Reviews (35)

Best weekend of my life
Boy, when I rented this movie, I had no idea whatsoever that it would be this funny.

When Larry (Andrew McCarthy) and Richard (Johnathan Silverman) uncover an embezzlement scam at their office, they report it to their boss, Bernie Lomax (Terry Kiser), expecting a promotion, not expecting that Bernie himself is the culprit. Bernie invites them to his beachhouse that weekend, planning to have them killed by a mafia hit man. But, the mafia bad guys have other plans, and they have him killed before Larry and Richard arrive. When they discover Bernie's dead, they at first want to tell the police, despite the fact that they may inadvertendly frame themselves. They soon decide to keep up the face the Bernie's still alive and kickin'.

Did I laugh? HELL YEAH!! WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S has got to be one of the funniest movies ever. It's hilarious to watch Larry and Richard desperately trying to make Bernie's corpse appear to still have a spark, like in the scene where they try to get on a boat with Bernie's body. How they make it appear that he's walking is hard to describe, and even harder not ot laugh at.

Another great scene, involving Bernie's girlfriend from NYC, who goes into a room where Bernie's body is waiting. She emerges from the room as a necropheiliac without even knowing Bernie was dead. This was somewhat overlooked by the critics, but it is worthy of positions held in the "greatest movies of all time list" by movies like VERTIGO or TITANIC, which aren't very good.

That's more than I can say for the sequel, WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S 2, but if you can laugh at things like a corpse jetskiing (so to speak), and I'm sure you can, than stop by BERNIE'S this WEEKEND. As I said above, it was the best WEEKEND of my life.

Funny; just... just FUNNY
Alright alright ALRIGHT, I admit it; I love this movie. I have never so unapologetically laughed until I cried at a more stupid movie in my entire life before seeing this flick! Somehow some people in Hollywood got together and found a creative team to create the perfect vehicle for a succession of some of the most stupid, implausible, and absolutely hilarious sight gags and jokes and bits I have ever seen. the runnig gag in my family, every time we bring this up is "...I'm blind..." Awww BERNIE!

Trust me, I love a good Gore vidal or Toni Morrison novel as much as the next guy, and there's nothing like a Foreign or Spielberg or classic film from the 40's or 70's to challenge your mind body and soul... and then every now and then you need something that you can just pop in a VCR and laugh until you cry, rolling off the couch onto the floor, spilling popcorn and the whole nine! Where many comedians and much of Jim Carrey's stuff attempts this (and misses for me), WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S did it.

Funny. Like, for real.

Dark Comedy, Light Fun
The cast is perfect and the sets, music, and all that went into this movie seem to meld to make a very funny movie. Andrew McCarthy as Larry Wilson and Jonathan Silverman as Richard Parker are a good match for co-workers at an insurance company. Larry the brown nosing party man and Richard the hard working nerd. When Richard discovers a two million dollar mistake in claims their boss Bernie invites them over for the weekend to discuss it. What happens after that is sick, demented, and funny. Any fan of "8 Heads in a Duffel Bag" and "The Whole Nine Yards" should enjoy it. This is one of those rare movies were seeing a dead person being lugged around, beat up, dropped, bareface ski, washed around in the tide, shot, strangled, and more is just plain outrageously funny.

"Can't you see he's dead?"
I got this movie as a birthday gift from my ladyfriend. As I'd never seen it before, I asked her why she chose it. She said she thought it was a favorite of mine, as my friends and I referred to it a lot. While true, we weren't discussing the plot; just how my friend George looks a lot like Bernie when he's passed out. Anyway, one morning while I was nursing a nasty hangover, I deemed myself in the proper state to handle this movie.

To quote Elaine from "Seinfeld," "This is so stupid! Bernie is dead! Just because you put a hat on him isn't going to make him less dead!" This movie is awful. I love 80s comedies - heck, I consider "Bachelor Party" Tom Hanks's best work (just read my review) and eagerly await the next installment of "Police Academy" - but this movie is miserable. The only times I laughed while watching "Weekend at Bernie's" it was at my ladyfriend for actually finding something humorous in the movie.

My friend Dan, knowing of my disdain for "Weekend at Bernie's," got me "Weekend at Bernie's II" (it's voodoo, baby, voodoo). Expect my review of that film to be posted a day or so after the next time I decide to wash down some vodka and Gatorade with a hurricane.

Best movie ever.
Anyone with cable has probably seen and will see at least a few minutes of Weekend at Bernie's every week for their entire life. It's so a part of our culture that we don't question it anymore. But imagine having never heard of Weekend at Bernie's, and through the filter of a modern sense of irony, seeing a preview for it in the movie theater. "Hey, this looks sort of funny. I like these movies about partying at the beach... hold on... are those two dudes playing with a corpse? Oh my god - they're dressing it up and taking it to the party with them. I hope it leaks something infectious onto their sick asses!"

Anyways, Weekend at Bernie's is the awesomest, eightiesest, most radical movie of all time. Rent it. Buy it. Sleep with it. Just watch it. Sheer 80s awesomeness. *thumbs up* ... Read more

Reviews (12)

a real good film
Nick Nolte&Mac Davis give great performances in this film.this film pre-dates all of the maddness that has happened in the NFL since it's release.drugs,sex,coaches,etc..this film is one of the best sports movies.the real life Dallas Cowboys finally caught up with the film in the mid-90's.

For movie lovers and football fans
NORTH DALLAS FORTY delivers first-rate entertainment. Football fans will note stinging parodies of a few famous NFL players/coaches. Among quality performances from Nick Nolte, Mac Davis, Charles Durning and the late John Matuszak, actor Bo Svenson stands out. Svenson adds depth to what could have been a cartoonish role of an immature, stupid muscle-head, and it is unfortunate that I have not seen him in anything else this good. The film's poster makes NORTH DALLAS FORTY look as though it is a pro football version of ANIMAL HOUSE. Sure, NORTH DALLAS FORTY is funny at times, but the film also takes on the abuses in big league sports and management's selective enforcement of the rules. Sports journalists, let alone other sports films, ought to address those issues as boldly.

LIKE A HELMET TO HELMET HIT
NORTH DALLAS FORTY is not just a sports film, it's an indictment of corporate America that was the forerunner of the "Greed is good" films of the 1980's. One of the nicest acting surprises of 1979 was Mac Davis as Seth Maxwell, the consumate huckster who fails in his quest to save his friend, Phil Elliott from his own pre determined gridiron destiny. As Elliott, Nick Nolte, gives 1 of his 3 best performances and he and Davis play perfectly off each other. This film is a winner. All that was missing was NFL Films "Voice of God" John Facenda, with the play by play.

You, and B.A., and all the rest of you coaches are.....
An NFL wide receiver (Nolte) who purportedly has "the best hands in football" has been benched and is being used as a substitute. It's not for lack of ability or effort but because of his "attitude". He's been a starter for years and it's hard to take ("I'll die on the bench"). He needs to "give 'em what they want" and "you had better learn to play the game, and I don't just mean the game of football". Advice from his buddy Seth Maxwell (Mac Davis), who's the team's quarterback and a "star", is good advice, but Elliot (Nolte)doesn't seem to have it in him to follow it. Catching a winning TD pass from Maxwell in the closing seconds isn't enough. The play was a "fluke", as summed up by their head coach B.A. (G.D. Spradlin) while analyzing the game film the following week. The week after the game is what the show is about. The meetings, practices, workouts and various extra curricular activities, all leading up to the next game in Chicago. Charles Durning plays an assistant coach who is a constant bother to the players while he drinks bottles of Maalox. Bo Svenson (Joe Bob) and John Matuszak (O.W.) play excellent supporting roles along with many other actors. If you grew up thinking professional athletes were the salt of the earth this show may very well make you reconsider.

North Dallas 40 rocks!
Nick Nolte does a supurb job as a veteran wide receiver playing for a top team in the NFL during the late 60's or early 70's. The fact that he is an individual in a team sport makes this story even more exciting. Although he has come to the time in his career when medical science and tons of pain killers are a necessary daily diet in order to lace up the old cleets one more time for the team, he does not shirk his responsibilities or take the easy road when it comes to performing his job. Mack Davis turns in a creditable acting job as Seth the veteran QB of the team that has his way even when he is wrong. Now if you think that this movie is all about football you will miss the true meaning and emotion of the entire event. In the midst of a savage and hostile working environment a person can still be true to self amidst the greedy management side of a very tough sport. I hope that this whets your appetite to get this movie. There are memorable moments in and out of the locker room. The tell all book written by Peter Gent was more than an eye opener back a few decades ago and this rendition of the book does it justice in every way. Once you start watching this movie you will not want to turn it off! If you are a fan of football reality, you will want this movie. Oh, by the way, the author Peter Gent played professional football for the Dallas Cowboys back in the 60's I believe. That is what makes this movie so creditable and Peter does not hold back anything. Enjoy!! By the way I think that this movie is rated "R" for brief nudity, language, and violence. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

RAMBO WHO?
This was the first movie to address the previously hidden subject of soldiers missing in action after the Vietnam War. It predates Rambo First Blood II by almost two years. Comparing the two films is like comparing Muhammad Ali to a preliminary boy. Uncommon Valor is an excellent movie - well directed, well scripted and the incredible versatility of Gene Hackman shines through. It was the first movie to show Vietnam veterans in a positive light and changed the groundrules for portraying veterans and the war on the big and small screen. Many people were upset by the film's ending - if you like happy endings this is not for you. Still, it is handled sensitively and doesn't detract from the rest of the film. One shining talent is the fellow who plays Blaster (Reb Brown) whom producer John Milius previously used in Big Wednesday, another classic film. Reb appeared in several other movies as well as a guest spot on the 1970s TV sitcom Happy Days. Another actor who glows like a beacon is Randall "Tex" Cobb. Robert Stack puts in a glowing performance as the millionaire businessman who finances the mission to rescue the POWs. An interesting thing is the fact that this was one of Patrick Swayze's first films. The success of movies like Dirty Dancing and Ghost can be traced back to his role as the young and gung-ho marine who joins the mission to rescue his father. When this film was released in Australia it was called Uncommon Valour and had different opening titles. It was also rated PG. I can't for the life of me understand why the video is rated R. Perhaps the bad odor created by Rambo First Blood II has tainted all movies in this genre. Don't be put off by the rating - this is a movie you will want to play over and over.

Uncommonly Good!
I loved this one!It is so much better than those stupid Norris films!There is a great cast here that does a fine job(Hackman, Swayze, Stack, Randall "Tex" Cobb, Fred Ward,Reb Brown, Tim Thomerson, and Harold Sylvester).I almost wish they did a sequel, but this may not measure up. I saw this on the big screen when I was 14, and even then I was interested in learning more about the Vietnam War.This may not necessarily be a guidebook to what the war was like, but it certainly is a tribute to those that fought, got captured, and died in that war.Film is excellent and does not waste any time. Training scenes are best.One of the best parts is when the men learn that wanna be gung ho type Marine(discharged for striking an RTO who fell asleep!), who was not in Nam, wants to go save those men because his father was shot down in the war. Film is a fine production with good effects, and an effective use of location shooting. Interesting characterizations are conveyed to the audience rapidly as we learn a little about each man that is recruited by Hackman to go find the missing POWS(his son among them).I got teary-eyed at the end as survivor reveals to Hackman how his son died in the prison camp.If any American is not moved by this scene then you need about 20CCs of humanity.Highly recommended and important film.

Good, but not great
The plot for this movie was something that could result in a war-movie masterpiece. But everything is too jam-packed and fast-moving. Dramatic tensions aren't as strong as they could have been because he haven't been given enough time to get into the story, and at 107 minutes, they could have easily taken longer. But I liked it nontheless. Hackman is a good actor who plays the role well as a father rescuing his son, a Vietnam POW. He gathers up other troops in his son's old regime who've escaped capture, trains them in a replica of the camp, and they infiltrate in a well-filmed action squence. And I liked how the final scene show Hackman embracing a rescued POD who tells him that his so scrificed his life for that man's survuval. But all in all it was good, but not great, my main complaint is that we don't know enough about Hackman's character's realtionship with his son in the first place

Mission MIA remade into a movie
It had been a few years since I had last seen this movie but I can honestly say that it has held up better than most Vietnam War action movies. This movie is what those cheesy Chuck Norris vehicles aspired to be like but fell far short of. For all those who have seen and enjoyed this movie, I would reccomend that you try and locate the book by J.C. Pollack titled Mission MIA. Uncommon Valor was a blatent remake of this very entertaining book so much so, that you will be wondering why the producers just didn't credit the author. If I remember correctly, this was one of the first movies that actually portrayed Vietnam vets as honorable and in a positive light. All in all, this was a good movie about a topic that most Americans should think more about, our missing sevicemen. Let us not forget them.

Attention to Detail
Galveston, Texas, is located within a region called the Coastal Plains, which extend from Florida and border the Gulf of Mexico all the way around to the Yucatan Peninsula. The region stretches inland for more than 60 miles at most points. The Coastal Plains are sandy, covered with stubby scub-oak, and are flatter than anything you can imagine -- level, flat, completely flat, ugly and relatively barren.

So you can just imagine how Houston theater audiences reacted, about half an hour into this film, after a commando team has been assembled to train for a mission back to Nam... and we see a helicopter floating above a vista of beautiful, rugged, tree-covered low mountains divided by sparkling streams, with the onscreen caption "Somewhere Near Galveston, Texas." ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Columbia Home Vid Forgot the DELETED Scenes!!!
I loved this movie ever since i saw it when i was a kid.
Two additional scenes were added to the broadcast television premiere on ABC. One that stands out is a scene with Jane (Fonda) getting a job behind a cosmetics counter and having to confront a very difficult obese older female customer. This was a very funny scene that seems to now be lost and Is NOT going to be included in the new DVD release.
I didn't have a VCR at the time to timecapsule this extended version, It never was again! I hoped that it would make it's way onto DVD.
Columbia why do this!!!!! that scene as I rembember it was one of the best scenes in the film and made it even more enjoying. Unhappy fan :(

A Comic Tour De Force!
This film is a great comedy form the latter half of the 1970's.
Jane Fonda and George Segal play well of against eachother as a husband and wife forced to face economizing and pinching their pennys after Segal loses his job. After losing welfare and unemployment benifits, they resort to crime to pay the bills!
All in all a god movie and finally worthy of the DVD treatment!

One of my favorite movies
Charming and still funny. Sadly unknown. If you watch this alongside "Klute," you'll see how versatile Jane Fonda is.
RELEASE THE DVD!

Yes, where's the DVD version of this great movie ?
I bought this recently wondering if the fun would still be there after a few decades. Sometimes things have to be rethought, updated. "Dick and Jane" still works all by itself. We might be conditioned to think of Jane Fonda for her dramatic roles, but she is a superior comedian and does a superb job as Jane.

I consider it one of the top movies of all time -- but many people need weight and heft before they will stake any such claim. If you are one of those, I'm sorry. I will always love this film.

If anyone knows how to campaign for a DVD version, let us know. A few other reviewers have asked for a DVD version, I see.

One reason I wanted to write this review is that I recently saw "The Morning After" and was surprised that my opinion was so different than most reviews I researched. This is a fine look at Jane Fonda's ability by Sidney Lumet. I think a lot of people misunderstand what they are seeing, however. If you don't "get it" you might not appreciate the brilliance of this performance: we don't know who Fonda is portraying for most of the movie. Seeing an actor is most often like receiving a specially prepared gift. The actor's work ususally supplies a lot of "givens" to the developing story. Not the case in "The Morning After." Here, we are challenged rather than coddled to. Only near the end do we find that the character's history includes more than the status of a "ne'er-been" TV walk-on actress.

I was will be thinking about this movie for days and watching it again. And watching "Fun with Dick and Jane" more, too. Both of these films should make you proud of a job well done by Jane Fonda.

Hysterically funny and clever!!
I actually saw this at the theater when it first came out. I nearly wet my pants laughing. It's a little dated in styles now but still just as funny as ever. I'm sure everyone can relate to some of the scenes. One of my all time favorite movies and I am waiting to buy it on DVD! ... Read more

Description

A temperamental director and a powerful producer revisit a familiar scenario of love.Now, after one incredible night, it seems like nothing’s changed. ... Read more

Description

Ingrid Bergman plays a middle-aged woman going through a psychological crisis as a love affair ends. French playwright Jean Cocteau's one-character drama unfolds in the form of an extended monologue--a one-sided telephone conversation in which the woman tries to win back her lover despite her growing suspicion that he is calling from his young fiancée's home. "A tour de force... Ingrid Bergman gave a formidable display of passionate despair, showing a side in her talent not often vouchsafed by the movies." --Variety ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Realistic Yet Fascinating
I loved this film. It always appealed to me each and every time I viewed it. If you're in the mood for getting in touch with all your emotions, this movie is a MUST! McGillis and Russell are brilliant actors; there's no question about that.

Underappreciated! Very interesting and compelling...
This was a very memorable, unusually compelling movie with outstanding performances by Kurt Russell and Kelly McGillis. What a great movie! Kurt Russell was absolutely fabulous... almost as good as in Tombstone.

Quiet film about give and take, forgiveness and love.
A period story set in the North Carolina hills in what appears to be a place right smack dab in the middle of the Hatfields and McCoys--this time Wrights and Campbells. A shy sensitive widowed clock maker, Wayland Jackson, played by Kurt Russell on his way through the mountains with his only daughter becomes stuck in a creek and ends up sticking around for longer than he bargained. There he meets the elusive Collie Wright (Kelly McGillis's character) who with her only son seems to be living alone off from the small town. Immediately you sense a spark between the two but as the story progresses you realize there is a dark looming secret which threatens both lives. It appears Ellie's family has an ancient hatred that runs deep for their neighbors and would shootem' just as look at'em. Enter dark loomy character which is the babe's father and he's from the other side of the mountain. He is the exact opposite of our shy clock maker and Ellie knows this. Perhaps when some see the performances as cheesy or over acted they've never actually met any mountain folk, and thusly are insistent that the histrionics are over played. If you have been to the mountains and can feel the spirit of them then I think you will love this picture. It is about the give and take, the act of forgiveness and of course true love.

Do you love mountains in the fall?
I really enjoyed this movie. Its setting in the mountains during the early 30's was quite entertaining. It's sort of like a 20th century version of red badge of courage. I would recommend it.

Under-rated film.
John Ehle is an excellent regional writer and "Winter People" is probably the best of his works. The movie adaptation holds true to the book and for the critical viewer tired of cliques, car chases, and shallow characters, this film is a rare luxury. There are no stock characters in this film. And the storyline is different ... holding you tight to your armchair to the very end. The acting is tremendous: Kurt Russell is finally challenged to a multi-part role befitting his talented depths. The symbolic uses of the clock and the bear-killing rite are intriguing elements in the film. "Winter People" is an under-rated film. ... Read more

Description

The thrills come fast and furious when Dolph Lundgren (UNIVERSAL SOLDIER) stars as Michael Dane, a special agent sent to Europe on an urgent, top-secret mission -- to stop a killer suspected of political assassination. The Cuban ambassador has been ruthlessly gunned down in New York City. And now, just 48 hours before a crucial summit meeting in Prague, Dane must apprehend the prime suspect before another world leader falls! But things only get hotter when the suspected shooter turns out to be the deadly -- and seductive -- French agent Simone Rosset (Maruschka Detmers -- THE MAMBO KINGS). Loaded with thrilling action that just won't quit, HIDDEN ASSASSIN packs can't-miss excitement that will blow you away! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Could have been More
Some people considered this as a good effort from Lundgren..i still prefer Pentathlon or Joshua Tree better then this one. This film can actually be a good one if it only has the right script..

It's a typical assasination story, where Dolph Lundgren as an american marshall was ordered to apprehend an assasin who want to assasinate a cuban ambassador. It lack the necessary twist to make it alive..maybe the directing is not sharp enough to capture, or even to elevate the mood. There are some dialogue and character that felt silly...like the comnmander that likes to boasting around and harassing his man if he consider it necessary to save his image, and well, i don't feel that the dialog wenth smooth...you can just feel it that it was made. Not alive enough..thus it doesn't shape the character deep enough. In this kind of movie, If you don't want to play with the character, then you would need to give a good plot on the story...like some 'existensialist' movie in 60's-70's that concern more about what happen instead of the character. The Day of the Jackall is a good example...there is a lot of suspense created from what the jackall did..the viewer is grasp on how the jackall would make his next step. Other good example is the Package..it's a trully high octane thriller and you just get very uptight watching Gene Hackman striving hard to save the president from being shot.

Other thing that annoyed me, the music score. Is really-really-really improper..it tries to create a fast and tense situation but what happen is you feel that the music doen't really go into the scene, like it was taken from some other movie and forcefully paste into this movie. It's just not there..

As for the action, Kotcheff did pretty well with a fast paced scene...the fighting scene in the wine cellar, the chasing on the train are good examples,the editing is fast and proper, the angle is just right. Although not exactly John Mc Tiernan, Kotcheff does have a chemistry on this kind of thing (considering his previous experience in movie such as First Blood, this isn't surprising). Too bad this chemistry isn't supported with a good script (or a good score for that matter).

Thanks for the proper directing on the action sequence, and the good background of Prague, this movie is still something that is watchable...and that's why i still tend to vote it for 3 star instead of 2.

The Shooter
Dolph decided he wanted to make the transistion from action hero to well respected movie star, so he dedicated himself to acting on broadway in an attempt to relearn his trade, this was his first film afterwards, and you can notice the change, Dolph makes the jump from bare chested shenigans to silk suits and his acting stands him at head and shoulders above the rest , this film has at all, set in the beautiful city of prague, it has great scenery, action scenes(including the traditional groping for a gun, while hanging off the edge of a building), love scenes(dolph manages to turn a lesbian onto men) and great cliches, buy it, you'll love it...

Cardboard Action that worked
This wasn't a bad cardboard action movie. Plenty of brawls, gun battles, and road chases. It wasn't a bad plot either. Even if the cardboard action doesn't hold your interest, watching Maruschka Detmers is worth the effort to spend 89 minutes with the film. Great location scenes. Dolph Lundgren is not Dirty Harry, but he comes off well as a Swedish souped-up Gary Cooper. I knocked off one star because of the .45. Hitting a bad guy with a .45 at 30+ yards was too much to swallow.

One of Lundgren's better efforts
This is actually a movie with a decent plot. Starts out with a bang and keeps on going just like the energizer rabbit. Lungren plays a US Marshall who goes with his mentor to Eastern Europe to abduct Maruska Detmer and bring her back to the US for trial. To be honest this movie has a better plot than Mission Impossible but not as flashy. I first caught it on cable but liked the movie enough to buy it on video tape.

Very good movie.
Well made movie. Fast paced and realistic ... Read more

Reviews (91)

Fast paced action thriller set in the Pacific Northwest
First Blood is the story of a Special Forces Vietnam veteran John Rambo who returns home to America to find that he doesn't fit in. Hiking throught the Pacific Northwest Rambo finds out that his best freind from Nam has died from agent orange induced cancer. He wanders off and in a nearby town encounters a small town sheriff who first harasses him and then arrests him. Rambo busts out of jail using the skills that were taught to him in Nam. It turns out that Rambo was a member of an elite special forces group and that he is in essence a killing machine. Most of the movie revolves around Rambo taking to the woods with the local police and then the State Police and National Guard giving chase. Of course they are no match for Rambo who is able to demonstrate his fighting skills admirably. The action sequences in this film are excellent. Stallone is at his best as the crazed predator hunting down the inept police force. The film holds your attention and is interesting to the end. The only downside is the final speech given by Stallone which is so rambling and hard to understand that it could put the audience to sleep. Stalllone is best when he is not talking but attacking and this is what made this film 4 stars.

Watch the Movie-Then Go to Film School With David Morrell!
***Note-This is an update to my previous review***

The latest DVD version of the classic Stallone action flick provides several supplemental features, the most notable being the outstanding commentary by David Morrell who wrote the novel the film is based on. More on that in a moment.

First Blood is about a Vietnam vet named John Rambo who comes to a small Washington state town (actually British Columbia) to find the last surviving comrade from his elite Green Beret unit. When he discovers that he too is dead, Rambo makes his way into town for a bite to eat and instead winds up being arrested by the hick local sheriff (Brian Dennehy). While in custody, Rambo is abused by the locals but manages to escape sparking an all out manhunt.

This film has 55 minutes of action out of 96 total highlighted by the jail escape and subsequent chase. Jack Starrett is great as the cop that does most of the abusing while Davis Caruso is fine as the only deputy (among the surprisingly large local force) that seems to have a conscience. Dennehy is good as always and makes a worthy opponent for Rambo. Richard Crenna is great as Rambo's former CO and he and Dennehy play off one another quite well. Even though he has limited speaking parts, this is probably one of Stallone's best performances highlighted by the "Vietnam speech" near the end of the film.

The film is presented in digitally remastered widescreen 16:9, and is without a doubt the best video presentation of First Blood to date. The movie was shot in the temperate rain forest of BC and is quite dark at times. However, the darkest scenes have been enhanced here and are much improved over the various VHS versions some of which are terrible. Sound is Dolby 2.0 only but not bad considering. Also included are a cute trivia game (get all 10 right without a mistake to see a Rambo cartoon), production notes, and a teaser and trailer. The "featurette" is nothing more than a glorified trailer.

Now on to the best feature of this DVD, one that is worth the price of admission all by itself. If you are at all interested in how films are made and the behind the scenes tidbits about Hollywood, then RUN do not walk (or let your fingers do the walking online) to your local video store and get this disc. Why? For the outstanding commentary of writer David Morrell. This talented man begins to speak before the opening credits and does not stop for 96 minutes. When he does you will wish he could have continued for 96 more. You will find yourself listening again and again and picking up something new each time. This is without a doubt far and away the best commentary on any DVD.

Here is just a partial list of the things Morrell covers:

1. The many differences between his novel and the film-very fascinating stuff. 2. His experience when seeing First Blood the very first time. 3. The three act structure of films. 4. How he chose the name Rambo and other character names. 5. How First Blood set a number of precedents for the industry. 6. Why films were kept to 90 minutes in length for so long a time. 7. A touching story about his son and Stallone. 8. The story of how Kirk Douglas was scheduled to play Troutman and why Richard Crenna ended up with the role.

And that is only scratching the surface.

In conclusion, First Blood was a precedent setting film featuring top-flight actors and some of the best believable screen action. The wonderful commentary of David Morrell caps off a great experience.

A tremendous movie....
When Sylvester Stallone is involved....you know youre going to get terrific action. But the movies story and Stallones character of John Rambo are very interesting as well. The thing that appealed to me most of all in this movie is Rambo barely says 2 words througout the whole movie and at the end he just blows up. He explodes about the war, his buddies getting killed, etc. Its an explosive and dramatic moment....the topper of the whole movie.

Again, terrific movie, if youre into action/drama, take a look at this one, its great!!!

America missed the meaning of this movie
I remember seeing this movie for the first time on July 4, 1984. I know back then I was into long hair, and alot of 60's and 70's music. Didn't do acid, or any drugs as I was 16, and grew up in a police officer's house. I always knew police brutality existed, but after this movie I suddenly realized that men in short hair aren't always the good guys. I mean after all there are no pictures of the devil with long hair, or at least from what I've seen. I know watching this movie I've developed a intense prejudice of hick folks, and country bumpkins, and the such as I feel that they are self-righteous, and know it alls, and that they are God. I know that the only other people in movies that rubbed me the wrong way were Sherrif Buford T. Justice from "Smokey and the Bandit", and the corrupt sherrif who smacked around his deputy in the movie "Tank". However, don't get me wrong the same way that Sherrif Teasle, and crew are accountable so is Rambo. Rambo still is accountable for murdering an officer of the law even though it was self-defense. He'd have to go to court, and prove it as such. The Veitnam war no doubt has ruffled alot of feathers, and in my opinion while I understand why some ran away to Canada I also understand why some went there. I can only imagine what the soldiers went through there as I was only a baby when this was all going on. Like all veterans of all the wars the Veitnam Veterans should've been given dignity, and respect all along for fighting to keep our freedom. Mind you I'd have to start digging for the whole 30 year war over there, and why it impacted us so much. The same way I feel that the laws back here are to be respected, and a police officer should be given the same dignity, and respect as that of a soldier who went overseas to fight. I know one phrase was powerful when Teasle said "That if a prisoner is mistreated, by a deputy he brings it to him, and then Teasle(him) goes to the deputy, and that's how the law works", but what happens when the head vigilanty is your Sherrif? Overall this movie should've made America reflect on how we reacted, and treated these brave soldiers when they returned from Veitnam, and come to grips with our actions, and our attitudes. However, America missed the boat by glorifying Rambo for all the wrong reasons, and diffused the character, and the message. They made Rambo a gun toting vigilanty, and that was America's new superhero. Rambo wanted no war. He wanted to visit his friend, and became heartbroken when he found out his friend was dead. All Rambo wanted was a hot meal, and a chance to grieve before moving on; who knows Rambo may had found peace for once in Holidayland, but now it's citizens will never know as Prejudice was standing at the door when Rambo knocked. To me America is still acting that way, and it's time to forgive, and reconcile, and move on.

First Blood is still best of three Rambo movies
The first Rambo movie called First Blood was released in the fall of 1982. The movie was arguably Sylvester Stallone's best performance since Rocky II. First Blood is about a Vietnam veteran named John Rambo who comes to a small town in Washington the state(it was actually filmed in the dead of British Columbia, Canada's winter of 1981/82) to meet a fellow comrade/friend from his elite Green Beret unit. When he discovers that he died of cancer, Rambo sadly in disbelief makes his way into town for a bite to eat and instead winds up being harassed and arrested by the hick local Sheriff Will Teasle(Brian Dennehy). While in custody, Rambo is abused by Deputy Galt(Jack Starrett) and fellow sheriffs Ward and others but a flashback to being abused and tortured in a POW prison while being processed causes Rambo to snap and manages to escape jail by taking out five cops and sparking an all out manhunt between 200 people versus one Rambo. This film is a 96 minute action rollercoaster highlighted by the jail escape and subsequent chase and fighting with the national guard. Jack Starrett was great as the hillbilly cop that did all of the abusing while David Caruso was fine as the only deputy that had a conscience and a heart and did not abuse Rambo. Dennehy was superb and made a worthy opponent for Rambo. Richard Crenna gave his best performance as Rambo's former Colonel Sam Trautman and he and Dennehy play off one another quite well(originally Kirk Douglas was to play Trautman but that fell through at the last minute). Despite the fact he had very limited speaking parts, First Blood was one of Stallone's best performances highlighted by the Vietnam speech near the end of the film. (..). This DVD is well worth the money. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

..
Wow... I was in this movie when I was a little kid... I can't believe it's actually on websites.. Scary. Oh well. Uh, to the review... it's an ok movie, not one of my favorites, but hey.. It was more fun filming it.

Best of the 3 movies
This is the only "Family Of Cops" movie you really need. I wonder if the sequels were planned at this point, because the performances seem to have more juice here. The action scenes are pretty good, especially the one in the woods. Bronson's involved in a couple of shoot-outs, but they're practically identical to similar scenes in the other two movies. (-Notice in particular the shoot-out by his character's house; arms stretched out in trademark "Telefon" aiming position, shooting at a car.) Forget about the two uninvolving ones that followed, and stick with this one.

Ok Bronson Film
This Bronson film was ok, not his best work though, rent one of the Death Wish movies to see Bronson at his best. I used to Enjoy Bronson films quite a bit, but he needs to stop. The man is way to old, and its hard to believe that a man his age, would be running around shooting people. He Belongs in a wheel chair and a nursing home, not making movies anymore, sorry Mr. Bronson its time to Retire. Watch the movie if you absolutely love Charles Bronson! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A dangerous game, a delicious cake, and a family feud
Okay, I'm going to be a little bias on critiquing this DVD. This is because I am the writer of the story of one of the three episodes on this DVD.

This DVD consists of the Red Shoe Diaries episodes: The Game, The Cake, and Like Father Like Son.

'The Game' is about a woman who broke herself free of a relationship that was based on a sexual 'truth or dare' style game. This episode is for the "no holds barred" type of lovers out there.

'The Cake' is the episode I wrote the story for. It's about a woman who can't decide on a birthday cake at a bakery for her husband. The baker gets an idea to decorate her as the birthday cake. The results? You'll have to see for yourself. :) This episode is for anyone curious to try new things.

'Like Father Like Son' is about a man infatuated with his father's lover. She, at first, thinks of him as just a boy but thinks otherwise later and has to decide between the two.

The DVD has some excellent additions to it:

Photo galleries from all 3 episodes

An option to hear commentary from producer/director Zalman King during the episodes

A Red Shoe Diaries trivia game

Behind the scenes footage (mostly in 'The Cake') that you can view at the appropriate moments of the episode

English and Spanish Translations

For the Red Shoe Diaries fans, this is a must have DVD. I hope you like it (especially my episode).

Oh, I do have a 1 1/2 second cameo on 'The Cake'. If you use the 'commentary' option, Zalman will point me out to you. :)

Enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Best weekend of my life
Boy, when I rented this movie, I had no idea whatsoever that it would be this funny.

When Larry (Andrew McCarthy) and Richard (Johnathan Silverman) uncover an embezzlement scam at their office, they report it to their boss, Bernie Lomax (Terry Kiser), expecting a promotion, not expecting that Bernie himself is the culprit. Bernie invites them to his beachhouse that weekend, planning to have them killed by a mafia hit man. But, the mafia bad guys have other plans, and they have him killed before Larry and Richard arrive. When they discover Bernie's dead, they at first want to tell the police, despite the fact that they may inadvertendly frame themselves. They soon decide to keep up the face the Bernie's still alive and kickin'.

Did I laugh? HELL YEAH!! WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S has got to be one of the funniest movies ever. It's hilarious to watch Larry and Richard desperately trying to make Bernie's corpse appear to still have a spark, like in the scene where they try to get on a boat with Bernie's body. How they make it appear that he's walking is hard to describe, and even harder not ot laugh at.

Another great scene, involving Bernie's girlfriend from NYC, who goes into a room where Bernie's body is waiting. She emerges from the room as a necropheiliac without even knowing Bernie was dead. This was somewhat overlooked by the critics, but it is worthy of positions held in the "greatest movies of all time list" by movies like VERTIGO or TITANIC, which aren't very good.

That's more than I can say for the sequel, WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S 2, but if you can laugh at things like a corpse jetskiing (so to speak), and I'm sure you can, than stop by BERNIE'S this WEEKEND. As I said above, it was the best WEEKEND of my life.

Funny; just... just FUNNY
Alright alright ALRIGHT, I admit it; I love this movie. I have never so unapologetically laughed until I cried at a more stupid movie in my entire life before seeing this flick! Somehow some people in Hollywood got together and found a creative team to create the perfect vehicle for a succession of some of the most stupid, implausible, and absolutely hilarious sight gags and jokes and bits I have ever seen. the runnig gag in my family, every time we bring this up is "...I'm blind..." Awww BERNIE!

Trust me, I love a good Gore vidal or Toni Morrison novel as much as the next guy, and there's nothing like a Foreign or Spielberg or classic film from the 40's or 70's to challenge your mind body and soul... and then every now and then you need something that you can just pop in a VCR and laugh until you cry, rolling off the couch onto the floor, spilling popcorn and the whole nine! Where many comedians and much of Jim Carrey's stuff attempts this (and misses for me), WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S did it.

Funny. Like, for real.

Dark Comedy, Light Fun
The cast is perfect and the sets, music, and all that went into this movie seem to meld to make a very funny movie. Andrew McCarthy as Larry Wilson and Jonathan Silverman as Richard Parker are a good match for co-workers at an insurance company. Larry the brown nosing party man and Richard the hard working nerd. When Richard discovers a two million dollar mistake in claims their boss Bernie invites them over for the weekend to discuss it. What happens after that is sick, demented, and funny. Any fan of "8 Heads in a Duffel Bag" and "The Whole Nine Yards" should enjoy it. This is one of those rare movies were seeing a dead person being lugged around, beat up, dropped, bareface ski, washed around in the tide, shot, strangled, and more is just plain outrageously funny.

"Can't you see he's dead?"
I got this movie as a birthday gift from my ladyfriend. As I'd never seen it before, I asked her why she chose it. She said she thought it was a favorite of mine, as my friends and I referred to it a lot. While true, we weren't discussing the plot; just how my friend George looks a lot like Bernie when he's passed out. Anyway, one morning while I was nursing a nasty hangover, I deemed myself in the proper state to handle this movie.

To quote Elaine from "Seinfeld," "This is so stupid! Bernie is dead! Just because you put a hat on him isn't going to make him less dead!" This movie is awful. I love 80s comedies - heck, I consider "Bachelor Party" Tom Hanks's best work (just read my review) and eagerly await the next installment of "Police Academy" - but this movie is miserable. The only times I laughed while watching "Weekend at Bernie's" it was at my ladyfriend for actually finding something humorous in the movie.

My friend Dan, knowing of my disdain for "Weekend at Bernie's," got me "Weekend at Bernie's II" (it's voodoo, baby, voodoo). Expect my review of that film to be posted a day or so after the next time I decide to wash down some vodka and Gatorade with a hurricane.

Best movie ever.
Anyone with cable has probably seen and will see at least a few minutes of Weekend at Bernie's every week for their entire life. It's so a part of our culture that we don't question it anymore. But imagine having never heard of Weekend at Bernie's, and through the filter of a modern sense of irony, seeing a preview for it in the movie theater. "Hey, this looks sort of funny. I like these movies about partying at the beach... hold on... are those two dudes playing with a corpse? Oh my god - they're dressing it up and taking it to the party with them. I hope it leaks something infectious onto their sick asses!"

Anyways, Weekend at Bernie's is the awesomest, eightiesest, most radical movie of all time. Rent it. Buy it. Sleep with it. Just watch it. Sheer 80s awesomeness. *thumbs up* ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another Great In the Red Shoe Series
I bought this dvd and let me assure you all it did not disappoint. This is another smash hit in a long line of Red Shoe Diaries titles. I popped this in my player and did not move until every last credit rolled by. My friends Neil & Iris huge red shoe diary fans agree. This one is a real winner. A must have for you collectors. Iris Is a true lover of red underwear maybe why she loves the red shoe diaries. One scene that is commonly reenacted in the Frank house is Iris cooks a meal and sits and the glass kitchen tabke with Neil. Neil wears nothing but his red underwear, and Iris wears a tight fitting black shirt with nice white panties. If this doesn't make you want to watch I don't know what will. PAY THE MONSTER ... Read more