river to a puppet show where Tulsa sings "Wooden Heart". They both ride above a vineyard in a cablecar where again he breaks into "Pocketful of Rainbows." Then Tulsa is asked to baby-sit for a buddy who ran away to get married, and he's caught in a tight situation. Him and Lili reunite and spend the night with each other baby-sitting "Tiger". The bet is easily won. When Lili finds out, she's steamed! Little does she know that Tulsa really was Marla and Rick's baby-sitter. Tulsa and Lili come back together after an unexpected proposal, and following is an all-American Armed Forces Show finale where Tulsa and the rest of the memebers of the armed forces sing "Did'ja Ever?". ... Read more

Description

Andromeda chronicles the adventures of Captain Dylan Hunt (Kevin Sorbo) and his crew on the starship Andromeda Ascendant as they search the galaxies in an effort to rebuild the Systems Commonwealth, a community of worlds strewn across the universe working ... Read more

Description

Sam is no ordinary dog. He is the son of Yeller, the four-legged hero who won your heart in Walt Disney's classic adventure, OLD YELLER. With his two young masters Travis and Arliss Coates (Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran), gentle Sam faces even greater dangers than Yeller did. From the ferocious attacks of wolves and wildcats to the hostile actions of renegade Indians, Savage Sam presents a heartwarming story of love, devotion, and trust set in the sprawling pioneering days of the untamed West. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Little Secret Found!!!!
I first caught this movie on the television and had no idea there was a sequel to Old Yeller. Although I haven't yet figured out how he turned out to be a blue tick coonhound, it is a wonderful movie. Seeing the boys from Old Yeller back at it and into things is wonderful. I couldn't wait to add it to my collection and was tickled that it was already on DVD when I looked for it. We need more movies like this! It is full of adventure and if you own coonhounds, it does them justice. I hate to say much about the movie because you need to watch it and I hate to know the ending or too much about one when I get one, but the saying boys will be boys is true for Arlis. There is nothing like the love of a child and his dog!!

Interesting Kirk/Corcoran vehicle
Disney cast Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran as brothers 3 times, the younger Kevin tough, spunky, and "masculine," the older Tommy shy, sensitive, "feminine"...Here they are teenagers living alone in the Old West, visited from time to time by next-ranch neighbor Marta Kristen, who can't seem to remember that she's in a Disney movie, and stares at Tommy as if she's a moment away from ripping his clothes off.

All three are abducted by Indians, who intend to make Tommy a slave, Kevin a brave, and Marta a squaw (they leave Tommy and Marta pretty much alone, but their voracious manhandling of little Kevin would certainly be censored today) When Tommy is accidentally left behind, he teams up with the dog, Savage Sam, to rescue the others (although the fragile little thing loses consciousness at the drop of a hat). Eventually a posse of white men joins them, and they shoot the Indians and go home.

Aside from the anti-Indian prejudice, "Savage Sam" is superior...in plotting, characterization, and suspense. I loved Uncle Bill. . .um, I mean Uncle Beck (Brian Keith) strutting around in his flamboyant pink shirt as if daring us to draw conclusions about his character...

Fine, no frills presentation
Disney's "Savage Sam" is an entertaining and authentically staged presentation of the Fred Gipson story. It's presented in square-screen format, but since Disney films of this type were produced with eventual TV airings in mind, the cropping of the image is minimal and no action is lost. The quality of the image is good. It's not a "Vault Disney" piece like the other Gipson story, "Old Yeller," but it's worth having even without bells and whistles.

One thing that didn't age as well as the rest of the film is the title song. Really hokey. But after that's over, the story is told in a no-nonsense style. It dramatizes something Texas settlers contended with for four decades: the abduction of children in an Indian raid.

As befits a family film, "Savage Sam" soft-pedals the realities of such raids. Tommy Kirk's character, a teenage boy, would have been treated more harshly. Torture on the trail and a horrendous death upon arrival at the tribe's base camp would have been his fate. The teenage girl would have been raped right off. But Kevin Corcoran's character, a young child, would have been taken for adoption, just as the film shows, and the Indians' good-humored toleration of his combativeness is right in line with that.

All in all, a serious depiction of a slice of history that few Americans learn about in school anymore.

Glad to hear this movie is on dvd
I was excited when I heard that this movie would be released on DVD. It is another great dog movie by Disney and stars Tommy Kirk and Brian Keith with Sam(who looks like a bluetick coonhound). I would like to know about the picture quality of this dvd before I buy it. If anyone has seen this dvd, please let me know if it is worth buying.

Great Old Movie
One of the best old movies out there. I cant wait for it to come out on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Wow!! Great movie!
This is my all time favorite horse movie! Even if you don't like horses you'll like this movie its truly beautiful! The scenery is beautiful,and the air fighting they use is very impressive. It is a story about a brumby stallion who is hunted ( not to eat ) by men season after season. He manages to out smart and out run the man for a while but then he falls in love with the mans palomino mare and steals her away from the man and one thing leads to another. Great movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Terrific Horse Movie & Russel Crow
My kid loves this movie and rented it so many times that I finally purchased it. I believe it's a bit autobiographical--the mother writes the "story" for her daughter, only somehow the story turns out to be true. Russell Crow plays "The Man" (I read that he did the film for his horse-crazy niece) and does a fine job at it. The horses are beautiful, although I've never thought of a creamy palimino as silver. Oh well. As a parent, you can sit through this movie and not be bored to tears. Beautiful scenery, horses, nice story.

So Legendary I named my foal after him!!!!!
His hooves beating aginst the cold misty Earth sound that of rolling thunder, the strike of hot lightning is like his strenth,the trees sway as the golden Burmby, son of the wind rules the WILD untame horses of the high mountians! You are sure of his heards safety any time he is around.This movies is still as graceful, and captivating as it was when I was little. It has some beautiful slow motion senes which I liked, others you may need to slow down yourself to take it all in. It is a story like no other even the oldest horse lover can love.Let's face it some movies you see as a kid and love, but grow out of when you get older. NOT this movie. I can't wait to show this to my Neice. Then she can fully understand why I named my Chestnut with slivery white main and tail Wind Dancer.Like Thawra Dancer was born ona WILD Spring morning, with driving rain, with plenty of wind and thunder rolling throught the sky. Thawra means wind, and my little colt trotted out into the wind and danced with grace and spirit. That's how he got his nameWind Dancer. I gave his mom the name Beauty for Bell form Beauty and the Beast, which is not far from Thawra's mothers name Bell Bell . He grew into a wonderful, thilling adult, with a kind but wild spirt. To this day no one but me has ever gotten close to riding him but me. I encourage any horse lover young or old to see this movie. It's a family flim that ranks high in the best movies ever made!

The Silver Stallion
Horses, stunning horses, magnificent scenery, excellent plot, very clever writing, a wonderful movie. I would have loved to be able to see some of the horse training clips. This movie is now one of my favorites. Still, "The Man From Snowy River" is my all time favorite!

Russell Crowe captures a special horse.
Also known as THE SILVER BRUMBY (1993). This isn't the first time we've seen Russell Crowe on a horse.
It's a stormy night. This storm is different than any other storm. The wind is loud. A mother begins to tell her daughter about the mighty white stallion born on a wild spring storm like this one. Some say they have never seen him, others say it is a ghost. The mother horse tries to teach her pony how to survive in the wilderness. Along comes a man (Russell Crowe) who enjoys nature. He sees a stranded young cow stuck in the muck of a pond. He rescues the cow and tells it to go back to its mother, who was awaiting. He later sees the special horse and tries to capture it for his own, but the mother horse chases the man off. The mother horse then teaches her pony to learn the scent of a man.
Suitable for children. Beautiful cinematography and locations. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

Comedic reaction to Howard's action; Fred steals the show
In Private Parts, you get to see Howard Stern's meteoric rise from his humble beginnings to his reign as the King of All Media. You also get to see him meet and recruit his allies in broadcasting- Robin Quivers, Jackie Martling, and...

...Fred Norris, the King of Mars. The "King of Mars" moniker was given to him by Howard for his rather strange & unusual behavior and demeanor. Fred reprises his earlier self & behavior beautifully in Private Parts, which at times would come very close to upstaging Howard's own on-air antics. Fred's performance in some ways reminded me of Christopher LLoyd's portrayal of "Reverend Jim" from the Taxi TV sitcom, a character I found both scary and funny at the same time. Fred has been known to be both as well... even to this day.

Other great moments in the movie were peoples' reactions to what Howard would say on the air. Be it someone listening to the show in his car, the radio management suits at the station, or even Howard's wife Alison, whenever Howard says or plays something that's sure to cause a reaction, it does... with riotous results. It makes those funny moments even funnier.

Enjoy!

The often hilarious autobiography of the King of All Media!
I have been a Howard Stern fan for years now, watching his show as often as I can. I have also wanted to know the story behind him and his colleagues' rise to power. This movie showed plenty of it, but not all of it. It basically summarizes his childhood and early years and shows us some of his influences to become a radio personality. Most of the movie is a flashback panning his lifetime as he moves from small town disc-jockey to well-known local personality to huge radio star. He meets many of his sidekicks and good friends throughout the movie, such as Robin Quivers, Fred Norris, and Jackie Martling. Unfortunately, the flashback cuts off in the mid-80's and doesn't touch at the next ten years of his career. Either way, the movie was able to make us feel sorry and compassionate for who much of society calls the Antichrist. It has its funny moments and some sad moments, but in the end it's a decent comedy. Private Parts has some gross-out humor and a fair-share of nudity. I would definitely not like this movie as much if I weren't a Stern fan, but I am, so I love it.

Score: 7.5/10

Propaganda movie
This is Howard's propaganda movie. Much like Michael Moore, he'd have the world believe he is just an ordinary, average guy who has been wrongfully shamed by the majority of Americans. The most accurate part of this film is the beginning when it shows what a lame pencil-neck geek Howard really is. Here we are, 7 years later and , just like Mike Moore, the truth has come out and Howard is a farce. He is no longer married. He has a model for a girlfriend, and is no longer the "everyman" that this film proclaims him to be. Also, nowadays he accuses the President to be trying to get him off the radio. Funny coming from him. Here's a guy who, as soon as Opie and Anthony started making fun of him when his wife left him, went to his company and put a stop to it by taking them off the air. He says himself on the radio that he runs the company. O and A worked for Infinity- his company. Maybe Howard is right, maybe people are out to get him. After all, it would take one to know one.

Where's the Special Edition???
I think that this film is a comedy classic, with a solid cast (Mary MacCormick, Paul Giamatti, Alison Janney, and a "blink and you'll miss her" Edie Falco), a funny storyline, and is a comedy classic, although it borders on "chick flick" at times, believe it or not. But I think that a lot of