Reviews (136)

From Russia With Love
From Russia With Love is certainly an excellent OO7 film to date and is Connery's third best in my opinion, I like Thunderball and Goldfinger slightly better. The plot is that SPECTRE is bent on getting the LEKTOR, a top-secret decoding device. They plan to offer it to Bond from a young girl. SPECTRE plans then to kill OO7 and take the LEKTOR for themselves. The acting is excellent. sean Connery is in top form as the dashing British agent OO7, and few Bond girls are better than Daniela Binachi's Tatiana Romanavo. Robert Shaw and Lotte Lenya are superb villains, especially Shaw as Rosa Klebb and Donald "Red" Grant. Kerim Bey is wonderful as Pedro Armendariz. The action includes OO7 being chased by a helicopter, the famed "gypsy camp" scene, an incredible and long hand-to-hand fight aboard the Orient Express between Connery and Shaw, and a good boat chase near the end. The gadgets include Bond's attache case, Grant's garoutte wire watch, and Rosa Klebb's switchblade shoes. The script is very good, the cinematography is dark and brooding, and the settings are nice. The only problem is I didn't like the song that much but I loved the score. Overall, everything from the acting to the dark atmosphere, to the good DVD quality make this film a terrific OO7 film and a welcome edition to your DVD library.

Beautiful looking DVD
James Bond is given the opportunity to obtain a Russian Lektor decoding machine but he needs the services of a beautiful Russian defector, Tatiana Romanova (Daniella Bianchi) to help him steal it from the Russian Embassy in Istanbul. The British think it's a trap, but one worth taking as they are desperate to get their hands on the Lektor. It is indeed too easy to be true - but the treachery and manipulation comes not from the Russians, but from a totally unexpected quarter.

The story may appear simplistic but if you let your concentration lapse you'll miss key information to understanding the plot. Because there is more dialogue it helps to own this movie so you can watch it again. Everything becomes much clearer after a repeat viewing. This was the first 007 DVD I bought because it's one of my favourite Connery Bonds. It features ice-cold assassin Red Grant (Robert Shaw), and one of the best bond girls ever ('James, will you make love to make all the time in England?'). Pedro Armendáriz fits the role of 007's ally Kerim Bey very nicely.

From Russia With Love doesn't overwelm you with a main villain's secret fortress blowing to pieces, nor does it have a heart-pounding car chase scene. The real action is between the characters and within the story.

This series deserved better.
It is hard to imagine that only the 2nd 007 flick would be one of the worst, but this one is just so horrible! The romance plot is laughable and badly acted, Connery and Bianchi don't even have any chemistry. A ton of scenes in the film don't make any sense either--- the gypsy camp sequence for instance. It has NOTHING to do with the plot, yet a good deal of the film is spent here. It's almost as if the filmakers had 2 scripts, couldn't decide between the two, and just used them both, resulting in one huge convoluted mess. Perhaps this was because they were trying to get the movie out in only a year after Dr. No came out. A shame--- had they given FRWL more time and not rushed it, it could have been something really good.

the second young bond and the best of them all
fighting gypsies (one of whom is the delectable martine beswick) in scantily clad clothes, a beefcake blonde assassin robert shaw, a killer old hag with poisioned shoes, the most beautiful blonde imaginable wearing a choker, and connery's ultra cool bond non chalantly smoking his way through half the fim.
what more can you ask from terence youngs second bond flick and the best bond of them all.
from russia with love.

Number 2 yet full of firsts
The second installment of James Bonds adventures starts with the post gunbarrel pre-title chapter which in this movie sees an expert assasin take out what appears to be our intrepid agent untill it is revealed that it is a stage set up.

Q makes an apperance with the first of many gadgets that Bond will call on during his lifetime. We also get to see his Bentley before it's famous replacement in the next film. The three modes of transport (air,sea,rail) and exotic locations are to the fore and of course, the Bond Girl, this time Lotte Lyna. ... Read more

Description

"Elizabeth! I'm comin, honey!" Those were the words oftenheard coming from 9114 South Central, home to Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx)and his son Lamont (Demond Wilson) - known more affectionately to each other as "Pop" and "Dummy" - and their junkyard business.Sanford and Son was the second TV series from Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, whocreated the groundbreaking "All in the Family" the year before. "Sanford and Son" aired from 1972-1977 and was NBC's most popular prime-time series for four of its five seasons, earning four Emmy nominations and a Golden-Globe Award for Redd Foxx during its run. Enjoy this hysterical first season - or you'll get one across the lip. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

"Lamont, you big dummy!"
Complete first season of the hilarious sitcom about a 65 year old junk dealer, Fred Sanford(Redd Foxx), and his son/partner, Lamont (Demond Wilson) is a classic. The same people (Norman Lear, Bud Yorkin, etc.) who dominated 1970s television comedy by bringing us All in the Family (1971), Maude (1972), Good Times (1974), and The Jeffersons (1975) also did Sanford and Son (1972). Sanford & Son does not play much on TV anymore, so if you havent had the pleasure of seeing it, but are a fan of any of the previously listed shows I highly recommend it. Redd Foxx was a comedic genius and this show features his best work. This DVD set will feature the first 14 episodes (Jan - April 1972), here are the titles:

01) Crossed Swords
02) Happy Birthday, Pop
03) Here comes the bride, there goes the bride
04) The copper caper
05) A matter of life and breath
06) We were robbed
07) A pad for Lamont
08) The great Sanford Siege
09) Coffins for sale
10) The Barracuda
11) TV or not TV
12) The suitcase case
13) The return of the Barracuda
14) The piano movers

Also recommended:
All in the Family: Complete first season 3 dvd set (13 episodes)
The Jeffersons: Complete first season 2 dvd set (13 episodes)

Here Comes The Big One
This first season of Sanford and Son is the best! The episodes are hysterical, with Fred up to his usual old tricks, and Lamont being a big dummy. Get this and enjoy a good laugh.

My all time favorite.
This is the season that changed the face of television. No longer were african-americans placed in the supporting role as Redd Foxx marched the show to the top of the charts with his antics. "Five across your lips" and "This is the big one" soon became household punchlines. Never before has a show impacted television as this program demonstrated life from the ghetto and how people, regardless of race, are really all the same!!!!

i love the 70's
great show. Lamount was annoying with a funny dad who owns a junkyard in california. enjoy the good and bad times of their life

the comedic stylings of Redd Foxx
"Sanford and Son" was an American version of a British show "Steptoe and Son." The premise is the antics of junkman Fred Sanford and his son Lamont. Most of the episodes in the first season were basically adaptations of "Steptoe and Son" episodes.

Nevertheless, you get the entire first season here and it's worth every penny. Obviously, this show was ahead of its time and un p.c. as well. One significant plus with this first season is that you will get each episode in its entirety. TV Land obviously has to edit out certain parts (ie Fred using the N word)for today's audiences.

You also see the evolution of Fred and Lamont, along with Fred's buddy Melvin(played by longtime Redd Foxx partner Slappy White), and see early nemesis' of Fred like Aunt Hazel (Esther didn't appear until season two). All of the episodes are excellent, with my favorites being "Piano Movers", "Happy Birthday, Pop" "We Were Robbed", and "Color TV."

I can't emphasise how important this show was in the realm of pop culture and some of the issues tackled are still relevant today. Nothing like this will ever hit the airwaves again. Pick up the Season 2 and 3 sets as well. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Kleenex required
"Uptown Girls" is a sentimental movie that you won't be able to forget. At the end, I desperately wanted to give a standing ovation to the characters on screen, some of whom were already giving a standing ovation.
Molly Gunn is a wealthy debutante still trying to get over her parents' death. When she goes into debt, she is forced to find a job. Molly becomes the nanny of "Ray" Schleine, a precocious 8-year-old girl who hides behind a mask to deal with her apathetic mother and comatose father. The two help each other to open up.
This movie has a good amount of humor, but it is not without moments that will make you bawl.
Brittany Murphy, despite not being as enjoyable as she was in "Just Married," is fun to watch as Molly. Dakota Fanning is very good as Ray, though she seems to lack Murphy's magic.
See this movie! Just don't forget the Kleenex.

Dakota Shines - But The Movie Overall - Is Not as Bright!
This movie directed by Boaz Yakin (Fresh, Remember The Titans) has a certain charm to it. It was going for the warm fuzzy's and along the way found a real heart for me.

Cocky and not-so-bright Britney Murphy (Just Married, 8-Mile) plays a aristocratic well to do teen who suddenly looses what she ahs to find out she needs to get a real job. In her attempt she is befriended by a mother played by Heather Locklear (Looney Toons Back In Action, The First Wives Club) who needs a caretaker - babysitter for her young daughter played by Dakota Fanning (I Am Sam, The Cat In The Hat).

The two teach each other a valuable lesson about life. One - Brittany needs to lean how to grow up, the other - Dakota - needs how to learn to have fun. The two are forced to tolerate each other in order to appease the mother. However, in the process of hating each other, they learn a lesion in family friendship and that people are not what they seem to be on the outside.

That's the warm fuzzy! Really nice heart - it does get a little slow in parts, but the chemistry of little Dakota with everyone on screen is amazing. You can't help not liking her even after she plays this temperamental little brat.

As far as the theatrical experience, a good film for the teens and young adults but it is not really for the really young or middle aged crowd - it does have a syrupy side that may give some a tooth ache. This would be a great DVD to have for the family. Let me know what you think. (11-12-03)

Great Everything In One Movie!
This movie was great! It had a little bit of everything in it!!! It had romance, comedy, drama, and a life lesson in it. I am 13 and watched it with my 39 year old mom and we both loved it! It is the best movie EVER. My dad didn't like it, but he doesn't like chick flicks! LOL! <br /> THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uptown Girls
Uptown Girls DVD ~ Brittany Murphy is a sweet, innocent and funny comedy. It won't win any oscar statues for its dialogue. But I liked it still...

Wow ~ totally different from what I expected
Here you will find a nine year old Ray helping her 20 something nanny Molly find her way. Ray is a nine year older who has everything a little girl could have want and most anything money can buy. But, she has a mother who doesn't have time for her and a father who is deathly ill. Molly gives Ray that one thing she's looking for LOVE and UNDERSTANDING. She also teaches Ray to be a KID that she should be. Ray helps Molly come to grips with some issues she's been fighting since the death of her father who was a great musician. The two were an awesome pair and meant to cross paths.

This movie will make you laugh, cry and more! Very refreshing movie and a must have. ... Read more

Description

A photographer's blind wife, trapped in her New York apartment by an evil trio who are ready to murder to retrieve a heroin-filled doll hidden in her apartment, cleverly outwits them. Music by Henry Mancini. Based on the long running Broadway play by Frederick Knott. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

A Spine-Tingling Thriller
I was extremely impressed with this movie. As I am a blind individual myself, I truly appreciated that this was not one of those ridiculous movies which dealt specifically with how blind people function in the world, but instead presented a realistic portrait of a woman fighting to survive.
Audrey Hepburn realistically portrays Susie Hendrix, a woman who has recently lost her sight due to a car accident. She still struggles to adjust to her new lifestyle with the help of her husband Sam. My only complaint of the movie is Sam's often harsh treatment of his wife. I realize that it necessary, but considering that this was a recent loss of eyesight, he possibly could have been more patient.
The main premise of this film concerns a villainous drug dealer, Harry Rote (portrayed by Alan Arkin.)
Alan Arkin is superb in his role. He is the most effective villain I have ever seen portrayed. Rote enlists the help of two recently released conmen to retrieve a heroin-filled doll from Susie's home, where it accidentially was taken by Sam. The ensuing struggle is between Susie and the three men, who attempt to deceive her in to handing over the doll. The climax of this film is extremely suspenseful and scary. Another quick note: Julie Herrod, who portrays Gloria, a young girl who assists Susie is extremely good.
This film is truly worth your time, not only because it is suspenseful, but because it tells of the importance of overcoming obstacles in order to help yourself and others around you.

One of my favorites
A drug dealer enlists two conmen to help him retrieve a drug-filled doll from a blind woman.

Audrey Hepburn is very credible as the lovely Susie Hendrix, a feminine and insightful lady who has recently lost her eyesight in an accident. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. plays her rigid but compassionate husband; one of his emotional reactions is my only problem with the movie, and even that can be overlooked. Julie Herrod is the bratty but fairly well drawn Gloria, and Richard Crenna and Jack Weston play the two conmen. Jack Weston's character is the simpler of the two, and Richard Crenna is the dishonest but convincingly charming. The intelligent Harry Roat (or however you spell it) is played by Alan Arkin. Roat is just creepy. He gives bad vibes.

'Wait Until Dark' is one of my favorite films. The mood, supported by music, excellent acting, and an interesting plot, remains tense throughout the movie.

Truly Terrifying!
Based on Frederick Knott's Broadway hit, Wait Until Dark is a chilling film, even by today's standards. This is a masterfully crafted thriller about three deranged crooks who manipulate a blind woman to recover their lost smuggled goods.

Audrey Hepburn is fantastic as Suzy, in her Oscar nominated role, showing us a fairly realistic portrait of a fragile woman coping with her dark new world. She manages to garner our sympathy, especially with Efrem Zimbalist Jr's demanding husband watching her every move.

Alan Arkin is equally terrific, making a terrifying villain.

Wait Until Dark manages to create a paranoid environment devoid of any human life. The apartment building Suzy lives in is perpetually empty; Suzy's husband, Sam, leaves her on her own for most of the day, and the dorky young girl upstairs is apparently motherless most of the time. The cave-like arches of the apartment has an unsettling effect of positioning Hepburn in a nondescript underground (the windows only look out on the feet of passersby, emphasizing Suzy's disconnect from her neighborhood). It all creeps up on the audience, making for a suspenseful, claustrophobic and effective shocker. I literally could not breathe during the film's final ten minutes.

Definitely wait until dark and watch it with someone who likes to scream. This is a true nail-biter if there ever was one.

"The blinds moving up and down. . . the squeaking shoes. . .
...and then the knife whistling past her ear. . . "

At the ripe old age of 38, Audrey Hepburn proved that she had aged like fine wine in Terrence Young's "Wait Until Dark", for which she earned her fifth, and last, Oscar nomination. Despite obviously being based on the long-running Broadway play; as the majority of the story takes place in an apartment and there are few characters; it translates surprisingly well onto screen and is remarkably intriguing and suspenseful. Alan Arkin, who plays one of the vilest villains of 60's cinema, Richard Crenna, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. make up the stellar supporting cast and all turn in excellent performances.

The sheer terror "Wait Until Dark" inflicts upon its audience comes from the filmmakers ability to place us in Suzy's shoes. The very idea of being blind and trapped in an apartment and horribly alone even though you are in one of the most densely populated areas of the world, just plains scares me. The nail-biting climax has some truly classic moments in it (who knew Alan Arkin was such a gymnast?) and will stick with you long after the film is over.

As always, Audrey is simply perfection. Charming and beautiful even in the most unflattering situations, she yet again proves her star power. The constant distress and anguish Audrey portrays onscreen is achingly real, and unfortunately, not very far from the truth. She was suffering from anorexia and marriage troubles with the producer of the film, Mel Ferrer, throughout the entire shoot. One can only imagine how draining it must have been for her to be required to be screaming and crying the whole shoot while dealing with these problems. Her Oscar nomination was most certainly deserved!

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT
Few actresses have lit up the screen in the same fashion as the late Audrey Hepburn. In this 1967 thriller (her last Oscar nomination), she plays a blind woman who finds herself terrorized by a trio of men looking for a heroin-stuffed doll.
Relying on pure psychological suspense as opposed to gore and violence, WAIT UNTIL DARK is still a powerful movie. Miss Hepburn is perfect for the role---she seems so frail, and yet there is an inner strength that comes to her aid in the final moments of the film. She lost the Oscar that year to another Hepburn (Katherine in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"), and it just goes to show how Oscar at times relies more on sentimentality than the actual power of a performance.
Richard Crenna eschewed his good guy roles by playing Mike Talman, one of the cons who does appreciate Suzie's intelligence. Jack Weston, a great comic actor, also goes for more visceral drama, and his performance as the buffoon is right on target. And what about Mr. Alan Arkin? His cold, insensitive evil is just right!!! Little Julie Herrod as Gloria also does a credible job.
Terence Young's direction is tight and Henry Mancini's impeccable music also heightens the suspense.
WAIT UNTIL DARK is a classic thriller, and one of Miss Hepburn's finest moments. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Zhang Yimou's (Raise the Red Lantern) tale of a pluckyadolescent substitute teacher in a rural Chinese village, cast entirely withnonactors and shot on location, is an astute example of censorship politics.Taking on touchy issues with a veneer of can-do spirit and happy-endingfantasy, his film is at once rousing and eye-opening. Wei Minzhi is astubborn young woman who takes a substitute teaching job in a tiny provincialtown because they can't afford anyone else. When one troublemaking boy headsoff to the city to help support his starving family, it's not a sense ofresponsibility that drives her rescue mission, it's money: She won't receiveher bonus if any students are missing. Her efforts to raise money for thecity trip pulls the class together in a sense of purpose, and even drives thelessons, but when she finally reaches the city she's shocked to discover anurban jungle of lost and runaway kids. Yimou shoots with an easy naturalismthat suggests a well-intentioned docudrama in spots, due to narrativecontrivances and a few self-conscious performances, but his compromisesultimately make his shocking look at China's rural poverty, adolescentworkers, urban juvenile homelessness, and woefully underfunded educationalsystem more potent. In the heat of the film's uplifting climax, theonce-mischievous boy pulls the film back down to earth with his reflection on hisbig-city adventure: "I had to beg for food. I'll never forgetthat." --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (46)

a heart-warming film
This film was apparently based on the true story of a 13 year old girl, Wei, who was recruited to take over a rural classroom for one month while the teacher is on family medical leave. The teacher tells her that too many kids are dropping out of school and that if no kids have dropped out when he returns, she will get an additional 10 yuan reward in addition to the 50 yuan that the mayor has promised her. When one of the boys goes off to the city to earn money for his destitute family, Wei goes after him. When she arrives in the city she finds that the boy became separated from his traveling companions at the bus station and nobody knows where he is; he is lost and wandering the city alone begging strangers for food and sleeping in alleys. Wei is determined to find the boy, but why? Is it for the reward or does she actually care about him? It seems she was initially motivated by the reward but then later when she realized he was lost it touched her heart and she wanted to find him. The child actors were so cute and natural, I enjoyed their performances. A charming story with a happy ending.

Less is More
Zhang Yimou lifts the vail and provides a wonderous glimpse into life in rural China. The movie tells the story of a young girl who must take over a small rural school while the regular teacher goes away to take care of family matters. If upon the return of the teacher there is "Not One Less" student, she will be paid, but if she looses any of her pupils, the money she so desperately needs will be forfeit. She is soon tested as she finds students are torn between going to school and obligations to help their families tend the land. The young girl, Wei Minzeh, who has no previous acting experience is stunningly sweet, incredibly determined, and savy. It is hard to imagine why she was not nominated for Best Actress. The Director did much more than expose life in China to the outsiders view, he showed the universality of human traits such as indifference, bureaucratic thinking and finally compassion. Ulitimately one realizes that this movie could have just as easily been filmed in West Virginia, Maine or the farmlands of California.

GOOD
WHAT CAN I SAY?IT IS VERY GOOD.I LOVE THE MOVIE.IT IS MY FAVOR,GREAT WOEK

Another Great Film from Zhang Yimou
I really think that Zhang Yimou is the best director alive today. While in a sense he has dropped off from his ultra classic early dramatic collaborations with Gong Li (Red Sorghum, Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, Qiu Jou, To Live, Shanghai Triad), I still find the humble films of this middle stage of his career to be heartwarming and engrossing in a most subtle way. Happy Times, The Road Home, and Not One Less are all simple films that manage to express and evoke a surprising depth of sympathy and emotion, much like Frank Capra was able to do during the classic era of American cinema with films like It's a Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. And the fact that Not One Less was done with non-actors is a triumph not only for their success but also for the innovative courage that Zhang continues to display. Many consider films like this to be evidence of Zhang's fall from grace. On the contrary, I think they show why he is so great. How could he improve upon Raise the Red Lantern, the veritable Casablanca of Chinese cinema? Rather than continuing with similar films, he made the bold move to forge other paths. The next phase of his career will apparently be wuxia films. I have a feeling it is there where his name will come back into the popular radar abroad. Not that he should be concerned, as he's done very well without it, as the future will surely show...

A quasi-realistic fairy tale of modern China
Wei Minzhi (played by Wei Minzhi, essentially playing herself) is a 13-year-old peasant girl pressed into being "Teacher Wei" at a small rural elementary school when the regular teacher must take a month off. She knows one song (a Maoist propaganda song) and that not very well. She hasn't a clue about how to manage a classroom. Her arithmetic is suspect and her people skills are those of a self-centered beginner. It's not even clear that she wants to do the job. In fact she seems more concerned about the 50 yuan she's supposed to get than anything else.

Thus acclaimed Chinese film maker Zhang Yimou sets the stage for a most compelling fairy tale which illustrates how the determined spirit of a little girl might triumph over poverty, ignorance, and the hard-headed reality of the post-Maoist bureaucratic society.

And is she determined! She is given 30 pieces of chalk and warned not to waste any of it. The lesson plans are to copy some lessons on the chalkboard and to get the students to copy the copy. That's it! Both the regular teacher and the town's mayor point to the other as the one who will pay her. When the regular teacher starts to leave without paying her, she chases after him. She is told she will get paid when he returns, and if all the students are still enrolled, she will get a ten-yuan bonus.

Thus we have the movie's title and the source of "Teacher Wei's" determination. When one little girl is picked to go to a sports camp because she can run, Wei hides her from the authorities. When Zhang Huike, the class trouble-maker (played by Zhang Huike), quits school and heads for the city to find work, Wei schemes ways to get him and bring him back.

At this point the magic begins. With this common goal both teacher and the kids figure out ways to raise money to send Wei by bus to the city and back. They figure the cost for Wei's round trip and for Zhang Huike's one-way trip back, with the kids themselves taking the initiative at the chalkboard with the math. Wei makes them empty their pocketbooks, and when there is not enough she takes them on a field trip to a brick-making factory and together they move bricks to raise the cash. Again they calculate how many bricks they must move at so many "cents" per brick.

I mention all this because what is demonstrated, by the by, is some real teaching and learning taking place. In fact the mayor comes by and peeks into the classroom and is delighted to see that the substitute teacher knows how to teach math!

This sequence of events is very moving and is at the heart of the film. Any teacher anywhere in the world will recognize how brilliantly this is done. The kids become so eager to learn that they learn effortlessly, which is the way it is supposed to be. Furthermore, one of the phenomena of the profession is exemplified: that of the real teacher learning more (partly because she is older) than the students from the lessons they encounter.

Now, it is true that director Zhang Yimou does not show us the real poverty that exists in China nor does he point to the horrid dangers encountered by children who go to the city to work. Neither the little boy nor Teacher Wei is preyed upon in the manner we might fear. Recapitulations of the baser instincts of human beings are not part of Zhang Yimou's purpose here. This is in fact a movie that can be viewed by children, who will, I suspect, identify very strongly with the story. Zhang Yimou is talking to the child in all of us and he does it without preaching or through any didactic manipulation of adult verses child values. It is true he does manipulate our hearts to some degree, but with all the ugliness that one sees in the world today, perhaps he can be allowed this indulgence.

Although I would not say that this film is as good as Zhang Yimou's internationally celebrated films such as Red Sorghum (1987) (his first film) or Raise the Red Lantern (1991) (which I think is his best film) or The Story of Qiu Ju (1991) (which this film resembles to some extent), it is nonetheless a fine work of art exemplifying Zhang Yimou's beautiful and graceful style and his deep love for his characters and their struggles. And as always his work rises above and exists in a place outside of political propaganda as does the work of all great artists.

Perhaps more than anything else, however, one should see this movie to delight in the unselfconscious, natural, and utterly convincing "amateur" performance by Wei Minzhi as a most determined and brave little girl. She will win your heart. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

More like 3.5 stars; a fine, funky 70's curio
Alternately ahead of its time and an unmistakable product of its era, the 1976 paramedic comedy-drama "Mother, Jugs and Speed" has finally made its way to DVD.

This uneven but underappreciated little B-movie drew obvious influence from the blood-and-pranks mixture of Robert Altman's "MASH," but you can also see its darkly comic influence on contemporary fare such as "Six Feet Under" and "Bringing out the Dead," and it poked fun at zip-ups gone wrong 20 years before "There's Something About Mary."

Bill Cosby and Harvey Keitel play Southern California ambulance drivers forced to contend with all manner of accidents and injuries, both amusing and tragic. The all-over-the-map cast also includes Raquel Welch, Allen Garfield, Dick Butkus, Bruce Davison, L.Q. Jones, Larry Hagman (as a creepy lech whose antics haven't aged well) and even Allan Warnick, the kid from the records room in "Chinatown."

With its gritty, widescreen look and those awesome blue lens flares so common to the period, "Mother" is a fine, funky 70's curio. Welch and Keitel (who had just been replaced by Martin Sheen in "Apocalypse Now") are stiff but the rest of the pre-Carter administration cast seems to be having fun, particularly Cosby, as the glib, laconic Mother. It's a bit strange to see the sitcom star playing an anti-hero, but his cool, sneaky performance breezily anchors the movie.

Good drive-in fare
Pretty much what you would expect, given the plot--two competing ambulance services chase around the city for patients and profits; the wacky stuff, like occupied gurneys rolling free down city streets and scaring nuns at crosswalks alternates with the mercifully brief meditative stuff--shortly after giving his "There's more to life than this" speech to fellow EMT Bill Cosby, Bruce Davison gets blown away by a junkie who wants drugs from their rig. Raquel Welch moves her way up from harassed office secretary (everyone at the station calls her "Jugs", nice, huh?) to EMT, but loses her first patient--bummer! Harvey Keitel is Raquel's love interest (rare that the man gets subordinated in that way), and Cosby underplays nicely as the most professional of the group. Allen Garfield does his usual sleazebag routine as the put-upon head of the operation. Funny in spots--evocative of the time period. Really stretches the "PG" rating--the board must've been in a giving mood--lots of rough language, drug and alcohol use, and yes, Larry Hagman's character at least TRIES to have sex with an OD patient in the back of his vehicle. Raquel, though, "comes through" under a sheet (a lot happens in the back of those vans!) Can't give an "expert" review--I'm a librarian!

A 70's Classic finally on DVD!!!!!
After all these years the Peter Yates classic staring Bill Cosby, Raquel Welch, Harvey Keitel finally arrives on DVD. Take Cosby's humor, Raquel's sex appeal, Keitel's smouldering late 70's cool and one sweet ride of an ambulance, and you've got Mother, Jugs and Speed. Peter Yates' classic take on the ambulance industry in metropolitan Los Angeles gives us a little bit of everything in a quick, well paced film. Cosby's charm shines in one of his best roles i think as the cynical, no nonsense ambulance driver Mother Tucker. Just by looking at Mother's custom Rig, and patch covered jacket you get the impression that Cosby's character was not always an ambulance driver, but perhaps was once something quite differnt. Follow the F+B ambulance company and their staff of irregulars (Including Larry Hagman of Dallas Fame, and football player Dick Butkus) as they do their best to save the lives of their patients and hammer away at one another with a barrage of jokes, and one liners. They don't make comedys like this anymore where the car was just as big of a star as the trio named in the title. While normally found in the comedy section, the film does have an equal number of "dark" moments that let the viewer know that Yates wasn't just doing this for laffs and help to balance out the humor. The DVD transfer is crystal clear, and the slamming 70's soundtrack will be nostalgic for some, and new, and inventive to others. Another reviewer mentioned hearing Peter Frampton's "Show me The Way" playing in an early scene, and I always think of this film when i hear that song. Treat yourself to a 70's classic, and enjoy the ride, and pray that if you ever need the guys in white that he shows up wearing yellow sneakers with red socks, and goes by the name of Mother Tucker.

How do I love Jugs, let me count the ways
I could spend countless words proclaiming the greatness of this film as one of the great urban street comedies of the 70's but just watch the film and it will speak for itself.
I do want to mention that the director of this cinematic gem also directed a little number called "Krull" which is to high fantasy what "Mother, Jugs, and Speed" is to the world of high-brow comedy.
Plus it gave us Lysette Anthony.

A very enjoyable movie about EMT work!
I think this movie is one of Bill Cosby's funniest and best. He plays an fun loving Emergency Medical Tech (EMT) worker who works by his own rules. He drinks his beer, jams his Brother Johnsons tape loudly and scares nuns. The movie does have some very funny moments (like the runaway gurney with the lady strapped to it). Rachael Welch, Harvey Keitel, and Larry Hagman all play fine supporting roles in this movie. Hagman is espically hilirious as an hot to trot driver. I agree with another reviewer who said that this movie shows EMT work in its earliest beginnings. Basically, they were running from call to call dealing with all kinds of different patients and situations. I also like this movie because it was filmed on location in Venice, Culver City, and Los Angeles California. This movie is one gems from the early 1970's. I recommend it highly to anyone. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

An acutate depiction.
"Joseph" is one of the best movies in "The Bible Collection." It also gives an acurate detail of the story in the Bible.

It shows how God works through the slave/Egyptian govornor who loved and obeyed him.

keep your butchered movie
Not one minute of this film should be edited, yet the run time on this DVD edition suggests it has been cut for time.They need a warning in large type that this is NOT going to be the same film we loved.This is dishonest.

Run Time Error?
This is an incredible mini-series...but it might not be so great if the run time stated (145 minutes) is accurate for the DVD release.The length of this production (at least on the VHS version) was 185 minutes.I plan to verify that this was not severely edited before I purchase it.There is some hope insofar as Warners Home Video has a history of understating (or miscalculating)run times...The miniseries "North And South" had a run time misprint that amounted to 183 minutes--over 3 hours!!The material was not missing or edited...just the info on the box was in error.Hopefully, that's what's happened here.

What Christians are suppose to be
Joseph is the ideal role model for EVERY Christian/Jew. He is an example of what we should streve for. Waiting for a spouse to have sex. Sticking to your God no matter the outcome. This movie reflects all of that perfectly. The actors did a great job. When I first saw this years ago I was blown away by the quality!! That was back in the VHS days...cant wait to see it on DVD. So I cant speak for the transfer quality yet, sorry.

The Best of the Bible Collection FINALLY on DVD
Although I have enjoyed most of the movies in the Bible Collection Joseph has been my all time favorite.It is biblically accurate, events that are not recounted in the Bible are kept beleivalbe for the time period.The guy who plays Joseph does a wonderful job.In fact it was this movie that ruined the movie Moses, Ben Kingsley does a wonderful job as Potiphar in Joseph, but is just to old and not right for the part of Moses.

I am so glad that this movie will finally be out on DVD.They have been available overseas for a long time in DVD format.I am glad they are begining to release these on DVD, hopefully David will come out soon. ... Read more

Description

Based on the novel by John Knowles, A SEPARATE PEACE tells the coming-of-age story of the students attending an all-boys prep school.With the possibility of being drafted for World War II, the boys try their best to graduate before the draft and encounter many obstacles along the way. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The 1972 film version was a preppy classic: 2004 was not!
John Knowles modern masterpiece, A Separate Peace, are one of many subtle, and subtly is the watch word, themes of love, hate, jealously, denial and regret. The 1972 version does attempt to address this style and what the book is - A love story.

The 2004 version does not use subtly at all but overtness in the portrayal of the story. What is staring you in the face when you read the novel is, as I have previously stated, a love story and yes maybe it is arguable, a gay love story. In the novel and 1972 film version there are sexual understones everywhere in the writings and dialog. In the 2004 Showtime film version these tentions were omitted and the actors were in there late twenties playing teenagers which caused for mature acting taking away from any tenderness or hesitation of innocence in youth.

I did not like this remake for more reasons! The hair that broke the camels' back was that Phineas was given a surname on the letters he received from the draft boards! Finny is a character that does not have nor needs a last name. John Knowles did that intentionally.

Though I accept the 1972 version the acting was at times a little amateurish, so what, it attempted to be sincere to the novel by shooting on location at Phillips Exeter Academy that The Devon School was based on; which also the writer attended as a student.

The directors and producers took all teenage Exeter students, with excepton of Parker Steveson whom attended The Brooks School, to play in a Paramount Film! Class act by preppies compared to this Canadian College shot, played with adult actors, politically correct, platonic version. No - Veto on this sham try again. The 1972 film version with John Heyl and Parker Stevenson was the real deal for A Separate Peace on the screen. The Showtime 2004 film made for cable version was not.

Moving and well-made
First let me say that a movie can never acheive the level of depth as a well-written novel.Even if this film had a script taken verbatim from the book, it would not be able to convey the same depth of meaning, the same development of characters.

That being said, I think this movie is excellent.Of course, I am in a unique position.I watched the movie first, and then was so intrigued, I went on to read the book.Had I fallen in love with the book first, I may very well have found the movie disappointing like many of the other reviewers. But since I saw the movie on its own without comparing it to the book, I was able to see how this movie is an artistic work with its own merits, irrespective of the challenges of bringing a classic novel to the screen.

The strongest actor in this film is Toby Moore, who steals almost every scene he's in as Finny.He radiates charisma, which is perfect for a character who Knowles wrote as being able to "shine with everyone, he attracted everyone he met."He's a character incapable of hating anyone or holding a grudge, and a character who no one can help but like.I could not have imagined him portrayed any better.

Some scenes are added to the movie that are not in the book, but I feel these scenes are useful in developing characters and relationships that are developed through straight description in the book.We see how the war plays a role in these boys' lives--a distant joke at first, and then one of the boys goes off to the Army and comes back different--disheveled, mentally broken.We see Gene's changing relationship with Finny, his admiration combined with thinly veiled resentment and jealousy, and finally his realization that Finny meant well all along, that there was never any rivalry, that Finny wanted to see only the good in Gene and was deeply hurt by any other suggestion.

The movie's main weakness is that much is missing in the development of Gene's character.His motivations are vague and his true feelings veiled without the internal narration of the novel.He's still well-portrayed in the film, but I can better understand Gene after reading the book.

If you're looking for an exact representation of John Knowles' novel, then you will be waiting forever.But this movie is a gem in its own right, a moving and engaging coming-of-age story.

Not Bad, But Something's Missing
Sometimes whenever the words "the book is so much better than the movie" are uttered, it can sound somewhat boorish. However, when it comes to a book like John Knowles' A SEPARATE PEACE stating that the book is better than the film is an understatement. The novel which has undertones of love/hate and admiration/jealousy, set at a boys' prep school during World War II has to be read to be experienced. This is not to say the film is not without merit. This film, originally made for SHOWTIME has many strengths: perfect attention to detail as far as set is concerned, believable actors who seem to belong in a prep school setting, and reasonably good acting. All of these qualities should make a great film. Something fell short for me, however. I think it's because the characters in the book become so real and engrained in a reader's mind, any film version will pale in comparison. I say this as someone who read the book first by choice, then as a requirement in college, and years later taught the book.

That being said, of you are thinking about purchasing this film and have never read the book, you may very well enjoy it. As I said, there are many good attributes to this film and people not familiar with the book could find it riveting. If you love the book, you may be somewhat disappointed that the film seems to lack some intensity and may also find it somewhat slow paced. Of course, if you are a student purchasing the film to avoid reading the book, I would not recommend. The film does follow the basic plot line of the novel, but that something that makes A SEPARATE PEACE such a great work is missing in this film version.

Worse than awful
First I must confess that A Separate Peace is my favorite book. So of course, I have some bias against any attempt at adapting it for a feature film or television movie. But as I began to watch this film, I was more than willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. The original version from the early 1970s, though shot at Phillips Exeter Academy where the book's author attended school, and though it stayed as faithful as it could to the book, lacked any real depth of feeling and failed to capture the essence of the characters. The original seemed to simply go through the motions. Reading the trivia about the movie, you discover that it was cast mostly with non-actors. Thus, the original has an amateurish feel to it and it ultimately fails.

This new version, though I will grant that it captures the look of the period better than the original, seems to have thrown the book out all together. Scenes are rearranged, characters imposed where they don't belong, characters created that were not in the book, and no attempt was made to delve into the deeper conflicts that make the book so compelling. And the cardinal sin of all: the tree is not treated as the vital, almost central character it is in the book. This is an inexcusable oversight on the part of the film makers. How could they downplay the role of the tree? Why was it not introduced immediately? Why the Dead Poet-esque beginning? And what in God's name was up with Gene's accent? This film is, to be blunt, garbage. A Separate Peace should not be a difficult book to adapt for the stage or screen. John Knowles wrote it in a perfectly fine, linear style. The film makers should have trusted the story as it was already written; make changes, sure; embellish here and there, sure; take some mild dramatic license, sure. But destroy one of the pearls of American literature in the process? What were they thinking? In their corruption of the story line, they cut any possibility of suspense or drama. The whole movie falls flat and fails miserably.

If you are a high school or college student assigned to read this book and you are thinking of skimping and just watching the movie...don't even think about it. This film will be of no help to you.

Alas, we shall have to wait even longer before a version of this story comes to the screen that truly does it justice.

The End of Innocence: On Becoming an Adult
A SEPARATE PEACE, based on John Knowles' novel that became a standard in the college student library, is a finely wrought, ultimately transformative story that is well adapted to the screen by Wendy Kesselman.Given the broad spectrum of the novel's story, the script opts for focusing on the special interplay of four youths attending Dover Boys School in 1943.Director Peter Yates ('The Dresser', 'Year of the Comet', 'Breaking Away', 'Bullit', etc) understands the special atmosphere of the boys' boarding school and the impact on young American youth living under the threat of World War II and translates that tension and impact well.

Gene (J Barton) enters Dover (a school populated by boys from families of wealth and position) from his meager home in the South, determined to achieve on the basis of his abilities in this 'foreign atmosphere'.He is assigned to roommate Finny (Toby Moore) who is a natural athlete and a lad who lives entirely in the moment, achieving goals in private without the need for applause.He grows to deeply admire Gene, taking a while to see that Gene's academic accomplishments come through very hard work and not as a 'natural gift' as is the case with the rest of the classmates.They bond with fellow students Brinker (Jacob Pitts) who is the school's top scholar, and Leper (Danny Schroeder) who manages to interject bizarre humor about Hitler and the current war situation on the European front whenever possible.

Finny constantly challenges Gene out of good graces to perform acts of liberation, including jumping from a tree into a pond, a feat reserved for those higher classmates in the school who are preparing ROTC style to volunteer for the war upon graduation.Finny and Gene become very close while at different ends of the spectrum of self-perception and evaluation.On a routine revisit to the tree from which they jump, Gene shakes the limb and Finny falls to the ground breaking his leg.Apparently with a memory loss that prevents him from the truth about his accident, Finney simply recovers, knowing his career as an athlete is over, but not placing blame on anything but accident, a fact that shakes Gene's perception of himself and his guilt.

When the war increases tension, Leper volunteers and 'goes off to be a skiing GI', Brinker decides to enlist at the end of term, Finny bemoans the fact that his accident prevents him from staying with his friends, and Gene is ultimately brought to a student trial about the 'accident'.How each of these young men enter adulthood with the war on their heels and the effects of their loss of innocence forms the ending to the story - an ending that clearly paints the way each of us interacts with those around us and finds our separate peace.

The acting by a group of young men whose previous roles have been in forgettable films is uniformly superb.There is an honesty and clarity drawn by each character (with the able direction of Yates) that makes us identify with these innocent youths.The musical score is appropriate, the photography captures the beauty of New England, and the feeling at the end of the film is one that creates the desire to return to the Knowles novel to relive the lives of these boys becoming men. Highly Recommended.Grady Harp, 2005

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Reviews (5)

Roger Moore is just great, as "The Saint"...
As I was introduced to "The Saint" via the 60's TV program, I will always associate Roger Moore with the character. He was absolutely perfect for the role, being the right age, and possessing the requisite class, charm, and athleticism. But beyond that, Moore had an air of irreverence that is so essential to the character. "The Saint" was never comfortable with accepting authority. Rules were for others. His life was about living on the edge, taking on all the excitement life had to offer.

The character, the literary creation of Leslie Charteris, has a somewhat nebulous origin. It is said that Simon Templar, motivated by his own sense of justice, took whatever action he deemed necessary, to correct what he perceived were injustices in the world. This usually involved one of the "ungodly" being robbed, or somehow taught a lesson. Somewhere the victim would usually find a note, containing a short message warning them to learn their lesson. Instead of a signature, there would be a drawing of a stick man figure with a halo, the familiar finger pointing "Saint" logo. While Templar was suspected of committing these acts, his guilt was apparently never proved. In eluding his victims and all manner of law enforcement, he achieved a notorious reputation, and the nickname of "The Saint".

"The Saint's" image was cleaned up for television, where he appeared as basically a virtuous character. While his questionable past is often alluded to, specific reference to any criminal activity was avoided. He is presented as a noble figure, to whom committing a criminal act for mere personal financial gain would be simply unthinkable. Crime must not be seen to pay.

"The Saint" does not fit nicely into any particular category, blending the qualities of an adventurer, a detective, and a secret agent. Without a fixed setting, or any regular supporting cast, it falls squarely on Roger Moore to capture and hold the viewers' interest. And he comes through with flying colors, almost single handedly carrying each episode, and maintaining the continuity of the character, no matter what the location, or the situation he finds himself in. This is actually quite an achievement, and one that is easy to overlook, because Moore does it so smoothly.

DVD Sets 1 and 2 contain the program's first color episodes, supposedly presented in the order they were originally broadcast. These collections are a good representation of typical "Saintly" adventures. We find Simon Templar cavorting throughout Europe, and also appearing in Latin America. Being such an adaptable fellow, he becomes involved in adventure in a variety of ways. Part of the fun, is trying to figure out exactly what kind of trouble old Simon has gotten himself into this time.

Favorite episodes from Set 1, are "The Russian Prisoner", with Simon involved in intrigue with the KGB, and "The Convenient Monster", where "Nessie" figures in the conclusion of a story of involving murder and deception. The best from Set 2, would be "Paper Chase" featuring "The Saint" on a rescue mission in East Germany, and "Locate and Destroy", probably the most violent episode in the collection, with Simon on the trail of a ruthless ex-Nazi.

If you are not familiar with this series, you may not find it to be your cup of tea, for "The Saint", like "The Avengers", is something of an acquired taste. If you are a fan, then these sets should be part of your collection, with Set 2 grading out a bit ahead of Set 1. While they may not the best "Saint" episodes, they are the first available on DVD. Picture quality is excellent, colors are true to the original quality, and the images are sharp. A TV series set in a different location each week presents special challenges, and production values are pretty good considering this. The difference between location and studio shots are obvious, but typical for the times. The audio level however, could stand to be cranked up a bit, to match the music level.

One negative is the lack of substantial bonus materials. No printed matter, not even a booklet with a detailed series retrospective. All you get are episode previews, and a few stills. Not much, considering the premium price. This is basically the same minimalist treatment given to "The Avengers". Lacking extensive bonus material, I wish A&E would maximize the medium and package at least four episodes per disc, instead of just three. The studios should remember that the predominant audience for these collections, are the dedicated fans of the program. This is often a niche market, and the faithful really do deserve their best effort.

Finally, one oddity is that actor Ivor Dean, who was wonderful as "Inspector Teal", is listed as being part of the "regular cast" on both sets, but does not appear in any of the 12 episodes. Hopefully we will actually see "Claude Eustace" in future releases.

Give Me Moore Please!!!!
As much as Roger Moore was a fantastic James Bond, he was an even better Saint. In fact, he was the best. Moore took the pulp hero, created by Leslie Charteris, to new heights in the 1960's and this DVD collection is a perfect collection for both longtime fans and newcomers.

Roger Moore's portrayl of "Simon Templar" was suave, debonair, and comedic at times (much like The Saint was in the books). In fact, his sarcastic humour with Inspector Teal and other policeman is spot on with the novels. He loved to walk a tightrope between law and crime, but always had an alibi. Moore captures his buccaneering attitude deliciously. Upon watching these episodes, you can see how much of The Saint he put into his Bond role. While he may never have been as violent or ruthless as he was in the books, you really get a sense of the Saint's carefree, adventurous nature.

Finally available in America, this is the second collection released thusfar, in series order (based on when the episodes appeared on American television that is). Both collections contain the first episodes filmed in color, and they look fantastic.

Edwin Astley's loungey score has never sounded clearer. As part of the bonus material, you get the original U.S. trailers for each episode and a nice photo gallery. "The History of The Saint" section, is just some text, and hardly a bonus. You'd be better off picking up the Saint film collection (Turner Classic Movies) with a nice 30 minute Saint history documentary if you really want to learn about the famous "Simon Templar." Better yet, go to www.saint.org and learn everything there is to know.

This collection is a must have for any Moore fan. Keep buying them up so that they will release more in America.

The one and only
Roger Moore is The Saint to me, and these beautiful A&E DVD's are a great addition to my collection. Watching Roger race around in his gleaming white Volvo 1800 is a joy to behold!

The Saint - Set 2
The Saint is great! We need more quality shows like this to be offered to the public. I watched it all the time when it was offered on the Encore Mystery Channel. When they took it off the air, I haven't watch the Mystery Channel since. I guess that was their choice of programming. Shows like that are worth watching and I hope A&E plans on offering the whole Saint series available on DVD and VHS video tape. I'll buy them all. Maybe A&E can offer the the Saint on their channel and promote to sell the DVD and VHS video tape at the end of each Saint show? What do you think A&E. I wished that you would put back the Rockford Files and Columbo on the air.

Roger is TOO COOL!
Roger Moore is simply fabulous, and his role in The Saint was the perfect warm-up to James Bond! Set 2 is just as good as the first, though some extras would have been nice. Great picture and sound, though, and that's what really matters. Let's hope that A&E release Patrick McGoohan's pre-Prisoner series Danger Man (Secret Agent here in the States) sometime soon! ... Read more

Reviews (202)

Pokemon The First Movie Rocks!
I'm a Pokemon fan, and like all Pokemon fans I went to go see the movie. I was expecting an OK movie. Boy was I wrong!This movie totally blew me away. This is the best movie I've ever seen in my entire life! Even most people who think Pokemon is dumb will love this movie.

The storyplot is basically about this Pokemon named Mewtwo who decides all humans are evil after some expieriences with some people who wanted to control him and study him. He calls our heroes to the greatest battle of their life and soon Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and some other trainers are the only ones who can stop Mewtwo's plans for world domination.

Unlike the TV show, this has a much more dramatic and action packed plot. I reccomend it to any person who likes a good movie.

PKMN One
This movie's plot was deep, and Mewtwo interested me some with...well, basically everything out him. He certainly has a way of getting what he wants, that's for sure! But, yes, wasn't as good as the third, in my view, but pretty close. The plot is the ever common 'let's go save the world' gig.
I'm going out to save the world, mom!
Okay, be back by dinner, honey!
Heh...just had to add that...

A mini master piece
When this movie came out on Dvd and Video I brought it the first day it came out. It's the best movie thats out there. A mini Masterpiece in my view. I also like it cause my favorite pokemon Mew is in it. And it's the only way to see Mew in Anime. People that don't know nothing about pokemon may be lost. So you should watch the first episode of pokemon to understand it better. It's a must see for pokemon fans.

the first one is the best one!
I havn't seen this movie for two years and i just watched it again for the first time. I'm looking at all the other pokemon movies that have come out since 1999, and this one is way better than all the others!

First of all, great story! It kept me interested till the end. Also, this is the first and last movie were the graphics behind the charectors isn't to advanced for the actual charectors. Ya know, for example, in Pokemon: 4ever, the big Celebi wood thing at the end was too 3-d. It looked like something from pixar. That's whats good about pokemon the first.

Also, it has a great moral to it too. All the other movies are pretty much the same: if you want something bad enough and you try, you get it, or: don't be afraid, or: try your best. This movie's is: it doesn't matter how u were born (in this movie, cloned or born, but in real life, what u look like), but how you look at life and how you decide to live it is what really matters.

The only thing that could be better in it is the 'violence'. It's not really violent like blood or killing or anything like that, it's more like 'fighting to the point of death' sort of thing. But that brings me back to the moral of the story, which is the reason they were fighting in the first place. Also, this movie is sort of sad. I mean, for a while, the main charector actually dies! Then his best friend, Pikachu, is all sad and then he is trying as hard as he can to bring him back to life...........well you know the rest.

Anyway, all in all, this movie is one of my favorite cartoon movies and the very best Pokemon movie! This is a must-have for anyone who is at least interested in Pokemon!!!!!

Who cares what the critics say...
Pokemon had a good first movie. It's animation is way better than digimon's and the characters didn't look deformed. The plot was deeper and smoother. It's a must buy. ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Disappointed with the 1st one? This is a 100% improvement!
Pokemon: the 1st movie didn't go over too well with critics or viewers(I thought it was pretty good, but it was NOTHING compared to the second one.) Firstly, there are no mistakes in this one. Secondly, it makes a lot more sense-meaning adults will like it-and it's more exciting. Even the mini-movie in the beginning is better. (Pikachu and its pals follow Togepi to a magical garden, and many Pokemon, old and new, work togther during a storm there.) Anyway, the plot for this movie is very imaginative: In an attempt to capture all 3 legendary birds for his collection, this crazy collector guy starts a huge weather problem that will soon destroy the world(because the birds control the weather)if Ash doesn't bring together the three treasures from each island-Articuno's, Zapdos's, and Moltres's. Once he does that, Lugia is summoned from the ocean, and he puts an end to the problem. It's all very fast-paced and fun, and I just can't wait to watch it again(and again and again...) Ash, Misty, and Tracy are all in it, and if you look closely at one part you can see Brock running around with kids in the back of a TV screen. But that's it for him, and even though I hate him anyway, sorry to Brock fans! Still, Poke-people will ADORE this movie. Especially if you happen to agree with me that Team Rocket is the best part of everything Pokemon. They are very important to this move, seeing as how Ash NEEDS them to save the world(watch it, you'll find out how!) At one point they actually agree to give their lives to "potect the world from devestation", and I was fretting for the rest of the film until I found out they were OK! But this is a very funny, very, VERY worthwhile movie for Pokemon fans, so don't be turned away from it because the first wasn't as hot. They've done better!

Much better than the First Movie
Many people criticized "Mewtwo Strikes Back" when the first Pokemon movie was released in the US, because in comparison with the excellent Japanese version it was a mess, missing out important things that explained about the characters (such as The Birth Of Mewtwo), and it had sloppy characterization.

However, I'm pleased to say that this film is generally much better than the first Pokemon movie. The plot involves a Pokemon collector called Laurence III who wants to capture the three Legendary birds Articuno. Zapdos and Moltres - or the Gods of Ice, Lightning and Fire as they're called here. Unfortunately, this creates a huge problem with Earth's weather patterns, causing violent storms and snow, and it is left up to Ash to get them back, and return things to normal.

There are some little hints to the possibility of an Ash/Misty romance in this film - when Ash arrives on the island at the beginning of the movie, a girl called Melody kisses Ash on the cheek which makes Misty really jealous, as well as some other cute moments.

Sadly, in spite of an improved plot I believe that, as before, the choice of music stands out as the film`s downfall and the producers haven`t learnt from the mistakes they made in the first film. Apart from a few exceptions ("The Legend Comes To Life" is a wonderful track), this movie replicates the same pop-styled rubbish used in the First Movie. The remix of the TV theme song ("Pokemon World" performed by Youngstown & Nobody's Angel) is absolutely horrible, with a scratchy beat and synthesized vocals. The campaign to ban vocoders starts here...

Next time round, I would like to see a better choice of music which is less pop-orientated, but I`m not holding my breath...

Overall though, in spite of the terrible soundtrack, this is a major improvement on the First Movie which I think any Pokemon fan should add to their collection.

My little sis liked it, but in my opinon ITS STUPID!
Yeah whatever, Ash has to be the stupid main character and acts like a childish kid who never goes to school, who always hangs out with his stupid pokemon and trys to earn badges and stuff like that. People who like pokemon, yeah I dont mind but for the trained eye, HE ALWAYS HAS TO SAVE THE WORLD! Ash has to get three treasures and placing them into a stupid stone and this one girl plays a ocarina.

Pros: NONE

Cons:
POKEMON ALWAYS SAY THEIR NAMES
THEIR VOICE ACTING IS HORRIBLE
BROCK IS SO FRICKEN ANOYING AROUND GIRLS
TEAM ROCKET HELPS ASH AND THEM OUT (STUPID! THEIR THE EVIL PEOPLE, NOT THE NICE ONES)
MUSIC IS DULL
ETC!

Good movie but a bit of an embarrasment
This movie is great and it has my favorite Pokemon: Lugia. But the creators of this movie made Lugia an embarrasment. Anything happens to it and it falls into the sea. And I wish Lugia could actully beat up all three birds at once. But introducing Lugia`s Aeroblast to destroy Lawrance`s ship was hot. This movie also shows another of my favorite Pokemon: Articuno. This was a great movie but the Pokemon were an embarrasment

This Movies Wicked!
I love this Movie!
It wasn't quite as good as the first but I still thought it was wicked. The storyline is great. It says if you try hard and believe in youself there is nothing you can't do. I think pokemon has encouraged people of all ages from around the world that they are special and have the power to make change in the world. Get this movie you won't regret it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A title in the Danielle Steel Television Film Series, this four-hour drama unfolds the story of a multi-generational family beginning in the 1930s, based upon Steel’s book of the same name. After her first marriage dissolves, Sarah Thompson (Annette O’Toole) tours Europe and meets the charming William, Duke of Whitfield (Anthony Andrews) who captivates her and persuades her to marry him. They settle in a French chateau until World War II interrupts their marital bliss and William must join his regiment in war, leaving Sarah at home with a child.She contends with losses and loneliness until he returns home.Then, with a touch of serendipity, the couple begins a small jewelry business, which eventually expands into a thriving family endeavor. As her children grow into adults, Sarah’s intentional love toward them is her truest nobility. Though the second of this two-part series degrades, in part, from drama to soap opera, the overall effort receives merit for its notable acting and beautiful cinematography. Some domestic violence and sexuality. (Ages 16 and older) --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Chilling
Critics have tended to give this film the thumbs down finding it a bit to commercial. The director Zhang Yimou is better known for dramatic social realist type films, such as raise the Red Lantern.

However Shaghai tried gets you in from the moment it starts. The opening scene shows Gong Li the star belting out a number in a way that exudes sex and style. The film is seen through the eyes of a young boy who is sent by his family to work with a criminal gang. His first job is to serve the Gong Li character.

An attempt is made on the life of the mob boss and the characters have to move to a small island to set a trap for those who pursue them. A trap which works all too well.

The film is an extremely effective gangster film. Probably it is effective because such films set in a western context have explored every known configuration of cliches so that it is necessary to move to another culture to make the genre work. However work it does, the film is chilling and the final resolution is unexpected.

Part of the attraction of the film apart from the ability of the director to create atmosphere is the performance of Gong Li who is as ever astounding.

A DVD zone GONG LI
I'm not so sure that SHANGHAI TRIAD is Zhang Yimou's best movie, I personally prefer the drama HAPPY TIMES. But, what is certain, is that Gong Li gave in this movie one of her most luminous interpretations. The musical score and the singing acts of SHANGHAI TRIAD are a sufficient reason to keep the movie in one's library.

Beware, SHANGHAI TRIAD is not your regular action film. The scenes that would have been the highlight of an european or an american movie such as the attack of the Tang headquarter or the siege of the island where the boss of the Tang family have retired, are deliberately absent of the movie or just evoked by shadows.

So let's enjoy the always interesting descriptions of the Chinese psychology that reach their highest point in the last scenes of SHANGHAI TRIAD when the gang boss Tang rubs out for a while his eternal smile and condemns the traitors to an inhuman death. Absolutely chilling since the execution of the sentence, that concerns two of the main characters of the film, will not be shown to us.

I LIKE THIS MOVIE
OH THE MOVIE IS VERY GOOD,YOU NEVER SEEN,IT IS BETTER THEN HAPPY TOGETHER.YOU HAVE TO SEE.

Great
I'm not much for the style of Chinese movies. Many of them are just overly dramatized to the point where it's somewhat funny. Nevertheless, I do check on IMDB for the highest rated ones and watch them in hopes of finding a gem. This one one of those gems.

"You will die as white as a lily."
The film, "Shanghai Triad" from Chinese director, Yimou Zhang, is a week in the life of 14 year-old Shuisheng Tang--a country boy who is sent from the provinces to live in decadent Shanghai in the 30s as a servant to a glamourous nightclub singer named Bijou (Li Gong). Bijou is the beautiful, spoiled, petulant, bored mistress of "The Boss"--arguably the most powerful man in Shanghai and head of the Tang family triad. Bijou, who is prone to unpredictable temper tantrums, isn't thrilled to have yet another member of the Tang family in her presence, and so Shuisheng becomes the recipient of Bijou's sporadic cruelty and spiteful mirth.

Shuisheng is told by his Uncle Lui that the Boss surrounds himself with Tang family members, and serving "Miss" is Shuisheng's chance to be "somebody" in Shanghai. Uncle Liu instructs Shuisheng--and tells him basically--that a servant is to be unobtrusive, subservient and the recipient of whatever treatment is doled out.

It's clear that Shuisheng has landed in the middle of a very bad situation, and he is both fascinated and terrified by the exquisitely beautiful Bijou. Although Shuisheng actually has very few lines in this film, his feelings are mirrored in his eyes. As a servant, he can't express his feelings or even show them, but his eyes never lie. His situation is complicated by his Uncle's obsequience that covers only contempt for Bijou. Shuisheng isn't really capable of the sort of duplicity his Uncle has mastered.

While Shuisheng's is fascinated with Bijou, he isn't mature enough to analyze her behaviour--that's for the viewer to do. She is obviously a bitterly unhappy woman--nothing more or less than a exotic pet kept in a gilded cage by a man old enough to be her grandfather. Her unhappiness shows in her random cruelties, and in the humilation she suffers from being Tang's mistress. The Boss may have installed her in a beautiful home, but she's there to serve--only as long as the Boss wills it, and she may be a nightclub singer, but her songs are picked for her, and the Boss troops his friends to her performances so they can envy him. As the precariousness of Bijou's situation becomes clearer, she becomes a more sympathetic character.

"Shanghai Triad" is not widely accepted as Yimou Zhang's best film (with Li Gong), and indeed it is not an easy thing for me to select an Zhang/Gong collaboration as my absolute favorite--"Ju-Dou," "Raise the Red Lantern," "Red Sorghum"--other Zhang films which star Li Gong--are all perfect, unforgettable films--no argument there. However, of them all, "Shanghai Triad" has a special appeal for me. It is the character of Bijou and the relationship she has with Shuisheng that makes "Shanghai Triad" my favourite Yimou Zhang film. Critics blasted "Shanghai Triad" for containing too many scenes with Li Gong singing. I thought the nightclub scenes were integral to the story, and I didn't consider this overdone. Seeing the beautiful Li Gong dressed up in rather ridiculous outfits singing rather pathetic little songs that pleased the Boss served to underscore her position as the 'pet'--she performed only to please, and amuse, and then her use was ended. There is a sort of inevitability to this film, and the sense of the inescapable and hopelessness of one's fate looms throughout the film. Visually, the film was stunning. Some of the photography--especially in the island scenes--were some of the best I've ever seen--displacedhuman. ... Read more