Amazon.com

Like The Passion of the Christ, Luther is the story of a spiritual leader, German monk Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes), in opposition to the religious orthodoxy of the time (in his case, the 1600s). His goal--to bring God to the people and to take money, fear, and shame out of the equation--made him a reformer to some, a heretic to others. Released around the same time as Mel Gibson's blockbuster, it failed to attract the same degree of attention--or controversy. Granted, it's a different film, but not radically so. Directed by Eric Till (Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace), Luther isn't always easy to follow or as emotionally involving as it could be. That said, it's a fascinating story and Fiennes receives solid support from Alfred Molina (Frida), Bruno Ganz (Wings of Desire), and the late Sir Peter Ustinov (Spartacus), in his final film role, as Frederick the Wise. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Description

The spine-chilling true story of the cat-and-mouse pursuit of America's most diabolical serial killer. Brian Dennehy stars in this riveting, true-life story of a young detective's (Michael Riley) relentless pursuit of the sophisticated, psychopathic mass murderer John Wayne Gacy. A suspense-packed tour de force of intrigue and terror--all the more shocking because it's true. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This movie needed more about Gacy and less about the cops!
I know this is based on the cop's perspective of things, but Brian Dennehy (as Gacy) was only in this movie 40% of the time! And only 5% of that showed what the guy was actually about and what motivated the police in the first place!! Instead of giving a gritty, real life portrayal of what a serial killer did (in order to invoke sympathy for the victims and strong repulsion of the character) we are treated to long, boring scenes of investigative ho-hum and the top cop's family life (??!!) I walked away thinking that Gacy was silly rather than evil, and something tells me that wasn't that wasn't the moviemakers' goal...

Excellent acting
This is one of my alltime favourite movies. Brian Dennehy is really scary as Gacy. If you want to watch a great movie, watch this one, but not alone. You really get the feeling that Mr Gacy must have been one sick man, but quite clever, until he got caught, that is. Thank God for Kozenzyk and his team and that they were so persistent catching him, otherwise, who knows how many more men he would have killed unnoticed.....

Brian Denehy at his-evil-best
I first saw this movie years ago and still pick it every now and then because first it's a true crime story, and then Brian Denehy's acting is so extraordinary accurate. If you want to start a collection on thrillers or if you're interested in true crime, and more specifically about the cat and mouse game that Gacy played to the very end, buy this movie, you won't regret it.

Gacy the Evil Clown
Having lived in Chicago when the actual Gacy horror story was first disclosed, I thought that this film (which I think was first made for TV) captured the eerie personality of a serial killer who dressed up as a clown to entertain kids. Dennehey is great.

Dennehy at his best - a chilling, cold and gritty movie
An absolutely fantastic movie portraying the life of John Gacy, a simple man who runs a building contractor company. In his spare time, he loves entertaining sick children in hospital, dressing up as Pongo the clown. But what John does in his spare time is both inconcievable and terrifying. This film is based on a true story - that of John Gacy, and how in his spare time he sexually assaulted, tortured, and murdered thirty-three young men, making him America's single-most brutal serial killer of all time. "To Catch a Killer" begins as yet another young man goes missing, Gacy having lured him into his house and taken it from there. When his mother notices him gone, she calls the police. And in steps Michael Riley, who plays Lieutenant Packer, a man struggling to balance his job with his family, much to his son's dislike. Packer spends every waking moment pursuing Gacy, uncovering vital and astonishing clues along the way, revealling more and more about Gacy's twisted actions, bringing the movie to a terrifying ending where at last the boy's body is found. An excellent movie, with Dennehy's best performance ever, and a one even as good by Riley. It revealls the horrifying truth about "stranger-danger", and portrays that, like a breakdown on a lost and lonely highway late at night, it could happen to you. One memorable and terrifying scene has Gacy doing his performance as a clown at the children's hospital. Riley and his men track him down and watch him as he entertains away, showing off tricks and telling jokes. Then as Gacy notices Riley is watching, he performs a cunning trick in which he borrows Riley's handcuffs and demonstrates on a young boy a trick, to see if the boy can get himself out of the handcuffs without the key. Riley watches intently, and Dennehy's role is highlighted with the terror and fear he gives us. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The cult PBS comedy The Red Green Show stretches into a feature film with Duct Tape Forever, still very much about a batch of underachieving Canadian men and their high church of low expectations, the Possum Lodge. The longtime TV series, starring Steve Smith as flannel-shirted handyman Red Green, makes a comic virtue of Canuck self-parody and universal male ineptness.

"Whenever a man does a dumb thing," says Red, "it's better if he doesn't have an audience." Well, a lot of eyes are on Red, his geeky nephew Harold (Patrick McKenna), and the other boys after a rich man (Richard Fitzpatrick) drives his car into a Possum Lodge sinkhole and sues for damages. The solution: Build a giant, duct tape goose and enter it in a Minnesota contest for cash prizes. Of course. Co-creator Smith re-tools the show's self-deprecating essence and run-on joke about male incompetence into a winning movie. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Duct Taped Comedy
Anyone who likes the Red Green Show should take to this movie like duck to water. I admit, I found it a little odd seeing the gang in a movie for the first time. Those who are use to the show's format will have to adjust in order to appreciate the movie. I know with me the first time I viewed it I was not thrilled. But a subsequnt viewing made me enjoy it a lot more. I think Red Green is kinda like that. When you first view it you kind of dismiss it, but something draws you back none the less, and then it gradually grows on you like a fungus! Give this movie a chance to do the same thing. True, its a little silly and sentimantal, perhaps more so than the Show for sure, but that's the why movies are these days. Red and his characters actually have to sustain some longer scenes, and the production value is deffinitely better than what we are accustomed to on the show. Harold seems to be the main character who gets to evolve, just a little bit, and he gets his first kiss with the female cop which was a bit hooky, but thats the movies! I wonder if they have sheriffs in Canada? Thought it might be Constables more on the English model. Was not sure on that point, but one really should not ask these kinds of questions with Red Green! An added feature are the behind the scenes notes on the making of the movie where many amusing interviews of the charaters are shown. This could be a real plus for the viewer even more than the movie perhaps. Overall, Red Green fans should enjoy it. This is the kind of film with a built in audience. I would recommend first time viewers to see some of the shows before checking out the movie. That way they can understand the strange way that Red Green works. Otherwise, sit back, lower your standards and enjoy!

A must-have for any Red Green fan!
Suddenly, Red Green (played by Steve Smith) finds himself in a real bind, and this one not of his making. When an unscrupulous businessman sues Possum Lodge for $10,000, Red has ten days to come up with the money. Taking his nephew Harold's advice (yes, believe it or not), Red sets out for Minnesota, hoping to win the $10,000 third-place prize in the Duct Tape Contest. But, there's a lot in Red & Harold's way: a crooked cop, the businessman and his army, and...well...each other. Can they save Possum Lodge? No problem, eh?

This 91-minute movie, released in 2001, is based on the hit Canadian comedy show The New Red Green Show. Changing the format from the show, this movie puts Red and Harold on the road, facing numerous adventures in the real world. (If you can call that the real world!) This is a fun adventure, stretching the already wonderful characters - a must-have for any Red Green fan!

Possum Lodge Sticky Situation
It is rare to find talents that move from the small screen to the big screen and retain their qualities that make them enjoyable and add depth and content. (Red would respond "What show did that?").

However, in this instance Possum Lodge members make the leap onto the "silver screen" with an extended rendition of the wit and wisdom of Possum Lodge intact. (All 80 blank pages). Well, Ok. maybe it needed a little duct tape to hold the plot together, but didn't we all wish for a road adventure that would show how lodge members stick together to solve a problem?

I mean if we can't all come together for third place, what do we aspire to?

To appreciate this movie it helps to have grown up in Northern Michigan with my Dad and his friend assembling a log splitter in their garages with various spare parts instead of taking the short cuts and buying some fancified-whimpy-under-powered piece of junk from some store. Red and Harold bring to life a place I grew up in, including all of the things that keep life entertaining.

May Red and his group keep their stick on the ice and only change if they have to.

They may not be handsome, but they are entertaining!

I thoroughly enjoyed the extended, plot-infested adventure that took our lakeside looneys from the short sketches into extended investigation of the tape-bonding travels. Rate it five rolls!

SEX, DIRTY LANGUAGE, MINDLESS VIOLENCE
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SEX, DIRTY LANGUAGE, MINDLESS VIOLENCE - YOU WON'T FIND IT HERE.

MY WIFE HAD NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE. ALMOST PEED HER PANTS, SHE LAUGHED SO HARD. ONE EXPRESSION CAME OUT SEVERAL TIMES. "THAT'S KENT". YES, WE KNOW A GUY JUST LIKE THAT. ACCTUALLY SEVERAL.

FOR SOME GOOD CLEAN HUMOR, IT IS WORTH WATCHING. THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. THE SIMPLE LIFE AT "POSSUM LODGE"

I DO NOT KNOW ANYONE I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO.

If you love to laugh..
If you want to learn how to belly laugh all over again, how to root for the hero and boo the villian, in short, everything that makes entertaninment fun, GET THIS DVD.You will love it, over, and over again. It makes me want to look for Possum lake on the map, and see if if I could live there ... Read more

Description

Jesse Aarons, a shy fifth-grader, learns about love when he strikes up a friendship with the new girl in town.Together, he and Leslie Burke create a fantasy world they call "Terabithia" in a pine forest near their farms.In this magical land, they share their innermost secrets and dreams.Jesse’s friendship with Leslie changes him forever and enables him to cope with her unexpected death. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Adequate interpretation of the book, but not magical
I can't say that this film, based on a popular book for young readers is particularly impressive. It's the story of two friends who enjoy an imaginary world together in the woods, a place they call "Terabithia" , and whose special friendship ends in tragedy, (reminding me of the more recent movie, "My Girl"). This is a plot with a lot of potential to make a good movie, but to me, some of the acting seemed shallow, and the plot, as interpreted by the movie, lacked depth and detail. The relationship between the two best friends is not fully developed, so there isn't much of an "emotional charge" to draw you in.

In spite of these negatives, the film is entertaining enough to keep some children's attention, or for family-time viewing and discussion. I think the best use of the film would be to show it to children at home or at school as a supplement to the book, and for this, it would serve its purpose adequately. It may be time to do a higher quality remake of this movie.

Video good but doesn't measure up
As an elementary school teacher, I read Bridge to Terabithia with my class every year. It's the best core-lit book in our school. The video is pretty good for a TV movie. The acting performances approximate the characters pretty well. It could easily been a lot better with the addition of a classroom teacher character. Combining the teacher Jess loves with the one he can't stand was a bad move. Still. I enjoy showing the movie after reading the book. As we say in Spanish, Mejor que nada!

very good, i thought
i recently took this video out of my library and watched it. i thought that it captured the book very well. sure it did leave out a few characters, but wasn't this video made for tv? because then they probably left situations out (like the easter service part) for time. the acting overall was very good, but there were some times when the actors/actresses got annoying. i thought it was a great adaption of a great book.

Great Movie
Do yourself a favor and buy this video. Julian Coutts gives a very rewarding performance that really touched me. The young actor shows a great deal of depth and emotion, that more than makes up for the sometimes slow storyline. I haven't had the chance to sit down and watch the film in a while, but after comming across it here, I look forward to seeing it again soon.
Julian Coutts -- Where Are You?

Movie of "The Bridge to Terabitha" by Francis McGill
A good movie. The movie takes place on a poor man's farm in the 1960s not far from Washington D.C. Jesse Aarons, a ten year old boy, lives in a house with four sisters, a nagging mom, and a dad who isn't home much. A girl named Leslie Burke moves in an old far next door. Against the odds they form a great friendship. Together they create a magical land called Terabitha. A tragic event occurs changing Jesse Aaron's life forever. ... Read more

Description

A new version of the all-time family favorite starring Henry Winkler. It is Christmas Eve 1933, and the townspeople of Concord, New Hampshire, are trying to hold onto their Christmas spirit in the face of the Great Depression. But old Mr. Benedict Slade is ruining what Christmas hope the town has left by mercilessly repossessing their prized goods. Alone in his apartment, Slade is visited by three ghosts--Christmas Past, Present and Future--who take him on a fantastic journey through time that will show him the tragic consequences of his actions if he doesn't mend his ways forever! Adapted from Charles Dickens' classic story "A Christmas Carol." ... Read more

Reviews (19)

An interesting contrast to more traditional versions
If you already have (and love) the Alistair Sim version (Scrooge, 1951), the Reginald Owen version (1938) and Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (no, I'm not kidding, it's beautifully done), this will be an interesting film for comparison.

Two good points stand out for this version of Dicken's classic Christmas story:

1) Since it is an adaptation, set in a different time and place from the original (Depression-era New England), deviations from the text and basic plot-line, are not as bothersome as they are in the films that adapt the story in "Dickensian" England.

2) Henry Winkler, who, at the time, was playing against his well-known Fonz character, gives an excellent characterization to the Scrooge-like Benedict Slade.

George C. Scott and Albert Finney give detailed performances as Scrooge in their version, and the films that feature them have good production values -- and, in the case of the Finney version a couple of good songs -- but the deviations in text in the Scott version and the added material in the Finney version (Scrooge in hell -- what?) are both unnecessary and more than a little annoying.

A Classic Tale Revisited
Awesome. If you like Christmas, then you'll like this movie. Just as the original by Dickens, it teaches us the true meaning of Christmas. I have been hooked since seeing this movie as a young adult and it still delivers. I enjoy the American twist on Dicken's story. You won't get a Victorian town in England, but you will get a simpler America and the American entrepreneurial spirit. Henry Winkler gives a commendable performance and the supporting cast works well. All in all, a must see for Christmas.

Another Great Christmas Classic
Henry Winkler stars in this remake of the classic tale of Scrooge. This one is set in post-Depression era America and is oneof the best I've ever seen. Winkler is equally at ease as a young man with a girlfriend or an old man with an attitude. I watch this every Christmas and was delighted to discover it on DVD. You'll love it!

Excellent...
Like many other reviewers, I first saw this as a kid on television in '79 and Henry Winkler's "Fonzie" persona was still so much a part of the cultural fabric that it was somewhat shocking to even think of him, much less see him, as anything else.

However, I was transfixed by this adaptation on the Dickens story and was genuinely moved by Winkler's ( Benedict Slade ) transformation at the end. Winkler is simply superb: believable, funny, dramatic, and imminently likable even as the curmudgeon. The supporting cast is wonderful as well even though most of them, with the possible exception of David Wayne, will be unknown to most viewers. The actor who plays Thatcher (the "Cratchit" character in the Dickens novel) does a wonderful job of being as compassionate as the role demands without being too "soft".

The actors playing the roles of Mr. Brewster and Helen Brewster also hold their own and give Winkler solid performances to react to even with limited screen time.

The movie looks and feels like I would imagine turn of the century and Depression era New England to look and feel like to an outsider: quaint, majestic, proud; yet tired and despairing.

My only problem with the movie, and this is REALLY nitpicking, is that they simply made Winkler look too old for the latter Slade ("Scrooge") part. the movie does an excellenet job of letting us know when things are happening, even in the Christmas Past scenarios, e.g., we know Slade and Helen broke up around 1917 because of the backdrop of the war effort (WW I). The contemporary story is set in 1933 and Slade looks like he has aged forty years instead of only 16 or so. He looks MUCH older than his contemporaries. However, maybe they intended to achieve this effect to accentuate his gnarliness. I just thought it was too much. The only other thing is that many of the actors are obviously Canadian born (Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher and Helen , for example)and several times their Canadian tones and speech patterns come out. This is noticeable particularly against the distinctive New England accents employed throughout the rest of the picture.

I recommend this DVD highly for anyone who loves the Christmas season, the Dickens novel in particular, Henry Winkler, or just any good heartwarming story. I looked for this on DVD and/or VHS for almost twenty years.It was worth the wait.

My Favorite "Christmas Carol"
"A Christmas Carol" may well be the most-adapted Christmas story in literature, with version ranging from whimsical to musical to deadly serious. This particular version, starring Henry Winkler as Benedict Slade (a.k.a. Scrooge) is my favorite.

The movie translates Dickens' classic story from 19th century England to Depression-era New England. The result is very effective. For me, an American born to parents who grew up in the Depression, the 20th century setting made the story feel very real. The writers and director made excellent decisions in their choice of sets. Three notable examples were the New England furniture factory as the setting for Slade's youth, the newly-conceived idea of consumer credit as the source of his subsequent wealth and avarice, and the choice of an African-American as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come ("You must be Future," Slade declares, cowering before him).

Winkler's performance is brilliant. He captures the essence of Slade perfectly, and makes the gradual transformation from miser to redeemed man seem natural and believable. The scene at the Thatcher (a.k.a. Cratchit) household at the end of the film never fails to bring tears to my eyes and those of my family. The supporting cast performs ably as well, making this a Christmas classic that one can watch every year.

"An American Christmas Carol" debuted in 1979, midway through Winkler's popular "Happy Days" television series run. After a few years of reruns, it disappeared from view until recently, when it became available on DVD and video. I heartily recommend it for your holiday DVD collection. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Modest but pleasing modern noir
Henry Czerny plays a married Doctor ,asked by his vacationing neighbours to keep an eye on their nubile teenage daughter,who is being harrassed by a fellow student unable to accept the end of their affair.An affair develops betweem them and she films him getting dressed afterr a sex session,which is somewhat unfortunate as she is shortly afterwards murdered,placing him in an invidious position as he wrestles with both conscience and adesire to protect his freedom,marriage and social standing.

The plot is well worked out although the murderer is easily spotted.Good acting and direction make for a pleasing time passer

I disagree....
I first saw this movie last fall on one of the pay movie channels and enjoyed it. While it certainly is not a work of artistic genius, it's a fun movie to watch late at night and I thought it had sufficient eroticism and suspense to keep me watching. It is the sort of movie that won't require much thinking but it fulfills its purpose of entertaining and I tend to be one that is very critical of the mindless material the movie industry now releases.

Predictable, Boring, and Stupid
This movie is predictable right from the start and really stupid in places. The plot is simple enough, middle aged man with pregnant wife becomes infatuated with neighbors' 18 year old daughter. The man has a very brief affair with the girl after which she turns up dead and the man is now a prime suspect. What is stupid about the whole mess is the fact that nobody seems to be suspicious of the girl's boyfriend, someone who had been stalking her before the affair, everyone is more suspicious about the girl's new mysterious lover. To make the entire mess even more unbelievable, the girl took a video of the single night of passion that she had with her neighbour and he now has to get his hands on it.

The movie is also listed as an "Erotic Thriller". Well, there is very little erotic about the movie at all, in fact there are only two semi-sexy scenes in the movie. The first features the girl taking a skinny dip in the pool and the second is the girl and man having sex for the first and only time. Both times the scene is shot in darkness and you cannot see anything worthwhile to suggest any real nudity or eroticism.

The DVD is also very bare bones. There is very little extra on it. My advice, avoid this movie at all cost and instead consider one (or all) of the Poison Ivy movies.

A pleasant , suspenseful surprise
I viewed this movie with some trepidation, given the title and the somewhat lurid box art. I've followed Henry Czerny's career with interest, and have found his career choices intriguing, so I thought, what the heck. In brief, I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of performances, production, and particularly the direction. In less talented hands, this could've been movie-of-the-week schlock, but here, it's quite effectively presented. Very little that could be called gratuitous...nicely atmospheric...something of a "neighborhood noir." Again: a pleasant surprise, and kudos to Czerny, an excellent supporting cast (who ARE those guys? ), and a director who bears watching. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A warm Yuletide special, A Muppet Family Christmas pairsthe Muppet gang with the perennial favorite Sesame Street castfor a holiday celebration. With a blizzard brewing outside, Fozzie'schildhood farmhouse on Christmas Eve becomes the backdrop for a medleyof holiday tunes--eight in all--ranging from the Muppet band's rousing"Jingle Bell Rock" to Big Bird's sweet rendition of "The ChristmasSong." Though the script meanders in part, the 42-minute program shinesas a musical revue, seasoned with quick-witted interludes by theculinary comedic Swedish Chef, slapstick odd couple Ernie and Bert, andthe diva-like escapades of Miss Piggy. While lacking the irresistiblesizzle of The Muppet Movie, the show's finale, which includesKermit and Piggy under the mistletoe and a cameo appearance by JimHenson, proves that nothing can dim the Muppets' appeal. --LynnGibson ... Read more

Reviews (87)

Pieces missing from Classic
This is an annual favorite. I can't for the life of me figure out why Henson Productions would allow these meaningless edits. After all, a vhs tape will hold 2 hours-worth. This special was watched BY MILLIONS of people on Nick-at-Night for years, not to mention it's original airings. Did they think NO ONE would notice the missing scenes????? For this reason, I give this vhs version only 4 stars. Absolute senseless and stupid editing by people who obviously have NO CLUE why we true fans like The Muppets. It's a good thing I have an old video tape copy from having taped it off TV myself. Maybe we'll all get lucky, and The Odyssey Channel will air it this season, unedited. (tho their track record for giving the Muppets their due is sketchy at best).

If you've never seen this... it's a family favorite, charming, sweet, and **very** funny! The running gag of the icey patch, the Swedish Chef trying to make a holiday meal of Big Bird, Piggy getting caught in a blizzard, and the poignant cameo by Jim Henson all make it a wonderful special that's hard to beat (even the edited version). At the end is a wonderful Christmas carol sing-along. A real treasure.

Not for 80's version fans!
Really now.. When I heard that they were putting my FAVORITE Christmas film on DVD I was so excited. Muppet Family Christmas is something that my family always watches. It's funny, sweet, and so entertaining.

But, unfortunetly, the version on the DVD is not the version I just praised. They're are massive edits that are very noticable to viewers who have watched it since it first aired on TV and may leave new time viewers confused. Fozzie's duet with the Snowman is cut out, the Muppet Babies home video is cut out (leaving Doc with a very strange line that doesn't make sense) and in my opinion the best part, where Miss Piggy enters and sings her song and slips on the Icey Patch is edited out. The best Icey patch gag and it's left out of the DVD/VHS.

I am not going to buy this DVD, Fortunetly, my VHS tape still works well enough to watch it (yes with the OshGosh commercails and Double Mint Gum ones too!). Until they put the real version on the market, I will not spend my money on the DVD.

Oh, if anyone has a good version of the real version, please let me know!

The Best of Jim Henson's Muppets
I have loved this movie for years. Not only does it have Kermit and the others(including Robin) but it has Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and a special appearence by Jim Henson in it. I have watched this for too many Christmas's to remember, and always cry when I see all of them together.

Great "Make Yourself Feel Good" Movie !
I've loved this movie, along with The Christmas Toy, ever since I was little ! I was going to get the dvd but saw that many funny, familiar parts were cut out. Luckily, I went through some old tapes and found my original, 47 minute, taped from t.v version. Until they put out an absolutely uncut dvd, I'll stick with my 19 year old taped copy. If you've grown up with the full version, the cuts will greatly bother you. If not, then you won't really notice all that much of a difference. That said an done, this is a really wonderful movie to watch with the whole family. For the older people, it's a great chance to see all your fave muppets from childhood. For the youngin's, they see THEIR favourite muppets the way they used to be. If you've never seen this movie, or don't mind edited movies too much, you might consider getting this for the little ones....maybe just for yourself !

BUYER BEWARE!
I would have very gladly bought this DVD if it wasn't so poorly put together and edited. It is missing some of the best moments including Fozzy singing, dancing and telling jokes with the snowman. I had taped a lot of Christmas specials from TV and I went through my old tapes but I was upset when I found out that the tape that had the uncut version was the tape that broke in the video rewinder and the remaining tape had the edited version so apparently unless you were lucky to have caught the original airing you will be out of luck because it seems that they now show the edited version on TV. Sorry people but this edited DVD is the pits and the video tape version is the same and are total rip offs! BUYER BEWARE! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Modest but pleasing modern noir
Henry Czerny plays a married Doctor ,asked by his vacationing neighbours to keep an eye on their nubile teenage daughter,who is being harrassed by a fellow student unable to accept the end of their affair.An affair develops betweem them and she films him getting dressed afterr a sex session,which is somewhat unfortunate as she is shortly afterwards murdered,placing him in an invidious position as he wrestles with both conscience and adesire to protect his freedom,marriage and social standing.

The plot is well worked out although the murderer is easily spotted.Good acting and direction make for a pleasing time passer

I disagree....
I first saw this movie last fall on one of the pay movie channels and enjoyed it. While it certainly is not a work of artistic genius, it's a fun movie to watch late at night and I thought it had sufficient eroticism and suspense to keep me watching. It is the sort of movie that won't require much thinking but it fulfills its purpose of entertaining and I tend to be one that is very critical of the mindless material the movie industry now releases.

Predictable, Boring, and Stupid
This movie is predictable right from the start and really stupid in places. The plot is simple enough, middle aged man with pregnant wife becomes infatuated with neighbors' 18 year old daughter. The man has a very brief affair with the girl after which she turns up dead and the man is now a prime suspect. What is stupid about the whole mess is the fact that nobody seems to be suspicious of the girl's boyfriend, someone who had been stalking her before the affair, everyone is more suspicious about the girl's new mysterious lover. To make the entire mess even more unbelievable, the girl took a video of the single night of passion that she had with her neighbour and he now has to get his hands on it.

The movie is also listed as an "Erotic Thriller". Well, there is very little erotic about the movie at all, in fact there are only two semi-sexy scenes in the movie. The first features the girl taking a skinny dip in the pool and the second is the girl and man having sex for the first and only time. Both times the scene is shot in darkness and you cannot see anything worthwhile to suggest any real nudity or eroticism.

The DVD is also very bare bones. There is very little extra on it. My advice, avoid this movie at all cost and instead consider one (or all) of the Poison Ivy movies.

A pleasant , suspenseful surprise
I viewed this movie with some trepidation, given the title and the somewhat lurid box art. I've followed Henry Czerny's career with interest, and have found his career choices intriguing, so I thought, what the heck. In brief, I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of performances, production, and particularly the direction. In less talented hands, this could've been movie-of-the-week schlock, but here, it's quite effectively presented. Very little that could be called gratuitous...nicely atmospheric...something of a "neighborhood noir." Again: a pleasant surprise, and kudos to Czerny, an excellent supporting cast (who ARE those guys? ), and a director who bears watching. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A Muppet Family Christmas
A warm Yuletide special, A Muppet Family Christmas pairs the Muppet gang with the perennial favorite Sesame Street cast for a holiday celebration. With a blizzard brewing outside, Fozzie's childhood farmhouse on Christmas Eve becomes the backdrop for a medley of holiday tunes--eight in all--ranging from the Muppet band's rousing "Jingle Bell Rock" to Big Bird's sweet rendition of "The Christmas Song." Though the script meanders in part, the 42-minute program shines as a musical revue, seasoned with quick-witted interludes by the culinary comedic Swedish Chef, slapstick odd couple Ernie and Bert, and the diva-like escapades of Miss Piggy. While lacking the irresistible sizzle of The Muppet Movie, the show's finale, which includes Kermit and Piggy under the mistletoe and a cameo appearance by Jim Henson, proves that nothing can dim the Muppets' appeal. --Lynn Gibson

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Originally a special for HBO, this Jim Henson production (he also directed) was one of the first real forays into the more realistic, less vaudevillian direction for the Muppets. It also included Frank Oz (Muppeteer), Paul Williams (songs), and Jerry Juhl (script), some of the Muppet Show's usual suspects. Emmet Otter and his jug band are trying out in the local talent show, but they face fierce competition from a gang of toughs, the Riverbottom Gang and their rock band. Perhaps the most notable thing is the creation of a sense of poverty and want that suffuses the little production. Even Emmet's mother, who sacrifices her washtub to further Emmet's cause, gets in the act. Fine Christmas viewing for all ages. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Two Classics, sadly mangled
I was thrilled to receive these two old favorites for Christmas. Then, I watched them. For A Muppet Family Christmas, the video has been remastered and the picture is quite clear, but there are HUGE edits, entire scenes cut out, that not only remove the best part of the show, but make the whole experience choppy (see other reviews under "A Muppet Family Christmas" sold separately).

Emmet Otter is, as near as I remember, fully intact, but the audio remastering has left the lyrics during the musical numbers nearly impossible to discern, even if you know them by heart.

If you've got either of these taped off of TV from some time in the past, I would encourage you to borrow a second VCR and record them over onto a fresh tape to last you another 15 or so years. Maybe they'll have brought out a good version of these shows by then.

Emmett Otters Jugband Christmas
We've been waiting for this one on DVD, it's a tradition in our house. A family must have, an everybody must see! A holiday classic now in clear crisp Henson artistic expression. ... Read more