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Alex Gardner (Dennis Quaid) is a talented young psychic who's frittering his gifts away betting on the ponies. That is, until he's coerced by his old pal and mentor Dr. Paul Novotny (Max von Sydow) into taking part in a dream research project in which his psychic abilities make him indispensable. The project concerns "dreamlinking," whereby talented individuals like Alex hook up via electrodes and project themselves into some troubled subject's nightmares, in which they not only observe butparticipate in the dream, hopefully effecting some remedy. Alex is by nature a feckless guy, a charismatic scoundrel sporting a Cheshire cat's grin. But he warms easily to his new role as dream-dwelling psychotherapist, having a core of decency. Not so his nemesis, Tommy Ray Glatman (David Patrick Kelly), a dreamlink prodigy and pawn of Bob Blair (Christopher Plummer), who runs the research project for the government (he's described as the "head of covert intelligence"). Blair is worried about the President (Eddie Albert), whose nightmares of nuclear holocaust cause him to escalate disarmament talks with the Russians, much to Blair's dismay, being your basic evil, slick, smarmy covert kind of guy. Turns out Blair's real aim is to use the project to train dreamlink assassins, his star pupil being psycho Tommy Ray and his test case the President. Only Alex is there to stop them.

Dreamscape is all business, with a well-structured screenplay that lays the groundwork for the film's many admirable performances. Kate Capshaw in particular is very dreamy as a research scientist and Dennis Quaid's love interest. And David Patrick Kelly is likely to become your worst nightmare, especially when he's the Snakeman, giving an often fantastical performance. But what you're most likely to remember from this wonderful thriller is the many vivid dream sequences, aptly surreal images from the troubled psyche. --Jim Gay ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Eighties sci-fi/Thriller doesn't hold up...at all!
I saw this during the eighties when it originally came out and thought it was terrific and scary. However, this movie does not hold up at all. It's not just the technological advancements in special effects that makes this movie so dated, afterall movies like "The Thing" and "The Exorcist" came out before this. A scary movie is scary no matter when it came out. This movie is just silly. The president's fear of nuclear war is treated so brazenly that it doesn't hold up now that the Day After decade is over. The story is so brisk in the extreme nothing is giving time to develop. Only the ideas are presented and not explored. Quaid and Sydow are good but even they can't save this movie. The dialog is very stilted at parts. Christopher Plummer is just silly, not menacing. Tommy Ray isn't scary any more. The snake man looks so rubbery and stupid that I can't believe I was ever scared of it in the first place. They did a terrible job with it. The transformation effects are now laughable. They didn't have to be. Kate Capshaw is awful (she always was; maybe that's one of the reasons you don't see her in much anymore now that she is married to Spielberg). This is just not that strong a movie and time has not been kind to it. I thought it was great when I was 10 but it just isn't scary or fun. Awful music by Maurice Jarre. Not because it is an electronic eighties keyboard soundtrack like Jerry Goldsmith's Runaway. No this is just bad and it sounds bad on this DVD. No themes develop and even the chase music is boring. Very weak. Similar genre movies from the eighties that hold up and you might want to check out instead: Twilight Zone the Movie, Gremlins, Poltergeist, Brainstorm, Fright Night.

DVD-This dvd is also not very good either. The picture quality is very crisp most of the time. There is some wavering in some scenes. The special effects unfortuneately don't benefit from all that detail in picture quality. The worst part is the sound. It comes in DTS and Dolby Digital. It is hardly 5.1 like the box advertises. Occasionally you get some weak directional effects. But for I would say 80% of the movie everything is in the center speaker.

The best thing about this DVD is the menus. They were a pleasant surprise. The movie and this DVD were not.

What a fun movie!
This movie is kind of obscure to most but it's still an exceptional film. Dennis Quaid was pre-Inner Space, pre-Dragonheart and was sort of on the threshold of being one of the more fun and interesting actors of our time. This was also an overshadowed film by the mega horror spectacle "A Nightmare on Elm Street" but it's still great fun to enjoy. Very imaginative and different. The dream sequences were phenominal for the time when this film came out. Sort of an Indiana Jones meets Jacobs Ladder. With the exception of a weak ending and geeky special effects it's a great story and one that should be a addition to any collection. Enjoy!

I have a dream...for an unedited version...
Do you ever remember your dreams? I rarely do...unless they are of the really intense kind and I wake up during the dream, and even then the images tend to slip from my conscious like grains of sand through your hand. Why am I bothering telling you this? Well, I needed some kind of opener for my review of Dreamscape (1984), a film that deals with dreams and such, and this was the best I could come up with at the time, lame as it may be...directed by Joseph Ruben, who later did Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) and Money Train (1995), Dreamscape presents quite a cast with Dennis Quaid, Max Von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, Kate Capshaw, Eddie Albert, and even George Wendt (Norm!).

Dennis Quaid plays Alex Gardner, a young man of fantastic psychic abilities who has since dropped off the radar, preferring to use his 'gifts' to manipulate women and pick winners at the horse track, rather than continuing to subject himself to an endless series of tests meant to study and learn of his abilities, tests conducted by Doctor Paul Novotny (Von Sydow). Seemingly content to squander his skills, Alex's path once again leads him back to Dr. Novotny and his assistant, Jane DeVries (Capshaw) as they've developed a machine that would allow someone with Alex's talents to enter the dreams of others, and possibly help those plagued with reoccurring nightmares, specifically in the President (Albert) who is suffering from apocalyptic dreams that are beginning to affect his ability to do his job. Seemingly concerned with the President's well being, Bob Blair (Plummer), government head of Dr. Novotny's project and shadowy leader of an intelligence group even the CIA fears requests Dr. Novotny assist in relieving the President of these nightmares, but we soon learn he has other plans, plans of a sinister nature involving another, less stable psychic within the project by the name of Tommy Ray Glatman (David Patrick Kelly). Can Alex uncover the plot, help the President, and stay alive? Possibly, but the odds are certainly against him...

Given some of the films that came out in 1984 like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Ghostbusters, Amadeus, Footloose, Romancing the Stone, Starman, A Passage to India, and The Killing Fields, it's no surprise this 'sleeper' got lost in the shuffle. I've always enjoyed it, and thought it deserved a bit more credit than it's gotten. Dennis Quaid is really good and charming as hell as the smart alecky Alex Gardner, a character who seems to be able to handle himself, yet exhibits a smidgen of naiveté which possibly stems from a core belief of decency, despite his ventures into gray areas, specifically using his skills to determine winners of horse races, earning him money to live. Max Von Sydow is also very good, although I feel as if I've seen him in similar roles so many times before, as a doctor involved in ground-breaking research, not being able to see the forces which conspire to use his research for their own, sinister means until it's too late. As far as Kate Capshaw, I have to admit I've never cared for her all that much as I found her character in Temple of Doom to be highly annoying and distracting. She's not bad here, even though she does suffer from a common malady of the 80's here in big-hairitis syndrome. Plummer is good as the conniving powerful government agent with a secret agenda, although I've seen this whole 'evil government stealing research meant for the good of mankind for it's own corrupted means' theme about a thousand times before. Even so, he's perfectly suited for the part, oozing a smarmy, almost quiet charm that hides disturbing ulterior motives...I did like the aspect that his goals were driven mostly by his desire to protect what he thought needed protecting, even if he was misguided by his own sense of twisted patriotism.

The special effects, while seeming quite dated now, were actually very good for the time this film came out, especially the dream sequences of the President detailing post-apocalyptic visions of decimated cities and ruinous wastes. The stop motion work, while not really appreciated by many, is really pretty good and reminds me of those old Ray Harryhausen films I love so much. One thing that annoyed me the most about this release is what's missing due to a hack editing job on a few scenes, all within dream sequences, I suppose, to more aptly fit the movie's PG-13 rating. One scene involved Quaid and Capshaw and a romantic interlude on a train with some pretty steamy stuff, but here it's cut short, removing the nudity. A second edited scene had Quaid inside a mousy man's dream about his wife, which contained some nudity that was excised out of here, and finally another scene has to do with Quaid's character helping a little boy overcome a terrifying reoccurring nightmare about a monstrous snake man. The part removed had a bit of gore in it, but it certainly wasn't anything, in my opinion, that deserved to be removed.

It says the movie is available in full and widescreen anamorphic formats, but I only saw the widescreen available. The picture quality is pretty good, but the transfer print does suffer very minor age deterioration at some points, but it's hardly noticeable. The audio is much better, with Dolby Digital 2.0, new Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 Audio available. Special features include an audio commentary track by producer Bruce Cohn Curtis, writer David Loughery, and special effects artist Craig Reardon that's pretty good, although dry at more than a few points. Also included are a behind the scenes special effects makeup test reel and a slide show. I really wanted to give this four stars, but given that's it missing parts from a few scenes, I have to go with three...

Cookieman108

Dream A Little Dream
Dreamscape is a solid little sci-fi film, that thanks to good casting, rises above its problems.

Alex Gardner (Dennis Quaid) is a gifted young man, endowed with strong psychic powers, so far, he has only used his abilities to win money at the track. All that changes, when his former mentor, Dr. Novotny (Max von Sydow) and his lovely assistant (Kate Capshaw), recruit him to aid patients disturbed by their dreams. When a corrupt goverment official (Christopher Plummer)discovers what Alex can do, he has more sinister plans in mind--that involve the President Of The United States (Eddie Albert)

Director Joseph Ruben gets the most from a strong cast. Quaid is pitch perfect as Alex, and gives what I think is, one of his best perfomances of his lopsided career. Plummer is at his best when playing a heavy, von Sydow is also tops here as well. Capshaw, on the other hand, is only serviceable, but thankfully, not as annoying as she is in Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom. The script from David (Star Trek V) Loughery has a few hiccups in it, and even though some of the story seems like its right out Stephen King's The Dead Zone--the problems are minor and not that big of a deal. The special effects are a bit chessey at times, but I can overlook that as well. As I said, the performances make the film work, above all else.

The DVD has a fine audio commentary track with producer Bruce Cohn Curtis, Loughery, and special effects artist Craig Reardon, giving their perspectives on how the movie came together--I wish Quaid could have joined in as well though for an actor's take. A behind-the-scenes special effects makeup test reel and a still gallery top off the bonus material.

Dreamscape is worth a look and is better than the DVD cover art would have you believe. It's a step above, and then some, from a B grade flick.

original movie!
I saw the film now for the first time and were very surprised with the argument. A lot of parts are very similar to the "Elm Street" movies, which began one year later, even the knife-fingernails of the murderer, but especially that all victims were killed in their dreams.
I agree with the other reviews, the film has great performanes.
On the other hand there're a lot of mistakes and contradictions in the argument. For example, the last victim (the bad guy from the government) is killed although the protagonist is far away and can't influence his dream. But all in all I think you'll not loose your time seeing this movie, especially if you're a great science fiction/horror fan. ... Read more

Description

A young woman's life begins to resemble the daytime TV talk show she works for after she is persuaded to snoop through her boyfriend's Palm Pilot and discovers more than she wants to know about his past - and present. ... Read more

Reviews (62)

The Original Was Better But this is Good
I liked this movie but when I saw the original movie The Bad Seed I realized that this movie does not even compare although it has wonderful performances by the children the adults seemed to be trying a little to hard to be a good actor and it just was not working for them. The story is that this boy Mark (Elijah Wood) his mom just died and so his father sends him from New Mexico to Maine to spend some time with his cousins and family while he is taking care of the work that needs to be done. At first it all seems like harmless fun but after a while Mark realizes that his cousin (Macaulay Culkin) will kill him soon so now he is fighting to save not only his life but his entire family's but nobody believes him. I would recommend this to people ages thirteen and up the only reason it is R rated is because of language and violence but it is not that bad. It is suspensefull however a little predictable but if you like movies like this then you will love the movie The Bad Seed starring Patty McCormick. I hope that this review has helped you in making a decision about this film.

Elijah Wood, Macaulay Culkin THE GOOD SON is Superb!
The first time I came across this was in a junior novelization by Todd Strasser, and I must admit its better than the movie. But the movie is a delight. Macaulay Culkin is Henry, the young child who has everyone fooled into thinking he is a great kid. But he is really a youngster who loves to watch death. Elijah Wood(the kid in this movie who knows how to act) comes off much better as Mark, Henry's cousin and the only kid who knows Henry's true personality. The music is wonderful. Elmer Bernstein is a genius. And what can I say, even my mom liked the photography! I first saw the "TELEVISED" version on TV, following the real movie. Not a thing was changed! The reason for its R rating is Theme. Period. The violence is off screen, and besides Henry's one use of the "F-word" and some other expletives, there is nothing really here. WITH A PARENT, watch this movie kids, and adults, even though it stars young children, you'll like it too!

Haunting and truly chilling!
Wow! This movie was really chilling. It did an excellent job of a portrayal of a real psychopath as well as the beautiful wintery scenery in a setting of a New England coastal town. Macaulay does an effective job of playing the superficially charming, but cold-hearted, conscienceless Henry.

This is also one of Elijah Wood's better movies also; he does a much better job here than he did in LOTR; here he portrays Henry's fearful, sweet cousin, Mark, who recently lost his beloved mom and becomes one of evil, scheming Henry's victims.

I really felt for poor Mark; he goes thru so much and I liked that he bonds with his aunt Susan and weeps in her arms one night over the loss of his mother. It was such a touching scene and I could tell Susan really loved Mark and felt protective of him.

It's that bond that Henry cruelly exploits, since Henry cannot love or be loved. Henry's cold actions get worse and frightens Mark as the movie progresses until the climax at the end. I think Mark will continue to be affected by Henry's terrorizing for a very long time even though Henry is gone; I think Mark suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome after his ordeal with Henry in addition to losing his mom; it'd be nice to maybe see a sequel movie where Mark is struggling to overcome that trauma, maybe with Susan's help. Mark is a lovely, caring boy; I really liked him.

GREAT EARLY ELIJAH PERFORMANCE
I saw this movie in the theater when it came out, and never thought it got the recognition it really deserved. The story has admittedly been done several times before, but the thing that stands out about this version is the performance of a very young Elijah Wood. Of course at the time, Culkin was the "star" of this film due to the popularity of the "Home Alone" films. I have never thought that Culkin was that great of an actor, although he does come across as a very convincing troubled kid in this role. The standout, though, in this movie is Elijah Wood. This kid was a winner early on in his career and the proof is in this role. His eyes convey such fear and concern that you really feel his performance is for real. The atmosphere that the director created was also a big plus for this movie. The lighting and sound is excellent on the DVD transfer, and the widescreen presentation is very welcome. Also included are the trailer and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie, which aren't even listed on the box! Surprise!
Catch this one if you can!

A 12 Year Old Sociopath!
This is a great drama/thriller about a young boy, Mark, (Wood) who is struggling after the untimely death of his mother. He temperarily moves in with his Aunt and Uncle for a few weeks while his father is away on a business trip. He meets Henry, (Culkin) his 12 year old cousin who becomes a new best friend for him. Together they explore the beautiful Maine landscape and Henry shows him his secret hideout. Things seem to be going well until Mark begins to notice a darker side of Henry. A side nobody else has ever seen. Before long Henry's outdoor games are becoming more violent and evil towards people and animals. And when Mark tries to warn his Aunt and Uncle about Henry's dangerous behavior, they don't believe him or Henry denys it. Mark begins to panic when Henry threatens to kill members of his own family and almost poisons them. He tells him that his baby brother who drowned in the bathtub did not die as the result of accident like his parents believe. Soon, Henry turns into a true psychopath and the only one who knows it is Mark. He begins doing everything in his power to protect the family from Henry's destructive plans and maniacal rampage of terror. ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Hand Dipped Glazed Liver Dumpling
I agree that this movie was very well made and emotionally packed, but I felt there was a point that many people missed. The well expressed and obvious themes were definetly about self-asessment and morals, but I think something that the movie makers and definetly the actors wanted people to think about was the media's relentless pursuit of a story and their blunt exploitation. There might have been a slightly exaggerated instance in this movie for cinematic effect, which was expressed well, but there are many all too real examples in real life that I think maybe if the media were non-existant the repetitiveness of actions or conclutions of events might have been dramatically altered. A few examples come easily to mind; paparazzi, school shootings, trial coverages, every "top story" on the news. It all has something, if not everything to do with the media. There was a well written case in this movie. I felt some of the actors pushed a little too hard to deliver their lines, and the attraction of Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche's characters was unimaginable, but it's all a matter of circumstance and I certainly couldn't have done better myself. Joaquin Phoenix delivered the stand out performance, convincingly portraying an isolated, insane captive. I loved the gritty, disgusted feeling I was left with in the end which is something you can't always expect from the hollywood backwash plaguing theaters. Life doesn't always turn out good, and sometimes a movie with that sort of expression is a nice change of pace. I recommend this movie if you are looking for something to center on and that is very thought provoking.

Hauntingly Good....Where was Oscar?
How such a quality film could pass unnoticed by critics and audiences is beyond my comprehension. Before seeing this film by chance one night on a movie channel, I had only a vague and nebulous recollection of this film, something along the lines of, "I remember Anne Heche in the trailer...some dramatic music going on, I think, and set in Malaysia or Thailand." Admittedly, I did not expect to be affected by the film; rather, I expected an average drama that I would forget about even before I went to bed. However, this film has made me think twice about discounting films so quickly.

I will not summarise the film, as many reviewers here have already done so, but I will add my two cents to recommend such an extraordinary piece of work that illustrates Hollywood's ability to still churn out quality films (albeit without the pomp and circumstance of a typical $100 million budget studio film).

The first thing I noticed was the performance given by Anne Heche (Beth), Vince Vaughn (Sheriff), and Joaquin Phoenix (Lewis). Deep emotion was infused in the most simple lines exchanged between two characters, be it at a construction site or a dingy New York apartment. The film goes straight to the point. We are given but some short glimpses of a vivacious and happy Lewis before we are thrown into the moral dilemma - will Sheriff go back to save his friend's life? It seems unlikely that audiences would sympathise with Lewis, as we, the audience, and Sheriff barely know Lewis. The fact that we do sympathise deeply with Lewis clearly demonstrates Phoenix's exceptional acting skills. Also, Heche and Vaughn, although ultimately involved in a relationship (which I deemed to be necessary), make every scene and word believable. As the movie begins we all wonder why Beth, the desperate lawyer, is so dedicated to Lewis. I did not expect my wonder to be appeased, but it was. I won't spoil the surprise.

Quite telling that I haven't forgotten about this film since I first saw it, as I have watched many films without being at all impressed or touched. There are several touching scenes throughout the film, but I will point out the most astounding:

* Lewis's taped outpouring while in the Malaysian prison. Whilst begging Sheriff to return to Malaysia, Lewis is also stating his own guilt for asking, incredibly trying to be humble about asking for his life.

* Lewis' digression in the prison, his stream of consciousness speech that is perhaps my most favourite scene in the entire movie. Joaquin Phoenix, although his own worst critic who always sees flaws in his performances, cannot possibly not see the beauty in his acting, especially in this scene. Give Joaquin his Oscar statuette now!

* Spoiler, so I won't go into detail. But it's the ending. Enough said.

If you want big explosives, vapid lines like "it's time to meet your doom," or big sequences of impressive special effects, you will not get them here; for, this is a film that thrives purely from the strength of the actors, the quality of the script, and the remarkable scenes. This is not to say this is a film for the few people who dig boring dramas, and this is by no means an art house film. It is to say, however, that this is a film filled with touches of humour, intense drama, romance, and moral crossroads. If I had to sum this film up in one word, it would be "haunting."

Vaughn and Pheonix make this one a masterpiece
nailbiting drama about three men who go to Malaysia and then 2 go back, a year later Phenoix is sent into a prison and Vaughn and his buddie along with Heche go back...though there's a catach...in saving Pehonix's life from prison..one of Pheonix's friends must replace him. hard decisions meets good acting..Vaughn and Phenix are superb..Heche is right up there as well, but its Vaughn and Pehonix at the end where Vaughn watches his friend get hanged....its too much of a good movie for me..brilliant and nicely directed..the movier hits

Thought-provoking
I was right about my intuitions about this film. I thought it would be good, and it was great. It is one of those films that is very convincing in its ability to make you feel everything the characters are going through as they make burden-laden ethical decisions in their lives.
Vince Vaughn's character Sheriff is easy to hate at first as the cocky, selfish guy, but his transformation is both very believable and very moving. If you need to see a movie about courage and doing the right thing in spite of the terrible consequences, this is the one.
Unlike a majority of the other reviewers, I thought the love story between Heche and Vaughn was an asset to the film. What they have with each other at the end leaves you feeling that although the ending turns out tragic, you still feel good about how things stand.

AN INVENTIVE AND PROFOUND MODERN DAY MORALITY TALE...
This is a wonderfully creative movie, with top-notch directing and award caliber performances by a talented cast. The premise is a fairly simple one. Three young men, Sheriff (Vincent Vaughn), Tony (David Conrad), and Louis (Joaquin Phoenix), who previously didn't know one another, team up in Malaysia and party hearty. They have fun drinking, smoking hashish, and picking up girls. Sheriff and Tony head back to the states, leaving Louis behind, as he has a wildlife conservation idea involving orangutans that he wishes to pursue while in Malaysia. Before they go, Sheriff makes it a point to leave his dope stash in the house in which Louis is remaining. Later, the police come to search the premises on a matter unrelated to the dope stash. When they find it, however, they arrest Louis, who literally has been left holding the bag.

Two years later, Anne Heche enters the picture as a lawyer, ostensibly working on behalf of her client, Louis. She seeks out Sheriff and Tony with a proposition. It seems that while Sheriff and Tony have been getting on with their lives, Louis has been rotting in a Malaysian prison for the past two years and living in sheer terror. You see, Louis is scheduled to be executed in eight days as a drug dealer, as the amount of dope that had been left behind and discovered by the police was just over a threshold amount that would classify it as being for distribution, rather than for personal use. The only hope Louis has of staying alive is if Sheriff and Tony go back to Malaysia to take responsibility for their part in this and serve three years each. If only one returns, then the sole returnee faces six years. Will it be all for one and one for all? Will Louis live to personally thank his friends? Watch the movie and find out.

Vince Vaughn as Sheriff gives a compelling performance. Playing the quintessential Everyman, he struggles with his moral obligation. It is strictly a moral one, as legally he can just sit by and do nothing. Tony, too, undergoes some soul searching. They finally both come to the same conclusion, or do they? The dilemma that they face is an excruciatingly personal one. The movie builds up to a level of suspense that is totally unexpected. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Meanwhile, Joaquin Phoenix, one of the finest young actors of his generation, gives a performance that will haunt the viewer for days. Anne Heche also give a noteworthy performance, intense and relentless in her quest to save what life Louis has left. Jada Pinkett also gives a strong performance as a news reporter who is interested in the story. Her interjection into the movie brings into the forefront the issue of the responsibility of the press. When you see this movie, you will understand what this means.

This film is excellent on all fronts. The only weakness was an unnecessary subplot, which involved a blossoming romance between Sheriff and the character played by Anne Heche. Were it not for this digression, I would have given the movie five stars. It is an otherwise profoundly moving film that deserves to be seen. ... Read more

Reviews (54)

"You okay?" "I'm gonna be..."
That's the exchange that always stands out every time I see this movie. "Sleeping with the Enemy" is an excellent thriller about a woman, Julia Roberts, who fakes her own death to escape her obsessive and abusive husband, Patrick Bergin. Befriended by a neighbor, charmingly played by Kevin Anderson, she starts to rebuild her life slowly letting go of the fear. To go on would reveal too much, but I can say that not everything that haunts you is a ghost. Even though it creeps me out, every time this movie plays I am compelled to watch it. The characters quickly gain your sympathy (or in the case of Bergin your hatred) and draw you in to this subtle triumph of spirit.

Scissor-Cut Look at Abuse
With the beginning scene in "Sleeping With the Enemy" of a nice, handsome husband and a beautiful, smiling wife living in a lovely, rich house, this movie soon breaks the stereotype perception of an abusive relationship by showing that everything that glitters is not necessarily gold.

Julia Roberts, with a combination of a sense of planning and cleverness, fear and hope, and a desperate will to survive, does the only thing she can - she leaves while faking her own death. (Any abused man or woman will probably be mesmerized by some of the scenes and the feelings evoked in this intense movie.)

The new lifestyle she slowly, but surely creates for herself, against the backdrop of her husband piecing together her escape and his savage determination to find her creates a savvy suspense thriller that could be a classic in anyone's home movie library.

One major blooper...
Unless she knew that her husband was going to force her to go on a boat or that she set up something with the guy who owned the boat why would she be taking swimming lessons?

I liked the movie, glad I rented it - but wouldn't own it.

Husband From Hell!
Julia Roberts plays a battered wife who is reaching her breaking point with her obsessive, controlling , and abusive husband. So she fakes her death during a storm on a sail boat and runs away. She changes her identity and settles down in a small, peaceful town. Trying to forget about her husband and her past, she starts dating her neighbor and begins enjoying her new life of freedom! But little does she know that her psychotic husband is hot on her trail. And is ready to get serious revenge on her. But little does he know that things can always backfire. And a person can only be pushed so far before they give you a taste of your own medacine. Full of action- packed thrills and super suspense! A classic along the lines of "Enough", "Dolores Claiborne" and "Fatal Attraction"!

Good Old Berlioz!
Julia Roberts quickly established herself as one of the most luminescent stars in Hollywood. She has a face which, much like
Garbo's, the camera just never tires of viewing. She can use that face to express pensive worry, both spirited and icy determination, and, of course, her smile can melt glaciers. She also has a talent for rising above middling to mediocre material, so you never blame her the artistic shortcomings of the films she's in. Unfortunately, Hollywood quickly caught wise to her amazing "star power" and just as quickly developed
the "Julia Roberts vehicle."
There's something about "Julia Roberts vehicles" which I find annoying. Ulike the "women's pictures" of the 30's and 40's,
starring the likes of Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis and Joan
Crawford, which featured strong women confronting and overcoming a lot of conflict, "Julia Roberts vehicles" fall generally into two groups: There's the romantic comedy, which is usually a shameless retelling of the Cinderella myth, like "Pretty Woman,"
or there's the shameless feminist propaganda vehicle, like this one. In the latter vehicle, all men are beasts, and even the good ones are not redeemed until they finally learn to submit to Julia's will.
In this movie, Julia plays the spunky beleagured wife of the husband-from-hell, played by Patrick Bergin. Bergin's character is such a control-freak, he's almost as manipulative as this movie is. One day, Julia fakes her own death in a swimming accident, and runs away, back to her childhood home in the Midwest
to start a new life. It's a bit amazing in the way the filmmakers
expect you to believe that husband-from-hell is bright enough to figure out there's something wrong with his wife's "death," but takes 2/3 of the movie to figure out where she's gone. No matter, that gives our heroine time to start a relationship with a somewhat nerdy, non-threatening, "liberated" male played by Kevin Anderson.
The real surprise of this movie (and perhaps the only one) is the way it engages your interest in spite of how obviously manipulative it is. Julia has a lot to do with this, always conveying just the right combination of spirited spunk with disarming vulnerablity. Best part of the picture? The use of
the "Witches' Sabbath" movement from Berlioz' "Symphonie Fantastique" to set up the final confrontation between the forces
of good and evil. It makes Patrick Bergin more menacing than if he wore a Darth Vader suit!
You could do worse. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Pretty but straitlacedSarah goes to her uncle's swank house on the beach hoping to relax for a few weeks.Sarah's plans go askew, however, when her hellraising friends Ginger and Ducky (!) show up and invite everyone they can find for an extended party. The uncle (Adam Roarke) shows up, however, and the rowdy girls have to resort to any measures necessary to get on his good side.Add in a subplot of marijuana smuggling and a miserably unfunny Captain Queeg wannabe on a Coast Guard cutter, and you have The Beach Girls.The Pom Pom Girlsis marginally more entertaining, following the escapades of high school cheerleaders and their friends as they go after one last fling before graduation.Robert Carradine adds his talents to The Pom Pom Girls, along with a number of other more obscure actors who all look a bit long in the tooth to be high school seniors.Rhino Video put out this double feature, but the big question is…why?This DVD seems like an utter waste of digital information.For those old enough to remember the heyday of the drive-in, this is a reminder that for every trash classic from Herschell Gordon Lewis or Roger Corman, there were 10 examples of brain-rotting junk like The Beach Girlsand The Pom Pom Girls.Those hard up for a little camp value or a glimpse of nudity might enjoy these, but all in all this double feature is guaranteed to take your IQ and grind it into the dirt. --Jerry Renshaw ... Read more

Reviews (7)

I love it!
What could be better than The Beach Girls on DVD? This is the softcore flick shown to death on Cinemax in the 80's in all of its glory. Funny storyline that is a pleasure to watch after all these years. Funny, good lines, good characters, and, of course, there is plenty of flesh from the ladies. For what it is, this is a great movie.

The DVD is clear, the sound great. The chapter selections are a little lousy and there are no extras. As for Pom-Pom Girls, I haven't watched it yet.

The Beach Girls - a classic of the genre
If you collect jiggling ... movies from the seventies and early eighties like me, The Beach Girls definitely needs to be in your collection. This movie harkens back to a more innocent time when all you needed was a rich uncle's beach house, a few college age bimbos, and eight garbage bags of weed washed up on shore to have a rockin' good time. Where this movie really delivers is in the area of jiggling naked .... I don't think the movie goes more than five minutes without delivering real, non-surgically altered mammaries. The Pom Pom girls is pretty forgettable, except for seeing Robert Carradine in an early role.

i wan't to go to paradise
i remember seeing the beach girls in the movies back in 1983.at least it's better than porky's. as a matter of fact it's the best teen movie i have ever seen. this movie is good because it has a lot of slapstick in it. that's what makes it different than all the others. it's not that long and it is quite funny.

I cannot believe this
I remember watching "Beach Girls" when I was at an age I shouldn't have. There are SO MANY wonderful films that haven't made it to DVD yet and THIS has???? Lordy. Bad, bad T&A movie that I'm fairly sure scarred my concepts of sex well into adulthood. Ewie.

No Plot, Bad Acting, Bad Direction. It's a HIT!
I got this on DVD simply because it was made the year I graduated high school (1976) and I was right, it's full of flashbacks of the pathetic 70's, which I can now look back on and laugh. My daughter is stealing the cheers from this movie to use on her high school squad now! Bad hair, wild clothes, even some nudity (girls but no boys). A horrid generic soundtrack really brings out the best in mood setting. And why does every high school kids type movie, no matter what year or era it's made or set in have to include a 1955 Chevy? Classic 70's B movie camp. Buy it and make your teenage kids sit thru it. Then they'll understand you a lot better! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A winner film
James Woods has been one of the best actors in the screen. He is outstanding and always he commits in just five hundred per cent in all his performances. Powerful and expressive, but in Hollywood he has had just isolated opportunities. It's missunderstable.
Earl Dodd is very special lawyer, he isn't a typical image of lucky lawyer. and obviously our character lived with too much passion those singular decades from the sixties and seventies.
From this perpective a singular case challenges him; to assume the defense of a chinese acussed of murder, being not guilty. This movie will tell about all the resources and special methods of our antihero for winning this dark case.
Robert Downey Jr. plays the typical role of the rookie naif lawyer who thinks the world is fair and clean. Soon he'll learn too many issues about how to deal with the life and specaiily in this business.
A well built script allows Woods to release all his stamina and skills, specially in front the Court in the first half of the film.
Solid film , with smart situations and a fine sense of humor. Worthy work.

Boring
I'm a big James Woods fan and came across this movie here. I have never heard of it and it is not available at any of the video stores in my area. So I ordered it because of all the positive reviews here, but wound up turning it off in the middle. It was real long, uninteresting, and was taking too long for anything to happen. If you haven't seen this movie before, I would recommend you not buy this yet, like I did. Try checking out "Indictment" or "Dirty Pictures", two of Woods's best movies.

The guiltier he is, the more he needs us
This and 'Inherit The Wind' are the best courtroom drama's ever!
A man kills a white suprimacist in prison, and Eddie Dodd, a lawyer who 'does cases cheap, James Woods, his lawyer decides to put the original case on trial.
Chinatown...

True believer
another of those non-mainstream James Woods movies that turns out to be the one you remember forever. I honestly don't know how Woods can get so much emotion into a character.

This is probably his greatest work (with Diggstown right there) and you will be able to experience his characters Frustration, pain, and relief right along side him. A touch of humor to lighten but mostly the best dramatic court scenes and flat out grit will have you recommending this to strangers on the street.

True Believer
True Believer has to be one of the best movies ever made. The evidence I introduce to support my case is I have watched it 7-8 times without becoming remotely tired of it. (Raiders of the Lost Ark, another favorite of mine, got a little tedious after 3 viewings). True Believer is James Woods at his very best. The story is very plausible and the clues unravel at a perfect pace throughout the film. In fact, the movie gives you the opportunity to piece the puzzle together as the characters do. Robert Downey Jr., is the perfect naive "sidekick" to James Woods cynical been-through-the-grinder attorney. Kurtwood Smith is perfect as the district attorney. If you are a James Woods fan and haven't seen this movie you are in for a treat. Buy it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This attempt to reunite the stars of White Men Can't Jump will most likely be remembered as the movie that allegedly inspired a number of copycat arsons in the New York subway system. In other words, the movie itself is too perfunctory to be remembered for any other reason. Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes share their established chemistry as a pair of stepbrothers who work the subway detail as undercover detectives in the NYPD. Woody's a compulsive gambler with a huge debt problem to contend with, and he's also competing with his brother for the attentions of their new and beautiful partner (Jennifer Lopez), who's been assigned to join their investigation of the subway crimes. They're also supposed to guard the daily money train (so named because it contains each day's worth of subway fares), but Woody gets the bright idea that it might be the solution to his money woes. What follows is standard-issue action fare for the mid-1990s--lots of violence, excessive profanity, and attempts at witty banter between the costars to make it all seem more entertaining than it really is. You'd need to be a serious Harrelson, Snipes, or Lopez fan to add this movie to your collection. For anyone else, one viewing ought to be enough. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Why the bad reviews?
Myself and my wife loved this movie! Woody Harrelson plays a down-on-his-luck gambler who falls foul of the local Mafia with his gambling debts. Wesley Snipes plays his brother, a New York Transit Authority cop, who guards the so-called Money Train, an armoured subway car which collects the takings from each station. When Woody's character gets a good beating for failing to keep up repayments, he feels the only way out is to rob the Money Train, with or without Wesley's help! And we are treated to a host of spectacular action sequences on the rails! Jennifer Lopez(BABE!) also features as a cop with whom both Woody and Wesley's characters try to have more that a friendship with as well! Overall, this movie is action-packed and funny, with enough stunts to satisfy the most jaded connieuseurs of slam-bang flicks, and contains great cinemantography and SFX with the train scenes in the climax! DVD enhancement inmproves it even more, with sound FX that'll blow away your living room!

Lopez is really "On the 6"
Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson rekindile their teamwork fromWhite Men can't Jump in an action packed thriller which packs punch but lacks focus. This story is all over the place involving two interracial step brothers competeing for a female partners affection (Lopez). The story includes a gambling problem, a bosses irrational behavior, and saving ones brother from the law as he tries to rob a NYC transit money train. Unfortunately firebug scenes were copied and killed a token booth clerk in Brooklyn after this movies release. One problem with this movie is that it alleges it's using a letter B train to Coney Island when the trains used for filming were 4,5 and 6 number cars. The movie was said to be filmed in North Carolna studios however the stations resemble those of the Lexington Ave. Line. Any consious New Yorker knows that they're not passing De Kalb Ave. Why after spending millions of dollars is the simplest research messed up? They should have gotten their subway legend right! Jenifer Lopez looks real good and acts well in a movie that indirectly refers from her the self motivated title of her cd "On the 6" which refers to the 6 subway line. Lot's of mistakes for anyone who knows the subway but some good action scenes aside from the movies implausibility.

Funny Action, but too old
Three great actors in this somewhat offensive action comedy that had good parts and bad. Nontheless it is a definite looker, and is really worth watching. I liked it and i'm sure you'll love it too. A great mild action movie with big stars who knows how to act.

Jennifer Lopez in "Money Train"
Two foster brothers are NYC transit cops in charge of guarding the subway's "money train". Knowing it's loaded up with the station's fare, the pair finally decide to rob it themselves!

Why all the hate?
Look obviously the person who wrote the review on how bad it is wasnt really paying attention to the movie. Snipes, and Harrelson are Transit Cops and brothers. Harrleson is a compulsive gambler, and Snipes is his goody goody brother. This movie of full of great action, and If you are a Snipes fan check out Blade, Blade 2, New Jack City, and Demolition man. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

2DVD`S which are...but one of the best Carpener films EVER!
Alright,these DVD`s aren`t the best in picture & sound and obiously Dreamscape isn`t one of the best movie ever made,but you can enjoy it if you are willing to do it.But when there is an alright there is of course a but,so:but Assault on Precinct 13 is one of the best Carpenter-movies I`ve ever seen and for Tarantino-fans:you know what written on the shirt of the little preachersons T-shirt?!
It`s a realy good movie and look at the price(!),you can`t make a mistake with this order! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

aboslute great!
I absolutely loved joyride. It was very suspenceful and thrilling. I will not spoil the ending for anyone butI was surprised!

I am so glad I purchased this video. I will see it many times and I am glad I have it in my collection.

I recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Malaysia, three young Americans with little else in common are unitedin ashared enthusiasm for beer, women, and righteous hashish.Eventually,"Sheriff" (Vince Vaughn) and Tony (David Conrad) head back to New York. Lewis (Joaquin Phoenix), a spacey but good-hearted sort, stays on with thenotion of helping save the orangutans. Two years later, a brassy lawyer(Anne Heche) shows up in Manhattan with the news that her client, Lewis, hasspent the interim in Penang prison.Arrested for a prankish misdemeanor theyall shared in, he's taking the rap for something worse: the dope stash they left him holding was a fatal few grams over the limit. Unless his fellowAmericans return voluntarily to (literally) share the weight, in eight daysLewis will be hanged as a drug trafficker.

Eight days is about as long as Return to Paradise stayed on theaterscreens--the victim, perhaps, of Anne Heche-Ellen DeGeneres burnout in the press, or justtoo damn many movies out there to keep track of.Whatever the reason, it's apity, because this is one of the most compelling movie-movies in recentmemory.The screenplay turns the ethical-psychological thumbscrews withinsidious effectiveness, despite the probability that the two writers broughtseparate agendas to the project--Wesley (Cape Fear) Strick working thecomplicity of the two home boys (each represents the halving of the other's prison sentence if they both agree to go back), and Bruce (The KillingFields) Robinson revving his engines for another face-off of implacable Eastand irresponsible West.And director Joseph Ruben, specialist in serving upB-movie excitement with class-A skill (Dreamscape, The Stepfather), doeshis sleekest work yet.

But the real news is a trio of career-best performances: Phoenix, harrowing asa child-man whose sanity has been all but eaten away by terror; Vaughn limninga fascinating portrait of a man at war with himself, self-interest andfurtive decency seesawing in his conscience; and Heche, part cagey poker player, part angel of mercy, mixing strength, delicacy, and desperation withdevastating precision. Oscar blinked, three times. --Richard T.Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Hand Dipped Glazed Liver Dumpling
I agree that this movie was very well made and emotionally packed, but I felt there was a point that many people missed. The well expressed and obvious themes were definetly about self-asessment and morals, but I think something that the movie makers and definetly the actors wanted people to think about was the media's relentless pursuit of a story and their blunt exploitation. There might have been a slightly exaggerated instance in this movie for cinematic effect, which was expressed well, but there are many all too real examples in real life that I think maybe if the media were non-existant the repetitiveness of actions or conclutions of events might have been dramatically altered. A few examples come easily to mind; paparazzi, school shootings, trial coverages, every "top story" on the news. It all has something, if not everything to do with the media. There was a well written case in this movie. I felt some of the actors pushed a little too hard to deliver their lines, and the attraction of Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche's characters was unimaginable, but it's all a matter of circumstance and I certainly couldn't have done better myself. Joaquin Phoenix delivered the stand out performance, convincingly portraying an isolated, insane captive. I loved the gritty, disgusted feeling I was left with in the end which is something you can't always expect from the hollywood backwash plaguing theaters. Life doesn't always turn out good, and sometimes a movie with that sort of expression is a nice change of pace. I recommend this movie if you are looking for something to center on and that is very thought provoking.

Hauntingly Good....Where was Oscar?
How such a quality film could pass unnoticed by critics and audiences is beyond my comprehension. Before seeing this film by chance one night on a movie channel, I had only a vague and nebulous recollection of this film, something along the lines of, "I remember Anne Heche in the trailer...some dramatic music going on, I think, and set in Malaysia or Thailand." Admittedly, I did not expect to be affected by the film; rather, I expected an average drama that I would forget about even before I went to bed. However, this film has made me think twice about discounting films so quickly.

I will not summarise the film, as many reviewers here have already done so, but I will add my two cents to recommend such an extraordinary piece of work that illustrates Hollywood's ability to still churn out quality films (albeit without the pomp and circumstance of a typical $100 million budget studio film).

The first thing I noticed was the performance given by Anne Heche (Beth), Vince Vaughn (Sheriff), and Joaquin Phoenix (Lewis). Deep emotion was infused in the most simple lines exchanged between two characters, be it at a construction site or a dingy New York apartment. The film goes straight to the point. We are given but some short glimpses of a vivacious and happy Lewis before we are thrown into the moral dilemma - will Sheriff go back to save his friend's life? It seems unlikely that audiences would sympathise with Lewis, as we, the audience, and Sheriff barely know Lewis. The fact that we do sympathise deeply with Lewis clearly demonstrates Phoenix's exceptional acting skills. Also, Heche and Vaughn, although ultimately involved in a relationship (which I deemed to be necessary), make every scene and word believable. As the movie begins we all wonder why Beth, the desperate lawyer, is so dedicated to Lewis. I did not expect my wonder to be appeased, but it was. I won't spoil the surprise.

Quite telling that I haven't forgotten about this film since I first saw it, as I have watched many films without being at all impressed or touched. There are several touching scenes throughout the film, but I will point out the most astounding:

* Lewis's taped outpouring while in the Malaysian prison. Whilst begging Sheriff to return to Malaysia, Lewis is also stating his own guilt for asking, incredibly trying to be humble about asking for his life.

* Lewis' digression in the prison, his stream of consciousness speech that is perhaps my most favourite scene in the entire movie. Joaquin Phoenix, although his own worst critic who always sees flaws in his performances, cannot possibly not see the beauty in his acting, especially in this scene. Give Joaquin his Oscar statuette now!

* Spoiler, so I won't go into detail. But it's the ending. Enough said.

If you want big explosives, vapid lines like "it's time to meet your doom," or big sequences of impressive special effects, you will not get them here; for, this is a film that thrives purely from the strength of the actors, the quality of the script, and the remarkable scenes. This is not to say this is a film for the few people who dig boring dramas, and this is by no means an art house film. It is to say, however, that this is a film filled with touches of humour, intense drama, romance, and moral crossroads. If I had to sum this film up in one word, it would be "haunting."

Vaughn and Pheonix make this one a masterpiece
nailbiting drama about three men who go to Malaysia and then 2 go back, a year later Phenoix is sent into a prison and Vaughn and his buddie along with Heche go back...though there's a catach...in saving Pehonix's life from prison..one of Pheonix's friends must replace him. hard decisions meets good acting..Vaughn and Phenix are superb..Heche is right up there as well, but its Vaughn and Pehonix at the end where Vaughn watches his friend get hanged....its too much of a good movie for me..brilliant and nicely directed..the movier hits

Thought-provoking
I was right about my intuitions about this film. I thought it would be good, and it was great. It is one of those films that is very convincing in its ability to make you feel everything the characters are going through as they make burden-laden ethical decisions in their lives.
Vince Vaughn's character Sheriff is easy to hate at first as the cocky, selfish guy, but his transformation is both very believable and very moving. If you need to see a movie about courage and doing the right thing in spite of the terrible consequences, this is the one.
Unlike a majority of the other reviewers, I thought the love story between Heche and Vaughn was an asset to the film. What they have with each other at the end leaves you feeling that although the ending turns out tragic, you still feel good about how things stand.

AN INVENTIVE AND PROFOUND MODERN DAY MORALITY TALE...
This is a wonderfully creative movie, with top-notch directing and award caliber performances by a talented cast. The premise is a fairly simple one. Three young men, Sheriff (Vincent Vaughn), Tony (David Conrad), and Louis (Joaquin Phoenix), who previously didn't know one another, team up in Malaysia and party hearty. They have fun drinking, smoking hashish, and picking up girls. Sheriff and Tony head back to the states, leaving Louis behind, as he has a wildlife conservation idea involving orangutans that he wishes to pursue while in Malaysia. Before they go, Sheriff makes it a point to leave his dope stash in the house in which Louis is remaining. Later, the police come to search the premises on a matter unrelated to the dope stash. When they find it, however, they arrest Louis, who literally has been left holding the bag.

Two years later, Anne Heche enters the picture as a lawyer, ostensibly working on behalf of her client, Louis. She seeks out Sheriff and Tony with a proposition. It seems that while Sheriff and Tony have been getting on with their lives, Louis has been rotting in a Malaysian prison for the past two years and living in sheer terror. You see, Louis is scheduled to be executed in eight days as a drug dealer, as the amount of dope that had been left behind and discovered by the police was just over a threshold amount that would classify it as being for distribution, rather than for personal use. The only hope Louis has of staying alive is if Sheriff and Tony go back to Malaysia to take responsibility for their part in this and serve three years each. If only one returns, then the sole returnee faces six years. Will it be all for one and one for all? Will Louis live to personally thank his friends? Watch the movie and find out.

Vince Vaughn as Sheriff gives a compelling performance. Playing the quintessential Everyman, he struggles with his moral obligation. It is strictly a moral one, as legally he can just sit by and do nothing. Tony, too, undergoes some soul searching. They finally both come to the same conclusion, or do they? The dilemma that they face is an excruciatingly personal one. The movie builds up to a level of suspense that is totally unexpected. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Meanwhile, Joaquin Phoenix, one of the finest young actors of his generation, gives a performance that will haunt the viewer for days. Anne Heche also give a noteworthy performance, intense and relentless in her quest to save what life Louis has left. Jada Pinkett also gives a strong performance as a news reporter who is interested in the story. Her interjection into the movie brings into the forefront the issue of the responsibility of the press. When you see this movie, you will understand what this means.

This film is excellent on all fronts. The only weakness was an unnecessary subplot, which involved a blossoming romance between Sheriff and the character played by Anne Heche. Were it not for this digression, I would have given the movie five stars. It is an otherwise profoundly moving film that deserves to be seen. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Money Train
This attempt to reunite the stars of White Men Can't Jump will most likely be remembered as the movie that allegedly inspired a number of copycat arsons in the New York subway system. In other words, the movie itself is too perfunctory to be remembered for any other reason. Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes share their established chemistry as a pair of stepbrothers who work the subway detail as undercover detectives in the NYPD. Woody's a compulsive gambler with a huge debt problem to contend with, and he's also competing with his brother for the attentions of their new and beautiful partner (Jennifer Lopez), who's been assigned to join their investigation of the subway crimes. They're also supposed to guard the daily money train (so named because it contains each day's worth of subway fares), but Woody gets the bright idea that it might be the solution to his money woes. What follows is standard-issue action fare for the mid-1990s--lots of violence, excessive profanity, and attempts at witty banter between the costars to make it all seem more entertaining than it really is. You'd need to be a serious Harrelson, Snipes, or Lopez fan to add this movie to your collection. For anyone else, one viewing ought to be enough. --Jeff Shannon

Anaconda
This giant-man-eating-snake-in-the-jungle thriller definitely scores points as a guilty pleasure, especially with Jon Voight hamming it up as the monster-poacher. He makes life miserable for a team of documentary filmmakers on the Amazon river. Anaconda is one of those movies that exists for no other reason than to give computer animators a chance to strut their stuff with a new digital beastie, and they don't disappoint. It's a lot of fun to watch the mega-snake scarf down its victims and--in the case of Voight--regurgitate 'em right back up again, all covered in gooey digestive juices. You might wonder why Eric Stoltz, who plays Dr. Steven Cale, showed up for a role that requires him to be off-screen for most of the movie, but hey--when it comes to big snake movies, you might as well put your brain on hold and sit back for the slimy ride. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more