Description

Comic wizard Bill Murray (CRADLE WILL ROCK, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS) teams up with Academy Award(R)-winner Richard Dreyfuss teams up with (Best Actor, 1978, THE GOODBYE GIRL) in an outrageously wild comedy that's sure to drive you off the deep end! Murray plays Bob Wiley, a troubled but lovable therapy patient who fears everything! After seeking help from noted psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin (Dreyfuss), Bob feels revived. But when the good doctor skips town to go on a quiet family vacation, Bob, afraid of being alone, follows -- showing up unexpectedly at the therapist's lakeside retreat. That's when the fun really begins! Bob innocently becomes the houseguest who just won't leave -- endearing himself to the other family members ... and, in the end, driving the stressed-out shrink absolutely crazy! ... Read more

Reviews (103)

Mmmm... Was this movie hand-shucked?
The story is pretty simple. Bill Murray stars as Bob Wiley, a manic who invades the life and family of Dr. Leo Marvin, a psychiatrist played by Richard Dreyfuss. Bob comes to him for guidance but Dr. Leo is in a rush to go on his summer vacation, so he gets brushed off and sent out the door with a copy of the Dr.'s new best-selling book, Baby Steps. Bob can't handle it himself and decides to follow Dr. Leo to his vacation home. Bob's insistent efforts to get to Dr. Leo causes his family to become endeared to him and his child-like qualities, while Dr. Leo sees Bob's efforts so invasive he starts to become unhinged himself.

This movie is a real treat. Great performances all around and one of Bill Murray's funniest roles. From watching the reaction of the family members, one wonders how much of the goofiness was improvised by Murray. Dreyfuss is splendid also as he slowly loses his patience and eventually his sanity. It gets a solid four stars and a buy recommendation. Watch it when you need a lift. But remember--baby steps... baby steps...

Baby Steps!
What About Bob is one of the funniest comedies of the 90's, and one of Bill Murray's best roles as the neurotic Bob Wiley, who seeks help from renowned psychiatrist Dr Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss). As Leo's patient, Bob follows Leo to his holiday house at Lake Winnapasokee, where the crazy Bob pesters his exasperated Doc for answers to his problems. The gradually- increasing craziness between Dreyfuss and Murray is fantastic, with an outstanding script and superb comedic timing.

The film also stars Julie Hagerty (Airplane) as Leo's wife and Charlie Korsmo (from Spielberg's Hook) as Sigmund 'Siggy' Marvin. But this movie belongs to Murray. His brilliant comic timing and neuroticism provide some great laughs ("I want, I want, gimme, gimme, gimme, I need I need!"). Which is exactly what people are saying about this DVD. Must-have comedy.

The Greatest Movie of All Time
I seriously think that this is the best movie ever. I haven't seen it in a few months but my stomach still hurts from all the laughing I did (ok, not really but you get the picture). Bill Murray is one of my favorite actors and he made me love him even more in this film. I cannot count how many times I laugh everytime I watch this movie. If you are going to watch this movie, be ready for a stomach ache afterwards because I can guarantee that you will laughing for all eternity after you watch this movie. If you have a pulse, you will enjoy this movie!

Lots of Quotes!
One of the measures of a good movie is if you recite lines from it in normal dialog. My family uses many quotes from this movie and has been doing so for years. Whenever my wife is run down she pulls this one out and immediately starts to laugh. This is one of our favorite wacky comedies.

What About ...Annoying?!
There is no question that Bill Murray has an outstanding body of work, but in WHAT ABOUT BOB? he plays one of the most annoying characters in the history of cinema (even worst than Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace). The audience is supposed to cheer 'Bob' as he battles his way through his neurosis and phobias, at the expense of his psychiatrist, Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss). This reviewer had the opposite effect of what the movie was supposed to project. I felt sympathy for Leo/Dreyfuss and none whatsoever with Bob/Murray who literally invades the life of his doctor. The fact that even Dr. Leo Marvin's family, who find no harm in Bob's innocent stalking througout the course of the film, was even more frustrating. The movie plays like the tv show GREEN ACRES. There is one central character who is supposedly smarter than everyone, but somehow everyone still gets the best of him. The climax in all this was the nail in the coffin. A vacation home is blown-up and 'Bob' ends up marrying Leo's (Drefuss) sister, while Leo is reduced to a dribbling vegetable. This reviewer did not think this film was a comedy, but rather it was fingernails scratching across a chalkboard. ... Read more

Reviews (102)

One of the funniest and darkest comedy/musicals of all time!
There's never been a movie like "The Little Shop of Horrors" before, and there probably never will be. The film it resembles the most is undoubtedly "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," but I find it cleverer, funnier, and more enjoyable than that movie, if still as sick in its own twisted little way.

The movie stars Rick Moranis in the role he was born to play: that of a geeky and timid New York City kid named Seymour, who works at a crummy florist shop way downtown along with Audrey (Ellen Greene), a blonde gal who sounds as if she's sucked in too much helium. Seymour is too shy to confess his love for Audrey, and his only way of dropping a hint is when he finds a mysterious plant at another flower shop and names it Audrey II. "I hope you don't mind," he tells her, and then he drops it by the front window of the store in hopes of drawing customers.

It does. The first customer (Christopher Guest) enters with a cheerfully stupid grin and buys $50 worth of roses. "Do you have change for a hundred?" he asks. They don't. "Oh, well, then I guess I'll just have to buy one hundred dollars' worth!"

Business starts to boom, and the plant starts to bloom, turning into a ferocious man-eater that demands a sacrifice of human blood from Seymour to crave its hunger. After a few weeks, Seymour is bone dry, unable to slice any more fingers open and feed his gargantuan plant. "Feed me, Seymour!" the talking plant bellows.

Audrey has a new boyfriend who has been beating her up. He's a dentist, played by Steve Martin, and as he puts it, "I have a natural talent for causing people pain!" He likes to cause people intense pain, walking through his dentist's office and purposely knocking orderlies in the face with door handles and pulling teeth without applying sedatives. "Wait! I'm not numb!" a customer shouts during an introductory song. "Eh, shut up, open wide, here I come!" his dentist yells, starting to drill away.

Steve Martin has played a dentist since, in the undoubtedly lesser but unjustly bashed "Novocaine" (2001). His outing as a pain-driven dentist in "The Little Shop of Horrors" is ten times better, and Martin is truly the highlight of the entire film, from the point when he is introduced riding his motorcycle to the job with a leather jacket (only to strip it off and reveal a white dentist's coat as he enters his office), to the part where Seymour enters his office with a gun in hopes of killing him and feeding him to his plant. Martin doesn't get what's going on, because he's wearing a comedically oversized laughing gas mask he invented that's making him chuckle like a moron. "What are you gonna do? Shoot me? Ha!" The laughing gas kills him before Seymour musters up the emotional strength to.

Seymour drags the dentist's dead body home, chops him up and feeds him to Audrey II, but this is only the start of his worries, because soon the media frenzy centered around the wonderfully odd plant starts to drive him to insanity, as he desperately tries to juggle between keeping a clean conscience and keeping away the media.

Then Audrey II reveals its true intentions - to take over the world with its offspring - and Seymour decides that it's time to stop Audrey II before it gets too far.

"The Little Shop of Horrors" is such a wonderfully offbeat comedy it's almost impossible to dislike. It's one of my favorite comedies, the type of odd little film that doesn't promise to be very much at all but provides a lot.

Frank Oz directed the film (based on Roger Corman's classic), and it was filmed on a visibly low budget, but that's okay, because it's supposed to be that way. It's part of the fun. All the stages are obviously just that, with poorly painted backgrounds of New York City and the skyline. You can literally see the cracks in the wall where the different stages meet with each other. And it's great! It makes the movie, and the movie knows it isn't anything special. At one point, Audrey has a dream sequence of living in a nice little Brady Bunch home, and we see Seymour cutting the lawn with a lawnmower. It's so cheesy and fake that it barely meets the quality standards of a children's television show - but, once again, it helps makes the movie.

The movie has tons of cameos, too, including James Belushi, John Candy, Christopher Guest, Bill Murray, et al. And if the guest stars, dark humor, and delightful direction don't interest you, perhaps the songs will - because many of them are quite good. The highlight is "Suddenly Seymour," in which Seymour and Audrey have a duet, and Audrey's voice suddenly turns from meek to booming, overpowering Seymour's lyrics and pounding the stage.

This is the definition of a cult film. Everything about it just strikes you as a cult film. But whereas "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is a cult film for - in my opinion - sick people, "The Little Shop of Horrors" is a cult film for people who love comedy. It's all in good nature, with cheery little musical numbers every once and a while that are as funny as the songs in "The Blues Brothers," if not more so. But what makes the film particularly different from the rest is its deliciously dark humor - especially for a mainstream comedy like this. From the plant's adamant bloodlust to the shadowy image of Steve Martin slapping Audrey around behind a backlit stage prop, this is one of the funniest, darkest, and yet also cheerfully lightweight comedies ever.

What a Great Film it Could Have Been
Little Shop of Horrors is the definitive modern musical comedy. The music, as written by Alan Menkin, is melodic and beautiful, with some of the best lyrics in recent memory. The pacing is quick, with sharp directing by Frank Oz and great comedic performances by Steve Martin, Ellen Greene, and Rick Moranis (and the very over-rated Bill Murray, in a painfully extended cameo as a masochistic dental patient). The film knows that it isn't art, or thought-provoking, which is what keeps it from being truly campy. But what prevents it from being great is the extremely controversial, oft-discussed original ending.
In the play, Audrey and Seymour are eaten by Audrey II, and the Greek Chorus sings a cautionary song to the audience. In the movie, Audrey survives, Seymour electrocutes Audrey II, and they all live happily ever after. It wasn't always so, however. Oz had filmed the play's ending, but in test screenings, the audience was angry and appalled, so Oz opted to reshoot the film for the ending as it is.
In 1998. a Special Edition DVD was released with a VERY rough cut of the original ending, but it was pulled from the shelves by the producer after only two days. A second release DVD came out in 2000, sans original ending. The first issue DVD has become a collector's item of the highest degree, often selling at online auction sites for upwards of $100.
Well, I own that first issue DVD, and having seen what the film could have been, I can't rate it higher than 3 stars. In that ending, Audrey's death is handled with dramatic emotion now absent from the film, never playing for laughs. There is a breathtaking Death March (Now available on the New Broadway Cast Album) as Seymour carries her body to Audrey II. Seymour undergoes a psychological spiral within minutes, before being devoured by the plant. And during the finale, "Don't Feed the Plants," many enormous Audrey II's are shown wrecking havoc on a devastated New York City, blowing up cinemas, eating trains, and crushing the very symbol of our country, the Statue of Liberty (sort of). Had this ending been used, the film would have been a memorable masterpiece, but as is, it is merely a forgetable (if enjoyable) musical flop.
It's a shame Frank Oz surrendered his vision to please the people. I can only imagine what the ending would have been like in full technicolor on the big screen.
Let's hope for a 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition DVD in 2006 with a re-edited film containing the original ending, as promised by the producer when he had the disks puled from the shelves.
Little Shop of Horrors is a fun film, if not for younger audiences. If you have 90 minutes to spare and are a fan of musical theatre, check out this modern classic-that-should-have-been, about a singing plant, a daring hero, a sweet girl, and a demented dentist.

Mean, Green and Mad!
Can you imagine Barbra Streisand in this film as Audrey? Although everyone familiar with this movie (and stage musical) immediatly sees Ellen Green in the part, we find out from the documentary on this disc that Babs was offered the role first. Thankfully she wasn't interested.
The film itself is the best stage-to-screen musical adapt. since Grease and none (even Chicago) have since come along to beat it. The music by Alan Menken and the lyrics by the late, great Howard Ashman are fantastically intertwined to evoke laughs as much as the required early-1960's atmosphere. This talented duo went on to score Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and (in part, due to Ashman's death) Aladdin. When listening to Little Shop's Somewhere That's Green it's easy to see where Mermaid's Part of Your World came from.
The cast are uniformly excellent and succeeded in making their parts their own (meaning that any production now seen on stage features clones of Moranis, Green, Martin etc.). Rick Moranis as Seymour seems to have been born to play the part and his singing voice comes as something of a revelation! Green, as I have already said, IS Audrey but Steve Martin just about manages to steal the entire film from all of them in an extended cameo as Orin the sadistic dentist. Other cameos include James Belushi, John Candy and (brilliantly) Bill Murray.
Audrey II (the plant) is a wonder of engineering and puppetry and watching the film now, I couldn't help but think that if this movie was made today Audrey II would be CGI - impact lost! Thank goodness then, that Frank Oz, director and some-time Muppet-man, gathered a group of talented people together to create a truly startling character. Although the character would be nothing without Levi Stubbs so wonderfully providing his voice.
Wisely it was decided to change the ending from the stage shows bleak (and, frankly, poor) conclusion to a more up-beat and 'Hollywood-style' finale. The original ending is glimpsed in the all-too-short deleted scenes section of this disc, as a couple of Audrey IIs attack a building, but it would have been nice to see the scene in tact perhaps with an option to swap it for the actual ending when watching the film. Also the inclusion of 'Mean, Green Mother' really helps the second half of the film which sadly sags in the show due to the absence of such a show-stopping number.
The 'making of' was made of the time and so is light and fluffy. I would have prefered a little more depth on the realisation of Audrey II. The trailers are worth watching - mini masterpieces of campy kitch but Oz's commentary is a little on the ponderous side.
So, in conclusion, the extras are acceptable if a little dull, but who needs extras when the film is as thoroughly enjoyable and toe-tapping as this! Just remember: - whatever they offer you - don't feed the plants.

Fun, Fun and way out fun!
This off beat musical comedy is too fun, too sick and just plan rolicking for words!

The cast is perfectly matched to each character, the do wop Motown ala Crystals combined with Levi's rock out bass as "da plant" draws you onto the screen!

One for today's generation, sophisticates and those who want to really enjoy a musical - when it's over, all you want to say is "Wasn't that a lot of fun!"

Rent it, buy it, but ENJOY it.........

Oz & Corman-Fabulous Musical With TONS OF SURPRISE CAMEOS!
Frank Oz's masterpiece of Roger Corman's B- Schlock Horror movie of the same name. Originally produced off broadway, it had a very successful run. So... What is Hollywood to do but make it into a blockbuster with big name stars and cameos.

Ellen Greene as the plucky Audrey, who also played the part on stage, Steve Martin as the sado-masochistic Dr. Orin Scrivello, DDS, Rick Moranis as the milquetoast Seymour, Vincent Gardenia as the crusty Mr. Mushnik & the voice of Levi Stubbs as the people-eating, mean green mother from outer-space, Audrey II.

Bill Murray has a hilarious cameo as Arthur Denton, the pain loving dental patient. He screams CANDY BAAAAR whilst the dentist inflicts pain upon him! John Candy cameo as the radio announcer, Wink Wilkinson, Jim Belushi as Patrick Martin, Christopher Guest as the first flower shop customer.

Great musical numbers from all, especially Ellen Greene who has one of the best set of pipes EVER!

Great family movie with only mildly irreverent language.

Happy Watching! ... Read more

Reviews (59)

One of the funniest movies of the last 20 years!!
An absolutely terrific comedy!!! I won't rehash the plot much, but let's say that Steve Martin plays a crass, American, two-bit con man trying to move in on a town on the French Riviera, where Michael Caine, a suave, successful, tasteful con man, already runs the show.

The men start as rivals, then become reluctant co-conspirators (in the FUNNIEST scenes of the movie, and maybe EVER!), and then, in the extended final act of the movie, rivals again, both trying to con the same woman, a naive American (Glenne Headly, terrific and enchanting as always).

Martin gets to show off his best comedic moves here. His physicality and pure ridiculous side is amply on display, but his more sophisticated, verbal skills are showcased as well. I'd be willing to say this is best, sustained purely comedic performance. Michael Caine is PERFECTLY cast as the suave Brit. He isn't "funny" per se, really the straight man, but he is the perfect foil for Martin, and he is charming and winning. He's seldom been more appealing and lighthearted.

Frank Oz directed this movie with zest and the right amount of panache. We enjoy the scenery, and we are eased into the movie slowly. The tension between the men is allowed to build slowly over time, making the final twists and turns (and there are many delightful ones) all the more fun.

I've seen this film half a dozen times, and I've got all the twists memorized, but there are still scenes I look forward to eagerly, and still laugh hysterically over. IN one bit, Martin is assigned to play the younger, insane brother of "Prince" Michael. Caine lures the rich women, gets their money and devotion, and then introduces them to his revolting brother (Martin), who scares the women away, leaving their money behind. Martin is so unbearably funny, and Caine plays his end so straight that, truly, the five minutes this stuff takes up in the movie may be the single most delightful five minutes you can spend in a screwball comedy.

I don't like to toss out the word "classic" too often, but I feel that perhaps this movie warrants it. I know I'll be watching it again and again in years to come!

Good Clean Humor and Under-rated..
If you are a fan of Steve Martin and Michael Caine, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a must-see. For some reason, this comedic gem was over-looked by many a critic. To me, it's a classic that will be enjoyed twenty years from now. The wonderful acting performances by Martin and Caine are side-splittingly HILARIOUS! Tie in the physical comedy of Martin, the snake-oil smoothness of Caine and a hilarious script and you've got yourself a winner. The scene where Freddie Benson has to endure five minutes of punishment from Dr. Schuffhausen will have you rolling on the floor!

I love the European backdrop of the French/Italian Riviera and the soundtrack is also well done. I have this movie on VHS and am looking forward to a copy on DVD, see this movie as soon as possible if you want some good clean fun!

Monkey Boy
Why do I love this movie so much? Clever dialogue, twists, predictable, yes but still funny, elegant setting, odd ball pairing, bad French accents...What more can you ask for in a movie. I love it all, especially Martin as Ruprecht, and the reactions he elicits.

Michael Duranko
www.bootism.com

One of the best .
A great comedy about con-men. Steve Martin will have you on the floor laughing and Michael Caine is brilliant as always. Directed perfectly by Frank Oz. This is a must see.

Ruprick, the genital cuffs!!!
I can't believe this movie is a decade and a half old! Neither will you when you view it again (or for the first time). The cinematography is fresh and the comedy is timeless.

The story revolves around a simple American con-man (brilliantly played by Steve Martin) who specializes in charming wealthy women out of whatever charity he can manage to swindel. That is, until he stumbles on to the master (Michael Caine), a suave ultra-swank European who doesn't go for the fast buck, but rather for the slow millions.

The difference in their styles, as Martin invades Caine's comfortable European playground (and then ultimately decide to work together) make for extreme comedy. However, not the Jim Carrey slapstick that's been so popular lately, rather, this is infinitely more subtle in it's buildup, but "net net" as funny as most of the best contemporary comedy out there.

If you have yet to see this film, count yourself lucky. Buy this DVD and give yourself 15 minutes to get into it. You won't be disappointed. For those of you who have seen it and are thinking about buying. Do it. It's one of the few DVD's in my collection I frequently watch and enjoy.

Hope this was helpful to you.

Christian Hunter ... Read more

Reviews (196)

A underrated masterpiece of fantasy!
Jim Henson's 1982 Fantasy epic is set in another world and time, a elf-like being called " Jen" has a task that he must take. His task is to return an important Crystal shard back to a important universal source called " The Dark Crystal" before 3 suns line up, he joins up with a female Gelfling and must save the universe from the evil Skeckis before it's too late.

A magical movie that is one of the greatest fantasy epics of all time and also one of the best animated movies ever made, why is it animated you say? cause it's performed by Puppets that why. The DVD is impressive with excellent transfer and widescreen the way it was meant to be seen, the extras are phenomenal such as trailers, documentary, deleted scenes and more that adds to the value of the DVD. It's a must see movie if your into adventure, fantasy, sci-fi and animation, it's also a must see movie for your whole family and a guaranteed good time.

Movie Fairy Tale Told Right.
Jim Henson was one of the greatest artists and filmmakers of the 20th century. It took awhile for his genius to be appreciated in the United States, but over a decade since his death people are finally beginning to recognize the mastery of his creative mind. For example, THE DARK CRYSTAL. The film had a fairly decent run when it was originally released in theatres in 1982. However, the film wasn't acknowledged or heralded for the creative and complex masterpiece that it is until recently.

THE DARK CRYSTAL was a humongous undertaking. It is a film that takes place in a fantasy world, filled with frightening and mystical creatures; yet does not star one human being. The entire cast of the film consisted of nothing but puppets: some rather large and cumbersome, some that human performers were fitted in, some that were small, some that were animatronic; but all puppets nonetheless. Nothing like it had ever been attempted before and through the work on THE DARK CRYSTAL, Henson pushed puppetry and animatronics to a whole new level.

THE DARK CRYSTAL is about a young male Gelfling (think of an elf, but much smaller) named Jen and the journey he undertakes to save his world from an eternal dominion by a group of dragon-like creatures called Skesis. Jen's entire race was wiped out in a holocaust by the Skesis in an attempt to prevent a 1000 year old prophecy from being fulfilled. Jen is the last of his race, or so he believes. Jen leaves the race of Mystics who have raised the child since his parents' murder and sets forth on a journey to the great Palace to heal the Dark Crystal by inserting The Shard that had been broken from the crystal a millenium ago. Along the way he meets a variety of fantastical creatures from a one-eyed wise woman, the a race of miniture-round-headed people called Podlings, to a female Gelfling named Kira.

The plot of the movie is excellent and is told in the manner of such classic works as THE LORD OF THE RINGS, STAR WARS, and THE ODYSSEY. The world that Henson created is one of magic and fantasy, yet the story contains a great deal of Truth within it. It is a tale of adventure, love, sacrifice, and redemption; which speaks to the divinity in us all.

The movie is acceptible for an entire family to watch and contains several morals. However, children younger than five may find some of the creatures frightening. Nevertheless, THE DARK CRYSTAL is a fairy tale and like all true fairy tales, it does not gloss over the fact that evil is an ugly and nasty business. This movie is one of the best by one of the greatest.

Beautiful, but something missing...
Perhaps *beautiful* is the wrong word, for this movie is rarely aesthetically beautiful. Don't get me wrong on this point, beauty is not necessarily a good thing. What I mean to say is, atmospherically this is a triumph... but not beautiful. The 'characters' blend in perfectly(... beautifully?) to their world. The landscapes are... well... dark (which is fitting). It's aesthetically perfect, and in a movie like this, perfection demands there be little beauty.

The creatures are organic. 'Nuff said. They're wonderful. They're believable. They're just plain... wow.

So what's missing?

Terry Gilliam is quoted as saying a children's movie should be "Exciting enough for adults, and intelligent enough for kids" (Re: Time Bandits). The Dark Crystal is an imaginative masterpiece, but I couldn't help but feel the simplistic plot, 2-dimensional characters (I appreciate that making puppets' mental workings visible must be one of the hardest tasks in a movie with a fully puppet cast) patronizes the intelligence of all but the youngest children. They're a lot brighter than we treat them, and they're getting brighter by the day ;)

But, I suppose a great movie can do without great characters as long as the focus isn't on the characters, as long as it compensates atmospherically. And "The Dark Crystal" more than compensates.

So what's missing?

I'll relate this to another adventure movie: Dune. Dune was atmospherically beautiful, but it took itself too seriously. It was a massive undertaking, granted, but I can't remember laughing... or even smiling once. 137 minutes without smiling is a long time.

And it's the same with "The Dark Crystal". The only slightly comic break from the plot is the antics of a round-furry-dog-thing, but this isn't enough. "The Dark Crystal" Takes its battle-between-good-and-evil far too seriously, and unless one's awe at the world Jim Henson created can last one the full 90 minutes or so of the movie, one becomes impatient. Humour is an important tool with infinite potential - especially in a movie aimed at children, but it's a tool almost entirely overlooked in "The Dark Crystal". Even in a story as serious as Macbeth takes a moment to let its audience step back and chuckle towards the beginning. "The Dark Crystal" doesn't give us this opportunity.

In conclusion, "The Dark Crystal" is a... beautiful movie, but one that takes itself far too seriously. I became impatient with the simplistic plot, 2-dimensional characters (as 'beautiful' as they may be), and almost total lack of humour, but... clearly from the other reviews I've read, other's did not.

RE: the DVD
It's a lovely little package, but for the price you pay for it, it better be. I'm particularly fond of the little note-pad included. I would have liked to see more documentaries on the DVD, perhaps audio commentary, but alas - it shall not be.

Glorious!
I admit to being scared out of my wits by the Skeksis and the Garthim when I was little (reptiles combined with vultures and spiders combined with crabs are still terrifying to me), but I've come to really cherish this Tolkien-esque/ Froudian film. The gentle, nurturing Mystics, and cute little dog/ dust ball Fizzgig are among my favorite characters. The Podlings are simply adorable... the Gelflings are finely- featured and beautiful(Jen is very ponderous, if somewhat passive... Kira shows just how women can be, and are, just as strong as men!)... the Landstriders (which gracefully manage to combine the aspects of cats, moths, giraffes, camels, bats, rabbits, and who knows what else, into such beautiful creatures) are swift, courageous animals, and are very dear to me (for some odd reason). Possibly because I love animals(and I just have a thing for the underdog/unsung hero.) And there's the gentle Nebrie and many other creatures.

It's incredible to me that they were able to do this whole film without human actors! I seriously thought when I first saw it that they were real, flesh-and-blood creatures! Jim, Frank, Brian, and the rest of the crew really put their time and effort into making this film! Their hard work really paid off; the facial expressions and movements are impeccable! And the scenery is unbelievably lush, beautiful, and realistic. All of it looks so natural and earthy. It is as if they actually had real-live creatures acting, in my eyes... and they fact that they took the time to make up all of the history beind this story! That's just amazing!... and I could not get enough of "The Making of The Dark Crystal". How they all managed to sculpt, design, and perform these characters is mind-blowing for me, since I'm far from an artist like this crew. No matter...

This film, while impressive, is not for all people; there is a sizable mortality rate in this film that (the little ones) are likely to find very disturbing, including several struggles (Screaming Podlings being snatched up to be converted into slaves, Nebries being served to the Skeksis for dinner, and two Landstriders squealing as they fall to their deaths in a cliffside battle with the Garthim... I can't bear to watch (or hear) animals being harmed, and especially animals as gentle and benevolent as they are. Was showing these things really necessary?)

Apart from little things here and there, it is truely quite an accomplishment, if not earth-shattering, to watch!

22 Year Old Masterpiece of puppetry, still
When you think of Jim Henson you would sooner think of brightly colored animals with funny voices like dogs, bears, frogs and gonzos or fraggles. The Dark Crystal is something completely different however. It is scary, scary as hell.

It is a story of two races, Scepsis and Mystics who became seperated when the crystal cracked. To regain the balance in the universe the crystal must be whole again. In a prophecy it is said that a Gelfling will do this, allmost all of them are killed, except for one Gelfling called Jen...

Even though this movie is made 1982 it does not look dated at all. The puppets and body suits are amazing and really form their own world, much like Lord of the Rings. I'm surprised not more movies or stories in this fantasy world have been made.

This movie should not be watched by children under at least 12. The Scepsis are scary, vulture like creatures aided by an army of big bugs. Even the Gelflings look a little scary.

It's a masterpiece of puppetry, so definitely watch it. ... Read more

Reviews (161)

THREE REASONS TO SEE THIS FILM: DE NIRO, NORTON AND BRANDO.
"The Score" is a thriller with slow pace, but that is not a factor because two screen legends and the best actor of his generation are in the leading roles. So the semi-slow pace is an advantage, because Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Marlon Brando displayed better their acting talent. I don't want them dodging bullets and climbing walls all the time, I want to see their performances.

However, "The Score" still has some stunts, and above all, a smart direction. The movie has a lot of interesting camera angles, a nice choreography for the stunts, cool gadgets, and a very welcome movie score, by Howard Shore. But that's just the icing in the cake, because the three actors are the main reason to see "The Score".

Robert De Niro's latest films aren't exactly nice movies, so perhaps "The Score" is the latest good movie that he has appear on. Also, "The Score" is the last chance to see Marlon Brando (R.I.P.) at the top of his game, we know that he didn't like his acting career very much, so "The Score" was the last time that he showed us his acting talent, perhaps because he was stimulated to share scenes with Robert De Niro and the promising Edward Norton.

The DVD doesn't have a lot of features, but they are good. The audio commentary is very informative because not only Frank Oz, the director of the movie shares his experiences, but also Rob Hahn, the director of photography reveals some tricks and resources used to film "The Score". The Behind-the-Scenes feature and the additional footage are really interesting, because we can see a lot of Marlon Brando's famous improvisation. So the DVD features are few, but they are solid, plus the audio and video quality are very good, because this is a recent film.

"The Score" is not a groundbreaking film, but the cast is stunning, the plot is familiar but it's also interesting, the direction is smart, the music is good, and all that results in an amusing film. Specially recommendable for fans of Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando or Edward Norton.

Brando Rules - Yet Again!
That is the only reason why I saw this film. My first time of seeing Marlon Brando on the big screen! .... And, boy, what a treat! But I'll be honest, THE SCORE, despite it's generic title, was truly a suspenseful and satisfying film. ....

Robert De Niro plays Nick Wells, an aging thief who wants to get out of the business and settle down with his flight attendent girlfriend Diane, played by Angela Bassett. Ed Norton plays upstart thief Jackie Teller, who sometimes masquerades as retarded janitor Brian. And my favorite actor in the world, Marlon Brando, plays Nick's fence and mentor Max Baron.

The film has Nick drawn back once more for a final steal, a royal specter hidden in Montreal, Canada. He teams up with Jackie in order to steal the scepter and make their fortunes. Of course, there is conflict. Nick doesn't want to team up with Jackie; he has never worked with a partner before. ....Unfortunately, things go awry and there is some backstabbing towards the end. ....

This film was definitely a good way to reissue the faded genre of thief films. ....But this film, aided and abetted by the masterful Brando, charmismatic De Niro, and, ...Ed Norton.... Frank Oz, known for directing many Muppets films for Jim Henson, does an excellent job in putting us along for the ride.

And what a ride it is!

Good solid heist film
When watching this film you can't help but think about the missed opportunities. A movie with De Niro, Norton and Brando should have been great, like something never before seen. In that sense, The Score is a letdown, though if you're a fan of these great actors, you'll still have a good time watching it (be warned though - Brando doesn't appear all that often and usually he's in some dim, shadowy environment...)

What I liked about The Score, other than the actors, is that it takes its time providing us with all the details of the heist. So many heist movies have stunts that seem entirely implausible; they don't explain much to the viewer and just count on the fact that we won't think too deeply about what's going on. This one builds things slowly, while providing us with the tension and contrast between the characters - steady dependable De Niro and the hotshot, Ed Norton. Don't expect much violence; this movie is about people using their wits and trying to trip each other up. The ending is also deeply satisfying.

mediocre
good:

1. action takes place in a foreign country! Canada and in foreign language (fr)
2. no blood, no one killed (2 shots only)
3. racially correct (fiance of RdN is black)

bad:

slow action, predictable, schematic, boring, abscence of imagination, non-entertaining. looks like a piece of "lemon" from the hollywood conveyer line. this is not "movie art", just an example of "movie industry".

and finally, i realized why so high the crime rate in the usa, so low in canada: the canadian criminals never "pee in their own pool", that's why they come to the usa.

You can't beat experience

Director: Robert De Niro, Frank Oz
Format: Color
Studio: Paramount Home Video
Video Release Date: May 7, 2002

Cast:

Robert De Niro ... Nick Wells
Edward Norton ... Jack Teller
Marlon Brando ... Max
Angela Bassett ... Diane
Gary Farmer ... Burt
Paul Soles ... Danny
Jamie Harrold ... Steven
Serge Houde ... Laurent
Jean-René Ouellet ... André
Martin Drainville ... Jean-Claude
Claude Despins ... Albert
Richard Waugh ... Sapperstein
Mark Camacho ... Eric (Sapperstein's Cousin)
Christina Colburn ... Woman in Study
Gavin Svensson ... Man in Study
Thinh Truong Nguyen ... Tuan
Carlos Essagian ... Cop
Christian Tessier ... Drunk
Lenie Scoffié ... Storekeeper
Bobby Brown ... Tony
Maurice Demers ... Philippe
Christian Jacques ... Guard
Henry Farmer ... Guard
Dacky Thermidor ... Guard
Gerard Blouin ... Guard
Charles V. Doucet ... Old Engineer
Pierre Drolet ... Worker
Norman Mikeal Berketa ... Bureaucrat Official
Eric Hoziel ... Ironclad Tech
John Talbot ... Janitor
Richard Zeman ... Thug
Nick Carasoulis ... Thug
Cassandra Wilson ... Special Appearance
Mose Allison ... Special Appearance
Bill Haughland ... Newscaster
David L. McCallum ... Rich Man
Andrew W. Walker ... Jeff

An old pro jewel thief, Nick Wells (Robert De Niro) is talked into one last heist by Max (Marlon Brando) for a centuries old scepter worth millions. Max has him set up to partner with a volatile inside man, Jack Teller (Edward Norton) who works at Canadian Customs as a disabled assistant janitor, where the sceptre is securely stored and guarded. Nick wants to pay off his jazz club and marry Diane (Angela Bassett). She wants him to quit his criminal pursuits as a condition.

Teller tries to make a double-cross, things go wrong, and that's what the story is about. It is a good thriller, directed by De Niro and Frank Oz, who do a commendable job.

Altogether, a well acted, well directed story that is entirely entertaining.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

... Read more

Description

In THE STEPFORD WIVES, Walter (Broderick) and Joanna (Kidman) Eberhart are the newest residents in a suburban neighborhood in Stepford. Seeing that the women she surrounds herself with all seem to be cut from the same mold, and are seemingly incapable of thinking for themselves, Joanna begins to think something suspicious is going on in Stepford.Upon realizing that her friends have been replaced by robots and that she's next on the list, Joanna and Walter decide to turn the tables and expose the truth about what's really been going on in Stepford. ... Read more

Reviews (73)

Under-appreciated
Honestly. This movie really is underappreciated. Aside from an all-star cast, the plot really isn't -that- bad. I will admit that there are a few holes, (Okay, so there are more than a few....) but it all made sense to me. The part about how the wives are Stepford-ized really should have been cleared up, but I didn't think it was that hard to understand.

The actors in this movie made it come to life. Nicole Kidman had my attention from the beginning, all the way through to the end. She is such an amazing actress, and deserves a lot more credit than she gets. Bette Midler, as always, does a bang-up job. She is incredibly hysterical, and has some of the best lines in the movie (The stuff about pine cones is a riot.) Christopher Walken is just as sinister as always, but he fits the role of Mike to a tee. Faith Hill was sorely under-used, but funny in the two words she did have. Glenn Close was wonderful, even if she didn't look her best, and Matthew Broderick...was in it. Don't get me wrong; I love him (especially in Ferris Bueller's Day Off), but he seemed slightly out of place in TSW.

There isn't exactly chemistry between Kidman and Broderick, but I think that's part of the whole point. I mean, they did have their moment after their fight on the stairs, and, of co urse, at the ending. Speaking of the ending, I thought it fit perfectly with the theme of the movie, even if it was extremely different from the ending of the first movie (which I haven't seen) and the book (which I have read). This new version of TSW isn't as dark and cynical as the original, or as the source novel, but it's message is more clear for today's MTV generation. All in all, I thought it was done very effectively, for all it's plot holes, and was just a generally entertaining movie. I didn't stop laughing from beginning to end, and I left the theater with a refreshed outlook on marriages today. Quite a feat from a two hour movie. Go see it. Soon. It's fun, and it's funny.

Remake marred by political correctness
In 1975, Katharine Ross starred in the original THE STEPFORD WIVES, in which an unsuspecting wife, Joanna Eberhart, moves with her loving husband to an idyllic town, where all the wives are suspiciously perfect and their husbands are up to something (besides Boys' Night Out playing cards) in a secretive men's association. The film was a low-key horror flick, and the ending would leave any respectable feminist seeing red, as in spilled male blood.

This 2004 version stars Nicole Kidman as the same Joanna, a high-powered, TV network CEO that's canned when one of her reality shows generates a lawsuit capable of bankrupting the organization. Her husband Walter (Matthew Broderick), a VP at the same network, quits in sympathy, and moves the family to a gated Connecticut town called Stepford so that Joanna can de-stress. Almost immediately, she perceives something wrong with all the other wives. They're almost all blonde, and invariable physically fit, perfect housekeepers, wonderful cooks, oversexed, and perkily devoted to their husbands' every whim. Only one woman seems "normal", the smart-mouthed, disorganized writer, Bobbie Markowitz (Bette Midler), who isn't afraid to sass her own demanding mate. But, after Joanna and Bobbie are almost caught one night while spying on the menfolk in their posh mansion clubhouse, the latter undergoes a terrifying transformation. And Joanna knows her days as an imperfect woman are numbered.

Besides gawking at the sumptuous Connecticut estates which provide the exterior location shots, the best reason to see this version of THE STEPFORD WIVES is the ever svelte and gorgeous Nicole Kidman as the high-strung and apprehensive Joanna. (How does she manage to stay so thin?!) The plot itself is more darkly comedic than the 1975 version. This, by itself, could have resulted in a more engaging film except that the screenwriters chose to extend the ending beyond that of the original into a denouement that, apparently thought necessary for the enlightened twenty-first century, had to be politically correct, and thus came out just silly. I felt like walking out of the theater during the last, over-the-top scene involving Claire Wellington (Glenn Close) and the head of her husband, Mike (Christopher Walken).

Women of the world, unite! By God and Gloria Steinem, those evil and smug males can't be allowed to get away with it!

great potential marred by a lack of consistency
A film by Frank Oz

Joanna (Nicole Kidman) is an executive who runs a television network. She seems to be responsible for some of the big reality shows that are being aired (we meet her as she is announcing several new shows that take "reality tv" to a ridiculous level). When one of the reality shows backfires in a public way, Joanna is fired from her job and suffers and emotional breakdown. It is to help Joanna and to begin a new life that her husband, Walter (Matthew Broderick) moves the family from the big city up to Connecticut to a town called Stepford.

Stepford seems like the perfect town. Everyone is pleasant, if a little too perky and perfect. Joanna and Walter are welcome to the community by Claire (Glenn Close). Claire seems to be the leader of the Stepford women's group and the town seems to be organized around the Men's Club and the Women's Day Spa. Walter is welcomed right into the Men's Club and he feels at home. Joanna, on the other hand, is very skeptical because all the women seem like they are exaggerations and someone else's idealizations. For example, the women all exercise wearing dresses because they wouldn't want their husbands to see them wearing black sweatsuits and have stringy hair (which was exactly what Joanna was wearing at the time). Joanna befriends Bobbie (Bette Midler) and Roger (Roger Bart), the only other two women who are not in the "Stepford" mold. A note about Roger: Roger is a gay man, but because he fits the stereotype so well of what a gay man is, he counts in Stepford as "one of the girls". Together, the three of them try to find out what is going on in Stepford and why the women are all so strange (and why one of them seemed to spark at the ears during a dance). Why are all the women such male fantasies and the men remain their geeky selves?

This 2004 adaptation of "The Stepford Wives" is more of a comedy than the horror leanings that the original is said to have had (I admit, I have not seen the original film, nor have I read the book). Since I cannot compare the film to either the novel or the original film, I can only work with what I am given on screen. The first half of the movie is fairly effective and interesting as the world of Stepford is being set up. The problem lies in the fact that the second half of the movie may or may not have contradicted information given in the first half. Something is going on with the women in Stepford, that is clear. The question is: What is going on with the women in Stepford. The term "Stepford Wives" is such a part of the Americal cultural lexicon that many people have an idea of what a Stepford Wife is, but the film never quite makes the connection. It sets up one idea, then gives us another idea, but in the end the film does not answer the question as to what exactly a Stepford Wife is. I am trying not to give away a spoiler, though the film's trailer gives away much of the twist of the movie, so the most I can say is that "The Stepford Wives" as a film does not seem to know exactly what a Stepford Wife is at the most technical level.

It is my confusion with what the premise of the film ultimately is (and thus what the ending means) that is leading to my growing dissatisfaction with "The Stepford Wives" as a movie. I enjoyed my time in the theatre watching this movie, and it is pleasant enough, but the inconsistency of the plot is enough to knock the film down a couple of notches.

-Joe Sherry

Pure Entertainment
With an all star cast like this film has and the filming location of Connecticut how could you go wrong. The film is extremely campy and has something for everyone to enjoy. Wonderful costumes, great acting, beautiful music just adds to the enjoyment of pure entertainment on a grand scale. This film does differ from the orginal but a few scenes are played out exactly as the older film but in extremely good taste. The new ending is just an added bonus and Matthew Broderick has that never aging cute face. There is no stress and no gore on viewing this film, just pure popcorn mutching, relaxing, laughing and having a good time. Enjoy!

Funny, but a misfire.
THE STEPFORD WIVES, as it was written, was supposed to be scary, but, in this version reimagined by director Frank Oz and screenwriter Paul Rudnick, it's a farce.

It's not a particularly successful farce, though it is occasionally funny. Nicole Kidman stars as a castrating, domineering harpy who's neglecting her family. Matthew Broderick is there but doesn't make much of an impression. Bette Midler's somewhat funny.

But co-star Roger Bart, playing a gay "Stepford Wife," and the magnificent Glenn Close pretty much steal the movie. ... Read more

Reviews (48)

The Muppets Take Manhattan and then Give it Back
The best Muppet Movie ever? It is a debate that rages on still today. Let's simplify the debate a little, by clearing one thing up. There are only THREE Muppet movies. I don't like to count the ones made after the tragic passing of the magical Jim Henson. His general spirit is missed in them, not even mentioning he not only provided the voice for Kermit the Frog, he WAS Kermit the Frog. That was him, that scrappy, intelligent, witty little frog...that was Jim Henson, and nobody could ever replace him. So that leaves three Muppet movies to choose from: The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, and The Muppets Take Manhattan. As I child, I always felt a special connection to The Muppets Take Manhattan, seeing as I had it on tape and I watched it constantly. As I grew, I would see the others, and I liked them, but I felt they never measured up to my favorite, The Muppets Take Manhattan. It all starts in college: The Muppets are graduating, and they're putting on their stage show, and everybody loves 'em. Kermit announces after the successful show that the Muppets are going to take their show to Broadway. Kermit and his buddies ship off to New York, encountering obstacles and splitting up, missing each other and then finding each other again. BUT WHERE'S KERMIT? He's been hit by a car and he's lost his memory! Then he starts to work for an advertising agencies with other frogs! He adapts to his surroundings. He doesn't know where or who he is. But soon, Gonzo finds him, and the show goes on and it's a smash! But that wedding scene...every time it comes on I can't hold the tears back. My God it's magical. It'll change you inside! It's the BEST MUPPET MOVIE EVER!

Another Great Muppet Classic For ALL Ages
If you like the Muppets, you don't need to be reading this review. Just buy this classic Muppet movie. If not, I'll try to give you a glimpse of the great show this really is.
All the Muppets have just got out of college and now all leave for different destinations and job. They all split up, but Kermit tries to get them all on Broadway meanwhile with their show "Manhattan Melodies". My favorite scene in this film is when Miss Piggy is spying on Kermit and another lady Kermit is talking to. Kermit gives a hug to her, and Miss Piggy, who is being teased by some contstruction workers bend a bar of metal and then starts denting metal. It's really hard to explain, but it is absolutely hilarious. You have got to buy this DVD! I also recommend "The Great Muppet Caper", "The Muppet Movie", "Muppet Treasure Island", and "Muppets From Space".

The Muppets Messed-up DVD
The Muppets Take Manhattan is the third Muppet film and although not the strongest, it's sure to entertain the entire family. The story follows the Muppets on their quest to get their show, "Manhattan Melodies", produced on Broadway. It's a terrific story that hits at the core of what the Muppets are all about, namely putting on a show. Sure the music isn't as memorable as that in the first muppet movie (except "I'm Gonna Always Love You"), but you can't help appreciating the lengths to which the Muppets will go to entertain you. Singing chickens? Got 'em! Frogs with hair? Check! Unbelieveable action sequence? Of course, and it's unbelieveable in more ways than one! A Muppet staple is the cameo and they abound in this film. Everyone from Liza Minelli to Art Carney sets some screen time. Joan Rivers is particularly funny in her over the top make-up scene with Miss Piggy. For all you Trekkers, Gates McFadden even appears as a secretary to a con man!

The film is great entertainment, but this DVD has problems. First of all the digital tranfer isn't that good. Plenty of older films like Fantasia look stunning on DVD, but not this film. There is a graininess to the picture that can be discracting and artifacts abound. Sound is presented in only a mono format. Was the original film released this way? I don't know, but if so some mention should be made on the packaging, otherwise it feels like we're getting ripped off. On a positive note the film is presented in both a formatted and widescreen version. As for the other bonuses, there is a strange feature called "Muppetisms" that I can't really figure out. They are minute, minute and a half long segments featuring one or two muppets just goofing off and benign wacky. Not too sure what it's all about, but it was fun to watch - once. By far the best bonus feature is the interview with Jim Henson. He talks a bit about the making of the film, how decisions are made and such. It's an incredible peek into the creation of a Muppet film. There is one glarig problem though - the chapter stops are just little minute or so long bits of the interview. To see the whole thing you have to continually stop and start up again. It's a big mistake and makes watching the entire thing quite a chore.

My final word on this edition is buy it for the widescreen version of the movie only. The transfer isn't that good, the bonuses aren't that great, but the film itself is a real treat. Not the strongest Muppet film, but not the weakest either. If you have the video and don't care about widescreen, you can easily (and sadly) pass on this DVD. If not, pick this up for a fun romp around Manhattan that you and your family are sure to enjoy again and again.

THE MUPPETS ROCK!
I saw this movie, when i was a child, about 14 years ago.
I looked everywhere for a long time trying to find it on dvd.
Finally, thanks to amazon i found it! very cute, funny and good family entertainment for the whole family.
i'm 23 years old, and i LOVE THIS MOVIE! perfect for anyone who likes comedy!
way to go jim henson!

Funny and delightful, but not the best Muppets movie
I grew up with the Muppets, and it's impossible not to love them. They still make me laugh (especially that Swiss chef), and what can you say about Kermit the Frog? He's a legend, pure and simple. The Muppets Take Manhattan is great fun, as the gang reunites to take on Broadway and become stars, but there just seems to be a little something missing here. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that all the players go their separate ways over the course of a big chunk of the film - I don't know. It's still a great movie that children of all ages should enjoy, but it's not my favorite Muppet film. Certainly, one thing in this movie's favor is the fact that, in 1984, Jim Henson was still alive and well, and his collaboration with Frank Oz makes this a vintage Muppets motion picture.

As the film opens, the Muppet gang are graduating from college, and the big show they put on for the school is such a hit that they decide to go to New York and take their show to Broadway. It is a decision that helps keep everyone together, but even Kermit the Frog has a hard time getting any Broadway producers to sign a show featuring song and dance performed by a frog, a pig, a dog, etc. When hope is all but lost, everyone decides to split up and live their own lives - they feel as if they have been unfair to Kermit by depending on him alone for so long. Kermit vows to stay and sell the show, and he can't way to get the gang back together. Luckily, Kermit has developed a friendship with a fashion design student/waitress and gets a job at a diner (which also features a funny and delightful little group of rats). Kermit's new three-phase plan to sell the show offers a lot of comedy but doesn't exactly pan out the way he would like. Then he has to make things right with a certain someone who has been stalking him. In the end, of course, everything works out for the best - but not before Kermit completely disappears for the two weeks leading up to opening night.

This film boasts a number of cameo appearances by well-known personalities: Dabney Coleman, Joan Rivers, Gregory Hines, Linda Lavin, Art Carney, Elliott Gould, Liza Minnelli, Brooke Shields, and many others (including a pre-Star Trek: The Next Generation Gates McFadden). Some extra special guests from a certain street everyone knows and loves also show up for the big finale. As always, the Muppets themselves steal the show, and there are some really comical scenes of physical humor as well as funny dialogue. You even get to see what the gang might have been like if they had all met as children. By all means, watch and enjoy The Muppets Take Manhattan, but I think there are better Muppets movies out there. ... Read more

Reviews (196)

A underrated masterpiece of fantasy!
Jim Henson's 1982 Fantasy epic is set in another world and time, a elf-like being called " Jen" has a task that he must take. His task is to return an important Crystal shard back to a important universal source called " The Dark Crystal" before 3 suns line up, he joins up with a female Gelfling and must save the universe from the evil Skeckis before it's too late.

A magical movie that is one of the greatest fantasy epics of all time and also one of the best animated movies ever made, why is it animated you say? cause it's performed by Puppets that why. The DVD is impressive with excellent transfer and widescreen the way it was meant to be seen, the extras are phenomenal such as trailers, documentary, deleted scenes and more that adds to the value of the DVD. It's a must see movie if your into adventure, fantasy, sci-fi and animation, it's also a must see movie for your whole family and a guaranteed good time.

Movie Fairy Tale Told Right.
Jim Henson was one of the greatest artists and filmmakers of the 20th century. It took awhile for his genius to be appreciated in the United States, but over a decade since his death people are finally beginning to recognize the mastery of his creative mind. For example, THE DARK CRYSTAL. The film had a fairly decent run when it was originally released in theatres in 1982. However, the film wasn't acknowledged or heralded for the creative and complex masterpiece that it is until recently.

THE DARK CRYSTAL was a humongous undertaking. It is a film that takes place in a fantasy world, filled with frightening and mystical creatures; yet does not star one human being. The entire cast of the film consisted of nothing but puppets: some rather large and cumbersome, some that human performers were fitted in, some that were small, some that were animatronic; but all puppets nonetheless. Nothing like it had ever been attempted before and through the work on THE DARK CRYSTAL, Henson pushed puppetry and animatronics to a whole new level.

THE DARK CRYSTAL is about a young male Gelfling (think of an elf, but much smaller) named Jen and the journey he undertakes to save his world from an eternal dominion by a group of dragon-like creatures called Skesis. Jen's entire race was wiped out in a holocaust by the Skesis in an attempt to prevent a 1000 year old prophecy from being fulfilled. Jen is the last of his race, or so he believes. Jen leaves the race of Mystics who have raised the child since his parents' murder and sets forth on a journey to the great Palace to heal the Dark Crystal by inserting The Shard that had been broken from the crystal a millenium ago. Along the way he meets a variety of fantastical creatures from a one-eyed wise woman, the a race of miniture-round-headed people called Podlings, to a female Gelfling named Kira.

The plot of the movie is excellent and is told in the manner of such classic works as THE LORD OF THE RINGS, STAR WARS, and THE ODYSSEY. The world that Henson created is one of magic and fantasy, yet the story contains a great deal of Truth within it. It is a tale of adventure, love, sacrifice, and redemption; which speaks to the divinity in us all.

The movie is acceptible for an entire family to watch and contains several morals. However, children younger than five may find some of the creatures frightening. Nevertheless, THE DARK CRYSTAL is a fairy tale and like all true fairy tales, it does not gloss over the fact that evil is an ugly and nasty business. This movie is one of the best by one of the greatest.

Beautiful, but something missing...
Perhaps *beautiful* is the wrong word, for this movie is rarely aesthetically beautiful. Don't get me wrong on this point, beauty is not necessarily a good thing. What I mean to say is, atmospherically this is a triumph... but not beautiful. The 'characters' blend in perfectly(... beautifully?) to their world. The landscapes are... well... dark (which is fitting). It's aesthetically perfect, and in a movie like this, perfection demands there be little beauty.

The creatures are organic. 'Nuff said. They're wonderful. They're believable. They're just plain... wow.

So what's missing?

Terry Gilliam is quoted as saying a children's movie should be "Exciting enough for adults, and intelligent enough for kids" (Re: Time Bandits). The Dark Crystal is an imaginative masterpiece, but I couldn't help but feel the simplistic plot, 2-dimensional characters (I appreciate that making puppets' mental workings visible must be one of the hardest tasks in a movie with a fully puppet cast) patronizes the intelligence of all but the youngest children. They're a lot brighter than we treat them, and they're getting brighter by the day ;)

But, I suppose a great movie can do without great characters as long as the focus isn't on the characters, as long as it compensates atmospherically. And "The Dark Crystal" more than compensates.

So what's missing?

I'll relate this to another adventure movie: Dune. Dune was atmospherically beautiful, but it took itself too seriously. It was a massive undertaking, granted, but I can't remember laughing... or even smiling once. 137 minutes without smiling is a long time.

And it's the same with "The Dark Crystal". The only slightly comic break from the plot is the antics of a round-furry-dog-thing, but this isn't enough. "The Dark Crystal" Takes its battle-between-good-and-evil far too seriously, and unless one's awe at the world Jim Henson created can last one the full 90 minutes or so of the movie, one becomes impatient. Humour is an important tool with infinite potential - especially in a movie aimed at children, but it's a tool almost entirely overlooked in "The Dark Crystal". Even in a story as serious as Macbeth takes a moment to let its audience step back and chuckle towards the beginning. "The Dark Crystal" doesn't give us this opportunity.

In conclusion, "The Dark Crystal" is a... beautiful movie, but one that takes itself far too seriously. I became impatient with the simplistic plot, 2-dimensional characters (as 'beautiful' as they may be), and almost total lack of humour, but... clearly from the other reviews I've read, other's did not.

RE: the DVD
It's a lovely little package, but for the price you pay for it, it better be. I'm particularly fond of the little note-pad included. I would have liked to see more documentaries on the DVD, perhaps audio commentary, but alas - it shall not be.

Glorious!
I admit to being scared out of my wits by the Skeksis and the Garthim when I was little (reptiles combined with vultures and spiders combined with crabs are still terrifying to me), but I've come to really cherish this Tolkien-esque/ Froudian film. The gentle, nurturing Mystics, and cute little dog/ dust ball Fizzgig are among my favorite characters. The Podlings are simply adorable... the Gelflings are finely- featured and beautiful(Jen is very ponderous, if somewhat passive... Kira shows just how women can be, and are, just as strong as men!)... the Landstriders (which gracefully manage to combine the aspects of cats, moths, giraffes, camels, bats, rabbits, and who knows what else, into such beautiful creatures) are swift, courageous animals, and are very dear to me (for some odd reason). Possibly because I love animals(and I just have a thing for the underdog/unsung hero.) And there's the gentle Nebrie and many other creatures.

It's incredible to me that they were able to do this whole film without human actors! I seriously thought when I first saw it that they were real, flesh-and-blood creatures! Jim, Frank, Brian, and the rest of the crew really put their time and effort into making this film! Their hard work really paid off; the facial expressions and movements are impeccable! And the scenery is unbelievably lush, beautiful, and realistic. All of it looks so natural and earthy. It is as if they actually had real-live creatures acting, in my eyes... and they fact that they took the time to make up all of the history beind this story! That's just amazing!... and I could not get enough of "The Making of The Dark Crystal". How they all managed to sculpt, design, and perform these characters is mind-blowing for me, since I'm far from an artist like this crew. No matter...

This film, while impressive, is not for all people; there is a sizable mortality rate in this film that (the little ones) are likely to find very disturbing, including several struggles (Screaming Podlings being snatched up to be converted into slaves, Nebries being served to the Skeksis for dinner, and two Landstriders squealing as they fall to their deaths in a cliffside battle with the Garthim... I can't bear to watch (or hear) animals being harmed, and especially animals as gentle and benevolent as they are. Was showing these things really necessary?)

Apart from little things here and there, it is truely quite an accomplishment, if not earth-shattering, to watch!

22 Year Old Masterpiece of puppetry, still
When you think of Jim Henson you would sooner think of brightly colored animals with funny voices like dogs, bears, frogs and gonzos or fraggles. The Dark Crystal is something completely different however. It is scary, scary as hell.

It is a story of two races, Scepsis and Mystics who became seperated when the crystal cracked. To regain the balance in the universe the crystal must be whole again. In a prophecy it is said that a Gelfling will do this, allmost all of them are killed, except for one Gelfling called Jen...

Even though this movie is made 1982 it does not look dated at all. The puppets and body suits are amazing and really form their own world, much like Lord of the Rings. I'm surprised not more movies or stories in this fantasy world have been made.

This movie should not be watched by children under at least 12. The Scepsis are scary, vulture like creatures aided by an army of big bugs. Even the Gelflings look a little scary.

It's a masterpiece of puppetry, so definitely watch it. ... Read more

Description

In THE STEPFORD WIVES, Walter (Broderick) and Joanna (Kidman) Eberhart are the newest residents in a suburban neighborhood in Stepford. Seeing that the women she surrounds herself with all seem to be cut from the same mold, and are seemingly incapable of thinking for themselves, Joanna begins to think something suspicious is going on in Stepford.Upon realizing that her friends have been replaced by robots and that she's next on the list, Joanna and Walter decide to turn the tables and expose the truth about what's really been going on in Stepford. ... Read more

Reviews (73)

Under-appreciated
Honestly. This movie really is underappreciated. Aside from an all-star cast, the plot really isn't -that- bad. I will admit that there are a few holes, (Okay, so there are more than a few....) but it all made sense to me. The part about how the wives are Stepford-ized really should have been cleared up, but I didn't think it was that hard to understand.

The actors in this movie made it come to life. Nicole Kidman had my attention from the beginning, all the way through to the end. She is such an amazing actress, and deserves a lot more credit than she gets. Bette Midler, as always, does a bang-up job. She is incredibly hysterical, and has some of the best lines in the movie (The stuff about pine cones is a riot.) Christopher Walken is just as sinister as always, but he fits the role of Mike to a tee. Faith Hill was sorely under-used, but funny in the two words she did have. Glenn Close was wonderful, even if she didn't look her best, and Matthew Broderick...was in it. Don't get me wrong; I love him (especially in Ferris Bueller's Day Off), but he seemed slightly out of place in TSW.

There isn't exactly chemistry between Kidman and Broderick, but I think that's part of the whole point. I mean, they did have their moment after their fight on the stairs, and, of co urse, at the ending. Speaking of the ending, I thought it fit perfectly with the theme of the movie, even if it was extremely different from the ending of the first movie (which I haven't seen) and the book (which I have read). This new version of TSW isn't as dark and cynical as the original, or as the source novel, but it's message is more clear for today's MTV generation. All in all, I thought it was done very effectively, for all it's plot holes, and was just a generally entertaining movie. I didn't stop laughing from beginning to end, and I left the theater with a refreshed outlook on marriages today. Quite a feat from a two hour movie. Go see it. Soon. It's fun, and it's funny.

Remake marred by political correctness
In 1975, Katharine Ross starred in the original THE STEPFORD WIVES, in which an unsuspecting wife, Joanna Eberhart, moves with her loving husband to an idyllic town, where all the wives are suspiciously perfect and their husbands are up to something (besides Boys' Night Out playing cards) in a secretive men's association. The film was a low-key horror flick, and the ending would leave any respectable feminist seeing red, as in spilled male blood.

This 2004 version stars Nicole Kidman as the same Joanna, a high-powered, TV network CEO that's canned when one of her reality shows generates a lawsuit capable of bankrupting the organization. Her husband Walter (Matthew Broderick), a VP at the same network, quits in sympathy, and moves the family to a gated Connecticut town called Stepford so that Joanna can de-stress. Almost immediately, she perceives something wrong with all the other wives. They're almost all blonde, and invariable physically fit, perfect housekeepers, wonderful cooks, oversexed, and perkily devoted to their husbands' every whim. Only one woman seems "normal", the smart-mouthed, disorganized writer, Bobbie Markowitz (Bette Midler), who isn't afraid to sass her own demanding mate. But, after Joanna and Bobbie are almost caught one night while spying on the menfolk in their posh mansion clubhouse, the latter undergoes a terrifying transformation. And Joanna knows her days as an imperfect woman are numbered.

Besides gawking at the sumptuous Connecticut estates which provide the exterior location shots, the best reason to see this version of THE STEPFORD WIVES is the ever svelte and gorgeous Nicole Kidman as the high-strung and apprehensive Joanna. (How does she manage to stay so thin?!) The plot itself is more darkly comedic than the 1975 version. This, by itself, could have resulted in a more engaging film except that the screenwriters chose to extend the ending beyond that of the original into a denouement that, apparently thought necessary for the enlightened twenty-first century, had to be politically correct, and thus came out just silly. I felt like walking out of the theater during the last, over-the-top scene involving Claire Wellington (Glenn Close) and the head of her husband, Mike (Christopher Walken).

Women of the world, unite! By God and Gloria Steinem, those evil and smug males can't be allowed to get away with it!

great potential marred by a lack of consistency
A film by Frank Oz

Joanna (Nicole Kidman) is an executive who runs a television network. She seems to be responsible for some of the big reality shows that are being aired (we meet her as she is announcing several new shows that take "reality tv" to a ridiculous level). When one of the reality shows backfires in a public way, Joanna is fired from her job and suffers and emotional breakdown. It is to help Joanna and to begin a new life that her husband, Walter (Matthew Broderick) moves the family from the big city up to Connecticut to a town called Stepford.

Stepford seems like the perfect town. Everyone is pleasant, if a little too perky and perfect. Joanna and Walter are welcome to the community by Claire (Glenn Close). Claire seems to be the leader of the Stepford women's group and the town seems to be organized around the Men's Club and the Women's Day Spa. Walter is welcomed right into the Men's Club and he feels at home. Joanna, on the other hand, is very skeptical because all the women seem like they are exaggerations and someone else's idealizations. For example, the women all exercise wearing dresses because they wouldn't want their husbands to see them wearing black sweatsuits and have stringy hair (which was exactly what Joanna was wearing at the time). Joanna befriends Bobbie (Bette Midler) and Roger (Roger Bart), the only other two women who are not in the "Stepford" mold. A note about Roger: Roger is a gay man, but because he fits the stereotype so well of what a gay man is, he counts in Stepford as "one of the girls". Together, the three of them try to find out what is going on in Stepford and why the women are all so strange (and why one of them seemed to spark at the ears during a dance). Why are all the women such male fantasies and the men remain their geeky selves?

This 2004 adaptation of "The Stepford Wives" is more of a comedy than the horror leanings that the original is said to have had (I admit, I have not seen the original film, nor have I read the book). Since I cannot compare the film to either the novel or the original film, I can only work with what I am given on screen. The first half of the movie is fairly effective and interesting as the world of Stepford is being set up. The problem lies in the fact that the second half of the movie may or may not have contradicted information given in the first half. Something is going on with the women in Stepford, that is clear. The question is: What is going on with the women in Stepford. The term "Stepford Wives" is such a part of the Americal cultural lexicon that many people have an idea of what a Stepford Wife is, but the film never quite makes the connection. It sets up one idea, then gives us another idea, but in the end the film does not answer the question as to what exactly a Stepford Wife is. I am trying not to give away a spoiler, though the film's trailer gives away much of the twist of the movie, so the most I can say is that "The Stepford Wives" as a film does not seem to know exactly what a Stepford Wife is at the most technical level.

It is my confusion with what the premise of the film ultimately is (and thus what the ending means) that is leading to my growing dissatisfaction with "The Stepford Wives" as a movie. I enjoyed my time in the theatre watching this movie, and it is pleasant enough, but the inconsistency of the plot is enough to knock the film down a couple of notches.

-Joe Sherry

Pure Entertainment
With an all star cast like this film has and the filming location of Connecticut how could you go wrong. The film is extremely campy and has something for everyone to enjoy. Wonderful costumes, great acting, beautiful music just adds to the enjoyment of pure entertainment on a grand scale. This film does differ from the orginal but a few scenes are played out exactly as the older film but in extremely good taste. The new ending is just an added bonus and Matthew Broderick has that never aging cute face. There is no stress and no gore on viewing this film, just pure popcorn mutching, relaxing, laughing and having a good time. Enjoy!

Funny, but a misfire.
THE STEPFORD WIVES, as it was written, was supposed to be scary, but, in this version reimagined by director Frank Oz and screenwriter Paul Rudnick, it's a farce.

It's not a particularly successful farce, though it is occasionally funny. Nicole Kidman stars as a castrating, domineering harpy who's neglecting her family. Matthew Broderick is there but doesn't make much of an impression. Bette Midler's somewhat funny.

But co-star Roger Bart, playing a gay "Stepford Wife," and the magnificent Glenn Close pretty much steal the movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When a Hollywood heartthrob (Matt Dillon, playing a Brad Pitt look-alike) "outs" his small-town high-school drama teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline) during the Oscar telecast, the entire (fictional) town of Greenleaf, Indiana, wonders if Howard's really gay. More to the point, Howard wonders, too--quite a dilemma considering his pending marriage to Emily (Joan Cusack), who's patiently tolerated a three-year engagement. While a TV reporter (Tom Selleck) covers the ensuing furor, screenwriter Paul Rudnick and director Frank Oz make good-natured humor their highest priority, turning the "crisis" of coming out into a laugh-out-loud spin on conventional romantic comedy. The result is a film that delivers constant laughs and a golden opportunity for its fine cast to show off their considerable comedic talents--especially Cusack, who deservedly earned an Oscar nomination for her hilarious performance as the bride who's almost as confused as her would-be husband. That Rudnick and Oz have made a great comedy that's both old-fashioned and relevant to the late 20th century is no small feat, but In & Out has no hidden agenda apart from its triumphant desire to entertain. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Unlikely High Comedy
Given the pretext of a modern 'gay' comedy and the phrases, "gay stereotypes", "queer smaltz" and "hidden agenda" all come to mind. Add to that the sensitive subject of a high school teacher in Indiana being 'outed' on national television and you would seem to have the recipe for an instant disaster.

Director Frank Oz and screenwriter Paul Rudnick turn potential controversy and a touchy subject into a riotous, slapstick comedy with some of the wittiest and funniest dialogue in years. Kevin Kline as the 'possibly' gay teacher and Joan Cusack as the insufferable and patient fiancee are in top form (Cusack was nominated for an Oscar). The supporting cast are all veterans and even Tom Selleck does a turn for the better with his acting.

There is nothing but hilarity, joy and even tenderness between the characters with unexpected twists and character turnabouts that will soften even the most jaded. This is worth seeing if only for Joan Cusack where with a mouth full of bar nuts runs screaming into the street yelling, "Is this the twilight zone?!" Yes, the ending is happy - even more so.

A CLASSIC
Kevin Kline stars as the soon-to-be married small town teacher who is outed by one of his pupils during a television appearance. these are merley the seeds to an energetic comedy where Kevin Kline manicially runs around in the film trying to prove that he's not gay. There is a superb cast here which includes a fine supporting role from Tom Selleck who plays an openly gay reporter, as well as Joan cusack, matt Dillon and Whoopi Goldberg. They all sparkle against Paul Rudnick's razor sharp scripts that bubbles with fast, furious wit. Kevin Kline puts in a sensitive, carefully conceived performance rather than settling for a stereotypical role. Consistently funny throughout - a classic. Highly recommended.

Hilarious! Kevin Kline at His Best!
I caught "In & Out" on HBO a few weeks ago, and I thought that it was a hilarious comedy. Finding out that it was written by Paul Rudnick, the writer of "Marci X" and "The Stepford Wives", and directed by Frank Oz. the director of "The Stepford Wives." They work so well together. The only reason why I could only give this movie four stars is because of the last scene. It was too long, and I have seen that kind of scene before. They could have changed that part a little. The best scenes of the movie come from the middle, while Kevin Kline character is becoming confused about his life.

Kline plays Howard Brackett, a high school teacher that loves his job. "It's my life," he replies sometime during the movie. He is just days away from marrying another teacher Emily Montgomery, and he just found out that a former student of his named Cameron Drake was nominated for an Oscar for his preformance in "To Serve and Protect" in which he playsa gay solider. On the night where he wins, during his acceptance speech, he says that he was influenced by Howard because he's gay. That leaves Howard, Emily, and his parents Berniece and Frank, at a halt. None of them knew that Howard was gay, and Howard continues to deny it. The press gets involved when Peter Malloy, a gay newsreporter, decides to find out the truth about Howard. As his wedding day comes closer, and Howard continues to be a manly man, and prove to himself and everybody else that he's not gay, while also getting confused about his life.

I like how the filmmakers handle being gay. There are some sterotypes throughout the movie, such as the gay characters moving their hands in a certain way while they talk, or just some of the dialog. Kevin Kline handles the physical comedy well, and the entire movie works because of him. Joan Cusack is hilarious as usual, but she can overact at times. Matt Dillon had a nice small part as Cameron Drake, and it is good that he is playing an actor who is not conceited, and always thinking about himself. "In & Out" is a very funny movie that I recommend to all.

ENJOY!

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language.

An Actual Review
I bought this movie because so many people reviewed it and said it was funny. And I like Kevin Kline and Tom Selleck. Well, save your money, I laughed once. This movie was totally predicatable and disappointingly unfunny.

Could it be that all the people raving about this movie are raving about it because they are either gay themselves or gay-friendly, and would give ANY movie 5 stars for showing the gay lifestyle in a positive light?

If you do not want to watch a politically correct propaganda piece from ACT-UP, then skip this movie.

Dumb slapstick humor that is darn enjoyable!
I've seen this film about 5 billion times just because its light and fluffy and funny in that dumb sort of way that it can be watched over and over again because all it does is make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.And isn't that what you need sometimes? ... Read more