Reviews (5)

Excelent movie!
This is definitely one of the best Christmas movies I have ever seen. It really shows how the Christmas miracle is really true. It is also an excelent family movie. I would encourage anyone buying this film as a present or just for their viewing pleasure.

SILENT NIGHT, WELL-SPENT NIGHT
I wasn't at the Battle of the Bulge, the last great battle of World War II whose little-known and unknown byways form the locale of this true-life story, but SILENT NIGHT is, in its way, as evocative and illuminating of this momentous event in history as its far-better-known counterpart, the 1949 front-line combat film, BATTLEGROUND.

Rather than concentrating on the fierce, frozen struggle that the Bulge certainly was -- leaving as it did, thousands of Americans and Germans dead in the dark, snowy Huertgen Forest during that brutal winter of 1944-'45 -- SILENT NIGHT deals with the intertwined universality of soldiers' longing for home, a war-weary German mother's longing for peace in her own home, and her little boy's desperate need for a sign that the world he'll inherit might be filled by something other than the hollow, ranted slogans of the Hitler Youth.

The performances, especially those of Linda Hamilton, as the frightened, yet determined, Frau Vincken, and the young men who play the GI's and Wehrmacht infantrymen, convincingly convey the snow-blanched weariness and wariness that surely contributed to the real participants' touch-and-go attempt to lay aside their arms for one last wartime Christmas, as a sign that their world may have tired of its madness.

Also utterly convincing, by the way, is the film's depiction of the snowbound German landscape -- photographed, as I understand it, in Quebec in the height of summer!

The True Meaning of Christmas
The message of SILENT NIGHT is the meaning of Christmas itself: compassion and caring overcoming hatred and hostility. As a history teacher and a human being I highly recommend this movie.

The plot is riveting, the characters are real, the setting is wonderful, and the theme will touch your heart to a depth that no sugary-sweet traditional Christmas film can.

The producers, director, actors and crew created a movie that you will remember for years after you watch it. It is well worth your time and money.

A Memorable Movie
SILENT NIGHT is a thoughtful movie, in the truest sense of the word. This true story depicts one woman's amazing strength of character, several soldiers' personal struggles between duty and human kindness and an eventful Christmas Eve one boy never forgot. Very well written; strong performance by Linda Hamilton. Highly recommended.

Silent Night - excellent Christmas film
Too often during the holidays, we are bombarded with sugary sweet films with adorable kids and silly stories. This is not one of those, but instead is an intelligent and touching memoir of an exceptional and true night in the life of a young boy and his mother. Well acted and well written, Silent Night tells the story of a woman's struggle to keep peace in her mountain cabin during a Christmas Eve when several American and German soldiers find their way to her door. She not only manages to do that, but during the evening, she reaches the heart of each of her guests, stirring their humanity and their wishes for the end of the war. As they share their meal, they share bits of their 'real' lives with each other and begin to see each other as men, not just enemies. Linda Hamilton is excellent as the mother and leads a solid cast in this wonderful and warm story. Highly recommended for all members of the family. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

comedic, but superb
I have suffered through many less than entertaining Holmes efforts in my 63 years. There's been Doyle's shoddy later works, awful prints of Arthur Wontner's films, lumbering Jeremy Brett episodes that were too heavily padded, the dull deadly necklace, the recent muddled case of evil, and Reginald Owen's study in slumber. The Sherlock Holmes Collection, on the other hand, is a godsend. It may not be pure Doyle, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Have you tried reading the Three Gables lately? How about the Creeping Man?

Matt Frewer has his detractors, but things are never dull or dreary with him involved. He seems to be having fun. I did the same while watching him. He reminded me of the comedic tone of the better Rathbone and Bruce efforts, the humorous moments in Caine and Kingsley's Without A Clue, and the sense of fun of the Ronald Howard series. Kenneth Welsh is a splendid Watson. Welsh has become my favorite of all cinematic Watsons. His interpay with Frewer is delightful.

The relationship between Mycroft and Sherlock is most interesting. It's a tangled skein to be sure. It shows that Frewer's Holmes can be more that just humorous. The same is true of Holmes' interaction with the alluring Irene Adler. Frewer is wonderful in those scenes. Miss Adler knows just how to get under his skin. This is a fine collection. It may not be everybody's cup of tea, but I found it to be an extremely lively and entertaining set.

Good Fun Versions NOT FOR PURISTS
Baker Street Regulars will have epileptic seizures over these adaptations of Holmes. They are not exact reproductions of Conan Doyle, but they are very enjoyable if you are willing to suspend belief. Each story could most accurately be said to be "suggested" by the Doyle original, than a strict version. So if you know the stories well, be prepaired for a few surprises.

Matt Frewer at first seems to be giving a a very mannered version of Holmes, almost as if he is doing a comic impression, but on closer examination he is a Sherlock who is laughing at what he considers inferior humans. It is a very different Holmes and once you get used to it, a valid impression of a person who considers that he has a superior intellect to every other person.

Keneth Welsh is an exceellent Watson. He is the perfect counterpoint to Frewer's Holmes. Some of the looks he gives Holmes are priceless.

All the casting is excellent. Canada does a great job of substituting for Victorian England.

For anyone looking for some enjoyable mysteries and puzzels, these are good stories. It is a real bargin to get 4 hour and a half productions for this price.

For Holmes purists, don't rip them apart, just forget them and watch other versions.

family fun for sure
I bet Mr Frewer knew that kids would be watching so he gave them a very funny version of Holmes that they would love. It worked. My kids can't get enough of this guy. I've now introduced them to kid friendly versions of Doyle's works and they love reading them too.

Four Fun Films
This collection of Canadian is a lot of fun, and well worth the $18.

There are only a few minor problems:

1. London seems too clean, and gives away the fact that ti is filmed on a soundstage.

2. The Dr. Watson character is too old.

3. Matt Frewer, who plays Holmes, is a bit of an overactor.

Otherwise, all four films are a lot of fun to watch, well made and inexpensive movies.

a collection of quality family fun
My nine year old nephew loves this collection of Holmes mysteries. These episodes are mysterious, funny, action packed, and down right creepy at times. These adventures don't always follow Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, but as family oriented versions they are very good. Kids who are interested in Sherlock Holmes, and those who are still kids at heart, should enjoy this collection. I adore it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The truly compelling "bad guy".
"The Pact" is a very amusing film. Rider Strong's character is a wonderful-and unexpectedly complex-villain; the viewer occaisionally finds himself/herself rooting for him by mistake, instead of the slightly less fascinating "good guy". Unfortunately parts of the movie can get downright cliché. Yet this movie pulls it off; the ending may not be much of a surprise, but it is quite entertaining and pleasing all the same. "The Pact" may not be ground-breakingly original, but does what movies should do: it entertains, and does it fabulously.

One of the best movies Rider Strong has done so far!!!
I think this is one of rider's best movies that he has done so far. It is really hard to play the bad person, so he did a excellent job. I loved the plot to the movie and the way there wasn't a dull moment when I watched it. The end really surprised me because I thought that Lennie was just some average bad person that was out to kill that kid for his boss. But when I got to the end it was more than that. And I am proud to say that nobody could have done better at playing lenny than Rider did. He was wonderful and the dvd is great and I can't wait until I get my copy of "the Pact". ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good RH movie
Nice story, humor and plenty of twists.The above review was probably written by someone who is expecting Gone With the Wind from every movie he watches,if he does.
For those in US who like RH, this is a good oportunity to please
themselves. Five stars because new RH movie is rare on US market and this one is pretty good.

Too much talk. Too little action.
You get with Pam Grier and Rutger Hauer in the same movie as heroine and villain & you'd expect something pretty special, right? Wrong. WILDER is a by-the-numbers murder mystery/ thriller which attempts to update Grier's FOXY BROWN/ COFFY persona for the 2Ks. There's one problem: this movie practically talks itself to death.
The plot: Dr Samuel Charney (Hauer) is the prime suspect in a violent murder. The victim is one of his patients who was about to sue him for malpractice. He claims he's innocent. Cop Della Wilder (Grier) is assigned the case, which she presumes to be an open-and-shut revenge killing. But of course, it's more complex than that- it would have to be because this movie drags on for 90 boring minutes and totally wastes the time and talent of the leads- who appear to be sleepwalking through the film. And so will you. Keep your fingers crossed that Director Rodney Gibbons and Writer Terry Abrahamson get blacklisted at some point in the future. Why does poor old Rutger always wind up in direct to video fodder like this? He hasn't been in movie worthy of his talents since 1984's LADYHAWKE. A real shame. And this movie is a real sham. If you must see it, rent it first. You've been warned. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nico the Unicorn
With a disabled leg, a deceased father, and status as the new boy in asmall Vermont town, 12-year-old Billy has the proverbial three strikesagainst him. But things start to turn around when his waitress mom (thesaintly Anne Archer) allows him to keep a scraggly pony he rescues froma con artist. And when the pony gives birth to a unicorn, and a prettylocal girl assists Billy with the birth, things seem to be seriouslylooking up. But some nasty classmates discover their secret and sooneveryone from police on horseback to news helicopters to the armedcharlatan are chasing Billy and Nico up into the mountains. This fairlytale for grade schoolers has some real suspense and a magical endingthat isn't too sentimental. Mom has a cop love interest (MichaelOntkean), but they keep it pretty tame. The mother pony does give herlife to protect the foal; however, the carnage occurs off screen. This95-minute film will most interest children 5 to 10 years of age,although true horse/unicorn lovers up to age 13 may enjoy it as well.--Kimberly Heinrichs

Owd Bob
You'd have to be some sort of an ogre to go wrong with Owd Bob. Ifwarm, old-fashioned dog flicks aren't your thing, maybe stunningscenery is; green hills and azure seas don't get much more gorgeousthan on Ireland's Celtic-breeze-whipped Isle of Man. Should neither ofthose appeal, though, it's easy to settle for simple good acting.Babe's James Cromwell stars as Adam McAdam, a grumpy old buggerwho ticks away lonely days tending the farm alongside his championsheepdog Zac. Then comes the day his orphaned American grandson, David,is dumped at his doorstep. McAdam, a pretty poor excuse for company,can't keep David from befriending neighbor girl Maggie Moore. Bad bloodbetween the Moores and the McAdams runs deep, but the conflict du jourcenters around dogs--Owd Bob, Maggie's pup, aims to put Zac to shame inthe upcoming sheepherding tournament. Leading up to the contest,parallel story lines swirl around: Maggie's mom is dying, and a crew oflocal cronies suspect Zac, who's lately been spotted licking blood-stainedchops, of being a sheep killer. While tensions between Davidand his grandfather escalate, David moves out, Maggie loses her mom,and the dogs do their stuff, with Zac coming out the victor. There'sstill the matter of the sheep murders, though. In a dramatic pup frame-up,Owd Bob is the fall guy, and only old man McAdam can save him frombeing destroyed. It's a sad ending for Zac, but one that allowsMcAdam's well-buried love for his grandson to surface. Whatever propelsyou to spring for this film, break out the family-sized popcorn bowl.Owd Bob's penchant for bringing folks together is as powerful in livingrooms as it is onscreen. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This was a GREAT movie!
It has action, drama, adventure, danger, and many more! It's a great movie! Weather you like horses or not, you'll love the suspence and action! ... Read more