Amazon.com

The plot line may sound familiar: Two mismatched cops are assigned as reluctant partners to solve a crime. Culturally they are complete opposites, and they quickly realize they can't stand each other. One (Jackie Chan) believes in doing things by the book. He is a man with integrity and nerves of steel. The other (Chris Tucker) is an amiable rebel who can't stand authority figures. He's a man who has to do everything on his own, much to the displeasure of his superior officer, who in turn thinks this cop is a loose cannon but tolerates him because he gets the job done. Directed by Brett Ratner, Rush Hour doesn't break any new ground in terms of story, stunts, or direction. It rehashes just about every "buddy" movie ever made--in fact, it makes films such as Tango and Cash seem utterly original and clever by comparison. So, why did this uninspired movie make over $120 million at the box office? Was the whole world suffering from temporary insanity? Hardly. The explanation for the success of Rush Hour is quite simple: chemistry. The casting of veteran action maestro Jackie Chan with the charming and often hilarious Chris Tucker was a serendipitous stroke of genius. Fans of Jackie Chan may be slightly disappointed by the lack of action set pieces that emphasize his kung-fu craft. On the other hand, those who know the history of this seasoned Hong Kong actor will be able to appreciate that Rush Hour was the mainstream breakthrough that Chan had deserved for years. Coupled with the charismatic scene-stealer Tucker, Chan gets to flex his comic muscles to great effect. From their first scenes together to the trademark Chan outtakes during the end credits, their ability to play off of one another is a joy to behold, and this mischievous interaction is what saves the film from slipping into the depths of pitiful mediocrity. --Jeremy Storey ... Read more

Reviews (265)

An excellent DVD.
The Movie:

Chris Tucker is the funniest man in the world, in my opinion. It's too bad that the movies he acts in are always running to try and hopelessly catch up with him. One of the funniest things in cinema and some of the most enjoyable comic moments in the past few years have come from watching Tucker's performances. You can almost see his mind working in overtime trying to think up what to say next; and you never know what he'll say next. He takes the best of what Eddie Murphy used to be and just speeds it up a few hundred....thousand notches. It's just his looks of mock anger that always make me laugh. Never has anger been so funny.

He's joined by action star Jackie Chan in this film, which, although it's very funny at times, never really moves above the level of average, forgetable entertainment. Chan has done better "stunt-orientated" films like "Supercop" and "Rumble In The Bronx". In those films, he really shined with his mix of good humor and quick action. Here he's made to be more in the shape of the plot's need for humor and dialogue over stunts...not to say that there aren't any stunts; there are. It's just that they are a little few and far between.

The story revolves around a Chinese Console member who's daughter is kidnapped. Chan is brought in by the console member. The only problem is that the FBI wants to solve this case itself, and Chan's detective is not welcome. Some of the funniest scenes in the movie are watching Tucker's detective come to the realization that all he's called on to do is babysit Chan's detective. So, we start into the age old buddy cop flick.

Thankfully, this one isn't too bad. A nice script, some very good moments also from Chris Tucker when he's allowed to just improv his performance. Thank god Tucker and Chan liven up the proceedings; Chan has his usual array of incredible stunts, running up and down the sides of everything, kicking, doing it all; Tucker's mouth and Chan's quick feet make a nice balance of opposites. It's unfortunate that the direction is average, the plot is something you've seen all before, but it's through the performances of Tucker and Chan who make "Rush Hour" worth watching. It's nothing new, but when it works, "Rush Hour" is a whole lot of fun.

The DVD: Picture Quality: New Line has done a phenomenal job with the transfer of "Rush Hour". The colors of Los Angeles are incredibly vivid and just pop on this disc. Look at the reds in the Chinatown scenes or the colors of the neon at night. The color saturation is wonderful and there is no bleeding in the colors; the light from a neon sign looks perfectly sharp and clear. Speaking of sharpness, the images themselves are perfectly clear and sharp throughout the disc. There are a few instances where there is a small shimmering problem, but compared to a lot of the other discs I've seen lately, the shimmering in this disc isn't worth mentioning. Again, images are razor sharp throughout, there aren't any other problems at all with this disc. There are a lot more pros to talk about, though. Skin tones are 100% perfect. There is definitely no pixelization in the disc whatsoever, even in the low-light scenes or in the backgrounds. Black level in the picture is fantastic and contrast is wonderful. Shadow level is excellent and overall, this is a nice continuation of the New Line tradition of replicating the theatrical experience at home. There's occasionally a problem with otherwise great discs such as shimmering or what not and it takes you out of the experience. There's nothing on this disc that's problematic enough to take the viewer out of the experience of the movie and that's a sign of the very best DVDs. The 2.35:1 image is excellent. Excellent job, New Line.

Audio Quality: Impressive sound quality on this disc, emphasizing the sounds that added to the tone of fun on this disc and that's Lalo Schifrin's fun, urban and light score melding old R&B hits and current rap along with other wonderful bits and pieces of fun music to make an enjoyable score. The score fills the room and sounds full and clear. Dialogue also has that "same room" impression, recorded with clarity. There's a lot of impressive sound on this disc like the gunfire(director Ratner talks on the commentary about how he wanted to make the gunfire loud and emphasize it to make it "exciting"), which sounds great. The explosions also fill the room with great impact and force.

Extras:Now here's where this disc really shines: Commentary: There's an outstanding commentary with director Brett Ratner(who sounds at times sort of like Quentin Tarantino), who talks in depth wonderfully about the details of the production and working with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. It goes into the detail of working with the screenplay and building the stunt scenes. This is a commentary that really is exactly what I want to hear in a commentary: it tells the story of exactly what it took to get the story to screen, not just what's happening on the screen. This is a fascinating commentary and I recommend it as one of the best commentaries out there. There is also an isolated score(and it's a fantastic score) with commentary by the great composer Lalo Schifrin.

Documentary: Again, it's what I want to see in a documentary. The box calls it a "featurette", but "A Piece Of The Action: Behind The Scenes Of Rush Hour" is something I would consider a full documentary. There's a lot of fun going on in the interviews with the cast and crew, and it doesn't seem like a usual studio promotional documentary. A lot of the camera work is hand-held and it just seems like it was all done in fun and the fun that the cast and crew has carries over to the viewer. The documentary runs about 40 minutes and the last chapter is more in the way of the hilarious outtakes that ended the film.

Deleted Scenes: A short reel of deleted scenes that at the most, are about 1 minute. Nothing earth-shaking, but interesting to see. The reel is a few minutes in length.

Short film: Director Brett Ratner's very strange short film from when he was a student at NYU, "What Ever Happened To Mason Reese?". The film starts off with an intro from the director and commentary from the director is also available. The film itself....well, it's just strange, but it's nice to have on the disc.

Trailer: Of course, the trailer.(letterboxed at 2.35:1)

Cast/Crew: Very nice biographies of the cast/crew.

Music Videos: 2 music videos.

DVD-ROM: The screenplay, an interactive game and web links(available only to Windows DVD-ROM computer users)

MENUS: Sharp animated menus that start with a very funny piece of dialogue from Chris Tucker.

Grades: The Movie:A- Picture Quality:A- Sound Quality:A- Extras:A Menus:A Overall:A
This review was originally posted at the website "A Guide To Current Film/DVD".

Lots of laughs in oddball 'buddy' movie
Jackie Chan, the great Chinese action star, plays a Hong Kong detective at the time of China's taking control of the city. A friend of his is dispatched to Los Angeles in a consulate position, and Chan is summoned soon thereafter when his buddy's daughter is kidnapped by gangsters. The FBI, not wanting any interference in the case, arranges to pair him with one of the wildest cops in LA history. As played by Chris Tucker, he is also the loudest. This ploy to get Chan away from the investigation doesn't work, of course. As always, the FBI agents are made to look like they are sharing a brain. You've already guess that the two policemen get along at first like cats and dogs, but by the end of the picture, they are best buddies. Along the way, they solve the case.

As a comedy team, Chan and Tucker work well together. The quiet, low-keyed Chan plays straight man to the brash, outrageous Tucker. There are the usual ongoing jokes about cultural differences, but at least in this case, pairing a Chinese character with an Afro-American does create a lot of opportunity for humor. Opposing tastes in food is a good topic, as is the language barrier. There is also a running joke about our obsession with hand guns. Jackie Chan is hard not to like, while Chris Tucker has much in common with W. C. Fields, Jerry Lewis and Jim Carrey. People either love him or hate him.

As is the rule in action comedy, the plot makes no sense. What carries the movie is the teaming of two actors whose personalities work well together. The special effects don't hurt either. There's an explosion every three minutes.

Lalo Schifin delivers a fine musical score. The set design is appropriately garish. A special thanks goes to Rush Hour's editors, who made sure it was short and to the point.

While Rush Hour is often entertaining, it does not measure up to a couple of similarly themed comedies - 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop - that were big hits when I was younger. Or is my memory playing tricks on me?

Jackie Chan needs to retire
This is not bad considering that most of Jackie Chan's movies are pretty much the same. That aside, story wasn't bad and there was some decent action scenes. Chris Tucker, however, does nothing but gets on your nerves with his irritating voice, bad acting and an IQ of a chimpanzee. In the outtakes, they show a scene that requires Chris Tucker to say two words in Chinese and he would blow it every single time. Talk about a dimwit

Rush Hour has great combos!
The idea of combining Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in one movie was a great idea! Jackie Chan does the main action while Chris Tuckers does the main comedy. Together they did a good job! The plot was good and the movie was so funny. I give it 5 stars for awesome action and nonstop laughs!

Great Entertainment - Funny & Exciting.
Rush Hour revitalized the buddy action flicks of the 80's and has become a modern classic. It is a movie in the tradition of 48 Hrs and Lethal Weapon, and like those two movies, it has perfect casting. Chris Tucker is hysterical in his best performance since Friday, Jackie Chan is in top form, complete with incredible stunts, cool martial arts and hilarious broken English.

The story is well-written and full of funny situations for both Tucker and Chan. Look for the scenes where Chan is in a predominantly black pool hall and Tucker buys some Chinese food from a cart. The chemistry between the two leads is probably what makes this movie so great. Great individually, but even better together. All this makes Rush Hour a guaranteed good time. ... Read more

Description

We always tell our children not to talk to strangers. And never, ever let them into the house.Too bad Howard didn't listen.

Debbie and Howard are celebrating their wedding anniversary.Or so Debbie thought.A special night together turns into a nightmare when Howard lets a man into the house to use the phone.Who is the smooth stranger who immediately takes to Debbie?And what does he really want? Debbie and Howard soon find out the answer to the question, and when they do, their lives will never be the same again.Be careful who you let into the house. Especially the Uninvited Guest.

... Read more

Reviews (24)

Don't Let Strangers Into your Home!!
Stranger walks into the home of flawed couple and proceeds to make their life "pure hell". Debbie is married to screenwiter/postal worker, Howard, who is oblivious to her needs and blatantly ignores her. Their current anniversary is marred with betrayal and a violent intrusion as the stranger, Silk, (Mekhi Phifer)unloads his fury on the confused pair. Along with Melinda Williams and his co-writing cronies, they are held hostage as Phifer intensifies his cruelty. Finally, after several plot twists we discover that Silk is not the only "bad guy". The story goes deeper as does the betrayal, leaving us to wonder who is the "good guy"? Phifer, has always displayed an awesome potential. Silk, is a complex character, who has multiple personalities; but at the root is "pure evil". Phifer shows range and an inherent aptitude for this character. Think of "Robert DeNiro" from "Cape Fear" or Matt Damon, in "The Talented Mr. Ripley and there you will find the imbedded ingredients that produce "Silk". This is not a bad movie, but you may get confused at the end. Solid acting performance by Phifer, he's not just a pretty face."Note" Wanya Morris, of Boys to Men fame has a supporting role as, Mo, "the resident thug" of the group.

Who's scamming whom?
"Uninvited Guest" is like a low-budget, "who's scamming whom," black version of "The Grifters." Make no mistake; this movie does not belong in the same class with the best of the contemporary film-noir offerings. At its lowest moments, it's a sloppy work with an implausible story pretext. Still, as a direct-to-video melodrama, it has decent performances by the principal actors, unpredictable (albeit absurd) plot-twists, some thoughtful relationship dialogue, witty sexual banter, and a tasteful seduction scene that culminates on a kitchen counter. I especially appreciated the humorous anatomical quips that helped diffuse the tension during some of the film's violent confrontations.

While still a B-movie, there's enough entertainment value in this modest film to make you forgive most of its technical shortcomings and storytelling deficiencies. With a bigger budget and some script revisions, this film may have been a contender. All things considered, I give it a C.

Thrilling
One morning I just happened to wake up around 2 AM and had the pleasure of seeing this movie. At the beginning, I figured it would be kind of wack because it just seemed to me as if it were a low budget movie. However, as the movie progessed and the storyline got deeper and deeper, I found myself drawn into it. As sleepy as I was, and knowing I had to get up in a couple of hours for work, I wanted to see how the movie would play out. I must say, I was very well pleased with the plots, storylines, actors, sequences and everything that makes an interesting thrill story (not horror, just thrill). Nonetheless, I stayed up to watch the entire movie. I have been suggesting this movie to anyone who takes time to listen to my story (LOL). If I must say, if you're wanting to focus on an interesting thrill, this is a good movie to check out.

Very Interesting & Intriguing
I had the pleasure of watching this movie on TMC. Instantaneously, I stopped what I was doing and was glued to the television. It's always nice to watch African Americans on TV. This is the type of movie that keeps you wondering what's going to happen next and you'll want to know who's in on this and who's not. I thought the movie was good. I wouldn't buy it, because some of the acting was a little off base. But I would recommend it to anyone looking for something good to watch on television. There are alot of twists and turns in it. It keeps you amazed at the way things are going. Mekhi does an excellent portrayal of a Smooth Operator. It's like he takes control of Debbie's mind when he talks with her. Especially the scene in the kitchen. WONDERFUL! The ending is sad, but also full of suspense. Buy it or Rent it. The choice is yours.

interesting, good plot twisting
I just happened upon this on the movie channel one tuesday night & couldn't turn the channel. very good suspense..(i mean not like SCARY suspense, but suspense in the terms of , one wanted to know what was gonna happen next). Great forethought by the writer. Kudos!!:-)
3 stars b/c to me Training Day is a 5 & so is the Thomas Crowne affair, i'd say this is not at that level, but still very entertaining & I'd recommend it to others to check out! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This wants desperately to be an Airplane-like parody of inner-city African American gangsta movies. Instead, it offers us more turkey than we would find at any Thanksgiving spread. Unfunny, stereotypical, stupid, and crass, it was cowritten by Marlon and Shawn Wayans, both of whom should have known better. The two fare better as actors than writers, as they are almost amusing as hardened, dimwitted homeboys. As Ashtray, Shawn returns to his 'hood and hooks up with his best buddy (Marlon) before the two embark on a series of oh-so-wacky adventures. Siblings Keenen Ivory, Kim, and Craig Wayans also make appearances. If you really want a laugh, watch Booty Call. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (118)

One of the best comedies EVER!
Never did a movie make me laugh so hard as this did, but first of all you need to know about the black lifestyle in the ghetto which is common sense to most. If you don't like gang movies though I wouldn't suggest watching this, but I could be wrong. A brother named Ashtray learns is learning how to live in the hood from homeboys, he meets a black beauty, Dashikee, I don't know how to spell that but close enough. He wants to move out of the ghetto with her and start a new life, a new child but alot of things get in his way, mostly Toothpicks gang. There are so many funny parts in this film, I'd say the funniest are when Toothpick was at the party and was talking about being in the shower with men, the MC Hammer dream, the convient store incident and in the movies begining when the two guys get shot. I demand that you watch this film, but as I said only if your into this type of thing. Great movie! If you've seen Baby Boy then you might see some similarities.

FUNNIEST MOVIE I'VE EVER SEEN
This is absolutly hillarious! The Wayans bros have hit the jackpot with this movie. It's a spoof of earlier hood' movies such as menace 2 society and boyz in the hood. Marlon and Shawn Wayans play Loc Dog and Ash Trey, two homeys growing up in South Central Los Angeles. They get into all kinds of hillarious situations such as a run in with toothpicks gang where Loc dog and toothpick keep pulling bigger weapons on each other. This movie is funny from start to finish. I have watched it with friends many times and it never fails to crack me up. Anybody who does not like this movie or does not think its funny should be checked out by a doctor. Well done to the Wayans brothers!!!

"What's up O.G."
extremely funny movie with the best grandma ever. Some ofd the parts are random but that makes the movie better.
However, i didnt respect them trying to make funn-of BOYZ 'N' THE HOOD by trying to do the scene where he starts swinging punches and ends up knocking out the kids.. Don't diss the greatest drama ever again,PLEEEEEEZ!

I feel sorry for your mother........
This movie is hilarious. But in order to understand most of the parts you have to see Menace II Society.

funny as hell
after watching all those hood movies throughout the years, this movie had me rolling as it made fun of every single thing those movies talked about. this is a must see. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Whoopi Goldberg and LL Cool J lead a strong cast in Kingdom Come, one of those the-whole-family-comes-together comedy-dramas that celebrate the transcendent power of love. When the surly patriarch of the family dies, relatives descend upon his widow (Goldberg): his recovering alcoholic son Ray (Cool J) and his wife Lucille (Vivica Fox from Independence Day), who have been unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant; the incompetent other son Junior (Anthony Anderson, Big Momma's House) and his jealous wife Charisse (Jada Pinkett Smith) and their three rambunctious boys; the over-religious sister (Loretta Devine) and her shiftless son; and assorted other eccentric characters who generally turn the reception and funeral into a series of squabbling indignities--the kids even wrap the hearse in toilet paper. The movie's script is modest at best and loaded with forced plot points--to no one's surprise, all problems are resolved in an orgy of forgiveness--but the cast handles the material with sincerity and grace. Goldberg rises to the top as the stoic Mama Rae, lacing her bland lines with a dry and biting wit. Cedric the Entertainer (The Original Kings of Comedy) and singer Toni Braxton round out the cast. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (35)

A comedy about as much fun as a funeral
For a comedy this one feels awfully glum; perhaps this is because it's about a funeral, but one gets the impression that it wasn't intended to be so dry. Whoopi Goldberg plays the matriarch of an extended family whose members turn inside out when their "Mean and Surly" grandfather dies, leaving two sons (LL Cool J, Anthony Anderson) to deal with the problems that have divided them for too many years. Viveca Fox (in a surprisingly disappointing performance) and Jada Pinkett Smith (who tries to be charming but ends up going over the top with her role) play their wives. The film's best moments come from the very funny Loretta Devine as the ultra religious and highly exasperated aunt whose dresses always match her Bible; she comes as close as possible to giving this film some good rhythm. Other than that, the film has no real moments of tenderness, no exposition of character depth, nor much payoff in the end. Considering it is Goldberg's first major role in almost four years, one would hope the writers would have given something meatier to work with.

very enjoyable look at a family
We all have families composed of a great many different
personalities. Some are crazier than others but deep down if we consider
them family we love them. Kingdom Come shows up what happens when they are
all forced to get back together for a tragedy.
Whoopi Goldberg plays the long-suffering matriarch of the family who
watches her mean and nasty husband drop dead at breakfast one morning. Now
her sister and all of their children, except for...well you know...he's
still in jail, are all coming home for the funeral. The rest of the movie
details how they all come together as a bunch of crazy, fighting individuals
and end together as a family.
The story was a little weak. A lot of it was stereotypical but the
acting more than saved it throughout. In fact the performances carried the
movie well over the top in quality. Whoopi played the quiet matriarch
dispensing wisdom as needed. LL Cool J played her oldest son, the
recovering alcoholic, who is struggling with his own fear of death and the
infertility problems he and his wife seem to be having. Anthony Anderson
played the younger son as a dreamer stuck with a hot-headed wife and
multiple kids. Cedric the Entertainer portrays the town preacher as a man
full of advice...and other more shallow problems near the end.
I really enjoyed this one. It mixed drama with comedy from start to
finish and will be a part of my collection.

Funny drama, althogh i didn't get the point of this movie
LL, Jada, Fox and Goldberg are good, not great, but good in this family reunion 'Dramedy' (Drama+Comedy), when a family member dies, the whole family reunite, each with a story to unfold and unfinished business to be taken care of. This movie is ok in my book, had no bad parts and the cast is great, so if you like poignient dramas, it don't get any better than Kingdom Come.

Simply the worst movie ever!!!!
This movie sucks and thats all I can say. What a waste of some precious hours of my life that I can't get back.

I wouldn't even rate it cos 1 star is rather generous.

Kingdom Come... Heaven help us!
What a phsycologically derranged and wild family! I wouldn't be caught dead if this were my family! The hate and tense scenes were out of state and out of mind. I hated Aunt Marguerite the worst! "Yes, you're living proof that life is not a good time!" *Grabs her bible and beats her with it* "That is not how you use the word of God! Not to hit your son, Royce with it! And if you're such a religious and scriptural expert, what did Jesus say about being judgemental?! You're being the overbearing and obnoxious devil yourself, Marguerite!! Whoo! And if Royce doesn't want to take you, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE YTOU!!!!!!!! LEAVE HIM ALONE. *grabs phone from Marguerite* The arguements with Charisse and Junior were enough to influence anyone to lose their minds if they had bitter feelings or quarrels. Poor Charisse; if she wnated to be alone, why not Delightful leave her be!? What I liked about this film was Ray Bud and Lucille. It seemed they were the only characters making the movie worth while. Along with Reverend Hooker; his flatulence was out of this world! I really liked the song Charisse sang at the funeral; it's a peace filling tune. The ending was wonderful, though; evertyhing was resolved. That's what kept me from limiting this film to two stars. ... Read more

Reviews (74)

The Best Movie of 2000!
There were ALOT of good movies in 2000(Shanghai Noon, MI2, Unbreakable,Gladiator, etc.), but this movie was truly the best. If you though Robin Williams was funny in Mrs. Doughtfire, you a'int seen nothing yet. This movie is a WHOLE lot different from that movie, so if you didn't like Mrs.Doughtfire, don't skip this movie just because of that. Martin Lawrence is one of the funniest actors around, next to Eddie Murphy and Jim Carrey. He adds his own certain brilliance to the film only he can provide. There were so many laugh out loud scenes in this film your belly will be aching like crazy. The DVD makes it even better, with extra features up the wa-zoo. Deleted scenes, bloopers, music videos, making of, trailers and TV spots, and even a Me,Myself, & Irene trailer. The acting is one of a kind, and if you miss out on this movie, you miss out on alot, trust me.

Not that good.
You've seen them: Mrs. Doubtfire, Some Like It Hot, and now Big Momma. Of course, there's tons of others where the whole movie is revolved around morons dressing up as women. Morons being men.

Big Momma's House is that kind of movie with a Martin Lawrence twist on it. Only it's more to protect a fine woman from being killed by her criminal ex. She has a son as well.

This movie has lots of loopholes in it, and just the stupidity of it. No woman would go for someone who dressed up as their mother and thought she was a theif, and then she would make love to that person in a church.

Of course, there's too many crotch, giant butt, or giant breast in the face jokes, but it's still a little funny. Blue Streak was funnier, though. That's the Martin Lawrence movie.

This is the mindless, tasteless entertainment people manage to enjoy. This is fluff for a good time, if there's nothing else to really see at the theatre. Most of it is repeated material, too. Not badly directed, though. Recommended for mindless entertainment.

BIG MOMMAS HOUSE DVD-MARTIN LAWRENCE
A FUNNY MOVIE, ONLY BEACAUSE MARTIN LAWRENCE IS SO GOOD WHEN IN CHARACTER.LIKE IN HIS TV SHOW MARTIN(WHY ISNT THAT TV SHOW ON DVD? EVERYTHING ELSE IS)WHEN HE PORTRAYS HIS MOMMA OR SHENAYNAY OR OTIS.AN OK MOVIE TO CHECK OUT. BRING MARTINS TV SHOW TO DVD!!!! HE WAS BRILLIANT ON THAT SHOW.

MARTIN LAWRENCE IS GREAT
Loved this movie's comedy, the jokes, and the story line to match.

Laughing Good time
I love this movie. I laugh time and time again. It is funny comedy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Solid 70's Action Flick
Big, brawny Jim Brown makes a convincing hero in this two-fisted, jive-talking blaxploitation thriller. The story moves with great speed and plenty of tough action as Brown hunts for the slayers of his parents and encounters a nest of racist gangsters.
Everything about this flick is a notch above the average blaxploitation flick of its era. The direction is tight, the cinematography inventive and slick, and the performances are hammy without going too far. A very young and very weaselly Rip Torn does a fine job as the pinched, hateful villain who really gets what he deserves. Indeed, all the villains go down hard in this movie, which builds to a climactic conflict with a body count like a Spaghetti Western's.
Mention must be made of Stella Stevens, who has a number of short, but memorable, nude scenes. Not to mince words- she's so fine that virtually any man watching will likely gape at the screen in awe.
Superior entertainment for blaxploitation fans and anyone who likes a rip-snorting action movie.

Fairly Good Action & Answer to Shaft; Jim Brown Is Slaughter
So, MGM hit the goldmine with Richard Roundtree's "Shaft," so why not other companies? Samuel Arkoff's AIP (American Internationa Picture), known for many exploitation films (a kind of films you might have seen at local drive-in theaters back in the 50s and 60s), gave an answer to John Shaft. Yes, it's Slaughter, ex-Green Beret who takes the law in his hand for revenge. And Jim Brown, former American football player, and previously seen in films like "The Dirty Dozen" was chosen. Very Good casting, as it turns out.

Plus Brown (later seen in Tim Burton's "Mars Attack!"), we have a good supporting cast, namely Rip Torn and Stella Stevens. It was too good, I guess. Anyway, with the presence of them, "Slaughter" is barely raised above from other average blaxploitation films, some people say...

Interesting thing is, the film's supporting cast almost all consists of white actors. As a result, the atomosphere of the film is different from that of other blaxploitation films like "Coffy" and "Shaft," and you may be disappointed because of that. However, the good pace of the film (thanks to the director Jack Starret's deft hand) will keep you interested. In my book, "Slaughter" is a better-than-average action film. Oh, and there are nudity, which is No. 1 rule of this genre, including that of Stella Stevens (original "The Nutty Professor" and others). Is this misjudge on her side when choosing projects? Probably. (She again shows up in blaxploitation film, the sequel of Warner Brother's "Cleopatra Jones.") But I am happy with her appearance, I confess.

On top of her participation, there is a rousing title song by Billy Preston, whose electoric keyboard with his trademark howling sound can be heard. Probably "Slaughter" should be rated as an average three-star movie. Well, his song, however, is another virtue of the film, and with this and Ms. Stevens, one notch up. Yeah, I like this film. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Muhammad Ali's grace, charisma, and remarkable bravado shine through in this affectionate look at his life and career. Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World takes a fairly straightforward documentary approach, chronicling Ali's life and career through film footage and interviews with journalists, loved ones, and a few bizarre commentators, like Scottish comedian Billy Connolly. The film does an excellent job of conveying both Ali's genuine importance as a historical figure and his incredible personal magnetism. Though the documentary doesn't shy away from his faults, Ali is simply impossible to dislike. Most importantly, the film's commentary and carefully selected fight footage make it clear even to those who don't follow the sport what a remarkable boxer Ali was. At one point, Lennox Lewis refers to the "sweet science" of not getting hit, and watching Ali dodge a barrage of punches, we understand exactly what he means. Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World doesn't pack quite the dramatic wallop of When We Were Kings, but it is a compelling look at one of history's greatest athletes. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Thriller Boom in my Living Room
What an outstanding DVD (4.75 stars) -

I was really skeptical at first because the price was so low and I just thought this was going to be one of those cheap and poorly put together Muhammad Ali pieces. I put it on my Holiday Wish List and I figured 10 bucks is pretty cheap for a family member and it's a DVD I want to check out...Maaaan did I get lucky!

Lots of great, fun and rare footage. Some great interviews and thoughts and memories from some pretty interesting people and a hilarious story from Billy Crystal in the Special Features section (the only good thing about that section otherwise it's pretty lame)

Great for any Muhammad Ali fan! - The price for this DVD is absolutely outstanding!

Comprehensive documentary on The Greatest
Muhammad Ali was recently named the "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated magazine. "Muhammad Ali Through The Eyes of the World," which comes out on January 29th, tells the amazing story of this great athlete, political figure, and celebrity and you can easily see why Ali might have been chosen for this great honor. After all, he always knew he was "The Greatest" - something he claimed about himself from his earliest days of boxing.

"Muhammad Ali Through The Eyes of the World" is a documentary without a narrator. It basically is hundreds of short clips of interviews of everyone from childhood neighbors, former trainers, boxing opponents, friends, family, celebrities, etc. All of these are held together and made cohesive with clips from various sports and boxing historians. The number of voices making up the documentary, though, is really stunning! About the only one they didn't get a current interview from was Ali himself, but given that he suffers from Parkinson's disease now, that would probably have been fairly difficult.

As most people born before 1985 know, Ali was born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky. His start in boxing came from his bicycle being stolen. He told his father that he was going to "woop" whoever it was when he found out who had stolen his bike. His father asked if he knew how to fight and Ali said no, so his father took him to the local boxing ring and thus was born one of the greatest if not THE greatest boxer ever. What he did in the ring was revolutionary for a heavyweight, as he danced around with the agility of a Barishnikov ducking and bobbing and getting in a punch here and there till he finally bested his opponents either by out and out knockout or by TKO. At least this was the case in his early days. This documentary covers all of his fights, and although there was only an average of 10 or 15 seconds of footage of each fight (save for his fight with Spinx where there is only a still image), at least there was footage of each and lots of commentary about each fight from various people.

Ali was great not only for what he did in the ring, of course, but for his behavior in the public eye. He was a showboater and braggadocio, of course, but he backed this up and was a gracious looser the few times this happened. Nevertheless, more importantly he was outspoken about his own political and moral beliefs. Most people know that he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, and subscribed to many of the stances of that organization, at least initially. But what many don't know is that Ali was outspoken even before this. For example after coming back from winning the gold metal for boxing in the 1960 Olympics, he through his metal into the Ohio River to protest the racism that was still blatantly prevalent in his home town.

The documentary does not shy away from the controversial aspects of some of what made Ali a complex individual, although it definitely puts his flaws in a positive light, as if to make excuses for them. For example, although a wonderfully supportive father, Ali had 4 wives, and apparently quite a few affairs on top of this. While he divorced one wife apparently because she did not want to cover herself in the way that the Nation of Islam would have proposed (as well wanting to dance, smoke, etc.), Ali was seen escorting new girlfriends on trips while still married. The only family members actually interviewed were one his former wives and one of his daughters. Both are very favorable towards Ali, and his daughter actually says she's glad he was so prolific with relationships or she and all her brothers and sisters would not be around.

The documentary is almost two hours long, so has quite a bit of great footage. Universal presents it in anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1), and transfer is wonderful - at least as far as the modern interview clips go. Of course earlier footage of fights, interviews, etc. from the '60's and 70's are flawed, but there's not much that could have been done about these. The audio is almost primarily dialogue and so the 5.1 Dolby Digital Soundtrack really doesn't get a chance to show off, but the dialogue is crisp and clean for what its worth. One would not expect to see extras on a documentary, but Universal has provided a decent array of bonus material, although each one is fairly small in length. I actually preferred this after watching the 114-minute documentary! Included is a music video, stills of the artwork of Leroy Nieman who did live work during Ali's fights, additional interview outtakes, and a very short "featurette" which could have been simply inserted into the documentary itself without seeming out of place. Also there is an Ali Center Promo: The Ali Center is being built in downtown Louisville and will promote learning and striving for excellence in all areas for youth based on Ali's own life experiences. Finally, there is "Through the Eyes of the World" which has short clips from the "man-on-the-street" but also some boxing professionals on what Ali means to them. I would have liked somewhat longer clips for these as they were only about 10-20 seconds each, but there are so many (10 countries are represented), that having clips that were much more than a couple of minutes per country would probably have gotten a bit tiresome, especially after the fairly long documentary. All these extras and the documentary itself make a really good value for even the list price..., let alone for discounted copies!

Overall, "Muhammad Ali Through The Eyes of the World" is a very comprehensive documentary. It tells a complete story of a great figure, both within sports and outside, from so many different perspectives, with so much old and newer footage, and with so many voices, that you can't help to come away from it feeling like you've really learned a great deal about Ali, and why he himself as well as so many other still consider him to be "The Greatest."

Loved it
This is the greatest Ali movie ever made. Period ... Read more

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The power of popular music has been harnessed numerous times on behalf of various causes. But few of those efforts have been as powerful as 46664, an extraordinary program that is at once both entertaining and edifying, both sobering and uplifting.

Named after the number worn during his 18-year imprisonment by Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa and the inspiration for this global initiative, 46664 was created to draw attention to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. The main event, organized by Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, was a November 2003 concert in Cape Town, and it's quite a show, preserved here by more than four hours of performance footage spread out over two discs. An impressive international cast is on hand, including several veterans of rock charity events (Bob Geldof, Peter Gabriel, U2's Bono and the Edge). But there's a lot of younger blood here as well (Beyonce, the Corrs, Anastacia, DJ Paul Oakenfold), as well as Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), Italian star Zucchero, reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff, and, appropriately, many African performers, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Youssou N'Dour. Some fine music and very cool collaborations result (Queen, Zucchero and Sharon Corr? Sounds weird, but it works). Most important, the reason for all of this is never overlooked, as both live performers and various taped celebrities deliver messages about the HIV/AIDS crisis (26 million people are afflicted in sub-Saharan Africa alone) designed to inform, encourage, and admonish.

Most of the two-plus hours of special features are pretty standard: a "making of" documentary, interviews, photos, etc. But "A Minute of Art," a collection of 12 brief (about a minute each) films by a host of international visual artists, is quite wonderful, as is "Spirit of Africa," a beautifully shot film that movingly personalizes the AIDS catastrophe on that continent. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Get the hair on the back of your neck standing up
Wow, what a concert. Music live is always great, but add a great cause, and a whole collection of great musicians and you get this great dvd. Sure some of the songs I couldn't understand (it would have been nice to have subtitles for all the songs), the music just blows you away. Sure I'm a U2 fan,(...) but there are other great moments. Eurythmics back together again. Hey I even got into Paul Oakenfold. There is a great short film about the fight with AIDS in Africa. And there is the awesome moment when most of the cast join together to sing the new song Amandla, it gets the hair on the back of your neck standing up.

This DVD stinks.
If you want to support big business and the pharmaceutical industry selling drugs, then buy this DVD. This concert is stinks.

46664 DVD is as good as being there!
We attended the concert in Cape Town and this DVD captures the thrill and excitement of this show. There was no pre-press on who was performing except for Queen, Bono & Beyonce - so everytime someone came on stage we kept getting more blown away. To see Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Eurythmics, Peter Gabriel, and some great SA acts - Johnny Clegg, Watershed, and other African greats like Youssef Ndour was just awesome. I kept thinking never in my life would I have ever imagined seeing these performers in one show! It was also funny to see Oprah rocking in the Presidents box (with our binoculars, they show some clips in the DVD). The DVD is wonderful and captures the excitement of the performers and the crowd. Beyond the music, however, is the message about the trauma that is HIV/AIDS in Africa. Nelson Mandela is a true HERO - with the SA audience he got the biggest applause of the night. Also, to see Beyonce dancing with the HIV+ women from the Mothers 2 Mothers 2 Be project is so touching and shows that people can have hope! Buy this DVD enjoy a great show and support a worthy cause!!!

will this is very much like live aid and this show rocks
yes with nelson mandela to boynce and many other including u2 and queen this is defently worth geting new songs and old by the bands and artist with queen rocking out the call and bono on a long walk to freedom this is an event that will blow your mind and even song by by annie lennox and dave stuart this just about somes it all and of corse peter gabriel doing some african song bekkio and anistaca working with everyone on stage but will never forget QUEEN WE WILL ROCK YOU!

An all star concert for a good cause
Nelson Mandela's 46664 concert to fight AIDS in Africa will be released on DVD in the US on April 13th. The entire concert (some 6½ hours long) will be featured on the 2 DVD set.Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0Video: (assuming it's identical to other countries releases) anamorphic widescreen.Here are the performances;
Beyonce - Crazy in Love (46664 version)
Bob Geldof - Speech
Bob Geldof - Redemption Song
Queen, David A Stewart - Say It's Not True
Paul Oakenfold/Shifty Shellshock and TC - Starry Eyed Surprise
Paul Oakenfold/Shifty Shellshock and TC With Amampondo Drummers - Ready Steady Go
Baaba Maal - Baayo
Baaba Maal - Njilou
Youssou n'Dour -Africa Dream Again
Yusuf Islam, Peter Gabriel - Wild World
Peter Gabriel, Youssou n'Dour, Angelique Kidjo - In Your Eyes
Peter Gabriel, Youssou n Dour - Biko
Bono, The Edge, Beyonce, David A Stewart - American Prayer
Bono, The Edge, David A Stewart, Youssou n Dour, Abdel Wright - 46664 (Long Walk to Freedom)
Nelson Mandela - Speech
Queen - Invincible Hope/46664-The Call/The Show Must Go On
Angelique Kidjo - Afrika
Yvonne Chaka Chaka - Umquombothi
Bongo Maffin - The Way
Johnny Clegg and guests - Asimbonanga
Johnny Clegg, Jimmy Cliff - People
Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers To Cross
Jimmy Cliff - I Can See Clearly Now
The Corrs - Breathless
The Corrs, Roger Taylor - Toss The Feathers
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Corrs - Leliungelo Elakho
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Homeless
Andrea Corr, Brian May - Is This The World We Created?
Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again
Eurythmics, Youssou n'Dour - 7 Seconds
Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Abdel Wright - Loose Me Now
Ms Dynamite - Don't Throw Your Life Away
Danny K - Hurts So Bad
Bob Geldof - The Great Song Of Indifference
Bob Geldof - (What So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
Watershed - Indigo Girl
Bono, The Edge - One / Unchained Melody
Anastacia, Bono, The Edge, David A Stewart, Queen - Amandla
Queen, Zucchero, Thandiswa Mazwai - Medley (Bohemian Rhapsody / I Want It All / I Want To Break Free / Radio Ga Ga)
Queen, Anastacia, Amampondo Drummers - We Will Rock You
Queen, Anastacia and Cast - We Are The Champions
Soweto Gospel Choir, Cast - 46664 Chant
(DVD includes 1 song not included on the companion CDs)Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime - Zucchero/Queen/Sharon CorrBonus features:
Disc 1:
Launching 46664 - The press conference from London when Nelson Mandela announces the event to the world's media.
Behind The Concert - A backstage documentary showing the making of 46664 filmed during the week leading up to the event in Cape Town.
The Interviews - The artists talking about the event.
Fighting Aids - Footage from a project visit to Mothers 2 Mothers-2-Be and the Baphaumelele Childrens Home.Disc 2
A Minute of Art - 12 x one minute films by some of the world's leading and most influential contemporary visual artists representing their vision of HIV/Aids.
Spirit of Africa - A documentary about the true story of a Ugandan orphan who has lost his parents from Aids.
The Interviews - The artists talk about why they are supporting Nelson Mandela's 46664 campaign.
Photo Gallery - Pictures featuring all the artists involved in the event.Also note that the concert has also been released on 3 CDs (available individually, NOT as a set.) ... Read more

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How did Hollywood make so many great, challenging, offbeat films in the 1970s? A Decade Under the Influence lists the reasons--or rather, lets the people who did the filmmaking list the reasons. The decade-shaping interviewees include Martin Scorsese, Robert Altman, Francis Coppola, et al. The film's argument has actually been conventional wisdom for at least 10 years, but it's well-supported by an abundance of clips, which should inspire even hardcore film buffs to seek out rarities such as Thunderbolt and Lightfoot or The King of Marvin Gardens. One might observe that the scarcity of women directors or black filmmakers suggests that the decade was not entirely golden, and the memories may be burnished a bit by nostalgia. But there's no question that the big studios were far more adventurous back then, and this briskly moving survey gives a lively Film 101 lecture in exactly why. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Shallow & self-serving & so disappointing.
I can only agree with those other viewers who found major gaps & omissions in the "documentary". No mention of Michael Ritchie or John Boorman that I could see. But lots of footage of "hot" & "trendy" folks like Mazursky, Avilsen & Hopper. Even the bit of commentary from Friedkin, Altmen & Coppola that might have given this effort some real substance is too slight & superficial to matter. It's stuff you've read or heard a thousand times before.

Too bad. They really blew it.

An incomplete look at a pivotal cultural moment
This quick, glitzy documentary, which looks at the maverick filmmaking that reshaped Hollywood in the late 1960s and throughout the '70s, has its ups and downs. At first I thought the lack of a central narrative voice, "telling" us what we're supposed to know, was kind of cool: "Yeah," I thought, "We're smart enough to understand what happened, and all these intelligent, thoughtful rebel filmmakers -- Coppola, Scorcese, Altman, Hopper, Dern, Eastwood, et al. -- can guide us through the history better than any dumb old narrator can... After all, they *lived* it, man...!!" But, sadly, this was not true: by the end of the three segments, I felt a little lost, and even a little cheated... I wasn't really sure what these advocates of independent cinema were trying to tell me, and while the parade of film clips and archival artwork (wish I'd taken notes!) was entertaining, it wasn't particularly well contextualized. The story arc, as such, was that Hollywood, having lost its bearings (and ability to produce hit movies) by the mid-1960s, almost accidentally discovered the rich offerings of low-budget, independent cinema. Suddenly, young, unproven writers and directors were given unfettered creative license, and throughout the 1970s they pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, breaking down taboos against exploring sexual, political and drug-related themes, as well as demolishing the boundaries of language and onscreen violence. Then, as the '80s opened, the push towards producing blockbuster hits reestablished the dominance of the old studio system. But the material between these central points is a diffuse parade of spectacle and insider asides, not as well structured or as informative as it could have been.

Also, on a technical note, why was the DVD version so hard to navigate? What was up with having to start up each segment of this film separately? Watching it on VHS might actually have been more rewarding...

WILL SMITH FILM FANS WILL NOT APPRECIATE THIS DOCUMENTARY
I was mesmerized by it all, plus I added several films to "My List" [of films to watch]. What a fantastic compilation of clips and testimony to mid-20th Century film. Going from films of the squeaky 50's and early 60's like Liz Taylor's "Giant", and Doris Day's "Pillow Talk", to darker, deeper films like "Midnight Cowboy", "Easy Rider", or "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was a trippy journey, and the documentary takes you from one end to the other, and not without adequate homage to our European influences (the Europeans were at least a decade ahead of us/they had Fellini's art while we STILL had Doris Day's ever-lasting virginity).

There is no way to compile this cinematic metamorphosis in a single DVD, so the complaint that this was all too vague is asking for too much on one plate. For what this is, this is a brilliant, enlightening, delightful trip into America's film past.

So how could anyone not enjoy this compelling documentary? I suppose if you liked "Independence Day" you probably couldn't appreciate it.

Too-Vague Take On A Too-Big Topic
The problems with both ADUTI and the similar doc EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS are: they are generally fawning in tone; they play fast-and-loose with the truth by presenting only selected bits of film history; and - most importantly - they attempt to explain the zeitgeist of the 70s by restricting their view only to movies, when movies are (and have always been) a milk container in the cultural icebox...taking the flavor of whatever's sitting next to it. The 'counterculture', or 'new aesthetic' (or however you want to phrase it) lasted longer and more meaningfully in other media (music, art, fiction) where there was substantially less money being invested. I love many late 60s/70s films...in fact, that whole era is genuinely fascinating...but 'explaining', or just examining in depth, that window in time is more properly the domain of a Ken Burns-length documentary series. (You'd need 10-15 hours just to take in the full view.) And blaming everything that didn't work or fell apart on either drugs, JAWS, STAR WARS, or all three, is as pat and false as showing a married couple sleeping in twin beds during the heyday of the Production Code.

For instance, Bogdanovich is trotted out like a High Lama of Personal Cinema but the audience never gets the sense of how his lousy old-Hollywood imitations like AT LONG LAST LOVE and NICKELODEON catastrophically imploded his career, right in the middle of that halcyon decade (and STAR WARS didn't have a blessed thing to do with it). We get clips from DIRTY HARRY and MAGNUM FORCE, as if Eastwood's proto-fascist genuflections before Ruthless Authority were somehow considered hip and edgy by the intelligentsia of the decade, when they were uniformly bemoaned and despised. We get many cloud-cuckooland memories intimating that 70s cinema reflected the audience's desire for meatier, more challenging fare, when nothing could have been further from the truth (the top box-office stars for much of the decade were not Dustin Hoffman or Robert DeNiro but Eastwood, Burt Reynolds and Charles Bronson). The biggest hits of the 70s were all spun off the AIP model, not the Truffaut/Godard model: sensation ruled the day, then as now. People stood on long lines stretching several times around city blocks to see THE GODFATHER or SERPICO because - as a Roger Corman ad campaign might have phrased it - they "rip the lid off today's shocking headlines!!"

It's one thing to say that Hal Ashby and Francis Coppola made terrific films (they did indeed); it's another to claim that they made films during a golden time when the audience was, for once, on the side of the Artists. That time has never existed. Before JAWS, before STAR WARS, folks were packing theaters for DEATH WISH, BILLY JACK and THE EXORCIST - and not because they were diehard Cahiers du Cinema subscribers.

And what is not even touched upon is the long-term effect of the heightened gory violence of 70s films. We hear auteur after auteur hiding behind that sad old trope of "in order to show people the HORROR of violence, we had to truly show the EFFECTS of violence". Gee, thanks, Teacher....I'd've never dreamed that getting shot in the head might actually hurt, otherwise. Too bad the nonstop,desensitizing, rolling-snowball-momentum of all those squibs and open wounds is with us still, and it is almost 100% due to the movies of the 1970s. Coppola's triumphs may be a thing of the past - but Moe Green getting shot point-blank in the eye is forever. Scorsese has run out of heartfelt Little Italy stories to tell us, but he's still 'teaching' us how it might feel to have your eye forced out of its socket by having your head squeezed in a vise, or simply how liberating & invigorating it is to be turning that vise on behalf of the Mafia. I recall a 70s-era Pauline Kael column called "Fear of Movies" where she chided the audience for being prim, prudish wussies afraid to viscerally experience the primal excitement of violent films; a year or two later, she was fretting over the increasing 'brutality' of mass-entertainment. Way to chart cause and effect, Pauline!

Sorry. But if you're going to celebrate the films of the 1970s, you have to shine a little light on the warts and moles under the makeup too...or you end up with a puff-piece. Which is the case here, good intentions notwithstanding.

Dissapointing
I was really looking forward to seeing this documentary but it left so much out that...It's simply too uneven. Where is Spielberg, Woody Allen etc...? Why is Milos Forman completely brushed over? Why wasn't there more about Polanski? Why is there nothing discussed about Melvin Van Peebles or black film really in general? Nothing about Elaine May or Mike Nichols except a clip from the Graduate. What about George Roy Hill? Werner Herzog? Why isn't there an interview with George Lucas or more of a discussion about the Star Wars phenomena? What about Alan J. Pakula who did all the president's men? Mel Brooks? Robert Downey Sr.? Larry Cohen? John Landis? And to not have more about De Palma is unforgiveable to me. And if you're going to talk to actors of the seventies why don't we see interviews with Hoffman, Redford etc...? And why isn't the Ellen Burstyn interview included? Why aren't there interviews with today's filmmakers and how they have been influenced by the films of the 70's (i.e. Paul Thomas Anderson, Spike Lee, Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Nick Cassevetes-and he was one of the interviewers for god's sakes). This documentary is like a weird hodge podge of people Lagravenese and Ted Demme (R.I.P) liked. As a film lover and being very familiar with this period in film history I thought it [was] a big fat lemon. Gets two stars from me as opposed to zero only because there is the occasionally good interview (i.e. Julie Christie)that really hits the target of why we should be talking about 70's film in the first place...Which is because you CAN'T make them like they used to. But what a dissapointment though. :( Don't buy this unless you're a teacher at a film school...Otherwise beware! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Greatest Freedom Fighter of all Time!!
Nelson Mandela is probably known as one of the greatest freedom fighters of all time as wonderfully told and illustrated on this A&E Biography.It's a must see!!Nelson,we all love you!! ... Read more

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Cheryl Dunye has transcended the usual pitfalls that pockmark most lesbian-themed movies: specifically, the usual angst and suffering that occur when the gay gal falls for a heterosexual friend. The Watermelon Woman is more a cultural document, addressing speculative sociological gayhistory themes with an interesting and engaging cover story about a video store clerk named Cheryl (played by Dunye) who, in her research for a movie, comesacross an old-time black actress simply called "the watermelon woman" andbecomes obsessed with her persona. In the process, Cheryl finds herselfembroiled in a relationship that parallels that of her icon.

What makes The Watermelon Woman special is its layered story line and its willingness to present its characters as comically flawed. Dunye also creates an aura of mystique around the enigmatic watermelon woman, and her life and tribulations become fascinating to the viewer. Even Camille Pagliashows up to make commentary about the "actress," and while thestory-within-a-story concept is tricky, the power and purpose of the movie emerges, and the character becomes as fascinating as if she were flesh and blood. --Paula Nechak ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Widening the Spectrum: Multiple Issues, Multiple Minorities
As a lesbian film student of color, I find inspiration in Cheryl Dunye's vision. "The Watermelon Woman" seamlessly weaves together the issues of race relations, ethnic and lesbian identity construction, and prevailing oppression in all its subtleties. Setting up the film as a pseudo-documentary of an aspiring filmmaker's research on a Black lesbian actor from the thirties counterpoints a historical context of these issues, with its modern manifestations. An excellent film from a multiple-minority perspective. The acting may call for more training, but the successful execution of the issues excuses the sometimes contrived reading of lines. The portrayal of Guin Turner's naively ignorant character (a white woman who prefers men and women of African-descent) was well written and played. The film illustrated race relations on many sides of the issue -- the relations between people of the same race and cross-racial relations. Funny, as well as socially valuable, "The Watermelon Woman" is one of those rare films that reaffirm my expectations for film: not just as a form of entertainment or art, but as a tool for social commentary.

Excellent portrayal of the artistic process...
This movie is the story of a woman that wishes to become a film-maker. She becomes obsessed with an actress from the 30's - and begins searching for information on her, and films a documentary in the process. Soon, the lead's love life begins paralleling the actress that she is researching.

This film can be viewed on several levels... as a (lesbian) love story... a romantic comedy, if you will. It can be viewed as a story about African American women finding their place in an urban society. Or it can be viewed as a study of the creative process.

The love story bored me (luckily both Cheryl Dunye and Guineviere Turner are both really hot!)... but the exploration and struggle of the artistic journeys of Cheryl was very interesting. Any film-maker, artist, photographer, etc. would enjoy this movie... and it should not be dismissed as another silly, unrealistic lesbian love story.

you just don't want to part with this film..
Was it Jamaica Kincaid who said that there are books you just can't part with? That you just have to take them with you after you read them at, for instance, a library? (Well, whoever it was, was she justifying book thefts? I like to think so, for I understand such a quick and strong 'attraction' to certain books myself. There really are books that you can't part with.)

The minute The Watermelon Woman played on the screen, I felt that can't-part-with-this kind of instant affection toward it. It was funny, honest, and cool. I collect DVDs and this one surely made the top on my list for future purchase. I'm almost grateful to the school I attend that its library has it in its collection. I had an absolutely good time watching it.

Insightful Examination of Black Lesbian Indentity
The best films inform and enlighten as well as entertain. Cheryl Dunye's debut feature, WATERMELON WOMAN does just that. It takes the viewer on a fascinating journey into one black woman's life as she searches for a lesbian role model. She finds her in the form of a mysterious figure known only as the "Watermelon Woman." Utilizing a light-hearted, documentary style approach, Dunye (who also stars in the film) has crafted an intelligent and entertaining film that will resonate with many viewers, irrespective of one's sexual orientation.

Unlike other films dealing with gay characters or themes, WATERMELON WOMAN is not pretentious or preachy. Instead, it tells a simple story which touches upon universal themes such as searching for one's place in the world. Dunye, while not a polished actress, is nonetheless appealing in her lead role. Her character possesses a youthful charm that makes you really care about her journey. The other members of the cast are also appealing.

Adventurous filmgoers tired of formulaic plots will find much to savor in this film. Aspiring filmmakers can also look at the film as a guide in how to create a compelling story on a modest budget. Being one of the few people to actually see the film during it's brief theatrical run, I was happy to learn that I could see it again in the convenience of my own home. Now a much wider audience can enjoy this special film. Check it out.

On another note, her next film, STRANGER INSIDE, is slated to premiere this year on HBO. Hopefully, that film will live up to, if not surpass the promise of Dunye's earlier film. Only time will tell.

A Trip Out Film!
This Film is very Creative&Eye-Opening.it Shows The World&Lives of Lesbian Women.it deals with Race,Sex&Class Issues.i happen to catch it on B.E.T Starz's&it kept my attention.it showed the flaws of The Women&everyday struggles&Battles they went thru.I wish HBO,Showtime,etc...would also show this film for a wider audience.because this Film Balance's out alot of things.it's a trip out film! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

John Hammond Retraces RL's Life in the Delta
Did Robert Johnson really sell his soul to old Scratch at the crossroads? John Hammond, Jr. explores the life and times of this legendary bluesman. Hammond, a fine blues musician himself, travels through the small towns of the Mississippi Delta and interviews several of Robert Johnson's contemporaries and acquaintances, including Johnny Shines. Hammond even tracks down a woman who claims to have been Johnson's wife. Most of the interviewees are in the later years, giving the documentary a living history feel. The documentary is filled with Johnson's music, much of it performed by Hammond, in Delta settings. It is quite stirring to see Hammond playing Crossroads at the crossroads. If you are a fan of the Delta blues, this is a must have film.

Feeling The Blues
I purchased this video about a month back and have watched it at least 6 times. I guess the reason that I like it so much is not only my fascination with Robert Johnson but also the connection that I have to the places in it. I was born in Helena Arkansas (mentioned many times during and has it's own segment) and I have also visited all three alleged gravesites of Mr. Johnson. When you travel through the Delta as Mr. Hammond has done...you start to understand a little more about the music and where it came from. This documentary captures a lot of the essence of the Delta but you must visit it yourself to get the true feeling of how life must have been for the Blues Musicians of the Delta in the early 20th Century. The interviews here are candid, honest, and real. Watching this only make you want to look these people up yourself. Watch this video and try to inherit some appreciation for the heart and soul that went into the music that so many take for granted. Then...if you dare...take your own pilgrimage down to "The Crossroads" and see for yourself what all of this is about.

Great learning tool
The film is great for everyone. I saw this film in my humanities class and allowed me to learn about Robert Johnson's life and legends, the myths behind his songs. Many people that actually met Robert Johnson are interviewed in this film so it allows the viewer to learn about this icon in a very personal level. I highly recomend it to anyone who is serious about music and blues and also to those who might just be curious.
GREAT FILM!!!!!!!! A THOUSAND THUMBS UP!!!

Good inside look at RJ
This is good in that not only does this explore the histroy of the great bluesman Robert Johnson, it also gives you an understanding of the Black Delta culture that he came from and we see some of Johnson's surviving friends and lovers talk about him. A very touching scene shows the actual "Willie Mae" mentioned in "Love In Vain" smiling sweetly as she hears RJ mentioning her name in the song. However, while Hammond is a good narrator, being a serious student of the blues, we could do without his forced and strained renditions of RJ's songs and let the actual recordings speak for themselves. Other than that, blues fans will enjoy this.

Very Strong
this Video is Haunting&Mind-Blowing all at once.I haven't heard another Guitar player like Robert Johnson.The Man's tones&Vibe were like that of Two Players at once.this Video keeps the Mystery&Genius all at once on point.His Box-Set still Blows Me Away The Man had alot of Soul.this is a Video that will hold your full attention. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

The lighter (but still damn funny) side of Chris Rock...
Chris Rock has proven himself to be a fantastic comedian as well as a tremedous political satirist. I have come to love his sharp but hilarious riffs on class and racial inequalities in his standup; he has a manner which lends itself to biting commentary without seeming mean-spirited, a true rarity.

This video is an hour or so of sketches from Rock's HBO "talk show," a critically acclaimed endeavor. The sketches are pretty light in nature, unlike much of his standup, but he still manages to remains sharp. The subjects range from "Monica-gate"(hilarious!) to the inscrutability of slang, and move fairly quickly.

The best moments are the ones where he goes out on the streets and talks to real people, such as his petition to change a street name to "Tupac Shakur Blvd." Another section takes on the alleged impact of Tiger Woods' success in golf on the African American community. Yet another is a riff on HBO's popular "Taxicab Confessions," with Rock playing a chatty taxi driver. The interaction with real people allows Rock to push the envelope and create a commotion.

All in all, this video is great -- especially since we don't have HBO in my apartment, so this is my only chance to see Rock's talk show work. However, I did miss the edginess of Rock's standup social satire -- for that, I would try one of his standup specials (which are, for my money, the best Chris Rock for the buck). But if you've already memorized them all, and you're looking for more laughs, try this wonderful video.

Simply the best from the King of Comedy
The "Best of the Chris Rock Show" highlights some of the funniest moments that have aired on this HBO show. Rock, who simply is the best comedian out there now, takes a liberal, yet hysterical view of many topics raging from racism to the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal with a dosage of his trademark, raunchy humor.

The highlights of this compilation have to be Rock's personal approach in interviewing everyday common people about topics that have made headlines lately. Who else but Chris Rock can go to Harlem, to speak to both African-Americans and Asians on what they feel about Tiger Woods and golf. While Woods' biracial heritage (African-American and Asian) might not interest many, Rock's the reactions he gets from several Asian shop owners only points out that race is still important in America.

In another of his everyday interviews with the public, he asks several Harlem residents about how they felt upon hearing news of Princess Diana's death. While many people gave stupid responses, Rock's zaniness in asking ridiculous questions has made this a staple of his show.

Two skits I loved were the skits titled "Pundits" and "Racism/Gay PSA". In the former, Rock asks a panel of three actors what they feel about the Clinton scandal, only to get a series of hilarious replies. In the latter, we see a PSA of a white male approaching an African-American male on the dark streets of New York. While we might think this is a Public Service Announcement about racism, many viewers will be shocked that it isn't. In fact it is an announcement promoting colorless love...in the GAY community. Just plain hilarious!

If you love original comedy in the style of such shows as "Saturday Night Live" and "In Living Color", then the "Best of the Chris Rock Show" is a must see. Chris Rock definitely rules!

Chris Rock is Much Funnier Than This DVD Shows
Some people are more suited for sketch comedy while others are better at standup. Chris Rock is definitely a standup comedian. Be forewarned that this is a collection of moments from his HBO show and not a standup set. These sketches are not very funny nor are they original.

Never seen an episode
I was in for a treat. This was al new Chris Rock of me. And I ate it up. Chris Rock is simply the best comic in a one man show. I don't have cable TV, and if I did, I would never be home to watch it, so with this being my first exposure to the Chris Rock Show, no wonder it is the hit it is. Great work.

Chris Rock is hilarious but this DVD isn't
I personally believe Chris Rock is the funniest comedian ever. I purchase both Vol1 & Vol2 of "the Best of the Chris Rock Show". The 2nd DVD deserves 4.5 out of 5 stars, without a doubt but the first volumne is pale in quality, length & content.

This seems to just be grabs of random pieces of his show and are bar far NOT "the best off". The 2nd volumne has 55mins of skits and then another 45mins of his "Taxi Cab Driver Confessions" which alone almost makes the disk worth the purchase. This disk is just a poor collection of skits from the show, then 2 skits from the Taxi Cab. If you want a good Chris Rock DVD, buy