Reviews (584)

Bad movie
I don't understand how people can like it... I guess those people have zero logical abilities to notice all the major logical flaws in it (no, seriously, try to think about the whole plot, very carefully, don't just mindlessly look at fancy special effects... I understand that this is a fictional movie, but it doesn't necessarily mean you can bend and twist logic any way you want to and everybody will like it) and the plot holes in it... Or those people are color-blind to notice the horrible video filter used in this movie to make everything look very discolored with some video "noise" added in - I don't know why somebody thought that the "future" would look or feel this way, but even if it would, there's no necessity to use those nasty video filters, they make movie look worse and more visually "boring" regardless of the possible reason they were used. All in all, this movie is very plain, boring, with a lot of scenes that feels like they are "disjointed" from each other, with poor logic and bad visual quality (because of weird video filters used which I disliked a lot). One of the worst SciFi movies (and yes, I do enjoy watching SciFi movies as long as they are well-filmed, well-acted and have exciting, gapless, logical plots) that I've recently watched.

Minority Report : Experiment
S.Spielberg has mentioned in the commentary that this is one of his experimental projects along with A.I.. The extra features in this DVD is very interesting to watch during your free time. The actural movie it self one of Spielberg's dark movies. If a Spielberg fan (love the glowing light with the "Ahhhhhh" sound fx) I recommend you not to buy it.

The Future in Four Acts
Science is commercialized, authority is subject to the greatest suspicion, every hero is fallible, and the real dangers are kenetic throughout. Fantastic flick!

Wonderful Movie
Although some people take to the tv screen just as much as the Movie screen I particularly enjoyed in more for a larger screen. But besides that, the plot is very enticing and the characters very well acted. But it is just one of those movies that gets old after the first time.

Taught thriller with outstanding visuals
I didn't see this film in theater because of the Tom Cruise over-hype at the time, and I didn't believe that Spielberg could make a truly noir film. (I believe both A.I. and Shindler's List had too much of the Spielberg sugar coating for my taste, and was sure it would present here. I was wrong.)

While the ending has a too neat wrap-up common to Spielberg's films, I loved the mystery and the paranoia that he interwove into the story. Like any good thriller, we only know as much as the flawed main character does, and we are drawn into his tortuous journey to discover the truth.

Is our hero, Det. Anderton (Cruise), going to commit murder as PreCogs envisioned? Do any of us really have choice if our actions can be foretold? Are there sinister forces behind the controversial PreCog program?

And there are scenes that play out like a nightmare -- eerie, surreal, threatening. Just as Anderton thinks he's closer to solving the mystery, Spielberg throws him (and us) into yet another one that must be unraveled.

Along the way we are introduced to an entirely believable future vision of a society that has paid a large price for security. A world in which very little is held privately, and even those experiences or memories may not even be true.

This film kept me thinking long after it was over. Like I said, the ending was a little too Hollywood, but thankfully Spielberg laid off the sugary stuff to present, on the whole, an intriging and controversial look into our possible future. ... Read more

Amazon.com

John Travolta is Vic Deakins, a bomber pilot who launches a devilish plan to hijack two nuclear missiles for big-time extortion. Vic never sweats, spews out great one-liners, knocks off money men with glee, toys with killing half a million people... he even smokes!

If you giggled at his "Ain't it cool" line from the trailer, you're in the right frame of mind for this comedic action film. Never as gritty or semi-realistic--or for that matter as heart-thumping--as the original Die Hard, Broken Arrow still delivers. If Travolta is cast against type, everyone else is by the numbers; Christian Slater as Hale, the earnest copilot looking to foil the plot, Samantha Mathis as the brave park ranger caught in the middle, Frank Whaley as an eager diplomat, Delroy Lindo as a right-minded colonel. As with his previous script (the superior Speed), writer Graham Yost moves everything quickly along as Hale and the ranger try to cut off Deakins's plan over a variety of terrains. We have plane crashes, car chases, a pursuit through an abandoned mine, a helicopter-train shootout, and lots of fighting between boys. Each time Hale finds himself perfectly in place to foil Deakins. You're suppose to laugh at the unbelievable situations. That's where Arrow is deceptive: its tone is right for the laughter compared to the mean-spirited Schwarzenegger and Stallone action films with labored jokes. Hong Kong master director John Woo (The Killer, Hard Target) pulls out all the stops--slow motion of Hale and Deakins's gymnastic gun play, nifty stunts, countdowns to doomsday. Woo may know action, but he needs more guidance in creating unique and stunning special effects. This is action entertainment at its cheesiest. Travolta and Woo later reteamed for Face/Off. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (75)

Great action flick!
John Travolta is "Deak", a rogue USAF nuclear warrior who steals two weapons as part of a massive extortion plot in "Broken Arrow". Though a riff on the Bond flick "Thunderball", "Arrow" is so distinctively a John Woo flick, you never think of it as anything but original. Christian Slater is Riley Hale, Deak's unknowing co-pilot, and the one man who consistently hampers Deak's attempts to make off with the stolen nukes. When the movie starts, we see Deak clobbering Hale across a boxing ring over a $20 wager that Hale has no chance of winning, mostly because, as Deak notes, Hale has no will to win. That's why Deak never invites Hale to join his little nuke-blackmail scheme - he fears the little loser might actually say "yes". But Hale has a bit of a dark side himself - one hinted to Deak when Hale tries to pay off the wager. Deak refuses his winnings because Hale didn't fight hard enough for it to matter, but Hale is insistent - mostly because he stole the $20 from Deak's locker. Once in the air, Deak commandeers control over the plane and, when he fails to kill Hale, ejects him instead, then drops off the nukes for retrieval in the Utah desert before pointing the plane at a mountain and ejecting. On the ground, Deak meets up with his crew, culled from various special forces and well trained to cover every conceivable step the government may take to retrieve or destroy the nukes. Unfortunately for Deak, Hale survives ejection and links up in the desert with a feisty ranger (Samantha Mathis) and works to secure the nukes.

Most of the movie is a chain of action scenes - guns and kickboxing, but the plot stays confined and never loses sight of its focus. What makes this film really work is that everybody is a bad guy, and you almost find yourself cheering for Travolta and his gang when Deak dishes such potables as "I'm the man!, I'm the Man", "I've never killed anybody in person before...I don't see what the big deal is" and, when Hale tells Deak that he's out of his mind, and Deak replies "Yeah, ain't it cool?" Everything about this movie is meant to give you an impression, then dash it with a few shots to your head (like when Samantha Mathis's character confronts a seemingly nerdish nuclear-weapons engineer working for Deak). Even Hale offers some surprises - you half expect him to walk away with the ransom money. In the end, it's a lot fun, though you may come out at the end feeling a tad punch drunk.

Great Action Flick
First let me get this out of the way: I'm not what you'd call a John Woo fan or affictionado. The only other movies I have seen by him are MI:2 and Face/Off, and all I can say is I'm not impressed. Of course, I'm very aware that MI:2 is often labled as one of his worst movies, but I digress.

Having said that, I really like this movie. Of course, it's not Shakespeare, but if you rented this movie to see character development or a deep, unflinching gaze into the dark side of the human soul, you rented the wrong movie. Heck, you were probably in the wrong aisle to begin with.

All the actors play their parts very well. Travolta is the oh-so-cocky Major Deakins and Slater plays the straight-laced Captain Hale. Samantha Mathis is Terry Carmichael, the somewhat inexperienced park ranger caught in a crazy situation, and does a god job. The movie has a bunch of great one-liners and some really neat action sequences involving fights on top of a train, helicopter shoot-downs, a hummer chase across the desert, a shoot-out in a mine shaft, and a nuclear detonation. What more could one ask for?

Sure, its got some noticeable plot holes (the really roomy B-3 cockpit, Mathis hiding under a blanket on the motor boat, the still incomprehensible bomb-arming sequences, etc), but they're not so big as to ruin the experience (which is more than I can say for either Face/Off or MI:2). Over all this is a fun little ride in the desert and definately what I expect an action film to be. A rip-roaring gunbattle with energetic characters, a couple of good jokes, wonderful special effects and beautiful scenery thrown in.

Travolta makes a great villain
Up until Broken Arrow I hadn't seen a single Travolta film that I had enjoyed but this break from his usual fare was fantastic. He was perfect as the villian. The pacing and special effects are great too. Over all it's a great, fun and fast paced film.

Broken Arrow
If ever there was a must see this is it.Broken Arrow is a fantastic film i kid you not.Two military airforce pilots vic deakins(travolta)and riley hale(slater)are assigned a stealth training mission carrying two nuclear warheads.it's supposed to be a routine mission until deakins tries to kill hale and steals the two nukes.What ensues is fantastic action scenes with deakins always being two steps ahead of hale.Deakins is not your ordinary bad guy hes beliavable!!.He's cocky,arroggant and extremely smart whereas hale is naive, decent and honest.From the very first scene we can see deakins is a dark character from the look in his eyes and here he shows his supperiority to hale by kickin his ass in the ring.Deakins also doesn't have pathetic lines such as "im going to rule the world" no we get great lines such as "goddamn what a rush" "would you mind not shooting the thermonuclear weapons?" and "ain't it cool".Its not just the acting or the scenes which are great but the music is great and is the soundtrack.The music encompasses so many elements its sad the full of energy.It has the guitar theme which we first hear when deakins puts on his uniform and looks at himself in the mirror and you just have to laugh because he is the man.John travolta definately delivers the goods as deakins in the film
as a bad guy.Overall this is a must buy as is the soundtrack

XCELLENT!!!!!
This is the best John Woo movie ever.It is far much better than face-off believe me!Those who found this movie dissapointing well I don't know what they were looking for.Face off had too much action that's were they ruined it for me.John's portrayal of the villain is impressive.Though he's shady he's a likeable rogue and keeps the film above par.Personally one of the best action movies I saw of the last decade.Goes right up there on the top of my list together wiyh the likes of Speed,Die Hard III,True Lies etc etc ... Read more

Reviews (240)

The Lost World
This sequel to the 1993 blockbuster is good as sequels go but isn't a great movie. Jeff Goldblum gives a good performance as Dr. Ian Malcolm and Julianne Moore contributes too. The screenplay based on the novel by Michael Crichton is poorly done but has a few funny lines. The cinematography is good and captures the horror very well, and the production design is very frightening. The soundwork is very good, but the editing by veteran Michael Kahn (Close Encounters, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T.) is not very well done, you can hardly digest what is happening. John Williams contributes a rousing yet ominous score. One thing that keeps this movie moving are the incredible Oscar nominated special effects done masterfully by the great Dennis Muren and Stan Winston. The basic plot is that John Hammond, the creator of Jurassic Park, has an island where dinosaurs roam freely but must send Malcolm along with his girlfriend and two other companions to photograph the dinosaurs so Ingen will be kept from disturbing the dinosaurs. Overall, fairly well done, suspenseful, but fails to capture the awe, greatness, and wonder that the original possessed. There is also a Jurassic Park 3 coming out. I can't wait.

Dinosaurs Galore
Recently I was able to catch Spielberg's The Lost World. I say Spielberg because other than the title it bears no resemblance to the book. This is not necessarily a bad thing. While a lousy interpretation of the book it is still a good film.

Jeff Goldblum is hired (by a man who is dead in the book) to study the ecosystems on InGen's Site B where dinosaurs have been flourishing. Only the fact that his girlfriend is in danger gets Goldblum to go. No sooner does he arrive and try and convince her to leave than a massive InGen expedition shows up to hunt and capture dinosaurs.

InGen's plans for capturing dinosaurs goes awry when Goldblum and friends release the dinosaurs during a satellite-linked board meeting. InGen plans to open a dinosaur park facility at the San Diego zoo. During the chaos every radio in the camp manages to get trampled. The survivors must now find a way off of the island. Unfortunately most of them are killed in a brief attack by velociraptors while in tall grass.

The few survivors of the second expedition manage to capture a T-Rex and ready it for shipping to the states. Goldblum and friends escape by helicopter.

In San Diego the T-Rex manages to escape and go rampaging through the city. Goldblum must lure the T-Rex back onto the freighter that brought it to the States. In the end a huge navy escort follows the freighter back to the island while Mr. Hammond implores to public to leave the dinosaurs alone; they deserve it.

Some people definitely had fun making this movie. There were scenes from classic and not-so-classic movies including King Kong, Godzilla, Carnosaur 3 (CARNOSAUR was the book Crichton got the idea for JURASSIC PARK from) and others. Two scenes I particularly enjoyed were a crowd of screaming Japanese looking over their shoulders while running in terror and a little boy who wakes his parents to tell them that there is a dinosaur in the back yard.

It was reported that a paleontologist made sure that the dinosaurs acted as current scientific beliefs say they should. Hah! The Stegosaurs were the size of apatosaurs. Something, possibly the escaped triceratops, managed to knock a hummer airborne so that ir reached an altitude of at least a hundred feet and an amazing distance. Velociraptors can now leap three stories up and forty yards out. The tyrannosaur can run right through building walls without slowing down. Fun? Yes. Realistic? No way. Needless to say if the dinosaurs acted this way in the first movie then no one would have escaped.

Still, it was a very fun film that I recommend to any dinosaur lover who can stand to see people pulled apart by huge carnivores sharing a tidbit. The Lost World (the third film by that name) should be available on video and day now.

Steven Plays Around A Bit...
Actually, LWJP is just Steven Spielberg having some fun. It's an obvious tribute to movies like King Kong, Godzilla, and even the original 1925 version of The Lost World. It's a non-stop SFX extravaganza that is more dessert than a nourishing meal. Jeff Goldblum returns as Ian Malcolm. He is not bad in his role, though he does wear thin. Julianne Moore is beautiful as always, and pulls off her "concerned scientist" part with ease. The T-rex is back, with his mate and offspring. The Raptors terrorize, managing to kill off many slimy hunters and Ingen drones. Not a bad sequel, considering that most sequels are pure rubbish anyway. I enjoyed the T-rex running rampant in LA. I only wish it had had more time to cause hysteria and chaos! A nice binge-eating trip down Hollywood Blvd would've been cool! Oh well. Watch with brain on pause...

It's Lost All Right
"Jurassic Park" could be forgiven the lack of story and character development because it was artfully crafted to be a thrill ride. This sequel, also inspired by Michael Chrichton's book, departs more from the story and fully flops into the B-movie category.

Jeff Goldblum is back visiting the dinosaurs, along with several other characters from the previous movie. This time our scientists are observing the behavior of the dinosaurs, trying to learn as much as possible, a very scientist-like activity. However, greed plays a part once again as a team of big-game hunters come to the island to attempt to capture an array of dinosaurs for a dinosaur zoo in an attempt for Ingen to recoup some of its substantial investment in the dinosaurs.

All appears to be going well for everyone except the dinosaurs until the scientists decide to play environmentalists and release all the dinosaurs from their cages. The dinosaurs go on a rampage (ever seen a rampaging triceratops?), destroying the camp of the hunters. Even then our scientists would have been okay had they not decided to help a baby tyrannosaurus. The parents track down the baby with predictably bad results for the humans.

Now scientists and big game hunters alike are on the run from the tyrannosaurs, and in the process of escaping they encounter our old friends the raptors, still intelligent, still agile, and still very hungry.

Eventually some of the characters escape, and the tyrannosaurus and its baby are captured so that they can be taken to California. Something unexplained happens on the ship and the only thing left are the tyrannosaurs and a hand trying keeping a cargo bay door closed. Remove the hand and a miniature Godzilla roams the streets of San Diego.

The first Jurassic Park movie had plot holes that you were able to ignore in favor of the cool special effects and the action. This time the plot holes are bigger than the movie. Real scientists do not behave as Dr. Sarah Harding (Julianne Moore) does in this movie. As Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) advises her, "Do not interact," a basic rule of scientific observation. Interacting is for Green Peace and the Sierra Club, not for real scientists.

Our hunters blunder about in a manner that is guaranteed to get them killed. They run when they should walk. They walk when they should stay put. The actions of the supposed scientists continually put everyone into danger. When you remove the bullets from a gun, and the gun is later used to attempt to protect you, the result is predictable. The plot holes continue in allowing the tyrannosaur escape.

Added to the plot holes are moments of humor that further spin this movie into the realm of low-budget monster movies. The scene with the dog in a San Diego suburb was completely unnecessary. Of course, by that point I was beyond disappointed with the movie.

This movie does have a few good points, all based on action scenes, but the plot holes outweigh the good portions and the mistakes and silly behavior make this movie difficult to watch. I give this movie three stars because the special effects continued to be good, the only redeeming feature of this movie.

Okay, not as good as the first
This movie was okay. The first one is so much better, but this one is still not bad. I thought it was awesome when the T-Rex attacked a city! I still bought it because I love the movies. See it if you like the first, but don't expect it to be better.

MPAA: PG-13
Running Time: 129 minutes
Year released: 1997 ... Read more

Amazon.com

Steven Spielberg's most simplistic, sanitized history lesson, Amistad, explores thesymbolic 1840s trials of 53 West Africans following their bloody rebellion aboard a slave ship. For most ofSchindler's List (and, later, Saving Private Ryan) Spielberg restrains himself from thesweeping narrative and technical flourishes that make him one of our most entertaining and manipulativedirectors. Here, he doesn't even bother trying, succumbing to his driving need to entertain with beautifulimages and contrived emotion. He cheapens his grandiose motives and simplifies slavery, treating it as cut- and-dry genre piece. Characters are easy Hollywood stereotypes--"villains" like the Spanish sailors orzealous abolitionists are drawn one-dimensionally and sneered upon. And Spielberg can't suppress hisgifted eye, undercutting normally ugly sequences, such as the terrifying slave passage, which is shot as agorgeous, well-lit composition. At its core, Amistad is a traditional courtroom drama, centered by atired, clichéd narrative: a struggling, idealistic young lawyer (Matthew McConaughey) fighting thecrooked political system and saving helpless victims. Worse yet, Spielberg actually takes the underlyingpremise of his childhood fantasy, E.T. and repackages it for slavery. Cinque (Djimon Hounsou), theleader of the West African rebellion, is presented much like the adorable alien: lost, lacking a commonlanguage, and trying to find his way home. McConaughey is a grown-up Elliot who tries communicatingcomplicated ideas such as geography by drawing pictures in the sand or language by having Cinque mimichis facial expressions. Such stuff was effective for a sci-fi fantasy about the communication barriersbetween a boy and a lost alien; here, it seems like a naive view of real, complex history. --DaveMcCoy ... Read more

Reviews (99)

So what if history is made more entertaining?
Have the critics of this film's historical "accuracy" never heard of "dramatic license"? If they had, then they would understand that Spielberg, like most of his profession, slightly alters history to make for greater theatrical effect or even heighten the events of the story. "Amistad" achieves both with scenes of horror combined with those of great poignancy that make for a total movie experience.

While there are times when the film drags, the performances and the engrossing story itself make up for the few inadequacies. Though stars Morgan Freeman (especially riveting in the inspection of the Amistad scene), Anthony Hopkins, and Matthew McConaughey perform well in their respective roles, the best acting belongs to Djimon Hounsou, Razaag Adoti, and Abu Bakarr Fofanah as three of the Africans, and the underrated Pete Postlethwaite as prosecutor Holabird. Nigel Hawthorne, as the inept President Van Buren, and Peter Firth as a conscious-ridden British ship captain are also memorable.

Spielberg skillfully balances a movie that is a courtroom drama mixed with an indictment against the slave system of America's past. The scenes of the events of the cursed "Middle Passage" are as graphic as is possible within the confines of Hollywood filmmaking.

John Williams contributes a beautiful and understated score, just below the surface of the on-screen events, providing just enough to carry the story along.

McCoguhney's Best!
Steven Spielberg's debut film for DreamWorks Pictures, Amistad, stars a distinguished cast led by Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou and Matthew McConaughey.

Earning acclaim for its filmmaking and power, Amistad was honored with four Academy Award nominations; Best Supporting Actor (Hopkins), Best Music, Best Costume Design and Best Cinematography.

Based on a true story, the movie chronicles the incredible journey of a group of enslaved Africans who overtake their captor's ship and attempt to return to their beloved homeland. When the ship, La Amistad, is seized, these captives are brought to the United States where they are charged with murder and await their fate in prison. An enthralling battle ensues that captures the attention of the entire nation, confronting the very foundation of the American justice system. But for the men and women on trial, it is simply a fight for the basic right of all mankind... freedom.

Badley scripted and direction
This was Spielberg's first Dreamworks picture and it was really awful. Mostly in poor script and lack of direction. The subject material was not for a director with his style of film making, and the poor performance of this movie has pretty much been the case for every picture this joke of a studio has continued to do since.

Powerful and Shameful
The word "powerful" has become a cliche when describing movies, which is unfortunate. However this film contains material that really moved me to strong emotion- something rare in today's bland entertainment market. Amistad does not simplify slavery as the above reviewer stated- rather it shows the audience the reality of slavery, and that we as a nation were guilty of supporting a terrible injustice. America embraced slavery for many years after most of our European friends had abolished it- a fact clearly demonstrated in this film by the presence of a british naval officer tasked with finding and destroying a carribean slave base.

This movie does revolve around the courtroom, but does so in a way that is both entertaining and educational. It shows how even the best courts can be warped or crippled by political influence and red tape. The characters are simple yet believable. In particular the roles of Cinque and John Q. Adams are played masterfully.

The speech given by Adams at the conclusion is a word-for-word transcript of his actual speech given to the Supreme Court. This speech is one of the more bold and patriotic speeches given in American history, and gives me goose bumps every time I read/see it. Amistad is an exceptional movie that forces the viewer to look back on our past with an unflinching eye and embrace both our courage and our shame as a nation.

MORE THAN A MOVIE ABOUT LA AMISTAD
AMISTAD tells the story of 1839 events involving a shipload of slaves who, having freed themselves from their captors aboard the cruel slaver La Amistad, try to sail back home. Instead they are tricked into sailing north and are captured in New England. The trial that resulted began in insignificance but escalated until it drew in some of the most powerful individuals of the time, especially former President John Quincy Adams.

The fact-based thriller transcends itself in Spielberg's epic. Yes, the story is one of heroism on the part of men trying to secure their freedom. But the real importance of AMISTAD is its gritty, nauseating portrayal of slavery and of those who fought it and of those who espoused it. It tells of how many of the ridiculous politicians of the time continued to bury their heads in the sand rather than take the hard steps that would require America and Americans to live up to the creeds and beliefs that had made them what they were.

Djimon Honsou (GLADIATOR) is wonderful in his portrayal of Cinque, the reluctant leader of the band of Africans. Matthew McConaughey portrays Lawyer Roger Sherman Baldwin, Morgan Freeman is Mr. Joadson and Anthony Hopkins is absolutely striking in the role of John Quincy Adams. John Williams provides one of his most soaring and original soundtracks ever.

THE HORSEMAN ... Read more

Reviews (15)

This is a childhood classic,comedy at its finest.
This movie is not about Jackie Gleason being a slave driver to Richard Pryor,it is just the opposite.Jack accepts the job of being erics "toy" for a good sum of money.The movie is a good flick i have enjoyed watching since I was a kid back in '83.I enjoyed it then and I still enjoy it now.I must have seen this movie at least 50 times and I havent gotten tired of it yet.Its like a fine wine,gets better with age.

Such An Underrated Comedy Classic.
Critics hated The Toy, but The Toy is actually quite funny, and it a very big winner is many many ways. Jackie Gleason and Richard Pryor. Two great comics...blended together in a comedy with a really bad plot, but one that 2 great comics that mkae sound better and make it alot more entertaining. The Toy is a movie about a rich spoiled boy who wants a best friend...so his rich and spoiled father gets him a 40-year old black writer to be his best friend.

Leaves a nice warm feeling.
Gleason and Pryor together in the same film. How could it miss? They have some really fine moments with the rest of the very funny cast. Some have objected to the story but if Pryor saw nothing wrong with the film I don't either. This is one of those wonderfully silly comedies from the 80s that takes me back. It's one of those films that's "never quite as funny as all that" but Pryor and Schwartz turn in good performances with eventually likeable characters. The friendship they form is great. Makes you feel good.

Scott Schwartz, who plays Gleason's son Eric, said he wrote a sequel himself but it's difficult to take him seriously for obvious (and painful) reasons. He went on to do adult films but mostly as the comic relief. You might remember him in A Christmas Story as the kid who sticks to the flagpole.

The anamorphic video on this DVD is top notch. I was so happy because I'd never seen it in widescreen. Some grain but this was most probably on the master copy. The sound is good and clear 2.0 stereo. I noticed an occational whine.

Bonus materials consist of 3 trailers, none of which is The Toy!! ...sigh...

Comedy Classic Plain and Simple
So many people try to turn this movie into a battle about race. Lest we forget that Richard Pryor is the hero in this movie teaching the boy NOT to be racist, arrogant or judge people. In the end the Klan and the other racists get what they have coming to them. So enjoy this movie for what it is; Lighthearted, simple, fun and hysterical, nothing more and nothing less.

I used to watch this movie over and over again !
this was one of my favorite movies growing up as a child, I used to watch it over and over again during my summer vacations. to be honest, i do not think it was intentional to put a african-american man on this movie being bought by a white man. i just feel that richard pryor was the best comedian during this time (and to this day still is) and he was the best fit for this movie, just a coincidence. if there was some type of racial motivation, richard pryor would have not taken this role. people that make ignorant comments is what keeps racism going.. ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "The Dummy" (Ep. 98, May 4, 1962) - A ventriloquist (Cliff Robertson) is convinced that his dummy, Willie, is alive and evil. He makes plans for a new act with a new dummy. Plans that Willie does not support! "The Fever" (Ep. 17, January 29, 1960) - Tight-fisted Franklin Gibbs is not pleased when his wife wins a trip for two to Las Vegas. But things change when he falls under the spell of a slot machine that calls his name. "Living Doll" (Ep. 126, November 1, 1963) - Erich (Telly Savalas) is displeased when his wife buys an expensive doll for his step-daughter. He becomes even more displeased when the doll tells him it doesn't like him! "The After Hours" (Ep. 34, June 10, 1960) - A woman (Anne Francis) discovers that the floor of a department store, on which she bought a gold thimble, doesn't exist--and that her "saleslady" is really a mannequin! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

One of the very best Volumes in "The Twilight Zone" series!
When I looked at the lengthy list of "Twilight Zone" DVD volumes this one stuck out more than any of the others. In my opion, it has three of the most outrageously entertaining(yet still quite frightening)episodes "The Twilight Zone" has ever made. "The After Hours" is about Marsha White(Anne Francis), a simple woman who is merely looking for a gold thimble in a department store. However, when she steps into the elevator, she is guided to the 9th floor of the the 8 story building! On this supposed floor she meets odd people who turn out to be even odder when(on one of the regular floors)she sees on of them..........in manicane form! This is one of my favorite episodes of "The Twilight Zone"! Partly because of the completely unexpected ending. "Living Doll" is another shocker! Erich Sleater is a man who feels that his step-daughter is spoiled with too many dolls. So, you can imagine how he feels when his wife and daughter come home with an extremly expensive doll! You can also only imagine how he feels when(after everyone leaves the room)the doll starts saying things like "I hate you!" & "I'm going to kill you!". This is another classic that had me biting my nails to the very end of the show. I also enjoy Rod Sterling's ending words that seem to make the story feel a little too realistic. "The Dummy" is about a ventrilogoust that has an evil Dummy named Willie! Everyone thinks he's crazy but somehow he knows he's not. The only way to stop the crazieness is to get a new dummy, which the man does. However, Willie does not accept the replacement! This is a great one too but the ending doesn't really make sense. "The Fever" is by far the worst episode on the disk. It's about a man who doesn't enjoy gambling at all but while in Las Vegas a slot machine calls his name and then it seems he can never stop! The story was a little too limited for my liking and too unreal. After all, it's weird than the guy just started gambling after he hated it. Again, this is one of the best Volumes in the entire "Twilight Zone" set!

Three good, one bad episode
I did not care for "The Fever", as I found it to have bad acting, and it was implausible - the husband was so anti-gambling, yet, agrees to go with his wife to Las Vegas for a short vacation. Why else go there?

The other eps were good, with well-done TZ material.

In "Dummy", ventriloquist Cliff Robertson and his side-kick change places.

In "The After Hours", Anne Francis has a hard time finding good assistance in a department store.

In "Living Doll", Telly Savalas argues with a back-talking doll.

This is the best of all the Twilight Zone Volumes
For those of you who are being selective in which Twilight Zone volumes you're buying; and, you plan on watching this DVD more than once, this is the best. This volume includes (1) Living Doll (Talking Tina) with Telly Savales, (2) The Fever (a taunting slot machine), (3) The After Hours, with Anne Francis, who is left in a department store after the store closes and all the people have left. (4) The Dummy (a ventriloquist). The first 3 are great, the Dummy is OK, but again the first 3 are worth the cost alone. Also, the fact that you don't have those annoying commercials anymore makes watching Twilight Zone that much better.

Some of the very Best Episodes
THE FEVER from the First season aired on January 29, 1960 and was written by Rod Serling. Everett Sloane is brilliant as a married man who continually lectures his wife on the pitfalls of gambling after winning a trip to Las Vegas. Goaded into it Sloane puts a coin into a slot machine, wins and the cycle begins. This is an interesting episode, not necessarily against gambling but one that addresses the nature of obsession and the lengths of self-destruction that it can lead to. It also addresses a familiar TWILIGHT ZONE theme about man and his confrontation with the machines that he creates. THE DUMMY from the Third season aired on May 4, 1962 and was written by Rod Serling. Cliff Robertson plays a down-and-out ventriloquist who has dilutions that his mannequin may be getting the better of him. This is an interesting study into the mind of man and the manmade with a denouement that is riveting. THE AFTER HOURS remains just as fresh and effective as when it was first aired on June 10, 1960 and its lingering haunting imagery remains engraved into one's subconscious. Who can ever forget Anne Francis as Marsha. Her impeccable performance and exquisite face are indelible. "Marsha" that very name and the way it was repeated over and over was so eerily unsettling sending chills down one's spine. This episode when compared to WALKING DISTANCE demonstrates the great versatility of Rod Serling as a writer. WALKING DISTANCE is probably the best prose that Serling ever penned where every bit of dialogue was so heartfelt and moving. In THE AFTER HOURS Serling gives us a more visual tale where the storytelling is more dependent on the images. Serling gives us a story of two strikingly opposite worlds that co-exist within a department store. The vivid contrast and the realistic depiction of those two worlds is at the core of this story that has a strange tinge of melancholy about it. Thanks to effective lighting, production design, photography, Douglas Heyes' Direction and impeccable acting it succeeds on all levels and is one of the definitive episodes of the series. Your heart kind of goes out for Telly Savalas in LIVING DOLL. As much of a no-good creep of a stepfather Savalas is, you just gotta feel bad for this guy as he gets outdone by a doll, Talky Tina. The doll is almost as evil as he is and this becomes very evident in the final scene at the bottom of the living room staircase. A lot of the viewers' ambiguous feelings are the result of Bermard Herrmann's innovative score. It has a childlike quality that taunts and teases both Telly Savalas and the viewer. This is an excellent episode written by Charles Beaumont from the Fifth season and is one of the best and most memorable from the entire series. This is an excellent volume.

!!DOLLS GONE WILD!!
To the best of my knowledge there's no specific theme to any of the Twilight Zone DVD's, but this one does, and it's --DOLLS GONE WILD!
The first episode contains the classic ventriloquist corrupted by his dummy tale ("Magic", "Dead of Night"). It stars Cliff Robertson, who looks like a puppet to begin with.
The third episode is the legendary Talking Tina story where she tells Telly "Kojak" Savalas how she's going to kill him, and accomplishes the deed.
The final episode stars Anne "Honey West" Francis as a girl trapped in a department store who gets an earful from a bunch of creepy, chatty mannequins.
The animated menu with the TZ title eyeball is classic TZ mind-bending psycho-delia. The episodes themselves are as clean as early 60's televideo can get. The sound quality ranges from good to muddy, but overall the content of these shows make up for their technical shortcomings.
Tell 'em Jerry Mahoney sent you. ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Great 70's movie
I used to watch Convoy over and over as a kid. It is unfortunate that it is not being produced on DVD or VHS considering how many movies not nearly as entertaining are being marketed. I think if you didn't see it when it first came out you'd find it silly and dated today, but I feel to those of us who saw it initially growing up, it is a classic. Modeled after a catchy country western song by C.W. McCall and with stars such as Kris Kristofferson, Ali McGraw, Burt Young and Ernest Borgnine, I'm surprised it is so obscure. It has some great 70's car/truck chase and crash scenes and a good soundtrack. Hopefully it will come out of moratorium soon and be available.

Breaker-19
CONVOY is the best trucker movie of all time. I've watched this movie 1000's of times when I was a kid and I enjoy it even more now. This movie has action, comedy and romance. Kris Kristofferson was great in this movie, he really brought out the excitement of being a truck driver. As for Ali MacGraw, she was also great and beautiful co-star. The director, Sam Peckinpah did an excellent job capturing the essence of truck driving. After so many years of searching for this movie I finally have a copy of my own thanks to Amazon.com. I'm impatiently waiting for it to come out on DVD(extended verison)....

Convoy
I bought the VHS version of the movie going off the other reviews listed.I received it yesterday and watched it twice.The quality is excellent.No fuzzy picture or sound.If you want a copy of this old classic movie,get one on video.

CONVOY
i havn't played my copy yet. the dvd i got, came from half.com which is a letterbox version, not digitally remastered and released by PACIFIC FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. i paid less than $5.00 brand new.

The old days
When you seee this movie, you will realinze how life in America was not anoying. ... Read more

Reviews (314)

An essential part of the Spielberg canon.
It's easy to see "Catch Me if You Can" as Spielberg Lite. Certainly it's ridiculous to compare it with such grave, portentous films as "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan," and it doesn't call for a fraction of the technical wizardry of "E.T." or the Indiana Jones flicks. Nevertheless, in its sprightly elegance and moments of unexpected poignancy, "Catch Me if You Can" is as fine a movie as Spielberg has ever made. The themes of home and belonging are crucial to Spielberg--"E.T. phone home" could be the epigraph to his entire career. Beneath the cat-and-mouse game played by teenage con man Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) and FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) is an intense longing on the part of both men for human connection, which they find unexpectedly in each other. Setting the action on successive Christmases was a master stroke, casting in bas relief the essential loneliness of both men. "Catch Me if You Can" would make a great double bill with Spielberg's first feature, "The Sugarland Express," another film about an epic police chase and the need for home. Of course you probably won't think about any of this while watching the movie; you'll be too busy laughing at DiCaprio's chutzpah and Machiavellian cleverness, and at Hanks' grumpy, Sad Sack attempts to trap him. The two leads, of course, are wonderful--DiCaprio in particular plays his role the way Yo-Yo Ma plays his cello--but the standout is Christopher Walken as Frank Abagnale Sr., shedding his usual creepy persona in a moving portrayal of a man whose essential optimism is slowly ground into the dirt. Frankly, the film could stand to lose about 15 minutes at the end, but it's built up so much good will up to that point that most audiences won't mind. My guess is that, in retrospectives 50 years from now, "Catch Me if You Can" will be considered among Spielberg's finest.

No-special-effects-Spielberg
"Catch me if you can" is, maybe, Spielberg's first movie not featuring any special effects since Duel. That's good, because the viewer can concentrate in the actors' performance. And that's this movie's main feature.

The story, as everyone may already know, is about Frank W. Abagnale Jr., who left home as a sixteen-year-old and became one of the most successful criminal of all times. What is most interesting, Abagnale was an intelligent felon, his crimes were related to fraudulent checks, identities, etc; he didn't have to murder or kidnapp anyone to be part of FBI's top 10 wanted list.

Abagnale Jr is played by Leonardo diCaprio, acting in a very loose and comfortable way, at times serious, at other times charming, according to the script. Tom Hanks proves his capacity at playing another different character: Carl Hanratty is boring, fatty, charmless, lonely and yet you like him anyway. The duo's relationship is very well portraied in screen. Another good thing is that Christopher Walken's back to a good role as Leonardo diCaprio's father.

This is nice entertainment, and the best part is that it was reportedly an easy and fast film to make, and based on a true story. There are some obvious fictious parts in the movie, but that's for script's sake, so it doesn't ruin the story.

Grade 8.7/10

A good way to pass an afternoon, but just that..
"Catch me if You can" is a disposable movie about the exploits of "paperhanger" Frank W. Abagnale, based on the book of the same name. Frank Jr.(Leonardo DiCaprio in a good role) starts his imposter career while still in high school. Then, he drops out when his father(played subtly by Christopher Walken) has severe financial problems, and starts to learn how to pass off bad checks. He comes up with the idea to pose as a Pan-Am pilot, and uses a new scheme taking advantage of routing numbers. Hoping to find the con-man, is Carl Henrietty(Tom Hanks). There are a few close calls where Carl nearly catchs Frank, and Frank always calls Carl on Christmas(which leads to his undoing). Frank also impersonates a lawyer and a doctor on his crime spree, and meets a woman that he falls in love with(Amy Adams). Frank meets the girl's father(Martin Sheen in a great cameo), who is estanged from her. Frank nearly marries her, and he runs away after he has to tell her the truth. There is a happy ending, as Carl helps Frank to use his abilities to catch other crooks.

Amazing Story!!
I really liked this movie. The story is well spread. There were some parts that could have been taken out, although. I must say that even though Tom Hanks (wonderful actor!!!!!) was conciderd as a main part, personaly I couldnt feel it. To me he seemd to be a part that wasnt so important, even though he was. The acting was wonderful. Every thing was well showed and expressed. Leonardo DiCaprio was excallent in his part ! !
I recommend this movie!!

Catch Me If You Can
This movie is wonderful!I loved every minute of it.Everything from the plot to the dialogue is amazing, but what else would you expect from ann award winning director and cast.Leonardo Di Caprio shines in one of his best pieces of work and in my opinion runs this film.Tom Hanks also does an absolutely great job.Christopher Walken who I enjoy from other movies also rounded out this fun film.The dialogue is smart and witty with great directional views from the one and only Spielberg.The plot is great and represents the actual events wonderfully.This film has a great moral and just makes you feel good at the end.When I watched this film the other day it didn't seem near two hours long.It is worth every cent you pay to buy or see it.I had heard about this film and all the great reviews but I expected it to be boring and uneventful since it took place in the 60's, but I was very impressed and suprised with how touching and smart it really is.The setting and class of the film will impress many.I was suprised at how ritzy and humorous it was at times and definetly think it could be one of the best films of that year and can't wait to see more from the amazing crew.Make sure to check this out if you already haven't.

Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Leonardo Di Caprio) worked as a doctor, a lawyer and as a co-pilot for a major airline -- all before his 18th birthday. A master of deception, he was also a brilliant forger, whose skill gave him his first real claim to fame: At the age of 17, Frank Abagnale, Jr. became the most successful bank robber in the history of the United States. FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) had made it his prime mission to capture Frank and bring him to justice, but Frank is always one step ahead of him, baiting him to continue the chase. Steven Spielberg will direct "Catch Me If You Can," from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson, based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Frank Abagnale, Jr. and Stan Redding. The film is being produced by Steven Spielberg and Walter F. Parkes ("Gladiator"), with Barry Kemp, Laurie MacDonald, Michel Shane and Tony Romano executive producing. -- © DreamWorks Pictures ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Cliffhanger
Renny Harlin's action flick Cliffhanger is an exciting adrenalin-pumping ride. And while it could be described as "Die Hard on a Mountain", it's still exhilarating fun that's one of Stallone's best films.

John Lithgow is the movie's main villain, and he works his stuff to great effect, and set up against Stallone's he-man heroics, the two are both tremendous. And the action ante is set up far more than other Die Hard rip-offs such as Executive Decision. Renny Harlin's direction makes the film's tendencies toward brutal violence get rather extreme at times, and to see Stallone manage to beat the meatloaf out of the bad guys after getting wasted is sometimes beyond believable, but as the DVD's deleted scenes show, they actually toned down the film's superman-like qualities to good effect.

Action aside, the plot is silly at times and some of the characters are taken straight from the big book of bad movie stereotypes. But Stallone's devotees don't care, as this film can be seen now as nostalgic after seeing the big guy's recent flop movies (Get Carter). And Harlin, from Die Hard 2 fame, brings much of the same cool action and stunts, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Action at it's most outrageous (Except maybe for Face Off).

Action & Scenery a plus...
Has Sylvester Stallone ever made a 5-Star movie? You bet. "Rocky" is one, and "Cliffhanger" is the other. John Lithgow plays the perfect villan set beautifully in the snow covered Rockies. This movie is non stop action and it has a bit of everything... like a nice plane crash scene; above average dialogue (yes, even for Sly); some good chases; kids on snowboards; and innocent people being mamed. There's even a few touching moments with Sly and his girlfriend (or should we say exgirlfriend?). This DVD package offers some nice features and the widescreen version with the great views is the only way to go. Stallone's made a ton of movies and this one is easily one of his best. Great action flick!

Exciting action flick, though not up to DIE HARD
A previous reviewer called CLIFFHANGER a "guilty pleasure," and that is pretty much the way I see the film.

CLIFFHANER was a return to action form for its star Sylvester Stallone, after he had made his indelible mark on the genre with his RAMBO trilogy in '80s. His character here, Gabe Walker, is drastically scaled-down, befitting the film's "high" concept, which is basically "DIE HARD on a mountain."

Okay, so the premise (which is actually credited in this movie to a man named John Long) is not breathtakingly original---a nasty group of robbers led by evil Eric Qualen (John Lithgow, effectively playing his role to the hilt) lose three cases of American money in the Rockies and force Walker and companion Hal Tucker (Michael Rooker, he of HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER) to help them find it. Director Renny Harlin---who also directed DIE HARD 2---brings all his action expertise to bear on the thin plot and actually succeeds in crafting a good action film out of it. He was lucky in getting cinematographer Alex Thomson on his team, and Thomson makes the most of the Italian Dolomites (standing in for the Rockies) mountain settings by creating shots that revel in its scenic grandeur and impart an appropriately dizzying sense of vertigo to the proceedings. And Harlin uses his penchant for fast action pacing to good effect here, generating an exciting sense of momentum that hardly ever lets up until the final showdown.

So, as action entertainment, CLIFFHANGER can be counted as a success. So why do I find it a "guilty" pleasure rather than simply a pleasure? Well, I have to admit that I found some of the violence in the second half of the film a little too much at times---not only gratuitous but sometimes downright brutal. The first half of the film is much more discreet with the bloodshed, relying more on genuine suspense-building and awesome special effects and stunts to make its proper effect (the first twelve-minute sequence is arguably the last word in sweat-inducing suspense and mounting tension). In the second half, though, the script (credited to Michael France and Stallone) and director let rip with gory abandon, and thus we get images of a black bad guy getting skewered upon a stalactite by the hero, and scenes like Tucker being kicked in the ribs and nose like a soccer ball for a good minute or so by a British terrorist (with some tasteless slo-mos to draw out the grand brutality). Did we really need to be subjected to such witless violence? Do the filmmakers assume that we are all so base in our tastes that we actually get turned on by this bloody stuff? Well, who knows? Maybe they have a point there, since I admit that the first time I saw this film I was shocked but hardly appalled by the violence on offer here. It is only after having seen it a few times since then that I am starting to question the validity of the violent scenes on offer here. Harlin started the film out so well, but then, after about an hour or so, it turns into a second-rate one-upping of icicle-in-the-eye scene in his superior DIE HARD 2.

Notwithstanding my unease about the violence in this movie, though, it must be said that CLIFFHANGER works. It is sometimes very exciting and suspenseful, the performances basically get the job done, and overall this is one of the better DIE HARD clones, thanks to some great cinematography and noteworthy action scenes. If neither of the first two DIE HARD films are available for rental, this will fit the bill. Just don't be surprised, after it is over, if you feel a little guilty about having enjoyed it as much as you did.

See above
Sorry, posted this review more than once by accident. See above

Amazing Action Thriller
I don't understand why this movie has got such poor aver rating(3.5stars) and about those worst xxx awards.

This is one of the BEST action films i have ever seen.
picturization is superb.
It stands as one of the few movies i ever want to watch again and again. ... Read more

Description

Riggs wows the pretties of a hotel spa before getting to Getz. Murtaugh receives bad bodywork news from an auto repairman after his beleaguered station wagon sees some Riggs-piloted street action. Plus, feisty Leo shares a newly included scene in which he recalls a suspect's address by complex spins of numbers that, well, no one can tell it like Leo. And no one would follow his lead but Riggs and Murtaugh. It's police procedure, Lethal style. Ant it's yours to enjoy as the duo draws a head on criminals hiding behind diplomatic immunity. ... Read more

Reviews (126)

"Dear God, Give me Strength.."
The Omen is a great movie, but what I want to talk about is the commentary part of the disc; Even if you're not the type who usually cares to listen to commentaries, this one is worth it. Director Richard Donner and Stuart Baird, the editor sit down for a leisurely chat about the making of the film. The commentary adds a lot, and makes you appreciate the film even more. One thing that particularly comes through is how much of a role the casting played in the film, and how the COMMITMENT of the cast mattered so much. In the hands of lesser talents, The Omen could have come off as so much camp, but director Donner chose people who could play it straight and who would feel, not so much that they're in a "horror" picture, but more of a psychological suspense thriller. And it worked. From the leads, (Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Billie Whitelaw, David Warner) all the way down to the bit players (Leo McKern) the actors are totally credible and interwoven into the story. Donner and Baird lavish praise even on certain actors who had only one or two lines! They're pretty funny, making light-hearted fun of the arguments Thorn has with Mrs. Blaylock, but even in their joking you realize that Peck/Thorn is at the center of the film and its his relationships with other characters (Remick, Whitelaw, Warner, and little Harvey Stephens) that drives this film as opposed to blood and gore.
That's what's at the heart of the film; the timeless story of a man battling seemingly insurmountable odds. Donner and Baird praise their own work too, as well as the cinematography and Jerry Goldsmith's Oscar-winning score. And they never stop reminding us that the whole shebang cost $2.25M, a low budget even by 70's standards.
The ending is pretty comedic too; Donner jokes about telling Harvey/Damien not to smile at the end of the film ("Don't you smile Harvey!"), but in fact, both Donner and the audience know that it's Harvey's innocent smile while holding the hand of the President of the United States, that puts the perfect capper on the film. That smile alone was worth [money amount]

If I could ... 666 stars!
Following THE EXORCIST, the devil seemed to be everywhere. Especially in children! THE OMEN has no ties to that production, but makes the perfect sequel! Where Linda Blair was just temporarily a vessel for a demon, here we have a small boy who may or may not be the son of the devil himself! THE OMEN originally relied on the mystery of whether or not this child was evil, or was it all irrational fears of parents who begin to realize their child is not quite the little angel they were hoping for. Richard Donner directs, and Jerry Goldsmith scored - making an unbeatable team to deliver a creepy mystery helmed by Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. Billie Whitelaw played Damien, and he captures innocent evil perfectly. It's a thinking person's horror movie! More goosebumps than outright screams, but perfectly crafted. The DVD features a stunning transfer, and an entertaining commentary by Donner and Stuart Baird. Documentaries round out the disc with pieces discussing Biblical references and a curse that seemed to surround the production with supernatural misfortunes. Also Jerry Goldsmith discusses one of his most effective scores! They don't make them like this anymore, and it's a shame. HALLOWEEN released 3 years later took the devil out of vogue and replaced him with knife wielding maniacs. But lately FINAL DESTINATION seems to have revived OMEN-style deaths where accidents take on a malevolent quality. But here is where it all began!

My Dad Can Beat Up Your Dad!
Kathy Thorn (Lee Remick) really wanted a child. Unfortunately, she lost her baby during the delivery. Not to worry! She's unconscious and knows nothing of the stillbirth. Her husband Robert (Gregory Peck) has just been offered another child by a priest. Robert accepts the infant boy, never telling his wife that he's not hers. Big mistake! They name the kid Damien. Little Damien starts growing up, and weird things begin happening! His nanny hangs herself on his 5th birthday. A new, creepy nanny named Mrs. Baylock moves in, seemingly from out of nowhere. A strange priest starts following Robert, talking about crazy prophetic stuff. Damien goes berzerk at a church. The baboons at the zoo go berzerk after catching a mere glimpse of Damien. A rotweiler (aka: devil doggy) is brought in by Mrs. Baylock to guard Damien. Ah yes, typical family life! Meanwhile, Robert meets a photographer (David Warner) who has some odd pictures to show him. The two join forces to get to the bottom of Damien's true identity. This leads to unexplained deaths and bizarre coincidences. Just who is Damien's real daddy? Will anyone survive Damien's teen years?? A definite classic of evil dread...

Bone-Tingling Suspense Thriller
When Kathy Thorn (Lee Remick) delivers a stillborn, her husband Robert (Gregory Peck) is at a loss for words. How can he tell her that she lost the child she has been waiting for? A sinister man wearing the guise of a consoling priest explains to him that he doesn't have to. Kathy "need never know" that Robert switched the "stillborn" child with another born from an otherworldly mother who, coincidentally, died during childbirth that same night, at that same hour.

Robert Thorn is proclaimed ambassador to Great Britain, and the Thorn family packs up and moves. Damien begins to grow up, and experiences a seemingly normal childhood. Forget the minor oddity that he has never been sick a day in his life. However, on Damien's fifth birthday, life as the Thorn's know it begins to go terribly awry. It begins with the strange arrival of a "watchdog" at the home of the Thorn's during the birthday party. Soon after, Damien's nanny commits suicide (proclaiming "it's all for you Damien"), making room for a new nanny (Billie Whitelaw) to enter the picture. This new nanny is somewhat suspicious in that she arrived out of nowhere, as the Thorn's hadn't yet tried to replace the previous nanny. However, Kathy and Robert are a trusting couple and allow the nanny to come into theirs, and Damien's, lives. Nothing seems too out of place until Robert is confronted with a strange warning from a priest and even further warnings from a photographer. The priest quickly dies, leaving Robert and this photographer (David Warner) to investigate Damien's origins further.

They just don't make them like they used to. Nowadays, horror films are chock full of in-your-face gore, action and effects. What I love about this film is the subtlety. Eerie music, wind effects, and bone-chilling suspense help to make this the great film that it is. In addition, the fact that there are no ghosts, goblins, ghouls, or undead roaming about adds to the film's realism. Sure, you can argue semantics about whether or not the "hounds of hell" and the evil nanny were really similar to "goblins and ghouls," them being servants of Satan, but my point is that a child, a strange woman and a dog are far more believable than, say, godzilla, the blob, or aliens from outer space.

This is truly a classic horror film that should be seen, if not enjoyed, by all. The acting is great (especially compared to several films of the era), the score incredibly creepy, and the plot subtly intense. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick both deliver stellar performances and do a great job of showing the raw emotion involved with having life as one knows it turned upside down. If you can appreciate good horror films without the expensive make-up and special effects, then give this one a try. You won't be disappointed! The extras on the DVD are pretty cool as well!

Excorcist-Schmexcorcist
1976's "The Omen" has always been my favorite horor film of all time. I found it more frightening than "Halloween", "Friday The Thirteenth" or even "The Excocist", simply because it does not frighten you with blood and gore (despite bloodshed every now and then). It is meant to frighten you with the plot, which, while fictional, seems disturbingly realistic.

"The Omen" stars Gregory Peck and Lee Remick as Robert and Kathy Thorn, wealthy political figures who have everything they want... except a child. When Kathy unknowingly gives birth to a stillborn baby, Robert quickly adopts another child in place of the real child, which Kathy apparently never finds out about. Young Damien seems like the perfect child, but strange mortalities soon arise when Damien turns five. First, his nanny hangs herself at his 5th birthday. Next, a priest who tries to watn Peck about his son's birth mother is impaled by a lightning rod. These strange deaths attract the attention of a photographer, ably played by the grossly underrated David Warner. Together, Warner and Peck go looking for Damien's real mother. A new nanny, played with fervor by Billie Whitelaw, comes along, knowing who Damien really is. Remick's character soon suffers a miscarriage, and she and the photographer both meet an untimely end. Peck receives seven daggers from an aging archeologist named Bugenhagen. Peck then realizes his son's true identity, building up to a terrifying closing sequence.

Overall, "The Omen" is a horror masterpiece. The acting is superb, Richard Donner directs exceellently and Jerry Goldsmith's score is breathtakingly scary (I'm still haunted by the music played in the opening credits). Extras include a making - of documentary and trailers. ... Read more

Reviews (122)

Cancelled Check
Paycheck is another Sci-fi actioner, based on a short story from author Philip K. Dick, following the likes of Total Recall and Minority Report. I would say though, that this film, has the weakest execution of these adaptatiions.

Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) is a well paid smart guy, who works freelance for high tech corporations, on different secret projects. After a job is completed, he has his memory wiped, to prevent any sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. When asked by his buddy Rethrick (Aaron Eckhart) to help out on a three year project, Jennings jumps at the chance, especially after being offered eight figures for his troubles. He gets more than he bargained for, once the job is done, and I don't mean a raise. Rather than his pay, all he gets is an envelope filled with random objects, and is told that he has agreed to forfeit all payment. Since his memory has been erased, Jennings must now discover what really happened. All he has to go on are the clues from the envelope. With the help of Rachel (Uma Thurman), his co worker and lover for the last three years, Jennings is now on the run from his previous employers, who want to kill him before he learns the truth and decides to expose it.

Directed by John Woo, the film has many of the same bag of tricks, that are now standard in his movies. I am probably in the minority here, but I am so tired of seeing important stunts take place using slow motion. And just what is it with the use of the white doves? Yes, it's a strong symbol and all--must it always appear in a John Woo film? The director may know how to stage action and martial arts stuff, but the scenes of exposition seem to be quite flat. Speaking of flat, Affleck continues to prove that he has a rotten agent. He is just one big pretty boy in the film. To make matters worse, he and Thurman, have absolutely no on screen spark. They don't seem like a good match. Thurman seems wooden here. And can I just say that Eckhart makes a horrible antagonist. The only actors to show any kind of spunk here are Joe Morton and Paul Giamatti. It's a pity that their screen time is limited.

Paycheck had its release delayed a bit because of "troubles". After seeing it for myself, I wish it was delayed, a bit longer. At least the effects are cool

CLEVER AND INVOLVING FLICK
Critics panned this movie but I think they missed the point: entertainment. Good guys vs. bad guys; the ability to see into the future; car chases; who's zooming who? Although John Woo is not as frenetically motivated in this one, I found it interesting and involving.
Ben Affleck, who will probably never have an Oscar on his mantle, portrays the hero Michael Jennings with a reserved and pensive demeanor. I think he captures the confusion of his situation quite well, and while he may appear "bland," I think Woo wanted Affleck to be more enigmatic than adventurous. Uma Thurman does a nice pre Kill Bill job as Jennings' main squeeze and the delightfully acerbic Aaron Eckhart conveys smooth evil very well. Eckhart is one of those actors whose time will eventually come. Add Paul Giamatti, Joe Morton, Michael C. Hall and Colm Feore, and you have a dandy supporting cast.
Fast-paced, at times confusing, PAYCHECK delivers the goods in a stylish and enjoyable manner.

this movie is a hundred times better than you got served.
this movie is a hundred times better than you got served.

paycheck rocks
yes paycheck really does rock. and is way better than you got served.

Entertaining but flawed tremendously
Ben Affleck has made about 3 good films. In these films his acting was plausible, and not annoying. Every other film since those (Chasing Amy, Good Will Hunting & Dogma) have been terrible. THis film, out of the thousands Affleck has done for some reason, sucks.

The film is a mixture of Total Recall- without the sci fi stuff in Mars and a subplot of Minority Report.
IN Fact u know what?
It was dangerously close to MinoritY Report
Main difference is, MR was a good film.
This film starts out good, and becomes terrible as it goes on.
Mystery, Thriller- THen corny action, terrible acting and a complete waste of my love, Uma THurman.
She deserves better than this, i dont have the slightest clue what she was thinking.
True actors will often pick roles like this in films just for
the publicity to say HEY IM STILL THERE, but ive been starring in different films that don't contain the most cliched Hollywood bullsh|T out there.
Ben Affleck your career is just going down hill. Have your agents fired, dont make a film for another 3-4 years. Come back with a great film with actual acting- you know when you pretend to have a personality of someone else and perhaps a different look.
Then people will say hey, he sucked for a while but this film has changed my mind! He was great in this new film XXXXXX!!! Amazing.
In other words, for now, relax and chill
forget JLO shes a Hispanic Loser with absolutely no talent, just a realllly big and nice if i may say, buttocks.
She is a loser ex ghetto rat. She shouldnt be the representative of Latino actors or singers. Cause if she is, I pity the race.
And Uma Thurman after the amazing Kill BIll 1 and 2 you should be ashamed of taking this role.
1. Shes older than Benn, didnt make sense
2. There was no talent necessary involved
3. Films like this worsen your career, not boost it
But.. You are still beautiful, ill tell u that one.

I rented this film knowing it would suck, but as a huge film buff, I have an unfortunate habit of giving every film a chance no matter what the critics or reviews have to say.
Entertaining for a while, then gets ridiculous
If you have the chance to watch it for free on a rainy or lazy day with nothing to do, you won't mind watching it.
But this film is what I call a disposable film.
aka- Watch it once just to say you watched it, and probably never remember it again. ... Read more

Description

Jimmy. Dave. Sean.Friends who grew up in working-class Boston, they drifted apart afer a terrible tragedy.Year later, brutal events reconnect them. ... Read more

Reviews (304)

NOT Eastwood's best...
...that title remains with Unforgiven.

Mystic river is a good movie, not a great one. It has a great story and great characters - with a good screenplay by Brian Helgeland, based on Dennis Lehane's book. The directing is solid, while not really bringing anything special to the film, yet pacing it prefectly in building the tension around the murder.

What is outstanding about this film is the acting. Sean Penn gives yet another inspired performance as a working class father from Boston who just lost his oldest daughter to a horrific murder. Although the scenes that most people seem to remember (and that are shown in the trailer) show his *exaggerated* response to his daughter's death, the rest of the performance is more subdued and restrained.

Tim Robbins' performance is also of note, as Penn's disturbed boyhood friend who shows up covered in blood the same night of the murder, making his frightened wife (Marcia Gay Harden) start to doubt his story and to believe that he is in fact the murderer.

The rest of the cast give solid performances in somewhat limited characters, Kevin Bacon and Laurence Fishburne as the cops asigned to the case, and Laura Linney as Penn's second wife.

However, there are a few things about the film that rubbed me the wrong way; the whole sub-plot about Bacon's wife calling him on his cell phone and not speaking? What was that suppossed to bring to the movie? Or Linney's (apparently) sudden transformation into Lady MacBeth, telling Penn's character that he should do whatever needed to be done? Or the final parade scene?

In short, while not a great film (certainly not Eastwood's best), it's a good one worth catching, and not as bad as some other reviewers will have you believe (certainly not Mistake River!).

Sean Penn and Tim Robbins are outstanding!
In Mystic River, director Clint Eastwood has taken the themes of pain and loss, added superb actors, and a literate script to make a memorable movie.

Jimmy, Sean, and Dave were childhood buddies growing up in a working-class neighborhood in Boston. One day, Dave was lured away and sexually abused by two men. Years later, the boys are now adults; Jimmy (Penn) is an ex-con with a loving family, Sean (Bacon) is a cop with marital woes, and Dave (Robbins), forever damaged by his childhood trauma, is barely clinging to reality. When Jimmy's daughter is murdered, Sean investigates, Jimmy vows vigilante justice, and Dave is a prime suspect.

The lead actors are outstanding here. Penn is utterly convincing as the former thug and heartbroken father. Robbins displays his acting chops in the performance of a lifetime, showing a fragile man dealing with such pain that he can no longer function rationally. The two men certainly deserved their Oscars.

This is a movie that will pull at your heartstrings while keeping you guessing who the killer is. There are, thankfully, no graphic scenes of child abuse or the girl's death, yet you will be on the edge of your seat much of the time. This is an outstanding film.

Stale As Month-Old Potato Chips
I was quite surprised at how bad this movie was. Perhaps it was just me, but I was looking forward to a Unforgiven-type directoral masterpiece from Mr. Eastwood and the stars Robbins and Penn. Given the hype this movie recieved (and the oscar nods to its 2 main stars and director Eastwood) I was really ready to sink my viewing teeth into something substantial.

Unfortunately, this movie was as stale as a bag of month-old potato chips. I never really came to symphathize at all with Sean Penn's character, even though his daughter was murdered. I mean, seriously, how can you symphathize with a criminal (Penn's character) who barely was involved in his kid's life to begin with?

Perhaps if the movie had shown a more deeper relationship between Penn and the kid then I could have cared more about the outcome. As it was all my sympathy went to Tim Robbins character, sexually molested as a child and then basically forgotten by his so-called "buddies". In my opinion Tim Robbins is the only reason to watch this movie. He walks around with an aire of utter hopelessness (reminiscent of the character he played in Jacob's Ladder), and yet he tries so hard to get passed the mental anguish of his past and make it through each day as an adult that by the end you are cheering for him.

Which brings me to the other reason why this movie stinks - the ending.

Like in a good novel, the reader/viewer doesn't want to be cheated in the end. I don't want to give away the ending, but be warned - it stinks.

All in all there really wasn't any substance to most of the characters, and I found myself toward the end wondering why I should even finish watching it. I like to be absorbed by characters played with heart and substance. Watching these jokers (except for Robbins) was like watching carboard cutouts being moved around on a stage.

Mystic River..The Ending Bites
First off..someone please tell Clint Eastwood