Reviews (26)

A true Disney classic.
HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS is one of the better Disney, live-action films out there. It's original and unique - followed by two [HONEY, I BLEW UP THE KID and HONEY, WE SHRUNK OURSELVES] just as good sequels. This film is about a wacky scientist named Wayne Szalinski (Rick Moranis) who knows all about science and nothing about family or the "real world". When Wayne creates a shrinking machine, in hopes that it will shrink matter, it actually ends up shrinking his kids, Amy and Nicky (Amy O'Neill and Robert Oliveri), and his next door neighbor's kids, Russell and Ron Thompson (Thomas Wilson Brown and Jared Rushton). They escape from the trash bag and end up entering what appears to be a jungle but is actually the Szalinskis' own backyard! Now, just a few inches tall, the kids must find a way to get to the house and get their parents' attention so they can deshrink them and turn them back to their normal sizes.

This is a very funny comedy, and there are some excellent visual effects, too. Everything from the shrunk kids to riding on a flying bee - there is some truly amazing special effects. The plot is solid and so is the acting. This is one Disney comedy I recommend for every family!

Great, Great, Great!
The story is about an inventor Wayne Szalinski (Rick Moranis) who is trying to perfect his machine which, when working, will shrink matter. The problem is, nothing he does seems to make it work. But somehow, his kids Amy and Nicky (Amy O'Neill and Robert Oliveri), and his next door neighbor's kids, Russell and Ron Thompson (Thomas Wilson Brown and Jared Rushton) are shrunk! Being only a few inches tall, they end up in the garbage bag and are taken outside. They get out but the only way back to the house is through the Szalinski's front yard. They meet up with a friendly ant, a killer scorpion, the danger of being chopped up by a lawnmower, and being drowned by a water sprinkler. Will they make it home so they can be made back to their normal size?

This movie is just GREAT! Even though it's a kids movie, it's great for adults, too. I love to watch this movie with my parents. I especially love Robert Oliveri and Jared Rushton. They did a very good job acting in it. Anybody who wants to enjoy a good movie with the family, watch "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." You won't regret it!

where did the widscreen for honey i shrunk the kids go
i whould have liked it better if it were widescreen i think fullscreen movies are a thing of the past please do away with full screen if possible but if the movie was only filmed in full screen then i dont mind but if the movie can be made for full screen then it should thank you yours truely a disturbed fan of disney movies.

Fun and full of adventure
Who knew cheerios in milk could be so dangerous? This is a fun adventure of a film. I still enjoy watching this film. Rick Moranis plays the bungalking inventor who shrinks his children. The special effects in this film were good.

Okay...but emphasizes special effects
This is a nice kids movie...but pretty stereotypical story line. Clearly devised to show off the Disney special effects. Can be scary for a 5 year old. Kids characters are stereotypes. And of course, it is the one girl who needs rescuing! ... Read more

Reviews (87)

Good Entertainment if not Historically Correct
I enjoyed this movie. If you read all the newspapers seems like all the critics want to do, is criticize Disney for claiming it is based on a true story. Well if I remember correctly, if a movie is all true, it is probably a documentary. Hollywood always takes libertys with the truth in the sake of good entertainment. There is even one website devoted totally to trashing anything about Mr. Hopkins. Regardless I liked it!
Viggo Mortensen plays Frank T. Hopkins, mostly just a lover of horses, but happens to have gotten a nice mustang named Hidalgo, a horse known for his fortitude. After an incident at Wounded Knee, and a stint in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Mr Hopkins is propositioned by a few gentleman about competing in an endurance race of 3000 miles across the Middle Eastern deserts. His mates in the Wild West show chip in the entry fee, and off he goes. Encounters with many cultures and sandstorms , thirst, thievery, kidnapping, murder etc; follow. Viggo's performance is good, although much different than Lord of the Rings. Check out the performance by Omar Shariff, playing the Sheik of Sheiks. A good escapist movie in the realm of Indiana Jones et. all.

Good, old fashioned adventure in a faraway place
Last year, we had MASTER AND COMMANDER: FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, old-time adventure epics produced just for pure fun (and box office receipts, of course) and lacking any overt social or political correctness agendas. Now, we have HIDALGO.

Frank Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) is one of the acts in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show on the basis of his reputation as the world's greatest cross-country horse racer. But Frank, the son of a U.S. Army scout and an Indian woman, is drinking himself out of a job, tortured by self-guilt over a tangential and relatively innocent association with the Army's massacre of Native Americans at Wounded Knee. Hopkins is challenged by an Arab sheik to participate in a grueling, 1000-year old horse race across the deserts of the Middle East. To redeem his self-esteem, Frank signs-on with his horse, Hidalgo, a mixed-breed Spanish mustang. Arriving in Arabia, Hopkins is despised by the locals for his infidel status, while Hidalgo's small size and lineage are held in contempt relative to the purebreds he's running against.

Omar Sharif appears as Sheik Riyadh, the Sheik of Sheiks whose own stallion is the favored entry in the race. (I guess Omar has been wandering the desert these past 42 years since appearing in a similar role in the sandblown epic LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. He looks weathered.) Zuleika Robinson plays the sheik's daughter, Jazira, unnecessary to the plot except that she provides Frank with a Damsel in Distress to rescue, but little else.

HIDALGO is perhaps 15-20 minutes over-extended. The Jazira In Peril bit could've been left in the digital-editing trashcan quite handily without sacrificing too much of a story that's otherwise everything anybody could want in escapist entertainment for the whole family.

The real darling of the film is, of course, Hidalgo, who pluckily braves a host of perils to win the prize purse: sandstorm, concealed pit with sharpened stakes, attack leopards, sniper, horde of locusts, broiling sun, blistering heat, and human treachery. (Hmm. Sounds like my hometown on a daily basis.) By the movie's conclusion, you just want to take Hidalgo home with you and to hell with zoning ordinances.

Not that impressed
My biggest mistake was probably going into the theater with high expectations, and by the end of the movie, i was thoroughly disappointed. I expected more action, and a more interesting storyline. Sure, there were some really cool scenes, but most of those can be seen in the theatrical trailer, so there were no surprises there. I found the dialog to be boring, especially with Viggo Mortensen's monotone voice. Also, since I have never really been a horse lover, i haven't really been interested in horse-racing, which the whole story revolves around. Some people will really like this movie, but as for me, i would much prefer to see Viggo in LOTR.

Great western with a twist
I loved this movie so much. This movie reminded me of all those westerns my dad would watch when I was younger. Finally an adventure movie WITHOUT the language, lame acting, poor story line, & over done special effects. It reminds me of "Quigley Down Under" only better. This movie has breathtaking shots throughout and a solid lead character. And did I mention Viggo is hecka fine in it! Don't pass up this one. Get it! Do it! Do it!

Hottie
Viggo Mortensen is a hottie!!!!!!!!!!!!! And so is Hidalgo!(but mostly Viggo!) The tower boy is kinda cute too! ... Read more

Reviews (655)

A heart pumping rollercoaster ride of a movie.
The 3rd installment of the JP franchise is without a doubt that darkest, fastest-moving, heart-pounding, and exciting movie in the film series. Sure the 1st JP is a pure classic and The Lost World tries to recapture the awe of the orginal and The Lost World *tries* to do the same thing but doesn't pull it off very well. Jurassic Park 3 tells you right from the start with a claw ripping through the JP logo that this time the dinosaurs aren't playing around. Sam Neil returns and gives a excellent performance as usual. The supporting cast does well also with William H. Macy and Tea Lenio giving strong performances. The real winners here though are the dinosaurs. As soon as humans once again arrive and disrupt their natural habitat they are just fed up it seems and don't play any games. In the first two films the dinosaurs seem a bit hesitant to eat some good ol' human flesh but, not in this film though. The new bad boy Spinosaurus quickly claims himself as the king of the jungle by taking out one of the legendary actors of the series. (You will seat what I mean) The raptors return badder and smarter. The most immpresive new Dino by far in the flying Pterandons. The special effects are as usual .. amazing. This a perfect addition to any Jurassic Park fan's DVD library.

JPIII
This movie is just pure fun. Thats all it is! The series is going to be if not already classic. See these films! Theyre a blast!

Newer Dinos Means A Fresh Film
Being a lifelong Dinosaur fan, I had to check out JP///. The trailers were making the movie seem really big and fresh with bringing Spinosaurus in to replace Tyrannosaurus as the starring role as super-predator in the JP series. The film moves at a pretty fast rate which can be good and bad. The Dinosaurs in the film are more believable now that the CGI programmers had the ability to make the Dinos' skin wobble when they moved and to have other parts of their body be in sync with the rest of their body.
The characters really don't have much development in the film which is okay considering you came to see Dinosaurs. But there is just enough character development for the moviegoer to understand each character.
My only gripes are with the film that it just seemed like the Dino action seemed to go downhill as the movie progressed. It starts off very well with the Spinosaurus attacking the plane and then eventually battling Tyrannosaurus (which I was hoping wouldn't show up until the final minutes of the film, giving it a climatic ending). After that, the Dinos seemed kinda sparse and the action shorter and shorter. The raptors also kinda got old. Like with T-rex, the filmmakers should have replaced the raptors with other Dinos. Maybe Baryonyxs? Also some science is forgotten in this film. But they had Jack Horner as their Dino supervisor, so it was a given some wrenches would be thrown in the mix. Also, the film seemed really short. With some newer dinos added to the screen that have never been seen before, I was hoping that they would have some pretty nifty Dinosaur battle sequences and Dinosaur-human encounters.
All in all, while JP/// was, somewhat, of a letdown for me, it still provided the goods for the most part.

Redeeming Qualities
Yes, this movie does have some plot holes, and it is not as good as the first movie in the series, but this movie is definitely better than "The Lost World." Somewhat formulaic at this point, but still a decent movie with a simpler and more plausible plot line than the previous movie.

A couple's son is parasailing off the back of a boat off Isla Sorna when something unseen happens to the people driving the boat. The boy's parents, Paul Kirby (William H. Macy) and Amanda Kirby (Téa Leoni), enlist Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) to help get the boy back. However, they have to trick Dr. Malcolm into returning to the island, because he, rightfully, thinks being on that island is a very bad idea.

As it turns out, landing a plane on the island was a very bad idea, and now the erstwhile rescuers are running for their lives. Along the way they find Erik Kirby (Trevor Morgan), and the only remaining task is to escape from the island.

Several new dinosaurs are introduced in this movie, including really cool pteranodons and a spinosaurus. The pteranodons act like giant birds, and are appropriately scary. The spinosaurus shows that the tyrannosaurus was not the king of the world. The encounters with the dinosaurs recall the thrills of the first movie in this series and are interesting and enjoyable.

There are a few plot holes in this movie, but fewer than in the previous movie. By keeping the plot simple and having fewer characters with a simpler motivation the movie avoids the incongruities of the previous movie. This movie was more creative and intriguing and favored adrenaline over depth, as in the first movie. The shorter length of the movie also minimizes opportunities to overly analyze the plot, keeping the focus on the action. A sequel not quite as good as the original, but superior to its predecessor.

Better than the 2nd, not as good as the first
Good movie. It was an improvment over the 2nd. It has a lot more dinosaurs, which makes it entertaining. If you like the first two, i recommend you to see this one.

MPAA: PG-13
Running Time: 93 minutes
Year released: 2001 ... Read more

Reviews (87)

Good Entertainment if not Historically Correct
I enjoyed this movie. If you read all the newspapers seems like all the critics want to do, is criticize Disney for claiming it is based on a true story. Well if I remember correctly, if a movie is all true, it is probably a documentary. Hollywood always takes libertys with the truth in the sake of good entertainment. There is even one website devoted totally to trashing anything about Mr. Hopkins. Regardless I liked it!
Viggo Mortensen plays Frank T. Hopkins, mostly just a lover of horses, but happens to have gotten a nice mustang named Hidalgo, a horse known for his fortitude. After an incident at Wounded Knee, and a stint in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Mr Hopkins is propositioned by a few gentleman about competing in an endurance race of 3000 miles across the Middle Eastern deserts. His mates in the Wild West show chip in the entry fee, and off he goes. Encounters with many cultures and sandstorms , thirst, thievery, kidnapping, murder etc; follow. Viggo's performance is good, although much different than Lord of the Rings. Check out the performance by Omar Shariff, playing the Sheik of Sheiks. A good escapist movie in the realm of Indiana Jones et. all.

Good, old fashioned adventure in a faraway place
Last year, we had MASTER AND COMMANDER: FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, old-time adventure epics produced just for pure fun (and box office receipts, of course) and lacking any overt social or political correctness agendas. Now, we have HIDALGO.

Frank Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) is one of the acts in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show on the basis of his reputation as the world's greatest cross-country horse racer. But Frank, the son of a U.S. Army scout and an Indian woman, is drinking himself out of a job, tortured by self-guilt over a tangential and relatively innocent association with the Army's massacre of Native Americans at Wounded Knee. Hopkins is challenged by an Arab sheik to participate in a grueling, 1000-year old horse race across the deserts of the Middle East. To redeem his self-esteem, Frank signs-on with his horse, Hidalgo, a mixed-breed Spanish mustang. Arriving in Arabia, Hopkins is despised by the locals for his infidel status, while Hidalgo's small size and lineage are held in contempt relative to the purebreds he's running against.

Omar Sharif appears as Sheik Riyadh, the Sheik of Sheiks whose own stallion is the favored entry in the race. (I guess Omar has been wandering the desert these past 42 years since appearing in a similar role in the sandblown epic LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. He looks weathered.) Zuleika Robinson plays the sheik's daughter, Jazira, unnecessary to the plot except that she provides Frank with a Damsel in Distress to rescue, but little else.

HIDALGO is perhaps 15-20 minutes over-extended. The Jazira In Peril bit could've been left in the digital-editing trashcan quite handily without sacrificing too much of a story that's otherwise everything anybody could want in escapist entertainment for the whole family.

The real darling of the film is, of course, Hidalgo, who pluckily braves a host of perils to win the prize purse: sandstorm, concealed pit with sharpened stakes, attack leopards, sniper, horde of locusts, broiling sun, blistering heat, and human treachery. (Hmm. Sounds like my hometown on a daily basis.) By the movie's conclusion, you just want to take Hidalgo home with you and to hell with zoning ordinances.

Not that impressed
My biggest mistake was probably going into the theater with high expectations, and by the end of the movie, i was thoroughly disappointed. I expected more action, and a more interesting storyline. Sure, there were some really cool scenes, but most of those can be seen in the theatrical trailer, so there were no surprises there. I found the dialog to be boring, especially with Viggo Mortensen's monotone voice. Also, since I have never really been a horse lover, i haven't really been interested in horse-racing, which the whole story revolves around. Some people will really like this movie, but as for me, i would much prefer to see Viggo in LOTR.

Great western with a twist
I loved this movie so much. This movie reminded me of all those westerns my dad would watch when I was younger. Finally an adventure movie WITHOUT the language, lame acting, poor story line, & over done special effects. It reminds me of "Quigley Down Under" only better. This movie has breathtaking shots throughout and a solid lead character. And did I mention Viggo is hecka fine in it! Don't pass up this one. Get it! Do it! Do it!

Hottie
Viggo Mortensen is a hottie!!!!!!!!!!!!! And so is Hidalgo!(but mostly Viggo!) The tower boy is kinda cute too! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on the memoir Rocket Boys by Homer H.Hickam Jr., October Sky emerged as one of the most delightful sleepers of 1999--a small miracle of good ol' fashioned movie-making in the cynical, often numbingly trendy Hollywood of the late 20th century. Hickam's true story begins in 1957 with Russia's historic launch of the Sputnik satellite, and while Homer (played with smart idealism by Jake Gyllenhaal) sees Sputnik as his cue to pursue a fascination with rocketry, his father (Chris Cooper) epitomizes the admirable yet sternly stubborn working-man's ethic of the West Virginia coal miner, casting fear and disdain on Homer's pursuit of science while urging his "errant" son to carry on the family business--a spirit-killing profession that Homer has no intention of joining.

As directed by Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer), this wonderful movie is occasionally guilty of overstating its case and sacrificing subtlety for predictable melodrama. But more often the film's tone is just right, and the spirit of adventure and invention is infectiously conveyed through Gyllenhaal and his well-cast fellow rocketeers, whose many failures gradually lead to triumph on their makeshift backwoods launching pad. Capturing time and place with impeccable detail and superbly developed characters (including Laura Dern as an inspiring schoolteacher), October Sky is a family film for the ages, encouraging the highest potential of the human spirit while giving viewers a clear view of a bygone era when "the final frontier" beckoned to the explorer in all of us. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (207)

A brilliant story about perseverance and glory
"October Sky" is a superb show! It's 1957, and Homer Hickman is just a regular high school teen living in a small West Virginia town where his father is the manager of the coal mine that employs, well, everyone. As we meet Homer, he is working, not very successfully, to deal with the usual plagues of youth...how to get the the girl of your dreams, how to be noticed while walking in the shadow of a sports hero older brother, how to gain attention and respect from his father, and so on...just about then it is announced that the Soviets had launched Sputnik!

The space age had arrived!

The specter of Sputnik orbiting overhead has a profound influence on Homer...he is captivated by the idea of space and rocketry. He becomes the heart and soul of a group of four HS students who start to dabble in making model rockets of their own...much to his father's chagrin.

You will sorrow with Homer and his friends in their setbacks, and revel with them in their successes. Laura Dern plays a pivotal role as a teacher who encourages the boys to continue their experiments. Before long the whole town in caught up in their launches.

You'll love the way that Homer explains to the sherrif, in front of his class, why one of his rockets couldn't possibly have been responsible for starting a forest fire in the area...classic!

If you haven't seen this show, watch it! It's well worth your time.

As another reviewer aptly pointed out, this is a great film about teens...the teens look and act like teens. The players all do a great job!

"October Sky" is definitely a top-notch 5-star offering for the whole family!

Have a great day...

Alan Holyoak

An Insperation That Will Live In Your Heart
When released in 1999 this little movie was a movie that i knew nothing about and i was not sure if i wanted to see it. Although on a saturday afternoon i decided to see it and was i glad because this movie is about Homer H. Hickam Jr living in a small town named coalwood in 1957 when the russians launched Sputnik. Since he is destined to work down in the mines like his father he tries to make it out of there. Homer is played by newcomer Jake Gyllenhaal in a stand out performance. Chris Cooper as the gung ho dad about mining coal in a particularly strong performance and Laura Dern as Ms Riley who encourages the boys to go for there dreams or they will be in the mines.

Told with impeccable detail to the sets and the Photography it has the right look and feel to it. Directed by Joe Johnston who is know for such movies as The Rocketter is new and brings this movie to life. The end of the movie is very moving. Guarented you will go out loving this movie. This is one of the best films of 1999 and really deserves to be seen. Truly a movie that will live in your heart forever.

Inspirational top to bottom
This movie is insanely inspirational. If you buy any positive movie for your collection, think about this one. It tells the story of Homer Hickam and the Rocket boys. Just after the USSR launched Sputnik (the first manmade satellite), the US had to play catch-up.

At this time is when a kid (Homer) decides to build a Rocket. The movie is the quest to build a working rocket and get the hell out of the little coal mining community he is stuck in. He has dreams to get to college and work for NASA.

Will he accomplish his dreams??? Hells yea! After he makes it through two science fairs and his father. This is one of those rare movies that will make you a better person for having seen it. Do yourself the favor and get this movie.

One of the best rocket movies ever
As a rocket scientist from a top five university, I am astonished about how much this movie correlates with my own experiences. Not only is this movie a great representation of the glory of flight, it also encompasses the human spirit. This movie is not just for rocket enthusiasts. It is for anybody that has had a dream or a passion and let nothing get in the way of it. This movie is captivating and motivating.

whiz bang!
Homer Hickam is a ordinary coalminer teen.His dad is head of the mine and he raises hell a lot.Homer has a tough time getting close.His biggest sore point is that he detests the mine.He doesn't want to end up under the earth forever.He trys football.Thats the only way any of his friends have gone to collage.He fails in that.He wishes a girl would notice him.He does have two loyal friends.Then everything changes with Sputnik.Seeing it flying over the stars above his head is the moment when he realizes his calling.Soon he starts thinking about rockets.Why not build one? He goes to the poor nerdy boy for help.Soon the four have become allies.Homers first attempt in the science of rockets goes flat(well,the fence goes flat).His dad is angry and tells him to quit this craze.Homer won't do it,so he goes off in the woods and starts testing rockets.Some go nutty,some explode.Nothing works.Finally,when the whole town is there to watch,it happens.The rocket soars high.His teacher tells him to enter his rocket designs in the science fair.It seems like sucess is at hand when Homer's dad gets hurt.Homer must go down in the mine and work to support the family.His dream is shattered.
Does Homer Hickum get a scolarship with his rocket? Watch and see. ... Read more

Reviews (207)

coal miner reviews
I am a coal miner and have been for many years. I grew up during the same time period as the movie and lived and worked in the coal camps portrayed . I am also an avid movie watcher and "OCTOBER SKY" is by far one of the best movies of all time. It is probably one of my top five favorites and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a heartwarming, true to life movie. The characters, language, scenery and incidents are impeccable. Would'nt change a thing. The movie didn't play in my area so I drove about 75 miles to Charleston just to see it and I wasn't disappointed. TWO THUMBS UP!

Incredible
October Sky didn't even find its way to the small theater in my town, so I figured the movie wasn't really worth seeing. When it was available for rental, I rented it and was totally suprised. This movie was INCREDIBLE. The plot is very well written, and it's a very touching story. (I found myself almost crying several times.) October Sky is a story about sucess, failures, dreams, and family pride. I would call it one of the best movies of the 1990s.

Simply a wonderful movie
I saw this movie on the trop from Switzerland to the USA and it did certainly shorten the long flight :-) It's a wonderfully entertaining movie, showing us the beginning of the new age of the sixties and the dreams of young people of that time that finally led us to the exploration of space...

Probably the first TRUE family movie I've ever seen
In saying this is the first true family video I've seen, I mean a video that is not just for kids, but is one that the entire family can not only tolerate, but love. Recently, myself, my husband, another couple, their 2 kids ages 12 and 10 and my son age 5 all watched this movie. Each and every one of us loved it. The message and the story will stay with us for years to come. The husband of the other couple is from West Virginia, where this movie is set, and both his grandparents were coal miners. He said the setting and the details were incredibly accurate. Every bit of acting was right on target. The fact that this is a true story, and the pictures and stories at the end of what happened to all the characters, made this even more moving. I remember reading about this movie and thinking it didn't really sound that interesting, and not really wanting to see it, but I was certainly wrong. Don't make the mistake I almost did--don't miss this.

My inspiration
Do you feel constrained in your job? Are you an unhappy student? Then this movie is for you. I first watched the rental and I was deeply touched and inspired by it. I right away decided that this movie is worth owning, so I bought myself a copy. I don't regret it. Every time I watch it, it makes me re-evaluate my life and inspires me to go after what I value most. It makes me realize that I, too, can do what most people will tell me is impossible. It inspires me to keep trying and keep dreaming. You must own this movie so it touches and inspires everyone who visits your home. ... Read more

Reviews (69)

Fun Fantasy Tied With History
The Rocketeer had a very special memory for me. It was the opening movie to first be shown at the newly refurbished El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood; CA. Disney bought the old theatre and spent about 10 million dollars refurbishing it. It is a beautiful theatre and contains the original fixtures and décor - newly repainted - and the most sophisticated digital and THX movie theatre systems around.

Now, that aside, the film was a fantasy filled adventure set in the not so distant past (30's - 40's) about a secret device invented by Mr. Howard Hughes himself which was stolen by some gangster with the intentions of steeling it Hitler himself. The special effects are great and the Rocket is very cool. Even the costumes were very unique.

The device is a jet pack that when worn with a special helmet made by the character played by Alan Arkin, will allow the person to fly through the air (and water) at great speeds. With the villainous Timothy Dalton playing a Nazi spy and world famous actor chasing him. Paul Servino plays a great Mafioso.

The film stars relatively new comers at the time Bill Campbell and Jennifer Connolly as the boyfriend-girlfriend who end up having the mafia, Nazi's and the FBI chasing them! It got a lot of heart and a lot of humor and it is a great family film. I really enjoyed this. No real extras on this DVD but maybe later. I think you'll enjoy this too.

A Wonderful Ride!
The Rocketeer is one of the most enjoyable action-adventure movies ever made. Everything about this film is wonderful. Director Joe Johnson perfectly captures the look and feel of Hollywood (or what Hollywood should look and feel like) during the 1930s. Great casting with Bill Campbell right on target at Cliff Secord, Jennifer Connelly as his best girl, Jenny Blake, Alan Arkin as Cliff's mentor and mechanic/inventor friend, and Timothy Dalton as the evil Nazi spy-movie star Neville Sinclair. Like Raiders of the Lost Ark, it is a homage to the film serials of the period, but with a lot more spit and polish. The special effects are great, the set decoration, costumes, makeup, all evoke the time and place perfectly. A wonderful script adapted from the graphic novel of the same name sets this movie apart from others in this genre. The dialogue is funny, fast and at sometimes furious. Campbell plays the All-American boy with a real gee whiz, almost Jimmy Stewart kind of charm. The plot about a secret plan by the Nazis to build rocket packs for an army of "Rocketeers" to take over the world is added and abetted by Dalton as the Errol Flynn-like movie star. When a prototype rocket pack accidentally ends up in the hands of Campbell and Arkin, the action, and their troubles, really start. This film is filled with dozens of wonderful characterizations. Some of the best are Paul Sorvino as gangster Eddie Valentine, Terry O'Quinn as Howard Hughes, and Tiny Ron as Lothar. The musical score by James Horner is outstanding. It's heroic, quiet and inspiring. Why this film didn't turn out to be the big blockbuster it should have been is beyond me. I love Raiders of the Lost Ark, but this film matches it in almost every category. One of my favorite modern films, I never tire of watching it. Perfect entertainment and perfect for all ages. The Rocketeer is a real winner.

Top Notch Movie... So-So DVD
I ordered "The Rocketeer" over a year ago and finally had chance to watch it this past weekend. I haven't seen it in several years, and I must say, it's even better than I remembered it! Billy Campbell is terrific and Jennifer Connely glows. Alan Arkin is a reliable sidekick... and Timothy Dalton positively shines as the villain of the piece! The movie has a Saturday matinee feel to it, but with top-notch production values. It also has a great sense of humor. It's one of the best movies that no one saw. Too bad. I was disappointed with the picture quality of my dvd. Is this common for this particular release, or did I get a lemon? Also would have like to have seen some additional extra features. I know I saw a featurette on creating the rocket-pack scenes somewhere many years ago. Regardless... This is one movie I'm really glad to have. I'll be watching and re-watching it for years to come.

An AWESOME MOVIE!
This is one of the most coolest, fun filled movies I have ever seen because of everything that it has to make it a great movie. Simply GREAT!!!!!!

Nice!
THIS MOVIE IS SO COOL AND IS A MUST SEE FOR ALL COMIC BOOK FANS! TRULY TRULY GREAT! ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Welcome to the Jungle
Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst face bigger-than-life jungle dangers in the engaging family adventure "Jumanji". Young Alan Parrish finds a mysterious board game and is vanished to an imaginable jungle realm. 26 years later, two unsuspected children (Kirsten Dunst & Bradley Pierce) freed the now adult Alan (Robin Williams) and unleash the jungle world of Jumanji upon their quiet town. Based on the best-selling children's book, "Jumanji" is an exciting fast-paced fantasy adventure. Director Joe Johnston combines elements of adventure, fantasy and humor to create an enchanting family spectacle. The clever storyline and characters are certainly amusing. The film contains some great special effects and thrilling scenes but a few effects weren't quite polished. The cast also includes Bonnie Hunt, Bebe Neuwirth, Jonathan Hyde and David Alan Grier.

"Jumanji" Collector Edition is a vast improvement over the previous bare-bones edition. The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains an impressive video transfer and a clear 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with dynamic surround effects. Among special features, this Collector Series DVD includes multiple behind-the-scenes and FX featurettes, audio commentary with FX supervisor Ken Ralston, theatrical trailers and some great animated menus. Overall, "Jumanji" Collector's Series DVD earns a "B+".

Greaat Movie
This is a great movie!
Its 1969. Alan Parish has troubles with his father. He finds a game named Jumanji at a construction site. He plays with his former friend Sarah Whiddle. They play, and until the game reads 5 or 8, in the jungle he must wait. The game isn't played until 26 years later by a young girl and boy that will be living in the Parish home. Peter, the young boy, rolls a 5, or 8, and he is unleashed. This wild movie is all in one day! It turns out they can not play until Sarah Whiddle joins. They find her and the whole town, including her try to believe it was the father that killed him. I hate to say it, but the ending is sad. Once they finish the game, it should all dissappear. Robin Williams isn't the only one relased from the game. Who else? Go buy it now!

Sorry Robin
Jumanji has its moments, but you might as well tape it off cable. Robin Williams is probably embarrassed about this film, although it's not entirely his fault. The film drags, the characters are stick figures. Almost dreadful.

BUTTOCKS IN THE JUNGLE
DID YOU KNOW THEY HAVE A SPECIAL MACHINE WICH TAKES PANTAS WHICH HAVE BEEN POOPED INTO AND TURNS IT INTO A FILM
THIS IS THE FIRST FILM TO BE PRODUCED IN THIS WAY
UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS SUCCESSFUL SO NOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE (SEE MARIO, SPACE JAM, POPEYE).
THIS HAD ROBIN WILLIAMS FACE SQUASHED INTO THE POO TO GIVE IT A CHARACTERISTIC FLAVOUR, BUT IT IS STILL A POOP IN YOUR PANTAS.

WATCH OUT, THIS ONE MAY SEEP ONTO YOUR FLOOR AND CAUSE YOU TO SLIP AND BREAK YOUR NECK

exellent family film
This film is wonderful, who ever written this must have an amazing imagination, its got all genres, frightning, funny, romantic,weird. This is a beautifully made family film.as good for mum and dad as it is for the kids.Alan Parish life is turned upside down when he discovers the mysterious board game jumanji,in his attic, he plays it with friend sarah until he is sucked into the game to a jungle full of animals,20 years on he escapes and returns to his home to find his parents have died and finds two kids living in his house.peterand judy. they play the game,resulting in a flood, a stampede.....this film is so magical,i havent heard one bad word for it.the acting is exeptional, robin williams best film ever made.i recommend you to try this film out. gather by the television,eat popcorn and put your feet up.one for all the family even grandma and grandpa will like it! ... Read more

Reviews (655)

A heart pumping rollercoaster ride of a movie.
The 3rd installment of the JP franchise is without a doubt that darkest, fastest-moving, heart-pounding, and exciting movie in the film series. Sure the 1st JP is a pure classic and The Lost World tries to recapture the awe of the orginal and The Lost World *tries* to do the same thing but doesn't pull it off very well. Jurassic Park 3 tells you right from the start with a claw ripping through the JP logo that this time the dinosaurs aren't playing around. Sam Neil returns and gives a excellent performance as usual. The supporting cast does well also with William H. Macy and Tea Lenio giving strong performances. The real winners here though are the dinosaurs. As soon as humans once again arrive and disrupt their natural habitat they are just fed up it seems and don't play any games. In the first two films the dinosaurs seem a bit hesitant to eat some good ol' human flesh but, not in this film though. The new bad boy Spinosaurus quickly claims himself as the king of the jungle by taking out one of the legendary actors of the series. (You will seat what I mean) The raptors return badder and smarter. The most immpresive new Dino by far in the flying Pterandons. The special effects are as usual .. amazing. This a perfect addition to any Jurassic Park fan's DVD library.

JPIII
This movie is just pure fun. Thats all it is! The series is going to be if not already classic. See these films! Theyre a blast!

Newer Dinos Means A Fresh Film
Being a lifelong Dinosaur fan, I had to check out JP///. The trailers were making the movie seem really big and fresh with bringing Spinosaurus in to replace Tyrannosaurus as the starring role as super-predator in the JP series. The film moves at a pretty fast rate which can be good and bad. The Dinosaurs in the film are more believable now that the CGI programmers had the ability to make the Dinos' skin wobble when they moved and to have other parts of their body be in sync with the rest of their body.
The characters really don't have much development in the film which is okay considering you came to see Dinosaurs. But there is just enough character development for the moviegoer to understand each character.
My only gripes are with the film that it just seemed like the Dino action seemed to go downhill as the movie progressed. It starts off very well with the Spinosaurus attacking the plane and then eventually battling Tyrannosaurus (which I was hoping wouldn't show up until the final minutes of the film, giving it a climatic ending). After that, the Dinos seemed kinda sparse and the action shorter and shorter. The raptors also kinda got old. Like with T-rex, the filmmakers should have replaced the raptors with other Dinos. Maybe Baryonyxs? Also some science is forgotten in this film. But they had Jack Horner as their Dino supervisor, so it was a given some wrenches would be thrown in the mix. Also, the film seemed really short. With some newer dinos added to the screen that have never been seen before, I was hoping that they would have some pretty nifty Dinosaur battle sequences and Dinosaur-human encounters.
All in all, while JP/// was, somewhat, of a letdown for me, it still provided the goods for the most part.

Redeeming Qualities
Yes, this movie does have some plot holes, and it is not as good as the first movie in the series, but this movie is definitely better than "The Lost World." Somewhat formulaic at this point, but still a decent movie with a simpler and more plausible plot line than the previous movie.

A couple's son is parasailing off the back of a boat off Isla Sorna when something unseen happens to the people driving the boat. The boy's parents, Paul Kirby (William H. Macy) and Amanda Kirby (Téa Leoni), enlist Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) to help get the boy back. However, they have to trick Dr. Malcolm into returning to the island, because he, rightfully, thinks being on that island is a very bad idea.

As it turns out, landing a plane on the island was a very bad idea, and now the erstwhile rescuers are running for their lives. Along the way they find Erik Kirby (Trevor Morgan), and the only remaining task is to escape from the island.

Several new dinosaurs are introduced in this movie, including really cool pteranodons and a spinosaurus. The pteranodons act like giant birds, and are appropriately scary. The spinosaurus shows that the tyrannosaurus was not the king of the world. The encounters with the dinosaurs recall the thrills of the first movie in this series and are interesting and enjoyable.

There are a few plot holes in this movie, but fewer than in the previous movie. By keeping the plot simple and having fewer characters with a simpler motivation the movie avoids the incongruities of the previous movie. This movie was more creative and intriguing and favored adrenaline over depth, as in the first movie. The shorter length of the movie also minimizes opportunities to overly analyze the plot, keeping the focus on the action. A sequel not quite as good as the original, but superior to its predecessor.

Better than the 2nd, not as good as the first
Good movie. It was an improvment over the 2nd. It has a lot more dinosaurs, which makes it entertaining. If you like the first two, i recommend you to see this one.

MPAA: PG-13
Running Time: 93 minutes
Year released: 2001 ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of Macaulay Culkin's last movies
The Pagemaster is a rare movie, that has both live action and animation. It's about a boy that hates heights (and who couldn't blame him). And is also a rare live action movie that has a G rating. The live action part of the movie was directed by Joe Johnston. And the animation part of the movie was directed by Maurice Hunt. As the movie opens, Ricard Tyler (Macaulay Culkin) is sent to get some nails for the tree house his father is bulding in a tree, Richard refuses to climb. But it starts to rain. So Richard takes shelter in a library, where a man (Christopher Lloyd) who claims that he has a talent for what people need. He ends up with a library card, and asks the man where the phone is. Christopher Lloyd also voices the title character. And when paint starts to fall from a picture of the Pagemaster, Richard tries to find the exit, but can't, and is turned into a cartoon character, and is visited by the Pagemaster, who tells him that he has to get to the exit to get back to a human character, which he is still in the library.

A Wonderful Story!
I first saw this movie with my own Mom when it first came out into the theatres. I am now 14-and I don't care what you think- and I absolutely loved this movie.

I agree with the review by amazon.com which declares the "animation to be middling, but what can you say about a movie that encourages a kid to pick up a book?" That is so true. In a way, this story reminds me of myslef...no, I'm not overprotective of myself or obsessed with statistics...but I do love to read...fantasy for that matter, and this pulls me back into another fantasy realms that I cannot explain.

Only other people who are like me in this way will enjoy this at older ages, but this is a must-see for all young children! They will love this! I personally think that it in itself is much better that some of Disney's stuff. Enjoy!

A terrible waste of talent...
---
...in terms of the actors and energy devoted to a potentially exciting idea, spoiled by lack of true imagination on the part of the writers, producers, and directors of this movie. When anticipating theatrical release, the kids in the family were excited by the trailers, but they were excruciatingly bored by the film itself, which proved to be unimaginative, uninspired, and without the sort of spark to be expected of the collection of voice and acting talents participating therein.

And I could determine in '94 why the movie was bound to suck. Note that the three genres of fiction instantiated in *The Pagemaster* were:

(1) Fantasy

(2) Adventure

(3) Horror

Not a whiff of Science Fiction, kiddies. Of course. Proverbs 29:18 all over the place ("Without a vision, the people perish"). The mark of the mundanes is all over this movie. Ostensible credits notwithstanding, if there was a genuine science fiction fan involved in the production of *The Pagemaster*, he was kept drugged and trussed up in a trunk somewhere on the set so he couldn't interfere with the process of turning perfectly good ingredients like these into a flat, uninteresting, drooling dollop of witlessness.

Beware the mark of the mundanes, my people! In this as in everything else in life, they are walking Black Holes of vapidness, guaranteeing in every spoiled celluloid square of *The Pagemaster* an overwhelming dose of major suckage.
---

A Delightful Fantasy
Macaulay Culkin plays a young man named Richard Tyler, who, thanks to his obsessive calculations of the statistics of accidents caused by anything and everything, is afraid of everything including heights, darkness, fire, etc.,etc. One day, his father (after falling off a short treehouse he made for Richard) assigns him to go and buy some new nails for the completion of the house. Richard protests at first, but eventually, regretfully goes. On his way he encounters kid "bullies" (too bad acting for their own good) and speeds off on his bike through a tunnel, and due to the darkness the storm creates, crashes into a tree. He then seeks shelter in an old, deserted (for the night) library where he meets the head librarian, slightly-mad (as always) Christopher Lloyd. who immediately tries to find a way to get Richard to check out a book. Richard says he doesn't have a card, but Lloyd, like magic, whips up a brand-new library card for him to rent books with. Richard then goes looking around the huge library, almost just to get Lloyd off his back about it, and after getting turned around, slips on a little puddle of rain water, leaking in from the roof of the library. He gets knocked unconscious, and is greeted afterwards by the greatest man in the world of books: the Pagemaster, who explains to him he will have to conquer his greatest fears with the help of 3 types of literature: Fantasy, Adventure, and Horror. When he meets these 3 books he faces each of his fears by conquering over literatures' greatest and darkest characters including Long John Silver, Moby Dick, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, and a haunted cemetery. When he awakens from his unconsciousness, he checks out the 3 books that helped him during his adventures and lives without any fears, firstly by sleeping in his new treehouse. A charming, wonderfully crafted, however dull it may be, children's fable that never fails to delight. And will definitely cause any viewers to want to read more.

this is not bad definitly not bad at all
I like the part where tyler gets anamated i recomend this movie for people who like live and anamation. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Where's "The Lost World"?
Here is an interesting combination of movies that initially may not seem to make sense. Why have the first and third movie in the series and leave out the second? There are two possible reasons. First, there is a trilogy set available with a fourth DVD that covers the making of the series. I prefer that set over this one because it is comprehensive and, though the second movie is my least favorite, it gives me the entire set in a single collection. Second, there are many people, myself included, that felt the second movie was too unbelievable and had too many plot holes, and passed that movie over.

Of course, the first movie introduced us to what digital computer technology could do for dinosaurs. The movie was as ground-breaking as "Alien" was in its time. While there were a few plot inconsistencies, the plot and the action was so fast that you did not have time to dwell on them. Sam Neill and Laura Dern were outstanding and believable leads in their roles, as well as Richard Attenborough. I cringed, and still do, every time I see the tyrannosaurus try to catch up with the jeep. This scene was but one of the many excellent scenes in this movie.

"Jurassic Park III" simplified the plot, added new dinosaurs, and allowed the characters to develop more than "The Lost World." The short length of the movie forced the movie to be more simple than the previous movie, and that simplicity made for a good movie. The best new dinosaur in this movie had to be the pteranodons, though the spinosaur was great also. The characters in this movie generally acted as I would expect them to, and there were fewer outright acts of stupidity. Even the theft of a raptor egg was done in ignorance. So while it was a convenient plot device, you would expect something like that by someone with only minimal knowledge of dinosaurs. I was very happy to see Sam Neill returning in the role of Dr. Alan Grant. His character particularly is very believable.

If "The Lost World" was just too contrived for you, and you are uninterested in the fourth DVD in the trilogy collection, then I recommend getting this collection. Five stars for having the two best movies of the series in one collection.

great fun! love the dinos!
Have you ever been a dino freak? Then this movie is for you. Yes the movie is a bit intense, parnets cautioned for the younger ones. And yes if you have ever read the books, they so badly fall off the track. but it is fun none the less. the begining is awesome, it brings you straight into the momentum of the danger of this park and never slows down. and it keeps you chilly all through the movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After the success of Jurassic Park in 1993, the floodgates opened for digital special effects, and Jumanji is nothing if not a showcase for computer-generated creepiness guaranteed to give young children a nightmare or two. Whether that was the filmmakers' intention is up for debate, since this is a PG-rated adventure revolving around a mysterious board game that unleashes a terrifying jungle world upon its players, including gigantic spiders, huge mosquitoes, a stampede of rhinos, elephants, and every other jungle beast you can imagine. Robin Williams plays a man-child who's been trapped in the world of "Jumanji" for 26 years until he's freed by two kids who've discovered the game and released its parade of dangerous horrors. A chaotic and misguided attempt at family entertainment, the movie does offer a few good laughs, and the effects are frequently impressive, if not entirely convincing to the eye. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Welcome to the Jungle
Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst face bigger-than-life jungle dangers in the engaging family adventure "Jumanji". Young Alan Parrish finds a mysterious board game and is vanished to an imaginable jungle realm. 26 years later, two unsuspected children (Kirsten Dunst & Bradley Pierce) freed the now adult Alan (Robin Williams) and unleash the jungle world of Jumanji upon their quiet town. Based on the best-selling children's book, "Jumanji" is an exciting fast-paced fantasy adventure. Director Joe Johnston combines elements of adventure, fantasy and humor to create an enchanting family spectacle. The clever storyline and characters are certainly amusing. The film contains some great special effects and thrilling scenes but a few effects weren't quite polished. The cast also includes Bonnie Hunt, Bebe Neuwirth, Jonathan Hyde and David Alan Grier.

"Jumanji" Collector Edition is a vast improvement over the previous bare-bones edition. The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains an impressive video transfer and a clear 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with dynamic surround effects. Among special features, this Collector Series DVD includes multiple behind-the-scenes and FX featurettes, audio commentary with FX supervisor Ken Ralston, theatrical trailers and some great animated menus. Overall, "Jumanji" Collector's Series DVD earns a "B+".

Greaat Movie
This is a great movie!
Its 1969. Alan Parish has troubles with his father. He finds a game named Jumanji at a construction site. He plays with his former friend Sarah Whiddle. They play, and until the game reads 5 or 8, in the jungle he must wait. The game isn't played until 26 years later by a young girl and boy that will be living in the Parish home. Peter, the young boy, rolls a 5, or 8, and he is unleashed. This wild movie is all in one day! It turns out they can not play until Sarah Whiddle joins. They find her and the whole town, including her try to believe it was the father that killed him. I hate to say it, but the ending is sad. Once they finish the game, it should all dissappear. Robin Williams isn't the only one relased from the game. Who else? Go buy it now!

Sorry Robin
Jumanji has its moments, but you might as well tape it off cable. Robin Williams is probably embarrassed about this film, although it's not entirely his fault. The film drags, the characters are stick figures. Almost dreadful.

BUTTOCKS IN THE JUNGLE
DID YOU KNOW THEY HAVE A SPECIAL MACHINE WICH TAKES PANTAS WHICH HAVE BEEN POOPED INTO AND TURNS IT INTO A FILM
THIS IS THE FIRST FILM TO BE PRODUCED IN THIS WAY
UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS SUCCESSFUL SO NOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE (SEE MARIO, SPACE JAM, POPEYE).
THIS HAD ROBIN WILLIAMS FACE SQUASHED INTO THE POO TO GIVE IT A CHARACTERISTIC FLAVOUR, BUT IT IS STILL A POOP IN YOUR PANTAS.

WATCH OUT, THIS ONE MAY SEEP ONTO YOUR FLOOR AND CAUSE YOU TO SLIP AND BREAK YOUR NECK

exellent family film
This film is wonderful, who ever written this must have an amazing imagination, its got all genres, frightning, funny, romantic,weird. This is a beautifully made family film.as good for mum and dad as it is for the kids.Alan Parish life is turned upside down when he discovers the mysterious board game jumanji,in his attic, he plays it with friend sarah until he is sucked into the game to a jungle full of animals,20 years on he escapes and returns to his home to find his parents have died and finds two kids living in his house.peterand judy. they play the game,resulting in a flood, a stampede.....this film is so magical,i havent heard one bad word for it.the acting is exeptional, robin williams best film ever made.i recommend you to try this film out. gather by the television,eat popcorn and put your feet up.one for all the family even grandma and grandpa will like it! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

You may want to mow the lawn instead of watching
Hulk:

We all know it is a no-no to do genetic experiments on people. And once again a scientist David Banner has to do it to himself. Now to compound the problem he passes a trait onto his offspring Bruce Banner (Eric Bana). Add a little lab accident and et voila instant hulk.

This is not the best integration of real, animation and CGI. Yet the story is told and you have fun watching. There is a father / son conflict and a misunderstood Hulk dismantles a lot of military equipment with extreme prejudice. This film does not try to follow the TV series and is not so dated. The only real drawback is that Jennifer Connelly is just too cute and you forget to keep track of the story line.
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Jurassic Park III

It is always fun to see dinosaurs eat people. I like the chase scenes and the "stay in the car" scenes. Even the consumption of a satellite phone can be fun. But you can only dumb things down so much before losing any plausibility. In a mediocre movie you root for the creature to eat the dumb person that walks up to it and says, "Aren't you just the cutest thing?" In this one the characters are not worth eating. The story line and execution are so incredible that it does not matter that there are transparent to the viewer form the start. They should have went ahead and made it campy.

Basic story is paleontologist would not set foot on island of ancient creatures. Mysterious couple with lots of cashes just wants him to point out the highlights from the air (yeah sure).

One item in the plus is Sam Neil has more than one expression.

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Just a note to those people that are watching this pair of films because San Neill is in them, may want to invest in the 1983 mini series Reilly - Ace of Spies as he does an exceptionally good job of acting.
... Read more