Amazon.com

It was a short but sweet fifth season for Sex and the City, as HBO's resident comediennes found themselves affected by forces beyond their control--the pregnancies of both Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie) and Cynthia Nixon (Miranda). A truncated shooting schedule to accommodate the actresses forced this season to be reduced to a mere eight episodes, and indeed, you can tell both actresses are expecting. (Carrie's wardrobe became more outlandish and more concealing than usual.) Still, the actresses and creators forged ahead, creating a handful of episodes that if short in content were long on emotion and laughs. Whereas the fourth season found all four grappling with various relationships, the fifth season focused on the perils of being single, with a new intensity lacking in the previous sexcapades. Carrie and Miranda wrestled with their solitary lifestyles, albeit with new attachments--Miranda had new baby Brady and single motherhood, while Carrie found herself in the world of publishing as the author of a real-life book of her columns. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) wondered if she'd ever find another man, while Samantha (Kim Cattrall) finally got rid of the one that had been vexing her far too much, hotelier Richard (James Remar). If the season as a whole felt less than the sum of its parts, those parts were some of the best comedy in the show's history, from Samantha's anointment as the "Michiko Kakutani of vibrators" to Carrie's stressful, one-degree-from-fiasco book launch party. (And fear not, Chris Noth's Mr. Big does pop up now and again.) The season's climactic episode, "I Love a Charade," found all four at the straight wedding of a seemingly gay pal (Nathan Lane) and contemplating their future with a wry, bemused tone. It was one of the series' best episodes ever, equally touching and funny, and grounded the show in an emotional maturity that announced that after all their wild travails, these women had truly grown up. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (189)

8 episodes same price as 24
Ok, the folks at HBO publishing are getting greedy. Season 5 was only 8 episodes. So in HBO's infinite wisdom they decided to charge us fans the same list price as a 24-episode season, with no extras worth mentioning. (However they do split it up onto 2 DVD's to make you think you're getting more for your money.)
While the shows are great I have to ding this season with 3 stars because of the blatant disregard for loyal consumers.
In season 5 we have Carrie being free and single, Miranda dealing with the baby and Steve, Samantha dealing with Richard, and Charlotte in life after Trey.
If you're a junky/collector I guess you'll end up purchasing it like me, otherwise send a message to HBO and just rent it.

Sex and The City Season 5 Short but sweet
I like the zillions of others across the world am a huge fan of Sex and The City. Not having HBO, I discovered the series through word of mouth and then via rentals at the video store. Season 5 was short but sweet and with the pregnancies of both Cynthia Nixon and Sarah Jessica Parker, was there much more that the producers could do than offer up eight episodes?! What if they had decided no season at all? God we'd have all been in mini therapy groups! So let's not complain and take what we can get girls cuz eight episodes were better than nothing! WHERE MY CHIEF COMPLAINT does come in is the exorbitantly high price of the DVD set. Come on HBO lighten up a bit! Two discs with only four episodes on each can surely be priced @ $15-$20 tops! As for me,since I've rented season five on DVD, I'll wait until the passing of time and the eventual lower price I'll find in a used copy.

Too expensive!!!!!!!
I am not rating this season low because of content--the content was excellent--and I realize that the pregnancies of Sarah Jessica and Cynthia are unavoidable...but come on! Don't charge us all the same price for less than half of the normal number of episodes!!!

Review on SATC--the MATERIAL--free of whining about $$
I really like Sex in the City. I feel sad that no one has even TRIED to duplicate it--I know full duplication can't be done but since it's leaving I would even have settled for some decent knockoffs of the show (laughter). In no other show/film have sex and relationships from the point of view of women been explored this frankly--it will probably never happen again-at least not in my lifetime. I am in the middle of watching the fifth season. I'm enjoying it. We have all watched these four women for four years now. Are they supposed to remain unchanged in any way for that long? Shouldn't they have different changes and challenges in their lives? I will admit that the fifth season did not come as close to perfection as the others did. (Has your work been almost perfect consistently everyday in everyway 365 days a year for 4 straight years? Mine hasn't-it's called being human.) Season Four in my opinion is still an essential for anyone who really connects with this one-of-kind series. Being that I respect the brave work of this ground-breaking show and because this format is supposed to review the material and the work--(...) Also don't you find it amazing the things people put their passion and rage behind? Homeless mothers who need health care for their children express this level of passionate anger about overpriced prescription drugs-however a person ranting about the cost of a HBO sitcom on DVD-and going on and on like some of these people have here?? I tend to wave that off as "You have some serious issues and buying SATC is probably the least of your problems" Some reviews can be dismissed right away like the ones from misogynists who obviously just hate to see independent women having fun and enjoying sex/relationships/career in the free-wheeling way men always have. They secretly want all women to be like Afghan women were under the Taliban. (...). (...)

We can be so hard on celebs. We love them yet we hate then and we are ultra critical of them. Lastly, I again want to remind you, dear reader, to consider the source and look up any info you can find on a reviewer and weigh that against whatever they write. Also take totally anonymous reviews with a big grain of salt. And again...I enjoyed the fourth season of Sex In The City even with it imperfections!

Sex and the City meets the average girl
As a devotee of Sex and the City, I never wanted to admit that anything was wrong with the show... until I saw Season 5. A lot of people will say that Season 5 is what's wrong with SATC, but I say that Season 5 is what's RIGHT about the show! Season 5 is the most realistic of all six seasons. Playfully dubbed "the season without men" by the show's writers, there are very few long-term (or short-term, for that matter) relationships for the women in this season. Until Season 5, the women of SATC have gone through a seemingly endless string of semi-serious to serious relationships without any real examination of what and who the women are without men. This season forces all of the women to show their true colors without men. Even Samantha's antics are toned down and used more to expose who she is rather than what she does.

Many fans complained that Season 5 wasn't funny enough. Not enough men, not enough sex. Real single women know that Season 5 was the closest of all the seasons to what all of us experience in our daily lives - loneliness, good friends, occasional romantic connections, and a lot of "in between". Season 5 isn't "filler" or a poor season - its real life. Fans of the show who don't enjoy this season are, perhaps, happy to forget about their own lives while following those of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha. I prefer to think of the women of SATC as myself and my friends - and Season 5 proves that they are. ... Read more

Description

This hilarious look at dating, mating and relating in New York is "a thinking person's sitcom, brutally honest and hilariously funny." - The San Francisco Examiner. Can women have sex like men? What's it like to date someone younger? And what is "The Rabbit"? Find out in "Sex And The City."

(c) 2003 Home Box Office.All rights reserved.HBO(r) and Sex And The City(r) are service marks of Home Box Office, Inc. ... Read more

Reviews (236)

Sophisticated & Fun: Loved It!
This must have been great Cable-TV when it was on HBO, to which we don't subscribe. It's even better in the DVD version. High quality resolution AND surround sound via DVD make this a must-see for intelligent, sophisticated viewers who don't find much to satisfy on standard network TV.

In fact, if even movies were this good, we'd be going all the time! The writing is superb, as is the acting, sets and fast-paced story line. If you've ever lived, as a single, in a large urban city and were remotely involved in the 'dating game', then you'll be able to relate to the characters. While mostly women, there are enough male characters for both sexes to connect with the 'dating game' and its ups and downs-- and the characters' ambitions, loves, fears and shared joys. Now I know why there has been so much "buzz" about this series... It's a totally sexy, hip romp! (Note: this is defintely not something that "Christian Coalition" types will admit to liking....!)

A great collection of one of the best shows on TV
Sex And The City and HBO are the only reasons I keep that too-expensive premium cable package. Sex And The City makes it worth it. I only started watching this funny and strike-a-chord series this summer and don't know why I waited so long. Fortunately, you can catch up instantly on the first season and second seasons on video/DVD. Each season has 12-18 episodes, and they're like an amazing batch of chocolate chip cookies. You will not be able to stop and you will not be bored, even if you go through the entire season in one sitting. It left me wanting more. The characters' through-it-all friendship will have you appreciating your own tried and true friends. Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha are all likable, real, complex, funny and a pleasure to spend one or eighteen episodes with. If you've been a single woman for more than six seconds, you'll also appreciate the bewildering and recognizable behavior of the men in these friends' lives. New York City as the vibrant backdrop makes the show even more watchable. Interestingly, a male writer wrote several of the episodes, so clearly, there are some good ones out there. And guys, I know several men who are surreptitiously hooked, also ... for any men out there who'd like to know what women think and talk about when they're on their own ... here are all our secrets spilled. I recommend this great series to everyone.

The beginning.
The first season was just ok, it had more of an unfocused feel to it. The show also had more of a grainier texture to it. The first season really doesn't deal with relationships that much, it focuses mostly on random dating, which makes it hard to get a reading on these women aside from their generic label (the sexually adventurous one, the cynic, the uptight one). Only SJ Parkers character is explored deeper, even though her character is mostly negative, self-absorbed, neurotic and prone to relationship sabotage. As for people who critize SJP looks, she isn't supposed to be a model she's supposed to be a normal woman who is comfortable with her looks, a woman normal women can relate to. Overall an ok season. EP

PSEUDO-INTELLECTUAL DRIVEL!
(...)This reveals exactly why the terrorists hate our country. Shallow, materialistic, decadent, pseudo-intellectual drivel. I remember hearing one sentence of the show (before throwing the tv out the window) where the main character said "I finally realized" followed by some pseudo-existential "witticism" with a straight(dumb)face. The only positive aspect of this show is to teach kids to stay in school.

Fresh and fabulous
I got into this series when it was almost over and can recommend it. Yes, it's explicit at times so beware of that, but it's fresh and fun and most importantly absolutely fabulous. The characters are all played wonderfully by this cast and the stories have you chatting later about it with your friends saying things like "GEEZ, I'd never put up with that" etc. Depending on your favorite character as a woman it's easy to find yourself in one of the cast.

LOVE THIS SERIES! ... Read more

Amazon.com

HBO caused a stir when it aired If These Walls Could Talk, a portrait of three women from three generations (all who occupied the same house at various times) who had unwanted pregnancies. HBO utilizes the same gimmick in the sequel, this time telling the story of women who love women.

The three stories of If These Walls Could Talk 2 are uneven. Far and away the most powerful and moving story is the first, taking place in 1961, starring Vanessa Redgrave as a woman "widowed" when her partner of 50 years suddenly dies. Redgrave is phenomenal, and her piece alone makes this sequel worth watching. The 1972 portion stars Michelle Williams, who finds dealing with the sexual politics of the gay community increasingly more complex when she falls in love with a boyish woman (played by Chloë Sevigny). The most modern piece, taking place in 2000, portrays a contemporary lesbian couple (Sharon Stone and Ellen DeGeneres) determined to have a baby. The light nature of the story detracts from the more serious issues of the earlier segments. Despite the mixed fare, HBO once again proves itself on the cutting edge of moviemaking, with this rather daring film that will both provoke and entertain. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (72)

A look at relationships over time
There are 3 stories to this movie, with the setting being the same house for all three stories.

The first story is set in the 1950's and shows the sorrow of having to keep a lesbian relationship secret. Vanessa Redgrave's utter destruction over the death of her partner and her being unable to show the full extent of her loss. From the hospital to the gold digging relatives, no one offers her true comfort for what she has rightfully lost and she must grieve alone.

For me, the second story was the best. Set in the 1970's, it tells the story of a feminist who falls in love with a masculine dressed woman. The passion is overwhelming. There is a nude scene that really shows pure sexual passion. Michelle Williams potrayal of the feminist is a moving and wonderful thing to watch.

The final story is about 2 women trying to conceive a baby. While I'm not sure about the chemistry between Ellen DeGeneres and Sharon Stone, I do think Sharon Stone gives a tender portrayal of a loving woman. I found the watching of the children in the park to be a little creepy and unnecessary.

Even if you aren't a lesbian, just the acting and the emotions of relating to other women is worth the rental or purchase price.

Incerdibly Touching
I thought "If These Walls Could Talk 2" was great, with the great performances. Thank god for HBO, I've seen it many times on it, and it's sort of a guilty pleasure. I can't help but watch it everytime it comes on. I thought every story was very moving, with the perfect cast to pull it all off. I thought the first segment was very touching, but I couldn't really relate to it, so it was hard to really get into it. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the second and third segments. The second segment with Michelle Williams, Nia Long, and Chloe Sevigny were fantastic. It struck a chord in me, I realized how biased the world can be towards one another. I liked the irony of one lesbian being incredibly ignorant to another, because they weren't "lesbian" enough. It revealed to me how cynical we all can be. I disagree with a lot of the reviews about the third segment, I thought it was great! It was humorous and heart-felt. It is by far, Ellen DeGeneres's best performance. Sharon Stone was so comical, which the enitre movie needed. Ellen and Sharon had great chemistry, in my opinion. The seemed very believable, from the passion towards one-another, to the commitment of trying to conceive. They were a truly loving and commited couple, which I respected very much. I recommend this movie to anyone, lesbian, gay, bi, or straight, it's a terrific movie.

I fell...
in love with Chloe Sevigney (segment 2) after I saw her in this film. She's absolutely amazing. Okay, this isn't a review but I really had to add this to amazon.

If This Bathroom Could Get a Word In
I've got the pitch for IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 3:

Pro-choice lesbians who are politically-active athiests! Cher and Sharon Stone survive a Sam Peckinpah-styled shootout when crazed religious fanatics open fire on them for helping poor confused young girls into the local abortion clinic. When Chloe Sevigny, their adopted daughter, dies in the attack, Cher and Sharon decide to instead turn their attention to removing all crosses and nativity scenes from America.
Just as the religious fanatics take aim at them at the last nativity scene, Ellen Degeneres appears as angel to stop the violence and magically transform all Americans into loving, tolerant gays and lesbians. The abortion debate essentially disappears since children must now be shipped into the States as the populations growth drops to zero.
Unfortunately, none of them now believe in God or angels, so they open fire on the angel and the entire world is destroyed in a ripping special effects climax.
You can't tell me that wouldn't be more entertaining or informative than anything in the first two WALLS films.

I had the same problem with the first WALLS film that I had with this one: drama sidestepped to make a political statement. Most of the America isn't gay or lesbian, so the film could've been more interesting by seeing reactions to the characters' lesbianism in families and work and so forth.
Instead, we see that lesbian relationships can be just as cutesy and bland as the most lame straight love stories.
The horrible injustice of the first segment could've been cleared up through a simple will.
The second was the most interesting.
The third was like watching a Hallmark card commercial at one frame per half-hour.

HBO has all the tools to make a daring, provocative film. Maybe someday they will.

honest, sweet, and relatable
i thought this was a really good movie. The third part with ellen and sharon was my favorite and the part that i identified with the most. i love the part right before the love scene when ellen asks sharon why they are watching TV. i love how sharon turns the TV off. it is so cute. i have always liked 'Thank You' by Dido but this movie made me like it even more. i didn't relate as much to the second part but thought that all the actresses did a great job. the first part was sad and i'm glad that they put that in the movie. one of my favorite movies! ... Read more

Reviews (110)

Best College Comedy EVER
Maybe it's just that I was in college when this film came out, maybe it's that I'm a big Val Kilmer fan, but whatever the reason, Real Genius is one of the funniest films ever made. It contains what I consider to be the single funniest line ever put on film ("Was it a dream where you see yourself in sort of sun God robes on a pyramid, with a thousand naked women screaming and throwing little pickles at you? Why am I the only person that has that dream?"). The mostly never heard from again cast (aside from Kilmer and Atherton) does a great job, and Martha Coolidge directs her best effort with a perfect contemporary soundtrack (though another reviewer is *definitely* right about the music being mixed far higher than the dialog). All of that said, it is an incredible crime against all people my age (mid to late 30s) that this DVD has **NO** features. An interview or commentary by Kilmer would be a must (not to mention director Coolidge). Kilmer told *great* stories at the time about his research for the role with the brainiacs at Pepperdine ... those should be ON THE DVD. What is it about these studio people that they don't get the whole point of the DVD medium. Putting just the film on DVD makes the studio look stupid, makes it clear they don't care about the film, and it's insulting to those of us who have been anxiously awaiting this release.

The greatest movie ever made...and then some.
"Real Genius" is the BEST movie I have ever seen. I saw it for the first time when I was about 3 (I'm 15 now). And heck, even at that age, I loved it! Of course, I didn't understand it, but I still thought it was cool. And now 12 years later, after upwards of 100 viewings, it is my favorite movie. Why? Because it's perfect! The quintessential 80's comedy movie.

A lot of people think the magic of this awesome flick is in Val Kilmer...and yes, I'll admit, he hits every line perfectly and is quite a hottie...but I think we should all give serious kudos to Gabriel Jarret - the awesome co-star. Okay, so maybe he's not a stud like Val (Gabriel is teddy-bear cute in this movie. You just wanna pinch his cheek!), but he's still great. He's got the whole mama's boy thing going on as Mitch, and he really makes his character come to life. He plays a shy, quiet, geeky 15 year-old perfectly (BTW, does anyone know how old he was when he did this movie?).

But anyway, one of the neatest things about "Real Genius" is its incredible, believable, totally quotable script. You'll find a new favorite quote every time you watch it (and trust me - watching it once isn't enough).

Okay, I've blabbered on enough. SEE THIS MOVIE ~ you will LOVE it!

~ Peace out ~

Lasing a stick of dynamite!
This is one of those movies that stays fun no matter how many times you see it year after year. Val Kilmer had made a couple of movies before this one, but this was his breakout role as the genius Chris Knight - a senior in college working on a project for his professor that he is largely indifferent to completing. Along comes the underage freshman, Mitch Taylor (wonderfully played by Gabriel Jarrett), who has been recruited to help finish the project.

The movie is really about Mitch finding his way in a high-pressure college situation. He endures Kent, the jerk that tortures him and who works in the same lab. Kent is not untalented, but not a genius like Chris or Mitch and resents the favoritism genius claims. Kent tries to get attention by sucking up to Prof. Hathaway (brilliantly played in all his corruption by William Atherton), but never gets what he is seeking.

As just one minor example of the riches in this movie is the scene when Mitch is going to a packed math class. Soon people start bringing small tape recorders to class and not attending. Mitch is one of the few actually listening to the prof. Finally, Mitch is the only one in the class, even the prof becomes a reel-to-reel tape player with a sign attached that says encourages the students to listen carefully. While changes in technology would make that scene impossible today, it is still wonderfully effective.

Mitch also meets Jordan, a girl who is so hyperactive she doesn't sleep, finds time to invent things as well as resurface the floor in her dorm room. Jordan is magnificently played by Michelle Myrink and is one of those characters you wish you knew in real life as a friend. Although, frankly, Jordan would be exhausting to know. But her intelligence, innocence and kindness would more than compensate for the energy you would have to expend keeping up with her.

The movie is populated with wonderful characters of all sorts. The plot is hung on a very 80s theme, but that's OK, the final scene draws it all together in spectacular and funny way.

A classic.

college should be like this
Real Genius is definitely a great film. I don't know that I would say it is Kilmer's best, but it does show off his considerable comic talent, and I consider it one of his best.

It is a delightful college romp with geeks aplenty, and the humor is a lot classier than Animal House, which is another good college flick. It is full of subtle and not so subtle satire on society, such as the botched saying ("like shooting ducks in a barrel") in the slick video boardroom presentation for the weapon concept, and the remark from one general after hearing about having a working weapon system by June - "Don't ask me, I haven't had a working weapon system since Korea."

I can't add anything about the Cal Tech trivia, but it did seem to me that the limo used for the weapon test looked an awful lot like JFK's ill-fated Dallas limo. Veiled commentary about the Military-Industrial Complex?

There is, of course, lots of geek/college humor, but nothing really gross. The sexual humor and references are pretty light, well handled, and fit in with the story. The humor covers the social commentary well, and the film makes its statements without preaching. It is a film I recommend to all students entering college. It is also one of those films that I watch regularly to boost my spirits and have a good time. It reminds one not to take onself too seriously. Highly recommended.

Movie Great, DVD blows
The movie itself is great. Cheesy, but a true 80s classic. Unfortunately, this DVD version is horrible. If you already own the VHS, don't bother with the DVD. There is nothing extra on the DVD at all. No commentary, no notes, no trivia, no cast info, no original trailers, nothing. Totally slapped together. I'm sick of McDVDs like this. Personally, I'm waiting for the Special Edition that you *just know* they will crank out once the market is saturated with this version. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dorothy Dandridge was a Hollywood trailblazer. A confident sex symbol in the 1950s, she was the first black woman ever nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, but the electrifying stage chanteuse and dancer was forbidden to even enter the nightclubs and show rooms she performed in except from the stage. As portrayed by Halle Berry, who shepherded Dandridge's story to the screen, Dandridge is a sure, insistent star who battled racist studios and Jim Crow laws to maintain her dignity in public while stumbling through a private life marked by bad relationships and abusive lovers. Berry gives her best performance to date, brimming with ambition and moxie offstage, charming audiences with the slinky, sure moves of a nightclub veteran onstage, and convincingly "becoming" Dandridge in dramatic re-creations from Carmen Jones and Porgy and Bess. Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation) is sweet and sympathetic as her supportive, lovesick manager, and Klaus Maria Brandauer is, in Dandridge's words, a "big old bulldog" as director Otto Preminger. Director Martha Coolidge balances private troubles with professional milestones and setbacks and pulls no punches showing the institutional racism of late 1950s Las Vegas or the brutality of a vicious alcoholic husband. Originally made for HBO, this drama lacks the big-budget spectacle of traditional Hollywood biographies but offers in its place sharp writing, intelligent direction, and strong, sensitive performances. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (26)

The powerful story of a groundbreaking artist
"Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," directed by Martha Coolidge, tells the story of the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Halle Berry turns in a powerful, multifaceted performance in the title role. The film moves back and forth in time to explore Dandridge's career as singer and actress, her troubled personal life, the racism she battled, the personal demons that tormented her, and her relationships with significant figures in the entertainment industry.

Although a bit soap opera-ish at times, this is a compelling and well-made film. It is full of excellent production values--great sets and costumes really help tell this tale. Musical numbers are skillfully woven into the overall story.

But it's the fine performances that really make this biopic special. Berry is superb in the challenging title role. Fiery and vulnerable, Berry creates a full-bodied cinematic portrait of this compelling woman. She gets solid support from a superb supporting cast that includes the versatile Loretta Devine as Dorothy's mother. Klaus Maria Brandauer brings elegance and gravitas to his role as director Otto Preminger. I was especially impressed by Brent Spiner in the pivotal role of Earl Mills, Dorothy's manager; if you only know Spiner from his role as Mr. Data from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," you are in for a revelation in this film.

There are some powerful scenes in this film, and it really holds together overall as a unified whole. "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" is a fitting tribute to Dandridge herself, and is a compelling slice of African-American history and Hollywood history.

HALLE BERRY. . .the new DOROTHY DANDRIDGE!

INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE

Halle Berry, Brent Spiner, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Loretta Devine, Cynda Williams, 1999

Synopsis

True story of Dorothy Dandridge, the first black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She earned this for her role in 'Carmen Jones' in 1954. She died of a drug overdose at age 42.

My Review

This heartwarming made for TV movie, was the stepping stone to Halle Berry's Oscar win for "Monster's Ball". Kinda interesting and ironic that Berry starred in this film, and then 3 yrs later became the first black woman to win an Oscar! By the way, yes that was the guy from Star Trek!

This movie was pretty good
This is one of probably two movies that I like seeing Halle in. She made a suitable "Dorothy Dandridge." I liked the format of the story: Dot being on the phone with her best friend, while making a collage and we're basically being told a story through the snapshots.

Fascinating story. I've been reading a book on DD written by a man who had contact with her sister...much better than the movie, but nevertheless, the movie is ok for a beginner.

RENT "CARMEN JONES" FOR THE REAL THING!
She was the true black superstar --- gorgeous, talented, sexy, vulnerable, a woman who became the first black to ever be nominated fore a Best Actress Oscar. Dorothy Dandridge also had a life of pain and suffering --- marriages and love affairs that would break her heart, abuse, addictions . . . death at too far an early age, with barely a penny in the bank. Halle Berry does an acceptable job filling Dorothy's shoes, but to truly understand what the fuss was all about, rent "Carmen Jones" or "Porgy and Bess."

RENT "CARMEN JONES" TO SEE THE REAL THING
She was the true black superstar --- gorgeous, talented, sexy, vulnerable, a woman who became the first black to ever be nominated fore a Best Actress Oscar. Dorothy Dandridge
also had a life of pain and suffering --- marriages and love affairs that would break her heart, abuse, addictions . . . death at too far an early age, with barely a penny in the bank.
Halle Berry does an acceptable job filling Dorothy's shoes, but to truly understand what the fuss was all about, rent "Carmen Jones" or "Porgy and Bess." ... Read more

Amazon.com

Valley Girl is, like--Omigod!--one of the most "tubular" teen comedies of the early 1980s. This movie launched Nicolas Cage's career, and it's easy to see why: Following his tiny role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Cage is perfectly cast as a Hollywood punk who instantly falls for Julie (the irresistible Deborah Foreman), a San Fernando "Valley Girl"--a brighter variant of the stereotype immortalized in Moon Unit Zappa's 1982 novelty song--who must choose between wild-boy Nic and her preening jock boyfriend (Mark Bowen). Fortunately, Julie knows what's right for her (even if her "Val" friends don't), and in refreshing defiance of teen-flick tradition, her post-hippie parents (Frederic Forrest, Colleen Camp) are supportively cool. With sincere humor, a lively soundtrack of '80s hits, and a time-capsule cruise of Hollywood landmarks, Valley Girl is both timeless and nostalgic, owing much of its lasting appeal to Martha Coolidge's sensitive direction. Fer sure, y'know, it definitely won't gag you with a spoon. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Lots of Cool Extras
"Valley Girl" is one of my all time favorite movies and it has now come to DVD. This DVD edition of "Valley Girl" is worth the wait. The film includes a lot of neat extras like a featurette named "Valley Girl-20 Years Later." The featurette includes new video commentary from all of the cast members-except the star Deborah Foreman who is missing. In addition to the featurette, the DVD also includes 80's trivia, a site down talk with the director and Nicholas Cage, and a segment about "The Music from Valley Girl." The film itself was restored well. This is a fun movie that will take you back to the 80's and your high school days. It is definetly something that you should add to your DVD collection.

The Best 80's Teen Film Bar None!
Valley Girl is the greatest of the 1980's Teen films, and is second to none. John Hughes wishes he could have made a film this accurate, this genuine, and this sincere!
This movie is as much 80's as Easy Rider was 60's. It defined the times is what it did.
As silly as it sounds, Valley Girl is actually a very good film. It's put together extremely well, and is original, fresh, and personal all at the same time! They simply do not make teen films of this calibre anymore.
This DVD release is long overdue, but well worth the wait! There are a score of fabulous extras, a commentary track with the director, conversations between the director and Nicolas Cage today, two music videos and much much more!
The picture is high-quality with a tad bit of grain, but the sound is 5.1 surround, and is in widescreen. Valley Girl has never looked or sounded better.
If you only ever see one 80's Teen film, Valley Girl should be the one, and probably the only one you'd ever need to own.

Grotty to the Max
I'm writing a novel about young people and heard "Valley Girl" was the classic of its type. Made in 1983 with Nick Gage and Deb Foreman, I had hopes that the silly "Valley Talk" would entertain. I was wrong. This is a trite soft-porn movie. If your kid watches this movie, they'll be scarred for life. I recommend this one for desperate men that dig Internet teen-porn. Cage is sort-of-Elvis like as a bad-boy punk. He meets non-grody to the max Deb Foreman and a good girl-bad boy crush begins. The beach scene has bikinis and young bods, but then the camera shows teenager Cage in swim trunks. My gal and I started laughing. Cage has a V-shaped bush of hair on his upper chest that looks like it was from the Planet of the Apes wardrobe room. Notice that all actors shave their chest these days, but I guess body hair was in in 83. Thank goodness for director John Hughes. Later in the 80's, he showed Hollywood how to give real character and motivation to young people. Rent "Pretty in Pink" and pass on "Valley Girls."

Excellent Film of the 80's
I will not go into a long spiel about what this film is about since many have already chosen to do so (and I know that is what a review is somewhat about), however I do not want to ruin the plot for anyone. I will say that as a gal who grew up in the 80's, this is one of my FAVORITE 80's films. Even today if I were to watch it, it would take me back to my high school years...the cool tunes, the freaky styles (well, we saw ourselves as "cool" back then), and the lingo, ahhh the lingo. I will add this to my DVD collection so someday when my children are older (now 5 and 3), they can watch it and perhaps get a kick out of the 80's genre of when their mom grew up.

1 of My Favorite Films / 80's Classic
Modern day Romeo & Juliet cliche plot boy from the wrong side of the tracks falls for the preppy girl who's friends don't approve. But it's done with such style and a different twist in this 80's classic. Nic Cage's 1st major role as Randy a punk rocker from West Hollywood whos falls head over heels for a preppy valley girl Julie from Southern Cali. I was basically obsessed with Nic Cage's character ( Randy) in this movie for a while being into the punk scene. Everything about this film is so defining of the 80's when he brings her to the punk club and The Plimsouls are playing " A Million Miles Away" and he looks at her and says real quick when can I see you again and then turns his head quick back away. You can just see right there how much he was into her. At the end is amazing when there at the prom and Randy & Fred his best friend crash the prom when "Johnny are you queer" by Josie Cotton is playing and Randy & Julie hop in the limo and ride of into the night Modern English's classic " Melt with you" comes on. Did I mention what a great soundtrack this movie has every song is perfect for the scenes. One of the best 80's films of all time and & in my top 5 favorite movies of all time. Essential to collection for anyone who grew up in the 80's cinema. Story of opposites attracting and following there own path together regardless of what other people think. I own the special edition DVD and a must see movie. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This is great!
Mercedes Reuhel as an eccentric auntie and Irene Worth as miserable granny steal the show from nominal star Richard Dreyfuss. There's nothing wrong with Dreyfuss's performance, in fact he's very funny as a George Raft style gangster reined in by the domestic prison of his family. It's just that the aforementioned ladies are SO good that you are constantly watching them to see what they will do next.

This wartime story centres round two boys whose father sends them to live with their grandmother so he can repay a debt. There's an air of tragedy throughout this comic film. The debt is the hospital expenses of the boys' dead mother, and much of the film is spent dwelling on this and other deaths in the family. But Neil Simon does it so well, and the comedic moments do not in any way lessen the impact of the more melancholy scenes. The screenplay was adapted by Simon from his own play and it shows, with almost all scenes set in Grandma's house. But this does not detract from what is a very well made, enjoyable movie.

how could I not love it?!
This briliant adaptation of the Neil Simon play was filmed on the very street where I live. Mercedes Rheul and Richard Dreyfuss are stunning in their roles as are 'grandma' and the boy. For me, the warm feelings are enhanced seeing familiar sites, but what stands out most of all is the characters and their touching humanity. The DVD version is a must see bringing more scope to what was already a wonderful film.

A classic version of the classic play.
This movie was a wonderful movie version of Neil Simons play of the same name. Mercedes Reuhl as sweet if not simple Bella was stunning. Richard Dreyfuss played a classic fast-talking ganster. Jay and Arty were portrayed perfectly, while I was even afraid of the grandmother. The chillingly sad atmosphere of the play is brightened by Bella's never ending kindness and Arty's wonderful one liners.

Though not as true to the play as it could have been, for a movie adaption, it was very well done.

NOT TO BE MISSED!
Lost in Yonkers is one of those movies that grabs you and keeps you making faces, crying and routing for the good guys; in this case a couple of kids and their Aunt Belle. My wife and I haven't enjoyed a movie this much in quite awhile and we watch at least two movies each night. Richard Dryfus is his usual fantastic self and Belle and the 'grandma' are superb - past subperb, and, as a matter of fact the whole movie is so well acted it becomes obvious why it was a hit on Broadway. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE - no blood and gore; no blatent sex; no car chases nor burning buildings but just the best darn movie you'd ever hope to see!

Impressive
We rented this movie and after that we knew we had to own it. It is a brilliant adaptation of the Neal Simon play and my whole family has watched it hundreds of times. It takes you through a roller coaster of emotions it has you laughing and crying, cheering for the young boys, feeling a little sorry for the aunt, and you feel good when you are done. I recommend it for anyone. You will love it. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

I LOVED this movie
Julia Stiles and Luke Mably were awesome. I saw this movie and loved it. It is the type of movie that can make you smile. I enjoy movies that can make you smile. As for the weather... WHO CARES? The weather added to the storyline, how manytimes has Cinderella gone to the ball in snow? I can't wait till this movie comes out on DVD. The story was like a real fairy tale. Tell me one girl who does not want to get wrapped up in a fairy tale once in a while? We are raised from the beginning of childhood life that fairy tales are just that... in this movie Paige is given the chance to live a true fairy tale. After realizing that she also remembers her dream, she remembers she will never give that up for anyone, not even prince charming. Paige is going to change the world. I loved that aspect of the movie. I want to see women who want to change the world and will work as hard as they have to in order to do so. I dont know, I guess I am just a hopeless romantic or something. But really, I think I just enjoy smiling every once in a while in the world we live in. Go see this movie, It was a real love story to lift your spirts.

Julia Stiles does another great performance
This film was enjoyable. Julia Stiles does another great performance. She plays Paige, a girl who lives in Wisconsin and is going to college. Luke Mably plays Edward, the prince of Denmark. Edward just likes to have fun. Once day he sees this TV commercial with topless girls and it says you will only find it in Wisconsin, so that is why he goes to Wisconsin and meets Paige. Paige, however, doesn't know he is a prince because he changes his named to Eddie not Edward and pretends not to be a prince. One thing leads to another and Paige finds out he is a prince. This could be a bad thing or a good thing, but I don't want to give away the story. This movie is a great romantic movie. I enjoyed it very much. It was a little funny also. It has a little more depth to it then normal "chick flicks" and that is what I like about it. I was impressed. I think this movie is a good family film with children who are in their pre-teens.

Julia's great; the movie's not
Last year, there was a career day in the kindergarten class of my niece Emily, and all the children had to pick their future professions. Emily's choice: "princess."

Blame it on those repeat viewings of "Shrek" and "The Princess Diaries." If we'd been showing her "28 Days Later" and "Dawn of the Dead," she probably would have chosen "zombie" as her dream job.

When pressed, poor Em couldn't say exactly what duties a princess performed on a regular basis. She won't have a much clearer picture if she happens to see "The Prince & Me," in which sunny Julia Stiles -- whose range and personality deserve better material than this -- plays Paige, a pre-med student who ponders forsaking medical school to try her luck as, oh, just the wife of Edvard (Luke Mably), her former chemistry lab partner who just happens to be the crown prince of Denmark traveling incognito.

Wait, what's that? The king (James Fox) is in feeble health and is preparing to step down and let Eddie rule instead? Paige, baby, you're gonna be queen! Talk about a signing bonus!

The primary plot strands in the screenplay were well-worn when Sigmund Romberg composed his operetta "The Student Prince" 80 years ago, but the four screenwriters who assembled this romantic romp seem to think they're in uncharted territory here. Contrasts are carefully set up between Paige's just-folks family on their organic dairy farm in Wisconsin (where, hilariously, it's still short-sleeve weather, even at Thanksgiving) and Edvard's far more refined household in their suitably palatial home. There's a predictably difficult first encounter between a tipsy Edvard and a perturbed Paige, who, like the heroine of "The Student Prince" pays her bills by working as a barmaid.

Then the opposites attract, as Edvard enlightens Paige about Shakespearean speech -- you didn't think you were going to sneak by without a few "Hamlet" wisecracks, did you? -- and Paige gives Edvard lessons in the intricacies of doing your own laundry. If it weren't for Stiles' serene sassiness and a few welcome dashes of sarcasm from Ben Miller as Edvard's chaperone, the movie's first half would be a royal snooze.

The action -- and the interest level -- pick up markedly once the story moves to Denmark, where Edvard and Paige must face some life-altering choices, and Paige must deal with Edvard's regal mom (the magnificent Miranda Richardson), who doesn't like the idea of her son cavorting with a commoner.

As Paige tries to fill her demanding new role as a queen-in-training, the movie finally transcends its Cinderella complex and threatens to ask a few pointed questions about the place of old-style monarchies in today's world. There's even a hint of the late Princess Diana around the edges of the scenes in which Paige and Edvard attempt to escape the photo-snapping paparazzi.

Still, just like Julia Roberts' Vivian in "Pretty Woman," the filmmakers want the fairy tale, and before long "The Prince & Me" returns to its regularly scheduled programming, trotting out glorious galas and allowing the camera to all but drool over the sparkling treasures in the queen's vault. It's a sequence that could qualify as jewel pornography, and just the sort of thing that makes otherwise level-headed ladies -- and even a few precocious kindergartners -- want to chuck it all and run off with the first prince who comes a-knocking at the door.

Smashing Julia
I was expecting much of the Prince & Me but it has become more than I expected.The fact that one of main characters is Prince of Denmark (just got married to an Aussie recently for those
who want facts) adds to its comic witty but heartwarming touch.
Julia was magnificent Its is just a magic touch that she has delivered and it makes any red blooded romantic male believe
in her dream.
The only thing I found displeasing was the rushness of the film
as showed some of Stiles inexpirience but I think with time she could be one of Americas very special actors.
I could watch this movie over and over again,it maybe romantic & energetic but it shows us how special respect and care for one another should be shown more
Do we have more prince & princess out there!

Possibly the best romance/comedy movie, EVER!
Words cannot express this movie! It is simply amazing! While watching The Prince & Me in the theater, I could not stop smiling and laughing throughout the whole movie. This movie is funny, witty, sad (only at certain points),and heart warming. It shows how two people who have completely different backgrounds can fall hopelessly in love. It is kind of your typical "Cinderella" movie, but it is ten times better. The small town girl has big dreams, not necessarily to meet a prince, but to better herself. Stiles wants to be a doctor and provide medical treatment to poor countries. She meets a cute, funny guy...but at first she finds him completely rude and nothing more but a rich, snot nose brat, which is ironic because he likes her! They help each other with their studies, and through spending time together, she unexpectedly falls for him, but when she finds out he has lied about his identity and is really a prince, she shuts him out. But, by the end of the movie, they find their way back to each other!
Personally, I think this is Julia Stiles best movie ever. This movie is like a bunch of movies packed together...Pretty Women (without the prostitute stuff), 10 Things I Hate about You, Ever After, Cinderella, etc etc!
This is my all time favorite movie, and I sincerely hope you all like it as well! I hope I have provided a good review for you all. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

I LOVED this movie
Julia Stiles and Luke Mably were awesome. I saw this movie and loved it. It is the type of movie that can make you smile. I enjoy movies that can make you smile. As for the weather... WHO CARES? The weather added to the storyline, how manytimes has Cinderella gone to the ball in snow? I can't wait till this movie comes out on DVD. The story was like a real fairy tale. Tell me one girl who does not want to get wrapped up in a fairy tale once in a while? We are raised from the beginning of childhood life that fairy tales are just that... in this movie Paige is given the chance to live a true fairy tale. After realizing that she also remembers her dream, she remembers she will never give that up for anyone, not even prince charming. Paige is going to change the world. I loved that aspect of the movie. I want to see women who want to change the world and will work as hard as they have to in order to do so. I dont know, I guess I am just a hopeless romantic or something. But really, I think I just enjoy smiling every once in a while in the world we live in. Go see this movie, It was a real love story to lift your spirts.

Julia Stiles does another great performance
This film was enjoyable. Julia Stiles does another great performance. She plays Paige, a girl who lives in Wisconsin and is going to college. Luke Mably plays Edward, the prince of Denmark. Edward just likes to have fun. Once day he sees this TV commercial with topless girls and it says you will only find it in Wisconsin, so that is why he goes to Wisconsin and meets Paige. Paige, however, doesn't know he is a prince because he changes his named to Eddie not Edward and pretends not to be a prince. One thing leads to another and Paige finds out he is a prince. This could be a bad thing or a good thing, but I don't want to give away the story. This movie is a great romantic movie. I enjoyed it very much. It was a little funny also. It has a little more depth to it then normal "chick flicks" and that is what I like about it. I was impressed. I think this movie is a good family film with children who are in their pre-teens.

Julia's great; the movie's not
Last year, there was a career day in the kindergarten class of my niece Emily, and all the children had to pick their future professions. Emily's choice: "princess."

Blame it on those repeat viewings of "Shrek" and "The Princess Diaries." If we'd been showing her "28 Days Later" and "Dawn of the Dead," she probably would have chosen "zombie" as her dream job.

When pressed, poor Em couldn't say exactly what duties a princess performed on a regular basis. She won't have a much clearer picture if she happens to see "The Prince & Me," in which sunny Julia Stiles -- whose range and personality deserve better material than this -- plays Paige, a pre-med student who ponders forsaking medical school to try her luck as, oh, just the wife of Edvard (Luke Mably), her former chemistry lab partner who just happens to be the crown prince of Denmark traveling incognito.

Wait, what's that? The king (James Fox) is in feeble health and is preparing to step down and let Eddie rule instead? Paige, baby, you're gonna be queen! Talk about a signing bonus!

The primary plot strands in the screenplay were well-worn when Sigmund Romberg composed his operetta "The Student Prince" 80 years ago, but the four screenwriters who assembled this romantic romp seem to think they're in uncharted territory here. Contrasts are carefully set up between Paige's just-folks family on their organic dairy farm in Wisconsin (where, hilariously, it's still short-sleeve weather, even at Thanksgiving) and Edvard's far more refined household in their suitably palatial home. There's a predictably difficult first encounter between a tipsy Edvard and a perturbed Paige, who, like the heroine of "The Student Prince" pays her bills by working as a barmaid.

Then the opposites attract, as Edvard enlightens Paige about Shakespearean speech -- you didn't think you were going to sneak by without a few "Hamlet" wisecracks, did you? -- and Paige gives Edvard lessons in the intricacies of doing your own laundry. If it weren't for Stiles' serene sassiness and a few welcome dashes of sarcasm from Ben Miller as Edvard's chaperone, the movie's first half would be a royal snooze.

The action -- and the interest level -- pick up markedly once the story moves to Denmark, where Edvard and Paige must face some life-altering choices, and Paige must deal with Edvard's regal mom (the magnificent Miranda Richardson), who doesn't like the idea of her son cavorting with a commoner.

As Paige tries to fill her demanding new role as a queen-in-training, the movie finally transcends its Cinderella complex and threatens to ask a few pointed questions about the place of old-style monarchies in today's world. There's even a hint of the late Princess Diana around the edges of the scenes in which Paige and Edvard attempt to escape the photo-snapping paparazzi.

Still, just like Julia Roberts' Vivian in "Pretty Woman," the filmmakers want the fairy tale, and before long "The Prince & Me" returns to its regularly scheduled programming, trotting out glorious galas and allowing the camera to all but drool over the sparkling treasures in the queen's vault. It's a sequence that could qualify as jewel pornography, and just the sort of thing that makes otherwise level-headed ladies -- and even a few precocious kindergartners -- want to chuck it all and run off with the first prince who comes a-knocking at the door.

Smashing Julia
I was expecting much of the Prince & Me but it has become more than I expected.The fact that one of main characters is Prince of Denmark (just got married to an Aussie recently for those
who want facts) adds to its comic witty but heartwarming touch.
Julia was magnificent Its is just a magic touch that she has delivered and it makes any red blooded romantic male believe
in her dream.
The only thing I found displeasing was the rushness of the film
as showed some of Stiles inexpirience but I think with time she could be one of Americas very special actors.
I could watch this movie over and over again,it maybe romantic & energetic but it shows us how special respect and care for one another should be shown more
Do we have more prince & princess out there!

Possibly the best romance/comedy movie, EVER!
Words cannot express this movie! It is simply amazing! While watching The Prince & Me in the theater, I could not stop smiling and laughing throughout the whole movie. This movie is funny, witty, sad (only at certain points),and heart warming. It shows how two people who have completely different backgrounds can fall hopelessly in love. It is kind of your typical "Cinderella" movie, but it is ten times better. The small town girl has big dreams, not necessarily to meet a prince, but to better herself. Stiles wants to be a doctor and provide medical treatment to poor countries. She meets a cute, funny guy...but at first she finds him completely rude and nothing more but a rich, snot nose brat, which is ironic because he likes her! They help each other with their studies, and through spending time together, she unexpectedly falls for him, but when she finds out he has lied about his identity and is really a prince, she shuts him out. But, by the end of the movie, they find their way back to each other!
Personally, I think this is Julia Stiles best movie ever. This movie is like a bunch of movies packed together...Pretty Women (without the prostitute stuff), 10 Things I Hate about You, Ever After, Cinderella, etc etc!
This is my all time favorite movie, and I sincerely hope you all like it as well! I hope I have provided a good review for you all. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What happens when a widowed mother and her two sons invite an injured drifter into their home? Put aside those modern, jaded visions of a psychotic killer on the rampage and enter the gentler, yet extremely rigid world of 1955 Suburbia USA. Jeanne Holman has lost her husband to the Korean War and is doing her best to support her family in a community that reveres conformity and frowns upon anyone who dares to be different. As Jeanne questions her chosen path, her oldest son Tom struggles to fit in with his peers and her youngest son, Gunny, who's frightened of virtually everything, is soon to be diagnosed with a serious illness. Enter a chance encounter with drifter Jack McCloud and his dog Betty Jane, and the pair temporarily move in with the Holman family. What essentially begins as one woman's act of guilt-induced charity evolves into a magical journey of personal growth for each family member. The end result is a wish come true for everyone involved. This film has widespread appeal: there's romance, magic, physical and spiritual journeys, self-revelation, and even a celebration of diversity and personal strength. The PG rating seems apt due to the film's intensity and one short almost nude scene. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Amazon.com

This overrated period comic-drama, set in Georgia in the 1930s, featured the first mother-daughter team to be nominated for acting Oscars in the same year. Laura Dern plays a free-wheeling young woman who is taken in as a domestic by an upper-class family, headed by Robert Duvall and Diane Ladd (Dern's real-life mother). Rose, who tends to let her sexual urges get the best of her, scandalizes everyone in three counties (including Duvall and Lukas Haas, who plays his son) with her willing spirit. Do those kind of loose morals warrant court-ordered sterilization? Or does this young woman just need a guiding hand? While many fell for this cornpone shtick, directed by Martha Coolidge, it's a hard movie to cozy up to because Rose is such a caricature and the rest of the characters (with the exception of the always exceptional Duvall) are such sticks. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (10)

In defense of Laura Dern!
I must disagree with the reviewer who so strongly criticized Laura Dern's performance. While it is true that 'Rambling Rose' has its weaknesses (the abrupt, rather unexplained ending, for one thing), I found the story line humorous and even charming. Dern's performance made the movie, in my opinion! Diane Ladd overacts a bit, as usual, but this is a minor flaw with the film as a whole. What stuck with me was Dern's 'little girl lost' expression mixed with her coy devil-may-care flirtation, which made for an entirely winning performance. I loved the music too!

Akin to starting a leaf blower near killer bees
Societies regard single, attractive, sexually available women with both idolization and uneasiness. The lust, envy, jealousy and otherwise tumultuous passions surrounding their passage through the populace can be disruptive of societal bonds, e.g. by "homewrecking", even though no fault of their own. One reason why the concept, at least, of marriage is valued so highly is that this cultural arrangement takes the problematic single female out of circulation, so to speak. And, social pressures cause opprobrium to be heaped on "loose women", even by the very men who are drawn to them. Of course, the feminist correctly sees these attitudes as blatantly sexist. However, even western culture's most chauvinistic pig is likely to regard the veiling and segregation of women in fundamentalist Islamic societies, for example, as an unacceptably extreme manifestation of those same attitudes.

RAMBLING ROSE takes a compassionate look at the phenomenon of social turbulence caused by an "unattached" woman. Rose, flamboyantly played by Laura Dern, is the blithe, single, 19-year old girl invited to live with a very proper Southern family in the mid-1930s. The family, offering Rose help at this difficult time in her life, includes Daddy (Robert Duvall), Mother (Diane Ladd, Dern's real-life mother), and 13-year old Buddy (Lukas Haas). Rose, already possessing a checkered history acquired with unspecified men, is a sexual "free spirit", who proceeds to cause hormonal havoc in the town's male population. Even Daddy is bewitched. To Buddy, Rose is, unsurprisingly, the godsend of a new awareness. Of the adults, only Mother, recognizing Rose as essentially guileless, staunchly defends her as the repercussions of the Siren's residence start to add up.

A better film on much the same theme is Y2K's MALENA - a superb Italian production. Nonetheless, RAMBLING ROSE is delightful. Dern is positively captivating. Duvall is at his best, which is pretty darn good by any measure. Ladd portrays Mother as a slightly eccentric individual whose generosity towards and understanding of Rose is a clear counterpoint to the hardening attitudes of the other adults. The Buddy character should remind all males in the viewing audience of that time when they were 13 and discovering girls as beings with something more to offer than simply opportunities for boorish teasing. I like this film immensely.

GREAT MOVIE! NOT AT ALL, A BORE!
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE!
ROSE WAS A BIT FREAKY THOUGH!
YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MOVIE!
IT SHOULDN'T BORE YOU!
5 STARS*****

boring
boring, boring and 1000 times boring. Why do you wanna expend your money in such a boring film?

Pleasant diversion
Contrary to another viewer, I though Laura Dern's acting was very good in this film, unlike in "Jurassic Park" where she really did seem gawky and unnatural. The film has some nostalgia, some laughs, and some pathos. Not a classic, but an enjoyable diversion about a free-spirited young woman who creates havoc around her. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the best ever
Bereft of any promotion, Huff crept unnoticed into the UK, via a new and little known satellite channel called FX. I took a gamble and was spellbound from Episode 1. Emotionally it's an extreme experience. I can't think of a series so capable of generating side-splitting laughter one minute and under-the-cushion tension the next - not forgetting all-too-frequent bouts of genuine tears. To achieve this in a cynical, stiff-upper-lip English household is no small achievement. Typically, from this UK perspective - much U.S. material is either heavy-handed with sentiment or transparently hesitant when it comes to controversial issues. Huff is not. Beautiful writing, incredible characterisation, tremendous acting, Huff is a work of genius on the part of everyone involved. I shall be buying the DVD set of Series One for my friends and I can't wait for a Series II. I just wish Russell was for real and my best friend. But then - fortunately - I have a son more than a little like Bird....

Top Notch Entertainment
Huff was so enjoyable. Every episode was packed with mystery, fun, human emotions and mishaps and being in the field of therapy, I could relate to and deeply feel all of the characters' angst. The acting was superb. It was a slice of life!

Best show on TV since 'Six Feet Under"
Much as HBO's The Sopranos, Showtime's HUFF shows us as much about the
interior lives of its characters as it does their exterior relationships and
problems.

Azaria is brilliant as a well-known, highly paid psychiatrist whose practice
overlaps into his family's life in countless ways, often at the expense of
his own interior self-expression (except through fleeting appearances of a
phantom character) and his family's safety and security. The rational
approach he has to display at all times almost becomes his downfall.

Oliver Platt and Blythe Danner practically steal the show because they're
both great actors and they've both been given off-the-wall, fascinating,
likeable characters.Platt and Danner provide some of the funniest moments.
Swoozie Kurtz guest stars as the mother of Huff's wife, and is compelling in
her struggle with cancer.

Drama, marital conflict, mother/son problems, unmet needs, occasional
frightening violence, drugs, teen sex, kids acting more mature sometimes
than their parents:HUFF has it all.And it's relieved by quirky,
sometimes laughing-out-loud comedic moments.As well as the consistent
solid acting and interesting story lines.

I'm not sure I can wait a year to see what happens next.The last episode
left me on the edge of my chair.

Frankly, I signed up with Showtime so I could get the Sundance Channel.
But, I'd keep subscribing just to catch HUFF. ... Read more